Tag Archives: newsletter

Vinopolpick Mid-Week 6-9-21

In This Newsletter:

Mosel Masterpieces
Dr. H. Thanisch

Subscriber Special
Caparzo’s High-Scoring 2016 Brunello

Champagne’s Most Impressive Lineup?
Charles Heidsieck

The Flower of Brunello
New Riserva from La Fiorita

High-Scoring Beaujolais
Daniel Bouland’s 2019 Crus

Top Value Picks from Burgundy
All $19 – $33

Collector’s Corner
Rare: The Crown Jewel of Piper-Heidsieck

Mosel Masterpieces

Dr. H. Thanisch

Weingut Wwe. Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Thanisch is classic Germany, a spectacular Riesling producer that is a mouthful to say. Named after the widow (wwe being the German abbreviation) who inherited the estate in the 19th century, Thanisch has been producing wine since 1636. Already considered one Germany’s most exceptional producers, Thanisch was one of the first estates to join the VDP Consortium in 1910, and the estate has continued to pursue excellence ever since.

Working entirely with old vines and some of the most lauded vineyards in the Mosel, it should come as no surprise that Thanisch holds the crown for highest price ever fetched at auction for a German producer. The wine in question? A bottle of 1921 Berncastler Doctor Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese that had been secretly hidden in their underground cellar for decades. It was sold in 1986 for over $16,000.

When one thinks of extreme vineyards, most point to the Northern Rhône, Liguria, or the Canary islands. But the verdant slopes of the Mosel hide some of the most dangerous and challenging sites in the world. Any slope over 30 degrees makes mechanized assistance nearly impossible, further exacerbating backbreaking work for farmhands. If that wasn’t difficult enough, the various types of slate found in the Mosel become dangerously slippery when wet, oftentimes requiring safety winches and harnesses for laborers. About half of the estate vineyards farmed by Thanisch have aspects of 60 degrees or more, offering mind-bending views of the village of Bernkastel and the Mosel River. And the resulting wines are absolute marvels across the board.

Germany’s 2019 vintage is expected to be an instant classic, having already been hailed as “Germany’s Breakout Vintage” by British critic Jancis Robinson. While Robert Parker of the Wine Advocate has declared that the 2019s “are worth cellaring for decades”. Thanks to almost perfect weather conditions, 2019 has yielded marvels across the Prädikat spectrum, and Thanisch’s are unsurprisingly some of the finest.

Pre-Arrivals ETA Late-June:

Only 3 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett feinherb is clear, refined and flinty on the crunchy/slatey nose. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a delicate and delicious Kabinett with white stone fruit aromas and a juicy finish with a stimulating slate structure and salinity. Remarkably fine. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is an off-dry wine (with 21 g/l of residual sugar) with a superbly complex and refined nose of almond cream, candied grapefruit, laurel, rosemary, mint, and freshly cut lemon. The wine develops a very beautifully juicy and fruity presence on the palate and leaves one with a refreshing feel of ripe acidity in the superbly long finish. The after-taste is beautifully animating and zesty with minty flavors of tangerine and lime. This succulent off-dry Riesling has quite some aging potential. 2024-2039.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only 2 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93 points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is a sweet wine with a refined and floral nose of whipped cream, vineyard peach, smoke, herbs, orange blossom, and fine spices. It proves gorgeously playful and creamy on the palate and leaves a great feeling of energy and finesse in the finish. This is a great and juicy Spätlese in the making. 2029-2049.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Only 3 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2019er Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese was made from fruit harvested at approx. 100° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a hugely restrained, aniseed, and smoky nose of honeyed yellow peach, minty herbs, pear, melon, quince jelly, and vanilla touch. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and exotic fruits, as well as apricot, black berry, and a hint of smoky raisin. The finish is still on the smooth and creamy side, even if the after-taste more than hints already at the depth, complexity, and freshness to come. Patience will be needed for this beautiful Auslese to come around and deliver all its nuances. But the wait will be more than worth it! 2034-2069.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Only 2 cases arriving!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkastel-Kues Alte Reben, Mosel 2019 ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Bernkastel-Kues Riesling Alte Reben is a barely off-dry wine (with 12 g/l of residual sugar) made from grapes harvested from 40-year-old vines in the Kueser part of the city. It offers a superbly complex and refreshing nose of anise, pink grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine, mint, lead pencil, and smoke. The wine proves hugely enjoyable thanks its animating presence on the palate and leaves a precise and dry-tasting feel in the long finish. The wine develops more weight and presence with airing, but retains a great sense of grip and playfulness in the animating and beautifully balanced after-taste. Now-2034.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Only 2 cases arriving!
Wwe Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Mosel 2019 ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Highlights, in Stock Now:

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”

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

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese offers a clear, elegant nose with bright fruit, green asparagus and flinty aromas. Racy and lush on the palate, this is a refreshing, elegant but still pretty sweet Spätlese with crystalline, piquant acidity and structure. The finish is long and complex, but the wine needs a decade to integrate all its components into a fine and elegant Spätlese. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Badstube Spätlese offers a nice nose made of pear, white peach, cassis, minty herbs and a hint of whipped cream. The wine is nicely playful and loaded with white fruits and minerals on the palate. The finish is beautifully playful and complex. While still young, this hints at great potential. 2026-2041”

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

Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95+ points “The coolish, precise and elegant 2017 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese (AP 3 18) opens to very fine tropical fruit aromas intermixed with the smoky scents of crushed black rocks. Lush and finessed on the palate, this is a firmly structured, very elegant and persistently mineral Doctor Spätlese whose salty-piquant finish and fine, crystalline structure develops enormous length and tension but also finesse and a highly elaborate style. Highly stimulating. Tasted in March 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love German Riesling? We have over 350 different options (not a typo!) in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Dönnhoff and JJ Prüm, as well as more from Thanisch.

Subscriber Special

Caparzo’s High-Scoring 2016 Brunello

Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini dreamed of living on a vineyard from a young age. However, like it so often does, life intervened. After stints in both the entertainment and pharmaceutical industries, she followed her heart and purchased the historic Caparzo vineyard in Brunello di Montalcino in 1998.

Although vines had long stood on the Caparzo land alongside olive trees and forest, the vineyard itself wasn’t established until the 1960s. During the intervening years the vineyard passed from several different owners, never receiving the attention and care it deserved. After purchasing the property, Gnudi decided to focus on what she thought the estate would do best: high-quality wines based on Sangiovese.

With the help of Massimo Bracalente, she made investments to improve quality in both the vineyard and cellar, all the while staying true to regional traditions. Today, the results speak for themselves. Under Gnudi, the Caparzo vineyard has become a rising star within the region, and the 2016 bottling is undoubtedly the finest yet. So take advantage of our Subscriber Case Specials before it’s too late!

Subscriber Case Specials expire June 17th

Pre-Arrival ETA Late-July:

Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($289.95) $255 pre-arrival Subscriber Case Special ends 6/17 (that’s only $42.50/bottle!) ***case special will not appear online, please call/email/stop by to order***
Case-12 Caparzo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($499.95) $479 pre-arrival Subscriber Case Special ends 6/17 (that’s only $39.92/bottle!) ***case special will not appear online, please call/email/stop by to order***
Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, sweet cherry and raspberry fruit are accented by floral, mineral and wild herbs in this alluring red. A backbone of dense, dusty tannins provides support, and the ripe fruit returns on the savory finish. Excellent length. Best from 2023 through 2043. 15,000 cases made, 8,500 cases imported.”

Love Brunello? We have 46 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Casanova di Neri, La Fortuna, Sassetti and more, on our web store now.

Champagne’s Most Impressive Lineup?

Charles Heidsieck

Charles Heidsieck is one of the great and historic houses of Champagne. However, because of their relatively small size, they tend to be overlooked when compared to other Grande Marques. Their house style is notable for its richness and texture, incorporating long aging on the lees and significant amounts (20+%) of reserve wines in their NV blends. Best known for their classic Brut Réserve, as well as their Blanc des Millénaires prestige cuvée, Charles Heidsieck was also one of the pioneers of the Blanc de Blancs style in the mid-20th century. And after decades of producing some of Champagne’s finest vintage Blanc de Blancs, the house relaunched their NV version in 2018. After tasting the wine, we’re left wondering what took them so long. In just a few short years the wine is already being regarded as one of the best flagship Blanc de Blancs in the region. And of course their Brut Réserve and Blanc des Millénaires remain two of best wines in their respective categories, making Charles Heidsieck’s lineup one of the most impressive in all of Champagne.

In Stock Now:

Charles Heidsieck Blanc de Blancs Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $66 special, 24 bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”
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.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $79.80

Only 3 bottles available!
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Champagne 2004 750ML (199.95) $169 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Decanter – World Wine Awards 2019 98 points “This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a bright morning gold in colour, with fine-seamed bubbles and rich, expressive and expansive aromas. Beaten cream, pounded hazels, a hint of baking apples, brioche fresh from the oven. But all these notes are drawn with great subtlety, underscoring the fruit quality of the Chardonnay vineyards used in this blend. On the palate, the wine retains all that aromatic grace and amplitude, marrying it to a shapely fruit presence, vibrant though now well-rounded acidity and textural charm, too. A head-turner. Drink 2019-2028.”

Only 1 bottle available!
Charles Heidsieck Brut Millésime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Decanter 94 points “For those who like their champagne delicate, with the smile of a warm summer, this is the vintage to go for. Fine-drawn and elegant, It has a nice structure and well-defined flavours of red fruits, quince and a touch of apricot, accompanied by a subtle spiciness. The one criticism aimed at 2006 is that the wines can lack acidity – but not this one. Ready to drink now, maybe with blinis. Disgorged in 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pre-Arrivals ETA June:

Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve, Champagne NV 750ML (359.95) $259 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points “Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”

Love Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Nicolas Maillart, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.

The Flower of Brunello

New Riserva from La Fiorita

Looking for Biondi-Santi? How about the vineyard next door for a fraction of the cost? Coming from a single vineyard neighboring the Biondi-Santi estate, this is already a steal before you consider farming practices and vintage conditions. The juice from this high-density, high-elevation (almost 4,000 feet above sea level), organically farmed estate, is vinified by Roberto Cipresso. Even if the name doesn’t ring a bell, you may be familiar with his work. He is perhaps best known for his Argentine label Achaval-Ferrer. But he also famously created a papal cuvée for His Holiness John Paul II, and crafted the Sesquicentennial Anniversary Cuvée commissioned by the Italian Republic to celebrate 150 years of unification.

This is a Brunello built for long-term aging, given the ripe fruit profile and richly developed tannins from the 2015 vintage. La Fiorita means “flowery” in Italian and this certainly comes through in the wine with notes of rose petal, rosemary and flowering oregano. These qualities have already been harmonizing during the additional time in vat and bottle required by the Riserva classification. Expect this wine to continue improving for at least 10 years, as even La Fiorita’s entry-level Brunello is famously austere. But if you can’t wait that long, a few hours in a decanter will have it singing.

Pre-Arrival ETA August:

Only 3 cases arriving!
2015 La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($199.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Highly Recommended. This rich red is energetic and balanced, saturated with black cherry, plum and mineral flavors. Accents of wild rosemary and sage chime in as this remains fresh and long on the iron and underbrush aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. 310 cases made, 100 cases imported.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.98

Love Tuscany? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Castell’in Villa, Fèlsina, Fontodi and more, on our web store now.

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Order Online / By Phone / By Email

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

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

www.vinopoliswineshop.com

info@vinopoliswineshop.com

503-223-6002

High-Scoring Beaujolais

Daniel Bouland’s 2019 Crus

Daniel Bouland makes gutsy old-vine Beaujolais from some of the region’s 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 bottles 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. The 2019s just landed and we’re thrilled to feature them again today at national best prices.

In Stock Now:

Daniel Bouland Chiroubles Châtenay, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $28.80 special, 23 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Exuberant aromas of raspberries, blackberries and cherries introduce the 2019 Chiroubles Châtenay, 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 lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
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.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 30 bottles in stock now
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.”

Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $29.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Beaujolais? We have over 40 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Anne-Sophie Dubois, Daniel Bouland, Clos de la Roilette and more, on our web store now.

Top Value Picks from Burgundy

All $19 – $33

Whites

In Stock Now:

Domaine Matrot Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now

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

The world’s best Aligoté?
Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Bourgogne Aligoté, Burgundy 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “Bourgogne Aligoté: There is no better version of this modest white Burgundy than the one produced by Rollin. From very old vines (50 years plus) in a parcel of 1.7 hectares on the border of Pernand and the neighboring village of Echevronne, it carries the lively acidity that is part of the character of the grape but also the personality of the wines of Pernand. The age of the vines imparts density and body that shows this grape at its very best. We purchase fifty cases annually for the US market.”

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

Elegant & polished
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate “Already bottled, the 2017 Bourgogne Chardonnay offers up aromas of white flowers, citrus oil and wet stones. On the palate, its medium-bodied, elegantly glossy and succulent, though it’s quite tight-knit after its recent bottling. As usual, it’s an excellent introduction to the domaine’s range.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Lively & balanced
Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc, Burgundy 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Rosenthal Wine Merchant note “Hautes Côtes de Beaune Blanc: From a small parcel of Chardonnay planted in the western reaches of Pernand on into Echevronne, the Rollins produce a white of lively acidity but with a certain heft that comes from the strictly limited production levels required to achieve maximum maturity from grapes planted on these slopes that see less late afternoon sun.”

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

Concentrated & complex
Domaine Michel Juillot Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge Blanc, Côte Chalonnaise 2017 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 18 bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90 points “Aromas of fresh pear, musk melon and orange blossom preface the 2017 Mercurey Les Vignes de Maillonge Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and textural wine that’s attractively satiny and elegant this year. The parcel includes some 90-year-old muscaté selections of Chardonnay.”

Reds

In Stock Now:

“A lovely, subtlety rich Côte de Nuits wine”
Domaine Collotte Bourgogne Cuvée de Noble Souché, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($27.95) $19 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Weygandt-Metzler Importer note “Bourgogne “Noble Souché” translates to the “noble vine” from almost 70 year old vines planted in 1947 on Marsannay Cailloux soil from Champforeys. Entirely, de-estemmed, slow fermentation with 5 days of pre-maceration. Aged for 11 months 90% in stainless steel tank, this is a lovely, subtlety rich Côte de Nuits wine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99

Nuanced & delicious
Domaine Michel Juillot Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 27 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

A perennial top value producer
Henri Prudhon & Fils Bourgogne Les Charmeaux, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer (Neal Rosenthal) Note “This cuvée is drawn from several parcels in Saint Aubin that comprise about 7/10 of a hectare. The vines are a mix of young (10 years) and old (40 years). Clay and limestone soils with a western exposure in the western most sector of the village of Saint Aubin. The wine is aged in small barrel for eight months but no new oak is used.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Polish without sacrificing soul
Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Pinot Noir Cuvée Saint-Vincent, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “From 45 year-old vines in the Côte de Beaune. Aged in French oak (10% new) for ten months.”

