Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Midweek Vinopolpick 8-25-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Clos Rougeard Subscriber Sale
New, Lower Prices on Rare, Older Rougeard


New Reviews for Goodfellow’s Finest
By Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media


California Collector’s Corner

#Trending

New Wines from Terre Nere

Domaine du Vissoux
The Forefront of Beaujolais


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Clos Rougeard Subscriber Sale

New, Lower Prices on Rare, Older Rougeard


Clos Rougeard is one of the toughest wines in the world to source—and older vintages even more so.  These are bottles that are some of the most coveted in the world and the only producer of their stature in the Loire. They’re on par with the highest end Burgundy.  Collectors fight to get mere bottles of current releases, so it’s even more exciting to get our hands on a massive collection of back-vintage Rougeard with excellent provenance.  If you love the wines of Rougeard, you owe it to yourself to jump on these while there are still some left.  This is like winning a vinous lottery (if winning the lottery were a result of hard work and careful sourcing).  These wines are directly from the cellar of our importer/distributor for these bottles.  All were bought on release and carefully stored until now—it’s hard to imagine a better source for these outside of buying directly from the cellar of the estate (and good luck with that).

We’ve dropped pricing on a bunch of Rougeard’s finest wines, in addition to the multitude that were on sale previously. You can view all of our Rougeard in our webstore or check out some of the highlights below.

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2005 750ML ($899.95) Was $699, Now $679 Subscriber Special, 2 bottles in stock now

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

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2006 750ML ($599.95) Was $499, Now $479 Subscriber Special, 1 bottle in stock now

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

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2007 750ML ($649.95) Was $519, Now $499 Subscriber Special, 3 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2008 750ML ($599.95) Was $519, Now $499 Subscriber Special, 2 bottles in stock now

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

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Le Bourg 2009 750ML ($679.95) Was $579, Now $549 Subscriber Special, 2 bottles in stock now

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny 2007 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $228 Subscriber Special, 5 bottles in stock now


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

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny 2008 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $228 Subscriber Special, 6 bottles in stock now

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

Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny 2011 750ML ($319.95) Was $249, Now $219 Subscriber Special, 1 bottle in stock now
 
There’s more! We have 16 bottlings from Rougeard in stock now.
Head to our webstore to see them all!

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New Reviews for Goodfellow’s Finest

By Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media


Marcus Goodfellow is one of the premier winemakers in Oregon.  He founded Matello wines, his original label, in 2002 and hasn’t looked back since, making wines that have continually improved—both in bottle and from vintage to vintage.  These are profound wines, both white and red, that are made in a style that’s distinctly savory—no fruit bombs here.  Rather, we love them for their coiled power and Burgundian structure.  These are wines that speak with an Oregon voice, but the tannin and acidity comes from an Old World point of view. In 2012, after the birth of this first child, he created Goodfellow Family Cellars—to focus on single vineyard wines and celebrate his new family.

Goodfellow Family Cellars have been mainstays at the shop for some time now—wines that we carry regardless of vintage, scores or overall hype.  The wines are amongst the best in Oregon and consistently some of the most inspiring wines we taste.  It looks like we aren’t alone in our love—Vinous recently posted a new set of reviews on Oregon Pinot and Marcus’ wines boast some impressive scores. We’ve got those below and an array of the wines in stock now:


In Stock Now:

Goodfellow Family Cellars Pumphouse Block Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points
“Vivid garnet. A highly perfumed, complex bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, blood orange and Asian spices, along with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy, lithe and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, mineral-laced raspberry, red currant, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily with air. Conveys a deft blend of power and finesse and finishes with finely interwoven tannins and outstanding clarity and length.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Goodfellow Family Cellars Long Acre Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 8 bottles in stock now
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!

Goodfellow Heritage #10 Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 96 points
“Shimmering red. An expansive, spice- and mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, and a sexy floral nuance builds as the wine stretches out. Sweet and seamless in the mouth, showing a suave marriage of depth and liveliness to the penetrating raspberry, boysenberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors. The spicy note comes back strong on a strikingly long, vibrant finish framed by polished, even tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Goodfellow Family Cellars House Block Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points
“Bright scarlet. Sharply focused and complex on the nose, displaying an array of fresh red fruit, floral and spice qualities and an exotic touch of incense. Juicy and penetrating on the palate, offering appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and mulberry flavors, along with suave rose pastille and spicecake nuances. Concentrated but quite lithe in character, showing superb clarity and floral thrust on an impressively long, subtly tannic finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Goodfellow Lewman Vineyard Pinot Noir 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points
“Limpid magenta. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, cherry, candied rose and exotic spices, and a bright mineral overtone gains strength with air. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet, well-concentrated black raspberry, cherry liqueur, floral pastille and spicecake flavors that flesh out through the midpalate. Delivers a suave blend of power and delicacy and finishes impressively long and smooth, with harmonious tannins and outstanding clarity.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Goodfellow Family Cellars Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($47.95) $36 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points
“Brilliant red. Vibrant red berry, floral and succulent herb scents pick up a spicy nuance with air. Shows impressive depth of flavor but no excess weight on the palate, which features appealingly sweet raspberry, cherry and rose pastille flavors and an exotic, refreshingly bitter jolt of blood orange. Finishes very long and lively, with resonating spice and floral character and smooth tannins that play nice with the wine’s juicy fruit. 75% whole clusters.”

Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points
“Glistening ruby. Intensely perfumed red fruit, floral and exotic spice scents reveal smoky mineral and savory herb accents as the wine opens up. Sappy raspberry, cherry, red currant, spicecake and candied rose flavors show fine delineation and back-end lift. Displays good definition and mineral thrust on the penetrating finish, which features discreet tannins and resonating floral and red fruit notes.


Bonus New Reviews:

“Old-timer Doug Tunnel’s 2017s are the most impressive set of releases that I’ve ever tasted here, and they more than live up to the promise that they showed when I tasted them with him from barrel last July. There’s a distinctly Old World gracefulness to them but they are deceptively concentrated and well-structured, which I think will allow them to age effortlessly, even if they’re pretty charming already.” –Josh Raynolds, Vinous

Brick House Vineyards Select Pinot Noir 2017 750ML ($41.95) $30.90 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points
“Vivid magenta. Highly perfumed, spice-tinged red/dark berries and pungent flowers on the expressive nose. Juicy and energetic on the palate The 2017 Select offers sappy raspberry, bitter cherry and mulberry flavors that slowly deepen through the mid-palate. The spice and floral notes repeat emphatically on a very long, penetrating finish that’s framed by smooth, well-knit tannins.”

Trathen Hall Wines Antiquum Vineyard Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($47.95) $44 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points
“Limpid ruby-red. Seductive raspberry preserve, boysenberry and exotic spice aromas, along with hints of candied flowers and dusty minerals. Juicy, seamless and energetic on the palate, offering pliant red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors that show excellent clarity and tighten up steadily as the wine gets air. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to a strikingly long, precise finish that shows superb red-fruit- and spice-driven tenacity. 50% whole clusters and all used oak.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
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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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California Collector’s Corner

OWC available to any 2+ bottle purchase
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points
“Lastly, the 2016 Syrah IX Estate reminds me of the otherworldly 2010 and is as profound as Syrah gets. Tasting like Guigal’s Côte Rôtie La Mouline (maybe on steroids) with its huge notes of bacon fat, spring flowers, blue fruits, barbecued meats, and incense, it’s full-bodied and massive yet also thrillingly pure, seamless, elegant, and weightless. It’s certainly approachable today yet is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 IX Syrah Estate is very deep purple-black colored with gorgeous blackberry preserves, preserved plums, chargrill and licorice with tar, mandarin peel, Sichuan pepper and violets plus a compelling peach blossom note and a waft of wild sage. The palate is full-bodied with fantastic finesse, so plush and light on its feet and very spicy on the long, long finish.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Syrah IX Estate is dense, super-powerful and concentrated. In 2016, the Syrah is first and foremost a wine of IX Estate. Dark and brooding in the glass, with tremendous fruit intensity, the 2016 is superb. Varietal aromatics carry through to the energetic, vivid finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $350

Levy & McClellan Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2006 1.5L ($899.95) $699 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Robert Parker 95 points
“The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon displays beautifully sweet blue and black fruits intermixed with espresso roast, smoked meats, chocolate, and scorched earth. Dense purple in color, deep, rich, broad, with plenty of tannin and concentration as well as noticeable oak, this wine is a massive Cabernet meant for long-term cellaring. I wouldn’t touch a bottle for 6 to 8 years, then watch it unfold over the following 25-30.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “(includes bits of cabernet franc and petit verdot) Deep red-ruby. Complex, inviting aromas of cassis, graphite, menthol and sexy new oak. Very ripe but bright and classic, with terrific lift to the cassis, mineral and dark chocolate flavors. This boasts remarkably deep fruit for seven-year-old vines and finishes with very sweet, suave tannins and superb length. Husband-and-wife team Bob Levy and Martha McClellan, who are also responsible for making Harlan, Bond, Blankiet and Sloan, consider their 2005 to be a bit more layered and complex, but this one is also a star of its vintage.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

OWC available to any 2+ bottle buyer!    
Sloan Proprietary Red, Rutherford 2003 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 96+ points
“The 2003 was made by Martha McClellan and the viticulture looked over by David Abreu. The 2003 Sloan, if slightly less prodigious than the perfect 2002, remains a young wine. Notes of vanillin, espresso roast, blackberries, scorched earth, camphor and hints of charcoal and barbecue meat jump from the glass of this spicy, rich, provocative Cabernet Sauvignon. With a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and adequate acidity, the blend includes 14% Cabernet Franc and 86% Cabernet Sauvignon from this extraordinary hillside vineyard above Auberge de Soleil in mid-Napa Valley. This wine is 2-5 years away from full maturity, and should last for another decade.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $289


Arriving Friday, August 28th:

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 $519 pre-arrival special
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!

Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival 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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Trending

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!

This would be a great ringer in a Cote-Rotie tasting
Goodfellow Family Cellars Deux Vert Reserve Syrah, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) $31.90 special
John Gilman 91+ points
“Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard (Reserve) bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
VinopolNote: The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result.  While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over-the-top fruit here. This reminds us of high quality Northern Rhone wines, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone.  One for the table with some air or for the cellar.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A Washington Cab that needs no introduction
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 2% Merlot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a sensational, full-bodied, layered wine that’s overflowing with notions of crème de cassis, crushed rocks, smoked tobacco, and hints of camphor. Seamless, elegant, and layered, yet also powerful, it rates with the top wines of the vintage. Readers should snatch this beauty up.”
James Suckling 98 points “This regal wine really sets the tone for delivering poise, balance and elegance. Such distinctive cabernet redcurrants, cassis and red cherries, framed in cedary oak and tobacco. The palate is cast in noble tannins that deliver elegance and length. Deeply flavorful blackcurrants and dark cherries with chocolate that’s laced into the finish. A blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 13% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% merlot. Drink for the next decade and then some.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Merlot, the 2016 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon offers up a focus of fruit on the nose that is rarely seen in wine, along with a bold, plush, vibrant core of fruit that exudes power and a velvety roundness. Dark red, black and even hints of blue fruit are found in the mouth, with a rich and vibrant core that gives way to chewy tannins. With a bold spiciness and layers of oak, the bold, full-bodied wine lingers with intensity and a long, thought-provoking, complex finish that is focused and delivers pleasure as the wine puts a smile on my face. Only 2,900 cases were made, and they are worth every penny!”

Last call for this staff favorite, 2018 is a gorgeous blend of lush fruit and poise.
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
Case-12 Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($349.95) $315 special (that’s only $26.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
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…”

The average price is $37

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!
 
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New Wines from Terre Nere
 
More than any other winery, Terre Nere is responsible for the modern interest in wines from Etna.  With vineyards in most of the historically important crus of the slopes of Etna and very old vines, Terre Nere was the first to bottle single-parcel wines from the indigenous variety Nerello and brought international focus and admiration to this once-overlooked region. The high altitude and dark volcanic soils help yield distinctive wines from the indigenous grape varieties and the winery hews to a very traditional model inspired by Burgundy. We have their entry level red, white and rosato arriving in a few weeks and these stellar values should go quickly. 


Arriving ETA September 4th:

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Bianco Etna 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Winery note
“I first made this wine in 2005. I wanted to remove that more or less 5% of white grapes that the local vignerons used to mingle with their red ones, in order to make my Etna Rosso from red grapes alone. The white grapes were a mumbo-jumbo of local varieties: Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia and Minnella. So that’s what my Etna Bianco was: a field blend of all the above, with Carricante dominating the blend with roughly 65%. And that’s what it still is. All from old vines. And, somehow, it works. A perfectly lovely wine. With the effortless uplift of a dancer, it allows me to let it go freely through life, malo included, without it ever losing its bright demeanor and lively step. Deviously drinkable, still it always clings, leaving one wondering how it delights and where do the goodies come from. In aging, the noblesse of the Etna and its remarkable terroir emerge. And the loveliness turns thoughtful and deepens, still graceful, never redundant. Fish, meat or fowl, all are fine, if very gently cooked. It loves seafood, particularly over pasta: after all, it is Sicilian.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosato Etna 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points
“The 2019 Terre Nere Etna Rosato is actually quite savory, and especially alluring in the glass, pulling me closer with notes of raw almond, dusty dried flowers, smoky tangerine and marine-inspired minerals. It’s silky with fleshy ripe melon and white orchard fruits, but also a salty character that mixes with its vibrant acids to create tension and poise, resonating on residual acids and inner florals.”
James Suckling 90 points “Medium-bodied with lots of cherry and citrus character, light tannins and a fruity finish. Fun and structured. Drink now.”

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

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso Etna 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note
“Made from very fine Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio from low yielding vineyards (35 Hl. Per hectar), both young and old. The grapes are macerated until the end of fermentation. The wine then continues its life in wood until bottled roughly one year after harvest. Even young it is a distinguished wine. Fresh, fragrant, beautifully slender and with a fine grip, it has a natural polish, a stage presence, as it were. And, in aging, as its weave gathers into rich complexity, it is a wine for gentlemen. It is an aristocratically liberal wine: enjoy it with whatever food you wish, as long as its properly cooked.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Looking for the single-vineyard Terre Nere wines?
We have a number, all in-stock now:


Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Etna 2018 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 7 bottles in stock now
No reviews yet for the 2018 vintage. The following review is for the 2017 vintage:
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 94 points
“Vibrant deep yellow. Deep, round and complex, this enters sweet then turns mineral and steely, with refined lemony, apple and chamomile flavors. Finishes long, very austere and stony, but manages the neat trick of tasting luscious and ripe at the same time. Deeper and more complex than the other 2017 whites I tasted from Terre Nere this year. This 100% Carricante, mostly from 60 years old vines, may well be the best white wine from owner Marc de Grazia’s Terre Nere estate I have ever tried at a similar stage of development.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Bianco 2018 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 5 bottles in stock now
No reviews yet for the 2018 vintage. The following review is for the 2017 vintage:
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points
“Luminous golden-tinged straw yellow. Minerals and a hint of white flowers on the saline accented nose. Rich round and smooth, with very deep, complex flavors of honey and pomaceous orchard fruit. Finishes long and vibrant, this is absolutely a knockout. 100% Carricante, the vines of which range from 7 to 60 years of age (but De Grazia uses the youngest vines for the entry-level Etna Bianco blend).”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points
“Ripe black raspberry and blackberry fruit is accented by wild sage and mandarin orange peel hints in this minerally, medium-bodied red. Plush tannins emerge and become firmer on the finish. Drink now through 2025. 600 cases made, 400 cases imported.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 90+ points “Deep red. Ripe red cherry and raspberry aromas are complicated by musk and earth tones. Then rich, ripe and increasingly tannic in the mouth, with a mouthcoating quality on the long but slightly drying finish. Showcases the rich, forward personality of Quadro delle Rose wines in most vintages, but this seems to have slightly tougher tannins than most I remember at a similar stage of development. Closes long and clean. Try cellaring this to allow the tannins to smoothen a bit.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93+ points
“Luminous crimson color. Offers minty red fruit and minerals on the captivating nose. Full, dense and rich, with multilayered flavors of red cherry, minerals, exotic spices and aromatic herbs. Finishes long with building mouthcoating tannins and with some alcohol-derived heat. The nose takes longer to open up than in the other 2017 Terre Nere wines, so decant an hour ahead (at least) prior to serving. Better still, cellar it for another five to six years for maximum enjoyment.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Dense and chewy tannins are swathed in a finely meshed range of black cherry, baked fig, loamy earth and rose hip notes in this expressive, medium- to full-bodied red. A lovely skein of warm spice unravels on the lingering finish. Best from 2021 through 2029. 400 cases made, 250 cases imported.”

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

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Moganazzi’ Etna Rosso 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 92+ points
“Bright red-ruby. Clean, very mineral and floral, with juicy red/black cherry aromas and flavors. A refined, mineral wine that is very well balanced and precise. This clocks in at 14.5% alcohol, but doesn’t taste warm at all. In fact, I like this wine’s austere, mineral-tinged, long finish. Will likely improve in the bottle.”

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

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera Etna Rosso 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points
“A graceful, medium-bodied version, with silky tannins and a pleasing juiciness to the array of plumped cherry, stemmy herb and tangy mineral flavors, accented by fragrant graphite, sandalwood and ground pink pepper notes. Finely knit and focused, with the tannins firming up on the long, spicy finish. Drink now through 2032. 400 cases made, 300 cases imported.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93+ points “Bright red. Pungent flinty and floral nuances to the red cherry and raspberry jam aromas on the inviting nose. Enters rich, dense and almost sweet, with very precise sweet spice and red fruit flavors lingering nicely. An underlying green note remains in the background and adds complexity. Finishes with noteworthy but balanced tannic bite and plenty of freshness on the long juicy finish. A very complex wine with a beautiful nose; the tannins though are on the tough side as in many of these Terre Nere 2017 reds. A very good wine of noteworthy promise, my suggestion is to cellar this for another 4-6 years for full enjoyment.”
 
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Domaine du Vissoux

The Forefront of Beaujolais


Gamay’s explosion in popularity over the past decade has resulted in an excess of fantastic options from Beaujolais and beyond.  However there is probably no producer anywhere in the world, let alone Gamay’s spiritual home, offering better value than Domaine Vissoux.  The estate has been one of the region’s visionary producers ever since Pierre Chermette took over for his parents in 1982.  During his nearly four decades at the helm, Vissoux has remained at the forefront of Beaujolais’ quality movement.

Neither modern, nor traditional, Vissoux’s wines defy simple categorization.  Like many of their neighbors, they focus on sustainable viticulture, but are less sanctimonious than some of their more famous peers.  And perhaps because they don’t fit easily into a stylistic category, they continue to fly under the radar in a region where a compelling ethos often times trumps quality.  So if it’s deliciousness you’re after, without the side of self-righteousness, these are the Beaujolais wines for you.  See for yourself why they’re our best-selling Beaujolais estate each year.

In stock now, Vissoux’s beautiful 2018s, the perfect reds for late summer—and priced to move.


In Stock Now:

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Coeur de Vendanges, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points
“As I’ve written before, this bottling represents one of the great values in French wine, and the 2018 Beaujolais-Villages Coeur de Vendanges will not disappoint long-time fans of the cuvée. Wafting from the glass with a rich bouquet of dark berry fruit, rose petals and licorice, it’s full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, its powdery tannins concealed in a lavish core of succulent, lively fruit. A wine to purchase by the case, expect it to offer irresistible drinking for the better part of a decade.”

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly Pierreux, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points
“Aromas of raspberries, plums and orange rind preface the 2018 Brouilly Pierreux, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy wine with a satiny attack that segues into a fine-boned, elegantly structured mid-palate, with lively acids and a fragrant, expansive finish. This cuvée, which sees six months’ élevage in old foudres, has turned out very well.”

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.”

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points
“Unwinding in the glass with aromas of rose petals, sweet red cherries, dried flowers and ripe strawberries, the 2018 Fleurie Poncié is medium to full-bodied, lively and enveloping, with a charming, fruit-driven profile this year that tends to obscure its elegantly fine-boned tannic chassis. But don’t be fooled, this is reliably one of Chermette’s finest cuvées, and the 2018 rendition should evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.”

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches is also showing very well, exhibiting an inviting bouquet of black raspberries, spices, candied peel and peonies. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with a deep and concentrated core of fleshy fruit that largely conceals the wines tannins. This is another terrific effort from Chermette in this gourmand, attractively immediate vintage.”

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Saint Amour Les Champs-Grilles, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points
“The 2018 Saint-Amour Les Champs-Grillés is a serious wine, “not just for Valentine’s Day,” as Jean-Étienne Chermette observes. Revealing attractive notes of raspberries, rose petals and cherries, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and spicy, with a muscular chassis of fine, powdery tannins. As usual, it’s a cuvée that stands to gain from a couple of years in the cellar.”


Love Beaujolais?

Shop our entire selection of 32 wines from Beaujolais on the webstore now!
 
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Thanks for reading!

Vinopolpick Monday Bonus 8-24-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

California Subscriber Sale

A Steal on Gaja

Arriving This Week
Including a 100 Point Tuscan Treasure


New Back-Vintage Arrivals from California

Trending

Staff Pick
Italian Wanderlust


JJ Prum Subscriber Sale
Ends Tuesday!


Santa Duc’s Regal Gigondas and More
At National-Best Pricing


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California Subscriber Sale


Hundred Acre Wraith and additional stock of the Eisele Sauvignon Blanc arrive Friday, August 28th!

Hundred Acre ‘Wraith’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($599.95) Displayed price $549,
Subscriber price $519 pre-arrival special
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.”

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!


Also Arriving Friday, August 28th

For nearly two decades Cliff Lede has been one of Napa Valley’s most ambitious proprietors.  In that time he’s expanded his reach to Anderson Valley and most recently to Spain, with a partnership in Priorat.  However the company’s focus remains squarely in Napa and his flagship label.

Hailing from one of Napa’s signature districts, Stags Leap, Lede makes wines that are unapologetically extroverted.  However the wines also offer balance that is rare in Napa Valley wines with similar levels of brashness.  As a result, Lede’s reds drink beautifully in their youth.  However bottle age is necessary to reveal their true profundity.  If you love classically bold California Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon, then these are wines to become acquainted with.

Cliff Lede Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Cliff Lede Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($349.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points
“Succulent peach, melon and citrus flavors reveal pretty details of spice and dried floral notes in this stylish white, with crisp acidity and a drizzle of honey on the finish. Drink now. 10,420 cases made.”

Cliff Lede Vineyards Poetry Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival 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!

Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points
“With small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, this is a classically structured, earthy and impressive wine. Char, herb and earth accents frame the elegant, crisp fruit and graceful tannins, with a lasting taste of crushed rock.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District) shows off the more extroverted side of the year to great effect. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, lavender, spice, menthol and cloves are all amped up. The 2017 is a rich, explosive wine built on flamboyance and volume. This large-scaled, potent Cabernet Sauvignon has a ton to offer. Best of all, with a case production of over 5,500, it will be relatively easy to find, and is just as nearly as exceptional as the flagship bottlings in this range. In a word: superb.”

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

Love California wine? We have over 100 wines from California currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Kapcsandy, Mayacamas, Spottswoode and more on our web store!


 
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A Steal on Gaja


Yes, you read that headline correctly.  It’s not often that we’re able to offer a deal this good on a wine with such a pedigree.  Gaja is a name that requires no context—like Latour or DRC, it’s understood which estate is meant.  Although Angelo Gaja is best known for his reds, he also makes profound and collectable white wines from Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay.  Today we’re excited to offer a can’t-miss price on Gaja’s 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 $70.  It’s another Vinopolis coup!

Arriving Friday, August 28th
Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($119.95) $69 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next lowest is $89
The average price is $102

We have 7 Gaja wines in stock now.
Shop our entire selection on our web store!
 
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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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Arriving This Week

Including a 100 Point Tuscan Treasure


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.

Arriving Friday, August 28th
Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival 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.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Deep red. Perfumed aromas and flavors of red and black cherry, cinnamon, mocha, ginger and blood orange. Smooth and multifaceted, with strong licorice notes emerging on the long suave close.”

Also arriving this week:

Arriving Friday, August 28th
Rotllan Torra Tirant, Priorat DOCa 2001 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival 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.”


This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arriving Tuesday, August 25th
The Walls Vineyards ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Case-12 The Walls Vineyards ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 pre-arrival special
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 lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
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New Back-Vintage Arrivals from California


Lokoya Winery Mount Veeder Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1995 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points
“Amazing depth, richness, complexity and concentration here–and impeccable balance. Offers layers of plush black cherry, wild berry, currant, plum, anise and sage, finishing in a long, detailed aftertaste. Has the tannic strength to age. Drink now through 2012. 268 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Caymus Vineyards Special Selection Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2007 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points
“This firm, ripe, muscular wine that’s tight, deep, structured, intense and concentrated, serving up a mix of ripe currant, cassis, plum, black cherry and blackberry fruit that’s clean, pure, complex and layered, with touches of anise, cedar and black licorice. Ends with chewy tannins. Best from 2011 through 2019. 10,000 cases made.”

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

BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1992 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109.97

BV Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1993 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points
“Elegant and graceful, with pretty cherry, currant and plummy Cabernet fruit and touches of anise and herb. Deftly balanced, with enough firmness in the tannins to merit short-term cellaring.–1993 California Cabernet retrospective. Drink now through 2007. 11,900 cases made.”

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

Heitz Cellar Bella Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1997 750ML ($149.95) $89 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points
“Deftly balanced, with pretty currant, floral, black cherry and blackberry flavors that pick up anise, cedar and spice nuances. Shows a trace of heat on the finish. Missed out on 1997s? This is a welcome edition. A big, yet gentle, Rutherford Cabernet. Drink now through 2012. 7,603 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $149

Robert Mondavi Winery Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1995 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Robert Parker 93 points
“The 1995 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is slightly less impressive than when I tasted it last year, although still an outstanding wine. I may have caught it at a closed stage following bottling. There are 15,000-20,000 cases of Reserve Cabernet made, and in 1995, a quintessentially elegant style has been produced. The wine is less weighty than the 1994, 1991, or 1990. It has great promise and raw materials, with superb fruit and richness, medium body, and subtle lead pencil notes to go along with black currant, mineral, and pain grille scents and flavors. Based on this tasting, I would lower my overall rating, but it is still an exceptional California Cabernet Sauvignon made in a compellingly elegant, graceful style. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2018. Mondavi is adding a number of new regionally labeled Cabernet Sauvignons to their portfolio. In addition to their Oakville cuvee, they have a Stags Leap District Cabernet, and a single vineyard wine from their famed To-Kalon plantation.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A trim, understated and refined effort, less opulent but nonetheless very complete and graceful, with currant, dried berry, sage and underbrush flavors.—Robert Mondavi vertical (December 2015). Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $175

Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder 1992 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Mount Veeder 1997 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96+ points
“Reviewed 2014. The 1997 Cabernet Sauvignon tastes almost like it was made yesterday, such is its freshness. Pliant, explosive and racy, the 1997 bursts on the palate with waves of dark red fruit. The flavors remain pretty primary, so readers who want the full Mayacamas experience will have to give the 1997 further bottle age. That is the bad news. The good news is that the 1997 is a truly special wine that will thrill readers for the next two-plus decades.”

 
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Trending


Sometimes, you just need a butter-bomb
Harken Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, California 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
VinopolNote
: An unapologetic buttery-toasty Cali Chard, harkening back (get it?) to the classic butter-bomb style. A real Rombauer-killer.

A delicious “Super-Umbrian” that’s a steal at this price
Tenuta di Salviano Turlo, Lago di Corbara 2015 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
50% Sangiovese, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot
James Suckling 92 points
“A soft and silky red with a soft, ripe-fruit and cedar texture. Medium to full body, round tannins and a juicy finish. Drink now or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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

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

This would be a great ringer in a Cote-Rotie tasting
Goodfellow Family Cellars Deux Vert Reserve Syrah, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) $31.90 special
John Gilman 91+ points
“Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard (Reserve) bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
VinopolNote: The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result.  While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over-the-top fruit here. This reminds us of high quality Northern Rhone wines, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone.  One for the table with some air or for the cellar.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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 dynamite Sangiovese for all the Brunello lovers out there
Petrolo Boggina C Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
James Suckling 96 points
“This is so focused and precise with fantastic depth and beauty. A pure definition of sangiovese. Full-bodied, tight and refined. Yet, full of strength and length. Succulent, too. A single-vineyard wine with soul. Better in 2022.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2016 Val d’Arno di Sopra Bòggina C is a pure expression of Sangiovese from vines planted in 1952. Give the wine a little time to open in the glass; once it does, it offers a beautiful display of forest fruit, spice, leather and earthy tones. Unlike the Bòggina A that is aged in amphorae, the Bòggina C is fermented in concrete vats using ambient yeasts. It sees extended maceration times and is aged in French 40-hectoliter casks and tonneaux. Some 11,000 bottles were made. This single-vineyard expression of Sangiovese reveals impeccable balance and elegance.-ML”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Don’t you wanna?
Tenuta Fanti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 95 points
“There’s a beautiful interplay between bright, primary florals, such as rose petals and tulips and dust, hay bale and dried raspberries. The palate suggests a ripe, powerful persona with chewy, juicy tannins and a fine line of pretty acidity. Best ever. Drink in 2022.”

A Washington Cab that needs no introduction
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 2% Merlot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a sensational, full-bodied, layered wine that’s overflowing with notions of crème de cassis, crushed rocks, smoked tobacco, and hints of camphor. Seamless, elegant, and layered, yet also powerful, it rates with the top wines of the vintage. Readers should snatch this beauty up.”
James Suckling 98 points “This regal wine really sets the tone for delivering poise, balance and elegance. Such distinctive cabernet redcurrants, cassis and red cherries, framed in cedary oak and tobacco. The palate is cast in noble tannins that deliver elegance and length. Deeply flavorful blackcurrants and dark cherries with chocolate that’s laced into the finish. A blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 13% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% merlot. Drink for the next decade and then some.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Merlot, the 2016 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon offers up a focus of fruit on the nose that is rarely seen in wine, along with a bold, plush, vibrant core of fruit that exudes power and a velvety roundness. Dark red, black and even hints of blue fruit are found in the mouth, with a rich and vibrant core that gives way to chewy tannins. With a bold spiciness and layers of oak, the bold, full-bodied wine lingers with intensity and a long, thought-provoking, complex finish that is focused and delivers pleasure as the wine puts a smile on my face. Only 2,900 cases were made, and they are worth every penny!”

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Staff Pick

Italian Wanderlust


Matt:
When our cache of 2018 Feudo Di San Maurizio wines arrived earlier this year, I was instantly intrigued.  I knew the wines heralded from one of Europe’s most up-and-coming regions, Vallée d’Aoste, and that Feudo Di San Maurizio had developed a small, but cultish following.  As such, I expected the wines to serve as a tasty excuse to learn a bit more about this majestic, yet remote corner of Italy.  Having now tasted through the wines, and fallen into the wanderlust sinkhole that is Vallée d’Aoste, one thing is certain.  As soon as it’s safe and responsible to travel again with a passport, you’ll know where to find me.

Since 1989 Feudo Di San Maurizio’s proprietor Michel Vallet has been producing modest quantities of wine, but wine production has always seemed to be a secondary calling.  What really seems to inspire Mr. Vallet is saving obscure and forgotten grapes from extinction in the Vallée d’Aoste.  Today he grows over a dozen varieties in largely untouched vineyards.  The extremely low yields that result are undoubtedly part of what make his wines so dynamic.  We currently have 2 of his wines in stock, both 2018s, both delicious.

The Cornalin (known as Humagne Rouge in Switzerland, where it is quickly becoming one of the country’s signature red grapes) offers generous fruit, pronounced yet silky tannins, and spicy/savory complexity.   Simply put, it’s a knockout.  The Petite Arvine (another variety exploding in popularity in nearby Switzerland) offers elevated acid, a textural mouthfeel, and a long finish.  All of these factors make it the rare white wine that manages to be both refreshing and serious.

In the end, I can’t recommend both bottles highly enough to anybody who appreciates wines that value freshness over power.

Feudo di San Maurizio Cornalin Valle d’Aosta, Aosta Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Ian D’agata-Vinous 93 points
“Deep red. Rich, luscious flavors of red cherry, Oriental spices, black tea and black cherry. Tactile, sweet and long, featuring youthfully chewy but noble tannins that provide backbone. Finishes very long and smooth, with a perfumed note of lavender. 13.5% alcohol. Only stainless steel.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Feudo di San Maurizio Petite Arvine Valle d’Aosta, Aosta Valley 2018 ($37.95) $33 special
Ian D’agata-Vinous 90 points
“Luminous straw-green. Apple, nectarine and white peach complicated by white flowers. Clean, fresh flavors similar to the minty aromas have a tactile, delicately chewy mouthfeel (despite the absence of any skin contact here). Finishes very long, juicy and clean, with a minty nuance and a hint of residual sugar (purposely left so as to emphasize the aromatic molecules of a semi-aromatic variety). About 5,000 bottles a year.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
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JJ Prum Subscriber Sale

Ends Tomorrow!


Manfred and Katarina Prum make some of the finest and most sought after wines of the middle-Mosel.  The wines are high-wire acts of tension between fruit and intense minerality and display their terroir in the most expressive way.  Part of this is that their parcels have lots of old, ungrafted vines and part of it is spontaneous fermentation and whatever magic the Prum family uses in the cellar.  No matter what, these are always some of the finest and longest lived wines in Germany. 

5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 JJ Prum wines
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ JJ Prum wines 
JJ Prum Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Tuesday, August 25th at 6 PM

2017 Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2017 750ML Displayed price $49,
that’s $46.55 at 5% off, and $44.10 at 10% off
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 96 points ” The 2017 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is coolish, bright and fresh on the still-reductive but attractive nose with its fine Riesling and slate aromas. The wine is salty-piquant and terribly fresh on the palate, with very fine Riesling and crispy-salty slate expressions. This Auslese is highly refined, crystalline and more intellectual compared to the Badstube, but hedonists would take it as well. A gorgeous, highly digestible Auslese. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This 2017er Graacher Himmelreich Auslese immed iately captures one’s attention through the complex yet refreshing side of its nose made of smoke, herbs, grilled citrus, yellow peach and grass. The wine is breathtakingly pure on the delicately creamy palate, where yellow peach and some almond cream add depth to the experience. The finish is superbly crisp, pure and vibrating. This is a delightfully zesty Auslese in the making. 2027-2047.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “The nose on a just-opened bottle was shrouded in yeasty and faintly stinky fermentative aromas, though beneath those emerged anticipations of what awaits on a glossy, creamy palate: quince and white peach preserves laced with grapefruit and lemon. A bottle that had been open for six days, while it harbored a reductive hint of pork rind, was effusively fruity from the first whiff, and full of freshness. The ultra-buoyant finish deftly combines richness with brightness and transparency to stony underpinnings.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 750ml, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $60

Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 375ML ($79.95) Displayed price $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off, and $59.40 at 10% off
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese (Gold Capsule) is clear, fine and subtle yet concentrated, with vegetal and ripe fruit aromas. Rich, round and piquant, this is an intense and densely woven Auslese (AP 14 17) with a long, tensioned and refreshing mineral finish that lifts the sweet fruit. Gorgeous but made for another decade.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 96 points “Super elegant and filigree with a delicacy that you don’t find in many other high-end white wines regardless of grape variety and region of origin. A very long and clean finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush and thick in texture, combining power and grace, with a firm backbone of acidity and mineral details. Stunning on the palate, featuring different nuances that keep emerging with each sip. Slate, apricot jam, flan, honeysuckle and kumquat fruit notes are the most prominent, leading to a long, mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2040.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This delivers an absolutely gorgeous and multi-layered nose including pineapple, candied apricot, honeyed exotic fruits, almond paste, tangerine flower and a touch of minty smoke. The wine is superbly smooth and exotic on the palate. The complex and refined delicacy of fruits is simply stunning. The finish is all about honey and creamy exotic fruits, and while not extremely expressive at this time, grows by the minute in the glass. One is left with a great and very subtle sense of almond, passion fruit and tangerine blossom in the after-taste. This will need time to integrate all its components but should then prove a cracker of a wine!”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 375ml,
Now it’s even lower!

Joh. Jos. Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($41.95) Displayed price $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off, and $32.40 at 10% off
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Fresh apple garlanded in honeysuckle and heliotrope sets the tone for a generously juicy, subtly creamy palate seductively loaded with inner-mouth floral perfume and leading to an inhalative, delicate but seriously sustained finish vividly underlain with wet stone and tinged with bittersweet, smoky nut oils and mouthwatering salinity.”
Stuart Pigott – jamessuckling.com 93 points “There are delicate spices and very attractive succulence to this Spätlese. The acidity is very much in the background until the finish lifts off. Drink or hold.”

This was the lowest listed price on the West Coast today for the 750ml, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $41

We have 36 JJ Prum wines in stock now.
Shop our entire selection on our web store!

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Santa Duc’s Regal Gigondas and More

At National-Best Pricing

Gigondas’ is the finest source of value for profound wine in the Rhone.  The top estates deliver wines that compete with the very best wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but at prices that are a fraction of their competition.  On offer today, Santa Duc, is one of the very best in the region and our pricing on most of their wines is the best in the country—a killer combination.

Santa Duc is perhaps the only estate who can match Saint Cosme as the “Most Important Winery in Gigondas”.  Owners of some of the finest vineyards in the Southern Rhone, Santa Duc is a legendary producer that more than lives up to their reputation. Unlike Saint Cosme, though, their top wines aren’t yet commanding triple-digit pricing.  In fact, their most expensive Gigondas bottling is still under $50—and is an absolute stunner.

Santa Duc manages to make Gigondas taste aristocratic—taming the wild mountain personality of the Dentelles into something that is at once both intensely powerful and also nuanced and complex.

These are wines that manage the neat trick of being absolutely delicious now while having a track record of aging gracefully.  Recent notes for older bottles like the ’95 and ’98 Hautes Garrigues are glowing, yet the wines can be on your table tonight and impress.  In the last decade or so, the winery has extended its holdings into Chateauneuf and those wines are as brilliant as you’d expect, as well.

These are wines to buy in quantity—you’re going to want to drink a lot of them now and have some in your cellar in ten years, as well.  They arrive this week and our pre-arrival pricing is especially sharp, so don’t delay.


Arriving Friday, August 28th:

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points
“Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhone 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
“Saturated ruby. Powerful, deeply pitched black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice, woodsmoke and incense. Broad, palate-coating blackberry and cherry compote flavors open up slowly with aeration. Distinctly rich but showing surprising vivacity, with velvety tannins coming in late to shape the wine’s sweet finishing fruit.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This has a solid core of raspberry, bitter cherry and plum fruit, liberally laced with iron, violet and bay leaf notes. The long, sleek finish lets the iron edge play out, revealing a hint of blood orange in the background. Best from 2016 through 2020. 100 cases imported.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 points
“Lastly, the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a beauty boasting killer notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks, pepper, garrigue and scorched earth. This seriously good 2015 has building richness, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish, all suggesting short-term cellaring will be your friend. It will keep for two decades of more.”
James Suckling 93 points “Mourvèdre steps up to one third of the blend while the balance is grenache. This has an attractive array of ripe dark cherry and blue plum fruits. The tannins are framed up with a deeper, wider shape. Try from 2020, this needs time.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “Full ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, incense, spicecake and candied flowers show outstanding energy and clarity. Sweet, seamless and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and lavender pastille flavors that fan out steadily with air. Rich but nervy and precise as well, carrying no excess fat. Velvety tannins frame an extremely long, incisive finish that leaves behind notes of sweet dark berries and candied flowers.”
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “I loved the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues and this flagship cuvee is made from 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvèdre that’s brought up in foudre. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, yet brilliantly proportioned Gigondas that has classy notes of blackberries, plums, garrigue and leather. It’s going to need 3-5 years of cellaring.”

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points
“Always the richest, most powerful wine in the lineup, the 2016 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues offers a rocking bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, bouquet garni, pepper, and fresh earth. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and with building tannins, it’s certainly a more fresh, stylish example of this cuvée and is a perfect wine from readers wanting to understand the changes that have happened at this estate over the past decade or so. Give this beauty 2-4 years of bottle age and enjoy it over the following decade.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Flowering garrigue, black cherries and licorice all pop on the nose of the 2016 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues. Full-bodied, rich, velvety and intense without being overbearing, it’s a tremendous effort, with the poise, grace and charm of Disney’s Fantasia ballet-dancing hippo. And the finish is long—really long.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux-Dits, Rhone 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points
“A fluid, fleshy and deeply structured wine with dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors amid sturdy yet supple tannins. Good weight and presence. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe but fresh, with a slightly high pitch to the mix of damson plum, cherry and rooibos tea aromas and flavors, backed by singed vanilla, tobacco and licorice root notes that give this a darker shade through the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 2,400 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-92 points “Ruby-red. Ripe red fruit and floral pastille aromas show very good detail and an energizing suggestion of white pepper. Palate-caressing raspberry and bitter cherry flavors blend depth and energy with a smooth hand and show no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to a very long, red-fruit-dominated finish that features a subtle touch of star anise.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Pied De Baud’, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud, a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, offers compelling scents of rose petals and raspberries on the nose. While not as richly textural as some of the other cuvées, it’s still a lovely, hauntingly fragrant example of Châteauneuf du Pape.”
James Suckling 94 points “This has an array of darker berry and plum fruits with a brambly, lightly spicy edge, too. The palate delivers impeccably fresh, lithe and detailed tannin texture, as well as blue fruit flavors. Juicy and energetic. Long finish. Try from 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Saintes Vierges’ Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is the most flattering of Santa Duc’s current releases, offering lushness and generosity on the palate, notes of cherries and licorice, creamy-supple tannins and a mouthwatering finish. It’s a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise.”

Love Rhone reds? We have over 150 red wines from the Rhone currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Henri Bonneau, Vaudieu, Vieux Telgraphe and more on our web store!

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Thanks for reading!

Monday Newsletter 8-24-20

In This Newsletter:

Jump Start Sale:
JJ Prum

California Collector’s Trove:
Newly Arrived


New Week – New Arrivals

Trending Wines


Siro Pacenti:
Profundity in Montalcino


JJ Prum Subscriber Sale

Manfred and Katarina Prum make some of the finest and most sought after wines of the middle-Mosel.  The wines are high-wire acts of tension between fruit and intense minerality and display their terroir in the most expressive way.  Part of this is that their parcels have lots of old, ungrafted vines and part of it is spontaneous fermentation and whatever magic the Prum family uses in the cellar.  No matter what, these are always some of the finest and longest lived wines in Germany. 

5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 JJ Prum bottles
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ JJ Prum bottles
JJ Prum 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 Tuesday, August 25th at 6 PM

Top Picks In Stock & On Sale Now:

Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 750ML ($199.95) Displayed price $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% off, and $170.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 375ML ($119.95) Displayed price $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off, and $89.10 at 10% off, 11 half-bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 97 points
“The 2017 Bernkasteler Lay Auslese (Long Gold Capsule), AP 18 18, is very clear, intense and generous but precise on the nose, with lots of mango, ripe peach, mirabelle and honey aromas. On the palate, this is a generously rich but refined, finessed and lush Auslese with a salty-piquant finish that is intense, complex and long. Honey-sweet but still crystalline, transparent and really kicking, this is another gorgeous 2017 Auslese from the Prüm family. Tasted in March 2019.”
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2017er Bernkasteler Lay Auslese lange GK delivers an almost exuberant nose (at least f or Joh. Jos. Prüm standards) of mango, ripe pineapple, acacia honey, caraway, gingerbread, star anise and pear puree all pepped up by a fleeting touch of volatile acidity. The wine proves lusciously generous and slightly oily on the palate driven by flavors of almond paste, candied exotic fruits and honey. This small BA in the making is quite impressive. 2027-2057.”

This is the only listing in the USA today by the bottle!
This is the only listing in the USA today for the half-bottle!

Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($49.95) Displayed price $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off, and $35.10 at 10% off, 33 bottles in stock now
Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($119.95) Displayed price $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off, and $80.10 at 10% off, 3 magnums in stock now 
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese (AP 08 17) is discreet and smoky on the deep, well-defined nose. Juicy-piquant and salty on the well-structured and refreshingly mineral palate, the Himmelreich is tight and expressive, with the sweetness superbly balanced by the spicy, grippy phenols/minerals. This is a really complex Spätlese that is highly stimulating today and will still be so in 20 or 30 years.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “This is another Prüm 2016 seductively loaded with floral perfume, but here it’s bittersweet, suggesting gentian and iris as well as honeysuckle. The palate and superbly sustained finish deliver delicacy allied to silken richness and gloss, featuring intense pear, pineapple, quince and almond paste flavors together with striking transparency to stony and maritime mineral nuances.”
Stuart Pigott 94 points “Juicy but super elegant and refined with great mineral freshness, making this an extremely attractive wine. And yes, this has some sweetness but you’d hardly think so. Where are those spicy prawns? Drink or hold.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 750ml, 
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $43
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!

Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2016 750ML ($119.95) Displayed price $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off, and $89.10 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points
“What a fantastic bouquet! The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese Gold Capsule is super deep, intense and precise on the nose where flinty/stony notes and very fine (and slightly spicy) raisin and grapefruit aromas are displayed. Rich, lush and super sexy on the palate, with highly delicate but intense and persistent fruit and very fine salinity, this is a gorgeous Auslese from the winner of the 2016 vintage chez Prüm: Graacher Himmelreich. This gold-capsuled Auslese (AP 10 17) is rich, finessed and almost weightless in its intensity. The salty and piquant acidity is alive and kicking. You can hardly produce a better Auslese in this delicate and filigreed style. 8% alcohol.”
Stuart Pigott 96 points “A stunning Auslese with a delicate floral-honey character and a slew of yellow fruits. This is very seductive. The finish is very long and creamy. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A bit creamy, yet elegant, showing lots of freshness and vibrancy, with juicy acidity cutting through the ripe flavors of peach and apple, combined with notes of Key lime pie and sweet spice. Features a vivid structure, showing terrific integration and a long, detailed, velvety finish. Drink now through 2038.”

Joh. Jos. Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Mosel 2015 750ML ($169.95) Displayed price $149, that’s $141.55 at 5% off, and $134.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points
“The most exotic and succulent of the 2015 Auslese Gold Caps from J.J., but also blessed with dazzling finesse and brilliance that you rarely encounter in sweet wines of any kind. What a finish! Best from 2020 and almost limitless aging potential. “
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese Gold Capsule (AP 20) is still pretty reductive and flinty on the nose and needs a lot of aeration. Sweet and concentrated, with a fine botrytis and grapefruit flavor, this Riesling has tight structure, mouth-watering fruit and good acidity. There is also an endless flow of salts and stones. This is a very promising Auslese, whose structure and mineral expression give the wine an almost dry taste. This is great Riesling to be served no earlier than 2027.”
Mosel Fine Wines 96 points “This delivers a stunning nose of infused pear, slate and white flowers which give way to coconut and pineapple. A deliciously exotic side runs through the wine on the palate. This, combined with zesty acidity, gives the wine great freshness, vibrancy and finesse. The finish is all about whipped cream, pear puree and candied grapefruit. What a beauty! 2030-2055” 
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Apple jelly, pear preserves and caramel studded with white raisin and candied citrus peels make for an aromatic display of head-turning intensity and a creamy, glycerol-rich palate of similarly remarkable concentration and allure. A vein of fresh apple and grapefruit is tapped to introduce unexpected primary juiciness into the layers of confitured, lightly torrefied and desiccated fruit concentrates, and the extraordinarily long, mouthwateringly salt-tinged finish also affords glimpses of smoky and stony mineral nuances rare in a Riesling this rich. There’s no youthful reticence to this Wehlener! The share of botrytis here was minimal, according to Katharina Prüm.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offering apricot, peach and Honeycrisp apple flavors accented by floral and mineral notes, this rich and expansive Riesling has lively acidity and impeccable balance, with a long, spicy finish. Best from 2020 through 2036. 130 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Joh. Jos. Prum Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel  2016 750ML ($41.95) Displayed price $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off, and $32.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points
“Fresh apple garlanded in honeysuckle and heliotrope sets the tone for a generously juicy, subtly creamy palate seductively loaded with inner-mouth floral perfume and leading to an inhalative, delicate but seriously sustained finish vividly underlain with wet stone and tinged with bittersweet, smoky nut oils and mouthwatering salinity.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $41

5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 JJ Prum wines
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ JJ Prum wines 
JJ Prum 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 Tuesday, August 25th at 6 PM


We offer 36 wines in stock now from JJ Prum. 

Shop the sale on our web store!
 







California Collector’s Trove

Newly Arrived


Sine Qua Non Lightmotif White Blend, California 2014 750ML ($199.95) $159 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advcocate 97 points
“Starting with the whites and a rich, thrillingly concentrated and unctuous wine from Manfred, the 2014 White Wine Lightmotif is made from 47% Roussanne, 21% Chardonnay, 14% Petite Manseng, 11% Viognier and 7% Marsanne that spent 19 months in a combination of concrete eggs, new French oak, neutral barrels and a tiny portion in stainless steel. Coming from close to equal parts Eleven Confessions, Cumulus and Bien Nacido vineyards, this beauty sports a medium gold color to go with a rich, layered profile that carries tons of ripe peach, honeycomb, pineapple, flowers and citrus. Pure, elegant and silky on the palate, with full-bodied richness, it never puts a foot wrong, is ethereally textured and has a great finish. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2014 Lightmotif has been a headscratcher for me over the past year and I suspect it’s best given 2-4 years of bottle age. A blend of 47% Roussanne, 21% Chardonnay, 14% Petite Manseng, 11% Viognier and 7% Marsanne, it spent 19 months in a combination of concrete eggs, new French oak, neutral barrels and stainless steel. It offers a rich, singular style in its caramelized citrus pineapple upside down cake (seriously, that’s what it smells like) and buttered peach. Nicely concentrated, rich and tight on the palate, with all the right parts, it just needs time.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 White Wine Lightmotif is striking. Gorgeous, captivating aromatics meld into yellow orchard fruit, peach, mint and apricot jam. Rich, layered and voluptuous, but with notable energy, the 2014 exudes freshness. With air, the 2014 can be enjoyed young, but these wines have a way of developing beautifully in bottle. This is one of the more restrained young whites I have tasted at Sine Qua Non. The blend is 47% Roussanne, 21% Chardonnay, 14% Petite Manseng, 11% Viognier and 7% Marsanne, from 41% Eleven Confessions, 30% Cumulus and 29% Bien Nacido.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $189

OWC available to any 2+ bottle purchase
Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points
“Lastly, the 2016 Syrah IX Estate reminds me of the otherworldly 2010 and is as profound as Syrah gets. Tasting like Guigal’s Côte Rôtie La Mouline (maybe on steroids) with its huge notes of bacon fat, spring flowers, blue fruits, barbecued meats, and incense, it’s full-bodied and massive yet also thrillingly pure, seamless, elegant, and weightless. It’s certainly approachable today yet is going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 IX Syrah Estate is very deep purple-black colored with gorgeous blackberry preserves, preserved plums, chargrill and licorice with tar, mandarin peel, Sichuan pepper and violets plus a compelling peach blossom note and a waft of wild sage. The palate is full-bodied with fantastic finesse, so plush and light on its feet and very spicy on the long, long finish.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Syrah IX Estate is dense, super-powerful and concentrated. In 2016, the Syrah is first and foremost a wine of IX Estate. Dark and brooding in the glass, with tremendous fruit intensity, the 2016 is superb. Varietal aromatics carry through to the energetic, vivid finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $350

Levy & McClellan Red, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2006 1.5L ($899.95) $699 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Robert Parker 95 points
“The 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon displays beautifully sweet blue and black fruits intermixed with espresso roast, smoked meats, chocolate, and scorched earth. Dense purple in color, deep, rich, broad, with plenty of tannin and concentration as well as noticeable oak, this wine is a massive Cabernet meant for long-term cellaring. I wouldn’t touch a bottle for 6 to 8 years, then watch it unfold over the following 25-30.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “(includes bits of cabernet franc and petit verdot) Deep red-ruby. Complex, inviting aromas of cassis, graphite, menthol and sexy new oak. Very ripe but bright and classic, with terrific lift to the cassis, mineral and dark chocolate flavors. This boasts remarkably deep fruit for seven-year-old vines and finishes with very sweet, suave tannins and superb length. Husband-and-wife team Bob Levy and Martha McClellan, who are also responsible for making Harlan, Bond, Blankiet and Sloan, consider their 2005 to be a bit more layered and complex, but this one is also a star of its vintage.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Blankiet Estate Paradise Hills Vineyard Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2014 1.5L ($379.95) $299 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“The 2014 Proprietary Red Paradise Hills Vineyard is dark, sensual and inviting. Black cherry, mocha, plum, menthol, licorice and mint open up in the wine’s aromatics, but it is the polish and total finesse of the tannins that truly stand out. I expect the 2014 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This is a striking wine from Claude and Katherine Blankiet.”
Robert Parker 95+ points “The 2014 Blankiet Estate Proprietary Red from the Paradise Hills Vineyard is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Essentially their flagship wine, they make 840 cases of this cuvée, which is a serious wine for collectors and classicists. It is dense purple in color, with loads of crème de cassis, graphite and forest floor notes, some unsmoked cigar tobacco and, like so many 2014s, a voluptuous, full-bodied texture, plush tannins and a silky finish. Drink it over the next two decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $359.99

OWC available to any 2+ bottle buyer!    
Sloan Proprietary Red, Rutherford 2003 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 96+ points
“The 2003 was made by Martha McClellan and the viticulture looked over by David Abreu. The 2003 Sloan, if slightly less prodigious than the perfect 2002, remains a young wine. Notes of vanillin, espresso roast, blackberries, scorched earth, camphor and hints of charcoal and barbecue meat jump from the glass of this spicy, rich, provocative Cabernet Sauvignon. With a full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannin and adequate acidity, the blend includes 14% Cabernet Franc and 86% Cabernet Sauvignon from this extraordinary hillside vineyard above Auberge de Soleil in mid-Napa Valley. This wine is 2-5 years away from full maturity, and should last for another decade.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $289

Chateau Montelena The Montelena Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 1978 750ML ($249.95) $299 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points
“A healthy ruby red in color, mature and complex, with wonderful depth, intensity and range of coffee and dried fruit flavors. About all you could ask for from a wine this age.–Chateau Montelena vertical. Drink now through 2010. 1,978 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $399

Continuum Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2006 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Shows rich dark chocolate, mocha and espresso, along with a wealth of ripe, currant-laced Cabernet fruit. Focused, tight, elegant and stylish, with a persistent finish that keeps unfolding to reveal hidden nuances. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2010 through 2017. 1,750 cases made.”
James Suckling 94 points “A juicy and very rich red with dried berries, spices and light plums. Full-bodied yet refined and delicious. A beautiful wine now.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $170

Shop our fantastic array of California Cabs on our web store!



New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points
“Shimmering magenta. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe raspberry and boysenberry, exotic spices, incense and smoky minerals, and a sexy floral note gains strength as the wine opens up. Conveys a compelling blend of richness and finesse, showing seamless texture and intense red and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake qualities on the palate. Finishes extremely long and smooth, with discreet tannins framing lingering floral and berry notes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99

Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points
“Deep, bright-rimmed scarlet. Powerful red and blue fruit, floral and exotic spice qualities on the deeply perfumed nose, which is energized by a building mineral flourish. Concentrated yet lively in style, showing fine delineation and spicy lift to the appealingly sweet raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors. The floral note repeats emphatically on a very long, smooth finish framed by smooth, well-judged tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points
“Limpid ruby-red. Expansive red and blue fruit scents show superb clarity and complementary suggestions of succulent flowers, exotic spices and a hint of smoky minerality that builds with air. Juicy, appealingly sweet and energetic on the palate, offering boysenberry, black raspberry, five-spice powder and candied rose flavors that are supported by a spine of juicy acidity. The floral note carries emphatically through an impressively long finish that features well-integrated tannins and lingering red fruit character.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Last call for this staff favorite, 2018 is a gorgeous blend of lush fruit and poise.
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
Case-12 Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($349.95) $315 special (that’s only $26.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
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…”

The average price is $37

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

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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

Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 95 points
“This has a very fresh, attractive nose with roses and violets, as well as boysenberries, red cherries and a savory, stony edge. Some sappy nuances, too. The palate is very succulent and has strikingly fresh red berries and cherries, underscored with vibrant acidity and a very uplifting, dynamic finish. A richer vintage, made in a fresher style, works very well here. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Washington

Luke Cabernet Sauvignon Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery note
“LUKE Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas dominated by marionberry and dark chocolate, accented by hints of mint and molasses. Supple, focused and expressive, layering coffee-accented blackberry and currant flavors with polished tannins and hints of cedar and smoke. Wahluke Slope AVA, Columbia Valley. Vineyards: Weinbau, Ravenscliff, Stonetree, Rosebud, Clifton Hill  Varietals: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Petit Verdot 1% Malbec.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


California

Scattered Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Case-12 Scattered Peak Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2017 750ML ($359.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 92 points
“A bold, forward style, with plush, lightly mulled plum, boysenberry and açaí berry flavors pumping along, backed by light apple and anise accents that add detail through the finish. Big, but has the energy for balance. Best from 2021 through 2028. 11,000 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Made by former Beaulieu winemaker Joel Aiken, this value-minded wine is high toned, has a leathery grip and bursts with blue fruit. Bright acidity livens the midpalate of full-bodied weight and ripeness, finishing in a swirl of nutmeg, clove and toasted oak.”

The average price is $31


France

Back in stock!
Domaine de Triennes Rose, 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.”

Chateau Latour a Pomerol, Pomerol 2012 750ML ($149.95) $89 special
Robert Parker 93+ points
“A very strong effort from this estate in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable, this 2012 (14.5% natural alcohol) has a dense ruby/purple color, a big, sweet kiss of mocha, blackcurrants, and black cherries, and notes of truffle and earth. Full-bodied, ripe and one of the great successes from this estate over recent decades, the 2012 is a must-purchase for Pomerol enthusiasts. Silky tannins, superb concentration and a long, long finish suggest a good 20+ years of evolution at minimum. Bravo!”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Latour a Pomerol is intensely aromatic and beautifully layered in the glass. Sweet herbs, tobacco, raspberry jam, mint and roasted coffee beans are all laced together. Sensual and inviting, the 2012 is all about subtlety and nuance. Super-ripe black cherries, iron, smoke and tobacco add further complexity. The 2012 deftly balances unctuous richness with terrific aromatic presence and delineation. The Cabernet Franc is particularly expressive today.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $95.99


Italy

Giacomo Borgogno & Figli Derthona Timorasso Colli Tortonesi, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Grapelive 94 point
“A few years ago, Walter Massa of Vigneti Massa almost single handedly brought the rare Timorasso grape back from extinction and now it is one of the hottest white wines made in the Piedmonte region. We are seeing many great producers jumping on the bandwagon, including the famed Vietti and this beautiful expression by the legendary Barolo maker Borgogno. Tasted at Slow Wine earlier this year, the 2018 Borgogno Derthona DOC should be arriving to the United States soon, though you’ll have to really work hard to get your hands on it as it is extremely limited, but you’ll be greatly rewarded for your hard work and search if you get your hands on it. Borgogno’s Timorasso from organic vines is lightly floral, medium bodied with a lovely texture and fine minerality. It delivers a polished and lively performance highlighting the grape’s best qualities with layers of peach, citrus and quince fruits, leesy notes, white flowers and an array of herb and spices along with a nice saline and wet stone element…”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Tenuta del Cerro ‘Colpetrone’ Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($18.95) $16 special
Case-12 Tenuta del Cerro ‘Colpetrone’ Montefalco Rosso, Umbria 2015 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
Eric Guido – Vinous 92 points
“The 2015 Colpetrone Rosso di Montefalco is much more refined and perfumed than I would have expected from this warm vintage, showing peppery herbs and dusty florals, plus crushed red wild berries and a hint of dusty earth. On the palate, silky textures envelop all that they touch in ripe cherry fruit and sweet spices, made juicy through vibrant acidity and minerals, as round tannins slowly settle in. The finish is medium in length, leaning more toward the tart black fruit spectrum, yet with a salty twang that makes the mouth water. The 2017 is really quite stunning today. A blend of 70% Sangiovese with equal parts Merlot and Sagrantino.”

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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!)
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 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.”
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!



Trending Wines

A richly flavored & value-minded Champagne. Floral, yeasty, toasty, zippy, and more, this delivers a very loud bang for the buck!
Henriot Brut Souverain, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-12 Henriot Brut Souverain, Champagne NV 750ML ($599.95) $436 special 
(that’s only $36.33/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points “A touch of vanilla-laced pastry cream sweetness accents this fresh and focused Champagne, with a fine mousse. This is well-balanced by crunchy acidity and flavors of lemon peel, green pear and spring blossom. Drink now through 2022. 6,000 cases imported. — AN”

Staff pick!
Attems Pinot Grigio Ramato, Venezia Giulia IGT 2018 1.5L ($49.95) $21.90 special
Ian D’Agata 90 points
“Bright straw-pink. Fresh easygoing strawberry and spice aromas and flavors are long, rich and nicely focused. Sneaky concentration here.”

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

An epic wine from one of Chateauneuf du Pape’s signature producers. True classic.
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special

Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 3L ($499.95) $399 special
Domaine du Vieux Telegraphe Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Crau, Rhone 2016 375ML ($51.95) $44 special
James Suckling 98 points “Impressive, complex array of wild cherries, raspberries, garrigue herbs, lightly spiced pastry and stony, chalky minerals. Super-fresh florals. The palate has superb texture, roundness, completeness, depth and detail. Powerful yet elegant with powdery tannins and essence-like red fruit. Super-fleshy, supple and dense core, then strong at the edges. Layer upon layer peels away on the finish. Resounding finesse and equilibrium, showing the full potential of the plateau La Crau. Drink or hold.
Wine Advocate 96 points “Undoubtedly one of the top vintages of this wine, the 2016 Chateauneuf du Pape La Crau features classy notes of crushed stones and black tea to go along with ripe raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied yet silky, there’s more power and richness in La Crau than in Piedlong, yet there’s commensurate elegance and finesse. The wine grows in intensity on the finish without ever seeming heavy or overripe, instead offering hints of tea and licorice.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Brilliant ruby. Ripe cherry and red berries on the deeply perfumed nose, along with hints of smoky minerals and potpourri. Palate-staining cherry and raspberry liqueur flavors show impressive clarity and depth, and a spine of juicy acidity provides lift and focus. Finishes extremely long and sweet, delivering solid thrust, a hint of candied flowers and suave, harmonious tannins.”


The secret is out about this under-the-radar Piedmontese variety
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!

Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The Camigliano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit from a 50-hectare vineyard planted 300 to 350 meters above sea level. The soils show lots of variation with clay, sand, rock and marine fossils. The wine’s bouquet reveals classic Brunello characteristics of wild berry, forest floor, pressed rose petal, crushed stone and spice. You also get those typical balsam and herbal tones that are so specific to Montalcino. In fact, I argue that they come across with even more intensity in a beautifully balanced and sunny vintage such as 2015. This wine ages in 60-hectoliter botti for 24 months, making for a firm yet surprisingly streamlined mouthfeel. With 160,000 bottles made, the wine was released in January 2020.”
James Suckling 94 points “A bright and elegant Brunello that suggests sliced oranges, tulips and rose petals. Medium-to full-bodied and finely structured, drawing on silky layers of tannins and a vibrant edge of acidity. Drink now or hold.”

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Trendy & Arriving Friday

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points
“Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99
 

Siro Pacenti:

Profundity in Montalcino

Arriving in September


“Giancarlo Pacenti is by far the leading exponent of the modern school of Brunello di Montalcino. No other producer has succeeded in crafting wines of this much textural beauty and refinement. Over the years, Pacenti, along with the help of Bordeaux consultant Eric Boissenot has moved towards earlier blending of his wines with the goal of aging a complete blend rather than components. There is little question, the young wines here have never been better balanced and harmonious from the outset.” -Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Arriving in September from Siro Pacenti:

Only 24 bottles available!
Siro Pacenti Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 92 points
“Pale red; this wine’s very pretty color strikes me as being one of the less dark Rossos made by Pacenti in years. Inviting floral notes (rose, violet) complement strawberry, red cherry and delicate flint and herb aromas. Then very fresh and juicy, with a steely quality to the red fruit and herb flavors that are really perked up by a strong peppery component on the long, lively youthfully chewy finish. Made from 15 years old Sangiovese vines, this is a really lovely fruit-forward and also surprisingly spicy Rosso di Montalcino. 25% new oak for 12 -3 months.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $37

Only 48 bottles available!
Siro Pacenti Pelagrilli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points
“Such lovely aromas of flowers and red fruit with some cedar and spice. Hot terra cotta. Full-bodied, very round and soft textured with beautiful fruit and balance. Fresh and vivid. Such balance and beauty. Drink or hold.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Siro Pacenti 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli is a rich and pleasing wine with very nice aromatics. Of these two new releases, the Pelagrilli is more characteristic of Tuscany and Sangiovese. The Vecchie Vigne expression tastes far more international or contemporary (read: it has more oak flavors) in comparison. I tend to prefer this wine especially in a vintage like 2015 that is so naturally expressive and powerful to begin with. The bouquet opens to dried cherry with dusty mineral notes and dried Mediterranean herb. On the the finish, you taste some of that sweetness that comes with aging in French barrique. Some 23,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Effusive aromas and flavors of black currant, black cherry, plum and spice mark this generous, polished red. Well-structured, picking up earth and iron accents for good measure. Shows terrific balance and a long finish. Best from 2022 through 2042. 1,900 cases made, 680 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55

Only 12 bottles available!
Siro Pacenti Vecchie Vigne, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($129.95) $99 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points
“This is very intense on the nose with blue fruit, cool stones, brambleberries and blackberries. Wet earth, too. Full-bodied and extremely dense and powerful with a super center palate of fruit and ripe yet compact tannins. Lightly chewy and expressive. Superb transparency and integration. Goes on for minutes. One of the best Brunellos I have tasted in my career. Try after 2021, but already amazing.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A light touch of oak is well-integrated with the cherry, plum and wild herb flavors in this powerful yet balanced red. A distinctive saline quality plays out on the long finish. A little less fruity than many of its peers, but no less complex. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,300 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne presents an extroverted mix of both red and blue berry fruits, complemented by notes of sweet spice, milk chocolate and plum. On the palate, silky textures play host to ripe red and black fruits, laced with savory herbs, hints of olive, and saline-minerals. The finish is long and structured, resonating on zesty acids and spice, as notes of dried cherry and dark inner florals slowly fade. To be honest, I didn’t expect such a brilliant and balanced showing on the palate, and I believe that once the Vecchie Vigne sheds some of its sweet fruit on the nose, it will show beautifully from start to finish.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Siro Pacenti 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Vecchie Vigne remains one of the most contemporary wines to emerge from this sun-kissed appellation in southern Tuscany. You taste the richness and suppleness of its dark fruit and abundant blackberry. However, the wine also offers hints of exotic spice, savory tobacco and even a touch of talc powder or buttered popcorn that comes from the oak (it sees 24 months in French barrique). Indeed, this wine’s lactic signature remains strong. This adds to the distinctively creamy, viscous and rich nature of the full-bodied mouthfeel. Fruit comes from old vines ranging from 35 to 50 years old. Stylistically, some of the intricacies of Sangiovese are sacrificed in the name of texture and density. Some 25,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Menthol, pine resin and forest-floor aromas mix with whiff of iris. Firmly structured and youthfully austere, the palate offers dried black cherry, licorice and black tea alongside assertive, fine-grained tannins. It closes on a coffee-bean note. Drink 2023–2030.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $122

Bonus Tuscan Offer!

Lisini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points
“With vineyards between Sant’Angelo in Colle and Castelnuovo dell’Abate on the inner edge of the Sesta district, Lisini’s vineyards are cleansed by constant breezes from the Tuscan Coast. Stony soils with an important underpinning of limestone as well as elevations over 300 metres help preserve freshness in their wines. The 2015 is beautifully fragrant, almost exotic in character. Plump red fruit and sweet summer herbs fill the mouth but rather than being heavy, this is poised and transparent. Ample powdery tannins are fine and lead to a tangy marine finish.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A serious, brooding red, with ripe cherry and strawberry flavors offsetting the beefy tannins. Loam, iron and almond notes chime in. Balanced and long overall. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,500 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino dark and rich, showing ripe black cherries and plum, with layers of haunting florals, exotic brown spice and smoky mineral tones. On the palate, a wave of polished textures wash across the senses, ushering in juicy black cherry with sweet herbal and floral undertones, with zesty spices and vibrant acidity adding a refreshing quality. The finish is long and remarkably fresh, an example of how the warmth of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be tempered by a deft hand, as fine tannins come forward, balanced by mouthwatering acidity and punctuated by residual pure red berry fruit. It’s a wine that’s very easy to love, with near term appeal and potential for the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59


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

Stay safe, be well & drink well.

Santa Duc Special 8-20-20

Santa Duc

Regal Gigondas and More

At National-Best Pricing

 
Gigondas’ is the finest source of value for profound wine in the Rhone. The top estates deliver wines that compete with the very best wines in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, but at prices that are a fraction of their competition. Our feature today, Santa Duc, is one of the very best in the region and our pricing on most of their wines is the best in the country—a killer combination.

Santa Duc is perhaps the only estate who can match Saint Cosme as the “Most Important Winery in Gigondas”.  Owners of some of the finest vineyards in the Southern Rhone, Santa Duc is a legendary producer that more than lives up to their reputation. Unlike Saint Cosme, though, their top wines aren’t yet commanding triple-digit pricing.  In fact, their most expensive Gigondas bottling is still under $50—and is an absolute stunner.

Santa Duc manages to make Gigondas taste aristocratic—taming the wild mountain personality of the Dentelles into something that is at once both intensely powerful and also nuanced and complex.

These are wines that manage the neat trick of being absolutely delicious now while having a track record of aging gracefully.  Recent notes for older bottles like the ’95 and ’98 Hautes Garrigues are glowing, yet the wines can be on your table tonight and impress.  In the last decade or so, the winery has extended its holdings into Chateauneuf and those wines are as brilliant as you’d expect, as well.

These are wines to buy in quantity—you’re going to want to drink a lot of them now and have some in your cellar in ten years, as well.  They arrive next week and our pre-arrival pricing is especially sharp, so don’t delay.


Arriving Friday, August 28th:

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derriere Vieille, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points
“Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhone 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points
“Saturated ruby. Powerful, deeply pitched black and blue fruit aromas are complicated by suggestions of licorice, woodsmoke and incense. Broad, palate-coating blackberry and cherry compote flavors open up slowly with aeration. Distinctly rich but showing surprising vivacity, with velvety tannins coming in late to shape the wine’s sweet finishing fruit.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This has a solid core of raspberry, bitter cherry and plum fruit, liberally laced with iron, violet and bay leaf notes. The long, sleek finish lets the iron edge play out, revealing a hint of blood orange in the background. Best from 2016 through 2020. 100 cases imported.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 points
“Lastly, the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues (60/40 Grenache and Mourvèdre) is a beauty boasting killer notes of dark fruits, crushed rocks, pepper, garrigue and scorched earth. This seriously good 2015 has building richness, a stacked mid-palate and a huge finish, all suggesting short-term cellaring will be your friend. It will keep for two decades of more.”
James Suckling 93 points “Mourvèdre steps up to one third of the blend while the balance is grenache. This has an attractive array of ripe dark cherry and blue plum fruits. The tannins are framed up with a deeper, wider shape. Try from 2020, this needs time.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93-95 points “Full ruby. Smoke-accented aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, incense, spicecake and candied flowers show outstanding energy and clarity. Sweet, seamless and broad in the mouth, offering concentrated black raspberry, boysenberry and lavender pastille flavors that fan out steadily with air. Rich but nervy and precise as well, carrying no excess fat. Velvety tannins frame an extremely long, incisive finish that leaves behind notes of sweet dark berries and candied flowers.”
Wine Advocate 92-95 points “I loved the 2015 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues and this flagship cuvee is made from 65% Grenache and 35% Mourvèdre that’s brought up in foudre. It’s a full-bodied, concentrated, yet brilliantly proportioned Gigondas that has classy notes of blackberries, plums, garrigue and leather. It’s going to need 3-5 years of cellaring.”

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Prestige des Hautes Garrigues, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points
“Always the richest, most powerful wine in the lineup, the 2016 Gigondas Hautes Garrigues offers a rocking bouquet of black cherries, blackberries, bouquet garni, pepper, and fresh earth. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and with building tannins, it’s certainly a more fresh, stylish example of this cuvée and is a perfect wine from readers wanting to understand the changes that have happened at this estate over the past decade or so. Give this beauty 2-4 years of bottle age and enjoy it over the following decade.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Flowering garrigue, black cherries and licorice all pop on the nose of the 2016 Gigondas Les Hautes Garrigues. Full-bodied, rich, velvety and intense without being overbearing, it’s a tremendous effort, with the poise, grace and charm of Disney’s Fantasia ballet-dancing hippo. And the finish is long—really long.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $58

Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Aux Lieux-Dits, Rhone 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points
“A fluid, fleshy and deeply structured wine with dark cherry and blackberry fruit flavors amid sturdy yet supple tannins. Good weight and presence. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe but fresh, with a slightly high pitch to the mix of damson plum, cherry and rooibos tea aromas and flavors, backed by singed vanilla, tobacco and licorice root notes that give this a darker shade through the finish. Best from 2020 through 2030. 2,400 cases made, 700 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90-92 points “Ruby-red. Ripe red fruit and floral pastille aromas show very good detail and an energizing suggestion of white pepper. Palate-caressing raspberry and bitter cherry flavors blend depth and energy with a smooth hand and show no rough edges. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to a very long, red-fruit-dominated finish that features a subtle touch of star anise.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Le Pied De Baud’, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Le Pied de Baud, a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault, offers compelling scents of rose petals and raspberries on the nose. While not as richly textural as some of the other cuvées, it’s still a lovely, hauntingly fragrant example of Châteauneuf du Pape.”
James Suckling 94 points “This has an array of darker berry and plum fruits with a brambly, lightly spicy edge, too. The palate delivers impeccably fresh, lithe and detailed tannin texture, as well as blue fruit flavors. Juicy and energetic. Long finish. Try from 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Santa Duc Chateauneuf-du-Pape ‘Les Saintes Vierges’ Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Les Saintes Vierges is the most flattering of Santa Duc’s current releases, offering lushness and generosity on the palate, notes of cherries and licorice, creamy-supple tannins and a mouthwatering finish. It’s a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre and Counoise.”

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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.

Wednesday Newsletter 8-19-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

New Arrivals from Cayuse and Horsepower

Staff Pick: Two Tuscan Treats

Don’t Forget Our Subscriber Special
On German and Austrian Magnums


Rose of the Day!
Staff Pick / Return of a Favorite


Trending Wines

Gerard Boulay: Master of Sancerre

Collector’s Corner
The Best Ever from La Spinetta, Piedmont Icon

 
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New Arrivals from Cayuse and Horsepower

Christophe Baron is not only a great friend of the shop; he also makes some of the most in-demand wines in North America.  As a result, most of his yearly production is sold exclusively through his mailing list.  We always feel fortunate to receive the limited allocations that we do.  As Christophe approaches a quarter century making wine in Walla Walla Valley, his restless nature has spawned a number of different projects, each with their own ambition.  However, none better represents Christophe’s ultimate vision than Horsepower.

The Horsepower wines all come from estate vineyards which are farmed biodynamically using, you guessed it, horses.  Planted at extremely high density, some are even grown on stakes rather than wires, as a throwback to the original farming techniques of the Rhone.  Like the “Hors Catagorie” wine that Christophe makes on his own—no expenses are spared in making these wines and the yields from the dramatic vineyards are extremely low.

The wines are always special, widely considered to be amongst the nation’s best, but the 2016 and 2017 vintages are true standouts.  Both vintages were outstanding in Walla Walla, and seem poised to yield top-end wines that will be talked about, and enjoyed, for decades.  So make room in your cellar, and act soon before the limited numbers of bottles we have left vanish.

In Stock Now:

Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points
“The 2016 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard is a more meaty, savory effort that just jumps out of the glass with its ground black pepper, peat moss, cured meat, and smoky red and black raspberry fruits. Meaty, rich, concentrated, medium to full-bodied, with a tight, backward vibe, hide this in the cellar for 3-5 years and it will have two decades of longevity.”
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “CELLAR SELECTION. The outrageously expressive aromas include notes of peat, firepit, black and green olive, potpourri, black pepper, crushed rock, funk, ham hock, fresh flower and tobacco. The savory flavors are palate shaking in their intensity, but still sleek and balanced, tapering toward an extremely long potpourri- and smoked meat-filled finish. It’s a complete stunner that assaults the senses. A knockout now, it should only get better with time. Best after 2025.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “From the first sniff, you know this is a special wine. The 2016 Syrah Sur Echalas Vineyard pops with a blackberry-scented nose and impressive, seductive Syrah tones reticent of the Northern Rhône, with a soft smokiness and mineral edge, warn leather and soft ashiness that lingers on with aromas of crushed violets. There are a noticeable stemmy and black pepper tones on the nose and palate that command my attention. This is a beautifully balanced expression that manages to focus on the elegant side of Syrah, without over-extracting, over-oaking or possessing screaming high alcohol, and the finish is long and contemplative with balanced tannins and structuring acidity—this will age beautifully for decades to come! There is a reason why Christophe Baron and crew are captivating the world’s attention when it comes to the Rhône varietals. Only 267 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $185

Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points
“From a vineyard planted in 2013, the 2016 Syrah High Contrast saw loads of stems and mostly neutral barrels. This thrilling wine has a Chave Hermitage-like purity and class as well as gorgeous notes of cassis, black raspberries, smoked earth, and graphite. It’s deep, pure and layered, incredibly layered, pure, and long, with a finish that won’t quit. This isn’t for those looking for an inky, massive wine, but it’s pure class, complete, amazingly long, and elegant. Give bottles a few years in the cellar and it’s going to shine for 15-20 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $178

Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points
“The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $185

Horsepower Vineyards ‘Sur Echalas Vineyard’ Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97 points
“Power and elegance. The 2017 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard bangs with bright red fruit character with fantastic clarity and a pure sense of underlying terroir at its core. Intoxicating floral aromas of Sakura, crushed rose petals and hints of lavender flood the senses first, followed by layers of wild strawberries, bright cherry skin and crushed raspberries in the glass. It is medium-bodied on the palate, with delicate savory and spice tones that fade in and out between the seductive red fruit and floral notes, giving way to an impeccably balanced structure with energetic acidity and a robust shine and gleam to the fruit. An instant success, the palate is full of flavor and mouth-watering juiciness without being overripe. Immensely pleasureful, the wine delivers an elongated yet compact finish that continues to evolve and unpack in the mouth with persistence. Hands-down, it’s a winner! 301 cases produced.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Starting with the 2017 Grenache Sur Echalas Vineyard, this beauty is the spitting image of a great vintage of Rayas and offers a complex bouquet of black raspberries, white pepper, spring flowers, and sappy herbs. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, ethereal Grenache that has a light, graceful texture, silky tannins, and a great finish. It shows the more elegant, almost Pinot Noir-like style of Grenache on the palate and is flawlessly balanced. Just a singular, remarkable wine, drink it any time over the coming 15 years or more.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $192.85

Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points
“The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.”
Nick Stock  96 points “This has such impressive, silky black fruit with interwoven spices and subtle, meaty nuances. The intensity of fruit is dialed-up in this wine. There’s a very pure, bright fruit core here that pushes out of the mid-palate with a lot of energy and stony, graphite-like notes. This has a wealth of dark berries on offer. Such length and balance. Planted at 8,500 vines per hectare. Drink or hold. Best from 2022.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $148.96

Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”


Also Newly Arrived from Cayuse

Cayuse Vineyards Flying Pig, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“Based on 50% Cabernet Franc, 39% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2017 Flying Pig sports a deeper ruby/purple color as well as rocking levels of blackcurrant and black cherry fruits interwoven with notes of tobacco leaf, cedar pencil, damp earth, and spice. Bordeaux-like on both the nose and palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, has a great, rounded texture, and a clean finish. It’s beautiful example of this cuvée to drink any time over the coming 10-15 years.”

Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points
“The 2016 God Only Knows saw a fair amount of stems (60-80%) and was brought up in neutral demi-muids and foudre. It’s incredibly complex, offering blackberry, smoked earth, Iberico ham, white pepper, spring flowers, and violets. It’s seamless, ultra-pure, medium-bodied, and just glides across the palate and has a Burgundian weight and richness. 535 cases.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Featuring a playful label, the 2016 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard is a blend of 90% Grenache, with the remaining 10% comprising unknown varieties. This has a seductive nose of cherry and wild strawberry, with a floral essence and rich minerality, tamed by soft red spices. There is a touch of black pepper here, suggesting a splash of Syrah in the blend. The wine is tight on the palate but gives pleasure on many different levels, as it has both breadth and depth. There is a focused core of rocky minerality to the wine as it lingers on the long, textured finish with good balance and structured tannins. This is impressive juice! Only 535 cases produced.-AM”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $153

Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“While I don’t think the 2017 Impulsivo matches the 2016, it’s certainly not far off. Showing the more elegant style of the vintage, it offers a gorgeous perfume of smoked black cherries, redcurrants, green tobacco, bloody meat, sandalwood, and Asian spices that opens up with time in the glass. Ethereal, medium to full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it has flawless balance, polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It’s just beautifully put together and one of the more approachable vintages of this cuvée. It can be drunk with incredible pleasure today (give it an hour decant) or cellared for 15+ years or more.”

Cayuse Vineyards En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 3 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points
“This red shows lots of smoked meat and spices, as well as dried-strawberry and raspberry character. Full-bodied, yet not overpowering, with creamy tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Tightens at the end. Shows focus and intensity. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “More tapenade, dried herbs, chocolate, sweet mulch, and sweet black fruits emerge from the 2017 Syrah En Chamberlin, a medium to full-bodied, ripe, powerful 2017. With building tannins, a plump, expansive mid-palate, plenty of classic Rocks funk, and a great finish, it doesn’t quite have the precision of the En Cerise yet is more sexy and opulent. It benefits from a decant if drinking any time soon and will evolve gracefully for 15 years.”

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Staff Pick

Two Tuscan Treats
 
Andy:
From Camigliano comes two very different bottles of wine. The 2015 Brunello is a full fledged classic that shows all of the tart herbed balsamic notes backed up by a very solid core of ripe cherry and graphite. The wine seems cut from another time, though the recent warm vintages have softened rough edges and added a little polish that took time to develop before. There are beautiful citrus peel aromas, and trailside scents of sage and thyme. The fruit is slightly more tart than others from the 15 vintage, but it is delightfully lively and fresh. The solid core can develop for years to come, but with a healthy decant you will not be disappointed. Again, this took days to consume and it was more delicious every day. Probably more for the cellar with a five year wait before revisiting, but if anybody is opening it up, I will gladly share a glass. The second wine is the Poderuccio IGT Super-Tuscan Cab-Merlot-Sangio blend that is simply ridiculous. For under $20, it might not be Montalcino proper, but you’ll love the way the Sangiovese notes play against the way the bright red fruits. It’s a guilty pleasure that will pair with anything from the grill all through fall.

In Stock Now:

Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “
The Camigliano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit from a 50-hectare vineyard planted 300 to 350 meters above sea level. The soils show lots of variation with clay, sand, rock and marine fossils. The wine’s bouquet reveals classic Brunello characteristics of wild berry, forest floor, pressed rose petal, crushed stone and spice. You also get those typical balsam and herbal tones that are so specific to Montalcino. In fact, I argue that they come across with even more intensity in a beautifully balanced and sunny vintage such as 2015. This wine ages in 60-hectoliter botti for 24 months, making for a firm yet surprisingly streamlined mouthfeel. With 160,000 bottles made, the wine was released in January 2020.”
James Suckling 94 points “A bright and elegant Brunello that suggests sliced oranges, tulips and rose petals. Medium-to full-bodied and finely structured, drawing on silky layers of tannins and a vibrant edge of acidity. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A focused, lively red, this exhibits cherry, strawberry, earth, mineral and Mediterranean herb flavors. Dense, staying fresh as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2042.”

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

Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT 2018 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 90 points
“Lots of blackberries and tar, together with black-olive character on the nose and palate. Full-bodied and structured. A little raw, but should come around nicely with bottle age. Drink from 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
 
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Don’t Forget Our Subscriber Special

On German and Austrian Magnums!


Magnums of German and Austrian wines are objectively the best large formats out there.  This is a fact, not open to dispute—we refuse to hear any counter-arguments.

Somehow need convincing? Consider the “pouring wingspan” of a German or Austrian mag.  From a seated position, a host can easily pour into any glass at a dinner party of eight people—that extra three feet of bottle makes it happen.  Unless you’re Mrs. Incredible, you’d have to walk around to pour a magnum of Burgundy, but with that 1.5L of Riesling, anything’s possible.

Furthermore, while it’s on the table, the tall, thin profile of these large formats offers a smaller visual impediment than a comparable bottle from Bordeaux or Burgundy.  It’s easier to see around the German bottle, so you can maintain conversation with everyone at the table that much easier. You don’t want your dinner guests to feel like they’re in the obstructed-view seats, do you?

Finally, they’re filled with German and Austrian wines!  These are some of the most delicious, joyous wines on the planet!  Light, fresh and pairing with seemingly everything, there’s a bottle of German or Austrian wine for every palate and a magnum in stock at Vinopolis. 

Magnum Subscriber Special
Buy 3-5 German and Austrian Magnums (Mix and Match), Receive a 5% Discount On Them
Buy 6+ German and Austrian Magnums (Mix and Match), Receive a 10% Discount On Them
Magnum Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Magnum Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Friday, August 21st at 10AM


In Stock Now:

F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2013 1.5L ($219.95) $149 Displayed Price, That’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off!
Wine Advocate 94 points
“Lucas Pichler’s monumental 2013 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M opens with an ultra-ripe, concentrated and slightly speck-y yet still precise and even mineral-scented bouquet on the nose. Very rich and intense on the palate, this elegant, full-bodied, densely textured and powerful Veltliner from late-harvested grapes reveals an aromatic and juicy fruit core along with a stunningly vibrant acidity that gives structure, length and a lifting as well as lingering salinity and piquancy. Maracuya and other tropical fruit flavors dominate the aromatic aftertaste. Although I have no experience with matured samples of this Austrian icon Veltliner, I suspect it has an aging potential of 5-10 years and should be cellared at least for another 2 or 3 years.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Made with fruit from Loibenberg (a 50% share), Kellerberg, Liebenberg, with a small bit of Kollmütz, this installment of “M” enjoyed the longest pre-fermentation skin contact of any Pichler 2013, and was raised in a new large oval, then moved to tank shortly before bottling, which is when I last tasted it. Its impressive features include imposing richness of peach, melon and pineapple; an expansive and flatteringly creamy palate; high-toned inner-mouth allusions to almond extract; peach kernel piquancy; and pronounced smokiness and stoniness that suggest a mingling of Szechuan peppercorn, black tea and ash. The bright, Riesling-like juiciness characteristic of so many Grüner Veltliners from this vintage is absent here. But the finish of this static, statuesque wine (recall that “M,” after all, stands here for “monumental”) glows persistently in its evocation of peach kernel and pepper.”

This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!

Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 Displayed Price, That’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off!
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2016 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese (AP 09 17) shows very fine botrytis and orange tea character on the delicate and nicely concentrated nose. Very elegant, piquant and lush on the palate, with mineral expression, refreshment and persistent structure, this is a serious and complex Auslese of great class. Highly recommended.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Well-crafted, showing a bright and suave character, displaying ripe peach, mango and mineral nuances, this auslese sings harmoniously on the palate. Silky and full of energy, with a lingering aftertaste of lime and honey. Very delicious now, but will also age for years. Drink now through 2034.”

This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!

Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 1.5L ($99.95) $79 Displayed Price, That’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off!
Grapelive 94 points
“The radiant and graceful Korrell Paradies Trocken leads with expressive pure apple tones. [It] impresses for its elegance and subtle character. It’s a wine of great poise and delicacy, especially admirable for such a young Riesling. The monopole estate vineyard, Paradies, is the oldest single site Korrell has and is the flagship wine from winemaker Martin Korrell. It comes from his family’s vines that are set on limestone and clay soils in Bad Kreuznach area of the Nahe region. The Paradies Riesling Trocken is a gorgeous white of depth and precise winemaking that takes advantage of this unique site in the Nahe. This wine is the heart and soul of Korrell and it is product of its unique climat,or terroir. It sees more sunshine and the limestone allows for serious concentration, while retaining acidity, though there is always great attention paid to pick dates to finely tune this signature bottling to place and vintage. Korrell mixes some traditional stainless fermentations with some native yeast and barrel ferments to craft his wines. The Paradies shows a beautiful leesy finesse that reminds me a bit of the Von Winning GG’s, with a long time on the lees adding a beautiful glycerin density to this gorgeous dry Riesling. Coming off Korrel’s incredible Riesling Cup win for his Von den Grossen Lagen (Grand Crus) Riesling Trocken, I was absolutely thrilled to be able to try this wine, and found this particular wine just as intriguing. Martin focuses on preserving heightened aromatics and crisp mineral tones, while allowing the mouth feel and depth to shine through. It is an amazing accomplishment to get it all right, and Korrell deserves his time in the limelight. This is complex and glorious stuff. Layers of green apple, peach, mixed fresh citrus and melon fruits are lifted by liquid rock, steely mineral and faint perfume of white flowers along with a silkiness of mouth feel. While still delightfully crisp, [this delivers] an exciting energy filled performance. This is a winery that about to break out and join some elite company, in fact they are riding high after winning, as mentioned, the famous Riesling Cup award with their unique multi (Grand) cru Von den Grossen Lagen Trocken Riesling. This wine is just extra proof there is real quality here! The lightly golden hued and generously textured Paradies will age well. It’s full of charm, class and potential. Best to let this one have another 3 to 5 years, though it certainly is delicious right now.”
Stuart Pigott 94 points “Very clean and fresh, but behind the effusive, fruit-salad character that makes this so seductive, there is a lot of structure and the finish keeps pumping out the fruit and chalky minerality. Drink or hold.”

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

Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt Scharzhofberger Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 1.5L ($179.95) $149 Displayed Price, That’s $141.55 at 5% off and $134.10 at 10% off!
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points
“This Auslese harvested at 102° Oechsle is still marked by some residual notes from spontaneous fermentation at first. However, these quickly give way to exotic scents of mango and papaya as well as mint, candied grapefruit and pineapple. The wine proves juicy and creamy even if still on the sweet side on the palate at this early stage. However, the finish already hints at greatness to come as grapefruit zest brings freshness in the long finish of this superb Auslese from the Scharzhofberg.”

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

Shop all 23 German magnums
and 4 Austrian magnums in our webstore!


Magnum Subscriber Special
Buy 3-5 German and Austrian Magnums (Mix and Match), Receive a 5% Discount On Them
Buy 6+ German and Austrian Magnums (Mix and Match), Receive a 10% Discount On Them
Magnum Subscriber Special only valid on in-stock wines
Subscriber Special Discount Will Not Display Online
We Will Manually Adjust Your Order Before Finalizing It
Magnum Subscriber Special Discounts Valid Until Friday, August 21st at 10AM


 
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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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Rose of the Day!

Staff Pick / Return of a Favorite


Andy:
Tom Bove (the owner of La Mascaronne) has a track record in Provence that’s trending well. As a retiree in 1993, he rejuvenated a 1,000 acre property with an old 74 acre vineyard in Provence and sold it to a familiar pair of Americans: Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie (you may have heard of the Miraval wines). The secret is he kept the best vineyards from that land for himself; terroir that is pure Provence: rich with chalk and clay hills and the unbeatable Mediterranean climate. He’s now making wine that well surpasses the better known property in quality.

The wine not to miss is the stunning Quat’ Saisons rosé. This is quintessential Provence wine, which will have you wondering two things: who will bring you a bowl of good olives and why did you not buy more? It fills your nose with scents of wet stones, fresh citrus peel, and a whiff of red berries. The first taste resets your palate so that the aromas are instantly more pronounced, and the second taste confirms the brightness and firmness. It’s not a candy store rosé; it’s much more serious, and yet it still drinks so easily you’ll catch yourself quaffing it without thought. We regularly put it in the hands of customers who walk through the door who ask, “what is the best rosé you’ve had this year?” They all come back for more.

Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 92 points
“Ultra pale and coppery-hued, La Mascaronne’s certified-organic 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose Quat’Saisons is a blend of Cinsault and Grenache. Like previous vintages, it starts with notes of crushed stone and citrus, then adds the merest hints of red fruit. It’s medium-bodied but focused and streamlined, coming to an elongated, mouthwatering, complex finish that adds peach, melon and anise to the mix.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
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Trending Wines

Day describes their Momtazi bottling as their “our flagship Pinot Noir from one of Willamette Valley’s most prized biodynamic vineyards and our most age-worthy wine.”  It‘s normally the most expensive Pinot in the Day Wines lineup at $54, but we’re able to offer it for just $33 per bottle and $28.75 per bottle on case purchases. 
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points
“The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.50

Delas is a signature producer in a region with no shortage of legendary names. The St Joseph Francois de Tournon proves that world-class Northern Rhone wines don’t have to break the bank. Well, at least at our pricing…
Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2016 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2016 750ML ($279.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
“The 2016 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes from more schist and gneiss soils and spent 10-14 months in mostly used barrels, with a small part in tank to preserve more freshness. It’s another ruby/purple-colored effort from this estate and gives up lots of blackberry and blueberry fruits intermixed with earthy minerality, ground pepper, and hints of damp earth. Rich, layered, and textured, it will be better in a year or two and keep for 8-10, if not longer.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Features a solid core of dark currant and blackberry fruit, inlaid with notes of tar, anise and warm tobacco leaf. Reveals a tug of iron through the fruit-laden finish. Best from 2020 through 2026. 1,033 cases made, 123 cases imported. — JM”
James Suckling 92-93 points “This has fragrant and floral character with wild raspberries and red plums. The peppery palate has a vibrant array of ripe, red and purple fruit. Good depth and drive here. Barrel sample.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99
The average price is $42

Wine Spectator’s Highest-ever scoring, under-$15 California Sauvignon Blanc
Joel Gott Wines Sauvignon Blanc, California 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Case-12 Joel Gott Wines Sauvignon Blanc, California 2019 750ML ($179.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points
“The lemon blossom, Asian pear, lime sherbet and candied orange peel notes are pure, fragrant, silky smooth and juicy, with intensity and a lift of freshness on the finish from a lemon verbena accent. Drink now. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 98,000 cases made.”

A dynamite Sangiovese for all the Brunello lovers out there!
Petrolo Boggina C Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
James Suckling 96 points
“This is so focused and precise with fantastic depth and beauty. A pure definition of sangiovese. Full-bodied, tight and refined. Yet, full of strength and length. Succulent, too. A single-vineyard wine with soul. Better in 2022.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2016 Val d’Arno di Sopra Bòggina C is a pure expression of Sangiovese from vines planted in 1952. Give the wine a little time to open in the glass; once it does, it offers a beautiful display of forest fruit, spice, leather and earthy tones. Unlike the Bòggina A that is aged in amphorae, the Bòggina C is fermented in concrete vats using ambient yeasts. It sees extended maceration times and is aged in French 40-hectoliter casks and tonneaux. Some 11,000 bottles were made. This single-vineyard expression of Sangiovese reveals impeccable balance and elegance.-ML”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
 
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Gerard Boulay: Master of Sancerre

“Given the crystalline purity of his Sauvignon Blancs, he has become one of my favorite producers of the central Loire. If you want to know what true Sancerre tastes like, try one of his single-vineyard bottlings. It does not come any better!” – Joel Payne, Vinous

Gerard Boulay makes some of the best white wines in France from his vineyards in Chavignol.  Chavignol is the true beating heart of Sancerre and the host of all the best names in the region (Vatan, the Cotats, Boulay, etc.) and Boulay owns some of best located sites in some of the best vineyards in the town.  From his parcel in La Grande Cote to Monts Damnes to the famed Clos Beaujeu, all of his wines ring with terroir and the unique minerality that’s inherent to Chavignol.

For the prices that Boulay charges, these are some of the most electric and profound whites in all of France.  While low-tier Sancerre always seems overpriced, the top producers in the region make extraordinary wines that seem to be completely undervalued (with the obvious exception of Vatan).  2018 was a fantastic year in the Loire and Boulay made some of his best bottles in his career.  


Newly Arrived from Gerard Boulay:

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol, Loire 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Importer note
“Blend of young vine parcels on kimmeridgian slopes in the village of Chavignol.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $35

Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote, Loire 2018 750ML ($74.95) $56.50 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“Boulay’s parcel in “La Grande Côte,” which is partially owned and partically rented, is one of three designated Crus of Chavignol and is reputed for producing wines of incredible precision. Vintage 2010 was the inaugural release. Overall, Gerard Boulay’s “terre blanche” vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay’s neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan). These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above “regular” Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons. (referred to by the Cotat brothers as La Grande Cote)”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu, Loire 2018 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“One of Chavignol’s most historic vineyards, Boulay’s parcel lies within the original Clos of the vineyard, established by the monks of Beaujeu in the Middle Ages. The walls of the Clos are no longer standing as they were originally built from clay and hay, and did not withstand the test of time. Boulay farms a 0.75 hectares plot of 30- to 60-year old vins where the soils are pebbly, lime-rich and strewn with fossils. Along with the 60% gradient for much of the vineyard, the rocky soils make this parcel very difficult to farm. Clos de Beaujeu is the source of some of Boulay’s deepest, most structured wines and savory, spicy examples of Chavignol that are built to last.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes, Loire 2018 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“Boulay began farming the steeply sloped Mont Damnés vineyard in 1982. His plot has an average vine age of 45 years. Mont Damnés’ reflective soils and south-facing exposition make it one of Chavi­gnol’s warmest sites. Overall, Gerard Boulay’s “terre blanche” vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay’s neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan). These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above “regular” Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

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Collector’s Corner

The Best Ever from La Spinetta, Piedmont Icon


“These are some of the very best wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta. Proprietor Giorgio Rivetti and longtime winemaker Stephano Mazzetta have turned out a superb set of wines. The 2015 Barbarescos are racy and intense – as they always are – but the wines are also increasingly translucent and finessed.” – Antonio Galloni


Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

La Spinetta Vigneto Gallina, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($139.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Gallina is absolutely gorgeous. Vivid and nuanced on the palate, the 2015 is fresh, juicy and flat-out delicious. The Gallina is often a shy wine that needs time in bottle to truly blossom, but the 2015 seems to have skipped that initial phase of reticence. In two separate tastings, the 2015 has been incredibly sensual and polished. Historically, the Gallina has the most consistent track record in aging of the three top Barbarescos in the range. It will be interesting to see if that is the case here as well. For now, the 2015 Gallina is one of the finest wines I have ever tasted from La Spinetta.”
James Suckling 95 points “This is a big and juicy Barbaresco with soft and velvety tannins and a full body. Lots of dried flowers and fruit at the finish. Needs four or five years of bottle age. Try in 2022.”

La Spinetta Vigneto Starderi, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($139.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Starderi rounds out this series of Barbarescos from La Spinetta in grand style. I don’t think the Starderi has ever been so elegant or refined as it is in 2015. Medium in body and translucent, the 2015 possesses remarkable purity and nuance in its red-toned fruit and floral aromatics. The oak needs time to fully integrate, but readers should not be planning on opening bottles anytime soon, as the youthful tannins are also imposing. Bright citrus and floral notes add the closing flourishes.”
James Suckling 94 points “This is decadent and very rich with plum and caramel character, as well as fresh flowers. Medium-bodied, tight and focused with a pretty center palate of dark fruit and linear, chewy tannins. Drink in 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

La Spinetta Vigneto Valeirano, Barbaresco DOCG 2015 750ML ($139.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“The 2015 Barbaresco Vigneto Valeirano is another striking wine from La Spinetta. Precise and finely cut, the 2015 shows the slightly austere personality that is typical of this cru. Even so, the 2015 possesses tremendous energy and intensity. Sweet spice, crushed flowers, crushed rocks, leather, spice, mint and sweet tobacco grace this exquisite, wonderfully nuanced Barbaresco. The 2015 finishes with real substance and gravitas, both of which bode well for its future in bottle. This may be the most finessed edition of Valeirano ever here.”
James Suckling 94 points “The roses and sandalwood character to these wines are impressive. Lots of ripe fruit too. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful. This needs two or three years to soften. Better in 2021.”

La Spinetta Vigneto Campe, Barolo 2015 750ML ($159.95) $119 special
James Suckling 97 points
“Very distinctive nose with violets and very pure blackcurrants and blueberries, as well as leafy nuances, all of which deliver a fresh impression. The palate has impressive depth and density and the cool, blue fruit at the center sits fresh and vibrant. Smoothly resolved tannins shape a distinguished, balanced and long palate. Drink or hold.”

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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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