Vinopolis – Weekend Saturday August 19th 2016

Salon: Great Champagne/Just Arrived; Subscriber Secret Sale: German Trocken, Feinherb and Kabinett Sale; Trending; Allegrini New Arrivals; New Cuvee from our favorite Soave producer: Pieropan; Renato Ratti: Piedmont Pleasures; Staff Picks; Atalon: Napa Valley Bordeaux; Remelluri 2010: Outstanding Rioja; Cantalupo: Approachable Nebbiolo at Approachable Prices; Agathe Bursin: Alsace Grand Cru; Trending: Markus Molitor; New 2015 German Offer: Heymann-Loewenstein

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Salon

Great Champagne

Arrived Yesterday
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2002 750ML ($499.95) $399 special
James Suckling 99 points “The 2002 Salon is phenomenal quality… I was mesmerized. It is a subtle and intense Champagne that shows complex character of lilac, minerals, sliced lemon, apple, and white pepper. It is full body and dense yet racy and agile with a lightness and freshness. It has a gloriously long finish. It changes every moment in the glass. It has such clarity. It’s magnificent to drink now, but shows great texture and structure for aging”. JS

Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2004 750ML ($519.95) $399 special
Salon Cuvee ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2004 1.5L ($1,499.95) $1,190 special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2004 Salon has been superb each time I have tasted it over the last year or so. Bright, tense and crystalline, with all of the energy that is typical of both Salon and the vintage in the Côte des Blancs, the 2004 bristles with superb precision and cool, pulsating minerality. The 2004 spent a dozen years on its lees. Over the last six months or so, it has gradually begun to open up, but it is very much a wine for the cellar. Two thousand four is remembered as a vintage with record high yields. Salon (and Delamotte) did a terrific job in keeping the vines well balanced. Production was just 46,000 bottles, as opposed to the 60,000 or so that is more typical. Chef de Caves Michel Fauconnet opted for a low dosage of just 4 grams per liter. This is a tremendous showing.”

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Subscriber-Only Sale:

10% Off on German Trocken, Feinherb and Kabinett Ends Tonight

We’ll take 10% off on all in-stock German Trocken, Feinherb and Kabinett wines

We offer 64 German Trocken, Feinherb and Kabinett Wines in-stock and available here now to choose from (that’s almost 400 bottles!), including:

J & H Selbach Bernkasteler Kurfurstlay Riesling 2012 750ML ($17.95) Displayed Price: $11.90, Your Cost: $10.71
Terry Theise Note: “The small negoçiant firm of J&H Selbach are minor players in this market [of commodity German wines]. Because they’re small, they’re more sensitive to blips in the cost of grapes or juice, but they’re also able (and willing) to pay a hands-on attention that’s otherwise unheard of. For example, nearly 100% of their grape supply is under contract with growers they know and trust, and they’re making the wines with more lees contact and with spontaneous fermentation. Every single one of these wines is sophisticated and has vinosity and most important, moderate residual sugar for the genre. Selbach uses only Riesling.”

Karthauserhof E. Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2014 750ML ($34.95) Displayed Price: $29, Your Cost: $26.10
Karthauserhof E. Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett 2014 1.5L ($89.95) Displayed Price: $69, Your Cost: $62.10
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a very clear, bright and delicate Riesling of great finesse and lightness. Lovely juiciness. The acidity is rather smooth, respectively and perfectly integrated into the round and elegant texture. This Riesling is very clear, bright and light. with great finesse and lightness. Ruwer style. Bottled with 8% alcohol and 44 grams of residual sugar.”
John Gilman, View From The Cellar #56: “The 2014 Eitelsbacher Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett is a terrific young Kabinett in this vintage that has produced some many excellent examples of this Prädikat level. The wine wafts from the glass in a very impressively complex and utterly classic constellation of green apple, a touch of white cherry, complex minerality, a touch of petrol, white flowers, a bit of wild yeasts, lemon zest and a whiff of ocean breeze in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium- bodied, mineral and beautifully filigreed, with a nice core of fruit, bright, ripe acids, excellent focus and grip and a very long, dancing and youthful finish of excellent potential. A paradigm of its Prädikat level. 2015-2035+”

Keller Riesling Trocken 2015 750ML ($24.95) Displayed Price: $20.90, Your Cost: $18.81
Importer note “For those that love their limestone.  Keller’s signature style is on display.  Make no mistake – this is Kimmeridgian wine.  It’s about minerality and finesse.  This is possibly the most singular domaine in all of Germany.  Kellers top wines now sell for hundreds of dollars a bottle.  This is the frugal Riesling lover’s backdoor.”

Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel RR Riesling 2015 750ML ($59.95) Displayed Price: $49, Your Cost: $44.10
John Gilman 94 points “There was no 2014 RR bottling from Weingut Keller, but happily, the 2015 vintage allowed for this cuvée and what an amazingly fine wine it is! The bouquet is very pure, very precise and nascently complex, as it soars from the glass in a stunning blend of tart orange, very complex, crystalline minerality, blood orange, petrol, gentle notes of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is fullish, complex and electric in its vibrancy, with a superb core of fruit, great mineral lift on the backend and laser-like focus on the very, very long and utterly refined finish. The best RR vintage I have yet tasted from KP! 2016-2040.” (Mar/Apr 2016)

Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling 2012 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $33, Your Cost $29.70
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “($38) Golden yellow. Expansive aromas of caramelized apple, candied peach and lemon curd. The succulent flavors of honey and apricot pith are kept vibrant by refreshing acidity. The long finish, offering complex notes of tangerine and toasted nuts, tastes almost dry.” ST
For full reviews and descriptions, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Sale ends tonight, Saturday, August 20th at Midnight
Does not apply to pre-arrival offers or case specials
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging

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Just Arrived from Allegrini

For over 400 years, the Allegrini family has played an important role in the Valpolicella Classico region’s grape growing and wine making traditions. In the 1960s, Giovanni Allegrini led the estate into modernity: encouraging strict grape selection and modern practices to improve quality as needed, while retaining the positive traditional practices that set this region apart.

The estate is composed of 90 hectares of vineyards on steep hill slopes and along the river beds that stay dry during most of the year. The primary grape is Corvina, which provides the naturally high acidity and dark cherry aromas for which all levels of wine are known. Other grapes, such as Corvinone and Rondinella, add color, body, and additional aromatic notes to the final blends. The typical wine is surprisingly light in body, which gave rise to the practice of drying the grapes to add body and depth, resulting in the passito, ripasso and Amarone styles of wine.

Allegrini’s is dedicated to producing single vineyard wines that highlight these unique, local varieties. The standard Valpolicella is the traditional blend aged in stainless steel, producing a fresh, fruit forward wine. The Palazzo della Torre is a ripasso wine, a “baby Amarone,” produced from a single vineyard. The La Grola vineyard was purchased by the Allegrini family in the late 1970’s and is one of the more unique crus with the addition of 10% Syrah to the mostly Corvina based wine.

These three new releases have just arrived

the upper tier bottlings are arriving next week and are listed below

Allegrini Valpolicella, Veneto 2014 750ML ($17.95) $16 special
Case-12 Allegrini Valpolicella, Veneto 2014 750ML ($199.95) $166 special (that’s only $13.83/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 91 points “A fresh, fruity red with lemon, dried-cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium body, bright acidity and a clean finish. Drink or hold.”

Allegrini La Grola Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Allegrini La Grola Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($349.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
James Suckling 93 points “A red with lots of tannin, mint and berry character. Fresh herbs. Full body, firm tannins and a fruity finish. This is very structured for La Grola. Try in 2016.”

Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT, Veneto 2012 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of dried earth, dried raspberry and blueberry. Full body, chewy tannins and a fresh, bright finish. Lively and delicious. This is always a delicious blend of corvina and rondinella. Drink now.”

Allegrini Wines Arriving Next Week

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Veneto 2010 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico takes a modern spin on a local classic. The blend is 90% Corvina Veronese with smaller parts Oseleta and Rondinella that add color intensity. The wine’s leading aromas revolve around Morello cherry and dark blackberry. But this New World Amarone also undergoes 18 months in new barrique. Its secondary aromas are vibrant and bold with cumin, dark spice and barbecue smoke. In the mouth, this Amarone offers velvety tannins and thick consistency.”

Allegrini La Poja Monovitigno Corvina Veronese IGT, Veneto 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2010 La Poja is the latest bottling of one of Italy’s most unique wines. This is a pure expression of the Corvina Veronese variety, the chief component of Amarone wines made according to the appassimento process. La Poja allows this finicky grape to sing solo with some 20 months in new barrique followed by eight months in the bottle. The results are outstanding with pristine cherry and blackberry followed by spice, leather and tar. For best results, age this wine another four or five years.”

