Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Tuesday Night Newsletter 8-9-22

In This Newsletter:

Vinopolis August Sale:
Sweet Deals Are Made Of This

Rosé Roundup

Buckin’ the Price Trend:
Delicious Wines from Bucklin

Sherry Wants To Come Out Tonight

Trending Five Under $50
Collector’s Corner:
Elite Champagne
Vinopolis Wine Shop

Will Be Closed

Wednesday, August 10th

We’re open for our regularly scheduled hours all other days:

10 am – 6 pm

Our webstore never closes!

Vinopolis August Sale:

Sweet Deals Are Made Of This

Brought to you by the letter “A”:

Domaine Alary Cairanne La Font d’Estevenas, Rhône 2018 750ml ($34.95) Was $26, Now $21.90, 10 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Normally a 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, the 2018 Cairanne L’Estevenas continues the successful run for this cuvée, even though it might be more like 60% Syrah. The volume produced was about half of normal. It combines peppery-herbal notes with violets and blueberries on the nose, then adds raspberries on the medium to full-bodied palate. Supple and almost creamy in texture, it finishes with terrific length and vitality. Tasted twice (once blind), with consistent notes.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’ Gualtallary Single Vineyard Cabernet Franc, Tupungato 2015 750ml ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89, 13 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 98 points “Powerful places tend to mark wines in a stronger way than even the vintage conditions or the grape variety, and that seems to be the case with the 2015 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard. But of course there are elements of both the year—slightly warmer and riper than 2016—and the grape—mostly Cabernet Franc with some 20% Malbec, which is what is planted in the vineyard, with the logical variations depending on the yields of each grape in a given vintage. This is a little more direct than the 2016, powerful and concentrated but balanced and fresh, and it has a little more tannin. As I said, this is more about the high altitude and austere place with all the components in great harmony. You do not notice the alcohol, concentration of tannins or acidity, as it’s all very integrated. All these wines are not about fruit but about soils, about rocks. 3,000 bottles produced.”
James Suckling 98 points “This is such a fabulous red with ripe berries, blackberries and hints of dried mushrooms and black tea. Full body and crystalline tannins that carry the wine on for minutes. Energetic and takes off like a rocket. Extreme, great wine. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $104
Weingut Leo Alzinger Ried Hohereck Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2018 750ml ($64.95) Was $49, Now $41.90, 6 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ points “From a very small cru between Hollerin and Loibenberg and cultivated in pretty shallow soils, the 2018 Riesling Smaragd Ried Höhereck is concentrated and warm on the nose, with dried white fruit aromas intermixed with lovely herbal and stony aromas. Rich and concentrated on the lush and fleshy palate, this is a full-bodied, dense and firmly structured Riesling that combines warmth and ripeness with the coolish mineral drive of the terroir. The acidity is remarkably fresh, and the wine develops a long, tensioned finish that is still a bit drying. Keep for three or so years before drinking.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55
Weingut Leo Alzinger Hollerin Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2018 750ml ($69.95) Was $51.90, Now $41.90, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Riesling Smaragd Ried Hollerin is the most charming, fruity and powerful Riesling of the domain. From the vineyard looking onto the coolest part of the Kellerberg and cultivated on large terraces with deeper soils, the 2018 opens with an intensely fruity and only slightly flinty nose. Rich, round and massive but still elegant, with delicate tannins and pretty sweetish stone fruit, this is the dry dessert wine of Leo Alzinger. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2018 750ml ($149.95) Was $135, Now $119, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2018 Guado al Tasso is silky, delicate and exceptionally polished. I can’t remember tasting another Guado like it. Medium in body and gracious, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark fruit, chocolate, cedar, licorice and dried herbs, all in a mid-weight style that is incredibly appealing. The 2018 has just been bottled, so it needs time to bounce back. I can’t wait to taste it with a bit more time in bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Antoniolo Vigneto Castelle, Gattinara DOCG 2012 750ml ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 18 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Balance and expressiveness are the hallmarks of this red. Cherry, tar, menthol, mushroom and mineral flavors are backed by a solid structure as this plays out on the long, tobacco- and mineral-inflected finish. Drink now through 2030. 226 cases made. — BS”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Les Aphillanthes Nymphea Rosé, Cotes du Rhône 2020 750ml ($17.95) Was $14, Now $11.90, 36 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 88 points “Mainly Cinsault and Grenache, with traces of Carignan and Mourvèdre, this impeccably run domaine has turned out a rich, round 2020 Cotes du Rhone Rose Nymphea. Medium to full-bodied, it hints at strawberries and cherries, delivering plenty of concentration and flavor.”
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Counoise. Biodynamic. Gailloux/Galets Roules over clay & limestone. Tasting note: Red fruit and bright acidity. Full body with a long and balanced finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Tenuta di Arceno Arcanum Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2008 750ml ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69, 29 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2008 Arcanum is a monumental achievement and my favorite wine in an already impossibly impressive collection. The blend sees Cabernet Franc (77%), Merlot and a very small part of Cabernet Sauvignon. Like many Tuscany growers, Tenuta di Arceno is betting on Cabernet Franc’s performance in the warmer corners of Tuscany. The integration here is absolutely beautiful and the wine glides smoothly over the palate with the perfect balance of extraction, glycerin, residual sugar and acidity. The aromas span the spectrum, from bright cherry to dark chocolate. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2030.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Rosé Roundup
Did you know that Mary J Blige operates a wine label in addition to her illustrious career in the Arts? Sourced from the picturesque Friuli Venezia Giulia region at the foothills of the Dolomite Mountains, the soil is comprised of gravel and glacial rockdust from runoff over the centuries. The rose or Ramato as it’s known as in the area is made entirely from Pinot Grigio that’s been subjected to a few hours of skin contact, giving the resulting wine additional complexity.

Sun Goddess Pinot Grigio Ramato Friuli Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2019 750ml ($21.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “A fun, tasty rosé made with pinot grigio that shows light strawberry and lemon-rind aromas with hints of white pepper. It’s medium-bodied with pretty fruit and a delicious finish. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“This cuvée is assembled by Peter Weygandt, of Weygandt-Metzler, at the domaine with the talented help of Stéphane Bourret, the winemaker, and the Bronzo family. This is delicious and very rewarding dry pink wine and, selling at almost half the price of Tempier’s Bandol Rosé, it is a real bargain!” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive

Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2021 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “[Translated] Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette and Ugni blanc from clay-limestone and gravelly soils. 28-year-old vines. Intensely colored rosé. Notes of citron, Sichuan pepper, and dried apricot on the complex nose, mixing floral and spicy notes. Ample, dense and structured mouth with complex aromatics (pomelo, peony, pepper).”
Weygandt-Metlzer Wine importer note “Rosé wine. Provence, France. Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault. Organic. An absolute beauty of a rosé at this price point. Mouthwatering aromas of strawberry cream on the nose, followed by a silky, refined palate with delicate but distinct flavors of melon and peach. A relatively light wine for a southern French rosé, but with a texture and character of impressive weight and substance.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
A wine insider’s top rosé pick; exquisite minerality and poise
Domaine du Bagnol Cassis Rosé, Provence 2021 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “Cassis Rosé: The Rosé is produced from several parcels that comprise slightly less than 7 hectares of vineyards. The vineyards are clay and limestone, situated on a gentle slope with a north – northwest exposure. The blend is Grenache (55%), Mourvedre (31%) and Cinsault (14%). This Rosé is vinified by “pressurage direct, the must is chilled to 12 degrees Celsius, the wine ferments at 18 degrees Celsius until it is completely dry; then, the wine is bottled during the first three months of the following year after a light filtration. Production tops out at about 40,000 bottles per annum; approximately 6000 bottles are allocated to the US market.”

Domaine du Vissoux has been one of the region’s visionary producers ever since Pierre Chermette took the helm in 1982. During his nearly four decades, Vissoux has remained at the forefront of Beaujolais’ quality movement. Neither strictly modern nor traditional, they focus on sustainable viticulture and sheer deliciousness. See for yourself why Vissoux is our best-selling Beaujolais estate each year.

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rosé, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($19.95) $16.60 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Translucent orange-pink. Lively and sharply focused on the nose, presenting ripe red berry and floral scents and a hint of botanical herbs. Smooth and broad on the palate, offering bitter cherry, red currant and candied rose flavors that firm up and become spicier with air. Closes long and silky, with resonating floral and spice notes and strong cling.”
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Gamay. Sustainable. Quartz & clay.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
If you’re a fan of Catalonian whites or Cava you might have heard of Xarel-Lo, an aromatic white grape that’s often compared to Chardonnay due to its versatility during vinification. Being an indigenous varietal in Spain since 1548 it mutated at some point and also has a red skinned clone called Xarel-lo Vermell. Less than 300 acres of this varietal are still in existence in the entire world, with Gramona dedicating part of their production to preserving the varietal. Expect the acidity, structure and stonefruit character of Xarel-Lo with a definitive red fruited element not unlike Goji, fresh cranberries and redcurrants.

Gramona ‘Mart’ Xarel-lo Vermell Rosat Penedes 2020 750ML ($37.95) $26 special, 24 bottles available
Eric Solomon Imports note “Xarel-lo Vermell Certified organic CCPAE and biodynamic DEMETER. The pale color of this rosé comes from a 48-hour maceration before pressing. With this additional skin contact, combined with the already high levels of antioxidants present in the juice of this variety, Mart cannot only be enjoyed in its youth (peaches and strawberries) but it has the capacity to develop for several years in the bottle as more pink peppercorn nuances emerge.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Torre dei Beati’s ‘Rosa-ae’ is made in the cerasuolo style of rose from Montepulciano d’Abruzzo grapes that’s traditional to the region. Its name is derived from the Italian word for cherry and certainly lives up to that in both color and primary flavors. There’s an entire spectrum of red fruit to be perceived like pomegranate and cherry juice with botanicals like marjoram and basil at play. There’s a savory acid structure knitting everything together beautifully on the finish, making it sturdy enough to pair with anything spicy.

Torre dei Beati ‘Rosa-ae,’ Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2021 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92+ points “The color of the 2021 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Rosa-ae is stunning; a deep translucent red with violet shades, as a vivid mix of wet stones, strawberries and dusty rose form it’s compelling bouquet. It enters the palate with an initial burst of ripe wild berries, yet quickly gains in tension, as zesty acids and citrus tones reverberate throughout. The Rosa-ae finishes with an amazing persistence of purple- and blue-tinted florals all over a coating of salty minerals and the slightest tug of sweet tannin. This is a beauty today, yet it will also excel over the next year or two in a cold cellar. Well done.”
Winery note “‘Cerasuolo’ is the cherry colour of this very traditional Italian rose, that combines the freshness of a rose to the body of a light red. This unusual combination makes this wine very eclectic in matching food, ranging from antipasti, all’italiana, to ‘paste e fagioli’, to the typical ‘chitarra’ noodles with tomato sauce and little meatballs, to fish dishes like the celebrated Adriatic ‘brodetto'”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Buckin’ the Price Trend:

Delicious Wines from Bucklin

Bucklin’s wines hails from the historic vineyard Old Hill Ranch, originally planted in 1851 and organic and dry farmed since before those were terms. This is a snapshot of American wine history.

Their Ancient is gorgeously saturated in color and throws aromas of lavender, five spice, dried cherries and terra cotta in a multilayered spectacle. On the palate the old vine influence is evident, with a full body serving bucketfuls of berry, spice, and herb notes. There’s a beautiful minerality that is reminiscent of hot sandy loam and granite. The acid and tannins are stratospheric on this wine, which speaks to a long life in the bottle but also temper the alcohol level to the point you’d expect it to be 13-14% ABV.  Get one if you can resist opening it and a few if you can’t.

Also offered by Bucklin are wines made from their younger parcels of vines. Otto’s Grenache is composed of a hillside planting done in 2010 over decomposed volcanic tuff and basalt. Incredibly structured and burly on first pour, Otto throws out strawberry jam, kirsch cherry and fresh raspberry, but with a subtle note of dried hibiscus, daffodil and honeysuckle. There’s a tremendous minerality throughout the wine, exhibited by hot pumice in the aromas and a savory basaltic note on the finish. Otto’s Grenache is something to cellar for at least five years after the vintage, or to be had by the glass over the course of a week.

The Bambino was planted in 1998 and is generally around 75% Zinfandel co-fermented with Alicante Bouchet and Petite Sirah. The exact blend is vintage dependent as a result of Bucklin’s commitment to entirely estate grown fruit. Bambino exhibits an old world character that would have me thinking this was imported from Puglia. There’s a fruit character that sets it aside from its centarian counterparts on the ranch, but sharing in the layers of purity, spice, minerality and old world rusticity.

With all that history, complexity, and panache, you’d expect these bottles to run in the $200-$400 price range. Fortunately, you can acquire all of Will Bucklin’s wines here for under $50/bottle.

Bucklin wines in stock now: 

“Ancient” as in “one of the oldest vineyards in Sonoma”-ancient
Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend, Sonoma Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $37.70 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Bubbling over with personality yet remains focused and polished, this offers an array of currant and raspberry flavors accented by bitter chocolate, orange zest and smoked pepper beef. Finishes with briary, ripe tannins. Zinfandel, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grand Noir, Syrah and Carignan. Drink now through 2032. —T.F.”

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Otto’s Grenache, Sonoma Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Bubbling over with personality yet remains focused and polished, this offers an array of currant and raspberry flavors accented by bitter chocolate, orange zest and smoked pepper beef. Finishes with briary, ripe tannins. Zinfandel, Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grand Noir, Syrah and Carignan. Drink now through 2032. —T.F.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bucklin Anne’s Upper 5th Vineyard Field Blend, Sonoma Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Mom, Anne Teller has been farming commercially in Sonoma Valley since the late 1970’s. Her 50-acre farm includes the Upper 5th Vineyard, a century old, one-acre vineyard that is promiscuously interplanted with nut and fruit trees. Managed with Anne’s conscientious and benevolent farming practices, including no-till dry farming. The Upper 5th is a field blend of five grape varieties: 67% Zinfandel, 19% Peloursin, 8% Petite Sirah.”

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Bambino, Sonoma Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $28 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Opens with a fruit-bomb of wild berry briar patch before transitions into an appealingly rustic and structured zest fest, revealing heaps of licorice, roasted sage and forest floor accents that build toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2030. —T.F.”

Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles in stock now
VinpolNote: Old Hill Ranch planted a block of Cabernet in 1983 on a rootstock known as “AXR”. Fast forward 20 years and the block was infected by phylloxera due to an undiagnosed susceptibility in AXR. This means that the block is in the process of dying, with the resulting wine being every bit of a “Swan song” you’d expect.

