Highly Anticipated Releases from Zind-Humbrecht Have Arrived; Clouet Champagne; K Vintners: New Fall Releases Are Here; Reynvaan Returns; New Reviews for Selbach-Oster; Arriving in December: Thierry Germain, and 2010 Cavallotto Barolo

Highly Anticipated New Arrivals from

Zind-Humbrecht
It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to get ahold of the Zind-Humbrecht wines and it’s certainly not for lack of trying. When we heard the wines were in the market again we dropped everything to snap them up. We are quite proud of the range – many of these new arrivals were initially not intended for release in the USA. You’ll be glad we did, though, when you see the unreal deal on these wines. The star of the show is the Vendanges Tardive Gewurztraminer – a late-harvest wine from gravelly vineyard parcels that line an ancient Roman path between the communes of Wintzenheim and Turckheim. Our offer for the 750ML bottle is well below the next best price on
the 375ML!

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim Vieilles Vignes Vendange Tardive, Alsace 2011 750ML ($69.95) $31.90 special
Case-6 Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim Vieilles Vignes Vendange Tardive, Alsace 2011 750ML ($719.95) $179 special (that’s only $29.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Lacy in texture and seamlessly integrated, this off-dry, lightly honeyed version features racy acidity, providing fine balance and enlivening notes of mango puree, lychee, grapefruit granita, honeycomb and apricot. Hints of smoke and wax linger on the lush, mineral-driven finish. Drink now through 2030. 40 cases imported.”

These bottles arriving directly from the Domaine cellar!
Best ever price in the USA!
The next best price is for the half-bottle: $34.96

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Riesling Thann, Alsace 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Vibrant and zesty, a medium-bodied white with racy acidity reined in by the well-knit flavor range of yellow peach, candied pink grapefruit zest, blanched almond and ground pink peppercorn notes. The dense, mouthwatering finish echoes a streak of smoky minerality. Drink now through 2028. 350 cases made.”
VinopolNote: Average vine age is 30 years. Vineyard is south facing with a very steep slope. Soil is sedimentary volcanic rocks.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Thann, Alsace 2013 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lip-smacking acidity keeps this medium-bodied Pinot Gris lithe and light on its feet, offering a minerally underpinning and a hint of salinity accenting the palate of crunchy white peach, Mandarin orange, pickled ginger and pink grapefruit zest. Drink now through 2028. 140 cases made.”
VinopolNote: Average vine age is 29 years. Vineyard is south facing with a very steep slope. Soil is sedimentary volcanic rocks.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Calcaire, Alsace 2012 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A seamless white, light-weight and silky in texture, with mouthwatering acidity enlivening the subtly honeyed flavors of peach skin, orange sorbet and ground ginger, all underscored by rich, minerally notes of stone and smoke that echo on the finish. Drink now through 2029. 500 cases made.”

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Calcaire, Alsace 2012 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A lithe Pinot Gris, with juicy acidity and zesty accents of citrus peel and ground spice enlivening the well-knit flavors of slivered almond, apricot, sea salt and honeysuckle. Offers a lasting, mineral-tinged finish. Drink now through 2024. 800 cases made.”

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

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Pinot Gris Rotenberg, Alsace 2012 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “A high-altitude vineyard has produced this delicious, crisp and cool wine. While it has weight and rich fruit, it’s the enticing acidity that sets this wine apart. There’s a poise to this wine that gives style while not losing any depth of apple, pear and spice flavors. Drink from 2017.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Crackling acidity defines this linear Pinot Gris, layered with stony minerality and offering a sleek mix of crunchy pear, honey, grapefruit zest, verbena and nut flavors. Finely balanced. Drink now through 2024. 260 cases made.”

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

Domaine Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer Herrenweg de Turckheim, Alsace 2012 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “By rights, the Herrenweg vineyard in Turckheim should be a Grand Cru. Certainly in the hands of Zind-Humbrecht it behaves like one. This is a powerful, rich and totally spicy wine. It has weight and pepper in abundance, a complex wine that’s full of ripe fruits and an opulent aftertaste. Drink from 2017.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Compact, with firm cut, this offers tightly meshed flavors of white peach, beeswax, pickled ginger and crystallized honey, with a stony mineral undertow that pushes through on the finish. Accessible now, but should open up with short-term cellaring. Drink now through 2027. 1,050 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $46.99
The average price is $48

New Arrivals from Andre Clouet

Our top Thanksgiving Champagne pick for flexibility, value & pairing potential!

Andre Clouet Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Clouet’s 2008 Brut Millesime shows quite a bit more tension and focus than the 2007, hardly a surprise given then personality of the vintage. Bright, saline notes frame expressive red fruits, flowers and sweet spices. The 2008 Brut is a gorgeous wine with plenty of appeal today, but it will also develop beautifully in bottle. Stylistically it is less overt than the 2007 but places more emphasis on length. Brut Millesime is mostly Pinot, with 30-40% Chardonnay.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.98
The average price is $62

Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Brut Grande Reserve emerges from the glass with layers of hazelnut, pear, spice and dried flower aromas. This rich, creamy wine impresses for its balance and sheer richness. I loved it.” AG

Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-12 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
100% Grand Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, no dosage
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Silver is naturally a very focused, driven wine given the no-dosage style. This shows wonderful nuance and depth all the way through to the long finish, with bright aromas and flavors but less of the toastiness than some of the house’s other wines. The mousse and finish are both utterly impeccable in their elegance.” AG

Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid orange-pink. Aromas and flavors of ripe red berries, candied rose and toasty lees. Fleshy but nervy and focused, with strong mineral cut and hints of bitter herbs on the very long, energetic finish. Smoothly blends richness and vivacity, making it extremely flexible with food or without.” JR

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

Andre Clouet Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Antoni Galloni 93+ points “The NV Grand Cru Cuvee 1911 emerges from the glass with the most haunting of perfumes. Sweet rose petal and jasmine are some of the nuances that emerge over time. Despite recent disgorgement, the purity of the fruit and the extraordinary elegance of the mousse are hard to miss. This is an exceptional, elegant version of the 1911 that should drink beautifully for years to come. The bottle I tasted needed quite a bit of air to open up, so readers should be patient with the wine at this stage.” AG

Champagnes Arriving Next Week

R. Dumont & Fils Solera Reserve Blanc de Blancs, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(made from a blend of 20 vintages, with 1991 as its base; roughly 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay; 6 g/l dosage): Pale yellow. A wild, assertively perfumed bouquet displays scents of mineral-accented poached pear, honey, toasted nuts and smoky lees, with a suave floral element building in the glass. Stains the palate with ripe orchard and pit fruit flavors, along with suggestions of buttered toast, marzipan and bitter lemon pith. Shows excellent clarity and power on the finish, which clings with strong fruity persistence. This complex, concentrated Champagne would be fantastic with aged or blue cheeses.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Thierry Triolet Cuvee Grande Reserve Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(11 g/l dosage): Pale gold. Intense citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complicated by notes of honeysuckle, tarragon and iodine. Chewy tangerine and pear skin flavors become silkier and spicier with aeration. Shows a seductive floral quality on the clinging finish, which features a dusty mineral nuance and a touch of buttered toast.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.98
The average price is $40

Jose Michel & Fils Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2007 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: The vintage Blanc de Blancs is produced only in the best years from the winery’s best parcels in and around Moussy. It is aged for five years in bottle before disgorgement.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($479.95) $399 pre-arrival special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Wine & Spirits 92 points “This tastes of pure, pale white limestone transformed into crisp yellow apple. It’s appetite inducing in its zesty freshness, bright white floral notes and clean, lively length of flavor, especially if there are oysters nearby. The Aubry brothers maintain a reserve wine blend composed of vintages going back to 1998; that blend provides 50 percent of this Brut, with the other half from 2013. The varietal composition is also distinctive: pinot Meunier makes up 45 percent, with chardonnay and pinot noir each providing 25 percent and the remaining five percent made up of traditional local varieties including arbanne, petit meslier and fromenteau.”

R.H. Coutier Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
R.H. Coutier Tradition Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Wine & Spirits 93 points “[$50 Best Buy] This takes the early, red-fruit richness of an Ambonnay Champagne and charges it with energy. It has stamina that seems to drive right along with the bubbles, the flavors firm and juicy, broadened by clay soils, cut by chalky soil acidity. Finely integrated and lasting.”

These are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!

