Vinopolis March 14th

3/14/16

 

New Week, New Arrivals; Old Friends Return: Re-Arrivals; Ameztoi Rose Price Reduction; Delas Freres, Arena and Wines Arriving This Week; Thomas Perseval Champagne Premier; Faiveley; Felsina; Vietti; Crazy Case Deals


Jump Start Sale!

Ruffino Modus Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($27.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 94 points
“A silky and refined red with currant, berry, mineral and dried flower aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, flavorful and delicious. A blend of sangiovese, cabernet sauvignon and merlot. Drinkable now but better in 2017.” JS
VinopolNote: Modus is a modern-styled Tuscan wine first released in the 1997 vintage.  It is a blend of 50% Sangiovese supported by 25% each Merlot and Cabernet.

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The average price is $26

New Week, New Arrivals

OREGON

Freja Cellars Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Winery note
“Being a cooler vintage this wine needed some age to bring out it’s true potential and it is drinking well now. Slight blueberry and wet stone on the nose. Just a hint of oak. Both Hungarian, Oregon and French oak barrels used for aging the wine, 20% new wood. Wild strawberry and pomegranate on the palate with a slightly tannic finish. Good acidity makes this another great wine for food pairings. Especially goes well with oily fish like salmon or mackerel  and soft aged cheeses.  Released May 2014, 780 cases produced, 12.5 % alcohol.”

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The average price is $19

WASHINGTON

Orin Swift Cellars Palermo Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Winery ntoes: “Rich aromas of seasoned oak meld effortlessly with ripe boysenberry and candied cassis. The entry of the wine is soft and delicate, but quickly evolves into a serious mid-palate replete with opulent and concentrated flavors of dark fruits. Black currant and kirsch provide background to lively raspberry and cherry notes that create a near endless finish.”

Orin Swift Cellars Machete, California 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Winery notes:
“A nearly opaque color sets in the glass with a hard, red complexion that is almost black. Aromas of ripe blueberries and candied plum mingle with toasted oak and charred vanilla. The entry is soft and inviting which paves the way for a lush mid-palate replete with layers of ripe boysenberry and cassis. The finish showcases ripe tannins and pronounced fruit which frames the two for nearly a minute.”

No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 95+ points
“The 2012 Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard sports a darker ruby color to go with lots of savory dark fruits, crushed rock-like minerality, smoke and violets. One of the meatier, masculine Syrahs from Elizabeth, this full-bodied, layered, nicely concentrated beauty will drink well over the coming decade. Drink 2015-2025.”

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No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Wine Advocate 96 points
“A new cuvee that I absolutely loved from barrel last year, the 2012 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard is brilliantly done and gives up a crazy bouquet of blackberries, black cherries, bouquet garni, roasted meats and dried violets. Full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with silky tannin and fabulous precision and length, it’s slightly more approachable than Cayuse’s Impulsivo, yet should still benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolve for 10-15 years after that. Drink 2017-2032.”

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CALIFORNIA
Terlato Family Vineyards Angel’s Peak, Napa Valley 2007 750ML ($49.95)
$18 special
Wine Spectator 88 points
“Loaded with toasty oak aromas, this features appealing layers of red currant, dill and mocha coffee flavors, which linger toward ripe tannins. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.”

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FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Rene Geoffroy Empreinte Premier Cru Brut 2008 750ML ($69.95)
$59 special
Wine Spectator 93 points
“A firm, well-cut version, with a chalky bead and rich mineral character underscoring the flavors of raspberry, candied lemon zest, toasted brioche and yellow peach. Offers an expressive, spiced finish. Disgorged November 2014. Drink now through 2028.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Geoffroy’s 2008 Brut Empreinte is quite a bit brighter and more finely cut than the 2007, a reflection of the personality of the year. Lemon peel, white orchard fruit, flower and slate are all woven together in an intricate, classy fabric. Over time, the 2008 turns creamy and expressive, yet flavor profile is high-toned, bright and quite a bit more acid-driven than the 2007. Disgorged May 2014. Dosage is 10 grams per liter.” AG

FRANCE-BORDEAUX

Chateau Leoville-Las Cases ‘Clos du Marquis’, Saint-Julien 2009 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Robert Parker 93 points
“Now positioned as a totally separate vineyard and a real clos (enclosed walled vineyard), this blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot from Jean-Hubert Delon is a beauty. Creme de cassis notes intermixed with some vanillin, crushed rock and spring flowers jump from the glass. Full-bodied and powerful (nearly 14% natural alcohol), this is a generously endowed, rich wine that was first made in 1902. The 2009 should drink well for 20-25 years. Readers need to think of it as a true classified growth, although technically it is not.”
James Suckling 93 points “Aromas of blueberries, with hints of earth and grilled meat, follow through to a full body, with velvety tannins and a tangy, fresh finish. Lovely citrus rind undertones. From Leoville Las Cases. Try after 2016.”

FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Philippe Pacalet Les Perrieres, Beaune Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 88-91 points
“Medium red. Reticent nose hints at musky dark berries, black cherry and spices; slightly high-toned. Dense, quite ripe and sweet but juicy, with solid minerality leavening the wine’s chocolatey mid-palate. Still, this is quite full in the mouth. Finishes with substantial broad, dusty tannins.”

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Philippe Pacalet Les Perrieres, Beaune Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($99.95)
$89 special
Vinopolnote:
A very nuanced and attractive Beaune; aromas of red fruit and forest-like notes lead into a very layered palate of raspberry-strawberry fruit, ample amounts of spice, and a touch of earthiness. Round and very balanced, with an enduring finish.

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Philippe Pacalet Gevrey-Chambertin, Cote de Nuits 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 88-90 points
“The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Village is Philippe Pacalet’s main cuvee and it is a blend of several parcels. It has a lively, very natural bouquet that is already very charming with its pretty black floral fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, slightly chalky tannins and fine delineation on the pert finish. This is fresh as a daisy and ready to rock and roll after bottling.”

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Philippe Pacalet Pommard, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 88-90 points
“The 2010 Pommard emerges from the glass with soft red fruit, flowers, mint and licorice. Attractive spiced notes wrap around the expressive finish. This is a delicate style of Pommard that impresses for its length and subtle personality. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2022.”

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Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 94 points
“There’s a lot of oak here, lending char, vanilla and whisky elements to the core of black cherry and black currant flavors. Fresh and firm, though the finish absorbs the oak better than the initial attack. Vibrant and long, this just needs time to integrate. Best from 2020 through 2036.”

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Domaine Philippe Charlopin-Parizot Clos Saint Denis Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Draws you in, with beautifully fragrant cherry, floral and spice aromas. The oak spice is more dominant on the palate, integrating with the cherry and blackberry fruit and lush texture. Impressive and should come together with time. Best from 2020 through 2034.”

