Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Vinopolpick Monday Bonus 8-31-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Towering Barolo Ravera from Elvio Cogno

Ferrando Carema’s Profound Nebbiolo

Collector’s Corner
Cult Wines from Comando G / Daniel Landi


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Newly Arrived from Piedmont

Towering Barolo Ravera from Elvio Cogno

 
If you’ve heard about the Ravera cru in Barolo (see Vajra), you have Elvio Cogno to thank.  Born and raised in Novello, the village associated with the famous vineyard, he left his partnership with Marcarini in his sixties to start his namesake winery in 1990.  He purchased Cascina Nuova, an underperforming but historic estate, and started making wines under his own name from the Ravera cru.

The resulting wines have been stupendous ever since, prompting a rush on land in Novello (and Ravera in particular), but no wineries have surpassed the original master and his son-in-law (winemaker since ’96 Valter Fissore—who is arguably even more talented than Elvio).  From their entry level “Cascina Nuova” Barolo up to his Riservas from the choicest parts of his holdings, these are wines that will appeal to every lover of classicist Barolo.

Antonio Galloni agrees as well, consistently praising the wines over multiple vintages and price levels.  Their 2014 Riserva earned a 97 point score and the wines since have more than lived up.  This is a classical estate that over delivers. 

Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 99 points
 “Cellar Selection. From the estate that proved the extraordinary quality of the Ravera subzone, this compelling wine opens with heady scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry, new leather and camphor. Focused and full bodied, the precise palate is delicious and firmly structured, featuring ripe red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco framed in tightly knit fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it beautifully balanced and lends youthful tension. Drink 2024–2056 – Kerin O’Keefe”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera shows all of the energy and tension this site is so well-known for. Penetrating acids and veins of tannin give the Ravera its drive and overall feel. Naturally, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to be at its best, but it has tremendous breeding and character to burn. White pepper, mint, sweet red cherry and citrus add to the wine’s high-toned profile. This is another stellar wine from Cogno.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points
 “Cogno’s 2016 Barolo Cascina Nuova is absolutely gorgeous. Pliant and expressive on the palate, the 2016 has a touch more mid-palate sweetness and texture than in the past, when the wine has been more nervous in feel. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, wild flowers, cedar, sweet tobacco and anise all open up effortlessly. Silky tannins add to its considerable immediacy and appeal. This is such a pretty wine in its peer group and also a terrific example of how attractive more modestly priced Barolos are in 2016.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Elvio Cogno Barolo Bricco Pernice, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points
 “The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice is an exotic, beguiling wine. Blood orange, mint, sweet red cherry, star anise and a range of spice notes give the Bricco Pernice striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, refined and super-expressive, the 2015 has so much to offer. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few years in bottle. It is such an effortless, gracious wine. Very polished, nuanced and elegant, this silky Barolo has a ton of structure but is also impeccable in its balance.”
Importer Note “Bricco Pernice is named for the rock on which courting partridges build their nest. “Pernice” translates as “rock ptarmigan” or “partridge,” “Bricco” is a hill. This is the very latest wine from Elvio Cogno. Until a few years ago this was part of the Ravera Barolo cru; in recent years it has been expanded to incorporate the neighboring hills. The fruit of years of hard work, this wine is a dream come true, made from the finest vineyard in Novello in the most historic part of the Ravera cru. The label is designed by Elena, Elvio’s granddaughter.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Elvio Cogno Barolo Vigna Elena, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($179.95) $135 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points
 “The 2014 Barolo Riserva Ravera Vigna Elena is seamless in the glass, with stunning balance and all of the pedigree of this year. Medium in body and gracious, it shows elegant notes of rose petal, mint, white pepper, sweet tobacco and dried flowers. Sweet red stone fruit marry with a classic sense of austerity. All of the elements here come together in this stunning, gloriously beautiful Barolo from Cogno. Deeply expressive and intense, the 2014 Vigna Elena is not an obvious wine, but instead it is ethereal, lifted and with pure class.”


Elvio Cogno Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Case-12 Elvio Cogno Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($419.95) $319 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points
 “The 2017 Langhe Nebbiolo Montegrilli is a very pretty wine. The warm, dry vintage has given Cogno’s Nebbiolo an extra kick of richness, but without robbing the wine of its personality. Sweet dried cherry, mint, tobacco, crushed flowers and anise all flesh out in an expansive, inviting Nebbiolo that will drink nicely for at least a number of years.”


Love Barolo?  We have over 85 Barolos currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Brovia, Cappellano, Vietti and more on our web store!
 
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Newly Arrived from Piedmont

Ferrando Carema’s Profound Nebbiolo

 
Ferrando’s Carema is one of the signature Nebbiolo based wines made outside of the Langhe.  Neal Rosenthal, its importer, described it by saying that “If there is any wine that defines the Ferrando “oeuvre” it is this one: the white label Carema. No single wine in our portfolio is more illustrative of our work than this brilliant rendition of Nebbiolo.”  It’s hard to imagine higher praise and this wine is distinctive in the all the best ways—bright, full of drive and devilishly complex, as well.

A region as far north as Carema benefits greatly from cooperative autumn weather, allowing grapes to achieve full phenolic ripeness before worrisome forecasts start to influence picking decisions.  Fortunately the weather in 2016 allowed for a historically long growing season in Piedmont, and the vintage appears destined to be legendary throughout the region.  As such, we’re excited to have received our (albeit very limited) allocation of 2016s, and recommend that you move quickly as the stock is unlikely to last long.

Ferrando White Label – Etichetta Bianca Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Ferrando White Label – Etichetta Bianca Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2016 1.5L ($199.95) $169 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer note
 “Ferrando’s white-label Carema is arguably the most gorgeously elegant expression of Nebbiolo in existence, and this 2016 is a textbook version. Full of driving, kinetic energy, it presents a lifted and linear palate at this youthful stage which should broaden with bottle age, as well as an intoxicating blast of high-toned spices and mountain herbs. Never an overwhelmingly powerful wine, “Etichetta Bianca” derives its sense of structure more from its acid-fruit tension than its tannins, and that is particularly the case with this 2016. Fermented in stainless steel without temperature control and using only indigenous yeasts, it spent three full years in a blend of large Stockinger botti and smaller well-used French barriques.”


Ferrando Black Label – Etichetta Nera Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2016 1.5L ($249.95) $219 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer note
 “The Ferrandos only produce their legendary black-label Carema when the vintage allows for it, and it never comprises more than a fifth of their total production. To be labeled as “Etichetta Nera,” the wine must first be selected in the vineyard as worthy; then, it must pass muster post-malolactic-fermentation; and finally, a third verification is performed at the end of the three-year elevage. Raised entirely in a mix of used 250- and 500-liter French barrels, the 2016 is more profound and lower-pitched on the nose than its white-label counterpart, with blacker fruit and a stronger savory imprint. Its firmly gripping, lengthily tunneling finish promises decades of positive evolution.”
 
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Also in stock from Ferrando:

Ferrando White Label – Etichetta Bianca Nebbiolo di Carema, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points
 “The 2015 Carema Etichetta Bianca is such a gorgeous wine. Dried cherry, tobacco, licorice, spice, mint and dried flowers give the 2015 striking aromatic openness, but there is plenty of mineral-drenched tannic backbone that gives this wine its distinctive personality. Medium in body, taut and full of character, the 2015 hits all the right notes. It should also start drinking relatively early and age effortlessly for many years.”
Importer note “2015 Carema ‘Etichetta Bianca.’ For us, Ferrando’s white-label Carema is perhaps the ne plus ultra of Alpine wine—as well as the most gorgeous expression of Nebbiolo in existence—and the 2015 is a future legend. With its mouthwatering acidity, its sumptuously velvety texture, its panoply of spices, and its eerily pure fruit, it embodies what makes Carema so special, yet with a bit more authority and power than in a more typical vintage. Aged in a combination of large Stockinger casks and smaller barriques and tonneaux (all well-used), it presents relatively open at this youthful stage—perhaps a function of 2015’s generosity of fruit—yet the underlying structure and tension promise a long life.”
Winery note “Made from Nebbiolo grapes harvested around the 20th of October, fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, with maceration on the skins for about 10 days. In conformity with the production regulations, refinement lasts 36 months, 30 of which in oak barrels. Tasting notes: Colour: Intense garnet red, limpid and dense. Nose: Spicy, fruity notes. Fine hints of dried flowers and rose petals. Palate: Warm, tannic mouthfeel. Well-integrated spicy notes.”


Love Piedmont?  We have over 200 wines from Piedmont currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Cascina Delle Rose, Gaja, Vajra and more on our web store!
 
 
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Collector’s Corner

Cult Wines from Comando G / Daniel Landi

 
Comando G

“Comando G continues to serve as the reference point in Gredos. Most of the 2018s are not in bottle yet, so I mostly tasted wines from 2017—a challenging year with hail and frost that made it impossible to bottle some of the single-vineyard wines (Breña and Tamboril Tinto) and affected others, mainly the vineyards in the village of Rozas de Puerto Real. 2017 was also ripe and dry, more in line with 2012 than 2015, as the wines also have finesse and lightness. Once again Rumbo al Norte is the best wine, but in the challenging 2017 vintage, the difference from the others is even more obvious because the plot didn’t suffer hail or frost and is one of the best-prepared to withstand dry conditions. It’s a wine that transcends the vintage.” –Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate

“Today, along with Comando G, a handful of producers working in the Sierra de Gredos is showing how distinctive the wines can be from an area that was ignored for so long… the bottles with the most finesse and nuance, and which have drawn the most interest, are from Comando G, whose wines are now among the most compelling in Spain.”- Eric Asimov, New York Times

Comando G has become one of the hottest names in the world of Spanish wines.  Working with old Grenache (Garnacha) vines, Fernando García and Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi looked to estates like Rayas and Gramenon in the Rhone for inspiration to produce balanced, chiseled wines of delicate power and elegance.  Ever since Eric Asimov profiled them in the New York Times, the wines have been in incredibly short supply.

Newly Arrived from Comando G:

Comando G ‘El Tamboril’ Blanco Navaltalgordo, Sierra de Gredos 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97 points
 “The single-vineyard 2017 Tumba del Rey Moro comes from an ungrafted 70-year-old vineyard of 0.7 hectares in the village of Villanueva de Ávila, a cliff with a pronounced slope full of chestnut trees that provide shadow to the majority of vines. It’s high in altitude, at 1,100 meters, and the soils are very sandy, from the degradation of granite. Like the others, this vineyard is worked biodynamically, and the wine is produced in a delicate way, with full bunches, a long and soft maceration (infusion) and an élevage of 14 months in a 1,000-liter oak vat. This high-altitude vineyard almost escaped the problems of the vintage but was hit by very late hail in August, and the wine feels almost untouched; it feels very complete and less evolved than the wines that were badly hit by hail. It has spices and rockrose and is a riper vintage than 2016, and it’s complex and nuanced. The palate has abundant, fine-grained tannins and is nicely textured, with the chalk-like mouthfeel of the 


Comando G ‘Rumbo al Norte’ Navarrevisca, Sierra de Gredos 2017 750ML ($379.95) $319 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 99 points
 “I was very much looking forward to tasting the 2017 Rumbo Al Norte from bottle, a wine I had tasted a number of times during its upbringing in a 1,400-liter oak foudre, as it comes form one of the most spectacular vineyards I know, not only in Gredos, but in the whole of the world! It’s a 0.3-hectare plot in the zone known as La Breña within the village of Villanueva de Ávila, where the granite soils are very sandy and rich in quartz and gray silt and the wines have a rare combination of elegance and power as well as an ethereal quality with tons of energy and a texture that is like liquid granite. It was produced like the rest of the reds, with a long infusion with full clusters and indigenous yeasts in oak vats, then matured in a 1,400-liter oak vat for 14 months. This vineyard escaped the frost and hail of the vintage—it’s one of the few that was really untouched—and this year, the wine is head and shoulders above the rest. It’s complex and elegant, very Burgundian, stony, floral and spicy, and the good yields controlled the ripeness of the dry year. This is the vineyard that behaves better in warmer/drier years. The good news is that there are 1,656 bottles and 60 magnums of this—their largest production ever—and it was bottled in March 2019. Unfortunately, prices for this scarce bottling are skyrocketing. It was only a matter of time…”


Comando G ‘Rozas Premier-Primer Cru,’ Sierra de Gredos 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
 “The 2018 Rozas 1er Cru is from a much better year that produced perfect ripeness of the grapes and therefore much better parameters (alcohol, pH and acidity). Within the freshness and seriousness of 2018, this is very open, expressive and spicy, like an upgrade from the La Bruja de Rozas, though not quite reaching the finesse of Las Umbrías. It’s tasty and long and has something herbal (fennel, celery), a salty touch, a little rust and a very mineral texture, with the grainy granite and finer chalk. It improves tremendously in the glass, which gives me an idea that the wine is going to improve in bottle. 2018 is a great vintage that is going to require a little more time to express its full potential. This is often the best value of the winery. 15,238 bottles and 150 magnums produced. It was bottled in January 2020.”


Comando G ‘La Bruja de Rozas,’ Sierra de Gredos 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points
 “I tasted a very young and recently bottled 2018 La Bruja de Rozas, their village Garnacha from the village of Las Rozas de Puerto Real. It’s from a vintage that feels very complete and balanced and delivered very healthy grapes, good yields and grapes with ripe flavors and very good freshness. The wine is juicy but also sharp and mineral, backward and nuanced; it’s shy now, but it has great depth and is finely knitted, textured, mineral and salty. I think this will surpass the already-amazing 2016. It fermented and matured in oak vats of different sizes, yet there is such purity of fruit and the wine is so intense that the oak is completely transparent. I had the chance to drink this wine on repeated occasions, as I find it has an unbeatable price for the quality. It’s a more complete version of the 2016—it’s pale, bright and transparent, spicy, elegant, nuanced, juicy but complex, with not only fruit but also violets and an herbal side, and it’s characterful and a bit funky with finesse and a texture of chalk and granite. Like a Poulsard from Chambolle. High drinkability with aging potential. 53,478 bottles produced (the second largest vintage after 2016). It was bottled in August 2019.”


 
Dani Landi

Daniel Gómez Jiménez-Landi (or Dani Landi as he’s more commonly known) is certainly one half of Comando G, but his personal projects are at least as compelling and much more sought after within Spain.  Born to generations of grape growers in Méntrida, his personal project explores the unique terroirs of his home DO.

