Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

GD Vajra Sale 8-16-25

In This Newsletter:

GD Vajra Sale
Rosé of the Day


 
Benchmark Italian Wines from Piedmont
 
Stock Up & Save On:
 
GD Vajra

 
G.D. Vajra is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and crafts some of the best quality entry-level wines from Italy’s Piedmont. Their lineup as a whole is unrivaled in Piedmont. At all price points, they craft benchmark wines against which all others are judged.

As we climb the ladder, there are small-production wines from rare grapes (Freisa) and the cellar-defender Barbera d’Abla selections and village-level Barolos. At the top end, we find single-vineyard Barolos including the Ravera, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure. In its position above the thick fogs, it receives the most sunlight with the earliest sunrise and latest sunset, as well as a wildly dramatic diurnal temperature swing. The wines are lifted with refined tannins and minerality. Coste di Rose is home to a wide range of soil types, including sandstone. Per Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate, this results in unique aromatics and a darker fruit profile than the Bricco delle Viole.
 
We’re proud to offer multiple vintages of these excellent Barolos and a wide range of the varietal wines and region blends. Stock up on these long-time customer and staff favorites now during our three-day sale.
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of GD Vajra
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of GD Vajra

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Tuesday, August 19th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer fourteen in-stock GD Vajra options on sale now, including:
 
G.D. Vajra Barbera d’Alba 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 90 points
“The 2023 Barbera d’Alba is packed with succulent dark red fruit. Plush, silky contours add to its immediacy and overall appeal. Plum, mocha and cedar build into the soft, succulent finish.”
 
G.D. Vajra Viola delle Viole Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $31.50, that’s $29.93 at 5% off and $28.35 at 10% off, 36 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93+ points
“Just bottled, the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is fabulous. Rich and inky, with tremendous depth, the 2021 is so vibrant in the glass. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, sweet spice and mocha are all dialed up, with a kiss of French oak that adds raciness.”
 
G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $36, that’s $34.20 at 5% off and $32.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points
“The G.D. Vajra 2021 Langhe Freisa Kyè has a delicate bouquet with intertwined berry and floral elements that could recall Japanese cherry blossom or even a Sicilian almond blossom. Beyond that, the wine offers an interlude of fresh blue fruits with elderberry and juniper. It shows terrific freshness and more tart flavors to close.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points
“The 2020 Barolo Bricco delle Viole, Vajra’s flagship, is very fine. Dark cherry, kirsch, blood orange, spice and lavender are nicely amplified. The 2020 is gracious and elegant, but its youthful Nebbiolo tannins will require some time to soften. The 2020 is another wine that captures my keen interests with its sublime balance. I would be thrilled to own it.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $64.50, that’s $61.28 at 5% off and $58.05 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points
“The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 94 points
“A Barolo of remarkable elegance and complexity. Lifted aromas of mixed wild berries, candied rose petals, cinnamon, and whole clove, are accompanied by warm, earthy notes. Tart cherries and cranberries dominate the palate, with woodsy undertones and chewy tannins that provide heft without overpowering. Savory and medicinal herbs linger on the finish, making this a captivating expression of this renowned cru. Drink Now – 2045.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points
“The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Gravel, smoke, cured meats, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol emerge, but only with quite a bit of reticence. This deceptively mid-weight Barolo has a good bit of brawn. It will be interesting to see if the fruit emerges from behind the tannins.”
 
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points
“The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. Ravera represents a union of different geologies from Barolo and Castiglione Falletto. The site has shown extraordinary versatility, especially in the face of climate change, to make wines of both strength and elegance. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 29 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 97 points
“The Ravera cru, one of the estate’s prized holdings, is known for its calcareous soil and old vines that contribute to the wine’s depth and ageability. This Barolo showcases crushed raspberries and red currants intertwined with wild thyme and fresh laurel. Subtle notes of cinchona bark, whole cinnamon, and fresh porcini add complexity. On the palate, warmed mixed berry jam is dusted with crushed cloves, pepper, and earthy hints of truffle and underbrush. Fine and elegant tannins provide structure, while the well-balanced warmth envelops the senses like a comforting hug. Drink Now – 2045.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti DOCG 2024 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 32 bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“With only 5.5% alcohol and a generous, creamy mousse, the 2024 Moscato d’Asti DOCG beautifully expresses the pure essence of fresh, sun-ripened grapes. The palate is lively and layered, unfolding an elegant floral bouquet interwoven with notes of golden apple, apricot, and candied peach. The finish is long, vibrant, and clean—inviting yet another joyful sip.”
 
Shop our fourteen GD Vajra selections now!



Rosé of the Day
 
Torre dei Beati

 
Need to charm a red wine drinker with a palatable pink? This bone dry yet hefty rosé practically drinks like a red and is loaded with mineral and fruit notes. Flexible enough for salads and fish, this has the weight for ham and sausage-stuffing, too. All that, without sacrificing the refreshing and energic qualities of a top-notch rosé. This overachiever is under $25 and will pair effortlessly with classic dishes of the summer, fall, and winter.
 
In Stock Now:
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Torre dei Beati Rosa-ae Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo 2024 750ml $24 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points
“The 2024 Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo Rosa-Ae is a deep translucent red hue with violet shadings. It lifts from the glass with an enticing bouquet of white cherries, wildflowers and chalk dust. The 2024 is energetic and crisply refreshing, with depths of ripe strawberry fruits and tactile mineral tones that add lovely traction toward the close. This has a long, tense finish, with pleasantly chewy tannins, nuances of cranberry and rosy inner florals. Vibrant and intense, the 2024 is a real winner.”
 
Browse our 61 in-stock rosé selections now!


 
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Ridge
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Ridge
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Ridge

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Ridge sale ends Monday, August 18th at 9 am Pacific.

