Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Vinopolpick Mid-Week 5-26-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

A Top Value Super Tuscan

Return of Three Rosé Favorites

Evening Land’s Exceptional Oregon Vision

Jaboulet’s Top 2017’s

Delicious, Ten Year Old Bordeaux, Under $20

Staff Pick
Vajra’s Affordable Side

Four Great Italian Values

A Perfect 2015 Brunello

Clos Rougeard with Perfect Provenance

A Top Value Super Tuscan

Previously Sold Out, Now Back in Stock

Sette Ponti makes some of the finest Super Tuscans out there. While they’re best known for Oreno, their top-end wine, the wine of note in most years is their value-priced Crognolo. Made with every bit the same care as the flashier Oreno, Crognolo’s Sangiovese dominant blend provides a beautiful drink-now option at less than half the price of the flagship wine. The 2017 just re-arrived (after quickly selling out the first go-round) and looks to be an absolute knockout—the warm year bestowed it with more fruit and softer tannins than usual, making this value an early drinker, as well.

In Stock Now:

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $132 special (that’s only $22/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of pure blackberry runs through this otherwise dense and focused red. Shows elegance, with balance and complexity, but needs time to integrate and reveal all its facets. Offers fine, minerally length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2032. 7,500 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $31

Return of Three Rosé Favorites

Spring is turning into summer and we’re celebrating new vintages of three of our favorite rosés, all imported by Vinopolis favorite Weygandt-Metzler.

In Stock Now:

Bastide Blanche makes some of our favorite rosé from Bandol—that it happens to be under $22 per bottle doesn’t hurt. This is some legitimately great rosé at a fraction of the price of Padeaux and Tempier. Sure, it’s not quite as grand as those two wines, but at the price difference, why worry?

Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special, 18 magnums in stock now
Importer note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault & Clairette from clay, limestone & cailloux. Organic. Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”
VinopolNote: Always the star of the Weygandt-Metzler rose offer at Vinopolis. This is fabulous and always underpriced (especially at less than half the cost of Tempier!).

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

Chinon is the source of some of our favorite rosé and none is better value than Plouzeau’s. Pale pink, it’s got the snappy, red-berry fruit and peach of lightly macerated Franc with a touch of the rosemary and thyme the variety brings to the table as well. Even better, it’s extremely well priced, so this is one to buy by the case and drink with gusto.

M Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Rose, Loire 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Cabernet Franc from river gravel & pebbly soils. Rich raspberry, hints of green pepper and a touch of white peach. Medium body with a long, elegant finish.”

A perfect rosé for drinkers who want a bit more substance and heft in their wines. We love (and sell plenty of) St. Damien’s red wines and their rosé is made with all the same care and technique—it’s a real winner that’s a perfect match for anything coming off the grill.

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Cinsault, Syrah & Mourvedre from sand, clay & cailloux soils. Organic. Ripe raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and stone. Medium body with a long finish…From the lieu dit “La Moutte” this tiny production rosé is from mostly 45 year old Cinsault planted in 1970, and 10-15 year old Mourvèdre and Syrah. Cold maceration for 6 hours in the press and slow pneumatic pressing. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with occasional lees stirring.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Evening Land’s Exceptional Oregon Vision

Evening Land was founded by an all-star team, headlined by Dominique Lafon, who secured a long term lease on the fabled Seven Springs vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills. Running it as an estate property, Evening Lands has elevated the historic site, modernizing some of the viticulture and replanting diseased blocks.

The current team, led by Sashi Moorman and Raj Parr, has taken the label and the vineyard to new heights, with the wines displaying previously unseen levels of fineness and elegance. We have an assortment of their excellent entry level wines in stock now, plus some great deals on previously secret, restaurant-only bottlings (see below)

In Stock Now:

Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Seven Springs Vineyard has an open nose of poached pear, pie crust, baked golden apple, wet stone and crushed hazelnut with touches of Meyer lemon peel and Greek yogurt. The palate is medium-bodied and silky, fleshing out from a mineral entry into savory, honeyed layers lifted by tangy acidity and finishing long and precise.”
Winery Note “In a world dominated by Pinot Noir, the Chardonnays of Evening Land have quietly earned a loyal following. The bright, clean, and lively Seven Springs Chardonnay grows in the rockier areas of the vineyard’s mid-slope, offering a precise wine of clarity and finesse.”

Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Gamay Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Gamay Noir from the Seven Springs vineyard has a vibrant ruby-purple color and lovely scents of crushed raspberries, cranberries and strawberries with accents of red cherry candy, blueberries, garrigue and crushed granite. The palate is light to medium-bodied with crunchy fruits and a light framing of chalky tannins, finishing super fresh and juicy. It’d be dangerously easy to pound a bottle of this!”
Winery Note “We’re proud to farm some of the oldest Gamay vines in North America. The combination of our volcanic soils and the Gamay grape matched with a traditional Beaujolaise approach in the cellar make this wine our most drinkable bottling from the entire vineyard.”

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

Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92 points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2017 Pinot Noir Seven Springs Estate has aromas of crunchy cranberries, raspberries and blackberries with accents of fragrant earth, violets, peppercorn, saline and bitters. Medium-bodied and silky, it offers loads of ripe fruits tempered by earthy accents, with grainy tannins and sip-me-again acidity, finishing long. Grapes for this cuvée (Evening Land’s largest at over 3,000 cases produced annually) were mostly destemmed and come from both older and younger vines.”
Winery Note “Of all our bottlings, the Seven Springs Pinot Noir tells the story of our vineyard. Built around a core of own-rooted, Pommard and Wädenswil vines planted in 1984, this bottling is a hearkens back Oregon’s winegrowing infancy, when savoriness, smokiness, and nuance brought curious and adventurous Burgundy lovers to our region in droves.”

Looking for even better value? We’ve got two Evening Land wines whose exact (vineyard) origins are unknown, but which represent a fantastic value play. Bottled to be the house Pinot Noir and house Chardonnay for an upscale restaurant group by Evening Land, the famed Willamette producer, the wines are only available to you because the COVID crisis caused the restaurant to default on its commitment to the winery.

What does that mean? It means two wines that were produced and priced to be exceptional glass pours are now available to you at prices that are hard to believe, given their origins. While the winery (and restaurant) are keeping mum about where exactly the fruit for these was sourced, they live up to the expectations we have for an Evening Land wine, especially for the price. They’re made in a more forward, drink-now style than ELV’s other more cellar-oriented releases, so perfect for a quarantine stockpile.

In Stock Now:

Evening Land “Brasserie 19” Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Evening Land “Brasserie 19” Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($419.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Evening Land “Brasserie 19” Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Evening Land “Brasserie 19” Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($419.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Jaboulet’s Top 2017’s

The hill of Hermitage is both one of the most famous wine landmarks in the world and also so much more interesting than common lore purports it to be. The story goes that the hill of Hermitage was the home of a knight seeking solace from the horrors of the Crusades upon his return home. He planted the vineyards that would become Hermitage and then built a chapel to pray in and that building, the Chapel of Saint Christopher, is the defining marker of the hillside. The name, Hermitage, takes the name of the hermit’s refuge.

Jaboulet purchased the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the surrounding plot of land in 1919—possibly the choicest part of the whole appellation. This is the core of their blend for La Chapelle, which for many defines what Hermitage can be, though the entire line of wines Jaboulet makes from the AOC (and its neighbor) is exceptional. These are big, dense wines, with loads of Hermitage character and those effortless Syrah flavors that just don’t quit on extremely long finishes.

The 2017 vintage of Jaboulet’s top wines just arrived and boy are they impressive. Big and rich, they show off the solar qualities of the vintage with surprisingly approachable personalities. These are wines for both the table tonight and also for your future self, so buy accordingly.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “In need of serious air to open up, the 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle became more and more impressive the longer I kept it in the glass. At first it seemed a bit simple, if admirably plummy and rich, but by the time ten minutes had elapsed, it was showing off elegant notes of crushed stone, pencil shavings and cassis, while remaining full-bodied, rich and concentrated. It’s velvety and long on the finish, but something left me wanting a bit more. It’s surely a great La Chapelle, but will it reach that elusive triple-digit score?”
James Suckling 98 points “The icon is in dangerously seductive form. Such pristine dark cherries, blackberries and dark plums, dark chocolate, finely crushed spices and plenty of crushed dark stones on offer. The palate is very intense, very slick and fine tannins deliver an almost playfully soft impression. The oak is super integrated. Like La Maison Bleue, this approachability is an aberration, as it has immense power, concentration and length with such regal and alluring swagger at the finish. But there is so much more to come. Try from 2024, better after 2030.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95-96 points “Brilliant magenta. A highly complex bouquet evokes ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, incense and potpourri, while olive and exotic spice nuances build in the glass. Displays intense, alluringly sweet black/blue fruit, spicecake and violet pastille flavors that show sharp delineation and are braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Closes extremely long and precise, displaying a smoky, intensifying mineral quality and youthfully gripping tannins that build steadily.”

Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “From a scorcher of a vintage that had tiny yields, the 2017 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert offers a deep purple color as well as a classic Thalabert bouquet of black fruits, black olive, iodine, and peppery herbs. It’s a rich, rounded, sumptuous beauty that has plenty of sweet fruit, moderate tannins, and a great finish. It’s not going to match the 2015, but it’s a rocking wine I’d be thrilled to drink.”

Delicious, Ten Year Old Bordeaux, Under $20

2009 was one of those exceptional years where every wine seems to drink two to three tiers above its price point. The entry level wines drunk beautifully on release, but those who cellared wisely are now starting to really get the full value out of them—the best under $25 wines from the vintage have really benefited from a decade in the cellar.

Case in point? Chateau Marsau, in the Cotes d Francs. A wine that in its youth was described as having “medium chewy tannins” by James Suckling has mellowed out into a surprisingly complete mature bottle of Bordeaux. Surprisingly complete, by the way, because the wine is still under $20/bottle. Based on recent Cellartracker notes, this is fantastic right now, but if you stocked up you could absolutely drink it over the next half decade.

In Stock Now:

Chateau Marsau, Cotes de Francs Bordeaux 2009 750ML ($27.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “A wine, with pleasing blackberries and mushroom character, medium chewy tannins and a fresh clean finish. Full body. Try in 2014.”
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Medium ruby-red. Pure aromas and flavors of black cherry, menthol and smoky tobacco lifted by a floral quality. Supple and gentle, with attractive sweetness and impressive volume for the price. Juicy and well-delineated too, without any rough edges. Finishes with dusty, tongue-coating tannins and nice length. A merlot like this in this price range would make a popular restaurant wine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $26

Staff Pick

Vajra’s Affordable Side

Saul:
We probably first think of Vajra for their top Barolos—certainly I know I do. Their cru offerings represent some of the pinnacle of Barolo and while we have some of the 2016’s for sale now, I wanted to focus on their Langhe Rosso—a steal of a wine that’s going to be my go-to bottling for pizza and pasta over the next few months. Made from a blend or Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto (with a few other odds and ends thrown in) it’s lighter and more delicate than many of the Vajra wines, with an freshness and verve that’s hard to beat.

I love this wine because it has enough weight to stand up to a ton of different foods, but has the energy and drive to be energizing and hunger-inducing in its freshness. I drank a bottle a week or so ago with pizza and it really impressed. My wife was stunned to hear the bottle was under $20 and immediately suggested we stock up. I am, and so should you.

In Stock Now:

G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Our Langhe Rosso is a hug from Piedmont. It’s an invitation to explore its different varieties and to get to know its personality. From young vineyards, it is a fruity, delicately complex wine – an ideal companion at the table. It’s predominately Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto, with smaller quantities of Freisa, Albarossa, Pinot Noir. Each vineyard is harvested when it reaches perfect ripeness. The varieties are vinified one by one, to express their personality and uniqueness. The wine is aged for 18-24 months partially in steel and then in first-, second- and third-use pièces. – Giuseppe Vaira”

Looking for more value wines from Vajra? Check out these fantastic buys, in stock now:

G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from a parcel in Sinio. Dark fruit, spice, earthy notes and a good bit of tannin give the Vajra’s Langhe Nebbiolo a decidedly brooding, powerful feel and quite a bit more seriousness than is typical at this level. Sweet red berry fruit, mint and spice add freshness alongside bright acidity as the 2018 opens up in the glass. This is such a pretty and expressive wine.”

