Saturday Special 7-18-20

In Today’s Newsletter:


Subscriber Special:
Continuum’s Powerhouse Napa Red


Value Wines from Montalcino

Fondreche’s Ventoux Stunners

Wines of Terroir from Rioja’s Neighbor

Hubert Lignier Subscriber Special: Ending Soon

Trending Wines

Rose of the Day
A Northern Loire Gem


Collector’s Corner
2010 Dugat-Py – Star Vintage Meets Legendary Producer

 
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Subscriber Special:

Continuum’s Powerhouse Napa Red


Continuum has emerged over the last several years as one of the most important wineries in eastern Napa Valley.  With a beautiful estate vineyard located on a prime, west-facing exposure on Pritchard Hill, overlooking Lake Hennessey, Tim Mondavi honors his family’s heritage while making some of the most exciting wines in the Valley.  Big, bold, seductive, and hard to find, Continuum’s flagship red is sought after by collectors, enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike. It’s getting harder and hard to find, but we’ve just brought in our allocation, which is on sale just for you until we open on Wednesday.

Mix any 2-4 bottles of Continuum 2017 for 5% off
Mix any 5+ bottles of Continuum 2017 for 10% off
Offer valid on stock on hand
Discount will not display online
We will adjust your order manually before finalizing
Continuum Special valid until Wednesday, July 22nd at 10AM



Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Continuum Proprietary Red, Oakville 2017 750ML ($299.95) Displayed price: $259, that’s $246.05 at 5% off or $233.10 at 10% off!
Continuum Proprietary Red, Oakville 2017 375ML ($149.95) Displayed price: $128, that’s $121.60 at 5% off or $115.20 at 10% off!
Antonio Galloni 96+ points
“The 2017 Proprietary Red Wine Sage Mountain Vineyard comes across as remarkably primary. Bright red-toned fruit and floral notes give the 2017 striking freshness as well as nuance. Deep and layered on the palate, with superb depth, the 2017 Continuum is easily one of the wines of the year. Even in the early going, it is truly magnificent.”

Shop our complete selection of California wines such as
Dominus, Spottswoode, Kapcsandy, and Eisele,
in-stock and arriving soon on our web store!
 
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Value Wines from Montalcino

While Montalcino remains best known for Brunello (and rightly so!), there are great value wines to be had from the area.  Both Rosso di Montalcino and Toscana IGT wines from big-name Brunello wineries offer exceptional value and Montalcino style at a price that’s a fraction of the top Brunellos, without the need for a long aging in your cellar.  We’ve got a selection of recently-arrived highlights below, or you can see all the wines from Montalcino in our webstore!


In Stock Now:

The Rosso di Montalcino from Il Poggione is a fantastic follow up to our Rosso di Tuscano offer from last month, which sold out in a flash. We’re the lowest price in the country, and even lower by the case!
Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($31.95) $18 special
Case-12 Il Poggione Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($359.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points
“A Rosso with focus and poise that shows cherry and chocolate character. Lots of new wood now, but plenty of fruit, fine tannins and bright acidity to hold it together. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 89 points “Broad and velvety, with a beam of vibrant cherry accented by iron, sanguine, earth and underbrush notes. Dense and beefy, finishing long and cleansing. Drink now through 2023. 12,000 cases made, 7,500 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni, Vinous “Ripe and racy to the core, Il Poggione’s 2017 Rosso di Montalcino offers tons of richness and intensity from the very first taste. Sweet red cherry, wild flowers, spice and a kiss of new oak are all front and center. In this vintage, the Rosso is decidedly bold. It needs time in bottle to fully come together, for some of that oak to integrate, but it is undoubtedly a very delicious and alluring Rosso that captures the flamboyance of the year.”

