In This Newsletter:
A Rare Trove of Library Dagueneau
Straight from the Importer’s Cellar
Rose of the Day!
Pradeaux Rose:
The Challenger to Tempier’s Throne
New Vinous Reviews for Costal Spanish Gems
2019 Sequitur Arrives!
Trending Wines
Grapelive Reviews a Value Barolo Star
Collector’s Corner
The Rare Biondi-Santi Riserva
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A Rare Trove of Library Dagueneau
Straight from the Importer’s Cellar
Dagueneau makes some of the iconic wines of France. The most collectible, profound bottlings from Pouilly-Fume and Sancerre, they’re Sauvignon Blanc as it’s rarely presented—especially these bottles, which are perfectly aged from the cellar of the Oregon importer of the wines.
Finding older bottles of Dagueneau like this is nearly impossible. Unlike many other wines of this class, the original buyers are rarely interested in selling, and the quantities produced are miniscule compared to its peers. As you’d expect, the quantities we have available today are tiny—so head straight to our webstore to get these now.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 1994 750ML ($499.95) $419 special
Finding older bottles of Dagueneau like this is nearly impossible. Unlike many other wines of this class, the original buyers are rarely interested in selling, and the quantities produced are miniscule compared to its peers. As you’d expect, the quantities we have available today are tiny—so head straight to our webstore to get these now.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 1994 750ML ($499.95) $419 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 1996 750ML ($499.95) $419 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bold and ripe, offering powerful fruit flavors of melon, pineapple and fig, with notes of honey, vanilla and spice, kept lively by a vivid core of citrusy acidity. Rich yet harmonious, and food-friendly.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 1999 750ML ($369.95) $319 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sleek and focused, yet there’s a fatness here too, perhaps from the intensity and ripeness of the fruit. Bold flavors of vanilla custard, green tea, red currant and citrus turn to vanilla and clove on the finish. Round, yet firm and strikingly harmonious. “
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2002 750ML ($369.95) $319 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “The aromas of white flowers, fresh earth and straw plume from the glass like chalk dust, while the taut, racy palate provides flint-driven citrus, herb, smoke and lime flavors that just won’t quit. Amazing precision and cut on the finish. A pure classic.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2005 750ML ($349.95) $299 special
Wine Specator 96 points “Tightly wound, with a lot in reserve, this has a piercing minerality that leads the way for floral, lemon verbena, lime, salted butter and thyme notes. Very long on the finish and very precise.”
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2005 750ML ($349.95) $299 special
Wine Specator 96 points “Tightly wound, with a lot in reserve, this has a piercing minerality that leads the way for floral, lemon verbena, lime, salted butter and thyme notes. Very long on the finish and very precise.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2006 750ML ($299.95) $259 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “An intense, nervy style, with lemon zest, pink grapefruit, sweetened butter and mineral notes that stay focused through the lengthy, mouthwatering finish. Has impressive grip and buried minerality for the vintage.”
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2006 750ML ($299.95) $259 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “An intense, nervy style, with lemon zest, pink grapefruit, sweetened butter and mineral notes that stay focused through the lengthy, mouthwatering finish. Has impressive grip and buried minerality for the vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only three bottles available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2007 750ML ($349.95) $279 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Weighty, but lithe and balanced, with gorgeous, alluring notes of honeysuckle, macadamia nut, white asparagus, lemon curd, quinine and straw all carrying through seamlessly on the long, invigorating finish. This beautiful wine transcends the vintage.”
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2007 750ML ($349.95) $279 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Weighty, but lithe and balanced, with gorgeous, alluring notes of honeysuckle, macadamia nut, white asparagus, lemon curd, quinine and straw all carrying through seamlessly on the long, invigorating finish. This beautiful wine transcends the vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only three bottles available
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2008 750ML ($349.95) $299 special
David Schildknecht – Wine Advocate 93 points “Ripe pear and white peach along with sage, and fusil, chalky notes of crushed stone rise from the glass of Dagueneau 2008 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Silex. On paper, this reminds one of 1996 (as Benjamin Dagueneau mentions immediately after I make a note of the fact), boasting – assuming you consider that word appropriate to the circumstances – 14.2% alcohol and well over 6 grams acidity. Lime zest and huckleberry notes serve for the sort of bitter concentration one noted in the corresponding Buisson Renard, but here that is imbedded in a far lusher, riper context; accompanied by a more refined texture; and without betraying its alcohol in any heat or roughness. “This will be a great keeper,” predicts Benjamin Dagueneau, and I would certainly not be surprised if it were worth re-visiting for more than a dozen years. “
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only three bottles available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2009 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
David Schildknecht – Wine Advocate 93-94+ points “From an enclave just outside the cuverie in Saint Andelain, the Dagueneau 2009 Blanc Fume de Pouilly Silex delivers an almost inordinate diversity of floral, herbal, citrus (predominately grapefruit), and pit-fruit (predominately nectarine) elements, with the bitterness of fruit pits, smoky pungency of red currant and crushed stone, as well as notes of shrimp shell reduction and iodine inflecting a long, bittersweet, yet at the same time vibrant, buoyant finish. This silken textured seducer should gain with time in bottle and be worth following for ten or a dozen years.”