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

G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba is a joyous wine that is sure to put a smile on readers’ faces. Pliant, supple and full of character, the 2017 offers superb density and tons of pure deliciousness. Sweet dark cherry, plum, mocha and sweet spice are pushed forward in this engaging, arrestingly beautiful Barbera. Best of all, the 2017 is a superb value.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “This is round, exuding black cherry, blackberry and iron flavors that are deftly integrated with the polished texture. The flavors build to a lengthy conclusion. Drink now through 2024. 2,500 cases made.”

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

G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is plush, racy and flat-out delicious. Raspberry jam, cinnamon, dried flowers, sweet tobacco and cedar all flesh out in a forward, plush Barbera that will drink well right out the gate. The Superiore always needs a few years to fully emerge. I imagine that will be the case here as well. Even so, the 2017 is an especially open-knit version of this wine.”

G.D. Vajra Coste & Fossati Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont, 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati is a wine of extraordinary and arresting beauty. Intense and yet also remarkably delineated, the Coste & Fossati is a terrific example of the heights Dolcetto can reach in skilled hands. Readers will find a gorgeous, beautifully layered wine endowed with tremendous energy and focus. Dark plum, graphite, smoke, menthol and licorice all build in this super-expressive and nuanced wine from Vajra. I loved it.”

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

Four Great Italian Values

Both Umbria and Sardinia are sources for some of the most exceptional values in the world of Italian wine. Largely, that’s because both regions remain undiscovered by international travelers and drinkers, but both offer something really special. Umbrian wines tend to be wilder versions of neighboring Tuscan styles where Sardinian bottles reflect their center-of-the-Mediterranean origins.

Arriving Friday:

Tenuta di Salviano Orvieto Classico Superiore, Umbria 2017 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of pears, green apples and citrus skin follow through to a full body, bright acidity and a crisp and clean finish. Steely and minerally. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $18

Tenuta di Salviano Turlo, Lago di Corbara 2015 750ML ($21.95) $14 pre-arrival 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!
The average listed price is $17

Agricola Punica Samas Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia 2018 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “I like the energy and intensity to the nose here, which paints a picture of fresh herbs, preserved lemons, honeysuckle and jasmine. Real density and oiliness on the palate, but the acidity refreshens and drives this through to a medium-long finish. Drink now. Screw cap.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Agricola Punica ‘Barrua’ Isola dei Nuraghi IGT, Sardinia 2014 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of rosemary, lavender, blackberries and black licorice follow through to a full body that shows licorice, walnut shell, tar and dark fruit. Fascinating wine with real personality. Always refined. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “An elegant, medium- to full-bodied red, this is long and supple, with fine-grained tannins married to a pleasing range of crème de cassis, fig cake and aromatic hints of espresso, wild sage, iron and smoke. Lingering, lightly spiced finish. Carignano with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2029. 8,333 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.”

A Perfect 2015 Brunello

Luce is a Great Name in Brunello—a hallmark modern producer whose wines captivate critics and drinkers with every release. The 2013 was one of our most coveted wines of the vintage and the 2015 is a more than worthy follow up—a collectible wine that’s somehow already drinking really well now. This is a wine awarded 100 points by James Suckling (who, lest we forget, made his name as Wine Spectator’s Tuscan critic). This looks to be an absolute stunner: one of the Brunellos of the vintage. Our big complaint is that we were only able to get five three-packs, of which only three are still available.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Case-3 Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($549.95) $425 special (that’s only $141.67/bottle!)
100 points James Suckling “Amazing aromas of crushed berries, cherries, flowers, black truffles and wet earth, turning to violets and black tea. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, deep and profound with fantastically strong tannins that just melt into the wine. Fantastic length and intensity. Truly great. Drinkable, but better in 2024 and onwards.”

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

Clos Rougeard with Perfect Provenance

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—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. These are moving fast—we’re down to one vintage of Breze and only a few bottles of a number of the single vineyard wines. You can view a full list on our webstore, or keep reading for more details on provenience, etc

These are in stock now and 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 the 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 got a table of all the wines below, but you can also view a full list in our webstore, if you’d like. Feel free to call in your order or shop online and happy hunting!

Thanks for reading!

Monday Newsletter 5-25-2020

In This Newsletter:

Affordable Chianti That’s RTG:
Villa Nozzole

New Week – New Arrivals:
Including K Vintners, Donnhoff,
Terroir Al Limit & more!

Final Stock Arriving Wednesday!
2016 Vouette e Sorbee Fidele

Trending Champagnes

Pink Pre-Arrivals:
Weygandt-Metzler Favorites Arriving Tuesday!

Affordable Chianti That’s RTG:

Villa Nozzole

Elevate your weeknights with this dark, rich & lush drink-now Chianti. From a historic estate within the rolling hills of Greve, the Villa Nozzole is their modern-styled Chianti meant for immediate enjoyment with no need for cellaring. So stock up & enjoy with pizza, pasta, or anything off the grill.

Arriving Friday, May 29th

Tenuta di Nozzole ‘Villa Nozzole’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2015 750ML ($27.95) $16 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “A deep and rich Chianti Classico with dark berry and dark chocolate character. Hints of spice, too. Full body, solid core of fruit and a flavorful finish. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $19

New Week – New Arrivals

Rosé

Clos Sainte Magdeleine ‘Marie de Magdala’ Rose, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone 2018 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Shimmering salmon skin. Displays vibrant, mineral-accented red berry and blood orange scents, along with a sexy floral overtone that gains strength with air. Juicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering intense red currant, strawberry, orange peel and lavender flavors that deftly combine power and delicacy. Finishes with sharp delineation and superb, mineral-driven persistence, leaving a sexy floral note behind.”
Kermit Lynch Note “This is a 100% Grenache rosé—the only such rosé we import—from some of Clos Sainte Magdeleine’s highest-altitude vines. Notes of peaches, sea spray, and strawberries come together in a gorgeously balanced, medium-bodied wine that you will want to drink all year.”

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

Oregon

J.K. Carriere Provocateur Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “The Cliff Notes: The color is deep beet red with a waffle cone nose of concentrated cherry, spice, plum and grilled meat. Experientially, it’s almost as if you had got popped in the mouth in a cherry orchard at harvest — by which I mean, concentrated-saline-Bing cherry on vibrant acidity. The fine emery board texture beautifully meets the acid-laced structure and finishes long. The Name: Provocateurs are, of course, troublemakers. Think of them as emissaries occupying a permeable border between the lands of outright bad and self-righteous good. Now then, who’s up for a trip? A Story: The growing year of 2018 was sunny, warm and powerful, offering a smaller-ish crop — a veritable bruiser, headed for a boozer. Luckily, early September stepped in with some refrain, just in the nick of time, and gave us a week of chill temps that reined in the grapes. The result is pretty massive, but not over-the-top wines that maintain reasonable elegance. Muscles are not the question, but whether or not you can also move your feet.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $27.50

Trathen Hall Wines Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Editor’s Choice. Past releases of this wine were sourced solely from Antiquum vineyard; here, there is an additional source. The quality remains quite high despite the substantially larger production and lower price. Win, win, win! Raspberry, cherry, sassafras, cola and mocha flavors are in play. The inclusion of 20% whole clusters and aging in neutral barrels have added light touches of flavor.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Trathen Hall Wines Antiquum Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) $44 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editor’s Choice. Sourced from a high altitude vineyard at 800 feet on the eastern edge of the Coastal Range, this palate-pleasing wine matches crisp black cherry fruit to nuanced earth, mocha and tobacco highlights. It’s expressive and superbly balanced, ready for immediate enjoyment, but built to cellar as well. Drink now–2026.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47.99

Washington

K Vintners The Boy Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Made from 100% Powerline Vineyard (since 2015), the 2017 Grenache The Boy Powerline Vineyard sports a lighter ruby hue as well as Rayas-like notes of decayed flowers, kirsch liqueur, licorice, and cured meats. Seamless, medium-bodied, and beautifully polished, with fine tannins, it’s a stunning, Burgundian example of this variety to enjoy over the coming 15-20 years. There are a little over 1,000 cases produced.”

K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2017 Cabernet / Syrah The Creator Powerline Vineyard doesn’t match the 2016 yet is still a brilliant blend (75/25 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) sourced from a site on the southern side of the Walla Walla Valley. Loads of jammy blackberry and black cherry fruits as well as hints of chocolate and peppery herbs emerge from this purple/plum-hued 2017. Offering full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it’s another sexy, pleasure-bent effort from this team that can be drunk any time over the coming 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.99

K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2017 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Coming from the Oldfield and Boushey Vineyards (basically the same vineyard), the 2017 Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard is slightly darker colored and, as with all the Rhones here, wasn’t destemmed and was brought up in mostly neutral puncheons. Blackberries, smoked earth, game, chocolate, and chalky minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it’s a powerful, full-bodied, concentrated effort that will evolve positively for 2-4 years and keep for a decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

The Italian-inspired ‘house wine’ for your table
CasaSmith Cinghiale Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points “Also terrific, the 2018 Sangiovese Cinghiale has complex, savory notes of dried herbs, new leather, and ripe cherries. Medium-bodied and seamless on the palate, with no hard edges, it’s another wine under this label that delivers the goods at a great price. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years as well.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

CasaSmith Cervo Barbera, Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21

K Vintners’ day-to-day winemaker is Brennan Leighton. A super-talented voice in the world of Washington wine, Brennan also has his own label, B. Leighton, which is the focus today. These are do-not-miss wines for anyone who loves the K wines and old school, Rhone inflected Washington State reds. Full of generous fruit and beautiful earthy and floral tones, these are wines that are powerful and delicious on release, but have the track record and pedigree to age.

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Gratitude, Yakima Valley 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “A cuvée made for winemaker Brennen Leighton’s wife and a field blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 5% Syrah, the 2017 Gratitude ranks with the finest Mourvèdres to come from the state. Awesome notes of black raspberry liqueur, incense, ground pepper, and forest floor give way to a medium to full-bodied, ripe, powerful yet weightless 2017 that does everything right. It’s already just about impossible to resist, yet my money is on it evolving for a solid decade.”

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Lastly, the 2016 Petit Verdot comes from a higher elevation block and was brought up in 40% new French oak. It has a great bouquet of white pepper, chocolatey dark fruits, tobacco, and a kiss of violets to go with a full-bodied, incredible elegant profile on the palate. You don’t find Petit Verdot with this level of finesse very often, and it has silky tannins, good mid-palate concentration, and a great finish. It’s another stunning wine from Leighton I’d be thrilled to drink over the coming 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $52

B. Leighton Olsen Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2017 Syrah comes all from the Olsen Brothers Vineyard in the Yakima Valley and is a mix of the 383 and Phelps clones of Syrah. It was not destemmed and was brought up in just 15% new French oak. Ground pepper, meat, smoked game, and decayed flower notes all emerge from this Northern Rhone look-alike. It’s beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and a rock star expression of Syrah to enjoy over the coming 8-10 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

France

Proof that wine from the Champagne region doesn’t need to be sparkling to be fabulous
Bereche et Fils Les Monts Fournois Blanc Ludes, Coteaux Champenois 2016 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Coteaux Champenois Les Monts Fournois is gorgeous. Supple and inviting, the 2016 is wonderfully expressive and layered. Orchard fruit, white flowers, mint and candied lemon peel all add shades of nuance, but it is the purity of the saline-infused varietal Chardonnay from Ludes and the Blanches Voies lieu-dit that lies on the border between Ludes and Rilly-la-Montagne that comes through most.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine de l’Oiselet Vacqueyras, Rhone 2016 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “More structured than the 2015, this estate’s 2016 Vacqueyras is a full-bodied, richly textured and firm wine that should drink well over the next 5-8 years. Hints of rosemary and cola accent the mixed-berry fruit, finishing dry and savory.”

