Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Wednesday Newsletter 10-28-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Cayuse & Champagne
New Releases from Christophe Baron

Small Volume & Deep Discount Sale

Biggio Hamina New Offer

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut

Stella di Campalto

Jump Start Offer:

Cayuse & Champagne

New Releases from Christophe Baron

Cayuse is one of the most in-demand wineries in North America, producing wines from both Rhone and Bordeaux varieties that are among the finest in the world.

“The 2017s from Christophe Baron show the more elegant, balanced style of the
vintage nicely while still showing plenty of depth and concentration.
These are singular, gorgeous wines that could come from nowhere else.”
–Jeb Dunnuck

2017 Cayuse Wines Arriving November 6th

Cayuse Vineyards Camaspelo, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Coming from the En Cerise and Cailloux vineyards, the 2017 Camaspelo doesn’t match the stunning 2016 but still offers a gorgeous perfume of red and black currants, toasted spices, flowery incense, and green tobacco that develops nicely with time in the glass. Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, with silky tannins and a great balance, it’s an ethereal, balanced Bordeaux blend (it’s mostly Cabernet Sauvignon) that’s going to develop even more complexity with 2-4 years of bottle age and have 15-20 years of prime drinking.”

Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The Armada Vineyard Syrah always reminds me of the Horsepower releases, as it’s a more masculine, earthy style of Syrah. Deep plum/purple-colored with an incredible bouquet of smoked plum, blackcurrants, tobacco, peppered meat, and violets, the 2017 hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, building structure and tannins, moderate acidity, and a great finish. It’s another wine from Baron that packs incredible richness and depth yet still just glides across the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. It shows the more rounded, approachable style of the vintage and will keep for 20 years or more.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2017 Syrah Armada Vineyard bursts out of the glass with complex and expressive aromas of blackberry, black tea, savory and umami tones of crushed black pepper, grilled meat and dried lilac and lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is elegant and seamless on the palate, unfolding beautifully with precision and intention, offering up instant gratification in youth. The wine unfolds its wings across the mid-palate and takes flight, leading to the elongated and continually evolving finish, which grows in complexity and amplitude in the mouth. The 2017 is more approachable in youth than the 2016 vintage of the same bottling. If you enjoy wines in their youth, this vintage is a no-brainer. Only 613 cases were produced.”
James Suckling 95 points “A soft, savory syrah with dried-strawberry, light chocolate-powder and walnut character. Medium to full body, round and soft tannins and a delicious finish. Rich, but not overwhelming. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Cayuse Vineyards Wallah Wallah #11 Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 1.5L ($319.95) $299 pre-arrival special, only 2 magnums available
James Suckling 97 points “Soft and luxurious with plums, smoke, spice and hints of earth. Some chocolate, too. Full body, round and caressing tannins and a seductive finish. It’s a wine that develops beautifully on your palate. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Made only in magnum, the 2017 Syrah Wallah Wallah Special #11 comes from some of the exceptional vineyards that go into making some of the bottlings for Cayuse and Horsepower. Displaying with a pale ruby-colored edge, the wine unfolds its wings in the glass showing the elegance of Pinot Noir but with the savoriness of Syrah. Elements of crushed violets, sweet raspberry, lavender and rose petal all capture the attention first before showing subtle savory notions of black pepper, crushed rock and worn leather. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is framed by a well-balanced structure, with energetic acidity and mouthwatering tannins, before ending with a long, lingering finish. A brilliant idea to only bottle in magnum, which forces you to select the appropriate time to open and consume the bottle. Regardless, this is a winner. 481 cases produced.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Editor’s Choice. There no mistaking that this comes from the stones of Walla Walla Valley, with its outrageous aromas of funk, earth, black pepper, peat, black olive tapenade, charcuterie plate, sea breeze and potpourri—an aromatic tour de force. A silky, plush, savory, earthy palate follows, full of saline and charcuterie notes. The supremely long, intensely rich finish grabs you and shakes you, kicking it up a notch.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

2018 Cayuse Wines Arriving November 6th

Don’t wait for the reviews. These are superb wines year in/year out and will be gone before notes are published…

Cayuse Vineyards Flying Pig, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cayuse Vineyards En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Christophe Baron Champagnes Arriving November 6th

Christophe Baron is best known as the winemaker and founder of Cayuse, in Walla Walla, where he makes a range of wines that inspire cult-like fervor and desire. It’s not well known that he hails from Champagne, and only a true insider knows Monsieur Baron has a deep passion for Pinot Meunier Champagnes. Just recently, he began producing profoundly mineral and expressive wines Champagnes from his family’s vines. We’re proud to be one of the few retailers in the country to present these latest releases from 2015.

Christophe Baron Crouttes-sur-Marne Le Dessus du Bois Marie Brut Nature, Champagne 2015 1.5L ($379.95) $319 pre-arrival special, only 2 magnums available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 97 points “Disgorged in March 2019 without dosage, Baron’s 2015 Brut Nature Le Dessus du Bois Marie is showing beautifully, unfurling in the glass with a deep and inviting bouquet of red apple, clear honey, linden, beeswax and lily pollen. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, vinous and textural, with a low-pressure pinpoint mousse, ripe but racy girdling acidy and a pillowy, enveloping profile. Concentrated and penetrating, this is a beautifully balanced wine that’s showing superbly.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Brut Nature Le Dessus Du Bois Marie (Magnum) shows the natural breadth and textural resonance of Meunier off to great effect. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers, hazelnut and lightly honeyed notes all open up in a creamy, ample Champagne built on textural resonance. Rich and exotic, with tremendous depth and personality, the Dessus Du Bois Marie has so much to offer. It is another gorgeous, deeply expressive Champagne from Christophe Baron.”

Christophe Baron Charly-sur-Maine Les Hautes Blanches Vignes Brut Nature, Champagne 2015 1.5L ($359.95) $299 pre-arrival special, only 5 magnums available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “Disgorged in March 2019 without dosage, Christophe Baron’s 2015 Brut Nature Les Hautes Blanches Vignes wafts from the glass with a lovely bouquet of fresh peach, crisp yellow orchard fruit, frangipane, red apple and subtle hints of mint. Full-bodied, vinous and enveloping, its satiny attack segues into an ample but beautifully defined mid-palate, displaying pristine balance and none of the sucrosity that can sometimes render the 2015 vintage ponderous at other addresses. Complemented by a delicate pinpoint mousse, this terrific Champagne concludes with a saline and precise finish. 1,597 magnums were produced.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Christophe Baron’s 2015 Brut Nature Les Hautes Blanches Vignes (Magnum) is bright, punchy and full of character. Orchard fruit, white pepper, sage and mint are some of the many notes that race out of the glass in a cool, nervy Champagne that is super-expressive today. The more taut, crystalline side of Meunier really comes through. At times, the savory quality is a bit pronounced, which is common with 2015s, and yet all the elements remain very nicely balanced. I would give the 2015 another year or two in bottle. Disgorged: March, 2019.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
And is the lowest listed price for any vintage!

Can’t Wait? Shop our selection of Cayuse Wines in stock now!

Small Volume & Deep Discount Sale

Along the western edges of the Sierra Nevadas in Amador County lies Shenandoah Valley. Here, amid the rolling hills and high peaks, Bill Easton and Jane O’Riordan founded Domaine de la Terre Rouge, named in homage to the iron-rich soils found in the region. The winery is dedicated to capturing the essence of the landscape within its wines and the focus is high elevation wines highlighting the complexity and nuance within each distinct site in small lot, 100-400 case production.

Domaine de la Terre Rouge Ascent Syrah, Sierra Foothills 2013 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $59 super-special, only 4 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This is the small-production, flagship wine from the Sierra region’s best producer of Rhône-style wines. Lovely, spicy, floral aromas and generous, complex and layered flavors make the wine irresistible, while its strong but velvety texture sets it up for a long life in the cellar for those who can resist. It smells lightly oaky, like a cigar box and cocoa, tastes deep and focused on blackberry, pomegranate and dark chocolate. The mouthfeel is both rich and a bit reserved.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We also stock their Easton label Zin:

An old-school, pepper-smoky-juicy Zin. Conjuring thoughts of pairing with rich, smoky meats? Perfect.
(Domaine de la Terre Rouge) Easton Zinfandel, Amador County 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Epitomizes fine Sierra Foothills Zinfandel, offering vibrant, briary raspberry, smoked pepper and wild sweet anise flavors that stretch out on the zesty finish. Drink now through 2023. 6,200 cases made.”

Biggio Hamina

Arriving Friday, October 30th

“Owner/winemaker Todd Hamina has an admirable track record for producing ageworthy Pinot Noir and his 2016s are no exception.” –Josh Raynolds
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.50

You’d be hard-pressed to find a better Oregon Pinot at this price. This wine leans toward the savory-side with delicate notes of raspberries, wet leaves and herbs. Perfumed and light-bodied. A knockout at the table.
Biggio Hamina Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($29.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($119.95) $75 pre-arrival special (that’s only $12.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Chehalem Mountains Pinot Noir 2017 750ML (199.95) $139 pre-arrival special (that’s only $11.58/bottle!)

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Can’t wait?
Check out these other Oregon Case Deals in stock now from Biggio Hamina, Day Wines & Cristom!

Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer Corridor Ava 2017 750ML ($24.95) $17 special
Case-12 Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer Corridor Ava 2017 750ML ($299.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 points “The brilliant ruby hued Biha Van Duzer Pinot, made by Todd Hamina at Biggio Hamina Cellars, is a beautiful and racy Pinot Noir with layers of bright cherry, strawberry, pomegranate and tangy plum fruits bursting from glass along with delicate rose petal, cinnamon, orange tea and dried herbs. I hadn’t had the Biggio Hamina Cellars wines before this bottle and now I know I have been missing out. This is intriguing stuff and it just got better and better as the evening went on. Impressively it was the next day that things really got going, especially aromatically and texture wise without losing its exciting drive and vibrancy. Hamina comes with tons of Willamette experience including time at some famous places. His CV includes stints at Archery Summit, Beaux Freres, Chateau Benoit, Elk Cove, Maysara and Patton Valley! That should get your attention and his Biha should be on your radar for value. His style seems a mature approach to natural or minimalist winemaking with the use of indigenous yeasts, or as he puts it, spontaneous fermentation without inputs or additions, employing neutral French barriques and bottling without cold stabilization or filtering to allow the grapes and vineyards to show their distinctive character. The Biha line is Hamina’s and partner Caroline Biggio’s single AVA collection… This Van Duzer Pinot joins an elite set of quality bargains from Oregon along with Hundred Son’s Old Eight Cut Pinot, Love & Squalor, Bow & Arrow’s Rhinestones (a Gamay and Pinot Noir blend), Purple Hands’ basic Willamette Valley Pinot and Johan’s Farmlands Pinot to name a few, all of which are very different, but offer big bang for the buck. Hamina, like many of this newer generation is committed to more restrained use of new barrels, saying in a perfect world he’d use tons of whole cluster and no new oak. Here you can taste the merits of that formula with the whole bunch and stem inclusion crunchiness and purity of fruit, which I admit I am a huge fan of. The Biggio Hamina Biha Van Duzer 2017 has loads of exciting flavors, savory zing and a polished or satiny mouth feel with no overt French oak needed, making a Pinot that goes great with an array of cuisine. I enjoyed it with smoked salmon. As new discoveries go, this one is was incredibly pleasing and I plan to explore more of these small production hand crafted Biggio Hamina wines!”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Day describes their Momtazi bottling as their “our flagship Pinot Noir from one of Willamette Valley’s most prized biodynamic vineyards and our most age-worthy wine.” It‘s normally the most expensive Pinot in the Day Wines lineup at $54, but we’re able to offer it for just $33 per bottle and $28.75 per bottle on case purchases.
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
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!

Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 3 half-bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($479.95) $376 special (that’s only $62.76/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Translucent red. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, exotic spices and candied flowers, with smoky mineral and incense notes that acquire strength as this youthful wine gains its footing. Stains the palate with vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, star anise and rose pastille flavors that show a compelling blend of depth and litheness. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on a strikingly long, finely etched finish that features baking spice, floral and subtle earth notes.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard was made with 51% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Medium ruby, it has a very pretty nose: nuances of crushed stone, Campari, earth and blood orange mingle over a core of red and black cherries, rhubarb and cranberry. The medium-bodied palate has lovely, nuanced, amaro-laced flavor layers with a softly chalky frame and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 384 cases produced.”

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($419.95) $336 special (that’s only $56/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 95 points “This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. There’s a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid red. Expansive aromas of ripe red berries, candied flowers and baking spices, with a smoky mineral topnote that gains strength as the wine opens up. Coats the palate with appealing sweet raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on an impressively long finish that’s shaped by fine-grained, even tannins.”

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut

Drappier might sound like a Grande Marque, but they’re really a grower producer at heart. They own 53 hectares of vines in the Aube (where they were the first to plant Pinot Noir) and make forward thinking wines at a very friendly price-point. A carbon-neutral house, they place as much care in the cellar as they do in the vineyards—and the wines show it.

Forbes placed the wine we’re offering today, the estate’s Carte d’Or , as the #3 “Best Champagne You’ve Never Heard Of” for good reason. Drappier makes big, flamboyantly rich Champagne that is always a crowd pleaser—at prices that mean you can actually pour it for crowds. It’s hard to find better bubbly under $36/btl, so if you’re a Champagne drinker you should stock up now.

Arriving Friday, October 30th

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This bright and zesty Champagne is lightly juicy and appealing, offering flavors of Honeycrisp apple, ripe white cherry, biscuit and pickled ginger. Balanced and lacy in texture, with a lingering, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,200 cases imported.”
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed Oct 2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed Apr 2020] Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Drappier’s NV Brut Carte d’Or is showing well, bursting with pretty aromas of peach, honeyed orchard fruit and white flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, with fine depth and tension and a penetrating finish.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]

We offer 120 Champagnes in stock now.

Shop our selections on our web store!

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

Collector’s Corner:

Stella di Campalto

Stella di Campalto is a force of nature—a woman with a vision for how Sangiovese is best expressed and the will to ensure that every single bottling is as perfect as possible. Her wines are vivid, powerful expressions of the southeast corner of Montalcino and her commitment to quality (which includes holding back the wines several additional years before release) means that they’ve become wines to pay attention to for Italian wine collectors.

Stella took over Podere San Giuseppe, a farm and winery that was founded in 1910 but had been abandoned in the 40’s and replanted her current vineyards by herself. She farms all of her land with Biodnynamic principles and her goal is first and foremost to express the terroir of Brunello to the utmost. That includes holding back her wines until she thinks they ought to be released. These are epic wines—Brunello for the lover of top-tier Burgundy.