Only three bottles available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2010 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Joel Payne – Vinous 92+ points “Greenish yellow. Lime and quince on the nose, with dusty mineral and honeysuckle qualities adding complexity. Drier and racier than the 2011, showing impressive definition to its citrus and floral flavors. Finishes with mineral thrust and spicy length. Still closed and a touch austere, but shows the superb potential of the 2010 vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $421.67
The next best price is $421.67
Only three bottles available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Silex 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Decanter 94 points ” From almost 4 ha of flint-scattered clays around the mound of St Andelain, this is light gold in colour with a fine-meshed weave of green plant and soft spring leaf scents, full of copse coolness. In the mouth, it’s a seamless pool or well of those same green plant and leaf notes fleshed out with quiet green orchard and citrus fruits. As ever, a remarkably unshowy, undemonstrative, stealthy wine, despite its fame and the reputed showiness of the variety: all is held in check by those clinging, cossetting cool clays. Give it time in decanter, glass or mouth and you’ll see figures and allusions quietly stirring”
Only one bottle available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Sancerre Monts Damnes 2008 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
David Schildknecht – Wine Advocate 93 points “White peach, gooseberry, grapefruit, chalk dust, and saline, alkaline intimations of ocean breeze in the nose of Dagueneau’s 2008 Sancerre Monts Damnes usher in a palate strikingly combining a silken texture with clarity and brightness, palpable extract-richness with lift. This positively billows into a non-stop finish with bittersweet, musky floral essences (iris, narcissus) adding to a shimmering interactive complexity of fruit, herb, and mineral nuances. A future classic, it should, I suspect (absent a track record, granted), be worth following for a dozen or more years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Sancerre Monts Damnes 2010 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
David Schildknecht – Wine Advocate 94-95 points “Chablis-like salted, herbed chicken stock such as seems from my experience to reflect the influence of Kimmeridgian chalk informs Dagueneau’s 2010 Sancerre Monts Damnes, accompanied by bright, luscious lime and grapefruit, all seemingly suffused with crushed stone. As one works this up in the glass the effect is virtually kaleidoscopic, with floral, white truffle, nut oils, and high-toned herbal notes playing against the citrus, chicken stock, and stone, a dynamic that practically shimmers in a zesty, palate staining finish. While sacrificing none of the clarity or energy of the corresponding 2011, this denser, more overtly concentrated elixir has also, on this the eve of its bottling, reached a point of even greater complexity. Look for this beauty to reward for at least 12-15 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only one bottle available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Sancerre Monts Damnes 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a bright lime pith and honeysuckle lead-in, followed by pure white peach, chalk and tarragon notes that stream through the finish, where a flinty spine lies in wait. A kiss of macadamia nut hovers over it all, adding a beguiling accent.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only two bottles available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Pur Sang 2015 750ML ($149.95) $135 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Beautiful from the start, with crème fraîche and tarragon accents gliding in first, followed by macadamia nut, lime curd, gooseberry gelée and yellow apple fruit flavors. The finish pulls in a fleur de sel hint while creamy accents keep the upper hand. “
Only five bottles available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fume Pur Sang 2017 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Only two bottles available
Louis-Benjamin – Didier Dagueneau Buisson-Renard 2015 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Rose of the Day!
Staff Favorite – Newly Reviewed
Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Shimmering orange-pink. Pungent cherry and red berry scents take on floral and spice nuances with air. Shows silky texture and good depth to the zesty red currant and bitter cherry flavors, which turn sweeter through the midpalate. Smoothly blends heft and energy and finishes long and nervy, with a hint of bitter orange pith adding final bite.”
Case-12 Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis Rosado 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Shimmering orange-pink. Pungent cherry and red berry scents take on floral and spice nuances with air. Shows silky texture and good depth to the zesty red currant and bitter cherry flavors, which turn sweeter through the midpalate. Smoothly blends heft and energy and finishes long and nervy, with a hint of bitter orange pith adding final bite.”