This is very much Sierra de Gredos wine, but the distinction between his personal wines, which are from his home village of Méntrida, and Comando G, which works from a broad range of terroirs, is important.  Landi’s personal wines come from vineyards that he started working with and acquiring since he started making wine at a very young age.

Newly Arrived from Daniel Landi:

Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Las Uvas de la Ira’ Garnacha, Mentrida 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
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.”


Daniel Gomez Jimenez-Landi ‘Cantos del Diablo’, Mentrida 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points
 “The single-vineyard 2017 Cantos del Diablo was produced with the grapes from 0.35 hectares in the village of El Real de San Vicente (Toledo), the highest vineyard in the Méntrida appellation. It’s a north-facing plot at 900 meters in altitude that was planted some 70 years ago on sandy granite soils rich in silt and is worked biodynamically. The grapes, with all the stems, fermented with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, and the wine matured in a 1,200-liter oak foudre for 12 months. This was one of the few villages from Gredos that escaped the hail and frost, and it was a dry year, so harvesting was early (10 to 15 days earlier compared with a “normal” vintage!). It’s aromatic and floral but has the austerity of the wines from El Real de San Vicente as well as a texture like liquid chalk and very fine, powdery tannins. It’s clean and ripe without excess, with a nice combination of fruit and minerality, really balanced, with intensity and finesse. Excellent 2017! 1,362 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Daniel Gomez Jimenez Landi ‘Las Iruelas’ El Tiemblo, Castilla y Leon 2017 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
 “The 2017 Las Iruelas expresses the elegance and floral character the slate soils are capable of. It’s pure Garnacha from a relatively large vineyard in the Iruelas Valley in the village of El Tiemblo, province of Ávila. In reality, this slope of vines that was planted over 70 years ago has a combination of slate and granite (and sand, quartz and silt), and it’s very rocky with shallow soils, where the mother rock is only 20 centimeters from the surface. It’s isolated and surrounded by forests, and the orography (the nearby mountains) causes it to receive more rain. So, the wines have unusual finesse and subtleness. The vinification tries to preserve that character, by hand-selecting every single grape, fermenting the clusters with the yeasts from the grapes in oak vats, with a long maceration and low temperature. The wine matured in a 1,400-liter oak vat for 12 months. This is very pale, paler than it normally is, and has a more developed color and nose, combining more herbal aromas with a note of ripe berries and flowers; it’s elegant, delicate and balsamic and also a little fragile, with less finesse than Umbrías. This vineyard had hail twice and lost a lot of grapes, and the wine is probably going to evolve at a faster pace. 1,725 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

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


Daniel Gomez Jimenez Landi ‘El Reventon’, Cebreros 2017 750ML ($134.95) $119 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points
 “El Reventón in the village of Cebreros (Ávila) is really two plots just a few meters apart, but with different exposition, altitude and soils that make up one hectare of vines. Given the differences and the fact that part of the vineyard has basically no soil and the mother rock on the surface, they have been studying these soils and making further selections to decide which plants go into the wine. In 2016, they experimented with two different bottlings. But the 2017 El Reventón is a single cuvée of the grapes from both plots, as they had hail and used all the grapes that could be saved. The vinification follows the same modus operandi as with the rest of the wines—manual selection of every bunch, discarding all the single grapes that are not perfect, then fermentation with the stems and a long maceration in oak vats, of course with indigenous yeasts. The élevage was in used oak barrels and lasted for a year. The wine has good ripeness, more power than wines like Las Iruelas and more fruit and a rounder palate, but it’s a more delicate vintage than other years, more fragile because of hail. It developed a high-pitched note of curry with time in the glass, a recurring note in this wine. Only 775 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

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


Love Spanish reds?  We have over 100 red wines from Spain currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Clos Erasmus, López de Heredia, Raul Perez and more on our web store!
 
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Trending

 
A Pacific Northwest classic
Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($14.95) $9.50 special
Case-12 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $99 special (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Winery Note
 “Our Columbia Valley Chardonnay is a food-friendly wine. It is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex and interesting wine. Cheers!”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


A killer value on a perennially undervalued grape
Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Merlot, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special
Case-12 Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Merlot, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($249.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Winery note
 “This new bottling of Sharecropper’s Merlot shows aromas of cranberry, tart cherry, violet and spice. Dazzling flavors of black cherry, currant, plum and hints of pepper are nicely balanced with bright acidity and firm tannins, finishing with a hint of baking cocoa. Vineyard Sources- Elerding, Outlook, Red Willow and Union Gap. Barrel aged in 14% new oak for 10 months.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Restocked and already going fast…
Domaine de Triennes Rosé, IGP Var 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points
 “Translucent onion skin. Orange zest, persimmon, red berries and a subtle floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Concentrated but lithe and seemingly weightless, offering tangy red currant, strawberry and blood orange flavors that pick up a spicy nuance on the back half. Finishes brisk and tight, with repeating spiciness and a sneaky floral quality. This wine has the depth of flavor to handle full-flavored foods, but there’s no excess fat here, either. A solid value.”


A classic rosé from a classic rosé region
Mirabeau Classic Rosé, Cotes De Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points
 “Light, brilliant orange. Raspberry, white peach and succulent flowers on the mineral-tinged nose. Sappy red berry, pit fruit and citrus zest flavors deepen slowly and take on a spicy aspect with air. Hangs on with very good tenacity, leaving pit fruit and red berry notes behind.”


Powerfully built, with rich, sumptuous fruit and seductive textures
Chateau Saint-Roch ‘Kerbuccio’, Maury Sec 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
 “One of the greatest values in the wine world has to be the Kerbuccio cuvée from Jean-Marc Lafage’s Chateau Saint Roch estate in Maury. The 2017 isn’t going to break the trend. Checking in as a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, it’s a blockbuster, deep, massive effort that just screams Grenache from Maury. Ripe blackberries, melted chocolate, black cherries, and cured meat notes all emerge from this beautifully textured, layered, opulent wine that stays balanced and pure. Brought up in 80% new demi-muids, it shows no sense of its oak élevage, has beautiful purity and freshness, and tastes like it cost 4-5 times the price. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Ameztoi produces our favorite rosé, and their upper-tier white is elegant and delish
Ameztoi Primus Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Winery note
 “[Edited for clarity] A white wine from the Hondarrabi Zuri grape. Naturally lightly sparkling. Pale with a touch of green, its bright tone has fine and elegant bubbles. Has a delicate and sophisticated fragrance, reminiscent of green apples and grapes, with a minty note. Opens dry, and is harmonious in the mouth. It has a broad and aromatic finish, which is cheerful because of its bubbles.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!


The flagship Pinot Noir from 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 – 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 in the USA today!


Classic is cool again!
Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-12 Domaine du Gour de Chaulé Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($399.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points
 “Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and pit fruits, potpourri and garrigue, and an exotic spice note emerges in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily put on weight with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes extremely long and floral, with fine-grained tannins lending discreet grip.”


An earned reputation as one of the giants of Champagne
NV Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, Champagne 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
James Suckling 92 points
 “Fine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.” [Reviewed July 2019]
 
 
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Staff Pick

Your New Pizza Wine

 
Matt:
A half century ago Pelaverga was nearly extinct in its native village of Verduno (located within the Barolo zone of Piedmont).  Fortunately, a member of the village’s leading family, Elisa Burlotto, saw the grape’s potential and planted an entire section of the family’s Massara vineyard to the variety.  Before 1972, the year the Basadone section was planted, only a handful of Pelaverga vines survived, all mixed within rows of Nebbiolo.  For decades, the grape remained a novelty, and enjoyed little in the way of commercial success.  But its fortunes have changed in recent years as more and more wine drinkers have come to appreciate light-bodied, food-friendly reds.

Italy is of course a country that considers wine to be an essential component of any meal, and as a result the country’s wines are famously complimentary.  But many consider Pelaverga to be a stand-out even within this context thanks to its versatility.  In Piedmont the grape is paired with everything from pastas and sausage, to chicken and fish.  I’ve found Pelaverga to be fantastic with pizza, almost regardless of what’s included in the way of toppings.

So for your next pizza or pasta night ditch (or supplement) the usual suspects, and give Pelaverga a try.  You’ll be hard-pressed to find a red wine that delivers more deliciousness per dollar than this sub-$25 gem.

Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer Note
 “Pelaverga is indigenous to the village of Verduno, it produces red wines that are light in color but savory and distinctive on the palate. Reminds me a lot of Grignolino, another geeky Piedmontese variety. This one is aged in stainless steel before bottling without filtration. The winery’s website cannot be improved on for a description: ‘Soft, though bright ruby red. Intense fragrant nose, showing clear spicy overtones of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as fruity sensations reminiscent of cherries in spirit and strawberries. Nicely-balanced, lingering dry flavour.’ Great with salumi. I would drink this at cellar temperature.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Castello di Verduno also produces a delicious traditional method sparkling rosé with Pelaverga!

Castello di Verduno S-Ciopet Spumante Metodo Classico Brut Rosé, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($69.95) $39 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery note
 “S-ciopet is the dialect name of selvatic flower reported on label, The Silene Rigonfia. The choice is this because amenable to the sound of opening of sparkling bottle and it join at the line of selvatic flowers already rappresented on our label It is a brut rosè sparkling wine obtained with 100% of our favorite grape variety: the autochthon red variety of our village [Pelaverga]! Excellent wine as an aperitif or throughout the meal.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Shop our entire selection from Castello di Verduno on our web store!

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Produttori Subscriber Sale
on Rio Sordo & Muncagota


Ends Tuesday!

 
In the Piedmont, the folds and creases in the hills allow for amazing individuality in the little pocket vineyards. Exposure, drainage, soil composition all combine in a myriad of ways to bring out the best of Nebbiolo.  The brightness and balance of Barbaresco makes it a treasure for collectors.  There is a reason why it is referred to as Italy’s Burgundy.  Produttori, as a rule, has consistently made the most sought after single vineyard Barbaresco.  The wines will live forever in the cellar, and will reward those willing to stash away a case or two.

Two of our favorite crus from Produttori are Muncagota and Rio Sordo.  Muncagota comes across as a bit more tannic and structured at first look, but the subtle mint and floral components are more pronounced than in the other crus.  We love the play between the firmer structure and the elegance of the playful aromatics and fruit.  Rio Sordo seems to be the bigger wine due to the southwestern exposure.  There is a ripeness and wild quality to the bright red fruits, but these are qualities that will help the wine develop a lovely deep bass note to accompany the well-integrated acidity and silky tannins.

These wines are always fantastic values, but at subscriber special pricing, there won’t be a better time to stash away a good supply of these for the future.

5% Off Any Mix of 3-5 Produttori Muncagota & Rio Sordo bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 6+ Produttori Muncagota & Rio Sordo bottles
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Tuesday, September 1st at 6 PM


In-Stock & On Sale Now:

Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $54.50, 
that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “You may remember that this wine was once called Moccagatta. Produttori del Barbaresco reverted to the local Piemontese spelling of the name in 2007 to stay consistent with the geographic mapping of local cru sites. The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota stands apart from the nine other single-vineyard Riservas presented by Produttori del Barbaresco this vintage. Of these various wines, this is the most salty and savory. There is less primary fruit intensity here. The bouquet is laced with grilled rosemary and wild sage. This growing site absorbs loads of morning sunshine with southeast-facing exposures. The mouthfeel is characterized by dry tannins and very long, balsam-like persistence. Dried ginger and herbs appear on the menthol-like finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “You’ll find aromas of star anise, freshly tilled soil, chopped herb and balsamic notes on this full-bodied red. The smooth, concentrated palate delivers juicy black cherry, raspberry compost, pipe tobacco and licorice accompanied by firm, refined tannins and bright acidity.”
 
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!


Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don’t recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around. Best from 2023 through 2042.—B.S.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $65


Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “EDITOR’S CHOICE. Rose, red berry and star anise aromas align with earthy whiffs of forest floor and new leather. The full-bodied, delicious palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, black raspberry, licorice and chopped mint set against a backbone of firm but refined tannins. It’s already gorgeous but will be even better with just a few more years of bottle age. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota shows beautifully in this sunny and warm vintage, producing intense and compelling primary fruit with wild cherry, plum and black currant. Compared to the other Riservas, the fruit profile of Muncagota is darker and richer. More significant is the role the tannins play in this wine. They contribute to a long and firm spinal cord that gives structure and muscle mass. This Barbaresco Riserva shows an affinity to shaved truffles over egg pasta, or gamey fowl such as duck or pigeon. Some 16,666 bottles were made.
Decanter 94 points “The southeast-facing Muncagota vineyard catches the morning sun, giving this wine a slightly lighter character. This 2015 has delicious red berry and cherry flavours and scents. The tannins are slightly more rustic, perhaps, and it’s the least full-bodied wine here, but its earthy elegance makes this a refreshing change for a Riserva. 13,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2022 – 2036.”


Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “CELLAR SELECTION. Enticing scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and balsamic aromas come together in the glass. Juicy and full-bodied, the flavorsome palate shows succulent Morello cherry, cranberry, licorice and ground white pepper alongside a backbone of vibrant acidity and firm, polished tannins. It’s already exceptional but will benefit with more aging. Drink 2020–2038.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The delightful 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is fourth on a scale of nine wines in terms of growing structure and power. This is the middle-point wine. You will immediately notice that the texture of this single-vineyard expression is increasingly thicker and pastier. The bouquet delivers opulent tones of blackberry and ripe cherry in thick and succulent waves. Yet, like the Pora, Pajè and Ovello expressions, the Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is also a more accessible wine. You can save it for longer cellar aging, but you could also opt to serve it in the near or medium term. It offers both immediate pleasure and long-term potential.”
 