“Stella di Campalto would tell you that the location of her vineyards chose her, as her passion for the land and culture turned into a love for wine and, of course, Montalcino… Her Brunello is released a year later than other producers, designated as a Riserva, and it is worth waiting for. Luckily, she also produces a Rosso from a declassified barrel of Brunello, which is not to me missed. These are wonderfully aromatic, sometimes even exotic wines that flaunt their primary fruit while remaining true expressions of Sangiovese, and they are classic in structure.” –Eric Guido, Vinous Media

Arriving Friday, October 30th

Stella di Campalto Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, only 13 bottles available
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Very pale red. Delicately spicy and herbal nuances complement red cherry and berries on the perfumed floral nose. Then similarly impressive in the mouth, with sneaky concentration and depth to the redcurrant, strawberry and floral flavors. Finishes long and suave, with saline nuances but enticing lovely sweetness. Knockout Rosso.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “The 2015 Stella di Campalto Rosso di Montalcino shows a beautiful translucent ruby color, with a bouquet of sweet florals and dusty spice giving way to fresh strawberries, white smoke, and hints of leather. On the palate, soft textures flesh out across the senses in a wave of pure bright cherry, lifted by a core of vibrant acidity, which energizes yet also adds sweetness to its pretty red fruits, as minerals settle in and inner floral tones develop. The finish is long yet quite feminine, resonating on ripe red fruits, sweet florals, and spice, with lingering acids which sizzle on the senses. The 2015 is an understated yet remarkably pretty vintage for the Rosso; it’s a wine that begs to be drunk, not tasted, showing all the best qualities of the vintage while maintaining perfect form. It also worth mentioning that this was tasted within a flight of 2015 Brunellos, and it held its own.”

Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special, only 1 bottle available
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Deep red. Initially slightly reduced, but clears with aeration to showcase peach, blood orange, cinnamon, balsamic oils, and talcum powder on the pretty but still youthful nose. Fresh and juicy, but boasting noteworthy size to the pretty red berry and floral flavors. A complicating note of cocoa and coffee rises to the fore on the long juicy finish that showcases sneaky concentration and lurking tannic power. Still youthfully chewy and with some oak that needs to be resolved, but this is a very promising Brunello.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “I could sit with this glass of 2013 Stella di Campalto Brunello di Montalcino Riserva for hours, simply taking in its bouquet, as it rises up from the glass with an alluring and intoxicating display of crushed ripe strawberries, both rich and sweet, giving way to exotic spice, rhubarb, dusty florals, and mineral tones. On the palate, it’s taking a turn to the savory side, as fleshy textures are offset by zesty acids, with a mix of cherry sauce, spice, wild herbs, and minerals drenching the senses, as pretty inner floral tones develop. It finishes fresh, yet buzzing with energy, contrasted by a tart berry twang, with resonating minerals, spice, and just a hint of fine tannin. This is so clean, so pure, and so easy to like, yet decidedly savory as well. The 2013 Riserva will have a lot of fans and comes off to me as a perfect mix of the 2008 and 2010 vintages.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $215

We’re proud of our curated stock 50 of Brunello & Rosso wines in stock now.

Shop such selections as Il Poggione, Biondi Santi, Casanova di Neri, & La Fortuna on our web store!

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.

Monday Newsletter 10-25-20

In This Newsletter:

The Best Produttori Barbaresco Yet?
Antonio Galloni Says “Don’t Miss It!”

New Arrivals and Reviews
For Oregon Favorites
Bow & Arrow and Hundred Suns

New Week – New Arrivals
Including Gaston Chiquet, Vilmart,
Mousse, Cameron Chardonnay, Mt. Eden,
Joseph Phelps and More!

Trending Wines

Paolo’ Bea’s Iconic Wines
New Releases from the Umbrian Master

Collector’s Corner:
Royal Tokaji – Hungary’s Top Sweet Wines

The Best Produttori Barbaresco Yet?

Antonio Galloni Says “Don’t Miss It!”

The Produttori del Barbaresco normale is one of the finest values in the world of wine. The Produttori needs very little introduction as a producer of some of the finest wines in Italy, and their entry level Barbaresco delivers grace, power and complexity with a price-tag that’s still easy to swallow. What’s better, their 2017 may be the best edition ever.

Antonio Galloni says “Don’t miss it!” while awarding it a 94-point rating—a tie for the highest ever score he’s given to the bottling. It’s got the same fantastic vineyard sources as usual (this year’s edition is based on Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagot and Rio Sordo) and the same fantastic commitment to quality, but the slightly warmer ’17 vintage allowed for even more richness and texture. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo, and we’ve got the best price in the country—even moreso by the case.

Arriving ETA January:

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG ‘2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG ‘2017 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 pre-arrival special (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG ‘2017 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco shows just how appealing this vintage can be. In 2017, the warm, dry growing season gave the Barbaresco an extra kick of richness that fills out its frame and adds so much immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and mint are open in the glass, but it is the wine’s seductive radiance that wins the day. Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagota and Rio Sordo are the main vineyards used for the straight Barbaresco. The 2017 is such an inviting and expressive wine. Don’t miss it!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

New Arrivals and Reviews

For Oregon Favorites

Bow & Arrow

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. We may have mentioned this already, but the wines are great.

The other major puzzle that Scott seems to have cracked is affordability. We often see wines from the US marketed as ‘daily drinkers’ in style but the wines are priced at $30++, well north of a comparable wine from Europe. With Bow & Arrow, though, we’re pleased as punch that a delicious local wine is cheaper than most of the competition from Europe. The new releases are absolutely fantastic, highlighted by new vintages of Air Guitar and Rhinestones–possibly the best yet.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Only 84 cases produced…
Bow & Arrow Chenin Blanc, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Winery note “10 years in the making…. Chenin was part of the original varietal trifecta for Bow & Arrow when I began in 2010. But all the Chenin in the Willamette Valley has been torn out or grafted as far as I was able to tell. (There were always rumors…). While readily available in Washington or Southern Oregon I was committed to only doing it with WV fruit. It had to be cool climate character or nothing. I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time, y’all. All those trips to the Loire paid off. As well as that training wheels vintage (2017) that had to get blended. (This shit is hard to ripen) I didn’t know what to expect from the finished wine but I’m relieved to share it came out tasting like only Chenin can. 84 cases produced!”

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Bow & Arrow Le Chenaie Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winery note “Proof that Sauvignon Blanc made the right way can be terroir wine, the short distance between Union School and La Chenaie belies the profoundly different ways in which the two sites express themselves. We make the two wines exactly the same way but the Eola-Amity Hills highlights wholly different attributes in Sauvignon Blanc. This expression is more sophisticated than it’s southern brother and incorporates a savory aspect we find fascinating. Texturally is carries more weight and depth without being ponderous. Reminiscent of stone fruit, guava, mint and a whiff of Rum Agricole.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $28.99

Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”

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Bow & Arrow Air Guitar, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24.40 special
Winery note “Like Rhinestones, the name Air Guitar is a self deprecating poke at attempting French style wines in America. The “least likely to exist” of all of our Willamette Valley sourced wines, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Borgo Pass Vineyard and Cabernet Franc from Johan Vineyard. Don’t let the playful nature of the wine’s label fool you -this is our most profound expression of red wine from this region and the one that rewards the most patience. Aged 10 to 12 months in puncheon.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.99

Also In Stock from Bow & Arrow:

Bow & Arrow Melon Johan Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “Muscadet is often considered the biggest underdog in the world of wine. Another way to say it is Melon, the grape that makes Muscadet, is the poor man’s White Burgundy. Made in a similar fashion but in humbler vessels, Melon expresses terroir in a subtle and complex way just like it’s famous friend. It has an affinity for granite, and Johan is the only vineyard in the Willamette Valley with both. So drink your young Burgundies if you like and age your Melon. You will be rewarded with one of the biggest transformations you’re likely to experience in a cellared white wine. The 2019 vintage is a standout in the lineage of Johan Melon; not surprising as all the wines emerging from the cellar are benchmark in our opinion. Drink now or hold up to 15 years!”

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Bow & Arrow Melon, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery Note “Better known as Muscadet, this is the grape responsible for the classic French wine famous for its versatility with all things Ocean born. Sourced from multiple vineyards and aged in vat for 6 – 8 months our version treads the same ground as the wines that inspired it. Briney, crystalline, and quenching this wine is made for summer feasts as well as winter seafood sessions.”

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Bow & Arrow Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92\/bottle!)
VinopolNote: This is a beautifully crisp and crunchy red from the 2019 vintage. We love it with a light chill all on its own, or enjoy with cheeses, salads, or roast chicken. Buy a case or two to carry you through the fall (and to be prepared for Thanksgiving!)
Winery note “This release is a bit of a change from the past as it no longer is a multi AVA blend but is entirely from Eola-Amity Hills AVA fruit. I think this may be the best AVA for Gamay in the WV. This is sourced exclusively this year from Jubilee Vineyard which I’m happy to say we lured into transitioning into organic farming. There’s more fruit and less savory/sappy/barky vibes. It’s still made using a traditional semi-carbonic maceration in concrete vats. It lives there for eight months before bottling. Again, no nothing until the devil’s piss at bottling – 25ppm. This is probably the best expression of Gamay I’ve produced.”

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Hundred Suns

Grant Coulter is one of the hottest names in the Willamette Valley. The former assistant winemaker at Beaux Freres (under tutelage of the legendary Mike Etzel), Grant’s made a name for himself as the winemaker of rising star Flaneur, as well as with his own label: Hundred Suns.

Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to wine in the Northwest. They’ve added an awesome Grenache from Yakima Valley and a delicious little Gamay to their awesome lineup of Pinot and Chardonnay and we’ve just received some of their new bottlings.

Anyone who’s loved the Beaux Freres or Flaneur wines in the past needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing at Hundred Suns. His project represents one of the most exciting new labels in the Willamette Valley and Pinot lovers ought to buy in now, before they become hard to find.

Hundred Suns ‘Tualatin Estate’ Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “Vintage & Vinification: A cool and lengthy growing season gave us wines of modest alcohol and incredible flavor. Once harvested our Gamay was divided into three lots. The first 100% de-stemmed, the second 50% whole cluster and the third 100% whole cluster Carbonic. Aged in a combination of Amphora and neutral oak for 11 months. This bottling is filled with juicy red fruit, crunchy textures and refined acidity. Bottled Unfined and Unfiltered. Vineyard: This historic estate was established in the early 1970s by pioneer Bill Fuller. Our parcel of Gamay (in fact, the only gamay planted at the site) came from a hidden corner of the vineyard and was uncovered by our friend, Evan Martin, who offered us a one-acre piece of this amazing site planted on marine sedimentary soils.”

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Hundred Suns ‘Elephant Mtn. Vineyard’ Grenache, Yakima Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $35 special
Winery note “The Grenache was left 100% whole cluster in a sealed tank for 20 days. Once opened, the fully intact grapes were pressed and fermentation was completed with native yeast. The wine then aged in a terracotta amphora for 12 months until it was transferred to neutral oak, where it aged for five additional months. This yielded a wine with layers of decadent strawberry and raspberry fruit accented with cinnamon. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.”

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Hundred Suns Old Eight Cut Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “This bottling is Hundred Suns Wine’s first vintage producing Chardonnay. Grapes were sourced from two organically farmed vineyards in the Eola-Hills. Bracken Vineyard sits between 630-730 feet on volcanic soils (Nekia, Ritner, Witzel and Jory) of varying depths. Koosah is a stunning high-elevation site perched at 1,000 feet. Both lots were whole cluster pressed in to 500 liter neutral puncheons. Slow natural fermentations and 11 months sur lee aging produced a wine with bright acid, stone fruit, and floral aromatics.”

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Also In Stock from Hundred Suns:

Hundred Suns ‘Breaker Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($69.95) $55 special
James Suckling 95 points “A unique wine that has a very striking, blueberry and violet nose with an iodine-like, savory edge and some darker-fruit and fresh-herb notes. The palate has such an intense, powerful feel with concentrated blueberries and an assertive frame of fluffy, succulent, fresh and long tannins. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.”

Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 94 points “Rich aromas of crushed violets and blueberries with a deeply spicy edge, as well as cocoa powder, dark chocolate and darker cherries, berries and plums. There’s striking purity here with more red fruit on the palate. Very plush, concentrated and balanced. Drink or hold.”

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Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 95 points “This has a very fresh, attractive nose with roses and violets, as well as boysenberries, red cherries and a savory, stony edge. Some sappy nuances, too. The palate is very succulent and has strikingly fresh red berries and cherries, underscored with vibrant acidity and a very uplifting, dynamic finish. A richer vintage, made in a fresher style, works very well here. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 95 points “Grant Coulter, who has worked with the famed Shea Vineyard for more than a decade, most of that time while he was a winemaker at Beaux Freres, makes a tiny single vineyard bottling from this amazing site and this 2018, which starts slowly, is a gorgeous and dark Pinot Noir with incredible texture and smooth layering that expands in the glass….This warm site, Coulter notes, in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA is planted on sedimentary soil and is one of the most coveted set of vines in the the Willamette Valley. This 2018, as mentioned, takes a awhile to really unwind and goes from a brooding and shy wine to a hyper expressive and rock star bottling, it transforms in the glass with air, in fact it was like turning on a light switch after 20 minutes, so patience will be greatly rewarded here! There’s plenty of classic character and flavors that unfold along with exotic elements too with a medium bodied palate of black raspberry, cherry, plum and pomegranate fruits at its core as well as hints of orange tea, rose hips, guava and red peach flesh. The satiny texture that develops is welcomed after a tight first impression and the length is absolute stunning, it lingers with floral and fruit echos, baking spices along with sticky lavender, cinnamon and very little traces of oak. Coulter, who along with Renée Saint-Amour started their own label Hundred Suns in 2015, says the 2018 vintage gave them lower yields than normal, but the generous sunshine perfectly and evenly ripened their small block of Shea. When the grapes came in they were separated in the cellar into two lots, one 50% whole bunch and the other completely de-stemmed, so Coulter ending up fermenting the 2018 Shea Vineyard Pinot with about 25% whole cluster with 100% indigenous yeasts with both lots done and then blended with the wine being aged for 10 months in well seasoned neutral French oak. Coulter is always very complimentary about the iconic Shea Vineyard which is all dry farmed and meticulously maintained for quality and this vineyard, which I was lucky enough to visit and tour at harvest time back in 2008 is nothing short of a Grand Cru and a wonderfully picturesque place, the view from the upper blocks is spectacular looking down over the whole Willamette Valley….These last three vintages have been awesome, this small Oregon micro batch winery is crafting some special stuff, I highly recommend getting these 2018s while you can!”

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Bonus: New Wine Enthusiast Review

For Evesham Wood’s 2018 Willamette Pinot

Evesham Wood Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Editor’s Choice. Even in a Pinot portfolio packed with value, this may top them all. Pinpoint balance spotlights spicy berry fruit, ripe and well managed tannins, and surprising length. The herbal highlights are properly constrained, and the finish suggests that it could even age further for up to five years.”

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New Week – New Arrivals

Champagne

An outstanding value, this is absolutely classic—especially for the price.
Boizel Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Case-6 Boizel Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($269.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Decanter World Wine Awards 97 points “55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Meunier. Liquorice aromatic notes with resonant plum and red apple. Deep, exuberant, mouth-filling, vigorous and long, this is an exuberant, vinous Champagne with plenty of richly-textured aromatic lift. Crowd-pleasing but connoisseur-pleasing too.”

