In This Newsletter:
Sandhi Wine Exclusive:
Rajat Parr’s Zuni Café Collab
Vie di Romans:
Flors di Uis Special
Kruger-Rumpf: Nahe Wine Royalty
E. Pira : Short name, Big Barolo !
Staff Pick : Day Wines go to Momtazi
Trending
Georges Laval
Arriving This Fall:
Beaujolais Super Deal
Collector’s Corner:
California Dreamin’
Sandhi Wine Exclusive:
Rajat Parr’s Zuni Café Collab
After the explosive popularity of our exclusive Evening Land/Brasserie 19 offer last year, we jumped at the chance to offer another exclusive wine from Rajat Parr’s Sta. Rita Hills winery, Sandhi. Oregon wine fans may best know Parr for his Willamette Valley winery Evening Land and their pioneering Seven Springs vineyard. Some years before signing on to Evening Land, Parr’s founded Sandhi, an elite, small production winery that highlights the terroirs of Santa Barbara County. He and co-founder Sashi Moorman eschew extremes of ripeness, oak, or alcohol, instead crafting wines of elegance and restraint. Vineyard sources for the Sandhi lineup include the legendary cool climate Bien Nacido, best known by the single vineyard bottlings produced by the Bien Nacido estate, Au Bon Climat, and Qupe Winery, and the world-classic, historic Sanford & Benedict.
This Chardonnay is a barrel selection from these illustrious vineyards. It was crafted with the wine director at one of SF’s finest restaurants, Zuni Café. We knew it would be a charming and food-friendly wine, but we were stunned by the quality when we tasted a sample bottle last week. Fans of Evening Land will be dazzled by the beauty and elegance through a Californian lens, fans of Sandhi will be impressed by the price.
This is an exclusive deal and, like our Brasserie 19 offer folks still ask about, when it’s gone it’s gone for good.
Newly Arrived:
Sandhi Zuni Cafe Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Sandhi Zuni Cafe Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2016 750ML (399.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
From the winery: “If you’ve ever sat at San Francisco’s iconic Zuni Café with a plate of oysters in front of you while you wait for the iconic whole roast chicken, you may have had a glass or two of this collaboration between longtime friends Rajat Parr of Sandhi and Zuni wine director Thierry Lovato. The wine is a barrel selection from some of Sandhi’s iconic Sta. Rita Hills sites, (think Mt. Carmel, Sanford & Benedict) with enough own-rooted, 1973 Wente selection Bien Nacido Chardonnay blended in to warrant a Santa Barbara County designation. Add to that the favorable 2016 vintage in which a very warm spring and early summer gave way to cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures in July & August. These conditions allowed the medium-sized crop to mature perfectly with small berries in pristine condition and yield a remarkably balanced wine with fine depth and intensity.”
This Chardonnay is a barrel selection from these illustrious vineyards. It was crafted with the wine director at one of SF’s finest restaurants, Zuni Café. We knew it would be a charming and food-friendly wine, but we were stunned by the quality when we tasted a sample bottle last week. Fans of Evening Land will be dazzled by the beauty and elegance through a Californian lens, fans of Sandhi will be impressed by the price.
This is an exclusive deal and, like our Brasserie 19 offer folks still ask about, when it’s gone it’s gone for good.
Newly Arrived:
Sandhi Zuni Cafe Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Sandhi Zuni Cafe Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2016 750ML (399.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
From the winery: “If you’ve ever sat at San Francisco’s iconic Zuni Café with a plate of oysters in front of you while you wait for the iconic whole roast chicken, you may have had a glass or two of this collaboration between longtime friends Rajat Parr of Sandhi and Zuni wine director Thierry Lovato. The wine is a barrel selection from some of Sandhi’s iconic Sta. Rita Hills sites, (think Mt. Carmel, Sanford & Benedict) with enough own-rooted, 1973 Wente selection Bien Nacido Chardonnay blended in to warrant a Santa Barbara County designation. Add to that the favorable 2016 vintage in which a very warm spring and early summer gave way to cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures in July & August. These conditions allowed the medium-sized crop to mature perfectly with small berries in pristine condition and yield a remarkably balanced wine with fine depth and intensity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vie di Romans:
Flors di Uis Special
Vie di Romans is one of the flagship wineries of Friuli—arguably the greatest white-wine producing region of Italy. Given the quality of the wines, we always expect their prices to be higher—but Friuli remains one of the last great bargains for exceptional bottles. We’re pleased to be adding the a new case special on our already low pricing on their white blend, the Flors di Uis. This wine is exotic and aromatic, with beautiful richness and a dry finish. Stock up for sipping on the patio as the weather warms.