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

Serious old-vine character
Domaine Alain Jeanniard Bourgogne Côte d’Or Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “55 year old vines grown in clay-limestone soils.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

“A vibrant, lip-smacking example of pure Pinot Noir pleasure”
Domaine Forey Père et Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Neal Rosenthal “The 40-to-60-year-old vines of Forey’s Bourgogne Rouge—produced from various parcels in Nuits and Vosne—typically yield a wine of impressive depth for its category. Vinified with 50% whole clusters and aged in 10% new 500-liter demi-muids, this 2017 is a vibrant, lip-smacking example of pure Pinot Noir pleasure, offering beaming red fruits and an attractive dusting of spices in its juicy and easygoing personality.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.99

“This will deliver great pleasure for the best part of a decade”
Domaine Bernard & Thierry Glantenay Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate “Thierry Glantenay’s 2015 Bourgogne Rouge is lovely, wafting from the glass with notes of smoky red cherry, cocoa and raspberries. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and delicious, with a succulent core of fruit, light structuring tannins and juicy acids. This will deliver great pleasure for the best part of a decade.”
Importer note “30 year old vines grown in deep clay soil. Thierry Glantenay has taken over at his family domaine and is now producing exquisite, ethereal Volnay and full, powerful Pommard from many of the best terroirs. They farm their own vines and make their own wines ensuring the best available quality. Across the board these wines are precise, focused and reflective of their underlying terroir, with great sappiness and depth in the mid-palates, coupled with brilliant structural integrity that makes them, to me, amongst the finest wines made in the southern half of Burgundy.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love red Burgundy? We have over 200 different options from the Côte de Nuits and over 90 different options from the Côte de Beaune in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Fourrier, Montille, Roumier and more, on our web store now.

Collector’s Corner

Rare: The Crown Jewel of Piper-Heidsieck

You’ve heard of Cristal and Dom Pérignon; but did you know that there is an even rarer top offering from a Grand Marque? Produced only 12 times in its 46 year history, Piper-Heidsieck’s Rare lives up to the name. Dom Pérignon, by comparison, has been made 45 times in 100 years.

The wine is crafted by an exclusive Chef de Cave named Régis Camus who, until 2018, was in charge of all of Piper-Heidsieck’s production. Under the direction of Camus, 8 times honored as the ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’, there is nothing short of artistry at work here. Citing a commitment to “balancing fruit, minerality and freshness and to still be young in 20 years” Rare is aged a minimum of 10 years prior to release, with most see even longer bottle age (2008 was just announced after over 13 years). Every vintage is given a title by Camus, meant to offer a “photograph” of the vintage and resulting Champagne. For the 2006 (in stock now), the word is “Sunny”, offering the promise of richness and great phenolic development.

If that’s not exclusive enough, we also carry their first ever Rare Rosé from the 2007 vintage. Described as “provocative” by Camus, the 2007 rosé stood alone until this week when Rare announced a 2008 release. Perfectly juxtaposed between subtlety and exuberance, it almost defies language with its unbridled expression.

In Stock Now:

Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($179.95) $169 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Aromas and flavors of toasted brioche and grilled nut enrich the yellow plum, nectarine and grated ginger notes of this rich and creamy Champagne. Finely woven and beautifully integrated, with a firm backbone of mouthwatering acidity providing precise balance for the lush range of flavor. Drink now through 2029. 14,000 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.”

Only 3 bottles available!
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Rosé Millésime, Champagne 2007 750ML ($499.95) $379 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96+ points “Another sensational Champagne, as well as the first vintage for the cuvee, the 2007 Rare Rosé (56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir) offers that beautiful complexity and nuance you only get from top rosé Champagnes. Orange blossom, strawberries, spice, dried flowers, toasted bread, and orange peel notes all emerge from this richly concentrated, medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured 2007. With a fine, yet layered mousse, incredible complexity, and a great finish, this blockbuster effort will be better with 2-3 years of bottle age and shine for 10-15 years or more.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “The salmon colored 2007 Rosé Millesimé Rare has a clear, fresh, slightly oaky-nougat and pretty vinous bouquet. It is a rich and slightly sweetish yet pure, refined, elegant and well-structured Rosé Champagne with good grip and tension as well as a long, intensely aromatic and powerful finish. This is great and enormously complex Champagne with an extraordinary, complex finish. The 2007 is based on 56% Chardonnay and 44% Pinot Noir. Tasted in November 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $399.99

Also in Stock Now:

Piper-Heidsieck Prohibition Edition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Winery note “To commemorate the 100th anniversary since the beginning of Prohibition, Piper-Heidsieck invites you to enjoy its Cuvée Brut with a ‘Roaring Twenties’ ambiance.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Looking for epic Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like De Venoge, Georges Laval, Philipponnat and more, on our web store now.

Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.

Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team!

Stay safe, be well, & drink well.

Vinopolpick Monday Bonus 6-7-21

In Today’s Newsletter:

Faiveley’s Long Awaited 2017s
Arriving Friday

In-Store Shopping Returns Tuesday
Masks Required

Thibaud Boudignon
Superior Savennières

New Chablis Lands Friday
Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin

Some of Our Favorite Rosés
Are On The Way!

The Pinnacle of Champagne
Top Picks $125+

Masterpiece Barolos from Cappellano
Including 2016 Magnums Arriving in July

Faiveley’s Long Awaited 2017s

Arriving Friday

The wines of Faiveley, while always of superlative quality, historically were known for their potential in the cellar and not always for their immediate approachability. Concentrated, stern, and ageable were the most common descriptors in reviews. It took the new generation, a team of siblings, Erwan and Eve Faiveley, to push the winery into modernity and thus introducing wines that were softer and more approachable in their youth, while still offering the potential to age with grace.

Even small changes to the style of a domaine that dates back to 1825 is considered revolutionary in Burgundy, and there were a number of people who were afraid that the transition would ruin one of the anchors of the region. Fortunately, when the first wines of the new generation started appearing in 2007 the results were reassuringly delicious, and the changes not nearly as drastic as some had feared. The whites were still simultaneously silky and muscular, the reds still exceptionally pure and elegant. And all the while many of the wines were showing heightened aromatics and a softer feel on the palate. Village level wines were easy to enjoy immediately, and even most Premier Cru wines were showing themselves well after a brief introduction of air.

While the generational shift is still playing out before our eyes, the wines of Faiveley are still true to their roots. And 2017, one of the finest of the century, is the perfect vintage to discover for yourself why these are always considered among the region’s finest.

Arriving Friday, June 11th:

Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Charmes, Meursault Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 89-92 points “Pale, slightly green-tinged yellow. Captivating aromas of lemon zest, lemon drop and lavender. Very rich and concentrated, with ripe stone fruit and lemon drop flavors complicated by savory minerality. Tactile, spicy and light on its feet, but not as silky or deep as some of the other cru bottlings at this address. Finishes with a hint of raw pineapple and a menthol edge. Faiveley doesn’t own this plot but does all the work in the vines; still, the yield here was in the range of 50 to 52 hectoliters per hectare, vs. around 40 in most of the estate holdings in 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $183.33

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Aux Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90-92 points “Exotic aromas of smoked duck, dark wild berries, baking chocolate and spices introduces the 2017 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Chaignots, a medium to full-bodied wine with tangy acids, satiny structuring tannins and a deep core of sapid, pungently spicy fruit. It’s a definite success.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 90-92 points “The 2017 Nuits Saint-Georges Aux Chaignots 1er Cru has a more cohesive, deeper bouquet than the Les Damodes, a mixture of red and black fruit, crushed stone and chalk. The elegant palate is well balanced with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and a touch of orange sorbet enlivening the finish. Excellent.”

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

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Les Porêts-Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the 2017 vintage. 2015 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 93 points “Dark tones of black currant, blackberry and violet mark this broad, muscular red, which is burly on the compact finish, with an earthy aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2037.”

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

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Les Pruliers, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special

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

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Tim Atkin MW – Decanter 95 points “This is a négociant cuvée of Les St-Georges, although it includes around one-third of the Faiveleys’ own fruit. It’s fresh, balanced and will be ready to drink comparatively young – not always the case with this premier cru. It displays appealing freshness in a medium body, with scented wood, 40% new, and a bright, focussed aftertaste. Drink: 2024-2029. (Nov 2018)”

Only 5 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley La Garenne, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Pale bright yellow. Captivating nose combines lemon drop, underripe pineapple, dusty stone, white pepper, flowers and mint. Tightly wound and extremely backward, more salty than sweet. Quite minerally and precise owing to its cool, high site. This crisp, intense wine finishes very long and alive, with pungent crushed stone. Almost 2014-like in its coolness, density and savory minerality.”

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

Only 6 bottles available!
Domaine Faiveley Les Referts, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 90-92 points “Pale, bright, green-tinged yellow. Reticent but pure fruit-dominated aromas of peach and underripe pineapple. Smooth on entry, then salty and dense but light on its feet, showing the focus of a Puligny more than the comparatively easygoing fruit of Meursault. Nicely concentrated but not a bit heavy. This saline, uncompromisingly dry wine shows little in the way of easy sweetness, finishing with a resounding pineapple note and serious grip.”

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

Highlights, in Stock Now:

Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons Faiveley’ Monopole Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 95-98 points “Bright ruby. Fruit-driven aromas of crushed black cherry and dark raspberry convey outstanding pungent lift. Incredibly concentrated, sappy and primary, conveying outstanding juicy purity and compelling thickness to its dark fruit and violet flavors. At once hugely powerful and utterly seamless, this wine finishes with great spicy length and lift. A real essence of Burgundy–and likely to evolve gracefully for 25 years or more.”

Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 29 bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 94 points “From bottle, Faiveley’s 2016 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers is showing very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with aromas of blackberries, cassis, dark chocolate, grilled game, bergamot and warm spices. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, textural but full of energy, with a gourmand core of succulent, sapid fruit that cloaks its rich, satiny tannins, concluding with a long, subtly carnal finish. Surpassing my recollection of it from barrel, this is an unequivocally superb Cazetiers.”

Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2016 750ML ($319.95) $259 special, 9 bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 95 points “From bottle, the 2016 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru is showing superbly, wafting from the glass with a wild and complex bouquet of blackberries, cassis, grilled game, currant leaf and candied peel. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, its satiny tannins beautifully cloaked in a succulent core that marries pristinely ripe fruit with alluring hints of the savory and the carnal, concluding with a long and expansive finish. Finer boned than the more gourmand 2015 rendition, this is an incredibly classy effort that will offer a broad drinking window.”

Domaine Faiveley Les Porêts-Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 16 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Pretty dark fruits such as blackberry and blueberry with hints of spice. Full body, tight center palate, and fine tannins. Better in a year or two, but very delicate, firm and delicious.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $97

Domaine Faiveley Volnay-Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 1 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Pure blackberry, cherry and violet flavors are the hallmarks of this enticing red. Black pepper and mineral notes chime in, matched to a velvety texture. A chalky sensation lines the lingering finish. Best from 2019 through 2032. 38 cases imported. “

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love red Burgundy? We have over 200 different options from the Côte de Nuits and over 90 different options from the Côte de Beaune in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Fourrier and Roumier, as well as much more from Faiveley.

In-Store Shopping Returns Tuesday

Masks Required

We are re-opening for in-store shopping on Tuesday, June 8th!

Properly worn masks will be required at all times

Our maximum capacity will be six customers at one time

Thibaud Boudignon

Superior Savennières

Thibaud Boudignon is a breakout star of Loire Valley. The Savennières-based producer has rare gift of taking all of Chenin’s energetic richness and compressing it into a linear beam of mineral electricity. He’s captured the attention and love of several reviewers and wine writers, so we’ll hand the mike off for now:

“One of the most exciting up-and-coming producers in the Loire, Thibaud Boudignon already has a fervent following in America. A Bordeaux native and former judo champion, Boudignon began making his own wine in 2009 and now has seven hectares, farmed biodynamically, in Anjou and Savennières.” –Jason Wilson – Vinous Media

“Thibaud Boudignon is a recent entry to Savennières, having started his project in 2009, but oh, my, the purity of his wines is impeccable. The three Savennières – La Vigne Cendrée, Clos de Frémine and Clos de la Hutte – have their own personalities. The transparency and harnessed power of these wines offer a contrast to the bigger, bolder Savennières styles. It may only be a young domaine, but the clarity of the wines made from these young vines is truly exciting. I look forward to the vines maturing further.” –Rebecca Gibb MW

“Thibaud Boudignon is unquestionably one of the most exciting figures in wine today. Originally from Bordeaux, he honed his winemaking craft while working at Philipe Charlopin in Gevrey-Chambertin during the early 2000s. He was shortly thereafter hired by Savennières producer Château Souchérie to be their winemaker in the late 2000s. His first and most important contribution to the estate was the introduction of strict organic practices in the vineyards which, along with his immense winemaking skills, elevated this already historic domaine to new heights. It was in 2009 that he began to make wine under his own name from a scant 3.5 ha in the heart of Anjou and Savennières. Knowing that the quality of his fruit was of most importance, he committed himself absolutely to the health of his vines, choosing to farm organically and spend the majority of his time in the vineyards. His devotion paid off quickly, for in just a few vintages, his name began to circulate among Loire growers, eventually to top restaurants in Paris, and finally overseas. The speed at which he has garnered so much praise speaks to the remarkable quality of his wines. It is wines like these that make us remember why we love this business. Just when you think you’ve had the best a region has to offer, a new discovery comes along to rock your world. Boudignon is such a discovery, with wines that speak so clearly of their place of origin. It is in this writer’s humble opinion, that there is no greater dry Chenin Blanc being made in the world today. Period.” –Skurnik Imports

Just Arrived:

Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc, Loire 2019 750ML ($47.95) $44 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc, Loire 2019 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 6 magnums in stock now
No reviews for the 2019 vintage. 2018 review provided for reference.
Jason Wilson – Vinous 92 points “Quiet, elegant nose of beeswax, ripe pear and smoke. Rambunctious, lively and textured in the mouth, bursting with grilled lemon and green apple plus notes of salt and smoke, all underpinned by smooth stoniness. A cool, youthful wine that is full of energy.”
Importer note “With a tight core of saline terroir enveloped within ripe medium bodied fruit, this chenin blanc delivers a focused example of Thibaud’s style of ripe fruit matched with elegance and precision.”

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

Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc ‘a Francoise…’ Loire 2019 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Cut like a diamond with clean lines and explosive fruit. Long detailed finish that fans out with a touch of creaminess. Still evolving and will reward the one who has patience. A worthy homage to his mother and grandfather.”
Importer note “Made from his finest plots in Anjou. The wine is named after his late mother, who tragically passed away from cancer when Thibaud was 17 years old. He makes this wine in her honor, without any compromise. If he feels the wine does not live up to his mother’s name, he won’t make it.”

