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Monday Bonus 12-7-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Featured New Arrival
The Legendary Tawny & Colheita Ports from Kopke

#Trending

New Reviews for Saint Cosme / Louis Barruol
From Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

Arriving Tomorrow
Chezeaux’s 2017 Burgundies
“Potentially Career-Making”

Pre-Arrival Offer
Francois Merlin’s Magical Norther Rhones

Featured New Arrival

The Legendary Tawny & Colheita Ports

From Kopke

While we might yet be waiting for winter in Portland (considering 2020 has three weeks left, expect a snowmageddon) it is certainly time for Port. The temperatures have dropped and we’ve still got every excuse to stay home and enjoy the full breadth of a wine that will warm you, head to toe. There are a million reasons to close out the year with the amazing wines of Kopke.

You simply cannot go wrong with these as a gift for someone who’s been with you through the long haul, or as a toast to your own endurance and ability to get through this year. Kopke, founded in 1638, makes what might be the most vibrant and long lived port wines available. They too have been through adverse times in their near 400 year history, seeing dramatic shifts in the climate, swings in the popularity of their product, and the rise and fall of populist dictators. Through all of this, they’ve been consistent in their commitment to making the greatest Tawny and Colheita (vintage Tawny) Port available.

We’re fortunate to have a tremendous lineup available: Colheita vintage selections from ’57, ’58, ’66, ’78, ’81, ’89, ’99, and 2000, and the 30 Year and 40 Year Tawnies. Highlights from the vintages include the powerful 1981 – stuffed with aromatics from across the spectrum; floral notes, fresh citrus, walnuts and fig with substantial but surprisingly silky tannins. You can experience the unbelievably youthful 1957 or 1966 – these are perfect examples of age adding concentration and depth, but the traditional Kopke freshness that keeps these so vibrant. Flickers of warmth are reminiscent of Cognac, but the clarity of the fruit and spice dominate the balance. Finally, the 1999 might be the best Tawny I have had in the past 20 years. I find the aromatics showing some of the complex spice notes of the best vintages I have ever had. I would strongly recommend this for the long haul (perhaps as a gift!), but if you can’t resist, take your time with it. Allow it to develop and fill your glass to the fullest. All of these will continue to show their highlights and develop rich spice and dried fruit characteristics for years to come.

Newly Arrived from Kopke

Kopke 30 Year Old Tawny Port 750ML ($179.95) $128 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A very inviting, open style, with butterscotch and caramel notes framing the core of glazed pear, caramelized peach, golden raisin and warm fig flavors. The lush finish lets crème brûlée and ginger cream details hang, showing a flash of honeysuckle for lift. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Dark gold in color, this Port relishes its age. Like an aged tawny, it has lost its fruit at this mature stage, while gaining the rich, intense character that comes from long wood aging. It has concentrated acidity and a long, lingering aftertaste. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV 30 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2017 with a bar-top cork and 130 grams per liter of residual sugar. The last release I saw of this was pretty fine. So, too, here. This adds a layer of depth and more complexity to the Burmester, although it lacks the Burmester’s elegance and sex appeal. While the finish here is bigger and more gripping, it is no more flavorful (actually, less so). Still, as this rolls around the mouth, it is impressive, not necessarily more exciting than the Burmester, but definitely different stylistically. They are good examples of the diversity you can get in one portfolio. As always, these last indefinitely, barring cork failures, but they are not really meant to be held.”
[Bottling year may vary from review]

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $155

Kopke 40 Years Old Tawny Port 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This offers a dreamy mix of caramelized pear, fig and peach flavors at the core, while caramel, sesame oil and date notes fill in through the expansive finish. At first glance this is quite lush, but the finish lingers with cut and drive. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2016 with a bar top cork and 145 grams per liter of residual sugar. This adds a bit more brandy as a nuance on the finish to the 30, reviewed this issue, but it still seems much like the 30 Year Old, surprisingly fresh and easy, beautifully balanced and on the lighter side in terms of mid-palate concentration. It is a lovely tawny on its own terms–I’m just not sure it delivers enough of an uptick to justify the price spike from the 30 (or, perhaps even the 20). On its own, though, it won’t disappoint. The price references a 750 milliliter bottle.”
[Bottling year may vary from review]

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $256.99

Kopke Colheita Port 1957 750ML ($479.95) $379 special
Jamie Goode-Wine Anorak 96 points “There’s a hint of treacle here. It’s rich and dense with old furniture notes and lovely concentration and intensity. Nice depth.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1957 Colheita Tawny Port was seen before, but it’s worth revisiting in the USA, since it’s a great wine. This is also the new 2015 bottling. It has 127 grams per liter of residual sugar. It is stunning how youthful this is. Lush and rich on opening, it has mature flavors that emerge, easily demonstrating the complexity and concentrated aromatics one expects. Gripping on the finish, this delivers fruit flavor and seems to linger indefinitely. When I first saw this, it was tasted next to even more brilliant Colheitas and a bit overshadowed. On its own, it is even more stunning. It was pretty fine next to some other greats here as well.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “There is a great balance between acidity and impressively fresh fruit considering the age of this venerable Port. Of course there are many flavors from the wood aging, but they are combined with orange marmalade, fig and raisin flavors in a riot of complex flavors that have created a very great wine. It comes from a year that was not generally declared as a vintage.”

Kopke Colheita Port 1958 750ML ($399.95) $319 special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $368

Kopke Colheita Port 1966 750ML ($299.95) $249 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 1966 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 126.3 grams per liter of residual sugar, and comes with a bar top cork (as is typical here). As we start getting seriously old in the lineup from Sogevinus this issue, this shows what you get with increasing age: the superb concentration of flavor, the long, intense finishes and the complex medley of flavors that old Tawnies deliver effortlessly. That, to me, is what makes them worth the extra bucks. If some of the youngsters lean more to caramel, this adds more molasses with a touch of Brandy in the background. The concentrated flavors linger more or less endlessly, driven into the palate by the wine’s power and acidity. You can smell and taste this for a long time. The graceful mid-palate is deceptively friendly at first. It sure does grip the palate at the end, though, finishing with juicy bursts of fruit and sugar. Over several days, it acquired a bit more harmony and shed a touch of aggression. The alcohol, speaking relatively, is not as well integrated here as with the 1965, also reviewed, but that is relative. I tended to like this just slightly better anyway for its complexity and concentration on several fronts. The freshness on the 1965 is quite enticing, though. It tastes younger. It depends on what you want: that old-wine complexity and depth or a livelier feel. They both have plenty of power on the finish. You can’t go wrong, really.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Bottled in 2015, this wine from a great Port vintage is dark in color and so concentrated. It is powered by intense acidity from the wood aging as much as any residual fruit. Spice, dried fruits and a perfect balance give this great wine elegance and surprising freshness. Drink now.”
[Bottling year may vary from reviews.]

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $299.99

Kopke Colheita Port 1978 750ML ($149.95) $99 special
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 1978 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 119 grams per liter of residual sugar and a bar top cork (typical for the house). It is very graceful for its age, finishing with a wave of sweetness, fruit and sugar. Emphasizing the caramel more than the molasses, this is irresistibly delicious, but it becomes more complex and puts on weight as it airs and warms. The wine shows off its power and hints of Brandy on the rather tense finish, too. Overall, this is a beauty that becomes more impressive the longer you sit with it. Then, you realize that its balance is simply perfect, yet it stands out in most every category. This is very fine and the price is pretty nice for the age and the quality.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $116

Kopke Colheita Port 1981 750ML ($144.95) $99 special
Jamie Goode-Wine Anorak 96 points “This is quite special. Wonderfully spicy and raisiny with some fresher citrus and mineral characters, as well as cedary notes. Direct, thrilling and intense.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Kopke Colheita Port 1989 750ML ($69.95) $59 special

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $69

Kopke Colheita Port 1999 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Jamie Goode-Wine Anorak 94 points “Complex, spicy and raising with an appealing saline edge. Some lovely savoury notes developing here. Has warmth and complexity.”

Kopke Colheita Port 2000 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Mark Squires-Wine Advocate 93 points

This is the only listing in the USA today!

#Trending

Cameron remains a special winery—one of our favorite houses in Oregon and one of the capital-g Great Pinot Noir producers in the US. Owner and winemaker, John Paul, has been producing fun and flavorful Italian-inspired whites for years. This is rounded, and highly aromatic with zippy acidity, making it a great all-around pairing for food.

Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Italian side of our clan (the Cameronis) also influences part of our white wine program. In this case the wines of Friuli and Alto Adige offer a model that works exquisitely with much of our fruit. The Pinot Bianco (given the nomer “Giovanni”) is fermented in stainless steel, typically in 3 different lots with appropriate aromatic yeasts, and bottled in its exuberant youth in the early spring.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

K Vintners’ day-to-day winemaker is Brennan Leighton. A super-talented voice in the world of Washington wine, Brennan also has his own label, B. Leighton, which is the focus today. These are do-not-miss wines for anyone who loves the K wines and old school, Rhone inflected Washington State reds. Full of generous fruit and beautiful earthy and floral tones, these are wines that are powerful and delicious on release, but have the track record and pedigree to age.

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Gratitude, Yakima Valley 2017 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “A cuvée made for winemaker Brennen Leighton’s wife and a field blend of 70% Mourvèdre, 25% Grenache, and 5% Syrah, the 2017 Gratitude ranks with the finest Mourvèdres to come from the state. Awesome notes of black raspberry liqueur, incense, ground pepper, and forest floor give way to a medium to full-bodied, ripe, powerful yet weightless 2017 that does everything right. It’s already just about impossible to resist, yet my money is on it evolving for a solid decade.”

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Lastly, the 2016 Petit Verdot comes from a higher elevation block and was brought up in 40% new French oak. It has a great bouquet of white pepper, chocolatey dark fruits, tobacco, and a kiss of violets to go with a full-bodied, incredible elegant profile on the palate. You don’t find Petit Verdot with this level of finesse very often, and it has silky tannins, good mid-palate concentration, and a great finish. It’s another stunning wine from Leighton I’d be thrilled to drink over the coming 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

B. Leighton Olsen Brothers Vineyard Syrah, Yakima Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2017 Syrah comes all from the Olsen Brothers Vineyard in the Yakima Valley and is a mix of the 383 and Phelps clones of Syrah. It was not destemmed and was brought up in just 15% new French oak. Ground pepper, meat, smoked game, and decayed flower notes all emerge from this Northern Rhone look-alike. It’s beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and a rock star expression of Syrah to enjoy over the coming 8-10 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

The Vinopolis staff’s “house” Champagne
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $279 special, 11 double-magnums in stock now
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 6L ($599.95) $519 special, IN-STORE PICK UP ONLY
Case-6 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of André Clouet’s NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is showing well, exhibiting a nicely integrated bouquet of red apple, ripe citrus fruit, honeycomb and blanched almonds, followed by a medium to full-bodied, enveloping palate with a fine mousse, ripe but racy acids and an elegant, understated profile, concluding with a well-defined finish. This is a stylish, harmonious wine that makes for a fine introduction to the Clouet portfolio.” [Reviewed April 2019]

The average price is $42

From the family behind Beaucastel, a Gigondas winner
Famille Perrin Gigondas Domaine du Clos des Tourelles, Rhône 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The finest vintage to date, the 2015 Gigondas Le Clos des Tourelles comes from a tiny vineyard located just inside the village of Gigondas. Incorporating a touch of Syrah, this Grenache dominated beauty reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as off the chart notes of black raspberries, black cherries, pepper, garrigue, and tons of that classic Gigondas spice. I wrote “Wow” more than once in my notes and this full-bodied 2015 has ultra-fine tannin, perfect balance, and a stacked mid-palate. Give bottles 2-3 years and drink over the following 15+ years.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Brilliant ruby color. Powerful cherry, blackberry and floral pastille aromas are energized by building spice and floral notes. Stains the palate with sappy red/dark berry preserve, candied lavender and spicecake flavors and shows a touch of licorice on the back half. Refuses to let up on the powerful finish, which features gently chewy tannins and resonating cherry and floral notes.”

La Fortuna is one of the top producers of Brunello, having turned their small (11 hectare) estate into one of the most consistently excellent in all of Tuscany. The winery leans modern, with rich, ripe fruit and plush textures, but the wines all maintain an earthiness that keeps them grounded and allows them to age beautifully.
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 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.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99

New Reviews for Saint Cosme / Louis Barruol

From Joe Czerwinski at the Wine Advocate

Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures. The 2018’s are some of the best wines they’ve yet made.

