Vinopolis Newsletter – Sunday 10/30/2022

 In This Newsletter:

The top offerings of Chianti Classico are sourced from hilltop plantings, which allow for temperature mitigation during the occasionally sweltering growing season in addition to providing a higher degree of ripeness. Often featuring older vines and élevage in new oak these are among the most bold and age worthy examples of Sangiovese in the world. The Flaccianello by Fontodi exemplifies that perfectly, being a cuvee of the best blocks from the estate. Organically farmed on the Conca d’Oro hill at an average height of 1,000 feet above sea level, this would be a cult wine selling for thousands if the vineyard was in Napa or Bordeaux. Built for the long haul not unlike a Brunello, this is an ideal Sangiovese for a long-term cellaring. 

Sale ends Monday, October 31st at 6 PM Pacific:

Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ml Was $149, Now $126.65 (that’s a 15% discount!), 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is fabulous. Dark, sensual and enveloping, the 2017 captures the essence of the house style in its textural richness and baritone inflections. Black cherry, plum, spice, new leather, licorice and chocolate infuse the 2017 with tremendous richness. The 2017 spent 18 months in barrique followed by 6 months in cask, the same aging regime as the Vigna del Sorbo, but with a bit more new oak. That approach worked very well, as the Flaccianello stands out for its exceptional textural elegance and finesse. It is a positively stellar wine.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Fontodi 2017 Flaccianello della Pieve is a standout wine of the dry vintage. This pure Sangiovese opens to a dark garnet color with more visible concentration and density compared to recent past editions. This is a beautiful wine with pliant tannins, dark fruit richness, balanced acidity and a fruit-forward 15% alcohol content. The wine is big and bold when weighed on the Flaccianello scale (and even more so when weighed on the Sangiovese scale) with dark cherry, plum, spice, violet, chalk and campfire ash. Despite that power and inner opulence, this wine adds that zesty Sangiovese character with fresh acidity and an energized approach. This Flaccianello is whole and complete with the natural firmness and structure to hold it steady during the aging process. A small part of amphorae-aged fruit is added to the blend.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Aromas of baked plum, blue flower, French oak and camphor are front and center on this bold, full-bodied red. Made entirely with organically grown Sangiovese, the delicious palate boasts concentration and a weightless elegance, doling out layers of ripe Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, licorice, cocoa and carob framed in tightly wound, close-grained tannins. Give it a few more years to fully develop. Drink 2023–2037. -Kerin O’Keefe”

 

Chris Bilbro was one of California wine’s unsung heroes. He founded and grew Marietta Cellars into one of the preeminent producers of excellent value, honestly made California wine. Although his son Scot now runs the winery (Chris sadly passed away in 2019), their lineup is as good as it’s ever been—delicious, gutsy wines that deliver exceptional value at all prices. Just ask the Wine Advocate!

In Stock Now from Marietta:

Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Rosé, California 2021 750ml $16.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “Medium cherry pink in color, the 2021 Old Vine Rosé has deep scents of yellow peaches, watermelon and red cherries with touches of stone and potpourri. The palate boasts concentrated, fruity flavors balanced by zippy acidity, and it finishes with pretty orange peel accents. This is such a delicious rosé! It’s made up of co-fermented Grenache Gris, Grenache Noir and Syrah.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Red Lot 73, California NV 750ml $18 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “The NV OVR Lot 73 is composed mainly of Zinfandel with smaller portions of Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan and Barbera. Medium ruby, it offers intense red cherry, blood orange and apricot perfume with accents of rooibos tea leaves, red licorice, saline, lilac and loads of spicy nuances. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet with soft tannins, bursts of refreshing acidity and detailed amaro accents on the long finish. This is so easy to drink!”

Marietta Cellars ‘Roman’ Estate Grown Zinfandel, North Coast 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 points “A blend of Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Barbera, the 2020 Román Zinfandel has a medium ruby-purple color and aromatic layers of raspberry, red cherry, rhubarb, aniseed and lilac with touches of iron and orange peel. The medium-bodied palate is gently chewy, with tart, juicy fruits and a spicy finish.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 

Christoph Schaefer and his wife Andrea make some of the most authentic wine in all of the Mosel. Never fearing the delicious balance that subtle sugar and bright acid can bring, these wines are an educational tour de force on German Riesling. The Himmelreich vineyard tends to bring wines with slightly spicier, red fruit notes, while the Domprobst leads with cool, minty green herbs and delicate freshness.