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Sherry Wants To Come Out Tonight
Sherry is one of the most underappreciated wine styles in the entire world and one of the best buys in the market as a result! The dominant soil type albariza is composed almost entirely of chalk, which imparts a distinctive, pervasive and saline minerality to the finished wine. Due to the inherent saline minerality, these are incredibly food friendly, particularly the light, dry, unoxidized style known as Fino. The traditional pairing of paella or charcuterie or even something along the lines of sushi, oysters in half shell or lobster. Given the fortification that Sherry undergoes, it is also perfect suited for slowly enjoying over the course of a week and will continue to evolve in your refrigerator and glass.

Emilio Lustau ‘3 En Rama’ Fino de Jerez de la Frontera Sherry Andalucia 2021 500ML ($27.95) $24 special, 20 bottles in stock now

Shop our full selection of Sherry wines on our webstore!

Trending Five Under $50

It’s Tuesday night, and we’re looking for great wines that won’t break the bank. Shop these stunners that will pair with your evening of pizza & streaming.

Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2019 750ml ($37.95) $31.90 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 92 points “Dessimis is a rich and exotic pinot grigio, with pungent scents of apple blossom and clove that lead into layers of dried orange and grilled strawberry laced with notes of lemongrass. Those spicy notes continue on the long, creamy finish, warmed by a pleasant bitter almond note.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This is lightly copper-colored in hue, offering appealing aromas and flavors of ripe apricot and yellow peach, passionfruit coulis, chopped hazelnut, verbena and spun honey. Lightly chalky in texture, with well-cut acidity providing definition for the lush range of flavors. Mouthwatering and well-spiced finish. Drink now through 2026. 1,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.  –AN”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Andre Clouet The V6 Experience Brut, Champagne NV 750ml ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Aged for six years on the second lees, the yellow-golden NV Brut The V6 Experience is a Bouzy Pinot Noir that displays great purity and intensity but also reduction on the mineral-scented nose. This is deep and complex, but it needs all our patience and perhaps even a decanter or at least a big glass and lots of aeration. The palate is rich and powerful, firmly structured, very tight and still astringent on the finish, but there is so much finesse paired with power, concentration and fruit, which give the V6 a promising future. The wine just starts a bit slowly (like a rocket, which is pictured on the label), but it will most probably go very steep in a couple of years. I have ever had this cuvée before, so I can only guess, though.”

Franco Serra Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2018 750ml ($34.95) $30.90 special, 29 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Red berries with a clay-like mineral note. Some flowers, too. Medium-to full-bodied with clean fruit and soft, fine-grained tannins. More minerally finish. Best after 2022.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Le Clos de Jeu, Cote de Nuits 2018 750ml ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Weygandt-Metzler Importer note “The Clos de Jeu Marsannay comes from several parcels of 50 year old vines from Clos de Jeu on soft limestone crinoidal soil. Aged in oak, 25% new, this wine is harmonious in its flavors and tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Castello di Volpaia Citto Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ml ($19.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Volpaia Citto Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ml ($199.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
VinopolNote: In the super-Tuscan mode with a Sangiovese-Cabernet composition, but with a lighter and brighter nature achieved by vinification entirely in stainless steel tanks. Cherry flavors dominate in this spring and summer pleaser. Consider chilling when you need to beat the heat!
Importer Note “In the Tuscan dialect, “Citto” means “a young boy.” In the tradition of Bordeaux Châteaux — Mouton Rothchild has its Mouton Cadet, Cheval Blanc has its Petit Cheval — Castello di Volpaia has its Citto. Mostly Sangiovese with some Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes were destemmed and crushed, then fermented in stainless-steel vats for 10 days at 26 C to 30 C (80 F to 86 F). After eight days, the juice was drained off the skins. This generous, silky wine displays ripe fruit aromas with intense cherry and red berry flavors on the palate.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Collector’s Corner:

Elite Champagne

Bollinger La Grande Annee Brut, Champagne 2004 1.5L ($419.95) $379 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection. A blend of 66% Pinot Noir and 34% Chardonnay, this is opulent and full bodied, with toast and wood flavors. Rich and ripe, this beautiful wine is generous and still young, with just a touch of bitterness at the end. -Roger Voss.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Bollinger’s 2004 Brut La Grand Année is a beautiful wine with a lot of vintage character, but the style is a bit less oxidative than Bollinger fans are likely to expect. Pears, hazelnuts, spices and crushed rocks all flow through to the tense, vibrant finish. It will be interesting to see if the 2004 puts on weight in the bottle, as so many wines from this vintage have. Today, it is bright, linear and quite pretty. Green apples, pears and flowers all add lift on the close.”

Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle Alexandra Rosé, Champagne 1990 750ml ($699.95) $599 special, 3 bottles in stock now
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.”

Georges Laval Cumieres Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne 2015 3L ($699.95) $599 special, 2 jeroboams in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “This is the exact same blend as the Cumières non-vintage bottling from the base year of 2015 that was released without any vintage-dating on the label in regular-sized bottles two years ago, but the magnums (and jeroboams for those so disposed) were aged an additional two years sur latte and hence are labeled with the vintage date on the front label. The larger-sized formats are also non-dosé. This magnum was disgorged at the end of November of 2019 and offers up a superb nose of apple, discreet tangerine, hazelnut, excellent minerality, a hint of iodine, warm bread, gentle smokiness, acacia blossoms and a whisper of oak (with most of this having been subsumed into the other aromatics). On the palate the wine is pure, racy and full-bodied, with a rock solid core, great delineation and mineral drive, refined mousse and absolutely stellar backend lift, grip and length. When this was first released, Vincent Laval was convinced it was one of the finest vintages of his Cumières bottling in many years, and drinking it now out of magnum with more time on the fine lees, it is awfully easy to agree with him! The extra few years aging sur latte have allowed the fine girdle of acidity to relax here nicely and this wine is now drinking really quite well out of magnum (and probably regular-sized bottles as well), but my bottles are staying put in the cellar for at least another five years! 2020-2055.”
Importer note “1/3 Chardonnay, 1/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Pinot Meunier. Premier Cru.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($379.95) $349 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “This vivid Champagne shows up-front and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. A dazzling, vibrant Champagne, the 2014 impresses with a stunning combination of fruit density and linear energy that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of 2012 and 2008. At times, the bubbles feel totally wrapped up in waves of creamy, resonant fruit to the point the mousse is barely perceptible, especially with aeration. The flavors are bright and finely sculpted, leaning very much into the citrus, floral and mineral end of the spectrum… The 2014 Cristal is a riveting Champagne. Don’t miss it.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that’s girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that’s simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn’t come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window. This bottle was disgorged in June 2021 with seven grams per liter dosage.”
Simon Field MW-Decanter 95 points “The rollercoaster growing season of 2014 is reflected to perfection by the innate tension here; ripe citric fruit and even a touch of exoticism (mango and fig) tempered by a fine shard of acidity and a lifted ethereal character, described paradoxically by chef de caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon as ‘weightless density’. Purity, energy and power make for very happy bedfellows, courtesy the chalky terroir and its organic husbandry. The texture is silky, the bubbles joyfully integrated and the finish resourceful and precise, its salinity deferential to the deep-digging roots. Disgorged: June 2021. Dosage: 7g/L. Drinking Window 2022 – 2030.”

Louis Roederer Cristal Vinotheque Edition Brut Millesime, Champagne 1999 750ml ($1,499.95) $1,245 special, 3 bottles in stock now
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.” [Reviewed 2019]
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Roederer’s 1999 Cristal Vinothèque is endowed with tremendous power and concentration, especially for a Champagne of its age. Palate staining minerals, chalk, white pepper, mint, citrus and orchard fruit soar out of the glass. Tasted next to the Rosé the Blanc has a slightly more toasty character along with more body and a stronger presence of the mousse, which in this wine wraps around the fruit. At the time, Cristal was made from 37 parcels. The Pinots were a blend from Aÿ (where the wines are naturally riper) and Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont-sur-Vesle, (where Pinots are nervy and taut), while the Chardonnay was sourced from Avize, Mesnil and Cramant. Dosage is 7-8 grams per liter.” [Reviewed 2020]
Disgorgement dates may vary from reviews.

This is the only listing in the USA today for the 750ml!
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2004 750ml ($349.95) $279 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 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. I expect the 2004 will always remain a bit cool next to the more opulent 2002, but it is still drop-dead gorgeous.”
Decanter 96 points “It was a dry vintage up to August, which turned exceptionally wet and cool. September saved the vintage with the ideal weather conditions – low rainfall and cool nights. The graceful nose opens to white flowers, ripe apricot and citrus hints. It is tense and refined, with a vivid mineral core balanced by pristine acidity and some toasted notes on the finish. It’s not the most expressive today, but wait for it to awaken. This is built for cellaring. Drinking Window 2025 – 2040.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “A rich and enticing aroma of roasted hazelnut heralds this elegant blanc de blancs, with flavors of pastry, poached apple, crystallized honey and candied ginger riding the finely detailed mousse. This is a touch smoky, presenting a resonant minerality on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 500 cases imported. — AN”

Sunday Night Newsletter 8-7-22

 In This Newsletter:


Newly Arrived:
Stellar Salvioni

New Week – New Arrivals


California’s New Gold:
Christian Moueix’s Exceptional Ulysses Vineyard Cab

Domaine Huet

Collector’s Corner:
Pierre Gelin’s World-Class Burgundy

  

Vinopolis Wine Shop

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Wednesday, August 10th

We’re open for our regularly scheduled hours all other days:

10 am – 6 pm

Our webstore never closes!



Newly Arrived: 

Stellar Salvioni
 
You’ve heard of iconic Brunello’s like Biondi Santi but Salvioni should also be on your radar. With less than 10 acres or 1/5th of their property planted to grapevines, pampered doesn’t begin to cover the winegrowing philosophy. Grown at over 1,200 feet above sea level, there is a near constant breeze that assists in maintaining acidity and reducing disease pressure. The confluence of breezes and high elevation ensure that freshness is maintained even in exactingly hot vintages like 2017. The resulting wines combine jammy ripeness with lifted acidity, almost Napa-esque. In order to maximize the power of their old vines, yields are highly reduced and spend more than the required time in vat and bottle.

Newly Arrived from Salvioni:

Salvioni Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ml ($249.95) $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola grows in intensity in the glass, with delicate aromas that are especially floral and light in character. Instead of blackberry or blackcurrant, this elegant wine delivers cassis and cranberry. Instead of overt spice, you get licorice, balsam herb and camphor ash. The Salvioni house style is ethereal and light, and although that extra vintage ripeness and concentration does register on the palate, farming and winemaking at this estate puts an emphasis on acidity over power or structure. These choices were particularly important in 2017.”

Salvioni Cerbaiola Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ml ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Salvioni Rosso di Montalcino leads off with a zesty, fresh display of Sangiovese fruit, as a mix of cherry and strawberry is complemented by hints of sweet spice, leather and gorgeous exotic florals. On the palate, I’m finding a wonderfully pure expression, focused on ripe red fruits with energizing acids and subtle spice, as pretty inner rose develops toward the close. Hints of fine tannin and minerals mingle throughout the finish, and a staining of black cherry lingers on and on. What a beautiful, feminine, and truly enjoyable vintage for the Salvioni Rosso.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Medium bright red. Candied raspberry, blueberry, and flowers on the nose and in the mouth. Suave but still youthfully tight, vibrant and perfumed on the long steely finish. A bright Rosso that finishes clean and seamless, featuring terrific cut and length.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Giulio Salvioni’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino La Cerbaiola is a silky and fine expression of Sangiovese, a welterweight offering that jabs with little punches of wild berry, tilled soil and blue flower. This Rosso accomplishes an important feat here: It is not a less intense expression of the mighty Tuscan grape, but rather a more nuanced one. That’s exactly what a top-ranked Rosso di Montalcino should be. We’re not looking for that characteristic Brunello power. This wine instead provides us with an approachable yet pleasurable experience, packed tight with varietal and territorial purity. This release weighed in at a relatively sprightly 10,133 bottles.”

Shop our complete selection of 72 wines from Montalcino in stock now!


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Be well & drink well.


New Week – New Arrivals

Rosé

Proprieta Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa’ Rosato Coste della Sesia, Piedmont 2021 750ml ($29.95) $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “Good luck pulling away from the 2021 Rosa del Rosa, with its sweetly scented bouquet that mixes notes of dusty rose and ripe strawberries with enriching hints of butter cream and vanilla bean. This sets off all of the pleasure indicators with soft textures complemented by sweet red fruits, then contrasted by sour citrus and, finally, a bump of juicy acidity that keeps the energy high. There’s plenty of length to keep the palate reeling with mouthwatering pleasure, as the Rosa del Rosa, a varietal Nebbiolo Rosato, tapers off wickedly fresh and long. This is, yet again, one of the top Italian Rosès of the vintage.”

Von Winning Spatburgunder Rosé, Deidesheim 2021 750ml ($24.95) $18.50 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Skurnik Wines note “Region: Pfalz. Grape Variety: [Pinot Noir] Vineyards: Mix of sites in Diedesheim and Rupertsberg. Soil Types: Red sandstone, limestone, loess and clay. Age of Vines: 25 years. Farming Technique: Sustainable. Fermentation & Elevage: respectful cooperation with nature in the vineyard and minimal interference with the wine’s inner structure in the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $23.99

Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Cistercien Rose, Niederosterreich 2021 750ml ($21.95) $18 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Rosé on the estate is not seen as a secondary product to red wine. So we are not doing ‘saignée’ in order to concentrate the reds, but we are working our vineyards in order to get the perfect Gobelsburg Rosé–style, which is somehow closer to a white wine than towards a red wine style. We are seeking a nice and elegant aroma, fresh and lean texture and a acidity for pure drinking pleasure.”