Chateau de Rouanne Comte de Grignan Brut Nature, IGP Méditerranée 2019 750ML ($31.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Louis Barruol has turned out an innovative rosé sparkling from his new estate. The 2019 IGP Méditerranée Comte de Grignan Brut Nature is a blend of 55% Mourvèdre, 20% Cinsault, 10% Syrah, 10% Marselan and 5% Grenache. Vibrant flamingo-pink in color, it’s fresh and apple-y on the nose and medium-bodied on the palate, while hints of red berries creeping in on the crisp, refreshing finish. Without much time on the lees, it’s a fruit-driven sparkler that should be enjoyed on the young side.” – Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2019 1.5L ($34.95) $27 special, 33 magnums in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points “While the 2019 Cotes du Rhone is not a single-estate wine (it’s labeled simply Saint Cosme, without the “Château de”), this 100% Syrah is a perennial bargain—and this could be its best vintage to date. Aromas of violets, cracked pepper, cassis and blueberries leap from the glass, while the medium to full-bodied palate is ripe but silky, leading into a long, mouthwatering finish. A blend of fruit from the Gard (the right bank of the Rhône) and Vinsobres (the left bank, about 400 meters above sea level), it retains a sense of freshness not often found in Syrahs from the Southern Rhône.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion, Rhône 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion, Rhône 2018 1.5L ($49.95) $39 special, 24 magnums in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 90 points “Mainly Grenache, with smaller portions of Mourvèdre and Syrah, the 2018 Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albions matured in wooden and concrete vats. Black cherries and blueberries mark the nose, picking up hints of garrigue and black olives along the way. Medium to full-bodied, plush and expansive, it turns almost velvety on the finish. It’s another terrific bargain from Barruol.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML (44.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($269.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special, 36 magnums in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 93 points “Saint Cosme’s 2018 Gigondas is a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah and 1% Cinsault, aged in a combination of new and used oak, with 30% of the volume matured in concrete. Full-bodied and generous, it’s round and supple, with no hard edges to hamper the easy flow of asphalt, red raspberries and black cherries across the palate. Boasting ample but not excessive concentration, it’s a lovely, seductive example of Gigondas to enjoy over the next decade or so.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $52

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96 points “From a single parcel of old-vine Grenache, the 2018 Gigondas le Claux matured in a mix of new, one- and two-year-old barrels. Full-bodied, rich and expansive, it combines notes of black cherries, roses, black tea and asphalt with vanilla and hints of cigar box. Ripe, supple and velvety, it’s a seductive example of Gigondas that should drink well for more than a decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 points “Up there among the best Gigondas I’ve ever reviewed, the 2018 Gigondas le Poste combines considerable complexity with incredible intensity and adds a seductive measure of suppleness without sacrificing length or focus. Violet and aniseed aromas accent plums and black cherries on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied and velvety in texture, with a long, silky finish that folds in notes of salted licorice.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $133

Always a classic and exceptionally delicious young in the ’17 vintage.
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 94 points “Saint Cosme’s 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape is a blend of 50% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 15% Syrah and 5% Cinsault, from the lieux-dits of La Crau, Varoli and Le Cristia. Aged two years in used barrels, it gracefully melds traces of vanilla and baking spices with seductive cherries and toasted almonds. Medium to full-bodied, it’s silky in feel, with a prolonged, softly dusty finish. While some 2017s need additional cellaring, this one looks ready to go, but capable of aging well for more than a decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

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

(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)

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503-223-6002

Arriving Tomorrow

Chezeaux’s 2017 Burgundies

“Potentially Career-Making”

“From the moment we encountered Chezeaux’s 2017s, shortly after they completed malolactic fermentation, we knew this was a special, potentially career-making collection. The wines, which had been neither racked nor sulfured at that point, raised goosebumps with their purity of fruit, their startling transmission of site character, and their haunting equilibrium; these are wines into which one can peer deeply. From a relatively problem-free growing season whose warmth expressed itself in the fruit much differently than the similarly solar 2015 and 2016, the 2017s “found their structure over some élevage,” Jérôme remarks, calling it a “very Pinot” vintage…

“These 2017s are uniformly ultra-fine and lifted, with remarkably well rendered and supple tannins, and an underlying mineral freshness, and they are quite accessible at this youthful stage—even the typically colossally stern Clos de Vougeot—though their impeccable balance will allow them to develop beautifully. Worth emphasizing is the almost shockingly sane pricing in effect at this domaine, which makes these wines irresistible for the prudent collector, especially given their current level of quality.” –Neal Rosenthal

Jerome Chezeaux makes wines that epitomize our favorite sort of Burgundy. Age-worthy, fine and built on a core of minerality, but priced a tier below what the wines deliver. Make no mistake about it—Chezeaux makes wines that can be poured with the finest producers in Nuits, but cost 25% less. In a vintage like 2017 he really shines, as the warm year buttresses his mineral style with a bit broader shoulders and more fruit. The three Premier Cru Nuits-St. George wines are of particular note—they’re incredible values and are only slightly more expensive than some producer’s village bottlings.

Arriving Tuesday, December 8th:

Only two bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Chezeaux owns a 0.17-hectare sliver of this outsized grand cru, in the prime sector just above and next to the castle. From these old vines, Jérôme produces a wine that does justice to the immense power and complexity this site is capable of at its best. Rivetingly wild, gamy, and structured, it presents a forceful, iron-dominated mineral core flanked by dark fruit and shot through with muscular tannins. Always the most impenetrable wine in the cellar in its youth, it demands significant cellaring but pays enormous dividends in time.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only seven bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Vaucrains Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $85 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Nuits-Saint-Georges famously possesses no grand cru vineyards, but Les Vaucrains is widely considered one in all but name. Always the most complete of Chezeaux’s premier crus, Vaucrains rumbles with tension—an authoritative wine that exudes an impression of depth and solidity. Here, the fruit, mineral, and savory elements bind together more tightly, more seamlessly. Jérôme owns just over a quarter-hectare of east-facing vines in Vaucrains, and his conservative oak regimen—never more than one-third of the barrels are new—highlights the power of the terroir itself.”

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

Only ten bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges Rue de Chaux Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Located almost dead-center in the appellation, Rue de Chaux is perhaps the most quintessentially “Nuits-Saint-Georges” among Chezeaux’s premier crus. Jerome owns a mere 0.29 hectares in this steep, topsoil-deficient vineyard, and his ever-elegant touch yields a wine of both grace and power. Darkly fruited, dense, and slightly brooding, it also offers an enchanting savory-spicy perfume.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only twelve bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Prulieres Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The smallest-production premier cru in Chezeaux’s cellar, Les Pruliers lies near the border of Nuits-Saint-Georges and Premeaux-Prissey in the southern part of the appellation. Jerome works a mere tenth of a hectare here—a parcel of extremely old vines that produce a wine of warmth and generosity. More full-bodied than the Rue de Chaux above, its fruit is pitched toward the black, and, while not heavy-handed in the slightest, it emphasizes robustness over sleekness.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only ten bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Vosne-Romanee Chaumes Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Les Chaumes lies at the southern edge of Vosne-Romanée, immediately below the hallowed premier crus Aux Malconsorts and La Tache on a vein of limestone and marl. Chezeaux owns four-tenths of a hectare here, producing a wine that marries the exotic spice and succulent fruit of Vosne-Romanée with the mineral force of Nuits-Saint-Georges in ravishing fashion.”

Only ten bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Charbonnieres Vieilles Vignes 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “With the 2011 vintage, and with our encouragement, Jérôme began separating out his oldest villages-level parcel—a 0.67-hectare holding of 80-year-old vines in Les Charbonnières, situated just below the premier cru Aux Corvées on the slope in the appellation’s southern sector. Boasting true old-vines power, this is always thicker-fruited and more exuberantly spicy than its counterpart above, with greater length. Its lusciousness, however, does nothing to mask the underlying complexity that sets this cuvée apart.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only thirty-six bottles available
Jerome Chezeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Chezeaux’s holdings of villages-level Nuits-Saint-Georges encompass 3.3 hectares spread throughout the appellation, with a significant proportion from the vineyards of Aux Saint Julien and Chaliots. In keeping with the spirit of the underlying terroir, this is wilder in character than the Vosne-Romanée, marked by notes of iron, and with a rambunctious bent to its tannins. Never deficient in fruit, it offers plenty of earth and sous-bois elements as well, all in a driving fashion.”

Pre-Arrival Offer

Francois Merlin’s Magical Northern Rhones

After studying under Rene Rostaing, Francois Merlin planted his first vineyard in the late 1980s. Since then, he’s been meticulously caring for his tiny acreage and making exquisite if under-the-radar Rhone wines. Preferring to let the grapes speak for themselves, he ages the wines in mostly neutral oak and steel. These are fresh and vibrant wines that, coming from the warm 2018 vintage, are beautiful now with grippy tannins and balanced acids indicating a long life ahead of them, particularly the Cote Rotie and the Saint Joseph. The IGP Syrah is a winner and a staff pick for winter meals.

Arriving Friday, December 11th

Domaine Francois Merlin Cote Rotie, Rhone 2018 750ML ($79.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Francois Merlin Cote Rotie, Rhone 2018 750ML ($479.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Decanter 93 points “A very soft style, very ripe and juicy. Fairly tannic, but they’re ripe and yielding with flavours of black fruit coulis and touch of liquorice. It has fairly high alcohol with a saline finish – there’s freshness despite the very ripe fruit. This is a palate-coating, fairly opulent style but will be good when it’s ready – has length.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Francois Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Francois Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($479.95) $299 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Decanter 91 points “An approachable wine that has lifted cedar and incense on the nose. Very plush with soft fruits, slightly lacking in acidity perhaps, but it’s an authentic representation of the vintage, not overly corrected. Good natural sense to the fruit, it’s expressive, unrestrained. Not overly marked by oak spice. South-facing granite terroir, 70% of vines are 45-years-old, the rest are 15-years-old. All destemmed, 12 months in barriques and demi-muids, from 1 to 4 years-old.”

Domaine Francois Merlin Syrah Broceliande, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($79.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine Francois Merlin Syrah Broceliande, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($479.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Staff pick! Shows dark fruit, spice, and warm iron on the nose. Leather and black cherries leads into gingerbread and dried cherries with air. On the palate, the wine is impactful with flavors of spice and black berries. The light astringency of the tannins and solid acidity keep everything in check. There’s an aroma of black tea, plum and dark chocolate on the finish. A fantastic wine to pair with roast meats, game, or ratatouille.

Thanks for reading!

Vinopolis Tuesday Newsletter 12-1-2020

In Today’s Newsletter:

Staff Champagne Picks
$50 – $100

La Fortuna’s Consistently Excellent Brunello

Staff Champagne Picks
$100 – $150

Delas: Northern Rhône Ambition

Hot Sellers Re-Arriving Friday

Stunning Wines from Southern Spain

Staff Champagne Picks

$50 – $100

One of Champagne’s best known houses for a reason
Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Bollinger Special Cuvée Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($419.95) $312 special (that’s only $52/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Fine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.” [Reviewed July 2019]

“A blanc de noirs that focuses on subtlety and finesse rather than power”
Hugues Godmé Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 21 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Poised and balanced with a bright pop of fruit.
Peter Liem note “…the Blanc de Noirs, comes entirely from the grand cru villages of Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont-sur-Vesle, and like the Blanc de Blancs, it always contains a high percentage of reserve wine. A slightly larger percent of this is aged in wood, but even then, it’s a blanc de noirs that focuses on subtlety and finesse rather than power.”
Disgorged January 2018, 4.5 years en tirage.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delicate, broad, balanced
Eric Rodez Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Champagne (2014) NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 10 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “[Reviewed Apr 2019] Offering up aromas of smoky green orchard fruit, hazelnuts and waxy citrus that are delicately framed by their time in barrel, the latest rendition of Rodez’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs is a medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy wine with a bright spine of acidity, a frothy mousse and a long, vinous and subtly oak-inflected finish. Unsurprisingly, its Ambonnay origins and Rodez’s style mark it just as much as its cépage.”
[Review is for prior disgorgement]

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

Charles Heidsieck was one of the pioneers of the Blanc de Blancs style
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $66 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2012 vintage, the latest rendition of Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs incorporates some 20% reserve wines, derived from younger vintages to emphasize what Cyril Brun described as the “youthful” side of Chardonnay, in contrast to the mature expression of that cépage offered by the house’s Blanc de Millénaires. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and walnut oil, complemented by some of the empyreumatic nuances so typical of the base vintage, it’s a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive wine that’s lively and inviting. It was disgorged last year with nine grams per liter dosage.”
Decanter 92 points “One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and its fresh, saline acidity. A lovely food wine.”

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

Pure and crystalline
R. Pouillon & Fils Solera Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The idea of this cuvée is to erase the influence of vintage and focus solely on terroir. It is 50% each chardonnay and pinot noir and all from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Every year, 30% is racked off for secondary fermentation and replaced with 30% new wine. Up until the 2010 vintage was added, the entire Solera was aged in steel; it is now aged in oak uprights and undergoes full malolactic.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

An unusual blend for the Champagne geek in your life
Champagne Aubry ‘Sablé ‘ Premier Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne 2014 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Rosé Sablé Nicolas François Aubry is a real pleasure to taste. It is also much more giving than the 2013 at this stage. Crushed flowers, cranberry and chalk all flesh out in a Rosé that offers terrific depth as well as energy. It is another classy, polished Champagne from the Aubry brothers.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Disgorged in October 2018, Aubry’s 2014 Brut Nature Rosé Sablé Premier Cru is showing very well, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of oatmeal, fresh peach, woodsmoke, orange oil and dried linden blossom. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and crisply textural, with racy acids, a delicate low-pressure mousse and a long, penetrating finish. While I found the 2013 rendition—reviewed last year—a little austere, the more generous 2014 vintage is more naturally giving and inviting in the wine’s chiseled, bone-dry register. A saignée of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier gives the wine its color and amounts to some 30% of the unusual blend, complemented by fully 20% Arbanne and 25% Petit Meslier, the balance coming from Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.”
John Gilman 90 points “The 2014 Aubry “Sablé” Rosé Brut Nature Millésime is an exotic blend of thirty percent of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir (fermented together), ten percent Chardonnay, twenty percent Arbanne, twenty-five percent Petit Meslier, ten percent Pinot Blanc and five percent of still red wine, solely being Pinot Meunier. All of the vins clairs go through full malo. The wine was disgorged in October of 2018 and is a very pale copper color. The nose here is complex and quite unique, offering up scents of tart orange, bread dough, a good base of soil, spring flowers and fresh almond. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and nicely balanced for a non-dosé, with good depth at the core, fine focus and grip, frothy mousse, snappy acids and a long, bonedry finish. This is quite good, but really built almost exclusively (at least at this young age) for specialists in Brut Nature. For my palate, I would have welcomed at least a couple of grams of dosage, but it is quite well done in its style and should age well. 2019-2040+.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

An insider’s pick made with some very coveted grapes
Jacques Lassaigne Millésimé Brut Nature, Champagne 2010 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 22 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “(Reviewed Aug 2019) Due to be disgorged commercial a few weeks after I tasted it was the 2010 Brut Nature Blanc des Blancs Millésime, a vintage that Lassaigne described as characterized by “very high maturity” and which was vinified entirely in tank. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, green apple, warm bread and chalky soil tones, it’s full-bodied, ample and vinous, with chewy dry extract and a fleshy core, crisp acids and a long, saline finish. Once again, it’s a blend of Les Paluets, Le Cotet and La Grande Côte, Lassaigne commenting that it always tends to come from the same parcels.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We offer over 130 Champagnes in stock now
Shop the entire selection on our web store.

La Fortuna’s Consistently Excellent Brunello

La Fortuna is one of the top producers of Brunello, having turned their small (11 hectare) estate into one of the most consistently excellent in all of Tuscany. The winery leans modern, with rich, ripe fruit and plush textures, but the wines all maintain an earthiness that keeps them grounded and allows them to age beautifully.

Despite their consistent quality La Fortuna’s wines somehow still seem to fly a bit under the radar, and as a result they represent some of the best opportunities in Brunello Di Montalcino to drink fantastic wines at below market prices. Always looking to deliver our customers the best values in fine wine, we’re thrilled to maintain an extensive selection from La Fortuna, including a number of truly standout bottles from some of Tuscany’s most celebrated recent vintages.

In stock now:

La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $56 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Aromas of blackberry and cherry with flowers. Smoky. Hot stone. Medium to full body, firm and fresh tannins and a delicious finish. Beautiful now but needs a year or two to soften.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Starts out with cherry, iron and tobacco flavors, before firming up, with a solid structure. A kernel of fruit holds steady as this red unfolds on the lingering finish. Best from 2022 through 2036. 2,200 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 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.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

La Fortuna Giobi, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 19 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Some ash and spice undertones to the cherry and berry aromas. Medium to full body, silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Linear and focused. Better in 2020.”

