Vinopolis Newsletter for March 21st, 2016

3-21-16

 

New Arrivals; Re-Arrivals; Antoine Arena Arrives; Drouhin Oregon Arriving Tomorrow; March’s Greatest Hits; Vin Santo Reviews; Californians Arriving Tomorrow; Closing Deal: Zorzal

Spring Hath Hatched!
Featured New Arrival

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2015 750ML ($279.95) $219 special
Importer’s note: “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbon to give it a light spritz.  Fermented in stainless steel.  Tasting Notes: Candied red fruits combine with a lime infused edge makes this a wildly intriguing rosé.”

New Week, New Arrivals
OREGON
Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95)
$36 special
Winemaker’s note: Pinot Noir grapes are 90-100% de-stemmed and fermented with indigenous and selected yeasts. Following fermentation, the wine flows directly into barrels (25-35% new French oak) for 10-18 months aging. Wines are then assembled and gravity bottled without fining or filtration. These techniques highlight varietal fruit flavors and the unique characteristics of each vineyard site. Annually we produce up to 6 different cuvées of 200 – 900 cases each. Our “house style” emphasizes freshness, complexity, focus, elegance, and balance. Belle Pente Pinot Noirs can be enjoyed young, but will also reward careful cellaring.

Cameron Winery ‘Ribbon Ridge’ Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Vinopolnote: Seductive if a wine ever were, this year’s Ribbon Ridge is quite a beaut. Great spice and length – very layered, with dried goji berry and pomegranate fruit leading into mineral-drenched, long finish. A touch of this je-ne-sais-quoi which hangs in balance of garrigue, earth, funk, and soul… GOOD JUICE!

Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2008 750ML ($319.95) $249 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “I thought the 2008 Syrah Bionic Frog was insanely good. Checking in at 14.4% natural alcohol (the 2009 was 14.7 and the 2010 14.8), it has soaring notes of cassis, black raspberries, violets, white flowers, mint and olives to go with a full-bodied, ultra-pure, silky, yet concentrated and layered feel on the palate. One of the more elegant, silky and finesse driven examples of this cuvee, it has heavenly aromatics and will have upward of two decades of longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($349.95) $299 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “This insanely good 2010 Syrah Bionic Frog offers incredible notes of blood orange, liquid violets, cassis, seared meats, licorice and crushed rocks to go with full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannic structure, perfectly integrated acidity and a blockbuster finish. Raised in roughly 20% new demi-muids and foudre, this is a heavenly Syrah that couldn’t get any better. Give it 2-4 years in the cellar and enjoy bottles through 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $399

Cayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2011 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2011 Syrah Bionic Frog is another rocking Syrah from Christophe that does everything right. Creme de cassis, blackberry, smoked earth, toasted spice and violets emerge from the glass, and it flows onto the palate with full-bodied richness, beautiful purity of fruit and brilliant length. Gaining more minerality with time in the glass, it will continue to flesh out nicely with another handful of years in the cellar, and have two decades of ultimate longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

WASHINGTON
Cor Cellars Sugarloaf Vineyard Tempranillo, Rattlesnake Hills 2014 750ML ($24.95)
$21.90 special
Winery note “A bright and lively interpretation of a classically bold varietal. Ripe blue fruit, clean spice and violet with refreshing acidity. A youthful, energetic translation of its Iberian cousins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2009 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Enthusiast 98 points “A bold, muscular, striking wine with nerves of steel, this offers a dense, demanding array of black fruit threaded with veins of espresso, smoke, tar, tobacco and iron. As it bursts with exotic barrel flavor, the fruit seems a bit buried, but time after time these wines unfold over the course of decades into glorious maturity. These are arguably the most long-lived and cellarworthy wines in Washington—if not in the entire country.”

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Champagne Hebrart Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($59.95)
$49 special
Terry Theise “I start to wonder whether there’s a better NV BdB than this one. I know of none. I did a tasting last Fall wherein this and the Special Club were shown, and the orders taken for this were vastly higher. Yes the Club costs more, but this wine COSTS A LOT LESS THAN IT’S WORTH. It’s stiffly chalky and only the tiniest bit green; the finish is perfect, bountiful but not “fruity”—the empty glass smells like toasted wheat bread. It’s 80% 2011 and 20% 2010-2009, only free-run, 20% Oiry and Chouilly and 80% Mareuil.”