 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $22.90
The average price is $25

La Fortuna is one of absolute favorite Brunello estates and their Rosso is a stellar deal, even by their standards.  
La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Grapelive 91 points
“The 2018 La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino is ripe, textured and silky smooth with pure Sangiovese character. It goes wonderfully with simple cuisine and shows a good cut of freshness for easy youthful drinking pleasure. The 2018 vintage is less serious than 2016 in the Montalcino area, but still offers plenty of flavor and value to savvy Tuscan fans. The Rosso di Montalcino “Baby Brunello” offerings are going to be fun and there will be plenty of bargains to be found, like this La Fortuna with its polished and elegant styling. Fresh out the box the La Fortuna is smoothly rich with vine-picked tangy blackberry, wild plum, cranberry, strawberry and tart cherry fruits along with blood orange, tobacco leaf, potpourri florals, rosemary, lavender and spiced cedar notes. A richer form comes out with air and food, making it a medium to full bodied Sangiovese that has a lot of charm, especially for the price. This 100% Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello clone) was crafted with traditional care and made for early drinking with grapes coming from vineyard parcels that range from 15 to 25 years on the semi volcanic soils of the region and was fermented in temperature controlled tanks with about a 20 day maceration on the skins to give it that dark burgundy hue in the glass. After fermentation this La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino is racked mostly to large Slovenian oak casks for six months and aged a further six months in mainly 1 and 2 times filled small French barriques, which explains the luxurious velvety mouth feel, before bottling. This estate goes back a long way with the Zannoni [family] first arriving at “La Fortuna” back in 1907 to work the farmstead and through the generations rose up to finally purchase the property and become a private winery and label with fifth generation Gioberto Zannoni now in charge at this highly regarded Brunello label. I suggest buying the 2013 and 2016 if you can still find them, but don’t overlook these tasty and graceful 2018s either.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

We’re smitten with the delightful and textured wines from La Gerla.  This offers a sneak peak into the house style for a lot less money than a Brunello.
La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Eric Guido – Vinous 91 points
“The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is polished, dark and earthy, with crushed black cherry lifted by peppery herbs and minerals as sweet spices develop in the glass. Silky textures carry brisk acids over the senses, ushering in tart red fruits, with hints of savory herbs, in a wonderfully fresh expression. The finish is medium in length, coating the palate in tart red fruits, with saturating fine tannin and cedary spices.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average price across all vintages is $27

Made from the younger vines in Castelnuovo, it’s basically a baby declassified Brunello. This wine spends 4 months in Slavonian botti.
La Gerla ‘Poggio gli Angeli’ Sangiovese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 La Gerla ‘Poggio gli Angeli’ Sangiovese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Eric Guido – Vinous 90 points
“La Gerla’s 2017 Poggio gli Angeli displays a mix of fresh, wild red berries, savory, spicy herbs and hints of cedar. On the palate, soft textures give way to crushed raspberry and cherry, with hints of sweet spice and sage. The finish is long and fresh, elevated by zesty acids, and showing hints of strawberry and inner floral notes.”

Lisini is a stalwart classicist in Brunello and their “San Biagio” shows off the cool toned, slightly earthier side of Sangiovese in a brilliantly priced package.
Lisini San Biagio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Lisini San Biagio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($259.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!) 
Eric Guido – Vinous 90 points
“What a wonderfully fresh and vibrant expression of Sangiovese, showing peppery herbs and florals up front and then giving way to crushed cherries with hints of leather and undergrowth. On the palate, the 2016 Lisini San Biagio is cool-toned and silky, while delivering a beautiful display of pure red berry fruits, laced with minerals and spice. The finish is long with a staining of cherry, as zesty acids and mineral tones sizzle upon the senses. Lisini never ceases to amaze.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 
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Fondreche’s Ventoux Stunners

If you love big, powerful red wines and you’ve never had the top wines of Domaine de Fondreche, you need to rectify that situation soon.  These are some of the gutsiest, most expressive wines in the Rhone, with incredible critical praise and a price tag that’s equivalent to mid-tier CdP.  From their mostly Syrah “Divergente,” which puts a lot of $80 Hermitage to shame, to their “Il Etait Une Fois,” a Chateauneuf destroyer, their wines represent excellent values and compelling drinking experiences. Because of the obscurity of Ventoux, these aren’t as expensive as they probably should be, despite a multitude of scores in the high 90’s for their wines (case in point, 97 and 95 for the pair today)

When you read the words “Southern Rhone” you probably think of Chateauneuf du Pape: rocky fields or hills that are warm and produce big, rich wines.  What if we told you there was an unexplored area of the Rhone which looked different but also produced powerful wines which were undervalued because of their home turf?