Pradeaux Rose:
The Challenger to Tempier’s Throne
We still don’t know when Tempier comes out this year (or how much it’ll cost, or how much we’ll have, etc. but keep reading the newsletter…) but if you’re a fan of the estate, you might want to consider grabbing the Chateau Pradeaux in the meantime. It’s a rendition of Bandol rosé that’s a little richer than Tempier, with a bit more complexity and gutsiness, as well. It’s a favorite of ours and is (somehow) not as expensive as its more famous rival.
Just arrived, in stock now:
Chateau Pradeaux ‘Vespree’ Rose 2019 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine note ““Vespree,” meaning evening in Provençal and Occitan, presents a full, swaggering nose of quince paste, white pepper, and coarse-ground Indian spices, and the big, richly textured palate possesses a structural tension that heavily underlines its potential for aging—though it is fresh, tense, and very delicious right in its youth. It is exceedingly difficult to find rosé of this caliber and character, even from Bandol—and, in a twist of irony, this wine which is so purely and deeply Bandol to its very core was denied appellation status on three separate occasions, and is thus labeled a “Vin de France.” But, in an appellation that has seen production shift from 70% red wine to 85% rosé over the years in response to market trends, this is perhaps more depressing than surprising. In any event, we are proud of the wine, and proud to work with such a courageous and iconoclastic family—and we know “Vespree” will delight those who appreciate Pradeaux’s ruggedly uncompromising sensibility.”
Chateau Pradeaux Le Cotes de Provence Rose 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Rosenthal Wine note “The Bandol Rosé from Pradeaux is perhaps the most serious wine in this category. Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is based on Cinsault (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%), taking its slight orange tint from the latter cépage. The younger vines of the domaine (average age: 25 years) are utilized to produce a rare rosé with staying power and exceptional complexity. The Rosé is vinified by a direct pressing for 24 hours followed by fermentation in cement tanks at a controlled temperature of 18 degrees Celsius for about 15 days; the malo-lactic fermentation is blocked and the wine is usually bottled in mid-April of the following year. We import approximately 600 cases (7200 bottles) annually of this exceptional wine.”
Just arrived, in stock now:
Chateau Pradeaux ‘Vespree’ Rose 2019 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine note ““Vespree,” meaning evening in Provençal and Occitan, presents a full, swaggering nose of quince paste, white pepper, and coarse-ground Indian spices, and the big, richly textured palate possesses a structural tension that heavily underlines its potential for aging—though it is fresh, tense, and very delicious right in its youth. It is exceedingly difficult to find rosé of this caliber and character, even from Bandol—and, in a twist of irony, this wine which is so purely and deeply Bandol to its very core was denied appellation status on three separate occasions, and is thus labeled a “Vin de France.” But, in an appellation that has seen production shift from 70% red wine to 85% rosé over the years in response to market trends, this is perhaps more depressing than surprising. In any event, we are proud of the wine, and proud to work with such a courageous and iconoclastic family—and we know “Vespree” will delight those who appreciate Pradeaux’s ruggedly uncompromising sensibility.”
Chateau Pradeaux Le Cotes de Provence Rose 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Rosenthal Wine note “The Bandol Rosé from Pradeaux is perhaps the most serious wine in this category. Robust, rich, and complex with an ability to age gracefully, this wine is based on Cinsault (50%) and Mourvèdre (50%), taking its slight orange tint from the latter cépage. The younger vines of the domaine (average age: 25 years) are utilized to produce a rare rosé with staying power and exceptional complexity. The Rosé is vinified by a direct pressing for 24 hours followed by fermentation in cement tanks at a controlled temperature of 18 degrees Celsius for about 15 days; the malo-lactic fermentation is blocked and the wine is usually bottled in mid-April of the following year. We import approximately 600 cases (7200 bottles) annually of this exceptional wine.”
