New Arrivals: Cameron, Linne Calodo, Grasso and More!; Darnaud’s High Scoring Crozes Hermitage; New Keller GG Arrivals; More Huet Goodness (including Constance!) 

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New Weekend – New Arrivals

Oregon

Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic.  This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year (there was no 2014 version).

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it.  This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels.  This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame.  Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is pretty good now but will be stellar in a few years.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
VinopolNote: This entry level Chardonnay from Cameron represents some of the best value in Oregon wine.  Made with barrels declassified from Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique, this wine sees a little bit of new wood (after being “seasoned” on the inexpensive wine, the barrels are moved on to the single vineyard wines).  Richer and more immediate than the Abbey or the Clos, this is a wine that’s showy now but will age into something more elegant.

Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley.  Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills.  The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice.  This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery.  Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver.  This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup.  We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arterberry Maresh Juliard Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($67.95) $59 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Ruby-red. Deep-pitched aromas of cherry cola, black raspberry, licorice and smoky minerals carry a suave floral topnote. Sappy, concentrated and focused on the palate, offering sweet red and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors plus a suggestion of spicecake. Smoothly combines richness and vivacity and finishes very long and subtly tannic, displaying a sweet, lingering boysenberry note.”

California

Linne Calodo ‘Perfectionist’, Paso Robles 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Deep ruby. A highly complex, spice-laced bouquet evokes black and blue fruit preserves, incense and Moroccan spices, and a smoky mineral quality adds lift. Stains the palate with concentrated, sharply delineated boysenberry and cassis liqueur flavors that are energized by a spine of juicy acidity. Definitely rich, but shows outstanding energy and clarity as well. Finishes sweet, velvety and extremely long, leaving notes of candied flowers and spicecake behind.”
72% Syrah, 23% Grenache, 5% Mourvèdre

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Linne Calodo ‘Problem Child’, Paso Robles 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “A blend of 74% Zinfandel, 19% Mourvèdre and 7% Syrah, the 2015 Problem Child has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of blueberry preserves, dried mulberries and preserved plums with touches of baking spices, violets and raspberry leaves. Full-bodied and full-on rich and seductive, it has lovely spicy and berry preserves palate with plush tannins and a long, peppery finish.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94 points “Dark purple. Deeply perfumed, spice- and mineral-accented cherry liqueur, boysenberry and black currant aromas are complemented by a sexy floral nuance. Shows impressive depth as well as nerve to the sweet black and blue fruit liqueur and floral pastille flavors, which are sharpened by a jolt of juicy acidity. Supple, harmonious tannins sneak in steadily, adding focus and shape to an impressively long, mineral-laced finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Linne Calodo Rising Tides Red, Paso Robles 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Vivid ruby. Intense red fruit liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille aromas develop suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals in the glass. Sappy and deeply concentrated yet impressively energetic as well, offering palate-staining raspberry and cherry compote flavors given lift and spine by a core of juicy acidity. Shows a striking combination of richness and elegance and finishes extremely long and seamless; supple tannins sneak in slowly to add shape and grip.”
54% Grenache, 30% Mourvèdre, 14% Syrah, 2% Tannat

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

France – Champagne

Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne 2009 750ML ($179.95) $159 special
James Suckling 97 points “This is a DP that shows the ripeness of the 2009 vintage yet remains full of energy. Gorgeous aromas of cream, apple, mango, honeysuckle, and chalk follow through to a full body and super fine, tight texture. Dense and agile. Vinous. It’s like a top grand cru white Burgundy. Think Batard-Montrachet. More depth than the 2006. Drink now.”
Decanter 96 points “Unbroken sun through August and early September helped to shape an idyllic harvest, on 12th September. Superb maturity of fruit in flawless health has produced a wine with wafting scents of both fresh and confit of spiced lemon and wild cherry. Despite the heat, the wine has freshness, vitality and length. Still a youngster, this will grow greatly by 2019. A more stylish son of the ’03, and cousin of the slender and charming ’06. Disgorged June 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2009 Dom Pérignon is a gorgeous, totally seductive Champagne that will drink well right out of the gate. Medium in body and unusually open-knit at this stage, the 2009 is one of the most accessible young Dom Pérignons I can remember tasting. It is an excellent choice to drink while waiting for the release of the stellar 2008 and some recent vintages that remain very young, including the 2006. Despite the warm, ripe personality of the 2009 Dom Pérignon is quite gracious, but there is plenty of depth underpinning the fruit. With each successive tasting, the 2009 seems to have gained more power and breadth, especially on the finish. Above all else, the 2009 is decidedly restrained for a warm, radiant vintage. It is not as overtly flamboyant as the 2002 nor as phenolically intense as years like 2003 and 2006. Instead, the 2009 is a beautifully balanced Champagne, with all of its elements in the right place. Tasted three times.”

Savart L’Accomplie Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Disgorged June 2017. LB10.
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV L’Accomplie Premier Cru Extra Brut is 80% old vine Pinot Noir (selection massale) and 20% Chardonnay from vintages 2012 and 2011. Aged in 50% 500-liter barrels and 50% stainless steel. This wine has great purity and mineral tension on the palate, with clear and nice fruit. It is very clean and characterful, long and with a complex finish. It also has good mineral grip, intensity and tension.”

Savart L’Ouverture Premier Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Disgorged June 2017.

Italy –Piedmont

Elio Grasso Runcot, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($169.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2008 Barolo Riserva Rüncot is an exceptional wine that is only made in the best years. It was produced in 2008, 2010 and 2013. The wine undergoes a 40-day maceration time with four years in oak and one more year of bottle aging. The results are sublime and generous. Riserva Rüncot opens to a beautifully tempered and expressive bouquet that exhibits elements of wild berry, forest floor, candied fruit, licorice, cola and dried ginger. The balsamic signature is particularly beautiful and elegant. Smooth and silky tannins denote the mouthfeel and carry the wine forward over the palate. This is one of the top releases from Piedmont this year.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2008 Barolo Riserva Runcot is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Smoke, tar, licorice, menthol, plums and spices form a tapestry of undeniable class. The sweet, perfumed fruit typical of the 2008s here is evident in the glass. A rich, sumptuous wine, the 2008 Runcot is fabulous. The 2008 spent 45 months in new French oak, all of which it has handled with superb grace. Even though the Runcot is one of the few Barolos that handles new French oak this well, once again I wonder what it might taste like if aged like the rest of the Grasso Barolos. Dark red/black fruit, spices, new leather and smoke add the last nuances of complexity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $143

Renato Ratti Barolo Marcenasco, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
James Suckling 94 points “A Barolo with a solid core of ripe fruit and velvety tannins that are muscular and powerful. Medium-to full-bodied, structured and chewy. Needs two or three years to soften.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 Barolo Marcenasco is Renato Ratti’s flagship wine that was first produced in 1965. The Marcenasco cru in La Morra has responded well to this slightly cooler vintage. The wine shows a great deal of sharpness and precision. Beautiful cherry fruit segues to spice, tar and rose petal. Judging by the nose alone, this Barolo almost appears ready to drink now. Once you taste it, however, the youth of the tannins and the brightness of the primary fruit firmly suggest that more bottle aging will do the wine wonders.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Germany

Peter Lauer Saar Riesling Sekt Brut Reserve, Mosel 1984 750ML ($79.95) $69 special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Hidden Treasure From the Stunning

2015 Vintage in the Northern Rhone

“…what I found especially thrilling when tasting my way through the 2015 northern Rhones was that it is not necessary to pay top dollar in order to experience 2015’s sumptuous combination of ripeness and precision. The lesser appelations of St. Joseph and Crozes-Hermitage have also excelled themselves.” – Jancis Robinson

The Northern Rhone has turned into one of the hottest areas of the wine world over the last few years, driven by a string of excellent vintages and realization that the wines are incredible but aren’t yet priced like their (qualitative) counterparts in regions like Burgundy, Bordeaux or Brunello.  While Cote Rotie and Hermitage have been the gold standard for some time, affordable land in appellations like Cornas, Crozes-Hermitage and St. Joseph has allowed for young, ambitious winemakers to get their hands on old vines and great terroirs.

