Category Archives: Newsletter Archive

Bruna Grimaldi Sale 12-3-24

In This Newsletter:
 
Bruna Grimaldi
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Markus Molitor
 


Best Value in Barolo for Now & Later
 
Stock Up & Save on
 
Bruna Grimaldi
 

We love talking about the glory days of Barolo. Not the region itself, for quality isn’t hard to find, but back when you could find great Barolos for under $50. Today, it’s not uncommon to see Langhe varietal wines to stretch for that goal. Fortunately, there is one estate has not allowed inflation to impact their pricing or quality, one we stock up on every year: Bruna Grimaldi.
 
The estate crafts classic, well-structured and delicious wines that outperform their modest price tags. It dates back to the 1990s, when Bruna (along with her husband, Franco Fiorino) began bottling her own wine. This decision came after decades selling off their exceptional fruit as bulk wine before eventually selling a handful of cases locally. As the word got out and international interest poured in, the wines have only improved.
 
The three Barolos that we’re featuring today are the Camilla, Bricco Ambroggio and Badarina. The wines tend to be fairly solid, built primarily for the cellar, but with a window during their youth when they’re delicious in the near term. All are distinctive and delicious.
 
The Camilla is the only one blended from multiple sites, mostly from the ridgelines to the north of La Morra. Limestone found throughout the area lends to softer tannins and a more approachable style; perfect for drinking now.
 
Bricco Abroggio is an outlier of a vineyard, and the wine is equally special. The site is predominantly clay and marl, so you’d expected a tannic powerhouse, yet it is light on its feet with great freshness and plenty of cellaring potential.
 
Finally, the Badarina is the flagship and pride of the estate. Bruna’s mother was born there and the family lived in a small brick house on top of the ridge. This is Serralunga: the dominant soil is ancient sandstone, and the wine is built for the long haul. Structured and tight in its youth, it develops extraordinary aromatics with age.
 
Overall, Bruna Grimaldi’s quality/price ratio is unequaled in Barolo. These wines are beautifully expressive, polished wines that combine the cleanliness and rich, round flavors of a modern producer with a more traditional sensibility when it comes to oak usage. These are incredibly well-made wines with remarkable pedigree and reviewer praise. Not one of them costs more than $50/750ml chez Vinopolis, a remarkable feat that’s aided by our strong relationship with their Oregon importer.
 
So don’t buy just one. Stock up, especially during our three-day sale. You’ll want to see for yourself how well these develop over the next decade and beyond.
 

5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles from Bruna Grimaldi
10% off any 9 or more in-stock bottles from Bruna Grimaldi
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Friday, December 6th at 9 am Pacific.

 
We offer four Bruna Grimaldi options on sale now, including:
 
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $44.50, that’s $42.28 at 5% off and $40.05 at 10% off, 28 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Bruna Grimaldi 2019 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio (with 4,500 bottles made) boasts a very vibrant and lively garnet color that is slightly on the darker side of your standard Nebbiolo. This cru site in Roddi tends to make accessible Barolos, and you could say the same for this edition. The wild card, however, is the excellent 2019 vintage, which gives this wine more abundant fruit density and structure. Generally speaking, you get a bigger bolder wine this year.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the Bruna Grimaldi 2018 Barolo Badarina opens nicely and completely, relative to its young age, within a few hours of popping the cork. The character of the wine is hearty and firm, although there is also a silkiness or smoothness that is especially associated with this vintage. You get some of those vaguely metallic aromas of rusty nail or iron ore that come with the Serralunga d’Alba territory. There is also plenty of dark fruit, licorice and wild rose. Fruit from the special Vigna Regnola site is blended into this wine in 2018 because no Riserva was produced. This is a release of 6,000 bottles.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today by the bottle!

 
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 19 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Barolo Badarina sees fruit from Serralunga d’Alba. The wine shows medium-rich concentration with aromas of red berry fruit and dried cherry. At the back are subtle notes of rusty nail, black licorice and crushed rose. Bruna Grimaldi and her family make wine in their winery in Grinzane Cavour but farm various parcels across the appellation. The Badarina often comes across as the boldest and most structured wine in the portfolio. Some 6,500 bottles were released.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.88

 
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Notes of spiced cherries, red licorice, nutmeg and hazelnuts. It’s tight and chewy with a full body and velvety texture. It’s steady and lengthy and need a few years to soften. Try after 2026.”

 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Shop our four on sale selections from Bruna Grimaldi now!



Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:

Markus Molitor:
 
Modern Magnificence in the Mosel
 

After thirty-five years at the helm of the family business, Markus Molitor remains one of the most respected winemakers in the world. With broad holdings, Molitor crafts dozens of wines each vintage. He believes that every single sub-parcel and selective pick should be vinified to its utmost potential. What results is a deeply rewarding if massive portfolio.
 
Whether white capsule (dry), green capsule (off-dry), or gold capsule (fruity to nobly sweet), Markus’ wines represent some of the Mosel’s best. And thanks to his extensive holdings, Molitor offers German Riesling lovers with a passport to explore many of the region’s most important vineyards at near microscopic levels. Or let us guide you towards your perfect pick, including by offering some of our favorites on our Close-Out Sale!
 
In Stock & On Sale Now:
 
Markus Molitor Ockfener Bockstein Riesling Spatlese Trocken (White Capsule), Mosel 2018 750ml Was $31.90, Now $28, 21 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “Here we jump to an iconic Saar site, defined by Devonian slate, greywacke, some quartzitic sandstone and steepness. Wet stone, white currant, yellow apple and some lemon combine in a lovely vision of freshness. This is bright but even in this iconic Saar vineyard the warmth of 2018 is apparent. Yet the stoniness cuts through and leaves us with that lovely, racy zestiness we all crave from Riesling. These citrus notions linger and will you to take another sip. Wonderful.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Markus Molitor Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese ** Trocken (White Capsule), Mosel 2017 750ml Was $59, Now $49, 18 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96+ points “Bottled with moderate 11% alcohol, the 2017 Riesling Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese ** (White Capsule) is crystalline and super precise on the clear and flinty nose that exhibits crunchy, iron-rich stone and lime zest aromas. It is lean and fresh but dense and intense on the palate, with ripe, round and concentrated Riesling fruit, some sweetness and refined acidity. This is an elegant, highly finessed and stimulating Würzgarten with a lingering, salty-piquant finish. This wine pairs its moderate alcohol level with great complexity and mineral tension. It’s a fabulous yet still very young Würzgarten of extraordinary class and style. Tasted in March and April 2019.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Was $89, Now $79, 15 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!