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

Thibaud Boudignon Savennières Clos de Frémine, Loire 2019 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW – Vinous 95 points “An elegant and pure style that offers a delightful silken texture. The 2019 Clos de Frémine floats delicately, almost as if you are tasting a cloud, despite containing plenty of intensity in its focused core of fruit. There’s a burst of fresh acidity and a bristle of fine-grained texture; whether that’s the tannin or the soil, it’s there on the finish. I could tell you it tastes of apples and citrus, but this is a wine that seems to care less about fruit descriptors and more about the essence of its place.”
Importer note “Just across a small road from Clos de la Hutte, in the hamlet of Poissonnière, Clos Frémine is an exciting addition to Thibaud’s stunning Savennières lineup. Just like it’s famed neighbor, the vineyard sits on pure schist that is found only 20cm below the surface. There is a bit more sand at the base of this site, which provides the wine with a delicate lift and added layer of elegance.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Thibaud Boudignon Rosé de Loire 2020 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Importer note “While Thibaud has (rightly) become a superstar for his world-class Chenin Blancs, many insiders have discovered one of his best kept-secrets: rosé. Made from a plot of Cabernet Franc and Grolleau in Anjou that he simply could not pass up the opportunity to work with, this is one of the most saline and mineral rosés we have ever come across. 80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Grolleau. Shallow soils of grey schist and rhyolite (volcanic soil) and clay. Indigenous yeast fermentation. No malo. Direct press rosé. Aged in stainless steel. A noble, supremely saline rosé. Delicate texture. Made like a white wine to preserve salinity and structure.”

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

Also in Stock Now:

Thibaud Boudignon Savennières La Vigne Cendrée, Loire 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer note “La Vigne Cendrée is the smallest parcel of the domaine, 0.5 hectares, in the commune of Savennières. In spite of its small surface area there is an exceptional mosaic of terroir : purple schist, granite and clay silt. Because of the clay and the southern exposition, this wine is naturally richer. Half is aged in 226 liter burgundy barrels and half in foudre, with no new wood, for 12 months, this wine is very ‘burgundian.’ La Vigne Cendrée offers a combination of generosity and mineral tension under a noble reduction.”

Thibaud Boudignon Savennières Clos de la Hutte, Loire 2018 750ML ($119.95) $95 special, 18 bottles in stock now
No reviews available for the 2018 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.
Rebecca Gibb MW – Vinous 97 points “The 2019 Clos de la Hutte is the site that spoke to Boudignon when he arrived in Savennières. Once the site of a monastery, it’s not yet a religious experience drinking this, but it’s not got far to go: there’s a sense of expansion in the mouth, followed by impressive structure, showing its serious intentions and a sense that it’s good enough to eat. There’s an intriguing white floral note alongside pear, followed up with energetic acidity. Excellent texture and sapidity on the finish, providing length and structure. This wine has it all: delicacy and power, structure and refinement. Unfortunately, frosts in 2019 were not kind so there is very little of it to go around.”
Importer note “[A new] addition to Thibaud’s range of Chenin Blanc comes from a half hectare plot within the Clos de la Hutte (1.5ha) lieu-dit. The vines are young but the wine is profound. There is a long history to this site and Thibaud is channeling every bit of it here. The volumes are miniscule – 1000 bottles released. Clos de la Hutte is situated in the commune of La Poissonnière; the Clos de la Hutte is an ancient religious site of 7 hectares, of which 2.6 are planted with vines. At the heart of this ancient monastery are vines produced from a massal selection of Chenin Blanc coming from the best domaines of the Loire. 5 different varieties of Chenin were planted together so as to best express the intensity and singularity of this special place. 50% vinified in oval demi muid, 25% in 320 liter cigars, and 25% in 500 liter. The ageing last one year in wood and a minimum of 3 months in stainless steel. The Clos de la Hutte seduces with its aromatic finesse and the intense minerality in the mouth.”

Love the Loire? We have over 90 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Clos Rougeard, Dagueneau, Domaine Huet and more, on our web store now.

New Chablis Lands Friday

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin

Arriving Friday, June 11th:

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Chablis, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2017 Chablis Villages is performing well from bottle, revealing pretty aromas of citrus fruit, white flowers and peaches. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and vibrant, with good flesh at the core and a precise finish.”
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Pale straw-yellow color. Fresh but restrained scents of soft citrus fruits and oyster shell minerality. Then round and sweet in the mouth, but with surprising sappiness and lemony lift. This can be enjoyed anytime.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Valmur, Chablis Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Chablis Valmur Grand Cru comes across a little oaky on the nose, but the fruit handles it well. The bouquet is detailed and focused, with hints of dried honey and nutmeg developing in the glass. The palate displays good balance, a fine line of acidity and a smooth, almost creamy texture; hints of almond and white chocolate emerge toward the finish. This feels a little obvious in terms of winemaking at the moment, but I suspect it will evolve into a delicious Valmur. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $117

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Vaudésir, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 94-96 points “The 2017 Chablis Vaudésir Grand Cru sees around 35% wood maturation (used) and the remainder in stainless steel. It has an intense bouquet with yellow plum, Mirabelle, jasmine and light flint/smoke aromas that are detailed and very well focused. The palate is very harmonious with a smooth texture, perfectly pitched acidity with hints of orange zest, Clementine, Cornice pear and cold flint towards the poised and graceful finish. This is brimming with potential – a stunning Vaudésir.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2015 Chablis Vaulorent 1er Cru has a very attractive bouquet of orange pith and gunflint infused with pressed yellow flowers. The poised, harmonious palate is well balanced, displaying a fine thread of acidity and just the right amount of salinity on the finish. This is a brilliant Vaulorent from Benoît Droin. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Vaulorent was fermented and matured entirely in stainless steel this year, and it’s one of the stars of the portfolio, wafting from the glass with notes of mandarin oil, green apple and oystershell. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, pure and ample, with an elegantly satiny attack, a deep core of fruit and a precise, stony finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Pre-Arrival ETA July:

Jean-Paul & Benoît Droin Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2015 Chablis Montmains 1er Cru is showing more oakiness on the nose than its peers, though the oak is neatly entwined with the tropical-tinged fruit. The palate has the fatness and weight you anticipate from a 2015 Chablis, if perhaps a little less acidity compared to other Montmains. A touch of orange zest and mandarin furnishes the satisfying finish. Tasted blind at the annual Burgfest tasting.”

Love Chablis? We have over 40 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Fèvre, Servin, Vocoret and more, on our web store now.

Some of Our Favorite Rosés

Are On The Way!

Weygandt-Metzler imports some of your favorite rosés. These are landing over the next 30 days. Stock up now for your summer vacation!

Pre-Arrivals Landing June/July:

Château de Manissy ‘La Belle Étoile’ Tavel VDF Rosé, Rhône 2020 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Cinsault, Syrah, Grenache. Clay & limestone. Tasting note: Crushed stone, pressed flowers and white cherries. Medium body with a long finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Les Aphillanthes Nymphea Côte du Rhône Rosé, Rhône 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvedre, Counoise. Biodynamic. Gailloux/Galets Roules over clay & limestone. Tasting note: Red fruit and bright acidity. Full body with a long and balanced finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

M Plouzeau Chinon Rive Gauche Chinon Rosé, Loire 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Cabernet Franc. Sustainable. River gravel & pebbles. Sustainable. Tasting note “Rich raspberry, hints of freen pepper and touch of white peach. Medium body with a long, elegant finish.”

Clément & Florian Berthier Coteaux du Giennois Pinot Noir Rosé, Loire 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Pinot Noir. Sustainable. Clay & limestone. Tasting note: Fresh red berries and cherry, candied orange peel and strawberry. Medium body with a long finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Les Griottes Rosé, Beaujolais 2020 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Gamay. Sustainable. Quartz & clay. Tasting note: Bright watermelon, strawberry and citrus rind with a touch of rosemary. Medium body with a short finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Charvin Côtes du Rhône Rosé, Rhône 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Grenache, Cinsault. Organic. Clay, galets roules & sand. Tasting note: Crushed strawberry, Bing cherry with hints of grapefruit and crushed stone. Medium body with a long finish.”

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

Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé, Côte de Nuits 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Pinot Noir. Sustainable. Clay & limestone. Tasting note: Ripe pomegranate, strawberries and raspberries. Medium body with a short finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Rosé, Rhône 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Cinsault, Syrah, Mourvedre. Organic. Sand, clay & cailloux. Tasting note: Ripe raspberry, bitter cherry, blood orange and stone. Medium body with a long finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.99

Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé, Provence 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Domaine de la Bastide Blanche Bandol Rosé, Provence 2020 750ML ($359.95) $288 pre-arrival special (that’s only $24/bottle!)
Weygandt-Metzler Import note “Mourvedre, Grenache, Cinsault, Clairette. Organic. Clay, limestone & cailloux. Tasting note: Dense cherry and raspberry fruit with citrus and stone flavors. Full body with a perfectly balanced and long finish.”

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

Time for a rosé refresh? We have over 70 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including best-sellers like Ameztoi, Château Pradeaux, Clos Ste Magdeleine and more, on our web store now.

The Pinnacle of Champagne

Top Picks $125+

In Stock Now:

Nuanced & complete
Hébrart ‘Rive Gauche Rive Droite’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 11 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]

Creamy & refined
Pommery Cuvée Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 22 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.”

“This wine is totally memorable and magnificent”
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a bright morning gold in colour, with fine-seamed bubbles and rich, expressive and expansive aromas. Beaten cream, pounded hazels, a hint of baking apples, brioche fresh from the oven. But all these notes are drawn with great subtlety, underscoring the fruit quality of the Chardonnay vineyards used in this blend. On the palate, the wine retains all that aromatic grace and amplitude, marrying it to a shapely fruit presence, vibrant though now well-rounded acidity and textural charm, too. A head-turner. Drink 2019-2028.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 98 points “This is an iteration of a legendary Champagne. Perfectly balanced, still packed with white fruit but just touching nuttiness, the wine is at its peak. Celebrating one of the great Champagne vintages of this century, this wine is totally memorable and magnificent.”

Complex & balanced
Rene Geoffroy ‘Les Houtrants Complantés’ Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($219.95) $188 special, 3 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in February 2017 with no dosage, this bottle of the NV Brut Nature Premier Cru Les Houtrants Complantés derives from the 2012 triage, and consists of a blend of reserve wines from 2008 to 2011 that were aged in magnum. Les Houtrants is a precocious lieu-dit in Cumières that Geoffroy planted with a field blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Arbanne and Petit Meslier in 2004. The wine wafts from the glass with a subtle but complex bouquet of white currants, smoke, wet stones, warm biscuits and verb, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and tensile palate that’s exquisitely balanced, its bright spine of acidity cloaked in just enough vibrant flesh and texture to avoid any hint of asperity, concluding with a searingly chalky finish. Intellectually stimulating and compulsively drinkable in equal measure, it’s a pity that only a tiny number of bottles are produced.”
James Suckling 94 points “The nose offers subtly spiced brioche with a light, toasty layer and bright citrus fruit. The palate has a more complex array of fruit and deep, silky texture, laced with salty minerals and grilled nuts at the finish. A non-vintage blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier, chardonnay, arbanne and petit meslier. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $215

Wine Enthusiast ‘Cellar Selection’
Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($279.95) $249 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Roger Voss – Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. As always, this Pinot Noir-dominated Champagne is a great wine. In this vintage, it is fuller than usual, perhaps less structured—a true reflection of the vintage. Like all releases of this cuvée, the wine will age magnificently. Drink now or hold for at least 10 years to get full maturity.”

“One for the cellar”
De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2008 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 16 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is really punchy and broad-shouldered with muscular structure and citrusy undertones. Full body. Lightly tannic and a fresh and vivid finish. This is the first vintage without malolactic fermentation ever. One for the cellar. Better in 2022.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $269.99

One of the best vintages of the ’90s
Grand Siecle par Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Millénaire, Champagne 1990 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 94 points ” Medium orange-gold color. Musky, wild aromas of strawberry, raspberry, smoke and earth; rather pinot noir-like and expressive of its soil. Rich, ripe and dense with material but not at all heavy; red berry flavors offer a compellingly tangy quality. Very concentrated and still very young. Finishes with superb lift and length.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Nicolas Maillart, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.

Masterpiece Barolos from Cappellano

Including 2016 Magnums Arriving in July

One the most heralded names in traditional Barolo is Cappellano, a producer known for old-school, age-worthy wines that are some of the most profound bottlings in the region. They use long macerations and age their wines only in large botti (casks). The results are wines that can often be austere in their youth, but blossom over the decades into sensual wines that are intellectually and hedonistically satisfying. We still have a limited number of back vintage bottles at prices that are excellent given their provenance. These are very hard to find on the secondary market, as well—unlike some names, collectors of these bottles tend to drink rather than resell. So take advantage of our low prices on some of Barolo’s most captivating wines, including 2 magnums from the outstanding 2016 vintage.

“Augusto Cappellano’s 2016s and 2017s are fabulous. The 2016s are every bit as magnificent as they were last year. In 2016, the personalities of the wines seem a bit inverted, with the Franco showing more power and the Rupestris leaning towards the ethereal side. With the 2017s, the wines go back to their respective roles. The Franco is elusive and beguiling, while the Franco is quite intense. Both 2017s are nothing short of magnificent. It’s shame to not have tasted these Barolos at the winery, but, as I have written before, the lack of context actually serves to show just how special the wines are. Readers will find plenty of historical information on Cappellano in our Article Archive. Years ago, Baldo Cappellano asked me not to rate his wines, so all Cappellano wines show up on our database as NR.” –Antonio Galloni – Vinous

Please Note: Cappellano is adamantly opposed to the idea of numeric score being attached to a wine and requests his wines not be reviewed. As a result, these wines lack the scores and reviews we usually publish. If you’re unfamiliar with these wines, we encourage you to search the internet for more information about these bottles—we’re sure you’ll only be more excited to drink them.

In Stock Now:

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Franco – Michet, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($599.95) $419 special, 3 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $499.95

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2003 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 1 bottle in stock now

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2004 750ML ($449.95) $289 special, 3 bottles in stock now

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2007 750ML ($359.95) $299 special, 5 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $363.33

Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($499.95) $379 special, 8 bottles in stock now

Pre-Arrival ETA July:

Only 1 magnum available!
Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Franco – Michet, Barolo DOCG 2016 1.5L ($2,999.95) $1,999 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous “The 2016 Barolo Piè Franco is every bit as impressive as it was last year. What a wine! Rich, powerful and explosive, the 2016 possesses unreal depth and stature to burn. Once again, I am so impressed with the wine’s presence. The Franco is usually ethereal and fleeting, but not here. The 2016 is a bold wine that demands attention. Dark red fruit, sage, iron, leather, licorice and rose petal open with a bit of coaxing. Readers who can find the 2016 are in for a real treat. It is without question one of the wines of the vintage.”