That’s great for us—it’s allowed for more great wine and because of the costs involved, great Crozes or St. Joseph is much more affordable (and therefore a great gateway into the Northern Rhone).  Whether you’re an old hand at the Northern Rhone thing or if you’re just getting started, Emmanuel Darnaud is a name worth paying attention to.  We’re excited about his wines and at the prices offered, they’re spectacular.

A passionate advocate for terroir-specific wines, Emmanuel Darnaud has been crafting robust reds from individual parcels in the northern Rhone since 2001 and has a great mentor in his father in law, the legendary Bernard Faurie. His six parcels are spread over 15 hectares, where the grapes are hand harvested. Each is vinified separately with differing oak aging and maturation practices depending upon the wine. The Saint Joseph is from a small, 1.7 hectare vineyard on a hillside in an area colloquially named ‘speared by the sun.’

Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Au Fil du Temps, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The top cuvée of the estate (which isn’t made in every vintage) is the 2015 Crozes Hermitage Au Fil Du Temps, which is 100% Syrah from the Les Saviaux lieu-dit (near the village of Glun), raised in once-used demi-muids. Like all the cuvées here, it sports an inky purple/opaque color and has a sensational bouquet of blueberry, strawberry, black cherry, graphite and smoked herbs. Full-bodied, rounded, seamless and impeccably balanced, it’s hands down one of the most impressive Crozes out there.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Mise en Bouche, Rhone 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90 points “His entry-level effort is the wonderfully fruity, rounded and sexy 2015 Crozes Hermitage Mise En Bouche, which is already hard to resist. It offers tons of black and blue fruits, peppery herbs and hints of cured meats. I love its purity and it’s ideal for drinking over the coming 6-7 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24

Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Les Trois Chenes, Rhone 2015 750ML ($31.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “A much more serious effort than the Mise en Bouche, the 2015 Crozes Hermitage les Trois Chenes was raised in a mix oak tanks (tronconique), demi-muids and barrels (some new). Its inky purple/blue color is followed by terrific notes of blackberries, blueberries, damp earth and pepper. This full-bodied beauty is rounded and seamless on the palate, with top-notch purity, sweet tannin and no shortage of length. It’s going to be hard to resist on release, yet I suspect it will have 10-12 years of life.”

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

Emmanuel Darnaud Saint Joseph La Dardouille, Rhone 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “A monster of a St Joseph, the 2015 Saint Joseph comes from the Dardouille lieu-dit (near Mauves) and was aged in demi-muids and second-fill barrels. It has a saturated purple/blue color as well as awesome notes of crème de cassis, freshly crushed rocks and cracked pepper. Rich, full-bodied, ultra-pure and with impeccably purity and balance, it’s another tour de force from this appellation.”

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Keller Riesling

Germany’s Montrachet

“If I had to choose one wine to show how great dry German Riesling can be I would choose a Keller Riesling. These wines are the German Montrachets.”  – Jancis Robinson

The wines of made by Klaus Peter Keller are no secret any more.  Based on domestic German demand, it’s safe to say that these are probably the greatest dry Rieslings made in Germany (and their off-dry bottlings are pretty great too).  The estate dates back to 1789 and has holdings in some of the best vineyards in the Rheinhessen including Hubacker, Absterde and Kirchspiel.

We’ve just received some of the 2016 Grosses Gewächs wines in and, as always, the wines are spectacular monuments of Riesling. (We also got a single extra six-pack of the 2015 Abst Erde, which for some reason our distributor had left over and we couldn’t say yes fast enough.).  The GG’s are what Keller is known for and the Hubacker and Kirchpiel are the two flagship sites.  The Hubacker being known for being slightly more broad shouldered and the Kirchspiel more laser-like.

We also want to point out that many of the “lower tier” wines that Klaus-Peter Keller makes are absolute steals and would be perfect for Thanksgiving, especially the basically, but not legally, dry Kirchspiel “RR” bottling from the volcanic soils in the GG vineyard.

Weingut Keller Westhofener Abts Erde Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 99 points “Now that you know that I am a Morstein man, I do not know how to tell you that the 2015 Abtserde GG may be even a hair better than the “perfect” Morstein this year. The intellectual contradictions presented by trying to attach numbers to the unquantifiable beauty of these wines is readily self-evident with this wine in the glass! The bouquet of the 2015 Abtserde is strikingly brilliant, offering up a blend of kaleidoscopic, chalky minerality, sweet grapefruit, tangy tangerine, gentle smokiness, lemongrass and a youthful topnote of citrus peel. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, pure and displays stunning mid-palate depth, with a seamless, electric girdle of acidity, stunning mineral definition on the backend and a very, very long, laserlike and vibrant finish. Another perfect wine that I will lie about and “only” give a ninety-nine. But, you get the idea.”
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2015 Westhofen Riesling Trocken GG Abts E (abbreviated as “Abts E” since Abtserde isn’t an official vineyard name) opens very clear, pure, delicate and fresh, but also concentrated (with grapefruit flavors!) and very mineral on the nose. This is a picture-book Riesling from (very active) limestone soils, where the terroir dominates the variety, at least on the nose. On the palate, this is a rich and powerful, silky textured, juicy and yet still concentrated and tightly woven wine. It has great intensity and minerality of stones, rocks and salt. It needs a lot of time to receive the finesse and purity of the mind-blowing Morstein, though.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Keller Dalsheimer Hubacker Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 10 bottles in stock now

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Partly pressed in a basket press (60%), the 2016 Kirchspiel Riesling GG opens with a clear, fresh, chalky and intensely fruity nose. This is a rich, juicy, concentrated and fresh dry Riesling from calcareous soils that reveals a lot of tension, salt and vitality. Fine tannins here. Great concentration, juiciness and lingering salinity, with great grip and tension. An impressive wine!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel RR Riesling, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “There was no 2014 RR bottling from Weingut Keller, but happily, the 2015 vintage allowed for this cuvée and what an amazingly fine wine it is! The bouquet is very pure, very precise and nascently complex, as it soars from the glass in a stunning blend of tart orange, very complex, crystalline minerality, blood orange, petrol, gentle notes of wild yeasts and a topnote of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is fullish, complex and electric in its vibrancy, with a superb core of fruit, great mineral lift on the backend and laser-like focus on the very, very long and utterly refined finish. The best RR vintage I have yet tasted from KP! 2016-2040.” (Mar/Apr 2016)

Weingut Keller ‘Von der Fels Riesling’ Trocken, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 18 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “Year in and year out, I am a huge fan of the von der Fels bottling and the 2014 vintage is another outstanding wine in the making. This is a touch fuller than the straight Riesling Trocken, coming in at twelve percent alcohol, and perhaps a bit more ageworthy as well. The excellent nose wafts from the glass in a mix of pink grapefruit, tangerine, petrol, a stunningly complex base of minerality, lemongrass and a topnote of orange peel. On the palate the wine is fullbodied, pure and very much defined by its complex soil tones, with a rock solid core, outstanding focus and grip and a very long, youthful and bouncy finish. This is still very early days for this outstanding wine, which is the same quality level of a lot of top estates Grosses Gewächs bottlings. 2019-2040.” JG
Wine Advocate 90 points “Keller’s 2014 Riesling Von Der Fels Trocken was born as a selection of younger vines, but these are more than 25 years old today. Sourced in the grands crus, this Riesling trocken shows a highly expressive shell limestone flavor with flinty/smoky aromas of crushed stones, and the typic lemon flavor of chalky soils along with white fruit flavors. Full-flavored, very delicate and finesse-full on the palate, this is an elegant, filigreed, lovely, pure and very frisky Riesling, with ripe fruit flavors and a stimulatingly salty finish. With just three grams of residual sugar, it’s the driest von der Fels so far.” WA

Weingut Keller Limestone Riesling Kabinett, Rheinhessen 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “The Limestone cuvée of Riesling is a special one, indeed, a gift from nature. Keller rarely makes an off-dry Riesling and can only do so when the conditions are perfect. When balanced by incredible, juicy fruit and just 9% alcohol, we have the makings for the perfect summer/Sunday brunch wine. Limestone has a deep, intense nose of lime zest, pink grapefruit and jasmine. It is wonderfully concentrated with peach and apple flavors, followed by a long, stony finish.”

