Vinopolis Newsletter – Monday, October 26th

10/25/15

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Special Feature; New Arrivals; Cristom; Muller Catoir; Big Oregonian Bottles; Pierre Yves Colin-Morey; Fresh Ratings for Oregon Pinots
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Special Feature
New, Highly Rated Wines!

Livio Sassetti Pertimali Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “I am absolutely enthusiastic about Sassetti Livio Pertimali’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino. Breathe deep into the glass and this wine awards you a beautiful sensorial experience that brings you immediately to varietal tones of pressed cherry, dried blackberry, spice and tobacco. The most compelling notes however are those polished mineral tones of crushed granite and pencil shaving that add sharpness and focus. This is not a timid Brunello and you can taste the sheer power and the quality of the fruit on hand. The mouthfeel is polished and smooth with fine and exact textural richness. Bravo!” ML

La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $46 special
James Suckling 96 points “Aromas of wet earth, meat and dried fruits. Some nuts and spices. Complex. Full body, with super fine tannins and fabulous intensity and richness. Dried cherry and candied citrus fruit. Fabulous finish. You want to drink this now. But shows superb finesse and intensity. Why wait?(1/15)” JS
Wine Spectator 95 points “Saturated with cherry, raspberry, spice and tobacco aromas and flavors, this strikes a balanced between the supple texture, succulent acidity and refined yet gripping tannins. Really sings on the lingering finish. Best from 2019 through 2035.” WS

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This Week’s New Arrivals

OREGON
CROWLEY WILLAMETTE VALLEY CHARDONNAY 2011 750ML ($31.95) $28 special

Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.99

Crowley Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Crowley Four Winds Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special

Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special

AYRES WILLAMETTE VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2014 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
AYRES PINOT NOIR PERSPECTIVE 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
CALIFORNIA
Varner El Camino Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special

Varner Neely Holly’s Cuvee Spring Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2013 Chardonnay Holly’s Cuvée presents an exotic mélange of tropical-infused fruit, smoke, butter, pastry and orange blossom, all in a rich, creamy style that offers considerable near and medium-term appeal. The oily, viscous finish alone is striking. Once again I am deeply impressed with the Holly’s Cuvée, an absolutely stunning wine that appears to have little in common with the three Varner Chardonnays from which it is composed. Don’t ask me why that is; I don’t really know the answer. In 2013, the blend is 64% Bee Block, 29% Amphitheater Block and 7% Home Block.”

Neely Hidden Block Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Succulent red cherries, raspberries, mint, sweet spices and tobacco open up effortlessly in the 2012 Pinot Noir Hidden Block from Neely. Open-knit and absolutely delicious, the 2012 is gorgeous today and should drink well for the better part of the next decade. Pretty crushed rose petal notes add perfume on the gracious, super-expressive finish.”

Neely ‘Picnic Block’ Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Picnic Block is dark, powerful and mysterious, with ferrous, earthy and gamy notes that add considerable character. The firm tannins could use another year to meld into the wine’s broad-shouldered frame, but I expect the Picnic will always remain virile and imposing in its voice, with distinct elements of rusticity. This is the shallowest of the three Chardonnay soils the Varners work with.”

Neely ‘Upper Picnic’ Spring Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Neely’s 2012 Pinot Noir Upper Picnic is attractive, albeit not as differentiated to the Upper Picnic as it has often been in the past. Dark red cherry, plum, tobacco and spice blossom in an ample, generous Pinot Noir. The Upper Picnic is a bit more polished and less overtly tannic than the Picnic, but the wines are more similar than is often the case, one of the legacies of a vintage that smoothed out differences between vineyard sites throughout California. The creamy, expressive finish suggests the 2012 will drink well with minimal cellaring. This parcel was regrafted in 2006 to own-rooted vines.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Savart Premier Cru L’Accomplie Brut NV 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Disgorged June 2015

R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut NV 375ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 R.H. Coutier Grand Cru Brut NV 375ML ($279.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/half-bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “The firm acidity is finely meshed in this seamless Champagne, with a rich note of chalky minerality underscoring the creamy palate’s flavors of chopped almond, black currant, fleur de sel and candied lemon zest. Disgorged Oct. 2014. Drink now through 2020.” WS

Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-12 Aubry Premier Cru Brut NV 750ML ($449.95) $349 special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)
Importer’s note: The N.V. Brut is 55% 2010 and 45% reserve wine, with 55% of the reserve coming from a solera containing all vintages from 1998 to 2009. The blend is 45% Pinot Meunier, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, and 5% of the ancient varieties Arbanne, Petit Meslier, and Fromenteau.

