In Today’s Newsletter:
Nanclares Deep Cuts
New Beaujolais Reviews
From John Gilman
Trending Wines Arriving Tomorrow
A Trio of Well-Priced Champagne Producers
New Sales & Sales Highlights
Nanclares Deep Cuts
Certainly, Nanclares’ Albarinos are considered the stars of the show. The Soverribas is among the best Spanish white wines being made. But you can’t just play the singles and call it a day. The deep cuts are the reds from the Ribeira Sacra area of the Rias Miño. The little pockets of south facing slopes that run along the twisty north-south running river are ancient and planted predominantly with 100 year old Mencia vines along with other local varietals that flourish in the granitic and alluvial soils.
The southern exposure is a necessity as even in a warm vintage like 2015 the wines at full ripeness are only putting out a 13.5% abv. In a vintage like 2018, you can look for alcohol levels in the 10% to 11% range. They’re wild and elegant at the same time as Alberto Nanclares is known for minimal intervention and extracting the most he can from the fruit. Field sorted whole cluster fruit with foot pigeage, fermented in large, older and very neutral chestnut foudres and aged in 500L barrels for 12 months. The resulting wines are then bottled with no filtration with minimal SO2, preserving the essence of the vineyard and cellar until you deem it appropriate to open them.
And when should that be? These wines tip the scale towards wild in their youth; decanting is a necessity to both let the wines open up to their full extent and to avoid the bulk of the sediment that is usually present. I have had these wines after release and after a five year cellaring. The 5 years was just the beginning of what these wines could offer. I recently had the 15 Minato da Rana and was floored by the brightness of the acidity even while the wine offered such a full throated version of Mencia. I’ve seen reviews that push the ageing window out another 30 (!!!) years. I believe it is not only possible, but should be positively remarkable over the next two decades.
Red Wines In Stock Now
Nanclares y Prieto ‘A Senda Vermella’ Tinto, Spain NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “Their first red from Rías Baixas is the NV A Senda Vermella, an unusual blend of 80% wine from 2018 and 20% from 2017 (the cork reads 17/18), which is 60% Caíño and 40% Mencía from different parts of the Salnés, but it’s sold without appellation of origin. There’s only 10.9% alcohol, and it has a very clear green strike and pungent herbal flavors that somehow give it a strong umami sensation. It’s definitely green in the best possible sense, and light to medium-bodied with very fine tannins. It fermented with 100% foot-trodden clusters for some 20 days, mostly in used barrels but with 20% of the volume in stainless steel. The 2017 part was in stainless steel and oak for 22 months, and the 2018 part aged exclusively in tank for 10 months. Very unusual, a red of strong character. It’s a red that grows on you, better the second and third time, and always better with food. 3,883 bottles were filled in August 2019.”
The southern exposure is a necessity as even in a warm vintage like 2015 the wines at full ripeness are only putting out a 13.5% abv. In a vintage like 2018, you can look for alcohol levels in the 10% to 11% range. They’re wild and elegant at the same time as Alberto Nanclares is known for minimal intervention and extracting the most he can from the fruit. Field sorted whole cluster fruit with foot pigeage, fermented in large, older and very neutral chestnut foudres and aged in 500L barrels for 12 months. The resulting wines are then bottled with no filtration with minimal SO2, preserving the essence of the vineyard and cellar until you deem it appropriate to open them.
And when should that be? These wines tip the scale towards wild in their youth; decanting is a necessity to both let the wines open up to their full extent and to avoid the bulk of the sediment that is usually present. I have had these wines after release and after a five year cellaring. The 5 years was just the beginning of what these wines could offer. I recently had the 15 Minato da Rana and was floored by the brightness of the acidity even while the wine offered such a full throated version of Mencia. I’ve seen reviews that push the ageing window out another 30 (!!!) years. I believe it is not only possible, but should be positively remarkable over the next two decades.