R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, 100% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, remains one of the most compelling, under the radar wines in Champagne, not to mention a fabulous value. Round, textured and supple in the glass, the Blanc de Blancs shows the more textured, side of Chardonnay. These soils in Ambonnay confer an unusual level of richness and breadth. In my view, this is Coutier’s best Champagne. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Elegant and pretty, with floral accents to the black cherry pie, blackberry coulis and spiced plum flavors. This is lightly creamy, with fine balance and a lingering, mineral-tinged finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Holiday Shipping Guide

 

Plan Ahead Now

Toast Your Forethought Later

No UPS Shipping service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th

*Packages shipped to the East Coast by UPS Ground on Thursday, November 17th or Friday, November 18th will not reach their destination until the week of Monday, November 28th. For delivery by Thanksgiving, packages must be shipped by November 16th. Please note due to increased shipping volume during this time of year, UPS cannot guarantee on-time delivery for Ground shipments.

No UPS shipping services on December 24th, 25th and 26th.

No UPS shipping services on December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd.

New Fall Releases from K Vintners

The Rock Star of Washington Wine

All Twelve New Fall Releases are In-Stock Now

K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2013 Syrah Cattle King is a smokin’, layered, sexy, voluptuous Syrah that does everything right. Coming from the River Rock Vineyard in Walla Walla and the Upland Vineyard in Snipes Mountain, not destemmed and brought up all in larger barrels, this beauty offers a sensational perfume of smoked meats, pepper, licorice, black olives and assorted ripe black fruits. Deep, layered and concentrated, yet always light on its feet and elegant, this fabulous Syrah has a terrific mid-palate, a core of sweet fruit and blockbuster length. It’s a tour de force in vintage and certainly one of the top wines. It needs a decant if drinking anytime soon, but should be at its best from 2020 to 2038.”

K Vintners Charlotte, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “A new, tiny production cuvee named after Charles’ Daughter, the 2013 Charlotte checks in as a blend of 45% Mourvèdre, 31% Grenache, 12% Syrah, 8% Counoise and the rest Grenache Blanc and Picpoul, which was all harvested at the same time and co-fermented. From two vineyards: Rock Garden and River Rock, they purposely hang a touch more crop on the Syrah to help the ripening even out. One of the more elegant, perfumed and complex releases in the lineup, it gives up perfumed notes of rose petals, kirsch, framboise, olives and dried herbs on the nose. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, seamless and downright silky, with fine, fine tannin and a great finish. This is high class stuff to enjoy anytime over the coming decade.”

K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Coming all from the Sundance Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, the medium- ruby colored 2013 Syrah The Deal Sundance Vineyard is a unique, singular Syrah that gives up beautiful notes of kirsch, blackberries, sandy, dried soils and hints of olive tapenade. Full-bodied, concentrated, with a great mid-palate and satin-textured tannins, it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade after that.”

K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Reminding me of a Northern Rhone Syrah from the Le Meal lieu-dit on Hermitage Hill, the 2013 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard comes entirely from the Northridge Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, was fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in mostly neutral oak. It offers thrilling notes of black raspberries, toasted bread, caramelized meats and licorice in a full-bodied, ultra-pure, supple, incredibly sexy style. Possessing building, fine tannin, it needs a lengthy decant if drinking anytime soon, but this utterly seamless, perfectly balanced beauty will offer upward of two decades of overall longevity.”

K Vintners The Hustler Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $138 special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Still in barrel at the time of this tasting, the 2012 Syrah The Hustler is a blockbuster-styled Syrah that’s overflowing with notions of sweet red and black fruits, toasted bread, cured meats and cedar. Only made in special vintages (it was previously made in ’03, ’07 and ’09) and aged 38 months in French oak, it’s full-bodied, decadent and layered, with a weightless, elegant, seamless feel. Coming all from the Morrison Lane Vineyard (it’s actually the Morrison Lane Syrah with extended barrel aging), it should be ready to go on release and dish out tons of pleasure over the following decade or more. The extended elevage has given this a more upfront feel, yet I suspect it will also allow it age more slowly as well.”

K Vintners ‘King Coal’ Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon King Coal Stoneridge Vineyard, which is always a 70/30 mix of Cabernet and Syrah, is a beauty. Giving up lots of black currants, smoked earth, olive and background meatiness, it’s rich, voluptuously textured and concentrated, with tons to love. It’s approachable now due to all the fruit, but this puppy will cruise in the cellar over the coming couple of decades.”

K Vintners Klein Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2013 Syrah Klein got a big “wow” in the notes and from a difficult vintage for Syrah, it’s an incredible blockbuster, full-bodied beauty that readers should beg, borrow or steal to get a hold of. Giving up layers of kirsch, blackberries, graphite, lavender and dried earth, this puppy hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, silky texture and fine tannin that keeps the finish going. I love it. Give bottles 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy through 2028+.”

K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Another wine that overachieves is the 2013 Syrah Morrison Lane. Easily the best vintage of this cuvee to date, it has a killer bouquet of olive tapenade, grounded, peppered meats and a core of darker fruits. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant and with fine tannin, it’s terrific and will drink nicely for 10-15 years.”

K Vintners ‘Royal City’ Syrah, Washington 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 98 points “A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2013 Syrah Royal City is as expansive, sexy and voluptuous as they get in the vintage, hands down. It’s deep ruby/purple color is followed by incredible notes of wild herbs, lavender, gamey meats, olive paste and sweet dark berry fruits. Full-bodied, relatively forward and charming, it still packs a wealth of material and has building tannin, all suggesting it will drink nicely for 10-15 years.”

K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “A blend of Syrah co-fermented with 2-3% Viognier, aged all in puncheons, the 2014 Syrah The Beautiful (which now comes all from the Powerline vineyard in Walla Walla… it previously included grapes from Phil Lane and The Rocks) reveals an inky purple color as well as classic Syrah notes of aged beef, olive tapenade, chocolate and ripe dark fruits. Full-bodied, pure, layered and elegant, it lives up to its name and will be up with the top handful of wines in the vintage.”

K Vintners The Boy Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “There’s 300 cases of the potentially profound 2014 The Boy, which is mostly Grenache from the Powerline Vineyard in Walla Walla. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak, it offers sensational ripeness and depth in its meaty, olive, pepper, currant and kirsch scented bouquet. This gives way to a massive, concentrated and voluptuously textured Grenache that has a great mid-palate, ripe tannin and a finish that just won’t quit.”

K Vintners Milbrandt Vineyard Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Probably the greatest vintage of this cuvee to date, the 2014 Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard is 100% Syrah, fermented with 100% whole clusters, that spent 15 months in 20% new French oak barrels and puncheons. This beauty is overflowing with notes of cassis, caramelized meats, licorice and spice, which gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, superbly textured Syrah that can be enjoyed today, or cellared for a decade.”

Reynvaan Returns

Way back in 2007, who would have thought a start-up could rocket into the first ranks of Walla Walla wine? Considering the quality geology, geography, and talent in the area, it hardly came as a surprise for Reynvaan. Family-owned and -run, this is a hands-on operation that dedicated itself from the start to producing the finest wines from some of the region’s best vineyard sites. Reynvaan owns two vineyards: In the Rocks recalls the Rhone valley with its rocky ancient riverbed soil, while the Foothills in the Sun vineyard enjoys south-southwest exposure on one of Washington’s highest-elevation vineyards, at 1600 feet: good ripening in the day, with acidities preserved at night. Once in the winery, the pursuit of terroir and Washington style becomes Reynvaan’s modus operandi. Are the wines good? Well, Reynvaan now has a waiting list, but we are a proud authorized dealer, and we have a special fall offering, as the holidays approach…

On Sale & Available Here Now from Reynvaan:

Reynvaan Family Vineyards The Unnamed Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) Was $89, Now $59 special, 38 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Incorporating 8% Grenache Blanc and from the Rocks region of Walla Walla, the 2014 The Unnamed Syrah offers a unique profile with pretty notes of white peach (from the Grenache Blanc no doubt), dried violets, plums and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, supple, layered and beautifully balanced, it should shine right out of the gate, yet also evolve gracefully.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $67

Reynvaan Wines Available Here Now:

Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘Foothills in the Sun’ Reserve Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “An early bottled effort that’s made from 100% Syrah, the sensational 2014 Syrah Foothills Reserve is a notch darker in color than the 2013 and offers layers of ripe Syrah dark fruits, olive tapenade, pepper and crushed rock like minerality. Coming from a cool site on the eastern edge of the Walla Walla Valley, where the Syrah is just on the edge of where it can get ripe, this medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant beauty will stand toe to toe with the top wines of the northern Rhone. It will drink well for 10-15 years.”

Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Hills Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 37 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another beauty is the 2014 Syrah In the Hills, which is this estate’s take on a Cote Rotie and incorporates 5% co-fermented Viognier. Raspberries, bacon fat, violets and olive all emerge from this medium-bodied, elegant, ethereally textured beauty. It too will drink beautifully for 10-15 years.”

Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Rocks Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $88 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “From a warmer terroir and the estate’s vineyard in The Rocks region of Walla Walla, the 2014 In the Rocks Syrah (5% Viognier) sports an inky purple color to go with flat out gorgeous notes of liquid blackberries, violets, earth and spice. Concentrated, ripe and sexy, it should knock your socks off right out of the gate, yet cruise for 15 years in the cellar.”

Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Contender’ Syrah – Marsanne, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 38 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Checking in as a mix of 94% Syrah and 6% Marsanne, the 2014 Syrah The Contender is another elegant, medium to full-bodied, layered wine from this estate that offers plenty of texture and length. Blackberries, violets, plums, pepper and hints of iron all emerge from this beauty, which can be enjoyed on release or cellared for a decade or more.”

Reynvaan Family Vineyards ‘The Classic’ Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 19 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “First made in 2012, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon The Classic comes from vines planted in 2008 and is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in 40% new French oak, it sports an inky purple color to go with awesome notes of cassis, jammy blackberries, wild herbs and graphite. Full-bodied, fresh and elegant, yet with rocking concentration, this is a serious Cabernet that has the class to drink nicely in its youth, yet the balance, depth and structure to evolve for upward of two decades.”

New Reviews for Selbach-Oster
With a mere four centuries under its winemaker’s belt, the Selbach family honors tradition, nature, and the benefits of un-mechanized vineyard work. Selbach-Oster wines respond to such care by delivering minerality, sweetness, and crisp acidity in harmonious balance, vintage after vintage.

David Schildknecht just released several new reviews for the under-the-radar 2014 vintage from Selbach-Oster. The 2014 vintage is quite a contrast in style to the 2015s that will be arriving this month… One could compare the ‘14s to a study in quiet contemplation versus the party animals of the ‘15s: “The treats in store [from the 2014 vintage] are diverse: a bevy of Kabinetts whose sheer levity we have scarcely encountered since the early 1990s; Spätlesen that range from quite delicate and transparent to rich and botrytis-tinged; an impressive array of minerally complex, alcoholically modest and impeccably balanced dry offerings.”

The name of the game was careful selection on the table once the warm weather and rains hit at the end of harvest. Resulting wines were either lighter than typical for their classification or, if left to ripen under the nerve-wracking conditions, were botrytis affected with ample richness.

Levity and minerality abound! And who better to capture the secret joy in a cooler vintage or to master the fine line in ’14 between underripeness and rot than Selbach?

Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($27.95) $18 special
David Schildknecht—Vinous Media 92 points “Decadent lily and heliotrope mingle with intimations of ripe apple and quince in a head-turning aromatic display that presages a subtly creamy, juicy and perfumed palate performance. Luscious and expansive, this nonetheless finishes with exemplary clarity and lift. Amid the extra richness and perfume here vis-à-vis its Zeltinger counterparts, one only misses the mineral nuance of those two siblings.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $25.19

Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht—Vinous Media 93 points “This product of block-picking (as opposed to selective picking) conveys a sense of ripeness and botrytization that could as easily have been captured in the word “Auslese.” Candied lemon, mint and anise mingle in the nose with suggestions of the quince, apple and Persian melon that come to dominate on a lush and expansive yet animatedly juicy palate. A hint of white raisin testifies delectably to the share of shriveled berries. Sweaty salinity lends mouthwatering intrigue while the fruit retains an invigoratingly tangy edge in a finish that readily stimulates the desire to take the next seductive, by no means overly sweet sip.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.15

Selbach-Oster ‘Schmitt’ Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht—Vinous Media 93 points “This block-picked (as opposed to selectively picked) offering leads with a heady and complex nose of musky faded narcissus, fennel pollen, pear preserves, papaya and candied lime. The lush yet stone-lined and shimmeringly mineral-tinged palate impression is correspondingly multifaceted and exotically ripe, backed by an amazingly high yet only modestly sweet-tasting 86 grams of residual sugar. The contribution of botrytis is similarly subtle, engendering enormous concentration while leaving behind no fungal spores or smudgy fingerprints. A prodigious finish welcomes the next sip.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47.99

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese*, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht—Vinous Media 93 points “Selbach admitted to having been swayed by marketing considerations to label this wine as “one-star” Spätlese rather than as Auslese. By whatever name, it represents a luscious, silken-textured amalgam of ripe quince and honeydew melon tinged with mint and cress and drizzled with fresh lime for a simultaneously soothing and stimulating performance, capped by a finish of remarkable clarity and sheer refreshment for what is in effect a lightly botrytized Auslese. Riper and more seductively textured than the already superb corresponding “no-star” Spätlese, this is, however, less recognizably a product of its site. (It originated in a lower, deeper-soiled section of the Einzellage.)”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

And don’t miss these great offers on 2015s arriving this December!

“This is one of the (if not the) best collections we have tasted so far by Johannes Selbach.” –Mosel Fine Wines

“…the vintage was a dream. The harvest was pleasantly uneventful. You could graze and take your time. It was balm for the soul of a winemaker after the stressful 2014 and 2013 vintages. We started on September 30 and finished on November 1. The sugar levels were good but not outrageously high: Our Kabinett came in at 88° Oechsle and our Spätlese were made with 90-95° Oechsle fruit. The sweet spot of the vintage was the Spätlese and Auslese fruit. When nature hands you such a gift on a plate, you have to take it.” – Johannes Selbach

Selbach-Oster Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines “This bottling offers a gorgeous nose of pear, melon and white minerals. The wine is nicely fresh and easy on the palate. Bright fruits and herbs bring some pep to the finish of this nice and easy-drinking wine. Now-2018”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “This fruity-styled Kabinett was fermented to a low 30 g/l of residual sugar. It offers a rather reduced but very fresh nose of green apple, some under-ripe white peach and aniseed herbs on the nose. The wine delivers a gorgeously zesty feel on the slender palate and a really crispy Kabinett feel in the finish. Now-2025”

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, Mosel 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 89+ points “This offers a rather delicate nose of green grass, grapefruit and white minerals. The wine is nicely light and beautifully balanced on the palate and leaves a mouth-watering and tart feel in the finish. While enjoyable now, we would not be surprised if this will even improve with age. 2017-2025+”

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This offers a nice nose of herbs, grapefruit and spices. The wine is gorgeously fruity and elegant on the palate, with some Spätlese presence but also true Kabinett character and lightness. The wine is gorgeously long and elegant. 2023-2040”

Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “This delivers a zesty and restrained nose of laurel, a hint of fresh yellow fruits and spices. The wine is delicately creamy and fruity on the palate with great acidity cleansing the mouth-watering finish. This is plain gorgeous and hard to resist at this early stage. It will gain in finesse with age though. 2025-2040”

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Notes of spontaneous fermentation give way to candied grapefruit, cassis and peach, with herbs and spices firmly pushed to the background. The wine delivers a slightly Auslese creamy feel on the palate and leaves a clean fruity feel in the long finish. 2025-2040”

Selbach-Oster Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: blue devonian slate soil.
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “This offers a beautiful nose of cassis, grapefruit, greengage, apricot tree flower, white flowers and herbs. A more yellow fruit driven side comes through on the palate with yellow peach playing with acidity to produce a mouth-watering cocktail of Mosel charm. A hint of sweetness in the finish is still in need of integration of this gorgeous Auslese in the making. 2025-2045”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Our Current
Shipping Promos:

Welcome to the club, Colorado!

Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:

Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:

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

Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!

The Bio-D Giant of Saumur

Since fine wine begins in the vineyard, and tall-guy Thierry Germain tends some of France’s healthiest, oldest, and best-situated vines, you’d expect his Cabernet Franc and Chenin Blanc to impress. They do. Finesse, freshness, intensity, concentration, balance, and vitality are descriptors often used by reviewers of Germain’s bottlings at Domaine des Roches Neuves. These Saumur and Saumur-Champigny, one might argue, deserve appellations of their own.