The case price is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-OTHER
Pierre Paillard Coteaux Champenois Grand Cru Bouzy Rouge 2008 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
A still red wine from Champagne
“Superbly bright, intense ruby red colour, deep and neat nose, it is delicate and sweet on the palate, full of finesse, the perfect image of a Pinot Noir harvested on chalky soils!”–Winery Notes

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.99

Domaine Saint-Lannes Blanc, IGP Cotes de Gascogne 2014 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Case-12-Domaine Saint-Lannes Blanc, IGP Cotes de Gascogne 20144 750ML ($149.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 special
Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 750ML ($399.95) $333 special (that’s only $27.75/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2013 Chablis Vaillons is striking today. Partial vinification in oak gives the Vaillons an added level of textural breadth and raciness that works beautifully here. Yellow stone fruits and spices flesh out in an utterly irresistible, striking wine.” AG

Jean-Paul & Benoit Droin Montmains, Chablis Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “Citrus, lime, mint, savory herbs, oyster shells and almonds lift from the glass in the 2013 Chablis Montmains. Beautifully expressive in the glass, the 2013 is a drop-dead gorgeous beauty. The style is intensely floral and weightless, with notable class and considerable potential.” AG
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “This is a full-bodied, dense wine. A hint of austerity in the mineral texture gives the wine a steely core. Around this center, ripe fruit fills out the wine and gives apricots and generous fruitiness as well as a crisp, perfumed aftertaste. Drink from 2017.” WE
ITALY-TUSCANY
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2011 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “From the 6.25-hectare Rancia vineyard, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia shows a more elaborate and stylized personality with ripe fruit tones, bursting cherry, perfumed violets and rose petal. Those floral notes add a feminine touch to what is in fact a wine of power and determination. It shows a beautiful evolution in the glass as well, with dusty mineral notes that add to the overall elegance of the dry, polished finish. This is one of the best Riservas of 2011.” ML
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A wine of incredible density, the 2011 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is virtually impenetrable, but dazzling just the same. Rose petal, mint, sage, rosemary, leather and smoke hit the palate in a voluptuous, racy Rancia. The 2011 should drink well earlier than many other recent vintages, but it should also age nicely. The fine, silky tannins are a bit uncharacteristic for a young Rancia. Over the last few years, the 2011 has really started to come together. It will be interesting to see where things go from here.” AG

This is the only listing in the USA today!

ITALY-SICILY
I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna ‘Pistus’ Etna Rosso 2013 750 ML ($21.95) $18 special
CASE-12 I Vigneri I Custodi delle Vigne dell’Etna ‘Pistus’ Etna Rosso 2013 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90+ points “I Custodi’s entry-level red is the beautiful 2013 Etna Rosso Pistus with fruit sourced from various points on the north side of the volcano. The blend is a traditional cut of 80% Nerello Mascalese and 20% Nerello Cappuccio and the wine sees no oak aging. I loved the vibrant freshness and fruity concentration of this wine. It opens to a luminous dark ruby color and an ambitious bouquet with bramble, spice, wild fruit, licorice and dark mineral. There is little fruit as most of the bouquet is occupied by ethereal volcanic tones. Stylistically speaking, this wine shows austerity and a masculine approach with tight, firm tannins. Pistus is a stubborn, but ultimately charming Etna Rosso.” ML

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

I CUSTODI AETNUS ETNA ROSSO 2008 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The top-shelf red is the 2008 Etna Rosso Aetneus that pays homage to this mighty Sicilian volcano with fruit from pre-phylloxera, 150-year-old vines. I tasted this same vintage last year and assigned the wine a score with a question mark because the bouquet appeared muted and muddled. Whatever problem I encountered last year happily did not reappear during this tasting. This is a strong and physical wine with sharp aromas of wild berry, forest floor, wild mushroom and sweet violets. It shows distinct mineral linearity that reinforces the wine’s overall elegance and immediacy. The fruit used here is mostly Nerello Mascalese and there are smaller percentages of Nerello Cappuccio and Alicante (or Grenache).” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

ITALY-OTHER
RUBINO OLTREME SUSUMANIELLO SALENTO 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Wine Spectator 88 points “Hints of sandalwood and woodsy spice underscore the flavors of crème de cassis, loamy earth and ripe damson plum in this chewy, medium-bodied red. Moderate finish. Drink now through 2018. 3,300 cases made” WS

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Cristom

Founder Paul Gerrie had been an engineer who, after falling in love with Burgundian pinots, drafted up a career change which brought him from the east coast as an attendee of the Internationl Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville. Smitten with Oregon, he decided to move his family across the country. Mike Etzel from Beaux Freres helped them find suitable land and, come 1992, the story began.

