Vinopolis Tuesday Newsletter 1-26-2021

In Today’s Newsletter:


Subscriber Special
Bibi Graetz’s 100-Point Testamatta


The World’s Best Vermentino?
Abbatucci’s Faustine Blanc Priced to Move


Marcus Goodfellow’s Flagship Wines
Restocked


Priorat’s Leading Light
Familia Nin-Ortiz


Vie di Romans’ World-Class Whites

Col D’Orcia: Brunello Star

A Top Value Super Tuscan
Sette Ponti’s 2017 Crognolo


Collector’s Corner
Aldo Conterno: Barolo’s Modern Master



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Subscriber Special

Bibi Graetz’s 100-Point Testamatta


Testamatta, which means “crazy head” in Italian, is a nod to Bibi Graetz’s eccentricity. A creative and passionate man, Graetz crafts some of Italy’s most impressive wines at his self-described Casamatta (“crazy house”). But don’t be fooled by Graetz’s self-deprecating humility, one taste of his wines will shatter any illusions that these are humble plonk. The brilliance of the wine suggests that there surely must be a method to the madness. Decanter recently recognized Graetz’s unmistakable talent by awarding the 2018 Testamatta 100 points.

We were fortunate to secure a modest allocation of this in-demand wine and want to encourage you to stock your cellar, because it will not disappoint. To that end, we’re offering a 10% discount when you order 3 bottles or more between now and 10AM Friday.

Buy 3+ bottles of 2018 Testamatta
Receive a 10% discount on them
Pay only $80.99 per bottle

Discount will not display online
We will adjust your order manually before finalizing
Sale ends Friday, January 29th at 10AM PST


Pre-Arrival ETA March:

Bibi Graetz Testamatta Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($99.95) $89.99 pre-arrival special
Jane Anson – Decanter 100 points
“Finely textured, with a nuanced perfume that fills the glass and takes you to the intense underbrush of Tuscany. Succulent and yet savoury, this has a lilting freshness that is overlaid with ripe berry fruits, sage and white pepper spice, and clear minerality in terms of its scraping texture that makes your mouth water on the finish. Feels light and sculpted and yet has an intensity that skewers you to the spot. This is a great wine, with scope and imagination that doesn’t want to let you go. Genuinely stands out among the wines of this tasting, and these are a fine array of wines. As with Colore, Bibi Graetz selects only old vines, the youngest 50 years old from five different vineyard sites across Tuscany, all farmed organically. Fermentations in open 225l barrels with natural yeasts and manual punch downs.”

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The World’s Best Vermentino?

Abbatucci’s Faustine Blanc Priced to Move


Abbatucci remains the premier producer of aristocratic Corsican wine—noble expressions of a wild island. We’re offering you a great deal on two vintages of their “Faustine” blanc—always one of the best examples of Vermentino in the world. This is a wine that is somehow both powerful and delicate, a rare combination in the world of white wine. These were already amongst the smartest buys in the shop before we further reduced our national best prices. Now they’re absolute steals.

“In the colorful, picturesque city of Ajaccio, capital of Corsica, you can’t get very far without seeing the name Abbatucci. There are streets, monuments and plazas that carry the name, which is normal given that General Jean-Charles Abbatucci from Ajaccio was a hero of the French Revolution and comrade in arms of another local hero, Napoléon Bonaparte. Step into a wine bar or a restaurant there, chances are these days they’ll pour you a glass of Domaine Abbatucci. The domaine is run by Jean-Charles Abbatucci, a direct descendant of the General, who has now become a local hero of another kind for providing the local populace with its most sought-after libation. Corsicans are proud defenders of their traditions and environment, and with Abbatucci they indulge guilt-free. His wines are certified biodynamic, and he believes in following even the most far-out biodynamic practices to the letter. On his large estate south of Ajaccio he keeps a pristine poly-culture ecosystem in place, complete with herds of sheep foraging through his vines, groves of olive trees on ancient terraces, and large swaths of untouched forests. His vines come from cuttings of indigenous grapes, sourced decades ago high up in the isolated and mountainous interior of the island from elderly peasant farmers, effectively saving several native varieties from extinction. To keep his vines happy, he’s known to drive his tractor out to his vineyards and play traditional Corsican polyphonic songs over loudspeakers for their benefit. After the harvest he’ll treat his cellar to the same music as his grapes ferment and come of age. All part of the terroir, he says. Does all this have an actual effect on the wine? Have a taste for yourself. The proof just might be in the pudding.” –Kermit Lynch Wines

