In This Newsletter:
Happy Holidays from Vinopolis!
We will be open our normal hours, 10-6pm, on New Year’s Eve
and we will be CLOSED on New Year’s Day
Special Arrival
Opus One
New Arrivals
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage, Felsina Chianti, Kellerei Kurtatsch, and more!
“The Garden of France”
Wines of The Loire Valley
Close-Out Sales
Last minute bottles to round out your New Year’s celebration!
Collector’s Corner
The best name in Port at the lowest price on the West Coast!
Happy Holidays from Vinopolis!
We will be open our normal hours, 10-6pm, on New Year’s Eve
and we will be CLOSED on New Year’s Day
Special Arrival
Opus One
New Arrivals
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage, Felsina Chianti, Kellerei Kurtatsch, and more!
“The Garden of France”
Wines of The Loire Valley
Close-Out Sales
Last minute bottles to round out your New Year’s celebration!
Collector’s Corner
The best name in Port at the lowest price on the West Coast!
Special Arrival
“The Opus One 2017 offers a harmonious aromatic balance of rich dark fruit, stems of roses, and earthy forest floor. The juicy entry offers a round, silky mouthfeel with just enough acidity to complement the satin texture. This seductive wine shows flavors of black cassis, black cherry and a hint of cocoa powder. The fine-grained, plush tannins evolve into a long, supple finish. A supremely age-worthy wine, it will delight now and for many years to come.” -Opus One Winery Notes
Unlike 1976’s famous Judgement of Paris, this wine is a celebration of transatlantic winemaking collaboration rather than competition. When two of the world’s most famous winemakers, Bordeaux’s Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Napa’s Robert Mondavi, joined forces to create a unique masterpiece in 1979.
This is one of the wines that put Napa (American wines as a whole) on the map.
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2017 750ml $359 special, 3 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points ” A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration – around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.”
Unlike 1976’s famous Judgement of Paris, this wine is a celebration of transatlantic winemaking collaboration rather than competition. When two of the world’s most famous winemakers, Bordeaux’s Baron Philippe de Rothschild and Napa’s Robert Mondavi, joined forces to create a unique masterpiece in 1979.
This is one of the wines that put Napa (American wines as a whole) on the map.
Opus One Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2017 750ml $359 special, 3 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points ” A fist of late summer cherries, raspberry and bilberry fruits set out their stall, all with the juicy character that confirms, even in a hot vintage like 2017, Opus can deliver balance and sculpted elegance. Beautiful grip, creamy texture with a strikingly powerful tannic frame. As the wine stays in the glass the floral aromatics begin to bloom up. A brilliant Opus. 20 days maceration – around half what it would have been a decade ago. 54% native yeast, as part of their native yeast project. 5% Merlot and 1% Malbec complete the blend. Harvest spread out over September 5 to October 8, just before the fires, by which time they had less than 10% of the fruit still out on the vines.”
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Opus One had picked 91% of their fruit before the fires started in 2017, and only two lots were eliminated from consideration. The 2017 Opus One, bottled in July 2019, is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8.5% Petit Verdot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4.5% Merlot and 1% Malbec. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it slowly grows on the nose, revealing compelling notes of baked black cherries, mulberries, black raspberries, warm cassis and blackberry pie with nuances of spice cake, yeast extract, tapenade, licorice and dusty soil with a waft of wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a lively skip in its step, featuring bags of juicy raspberry and cassis-laced fruit and a refreshing line, supported by ripe, plush tannins, finishing long and graceful.”
New Arrivals
CHAMPAGNE
Founded in 1741, the Champagne House of Andre Clouet has been making some of the most recognizable Champagnes in the village of Bouzy for centuries. Jean-Francois Clouet, the current owner and winemaker, is committed to making wines that reflect the rich history of the region. His wines do just that, while representing some of the best values available.
These Dream wines represent Jean-Francois’ most prized vintages and the bright colors of the labels are inspired by classic Cadillac models. It’s fitting, as these are the Cadillacs of his line-up, with a balance of elegance and vivacious expression. Each wine is produced from 100% Chardonnay in Stainless steel tanks.
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2009 750ml $54.50 special, 24 bottles available
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2013 750ml $53.50 special, 27 bottles available
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2016 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “This has a perfumed nose of wild cherries, strawberries, sandalwood, peppercorns, cloves, rosemary and truffles. Elegant and refined, with firm, fine tannins. Long and deliciously wild, with savory spice notes.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points “Aromatically more intense, the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is concentrated with candied raspberry, licorice, and menthol. This is true to the palate as well, with a core of cherry fruit, blood orange, and a lasting floral finish. It has a ripe and sunny feel, fine tannin structure, and a cleansing freshness of acidity. Although it is open and generous in its showing now, this will be worth holding onto for the next 8-10 years.”
Kellerei Kurtatsch Pinot Grigio, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Notes “The large temperature differences between day and night in these vineyards is the magic that lends the wine its distinctive aroma of white peaches, fresh flowers and citrus fruits. In the mouth, the wine is juicy and round. The creamy texture is complemented by fresh, animating acidity. This is mainly thanks to the higher-elevation Pinot grigio vines. An expressive wine with a mineral, salty finish.”
Big price drop on one of our favorite wines!!!
GD Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2021 750ml $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 93+ Points “Just bottled, the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is fabulous. Rich and inky, with tremendous depth, the 2021 is so vibrant in the glass. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, sweet spice and mocha are all dialed up, with a kiss of French oak that adds raciness.”