Weingut Keller Riesling Trocken, Rheinhessen 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: “Klaus Peter Keller makes incredible dry Riesling up and down the range from this bottling all the way up.  Year in and out it’s one of the best values in white wine.”

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

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Hip Hip Huet!

New Offerings From the Storied Estate

Domaine Huet has been on a roll recently and we’re selling out of almost everything they’re making.  We got our hands on these three, very different, wines that are arriving in the next few weeks.  First off, the Petillant, a fizzy Vouvray that’s perfect for pairings that do well with bubbly but you want something with a bit less fizz.  We’ve also got the highly rated Le Haut Lieu Demi Sec in half bottles and the big guy: Cuvee Constance.

Constance is only produced in the very best years—we’re talking about 2-3 times per decade, usually.  Made from botrytized grapes, it’s a full-throttle dessert wine as good as they come.  This is “nectar of the gods” type stuff, on par with d’Yquem or anything out of Germany—it’s that good.  Unfortunately, like you might expect, we’re not getting very much of it.

Arriving Next Friday:

Domaine Huet Vouvray Petillant Brut, Loire 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: This is a fizzy (but not full on sparkling) wine and one of the best values in the world of bubbly.  Made from 100% Chenin Blanc, this is rich and bright at the same time, with lots of quince and brioche flavors.

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Haut Lieu’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 375ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This delivers a beautiful display of purity and grace, with creamed Jonagold apple, star fruit, white peach and chamomile notes flowing seamlessly, backed by wet stone and fresh verbena accents. Subtle but persistent energy ripples through the very long finish. Drink now through 2035.”

Arriving December 8th:    

Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Cuvee Constance’ Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: The last four releases of Constance (which is not released every vintage) have scored 98pts (2009), 99pts (2005), 98pts (2003) and 99pts (2002) from Wine Spectator, with similar scores from the other major publications.  We’re not great at predicting the future, but when Huet decides to produce and release a Cuvee Constance, we’re buying as much of it as we can afford.

Thanks for reading!

Goodfellow Scores Big; California Chardonnay (for Labor Day); The Wine Advocate Train Rolls Through France and Spain; Felsina’s 2013’s Arrive; More New Arrivals from Spain, Italy and France; Clos de Papes and La Solitude—First Offer

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Congratulations to Marcus Goodfellow

New Scores For Always Delicious Chardonnays

Marcus Goodfellow’s Matello and Goodfellow Family Cellars labels have been mainstays at the shop for some time now—wines that we carry regardless of vintage, scores or overall hype.  The wines are amongst the best in Oregon and consistently some of the most inspiring wines we taste.  It looks like we aren’t alone in our love—the new Wine Advocate reviews for our fair state lavish (deserved) praise on Marcus’ wines, particularly two Chardonnays which we wanted to feature today. If you want to jump straight to our webstore, feel free to click here and go straight to these wines.

Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $36 special
Goodfellow Family Cellars Richard’s Cuvee Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 375ML ($24.95) $19.50 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvee knocks it out of the park with a nose of ripe apricots, pink grapefruit and guava underscored by fresh ginger, baking bread, beeswax and yeast extract hints with a waft of jasmine. Medium-bodied, the palate is very elegant and refined, with incredible freshness and depth wrapped in a lovely satiny texture, finishing with long lasting mineral and spices layers. Wow!”-LPB

Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 ($179.95) $156 special (that’s only $26/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2014 Chardonnay Durant Vineyard delivers an intense minerally/struck match and crushed stones nose over a core of lemon pie, orange blossoms and grapefruit plus hints of toasted almonds and brioche. Medium-bodied, very fresh and very fine, the palate reveals a gorgeous creamy texture and wonderful flavor intensity, with the citrus, savory and mineral flavors lingering long and multi-layered in the mouth.” –LPB

Also, Arriving Tuesday:

The world premier of the 2015 version of Marcus’ epic-ly good entry level Pinot:

Goodfellow Family Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2015 750ML ($279.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 92+ points “Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2015 Pinot Noir is scented of roses, wild thyme and lavender with a core of Bing cherries and warm cranberries plus an earthy/forest floor waft. Light to medium-bodied, the palate provides a wonderful intensity of perfumed red berry flavors with silken tannins and a long earthy finish.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Vinopolis Will Be Closed for Labor Day

On Monday, September 4th
(We are otherwise open for our regularly scheduled hours, 10 AM – 6 PM daily)

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Budget California Chardonnay That Delivers

At the Best Prices in the Country

While low-oak, high acid Chardonnay might be the hot thing in the press and in the sommelier crowd, we look at our sales every month and see that old-school Cali Chard is still king.  For those of you in the silent majority, we’ve got some hot new deals on some classic Chardonnay for you.  These are comin in at the best prices in the country.

Just Arrived:

Freemark Abbey Chardonnay, Napa Valley2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Robert Parker 90 points “The 2015 Chardonnay is partially barrel-fermented and aged sur lie, but only about 15% new French oak is used. This wine is elegant, with good acidity and notes of baked apple pie intermixed with some white peach and pineapple in a crisp, medium to full-bodied style. Given its acid and concentration, this wine should age nicely for 7-8 years, possibly longer.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pine Ridge Vineyards Dijon Clones Chardonnay, Carneros 2014 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: This is the top of the line Chardonnay from Pine Ridge, a historic producer located in Stags Leap in Napa.  This Chardonnay comes from old vines in Carneros and is aged in a little over 33% new oak.  Rich, full and round, this is a Chard promises, and delivers, immense richness.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arriving Tuesday, September 5th:

Rodney Strong Chalk Hill Estate Chardonnay, Sonoma County 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 88 points “Intense and vibrant, with zesty, raw-edged green apple, pear and light citrus flavors, joined by cedary oak on the finish. Clean throughout. Drink now.”

Arriving Friday, September 8th:

Cambria Estate Winery Clone 4 Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 89 points “This shows good length and depth to the suave pear, apricot and ripe apple flavors that are accented by floral and spicy notes. The creamy finish offers toasty and buttery accents. Drink now through 2019.”

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

Orin Swift Mannequin, California 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 92 points “One of his most popular wines is the creatively packaged 2014 Chardonnay Mannequin. The label alone would draw plenty of interest. This wine, primarily Chardonnay with a few percent of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Muscat and Roussane, was aged sur lie for nine months in 40% French oak. It is no shy wine at 15.5% alcohol and there is plenty of it – 8,073 cases, which is good because it is a hot-selling wine to say the least. This wine offers notes of brioche, white peach, honeysuckle and citrus oil in a full-bodied intense style, but with terrific acidity and rather restrained oak. The wine is rich, ripe and impressive. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Summer Shipping Special:

Midwest, East, & South

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

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

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More New Wine Advocate Scores

For French Classics and Spanish Rebels

It’s always a blast reading through the new issue the Wine Advocate and see what was rewarded with high praise. We highlighted some wines from Oregon and Italy yesterday that were singled out and now we wanted to do the same with Beaujolais and Chablis in France and Bierzo in Spain.

France-Beaujolais:

Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Clepsydre, Beaujolais 2015 750ml ($31.95) $28 special
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie Clepsydre, Beaujolais 2015 1.5L ($79.95) $66 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2015 Fleurie Clepsydre comes from high density planting (9,000 vines per hectare) on granite soils cropped at 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the fruit here is 100% destemmed followed by ten months in oak casks. It has a meaty nose with garrigue scents infusing the dark berry fruit. The palate is well balanced with supple ripe tannin and crisp acidity, with a well defined, fresh finish that leaves a residue of white pepper on the aftertaste. There is an uncommon sense of mystery about this Fleurie…and I like that.”