Red Wines In Stock Now
Nanclares y Prieto ‘A Senda Vermella’ Tinto, Spain NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “Their first red from Rías Baixas is the NV A Senda Vermella, an unusual blend of 80% wine from 2018 and 20% from 2017 (the cork reads 17/18), which is 60% Caíño and 40% Mencía from different parts of the Salnés, but it’s sold without appellation of origin. There’s only 10.9% alcohol, and it has a very clear green strike and pungent herbal flavors that somehow give it a strong umami sensation. It’s definitely green in the best possible sense, and light to medium-bodied with very fine tannins. It fermented with 100% foot-trodden clusters for some 20 days, mostly in used barrels but with 20% of the volume in stainless steel. The 2017 part was in stainless steel and oak for 22 months, and the 2018 part aged exclusively in tank for 10 months. Very unusual, a red of strong character. It’s a red that grows on you, better the second and third time, and always better with food. 3,883 bottles were filled in August 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Nanclares y Prieto ‘Minato da Rana’ Tinto Rustico, Ribeira Sacra 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “As I wondered last year, I am not sure why the label does not state that this is a wine from Ribeira Sacra, hypothesizing that it is because Señor Nanclares’ cellar lie in the town of Cambados in Rías Biaxas? The Miñato de Raña “Tinto Rústico” is composed from a blend of sixty percent Mencía, thirty percent Garnacha and ten percent unknown grapes, sourced from steep, terraced granite vineyards on the Miño River. The 2015 version is just superb, as the fine ripeness of the vintage has really worked here, with the deep and sappy bouquet offering up scents of sweet dark berries, pomegranate, graphite, espresso, superb minerality and coffee grounds. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and nascently complex, with great depth in the mid-palate, moderate, ripe tannins, good acids and great backend soil signature on the very, very long and classy finish. This is even a step up from the outstanding 2014 version! 2020-2050+.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Nanclares y Prieto ‘Penapedre’, Galicia 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “From an old vine vineyard in the Mino slope in the Ribeiro Sacra, the wonderfully layered 2015 Penapedre from Silvia Prieto and Alberto Nanclares of Viticultores Nanclares y Prieto…. The Penapedre is a co-planted and fermented blend of mostly Mencia 60% along with 30% of Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) along with 10% of mixed black (and maybe a bit of Godello white?) grapes from a 100 year old all organically farmed parcel at a 60 degree angle/slope set on classic granite soils, this vineyard is hand tended and picked in small baskets, it faces south and southwest to get the most of the Galician sun, and allowing ripe flavors and refined tannins. The 2015, from a warm and lush vintage, comes in at 13% natural alcohol, it also allowed whole cluster ferments in a large 4,000L chestnut wood open top fermenter with traditional foot stomp crushing, native yeasts and low sulfur were used here with lees aging in a mix of five used French large cask of 300L and 400L sizes for about a year before racking to stainless tank, it was unfined and unfiltered. This old school Mencia based old vine field blend starts with lovely earthy charm, lightly perfumed with dark floral tones, truffle and spices to go with black fruits that all lead to a medium full palate of wild plum, blackberry, mulberry, zesty currant and black cherry fruits, as well as cracked green peppercorns, forest mushroom, roasted herbs, crushed violets, flinty mineral and gravel, anise and subtle/faint oak shadings. This vibrant and velvety red has a northern Rhone feel and style, but still uniquely it’s own wine and terroir with it’s juicy acidity that is more Pinot like in textural delicacy and grace, while remaining seductively exotic and feral”
Wine Advocate 92 points “There is one more red from the Ribeira Sacra zone in the banks of the Miño, a bottling called 2015 Penapedre, which is a blend of 60% Mencía, 30% Garnacha Tintorera and 10% white grapes (Palomino and Godello) from ancient (believed to be centenary) vines. The wine is fermented with full clusters and foot treading in a new 4,000-liter chestnut vat and matured in a 500-liter oak barrel with lees for 12 months. It has a similar character to the Miñato da Raña; perhaps I found a little more finesse here, maybe because it was polished by a slightly longer élevage. There is lovely rusticity in both, which gives it character. It would be superb if it was a little livelier. There is some lactic/creamy notes, which could be from the chestnut vat or because one of the barrels provided that note that grew in the glass. 2,255 bottles were filled in January 2017. This is a joint venture with some friends. Part of it is bottled by Eulogio Pomares and the rest is here; the wines are the same, only the élevage is different.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $56.99
White Wines In Stock Now
Nanclares y Prieto ‘Soverribas de Nanclares’, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 Soverribas is a single-vineyard Albariño from a plot in Meaño on sandy granite soils. The grapes fermented with indigenous yeasts in a 2,200-liter oak vat from 2004 (so, already very neutral). This is a bit of a chameleonic wine that needs time in bottle and can often be confusing when drunk very young. This is austere and mineral, and it might be a good idea to decant this in advance if you are going to pull the cork any time soon. There are notes of wet granite, white flowers. This is a long-distance runner. This also transcends its price level. Amazingly enough, this wine was rejected by the appellation of origin! 2,669 bottles and 40 magnums produced.”