Chiquet remains one of our favorite growers and the 2008 vintage will go down in legend. Buy accordingly.
Gaston Chiquet Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs d’Ay Vintage Brut 2008 1.5L ($179.95) $138 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2008 Blanc de Blancs d’Aÿ, in the magnum late-release, is an absolutely gorgeous wine that brings together the natural richness of Aÿ with plenty of vintage 2008 vibrancy. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint and spice infuse the 2008 with striking layers of nuance. Aÿ is, of course, best known for Pinot, but in a few choice spots Chardonnay shines, as it does here. Chiquet’s Blanc de Blancs d’Aÿ is once again one of the most singular wines in all of Champagne. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.”

Vilmart nails it once again. Is there a winemaker in Champagne who makes more legendary wines in “tough” years?
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvee’ Premier Cru Brut 2011 750ML ($159.95) $119 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in May 2018 with seven grams per liter dosage, Vilmart’s new 2011 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is showing beautifully, offering up an expressive bouquet of crisp green pear, yellow apple, dried white flowers, English walnuts and spices. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly fleshy and nicely concentrated, it’s a fine-boned, precise rendition of this cuvée, built around ripe but racy acids and complemented by a pinpoint mousse. Vilmart is the sort of grower that succeeds in vintages such as 2011, and this wine met my expectations.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Coeur de Cuvée is gorgeous, especially within the context of the year. Translucent and airy, the 2011 is a Champagne of real elegance. Sage, mint, dried flowers, orchard fruit and lemon peel all grace this super-expressive and pretty Champagne. These 60-year-old vines handled the challenges of 2011 well. Harvest took place in August, which after 2003 and 2007, is not as freakishly unusual as it would have been a generation ago. The 2011 is undoubtedly terrific. Even so, I would not push my luck on aging given the inherent fragility of the year. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.”

Still one of the best ~$60 champagnes out there—baby Krug.
Vilmart & Cie Grand Cellier Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
2015 base
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Cuvée Grand Cellier (base 2015) is striking. Hints of lemon peel, crushed rocks and mint are framed by a kiss of new oak, with a hint of reduction that adds a further note of complexity. The Grand Cellier is based on 2015, with 25% 2014 and 25% 2013 reserve wines, aged exclusively in foudre. It is another stellar wine in the entry-level portion of the Vilmart range. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.”

Wow. Hebrart has been on a roll in recent vintages and the RG/RD is their new flagship. Hebrart for U. Collin fans.
Marc Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droite Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Rive Gauche Rive Droite is a blend of Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Chardonnay from Oiry, Chouilly and Avize, all Grand Crus. Resonant and expansive on the palate, it possesses tremendous richness and depth from start to finish. Dried pear, pastry, dried herbs and crushed flowers give the stunningly beautifully, expressive Champagne with tons of complexity. Disgorged: December 19, 2018” [Disgorgement date may vary.]

One of the better entry level bottlings we’ve tasted, but you shouldn’t be surprised, given who makes it.
Mousse Fils L’Or d’Eugene Perpetuelle Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of 80% Pinot Meunier and 20% Pinot Noir drawn from a solera established in 2003, the latest rendition of Moussé’s NV Brut Blanc de Noirs L’Or d’Eugène was disgorged in June 2019 with four grams per liter dosage. Wafting from the glass with a deep and complex bouquet of golden orchard fruit, honeycomb, mirabelle plum, candied peel and fresh pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, with a rich and sapid core of fruit, lively acids and a delicate pinpoint mousse.”

Mousse is making some of the most exciting Meunier that’s not Prevost. Then again, perhaps we should just remove the qualifier.
Mousse Fils Terre d’Illite Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Disgorged in July 2019 with just two grams per liter dosage, the just-released 2014 Extra-Brut Blanc de Noirs Terre d’Illite is showing beautifully, mingling aromas of yellow orchard fruit and clear honey with hints of beeswax, cherries and mirabelle plums. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s textural and elegantly muscular, built around ripe but racy acids and complemented by a pinpoint mousse.” [Disgorgement date may vary]

Oregon

It’s back and as good as it’s ever been. One of the killer deals in Oregon white wine.
Cameron Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special
VinopolNote: One of the greatest bargains in Oregon Chardonnay out there. Barrel-fermented, which imparts a kiss of vanilla and new oak to the apple- and green pear-driven palate. A refreshing mineral note on the finish keeps you coming back for more.

California

There’s an ocean of mediocre, $100, Napa Cabernet out there. And then there’s this—which is top-class, special stuff.
Mount Eden Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Mount Eden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon represents the essence of what Cabernet Sauvignon is all about in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Deep, powerful and explosive, the 2016 simply has it all. A wine of tremendous depth and intensity. Readers, take note. This is world class Cabernet Sauvignon that in any other region would cost 2-3 times as much. Savory and expansive, with tons of mountain character and remarkable richness from low yields in 2016, the Cabernet Sauvignon is simply off the charts. It’s another utterly breathtaking wine from Mount Eden.”

A great price on one of Napa’s most consistent flagship bottlings.
Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $56.50 special
James Suckling 94 points “This has very bright and juicy, brambly dark berries with a wealth of attractive and juicy dark-fruit presence. This has depth, detail and long, layered dark-fruit flavors. Impressively chiseled finish. Drink or hold.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc aged for 18 months in 48% new French and American oak and bottled in May/June of 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of crushed blackcurrants, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with suggestions of cigar box, menthol, rose hip tea and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with vibrant black fruit laced with plenty of spicy sparks, framed by grainy tannins and oodles of freshness and finishing long with a menthol kick. 36,000 cases produced.”
Virginie Boone-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. This lovely wine shows exceptional quality and complexity within a bold, expansive package of thick, grippy tannin and layered flavors of blackberry, tobacco and smoked meat. It is blended with 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is once again a huge overachiever. Plum, black cherry, spice, mocha and new leather are front and center. Pliant and giving, with striking purity of fruit and remarkable balance, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a winner from Phelps. This Napa Valley Cabernet is a remarkable wine for many reasons, most notably the quality Phelps achieves with estate fruit and a production of 36,000 cases.”

Italy

Ratti always manages to over-deliver for the price and in a vintage like ’16, even more than usual.
Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $53.50 special
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Editor’s Choice. Iris, rose, botanical herb and dark spice aromas lead the way in this fragrant red, along with an enticing whiff of graphite. Elegantly structured and boasting youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and star anise framed in taut, refined tannins. It’s balanced and focused, with bright acidity. Drink 2024–2036.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “This is one of the most versatile, accessible and inviting wines to be found anywhere in the Barolo appellation. That is the legacy of this wine, and the Renato Ratti 2016 Barolo Marcenasco proudly carries forward in this tradition. Indeed, it takes it a big step forward, as this is my favorite edition tasted in years. Fruit comes from a single vineyard located just outside the winery door. Marcenasco was farmed by Renato Ratti and his son Piero, and it remains the flagship of this estate. This vintage is beautifully perfumed and vibrant, and the wine tastes terrific just out of the gate. The finish is delicate, tightly knit and feathery light on the palate.”

Spain

A delicious bubbly from the closest winery to Barcelona.
AA Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva Brut Nature Cava NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light, bright yellow-gold. Displays pungent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, lemon pith, fennel and chamomile that show very good clarity and spicy lift. Weighty, focused and dry on the palate, which displays refreshingly bitter citrus pith, pear skin and quinine flavors and a hint of peachiness. Manages to come off hefty as well as graceful and finishes long and taut, with resonating stoniness and a touch of spicy ginger. (disgorged after 15 months on its lees).”

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“Bright intensity…with balance and elegance”
La Cana Albariño, Rias Baixas 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
James Suckling 93 points “A very precise and well-made white with cooked apple, spicy pear and some crushed-cement character. Medium to full body with tangy acidity that gives tension to the pretty fruit. Drink or hold.”
Decanter 90 points “Dry-farmed, hand-harvested and with 25% of the blend fermented with wild yeast, this is a showcase of citrus fruit, where grapefruit, lime and lemon zest mingle on a creamy-textured palate thanks to eight months of lees ageing. The bright intensity carries through the finish with balance and elegance.”

Trending

Freshly restocked on the (first ever Pinot Noir) Les Barres—and it’s flying out the door.
Chartogne-Taillet Les Barres Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Champagne (2015) NV 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “From a climat Chartonge made famous for its Pinot Meunier growing in chalky soils, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Barres (Pinot Noir) derives from a westerly exposed parcel of Pinot Noir growing in sand—and hails entirely from the 2015 vintage. It’s showing very well, exhibiting attractive aromas of mirabelle plums, raspberries, anise, pastry cream and yellow chartreuse. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and muscular, with tangy acids, excellent concentration and a long, chalky finish.”
Importer note “We are very excited to announce the release of a new parcellaire wine from Alexandre Chartogne. Lovers of grower champagne are familiar with Chartogne-Taillet’s Les Barres, the single parcel, un-grafted Meunier wine, released first in the 2006 vintage. This was the first wine that Alexandre produced after returning home to his family domaine, from working with Anselme Selosse, his mentor. Over a short period of time, Les Barres has become a cult wine and we have very small amounts to offer each year. The vineyard Les Barres and the wine Alexandre produces from it has been linked to a single grape variety – Meunier. Alexandre feels that the variety is simply the conduit, a transmission of place and identity. He feels that while it’s not irrelevant ‘Each place itself confers a different texture, a feeling in the mouth, which doesn’t change, even as the aromas and structure shifts with ageing.’… Alexandre showed us a new wine from Les Barres: ‘In the parcel Les Barres there are not just Meunier vines, but also a small amount of Pinot Noir. The Pinot would not be enough to make a single harvest wine, so, I produced this wine from the vintages 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. It is Les Barres Pinot Noir, and the first time I have made it.’ The wine is exquisite, with remarkable length and depth, even in its youth. For fans of Les Barres, this is an incredible opportunity to taste other expressions of this outstanding site. It’s a wine, which, like Les Barres Meunier, has a long life ahead of it.”

One of Comando G’s winemakers—this side project’s entry level bottle is stunning.
Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Las Uvas de la Ira’ Garnacha 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The red 2018 Las Uvas de la Ira has been produced with Garnacha from the same five vineyards since the initial vintage (2012) in the village of El Real de San Vicente, which is one of the villages from Méntrida (Toledo) that are part of the Gredos Mountains. The vines range between 40 and 65 years of age, and they are located at around 750 meters in altitude on sandy granite soils with lots of silt. The different vineyards are fermented separately in oak vats with indigenous yeasts and a very gentle vinification, one-third with very long macerations to provide structure and depth, one-third with a very short maceration to provide fragrance, and the remaining third finished the fermentation without skins (like a white) to add juiciness. The élevage is in oak foudres of different sizes, from 1,500 to 4,000 liters. This is a little less aromatic and more austere but very focused and bright, from a village where the wines are serious and have a chalky texture, less floral but more citrus, a bit more backward. It has a compact palate, with very fine tannins and a more chalky finish. It’s interesting to taste it next to wines from other villages, as you clearly see the difference. 18,700 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2019.”

A staff pick that shines for the price.
Malat Grüner Veltliner, Kremstal 2018 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Falstaff Magazine 90 points “[Translated & edited for clarity] Light yellow-green with silver reflections. Notes of delicate candied orange zest, hints of tobacco underlain with yellow tropical fruit and some pineapple. An inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant texture, with notes of white apple. Freshly structured in an easy drinking style. This makes you want a second glass.”
James Suckling 90 points “Quite spicy and stony aromas with notes of grassy limes. The palate has a juicy and fleshy feel with limes and green papaya to close. Drink now. Screw cap.”

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This is always our best-selling Rioja and has a massive fan base at the shop
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($34.95) $23.50 special
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.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “…This was a very long harvest (similar to 2016). They started at the end of August with the Cava, and they finished at the end of October with very healthy grapes, good yields and very good quality. The wine shows very good ripeness but without any excess. It has incipient complexity, still young and undeveloped but with very good balance between power and elegance, with fine-grained tannins and integrated acidity. This has to be one of the best recent vintages of this popular bottling. There are around one million bottles of it.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Earthy black fruit aromas are warm and ripe. Befitting a reserva from a hot year like 2015, this is big-bodied and flush, with flavors of toasty oak, chocolate and mixed berry fruits. Ripeness is not lost on a finish with mild heat. Drink through 2023.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $28

Boogie-woogie-woogie.
Seehof ‘Elektrisch’ Riesling Kabinett, Germany 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “This gorgeous Rheinhessen sipper is finally back! “Elektrisch” translates to, yup you guessed it, electric – and that’s how we like our Kabinetts. Which is to say, lighter, more delicate, less sweet and more acid-driven than a lot of the Kabinetts on the market, which are really little more than de-classified Spätlese. The 2019 is, as one might gather from the vintage of which Keller has written, “…one of the best vintages of the last 20 years,” AWESOME. It is electric with vivid and mouth watering granny smith apple and citrus and a live-wire of minerality and acidity nearly pulsating through it. For those of you who like the numbers: the mere 36 grams of residual sugar is easily countered and lifted by 7.4 grams of acidity. This is not only a true Kabinett, it is an “electric Kabinett.””

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Paolo’ Bea’s Iconic Wines

New Releases from the Umbrian Master

Paolo Bea is an iconic producer—a virtual one-winery symbol of Umbrian wine and it’s potential. No winery in the region produces wines as profound, interesting and delicious as the Italian masters (son Giampero is the winemaker these days).

If you’ve had these before, keep scrolling to check out the new releases—if not, pay attention. These are wines that capture the wildness of Umbrian wine and its signature grape, Sagrantino, in a way that captivates even the most jaded palates. They’re naturally made, but have classical proportions, with an almost savage ferocity to the flavors (and in the Sagrantino, the tannins as well). They’ve become quite hard to acquire in recent years (we guess the word’s gotten out), but we have some of the new wines arriving next month.

Arriving ETA November:

Only twelve bottles available
Paolo Bea Cerrete, Montefalco Sagrantino DOCG 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “It is difficult to believe that Montefalco Sagrantino can get any more profound than Bea’s beloved “Pagliaro,” but indeed it can. The family has owned a parcel in Cerrete, the highest-altitude vineyard in Montefalco, for some time, but it wasn’t until the 2007 vintage that Giampiero deemed the vines old enough to do justice to the cru’s potential. With its poor, mineral-rich soils and its acidity-preserving altitude (450 to 500 meters), Cerrete yields a wine not more powerful than “Pagliaro”—in fact, it comes across as lighter on its feet—but with greater nuance, as if the settings on a microscope were dialed up to render even more detail. In acknowledgment of its stature, Giampiero gives it an additional year in large Slavonian oak, making for an astonishing five-year elevage before the requisite long resting period in Bea’s dark, cool bottle cellar. “

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Paolo Bea Pipparello Montefalco Rosso Riserva 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “The Pipparello vineyard is a hilltop site in Montefalco at 1300 feet above sea level. The soil is clay and gravel. The vines in the Pipparello vineyard are a minimum of 20 years old. Harvest takes place normally during the middle of October. The ultimate wine is a blend of roughly 60% Sangiovese, 25% Montepulciano and 15% Sagrantino. The cuvaison extends for a period between 40 to 50 days. After the alcoholic fermentation this wine spends a year in stainless steel tanks and then two years in large oak barrels and is released after an additional year of bottle-aging.”