La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($699.95) $564 special (that’s only $94/bottle!)
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 1.5 ($259.95) $219 special, 4 magnums in stock now
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany2012 3L ($499.95) $428 special, 3 double magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Perfumed, with wild herb aromas and a subtle mix of strawberry and cherry fruit. Vibrant and dense, with fine acidity driving the long finish. Though elegant, there is intensity and fine energy on the aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2028.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($119.95) $88 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($619.95) $499 special (that’s only $83.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Fluid and fruity, supported by a matrix of dense tannins, this features a fine texture and structure, offsetting the saturated flavors of cherry, red berry, leather, iron and tar. Stays focused while cruising to a lingering finish. Really youthful, intense and long. Best from 2022 through 2045. 330 cases made, 200 cases imported.”
James Suckling 95 points “Very attractive and intense aromas of ripe black cherries and plums, leading to a palate that has a quite firm tannin core and finishes with a convincing serving of rich, ripe darker plums and berries. Drink or hold.”

La Fortuna Fortunello Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 12 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fantastic value, showing pretty varietal notes of red cherries and spice. Moderately rich, savory and expressive.
Winery Note “A wine that first expresses itself through its colour; intense ruby red. Extraordinary via its intensity and absolute pleasure on the palate, vigor, length, freshness and fruity finish. A wine that will improve with age with its scents of raspberry and red berries.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

La Fortuna Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
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.”
Winery Note “Its burgundy red colour and intriguing acidity opens to the sense of smell with strong fruity flavours; intense and fascinating, spicy, it maintains a well-constructed pleasant taste, full and plain, velvety and smooth.”

Love Brunello? We offer over 50 Brunello wines in stock now, including picks from Casanova di Neri, Il Poggione, and Stella di Campalto! Shop the entire selection on our web store.

Staff Champagne Picks

$100 – $150

A wine from a special site that delivers
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne (2016) NV 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Peter Liem note “Beginning with the 2006 vintage, Collin introduced a second wine, a blanc de noirs from a vineyard called Les Maillons, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel. The soils in this sector are chalk mixed with heavy clay, without the silex found in Vert-Toulon, and these pinot noir vines were planted in 1971.”

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

“Super-expressive and pretty”
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvée’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($159.95) $119 special, 18 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in May 2018 with seven grams per liter dosage, Vilmart’s new 2011 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is showing beautifully, offering up an expressive bouquet of crisp green pear, yellow apple, dried white flowers, English walnuts and spices. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly fleshy and nicely concentrated, it’s a fine-boned, precise rendition of this cuvée, built around ripe but racy acids and complemented by a pinpoint mousse. Vilmart is the sort of grower that succeeds in vintages such as 2011, and this wine met my expectations.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Coeur de Cuvée is gorgeous, especially within the context of the year. Translucent and airy, the 2011 is a Champagne of real elegance. Sage, mint, dried flowers, orchard fruit and lemon peel all grace this super-expressive and pretty Champagne. These 60-year-old vines handled the challenges of 2011 well. Harvest took place in August, which after 2003 and 2007, is not as freakishly unusual as it would have been a generation ago. The 2011 is undoubtedly terrific. Even so, I would not push my luck on aging given the inherent fragility of the year. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

“So impeccably balanced”
Hébrart ‘Rive Gauche Rive Droite’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Brut Rive Gauche-Rive Droite Grand Cru is another superb wine in this range from Hébrart. Ample and creamy, the 2013 possesses tremendous depth from start to finish. The first signs of aromatic nuance are starting to appear, which makes this Brut Rive Gauche-Rive Droite Grand Cru a very complete Champagne to enjoy now and over the next handful of years. Rive Gauche-Rive Droite is a blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Unlike the other wines in the range, it is vinified in oak, which adds quite a bit of texture. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter.” [Disgorgement may not match review]
John Gilman 92 points “The 2013 “Rive Gauche-Rive Droit” Brut Millésime from Jean-Paul Hébrart is a fiftyfifty blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, with all of the grapes hailing from grand cru vineyards. The pinot noir comes from Aÿ and the chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs villages of Oiry, Avize and Chouilly. The vins clairs are barrel-fermented for this cuvée and aged in cask prior to bottling up for the secondary fermentation. The wine spent five years aging sur latte and was disgorged in April of 2019 and finished with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter. The wine offers up a superb bouquet of white peach, apple, a fine base of soil, fresh-baked bread, a touch of oak influence and a gently smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and very elegant in profile, with a fine core of fruit, impressive mineral drive and grip, refined mousse and a long, zesty and complex finish. This is still youthful, but is so impeccably balanced that it is already very easy to drink- though it is bound to further improve with cellaring. Fine juice. 2020-2045.”
[Disgorgement date may vary.]

“Creamy and refined”
Pommery Cuvée Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “A creamy and refined 2004 with a very reserved and tight palate of ultra fine tannins that lend the wine beautiful creaminess and finesse. Subtly floral, offering lightly cooked apples and lemons. Flavorful, yet always hiding behind the fine bubbles. Drink now.”

“A serious, gastronomic rosé”
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Maillons’ Rosé de Saignée Extra Brut, Champagne (2015) NV 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 2 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Derived entirely from the 2015 vintage, the NV Extra Brut Rosé de Saignée Les Maillons (2015) was disgorged in March 2019 after 36 months sur lattes. A serious, gastronomic rosé, this is one of the more reserved of Collin’s 2015-base releases, unwinding in the glass with scents of raspberries, pomegranate, crushed mint, spices, toasted almonds and citrus rind. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a muscular core of fruit girdled by lively acids and fine-grained phenolics, concluding with a long and sapid finish. A wine that rewards reflection, this is another terrific cuvée from Collin, but it will need a year on cork to really show its cards.”

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Delas: Northern Rhône Ambition

Known for crafting some of the Northern Rhône’s most powerful wines, Delas is a signature producer in a region with no shortage of legendary names. It is thanks to their significant holdings throughout the region that allow Delas to not only produce some of the region’s finest expressions, including their Hermitage Les Bessards, but also some of its best values. Wines like the St Joseph François de Tournon and Chante Perdrix Cornas prove that world-class Northern Rhône wines don’t necessarily have to break the bank.

With consistently strong scores from some of the world’s most respected critics, including a perfect score on their 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, Delas’ wines no longer fly under the radar. However, even with the recent acclaim, Delas has kept their pricing reasonable. So, for those looking to experience what ambition tastes like in the Northern Rhône today, without the sticker shock, look no further.

In stock now:

Delas Frères Cornas Chante Perdrix, Rhône 2015 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Hot Wine! Offers a delicious core of gently mulled blueberry, blackberry and black currant fruit that is matched by a mix of floral, mineral and singed spice notes throughout. The long chalky spine is well-buried on the finish, letting all the elements play out suavely through the finish. Best from 2021 through 2036. 1,100 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Cornas Chante Perdrix is a blend of several parcels, vinified in concrete and aged primarily in oak. It’s dark and concentrated, although admittedly not the most muscular Cornas. Black currant and cedar notes combine along with peppery hints of Montreal smoked meat to yield a savory impression. It’s all held together by fine-grained, dusty tannins, which leave a lingering soft texture on the long, licorice-tinged finish. Already enjoyable, it should develop well for 10-12 years or more.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Dark purple. Expansive aromas of black and blue fruit preserves, smoky Indian spices and olive, with a suave floral nuance that gains strength with air. Deeply concentrated but energetic as well, offering palate-staining blueberry and violet pastille flavors and building spiciness. Rounded tannins add gentle grip to a strikingly long penetrating finish that clings with strong tenacity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Frères Condrieu Clos Boucher, Rhône 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Pale green-hued yellow. Penetrating, mineral-tinged aromas of fresh citrus and pit fruits are complemented by chalky minerals, violet and fennel accents. Juicy, focused and concentrated, offering intense pear nectar, Meyer lemon and honeysuckle flavors that show outstanding clarity and minerally lift. The mineral and floral notes carry emphatically through a silky, appealingly sweet finish that hangs on with superb focus and tenacity.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “A step up, the bigger, richer 2016 Condrieu Clos Boucher is blockbuster stuff, offering serious notes of crushed rock, buttered citrus, orange blossom, and a smoky, meaty, mineral character that’s hard to describe. Possessing full-bodied richness, beautiful mid-palate concentration and a seamless texture, this beauty will be even better this time next year and keep for 4-6 years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Delas Frères Condrieu Clos Boucher, Rhône 2017 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Slightly deeper and richer, the 2017 Condrieu Clos Boucher offers beautiful notes of tangerine, honeyed limes, citrus, and brioche. It’s another fresher, elegant Condrieu that has bright acidity, medium body, and sensational balance. It’s as drinkable as they come and one of the gems in the vintage.”
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Pale, shimmering gold. Incisive aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, ginger and violet are complemented by suggestions of chalky minerals, fennel and white pepper. Juicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering concentrated pear, melon, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors that show impressive clarity and mineral drive. The pit fruit and floral notes come back emphatically on the vibrant finish, which hangs on with excellent, mineral-driven tenacity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Frères Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, Rhône 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93+ points “Similar to the Domaine des Grands Chemins, yet with additional structure, the inky purple/ruby colored 2013 Crozes-Hermitage le Clos has lots of minerality in its smoky, meaty, dark fruited profile. Medium to full-bodied, nicely concentrated, structured yet balanced, give it 2-4 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following decade or more.”

Delas Frères Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhône 2004 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Frères Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhône 2013 750ML ($249.95) $159 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 95 points “(aged in 70% new oak for 18 months): Inky ruby. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of ripe dark berries, cherry liqueur, peppery spices and fresh flowers, backed by a hint of olive. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering intense, deeply concentrated blackberry and violet pastille flavors and a suggestion of star anise. Finishes pure, sweet and energetic on the penetrating finish, showing outstanding focus and slow-building tannins.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average national price is $212

Delas Frères Hermitage Les Bessards, Rhône 2015 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The top cuvée from Delas is the 2015 Hermitage Les Bessards, and it’s always 100% Syrah from the steep, broken granite soils of the Bessards lieu-dit. Aged 18 months in 30% new barrels, its purple/plum color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, graphite, toasted spice, crushed rocks and saddle leather. Powerful, massively concentrated, and tannic, it has a broad, expansive, heavenly texture, a thick mid-palate (you could almost use a fork for this beauty), and a great finish. Despite the richness level, it stays balanced and graceful on the palate, and is never over the top or heavy. It’s a perfect Hermitage that will start to shine with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for three decades or more. Bravo!”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Cellar Selection! There’s a striking balance here calibrating bold, almost muscular ripeness against an invigorating granite edge. This wine is plump and full bodied, full of supple blackberry and plum flavors balanced by pert acidity and taut, penetrating tannins. It should be in peak from 2020–2035 but hold further.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The top cuvée is the 2015 Hermitage les Bessards, which comes from the middle to lower portion of the steep, granite hillside known as Bessards, unquestionably one of the best terroirs for Syrah in the world. Its inky purple color is followed by a full-bodied, rich, thrillingly concentrated red that has huge tannin, bright acidity and a solid mid-palate concentration. It still tastes like it just came from the press and will need to be forgotten for a decade. As normal, it’s completely destemmed and will see 18 months in 30% new oak.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Inky ruby. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes candied black and blue fruits, along with complicating suggestions of smoky minerals, candied flowers, olive and vanilla. Deep, chewy and expansive in the mouth, offering impressively concentrated dark berry liqueur, fruitcake and salty olive flavors that are complicated by a hint of smoky minerality and a building floral pastille note. Distinctly rich and powerful but surprisingly graceful as well, showing noteworthy clarity and mineral-driven thrust on the strikingly long finish.”

Delas Frères Saint-Joseph François de Tournon, Rhône 2015 750ML ($44.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Frères Saint-Joseph François de Tournon, Rhône 2015 750ML ($279.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “Inky and concentrated, the 2015 Saint-Joseph François de Tournon is no easy-drinking Saint-Joseph. It’s smoky, herbal and ashy all at once, yet it’s buoyed by ample black cherry fruit and vibrant acidity. This medium to full-bodied Syrah has plenty of tannins, but they’re ultimately silky and most apparent on the long, licorice-tinged finish. This is approachable now but should be even better in 3 years and should drink well for at least another 10 after that.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Both Saint Joseph releases are brilliant in 2015. The 2015 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes vines around Tournon, Mauves, Saint-Jean-de-Muzols, and Vion, and is always destemmed and aged in 30% new barrels. This full-bodied, rounded, sexy beauty shows the power and fruit of the vintage. With classic notes of black and blue fruits, violets, incense and pepper, drink this textured, expansive, terrific Saint Joseph over the coming 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby. High-pitched red and dark berry and violet aromas show excellent focus and pick up hints of cracked pepper and sandalwood with air. Sappy and seamless in texture, offering fresh black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of candied licorice. Turns sweeter on the penetrating, impressively long finish, which features smooth, even tannins and lingering boysenberry and floral qualities. “

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delas Frères Saint-Joseph François de Tournon, Rhône 2016 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Frères Saint-Joseph François de Tournon, Rhône 2016 750ML ($279.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Saint Joseph François De Tournon comes from more schist and gneiss soils and spent 10-14 months in mostly used barrels, with a small part in tank to preserve more freshness. It’s another ruby/purple-colored effort from this estate and gives up lots of blackberry and blueberry fruits intermixed with earthy minerality, ground pepper, and hints of damp earth. Rich, layered, and textured, it will be better in a year or two and keep for 8-10, if not longer.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Features a solid core of dark currant and blackberry fruit, inlaid with notes of tar, anise and warm tobacco leaf. Reveals a tug of iron through the fruit-laden finish. Best from 2020 through 2026. 1,033 cases made, 123 cases imported. — JM”
James Suckling 92-93 points “This has fragrant and floral character with wild raspberries and red plums. The peppery palate has a vibrant array of ripe, red and purple fruit. Good depth and drive here. Barrel sample.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average national price is $43

Shop our entire selection of 11 Delas wines in stock now on our web store!

Hot Sellers Re-Arriving Friday

Drinking beautifully in its youth
Château Mangot, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Château Mangot, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($419.95) $315 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “A dense and rich red with driedberry and plum character. Full body, round and chewy tanninsand a flavorful finish. Lots of intensity. Drink in 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We can’t keep this on the shelf!
Marietta Cellars ‘Christo’, California 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90-93 points “The 2017 Christo, Marietta’s Syrah/Grenache-based red, is another compelling wine in this range. Inky red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, mint, spice and floral notes are front and center. Sumptuous and racy, the 2017 is so inviting from the very first taste.”