Oregon

Red Electric “Interurban” Pinot Noir, Armstrong Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ml ($31.95) $27 special, 9 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Aromas of candied strawberry with some orange peel and spice follow through to a medium body with firm, fine tannins that are long and focused. Fresh and tight at the end, suggesting another two or three years of bottle age will bring this around. Try after 2024.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Red Electric “The Pulse” Pinot Noir, Armstrong Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ml ($55.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Glistening red. Spice-accented raspberry, cherry, candied rose and spicecake scents reveal building mineral and botanical herb flourishes. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red and blue fruit flavors that deepen through the back half with no loss of energy. Closes very long and focused, with repeating floral and spice notes and fine-grained tannins lending subtle grip. 30% whole clusters; 15% new French oak.”
James Suckling 93 points “Sweet-berry and stem aromas with some perfume. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins that are slightly austere, but attractive. Give it two or three years to open and soften. Try after 2024.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Red Electric “TGV” Pinot Noir, Armstrong Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ml ($79.95) $66 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. A highly perfumed, sharply focused bouquet evokes spicy red and blue fruits, cola and succulent herbs, and hints of potpourri and incense emerge as the wine opens up. Vibrant, mineral-driven raspberry, cherry and spicecake flavors deftly blend power and finesse. Polished tannins add shape to an impressively long, finely detailed finish that leaves echoing floral and spice notes behind. 40% whole clusters and 25% new French oak.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Elevee Bjornson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ml ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Limpid ruby-red. High-pitched red and blue fruit and floral scents are complemented by suggestions of smoky minerals and baking spices. Juicy and energetic on the palate, offering vibrant raspberry, boysenberry and musky licorice flavors that slowly deepen through the midpalate. Shows fine definition and spicy cut on a long, gently tannic finish that leaves behind suggestions of candied rose and succulent herbs. 33% new oak.” 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


France – Chablis

Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2018 750ml ($119.95) $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Bright, tender lemon and fragrant summer blossom give a sense of delicacy to this wine’s chalky nose. The chalky, concentrated and textured palate is also pervaded by lemon zestiness that makes the mouth water. Yet the wine also has generosity and lovely balance. Richness and freshness are anchored in the stony depth of the wine, making it a joy to drink. Over the years the chalkiness will become even more pronounced. Drink by 2040. -Anne Krebiehl MW”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Vaucoupin, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ml ($79.95) $59 special, 24+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Vaucoupin, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ml ($499.95) $336 special (that’s only $56/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Hayflower blends with fresh moss on this wine’s gentle nose. The palate adds ripe lemon freshness that is mouthfilling, smooth and textured with yeasty richness that is aligned to chalky depth. This is rounded but fresh, ripe but toned. -Anne Krebiehl MW”
Decanter 93 points “Lovely pineapple on the nose with spritzy vibrant lemon and peach on the palate as well as notes of biscuit and brioche. This is a more concentrated and linear style with defined minerality running underneath and finishing on a wet stone flavour. It’s juicy, succulent and really moreish. Plenty to enjoy here. Drinking Window 2020 – 2030.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Chablis Les Vaucopins 1er Cru is quintessential Chablis on the nose of Granny Smith apples, petrichor and touches of pressed white flowers. The palate is vibrant and poised, presenting a citrus core of fruit surrounded by traces of blackberry leaf, ginger and dried quince. So much tension here! This is a great Vaucopins from the domaine. Superb.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


France – Jura

Domaine Rolet Pere & Fils Cremant du Jura Brut NV 750ml ($24.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This blend of chardonnay, savagnin, pinot noir, and poulsard was sourced from various marl-based vineyards in and around Arbois, and was whole cluster pressed with at least 6 months on lees prior to secondary fermentation. The wine rested a minimum of 3 years on lees prior to disgorgement, with 10 g/L.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine Rolet Pere & Fils Arbois Blanc Chardonnay, Jura 2016 750ml ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “It was Désiré Rolet who in 1942 began making wine in the small region of the Jura in eastern France. In 1958, his 4 children all decided to stay in the family business and took over from their father. Since that time the domaine has risen in prominence in the region and acquired prime old vine vineyards in the appellations of Arbois and Côtes du Jura. From the beginning, quality farming has been the focus; today the domaine is undergoing a complete conversion to organic farming, which in their steep-sloped vineyards can be quite difficult indeed. No herbicides or pesticides are ever used and the soils are constantly ploughed – creating beautiful, healthy vineyards. The commitment to quality viticulture extends into the cellar where they produce balanced, mineral-driven wines that can only come from the Jura. The wines always exhibit a focused purity and intensity of flavor which maintain the cool climate typicity of this mountainous region.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Rolet Pere & Fils Arbois Savagnin Ouille, Jura 2019 750ml ($29.95) $26.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Made from the little known Savagnin, a white grape found exclusively in the region Jura in Eastern France. You would be forgiven for thinking that it’s a Chablis Grand Cru, with its minerality, spice and tension all supported by bright citrus favours. Domaine Rolet is a family run property with beautiful, healthy vineyards owing to the herbicides and pesticide free vineyards and soils which are constantly ploughed. Their commitment is also evident in the cellar where they produce balanced, mineral-driven wines that can only come from the Jura.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Rolet Pere & Fils Arbois Poulsard Vieilles Vignes, Jura 2018 750ml ($27.95) $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Probably one of the oldest grape varieties specificly from the Jura, the Poulsard Vieilles Vignes matures for 18 months in stock vats before its bottling in order to acquire suppleness, roundness and typicity.  A light color, brilliant, very characteristic from the Poulsard, a slight orange meniscus. An animal flavor, “meaty” typical from the vintage. Red fruits characterize this light red colored wine. A good balance to the taste between fine and closed-in tannins and a slight vivacity at the finish make this wine extremely pleasant and easy to drink – light.”

Domaine Rolet Pere & Fils Arbois Vin Jaune, Jura 2012 375ML ($59.95) $39 special, 12 half-bottles in stock now
Importer note “Remarkable wine indeed! Vin Jaune is made exclusively with Juras Savagnin grapes in a way which defies the most elementary oenological laws: 6 years in three quarter filled oak barrels without ouillage (topping up) so that nothing disturbs the thin surface film, a veil of live yeasts, responsible for the yellow colour of the wine. The wine is then bottled in Clavelins holding 62cl, which corresponds to 1 litre of the wine harvested 6 years earlier. At this point the wine is almost indestructible and will age for 100 years or more. Rolet’s vins jaune are benchmark classics, uncorked in advance and served at a temperature of 15 degrees, it develops inimitable, subtle green walnut flavours.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Italy – Piedmont

Morando Silvio Grignolino, Piedmont 2021 750ml ($21.95) $17.70 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Grignolino is the primary grape of this producer, and he crafts an ultra-typical expression of the grape. Impeccable notes of juicy cherries and red flowers with a touch of tannin. Certified organic and aged in stainless steel. This release saw no added sulfur.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2016 750ml ($249.59) $189 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “A certified organic wine, the Cavallotto 2016 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe is born in vineyards on a beautiful ridge in Castiglione Falletto with wide views of both the sunrise and the sunset. From this magical site at the heart of the Barolo appellation comes a wine that represents the very best of vintage and territory. Dark fruit, dried cherry, wild plum, rose and iron ore meet a perfect intersection that gives this Barolo a beautiful sense of balance and inner energy. Fruit comes from a 2.4-hectare plot with southwest-facing vines that are 60 years old. After destemming, the grapes see 28 days of skin contact (semi-submerged caps) in steel tanks. Secondary fermentation occurs in cement in the spring following the harvest. The wine is aged in Slavonian oak for 60 months. Production is 8,794 bottles and other larger formats.”
Jancis Robinson 18/20 “Casiglione Falletto. Cask sample. Deep ruby with orange tinges. Deep and brooding dark nose loaded with stony minerally notes. Hints of dried fruits mingle with cherry. Lush, juicy and long and sensationally balanced. Gorgeous fine gravelly tannins supporting the fruit. Long and with a full spread on the finish. Amazing depth of flavour.”

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vignolo, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2016 750ml ($159.95) $139 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Cavallotto 2016 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is an organic wine that shows superb balance and great intensity. Elegance and power are in fact the twofold hallmark of this iconic vintage. This is a polished and silky wine with an almost glossy or latex-like quality to its tannins (that I love, by the way). This 5,333-bottle production hails from a two-hectare vineyard with 40-year-old vines. It has southwest exposures at a breezy 220 to 310 meters in altitude.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $152


Italy – Other

Iacopo Paolucci ‘Iacopone’ Grechetto di Todi, Umbria 2020 750ml ($21.95) $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
At first cidery, with a floral and pretty nose, this skin-contact white was aged in stainless steel.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Brigo “Baracca” Lambrusco di Sorbara 2021 750ml ($19.95) $16 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Dry, with tart red berry notes. This is just begging for a charcuterie, cheese, and pickles board!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Germany

Von Winning Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz, Deidesheim NV 750ml ($29.95) $26 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “I’m lucky to have enjoyed this exciting Riesling Sparkler on a few occasions now. I love its intensity, crisp detail and briskly dry profile that make it celebratory but sublime with meals especially first courses or as an aperitif to whet the palate. German bubbles are incredible and this one is a classy example at a reasonable price, not to be outdone by Prosecco, the Cremants of Alsace, the Loire and Burgundy, and Champagne even, these modern Sekt(s) are stylish, elegant and full of personality. This one [is] in the mold of one of my favorite small Champagne house, Agrapart, with its cool invigorating mineral tones and extreme dry flavors. Von Winning is one of Germany’s top wineries, based in the chalky sandstone soiled Pfalz region, with an exceptional range of wines, especially their absolutely awesome series of Grosses Gewachs (Grand Cru) Rieslings, though there is excellence throughout the collection here and as I have noted in my prior reviews, Von Winning does one of the finest Sauvignon Blanc(s) in the world, too. The Extra Brut Riesling Sekt is vibrant and steely from the start with a mix of zesty citrus and peachy fruits, a hint of wet stones, leesy/yeasty notes and a faint floral element all of which folds together nicely and vigorously on the energy driven light to medium bodied palate that gains texture with air, but stays firmly taut with an expressive, subtly luxurious small bubbled mousse. This is delicious stuff, I’m so happy after a lengthy wait that the Von Winning sparkling Riesling is more readily available in the States.”
Disgorgment date and base vintage may vary from review.


Austria

Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Zweigelt, Niederosterreich 2019 750ml ($21.95) $18 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Over the last several decades, the Zweigelt grape has developed a strong identity in Austria and especially in the Danube region where the hometown (Langenlois) of its creator Dr. Zweigelt is. The Zweigelt vineyards in Gobelsburg are found on banks of crushed gravelly stones that were formed during the last Ice Age. This wine exudes a shiny ruby red color with a light violet tone. On the nose is fruitiness with hints of cherries along with spicy nuances. The full body with delicate notes make this wine an all-around food companion.”
Skurnik Wines importer note “Zweigelt fits perfectly into the estate’s Burgundy focus, especially as this variety is related to Pinot Noir. The Zweigelt vineyards in Gobelsburg are found on banks of crushed gravelly stones that were formed during the last Ice Age.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!


New Zealand

Te Pā Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2021 750ml ($21.95) $17 special, 11 bottles in stock now
18.5/20 Raymond Chan Wine Reviews “Bright, pale yellow with a slight green hue, even colour throughout. The nose is pure and clean, with voluminous aromas of white cassis, gooseberries harmoniously melded with elderflower and tomato vine with a spice lifting. Medium-light-bodied, the palate is packed with the purity of white cassis, gooseberries, lime, effortlessly interweave with elderflower, tomato vine, and delicate white spice lingers to linearity. The wine is ethereally smooth flowing, guided by integrated, spicy acidity, carries concentrated fruit with elegance. There is a subtle, fine-textured, chalky minerally phenolics 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. Match with clams with seaweed butter and pan-fried Dover sole over the next 3 years.”
New Zealand Wine Rater 92 points “A lifted, sweet, confected nose, with white flowers, pear drop, nettles, and herbal notes of white sage and basil. Tangy, fresh, vivacious and very tasty with a soft, lush texture and plenty of zesty acidity. An elegant style with good persistence, drinkability and wide commercial appeal.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2021 750ml ($31.95) $25.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibbs MW-Vinous 92 points “Unlike most Marlborough Sauvignons, the 2021 Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc is cropped low and hand-harvested in a bid to increase concentration and restraint, respectively. This is a Scrappy Doo of a wine with its youthful ‘lemme at ’em’ vivacity. It has masses of dissolved CO2, clearly visible on pouring, which provides a slight crackle in the mouth. The wine is citrus-driven, with lemon and lime meeting pineapple and more subtle details of jasmine, green herbs and flint. The finish is powerful and intense, potentially due to the naturally low yields of 2021 adding that extra punch. I’d like to leave this another six months to allow Scrappy Doo to calm down, although I suspect it’ll be put on wine lists and sold before then.”


California’s New Gold: 

Christian Moueix’s Exceptional Ulysses Vineyard Cabernet

You’ve heard of Dominus and their multi-award winning Cabernet, but did you know that there’s a sister label just as storied? Ulysses is another single vineyard owned by Christian Moueix located in Oakville at the foot of the Mayacamas Mountain Range. Just like her sister, the Ulysses vineyard is organically farmed with no irrigation (No small feat given the rising temperatures as a result of climate change) and given as much pampering in the cellar as Dominus.

Primarily composed of Cabernet Sauvignon with a sprinkling of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, the resulting wine from 2018 is rich and opaque. We’ve secured an allotment of various formats, but as you can expect quantities are in short supply given the restrictive growing conditions. Such a picture perfect growing season with no heat spikes and cooler evenings hasn’t been seen in years. Even fire season seemed to wait until harvest was complete, making this an especially kismet vintage. 

Ulysses in stock now: 

Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $169 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 375ML ($99.95) $79 special, 6 half-bottles in stock now
Ulysses Vineyard Napa Valley 2018 1.5L ($399.95) $339 special, 1 magnum in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine off Christian Moueix’s Oakville ranch so far. Deep, creamy and generous, the 2018 captures the unique blend of fruit in a savoriness that is typical of the southern sector of Oakville where cooling winds from the south lend palpable freshness and vivacity to the vines. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the sumptuous finish.”
 
Don’t forget the Dominus!
 


Domaine Huet

“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’…” – Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist

Huet makes some of the most undervalued great wine in the world. Take any metric you’d use to adjudicate greatness (complexity, age-worthiness, terroir, aromatic intensity, world-wide praise, etc) and Huet’s Vouvray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in their class.

This Loire Valley producer was established in Vouvray in the 1920’s and has long been ahead of its time. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Today, horses still plough between the rows, and in the winery the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malolactic fermentation. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.

Few producers anywhere in the world make better off-dry to sweet white wines than Domaine Huet. Were we to include all the praise these divine bottlings have achieved from our favorite reviewers, this newsletter would run twice the length. These are wines that offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for decades. 