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FRANCE-BEAUJOLAIS
Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($34.95)
$28 special
Importer note
“Old-vines with naturally low yields.  Made from two parcels of vines, one 45 years old and the other 110 years old (planted before World War I).  Long fermentations in cement cuve, with whole clusters, for 15-25 days at low temperatures to allow for longest skin contact possible.  Wines aged on fine lees in 5-7 year-old oak Burgundian barrels for 6-8 months”

FRANCE-RHONE

E. Guigal Cote Rotie La Landonne, Rhone 2009 750ML ($599.95) $499 special
Robert Parker 100 points
“The 2009 Cote Rotie La Landonne is a killer wine. An extravagant bouquet of black truffles, roasted meats, licorice, ground pepper, blackberries, scorched earth and camphor soars from this muscular, dense, over-the-top, serious, masculine La Landonne. Built like Arnold Schwarzenegger was two decades ago, this enormously concentrated bodybuilder of a wine should hit its prime in a decade, and last 40-50 years. This is no trivial boast as the debut vintage of La Landonne, the 1978, is just reaching full maturity at age 34.” RP
Wine Spectator 99 points “This delivers a stunningly ripe, pure, polished bolt of plum confiture, along with notes of anise, mocha, blueberry coulis, Black Forest cake and espresso. The finish sports admirable grip for this ripe-styled vintage, with a grounding rod of iron buried deeply. There’s fruit and muscle now, with minerality to burn while this is cellared. Best from 2015 through 2040.”

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Domaine de La Janasse Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Chaupin 2011 750ML ($89.95) $51.90 special
Wine Advocate 95 points
“Coming from a cooler, sandy terroir in the northeastern part of the appellation, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Chaupin (which comes 80% from the Chaupoin lieu-dit and 20% from the La Janasse lieu-dit, hence the subtle name change) is 100% Grenache, from vines planted in 1912, that’s aged two-thirds in foudre and one-third in demi-muid. Gorgeous all around, with plenty of similarities to the traditional cuvee, yet slightly richer and fuller, it delivers beautiful mulled red and black fruits, licorice, spice and tinges of stony minerality on the nose. Full-bodied, supple, seamless and elegant, with fine tannin, it makes the most of a difficult vintage and is certainly one of the top 10-12 wines. Drink now-2023.”

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Domaine de La Janasse Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2011 750ML ($119.95)
$63.60 special, 30 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points
“And a candidate for the wine of the vintage, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes is always a rough blend of 85% Grenache and the balance Syrah, Mourvedre, Clairette and other permitted varieties, that has the Grenache aged all in foudre and the Syrah and Mourvedre aged in one-third new barrels (that’s less than 6% of the blend in new barrels). Exhibiting gorgeous black fruits, spice-box, toast, licorice and roasted meat-like qualities on the nose, it is full-bodied, concentrated and layered on the palate, with loads of texture, yet delivers no weight, heat, or ever puts a foot wrong. Shockingly good in the vintage, it should not be missed. Hats off to Christophe and Isabelle. Drink now-2027.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $98

FRANCE-OTHER

Andre & Michel Quenard Vin de Savoie Les Abymes, Savoie 2013 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Wine Spectator
– “The light apple, fennel and green almond notes are backed by a high-pitched, talc-tinged finish. Drink now.”
VinopolNote: Grown from 50 year old vines planted in marl and limestone, “Les Abymes” is 100% Jacquere grown at the base of the Alps. This is the quintessential apres-ski wine, only geared for warmer weather. Clean, light, nuanced, and refreshing!

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The average price is $19

Delaille Domaine du Salvard Unique Pinot Noir, IGP Val de Loire 2013 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Case-12 Delaille Domaine du Salvard Unique Pinot Noir, IGP Val de Loire 2013 750ML ($219.95)
$119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Vinopolnote:
Organic; grown from 10-20 year old Pinot vines planted in clay and sandy soils.100& destemmed, with six day maceration. Vinified in stainless steel cuves, aged on the fine lees, and bottled unfiltered.
VinopolNote: Cheverny is one of the underrated AOC’s in France. Known for energetic and fresh Pinot, Gamay, and Sauv blanc, it is home to the Delaille brothers, whose Domaine du Salvard wines are value-driven and terroir-loaded examples of this underdog region.

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ITALY-TUSCANY

Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico DOCG 2011 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note
“The Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico is composed of 100% Sangiovese grapes. It is a complex and serious blend of our different vineyards. The wine is aged in traditional Chianti Classico casks for about 12 months. The Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico captures the fruit of the Sangiovese grapes and the earthy, spicy and slightly wild traces of the soil in a beautiful blend. It is an unusually concentrated Chianti Classico, that will invariably benefit from age.”

Pian dell’Orino Piandorino Toscana IGT 2013 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Wine Advocate 90 points
“This entry-level Sangiovese was first made in 1997. The 2013 Piandorino could be a Rosso di Montalcino but has remained an IGT expression out of choice. Grapes are sourced from vineyards with blue and gray-colored clay soils that sometimes lead to ripening problems in extreme temperatures. As a result, this simple red sees short maceration times (from seven to nine days). The results are fresh, clean and simple. There is a very nice and genuine quality here that is the wine’s most attractive quality.”
Antonio Galloni 89 points “The 2013 Piandorino, the estate’s entry-level Sangiovese, is fabulous. Bright, punchy and forward, with plenty of Pian dell’Orino’s signature finesse, the 2013 is absolutely delicious today. It should drink nicely for another few years at a minimum.”

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Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($34.95)
$27.70 special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($349.95)
$299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“Dark red cherries, plums, grilled herbs, tobacco, smoke and anise meld together in the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva. Silky layers provide the backdrop for a core of rich, explosive fruit. Even with all of its richness, the 2011 needs more time in bottle to fully blossom. Today, the 2011 Riserva is uncharacteristically closed for the year, but that is a great sign for the future.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva is a wine of enormous depth and personality. It shows an immediate rush of berry aromas with grilled herb and tilled earth. It does a great job of presenting the varietal characteristics of Sangiovese in a pure and unadulterated manner. You can feel a touch of fruit ripeness that is common in most of the wines of 2011, but the mouthfeel is polished and direct.”

ITALY-PIEDMONT
G. B. Burlotto Barbera d’Alba 2014 750ML ($21.95)
$18 special
Vinopolnote:
A rich, earthy, and elegant Barbera – not to mention a super-value!


G. B. Burlotto Langhe Nebbiolo 2014 750ML ($24.95)
$21.90 special
Vinopolnote: Sourced from the same vineyards as Burlotto’s esteemed Barolos, simply aged for less time on wood. A year-in, year-out solid pick.

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Ca Veja Nebbiolo d’Alba 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“The 2012 Nebbiolo d’Alba Ca’ Veja has turned out beautifully. Supple, open-knit and absolutely delicious, the 2012 offers up a compelling mix of sweet red berries and stone fruit laced with attractive floral overtones. This is a classic example of Nebbiolo from Alba, with that extra kick of mid-palate pliancy that is such a Paitin signature.”