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

A cellar pick with loads of potential
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “One of the protagonists in this group of nine, the Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Asili (with some 13,333 bottles made) shows bright cherry fruit, dried raspberry and blood orange. The wine’s delicate aromatic layering continues with rusty iron, aniseed, tea leaf and camphor ash. Those lifted and vertical aromas contribute to the energy and vibrancy that this wine awards to the palate. The finish is extremely polished and tight, and those pretty flavors are folded neatly into the wine’s silky texture. This wine has many years, or decades, of aging built into its inner clock.
Decanter 96 points “Asili has a warmer microclimate than most of the other vineyards here. It was first produced by Produttori as a single-vineyard wine in 1967. The 2015 is tight, tannic and reserved, with some bright strawberry, raspberry, cranberry and vanilla creeping out of the glass. In the mouth it has some meaty savouriness, and gives a hint of the complexity to come, but as it stands this needs a lot more time to become approachable. Scored for its potential. 10,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window 2025 – 2040.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Wild berry, violet, new leather, forest floor and eucalyptus aromas lift out of the glass. The elegant, full-bodied palate delivers dried black cherry, raspberry compote, licorice and dried mint alongside taut, polished tannins. Given the hot, dry growing season, this is a more powerful and concentrated version of Asili.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Asili shows a bit more aromatic lift and freshness than it did a few months ago, which is a very good sign for its future. Sweet spice and floral notes play off a core of sweet red Asili fruit. Medium in body, silky and inviting, the Asili is another highlight in this range. Like all of these wines, it shows the riper fruit and softer contours of a warm year.”

Rich yet perfectly balanced
Bodegas San Roman, Toro 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “(aged for two years in 75 percent French and 25 percent American oak barrels, half of them new) Inky purple. Heady cherry, dark berry, vanilla and violet pastille qualities on the oak-accented nose. At once rich and energetic; a firm spine of acidity provides lift to sweet cassis, blueberry and vanilla flavors. Closes with youthful tannic grip and impressive persistence, leaving dark berry and licorice candy notes behind.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 San Román was produced with fruit from older vineyards in Toro. In 2012 they started reducing the amount of the new oak in this wine and the change is quite noticeable. There is something leafy and floral showing elegance within the power that the place provides naturally. 2013 was quite different in Toro from Ribera del Duero, here the cooler years are a plus, as they balance the extra ripeness the place provides. In 2013 there was no rain during the harvest and the grapes were very healthy. There are some fine tannins and the profile of a more austere and transparent vintage, a mineral year. But it does have the smokey and slightly wild character of Toro. 87,000 bottles produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average national price is $60

Stunning Wines from Southern Spain

Jumilla, in southern Spain, is one of the top sources for rich and dense value reds. The dominant grape there, Monastrell (AKA Mourvèdre) handles the heat well, ripening slowly without becoming overly alcoholic. The resulting wines are dark, powerful and, thanks to the limestone soils, surprisingly fresh as well.

Casa Castillo manages the trick of taking that natural richness and allying it to a bright minerality—they know they’ll get plenty of fruit and power and so try to make winemaking decisions that focus on freshness and verve. The results have been spectacular and they’ve quickly become some of our favorites. The Wine Advocate has consistently scored these wines highly for good reason—they’re thrilling bottlings.

In stock now:

Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($419.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Las Gravas is surprisingly floral and ethereal, perfumed and elegant. Syrah has disappeared from the blend of this wine—it now has 20% Garnacha to complement the Monastrell—and they think this is going to be the blend that stays in this wine, which has seen more changes in its life than the rest of the portfolio. This is for sure the most elegant vintage for this bottling; the wine matured in 500-liter barrels and then spent four months in 5,000-liter vats after the blend was done. There are no aromas of oak whatsoever, and the wine is surprisingly fresh, as if the Garnacha helps to contain the power of Monastrell on the gravel soils, adding texture and perfume. This is beautiful. 26,500 bottles were filled in March 2019.”

Casa Castillo El Molar Tinto, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Casa Castillo El Molar Tinto, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “There is a high-pitched red fruit note on the nose of the 2017 El Molar, and it’s a wine with a lot of light, something that is quite remarkable for a warm and Mediterranean year like 2017. This is a Garnacha that feels like a wine from a cool year, with plenty bright red fruit. I tasted it two weeks after it was bottled, and it felt completely harmonious and relaxed. As with most of the 2017s, this seems like the finest vintage for this wine. It has a lighter color and a more fragrant nose, and it’s immediately identifiable within the Casa Castillo range. 28,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2019.”

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

Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez 93+ points “There is a big jump in depth, complexity and nuance between the Monastrell and the 2017 Vino de Finca, which is a blend of Monastrell with almost 25% Garnacha. This comes from four plots that were selected from what was previously used for the entry-level Monastrell; they aim was to find a wine with more finesse and elegance but with the inherent power of the zone. This is only the third vintage for this cuvée, and it feels quite established and different from the rest of the range; it has less varietal character and is more about the place, getting closer to the single-vineyard bottlings where they do not search for fruit character. The idea here is to ferment at temperatures that are quite so low and to stabilize the wine in oak barrels for a long-ish time (12 months in 500-liter barrels and 5,000-liter oak foudres). They are wines of sun and limestone. This is a good reflection of it with a perfumed and floral note on the finish (elegance!) that is quite remarkable. 31,000 bottles produced in 2017. It was bottled in November 2018.”

Thanks for reading!

Weekend Vinopolpick 11-27-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

New 10%-Off Black Friday Weekend Specials
Two Value Stars of the Northern Rhone

A Sweet Deal on a Sweetie:
Baumard’s Wine Spectator Top 100 Quart de Chaume

Don’t Forget Our Black Friday Specials
Ending Sunday Night

Just Secured, Arriving Next Week
Mascarello’s Stunning 2015 Monprivato

Trending Wines

The Most Overlooked White in France?

New Releases from Arnot-Roberts

New 10%-Off Black Friday Weekend Specials

Two Value Stars of the Northern Rhone

Eric and Joel Durand

The Durand brothers are making it look easy. It’s hard to find Northern Rhone wines that combine soul and polish—it seems as if most of the new wines we taste are either hyper glossy or very rustic. To hit that sweet spot, where your wines speak very loudly of place but are elegant, drinkable and age-worthy—that’s special indeed. To make those sorts of wines at the prices that the Durands charge seems almost unthinkable.

We’re taking those prices and making them even better, at least until we open for business on Friday morning. We’re offering you an extra 10% off orders of Eric & Joel Durand wines until Tuesday at 10am.

“Consistently brilliant wines emerge from Domaine Durand, which is run with incredible talent and passion by Eric and Joël Durand. Located in the tiny village of Châteaubourg, they pull from roughly 22 hectares of vines, 8.5 hectares in Saint Joseph, 9.5 hectares in Cornas and tiny amounts in Saint-Péray and Vin de Pays. The brothers took over the estate in 1991, and while the winemaking is relatively modern, these are classic, pure, beautifully made wines that speak clearly to their region and terroir.“ –Jeb Dunnuck

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In Stock Now:

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes 2017 750ML ($49.95) Displayed Price: $39, 10% Off Price: $35.10
Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes 2017 1.5L ($99.95) Displayed Price: $89, 10% Off Price: $80.10
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “One of the flagship releases is the 2017 Cornas Empreintes, which comes from the steep, granite hillsides of Cornas, sees 25% stems, and is brought up in 20% new French oak. This full-bodied, concentrated effort boasts a deep purple hue, notes of peppery herbs, plums, blackberries, and smoked game, building tannins, and just about overflowing amounts of character. It’s a stunning, brilliant Cornas that’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and cruise for 15+ years. Bravo!”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Solidly built, with a strong chalky spine buried deep in the core of dark plum and blackberry fruit. Smoldering tobacco, dark olive and warm cast iron accents fill in throughout. Frankly grippy, so some patience in the cellar is required. Best from 2022 through 2040. 800 cases made, 90 cases imported.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Empreintes 2015 750ML ($49.95) Displayed Price: $39, 10% Off Price: $35.10
Wine Spectator 95 points “($48) Loads of chalky grip keeps this wrapped up tight, but the core of steeped plum, fig and blackberry fruit is brimming with energy, while bay leaf, licorice root and charcoal notes chomp at the bit on the finish. Cellaring will rein this in. Best from 2021 through 2035. 700 cases made.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Produced from 30-year-old vines and aged in 20% new oak, the 2015 Cornas Empreintes features classic Cornas notes of crushed stone, bloody meat and red plums. It’s full-bodied, rich and packed with fruit and tannin but supple at the same time. It’s mouth-filling and round, then finishes long, dry and mouthwatering.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93+ points “The 2015 Cornas Empreintes is unique in the lineup as it comes 30% from more limestone soils. It’s 75% destemmed and aged in 20% new French oak. It’s more elegant and focused than the opulent Premices and gives up lots of blackberry and cassis fruits, leather, crushed rock and pepper aromatics. Deep, rich, beautifully concentrated and pure, it needs short-term cellaring but is a brilliant wine that’s going to impress for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Opaque ruby. Spice-accented dark fruit, violet and olive scents, along with suggestions of smoky bacon and cracked pepper. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering densely packed cassis, blueberry and spicecake flavors that become livelier as the wine opens up. Rich yet energetic in style, showing excellent delineation and dark fruit thrust on a very long, smooth finish framed by velvety tannins.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Premices 2015 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $33, 10% Off Price: $29.70
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cornas Premices comes from a mix of granite terroirs and was mostly destemmed (75%) and aged in 20% new barrels. It offers an incredibly rich, opulent style in its plum, blackberry liqueur, lavender and peppery herb aromas and flavors. Thick, unctuous, and incredibly broad and expansive on the palate, with sweet tannin, it’s the largest production cuvée from this estate and is going to be an incredible value! Don’t miss it.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant purple. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of cherry pit, cassis and olive, along with a subtle floral quality that expands as the wine stretches out. Juicy, appealingly sweet black and blue fruit flavors show very good clarity, and a suggestion of cracked pepper adds spicy bite. Conveys a suave blend of power and delicacy and finishes with building sweetness and velvety, even tannins.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Premices 2016 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $33, 10% Off Price: $29.70
Wine Spectator 94 points “Warm fig, blackberry and black currant fruit gives this a decidedly dark profile, while licorice root, dark olive and bay leaf notes score the finish. A tarry edge adds grip and length. Shows range and depth, and begs for cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Cornas Premices, from relatively young vines, has turned out well. Menthol, leather and plum combine on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple and charming. Already easy to drink, it offers decent concentration and a long finish lined with soft, dusty tannins.”-JC

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Cornas Premices 2017 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $33, 10% Off Price: $29.70
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Lots of blueberries, jammy blackberries, violets, licorice, and floral notes emerge from the 2017 Cornas Prémices. This fleshy, sexy, full-bodied beauty is a quintessential, hedonistic Cornas that’s already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it has enough sweet tannins to keep for over a decade. This cuvée comes from slightly younger vines (15 to 30-year-old vines) and is aged in 20% new French oak.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers a ripe, slightly toasty profile, featuring plum and blackberry fruit, tinged with ganache and alder notes. Shows some heft, with the toast clinging to the finish. A light violet echo gives this some needed lift at the end. Best from 2020 through 2030. 875 cases made, 120 cases imported.”

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Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Les Coteaux 2017 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $29, 10% Off Price: $26.10
Decanter 93 points “Sourced from 15- to 30-year-old vines on granite soils towards the south of the appellation, the fruit for this wine is all destemmed, spending 12 months maturing in barriques and demi-muids, 15% new. It has a lovely purity of expression, the fruit using the oak for support, not influence. It’s a medium-bodied, very fresh expression with no overextraction and an elegant finish. It has refined tannins and good persistence. An unforced, easy to drink with with good typicity.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bright and juicy, with lots of blackberry and plum compote flavors, inlaid with licorice and singed apple wood notes. A lively briar accent through the finish offsets the toast. Best from 2021 through 2030. 2,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Bright purple. Spice-accented blue fruit and floral scents, along with hints of cured tobacco and olive. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Youthful, gripping tannins add shape to the finish, which hangs on with strong, dark-fruit-driven tenacity.”

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

Domaine Eric et Joel Durand Saint-Joseph Lautaret 2017 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $33, 10% Off Price: $29.70
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fleshy and forward in feel, with a hint of ganache leading steeped plum and raspberry fruit along, accented by singed alder and licorice root notes. The solidly grippy finish pulls everything together. Needs a touch of cellaring. Best from 2022 through 2032. 340 cases made, 50 cases imported.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92+ points “The top Saint Joseph, the 2017 Saint Joseph Lautaret comes from older vines from the southern part of the appellation (near the village of Châteaubourg) and was brought up in 15% new French oak. It has a juicy, fresh, yet concentrated style to go with vivid dark berry fruits, crushed rock, graphite, and ground pepper notes. This terrific wine will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for over a decade.”

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Now it’s even lower!

Emanuel Darnaud

Last year, Emanuel Darnaud’s wines were one of the best surprises. This small producer made spectacular Crozes-Hermitage wines, which were some of the best deals in red while they were in stock. From top to bottom, the Darnaud wines over performed, with density, power and drinkability. They are Syrah with soul and immediate appeal. We’d like to get them into more glasses and cellars, though, so we’re offering you 10% off these already great values—until 10AM on Tuesday.

The 2016 versions are a worthy follow up to their breakthrough 2015’s. These two bottlings are the “high end” of the Darnaud lineup, but are still priced below the mid-tier wines of much better-known wineries. They offer fantastic value at our normal (great) prices, but with 10% off, they’re that much better deals.

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In Stock Now:

Emmanuel Darnaud Saint Joseph La Dardouille, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) Displayed Price: $39, 10% Off Price: $35.10
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Saint Joseph Lieu Dit La Dardouille comes from a fabulous terroir (Jean-Louis Chave also works with this vineyard) and was brought up a mix of once- and twice-used demi-muids and barrels. It offers ripe, sexy notes of crème de cassis, violets, and graphite, with subtle new oak covered by beautifully pure fruit. With medium to full-bodied richness and depth, sweet tannins, and a great finish, it’s a gem of a Saint Joseph that will be better with 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade. Hats off to the young Emmanuel Darnaud for another beautiful wine.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “(no stems; raised in a combination of one- to three-year-old barriques and demi-muids) Brilliant violet. Potent, mineral-accented black and blue fruit, spicecake and floral pastille aromas show outstanding clarity and pick up a smoky mineral nuance with air. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering vibrant bitter cherry, blueberry and star anise flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Finishes floral, sweet and impressively long, displaying repeating spiciness and well-knit tannins.”