Highlights In Stock Now:

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2018 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Round and expressive, with great balance between the sweetness of orchard fruit and bracing acidity reminiscent of clementine. Jasmine and sweet spice notes emerge midpalate, while ground ginger details mark the velvety finish. Drink now through 2034. 2,100 cases made.  –AZ”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibbs MW-Vinous 97 points “Drinking the 2020 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is like taking your shoes off at the end of a long day of walking and soaking them in warm water: there’s just satisfaction and relaxation. The 2020 has a sense of volume but not weight, filling the mouth with depths of pure fruit before the acid pours forth like a canal lock being opened. You can expect a hint of spice and crème caramel alongside apple and florals. I am utterly seduced.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2020 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95-96 points “Pure, fresh and limey on the deep yet bright and precisely flinty-chalky nose, the 2020 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is a Chenin full of crunchy energy and charm, thanks to its concentrated but round and lush fruit. This full-bodied wine is intense, tight and long but also finessed and vibrantly fresh on the finish, which reveals this crunchy flint stone structure and tension that guarantees an ability to age for decades, though the wine is already dangerously stimulating today. Tasted as a tank sample a few days before bottling in April 2021.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous crystallized ginger, dried quince, glazed pear and warm persimmon notes are seamlessly interwoven here, gliding through a lengthy finish that picks up a lilting green tea accent. Frankly off-dry but wonderfully pure. Drink now through 2035.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2020 750ML ($51.95) $46 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibbs MW-Vinous 96 points “There are many shouty wines in the world, but the 2020 Le Mont Moelleux is understated, which is highly attractive. There’s finesse and elegance to this sweeter style (49g/L). Delicate exotic characters such as dried papaya and pineapple sit alongside floral notes. While there’s excellent concentration, this remains delicate. The finish is appetizing thanks to fine acidity and phenolic structure, which hold the mouth reassuringly on the finish. An excellent wine that offers real drinkability in youth thanks to its appealing primary fruit, but there’s no hurry at all to drink. A smidgen more length would take it into even higher realms (although, let’s be fair, it’s not far off as good as it gets).”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie opens with a very clear, deep and flinty/herbal bouquet of ripe concentrated stone fruits intermixed with chalky/smoky aromas, very complex and truly exciting! Light, fresh and tensioned on the palate, that is very pure and salty but also tight and concentrated. The 2016 Le Mont reveals crystalline acidity, delicate but serious tannin grip and a long, complex, stimulating finish. This is Chenin Blanc full of energy and aging potential, provided with concentration, lingering salinity and vibrancy. This is a fascinating Le Mont, surely the top wine of Huet’s excellent 2016 series. Bottled with 92 grams of residual sugar, it tastes less sweet than the corresponding Clos du Bourg. Tasted February 2018.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvee Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) $159 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 99 points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”



Collector’s Corner:

Pierre Gelin’s World-Class Burgundy

Based in the small village of Fixin, Domaine Pierre Gelin occupies a unique niche. Third generation winemaker Pierre-Emmanuel makes world-class Burgundy; however prices haven’t kept up with most of Gelin’s peers, especially those based in nearby Gevrey-Chambertin. This fact mystifies anyone who has tasted Gelin’s wines, as they more than hold their own when tasted blind against most of Gevrey-Chambertin’s most notable producers.

The only downside is that our allocations were extremely limited, with only few bottles remaining of many of the wines. So look below for your favorite recent vintages and discover what insiders in-and-around Gevrey-Chambertin already know: Gelin is a name worth knowing.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos de Meixvelle, Gevrey-Chambertin 2010 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 89 points “A supple, expressive red, with aromas of cherry, licorice and cinnamon. On the chewy side, featuring dense tannins and a gripping, spicy finish. Best from 2016 through 2029. 250 cases imported.”


This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Pierre Gelin Clos Prieur, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows plenty of cherry and pomegranate flavors, along with a racy structure that defines the berry, spice and mineral notes. Stays firm on the finish but should settle down with time. 40 cases imported.”


This is the only listing in the USA today!
 

Friday Night Newsletter 8-5-22

In This Newsletter:

Majestic Rioja:
CVNE

New Wine Advocate Reviews
for Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port
 
California Treasure Trove:
New Arrivals from Bond/SQN/Hundred Acre/Shafer

Staff Pick: Agape Cremant D’Alsace
 
Cantine Lonardo:
The Captain of Campania



Vinopolis Wine Shop

Will Be Closed

Wednesday, August 10th

We’re open for our regularly scheduled hours all other days:

10 am – 6 pm

Our webstore never closes!



Majestic Rioja:

CVNE

Looking for absolutely classical Rioja at outstanding pricing? Look for four letters: CVNE. CVNE (or Cune) was founded in 1879 by brothers Eusebio and Raimundo Real de Asúa after Raimundo moved to the town of Haro (also of Lopez de Heredia fame) for his health. They set up the winery partially as a negociant, much like Bordeaux. Fast forward to today and the family (down the female line) is on its fifth generation of owning and operating the house—still making excellent, classical wines at more than fair prices.

In Stock Now:

CVNE ‘Imperial’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ml ($99.95) $84.50 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-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.”
Luis Guttierez-Wine Advocate 94 points “No 2013 was produced, as it was a very challenging year in Haro. So, from the 2012 I tasted last time, we jumped to the 2014 Imperial Gran Reserva, an icon among classical Rioja. The grapes for this blend of 85% Tempranillo, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo were picked during the first half of October at a low 13.5% alcohol and were fermented in small oak vats followed by malolactic in concrete and two years in barrel. The bottles are kept for at least 36 months before they are released. As the Imperial Reserva, the style of this wine has to be preserved (they can innovate in the new Asúa range). There is a developed and subtle nose reminiscent of petrol (is it mineral?), hints of iodine and sweet spices. The palate is powerful and still a little tannic, as the wine was released even earlier because they skipped one vintage. Serious, austere, faithful to its character. 50,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2017.”

CVNE ‘Imperial’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ml ($49.95) $41.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely floral and attractive with crushed lavender, rosemary and violets to the blue fruit. Full body. Tight and integrated tannins and a lightly chewy finish. Shows depth and structure. One of the best from here in a long time. Drink in 2021, but already attention grabbing.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep, brilliant ruby. Cherry, cassis, vanilla and incense on the expansive nose, where a zesty mineral note adds vibrancy. Sappy and precise on the palate, offering sweet dark berry, cherry liqueur and violet pastille flavors along with hints of mocha and spicecake. Rich and ample in style but shows superb energy as well. Finishes sweet, seamless and extremely long, with lingering florality and polished, fully integrated tannins.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “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.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $45

CVNE ‘Cune’ Ecologico – Organic, Rioja DOCa 2019 750ml ($17.95) $12.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-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!”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

CVNE Vina Real Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2017 750ml ($19.95) $14.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 CVNE Vina Real Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2017 750ml ($219.95) $166 special (that’s only $13.83/bottle!) ***in-store pick up only
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. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The popular red 2017 Viña Real Crianza is a gastronomical blend produced with grapes from Rioja Alavesa: 90% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo and Graciano fermented in stainless steel and matured in oak barrels for 13 to 14 months, during which time it was racked every five to six months. The first thing that is going to catch your attention is the new label, which takes things from the past but put in a new, more modern style, which also reflects what the wine is like. The Viña Real range (white, rosé and Reserva) is gradually going to adopt this same label but with the letters in different colors. The second thing that I also loved is the Garnacha character that clearly comes through, even if it represents a small percentage in the final blend (Garnacha and Graciano like heat and do well in warmer years). The oak is nicely folded and integrated into the fruit. Very enjoyable and fresh, in line with what consumers expect but with an extra spark of red fruit that is quite remarkable for the 2017 vintage. The palate is textured, fine and polished, with very fine tannins and high drinkability. I think this is one of the Crianzas that I have enjoyed the most in recent times. I love it. Remarkable for a year like 2017.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Editor’s Choice. Full berry and plum aromas are complete as they lead to a racy palate with lively acidity and spirit. Cherry, plum and a dusting of cocoa are lead players on the flavor profile, while this crianza finishes long and fresh. This is everything you want from Rioja crianza. -Michael Schachner”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
 
New Wine Advocate Reviews

for Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port

Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2017 750ml ($119.95) $99 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2017 375ml ($69.95) $59 special, 9 half-bottles in stock now
Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2017 1.5L ($249.95) $199 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2017 Vintage Port is a field blend aged for approximately 20 months in wood. It comes in with 100 grams of residual sugar. Rich, concentrated and often sensational, this is well structured, even better in its fruit profile. While the fruit is terrific, it is also wonderfully fresh. This is arguably a great Taylor’s, but it still needs to prove its final case in the cellar. I don’t think that will be a problem. As I said when I first saw it, it effortlessly combines brilliant fruit and structure. It does everything right, and it is a formidable competitor to its Vinha Velha sibling in this report. And at half the price.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $107

Taylor Fladgate Vintage Port 2016 750ml ($119.95) $99 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Vintage Port was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 102 grams of residual sugar. When last seen, this was a fine Taylor’s, not my favorite, perhaps, but very fine. It is a little precocious in this elegant year, which is not to say there isn’t a tannic backbone. Also, this did have a few hours in the glass. Still, the first and last impression is the big, beautiful fruit. It is a delicious Taylor’s that is hard to resist. It also is firm on the finish and likely to evolve well. Complexity will come in time. I don’t see any reason to change anything about my original evaluation just now. This is still too young to show much development.”

Shop our Port selections here!

 
California Treasure Trove:

New Arrivals

Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ml ($699.95) $599 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 100 points “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith leaps from the glass with gregarious black and red cherries, mulberries, black currant cordial, red roses and lavender scents with layers of crushed rocks and earthy sparks. Faint earth and exotic spice nuances unfurl slowly, growing in intensity and depth. The palate is full-bodied and solidly structured with firm, very finely grained, super ripe tannins and bold freshness. Finishing exquisitely perfumed, jaw-droppingly layered and with bags of sophistication and poise, this wine totally resets the benchmark for 100 points.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $700

Sine Qua Non Jusqu’à l’Os Grenache, Sta Rita Hills 2013 750ml ($499.95) $419 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2013 Grenache Jusqu’ a l’os was produced from 79% Grenache from the 11 Confessions Vineyard along with 18% Syrah and 3% Petite Sirah, produced using 89% whole cluster and aged for around 38 months in 51% used oak, 6% new French oak and 43% concrete tanks (bottled December 6, 2016). It displays a medium to deep garnet color and rock star vibrant red currant and black raspberry scents with hints of licorice, mocha, Indian spices and peppered salami plus oh-so-fragrant and seductive touches of potpourri and chargrill. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and opulently fruited in the mouth, the alluring, velvety tannins support savory, spicy layers right through the long, mineral-laced finish. This is one drop dead gorgeous, femme fatale of a wine. 868 cases of 750 milliliter bottles, 223 magnums and 30 double magnums were made.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “A darker, more potent side of Grenache comes through in the 2013 Grenache Jusqu’à l’Os. This powerhouse wine is nowhere near ready to drink. Swaths of tannin enshroud a core of plum, dark fruit in this muscular, brooding Grenache from Sine Qua Non. Readers will have to be patient. The 2013 is 79% Grenache, 18% Syrah and 3% Petite Sirah, all from Eleven Confessions, done with 89% whole clusters.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $583

Sine Qua Non ‘Le Supplement’ Syrah, Sta Rita Hills 2013 750ml ($599.95) $519 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 100 points “Coming entirely from the Eleven Confessions Estate Vineyard and composed of 89% Syrah, 6% Petite Sirah, 3% Grenache and 2% Viognier, using 28% whole cluster, the 2013 Syrah Le Supplement is just starting to evolve into beguiling earthy/meaty tertiary notes with suggestions of sandalwood, mossy bark, black soil, patchouli and salami over a core of blackberry compote, preserved plums, mincemeat pie and star anise with a touch of dried lavender. Rich, concentrated and decadent, the full-bodied, opulent palate explodes with black fruits preserves peppered by meaty/savory nuances and culminating in epically lingering exotic spice notes. 866 cases, 228 magnums and 30 double magnums were produced.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $647

Additional stock & new lower price!
Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2004 750ml ($699.95) Was $549, Now $519 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 98 points “The wild man of Napa Valley, Jayson Woodbridge, has turned out one of the superstars of 2004, with the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan. His wines always tend to be gorgeous young, offering up an impression that they’re not going to last. But his first vintage, 2000, seems to get better and better, even though it was spectacular when released. The 2004, which was harvested in September, shows an almost Pomerol-like sweet mocha, kirsch, black currant and deeply fruited mouthfeel. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, but the clay soils of his vineyard seem to give a sweetness of tannin and a voluptuous character to the texture. This wine oozes rich, concentrated fruit, is light on its feet and has gorgeous purity, a multidimensional mouthfeel and a stunning finish. Silky black currant, kirsch, licorice, mocha and caramelized fruit make for a stunningly full-throttle, brilliant 2004 to enjoy over the next 15 or more years.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $569

Shafer Vineyards Hillside Select Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2011 750ml ($299.95) $249 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 96 points “Possibly the Cabernet Sauvignon of the vintage is Shafer’s 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select. Last year I thought it was a strong effort, but it’s even better now that it’s been bottled. With an opaque black/purple color and notes of subtle burning charcoal embers, blueberry, blackberry and graphite, the wine has a certain Bordelais minerality, but then the richness of Napa kicks in. It’s full-bodied (somewhat unusual for a 2011) with lighter tannins, and no doubt the wine will be on a faster evolutionary track than vintages such as 2010, 2012 and 2013. Nevertheless, the Shafers and Elias said this was the toughest vintage they’d ever experienced. To be able to produce a compelling wine like this is a testament to their extraordinary skills and craftsmanship. This wine can be drunk now or cellared for another 15-20 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $293
 
 
Bond Estates

2012s:

Bond Melbury, Napa Valley 2012 750ml ($499.95) $419 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2012 Melbury is in a perfect spot today. Radiant and succulent to the core, the 2012 captures the essence of the vintage in its racy, succulent personality. The 2012 is not a huge wine, but it is quite open and accessible. Overall, though, the 2012 lacks the pop and sheer energy of the finest vintages in this vertical.”
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 95 points “From a 7-acre hillside vineyard overlooking Lake Hennessey, the 2012 Melbury, like its siblings, is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 100% new oak for a minimum of 24 to 28 months, then bottled unfiltered. The wine displays beautiful blackberry fruit, some charcoal, loamy soil undertones, forest notes, lots of spice, a full-bodied, multi-dimensional mouthfeel, and a super finish of 45+ seconds. Even in a vintage like 2012, this wine ideally needs 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for 30+ years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bond Pluribus, Napa Valley 2012 750ml ($499.95) $419 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “All the best qualities of the vintage come through in the 2012 Pluribus. Pliant and inviting, with striking depth, the 2012 has a lot to say. This is another subtle, understated wine from Bond that is presently holding back quite a bit. Even so, its potential is evident. Today, the 2012 is super-impressive.”
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 95+ points “From a 7-acre parcel on Spring Mountain, the 2012 Pluribus Proprietary Red Wine exhibits the white flowers (acacia?), blueberry and black raspberry fruit that comes from this high elevation site. It is full-bodied but very tannic, backward, coiled and relatively tight, behaving in that sense more like a 2013 than a 2012. This wine is set for a long life of 30+ years. Forget it for another 4 or 5 years, then consume it over the following three decades.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $510