“Gianfranco Gallo’s Vie di Romans is one of the most accomplished, quality-minded estates in Italy. I am always impressed by their offerings” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Case special lands Friday, May 14th and is limited to only six cases:
Vie di Romans Flors di Uis Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Case-12 Vie di Romans Flors di Uis Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($349.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Malvasia Istriana 57%, Tocai 8% and Rhein Riesling 35%
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Vie di Romans 2018 Cuvée Friuli Isonzo Flors di Uis is an assembly of Malvasia, Riesling and Friulano that builds beautiful intensity on both the nose and the palate. Attempting to dissect the bouquet is not easy because there are so many elements to take under consideration, from orchard fruit and ripe apple to custard cream. The protagonist of the blend is Malvasia, and the wine’s floral notes of honeysuckle and yellow rose are quite amplified as a result. Thanks to nine months of aging on the lees, the wine is broad, rich and generous to the end.”
James Suckling 93 points “Lovely, perfumed nose of lilies, lime blossom, passion fruit and lychee. More citrus-peel and lightly herbaceous notes on the palate. This is full-bodied and very intense, yet there’s some good acidity. Warm finish. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Kruger-Rumpf
Nahe Wine Royalty
Nahe Wine Royalty
Kruger Rumpf is a consistent staff favorite here at Vinopolis, and justifiably so. Sitting at the most northerly point of the Nahe, one of the world’s new favorite German wine regions they have been growing wine grapes since 1708. Much like the rest of the wine industry their grapes were sold to a regional cooperative and vinified on a mass scale, until Stefan Rumpf began their estate program in 1984. Their estate holdings now encompass just under 124 acres in both the Nahe and Reinhessen, the majority planted to Riesling. This embrace of innovation has continued into the next generation, with Georg Rumpf transitioning the estate to organic farming practices and spearheading a reduced spray program. Also members of the VDP, an invite-only consortium of German producers largely considered the best in the country (There are less than 200 nationwide) they have clearly not let their size interfere with the quality of their wines.
At Vinopolis we carry a dizzying array of their wines, the majority of them Riesling’s from their various estate holdings. The top off-dry wine from the estate comes from the awkwardly named “Dautenpflänzer” from near the town of Munster. This means that the label reads “Münsterer Dautenpflänzer”—a stereotype of a German name if we ever saw one. In house, we often call it the “MD” if you aren’t feeling up to testing your pronunciation skills. The Dautenpflänzer is a prime Grand Cru site of the lower Nahe, a place that yields wines of power and resonance, and Kruger-Rumpf is the primary (and best) landholder.Their top dry wine comes from the Abtei , Im Pitterberg, and Burgberg vineyards, which are more suited to the production of bright, dry bottlings than the Dautenpflänzer. Their “1937” is a single-block bottling of the Abtei vineyard’s oldest and steepest section. Despite the vine age and fantastic quality, it’s just half the price of similar unicorn wines (think Carl Loewen’s “1896”). Furthermore, the Burgberg is one of the top GG sites in the upper Nahe, tiny and impossibly steep, and the Kruger-Rumpf version shows off the classicism and elegance of the site. In addition we also carry their Scheurebe, a crossing of Riesling that has declined to less than 840 acres in the entire country (that’s only .8% of total vineyard area)
Highlights In Stock Now from Kruger-Rumpf
Kruger-Rumpf Abtei ‘1937’ Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94-96 points “The 2018 barrel sample of Kruger-Rumpf’s Abtei 1937 was stunningly gorgeous with brilliant details, ripe extract density, vivid mineral tones and vibrant acidity showing a purity and vitality of youth, but with the complexity and length of its old vine material. Georg Rumpf has crafted a Trocken beauty here with layers of delicacy and substance. This juice is on par with almost any GG, making it an incredible value already. Be sure to book your allocation of this ultra-limited bottling from Terry These and importer Skurnik Wines. You will not be disappointed, I know I will be hustling to get some myself. The regular Abtei offering is one of my new favorite Nahe Rieslings and while I love all the latest Kruger-Rumpf wines, especially from the Grosse Lage: Münsterer Dautenpflänzer, Münsterer im Pitterberg and Dorsheimer Burgberg, as well as exotic Rumpf’s Scheurebe plus their off dry Kabinett, Feinherb and wonderfully balanced Spatlese(s) I have become obsessed with the Bingerbrücker Abtei im Ruppertsberg vineyard and wines. This ’18 starts with subtle aromatic charm with orange blossom, rosewater, flinty stones, salt