Wine Advocate 93 Points “I’m told that this is probably the last vintage in which the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Viola delle Viole will carry the name Viola delle Viole. In yet another unfortunate nod to climate change, Barbera vines suffer from the floral disease Flavescence dorée that causes the plants to shut down and the fruit to remain unripened. Barbera, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the most hard-hit by the sickness. Freisa and Nebbiolo are resistant, and those varieties are planted around the rims of vineyards today as a protective barrier. As a result, Barbera vines in Bricco delle Viole (one of two sites present in this blend, the other being Bricco Bertone outside the Barolo area) were taken out. Barbera tends to produce wines with high alcohol, but the Vajra team prefers to reach optimal fruit maturity and is less concerned about alcohol. The grape always has high acidity, but that is “a problem that is going away on its own,” says Isidoro Vaira. Bricco delle Viole gives the wine its floral aromas and Bricco Bertone adds a sweet almond-like flavor. There is a seven- to eight-day harvest difference between the two sites. This wine ages in large oak casks for 16 months.”
Best Price in the United States
The Loire just never gets enough love.
Known as the “garden of France” for the enormous volume of agriculture produced in this region, the Loire was an early adopter of organic and biodynamic viticulture, not because it was trendy, but because it was reflective of the natural farming techniques practiced in the region for centuries.
The Loire’s wines are known for their elegance and versatility, making them a dream come true for food pairing and dinner parties. This week, we’re taking a trip through the wine producing regions of the Loire, starting at the mouth of the Loire river and floating our way east.
MUSCADET
Bottled “sur-lee,” (on the lees) great oyster and seafood wines!
Domaine de la Pepiere
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson Cru, Loire 2020 750ml $28 special, 24 bottles available
Importer’s Note “The Clisson bottling comes from a 50-100-year-old section vines in Pepière’s core vineyard near the winery in the cru of Clisson. Besides vine age, the distinguishing factor is the granite de Clisson, a very hard, compact form of granite. The very poor top soils are decomposed granite de Clisson with very little clay and a lot of quartz and mica over hard mother rock of granite de Clisson. The farming is certified-biodynamic. The hand-harvested bunches are direct-pressed and the juice settled naturally overnight. It is then fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts and aged on its lees for a minimum of 2 years in underground vats. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson Cru, Loire 2017 1.5L $61.90 special, 5 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 Points “The 2017 Clisson from this organic estate has been wild fermented and has spent two years in cuve on lees (the minimum for this cru). While ripe and rounded, which is a character of the Clisson cru, and redolent of lees-derived character, this retains a lovely precision and vivacity. Appealing clarity of apple and citrus fruit and light in body. This is a fresher, more defined style of Clisson from a cooler season. It’s pure, clean and provides definition.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Monnieres-St-Fiacre, Loire 2017 1.5L $59 special, 3 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 Points “The 2017 Monnières Saint-Fiacre offers ripe nectarine, apple and citrus alongside lees-derived nutty characters, having spent three years on lees. The clarity of the wine is excellent, perhaps something to do with the hand harvesting and whole bunch pressing, which puts them in the minority. It’s light in body and elegant with fine sinew on the finish. Drawing this out on the long finish, it bursts with freshness and reflects the cool vintage.”
SAVENNIERES
A hub of organic and biodynamic viticulture. These Chenin Blanc wines are dry, high-toned and extremely long lived.
“Thibaud Boudignon is unquestionably one of the most exciting figures in wine today. Originally from Bordeaux, he honed his winemaking craft while working at Philipe Charlopin in Gevrey-Chambertin during the early 2000s…It is wines like these that make us remember why we love this business. Just when you think you’ve had the best a region has to offer, a new discovery comes along to rock your world. Boudignon is such a discovery, with wines that speak so clearly of their place of origin. It is in this writer’s humble opinion, that there is no greater dry Chenin Blanc being made in the world today. Period.” -Skurnik Wines
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de la Hutte, Loire 2020 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles available
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de la Hutte, Loire 2020 1.5L $219 special, 1 magnum available
Vinous 96 points “Outer quote mark Move over Luther Vandross, Thibaud Boudignon is in town and the Clos de la Hutte makes you want to slow dance with it. The 2020 is a wine that makes your shoulders drop such is its tranquility and sense of comfort in your mouth. It blooms in the mouth and does so without any sense of heaviness. The finish, scented with flowers and nectarines, is long, fragrant and textural. I hate using the word minerality as it means so many different things to people, but in my opinion, this has it in spades. It is incredible that the vines were only planted in 2011 on the schistous site on the grounds of a former monastery. Aged in larger format barrels, there’s no sense of oakiness, allowing the purity of this wine to shine bright.”
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de Fremine, Loire 2021 $86 special, 17 bottles available
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de Fremine, Loire 2021 1.5L $179 special, 3 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2021 Clos de Frémine has a fragrant, lightly tropical nose of almost banana and just-ripe pineapple notes. While delicate on the mid-palate, it packs a punch on the finish with the combination of racy acidity and mineral streak. The long, aromatic finish is pastry-like with a firm line. 11.5% alcohol.”
