In Today’s Newsletter:
2016 Cantina del Pino
New Week – New Arrivals
Giacomo Fenocchio Bussia
Trending
Vinopolis Sales Round Up
Highlights of our best prices!
2016 Cantina del Pino
Arriving Late January
Cantina del Pino produces wines that help define Barbaresco and are admired by reviewers – Antonio Galloni notes that “not only were the wines from Cantina del Pino among the standouts of my tastings they also happen to be among the best values in Barbaresco.” Run by Renato Vacca until his recent passing (cousin to Aldo Vacca who runs the Produttori), the is a small producer solely focused on top-end quality from some of the most interesting vineyards in the village.
The three crus that the Cantina is famous for are Ovello, Albesani and Gallina (of which only Ovello is made by the Produttori) and all show the brilliant fruit, dazzling complexity and polish that the Cantina del Pino is famous for. Ovello is the leanest and most elegant of the bunch, with wiry tannins allowing it to age seemingly forever. Albesani has more power and richness, and is the most complete wine, but requiring significantly more age to come around. These are stunning Piemontese cru. Anyone who loves classically built, top-tier Nebbiolo ought to be jumping all over these.
“I have to say, tasting these 2016s from Cantina del Pino was bittersweet, as proprietor Renato Vacca lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. “I have to get the estate ready for the future,” a visibly ill Renato Vacca told me last year as we sat down to taste the 2015s. It was the last time I saw him. In the 2016s, readers will find gorgeous, vibrant Barbarescos that capture all of the pedigree of the year. If opened young, the wines need a lot of air to show at their best. Vacca is survived by his wife Franca and daughter Anna. I am hopeful Cantina del Pino will continue to thrive, as it is one of the crown jewels of Piedmont.” –Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
“Italian wine lost one of its most graceful and gentle figures. Renato Vacca of Cantina del Pino passed away in March 2020 at the young age of 51. He was battling cancer and is survived by his wife Franca Miretti and his daughter Anna. With a house and winery overlooking the Ovello cru with the church tower of Barbaresco beautifully framed by vines, the Vacca family started off as growers with the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, managed today by Renato’s cousin Aldo Vacca. In 1997, Renato decided to leave Produttori del Barbaresco to bottle his own fruit and start his own label (Cantina del Pino is named after a giant pine tree planted symbolically at the top of Ovello). His wines are fragile and soulful, much like the man himself. Cantina del Pino releases its Barbaresco wines one year later than its peers. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Arriving in January 2021:
Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $57.50 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The estate’s benchmark wine, the 2016 Barbaresco Ovello reveals a pretty, open-knit personality with beautifully concentrated fruit. Dark cherry, blackberry and plum is framed by tar, campfire ash and powdered licorice. The Ovello cru opens onto a large panorama of vines and a sudden drop down to the Tanaro River. These vines at Cantina del Pino enjoy wide open spaces and slightly milder temperatures as a result. These conditions give the wine an open and generous approach. A mere 6,000 bottles were made.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2016 Barbaresco Ovello is fabulous. Bright, punchy and tightly wound, as young Ovello Barbarescos are, the 2016 packs a ton of punch. Crushed rocks, mint, white pepper, sweet red berry fruit and anise reveal themselves with a bit of aeration. The purity of the fruit, searing tannins and translucent energy are what young Ovello is all about. This taut, nervous Barbaresco is classic Ovello and classic Cantina del Pino.”
The three crus that the Cantina is famous for are Ovello, Albesani and Gallina (of which only Ovello is made by the Produttori) and all show the brilliant fruit, dazzling complexity and polish that the Cantina del Pino is famous for. Ovello is the leanest and most elegant of the bunch, with wiry tannins allowing it to age seemingly forever. Albesani has more power and richness, and is the most complete wine, but requiring significantly more age to come around. These are stunning Piemontese cru. Anyone who loves classically built, top-tier Nebbiolo ought to be jumping all over these.