The Ventoux is a massive swath of the Rhone, east of the river and on the other side of the Dentelles from Gigondas.  It sits between the heart of the Southern Rhone and Provence, and the wines have that wild, slightly untamed character that you often find in wines from the mountainous regions of Provence.  Furthermore, Ventoux is attracting some top-tier talent because of the affordability of its vineyard land.  Old vines on interesting soils are still available here, so young, driven winemakers are increasingly leaving Chateauneuf and Gigondas to striking out on their own in Ventoux. A prime example? The incredible, powerful wines of Domaine de Fondreche.

In 15 years, we think we’ll look back on these the way we do now with Gigondas, Cornas and other formerly sleeping giants of the Rhone—the pricing will seem unbelievable.  These powerful wines are only going to get more attention and acclaim and their window of affordability won’t last much longer.


In Stock Now:

Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Divergente, Rhone 2016 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“Reminding me of one of the Sélections Parcellaires Hermitage from Michel Chapoutier, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was mostly destemmed and brought up in foudre. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, peppered meats, graphite, and liquid rock notes all flow to a fat, unctuous, sexy Syrah that has beautiful acidity, fine tannin, and a huge finish. It’s a true “Wow” wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Put this in a blind lineup of top Hermitage and shock all your friends.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Less immediately showy and approachable than the 2016 Persia, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is tight and focused, deserving of a couple of years in the cellar. Smoke, black olive and plum notes dominate this full-bodied wine, picking up hints of espresso on the long, tannic finish.-JC”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Domaine de Fondreche Ventoux Il Etait une Fois, Rhone 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points
“The flagship is the 2016 Ventoux Il Etais Une Fois, which is mostly Grenache with tiny amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre brought up all in foudre. Violets, red and black fruits, spice, and dried earth/limestone minerality all give way to an elegant, medium to full-bodied Grenache that gains depth, freshness, and purity with time in the glass. It has fine, building tannin, a seamless texture, and a great, beautiful finish. Over the previous few years, the quality of this cuvée has soared, and this is one of the finest to date.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Coming in at the top end of the range I projected for it last year, the stunning 2016 Ventoux Il Etait Une Fois is a blend of 80% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah. It’s a voluptuous, full-bodied mix of black cherries and subtle spice notes, all carried by a seamless, plush, creamy-textured palate through a long, concentrated finish. Wow.-JC”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Shop our extensive red Rhone selection on our web store!
 
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Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Don’t want to stop in?

Order Online / By Phone / By Email

When you’re ready to pick up,
just park in our lot, give us a call,
& we’ll bring your order to your car. 

#503-223-6002

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Wines of Terroir from Rioja’s Neighbor

Zorzal makes some of the most overlooked wines in Spain, solely because they work in Navarra, not its more famous neighbor, Rioja.  Working primarily with Garnacha and Graciano, brothers Xabi, Iñaki and Mikel Sanz have made vintage after vintage of terroir-driven values since the winery’s inception in 2007. 

This is a winery that over delivers from the low to the “high” end (still sub $25) with high scoring, delicious wine that highlight the variety of terroirs in Navarra.  These are wines that have tons of immediate appeal, with rich textures and juicy fruit flavors.  They’re also loaded with character, with Zorzal’s light touch in winemaking (native fermentations, minimal new oak) allowing the grapes and terroirs to shine through.  


Newly Arrived from Vina Zorzal:

Vina Zorzal Corral De Los Altos, Navarra 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 92 points
“All the guest winemakers that take part in the Lecciones de Vuelo joint venture with Viña Zorzal are offered to produce their interpretation of the paraje Corral de los Altos in Fitero. The 2018 Corral de los Altos is Zorzal’s own interpretation of a 45-year-old plot of 2.1 hectares of Garnacha planted on a north-facing stony part of the village. The grapes fermented in stainless steel with some 25% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in seven used (second and third use) 500-liter oak barrels. This has contained ripeness and a medium to full-bodied palate with the classical chalky tannins and texture from the limestone-rich soils and the length and tastiness they provide”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vina Zorzal ‘Cuatro del Cuatro’, Navarra 2018 750ML ($36.95) $29 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points
“The pure Graciano 2018 Cuatro del Cuatro was first produced in 2015 as an homage to the Sanz brothers’ father, who kept his Graciano vines when the majority ripped them up. They have seen that, with a soft vinification, the variety is not as rustic as most think and, in fact, can be quite elegant. 2018 was a tricky vintage for the variety, and the wine has moderate alcohol (13.3%), a very low pH (3.35) and notable acidity (six grams of tartaric acid per liter). It was produced with grapes grown in the village of Corella (especially from a vineyard planted in 1978), which has more Mediterranean influence that Fitero, the other village where they have the majority of their vineyards. This is a super serious Graciano, fresher than the majority of varietal bottlings out there, as they have lost the fear of harvesting it earlier, and it delivers a very spicy wine, with lots of black and even white peppercorns. I think this is very much in line with the 2016. It matured in used oak barrels of different sizes, and they did a barrel selection to produce 2,900 bottles of it.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Vina Zorzal Graciano, Navarra 2018 750ml ($19.95) $16 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 91 points
“The 2018 Graciano, the first wine they produced at the new Viña Zorzal in 2007, was produced with grapes from the village of Corella, and they want to show the expression of the grape in the village, more Mediterranean than Fitero, where they have a significant percentage of their vines. The spicy character of the wine and the lively palate are the expression of the Graciano in their village, what they have been trying to express since 2015. It fermented in stainless steel with moderate extraction and matured in used French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. This is a very fresh vintage, and the wine is harmonious, spicy, with an herbal hint, with some dusty tannins, chalky and a bitter twist in the finish. I think the earlier harvest of the grape delivers wines that are more transparent, and this is quite stony and tasty. This is a very good value and a great introduction to Graciano”.

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Vina Zorzal Malayeto, Navarra 2018 750ml ($29.95) $26 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points
“The really impressive and mineral 2018 Malayeto was produced with Garnacha from a single vineyard that produces wine of unusual elegance and minerality. This was the first plot they bottled separately, and this 2018 is the sixth vintage they have produced. It’s a 2.9-hectare plot planted 40 years ago, on the same slope as Corral de los Altos but at a higher altitude and therefore with different soils, surprisingly deep but with lots of calcium carbonate and fine gravel. This fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in a 4,000-liter oak foudre and nine used 500-liter oak barrels for nine months. This wine clearly transcends its price. It’s serious but started quite shy and needed time to open up (it’s extremely young and just bottled), but there is great purity and detail, and it’s elegant and balanced, extremely harmonious. The palate is incredibly elegant, seamless, balanced, with very fine tannins, great integration of the oak and very good freshness, with citrus-like freshness (think blood orange skin). Most of the time, this is my go-to wine in Zorzal’s portfolio, a wine of great finesse in its finest vintage to date.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

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Ending Soon!

Hubert Lignier Subscriber Special
 
 
Hubert Lignier is one of the finest names in Burgundy.  The wines have been a core of the Neal Rosenthal portfolio since the 1978 vintage and have always been one of the jewels of the portfolio.  These are some of the defining wines of Morey-St. Denis, different from Dujac stylistically but no less important or profound.

Some of the 2017’s arrived this week and the rest com in next week.  It’s a fantastic and charming year across Burgundy and the wines chez Lignier are no exception.  These promise to be amongst the best wines of the vintage, per usual, and the standard for 2017 is very high.  

Lignier Subscriber Special
5% Off Any 6-11 bottles of Hubert Lignier Wines
10% Off Any 12+ bottles of Hubert Lignier Wines
(Discount applies to both in-stock and pre-arrival wines from Lignier)
Offer Ends Monday, July 20th
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card



We’ve got way too many 2017 Ligniers to list here (22 bottlings, in total) plus some 2016’s still kicking around.  We’ve got some highlights below, but you can see all the Lignier wines in our webstore.

Some Highlights, Just Arrived and Arriving ETA July 24th:


“can be a contender for the best wine in the Côte de Nuits” – Neal Martin, Vinous
Only six bottles, one magnum available
Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2017 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Domaine Hubert Lignier Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2017 1.5L ($1199.95) $999 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 95-97 points
“The king of the cellar, Lignier’s 2017 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru is superb, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of red and black cherries, cassis, warm spices, incense and grilled game bird. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, layered and complete with striking depth and dimension, rich but satiny structuring tannins and excellent structural tension at the core, concluding with a long and penetrating finish. It’s a magical wine that will merit ardent pursuit when it’s released next year.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 93-95 points “The 2017 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru has a complex, engaging bouquet of ample black and red fruit, candied orange peel and light rose petal aromas that gently unfold in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, quite Clos Saint-Denis in style. The masculine, uncharacteristically stoic finish suggests it has longevity in mind. For those with the intention to cellar only. Impressive, but I am expecting more charm to manifest with the requisite bottle age.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!