Winemaker Steve Doerner left Calera in 1992 in order to join the Cristom family. Doerner, who studied under Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac, has worked with the Pinot Noir grape for almost forty years now. As he puts it, “…I wanted to continue making Pinot Noir, and second I wanted to work for a small company. It didn’t take much persuasion from Paul Gerrie to convince me that Oregon was the place and that Cristom was the company. At the time it seemed like a hard decision but it’s been twenty years now, and I’ve never looked back.”

Vineyard manager Mark Feltz’s father planted the Feltz vineyard – one of the first Eola Hills plantings – back in 1973. Mark’s career has taken him to Bethel Heights, Stagg’s Leap, and Chalk Hill; he’s been at Cristom since day one.

Cristom owns eight estate vineyards, with six named after matriarchs within the family. They vinify wines with native yeasts with whole-cluster fermentation and aim for minimal cellar intervention. With no shortage of praise, the wines are known for their ageability. We stock a wide variety from the estate, as seen below.

Cristom Wines Available Now:

Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points Bright red. Tightly wound red berry and Asian spice aromas pick up a suave floral nuance with air. Silky and precise, offering energetic raspberry and bitter cherry flavors with a touch of star anise. A suave, seamless Pinot with no excess weight. Closes tangy and very long, with silky tannins and lingering spiciness.”

Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 92 points “Ruby-red. Highly perfumed scents of dark berries, cola and rose oil. Fleshy, expansive black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors display a suave blend of richness and energy, picking up a spicy character with air. Finishes juicy and very long, with lingering dark fruit flavors and slow-building tannins.”

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 94 points “Deep red. Hugely aromatic bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense and Asian spices, along with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering sweet raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and elegance, finishing with harmonious tannins and remarkable clarity and length.”

Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Exotic, highly expressive aromas of raspberry liqueur, Asian spices, cola and smoky minerals, with a suave floral overtone building in the glass. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red and dark berry and spicecake flavors given spine by juicy acidity. A distinctly elegant, seamless Pinot Noir with superb finishing energy; the gentle tannins are quickly absorbed by the wine’s vibrant fruit. A standout of its vintage.”

Cristom Sommers Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($54.95) $49 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Heady, mineral-laced aromas of ripe red berries, allspice and potpourri. Sweet raspberry and rose pastille flavors show impressive energy and focus, with a spicecake nuance emerging with air. The floral element repeats strongly on the very long, juicy finish, which is framed by gentle, slow-mounting tannins.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Sommers Reserve will be released near the end of 2015. It offer lively red berry fruit with redcurrant and wild raspberry scents, fine delineation with cheeky hints of marmalade and orange rind. The palate is medium-bodied and almost feral on the entry, as it seems to shoot off in a different direction. Then the acidity begins to bind it all together to form a cohesive, sorbet-fresh, bay-leaf finish that is long in the mouth. It needs to develop a little more persistence on the balsamic-tinged aftertaste, but otherwise this has good potential.” NM

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Muller Catoir

Muller-Catoir has been run by the same family 1744, and now currently in their 9th generation, this historic Pfalz estate is run by Philipp David Catoir. About 50 acres of purely estate grown fruit are dominated by Riesling vines, with tiny parcels situated in some of the most optimal locations within Pfalz, lying in a variety of soils that truly express the versatility of this grape.

In 2007, the estate began a conversion towards strict organic vineyard practices, completing their first official organic vintage in 2009. In the cellar, controlled practices of gentle crushing, long skin contact, followed by slow gentle pressing and warmer than customary fermentation temperatures are done in stainless steel.