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Renato Ratti: Piedmont Pleasures

New Arrival:

Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 93 points “This is very ripe with a dried berry, almost raisin character and Asian mushroom undertone. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Needs time to soften. Better in 2017.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The Ratti family has done a terrific job with its well-priced 2011 Barolo Marcenasco. The wine shows ripe fruit at the beginning, but the intensity of the bouquet quickly finds good balance with just a few swift swirls of the glass. Those aromas are painted in broad brush strokes with thick lines of black fruit, spice, rose and anise seed. It shows moderate complexity, but just enough to keep your interest as the wine continues to shift and evolve in the glass. In all, Barolo Marcenasco exhibits a plush, fruit-forward style with soft tannins and rich texture. It is best for near and medium-term drinking.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Renato Ratti Wines Arriving August 26th

Renato Ratti ‘Battaglione’, Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2013 750ML ($19.95) $17 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Renato Ratti ‘Battaglione’, Barbera d’Asti DOCG 2013 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special (that’s only $14.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Winery note “Resolute bouquet, with trace scents of ripe plum and an undercurrent of mixed spices. Full flavor with long persistence. Rich in body and in color, warm and robust, pleasantly tart when young, a wine suited to our hearty local dishes as well as refined meat dishes and aged cheeses.”

Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Renato Ratti Ochetti Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Winery note “Fine, delicate and persistent bouquet with characteristic trace scents of strawberry and raspberry. Pleasantly bitterish, velvety, at once elegant and full. Class and spontaneous vivacity are the distinguishing characteristics of this wine. The typical sandy soil gives lots of finesse and a very delicate aromas. Red meats, grilled or on the spit, game, grande cuisine white and red meats with white or brown sauces.”

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New Arrival from Christian Moreau

Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Chablis 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Domaine Christian Moreau Pere & Fils Chablis 2014 750ML ($319.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Classic Chablis aromas of lemon, ginger and yeasty chicken broth. Sappy, concentrated village wine with lovely lemony acidity giving it a distinctly penetrating quality. An excellent village wine with excellent inner-mouth tension and complicating salinity.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Precision and harmony define this white, with apple, lemon and mineral flavors, defined by the vibrant acidity. Just a hint of green plum shows on the lingering finish. Drink now through 2020.”

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Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver

For the summer season we are offering
UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground
for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.

Free service upgrade only applies on single orders shipped during the promotional period.
Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period
and shipped by Three Day Select.
Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.

Don’t forget about our other current shipping promos:

We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment

-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25

These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.

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Trending

Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($109.95) $79 special
Case-6 Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($599.95) $438 special (that’s only $73/bottle!)
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Vouette & Sorbée NV (2012) Extra-Brut Blanc d’Argile is superb. Deep, rich and powerful, the 2012 shows just how compelling Champagnes can be. A Champagne of baritone depth and intensity, the 2012 flows effortlessly throughout the mid-palate as the flavors and textures crescendo on the expressive finish. Readers who enjoy rich, vinous Champagnes will adore the 2012.”

Domaine de la Berangeraie ‘Tu Bois Coa’ Rose, IGP Cotes du Lot 2015 750ML ($14.95) Was $11.90, Now $9.90
Winery note: 100% Malbec. Very aromatic (raspberry, wild strawberry, blueberry), with a pronounced pomegranate color. The palate is rich, vinous, and unctuous. Drink as an aperitif, or with BBQ and exotic fruits.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Chalk Hill Estate Red Proprietary Blend, Chalk Hill 2013 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Estate is a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Malbec, 12% Petit Verdot and the rest Carignane, Syrah and Merlot. This is another titanic effort from proprietor Foley. A spectacular dense-purple color and sweet toasty oak intermixed with licorice, blackberry, cassis and graphite are all present in this profound first-growth quality blend that should age effortlessly for 25-30 or more years. This is a stunner and a revelation.”