Only four bottles available
Domaine Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2017 750ml ($299.95) $299.95) $249 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92-94+ points
“The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Vieilles Vignes is superb, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of warm spices, raspberries, cherries, dark chocolate and candied peel. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, layered and textural, with the most depth and dimension of Lignier’s premiers crus, its deep core of fruit largely concealing the wine’s fine-grained structuring tannins, concluding with a saline finish. This cuvée hails from a parcel that straddles the climats Faconnières and Chenevery that was planted in 1936, 1942 and 1943, and which the Lignier family has always vinified as a single cuvée.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Vieilles Vignes 1er Cru includes 25% whole bunch fruit. It has a tightly wound bouquet that opens in confident style to reveal red cherries, strawberry and fine mineralité. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, quite airy in style, but then suddenly exerts fine grip on the persistent, chalky-textured finish. Excellent.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $305

Only three bottles available
Domaine Hubert Lignier Les Chaffots, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru, 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Vinous 91-93 points
“The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Chaffots 1er Cru, from vines up to 90 years old, has a refined, quite floral bouquet, scents of peony tincturing the red fruit. The sorbet-fresh palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a citric line of acidity and a harmonious, elegant finish. Bon vin.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Les Chaffots reveals aromas of sweet cassis and cherries that mingle with nuances of cinnamon, licorice, dark chocolate and nori. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and tangy, with a tauter, more acid-driven profile than the other premiers crus by virtue of its higher-altitude locate, displaying excellent concentration and high-quality structuring tannin.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only twelve bottles available
Domaine Hubert Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Trilogie, Cote de Nuits 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Neal Martin – Vinous 90-92 points
“The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis “Trilogie,” which includes 25% whole bunch fruit from vines that tend to suffer millerandage, offers vivacious dark cherry and raspberry coulis scents on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine bead of acidity, good focus and a mineral-infused finish that delivers a pleasant sour edginess. Excellent.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2017 Morey-Saint-Denis “Trilogie” hails from three lieux-dits, this year working out at around 60% Chenevery, 30% Porroux and 15% Clos Solon, and it was vinified with 25% whole cluster. Offering up aromas of sweet berries, cassis, licorice, cinnamon and chocolate, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered with a rich but lively core of fruit and fine but chalky structuring tannins. As usual, it’s one of the finest renditions of the appellation.”

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Trending Wines

A great value Pinot from a treasured local producer.
Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer Corridor Ava 2017 750ML ($24.95) $17 special
Case-12 Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer Corridor Ava 2017 750ML ($299.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
No reviews for the 2017 vintage. Review is for reference.
Josh Raynolds 91 points
“[2016 Vintage] Shimmering red. Vibrant, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit and floral scents, along with a savory herb nuance and a hint of smokiness. Appealingly sweet and sharply focused on the palate, offering lively redcurrant, raspberry and rose pastille flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Silky tannins come on late and support a seamless, floral-driven finish that hangs on with strong tenacity.”


This is the only listing in the USA today!

A stunning Brunello from the impeccable 2015 vintage.
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML  ($59.95) $45 special
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($719.95) $489 special (that’s only $40.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points
“The sliced plums and peaches are plentiful here on the nose. Full-bodied and dense with round and rich tannins and a long, long finish. Shows structure and intensity. Serious Brunello. Better after 2022.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This is round and full of sweet, ripe cherry, strawberry, graphite and earth flavors. Firms up as the finish plays out, echoing an essence of fruit. Best from 2022 through 2039. —B.S.”


If you wish Italian wines had more power and texture, this is your Sangiovese.
Charles Smith CasaSmith Cinghiale Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points
“Also terrific, the 2018 Sangiovese Cinghiale has complex, savory notes of dried herbs, new leather, and ripe cherries. Medium-bodied and seamless on the palate, with no hard edges, it’s another wine under this label that delivers the goods at a great price. Drink it over the coming 4-6 years as well.”