Champagne Hebrart Cuvee Reserve Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “(77% Pinot Noir and 23% Chardonnay; 8.2 g/l dosage; disgorged in March, 2014): Bright straw. Lively, mineral-driven aromas of fresh citrus fruits, melon and white flowers. Musky, nicely concentrated orchard and pit fruit flavors are given spine by juicy acidity, which adds cut to the back half. The floral quality repeats on the finish, which hangs on with strong stony persistence. Give this youthful Champagne a little air time, or even decant it, like the cool French and French-wannabe sommeliers often do.” JR

Champagne Hebrart Cuvee Rose Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Light orange. Sexy raspberry and orange gelato aromas are lifted by white pepper and fresh rose. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering juicy citrus fruit and red berry flavors and a touch of chalky minerals. Nicely balances richness and vivacity, showing no rough edges. Closes supple, floral and long, with a toasty leesy note coming in late.”

Champagne Hebrart Special Club Millesime Brut 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Champagne Hebrart Special Club Millesime Brut 2010 1.5L ($219.95) $189 special
Terry Theise: “Hébrart represents a departure from the other producers in this portfolio, for Jean-Paul’s wines marry the top Pinot Noir sites of the Vallée de la Marne with Grand Cru Chardonnay sites in the Côte des Blancs. Hébrart’s wines are buoyant and lithe with deft integrations of minerality and juicy fruit. The fruit of Mareuil pinot noir I unlike any I know in Champagne: firmer and less malty than Aÿ, altogether less chunky than Bouzy, not unlike Verzy but richer, far more comme il faut than the savage power of Verzenay, less softly perfumey than Ambonnay, less smoky than Cumières. Indeed if it were Burgundy, Mareuil could well be Morey-St.-Denis”
These are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!

Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “This deftly woven Champagne is all about finesse, offering a rich vein of smoky minerality and vivid acidity. The power is cloaked in a silky texture and notes of creamed pear, lemon confit, almond biscotti and fresh ginger. Drink now through 2021.” WS
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Pale yellow.  Complex, high-pitched aromas of orange zest, lemon pith, iodine, smoky minerals, anise and jasmine.  Sappy and tactile on the palate, offering impressive volume to its ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors accented by smoke and minerals.  Finishes tangy and long, with lingering smokiness and an echo of anise.” ST

Ruinart Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Chalky in texture, this firm rosé is finely integrated, with a rich, smoky underpinning and a subtle mesh of dried strawberry, orange peel, clover honey and ground ginger on the palate. Enjoy with light fare and charcuterie. Drink now through 2020.”

Thomas Perseval Extra Brut Tradition NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Vinopolnote: The first-ever release from this organic producer, this blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Pinot Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay comes from the 2012 vintage and was disgorged in March of 2015. Raised in ¾’s large vat and ¼ barrel. A fabulous inaugural attempt!
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Thomas Perseval Extra Brut Tradition Rose NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Vinopolnote: A blend of 50% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, and 30% Chardonnay; coming from 2012 vintage and disgorged in March of 2015. Native yeast fermentation, with malolactic fermentation taking place naturally. Lively palate, with blood orange, red berries, and ginger notes all coming off with plenty of energy and finesse.
This is the only listing in the USA today!

FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Bourgogne Blanc 2014 750ML ($27.95)
$21.90 special
Importer note: The parcel for this cuvée is the lieu-dit in Meursault known as “Les Herbeaux”, in the northern quadrant of Meursault just underneath the 1er Cru “Les Malpoiriers”. Bitouzet exploits 0.71 hectares and the vines were planted in 1953 with a section recently replanted in 2010 which is not yet in production.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains 2014 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Importer note:The Bitouzets frequently sell this wine off to negociants but, from time-to-time, we have the opportunity to purchase a couple of barrels. This mix of gamay and pinot noir is sourced from vines within Volnay that were planted in 1953 and 1974.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 91-93+ points “A layered, totally exquisite wine, the 2012 Volnay Taillepieds impresses for its balance above all else. The aromas and flavors are beautifully detailed and nuanced in a Taillepieds that is all about crystalline purity. This tasting catches the 2012 in a slightly raw, unpolished state, but nothing a little time in bottle won’t take care of.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Les Mitans, Volnay Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2012 Volnay Mitans stands out for its total sense of refinement. Sweet floral notes meld into bright red cherries, spices, mint and anise. The 2012 is fragrant and nicely lifted throughout, with impeccable balance and tons of class. Sweet, ripe tannins support the long, understated finish. This is a terrific showing for Mitans.” AG
This is the only listing in the USA today!