This is the lowest listed magnum price in the USA today!
The next best price is $3,028

Only 1 magnum available!
Cappellano Otin Fiorin Pie Rupestris – Nebiolo, Barolo DOCG 2016 1.5L ($699.95) $599 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous “The 2016 Barolo Rupestris is unbelievably delicate. A Barolo of haunting beauty, the Rupestris is endowed with sneaky concentration that reveals itself only with time in the glass. Potent tannins and bright acids give the Rupestris fabulous energy. Readers should be prepared to cellar the 2016 for a number of years. It is one of the most reticent young vintages I have ever tasted here. Dried cherry, mint, cedar, dried flowers and sweet pipe tobacco linger on the sinewy finish.”

This is the lowest listed magnum price in the USA today!
The next best price is $695

Love Barolo? We have over 75 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Brovia, Mascarello, Vietti and more, on our web store now.

Weekend Vinopolpick 6-4-21

In This Newsletter:

A Trio of West Coast Staff Picks

Hundred Suns – Willamette Valley Star

New Rosé Reviews

New Reviews from Decanter and Grapelive

Featured New Arrival:

De Montille’s Hidden Red Value

New Lilbert Vintage Champagnes

Abbatucci’s Faustine Blanc
A World-Class White Priced to Move

Collector’s Corner
Poderi Colla:
One of the Piedmont’s Great Names

We are Opening for in-store shopping on Tuesday, June 8th!

Properly worn masks will be required at all times.
Our maximum capacity will be six customers at one time.

A Trio of West Coast Staff Picks

Brianne Day is one of the Oregon wine industry’s rising stars, building a reputation that lead to a recent James Beard nomination. Day describes their Momtazi bottling as their ‘flagship Pinot Noir from one of Willamette Valley’s most prized biodynamic vineyards and our most age-worthy wine.’ It‘s normally the most expensive Pinot in the Day Wines lineup at $54, but we’re able to offer it for nearly half off

Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of pinot noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
Winery Note “Momtazi Vineyard is a certified biodynamic site nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, composed primarily of uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlays and an underlying base of basalt. One of the revered vineyards in Willamette, this is our cornerstone source for Pinot noir. We are always thrilled to work with this fruit, as it’s some of the most coveted in in the Valley. Many people wish they could get their hands on it, and we’re fortunate that we do. Easily our most intense and deeply fruited Pinot noir, the wine displays hallmark Momtazi notes of black cherry and black raspberry, both on the nose and on the palate. Additional notes of sandalwood spice and forest floor emerge with air, giving a glimpse at the complexity to come. It’s a moody, broody teenager at present, which is no surprise given the vineyard’s reputation for structure. The tannins are suave but sturdy, and the well-integrated acidity holds everything together seamlessly in an enchanting marriage of power and finesse. As flagship wines go, the 2016 Momtazi is a worthy standard-bearer.”

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

Cameron Winery Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($399.95) $339 special (that’s only $28.25/bottle!)
VinopolNote: Cameron’s Dundee Hills Pinot Noir is always one of the most anticipated offerings of the year. It delivers classic Cameron character and quality at a price that’s half what John Paul’s single-vineyard wines sell for—and the ’19 is a fantastic vintage. Cooler than 14/15/16/18, it’s a return to the “classic” style of the Willamette Valley, with a bit more texture and richness than wines from the 90’s. This edition is mostly from Abbey Ridge vineyard, with a bit of Clos Electrique blended in. We’re smitten.

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

Bright and lively, it’s a distinctly costal version of California Chardonnay, with good acidity that will appeal to lovers of cool-climate wines. The few years of bottle-age seems to have allowed the wine to knit together beautifully, and the individual components have all blended to a seamless whole. Made made by star winemaker Sashi Moorman (Evening Land, Stoplman, Piedrasassi) and super-sommelier Raj Parr, for the legendary Zuni Café in San Francisco, from some of the best vineyards in the Santa Rita Hills and old vines at Bien Nacido. These are all windy sites that benefit from rocky soils and cool Pacific breezes, allowing for bright natural acidity in the finished wine. It’s easy to see how Zuni sold cases-upon-cases of this at $72 per bottle off their list, making it an absolute steal at our price.

Sandhi Zuni Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 2016 Sandhi Zuni Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2016 750ML ($399.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Winery note “If you’ve ever sat at San Francisco’s iconic Zuni Café with a plate of oysters in front of you while you wait for the iconic whole roast chicken, you may have had a glass or two of this collaboration between longtime friends Rajat Parr of Sandhi and Zuni wine director Thierry Lovato. The wine is a barrel selection from some of Sandhi’s iconic Sta. Rita Hills sites, (think Mt. Carmel, Sanford & Benedict) with enough own-rooted, 1973 Wente selection Bien Nacido Chardonnay blended in to warrant a Santa Barbara County designation. Add to that the favorable 2016 vintage in which a very warm spring and early summer gave way to cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures in July & August. These conditions allowed the medium-sized crop to mature perfectly with small berries in pristine condition and yield a remarkably balanced wine with fine depth and intensity.”

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

Hundred Suns – Willamette Valley Star

Grant Coulter is one of the Pacific Northwest’s rising stars. The former managing winemaker at Beaux Frères (under tutelage of the legendary Mike Etzel), Grant’s made a name for himself as Flâneur’s Head Winemaker, as well as with his own label: Hundred Suns. Anyone who loves the Beaux Frères or Flâneur wines needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing.

Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to the Willamette Valley. You can taste the Beaux Freres-inspired style, but these are wines that are uniquely Grant, from an assortment of some of the most interesting vineyards in the Willamette Valley.

Their 2019’s are a fantastic collection of wines, showcasing some of the best vineyards in the valley. Shea needs no introduction among Willamette aficionados—a grand cru of a vineyard in Yamhill Carlton. The Hundred Suns edition is spectacular, full of dark, plummy fruit and the spices that the site is known for. Bednarik is a vineyard that flies under the radar a bit more, but Ken Wright fans from the 90’s know the site well. This version is more compact than the Shea, with beautiful, crunchy structure allied to a beguiling mixture of black cherry fruit and savory overtones. It’s a cool vineyard and that shows in the brightness on the finish, though this wine still shows great power. Sequitur is classic Ribbon Ridge, just up the hill from Grant’s familiar grounds at Beaux Freres, and it displays the classic sleekly-rich fruit and structure that made his name.

In Stock Now:

Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
This is the final vintage of Shea from Hundred Suns – only 60 cases produced.
Winery note “Winemaking & Tasting: 2019 was a return to familiar Oregon vintages as we dodged rainstorms to pick in late September. By keeping yields low, full ripeness was achieved. Fruit was divided into two native yeast fermentations: one destemmed and one 33% whole cluster. Floral aromatics mix with pops of refreshing cherry and raspberry, carried by undertones of spice. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Vineyard: In the late 1980s, Dick and Deirdre Shea planted what is now one of Willamette Valley’s most esteemed and iconic vineyards. Our 1 acre block of Dijon Clone 777 sits at 450 feet on a south/southwest exposure. This warm site in Yamhill-Carlton AVA is planted on Marine Sedimentary soil. 40% whole clust. Elevage: 10 months in neutral wood. Farming practices: dry farmed.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “2019 marked a return to the cool temperate conditions that make Oregon ideal for Pinot Noir. Harvested October 1st with modest sugars and intense flavor. The Pommard and Wadensvil were split into 5 unique lots. One amphora and one tank were filled and sealed to rest untouched for twelve days. The remaining fruit was destemmed into small open-top fermenters. With these cooler conditions, red loganberry and Rainier cherry take front stage, accompanied by delicate tannins and bright acid that will carry this wine for years to come. Planted deep in the cool hills near Cherry Grove, this six acre, own-rooted vineyard was planted in 1988 by William Bednarik to Pommard and Wadensvil clones. Our block is situated at 350 feet on a south/southwest exposure, overlying marine sedimentary soil. Native yeast fermentation. Destemmed. Elevage: 10 months in neutral, 5 year, air-dried 228L barrels. Farming practices: dry farmed / Organic.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Hundred Suns Sequitur Vineyard Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “A cool winter led into a warm spring. Consistent temperatures with low heat spikes and rapid cooling, coupled with plenty of showers in autumn, created the perfect combination for this warm site. Low yields and meticulous farming delivered perfectly ripe fruit bursting with flavor. One fermenter each of destemmed fruit, 50% whole cluster, and a small carbonic lot were blended together this year to yield the classic plum and floral characters that make this vineyard so distinctive. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. This selection came from Mike Etzel’s home vineyard, Sequitur, located at 425 feet elevation on a southeast slope of the Ribbon Ridge AVA. Marine Sedimentary (Willakenzie Series) soils. Clones: Chalone, 943, Pommard. Native yeast fermentation. Elevage: 10 months in neutral, 5 year, air-dried 228L barrels. Farming practices: dry farmed, Organic, Biodynamic.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Hundred Suns ‘Old Eight Cut’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($31.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2019 vintage was a return to a classic, cool Willamette Valley growing season. Dodging rain showers, we harvested our collection of vineyards starting in late September and into mid-October. Tasting Notes: By design, this wine evolves and changes in glass through a broad spectrum of nuanced characteristics. Opening notes of ripe cranberry and cherry give way to complexities of black licorice, black currant, dried sage, and freshly-tilled earth. The succulent fruit wraps around a framework of delicate tannins and mouth-watering acidity. Old Eight Cut: A diamond cut dating back to the 1400s using simple tools and few cuts to enhance the natural brilliance of the stone without disguising its true nature. This cellar selection stitches together pieces from unique sites across the Willamette Valley. Lots are fermented with native yeast & a variety of traditional & experimental techniques to create a layered wine of great complexity, but that is, first and foremost, totally delicious. Winemaking was kept to a bare minimum; fermented with native yeast and 25% whole cluster; aged on the lees for 11 months; gently racked to tank and bottled unfined and unfiltered.”

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

Hundred Suns ‘Tualatin Estate’ Gamay Noir Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vintage & Vinification: A cool and lengthy growing season gave us wines of modest alcohol and incredible flavor. Once harvested our Gamay was divided into three lots. The first 100% de-stemmed, the second 50% whole cluster and the third 100% whole cluster Carbonic. Aged in a combination of Amphora and neutral oak for 11 months. This bottling is filled with juicy red fruit, crunchy textures and refined acidity. Bottled Unfined and Unfiltered. Vineyard: This historic estate was established in the early 1970s by pioneer Bill Fuller. Our parcel of Gamay (in fact, the only gamay planted at the site) came from a hidden corner of the vineyard and was uncovered by our friend, Evan Martin, who offered us a one-acre piece of this amazing site planted on marine sedimentary soils.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Hundred Suns ‘Super Moon’ Vidon Vineyard Syrah, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Super Moon is a rare and beautiful lunar event that occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making the moon seem brighter and more close than usual. It felt an appropriate name for a wine that could only have come to being in this particular vintage. Our Super Moon Syrah was grown on a warm site for the Willamette Valley during a classic, cool Oregon vintage. It was fermented 100% whole cluster in a sealed tank. On the 12th day we opened the tank and foot-stomped the clusters one time before pressing. The resulting wine is initially shy with savory tones of black pepper and beef bouillon, but after time the wine opens to offer juicy pomegranate & cranberry with a light, refreshing palate surprising for Syrah.”

New Rosé Reviews

From Vinous Media’s Josh Raynolds & Joaquin Hidalgo

J.K. Carriere Glass White Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 12+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 J.K. Carriere Glass White Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($299.95) $236 special (that’s only $19.67/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Glistening orange-pink. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying an array of red berry and citrus fruit qualities and building mineral and floral notes. Dry and sharply focused on the palate, offering zesty red currant, pomegranate and orange pith flavors and a hint of spicy white pepper. Closes long and silky, with repeating florality and a refreshing touch of orange zest.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Brick House Intentional Rose of Pinot Noir 2020 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Extremely pale onion skin. Nervy and focused on the nose, displaying fresh citrus fruit and red berry aromas and subtle floral, spice and mineral topnotes. Dry and tightly wound, offering tangy pomegranate, red currant and orange zest flavors and a spicy jolt of white pepper. Finishes long and silky, with a repeating orange note and strong, spicy cut. “

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chateau Gassier Cotes de Provence ‘Esprit Gassier’ Rose France 2019 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Limpid orange-pink. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh red berry, pit fruit and orange zest aromas. Silky and precise on the palate, offering juicy strawberry and nectarine flavors and a hint of blood orange. Shows good depth but comes off lithe, closing with very good, minerally persistence. “

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 33+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Chateau Peyrassol’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($479.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, brilliant orange-pink. Highly perfumed, mineral-accented red berry and pit fruit aromas are complemented by a floral note that builds in the glass. Juicy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering vibrant strawberry, blood orange and white peach flavors and a suave touch of honeysuckle. Concentrated yet lithe in style, finishing with intense mineral- and floral-driven thrust.”

Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Cuvee des Commandeurs’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 34+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Peyrassol Cotes de Provence ‘Cuvee des Commandeurs’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($279.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
91 points Josh Raynolds – Vinous “Bright onion skin. Incisive red berry, cherry and citrus fruit aromas are complemented by building mineral and floral accents. Silky and energetic on the palate, offering intense strawberry, blood orange and honeysuckle flavors braced by a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes long and gently chewy, repeating the orange and floral notes.”

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

Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence ‘By.Ott’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence ‘By.Ott’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($299.95) $236 special (that’s only $19.67/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light orange-pink. Ripe pit fruits and red berries on the nose, along with a hint of smokiness. Juicy and open-knit, offering strawberry and nectarine flavors that show very good clarity and back-end cut. Finishes smooth and long, leaving a suggestion of pit fruits behind.”

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

Arriving ETA June:

Chateau du Seuil Coteaux d’Aix-en-Provence ‘La Chapelle du Seuil’ Rose, France 2020 750ML ($17.95) $15.50 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Light orange-pink. Bright and sharply focused on the nose, displaying fresh red berry and pit fruit aromas and a suggestion of orange peel. Lively strawberry and nectarine flavors stretch out with air and take on a succulent herb nuance. Clings strongly on the silky finish, which leaves a subtle peach note behind.”

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

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

New Reviews from Decanter and Grapelive

Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG, 2017 ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special, ETA July

Decanter 95 points “Vietti owns two hectares in Lazzarito, a stunning amphitheatre facing southwest on clay-limestone soil. Planted to about 4,500 plants per hectare, the vines here have an average age of 38 years. Sweet, filigreed notes of cinnamon, strawberry candy and violet unfold in the glass. The attack is polished, with ripe, crunchy tannins. The austerity of Serralunga here becomes density and volume, kept lively by lifted acidity and finishing with liquorice root and cinnamon. Perfect balance and great elegance. This will develop more complexity with ageing. Drinking Window 2021 – 2040. –Aldo Fiordelli.”