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
New Vinous Reviews for Costal Spanish Gems
“Stretching from Galicia in the far northwest and along the Atlantic Ocean and the Bay of Biscay to the Basque Country, Atlantic Spain is the country’s coolest winegrowing region. Mostly indigenous varieties that are grown virtually nowhere else in Spain are the rule. The almost universally ocean-influenced climate and the intrinsic character of those local grapes define vibrant wines that are increasingly capturing the attention of wine lovers across the globe.” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous
In Stock Now:
Guimaro Finca Meixeman, Ribeira Sacra 2017 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Glistening ruby. Mineral- and smoke-accented dark berry and cherry aromas are complemented by a spicy nuance that builds with air. Densely packed, impressively concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show sharp detail and spicy thrust. Finishes gently chewy and emphatically spicy, with polished tannins lending shape to lingering mineral and floral notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Guimaro Finca Pombeiras, Ribeira Sacra 2017 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Bright violet color. Intensely perfumed, spice-driven aromas of black raspberry, cherry and candied violet are complemented by a smoky mineral quality and a hint of licorice. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering lively cherry, red berry and exotic spice flavors that turn sweeter with air. Shows fine definition and spicy thrust on a long, energetic finish, that’s framed by smooth, harmonious tannin”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Bright violet color. Intensely perfumed, spice-driven aromas of black raspberry, cherry and candied violet are complemented by a smoky mineral quality and a hint of licorice. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering lively cherry, red berry and exotic spice flavors that turn sweeter with air. Shows fine definition and spicy thrust on a long, energetic finish, that’s framed by smooth, harmonious tannin”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Pale, green-tinged straw. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh citrus and orchard fruit flavors complemented by a chalky mineral topnote. Chewy, lithe and focused on the palate, offering vibrant lemon zest and green apple flavors and a spicy ginger nuance. A floral note emerges with air and carries through a long, taut finish that echoes the mineral note.”
Do Ferreiro Albarino, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($39.95) $27 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Green-tinged straw. Vibrant, mineral-tinged citrus and orchard fruit qualities on the nose, along with a suave floral topnote. Shows fine definition and mineral lift to the juicy pear and Meyer lemon flavors, which take on a hint of tarragon with air. The floral and mineral notes dominate a long, focused finish that features a suggestion of bitter quinine.”
Alberto Nanclares Albarino 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Pale yellow. Pungent citrus pith and yellow plum scents on the lively, mineral-accented nose. Chewy and focused in the mouth, offering Meyer lemon, pear skin and honeysuckle flavors that are given spine by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Clings with authority on the penetrating finish, which leaves hints of succulent herbs and citrus zest behind.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Alberto Nanclares Albarino A Grana 2019 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Limpid, green-hued yellow. Vibrant, sharply defined lemon zest, pear, white peach and floral aromas show impressive mineral lift. Tightly focused and dry on the palate, offering incisive citrus and orchard fruit flavors that deepen steadily with air. Shows nervy cut on the impressively long, mineral-driven finish, which leaves an insistent floral note behind. This is a superb example of the variety and region and worthy of some cellar time.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Alberto Nanclares Albarino Soverribas 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Vivid straw-yellow. Bright and sharply delineated on the incisive nose, displaying fresh Meyer lemon, pear, honeysuckle and mineral scents, along with ginger and quinine flourishes. Chewy and concentrated, offering nervy, mineral-laced citrus and orchard fruit flavors that show fine clarity and spicy lift. Closes on a chalky mineral note, with strong, floral-tinged persistence and lingering citrus pith character.”
Gaba Do Xil Valdeorras Branco Godello 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Pale yellow. Pungent citrus pith and orchard fruit qualities on the lively, mineral-accented nose. Chewy and focused, offering Meyer lemon, pear and honeysuckle flavors that are lifted and given spine by a jolt of juicy acidity. Deepens with air and clings nicely on the spice-tinged finish, leaving a suggestion of pear nectar behind.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
2019 Sequitur Arrives!
Mike Etzel, the founder and winemaker of Sequitur, is a living legend in the Willamette Valley. He co-founded Beaux Frères in the late 1980s and was the winemaker there until recently passing the duties to his son. Never one to rest on his laurels or stay still, though, he began planting a vineyard adjacent to Beaux Frères in 2010—a project that became what we know as Sequitur.
It’s helpful to think of Sequitur as a distillation of everything Mike Etzel learned while starting and producing Beaux Frères over the decades. The Sequitur vineyard sits right next to the Beaux Frères “Upper Terrace” but is planted to a wider array of clones at tighter spacing. It’s been farmed biodynamically since the beginning and is sheltered with Douglas Fir—in short, it’s the fully realized vision of a man who’s helped define Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Frères. Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard. In short order, Sequitur has established itself as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserves your attention as such.
We’ve been eagerly awaiting the 2019s for months, and they’re finally here!
Just arrived, in stock now:
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Winery note “This year marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic music festival. As a tribute to the festival’s message of harmony, cooperation and hope—and as a nod to the persistent rains that helped define both this year’s harvest and the 1969 festival—we bring you Woodstock, Sequitur’s melodic, inspiring 2019 vintage.”