Paolo Bea San Valentino Rosso Umbria IGT 2015 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “This wine is sourced from the San Valentino vineyard in Montefalco the soil of which is dominated by clay. The vineyard is at 1300 feet altitude. The composition of the Montefalco Rosso is 70% Sangiovese, 15% Sagrantino and 15% Montepulciano, all from a 50-year old vineyard containing the constituent grapes. Harvest usually occurs in the final ten days of October. Bea puts all the dry reds through extensive cuvaison. In this instance, the wine usually macerates for approximately 30 days before being racked and prepared for the malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged for 3 years in stainless steel and an additional 4 to 12 months in bottle before release.”

Can’t Wait? We’ve got a few bottles from the Umbrian master in stock now:

Paolo Bea ‘Lapideus’ Bianco Umbria IGT 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Giampiero acquired a parcel of 80-year-old Trebbiano Spoletino in the town of Pigge di Trevi several years back, and 2016 marks just the third vintage of this exciting new addition to the Bea lineup. Arising from a cooler microclimate than the “Arboreus” above, “Lapideus” spent a month on it skins after pressing, followed by over 200 additional days on the gross lees—a similar vinification to “Arboreus,” yet one that yielded markedly different results. “Lapideus” has a leaner, racier carriage than the broad-shouldered “Arboreus,” with a more precise sense of acidity; it emphasizes drive over density, and its underlying salinity is not a far cry from the spellbinding wines we import from Paolo Vodopivec in the Carso—incidentally, a dear friend of Giampiero and a fellow ViniVeri administrator. A subtle note of honeyed sweetness at the wine’s core speaks of its warm-climate origins, and Bea’s propensity for wildness reveals itself in a fascinating but ephemeral cheese-rind whisper in its aromatics. Only 745 bottles were produced, the vast majority of which are destined for the US market.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Paolo Bea Rosso de Veo Umbria IGT 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Since the 2005 vintage, Bea’s “Rosso de Veo” (“Veo” is the way the family’s name is pronounced in the old Umbrian dialect) is pure Sagrantino sourced from younger vines around the property and from parcels that do not quite make Giampiero’s rigorous cut for “Pagliaro,” “Pipparello,” and “Cerrete.” This 2015 is Mike Tyson in his prime: potent, assertive, brazen, and making no concessions to polite society. Monstrous in its tannins, it nonetheless presents them in such a multifaceted way as to almost transcend their viselike grip; the tannins themselves have layers, offering classic sandalwood spice on one level, mineral-saturated depth-charge stoniness on another, and—most thrillingly—a direct, naked evocation of crunching into dripping-ripe berries. Four years of élévage did nothing to blunt this astonishing wine’s unmitigated expression of freshly plucked grapes, and this is a monumental “Rosso de Veo” that should live for a very, very long time.”

Paolo Bea Pagliaro Secco, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Bea produces perhaps his most renowned wine from pure Sagrantino grown on the prized hilltop site of Pagliaro, situated at 1300 feet above sea level in Montefalco proper. Following the example of the “Rosso de Veo” above, this 2015 is absolutely jaw-dropping in its intensity and presence. Bea’s wines at their best offer a panoply of spices so intoxicating, so far-reaching, and so evocative, as to nearly defy belief. The only wines that approach Bea’s in that regard are perhaps the most un-sculpted Syrah-based wines of the Northern Rhône, but even those feel as if they have governors on their accelerators in comparison to top vintages of “Pagliaro.” Similarly large in scale to the “Rosso de Veo,” this actually presents with greater precision and nuance, its overall attack more subtle but ultimately no less impactful—direct evidence of a great terroir translated with consummate skill.”

Collector’s Corner

Royal Tokaji

Hungary’s Top Sweet Wines

Tokaji is one of the world’s greatest sweet wines. Written about in reverential tones throughout history, they nonetheless fell out of the focus of collectors in the last half century, as communist rule severely impacted the quality and availability of the wines.

The Royal Tokaji Company has been the vanguard producer at Tokaji’s renaissance. In addition to their maniacal focus on quality, the company has also been reviving the single-vineyards that were once synonymous with the best Hungarian bottlings. We’ve got very limited quantities of some of their top single-vineyard bottlings arriving next month, perfect for a long sleep in the cellar or an after holiday-dinner nightcap.

Arriving ETA November

Royal Tokaji ‘Betsek’ Single Vineyard 6 Puttonyos Tokaji Aszu, Tokaj-Hegyalja 2016 500ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 96 points “The 2016 Betsek First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos contains the most residual sugar this vintage, at 185.8g/L. The clean, pure bouquet offers dried honey, a light adhesive note, lanolin and candle wax, very complex and mercurial in the glass. The elegant, well-balanced palate features apricot, quince, marmalade and a touch of ginger. What I adore is the manner in which this Betsek builds in the mouth and fans out like a great Tokaji ought to. Another outstanding single-vineyard offering from the Royal Tokaji Company. “

Royal Tokaji ‘Nyulaszo’ Tokaji Aszu 6 Puttonyos, Tokaj-Hegyalja 2016 500ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Nyulászó First Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 Puttonyos, which delivers 180g/L residual sugar, has a deep, honeyed, slightly more introverted bouquet compared to the Ste. Tamás. It gradually reveals scents of manuka honey, orange pith and quince jus, yet it clearly deserves several years to really open. The palate is very well balanced, harmonious and brimming with tension. Pears, Seville orange marmalade, hints of mandarin and fresh figs vie for attention. This is a powerful, intense Tokaji, but razor-sharp, delivering real precision and “bite” toward the finish. Outstanding.”

Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!

Stay safe, be well & drink well.

Wednesday 10-21-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Jump Start Offer:
Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cab

Trending

Wine Spectator Insider
New Reviews

Pierre Peters
Top Wines Arriving Early November

Collector’s Corner:
New Notes from Antonio Galloni on
Masterpiece Barolos from Cappellano

Jump Start Offer:

Joseph Phelps Napa Valley Cab

Sharp Pricing on this Impressive Cabernet

Arriving Friday:

Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $56.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Joseph Phelps Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($479.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53.17/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 94 points “This has very bright and juicy, brambly dark berries with a wealth of attractive and juicy dark-fruit presence. This has depth, detail and long, layered dark-fruit flavors. Impressively chiseled finish. Drink or hold.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is made up of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc aged for 18 months in 48% new French and American oak and bottled in May/June of 2018. Deep garnet-purple colored, it sings of crushed blackcurrants, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with suggestions of cigar box, menthol, rose hip tea and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with vibrant black fruit laced with plenty of spicy sparks, framed by grainy tannins and oodles of freshness and finishing long with a menthol kick. 36,000 cases produced.”
Virginie Boone-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. This lovely wine shows exceptional quality and complexity within a bold, expansive package of thick, grippy tannin and layered flavors of blackberry, tobacco and smoked meat. It is blended with 7% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% each of Malbec and Petit Verdot.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) is once again a huge overachiever. Plum, black cherry, spice, mocha and new leather are front and center. Pliant and giving, with striking purity of fruit and remarkable balance, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon is a winner from Phelps. This Napa Valley Cabernet is a remarkable wine for many reasons, most notably the quality Phelps achieves with estate fruit and a production of 36,000 cases.”

The average price is $70

In Stock Now from Joseph Phelps:

Joseph Phelps Vineyards Insignia, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($319.95) $219 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 99 points “Bottled in January 2019, the 2016 Insignia is a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec, aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is a little reticent to begin, needing a fair bit of coaxing to reveal beautifully beguiling notions of wild blueberries, warm blackberries, black currant cordial, cloves and cedar chest with nuances of camphor, yeast extract, charcuterie and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has fantastic elegance and depth, revealing loads of subtle floral, black fruit and earthy layers with a firm, very finely grained texture and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. 13,400 cases were made.”
James Suckling 98 points “Lovely density and intensity with dark berries, blueberries and inky undertones with hints of spice, chocolate and walnuts. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a flavorful finish. The texture and length are fantastic here. Complex. Hints of smoky wood at the end. This needs three to five years more in bottle age. Exciting wine. Try after 2022.”
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Cellar Selection. This is a lengthy, powerful blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Together they coalesce as one seamless, complex experience of black currant, brambly berry and black pepper, with accents of graphite, pencil and cedar. Robust in tannin and youthful energy, it will benefit from aging. Enjoy 2026–2031.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Insignia has turned out beautifully. Silky, layered and positively striking, the 2016 is magnificent. In this vintage, Insignia is especially silky, refined and understated, which is unusual for this wine that has often been more bombastic. Readers will have to be patient with the 2016, as it needs at least several years in bottle to be at its very best, but this is all finesse and class.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is laden with flavors of dark currant, blackberry and black cherry preserves, infused gently with alder, incense and black tea notes, all carried by a long swath of fine-grained tannins. Hints of warm stone and tobacco gild the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec. Best from 2021 through 2035. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 13,500 cases made.”
Decanter 95 points “This vintage of Insignia accurately reflects the cooler year, and the result is a lifted, energetic showing of this yardstick Napa Valley wine – a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 3% Cabernet Franc. Aromas of raspberry compote, black cherry and fresh violets seamlessly transition onto the palate, joining succulent liquorice and cigar box spice. The finish is impressively expansive and lingering. While decidedly modern in style, it is done with a deft touch.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Also Arriving Friday, October 23rd:

Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $53.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles available!
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Editor’s Choice. Iris, rose, botanical herb and dark spice aromas lead the way in this fragrant red, along with an enticing whiff of graphite. Elegantly structured and boasting youthful tension, the vibrant palate delivers juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and star anise framed in taut, refined tannins. It’s balanced and focused, with bright acidity. Drink 2024–2036.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “This is one of the most versatile, accessible and inviting wines to be found anywhere in the Barolo appellation. That is the legacy of this wine, and the Renato Ratti 2016 Barolo Marcenasco proudly carries forward in this tradition. Indeed, it takes it a big step forward, as this is my favorite edition tasted in years. Fruit comes from a single vineyard located just outside the winery door. Marcenasco was farmed by Renato Ratti and his son Piero, and it remains the flagship of this estate. This vintage is beautifully perfumed and vibrant, and the wine tastes terrific just out of the gate. The finish is delicate, tightly knit and feathery light on the palate.”

Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Seleccion Especial Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($549.95) $399 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 96 points “The balance and purity to this wine is really impressive with blackberries, black truffles and dark fruit. Wet earth. Full body. Tight and compact. Structured, long and powerful. Superb length. Compressed and polished texture. Drink in 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Selección Especial checks in as 70% Tempranillo and the balance Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that’s an old vine and terroir selection. Aged 6 months in new oak followed by 24 months in 90% French oak and 10% American oak, it has a beautiful bouquet of blueberries, black raspberries, crushed violets, incense, and cedar. This gives way to a full-bodied, rich, powerful wine that has an incredible sense of elegance and finesse on the palate. It’s a brilliant Rioja that can be drunk today or cellared for 10-15 years or more.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The very perfumed, expressive and floral 2015 Selección Especial is a lot fresher than the stereotype of the vintage I had before I tasted 2015 widely. It’s a year that has turned out fresher than what the weather during the growing season pointed at. It was a dry and warm year, but the wines have very good freshness, which in this case feels exceptional. My first surprise was how aromatic and open the wine is for such a young age, with aromas of lavender and other Mediterranean herbs jumping from the glass. I expected that from the 2016s, but I thought the 2015 was going to be more closed and reticent. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fine-grained tannins, balanced, fresh and very clean. This combines energy and elegance with classical Rioja character. 220,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in December 2017.”

The average price is $42

Trending

Conquilla Brut Cava, Catalonia NV 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Conquilla Brut Cava, Catalonia NV 750ML ($219.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Importer note “Conquilla is Catalan for ‘shell’ referencing the sedimentary limestone soils of Spain’s Penedes Valley. With all estate fruit this Champagne-method sparkler has fine bubbles, a bright citrus nose, and a hint of almond on the zippy finish.”

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

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chartogne-Taillet Les Barres Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Champagne (2015) NV 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “From a climat Chartonge made famous for its Pinot Meunier growing in chalky soils, the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Barres (Pinot Noir) derives from a westerly exposed parcel of Pinot Noir growing in sand—and hails entirely from the 2015 vintage. It’s showing very well, exhibiting attractive aromas of mirabelle plums, raspberries, anise, pastry cream and yellow chartreuse. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, ample and muscular, with tangy acids, excellent concentration and a long, chalky finish.”
Importer note “We are very excited to announce the release of a new parcellaire wine from Alexandre Chartogne. Lovers of grower champagne are familiar with Chartogne-Taillet’s Les Barres, the single parcel, un-grafted Meunier wine, released first in the 2006 vintage. This was the first wine that Alexandre produced after returning home to his family domaine, from working with Anselme Selosse, his mentor. Over a short period of time, Les Barres has become a cult wine and we have very small amounts to offer each year. The vineyard Les Barres and the wine Alexandre produces from it has been linked to a single grape variety – Meunier. Alexandre feels that the variety is simply the conduit, a transmission of place and identity. He feels that while it’s not irrelevant ‘Each place itself confers a different texture, a feeling in the mouth, which doesn’t change, even as the aromas and structure shifts with ageing.’… Alexandre showed us a new wine from Les Barres: ‘In the parcel Les Barres there are not just Meunier vines, but also a small amount of Pinot Noir. The Pinot would not be enough to make a single harvest wine, so, I produced this wine from the vintages 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. It is Les Barres Pinot Noir, and the first time I have made it.’ The wine is exquisite, with remarkable length and depth, even in its youth. For fans of Les Barres, this is an incredible opportunity to taste other expressions of this outstanding site. It’s a wine, which, like Les Barres Meunier, has a long life ahead of it.”

Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Case-6 Andre Clouet Un Jour de 1911… Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
Antoni Galloni 93+ points “[Review is for a prior disgorgement] The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.”

The average price is $91

An incredible offer from the Piedmont expert with a modern flare!
Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($119.95) $69 special
Case-6 Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($599.95) $359 special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!)
Importer Note “The nose opens with fresh and sweet flavors consisting of white melon and white nectarine peach combined with elder and jasmine. On the entry, this wine opens with citrus fruits and fresh hints menthol (reminiscent of pepper mint). The sharp acidity gives freshness and incredible length to a crisp, lingering finish. This wine is produced from grapes grown in several estate-owned vineyards. The Rossj vineyard, planted in 1984, is named for Angelo Gaja’s younger daughter Rossana (Rossj). Bass is Piedmontese for the Italian basso, meaning low, a name derived from the vineyard’s position. Pheasants are featured on Rossj-Bass’ label to commemorate the beautiful birds that inhabit the forests adjacent to GAJA’s vineyards.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $87.99
The average price is $100

A seamless Spanish stunner
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”

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

Trending Champagne Arriving in November:

Best bubbles buy under $50
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($349.95) $256 pre-arrival special (that’s only $42.67/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Case-12 Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($679.95) $489 pre-arrival special (that’s only $40.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Brut Réserve was disgorged in October 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, and it’s based on the 2017 vintage. Exhibiting a glass bouquet of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh peach and toasted nuts, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with lovely depth and concentration, fine energy and a long, penetrating finish.”
Peter Liem note “The range begins with the Brut Réserve, a non-vintage brut that usually contains about 25 percent chardonnay, 25 percent meunier and 20 percent pinot noir from the base vintage, along with 30 percent of reserve wines, also from the three varieties.”
“I often find myself reaching for the NV Brut Réserve, which is reliably one of the very finest Champagnes in its peer group” –Antonio Galloni, writing on the previous disgorgement
Base vintage subject to change by the importer without notice.