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Gravonia’ Crianza Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2006 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The warmer 2006 Viña Gravonia Crianza, a white inspired by the wines from Graves (hence the name), is pure Viura matured in well-seasoned oak barrels for four years and bottled unfiltered in November 2011. The nose does not transmit any heat whatsoever, showing notes of chamomile, beeswax, honey and aromatic herbs. The palate is sharp, medium-bodied with great acidity and freshness that is both clean and persistent; it is more austere than exuberant, which was a real surprise. Overall, it is tasty and supple. The Gravonia vineyard is very old and naturally-balanced, which shows in the wine. Against all odds, the 2006 is showing better than the 2005 today.” (04/2015)

Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2014 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Spätlese (AP #9) offers a very clear and complex, mineral-scented bouquet of ripe white fruits. Juicy and piquant on the palate, with grip, raciness and the lean and crystalline Karthäuserhofberg character, this is a pretty complex and persistent Spätlese with grip and a prominent crispiness. It should be cellared for at least another 5-10 years. Very good aging potential.”

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Staff Picks

Suzanne:
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Case-12 Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($899.95) $636 special (that’s only $53/bottle!)
Case-6 Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($479.95) $336 special (that’s only $56/bottle!)
Ever since my first taste of grower Champagne (Pierre Peters Cuvee Reserve), I was hooked. Sure I had enjoyed Veuve Yellow Label, Moet and especially a few sips of a Dom Perignon, but here was something decidedly… other… different… and special about grower Champagne. Not knowing about farmer fizz at the time, I can honestly say it wasn’t the story that first got me interested, but truly the taste. It revealed layers of flavors, complexity and acidity with an extroverted personality all its own.

Since that day, I’ve been chasing grower Champagnes. It’s an exciting prospect. Each new release offers a distinctive take on that vintage. Even NV blends show a unique personality year in, year out since the farmers are bound by the micro terroir of their own vineyards.

With that background in mind, I can say with pleasure that I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy the past three releases of the Vouette e Sorbee Fidele (’09, ’10 and ’11). The Champagne is made with a small amount of reserve wine held in solera and topped off with each vintage. It gives the wine a core note of lightly oxidation that shows more or less depending upon the vintage. This year, that note hit the mid-palate with a savory-salty wisp of butterscotch and preserved lemon. I particularly like the way it plays off the richness and aromatics to keep everything in balance. The 2012 is best described as a marriage of the previous releases. Here we find the heady fig, floral and orchard fruit notes of the 2009 with the solid acidity and grace of the 2011 and the spice, body, length and structure of the 2010. It’s a mélange of distinct flavors, the complexity is astounding, all balanced by the unique influence of the reserve wine base.

I suggest decanting the Champagne if you must break into it now (the Champagne showed even better the second night) otherwise cellar for a couple years.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel:
Andre Dezat & Fils Domaine Thibault Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2014 750ML ($24.95) $18.80 special
Case-12 Andre Dezat & Fils Domaine Thibault Pouilly-Fume, Loire 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special
Stunningly aromatic, precise, and refreshing: this is Sauvignon Blanc at its finest. Andre Dezat took over the family estate (founded in 1550) back in 1948, and today his sons and grandsons help grow and make beautiful Loire wines. Pouilly-Fumé offers a flinty note thanks to the soil, and the 2014 Domaine Thibault by Andre Dezat also delivers a bouquet of citrus, peach, and pear. At the end of this balanced white comes the characteristic grassiness of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, begging for fresh seafood or an assortment of fine cheeses. We just opened a bottle in the store, and loved it. If you enjoy Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire or elsewhere, you should get acquainted with this wine.

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Atalon: Napa Valley Bordeaux

Atalon combines Napa terroir with Bordeaux Right and Left Bank style. Grapes from distinct vineyards throughout the valley create wines of fine character, full of the smooth tannins and round profile that only Napa can do. Pauline’s Cuvee (63% Merlot, 31% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon) mirrors Pomerol and St Emilion with its Merlot-based blend, while the Cabernet (76% Cabernet Sauvignon 15% Merlot 5% Malbec 3% Petite Verdot 1% Cabernet Franc) pays homage to the Medoc and Graves.

The wines age for 16 months in barrel: 85% French oak (one-fifth new), and 15% American oak (half new). Winemaker Brian Kosi seeks balance, boldness, and elegance in Atalon’s wines, and critics regularly award his success. Think of Atalon as Bordeaux-inspired wines with a clear Napa accent.