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

Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2015 750ml ($29.95) $24 special
Anne-Sophie Dubois Fleurie l’Alchimiste, Beaujolais 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Fleurie l’Alchimiste was 50% destemmed and after a three-week maceration spent ten months in oak and cement casks. It has a relatively opulent bouquet, but that is matched by its purity and delineation, luscious blueberry and blackcurrants ahoy. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, ripe and quite rounded black fruit dominating towards the caressing, lightly spiced finish. This is delicious.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2015 750ml ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Cote de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie offers strawberry shortcake, almond and rose petal scents on the nose—not unlike walking into a provincial French patisserie. It has certainly become more generous in the last 12 months. The palate is well balanced with succulent ripe red cherry and blackberry notes, well-judged acidity and a juicy, opulent finish in which Bouland manages to retain control and focus. This has great potential and represents a finely-tuned, precise Côte de Brouilly.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

France-Chablis:

Rene et Vincent Dauvissat-Camus La Forest Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ml ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Chablis 1er Cru la Forest has a seductive bouquet of toffee apple, quince, flint and touches of apricot blossom developing over time all with superb delineation. The palate is very well balanced with outstanding energy and tension, perhaps waxy in texture and with a slow burning build that leads to a vibrant quince, marmalade and white pepper finish that seems to lacquer the mouth. What a great Forêts, even if the 2016 is showing even greater potential.”

Spain-Bierzo:

La Vizcaina ‘El Rapolao’ Lomas de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($37.95) $29.80 special
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 La Vizcaína El Rapolao had a Cabernet Franc-like character that I also found in the 2013, both cold years in the zone. It fermented in a combination of oak and chestnut vats. There are also notes of wild berries and flowers. The palate is serious, with fine-grained tannins and good length. 2014 was not an easy harvest, but somehow his vineyards delivered very balanced grapes and higher yields. Some 3,400 bottles were filled in August 2016. This is the first of the reds to be bottled.”LG

Raul Perez Ultreia Mencia, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24.80 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The red 2014 Ultreia is Mencía from various vineyards in the environment of Ponferrada, where the soils are rich in slate, complemented by some 20% of grapes from the zone of Valtuille. It follows the same modus operandi as all the reds: fermentation with full clusters and indigenous yeasts and aging in used, well-seasoned, neutral barrels for one year. There is a mix of floral, spicy and balsamic aromas, subtle with an earthy background. The palate revealed some earthy tannins and fine, focused and subtle flavors.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2015 750ML ($21.95) $17.80 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Ultreia St Jacques is the entry-level red for the Ultreia range and is amazingly good for the price. Produced from old vines, this is a serious wine, with juicy fruit, a fine palate and good freshness for the conditions of the year. They have included new vineyards that they have been working for the last four or five years, so they are able to bottle a little bit more wine. This is a great value.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

And Arriving September 8th:

Raul Perez Ultreia de Valtuille, Bierzo 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2014 Ultreia de Valtuille was very open and expressive, impressive too, with notes of freshness, blood orange, red cherries and also flowers (violets, lilies) and an earthy touch. It’s elegant and complex, with very fine tannins and a velvety sensation. As with all the reds, the oak is unnoticeable, perfectly integrated and folded into the wine.”

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Just Arrived – In Stock Now

Felsina’s Amazing 2013’s

The Best Value in Tuscan Wine

“May I make a suggestion? Readers would do well to buy a case of [Felsina] Rancia upon release every year and put it away. Few wines deliver so much pleasure and pedigree at maturity for what remains a very fair price.” –Antonio Galloni

We know that Tuscan wine is crazy-popular, both from the requests we get and the sales we see here at the shop.  While Brunello is still the undisputed star of the show, we think more people should be buying higher-end Chianti. Unlike Brunello, there seems to be a bit of an artificial price ceiling for Chianti and so the wines, no matter their absolute quality, cost less than comparable examples from the other famous neighborhood in Tuscany.

Felsina’s Rancia Riserva is a prime example.  It costs half of what a comparable Brunello would and ages for at least as long.  The wines are powerful, elegant and nuanced and wonderful at the table and we have some of the sharpest pricing in the country on the 2011 and 2012—two vintages that display all of the qualities we love in different ways.  The 2012 being lighter and more nuanced and the 2011 with a bit more power and fruit.  You’re going to want some cases.

The Fontalloro is the flagship wine for Felsina.  Made from 100% Sangiovese (like a Brunello, yes), it’s generally considered to be the best wine that they make in any given vintage.  We’ve been lucky enough to acquire several vintages so that you can have your pick (or perhaps drink a small vertical every year for a while).

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Fèlsina’s 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia bristles with energy, with veins of underlying acidity that give the wine its focus and drive. Dark red cherry, plum, rose petal, herb and licorice are some of the signatures. Most of the Fèlsina Chianti Classicos are defined by their dark fruit and savory notes, but the Rancia is also wonderfully bright and lifted from start to finish while staying very much true to the house style. Today, the Rancia gives the impression it will unwind at a glacial pace. I imagine most bottles of the 2013 will be drunk before the wine truly enters its prime.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Here is another highlight of the vintage. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a dark, moody and sophisticated wine. It does not reveal itself immediately or in any obvious way. Instead, it doses out its intensity in careful measurements. The whole performance is seductive to say the least. That slow momentum leads to dark cherry with spice, grilled herb, wet earth and dried rose. Felsina’s Riserva Rancia is a very elegant wine, both on the nose and in the mouth.”

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Gorgeous and soft, the 2013 Fontalloro is another landmark wine from this classic vintage. There is enormous intensity here and the wine is only at the beginning of its long aging trajectory. I suggest you put off drinking it for five to ten more years. There is evident thickness and generosity here, especially in the way those bold fruit flavors are woven between dark spice and leather. There are sour accents on the close that remind you of the wine’s youth. The tannins are fine and well integrated.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of plums, clay tiles and sage follow through to a full to medium body, silky tannins and a linear and racy finish. Love the underlying freshness and brightness to this. Excellent. A little tannic now, so better in 2018”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Fontalloro shows the richer, creamier style of the vintage while maintaining plenty of Fèlsina character. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark stone fruits as the 2013 shows off its personality. Fontalloro naturally doesn’t have the pure energy of Rancia, but it will drink well with just a few more years in bottle. Fontalloro is the most overt and ripe of the Fèlsina wines with the exception of the Colonia. A hint of French oak shapes the supple, inviting finish.”

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

Also In-Stock Now:

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 1 case in stock now (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG

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

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese) is a stunning expression and delivers the high quality we have come to expect of this celebrated IGT Toscana wine in a less important vintage. Careful work has been done here to ensure the high quality of fruit. The Fontalloro vineyard is located on the border of the Chianti Classico and the Chianti Colli Senesi appellations. Many have called upon Fèlsina to change the wine’s status to Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, but technically it can’t be because of much of the vineyard is located outside the denomination limits. The bouquet is soft and rich with dark fruit and spice. In the mouth, Fontalloro reveals integrated tannins and acidity.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Dark red cherry, plum, cinnamon and crushed rock nuances flesh out in the 2012 Fontalloro. Next to most of the other wines in the lineup, the 2012 Fontalloro is floral, perfumed, fresh and vibrant, with gorgeous aromatic lift, silky tannins and lovely overall balance. Fontalloro often opens up before Rancia, as is the case today, but the 2012 also possesses more than enough depth to drink well for a number of years. Still, the sexy, radiant finish makes me think most bottles won’t be around to make old bones. Put simply, the 2012 Fontalloro is an arrestingly beautiful, showy wine built to please. And please it does.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $53

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 9 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95) $469 special, 1 case available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML

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

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A ripe, powerful wine, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia offers a level of finesse that balances some of the more overt intensity of the year. Dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice add shades of nuance as this beautifully delineated Rancia opens up in the glass. Because of its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2012 will give up its charms relatively early by Rancia standards, which means around age 15-20. The 2012 is not an obvious or explosive Rancia, rather is a wine built on compelling overall harmony.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46

Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95+ points “When you hear the story of the effort that went into making the Colonia vineyard, you have to wonder if the fine folks at Fèlsina are absolutely mad. It took them two years of dynamite blasting to clear the imposing rock that had forced previous generations of the Poggiali family to virtually abandon this site. But an ambitious Giovanni Poggiali takes credit for making this spectacular vineyard what it is today. The wine produced here is quickly becoming the second flagship product after Fontalloro. The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia is a wine of enormous beauty and depth. This is Sangiovese at its highest expression and any doubt I had about the previous vintage (which was the first time this wine appeared as a Gran Selezione) have been washed away by this current release. What really stands out are the wine’s precise mineral and graphite aromas that lend an incredible sense of focus and balance. The oak element is also beautifully integrated.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

And don’t forget to visit our web store to see all 114 different Tuscan wines we have in stock right now!