Domaine du Chateau de Grand Pre Fleurie ‘Cuvee Spaciale’, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Importer Note “100% Gamay from 60 to 70 year old vines planted on sandy soil, with a granitic subsoil. The yields are tiny and average 15 hl/ha. The grapes are hand harvested, fermentation with indigenous yeasts, no added sulfite during the vinification. Aged for 7 months in older demi-muids (600 liters). Pronounced aromas of sour cherries, fruity and plump palate with well-integrated tannins. Serve at 59 to 61F.”

Italy

Wine Spectator rated the 2016 vintage the best ever from here, even higher than the 2009 which was a Spectator Top 100!
Rocca di Frassinello ‘Le Sughere di Frassinello’ Maremma Toscana, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “SMART BUY. Wild rosemary, thyme and camphor aromas lead off, with concentrated flavors of blackberry and black currant. An iron edge sinks in as this unfolds to the long, staining finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2020 through 2032. 11,000 cases made, 5,500 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Perricone is the greatest grape in Sicily that no one’s ever heard of. Nearly extinct at the turn of the 20th century, it survived as a blending partner for Nero d’Avola. Only recently has it been vinified on its own and the results can be fantastic. Carusa e Minini make one of the best out there: pretty, fragrant and zesty.

Caruso & Minini ‘Naturalmente Bio’ Perricone Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2017 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Caruso & Minini ‘Naturalmente Bio’ Perricone Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2017 750ML ($299.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright medium red. Pungently perfumed nose offers violet, lavender, Szechuan pepper, lemongrass, blood orange and small red berries. Then juicy and very fresh flavors similar to the aromas, plus a building licorice note, linger impressively on the medium-bodied mouthfeel. Closes with magical, persistent inner-mouth perfume and truly exceptional clarity and cut. This sees no oak whatsoever, and therefore the wine’s magical perfume is really allowed to shine through. A real knockout of a wine, and easily one of the two or three best Perricones I have ever tried.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Winery Note “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.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26

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

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price about double at $76.99

Germany

Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Roxheimer Höllenpfad Riesling Trocken is extremely flinty and pure on the nose. Lush but filigreed and refined on the palate, this is a medium-bodied and crystalline, straight and elegant dry Riesling with a remarkably long and tensioned finish. Tasted at the domain in July 2019.”
Terry Theise note “A steep vineyard on sandy loam and weathered sandstone, it’s rather the odd-man-out yet it becomes more part of the family as Dönnhoffs spend more years with it. Sandstone aromas lead to a markedly pretty vintage of this sometimes stolid fellow; it’s structured from fruit, tomato and scree, with filigree detail and length.”

Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2018 Kirschheck Spätlese from Weingut Dönnhoff is another excellent example of the vintage. The wine is pure, very floral in personality and quite expressive out of the blocks, offering up scents of white cherries, pears, bee pollen, slate and a topnote of spring flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish, vibrant and beautifully detailed, with racy acids, good mineral undertow and a long, refined and complex finish. 2019-2050+. 92+.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spätlese is clear, fresh and flinty on the deep nose, where ripe stone fruit (vineyard peach), raspberry and crushed stone aromas are displayed. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a racy, terribly fresh and stimulating Spätlese whose acidity is really kicking and racy enough to balance this ripe and almost voluptuous wine with ease and joy. A classic. Tasted in July 2019.”

Austria

Schloss Gobelsburg Steinsetz Gruner Veltliner Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “From a cooler, late-ripening vineyard on gravelly soils, the Gobelsburger 2018 Ried Steinsetz offers a deep, intense and elegant, spicy and flinty bouquet of ripe and concentrated white fruits and broken stones. Full-bodied, intense and firmly structured, this is an expressive, elegant and sustainable Veltliner with remarkable purity and finesse as well as a promising phenol structure that gives good, food-friendly tension. Harvested at the end of October 2018. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “What used to be a radish nettle-y sort of wine has crossed the rubicon as the vineyard got older, and is now more yellow than green, a GV with twinges of hyssop and mints and radishes, but it moves ever closer to Renner in its mirabelles and salts and physio sweetness. The site’s on a plateau on alluvial soil dragged down and deposited by the Danube when it retreated and left a sort of “beach” of big rocks. It also introduces a labeling concept whereby the site name is by itself on the front label, with the grape variety on the back. We’re describing it as we always have, and you won’t confuse it for Riesling (or anything else) because the vineyards don’t overlap; it’s only GV from here, from Renner, Grub and Lamm. And it’s only Riesling from Gaisberg and Heiligenstein.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Spain

Ameztoi Txakoli di Getaria Hondarribi Zuri, Getariako Txakolina 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Olivier Riviere Ganko, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Ganko is a 50/50 blend of Mazuelo and Garnacha matured in a 3,000-liter oak foudre. It has a very low pH and high acidity and is quite tannic and with great complexity, which might make it the most complete, perfumed elegant and at the same time serious and sharp Ganko. It has notes of violets, wild flowers, berries and a spicy twist. The palate shows fine-grained tannins and great freshness with a long, tasty and dry finish. Superb, serious and elegant Rioja fermented with full clusters. 4,000 bottles produced.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Alvar de Dios Hernandez Aciano, Toro 2016 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “Along with the 2015, I also tasted the following vintage of the top Toro red, the 2016 Aciano, which has a spectacular nose, with plenty of aromatic herbs, wild berries and flowers, with contained ripeness and great freshness. The palate has chalky minerality and a dry mouthfeel. The soils are very sandy, and phylloxera never attacked the vines in the village of El Pego. The wine is serious, delicious and has an austere mouthfeel, with those grainy, sandy tannins. This feels like a much more expensive wine. 7,500 bottles were filled in January 2018, from a year that delivered very good quality and quantity.”

Terroir Al Limit Soc. Lda. l’Arbossar, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The old-vine Cariñena 2015 Arbossar has a distinct note of licorice that grows in the glass. By working the vineyard with compost, they have managed to increase yields around 15%, and they feel the grapes achieve better balance, which is very difficult to see in the very poor llicorella slate soils that have almost no organic matter. It’s a north-facing slope planted some 90 years ago, and the grapes are very concentrated, so it’s a challenge to achieve a floral and fresh Cariñena like this, with notes of blue fruit and violets, quite different from the majority of Cariñena from Priorat. It matured in Stockinger oak foudres for 16 months, and like the majority of wines here, it shows perfectly integrated oak, with just faint spices nicely intermixed with the fruit. There is no heat at all; it’s a cool vineyard, and that freshness is translated into the wine and is especially noticeable in a warm and ripe year like 2015. Superb showing for the Arbossar—it has to be one of the best vintages ever. 3,900 bottles were filled in April 2017.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Brilliant violet color. An intensely perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red/blue fruits, Moroccan spices, candied licorice, espresso and smoky minerals, with a sexy floral nuance emerging as the wine stretches out. Appealingly sweet, seamless and penetrating on the palate, offering concentrated yet lively raspberry liqueur, boysenberry lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that are sharpened by a hint of white pepper on the back half. Harmonious tannins build slowly on a strikingly long, mineral- and floral driven finish that shows outstanding definition and vibrant lift.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($149.95) $129 special
Falstaff Magazine 100 points “[Translated] Dark ruby garnet, violet reflections, subtle brightening of the edges. Fine mint, fine black cherries, fine herbs, fresh heart cherries, mineral and inviting, a multi-faceted, young bouquet. Juicy, complex, elegant, extract-sweet texture, fine round tannins, ripe heart cherries, delicate nougat, sticks for minutes, enormous future potential. Simple calculation: buy what is possible.”
James Suckling 99 points “Marvelous aromas of crushed berries, tobacco, cedar and mushrooms. Some dried cheese. Then turns to flowers. Very complex. Full and intense with fantastic depth and power. It goes on for minutes. It is a wine that exudes tradition but gives a sense of modernity with precise winemaking. Two years in oak, one in concrete and three or four in bottle. Drink on release and age onwards.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97 points “I had very high expectations for the 2010 Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, and the wine delivered as expected. 2010 was one of the finest vintages in Rioja in recent years, and this blend of Tempranillo with 15% Mazuelo (Cariñena) has to be one of the finest modern day Castillo de Ygays. The grapes come from a plot planted in 1966 at 485 meters in altitude, the highest in the estate, and the vines yielded 3,500 kilos per hectare. The two varieties fermented separately in stainless steel for 11 days, and the wine spent 26 months in a mixture of American and French oak barrels. I tasted the 2009 next to this 2010, and I had also had a bottle two nights before. So, I was able to compare this with the 2009, which was a very different year, as 2010 was a cooler year and a priori a more adequate year for long-aging wines like this Gran Reserva. The difference was the vegetative cycle, as the vinification and élevage was the same. This is sleeker and sharper, less developed and livelier than the 2009, which already shows some signs of “old wine” with aromas that remind me of the old classical Rioja reds. It has greatness and finesse and is a very attractive wine with all the stuffing and balance that is needed for a long (and positive) aging in bottle. This is one of the finest modern day vintages of Castillo Ygay. This is going to develop in the direction of the classical bottlings from yesteryear. 130,853 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2015.”
Decanter 97 points “Ygay these days is a blend of Tempranilo and Mazuelo, the later making up 15% in this vintage. 2010 will be remembered in the great vineyards of Europe as a classic year, elegant restraint and wonderful harmonious balance, even in youth, its key characteristics. The Ygay fits this template perfectly; plums and sloes, hints of blueberry and cassis, then figs, cocoa and sousbois, a distinct balsamic note to underline provenance. The Mazuelo etches fresh acidity and a powerful finish, leaving the Tempranillo the opportunity to dance flamboyantly on the mid-palate, the bringer of joy and harmony.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Maturing well, this round red is a lovely example of the traditional style. Orange peel, dried cherry, forest floor, vanilla and black tea flavors mingle harmoniously over round tannins and citrusy acidity. Generous but gentle, lively, balanced and harmonious. Tempranillo and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2030.”

Final Stock Arriving Wednesday!

2016 Vouette e Sorbee Fidele

We saw overwhelming demand for the 2016-base V&S Fidele. If you’re not familiar with the producer, a long-time favorite at the shop, here’s your quick primer: After some gentle nudging from Anselme Selosse, Champagne grape grower and recent convert to biodynamics, Bertrand Gautherot, decided to produce estate Champagnes from his vineyard holdings. The main wine of the estate is Fidele. It is primarily a blend from two vineyards grown in Kimmeridgian marl, Vouette and Biaunes. It’s mostly from one vintage, with roughly 5% reserve wine from a perpetual reserve begun in 2001. Ever since the 2012-base year garnered 95 points from Antonio Galloni, this Champagne has had a rabid following at the shop. But the wine has been fantastic long before it was discovered.

It’s easy to compare the Fidele to Chablis, given the similarity between the soil types and climate of Gautherot’s vineyards and the very northernly tip of Burgundy. But this is Chablis-eques through a decidedly Pinot Noir lens. The wine has a core of savoriness, with bright acidity, red fruit and spice, and a mineral backbone. The splash of reserve wine adds a complex, oxidative note (the reserve is held in oak foudre). For the lover of Grower Champagnes, it seems to hit all the right spots. It’s vinous like Ulysse Collin, hard to find as Cedric Bouchard, as elegantly austere as Marie-Courtin, and distinctively savory as Bereche.

That we sold out of our first offer of the wine on Thursday was no surprise.

There are no reviews published for this release yet, but if prior years hold any indication, it will do quite well. And at the lowest listed price in the country, when the wine is averaging $82/bottle, you’ll do quite well, too.