Importer note “Soverribas Albariño comes from a single, southwest-facing parcel named Paraje Manzaniña, located in the parroquia of Padrenda (Meaño). After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. Grapes were pressed whole-cluster and fermented and raised on the lees in an old 2,200L French oak tina for 11 months with battonage for the first 3 months, bottled on Aug. 21st (fruit day) without fining or filtration, and modest amounts of SO2. An angular and serious vin de garde Rías Baixas wine. Decant before serving.”
Nanclares y Prieto ‘Crisopa’ Branco Tradicional, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The completely unusual “orange” wine is a bright amber Albariño macerated with skins during the fermentation. The 2018 Crisopa, produced with grapes from the same vineyard as Soberrivas, has a completely different nose and a brighter and deeper color than any previous vintage. Perhaps the grapes were smaller and there might be more skins for the juice, and the wine underwent malolactic (at least partially). There are notes of apple liqueur, pollen and beeswax, and the palate is finely tannic. Here, the process overpowers the variety and place. It has lower acidity than most of the wines from the winery, but this is one of the finest examples of the type. It should develop nicely in bottle. 636 bottles were filled in August 2019.”
Importer note “Crisopa Branco Tradicional comes from the same parcel as “Soverribas” (Paraje Manzaniña) but is picked one day earlier to select the best bunches. After a wet and cool spring and summer, it turned dry and hot in August, with hand-harvesting on Sept. 10th through Oct. 6th. The grapes were foot-trodden in open plastic vats with 100% whole-clusters, and then skin-fermented for 20 days in a steel vat. After a vertical press the wine is racked into a used 500L French oak cask, where it rests for 11 months on the lees with battonage for first 3 months, before being bottled on Aug. 21st (fruit day) without clarification, filtration and only modest amounts of SO2. A fascinating and extremely textured Vinho Branco made in the style of the ancients!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $63
New Beaujolais Reviews
From John Gilman
Beaujolais is the perfect red for your holiday table. It’s one of the most versatile and affordable reds, and did we mention it’s downright delicious? Here’s two in-stock picks recently reviewed by John Gilman!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The 2018 Fleurie “Poncié” from Pierre Marie-Chermette is a superb example of the vintage. The bouquet is deep, pure, sappy and shows no signs of sur maturité in its combination of black cherries, black plums, bonfire, pigeon, dark soil tones and a topnote of fresh thyme. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely structured, with a sappy core of black fruit, a modicum of tannin and fine balance and grip on the long, complex and focused finish. This is quite low in octane for the 2018 vintage (it comes in listed at thirteen percent) and is a bit more structured as a result, so I would be inclined to tuck it away in the cellar for a few years and let the tannins soften up completely. It is a very good bottle in the making. 2023-2045.”