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

Domaine Francois Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($39.95) $26 special, 27+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Francois Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhone 2018 750ML ($479.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 93 points “A stylish and pure example of Northern Rhone Syrah that delivers a fine performance in the glass and is a stellar value. The Saint-Joseph Rouge is made from various small plots with a mix of sandy soils and granite, with a bit of limestone and was all de-stemmed to promote elegance and opulence in the wine, which was easily achieved here in this 2018 version. The wine saw a short cold soak maceration and gentle hand punch downs while fermenting after which this dark purple/garnet Syrah is raised in a combination of wood casks with about 20% being new 228L barrels with the majority seeing neutral oak in various sizes to allow for freshness and balance to shine here. This is quite impactful Saint-Joesph in the glass with more than expected density and presence, in fact it is almost as impressive as the winery’s top Cote-Rotie with loads of blue and black fruits, delicate spices, perfume and textural pleasures. This is solid stuff with a classic medium to full bodied palate with lush layers of boysenberry, damson plum, kirsch and cedary wood notes, a touch of feral/earthy savoriness (the good kind of Syrah funk) and pretty violets, adding hints of anise, flinty mineral and a lingering sense of creme de cassis…. The Domaine gets exceptionally small yields from their vines and the concentration of fruit is utterly sensual and divine. Francois credits his son Laurent, for playing a big part in the vineyards, that has taken the quality to the next level, and this 2018 Saint-Joseph is proof.…With extended air, the 2018 Merlin Saint-Joseph gains depth and richness, but stays gracefully detailed and it is at its best with food, be sure to look for this bottling as it offers a ton of quality and personality for the price, this is a producer to add to your watch list, especially for Syrah lovers.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

2016 Domaine de l’Oiselet Vacqueyras, Rhone, Rhone Valley, France ($34.95) $27 Special
Grapelive 92 points “The 2016 L’Oiselet Vacqueyras is brilliantly focused and layered with rich and opulent dark fruits, this drinks very close to a top Chateauneuf du Pape in style, led by concentrated Grenache, making it very impressive and heady in the glass. Located at the foot of Mont Ventoux and of the Dentelles de Montmirail, the Domaine de L’Oiselet sits right in the middle of the Vacqueyras appellation, on a rocky plateau that has the classic clay and limestone soils with a warm exposure, all of which allows a deep ripening of the grapes. This Vacqueyras opens with crushed red berries, creme de cassis, anise, fig paste and a dusting of peppery spices with a soft tannic structure and a mouth filling roundness adding sweet dried flowers, chalky stone and a mocha note. This luxurious wine is all from organic grapes with mainly Grenache being used here at L’Oiselet along with small portions of Syrah, Mourvedre, Carignan and Cinsault usually which are all fermented together in tank. I’ve always enjoyed Gigondas and Vacqueyras and think, especially Vacqueyras, they are wonderfully complex and expressive wines that are great values, with this L’Oiselet 2016 being a poster child for this point. This full bodied wine, coming in at 14.5% natural alcohol, is best enjoyed with robust cuisine and will go great with BBQ and lamb dishes. “

Featured New Arrival

De Montille’s Hidden Red Value

Château de Puligny-Montrachet’s reds are some of the greatest insider secrets in Burgundy. Made by the de Montille family, whose Volnays regularly run north of $100 per bottle—and whose Bourgogne rouge hits $50—this Monthelie has all the same expertise for just $28. Unfortunately, that hidden-gem status is about to come to an end, as this is the last year that the wines will be labeled with the name Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet—soon this will be a “de Montille” wine, with a price-tag to match.

De Montille actually purchased the estate in 2012, and has gradually brought Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet into the fold. Monthelie is a village known for producing masterful examples of both Pinot Noir and Chardonnay alike (a rarity for Burgundian villages). Featuring a unique flavor and aroma intensity after extensive frost damage earlier in the vintage, this is a Pinot made for a collector. Made to age, this is best purchased in multiples in order to observe the trademark metamorphosis of red Burgundy

Just Arrived, In Stock Now:

Domaine de Montille Chateau de Puligny-Montrachet Monthelie Rouge 2016 750ML ($49.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The village of Monthélie, nestled between Volnay and Meursault, is one of the prettiest of the viticultural landscape. The wines are vibrant, sweet with red fruit notes and often with a light touch of spice and minerality. For the medium-bodied reds, it is important to extract only noble tannins because the other kind can be overwhelming and hard. Our red Monthélie is an honest wine that translates with great authenticity and simplicity the quality of Burgundian Pinot Noir. Often vinified with whole cluster and aged in barrels – none of which are new, and sulphured very litle, it proudly flies the colors of our Domaine.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Trending Wines

A Washington masterpiece that isn’t Syrah
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($179.95) Was $149, Now $135 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Showing beautifully, with pure cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as loads of dried flowers, cedar, tobacco, and dried herbs, the 2018 Impulsivo is medium to full-bodied and has a seamless, elegant texture, ultra-fine tannins, an d a great finish. It shows more meaty, almost bloody nuances with time in the glass, and it’s certainly a singular expression of Tempranillo. The tannins are present yet polished and ripe, and it has a great mid-palate as well as the balance and elegance to drink nicely today yet also improve with short-term cellaring and keep for two decades.”

Grenache with Girl power!
No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $114.50 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 points “A masterclass of finesse and elegance, the 2017 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard explodes with seductive floral tones that immediately capture your attention. Brilliantly defined dark cherry notions with aromas of rose hip and black spice tones sashay out of the glass. Nuances of dusty leather and wild strawberry float on top of the glass with red floral bouquet aromas. With 13.5% alcohol, this pure, medium-bodied wine is chock-full of flavor, bursting at the seams with a subtle smoky tone that perfectly frames the ripe red fruit. The palate is balanced with a velvety mouthfeel and energizing acidity to age for more than a decade. It displays expertly managed tannins and spiced red fruit that continues to unpack and evolve with mind-blowing complexity. The long-lived finish has a mineral tension and offers up notions of wild strawberry, dark cherry skin, newly opened peonies and luxurious and elegant black spice tones—another brilliant bottling from Christophe Baron. The only thing that is disappointing about this wine is that there are only 347 cases for the world to share.”

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

An intensely flavored vintage currently at it’s peak!
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne Grand Cru Millesime France ($349.95) $299 special, 27 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich version, with beautiful integration and mouthwatering acidity that seems to amplify the flavors of toasted raisin bread, black currant, candied orange zest and salted almond. Fresh and focused, showing hints of oyster shell and spice on the lasting finish.”

This is the lowest listed magnum price in the USA today!

The gem of the Mayacamas Mountains
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($279.95) $249 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Red Rock Terrace is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 4.5% Malbec and 4.5% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple, it comes bounding out of the glass with exuberant notes of cassis, plum preserves, cedar chest and pencil lead, plus wafts of black truffles, damp soil and unsmoked cigars. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with black berry flavors and wonderful freshness, packed with loads of subtle savory layers and textured by approachable, plush tannins, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. 599 cases were made.”
Winery notes “Red Rock Terrace, a warm microclimate, is 7 acres of north facing vineyard. The red tinted soil is high in iron content. The wine from Red Rock Terrace is the most accessible and earliest drinkable of all our wines. Our winemaker describes Red Rock Terrace as “having velvety tannins, rich and well balanced, medium dark ruby color with cherry, mint and black currant flavors.”

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

The “Backbone of the Bordeaux Blend” from an exceptional vintage
B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Petit Verdot, Yakima Valley 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 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 on the West Coast today!

Dutton-Goldfield is one of the premier producers in the Russian River Valley—and we’re bringing you a deal on their Dutton Ranch Chardonnay that is so good, we can’t list it on wine-searcher.

Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) Super Special Pricing: $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now – To order, call, email, or stop by!
Case-12 Dutton-Goldfield Dutton Ranch Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2018 750ML ($449.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!) – To order, call, email, or stop by!
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a 100% barrel-fermented wine from such stellar sites as Mill Station, Sullivan and Walker Hill. Lively, fresh and focused, it has great acidity and tension, a pleasing energy and minerality that boosts lovely flavors of green apple, Meyer lemon and mango, finishing with balanced richness. -Virginie Boone”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99

New Lilbert Vintage Champagnes

Lilbert is one of the best kept secrets in Champagne. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Cote des Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines have notable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. At the prices asked, these are wines that massively over-deliver, and they’re hard to acquire, as a result.

The last time we offered their vintage wines, they sold out in 48 hours, and we don’t expect anything different this time. Act quickly to get your hands on these while you can.

Arriving ETA Late Fall 2021:

Only 24 bottles available
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru Vintage Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($149.95) $109 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Produced from grand cru grapes grown in Cramant, this is a magnificent vintage Champagne. Its texture and perfumed acidity are joined by white fruits and hints of peach in a blend that encompasses richness and total intensity. Drink the wine now, although it will age further. -Roger Voss”

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

Only 24 bottles available
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru Vintage Brut Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $109 pre-arrival special
*No reviews available for 2015*

This is the only listing in the USA today!

In Stock Now:

Lilbert-Fils Perle Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV ($79.95) $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
45% 2015, 45% 2014, 10% Reserve wine. Disgorged in autumn 2018
Wine Enthusiast 93 points ” The Perle style is a comparative rarity in Champagne, bottling the wine at a lower than usual pressure. This dry Champagne is therefore softly textured with an open mousse. It does however have all the fine, tight minerality of great Chardonnay in Champagne and will surely develop further. Drink from 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points ” The latest release of the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in fall 2018 with five grams per liter dosage, and it’s a blend of equal parts 2015 and 2014, complemented by some 10% reserve wines. Offering up a lovely bouquet of fresh peach, lemon oil, white flowers and hints of the elegantly nutty complexity to come, the wine is medium to full-bodied and textural but incisive, with a creamy low-pressure mousse, a tight-knit core that needs a little time on cork to unwind and an elegantly chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Ripe pineapple and white cherry fruit flavors are accented by honeysuckle and spice notes in this appealing blanc de blancs Champagne, which is lithe and harmonious, with a fresh, lightly chalky finish. Disgorged autumn 2018. Drink now through 2023. 200 cases made, 40 cases imported.”

Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne (69.95) $49 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “This graceful Champagne is like the finely tailored suit that somehow never goes out of style, with a lovely overtone of minerally chalk and brine enticing you into the glass, where flavors of apricot and Marcona almond, and hints of passionfruit coulis and pickled ginger, ride the fine, satinlike mousse. Disgorged autumn 2018. Drink now through 2028.”

Abbatucci’s Faustine Blanc

A World-Class White Priced to Move

Abbatucci remains the premier producer of aristocratic Corsican wine—noble expressions of a wild island. We’re offering you a great deal on two vintages of their “Faustine” Blanc—always one of the best examples of Vermentino in the world. This is a wine that is somehow both powerful and delicate, a rare combination in the world of white wine. These were already amongst the smartest buys in the shop before we further reduced our national best prices. Now they’re absolute steals.

In Stock Now:

2016 Domaine Comte Abbatucci Cuvee Faustine Vieilles Vignes Blanc, Vin de France 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $29 Now $24, 13 bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price is $38.50

Domaine Comte Abbatucci Cuvee Faustine Vieilles Vignes Blanc, Vin de France 2017 750ML ($49.95) Was $29, Now $26, 7 bottles in stock now
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 lowest listed price is $35.99

Collector’s Corner

Poderi Colla:

One of the Piedmont’s Great Names

Prunotto is one of the most historically significant producers in Barolo and Barbaresco. The first to bottle Barolo with the name of the cru on the label, the first to bottle a named Montestefano in Barbaresco… the list goes on—and Beppe Colla made them great. He owned the winery during its heyday, until selling the brand to Antinori in the early 90’s—and it’s his last name that adorns the label of Poderi Colla today.

The Colla family took the money from the sale of Prunotto and turned around to buy land in some of the most prestigious plots in the Piedmont. The highlights were the Dardi Le Rose vineyard in Barolo and Roncaglie in Barbaresco, two famous parcels that produce wines of sheer delight and extravagant complexity.

Colla takes those prime parcels and keeps out of the way of their perfect grapes. Macerations are kept short enough to avoid extracting harsh tannins, but long enough to build texture and structure for the wines to age gracefully. Those wines are matured in large, old oak botti, which allow for graceful development and polish without woody flavors.

The resulting wines are some of the best in the Piedmont, even if they’re still priced well under $100 per bottle. In the transcendent 2016 vintage, they’re even better than usual—which is to say, must-buys for serious Piedmont drinkers.

In Stock Now:

Poderi Colla Dardi Le Rose Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barolo Bussia Dardi Le Rose is just as gorgeous as it always has been. Dark and translucent, the 2016 possesses striking layers of complexity. Spice, menthol, leather, sage and tobacco lend compelling nuance throughout. Although the 2016 is fabulous, it has also started to close down in bottle to a greater degree than I original envisaged. I wouldn’t be in any rush to open it.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Classic Nebbiolo aromas of woodland berry, forest floor, new leather and a whiff of rose lift out of the glass along with a whiff of botanical herb. Delivering elegance and structure in equal measure, the linear palate features red cherry, strawberry compote, baking spice and licorice framed in firm, polished tannins. Bright acidity keeps it well balanced. Drink 2024–2036.”

Poderi Colla Tenuta Roncaglia ‘Roncaglie’ Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “A stellar wine, the 2016 Barbaresco Roncaglie is pretty, delicate and understated to the core. Rose petal, sweet spice, tobacco, mint, anise and sweet red cherry all grace this translucent, super-expressive Barbaresco from Poderi Colla. A Barbaresco of understatement and class, the 2016 is light on its feet, persistent and finely sculpted. Time in the glass brings out the wine’s inner sweetness and perfume, but the 2016 also needs time in bottle to be at its best. This is such a gorgeous wine.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Raspberry compote, truffle, camphor and leather aromas lead the nose along with a hint of hazelnut. The palate is focused and youthfully assertive, showing red cherry, rhubarb, game, clove and wild mint alongside tight, fine-grained tannins and firm acidity. Give it time to fully unwind and develop. Drink 2026–2036.”

Poderi Colla Bricco del Drago Langhe Rosso Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Vinopolpick Mid-Week 6-2-21

In This Newsletter:

2018 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti
First Offer

In-Store Shopping Returns Next Tuesday
Masks Required

Subscriber Special
Bernard Levet’s Cult Classic Côte-Rôtie

Oregon’s Most Age-Worthy Pinot Noir?
White Rose Estate

New Grapelive Review
François Merlin’s 2018 Saint-Joseph Rouge

Our Top Champagne Picks
Prestige Cuvées $119+

An Affordable Argentine Classic
Norton’s Privada Red

Collector’s Corner
‘Super Tuscan’ of the Decade: 2016 Ornellaia

2018 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti

First Offer

To say Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, or DRC, is the finest example of Burgundy is an understatement. These are the finest, most collectable wines in the world. Due to the astronomical demand that exists for DRC’s wines, they’re becoming more and more difficult to source every year. Fortunately, we were able to secure a modest allocation of their 2018s and are thrilled to offer them to our subscribers here today.

All of the wines have come to us directly from DRC’s national importer, Wilson Daniels, through our local distributor, and we will be selling them first come, first served. We don’t however expect any of our cache to remain available when it arrives in Mid-July, so email / call (the wine will not be listed on the web store) before it’s too late.