Joly Vignobles de la Coulee de Serrant ‘Clos de la Coulee de Serrant’, Loire 2019 750ml $135 special, 18 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 Points “Produced from seven hectares of vineyards aged from 40 to 50 years old, Joly’s 2019 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant opens with a clear, bright yet enormously dense and complex bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and fine but dense and multilayered fruit that needs air to open up, yet it shows its class immediately. On the palate, this is a rich and intense, full-bodied, tight and concentrated yet elegant and stimulating salty Chenin with firm tannins intertwined with a crystalline acidity that carries this highly complex icon wine to a long and compact yet elegant finish. There is a remarkable purity, freshness and energy in the aftertaste that you sometimes might have missed in former vintages.”
Joly Vignobles de la Coulee de Serrant Savennieres Les Vieux Clos, Loire 2019 750ml $69 special, 9 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Joly’s 2019 Les Vieux Clos displays a straw-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear, elegant, concentrated and very complex bouquet of ripe yellow-fleshed fruits (mirabelles, persimmons, passion fruit), quinces and pears intertwined with schist and iodine notes of crushed stones and quartz as well as floral aromas. The exciting impression of the nose is proceeded on the palate, where this full-bodied and fiery Savennières has a seamless texture and a crystalline as well as elegant structure with ripe and concentrated fruit and lingering crystalline and salty acidity. The wine has fine and textural tannins and develops a very intense and complex finish. This is a giant in the making, and using a big glass (like Zalto’s Bordeaux) is imperative.”
SAUMUR AND CHINON
The Chaulky soils of Saumur produce lithe, delicate cabernet franc, versus the fuller style of Chinon. The reds of this region are excellent for dishes like roasted chickens or grilled red meats.
Domaine des Closiers
“This kind of winemaking isn’t taught in school … Cabernet Franc with this expression – so dynamic, bursting with aromatics, and in the mouth, it’s explosive … I haven’t had a Saumur-Champigny like this in 10 years.”– Michel Bettane & Thierry Desseauve, as reported by Rare Wine Co.
Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny ‘Les Closiers’, Loire 2021 750ml $36 special, 20 bottles available
John Gilman 93 Points “The 2021 Saumur-Champigny “les Closiers” from Domaine des Closiers is the winery’s basic level bottling, seeing no oak aging and being raised for six to eight months in stainless steel tank. Nevertheless, the bouquet of the 2021 is stunning, soaring from the glass in a black fruity blaze of dark berries, cassis, tree bark, cigar ash, dark soil tones and a distinctly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied, focused and complex, with a beautiful core of black fruit, fine soil signature and grip, ripe, suave tannins and a long, vibrant and impeccably balanced finish. This is a stunning value! 2023-2050+.”
Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny ‘Les Coudraies’, Loire 2020 750ml $44.50 special, 11 bottles available
John Gilman 95 Points “The Saumur-Champigny “les Coudraies” is one of the estate’s single vineyard wines, made from a selection of the best parcels in this hillside vineyard. The wine is aged in mostly older casks for one year prior to bottling. The 2020 les Coudraies comes in at fourteen percent octane and offers up a simply gorgeous bouquet of red and black cherries, cigar wrapper, a touch of tree bark, a complex base of soil tones, juniper berry, a touch of cedar and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very elegant in profile, with a rock solid core of fruit, firm, buried tannins, excellent focus and grip and a long, complex and very, very promising finish. This is a great bottle of Saumur-Champigny in the making!”
Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny Trezellieres, Loire 2019 750ml $108.50 special, 3 bottles available
John Gilman 96 Points “This is my first taste of Domaine des Closiers top bottling, les Trezellières, which is made from a parcel of old vines and given fully two years aging in barrel, with somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the casks new. The 2019 les Trezellières is beautifully deep and refined aromatically, delivering scents ofblack cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a very complex base of soil, a touch of Cheval Blanc-like menthol, a gentle dollop of tree bark, cedar and a top note of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure,full-bodied, elegant and rock solid at the core, with great focus and complex, superb soil undertow, fine-grained tannins and a very long, pure and classy finish. The small percentage of new oak gives this wine more refinement than the les Coudraies bottling, but because it is no more than twenty percent new oak. The wood influence is far more subtle out of the blocks than in Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg bottling, which is the closest comparison I can think of for this brilliant young Saumur-Champigny. Give this beautiful wine plenty of time in the cellar to properly resolve its tannins and completely blossom! 2031-2085”
VOUVRAY
Wines of elegance, ranging dry to very sweet great with dessert or cheese.
Domaine Huet
Burrowed in the deep chalky hillsides of the Loire rests a wine of impressive immortality and beguiling flavor. In caves hollowed out of the tuffeau rock for the development of the valley’s grandest Chateaux, chenin blanc slumbers, develops, and evolves into one of the most compelling and unique white wines in the world. We’re speaking of course about the wines of Vouvray, one of France’s very first designated appellations following the founding of the INAO in 1936, and a region whose wine history traces back to the middle ages. This region’s most iconic and classic producer is undoubtedly Domaine Huet.
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750 $39 special, 17 bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2020 750ml $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Rebecca Gibbs MW-Vinous 97 Points “Drinking the 2020 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is like taking your shoes off at the end of a long day of walking and soaking them in warm water: there’s just satisfaction and relaxation. The 2020 has a sense of volume but not weight, filling the mouth with depths of pure fruit before the acid pours forth like a canal lock being opened. You can expect a hint of spice and crème caramel alongside apple and florals. I am utterly seduced.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Best Price in the United States
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”
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SANCERRE
Vivacious wines great with cheese and seafood. Chaulky soils produce excellent minerality in these exquisite wines.