FRANCE-RHONE
Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards 2004 750ML ($199.95)
$149 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “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 Les Bessards 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 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.”

Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 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.”

Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 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.”

FRANCE – PROVENCE
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Tradition Rose 2014 750ML ($29.95)
$24 special
Winery note “This cuvee is mainly made with Tibouren.  After 12 to 18 months spent in hundred-year-old casks, the wine is bottled.  It has a salmon-orange color.  The nose is enchanting, warm and matures into smooth spicy aromas.  Winy, mellow, surprisingly mineral on the palate.  90% Tibouren, 10% Grenache.”

Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Tradition Rouge 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
Winery note “This relatively new cuvee, its first vintage dating from 2009, is the result of the obstinacy of a friend and client of the Tibouren since the 1970s. Bright ruby-red color, generous on the nose with red berry and spicy aromas, silky, elegant and elicate.  Delicious with a veal roast and chanterelles.  90% Tibouren, 10% Grenache.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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.”

CALIFORNIA-NAPA
Lewis Cellars Chardonnay 2014 750ML ($59.95)
$49 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A bold, rich and creamy style that’s remarkably elegant and graceful, with a bounty of ripe flavors built around white peach, nectarine, honeysuckle, fig and floral aromas. Finishes with a long sustained finish that keeps repeating the fruit themes. Drink now through 2021.”

Lewis Cellars Alec’s Blend 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A plush and generous blend that also shows excellent structure and focus. Brooding dark boysenberry and smoky mocha aromas combine with layered flavors of blackberry, graphite, nutmeg and brown spice. The tannins are burly, but ripe and fleshy. Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2027.” WS

Moffett Chardonnay 2013 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special
Winery note: Moffett Vineyards traces its legacy to the Livingston Moffett Winery, which was founded in 1976 in the heart of the Napa Valley by Trent Moffetts’ parents, Diane and John Livingston. For 22 years Trent helped grow the family winery from the cellars to the marketplace. Upon their retirement and sale of the winery in 2005, a generational transition was made by Trent into his successor Moffett Vineyards. 231 cases of the 2013 Chardonnay were made.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Moffett Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Winery Note: Over the past 20 years Trent has had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and distinguished winemakers in the Napa Valley starting with Randy Dunn of Dunn Vineyards, John Kongsgaard, Marco Digiulio, Greg Graham of Rombauer and currently Jennifer Rue, as well as his own parents, Diane and John Livingston. The Moffett Vineyards wines are his top-tier, heritage label.
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Moffett Vineyards Moffett Pinot Noir Eola Amity Hill Bieze Vineyard 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery note: With their new dream of pursuing the ultimate Pinot Noir, Trent and Colleen Moffett with their three small children decided in 2014 to relocate to the northern Willamette Valley. Now with the help of Drew Voit at Harper Voit winery, Trent is making 4 different Pinot Noirs from 3 different Willamette Valley sub-appellations.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Moffett Vineyards Moffett Pinot Noir Terrarossa Vineyard, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery note: With their new dream of pursuing the ultimate Pinot Noir, Trent and Colleen Moffett with their three small children decided in 2014 to relocate to the northern Willamette Valley. Now with the help of Drew Voit at Harper Voit winery, Trent is making 4 different Pinot Noirs from 3 different Willamette Valley sub-appellations.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $45

Moffett Vineyards Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Roasted coffee, hazelnut and mocha-laced blackberry form the core of this dense, chewy effort, accented by echoes of fresh-turned earth. Tight and firm now, with ample fruit pouring through. Drink now through 2026. 174 cases made.”
Winery note “I am extremely proud and excited about the 2012 Howell Mountain Napa Valley Cabernet. After 7 years of tending to this land, I can say with confidence that this vineyard is well established and producing great fruit. This Howell Mountain Cabernet taste just as it should with tight wild berry fruit flying out of the glass, on the palate the wine has lots of layers of fruit reaching for oxygen to show you all its glory, with 85% new French oak, one would hardly be able to tell you that much is in there because it so well integrated into the wine. The finish goes on and on.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!

SPAIN
Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell, Jumilla 2013 750ML ($14.95)
$10.90 special
Case-12 Bodegas Olivares Altos de la Hoya Monastrell, Jumilla 2013 750ML ($149.95) $109 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Glass-staining ruby. Deep pitched, seductive aromas of black and blue fruits, cola and candied violet are complicated by smoky mineral and licorice nuances. Smooth, sweet and focused in the mouth, offering sappy blackberry and cherry compote flavors and a hint of spicecake. The penetrating finish shows excellent focus, a floral-inflected persistence and an echoing mineral note.”