Available Here Now from Atalon

Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($31.95) $18 special, 29 bottles available
Case-12 Atalon Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($319.95) $199 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 89+ points “(at 13.5% alcohol, this is a full degree lower than the Pauline’s Cuvee; includes tiny bits of merlot and petit verdot): Bright red-ruby. Musky black raspberry, blackberry, licorice, menthol and oak on the nose. Distinctly tighter and less pliant now than the Pauline’s Cuvee, displaying a touch of medicinal reserve to the sappy dark berry, violet and menthol flavors. Shows serious spine without coming off as hard: I’d give this persistent cabernet a year or two to mellow in bottle.” ST

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

Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Atalon Pauline’s Cuvee, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($359.95) $199 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This Merlot-based blend is a huge success. It’s a big, tannic, tight wine, packed to bursting with black cherry liqueur, cola and spice flavors. Yet it maintains an exciting balance, with the tension between acids, tannins and oak in equilibrium. Seems like it wants 5-6 years in the cellar to let it throw some tannins and mellow.” WE

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

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Remelluri 2010 Reserva

Settled into a valley surrounded by scrubby hills and peaks, Remelluri occupies a privileged place in the Riojan wine country and its history. Protected from wind and frost, the area around Remelluri has provided a home, and crops, to people since prehistoric times, including winegrowers like Romans, monks, and hermits. Then, in 1967, the estate and twenty acres of vineyard were purchased by the current owners, who have since recovered all of Remelluri’s 260 acres and added another 121 acres of vineyard.

Remelluri organically farms its nutrient-poor, deeply rooted vineyards. The grapes are hand-harvested, then sorted in the vineyard and cellar. Tempranillo, Grenache, and Graciano, all red grapes, go into the Reserva wine, with a little white Viura and Malvasia as well. The wine matures in oak barrels of different sizes and ages for 17 months. This is classic, traditional Rioja, given a modern touch by one of Spain’s rising-star winemakers, Telmo Rodriguez, whose parents bought Remelluri back in ’67.

The 2010 vintage has been rated outstanding. The wines are powerful yet poised, with good acidity and tannins for long ageing. The Remelluri 2010 Reserva is undoubtedly a wine to include in the Spanish nook of any cellar.

Remelluri Available Here Now

Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($419.95) $359 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Peñín Guide to Spanish Wine 96 points – Podium Award: Exceptional Wine “(tempranillo, garnacha, graciano). Colour: cherry, garnet rim.  Nose: ripe fruit, spicy, creamy oak, complex, expressive.  Palate: flavourful, toasty, round tannins, balanced, elegant.”
James Suckling 95 points “A wine with beautiful finesse and depth. Dark fruits, dark chocolate, hazelnut and floral character. Polished and refined. Full body. Long and beautiful. Tasty finish. The first recent vintage 100% made by Telmo Rodriguez. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that represents the house style and also the biggest volume here with around 350,000 bottles produced is the 2010 Reserva which was cropped from an almost perfect growing season. A blend of the reds Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and the whites Viura and Malvasía Riojana, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and oak vats then matured in French oak barrels for 17 months. The nose has earthy aromas and notes of ripe orange peel giving old-style character to the wine marked by very well-integrated oak and an obvious Rioja character. There are cherries, plums and spices with licorice and ink aromas. The day after, it has more strawberries with very good freshness, so the evolution in bottle should be good. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and good acidity that ends with sweet fruit flavors and something earthy, very pleasant and easy to drink. It grows on you.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $38

Remelluri ‘Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de San Vicente’, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 17 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Glass-staining ruby.  Heady aromas of boysenberry, cassis, fennel and pipe tobacco, with a sexy vanilla undertone.  Lush, velvety and sweet in the mouth, with sexy flavors of black and blue fruit preserves, licorice and floral pastilles.  A fleshy, powerful but shockingly energetic Rioja, with supple tannins framing a long, sweet finish.” ST

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New cuvee from our favorite Soave producer:

Pieropan

Arriving Next Friday

Pieropan Calvarino Soave Classico, Veneto 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Calvarino is situated in the heart of the Soave Classico zone and is the ancient cornerstone of the family’s vineyards, bought in 1901. The name derives from ‘Little Calvary’ referring to the difficulties in working the land and the tortuously winding path to the bottom. The first label was released as far back as 1971 and the wine is a perfect example of true Soave.”