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Sottimano Pairolero Barbera d’Alba 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“Pliant, supple and expressive, Sottimano’s 2013 Barbera d’Alba Pairolero is a real beauty. The freshness and energy of the vintage come through in spades. Delicate and medium in body, the 2013 is all finesse. The 2013 spent 25 days on its skins and 18 months in neutral French oak, with no racking until bottling. In a word: Superb.”

ITALY-SICILY

Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti Il Frappato Sicilia IGT 2013 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special
James Suckling 95 points
“Shows wonderful character with dried strawberry, cherry and fresh lilac aromas that follow through to a medium body, ultra-fine tannins and a long, long finish. Fantastic finish and finesse. The greatest Frappato ever made. Don’t miss it. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Bright, dark red. Intensely aromatic nose of strawberry, orange peel, balsamic herbs and black pepper. Enters the mouth fresh and juicy, then turns richer and deeper, showing a bright strawberry quality to the mineral and herbal flavors. Finishes fruity and long, with polished tannins. This outstanding Frappato, made from 55-year-old vines, is a testament to the importance of working with old vineyards.”

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The average price is $42

Arianna Occhipinti ‘Siccagno’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 89 points
“The 2013 Nero d’Avola Siccagno opens to a dark color and thicker concentration. This is what distinguishes the Nero d’Avola grape from the other favorite varieties in Arianna Occhipinti’s exciting portfolio. Also of interest is how this wine presents such authentic aromatic characteristics of dark cherry, balsam herb and black olive. The non-interventionist winemaking style gives plenty of room for varietal expression. This wine promises a steady evolution over the next five years.” ML

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Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Le Vigne Niche’ Bianco Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 92 points
“I was delighted by the 2013 Etna Bianco Cuvèe delle Vigne Niche because it shows a broader style that I did not expect. This is a pure expression of Carricante from vines that are up to 60 years old in age. It sees brief oak contact. You get a pure sense of mineral dryness at first, but that layer lifts gracefully to expose orange peel, dried jasmine and exotic fruit at the back. This Etna white delivers a firm style with muscle and density. It should evolve nicely over the next five years.”
Ian D’agata–Vinous 91 points “Deep straw-gold. Yellow flowers, minerals, fennel and a smoky note on the nose. Densely packed, bright and juicy, offering rich orchard fruit and botanical herb flavors. Finishes vibrant, complex and long. This was fermented in oak and aged for about nine months in 20-hectoliter barrels.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Spectator 90 points
“A perfumed, light- to medium-bodied red, with crushed raspberry, mineral and spice flavors. Light tannins show on the supple finish. Elegant and very drinkable. Drink now through 2021.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 93 points
“Bright red. Captivating nose combines red cherry, faded red rose, violet and tar; I know everyone speaks of Etna in terms of Burgundy, but this reminds me a lot more of a great Nebbiolo! Then pure and penetrating on the palate, with rich red cherry and raspberry flavors complicated by minerals and tar. Complex and long on the fine-grained finish. This outstanding wine possesses a measure of depth and complexity that the other crus in 2013, as wonderful as they are, don’t have.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “My mind wanders to the immense beauty of this stunning vineyard site when I taste the 2013 Etna Rosso Guardiola. Throughout my many years covering Italian wine, this is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever had the honor to visit. That otherworldly beauty – with volcanic stone walls, knotted pre-phelloxera vines, cherry trees and wild flowers with little shrines to the Madonna peeping through the vines – is forever etched in my memory. Guardiola is among my favorite Etna Contrade. This is a shapely and sophisticated expression with dark fruit tones of cassis and blackcurrant backed by crushed mineral and dried flowers. The tannins are firm and drying. This vintage far exceeds my expectations.”


Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($99.95)
$79 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 93 points
“Vibrant red. Very Nebbiolo aromas of red cherry and red rose are complicated by Pinot-Noir like flint and darker fruits. Dense and large-scaled but juicy too, offering bright, pure flavors of red berries and cherry supported by silky tannins. The finishes is pure, suave and very long, with mineral and floral reminders. I find this to combine the best traits of the Guardiola and Calderara wines, which is not that surprising as the grapes used to make it come from the Calderara Sottana and Santo Spirito vineyards (the latter is located right beneath Guardiola, so I wasn’t too far off the mark). Great stuff.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($249.95)
$219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Ian D’agata–Vinous 92 points
“Dark red. Strong stony minerality currently overshadows aromas of red cherry and raspberry. Penetrating and vibrant on the palate, with red berry and mineral flavors displaying noteworthy purity and complexity. Lingers long on the youthfully chewy finish, which features a bright mineral overlay and a violet topnote. This cru is located at roughly the same altitude as Feudo di Mezzo but the soil is extremely gravelly. It’s almost always the most Burgundian of Terre Nere’s many crus and it’s no different this year. Only about 800 meter walk away from the Feudo di Mezzo Quadro delle Rose vineyard, but the wines are a world apart.”
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2013 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana shows a different personality compared to Tenuta delle Terre Nere’s other single-vineyard expressions. Calderara Sottana offers more balsamic definition with wild fennel, rosemary spring, dark fruit and scorched earth. To my palate, it is the most ethereal of the bunch and the hardest to pin down given that the aromas are in constant evolution and flux. Pretty fruit and berry tones fill in the back. Despite the enormous definition presented on the bouquet, the wine is more immediate and direct in the mouth. Bright berry is followed by ash, smoke and dusty tannins. This vintage feels less complex overall but it should age nicely. “

Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2013 750ML ($249.95)
$219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Ian D’agata–Vinous 91 points
“Vivid red. Earth tones and licorice on the nose. Then fruitier and large-scaled in the mouth, offering ripe red fruit and botanical herb flavors that carry through a long, vibrant, chewy finish. The polished tannins provide lovely backbone to the rich red fruit flavors. This is always the first cru to be harvested, roughly two weeks ahead of Guardiola, which is located about 350 meters higher.”

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points
“The 2013 Etna Rosso Santo Spirito is an abundant and enriched expression from the darkened volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna Santo Spirito runs through parts of Passopisciaro at the heart of Etna’s best production zones. This gorgeous wine opens to a dark garnet appearance with inkier colors of crimson and ruby. Crisp and crunchy tones of wild berry, cranberry, red rose and dark mineral characterize the mouthfeel. This was a difficult vintage that saw slow and uneven ripening for many producers. Marco De Grazia has evidently mastered when to harvest his fruit at optimal ripeness.”