Re-Arriving Wednesday, May 27th – Final Stock of the Vintage!

Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($89.95) $54 re-arrival special, 51 bottles arriving Wednesday!
2014-base review: Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Brut Nature Fidèle (R14) is a Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir on Kimmeridgian soils and is entirely based on the 2014 vintage. Disgorged in October 2017 the oak-fermented wine shows a golden-reddish apricot color and opens with a very delicate, floral and herbal yet intense and vinous bouquet of red fruits, with warm, dry earth and spices and just a hint of oak. Bone dry (of course), fresh and elegant on the palate, this is an impressively delicate and filigreed Champagne to be enjoyed as a still wine rather than a fizz. The finish is long, clear, dry and well-structured (even with fine tannins) and reveals discreet salinity. In fact, Fidèle drinks like a Burgundy-inspired Coteaux Champenois with very fine but not effervescent bubbles, persistent lemon juice and a touch of oaky flavors. Don’t use a flute to enjoy this young, gastronomic wine; instead, use a wine glass or one of the rounder, more voluminous Champagne glasses like the Lehmann Jamesse (which stresses the finesse rather than the vinous character). Don’t serve the Fidèle too fresh, either, but if you must, wait a bit and don’t worry if the wine is suddenly 12 or even 14 degrees Celsius—it’s still delicious and even more vinous then! (To be honest, when tasted at 15 or 16 degrees Celsius, I even got some Gewürztraminer notes (lychees) on the nose…!)”
2013-base review: Antonio Galloni 93 points “The amber-colored NV Brut Nature Fidèle is gorgeous. Lifted, precise and nuanced throughout, the Fidèle possesses a captivating aromatic. Medium in body and tense in style, the Fidèle is super-expressive today. It could use another year in bottle to soften a bit, but it is nevertheless striking.”
2012-base review: Antonio Galloni 95 points “The NV (2012) Extra Brut Fidele is another fabulous wine from Vouette & Sorbée. Here, the richness of Pinot Noir comes through loud and clear in the wine’s depth and overall richness. Creamy and beautifully layered throughout, the 2012 hits all the right notes. Red berry, mint, flowers, sweet spices and candy fill out the wine’s broad frame effortlessly. What a gorgeous wine this is. Simply put, the 2012 is a total knock-out.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $83

Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?

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

#503-223-6002

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Trending Champagnes

More stock arriving Friday, May 29th!
Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of André Clouet’s NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is showing well, exhibiting a nicely integrated bouquet of red apple, ripe citrus fruit, honeycomb and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, enveloping palate with a fine mousse, ripe but racy acids and an elegant, understated profile, concluding with a well-defined finish. This is a stylish, harmonious wine that makes for a fine introduction to the Clouet portfolio.”

Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $40.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
L17 base. Disgorgement date varies.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Brut Réserve was disgorged in October 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, and it’s based on the 2017 vintage. Exhibiting a glass bouquet of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh peach and toasted nuts, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with lovely depth and concentration, fine energy and a long, penetrating finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Disgorged July 2019
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is bright, focused and nuanced, not to mention incredibly delicious. The energy of Chardonnay and structure of Ambonnay yield a Champagne that is singular, classy and bursting at the seams with character. This release is based on 2016, with 40% reserve wines. I would give it another 6-12 months in bottle, although, truthfully, it is pretty hard to resist now. Dosage: 6.5 gr/L. Disgorged: July, 2019.”

The Cote des Blancs region of Champagne is hallowed terroir where such stunning growers such as Gimonnet, Pierre Peters and Doyard are based. Lilbert has been on our radar for a long time from the Cote des Blancs village of Cramant. We’ve always known the wines were amazing, but it wasn’t until this release that we could offer them at the best prices in the country, so we went big.

Lilbert-Fils “Perle” Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 17 bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “This bottle of Lilbert’s NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in summer 2018 with five grams per liter dosage and is based on the 2013 vintage, with 35% reserve wines. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, crushed chalk and hints of warm biscuits, it’s medium to full-bodied, with an elegant pinpoint mousse, a deep and tight-knit core, racy acids and a penetrating, precise finish. Dry and incisive, it’s classic Lilbert, showing Cramant’s serious side, and it will evolve beautifully in the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $65.95

We love Champagne.

How much?

We stock an insane range and volume,
with over 93 options in stock right now.

Want proof?

Shop our entire selection on our web store!

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

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Pink Pre-Arrivals

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Always the star of the Weygandt-Metzler rose offer at Vinopolis. This is fabulous and always underpriced (especially at less than half the cost of Tempier!).

Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 1.5L ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault & Clairette from clay, limestone & cailloux. Organic. Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!

A wild and untamed rosé for lovers of spicy/zesty Cinsault. Only three cases available!

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rose, Rhone 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Cinsault, Syrah & Mourvedre from sand, clay & cailloux soils. Organic. Ripe raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and stone. Medium body with a long finish…From the lieu dit “La Moutte” this tiny production rosé is from mostly 45 year old Cinsault planted in 1970, and 10-15 year old Mourvèdre and Syrah. Cold maceration for 6 hours in the press and slow pneumatic pressing. Fermentation in stainless steel tanks with occasional lees stirring.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Shop all 49 rosé wines in stock now on our web store!

Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.

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

Stay safe, be well & drink well.

Saturday Special 5-23-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

No Wine Untouched by Magic
A Roundup of the 2015 Brunello Vintage

Staff Pick
This is the Entry Level Wine?

Featured New Arrival
DDO’s Top RoseRock Bottling

New Reviews From Across the Wine World

Trending Wines

Delas: Northern Rhone Ambition

No Wine Untouched by Magic

A Roundup of the 2015 Brunello Vintage

“This is a standout group of new releases from Montalcino. What impresses most about 2015 is the consistently high quality delivered across the board. As a whole, the wines are homogenous and uniform in terms of their intensity, depth and generosity. House styles may differ from producer to producer, but these wines are united by the energy, exuberance and radiance that come naturally to a beautifully warm and sunny vintage like 2015. That distinctive vintage signature is applied evenly across the board, leaving no wine untouched by its magic.” – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

You can tell a lot about a Brunello vintage by how early we start getting asked about it. In the case of the 2015s, well, let’s just say this is a pretty anticipated set of wines. ’15 was a warm year across Europe and the vintage produced Brunello di Montalcino of exceptional concentration. Even for a region known for richer wines, these are powerful—yet they maintain an expressiveness that’s delightfully fresh to go along with their intensity.

The critics have been raving about it as well, with Eric Guido at Vinous saying that “It’s a vintage of power and purity, the result of a long growing season with no extreme events” before citing Andrea Mantengoli, who called it “A vintage made by God.”

Monica Larner, writing for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, exclaimed “Ask anyone who farmed Sangiovese that year. They will tell you: Fruit has never been more beautiful than it was in the picture-perfect 2015 vintage.” She called the wines “a standout group of new releases from Montalcino” with “consistently high quality delivered across the board.”

In short, this is a vintage to buy broadly and deeply. Not since 2010 have we seen this sort of widespread praise and we all wish we have more 2010 Brunello in our cellars. We’ve got some of the highlights of our 2015 Brunello selection below, but we’ve got new wines added to our webstore every week and you can see all the Brunello options there.

In Stock Now:

Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 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.”

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La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($719.95) $489 special (that’s only $40.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “The sliced plums and peaches are plentiful here on the nose. Full-bodied and dense with round and rich tannins and a long, long finish. Shows structure and intensity. Serious Brunello. Better after 2022.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is round and full of sweet, ripe cherry, strawberry, graphite and earth flavors. Firms up as the finish plays out, echoing an essence of fruit. Best from 2022 through 2039. —B.S.”

Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Case-3 Luce della Vite Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($549.95) $425 special (that’s only $141.67/bottle!)
James Suckling 100 points “Amazing aromas of crushed berries, cherries, flowers, black truffles and wet earth, turning to violets and black tea. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied, deep and profound with fantastically strong tannins that just melt into the wine. Fantastic length and intensity. Truly great. Drinkable, but better in 2024 and onwards.”

Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castiglion del Bosco Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($799.95) $549 special (that’s only $45.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 97 points “Wonderful aromos of flowers, plums, terracotta and white pepper. Intense, yet ever so subtle. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins, and a long and intense finish. Shows excellent length. Drink after 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Good deep red. Complex aromas of redcurrant, raspberry, graphite, mocha, and mint. Focused and suave with very attractive sweetness and standout purity to its flavors of red berries and candied flowers. Finishes with polished tannins and outstanding length.”

La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Black cherry and black currant fruit is accented by tobacco, earth and mineral flavors in this sleek yet dense red. Balsamic elements of juniper, thyme and olive add depth as this cruises to a long finish. The potential lies in the excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2042. —B.S.”
Eric Guido – Vinous 94 points “La Gerla’s 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is gorgeous, showing depths of earthy moist soil, minerals and hints of animal musk up front, giving way to crushed strawberry and cherry, getting spicy with lifting minerals yet retaining a rich character throughout. On the palate, silky textures are matched by cool-toned acids and refreshing moist mineral tones, as zesty cherry and cedar come forward. It’s so balanced and smooth, with high energy lasting into the long finish, showing saturating spice and salty minerals, yet remaining cool-toned and precise. The 2015 is a beautifully balanced wine that’s firmly rooted in the earth.”

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Arriving ETA June:

Caprili Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offering cherry, plum, iron, earth and floral aromas and flavors, this is vibrant and beautifully balanced. Well-structured, with the harmony and concentration to develop. Best from 2023 through 2043. 4,000 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Vibrant red. Minerals and violet complement lively red cherry and raspberry aromas on the incisive nose. Then enticingly fresh and well-balanced, with captivating violet inner-mouth perfume to the steely red and black fruit flavors that linger impressively. The delicately peppery finish features polished if youthful tannins and noteworthy purity of fruit. Knockout 2015 Brunello, one of the top half dozen of the year.”
James Suckling 95 points “This is a very decadent Brunello with dried stems, charcuterie, bay leaf, Thai basil and earth. Full-bodied an0064 dense, the deeply interlocked layers of dark fruit nearly tripping over the ropey, chewy tannin structure. Drink from 2026.”

Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($549.95) $399 pre-arrival special (that’s only $66.50/bottle!)
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($189.95) $159 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023.”

Looking for more Brunello?
We have 54 different selections in our webstore!

Staff Pick

This is the Entry Level Wine?

Andy:
I was really surprised at how much I loved the freshness of the 17 St Jacques, After the 15 and 16 knocked me over with the intensity and alcohol that really seemed incongruous with the wine, I was so pleased to see how the floral notes and sun drenched red earth seemed to shine. The fruit was up front, not at all bashful, and yet still somehow light on its feet and full of life. There was an immediate pleasurable experience, and I could well have put a couple glasses away over dinner without thinking about it, but I held back and really tried to see where the difference lay.

The wine is 100 percent whole cluster, and has layers of different flavors and aromas to sift through. A mixed berry pie of raspberry, dark cherry, marionberry, with lavender and wild herbs. Coffee and some smoky tea notes swirling through as well. This is the ENTRY LEVEL wine? There is so much going on here that I could imagine this holding its own against the Valtuille, Vizcaina or Rapolao. A fraction of the price, with all of the winemaking skill included.