Bodegas Krontiras Dona Silvina Malbec, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
James Suckling 92 points “A dense and spicy malbec with licorice, asphalt and dark berry character. Full body, with firm tannins and a juicy finish. A little tannic now but excellent quality. Real deal. Drink or hold.” JS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Re-Arrivals of Best-Sellers
Giving It Another Go

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Dom Perignon Brut, Champagne 2006 750ML ($179.95)
$149 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2006 Dom Pérignon is a beautifully balanced, harmonious Dom Pérignon that strikes an incredibly appealing stylistic middle ground. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2006 shows off fabulous intensity in a style that brings together the ripeness of 2002 with the greater sense of verve and overall freshness that is such a signature of the 2004. Bass notes and a feeling of phenolic grip on the finish recall the 2003, as the Pinot Noir is particularly expressive today. After an irregular summer that saw elevated temperatures in July followed by cooler, damp conditions in August, more favorable weather returned in September, pushing maturation ahead and leading to a long, protracted harvest. The 2006 falls into the family of riper, more voluptuous Dom Pérignons, but without veering into the level of opulence seen in vintages such as 2002.”
Richard Juhlin 94(97) points (Translated) “It’s not often you fall backwards when a wine is first launched on the market. This time both me and my friends, who got to try this jewel at my champagne bar, fell in love instantly. It is all here so beautifully orchestrated in this incredibly well-balanced and flowing rich symphony. It is so voluptuously charming and welcoming immediately, but at the same time so complex that the interest in what you will discover in the next gulp never ceases. Here are all the pillars that I perceive a Dom Pérignon should have. A gigantic large and intense aroma, a silk caressing structure and a dazzling grand finale. Notes from the sea, roasted nuts, coffee, brioche, tropical green fruits, stone fruit, green apples, sweet orange citrus, gunpowder, nougat, mushroom cream and black truffle are all there like a perfectly tailored tuxedo. Love at first sight.”

FRANCE-LOIRE
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire 2014 750ML ($17.95)
$14 special
Importer notes “When Marc Ollivier is on, these are the top wines of the AOC – wines that are not only delicious young, but that can also age 10, 20 or 30 years.  Ollivier’s Muscadet-sur-Lie is the authentic item — it has lees contact until the time of bottling, generally in late May. This extended contact gives it the crispness that makes Muscadet so refreshing, and the classic wine match for seafood. It is the traditional way to make Muscadet, but has become the exception as growers and shippers rush to bottle “technically correct” wines by early January.  Ollivier takes his time. He hand harvests (also a rarity in the region), uses natural yeasts, waits for the wine to finish and bottles with a very light filtration. The vineyards are in old vines (40 years and older) with a particularly good exposition on a plateau overlooking the river Sèvre. All the vineyards are from original stock: Ollivier is the only grower in the Muscadet who does not have a single clonal selection in his vineyards.”

Guy Bossard Domaine de l’Ecu Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Orthogneiss, Loire 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This wine is creamy, rich and has a fragrant, aromatic character. It is full in the mouth, hinting almost at toastiness, certainly vanilla and rich yellow fruits. Ripely concentrated and spicy, it can be drunk now.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The pale colored 2013 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Orthogneiss has a precise and citric fruit aroma of candied limes, dried apples and brown pips. The palate is quite rich but also piquant, fresh and salty, the finish complex and long. This is another must-taste Muscadet from this terrific biodynamic domaine.

They’re Finally Here!

Antoine Arena

World-Class Wines of Corsica

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 special
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 special
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 special
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 special
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 special
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 special
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 special
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 special
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
 

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.

New from Drouhin Oregon
Wines Arriving Tomorrow

First-ever vintage of Roserock Vineyard wines,
as well as a lineup of new vintages!

