Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Weekend VinopolPick 5-26-17

2013: California’s Golden Vintage; Rosenthal Revisited; Bitouzet-Priuer’s Volnay Victories; Crème du Champagne; Best Riesling in Europe; Titans of Chateauneuf—Janasse Edition; Saint Cosme – Still the Best (Prices, too!) ETA June; May Sale Recap: Less Than a Week Remaining!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In 2013, California Knew How To Party

2013 is going to be considered a 21st century 1997 or 1991 for Northern California Cabernet—you know, one of those years.  In a decade or two, you won’t have enough of in your cellar.  For a variety of reasons, there were near-perfect growing conditions in the North Coast and the average quality of wines produced is astronomical.

It’s the best kind of ‘great vintage.’ Not only are the highs exceptionally high, but the median Cabernet from 2013 is much better than we could hope for.… Read the rest

Weekend VinopolPick 5-20-17

New May Sale Wine – Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Epic Pricing; Featured New Arrival: 2012 Il Poggione; Just Between Ayoub & Me: New Ayoub Releases; 2013 Produttori del Barbaresco New Arrival; New Review for a New Arrival: 100 Year Old Vines & Under $20: Chereau-Carre Muscadet; Your Betz Bet: New 2014s; Staff Pick; May the Case Sales… Continue: Case-6 & Case-12 Highlights; Arriving Next Week: Pichler-Krutzler; May Sale Recap

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

Just in Time for the May Sale

New Release – Arriving Tuesday, May 23rd

Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque – Fleur de Champagne Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, ETA Tuesday, May 23rd
Decanter 93 points “Shimmering pale gold with green lights, radiant clarity; persistent tiny bubbles: riot of white flowers scents, hawthorn, then more stone-fruit than citrus, reine claude (greengage) and elderflower.… Read the rest

Monday Newsletter 5-15-17

New Week – New Arrivals; Staff Pick: Le Petit Bichon Graves Blanc; Off the Beaten Path: Bierzo Bliss; French Rosé Roundup: Time for Tempier; May Sale Highlights & Recap

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

New Week – New Arrivals

Oregon

Chapter 24 Vineyards ‘The Fire’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 375ML ($29.95) $24 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “(40 percent new oak) Vivid red. High-pitched red fruit, floral pastille and Asian spice aromas show excellent clarity and pick up a deeper cola nuance with aeration. Stains the palate with sappy black raspberry and cherry flavors that are sharpened by a blood orange flourish and lifted by a spine of minerality. Plays power off finesse with a deft hand and closes with impressive energy, focus and mineral-driven persistence.”… Read the rest

Weekend VinopolPick – 5-13-17

New Champagne & Rose Arrivals; May Sale Highlights: Locavore’s Delight / SuperArgentineWine; German Magnum Madness; Rockin’ Rose Arriving Friday; FX Pichler 2015s; Domaine de la Terre Rouge New Releases; 2013 Dehu Offer; May Sale Recap

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

New Weekend – New Arrivals

France – Champagne

Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Val Vilaine, Champagne NV (2013) 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Bouchard’s NV (2013) Blanc de Noirs Côte de Val Vilaine is quite a bit creamier and richer than normal, the result of yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare, as opposed the more typical 45, which is already absurdly low within the context of Champagne. Orange zest, white flowers, mint, chamomile and sweet spices flesh out as this exotic, unctuous Val Vilaine shows off its distinctive personality.… Read the rest

More Midweek VinopolPicks 5-11-17

2012 Il Poggione: One for the Collectors; New May Sales; Wine Spectator Reviews 2015 German Riesling; Masi’s Mastery—Amarone and More!; New Wines Arriving Tomorrow; Killer Cali at Best in the US Prices; May Sales Recap

~~~~~~~~~~

Breaking News:

Movin’ On Up!

Il Poggione

& New Case-6 Price!

Now Arriving May 28th:

Most Brunello collectors buy either traditional or modern examples with the exception of a few wines whose appeal seems to transcend stylistic categories.  These wines are the real ‘collectible’ Brunelli—there’s always going to be a market for them.  In that category, Il Poggione manages to be unique.  It’s a wine that’s traditionally made, yet approachable, beloved across the board and is still reasonably priced.

For that reason, Il Poggione remains one of our favorite wines in Brunello—it’s tough to beat the combination of quality and price.… Read the rest