In Stock Now:

Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo, 2017 750ML ($22.95) $16.60 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The clean, floral and 2017 Ultreia Saint Jacques comes mostly from old vineyards from different soils in Valtuille and Villadecanes fermented in stainless steel and oak vats with part of full clusters and matured in used barriques for one year. It’s produced in a fresh and very drinkable way. This is one of the best values from Bierzo and Spain, and a great introduction to Bierzo. It’s a more serious wine than what the wine was when it was first produced, fresh and elegant. It’s very reliable and a great value. There are some 100,000 bottles that were filled in two production runs.”
Grapelive 93 points “The awesomely priced Ultreia Saint Jacques Bierzo, from the famed Raul Perez, is a deep and full flavored wine with lovely balance and energy that shows off its old vine concentration and clay based soil terroir. This multi vineyard field blend style red from Bierzo’s Valtuille zone comes from vineyard plots ranging in age from 80 to 120 years old shows Mencia in a richer form than say the Ribeira Sacra, but the small bit of Bastardo (believed to be Trousseau) and Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) plus lots whole bunches keeps things well balanced and the fruit is contrasted by a light earthiness, savory notes, spice and mineral elements. This 2017 is ripe and dark fruited with bright blackberry, plum, currant and black cherry layers as well as snappy herbal notes, cedar and cinnamon all flowing in a rush of vivid flavors and authentic character. The vines, for all of Perez’s lineup are all organic, and for this one, were all hand tended and harvested with the oldest being from plants that date back to 1900 and the youngest from 1940, making for a wonderful regional expression of varietal character and a wine with a proud sense of place and being, it is also a fantastic gateway into Raul’s brilliant set of vinous glories. As mentioned here and across the world of wine, Raul Perez is a grand master of Mencia and the godfather of the Bierzo region with a huge impact on how this wine is seen, clearly defining what it is and should be.…This Ulteia Saint Jacques is one of Perez’s entry level bottlings, but you’d be hard pressed to find anything lacking here, though his upper end cru stuff is out of this world. The Saint Jacques was about 80% whole cluster and fermented with indigenous yeasts in large wooden vats with maceration(s) lasting between two and five months, which is a long cool period, which adds to the dimension in this beautiful Tinto. The wine, after primary is then rack to an assortment of vessels to age with a combination of French casks including 225L, 500L, foudre and with some of the wine seeing its elevage in cement cuve, after which the Saint Jacques was bottled unfined and unfiltered to preserve every nuance and show the purity of this wine’s personality. I love this fresh and easy to drink young red, well I love all of Raul’s wines, but this one delivers so much for the price it is impossible to resist, drink with simple country dishes, hard cheeses and or BBQ. It’s hard to imagine a better deal on such quality old vine, medium bodied stuff!”

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Featured New Arrival

DDO’s Top RoseRock Bottling

The Coveted “Zephirine”

Domaine Drouhin Oregon is one of the landmark names in Willamette Pinot. They were the original “French import,” long before Meo-Camuzet, Jadot or Liger-Belair thought the region was worth investing in and they’ve been an important player ever since. While they’re best known for their bottlings off of their original vineyard in the Dundee Hills, their “RoseRock” estate in the Eola-Hills has quietly been making some of the best wines in the DDO portfolio over the last few years.

The top wine that Drouhin Oregon makes under the RoseRock label is called Zephrine and it’s a monument to everything we love about Willamette Valley Pinot, especially from the Eola-Amity Hills. Dark fruited, with beautiful floral and spice accents, it’s a wonderful wine that’s only going to get better in your cellar.

In Stock Now

Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($64.95) $55 special
Case-6 Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($389.95) $315 special (that’s only $52.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 96 points “This has a very impressive sense of density and power with such immaculate detail and definition, in terms of tannin and fruit. The aromas are in the spicy and floral zone with blue-fruit and leafy nuances. Deceptively elegant and convincingly excellent pinot noir. Drink across the next decade.”

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New Reviews From Across the Wine World

Muller-Catoir Haardter Mandelring Scheurebe Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “I love Scheurebe and this Mueller-Catoir is one of, if not the, best dry version, with this ripe and expressive 2017 showing everything the grape has to offer, it delivers intensity and aromatic quality. It’s a thrilling German white wine from one of the most admired wineries in the Pfalz. This vintage is bursting from the glass with jasmine, liquid roses and spearmint lifting to the nose while the light to medium bodied palate delivers tangy grapefruit, white peach, quince, sour apple and pineapple fruits along with chalky mineral, saline, clove spice, wild fennel and the crisp, lip smacking finish keeps things severe and refreshing.… Scheurebe grows best in Calcareous soils, with Muller-Catoir’s Pfalz version regarded as maybe the greatest expression of this grape, in particular their Trocken single Cru Haardter Mandelring example. The full range of wines at this property are amazing from the thrilling dry wines to the finely balanced sweet wines, everything at Mueller-Catoir is class, when it comes to the Pfalz, this and Von Winning are must try wines….Müller-Catoir has gone holistic in recent years and farm mostly organic, but remain very practical with absolute quality demanded of the grapes here, there is no compromise at this place, they focus on purity and terroir. The vineyards in Haardt, where this wine comes from, are composed of primary rock (urgestein) and sandstone, with an increasing proportion of gravel lower on the slopes. This estate and the region has a long history of winegrowing with the Burgergarten site being first planted close to 700 years ago, and, as the winery notes. Mueller-Catoir which has a tradition of reductive winemaking implementing a gentle crush, a long skin contact, slow gentle pressing, and then ferments at warmer, according to the winery again, than customary fermentation temperatures in stainless steel to promote transparency, which this lovely Scheurebe shows, drink it over the next 3 to 5 years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($299.95) $238 special (that’s only $39.67/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Moving to the 2017s and starting with the base Châteauneuf Du Pape, it’s a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that was brought up mostly in demi-muids. Revealing a ruby/purple hue as well as notes of black raspberries, kirsch, garrigue, incense, and loamy soil and earth, this beauty hits the palate with beautiful depth of fruit, a layered, rounded, sexy texture, no hard edges, remarkable purity, and just tons of charm. Drink it any time over the coming decade or more.”

Chateau de Vaudieu Chateauneuf-du-Pape Amiral G, Rhone 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Amiral G. is, as always, all Grenache brought up all in demi-muids. It’s unquestionably the most opulent, sexy, and expansive in the lineup, with overflowing notes of kirsch and blackberry fruits, incense, dried garrigue, and spice, full body, and no hard edges. Its incredible opulence and decadence are delivered with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This magical, thrilling beauty needs to be tasted to be believed. It’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 15+ years or more.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Like the l’Avenue, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Amiral G is 100% Grenache aged in demi-muids. Unlike the l’Avenue, the Amiral G is more about opulence and power. It’s full-bodied, ripe and plush, with impressive layers of black cherries, stone fruit, licorice and chocolate spice cake. Concentrated and chewy on the finish, it has all the ingredients for greatness—and it should get there relatively quickly, then drink well for at least a decade.-JC”

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Marques de Murrieta Castillo Ygay Gran Reserva Especial, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($149.95) $129 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Maturing well, this round red is a lovely example of the traditional style. Orange peel, dried cherry, forest floor, vanilla and black tea flavors mingle harmoniously over round tannins and citrusy acidity. Generous but gentle, lively, balanced and harmonious. Tempranillo and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2030. From Spain. —T.M.”

Sierra Cantabria Finca El Bosque, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, ETA May
Wine Spectator 94 points “Broad and elegant, with sinewy tannins framing the cherry reduction, steeped currant and violet notes, underscored by espresso, loamy earth and baking spice elements. Offers a long, smoky finish. Drink now through 2032. —T.M. ($150)”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $132

Luke Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ Bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90 points “A well-made wine that offers aromas of dusty red plum, blackberry and cassis, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon opens with a concentrated fruit core and touches of oak spices on the nose. Full-bodied, the palate is clean and correct with a well-structured mid-palate that offers firm tannins that are still tight in youth. The wine shows excellent value for the price, lingering long and delivering succulent black fruit flavors with a dusty essence on the finish. Nearly 10,000 cases produced. I’m impressed.-AM”

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

Trending Wines

Alexander Valley Cab, from a crack winemaking team, for under twenty bones.
The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2016 750ML ($34.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 The Calling Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2016 750ML ($359.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Winery Note “This full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon presents blackberry and plum aromatics typical of the Alexander Valley. On the palate, the rich fruit is complemented by accents of sweet tobacco, vanilla, chocolate, and mocha. The elegant tannins, oak structure and balanced acidity will age this wine for 10-12 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
The average listed price is $29

Memorial Day BBQ’s happen with or without other people, right?
Easton Zinfandel, Amador County 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Epitomizes fine Sierra Foothills Zinfandel, offering vibrant, briary raspberry, smoked pepper and wild sweet anise flavors that stretch out on the zesty finish. Drink now through 2023. 6,200 cases made.”

A stellar bottle of Gran Reserva Rioja at an incredible price.
CVNE ‘Cune’ Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ Bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points ” A very powerful CUNE with so much blackberry, fresh mushroom and floral character. Big and tannic yet so polished at the same time. Even structure. It shows wonderful potential for ageing. Better in 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $35

The best value out there in world class wine from Chianti?
Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’ Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’ Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Tenuta di Bibbiano ‘Montornello’ Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2015 750ML ($479.95) $349 special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Relaxed, balanced and supported by dense tannins, this touts aromas of leather, tobacco, wood paneling, iron, woodsy spices and smoky cherry fruit, with a finish that is long and expansive. Drink now through 2040. 3,300 cases made, 500 cases imported.”

After yesterday’s feature, this wine is flying!
Tiberio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Vibrant red. Captivating aromas of red currant, dark plum, blueberry, licorice and Oriental spices. Broad and ripe on entry, then luscious in the middle, finishing with a riper mouthfeel than is usual for this wine, but in keeping with the 2017 vintage (dry and hot). Finishes long, with serious, building tannins and noteworthy sweetness. This is a real miracle considering the vintage’s less-than-stellar growing season; timely rainfall at the end of September provided much-needed liquid refreshment for the Montepulciano, allowing the vines to recover from the summer drought and heat and benefit from longer hang times. On a side note, wine lovers have something else to look forward to, as the 2018 vats of Montepulciano I tried during my cellar visit were absolutely superb; they are undoubtedly the best entry-level Montepulciano wines Tiberio has ever made, so there’s something to really look forward to here.”

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Bosquet’s Gigondas is super user friendly and delicious. Pop and go!
Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas, Rhone 2016 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “Leading off the wines from bottle, the 2016 Gigondas is a classic wine from this estate, offering a deeper ruby/purple color as well as tons of garrigue, peppery spice, and earth intermixed with ample red and black fruits. Polished, rounded and sexy, with sweet tannin, it has a modern style that won’t appeal to traditionalists yet is beautifully done. The blend is 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Lively, expansive red berry, floral pastille and white pepper scents, along with suggestions of garrigue and smoky minerals. Sweet, focused and seamless in the mouth, offering juicy raspberry, spicecake and lavender flavors that deepen steadily on the back half. Clings with very good authority on the gently tannic finish and leaves succulent floral and herb notes behind.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Hints of garrigue accent raspberries and Rainier cherries in the 2016 Gigondas. This blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Cinsault is full-bodied and supple, with no hard edges, just lovely fruit. Long, seamless and delicious for drinking over the next 6-7 years, it’s a terrific introduction to the fruit-forward style at this estate. Tasted twice with consistent notes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $39

Delas: Northern Rhone Ambition

Known for crafting some of the Northern Rhone’s most powerful wines, Delas is a signature producer in a region with no shortage of legendary names. It is thanks to their significant holdings throughout the region that allow Delas to not only produce some of the region’s finest expressions, including their Hermitage Les Bessards, but also some of its best values. Wines like the St Joseph Francois de Tournon and Chante Perdrix Cornas prove that world-class Northern Rhone wines don’t necessarily have to break the bank.

With consistently strong scores from some of the world’s most respected critics, including a perfect score on their 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, Delas’ wines no longer fly under the radar. However, even with the recent acclaim, Delas has kept their pricing reasonable. So, for those looking to experience what ambition tastes like in the Northern Rhone today, without the sticker shock, look no further.

In Stock Now:

Delas Freres Cornas Chante Perdrix, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Hot Wine! Offers a delicious core of gently mulled blueberry, blackberry and black currant fruit that is matched by a mix of floral, mineral and singed spice notes throughout. The long chalky spine is well-buried on the finish, letting all the elements play out suavely through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 1,100 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Cornas Chante Perdrix is a blend of several parcels, vinified in concrete and aged primarily in oak. It’s dark and concentrated, although admittedly not the most muscular Cornas. Black currant and cedar notes combine along with peppery hints of Montreal smoked meat to yield a savory impression. It’s all held together by fine-grained, dusty tannins, which leave a lingering soft texture on the long, licorice-tinged finish. Already enjoyable, it should develop well for 10-12 years or more.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Dark purple. Expansive aromas of black and blue fruit preserves, smoky Indian spices and olive, with a suave floral nuance that gains strength with air. Deeply concentrated but energetic as well, offering palate-staining blueberry and violet pastille flavors and building spiciness. Rounded tannins add gentle grip to a strikingly long penetrating finish that clings with strong tenacity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhone 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it’s always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, crushed rocks and saddle leather. Powerful, massively concentrated, and tannic, it has a broad, expansive, heavenly texture, a thick mid-palate (you could almost use a fork for this beauty), and a great finish. Despite the richness level, it stays balanced and graceful on the palate, and is never over the top or heavy. It’s a perfect Hermitage that will start to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for three decades or more. Bravo!”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection! There’s a striking balance here calibrating bold, almost muscular ripeness against an invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. It should be in peak from 2020–2035 but hold further.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The top cuvée is the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards, which comes from the middle to lower portion of the steep, granite hillside known as Bessards, unquestionably one of the best terroirs for Syrah in the world. Its inky purple color is followed by a full-bodied, rich, thrillingly concentrated red that has huge tannin, bright acidity and a solid mid-palate concentration. It still tastes like it just came from the press and will need to be forgotten for a decade. As normal, it’s completely destemmed and will see 18 months in 30% new oak.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Inky ruby. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, along with complicating suggestions of smoky minerals, candied flowers, olive and vanilla. Deep, chewy and expansive in the mouth, offering impressively concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that are complicated by a hint of smoky minerality and a building floral pastille note. Distinctly rich and powerful but surprisingly graceful as well, showing noteworthy clarity and mineral-driven thrust on the strikingly long finish.”

Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, Rhone 2015 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inky and concentrated, the 2015 Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon is no easy-drinking Saint-Joseph. It’s smoky, herbal and ashy all at once, yet it’s buoyed by ample black cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. This medium to full-bodied Syrah has plenty of tannins, but they’re ultimately silky and most apparent on the long, licorice-tinged finish. This is approachable now but should be even better in 3 years and should drink well for at least another 10 after that.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This full-bodied, rounded, sexy beauty shows the power and fruit of the vintage. With classic notes of black and blue fruits, violets, incense and pepper, drink this textured, expansive, terrific Saint Joseph over the coming 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby. High-pitched red and dark berry and violet aromas show excellent focus and pick up hints of cracked pepper and sandalwood with air. Sappy and seamless in texture, offering fresh black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of candied licorice. Turns sweeter on the penetrating, impressively long finish, which features smooth, even tannins and lingering boysenberry and floral qualities. “

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Falstaff 96 points “[Translated] Very closed, blackberry jam, hints of balsamic spice. Creamy start, immediately present minerality, extremely high density with fine but not too silky tannins, an elegance at the maximum of what fits in 14 percent by volume, minerally seasoned, all components seamlessly integrated, ripe, well-bearing acidity, very expressive.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is loaded with well-defined loganberry, blackberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit flavors, flecked with anise and black tea notes and carried by a fine iron streak that lingers wonderfully. A wine of cut, purity and precision. Best from 2020 through 2035. From France.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of Syrah grapes from several lieux-dits, including Les Bessards, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is aged in new and second use barrels. It’s a dark, concentrated wine, meaty, rich and tannic but with a bright beam of cassis fruit that lifts it and gives it great definition and shape on the palate. Give this medium to full-bodied wine at least 5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “While the Les Bessards gets all the attention, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes isn’t far behind and is unquestionably the value play. Beef blood, cassis, blackberry liqueur and loads of crushed rock nuances all emerge from this ripe, concentrated, full-bodied Hermitage that has a classic, structured profile. It’s well worth a case purchase and will keep for two to three decades. As always, this cuvée comes from two parcels, the lower part of the Bessards lieu-dit and the Les Grandes Vignes located at the highest point on Hermitage Hill. It’s completely destemmed and sees 16 months in 30% new French oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Enticing hints of sweet spice, black pepper and bacon fat seduce on the nose of this rich but balanced Hermitage. Blackberry and cherry flavors are fresh and juicy but structured by firm tannins and brisk acidity. A polished wine already, it should intensify its savory, smoky complexities well through 2030.”
Richard Hemming – Jancis Robinson 18/20 “Smokier and firmer than their Bessards Hermitage. Dense, furry tannins and loads of savoury liquorice flavour. This is classic Hermitage: burly, powerful, grainy and heady – superb clarity of fruit. Faultless balance.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $86

Head to our webstore to see the entire list of Delas wines in stock right now!

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Weekend Vinopolpick 5-22-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Tiberio: A New York Times Value Pick

Featured New Arrival:
Castello di Ama’s Top Chiantis

A Dual 96 Point Brunello, Under $50

Rose of the Day
Sperino’s Rosa del Rosa Returns in June

#Trending

Staff Pick
The Forbidden Fruit of Hermitage

Produttori Barbaresco
Freshly Restocked

Tiberio: A New York Times Value Pick

The New York Times just published a great column on the white wine values of Italy and we weren’t surprised at all that one of their favorites was Tiberio’s Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. This has been one of our go-to Italian whites under $20 and the newest vintage might be the best yet. It’s mineral and zesty, with just enough body and fruit to keep things interesting.

Abruzzo is an Italian wine region best known for two standout producers: Valentini and Emidio Pepe—but it’s probably time to add a third to the list: the wines of the Tiberio family. They’re not quite at the level of their two closest peers, but importantly their pricing is still in line with the value producers that dot the Abruzzese wine landscape. That delta between quality and price might make them the best value in Italy—these are some serious wines for the dollars asked. In recommending the ’18 Trebbiano, Eric Asimov wrote:

“I’ve written about this wine several times, but it’s so good it deserves the attention. The siblings Christiana and Antonio Tiberio run this excellent estate, and they are good spokespeople for the trebbiano Abruzzese grape. Other strains of the trebbiano grape are more common, and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo may be made of either trebbiano Toscano, trebbiano Abruzzese or a combination. But the trebbiano Abruzzese grape is superior. For evidence, try this wine. The 2018 is dry, aromatic and richly textured, with bracing saline and floral flavors. Tiberio also makes a wonderful single-vineyard Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Fonte Canale, which is considerably more expensive, and an excellent pecorino, which is not. (The Sorting Table, Napa, Calif.)” – Eric Asimov, “10 Great Bottles of Italian White Wine Under $25, New York Times

In Italy, they’re best known for their single vineyard/old vine Trebbiano “Fonte Canale” (which we’re carried before and Asimov recommends, as well) but their range of ~$20 wines is why we’re enamored of them. From their surprisingly gutsy and complex Montepulciano to the mineral, energetic Trebbiano, their wines from red grapes strike an impeccable balance between restraint and power, while their whites have minerality and intrigue to spare—a minor miracle for the prices.

In Stock Now:

Tiberio Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 91 points “Luminous straw-green. Perfumed pomaceous orchard fruits, minerals, lemon verbena and a hint of anise on the nose. Then very pretty, nuanced flavors of lemon ice and flinty minerality showcase intense inner-mouth perfume. A wine of impeccable balance, and very persistent and fragrant on the pure finish. Extremely strong for an entry-level Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. The Tiberio family has an uncanny ability to make outstanding Trebbiano d’Abruzzo every year, no doubt thanks to their individual talents, but also because of some marvelously old vines (as much as 60-80 years of age) that can weather and adapt to just about every growing season’s climatic conditions. Such is the magic of old vines.”

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

Tiberio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Vibrant red. Captivating aromas of red currant, dark plum, blueberry, licorice and Oriental spices. Broad and ripe on entry, then luscious in the middle, finishing with a riper mouthfeel than is usual for this wine, but in keeping with the 2017 vintage (dry and hot). Finishes long, with serious, building tannins and noteworthy sweetness. This is a real miracle considering the vintage’s less-than-stellar growing season; timely rainfall at the end of September provided much-needed liquid refreshment for the Montepulciano, allowing the vines to recover from the summer drought and heat and benefit from longer hang times. On a side note, wine lovers have something else to look forward to, as the 2018 vats of Montepulciano I tried during my cellar visit were absolutely superb; they are undoubtedly the best entry-level Montepulciano wines Tiberio has ever made, so there’s something to really look forward to here.”

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

Tiberio Cerasuolo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($21.95) $17.75 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Luminous pink-red. Bright aromas of red cherry, redcurrant, blood orange and botanical herbs. Then bright and juicy, with laser-like acidity lifting and extending the red fruit flavors on the juicy, long, floral and slightly saline finish. A very precise, seamless Cerasuolo with no hard edges and sneaky concentration.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Tiberio Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT, Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy. What the talented Cristiana Tiberio has achieved in the very hot 2017 vintage with Pecorino (a variety that does not like heat) is a testament to her talent. The 2017 Tiberio Pecorino is by no means the best Pecorino she has ever made (and frankly, it would have been very strange if it was otherwise, given the year’s weather), but it offers lovely balance with pure sage and kiwi notes that mingle with ripe orchard fruit nuances complicated by a saline edge. Both these wines made for a wonderful start to my meal, but they would have paired very well with all the other dishes I chose to eat this evening.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $26.99

Featured New Arrival

Castello di Ama’s Top Chiantis

Castello di Ama has emerged as one of the truly special estates of Chianti. Open to new ideas, always with quality in mind, Castello di Ama makes rich, textural Chiantis that rival the region’s most sought-after wines. Just arrived, their 2017 Chianti Classico Ama is no exception. Archetypal of modern Chianti, drinking beautiful even in its youth, and sub-$30 per bottle, it deserves a spot at your dinner table this weekend.

Gran Selezione is the new level above Riserva designating longer aging and designed to let producers highlight their tip-top wines from Sangiovese. In championing the new designation, Castello di Ama has further telegraphed their commitment to quality. Their 2014 is a stunning example of what’s possible with Sangiovese when no corners are cut and punches way above its weight. Full-bodied, rich and surprisingly silky, this is really special stuff. The latest release, arriving just arrived, is a show stopper. It’s 2016, one of the finest vintages in the region, and has garnered rave reviews.

In Stock Now:

Castello di Ama ‘Ama’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Ama ‘Ama’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Rose, mature red berry and wild herb aromas mingle with a balsamic whiff of eucalyptus. The delicious, polished palate boasts a restrained elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and white pepper alongside refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced and lends just enough tension. Drink through 2023.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Ama is fabulous. Racy and voluptuous to the core the Ama captures all the richness of the vintage while retaining a great deal of aromatic freshness and energy. Succulent red cherry, plum, rose petal, mint and sweet spice build in an open-knit, inviting Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes. This is a terrific showing from Ama’s young-vine Chianti Classico bottling.”
James Suckling 92 points “Lots of primary sour cherries, blueberries and spices here. Medium-bodied with cranberry flavors and intense acidity throughout. Little edgy on the finish, but the warmth and generosity to the juicy tannins hold this together. Drink now.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Ama is a terrific wine that opens to a mid-weight feel but produces an enormously expressive bouquet. The hot vintage has shaped warm tones of tilled earth and dark fruit but it is all carefully weighed and in context. The wine is open, accessible and generous. You can’t go wrong with this entry-level offering from Castello di Ama, especially with a lentil or spelt soup.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $30

Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2014 ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo flaunts its importance. It boasts confidence and an outward-looking personality that comes as a refreshing surprise. Like all Gran Selezione wines, it is released 30 months after January 1st following the harvest. That means it still has a few more months to go before it hits the market. This expression of Sangiovese shows depth and power with ripe fruit tones of cherry and forest berry. Like many of the other high profile wines I preview-tasted from the difficult 2014 vintage, I am delighted and surprised by the elegant and soft nature of the mature tannins. The wine’s finish offers bright freshness with layers of dark fruit, wet earth and forest floor.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Aromas of exotic spice, pipe tobacco, woodland berry and a whiff of French oak take center stage on this fragrant, elegant red. The racy, ethereal palate delivers tart red cherry, tart pomegranate, cinnamon and vanilla framed in taut fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Drink 2019–2026.”
James Suckling 93 points “This is extremely tangy with plenty of chocolate and lemon character and hints of cedar, too. Medium body, bright acidity and chocolatey aftertaste. Very refined and well-crafted for a 2014. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $48

Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “CELLAR SELECTION. A blend of 80% Sangiovese, 13% Merlot and 7% Malvasia Nera, this opens with aromas of black- and red-skinned berry, pipe tobacco, tilled earth and a whiff of new leather. Elegant and taut, the palate shows tension, verve and finesse, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and hints of French oak. It’s balanced, with polished, fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Drink 2021–2036.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers stunning aromas of black cherry, blackberry and violet, with ripe, sweet fruit on the palate, shaded by iron, earth and tobacco elements. Supple yet well-structured, this should come together soon. Shows terrific harmony and length. Best from 2022 through 2036. 6,500 cases made, 670 cases imported.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione San Lorenzo is immediately more inky and balsamic in terms of aromas. As soon as you lift the wine to your nose, you get pretty tones of blackberry, cassis, rosemary essence, licorice and a touch of medicinal herb. I love when Sangiovese produces those elegant aromas, and for that reason, this wine stands tall among the three single-vineyard expressions from Marco Pallanti and Castello di Ama. It shows fiber, richness and lasting structure with a very well-managed quality of tannins.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Castello di Ama San Lorenzo is a blend taken from Ama’s four core estate vineyards. Black cherry, graphite, sage, mint, juniper berries and licorice give the San Lorenzo a distinctly dark, brooding profile to match its powerful feel. The big tannins need time to soften, but there is certainly plenty to look forward to. Stylistically, San Lorenzo is closest to Bellavista, with which it shares a decidedly somber feel. This is such a gorgeous wine.”

Only six magnums available!
Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 6 magnums in stock now
Wine Enthusiast Top 100 in 2018
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Fragrant and refined, this radiant wine opens with scents of violet, red berry, baking spice and a whiff of plum. The chiseled palate delivers succulent wild cherry, white pepper, cinnamon and star anise alongside firm, refined tannins. It boasts a long licorice finish while bright acidity lends balance. It’s already delicious but hold for even more complexity. Drink 2020–2033.”
James Suckling 95 points “Tight and super silky with a gorgeous density and precision that gives great polish to the tannins. Makes them almost dusty. Lots of subtle dark berry, mineral and spice. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $135

Castello di Ama ‘Ama’, Chianti Classico DOCG 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $49 special, 36 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “So much sweet tobacco and cherry character here with hints of smoked meat. Medium body, fine tannins and a bright and fruity finish. Acid tension give this definition. Tangy. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “The raspberry and cherry flavors are immediate in this elegant, balanced red, followed by accents of earth and spice. Not excessively long, but well-proportioned. Drink now through 2022. 900 cases imported.”

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

A seamlessly refreshing rose wine for warm spring evenings
Castello di Ama ‘Purple’ Rosato Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 1.5L ($69.95) $49 special, 9 magnums in stock now
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 90 points “Luminous red-pink. Fresh aromas of strawberry and flowers, then ripe and sweet with similar flavors to the aromas that show very good acid cut. This actually leaves a sweet impression on the long suave finish, but has so much acidity it seems less sweet than it is. Lovely. Winemaker Marco Pallanti has changed the winemaking so as to macerate the must on the skins for twelve hours and then ages the wine in used (one year) barriques to round it. A blend of mostly Sangiovese with a little Merlot.”

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

A Dual 96 Point Brunello, Under $50

Talenti has been one of our go-to Brunello producers over the years, producing big, rich wines at exceptionally reasonable prices. As you might expect, their 2015 is dynamite, with two 96 point scores and two more 95’s to go along with it. Even better, the wine’s under $50 a bottle—nearly impossible for most wines given the scores. We just secured our parcel, arriving late this fall.

Arriving ETA November

Talenti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Talenti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($359.95) $276 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Editor’s Choice. Rose petal, crushed mint, woodland berry and eucalyptus aromas slowly take shape on this delicious full bodied red. It’s linear and elegantly structured, featuring juicy Marasca cherry, cranberry, licorice and cocoa alongside firm velvety tannins. It closes on an orange-zest note. Drink 2023–2035.”
James Suckling 96 points “There’s freshness galore here i,n the form of orange zest and citrus peel. But this Brunello isn’t short on power either; red licorice, cardamom and dried hibiscus pepper the nose. To support the ripe fruit are layers of sinewy tannins and gliding acidity, making for an altogether sophisticated and edgy impression. Refined and elegant on the long finish. Drink from 2023.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 95 points “Bright vibrant red-ruby. Inviting aromas of red plum, mocha, redcurrant jam, tobacco, and gently smoky herbs. Bright, silky and suave, with mellow flavors of redcurrant, red plum, tobacco and mocha. Multilayered and extremely stylish wine, finishing with polished tannins, outstanding balance and subtle persistence. So well-balanced in fact, this gorgeous Brunello is almost deceptively easy to drink and can practically be accessed even now. Very well done.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Well-delineated black cherry and black currant flavors are matched to graphite, earth and wild herb accents in this powerful red. Balanced in a broad-shouldered way, this leaves a vibrant impression on the lingering finish. Best from 2023 through 2042. 2,700 cases made, 380 cases imported.”

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Rose of the Day

Sperino’s Rosa del Rosa Returns in June

Arriving ETA June:

Limited quantities available.
Proprieta Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa’ Rosato Coste della Sesia, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18.80 pre-arrival special
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Sperino Rosa del Rosa is stunning, opening to reveal depths of ripe peach and strawberry, with hints of cumin, ginger, dried orange, and roses. It floods the palate with silky textures, tugging at the cheeks as zesty acids settle in, then soothing through sweet liquid florals and ripe fruit. The finish is long, showing a hint of fine tannins, yet not austere; instead tactile, perfectly balanced with a hint of savory spice and just begging me to take another sip. This is a blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina, which is gorgeous right now, but it may even get better with a little time in the cellar. Frankly, it was hard to put the glass down.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Trending Wines

Re arrived. Pure joy from a joyous vintage!
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
Case-12 Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($369.95) $315 special (that’s only $26.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
VinopolNote: The 2018 shows more color and immediate impact than the 2017. (We’re extremely excited about the vintage.) Right out of the bottle, it’s well balanced and medium-bodied. It’s showing aromas of boysenberries, purple lilacs, and spice with a touch of black tea and a palate-cleansing astringency on the finish. John Paul declassified a few extra barrels of what would have made it into the Abbey Ridge bottling to be able to offer more Pinot at this price point (who knows where the economy is heading). Fortunately for you, we’re going deep and offering it for the lowest price in the USA. It’s the perfect case of wine for drinking now, next and later.

A serious wine for the price—this is bright, mineral and capable of laying down (if you can keep out of it).
Championship Bottle “Hard Promises” Pinot Blanc, Chehelem Mountains 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Pinot Blanc is a cypher of a grape—so versatile that it reveals a lot about what a winemaker values. It’s capable of being turned into wines across the stylistic spectrum, from pleasant, innocuous quaffers to broad, rich showy wines and everything in between. Rarely, though, is it presented like it is here—steely and bright, with minerality allied to just enough texture to elevate the wine. Hard Promises was a wine that tried our patience, but ultimately rewarded our waiting. From the long fermentation to the extended elevage in barrel (seventeen months), this wine required time to show its truest and best self. From a purely economic perspective, making a wine like this is a terrible idea—most winemakers see Pinot Blanc as a “cash-flow” grape. Yet with time and care, it rises beyond the assumptions of its origins to be compelling in its own right. In that sense, this might be the wine that best epitomizes what we do.”

Previously sold out. Re-arriving Wednesday at the same spectacular price.
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($89.95) $54 pre-arrival special, ETA Wednesday, 5/27
No reviews for the 2016-base. The following are for reference.
2014-base review: Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Brut Nature Fidèle (R14) is a Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir on Kimmeridgian soils and is entirely based on the 2014 vintage. Disgorged in October 2017 the oak-fermented wine shows a golden-reddish apricot color and opens with a very delicate, floral and herbal yet intense and vinous bouquet of red fruits, with warm, dry earth and spices and just a hint of oak. Bone dry (of course), fresh and elegant on the palate, this is an impressively delicate and filigreed Champagne to be enjoyed as a still wine rather than a fizz. The finish is long, clear, dry and well-structured (even with fine tannins) and reveals discreet salinity. In fact, Fidèle drinks like a Burgundy-inspired Coteaux Champenois with very fine but not effervescent bubbles, persistent lemon juice and a touch of oaky flavors. Don’t use a flute to enjoy this young, gastronomic wine; instead, use a wine glass or one of the rounder, more voluminous Champagne glasses like the Lehmann Jamesse (which stresses the finesse rather than the vinous character). Don’t serve the Fidèle too fresh, either, but if you must, wait a bit and don’t worry if the wine is suddenly 12 or even 14 degrees Celsius—it’s still delicious and even more vinous then! (To be honest, when tasted at 15 or 16 degrees Celsius, I even got some Gewürztraminer notes (lychees) on the nose…!)”
2013-base review: Antonio Galloni 93 points “The amber-colored NV Brut Nature Fidèle is gorgeous. Lifted, precise and nuanced throughout, the Fidèle possesses a captivating aromatic. Medium in body and tense in style, the Fidèle is super-expressive today. It could use another year in bottle to soften a bit, but it is nevertheless striking.”
2012-base review: Antonio Galloni 95 points “The NV (2012) Extra Brut Fidele is another fabulous wine from Vouette & Sorbée. Here, the richness of Pinot Noir comes through loud and clear in the wine’s depth and overall richness. Creamy and beautifully layered throughout, the 2012 hits all the right notes. Red berry, mint, flowers, sweet spices and candy fill out the wine’s broad frame effortlessly. What a gorgeous wine this is. Simply put, the 2012 is a total knock-out.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $82

The legend and classic, back in stock at a great tariff.
Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $57 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Péters’ NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée de Réserve offers up a lovely bouquet of citrus oil, pear, pastry cream, dried white flowers, hazelnuts and crushed chalk. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and elegant, with ripe but racy acids, a delicate pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. As usual, this is an immensely refined Champagne that exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Cuvée de Réserve (base 2016) is absolutely delicious and also shows the greater natural harmony of 2016 vis-à-vis 2015. Creamy and open-knit, the 2016 will be easy to drink pretty much upon release, as it is a Champagne of absolutely exquisite balance. White orchard fruit, crushed rocks, flowers and mint all grace this sublime, wonderfully nuanced Champagne from Rodolphe Péters. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.”

Quentin Paillard’s wines always over deliver for the price.
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 10 bottles in stock now
2014-base (XIV). Review provided for reference.
Wine Advocate 92 points “The NV Bouzy Grand Cru Les Parcelles XIII is based on the 2013 vintage plus roughly 40% of reserve wines from 2012, 2011 and 2010. The assemblage consists of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, fermented in stainless steel and in a few demi-muids. The nicely colored wine (white gold with a pink reflection due to the late harvest and no fining agents) offers a very clear, precise and delicate bouquet of cherries and red berries. Pure and filigreed on the palate, this is a beautifully pure, clear, fresh and delicate blend that reveals impressive mineral structure and length. Simply fascinating. Dosed with 3.5 grams per liter and disgorged in October 2017. Tasted in April 2018.”