“Given the crystalline purity of his Sauvignon Blancs, he has become one of my favorite producers of the central Loire. If you want to know what true Sancerre tastes like, try one of his single-vineyard bottlings. It does not come any better!” –Joel Payne, Vinous
The Boulay family has farmed their famous and unique parcels of land in Chavignol since 1380 and it is their deep understanding of this land that lends their production such gravity and legitimacy. Chavignol, located in the Village of Sancerre, is famous for their “Terre Blanche” the same Kimmeridgian soils that run through Champagne and Chablis. It is these soils that give boulay’s famed crus: Monts Damnés, La Grande Côte, and Clos de Beaujeutheir character. As a result, these wines are electric and high-minded like Chablis, with the earthiness and vivacity of the Loire. Everything in the vineyards is done in the family’s traditional style, including organic farming, hand harvesting, and partial aging in neutral oak barrels, which prolongs the longevity of the wines for decades.
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu, Loire 2021 1.5L $119 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Notes “The Clos de Beaujeu is among the most historic sites in the village of Chavignol. In the 14th century the Clos de Beaujeu supplied the Cathedral of Bourges with white wine. At that time, Sancerre was famous for its red wines. Boulay’s Clos de Beaujeu is a richer, denser step up from the Chavignol village wine.”
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse 2020 750ml $69 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Notes “The most powerful and complex wine from Boulay’s lineup, with an incredible intensity of fruit and a strong mineral core. Definitely one to put away and follow for years to come…”
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rouge Oriane 2020 750ml $49 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Notes “Although pinot noir based roses from the Loire have built up a lot of cache in the past few years, the Sancerre region used to be renowned for red wines. The cherry and raspberry perfumed nose of this wine is lifted by ample acidity and minerality for a truly elegant expression of Sancerre rouge.”
Collector’s Corner
Kopke
Kopke 40 Years Old Tawny Port, Portugal 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 Points “This offers a dreamy mix of caramelized pear, fig and peach flavors at the core, while caramel, sesame oil and date notes fill in through the expansive finish. At first glance this is quite lush, but the finish lingers with cut and drive. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Kopke Colheita Port, Portugal 1966 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 1966 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 126.3 grams per liter of residual sugar, and comes with a bar top cork (as is typical here). As we start getting seriously old in the lineup from Sogevinus this issue, this shows what you get with increasing age: the superb concentration of flavor, the long, intense finishes and the complex medley of flavors that old Tawnies deliver effortlessly. That, to me, is what makes them worth the extra bucks. If some of the youngsters lean more to caramel, this adds more molasses with a touch of Brandy in the background. The concentrated flavors linger more or less endlessly, driven into the palate by the wine’s power and acidity. You can smell and taste this for a long time. The graceful mid-palate is deceptively friendly at first. It sure does grip the palate at the end, though, finishing with juicy bursts of fruit and sugar. Over several days, it acquired a bit more harmony and shed a touch of aggression. The alcohol, speaking relatively, is not as well integrated here as with the 1965, also reviewed, but that is relative. I tended to like this just slightly better anyway for its complexity and concentration on several fronts. The freshness on the 1965 is quite enticing, though. It tastes younger. It depends on what you want: that old-wine complexity and depth or a livelier feel. They both have plenty of power on the finish. You can’t go wrong, really.”
KOPKE AT THE BEST PRICE IN THE UNITED STATES!
Kopke Colheita Port, Portugal 1967 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 1967 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 142 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a nice step up compared to the younger parts of the lineup, elegant and focused, with a precise finish, a fresh feel, little discernible brandy and a long, long finish. The classic old tawny flavors of molasses and caramel wash over the palate. This isn’t big and thick, but some may very well prefer its elegant and brighter feel. In many ways, it is fresher than the 1981 or 1999 reviewed this issue, and it is better balanced than the 1937. It is very pretty.”
Andre Clouet
Founded in 1741, the Champagne House of Andre Clouet has been making some of the most recognizable Champagnes in the village of Bouzy for centuries. Jean-Francois Clouet, the current owner and winemaker, is committed to making wines that reflect the rich history of the region. His wines do just that, while representing some of the best values available.
These Dream wines represent Jean-Francois’ most prized vintages and the bright colors of the labels are inspired by classic Cadillac models. It’s fitting, as these are the Cadillacs of his line-up, with a balance of elegance and vivacious expression. Each wine is produced from 100% Chardonnay in Stainless steel tanks.
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2009 750ml $54.50 special, 24 bottles available
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2013 750ml $53.50 special, 27 bottles available
Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Brut, Champagne 2016 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles available
ITALY
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “This has a perfumed nose of wild cherries, strawberries, sandalwood, peppercorns, cloves, rosemary and truffles. Elegant and refined, with firm, fine tannins. Long and deliciously wild, with savory spice notes.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points “Aromatically more intense, the 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is concentrated with candied raspberry, licorice, and menthol. This is true to the palate as well, with a core of cherry fruit, blood orange, and a lasting floral finish. It has a ripe and sunny feel, fine tannin structure, and a cleansing freshness of acidity. Although it is open and generous in its showing now, this will be worth holding onto for the next 8-10 years.”