Biodynamics rule in the vineyard and winery. Thierry’s are happy, thriving vines, and his deep, chilly cellar, built into the tuffeau rock, serves as magician’s lair. His Cabernet Franc, which accounts for ninety percent of his 70-acre vineyard, defies the variety’s reputation: no rusticity, hard tannins, or vegetal flavors here, thanks to early picking. Instead, fresh fruit and soft tannins prevail, plus the balance, vitality, intensity, etc. cited above. Meanwhile, Germain’s Chenin Blanc tastes bone dry, with notable acidity and minerality—drink it young, or let it fatten up over the course of a decade.  If you have never experienced a wine from Thierry Germain, here is a rare opportunity to explore the essence of both red and white Saumur. And if you have had his wines, well, you know what to do.

NB: Thierry collaborates with his longstanding vineyard manager and right-hand-man Michel Chevré on certain bottlings, and these bear both men’s names rather than Domaine des Roches Neuves.

Arriving December 9th from Thierry Germain – Domaine Roches Neuves

Thierry Germain & Michel Chevre Saumur Bulles de Roches 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Sparkling wine. Méthode Traditionnelle, aged for 3 months in 228L barrels, then bottle aged, sur latte, for 9 months, no dosage.”

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur L’Echelier Blanc 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 70 year old vines. Soil is sand, clay, and Turonien Superieur limestone.”

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur Clos Romans Blanc 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 8 year old vines. Soil is sand, clay, and Senonien limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain & Michel Chevre Saumur Blanc Le Clos du Moulin 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 80 year old vines. Soil is sand, clay, and Senonien limestone.”

Thierry Germain & Michel Chevre Saumur Clos de l’Ecotard Blanc 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 8 year old vines. Soil is clay and active limestone with limestone outcroppings.”

Thierry Germain & Michel Chevre Saumur L’Insolite Blanc 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 90 year old vines. Soil is silex, clay, red limestone and sandstone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain & Michel Chevre Saumur Terres Blanc 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Chenin Blanc from 90 year old vines. Soil is silex and clay.”

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Terres Chaudes, Loire 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 45 year old vines. Soil is clay and tuffeau limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Cuvee Domaine 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from vines between 4 and 70 years old. Soil is sand, clay and tuffeau limestone.”

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Franc de Pied 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 12 year old vines. Soil is sand and limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Clos de l’Echelier 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 40 year old vines. Soil is clay and Turonien Superieur limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Marginale 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 45 year old vines. Soil is clay and Turonien Superieur limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Memoires 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 112 year old vines. Soil is silex scree and Turonien Superieur limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thierry Germain Domaine des Roches Neuves Saumur-Champigny Outre Terre 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Importer note “100% Cabernet Franc from 20 year old vines. Soil is clay and limestone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Look Out!

Fresh From Wine Spectator’s ‘Hot Wines’ List

Arriving December 9th

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2010 1.5L ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “An old-school style, this complex red features an array of cherry, berry, leather, tobacco and underbrush flavors, backed by a dense, beefy structure. Long and powerful, with a savory, saline aftertaste. Shows ample fruit up front, but should be better in two to three years. Best from 2019 through 2036.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “A dramatic wine, the 2010 Barolo Riserva Bricco Boschis Vigna San Giuseppe hits the palate with seemingly never-ending array of aromas, flavors and textures. Dark-fleshed stone fruits, graphite, smoke, licorice and tar are some of the many nuances that emerge as the 2010 continues to take shape in the glass. This big, strapping Barolo is likely to require a good bit of patience. As it often does, the San Giuseppe shows the more brooding side of Nebbiolo.”

This is the lowest listed price for the 750 ML in the USA today!

Also arriving December 9th from Cavallotto

Cavallotto Bricco Boschis Vignolo, Barolo Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2010 Barolo Riserva Vignolo is dark, mysterious and inviting, with serious depth and layers of flavors that unfurl in the glass. Rose petal, sage, rosemary, licorice and mint wrap around a core of dense red cherry and pomegranate-infused fruit. This is a decidedly plush, powerful Riserva. There is plenty of tannin lurking beneath, though, so readers need to be patient. Incense, tobacco and hints of game add the closing shades of complexity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $114

November Sales Recap

We’re up to 56 wines on sale this November! Hurry, sale ends in 12 days!

Read reviews and browse the full selection of sale wines by searching for “November Sale” on our web store – we’re also happy to talk you through the offerings if you email us at info@vinopoliswineshop.com or call 503-223-6002.

Featured November Sales; Dry Riesling: Welcome to Mineral City; Nicolas-Jay: Meo-Camuzet Comes to Oregon; The K Vintners Comprehensive New Releases; November Sales; New Grapelive Review: The Ever-Flexible Clos Sainte Magdeleine; Magnum Madness Continues (Includes Vinopolis-Exclusive Wine!); Trending Wines Under 25; Domaine Huet; Felsina Breaking News: Gran Selezione; November Sales Recap

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Featured November Sales

From Lopez de Heredia:

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2007 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $20.90, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2007 Viña Cubillo Crianza is the most affordable red. It is a wine that was born to go with tapas and to be sold at local restaurants showing a combination of fruit and the earth where the vines grow. It is a blend of the usual 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho, 5% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo fermented in old oak vats with natural yeasts and matured in barrel for three years. The intoxicating nose shows blood orange, bitter cherries, leather and spices in a subtle and balanced way. The palate is sinewy, polished, has good acidity and is not terribly complex nor powerful, but is built more on the subtlety and lightness. This could well be the best Cubillo of recent times.”

From Kruger-Rumpf:

Winery-cellared release from a vintage in its prime

Named a Top 20 German Wine Producer for the 2004 vintage by Jancis Robinson

The Kruger-Rumpf family has been making fine wine in the Nahe and Rhinehessen since 1708. Within their 55-acre holdings are parcels in the prestigious Grosses Gewächs Münsterer Pittersberg and Dautenpflänzer vineyards, where Kruger-Rumpf tends 50-plus year-old vines planted on steep slopes. Kruger-Rumpf hand picks its fruit in order to edit out botrytis-affected clusters. Fermentations are kept short to preserve the fruity, fresh nature of these grand Rieslings.

Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $33, 36+ bottles available
Jancis Robinson – Top 20 German Wine Producer in 2004
[Reviewed 2015] Terry Theise notes “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.”
[Reviewed 2005] David Schildknecht “Rumpf’s 2004 Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese smells of pineapple, pear and white peach, following with a delicate and refined palate impression saturated with a sense of liquid slate and pure pear, peach and pineapple fruit. The finish is smooth and long with generous fruit augmented by subtle spice and crushed stone. Classic 2004 virtues are on display.” -David Schildknecht
[Reviewed 2006] Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.95
The average price is $41

We’ve cut prices on 56 wines and counting through the month of November

Don’t miss this great opportunity to save!

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Riesling Drier Than the Following Prose

There is a conception that all Riesling is inherently sweet, which makes no sense.  Sure, some of the wines made from the grape are (deliciously) sweet or off dry, but a ton are made as dry as can be—and those screamingly mineral wines are what we want to highlight today.

Riesling is an amazing grape at all levels of sweetness, but dry versions are as racy and mineral driven as any white wine can be.  Riesling has a unique ability to express the soil it’s grown in—more so than almost any variety, white or red.  The wines are free of oak flavors and are about as perfect at the table as you can imagine.  Indeed, if you are serving food that would go with white wine, you wouldn’t do better than to choose one of these.