Drouhin Oregon Roserock Vineyard Eola- Amity Chardonnay 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Roserock Vineyard Chardonnay 2014 750ML ($189.95) $159 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
The Chardonnay was fermented half in barrel and half in tank.
Winery note “Our Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay cuvée is drawn from Roserock’s three estate Chardonnay blocks. It clearly conveys winemaker Véronique Drouhin’s dedication to elegance and finesse, and continues a long tradition of producing fine wines.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Drouhin Oregon Roserock Vineyard Eola-Amity Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Roserock Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($189.95) $159 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Aged for 12 months in barrel, 20% new French oak.
Winery note “Our Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir cuvée is drawn from Roserock’s 35 estate Pinot Noir blocks. It clearly conveys winemaker Véronique Drouhin’s dedication to elegance and finesse, and continues a long tradition of producing fine wines.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “From 20-year-old, Dijon clone estate vines, this substantial, tongue-gripping Chardonnay has intense depth of flavor. A luscious mix of grapefruit, apple, melon, spice and mineral elements, it drives down through the palate and never quits.”

Domaine Drouhin Laurene Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby. Heady red and dark fruit liqueur, candied rose, allspice and woodsmoke scents show excellent clarity and a complicating hint of licorice. Palate-staining blackberry and spicecake flavors open nicely in the middle palate, picking up floral pastille and cola nuances and a hint of black tea. Rich and broad but energetic too, finishing with powerful spicy thrust and velvety tannins.” JR

Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Winery Notes “True to its growing season, our 2014 Dundee Hills is a medium-deep garnet color, with a dark core. On the nose, the wine is refined, with clear notes of spice, rose, black cherry, plum, and sweet red fruits, all wrapped in an earthiness that lends a surprising rustic touch. On the palate, the aromatics follow through with layered spice, white pepper, dark cherry and black berry, framed by youthful tannins. The finish is long and the texture has real depth.”

March’s Greatest Hits

Best-Bet Bottles

BEST BETS FOR OREGON
Resonance Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points
“Light and focused, showing distinctive subtlety. A layer of crinkly tannins underlies a pulsing core of mineral-accented cherry and red berry flavors, hinting at cinnamon as the finish lingers gently.” HS
Vinopolnote: Maison Louis Jadot’s first venture outside France since their inception in 1859; First vineyard purchased outside France since 1826 (Clos des Ursules); Made by famed Jadot Winemaker, Jacques Lardière; Dry-farmed vineyard with original rootstock farmed Biodynamically
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

BEST BETS FOR WASHINGTON
Reynvaan Family Vineyards In The Rocks Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95)
$66 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-95 points
“A cofermented blend of 95% Syrah and 5% Viognier, the 2013 Syrah In The Rocks, which saw 25% new oak, is another pretty, layered, medium to full-bodied and elegant 2013 that has perfumed raspberry, pepper, dried herbs and assorted floral aromas and flavors. Juicy and lively, with good acidity, it should be approachable on release and have 10-12 years of overall longevity.” JD
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

BEST BETS FOR CALIFORNIA
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95)
$39 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94+ points
“The 2013 Bedrock Heritage Wine is one of the most intriguing wines in the range. Smoke, cedar, tobacco and a host of savory notes meld together in a powerful yet nuanced wines built on delineation and energy. Even with all of its intensity, the 2013 remains lifted, floral and light on its feet for such a big wine. This is by far the most polished and refined wine I have tasted from the Bedrock Vineyard, where the wines have often been much riper and bigger.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2010 750ML ($39.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2010 750ML ($199.95)
$99 special, 2 half-cases available
The vineyard Ciel du Cheval lies in the heart of the tiny Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) in southeast Washington. Initially planted to just three acres in 1975, the vineyard now encompasses 120 acres and provides outstanding fruit to 26 wineries in the northwest. As owner Jim Holmes puts it, “This is a hobby that has gone crazy.” Blend breakdown: 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, 12% Petit Verdot
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Terlato Family Vineyards Angel’s Peak, Napa Valley 2007 750ML ($49.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator
“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.”
Vinopolnote: vinified at Terlato’s Rutherford Hill Winery
The next best price is more than 50% higher- $29.75
The average price is $47
…Did I mention that this is the lowest listed price in the USA today?

BEST BETS FOR FRANCE
Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon La Cueille Sparkling Rose, Savoie NV 750ML ($21.95)
$14 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Patrick Bottex Bugey Cerdon La Cueille Sparkling Rose, Savoie NV 750ML ($249.95)
$149 special, 10 cases available
Robert Parker 90 points
“Dry, crisp, fresh and incredibly fragrant, this sparkling wine is a terrific bargain. The good news is there are around 4,000 cases of it, although I do not know how much is imported by Kermit Lynch. Drink it over the next year. Kermit Lynch is one of the most meticulous importers in terms of shipping wines properly, but it would be nice to see a vintage, release, or bottling date on these bottles. This cuvee may qualify as the “wine bargain of the year.” A Champagne-like sparkling rose from the largely forgotten area of Bugey (which only received appellation status in 2009), this low alcohol (8%) offering is made from 90% Gamay and 10% Poulsard (an indigenous grape of the region).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23!