“Vines were grown by natural methods with organic fertilization, permanent green cutting that gets more and more radical every summer, and ever-greater selective harvesting with hand-picking of grapes for even the most “basic” Kabinett wine – all these measures cannot help but produce only a small yield of wines with a mineral note, a filigree acidity structure and exotic fruit aromas.” –Philipp David Catoir

Part of the estate vineyards lie within the areas of Haardt, Mussbach, and Mandelgarten, with individual parcels and their various soils showing their distinctive complexities; primary rock (urgestein), yellow mottled sandstone, weathered sandstone gravel combined with layers of loess and alluvium, and gravel deposited during the last ice age.

Exclusively owned by Muller-Catoir and carefully preserved throughout the centuries, ‘Breumel in den Mauern’ is located in the uppermost section and is considered the best parcel of the Burgergarten in, due to its proximity to the Palatinate forest. These deep soils consist of pure mottled sandstone gravel, with a high ratio of decomposed stone.

These wines are truly expressive of the Pfalz region and its pockets of parcels, situated in prime locations for viticulture in Southwest Germany. History and family tradition are definitive of Muller-Catoir, who has continued to showcase their wines, true to their nature.

Muller Catoir Wines Available Now:

Muller-Catoir Haardt Scheurebe 2011 750ML ($37.95) $27 special, 4 bottles available

Muller-Catoir Gimmeldinger Mandelgarten Riesling Spatlese 2012 750ML ($44.95) $29 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 90 points “Spicy bouquet offers scents of papaya, pineapple and lemon grass. The sweet tropical fruit flavors and creamy texture are nicely interwoven, with just enough acidity to keep this wine fresh. With appealing length, this is a surprisingly elegant spätlese from the Pfalz.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.99

Muller-Catoir Mussbacher Eselshaut Riesling Kabinett 2011 750ML ($34.95) $21.90, 26 bottles available

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Muller-Catoir Mussbacher Eselshaut Riesling Kabinett 2012 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 21 bottles available
Terry Theise notes: “Typical aromas with the lime oil notes of their `12s; incisive and detailed; the palate is charming in a verbena-chartreuse style, with notes of wild vineyard peaches (a.k.a. “pêche de vigne”); it’s certainly a wine-with-sweetness, and Philip Catoir and I talked a little about reducing the sweetness on these types of wines in general – but the wine’s not at all unbalanced. I am, but the wine is fine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Muller-Catoir MC Riesling Trocken 2012 750ML ($24.95) $16 special, 8 bottles available
Terry Theise: “Sandier and more granular than usual – probably from bottling- and while a still admirable and solid everyday dry Riesling, I expect its usual fruity citricity to emerge as the wine recovers.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Big Bottles from Oregon

We thought it’d be fun to showcase a few of the large-format bottles of Pinot we have from local producers. Aside from making fantastic paperweights, they’re a lovely choice for dinner parties, the upcoming holidays, or to be given as gifts. We can ship, too, if needed!

Large Format Wines from Oregon Currently Available:

Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright red. Suave, highly perfumed scents of red and dark berry preserves, Asian spices and cola, with a sexy floral overtone. Sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and rose pastille flavors and a zesty spicy quality. The berry and floral notes repeat emphatically on a very long, smooth, appealingly sweet finish that’s framed by silky, harmonious tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bergstrom Wines ‘Cumberland’ Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 6 magnums available
Winery note “The 2013 Cumberland Reserve is dark red cherry in color and showcases an explosive and heady aromatic profile of fresh black cherries, red raspberries a slight kirsch note and ripe blueberries. The fruit character is bright and pure and only slightly lifted and framed by great Oregon spice and loamy earth character which adds depth and dimension to this very promising wine. In the mouth the wine is a fantastic expression of pure Oregon Pinot Noir with great verve and lift and vibrancy showing off rich, ripe berry flavors and a suave velvet-like structure which caresses the palate with its succulence but also promises a great future with its minerality and sweet tannins. Drink now-2019+”

Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2011 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 5 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas of blackberry, cherry-cola and fresh lavender, with a hint of spicecake in the background. Silky, seamless and expansive, displaying intense red and dark berry flavors and a hint of allspice. Puts on weigh with aeration while maintaining vivacity. The mineral and floral qualities build on the persistent finish, which is firmed by fine-grained, harmonious tannins.” ST
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve is a vineyard parcel and barrel selection. It was picked October 27 at 22 Brix and 100% de-stemmed, undergoing 45% new French oak. It has quite a dense bouquet with plenty of raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit that is well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin. There is plenty of backbone here, but it is very focused and harmonious with superb tension on the finish. This is an excellent contribution to the vintage—one of the best of Belle Pente’s current releases and well worth hunting down.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Domaine Pierre Yves Colin-Morey

Pierre Yves Colin made wine at his father’s esteemed estate, Domaine Marc Collin, up until the year 2005. At that point, he split off and started his own domaine, based in Chassagne-Montrachet, while getting a boost from some of his family’s vineyard holdings. Outside of Chassagne, he produces Meursault, St. Aubin, and Puligny-Montrachet.

Part of the changes Pierre Yves decided to make in starting his own project was to do away with batonnage during elevage as well as employing large, demi-muid barrels in lieu of smaller vessels. The wines are wonderfully layered, precise, and hugely invitied. Msr. Coin has grown to become one of the great values in the Cote de Beaune, winning over sommeliers, shopkeeps, and critics alike – though they tend to go quickly, we’re glad to have a array of them currently available currently at our shop!
White Burgundies from Domaine Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Wines Available Now:

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Champlots, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 89 points “Healthy pale yellow. Restrained aromas of lemon and spices. Less fat and more gripping than the Banc, delivering very good precision and intensity to the mineral and spice flavors. This very well-balanced Saint-Aubin finishes with enticing lemony cut and plenty of personality. (Incidentally, Colin bottled his Saint-Aubin wines last November, and the rest of the 2012s in April of this year.)” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Champlots, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 7 bottles available
91-93 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE “The 2013 Saint Aubin 1er Cru Champlots has a more austere bouquet compared to Pierre-Yves’s other premier crus: stony, touches of damp moss in an old churchyard. The palate is well balanced with sharp acidity on the entry: sour lemon, hints of apricot with quite an intense saline finish, this is a very well-crafted Saint Aubin that should repay time in the cellar. There’s something enigmatic about this wine.” WA

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey La Chateniere, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points ‘The 2013 Saint Aubin 1er Cru Chatenière is initially reticent on the nose, but it unfolds with time in the glass with delicate orange blossom and white peach aromas that remain very well defined. The palate is crisp and tensile on the entry. There is a wonderful salinity here, very good persistence in the mouth with a taut, linear finish that begs another sip. Top class.” WA

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Combes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2013 Saint Aubin les Combes has another very expressive bouquet with hints of mango and overripe Satsumas combining nicely with the mineral component. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, quite refined, although it just eases off a little prematurely on the tapered finish. Otherwise I envisage this slipping down the throat with ease.” WA

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Creots, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2013 Saint Aubin 1er Cru les Creots has very fine mineralité on the nose: flint and wet limestone, almost Puligny-like in style. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, hints of orange zest and lime with a dash of spice to round things off nicely on the finish. It does not quite have the complexity of a top climats, but it is still very well crafted and should offer a decade of drinking pleasure, possibly more.” WA

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($549.95) $499 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2012 Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru might turn out to be Pierre-Yves Colin’s finest achievement in 2012–including the Chevalier-Montrachet. It already offers a very expressive and lively bouquet with ebullient aniseed scents soaring from the glass, all with super delineation. The palate is medium-bodied, vibrant with hints of lemongrass and ginger. This Batard is very intense and concentrated for what is habitually a reticent Grand Cru in its youth, while the finish soars away. This is a grand cru revving up on the starting line. Climb on board.” WA
Burghound 91-94 points “There is a deft but visible application of wood setting off strong reductive notes. There is excellent power and concentration to the mouth coating and extract-rich broad-shouldered flavors that possess more refinement than the Corton-Charlemagne along with outstanding length on the balanced finish. This should be accessible after 5 years or so of bottle age but should reward up to a decade’s worth.” BH

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2011 ($449.95) $319 special, 1 bottle available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $349.50

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Chassagne-Montrachet Les Ancegnieres 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 88-91 points “Strong sulfur-based aromas presently dominate the nose. By contrast there is a lovely sense of purity to the broad-shouldered and robust medium weight flavors that brim with dry extract on the very generously proportioned, long and well-balanced finish. This is a big wine by the typical standards of villages level wines and one that should also be approachable after only a few years of bottle age.” BH

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chenevotte has a lovely openness and airiness on the nose that is in contrast to the Les Champs Gain. The palate is lively and energetic on the entry with a racy citric thread and a wonderful saline note on the persistent finish. There is great potential here.” WA

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Corton Charlemagne Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 91-93 points “Once again reduction flattens the fruit and renders the nose difficult to evaluate. There is excellent richness and superb volume to the muscular and quite fleshy middle weight plus flavors that display plenty of stoniness on the very rich and mouth coating finish. This is a big wine even by the typically full-sized standards of the appellation yet there is no sense of heaviness or lack of vibrancy.” BH

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Montrachet Grand Cru 2012 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 special, 1 bottle available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,188.

Red Burgundies from Domaine Pierre Yves Colin-Morey:

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Santenay Vieilles Vignes Ceps Centenaires 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 1 bottle available

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Champans, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 5 bottles available

Wines from Pierre Yves Colin-Morey Arriving in November:

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Champs Gain, Puligny-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Burghound 90-93 points “Outstanding.Here the nose is dominated by sulfur at present and thus impossible to read. Otherwise there is excellent volume and mid-palate density to the punchy and well-detailed medium weight flavors that deliver fine length on the mildly edgy finish. As the description suggests this is on the awkward side but the underlying material is so good that I am optimistic that it will harmonize once it is in bottle.” BH

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2013 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Chenevottes has a very well-defined bouquet, with hints of apricot blossom and limestone coming through with aeration. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp lime and green apples notes, the acidity sharp, but it will decrease by the time of bottling. Good tension here and very good persistency in the mouth, although it does not quite possess that “X-factor” we all seek from Pierre Yves’s wines.” NM

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 91-93 points “Sweetspot outstanding. A deft application of wood toast sits atop the spicy and markedly floral aromas where additional breadth is present in the form of exotic tea, apple and pear nuances. There is a lovely sense of underlying verve to the utterly delicious and wonderfully refined middle weight flavors that exude fine beads of minerality and salinity, all wrapped in a dry, clean and lingering finale. This sophisticated effort is well-balanced and should age effortlessly.” BH
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2013 Meursault 1er Cru Genevrières has a slightly muffled bouquet compared to the Meursault Charmes ’13 at the moment. The palate is nicely balanced with a keen thread of acidity, orange zest and citrus lemon vying for attention with fine precision on the finish. Hopefully, the aromatics will achieve more clarity once in bottle.” NM

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Meursault Les Narvaux 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2013 Meursault Narvaux has a generous bouquet with scents of lemon curd and apricot drifting from the glass. The palate is well balanced with a pleasant fatness in the mouth, rounded in texture with a spicy, lemongrass-tinged finish. There is almost an Alsace-like personality to this Meursault, but I would like to see it develop more race by the time of bottling.” NM

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Gouttes d’Or, Meursault Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special

Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Combes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2012 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special

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New Review for Oregon Pinot Noirs!
Turns out they love ‘em as much as we do!

New Reviews for Oregon Wines from Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media

Ayres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Vivid red. Lively red berry and floral aromas show good clarity, picking up a peppery nuance with aeration. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering nervy redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors that gain in depth and sweetness on the back half. Fine-grained tannins shape the clinging, spice-accented finish.”

Ayres Pioneer Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 11 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Deep red. Vibrant aromas and flavors of black raspberry, rose, smoky minerals and white pepper. Juicy, fruity and energetic, offering a suave blend of power and vivacity. A smoky note lingers on the sappy, persistent finish, which is framed by smooth tannins.”

Ayres Lewis Rogers Lane Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant red. Black raspberry, cherry and a hint of anise on the pungent nose. Youthfully taut dark berry and bitter cherry flavors unfold slowly, picking up a sweet floral pastille nuance. The floral note echoes strongly on the clinging, penetrating finish, which is framed by harmonious tannins.”

Ayres Perspective Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($29.95 )$26 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright red. Lively, focused scents of fresh red and dark berries, Asian spices and candied rose. Silky and seamless on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry and floral pastille flavors, with a suggestion of orange pith providing a tangy edge. Fine-grained tannins make a late appearance on the lingering finish. This is pretty delicious right now.” JR

Beaux Freres ‘The Beaux Freres Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “Supple, open-textured and layered, with beautifully defined currant, plum and cocoa flavors, floating serenely over a polished texture on a finish that unfurls gracefully. Light-footed, showing terrific presence and persistence. Drink now through 2023.”HS
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep red. Sexy, highly perfumed aromas of red berry liqueur, potpourri and Asian spices, with a smoky mineral topnote. Silky, open-knit raspberry and floral pastille flavors show very good depth and focus, with tangy acidity adding lift and spine. Displays a suave blend of power and vivacity on the strikingly long spicy, floral finish, which leaves a refreshingly bitter berry skin note behind. This wine transcends the vintage and should age effortlessly on its balance.”

Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special, 4 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant red. Heady, spice-accented aromas of fresh red berries and flowers, along with hints of white pepper and underbrush. Fresh, precise and appealingly sweet, with lively raspberry and mulberry flavors picking up a candied rose quality with air. Shows very good tenacity and lift on the persistent finish, which is given shape by silky, fine-grained tannins.”

Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Dark red. Vibrant, spicy scents of red fruits and spicecake are lifted by a subtle floral overtone. Juicy and precise, with gently sweet raspberry and rose pastille flavors that deepen on the back half. In an energetic style, with smooth tannins framing a very long, spice-tinged finish. I’ll bet that this well-balanced Pinot will surprise with its ability to age.”

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Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby with a bright rim. The nose displays an array of red fruit and floral scents, with suggestions of allspice, smoky minerals and sassafras adding complexity. On the palate, vibrant raspberry and cherry flavors show an appealing sweetness and very good depth. Juicy acidity lends lift and spine, and fine-grained tannins shape the very long, focused finish, which leaves a sweet floral pastille note behind.”

Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 11 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Powerful smoke- and spice-accented red berry preserve and floral pastille scents show wonderful clarity, picking up notes of sassafras and cola with air. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors that show an alluring spiciness and a touch of candied rose. This weighty yet lithe wine finishes with excellent thrust and smooth, slowly building tannins. The 2011 rendition of this wine is very tightly wound right now and in need of at least another five years of cellaring, by the way.”

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Bergstrom Wines ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 15 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Refreshing, polished and juicy, with orange peel-accented black cherry and floral flavors, showing hints of pepper and clove. The finish exhibits pizzazz and grace. Drink now through 2023.”HS
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 93 points “Vivid red. Explosively perfumed bouquet of red fruits and flowers complicated by incense and Asian spices. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and mulberry flavors plus hints of spicecake and candied rose. Finishes sappy and long, with silky tannins, terrific energy and lift and an emphatic echo of juicy red fruit.”

Bergstrom Wines Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 90 points “Vivid red. High-pitched redcurrant and strawberry scents are complemented by white pepper and botanical herbs. Tangy, sharply focused red berry and blood orange flavors flesh out slowly with air. Clings nicely on the clinging, youthfully tannic finish.” JR

Bergstrom Wines ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. High-pitched red berry and Asian spice aromas, along with suggestions of sassafras and incense. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors and a subtle touch of blood orange. Dusty tannins come in slowly and weave effortlessly into the wine’s energetic fruit. Intense and long on the aftertaste, leaving behind notes of five-spice powder and berry skin.” JR

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Boedecker Cellars Stewart Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 89 points “Brilliant red. Lively, focused aromas of fresh red berries and pepper complicated by a subtle floral nuance. Silky strawberry and bitter cherry flavors are sharpened by juicy acidity, picking up a hint of anise with aeration. Clean, nervy, gently tannic Pinot with firm closing cut and lingering spiciness.”

Day Cancilla Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Deep red. Aromas of fresh raspberry and peppery spices, with a smoky mineral note in the background. Racy, focused and spicy on the palate, offering an array of red fruit flavors that flesh out in the mid-palate. Clings with very good tenacity on the finish, which is firmed by dusty, slowly building tannins.”

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Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 92 points “Bright red. Suave, highly perfumed scents of red and dark berry preserves, Asian spices and cola, with a sexy floral overtone. Sweet and focused on the palate, offering intense black raspberry and rose pastille flavors and a zesty spicy quality. The berry and floral notes repeat emphatically on a very long, smooth, appealingly sweet finish that’s framed by silky, harmonious tannins.”

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Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 29 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 91 points “Brilliant red. Fresh red berry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of sassafras and candied rose, with a bright minerally element adding vivacity. Spicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and redcurrant flavors that take a sweeter turn with aeration. The mineral note repeats emphatically on the long, focused finish, with smooth tannins providing structural support.”