We have a lot of dry Riesling in the store (99% of our Austrian Riesling, for example) but today we wanted to highlight some of the best, most interesting (and best value) dry Riesling we have on offer, from a variety of locations and soils:

We offer 42 dry Austrian Rieslings in-stock and available here now – below is a selection from two of our favorite producers:

F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90 points “Bottled already in February of 2014, this offers scents and flavors of ripe apricot reminiscent of Riesling from the gravelly nearby Oberhäuser, wreathed in musky peony-like perfume and accompanied by a high-toned suggestion of pistachio extract. On a firm yet glossy and brightly juicy palate, it offers lemony-green tartness of sorrel allied to the pit-inflected but fleshy apricot, and finishes with persistent verve and invigorating tang.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Emmerich Knoll ‘Vinothekfullung’ Loibner Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 22 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Marine breeze and a slight sweatiness in the nose are joined by high-toned mintiness and nuances of peach and nectarine that then lusciously inform the full, faintly oily palate. Pithy pit piquancy serves for welcome counterpoint and grapefruit for zesty and vivacious juiciness. For all of its almost honeyed richness, this wine’s finishing penetration is downright rapier-like, displaying an alluring interchange with bright citrus, glowingly cyanic fruit pit, and cooling green herbal notes. It originated in a portion of Loibenberg where there was considerable fog and trapping of moisture, explained Knoll Senior, and consequently a higher instance of botrytis. I continue to find it slightly disconcerting that it is precisely the botrytis-influenced wines that get chosen for labeling as Knoll Vinothekfüllungen. That said, the present example is certainly impressive on those terms.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

We offer 59 dry German Rieslings in-stock and available here now – below is a selection of six from some of our favorite producers:

Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel RR Riesling, Rheinhessen 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
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)

Von Winning Deidesheimer Kalkofen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Pfalz 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Bright and pale green in color, the 2013 Deidesheim Kalkofen Riesling trocken GG from predominantly old vines on limestone/marl soils offers noble upfront fruit aromas of nectarines and yellow plums. Medium to full-bodied it is the mixture of purity, piquancy, juiciness of ripe fruit and the lovely salty texture that makes the tightly woven Kalkofen one of the finest Rieslings of the 2013 vintage in Germany. Fermented in 500-liter barrels, it can age for ten or more years.” WA

Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Juicy white peach and its kernel, crabapple and its pit, tartly and piquantly mark the Donnhoff 2011 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, which displays a shimmering sense of transparency to vibrant crystalline and stony (as well as the aforementioned piquant) nuances. Saliva-inducing saline savor and an invigorating sense of piquancy and tactile mineral impingement render the finish here profound and provocative (above all, of the next sip!). I would look for at least a decade of stimulation.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut A.J. Adam Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2013 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 12 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “A little purchased fruit this year, the crop was so small. All Dhron. Half & half sponti and cultured yeast, all done in steel. The ‘13 aroma is there but the wine is more limpid and pebbly than most, balanced-dry, with cool quince-y fruit; ’13 expresses as burnt-candle now, and this smells as much like (good!) Chenin as like Riesling”

Weingut Franz Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling Spatlese Trocken, Rheingau 2002 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 16 bottles available
Vinous Media: “Pear, flowers and chalk dust in the nose. Brothy and rich in a Chablis-like expression of chalky terroir, laden with herbs and flowers. The palate feel is so soft and creamy one could almost believe part of the wine had gone through malolactic fermentation. Subtly herbal, milky, pearsy finish. The grapes for this were picked in late October.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

J.B. Becker Martinsthaler Rödchen Riesling Spätlese Trocken, Rheingau 1990 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 89 points “The dark golden colored 1990 Martinsthaler Rödchen Riesling Spätlese trocken shows an intense, concentrated as well as matured bouquet of dried and cooked stone fruit flavors. Full-bodied, clear and concentrated though slightly bitter, this is a dry, quite austere Riesling with grip and astringency.(12/2015)”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Holiday Shipping Guide

Plan Ahead Now

Toast Your Forethought Later

No UPS Shipping service on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 24th

*Packages shipped to the East Coast by UPS Ground on Thursday, November 17th or Friday, November 18th will not reach their destination until the week of Monday, November 28th. For delivery by Thanksgiving, packages must be shipped by November 16th. Please note due to increased shipping volume during this time of year, UPS cannot guarantee on-time delivery for Ground shipments.

No UPS shipping services on December 24th, 25th and 26th.

No UPS shipping services on December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd.

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Nicolas-Jay

The New Old Kid on the Block

Anyone doubting Oregon’s place in the world of Pinot Noir need only look at the influx of famous Burgundian names flocking to the Willamette Valley.  The latest exciting project is from Jean-Nicolas Meo, of Domaine Meo-Camuzet fame.

Jean-Nicolas apprenticed under the legendary Henri Jayer, who made the wines for Meo-Camuzet until Jean-Nicolas took over the winemaking in 1988.  He brings all of his skill and knowledge to his new project here in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in the Willamette Valley. As one would expect, he searched for a vineyard that would allow them to make wines of the quality of the grand crus of his home domaine.

That vineyard ended up being Bishop Creek, in the heart of Yamhill-Carlton.  You might have had some wines from here before as it was one Goodfellow’s flagship bottlings, and for good reason.  It’s a very unique site which is mostly very densely planted, own-rooted vines that were originally planted in 1988.  It’s also dry-farmed and that, combined with the unique marine-sedimentary soils of the AVA, creates a wine that just oozes vineyard character.

It turns out that the combo of Oregon terroir and Meo-Camuzet know-how can yield some interesting wines, indeed.

New Arrivals from Nicolas-Jay:

Nicolas-Jay ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton AVA, Oregon 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Lithe, focused and distinctive, with pear overtones to the cherry and floral flavors, coming together with harmony and point as the finish lingers effusively. Drink now through 2024. 85 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Winery note “We have just released our limited production 2013 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir.  At only 180 cases this wine was produced with the help of Kelly Fox at Scott Paul and is 100% Maresh Vineyard.  Quite different in style, the wine is lighter, quite bright and reminiscent of Kelly’s style in general.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.99

We’ve had trouble keeping the 2014 WV in-stock, get yours now for its hedonistic pleasure and Burgundian soul:

Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $64 special, 18 bottles available
Grapelive 94+ points “The new Meo-Camuzet Oregon project, the Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir is out, and it is a brilliant and luscious wine with deep fruit and youthful intensity. Bottle age should bring amazing rewards, this is a stunner! The Domaine Nicolas-Jay owns a vineyard, Bishop’s Creek, and sources from top growers in the Willamette as they build this label. I would think after this first success they’ll be around a long time and have more of their own vines. The 2014 vintage in Oregon is a blockbuster and the Nicolas-Jay takes full advantage of nature’s gift here with explosive fruit, a seductive nose of rose petal, violets and sweet smoke, a dark core and a glorious array of layers, flavors and length with blackberry, cherry, sweet plum and tangy currant fruits, mixed spice, light mineral tones, hints of cedar, blueberry/concord grape, cinnamon and delicate earthy loam. Look for lots more complexity as it unlocks hidden treasure over the coming decade. Almost full-bodied, the 2014 Nicolas-Jay is very much alive with lifting acidity, graceful silken tannins and gorgeous sexy mouth feel, a bit more flamboyant than the Ken Wright 2014’s, but with similar detail. This may have had a Burgundian touch, but it is all Oregon in character and terroir, close to what you’d expect from top producers like Beaux Freres. Don’t miss a chance to get a few bottles, and while this Pinot is great now, it should be better in 5 to 10 years. This winery is off to a fantastic start!”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Broad, expressive and light-footed, this brims with cherry, plum, licorice and cashew flavors that keep singing on the focused finish. Drink now through 2024. 1,750 cases made.”
John Gilman 91 points “Domaine Nicolas Jay is the new Oregon project that Jean-Nicolas Méo is involved with and the 2014 is their first release of a pinot noir. The wine is 13.6 percent octane, with all of the fruit sourced from the Bishop Creek Vineyard, which was planted in 1988 and 1989. The wine was raised in one-third new oak in this vintage and offers up a bright and youthful bouquet of cherries, pomegranate, a touch of fresh thyme, a lovely base of soil and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is medium-full, pure and quite elegant in profile, with lovely silkiness on the attack, a good core and fine length and grip on the modestly tannic finish. Good juice and a very auspicious beginning! 2019-2040.”
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K Vintners

The Bad Boy of Washington Wine

Charles Smith knows a thing or two about rockstars, and he ought to—he used to manage them.  Then, one day, on a motorcycle trip, he rode through Walla Wall and was struck by the majesty of the terrain and the vineyards.  Within a few years, he had returned to open a winery.

His first vintage was 1999 and he produced a mere 300 cases of Syrah under his label ‘K Vintners’ and the winery has grown by leaps and bounds since then.  By our count, K makes more than 15 wines, most of them single vineyard Syrah, and that doesn’t count the several side projects he’s involved in.

At this point, K Vintners is one of the defining wineries for what might be the modern Washington style.  The wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacony quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else.  The only thing we can complain about is that we can’t carry them more often.