Chateau Saint-Roch Cotes du Roussillon Villages ‘Chimeres’, Languedoc-Roussillon 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
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

BEST BETS FOR ITALY
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
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points
“Upped to a Bolgheri status (previously this wine was identified as a Toscana IGT), the 2012 Bolgheri Magari is simply delightful. This vintage shows extra heft and dimension that allows the wine to spread smoothly over the palate. Merlot is blended with Cabernets Franc and Sauvignon, and the taste profile in the 2012 vintage definitely favors the Merlot component. Soft cherry and dark berry segue to spice and moist tobacco. The structure of the two Cabernet varieties shows in the mouth where the wine is elegant and tight. It needs more time for bottle evolution. Angelo Gaja’s Ca’Marcanda estate has hit its stride with this latest set of wines. His management of the 2011 heat is impressive, resulting in wines with power and finesse. Ca’Marcanda never seems to get the attention it deserves, and the wines are indeed pricy. Nonetheless, they are among the finest expressions on the Tuscan coast.” ML
James Suckling 93 points “Bright and firm with sliced-lemon, blueberry and almond character throughout. Full body, firm tannins and a clean finish. Clean and fresh. Better in 2016.” JS
Wine Spectator 92 points “Rich and bursting with cedar, licorice, black currant and sandalwood aromas and flavors, this red is dense and chewy. Balanced and long, this begs for grilled steak or a roast. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2022. ” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $73!
Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 ($59.95) $47 special, 7 bottles available
Case-6 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 ($299.95)
$264 special, 5 half-cases available
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 ($599.95)
$479 special, 6 cases available
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Focused, juicy and long, this red is packed with cherry, floral, tobacco and underbrush flavors. Still a bit tight now, but stays long. The sweet fruit returns on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS

BEST BETS FOR SPAIN
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($24.95)
$21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2011 750ML ($299.95)
$236 special, 8 cases available
Wine Advocate 91+ points
“The 2011 Reserva is mostly Tempranillo complemented with some 20% Garnacha, 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo. There are no stainless-steel vats at Muga, so everything is fermented in oak vats and this wine is then aged for one year in new French oak barrels and a further year in used ones (three to six years old), fined with egg white and bottled. It is a Rioja that mixes the traditional and modern character with ripe fruit and contains oak aromas that are quite spicy and have some toast and smoke that should integrate with a bit of time in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied, has clean flavors that are balanced with sweet tannins. This is easy to drink, pleasant but not banal, and delivers a lot for its price. An impressive half-million bottles are produced of this wine, which is sold as Crianza in Spain and as Reserva in the rest of the world. Year after year, one of the most reliable and affordable Reservas.” LG

Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2013 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 20 bottles available
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2013 1.5L ($69.95)
$59 special, 4 magnums available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points
“Pale orange. Lively, sharply-focused tangerine and strawberry aromas, with a zesty mineral overtone gaining strength with air. Pure and racy in style, the brisk red berry and floral flavors delivering a refreshingly bitter edge. Closes taut and stony, with very good persistence and resonating floral character.” JR

Vin Santo

“Tuscany’s Mysterious Self-Making Vin Santo”
 

Last week, Antonio Galloni’s Vinous Media published an essay, no, make that an ode, to Vin Santo; composed by Bryce Wiatrak wherein he writes of his first introduction to Vin Santo and then a subsequent exploration in depth that he undertook in October 2015. If you care at all about Vin Santo you’ll be very pleased to read the article in full as published by vinous.com. And if you don’t care at all about Vin Santo, well, we’d suggest you might if you were to read Bryce’s article. Here today we’ll deploy a few snippets pertaining to the wines, wineries, and winemakers whose Vin Santo have earned a fairly much continuing presence in our world.