Bond Quella, Napa Valley 2012 750ml ($499.95) $419 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2012 Quella (from a steep 9-acre vineyard in the eastern Vaca hillsides) has an opaque purple color, a gorgeous nose of white flowers, sweet blackberry and cassis fruit, and a touch of vanilla and graphite. Full-bodied, like its siblings, with great fruit extract, terrific purity and richness, and high but velvety tannins, this wine should also benefit from another 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for 30+ years.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $473

Bond St. Eden, Napa Valley 2012 750ml ($499.95) $419 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 98 points “From an 11-acre vineyard just north of the Oakville corridor, the 2012 St. Eden shows gorgeous, cedary Christmas fruitcake notes, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, spice box, earth, and almost first growth Pauillac-like cassis and lead pencil shavings. Deep, full-bodied, and fabulously concentrated, this stunner flirts with perfection. Slightly more evolved than the Quella or Melbury, this wine may be the most drinkable out of the gate of all the Bond offerings in 2012. It should continue to evolve for at least 30+ years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bond Vecina, Napa Valley 2012 750ml ($519.95) $449 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 100 points “From an 11-acre vineyard sitting near Bond’s winery and the Harlan estate, the 2012 Vecina Proprietary Red is the perfect Napa version of a hypothetical blend of a La Mission Haut-Brion and Mouton-Rothschild. This is riveting Cabernet Sauvignon with great intensity, a killer fragrance of burning embers, charcoal, gravel, blackberry, cassis and earth. Fabulously intense and full-bodied, with majestic flavor intensity, a skyscraper-like mouthfeel, incredible purity and length, and supple tannins, this magnificent wine comes closest to the great Harlan Estate itself. Drink it over the next 35 years.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Gloriously ripe and hedonistic, the 2012 Vecina is also the most expressive of the Bond 2012s. Layers of intense dark fruit, smoke, licorice, new leather and exotic spices build as this resonant, deeply textured Cabernet Sauvignon shows off its personality. The 2012 is all class. Moreover, it possesses a level of sheer volume I don’t see in the other 2012s here.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $550

2018s:

Bond Melbury, Napa Valley 2018 750ml ($899.95) $819 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2018 Melbury is, as always, the first of the single-vineyard wines presented at Bond. The order is always the same: Melbury-Quella-St. Eden-Vecina and Pluribus. I suppose that makes sense from the standpoint of concentration and structure, but it is quite penalizing for the Melbury, a wine that is more about elegance than power or tannins. That said, the 2018 is not a shy wine, it certainly has plenty of depth. Freshness, energy and verve are the signatures in a Cabernet that is all about intangibles. Hints of dark red cherry, tobacco, rose petal, mint and sweet spice emerge over time. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 96-98 points “A barrel sample, the 2018 Melbury sports a deep garnet-purple and sashays out of the glass with bold, gregarious scents of fresh black cherries, mulberries and plums with hints of black currants, cinnamon toast and Sichuan pepper. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and refreshing, it is chock-full of crunchy fruit with compelling mineral accents coming through on the long finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bond Pluribus, Napa Valley 2018 750ml ($899.95) $819 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2018 Pluribus captures all of the savory, mineral intensity of this site on Spring Mountain. Searing tannins, once such a challenge here, are much more finessed than in the past. Crushed rocks, mint, blood orange, gravel, exotic spice and rose petal lend tremendous complexity as the Pluribus shows off its considerable allure. This taut, mountain Cabernet Sauvignon has so much to offer. Today, it is wonderfully complete and thrilling. Even so, the best is yet to come.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97-100 points “From a vineyard located on Spring Mountain, the 2018 Pluribus (a barrel sample) reveals a deep garnet-purple. Youthfully reticent, it needs a fair bit of coaxing to reveal gorgeous notions of wild blueberries, ripe black plums and warm cassis plus hints of tilled earth, truffles, menthol and tobacco leaf. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with tightly wound black and blue fruit layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and great tension, finishing very long with loads of earthy/savory sparks.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $864

Bond Quella, Napa Valley 2018 750ml ($899.95) $819 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Quella is rich, ample and beautifully resonant in the glass. There’s terrific depth here and tons of class. Blood orange, game, licorice, tobacco, lavender and dried herbs give the Quella beguiling aromatic presence to play off its muscular, brooding personality. The 2018 needs a few years to soften, but it is already compelling, to say the least.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 95-97 points “A barrel sample, the 2018 Quella has a deep garnet-purple color and opens with the most gorgeous perfume of violets, red and black plums, Morello cherries and cassis plus hints of iron ore and crushed rocks. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers lovely energy and tension, framed by fine-grained tannins and finishing with beautiful purity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $858

Bond St. Eden, Napa Valley 2018 750ml ($899.95) $819 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 St. Eden is impressive. Dense and powerful in the glass, the 2018 is done in a style that emphasizes freshness and vibrancy, reflecting a generational transition in all of these wines that is most apparent here. Dark fruit, licorice, mocha, spice and chocolate begin to emerge with time, but the St. Eden is much less forthcoming than in the past. In fact, the 2018 might very well be the most reticent St. Eden I have ever tasted. That energy will serve it well in the cellar. Readers accustomed to the voluptuous, lush St. Edens of the past will not find that in the 2018. As much as the style has changed in this wine, I am not surprised to see that. A complete vertical of the Bond wines a few years ago showed the St. Eden to have the most condensed arc of peak drinkability of the Bond wines.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 96-98 points “A barrel sample, the 2018 St. Eden is deep garnet-purple in color. The nose is a little closed at this nascent stage, offering broody glimpses at blackcurrant jelly, boysenberries and black raspberries before opening out to a spicy undercurrent of cloves, black pepper and cumin seed. The palate is built like a brick house with a solid structure of ripe, grainy tannins and a lively backbone framing the full-bodied, muscular fruit, finishing long and layered.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $862

Bond Vecina, Napa Valley 2018 750ml ($899.95) $819 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “A regal, soaring wine, the 2018 Vecina is immediately captivating. Red fruit, iron, dried rose petal and exotic spice all soar out of the glass. Over the last two months the Vecina has acquired stunning aromatic presence to play off its deep, layered fruit. The 2018 is an absolute gem in the making. As a reminder, Vecina is sourced from Vine Hill Ranch, at the southern end of Oakville, where the Cabernets are distinguished by a beguiling combination of power and savory/earthy intensity.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97-99 points “A barrel sample, the 2018 Vecina displays a deep garnet-purple color and offers slowly emerging classic notes of black currants, black cherries, blackberry pie and cedar chest with hints of charcoal, tar, pencil lead and fragrant earth. The full-bodied palate has a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and tons of freshness supporting the generous black fruits, finishing on a lingering mineral note.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $870

 
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Staff Pick:

Agape Cremant D’Alsace

Looking for a sparkler comparable to Champagne without the sticker price? Cremant d’Alsace is a go-to among industry professionals for that reason, and the darling of any brunch attendee. Sourced entirely from biodynamically farmed estate holdings of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc, this is a dead ringer for Champagne proper at first glance. Priced like a Cava and tasting like an Aube Champagne, this is the deal to pounce on!   

With a slightly aggressive perlage on first pour, there’s a delicious aroma of fry bread and Meyer lemon blossom that fills the immediate area. Fruit character is slightly edged out by minerality but still exhibits a white cherry and strawberry note underscored by a finish of almond paste and Fuji apple skin. There’s a long, saline finish that speaks to the clay marl that makes up the dominant soil type of the estate and Alsatian terroir in general.

In stock now: 

Domaine l’Agape Cremant d’Alsace NV 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Wet chalk, tender apple and lot of lemon freshness appear on the nose of this wine. These notions are bound up on the palate in a mellow creaminess. It’s understated and elegant, with lots of fine fruit. The finish is dry and very moreish in its rounded way. -Anne Krebiehl MW” 

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 

Cantine Lonardo:

The Captain of Campania

Aglianico, also known as “The Nebbiolo of the south” has largely flown under the radar since its heyday in the Ancient Era. Fast forward a few thousand years and we have Cantine Lonardo, one of the best kept secrets of Campanian wine, known for their commitments to traditional varieties and farming practices. Lonardo’s Taurasi is made from 35-81 year old Aglianico planted at 1300 feet above sea level, grown organically in a tall pergola in ancient volcanic ash with a base of limestone and clay. Even with these rigorous growing standards, Lonardo will only keep around 50% of his Aglianico for use in Taurasi. The very best lots are kept separate and released as single vineyard bottlings.

This commitment is evident in the finished product, featuring aromatics that command your full attention. There’s a characteristic “Italian Rusticity” to the wine not unlike a high end cologne. These are wines made for anything roasted, braised or red sauce based. Peking duck, grilled cabbage, lasagna or BBQ pork ribs would all perform incredibly with this wine. Get at least two of these wines, one for short term consumption and the other for longer aging.

Highlights In Stock Now from Cantine Lonardo:

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Aglianico Rosso Irpinia, Campania 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Aglianico Rosso Irpinia, Campania 2016 750ML ($319.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!) 
Ian D’Agata –Vinous 92 points “Deep ruby. Lively aromas of red fruits, minerals and herbs. Juicy and fruity in the mouth, showing hazelnutty nuances to the red fruit flavors. Finishes with good acid-fruit balance and nice tannins. A lovely wine that will age well, but provides irresistible drinking right now.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Coste Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata –Vinous 94+ points “Deep ruby. Floral nuances complicate the red and dark berry, ink, sweet spice and flinty aromas and flavors. Dense and seamless, showing a multilayered personality and remarkable complexity of flavor. Finishes very long and with repeating, lingering hints of ink and flint.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Vigne d’Alto Taurasi DOCG 2011 750ML (89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata –Vinous 94+ points “Deep ruby with a purple tinge. Reticent nose at first, only hinting at dark cherry, sassafras and sandalwood. Then very concentrated and dense, displaying almost opulent, sweet nuances of oaky torrefaction to the coffee, cocoa and dark cherry flavors. This outstanding Taurasi finishes extremely long, rich and seamless. It’s virtually impossible to pick between Lonardo’s two crus in 2011, and both will have many admirers.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $76

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Vigne d’Alto Taurasi DOCG 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Perfumed and loaded with finesse, this single-vineyard wine opens with enticing scents of violet, ripe black-skinned fruit, new leather and baking spice. Made with 60- to 100-year-old plants, the smooth, delicious palate delivers succulent Marasca cherry, plum, licorice and nutmeg framed in velvety tannins, making it one of the more elegant expressions of Taurasi out there. A mineral note energizes the lingering finish. Drink through 2032.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $69

Cantine Lonardo Arriving in November: 

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Taurasi DOCG Campania 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Taurasi T31 2012 750ml ($134.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The new T31 is from 100+ year old ungrafted vines on a mix of limestone and volcanic soils, elevage 3 years in tonneau with another 5 years aging in bottle.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Contrade di Taurasi Cantine Lonardo Taurasi Riserva DOCG Campania 2011 750ML ($134.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “The 2011 Taurasi Riserva pulls you close and holds your attention firm with its deeply alluring bouquet of crushed black cherries, plum sauce, autumnal spices, woodland herbs and hints of animal musk. This fills the palate with rich, pliant textures and ripe red and blue berries, as nervous acidity maintains wonderful freshness, and sweet notes of cinnamon, clove and tobacco form toward the close. There’s plenty of tannic grip here, yet it’s balanced by the 2011’s mix of opulent, concentrated fruit and contrasting sour citrus tones that resonate for what feels like a full minute. Even as you contemplate the experience, minerals, hints of iodine and rosy inner florals can still be sensed upon the palate. Make no mistake, this is a full-throttle expression of Taurasi, but it will win the hearts of collectors who enjoy a bigger and old-school style.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!



Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!

Be well & drink well.

Wednesday Night Newsletter 8-3-22

In This Newsletter:

Delas Frères:
Regal Rhône

Beaujolais lovers – don’t miss out on these:
Domaine Anita

New Reviews for Peter Michaels 2019s

Staff Pick

Trending

Southern Rhône Rosé

Collector’s Corner:
Exploring California’s Non-Cab Treasures


Delas Frères:

Regal Rhône

Delas makes some of the most powerful, intense wines in the Northern Rhône at prices that make them one of the superior values in the region. Density and richness are a hallmark—there are no shrinking violets in the lineup. Star Champagne house Louis Roederer purchased Delas in the 90s, bringing much needed renewal to the brand, and has been pushing the quality upwards each year. For whatever reason, the market has yet to catch up to the quality coming out of Delas’ cellar. The Northern Rhône has turned into one of the hottest markets in the wine world, with many wineries getting expensive overnight. The market has yet to catch up to the quality coming out of Delas’ cellar.  For now.

Highlights In Stock Now:

Delas Freres Condrieu La Galopine 2019 750ml ($79.95) $59 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Ripe, flattering style, with a brioche frame around the mix of mirabelle, creamed peach, nectarine, acacia and lemon curd notes. Everything knits nicely through the unctuous finish. Drink now through 2025. 1,500 cases made, 50 cases imported.  –JM”

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes Blanc 2020 750ml ($99.95) $89 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2020 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes Blanc showed brilliantly and is one of the finest vintages of this cuvée I can recall. Gorgeous quince, pineapple, and grilled peach as well as flowers and obvious salty minerality emerge from the glass, and this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, perfect balance, and a great finish, where the wine shows an incredible sense of crushed stone and green almond nuances. It’s beautiful today but won’t hit maturity for a decade and should have 30 years or more of overall longevity.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is a very pure and restrained version, featuring white peach, yellow apple, quinine, honeysuckle and verbena notes stretching out together through a finish that sports a light kiss of brioche at the very end. Approachable now, with charm and elegance. Marsanne and Roussanne. Drink now through 2030. 475 cases made, 16 cases imported.”  

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $95.99

Delas Freres Domaine des Grands Chemins Crozes-Hermitage 2019 750ml ($49.95) $39 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe, showing black licorice and dark plum notes wrapped around each other. This stays vivid and racy in feel, with a lively floral note and swath of dark earth as backdrop on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,333 cases made, 218 cases imported.  –JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Energetic cherry, boysenberry and violet aromas are complemented by hints of black pepper and smoky minerals. Succulent and penetrating on the palate, offering lively, appealingly sweet black/blue fruit flavors and a violet pastille nuance that builds in the midpalate. In a forward, fruit-driven style, finishing with sharp delineation, harmonious tannins and solid, floral-driven persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $45

Delas Freres Cote-Rotie La Landonne 2019 750ml ($319.95) $279 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy. This is seriously tannic, but it’s not tough. Great character, great power and perfect balance. Alcohol is just a little raised, but this is a blockbuster. Around 3,000 bottles made. Fermented in open-top concrete tanks for 20 days, then matured in new and one-year-old barrels for 14 months. Drinking Window 2026 – 2035.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is dark and still a bit reticent, with a cast iron cloak around the core of dark currant, plum and blackberry paste flavors, showing lots of sweet bay leaf, anise and singed apple wood notes in the background. There’s serious grip through the finish. For the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2038. 267 cases made, 40 cases imported.  –JM”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94-96 points “Expressive blackberry, potpourri, smoky bacon and licorice aromas show excellent clarity and minerally lift. Deeply concentrated, spice-laced dark berry preserve, floral pastille and fruitcake flavors are supported by a spine of juicy acidity that adds back-end cut. Becomes more energetic on the impressively persistent finish, which repeats the dark berry and floral notes and leaves behind a spicy suggestion of cracked pepper.”

Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon 2019 750ml ($54.95) $44.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Powerfully scented aromas of fresh black/blue fruits, potpourri, licorice and smoked meat show excellent clarity and vibrant mineral lift. Concentrated boysenberry, cassis and violet pastille flavors are joined by a salty olive note that sneaks in as the wine opens up. Finishes smooth, focused and very long, with broad, fleshy tannins, a hint of smokiness and lingering florality.”
Decanter 92 points “A smooth, elegant style, not as overripe as many this year. Very fine tannins, but a bit drying on the finish. Acidity is marked. This certainly has class, very well made. There’s attention to detail and finesse here. From various plots across the southern part of the appellation. Drinking Window 2022 – 2026.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $51

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 2015 750ml ($89.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 96 points “[Translated] Very closed, blackberry jam, hints of balsamic spice. Creamy start, immediately present minerality, extremely high density with fine but not too silky tannins, an elegance at the maximum of what fits in 14 percent by volume, minerally seasoned, all components seamlessly integrated, ripe, well-bearing acidity, very expressive.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is loaded with well-defined loganberry, blackberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit flavors, flecked with anise and black tea notes and carried by a fine iron streak that lingers wonderfully. A wine of cut, purity and precision. Best from 2020 through 2035. From France.”

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes 2019 750ml ($99.95) $89 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Ripe, fresh, bright and pure, with a racy-edged mix of plum sauce, cherry preserves and blackberry paste flavors underscored with mouthwatering anise, apple wood and sweet tobacco notes. The long finish flows nicely, and this flirts with approachable already, but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2034. 2,083 cases made, 175 cases imported. — JM”
Decanter 93 points “Good sense of freshness and intensity with fine tannins and rather high alcohol. Good impact however, and a long finish. Tannins are very fine, and although it doesn’t have the potential complexity of some in this vintage, it has the stature and concentration you would expect. Drinking Window 2025 – 2032.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $110

Domaine Anita

Beaujolais lovers – don’t miss out on these: 

Originally a professional cyclist from Bresse, Anita Kuhnel fell in love with Beaujolais during visits. She purchased vines in 2015 and began producing stunning single-parcel Beaujolais.

“‘I am committed to putting all my energy into making the best wines every day,’ Anita declares. ‘This is why I chose to opt for plot cultivation, which allows each bottle to reflect the character of each plot.’ She calls this whole exercise ‘Making the plots talk.'” –Importer note 

Picture the cost of a Côte de Nuits single parcel bottling from a top scoring producer working with 50+ year old sustainably grown estate vines. Now move the decimal place over two spaces to the left, and you’re in grand cru Beaujolais territory. Snap up your allocation before the world, and pricing, catches up!

In Stock Now:

Domaine Anita Morgon Prestige, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($34.95) $29 special, 28 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Welcome to the black heart of Morgon! So dense, concentrated and ripe with serious tannins, but a wonderfully plush texture on the expansive palate. Then the mineral freshness pushes through at the powerful, yet finely etched finish. If you can find actual black cherries that smell like this, then let me know! Drink or hold.”

Domaine Anita Moulin-a-Vent La Rochelle, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($37.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This Beaujolais masterpiece is so concentrated and so pure, with lush, velvety sensuality that reminds me of great Pomerol. But there’s also almost breathtaking brightness, thanks to the magical combination of gamay and granite. Great mineral freshness at the ripe yet pristine finish. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.99

Domaine Anita Moulin-a-Vent ‘Les Caves’ Tres Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($29.95) $24 special, 32 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “What a beautiful nose of violets and ripe (but not overripe) blackberries this has! So succulent, with a wonderful interplay of creaminess, fine tannins and mineral freshness on the concentrated, medium-bodied palate. Very long, velvety finish with so much finesse! Drink or hold.”

Domaine Anita Chenas Les Brureaux, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($34.95) $28 special, 18 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Pure violets on the nose pull you into this Chenas, which is brimming with sour-cherry fruit, wrapped around a core of fine tannins. Intense, stony minerality at the powerful yet refined finish. So focused and uplifting! Drink or hold.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Anita Fleurie Les Moriers, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($29.95) $24 special, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Stunning black-cherry fruit is married to generous, fine tannins and very lively acidity that lights up this rather bold wine. So many violets and ripe blackberries that this well-structured wine slips down very easily. Quite some allspice character at the long finish. Drink or hold.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Anita Fleurie Les Poncie, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($29.95) $24 special, 35 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Dense violet and sour-cherry nose with just a hint of licorice. Very fresh and vital with quite a serious tannins structure for a Beaujolais Cru, this is still very young with tremendous energy. Quite dry finish, but in a very positive way, and one that reminds me of wines from cooler locations in the Northern Rhone. Drink or hold.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Anita Morgon ‘Chateau-Gaillard’, Beaujolais 2020 750ml ($24.95) $21.90 special, 32 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Stunning nose of ripe blackberries, the blackest cherries and smoke, with just a touch of balsamic vinegar. Ripe and firm with a ton of crushed-stone minerality. Very radical, but in the best possible way! All this needs is a bit of time in the bottle to resolve the substantial, fine tannins and crisp acidity. Great aging potential! Drinkable now, but best from 2024.”

Shop our Beaujolais selections on our web store now!






This Just In:

New Reviews for Peter Michaels 2019s

Peter Michael ‘Les Pavots’ Estate Red, Knights Valley 2019 750ml ($249.95) $219 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2019 Les Pavots is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder Petit Verdot. It has unfolding layers of dark minerals, with graphite, boysenberry liqueur, and fresh leather. The palate is expressive of its mountain fruit, with more gripping structure but no harsh edges. This is a remarkable wine to hold a few years and enjoy over the following two decades.”

Peter Michael ‘Ma Belle-Fille’ Chardonnay, Knights Valley 2019 750ml ($134.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2019 Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille is from an estate vineyard in Knights Valley, which is in Sonoma, just north of Napa Valley. Beautiful white flowers, honeysuckle, green almond, and chalky minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it’s another full-bodied, rich, concentrated Chardonnay from this team that checks in with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Despite its richness level and decadence, it stays lively and fresh. This is straight-up brilliant Chardonnay!”


Staff Pick: Vaglio

Suzanne:
I must confess: it’s been some time since I’ve had Malbec. Given the change to taste a version with limited new oak and intervention, I gave it a… swirl. This was wound up at first sip, with a nice back bone of tannin and acidity. Nothing mouth-stripping or cringe-worthy, just robust and refined. I found plenty of lush red and black raspberry notes, some notes of raked autumn leaves, and a pretty black pepper note to the finish. I’d be proud to bring a bottle to the next BBQ/cookout on the docket, especially now that the heat wave in Portland has passed! This should stand up nicely to braised meats and hearty grilled or roasted veggie dishes well into this winter. 

Vaglio Wines Temple Malbec, Anchoris 2018 750ml ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Temple Malbec, Anchoris 2018 750ml ($239.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This is always a delicious red with lots of crushed-berry and walnut character. Full-bodied, dense and juicy. Lots of old-vine character. Succulent. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!






Trending

Marcus Goodfellow is one of the most talented winemakers in Oregon. He founded Matello wines, his original label, in 2002 and hasn’t looked back, making wines that have continually improved—both in bottle and from vintage to vintage. These are profound wines, both white and red, that are made in a style that’s distinctly savory—no fruit bombs here. We love them for their coiled power and Burgundian structure. 2011 Pinot Noirs from the Willamette Valley are among the most acid driven and long lived in the past decade or more, with many more years still left in their bottle age trajectory. We checked in on this recently and it’s just cresting that leafy-earthy-savory stage and is perfect for drinking now or over the next 5+ years.

2022 Winery-Direct Library Release
Matello ‘Souris’ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2011 750ml ($64.95) $54.50 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “(from fruit grown in the Whistling Ridge and Durant vineyards; made with 55% whole clusters and raised in 40% new oak):  Vivid red.  Vibrant red berry and Asian spice aromas are given depth by notes of vanilla and licorice and pick up a minerally nuance with air.  Juicy raspberry and cherry-cola flavors tighten up in the mid-palate and show very good clarity.  Finishes spicy and long, with silky tannins adding structure.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

“Old School Chablis” from one of the most lauded producers in the entire region, at a price point for everyone and sparkling to boot! 

Domaine d’Henri 821 Chardonnay Brut Nature 2018 750ml ($35.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Produced from 35+ year old vines in the Chablis appellation using the Méthode Ancestrale meaning that the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and bottled before aging with the CO2 necessary for the long haul already in the bottle. Aged on its lees for 24 months, it is then disgorged with no added sugar. 821 refers to the minimum total number of days necessary to produce this wine from the beginning of the growing season to the moment the bottle leaves the cellar. Delightful toast and citrus notes with some exotic tinges lead into a serious wine with high mineral tension, full fruit in the middle and a very fine and persistent bead. This is an impressive wine that will surprise many.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Raul Perez has emerged as one of the most exciting Spanish winemakers of the last few years.  He’s done it in an interesting way: not by making over-the-top big fruit and oak bombs, but rather by honing in on the terroirs in Galicia, a relatively unromantic vinicultural region.  Perez focuses on wines made from Atlantic-influence climates in villages like Villadecanes or Cacabelos.  As a result, the wines tend to be impressive, but in an introspective, earthy way. The Ultreia Saint Jacques has been a hit since we first discovered the producer, and we’re happy to offer a great deal on the latest release by the bottle or case!

Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2019 750ml ($27.95) $19.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2019 750ml ($259.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The nose of the 2019 Ultreia Saint Jacques is nothing short of spectacular. It shows the varietal character and the juicy and round style of the Valtuille vineyards. It’s harmonious, clean and expressive. They are using more and more stems with long macerations, malolactic in tanks and aging in 30% oak vats (he purchased from Alión) and 70% of the wine in used 225-liter oak barrels for one year. There is only one master blend, which is put into oak vats and bottled by 25,000- to 30,000-bottle lots. In 2019 he produced 110,000 bottles of this wine.”

Comando G on a budget!
Cooperativa de Cadalso Granito del Cadalso Garnacha Sierra de Gredos, Madrid 2017 750ml ($17.95) $14.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Cooperativa de Cadalso Granito del Cadalso Garnacha Sierra de Gredos, Madrid 2017 750ml ($199.95) $156 special (that’s only $13/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “From a co-op in the Sierra de Gredos and all old-vine Grenache, the 2017 Granito De Cadalso comes from granite soils, was destemmed, and brought up all in concrete tanks. This Pinot Noir-like beauty offers notes of wild strawberries, rose hips, violets, and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, with remarkable purity and vibrancy, it still has ample power and richness. This is a fabulous expression of Grenache that’s almost too good to be true.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Limpid ruby-red. High-pitched red fruit, floral and mineral qualities on the intensely perfumed nose. Juicy and appealingly sweet, offering energetic raspberry, lavender pastille and white pepper flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Weighty yet lithe as well, showing a seamless quality on a long, red-fruit-dominated finish framed by subtle, even tannins. All concrete.”
Importer note “The village of Cadalso de los Vidrios is situated at the foot of the Sierra de Gredos. For centuries workshops here made glass windows for the palaces of Spain from the granitic sands of the region. Ancient, head-pruned vines of Garnacha planted in these same soils make for equally transparent wine. Garnet in color with vibrant flavors of red fruits, laurel and orange peel, Granito del Caldalso is made under the guidance of famed winemakers Dani Landi and Fernando Garcia.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Looking for a cult producer that’s still affordable? There are very few producers who are synonymous with the production of their entire region’s output. Dal Forno in Valpolicella, Dönnhoff and the Nahe, Cayuse and Walla Walla, the list is as long as there are production zones. In that same vein you cannot talk about Lebanese wine without mentioning Chateau Musar. 

Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere et Fils’ Red Bekaa Valley 2017 750ml ($34.95) $28 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Decanter 91 points “This single-vineyard wine, from Aana, is made in a modern style: concentrated and slightly reductive. It shows notes of new oak barrels, lovely red berry fruit (reminiscent of Grenache) and garrigue aromas. So Mediterranean on the palate, with sweet tannins, spices and a meaty hint on the aftertaste. A very friendly, easy-to-drink and enjoyable wine. It becomes even better and more refined a day after the bottle is opened. I would recommend decanting it.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Hochar is powerful and dense in the glass. Ripe flavors and incisive tannins give the 2017 much of its brooding personality. Readers should plan on opening the 2017 at least an hour or two in advance, as the tannins are rather grainy at the outset. With time ripe black cherry, spice, leather and licorice flavors emerge nicely. The blend is 55% Cinsault, 35% Grenache and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Biodynamic cider infused with redcurrants in a slightly off-dry style. A “rose” by any other name.  Staff favorite!
Eden Specialty Ciders Imperial 11 Rosé Cider Vermont NV 750ml ($17.95) $9 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Cidery note “Profile: Superbly juicy without being sweet, just off-dry and gently fizzy, with bright acidity and chewy tannic structure. Apple Varieties: Esopus Spitzenberg, Calville Blanc, Hudson’s Golden Gem, Roxbury Russet, Blue Pearmain, Baldwin, Mcintosh, Empire, Ashmead’s Kernel, Black Oxford, Reine de Reinette, Orleans Reinette. Grown by: Scott Farms, Sunrise Orchards, Yates Family Orchard and Poverty Lane Orchard. Method: Naturally cold-concentrated before fermentation, infused with red currant and blended with a touch of ice cider. Filtered and carbonated. TASTING NOTES: Roses, strawberry, watermelon, citrus, slate. Gluten free, vegan friendly.”  