New Arrivals from K Vintners:

Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “There’s 300 cases of the potentially profound 2014 The Boy, which is mostly Grenache from the Powerline Vineyard in Walla Walla. Fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in neutral oak, it offers sensational ripeness and depth in its meaty, olive, pepper, currant and kirsch scented bouquet. This gives way to a massive, concentrated and voluptuously textured Grenache that has a great mid-palate, ripe tannin and a finish that just won’t quit.”

Charles Smith K Vintners Milbrandt Vineyard Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Probably the greatest vintage of this cuvee to date, the 2014 Syrah Milbrandt Vineyard is 100% Syrah, fermented with 100% whole clusters, that spent 15 months in 20% new French oak barrels and puncheons. This beauty is overflowing with notes of cassis, caramelized meats, licorice and spice, which gives way to a full-bodied, concentrated, superbly textured Syrah that can be enjoyed today, or cellared for a decade.”

Arriving Next Week

Charles Smith ‘Royal City’ Syrah, Stoneridge Vineyard 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “A candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2013 Syrah Royal City is as expansive, sexy and voluptuous as they get in the vintage, hands down. It’s deep ruby/purple color is followed by incredible notes of wild herbs, lavender, gamey meats, olive paste and sweet dark berry fruits. Full-bodied, relatively forward and charming, it still packs a wealth of material and has building tannin, all suggesting it will drink nicely for 10-15 years.”

Charles Smith ‘King Coal’ Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon King Coal Stoneridge Vineyard, which is always a 70/30 mix of Cabernet and Syrah, is a beauty. Giving up lots of black currants, smoked earth, olive and background meatiness, it’s rich, voluptuously textured and concentrated, with tons to love. It’s approachable now due to all the fruit, but this puppy will cruise in the cellar over the coming couple of decades.”

Charles Smith K Vintners Morrison Lane Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Another wine that overachieves is the 2013 Syrah Morrison Lane. Easily the best vintage of this cuvee to date, it has a killer bouquet of olive tapenade, grounded, peppered meats and a core of darker fruits. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, elegant and with fine tannin, it’s terrific and will drink nicely for 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.99

Charles Smith K Vintners Klein Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2013 Syrah Klein got a big “wow” in the notes and from a difficult vintage for Syrah, it’s an incredible blockbuster, full-bodied beauty that readers should beg, borrow or steal to get a hold of. Giving up layers of kirsch, blackberries, graphite, lavender and dried earth, this puppy hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, silky texture and fine tannin that keeps the finish going. I love it. Give bottles 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy through 2028+.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Charles Smith K Vintners Charlotte Red, Walla Walla Valley 2013 ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “A co-fermented blend of Mourvedre, Grenache (red and white) and Counoise, the 2014 Charlotte (it’s named after Charles’ daughter) has a meaty, savory style in its peppery herbs, olive tapenade and cured meat bouquet. Full-bodied, rich, fabulously textured and concentrated, it should benefit from a few years in the cellar, and have 15+ years of overall longevity.”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Coming all from the Sundance Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, the medium-ruby colored 2013 Syrah The Deal Sundance Vineyard is a unique, singular Syrah that gives up beautiful notes of kirsch, blackberries, sandy, dried soils and hints of olive tapenade. Full-bodied, concentrated, with a great mid-palate and satin-textured tannins, it will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and cruise for a decade after that.”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “A blend of Syrah co-fermented with 2-3% Viognier, aged all in puncheons, the 2014 Syrah The Beautiful (which now comes all from the Powerline vineyard in Walla Walla… it previously included grapes from Phil Lane and The Rocks) reveals an inky purple color as well as classic Syrah notes of aged beef, olive tapenade, chocolate and ripe dark fruits. Full-bodied, pure, layered and elegant, it lives up to its name and will be up with the top handful of wines in the vintage.”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Reminding me of a Northern Rhone Syrah from the Le Meal lieu-dit on Hermitage Hill, the 2013 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard comes entirely from the Northridge Vineyard on the Wahluke Slope, was fermented with 100% whole clusters and aged in mostly neutral oak. It offers thrilling notes of black raspberries, toasted bread, caramelized meats and licorice in a full-bodied, ultra-pure, supple, incredibly sexy style. Possessing building, fine tannin, it needs a lengthy decant if drinking anytime soon, but this utterly seamless, perfectly balanced beauty will offer upward of two decades of overall longevity.”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2013 Syrah Cattle King is a smokin’, layered, sexy, voluptuous Syrah that does everything right. Coming from the River Rock Vineyard in Walla Walla and the Upland Vineyard in Snipes Mountain, not destemmed and brought up all in larger barrels, this beauty offers a sensational perfume of smoked meats, pepper, licorice, black olives and assorted ripe black fruits. Deep, layered and concentrated, yet always light on its feet and elegant, this fabulous Syrah has a terrific mid-palate, a core of sweet fruit and blockbuster length. It’s a tour de force in vintage and certainly one of the top wines. It needs a decant if drinking anytime soon, but should be at its best from 2020 to 2038.”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Hustler Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $138 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “While the 2013 Syrah The Hustler was closed aromatically (it reluctantly gave up notes of pepper and meatiness), it’s flat out fabulous on the palate, with terrific concentration, beautiful mid-palate density and impeccable balance, all suggesting it needs short-term cellaring. I suspect it will have two decades of longevity.”

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November Sales

No reason to wait for Black Friday – we’ve cut prices on 56 wines, such as these four:

B. Leighton Olsen’s Brothers Vineyard Grenache, Yakima Valley 2012 ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $39, 17 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “(14.5%; from a north-facing slope on limestone caliche soil at 1,200 feet): Good medium red. Raspberry, mocha and smoky minerality on the alluring nose. Creamy and sweet but lively in the mouth, with the raspberry fruit complicated by rocky minerality and subtle notes of fennel, sweet dirt and peppery spices. Finishes with a firm tannic spine that should support a graceful evolution in the bottle. This is the new project of Brennon Leighton, who left Efesté a couple years ago to join Charles Smith on his new white wine projects.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $45.40

Remoissenet Pere & Fils Chambertin Clos-de-Beze 2011 750ML ($349.95) Was $199, Now $179, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru is less flamboyant than the Charmes-Chambertin ‘11 tasted alongside. The fruit here is darker, a touch more tertiary but still very well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with fine definition, a masculine Clos-de-Beze that will need two or three more years in the cellar. Personally, I prefer the harmony and plushness of the Charmes-Chambertin, although this will repay bottle age thanks to its substance and structure. Drink 2018-2030.” WA
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Chambertin Clos de Bèze isn’t ready to show all its cards just yet. This is a relatively delicate style for Bèze, with expressive floral notes that convey more finesse than power. The 2011 isn’t fully formed yet, but today my impression is that it will remain quite restrained in style.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Marcel Deiss Huebuhl, Alsace 2008 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 92 points “(pinot gris and muscat) Full orange-gold. Pungent, high-toned aromas of orange, spices and medicinal herbs; conveys a strong botrytis character. A very sweet, energetic fruit bomb in the mouth, with brisk acidity giving grip to the rather exotic flavors of tangerine, apricot, yellow peach, botanical herbs and spices. Big and broad but not heavy. Finishes long, tactile and slightly phenolic, showing its pinot gris side today.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $48

Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($24.95) Was $19.90, Now $17, 36+ bottles available
Importer note “You all know by now the stratospheric work Florian is doing in the Saar.  This has always been the ambassador wine from the winery but this vintage elevates to Senior levels of complexity.”
Eric Asimov 20 Wines under 20 Pick for Fall 2016 ““Barrel X” is the entry-level riesli
ng of Peter Lauer, which has become something of a cult producer. Its wines are precise and jewel-like, and this one is no different, rocky on the palate with an almost razor-like focus and just the most tender touch of residual sugar.”

For the complete list, see the bottom of this newsletter!

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Our Current
Shipping Promos:

Welcome to the club, Colorado!

Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:

Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:

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

Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!

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New Review from Grapelive

Clos Sainte Magdeleine

At Vinopolis, we’re long-time fans of the Clos Sainte Magdeleine white wine. It’s a refreshing blend of southern French grapes that offer a unique ability to pair with just about anything including many finicky dishes – think oily fish or raw or cooked green vegetables. The body of Chardonnay, the minerality of Riesling and the flexibility at the table of Gruner all in one unique white blend!