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $75


Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo represents a jump forward in structure compared to the other three vineyards (Pora, Pajè and Ovello) that were tasted before this wine. The Riserva Rio Sordo shows a dark and solid personality, with a tight core of black fruit that will relax and unwind with more bottle aging in the cellar. It is also slightly sharper and more focused in terms of mouthfeel, with the kind of tannic tightness you always get with young Nebbiolo in the cooler vintages such as 2014. Barbaresco lovers should jot this one down.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red combines a rich, fleshy texture that verges on chewy with a firm structure and cherry, menthol, licorice, spice and mineral flavors. Dense, revealing tension and dusty tannins on the long finish. Shows terrific energy. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $67


Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “This wine usually falls somewhere in the middle of the Riserva continuum (starting with the most lithe and elegant wine and ending with the most powerful) presented by Produttori del Barbaresco in this knockout series of nine single-vineyard expressions. The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is another personal favorite. This group of Ovello, Rio Sordo, Asili and Rabajà (that sweet spot of neighboring vineyard sites in Barbaresco) is especially profound in 2015, striking a careful balance between elegance against power. The Rio Sordo offers tight and sharp fruit complete with a little tannic pinch or crunch on the close. Production is 13,333 bottles.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Dark-skinned berry, camphor, rose and crushed stone aromas shape the nose along with a whiff of pipe tobacco. The aromas carry on to the structured, full-bodied palate along with juicy Marasca cherry and licorice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2022–2030.”
Decanter 94 points “At the southern end of the commune of Barbaresco lies Rio Sordo, known for producing powerful wines. First produced by Produttori in 1978, this is right on the mark, with a denseness and muscularity that makes it stand out in the lineup. It has an inky, meaty depth which seems to have absorbed the wood into it so that it’s not so pronounced, overlaid with plenty of complex, savoury damp earth character. This is less pure and ripe in feel that the Pora, and although the acidity still has presence, it’s softer, more gentle. This is a smooth, dense, intense wine that you will want to sink into. 10,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2022 – 2038.”


Love Barbaresco?  We have over 60 wines from Barbaresco currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like La Spinetta, Paitin, Roagna and more on our web store!

Monday Newsletter 8-31-20

In This Newsletter:

Produttori Subscriber Sale

New Week – New Arrivals

A Stellar Rhone Wine from a Burgundy Superstar

Spanish Treasure:
Bodegas San Roman
Arriving Friday



Produttori del Barbaresco

Muncagota & Rio Sordo

Subscriber Sale


In the Piedmont, the folds and creases in the hills allow for amazing individuality in the little pocket vineyards. Exposure, drainage, soil composition all combine in a myriad of ways to bring out the best of Nebbiolo. Both Barolo and Barbaresco have a beautiful intensity to the acidity and pure fruit, but the brightness and balance of Barbaresco makes it a treasure for collectors. There is a reason why it is referred to as Italy’s Burgundy – the character and ageability result in wines to savor over decades, no matter how delicious they may be in the present. Produttori, as a rule, has consistently made the most sought after single vineyard Barbaresco. The wines will live forever in the cellar, and will reward those willing to stash away a case or two.

Two of our favorite crus from Produttori are Muncagota and Rio Sordo. The Muncagota vineyard has a southeastern exposure that protects the grapes from the afternoon sun, but also has high calcium content in the soil with little of the sand often found in the area. It comes across as a bit more tannic and structured at first look, but the subtle mint and floral components are more pronounced than in the other crus. I love the play between the firmer structure and the elegance of the playful aromatics and fruit. I prefer to hide Muncagota away for as long as possible, but have found that with a day in the decanter, the wine is nearly irresistible right now, especially in the warm 2015 vintage. 

Rio Sordo seems to be the bigger wine due to the southwestern exposure. There is a ripeness and wild quality to the bright red fruits, but these are qualities that will help the wine develop a lovely deep bass note to accompany the well-integrated acidity and silky tannins. This is the yin and yang of Barbaresco that I find so compelling. Rio Sordo is a tremendous wine full of bursting red fruit, citrus peel, cedar and rose petals. There is no lack of strength to the wine, even though the tannins are silkier than in most other crus. The potential for aging this wine is obvious, and while this wine can be enjoyed at this point, you must decant for an extended period of time. Similar to the Muncagota, it shows well for days after opening. 

Rio Sordo and Muncagota are available at a discount and there is no better reason to stash away a good supply of these for the future.   


5% Off Any Mix of 3-5 Produttori Muncagota & Rio Sordo bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 6+ Produttori Muncagota & Rio Sordo bottles
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Tuesday, September 1st at 6 PM

In-Stock & On Sale Now:

Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “You may remember that this wine was once called Moccagatta. Produttori del Barbaresco reverted to the local Piemontese spelling of the name in 2007 to stay consistent with the geographic mapping of local cru sites. The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota stands apart from the nine other single-vineyard Riservas presented by Produttori del Barbaresco this vintage. Of these various wines, this is the most salty and savory. There is less primary fruit intensity here. The bouquet is laced with grilled rosemary and wild sage. This growing site absorbs loads of morning sunshine with southeast-facing exposures. The mouthfeel is characterized by dry tannins and very long, balsam-like persistence. Dried ginger and herbs appear on the menthol-like finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “You’ll find aromas of star anise, freshly tilled soil, chopped herb and balsamic notes on this full-bodied red. The smooth, concentrated palate delivers juicy black cherry, raspberry compost, pipe tobacco and licorice accompanied by firm, refined tannins and bright acidity.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!

Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 29 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is another of the overachievers in this range. White pepper, bright red cherry, floral notes and mint cut through the fruit in this beautifully vivid, crystalline Barbaresco. There is a level of energy, drive and overall nuance in the 2014 I don’t recall having seen in the past. The 2014 is a terrific Muncagota.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is beautifully polished and bright, with dark berry fruit, ripe cherry, crushed stone and pressed flowers. The wine is compact and firm, and you feel the tannins and power in the mouth. The Muncagota remains slightly more closed in terms of the bouquet, but this will open up with some time.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Lean and taut, this reveals mint, menthol, licorice, orange peel and subtle cherry flavors, all underscored by assertive tannins and lively acidity. An austere style, this will need time to come around. Best from 2023 through 2042.—B.S.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $65

Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 23 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 97 points
“EDITOR’S CHOICE. Rose, red berry and star anise aromas align with earthy whiffs of forest floor and new leather. The full-bodied, delicious palate doles out succulent Morello cherry, black raspberry, licorice and chopped mint set against a backbone of firm but refined tannins. It’s already gorgeous but will be even better with just a few more years of bottle age. Drink 2022–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota shows beautifully in this sunny and warm vintage, producing intense and compelling primary fruit with wild cherry, plum and black currant. Compared to the other Riservas, the fruit profile of Muncagota is darker and richer. More significant is the role the tannins play in this wine. They contribute to a long and firm spinal cord that gives structure and muscle mass. This Barbaresco Riserva shows an affinity to shaved truffles over egg pasta, or gamey fowl such as duck or pigeon. Some 16,666 bottles were made.
Decanter 94 points “The southeast-facing Muncagota vineyard catches the morning sun, giving this wine a slightly lighter character. This 2015 has delicious red berry and cherry flavours and scents. The tannins are slightly more rustic, perhaps, and it’s the least full-bodied wine here, but its earthy elegance makes this a refreshing change for a Riserva. 13,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2022 – 2036.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 97 points
“CELLAR SELECTION. Enticing scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and balsamic aromas come together in the glass. Juicy and full-bodied, the flavorsome palate shows succulent Morello cherry, cranberry, licorice and ground white pepper alongside a backbone of vibrant acidity and firm, polished tannins. It’s already exceptional but will benefit with more aging. Drink 2020–2038.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The delightful 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is fourth on a scale of nine wines in terms of growing structure and power. This is the middle-point wine. You will immediately notice that the texture of this single-vineyard expression is increasingly thicker and pastier. The bouquet delivers opulent tones of blackberry and ripe cherry in thick and succulent waves. Yet, like the Pora, Pajè and Ovello expressions, the Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is also a more accessible wine. You can save it for longer cellar aging, but you could also opt to serve it in the near or medium term. It offers both immediate pleasure and long-term potential.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $75

Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points
“The 2014 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo represents a jump forward in structure compared to the other three vineyards (Pora, Pajè and Ovello) that were tasted before this wine. The Riserva Rio Sordo shows a dark and solid personality, with a tight core of black fruit that will relax and unwind with more bottle aging in the cellar. It is also slightly sharper and more focused in terms of mouthfeel, with the kind of tannic tightness you always get with young Nebbiolo in the cooler vintages such as 2014. Barbaresco lovers should jot this one down.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red combines a rich, fleshy texture that verges on chewy with a firm structure and cherry, menthol, licorice, spice and mineral flavors. Dense, revealing tension and dusty tannins on the long finish. Shows terrific energy. Best from 2022 through 2042.—B.S.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $67

Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points
“This wine usually falls somewhere in the middle of the Riserva continuum (starting with the most lithe and elegant wine and ending with the most powerful) presented by Produttori del Barbaresco in this knockout series of nine single-vineyard expressions. The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is another personal favorite. This group of Ovello, Rio Sordo, Asili and Rabajà (that sweet spot of neighboring vineyard sites in Barbaresco) is especially profound in 2015, striking a careful balance between elegance against power. The Rio Sordo offers tight and sharp fruit complete with a little tannic pinch or crunch on the close. Production is 13,333 bottles.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Dark-skinned berry, camphor, rose and crushed stone aromas shape the nose along with a whiff of pipe tobacco. The aromas carry on to the structured, full-bodied palate along with juicy Marasca cherry and licorice. Firm, fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2022–2030.”
Decanter 94 points “At the southern end of the commune of Barbaresco lies Rio Sordo, known for producing powerful wines. First produced by Produttori in 1978, this is right on the mark, with a denseness and muscularity that makes it stand out in the lineup. It has an inky, meaty depth which seems to have absorbed the wood into it so that it’s not so pronounced, overlaid with plenty of complex, savoury damp earth character. This is less pure and ripe in feel that the Pora, and although the acidity still has presence, it’s softer, more gentle. This is a smooth, dense, intense wine that you will want to sink into. 10,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2022 – 2038.”

5% Off Any Mix of 3-5 Produttori Rio Sordo or Muncagota bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 6+ Produttori Rio Sordo or Muncagota bottles
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Tuesday, September 1st at 6 PM




We offer 27 wines in stock now from Produttori. 

Shop all of our listings on our web store!
 





New Week – New Arrival

Rosé

Back in stock!
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 750ML ($59.95) $55 special
Importer Note
“The thing about Domaine Tempier’s Bandol rosé is that every time you open a bottle—no matter how many you’ve uncorked in your lifetime—it feels like a special occasion. That peachy-pink hue and iconic label turn any moment into a small celebration. Certainly, Bandol rosé is complex and pedigreed, but make no mistake: it is traditionally an apéritif wine. I like to honor it as such by taking the time to prepare as many salty and spreadable treats as I can scoop up with, or pile on top of, toasty croutons: a briny anchoïade, an earthy tapenade, or a bright and tangy sun-dried tomato purée are all great options. Avoid sticky, creamy cheeses, as they may stand in the wine’s way. The more olive oil, dried herbs, and fresh garlic, the better. Maybe you can find some plump octopus to grill and swipe with aïoli, or dip into a summery pistou. As 2020 continues to challenge us, let’s refuel our tanks with the fruits of one of the better things to happen to America in the last fifty years—Kermit importing Tempier rosé. A reason to celebrate!”

Lucien Crochet Sancerre Pinot Noir Rose, Loire 2019 750ML ($34.95) $29.90 special
Rosethenal note
“Made exclusively of Pinot Noir harvested from several parcels … a mix of Oxfordian “caillottes” and Kimmeridgian “marne”. This Rosé is made using the direct press method with the whole berries entering the pressoir. The musts ferment in temperature-controlled cuves (85%) as well as a small percentage in older barrels (15%). The fermentation occurs over three weeks. The wines is bottled in the spring of the following year.”


Pacific Northwest

Averaen Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-6 Averaen Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($139.95) $105 special (that’s only $17.50/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 92 points
“It would be hard to find a better Chardonnay at this price. A blend of grapes from two AVAs, it’s been given reserve-level care, including aging in 10% new French oak. Toasty, tasty and well balanced, it offers ripe apple fruit accented with nut butter and caramel.”

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

Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 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 90 points “Editor’s Choice. 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.”

The Walls Vineyards ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Case-12 The Walls Vineyards ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Washington Wine Blog 91 points
“Showing off a bright color, the Les Jeunes Vignes’ opens with light white peach and damp stone aromas that take shape in the glass. The polished mouthfeel and soft texture really entices here as ripe orchard fruits and lighter wet stone and melon tones come together beautifully on the palate. This is really well-done. Drink 2020-2027.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


France

Back in stock!
Chateau Plince Pomerol 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
James Suckling 93 points
“Focused and fruity with lots of flowers and blackberry character. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a long and subtle finish. Shows polish and finesse. Better in 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $44


Italy

Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe Chardonnay, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($119.95) $69 special
Case-6 Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe Chardonnay, 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 $89.97
The average price is $101

Vigneti Massa Terra Piccolo Derthona Timorasso, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special
“The 2018 Piccolo Derthona is a gorgeous introduction to these distinctive whites. Lemon oil, sage, almond, mint and dried flowers are finely knit in this delicious, alluring white from Massa. This pretty, inviting white will drink well over the next few years.” -Antonio Galloni

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Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($33.95) $29 special

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G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points
“From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or “evergreen” wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant’Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is going to need a few years to emerge, but it has all the qualities to develop into a truly special wine. Dark red/purplish fruit, hard candy, mint, lavender and sweet spice give the 2016 striking inner perfume. On the palate, the 2016 is a tightly wound, classically austere Barolo that will especially delight readers with traditionally leaning palates. In this late-ripening vintage, there is a great balance of structure, aromatics and mid-palate sweetness. I absolutely loved it.”
James Suckling 97 points “The nose is packed with blue flowers, such as violets, iodine and blueberries. Very charming, seductive aromas here. The palate has such plush, long and expansive style. Elegant and smooth, it delivers an expansive bloom of fragrance and flavor at the finish. Effortless and layered. This is a star of the vintage. Drink now and for two decades.”

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
James Suckling 100 points
“Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decadent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 98 points “CELLAR SELECTION. Intense aromas of berry, iris, underbrush, botanical herb and camphor shape the enticing nose. Firmly structured, the taut, full-bodied palate offers juicy black cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2025–2035.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is distinguished by a unique aromatic profile that brings out mineral notes of crushed limestone or chalk. This adds a greater sense of focus and delineation that not only characterizes the bouquet but also applies to the way the wine hits the palate in a fuller and more determined way (compared to the slightly softer classic Brunello). Instead, this single-vineyard Brunello shows an upright and direct approach with soft salinity on the close followed by forest fruit, spice and medicinal herb. The mouthfeel makes a big impact thanks to its streamlined and polished texture. Some 37,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”


Germany

Von Winning Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Terry Theise note
“Many growers would bottle this wine as a GG; it’s probably the best site in Ruppertsberg (though Bürklin has a claim with its monopole Gaisböhl); this ’18 is peachy, sweet white corn, chervil and tarragon; it’s more melodic than Paradiesgarten but with an aloe vera and sorrel note common to good ‘18s; it’s the most appealing of the 1er Lages, sweet-natured and with a lovely grace.”