An introduction:

“…. documentation of the “passito” method in which Vin Santo is created can be traced back to 800 BC. In 2016, however, we live in an era where gyropalettes render the lightning-speed hands of Champagne’s riddlers obsolete, and mechanical lagares in Porto replace lines of human stompers, crushing grapes in rhythmic unison with their bare ‘feet’ through the night. Vin Santo undergoes no such processing. It’s a humbling experience to be in the presence of a wine that leaves its producer no option but to essentially let it make itself…..Vin Santo can be a rather unruly wine. With the recipe unchanged for centuries, many winemakers have come to believe Vin Santo production “oenology free.” They’ll take on a laissez-faire mentality, sealing their barrels with wax, never checking up on their wines and hoping for the best once it comes time to bottle. Truthfully, they’re not all that far off—Vin Santo operates with a mind of its own. But, each winemaker is tasked with a series of decisions that will help guide the product into becoming a fine wine of the modern era…..”
Avignonesi
“No other Tuscan estate has come to emblemize modern Vin Santo’s entry into the realm of fine wine quite like this property….Historically, Avignonesi has exaggerated most every necessary step in the making of their Vin Santo. Beginning with the 1996 vintage, Avignonesi produced a string of lauded Vin Santos through a process designed to maximize the wine’s opulence. The grapes, Malvasia and Trebbiano for the traditional Vin Santo and Sangiovese for the Occhio di Pernice, were left to dry in the appassitoio for six months. Around March, the grapes are manually crushed in a process that takes two weeks due to the density of the shriveled fruit. The wine then rests in one hundred year-old Slavonian oak caratelli for a period of ten to twelve years. Once each year, the winemakers will break the wax seal of a single caratello to monitor the Vin Santo’s progress.”

Available @ Vinopolis Today:

Avignonesi Vin Santo di Montepulciano 2000 375ml ($249.95) $179 special, 7 375ml bottles in stock
Ian d’Agata Vinous Media 92 points
“Bright amber-yellow. Fabulous high-toned aromas of raisin, caramel, white chocolate, hazelnut, roasted apricot and honey. Wonderfully glyceral yet tangy on the palate, with a chewy quality and uncommon acid thrust to the creamy, honeyed flavors. The palate-staining finish goes on and on but turns a little tannic at the back. This is usually Italy’s best Vin Santo, but I still think that the decision made a few years ago to increase the wine’s barrel aging by one year (it’s now ten years rather than nine!) has changed its marvelous balance; it is now thicker and tougher than it was previously.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Fattoria di Fèlsina
“Fèlsina lies on the southernmost end of Chianti Classico, its vineyards rolling into the gentle hills of Chianti Colli Senesi across the border. Proprietor Giovanni Poggiali aims to produce a Vin Santo that sits at the middle ground between the old and new styles… Fèlsina repurposed the top floors of a series of thousand year-old farmhouses sprinkled across their celebrated Rancia vineyard as appassitoio. There the grapes dry on bamboo shelves until crush around late December or early January each year. Afterward, the wine is aged for seven years in one hundred liter casks, made from a mixture of Hungarian and French oak and F. Renzi caratelli, before spending an additional year in bottle before release. Poggiali checks about fifty percent of barrels at the one and five year marks.
Malvasia drives the blend of Fèlsina’s Vin Santo at about forty percent, the rest evenly divided between Sangiovese and Trebbiano. Despite the relatively high dose of Sangiovese, this Vin Santo falls just slightly on the lighter side. Perhaps the most refreshing Vin Santo I tasted, the current release 2005 blooms with bright citrus flavor – freshly-squeezed lemonade and orange blossom. It has a high acidic lift that carries the wine to a long finish. Giovanni Poggiali also prefers his Vin Santos served slightly chilled, a smart move that accentuates the youthfulness of his wines.”

Available @ Vinopolis Today

Felsina Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2005 375ml ($47.95) $39 special, 26 375ml bottles in stock now
Isole e Olena
“Vintner Paolo de Marchi claims one of the smartest decisions he made was moving his two vinsantaie to the ground floor in 1991. Although it forgoes tradition, he believes having the barrels closer to the cool ground helps preserve acidity and prevent a “cooked” taste to the wine. While I can’t say whether or not the relocation is the cause, the first thing I noticed when trying Isole e Olena’s Vin Santo was a kinetic vibrancy. It tastes as if every particle in the 2006, its current release, is in acceleration and en route to collision. Flavors of orange blossom, dried apricot and freshly squeezed lemon crescendo through the finish. That bullet of citrus lingers longest, piercing through a more savory mid-palate of buttered popcorn and toffee. Despite the solid lift the acidity gives, the wine is full bodied, thanks to the two-thirds Malvasia.