lick and quinces before thrilling the palate with energy and white peach, tangerine, lime intensity, verbena, mint tea and tart green apple. This light/medium dry Riesling is brisk and racy, at first but gains depth and builds with air in the glass adding some leesy texture, it is totally thrilling and will only get better with bottle age. Terry Theise adds that, Kuger-Rumpf’s vineyards are farmed sustainably; bees are kept nearby to facilitate pollination and aid in overall bio-diversity. Periodically sheep are allowed to roam the vines helping to control underbrush. All vineyards are hand harvested to ensure that only optimally ripe grapes are selected. Stefan believed that “you can’t improve wine in the cellar, only make it worse…” and Georg has continued his cellar work with this philosophy in mind, which to me shows in wines like this fantastic Abtei.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Dorsheimer Burgberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94+ points “Coming from a tiny incredibly steep Grand Cru site, the Burgberg Vineyard, that is set on volcanic and quartz soils near Munster in the village of Dorsheim. The Kruger Rumpf Burgberg GG is one of the most exciting wines of vintage at this small winery… It is fantastically mineral-driven dry Riesling. This latest set of wines, especially the Rieslings, from Georg Rumpf and his family are some of the best yet from this estate. The GG’s and the Premier Cru Trockens are gorgeous wines. No one is going to want to miss these 2018 Nahe offerings, especially the Pitterberg GG, the Abtei Erste Lage 1937 old vine, one of my secret favorites and this beautifully detailed Burgberg GG. Rumpf has turned to mostly all organic practices, and the Burgberg parcel is farmed organic. [He] prefers to do natural fermentations, or Sponti, with his Cru wines with the GG’s getting less aging in large cask, Stuckfass, to allow less reduction and enhance generosity, while retraining freshness and vitality in the wines. [It] shows here in this barrel sample of Burgberg… These Kruger-Rumpf GG’s are some of the best values out there, they really deserve much more attention, as do the lesser bottlings and their wildly tasty Scheurebe, which is one of the best examples in Germany. The Kruger-Rumpf winery, which dates back to the 1790’s, is focused on purity and the expression of the distinctive terroirs in the family’s holdings, but only began making estate labeled wines in 1984 when Georg’s dad Stefan began crafting small production bottlings. Now, mostly retired Stefan has turned things over to his sons Georg and Philipp, who are continuing the traditions here with a renewed energy and technical skill. [Their work] impresses Terry Theise, their importer, who considers Kruger-Rumpf one of best under the radar estates in the region. [Theise] notes that Kruger-Rumpf is innovative and is always striving to reach new levels of quality. I visited Kruger-Rumpf in the fall of 2016 at harvest time and was thrilled with the stylish wines I found and was blown away with the individual vineyards they farm and the hard work they have been putting in the restore the Abtei site. The iron rich volcanic and quartz influenced 2018 Burgberg GG starts with white flowers, stone fruits and vibrant citrus before expansion on the medium full palate with layers of lime/tangerine, apricot, green apple, papaya, bitter pit white peach and white cherry fruits along with steely form, spearmint, verbena, mouthwatering saline, exotic spices and subtle leesy elements. This is going to be a legendary wine and is already showing Georg’s signature finesse and vinous personality. It has masses of potential and its delicacy is utterly delicious! There’s a lot to admire at Kruger-Rumpf these days and this crisp 2018 Burgberg is a stunning effort that gains with air in the glass and will more so with a few years in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese GK, Nahe 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Picked at the end of October but with minimal botrytis, this certainly stands in magnificent contradiction to my vintage generalization that picking past the middle of that month was not advantageous. Unlike its counterpart form the Dautenpflänzer, this was raised in cask, and was allowed to ferment to a lower level of residual sugar. It comes off as a riper, richer sibling of the corresponding Im Pitterberg Riesling Kabinett, its gloss merging with creaminess, yet with fresh white peach and lime juiciness complementing ripe quince and serving for animation and refreshment. The finish is unexpectedly electrifying in its vibrancy and mouthwateringly saline, and gains stimulating counterpoint from peach kernel piquancy, peach fuzz prickle and a crystalline sense of stone-showering mineral impingement. (If there is a second, “regular” Im Pitterberg Spätlese from this vintage, I am not aware of it.)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.99
The next best price is $49.99
E. Pira
Short, Name Big Barolo !