The average price is $60

Wine Spectator Insider

New Reviews

Luigi Baudana Cerretta, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $77 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is perfumed, featuring graphite, white pepper and underbrush aromas, with a core of cherry and currant flavors. Elegant and linear, with firm tannins giving support on the finish, showing fine balance and length. Best from 2023 through 2043.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $88

Luigi Baudana ‘Baudana’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $77 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Macerated cherry and raspberry fruit is supported by rose, iron and eucalyptus flavors in this red, which is complex and intense, with an elegant frame and beautifully integrated tannins. Just as this feels approachable, the fine-grained tannins take hold, ending with a very long finish. Best from 2023 through 2045.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $80

G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($479.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Case-6 G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Elegant and expressive, this red evokes cherry, raspberry and floral notes, aligned to a refined structure. This is balanced and leaves an aftertaste of fruit, tobacco and iron. Best from 2023 through 2043.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers mulled plum, blackberry and black cherry fruit mixed in with steeped black tea, sandalwood and tobacco leaf notes. A mineral edge adds cut and drive to the finish, while the black tea note smolders seductively. Built for the cellar. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah and Cinsault. Best from 2022 through 2036.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $57

Pierre Peters

Arriving Early November

“This is the guy to catch right now in the Côtes. I can’t remember a more consistently galvanic and scintillating collection, and if you already thought Péters was outstanding, you’d better buy the air-rights for your palate, because it’s about to soar up to the sky. I think there’s a harmonic convergence going on now, having to do with an alignment among several excellent vintages, Rodolphe Péters’ consolidation of his regime, and some other imponderable thing. After many years doing this “wine” thing, you know when someone’s in the zone, just like you know it with a musician or an athlete. Péters is showing a virtuosity that only looks easy, but that actually arises out of years of smart hard effort.”– Terry Theise

The Pierre Peters Champagne bottlings are regularly rated by critics as “outstanding” and Rodolphe Peters is universally considered one of the top growers in Champagne. Founded in 1919 under the name Camille Peters, the Pierre Peters estate was one of the first growers in Champagne to start bottling and selling wine under their own label, and by 1929 became a full Récoltant-Manipulant (colloquially known as ‘Grower Champagne’), managing every step in their production from vineyard to bottle.

Rodolphe Peters took over the reins of this venerable estate in the southern Côte des Blancs in 2008, becoming the fourth generation to lead the estate. Today, the estate consists of 18 hectares of vineyards, predominantly in the grand cru of Les Mesnil-sur-Oger along with smaller holdings in the Côte des Blancs (Oger, Avize and Cramant). These great terroirs, all Grand Cru, all Chardonnay, are located a few miles south of Epernay and lay on a chalky outcrop. Very sensitive to the quality of their vineyards, Rodolphe uses sustainable farming methods and aims to produce the best grapes naturally. The hands-off wine-making and low dosage add further complexity to the wine.

The Domaine has maintained, and perhaps even improved, quality throughout its generations, and the enthusiasm for their wines continues to grow. The top wine of Pierre Peters is the “Les Chetillons” (or Cuvée Spéciale) considered to be one of the best single-vineyard champagnes of the Côte des Blancs, alongside Salon and Krug’s Clos du Mesnil (though it is not a rival in price). It comes from three small parcels in the vineyard of Les Chetillons that were acquired by the family in 1930. One of the most highly-regarded sites within Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, these vines in the oldest plot of 80 acres are 68 years old, with the rest of the vines averaging 50 years old. The Cuvée Spéciale has been pure Chétillons ever since it was created in 1971. At that time, it was sold as a Spécial Club wine until François Péters left the Club in 1981. 2000 was the first vintage of Cuvée Spéciale to state the name of the vineyard on the label, Les Chetillons. Each parcel is vinified separately and blended to produce a single vineyard vintage. Chétillons offers a chance to witness one of Champagne’s best growers working in one of the greatest sites for Chardonnay. The results are gorgeous, as noted wine writer Peter Liem states, “there’s no denying this wines’ quality.”

Pierre Peters Champagnes Arriving in November

“The 2013s at Pierre Péters are strikingly beautiful. I tasted a handful of finished blends for the entry-level Champagnes, plus the Chetillons in two separate lots and a composed blend of that wine. Today, the 2013 Chetillons comes across as a synthesis of 2002 and 2004. Needless to say, that is a pretty exciting combination.” –Antonio Galloni (no scored review published… yet)

Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale ‘Les Chetillons’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($179.95) $159 pre-arrival special, only 24 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A harmonious Champagne that dances across the palate, with a fine, lacy mousse carrying a delicate mesh of Gala apple, yellow plum, tangerine and anise flavors. Sleek and mouthwatering, with a chalky underpinning and hints of blanched almond and biscuit on the creamy finish. Drink now through 2030.”

Pierre Peters L’Esprit de 2015 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut Vintage, Champagne 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles available

Pierre Peters ‘Reserve Oubliee’ Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne (2014) NV 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available

The Pierre Peters Reserve BDB should be your staple for any festivities. At under $50/bottle by the six-pack, this is easily the best Champagne in its price range coming out of the Cote des Blancs. The 2016-base is phenomenal and a charming expression of the Cote des Blancs. Pick up a case or two to sip over the next 10 years.

New magnum offer!
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne (2016-base) NV 750ML ($179.95) $159 pre-arrival special, only 12 magnums available
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $52.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($399.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.83/bottle today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Péters’ NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée de Réserve offers up a lovely bouquet of citrus oil, pear, pastry cream, dried white flowers, hazelnuts and crushed chalk. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and elegant, with ripe but racy acids, a delicate pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. As usual, this is an immensely refined Champagne that exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Cuvée de Réserve (base 2016) is absolutely delicious and also shows the greater natural harmony of 2016 vis-à-vis 2015. Creamy and open-knit, the 2016 will be easy to drink pretty much upon release, as it is a Champagne of absolutely exquisite balance. White orchard fruit, crushed rocks, flowers and mint all grace this sublime, wonderfully nuanced Champagne from Rodolphe Péters. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.”

We offer 117 Champagnes in stock now.

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Collector’s Corner:

New Notes from Antonio Galloni on
Masterpiece Barolos from Cappellano

“The Cappellano Barolos remain some of the most idiosyncratic and deeply personal wines in the world… Cappellano remains one of the reference points in Barolo… Baldo Cappellano did not care for scores much because he thought they created divisiveness amongst growers and asked that his wines not be given numerical ratings, which is why all the Cappellano wines in our database appear with tasting notes but no scores.” Antonio Galloni

Newly Reviewed & In Stock Now

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 4 bottles in stock now
“The 2009 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris – Nebioli is a fabulous start to this evening, as it is in such a beautiful spot right now. Open-knit and sensual, the 2009 envelops the palate with rich, pliant fruit, all wrapped into a silky, mid-weight frame. I have never been crazy about the 2009 Barolos, but there is no question the wines are drinking very well at the moment. What a gorgeous Barolo.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated

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Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($499.95) $379 special, 12 bottles in stock now
“This third flight comes to a rousing finish with the 2010 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris – Nebioli. A towering, statuesque Barolo, the 2010 dazzles from the very first taste. It is, of course, too young, but is a wine I very much wanted in this tasting because I wanted Vinous readers to have a chance to experience it. When all is said and done, 2010 is the greatest young vintage I have tasted at Cappellano.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated

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Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, 3 bottles in stock now
“The 2012 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Rupestris – Nebioli has really gained in weight and stature since I last tasted it. On this night, the 2012 impresses with its substance and stature, qualities that emerge full with a bit of time in the glass. The 2012 continues to come together during this early part of its life. It is one of the positive surprises of the evening.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Franco – Michet, Barolo DOCG 2007 750ML ($799.95) $649 special, 1 bottle in stock now
“Cappellano’s Barolo Piè Franco, from a parcel of own-rooted vines, is one of the rarest wines in Piedmont. Production is just one small cask. That’s it. Next to the Rupestris, the Franco is always more aromatic and ethereal in style. The 2007 Barolo Otin Fiorin Piè Franco – Michet is a great example of the year. Sexy, pliant and racy to the core, the 2007 is a pure joy to taste and drink. It is not as complex as some of other vintages in this portion of the tasting, but it is supremely delicious and in the zone to offer maximum drinking pleasure.” Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Not Rated

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $703

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Vinopolis Tuesday Newsletter 10-20-2020

In Today’s Newsletter:

Torbreck’s Epic 2015 RunRig Shiraz

The (Still) Underrated Wines of Austria

Featured Pre-Arrivals
Aldo Conterno: Barolo’s Modern Master

10 Smart Buys for Under $20

10 Great Wines for Under $40

Modern Classics from Ribera del Duero

Torbreck’s Epic 2015 RunRig Shiraz

Torbreck is one of the truly iconic Australian wineries. Producing wines at every price-point, they’re known in their native land for their “RunRig” Shiraz—a towering bottling that sits with Penfold’s Grange and Henschke’s Hill of Grace as one of the country’s best wines made in any given vintage. The 2015 is one of the best iterations yet, combining the raw power of Barossa with enough polish to take the wine into transcendent realms. Our limited allocation arrives Friday, but likely won’t last long.

Pre-Arrival ETA Friday, October 23rd:

Torbreck RunRig Shiraz – Viognier, Barossa Valley 2015 750ML ($199.95) $166 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Who would’ve thought that in the context of Barossa Shiraz, the 2015 RunRig would seem like a relative bargain? It’s certainly much less expensive than Grange or Hill of Grace will be when they’re released. It’s also more approachable in its youth, with enormously appealing aromas of grilled fruit, savory complexities and rich, velvety tannins. Of course, it’s full-bodied and concentrated, with the stuffing to age for up to a couple of decades, and it has a long, licorice-tinged finish. Winemaker Ian Hongell, who joined Torbreck from Peter Lehmann, may not have made this wine, but he deserves a lot of credit for the blending and finishing of this tour de force.”

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The (Still) Underrated Wines of Austria

In 1985, a handful of rogue Burgenland producers were caught illegally adulterating their sweet wines. The subsequent scandal received international attention, and the (often hyperbolic) press coverage dealt the reputation of Austrian wines a devastating blow. But what the coverage often ignored was how isolated the scandal was, and also how high quality so many of the country’s wines were, even then. But perception is reality, and the country’s producers were left to clean-up the PR mess.

Austria responded by implementing the world’s strictest quality standards, and has since become a model for ambitious wine regions around the globe. This history is the reason that Austria is now the most consistent wine producing country in the world. It really is difficult to find a bad bottle of Austrian wine. If they exist, we’ve yet to encounter one. Instead, we’re proud to offer 67 different Austrian wines, all excellent, including some favorites featured below.

F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”

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F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $48 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”

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Schloss Gobelsburg Ried Lamm Grüner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal DAC 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Kammern Ried Lamm 1ÖTW displays an intense golden-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear and complex, remarkably refined and elegant, crystalline and flinty bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and ripe Veltliner fruit. Full-bodied, lush and intense but fine and elegant on the silky-textured and well-balanced palate, this is a perfectly round and sweet, lush and ripe, pretty generous Lamm with a long and elegant, beautifully balanced but tensioned and stimulating salty finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and Schloss Gobelsburg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Lamm as a rule is buckwheat-y, rusky, savory but not thick, like a vegetable-veal stock with barley, yet oddly also like lamb itself. (“Lamm” doesn’t mean lamb, but is rather a dialect word for “loam.”) It is a great wine though virtually without fruit per se. Its poise of gloss and power, intensity and outline, mass and transparency are emblems of the paradox without which no wine is truly great. If Renner commences the birds to sing, Lamm commences the wolves to howl. This `18 has its customary virtues though it also suggests alcohol could be an issue. Is it eucalyptus spice or jalapeño heat? I liked it better in a moderate-sized tulip, unusually, where it was almost elegant and certainly showed more fruit.”

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Meinklang Burgenland Rot, Burgenland 2018 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Bio-dynamic, hand harvested Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, & Sankt Laurent. Spontaneous, semi-carbonic fermentation in stainless steel, aged for 6 months in SS. Unfined, unfiltered, 30 mg/L So2.”

Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
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.”

Weingut Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Grüner Veltliner, Wagram 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Subtle citrus pith mixes with salty yeast on the shy nose. The palate then presents a mix of bright lemon peel and pith, salt, yeast and crushed arugula in a surprisingly slender but concentrated package. The finish is savory and dry.”
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of dried white flowers, lime blossom and sliced apples make a fresh impression on the nose. The palate delivers white-pepper, apple and mirabelle flavors with a fresh, green-pear finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Terry Theise note “The first of the `18 surprises; whereas this wine usually indicates a tangible leap ahead of Am Berg, in `18 this is less overt; the wine is saltier but not so much richer as denser, like the stock after an extra few hours on the stove; fennel, legume, collagen— an inferential GV.”

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Love Austrian wine? We have over 50 wines from Austria currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Alzinger, Ingrid Groiss, Malat, and more on our web store!

Featured Pre-Arrivals

Aldo Conterno: Barolo’s Modern Master

Aldo Conterno is one of Piedmont’s defining modern producers. His split from his family in the late 1960’s (after years of arguing with his brother about winemaking style) was a watershed moment in Barolo’s history. And over the next several decades he established his namesake winery as one of the most important in Italy.

Based in the Bussia hamlet in Monforte, Aldo Conterno’s wines have always been powerful yet polished, with dark rich fruit. But despite their evident density and power, they maintain a remarkable level of nuance and complexity. Needless to say these wines are epic, and if you like a more modern interpretation of Nebbiolo and Barbera, you simply won’t find a smarter buy than these modern classics.

Pre-Arrival ETA Friday, October 23rd:

Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Conca Tre Pile is piled high with dark fruit intensity, soft tannins and a pinch of fresh acidity that breaks apart the wine’s rich fruit flavors. The hot vintage has taken well to the Barbera grape, accentuating its volume, richness and generosity. The bouquet offers black fruit, dried plum, spice, truffle-infused earth and toasted hazelnut. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”

Pre-Arrivals ETA October 30th:

Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Very fine-grained with pretty berry, spice, roasted-nut and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet polished and intense. Very, very long. Try after 2022.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows dark fruit intensity, dried cherry, spice, licorice and tilled earth. The wine delivers its aromas in a direct and immediate manner, with menthol and balsam herb fitting into oaky aromas of sweet spice. For whatever reason, I notice the oak more in Colonnello, but this will relax with time. The wine will be ready to drink after the 10-year mark. Approximately 6,000 bottles were made.”

Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “A really exotic red, showing burnt orange-peel to the dried-strawberry, chocolate-powder and light toasted-oak character. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet ever so polished. A wild wine. Drink after 2022 and onwards.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Cicala offers a ripe fruit profile with layers of menthol and medicinal herb. The finish is beautiful, long and chalky, and you don’t get as much alcohol in the Cicala (compared to Romirasco). The fruit is dried and streamlined, and this wine does show good promise for aging. The tannins are beautiful, coating your teeth and palate with no bitter edge. About 6,000 bottles were made.”

In Stock Now:

Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, licorice and spice fill the glass as this red unfolds. Offers dense tannins and bright acidity, lending definition to the cherry, strawberry, tobacco and spice flavors that persist through the long finish. Best from 2017 through 2030. 300 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “An aromatically beguiling wine, the 2009 Barolo Cicala is laced with dark plums, truffles, tar, incense and a host of other balsamic-infused aromas. Today, the fruit lies a bit in the background, while the wine’s aromatics and overall structure are much more in evidence. I imagine the 2009 will require at least a few more years in bottle to flesh out, but it is quite beautiful, even at this stage. There is a weightless tension in the 2009 that is remarkable.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Barolo Cicala reveals the particular dynamic of the vintage with firmly astringent tannins and power coupled with a leaner, more streamlined mouthfeel. You can also feel some of the heat of the 2009 summer with upfront aromas of prune and cassis followed by a visibly darker appearance and sweet spice on the bouquet. The wine has the inherent complexity, structure and acidity for long aging, but it offers less pulp to sink your teeth into. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.”

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The national average is $142

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10 Smart Buys for Under $20

Southern Hemisphere

An excellent sub-$10 Chardonnay, Excelsior Chardonnay
Excelsior Chardonnay, Robertson 2018 750ML ($11.95) $9.90 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Excelsior was 25% fermented in new French oak and 25% fermented with wild yeast. It has a detailed, fresh citrus peel and light passion fruit bouquet, the oak neatly integrated. The palate is taut and fresh, offering a lovely twist of sour lemon on the entry, moderate depth and a taut, quite saline finish. Excellent.”

“Balanced…complete and precise”
Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “2019 was a milder year than 2018, and the 2019 Cenizas de Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc is marginally more civilized than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It was kept with the lees in the fermentation vessel for some eight months. Even so, in this part of much cooler Maule, the differences between vintages tend to be more subtle, and 2019 is not a warm vintage, just less cold. Perhaps the wine is a little rounder, more citrusy than herbal and surprisingly has lower alcohol than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It has terrific balance on the palate, with acidity that still makes you salivate and is effervescent but perhaps not as sharp as colder years. It’s a balanced vintage, and the wine feels very complete and precise. 18,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019. He has moved from screwcap to natural cork in 2019, as he thinks it will result in higher complexity as the wine ages in bottle. Bravo!”

One of the best values in Malbec, a category already known for great value
Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful intensity of crushed berries, pink pepper and volcanic salt. Full-bodied, yet fresh and vivid with energy and focus. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold.”

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Pacific Northwest

A bottle that will get you excited about the 2018 vintage
Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”

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Like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps
Loop de Loop White Blend, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
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.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

“Five vineyards… coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon”
Ovum ‘Old Love’ White Blend, Oregon 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
Winery note “It’s golden hue is the first thing you’ll notice (thanks amphora), and without putting your nose to the glass you’ll start getting wafts of salted lemon, fresh peeled orange and aloe vera. The aromas are multiple layers deep where you’ll find verbena, straw, key lime, sea spray, river rock. The palate shows the sensual texture of cask fighting with the rawness of amphora, and yet it finishes with bright minerality. Bitter orange marmalade lingers on the fingers, echoing the initial top notes of wine. 2019 OLD LOVE comes from FIVE vineyards planted throughout Oregon: Willamette, Eola-Amity, Columbia Gorge, Southern OR. The sites are focused on sustainable farming practices – dry farming, organic and minimal additions. Some are not certified organic, but are in the process of converting. Each site is chosen for its unique qualities that it will lend to the final wine. 2019 is primarily Riesling, but OLD LOVE is not about a single grape – it is about the vineyards coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon.”

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France

A steal from legendary Château Siran
Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Superieur 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Case-12 Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Superieur 2016 750ML ($239.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “This spicy wine with firm tannins is setting out well. Black-currant flavors are balanced with generous tannins and a rich character that will give the wine a full and juicy character. Drink from 2022.”

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2015 produced a number of top value Bordeaux and this is one of our favorites
Château Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 Château Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
“Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.” –Antonio Galloni
“The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

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Organic and traditionally made
Domaine la Remejeanne Côtes du Rhône Un Air de Remejeanne, Rhône 2019 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Importer note “Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhône, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Saint Cosme’s best value?
Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion, Rhône 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Importer Note “Château de Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône Les Deux Albion is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Clairette from the three Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages communes of Plan de Dieu, Saint Maurice, and Cairanne. The whole clusters are co-fermented with indigenous yeasts and vinified in conical wooden vats and concrete tanks for 18 months. Les Deux Albions is one of the outstanding wines of Louis Barruol’s collection and highlights the exceptional value that can still be found in the Côtes-du-Rhône category. The wine combines depth, structure, and finesse with aromas and flavors of roasted game, mesquite, and olive, crushed plum, and black currants.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Looking for the best values in the shop? Check out the 168 case specials we’re currently offering on our web store.

10 Great Wines for Under $40

California

Classic but not overdone
Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolf vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”

“Gorgeous and expressive”
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2018 Evangelho Heritage Wine is so alluring. Sweet cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and perfumed red roses all grace this silky, captivating wine from Bedrock. Dollops of Mataro and Carignan round out this field blend, but it is the high percentage of Zinfandel, and its bright acid profile, that carries the day. This is such a gorgeous and expressive wine.”
Winery Note “2018 was our second vintage with full control of farming at our nearly 130-year-old estate site (still gives me chills to say that), and we enjoyed a mild and even vintage leading to a relatively late harvest at this amazing Delta site. This is a classic Evangelho, showing the bright and composed fruit we expect along with the savory bite inflected by the Mataro and Carignan, and one that should provide plenty of pleasure throughout the years.”

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A customer favorite Cabernet
Marietta Cellars ‘Game Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Yorkville Highlands 2017 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Antonio Galloni 90-93 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Game Trail is decidedly aromatic and peppery in its flavor profile, much of that a reflection of the personality of this site planted at 1400 feet. Hints of spice, licorice and chocolate add complexity to the dark-toned flavors, but the wine’s overall feel leans towards the more savory side of Cabernet.”

Tuscany

A steal from a staff favorite producer
Gagliole Rosso Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
James Suckling 93 points “This shows delicious plum and black-cherry essence as well as richer notes such as chocolate, coffee beans and licorice. Pepper. Full body, round tannins and an extremely juicy finish indeed. So enjoyable now, but will come together from 2019.”

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A classic wine from a classic vintage
I Fabbri Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($39.95) $34.50 special
Winery Note “100% Lamole Sangiovese grosso. Intense ruby red color; ample scent of good intensity and persistence with typical notes of red fruits combined with floral hints of violets. The taste is harmonious, of great structure; red fruit and oak combined in a pleasant and persistent finish. Aging is in 500-liter barrels of French oak from the central massif for 12 months.”

“Immensely rewarding”
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($41.95) $35.50 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Volpaia is an immensely rewarding, inviting wine. Juicy and racy, with no hard edges, the Riserva captures the allure of this warm, dry year. There is plenty to like in the 2017, starting with its depth and volume, I won’t be surprised if the Riserva turns out to be even better than this note suggests. Sweet red fruit, cedar and blood orange give the 2017 striking aromatic intensity and lift.”
Importer Note “The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby-red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish. Barrel Aging: 24 months in oak casks (combination of Slovenian and French) and minimum 3 months in bottle. Varietal Composition: 100% Sangiovese. A record year for heat and drought throughout the growing season. This condition presented extremes which began early bud break in the vineyard, followed by a spring frost over late April. The frost affected the lower portions of the Volpaia estate. Spring and summer months were dry with higher than average temperatures. Rainfall in mid-September helped the grapes achieve complete ripeness of tannins and other phenolic compounds despite low yields.”

Spain

“Ethereal, perfumed and elegant”
Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Case-12 Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($419.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Las Gravas is surprisingly floral and ethereal, perfumed and elegant. Syrah has disappeared from the blend of this wine—it now has 20% Garnacha to complement the Monastrell—and they think this is going to be the blend that stays in this wine, which has seen more changes in its life than the rest of the portfolio. This is for sure the most elegant vintage for this bottling; the wine matured in 500-liter barrels and then spent four months in 5,000-liter vats after the blend was done. There are no aromas of oak whatsoever, and the wine is surprisingly fresh, as if the Garnacha helps to contain the power of Monastrell on the gravel soils, adding texture and perfume. This is beautiful. 26,500 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

A cellar-worthy Rioja at a drink now price
Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri ‘Remelluri’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe red berries, dried flowers, illicit herb and smoky minerals on the exotically perfumed nose. The palate offers spicy, penetrating, concentrated flavors of black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastilles, with a zesty mineral quality building in the glass. Shows excellent clarity and intensity on the very long, floral, gently tannic finish.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The flagship 2012 Reserva was cropped from a year when they started seeing the results of improvements made to the work in the vineyards that started in 2010. 2012 was not as warm and ripe as 2011, and the wine comes through as a nice balance between power and elegance, with some earthiness, good fruit and a fine palate. It has a personality between the Labastida and San Vicente bottlings of the Lindes bottlings. It matured in barrique for 18 months, but the wood feels very well integrated. 2012 was a shorter crop, and they produced some 281,000 bottles. It was bottled in April 2015.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

A Spanish wine for Beaujolais lovers
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tortolas, Madrid 2017 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The pale and aromatic 2017 Arroyo del Tórtolas has a herbal twist perhaps because of the hurried ripening of the grapes in a very warm year. At the same time, it has contained alcohol, and with the benefit of one extra year in bottle, the nose is fully open, expressive and approachable. It is medium-bodied and fresh, with fine tannins, and is lighter than the 2018 but beautiful to drink now. Delicious. 2,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2019.”

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“Rich and energetic”
Bodegas San Roman, Toro 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “(aged for two years in 75 percent French and 25 percent American oak barrels, half of them new) Inky purple. Heady cherry, dark berry, vanilla and violet pastille qualities on the oak-accented nose. At once rich and energetic; a firm spine of acidity provides lift to sweet cassis, blueberry and vanilla flavors. Closes with youthful tannic grip and impressive persistence, leaving dark berry and licorice candy notes behind.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 San Román was produced with fruit from older vineyards in Toro. In 2012 they started reducing the amount of the new oak in this wine and the change is quite noticeable. There is something leafy and floral showing elegance within the power that the place provides naturally. 2013 was quite different in Toro from Ribera del Duero, here the cooler years are a plus, as they balance the extra ripeness the place provides. In 2013 there was no rain during the harvest and the grapes were very healthy. There are some fine tannins and the profile of a more austere and transparent vintage, a mineral year. But it does have the smokey and slightly wild character of Toro. 87,000 bottles produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The national average price is $54

Modern Classics from Ribera del Duero

Not long ago, any discussion regarding fine, age-worthy Tempranillo began and ended with Rioja. During the second half of the 20th century however, a region emerged as a worthy rival. In embracing modern winemaking techniques (often resulting in bigger, bolder wines), Ribera del Duero developed a dedicated following within Spain and beyond. All the while, the region attracted some of Spain’s top winemaking talent, including many famous names from the aforementioned Rioja.

Today, Ribera del Duero is universally considered to be one of Spain’s preeminent regions for fine wine, and has cemented its more modern interpretation of Tempranillo in the country’s wine canon. For those more accustomed to hardy reds from Washington and California, but looking to dip your toes into European wine, Ribera del Duero is as good a starting point as you will find.

Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($399.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Firm and polished, this solid red shows loamy earth, espresso and clove notes framing a core of currant and dried fig flavors. The muscular tannins are well-integrated and balanced by lively acidity. Harmonious and energetic. Drink now through 2035. 10,620 cases made, 2,340 cases imported.”

Goyo Garcia Viadero Joven de Viñas Viejas, Ribera del Duero 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “There is an unoaked red, the 2018 Joven de Viñas Viejas (young from old vines), produced with Tempranillo from vines planted in 1982; such grapes are usually destined for oak-aged wines, as they provide more complexity and concentration. There is some creaminess in the nose, which showed a combination of red and black fruit, clean and aromatic. The palate is medium-bodied, and there is good ripeness without excess, fine tannins and good freshness, with a lifted and dry finish. 20,000 bottles produced.-LG”
Importer Note “Joven de Viñas Viejas is from a single vineyard planted entirely to Tempranillo on sandy clay & limestone soils at high elevation. The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel tank with light extraction, then raised over the winter entirely in tank. Bottling is without fining or filtration, and only a tiny addition of SO2 if needed. This is a classic, young Ribera del Duero with an extra shade of vibrancy and fabulous tension between dark fruit, florals, mineral, and acidity. In short, the way Ribera should taste. Pair with blood sausage, charcuterie, and grilled lamb chops.”

Hacienda Solano ‘Finca Peña Lobera’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($67.95) $51.90 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Hacienda Ernestina Solano Finca Peña Lobera is a noteworthy follow-up of the 2010 vintage (the wine was not produced in the warm 2011). The grapes come from a single vineyard, a small plot of very old plants with a lot of white vines and some dead ones, so the yields are very low. The soil is very poor, very stony, and shallow with a calcareous subsoil equating to fresh soils and also a fresh climate, as the vineyard is surrounded by forests. The vines only yield two or three bunches per plant. The final blend includes 5% Albillo in the bottled wine. The wine was raised exclusively in used barrels in this vintage and there are bare traces of oak-related aromas after 18 months in barrel. The wine is ripe, aromatic, expressive and showy with notes of blueberries; it’s a little heady, with aromas of decayed violets and perhaps hints of malt whisky. The palate is powerful and elegant at the same time with a very fine, silky texture, great balance and length, plus a fresh, mineral finish. Great Ribera and a good value for the quality it delivers. There was only two barriques of this wine, so only 568 bottles were produced.”

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Goyo Garcia Viadero Finca Valdeolmos, Ribera del Duero 2014 750ML ($89.95) $66 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2014 vintage of Finca Valdeolmos from Goyo Garci´a is the new release of this single vineyard bottling. Readers may recall that these vines are well over eighty years of age, with the soils here a red sand topsoil over a hard base of limestone. The 2014 version of Finca Valdeolmos is a beautiful young wine, coming in at 13.5 percent octane and offering up stunning purity on both the nose and palate. The bouquet is still fairly primary, offering up a lovely blend of black cherries, plums, raw cocoa, a bit of lead pencil, a touch of clove, lovely, chalky soil tones and a hint of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and beautifully balanced, with an excellent core of fruit, fine soil signature, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, nascently complex and very, very promising finish. As always, this is a supremely elegant example of Ribera del Duero that will age very long and gracefully, but really deserves some time in the cellar to stretch its wings and start to blossom. 2023-2065”

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Valtostao Legon Premium, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Very good expression of Tempranillo from Ribera, the wine has pronounced intensity on the nose with red and black fruits, spices, oak and chocolate. The palate is full-bodied with a black cherry expression. It finishes impressively with just a touch of supportive liquorice. Bravo!”