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Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) Displayed Price: $39, 10% Off Price: $35.10
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps, Rhone 2016 1.5L ($99.95) Displayed Price: $89, 10% Off Price: $80.10
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2016 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil Du Temps comes from the alluvial soils in the southern part of the appellation and was brought up in 50% French oak. Sporting a saturated purple color, it offers impressive notes of crème de cassis, black raspberries, crushed pepper, and ample floral and incense notes. With medium to full body, solid elegance and balance, and moderate tannins, you can drink it today or cellar bottles for 7-8 years.”
Wine Spectator 92 points ” A soft, fleshy, generous style, with dark tea, mulled blackberry and plum fruit and warmed anise notes. Offers a velvety feel through the finish. Will have lots of fans. Drink now through 2021. 257 cases made.”
Winery note “Nose: Delicate and subtle. Aromas of blackberry and licorice stick. An impression of wet stones. Mouth: The entry shows a great freshness. The tannins are velvety and offer a voluminous and racy mid-palate. This wine offers great harmony and will need a few years to reveal its full potential.”

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A Sweet Deal on a Sweetie:

Baumard’s Wine Spectator Top 100 Quart de Chaume

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10% Discount Ends Sunday, November 29th at 10 AM Pacific

Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2018
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) Displayed price $79, 10% Off Price: $71.10, 36+ bottles in stock now
Domaine des Baumard Quarts de Chaume, Loire 2015 375ML ($59.95) Displayed price $39, 10% Off Price: $35.10, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “Highly Recommended. Waves of creamed Jonagold apple, Cavaillon melon, mirabelle plum, mango and white peach flavors provide thrilling range, while flashes of honeysuckle and verbena add detail and focus throughout. Unctuous yet pure, sweet yet invigorating, with an inner brightness that matches the outward hedonism. Best from 2020 through 2045. 100 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the 375ml!

Shipping Season is Here

Do you have wines on hold waiting for wine shipping weather?

Please give us a call or send us an email
to schedule your shipment now!

www.vinopoliswineshop.com

info@vinopoliswineshop.com

503-223-6002

Don’t Forget Our Black Friday Specials

Ending Sunday Night

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10% off discounts listed below expire Sunday, November 29th at 6PM

10% off all of Faiveley’s outstanding Burgundy!

10% off all Diamond Creek’s legendary single-vineyard Cabernets!

10% off all 2019 Daniel Bouland Beaujolais!

10% off all Xavier Vignon’s star Chateauneuf!

10% off all Kapcsandy’s landmark Napa cabs and blends!

10% off all Jos. Christoffel Jr. Rieslings!

10% off Giacomo Conterno’s 2013 Monfortino—in magnum!

10% off 2002 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg!

10% off 1998 Henri Bonneau Cuvee Speciale Chateauneuf!

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10% off discounts listed above expire Sunday, November 29th at 6PM

Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?

Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:

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(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)

Just Secured, Arriving Next Week

Mascarello’s Stunning 2015 Monprivato

Arriving Friday, December 4th:

Giuseppe Mascarello e Figlio Monprivato, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($199.95) $159 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97+ points “This is a true beauty. The Giuseppe Mascarello 2015 Barolo Monprivato borrows from the best of the Nebbiolo playlist. You get precision, abundance, focus and depth presented in proud and elegant fashion. Monprivato in Castiglione Falletto shows its worth as one of the best-performing sites in both 2015 and 2016. This warmer growing season presents red and purple fruit with cherry, plum and dried blackberry. A second wave of aromas washes over the senses with spice, licorice, tar and crushed limestone. The mouthfeel is stitched tightly together with interwoven layers of acidity, tannin and fleshy fruit.”

Trending Wines

A pretty crazy price on one of California’s best full-throttle Syrahs.
Booker Vineyard Fracture Syrah, Paso Robles 2017 750ML ($119.95) Was $79, Now $75 special
Case-6 Booker Vineyard Fracture Syrah, Paso Robles 2017 750ML ($719.95) Was $449, Now $419 special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Booker Vineyard Fracture Syrah, Paso Robles 2017 750ML ($1,439.95) Was $849, Now $799 special (that’s only $70.75/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Notes of crème de cassis, ground pepper, and crushed flowers emerge from the 2017 Fracture, which, as always, is all Syrah and was brought up in 65% new French oak barrels. Full-bodied, beautifully layered and textured, it has classic Booker power and richness yet shows the pretty, elegant style of the vintage as well.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Shimmering purple. Mineral- and spice-accented black raspberry, boysenberry and candied violet on the highly perfumed nose. Shows superb depth as well as energy to the alluringly sweet red and blue fruit preserve, vanilla, fruitcake and candied violet flavors, which are complemented by smoky bacon and cracked pepper flourishes. Finishes smoky, broad and extremely long, displaying repeating florality and youthful tannic grip. Two-thirds new French oak.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $84.90
The average price is $100

“Effortlessly drinkable” –this always seems to disappear much quicker than expected.
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

From the family behind Beaucastel, a Gigondas winner.
Famille Perrin Gigondas Domaine du Clos des Tourelles 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The finest vintage to date, the 2015 Gigondas Le Clos des Tourelles comes from a tiny vineyard located just inside the village of Gigondas. Incorporating a touch of Syrah, this Grenache dominated beauty reveals a deep ruby/purple color as well as off the chart notes of black raspberries, black cherries, pepper, garrigue, and tons of that classic Gigondas spice. I wrote “Wow” more than once in my notes and this full-bodied 2015 has ultra-fine tannin, perfect balance, and a stacked mid-palate. Give bottles 2-3 years and drink over the following 15+ years.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Brilliant ruby color. Powerful cherry, blackberry and floral pastille aromas are energized by building spice and floral notes. Stains the palate with sappy red/dark berry preserve, candied lavender and spicecake flavors and shows a touch of licorice on the back half. Refuses to let up on the powerful finish, which features gently chewy tannins and resonating cherry and floral notes.”

Great Oregon Pinot, in a great drinking window now.
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Glimmering red. A hugely aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone and a touch of smokiness. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering potent, mineral-laced raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Delivers a compelling blend of power and finesse and finishes with silky tannins, outstanding clarity and floral- and mineral-driven persistence.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Seriously epic, Northern-Rhone-inspired Syrah that happens to be for a good cause.
Loop de Loop Syrah, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “Benefiting NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Intensely aromatic, this is a special clone of Northern Rhone Syrah. 100% whole cluster and co-fermented with our Riesling instead of the traditional co-fermentation with viognier. We expect this will not last long as it has generated a very excited response from our friends who have barrel tasted it with us. We wish we had more of it.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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The Most Overlooked White in France?

“In the colorful, picturesque city of Ajaccio, capital of Corsica, you can’t get very far without seeing the name Abbatucci. There are streets, monuments and plazas that carry the name, which is normal given that General Jean-Charles Abbatucci from Ajaccio was a hero of the French Revolution and comrade in arms of another local hero, Napoléon Bonaparte. Step into a wine bar or a restaurant there, chances are these days they’ll pour you a glass of Domaine Abbatucci. The domaine is run by Jean-Charles Abbatucci, a direct descendant of the General, who has now become a local hero of another kind for providing the local populace with its most sought-after libation.

“Corsicans are proud defenders of their traditions and environment, and with Abbatucci they indulge guilt-free. His wines are certified biodynamic, and he believes in following even the most far-out biodynamic practices to the letter. On his large estate south of Ajaccio he keeps a pristine poly-culture ecosystem in place, complete with herds of sheep foraging through his vines, groves of olive trees on ancient terraces, and large swaths of untouched forests. His vines come from cuttings of indigenous grapes, sourced decades ago high up in the isolated and mountainous interior of the island from elderly peasant farmers, effectively saving several native varieties from extinction. To keep his vines happy, he’s known to drive his tractor out to his vineyards and play traditional Corsican polyphonic songs over loudspeakers for their benefit. After the harvest he’ll treat his cellar to the same music as his grapes ferment and come of age. All part of the terroir, he says. Does all this have an actual effect on the wine? Have a taste for yourself. The proof just might be in the pudding.” –Kermit Lynch Wines

In Stock Now:

Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Case-12 Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($599.95) $319 special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Importer Note “Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39

Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Importer Note “At the domaine, Jean-Charles Abbatucci often greets his guests with copious platters of Corsican charcuterie: heaping piles of coppa, lonzu, panzetta, and prisuttu saturated with wild, smoky, gamy flavors. Made from nustrale black pigs, a breed exclusive to the island, these meats feature savory, salty flavors that inspire gulp after gulp of crips, stony Vermentinu or spicy, juicy reds from native grapes. This delicate, floral white guarantees palate-cleansing refreshment when heavenly Corsican meats and cheeses are on the table.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.99

New Releases from Arnot-Roberts

Arnot-Roberts has been one of the vanguard producers of the “New California” movement, making wines that deserve to be paid attention to as some of the best in the United States. Started by childhood friends Duncan Arnot Meyers and Nathan Lee Roberts in 2001, they’ve quickly established themselves as some of the best producers of restrained, elegant California wines. In 2013 the San Francisco Chronicle named them “Winemakers of the Year” in recognition of the quality and consistency of the wines they’re producing.

If you’ve never had the wines before, don’t expect soft fruity wines. Everything they touch has a backbone to it—a spine of acid and tannin that makes you think of the great wines of France far quicker than their California neighbors. These are serious wines, built to age—which is how they’ve developed such a following. With a year or three in the cellar, these blossom into wines that rival the best in the world. We get painfully small allocations every year, so grab what you see, while you can.

In Stock Now:

Arnot-Roberts Montecillo Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma Valley 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A captivating wine, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Montecillo Vineyard shows just how magical this Sonoma site is. A whole range of floral, savory and earthy notes gives the Montecillo that trademark aromatic profile that is such a signature. Big tannins add energy as well as shape to a classically built Cabernet that delivers the goods, and then some. What a wine!”

Arnot-Roberts Gamay Noir, El Dorado 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
No review for the current vintage. Review for the 2018 provided for reference.
Decanter 92 points “A blend of two high-elevation sites in the Sierra Foothills: Barsotti Vineyard (795m) and Witters Vineyard (1,005m). Wild, rustic nose of red plums, pepper and dried flowers then svelte palate that is broad and subtly tannic on the finish. These mountainous sites bring a sturdy, brambly quality to what is an often underrated variety. Singular and delicious.”

Arnot-Roberts Trousseau, Clear Lake 2019 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
No review for the current vintage. Review for the 2018 provided for reference.
Decanter 93 points “The Trousseau for this vintage mainly comes from the Clear Lake AVA, with smaller portions from Fort Ross-Seaview and Green Valley. It’s fermented whole cluster, basket-pressed and aged in neutral barriques for eight months. Aromas of dried fruit, brown sugar and rust lead to a fine-grained, weightless palate of golden raisins, white pepper and cranberry skins. A poised, rustic and beautiful example of a variety gaining ground in California, in large part due to Arnot-Roberts.”

Thanks for reading!

Vinopolis Thursday Newsletter 11-19-2020

In Today’s Newsletter:

Daniel Bouland
New Offer / New Sale

Featured New Arrivals from France

2014 & 2015 St Emilion from Canon La Gaffeliere

New Week, New Arrivals from Italy

Daniel Bouland

New Offer / New Sale

Daniel Bouland makes gutsy wines from old vines in the heart of Beaujolais premier appellations. You often hear that they’re traditionally made and, although that’s true, it doesn’t begin to describe what makes the wines unique. These are wines that recall what Beaujolais would have been like before industrial farming and certainly before industrial winemaking. They’re special, powerful and age-worthy.

From a winemaking perspective, the closest comparison to what Daniel Bouland is doing is probably Domaine Dujac. The cross-regional comparison probably violates some sort of law of wine-writing, but when you look at what Bouland does with his grapes, it makes sense. There’s almost exclusively whole cluster fermentation at both houses and Bouland’s wine show as muscular and robust—capable of very long aging and transformation into profound wines.

The difference, of course, is that working with Gamay, Bouland’s wines are more immediately drinkable than anything from Dujac (Bouland also doesn’t use new oak on his wines). And the prices are far below what top Burgundy can command. Young, the Bouland bottles show both intense fruit and structure—you wouldn’t necessarily think to drink Beaujolais with steak, but these are incredible pairings with even very hearty foods -especially since Gamay has a zesty freshness to it that can lighten, nay elevate, any meal.

We’re offering 10% off our listed prices for any mix of 3 or more bottles of 2019 Daniel Bouland Beaujolais!

2019 Daniel Bouland Subscriber Special
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Arriving early December:

Daniel Bouland Chiroubles Chatenay, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Exuberant aromas of raspberries, blackberries and cherries introduce the 2019 Chiroubles Chatenay, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that’s round and enveloping, with a charming core of fruit and melting, delicately powdery tannins. It will drink well young.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $38 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux is once again quite structured this year, though it’s not as brooding and muscular as its 2018 counterpart. Revealing aromas of raspberries, cherries, burning embers and sweet soil tones, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and a chassis of fine but abundant tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $38 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable is excellent, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, plums, violets and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and muscular, built around succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s elegantly structured and built to age, even if it’s charming enough to be enjoyed young—the 2011 vintage from my own cellar is drinking brilliantly.”

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Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Offering up aromas of red plums, berries, raw cocoa and spices, the 2019 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie is medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, melting tannins and lively acids. Bright and charming, it’s produced from a south-facing site near Château Thivin.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $38 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Derived from older vines in rockier soils, the 2019 Morgon Bellevue Cailloux is even more sensuous and textural than its Sable counterpart. Mingling notions of raspberries and plums with hints of rose petals and spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, its powdery tannins almost entirely cloaked in succulent, perfumed fruit.”

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Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Morgon Les Delys Vignes plantées en 1926 has turned out brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, strawberries, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s seamless and multidimensional, and with striking concentration, succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s long and penetrating. While this is carrying less puppy fat than the 2018 at the same age, it’s still quite a demonstrative, fruit-driven vintage of Les Delys, and while it will be long-lived, it can also be approached young.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2019 Morgon Bellevue Sable is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, cherries, orange rind and plums. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent, it’s bright and fleshy, with powdery tannins and a generous core of fruit, girdled by lively acids. Bottled only a week before I tasted it, I suspect it will perform even better with six months’ bottle age. As readers will remember, this cuvée comes from younger vines, planted on Viala rootstock in sandy soils—as the “Sable” newly added to its label makes clear.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love Beaujolais? We offer 42 wines from Beaujolais in stock now, including favorites from Anne-Sophie Dubois, Chermette Vissoux, and Clos de la Roilette. Shop the entire selection on our web store.