 
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2018 750ml Was $125, Now $99, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Typically bright and open on the nose, with crunchy and flinty slate aromas, the coolish and precise 2018 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese *** (Green Capsule) is a very fine and elegant, crystalline, fresh and precise, very long and salty Riesling with sweet and concentrated fruit and a long, intense and tightly structured finish. This is a laser-sword Riesling that needs about a decade to refine, yet it will deliver for sure. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Markus Molitor Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese *** Feinherb (Green Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Was $99, Now $79, 22 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Riesling Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese *** (Green Capsule) offers a super fine raisin and refreshing slatey/flinty bouquet that indicates great purity, finesse and crunchy/slatey freshness. The fermentation stopped at 34 grams of residual sugar per liter (11% alcohol), and the resulting wine is highly delicate, pure, lush and piquant on the palate. It is quite sweet and shows celery flavors as well as great tension that is neither rustic nor challenging but really fine, giving vibrancy, grip and energy to the lush and generous but always precise and elegant Riesling fruit. This is an exciting wine, and Markus filled it as a three-starred Auslese for the first time because he was convinced the wine deserves it. Tasted March 2018.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese ** (Gold Capsule), Mosel 2019 750ml Was $59, Now $49, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The yellow-golden 2019 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese ** (Golden Capsule) is brilliantly clear yet also intense and concentrated on the pure, fresh, finely raisined and herbal (rosemary), slightly honeyed nose that is complex and ambitious. Dense and juicy, with a vivacious purity and great finesse, this is a concentrated, vibrantly fresh and tightly structured Auslese with a remarkably digestible finish. There might be some percentage of botrytis that gives this Auslese a lush texture that is otherwise terribly clear and vital. I’d keep it for at least 7 years and up to 40, if only I could. Attention, though, the wine has serious acidity. Tasted from AP 39 20 in May 2021.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** (Gold Capsule), Mosel 2016 750ml Was $69, Now $59, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Molitor and Mosel fans shouldn’t miss the chance to buy at least a case of the 2016 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese ** (Golden Capsule)—one of the five different Auslesen Markus Molitor selected in his most important grand cru. The sweet two-starred Auslese comes from the Schiesswingert and the Fliegenberg. It opens with a deep, clear, very fine and complex bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling berries with very fine botrytis flavors and refreshing flinty notes from the fine slate of the Sonnenuhr. Lush and generous on the palate, with a perfectly ripe and concentrated Riesling fruit, very fine minerals and crunchy slate flavors, this is an exciting Auslese of great finesse and elegance. The finish is delicate but tensioned thanks to the crunchy-salty slate sensation that gives structure as well as finesse and energy. Bottled in September 2017; tasted March 2018.”

 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

We offer 214 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.

Shop the sale on our webstore now!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:

Brundlmayer & Alzinger
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles from Brundlmayer & Alzinger
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles from Brundlmayer & Alzinger
 
F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Brundlmayer & Alzinger sale ends Wednesday, December 4th at 9 am Pacific. F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler sale ends Thursday, December 5th at 9 am Pacific.

Vinopolis Newsletter 12-2-24

In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
JC Somers

New Arrivals
Great value, great Burgundies and more!

 

Special Arrivals

 

Oregon

JC Somers

JC Somers is the fantastic new project from longtime Willamette Valley mainstay Jay Christopher and his professional partner (and spouse) Ronda Newell-Somers. With over 30 years under his belt in the Oregon wine industry, the majority spent as the owner and winemaker at the acclaimed J. Christopher, his first winery, Jay knows exactly what kind of wines he wants to make. “We do not make fruit bombs. We want wines that have a fine balance of fruit, acidity and texture,” Jay and Ronda’s website states, “Wines that are complete.”
 
Jay and his immense talents are no longer associated with the J. Christopher wines. Instead, he and Ronda are pouring everything into his new winery, doing it all themselves and doing it exactly as they want to.

JC Somers Abbey Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $61.90 special, 12 bottles available
Not reviewed yet, 2021 review provided for reference
Michael Alberty Wine Enthusiast 95 Points “This wine’s bright red boysenberry aromas and hyacinth aromas join with an earthy scent similar to wet wicker drying in the sun. A wall of sweet red cherries is breached by a battering ram of lemon, while brawny tannins offer support. If the Willamette Valley had grand cru vineyard designations, Abbey Ridge would have one. Bravo.”
Winemaker’s Note “I have worked with Abbey Ridge since 1993 (while at Adelshiem) and in 1994 with Cameron Winery. In 2001, I was lucky to be offered a block of Pinot Noir at Abbey Ridge and have been working with the fruit ever since. Abbey Ridge is the cornerstone to our Pinot Noir program and I believe it to be the best Pinot Noir site in the Willamette Valley. Owned by my friends Bill and Julia Wayne, this vineyard is the platonic form of what the Dundee Hills AVA is all about – elegance.”

JC Somers Garnier Vineyard Tempranillo, Columbia Gorge, USA 2021 750ml $18 special, 11 bottles available
Winemaker’s Note “I have been working with Tom Garnier and this super interesting vineyard site in the Columbia Gorge AVA near the town of Mosier since the early 2000’s. If you ever had my Rosé wines form my previous winery you know this vineyard well.”

JC Somers ‘Joie De Chien’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $26.50 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Joie de Chien is the fun side of the JC Somers collection of wine. This Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is sourced from some of our favorite vineyards and is perfect for enjoying with friends. Cheers from our dogs to you and yours.”