In Stock Now:

Domaine Comte Abbatucci Cuvee Faustine Vieilles Vignes Blanc 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $29 Now $24, 31 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“At the domaine, Jean-Charles Abbatucci often greets his guests with copious platters of Corsican charcuterie: heaping piles of coppa, lonzu, panzetta, and prisuttu saturated with wild, smoky, gamy flavors. Made from nustrale black pigs, a breed exclusive to the island, these meats feature savory, salty flavors that inspire gulp after gulp of crips, stony Vermentinu or spicy, juicy reds from native grapes. This delicate, floral white guarantees palate-cleansing refreshment when heavenly Corsican meats and cheeses are on the table.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA.
Now even lower!
The next best price nationally is $39.99


Domaine Comte Abbatucci Cuvee Faustine Vieilles Vignes Blanc 2017 750ML ($49.95) Was $29 Now $26, 25 bottles in stock now
Importer Note
“Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise—each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next best price nationally is $32

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Marcus Goodfellow’s Flagship Wines

Restocked


Marcus Goodfellow is one of the most talented winemakers in Oregon. He founded Matello wines, his original label, in 2002 and hasn’t looked back, making wines that have continually improved—both in bottle and from vintage to vintage. These are profound wines, both white and red, that are made in a style that’s distinctly savory—no fruit bombs here. Rather, we love them for their coiled power and Burgundian structure. These are wines that speak with an Oregon voice, but the tannin and acidity comes from an old-world point of view. We’ve just restocked several of his entry-level wines, bottles that represent some of Oregon’s best values. 

Just Arrived:

Goodfellow Family Cellars Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92+ points
“The 2018 Chardonnay Dundee Hills opens slowly to white flowers, citrus peel and nutty accents. The palate is light-bodied, delicate and lacy with bright, mineral-tinged citrus flavors and a long, uplifted finish hinting at more savory tones to come.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now


Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Gris, Whistling Ridge 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 13 bottles in stock now

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($129.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
VinopolNote
: A follow up vintage of Marcus Goodfellow’s secret ‘restaurant-only’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. With restaurants only offering takeout for the foreseeable future, Marcus is letting us share his by-the-glass Pinot with you. It’s an insane value!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Love supporting local wineries? We have over 250 options from Oregon and Washington in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including 30+ options from Goodfellow, on our web store now.
 
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Priorat’s Leading Light

Familia Nin-Ortiz


Familia Nin-Ortiz is one of the leading lights of “New Priorat”. Both Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz are renowned viticulturists (Ester, notably, was the vineyard guru behind Clos Erasmus) and some of the earliest proponents of biodynamics in Priorat, but what they’re doing together on the winery side is stunning indeed. Their wines are some of the most compelling in Priorat, combining the power inherent in the terroir with a stunning sense of energy and vitality.

Nin-Ortiz is probably best known for their “Nit de Nin” single vineyard bottling, however their ‘Planetes’ releases are also excellent. Stylistically they are gentler and more elegant, perfect for drinking now. And unlike the estate’s top wines you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy some of the most exciting wines coming out of Spain today.

In Stock Now:

Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Amfora, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Amfora, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($499.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 2016 Planetes de Nin Garnatxes en Amfora was produced with biodynamically farmed Garnacha that fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 700- and 1,000-liter terracotta amphorae for seven months. They do two versions, one with a little SO2 and the other without, and the difference is minimal. At first one was more closed, but when it opened up, they were very similar and showed some herbal and raspberry leaf aromas intermixed with wild berries and notions of earth, aromatic and balanced. It has fine tannins and a velvety texture. 7,395 bottles were filled in April 2017.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Amfora, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points
“Produced with Garnacha grapes from their four hectares in Finca Planetes in Porrera, the 2018 Planetes de Nin Garnatxes en Amfora fermented with indigenous yeasts for four weeks and matured in 700- and 1,000-liter terracotta amphorae for seven months. The nose jumps out of the glass with very clean aromas that are expressive, floral and pure, with a profile of juicy fruit, like biting into a bunch of ripe Garnacha. Delicious! 6,200 bottles were filled in June 2019.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Blanc, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) $75 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points
“Cariñena Blanca has finally been added to the registry of varieties in Spain, which means it should soon be allowed by the Priorat appellation, so they could start putting it on the labels of the 2018 Planetes de Nin Carinyena Blanca. This fermented and matured in used 300-liter oak barrels for seven months. It’s 13% alcohol and has a pH of 3.2 with 6.5 grams of acidity (tartaric); they struggled to get the minimum 13% alcohol required by the appellation, as the year was very cold and they lost a lot of grapes waiting for the alcohol level. It’s a year with lots of freshness, and the wine, which feels really young and undeveloped, needs some time in the glass to open up. This is an exceptional year that is going to develop slowly in bottle. The palate is vibrant, focused and dry, with citrus freshness and a mineral finish. 1,948 bottles were filled in April 2018.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2017 Planetes de Nin comes from the four hectares of 20-year-old Garnacha and 11-year-old Cariñena in the Planetes vineyard in Porrera at 450 meters in altitude. It’s 60% Garnacha (some of it Peluda) and the rest Cariñena, harvested early. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,200-liter oak vats and one 1,000-liter amphora for 17 months. It has depth and harmony, and the vines are getting older and seem to be better and better balanced. This is not that different from the 2016; it feels quite stable and has its style and character, especially since the 2015 vintage. 9,704 bottles were filled in April 2019.”


Love Spanish wine? We have 20 whites and 113 reds from Spain in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Do Ferreiro, Terroir al Límit, Vega Sicilia and more, on our web store now.
 
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Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Order Online / By Phone / By Email

When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.


(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)

www.vinopoliswineshop.com

info@vinopoliswineshop.com

503-223-6002

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Vie di Romans’ World-Class Whites


“Year after year, Vie di Romans makes some of my favorite Italian Chardonnays… Gianfranco Gallo’s Vie di Romans is one of the most accomplished, quality-minded estates in Italy. I am always impressed by their offerings” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

The whites of Friuli are some of the best kept secrets in the wine world. With complexity and power that can match great white Burgundy and a freshness and mineral drive all their own, whites from the northeast corner of Italy are absolutely world-class—but not priced like it.

If you want a prime example look no further than Vie di Romans, named after the Roman roads that mark the region as a long-time wine capital. The estate produces stunning, world-class examples of Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, along with incredible takes on grapes that are grown only in Friuli, like their star Friulano.

What all of the Vie di Romans wines have in common is a maniacal attention to detail from owner Gianfranco Gallo, and a perfect combination of soil and climate. Vie di Romans sits in the plain of Isonzo, with deep, well-drained gravelly soils, ideal for forcing vine roots deep into the ground in search of water—and flavor. The influences of the warm Adriatic Sea and cool air from central Europe create perfect conditions for grapes to ripen while retaining the acidity so crucial to the brightness and character of the finished wine.

The resulting wines are some of the finest in Europe—whites with texture, richness and power, but beautifully detailed aromatics. Their Sauvignon Blanc can go toe-to-toe with the finest bottles of Sancerre and Pouilly Fume—names like Cotat and Dagueneau spring to mind—and their Chardonnays exist between white Burgundy and California in style and temperament.

Best of all, the pricing on the wines make them shrewd buys. Their “Vieris” Sauvignon Blanc, a 95-point bottling with complexity to spare, costs just $33 per bottle—the price of entry-level Sancerre these days. We could say the same things about their Chardonnays and their Friulano, all of which are world-class bottles that are still south of $35.

In Stock Now:

Vie di Romans Chardonnay Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29.50 special
James Suckling 94 points
“A rich, aromatic white with sliced and cooked apple, steel and stone. Full-bodied with layers of fruit, but in a focused and polished way. It’s creamy and fruity with a round texture and a delicious, flavorful finish. Mineral and steely notes at the end. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Vie di Romans ‘Dolee’ Friulano Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-12 Vie di Romans ‘Dolee’ Friulano Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($449.95) $349 special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)



Vie di Romans Vieris Sauvignon Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
James Suckling 95 points
“Extremely fresh and intense with waxy and lemony character, as well as candied apples. Full body. Lots of fruit and flavor. Layered and powerful. Excellent depth and flavor intensity. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Vie di Romans Flors di Uis Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($31.95) $27 special
James Suckling 93 points “Lovely, perfumed nose of lilies, lime blossom, passion fruit and lychee. More citrus-peel and lightly herbaceous notes on the palate. This is full-bodied and very intense, yet there’s some good acidity. Warm finish. Drink now.”
Importer Note: Malvasia Istriana 57%, Tocai 8% and Rhein Riesling 35%

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!


Re-Arriving Friday, January 29th:

Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($33.95) $29 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points
“Beautiful rose-gold color with lots of ripe pear, golden apple, mango and pineapple on the nose. Hint of honey. It’s full-bodied and creamy on the palate with toasted almonds alongside tropical fruit. Smoky minerality, too. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
 
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Col D’Orcia: Brunello Star


“The Col d’Orcia winery and vineyards are located in the southwest of Montalcino. All 152 hectares of vines are certified organic and biodynamic within a larger farm encompassing 520 hectares, where the estate tends olive groves, raises vegetables and grazes livestock to create the biodiversity which they believe is essential. I’ve had the pleasure of tasting through many vintages of both the Brunello and the Poggio al Vento Riserva, one of the region’s first single-vineyard expressions, with Francesco Marone Cinzano over the years. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find Cinzano pouring multiple and often mature vintages alongside his current releases, just to show his belief in the quality and staying power of Col d’Orcia Brunello. It’s quite an experience, really, as you can actually follow the stamp of terroir and the estate’s signature from vintage to vintage, in spite of the large production here. The fact is that the house Brunello is easily one of the best buys year after year. It’s a classic expression of southern Montalcino fruit with a balanced structure to carry it for two decades or more, considering the vintage.” – Eric Guido, Vinous

In Stock Now:

Tenuta Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido – Vinous 94 points
“At first, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino is quite closed in the glass, to the point I move on to the wine next to it… However, upon returning to the glass a few minutes later, I come to realize that the 2015 simply needs time to come to life; and once it does, watch out. Here I find a gorgeous and intense display, mixing savory and sweet, as well as, earth and fruit, as dusty cedar and spice give way to ripe strawberry with a hint of citrus, with wild herbs and a hint of animal musk adding further depths. On the palate, silky textures meld into woodland red berry fruits, zesty spice, hints of cedar, savory herbs, saline minerals, and mounting tannins. The finish is long and structured, yet there remains enough primary fruit to balance it all out, as well as resonating acids, intriguing hints of citrus, and spice. This is remarkably balanced, singing already, yet it’s full of potential for the cellar.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This combines the best characteristics of Sangiovese, with cherry and strawberry fruit, earth, leather and iron notes and balsamic elements of wild thyme, rosemary and Mediterranean scrub. Shows a bit of heat on the finish, yet remains fresh and long. Best from 2023 through 2042. 16,600 cases made, 3,000 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The Col d’Orcia 2015 Brunello di Montalcino (made with organic fruit) has a very distinctive aromatic profile with subtle hints of rusty iron and moist potting soil. However, this wine also shows an impressive evolution in the glass with those earthy and sanguine notes lifting to reveal sweet oak tones of vanilla and baking spice that remain pronounced in a second underlayer. To me, Col d’Orcia’s wines are almost always characterized by a medicinal or balsamic element, and the primary fruit is downplayed as a result. This vintage puts on a good show with wild berry, blackcurrant and dried blackberry. That said, this wine is more ethereal and spicy than it is fruity per se.”


Tenuta Col d’Orcia Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 27 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points
“A soft, delicious red with crushed berry and cherry character. Full body, round, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”


Pre-Arrival ETA May:

Tenuta Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Eric Guido – Vinous 95 points
“Dusty earth gives way to dried roses, incense, hints of cedar, sage, currants and black cherries in a display that makes the 2016 Col d’Orcia Brunello di Montalcino a very special experience. It’s nuanced and perfumed from start to finish, boasting silky textures contrasted by tart berries and minerals, but with sweet tannins that frame the expression perfectly. Its inner sweetness is balanced by bright acids, creating an almost-juicy sensation, right up until the moment you realize that your palate is aching with youthful tension. There’s so much going on and much more to come, making me wonder what the Poggio al Vento might offer in the 2016 vintage. For now, that doesn’t even matter, because the 2015 Col d’Orcia impresses on nearly every level.”


Love Brunello? We have over 50 Brunellos in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Casanova di Neri, La Fortuna, Sassetti and more, on our web store now.

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A Top Value Super Tuscan

Sette Ponti’s 2017 Crognolo


Sette Ponti makes some of the finest Super Tuscans out there. While they’re best known for Oreno, their top-end bottling, the wine of note in most years is their value-priced Crognolo. Made with every bit the same care as the flashier Oreno, Crognolo’s Sangiovese dominant blend provides a beautiful drink-now option at less than half the price of the flagship wine.

Our first drop sold-out quickly last year, but we were fortunately able to secure another allotment of this absolute knockout of a wine. 2017 being a warm year in Tuscany, the wine is bestowed with more fruit and softer tannins than usual, and this has made it an even better early drinker than usual.

In Stock Now:

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($249.95) $132 special (that’s only $22/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points
“A balanced and fresh red for the hot 2017 vintage with medium body, fine tannins and plenty of currants, blackberries and blueberries on the finish. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A beam of pure blackberry runs through this otherwise dense and focused red. Shows elegance, with balance and complexity, but needs time to integrate and reveal all its facets. Offers fine, minerally length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2021 through 2032. 7,500 cases made, 4,000 cases imported.”


Love Tuscany? We have over 150 options from Tuscany in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Castell’in Villa, Felsina, I Fabbri and more, on our web store now.

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Collector’s Corner

Aldo Conterno: Barolo’s Modern Master


Aldo Conterno is one of the most important producers in Barolo. Considered a maverick when he broke away from his family’s estate in 1969, he did nothing short of revolutionize how Nebbiolo was farmed and raised the bar for quality so high that even the most old-school producers were forced to clean up their cellars.

Along the way, he made a string of now-legendary wines and acquired some of the best parcels in the top-tier Bussia cru, where the winery now sources their sought-after, powerful bottlings. From top to bottom, the Aldo Conterno wines are deeply colored, rich, and textured. Unlike some Barolo producers, drinkability is always a concern here, so often times his wines will be significantly more delicious young than their peers—which doesn’t seem to stop them from aging beautifully.

Aldo Conterno Barolo, In Stock Now:

Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 12 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points
“Very fine-grained with pretty berry, spice, roasted-nut and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet polished and intense. Very, very long. Try after 2022.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows dark fruit intensity, dried cherry, spice, licorice and tilled earth. The wine delivers its aromas in a direct and immediate manner, with menthol and balsam herb fitting into oaky aromas of sweet spice. For whatever reason, I notice the oak more in Colonnello, but this will relax with time. The wine will be ready to drink after the 10-year mark. Approximately 6,000 bottles were made.”


Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, licorice and spice fill the glass as this red unfolds. Offers dense tannins and bright acidity, lending definition to the cherry, strawberry, tobacco and spice flavors that persist through the long finish. Best from 2017 through 2030. 300 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “An aromatically beguiling wine, the 2009 Barolo Cicala is laced with dark plums, truffles, tar, incense and a host of other balsamic-infused aromas. Today, the fruit lies a bit in the background, while the wine’s aromatics and overall structure are much more in evidence. I imagine the 2009 will require at least a few more years in bottle to flesh out, but it is quite beautiful, even at this stage. There is a weightless tension in the 2009 that is remarkable.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Barolo Cicala reveals the particular dynamic of the vintage with firmly astringent tannins and power coupled with a leaner, more streamlined mouthfeel. You can also feel some of the heat of the 2009 summer with upfront aromas of prune and cassis followed by a visibly darker appearance and sweet spice on the bouquet. The wine has the inherent complexity, structure and acidity for long aging, but it offers less pulp to sink your teeth into. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 2 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points
“A really exotic red, showing burnt orange-peel to the dried-strawberry, chocolate-powder and light toasted-oak character. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet ever so polished. A wild wine. Drink after 2022 and onwards.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Cicala offers a ripe fruit profile with layers of menthol and medicinal herb. The finish is beautiful, long and chalky, and you don’t get as much alcohol in the Cicala (compared to Romirasco). The fruit is dried and streamlined, and this wine does show good promise for aging. The tannins are beautiful, coating your teeth and palate with no bitter edge. About 6,000 bottles were made.”


Also In Stock From Aldo Conterno:

Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($419.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points
“The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Conca Tre Pile is piled high with dark fruit intensity, soft tannins and a pinch of fresh acidity that breaks apart the wine’s rich fruit flavors. The hot vintage has taken well to the Barbera grape, accentuating its volume, richness and generosity. The bouquet offers black fruit, dried plum, spice, truffle-infused earth and toasted hazelnut. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”


Love Barolo? We have over 75 options from Barolo in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Brovia, Cappellano, Paolo Scavino and more, on our web store now.

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Thanks for reading!