“I have to say, tasting these 2016s from Cantina del Pino was bittersweet, as proprietor Renato Vacca lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. “I have to get the estate ready for the future,” a visibly ill Renato Vacca told me last year as we sat down to taste the 2015s. It was the last time I saw him. In the 2016s, readers will find gorgeous, vibrant Barbarescos that capture all of the pedigree of the year. If opened young, the wines need a lot of air to show at their best. Vacca is survived by his wife Franca and daughter Anna. I am hopeful Cantina del Pino will continue to thrive, as it is one of the crown jewels of Piedmont.” –Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
“Italian wine lost one of its most graceful and gentle figures. Renato Vacca of Cantina del Pino passed away in March 2020 at the young age of 51. He was battling cancer and is survived by his wife Franca Miretti and his daughter Anna. With a house and winery overlooking the Ovello cru with the church tower of Barbaresco beautifully framed by vines, the Vacca family started off as growers with the Produttori del Barbaresco cooperative, managed today by Renato’s cousin Aldo Vacca. In 1997, Renato decided to leave Produttori del Barbaresco to bottle his own fruit and start his own label (Cantina del Pino is named after a giant pine tree planted symbolically at the top of Ovello). His wines are fragile and soulful, much like the man himself. Cantina del Pino releases its Barbaresco wines one year later than its peers. Our heartfelt condolences go to his family.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Arriving in January 2021:
Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $57.50 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The estate’s benchmark wine, the 2016 Barbaresco Ovello reveals a pretty, open-knit personality with beautifully concentrated fruit. Dark cherry, blackberry and plum is framed by tar, campfire ash and powdered licorice. The Ovello cru opens onto a large panorama of vines and a sudden drop down to the Tanaro River. These vines at Cantina del Pino enjoy wide open spaces and slightly milder temperatures as a result. These conditions give the wine an open and generous approach. A mere 6,000 bottles were made.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2016 Barbaresco Ovello is fabulous. Bright, punchy and tightly wound, as young Ovello Barbarescos are, the 2016 packs a ton of punch. Crushed rocks, mint, white pepper, sweet red berry fruit and anise reveal themselves with a bit of aeration. The purity of the fruit, searing tannins and translucent energy are what young Ovello is all about. This taut, nervous Barbaresco is classic Ovello and classic Cantina del Pino.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $63
Cantina del Pino Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a knock-out. And it is, for lack of a better word, the entry-level wine in this range. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon, red berry fruit and orange zest are some of the notes that lift from a Barbaresco that is all class. There is plenty of structure, but the purity of the fruit is so striking that the tannins are not especially noticeable. The 2016 is a stunning wine, that’s all there is to it.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Cantina del Pino 2016 Barbaresco offers a classic portrait of the Nebbiolo grape. This winery always releases its Barbaresco wines one year later than its peers (who are now selling 2017). That extra year of aging serves to further polish and sharpen pretty aromas of wild berry, licorice, camphor ash and dried orange peel. Like the other wines from this terrific portfolio, this Barbaresco is defined by its energy and electric personality. You can drink it now, or put this wine in your cellar for longer aging. It performs beautifully either way. Some 12,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Albesani is the most reticent wine in this range. I have seen that before with this wine, only to see it blossom with a few years in bottle. Powerful and tightly wound, the Albesani is a Barbaresco to cellar for at least a few years. At this stage, it is all acid, tannin and brawn. Super-classic in the best sense of the term, the 2016 really only starts to blossom with about 24 hours of air! All of the classic Albesani breadth and inner sweetness is there, it just needs time to reveal itself.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This is one of the most distinctive wines in this group of new releases from Cantina del Pino. The 2016 Barbaresco Albesani offers a slender and accessible personality, with light touches of menthol or medicinal herb that add focus and linearity to the bouquet. At its core, this pretty Nebbiolo from Neive shows delicate and graceful fruit tones of wild strawberry and red currant. Background aromas include ash, licorice and crushed stone. This is perhaps the most fragile of these three single-vineyard releases from Cantina del Pino, and with only 3,000 bottles made, it is also precious.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $61
Can’t wait?