This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $21

A best seller each vintage, this is classic Chianti Classico, with a richer edge to it.  
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Importer Note
“The Chianti Classico has a vivid ruby color and a strong nose of fresh red fruit with hints of cherry. This is a well-structured wine with a fruity finish. Barrel Aging: 12 months in Slavonian casks. March was warm, but April and May were very cold and rainy. Good weather started from June 10 to the end of the month. The beginning of July was very warm and dry. Intense warmth from mid-July to end of August, interspersed with some rain, guaranteed the right humidity for the soil. September and mid-October brought good weather with some scattered rain. Blooming was delayed for 10 days as well as flowering. In June, the vines started a sudden and vigorous development. Veraison began with some delay and continued fairly slowly. Harvest started a few days later compared to the previous years.”


The best deal in Washington Cab got even better with a case special.
Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 special
Case-12 Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2018 750ML ($219.95) $159 special (that’s only $13.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points
“This has the wonderful, dark-fruit and olive character of a ripe cabernet sauvignon, but the polished tannins fold over the wine. It’s full-bodied, yet agile and focused at the finish. Real wine for the money. Drink now.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $16

One of our top picks every vintage, Jaboulet’s Thalabert is excellent (again) in 2017.
Paul Jaboulet Aine Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Grapelive 94 points
“Drinking more like a great Cote-Rotie than a Crozes-Hermitage, the 2017 Domaine de Thalabert Crozes Rouge by Caroline Frey and Jaboulet is a profound effect considering the searing heat of the vintage with an intense inky color and beautifully elegant detailing. This is a stunning pure Syrah wine that thrills the palate. This black/purple hued Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine Croze-Hermitage “Domaine de Thalabert” starts with some flair and flamboyance highlighted by crushed violets, creme de cassis and espresso roast before classic flavors unfold on the full bodied palate with boysenberry, damson plum, kirsch, blueberry compote and loganberry coulis as well as black licorice, grilled herbs de Provence, a touch of earth, peppercorns, tapenade and sweet cedar notes along with a faint mocha element. While heady, this wine is wonderfully drinkable with a very stylish and balanced form. It comes in at about 13.5% natural alcohol, so it can be enjoyed without any oppressive heat showing, or aggressive tannins, making it easy to enjoy in its youth and sublime with food, especially roast meats, savory mushroom dishes and rustic cuisine. It has enough sweet fruit to go with Turkish lamb or Korean BBQ Pork… Air brings out a fuller expression of the succulent dark fruits as well as allowing hints of camphor/graphite and delicate mineral tones. This wine lingers on and on heavenly in the glass. This is a Syrah to spend some time with to enjoy it in its complete performance. It is truly excellent until the last drop leaves the bottle… The Domaine Paul Jaboulet Aine, now owned by the Frey family, led by the talented winemaking tigress Caroline Frey, has been an iconic estate in the Northern Rhone and one of the big three in the region along with Guigal and Chapoutier. [The Domaine is] best known for their fabled La Chapelle vineyard in Hermitage, Syrah’s most holy site! There have been wines made here since pre-Roman times, but it was Antoine Jaboulet’s plantings in 1834 and focus on quality which really started to establish the area as one of the major wine producing appellations of the world. After he passed, the land was passed on to his two sons Henri and Paul. The Frey family, who bought the fade glory Jaboulet in 2006, have become big time players in premium French wine production having serious quality properties in Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux, which includes Chateau La Lagune in Haut-Medoc and Château de Corton André in the Cote de Beaune. Caroline, who studied in Bordeaux is one of France’s rising stars and has her hand in many projects, with even a biodynamic high elevation vineyard in Switzerland under her care… [Her efforts] have certainly brought this estate back to the elite status it enjoyed in the 1950s and 1960s. The Thalabert parcel, a special terroir, is located in Crozes’ pebble-strewn granite soiled lieu-dit of Les Chassis, which has owned by Jaboulet since its founding back in 1834 and is regarded as maybe the greatest set of vines in the Crores-Hermitage AOC, all organic and biodynamic. Frey uses partial whole bunches and well-judged use of new wood, really putting the focus on the vintage and trying for transparency and luxurious texture in her recent releases. This 2017 is proving to be a very tasty version, maybe not as serious as 2015 and 2016 for the cellar. This is one to drink up and offers a stunning value.”
 
