Vinopolis Sunday Newsletter 2/5/23

 In This Newsletter:

 

 

CVNE ‘Imperial’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2016 750ml $39 special, 27 bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 93 points “The prototype of red from Rioja Alta could very well be the 2016 Imperial Reserva, fine, precise and powerful. The grapes for this cuvée were picked between October 10th and 25th, and it’s a canonical blend of 85% Tempranillo and the rest Graciano, Mazuelo and Garnacha with 14% alcohol and balancing freshness. It fermented with their own Imperial yeasts in oak vats of different sizes and matured in French and American oak barrels for 24 months. This wine has a very defined style that should not change; it has more oak than the Asúa Reserva and is made with grapes not only from Haro but also from Torremontalvo, Villalba and Briones. 2016 was a cooler year, and the wines are fresher and balanced. This has the mushroomy touch from the old cave and plenty of tannins that are going to require powerful food and/or time in bottle. A classic among classics. 150,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2019.”

Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs Brut Vintage, Champagne 2015 750ml $139 special, 6 bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 93 points “After the pillowy, chiseled 2013, Pol Roger’s 2015 Brut Blanc de Blancs is cut from richer, broader cloth. Offering up aromas of crisp golden orchard fruit, white flowers and subtle hints of warm biscuits, it’s full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and a precise, chalky finish. In style, it’s reminiscent of a somewhat more sun-kissed version of the 2012 rendition.”

Pol Roger Brut Rose, Champagne 2015 750ml $149 special, 6 bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 94 points “Fleshy and dramatic, Pol Roger’s 2015 Brut Rosé bursts with aromas of plums, red berries, blanched almonds and subtle hints of tangerine oil. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad and enveloping, with an elegantly muscular, vinous profile, its fleshy core of fruit girdled by bright acids and delicately chalky structuring extract. This is an especially gastronomic rosé from this house, and it should age with style given its concentration and depth.”

Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha, Calatayud 2019 750ml $11.90 special, 36 bottles in stock 
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Based on 100% Garnacha, the 2019 Evodia is a killer value that delivers incredible Garnacha flair at a crazy good price. Kirsch, blackberry, acacia flower, violet, and sandalwood notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless, beautifully layered wine with fabulous tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is the finest wine at this price point in the world.”
Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2019 Evodia is pure Garnacha from old head-pruned vines in the Sierra Santa Cruz in Calatayud. It fermented with around 20% full clusters in concrete and matured mostly in concrete with just 20% of the blend put in used oak barrels for three months. There is a component that matured in concrete egg that I was able to taste separately that seems to bring a touch of freshness to the final blend, something welcomed in a warm year like 2019, which seems like a fresher version of 2017, when the wines achieved quite good ripeness. The nose opens up nicely in the glass and is quite aromatic and floral, exuberant, with a heady touch of ripe fruit. It’s young and tasty, tender and pleasant to drink, with a forward personality. A real bargain. I hope there are more wines like this in Aragon, where the wealth of Garnacha vineyards would make it possible quite easily. 150,000 bottles produced. There are two batches per year. What I tasted had been bottled in February 2020, just a few days before I sampled it.”

La Colline aux Fossiles Chardonnay 2019 750ml $16 special, 33 bottles in stock 
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “All Chardonnay brought up in used demi-muids, the 2019 La Colline Aux Fossiles sports a medium gold hue to go with terrific stone fruits, caramelized citrus, white flowers, and honeysuckle-like aroma and flavors as well as a beautiful sense of minerality that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully textured, with a layered mouthfeel and a great finish, it’s another knockout Chardonnay from the team of Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles in stock 

Chateau Sissan, Cotes de Bordeaux 2020 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock
Case-12 Chateau Sissan, Cotes de Bordeaux 2020 750ml $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle)
Decanter 93 points “From a gravel-strewn vineyard undergoing organic conversion, Sissan’s 2020 release is intensely aromatic with the signature fine palate texture that keeps all of us coming back to Cadillac Cotes de Bordeaux as a can’t-miss source for value in the overall category.”

Beautiful Baujolais, a somm certified classic. This region has gained popularity due to its elegant, palatable gamay production that’s now in demand everywhere! We’re proud to have one of the biggest, best, most carefully curated selections around. 

Here are some of our favorites for you to consider. 

Domaine Coudert – Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2021 Fleurie from Clos de la Roilette is drinking well out of the gates, offering up pretty aromas of spiced plums, petals and orange rind, followed by a medium-bodied, supple and melting palate. Fleshy and fine-boned, it’s a pretty, demonstrative wine that will show at its best young. It’s bottled under Nomacorc.”

Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2019 750ml $29.90 special, 30 bottles in 
Wine Advocate 92 points “Offering up aromas of red plums, berries, raw cocoa and spices, the 2019 Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Melanie is medium to full-bodied, supple and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, melting tannins and lively acids. Bright and charming, it’s produced from a south-facing site near Château Thivin.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Chateau du Moulin-a-Vent ‘Moulin-a-Vent’, Beaujolais 2019 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock 
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Cellar Selection. A selection of fruit from the three best parcels of the estate, this wine shows great ripeness, solid tannins and impressive berry fruits. It is developing into a fine wine that needs more aging. Drink from 2024.”

Domaine Louis Claude Desvignes Morgon Montpelain, Beaujolais 2020 750ml $28 special, 21 bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 92+ points “One of the most introverted wines in the range on this encounter was the 2020 Morgon Montpelain, a medium to full-bodied, velvety but tightly wound wine evocative of blackberries, sweet spices and rose petals. This showing is entirely in character, as this site simply produces wines that need a bit of time.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Guy Breton Chiroubles, Beaujolais 2018 750ml $33 special, 21 bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Chiroubles is a particular success, bursting with aromas of cherries, strawberries, dried flowers and licorice. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, melting and succulent, with an ample core of mouthwatering fruit and only the most ephemeral of structuring tannins, making for unimpeded drinkability—indeed, in a dark glass, this might be mistaken for a white wine.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Celine et Nicolas Hirsch Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2018 750ml $21.90 special, 28 bottles in stock 
Winemakers note “All was good! An early start again – hot and dry but we had well-regulated rain – every 15 days 20mm or-so – I couldn’t have set it up better. We have a low yield of-course but you have to accept that on the hills facing the sun. But the wines have good balance, not the richness of 2017 – they are more balanced. The vinifications needed closely following though as they were slow.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Chateau du Moulin-a-Vent ‘Moulin-a-Vent’ Couvent des Thorins, Beaujolais 2018 750ml $26 special, 16 bottles in stock 
Wine & Spirits 92 points  “[Wine & Spirits Winery of the Year in 2021 Featured Wine] A selection from 40-year-old vines growing in granite soils with manganese, this wine fermented with some whole clusters (20 percent) and then aged for 16 months in stainless steel. That élevage preserved the generous depths of fruit in the wine, floral up front, edged with bright tannins and green-peppercorn spice in the end. A bold and zesty 2018, this will benefit from a year of bottle age.”
Vinous 91 points “Shimmering ruby. Powerful blackberry, cherry and licorice aromas are complicated by suggestions of smoky minerals and violet. Well-concentrated and broad in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors enlivened by a snap of cracked pepper. Slowly building tannins frame the finish, which lingers with very good, dark-fruit-driven persistence.”

 

Mini bottles are so fun, but don’t underestimate them. These are serious wines! We’re talking Napa powerhouses, packaged to perfection. We have three half bottles from Napa to choose from. See our selection below.  

Ulysses Vineyard, Oakville 2018 375ml $79 special, 2 bottles in stock 
James Suckling 98 points “Aromas of terra cotta, chocolate and hazelnut with iron and ink. Dusty. Full-bodied and round. Layered. Flamboyant and juicy. Rather soft and gorgeous. Some walnut and chocolate at the end. Persistent. Always there. Drinkable now, but will age wonderfully.”
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best wine off Christian Moueix’s Oakville ranch so far. Deep, creamy and generous, the 2018 captures the unqiue blend of fruit in a savoriness that is typical of the southern sector of Oakville where cooling winds from the south lend palpable freshness and vivacity to the vines. Black fruit, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather are some of the many notes that build into the sumptuous finish.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The current-release 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon shows more cherries and bay leaf on the nose than prior vintages. There’s still a solid framework of cedar, loam and cassis, hints of mocha and licorice, but there’s also a bit more freshness and lift. It’s medium to full-bodied and densely concentrated yet silky and finessed, with a long, elegant finish.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dark and reserved in style, with a core of black currant and blackberry reduction wrapped in singed alder and warm loam. Tightly wound for now, with the fruit held in check, but the underlying structure is polished and there’s mineral-laced drive on the finish. “

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Faust Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 375ml $19 special, 24 bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “A barrel sample, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple colored, with a decadent cassis, baked blackberries and plum preserves-scented nose, plus hints of spice cake, cedar and Marmite toast. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated and wonderfully spicy in the mouth, it has velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long.”

 

A Vinopolis staple. Isole and Olena is a sustainable hillside Tuscan producer that has been making noteworthy wines since 1952. They make traditionally styled wine from the region that is enjoyed around the world, although not all that common in the USA. We love this produce and know you do too! We have enough in stock to share the love.

Here’s what we have now at Vinopolis.  

Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ml $66 special, 36+ bottles in stock 
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata opens to an enriched appearance with round fruit and loads of deep intensity. What is remarkable about this Tuscan Cabernet Sauvignon (blended with very small parts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot) is that it shows none of the greenness or tightness often associated with the grape. This warm and sunny vintage has ironed out any wrinkles and contributes to the loose, rich fabric of the wine. This wine shows lushness and balanced integration. It’s a lovely expression whose berry and forest endnotes make it perfect for a rosemary and garlic roasted lamb. Only 6,000 bottles were made.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine of elegance and finesse that shows the effects of rain during harvest in its decidedly mid-weight, lithe construction. Even so, the 2015 offers lovely aromatic presence and persistence. Grilled herbs, crème de cassis, licorice, violet, plum, spice and licorice all develop, but the 2015 remains decidedly delicate for this bottling. My impression is that it will age more on its freshness rather than on its concentration.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2019 750ml $99 special, 34 bottles in stock 
Vinous 96 points “The 2019 Cepparello is super-impressive, even though it has just been bottled. Ample and creamy, with its classic sense of mid-weight structure, the 2019 has so much to offer. Silky tannins wrap around a core of red/purplish berry fruit. New leather, spice and a hint of oak meld together effortlessly in the glass. I can’t wait to check in on it in another 6-12 months or so. The 2019 is shaping up to be positively stellar. Drink: 2027-2049.”

Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ml $63.50 special, 4 bottles in stock 
Antonio Galloni 96 points “A regal wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata from Isole e Olena soars out of the glass with tremendous aromatic and palate intensity. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the 2014 has so much to offer. Once again, De Marchi crafted a Cabernet Sauvignon that exudes character. Today, the 2014 is vivid but also intensely saline and clenched. Another few years in bottle should do the trick. This fruit was brought in during the last week of October and first week of November, quite late, even by the standards of the year.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ml $99 special, 18 bottles in stock 
James Suckling 97 points “Lots of blackcurrants and currant bush with some graphite and black ink on the nose. Full-bodied with a chewy and polished tannin backbone and lots of blue fruit and stones in the finish. Sandalwood and violets, too. Great structure at the end. Give this time to soften. Try after 2025, but will age for a long time.”
Vinous 96 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is another stellar wine in this range from Isole e Olena and Paolo De Marchi. Still pretty tightly wound, the 2018 is going to need at least a few years to fully unwind. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, mocha and espresso are some of the many aromas and flavors that start to open with a bit of aeration. The Isole Cabernet has a brilliant track record of aging. I expect the 2018 will one day take its place among the very finest editions.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 $69 special, 10 bottles in stock 
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Isole e Olena 2017 Cepparello is one of the great Sangiovese-based wines of the vintage. From a growing season that was challenging for almost everyone in Italy, this wine sails through, pushed by a profound sense of varietal purity. This dark, mid-weight red reveals lifted tones of cherry, wild rose, rosemary essence, toasted almond and potting soil. These components come together with seamless transitions and a polished finish. The tannins are elegant and integrated. The wine defies the expectations of the vintage. Production is 43,000 bottles, 1,800 magnums and more large formats (including six- and 12-liter bottles).”
James Suckling 95 points “A beautifully linear and refined sangiovese with polished tannins and super tight fruit. Yet, it shows subtle complexity of blackberries, black cherries and dark chocolate. Some hazelnuts. Intense, vibrant finish with a creamy texture. Extremely well done for this hot, dry vintage. Drink after 2023.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ml $89 special, 8 bottle in stock 
Wine Advocate 96 points “A pure expression of Sangiovese, the 2018 Cepparello is a beautiful expression that speaks to the classic and most exemplary side of this versatile and deeply expressive grape. This vintage is especially bright and ethereal with a true sense of luminosity and clarity that radiates from both the wine’s appearance and its fragrant bouquet. Tart cherry and cassis segue to balsam herb and wild violets. To the palate, the wine shows muscle and determination with sweet tannins and impressive depth of favor. Cepparello remains true to its unique identity in this vintage.”

Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles in stock 
Vinous 96+ points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, essentially a selection of the best barrels of Cepparello, is a gorgeous wine. More than anything, the 2015 is remarkable considering the challenges of a growing season in which rain during harvest created significant challenges. Nevertheless, Paolo De Marchi coaxed all of the potential out of his vines in 2015, adding a good dollop of Petit Verdot to the Sangiovese in crafting the Gran Selezione. Dense, powerful and beautifully textured, with intense underpinnings of saline minerality. The 2015 has a brilliant future, but it won’t see the light until fall 2020 at the very earliest.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Syrah Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2019 750ml $75 special, 22 bottles in stock 
Vinous 95 points “The 2019 Syrah Colleziore Privara is quite delicate and silky in this vintage, with a distinctly red-fruited profile that is unusual. Spice, orange peel, dried flowers and white pepper lend brightness to a Syrah that is both deep and light on its feet. I especially admire the vibrancy here.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!