Robert Perroud Brouilly L’Enfer des Balloquets, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 14 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2018 Brouilly “l’Enfer des Balloquets” from Robert Perroud is a really superb example of this vintage, with a more black fruity personality than in most vintages, but coupled to great purity and transparency down to the soil. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined blend of black cherries, cassis, gamebird, woodsmoke, a dollop of fresh thyme, raw cocoa, discreet spices and a fine base of dark soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and beautifully sappy at the core, with fine soil signature, sound acids, just a bit of backend tannin and a long, balanced and complex finish. This is a bit more structured than most examples of Brouilly, but it is already approachable and will only improve with bottle age. First class juice! 2020-2035.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The 2018 Fleurie “Poncié” from Pierre Marie-Chermette is a superb example of the vintage. The bouquet is deep, pure, sappy and shows no signs of sur maturité in its combination of black cherries, black plums, bonfire, pigeon, dark soil tones and a topnote of fresh thyme. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely structured, with a sappy core of black fruit, a modicum of tannin and fine balance and grip on the long, complex and focused finish. This is quite low in octane for the 2018 vintage (it comes in listed at thirteen percent) and is a bit more structured as a result, so I would be inclined to tuck it away in the cellar for a few years and let the tannins soften up completely. It is a very good bottle in the making. 2023-2045.”
Robert Perroud Brouilly L’Enfer des Balloquets, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 14 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2018 Brouilly “l’Enfer des Balloquets” from Robert Perroud is a really superb example of this vintage, with a more black fruity personality than in most vintages, but coupled to great purity and transparency down to the soil. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined blend of black cherries, cassis, gamebird, woodsmoke, a dollop of fresh thyme, raw cocoa, discreet spices and a fine base of dark soil tones. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and beautifully sappy at the core, with fine soil signature, sound acids, just a bit of backend tannin and a long, balanced and complex finish. This is a bit more structured than most examples of Brouilly, but it is already approachable and will only improve with bottle age. First class juice! 2020-2035.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
We offer 42 Beaujolais wines in stock now & shopable on our web store!
Trending Wines Arriving Tomorrow
A phenomenal wine in good years, in great years like 2010, this is a must-buy.
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien 2010 750ML ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “Another massive, incredible release from this estate is the 2010 Léoville Poyferré. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, its inky purple color is followed by a massive, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated 2010 that has awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spring flowers. As with the 2009, it has incredible depth of fruit, yet a slightly more focused, classic style, which is very much in the style of the 2010 vintage. With its new oak completely absorbed by its wealth of fruit, perfect balance, and sweet tannin, it’s a sensational, monumental effort to drink over the coming 3-4 decades.”
Robert Parker 98+ points “The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.”
Chateau Leoville Poyferre, Saint-Julien 2010 750ML ($219.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “Another massive, incredible release from this estate is the 2010 Léoville Poyferré. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot, its inky purple color is followed by a massive, full-bodied, incredibly concentrated 2010 that has awesome notes of pure crème de cassis, licorice, graphite, and spring flowers. As with the 2009, it has incredible depth of fruit, yet a slightly more focused, classic style, which is very much in the style of the 2010 vintage. With its new oak completely absorbed by its wealth of fruit, perfect balance, and sweet tannin, it’s a sensational, monumental effort to drink over the coming 3-4 decades.”
Robert Parker 98+ points “The wine out distances both Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Barton, but all three of them are compelling efforts. Full-bodied, dense purple in color, with floral notes intermixed with blackberries, cassis, graphite and spring flowers, this full-bodied, legendary effort is long and opulent, with wonderfully abundant yet sweet tannin, a skyscraper-like mid-palate and a thrilling, nearly one-minute finish. This spectacular effort from Poyferre that should drink well for 30+ years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $247
While most reasonably priced Bordeaux is commercial and unremarkable, this wine bucks the trend. Hands on farming and winemaking make this a wine of place and personality. It’s no wonder why it remains beloved in France. The only outstanding question is how long this open secret across the pond will remain under the radar in the United States.
Chateau La Bastienne, Montagne-Saint-Emilion 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau La Bastienne, Montagne-Saint-Emilion 2016 750ML ($199.95) $124 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau La Bastienne, Montagne-Saint-Emilion 2016 750ML ($399.95) $219 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “Very rich blackberry and vibrant fruit aromas in the mulberry and dark-plum spectrum with a concentrated palate that offers a very fleshy and attractive set of supple fruit, framed in ripe, sturdy tannins. Try from 2022.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 La Bastienne is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and features fragrant roses, oolong tea and baking spices scents with touches of warm plums, black cherries and raspberry pie. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with expressive red berry and floral layers with a fine-grained frame and long, lively finish.