Pre-Arrivals ETA Mid-July:

The wines will not be listed on the web store, to order please email or call

Only 2 bottles available!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Corton Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2018 750ML ($1,999.95) $1,599 pre-arrival special
Tim Atkin MW-Decanter 95 points “DRC made one of the three parcels that make up this Grand Cru blend – Renardes, Bressandes and Clos du Roi – on its own in 2018 but concluded that it was better blended with the other two after all. Fermented with 90% whole bunches, it’s sweeter, spicier and less rustic than many Cortons, showing considerable finesse, sweet spices, fine-grained oak and some grip.”

Only 4 bottles available!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Echézeaux Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2018 750ML ($1,599.95) $1,449 pre-arrival special
Tim Atkin MW-Decanter 95 points “Echézeaux is frequently regarded as the least exciting of DRC’s array of Vosne Grands Crus, but the 2018 is a delight that has the concentration to age. Fermented with 90% whole bunches and aged in new wood, it’s spicy, subtle and white pepper scented, with impressive texture and palate-coating opulence, racy acidity and floral top notes.”

Only 1 bottle available!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Grands Echézeaux Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2018 750ML ($2,499.95) $2,099 pre-arrival special
Tim Atkin MW-Decanter 96 points “Showing more tannin and backbone than DRC’s Echézeaux bottling, which tends to be the case, this comes from vines aged between 70 and 90 years old and benefitted from it cooler, more moisture-retentive soils in 2018. Intensely spicy, with clove and tobacco pouch aromas, impressive texture and weight, refreshing supporting acidity and lots of underlying concentration.”

Only 1 bottle available!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche Grand Cru Monopole, Côte de Nuits 2018 750ML ($3,999.95) $3,599 pre-arrival special
Tim Atkin MW-Decanter 98 points “The grand old lady’ is how Bertrand de Villaine refers to La Tâche, now planted with 50-year-old vines and responsible for one of the great wines of the vintage in 2018, as it so often is. This is a Grand Cru with incredible presence and self-assurance, showing remarkable balance, grace and intensity, the majesty of a great, soaring cathedral, fine texture and flavours of green malt, red berries and autumn leaves. Wonderful stuff.”

Only 3 bottles available!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Montrachet Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2018 750ML ($9,999.95) $8,449 pre-arrival special
No reviews available for the 2018 vintage. 2017 reviews provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 points “[2017 vintage] Aromas of crisp green pear, citrus oil, mandarin, fresh pastry, clear honey and oak vanillin introduce the 2017 Montrachet Grand Cru, a full-bodied, deep and textural wine that’s voluminous and powerful but incisive, with racy structuring acids and a long, chalky and elegantly honeyed finish. “If we had tried to conceive of the ideal Montrachet, we might have imagined something like this,” admits Bertrand de Villaine, and the 2017 certainly numbers among the finest renditions of this iconic bottling over the last decade and beyond.”

Only 1 bottle available!
Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2018 750ML ($3,499.95) $2,799 pre-arrival special
Tim Atkin MW-Decanter 97 points “The whole bunch fermentation that is a hallmark of DRC’s style is particularly apparent on this rich, textured, almost Baroque Richebourg. Exotic, plush and spicy, with intense white pepper and clove aromas, fine-grained tannins, scented new oak and layers of bramble, raspberry and forest floor flavours, Layered, complex winemaking.”

Love the Côte de Nuits? We have over 215 different reds in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Dujac, Fourrier, Roumier and more, on our web store now.

In-Store Shopping Returns Next Tuesday

Masks Required

We’re thrilled to announce that in-store shopping will resume next Tuesday, June 8th. Masks will be required in-store at all times.

10AM – 6PM Daily

We look forward to seeing your (properly covered) faces soon!

Subscriber Special

Bernard Levet’s Cult Classic Côte-Rôtie

Bernard Levet has moved from an unsung hero of the Northern Rhône to a genuine star. The Côte-Rôtie he bottles is unlike anyone else’s. Feral, tannic and uncompromising, his wines need time to blossom, but when they do, there’s nothing in the world of Syrah (or wine, in general) quite like them. They really must be tasted to be believed.

We want more of these thrilling bottles on tables and cellars, and to that end we’re offering our remaining 2017s at Subscriber Special pricing until close of business on Sunday. So now is the perfect time to discover for yourself why we’re so enchanted by the soulful wines of Bernard Levet.

“The modest, soft-spoke Agnès Levet is clearly reveling in the extra space of her expanded cellar, which sits just behind the family’s storefront on the main (only) drag of Ampuis, which is tricked out with modern, highly efficient new equipment, notably floating top tanks, which she says ‘helps the work happen more quickly because of the extra space.’ But things remain unchanged when it comes to vinification. The wines are still being made with a high percentage, up to 100%, of whole clusters and aged in large, old foudres and mostly neutral demi-muids. These are always wines that deserve time and their drinking windows can go way out there, as numerous examples of bottles from the ‘80s have consistently proven to me. They can be extremely stubborn in their early years, especially the La Chavaroche, so impatient wine lovers need not apply. There’s always a certain wildness to the wines as well, and their character hearkens back to the Côte-Rôties of the old days, which has earned the Levets a steadily growing, highly enthusiastic following. Two thousand seventeen ‘has classic lines but the wines are rich as well,’ Agnès Levet told me. ‘They have depth but also good tension and strong but not severe tannins, so they are definitely wines to age.’” — Josh Raynolds – Vinous Media

In Stock Now:

Vignobles Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie La Chavaroche, Rhône 2017 750ML ($89.95) $75 Subscriber Special, 8 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Dark purple. Ripe dark fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose, along with hints of licorice, black cardamom, espresso and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that slowly unfold and take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Youthfully chewy tannins add firm grip to a strikingly long, energetic finish that emphatically echoes the cassis and mineral notes. Made with 100% whole clusters.”

Vignobles Bernard Levet Côte-Rôtie Les Journaries, Rhône 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 Subscriber Special, 33 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, licorice, exotic spices and potpourri and shows outstanding definition. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet black raspberry, blueberry and cherry preserve flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Shows superb energy and floral lift on an impressively long, focused finish shaped by steadily mounting tannins. This is quite a powerful wine (about 70% of the fruit comes from La Landonne, by the way) for one that checks in at only 13% alcohol. Made entirely with whole clusters.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $77

Love Rhône reds? We have over 150 different options in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Chapoutier, Domaine Clape, Jaboulet and more, on our web store now.

Oregon’s Most Age-Worthy Pinot Noir?

White Rose Estate

Specializing in high-quality, single vineyard Pinot Noir that highlights whole cluster fermentation, White Rose Estate is always one of Oregon’s most sought-after producers. Their Estate Vineyard in the Dundee Hills was originally planted to own-rooted Pommard clones in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Owner Greg Sanders has since expanded his holdings and developed partnerships with other quality-minded growers to produce terroir-driven bottlings from Anderson Family Vineyard and Guillen Vineyard, two notable, if under-the-radar, dry-farmed sites.

Thanks to the high percentage of whole cluster, these gorgeously expressive wines are always amongst the Willamette Valley’s most age-worthy, and this is especially true of cooler vintages like 2011 and 2013. We have an impressive collection of White Rose Estate wines, including back-vintage bottles from the aforementioned 2011 and 2013 vintages. Our selection is dwindling however, and once these library releases are gone, they’re gone. So act accordingly.

In Stock Now:

White Rose Estate Anderson Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Bright red. High-pitched aromas of red berries, Asian spices, potpourri and white pepper. Fresh and incisive on the palate, offering tangy raspberry and strawberry flavors and complicating notes of spicecake and candied rose. Bright, sharply focused with excellent finishing clarity and spicy persistence.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Anderson Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Lurid red. Inviting, expansive bouquet evokes fresh red berries, Asian spices and incense, with smoky mineral and floral notes building in the glass. Juicy, palate-staining raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors show excellent clarity and lift thanks to tangy acidity. This concentrated, pure Pinot finishes with outstanding thrust and silky framing tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Anderson Family Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “(40 percent new oak) Vivid red. Highly perfumed aromas of red fruit liqueur, cherry cola, musky flowers and Asian spices, along with a smoky mineral overtone. Energetic and graceful in style, offering sweet, mineral-laced raspberry, dried cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that spread out steadily with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes very long, displaying harmonious tannins, outstanding clarity and lingering spiciness.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Guillen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Dark, bright red. Suave, highly perfumed nose offers intense scents of raspberry liqueur, cola and five-spice powder, along with a sexy floral overtone. Sweet, concentrated red fruit and floral pastille flavors are underscored by suggestions of anise and spicecake. At once powerful and graceful, finishing with superb focus and length and silky-yet-gripping tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate White Rose Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Light red. High-pitched scents of red berries, blood orange and dried flowers, with an exotic patchouli nuance that gains power with air; smells like a Phish or Widespread Panic concert, without the gnarly human aromatics. Light-bodied, sharply focused redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show excellent intensity and pick up a smoky nuance with air. Closes sweet and long, with a jolt of star anise and silky, gently gripping tannins.”
David Schildknecht-Wine Advocate 92 points “Leather, black tea, tobacco, resinous herbs and roasted red meats vie for attention with cherry, red raspberry, and their distilled counterparts in the complex nose of White Rose’s 2011 Pinot Noir White Rose Vineyard, putting me somewhat in mind of a Syrah steeped in southern French garrigue. Crunchy and pit-tinged red berries are joined by tart rhubarb on the firm but glycerol-slicked palate, while the smoky and resinous notes concentrate into a mouthwatering and invigorating finishing savor. Here is a fine example of the sheer energy as well as some of the levity that typifies vintage 2011 Willamette Pinots, not to mention of Sanders’ “neo-classical” ideal. I am sure it will be well worth following through 2020 and hopefully (not to mention if its author is right!) for quite some time thereafter.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Potent mineral- and spice-accented scents of candied red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, with a deeper licorice nuance in the background. Vibrant red and dark berry flavors show liqueur-like power without any excess weight. Spicy, incisive pinot with serious finishing thrust, silky tannins and a suave floral pastille quality that clings on the finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep red. Heady, exotically perfumed bouquet of candied red and dark berries, Asian spices and floral oils. Sappy, penetrating and pure in the mouth, offering juicy black raspberry and rose pastille flavors and a suggestion of spicecake. Delivers impressive depth and power for the vintage, with smooth tannins coming up slowly to frame the wine’s sappy, clinging fruit.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “(100 percent whole clusters) Lurid red. Intensely perfumed aromas of ripe red berries, blood orange and rose oil develop a hint of incense as the wine opens up. Juicy and expansive in the mouth; sweet, spice-tinged raspberry, cola and floral pastille flavors are given lift and spine by tangy acidity. Finishes extremely long and alluringly sweet, displaying smooth tannins and superb, floral-dominated persistence.”
James Suckling 93 points “Interesting aromas of watermelon and strawberries follow through to a medium to full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Tangy and bright. Citrus texture. Drink in 2018.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

White Rose Estate Winemaker’s Cuvèe Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Expressive violet and cherry aromas open to well-structured red plum, clove and savory tea flavors that finish with refined tannins. Drink now through 2024. 525 cases made.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love supporting local wineries? We have 223 different options from Oregon in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Championship Bottle, Cameron, Goodfellow and more, on our web store now.

New Grapelive Review

François Merlin’s 2018 Saint-Joseph Rouge

“The Domaine Merlin, based in St-Michel-sur-Rhône since 1989, a commune just south of Condrieu, is a small producer focused on Syrah and Viognier with good holdings in Condrieu, Côte-Rôtie and Saint-Joseph, where this beautiful wine comes from, it is a stylish and pure example of Northern Rhône Syrah that delivers a fine performance in the glass and is a stellar value. The Saint-Joseph Rouge is made from various small plots with a mix of sandy soils and granite, with a bit of limestone and was all de-stemmed to promote elegance and opulence in the wine, which was easily achieved here in this 2018 version. The wine saw a short cold soak maceration and gentle hand punch downs while fermenting after which this dark purple/garnet Syrah is raised in a combination of wood casks with about 20% being new 228L barrels with the majority seeing neutral oak in various sizes to allow for freshness and balance to shine here. This is quite impactful Saint-Joesph in the glass with more than expected density and presence, in fact it is almost as impressive as the winery’s top Côte-Rôtie with loads of blue and black fruits, delicate spices, perfume and textural pleasures. This is solid stuff with a classic medium to full bodied palate with lush layers of boysenberry, damson plum, kirsch and cedary wood notes, a touch of feral/earthy savoriness (the good kind of Syrah funk) and pretty violets, adding hints of anise, flinty mineral and a lingering sense of creme de cassis. In my review of the Domaine Merlin Côte-Rôtie, I noted that, François Merlin, a largely self taught winemaker, who has been joined full-time by his son Laurent in 2013, is a serious vigneron that studied under the legendary Rene Rostaing. I found he has gained an admirable reputation as a grower producer in the Northern Rhône, with Decanter Magazine really loving these wines, and with a tidy collection of high quality parcels, some that he planted himself from ancient massele (syrah) selections, including Serine clone, notably in Côte-Rôtie as well as here in Saint-Joseph. Laurent uses mostly organic and sustainable methods to farm his family’s challenging, mostly steep, sites which are set on the region’s mostly decomposed granite soils with areas of gneiss, gravel and schist. The Domaine gets exceptionally small yields from their vines and the concentration of fruit is utterly sensual and divine. François credits his son Laurent, for playing a big part in the vineyards, that has taken the quality to the next level, and this 2018 Saint-Joseph is proof. In the small cellars François employs some Burgundy style small barriques, plus a few puncheons and large 600L casks that range from toasty brand new to six year old casks, used in combination to achieve a studied balance in his reds. With extended air, the 2018 Merlin Saint-Joseph gains depth and richness, but stays gracefully detailed and it is at its best with food, be sure to look for this bottling as it offers a ton of quality and personality for the price, this is a producer to add to your watch list, especially for Syrah lovers.” – Grapelive

In Stock Now:

Domaine François Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhône 2018 750ML ($39.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine François Merlin Saint-Joseph, Rhône 2018 750ML ($479.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 93 points “The Domaine Merlin, based in St-Michel-sur-Rhône since 1989, a commune just south of Condrieu, is a small producer focused on Syrah and Viognier… (full review above)”
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.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Also in Stock Now:

Domaine François Merlin Côte Rôtie, Rhône 2018 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine François Merlin Côte Rôtie, Rhône 2018 750ML ($479.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/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 François Merlin Brocéliande Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes 2018 750ML ($27.95) $17 special, 9 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “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.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Our Top Champagne Picks

Prestige Cuvées $119+

In Stock Now:

Elegant & precise
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvée’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($159.95) $119 special, 5 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.”

Nuanced & complete
Hébrart ‘Rive Gauche Rive Droite’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 12 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]

Creamy & refined
Pommery Cuvée Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 22 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.”