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In Stock Now:

Other New Arrivals From Italy, Spain and France

Friday is a day of new arrivals here at Vinopolis and there are always more exciting things coming than we can feature at once, but here are a few highlights from around the globe

Italy:
La Valentina Spelt Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 94 points “Inky-purple. Very deep smoky nose hints at blackberry, blueberry, flint and violet. Then refined and juicy, with smooth deep flavors of mineral-accented blueberry and aromatic herbs. Long, multilayered and extremely elegant finish boasts real depth and complexity. This is a knockout, really grand, Montepulciano wine. Very, very well done.”

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

Spain:
Gramona III Lustros Gran Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2007 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 93 points”The 2007 Gran Reserva Brut Nature III Lustros is a sparkling wine with a long history, aged for seven years in contact with the lees and kept without adding any liqueur d’expédition (Brut Nature). They like a blend of 75% Xarello and 25% Macabeo, which is a constant across the range, but the long aging provides for the telltale Penedès balsamic aromas of camphor, bay leaf and fennel, with a touch of petrol. The palate shows a compact wine, with very good integration of all the components, bright acidity and fine bubbles that provide a silky texture. It feels younger than it is, a good compromise between youth and development.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Celler del Roure ‘Vermell’, Valencia 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “A new red wine, the 2012 Vermell is a blend of 40% Monastrell, 40% Garnacha Tintorera and 20% Mandó from lyre-pruned vines on sandy soils at 550 meters altitude. It was fermented in stainless-steel vats with indigenous yeasts and matured for four months in buried 2,600-liter terra-cotta amphorae. The nose is sharp, pure and elegant with great freshness, aromas of red berries, licorice, aromatic herbs and some of the telltale Monastrell notes of esparto grass. The palate is medium-bodied, precise and focused, though not terribly complex. It is really tasty with a lacy texture making it very easy to drink.”

France:
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Volnay Les Fremiets shows the wilder side of Volnay in its distinct notes of game, cured meats and dark red fruit. It, too, comes across as young and full of life. This is far from an easygoing 2009 on many counts.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-12 Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($319.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Alluring, with quince, creamed pear, verbena and green almond flavors allied to a creamy texture, all offset beautifully through the finish by light quinine and mineral hints. Approachable, but this seems built for the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.”

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

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First Offering: Clos de Papes and La Solitude

Chateauneuf in Red and White

We’ve got two awesome white Chateauneuf and one library red arriving in December and wanted to give you first shot at snagging these before they arrive.  Wines not to miss, for sure!

Arriving in December

Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($139.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 98 points “This has a drop-dead gorgeous core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that holds center stage but still allows notes of Lapsang souchong tea, anise, incense and shiso leaf to chime in. Very long, with a sublime feel through the mineral-tinged finish. So seductive already, but this will cruise in the cellar. Drink now through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is reminiscent of a slightly improved 2005 and has a fresh, classic style with beautiful concentration, notable freshness, first-rate tannin quality, and the classic spice and sweet red and black fruits this cuvee is known for. I suspect this beauty will close down relatively quickly after bottling and take 5-6 years to show at its best, but it will drink well for 15+ years.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “(raised in foudres) Deep ruby. Hugely aromatic red and dark berry, potpourri and floral scents are underscored by smoky minerality and an exotic suggestion of Asian spices. Sappy, focused and impressively deep yet lively, offering alluringly sweet raspberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Puts on weight and spreads out steadily with air, acquiring a succulent herb note that carries through the strikingly long, mineral-laced, gently tannic finish. This beauty is shaping up to be among the standouts of this extremely successful vintage.”

Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A lovely acacia note leads the way here, with additional accents of honeysuckle, Key lime, white peach and mirabelle plum following quickly. The very bright, racy, mineral-fueled finish sets this apart from the pack, with a long honeysuckle echo. Should age well. Drink now through 2027.”

Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Barberini, Rhone 2001 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The outstanding 2001 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Barberini (a blend of 40% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 20% Mourvedre aged 24 months in 40% small barrels and 60% neutral wood foudres) boasts an inky/ruby/purple color in addition to a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, melted licorice, graphite, smoke, and truffles. Full-bodied, lush, and expansively flavored, with tremendous purity as well as density, this brilliant 2001 is already starting to strut its stuff.”

Domaine de la Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Blanc, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is dreamy, with creamed melon, pear and green fig flavors gliding along, framed by light brioche and meringue flavors. The long finish just lets the fruit hang beautifully. Offers refined opulence. Drink now through 2022.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Arriving in April 2018

2013 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus

“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree. The growing season was much more stable than 2012, but it is the last month of the year, a perfect September with warm days and cool nights, that yielded Barbarescos endowed with regal intensity. The 2013s remind me of the 2010s, but with more inner sweetness and mid-palate richness.” –Antonio Galloni

Thanks for reading!

New Arrivals; DuMol Special Sale; Tempier Lands; Languedoc—France’s Vanguard; 2015 FX Pichler; Barolo by Cameron; Game of Rhones; Fall Arrivals from Bordeaux and Elsewhere

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Summer Shipping Special:

Midwest, East, & South

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

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

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New Weekend – New Arrivals

Domaine Bechtold Cremant d’Alsace Brut 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Neal Rosenthal “The soul of raciness and finesse, this wine is equal parts Chardonnay and Auxerrois from the 2013 vintage, bottled with no dosage, and disgorged in May of 2015. Electric and citrusy, with the earthy depth of the Auxerrois grape coming through on the palate, and firm limestone-y minerality on the finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Chateau Simone Palette Blanc, Provence 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Neal Rosenthal “The white from Simone is a truly unique creation based primarily on Clairette that is supplemented with Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Ugni Blanc and a touch of Muscat Blanc. The white, brisk in its youth, animated by a bouquet of pine-resin, evolves slowly into a sensual masterpiece with its lingering finish built on a mass of minerality. This is a remarkably age-worthy wine with the potential to give ever-more pleasure over a span two decades or more.”

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

Cappellano Barolo Chinato, Piedmont NV 500ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Cappellano’s Barolo Chinato, which is more on the savory side of things, is a personal favorite.”
Neal Rosenthal “Giovanni [grandfather to the current owner]’s brother, Giuseppe, was a pharmacist who created the family formula for their famous (then and again now) Barolo Chinato, the Barolo infused with a variety of “medicines”.  The Barolo Chinato is produced by following the family recipe handed down generation to generation.  The “medicinal” herbs and spices are ground using a stone mortar and pestle.  Both the recipe and the process are family secrets.”