Ridge Vineyards Sale 8-15-25

In This Newsletter:

Ridge Sale
Collector’s Corner: Delamotte


 
Ridge’s Hallowed Wines of California
 
Stock Up & Save On:
 
Ridge Vineyards Wines

 
There are few producers with a portfolio as storied and extensive as Ridge Vineyards. Championing organic practices and limited inputs since 1962 they were among the first to recognize the potential of meticulously farmed old-vine sites. Their holdings include some of the oldest and most storied vineyards in all of California with their crown jewel being the Monte Bello Vineyard (Yes that Monte Bello from the landmark Judgement of Paris in 1976).
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Ridge Vineyards wines
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Ridge Vineyards wines

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Sale ends Monday, August 18th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer ten in-stock Ridge Vineyards options on sale now, including:
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Ridge Vineyards ‘Three Valleys’ Red, Sonoma County 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $33, that’s $31.35 at 5% off and $29.70 at 10% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points
“Generous and robust yet retains a sense of polish, with expressive raspberry and blueberry flavors highlighted by licorice and pepper, plus a whiff of dill as this builds toward fine-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignane, Petite Sirah, Mataro and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2034. 25,000 cases made.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Alexander Valley 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $51.90, that’s $49.31 at 5% off and $46.71 at 10% off, 13 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“A perennial standout for the winery that is produced for wider distribution, the 2023 Zinfandel Geyserville is a blend of 70% Zinfandel, 18% Carignane, 9% Petite Sirah and 3% Alicante, the 2023 a highly ageable vintage with great acidity. That freshness helps to define the wine’s juicy core of well-mannered, supple tannins and oak, the wine aged entirely in 100% air-dried American oak, 15% of it new. It truly offers the perfect balance of dark fruit and freshness, within a full-bodied richness and structure still built for aging, as with all Ridge wines. Enjoy now through 2033.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Ridge Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $89, that’s $84.55 at 5% off and $80.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“Blending 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Merlot, and lovingly referred to as Baby Monte Bello, designated as Monte Bello since the 2008 vintage, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate Monte Bello Vineyard is known for its weightlessness, made to be approachable in its youth with great intention. Barrel-aged for 17 months in 50-60% new oak to integrate and soften the tannins, it still has another 15-20 years of aging, if not 25.”
 
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains 2020 750ml Was $249, Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Winemaker’s Note
“Opaque ruby color with ripe cassis, plum and red currant fruit, toasty oak, vanilla, fennel, juniper berry and bay laurel. Well-integrated velvety tannins, full mid-palate, firm acid, and a long, sumptuous finish. 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Organically Grown.”
 
Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello, Santa Cruz Mountains 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $269, that’s $255.55 at 5% off and $242.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points
“Tightly wound at this stage, the wine is massively concentrated, taut, yet trim and medium-bodied. Aged in 100% new oak, predominantly American, it offers espresso, blackberry, black cherry and vanilla bean flavors with a linear intensity and drive. Known to age and improve for several decades, this is one of California’s most collectible cabs and from a classic, age-worthy vintage. Best from 2031.”
 
Ridge Vineyards Paso Robles Zinfandel, San Luis Obispo County 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $43.50, that’s $41.33 at 5% off and $39.15 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
“The 2023 Zinfandel Paso Robles is made from 100% Zinfandel grown at Benito Dusi Ranch, the vines old and established; Ridge’s first vintage was 1967. Featuring full-bodied, jammy red fruit, it is juicy, broad, and fleshy while also offering a high-toned, restrained style. A hallmark of the vineyard is its great acidity, with brightness a consistent characteristic across vintages. Round, it’s not sweet but allows enough sweetness from the fruit to be lush and appealing from start to finish, spending 12 months in 15% new American oak. Drink now through 2033.”
 
Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $38, that’s $36.10 at 5% off and $34.20 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“A 100% Zin from a single-vineyard estate of organically grown grapes in iron-rich soils, the 2023 Zinfandel East Bench is one of the producer’s only 100% Zins, and it is special at that, with mind-blowing structure. Medium-bodied and remarkably light on its feet, it has classic brambly berry fruit, dusty tannins, and seasonings of baking spice, a fantastically elegant representation of the appellation when in the right hands. Enjoy now through 2033.”
 
Shop our ten Ridge selections now!



Collector’s Corner
 
Delamotte

 
What makes Delamotte’s Champagnes so special? These represent some of the finest Blanc de Blancs terroirs in all of Champagne. These Champagnes define chalk: the precious fruit is grown on the slopes of the Grand Cru villages of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Oger, and Cramant. The wines are given just a small dosage to allow the Cote des Blancs terroir to shine. The Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes, too, hail from illustrious Grand Cru villages well known to insiders: Bouzy, Ambonnay and Tours-sur-Marne. These are the classiest bubbles for the money, and sure to wow your fellow celebrants.
 
In Stock Now:
 
Delamotte Brut NV 750ml $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points
“[Reviewed 2023] A delicate, mineral-driven Champagne, with an underpinning of chalk, smoke and oyster shell layered with notes of poached apricot, citronella and beeswax. Lively and persistent on the finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Drink now through 2026. 6,250 cases made.”
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Brut NV 750ml $94.50 special, 18 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points
“Croissants, toasted sourdough, white pears, acacia and lemon meringue pie. Salty almond notes on the palate. Deliciously saline and creamy, with silky bubbles and a gently toasty finish. 100% chardonnay from Mesnil, Avize and Oger. Based on 2017 vintage with 20% reservewines. Drink now. – July 19, 2023”
 
Delamotte Blanc de Blancs Vintage Brut 2014 750ml $128 special, 5 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points
“Delamotte’s just-released 2014 Blanc de Blancs has turned out very well indeed, opening in the glass with scents of citrus zest, crisp orchard fruit, fresh bread and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incisive, with excellent depth at the core, racy acids and a chalky finish, this isn’t as muscular as the 2008 or 2012, but it has real cut and persistence and should age very gracefully indeed.”
 