“Year in, year out Chiara Boschis quietly makes some of the most compelling wines in Barolo without getting either the attention or recognition of some of her neighbors.” – Antonio Galloni
In Stock Now from E. Pira:
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 22 bottles in stock now
#33 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year
James Suckling 99 points “Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “My sample bottle of 2015 Barolo Cannubi was allowed to breathe overnight, and I really got a glimpse of how the wine evolves, showing beautiful minty notes on the bouquet with time. This Barolo is more compact in terms of build than the others and more streamlined in the mouth, but it comes across as extremely delicate, light and elegant. There is a sweet spot on the close. This wine has a unique style that is both graceful and petite, and given ample time to breathe, it would put a smile on any Barolo lover’s face.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A beam of rose, raspberry and kirsch notes highlights this aromatic, elegant red. Racy and structured, this focuses the fruit flavors, picking up leafy underbrush, mint, spice and tar elements, building to a firm finish. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Mosconi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Aromatic depth here, drawing you in with cascading layers of flowers and leaves, fresh-tilled earth laced with woody spices, white pepper and fresh red fruit. The palate carries a very sturdy frame of fine, dense tannins. This is placed in the top league of 2015 Barolo wines. Long and succulent build through the finish. Try from 2024.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “All of the wines from Chiara Boschis are more vinous this year, more natural. They feel authentic, genuine and traditional. They show an extra degree of richness or texture, and the 2015 Barolo Mosconi is no exception. Its dark and spicy notes are very polished and graceful in this vintage but with considerable tightness to the tannins that will soften with time. This wine offers ample volume and girth, but it carries its weight with elegance. Once the bottle has reached maturity, it would be a great pairing match to rabbit.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Barolo Mosconi is striking in this vintage. The natural richness of the year seems especially well suited to this Monforte site, where the wines tend to be born with a natural sense of textural breadth and volume. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather and menthol grow in the glass in a full-bodied, virile Barolo that speaks to power above all else.”
Decanter 93 points “The personable Chiara Boschis is based in the town of Barolo, but this wine comes from 1ha in Monforte. It’s a fairly new addition to her range, and a very successful one albeit in a far from traditional style. The colour is deep and the nose voluptuous and smoky, with cherry-pie aromas. The palate is full-bodied, plump and suave, infused with dark fruits. Fortunately there is balancing acidity to cut through the richness. Harmonious, with a long, piquant finish.”
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Via Nuova, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This delivers a fresh and vibrant impression on the nose with ripe red cherries and a deep-set, rose perfume. The palate has impressive power and focus with chiseled, driving tannins that cut a straight line of pure, red and black-cherry flavor. Long and assertive in 2015. Try this from 2023.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “Once again, the 2015 Barolo Via Nuova shows why the blending of several sites was the approach favored by Barolo producers until the 1960s, when the fascination for single-vineyard wines started to take off. Maybe the old-times knew something after all. Silky and fragrant, with exceptional balance, the 2015 is positively striking. Medium in body and layered, the 2015 has a very bright future. What a gorgeous wine it is. The Via Nuova was aged in equal parts cask and barrique.”
Love the Wines of Piedmont? Don’t miss our offer of Bruno Giacosa new releases arriving Friday:
Bruno Giacosa Asili Riserva, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($579.95) $485 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available!
James Suckling 100 points “This is really muscular and really powerful. It is amazing. Full-bodied, yet tight and super structured with incredible power and super toned tannins. It goes on for minutes. The greatest Barbaresco ever from here? I love the strength with fruit finesse. I don’t remember tasting a young Asili like this. Give this a lot of time to come together. One for the cellar. Try after 2026.”
Importer note “Asili represents one of the most important single vineyards of Barbaresco. Bruno Giacosa’s vineyards are comprised of 2.5 hectares, planted in calcareous clay soils with a sandy vein. The Asili wines showcase an expressive and elegant profile. Tasting Notes: Intense red garnet color with orange highlights. Notes of raspberry and wild strawberry are layered with floral aromas of rose and violet. On the palate, good structure is matched with freshness of fruit and silky tannins. Created from a balanced growing season and a summer that was never too hot, 2016 will be a vintage to remember for the quality of the wines produced. Low humidity, no heat spikes and perfectly timed rain resulted in one of the latest harvests in the last few years. The Nebbiolo from this year is full-bodied and fragrant, and the Barolos and Barbarescos are grand wines that will only benefit from extended aging. A classic vintage of old times. “
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bruno Giacosa Rabajà, Barbaresco DOCG 2017 750ML ($269.95) $219 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available!