It’s helpful to think of Sequitur as a distillation of everything Mike Etzel learned while starting and producing Beaux Frères over the decades. The Sequitur vineyard sits right next to the Beaux Frères “Upper Terrace” but is planted to a wider array of clones at tighter spacing. It’s been farmed biodynamically since the beginning and is sheltered with Douglas Fir—in short, it’s the fully realized vision of a man who’s helped define Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.
The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Frères. Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard. In short order, Sequitur has established itself as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserves your attention as such.
We’ve been eagerly awaiting the 2019s for months, and they’re finally here!
Just arrived, in stock now:
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Winery note “This year marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic music festival. As a tribute to the festival’s message of harmony, cooperation and hope—and as a nod to the persistent rains that helped define both this year’s harvest and the 1969 festival—we bring you Woodstock, Sequitur’s melodic, inspiring 2019 vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
Winery note “This year marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic music festival. As a tribute to the festival’s message of harmony, cooperation and hope—and as a nod to the persistent rains that helped define both this year’s harvest and the 1969 festival—we bring you Woodstock, Sequitur’s melodic, inspiring 2019 vintage.”
Winery note “This year marked the 50th anniversary of the iconic music festival. As a tribute to the festival’s message of harmony, cooperation and hope—and as a nod to the persistent rains that helped define both this year’s harvest and the 1969 festival—we bring you Woodstock, Sequitur’s melodic, inspiring 2019 vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Other Sequitur highlights, in stock now:
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 17 bottles available
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Pale yellow-gold. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying intense citrus and orchard fruit scents complemented by suggestions of toasty lees, iodine and sweet butter. Sappy, penetrating and seamless in texture, offering concentrated pear nectar, peach, tangerine and honeysuckle flavors that deepen slowly on the back half while maintaining energy. Finishes with repeating pear and floral notes, with a late jolt of dusty minerality pulling things together.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 20 bottles available
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Glistening straw-yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of white peach, Anjou pear, melon and Meyer lemon carry a bright floral overtone. Juicy and densely packed, displaying a suave blend of richness and vivacity to the mineral-drenched citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors. Picks up smoky lees, honey and iodine notes with air and shows outstanding clarity on a strikingly long, penetrating finish that echoes the mineral and citrus fruit notes.”
Winery Note “The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Glistening straw-yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of white peach, Anjou pear, melon and Meyer lemon carry a bright floral overtone. Juicy and densely packed, displaying a suave blend of richness and vivacity to the mineral-drenched citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors. Picks up smoky lees, honey and iodine notes with air and shows outstanding clarity on a strikingly long, penetrating finish that echoes the mineral and citrus fruit notes.”
Winery Note “The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 14 bottles available
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and incense carry a strong spicecake overtone. Stains the palate with sappy red berry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and given definition and tension by juicy acidity. At once rich and nervy, with no excess fat but showing excellent depth and intensity of flavor. Finishes with sexy notes of candied violet and smoky Indian spices and superb, gently tannic persistence. This wine’s Beaux Frères bloodline is very clear to see.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Broad and spicy, open-textured and generous, with ripe plum and currant flavors, shaded by pepper, sage and coffee notes as the finish sails past fine-grained tannins. Completely harmonious and made to age. Drink now through 2024.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and incense carry a strong spicecake overtone. Stains the palate with sappy red berry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and given definition and tension by juicy acidity. At once rich and nervy, with no excess fat but showing excellent depth and intensity of flavor. Finishes with sexy notes of candied violet and smoky Indian spices and superb, gently tannic persistence. This wine’s Beaux Frères bloodline is very clear to see.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Broad and spicy, open-textured and generous, with ripe plum and currant flavors, shaded by pepper, sage and coffee notes as the finish sails past fine-grained tannins. Completely harmonious and made to age. Drink now through 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $100
The average listed price is $100
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 22 bottles available
Nick Stock – jamessuckling.com 96 points “Beautifully deep, blueberries and plums on offer with notes of fresh violets and moist, fresh-tilled earth. This is full of life and very pure. The palate has focused and fresh tannins that sit in very vibrant style with a deep push of concentrated blue fruit, holding the finish in superb style. So fresh and long, this will age well. Drink across the next decade or more.”
Nick Stock – jamessuckling.com 96 points “Beautifully deep, blueberries and plums on offer with notes of fresh violets and moist, fresh-tilled earth. This is full of life and very pure. The palate has focused and fresh tannins that sit in very vibrant style with a deep push of concentrated blue fruit, holding the finish in superb style. So fresh and long, this will age well. Drink across the next decade or more.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love Oregon Pinot Noir? We have over 130 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Cameron and Cristom, as well as more from Sequitur.