JC Somers ‘Joie de Chien’ Sauvignon Blanc, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $19 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “Joie de Chien is the fun side of the JC Somers collection of wine. This Sauvignon Blanc is sourced from some of our favorite vineyards and is perfect for enjoying with friends. Cheers from our dogs to you and yours.”

Lowest Price in the USA!
 

JC Somers ‘La Revanche’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $19 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Note “The La Revanche Chardonnay is blended from some of the best sites in the Willamette Valley. It is fermented and aged in 500 and 600-liter French oak Barrels without the use of the secondary malolactic fermentation. This wine is pure, bright, mineral driven and delicious. Cheers and enjoy with friend.”

JC Somers ‘Nouvelle Lune’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills, USA 2022 750ml $33 special, 11 bottles available
Winery Note “The Nouvelle Lune (new moon) is a blend of our favorite Pinot Noir sites. We work with the Abbey Ridge and La Colina Vineyards to produce this exceptional and elegant terroir driven Pinot Noir.”
 

New Arrivals

 

France

Unbelievable values from one of the world’s great producers!
These are the lowest prices in the USA:
 

Winemaker’s Note “A complex and generous wine, with a rare elegance. The color is extraordinarily luminous. On the nose, a palette of interesting and varied aromas: syrup, grilled almond, preserved fruit. In the mouth, a silky and ample texture which does not exclude freshness or lightness. Long on the palate, with flavors recalling grilled bread and fruit jam. Always a consummate example of a white Burgundy, this wine is perfection!”
Joseph Drouhin Perrieres, Meursault Premier Cru, France 2019 750ml $124.50 special, 12 bottles available

Average Price is $135

Winemaker’s Note “A wine of great elegance with a vivid and bright colour. When the wine is young, the aromas are reminiscent of violet and black currant. With age, the aromas take on notes of ripe or candied fruit, mushroom and mild spices. On the palate, a pleasant sensation of roundness and velvety texture. Long aftertaste, with touches of candied fruit and vanilla.”
Joseph Drouhin Volnay, Cote de Beaune, France 2018 750ml $49 special, 21 bottles available

Average Price is $65


Joseph Drouhin Volnay, Cote de Beaune, France 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 24 bottles available

Average Price is $60
 

 

California
 
 hot deal!  Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc, Clarksburg, USA 2022 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Note “We are proud to have produced Dry Chenin Blanc each and every year since our family winery was founded in 1972. Extremely versatile and food friendly, it is the perfect aperitif and one of our most beloved wines. Fermented in 100% stainless steel barrels, this beautiful wine is wonderfully bright and consistent vintage after vintage. At first swirl, aromatics of honeydew, watermelon and pineapple spring forward from the glass with floral notes of jasmine and honeysuckle. On the palate, the wine has refreshing flavors of cucumber, lime and nectarine with hints of geranium, sweet basil and ripe orange. The mouthfeel is soft but inviting, with a lively acidity. This classic, Loire Valley-style wine is excellent when paired with fresh oysters, seafood, or just about anything!”

Pair of Pichlers Sale 12-2-24

In This Newsletter:
 
The Two Pichlers Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Dal Forno
 


The Two Pichlers Sale
 
Stock Up & Save on
 
F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler
 
We’re offer a combined sale on all in-stock wines from F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler!
 
F.X. Pichler
 
“F.X. Pichler is the Chateau Latour, Domaine de la Romanêe-Conti, Zind-Humbrecht, Sandrone and Helen Turley of the Wachau.” –Robert Parker Jr, Wine Advocate
 
In spite of being the birthplace of biodynamic farming and the strictest farming standards in the European Union, the wines of Austria remain critically undervalued. There is no better example of this than that of FX Pichler, one of the best producers in the country. Take your pick between the multigenerational team of family winemakers (father, F.X., and son, Lucas, who took over winemaking in the late 1990s), the picture-perfect estate, and the exceptionally old vines and you’ll see their exceptional reputation evidenced in spades.
 
The wines are unique in that no one else seems to wrangle power, freshness and complexity into a single package quite like these wizards of the Wachau. These wines are legendary for their combination of richness and electric minerality. With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world. Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that’s unique, these are wines to drink now and to age, as well.  These are perfect wines for any celebratory occasion and will also age beautifully for the next decade or two.
 
Pichler-Krutlzer
 
Elisabeth Pichler-Krutzler, daughter of Franz Xaver (F.X.) Pichler, married the highly-regarded Austrian winemaker Erich Krutzler. In 2007, the pair founded the estate of Pichler-Krutlzer. Their winery is based around the great vineyards of the Wachau and produces some of Austria’s most highly regarded wines.
 
The pair prefer brighter, fresher wines than the style classically produced at F.X. (which itself is increasingly tending towards lower ripeness and higher acidity). These wines tend to have a little less power and a lot more versatility at the table. They’re breathtakingly complex, soulful wines that, like the remarkable wines of Selbach-Oster, are designed to be enjoyed with food.
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Thursday, December 5th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer twelve F.X. Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler options on sale now, including:
 