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Featured New Arrivals from France

One of Champagne’s best known houses for a reason
Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Bollinger Special Cuvee Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($419.95) $312 special (that’s only $52/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Fine bubbles combine nicely with the cooked apples, pie crust and lemon rind. Some biscuit, too. Full body. Layered and creamy with a crisp finish. Always delicious. Drink now.” [Reviewed July 2019]

There’s never a bad time for tasty and affordable Bordeaux
Chateau Goubau, Cotes de Castillon 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau Goubau, Cotes de Castillon 2015 750ML ($299.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Importer note “It is well known that gifted winemaker Jacques Thienpont has a knack for sourcing unique and exceptional properties. His latest acquisition reaches beyond the ultra-premium micro-cuvees he is known for with Chateau Le Pin and Chateau L’If. Chateau Goubau (to be renamed Chateau l’Hetre with the 2016 vintage) matches exception quality with value, and naturally, a unique microclimate within the Cotes de Castillon appellation. At 100m on the Saint Philippe d’Aiguilhe plateau, the property is situated at the highest point in Bordeaux. Produced from 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the clay and chalk subsoil is perfectly suited to the biodynamically-farmed vines. Here is an exclusive opportunity to explore M. Theinpont’s first vintage with the property, which is all but certain to go up in value in vintages to come… as demonstrated by Thienpont’s l’If, which has more than tripled in price since the first release in 2012.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Monbousquet’s second wine is a prime drinker right now
Angelique de Monbousquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($39.95) $30.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Angelique de Monbousquet, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($239.95) $175 special (that’s only $29.17/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Unique aromas of cherries, ash and grilled meat. Full body with juicy tannins and round texture. Delicious finish. Very soft and approachable. Hard not to drink now. Better in 2024.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 Angelique de Monbousquet is deep garnet-purple colored and features bold scents of crushed blackberries, warm plums and raspberry pie with hints of dried herbs, underbrush and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate reveals loads of minerally sparks interspersed with the vibrant red and black fruit layers, finishing pleasantly chewy.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “From the stellar team at Château Pavie, the 2016 Angélique de Monbousquet is a sexy, medium to full-bodied, incredibly delicious Saint-Emilion that boasts a huge nose of blackcurrants, chocolate, tobacco leaf, and graphite. It has outstanding purity, ripe tannins, and is one seriously good mouthful of wine. Drink it over the coming decade.”

2014 & 2015 St Emilion from Canon La Gaffeliere

Climate change has been a blessing and a curse for the classic regions. While there are rarely any “bad” vintages anymore, there are vintages that play better to different styles and thus sometimes to very different palates. The differences between the 2014 and 2015 vintages of Canon La Gaffeliere show their strengths in very different ways, and I would pay attention to which one would match your preferred style.

First and foremost, both of these wines are lovely albeit for very different reasons. The von Nipperg family has taken great pains to improve the various estates they own or manage, and La Gaffeliere seems to be the crown jewel. Merlot is their passion, even in their Left Bank property, and the quality and care that goes into the vineyard management, fruit selection, and cellaring shows their commitment. Even though the Merlot is the preferred varietal, the cépage is nearly 50/50 with the Cabernets making up the balance. Different properties have slightly different styles, due to the microclimate of each site, but the Gaffeliere stands out as the most aromatic, elegant and balanced of the lot. However, even the most elegant wines can change from year to year, following the dictation of the weather. Both vintages were almost identically blended (55% Merlot, 37% Cab Franc, 8% Cab Sauvignon) so it is a fun exercise to try them in close enough proximity to appreciate the differences.

2014 was a vintage that stood out to me as being classic in that the wine showed the cedar-y, floral notes quite clearly and stood apart from the tobacco and warm chocolate aromatics. Flavors of pomegranate and warm raspberry, with a very tightly wound core of mineral laden cassis. No shrinking violet, the wine was impressively solid in the glass even now, but the vintage has a lift and vibrancy that leads you to believe that the best is yet to come. There is plenty more to reveal over the next decade or two, and the price tag will seem like a steal when you are enjoying this a decade from now.

2015 brought the heat and turned an already warm site into a crucible. While not as bright in aromatics, the deeper scents are very powerful. Rose petal, pastille, coffee and tobacco are all swirling around. The concentration of dark rich flavors abounds. If 2014 was tart pomegranate and Mirabelle plum, 2015 was warm fig and dates, blackberries and dark cherries, tobacco, and iron. If I had friends who were avowed CA wine drinkers, this is the gateway wine for them. It is definitely still a Bordeaux, but the warmth in the glass will grab the attention of anyone fond of something perhaps a little more hedonistic and lush. I know that this wine will age and begin to show off some of the other layers, but I have a hard time telling fans of CA wine to hold off. With a good day in the decanter, the wine will show nearly everything it has in store.

In stock now:

Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36 bottles in stock now
#7 Wine Spectator Wine Of The Year 2017
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the wines of the vintage, the 2014 Canon La Gaffelière is explosive, lifted and aristocratic in its breeding. Bright Cabernet Franc aromatics give the wine its signature lift and precision. Raspberry jam, rose petal, mint, blood orange, tobacco and pomegranate build slowly on the palate, leading to a super-expressive, finely knit finish. Powerful yet also impeccably refined, the 2014 has it all. The 2014 is 55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Franc and 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it. Tasted two times.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This cuts a wide swath, with mouthwatering tobacco and warm ganache notes leading the way, followed by a wave of fig, blackberry and black currant preserves. Shows remarkable definition already, even though the structure is strident. Tempting now, but just put this in the back of the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,083 cases made.”

Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($159.95) $138 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2015 Canon La Gaffelière is deep, powerful and explosive. Seamless and captivating in the glass, it possesses magnificent richness, volume and intensity in every dimension. The Cabernet Franc, usually such a strong signature, is nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the Merlot fruit. Espresso, mocha, licorice and plum infuse the racy finish. The 2015 is going to need the better part of a decade to be expressive. Tasted two times.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Composed of 55% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Franc and 7% Cabernet Sauvignon and aged in French oak, 55% new, for 17 months, the 2015 Canon la Gaffeliere features a deep garnet-purple color and a cedar-laced nose to begin, giving way to fragrant underlying scents of roses and violets with a core of crushed black currants, blackberries and Bing cherries plus hints of fallen leaves and dusty earth. Medium to full-bodied, the seductively perfumed red and black fruit fills the mouth, framed with plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing very long and minerally.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Still youthfully tight and backward, with a well-roasted frame of alder and juniper holding sway for now, but the core of cassis, blackberry and plum fruit waits in reserve, showing prodigious depth. When the toast and fruit melds, the backdrop of tobacco, singed iron and chalky minerality will get a turn to show. There’s a lot here. Built for the cellar. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2025 through 2040. 6,250 cases made.”
James Suckling 96 points “The aromas of violets and rose petals are prevalent here with blue fruits as well. Full body, integrated and firm tannins and a long finish. Structured yet fine and shows such finesse. Give it five or six years to come together.”

Love Bordeaux reds? We offer 25 red wines from Bordeaux in stock now, including famous names like Mouton Rothschild, Leoville Poyferre, and Latour. Shop the entire selection on our web store.

New Week, New Arrivals from Italy

Classical, dusty and Right Bank inspired
Tua Rita Giusto di Notri Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96-97 points ” Best Giusto di Notri ever? Full body, ripe and powerful tannins, as well as beautiful fruit. Chewy yet polished tannins and a lingering finish. This is dense and structured with beautifully polished tannins and plenty of currant and blackberry character. Full body and chewy tannins yet refined and juicy. Lots of Mediterranean herbs with the dark fruit. Blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon with merlot and cabernet franc. Pretty barrel sample. This is coming along very nicely. Can’t wait to taste in bottle. Made from organic grapes.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Here is a high performance wine from Stefano Frascolla and his family. The 2015 Giusto di Notri is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parts Cabernet Franc and Merlot. The wine is contemporary, complex and gorgeous from tip to toe. You get a lot of power here and generous oak-driven tones of sweet espresso, chocolate and spice that surround a succulent core of dark fruit and candied cherry. All these elements appear even bigger and bolder in this warm vintage.”

One of Brunello’s pioneering estates
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($89.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($419.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Some earthy and savory aromas dominate the dried red cherries initially, then dried wild herbs and quite intense notes of spicy dried red cherries emerge. The palate has a very taut, structured feel with handsomely proportioned tannins carrying gently leathery dried red cherries. Long finish. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Destined for greatness
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany2015 750ML ($549.95) $399 special (that’s only $56.50/bottle!)
Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($189.95) $159 special
Case-3 Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 1.5L ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $149.67/magnum!)
James Suckling 98 points “There’s something ethereal in the nose with flowers, cherries, strawberries and shitake mushrooms. Full body. This grows on the palate with super tannin and fruit structure. So much berry flavor and round, caressing tannins that fill your mouth. Tight at the end. This needs four to five years to show its true greatness. Try after 2023.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

A perfect example of why they’re called “Super” Tuscans
Castello dei Rampolla Sammarco Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($99.95) $69 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “Sunbaked earth, mature black-plum, fragrant blue-flower and leather aromas mingle with balsamic whiffs of camphor on this full-bodied, delicious red. Made with 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Sangiovese, the creamy palate is earthy and full of flavor, boasting juicy blackberry, raspberry, dried mint, cocoa and licorice. Taut velvety tannins provide plenty of support and finesse. Drink through 2035.”
James Suckling 98 points “I love the meatiness to this wine, but also the purity of fruit; think charcuterie, prosciutto, bay leaf, capsicum, blueberries, blackcurrants and crushed stones. You just can’t get over the way this manages to deliver a powerful, muscular package with stunning finesse and poise. The tapestry of intricate texture and detail is wrought in a flashy but sincere and heartwarming style. The balance takes your breath away. Best ever from here. Impossible to resist now, but better from 2025.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Sammarco (a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Sangiovese) shines the brightest spotlight onto the Cabernet Sauvignon element, and you can immediately make out the distinctive sharpness and structure of that variety. The bouquet offers notes of black fruit, toasted spice and grilled herb, along with wild flower, terracotta and tilled earth. There is some spice on the close, and the tannins do leave their mark with youthful astringency. Give the wine some time in the cellar, and one day it will be fantastic with a tagliatelle and porcini.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Sammarco is a wine of exquisite and total finesse. Understated and nuanced, as few wines are in 2015, Sammarco is sublime. Wild flowers, cedar, spice, leather and mint give the 2015 striking aromatic dimension. On the palate, the 2015 is subtle and classy. In 2015, the Merlot crop was a bit higher than normal as newer plantings entered production, and that is reflected in the blend here as well. Because of that, the 2015 is an unusually open, forthcoming Sammarco. In fact, I can’t remember tasting a young Sammarco with this much early appeal. I can’t wait to see how it ages. The 2015 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Sangiovese, with the Cabernet and Merlot aged in concrete and tonneaux, and the Sangiovese exclusively in cask.”

Because 750ml of Produttori is simply not enough
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $88 special, 18 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a tight and beautiful wine that will require more time to unwind and soften. This beautifully balanced vintage is characterized by a tight inner core of fruit that underlines the graceful aging capacity of these wines. The 2016 is shaping up to be one destined for long cellar aging. Now in its youth, the wine offers wild berry, rose and licorice aromas.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing aromas of violet, woodland berry, loose vineyard soil, wild mint and a hint of spearmint shape the intensely fragrant nose. The tense, young palate is still nervous but already boasts finesse, showing wild raspberry, crunchy red cherry, white pepper and star anise. Firm, refined tannins and racy acidity give it a linear, almost austere elegance, while bright acidity keeps it focused and balanced. Drink 2026-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco is a stunning wine with tremendous richness for this bottling. Ample, deep and powerful, the 2016 exudes pedigree and class from start to finish. I can’t remember a straight Barbaresco here with this much fruit density and unctuous richness, and yet there is more than enough tannin and overall structure to give the wine its classically leaning feel. A blast of sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, menthol licorice and smoke hits the potent finish. What a wine!”

Thanks for reading!

Vinopolpick Monday Bonus 11-16-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Hot Deals from Italy
Casanova di Neri & Ciacci Piccolomini

New to the Vinopolis Champagne Sale!

Thanksgiving Selections
Under $30

Featured Pre-Arrival
Argiano’s Beautiful 2015 Brunello

Thanksgiving Selections
Under $70

La Grosse Pierre’s 2018 Beaujolais

Collector’s Corner
Castello di Ama: Chianti First Growth

Hot Deals from Italy

Casanova di Neri & Ciacci Piccolomini

Casanova di Neri

Casanova di Neri is one of Italy’s truly elite modern producers. Best known for their iconic Cerretalto bottling, Casanova di Neri also produces wines for more humble occasions. To that end, we are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their 2017 Rosso di Montalcino. Priced to share (responsibly) with your pod this winter, you won’t regret stocking up on this crowd-pleaser.

Pre-Arrival ETA December:

Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($34.95) $26.60 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Casanova di Neri Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2017 750 ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Tasting Note: A stunning Rosso di Montalcino from Casanova di Neri. The grapes are hand picked and matured for 15 months in French oak before release. Creating a wine that is ruby red in colour with garnet reflections. On the nose there are hints of maraschino cherry, violets and red fruits. The wine has great fineness in the mouth with young tannins. It is long lasting, elegant and persistent. A fantastic example of how good a rosso can be.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Also ETA December from Casanova di Neri:

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98+ points “Giacomo Neri and his family have crafted a wine that impresses from the first sip forward (especially when the wine is given ample time to open). The Casanova di Neri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova must be treated with patience, and that patience is returned with many great rewards. Blackberry, plum and summer cherry are slowly folded into lasting flavors of spice, leather and beautiful balsam or medical herb. These are always a distinctive signature of this estate. The aromas flow with seamless transitions, and that fluid and ever-changing nature of the bouquet is what helps to build intensity and staying power. Fruit is harvested from a south- and southeast-facing slope at 250 to 300 meters above sea level. The soils are mixed loosely with crushed rock, allowing access to air and moisture. Indeed, pretty mineral accents appear as the wine takes on more air in the glass. What stands out most in this Brunello is the quality of the bouquet that is rigid and firm, yet not excessively so. You feel the structural texture of the wine as it sits firmly over the palate, yet there is mobility and softness to its many moving parts. I tasted this wine at various intervals over a 24-hour period. Tenuta Nuova was bottled in June 2018, and some 70,032 bottles were released.”
Ian D’agata-Vinous 96 points “Bright full red. Redcurrant, red cherry, violet, sweet spices, and orange zest on the scented nose. Not in the quite sweet and fleshy style this bottling is famous for, but suave and very well delineated, with the orange peel note providing inner-palate lift. Closes very clean with excellent length.”
Eric Guido – Vinous 96 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova was quite restrained at first, requiring time in the glass to fully blossom, as subtle red berry fruits slowly gain volume and are then complemented by sweet red florals with hints of exotic spice, peppery herbs, and dusty minerals. On the palate, silky textures flood the senses with rich red berry fruits and sweet herbal tones, leaving hints of savory spice and minerals in their wake. The finish is long and unexpectedly fresh, showing the first hints of round tannins under a top note of sweet cherry, plum and a hint of black tea. There is so much going on here, yet it is all densely wrapped up in its youthful state.”