You can tell a lot about a Brunello vintage by how early we start getting asked about it. In the case of the 2015s, well, let’s just say this is a pretty anticipated set of wines. ’15 was a warm year across Europe and the vintage produced Brunello di Montalcino of exceptional concentration. Even for a region known for richer wines, these are powerful—yet they maintain an expressiveness that’s delightfully fresh to go along with their intensity.
Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Lazzeretti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($319.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 96 points “This is a very, very intense Brunello with explosive spices, cedar, leather, tar and a plethora of dried plums and berries. The full-bodied palate is incredibly dense and bold, swathed in vast, comprehensive tannins and layer upon layer of plums and cherries. There’s marvelous length and decadence to the finish, where the dried-spice character goes on and on. Stunning richness. Drink from 2025.”
International Wine Report 96 points “An incredible wine from Lazzeretti, this Brunello is lively and intense with exuberant character, showing notes of hibiscus flowers and lavender along with notes reminiscent of blueberries and star anise. It possesses incredible energy with a wonderful fresh character through its full bodied texture. It displays outstanding overall quality and a pure territorial expression which is wrapped up in velvety tannins and an incandescent finish. Balanced and harmonious, this maybe the finest wine yet from Lazzeretti, even surpassing the excellent 2010.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A monolithic red, with sweetness to the black cherry, black currant and raspberry fruit. Earth and iron notes anchor the bottom end, while a tobacco accent frames the dense tannins. Offers a long finish, showing solid grip. Best from 2023 through 2042. 1,500 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
A Trio of Well-Priced Champagne Producers
Arriving Late December
The key aspects linking these fine growers together? These are not only great values across the board, they’re also some of the most food-friendly Champagnes we carry.
Champagne Jose Michel
Importer note “José Michel made his first vintage in 1955 and thanks in part to his cellar of very old bottles of Pinot Meunier, he has developed a cult following for his Champagnes. This ‘Maison de Tradition’ began in 1847 and five generations later, José and Nicole carry forward a wonderfully artisanal sensibility to their craft. They are a founding member of the group, ‘Tresors de Champagne’ known as the ‘Special Club’. José Michel is located in Moussy, a small village just south of Epernay. The 11 hectares of vineyards are spread throughout a number of villages, mostly along the Cotes D’Epernay. The vineyard sights with a richer clay soil are planted to Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The lower slopes which have a calcareous soil are planted to Chardonnay. José Michel was the first in his family to plant Chardonnay which he did beginning in 1958. Fermentations are carried out in old oak casks or enameled steel vats and the wines go through a malolactic fermentation. José Michel is certified ‘Level 3’ the top level of certification in Haute Valeur Environmentale.”
“The two great exceptions that prove the rule about the maturing potential of Pinot Meunier are Krug and José Michel.” – Richard Juhlin, 2000 Champagnes
Jose Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Jose Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $19.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The non-vintage Brut is a blend in which the 70% Pinot Meunier forms the base and 30% Chardonnay adds complexity and finesse. In addition to the base vintage (typically 2 years old), the NV Brut benefits from being blended with reserve wines that are often 4 or 5 years old. The champagne is typically 2+ years “sur lattes” and carries a dosage of 9 grams.”
Champagne Jose Michel
Importer note “José Michel made his first vintage in 1955 and thanks in part to his cellar of very old bottles of Pinot Meunier, he has developed a cult following for his Champagnes. This ‘Maison de Tradition’ began in 1847 and five generations later, José and Nicole carry forward a wonderfully artisanal sensibility to their craft. They are a founding member of the group, ‘Tresors de Champagne’ known as the ‘Special Club’. José Michel is located in Moussy, a small village just south of Epernay. The 11 hectares of vineyards are spread throughout a number of villages, mostly along the Cotes D’Epernay. The vineyard sights with a richer clay soil are planted to Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The lower slopes which have a calcareous soil are planted to Chardonnay. José Michel was the first in his family to plant Chardonnay which he did beginning in 1958. Fermentations are carried out in old oak casks or enameled steel vats and the wines go through a malolactic fermentation. José Michel is certified ‘Level 3’ the top level of certification in Haute Valeur Environmentale.”