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Featured Weekend Sale:

DuMol Chardonnay

at the Lowest Price in the Country

DuMOL Chardonnay, Russian River Valley 2014 750ML ($61.95) Was $53.90, Now $48! Only 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “DuMol’s 2014 Chardonnay (Russian River Valley) is a gorgeous appellation-level wine. Apricot, chamomile, white flowers, honey and orange peel flesh out in the glass. Creamy, open-knit and expressive, the 2014 is an absolute winner, especially at this level. Attractive saline notes underpin the finish.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Chardonnay Russian River has a classic baked apricots and apple pie-laced nose with nuances of roasted nuts and buttered toast. Medium to full-bodied and richly fruited, it has a seductive touch of oiliness to the texture and great vitality, finishing a little spicy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Tempier is in the House!

There’s not a whole lot to say other than Domaine Tempier Rosé has arrived. Many consider it to be the greatest rosé in the world and based on the way it sells, this isn’t a minority opinion.  Although stocks are running low after our pre-arrival offering, we managed to wrangle some extra wine out of our distributor (including one more 3L!) and so we still have a little to offer.  Fire away.

Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 750ML ($49.95) $44 special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 375ML ($29.95) $24 special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rose, Provence 2016 3L ($319.95) $289 special

Click here to head to the website to purchase or just give us a call to place an order.

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France’s New California:

The Vanguard of the Languedoc-Roussilon

On a superficial level, the comparisons between the Languedoc and California are easy: warm, temperate weather, olive trees and big rich wines.  Both areas are also the source of most of the bulk wine produced in their respective nations as a result of this extreme fertility.  But look a little closer and another, more interesting, comparison jumps out.

Both California and the Languedoc-Roussillon have a lot of old vines that are inexpensive to acquire.  This is a really great combination if you’re a young winemaker with something to prove, as it allows you to access old vine material at costs that don’t require you to be descended from royalty to acquire it.

Just as with California, we’re seeing a range of styles emerge in this ‘new’ Languedoc from rich and powerful (Domaine de l’Edre, like Bedrock in Cali) to lighter and more elegant (Le Loup Blanc like, well, lots of new-Cali producers).  We’ve highlighted a few here that we think are worth seeking out and trying and we hope you’ll share in our enthusiasm!

In Stock Now from the Languedoc-Roussilon

Mas Cal Demoura Terrasses du Larzac L’Infidele, Languedoc-Roussillon 2010 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate: “Meaning “One must remain” in Occitan, Mas Cal Demoura was created by Jean-Pierre Jullien in 1970. At the time, there was a mass exodus of vignerons away from their own estates, and the region in general, due to an inability to make a living producing wine. Jean-Pierre followed this trend, but in 1985, his son Olivier set off on his own, creating the now benchmark estate Mas Jullien (which is also reviewed in this report). Following his son’s example, Jean-Pierre left the coop in 1993, sold a number of his vineyards, but kept the best 5 hectares for his own estate. Jean-Pierre retired in 2004, selling the estate (after working with them for a year during the transition) to the current owners, Isabelle and Vincent Goumard, who both studied winemaking in Dijon. The estate now covers roughly 11 hectares located outside the village of Jonquieres, in the heart of the Terrasses du Larzac region. The wines are all noteworthy, with medium to full-bodied richness that’s always balanced by classy, elegant overall profiles that remain a joy to drink. They’re all highly recommended.” JD
Importer Notes: “The historic cuvée of Jean-Pierre Jullien, L’Infidèle is a blend of all the regional grapes – Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, Cinsault and Carignan. The Goumards make choices in the vineyard and in the cellar that will emphasize finesse and freshness in this bottling, allowing for full expression of the fruit. The grapes are partially destemmed. Temperature is rigorously controlled. The cuvaison can extend for as long as six weeks with frequent remontage. Aging takes place mostly in older demi-muids and each grape variety undergoes the primary stages of the elevage separately.  Based upon a series of ongoing tastings, the Goumards determine the final blend and then the five varieties are assembled in cuve and aged for an additional six to eight months prior to bottling. The wine is bottled without filtration.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Maxime Magnon Corbieres Campagnes, Languedoc-Roussillon 2014 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Leading off the reds, the 2014 Corbieres Campagnes is terrific, and the greatest wine I’ve tasted from the estate in some time. It’s inky purple color is followed by textbook Carignan (it’s 100% Carignan) notes of black and blue fruits, liquid violets, plums, iodine and freshly crushed rock. This medium to full-bodied, elegant, seamless effort shows the potential of the variety and will benefit from 1-2 years of bottle age and keep through 2024.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Vignobles Prissette Villa Symposia Coteaux du Languedoc l’Origine 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The terrific 2013 Pézenas l’Origine shows the hallmark spice-laced perfume of this appellation. Lots of red fruits, crushed flowers, spice and violet nuances give way to a medium-bodied, elegant and sweetly fruited 2013 that has fine tannin and a seamless, sexy texture. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 5-6 years.”

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Vignoble du Loup Blanc Minervois ‘Le Regal du Loup’, Languedoc-Roussillon 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 13 bottles available
VinopolNote: Grenache 50%, Carignan 40%, Syrah 10%. Soil: Clay and limestone. Age of vines: 25 to 50 years. Ageing: 12 months in concrete tank

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Domaine le Clos du Serres l’Humeur Vagabonde, IGP Pays de l’Herault 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Coteaux du Languedoc Terrasses du Larzac l’Humeur Vagabonde highlights the old-vines Carignan of the estate. Comprised of 50% Carignan (100-year-old vines) and 25% each of Grenache and Syrah, it gives up a brilliant array of blackcurrants, licorice, old leather, damp earth and liquefied herbs to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless profile on the palate. Gaining additional structure with time in the glass, this beauty has solid mid-palate depth, ample underlying structure and a big finish. Give it another year and enjoy bottles through 2021. ” WA

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Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Domaine de L’Edre Cotes du Roussillon Villages 2013 750ML ($299.95) $239 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “One of the wines of the vintage is the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Villages Domaine de l’Edre. While this cuvee had a rustic edge in the past, today it’s incredibly polished and pure, with brilliant aromatics of cassis, black raspberries, licorice, crushed flowers and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied, ripe, yet elegant and balanced, it’s a classic Roussillon that can be enjoyed today or cellared for a decade.”

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Don’t forget you can see all 26 wines in stock from the Languedoc-Roussillon on our website, www.vinopoliswineshop.com

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2015 FX Pichler

Arriving Next Week

Sommelier and Riesling Legend Paul Greico once said, “If F.X. was a guitarist, Jimmy Page would stand aside” and no truer hyperbole has ever been uttered in the world of wine.  F.X. Pichler stands as one of the two or three most important Austrian producers and hands down the winery crafting the most powerful, complex and bombastic dry Riesling and Gruner Veltliner on the planet.

The wines of F.X. Pichler are unique, in that no one else seems to wrangle both power and complexity into a single package quite like this wizard of the Wachau.  With a combination of intensive viticulture, native fermentations and great terroir, the wines are unlike anything else in the world.  Broad and powerful, with a cut and minerality that are unique to the vineyards in the Wachau.

The 2015 vintage, which we’re offering today, is something special as well.  As Willi Brundlmayer (in the Kamptal) put it, “Conditions were perfect in 2015: everything happened at the right time, leaving no wishes unfulfilled.” Growers could make wines as stylistic epitome of their choosing, which means that if you’re an FX Pichler fan, these might be (and forgive the phrase) the most FX Pichler wines ever.  They arrive in next week and we have the best prices on the west coast, so if you know what you’re looking for, feel free to click here to go straight to the wines on our website.

The Gruners:

F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 375ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special – this is the only listing in the USA today!
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”

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F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Berg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-93 points “From probably the warmest vineyard of the Wachau, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg is a full-bodied, rich and intense, very juicy, but also piquant and mineral Veltliner with tobacco flavors on the nose. Dense and with an old-vines intensity, this Loibenberg offers ripe yellow stone fruits with a tropical touch, but is also very well structred and finishes with a long and salty aftertaste. An impressive wine.”