Trending Wines
Volpaia is a Wine Spectator Top 100 perennial for their Chianti, but this is their value star.
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!)
Importer Note “The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby-red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish. Barrel Aging: 24 months in oak casks (combination of Slovenian and French) and minimum 3 months in bottle. Varietal Composition: 100% Sangiovese. A record year for heat and drought throughout the growing season. This condition presented extremes which began early bud break in the vineyard, followed by a spring frost over late April. The frost affected the lower portions of the Volpaia estate. Spring and summer months were dry with higher than average temperatures. Rainfall in mid-September helped the grapes achieve complete ripeness of tannins and other phenolic compounds despite low yields.”
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Absolute top-class Burgundy at an old-school price.
Domaine Henri Gouges Clos des Porrets Monopole, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “This hails from a mid-slope premier cru on the south side of Nuits and mixes clay and limestone soils within the Gouges’ 3.7ha monopole. It’s an intense, aromatic and comparatively early-drinking style with some chalky freshness, medium-weight tannins and a hint of volatility.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
ELV makes fantastic bottles of any color.
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Rosé of Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2019 Seven Springs Rosé of Pinot Noir comes from young vines Pinot planted up on the vineyard’s East Ridge. These densely planted vines grow in well-draining soils and receive a full day of sunshine during the growing season. The gradual and even ripening that occurred during the 2019 growing season resulted in beautifully layered wines, with nuance and refinement. For the rosé, we were fortunate to realize a depth of flavor and aroma across the bright fruit and floral spectrum while still retaining mouthwatering acidity and freshness. The wine opens with a subtle whiff of reduction followed by under-ripe strawberries, white flowers, and dried apricots. The palate is lively and whimsical and begs for a dish like fritto misto or a salde nicoise.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cellared Rhone steal. This has power and intensity to spare.
Delas Frères Saint-Joseph François de Tournon, Rhône 2015 750ML ($44.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Frères Saint-Joseph François de Tournon, Rhône 2015 750ML ($279.95) $156 special (that’s only $26/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inky and concentrated, the 2015 Saint-Joseph François de Tournon is no easy-drinking Saint-Joseph. It’s smoky, herbal and ashy all at once, yet it’s buoyed by ample black cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. This medium to full-bodied Syrah has plenty of tannins, but they’re ultimately silky and most apparent on the long, licorice-tinged finish. This is approachable now but should be even better in 3 years and should drink well for at least another 10 after that.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This full-bodied, rounded, sexy beauty shows the power and fruit of the vintage. With classic notes of black and blue fruits, violets, incense and pepper, drink this textured, expansive, terrific Saint Joseph over the coming 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99
The next best price is $39.99
Savart’s Champagnes are some of the most compelling, intense bottles in the region.
Savart L’Ouverture Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Savart L’Ouverture Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($599.95) $529 special (that’s only $44.08/bottle!)
John Gilman 91+ points “The l’Ouverture cuvée from Monsieur Savart is composed entirely from pinot noir grown in the village of Écueil, with half of the vins clairs barrel-fermented and raised in cask and the other in tank. Only the reserve wines that go into the blend have gone through malo for this wine, which is aged under cork, rather than crown cap prior to disgorgement. This release was disgorged in September of 2020 and finished with a dosage of seven grams per liter. It offers up a lovely nose of white peach, apple, patissière, chalky soil tones and a nice touch of orange zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and complex, with a fine core, good mineral drive, frothy mousse and lovely focus and balance on the long and youthful finish. This is a lovely bottle that will be even better with a few years in the cellar. 2021-2040+.”
Nothing “baby” about this Musar, it shows off why it’s Lebanon’s First Growth.
Chateau Musar ‘Hochar Pere et Fils’ Red Bekaa Valley 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
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!
The average price nationally is $31
The average price nationally is $31
Old-school, ageworthy Mosel Riesling.
Weingut Max Ferd. Richter Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett Mosel 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Mostly from very old vines (80 to 90 years old) and vinified partly (one-third) in stainless steel, the 2018 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett offers a fine, flinty, super sensual, mind-blowing bouquet of perfectly ripe but coolish, precise and even quartzite-like aromas. On the palate, the wine is wide, pure, elegant and energetic—a powerhouse but in the most delicious and delicate way. The palate is complex, opening wide but always precise and very, very long, with great mineral grip and tension but also lush and sensual features. This is a great Mosel Riesling indeed. Tasted from the cask in March 2019.”