“The two great exceptions that prove the rule about the maturing potential of Pinot Meunier are Krug and José Michel.” – Richard Juhlin, 2000 Champagnes
Jose Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Jose Michel & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $19.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The non-vintage Brut is a blend in which the 70% Pinot Meunier forms the base and 30% Chardonnay adds complexity and finesse. In addition to the base vintage (typically 2 years old), the NV Brut benefits from being blended with reserve wines that are often 4 or 5 years old. The champagne is typically 2+ years “sur lattes” and carries a dosage of 9 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $41 for the 750ml
Jose Michel & Fils Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Blanc de Blancs is produced in the best vintages. It is made from Chardonnay grown in several of Michel’s best plots that are in and around Moussy. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with an extended period “sur lie”. After the secondary fermentation it rests “sur lattes” for 5 years allowing the Chardonnay qualities to broaden and mature. Dosage is 9 grams. It is a wine of impeccable character, showing both nobility and restraint. It is worthy of cellaring for at least a year after disgorgement.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jose Michel & Fils Special Club Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Club de Viticulteurs is a group of independent Champagne producers who have come together in order to promote the high quality of their work. The José Michel Special Club was chosen by this group as an ambassador of quality and given the right to use the Special Club label and antique bottle. The Special Club is a blend of 40% Pinot Meunier and 60% Chardonnay. The vines are all at least 35+ years old. The champagne is disgorged according to demand and currently has six years on the lees “sur lattes” with dosage carrying just 6.5 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Champagne Thierry Triolet
Importer note “The Champagne house of Thierry Triolet is located in the village of Bethon. The vineyards in Bethon are part of the Côtes de Sezanne region of Champagne which begins about 20 miles southwest of Epernay and extends southward from the town of Sezanne. Geologically, this narrow band of hills is a continuation of the more massive Côtes des Blancs. Traditionally,the Sezanne vineyards have been a source of excellent Chardonnay grapes for the large negociant Champagne houses to the north.”
Thierry Triolet Cuvee Grande Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Grande Reserve is made from 95% Chardonnay and 5% of an equal blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It is is a blend of vintages which includes a large proportion of reserve wines. The champagne stays an average of 3 years “sur lie” before disgorgement. Dosage is 10 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $40
Thierry Triolet Vieilles Vignes Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Vieilles Vignes is a vintage Champagne produced only in the best years. It is made entirely from Chardonnay and is harvested from one parcel with vines that are at least 40 years old. Dosage is 9 grams. This cuvée evolves beautifully over time.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Thierry Triolet Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Rosé Champagne combines a base of Chardonnay with 35% red wine. The red wine is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. In very ripe vintages, M. Triolet will keep a vat of “Pinot” and allows it to mature in the cellar. The red wine is blended with Chardonnay and the “assemblage” undergoes the second fermentation followed by an extended period “sur lattes”. It is bottled with the “liqueur de triage”, a blend of sugar and yeasts (11 grams sugar), to produce a charming Rosé Champagne.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $42
Champagne R. Dumont & Fils
Importer note “The Champagne house of the Dumont family is situated in Champignol-lez-Mondeville, a village in the southern Champagne region of the Aube, some 90 miles southeast of Reims and Epernay. Characterized by forested hills, streams and vineyards, it is a natural and reflective environment that has attracted people such as Saint Bernard (Clairvaux) and Renoir (Essoyes). The Dumonts have owned vineyards in this area for over two hundred years and today three Dumont brothers work together to produce champagne exclusively from their own 22 hectares. The soils are a geological extension of those in Chablis, namely kimmeridgian chalky clay. The vineyard is planted with 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. Bernard Dumont’s comments are insightful. ‘We grow grapes on the same soils as the vine growers in the Chablis region. There, they produce white wine from white grapes and here we produce white wine from red grapes.'”