Importer note “Rabajà represents one of the most important single vineyards of Barbaresco. Bruno Giacosa’s vineyards are comprised of 0.6 hectares, planted in calcareous clay soils. Tasting Notes: Red garnet color with orange highlights. A complex nose of spice, violets and fresh red fruit aromas leads to a palate that is full bodied, structured and refined with a persistent finish marked by minerality and fine tannins.”
No reviews for the 2017 available. 2016 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 95 points “Elegant and graceful, this offers cherry, strawberry, rose, tobacco, iron and spice flavors on a linear frame. The steely structure and tension deliver plenty of grip. Balanced in the end, with a chalky feel on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2045. 40 cases imported. — BS”
We offer 219 wines from Piedmont in stock now.
Shop our full selection on our webstore!
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
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
Staff Pick:
Grant:
The McMinville AVA is one of the Willamette Valley’s more ignored growing areas, often passed up in favor of the riper styles seen in her sisters Eola-Amity and Dundee. The proximity to the Coast Range mountains, higher elevation and extensive forest cover make for acid and botanical driven Pinot Noir even in warm vintages like 2016. The Day wines interpretation of Momtazi vineyard is along that vein, but is one of the best examples of the vintage I’ve come across. Highly expressive aromas combine the AVA’s characteristic pine, mossy wood and turned loam with a spectacular black fruited character usually found in Californian style pinot noir. There is a mesmerizing juxtaposition at play between the lighter body and the high acid/tannin balance in a way that’s classic Oregon Pinot Noir. Overall fruit character includes some ripe strawberry, orange peel and bing cherries with aromas of cinnamon, clove and cedar. In line with the natural winemaking style of Day, and the minimal input practiced by Momtazi there is minimal oak influence to allow for pure varietal expression. The use of whole cluster inclusion makes for a tannin profile not unlike a black tea from Assam, also contributing to a long finish of Portobello mushroom and dried raspberries.
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) Was $33, Now $28 Super Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of pinot noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $38
The average price nationally is $38
Shop our complete selection of Oregon Pinots on our web store!
Trending
Tamellini Le Bine di Costiola Soave Classico, Veneto 2018 750ML ($19.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “The 2018 Soave Classico Le Bine de Costiola pulls you close to the glass with a beguiling display of musky apricot and peach contrasted by spiced lemon peel, incense and hints of curry leaf and wet stone. It’s silky and textural, yet buzzing with energy, as tart stone fruits and zesty citrus create inner tension, and honeyed florals form toward the close. This is wonderfully persistent, with a coating of glycerol-like fruits that are washed clean by residual acids and salty minerals.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
From one of our favorite sections of the north coast, made famous by Peter Michael.
Galerie Wines ‘Latro’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley 2015 750ML ($59.99) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Galerie Wines ‘Latro’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley 2015 750ML ($239.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 93 points “Deep purple-black colored, the 2015 Latro Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers up warm blueberry and plum notions with hints of black soil, stewed tea, menthol and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the fruits flavors completely fill the mouth, with blue fruit preserves and a lovely perfumed nature, featuring plush tannins and plenty of freshness defining the long finish. 425 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59
The next best price is $59
Castiglion del Bosco has become one of our go-to producers for modern-styled Brunello.
Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.99) $46.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Wonderful aromos of flowers, plums, terracotta and white pepper. Intense, yet ever so subtle. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins, and a long and intense finish. Shows excellent length. Drink after 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Good deep red. Complex aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, graphite, mocha, and mint. Focused and suave with very attractive sweetness and standout purity to its flavors of red berries and candied flowers. Finishes with polished tannins and outstanding length.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Tightly wound, with tart cherry, graphite, earth and cigar box flavors, aligned to an edge of firm tannins. Flirts with rusticity, yet remains tense and smoldering. Should gain more length as it opens. Best from 2023 through 2039.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
The average price is $59
A super Tuscan indeed. This is just entering its drinking prime.
Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2009 Lupicaia is a standout. Sweet red cherries, flowers, mint, anise, savory herbs and spices all ring out in a supple, gracious wine loaded with class. The 2009 needs a few years for some of the contours to soften, but it is a gorgeous wine with tons of personality. This is a decidedly round, sexy Lupicaia that is going to offer plenty of enjoyment over the course of the next fifteen years or so.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The balsamic notes are really starting to open up here in the 2009 Lupicaia. This wine has begun to come of age. This was a slightly cooler growing season, and this wine shows little of the ripe, fruit-forwardness that marked many of the following vintages. There is a velvety side to this Lupicaia, with more textural looseness and openness in general.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Muga offers some of the best values in the region without skimping on complexity and ageability.
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($34.95) $23.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “One of the flagship cuvées from this estate that’s produced in every vintage, the 2015 Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that spent 24 months in used French and American oak. Blackberries, currants, cigar wrapper, cedar box, and hints of vanilla all flow to a medium-bodied, concentrated, beautiful Rioja that has ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. You couldn’t go wrong with a case of this.”
James Suckling 94 points “Complex nose with ripe black cherries, deeply integrated cedary oak, baking spices, dried flowers, leather, fresh tobacco and earthy notes. This is silky and mellow with long, laid-back tannins that deliver ripe dark plum flavors into a spicy and earthy finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $29
The average price is $29
Charvin is resolutely old-school, making wines that demand age but reward it with classically mature flavors and aromas.
Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) $52.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94-96 points “Dark glistening red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, baking spices, garrigue and candied flowers, and a smoky mineral flourish appears as the wine opens up. Sappy, sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors joined by hints of allspice and bitter chocolate. Smooth and seamless in texture, showing superb finishing clarity, gently gripping tannins and strong, spicy persistence. This is a somewhat more brawny wine than usual for Laurent Charvin, but it still retains the domaine’s trademark balance and energy.”
James Suckling 95-96 points “A very tidy array of fresh strawberries, raspberries and poached, red plums. Sweet perfume and light, sappy, spicy complexity, too. The palate delivers an array of succulent, smooth tannins that offer fluid, suave, textural allure. Silky. Barrel sample.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $58.98
The next best price is $58.98
Georges Laval
Champagne Georges Laval is one of the stars of the grower movement—a cult winery whose wines appear in miniscule quantities here in the states. Vincent Laval makes wines that are rigid in their structure and impressive in their complexity—serious wines for studied drinking.
Highlights In Stock Now from Georges Laval:
Georges Laval Cumieres Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV (2018) 750ML ($129.95) $99 special 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier. 2018-base. Premier Cru.”
Georges Laval Cumieres Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne 2015 1.5L ($299.95) $259 special, only 4 magnums available
Georges Laval Cumieres Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne 2015 3L ($699.95) $599 special, only 3 double-magnums available
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!
Georges Laval Cumieres Les Hautes Chevres Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime
Champagne 2014 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Brut Nature Les Hautes-Chèvres emerges from old-vine Meunier planted in 1930, 1947, 1965 and 1971, and the last vintage to include fruit from the 1930 vines. Big, rich and expansive in the glass, the Hautes-Chèvres is another wine of pure pedigree and class. The Hautes-Chèvres is a wine of texture and breadth above all else. Pear, white truffle and brioche add attractive layers of nuance. This is another fabulous Champagne from Vincent Laval that only suffers in that it is tasted next to a number of wines that are maybe just a touch more complete!”
Importer note “100% Pinot Noir. Premier Cru.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Georges Laval Garennes Demi-Sec, Champagne NV (2018) 750ML (99.95) $79 special, 16 bottles in stock now
40 g/L RS, 100% Pinot Meunier
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving this Fall:
Beaujolais Super Deal
Beaujolais Super Deal
In the heart of the Morgon appellation, fourth generation winemaker Michel Guignier produces a small amount of wine from his 60+ year old parcels. The soils here are decomposed granite and a type of schist known locally as roches pourries. The grapes are hand harvested and each parcel is individually vinified in vats on the lees after a brief semi-carbonic maceration.
“Guignier’s fresh and charming wines display the pure, transparent, soil-driven qualities that make naturally-made Beaujolais so joyful to drink, and they are consistently among the great values in the region.” -Polaner Selections
Arriving ETA Fall:
Michel Guignier Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Michel Guignier Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “So deep and subtle, but also bright and floral on the nose, it takes your breath away! Stunning energy on the racy, pristine palate, the considerable power not tied down by a gram of fat, lifting you instead up towards the heavens. Only just beginning to open up. Drinkable now, but better from 2022.”