Don’t miss our last call on the 2015s in stock now:
Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “One of the many highlights in this range, the Cantina del Pino’s 2015 Barbaresco Albesani is a wine of real gravitas and vertical power. A whole range of floral and savory notes develop in this statuesque, potent Barbaresco. Dried flowers, herbs, cedar, tobacco and mint add myriad shades of nuance. The Albesani is one of the most reticent wines in this lineup today, but it has an explosive energy that is just waiting to emerge. Time in the glass reveals a Barbaresco of exquisite beauty.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Of the single-vineyard Barbarescos presented by Cantina del Pino, the 2015 Barbaresco Albesani shows the darkest color and richest appearance. The wine is svelte and tight with dark fruit nuances of wild blueberry, spice, tobacco and moist earth or black truffle. This is a beautiful, solid and tight wine that will open nicely with a few more years of cellar age. Only 3,000 bottles were made.”
Cantina del Pino Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Cantina del Pino’s 2015 Barbaresco is a very pretty entry-level wine in this range. Crushed flowers, tobacco, cedar, dried cherry, mint and chalk all pulse through this finely cut, rather nervous Barbaresco. The 2015 is a blend of mostly Ovello (from both its east-facing and westernmost sections), along with Starderi and Gallina. Even in this warm vintage, the straight Barbaresco offers terrific energy as well as cut.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Barbaresco by Cantina del Pino starts off gently with delicate notes of wild berry, red rose, toasted spice, licorice and camphor ash. The wine offers all the complexity and elegance you get with Nebbiolo but presented on a slightly lower intensity scale. This wine is geared for near- or medium-term drinking.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $45
Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $55 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Deceptive in its light-bodied color, the 2015 Barbaresco Ovello packs a serious punch. Dried flowers, mint, pine, herbs, crushed berries and chalk add striking top notes. I very much like the wine’s sense of energy. In other words, this is classic Ovello Barbaresco built on laser-like focus and real nobility. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy structured wines that develop gradually with many years in bottle.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Barbaresco Ovello is a polished and silky expression that reveals strong intensity and a deep sense of varietal identity. This is a very focused Barbaresco that opens beautifully to show a degree of mineral definition that lingers long on the palate, adding to the linear and direct personality of the wine. When you dig deeper, you do recognize that this is a warmer vintage, thanks to its textural richness and loose fiber. This will only improve in the future. Only 5,000 bottles were created.”
Explore all of our 53 in-stock Barbaresco selections
on our web store!
New Week – New Arrivals
France
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire 2018 750ML ($31.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire 2018 750ML ($359.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2018. Review for the 2016 provided for reference.
Grapelive 91 points “I love [Thierry Germain’s] wines, especially the Cabernet Franc bottlings, like this Cuvee Domaine, they always show fresh, clean lines, energy and pretty aromatics with the older vine parcels and crus showing deeper concentration and power. Germain’s goal, as [importer Kermit] Lynch puts it, is to produce Cabernet (Franc) with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal character, and hard tannins, which in my experience he does often and well… The Cuvee Domaine comes from a mix of parcels ranging from 5 to 70 years old set on classic sand, clay and Tuffeau Limestone, which drives the vibrancy and lifts the floral bouquet, with 100% de-stemmed grapes fermented in all stainless steel tanks with a minimum of lees contact and just under six months total of elevage in a combination of tank and large neutral wood casks. Like the Les Roches (blue label) the Cuvee Domaine is meant to be a quaffer, but still serious in character and surprisingly with enough structure to age for a decade or more, especially in a vintage like this 2016, with its concentration of fruit and natural acidity, since Thierry picks on the earlier side. The Cuvee Domaine…is only native yeast fermented and the vines are…in the heart of AOC, which are, as mentioned, all biodynamic, making for a very natural expression with a dark and earthy personality. Uplifting layers of black cherry, plum and mulberry fruits lead the way with a touch of crushed raspberry, minty herb, a classic pyrasine green bell pepper note, crushed chalk, a faint hint of cedar and loamy earthy wrapped in a ripe form and soft tannins, this is an impressive medium bodied Cab Franc to enjoy sooner versus later, be sure to look for this fine effort.”
Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire 2018 750ML ($31.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny, Loire 2018 750ML ($359.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2018. Review for the 2016 provided for reference.