Arianna Occhipinti, Il Frappato, IGT Terre Siciliane 2013 750ML ($41.95) $34.50 special
Grapelive 94 points “The beautiful and charming Occhipinti 2013 Frappato is everything you’d expect of this natural wine superstar with its earthy/fruity interchange and subtle complexity. Arianna’s sincerely reflect her passion of place, these are serious and focused real terroir wines, in 2013 and 2014 vintages she has really crafted some compelling wines from the area of Vittoria in south Sicily. The latest Frappato shows a slightly darker profile with an almost ruby/garnet hue in the glass and the palate feels a bit more gripping, though it is still alive and vibrant with bright flavors and with its usual tangy sweet and savory balance, this is a vivid and transparent medium bodied offering with a rustic authentic character. The main thrust is wild tart strawberry along with interesting red peach, bing cherry and fresh vine picked raspberry along with lingonberry and truffle notes. The soft tannin and citrusy acidity give structure and bitter herbs, exotic spice, cedar, saline and dusty stones add contrast to the more fruity elements making for a delicate and entertaining wine that really impresses on the second or third sip and is magic with cuisine. The alcohol is about 13% which is perfectly ripe for Frappato and Arianna uses native yeasts to ferment, this wine has almost no sulfur, similar in style to Morgon’s Lapierre and the wines of La Stoppa in Emilia, Occhipinti’s wines are unique, a bit racy and wonderfully pure. This is an iconic wine, it could be from no other winemaker and from no other place, while others make lovely Frappato, including her uncle Giusto Occhipinti at COS, this wine is the standard bearer. Drink Arianna’s 2013 Frappato from 2016 to 2024, it’s a glorious example of varietal, showing finesse and elegance, but with a raw organic streak that shines through that makes it addictive even now.”

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Azienda Agricola Arianna Occhipinti ‘Grotte Alte’, Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG 2012 750ML ($79.95)
$69 special
Vinoponote:
Arianna considers this Frappato/Nero d’Avola to be her paramount, ‘cru’ effort; the wine spends roughly 45 days macerating before resting in large Slovenian oak vessels.

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AUSTRIA
Weingut Hirsch Kammerner Grub Gruner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage Reserve, Kamptal 2013 750ML ($59.95)
$49 special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 91 points
“After following this pithy, piquant, tightly coiled and firm yet lees-inflected bottling for a year, it seems to clearly be the Hirsch 2013 that has the farthest to travel before it reveals its full potential. Burly tobacco and black tea convey a smoky aura that intriguingly complements flavors of roasted beet root, apple and kohlrabi. The finish is impressively gripping and stony if as yet slightly undifferentiated.”
Terry Theise notes “This is a heat-trap in the declivity between the Gaisberg and Heiligenstein hills, and it gives a very meaty wine, often too meaty for me. Gobelsburg offers it also, and I show you maybe one in three vintages. This one is a big, dense boulder of minerality, stocky and brooding. It has some of the power of the 2003 Lamm, and is loaded with brown-bread and sorghum. More Wachau than Kamptal, but curiously compelling.”
GERMANY
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95)
$39 special
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
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.”

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Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Pittersberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Spectator 88 points
“Off-dry, this shows plenty of pepper and mineral notes, along with peach and citrus flavors. It’s elegant and balanced, showing the Mosel style of Nahe Riesling. Moderate length. Drink now through 2018. 140 cases made.” WS

These Bargains are Back!
Old Friends Return

Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages ‘Chimeres’, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Wine Advocate 93 points
“A joint venture between Jean-Marc Lafage and Eric Solomon, the 2013 Cotes du Roussillon Chimeres is just another example of the brilliance of the 2013 vintage in the Roussillon. Coming all from the schist soils of Maury and a blend of 60% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 10% Carignan that spent 8-12 months in 500-liter barrels and concrete, it possesses a deep purple color to go with savory notes of kirsch and assorted darker berry fruits, pepper, truffle and damp earth. Full-bodied, thrillingly textured and with incredible purity of fruit, this knockout effort stays lively and elegant, with fine tannin, terrific length and no hard edges. It will knock your socks off over the coming 4-6 years.” WA

Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 94 points
“Made not exclusively from their own vineyards the 9% alcohol (plus 20 or 22 grams residual sugar) 2014 Alt Scheidt Riesling (or Barrel X in the US) is an untamed flavored Saar Riesling with a lovely slate aroma and a very sappy and piquant taste. It is lovely juicy and sweet, but also very elegant, and a nothing but lovely type of Kabinett, although Floran Lauer does not want to name it like this because predicates are used only for sweet wines.”
John Gilman, View from the Cellar: “The 2014 Barrel Alt Scheidt” Riesling Feinherb had also just been bottled, and naturally, as it is one of the less expensive wines in the lineup, it is under the screw. The wine offers up a pretty nose of white cherries, pears, slate, white flowers and lime zest. On the palate the wine is medium-full, bright and generous on the attack, with good acids, a fair bit of sweetness and nice length on the wide open and nicely laid back finish. Perhaps this will show a bit more backend precision when it has time to bounce back from its bottling. Good juice. 2015-2020”

Best-Ever Summer Wine?
New Lower Price

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2014 750ML ($24.95) Was $21.90, Now $18, 20 bottles remaining
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points
“Pale, very bright pink. Vibrant, high-pitched strawberry and orange zest aromas show a subtle floral overtone. Dry, racy and sharply focused in the mouth, offering tangy red berry and blood orange flavors and a suggestion of white pepper. Closes spicy, dry and long, with the floral note repeating.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $22

Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
 
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and
California for $25
 
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.

 

Delas Freres Arriving Thursday, March 17th


Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2004 750ML ($59.95)
$49 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points
“Medium red. Strong mineral notes accent fresh cherry and earthier tobacco and floral aromas. Solid and firmly structured, with a racy quality to the bright cherry and rhubarb flavors. This should age very well.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2006 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 92 points
“The stunning, dense ruby/purple-tinged 2006 Crozes-Hermitage Les Clos exhibits smoky, roasted meat, garrigue, blackberry, cassis, new saddle leather, and charcoal aromas, sweet tannins, full-bodied power, and reserves of concentration and fruit. Consume it over the next decade. This cuvee has become one of the top three or four wines of the appellation. ”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Very racy, with dark fig and black cherry fruit crushed together, while hints of iron, mesquite and tobacco fill out the finish. Shows great drive and precision, despite its ample toast.”

