Vinopolis Newsletter – Monday 07/17/2023

Close Out Sales
New Price Reductions
One Week Sale
Elvio Cogno Meets 5-10% Discounts

 

Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay 2021- $34.50, 18 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “This has a beautiful nose of lemon curd, cream, sliced green apples and cardamom buns. Some toasted hazelnuts, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a deliciously creamy, gently spicy palate, married with vibrant acidity. Drink or hold.”

Sequitur Chardonnay 2020- $59, 36 bottles available
Sequitur Chardonnay 2021- $66, 36 bottles available
Sequitur Pinot Noir 2018- $79, 35 bottles available
Sequitur Pinot Noir 2019- $79, 35 bottles available
Sequitur Pinot Noir 2021- $85, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “I tasted the 2021 Sequitur Pinot Noir about three weeks before it was bottled. Medium ruby-purple in color, it has intense aromas of pomegranate, rhubarb and even boysenberry, plus accents of garrigue, conifer and orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with addicting bursts of juicy acidity, generous, nuanced fruit and a very long, layered finish.”
 

Washington
 

Secret Squirrel (Corliss) Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 – $19, 36+ bottles available
Secrets revealed – Secret Squirrel is owned and operated by Michael and Lauri Corliss.  Made by the crew at Corliss Estates, Tranche Cellars consistently delivers serious, impeccably made wines that over-deliver.   Secret Squirrel wines are made from declassified Corliss and Tranche fruit with all estate fruit on all wines.  The Secret Squirrel is heavily Red Mountain estate fruit (70%) and the remainder is from their Blue Mountain Estate vineyard in Walla Walla Valley.  Was a $30 + wine until good fortune came our way. 
 

California
 

Schramsberg Blanc de Blanc Methode Champenoise 2019 –$39, 12 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Fresh, bright aromas of green apple, lemon juice, lime zest and lime leaf complemented by a light toasty-bread scent waft out of the glass almost immediately. Beautiful acidity keeps the lively fruits front and center, whilst those yeast tones add a layer of complexity to the flavor profile as well as a lovely weight and body to the mouthfeel’
 

France
 

Hubert Lignier Saint-Romain Blanc 2021- $79, 2 bottles available
More Lignier wanted? Dial down to the ‘Collector’s Corner’

Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis Vieilles Vignes 2020- $39, 36 bottles available
Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys 2010- $59, 24 bottles available
Daniel-Etienne Defaix Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon 2010- $59, 24 bottles available

Gerard Boulay Oriane Sancerre Rouge 2020- $49, 22 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Clos de Beaujeu Sancerre Blanc 2021 1.5L – $119, 6 magnum bottles available

Remejeanne Côtes du Rhône Blanc Chevrefeuilles 2022- $19.50, 36 bottles available
Remejeanne Côtes du Rhône Rouge Un Air 2022- $18, 36 bottles available

Font- Mars Clemence Rose Languedoc 2022- $14, 36 bottles available
A dry rosé with classic Syrah spices and generous summer berry fruit. Light as a feather. The de Clock family has run this 55 hectare estate since 1679.

Dom Perignon Champagne Brut 2012- $289, 11 bottles available
Decanter 98 points “What a magnificent bouquet for this Dom Pérignon 2012! Pastry, a hint of smoke and autolytic notes provide a compelling counterpart to eager yet elegant aromas of citrus (lime, tangerine and kumquat) joined by those of fresh fruit, herbs, liquorice, and menthol. There is even a refreshing note of ivy. The palate is tense, vibrant, and very fresh despite its impressive density, which meets its match with an unending finish. This 2012 incarnates the very essence of Dom Pérignon with such a concentrated degree of intensity, along with a capacity for ageing, that it is surely destined for a second life in a P2 edition.”
Vinous 97 points “The 2012 Dom Pérignon is a dense, powerful wine. I am almost shocked by its vinous intensity and raw, unbridled power. The 2012 reminds me of the 2003, but with more finesse and not quite as pushed. Mildew, rain and frost were challenges and resulted in low yields, something that was further compounded by warm, dry weather that concentrated the fruit even more. Those qualities result in a dense Dom Pérignon endowed with real phenolic intensity. It is one of the most reticent young Doms I can remember tasting, I wouldn’t even think of opening a bottle for at least a few years.”
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2012 Dom Pérignon has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with notes of Anjou pear, smoke, toasted nuts, freshly baked bread and crisp stone fruit. Medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it’s still tightly wound, its incipiently fleshy core of fruit framed by racy acids and chalky grip, complemented by a classy pinpoint mousse. A touch drier and a touch less reductive than the 2008 out of the gates, these two vintages are clearly destined to be compared for some time to come; but at this early stage, my instinct is that the 2012 will have the edge in the long term.”
 