Grapelive 91 points “I love [Thierry Germain’s] wines, especially the Cabernet Franc bottlings, like this Cuvee Domaine, they always show fresh, clean lines, energy and pretty aromatics with the older vine parcels and crus showing deeper concentration and power. Germain’s goal, as [importer Kermit] Lynch puts it, is to produce Cabernet (Franc) with purity, finesse, and drinkability, while avoiding rusticity, vegetal character, and hard tannins, which in my experience he does often and well… The Cuvee Domaine comes from a mix of parcels ranging from 5 to 70 years old set on classic sand, clay and Tuffeau Limestone, which drives the vibrancy and lifts the floral bouquet, with 100% de-stemmed grapes fermented in all stainless steel tanks with a minimum of lees contact and just under six months total of elevage in a combination of tank and large neutral wood casks. Like the Les Roches (blue label) the Cuvee Domaine is meant to be a quaffer, but still serious in character and surprisingly with enough structure to age for a decade or more, especially in a vintage like this 2016, with its concentration of fruit and natural acidity, since Thierry picks on the earlier side. The Cuvee Domaine…is only native yeast fermented and the vines are…in the heart of AOC, which are, as mentioned, all biodynamic, making for a very natural expression with a dark and earthy personality. Uplifting layers of black cherry, plum and mulberry fruits lead the way with a touch of crushed raspberry, minty herb, a classic pyrasine green bell pepper note, crushed chalk, a faint hint of cedar and loamy earthy wrapped in a ripe form and soft tannins, this is an impressive medium bodied Cab Franc to enjoy sooner versus later, be sure to look for this fine effort.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Case-12 Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 2017 750ML ($599.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Importer Note “Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.99
Italy
Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
Case-6 Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato Bolgheri, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($199.95) $136 special (that’s only $22.66/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “There’s a very fresh array here of thyme, newly picked blackcurrants, iodine, crushed stones and sea salt. The exuberant fruit is matched nicely to fine and elegant tannins, which paint a compact and neat picture on the medium-to full-bodied palate. Drink from 2021.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “This is another extremely popular wine that is easily found up and down the Tuscan Coast. This red blend (with the largest part of the blend going to Cabernet Sauvignon) opens to a soft and velvety texture. The 2017 Bolgheri Rosso Il Bruciato offers some noticeable ripeness with black cherry, prune and raisin. But ultimately, the wine shows a good level of freshness because the acidity in the grapes was concentrated (like everything else in this hot vintage) in the year’s smaller berries. Tenuta Guado al Tasso extends over 340 hectares. Because of the hot vintage, only 65,000 cases were made of this wine instead of the 100,000 cases produced in a normal vintage.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Bolgheri Il Bruciato is pliant, supple and luscious, but what stands out most is how much freshness Antinori was able to keep in this wine. Dark red cherry, plum, spice, new leather and floral notes all meld together in this sumptuous, racy red. This is such a pretty and expressive wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $29
Vina Haras de Pirque ‘Hussonet’ Gran Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon, Maipo Valley 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Big and fresh-tasting, with concentrated dark plum, dark currant and black olive flavors. Asian spice and dark chocolate notes on the muscular finish. Drink now through 2024. 2,500 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arriving Friday:
Giacomo Fenocchio Bussia
Your second chance at this traditional estate! We blew through our first allocation and were able to secure five more cases.
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barolo Bussia is a wine of tremendous character and complexity. Menthol, lavender, black cherry, graphite, cloves and leather all open up in the glass. Virile and layered, with tons of depth, the 2016 Bussia has so much to offer. A few years in the cellar will help the tannins soften, but the 2016 is already quite expressive. It is also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Fenocchio.”
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barolo Bussia is a wine of tremendous character and complexity. Menthol, lavender, black cherry, graphite, cloves and leather all open up in the glass. Virile and layered, with tons of depth, the 2016 Bussia has so much to offer. A few years in the cellar will help the tannins soften, but the 2016 is already quite expressive. It is also one of the very finest wines I have ever tasted from Fenocchio.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Trending
Balanced, fresh, precise
Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Case-12 Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($299.95) $215 special (that’s only $17.92/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Pies Negros was produced with grapes from the Sierra Cantabria in the village of Ábalos, so another village wine, even if it won’t get the official qualification, as they don’t have a winery in Ábalos! It’s a blend of Tempranillo with 15% Graciano fermented with destemmed but uncrushed grapes with indigenous yeasts, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 12 months, except for 10% of the volume that was kept in concrete for that time. This didn’t stop growing in the glass, and the aromas are subtle and elegant. Since they started working with larger oak containers, they had to learn to work under more reductive conditions; they now seem to have mastered it, at least in some of the wines, like this one. The wines are subtler and less immediate than the wines aged in barrique, and this long-cycle vintage has a tendency toward this profile of wines. The palate is very balanced and fresh, with a core of red fruit, with bright flavors and very good precision. 70,000 bottles produced.”
Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Case-12 Bodegas y Vinedos Artuke ‘Pies Negros’, Rioja DOCa 2018 750ML ($299.95) $215 special (that’s only $17.92/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Pies Negros was produced with grapes from the Sierra Cantabria in the village of Ábalos, so another village wine, even if it won’t get the official qualification, as they don’t have a winery in Ábalos! It’s a blend of Tempranillo with 15% Graciano fermented with destemmed but uncrushed grapes with indigenous yeasts, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for 12 months, except for 10% of the volume that was kept in concrete for that time. This didn’t stop growing in the glass, and the aromas are subtle and elegant. Since they started working with larger oak containers, they had to learn to work under more reductive conditions; they now seem to have mastered it, at least in some of the wines, like this one. The wines are subtler and less immediate than the wines aged in barrique, and this long-cycle vintage has a tendency toward this profile of wines. The palate is very balanced and fresh, with a core of red fruit, with bright flavors and very good precision. 70,000 bottles produced.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A can’t miss value from a staff favorite producer
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 90 points “Lots of blackberries and tar, together with black-olive character on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and structured. A little raw, but should come around nicely with bottle age. Drink from 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Pre-Arrival ETA February 2021:
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’, Mendoza 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling. Available in September 2020. Better after 2024.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “In the last few years, a handful of wines from Chile and Argentina—often French owned—have been released in September through the Place de Bordeaux, the network of négociants that sell most of the Bordeaux wines and some of the leading wines from other regions. The 2017 Cheval des Andes is one such wine. 2017 saw an early harvest, but they started picking on the 6th of March and continued until the 10th of April, more or less normal dates, early but not so much. The varietal break down this vintage comes to 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine is slightly riper and higher in alcohol than 2016 (this 2017 is 14.2% alcohol). The different plots fermented separately with selected yeasts, and the élevage lasted for 15 months and was in 50/50 new and second use barrels, 90% of them French and the rest made with wood from Eastern Europe. They used 45% Bordeaux barrels, 45% 400-liter barrels and, for the first time, a 2,500-liter oak foudre. This is clearly the darkest of the trio of vintages I tasted together here—2015, 2016 and 2017—but all three have the elegant and powerful profile, the luxurious and creamy character found in the best Bordeaux wines in the last few years, wines of power with precision, concentration, energy and finesse. This seems to combine the clout of the 2015 and the freshness of the 2016 and feels something in between those two vintages. Their work in the vineyard toward the maturity of the tannins meant the challenge in 2017 was to not let the grapes ripen too fast and too early. The work is different for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, to get round tannins in Cabernet and get some tension in Malbec, the contrary of the normal tendency of the varieties. 2017 has less ripeness than the 2015 but more density than the 2016. The texture is velvety, precise and harmonious. This year, they introduced a larger foudre for 10% of the wine, with the aim to reach 20%, so that volume is increasing every year. I think this is showing more precision, and in a more challenging year, they managed to keep the quality on par with 2016. They have changed the label this year, to a cleaner and more elegant label that also reflects the direction the wine is going in. 81,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2019.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “The seventeenth vintage of Cheval des Andes, a wine that has undergone a model transformation. I recently tried the 2007, and it’s fascinating to trace the different stages of its evolution, all of which say something about the contemporary history of Argentine wine. To sum up, it started out with a French love of concentration and ripeness and ended up with an equally French love of equilibrium and local terroir. The 2017 is a new beginning in itself. A blend of Malbec with 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, it presents a bold nose of fresh fruit such as sweet and sour cherry with fleshy aromas and a touch of white pepper over a bold, woody backdrop. A fluid wine, slightly taut on the palate with medium structure, a delicate feel and active tannins well integrated into the terse texture, overall it is nuanced and full of flavor. Possesses a balance that respects the concentration of the vintage without ever letting it get out of hand. An Argentine wine made with more than a nod to French expertise.”