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

Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 point
s “Ruby-red. Very pungent, deep aromas of tobacco- and underbrush-laced red and blackcurrant. Powerful and rich, showing impressive sweetness to its potent cassis and blackberry flavors. Really stains the palate, finishing with exceptional purity and mineral tones. Whatever tannins are here (and you know there are plenty) are completely absorbed by the sheer fruit mass.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $159


Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette 2013 750ML ($119.95)
$89 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points
“One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $112.97

Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94+ points
“Closed, tight and backwards, the 2013 Hermitage les Bessards is a big, full-bodied, burly wine that offers first rate purity in its black raspberry, ozone, liquid rock, and creosote-like bouquet. It has plenty of material and density, but will need 7-8 years of bottle age to become approachable. As normal, it comes all from the “Bas de Coteau” portion of the Bessards lieu-dit, was completely destemmed and saw 18 months in 30% new French oak.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $249.99


Antoine Arena
The Best of Corsica

Arriving March 18th
The story of Antoine Arena mirrors that of Corsica. Native to the island, he – as with many fellow Corsicans – left for the French mainland in the 60’s in search of a better future. The independence movement which rocked Corsica in the mid-70’s stirred up a great deal of contention between nationalists and the French government. Full of pride and worry for Corsica’s future, Arena left a good job and resumed his life on his home turf. With his wife and two young sons, he brought his family farm back to life with the goal of asserting the power and beauty of Corsica to continental France and the world at large.

As a result, Arena makes arguably the greatest wines of Corsica. His vineyards are dramatic, with rocky terrain and fast-rising slopes rising from the fertile island. Some of the land was once olive groves, while others were long-lost vineyards which had lain unused and unseen because of their rugged and remote situation. As operations grew, Arena blasted out rocky plots and planted new vines to supplement their 60-year-old plantings.

Working almost exclusively with Niellucciu and Vermentinu, Arena harvest by hand and vinifies only in stainless steel tanks. Native yeast fermentations have nothing added or taken away, save for small amounts of sulfur. The reds see 6-9 week long macerations, with an even longer elevage in concrete tanks. Arena could certainly be considered a natural winemaker, eschewing chemicals and farming bidynamically, though his wines are by no means funky and he chooses not to draw superficial attention to it. Instead, he farms and makes wines the way he feels they ought to be made to best present the incredible terroirs he works with.

With such depth, these wines are quite hard to describe. Thankfully, they’re really easy to drink. We’re proud to offer an array of his wines, all listed below:

Domaine Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2011 750ML ($49.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Wine Advocate 91 points
“Arena’s 2011 BG – Bianco Gentile- exhibits a remarkable nose mingling roasted peanut, toasted hickory, high-toned citrus oils, and melon liquor. Pineapple and juicy Persian and honeydew melon form the matrix of a lush palate, with the zesty citrus as well as toasty legume and nut notes found in the nose serving as striking accents, accompanied by a more predictable suggestion of myriad scrubby herbs. The combination of expansiveness with vivacity and grip is impressive, and I suspect that these now 15-year-old vines are telling us that they have insinuated themselves into the chalky mother rock, as perhaps also intimated by the decidedly stony and alkaline undertone to this wine’s long finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Antoine Arena ‘BG’ Bianco Gentile, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Vinopolnote:
From a miniscule, half-hectare vineyard of clay and limestone soils planted in the late-90’s. Bianco Gentile is an ancient varietal which Arena had discovered and had genetically tested; the wine is rich, complex, tangy, and broad. Salty sea air and peach fruit qualities make for great concentration and a long, lingering finish – this would be fantastic with rich seafood dishes!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.20

Domaine Antoine Arena Muscat du Cap Corse, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Vinopolnote:
100% Muscat Blanc a Petit Grains – a rare varietal planted on steep limetone soils.  The wine boasts apricot, peach, and Mirabelle plum notes, alongside honey and lightly floral elements which lead to a caramel-tinged finish. A no-brainer accompaniment to foie gras.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio Carco Blanc, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Wine Spectator 91 points
“A rich and refined white, with concentrated flavors of dried pear, white peach, apricot and guava that are supported by ample acidity. Well-structured, featuring loads of minerality and a lingering, pure-tasting finish. Vermentino. Drink now through 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45

Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio Grotte di Sole Blanc, Corsica 2012 750ML ($49.95) $24 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Vinopolnote:
100% Vermentinu from a one-hectare vineyard planted sixty years ago in clay-limestone soil. Rich and structured, it’s quintessentially Corsican and deserving of placement alongside the fresh catch of the day!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.20
Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio Grotte di Sole Rouge, Corsica 2011 750ML ($49.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Wine Spectator 89 points
“The dark cherry and black currant fruit has an edgy feel, with lots of bramble, holly and cassis bush notes rippling underneath. Tangy anise and sanguine accents line the finish, presenting a light hint of leather in the background.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31.20
Domaine Antoine Arena Patrimonio ‘Morta Maio’ Rouge Corsica 2011 750ML ($49.95) $29 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Importer’s note:
Hand harvested (yields usually around 35 hl/ha). Natural fermentation, with infrequent doses of sulfur, cement cuve, no oak. Long macerations from 6 to 9 weeks, with regular punch-downs. Long élévages, up to 2 years. No fining, no filtration. The Morta Maio vineyard was planted in 2001 with only Niellucciu. There is just a single cuvée from this parcel, the Patrimonio “Morta Maio” Rouge. This is often the most approachable of the reds when young—dark, earthy, chewy and juicy.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Comte Abbatucci br Barbarossa Blanc, Corsica 2012 750ML ($79.95) $33 pre-arrival special, ETA March 18th
Wine Advocate 91 points
“Abbatucci’s 2012 br constitutes a tank-rendered blanc de noir from the Barbarossa vines his father planted in the early 1960s. Scents and flavors of apricot, pineapple and pink grapefruit are prominently reinforced by piquancy of pit, core, pip and rind, so that the mid-palate effect here – while lush and expansive – is simultaneously zesty and tactilely prickling. Accompanying candied citrus rinds and bitter-edged licorice offers a tannic sense of graininess that accentuates this wine’s invigorating persistence. I have no experience or even reliable word on how previous renditions have fared in bottle, but if fortune favors you with the opportunity and liquidity, enjoy this wine in its youth, but also explore its potential by cellaring a couple of bottles.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.50



Thomas Perseval
Two Perspectives

While it’s crucial to enjoy and defend the old guard of producers who paved the way for boutique importers – Kermit Lynch in the 70’s, Neal Rosenthal in the 80’s, Joe Dressner in the 90’s – it’s equally crucial to explore the portfolios of small and up-and-coming importers as they uncover new talent.

One particularly interesting find comes from the small-but-mighty outfit Selection Massale, whose bicoastal operation focuses on small farms whose limited-intervention winemaking styles showcase the terroir of their respective regions. Below, our paraphrasing of the importer’s first impressions of Thomas Perseval and his Champagne:

“When we left Thomas Perseval’s winery in Chamery after a tour of the vines, cellar, and a tasting of both vins clairs and finished wines, we were jumping out of our skins with excitement. We crossed the sunny, rolling hills of northern Champagne en route to lunch at ‘Au Bon Manger’ in the heart of Reims, certain we’d found our guy. T. Perseval was a fit if he’d agree to work with us, and throughout the day we kept returning to the wines, how much we’d liked them, and how much we’d liked him, the man behind the magic.