Available @ Vinopolis Today:

Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2004 375ml ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock today
Ian d’Agata Vinous 94 points
“Deep amber-yellow. Sexy, kaleidoscopic nose combines exotic tropical fruits, chestnut honey, raisin, dried fig, caramel and a musky iodine note. Then sharply delineated and penetrating on the palate in spite of its honeyed sweetness, with superb acidity giving spine to the dried fruit and ripe citrus flavors. This wonderfully vibrant yet thick and rich Vin Santo coats the mouth on the long, smooth finish. Great stuff.”
Antonio Galloni Vinous 92 points “The 2004 Vin Santo del Chianti Classico wafts from the glass with burnt sugar, caramel, roasted coffee beans, licorice and dried flowers. Even with 200 grams of residual sugar, the wine comes across as restrained and impeccable, even a touch ethereal on the finish. The Vin Santo is Malvasia and Trebbiano.”

Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2005 375ml ($59.95) $47 special, 3 375ml bottles in stock today
Ian d’Agata Vinous 93 points
“Amber-tinged golden yellow. Orange peel, crystallized papaya, dried flowers, marzipan and sweet fennel on the knockout nose. Then more delicate and graceful in style than the nose suggests, featuring lightly oxidative notes of nuts and faded flowers along with more vibrant fresh citrus and floral notes. The finish is long and very smooth.”
Antonio Galloni Vinous 93 points “Orange peel, dried flowers, herbs, almonds, mint and sweet tobacco meld together in Isole e Olena’s 2005 Vin Santo. Delicate and lifted in style, the 2005 captures the essence of what can make Vin Santo compelling; namely a fabulous interplay between the oxidative notes the wine develops over the many years it spends in barrel, and the fresh, vibrant acidity conferred by white grapes.”

Pre-arrival @ Vinopolis—Short wait: Arriving Friday March 25

Isole e Olena Vin Santo del Chianti Classico 2006 375ml ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 36+ 375ml available for pre-arrival purchase
Antonio Galloni Vinous 94 points
“The 2006 Vin Santo is quite powerful and viscous in the glass, perhaps a bit more so than is the norm. An exotic mélange of dried fig, honey, sage, baking spices and sweet herbs are all thrust forward. This is one of the most intense Vin Santos I can remember tasting at Isole e Olena. The 220 grams of residual sugar are clearly felt in the wine’s heft, yet all the elements are in the right place.”
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California Trifecta
Napa, Sonoma, & Pinot
Arriving Tomorrow

Bootleg Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bootleg Proprietary Red, Napa Valley 2012 750ML ($449.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 90 points
“An intriguing offering from the Jackson family, the 2012 Proprietary Red this innovative blend of 36% Merlot, 20% Petite Sirah, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Syrah and Zinfandel is outstanding. The wine comes from multiple vineyards in Northern California in Napa Valley and is a reasonably good-sized cuvée of 5,000 cases. The wine shows plenty of peppery, meaty, blackcurrant fruit, sweet cherries, loamy soil undertones, plenty of licorice and spice box. This is a very Mediterranean styled, deep, fleshy red wine to drink over the next 2-3 years.” RP

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Fortress Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County 2012 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator:
“Well-structured, with a frame of firm tannins and cedary oak overshadowing the modest core of graphite-laced dark berry.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Byron ‘Nielson’ Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Byron ‘Nielson’ Pinot Noir, Santa Maria Valley 2013 750ML ($219.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92+ points
“Another terrific wine is the 2013 Pinot Noir Nielson Vineyard, which was completely destemmed and aged 16 months in 40% new French oak. Still showing its oak elevage, with lots of caramelized cherry, black raspberry, sweet oak and spice, it hits the palate with a seamless, silky, gorgeously pure texture that carries plenty of fruit and finishes clean and dry, with notable tannic grip. Give it a year or two in the cellar to integrate its oak and drink bottles through 2021.”

Closing the Deal

Zorzal Terroir Unico
Arriving Mid-April

Zorzal Terroir Unico Pinot Noir, Tupungato, Argentina 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points
“The 2013 Terroir Unico Pinot Noir follows the idea of the Terroir Unico range, to show the pure expression of the grape and the place in a line of unoaked wines. This was 20-30% whole-cluster fermented and is very pale colored, almost a rose, very perfumed, with aromas of red fruit and flowers opening to a light to medium-bodied palate, high acidity (blood orange), and a pure, fresh finish. Highly drinkable. Can the price be real?”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

‘age appears best in four things:
old wood to burn, old wine to drink,
old friends to trust and old authors to read.’

– francis bacon

Let us celebrate the occasion with wine and sweet words.
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