Delamotte Brut Rose NV 750ml $119 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
“[Reviewed in 2023] The NV Champagne Rosé is a blend of 80% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, with the base of 2019, and 15% still red wine. It pours a salmon/orange-tinged hue and opens in the glass to fresh, floral, pretty aromas of nectarine, salted orange, fresh rose petal, and curry spice. Medium-bodied, it has a wonderful chalky and pithy texture, with a pinpoint mousse that’s almost an afterthought. Ripe with fruit but well-balanced and long, with mouthwatering acidity, its spicier notes (cardamom, perhaps?) start to reveal themselves as it opens, and the wine lasts long on the palate. It is quite distinctive. Drink 2024-2040. 8 grams per liter dosage.” [Fall 2023 release. Base vintage may vary from review.]
 
Browse our 125 selections from Champagne!


 
Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Languedoc-Roussillon
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon

 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.

 
Languedoc-Roussillon sale ends Saturday, August 16th at 9 am Pacific.

Thursday Newsletter 8-14-25

In This Newsletter:

Vosne-Romanée
Trending Oregon Wines
Grape of the Week: Verdicchio
German Vintage Guide: 2016’s Charm & Longevity


 
Vosne-Romanée
 
This tricky-to-pronounce region in the north of Burgundy is home to some of the region’s most prized vineyards and has been for centuries. The monks of Saint-Vivant first planted the vines in this tiny commune. Today, while Domaine de la Romanée-Conti is its most famous producer (and most expensive), there are still exquisite wines to be found at far more affordable prices.
 
In Stock Now from Vosne-Romanée:
 
Domaine Faiveley Vosne-Romanée 2020 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points
“A luscious, fruity style, offering black currant, black cherry, wet earth, vanilla and mineral notes. Dense, showing some grip on the extended finish. Overall, this is polished and harmonious. Drink now through 2033.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Forey Pere et Fils Vosne-Romanée 2021 750ml $96 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-92 points
“A spicy and distinctly floral-suffused nose combines notes of red cherry, currant and fennel with hints of Asia style tea. The palate impression of the delicious middleweight flavors is also quite rich, indeed opulent, thanks to the abundant dry extract that also buffers the moderately firm, youthfully austere and balanced finale. This is an excellent Vosne villages. (Drink starting 2028).”
 
Domaine Forey Pere et Fils Vosne-Romanée 2022 750ml $99 special, 4 bottles in stock now
“There is plenty of Vosne spice suffusing the ripe aromas of various red berries, poached plum and a discreet application of wood. There is more volume still to the delicious and slightly denser middle weight flavors that possess a beguiling mid-palate succulence before concluding in a lingering and balanced finale. To be clear, this isn’t especially concentrated but neither is it light.” -Allen Meadows, Burghound
 
Domaine Confuron-Cotetidot Les Suchots, Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru 2020 750ml $219 special, 2 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote:
A label that is hard to find. Best in your cellar until 2026 and beyond.
 
Domaine Bruno Clavelier Vosne-Romanée Les Hautes Maizieres Vieilles Vignes 2011 750ml $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89 points
“Outstanding. From 55+ year old vines situated right below Suchots. An attractively fresh and ripe nose of mostly red berry fruit liqueur aromas is nuanced by notes of violet and rose petal. The palate impression of the medium-bodied flavors is energetic, detailed and concentrated before concluding in a supple, round and delicious finish that displays a lovely vibrancy along with a touch of youthful austerity. A lovely villages.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Bruno Clavelier Vosne-Romanée Les Hautes Maizieres Vieilles Vignes 2015 750ml $199 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-92 points
“(55+ year old vines situated right below Suchots). Discreet wood influence blends with plenty of Vosne style spice that populates the layered mix of various floral, red berry and wisps of lavender. There is more volume and richness if less minerality to the sleek, textured and enveloping medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive texture, all wrapped in a beautifully complex, firm and well-balanced finale. This is an excellent villages though one that will require at least a few years of cellaring first. Lovely. 2023+”
 
Domaine Bruno Clavelier Vosne-Romanée Les Hautes Maizieres Vieilles Vignes 2018 750ml $134.50 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-92 points
“Outstanding Top Value. Slightly more prominent wood frames an exuberantly expressive nose that exhibits lovely purity on the spicy essence of ripe red cherry, plum, violet and a hint of sandalwood. The sleek and silky flavors possess a remarkably seductive and refined mouthfeel, all while delivering marvelous persistence on the balanced finish that possesses focused power. An excellent villages.”
 
Domaine Georges Noellat Les Beaux Monts, Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru 2019 750ml $469 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 94-96 points
“The 2019 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaumonts 1er Cru is well defined on the nose, a mixture of red and black fruit displaying fine mineralité and tension. The palate races out of the blocks with fine structure and delineation, and again, superb mineralité; palpable tension propels it through to the finish. You can almost feel the rock that lies just 20cm under the soil of this vineyard. Outstanding.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Jerome Chezeaux Chaumes, Vosne-Romanée Premier Cru 2021 750ml $125 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“Les Chaumes lies at the southern edge of Vosne-Romanée, immediately below the hallowed premier crus Aux Malconsorts and La Tache on a vein of limestone and marl. Chezeaux owns four-tenths of a hectare here, producing a wine that marries the exotic spice and succulent fruit of Vosne-Romanée with the mineral force of Nuits-Saint-Georges in ravishing fashion.”
 
Shop our 87 Côte de Nuits Burgundy selections now!