Ciacci Piccolomini

Ciacci Piccolomini is one of Italy’s most celebrated producers. Much of their success can be directly attributed to their 35 hectares of holdings. Not only are they located in the heart of Castelnuovo dell’Abate, one of Tuscany’s most prized zones, but the estate is a member of ‘Lotta Integrata’, an EU based movement that promotes responsible viticulture. Combine some of Tuscany’s best fruit with world-class winemaking, and it’s no surprise that James Suckling awarded their 2015 Brunello di Montalcino a whopping 98 points.

Pre-Arrival ETA December:

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “Extremely perfumed and decadent with dried flowers and spices and fresh mushrooms. Cherries,too. Full body. Solid core of fruit, yet ever so fine tannins. Goes on for minutes. Such beautifully crafted tannins. Drink after 2021.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Enticing aromas of ripe wild berry, iris, camphor and sunbaked soil take shape in the glass. Full in feel and enveloping, the smooth, delicious palate doles out juicy Marasca cherry, raspberry jam, licorice and tobacco while firm, velvety tannins provide support. It boasts concentration and structure but also balance, thanks to the fruit richness and freshness. Drink 2023–2030.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona estate enjoys a beautiful and huge expanse of vineyards at the back of the Castelnuovo dell’Abate village, where the downward slope of the hamlet meets the Orcia River, which delineates the appellation border. The estate’s 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers lovely harmony and elegance. The wine’s taste profile follows the soft contours and beautiful horizons that characterize this beautiful part of Tuscany. The mouthfeel is medium-weight but carefully balanced with just enough acidity to add brightness. It shows just enough backbone to guarantee staying power and longevity. That said, the tannins are carefully integrated into the delicate fiber of the wine. This is no doubt one of the most graceful Brunellos to emerge from the 2015 vintage.”

Can’t wait? Shop our top picks of in-stock Casanova di Neri & Ciacci Piccolomini wines below:

Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $66 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Neri family has created a classic expression of Sangiovese from a classic vintage, while remaining faithful to the house style. In a nutshell, these wines always tend to offer dark plum, clove and fig confit over the tiny berry and blue flower aromas you get from the traditionalists. That said, this Brunello needs ample time to open, and I suggest you splash it into the decanter. The Casanova di Neri 2015 Brunello di Montalcino (this is the one with the white label) stays safely within your expectation of the vintage with its variety-driven aromas of wild berry, licorice, blue flower and balsam herb. This wine sees fruit sourced from a vineyard on the northeast side of Montalcino, with Galestro soils ranging from 330 to 480 meters above sea level. Some 95,376 bottles were made. It was bottled in June 2019, and it hit the market in January 2020. You might want more from the aromatics (while you wait for the bouquet to come around), but this wine goes gangbusters in terms of mid-palate and overall texture.”
Ian D’agata-Vinous 94 points “Good deep red. Saline aromas and flavors of red cherry, blueberries, herbs, blood orange and sweet spices. Smooth and long on the bright, very sweet finish. Really quite good.”
Eric Guido – Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino from Casanova di Neru is very pretty, showing bright cherry and strawberry tones, as red florals and dusty spices that rise up from the glass, with just a hint of forest floor. On the palate, silky textures give way to red berry fruits and sweet spices, given lift through vibrant acids, as saline-minerals and hints of fine tannin saturate the senses. It finishes long, juicy, and fresh, with savory spice and residual acids buzzing on the senses while dried red fruits and florals slowly fade. The 2015 Casanova di Neri doesn’t succeed through power; instead it’s a feminine beauty of a wine.”

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova 2013 750ML ($134.95) $99 special, 25 bottles in stock now
#87 Wine Of The Year – James Suckling Top 100 In 2018
James Suckling 98 points “A vivid and bright red with intense blueberries and raspberries. Floral undertones and tons of citrus, too! Full-bodied, dense and layered. Polished tannins and fantastic fruit. The muscularity of the structure is what gives this wine focus and intensity. So serious for the vintage. Give it time to show its greatness. Drink in 2022.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 95+ points “Bright deep red. The youthfully reticent nose hints at flinty red cherry, blueberry, graphite, cedar and pepper. Then flavors similar to the aromas, and a tight acid spine and serious but polished tannins nicely extending and framing the brooding fruit notes and peppery flintiness on the long, deep, complex finish. A truly outstanding Tenuta Nuova Brunello that seems less fruit-forward and more shut down than usual but holds exciting promise. Interestingly, some of this wine’s elements, such as its flinty nuances, reminded me of Casanova di Neri’s Cerretalto Brunello (made with grapes grown at the opposite end of the Montalcino territory). I guess my palate needs to take a vacation. This knockout wine will age splendidly and will likely merit an even higher score in eight to ten years’ time.”

Casanova di Neri Cerretalto 2012 750ML ($419.95) $379 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 98 points “Flavors of medicinal herbs, juniper, macerated cherry, plum, tobacco and spice are the hallmarks of this intense red, which is ripe and concentrated, yet sleek and focused. Spice notes chime in on the long, minerally and firmly tannic finish. Best from 2023 through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 98 points ” The 2012 Brunello di Montalcino Cerretalto offers a prolonged, flowing and carefully massaged drinking experience that drapes over the senses with some studied intensity and lots of intriguing complexity. This wine nails that perfect balance between power and elegance (that elusive exchange that so many winemakers hope to achieve) with effortless precision. Bold cherry fruit and spice are tightly woven together. In the mouth, the wine shows texture, depth and succulence. Generally speaking, this is not my favorite vintage in Montalcino, but this wine suddenly made me forget that thought.”
James Suckling 97 points “The density is so impressive in this great single-vineyard wine of Casanova. It’s full yet agile at the same time. Shows such integrated tannins and fresh acidity at the finish. Energized and focused. Tangy and citrusy. Mineral undertone. One of the great Brunellos of 2012. Better in 2022.”

Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona Pianrosso, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 17 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points “Lots of ripe and rich fruit with a decadent undertone of meat and spice that turns to pure fruit and licorice. Medium to full body, refined tannins and a fresh and bright finish. All about harmony. Better after 2021.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast “Cellar Selection 98 points. Intense aromas of berry, iris, underbrush, botanical herb and camphor shape the enticing nose. Firmly structured, the taut, full-bodied palate offers juicy black cherry, raspberry, licorice and tobacco set against tightly knit, fine-grained tannins. Drink 2025–2035.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Ciacci Piccolomini d’Aragona 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Pianrosso is distinguished by a unique aromatic profile that brings out mineral notes of crushed limestone or chalk. This adds a greater sense of focus and delineation that not only characterizes the bouquet but also applies to the way the wine hits the palate in a fuller and more determined way (compared to the slightly softer classic Brunello). Instead, this single-vineyard Brunello shows an upright and direct approach with soft salinity on the close followed by forest fruit, spice and medicinal herb. The mouthfeel makes a big impact thanks to its streamlined and polished texture. Some 37,000 bottles were released in January 2020.”

Love Brunello? We offer 46 Brunello wines in stock now, including picks from Il Poggione, La Fortuna, La Torre, and Stella di Campalto. Shop the entire selection on our web store.

New to the Vinopolis Champagne Sale!

Champagne Georges Laval is one of the stars of the Grower movement—a cult winery whose wines appear in miniscule quantities here in the states. Vincent Laval makes wines that are rigid in their structure and impressive in their complexity—serious wines for studied drinking. If you’re serious about exploring the best that the Grower Champagne movement has to offer, consider picking up a bottle of this benchmark wine.

Georges Laval Cumieres Les Hautes Chevres Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne 2014 750ML ($299.95) Was $269, Now $249, 15 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2014 Brut Nature Les Hautes-Chèvres emerges from old-vine Meunier planted in 1930, 1947, 1965 and 1971, and the last vintage to include fruit from the 1930 vines. Big, rich and expansive in the glass, the Hautes-Chèvres is another wine of pure pedigree and class. The Hautes-Chèvres is a wine of texture and breadth above all else. Pear, white truffle and brioche add attractive layers of nuance. This is another fabulous Champagne from Vincent Laval that only suffers in that it is tasted next to a number of wines that are maybe just a touch more complete!”
Importer note “100% Pinot Noir. Premier Cru.”
[Disgorgement date may vary from review.]

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Don’t miss these sparkling wine deals from top-selling Champagne producer, Andre Clouet, and top Champagne house Charles Heidsieck.

One of the rarest types of single vineyard Champagnes in existence
André Clouet ‘Le Clos’ Bouzy Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2007 1.5L ($319.95) Was $279, Now $249, 13 magnums in stock now
VinopolNote: A limited production bottling, all from one of the four walled Grand Cru vineyards in Champagne. 100% Pinot Noir.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Charles Heidsieck was one of the pioneers of the Blanc de Blancs style
Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) Was $75, Now $66
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2012 vintage, the latest rendition of Heidsieck’s NV Blanc de Blancs incorporates some 20% reserve wines, derived from younger vintages to emphasize what Cyril Brun described as the “youthful” side of Chardonnay, in contrast to the mature expression of that cépage offered by the house’s Blanc de Millénaires. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, green apple and walnut oil, complemented by some of the empyreumatic nuances so typical of the base vintage, it’s a medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive wine that’s lively and inviting. It was disgorged last year with nine grams per liter dosage.”
Decanter 92 points “One of the pioneers of the blanc de blancs style, Charles Heidsieck only relaunched its 100% Chardonnay NV Champagne in 2018. Round but incisive and fresh, this has lovely balance between its creamy, woody mouthfeel and its fresh, saline acidity. A lovely food wine.”

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

We offer 133 Champagnes in stock now!
Shop the entire selection on our web store.

Thanksgiving Selections

Under $30

Bubbles

A Cava made for the dinner table
Alta Alella Bruel – Bruant Natural, Catalonia NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light, bright yellow-gold. Displays pungent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, lemon pith, fennel and chamomile that show very good clarity and spicy lift. Weighty, focused and dry on the palate, which displays refreshingly bitter citrus pith, pear skin and quinine flavors and a hint of peachiness. Manages to come off hefty as well as graceful and finishes long and taut, with resonating stoniness and a touch of spicy ginger. (disgorged after 15 months on its lees).”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Oregon’s 2017 vintage is wildly food-friendly, bubbles included
Mellen Meyer Brut Nature Sparkling, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Based on the 2017 vintage, this is a leaner style of Champagne-method sparkling wine. Disgorged February 2020.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A staff favorite!
Le Domaine d’Henri 821 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs de Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($35.95) $29.90 special
Importer note “Produced from 35+ year old vines in the Chablis appellation using the Méthode Ancestrale meaning that the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and bottled before aging with the CO2 necessary for the long haul already in the bottle. Aged on its lees for 24 months, it is then disgorged with no added sugar. 821 refers to the minimum total number of days necessary to produce this wine from the beginning of the growing season to the moment the bottle leaves the cellar. Delightful toast and citrus notes with some exotic tinges lead into a serious wine with high mineral tension, full fruit in the middle and a very fine and persistent bead. This is an impressive wine that will surprise many.”

Willamette Valley

Intense and complex
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

The perfect local wine for your Thanksgiving table
Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($31.95) $29 special
No reviews for the 2019 vintage available. 2018 vintage review provided for reference.
James Suckling 91 points ” Impressive aromas of blueberries and raspberries with leafy violets and pepper. The palate has superb clarity of fresh, blackcurrant and strawberry flavors and a white pepper dusting the finish. Drink or hold.”

A Pinot for lovers of ‘Right Bank’ wine
Left Coast Cellars Right Bank Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Limpid ruby-red. Sexy, oak-tinged cherry and cassis aromas are complemented by building floral, spice and mineral nuances. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering concentrated dark berry and rose pastille flavors that deepen and turn sweeter with air. Fine-grained tannins lend shape to the finish, which hangs on with strong, floral-tinged persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Rhone Valley

“Gorgeous and explosive”
Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
Grapelive 93 points “Wow, what a gorgeous and explosive new wine by Louis Barruol, owner of the famed Chateau de Saint Cosme in Gigondas. This Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres is a meaty and deep purple/garnet Rhone red co-fermentation of Barruol’s old vine Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre. Louis Barruol has long used fruit from this remote area and has recently added this estate to his lineup as a separate label within the Saint Cosme family. [This] makes sense as Vinsobres has been recognized as its own appellation, an upgrade from a generic Cotes du Rhone, which I would argue was long overdue, since this cooler and high quality terroir is unique and deserves to be more widely known as this wine certainly proves. Louis Barruol has coveted this site for years. He notes that, like his famous Chateau de Saint Cosme, Chateau de Rouanne was first founded during Gallo-Roman times, probably dating back to the 1400s. Barruol adds that, most of Rouanne’s vineyards date from the 1960s and are massale selections (special old clones) that offer substantial genetic diversity and low yields that shows in the wine, giving it concentration and depth, while the elevation and soils allow for natural acidity and heightened aromatics. These qualities and characteristics shine in this 2018, like Saint Cosme’s Gigondas it is brilliantly dark and inviting with polished texture and a full body delivering black raspberry, damson plum, boysenberry compote, creme de cassis and cherry fruit along with whole bunches influences highlighted with peppercorns, violets, earthiness and herbs de provence. The Chateau de Rouanne Vinsobres Rouge was crafted in this vintage from 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre grown on sandy, iron rich soils set on a limestone marl base with some clay and was, as noted above, all co-fermented primarily with whole cluster and all indigenous yeasts in concrete tanks, where it was also aged. The wine rested in the cement vat for 18 months, which allows the wine to show absolute purity in its final form and gave it time to fill out before bottling. The vines in Louis Barruol’s Vinsobres are all organic and head trained with a very high percentage of Syrah interplanted here, much more than you’d find in other southern Rhone Crus, which adds to this wine’s distinct profile that seems more northern Rhone in first impression, though the lush Grenache takes the stage mid palate and creates a luxurious harmony here and there is a velvety almost chocolatey element with the touch of Mourvedre adding a contrasting gamey note. This 2018 GSM got way better as the bottle went down and fans of Saint Cosme with want to stock up on this one. It actually reminds me of Barruol’s Chateauneuf du Pape and is almost half the price! Barruol says Chauteau de Rouanne is an extraordinary (and historic) place in many respects, primarily for its terroir – very few locations in the southern Rhone can boast vineyard sites of this pedigree and that he very excited for the potential here, which he compares with Cotes de Nuits Burgundies…, believing that this site will only get better and better as he focuses more attention to it. I can’t wait to see what the future holds, but this stuff is delicious now!”