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Evesham Wood La Grive Bleue Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 90 points “Deep red. Aromas of fresh red berries, smoky minerals and white pepper, with a subtle floral note in the background. Tangy and focused on entry, then fleshier in the middle, offering slow-to-unwind flavors of juicy raspberry and bitter cherry. Shows very good energy and a note of cherry pit on the long, spice-tinged finish.”

Evesham Wood Cuvee J Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 16 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 93 points “Vivid red. Complex and expansive on the nose, displaying vibrant red fruit and floral scents complemented by spicecake and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with energetic raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air while maintaining their vivacity. This distinctly elegant, well-balanced wine finishes sweet, minerally and very long, with velvety tannins and an echo of candied flowers.”

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GOODFELLOW HERITAGE PINOT NOIR 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 4 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 93 points “Brilliant red. Vibrant, expansive red and dark berry and rose pastille scents are deepened by notes of cola and vanilla. Smooth and concentrated on the palate, with gently sweet black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors showing surprising vivacity for their heft. Pure, focused and sweet on the impressively long finish, which is framed by velvety tannins that fold smoothly into the wine’s plush fruit.”

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Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($41.95) $37 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Light and airy, with brisk acidity to balance the refreshing red berry and cherry flavors, hinting at cinnamon and talc notes as the finish lingers easily. Drink now through 2020. 175 cases made.” WS

Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir 2012 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 91 points “Deep, bright red. Ripe cherry and black raspberry on the nose, with complicating notes of candied rose and anise. Sappy and incisive, offering gently sweet red and dark berry flavors and a hint of cola. Shows very good lift and energy on the long, spice-tinged finish, with the cola and berry notes echoing emphatically.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Sourced from 25-year-old vines, this shows traces of dried leaf, along with tart rhubarb and wild cherry fruit. A light dusting of cinnamon and coffee completes a wine that is balanced throughout, medium in length, and finished with an elegant flair.” WE

J. Christopher ‘Dundee Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Ruby-red. Black raspberry, cola, vanilla and candied lavender on the fragrant, spice-accented nose. Juicy red and dark berry flavors deepen and spread out slowly with aeration while maintaining a vivacious character. Shows very good lift and focus on the long, sappy, oak-accented finish, which features supple tannins and a strong echo of sweet dark berries.”

J. Christopher Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 90 points “Bright ruby-red. Fresh red berries, tea rose and allspice on the fragrant nose. Silky and seamless on the palate, with redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors conveying good tension and lift. Finishes nervy and long, with resonating spiciness and fine-grained, slowly building tannins.”

J. Christopher ‘Lumiere’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($41.95) $36 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–VINOUS 93 points “Vivid red. Suave, expansive aromas of raspberry preserves, Asian spices, musky flowers and minerals, plus a subtle touch of smokiness. Juicy and broad in the mouth, showing a distinctly lithe quality to its sweet red fruit and floral pastille flavors. Silky tannins shape the long, focused finish, with the red fruit notes echoing emphatically. Incidentally, the excellent 2011 version of this wine is evolving quite slowly and is showing uncommon heft for the vintage.”

Ken Wright Cellars ‘Savoya Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Deep red. Fresh red berries and dried rose on the nose, with a hint of peppery spices adding lift. A supple, easygoing midweight with pliant raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a touch of allspice. Finishes clean and brisk, with good focus, gentle tannins and an echo of cherry pit.”

Matello ‘Souris’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($41.95) $37 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Heady, complex scents of fresh red and dark berries, incense and Asian spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Intense black raspberry and spicecake flavors convey a shapely, seamless quality. Fleshes out and deepens with aeration and finishes sweet and extremely long, with lingering smokiness and harmonious tannins.”

Owen Roe ‘Eola – Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 14 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh blackberry, smoky minerals and incense, along with a suave floral overtone. Pure, expansive red and dark berry flavors put on weight with air and pick up a candied rose quality while maintaining impressive clarity. This rich yet energetic pinot finishes with excellent back-end thrust, supple tannins and lingering smokiness.” JR

Swick Wines Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds 89 points “Light, bright red. High-pitched strawberry and redcurrant aromas are complemented by suggestions of rhubarb and fresh rose. Lively and gently sweet on the palate, offering juicy red fruit flavors and a bracing suggestion of blood orange. Pinot in a lithe, nervy style, finishing with good lift and gentle framing tannins.”

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