Kellerei Kurtatsch Pinot Grigio, Trentino-Alto Adige 2022 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Notes “The large temperature differences between day and night in these vineyards is the magic that lends the wine its distinctive aroma of white peaches, fresh flowers and citrus fruits. In the mouth, the wine is juicy and round. The creamy texture is complemented by fresh, animating acidity. This is mainly thanks to the higher-elevation Pinot grigio vines. An expressive wine with a mineral, salty finish.”
Best Price in the United States
Re-Arrival
Big price drop on one of our favorite wines!!!
GD Vajra Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2021 750ml $29 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 93+ Points “Just bottled, the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is fabulous. Rich and inky, with tremendous depth, the 2021 is so vibrant in the glass. Red/purplish fruit, lavender, sweet spice and mocha are all dialed up, with a kiss of French oak that adds raciness.”
Wine Advocate 93 Points “I’m told that this is probably the last vintage in which the 2021 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Viola delle Viole will carry the name Viola delle Viole. In yet another unfortunate nod to climate change, Barbera vines suffer from the floral disease Flavescence dorée that causes the plants to shut down and the fruit to remain unripened. Barbera, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc are the most hard-hit by the sickness. Freisa and Nebbiolo are resistant, and those varieties are planted around the rims of vineyards today as a protective barrier. As a result, Barbera vines in Bricco delle Viole (one of two sites present in this blend, the other being Bricco Bertone outside the Barolo area) were taken out. Barbera tends to produce wines with high alcohol, but the Vajra team prefers to reach optimal fruit maturity and is less concerned about alcohol. The grape always has high acidity, but that is “a problem that is going away on its own,” says Isidoro Vaira. Bricco delle Viole gives the wine its floral aromas and Bricco Bertone adds a sweet almond-like flavor. There is a seven- to eight-day harvest difference between the two sites. This wine ages in large oak casks for 16 months.”
Best Price in the United States
“The Garden of France”
Wines of The Loire Valley
Wines of The Loire Valley
The Loire just never gets enough love.
Known as the “garden of France” for the enormous volume of agriculture produced in this region, the Loire was an early adopter of organic and biodynamic viticulture, not because it was trendy, but because it was reflective of the natural farming techniques practiced in the region for centuries.
The Loire’s wines are known for their elegance and versatility, making them a dream come true for food pairing and dinner parties. This week, we’re taking a trip through the wine producing regions of the Loire, starting at the mouth of the Loire river and floating our way east.
MUSCADET
Bottled “sur-lee,” (on the lees) great oyster and seafood wines!
Domaine de la Pepiere
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson Cru, Loire 2020 750ml $28 special, 24 bottles available
Importer’s Note “The Clisson bottling comes from a 50-100-year-old section vines in Pepière’s core vineyard near the winery in the cru of Clisson. Besides vine age, the distinguishing factor is the granite de Clisson, a very hard, compact form of granite. The very poor top soils are decomposed granite de Clisson with very little clay and a lot of quartz and mica over hard mother rock of granite de Clisson. The farming is certified-biodynamic. The hand-harvested bunches are direct-pressed and the juice settled naturally overnight. It is then fermented spontaneously with natural yeasts and aged on its lees for a minimum of 2 years in underground vats. The wine is bottled without fining or filtering.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Clisson Cru, Loire 2017 1.5L $61.90 special, 5 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 Points “The 2017 Clisson from this organic estate has been wild fermented and has spent two years in cuve on lees (the minimum for this cru). While ripe and rounded, which is a character of the Clisson cru, and redolent of lees-derived character, this retains a lovely precision and vivacity. Appealing clarity of apple and citrus fruit and light in body. This is a fresher, more defined style of Clisson from a cooler season. It’s pure, clean and provides definition.”
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Monnieres-St-Fiacre, Loire 2017 1.5L $59 special, 3 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 93 Points “The 2017 Monnières Saint-Fiacre offers ripe nectarine, apple and citrus alongside lees-derived nutty characters, having spent three years on lees. The clarity of the wine is excellent, perhaps something to do with the hand harvesting and whole bunch pressing, which puts them in the minority. It’s light in body and elegant with fine sinew on the finish. Drawing this out on the long finish, it bursts with freshness and reflects the cool vintage.”
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SAVENNIERES
A hub of organic and biodynamic viticulture. These Chenin Blanc wines are dry, high-toned and extremely long lived.
Thibaud Boudignon
“Thibaud Boudignon is unquestionably one of the most exciting figures in wine today. Originally from Bordeaux, he honed his winemaking craft while working at Philipe Charlopin in Gevrey-Chambertin during the early 2000s…It is wines like these that make us remember why we love this business. Just when you think you’ve had the best a region has to offer, a new discovery comes along to rock your world. Boudignon is such a discovery, with wines that speak so clearly of their place of origin. It is in this writer’s humble opinion, that there is no greater dry Chenin Blanc being made in the world today. Period.” -Skurnik Wines
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de la Hutte, Loire 2020 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles available
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de la Hutte, Loire 2020 1.5L $219 special, 1 magnum available
Vinous 96 points “Outer quote mark Move over Luther Vandross, Thibaud Boudignon is in town and the Clos de la Hutte makes you want to slow dance with it. The 2020 is a wine that makes your shoulders drop such is its tranquility and sense of comfort in your mouth. It blooms in the mouth and does so without any sense of heaviness. The finish, scented with flowers and nectarines, is long, fragrant and textural. I hate using the word minerality as it means so many different things to people, but in my opinion, this has it in spades. It is incredible that the vines were only planted in 2011 on the schistous site on the grounds of a former monastery. Aged in larger format barrels, there’s no sense of oakiness, allowing the purity of this wine to shine bright.”