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner (Smaragd) 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 7 bottles in stock now
Falstaff Magazine 94-96 points “Medium yellow-green, silver reflections. Mineral, fine herbal spice, nuances of yellow fruit, hints of apricot and mango, with fine honey blossom. Complex, substantial, fine white pear, fine acidity, salty touch on the finish, already well developed, a multi-faceted food wine, good maturity and with definite ageing potential.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% off and $28.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 92 points “Super crisp and crunchy with a slightly tart peach character that is so invigorating. Great mineral freshness at the finish. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd 2013 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off, 2 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 95 points “Salt, white pepper and Szechuan peppercorn mouthwateringly and invigoratingly inflect luscious, juicy white peach, pineapple and lime. A sleek and refined texture contributes to this bottling’s overall sense of elegance. With a similar ringing clarity to that of the Oberhäuser, but with greater depth and complexity as befits its steep and stony origins, this projects liquid perfume of a bittersweet, iris-like sort; smoky black tea; crushed stone; and diverse peppercorns, finishing with phenomenal persistence. Interestingly and perhaps not coincidentally, at just 13% it is one of the alcoholically lightest wines of the present collection.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Pichler-Krutzler Loibner Ried Loibenberg Grüner Veltliner 2021 750ml Was $49, Displayed Price: $39, that’s $37.05 at 5% off and $35.10 at 10% off, 16 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2021 Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg shows an intense yellow color and opens with a pure yet intense and slightly lactic (?) or yeasty bouquet of ripe and lush, yellow fruits intertwined with notes of crushed, crystalline stones and dark flinty notes. Round and mouth-filling on the palate, this an elegant, intense and textured, savory and finely tannic Loibenberg with a sustainable saline and crystalline finish. This is a fine and elegant, finely textured and fruit-intense Veltliner that fermented longer than the other wines (until the end of January), then aged in a 1,200-liter stück barrel and was bottled at the end of August this year with 13.5% stated alcohol. The wine doesn’t have the precision and finesse of the other Veltliners at this early stage, but it will find itself after years on the bottle. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Pichler-Krutzler Ried Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner 2019 750ml Was $69, Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Vinified in a new, untoasted 900-liter oak vat, the 2019 Ried Pfaffenberg Alte Reben Grüner Veltliner was only bottled in spring this year. The intensely citrus-colored wine shows a flinty, precise, fine and fresh bouquet with ripe stone fruit aromas and spices of crunchy crystalline stones. Creamy textured, ripe, lush and very elegant, with some attractive oak notes but fine tannins, this is a sensual, well-balanced and perfectly round Pfaffenberg that has to be marketed as Kremstal Reserve because the oak influence was too dominant for the DAC tasters in Krems. There is 14.5% alcohol, which you don’t feel due to the mineral freshness and elegance. Tasted at the domain in June 2021.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $67.99
 
Pichler-Krutzler Dürnsteiner Ried Kellerberg Riesling 2021 750ml Was $69, Displayed Price: $59, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off, 20 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2021 Dürnsteiner Riesling Ried Kellerberg is extremely concentrated and deep on the finely flinty and substantial nose. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and savory, finely tannic and grippy Kellerberg with ripe and concentrated fruit but also a firm and saline finish. The acidity is enormous here (9.4 grams per liter), and the piquancy is well interwoven here with the extract. This is a wine to be cellared for at least 3-4 years. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Pichler-Krutzler Loibner Ried Loibenberg Riesling 2021 750ml Was $59, Displayed Price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “Picked between October 16 and 18, the 2021 Loibner Riesling Ried Loibenberg opens with a spectacularly pure, fresh, precise and flinty as well as dense and perfectly ripe stone fruit aroma intermingled with lemon notes. On the palate, this is a salty, saline and savory Loibenberg with an elegant, intense and persistently saline finish with tension, salt and grip. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”


Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:

Dal Forno
 
In a few wine regions throughout the world, there exists one individual or family that defines the style of the region. When it comes to Valpolicella, the Dal Forno family does just that, crafting deeply concentrated expressions for over thirty years.
 
Established in 1983 by Romano Dal Forno, the estate vaulted to the heights of perfection in the Venato. The family employs traditional winemaking techniques, such as extended drying of the grapes before pressing, to craft their serious and seriously concentrated wines.
 
Vines hail from the foothills at around 1,000 feet above sea level. Here, the family’s 65 acres are planted to indigenous varieties such as Corvina, Corvinone, and Rondinella, grown and pruned according to ancient traditions.
 
So, what’s a wine lover to do? Our suggestion: embrace the concentration and richness inherent in Venato wines. For no one matches the sheer hedonistic bombast of Dal Forno. Quintarelli? Bah, that speaks to finesse. Nor should you be satisfied by the mere saccharine fruit bombs that paw anxiously at your palate. Crave impact. EXPERIENCE power. Seek wines that whisper of the Old and Ancient mysteries of this world. Demand Dal Forno.
 
“The Dal Forno production is always an artful expression, as these are wines that can be made in no other hands. This is because of the unique qualities of the Lodoletta Vineyard, which has alluvial clay soils, and the proprietary technology used during fermentation and winemaking.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
 
“The Dal Fornos use traditional methods to grow the finest fruit, and then employ modern techniques to produce the best wines — classic in expression and modern in purity.” –Wilson Daniels importer note
 