Trending Oregon wines
 
Under $50 Favorite Picks from our Home State
 
In Stock Now:
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Ayres Vineyard Gamay Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2023 750ml $21.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote:
Brad McLeroy makes some of our favorite refreshing varietal wines form the Willamette Valley, and his prices always seem just a touch lower than we’d expect. This dry-farmed Gamay is mineral-driven with a crunchy acidity. Classic and refreshing, it does well with a light chill.
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Benton-Lane First Class Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $24 special, 17 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points
“Notes of peaches, dried apples, toasted almonds and pastry crust on the nose. Medium-bodied, layered and mouth-filling, with vivid acidity and a textural, lengthy finish. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bow & Arrow Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $21.90 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Note
“The spiritual heart of red wine production at Bow & Arrow. The first “Loire” red variety I ever got my hands on so I’m 13 vintages in wrestling with this chameleon grape. I tilted towards sappy and serious the last few years and decided to course correct back to highlighting the innate fruit character of Gamay with this iteration. Juicy red fruits with a touch of grip as my faves tend to do it.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Cameron Winery Giuliano White, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $36 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Varieties:
Auxerrois, Friuliano, Moscato, Pinot blanc, Pinot grigio, Ribolla Gialla
Winery Note “Giuliano is our field blend of 6 Italian varieties from Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge. The rich palate is loaded with an awesome texture and notes of lemon curd, grapefruit and peaches. This is a nuanced, flavorful and food-friendly white. On the nose and palate, you’ll notice notes of pear, citrus, almond, and kaffir lime with a hint of flintiness and balanced acidity. Drink it with just about anything including sushi, grilled vegetables, chicken, and all sorts of seafood dishes. Only two barrels made, so quite limited.”
 
Evesham Wood La Grive Bleue Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $39 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points
“The 2022 Pinot Noir La Grive Bleue is distinctly savory. It opens with an herbal thrust of rosemary and sage before evolving into wild blueberries, wilted violets and flowery underbrush. This is youthfully lean and compact, washing across the palate with silken textures and a refined blend of red berries and spice. It tapers off with tense tannins, a firm acid spine and hints of tangerine, leaving the taster completely enamored. Readers should wait another year or two to indulge in this bottle. (Drink between 2026-2032).”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The Eyrie Vineyards Trifolium, Dundee Hills 2020 750ml $20.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points
“This blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Trousseau is the poster child for balance. The show starts with blackberry and thyme aromas, along with notes of earth and citrus. The Trifolium’s zingy acidity and optimal tannic structure support flavors like black cherry, cocoa nibs and a nice pot roast. Best trio since Rush. “
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Haden Fig Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $24 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“This year’s HF Willamette Valley is led by Cancilla accompanied by Croft and Freedom Hill, and–for the first time!—our new Torres Hill vineyard located just outside of Dallas, OR. The cool vintage worked wonders in these warmer, mostly sedimentary sites. Blackberry liquor, fresh Italian plums, hibiscus, and black raspberry coulis rest atop antique cabinets, black tea, and bitter roots.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $31.90 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“This 2023 bottling is comprised of three dry-farmed vineyards planted in volcanic soils and hand-harvested on Sept. 9th, 10th & 17th. The clusters were gently pressed and the juice sent tank to begin their wild yeast fermentation. Once initiated, the wines were moved to French and Austrian oak to finish primary and malolactic fermentation. Bottled without filtration after 11 months.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
J.K. Carriere Clarion Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $18 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“The color is translucent ripe raspberry red. The nose is blue taffy, purple grape and green tobacco. The palate aligns on raspberry and white strawberry, cherry and watermelon rind, leaving a perception of overwhelmingly long, fresh and red. It’s a swath cut across your summer evening, a kind disrupter.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Lange Estate Winery Rosé of Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeremy Young-International Wine Report 93 points
“The 2024 Lange Estate Winery Rosé from the Dundee Hills is a radiant expression of estate-grown Pinot Noir, as visually captivating as it is complex. Its pale blush hue shimmers in the glass, setting the stage for a beautifully lifted aromatic profile of white peach, crushed rose petals, watermelon rind, and blooming gardenia. On the palate, vibrant acidity frames flavors of dried lemon peel, wild raspberry, and a delicate herbal nuance, adding depth to its elegant core. Medium-bodied with a silky texture, the wine sails into a long, graceful finish marked by citrus zest and stony minerality. Both refined and refreshing, this is a standout rosé that offers energy, charm, and a clear sense of.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Peter William Vineyard Grenache Rosé, Rogue Valley 2023 750ml $24 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“The wine shows bright, pretty strawberry & light cherry fruit on the nose and palate. Ample acid brightens the fruit flavors and will allow this wine to hold up in the bottle.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Sivilli Wine Co. Poubelle Rosé, Willamette Valley 2024 750ml $16.50 special, 18 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote:
This is a less austere interpretation of Pinot Noir Rosé than we often see in the Willamette. There is a welcoming whiff of fresh strawberry on the nose, with a soft (but nicely balanced) mouth feel, stone-fruit notes on the palette, and tart raspberry on the finish. This is the bargain Rosé of the summer!
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
St. Innocent Villages Cuvee Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“The Pinot noir, Villages Cuvée has robust sweet spice aromas with lovely black cherry, smoky berry and dark rose notes. Juicy and pungent flavors of dark cherry, wild strawberry, allspice, cinnamon with a touch of smoke fill your mouth. Beautifully balanced with soft tannins and fresh acidity, the finish slowly fades into supple dried fruit and spices. Still young now the wine will fill out through the winter and into the spring. This is my favorite wine for thanksgiving and flavorful white meat dishes. It is just as good with burgers, brats and pizza. Enjoy now through 2030.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Tan Fruit ‘Cuvee Tan’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2023 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“Subtle and bright with lemon, tide pool and white flowers. Raw and intensely structured. Excellent with Torkes oysters from Netarts Bay, Oregon. Fermented and aged in barrel for 10 months then transferred to steel tank for 6 months. From the AVA’s of Yamhill-Carlton, Chehalem Mountains, Lower Long Tom, Dundee Hills. A blend of 8 vineyards from the Willamette Valley.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Westrey Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2018 750ml $18 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points
“A showy and opulent Pinot Gris with six years of bottle age, this wine defies expectations of simplicity for the variety aromatics of ripe stone fruits and dried white flowers with a hint of clover honey. The palate shows richness, honeyed peach and nectarine flesh, and dried notes of tarragon and mint offer complexity and freshness, showing the real ageability of this stalwart Willamette Valley varietal.”
 
Shop our complete selection of 188 Oregon wines (and rosés) in stock now!
 


Grape of the Week: Verdicchio
 
This charming white is one of Italy’s most widely=planted varieties. Though it is mostly used as a blending grape in the regions such as Soave, where it adds a refreshing acidity, its home in the Marche region is where it really shines.
 
Here, producers focus on quality, employing vineyard management techniques to maintain concentration and avoid disease pressure. The resulting wines are crisp and nuanced, with remarkable aromatics and lingering finishes.
 
Highlights In Stock Now:
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Bisci Verdicchio di Matelica, Marche 2023 750ml $17.50 special, 7 bottles in stock now
(Not reviewed yet, 2021 review provided for reference)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 90 points “The Bisci 2021 Verdicchio di Matelica is terrifically fresh and vertical, boasting an extremely linear quality that is the hallmark of the Matelica subzone. This wine offers floral notes, tropical fruit and a spicy hint of white pepper. Matelica gets very cool at night, and those steep diurnal shifts are an important factor that shapes the character of this wine.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, Marche 2023 750ml $14.50 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Winemaker Note
“The Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Casal di Serra comes from selecting only the best grapes grown in the special Montecarotto vineyard, this crisp white shows gorgeous notes of granny smith apple, jasmine and under-ripe peach in the glass. The palate is firm and elegant, with pear and sage coming through, and is marked with a touch of mineral tension. This is the perfect wine for seafood, aged cheeses, or grilled chicken.”
 


German Vintage Guide
 
The 2016 vintage in German is just entering its prime drinking window. Though the start to the growing season presented challenges, harvest was temperate and dry, resulting in stunning wines that seem near indestructible in their ageability and charm.
 
Top honors for the year went to several of our favorite wineries, include Markus Molitor and A.J. Adams, per Mosel Fine Wines. Given our vast (and we really mean vast) holdings of German Rieslings, we have several options to choose from in-stock now.
 
In Stock Now:
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Muhlberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2016 750ml $49 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 91 points
“A very minty cool nose, then a sleek and cool wine that’s really underplayed, but has quite some power behind it. A long, rather complex finish. Should be more open from 2018 and drink for some years beyond.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Auslese ** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml $59 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points
“The 2016 Riesling Zeltinger Himmelreich Auslese ** (Green Capsule) is terribly fine, pure and fresh but also perfectly ripe and rich on the nose without losing precision. Round and highly elegant on the palate, with tropical fruit flavors and just the perfect amount of sweetness, this is a great, vital Himmelreich with superb finesse, purity, mineral tension and bright fruit notes in the long and beautifully slatey finish. This is a gorgeous, exciting Riesling—very stimulating.”
 
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Grune Kapsel Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points
“The 2016 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is deep and complex on the nose, though discreet in its fruit expression straight from the bottle. However, the fruit is beautifully flinty, fresh and really fine. Lush and round on the palate, this is a full-bodied, ripe and intense yet well-balanced and elegant Himmelreich whose sweetness of roughly 30 grams per liter is still prominent at this young age. However, the wine is intense, long, firmly structured, very mineral and provided with serious tannins and a lot of stones. I am tasting it far too early (and straight after the three-starred Rosenberg Auslese), but it’s a highly promising Riesling from a great vintage for the Mosel. Bottled in September 2017; tasted March 2018.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. Crusius Traiser Rotenfels Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2016 750ml $29 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points
“The 2016 Nahe Riesling Traiser Rotenfels Spätlese has a clear, fine and elegant bouquet of ripe tropical fruits intermixed with lemon and stony flavors. Light, lush and round on the palate, with purity, stimulating salinity and ripe, textured fruit, this is an elegant and harmonious Spätlese with remarkable finesse. It is not very complex but so delicate…! 8.5% alcohol.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Auslese *, Mosel 2016 375ml $39 special, 10 half-bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points
“The 2016er Auslese * was made from the second pressing of the Eiswein grapes harvested on November 30. This already golden-colored wine delivers a rather ripe and exotic nose of grapefruit, candied passion fruit and backed pineapple. It is nicely balanced on the palate and does not exhibit the usual “Eiswein bite” of such wines but proves more luscious in style. The acidity comes eventually through in the sweet and complex finish. 2023-2036.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Eiswein, Nahe 2016 375ml $79 special, 5 half-bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points
“Korrell is one of the Nahe’s latest break out stars and every wine I’ve tried from Martin Korrell has been absolutely stunning, including this Eiswein. Crafted from old vines at their estate monopole Paradies Vineyard in Bad Kreuznach, from those grapes that hang out until the first freeze and were individual berry picked off the vine. Concentrated in sugars, but still bristling with natural acidity the gorgeous and opulent 2016 Korrell Eiswein Paradies goes on and on in mouth. Even with the residual sugar levels off the carts, this wine stays incredibly balanced and doesn’t drink as sweet as you’d imagine, making for a heavenly experience from its perfumed nose to its lingering tropical fruits. This is entrancing stuff with layers of lychee, candied pineapple, apricot jelly, honeycomb, lime blossom, white roses, chamomile, a hint of spearmint, mineral spice and cool wet stone…”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Prinz Hallgartener Wurzgarten Riesling Eiswein, Rheingau 2016 375ml $99 special, 10 half-bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points
“AP: 63 17. The 2016er Riesling Eiswein was made from fruit harvested at approx. 120° Oechsle in Bernkastel, Erden and Ürzig on both November 29 and November 30, and was fermented down to noble-sweet levels of residual sugar (143 g/l). It develops a beautifully zesty and fresh nose of candied grapefruit, orange jelly, and spices, joined by riper notes of quince, pear puree, and almond cream after some airing. The wine is superbly balanced and refined on the palate, and leaves a rather pure and smooth feel in the very long and light finish. The sweetness still dominates the acid core in the after-taste at this stage, but this should change after a few years of cellaring. 2024-2036. (Oct 2019).”

 
Don’t miss our sales going on now:
 
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
 
Languedoc-Roussillon
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon

 
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Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot sale ends Friday, August 15th at 9 am Pacific. Languedoc-Roussillon sale ends Saturday, August 16th at 9 am Pacific.