Highlights In Stock Now from Willi Schaefer:

Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2020 750ml $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2020er Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It offers a superb nose made of residual scents from the spontaneous fermentation, chalky minerals, wet stone, mirabelle, cassis, melon, pear, and some subtle aniseed elements. The wine is beautifully pure and airy on the palate and leaves a stunningly juicy feel in the long, subtly ripe, and spicy finish. The wine really shines through its incredible silky airiness delivered with the presence and zest of a light Spätlese. This Kabinett is truly remarkable! 2030-2050.”
James Suckling 94 points “So many fresh floral notes, plenty of orange zest, sage and a whiff of smoke. Juicy stone fruit and lively acidity, with very well integrated natural grape sweetness that you feel less and less as the wine flows over your palate into the delicate, wet-stone and rock-salt finish. Drink or hold.”

Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2019 750ml $45 special, 29 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Play me a love song to the Mosel! Super fresh and super precise, this Spätlese has a ton of floral delight and a wonderful interplay of the most delicate, white and yellow character with vibrant acidity. Such a clean, filigree finish you want to bathe in it. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese is precise, fresh and pure on the nose that displays notes grated lemon rind and crushed stones. Round, piquant and juicy on the palate, this is an utterly refined yet sustainable and firmly structured Spätlese with dense and vibrating fresh Riesling fruit whose sweetness is well-compensated by mineral grip, salinity and tension. 7.5% alcohol. Tasted from AP 08 20 in June 2010.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Auslese #11, Mosel 2018 750ml $89 special 17 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 95 points “According to Christophe Schaefer, the 2018 Domprobst Auslese AP #11 has just a tiny touch of botrytis in it, as it has almost exclusively been produced from golden berries. The wine is truly stunning on both the nose and palate, with the bouquet soaring from the glass in a blaze of pear, yellow plum, fresh pineapple, a gorgeous base of slate, citrus blossoms, bee pollen and lilacs. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and zesty, with a lovely core, great backend mineral drive and outstanding complexity and grip on the vibrant, snappy and electric finish. This is just beautiful Auslese! 2026-2085+. 95.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #5, Mosel 2020 750ml $59 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Could a modern Mosel Spätlese be more classic than this? Stunningly ripe stone-fruit and floral character, married to considerable richness, with an almost buttery texture on the mid-palate. Long and succulent finish that remains fresh and vivid. Drink or hold.”
Mosel Fine Wines 96 points “The 2020er Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese AP 05 was made essentially from grapes harvested in the Gerdsgrub and Fergert sectors of the vineyard and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar. It proves still rather backward and marked by residual scents from its spontaneous fermentation. After a while subtly apricot-infused flavors of melon, cassis, blueberry, blackberry, and aniseed herbs emerge from the glass. The wine proves subtle, intensely cream, and nicely zesty on the palate and leaves a gorgeous feel of ripe and delicately exotic fruits in the long finish. The combination of dark fruits, whipped cream, and juicy acidity packed into mouthwatering sweetness are truly remarkable. 2030-2050.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Weingut Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ml $59 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This “maiden wine” comes from the “new” parcel in the central part of the vineyard which was replanted after the 2011 vintage. This shows a quite smoky nose at first and only gradually reveals a fruity side driven by apricot and orange as well as mint and yellow peach. The wine is creamy and smooth on the palate, with just the right amount of acidity to keep things interesting. The unctuous feel to the finish in the finish adds to the pleasure of enjoying this deep and direct expression of Sonnenuhr Auslese. 2025-2040”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 

Skin-contact Pinot Gris is having a moment, and there’s so many wonderful options made right in our backyard. Shop these beauties now!

One of the OGs of the Valley, John Paul took inspiration direct from Radikon to craft his Dundee Hills Ramato.
Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Pinot Gris that spent time on its skins, contributing the barest hint of tannin, a dollop of color and a completely different interpretation of the classic Oregon varietal.
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Vincent Pinot Gris Rouge, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $24 special, 22 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Deep in color and rich in spicy and floral notes, this is very flexible at table.

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Mijita Wine Co. Zenith Vineyard Skin-Contact Pinot Gris, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The dark side of skin-contact Pinot Gris, in terms of color at least. This is a beautiful rosy-amber in the glass, evoking flavors of semi-dried rose petals, freshly sliced melons, and lemon zest wrapped around a savory core. 
“Lizzy Esqueda’s first wine for her Mijita label is a skin-contact Pinot Gris aged in neutral oak and old acacia barrels. It is absolutely brilliant juice: I wish Pinot Gris lovers everywhere could taste it.” -Michael Alberty, Decanter Magazine