In Stock & On Sale Now:
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2012 750ml Was $379, Now $329, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “A decadent nose of treacle tart, chocolate, tar, tons of black fruit such as blackberries and mulberries and even ash and licorice. A dense, layered mouthfeel makes for a full-bodied palate that’s explosive yet somehow so refined and pretty all at the same time. The finish goes on and on. Incredible now, but better to wait for this giant to settle well into 2020.”
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2015 750ml Was $419, Now $379, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points “This is black as pitch in the glass and, yes, there’s a light, tarry edge to the super-concentrated prune, date and currant fruit. But even more interesting are the complex notes of bitter-orange liqueur, aged balsamic, fresh roasting herbs, cinnamon, roasted chestnuts, black tea and licorice. The more you decant in advance, the more nuances will emerge. It’s full-boded with huge concentration and lots of chewy tannin that is managing to hold the fruit back for now. This needs plenty of time to develop in the bottle. Just superb. One of the greatest Dal Forno’s ever.”
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta, Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG 2017 750ml Was $449, Now $379, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “The current release. A tour de force, despite the sheer morass of palate-staining fruit. The malty oak is evident, yet operates as a welcome adjunct to corral and compress the swashbuckle of coffee grinds, beef bouillon, mint, leather varnish and saturated dark cherry liqueur, into a sheath of tension as much as sheer power. Grapes are dried for 70-80 days. This may seem obvious initially, but as one works it out in the glass and across the inner gums, the multitudinous layers become evident. A wine that shape-shifts and beguiles, as much it wrestles with the senses. Excellent. Drink or hold.”
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2007 750ml Was $179, Now $149, 1 bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2007 Valpolicella Superiore from the celebrated Monte Lodoletta vineyard is rock-tight with a midnight black appearance and aromas that emerge with fierce determination. The fascinating aromatic medley includes dark spice, prune, Spanish cedar, tar, black licorice, balsam herb and blackberry tart. The mouthfeel is plush and rich with super-tight tannins that grip nervously to the finish. It has only started its bottle evolution and requires more time to soften and develop. Drink 2017-2035.”
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2008 750ml Was $169, Now $149, 4 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “A dark, super-ripe wine, the 2008 Valpolicella Superiore is fabulous in this vintage. Smoke, tar, incense, licorice and blackberry jam hit the palate in a massive, intense Valpolicella loaded with class and personality. Even with all of the concentration, the 2008 is quite a bit less tannic than some recent vintages have been, which makes it accessible even today, especially if given a little air. There is a lot to admire in this drop-dead gorgeous Valpolicella from Romano Dal Forno.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2009 750ml Was $149, Now $125, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Built like a tank, the 2009 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is a masterful achievement. This wine shows so beautifully, especially in a warm but balanced vintage like 2009. The fruit is expressive and articulate with deep layers of blackberry preserves, dried cherry, dark chocolate, espresso bean, mesquite smoke and soy sauce. The mouthfeel is super rich and concentrated as the Dal Forno signature style would dictate. The tannic bite is still strong and this wine needs a few more years to stretch out its muscular build. I’d suggest drinking it after 2018.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2016 750ml Was $135, Now $112, 5 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “The 2016 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta is intense, with a captivating bouquet that blends cedar shavings, savory herbs and balsamic spices with rum-soaked cherries, sweet lavender and dark chocolate. This sweeps across the palate with silken textures, delivering masses of tart red and black fruits along with hints of espresso bean. Crunchy mineral tones and zesty acidity add dramatic lift. The 2016 tapers off long and staining, sporting a pleasantly bitter tinge of cocoa as grippy tannins resonate. The 2016 is a well-muscled dancer yet still youthfully coiled.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
Dal Forno Romano Vigneto Monte Lodoletta Valpolicella Superiore 2017 750ml Was $138, Now $119, 10 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 95 points “Taking in the 2017 Valpolicella Superiore Monte Lodoletta reminds me of all of the desserts spices and confections experienced on Christmas day. An array of medicinal cherries plum sauce ginger cookies cloves cinnamon and dried roses captivate. There’s tremendous depth here but it maintains fantastic freshness. This is wildly spicy and intense yet deep with brilliant acidity adding energy seldom found in Valpolicella which enlivens the crunchy red fruits and pretty inner florals within. The 2017 finishes dramatically long and perfumed resonating on sour blackberries currants and a bitter hint of cocoa. This goes far beyond the expectation of Valpolicella with the power and aromatics of an Amarone but with a liveliness that will allow it to excel at the dinner table.”

We offer 214 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.

Shop the sale on our webstore now!


 
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:

Brovia
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Brovia
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Brovia
 
Brundlmayer & Alzinger
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles from Brundlmayer & Alzinger
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles from Brundlmayer & Alzinger
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Brovia sale ends Tuesday, December 3rd at 9 am Pacific. Brundlmayer & Alzinger sale ends Wednesday, December 4th at 9 am Pacific.
 

Bründlmayer & Alzinger 12-1-24

Somms and Austrian wine fans get EXCITED when they see our selections. That joy is what we live for.
 
It’s a shocking statement to point out that Austrian winemakers produce some of the greatest wines made anywhere in the world. They count among their ranks such luminaries as FX Pichler, Gobelsburg, and Nikolaihof. But despite the love of diehard fans, the wines don’t always get the attention they deserve. If these wines came from France, those biodynamic, single-vineyard, Grand Cru, food-friendly, and ridiculously underpriced gems from thousand-year-old wineries would they be three times as expensive. These are the source of the best value high end whites in the world.

Alzinger
Based in the village of Unterloiben, the Alzinger house farms some of the steepest Wachau vineyards in Austria. If you traded the granite for slate, you’d think you were in a Mosel village like the Saar or Terrassenmosel. Converging with the relatively high elevation of the site, Alzinger creates some of the most powerful expressions of Riesling in the country. Leo Alzinger took over his family’s estate after apprenticing in Marlborough, New Zealand and the Pfalz, Germany where he crafted his house style. This technical knowledge is evident in his wines, which he vinifies whole cluster with a touch of skin contact and extended lees aging.

 
The Alzinger Family

Bründlmayer
The Kamptal region in Austrian is the slightly less famous brother to the Wachau, but their best wines are of an equivalent quality and nuance. The wines from the likes of Bründlmayer end up being the best deals across the Old World (the bottlings from the Heiligenstein vineyard, likely the Kamptal’s most famous, are in a class by themselves.). Bründlmayer’s wines are somewhere in the middle between the fruit-forward style of Hirsch and the heft and contemplative nature of Gobelsburg. These are probably the most subtle when young, but blossom with age. The wines reward attention and aging in spectacular ways. 
 
Willi Bründlmayer
 
In a world where the market (outside of sommeliers) realized how good these were, we’d be sold out. The reality is that they’re somehow on our shelves, so we’ll nudge you their way with our three-day sale. 
 
5% off any 6-11 in-stock bottles of Bründlmayer or Alzinger
10% off any 12 or more in-stock bottles of Bründlmayer or Alzinger
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Wednesday, December 4th at 9 am Pacific.
 