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Dumont Brut NV is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The grapes from their vineyard have qualities that seem less aggressive and more sumptuous than those from the northern districts. In addition, vinification of whole berries at low temperatures enhances this quality of soft elegance. The NV is a blend of vintages typically between two and five years old. It is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $38 for the 750ml
R. Dumont & Fils Cuvee Rose Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Dumont Brut Rosé is made exclusively from Pinot Noir. A selection is made in the vineyard from parcels that are particularly ripe and from bunches with deeply colored skins. Fermentation proceeds as with red wines but the wine is drawn off the skins after a day or so with the Dumonts looking carefully at the balance of extraction, color and tannin. This method, known as “saignée”, is a tricky art but one that can produce the most natural and delicately complex style of Rosé champagne. The Brut Rosé NV is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement and dosage is 10 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $41
R. Dumont & Fils Solera Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Dumont is one of the very few Champagne producers who produces a champagne using the solera method. Bernard Dumont has dedicated one stainless steel tank to the project which was first filled in 1991. He works exclusively with chardonnay for this cuvée and has been adding to the tank every year, making it at present, a blend of approximately 20 vintages. This solera system produced its first release in 2010. One of the most striking features of this champagne is the different effect created by producing a champagne from aged wine (the aging occurs after the first fermentation) followed by the typical duration of two years “sur lattes” as contrasted with a champagne produced from relatively young wines which are aged for a long time after the secondary fermentation and thus remain in contact with the lees “sur lattes” for an extended period. The dosage is 6 grams. Production is about 400 cases annually.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
R. Dumont & Fils Douce Cuvee Demi-Sec, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Douce Cuvée is a true Demi-Sec. It is produced from carefully chosen reserve wines which incorporate at least three vintages. The blend which is 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay is matured “sur lattes” for six years before being disgorged. The liqueur used for the dosage, “liqueur d’expédition” is taken from a special glass container of aged wine which has been blended with beet sugar, a local product of the champagne region. The maturing of the liqueur integrates the sweetness into the wine and adds to the balance and harmony of the Douce Cuvée. It is finished at 35 grams of sugar, the minimum for a demi-sec.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
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
New Sales & Sales Highlights
We love Julia Bailey’s project highlighting older vineyards in the Columbia Gorge and Willamette Valley. Don’t miss her white field blend. It’s dry and fragrant – so perfect for week nights or even to pair with your next holiday table. We’ve dropped our price for November to encourage you to explore this up & coming winery.
Loop de Loop White Blend Acadia Vineyard, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ML ($24.95) Was $19.90, Now $17 special, 21 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fragrant and balanced white blend from the high elevation Acadia Vineyard in the Gorge. Beautiful and soulful, it’s like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps.
Winery note “High elevation with a perfect southern exposure on loess and loam of the organic shield volcano of Underwood Mountain, this vineyard is certified organic. It cultivates exceptional high-altitude, cool-climate grapes including the Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner and Riesling that make up this field blend. Perched in the Columbia Gorge, this South facing vineyard gently slopes from 1,500 ft. and is interplanted with orchard fruit from which it carries the pear blossoms and crisp apple character.”
Loop de Loop White Blend Acadia Vineyard, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ML ($24.95) Was $19.90, Now $17 special, 21 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fragrant and balanced white blend from the high elevation Acadia Vineyard in the Gorge. Beautiful and soulful, it’s like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps.
Winery note “High elevation with a perfect southern exposure on loess and loam of the organic shield volcano of Underwood Mountain, this vineyard is certified organic. It cultivates exceptional high-altitude, cool-climate grapes including the Chardonnay, Gruner Veltliner and Riesling that make up this field blend. Perched in the Columbia Gorge, this South facing vineyard gently slopes from 1,500 ft. and is interplanted with orchard fruit from which it carries the pear blossoms and crisp apple character.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vaudieu’s charming 2017 Châteauneuf du Pape is drinking beautifully today, offering layers of red and black fruit with characteristic floral and mineral notes, but also built to age gracefully for another decade.