“This wine is totally memorable and magnificent”
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a bright morning gold in colour, with fine-seamed bubbles and rich, expressive and expansive aromas. Beaten cream, pounded hazels, a hint of baking apples, brioche fresh from the oven. But all these notes are drawn with great subtlety, underscoring the fruit quality of the Chardonnay vineyards used in this blend. On the palate, the wine retains all that aromatic grace and amplitude, marrying it to a shapely fruit presence, vibrant though now well-rounded acidity and textural charm, too. A head-turner. Drink 2019-2028.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 98 points “This is an iteration of a legendary Champagne. Perfectly balanced, still packed with white fruit but just touching nuttiness, the wine is at its peak. Celebrating one of the great Champagne vintages of this century, this wine is totally memorable and magnificent.”

Complex & balanced
Rene Geoffroy ‘Les Houtrants Complantés’ Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($219.95) $188 special, 3 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in February 2017 with no dosage, this bottle of the NV Brut Nature Premier Cru Les Houtrants Complantés derives from the 2012 triage, and consists of a blend of reserve wines from 2008 to 2011 that were aged in magnum. Les Houtrants is a precocious lieu-dit in Cumières that Geoffroy planted with a field blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Arbanne and Petit Meslier in 2004. The wine wafts from the glass with a subtle but complex bouquet of white currants, smoke, wet stones, warm biscuits and verb, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and tensile palate that’s exquisitely balanced, its bright spine of acidity cloaked in just enough vibrant flesh and texture to avoid any hint of asperity, concluding with a searingly chalky finish. Intellectually stimulating and compulsively drinkable in equal measure, it’s a pity that only a tiny number of bottles are produced.”
James Suckling 94 points “The nose offers subtly spiced brioche with a light, toasty layer and bright citrus fruit. The palate has a more complex array of fruit and deep, silky texture, laced with salty minerals and grilled nuts at the finish. A non-vintage blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier, chardonnay, arbanne and petit meslier. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $215

Champagne’s first organic prestige cuvée
Marguet Père & Fils ‘Sapience’ Premier Cru Extra-Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($269.95) $189 special, 3 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 96 points “This is the fourth vintage of Benoît Marguet’s Sapience, Champagne’s first organic prestige cuvée, which he began producing before he took over his family vineyards, using purchased grapes: Bouzy Pinot Noir from Benoît Lahaye, Cumières Pinot Meunier from Vincent Laval and Trépail Chardonnay from David Leclapart. Disgorged in June 2019 without dosage, the 2009 Brut Nature Premier Cru is showing brilliantly, wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of citrus oil, dried orange peel, white flowers and subtle hints of praline. Full-bodied, layered and textural, it’s seamless and complete, with a deep core, ripe but racy acids and a long, intense finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $225

Wine Enthusiast ‘Cellar Selection’
Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($279.95) $249 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Roger Voss – Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. As always, this Pinot Noir-dominated Champagne is a great wine. In this vintage, it is fuller than usual, perhaps less structured—a true reflection of the vintage. Like all releases of this cuvée, the wine will age magnificently. Drink now or hold for at least 10 years to get full maturity.”

“One for the cellar”
De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2008 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 16 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is really punchy and broad-shouldered with muscular structure and citrusy undertones. Full body. Lightly tannic and a fresh and vivid finish. This is the first vintage without malolactic fermentation ever. One for the cellar. Better in 2022.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $269.99

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Love Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Nicolas Maillart, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.

An Affordable Argentine Classic

Norton’s Privada Red

Having just celebrated their 125th anniversary last year, Norton is one of the truly historic names in Argentina. An estate that produces wines for just about every price point, its Privada label is the commercial bottling of fruit that used to be reserved for the family’s private cellar. The blend is classic Argentina: 40% Malbec, 30% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 30% Merlot. Everything about the wine suggests sticker shock (premium grapes, substantial aging in French oak, famous sub-region); however at $168 for a case. This is a premium wine to share with your Two-Buck Chuck drinking friends.

In Stock Now:

Bodega Norton Privada Red, Luján de Cuyo 2013 750ML ($24.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Bodega Norton Privada Red, Luján de Cuyo 2013 750ML ($299.95) $168 special (that’s only $14/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2013 Privada Proprietary Red Wine is composed of 40% Malbec and 30% each Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon from their three vineyards close to the winery in Luján de Cuyo. The wine fermented in cement vats and matured in French oak barrels (new and second use) for some 14 months. Bright cherry-colored, with clean flavors and aromas mixing wild berries and aromatic fruits, the palate has a very fine texture and fresh acidity. There is also good depth and persistence. 300,000 bottles produced per vintage.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Shop the entire selection from Argentina and beyond on our web store now.

Collector’s Corner

‘Super Tuscan’ of the Decade: 2016 Ornellaia

2016 was an all-time-great year in Tuscany and as you’d expect, the 2016 Ornellaia is special stuff. Separating the 2015 and 2016 vintages in terms of quality seems impossible, so let’s just say that the 2016 was one of the two best vintages of the last decade—which is to say it’s on the shortlist for best Super Tuscans of the century. We have one case remaining in stock. Need we say more?

In Stock Now:

Tenuta Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($279.95) $249 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes. This beautiful wine is hitting the market now, but collectors will want to put it straight into their cellars for safekeeping.”

More Collectable Super Tuscans, in Stock Now:

Tua Rita Redigaffi Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($299.95) $229 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 100 points “This is an extraordinary merlot with such purity and focus. Flowers such as violets and hints of orange peel. It is full-bodied yet incredibly energetic and structured. The finish goes on for minutes. Seamless texture. Fresh yet dense. Contrasty. Best Redigaffi ever. Hard not to drink now but a wine for decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $259

Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia Bolgheri, Tuscany 750ML ($279.95) $225 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Aromas of exotic spice, baked plum and French oak mingle with camphor and blue flower on the nose. This boasts extraordinary elegance and freshness despite the hot vintage, delivering flavors of juicy Marasca cherry, spiced blueberry, tobacco and licorice. Velvety, fine-grained tannins provide support while coffee and crushed mint linger on the finish. Drink 2022–2032.”

Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine.”

Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $74.83/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the Cabernet Sauvignon logically feels and tastes most prominent. This is a dark and penetrating Tuscan red that is beautifully elevated, thanks to the extremely elegant and buoyant quality of the aromas. They lift gracefully from the glass with light-footed, almost fleeting character. However, don’t underestimate the power and the concentration of the wine, because this vintage delivers both with abundance. I’ve had my eye on this estate since the vineyards were first planted some 20 years ago, and there is no doubt that this vintage brings Tenuta Argentiera into a new era as a Bolgheri protagonist. Some 80,000 bottles were made.”

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

Love Tuscany? We have 165 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Castell’in Villa, Fèlsina, Fontodi and more, on our web store now.

Vinopolis Tuesday Newsletter 06-01-21

In This Newsletter:

Importer’s Library Release
From Loire Legend Didier Dagueneau

How Do We Still Have 2013 Produttori?
Including Magnums!

Oregon Icon
Cristom’s 2017 Single Vineyards

Azienda Agricola Gulfi
Sicily’s Terroir-Driven Master

Top 10 Grower Champagne Picks
All $59 – $99

Stunning Wines from Southern Spain
Casa Castillo

Importer’s Library Release

From Loire Legend Didier Dagueneau

Prior to his tragic death in 2008, Didier Dagueneau was one of the true superstars in the world of wine. He single-handedly changed the perception of Pouilly-Fumé, proving to the world that Sauvignon Blanc could be profound and age-worthy. He accomplished this with a mix of modern winemaking and ultra-traditional vineyard management. The resulting wines were soon recognized as being amongst the best whites in the world.

Although his son, Louis Benjamin, has done an admirable job since taking over in 2008, there’s something almost spiritual about drinking a wine crafted by the legend himself. And one fortunate subscriber will have just that chance, as we’ve secured a single bottle of Dagueneau’s 2004 Clos Du Calvaire, arriving next week.

Clos Du Calvaire is as old-school as it gets. The tiny walled vineyard distinguishes itself with densely planted, own-rooted, meticulously farmed (horse plowed) vines. These unique factors yield immaculate fruit and concentrated wines with the ability to age gracefully for decades.

While most Loire whites from the mid-’00s are past their prime, the 2004 Clos Du Calvaire is just entering its optimal drinking window. This is really special stuff. However, with only a single bottle arriving next week, we don’t expect it ever to reach the floor. Professionally cellared by Dagueneau’s Oregon distributor since its release, this iconic bottle is going to generate interest. So if you’re serious about adding this jewel to your collection, don’t delay.

Arriving June 11th:

Just one bottle available!
Didier Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Clos du Calvaire, Loire 2004 750ML ($1,499.95) $1,199 pre-arrival special
Importer note “There are few winemakers in history as bullish or brazen, roguish or renegade, as the Loire Valley’s Didier Dagueneau. High-standards, incredible risk-taking, impeccable attention to detail, zealous allegiance to his terroir, and a willingness to take a stand against convention made this once-professional motorcycle sidecar racer the stuff of legends. Born in the Nièvre, where Burgundy meets the Loire Valley, Didier was the fourth generation in a family of winegrowers. In 1982, just after returning to his native village of Saint Andelain just outside of Pouilly-sur-Loire, Didier set his new career as vigneron in motion, and in typical form, there were no half-measures. Influenced by wine legend Henri Jayer of Burgundy, his grandfather Louis Dagueneau, André Chabanne of Pouilly-sur-Loire, enologist Denis Dubourdieux of Bordeaux, and Professor Renaud of the Pasteur Institut in Paris, Didier quickly found his own style. By fusing modern winemaking with ultra-traditional methods of vineyard management, he was able to realize the ultimate expression of terroir and technique.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

In Stock Now from Dagueneau:

Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, Loire 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Joel Payne – Vinous “When his father died in September of 2008, Louis Benjamin was only 26 years old. While some things have changed since then, much remains the same. The dogs are gone, and the house has a different flair, but the meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and the precision in the cellar have, if anything, become even more perfectionist under his direction. With a hired hand for each of his 12 hectares, few vineyards in Pouilly are as well kept and he is the only one I know here who still harvests by hand.After a cold soak at 7 degrees C for three days, his sauvignon blancs are fermented with his own yeasts in small oak casks and kept on their lees for one year before being assembled and matured in stainless steel, where they remain for another six to eight months until bottling. It is an almost Burgundian style of winemaking, but then, as he says, Pouilly is technically a part of Burgundy even though it lies along the Loire. I have often heard the criticism that the hand of the winemaker is more evident here than that of the site, but time does allow the individual wines to show their true colors. It is merely that most of the bottles are consumed long before that day arrives.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.99

Dagueneau Blanc Fumé de Pouilly, Loire 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Joel Payne – Vinous “When his father died in September of 2008, Louis Benjamin was only 26 years old. While some things have changed since then, much remains the same. The dogs are gone, and the house has a different flair, but the meticulous attention to detail in the vineyards and the precision in the cellar have, if anything, become even more perfectionist under his direction. With a hired hand for each of his 12 hectares, few vineyards in Pouilly are as well kept and he is the only one I know here who still harvests by hand.After a cold soak at 7 degrees C for three days, his sauvignon blancs are fermented with his own yeasts in small oak casks and kept on their lees for one year before being assembled and matured in stainless steel, where they remain for another six to eight months until bottling. It is an almost Burgundian style of winemaking, but then, as he says, Pouilly is technically a part of Burgundy even though it lies along the Loire. I have often heard the criticism that the hand of the winemaker is more evident here than that of the site, but time does allow the individual wines to show their true colors. It is merely that most of the bottles are consumed long before that day arrives.”

Dagueneau Les Jardins de Babylone Sec, Jurançon 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Importer note “In addition to producing memorable cuvees of Pouilly-Fumé, which they refer to by its original name “Blanc Fumé de Pouilly,” they farm vineyards in Sancerre and Jurançon. Flint and clay dominate the vineyards in Pouilly, chalky limestone in Sancerre, and clay and rounded limestone in Jurançon—all lending terrific mineral intensity to the wines.”

Dagueneau Pouilly-Fumé Pur Sang, Loire 2017 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Importer note “One of France’s great, iconic estates, making singluar, age-worthy Sauvignon Blancs from the appellation of Pouilly-Fumé. Didier Dagueneau was one of the first in the region to experiment with single-parcel wines, starting with “En Chailloux” in 1982, and later “Pur Sang” in 1988.”

Love the Loire? We have 90 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bernard Baudry, Domaine Huet, Thibaud Boudignon and more, on our web store now.

How Do We Still Have 2013 Produttori?

Including Magnums!

2013 was the greatest vintage in Barbaresco since…2007? 2001? 1996? 1990? Further back? Regardless of where you put 2013 in that esteemed set, it’s time to start drinking these modern classics. We’re talking a top tier region (Barbaresco), top tier co-op that pays members based on quality not quantity, top tier vineyards such as Rabaja, and a top tier vintage, all perfectly cellared and drinking beautifully. But what is this all going to cost? You might expect to shell out a few hundred bucks a bottle if this was Burgundy or Bordeaux (heck, often over a thousand). This is benchmark stuff, after all.

But no, while this is a producer that racks up rave reviews in average years, let alone a classic, even casual collectors can still afford to buy in. We picked up as much of the 2013 vintage as we could when it was released, and then some, to share this epic estate with you. So stock up, cellar some, and enjoy drinking these wines over the next 5, 15, (or maybe 50!) years.

In Stock Now:

Wine Enthusiast ‘Cellar Selection’
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Still young but already boasting extraordinary pedigree, this fantastic wine opens with hallmark scents of wild berry, new leather, chopped herb, tilled soil and a whiff of violet. The polished, full-bodied palate delivers juicy wild cherry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and licorice while youthfully assertive, noble tannins and bright acidity provide age-worthy structure. A pipe tobacco note lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2038.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $117

Wine Enthusiast ‘Editor’s Choice’
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 7 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is full-bodied, displaying cherry, licorice, wild herb, iron and tobacco notes. The dense tannins take over and dominate the finish now, despite this remaining fresh and long. Full-bodied and minerally. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Editor’s Choice. New leather, camphor, forest berry, dried rose and culinary spice are some of the aromas you’ll find on this exceptional red. The firmly structured, poised palate doles out juicy cranberry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and star anise framed in tightly-knit, refined tannins while bright acidity provides energy and balance. Drink 2020–2033.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $54.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Like most of the wines in this lineup, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is quite potent. A rush of raspberry jam, wild flowers, white pepper and mint make a strong opening statement. Succulent and yet also structured, the Muncagota has so much to offer. It should be one of the first wines in this range to start opening up, although when that will happen exactly is hard to say.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Powerful yet underlined by racy acidity, driving the black cherry, black currant and mineral flavors. Menthol and tobacco notes add depth, keeping this intense. All the components are here, yet this will need time to really sing. Best from 2024 through 2040.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “You may remember that this wine was once called Moccagatta. Produttori del Barbaresco reverted to the local Piemontese spelling of the name in 2007 to stay consistent with the geographic mapping of local cru sites. The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota stands apart from the nine other single-vineyard Riservas presented by Produttori del Barbaresco this vintage. Of these various wines, this is the most salty and savory. There is less primary fruit intensity here. The bouquet is laced with grilled rosemary and wild sage. This growing site absorbs loads of morning sunshine with southeast-facing exposures. The mouthfeel is characterized by dry tannins and very long, balsam-like persistence. Dried ginger and herbs appear on the menthol-like finish.”
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 94 points “You’ll find aromas of star anise, freshly tilled soil, chopped herb and balsamic notes on this full-bodied red. The smooth, concentrated palate delivers juicy black cherry, raspberry compost, pipe tobacco and licorice accompanied by firm, refined tannins and bright acidity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 15 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The Produttori’s 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is all power, tension and nerve. Even so, the 2013 is remarkably civilized and much less austere than young Ovello Barbarescos usually are. Scents of cranberry, white pepper and mint give the wine its signature high-toned aromatics. The Ovello has a Volnay-like purity to its fruit, with Nebbiolo tannins and structure, of course. If that sounds appealing, well, it is. Vivid, sculpted and impossibly beautiful, the Ovello is simply magnificent.”