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Loop de Loop Borderline Red, Columbia Gorge 2021 750ml $24 special 4 bottles in stock now!
Winery note “High altitude white blend from the sub-Alpine climate of Underwood Mountain. This Pinot Gris was the last thing we brought in last year from the old Acadia Vineyard – now called Pear Ridge Vineyard. Organically grown / no till / dry farmed/ this vineyard is woven within an 80 acre pear orchard covered in native wildflowers. The pinot gris is planted at 1400 feet in elevation. We produced 2 (1.5 ton) fermenters. One fermenter was left 40% whole-cluster and spent about 3 weeks fermenting (slow and cool) before pressing off at 2 brx. The second fermenter was destemmed, & went through post fermentation maceration and spent a total of 45 days on the skins. The result was a fruit forward juicy expression of pinot gris rouge from the shorter fermentation that was blended with a more tea-like, savory and earthy expression that you get on the back and sides of the palate. Blended together we found they make a more complete wine.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Ross & Bee Maloof No Clos Radio Vineyard Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2020 750ml $26 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vineyard History – Estate vineyard and winery site for Maloof Wines and Fossil & Fawn. Originally planted in the early 70s by Harvey Shafer. Location – Forest Grove, OR (Tualatin Hills AVA) Vineyard stats- 27 acres, 500ft elevation Farming – Own rooted, dry farmed, planted in 1972. Organic farming program since January 2020 (previously sustainable), beginning organic certification process through CCOF in spring 2022. Soil – Jory & Loess, with pisolitic deposits of iron and manganese, that are particular to the newly minted Tualatin Hills AVA. Harvesting – By hand, harvested on September 20th. Winemaking – Pressed, and then fermented and aged in neutral burgundy oak barrels, on the lees with no batonnage. Bottled without fining or filtration. 30ppm total Sulfur.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Colston Biblio “Tomato Ramato” Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2020 750ml $29 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “A slight departure from the 2018 wine, with a complete focus on Pinot Gris, macerated on its skins as a singular variety and expression of Momtazi Vineyard. While it’s quite distinctive in its youth with its tannic structure, light body, and the savory, tea-like impression it leaves, something I learned from the 2018 vintage was that this wine truly benefits from some cellaring. A wine for food, this Ramato works with everything with a little fattiness to it. The tannins love something unctuous to squeeze its grip on to: pizza or braised meats, mushroom tart, BBQ, Toulouse sausage, and certainly duck confit. Demeter certified bio-dynamic grapes farmed by Moe Momtazi.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Pete’s Picks for Your Week
 

This Oregon Pinot Noir is an absolute favorite of mine with its excellent fruitiness, making for a highly enjoyable experience. If you’re looking for a solid Pinot Noir you can drink any day, Crowley’s 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is the wine for you. 
 
Crowley Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “We bottled the 2021 earlier than ever…10 months after vintage. We are fortunate that 2021 is a precocious vintage and seemed to come out of the gate drinking well, needing very little coaxing to be ready. This wine has a youthful spirit and is brightly lit. Vivid red and blue hues dominate the color, which shimmers with clarity. The nose is strawberry, cranberry, and anise mixed with citrus and watermelon. The palate is bright and lifted out of the gate, also very berry…strawberry, mulberry, and blueberry. Polished and airy, sarsaparilla mingles in the background with sage and cherry while breakfast tea tannins accompany supple roundness to create a perfectly balanced mid-range all the way to an engaging finish. The bottles we’ve opened have disappeared quickly!”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

A solid cabernet at an excellent price point, this wine offers impressive fruit and earthy flavors making for a well-rounded and impressive quality wine. 

Marietta Cellars Arme, North Coast 2019 750ml $26 special, 35 bottles in stock now 
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Armé Cabernet Sauvignon has a medium ruby-purple color and layered aromas of red and black currants, violet, iron, underbrush and mushrooms. The medium-bodied palate is pleasantly rustic and a touch chewy, with bright acidity, pretty floral perfume and an earth-laced finish.”

The 2021 Vincent Willamette Valley Pinot Noir certainly presents a light touch with a gentle earthiness and clam fruits. Easy drinking on a budget. 

Vincent Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $22.75 special, 16 bottles in stock now

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

Paitin: Apex Barbaresco at Valley Floor Pricing

 

Understanding how a family’s tie to their land can influence their wines is terribly important when tasting and appreciating old-world producers. When the family’s ownership over their vineyards predates their country’s unification, you start to understand their grasp of the nuances that can be squeezed out of 42 acres of Italian hillsides.

The Elia family purchased their vineyards in 1796. From atop the hill where the winery sits, you can overlook the two main vineyard sites and understand the difference in microclimate, soil type and techniques for farming. The Bricco di Nieve side of the hill is steep, breezy and has beautiful older vines that produce the gorgeous sori Paitin Barbaresco. The other side of the hill has the looser iron rich soil that is the Serra vineyard. Tasting the two Barbaresco side by side is a lesson in site location and the unique qualities that can be shown, just a stone’s throw away.

Secondo Pasquero-Elia and his two sons, Giovanni and Silvano have enlisted enologist Dante Scaglione (Bruno Giacosa) to draw even more from such an amazing site. The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come. The wines are solid, deep, and built to last – echoing the family and their tie to their home and spectacular vineyards. These wines were already great values before our latest price drop. Now they’re no-brainers for fans of traditionally made Nebbiolo.

In Stock Now:

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Ca Veja Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ml $28 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2018 Nebbiolo d’Alba Ca’ Veja is a gorgeous introduction to the vintage at Paitin. Freshly cut flowers, mint, lavender and red/purplish berry fruit give this bright, effusive Nebbiolo tons of charm. Readers will have a hard time keeping their hands off this gem. Sandy soils yield a Nebbiolo with striking aromatic presence. The 2018 spent 18 months in cask. Think of it as a Barbaresco-level wine at a Nebbiolo d’Alba price.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Basarin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ml $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Paitin 2018 Barbaresco Basarin, which spends two years in large oak barrels, pours to a lean appearance and a dark ruby hue. The wine is subtle and fine, prizing the delicate and ethereal nuances of the grape, with dried cherry, crushed flowers, campfire ash and iron ore. Crushed white pepper also appears. The Basarin cru in Neive is one of the most beautiful in the appellation, located on a hill that rises high enough to enjoy the surrounding panorama of tightly planted vineyards. The tannins are especially polished in this vintage.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $56

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ml $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This wine draws its fruit from across the Serraboella vineyard in Neive with vines of various ages. The 2018 Barbaresco Serraboella has a broad reach, thanks to its balanced aromas of wild berry, dried cherry, crushed roses and violets. The wine spreads cleanly over the palate, thanks to the extra volume offered by its earthy and delicately mineral flavors. Like other releases from Paitin, the standout feature here is the silky nature of the mouthfeel.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Winery library release!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Sori’ Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori Paitin is intense and powerful in its expression of dark fruit, spices, earthiness and tar. Made in a pure, bold style, it is one of the more closed, shut down 2004 Barbarescos and will require at least a few years in bottle before revealing its truest potential.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Winery library release!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Sori’ Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ml $79 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Wine Advocate 94 points “The estate’s 2009 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin shows the rich, generous style of the year, but with plenty of underlying structure. Tobacco, sweet spices and licorice float from the glass in this powerful, intense Barbaresco. Exotic hints of spice and orange peel linger on the finish. This is yet another totally compelling wine from Paitin. The 2009 spent 18 months in cask. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2029.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $95

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Sori’ Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The family that owns the Paitin estate lost its patriarch, Secondo Pasquero Elia, as this wine was being readied for release, and he would have been proud of the way this turned out. The 2018 Barbaresco Serraboella Sorì Paitin is glossy and polished with a super fine and delicate quality of fruit. It just glides over the palate as if it were on skates. That beautiful forward momentum is driven by light cassis, dried cherry, iron skillet, candied orange peel and crushed flowers. The finish is exceptionally smooth and elegant. Complimenti.”

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ml $149 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne is marvelous. Dark red berries, crushed flowers, smoke, ash and tar are just some of the notes that emerge from this big yet beautifully articulated Vecchie Vigne. The 2004 shows superb class and fabulous overall balance. As always this is a fairly large-scaled Barbaresco, but all of the elements meld together beautifully. A long, sensual finish rounds things out in style. With air the 2004 is approachable today, but it clearly has the stuffing and freshness to drink well to age 25, perhaps beyond. The Vecchie Vigne captures the essence of this great Piedmontese vintage in spades. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2029.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne, Barbaresco DOCG 2008 750ml $128 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Wine Advocate 94 points “The blackest of cherries, spices, incense, tar and scorched earth are some of the many nuances that emerge from the 2008 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne. This dark, brooding Barbaresco is all about power. The 2008 impresses for its fabulous balance and pure length. With time in the glass, the wine becomes increasingly more refined. It is a striking Barbaresco to drink now and over the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer. The 2008 was aged in 25-hectoliter cask and bottled in June 2012. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2028.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $148.99

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ml $99 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Paitin 2016 Barbaresco Serraboella Riserva Sorì Paitin Vecchie Vigne is a gorgeous wine. The bouquet is especially redolent of dried rose and potpourri, and the dark fruit offers highlights of baked cherry or peach. This amazing crescendo of new releases from Paitin goes one impressive step further, pushing the boundaries with this promising and cellar-worthy new release. There is a point of bitter almond on the close, but the mouthfeel is otherwise silky and very fine in texture.”

Love Barbaresco? We have over 50 different options from Barbaresco in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including famous names like La Spinetta and Produttori, as well as more from Paitin.