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Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de Fremine, Loire 2021 $86 special, 17 bottles available
Thibaud Boudignon Savennieres Clos de Fremine, Loire 2021 1.5L $179 special, 3 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “The 2021 Clos de Frémine has a fragrant, lightly tropical nose of almost banana and just-ripe pineapple notes. While delicate on the mid-palate, it packs a punch on the finish with the combination of racy acidity and mineral streak. The long, aromatic finish is pastry-like with a firm line. 11.5% alcohol.”
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Joly Vignobles de la Coulee de Serrant
Joly Vignobles de la Coulee de Serrant ‘Clos de la Coulee de Serrant’, Loire 2019 750ml $135 special, 18 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 Points “Produced from seven hectares of vineyards aged from 40 to 50 years old, Joly’s 2019 Clos de la Coulée de Serrant opens with a clear, bright yet enormously dense and complex bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and fine but dense and multilayered fruit that needs air to open up, yet it shows its class immediately. On the palate, this is a rich and intense, full-bodied, tight and concentrated yet elegant and stimulating salty Chenin with firm tannins intertwined with a crystalline acidity that carries this highly complex icon wine to a long and compact yet elegant finish. There is a remarkable purity, freshness and energy in the aftertaste that you sometimes might have missed in former vintages.”
Joly Vignobles de la Coulee de Serrant Savennieres Les Vieux Clos, Loire 2019 750ml $69 special, 9 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Joly’s 2019 Les Vieux Clos displays a straw-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear, elegant, concentrated and very complex bouquet of ripe yellow-fleshed fruits (mirabelles, persimmons, passion fruit), quinces and pears intertwined with schist and iodine notes of crushed stones and quartz as well as floral aromas. The exciting impression of the nose is proceeded on the palate, where this full-bodied and fiery Savennières has a seamless texture and a crystalline as well as elegant structure with ripe and concentrated fruit and lingering crystalline and salty acidity. The wine has fine and textural tannins and develops a very intense and complex finish. This is a giant in the making, and using a big glass (like Zalto’s Bordeaux) is imperative.”
SAUMUR AND CHINON
The Chaulky soils of Saumur produce lithe, delicate cabernet franc, versus the fuller style of Chinon. The reds of this region are excellent for dishes like roasted chickens or grilled red meats.
Domaine des Closiers
“This kind of winemaking isn’t taught in school … Cabernet Franc with this expression – so dynamic, bursting with aromatics, and in the mouth, it’s explosive … I haven’t had a Saumur-Champigny like this in 10 years.”– Michel Bettane & Thierry Desseauve, as reported by Rare Wine Co.
Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny ‘Les Closiers’, Loire 2021 750ml $36 special, 20 bottles available
John Gilman 93 Points “The 2021 Saumur-Champigny “les Closiers” from Domaine des Closiers is the winery’s basic level bottling, seeing no oak aging and being raised for six to eight months in stainless steel tank. Nevertheless, the bouquet of the 2021 is stunning, soaring from the glass in a black fruity blaze of dark berries, cassis, tree bark, cigar ash, dark soil tones and a distinctly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied, focused and complex, with a beautiful core of black fruit, fine soil signature and grip, ripe, suave tannins and a long, vibrant and impeccably balanced finish. This is a stunning value! 2023-2050+.”
Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny ‘Les Coudraies’, Loire 2020 750ml $44.50 special, 11 bottles available
John Gilman 95 Points “The Saumur-Champigny “les Coudraies” is one of the estate’s single vineyard wines, made from a selection of the best parcels in this hillside vineyard. The wine is aged in mostly older casks for one year prior to bottling. The 2020 les Coudraies comes in at fourteen percent octane and offers up a simply gorgeous bouquet of red and black cherries, cigar wrapper, a touch of tree bark, a complex base of soil tones, juniper berry, a touch of cedar and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and very elegant in profile, with a rock solid core of fruit, firm, buried tannins, excellent focus and grip and a long, complex and very, very promising finish. This is a great bottle of Saumur-Champigny in the making!”
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Domaine des Closiers Saumur-Champigny Trezellieres, Loire 2019 750ml $108.50 special, 3 bottles available
John Gilman 96 Points “This is my first taste of Domaine des Closiers top bottling, les Trezellières, which is made from a parcel of old vines and given fully two years aging in barrel, with somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the casks new. The 2019 les Trezellières is beautifully deep and refined aromatically, delivering scents ofblack cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a very complex base of soil, a touch of Cheval Blanc-like menthol, a gentle dollop of tree bark, cedar and a top note of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure,full-bodied, elegant and rock solid at the core, with great focus and complex, superb soil undertow, fine-grained tannins and a very long, pure and classy finish. The small percentage of new oak gives this wine more refinement than the les Coudraies bottling, but because it is no more than twenty percent new oak. The wood influence is far more subtle out of the blocks than in Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg bottling, which is the closest comparison I can think of for this brilliant young Saumur-Champigny. Give this beautiful wine plenty of time in the cellar to properly resolve its tannins and completely blossom! 2031-2085”
VOUVRAY
Wines of elegance, ranging dry to very sweet great with dessert or cheese.