“He was our kind of guy, humble and hardworking, a true vigneron wearing shoes coated in vineyard mud. By the end of the day, we’d written to him, unambiguously enthusiastic, to request the privilege of importing the very first Champagnes to be bottled under his name, which would be released in the fall of 2015.

“Perseval’s vineyards are clay, sand, and limestone with chalk underneath. He began converting them to organic viticulture in 2009 when he returned to the family winery after school, and became certified in 2012 (the vintage that gives us the wine we’re offering today). It’s a microscopic domaine of just 2.5 hectares, producing less than 15,000 bottles a year.

“It was while tasting Thomas’ vins clairs out of barrel that we knew he’d be great. In an exploration of Champagne, this is where you learn the caliber of the raw material, where you learn the potential. We tasted Pinot Noir from vines planted in the 1970s; it was all vivid red fruit, lemon, and rocks. There was old vine Meunier, and bright, saline, pleasingly bitter Chardonnay.” – Selection Massale

From our own notes, we found the 2012 to be mineral-laden and complex; it is crisp but not tart, with a bit of lemon-lime essence. No thickness, no brioche, no detectable flaws, but it will likely need a few years of evolution to get interesting. Meanwhile, the 2010 Rose quite an opposite experience. Expresses a lot of fruit flavors in the form of citrus zest to the extent that it felt as though the mouth was coated with a light citrus oil. It wasn’t, of course, and added up to a nicely balanced and a very pleasing experience. No sense at all of sweetness but neither is it shrill. A good Champagne to be served as a dinner accompaniment, it’d be lovely with any sauced seafoods or white meats; your fattest lapin sauced avec moutarde would suit, also spicy Mexican or Asian foods. We liked it a lot.

Thomas Perseval Extra Brut Tradition NV (2012) 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Thomas Perseval Extra Brut Rose NV (2010) 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $64.99

Faiveley 2013’s
Arriving Friday, March 18th


Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($279.95)
$219 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 94 points
“A complete and serious wine for the vintage with wonderful density of fruit and ultra-fine tannins. Full-bodied, muscular and very long. Better in 2018.” JS
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! A generous dollop of moderately toasty oak mixes with the highly layered nose of black cherry, cassis, warm earth and an impressive array of sauvage and underbrush notes. There is excellent richness to the overtly powerful and muscular flavors that possess an imposing sense of scale that continues onto the textured and mouth coating finish. Like several of the wines in the range in 2013 this is a big but not really massive wine that retains a sense of proportion even though the underlying structure is quite firm. This will need plenty of patience however.” BH

Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($299.95) $259 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points
“A notably spicy and attractively floral-suffused nose features notes of plum, rose petal, violets and ripe red currants. There is a seductive texture to the openly rich and generously proportioned flavors that retain a lovely sense of vibrancy on the lightly mineral-inflected finish that delivers both fine depth and length. This is a relatively refined Ech thanks to the fine grain of the supporting tannins.” BH

Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points
“This has some concentration and ripeness with blueberry and blackberry. Full to medium body, firm tannins and a long finish. Extremely attractive. Drink or hold.” JS
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “Deep, bright red. Brooding aromas of redcurrant, smoked meat and animal fur, plus a suggestion of wet match. Intensely flavored and surprisingly high-pitched; dominated today by its brisk acidity and underlying minerality. The very long, rising finish displays outstanding energy to support a graceful evolution in bottle.” ST

Domaine Faiveley Domaine de la Framboisiere Mercurey ‘La Framboisiere’ 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 89 points
“A refined and delicious wine with strawberry, blueberry and lemon character. Medium body, fine tannins and a clean finish. 15% new wood. Drink or hold.” JS

Domaine Faiveley Meursault Blagny Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 91 points
“A big and solid Blagny with dried apple, pineapple and oyster shell character. Full body, pretty fruit. Lots of tension. Drink or hold.” JS

Domaine Faiveley Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90-92 points
“Deep red with ruby highlights. Less fruity and more chocolatey and spicy on the nose than the Chaignots, even a bit exotic. Supple, sweet and complex on the palate, showing very good concentration to its flavors of dark fruits and aromatic spices. The premier crus from Nuits-Saint-Georges are aging in 35% to 40% new barrels in 2013, with some of the premier crus from farther north getting as much as 55%.” ST

Faiveley 2014, The Best Of
Arriving Fall 2016
Domaine Faiveley Chambertin Clos de Beze Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($399.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-96 points
“Bright ruby-red. Incredibly cerebral nose combines scents of black raspberry, dried flowers, caramel, resin and smoke, all lifted by a lively mineral quality. Pure silk on the palate, but also with outstanding energy and definition to the flavors of black raspberry and saline minerality. A real wake-up call to the mouth! Noble tannins reach the front teeth on the very long back end. Superb.”

Domaine Faiveley Corton ‘Clos des Cortons’ Faiveley Monopole Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93-95 points
“Deep ruby-red. Very dark aromas and flavors of medicinal black cherry, crushed rock and licorice pastille. Wonderfully rich and deep, combining a fine-grained texture with superb inner-palate energy. For all its power and concentration, this massive wine boasts terrific delineation. This will take a decade or more to reach its peak.”

Domaine Faiveley Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 92-95 points
“Healthy deep red. More earthbound on the nose than the Latricières, offering aromas of black raspberry and dark chocolate plus a hint of game. Wonderfully silky and energetic but dry and unforthcoming in the early going; more gamey than the Latricières. This powerful, saline wine boasts captivating sweetness and finishes very long, with silky, noble, seamless tannins coating the front teeth. At once less floral and deeper than usual for this cuvée. Outstanding potential here.”

Domaine Faiveley Latricieres-Chambertin Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($279.95) $239 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points
“Dark red. Very pure but subdued aromas of black raspberry, bitter chocolate and minerals. Suave and wonderfully precise on the palate, conveying lovely inner-mouth rose petal lift to the flavors of raspberry and crushed-stone minerality. Totally different in style from the Clos Vougeot and Echézeaux and a step up in precision, finesse and sophistication. The very long, rising, saline finish perks up the taste buds. My projected score may prove to be overly conservative.”

Domaine Faiveley Echezeaux Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points
“(from en Orveaux next to the Combe d’Orveaux but situated on a steep, south-facing slope with thin white topsoil): Bright red-ruby. Lovely perfumed aromas of rose petal, minerals and espresso. Boasts superb definition and energy in the mouth, accentuated by a high level of CO2. Youthfully backward and very long, showing no edges. This is always the Faiveley grand cru picked with the lowest potential alcohol, noted technical manager Jerôme Flous. Quite uncompromising in the early going.”