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Cantalupo

Approachable Nebbiolo

At Approachable Prices

In the Nebbiolo country of northern Piedmont – removed from the star-studded Langhe – one finds a few regions whose wines render that noble Nebbiolo grape in a beautiful and more delicate style at approachable prices. Gattinara is one, and Ghemme is another. From here in Ghemme, beneath the imposing Alpine peak of Monte Rosa, come the wines of Cantalupo. With 84 acres under vine, family-owned Cantalupo has been making Nebbiolo wines since 1969. Soils here are alluvial, from glacial moraines retreated during the last Ice Age, a change from the Langhe. Cantalupo performs all of the vineyard work, including harvest, by hand, and uses traditional Slavonian oak along with some French oak. The wines are raised in a cellar cut into the hillside, and they show plenty of elegance and red fruit, with a medium-full body. Any fan of Nebbiolo ought to know the name Cantalupo, and its cooler-clime version of Italy’s premier red grape.

Cantalupo Wines Available Here Now:

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Il Mimo Nebbiolo Rosato Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 5 bottles available
VinopolNote: The juice is pressed after one night on the skins followed by a slow, temperature-controlled fermentation.  The wine is left to settle and bottled after about 5 months.  It is bright and fresh with classic Nebbiolo nuances.

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Agamium’ Colline Novaresi 2009 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2009 Colline Novaresei Agamium is floral, bright and deeply expressive, with plenty of lift and red stone fruit character. Feminine and gracious throughout, the 2009 offers considerable grace and plenty of near to medium-term appeal. A final burst of Chambolle-like fruit rounds out the finish.”

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Carellae, Ghemme DOCG 2009 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 27 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A big, dense wine, the 2009 Collis Carellae shows the wilder, gamier side of Ghemme. Leather, smoke, cedar, tobacco and menthol make a strong first impression. The 2009 possesses tons of depth and vertical structure. Some of the initial elements of rusticity blow off with air, so readers should be ready to open the 2009 in advance. There is no shortage of personality. That much is clear.”

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi 2008 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2008 Cantalupo Anno Primo is built on a serious spine of tannin and energy, both of which give it considerable power. Dark red cherry, tobacco, smoke, herbs and leather are all expressed with quite a bit of intensity. The 2008 offers solid balance in a virile style that is probably best enjoyed at the dinner table.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2007 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2007 Ghemme Collis Breclamae shows the deeper, slightly wilder side of Ghemme. Game, smoke, licorice, cedar and tobacco are expressed with elements of burliness and rusticity. There is more than enough depth to fill out the wine’s broad shoulders. Still, what comes through most is the wine’s virile, imposing personality.” AG

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cantalupo Wines Arriving Early September

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi 2009 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi 2009 750ML ($479.95) $399 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a gorgeous, super-classic Ghemme. Rosewater, bright red cherry, geranium, tobacco, pine and mint are beautifully delineated throughout. Aromatically intense and focused, the 2009 shows exactly what makes Nebbiolo from Ghemme so delicious. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine that won’t break the bank. At times, the aromatic signatures are quite reminiscent of Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato, although the tannic and acid signatures are very much those of Ghemme.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Signore di Bayard, Ghemme DOCG 2006 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: A special bottling of 100% Nebbiolo produced by the winery only in the best years, the Signore di Bayard is a tribute to the 16th Century Knight of Bayard, Peter Terrail, the “Good Knight without fear and without reproach.”  It is a block selection of the oldest vines from the estate.  These vines are growing in gravel moraine soil at 280-310m (306-340’) in elevation.  The grapes are hand-picked and sorted before undergoing a cold soak.  Fermentation takes place naturally with the stems.  The wine is aged for 18 to 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels before being bottled unfiltered.  It is a dense and tannic wine with an excellent aging potential.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Agathe Bursin

Alsace. Grand Cru.

Tucked within the gorgeous hillside villages of Alsace, the domaine of Agathe Bursin has been active since 2000. Coming from a family of winemakers, Bursin was trained in both Chablis and the Rhone before returning home to establish her estate.

Across 5.5 hectares – including Grand Cru holdings in Zinnkoepflé as well as the lieux-dits Bollenberg, Dirstelberg, and Strangenberg, she tends to Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Sylvaner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, and Pinot Noir.  A rather wonderful anecdote from alsace-wine.net traces Bursin’s relationship with wine to a very early age:

“When Agathe was a child, her grandmother let her smell wines and decide if it was dominated by ‘fleure’ or ‘fruit’. In the kitchen, her grandmother made Agathe close her eyes and guess what was put in her mouth. These childhood experiences have contributed to Agathes current interest in flavours and fragrances.”

