Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Vinopolis Newsletter- October 28th

October 28, 2013

Jump Start Sale
Bodega Riojanas Monte Real Rioja Gran Reserva 1998 ($59.95) $39 jump start special
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Dark red with a pale rim. Pungent, spicy nose shows pure cherry, redcurrant and plum complemented by succulent herbs, vanillin oak spice and a hint of dried flowers. Supple, lush and deep, with sweet red fruit flavors framed by gentle, harmonious tannins. Fleshy and sweet on the back end, with impressive concentration and focus. This should age well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA
The next best listed price is $48.99
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New Week – New Arrivals

USA-OR

Cameron Chardonnay Willamette Valley NV ($17.95) $14 special
Cameron Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2012 ($21.95) $18 special
USA- CA
Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection 2004 ($179.95) $159 special only 12 bottles
Robert Parker 96 points “The brilliant, super-rich 2004 Cabernet Sauvignon Special Selection (this cuvee is now aged only 15-16 months in barrels compared to older vintages that spent almost twice as long in wood) boasts an inky/purple hue, and sweet notes of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, licorice, and charcoal.
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Vinopolpick Weekend Edition – October 26

October 26, 2013

Brunello di Montalcino
Brunello di Montalcino is one of the great wines of Tuscany.  It is made exclusively from the Sangiovese Grosso clone along the warm and dry hills of Montalcino to the south of the Chianti region.  This clone is known to produce thicker-skinned berries with high potential tannins and color concentration.Before 1870, Brunello di Montalcino wines were typically field blends of Sangiovese clones and other red and white grapes.  Ferruccio Biondi-Santi revolutionized production by creating Sangiovese-only wines with a single fermentation and aging them in barrel.  Formerly, additional grapes were added to the wine to start a second fermentation which reduced the risk of a stuck fermentation and aided malolactic fermentation.  In Italian, the process is referred to as governo.  
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October 21 Newsletter

October 21, 2013
Jump Start Sale
Casa Lapostolle Clos Apalta 2009 ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Spectator 96 points: “This gorgeous wine deftly balances polished cassis, dark cherry reduction and blueberry notes on a compact frame. Structured, with silky tannins lining the long finish that lingers on with hints of apple wood, spice box and underbrush. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. Best from 2014 through 2020.”
The previous time that Wine Spectator rated Clos Apalta 96 points,
they also proclaimed it: Wine of the Year!
(2005 vintage- 2008 WOTY)

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New Week – New Arrivals
USA – OR
Owen Roe Chardonnay Dubrul Vineyard 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Wine Spectator 94 points: “Combines deft balance with explosive flavor, offering layers of pear, white peach, floral and crème fraîche that sail smoothly over refined acidity into a long and expressive finish.
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Vinopolpick Weekend Edition – October 19

October 19, 2013

Chateauneuf-du-Pape

Chateauneuf-du-Pape is the name for a village in the Southern Rhone and is one of France’s oldest declared wine appellations, established in 1929.  The area once was named Chateauneuf-Calcernier after its many limestone kilns.  During the 14th century, the nearby village of Avignon housed seven French Popes.  A summer chateau was built in what is now Chateauneuf-du-Pape in 1320 as a retreat from Avignon.  This building gave the village its new name, which translates to “New House of the Pope.”  Today, little remains of the papal chateau after several battles, but many other historic buildings are well-maintained.

The town is full of winding narrow streets and is surrounded by vineyards speckled with white pebbles.  The soil in the region is made up of quartz stones and sandy red clay from ancient riverbeds. 

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Thursday Newsletter- October 17

 October 17, 2013

The only French house with Latin roots, AYALA is one of the most historic houses in Champagne, with over 150 years in production. Edmond de Ayala, the son of a Colombian diplomat, founded the house in 1860 when he moved to Champagne to learn more about the sparkling wine he loved. Edmond certainly found more than he was looking for, marrying a nobleman’s daughter and receiving in his dowry the Chateau de Ay and several vineyards in the Ay region. AYALA experienced a golden age in the 1920s and  1930s, supplying the courts of Britain as one of the largest houses in Champagne. A founding member of the Marques de Champagne in 1882, AYALA pioneered the style of lower-dosage and became famous for their dry “Brut Nature” champagnes, a rarity in a time when many of the champagnes were much sweeter.

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