Domaine Huet
Burrowed in the deep chalky hillsides of the Loire rests a wine of impressive immortality and beguiling flavor. In caves hollowed out of the tuffeau rock for the development of the valley’s grandest Chateaux, chenin blanc slumbers, develops, and evolves into one of the most compelling and unique white wines in the world. We’re speaking of course about the wines of Vouvray, one of France’s very first designated appellations following the founding of the INAO in 1936, and a region whose wine history traces back to the middle ages. This region’s most iconic and classic producer is undoubtedly Domaine Huet.
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750 $39 special, 17 bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2020 750ml $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Rebecca Gibbs MW-Vinous 97 Points “Drinking the 2020 Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec is like taking your shoes off at the end of a long day of walking and soaking them in warm water: there’s just satisfaction and relaxation. The 2020 has a sense of volume but not weight, filling the mouth with depths of pure fruit before the acid pours forth like a canal lock being opened. You can expect a hint of spice and crème caramel alongside apple and florals. I am utterly seduced.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
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Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”
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SANCERRE
Vivacious wines great with cheese and seafood. Chaulky soils produce excellent minerality in these exquisite wines.
Gerard Boulay
“Given the crystalline purity of his Sauvignon Blancs, he has become one of my favorite producers of the central Loire. If you want to know what true Sancerre tastes like, try one of his single-vineyard bottlings. It does not come any better!” –Joel Payne, Vinous
The Boulay family has farmed their famous and unique parcels of land in Chavignol since 1380 and it is their deep understanding of this land that lends their production such gravity and legitimacy. Chavignol, located in the Village of Sancerre, is famous for their “Terre Blanche” the same Kimmeridgian soils that run through Champagne and Chablis. It is these soils that give boulay’s famed crus: Monts Damnés, La Grande Côte, and Clos de Beaujeutheir character. As a result, these wines are electric and high-minded like Chablis, with the earthiness and vivacity of the Loire. Everything in the vineyards is done in the family’s traditional style, including organic farming, hand harvesting, and partial aging in neutral oak barrels, which prolongs the longevity of the wines for decades.
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu, Loire 2021 1.5L $119 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Notes “The Clos de Beaujeu is among the most historic sites in the village of Chavignol. In the 14th century the Clos de Beaujeu supplied the Cathedral of Bourges with white wine. At that time, Sancerre was famous for its red wines. Boulay’s Clos de Beaujeu is a richer, denser step up from the Chavignol village wine.”
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse 2020 750ml $69 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Notes “The most powerful and complex wine from Boulay’s lineup, with an incredible intensity of fruit and a strong mineral core. Definitely one to put away and follow for years to come…”
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rouge Oriane 2020 750ml $49 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Notes “Although pinot noir based roses from the Loire have built up a lot of cache in the past few years, the Sancerre region used to be renowned for red wines. The cherry and raspberry perfumed nose of this wine is lifted by ample acidity and minerality for a truly elegant expression of Sancerre rouge.”
Close-Out Sales
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili, Piedmont 2019 750ml WAS $289 NOW $219 special, only 6 bottles left!
James Suckling 98 Points “Sweet and succulent aromas of tangerines, freshly cut ripe strawberries, cherries and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate with sleek and dense tannins that run the length of the wine and then fan out into a dense, vivid finish of fruit. It’s chewy and seriously structured with finesse and energy. Silky texture. This needs at least four or five years to come together and open. Try after 2027.”
Dal Forno Romano Amarone 2011 750ml WAS $369 NOW $299, 3 bottles available
Decanter 99 Points “The strongest wine in my selection, yet this magnificent Amarone’s alcohol is barely visible thanks to its astonishing depth, texture and sumptuousness. Pressed black fruits seep with fruit essences; smoke and cinders; herbal complexities; teasing floral notes, all engraved into a palate that expresses creamy finesse but without a trace of superfluous fat, heat or obviousness. Beautifully crafted, as dignified as any grand Barolo.”
Guy Charlemagne Brut Millesime Grand Cru 2014 750ml WAS $119 NOW $99 special, 28 bottles available
Winery Note “A Grand Champagne with character from the Côte des Blancs terroir, specifically from Le Mesnil sur Oger (limestone parcels averaging 60 years of age). This champagne produced from first press of Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru juices, highlights the exact characteristic of our village. Jewel of the Charlemagne house, this vintage wine combines both authenticity and the search for perfect quality.”
Ulysses Vineyard Cabernet Oakville Napa 2018 750ml WAS $169 NOW $145 special, 13 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “Just about pure perfection and the finest wine I’ve tasted from this address, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon yet includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all from a site just north of Dominus. This deep, inky hued beauty offers up a beautiful, full-bodied, richly textured, and incredibly concentrated style that carries ample black and blue fruit as well as notes of crushed stone, scorched earth, graphite, and lead pencil. It has the focused, structured style of the 2018 vintage and is going to benefit from 4-6 years (if not a decade) of bottle age and will be a 30+ year wine.”
James Suckling 98 Points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
James Suckling 98 Points “Sweet and succulent aromas of tangerines, freshly cut ripe strawberries, cherries and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate with sleek and dense tannins that run the length of the wine and then fan out into a dense, vivid finish of fruit. It’s chewy and seriously structured with finesse and energy. Silky texture. This needs at least four or five years to come together and open. Try after 2027.”