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
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(If another adult is picking up for you,
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503-223-6002
Vinopolis Sales Round Up
Highlights of our best prices!
Charles Heidsieck was one of the pioneers of the Blanc de Blancs style.
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) Was $75, Now $66, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2012 vintage, the latest rendition of Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs incorporates some 20% reserve wines, derived from younger vintages to emphasize what Cyril Brun described as the “youthful” side of Chardonnay, in contrast to the mature expression of that cépage offered by the house’s Blanc de Millénaires. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and walnut oil, complemented by some of the empyreumatic nuances so typical of the base vintage, it’s a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive wine that’s lively and inviting. It was disgorged last year with nine grams per liter dosage.”
Decanter 92 points “One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and its fresh, saline acidity. A lovely food wine.”
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) Was $75, Now $66, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2012 vintage, the latest rendition of Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs incorporates some 20% reserve wines, derived from younger vintages to emphasize what Cyril Brun described as the “youthful” side of Chardonnay, in contrast to the mature expression of that cépage offered by the house’s Blanc de Millénaires. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and walnut oil, complemented by some of the empyreumatic nuances so typical of the base vintage, it’s a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive wine that’s lively and inviting. It was disgorged last year with nine grams per liter dosage.”
Decanter 92 points “One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and its fresh, saline acidity. A lovely food wine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Fanti is one of many producers whose 2015 has since been described as their “best ever”.
Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $36, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “There’s a beautiful interplay between bright, primary florals, such as rose petals and tulips and dust, hay bale and dried raspberries. The palate suggests a ripe, powerful persona with chewy, juicy tannins and a fine line of pretty acidity. Best ever. Drink in 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Frederic Magnien Chambertin-Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $219 close out special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points “Bright, full red. Sexy high-pitched perfume combines red cherry, blood orange, lavender, red rose and spearmint. Juicy but youthfully imploded, showing more aromatic complexity than pliancy of texture today. Crunchy flavors of crushed red fruits, spices and licorice are lifted by fresh rose. A very long, scented wine of great finesse, but in need of a decade of patience to fully express itself.”
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The next best price is $279.97
Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #14, Mosel 2018 375ML ($89.95) Was $79, Now $69 special, 18 half-bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 94 points ““This came from more concentrated material [than the A.P. #11] with a higher percentage of botrytis,” explained Schaefer. Quince jelly, marzipan and penetratingly pungent anise and caraway distillates inform the nose and the glossy, glycerol-rich palate. Intriguingly, though – perhaps as a function of botrytis influence – there is an underlying firmness of texture in contrast with A.P. #11’s creaminess. I was not wrong in anticipating a confectionary finish, but from somewhere the wine also manages to pull a counteracting modicum of primary pear and apple juiciness to balance its richness and sweetness. Moreover, a sense of bittersweet green herbal concentration enhances the balance and complexity of this remarkably persistent libation. It should prove especially fascinating and worthwhile to follow (though certainly you don’t have to be in a pinch to open a bottle now).”
Champagne Aubry ‘Sable’ Premier Cru Brut Rose, Champagne 2014 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Rosé Sablé Nicolas Francois Aubry is a real pleasure to taste. It is also much more giving than the 2013 at this stage. Crushed flowers, cranberry and chalk all flesh out in a Rosé that offers terrific depth as well as energy. It is another classy, polished Champagne from the Aubry brothers.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Disgorged in October 2018, Aubry’s 2014 Brut Nature Rosé Sablé Premier Cru is showing very well, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of oatmeal, fresh peach, woodsmoke, orange oil and dried linden blossom. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and crisply textural, with racy acids, a delicate low-pressure mousse and a long, penetrating finish. While I found the 2013 rendition—reviewed last year—a little austere, the more generous 2014 vintage is more naturally giving and inviting in the wine’s chiseled, bone-dry register. A saignée of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier gives the wine its color and amounts to some 30% of the unusual blend, complemented by fully 20% Arbanne and 25% Petit Meslier, the balance coming from Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.”