Since those early training regimens – and after fifteen years at the helm of her own operation – Agathe Bursin has firmly established herself as a winemaker-to-watch and a steward of great Alsatian wine. We’re excited to carry a wide range of her wines – 2013’s available here now and 2015’s arriving in early September. All are listed below:

Agathe Bursin Wines Available Here Now

Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-green. Pear and citrus notes vie for attention on the perfumed nose. Fresh and clean on the palate, with balsamic nuances to the stone fruit and spicy flavors. Finishes with lovely freshness and length. The Riesling vines are planted on mainly pink sandstone soil in a cooler microclimate toward the top of the hill and have a southeast exposure.”

Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 91+ points “Bright golden-yellow. Aromas and flavors of peach, green papaya and lemon verbena. Lively on the palate, displaying a bright, lemony finish and good floral lift. Strikes me as deeper than the 2012 and still very young and closed down. Forget about this for another three years in the cellar, then watch it develop and expand over the next eight to ten. In my experience, this wine rarely develops diesel fuel aromas but rather hints at silex and gunflint, even in old age.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 92 points “Gold-tinged straw. Delicate aromas of peach, apricot and poached apple. Rich and dense on the palate, with lively acidity lifting the sweet flavors of orchard and tropical fruits. Finishes very long, with impeccable balance. These Sylvaner vines grow in the grand cru Zinnkoepflé, the soils of which are marked by calcaires à entroques. Planted in 1930 with a southeast exposure, these vines give the description vieilles vignes real meaning, but Bursin doesn’t care to use this wording on the label since she believes the term has been reduced to mainly marketing purposes. “In France, vieille vigne wines are made with vines ranging anywhere from as little as 20 years to as much as 100 years of age, so what‘s the point?” she asks.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Agathe Bursin Wines Arriving  Early September:
(Ratings and notes will be posted once available!)

Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Gewurztraminer Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin L’As de B, Alsace 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Pinot Blanc Parad’ Aux 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Dirstelberg 2015 750ml ($26.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Pinot Gris Zinnkoepfle Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Riesling Dirstelberg, Alsace 2015 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Eminence Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Agathe Bursin Sylvaner Lutzeltal, Alsace 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special

Every single one of these is the only listing in the USA today!

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Molitor on My Mind

Trending Estate

Situated at the center of Wehlener Klosterberg, the Markus Molitor estate cultivates a total of 15 vineyard sites, highlighting the diversity and brilliance of the Mosel. Holdings include parcels some of the region’s highest-regarded vineyards – among them, Erdener Treppchen, Graacher Himmelreich, Bernkasteler Badstube, Zeltinger Sonnenuhr, and Wehlener Sonnenuhr.

Molitor took over the vineyard from his father in 1984 – at the ripe age of 20! Many of the vineyards are poised along extraordinarily steep slopes of 80% or greater inclines, necessitating work done carefully and manually. Vines and soils are worked organically, with dense leaf cover over the vines and relative few grapes per vine in order to maximize nutrient supply and extract yield.

Harvest is, perhaps, the most crucial step in the process. “Time is a decisive factor,” Molitor states. “Despite the increased risk, we harvest quite late. This gives the grapes time to ripen physiologically – the most important criterion to develop the optimum balance of the wines with increased extract values and animating acidity.”

Markus is a firm believer in spontaneous fermentations from natural yeasts, with elevage taking place in a three-story cellar built out from the slate soils – the constantly cool climate and high humidity ensure a slow and steady fermentation. Upon completion, the wines rest for several months on the fine lees, imbuing character and the domain’s signature fuller-bodied style.

We just introduced the Molitor estate in early July, and already we’re running out! Below is a list of wines here now and those arriving in August. The 2015s, listed at the bottom, are arriving late 2016. Don’t miss out on these high scoring German Rieslings.