John Gilman 93 points “Morgon “Vieilles Vignes”- Domaine Michel Guignier (Nomacorc) The old vine bottling of Morgon from Michel Guignier is made from vines in three lieux à dits, including Côte du Py, with the vines averaging sixty years of age. Monsieur Guignier’s 2019 Vieilles Vignes offers up a beautifully bright and sappy nose of black cherries, sweet dark berries, bonfire, pigeon, dark soil tones, a touch of espresso and a lovely topnote of thyme. On the palate the wine is bright, full and complex, with a good core of fruit, fine soil undertow, moderate, buried tannins and lovely length and grip on the beautifully balanced finish. This is a proper young bottle of Morgon that could do with a bit of bottle age to let those backend tannins start to completely soften up, but the wine is certainly approachable out of the blocks and plenty of folks are going to end up drinking their bottles on the early side, despite the excellent potential for aging in evidence here. Fine juice. 2023-2050+.”
“Guignier’s fresh and charming wines display the pure, transparent, soil-driven qualities that make naturally-made Beaujolais so joyful to drink, and they are consistently among the great values in the region.” -Polaner Selections
Arriving ETA Fall:
Michel Guignier Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Michel Guignier Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “So deep and subtle, but also bright and floral on the nose, it takes your breath away! Stunning energy on the racy, pristine palate, the considerable power not tied down by a gram of fat, lifting you instead up towards the heavens. Only just beginning to open up. Drinkable now, but better from 2022.”
John Gilman 93 points “Morgon “Vieilles Vignes”- Domaine Michel Guignier (Nomacorc) The old vine bottling of Morgon from Michel Guignier is made from vines in three lieux à dits, including Côte du Py, with the vines averaging sixty years of age. Monsieur Guignier’s 2019 Vieilles Vignes offers up a beautifully bright and sappy nose of black cherries, sweet dark berries, bonfire, pigeon, dark soil tones, a touch of espresso and a lovely topnote of thyme. On the palate the wine is bright, full and complex, with a good core of fruit, fine soil undertow, moderate, buried tannins and lovely length and grip on the beautifully balanced finish. This is a proper young bottle of Morgon that could do with a bit of bottle age to let those backend tannins start to completely soften up, but the wine is certainly approachable out of the blocks and plenty of folks are going to end up drinking their bottles on the early side, despite the excellent potential for aging in evidence here. Fine juice. 2023-2050+.”
Collector’s Corner:
California Dreamin’
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains 2017 375ML ($149.95) $119 special, 10 half-bottles in stock now
#3 Wine of the Year 2020, Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure perfection, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is a sensational effort from this estate that should be snatched up by drinkers and collectors. Based on 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was brought up mostly in new American oak, this saturated purple-hued beauty is legendary Monte Bello in the making and has a stunning yet primordial bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, graphite, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Full-bodied, incredibly powerful, and one of the most concentrated versions of this cuvée ever made (I’ve had most of them), it needs a solid decade of bottle age and will have 50-60 years of overall longevity. Despite the long drinking window, it offers plenty of pleasure even today. I followed this bottle for two days and it showed best right out of the gate, closing down and becoming more brooding and backward with air. It’s an incredible wine that I promise you won’t regret having in your cellar.”
Clos du Val Three Graces Red Blend, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($199.95) Was $169, Now $149 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ Points “The 2014 Three Graces is a new wine from Clos du Val that replaces the former Reserve. Inky, rich and powerful, the 2014 possesses superb intensity and resonance, with plenty of dark fruit spice, lavender and French oak notes. I suspect it will be at least a few years before the 2014 starts to show its full potential.”
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($279.95) $ 249.00 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is a blend of 78.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.4% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 5.1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slips effortlessly from the glass, singing of ripe black cherries, black raspberries and cassis, plus hints of red currants, roses, cinnamon stick and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers lovely freshness, offering bags of perfumed black fruits in the mouth, beautifully supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long with lots of soft-spoken floral and mineral whispers. This perfumed beauty wears the 2018 vintage stamp well, presenting a more delicate expression of this vineyard—one that I love! 647 cases were made.”