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The average price is $86
A wine that is only made in the best years
Schloss Gobelsburg Sekt Brut Réserve, Niederosterreich 2008 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $69, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90 points “Gobelsburg’s Vintage is only produced in top years and ages on the lees for at least ten years. The 2008 Extra Brut Vintage blends stainless steel-fermented Pinot Noir, Riesling and Grüner Veltliner whose cuvée has been aged in large oak. This 2008 has been disgorged in March 2018 and comes along with a clear, intense and nutty-scented bouquet of ripe white and yellow fruits. Intense and complex in the palate, this zéro dosage, bone-dry Sekt reveals nutty yet somewhat astringent flavors on the palate. The perlage is remarkably fine, though, and the finish is long and complex. However, the wine tastes restrained and firm and still doesn’t sing. Tasted September 2018.”
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The next best price is $107.99
100% Grand Cru fruit
André Clouet ‘Le Clos’ Bouzy Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2007 1.5L ($319.95) Was $279, Now $249, 13 magnums in stock now
VinopolNote: A limited production bottling, all from one of the four walled Grand Cru vineyards in Champagne. 100% Pinot Noir.
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The next best price is $279
Elegant, complex, beautiful
Heymann-Löwenstein Kirchberg Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $33, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ opens with a generous and warm, ripe Riesling aroma intertwined with some herbal and iron lemon flavors on the clear and elegant nose. This is a full-bodied, charming, finessed and elegant wine with fine tannin structure and a dry and persistent finish. Still young, the Kirchberg will benefit from further bottle aging.”
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Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($599.95) Was $549, Now $449, 24 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.”
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The average price is $593
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $44, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht 97 points “In a departure from usual Nikolaihof practice – given that it had by then been filtered and assembled into tank – I was offered my first taste of this wine shortly before the initial, December 2017 bottling. The wine was exciting then, and when re-tasted repeatedly in the course of 2018 had only gained in stature. Moss, lemon zest, peach kernel and toasted grain on the nose put me in mind of a relatively austere white Burgundy. But that sense of kinship dims with the emergence of high-toned hints of lavender and mint, mouthwatering ocean breeze and a sappy, juicy abundance of fresh lime and white peach juiciness on the silken palate. There are also faint hints of kirsch and mothball such as one can encounter from time to time at this address and to whose volatility some tasters might object. The finish is transparent to a veritable carpet of mineral matter – albeit a levitating, vibrantly undulating one! Crushed stone, alkali, mineral salts and iodine combine with herbal and protein-rich flavors for something approximating a blend of oyster liquor and clam stock that set my salivary glands to palpitating. And now for the astonishing kicker: This remarkable stuff filled the largest cask in the Nikolaihof cellar, with a capacity of 12,000 liters! Half was bottled in 2017 and 2018; the rest will be held back – let’s hope eventually to inform a Vinothek offering. “The only sense in which this wine needed to be bottled,” noted Saahs, “was in order to avoid Vom Stein Smaragd temporarily dropping from our price list and to make room in the cellar. It wasn’t the phases of the moon calling the shots,” he added with a sly grin. (Re-tasted alongside, the corresponding 2013 showed at the upper end of my earlier projection. But despite issuing from one of the two finest Wachau vintages that it has been my privilege to taste as young wines, that 2013 doesn’t quite reach the complexity nor exhibit the clarity and energy of this 2014 – not for now, at least.)”
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely minerally riesling that combines considerable power with a slim silhouette. Finely etched dried-pear and candied-lemon flavors echo through the long, subtle finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certified. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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.
I adore the wines from Frederic Magnien. All of his wines are fantastic, but we’re down to two perfect examples left. The three available vintages of Clos de Beze, 11, 12, and 13 show the dramatic range of vintages in one tight package. All three show the brightness and lift that is possible with Clos de Beze, but will continue to age, drawing the silky tannins into the fold, and allowing the full fruit to explode out of the glass. These usually need a decade to reach maturity, so they’re well on their way. Ponsot also makes an amazing Clos de Beze, but at an astronomical price and you simply must not open them before twenty years. The Magnien is simply a tastier wine, perhaps less cerebral, but it is less punishing to your palate if you’re not terribly patient. 
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) 
Patricia Green Cellars Durant Vineyard Bishop Block Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($49.95) 