We have over 10 options from Bründlmayer & Alzinger on sale now, including:
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Steinmassl Chardonnay 1ÖTW, Kamptal, Kamptal 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $62.10 at 10% off and $58.65 at 15% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Falstaff 95 points “Light golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine wood spice, a touch of caramel, blossom honey and orange peel, vanilla echo as well as some papaya and spicy nuances. Juicy, elegant, salty, white tropical fruit, tobacco finish, mineral echo, very good persistency, reductive finish, will benefit from bottle age.”
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Käferberg Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $79, that’s $71.10 at 10% off and $67.15 at 15% off, 8 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 96 points “What a lovely nose of apricots, lemons, nutmeg, orange zest and white chocolate. It’s creamy and medium- to full-bodied, with zesty acidity cutting through. Fantastic balance, length and intensity. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 94 points “The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Ried Käferberg is from an east-facing site at 330 meters of elevation on calcareous gravels with a loess cover, picked from vines that are around 35 years old. It was made in large used barrel and stayed on gross lees until the following September, then for another year in stainless steel, finally bottled in spring 2023. The nose has just a touch of fir honey, verging into a slight waxiness, with a notion of hazelnut and smoke. The palate is immediately fresh, full, contoured and generous but absolutely outlined by freshness—poised and serene. On the mid-palate, ripe lemon brightness teases out zestiness and yeasty savoriness, with gentle after-tones of mossy freshness and expansive resonance where that lovely smoky flavor returns. (Bone-dry).”
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Steinmassl Riesling 1ÖTW, Kamptal 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $37, that’s $33.30 at 10% off and $31.45 at 15% off, 22 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 95 points “At once intense and mellow, which is a weird thing to write, but this is a special wine. Delicate white-fruit aromas. Excellent structure and racy minerality make this really exciting. Very long, crystalline finish that promises a very long life. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2019 Ried Steinmassel 1ÖTW Kamptal Riesling opens clear, intense and snappy on the nose, quite open and with floral fruit aromas but also a very ripe and dried raisin aroma intermingled with crystalline (para-gneiss and amphibolite) and black pepper notes. Dense and juicy on the palate, this is a concentrated, firmly structured, crystalline, very elegant and tensioned Riesling with a dried stone fruit aroma and very firm phenolics. A wine to age for at least 5-6 years. There are crunchy tannins on the finish that might come from the reduction rather than the pressing, which was whole clusters and pressed at 6 p.m. when they started to fill at 11 a.m. Picked on October 17th. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at Schloss Gobelsburg in June 2021.”
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Steinmassl Riesling 1ÖTW, Kamptal 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $37, that’s $33.30 at 10% off and $31.45 at 15% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Eye-poppingly fresh nose of ferns and savory notes with underlying, lemony fruit. Very tightly wound and energetic, this is a radically racy dry riesling for Austria. Very long, whiplash finish that will either turn you off or drive you wild, like us. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93+ points “From a south-southeast-facing cru on Gföhler gneiss soils and ranging from 240 to 340 meters in altitude, the 2021 Riesling Ried Steinmassl 1ÖTW was picked on October 18 and 19, then macerated and fermented in stainless steel tanks. The wine shows a clear and intense, pure and elegant nose with ripe and elegant fruit aromas intertwined with spicy and saline notes. Crystalline and savory on the palate, this is a medium-bodied yet supple and tightly structured Steinmassl with clear, defined fruit and fine tannins intermingled with the saline acidity. Very long and complex finish. It’s still on its way but very promising. 12.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in October 2022.”
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Zöbinger Heiligenstein Riesling 1ÖTW, Kamptal 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $89.10 at 10% off and $84.15 at 15% off, 6 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 93 points “Buddleia, lemon blossom and ocean spray rush from the glass, then provide alluring inner-mouth perfume and mineral nuance on a luscious, surprisingly buoyant palate saturated with ripe white peach and lime. This finishes with vibrant tingling of crystalline mineral impingements, an invigoratingly reductive hint of struck flint, seductive liquid floral perfume and saliva-drawing salinity. 2017-2028.”
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Zöbinger Heiligenstein Riesling 1ÖTW, Kamptal 2016 750ml Displayed Price: $99, $89.10 at 10% off and that’s $84.15 at 15% off, 12 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Although this is still very young it begins dramatically with an intensely herbal and white fruits nose. Mineral power kicks in on the palate and drives it forward at a brisk clip. A slightly austere finish, but one that’s full of stony character and is very long and bright. Drink now.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92-93 points “Sourced from the younger, 15- to 35-year-old vines, the 2016 Ried Zöbinger Heiligenstein 1ÖTW Riesling has a super clear, deep and flinty bouquet of super precise and well concentrated citrus fruits. Fermented in stainless steel and bottled without any further movements, this is a highly elegant, gorgeously fresh and finessed dry Heiligensten that is pure, mineral and salty as well as intense and long, with lovely marjoram flavors. A great dry Riesling!”
 
Weingut Bründlmayer Ried Zöbinger Heiligenstein Riesling 1ÖTW, Kamptal 2022 750ml Displayed Price: $59, that’s $53.10 at 10% off and $50.15 at 15% off, 10 bottles in stock now
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 96 points “The 2022 Riesling Heiligenstein is from core parcels of the site, where cool Waldviertel air meets the warm Pannonian influence. This 2022 vintage is the first where the Lyra- and Guyot-trained vines were co-harvested and co-fermented. The nose has a subtle note of cypress, with a touch of smokiness and a suspicion of green citrus peel. The palate adds a riper notion of juicy white peach, but remains framed with tingling citrus. Both elements together result in immense juiciness, showing a svelte exuberance that, for now, skips over stony minerality, which will take time to reveal itself. This is beautiful, taut, long and serene. (Bone-dry).”
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Enticingly nose with complex aromas of fresh garden flowers and dried flowers, also dried and fresh pear. Racy and driving with an exciting cassis freshness on the very focused palate. Very stony finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”

Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnsteiner Riesling Federspiel, Wachau, Austria 2023 750ml $31.90 special, 21 bottles available
James Suckling 92 Points “Clear and linear riesling showing aromas of lime peel, gooseberries, kumquats and wet stones. It,s medium-bodied, lively and energetic, with zippy acidity and a crisp, dry finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Vinous 92 Points “The 2022 Riesling Dürnsteiner Federspiel was picked from various smaller parcels on the foot of the Loibenberg, including terraces of Loibenberg and Burgstall. Exquisitely pure bergamot notes are fragrant and enticing on the nose. The palate is chiseled, fine and taut, with a slightly riper note of citrus that reminds of Meyer lemon, yet still with the fragrant green citrus frisson. This is a bright, pure wine of exquisite slenderness and citrus fragrance. (Bone-dry)”
 
Weingut Leo Alzinger Muhlpoint Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau, Austria 2023 750ml $36 special, 20 bottles available
Vinous 90 Points “The 2023 Grüner Veltliner Mühlpoint Federspiel, a site just underneath Steinertal, in the lower reaches where there’s more loess in the gneiss deposits. It’s gently savory on the nose and delivers yeast and pepper. The palate has a lovely stoniness and a slender aspect, with the pepperiness shimmering on the yeasty mid-palate. Lemon, stone and pepper make for a juicy, light-footed Federspiel. (Bone-dry)”
 
Weingut Leo Alzinger Durnstein Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau, Austria 2023 750ml $36 special, 20 bottles available
James Suckling 92 Points “Bright and fruity gruner showing aromas of pineapples, papayas and peaches. Medium-bodied, juicy and vibrant. Excellent length, too, with citrus zest and nutmeg notes at the end. Drink now. Screw cap.”

Brovia: Tradition Taking Off – On Sale Now 11-30-24

In This Newsletter:
 
Brovia Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Karlsmühle
 


Brovia
 
Unlock Your Savings Now
 
Brovia sits at the cusp of cult: traditionally farmed and crafted expressive Barolos that insiders have quietly praised and purchased for decades. Ever since the 2015 vintage, we’ve been writing about how surprised we are that these wines don’t fly off the shelf. They seem to have it all: perfectionist vineyard management (organic without certification, careful pruning, and hand harvesting), superb and distinctive holdings (such as Villero in the Serralunga), unapologetically old-school winemaking (long and slow fermentation and long aging in large barrels and, subsequently, in bottle), consistently excellent releases, and enthusiastic purchasing by our staff. A long, solid list of reasons why you should be taking interest.
 
Given their traditionalist stance and indifference to change (even for fame’s sake), what could be bringing the limelight to this small producer? Climate change. Their normal style is lean and coiled, so the extra warmth of recent vintages, beginning in force with 2015, pushed the wines to be a little grander than usual. And collectors have started to notice.
 
These are all wines that are shaping up to be epics. One day, you’ll look back on and wish you had bought more. There’s no going down from here, in price, points, or popularity. Don’t miss your last best chance. We can’t say we haven’t warned you…
 
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Brovia
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Brovia
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Sale ends Tuesday, December 3rd at 9 am Pacific.
 
We offer sixteen options from Brovia on sale now, including:
 
Brovia Vignavillej Dolcetto d’Alba 2021 750ml Displayed Price: $21.90, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2021 Dolcetto d’Alba Vignavillej is deep, potent and explosive. A superDolcetto, the 2021 packs a serious punch. Blackberry, cloves, new leather and mocha all saturate the palate in this sumptuous, full-bodied Dolcetto. Superb.”

Brovia Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $54.50, that’s $51.78 at 5% off and $49.05 at 10% off, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Brovia 2018 Barolo is a classic wine with a smooth and silky mouthfeel that is brightened by cassis, dried cherry, tar, licorice and campfire ash. The firm tannins give ample support and contribute to the wine’s considerable length.”

Brovia Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $69, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off, 25 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “This is aromatic with ripe red berries, dried flowers, orange peel and moist tree bark. Finely polished with medium to full body and a wide tannin structure. Firm and lightly chewy at the end. Try from 2026.”
 
Brovia Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $61.50, that’s $58.43 at 5% off and $55.35 at 10% off, 24 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine Merchant Importer Note “Brovia’s formidable Barolo “Brovia” epitomizes their classically built yet elegant house style and expresses the full breadth of their enviable holdings. While its composition varies slightly each year depending on yields, it always comprises the following sources: (1) From their holdings in Castiglione Falletto, Brovia produces but one single cask of each cru-designated wine per vintage, directing any extra volume into the Barolo “Brovia.” Accounting for 20-30% of the wine’s final blend, this spillover comes from vines exceeding 50 years of age in the crus of Rocche di Castiglione, Villero, and Garblet Sue. (2) 70-80% of the Barolo “Brovia” comes from holdings in Serralunga d’Alba, primarily in the cru of Brea with smaller amounts (beginning in 2020) in Gianetto, an east-facing cru which is a natural extension of Brea and yields a wine of similar character. These vines are 20 to 30 years of age on average, the oldest parcels of Brea being used for the single-cru bottling. The Barolo “Brovia” undergoes spontaneous fermentation in a variety of vessels—cement, open-top wood, and stainless steel—and is raised 24 to 30 months in oak botti between 30 and 100 hectoliters in capacity. Afterward, the wine is assembled in a combination of steel and wood for an additional year, being bottled no sooner than 40 months after harvest. This aging process, which is longer than that of the crus (aged solely in 30- to 40-hectoliter casks and bottled after 30 months), allows for a wine slightly more open-knit upon release by design.”
 
Brovia Brea Vigna Cà Mia, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $319, that’s $303.05 at 5% off and $287.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “With the cream-colored label, the 2019 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia is another standout wine from one of the most collectible producers in the appellation. The wine from vintners Elena Brovia and Alex Sanchez is especially sharp, focused and polished. You get a lot of satisfaction here and sophistication too, with an amazing sense of clarity and depth. Wild berry, cassis, blood orange, iris and campfire ash emerge from the bouquet. There is drying mineral on the silky close. This is one of my favorite wines of the vintage.”
 