Clos Sainte Magdeleine Cassis Blanc, Provence 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
Grapelive 93 points “A perfect elixir and tonic for the worries of the world, this gorgeous Cassis certainly lights up any day or night. The Clos Ste Magdeleine 2014 shows a rich leesy depth to go with its dry crispy mineral charms. This blend of Clairette, Marsanne, Ugni Blanc and Rolle (Vermentino) really delivers class, elegance and poise in the glass. It’s as lovely as can be. Bright with citrus and light applely fruits this vintage is stellar; its detail is charming, expressive and seriously focused with lemon/lime, nectarine, cool green melon and salty ocean mist and steely elements. This is a vibrant white that reflects its personality and terroir with verve and beauty. I could go for a lot more of this stuff. It opens to reveal a depth of flavors and length you might not expect, proving again and again what a great wine Cassis is! You are transported to the south of France and can see in your mind’s eye the warmth of the days, the amazing blue of the sea and an inner peace wraps you up. I love this Clos Ste Magdeleine, it is even better with food and friends, drink this wonderful white over the next few years, best from now to 2020. One of the great wines of the world, Clos Ste Magdeleine is a fantastic producer, and Cassis, often overlooked is a remarkable region and the wines deserve repeated sampling. Imported by Kermit Lynch, Clos Ste Magdeleine sells out fast, don’t miss this just released offering: it’s impressive and gloriously mind refreshing!”

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Magnums

We offer an incredible 107 magnums in stock now and available to purchase online!

1.5L offer a fun statement for any holiday table or extended cellaring opportunities, we’ve selected five for now and three to cellar.
(Don’t miss the hidden gem of the Matello magnum, recently arrived from the winery’s cellar. A Vinopolis exclusive! Marcus Goodfellow makes some of the most under the radar Pinots in Oregon perhaps due to their exceptional ageability.)

Pop ‘n Pours:

Jacques Lassaigne ‘La Colline Inspiree’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 4 magnums available
Wine Advocate & Wine Spectator 92 points “Aromatic, featuring apple blossom, bread dough and sous-bois notes, this well-structured version is underscored by a hint of chalk-tinged minerality, with the mouthwatering impression enlivening refined layers of poached apple and pear, crystallized honey, lemon curd and candied ginger. Drink now through 2020.” WS

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chateau de Roquefort Le Petit Sale, IGP Bouches-du-Rhone 2014 1.5L ($39.95) $24 special, 9 magnums available
Wine Spectator 89 points “Quinine, white peach and blanched almond notes race through the pure, stony-edged finish. Not big, but has lovely cut and purity.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2015 1.5L ($29.95) $24 special, 12 magnums available
Grapelive 92 points “Louis Barruol’s Chateau de Saint Cosme is one of the great wineries in the southern Rhone and produces some of the most sought after Gigondas out there! His little Cotes-du-Rhone though, made of almost entirely Syrah, is one of the region’s best value wines, and this 2015 is stunningly delicious and full of flavor. It always seems odd such a major player in top Grenache based wines like Barruol uses so much Syrah in his Cotes-du-Rhone, but then again so does Chave and Clape too, somehow it all works and the wine is deep in color and character and detailed with dark fruits, a plush mid palate and spicy length. The 2015 was 100% Syrah from Vinsobres and Gard with the grapes partially de-stemmed, with fermenting and aging in tank only, this makes for a fresh style and with just enough tannin to age, though complex enough and plush enough to thrill in it’s youth, and this 2015 does just that and with style! The palate is filled with layers of black and blue fruits, blackberry, boysenberry, juicy plum, fig and a touch of cassis along with cracked peppercorns, olive, lavender oil, violets, camphor, porcini, anise and mineral/stony notes. Round and textured the Saint Cosme Cotes-du-Rhone reaches a full-bodied weight, though still poised and vibrant, this is a class act, especially in this price range, I’ve been a fan of this wine for at least 10 years, I just love it, drink in over the next 3 to 5 years, this 2015 is one of the best yet!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $29.16

Matello ‘Hommage A&D’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2004 1.5L ($159.95) $133 special, 2 magnums available
Winery Note “[August 2016] Provenance has been exceptional, fruit is Winter’s Hill, Whistling Ridge and Momtazi. The wine drinks well but is youthful in 750ML. Drink or hold.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2013 1.5L ($149.95) $128 special, 4 magnums available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Potent aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice pastille, woodsmoke, game and garrigue, plus a peppery nuance that adds spiciness and lift. Round and fleshy on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. The very long, energetic, sharply focused finish features fine-grained tannins and subtle, lingering notes of dark berries and smoked meat.”

Cellar Statements:

Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Roberta’s Reserve, Napa Valley 2012 1.5L ($799.95) $699 special, 2 magnums available
Robert Parker 98 points “The 100% Merlot cuvée, the 2012 Roberta’s Reserve State Lane Vineyard is, once again, flirting with perfection. A stunning nose of chocolate fudge intermixed with coffee bean, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit is intense, and followed by a full-bodied, gorgeously textured, opulent style of wine with stunning richness and purity. This is a brilliant wine and only represents 12% of the production, as only 300 cases were produced. It should drink well for 20-25 years.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2012 Roberta’s Reserve (Merlot) is another drop-dead gorgeous wine from Kapcsándy. Mocha, black cherries, plums, licorice and menthol meld together in an effortless, seamless wine endowed with sublime grace and class. Lovely savory and mineral notes support the pliant finish. What a gorgeous wine this is.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Caillerets, Volnay Premier Cru 2012 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 6 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2012 Volnay Caillerets is the most impressive of these 2012s from Francois Bitouzet. Here the flavors are deep, layered and beautifully resonant from start to finish. Plum, smoke, black cherry, licorice and spices wrap around the palate as this fleshy, deep Volnay shows off its pure class and pedigree. The finish is long, generous and inviting, but the 2012 is a wine for the cellar. Patience will be rewarded. In 2012 there is just one barrel of the Caillerets instead of the customary three.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $174.99

Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2008 1.5L ($419.95) $319 special, 7 magnums available
Wine Spectator 96 points “Warm and chewy, this red exhibits cedar, sandalwood, tobacco and leather accents enhancing the core of cherry and raspberry. As this plays out on the palate, the wine turns more supple and vibrant, building to the long, expansive finish. Best from 2016 through 2035.”WS

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Trending Wines

What do an Oregon Chard, California sparkler, 2014 Beaujolais & northern Rhone red have in common? These are trendy wines under 25! Your fellow Vinopolis shoppers picked them in droves, so see for yourself what all the fuss is about!

Domaine Carneros by Taittinger Brut Cuvee, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 89 points “Soft and delicate, this glides toward rich complexity, offering notes of fresh vanilla, creamy apple, pear and lingering spice.”
Winery note “This wine was aged a full three plus years in our cellar.  A wonderful array of aromas including white flower, pear, golden apple, honeycomb and brioche create a bouquet for the nose. The palate flavors are true to the aromas and are enhanced by a texture that is creamy, full and elegantly structured. The long finish hints of the wines aging potential.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Oregon 2015 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: A blend of wine sourced from 36-year-old 108 clone vines in Abbey Ridge and two barrels from the estate Clos Electrique Vineyard. Granted, the oak has yet to integrate in this wine, but the silkiness, suppleness, and succulence already signal a charming cuvee: Give this wine a few months or more before consumption. You’ll be glad you did, and even gladder that you swooped some up before this Cameron wine goes the way of all the others… out of stock soon enough.

Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($319.95) $259 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $21.58/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Intense black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille aromas are complemented by suggestions of licorice and smoky minerals. Juicy and penetrating, offering sappy red and blue fruit flavors that effortlessly marry power to finesse. The mineral and floral notes linger impressively on the finish, which is given shape by fine-grained, sneaky tannins.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Crozes-Hermitage, Rhone 2014 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 32 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Bright violet. Lively, mineral-laced dark berry aromas are complicated by hints of floral oils and peppery spices. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering gently sweet black raspberry and violet pastille flavors that become deeper and fleshier with air. Sappy and graceful in character, closing with strong thrust and silky tannins.”

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

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Domaine Huet

Increased Allocation from the Highly Lauded 2015 Vintage

Vouvray wines offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential.