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Grapelive Reviews a Value Barolo Star
In Stock Now:
GD Vajra Barolo Albe 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 34 bottles in stock now
GD Vajra Barolo Albe 2016 3L ($299.95) $249 special, 2 double-magnums in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “This is a fabulous vintage to stock up on for Barolo, and for an outstanding value this G.D. Vajra Albe is a top choice, it is drinking absolutely delicious with fantastic purity of flavors, showing classic Nebbiolo presence in the glass…. This beautiful Albe Barolo starts with its bright ruby and dark brick hue and expressive aromatics with dark berries, rose petals, tar and wild minty herbs before leading to a nicely structured medium to full bodied palate with good fruit density, velvety tannins and fine length. There is a wide array of expansive elements that unfold in clear detail including Italian cherry, damson plum, briar laced raspberry, balsamic strawberry and tart currant fruits along with earthy notes, anise, mineral and a light sense of cedar. This is a polished and luxurious Barolo that always way over delivers for the price on offer here, especially in vintages like this 2016, which follows top efforts in 2010, 2011 and 2013. I love the 2016s a lot and think it will go down as a legendary year for both enthusiasts and patient collectors, there’s sublime depth and a seductive opulence even in the youthful stage these wines are in.… The Albe Barolo is the blend of high-elevation Barolo DOCG Cru vineyard sites with different hillside parcels set on various slopes with different exposures that allow for ripe fruit and good natural acidity, all are high quality and organic vines which have sandy soils over clay and limestone marls. Giuseppe’s vinification of his Albe Barolo was carried in custom vertical fermentors with gentle punch down and cap pump-overs, seeing a long cool maceration period that lasts up to four months. After which this wine sees a spontaneous malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats before aged for 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks of various sizes with only one gentle racking before its final blending and being bottled. It should also be noted that Aldo Vajra, back in 1971, was one of the earliest to promote organic farming in Piemonte, a tradition that continues today with a passion”
GD Vajra Barolo Albe 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 34 bottles in stock now
GD Vajra Barolo Albe 2016 3L ($299.95) $249 special, 2 double-magnums in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “This is a fabulous vintage to stock up on for Barolo, and for an outstanding value this G.D. Vajra Albe is a top choice, it is drinking absolutely delicious with fantastic purity of flavors, showing classic Nebbiolo presence in the glass…. This beautiful Albe Barolo starts with its bright ruby and dark brick hue and expressive aromatics with dark berries, rose petals, tar and wild minty herbs before leading to a nicely structured medium to full bodied palate with good fruit density, velvety tannins and fine length. There is a wide array of expansive elements that unfold in clear detail including Italian cherry, damson plum, briar laced raspberry, balsamic strawberry and tart currant fruits along with earthy notes, anise, mineral and a light sense of cedar. This is a polished and luxurious Barolo that always way over delivers for the price on offer here, especially in vintages like this 2016, which follows top efforts in 2010, 2011 and 2013. I love the 2016s a lot and think it will go down as a legendary year for both enthusiasts and patient collectors, there’s sublime depth and a seductive opulence even in the youthful stage these wines are in.… The Albe Barolo is the blend of high-elevation Barolo DOCG Cru vineyard sites with different hillside parcels set on various slopes with different exposures that allow for ripe fruit and good natural acidity, all are high quality and organic vines which have sandy soils over clay and limestone marls. Giuseppe’s vinification of his Albe Barolo was carried in custom vertical fermentors with gentle punch down and cap pump-overs, seeing a long cool maceration period that lasts up to four months. After which this wine sees a spontaneous malolactic fermentation in stainless steel vats before aged for 18 months in large Slavonian oak casks of various sizes with only one gentle racking before its final blending and being bottled. It should also be noted that Aldo Vajra, back in 1971, was one of the earliest to promote organic farming in Piemonte, a tradition that continues today with a passion”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Collector’s Corner
The Rare Biondi-Santi Riserva
There is Sangiovese and there is Brunello, there is Brunello and then there is Biondi-Santi. Arguably the most famous house in Tuscany, few can claim credit for establishing themselves as a regional powerhouse and appellation promethean quite like them. Biondi-Santi makes Brunello that other estates are judged against. Their estate, Il Greppo, occupies some of the most hallowed ground in the Brunello appellation, in the heart of Montalcino. Their standards are high (they rarely release riservas) and their style can only be described as classic.