Vietti
Barolo With Soul

 
“The 2011 Barolos continue to surprise. Radiant, open and already quite expressive, the 2011s show terrific potential…  The best 2011 Barolos are pretty, silky wines that are likely to drink well pretty much upon release. My impression is that this is not a vintage to cellar for the long term, but, then again, Nebbiolo has a way of transforming in bottle, so we will see. The 2011s are a step down from the 2010s but more consistent and higher in quality than the 2009s. Overall, 2011 is a vintage with more variability than is the norm in a truly great year, but there are plenty of highlights nonetheless.

“The 2011s have turned out to be very much a vintage of place. In the top sites the wines often speak with true nobility and a sense of terroir, whereas in second and third tier vineyards the vintage covers some of those nuances.” –Antonio Galloni

We offer 5 of the 2011 Vietti releases plus 9 additional bottlings, all available here now.  Below are the 2011s – you can browse the rest online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com

Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points
“The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is a landmark wine and one of the best expressions made region-wide in this challenging vintage. The bouquet is gorgeous thanks to the never-ending aromas of dark fruit, licorice and balsam herb that peel off the top. The Lazzarito vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba is characterized by thick soils and deep shifts between daytime and nighttime temperatures. These are important factors that lead to quality fruit despite the summer heat.” ML
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is fabulous in this vintage.  Rich, ample and structured, the 2011 is both opulent and savory in style.  Iron, plums, dark red cherries, smoke, licorice and tobacco meld together in a remarkably harmonious young Serralunga Barolo.  This is the first year the Vietti Lazzarito includes a second recently acquired parcel, which may be one of the factors that influences quality, but at the same time, the Lazzarito has been the most improved Barolo in the range.  All the elements come together in the 2011, a wine that has it all.  This is a great showing from the Lazzarito.  Best of all, readers won’t have to wait forever to enjoy this beautiful, pedigreed Barolo.”AG

Vietti Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2011 Barolo Brunate is a wine of enormous pedigree, although it does not fully reach the aspiring heights of the 2010 and 2009 vintages immediately before it. Those wines set the bar so high, you need to settle for this wine that is a masterpiece in its own right. It offers deep, dark intensity with generous tones of ripe fruit, blackberry and red currant. Background notes of rosemary, cherry cola and licorice add vitality and focus. There is a subtle touch of softness in the mouth that is followed by firm tannins.” ML
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “A dark, exotic Barolo, the 2011 Brunate boasts tons of density and volume.  Black cherry, plum, spice, licorice, new leather and menthol are some of the many nuances that flesh out in the glass.  Ultimately, though, the 2011 is largely defined by the texture and amplitude of the year.  Brunate is often slow out of the gate, so I will not be surprised if that is the case here as well.  Ideally, readers should plan on giving the 2011 at least a few years in bottle to fully come together.”AG

Vietti Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.80 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 2011 Barolo Castiglione is Vietti’s proverbial bread-and-butter wine. It is made in larger volumes (the 2011 vintage saw 56,000 bottles produced) and it shows consistent quality that consumers have come to count on. Fruit is sourced from the greater Castiglione area. The nose is compact and impeccable with dark cherry and plum, backed by spice, licorice and anise seed. There’s even a playful touch of bitter chocolate on the close.” ML

Vietti Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“The 2011 Barolo Ravera is once again the most vibrant and nuanced of the Vietti Barolos.  Freshly cut flowers, crushed rocks, mint and bright red stone fruits are all shaped by a very classic sense of mineral-inflected drive that is such a Ravera signature.  The 2011 is a more than worthy follow up to the epic 2010.  It’s great to see this high-altitude district in Novello finally getting its due.”AG
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Barolo Ravera opens to a pretty garnet color and dark ruby luminosity. The wine delivers tight concentration and a fine texture that adheres closely to the palate. Blackberry, cassis, spice, leather and tobacco emerge from the glass. Barolo Ravera also offers an earthy tone of white truffle or porcino mushroom. Soft oak density and thick fruit extract give the wine beautiful, full-bodied appeal. Give it ten more years of cellar aging to lose the baby fat.” WA

Felsina
Chianti. Classico.

Let’s visit Felsina, the winery behind our 2015 Wine of the Year: Felsina Chianti Classico Reserva 2010.  While we are sold out of this vintage, the 2011 is newly arrived.  It offers all the complexity and structure you’ve come to appreciate out of their CC Reserva from an already highly praised vintage (they do seem to come in pairs these days).  Stay tuned below for details!

Fattoria di Fèlsina has long been one of the great names in Tuscany.  Based in the Chianti Classico region, Fèlsina produces one of the finest ranges of age worthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings.  In 1966, when Italian viticulture was synonymous with cheap, boring wine, Dominic Poggiali Fèlsina purchased the estate. His son-in-law Giuseppe Mazzocolin took over in the 1980s and refocused the winery on producing high quality, full-bodied Sangiovese.  The vineyards are maintained with massale selections from their oldest vines.  They produce several Sangiovese wines, including the declassified Fontalloro made from 50+ year old vines grown in the hills bordering Chianti Classico and Colli Sensi.

Over the past fifty years, the estate has continued to produce wines in a pure, traditional style without being tempted by international-style influences. As a result, Fèlsina has come to be known for one of the finest ranges of ageworthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings in all of Italy.

The estate has proved to be one of our most popular wineries, and we are pleased to carry 9 wines, including these Chiantis and 100% Sangiovese wines from the greater Chianti region:

Newly Arrived from Felsina:

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($34.95) $27.70 special
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($349.95)
$299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“Dark red cherries, plums, grilled herbs, tobacco, smoke and anise meld together in the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva. Silky layers provide the backdrop for a core of rich, explosive fruit. Even with all of its richness, the 2011 needs more time in bottle to fully blossom. Today, the 2011 Riserva is uncharacteristically closed for the year, but that is a great sign for the future.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva is a wine of enormous depth and personality. It shows an immediate rush of berry aromas with grilled herb and tilled earth. It does a great job of presenting the varietal characteristics of Sangiovese in a pure and unadulterated manner. You can feel a touch of fruit ripeness that is common in most of the wines of 2011, but the mouthfeel is polished and direct.”