Languedoc-Roussillon Sale 8-13-25

In This Newsletter:

Languedoc-Roussillon Sale
Nerd Alert Featurette: Filipa Pato & William Wouter



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Languedoc-Roussillon
 
The south of France is home to the Languedoc-Roussillon: a collection of unique sub-regions with distinctive and delicious wines. Generally speaking, the climate is warm with the Mediterranean providing the most significant influence to its weather.
 
This is the home of some of France’s best values in wine and some of the more modern-influenced styles. Subregions have stricter controls on grape types and styles, but many winemakers bottle under the various IGP designations. (IGP tells you where the wine in from but has looser restrictions for winemakers, which allows them to use alternative grape varieties and winemaking techniques.) It’s also where winemakers from more established regions go to stretch their wings, as seen by Chapoutier and Rene Rostaing. (Those looking for high quality and typicity should explore the wines from Côtes du Roussillon Villages.)
 
‘Nuff said. Let the bargain hunting begin!
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Languedoc-Roussillon

 
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Sale ends Saturday, August 16th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer seventeen in-stock Languedoc-Roussillon options on sale now, including:
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gerard Bertrand ‘Castellum’ Sauvignon Blanc, IGP Cite de Carcassonne (Languedoc-Roussillon) 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $24, that’s $22.80 at 5% off and $21.60 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Winemaker’s note
“Castellum is a selection of the best parcels from the Domaine de l’Estagnère, situated at the foot of this between the Pyrenees to the south and the Montagne Noire to the to the north. It benefits from a Mediterranean climate tempered by altitude and oceanic influences from the Atlantic.”
 
La Colline aux Fossiles Chardonnay (Languedoc-Roussillon) 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $18, that’s $17.10 at 5% off and $16.20 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note
“For a while, we’ve partnered with Jean-Marc Lafage to make a Chardonnay from the coastal plain of the Roussillon, where the Mediterranean brings plenty of freshness to make a varietally pure and expressive style of wine. But that isn’t the only place where Chardonnay grows in the Roussillon. A little further inland and along the Tęt river valley, Chardonnay thrives on deep red clay soils with gravels washed down from the surrounding mountains. This is a sterner terroir, warmer and drier than the vineyards near the sea. The wine from these vineyards never quite fit into our other Chardonnay bottling so we realized that this wine needed to be bottled on its own.”
 
Domaine Lafage Novellum Chardonnay, IGP Cotes Catalanes (Languedoc-Roussillon) 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $16, that’s $15.20 at 5% off and $14.40 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points
“This has apricots, peaches, lemon curd and hazelnuts on the nose, followed by hints of crushed stones on a creamy, full-bodied palate. Supple and very clean. 100% chardonnay. Drink now.”
 
Domaine Rene Rostaing Puech Noble Blanc Languedoc 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $27, that’s $25.65 at 5% off and $24.30 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2023 vintage. 2021 review provided for reference.
Jeb Dunnuck 89 points “A blend of Vermentino, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier, the 2021 Languedoc Puech Noble Blanc is a juicy, citrus, pear, and honeysuckle-scented white that’s medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and has a clean, dry finish. It’s going to be versatile on the dinner table and keep for a year or two.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Gerard Bertrand Cremant de Limoux Brut Rose, Languedoc-Roussillon 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 33 bottles in stock now
Winery note
“Beautiful, salmon-pink colour with glimmering reflections. A complex bouquet with longlasting aromas of red fruit – strawberry and raspberry – backed with hints of toasted bread. Delicate bubbles and an extraordinary vivacity on the palate, with a rich, indulgent texture. The Pinot Noir grapes are not macerated, in order to preserve their colour. The must is transferred to the vats for an alcoholic fermentation, using the same process used for still wine. After the malolactic fermentation in the vats, the wine is blended and then transferred to the barrels to mature for 8 months.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut R.I. Rectificando Invenies, Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 98 points
“As always, the 100% Syrah 2015 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde Rectificando Invenies (Ri) shows more minerality than the VIT release and offers blockbuster styled aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, crushed rocks, toasted bread and chocolate. Made in a voluptuous, pedal-to-the-metal style, with huge fruit and texture, it has building tannin and an uber sexy, incredibly layered and decadent palate. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. This cuvee was completely destemmed and aged 18 months in demi-muids.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine du Clos des Fees Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96 points
“Eighteen months in new French oak barrels has given the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées a certain tightness and discipline lacking in the Vieilles Vignes bottling. There’s still massive fruit and buried complexity, full body and rich tannins, but there’s also firmness of structure that shows the serious, age-worthy side of Bizeul’s winemaking. Vanilla and baking spices accent deep, dark cherries and plums, ending in a long, velvety finish.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Alain Chabanon Montpeyroux L’Esprit de Font Caude, Languedoc-Roussillon 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote:
Mourvèdre/Syrah/Grenache from Montpeyroux.
No reviews for the current vintage. Recent review provided for reference.
“Representing equal parts Syrah and Mourvedre Chabanon’s flagship 2009 Coteaux du Languedoc Montpeyroux L’Esprit de Font Caude will as usual be matured for 24 months in twice-used barriques acquired from top Bordeaux chateaux, then for another year in tank, and not be released until it has had at least two years in bottle. At present, it behaves like purple plum preserves tinged with smoky-sweet machine oil, chocolate, leather, and candied herbal lozenges. Toasted nut and fruit pit bitterness nicely offsets the wine’s primary sweetness, although such impressions must be taken in the context of how distant this wine is from reaching bottle, let alone the consumer. There is a satisfying salinity to its prolonged finish. I suspect it will still drink well 6-8 years from now.” -David Schildknecht, Wine Advocate
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Lafage ‘Tessellae’ Old Vines Rouge, Côtes du Roussillon 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $18, that’s $17.10 at 5% off and $16.20 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points
“Grilled spices, stones and hints of graphite and wild herbs to the red and black berry fruit. Excellent intensity and freshness to the center-palate with svelte but supportive tannins. Really poised. Grenache, syrah and mourvedre. Drink now or hold.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Rene Rostaing ‘Le Vassal’, Languedoc AOP (formerly Coteaux du Languedoc) 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $29, that’s $27.55 at 5% off and $26.10 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“70% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre & 15% Grenache. Cool vineyard site on limestone cobbles near the town of Nîmes. Traditional vinification, including wild yeast fermentation. Stem inclusion and length of maceration depend on the vintage.”
Have you heard the one about the Portuguese chemical engineer/winemaker and the Belgian restaurateur/sommelier? Jokes aside, these are some of the most authentic expressions of non-fortified Portuguese wine (we mean Port, of course).
 