Germany
 

Schlossgut Diel Riesling Reserve Sekt Extra Brut 2017- $49, 24 bottles available
Schlossgut Diel Burgberg Layen Riesling Trocken 2021- $29, 24 bottles available

Donnhoff Grauburgunder Trocken 2022- $27, 12 bottles available
Donnhoff Weissburgunder Trocken 2022- $24, 24 bottles available
Donnhoff Estate Riesling Trocken 2022- $24, 36 bottles available
Donnhoff Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken 2022- $28, 12 bottles available
Donnhoff Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese 2022- $39, 12 bottles available

 

Kaltern Chardonnay Saleit Alto-Adige 2018- $16, 30 bottles available
Kaltern Quintessenz Kalterersee Classico Superiore- $16, 36 bottles available
Bosco Etna Bianco Piano del Daini Sicilia 2019- $19, 30 bottles available
Bosco Etna Ross Piano del Daini Sicilia 2018- $19, 12 bottles available
Vinopolnote- more 50% price slice gifted here
Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino 2017- $249, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “A delicately sweet note of fresh summer cherry is a precursor to budding complexity and a very articulate bouquet that opens quickly in the glass. Immediately pleasing fruit is a characteristic of the 2017 growing season that had above average temperatures and drought throughout the summer. The resistant 2017 Brunello di Montalcino takes on these challenges without missing a beat. The wine’s celebrated acidity and its small berry nuances remain intact. The tannins are silky and the wine’s flavors fade slowly even after you have taken your last sip.”
Vinopolnote- many more 96s to read on our website

Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Riserva 2016- $749, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “Wow, here is a vintage I’ve been anxiously waiting to try. The 2016 growing season was one of the best in recent memory in Montalcino, and if we look back in time, this vintage marks the year Biondi-Santi was sold to a French group. The prestigious 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva proves a mighty collector’s bottle that will undoubtedly gain in complexity and depth with careful bottle age. The wine offers wild nuances of forest berry and tart cherry, and there are herbal side notes as well as floral tones of dried violet and lilac. The tannins are soft, powdery and feel like they melt away on the palate.”
Vinopolnote- buyers, your good fortune is that Monica didn’t label at 100 points!

Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva 2019 – $34.50, 36 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.”
Decanter 92 points “At the southeastern limit of Chianti Classico, Fèlsina’s expansive vineyards look towards Montalcino. The annata is assembled from various parcels rising from 320 to 420 metres on rocky calcareous soil with layers of sandstone. As usual, it is more earthy than fruity, bringing in evocative accents of violet, liquorice and pepper. The palate is superbly textured with fine, grainy tannins providing a sensuous grip. Dark fruited and tangy with admirable depth, it will drink well now and over the next decade. Finishes with a sprinkle of cinnamon.”
 

 

 

Cadence Bel Canto Red 2019 – Was $69 now $59, 18 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2019 Bel Canto is more Cabernet Franc-dominated and includes 17% Merlot. While it doesn’t match the 2018, it’s a beauty offering impressive redcurrant and spiced plum fruits, notes of spicy oak, dried flowers, and leafy herbs, medium to full body, a pure, seamless, gorgeous texture, and ultra-fine tannins. It’s just a stunning Cabernet Franc from Washington State that offers incredible pleasure today given its balance and texture yet will evolve for 20+ years. 290 cases.”

Cayuse Impulsivo Tempranillo 2020- Was $133 now $119 , 28 bottles available
James Suckling 95+ points; Jeb Dunnuck 94+ points “Tight and closed, with notions of bloody blue fruits, iodine, rose petals, and cedarwood, the 2020 Impulsivo hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, and ripe tannins that emerge on the finish. I like its concentration, and its tannins are polished and beautifully integrated, but this is in need of a solid 4-5 years of bottle age to show its full potential. It should have 20-25 years of overall longevity when all is said and done.”
 

Denis Chaput Noir de Jade Champagne Blanc de Noir Extra-Brut NV Was $49 now $39, 24 bottles 
Le Guide Hachette “Construit sur la récolte 2014, ce pur pinot noir or rose mêle au nez la mie de pain à des nuances délicates d’acacia et de pêche. La fleur miellée, le fruit et le coulis de fruits s’épanouissent dans une bouche équilibrée entre fraîcheur et rondeur, qui finit sur une touche mentholée. Du caractère et de l’élégance.”

La Chablisienne Les Clos Chablis 2018- Was $69 now $59
“The Chablis Grand Cru are complete wines, with strong personality, and never cease improving with age. These nectars with their elegant colour and strong nose are particularly racy on the palate, offering a gloriously long finish and a remarkable keeping potential.”

La Chablisienne L;Homme Mort Chablis 2019- Was $39 now $34.50
“Pale gold in color, a limpid and brilliant wine. Initially fresh and deliciously floral on the nose, enhanced by a touch of minerality. Becomes more intense on aeration. Nicely fresh, taut and immediate in the mouth with fine precision. Long, finely mineral finish. A Chablis 1er Cru designed for keeping.”

Germany

Clemens – Busch Marienberg Riesling Kabinett 2018- Was $24 now $19, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 92+ points “Lightly smoky with some lemon pith and dried spices. There’s some light sweetness here, but it’s nicely balanced out by the edgy acidity. Taut and very precise on the finish. Drink now.”
Vinous 91 points “White peach, apple, honeydew melon and lime are tinged with lemongrass and cilantro on the nose, and with nippy cress on an otherwise polished, lusciously fruited and subtly soothing palate. Nearly 60 grams of sugar manage to come off as entirely supportive, and the lingering finish both soothes and stimulates.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows yeasty notes at first, with accents of jasmine and hops, followed by electric acidity that fuels the green apple, lemon and nectarine flavors. Balanced and beautiful in terms of texture, exhibiting substance. Smoky details emerge on the well-defined finish. Best from 2021 through 2033. 550 cases made, 60 cases imported. — AZ

Italy

Carpineta Fontalpino Do Ut Des Tuscany 2016 – was $59 now $49, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “The fruit here really takes your breath away with its intensity, as well as purity. Blackberry crumble, pressed violets, ink, iodine, charcoal, vanilla and resin. It’s the polish of the tannins that really makes this wine, carrying itself effortlessly over a shimmer of electric acidity to the long finish. Drink in 2023. Made from organically grown grapes.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Do Ut Des (a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a generous and expansive personality that hits the palate like a warm embrace from a favorite friend. This is a succulent and smooth red wine with thick layers of bold cherry, dried blackberry, leather, rose hip and scorched earth. In the mouth, the wine proceeds with medium- to full-bodied texture and elegantly contoured fruit flavors.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Sleek and focused, with black currant, black cherry, plum, iron and tobacco flavors coursing through from start to finish. Tightly wound and vibrant, this lingers with subtle licorice and spice elements. Shows fine harmony and length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 1,650 cases made, 200 cases imported. — BS”

Caruso E Minini Pericone Sicily 2019 – was $19 now $16, 36+ bottles available
“The Perricone [grape], or the so-called pignatello, had been the undisputed leader of the red grapes in western Sicily. Rich with red fruits…Wine of great power and harmony while expressing…fresh and lively character” -Winery notes
 

 

Search “Close Out” on our Website to see all discounted wines!
 

SPECIAL FOR A WEEK – ELVIO COGNO!

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
 
SALE ENDS 6PM FRIDAY JULY 21^ST

 

Elvio Cogno gained experience as wine-maker and partner at Marcarini, and in the middle 1990’s acquired the lands to support his own new venture. Cogno’s wines, now vinified by Valter Fissore, are amongst the highest caliber produced in Langhe. They are well-known and consistently well received by critics both in Europe and the United States. Antonio Galloni, founder of Vinous Media, states, “the truth is that all of the wines in the estate’s lineup are fabulous from top to bottom… Elvio Cogno (is) one of Barolo’s leading estates.” Elvio Cogno has been named “Winery of the Year” by Wine & Spirits Magazine for four of the past six years. 

Elvio Cogno Barbera d’Alba Bricco di Merli 2020 750ML- $33, 36 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Starting with its bright ruby color to its long-lasting finish, this is a classic Barbera. Aromas of bright tart cherries and wild raspberries mixed with fresh herbs and forest floor. The palate is electric with vibrant acidity, amazing texture and wild fresh plums mixed with deep earthy notes.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “A supple, even creamy texture embraces the blackberry, plum and leather flavors in this concentrated red. Firms up, with well-meshed tannins flexing on the finish. Drink now through 2027. 830 cases made, 250 cases imported.”

Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice 2015 750 ML- $99, 38 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Cellar Selection. Enticing scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry and an earthy whiff of truffle shape the fragrant nose on this dazzling wine. The delicious, full-bodied palate boasts structure and a weightless elegance, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, cherry compote, cinnamon and star anise. Taut polished tannins and fresh acidity provide balance and an elegant structure. It’s already irresistible but will also age well for years. Drink 2022–2035.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Elvio Cogno 2015 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice delivers the depth, richness and concentration that are a hallmark of this pretty vintage. This wine is a pure expression of the productive Lampia clone of Nebbiolo. Generous layers of blackberry, wild cherry, rose hip, ferrous earth and campfire ash are neatly folded together to build the wine’s intensity. Like the other wines from this estate, the tannic management is spot-on. You are aware of the wine’s youthful structure, but it is delivered without hard edges or sharp points. A mere 4,000 bottles were produced.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2015 Barolo Bricco Pernice is an exotic, beguiling wine. Blood orange, mint, sweet red cherry, star anise and a range of spice notes give the Bricco Pernice striking aromatic and flavor complexity. Medium in body, refined and super-expressive, the 2015 has so much to offer. Best of all, it will drink well with just a few years in bottle. It is such an effortless, gracious wine. Very polished, nuanced and elegant, this silky Barolo has a ton of structure but is also impeccable in its balance.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Aromas of camphor and sweet pipe tobacco give way to cherry, tar and wild scrub flavors in this densely structured red, which is elegant and sinewy, with a lingering, chewy finish. Best from 2023 through 2045.”

Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice 2017 750ML – $135, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “This is a medium-bodied Nebbiolo from a hot vintage with a ruby-tinged appearance. The 2017 Barolo Ravera Bricco Pernice shows generous inner fiber and richness with dried cherry, blackberry, plum and dark spice. Fruit for this wine comes from a beautiful amphitheater of vines with the perched town of Novello high up on the skyline. I love the especially smooth and soft quality to what is a powerful and lasting wine. Only 3,500 bottles were made.”

Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova 2016 750ML- $54.50, 22 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Rose, woodland berry and baking spice shape the nose along with crushed mint notes on this fragrant red. The savory, polished palate boasts succulent raspberry, ripe strawberry and white pepper before taut tannins and bright acidity reveal a firm, elegant structure. Star anise lingers on the finish. Drink 2023–2036.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Of the four Elvio Cogno Baroli out on the market now, this wine is the most immediate and accessible of the bunch. Production is an ample 20,000 bottles. The 2016 Barolo Cascina Nuova is a terrific wine with impeccable balance. The bouquet offers dark fruit aromas, licorice, smoke, tar and spice. These aromatic pieces slide together with precision to create an intriguing and multifaceted puzzle. It shows good fruit weight and concentration, reinforced by firm tannins, freshness and a silky mouthfeel. This is a terrific go-to Barolo from a classic vintage. The wine is fermented in stainless steel and then ages for two years in botte grande made with Slavonian oak. “

Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova 2018 750ML- $59, 36 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Floral aromas of rose and iris mingle with red berry and tilled earth on this perfumed red. Elegantly structured, the vibrant palate offers juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry and star anise before a savory, almost salty finish. Taut, refined tannins and bright acidity keep it balanced. Drink through 2030.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Cascina Nuova is fine-tuned with plenty of wild berry, cassis, grilled herb and crushed stone. The aromas are quite classic for Nebbiolo, but what stands out here is the directness and freshness with which they are delivered. The tannins are tucked carefully inside the smooth, silky character of this elegant wine.”

Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2017 750ML- $94.50, 35 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The Ravera cru is seeing renewed energy and interest, thanks to the hard work of the Elvio Cogno team. They believed in Novello from the very beginning, and today a wine like the 2017 Barolo Ravera shows special confidence and pride. This pretty Barolo made with a blend of Nebbiolo clones (Lampia and Michet) reveals a slow succession of aromas with dark cherry and blackberry. The results are lasting, contoured and beautifully focused, thanks to mineral notes of rusty iron or brick. Nuanced notes of licorice and campfire ash round off the finish.” Monica Larner

Elvio Cogno Barolo Ravera 2018 750ML- $94.50, 18 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The Elvio Cogno 2018 Barolo Ravera is becoming one of the most important wines in Novello, and it performs very nicely in this more challenging vintage. In fact, 2018 helps to cement Ravera’s steadfast reputation precisely because it performs so well despite spells of humidity and heat. The wine shows small-berry detailing with rust and crushed stone at the back. There is a point of bitterness that accompanies the tannins of this full-bodied wine.”
 

 

 

New arrivals

Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Vieilles Vignes 2020- $259, 2 bottles available
Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Les Chaffots 2020- $219, 1 bottle available
Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Tres Girard 2020- $119, 3 bottles available
Lignier Morey-Saint-Denis Trilogy 2020- $119, 1 bottle available

Others in stock now:

Lignier Clos de la Roche 2018 – $519, 2 bottles available
Lignier Clos de la Roche 2018 1.5L – $1049, 1 magnum available
Decanter 96 points “Laurent Lignier uses 0.8ha of his two holdings in the climats of Les Fremières and Monts Luisants to produce this refined expression of Clos de la Roche. Savoury and sweet, with 30% whole clusters adding aromatic spices and extra structure in 2018, this is graceful, subtle and concentrated with palate-caressing summer berry fruit and refreshing palate length. Drinking Window 2026 – 2036.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Revisited in bottle, Lignier’s 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru lives up to its fine performance in barrel, wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and orange rind mingled with truffle, espresso roast, loamy soil and dark chocolate. Full-bodied, concentrated and seamless, it’s layered and vibrant, with a deep core of pure fruit that largely conceals impressive reserves of fine, powdery tannins. Concluding with a long and saline finish, it will merit and reward at least a dozen years’ patience, likely hitting its stride around age 20.”
Vinous 94-96 points “The 2018 Clos de la Roche Grand Cru comprises one-third whole bunch and 30% new oak. The nose is uncharacteristically backward, though with coaxing it offers enticing dark cherries, blackberry, sous-bois and pine aromas that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy red berry fruit and a fine bead of acidity. Taut and linear, leading to a very precise, persistent finish that is a pure joy. Divine.”

Lignier Griotte Chambertin 2017 – $519, 1 bottle available
Burghound 91-93 points “There is much more moderate oak influence framing the cool and perfumed nose that offers up essence of various red berries and floral nuances along with a hint of the sauvage. The well-detailed and solidly concentrated flavors possess fine size and weight as well as plenty of sleek muscle and minerality on the stylish and classy finish. This is built to age yet it’s not so structured that it couldn’t be approached after a few years of bottle age.”
Vinous 91-93 points “The 2017 Griotte-Chambertin Grand Cru comes from purchased fruit. It has a well-defined bouquet of blackberry, raspberry coulis and light cassis aromas, and the one-third new oak is neatly integrated. The fleshy, generous palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and fine acidity, leading to a smooth, sensual finish. This might be earlier-drinking than Lignier’s other two Grand Crus.”
Vinopolnote- Chef’s and restaurants are honored for delicacy; winemakers and wineries, not so much.