Also Available Here Now From Felsina:

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico DOCG 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points
“There are mushrooms on the nose of this Chianti Classico, but these soon give way to subtle, deep aromas of blackberry crumble with hints of mint and ivy. It soon fills up the mouth with beautifully dense fruit and fine tannins, nutty, woody undertones and long finish. Gorgeous now, but better in 2016.”
Antonio Galloni 89+ points “The 2012 Chianti Classico is a great introduction to the wines of Felsina. Deeply varietal and expressive to the core, the 2012 graces the palate with the essence of Sangiovese from the southern part of the Chianti Classico zone. Sweet tobacco, underbrush, menthol, licorice and black cherries flow through to the finish, but it is the wine’s sheer balance that impresses most of all. This is a gorgeous mid-weight Chianti Classico to drink over the next decade plus.” AG

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia emerges from the glass with freshly cut roses, sweet red berries, licorice, spices and tar. This is a mid-weight, silky Rancia that impresses for its textural beauty and finesse. The Rancia emerges from a high-altitude site planted from 1958 through1982 with Sangiovese. The wine is aged in French oak barrels, but the oak is never noticeable, even when the wine is young. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.” WA

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 30 bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 1.5L ($99.95)
$89 special, 4 magnums available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($499.95)
$469 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $39.08/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 94 points
“From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.” AG

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($579.95)
$519 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points
“There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($579.95)
$519 special, 1 case available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94+ points
“The 2010 Fontalloro (Sangiovese) is impeccable. A sweet, open bouquet melds into expressive red fruits. Compared to the 2010 Rancia, Fontalloro is a decidedly more delicate, feminine wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced. I expect the 2010 will enjoy a fairly broad window of drinkability. Today I give the 2010 a very slight nod over the 2009, only because I think the 2010 will age a little longer, but both are striking.” AG

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 25 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($699.95)
$519 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator & Antonio Galloni 94 points
“Felsina’s 2011 Fontalloro is wonderfully expressive today. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, rose petal and sweet spices all blossom in the glass. Impeccably layered and sensual, the 2011 captures all the best qualities of the year. Sweet floral and red-toned notes burst with great energy on the structured finish. Fontalloro seems to have come a long way over the last few years. The 2011 is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty.” AG

Crazy Case Deals

Case-12 Camille Giroud Santenay 2012 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Camille Giroud Santenay 2012 750ML ($49.95)
$39 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89-90 points
“Giroud’s 2012 Santenay is striking. Here the flavors are savory and quite powerful. Iron, graphite and minerals add complexity in a dark, muscular Santenay loaded with personality. The 2012 finishes with fabulous length, energy and perfume. About 20% of the Santenay is declassified 1er Cru fruit.” AG

Case-12 Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett 2011 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 1 case available (that’s only $24.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Kabinett 2011 750ML ($39.95)
$29 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points
“Talcum and orange blossom fetchingly scent Adam’s 2011 Dhronhofberger Riesling Kabinett, then join white peach on a luscious, delicate, subtly creamy palate, with a sense of wafting inner-mouth perfume as well as nut cream and wet stone undertones lasting into a refreshing finish, where the effects of a small lot of wine with unusually high acidity are noticeable and engender a certain largely productive tension. As this opened to the air, a sense of interactive dynamic between its fruit and flowers on the one hand and emerging stony, alkaline, and saline notes on the other served to heighten an already high level of stimulation. This should be a delight to follow for the next 15 years or so and will probably gain in nuanced complexity.” WA

Case-12 Fattoria dei Barbi Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($599.95) $479 special, 1 case available (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Fattoria dei Barbi Cinelli Colombini Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95)
$44.50 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 96 points
“Aromas of burnt orange peel and cherry with hints of dried bark and mahogany. Full-bodied and very tight and dense, with a beautiful fruit, tannin and acid balance. Finesse and strength. Best wine from here for ages. Needs until 2018 to show its true quality.” JS
Wine Advocate 94 points “Fattoria dei Barbi’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino starts with a tightly wound personality that begins to unravel slowly, one delicate layer at a time. As it does, you become aware of dried fruit, cigar box, crushed mineral, plum, tar and cola. The wine puts on a beautiful display. I also loved the mouthfeel of this beautiful wine: It is tonic, tight and brimming with energy. Well-integrated oak notes give the wine a spot of softness and velvety spice. This is one beautiful Sangiovese.” ML

Case-6 Signorello Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($549.95) $428 special, 1 six-pack available (that’s only $71.33/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Signorello Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($99.95)
$79 special, 4 bottles available
Robert Parker 91+ points
“The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a blend of 93.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyards on the Silverado Trail, south of Stags Leap. Made in a good structural style with plenty of barrique in the background as well as lots of blackcurrant, licorice, new saddle leather and spice characteristics, this tastes like a Cabernet Sauvignon made by someone of Italian origin. I say that because of its tannic structure and spice. This serious, full-bodied, concentrated 2012 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age, and should drink well for two decades.” RP

Case-12 Kaiken Terroir Series Corte Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Petit Verdot, Mendoza 2012 750ML $291.95) $149 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Kaiken Terroir Series Corte Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Petit Verdot, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($19.95)
$14 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points
“This is beautiful and sexy with lots of dark fruits, dark chocolate and hints of vanilla bean. Cappuccino too. There’s lots of new wood showing but it’s integrated and delicious. Cabernet sauvignon, malbec and petit verdot. Drink now.” JS

Case-6 I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna ‘Pistus’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2013 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 3 six-packs available (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna ‘Pistus’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2013 750ML ($21.95)
$18 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90+ points
“I Custodi’s entry-level red is the beautiful 2013 Etna Rosso Pistus with fruit sourced from various points on the north side of the volcano. The blend is a traditional cut of 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio and the wine sees no oak aging. I loved the vibrant freshness and fruity concentration of this wine. It opens to a luminous dark ruby color and an ambitious bouquet with bramble, spice, wild fruit, licorice and dark mineral. There is little fruit as most of the bouquet is occupied by ethereal volcanic tones. Stylistically speaking, this wine shows austerity and a masculine approach with tight, firm tannins. Pistus is a stubborn, but ultimately charming Etna Rosso.” ML

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Domaine Cheveau Macon Davaye Les Belouzes, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Domaine Cheveau Macon Davaye Les Belouzes, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($24.95)
$21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer note
“The cellars of the Domaine Cheveau are situated in the hamlet of Solutré-Pouilly in the heart of the appellation of Pouilly-Fuissé. The domaine was established by André Cheveau in 1950. The vineyards dedicated to Chardonnay are composed of the classic clay – limestone composition that provides the perfect ambience to produce the grand wines of Burgundy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 4 cases available (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Giovanni Corino Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($24.95)
$17 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 88 points
“The 2012 Barbera d’Alba is juicy, expressive and generous. Dark red cherries, plums, spices and licorice meld together in a pretty, vinous Barbera to drink over the next few years.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Case-12 Chateau de Fosse-Seche Saumur Blanc Arcane, Loire 2012 750ML ($379.95) $333 special, 1 case available (that’s only $27.75/bottle!)
Chateau de Fosse-Seche Saumur Blanc Arcane, Loire 2012 750ML ($39.95)
$33 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points
“Yields of the 2012 Saumur Arcane were remarkable low (10-15 hectoliters per hectare), but finally gave a full-bodied, firmly structured wine with a powerful length. Golden yellow in color. Rich, ripe and deep on the nose, very profound and complex, but also superbly pure and stony in its core showing cooked quinces and honey. This is a very mineral, straightforward and stimulating wine of great purity, a serious expression of the unique terroir of Fosse-Sèche. Drink now and until 2030+.” SR


let us celebrate the occasion
with wine and sweet words

– plautus

Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.
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