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Weingut Josef Spreitzer Rosengarten Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Pure and focused, with underlying silkiness giving this a seductive texture, while flavors of guava, kiwifruit and quince blossom lend ample charm. Very open despite the high acidity, exhibiting more than enough flesh for harmony. Well-made, showing a lemon-lime mix on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2034.”
Terry Theise note “Herbs, quince, mint, pea-shoot and a curious underlying stoniness; it made me think of oolongs and Sencha and grassy green teas; a singular Riesling of leaf upon leaf.”

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Weingut Josef Spreitzer Wisselbrunnen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Terry Theise note
“I can’t recall when a young Wisselbrunnen was this present, even more than the ’17 was. There’s a fine refined aroma of hickory nuts and conifer, that leads into a serious and suavely firm and substantive palate with lots of echo and umami, and then a stoniness enters, and the finish just doesn’t quit. Reminds me of 2012 at its graceful best, and it’s a pure Rheingau Grand Cru (at least from the riverfront), self-assured but not haughty.”

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Kruger-Rumpf Estate Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Terry Theise note
“More facets and more material than the regular est. Riesling; there’s more dialogue, more voices in the chord; strongly scented (mirabelles), saltier, and significantly more useful, with more verve than its drier twin, and while this finishes dry it is infinitely more savory. I’m not trying to slam the dry version; it’s as good as such a wine can be, and Rumpfs are properly proud of it. I am saying that this kind of wine is a better kind of wine. It’s a more helpful and precious genre.”

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Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Im Pittersberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points
“While marginally lower in alcohol – at 9% – than its Rheinberg counterpart, this was picked early at a significantly lower 82 Oechsle, so its sense of sweetness is nicely restrained. Luscious and invigoratingly tart-edged white peach, apple and lime are wreathed in honeysuckle, while a billowing sense of levity and inner-mouth perfume perfectly complements a subtly creamy texture that owes something to lees exposure in cask. (In fact, Georg Rumpf performed a bit of lees stirring and an extra racking, yet the wine retains an invigorating hint of CO2 spritz.) The sustained finish delivers a superb sense of vibrancy, clarity and focus, its intense fruitiness matched by a salinity that tugs at the salivary glands. (For background on the origination and style of this Kabinett, consult my reviews of its vintage 2015 and vintage 2016 predecessors.)”
Wine Advocate 91 points “Picked early around September 10th and vinified in large oak until April this year, the 2018 Im Pitterberg Riesling Kabinett offers a clear, ripe and spicy, beautifully elegant bouquet of bright fruits and crushed nuts. Very clear and fresh on the palate, this is a filigreed, elegant and persistently light, salty-piquant and crystalline Riesling with mineral tension and stimulating grip. This is a picture-book Kabinett that is a great pleasure to drink even today and certainly with food. 9% alcohol. Tasted from AP 21 19 in August 2019.”

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The average price nationally is $24

Weingut Carl Loewen Maximiner Klosterlay Riesling, Mosel 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Terry Theise note
“An east-facing vineyard directly on the Mosel, offering slender and “blue” tasting wines. This ’18 is the brighter (almost grassier) face of slate; a tatsoi snap, and it was the first Mosel I tasted that showed ‘18’s phenols—is this a drought feature? The wine is rather a “study in slate,” and on that March day it felt a little strict.”

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Weingut Carl Loewen Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points
“The 2018er Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spätlese was harvested at 91° Oechsle and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (62 g/l). The wine develops a gorgeous even if ample nose made of grapefruit, passion fruit, pear, whipped cream, herbs and fine spices. It has the full creamy presence of an Auslese on the palate. Thankfully, the rich creamy and fruity flavors are nicely lifted up by a touch of zesty acidity. The finish is powerful, assertive and quite impressive. Apricot in the after-taste adds to the big and luscious side of this very nice sweet wine! 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “[+] Consistently and for many years one of the very GREAT wines in this offering, and among them, the least celebrated. Again, very old vines (at least 80, some over 100, all ungrafted) from an old terraced vineyard, because the wise citizens of Leiwen rejected the Flurbereinigung. Think Wehlener Sonnenuhr on steroids. (Or wait a minute; that’s Zeltinger Sonnenuhr. OK, think Zeltinger Sonnenuhr on steroids…) In essence this is weighty, extravagant fruit anchored to profound and almost chewy earthiness. The ’18 shows a little botrytis as all the clean grapes went into a dry “GG.” It’s a slim vintage, where even the deep flavors of dried apricots and butterscotch are more buoyant— if less profound—than usual, but it’s early days, the components are still waiting to knit, and the wine may well fill out. As it is, it’s wonderful!”

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Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2018 750ML ($79.95) $79 special
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2018 375ML ($44.95) $44 special
John Gilman 98 points
“The purity and precision of the 2018 Hermannshöhle Auslese is the stuff that legends used to be made from. The bouquet is complex and utterly refined, offering up scents of pear, white cherries, bee pollen, a touch of orange zest, lovely salinity and a mineral bath of slate. On the palate the wine is fullish, racy and utterly seamless in its balance, with great intensity of flavor, laser-like focus and truly stunning mineral drive on the backend (particularly for Auslese), with an endless and magical finish. 2032-2090+.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Like its Brücke counterpart, this Auslese reflects genuinely botrytis-free grapes, said Dönnhoff, but ones that were too numerous and too high in sugar to use elsewhere, “and certainly not in the Grosses Gewächs, which would then have ended up with 14% alcohol.” Sea breeze on the nose intimates the sweet-saline savor of raw scallop that emerges on this wine’s lusciously lingering, mouthwateringly umami-rich finish. White peach and quince preserves feature throughout, reinforced on the soothingly creamy palate by nougat-like nut essences. There is an animating, juicy fresh-fruit aspect as well, and a wonderful sense of both focus and transparency to stony and ore-like nuances.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese is deep and noble in its finesse and purity that is paired with notes of crushed stones but also perfectly ripe and healthy fruits. Lush and piquant on the palate, with lingering salinity and finesse, this is the more graceful Auslese, which is less challenging than the Brücke but very delicate and finessed. The acidity is finer and the sweetness smoother and more charming yet less dramatic right now. Tasted in July 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 750ml!
The next best price is $88.99


Austria

Weingut Bernhard Ott Feuersbrunner Spiegel Gruner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage, Wagram 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points
“Ott’s 2018 Grüner Veltliner Ried Spiegel 1ÖTW is bright, clear and fresh on the deep and ripe yet precise and mineral nose. Lush and intense, with a loessy character and texture, this is a full-bodied yet fresh and linear, crystalline and intense Veltliner with a nicely phenolic, slightly dry finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “SPIEGEL – the high-elevation and loess-over-gneiss (among other elements) give this wine a minty lift I adore in hot years. In `18 we have us an Altoid of GV; mint, orchid and lemon grass lead into a giddy spazzy wine playing notes that only dogs can hear, with flavors that could shatter glass. Yet it’s not brash or gaudy, just a quivering GV at its radishy spearminty best.”

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A Stellar Rhone Wine from a Burgundy Superstar

Lucien Le Moine (the nom de plume for Mounir and Rotem Saouma) is one of the hottest names in Burgundy.  The rise has been meteoric due to the scarcity of the wines (Mounir wants to keep production under 100 barrels) and also the fact that they only work with grand and premier cru vineyards (with the exception of a tiny amount of Bourgogne).

The Saouma family also has a Chateauneuf based project and we’ve secured some of their excellent Cotes du Rhone Village “Inopia”—just arrived.  It’s a do-not-miss Rhone wine that should appeal to lovers of both powerful Rhone wines and robust Burgundy.

In Stock Now:

Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge, Rhone 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Case-6 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge, Rhone 2016 750ML ($219.95) $165 special (that’s only $27.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points
“Bright raspberry and cherry coulis flavors stream through, laced with light floral and lavender notes. Moderate in scale but seductive in feel. Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2021. 150 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Don’t miss our Le Moine Burgundies arriving Friday!
 


Spanish Treasure:

Bodegas San Roman

Arriving Friday


The Toro region of Spain has been famous for centuries. Its rich, robust Tempranillos are loaded with complexity, in part because of the dramatic temperature swings during the scorching summer days and frigid evenings in the high elevation vineyards. Despite the fame and the obvious appeal to modern day drinkers, like most Spanish regions, the wines still fly under the radar and thus are insane values. Consider the flagship eponymous wine from Bodegas San Roman. Despite the famed founding winemaker, despite the consistent high praise, despite the knife-edge balance, this wine is just $40. Try to find a bargain like that in Napa.

“I have been absolutely enchanted by this wine since I first tried it while in graduate school more than a decade ago. The combination of richness and poise was just amazing to me. The wine can be quite powerful but maintains an amazing sense of balance and terroir. Simply put, it is one of the great wines of the world.” -Dr. Owen Bargreen, Washington Wine Blog

Arriving Friday from Bodegas San Roman:

(Maurodos) Bodegas San Roman, Toro 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival 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.”

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

Stay safe, be well & drink well.

Weekend VinopolPick 8-28-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Subscriber Special:
Discounted Pre-Arrival Pricing on Domaine Dujac


Spanish Treasures, Just Arrived

New California Collectibles:
Hundred Acre, Eisele and Cliff Lede


Ends Soon!
Sequitur Chardonnay Subscriber Special


Just Arrived
Ciacci Piccolomini’s 100-Point Pianrosso!


The Best Price on the West Coast
For a Classic NW Value Chardonnay


Trending Wines

Torbreck’s Perfect, 100-Point RunRig Shiraz

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Subscriber Special:

Discounted Pre-Arrival Pricing on Domaine Dujac

“A vintage that will live in Burgundy folklore”


We don’t have to say too much about Dujac.  They’re undisputedly one of the top handful of producers of Burgundy and their collection of vineyards is impressive by any measure.  The wines are incredible—built to last and complex as the day is long.

The 2018 vintage represents a distinct triumph for Dujac—one that their winemaker described as “a vintage that will live in Burgundy folklore.” Powerful, deep and complex, they combine intensity with levity—there’s no shortage of brightness and vibrancy in these wines, despite their richness.  The best comparison is probably a 2009 merged with a 2005 (or 2015): these are wines that are surprisingly delicious now because of primary fruit but will clearly age for decades. Comparisons with the legendary 1947 vintage have been bandied about quite a bit, but we certainly weren’t around to taste those young, so we’ll take the Burgundians’ word for it.

Dujac is known primarily for their holdings in and around Morey-St. Denis, though recent years have seen them add new parcels to their domaine. These are some of the most sought after wines in the world and we’re proud we have such a large collection.

“This is clearly a very successful vintage chez Dujac, and it’s a very consistent portfolio in what is more generally a somewhat heterogeneous vintage. This is a deep and youthfully muscular set of wines….What is clear is that this is a serious vintage, built for the long haul despite its abundance of fruit, and the Dujac 2018s have the makings of very age-worthy wines” – William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

“This will be a vintage that will live in Burgundy folklore.” – Jeremey Seysses, Winemaker (Dujac)


Sale prices are as listed – pre-order now for the best pricing!


Pre-Arrival ETA September

Domaine Dujac Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($799.95) $699 Subscriber Special, only 2 bottles available
Domaine Dujac Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2018 1.5L ($1,799.95) $1,499 Subscriber Special, only 1 magnum available
Neal Martin-Vinous 95-97 points
“The 2018 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru is blessed with one of my favorite aromatics from Dujac this year, featuring black cherries, raspberry, crushed stone and pressed iris flower, all quite restrained for a Bonnes-Mares but showing outstanding focus. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins, a fine line of acidity and a strict and quite linear finish that lingers long in the mouth. Outstanding.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Unfurling in the glass with a youthfully reserved bouquet of cassis, wild berries, rose petals, peonies and sweet soil tones, Dujac’s 2018 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cruis is full-bodied, lively and incisive, with a muscular and tight-knit core, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. As usual, this is one of the tightest-knit, most overtly mineral reds in the cellar, and it will demand patience.”

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Domaine Dujac Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($699.95) $579 Subscriber Special, only 9 bottles available
Decanter 97 points
“Diana Snowden-Seysses describes this as a ‘spectacular’ Clos de la Roche and no one who’s tasted the wine would accuse her of hyperbole. Bolder and more concentrated than Dujac’s Clos St Denis, this has impressive weight and fruit concentration, 75% whole bunches and 70% new wood. Plush, sweet and intense with notes of black tea and Asian spices.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is a beautiful young wine, built for the ages. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis, cherries, rose petals, orange rind, woodsmoke, cinnamon and rich soil tones, it’s full-bodied, muscular and introverted, with prodigious concentration, lively acids and a long, ripely tannic finish. While I suspect my visit to Domaine Dujac coincided with an especially brooding evolutionary phase, this will be a Clos de la Roche for the patient.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94-96 points “The 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is a different animal from the Clos Saint-Denis, offering sumptuous black cherries, kirsch, cassis and pressed violet aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, more flesh and substance than the Clos Saint-Denis and a multifaceted, persistent, black-pepper-tinged finish that lingers tenderly.”

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Domaine Dujac Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($699.95) $579 Subscriber Special, only 5 bottles available
Decanter 98 points
“Right up there with the very best wines of the vintage in 2018, this is a beautifully refined expression of the domaine’s St Denis, extending to 1.17ha of this finest of Grands Crus. Everything about this wine is in the right place, with subtle 75% whole bunches, polished, nuanced tannins, thrilling minerality, fine, floral red berry sweetness and lingering minerality. The sort of thing every Pinot lover should cherish.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 95-97 points “The 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru has a wonderful bouquet of blackberry, wild strawberry, crushed rocks/sandstone and touches of dried blood. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red fruit, brown spices and a slight charcoal-like note. Moderate depth, quite masculine in style, a little austerity on the finish… but that is what you want from a Clos Saint-Denis.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2018 Clos Saint-Denis Grand Cru is also showing beautifully, bursting with aromas of raspberries, red cherries, cassis and raw cocoa that are complemented by fragrant top notes of orange rind, rose petals and violets. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, lively and elegant, with finer-grained tannins than the more overtly muscular Clos de la Roche, but with similar dimension and mid-palate presence, concluding with a long and perfumed finish.”

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Domaine Dujac Echezeaux Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($649.95) $549 Subscriber Special, only 5 bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 93-95 points
“The 2018 Echézeaux Grand Cru had been racked the day prior to my visit. That said, the bouquet is very well defined, offering black cherries, raspberry, rosemary and pressed rose petal aromas that blossom with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins, good depth and precision, revealing bitter cherry and a touch of balsamic toward the finish. Very good potential.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94+ points “The 2018 Echezeaux Grand Cru is a promising cuvée in the making, mingling aromas of dark berry fruit, cassis and cherries with notions of burning embers, dried flowers and dark chocolate. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and ripely tannic, with a layered and nicely concentrated core, lively acids, and a well-defined finish.”

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Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanee Aux Malconsorts Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($669.95) $599 Subscriber Special, only 7 bottles available
Decanter 96 points
“Perfumed, refined and showing none of the firmness that Aux Malconsorts can exhibit in its youth, this is balanced, nuanced and spicy, with 75% whole bunches adding some freshness and texture, all framed by 70% new wood. Not a blockbuster wine by any means, but this has considerable class, poise and palate length with succulent red berry fruit to the fore.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94-96 points “The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Aux Malconsorts 1er Cru has a perfumed, quite floral bouquet of blackberry, raspberry, black olive and oyster shells, all very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with blackberry and cranberry fruit, tangible mineralité, a crunchy texture and fine backbone on the finish. This has the same symmetry and precision as the Beaux Monts but a little more persistence on the aftertaste.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The fireworks begin in earnest with the 2018 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts, a brilliant young wine that bursts from the glass with aromas of cherries, red berries and exotic spices, complemented by delicate top notes of blood orange and peonies and framed by a deft touch of creamy new oak. On the palate,  it’s medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with a deep and multidimensional core, lively acids and a long, resonant finish.”

Domaine Dujac Vosne-Romanee Beaux Monts Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($449.95) $379 Subscriber Special, only 6 bottles available
Decanter 95 points
“A wine that is both juicy and wonderfully hedonistic, this classy cuvée is fermented with 75% whole bunches and aged in 70% new wood. Comparatively pale in colour, but certainly not lacking in depth or palate weight, it has some tannic grip and subtle wood to complement the plush, palate-caressing fruit. Deliciously drinkable.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 94-96 points “The 2018 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts 1er Cru has a subtle Asian influence on the nose, offering well-defined aromas of hoisin and wet limestone. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity, quite saline in the mouth, with a sense of symmetry on the finish. Simply a class act.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2018 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Beaux Monts exhibits a deep bouquet of cherries, plums, orange rind, smoked duck and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, supple palate that’s succulent and charming, framed by powdery but not unduly assertive tannins.”

Domaine Dujac Gevrey Combottes Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($399.95) $319 Subscriber Special, only 2 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94 points
“The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Aux Combottes was showing especially well, soaring from the glass with a lovely bouquet of cassis, dark berry preserve, baking chocolate and peonies. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with lively acids and a long, aromatic finish.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Combottes 1er Cru had not been racked or sulfured when I tasted it from barrel. It has a very pure black cherry, cassis and violet bouquet that seems to grow in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte tannins, a grainy texture, impressive depth and a mineral-driven, slightly saline finish that lingers in the mouth.”

Domaine Dujac Morey St Denis 1er Cru Rouge 2018 750ML ($299.95) $235 Subscriber Special, only 3 bottles available
Decanter 94 points
“This well-priced blend of four Premiers Crus – Clos Sorbé, Millandes, Ruchots and Charrières – combined with some young vine Clos St Denis in 2018, always amounts to more than the sum of its parts. Spicy, textured and aromatic, with classic whole bunch notes of clove and fresh tobacco, succulent red berry fruit and beautifully judged filigree tannins.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2018 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet cherries and red berries mingled with nuances of rose petals, orange rind, cinnamon and forest floor. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, muscular and structured, with lively acids, fine concentration and a youthfully chalky finish.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2018 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru comes from Ruchots, Sorbets, Millandes and Charrières. It has a clean, precise bouquet of mineral-rich black fruit that is vivid and bright. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins and a fine bead of acidity. A little compact at the moment; the aftertaste needs more persistence to complete this Premier Cru.”

Domaine Dujac Morey St Denis Aoc Rouge 2018 750ML ($149.95) $115 Subscriber Special, only 9 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89-91 points
“Wafting from the glass with an inviting bouquet of sweet red cherries, berries, orange rind and spices, the 2018 Morey-Saint-Denis Village is medium to full-bodied, supple and elegant, with powdery structuring tannins, fine concentration and a nicely defined finish.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 87-89 points “The 2018 Morey-Saint-Denis Village features bold blackberry and bilberry aromas that convey an attractive sense of energy. The palate has a pastille-like purity on the entry, fine acidity and a nicely structured, slightly ferrous finish. Enjoy over the next four or five years.”

Domaine Dujac Chambolle-Musigny 2018 750ML ($179.95) $129 Subscriber Special, only 12 bottles available
Decanter 93 points
“Rightly praised for the quality of their top wines, the Seysses family also know how to deliver very good quality further down the price and appellation scale. This village Chambolle is a case in point. It’s quite high in alcohol, but the 75% whole bunches bring some sap and freshness to the party, complementing the savoury red fruit flavours.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny Village is also showing very well, exhibiting aromas of Griotte cherries, raspberries and blood orange, framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, succulent and youthfully structural, its ample chassis of surprisingly muscular but powdery tannin cloaked in succulent fruit. It’s promising, but based on this showing, it will also require patience.”
Neal Martin-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2018 Chambolle-Musigny Village offers copious black cherry and bilberry on the very pure nose, along with gorgeous incense aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins and slightly chalky in texture, with a Morey-Saint-Denis–like structure toward the serious finish. Good potential.”

Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc 2018 750ML ($149.95) $99 Subscriber Special, only 3 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 87-89 points
“Revealing generous aromas of pear, ripe lemons and bread dough, the 2018 Morey-Saint-Denis Blanc is medium-bodied, with a fleshy core of fruit tempered by good tension and grip, concluding with a chalky finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Dujac Morey-St. Denis Luisants Premier Cru Blanc 2018 750ML ($249.95) $179 Subscriber Special, only 3 bottles available
Decanter 95 points
“Picked early to retain acidity in 2018 – and showing a chiselled pH of 3.0 – this is a superb, almost vintage-defying expression of Morey-St-Denis’ greatest white wine vineyard. Fermented in 15% new wood, it’s taut, tangy and scalpel-sharp with wonderful crunch and focus and a chalky, wonderfully refreshing undertone.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and pastry cream preface the 2018 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Monts Luisants Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive wine that’s racy and tensile. With a finished pH of less than 3.0, this certainly challenges preconceptions about the 2018 vintage.”

Domaine Dujac Puligny-Montrachet Combettes Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($359.95) $279 Subscriber Special, only 4 bottles available
Decanter 94 points
“The white wines can sometimes be overlooked at Domaine Dujac, such is the quality of the reds, but they shouldn’t be. This comes from a parcel of 50 to 70-year-old vines that was picked very early on August 29th. Beautifully balanced between freshness and concentration, it has 15% new wood, notes of cinnamon and vanilla spice and racy, stony acidity.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes reveals attractive aromas of pear, orange oil, toasted hazelnuts and pastry cream. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a richer, more textural and more concentrated profile than the Folatières, differences of both site and vine age being at play here.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 points “The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet Les Combettes 1er Cru comes from vines in excess of 50 years old. It has an attractive bouquet of dew-dappled green apple, grass clippings and limestone aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is fresh and energetic, showing more tension and nerve than the Folatières, with a captivating saline finish. Excellent.”

Domaine Dujac Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 Subscriber Special, only 4 bottles available
Domaine Dujac Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatieres Premier Cru 2018 1.5L ($579.95) $459 Subscriber Special, only 1 magnum available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91-93 points
“The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Folatières was showing well, wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, citrus oil, nutmeg and warm pastry, followed by a medium to full-bodied, racy and nicely defined palate that’s long and intense.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 89-91 points “The 2018 Puligny-Montrachet Les Folatières 1er Cru contains around two-thirds young vines and one-third 20- to 30-year-old vines. It has a pleasant green apple and orange pith bouquet, although it lacks the penetration of the 2017 tasted a year earlier. The palate is taut and fresh, with citrus lemon and a lovely saline note that defines the final half. Not an overly complex Folatières, but it will give pleasure over the next decade, possibly more.”
 
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Spanish Treasures 

Just Arrived, In Stock Now!


The Toro region of Spain has been famous for centuries. Its rich, robust Tempranillos are loaded with complexity, in part because of the dramatic temperature swings during the scorching summer days and frigid evenings in the high elevation vineyards. Despite the fame and the obvious appeal to modern day drinkers, like most Spanish regions, the wines still fly under the radar and thus are insane values. Consider the flagship eponymous wine from Bodegas San Roman. Despite the famed founding winemaker, despite the consistent high praise, despite the knife-edge balance, this wine is just $40. Try to find a bargain like that in Napa.

“I have been absolutely enchanted by this wine since I first tried it while in graduate school more than a decade ago. The combination of richness and poise was just amazing to me. The wine can be quite powerful but maintains an amazing sense of balance and terroir. Simply put, it is one of the great wines of the world.” –Dr. Owen Bargreen, Washington Wine Blog

(Maurodos) 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.”

Speaking of under-appreciated Spanish wines, don’t miss the Tirant from Rotllan, also just arrived!

“Jordi Rotllan Torra was one of the pioneers of Priorat having founded this small estate in 1984, long before this now fashionable wine region became world renowned.” –Robert Parker

Rotllan Torra Tirant, Priorat DOCa 2001 750ML ($99.95) $69 special
Robert Parker 96-98 points
“A prodigious effort, the 2001 Tirant is a 9,000-bottle cuvee made from 30% Grenache (90-100 years old), 25% Carignan (90-100 years old), 25% young vine Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, and 10% Merlot. Fermented in large oak foudres and aged 12 months in new French oak, it will be bottled with neither fining nor filtration. Inky/purple-colored to the rim, it boasts a spectacular bouquet of blueberries, blackberries, and the region’s classic crushed stone minerality. This full-throttle yet remarkably elegant 2001 possesses tremendous intensity and texture as well as layers of flavor, but comes across as not over the top, overripe, or overly heavy. The 60-second finish reveals more noticeable tannin than the other cuvees. Give it 1-2 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 10-15. The 2001 Tirant is indeed a special wine.”
 
 
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New California Collectibles:

Hundred Acre, Eisele and Cliff Lede
 
We’ve received new stock on three absolutely classic California bottlings: Hundred Acre’s Wraith Cabernet, Cliff Lede’s Poetry Cabernet and Eisele Vineyard’s Sauvignon Blanc. All three have special prices for you, our email list subscribers, two of which are so low we can’t list them online. All three wines just arrived and are in stock, perfect for delivery to your cellar door.

Discounted price will not display online–we will adjust before finalizing your order
Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($599.95) Displayed price $549, Subscriber price $499
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 100 points
“Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Wraith leaps from the glass with gregarious black and red cherries, mulberries, black currant cordial, red roses and lavender scents with layers of crushed rocks and earthy sparks. Faint earth and exotic spice nuances unfurl slowly, growing in intensity and depth. The palate is full-bodied and solidly structured with firm, very finely grained, super ripe tannins and bold freshness. Finishing exquisitely perfumed, jaw-droppingly layered and with bags of sophistication and poise, this wine totally resets the benchmark for 100 points.”

Discounted price will not display online–we will adjust before finalizing your order
Eisele Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($119.95) Displayed price $99, Subscriber price $89
Case-3 Eisele Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($349.95) Displayed price $285, Subscriber price $255 (that’s only $85/bottle!)
James Suckling 97 points
“Sliced apples and limes on the nose with grassy and chamomile notes. But then it turns to honeysuckle, chalk and minerals. Full-bodied with papaya, sliced-pear and green-pineapple flavors. Tight and fresh at the end. Crunchy acidity. Solid density. Energetic finish. Drink now or hold.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 94+ points “Already bottled, the 2018 Sauvignon Blanc bursts from the glass with energetic notes of fresh grapefruit, lime leaves, green apples and orange blossoms with wafts of dill seed and white pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate is practically electric with vibrant citrus and apple flavors and a wonderfully spicy background, finishing fantastically long, minerally and refreshing.”

This is the lowest price in the USA today!

Subscriber Special price valid until Sunday, August 30th at 6PM
Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2016 750ML ($299.95) Was $249, Now $219 Subscriber Special
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 99+ points
“A blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry needs a little coaxing to begin to unfurl the tightly wound yet exciting scents of blackcurrant cordial, blackberry preserves, warm redcurrants and kirsch plus fragrant nuances of candied violets, underbrush, cigar boxes, menthol and star anise. Full-bodied and built like a brick house in the mouth, the palate features an almost impenetrable structure of super ripe tannins framing the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long. This beauty needs at least 5-6 years to begin to blossom, after which it may well warrant a perfect score.”
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry comes from shallow, volcanic soils in the Stags Leap AVA and is a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, 6% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. It offers killer notes of crème de cassis, black raspberries, toasted spices, vanilla, and exotic flowers. These carry to a profound, incredibly intense, layered wine that has no hard edges, perfect balance, building tannins, and a great, great finish. This is another magical wine from this team that ranks with some of the finest wines ever made from this valley. As with most 2016s, it has some upfront charm and accessibility, yet will be at its best with 4-6 years of bottle age and will keep for 3-4 decades.”

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

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Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?

Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:


#503-223-6002



(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)

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Ending Soon!

Sequitur Chardonnay Subscriber Special

Mike Etzel, the founder and winemaker of Sequitur, is a living legend in the Willamette Valley.  He co-founded Beaux Freres in the late 80’s and was the winemaker there until recently passing the duties to his son.  Never one to rest on his laurels or stay still, though, he began planting a vineyard adjacent to Beaux Freres in 2010—a project that became what we know as Sequitur.

The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Freres (though his son, Mikey, is the day-to-day winemaker). Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard.  In short order, they’ve established themselves as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserve your attention as such.

Sequitur Subscriber Special Pricing Ends Sunday, August 30th at 10AM

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Winery Note
“The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92+ points
“The 2017 Sequitur Chardonnay was aged mainly in amphorae this vintage. It opens with fresh scents of poached pears, baked apples, honey and hazelnuts with notes of chamomile, crème fraîche and lemon peel with an undercurrent of crushed stone. Medium-bodied, it fleshes out in the mouth with honey-nut accents, seamlessly integrated acidity and a long, honeyed finish. This is a more open-knit style of Chardonnay compared to the mineral-driven version from Beaux Frères.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 93+ points
“The 2016 Sequitur Chardonnay has a gregarious nose of spiced, baked yellow apples and warm pineapple with notes of toast, honey, hazelnut and hay. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm orchard and tropical fruits accented by nuances of baking spice, nuts and honey, with a touch of creaminess to the texture, juicy acidity and a long, mineral-laced finish. 85 cases produced.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 94+ points
“The 2015 Sequitur Chardonnay delivers toasted almonds, baker’s yeast, fresh ginger and coriander seed on the nose with a core of grapefruit, white peaches and spiced apples. Light to medium-bodied, it gives a great intensity of savory flavor layers intermingled with stone fruit and citrus notions, finishing long with great freshness and mineral notes.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Subscriber Special Pricing Ends Sunday, August 30th at 10AM

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Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Don’t want to stop in?

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.)


#503-223-6002
 
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Just Arrived

Ciacci Piccolomini’s 100-Point Pianrosso!


Ciacci Piccolomini is one of Italy’s most celebrated producers.  Much of their success can be directly attributed to their 35 hectares of holdings.  Not only are they located in the heart of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, one of Tuscany’s most prized zones, but the estate is a member of ‘Lotta Integrata’, an EU based movement that promotes responsible viticulture.  Combine some of Tuscany’s best fruit with world-class winemaking, and it’s no surprise that James Suckling awarded the 2015 a perfect 100 point score.

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
James Suckling 100 points
“Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decadent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Cellar Selection. Intense aromas of berry, iris, underbrush, botanical herb and camphor shape the enticing nose. Firmly structured, the taut, full-bodied palate offers juicy black cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2025–2035.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is distinguished by a unique aromatic profile that brings out mineral notes of crushed limestone or chalk. This adds a greater sense of focus and delineation that not only characterizes the bouquet but also applies to the way the wine hits the palate in a fuller and more determined way (compared to the slightly softer classic Brunello). Instead, this single-vineyard Brunello shows an upright and direct approach with soft salinity on the close followed by forest fruit, spice and medicinal herb. The mouthfeel makes a big impact thanks to its streamlined and polished texture. Some 37,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”

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The Best Price on the West Coast

For a Classic NW Value Chardonnay


Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($14.95) $9.50 special
Case-12 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $99 special (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Winery Note
“Our Columbia Valley Chardonnay is a food-friendly wine. It is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex and interesting wine. Cheers!”

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

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Trending Wines

From a vineyard that’s only separated from Seven Spring by a one lane road, this is a gem for the price.
Vincent Pinot Noir Bjornson Vineyard, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points
“Brilliant red. Highly expressive aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and candied rose, along with a hint of smoky minerality. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show fine definition and back-end lift. Intensely flavored and finely delineated, with an impressively long, perfumed finish that delivers firm mineral cut and resonating florality.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Boscarelli’s 2016 Vino Nobile, the product of that legendary vintage, is drinking beautifully today, even as it sheds its baby fat.  But the wine is also structured and complex, a sure sign that it will age beautifully.
Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($519.95) $419 special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Expressive and harmonious, this red exhibits cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral aromas and flavors. Pure and elegant, with an underlying tension and intensity that drives the lingering aftertaste of fruit, stone and earth, showing a hint of wild herbs. Sangiovese, Canaiolo, Mammolo and Colorino. Best from 2022 through 2038. 4,200 cases made, 800 cases imported.”
Decanter 94 points “Niccolò and Luca De Ferrari assemble their Riserva from the estate’s oldest vines, essentially 3 or 4 parcels that are more than 20 years old. For ageing, they have moved to slightly larger and used casks in order to preserve freshness and grace. The 2016 is indeed deftly proportioned and refined, though with a firm and muscular backbone. It opens with balsamic notes of cedar and rosemary on a backdrop of strawberry. Nuances of mint and leather chime in on the palate, which is layered with succulent fruit. Full, without being heavy, this will take time to reveal all of its charms.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editor’s Choice. Wild berry, blue flower, crushed herb, camphor and a whiff of tobacco mingle together on this vibrant red. Made with 85% Sangiovese as well as Canaiolo, Colorino and Mammolo, the radiant palate is loaded with finesse, delivering raspberry compote, Marasca cherry, licorice and Asian spice. Elegant, fine-grained tannins provide the framework while bright acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2021–2031.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Utterly classic Chinon, with some bottle age
Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire 2008 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery Library Release!
Jason Wilson-Vinous 92 points
“Light ruby in color, bright and fresh, featuring aromas and flavors of tomatoes and cherries throughout. Balanced and cool, with a hint of dark minerality on the finish. Incredibly fresh and seamless. Has a long life ahead. Aged one year in foudre. Drink 2020 – 2030.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A great value Sangiovese from the family that owns Felsina.
Podere La Berta Sangiovese di Romagna, Emilia-Romagna 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points
“The 2018 Podere La Berta Romagna Sangiovese shows moist earth notes and minerals, plus hints of young strawberry, bell pepper and dusty florals. It finishes medium in length and remarkably fresh, while still resonating on fruit purity and hints of subtle spice.”

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

A stunning single-vineyard Garnacha from one of Spain’s new-wave masters.
Vina Zorzal Malayeto, Navarra 2018 750ml ($29.95) $26 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points
“The really impressive and mineral 2018 Malayeto was produced with Garnacha from a single vineyard that produces wine of unusual elegance and minerality. This was the first plot they bottled separately, and this 2018 is the sixth vintage they have produced. It’s a 2.9-hectare plot planted 40 years ago, on the same slope as Corral de los Altos but at a higher altitude and therefore with different soils, surprisingly deep but with lots of calcium carbonate and fine gravel. This fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in a 4,000-liter oak foudre and nine used 500-liter oak barrels for nine months. This wine clearly transcends its price. It’s serious but started quite shy and needed time to open up (it’s extremely young and just bottled), but there is great purity and detail, and it’s elegant and balanced, extremely harmonious. The palate is incredibly elegant, seamless, balanced, with very fine tannins, great integration of the oak and very good freshness, with citrus-like freshness (think blood orange skin). Most of the time, this is my go-to wine in Zorzal’s portfolio, a wine of great finesse in its finest vintage to date.”

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

One of the most impressive bottlings out of the Willamette Valley in ’17
Goodfellow Family Cellars Long Acre Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points
“Brilliant magenta. Vibrant, highly perfumed red fruit, exotic spice and floral pastille aromas show outstanding clarity, and a zesty mineral overtone builds in the glass. Lithe and sharply focused on the palate, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry, spicecake and blood orange flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Juicy, pure and precise, finishing with sharp focus and sneaky, slowly building tannins that add framework and final grip.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A standout in the (excellent) 2018 Beaujolais vintage.
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points
“Chermette’s 2018 Fleurie Les Garants delivers a striking bouquet of raspberries, peonies, warm spices and candied peel, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny but incisive palate that remains lively and tensile, despite its abundant endowment of ripe, succulent fruit. Elegant and precise, this is one of the high points of the portfolio.”

Mineral, bright and serious, from a winery that’s near and dear to the heart of our staff.
Championship Bottle “Silicone On Sapphire” White, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Winery note
“A remix of a Friuli-style blend. This might be the singular wine that embodies what we hope to accomplish—more proof that the native tongue of the Willamette Valley has a Furlan accent. It’s inspired by the tradition of blended white wines from that corner of Italy and is composed of 26% Ribolla Gialla, 8% Tocai Friulano, and 33% each Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.  This was done partially for practical reasons (there are a total of one and a quarter rows of the Ribolla/Friulano at Omero Vineyard) and partially because both grapes do so well as blending components.  Ribolla has an austerity to it that provides structure and spine, while Friulano is blessed with beautiful fruit but lacks some acidity.  Pinot Blanc seemed to heighten those grapes’ characteristics and Chard provided a beautiful background texture.”

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Torbreck’s Perfect, 100-Point RunRig Shiraz

Torbreck is one of the truly iconic Australian producers.  Producing wines at every price-point, they’re known in their native land for their “Run Rig” Shiraz—a towering bottling that sits with Penfold’s Grange and Henschke’s Hill of Grace as one of the best wines made in any given vintage.  The 2016 is one of the best iterations yet, a Wine Advocate 100-pointer that combines the raw power of the Barossa with enough polish to take the wine into transcendent realms.  Our limited allocation just arrived, but likely won’t last long.


Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Torbreck RunRig Shiraz – Viognier, Barossa Valley 2016 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Advocate 100 points
“A blend of 98% Shiraz and 2% Viognier made just prior to bottling, the 2016 RunRig is a complete masterpiece. It kicks off with elegant notes of pencil shavings accenting blueberries and blackberries on the nose, then shows incredible, palate-staining intensity of fruit in the mouth. It’s full-bodied, plush and velvety without being unstructured and manages to be fruit-forward yet savory on the long-lasting finish, where it picks up hints of mocha and black olives. This should be drinkable with pleasure throughout its entire two-decade life (it may live longer from cold cellars or in larger formats), but if I were lucky enough to have a bottle or two, I’d try the first one about 10 years out.”
 
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Thanks for reading!
 



Vinopolis Chardonnay Special 8-27-20

The Best Price on the West Coast

For a NW Value Classic

 
Arriving Tomorrow:

Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($14.95) $9.50 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau Ste. Michelle Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special (that’s only $8.25/bottle!)
Winery Note
“Our Columbia Valley Chardonnay is a food-friendly wine. It is crafted in a fresh, soft style with bright apple and sweet citrus fruit character with subtle spice and oak nuances. We blend Chardonnay grapes from vineyards throughout Washington’s Columbia Valley to make this a complex and interesting wine. Cheers!”

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

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Subscriber Specials

On Two World Class Chardonnays

We’ve got Subscriber Specials on two world class bottlings of Chardonnay—the Willamette Valley’s own Sequitur and Gaja’s Rossj bass botting from the Piedmont.  Both have new, lower prices (on six-pack purchases in the case of the Gaja) and deserve the attention of lovers of top Chardonnay from Burgundy, California or our home state.


A New Lower Price for Sequitur

Mike Etzel, the founder and winemaker of Sequitur, is a living legend in the Willamette Valley.  He co-founded Beaux Freres in the late 80’s and was the winemaker there until recently passing the duties to his son.  Never one to rest on his laurels or stay still, though, he began planting a vineyard adjacent to Beaux Freres in 2010—a project that became what we know as Sequitur.

The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Freres (though his son, Mikey, is the day-to-day winemaker). Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard.  In short order, they’ve established themselves as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserve your attention as such.

Sequitur Subscriber Special Pricing Ends Sunday, August 30th at 10AM

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Winery Note
“The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92+ points
“The 2017 Sequitur Chardonnay was aged mainly in amphorae this vintage. It opens with fresh scents of poached pears, baked apples, honey and hazelnuts with notes of chamomile, crème fraîche and lemon peel with an undercurrent of crushed stone. Medium-bodied, it fleshes out in the mouth with honey-nut accents, seamlessly integrated acidity and a long, honeyed finish. This is a more open-knit style of Chardonnay compared to the mineral-driven version from Beaux Frères.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 93+ points
“The 2016 Sequitur Chardonnay has a gregarious nose of spiced, baked yellow apples and warm pineapple with notes of toast, honey, hazelnut and hay. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm orchard and tropical fruits accented by nuances of baking spice, nuts and honey, with a touch of creaminess to the texture, juicy acidity and a long, mineral-laced finish. 85 cases produced.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($89.95), Was $69, Now $59 Subscriber Special
Wine Advocate 94+ points
“The 2015 Sequitur Chardonnay delivers toasted almonds, baker’s yeast, fresh ginger and coriander seed on the nose with a core of grapefruit, white peaches and spiced apples. Light to medium-bodied, it gives a great intensity of savory flavor layers intermingled with stone fruit and citrus notions, finishing long with great freshness and mineral notes.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Subscriber Special Pricing Ends Sunday, August 30th at 10AM


Plus, A New Case-6 Special on Gaja’s Rossj Bass


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 collectable white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.  Today we’re excited to offer a can’t-miss case-6 price on Gaja’s Rossj Bass Langhe white (95% Chardonnay, with a touch of Sauvignon Blanc).  A wine that normally commands a triple digit price tag, we’re offering for less than $60 on six-pack purchases.  It’s another Vinopolis coup!


Arriving Tomorrow:

Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe Chardonnay, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($119.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe Chardonnay, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($599.95) $359 pre-arrival 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 was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

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Plus, Two Oregon Chardonnay Case Specials!

Arriving Tomorrow:

Averaen Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Averaen Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($139.95) $105 pre-arrival special (that’s only $17.50/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 92 points
“It would be hard to find a better Chardonnay at this price. A blend of grapes from two AVAs, it’s been given reserve-level care, including aging in 10% new French oak. Toasty, tasty and well balanced, it offers ripe apple fruit accented with nut butter and caramel.”

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


In Stock Now:

What more can we say about Cameron’s Chards?
Cameron Winery Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Case-6 Cameron Winery Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($289.95) $195 special (that’s only $32.50/bottle!)
VinopolNote:
The ‘Reserve’ level of Cameron Chardonnay is an incredible deal.  Made of declassified barrels of Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, so without the new oak that the lower level bottling sees, this wine shows facets of the grace and intensity of Abbey and the Clos without the price tag of those higher end bottlings.


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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

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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.

Midweek VinopolPick 8-26-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

German Icons Subscriber Special
Peter Lauer & J Christoffel Jr


Trending: Saint Cosme
Newly Arrived & Arriving Friday


A New Great Review
For a Piedmont Value Favorite


Featured New Arrival:
Vincent Wine Company
Willamette Pinots With “A Devoted Cult Following”


Oregon Case Specials

 
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German Icons Subscriber Special

Peter Lauer & J Christoffel Jr


5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 Peter Lauer and/or J. Christoffel Jr bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ Peter Lauer and/or J. Christoffel Jr bottles
Peter Lauer and/or J. Christoffel Jr Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Friday, August 28th at 6 PM



Peter Lauer

If aren’t familiar with the Lauer wines, you owe it to yourself to try them. All of the wines featured today come from the Ayler Kupp vineyard, which is located in the Saar valley, near the Mosel.  There are a bunch of single-parcel wines, which are fermented down as far as the wine naturally wants to go, that carry the name of the specific part of the vineyard on them—and these are the ones that you should try to see the full glory of dry and just-off-dry Riesling from the Saar.

They also make some traditional Kabinett and Spatlese, as well as a wine called “Senior” that’s made in the style that Florian’s grandfather loved to drink.  All the wines have a Fass (cask) number on them, which should give you an idea on how much of this wine is made (not a lot).

“At Lauer, the focus is on dry-tasting Rieslings as opposed to the residual sugar wines of [Egon Müller and Zilliken]. Employing natural-yeast fermentations, Lauer’s wines find their own balance. They tend to be more textural, deeper and more masculine. They have a preternatural sense of balance, an energy that is singular. Yet the hallmarks of the Saar are there: purity, precision, rigor, mineral.” – Vom Boden

Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Fass 2 Riesling Extra Trocken 2017 750ML ($31.95) $26 Displayed Price, that’s $24.70 at 5% off and $23.40 at 10% off!
Stuart Pigott 91-92 points
“Although this is a serious Saar riesling for the acid hounds, it has plenty of smoky and candied-citrus character. Generous substance, too. Better from 2019.”
John Gilman 90 points “The 2017 vintage of Faß 2 comes in at 12.5 percent octane and is quite dry, as mentioned above, at just over one gram of sugar. The wine is youthful, but shows lovely promise, with the nose wafting from the glass in a mix of pink grapefruit, orange peel, plenty of smokiness, a fine base of slate, wild yeasts and a nice hint of Saar herb tones in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, racy and nascently complex, with great focus, cut and grip and a long, poised and perfectly balanced finish. This will need a year or two longer in the cellar to start to stir than the 2018 version, but it too is going to be an excellent bargain. 2023-2055. 90.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Peter Lauer Fass 8 Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 Displayed Price, that’s $26.60 at 5% off and $25.20 at 10% off!
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“The 2017er Ayler Kupp Kabinett Fass 8 was made from fruit harvested at a comparatively low 80° Oechsle on the original Kupp hill. It offers a superb nose of candied grapefruit, lemon zest, cassis, white flowers and chalky minerals, all wrapped into some residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation. The wine develops the presence of a beautiful Spätlese but with the light-footed and focused structure of a Kabinett on the palate. The finish is vibrant, pure, precise, fruit-driven and above all incredibly persistent and deliciously fruity and tart. This stunning expression of fruity Riesling will prove irresistible at maturity. 2027-2042.”
Stuart Pigott 92 points “A strong Kabinett but also a very vibrant one. This has wonderful lemony freshness at the long finish. A great wine for spicy food. Drink now or in 2019 and 2020.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Peter Lauer ‘Kern’ Ayler Kupp Fass 9 Riesling 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 Displayed Price, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off!
Stuart Pigott 94 points
“Tropical and creamy, but it also shows a very firm core — Kern means core in German. This is another stunningly original wine from Peter Lauer. A lot of power at the finish. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Kern Fass 9 comes from old vines in a prime south-west-facing part of the original Ayler Kupp hill situated well into the side valley and was fermented down to almost fruity levels (40 g/l of residual sugar). It offers a delicately vibrant nose of candied grapefruit, cassis, lemon zest, ginger and fine herbs. The wine is beautifully focused and just fruity-styled on the palate and leaves a vibrant feel of zesty acidity and bitter lemon in the long and delicately tart finish. This is a beautiful expression of fully off-dry tasting Riesling in the making! 2022-2032.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Peter Lauer ‘Neuenberg’ Fass 17 Riesling 2017 750ML ($59.95) $46 Displayed Price, that’s $43.70 at 5% off and $41.40 at 10% off!
Wine Advocate 94 points
“Florian Lauer’s 2017 Ayler Kupp Neuenberg Riesling Fass 17 is very clear and intense yet subtle and finely mineral on the elegant, fruity, well-defined nose. Round and textured on the palate, with a certain creaminess and melodiousness, this is an intense and mouth-filling yet vital and persistent classic Riesling that is neither too dry nor too sweet and comes along with remarkable finesse, mineral tension and complexity. Still too young but already very promising. Tasted in June 2019.”
John Gilman 93+ points “Happily, there was the 2017 Neuenberg sitting there ready to sample and it was really singing for such a young wine. This wine comes in at twelve percent alcohol and is very, very promising on both the nose and palate, albeit still properly reserved at such a young age. The bouquet delivers scents of lemon, grapefruit, tart peach, salty slate minerality, white flowers and lemongrass. On the palate the wine is crisp, medium-full and very refined, with an excellent core, great soil signature, impeccable focus and balance and a long, nascently complex and classy finish. First class juice. 2024-2065. 93+.”
Stuart Pigott 93-94 points “Still a bit compact and monolithic, but there’s excellent ripeness. A long finish with cool, wet stones and lemons. Better from 2019, but it also shows long-term aging potential.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92-93 points “The 2017 Ayler Kupp Neuenberg Riesling “Fass 17″ offers a deep, pure and flinty bouquet with floral and stony aromas and beautiful mineral freshness. Piquant and lush on the palate, this is a light to medium-bodied, very pure and mineral Riesling with refreshing acidity. The wine has a stimulatingly grippy finish with lush tropical fruit in the aftertaste. Excellent. Tasted March 2018.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Jos. Christoffel Jr.

The Jos. Christoffel Jr. winery was related by marriage to the Prum family.  (Alas, last year Marcus Molitor purchased the winery and their holdings, so we have to use the past tense.) They were a wonderful middle Mosel estate, run by Karl Josef Christoffel, that made very traditional wines and sold them for incredibly reasonable prices.  The Christoffel estate’s winery in Ürzig dates back to the 12th century. Although the family didn’t begin making wines here for another six centuries, their skill and reputation today exceed most others along the Mosel. All the wines here were fermented with natural yeasts and aged in the traditional 1000L Fuder casks.  The resulting wines are complex and incredibly age-worthy, but like most Mosel Riesling, delicious today.

Among Riesling lovers, Christoffel Jr was best known for their luscious Auslesen (and Spatlesen) from the Erdener Pralat, Treppchen and Urziger Wurzgarten.  Combining beautiful, exotic fruit with zesty acidity and profound age-worthiness, they’re steals even at our normal low pricing.  Until close on Friday night, they’re even better.

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese*** 2014 750ML ($59.95) $33 Displayed Price, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off!
VinopolNote:
Erderner Prälat occupies a mere 2.2 hectares. Entirely south-facing, the vineyard is surrounded by cliffs which insulate the vines – as a result, Prälat is one of the warmest plots in the region. Over time, it has also become one of the most sought-after vineyards. Given the limited space, only a few winemakers have access to the vineyard.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese *** 2016 750ML ($67.95) $46 Displayed Price, that’s $43.70 at 5% off and $41.40 at 10% off!
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points
“In his enthusiasm, Kajo Christoffel makes no attempt to disguise the fact that this “three-star” offering is his favorite wine of the vintage. And atypically, here Prälat delivers animation and primary juiciness comparable to what was observed in the same collection’s wines from Würzgarten or Treppchen. A decadent, musky, heady perfume of lily, narcissus and peony shares aromatic billing with glazed pineapple, candied orange peel, marzipan and green herbal essences. The creamy, glossy palate delivers a delectable corresponding layering of flavors and features enough fresh citrus juiciness to animatingly counteract the wine’s strong sheer sweetness. Licorice and vanilla add to the diversity of a lusciously and soothingly lingering finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Treppchen Riesling Kabinett 2016 750ML ($34.95) $27 Displayed Price, that’s $25.65 at 5% off and $24.30 at 10% off!
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points
“This offers a beautiful nose of pear, citrusy fruits, brown sugar and herbs. The wine proves quite racy on the palate as lively acidity provides the frame to fresh and zesty fruits. The finish is refreshingly tart, with a nice salty side. Still a bit wild, the wine will gain in presence and elegance at maturity. 2023-2036.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 90 points “Alluring, site-typical scents of lemongrass, sassafras and tangerine set the stage for a lusciously juicy, invigoratingly tangy, zesty palate impression. The finish is unabashedly sweet but so brightly juicy that it refreshes and calls forth the next sip. The vintage’s A.P. #1, this represents its first-picked fruit. But even then, we’re talking mid-October, so early picking goes only a little way toward explaining the modest degrees Oechsle on which this alcoholically featherweight bottling is founded. The vines themselves and how they are handled – certainly including the yields Christoffel permits – are important factors.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese 2005 375ML ($89.95) $69 Displayed Price, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off!
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese 2005 750ML ($179.95) $133 Displayed Price, that’s $126.35 at 5% off and $119.70 at 10% off!
2005 Vintage: Wine Spectator 98 points
“Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** 2006 750ML ($59.95) $39 Displayed Price, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off!

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** 2014 750ML ($59.95) $33 Displayed Price, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off!
Importer note
: The Christoffel family in Ürzig, is related by marriage to the Prüm family in Wehlen. The estate is run by Karl Josef Christoffel (KaJo) has an extensive library of well-aged wines. All wines are fermented in the traditional 1000 Liter barrels with the natural yeast. This gives the wines a great aging potential.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2015 750ML ($39.95) $24 Displayed Price, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off!
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points
“A rather restrained nose hints at more than exhibits some delicate flowers, smoke and a touch of toffee at first. The wine develops more presence and intensity on the juicy palate as juicy yellow peach comes through. The finish proves juicy as grapefruit acidity brings focus and adds depth and freshness in the after-taste. There is plenty of upside potential in this Auslese in disguise. 2025-2045”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 Displayed Price, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off!
VinopolNote
on Urziger Wurzgarten: The Urziger Wurzgarten, or ‘spice garden’ is an intensely steep, iron-rich red slate vineyard. Though it’s located right next to the Erdener vineyards, the Ürziger wines are vastly different: the volcanic soils and favorable drainage lead to an earthy, spice-laden, tropical fruit-tinged wine.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 Peter Lauer and/or J. Christoffel Jr bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ Peter Lauer and/or J. Christoffel Jr bottles
Peter Lauer and/or J. Christoffel Jr Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Discount Valid Until Friday, August 28th at 6 PM

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Trending

Saint Cosme

Newly Arrived & Arriving Friday



Saint Cosme’s 2018 Gigondas
 
“largely plush, sumptuous wines, many of which are delicious already.” – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate, on the 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhone

“For me, 2018 is a top vintage. The tannins are long and deep.” – Marc Perrin, Perrin Famille/Château de Beaucastel

Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures.  To highlight these varying terroirs, the estate bottles a handful of single vineyard Gigondas which are the most interesting and coveted wines in the portfolio.

The 2018’s are some of the best wines they’ve yet made.  The Valbelle cuvee is gone—blended in to the base level Gigondas.  The remaining single vineyards are stunning.  From the “best of everything” Hominis Fides to the more elegant Le Claux or the richer, more powerful Le Poste, these are a world-beating set of wine—at fantastic, best in country pricing.  If past is precedent, these will sell out quickly, so secure your wines immediately.

Newly Arrived from Chateau de Saint Cosme:

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points
“A step up, the 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides offers slightly more mid-palate depth and richness as well as full body, ripe, polished tannins, and stunning notes of blackberries, ground herbs, peppery garrigue, and loamy soil. This fleshy, opulent, sexy wine does everything right.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Bold scents of asphalt and cassis appear on the nose of the 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides. Like the other 2018s here, it’s a big, concentrated and powerful wine. In this case, it’s loaded with intense fruit and backed by waves of rich, velvety tannins, yet it finishes with zesty-briny notes and tremendous length.-JC”
 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95-97 points
“Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half.-JC”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2018 Gigondas Le Claux comes from a single vineyard located just down the road from the domaine, across the street from the Hominis Fides parcel. Notes of camphor, incense, spice box, and black raspberries all flow to a forward, medium to full-bodied, elegant effort that has soft, ripe tannins. It’s another wine that shows the style of the vintage beautifully. Drink it any time over the coming 15 to 20 years.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($269.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 1.5L ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points
“Blended on the spot from several different barrels, the 2018 Gigondas looks very promising. Asphalt, black cherries and tapenade feature on the nose, while the palate is almost painfully intense, with ample weight, great richness and a long, velvety finish.-JC”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “Moving to the Gigondas releases, the 2018 Gigondas (which now always includes the grapes that previously went into the Valbelle cuvée) is a drop-dead gorgeous wine that readers should snatch up. Tons of blackberry fruit, peppery herbs, violets, and wildflower notes all give way to a medium to full-bodied Gigondas that has the rounded, sexy style of the vintage front and center. I love it, and while it’s going to be drinkable right out of the gate, it’s going to keep for 15-20 years.”

Arriving Friday from Saint Cosme:

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate
“96-98 points Given the intensity of every cuvée at this estate, I was blown away by the elegance shown by the 2018 Gigondas le Poste. Violet and aniseed aromas accent plum and black cherry fruit, while this full-bodied wine is creamy-velvety in texture, with a long, silky finish that folds in distinct salted-licorice notes. Wow!-JC”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Lastly, the 2018 Gigondas Le Poste comes from a slightly higher elevation parcel just up the slope from the estate. Always a fresher, more perfumed, complex wine, the 2018 offers terrific floral and violet notes as well as plenty of dark fruits, peppery herbs, and earth. Full-bodied, concentrated, and seamless on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins (another hallmark of this cuvée), it’s perfectly balanced and a beautiful wine in the vintage.”


Saint Cosme’s Not-Gigondas
 
Saint Cosme is most rewarded for their top tier estate Gigondas’, which are their flagship wines, but around Vinopolis they might be best known for their assortment of super-high-grade negoc bottlings.  From the exceptional value Deux Albion to the high grade Cote Rotie and everything in-between (looking at you, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph!), these wines deliver fantastic quality at prices that make them best sellers ever year.

Arriving Friday:

Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Le Poste Blanc, Rhone 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Importer Note
“Château de Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc Le Poste is from a 1-hectare terraced vineyard that sits near the chapel of Saint Cosme, a short uphill climb from the winery. The maximum elevation is 280 meters, 140 meters above the Gigondas valley floor, and is one of the coolest vineyards in Gigondas. The terraces and elevation make it necessary to plow the vineyard by horse. The vineyard was replanted in 1963 by Henri Barruol to a field blend based mainly on Grenache and one small parcel of Clairette from which Le Poste Blanc is produced. This 100% Clairette was vinified in used traditional demi-muids without malolactic fermentation and aged 10 months on lees. Clairette is an old variety that likely originated in southern France often used to produce simple and crisp dry white wines or as a component in a blend such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc. White wines from Clairette have a tradition at Saint Cosme, specifically at Le Poste, where Louis Barroul’s grandfather produced famously long-lived Le Poste Blanc. Limestone soils give Le Poste Blanc a flavor of gunflint and the ability to age for twenty years or more. “

Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points
“A very powerful, rich and attractively fleshy Condrieu with intense and concentrated fruit and a wealth of apricots and some baking spices on offer. The palate has such intensity and depth. Citrus and fleshy apricots abound. Drink in the next three years.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “I was able to taste two vintages of Louis Barruol’s Condrieu, and both are terrific. The 2018 Condrieu comes from a cooler terroir near Malleval and offers lots of apricot, tangerine, and honeysuckle notes as well as classic Condrieu richness and depth on the palate. Medium to full-bodied, silky, and elegant, with plenty of granite character, it has a forward, fleshy style that’s going to shine right out of the gate.”
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Condrieu is produced from fully-ripened Viognier which Louis Barruol believes is essential to achieving the variety’s full potential. “But ripeness must not imply excessive alcohol,” says Barruol, “We seek balance.” The wine is matured for eight months in used 228-liter barrels and undergoes full malolactic fermentation on fine lees for 12 months. Saint Cosme Condrieu shows classic aromas and flavors of dried apricot, peach, and orange blossom with fennel, anise, and elderflower. Twelve months of aging on its fine lees in used Burgundian pièce brings texture to the palate. This is a classic Condrieu.”

Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Blanc, Principaute d’Orange IGP 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.50 pre-arrival special
Importer Note
“Domaine de Saint Cosme Les Deux Albions Blanc carries the Principauté-d’Orange IGP and comes from 10-hectares near Violès, directly across the Ouvèze River from Gigondas. “The level of limestone here is, I think, the highest in the region,” says Louis Barruol. This wine is a blend of Viognier, Picpoul, and Marsanne aged on the lees in a combination of pièce, demi-muids, and INOX tank. Les Deux Albions Blanc shows the salty minerality typical of limestone terroir with notes of dried apricots and white flowers. The plantings near Violès include Bourboulenc, Marsanne, Viognier, Picpoul, Clairette, and Ugni Blanc, and all varieties will be included in future bottlings.”

Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 92-95 points
“One of the gems in the Northern Rhône lineup is the 2018 Côte Rôtie, which, as with all of Louis’ wines, wasn’t destemmed and was brought up in 30-40% new oak. Stunning aromatics of black raspberries, olive tapenade, ground pepper, violets, and assorted meat notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, opulent, seamless Côte Rôtie that has a smoking good texture. Count me impressed.”
Importer Note “Côte-Rôtie is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the schist soils of Le Plomb, Besset, La Viallière, and Neve climats. These hillsides are among the steepest in France with an incline as much as 55 degrees. On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice.”

Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points
“Looking at the Northern Rhône releases from Louis, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage offers terrific depth of fruit as well as hints of violets and pepper, medium body, and fine tannins. It’s beautifully textured and just sings of Syrah.”
Importer Note “Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the hillside vineyards of Erôme, Gervans, and Larnage in the northern part of the appellation. It is made from 100% destemmed grapes, fermented with indigenous yeasts, aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels, and bottled without fining or filtration. Granite slopes rather than flatlands give Saint Cosme’s Crozes-Hermitage greater structure and complexity. The wine shows classic aromas and flavors of black fruits, smoked bacon, black peppercorn, and incense.”

Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($37.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 89-91 points
“The 2018 Saint Joseph comes all from the northern part of the Northern Rhône and offers more peppery stems, violets, and herbal notes as well as a medium-bodied, fresh, elegant style on the palate. With fine tannins and rock-solid overall balance, it should end up being an outstanding wine.”
Importer Note ” Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph is produced from 100% Sérine, an ancient and local variety of Syrah that is markedly different from modern selections. It is more oval, with lots of space in the bunch, resulting in a very aromatic wine. It is sourced from the climat Malleval in the northern part of the appellation near Condrieu. The wine is made from 70% destemmed with 30% whole clusters, fermented with indigenous yeasts, and aged in 20% new 228-liter barrels. Louis Barruol describes the microclimate of the vineyard Malleval as “very cold” which allows the grapes to retain acidity and showcase the floral aromas of the local Sérine variety. Aromas and flavors of blackberries and wild strawberries are accented by notes of peppercorns, tobacco, peonies, and violets.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points
“Still awaiting bottling during my June visit, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape features bold notes of black cherries, cassis and spice cake. Owner Barruol says the Christmas cake is typical of La Crau. Full-bodied and voluptuous, with a long, fine and silky finish, this great effort provides one intense ride from start to finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
We have 31 different bottlings from Saint Cosme either
in stock or available for pre-arrival purchase!  

You can browse and shop the full list on our webstore.
 
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New Grapelive Review

For a Piedmont Value Favorite


G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 90 points
“Vajra’s Langhe Rosso blend is primarily the classic varietals Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, but also has an interesting addition of Albarossa, Freisa and even a touch of Pinot Noir all of which makes for a unique Piedmonte red that shows silky tannins, tangy vibrant fruits including brandied cherries, plum, cranberry, grilled citrus (Moro orange) and tart red currant along with wild herbs, delicate rustic notes, floral elements, mineral and savory spices….Giuseppe Vajra continues the traditions of his father Aldo, who was a big advocate for organic and holistic farming and promoted a sense of lightness in the wines always searching out vineyard sites thought to be too cold and too high up to ripen, but as history shows he was spot on and Vajra’s high elevation Barolo is one of the most prized wines in the world. The Vajra Rosso is mostly all stainless steel fermented with each lot and varietal done separately and blended before an early bottling to preserve fresh brightness, which this dark ruby/blue hued 2018 shows with lovely transparent clarity. This 2018 opens up nicely with air adding pipe tobacco, black tea, cola bean and dried rose petals, but the minty zesty tartness remains until the finish, in fact it is really nice with a bit of chill and with a picnic spread and or pasta dishes. The 2017 vintage was very warm and the wines are a bit bigger and fruit driven, with these 2018 shows a little more finesse and acidity, which shows through in this Langhe Rosso, it is wine to enjoy now and often, it has a hand crafted feel, but has no pretense, it is easy and delicious. For those looking for value with want this one, no question, but if you want to stay varietal pure, I highly recommend Vajra’s Dolcello, Barbera and Nebbiolo bottlings, there’s quality, value and grace throughout the lineup here.”
 
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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

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Featured New Arrival

Vincent Wine Company


Willamette Pinots With “A Devoted Cult Following”

“There’s a devoted cult following for Vincent Fritzsche’s graceful Pinot Noirs but the outside world seems blithely unaware of the consistent quality here. Fritzsche sources fruit from some of the Willamette Valley’s most esteemed vineyards and then pretty much leaves it alone. The wines are made with minimal extraction, see no new oak and receive only minimal sulfur additions. The 2017s here are vibrant and pure and, even better, are offered at extremely fair prices.” –Josh Raynolds, Vinous

We’re pleased to highlight a trio of Pinot Noirs made by Vincent Fritzsche from an some of the top dry-farmed vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills.  A former home winemaker who “went pro” as one of the inaugural members of the Southeast Wine Collective, he outgrew his old home but continues to make compelling wines from a few special vineyards. Josh Raynolds just reviewed the Willamette Valley and Vincent’s wines stood out for their high scores and for the exceptional value for their quality.

Vincent worked for several harvests with Russ Raney at Evesham Wood before Russ’ retirement and Vincent’s wines show a through-line of style, with bright fresh fruit that has delicacy but intensity.  These really capture the essence of the sites they’re from—and they’re sourced from some of the top sites in the valley, like Zenith, Temperance Hill and Bjornson (which adjoins Seven Springs).  We’d love them if they were $50-60 single-vineyard wines, but at the prices that Vincent asks, these are no-brainers. 

Newly Arrived from Vincent

Vincent Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points
“Dark scarlet. Highly perfumed black raspberry, cherry, exotic spice and floral pastille scents show excellent clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Palate-staining red and dark berry and bitter flavors show excellent clarity and energy thanks to a spine of smoky minerality. Expands steadily and turns sweeter with air, showing fine delineation on an impressively long, red-fruit- and floral-driven finish. “

Vincent Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points
“Deep, glistening crimson. Highly expressive, spice-accented cherry, boysenberry and black raspberry aromas are complicated by floral, musky earth and succulent herb nuances. Sappy, appealingly sweet and broad on entry, then showing more tension on the midpalate, offering juicy, mineral-inflected red and blue fruit flavors that become sweeter as the wine opens up. Shows a suave rose pastille quality on the impressively persistent finish, which is framed by smooth, polished tannins.”

Vincent Bjornson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points
“Brilliant red. Highly expressive aromas of fresh red fruits, potpourri, exotic spices and candied rose, along with a hint of smoky minerality. Juicy and seamless in texture, offering penetrating raspberry, bitter cherry and spicecake flavors that show fine definition and back-end lift. Intensely flavored and finely delineated, with an impressively long, perfumed finish that delivers firm mineral cut and resonating florality.”


Previously sold out, re-arriving Friday:

Vincent Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Winery note
“This year’s Blanc shows a bit more richness than ’17, more like the ’16 which was a favorite. Grapes here are now coming from a small plot I lease at Zenith Vineyard in the Eola Hills, vines from the 1990s. As usual, this wine is made just like Chardonnay, naturally fermented in older French oak, on the lees for nearly a year and bottled unfiltered. Bright color, mineral and apple aromas, all variety of apples and citrus flavors, creamy from the lees aging, then fantastic acidity to keep your mouth watering. So good.”
 
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Oregon Case Specials

Averaen Super Specials Arriving Friday

We’re pleased to feature the exceptional wines of Averaen to Vinopolis—at more than exceptional pricing. If you’re unfamiliar with these wines, you’d be excused—2015 was their first vintage, but they’ve already established themselves as a top producer of rich, terroir-driven Pinot Noir in Oregon.

Averaen is a project of Baron Ziegler, one of the founders of Banshee wines, and, like their Cali-counterparts, the Averaen wines deliver exceptional value—a hard thing to do in Pinot Noir.  These are exceptionally made, well reviewed single vineyard wines that are a steal for the prices we’re offering them at.

Stylistically, these are powerful Pinot Noirs with intensity and substance. Though they all have distinct signatures of their vineyards, they share a richness of fruit and an oak framing that makes them feel distinctly more premium than their prices would suggest. Lovers of Archery Summit, Domaine Serene and Penner-Ash should take note—these are alternatives that deliver real value to those brands.

Averaen Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Averaen Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($139.95) $105 pre-arrival special (that’s only $17.50/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 92 points
“It would be hard to find a better Chardonnay at this price. A blend of grapes from two AVAs, it’s been given reserve-level care, including aging in 10% new French oak. Toasty, tasty and well balanced, it offers ripe apple fruit accented with nut butter and caramel.”

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

Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Averaen Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
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 90 points “Editor’s Choice. 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.”


Love Oregon Wine? We have 13 case specials in stock now.

Shop the selections below or in our webstore!


What more can we say about Cameron’s Chards?
Cameron Winery Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cameron Winery Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($289.95) $195 special (that’s only $32.50/bottle!)
VinopolNote
: The ‘Reserve’ level of Cameron Chardonnay is an incredible deal.  Made of declassified barrels of Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, so without the new oak that the lower level bottling sees, this wine shows facets of the grace and intensity of Abbey and the Clos without the price tag of those higher end bottlings.

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.”

A long-time staff favorite, 2018 is a gorgeous blend of lush fruit and poise
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($349.95) $315 special (that’s only $26.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 93 points
“The beautiful and dark profiled Cameron Dundee Hills Pinot is one of the best values of the vintage with gorgeous detail and much less reductive notes than usually show in these young Cameron Pinots showing an array of expressive flavors and floral aromas. The 2018 Cameron Dundee Hills Pinot, by the legendary John Paul, one of Oregon’s hall of fame winemakers is very Vosne-Romannee like and at 13.4% is wonderfully balance and full of energy with layers of black cherry, mulberry, currant, strawberry and plum fruits, crushed rose petals, orange tea, delicate earth and loaminess and red spices. With air this exceptional wine adds mineral, sweet herb and smoky wood notes with touches of vanilla and cedar adding just the right amount of luxurious accents here… Both Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge use organic treatments and holistic farming methods and have a variety of clonal material with John Paul preferring old heritage clones which he painstakingly collected himself and the yields are limited to produce wines of depth and concentration.  John Paul’s Pinots are always made from non-irrigated vines and in this case was sourced from his own Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique cru vineyards set of the classic Jory (red iron rich) volcanic soils which give this regions wines their unique personalities and distinction, which I find adds complex and exotic nuances nd makes Dundee special. This 2018 is fresh and has a deep garnet and ruby hue in the glass that beautifully captures the light and the texture is satiny and the length is very rewarding, making it an insanely good value and a wine that will excel with cuisine, especially with seared duck breast, pepper crusted ahi, blackened salmon and even smoked meats…”

Staff pick “a youthful wine with old world grace”
Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer 2017 750ML ($24.95) $17 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer 2017 750ML ($299.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
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.”

From a favorite winery, this formerly-restaurant only bottling is a QPR winner.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($129.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
VinopolNote
: We can’t get enough of Marcus Goodfellow’s Willamette Valley Pinots. With restaurants only offering takeout for the foreseeable future, Marcus is letting us share his by-the-glass Pinot with you. It’s an insane value!

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, 8 half-bottles in stock now
Case-12 Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($959.95) $719 special (that’s only $59.92/bottle!)
Case-6 Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($479.95) $376 special (that’s only $62.76/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
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-12 Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($839.95) $636 special (that’s only $53/bottle!)
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.”

We offer over 150 Pinot Noirs in stock NOW from the Willamette Valley.

Shop our selection on our web store!

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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.



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