Famille Brechet Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $39 special
Case-6 Famille Brechet Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($299.95) Was $238, Now $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Moving to the 2017s and starting with the base Châteauneuf Du Pape, it’s a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was brought up mostly in demi-muids. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as notes of black raspberries, kirsch, garrigue, incense, and loamy soil and earth, this beauty hits the palate with beautiful depth of fruit, a layered, rounded, sexy texture, no hard edges, remarkable purity, and just tons of charm. Drink it any time over the coming decade or more.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91-92 points “Deep red. Highly perfumed red berry and floral aromas are complemented by suggestions of cracked pepper and smoky minerals. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering ripe raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors braced by a core of juicy acidity. In a seamless, energetic style, displaying a smooth blend of richness and finesse and finishing gently sweet and impressively long, with even tannins and building spiciness.”
The average price is $46
Don’t miss these picks on sale now!
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. If you’re serious about exploring the best that the Grower Champagne movement has to offer, consider picking up a bottle of this benchmark wine.
Georges Laval Cumieres Les Hautes Chevres Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne 2014 750ML ($299.95) Was $269, Now $249, 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.”
[Disgorgement date may vary from review.]
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($599.95) Was $549, Now $449 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 100 points “Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith leaps from the glass with gregarious black and red cherries, mulberries, black currant cordial, red roses and lavender scents with layers of crushed rocks and earthy sparks. Faint earth and exotic spice nuances unfurl slowly, growing in intensity and depth. The palate is full-bodied and solidly structured with firm, very finely grained, super ripe tannins and bold freshness. Finishing exquisitely perfumed, jaw-droppingly layered and with bags of sophistication and poise, this wine totally resets the benchmark for 100 points.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $595
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($319.95) Was $219, Now $199, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Alluring perfume of raspberry, rose petal and high-toned cardamom spice. Broad, rich, dense and fine-grained yet somehow weightless, displaying powerful mineral support to its red berry and exotic spice flavors. The bracing, resounding finish features pronounced soil-driven salinity and a hint of youthful bitterness. Magnien predicts that this will be the last of his 2012 négociant wines to reach full maturity. Superb Burgundy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Richly expressive Champagnes of superb balance
Varnier Fanniere Cuvee Jean Fanniere Origine Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) Was $71.90, Now $59, 9 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “(Reviewed Apr 2019) Aromas of warm biscuits, crisp peach, yellow citrus fruits and hazelnuts introduce the latest release of Varnier-Fannière’s NV Extra Brut Cuvée Jean Fannière Origine… On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad-shouldered and vinous, with ripe but racy acids, considerable depth and concentration, an elegant, pinpoint mousse and a lingering, expansive finish. This is a layered, powerful Champagne with the lowest dosage in the range.” [Review is for July 2017 disgorgement]
“The essential point of Aubry is to limn the very fine line between a kind of country classicism and an absolute embrace of the avant-garde… When I first introduced the wines I was thrilled to highlight all the heirloom varieties, and the many ways Aubrys were true originals. I still am, and they still are. But what’s striking me more and more of late is the dignity these wines have been showing. My marketing side—as pathetic as that is—keeps wanting to be playful about the novelties of the wines, but my human side keeps pausing before them, noticing their basic and unfussy truths.” –Terry Theise
Aubry ‘Ivoire et Ebene’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $45 special, 15 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Offering up a lovely bouquet of blanched almonds, citrus oil, white flowers and subtle hints of peat, Aubry’s 2013 Brut Ivoire et Ebene is medium to full-bodied, taut and incisive, with racy acids, a vibrant core of fruit and a penetratingly saline finish. The wine’s delicate, low-pressure mousse sets off its racy profile to fine effect. This new release was disgorged in November 2018.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Ivoire et Ebène is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Meunier done in oak. Still very reticent, the 2013 needs time to soften. It is another wine in this range built on serious power and textural resonance, both of which make it a wine for the dinner table.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $53
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. Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team.
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.
Cavallotto is a top tier, old school producer of Barolo. They make wines that are impressively age-worthy, rivalling some of the region’s most expensive wines. We notice that our customers who buy Cavallotto buy a lot of Piemontese wines—they’re very in the know drinkers.