Markus Molitor Wines Available Here Now:

Weingut Markus Molitor Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “Stunningly clear and pure on the citric-perfumed nose, the sweet 2013 Bernkasteler Lay Riesling Auslese *** is characterized by its laser-like precision and elegance, which is perfectly paired with its vibrant acidity and piquant minerality that lingers and makes this Auslese a memorable one.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Markus Molitor Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2013 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Even purer and perhaps more sophisticated than the Bockstein is the sweet 2013 Erdener Treppchen Riesling Auslese ** with its cool, slate purity and springlike citrus and blossom aromas, which are delivered as lime chutney on the nose. This again is a kind of pure Armani perfume and the cool character of a true gentleman who turns out to be a notorious rake, elegant and balanced as it is. The texture is nobly concentrated and juicy, and there is no single botrytis berry in this stunning wine. Drink it now, but drink it slowly, or store it for a decade or two.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Markus Molitor Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98+ points “More tropical fruit aromas such as juicy pineapples and macerated ginger dominate the nose of the richer yet still pure and subtle 2013 Graacher Himmelreich Auslese ***. Quite sweet, intense and densely textured on the palate, this wine neither lacks elegance nor piquancy nor balance. It is just more generous, sweeter and lush than the Würzgarten ***-Auslese, but at the same time it is absolutely delicate and full of finesse.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Markus Molitor Kinheimer Hubertuslay Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 10 bottles available
Weingut Markus Molitor Kinheimer Hubertuslay Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel 2013 375ML ($59.95) $39 special, 11 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2013 Kinheimer Hubertuslay Auslese *** needs a little but of time to open up and show its finest, intense raisin aromas indicating grapefruit/lemon and pineapples on a piquant background. Rich, oily textured and extremely elegant on the palate, the wine offers a lavish tropical juiciness quoting pineapples, but is stunningly pure and piquant. The finish is beautifully balanced and highly elegant. This is perfectly made.”

These are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!

Arriving in August from Markus Molitor:

Weingut Markus Molitor Brauneberger Klostergarten Pinot Noir ** Trocken, Mosel 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Fine, beautifully fragrant, almost floral Pinot aromas emerge from the glass of the 2011 Brauneberger Klostergarten Pinot Noir **, quoting wild strawberries, redcurrant and caramel intertwined with subtle slate and most delicate, smoky flavors. Full-bodied, intense and powerful, but also elegant and balanced, this sweet and ripe Pinot has a remarkable finesse and freshness leading to a persistent finish of great delicacy and aging potential. This Pinot speaks with a French accent and should develop over the next 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $73

Weingut Markus Molitor Trarbacher Schlossberg Pinot Noir ** Trocken Unfiltriert, Mosel 2011 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2011 Trarbacher Schlossberg Pinot Noir ** offers a deep, intense, pure, dark, smoky, slate-like bouquet of blackcurrant, dark cherries, chocolate, mocha and crushed rocks. The wine is powerful and quite ripped on the palate but also fresh, silky and very fine in its tannins and texture. The finish is powerful yet pure and almost salty and displays besides licorice aromas a great finesse and firmness. Is that the Gevrey-Chambertin from the Mosel? Let’s discuss that in ten years from now. The wine has surely a great aging potential.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $78

Weingut Markus Molitor Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese ** Goldkapsel 2013 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The sweet 2013 Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Auslese ** is somewhat remote in its cool and aristocratic smokiness, which delivers a fragrant perfume of lemons, limes and crushed stones to the nose. Quite juicy, yet subtle and elegant on the palate, this is a highly concentrated, minerally piquant and persistently salty Auslese with a stunning delicacy in the aftertaste. The wine is very firm and piquant, but its concentration and vibrancy will take it through decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Markus Molitor Rieslings Arriving November/December 2016

No reviews yet for the highly anticipated 2015 vintage. Stephan Reinhardt from the Wine Advocate has rated previous vintages of the Kabinetts 90+ points, Spatleses 92+ points and Ausleses 94+ points (with three Ausleses receiving 100 points).

molitor 2015 ss

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New 2015 German Offer

Heymann-Loewenstein

Arriving November 2015

These are all the only listings in the USA today!

Heymann-Löwenstein Schieferterrassen Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special

Heymann-Loewenstein ‘von Blauem Schiefer’ Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($44.95) $33 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Soil is blue slate, brownish clay with iron oxide

Heymann-Loewenstein Kirchberg Erste Lage Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Soil is Reddish slate, sandy-quarzite rich in iron

Heymann-Loewenstein Röttgen Erste Lage Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Soil is blue slate

Heymann-Loewenstein Stolzenberg Erste Lage Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Soil is grey-brown slate with sandy silt

Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen Blaufüsser Lay Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Soil is blue-grey slate with silt and clay

Heymann-Loewenstein Uhlen Laubach Lay Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Soil is grey slate with silt and sand rich in limestone fossils

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Have a lovely weekend!