Dal Forno Romano Amarone 2011 750ml WAS $369 NOW $299, 3 bottles available
Decanter 99 Points “The strongest wine in my selection, yet this magnificent Amarone’s alcohol is barely visible thanks to its astonishing depth, texture and sumptuousness. Pressed black fruits seep with fruit essences; smoke and cinders; herbal complexities; teasing floral notes, all engraved into a palate that expresses creamy finesse but without a trace of superfluous fat, heat or obviousness. Beautifully crafted, as dignified as any grand Barolo.”
Guy Charlemagne Brut Millesime Grand Cru 2014 750ml WAS $119 NOW $99 special, 28 bottles available
Winery Note “A Grand Champagne with character from the Côte des Blancs terroir, specifically from Le Mesnil sur Oger (limestone parcels averaging 60 years of age). This champagne produced from first press of Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru juices, highlights the exact characteristic of our village. Jewel of the Charlemagne house, this vintage wine combines both authenticity and the search for perfect quality.”
Ulysses Vineyard Cabernet Oakville Napa 2018 750ml WAS $169 NOW $145 special, 13 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “Just about pure perfection and the finest wine I’ve tasted from this address, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon yet includes smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all from a site just north of Dominus. This deep, inky hued beauty offers up a beautiful, full-bodied, richly textured, and incredibly concentrated style that carries ample black and blue fruit as well as notes of crushed stone, scorched earth, graphite, and lead pencil. It has the focused, structured style of the 2018 vintage and is going to benefit from 4-6 years (if not a decade) of bottle age and will be a 30+ year wine.”
James Suckling 98 Points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
Collector’s Corner
Kopke
THE BEST NAME IN PORT AT THE LOWEST PRICE ON THE WEST COAST!
Kopke 30 Year Old Tawny Port, Portugal 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “A very inviting, open style, with butterscotch and caramel notes framing the core of glazed pear, caramelized peach, golden raisin and warm fig flavors. The lush finish lets crème brûlée and ginger cream details hang, showing a flash of honeysuckle for lift. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Wine Spectator 94 Points “A very inviting, open style, with butterscotch and caramel notes framing the core of glazed pear, caramelized peach, golden raisin and warm fig flavors. The lush finish lets crème brûlée and ginger cream details hang, showing a flash of honeysuckle for lift. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Average price in the United States is $153
Kopke 40 Years Old Tawny Port, Portugal 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 Points “This offers a dreamy mix of caramelized pear, fig and peach flavors at the core, while caramel, sesame oil and date notes fill in through the expansive finish. At first glance this is quite lush, but the finish lingers with cut and drive. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Average price in the United States is $240
Kopke Colheita Port, Portugal 1966 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 1966 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 126.3 grams per liter of residual sugar, and comes with a bar top cork (as is typical here). As we start getting seriously old in the lineup from Sogevinus this issue, this shows what you get with increasing age: the superb concentration of flavor, the long, intense finishes and the complex medley of flavors that old Tawnies deliver effortlessly. That, to me, is what makes them worth the extra bucks. If some of the youngsters lean more to caramel, this adds more molasses with a touch of Brandy in the background. The concentrated flavors linger more or less endlessly, driven into the palate by the wine’s power and acidity. You can smell and taste this for a long time. The graceful mid-palate is deceptively friendly at first. It sure does grip the palate at the end, though, finishing with juicy bursts of fruit and sugar. Over several days, it acquired a bit more harmony and shed a touch of aggression. The alcohol, speaking relatively, is not as well integrated here as with the 1965, also reviewed, but that is relative. I tended to like this just slightly better anyway for its complexity and concentration on several fronts. The freshness on the 1965 is quite enticing, though. It tastes younger. It depends on what you want: that old-wine complexity and depth or a livelier feel. They both have plenty of power on the finish. You can’t go wrong, really.”
Average price in the United States is $307
KOPKE AT THE BEST PRICE IN THE UNITED STATES!
Kopke Colheita Port, Portugal 1967 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 1967 Colheita Tawny Port comes in with 142 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a nice step up compared to the younger parts of the lineup, elegant and focused, with a precise finish, a fresh feel, little discernible brandy and a long, long finish. The classic old tawny flavors of molasses and caramel wash over the palate. This isn’t big and thick, but some may very well prefer its elegant and brighter feel. In many ways, it is fresher than the 1981 or 1999 reviewed this issue, and it is better balanced than the 1937. It is very pretty.”
Average price in the United States is $314
More Kopke Wines Available From VWS:
| KOPKE WINES | VWS PRICE | AVAILABLE | LINK |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 1957 750ML | $489.00 | 3 | Link |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 1978 750ML | $119.00 | 8 | Link |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 1985 750ML | $99.00 | 5 | Link |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 1999 750ML | $59.00 | 3 | Link |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 2005 750ML | $49.00 | 1 | Link |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 2007 750ML | $41.90 | 1 | Link |
| KOPKE COLHEITA TAWNY 2013 750ML* | $39.00 | 6+ | Link |
| KOPKE FINE 20 YEAR WHITE 375ML | $49.00 | 3 | Link |
| KOPKE VINTAGE PORT 2016 750ML | $89.00 | 6 | Link |
| KOPKE SAO LUIZ PORT 2015 750ML | $59.00 | 10 | Link |
| KOPKE SAO LUIZ PORT 2019 750ML | $79.00 | 3 | Link |
*Pre-Arrival wine
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Be well & drink well.