Focusing on indigenous varietals and biodynamic farming, Filipa Pato & William Wouter craft wines for food. These are in the top echelons of Portuguese quality. With Pato’s recent nod by the Revista de Vinhos as Winemaker of the Year (the first woman to earn the title in thirty years), this winery should be on your must-try list now.
 
In Stock Now:
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Filipa Pato & William Wouter Nossa Calcario Bical, Bairrada 2023 750ml $39 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The super austere and mineral white 2023 Nossa Calcário Bical was produced with grapes from the village of Óis do Barro, a classical zone for whites in Bairrada, where they are located. It fermented in 500- and 600-liter barrels and a 2,000-liter oak vat with indigenous years and was put through full malolactic too, then kept for 10 months with the fine lees, which were not stirred. This is not about the fruit but about the soil. It has the profile of an austere white from Bairrada that I love so much, with a medium-bodied palate, purity and precision, balanced, with pungent flavors. 2023 saw a good crop, and it combined quantity and quality. This wine has 12.3% alcohol and notable freshness, denoted by a pH of 3.2. 10,266 bottles and 400 magnums were produced. It was bottled in June 2024.”
 
Filipa Pato & William Wouters ‘Dinamica – DNMC’ Bical – Arinto, Bairrada 2023 750ml $18 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“White wine. 80% Bical, 20% Arinto • chalky clay soil • whole-cluster pressed, 10% of the juice ferments and raises in 500L French-oak pipas, the rest in tank • Practicing Biodynamic (Demeter).”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Filipa Pato & William Wouter Nossa Calcario Baga, Beiras 2022 750ml $41.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points
“A pure baga made from really old vines, with a complex bouquet of cherries, violets, smoke and a touch of mixed herbs. This has incredible balance, combining concentration with fresh acidity and a subtle saline touch. Shows firm tannins and a chewy, concentrated finish. This is made from three 100- to 140-year-old vineyards planted on clay and limestone soil. The grapes are partially destemmed and fermented in open wood lagares. Aged for 12 to 18 months in 500- and 1,500-liter used oak barrels From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter and Ecocert certified. Great now, but will improve over the next few years. Drink or hold.”
 
Shop our 159 Spanish selections!



Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot

 
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Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot sale ends Friday, August 15th at 9 am Pacific.

Tissot’s Argument for the Jura – Sale 8-12-25

In This Newsletter:

Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Rocca di Montegrossi



Explore the Ancient Magics of Jura
 
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Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot

 
The Jura wine region in eastern France is easy to overlook. Home to unusual wines, unusual labels, and unusual characters (we’re looking at you, Ganevat), it doesn’t scream “user friendly.” But to leave the region entirely to the wine nerds is a serious disservice to the wonderous and elegant experiences captured within these oddly-shaped bottles.
 
At the crossroads of authentic terroir expression and uncommon though not impenetrable deliciousness are the wines of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot. Are the wines unusual? Yes, but not in the love it or hate it sense. Unlike most Jura producers, the Tissots shy away from the more typical oxidative styles that at best add sherry-like notes of bruised apples and toasted walnuts (described unhelpfully by the esoteric wine term “rancio”). Instead, these are unusual because of their precious rarity and surprising class. Once you pop the cork or dive a bit deeper, you discover familiarity in their uniqueness: like how a unicorn resembles a horse in every way except for its horn and magic.
 
One such example is their Rose Massale Chardonnay. Well, Chardonnay is familiar, what could be magical about that? Would you believe the wine is bottled from the grapes of only four vines? Okay, rare, but again not magical. But why just four? Because these four vines produce pink grapes. Chardonnay, but magical.
 
There are other Chardonnays in the Tissot’s extensive portfolio. You’ll find familiar aromatics, such as citrus, alongside the unexpected, such as flint and bitterness. Perhaps it is the ancient-beyond-memory soils that impart a sense of mystery and depth. We need the vines the translate these eldritch tones into sensations we can only experience through flavor and aroma. At over 150 million years old, the soils whisper in ways our tongues can know but not reproduce. But I digress…
 
The three signature grapes of the Jura are Trousseau, Poulsard, and Savagnin. Those must be unusual, right? Well…
 
Trousseau is a red grape that leans towards heft and weight. Though indigenous to the Jura, it was once on heavy rotation in Rioja, of all places, until phylloxera wiped out those plantings. (Leave it to the Bordeaux winemakers who helped restore Rioja to favor their own grapes and styles.) Chez Tissot, these include some of the estate’s oldest vines, imparting complexity and impact without the often overpowering New World new oak treatment.
 
Poulsard is Trousseau’s delicate and elegant counterpoint. The wines lean light in color and body with heady perfumes of wild cherries and herbs, and a near complete lack of tannins. These intoxicating potions can be subbed for any aromatic white at table, making it a great change up if you’re bored with Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
 
Last but not least in our grape explorations is Savagnin. If you instinctively shutter at the word (or perhaps are trying to figure out if I misspelled “Sauvignon”), you’ll be in good company. This is where the wine nerds and the average wine drinker really diverge. Savagnin is the star of the rustic, oxidative show in the Jura, responsible for the most esoteric wine styles of Vin Jaune (fully oxidative, like a waxy Sherry), Vin de Paille (a dessert wine), and sous voile (slightly oxidative wines). But another style is available made without oxidation. How does it taste? Most descriptions of the grape confuse the aromas natural to an oxidative winemaking style with what the grape itself imparts. So, what does it taste like unfunkified? You might be surprised to learn that only through genetic testing was it discovered that many Albariño plantings are actually Savagnin. It’s citrusy and floral, with hints of tropical fruits. Its progeny are better known, including Gewurztraminer and Sylvaner, both of which produce wildly aromatic whites.
 
Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot make the argument that the region, its terroir and grapes are all that are needed to evoke these mysteries. Why encumber them further? We could label these an intro class to the Jura, since the wines are more approachable and comprehensible than many other estates. But that would be a disservice to the complexity, purity, and authenticity of these magical, unicorn wines.
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot
10% off any 9+ or more in-stock bottles of Bénédicte & Stéphane Tissot

 
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Sale ends Friday, August 15th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer nine in-stock Stephane Tissot options on sale now, including:
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois ‘Rose Massale’ Chardonnay, Jura 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $64.50, that’s $61.28 at 5% off and $58.05 at 10% off, 26 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 91+ points
“From four vines of pink Chardonnay that Tissot found planted on one hectare in his vineyards, he produced the 2022 Rose Massale, which shows larger and less reductive than some years. Not all 2022s Chardonnays are in bottle. It’s going to be a more immediate vintage of rounder wines with more ripeness and less acidity. Whereas 2021 was a complicated year for the variety, but the results were very good. The Pink Chardonnay is a little more aromatic, and this year, it’s a little more exotic but keeps the freshness, poise and balance.”
 
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois ‘Rose Massale’ Chardonnay, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Sursis Chardonnay, Côtes du Jura 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.
Nicolas Greinacher-Vinous 92-94 points “The flinty 2022 Chardonnay Côtes du Jura Sursis mingles reductive notes with grapefruit and lemon flesh. Forward and expressive, I suspect the medium-bodied 2022 won’t need much time to come around. Discrete bitterness adds to the sapid finale of this barrel sample.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Savagnin Amphore, Jura 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.
Decanter 93 points “With intense aromas of red apples, nectarine and blood orange, followed by macerated herbs and sweet spice, this is a Savagnin (indeed an Arbois) like no other. Fermented and aged on the skins, in amphorae, for five months, the assertive texture adds persistence to the apricot, crushed mint and blood orange flavours. Decant and allow to breathe for two hours. Biodynamic. (Drink between 2023-2033).”
 
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Trousseau Singulier, Jura 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93-94 points
“The 2022 Trousseau Singulier, still unbottled, was harvested a little later and also destemmed by hand, pressed and put into 600-liter barrels, but unlike Poulsard that likes cold, Trousseau likes heat. This has the textbook earthiness and the slightly dusty tannins that call for food.”
 
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Trousseau Singulier, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $51.90, that’s $49.31 at 5% off and $46.71 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93-94 points
“In 2023, the Tissot’s got their largest crop ever. The wines are fresher and with more fluidity than in 2022. A preview of the 2023 Trousseau Singulier had a lifted nose, expressive and floral with hints of bubble gum. It felt a little different, as it had had three weeks of carbonic maceration. They have only produced a handful of carbonic maceration reds and are experimenting a little more. It seems to polish the varieties’ tannins. 2023 is a cool year for reds, bright and vibrant with tension, like 2016.”
 
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Rouge DD, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $41.90, that’s $39.81 at 5% off and $37.71 at 10% off, 12 bottles in stock now
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Poulsard Sur Lias, Jura 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote:
Crafted in place of the Poulsard VV, this bottling was composed of vines in a cooler portion of the vineyard in the Lias section, where the north-facing slopes offer clay-rich soils. This red was macerated for three months before pressing. It was aged in demi-muid and bottled unfined, unfiltered, and with no added sulfur.
 
Benedicte & Stephane Tissot Arbois Poulsard Vieilles Vignes, Jura 2023 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 8 bottles in stock now
 
Shop our nine Tissot selections!



Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:

Rocca di Montegrossi
 
Chianti remains one of the best value regions in Italy, despite its great international acclaim. Case in point? The wines from Rocca di Montegrossi. Those looking to get to know the rare, indigenous red variety Pugnitello can experience the “Ridolfo” bottling, a Cab-Pugnitello blend available exclusively in magnum.

These are a superb collection of bold wines that offer incredible density and impact balance by the suave elegance and terroir found only in the best wines of the Chianti region.
 
In Stock & On Sale Now:
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Rocca di Montegrossi ‘Ridolfo’ Toscana IGT 2015 1.5L Was $179, Now $159, 14 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98+ points
“The 2015 Ridolfo is a new Cabernet Sauvignon/Pugnitello blend from Marco Ricasoli bottled only in magnum. Vibrant and finely sculpted, the 2015 impresses right out of the gate. A whole range of savory aromatics, lavender, spice, licorice and mocha open with time in the glass. Sweet rose petal and cinnamon appear later, adding brightness and lift. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pugnitello are not obvious varieties to blend, as they are, on paper, more similar than complementary. Even so, the combination works so well. I can’t wait to see how this ages. The 2015 is a total knock-out!”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Rocca di Montegrossi Vin Santo del Chianti Classico, Tuscany 2009 375ml Was $89, Now $79, 18 half-bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points
“The 2009 Vin Santo is a rich, exotic wine, as it always is. Readers will find one of the richest most intense Vin Santos being made today. Plush, tropical and ample in feel, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Vin Santo is bold and racy to the core. The 350 grams of residual sugar leave the wine with tremendous textural plushness.”

We offer 85 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.
 
Shop the sale on our webstore now!



Don’t miss our additional sale going on now:
 
Brovia
 
5% off any 3-7 in-stock bottles of Brovia wines
10% off any 8+ or more in-stock bottles of Brovia wines

 
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Brovia sale ends Wednesday, August 13th at 9 am Pacific.