“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’ …” Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist

From the Wine Advocate’s Stephan Reinhardt:

“2015 is an exceptional and historic vintage again at Huet (perhaps the best since 1997). I can only recommend to buy cases of all styles. You might know or have learned from my last Huet report (see Interim November 2015), that even the dry and medium-dry wines can age for decades…. The 2015s combine super ripe, tropical fruit flavors and juicy textures with concentration, perfectly integrated acidities and enormous precision that reflects the different terroirs”

Re-Arriving in March 2017

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec 2015 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2015 Vouvray le Mont Sec is pure, precise and very flinty on the nose, which reveals a concentrated and elegant fruit with lemon and crushed stone flavors. Full-bodied, pure and piquant, with a tight and mineral structure, as well as a very persistent finish, this is a highly complex yet finesse-full Chenin with a great aging potential. I’d love to drink the 2015 today, although I know it will become much more complex over the years. The finish is enormously long and reveals fine tannins.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut Lieu Premiere Trie 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Gorgeous from the get-go, featuring creamed melon, yellow apple and persimmon notes that glide effortlessly, inlaid with hints of green tea, verbena, heather and quince. The long finish has beautiful flow, with a buried mineral edge imparting freshness while the fruit plays out. Best from 2018 through 2040.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Premiere Trie 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is super clear, ripe and aromatic on the nose, highly elegant and with lovely flinty flavors. Intense and concentrated, with great finesse and vitality, this is a highly elegant and perfectly balanced wine with a persistent grip and salinity. Great balance and harmony.”
John Gilman 97 points “The 2015 Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux Première Trie from Domaine Huët is utterly brilliant wine, which is at least fifteen years away from truly blossoming, but is so good right now that it is going to be next to impossible not to drink this wine in the blush of youth! The stunning nose shows a gorgeous glazing of botrytis in its constellation of pineapple, honeyed quince, sweet grapefruit, lovely minerality, orange blossoms, a hint of lavender, citrus oils, dried flowers and just a whisper of the new leather that will arrive with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless in balance, with a great core, laser-like focus, superb nascent complexity and lovely grip on the endless, vibrant and dancing finish. Magical juice. 2025-2085. (Sep/Oct 2016)”

Domaine Huet Wines Available Here Now

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec 2015 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 special, 24+ bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93+ points “The citrus-colored 2015 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec is pure, fresh and chalky on the nose where ripe and concentrated fruit aromas along with some subtle herbal aromas are displayed. Full-bodied, very mineral, salty and ripe, this is a concentrated, powerful, densely woven yet finesse-full and elegant Chenin with a very long and grippy, tension-filled finish. Great aging potential.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 16 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Demi-Sec has a creamy, intense and elegant bouquet of ripe and concentrated fruits, along with delicate earthy and lemony flavors. Full-bodied, intense and powerful, with a dense texture and firm tannins, this is a very complex and firmly structured Chenin for the next decade. The sweetness is perfectly integrated and the acidity rather mild in the first moment. The finish though is enormously vital and mineral.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 22 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Moelleux displays open and elegant ripe fruit (pineapples, oranges) with some dusty flavors of crushed rocks. Powerful but full of finesse and elegance, this is a piquant and stimulating sweet wine with grip and tension. However, I find it rather less complex than the Sec and the Demi-Sec.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux 2015 750ML ($51.95) $44 special, 6 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 96 points “The apricot/golden colored 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux shows a very intense, elegant and also subtle bouquet of ripe fruit intermixed with flinty aromas. Dense, piquant and concentrated on the palate, this is a great and tension-filled Chenin with grip and persistence, but also great finesse and elegance. This is a highly complex and energetic, but also light-footed and stimulating wine with lots of mouthwatering salinity. A fascinating Chenin with great aging potential.”

Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie 2008 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Starts with a tangy crème fraîche note before giving way to green almond, green tea, chamomile, powdered ginger and mineral notes. So precise it almost comes off as dry in feel, but the finish belies its late harvest with a showy candied citrus peel note. Drink now through 2025. 880 cases made.” WS

Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is gorgeous, with notes of ginger, orange, clementine, white peach and green fig all bouncing off one another, but working harmoniously through the richly detailed finish. A lingering green tea note hangs on for added length as this puts on weight with air. Drink now through 2025. 760 cases made.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 2 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 96 points “The dark golden-colored 2015 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie is super ripe and intense, yet precise and mineral on the nose where orange and dusty flavors are displayed along with some caramel flavors. Intense and juicy, with a concentrated and sweet, yet vital and elegant fruit, this Chenin has vibrant acidity. This is a full-bodied, well structured, persistent and powerful Chenin with a sweetness that is almost fully integrated. The finish is enormously vivacious and firm, and reveals a stimulating minerality.”

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Felsina Fans: Breaking News

Chianti just got better. Starting with the 2010 vintage, growers in the region adopted a new classification, Gran Selezione (GS). It stands a tier above Chianti Classico Riserva and intends to present the terroir of Tuscany’s lauded Chianti vineyards in its essence. In contrast to Chianti Classico and Classico Riserva, GS wines contain 100% estate-grown fruit. Sangiovese composes at least 80% of the wine, leaving room for French or native-Tuscan varietals. Minimum alcohol is 13% (it’s 12.5% for Riserva), and the minimum total ageing for GS is 30 months (up from 24 months for Riserva). Before earning Gran Selezione status, all wines must first pass the GS panel blind tasting. And finally, when all is said and done, you have some of Italy’s finest wines ever, backed by the Gran Selezione label.

These wines have busted open Chianti’s doors with flavor, finesse, and sheer Italian pleasure, something like the Super Tuscans, but with more tradition. The balance and sophistication of GS wines prove the superior winemaking abilities of their producers, and sing of Chianti’s beauty. The critics are already awarding 95 points and higher to this new breed of Chianti. We agree, and look forward to carrying more and more stunning Gran Selezione wines, especially from our favorite Chianti producer, Felsina.

Felsina Gran Selezione Arriving December 2016

Felsina Berardenga ‘Colonia’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($199.95) $133 pre-arrival special
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.”

Also Arriving from Felsina on December 5th

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 pre-arrival special
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
Gran Selezione Wines Available Here Now

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2006 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, 9 bottles available
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2006 1.5L ($499.95) $389 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2006 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is a controversial wine and for good reason. Proprietor Paolo De Marchi was initially opposed to the idea of introducing the Gran Selezione category above the Chianti Classico Riserva. But more than a year ago, the Institute of Masters of Wine held a special dinner in Florence and producers were invited to pour only Gran Selezione wines. Paolo had an amazing barrel of Sangiovese put aside for a commemorative wine to celebrate his 30th anniversary as a winemaker. He hoped to dedicate that wine as a special limited release. Because he also wanted to pour something of his at the Masters of Wine dinner, he declassified the wine and re-registered it as a Gran Selezione. This also explains why it is from an older vintage. Most of his peers inaugurated this new category with the 2010 vintage. Only 1,800 bottles were made (of which 500 are put aside for the family’s personal use) and the blend consists of Sangiovese with 12% Cabernet Franc and 8% Syrah. “I love Chianti Classico and I love super Tuscans,” says Paolo De Marchi. “This wine is a crossover of the two.” The wine shows gorgeous ripeness with brooding dark fruit, depth and extreme balance. This is a wine that makes a statement upfront both in terms of the quality of the aromas and its overall integrity and persistency.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $205

Castello di Ama ‘San Lorenzo’, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2011 750ML ($57.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “This has a dusty character on the nose with soil, dried fruit and blueberry. Flowers too. Full body, firm tannins and a fresh finish. Tight and structured. Shows wonderful depth of fruit and beauty. Chewy. Better in 2016.” JS

Also Arriving in December 2016

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2010 1.5L ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98+ points “The 2010 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione is extraordinary. A wine of pedigree and class, the 2010 boasts magnificent intensity and depth yet never comes across as heavy. The flavors are layered, nuanced and beautifully delineated in the glass. Plum, black cherry, spice, menthol and sweet spices are laced into the exquisite finish. The 2010 is a stunner today, but also has plenty of upside for the future. A reduction of time in barrel vis-a-vis the 2006 has paid off handsomely. The 2010 is going to be expensive, but it is worth every penny. Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot round out the blend.”

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

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November Sales Recap

We’re up to 56 wines on sale this November!

Read reviews and browse the full selection of sale wines by searching for “November Sale” on our web store – we’re also happy to talk you through the offerings if you email us at info@vinopoliswineshop.com or call 503-223-6002.