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

Staff Pick

The Forbidden Fruit of Hermitage

Andy:
As far as I have been concerned, Hermitage was the forbidden fruit. Price points and availability have always kept me looking for other wines that over performed from less tony areas of the northern Rhone. I’ve been very lucky to have a number of friends who have shared their cellar stashes of well aged Hermitage that have shown beautifully, but I’d always ended up opening mine far too soon. I was determined not to open the Colombier Hermitage before its time, but recently my determination was pushed aside. Having made plans to open the wine a day early, I pulled the cork on a Friday evening and poured a small glass to open up a little headspace. My first impressions seemed to confirm my fears that the wine was not yet ready. The fruit had been destemmed so there was no wild character, but the initial attack seemed too intense and concentrated, dense with dark fruit and spice. I walked away from even that small glass, coming back to it over the evening to stick my nose in from time to time. It stayed tight as a tiger until almost 3 hours later when the transformation started. All of a sudden the beautiful floral notes that I always detect in older bottles started to bloom. There was hope after all.

The next morning, I went back to the bottle to see what had transpired overnight and the progression was lovely. As I poured it that evening, there was a pronounced firm cherry note mixed in with the dark blackberry and plum. The acidity seemed more vibrant and the wine had a verve and jump to it. Knowing that their plots have more limestone I had hoped that there would be a lifted style to the wine, and I was not disappointed. Even the tannins seemed more fine and gentle than they had the night before. The finish was lengthy but not overpowering; just enough memory of what you’d just tasted to make you want another sip. I am so glad to have more of these in the stash. They will definitely hold for years, and now that my curious nature has been sated, I expect that they’ll stay in the cellar, but I am looking forward to the next excuse to enjoy them.

Domaine du Colombier Hermitage Rouge, Rhone 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2015 Hermitage comes from the Les Doignières and Les Beaumes lieux-dits which are more clay and limestone soils. It’s another sensational Hermitage from this magical hillside that I wish every reader could taste. Cassis, damp earth, liquid violets and a liqueur of rocks-like profile emerge from this full-bodied, concentrated and powerful Hermitage, which has no shortage of extract or tannin. It’s for consumers with cold cellars and plenty of patience as it’s going to require at least 4-5 years of cellaring.”

Produttori’s Barbaresco

Freshly Restocked

In good vintages, there may be no better value on the planet than the Produttori del Barbaresco’s normale Barbaresco—and 2016 and 2015 are great vintages. We sold through our stock of the 2016, but just brought more stock in. Take advantage while it lasts (and grab some of the even-better-drinking-at-this-precise-moment 2015 while you’re at it.

Back In Stock:

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”

Also in stock now:

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2015 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Charming aromas of cherry, strawberry and rose are inviting in this red, with flavors to match, showing ripeness and focus. Earth and mineral elements chime in as this firms up, but the harmony is there and this should really sing in about five years. Best from 2022 through 2040. 23,333 cases made.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “I tasted this wine after bottling but before its commercial release. The 2015 Barbaresco will hit the market on September 1st. It was scheduled to be released in October, but because Produttori del Barbaresco is already out of stock of the ’14 Barbaresco, they decided to move this release up and shorten waiting times. I mention that because you definitely don’t want to pop the cork too early. The 2015 vintage opens to a visibly darker color and thicker concentration compared to recent past vintages. Next to the upcoming 2016 and 2017 editions, we can expect 2015 to be the most fruit-forward of the three. You get dark tones of plum and blackberry with dry tannins at the rear.”

Don’t forget! One week until the 2015 Crus land!

You can see all of the great cru wines from Produttori
(from 2013, ’14 and ’15) in our web store!

Thanks for reading!

Vinopolis Champagne Primer – 5-21-2020

In Today’s Newsletter:

NEWLY ARRIVED:
(2016) Vouette et Sorbee Fidele

ARRIVING TOMORROW:
Best Price Buys from
Pierre Paillard, Bereche, Diebolt-Vallois & Gaston-Chiquet
Plus Best-in-PDX Pricing on Pierre Peters!

This Just In!

2016 Vouette et Sorbee Fidele

The wine industry has experienced some wild swings this year. The ill-advised tariffs almost seem like a quaint problem now that most restaurants are closed. In Portland, one of the leading cities for Champagne (shout out to Pix!) and home to multiple fantastic importers, there’s a back log of bubbles looking for a good home. Now is the ideal time for the savvy buyer to adopt/stock up on favorites. What once was rare, fine-dining treat can now become a house pour.

Enter one of our long-time favorite producers at the shop: Vouette et Sorbee. After some gentle nudging from Anselme Selosse, grape grower and recent convert to biodynamics, Bertrand Gautherot, decided to produce Champagnes from his vineyard holdings under the aforementioned name. The cuvee Fidele is all Pinot Noir. It is primarily a blend from two vineyards grown in Kimmeridgian marl: Vouette and Biaunes. It’s mostly from one vintage, with roughly 5% reserve wine from a perpetual reserve begun in 2001. The wine has been fantastic long before it was discovered, and discovered it was. Ever since the 2012-base year garnered 95 points from Antonio Galloni, this Champagne has had a rabid following at the shop.

How does the 2016-base taste? Given the similar soil types, one can easily compare it to Chablis but through a decidedly Pinot Noir lens. It’s on the savory side, with bright acidity, red fruit and spice, and a mineral backbone. The splash of reserve wine adds a complex, oxidative note (the reserve is held in oak foudre). For the lover of Grower Champagnes, it seems to hit all the right spots. It’s vinous like Ulysse Collin, nearly as hard to find as Cedric Bouchard, as elegantly austere as Marie-Courtin, and distinctively savory as Bereche. That it has a cult following is no surprise.

“The champagnes of Vouette et Sorbée are uncompromisingly original, possessing deep, vinous aromas and assertive personalities, and their intensity of character makes them more suitable to contemplative drinking or to accompanying food than to casual sipping. They are clearly the products of a natural philosophy of viticulture, with all that that implies in the French wine world, and while this may put some tasters off, those wine aficionados who enjoy the wines of other natural growers in France such as Emmanuel Houillon, Marcel Lapierre or Claude Courtois will find an affinity here. These are not champagnes that will please everyone, but there is not enough quantity to go around anyway, and those of us who do appreciate Gautherot’s wines will seek them out wherever and whenever possible.”
–Peter Liem, Champagne Guide

There are no reviews published for this beauty yet, but if prior years hold any indication, it will do quite well. And at the lowest listed price in the country, when the wine is averaging $82/bottle, you’ll do quite well, too.

In Stock Now:

Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($89.95) $54 special, 40 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2016-base. The following are for reference.
2014-base review: Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Brut Nature Fidèle (R14) is a Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir on Kimmeridgian soils and is entirely based on the 2014 vintage. Disgorged in October 2017 the oak-fermented wine shows a golden-reddish apricot color and opens with a very delicate, floral and herbal yet intense and vinous bouquet of red fruits, with warm, dry earth and spices and just a hint of oak. Bone dry (of course), fresh and elegant on the palate, this is an impressively delicate and filigreed Champagne to be enjoyed as a still wine rather than a fizz. The finish is long, clear, dry and well-structured (even with fine tannins) and reveals discreet salinity. In fact, Fidèle drinks like a Burgundy-inspired Coteaux Champenois with very fine but not effervescent bubbles, persistent lemon juice and a touch of oaky flavors. Don’t use a flute to enjoy this young, gastronomic wine; instead, use a wine glass or one of the rounder, more voluminous Champagne glasses like the Lehmann Jamesse (which stresses the finesse rather than the vinous character). Don’t serve the Fidèle too fresh, either, but if you must, wait a bit and don’t worry if the wine is suddenly 12 or even 14 degrees Celsius—it’s still delicious and even more vinous then! (To be honest, when tasted at 15 or 16 degrees Celsius, I even got some Gewürztraminer notes (lychees) on the nose…!)”
2013-base review: Antonio Galloni 93 points “The amber-colored NV Brut Nature Fidèle is gorgeous. Lifted, precise and nuanced throughout, the Fidèle possesses a captivating aromatic. Medium in body and tense in style, the Fidèle is super-expressive today. It could use another year in bottle to soften a bit, but it is nevertheless striking.”
2012-base review: Antonio Galloni 95 points “The NV (2012) Extra Brut Fidele is another fabulous wine from Vouette & Sorbée. Here, the richness of Pinot Noir comes through loud and clear in the wine’s depth and overall richness. Creamy and beautifully layered throughout, the 2012 hits all the right notes. Red berry, mint, flowers, sweet spices and candy fill out the wine’s broad frame effortlessly. What a gorgeous wine this is. Simply put, the 2012 is a total knock-out.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $82

Champagnes Arriving Tomorrow

Friday, May 22nd:

Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $40.90 pre-arrival special
L17 base. Disgorgement date varies.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Brut Réserve was disgorged in October 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, and it’s based on the 2017 vintage. Exhibiting a glass bouquet of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh peach and toasted nuts, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with lovely depth and concentration, fine energy and a long, penetrating finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pierre Paillard ‘Les Parcelles’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Vintage may vary. Review provided for reference.
Wine Advocate 92 points “The NV Bouzy Grand Cru Les Parcelles XIII is based on the 2013 vintage plus roughly 40% of reserve wines from 2012, 2011 and 2010. The assemblage consists of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, fermented in stainless steel and in a few demi-muids. The nicely colored wine (white gold with a pink reflection due to the late harvest and no fining agents) offers a very clear, precise and delicate bouquet of cherries and red berries. Pure and filigreed on the palate, this is a beautifully pure, clear, fresh and delicate blend that reveals impressive mineral structure and length. Simply fascinating. Dosed with 3.5 grams per liter and disgorged in October 2017. Tasted in April 2018.”

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

Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pierre Peters Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $57 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Péters’ NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée de Réserve offers up a lovely bouquet of citrus oil, pear, pastry cream, dried white flowers, hazelnuts and crushed chalk. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and elegant, with ripe but racy acids, a delicate pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. As usual, this is an immensely refined Champagne that exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Cuvée de Réserve (base 2016) is absolutely delicious and also shows the greater natural harmony of 2016 vis-à-vis 2015. Creamy and open-knit, the 2016 will be easy to drink pretty much upon release, as it is a Champagne of absolutely exquisite balance. White orchard fruit, crushed rocks, flowers and mint all grace this sublime, wonderfully nuanced Champagne from Rodolphe Péters. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.”

Gaston Chiquet Or Premier Cru Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bright and lacy, this harmonious Champagne offers a minerally, chalk-tinged underpinning and a delicate bead, with a crowd-pleasing array of nectarine, lemon sorbet, ground ginger and spun honey flavors. Drink now through 2028. 150 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2008 Brut Vintage Or is relatively open and accessible wine for the year. There is good depth to the dried pear, candied citrus and floral notes, but it is without question the resonance of Ay that carries the wine. Hints of graphite, smoke and slate add lovely underpinnings of minerality. The Vintage is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Dosage is 8 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2017.”
John Gilman 90 points “The 2008 Gaston Chiquet “Or Premier Cru” Brut Millésime is composed of a blend of sixty percent pinot noir and forty percent chardonnay and was disgorged in July of 2018, after a bit over nine years aging sur latte. The bouquet is excellent here, offering up scents of apple, peach, brioche, a fine base of soil and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is bright, fullbodied and nicely complex, with good, but not great depth at the core, pinpoint bubbles and lovely balance on the fairly long finish. This is a very tasty wine, but it does not quite have the mid-palate core or backend length to be in the very top division. That said, this is drinking very nicely right now and still provides plenty of pleasure for the relatively near-term. 2019-2030.”
[Disgorgement date on bottle may vary]

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99

We love Champagne.

Truly/madly/deeply.

How much?

We stock an insane range and volume,
with over 93 different bottles in stock right now.

Want proof?

Shop our entire selection on our web store!

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Thanks for reading!