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Rose of the Day

A Northern Loire Gem


Domaine Brazilier makes some of our favorite value bubbly and also one of the best rosés out there, especially if you like bright, zippy pink wine with chalky minerality.  Made from 100% Pineau d’Aunis (aka Chenin Rouge) in the northern part of the Loire, it has beautiful grapefruit and white pepper aromas that follow through on an energetic palate and a mouth-watering finish.  Still under $15, it remains one of the best values in the world of rosé.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Brazilier Coteaux du Vendomois Tradition Rose, Loire 2019 750ML ($18.95) $14.40 special
VinopolNote:
“A perennial favorite, this 100% Pineau d’Aunis rosé is all fresh cut grapefruit zest and white pepper, with pretty pink fruit and a very zippy, dry finish.  A rosé for lovers of dry, crunchy wine.”

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Collector’s Corner

2010 Dugat-Py

Star Vintage Meets Legendary Producer



Dugat-Py makes some of the most coveted wines in Burgundy—powerful, rich versions of Pinot Noir that have made the estate one of the most admired and talked about in the world of wine.  They’ve been a coveted producer for decades, focusing on extremely careful farming, low yields and old vines in a way that most other domaines only talk about.

In 2011, Antonio Galloni remarked that “The Dugat-Py wines are breathtaking for their richness and depth. Despite their sheer concentration, the wines retain tons of vineyard and vintage character. These are some of the most viscerally thrilling, exciting wines I tasted on my recent trip through Burgundy.” High praise, certainly, but he was echoing a line of other writers praising these gems of the Cote de Nuits.

We’ve secured an assortment of some of their wines from one of the finest vintages in recent memory, 2010, directly from the distributor, The Wine Advocate once asked “can anyone think of an easier job than having to sell Bernard Dugat’s wines?” and we don’t think so.

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Domaine Dugat-Py Petite Chapelle, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($399.95) $299 special, only 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 93-95 points
“The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Petite Chappelle emerges from the glass with freshly cut flowers, spices, mint and licorice. This is a totally harmonious, gracious wine from Bernard Dugat. The richness and weight of the fruit are very nicely balanced by the cooler, more vibrant qualities of the year. This is all class and elegance. Small red berries, flowers and licorice reappear on the finish. The Petite Chapelle was vinified with 50% whole clusters and aged in 100% new oak.”
Burghound 93 points “Outstanding. Here the nose is more elegant and airier with an almost Chambolle-like aromatic profile. The floral and liqueur of red raspberry fruit notes are refined and pure. There is beautiful precision and intensity to the medium-bodied flavors that brim with an almost pungent minerality on the complex, long and balanced finish. Though this is lacy and indeed delicate, the Gevrey roots express themselves via the sleek but taut muscularity that arrives right on the finish. Impressive juice with plenty of upside potential.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $369.99
That’s a difference of over $70!

Domaine Dugat-Py Champeaux Tres Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($399.95) $299 special, only 6 bottles available
Burghound 92-95 points
“outstanding. This is almost like a hypothetical combination of the Gevrey “1er” and the Petite Chapelle with a ripe and admirably pure nose of cassis, spiced plum, wet stone and pungent earth aromas. There is genuinely brilliant complexity to the exceptionally rich and equally stony broad-shouldered flavors that possess perhaps a bit more refinement than usual on the strikingly persistent finish. This is a stunner of a Champeaux in a vintage that produced any number of them.”
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champeaux is a more structured, tannic wine than the Petite Chappelle. The fruit tends towards the redder end of the spectrum, but ultimately the Champeaux is more about minerality and sheer length. This is a 2010 with firm, imposing tannins that is going to require quite a bit of cellaring.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $325
The average listed price is $347

Domaine Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvee Coeur de Roy Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, only 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Coeur du Roi is racy, deep and totally sensual. Clean veins of minerality support a core of expressive blue and black fruit. The 2010 is both deep and long. All the elements are beautifully balanced in this impeccable, mineral driven wine. Cassis, blueberries, sweet flower and mint inform the energetic, palate staining finish. Dugat used 75% whole clusters, which gives the wine an attractive aromatic lift throughout. These vines are between 50-100 years old.”
Burghound 90 points “outstanding. A ripe and attractively perfumed nose features notes of black cherry, cassis and plum that are given added lift from the copious floral nuances. There is simply incredible concentration to the round and suave medium weight plus flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel on the powerful, precise and superbly focused and persistent finish. This explosive effort delivers knockout quality for its level.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $201.99
That’s a difference of over $32

Domaine Dugat-Py Bourgogne Cuvee Halinard, Burgundy 2010 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, only 10 bottles available

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Thanks for reading!