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

Power meets Vacqueyras rusticity
Domaine de l’Oiselet Vacqueyras, Rhone 2016 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “More structured than the 2015, this estate’s 2016 Vacqueyras is a full-bodied, richly textured and firm wine that should drink well over the next 5-8 years. Hints of rosemary and cola accent the mixed-berry fruit, finishing dry and savory.”

A sure-bet from a Vinopolis best seller
Chateau de Saint Cosme Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “A step up, the 2017 Saint Joseph offers another level of class and purity. Beautiful blackberry, black raspberries, cured meats, and pepper notes give way to a medium to full-bodied Saint Joseph that has subtle oak, a seamless texture, and fine tannins. It’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.”
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Deep magenta. Powerful, spice- and mineral-accented cherry and dark berry aromas show very good clarity and pick up smoky bacon and potpourri flourishes as the wine opens up. In a concentrated but lively style, offering appealingly sweet red and dark fruit and floral pastille flavors and a salty olive flourish. The floral and spice notes drive an impressively long finish that’s framed by fine-grained, harmonious tannins. From vines in Malleval.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Featured Pre-Arrival

Argiano’s Beautiful 2015 Brunello

In Montalcino there are the super-traditionalists and then there are the unapologetic forward-leaning estates that are bringing advancements in winemaking technology. Argiano is an estate with Tuscan roots dating to the 16th century, but the past twenty years have brought changes to the estate that excited many critics and fans of the international style.

The estate’s 2015 Brunello di Montalcino provides further evidence of this trend. The product of an extraordinary vintage, the wine is full of character even in its infancy. With a dynamic nose that is distinctly Brunello, and a sturdy structure that suggests enormous aging potential, Brunello doesn’t get much better than this for under $55.

Pre-Arrival ETA December:

Argiano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($74.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “This is a terrific wine and one of the new releases from Montalcino that I happily include on a short list of top recommendations. The Argiano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino shows a very lively bouquet that is already singing despite the young age of this new release. The wine opens to a dark ruby color with garnet highlights. The bouquet shows a large span of wild berry, earth, licorice spice and medicinal herb aromas. This vintage also reveals a pretty floral character with dried rose potpourri and lavender buds. After fermentation, the wine is aged slowly for 30 months in large oak botte (including 10-, 30- and 50-hectoliter capacity), thus restricting oxygen and gently slowing its evolution. However, the 2015 vintage is naturally expressive and exuberant, and that’s the main takeaway here.”
James Suckling 95 points “Very floral on the nose with plums, rose petals and freshly sliced porcini mushrooms. The palate is tight and compressed with beautiful ripe fruit, wet earth and cool, stone flavors. A structured and impressive wine. Drink after 2022.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 94 points “The nose is dark and rich, showing ripe black cherry and sweet herbs, with notes of tobacco, hints of mocha, and brown spice. On the palate, soft textures give way to sweet red fruits, showing wonderful purity and finesse, which was completely unexpected following the powerful bouquet that greeted me, as the 2015 Sesti becomes even more savory in the glass. The finish is long, energetic yet clean, with brisk acids making the mouth water, and remnants of red berry fruit and inner florals echoing throughout. The longer I spend with the glass, the more I like it.”

Thanksgiving Selections

Under $70

Bubbles

A unique blend perfect for the Champagne geek in your life
Champagne Aubry Le Nombre d’Or Campanae Veteres Vites Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($89.95) $59 special
Importer note “Cépages: 25% Chardonnay, 25% Arbanne, 25% Petit Meslier, 25% Pinot Blanc. Vineyard/Village: Jouy-lès-Reims 1er Cru. Malo: yes. Elevage: Stainless steel. En Tirage Aging: 48 months.”
[Disgorgement date may vary.]

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Delicate, broad, balanced
Eric Rodez Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Champagne (2014) 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “[Reviewed Apr 2019] Offering up aromas of smoky green orchard fruit, hazelnuts and waxy citrus that are delicately framed by their time in barrel, the latest rendition of Rodez’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs is a medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy wine with a bright spine of acidity, a frothy mousse and a long, vinous and subtly oak-inflected finish. Unsurprisingly, its Ambonnay origins and Rodez’s style mark it just as much as its cépage.”
[Review is for prior disgorgement]

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

A wine to plan your Thanksgiving meal around
Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $61.50 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “The new release of Heidsick’s NV Rosé Réserve is based on the 2012 vintage, with the usual 20% of reserve wines and some 6% still red wine from Les Riceys in the Aube. Already exhibiting considerable complexity, it wafts from the glass with scents of orange rind, red plums, gingerbread and red berries. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, satiny textured and fleshy, with lively acids and an attractively vinous profile. It was disgorged a few months ago with 11 grams per liter dosage”

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

A beauty at a new lower price
Schloss Gobelsburg Sekt Brut Réserve, Niederosterreich 2008 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $69, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Creamy, lemony chalkiness on the nose promises a serious wine, with some age. The slender palate comes in with tiny bubbles of creamy foam, dancing against a yeasty, chalky, stony backdrop. They release notions of lemon and honey, contradictory notions that create drama, richness and freshness. The finish is creamy, intense with chalkiness, long and dry.”
Winery note “The Vintage style at Schloss Gobelsburg is a homage to the art of craftsmanship in respect to the past centuries. A minimum of ten years of bottle storage is required to achieve finesse and elegance in a Vintage. Only special vintages are used for a Vintage (2001, 2004, 2008) Grapes are harvested at the optimal moment, transported in small boxes and are immediately pressed, whereby only the heart of the must is used. After 12 months of cask storage, it is bottled for the second fermentation. It matures for at least ten years on the lees, which allows it to develop a rich texture, until it is hand riddled and then disgorged.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Burgundy

Upbeat and drinking beautifully today
Jean-Claude Boisset Pommard, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
James Suckling 94 points “A blend of two climats (Brescul and La Combotte). This draws on two very different parts of the appellation. A very upbeat style with ripe, red cherries and berries, as well as chocolate and light spices. The palate is very refined. Shows very long and detailed flavors of cherry compote. A long, succulent finish. Superb freshness and dense, fine tannins. Try from 2021”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

“Gourmand but elegant”
Domaine Servin Blanchot, Chablis Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($74.95) $59 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots is also a success, offering up aromas of preserved peach, lemon confit and fresh citrus zest. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, textural and saline, with excellent purity and length. It’s a gourmand but elegant Blanchots that retains plenty of site personality.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2016 Chablis Blanchots Grand Cru has a clean and precise, quite granitic bouquet, tightly wound but focused. The palate is well balanced with good depth, quite primal at the moment with a terse, saline finish. It just needs to loosen-up by the time of bottling.”

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A baby Corton-Charlemagne
Domaine Rollin Pere et Fils Sous Fretille, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Rosenthal Note “This vineyard is a relatively recent acquisition by the Rollin family (the 2000 vintage was the first to issue from the domaine) but it is a parcel of old vines in one of the elite lieu-dits of the village. The vineyard is situated on slopes overlooking the village and is just around the corner from Corton Charlemagne. A powerful wine that benefits from several years of bottle age … only 35 cases per annum are allocated to us for the USA.”

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Historic yet still underrated
Domaine Henri Gouges Nuits-Saint-Georges, Cote de Nuits 2017 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
“The 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges Village displays a somewhat high-toned bouquet of cedary red and black fruits and dark chocolate, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate with velvety structuring tannins and a tangy core of fruit. It’s acid-driven and middle-weight in style and it will drink well comparatively young.” –William Kelley, Wine Advocate

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La Grosse Pierre’s 2018 Beaujolais

Pauline Passot took advantage of her family’s long history growing grapes in Chiroubles to found a small winery in 2016. Their parcels are ancient, with nothing younger than 40 years-old and some vines are 70, 90, or even 100 years old. With such quality material, she crafts classically-styled Beaujolais. Of course in Burgundy proper, the juice of similarly ancient Pinot Noir vines would set you back $100-$500/bottle. Fortunately, some fool in the 14th century decreed the grape as ‘disloyal’ and 600 years later, Passot’s gems are under $25/bottle. So if you’re still in need of Beaujolais for your turkey day table, you’ll be hard pressed to find better value than our lineup of La Grosse Pierre’s 2018s.

In stock now:

Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles Aux Craz, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Offering up aromas of ripe cherries and raspberries as well as hints of rose petal and peony, the 2018 Chiroubles Aux Craz is medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, its deep core of succulent fruit framed by satiny tannins. This bottling derives from 70-year-old vines in the domaine’s highest-altitude holdings in lieu-dit Grosse Pierre.”

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Domaine de La Grosse Pierre Fleurie Bel Air, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Bursting from the glass with inviting aromas of cherries, berries and plums, the 2018 Fleurie Bel-Air is showing even better than when I reviewed it last year. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent, it’s elegantly fleshy, built around lively acids and melting tannins. Seamless and impeccably balanced, this is an immensely drinkable young Beaujolais.”
VinopolNote: From 50 year old vines.

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Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles Cuvee Claudius, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Bursting with aromas of cherries, blackberries, licorice and violets, the 2018 Chiroubles Claudius is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of powdery tannin largely concealed by a rich core of fruit. This is a terrific Chiroubles with the stuffing (and a high-quality Trescases cork) to evolve with grace in the cellar.”
VinopolNote: From 90-100 year old vines.

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Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Morgon Douby, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, licorice and cracked pepper, the 2018 Morgon Douby is medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, with a fleshy core of fruit underpinned by powdery tannins that mark this out as one of Passot’s more structured wines this year.”
VinopolNote: From 70 year old vines.

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Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “I underestimated the 2018 Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre when I tasted it not long after it had been bottled, and six months later, it’s performing very well. Mingling aromas of black cherries and blackberries with hints of cracked pepper and herbs, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and elegantly fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a seamless profile.”
VinopolNote: From 45 year old vines.

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Love Beaujolais? We offer 42 wines from Beaujolais in stock now, including favorites from Anne-Sophie Dubois, Chermette Vissoux, and Clos de la Roilette. Shop the entire selection on our web store.

Collector’s Corner

Castello di Ama: Chianti First Growth

Castello di Ama has emerged as a true First Growth of Chianti. Modern and focused on quality in both the vineyard and in the cellar, Castello di Ama makes rich, textural wines that rival the most famous names in Tuscany. One notable signal of Castello di Ama’s commitment to quality has been their championing of the new Chianti Gran Selezione DOCG. A level above Riserva, the designation requires longer aging and is designed to let producers highlight their tip-top wines from Sangiovese. Castello di Ama’s La Casuccia is the one we’re highlighting today, along with their 2016 L’Apparita Merlot.

First, the 2016 La Casuccia is another stunner from Castello de Ama’s collection of Gran Selezione bottlings. Full-bodied, rich and surprisingly silky for this stage in its young life, this is really special stuff. If you haven’t yet been convinced of the merits of Chianti’s Gran Selezione designation, this bottle is sure to win you over.

As for the 2016 L’Apparita Merlot, it represents everything we love about modern Tuscan wine. Unapologetically international in style, it has critics raving. Antonio Galloni described it as “a breathtaking, riveting wine that captures all the potential of the vintage” and “wonderfully complete and magnificently beautiful” while rewarding it a perfect 100-point score. Both wines arrive this Friday, and are sure to generate significant interest.

Pre-Arrivals ETA November 20th:

Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia,Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is rich, sensual and inviting, as it so often is. The addition of Merlot to Sangiovese yields a Chianti Classico built on textural resonance, with silky tannins, soft curves and tons of sheer allure. The 2016 won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, but it is unquestionably a great wine in the making. Succulent dark cherry, red plum, menthol, licorice, cloves and new oak infuse the creamy, voluptuous finish.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Mature black-skinned berry, rose, tilled soil and a balsamic whiff of eucalyptus shape the nose. The bright, elegant palate has energy, tension and depth, delivering ripe wild cherry, red plum, licorice and crushed botanical herb. Taut, fine-grained tannins lend polished support while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. A gorgeous wine. Drink through 2031.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “From the small vineyard facing Castello di Ama from the north, the 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto la Casuccia shows a dark and hearty side with rich fruit that flows steadily from the bouquet. Like the other new releases from this iconic estate, this wine shows a pretty earthy note that is particularly well defined and fine-tuned in this vintage. The fruit is broad, thick and horizontal. This is a Sangiovese painted with broad brush strokes. It’ll stand another decade or two, or open it sooner with a pappardelle al cinghiale.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This aromatic Chianti Classico features violet, black cherry, leather, earth and spice flavors. A laser of bracing acidity and muscular tannins runs underneath. The balance tips toward the tannins today, but put this in your cellar for another few years. Sleek and very long. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2042. 315 cases made, 40 cases imported.”
James Suckling 95 points “A dense and layered red with spice and berry character. Medium to full body. Blueberry, wet-earth and walnut undertones. Iodine. Shows structure and intensity. Drink in 2020 and onwards.”

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Castello di Ama L’Apparita Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($289.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 100 points “The 2016 L’Apparita, 100% Merlot, is a breathtaking, riveting wine that captures all the potential of the vintage. In this vintage, L’Apparita is especially silky and refined. Layered, perfumed and wonderfully nuanced, L’Apparita is simply epic. Lavender, mint, sage, spice, new leather and cloves develop with time, but more than anything else, L’Apparita is wonderfully complete and magnificently beautiful.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 99 points “The 2016 L’Apparita is a standout wine. A true symbol of the vintage, the wine shows the classic lines and extreme precision we can expect from 2016, with the plump, ripe generosity of the Merlot grape (when farmed in the right hands of course). The wine is profound, rich and beautifully concentrated with power but no residual heaviness. I went back to this sample a few times in the 12 hours after I popped the cork, and the wine was more beautiful each time. It offers a profound sense of beauty, harmony and Merlot purity now, and it should evolve slowly and softly in the coming years.”
James Suckling 97 points “Extremely perfumed with violets and crushed raspberries, as well as wet earth and spice. Full body. Linear and chewy with racy tannins and fruit tension. Wild finish. Pure merlot. Needs time to open. Try after 2021.”

Love Tuscany? We offer over 150 Tuscan wines in stock now, including picks from Castell’in Villa, Fontodi, and Isole e Olena. Shop the entire selection on our web store.

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