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!



Southern Rhône Rosé from Les Aphillanthes

The Southern Rhone is best known for full bodied reds and powerful whites, but have you tried a rosé made from the same grapes? The villages surrounding Gigondas and Châteauneuf-du-Pape that comprise the Côtes du Rhône have similar terroir and grapes as their more famous siblings, but feature cooler growing seasons in comparison. This works out perfectly for rosé production, as it allows for more acidity to remain as the grapes ripen.   

Domaine les Aphillanthes has vineyard holdings in three villages of Côtes du Rhône, with soils that are largely composed of iron-rich sand with veins of limestone and a smattering of Galets, or “pudding stones”. Certified biodynamic and plowing exclusively by horse for over 10 years, the owners Daniel and Hélène Boulle suspect that the roots of their grapevines go 100 feet underground! Expect an entire spectrum of fruits including raspberries, Bing cherry, fresh redcurrant and watermelon. From an aromatic perspective there’s a symphonic combination of rose petals, fresh ground espresso and cinnamon apples.

Les Aphillanthes Rose in stock now: 

Domaine Les Aphillanthes Côtes du Rhône Nymphea Rose, France 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 88 points “Mainly Cinsault and Grenache, with traces of Carignan and Mourvèdre, this impeccably run domaine has turned out a rich, round 2020 Cotes du Rhone Rose Nymphea. Medium to full-bodied, it hints at strawberries and cherries, delivering plenty of concentration and flavor.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Domaine Les Aphillanthes Cotes du Rhone Nymphea Rose France 2021 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 88 points “Bright orange. Ripe cherry, orange pith and floral qualities on the nose. Offers juicy red fruit and blood orange flavors. The warm, smooth finish echoes the cherry note and hangs on with good tenacity.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 


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10 AM – 6 PM Daily

Masks are no longer mandatory
But they are appreciated, thanks!
We also offer Curbside Pickup & Shipping

Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!

Be well & drink well.



Collector’s Corner:

Exploring California’s Non-Cab Treasures

In Stock Now:

Continuum has emerged over the last several years as one of the most important wineries in Napa Valley. With a beautiful estate vineyard located on a prime west-facing exposure on Pritchard Hill, overlooking Lake Hennessey, Tim Mondavi honors his family’s heritage while making some of the most exciting wines in the Valley. Big, bold, seductive, and hard to find, Continuum’s flagship red is sought after by collectors, enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. 

Continuum Proprietary Red, Oakville, Napa Valley 2018 750ml ($299.95) $259 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98-100 points “Composed of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Cabernet Franc, 9% Petit Verdot and 6% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple 2018 Proprietary Red has a fantastically fragrant nose of candied violets, red roses, Morello cherries and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of wild blueberries, red currant jelly, iron ore and forest floor, plus a waft of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely packed with tightly wound black and red berry layers, framed by firm, ripe, finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with incredibly persistent and evocative floral and mineral layers. An absolute head-turner, this 2018 is all that and then some. Tim Mondavi mentioned that this is due to be bottled in just a few weeks—mid-August—meaning this barrel sample I tasted is pretty close to being a finished wine. With the estate vineyard turning 10 year’s old in 2018, here’s where we see how incredibly special this singular Pritchard Hill site really is.”

Kapcsandy Family Winery Rapszodia, Yountville 2015 750ml ($479.95) $419 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 95+ points “A blend of 65% Cabernet Franc and 35% Merlot, the 2014 Rapszodia has a deep garnet-purple color and wonderfully spicy nose of cloves, vanilla and cinnamon stick over a core of red and black currants, black cherries and bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied with plenty of baking spice flavors complementing the ripe, expressive red and black berry flavors, it has a very fine-grained texture and plenty of freshness, finishing long.”
Robert Parker 98-100 points “Their 100% Cabernet Franc cuvee, the 2015 Rapszodia Proprietary Red, spent its whole life in 100% new French oak and is an exhilarating wine with off-the-charts richness, an exquisite bouquet of spring flowers, forest floor, rich blue and black fruits, voluptuous texture, incredibly fine, silky tannins, and, for a Kapcsandy wine, relatively elevated alcohol at 14.5%. This is a “wow” wine that should drink beautifully young and last 20-30+ years.”

Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2017 750ml ($349.95) $319 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98+ points “Very deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 IX Syrah Estate opens with the most beautiful nose of crushed black berries, boysenberries, mulberries, chocolate-covered cherries, star anise and red roses with touches of garrigue, mandarin peel and fragrant earth. Medium-bodied, the palate is very firm and elegant with approachably ripe, rounded tannins and layer upon layer of perfumed flavors. It has a long pepper and spice-laced finish. Very impressive!”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Syrah IX Estate is rich and ample on the palate, with tremendous aromatic and flavor intensity. Savory herb, iron, mint, licorice, blood orange and exotic spice infuse the 2017 with tons of character as well as nuance. Inky and sumptuous, with plenty of structural depth, the 2017 hits all the right notes. Like all of the 2017s here, the Syrah needs cellaring. It is such a gorgeous wine.”

Sine Qua Non ‘The Inaugural’ Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta Rita Hills 2003 750ml ($4,299.95) $3,199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 100 points “In addition to these new releases, I was also able to taste through a number of older vintages, including the 2001 Albino, 2006 Hoodoo Man, 2003 The Inaugural, 2004 Ode to E, 1998 E Raised, 2001 On Your Toes, 2005 Nail in My Cranium and 2007 Syrah Dangerous Birds. To say I came away impressed would be an understatement. Anyone who claims this big, rich style can-t age needs to taste these wines. I opted to just list my scores for the older releases as I find Bob-s initial write-ups spot on.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $5,999.99

Sine Qua Non ‘The Inaugural’ Syrah, Sta Rita Hills 2003 750ml ($2799.95) $1,499 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 100 points “The mind-boggling 2003 The Inaugural Syrah is an emotional experience to taste as well as drink. Aged 38 ½ months in French oak, it was fashioned entirely from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, which is planted with Syrah clones #470, 174, and the Estrella River and Alban field selections. This stunning Syrah boasts a magnificent bouquet of spring flowers, blueberries, blackberries, charcoal, licorice, and roasted meats. It hits the palate with remarkable intensity, purity, and full-bodied power, but it somehow manages to dance across the taste buds with the gracefulness of a ballerina. Awesomely long, I still tasted this wine 60 seconds after I had spit it out – no easy task, even for a professional. This majestic Syrah should be a modern day legacy for Sine Qua Non, ranking alongside the other stunning Syrahs they have produced, such as the two 2002 cuvees, Just For The Love Of It and Heart Chorea. This is a nuanced, complex wine, whereas the 2004 Poker Face is more exuberant and flamboyant. It should age beautifully for 10-15+ years.”

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Schramsberg Blanc de Blancs, North Coast 2016 9L ($999.95) $899 special, 1 salmanazar in stock now, in-store pick up only / shipping not available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Complexity and layering make this wine especially interesting as it goes from aromas of apple, butter and vanilla to deeper toast and baked apple on the palate. It’s medium in body, has tantalizing acidity and a lingering finish. Best through 2026. -Jim Gordon”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Sleek, with pinpoint focus, offering harmonious Meyer lemon, candied almond and fresh ginger flavors that fan out on the crisp finish. Drink now. 36,209 cases made. — TF”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 90 points “The nose of the 2016 Blanc de Blancs is bright and fresh, with scents of quince peel, red apples, floral perfume, brioche and a nutty undercurrent. The light-bodied palate is dry with energetic mousse and a nice balance of mineral and tirage character, finishing with fantastic freshness. 36,209 cases produced. The Blanc de Blancs was the first cuvée Schramsberg produced, in 1965.”

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Sunday Night Newsletter 7-31-22

 In This Newsletter:


New Week – New Arrivals

Pie Rupestris:
Masterpiece Barolo from Cappellano


Champagne de Venoge

Collector’s Corner:
California Listicle, Part 2

  

New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Ross & Bee Maloof Oak Ridge Vineyard Gewurztraminer, Columbia Gorge 2021 750ml ($34.95) $29 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Dry, extended skin-contact fermentation. Certified organic. Columbia Gorge AVA.

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France – Chablis

“This venerable 66-hectare Chablis estate, owned by Beaune’s Maison Albert Bichot, boasts enviable holdings—including fully 25 hectares of premier and grand cru land, the fruit of which is harvested by hand—that are complemented by purchased fruit… Cécilia Trimaille—a former assistant vineyard manager at Château Margaux—took the reins here in 2018 and disclaims any intention to radically alter an aesthetic that emphasizes purity and incisiveness, while simultaneously displaying plenty of appetite to make incremental improvement in the vineyards and cellar… I’m looking forward to following Long-Depaquit’s evolution over the years to come.” –William Kelley, Wine Advocate

Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Blanchot, Chablis Grand Cru 2018 750ml ($119.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This wine’s nose opens with subtle apple freshness followed by lemon brightness. The palate immediately shows rounded, chalky depth, filling the mouth with chalky yeastiness that is brightened and cooled by lemon. The heat of 2018 is well managed in this elegant wine, expressed in juicy ease but anchored in cooling depth, with a subtle whisper of oak. Drink 2025–2040. -Anne Krebiehl MW”
Decanter 94 points “The Bichots’ parcel runs from the top to the bottom of the slope on the Fyé side of the Grand Cru and is a comparatively sizeable plot of 1.5ha. Fresher and less marked by bitter notes than the rest of the producer’s range in 2018, this has the terroir’s classic freshness and focus, with zesty, mineral-edged acidity, a hint of vanilla spice and chalky freshness and length. Blanchot was one of the stand out sites this year. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028.”

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Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Bougros, Chablis Grand Cru 2019 750ml ($119.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93-94 points “Super fragrant and attractively ripe peach aromas with a very lively and pure attitude. The palate offers such attractive and succulent ripe peaches and a sleeve of lemon, piercing right through to the long, fresh finish. Drink over the next five years.”
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Albert Bichot Domaine Long-Depaquit Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2019 750ml ($119.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now



Italy – Piedmont

Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml ($64.95) $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Editor’s Choice. Rose petal, crushed herb and woodland berry aromas mingle with hints of forest floor and vanilla. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the delicious palate doles out raspberry compote, ripe cherry, licorice and wild herb before closing on a salty note. Noble tannins provide firm support. Drink 2027–2032.”
James Suckling 95 points “Ripe strawberries and flowers on the nose with hints of iron. Full-bodied with round tannins that are very velvety and flavorful. Lots of juicy fruit. Wonderful length. Needs three to four years to come together. But impressive. Try after 2024.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barolo Bussia is elegant, layered and mysterious, all of which make it incredibly appealing. Black cherry, spice, licorice, menthol, pine and espresso all open effortlessly in the glass. Deceptively light in its mid-weight structure, the 2017 delivers tons of flavor intensity and character. There is so much to like.”

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Argentina

“José Lovaglio, the son of famous Argentine winemaker Susana Balbo, earned his enology degree at UC Davis in 2008 and in recent years has made the Bodini and Crios de Susana Balbo wines at the Dominio del Plata winery. The objective of his own project, Vaglio, launched in 2014, is to showcase a range of different Malbec terroirs; he takes the same approach to extraction with all of these wines and, except for the limited Miperal bottling, they all carry the same gentle price tag. Lovaglio makes his wines in a refurbished dairy in El Peral in the northwest corner of Uco Valley. Thanks to his use of concrete vats and the facility’s thick walls, he is able to ferment his wines without refrigeration.” –Stephen Tanzer, Vinous Media

“Here, he produces single vineyard wines from different sub-regions and soil types, all vinified in the same way with minimal intervention and oak contact. Each of Jose’s wines represent different stages of his life.” –David Bowler wine

Vaglio Blanco, Tupungato 2020 750ml ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Vaglio Blanco, Tupungato 2020 750ml ($239.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Brazos Wine importer note “This is a blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Semillon from El Peral in the Uco Valley, Mendoza. The nose is lively and bright with notes of green apple, pear, whites flowers, and a little green pea. The palate is well balanced with dense fruit and crisp acid.”

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Vaglio Wines Temple Malbec, Anchoris 2018 750ml ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Temple Malbec, Anchoris 2018 750ml ($239.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This is always a delicious red with lots of crushed-berry and walnut character. Full-bodied, dense and juicy. Lots of old-vine character. Succulent. Drink now.”

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Vaglio Wines Chacra Malbec, Agrelo 2018 750ml ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Chacra Malbec, Agrelo 2018 750ml ($239.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 93 points “A dense, compact malbec with intense, blackberry and wet-earth character. Full body. Creamy texture. Tangy and delicious on the finish. Ends with green tobacco and tar. Excellent. Drink now.”
Brazos Wines importer note “This is 100% hand harvested Malbec is from a single vineyard in Agrelo, Lujan de Cuyo. The wine is dark with notes of dark fruits like plum, raisin and blackberry pie. The supple tannins and hint of oak lead to a round, smooth finish wrapped in caramel and walnuts.”

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The average price nationally is $18


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Pie Rupestris: 

Masterpiece Barolo from Cappellano

One the most heralded names in traditional Barolo is Cappellano, a producer known for old-school, age-worthy wines that are some of the most profound bottlings in the region. Fifth generation owner and winemaker Augusto Cappellano uses long macerations and ages his wines only in large botti (casks). The results can often be austere in youth, but blossom over the decades into sensual wines that are intellectually and hedonistically satisfying, if you can find them. Case in point is the Pie Rupestris. Cappellano produces only about a dozen barrels of this glorious wine in a typical vintage, so just a handful of cases make their way to the States every year. Unlike investment wines that seem like a permanent fixture in online auctions, collectors of these bottles tend to cellar to drink rather than resell. It’s a miracle to find any bottles for sale, especially multiple vintages of excellent provenance from this old vine parcel. 