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

Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “A rich, cherry- and floral-scented red, effusive in aroma, with the core of cherry prevailing on the palate. Though fleshy, this gives way to firm tannins that line the lingering aftertaste. Inviting and full of energy, so decant now or wait. Best from 2023 through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Wine Enthusiast ‘Cellar Selection’
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing scents of wild berry, rose, baking spice and balsamic aromas come together in the glass. Juicy and full-bodied, the flavorsome palate shows succulent Morello cherry, cranberry, licorice and ground white pepper alongside a backbone of vibrant acidity and firm, polished tannins. It’s already exceptional but will benefit with more aging. Drink 2020–2038.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99

Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($719.95) $649 special (that’s only $54.08/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “A rich, cherry- and floral-scented red, effusive in aroma, with the core of cherry prevailing on the palate. Though fleshy, this gives way to firm tannins that line the lingering aftertaste. Inviting and full of energy, so decant now or wait. Best from 2023 through 2035.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Barbaresco? We have 49 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Giacosa and Roagna, as well as much more from Produttori.

Oregon Icon

Cristom’s 2017 Single Vineyards

Cristom is one of the hallowed names in Oregon. They’ve been a top name since their inception in 1993 and make reference point wines from their beautiful estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills. Much of the credit for their success goes to their vineyards—located just below Bethel Heights and Temperance Hill, truly Cristom is one of the Grand Cru sites of Oregon. The rest of the credit goes to Steve Doerner, their winemaker since the beginning, who made a name for Calera in the ’80s before moving to Oregon and becoming a local legend.

These are wines that have powerful personalities allied to a Burgundian sense of proportion and savor. Doerner loves to use a lot of whole clusters in fermentations and so the wines always have a grip and earthiness that grounds their deep fruit and rich textures. 2017 was a bit of a return to older-school Oregon, as vintages go, warmer than historical averages but much cooler than the heat years of 2014-2016. We’ve been thrilled with many of the wines we’ve tasted from the year and Cristom is no exception—these are some stunning wines, beautiful and nuanced already.

In Stock Now:

Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($479.95) $339 special (that’s only $56.50/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Translucent red. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, exotic spices and candied flowers, with smoky mineral and incense notes that acquire strength as this youthful wine gains its footing. Stains the palate with vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, star anise and rose pastille flavors that show a compelling blend of depth and litheness. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on a strikingly long, finely etched finish that features baking spice, floral and subtle earth notes.”
James Suckling 95 points “An earthy thread here with more savory, herbal and gently spicy notes, as well as graphite. Latent red cherries, too. The palate has a very sleek and succulent feel with evenly cast, sturdy tannins that harness great length and depth. Powerful yet measured and all about the earth. Try from 2023.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. There’s a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $69.99

Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Bright red. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays ripe red/blue fruit, baking spice, incense qualities and a strong, mineral overtone. Offers sweet, penetrating raspberry, blueberry, cherry pit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that show serious depth as well as vivacity. Displays impressive clarity and spicy thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and suave, clinging floral and mineral notes.”

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

Love supporting local wineries? We have 223 different options from Oregon in stock. Shop the entire selection, including local legends like Beaux Frères, Cameron, The Eyrie Vineyard and more, on our web store now.

Azienda Agricola Gulfi

Sicily’s Terroir-Driven Master

Gulfi first came to prominence as a champion of Nero D’Avola—the rich dark grape that they proved could be a transparent expression of terroir. The single vineyard bottlings that Gulfi made changed perceptions of the grape and has helped lead to the current renaissance of Sicilian viticulture. These are wines that are intense, powerful, yet graceful.

Gulfi’s Nero d’Avola is typically extracted and rich, with subtle nuances reflecting the vineyard locations spread around the southeastern corner of the island. Variations in altitude and proximity to the sea influence the delicate aromatics, as ripeness is certainly not the issue. Salinity and sea breeze influences are present and add nuance to the ripe, roasty, smoky characteristics.

The Neromaccarj (pronounce the “j” as an “i” with the Gulfi names) is a vineyard that sits almost at sea level, and the wines from the vineyard are the biggest, richest and darkest fruited of the lot. By contrast, the Nerosanlore is a higher altitude site with a stronger marine influence and so the wines temper Nero d’Avola’s natural richness with higher acidity, redder fruits and grippier tannins. NeroBaronj is a vineyard that sits in a warm pocket but with almost pure limestone as its soil foundation, giving wines that are brighter, zippier and more delicate than the rest of the set. Finally, NeroBufaleffj’s volcanic origin produces a wine with rich, redder fruits and elegant tannins.

The 2016 vintage was magical throughout the Italian peninsula, and Gulfi’s 2016s are arguably their finest yet—a real upgrade in terms of finesse and elegance over previous years. But don’t worry, these are still plenty powerful. If you have yet to acquaint yourself with these distinctive wines, there’s no time but the present.

In Stock Now:

Gulfi Nerobaronj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93+ points “Good full medium red. Riveting high-pitched perfume of raspberry, blood orange and violet, lifted by hints of lemon and talc. Clean, focused, and well delineated, with strong minerality and fresh spices lifting the raspberry fruit and very floral flavors. Easygoing and very drinkable already, this expresses a very silky texture. Finishes vibrant and very long, with subtle perfume of strawberry and violet. A pretty wine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Gulfi Nerobufaleffj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Gulfi Nerobufaleffj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $237 special (that’s only $39.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 96+ points “Luminous deep red. Aromas of red cherry, minerals, Oriental spices and vanilla on the refined nose. Then luscious, rich, deep and multilayered with spices, herbs and aromatic oak notes dominating the underlying red and spicy flavors beneath. Finishes long but with less than the usual nectar-like quality that typifies this cru; undoubtedly, a much more elegant version of Nerobufaleffj, a wine that often reaches Amarone-like levels of richness and lusciousness. This very young wine is a potential knockout; still brooding and folded upon itself; it’s a beauty that requires time in your cellar, and watch it develop into something special.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Gulfi Neromaccarj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Gulfi Neromaccarj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Amazing floral and spicy nose of black fruit, herbs and grilled steak. Then rich and tactile, but vibrant and energetic, with well delineated flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes long with mounting but relatively polished tannic bite.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $42.90

Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $237 special (that’s only $39.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 97 points “Luminous red. Precise, brooding aromas of ripe red cherry, flint, orange rind, cinnamon, lavender and violet, complicated by iodine and earth. Silky and sappy with refined but very concentrated extract, this smothers the taste buds but stays vibrant and not at all heavy, offering lovely definition and lift to the red cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral flavors. Finishes extremely deep and long, with ultra-suave tannins, mesmerizing inner-mouth perfume and extreme refinement; very Barolo-like. A lovely multilayered wine showcasing the elegant side of Nero d’Avola that very few producers ever manage to showcase.”

Love Sicilian wine? We have 32 options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including staff favorites like COS and Terre Nere, as well as more from Gulfi.

Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Top 10 Grower Champagne Picks

All $59 – $99

In Stock Now:

A delicious (and rare) lower pressure Champagne
Lilbert-Fils Perle Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points ” The Perle style is a comparative rarity in Champagne, bottling the wine at a lower than usual pressure. This dry Champagne is therefore softly textured with an open mousse. It does however have all the fine, tight minerality of great Chardonnay in Champagne and will surely develop further. Drink from 2021.”
Importer note “45% 2015, 45% 2014, 10% Reserve wine. Disgorged in autumn 2018”

“Bright and beautifully lifted”
Christophe Mignon ADN de Meunier Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The NV Brut Rosé ADN de Meunier is a blend of equal parts 2016 and 2015, done in an assemblage style, which means a touch Meunier vinified as still red wine is added to a core of Meunier vinified off the skins. Mignon’s Rosé is bright and beautifully lifted, with lovely aromatic presence and impeccable balance. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the Rosé has plenty of depth as well as structure. More importantly, it is flat out delicious. Give the Rosé a good bit of air, as it really only blossoms with quite a bit of aeration. The current release is a blend of equal parts 2016 and 2015. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: August 29, 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pretty, lively & refined
Hébrart Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Disgorged in August 2019, Hébrart’s new release of the NV Brut Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes is based on the 2015 vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, white flowers, blanched almonds and Meyer lemon, it’s medium to full-bodied, bright and pillowy, with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and a refined mousse. Once again, it derives from superior, south-facing sites in Mareuil-sur-Ay that also inform his Special Club bottling.”
Importer note “Disgorged May 2020, L MF 15”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

“Clear mineral verve with distinctive richness”
R. Pouillon & Fils ‘Les Terres Froides’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The name of this cuvée is short for “les Valnons Froid Cul”—a famous and seemingly cold hill in Aÿ. This wine embodies a very unique and rare experience: tasting true blanc de blancs from one of the best situated slopes in Aÿ, a grand cru famous for rich, articulate pinot noir. This wine delivers clear mineral verve with distinctive richness and intense texture.”
Importer note “Pouillon’s Blanc de Blancs has always come from the Terres Froides parcel in the village of Tauxièrres-Mutry in Montagne de Reims, and along with Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Vallée, these are the only two villages with a 99% rating, just missing 1 point for Grand Cru status. Fabrice has a half a hectare in this parcel which is a lieu dit of Les Fourches, south-west of the village, closer to Tours-sur-Marne. It has a north exposition and a cool to cold microclimate with risk of spring frost. The soil here is more chalk than clay which can be found closer to the village, and the cool microclimate is perfect for Chardonnay.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $76.99

“A steely Blanc de Blancs that will appeal to more than just the purists”
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Oenophile Premier Cru Extra Brut – Non Dose, Champagne 2012 750ML ($99.95) $74 special, 3 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs 1er Cru Oenophile Non Dosé is showing very well, offering up a pure bouquet of citrus oil, wet stones and subtle hints of pan d’épices. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and chalky, with an incisive spine of acidity that’s nicely integrated, good depth and concentration at the core and a long, mineral finish. Disgorged in April 2018 without dosage, it’s a steely Blanc de Blancs will appeal to more than just the purists.”

“Precise and absolutely gorgeous”
Marie Courtin Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $75 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Extra Brut Concordance Sans Soufre (100% Pinot Noir) is bright, precise and absolutely gorgeous. Dominique Moreau seems to have really dialed in her approach over the last few years. I can’t remember tasting a Concordance with this much translucent energy. Pinot Noir in the Aube has rarely been this weightless and nuanced. The purity of the flavors is just striking. No dosage.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99

“One of the most singular Champagnes I tasted all year. Don’t miss it”
Benoît Déhu ‘Initiation’ Brut Nature, Champagne NV (2016) 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Benoit Déhu’s NV [2016] Initiation is a blend of 78% Pinot Noir and 22% Meunier. Ample and resonant in feel, the 2016 retains a gorgeous sense of transparency as well. Floral and spice inflections build as the 2016 shows off its multi-faceted, exotic personality. The non-dosage style works perfectly here. Initiation is one of the most singular Champagnes I tasted all year. Don’t miss it. No dosage.”
Importer note “Cuvée Initiation is the newest addition to the Déhu lineup. Made from his signature variety Pinot Meunier and 25% Pinot Noir, which Benoît planted using massale selection of Pommard clone from Burgundy. Oak vinification and ageing, unfined and unfiltered, low dosage. The wines is zippy and round with a persistent finish. Sourced from a small parcel at the bottom of the hill which Benoît planted using massale selection of Pommard clone from Burgundy.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

“An intense Champagne that will do great justice to a meal”
Nicolas Maillart ‘Les Chaillots Gillis’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Champagne from a specific area from old vines of Chardonnay. Produced only in great years, this Champagne is produced with limited quantity. A wine of Champagne before being a Champagne. Origin of the grapes: Ecueil 1er cru . Sourced from different parcels of old vines only, exposed on the south hills and different plots in the middle of the vineyard. Winemaking and aging: Slow, gentle pressing using gravity flow techniques. This wine is vinified exclusively in wooden vats . This Champagne has had a long maturation on wooden vats and no filtration took place before the bottling. Disgorged by hand and laid down at least six months before sale. Dosage : 0 g/L Tasting notes Eye : Golden yellow with a fine, lingering bead Nose : really delicate with notes of minerality and toasty notes. Palate: A lovely fresh, vinous attack. This is an intense Champagne that will do great justice to a meal.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A Grower with a cult following for a reason
Georges Laval Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV (2018) 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier. 2018-base. Premier Cru.”

A cellar pick
Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 10 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “Alexandre Chartogne’s 2015 Les Couarres is composed entirely of pinot noir. He barrel ferments the vins clairs for this wine and gave them a bit of extra aging in the cellar prior to bottling them up for secondary fermentation in July of 2016. It aged four years sur latte prior to disgorgement in June of 2020 and finished with a dosage of “approximately” six grams per liter. The wine delivers a superb bouquet of apple, white peach, a touch of hazelnut, fresh-baked bread, a fine base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with a bit of oak influence showing up on the backend, a fine core, lovely soil signature, refined mousse and a long, classy finish. This is certainly quite drinkable today, but the bit of palate oakiness it shows today might be a good reason to give it a few years in the cellar, just to allow this element to integrate as well on the palate as it already has on the nose. 2023-2055.”

Love Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Pierre Péters, Vilmart and more, on our web store now.

Stunning Wines from Southern Spain

Casa Castillo

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 favorite Spanish wines. So it’s come as no surprise that The Wine Advocate has consistently scored these wines highly —they’re thrilling bottlings.

In stock now:

Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($24.95) $18.80 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Casa Castillo Vino de Finca, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 specia l (that’s only $16.58/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.”

Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 29 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.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Casa Castillo El Molar Tinto, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 3 bottles in stock now
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 only listing in the USA today!

Love Spanish reds? We have over 120 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Comando G, Daniel Landi, Raúl Pérez and more, on our web store now.