Brovia Brea Vigna Cà Mia, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $132.50, that’s $125.88 at 5% off and $119.25 at 10% off, 5 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe 98 points “Showing elegance, structure, concentration and great depth, the 2020 Brovia Vigna Cà Mia is magnificent, starting with its enticing fragrance of rose, camphor and pipe tobacco. Reflecting the fruit richness of the vintage and the balance and body the site is celebrated for, the delicious palate unleashes fleshy cherry and crushed raspberry before closing on truffle and licorice notes. A backbone of enveloping fine-grained tannins lends structure and a velvety texture. Drink 2028-2038.”
 
Brovia Garblet Sue, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $119, that’s $113.05 at 5% off and $107.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe 97 points “The 2020 Brovia Garblèt Sue’ is fantastic, starting with its enticing aromas of blue flower, wild berry and spice. Full-bodied and delicious, it boasts a weightless concentration that wraps around juicy red cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and dark exotic spice. Velvety tannins lend a smooth texture while fresh acidity keeps it beautifully balanced. This is already accessible but will also offer years of pleasure. Drink 2027-2035.”
 
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $299, that’s $284.05 at 5% off and $269.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “Brovia hits it out of the ballpark with this set of wines from the 2019 vintage. The 2019 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a darker, broader expression that stands on its own thanks to that special intensity. This expression veers toward dark fruit and black cherry, and there is a lot of iron ore or rusty nail at the back. The wine is almost sanguine in character, but in a manner that enhances all the other beautiful characteristics on hand. The mouthfeel is slightly more open-knit and rich, making this a better pairing partner to hearty meat dishes. Production is 5,000 bottles.”
 
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $132, that’s $125.40 at 5% off and $118.80 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2020 1.5L Displayed Price: $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off and $260.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe 96 points “The 2020 Rocche di Castiglione from Brovia is gorgeous. Embodying the finesse the site is celebrated for, it boasts enticing scents of wild rose, iris, perfumed berry and botanical herb. Sleek and elegant, the smooth palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed strawberry and star anise set against lithe, refined tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced. Reflecting the forward nature of the vintage, this is already closing in on the start of its drinking window but will offer years of pleasure. Drink 2025-2035”
 
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L Displayed Price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% off and $179.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Villero offers richness and darkness with fruit from Castiglione Falletto, and it’s one of the more intense wines I tasted within this selection. The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones, expertly interwoven and united. The wine has a beautiful entry to the palate. Indeed, this pretty wine presented a united front, with seamless and graceful integration.”
 
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 14 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Aromas of forest berry, new leather, dark spice and camphor come to the forefront on this gorgeous red. Full-bodied and delicious, the elegantly structured palate doles out crushed raspberry, licorice, orange zest and mint while bright acidity lends youthful, nervous tension. Taut, refined tannins provide structure and impeccable balance. Drink 2026-2038.”
 
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $135, that’s $128.25 at 5% off and $121.50 at 10% off, 3 bottles in stock now
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2019 1.5L Displayed Price: $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off and $260.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “With fruit from one of the top growing sites in Castiglione Falletto, the 2019 Barolo Villero shows a slightly ripe and soft side with cherry and dried raspberry followed by licorice, tar and rusty metal. This is an elegant expression, with a terrific sense of focus, that delivers complexity and depth, especially in this excellent vintage. Only 5,000 bottles were released.”
 
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $132, that’s $125.40 at 5% off and $118.80 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2020 1.5L Displayed Price: $289, that’s $274.55 at 5% off and $260.10 at 10% off, 1 magnum in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe 96 points “Showing great class and precision, Brovia’s fragrant 2020 Villero is a chiseled beauty. Taut and focused, the palate features crushed strawberry, pomegranate and blood orange accented with licorice and pink peppercorn before an almost salty close. A backbone of refined tannins provides firm support. It needs a few more years to fully develop and shows good aging potential for this rather forward vintage. Drink 2029-2036.”


Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:

Karlsmühle
 
Weingut Karlsmühle dates back to 1803, when Johann Karls purchased the property. After the acquisition, the family dissolved the monastery and rock mill that sat on the site and started the process of building the jewel of Mertesdorf-Lorenzhof. Today fruit from the 12.5 hectares estate is mostly fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts and finished wines are dry or off-dry.
 
What makes the producer even more interesting is that Johannes Selbach, owner and magician behind Selbach-Oster, personally selected these wines for our shop. Johannes is the humble tastemaker behind US importer Terry Theise, one of the most important American figures in the modern revitalization of interest in German Rieslings.
 
When he offered us hand-pick wines for us to exclusively carry, we jumped at the chance. Karlsmühle is one of several estates he chose, alongside C.H. Berres, Crusius, Kees-Kieren, and Prinz (as well as a few exclusive imports from his winery). The fact that there are few reviews of these wines is more an indication of their rarity than their quality.
 
In Stock & On Sale Now:
 
Weingut Karlsmuhle Kaseler Nies’chen Riesling Auslese Lange Goldkapsel, Mosel 2017 750ml Was $41.90, Now $33, 17 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 93 points “Stand back as this riesling fireball arrives! Full of energy with a dynamic interplay of citrusy acidity and aromatic sweetness, which ranges from peaches and blackcurrants to mint. With more length, this would have been rated even higher. Drink or hold.”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
Weingut Karlsmuhle Lorenzhofer Trockenbeerenauslese, Mosel 2007 375ml Was $119, Now $99, 22 half-bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Wine Advocate 93+ points “…Dried peach, apricot, and date mingle with quince preserves, licorice and further suggestions of herbal concentrate both on the nose and palate. While impressively viscous, this preserves a welcome lightness of touch and vivacity illustrative of the best aspects of the vintage, and its residual sugar is remarkably restrained in expression…”
 
This is the only listing in the USA today!

We offer 226 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:

Goodfellow & Tan Fruit
 
5% off any 4-8 in-stock bottles from Goodfellow and/or Tan Fruit
10% off any 9 or more in-stock bottles from Goodfellow and/or Tan Fruit
 
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
 
Goodfellow & Tan Fruit sale ends Sunday, December 1st at 9 am Pacific.