“The vineyards in Gabutti in Serralunga d’Alba are unanimously regarded as one of the most prestigious ‘crus’ of the Barolo-producing area. They are located at the centre of a land with an extraordinary vocation for growing nebbiolo, a vine which produces wines with remarkable character and structure perfect for ageing. This is the birthplace of Barolo OtinFiorin Piè Rupestris: it is 100% Serralunga in its character ‒ a paradigmatic wine thanks to its severe and authoritative tone, with an austere but also generous and sharing manner ‒ as well as in the organoleptic characteristics: liquorice, juniper, tar, balsamic notes, spices and undergrowth are just the most recognisable and typical expressions of an aromatic patrimony which sketches, year after year, a veritable narration of the land…” –Winery note

Please Note: Cappellano is adamantly opposed to the idea of numeric score being attached to a wine and requests his wines not be reviewed.  As a result, these wines lack the scores we usually publish. We encourage you to read Antonio Galloni’s praise and take note of the long drinking windows. Though the reviews may lack digits—we’re sure you’ll find drinking these precious bottles to be an off the charts experience.

In Stock Now:

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2003 750ml ($279.95) $219 special, 1 bottle in stock now

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Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2007 750ml ($359.95) $299 special, 3 bottles in stock now
“Cappellano’s 2007 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris-Nebioli is a real head-turner. Gloriously ripe and opulent, the 2007 fleshes out beautifully in the glass, with ample fruit to match its broad, sweeping personality. Simply put, the 2007 Rupestris embodies all the best qualities of the year. I imagine the 2007 will reward readers with many years of fine drinking. Today, it is exceptional. Drink 2017-2042.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated, Tasted May 2017

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2008 750ml ($399.95) $369 special, 1 bottle in stock now
“One of the wines of the night, the 2008 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris-Nebioli is dazzling. All of the best qualities of this great Barolo vintage come through in the Barolo Rupestris. A wine of precision and crystalline, weightless beauty, the 2008 will leave readers weak at the knees. It is a wine to own, cellar and savor for the next thirty years. The translucency and vibrancy of the fruit is pure 2008. Drink 2018-2048.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated, Tasted May 2017

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Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ml ($499.95) $379 special, 8 bottles in stock now
“This third flight comes to a rousing finish with the 2010 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris – Nebioli. A towering, statuesque Barolo, the 2010 dazzles from the very first taste. It is, of course, too young, but it is a wine I chose for this tasting because I wanted Vinous readers to have a chance to experience it. When all is said and done, 2010 is the greatest young vintage I have tasted at Cappellano. Drink 2025-2060.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated, Tasted October 2020

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ml ($419.95) $399 special, 1 bottle in stock now
“The 2013 Barolo Barolo Rupestris is insanely beautiful. Here the flavors are dark and intense. Black cherry, plum, lavender and menthol add to the wine’s sense of gravitas. The 2013 is endowed with serious power and intensity, and yet it has an element of inner sweetness that adds sensuality. In many ways, it reminds me of the 1989, which remains a tremendous Barolo. Powerful, explosive and tannic, the 2013 has much to offer. Drink 2023-2053.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated, Tasted February 2018

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Champagne de Venoge

De Venoge is an old-school Champagne House that’s relatively unknown in the United States, a fact that means even their finest and rarest wines continue to be undervalued relative to their peers. This is no better exemplified than their prestige cuvee, the LXV bottling. Named after Louis the 15th, who first authorized the bottling of Champagne, it sees extensive aging on its lees and is a true monument of vintage champagne. 

De Venoge was established in Champagne in the first part of the 19th century by Swiss born Henri-Marc de Venoge and his son Joseph.  Today the House has a strong following in Europe for good reason—they source from some of the best vineyards in Champagne and produce prestige cuvées of immense quality, built on long lees aging. The Louis XV, for instance, is sourced exclusively from Grand Cru villages such as Verzenay, Bouzy, Avize, and Le Mesnil. The resulting wines capture the essence of classical Champagne and are in high demand in Europe’s top restaurants. 

De Venoge prestige cuvée is an outstanding wine for lovers of truly mature Champagne in all its glory, offering a rich, creamy texture from the extended lees aging married to surprisingly fresh, mineral personalities. There’s a reason this House has such a following overseas: they produce stunning aged wines that are ready to go, so consumers can enjoy the magic on release. Now’s your chance to try them for yourself! These are perfect “occasion” wines that make for fantastic birth year or anniversary gifts.  

In Stock Now:

Champagne de Venoge Louis XV Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2006 750ml ($219.95) $189 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The assemblage of the 2006 Louis XV Brut Millésimé is about the same as the 1995 and 1996—composed of 50/50 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, all from grand cru villages. The only difference is that the Chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (10% of the assemblage) spent 12 months in oak barrels. Disgorged in January 2017 (dosage: six grams per liter), the 2006 has a golden color and opens with a deep, ripe, elegant and vinous bouquet with toasty and chalky lemon and fresh white fruit flavors. On the palate, this is an intense, round, fresh and complex Louis XV with great purity and finesse. The wine opens on the palate like a soufflé, coating the whole palate without any pressure or weight—gorgeous! This is a delicate and fresh yet well-structured and persistent Louis XV whose intense and long but weightless finish reveals lovely, almost juicy fruit concentration with perfectly integrated freshness and lasting minerality that seems to give additional structure. The 2006 shows a lot of Chardonnay features right now and drinks perfectly today; however, it can be kept under perfect conditions for decades. Just keep it in the box, because the bottle is white and nothing makes a Champagne age faster than exposure to daylight. (Tasted in November 2017 from Lot LL15067017BT.)-SR”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Champagne de Venoge Louis XV Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2008 750ml ($299.95) $249 special, 12 bottles in stock now
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.”
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The straw-yellow/white-golden colored 2008 Louis XV Brut Millésimé blends 50% Chardonnay (20 % from Avize, 15% from Oger and 15% from Mesnil) with 50% Pinot Noir (41.5% from Verzenay and 8.5% from Bouzy). Disgorged in January 2018 with a dosage of six grams per liter, the 2008 displays a clear, pure, fresh, chalky-tinged and vinous nose with lemon, white fruits, brioche, hazelnuts, white blossoms and some caramel notes. Pure, lean, fresh and elegant on the palate, with a lingering hazelnut flavor, this is a straight yet complex cuvée with grip and a long, well-structured and textured finish. This 2008 is still terribly fresh and should benefit from further bottle aging. For the moment, I am missing the mouth-filling generosity of the 2006 and 1995. Mind that this is the first vintage of de Venoge’s prestigious Louis XV where the base wines didn’t undergo malolactic fermentation! Total production: 10,326 bottles. Tasted October 2018.”

Champagne de Venoge Louis XV Brut Rosé Millésimé, Champagne 2002 750ml ($219.95) $189 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Harmonious, with fine intensity, offering rich notes of spice cake, toasted almond, dried cherry, grilled plum and smoky mineral. Almost velvety in texture, with juicy acidity that brings you back for another sip. Delicious. Drink now through 2022. 54 cases made.”

Champagne de Venoge Tour Eiffel 130 Anniversary Edition, Champagne NV 750ml ($99.95) $79 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Envie de Champagne “The Maison De Venoge was founded in 1837 by Henri-Marc De Venoge. Innovation in the production and marketing of champagnes were the founding values of this of champagne house, which won the Excellence Price in Philadelphia in 1876. A few years later, in 1889, during the World Fair in Paris, the house became the partner of the event. This exhibition celebrated the centenary of the French Revolution and it is on this occasion that the Tower designed by Gustave Eiffel has been inaugurated. This monument, with a height of 312 meters during its construction can now 337 meters in 2019 following the installation of antennas. In addition to its cultural and tourist use, the Eiffel Tower is used as a transmitter for TV and radio programs. The Eiffel Tower, object of discord at the time of its creation has become today the most visited paying monument of France. It has about 7 million visitors a year. It is also inseparable from the history of the French capital. For the 130 years of this first collaboration, De Venoge signs a beautiful partnership with the company in charge of the exploitation of the iron lady (surname of the Eiffel Tower). This collaboration is obvious because of  the common history of both parties but also because of the characteristic shape of the bottles of the Princes cuvée. This limited edition vintage is named “Cuvée Princes Tour Eiffel”. Only 10,000 bottles have been marketed for this partnership.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Arriving in September:

Champagne de Venoge Cordon Bleu Brut, Champagne 2002 750ml ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A core of mineral-accented smoke, spice and honey notes is wrapped with flavors of glazed apricot, lemon preserves and candied ginger in this vibrant and well-balanced version. Creamy, with a lasting finish. Drink now through 2025. 3,000 cases made. — AN”

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Collector’s Corner:

California Listicle, Part 2

Practicing both dry and organic farming, Christian Moueix’s Dominus Estate produces one of the most terroir expressive wines in the entirety of California. 

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2019 750ml ($359.95) $319 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2019 1.5L ($799.95) $649 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent 100 points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Dominus was harvested from September 29 to October 10. It was aged in 40% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2019 Dominus is blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in 40% new French oak. Impressively dark-hued in the glass, it yields scents of cherries and cassis on the nose—or is it black cherries and redcurrants? Subtle notes of mocha, pencil shavings and almost Graves-like earthiness wind through the concentrated, medium to full-bodied palate, giving it a sense of savory gravitas, while the finish is silky and long, leaving a lingering residue of soft tannins and mouthwatering freshness.”

This nearly 40-year old “First Growth” of Napa winegrowing estate is a highly esteemed for its Bordeaux-style red. Their 2017 represents one of the finest wines of the vintage in Napa.

“Yields are down over 40%, so there’s not much to go around, but it’s certainly another fine vintage for this landmark estate that will keep for 30 years or more.” –Jeb Dunnuck

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2017 750ml ($1,499.95) $1,199 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97+ points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Harlan Estate needs a little coaxing to reveal captivating iron ore, red currant jelly, cloves and crushed rocks scents with a core of warm cassis, Black Forest cake and boysenberries plus a waft of pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, it has a firm, grainy texture with a lively backbone and loads of earthy layers, long and mineral laced. This should be one of the longer-lived wines coming out of the 2017 vintage.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The Grand Vin is the 2017 Harlan Estate, and this beauty just about jumps from the glass with its pure cassis and blackcurrant fruits as well as notes of tobacco, graphite, crushed stone, and spice. With a full-bodied, expansive mouthfeel, building, velvety tannins, and a layered, seamless style that offers way more pleasure than just about every other wine in the vintage, bottles can be enjoyed any time over the coming 20-25 years.” 

Hundred Acre ‘Kayli Morgan Vineyard’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2004 750ml ($699.95) $549 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 98 points “The wild man of Napa Valley, Jayson Woodbridge, has turned out one of the superstars of 2004, with the 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan. His wines always tend to be gorgeous young, offering up an impression that they’re not going to last. But his first vintage, 2000, seems to get better and better, even though it was spectacular when released. The 2004, which was harvested in September, shows an almost Pomerol-like sweet mocha, kirsch, black currant and deeply fruited mouthfeel. It is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, but the clay soils of his vineyard seem to give a sweetness of tannin and a voluptuous character to the texture. This wine oozes rich, concentrated fruit, is light on its feet and has gorgeous purity, a multidimensional mouthfeel and a stunning finish. Silky black currant, kirsch, licorice, mocha and caramelized fruit make for a stunningly full-throttle, brilliant 2004 to enjoy over the next 15 or more years.” RP

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Lou Kapcsandy’s biography reads like a Horatio Alger story in a lot of ways.  Man flees communist Hungary, lands in the US and makes a name (and business) for himself. Grows to love the wines of Bordeaux, so he starts an import company before he stumbles upon a once-legendary vineyard in Napa that has been ripped up and needs to be revived.

And that’s where we pick up. In 2000 Lou Kapcsandy discovered that the old Beringer State Lane vineyard, primary source for the Private Reserve Cabernet program, was ripped out due to phylloxera and was for sale. He bought the twenty acre vineyard, replanted it and starting in 2005 began producing some of the most lauded wines to come out of the Napa Valley. The late Denis Malbec, formerly of Chateau Latour in Bordeaux, got the project up and running and served as a consulting viticulturist and winemaker, producing wines of depth and power.  These are Napa wines with a Bordeaux spine and sensibility.

Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Grand-Vin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2009 1.5L ($799.95) $699 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin opens with the most beguiling bouquet imaginable. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon and licorice all make an appearance as this vivid, beautifully delineated wine opens up in the glass. A model of total finesse and elegance, the 2009 wraps around the palate with what feels like endless layers of aromas and flavors. This totally seamless, polished Cabernet Sauvignon is virtually impossible to resist today, but it will be even better in another few years. The 2009 is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc.”

“Bob Levy has been the winemaker at Harlan Estate since its inception, and, along with owner Bill Harlan, is in the process of making Bond as prodigious as Harlan Estate. Martha McClellan is the winemaker for two Napa Valley superstar cult wineries, Blankiet and Sloan. As I have written in the past, these efforts are produced by two quiet, somewhat reclusive individuals with extraordinary resumes, limitless talent, and a perfectionist, nearly obsessive attitude toward making world-class wines.” -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate

Levy & McClellan Red (Cabernet Sauvignon), Napa Valley 2006 750ml ($799.95) $599 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon displays beautifully sweet blue and black fruits intermixed with espresso roast, smoked meats, chocolate, and scorched earth. Dense purple in color, deep, rich, broad, with plenty of tannin and concentration as well as noticeable oak, this wine is a massive Cabernet meant for long-term cellaring. I wouldn’t touch a bottle for 6 to 8 years, then watch it unfold over the following 25-30.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “(includes bits of cabernet franc and petit verdot) Deep red-ruby. Complex, inviting aromas of cassis, graphite, menthol and sexy new oak. Very ripe but bright and classic, with terrific lift to the cassis, mineral and dark chocolate flavors. This boasts remarkably deep fruit for seven-year-old vines and finishes with very sweet, suave tannins and superb length. Husband-and-wife team Bob Levy and Martha McClellan, who are also responsible for making Harlan, Bond, Blankiet and Sloan, consider their 2005 to be a bit more layered and complex, but this one is also a star of its vintage.”

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Peter Michael ‘Les Pavots’ Estate Red, Knights Valley 2019 750ml ($249.95) $219 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 99 points “This is very perfumed with blackberry and pine-cone aromas, as well as raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins that are tight-grained. Creamy and beautiful. Currant and graphite flavors come through. Lightly chewy at the end. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 21% merlot, 14% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Drink after 2025.”

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