After World War II, Biondi-Santi was the only wine producer left in the entire village of Montalcino. How things have changed! Using heritage clones of Sangiovese from their high elevation, estate vineyard, new vinification techniques and unheard of cellaring practices Biondi-Santi turned Brunello into a household name among Italian wine collectors and they remain the standard against anyone else is judged. Considered to be one of the “Immortal wines of the world” these are absolute masterpieces after decades in the cellar, developing flavors like black tea, dried fruits, coffee and figs. Considering they spend at least three years just resting in cask before bottling after a famously long maceration period, these are wines built for aging. The wines are powerful, but not overwrought, elegant but emphatic. These are the wines that Brunello lover’s dream about.
Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi:
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($579.95) $419 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “A warm summer yielded this rich and opulent 2011 Riserva. Only fruit from the estate’s oldest vines (some up to 80 years of age) makes it into this bottling, and that old-vine concentration shows in the wine’s dense flavors: notes of black cherry and umeboshi plum layered with iodine, basil and smoke. The tightly packed flavors need time to unfold, so it’s best to decant this several hours before serving.”
After World War II, Biondi-Santi was the only wine producer left in the entire village of Montalcino. How things have changed! Using heritage clones of Sangiovese from their high elevation, estate vineyard, new vinification techniques and unheard of cellaring practices Biondi-Santi turned Brunello into a household name among Italian wine collectors and they remain the standard against anyone else is judged. Considered to be one of the “Immortal wines of the world” these are absolute masterpieces after decades in the cellar, developing flavors like black tea, dried fruits, coffee and figs. Considering they spend at least three years just resting in cask before bottling after a famously long maceration period, these are wines built for aging. The wines are powerful, but not overwrought, elegant but emphatic. These are the wines that Brunello lover’s dream about.
Newly Arrived from Biondi Santi:
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo Riserva, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2011 750ML ($579.95) $419 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94+ points “Dark red. Musky nuances give way to brighter red fruit, licorice and herbal aromas. Rich and dense, with flavors of red cherry and minerals lifted by hints of orange peel and bergamot, not to mention noteworthy but harmonious acidity. Finishes long with youthfully chewy tannins and lingering hints of violet. This strikes me as a slightly readier to drink version of Brunello Riserva from Biondi-Santi, but as always, it improves greatly with aeration so decant at least six hours ahead for maximum enjoyment.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “A warm summer yielded this rich and opulent 2011 Riserva. Only fruit from the estate’s oldest vines (some up to 80 years of age) makes it into this bottling, and that old-vine concentration shows in the wine’s dense flavors: notes of black cherry and umeboshi plum layered with iodine, basil and smoke. The tightly packed flavors need time to unfold, so it’s best to decant this several hours before serving.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Biondi Santi Tenuta Greppo, Rosso di Montalcino 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “I am immediately smitten by the Biondi-Santi 2016 Rosso di Montalcino thanks to the purity of the aromas on display. The bouquet literally submerges the senses in Sangiovese, with those delicate aromas of wild rose, violets, wet earth and brambly forest berry. Background notes of licorice, camphor ash and balsam herb come into steady focus. I am delighted by the intensity and the immense focus of this wine. This Rosso di Montalcino stands with the best of Brunello and gives us good reason to have very high expectations for the 2016 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino that will be released appellation-wide at the beginning of next year. This is a solid mid-weight Rosso with good structure and fine points of fresh acidity that move the wine with determination and grace smoothly over the palate.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2016 Rosso di Montalcino hails from lower-elevation vineyards, around 250 meters, in the northern section of Montalcino. It’s a classic, layered and dramatic wine, showing bright cherry, sweet herbs, cooling mint, dried fall leaves, tobacco and savory spice, with a presence and depth that feels more like Brunello than Rosso in character. There’s sweetness and purity to the fruit here that keeps me coming back to the glass, yet I’m sure that the 2016 will benefit from a few years of cellaring, especially as its fine tannins build toward the close. The Rosso spends twelve months maturing in Slavonian oak, and it is released two years later than most.”
Biondi Santi Il Greppo, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
Kerin O’Keefe- Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Underbrush, ripe berry, new leather and Mediterranean herb aromas slowly take shape in the glass. Showing youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers red cherry, pomegranate, white pepper and pipe tobacco notes framed by bright acidity and taut, refined tannins. It already shows great balance and finesse but is still young and tight. Drink 2022-2035.”
James Suckling 95 points “Love the dried lemon rind, florals and red fruits. Medium to full body and a solid core of fruit and spices. Long and flavorful finish. Just a hint of sweet tobacco. Better in 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $186
The average price is $186
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
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