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F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
F.X. Pichler M Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 1.5L ($189.95) $169 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-95 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd M is a selection of the ripest (overripe) grapes from the Loibenberg, Kellerberg and Liebenberg. Harvested in the last week of November and macerated for 20 to 24 hours, this is a rich and creamy textured yet elegant and vibrantly fresh Veltliner monument with finesse and purity and a long and tension-filled finish. Great salinity and concentration. An elegant and expressive wine for XXL drinkers.”

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F.X. Pichler Urgestein Terrassen Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “This blend from numerous sites (not rendered in vintage 2014 due to paucity of fruit) brims with luscious, juicy white peach and grapefruit, and its combination of citricity, green herbal pungency and stony underpinnings puts me as much in mind of Riesling as of Grüner Veltliner. Silken and enveloping on the palate, it retains its sense of energy and brightness through an invigoratingly peach-kernel-inflected, tinglingly stone-infused and mouthwateringly salt-tinged finish. Despite harboring 13.5 percent alcohol, the wine also conveys a subtle and attractive sense of lift.”

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The Rieslings:

F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($119.95) $85 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95-96 points “A pungently smoky, incisive, savory mélange of sage, dark tobacco and black pepper is allied to ripe peach and garlanded with heliotrope in a head-turningly intense nose. That full range of elements reprises on a polished palate, whose textural caress and sweet sense of ripeness are combined with welcome, tangy, chewy counterpoint of peach skin and a refreshingly juicy squirt of fresh lime. The finish offers a mouthwateringly prolonged, kaleidoscopic interaction of fruity, savory and smoky elements – plenty rich, yet with rare cut and animation for its vintage.”

F.X. Pichler Loibner Berg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
F.X. Pichler Loibner Berg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 375ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”

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F.X. Pichler M Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 91-92 points “Reliance on late-harvested Loibenberg fruit resulted in a bottling that finished with too much residual sugar to qualify as Smaragd. (More thoroughly shriveled Loibenberg fruit resulted in a B.A. and T.B.A.) Lusciously ripe peach is tinged with banana and mingled with almond extract and liquid heliotrope perfume. Fortunately, a measure of grapefruit is not only pungently fragrant but also brightly juicy and piquantly zesty, helping – along with piquancy of peach kernel – to offset this bottling’s enveloping richness and sheer surfeit of ripe, sugar-reinforced fruit. The impressively sustained finish is, however, not at all overtly sweet.”

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Oberhauser Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 92 points “A site-typical meld of apricot and lime is garlanded with iris on the nose and reprises with wonderful purity and vivid freshness on a silken-textured, expansive palate. Piquant apricot kernel and a lick of wet stone lend counterpoint on a lusciously lingering finish that irresistibly calls forth the next sip.”

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F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93-94 points “White peach and grapefruit aromas mingle with honeysuckle on an enticing nose, and the three reunite on a glossy palate lusciously ripe and loaded with liquid floral perfume but simultaneously exuberantly and invigoratingly bright. The finish offers prolonged counterpoint of fruity, floral and stony elements. This bottling displays a combination of penetration, refinement and balancing acidity that is rare for an Austrian Riesling of its vintage.”

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John Paul’s Friend in Barolo

A little over a decade ago, John Paul decided to host a young Italian man named Lapo Berti as harvest help at Cameron winery.  He worked harvest and became friends with John Paul and left to seek his fortune in the wine world.  The two never lost contact, even as Lapo made his way to Australia and France and then finally back to the Piedmont.  We’re offering both the first Barolo that Lapo Berti made commercially as well as the first “John Paul Selection.” The wine is a classic La Morra Barolo—soft and delicate with a deep resonance that stirs your soul.  It’s a Barolo that you certainly could drink young, but it should age for quite some time if you have the willpower.  Lapo only made a few hundred cases, so quantities are limited, but we secured as large an allocation as we could.  How long it lasts, though, is another matter.

Lapo Berti Barolo DOCG La Morra 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 30 bottles available
VinopolNote: “The first ever ‘John Paul Selection’ from the legendary winemaker at Cameron.  This comes from an old friend of his from prime La Morra fruit.  The wine is soft and supple for Barolo, true to the La Morra style, but has depth and complexity.  We’re excited to see how it ages but suspect it will go the distance if you can keep your hands off of it. This is an early drinking delight!”

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There are a few other Barolos we like for drinking now, so here are some highlights:

Marcarini Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “Marcarini’s 2011 Barolo Brunate comes across as a bit light in this vintage. Site specific nuance is pushed to the background in this decidedly mid-weight Barolo. Dark red cherry, tobacco, mint and crushed flowers flesh out in a relatively pliant, open Brunate that uncharacteristically appears to be built for near and medium-term drinking.”

Marcarini La Serra, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 26 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2011 Barolo La Serra is classy and polished to the core. Sweet floral notes meld into kirsch, red cherry and raspberry. This is one of the more floral, lifted Barolos of the vintage, while the structure tends towards the lighter end of the spectrum. Crushed flowers, mint and spices are all laced into the super-expressive finish framed by classically austere La Serra tannins.”

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Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 18 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2003 Barolo Cascina Francia is soft, silky and very nicely balanced, especially in its tannins, where the wine really stands out next to so many peers. Readers should open the 2003 at least an hour in advance to allow the aromatics to open up. This is a very sexy and open young Barolo from Conterno with very little signs of the challenging growing season.”

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Bruna Grimaldi Badarina Vigna Regnola, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $38 special, 33 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “this 1.5-hectare plot, planted on shallow white soil at a high altitude of 420 meters in Serralunga, is the estate’s “original” vineyard, where Bruna Grimaldi’s grandfather was born; the only Barolo for which Grimaldi uses cappello sommerso for extraction): Medium-deep red. Complex aromas of raspberry, truffle, smoke and underbrush. Large-scaled, concentrated and rich, offering powerful, lightly medicinal flavors of raspberry and strawberry complicated by licorice and menthol. This very young wine finishes dry and broad, with serious granular tannins calling for extended aging. The Badarina spends a full 36 months in oak and is released a year later than the other Barolos of its vintage. (Grimaldi kept a bit of this fruit in both 2010 and 2009 to make a reserve bottling, but the 2009 will not be released until 2015.)” ST

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Massolino Parussi, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “With fruit from Castiglione Falletto, the 2011 Barolo Parussi is an epic wine with thick layers of dark fruit, spice and pressed rose. This expression is absolutely irresistible in terms of its generosity, overall intensity and silky smoothness. It presents a more immediate style with soft lines and a generous, fruity texture. Massolino has produced an impressive line of new releases. ”

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Game of Rhones

The southern Rhone provides some of the landmark wines of France in Gigondas and Chateauneuf du Pape, but also provides inspiration for great wines from all over the world, especially in California.  All of these wines are powerful and rich, that’s the nature of most Grenache/Syrah blends, of course, but the best manage to have a vibrancy and energy to them that is unique.  We wanted to highlight a few of our favorites that are in stock right now.  These would be perfect for drinking in the backyard with some grilled meats or aging for a special occasion.

Saxum Vineyards James Berry Vineyard, Paso Robles 2012 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97+ points “There are 1,580 cases of the 2012 James Berry Vineyard and it reminds me of the 2009 Janasse Chaupin (which is one of Justin’s favorite wines). Incorporating more Mourvedre than normal, it’s made from 43% Grenache, 29% Mourvedre, 18% Syrah and 10% Counoise that’s aged in a combination of concrete and barrel. Rock star stuff, with fabulous black raspberry, cassis, spring flowers and charred meat aromas and flavors, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness and depth, yet stays lively, incredibly pure and elegant, with lots of fine tannin emerging on the finish. It will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and have 15-20 years of ultimate longevity.”

Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2013 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable, Rhone 2013 750ML ($539.95) $359 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Dark ruby. Candied red berries, cherry compote and potpourri on the highly pungent nose; a mineral element adds vivacity. Energetic black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors show excellent clarity and a hint of licorice pastille that builds as the wine opens up. The energetic finish repeats the floral and mineral notes, while supple tannins lend shape and grip.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Offers a taut, slightly sinewy feel, with cedar-laced grip cutting through the core of dried cherry, red currant and raspberry flavors. Displays a lightly chalky spine on the finish, with an ample tobacco note.”