Winery notes “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
#3 Wine of the Year 2020, Jeb Dunnuck
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure perfection, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Monte Bello is a sensational effort from this estate that should be snatched up by drinkers and collectors. Based on 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 8% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was brought up mostly in new American oak, this saturated purple-hued beauty is legendary Monte Bello in the making and has a stunning yet primordial bouquet of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, graphite, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Full-bodied, incredibly powerful, and one of the most concentrated versions of this cuvée ever made (I’ve had most of them), it needs a solid decade of bottle age and will have 50-60 years of overall longevity. Despite the long drinking window, it offers plenty of pleasure even today. I followed this bottle for two days and it showed best right out of the gate, closing down and becoming more brooding and backward with air. It’s an incredible wine that I promise you won’t regret having in your cellar.”
Clos du Val Three Graces Red Blend, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($199.95) Was $169, Now $149 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ Points “The 2014 Three Graces is a new wine from Clos du Val that replaces the former Reserve. Inky, rich and powerful, the 2014 possesses superb intensity and resonance, with plenty of dark fruit spice, lavender and French oak notes. I suspect it will be at least a few years before the 2014 starts to show its full potential.”
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($279.95) $ 249.00 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Gravelly Meadow is a blend of 78.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.4% Merlot, 8% Malbec and 5.1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slips effortlessly from the glass, singing of ripe black cherries, black raspberries and cassis, plus hints of red currants, roses, cinnamon stick and garrigue. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers lovely freshness, offering bags of perfumed black fruits in the mouth, beautifully supported by fine-grained tannins, finishing long with lots of soft-spoken floral and mineral whispers. This perfumed beauty wears the 2018 vintage stamp well, presenting a more delicate expression of this vineyard—one that I love! 647 cases were made.”
Winery notes “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $276
California Gems Arriving This Month:
Ulysses is big, rich and flamboyant and has already established itself as a wine to watch in its first few vintages.
Ulysses Vineyard Cabernet, Oakville Napa 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available!
James Suckling 96 points “Extremely aromatic with crushed berries, currants, flowers and hints of uncured tobacco leaf. Carnations. Medium to full body and extremely fine tannins that are firm and polished. Vertical tannins draw you down. Some blanched-walnut character to the blue fruit. Fresh and clean at the finish… So beautiful to drink now.”
Winemaker’s Notes “With black tea leaf and brioche, Ulysses 2017 delivers dense layers of deep cherry, balsamic, peat, forest berries and fresh walnut, woven through a finely grained texture, and a lingering warm cacao powder finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Dominus Estate Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($349.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Dominus Estate Napa Valley 2018 1.5L ($749.95) $649 pre-arrival special, only 6 magnums available!
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!”
Wine Advocate 99+ points “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+.-LPB”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Dominus is wild and exotic from the first taste. Lifted aromatics make a strong opening impression. There is something exuberant about the 2018 that is hard to describe. The 2018 is not a huge Dominus, nor is it massively structured, but the intensity of the flavors is remarkable just the same. Dark raspberry, spice, leather and cedar are some of the many notes that open over time.”
Continuum Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($299.95) $259 pre-arrival special
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.”
Winery note “The 2018 Continuum shows energy and verve. The wine expresses purity and precision, with high tone aromatics of red and blue fruit, deep plum and rose oil. This vintage shows an approachable nerve of the land in the refined mineral quality on the palate. The surrounding native vegetation of bay and sage is evidenced in an earthy, savory profile. This is a shimmering, silky and harmoniously integrated wine with densely packed fine grain tannins. 2018 Continuum is a wine for the ages, delicious today with a long life ahead.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $273
The average price is $273
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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We can’t say enough good things about Bow & Arrow and the wines they make. Scott Frank seems to have cracked the code to do two things that are nearly impossible for other Oregon wineries. First, he makes wines that are vibrant, fresh and delicious in a truly old-world fashion. The wines are awesome. There’s a liveliness that we find in the Bow & Arrow wines that can often be lacking from lots of other wines from this state—a zippiness, if you will. As a result, the wines (especially the wines we’re featuring today) can be compulsively drinkable.
Founded by Dr. John and Karen Bergström, production at Bergström Wines began in 1999 when their son Josh returned home from viticulture and enology studies in Burgundy. Josh has worn the caps of general manager, head winemaker, and vineyard manager ever since. Organic since the start, the winegrowing is now biodynamic. Bergström also releases wines made from select independent vineyards. Wines of structure and density, with grippy tannins, Bergström consistently receives high notes by Wine Spectator and Vinous Media. As stated on their website, “The Bergström Family believes world-class Oregon wines from the Willamette Valley’s preeminent hillside vineyards can be achieved only through nonindustrial, artisanal winemaking.” For this reason, Bergström wines are already an Oregon classic.