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Love Spanish reds? We have over 120 red wines from Spain currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Comando G, López de Heredia, Raul Perez and more, on our web store!

Thanks for reading!

Vinopolpick Monday Bonus 10-19-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Subscriber Special
Doctor Crusius’ World-Class Riesling

Arriving Friday
Huet’s Anticipated 2019s

Featured Pre-Arrival
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut

Staff Pick
A Classic Mineral-laden Grüner Veltliner

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir
Hot Deals on Cool Wines

Collector’s Corner:
Reduced & National Best Pricing on Gaja

Subscriber Special

Doctor Crusius’ World-Class Riesling

Doctor Crusius is one of the leading producers in Germany’s Nahe growing region. Located just south of the country’s most celebrated terroirs, Nahe is a favorite amongst German wine insiders. Great values abound, however no other Nahe producer delivers world-class wines as consistently as Doctor Crusius.

After decades of aggressively acquiring many of the region’s finest vineyards, Crusius has assembled a vineyard portfolio that is the envy of his neighbors. Celebrated growing regions like Traisen and Schloßböckelheim would be household names if located in the Mosel, but instead offer smart buying opportunities for those in the know. Today we’re thrilled to spread the good word by offering Crusius’ wines at Subscriber Special pricing, all the while knowing that converts are sure to follow.

In Stock Now:

Dr. Crusius Traiser Bastei Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe 2016 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 3 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 95 points “Very fresh and very concentrated this is another of the top dry rieslings from the Nahe with a massive mineral finish. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Bastei “GG” is pure, fresh and stony on the flinty nose. The attack on the palate is racy, fresh and piquant, the wine more austere and edgy than the highly elegant Schlossböckelheimer. It has a cold and smoky character that needs a bit of time to gain more sensuality. However, this is a true character with great elegance and lingering salinity. Fermented and aged in 600-liter stainless steel tanks and 300-liter oak barrels.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dr. Crusius Traiser Bastei Riesling Spätlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $33, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Bastei Spätlese (AP 29 17) offers a clear, intense and complex nose that is fresh and stony/mineral rather than fruity and benefits from aeration. Very elegant, precise and noble on the palate, with a lovely mineral piquancy and lingering salinity, this is a complex as well as delicate Spätlese with a stimulatingly clear and piquant finish. Delicious but not as luscious and sexy as the auctioned Felsenberg. 9% alcohol.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dr. Crusius Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 4 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 94 points “Another cool and minty wine from Dr. Crusius, but this has quite a bit more power and depth than the other GGs of this vintage from this producer. A crisp apple and mineral finish of considerable intensity and length. Drink now and for a few decades to come.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg “GG” is precise, fresh and intense on the nose, with very clear and perfectly ripe fruit aromas intertwined with delicate flint notes. Full-bodied, well concentrated, lush and with remarkable finesse, this is a very elegant and frisky Felsenberg with a long, intense and concentrated finish. The mineral expression is very fine and lingers. An impressive wine.”
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “This offers an aromatic and smoky nose with plenty of fruity notes including quince, apricot blossom, apple, and a touch of banana, as well as mint and anise. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate where it delivers presence and intensity as well as finesse and delicacy. The after-taste is full of smoke, delicately salty tartness and ginger. This is an outstanding slightly spicy dry Riesling in the making. 2021-2031”

Dr. Crusius Kupfergrube Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “Made for the first time since Crusius purchased another 0.4 hectares in this prestigious cru, the 2016 Nahe Riesling Schlossböckelheimer Kupfergrube “GG” has a very clear, intense, well-concentrated and highly elegant bouquet of ripe fruits and beautiful flinty aromas. This is a highly distinctive and refined nose. On the palate, this is a very complex, piercing, mineral and highly elegant Riesling with persistent salinity and tension. This is a blend of pure melaphyre intermixed with perfectly ripe and concentrated fruits.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 95 points “A super-bright, citric nose, a ton of lemony fruit on the palate and a very vibrant and complex finish make this the best ever GG from Dr. Crusius. Drink now and for many years to come.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Dr. Crusius Muhlberg Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe 2016 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 11 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 91 points “A very minty cool nose, then a sleek and cool wine that’s really underplayed, but has quite some power behind it. A long, rather complex finish. Should be more open from 2018 and drink for some years beyond.”
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “This delivers a ripe and fruit-driven nose of quince, pear, peach, gooseberry and dried mango. With airing, notes of smoke and licorice join the party. The wine is broad and juicy on the palate, and the initial feeling of fruits and smoothness is nicely balanced out by some tickly acidity as well as quite some tartness. The finish is spicy and slightly powerful. This ostentatious expression of dry Nahe Riesling will please lovers of more forceful expressions of dry Riesling.”

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Dr. Crusius Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) Was $159, Now $135, 11 half bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 98 points “Harvested at a full-on 153° Oechsle (i.e. sugar levels technically qualifying for TBA), this auction BA starts off on the primary and discreet side at first before rapidly exhibiting huge finesse, complexity and depth with honeyed notes of apricot, pineapple, mango, vanilla cream and other exotic fruits. The botrytis gives the wine a great exotic, luscious and unctuous texture with plenty of juice, creamy viscosity and smoothness on the palate. The wine is, of course, still very sweet at this stage (it has no less than 229 g/l of residual sugar), but the interplay with some gorgeously playful acidity makes for a superbly clean and focused feel in the long finish. The only drawback of this little masterpiece of a BA is that it is still a good decade away from maturity. Patience is required! 2030-2085.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2016 750ML ($29.95) Was $26, Now $21.90, 14 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 90 points “This Kabinett may have a full grapey sweetness at the front, but the finish is very clean and almost dry thanks to the vibrant acidity and a hint of wild berries. Drink now or hold.”
Winery notes: “The Traiser Rotenfels with its steep southern slopes on the shoulder of the magnificent Rotenfels massif is the heart of our impressive vineyard location. For over 200 years, these parcels have been producing top wines from dry to noble sweet, which convey the feeling of biting into the Riesling grape with every sip. Low alcohol, lightness, fine aromas and delicate structure – these attributes make our Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Kabinett. This makes it versatile and an elegant companion for a relaxing evening.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Spätlese, Nahe 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $33, Now $29
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Rotenfels Spätlese has a clear, fine and elegant bouquet of ripe tropical fruits intermixed with lemon and stony flavors. Light, lush and round on the palate, with purity, stimulating salinity and ripe, textured fruit, this is an elegant and harmonious Spätlese with remarkable finesse. It is not very complex but so delicate…! 8.5% alcohol.”

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Love German Riesling? We have over 300 Rieslings (yes, you read that correctly!) currently available.
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Arriving Friday

Huet’s Anticipated 2019s

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

Huet makes some of the most undervalued great wine in the world. Take any metric you’d use to adjudicate greatness (complexity, age-worthiness, terroir, aromatic intensity, world-wide praise, etc) and Huet’s Vouvray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in their class. These wines offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for over a century.

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

We’ve always carried a wide selection of Huet wines and are eagerly anticipating this week’s new arrivals, several bottlings from the terrific 2019 vintage.

Pre-Arrivals ETA, Friday, October 23rd:

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2019 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is clear, fresh, deep and complex yet pure, fine, elegant and perfectly interwoven on the nose, where notes of crushed flint stones, limestones and concentrated citrus fruit aromas and even iodine notes are revealed. Very elegant and refined on the palate, this is a round, juicy, seductively fruity yet firmly structured and piquant Le Mont whose sweetness is captured by fine tannins and a sustainably dense, vital and salty finish. The 2019 Demi-Sec is a great Chenin and the finer Le Mont of the two, and it is doubtlessly a long-distance runner that should be cellared for at least a decade even though it’s hard to resist today. Impressive! 13.5% alcohol. 17,500 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Demi-Sec Le Mont is a gorgeous expression of this site. In the Demi-Sec style, Le Mont naturally gains in volume and resonance, but it also has much more pronounced earthy, mineral inflections. Apricot, baked pear, marzipan, chamomile and lemon confit build into the bright, creamy finish. The 2019 is such a classy wine.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 94+ points “Again, Huet’s 2019 Vouvray Le Mont Sec reflects the unique, south-facing nine-hectare vineyard with its pebbly flint (silex) and green clay soils wonderfully! Pure, fresh and flinty on the deep, intense yet also floral and herbal nose that represents a concentrated and firm white stone fruit aroma with lemon and grapefruit notes as well as fennel, anise and cumin hints. The bouquet gets darker and stonier with a lot of aeration (during days, to be honest). The leitmotif, though, remains the characteristic mix of aromatic fruit aromas with flint stone and volcanic basalt tones that, at this early stage and poured straight from the bottle, remind me of the Rieslings from Forst, Pfalz (Germany). In any case, this is like perfume on rocky stones! On the palate, Le Mont Sec is a rich, lush and round, very concentrated yet silky textured, elegant, vital and tightly structured 2019 with a powerful, intense and long finish with lingering salinity intertwined with tight, perhaps slightly dry tannins. I recommend cellaring this round yet tight and concentrated Chenin for a decade and then drinking it slowly over many years and with, hopefully, even better integrated tannins. 13.5% alcohol. 30,000 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Sec Le Mont is precise and beautifully cut. A wine of laser-like focus, Le Mont dazzles with its purity. Citrus peel and floral accents are nicely lifted, but it is the wine’s energy that impresses most. Le Mont is a subtle wine that speaks softly, but what it has to say is priceless.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Sec, Loire 2019 750M ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec offers a deep, rich yet pure and refined, intensely aromatic, darker-toned nose with aromas of fully ripe stone and tropical fruit intertwined with earthy, chalky and yeasty notes that make up for further finesse and complexity. Full-bodied, round and fruity on the palate, this is a deep, intense, juicy, silky-textured yet tight, chalky, very complex, sustainably structured and persistently salty-mineral Chenin from old vines that give extra concentration as well as a spectacularly expressive character. This is a great, age-worthy Vouvray with fine tannins and lingering salty tension and finesse. What a finish! The 2019 needs a while to gain finesse and even more complexity. The wine served from the bottle that I tasted nine days before was incredibly amazing! The 2019 is a duty for all Chenin aficionados! 13.5% alcohol. 30,000 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 95 points “The 2019 Sec Clos du Bourg is a wine of stature and vertical build. There is real gravitas to the orchard fruit, spice and earthy flavors. Tasted blind, Clos du Bourg might be confused with a red wine such is its feeling of volume and structure. Far from an easygoing Vouvray, Clos du Bourg is a very serious wine. I loved it. In a word: marvelous. In three words: don’t miss it.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Sec, Loire 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95 points “The deep brown clay soils of the Haut-Lieu plateau provide the typical fruitiness and freshness wonderfully in Huet’s 2019 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec. Ripe pear, tangerine and orange fruits with notes of lemon grass and green pimientos intertwined with very fine chalky and later tobacco notes give a remarkably fine, elegant and harmonious, subtly complex and simply gorgeous bouquet with floral (lime blossom!) and yeasty aromas that are immediately attractive. Delicate and linear on the palate, this is a pure, fresh, bone-dry, lean and textured, highly refined and perfectly interwoven Chenin with persistent purity, finesse, salty-mineral tension and very fine tannins. Highly finessed and so pure and vivacious! This is a chalky picture-book Haut-Lieu that can age for many years, even though it is already dangerously seductive! There was no dry Le Haut-Lieu produced in 2018, but the 2019 is possibly the finest, most delicate and elegant I’ve had in recent years, at least at this early stage. A terrific and buoyant Vouvray that any Chenin lover should try—or, better yet, cellar! 13% alcohol. 80,000 bottles made. Tasted in July 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “The 2019 Sec Le Haut-Lieu is classy, polished and simply impeccable. Soft, silky contours wrap around a core of peach and lemon confit fruit. The first impression is all about texture. White flowers, pear and white pepper are some of the nuances that emerge over time, adding complexity, while clean, minerally notes grace the exquisite finish.”

We have 19 Domaine Huet wines in stock now.
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Featured Pre-Arrival

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut

Drappier might sound like a Grande Marque, but they’re really a grower producer at heart. They own 53 hectares of vines in the Aube (where they were the first to plant Pinot Noir) and make forward thinking wines at a very friendly price-point. A carbon-neutral house, they place as much care in the cellar as they do in the vineyards—and the wines show it.

Forbes placed the wine we’re offering today, the estate’s Carte d’Or , as the #3 “Best Champagne You’ve Never Heard Of” for good reason. Drappier makes big, flamboyantly rich Champagne that is always a crowd pleaser—at prices that mean you can actually pour it for crowds. It’s hard to find better bubbly under $36/btl, so if you’re a Champagne drinker you should stock up now.

Pre-Arrival ETA, Friday, October 23rd:

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This bright and zesty Champagne is lightly juicy and appealing, offering flavors of Honeycrisp apple, ripe white cherry, biscuit and pickled ginger. Balanced and lacy in texture, with a lingering, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,200 cases imported.”
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed Oct 2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed Apr 2020] Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Drappier’s NV Brut Carte d’Or is showing well, bursting with pretty aromas of peach, honeyed orchard fruit and white flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, with fine depth and tension and a penetrating finish.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]

Love Champagne? We have over 110 Champagnes currently available.
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Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Staff Pick

A Classic Mineral-laden Grüner Veltliner

Andy:
I love the brisk aromas and flavors that can be found in Grüner Veltliner, and was pleasantly surprised by the Malat. In recent vintages, I was convinced that the lean elegant wines of Austria were doomed due to the lack of cool air coming down from the Alps in the evening; climate change seems to be ruining another one of my favorite regions. This wine gives me hope that there are still vintages that will produce the familiar snap of white pepper, citrus and green apple freshness.

To be honest, the mineral note was initially overwhelming for my wife’s palate, but by the second and third night, the wine sang. Is the wine super tight due to the screw cap enclosure, or is the area around the village of Furth just that mineral laden? It will be interesting to try it again in a couple of months. A favorite staple for my white wines in winter, I will be enjoying this so long as we can keep it in stock.

In Stock Now:

Malat Grüner Veltliner, Kremstal 2018 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 90 points “[Translated & edited for clarity] Light yellow-green with silver reflections. Notes of delicate candied orange zest, hints of tobacco underlain with yellow tropical fruit and some pineapple. An inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant texture, with notes of white apple. Freshly structured in an easy drinking style. This makes you want a second glass.”
James Suckling 90 points “Quite spicy and stony aromas with notes of grassy limes. The palate has a juicy and fleshy feel with limes and green papaya to close. Drink now. Screw cap.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Austrian wine? We have over 50 wines from Austria currently available.
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Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

Hot Deals on Cool Wines

A Wine Enthusiast “Editor’s Choice”
Averaen Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Averaen Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Glistening ruby-red. Ripe red and dark berries, cherry-cola and a hint of allspice on the perfumed nose. Pliant cherry and black raspberry flavors show good energy and pick up a hint of smokiness on the back half. Plush and seamless in texture, with lingering floral and spice notes on the long, subtly tannic finish.”
Wine Enthusiast “Editor’s Choice” 90 points “Fruit sourced from six Willamette Valley AVAs and well over a dozen vineyards combines in this sweetly fruity wine. Pretty plum and marionberry flavors are enhanced with a light touch of herbs, putting a frame around the finish.”

“Intriguing stuff and it just got better and better”
Biggio Hamina Cellars Biha Pinot Noir, Van Duzer Corridor 2017 750ML ($24.95) $17 special
Grapelive 92 points “The brilliant ruby hued Biha Van Duzer Pinot, made by Todd Hamina at Biggio Hamina Cellars, is a beautiful and racy Pinot Noir with layers of bright cherry, strawberry, pomegranate and tangy plum fruits bursting from glass along with delicate rose petal, cinnamon, orange tea and dried herbs. I hadn’t had the Biggio Hamina Cellars wines before this bottle and now I know I have been missing out. This is intriguing stuff and it just got better and better as the evening went on. Impressively it was the next day that things really got going, especially aromatically and texture wise without losing its exciting drive and vibrancy. Hamina comes with tons of Willamette experience including time at some famous places. His CV includes stints at Archery Summit, Beaux Freres, Chateau Benoit, Elk Cove, Maysara and Patton Valley! That should get your attention and his Biha should be on your radar for value. His style seems a mature approach to natural or minimalist winemaking with the use of indigenous yeasts, or as he puts it, spontaneous fermentation without inputs or additions, employing neutral French barriques and bottling without cold stabilization or filtering to allow the grapes and vineyards to show their distinctive character. The Biha line is Hamina’s and partner Caroline Biggio’s single AVA collection… This Van Duzer Pinot joins an elite set of quality bargains from Oregon along with Hundred Son’s Old Eight Cut Pinot, Love & Squalor, Bow & Arrow’s Rhinestones (a Gamay and Pinot Noir blend), Purple Hands’ basic Willamette Valley Pinot and Johan’s Farmlands Pinot to name a few, all of which are very different, but offer big bang for the buck. Hamina, like many of this newer generation is committed to more restrained use of new barrels, saying in a perfect world he’d use tons of whole cluster and no new oak. Here you can taste the merits of that formula with the whole bunch and stem inclusion crunchiness and purity of fruit, which I admit I am a huge fan of. The Biggio Hamina Biha Van Duzer 2017 has loads of exciting flavors, savory zing and a polished or satiny mouth feel with no overt French oak needed, making a Pinot that goes great with an array of cuisine. I enjoyed it with smoked salmon. As new discoveries go, this one is was incredibly pleasing and I plan to explore more of these small production hand crafted Biggio Hamina wines!”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Bright garnet. Spice-accented red berry and cherry aromas take on suave floral and mineral accents with air. Juicy and energetic in style, offering gently sweet raspberry and cherry flavors along with hints of allspice and cinnamon. Closes long and sappy, showing resonating red fruit character and silky, polished tannins that fade away quickly.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A classic wine from a classic producer
Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Case-6 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($419.95) $336 special (that’s only $56/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. There’s a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid red. Expansive aromas of ripe red berries, candied flowers and baking spices, with a smoky mineral topnote that gains strength as the wine opens up. Coats the palate with appealing sweet raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on an impressively long finish that’s shaped by fine-grained, even tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

“Powerful yet measured and all about the earth”
Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Case-6 Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($479.95) $376 special (that’s only $62.67/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Translucent red. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, exotic spices and candied flowers, with smoky mineral and incense notes that acquire strength as this youthful wine gains its footing. Stains the palate with vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, star anise and rose pastille flavors that show a compelling blend of depth and litheness. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on a strikingly long, finely etched finish that features baking spice, floral and subtle earth notes.”
James Suckling 95 points “An earthy thread here with more savory, herbal and gently spicy notes, as well as graphite. Latent red cherries, too. The palate has a very sleek and succulent feel with evenly cast, sturdy tannins that harness great length and depth. Powerful yet measured and all about the earth. Try from 2023.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard was made with 51% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Medium ruby, it has a very pretty nose: nuances of crushed stone, Campari, earth and blood orange mingle over a core of red and black cherries, rhubarb and cranberry. The medium-bodied palate has lovely, nuanced, amaro-laced flavor layers with a softly chalky frame and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 384 cases produced.”

One of Oregon’s rising stars
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
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 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.”
Winery Note “Momtazi Vineyard is a certified biodynamic site nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, composed primarily of uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlays and an underlying base of basalt. One of the revered vineyards in Willamette, this is our cornerstone source for Pinot noir. We are always thrilled to work with this fruit, as it’s some of the most coveted in in the Valley. Many people wish they could get their hands on it, and we’re fortunate that we do. Easily our most intense and deeply fruited Pinot noir, the wine displays hallmark Momtazi notes of black cherry and black raspberry, both on the nose and on the palate. Additional notes of sandalwood spice and forest floor emerge with air, giving a glimpse at the complexity to come. It’s a moody, broody teenager at present, which is no surprise given the vineyard’s reputation for structure. The tannins are suave but sturdy, and the well-integrated acidity holds everything together seamlessly in an enchanting marriage of power and finesse. As flagship wines go, the 2016 Momtazi is a worthy standard-bearer.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

“This bottling hearkens back Oregon’s winegrowing infancy”
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92 points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Estate has aromas of crunchy cranberries, raspberries and blackberries with accents of fragrant earth, violets, peppercorn, saline and bitters. Medium-bodied and silky, it offers loads of ripe fruits tempered by earthy accents, with grainy tannins and sip-me-again acidity, finishing long. Grapes for this cuvée (Evening Land’s largest at over 3,000 cases produced annually) were mostly destemmed and come from both older and younger vines.”
Winery Note “Of all our bottlings, the Seven Springs Pinot Noir tells the story of our vineyard. Built around a core of own-rooted, Pommard and Wädenswil vines planted in 1984, this bottling hearkens back Oregon’s winegrowing infancy, when savoriness, smokiness, and nuance brought curious and adventurous Burgundy lovers to our region in droves.”

“Sexy, oak-tinged”
Left Coast Cellars Right Bank Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Limpid ruby-red. Sexy, oak-tinged cherry and cassis aromas are complemented by building floral, spice and mineral nuances. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering concentrated dark berry and rose pastille flavors that deepen and turn sweeter with air. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to the finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-tinged persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

A complex and nuanced wine
Left Coast Cellars Truffle Hill Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Deep brilliant red. Ripe, spice-tinged raspberry and cherry scents are complicated by hints of musky sassafras and floral and allspice nuances. Sweet and fleshy on the palate, offering juicy red and dark berry flavors, along with suggestions of cola and licorice. Closes with solid punch, rounded tannins and strong, spicy tenacity.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This wine is aromatic in tones of red and black berries, cedar and tobacco. The palate brings plum and black cherry flavors, with drying tannins that leave a lingering taste of black tea.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Oregon Pinot Noir? We have over 120 Pinot Noirs from Oregon currently available.
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Collector’s Corner:

Reduced & National Best Pricing on Gaja

Yes, you read that headline correctly. It’s not often that we reduce prices on a producer with such a pedigree. Gaja is a name that requires no context—like Latour or DRC, it’s understood which estate is meant. Although Angelo Gaja is best known for his reds, he also makes profound and age-worthy white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Today we’re excited to offer reduced and/or nationally best pricing on our entire selection Gaja wines. These are some of the most collectable bottles we sell, and are priced to move. As you’ll see several of the wines are also in short supply, so if you’re a fan of Gaja – and who isn’t, we recommend that you move quickly.

In Stock Now:

Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($119.95) $69 special
Case-6 Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($599.95) $359 special (that’s only $59.83/bottle!)
Importer Note “The nose opens with fresh and sweet flavors consisting of white melon and white nectarine peach combined with elder and jasmine. On the entry, this wine opens with citrus fruits and fresh hints menthol (reminiscent of pepper mint). The sharp acidity gives freshness and incredible length to a crisp, lingering finish. This wine is produced from grapes grown in several estate-owned vineyards. The Rossj vineyard, planted in 1984, is named for Angelo Gaja’s younger daughter Rossana (Rossj). Bass is Piedmontese for the Italian basso, meaning low, a name derived from the vineyard’s position. Pheasants are featured on Rossj-Bass’ label to commemorate the beautiful birds that inhabit the forests adjacent to GAJA’s vineyards.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $87.99
The average national price is $99

Gaja Costa Russi Langhe-Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) Was $349, Now $299, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Soft contours, silky tannins and sweet, perfumed fruit are some of the signatures in the 2014 Costa Russi. As always, Costa Russi is the most polished and open-knit of these wines in its youth. Succulent fruit, hard candy and lifted, perfumed aromatics give the 2014 considerable early appeal, but I expect time in bottle will work its usual magic. Today, the 2014 is showing only the barest hint of its potential. Even in the early going, though, the Costa Russi is a totally sexy wine.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Costa Russi is a beautiful wine that delivers profound color saturation with deep ruby highlights and blackish intensity. I would describe the nose as being more horizontal rather than vertical, if that makes sense. In other words, the bouquet makes its approach with wide intensity and large-scale aromas of black fruit, spice, tar, leather and licorice. It offers fewer of the sudden high notes or moments of sharpness that you get in 2013. Despite the common perception that this was a very cool vintage, the fruit here actually tastes riper and rounder than you might expect. That’s because the vintage heat all came toward the end of the growing season, and the Gaja family left fruit on the vines to the end. In the mouth, the wine shows depth and finesse with some stubborn firmness at this young stage. It needs to flesh out further with more bottle aging.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Tight and focused, this red features a beam of cherry, strawberry, leather, tobacco, tar and iron wrapped in the grip of dense, refined tannins. Fresh and balanced, showing plenty of energy on the resonant finish. Best from 2023 through 2040. 170 cases imported.”

Gaja Sperss Barolo, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($319.95) $179 special, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “More forward and in a more earthly realm than the dizzying heights of the Conteisa this vintage, but it’s so endearing and immediately delights. The aromas range from elderberries and black cherries to brambleberries and Chinese spices. Full-bodied and structured with powerful tannins that encase bright and forthright blue fruit, which is polished over by a sheen of glimmering acidity. Long finish. Delicious now, but better in 2022.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Underbrush, tobacco, toasted hazelnut, menthol and grilled herb aromas slowly take shape on this focused red. On the structured elegant palate, taut refined tannins and fresh acidity provide an ageworthy framework for raspberry compote, juicy Marasca cherry, orange zest, white pepper and star anise. It already has layers of depth and loads of finesse, but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a slightly more subdued vintage of this legendary wine, albeit just as sophisticated as past editions. The 2014 Barolo Sperss opens to gorgeous aromas of dark fruit, wet earth and white truffle. The vineyards in Serralunga d’Alba produced much less fruit than average and suffered from bouts of downy mildew during the rainy seasons. But Serralunga d’Alba fruit is also harvested late, and that extra time was important for achieving grape ripeness targets. The wine presents depth and complexity within the context of a thinner vintage. Having said that, the bouquet is spectacular.”
Decanter 94 points “Sperss comes from two crus in Serralunga, and like Gaja’s Barbarescos it’s aged in a combination of barriques and large barrels. As so often is the case, it’s a wine that combines power and finesse. It has a subdued cherry nose with a touch of oak, leading to a palate which is rich, powerful and tannic, but not too assertive. It’s well balanced and fleshy, with lots of velvety texture and grain, and there’s still an underlying freshness and finesse. Very long finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $225
The average national price is $294

Gaja Alteni di Brassica Langhe, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($149.95) $79 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The delightful 2015 Langhe Alteni di Brassica is a pure expression of Sauvignon Blanc. This is the only white wine in Angelo Gaja’s line that does not complete malolactic fermentation. The bouquet is exuberant and bright with green notes of salvia, wild oregano and white pepper. Those sharper tones are followed by bright layers of tropical fruit and zesty citrus. Drying mineral notes give sharp contours to the overall effect.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $139

Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) Was $319, Now $299, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2014 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is the most virile and explosive of Gaja’s Barbarescos. Dark, brooding and powerful, with a huge spine of tannin, the San Lorenzo is utterly regal in the glass. Gravel, smoke, menthol, tar, licorice and a host of sepia-toned fruits build into a crescendo of aromas and flavors that is truly compelling. What a gorgeous wine this is.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Gaja’s 2014 Barbaresco Sorì San Lorenzo is clearly at the beginning of a long and promising aging trajectory. At its core, it shows a pinch of nervous energy and inner tightness that will surely unravel and soften as this beautiful wine continues along its magical journey in time. Angelo Gaja and his family present spectacular results in this controversial 2014 vintage. They have risen far above most of their peers and have shown a keen ability to understand their site and the versatility of their cherished Nebbiolo grape. The variety sings with a loud and exuberant voice, first offering plenty of primary fruit like blackberry and dried cherry. It then follows up with savory earth and spice. This is a bright and youthful wine that is set steady for a long aging future. “
Wine Spectator 95 points “Earthy notes lead off, followed by cherry, plum, graphite and tobacco flavors. Starts out broad and muscular, with a thick layer of tannins for support, yet gains elegance with aeration. A tad austere on the finish, but stays vibrant and long. Best from 2021 through 2036. 170 cases imported.”

Gaja Sori San Lorenzo Langhe-Barbaresco, Piedmont 2011 750ML ($499.95) Was $399, Now $349, 9 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2011 Sorì San Lorenzo boasts massive depth, intensity and power. Black fruit, smoke, tar, licorice, savory herbs and leather are some of the many notes that emerge from the glass. Regardless of the year, the personality of Sorì San Lorenzo always comes through, which is why this is one of the great sites in Barbaresco, Piedmont and Italy. In 2011 the contours are a bit softer, which gives the wine a level of accessibility that is quite rare in Sorì San Lorenzos when the wines are young. Why is Sorì San Lorenzo one of the world’s most profound vineyards? Because its personality simply can’t be denied.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The exciting 2011 Sori San Lorenzo is a wine of enormous beauty and grace. Gaia Gaja classifies her three single vineyard Langhe Nebbiolo wines as follows: Costa Russi is “flowers;” Sori Tildin is “fruit;” and San Lorenzo is “plant” (with more structure and a more compact feel). San Lorenzo does indeed boast a strong mineral component of pencil shavings and crushed granite, followed by red cherry and soft spice. The wine’s tannins start off harder than the other wines, but soften with time. Drink: 2018-2040.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average national price is $457

Gaja Sori Tildin Langhe-Barbaresco, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($499.95) Was $319, Now $279, 1 bottle in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “The nose has it all here with fresh cranberry character, brambleberries and lavender intermingled with darker, more complex notes of cedar, nutmeg and cinnamon. Full body, so much vibrant acidity, tangy fruit, expansive yet tight tannins and a long, savory finish. Profound minerality. Delicious now but better in 2020.”

The average national price is $436

Thanks for reading!