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Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Girard, Rhone 2014 750ML ($44.95) $28 special, 14+ bottles available
Case-12 Domaine Raymond Usseglio & Fils Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Girard, Rhone 2014 750ML ($479.95) $299 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 87-90 points “Similar to the classic cuvee, the 2014 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Girard is a custom blend for importer Peter Weygandt. Showing a touch darker fruit and possibly more concentration, it has building tannin and a solid finish. It has outstanding potential.”

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Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X, Rhone 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine of the estate, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme is a hidden gem in the vintage! A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, from 90-year-old vines and aged in one-third new barrels (although you wouldn’t know it), it possesses fabulous notes of blackberry and currant fruit, big minerality, roasted meats and leather. Full-bodied, with beautiful freshness, big tannin and a layered, thrillingly concentrated mid-palate, it will be better in another year or two, and have over 15 years of longevity. Drink 2015-2026.”

Xavier Rasteau, Rhone 750ML ($34.95) $28.80 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “One of my favorite wines from this estate, the 2012 Rasteau offers tons of ripe dark fruit, crushed rock, licorice and minerality in its full-bodied, concentrated profile. Made from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, it’s a classic Rasteau to drink over the coming 7-8 years.”

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We offer 72 different red wines to choose from in-stock now from the Southern Rhone – check out the full list on our web store!

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Arriving This Fall!

2015 Clementin de Pape Clement

2015 in Bordeaux is being recorded as one that hits the rare sweet spot for those who love to drink these wines. Landing, stylistically, somewhere between 2009 and 2010 where there is a lot of fruit present, but not as hedonistic as 2009, and well balanced with tannic structure and fine acidity, but not nearly as austere as 2010. Decanter described this vintage as a medium term drinker that will offer wine lovers a chance to explore this often overlooked region of Bordeaux.

Pape Clement shares some nice real estate, its closest neighbor being Haut-Brion, but until the winery’s management was taken over by Bernard Magrez the wines were difficult to find and the results were not always up to expectations. The thorough exploration revealed only the most basic updates to the winery’s techniques were needed to improve consistency and the results have been spectacular.

The 2015 Clementin de Pape Clement, the second wine of the estate, mirrors the plantings in the vineyard: 56/40 Cabernet Sauvignon to Merlot, with a dash of Petit Verdot. Aromas that build upon ripe, abundant cherry fruit, followed by an Asian spice box and a tight whiff of  smoke. Tannins are present but rounded and certain to be an integral part of this wine in the near future. A modest amount of cellar time is in store for these wines, yet it isn’t one to shy away from. Accessing the Clementin in its youth will not disappoint, but will certainly make you wonder what the next bottle will be like.

Le Clementin du Chateau Pape Clement, Pessac-Leognan 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 92-93 points “A firm and silky second wine with blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors…Full body, bright and fresh. Fine tannins.”

More Great Wines Arriving This Fall

E. Guigal Condrieu La Doriane, Rhone 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “Easily one of the greatest Condrieu I’ve ever tasted is the 2015 Condrieu La Doriane. A wine that needs to be tasted to be believed, it possesses a huge nose of toasted brioche, liquid rocks, apricot, flower oil and salty minerality. Unctuous, full-bodied, massively rich, yet also elegant and graceful, with beautiful freshness, enjoy this tour de force over the coming 5-6 years.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lush, with papaya, mango and ginger notes layered seamlessly, while hints of heather honey, anise and piecrust hang in the background. The long and rich finish has no choice but to let the fruit power on. All hedonism and thoroughly delicious. Drink now through 2022.”

Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhone 2015 750ML ($319.95) $236 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-100 points “A wine that might surpass the 2009 and 2010 is the 2015 Hermitage La Chapelle, which has more than a passing resemblance to the 1990. This inky black/blue-colored Hermitage offers an off-the-charts array of blackberries, blueberries, crushed rocks, wood smoke and charred meats. Thick, unctuous, full-bodied and incredibly layered, with sweet tannin, it’s a tour de force that’s going to have three to four decades of longevity.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 96-98 points “(20% new oak): Dark purple. Explosive, mineral-accented scents of ripe dark berries, licorice, incense, vanilla and exotic spices, with a smoky nuance in the background. Deeply concentrated yet strikingly lively and precise on the palate, offering intense, finely detailed black and blue fruit, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that are complemented by hints of olive, allspice and star anise. Offers an uncanny blend of richness and finesse, with no rough edges. Shows remarkable energy and thrust on the endless finish which features supple tannins that add shape and gentle grip. This is one of the finest examples of young La Chapelle that I have ever tasted from barrel, and that includes the legendary 1989, 1990 and 1991 trio. If you love northern Rhône wines this one really shouldn’t be missed.”

Chateau de L’Ou ‘Secret de Schistes ‘ Rouge, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau de L’Ou ‘Secret de Schistes ‘ Rouge, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2015 750ML ($549.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 96 points “Saturated black in color, the 2015 IGP Côtes Catalanes Secret de Schistes is reminiscent of Manfred Krankl’s SQN Syrahs with its deep, unctuous, layered profile. Cassis, chocolate, licorice, smoked herbs and ample minerality all emerge from this full-bodied, sexy beauty that just begs to be drunk. Possessing ripe tannin, a stacked mid-palate and a great finish, it will be better in a year or two and keep for a decade.”

E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, meld into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis’ 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!”

G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2013 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a real head-turner. Sweet, perfumed, vivid and exceptionally beautiful, the 2013 is simply stunning. A wine of exceptional finesse and sensuality, the 2013 hits all the right notes. Today, the 2013 reminds me of the 2008, but with more depth, density and creaminess – especially through the middle – and slightly redder fruit tones.”

Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A red of great purity and polish, offering black cherry, blackberry, spice and herb flavors, this evokes tobacco, graphite and leather nuances as it builds nicely on the palate. Finishes with grip, harmony and complexity, as well as terrific length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.”

Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 97 points “Bright red-ruby. The captivating nose combines strawberry, raspberry, minerals, violet and flint aromas. Creamy-sweet but amazingly light on its feet, offering palate-staining, perfumed flavors of soft red berries, ripe red cherry, vanilla, aromatic herbs and crushed rock. Rich, ripe and suave, but displays a penetrating, saline and energetic quality that gives this beauty a three-dimensional mouthfeel and a light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with great length and wonderfully polished tannins. Absolute knockout wine: from a memorable vintage on Etna, this is most likely the best Passorosso ever (in earlier vintages, it used to be called simply Passopisciaro). Mainly Nerello Mascalese.”

Catena Zapata Malbec Argentino, Uco Valley, Argentina 2012 750ML ($129.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “Very dense and powerful with a tight palate of blue fruit and raspberry undertones. Salty with wonderful length and intensity. A blend of malbec from Nicasia Vineyard in Altamira and Adrianna Vineyard in Gualtallary. Drink in 2022 but so great now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $108

Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyards Malbec, La Consulta, Argentina 2012 750ML ($129.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Malbec Catena Zapata Nicasia Vineyard feels fresher and more harmonious than the 2011, when in reality the vintage character is the opposite. It is sourced from the vineyard that names the wine and that is located in Altamira. The Malbec grapes fermented in open barrels and cement vats with 15% whole-cluster Cabernet Franc. There is one extra level of precision and harmony here. It has an elegant nose and the palate almost reflects the tension in the skin of the grapes with its a velvety texture and great acidity. This is really tasty and long, it could be the best Nicasia ever produced.”
James Suckling 95 points “Vivd aromas of currants and blackberries. So much dark fruit. Violets too. Full body, yet buttressed with a center palate of salty acidity and firm tannins. From grapes grown in Altamira. Persistent and vibrant. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $110