Vinopolis Tuesday Newsletter 1-5-2021

In Today’s Newsletter:


Super Tuscan Subscriber Special
Petrolo’s 2014 Torrione


Featured New Arrival
Servin’s Ambitious Chablis


Spotlight on Languedoc-Roussillon

Just Landed
Bouland’s 2019 Cru Beaujolais


Trending
West Coast Edition


Collector’s Corner
Corton-Charlemagne



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Super Tuscan Subscriber Special

Petrolo’s 2014 Torrione


Petrolo is one of the leading proponents of the Val d’Arno di Sopra DOC, a small area in Tuscany that only recently received the DOC designation. Frankly, the designation should have happened a while ago—these are distinctive wines made from unique soils and the quality across the board is very high. Petrolo’s wines provide a wonderful introduction to this undervalued corner of Tuscany due to both their quality, but also thanks to their forward-thinking. Today we’re offering a wine that exemplifies this progressive orientation, Petrolo’s Sangiovese-dominant Super Tuscan Torrione, at Subscriber Special pricing. If you enjoy a more modern interpretation of Tuscany, but hate paying Super Tuscan prices, this is a can’t miss deal.

In Stock Now:

Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($39.95) Was $21.90, Now $18, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Petrolo Torrione Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($449.95) Was $236, Now $199
James Suckling 92 points
“A refined and silky rendition of this wine with pretty berry, citrus and light chocolate. Medium body. Chilled and delicious. Drink now.”

This is by far the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price nationally for all vintages is $36


Love Tuscan wine? We have 160 wines from Tuscany in stock now. Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Castello Di Ama, Il Poggione, Montevertine and more on our web store!

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Featured New Arrival

Servin’s Ambitious Chablis


Domaine Servin is one of the oldest and most prestigious estates in Chablis, with 32 hectares of vines spread throughout the region and much of it in top vineyards. The Servin family has been in Chablis since 1654 and involved in the wine industry for much of that time. Today, Francois Servin runs the domaine with the assistance of his Australian brother-in-law, Mark Cameron.

François, while appreciating the great traditions that are very important to the Servin family, strives to modernize and improve the estate. He has resumed hand harvesting of grapes over most of the Premier Cru and all of the Grand Cru vineyards. Where necessary, he has replanted with improved Chardonnay vines. The wines are aged in a mix of stainless steel and wooden barrel, depending on the Cuvée, and bottled without filtration—this is an estate that has made a wholesale commitment to quality and it shows in the wines.

New Arrivals:

Domaine Servin Bougerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2019 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 12 bottles in stock now


This is the only listing in the USA today!


Domaine Servin Cuvee Massale Chablis Vieilles Vignes, Burgundy 2018 750ML ($34.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points
 “The 2018 Chablis Vieilles Vignes Sélection Massale is a fabulous wine with tremendous potential. Deep and exquisitely layered, the 2018 possesses lovely aromatic complexity to play off a core of pliant, layered fruit. Silky, perfumed and very pretty, the 2018 has so much to offer. There is a lot to like about this expressive wine.”

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


Domaine Servin Mont de Milieu, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($79.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points
“The 2018 Chablis Mont de Milieu 1er Cru is a regal, classy wine that brings together all the best qualities of the vintage. Soft, open-knit and inviting, the 2018 is a real pleasure to taste. This is an especially seamless, racy Chablis that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Apricot, white flowers, mint and citrus confit shape the finish. This is a bit tight today, but very promising.”


Domaine Servin Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 93+ points
 “The 2018 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru shows more structure and power than the other premiers crus in this range. Phenolic and savory, the 2018 is endowed with a real sense of energy and richness. The 2018 was bottled just two weeks before this tasting and is showing some element of angularity. Even so, it is impressive.”


Domaine Servin Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2018 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 point
s “The 2018 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru is wonderfully silky and nuanced. This is an especially open-knit, radiant style of Preuses. Apricot, peach, spice and floral notes are all laced together in an exotic, open wine. The 2018 is powerful and intense with a real sense of palate density and weight. This is a decidedly rich, ample expression of Preuses and yet the telltale energy and minerality of this site are both evident.”

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


Also In Stock Now:

Domaine Servin Blanchot, Chablis Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($74.95) $59 special, 23 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points
“The 2016 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchots is also a success, offering up aromas of preserved peach, lemon confit and fresh citrus zest. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, textural and saline, with excellent purity and length. It’s a gourmand but elegant Blanchots that retains plenty of site personality.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 90-92 points “The 2016 Chablis Blanchots Grand Cru has a clean and precise, quite granitic bouquet, tightly wound but focused. The palate is well balanced with good depth, quite primal at the moment with a terse, saline finish. It just needs to loosen-up by the time of bottling.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Domaine Servin Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90+ points
“(30% oak): Bright pale yellow with a green tinge. Spicy, slightly high-toned aromas of orange oil and white peach. Pliant and concentrated, offering good inner-mouth energy and minerality to the intense soft citrus and floral flavors. Very rich but in need of a couple years in the bottle to gain in complexity. Slightly phenolic on the back end, showing subtle chalk and saline qualities.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Domaine Servin Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 11 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points
“One of the most reserved and serious wines in the range, the 2016 Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses offers up notes of dried flowers, beeswax, lemon oil, mandarin and rock salt, framed by light reduction. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, saline and mineral, with a deep, tight-knit core and a long, youthfully grippy finish. It’s a wine that will appeal to purists.”
Neal Martin-Vinous 92-94 points “The 2016 Chablis Les Preuses Grand Cru is a step up from the Blanchot – a complex array of scents with green apple, oyster shell and a light sea spray influence coming through. The palate is well balanced with sappy green fruit on the entry, with a clean and precise finish that bodes well for the future. Excellent.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Love Chablis? We have 44 wines from Chablis in stock now. Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Domaine d’Henri, William Fevre, Louis Michel and more on our web store!

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Spotlight on Languedoc-Roussillon


This wine always seems to be trending
M. Chapoutier Les Vignes de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now

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


A 100% Syrah blockbuster
M. Chapoutier Domaine de Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde R.I. Rectificando Invenies 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points
“As always, the 100% Syrah 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Lesquerde Rectificando Invenies (Ri) shows more minerality than the VIT release and offers blockbuster styled aromas and flavors of blackcurrants, crushed rocks, toasted bread and chocolate. Made in a voluptuous, pedal-to-the-metal style, with huge fruit and texture, it has building tannin and an uber sexy, incredibly layered and decadent palate. Drink it anytime over the coming decade. This Cuvée was completely destemmed and aged 18 months in demi-muids.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


“Massive fruit, velvety finish”
Domaine Le Clos des Fées Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2015 750ML ($79.95) $54.50 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points
“Eighteen months in new French oak barrels has given the 2015 Côtes du Roussillon Villages le Clos des Fées a certain tightness and discipline lacking in the Vieilles Vignes bottling. There’s still massive fruit and buried complexity, full body and rich tannins, but there’s also firmness of structure that shows the serious, age-worthy side of Bizeul’s winemaking. Vanilla and baking spices accent deep, dark cherries and plums, ending in a long, velvety finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Power & richness, yet pure & elegant
Domaine Lafage Côtes du Roussillon Fundacio 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Lafage Côtes du Roussillon Fundacio 2016 750ML ($479.95) $359 special
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points
“One of the finest wines I’ve tasted from the estate is unquestionably the 2016 Côtes du Roussillon Villages Fundacio, which is 60% Syrah from Maury with the balance Mourvèdre and Grenache, vinified and aged in small barrels. Full-bodied, incredibly pure, elegant, and silky, it boasts awesome notes of crème de cassis, black olives, leafy herbs, and subtle gamey, salty nuances. It’s a rich, powerful wine yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness, sweet tannins, and a great finish. It should keep for a decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


The perfect nightcap
Domaine Lafage Côtes du Roussillon Lieu Dit Narassa 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91 points
“The 2016 Narassa, a blend of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah, carries five grams per liter of residual sugar, right at the threshold of normal detectability. As a result, some tasters may find this sweet, while others may see it as a dry wine. I’d opt for pairing it with cheeses at the end of a meal, where its decadently ripe flavors of cherries and chocolate will shine, accented by hints of violets and dried spices.”


“Another wine from Jean-Marc that over-delivers”
Domaine Lafage ‘Tessellae’ Carignan Vieilles Vignes, IGP Côtes Catalanes 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 91 points
“Moving to the reds, the 2017 Côtes Catalanes Tessellae Carignan (100% Carignan) comes from the Agly Valley and was brought up all in tank. Blackberries, leather, dried herbs, and licorice notes all emerge from this spicy, medium-bodied, silky Carignan that has terrific purity and elegance. It’s another wine from Jean-Marc that over-delivers. Drink it over the coming couple of years.”


A cellar pick
Vignobles Prissette Villa Symposia Côteaux du Languedoc l’Origine 2013 750ML ($39.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points
“The terrific 2013 Pézenas l’Origine shows the hallmark spice-laced perfume of this appellation. Lots of red fruits, crushed flowers, spice and violet nuances give way to a medium-bodied, elegant and sweetly fruited 2013 that has fine tannin and a seamless, sexy texture. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 5-6 years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!
 
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Just Landed

Bouland’s 2019 Cru Beaujolais


Daniel Bouland makes gutsy wines from old vines in the heart of Beaujolais premier appellations. You often hear that they’re traditionally made and, although that’s true, it doesn’t begin to describe what makes the wines unique. These are wines that recall what Beaujolais would have been like before industrial farming and certainly before industrial winemaking. They’re special, powerful and age-worthy.

From a winemaking perspective, the closest comparison to what Daniel Bouland is doing is probably Domaine Dujac. The cross-regional comparison probably violates some sort of law of wine-writing, but when you look at what Bouland does with his grapes, it makes sense. There’s almost exclusively whole cluster fermentation at both houses and Bouland’s wine show as muscular and robust—capable of very long aging and transformation into profound wines.

The difference, of course, is that working with Gamay, Bouland’s wines are more immediately drinkable than anything from Dujac (Bouland also doesn’t use new oak on his wines). And the prices are far below what top Burgundy can command. Young, the Bouland bottles show both intense fruit and structure—you wouldn’t necessarily think to drink Beaujolais with steak, but these are incredible pairings with even very hearty foods -especially since Gamay has a zesty freshness to it that can lighten, nay elevate, any meal. The 2019s just landed and we’re thrilled to feature them here today at national best prices.

In Stock Now:

Daniel Bouland Chiroubles Châtenay, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $28.80 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points
“Exuberant aromas of raspberries, blackberries and cherries introduce the 2019 Chiroubles Châtenay, a medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy wine that’s round and enveloping, with a charming core of fruit and melting, delicately powdery tannins. It will drink well young.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 29 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Cailloux is once again quite structured this year, though it’s not as brooding and muscular as its 2018 counterpart. Revealing aromas of raspberries, cherries, burning embers and sweet soil tones, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of fruit, lively acids and a chassis of fine but abundant tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Daniel Bouland Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 30 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2019 Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes Sable is excellent, unfurling in the glass with aromas of cherries, plums, violets and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and muscular, built around succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s elegantly structured and built to age, even if it’s charming enough to be enjoyed young—the 2011 vintage from my own cellar is drinking brilliantly.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Daniel Bouland Côte de Brouilly Cuvée Mélanie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($37.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-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!


Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Cailloux, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 32 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points
“Derived from older vines in rockier soils, the 2019 Morgon Bellevue Cailloux is even more sensuous and textural than its Sable counterpart. Mingling notions of raspberries and plums with hints of rose petals and spices, it’s medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, its powdery tannins almost entirely cloaked in succulent, perfumed fruit.”


Daniel Bouland Morgon Les Delys, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points
“The 2019 Morgon Les Delys Vignes plantées en 1926 has turned out brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe cherries, blackberries, strawberries, sweet soil tones and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it’s seamless and multidimensional, and with striking concentration, succulent acids and powdery tannins, it’s long and penetrating. While this is carrying less puppy fat than the 2018 at the same age, it’s still quite a demonstrative, fruit-driven vintage of Les Delys, and while it will be long-lived, it can also be approached young.”


Daniel Bouland Morgon Bellevue Sable, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($41.95) $29.90 special, 35 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points
“The 2019 Morgon Bellevue Sable is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, cherries, orange rind and plums. Medium to full-bodied, supple and succulent, it’s bright and fleshy, with powdery tannins and a generous core of fruit, girdled by lively acids. Bottled only a week before I tasted it, I suspect it will perform even better with six months’ bottle age. As readers will remember, this cuvée comes from younger vines, planted on Viala rootstock in sandy soils—as the “Sable” newly added to its label makes clear.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Love Beaujolais? We have 35 Beaujolais wines in stock now. Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Anne-Sophie Dubois, Château Thivin, Clos de la Roilette and more on our web store!
 
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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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Trending

West Coast Edition


California

A fresh take on classic California Chardonnay
Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points
“This comes mostly from the Wolf vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”


A stunning Petite Sirah from a classic producer
Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“The 2018 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah is totally stunning. Bright, focused and powerful, the 2018 presents a breathtaking interplay of rich Petite fruit allied to a classic, old-school sense of structure. Dark blue/purplish fruit, leather, licorice, lavender, menthol and gravel are some of the many notes that infuse the 2018 with all those layers of flavor. The 2018 is a real stunner.”


A crowd-pleasing wine at a buyer-pleasing price
Rutherford Hill Barrel Select, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Rutherford Hill Barrel Select, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($359.95) $238 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points
“The Merlot-based 2016 Barrel Select is round, sumptuous and juicy. Soft curves and voluptuous fruit give this mid-weight blend plenty of near and medium term approachability. Sweet red cherry, plum and pomegranate fruit are nicely pushed forward.”


A classically built Napa Cabernet
Snowden Vineyards The Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points
“Snowden’s 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon The Ranch is gorgeous. Dark, powerful and beautifully structured, the 2016 Ranch is a huge overachiever. In 2016, the Ranch is a wine of real power, gravitas and character. Black cherry, plum, lavender and savory herbs all develop in the glass, but it is the wine’s persistence and overall balance that stands out in this deeply flavorful, classically built Cabernet from Snowden. Best of all, the 2016 is a superb wine for the money.”
James Suckling 92 points “Elderberries, blueberries, blackberries and hints of hazelnuts and walnuts. Medium to full body, focused acidity and a medium-chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”

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


Oregon

“The “least likely to exist” of all of our Willamette Valley sourced wines”
Bow & Arrow Air Guitar, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24.40 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Winery note
“Like Rhinestones, the name Air Guitar is a self deprecating poke at attempting French style wines in America.  The “least likely to exist” of all of our Willamette Valley sourced wines, this is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Borgo Pass Vineyard and Cabernet Franc from Johan Vineyard.  Don’t let the playful nature of the wine’s label fool you -this is our most profound expression of red wine from this region and the one that rewards the most patience.  Aged 10 to 12 months in puncheon.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


A staff favorite
Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Back at last! No reviews for the 2017 vintage – this review is for the previous vintage, 2015:
Grapelive 94-96 points
(Review of the 2015 vintage) “John Paul is an Oregon legend and his wines just as legendary, especially his Pinots, like this one from A slightly younger vine planting within Abbey Ridge vineyard, that was planted in 1990, and Cameron Winery, part of the Deep Roots Coalition is sustainably farmed, non-irrigated and has been fanatically Burgundy influenced, since Paul started producing wine here in 1984. He uses mainly Dundee Hills fruit, the estate Clos Electrique and Abby Ridge, as well as a newer parcel in Ribbon Ridge, his Clos Electrique and his Abby Ridge bottlings are his top old vine cube’s, but his regular Willamette Valley, Dundee and Reserve offerings are stunning as well, with this Arley’s Leap being new to me, and one I was thrilled to get my hands on! The eponymous hero, on the label, was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat. Abbey Ridge is one of the highest vineyards in Dundee and is picked relatively late, it’s farmed pretty much all organic and allows for deep flavors and complexity, it’s significantly cooler and with it’s Jory soils, which are volcanic based there is a lot of natural acidity that helps with balance and gives these wines tremendous aging structure along with a slightly exotic character. 2015 is looking like an outstanding vintage in Oregon and John Paul took advantage of the year to craft an amazing set of wines, and in my opinion, this Arley’s Leap is a sleeper, in particular it’s a earthy dark beauty that is wonderfully expressive and intriguing. This 2015 shows the years ripe personality, at 13.9%, but thrills for it’s brilliant energy, tanginess, a porcini note, forest floor and rustic charm that resembles a fine Nuits-Saint-Georges! This stuff entrances with a heady mix of plum, black cherry, strawberry, dusty red spices, minty herbs, crushed violets and a touch of leather adding to the dense kirsch, currant and wilted rose petals, making for an amazing palate and bouquet, it’s very much sex in a bottle as only a great Pinot can be! Paul employs traditional Burgundian winemaking and subtle well integrated French oak, it’s as good as it gets, drink over the next decade, it will fascinating to see how this ages!
Winery Note “Arley’s leap harkens from a block of Pinot noir planted in 1990 at Abbey Ridge Vineyard. The eponymous hero was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


An Oregon classic
Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($419.95) $279 special
James Suckling 95 points
“This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. There’s a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid red. Expansive aromas of ripe red berries, candied flowers and baking spices, with a smoky mineral topnote that gains strength as the wine opens up. Coats the palate with appealing sweet raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on an impressively long finish that’s shaped by fine-grained, even tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


One of Oregon’s rising stars
Hundred Suns ‘Super Moon’ Syrah 2019 750ML ($49.95) $29 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Winery note
“The Super Moon is a rare and beautiful lunar event that occurs when the full moon coincides with the moon’s closest approach to Earth in its orbit, making the moon seem brighter and more close than usual. It felt an appropriate name for a wine that could only have come to being in this particular vintage. Our Super Moon Syrah was grown on a warm site for the Willamette Valley during a classic, cool Oregon vintage. It was fermented 100% whole cluster in a sealed tank. On the 12th day we opened the tank and foot-stomped the clusters one time before pressing. The resulting wine is initially shy with savory tones of black pepper and beef bouillon, but after time the wine opens to offer juicy pomegranate & cranberry with a light, refreshing palate surprising for Syrah.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Washington

Trademark Charles Smith
K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($69.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points
“The 2017 Cabernet / Syrah The Creator Powerline Vineyard doesn’t match the 2016 yet is still a brilliant blend (75/25 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) sourced from a site on the southern side of the Walla Walla Valley. Loads of jammy blackberry and black cherry fruits as well as hints of chocolate and peppery herbs emerge from this purple/plum-hued 2017. Offering full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it’s another sexy, pleasure-bent effort from this team that can be drunk any time over the coming 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


A perennial top value
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $33 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($719.95) $359 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points
“Bright medium ruby. Musky, earthy aromas of raspberry, roasted strawberry, smoked meat and charred oak. Fat, sweet and deep, with good spicy lift to the very ripe flavors of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and spices. A very rich, tactile Syrah with sexy sweetness but plenty of ripe, dusty tannins to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Ultimately richer than the Union Gap Syrah but also more tannic.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


“Layered and complex”
The Unnamed Series Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Winery note
“100% Syrah. Dark plum, red currant and a wonderful salinity will continue to excite through the entire bottle. Multi layered and complex, this has a long mouthfeel, is very balanced, and is perfect to pair with a variety of fall dishes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


A Chardonnay that punches well above its weight
The Walls Vineyards ‘Les Jeunes Vignes’ Chardonnay, Columbia Valley 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Washington Wine Blog 91 points
“Showing off a bright color, the Les Jeunes Vignes’ opens with light white peach and damp stone aromas that take shape in the glass. The polished mouthfeel and soft texture really entices here as ripe orchard fruits and lighter wet stone and melon tones come together beautifully on the palate. This is really well-done. Drink 2020-2027.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


Love supporting local wineries? We have 240 different wines from Oregon & Washington in stock now. Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Championship Bottle, Goodfellow, Loop de Loop and more on our web store!
 
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Collector’s Corner

Corton-Charlemagne


The hill of Corton is the most recognizable landmark in Burgundy and the Grand Cru whites from it are as iconic as the sight of the site.  Cascading with minerality, effusively aromatic and packed with depth and age-worthiness, the wines of Corton-Charlemagne are a jewel of Burgundy. When they’re on, only the Grand Crus of Montrachet and its satellites rival top-tier Corton-Charlemagne.

Corton-Charlemagne occupies the highest portion of the Hill of Corton, in the Côte de Beaune sub region of Burgundy. The soil on the western side of the hill that makes up the Grand Cru portion is composed of a limestone-marl mix that produces world class Chardonnay. The growers that work these vineyards produce small yields and operate in cooler temperatures than their counterparts across Burgundy.

The hill and its vineyards were gifted to the religious community of Saint-Andoche in 775 by the Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. We can all partially thank his fourth wife for white grapes on the hill of Corton. She wasn’t too keen on the stains left in his beard after drinking red wine, so she had him order the red grape varieties pulled and replaced with whites. Thank you, Luitgard! When allowed to age past 10-15 years, bottles from this small area provide some of the most vivid examples of Chardonnay on the planet. The nutty and buttery balanced with flinty acidity, always makes for such a dynamic pairing wine. Corton-Charlemagne bottlings have the ability to hold up to richer dishes or even sing alongside a killer cheese plate.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2015 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Silky smooth and finely woven, with lemon, apple, spice and stone flavors, this is both complex and sophisticated. The vibrant structure drives the flavors, building to a long, mouthwatering aftertaste. Best from 2020 through 2032. 107 cases made, 50 cases imported.”
John Gilman 93+ points “Having vines on the Pernand side of the hill of Corton must have been an advantage in the hot summer of 2015, and the Clos de la Chapelle version in this vintage has turned out beautifully as a result. This is 13.5 percent alcohol in 2015 (all natural) and the wine is impeccably balanced and drinking with loads of personality out of the blocks. The superb bouquet wafts from the glass in a classic blend of pear, apple, a touch of iodine, stony soil tones, spring flowers, hazelnuts and vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nicely broad-shouldered in style, with excellent concentration at the core, fine soil signature, bright acids and impressive length and grip on the nascently complex and perfectly balanced finish. This is very delicious in its wide open youth, but really could do with at least a couple of years in the cellar to allow its secondary layers of complexity to start to emerge. 2024-2030+.”

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Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 750ML ($279.95) $225 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 95 points
“Pale yellow. Alluring nose combines aromas of citrus fruits, peach, stone and lavender; comes across as riper and more sedate than the Faiveley cuvées from south of Beaune. Plush, sweet, pliant and rather full but not heavy; this has the silkiness and palate feel of a Pinot Noir and the cool density of the Ladoix-Serrigny side of the appellation. Citrus and soil flavors are nicely supported by a firm core of limestone minerality. This terrific expression of terroir finishes with a rising whiplash of flavor.”

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Louis Jadot Domaine des Héritiers Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 96 points
“From vineyards owned by the inheritors of the Louis Jadot estate, this wine has all the power expected from this vineyard. Its density and richness are palpable, even when crispened by a fresh citrus edge. Wood aging adds spice and enhances the aging potential. Drink from 2024.”
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94+ points ” (Jadot bottled 35 barrels, representing a normal yield; the harvest lasted into the beginning of October): Very pale, bright yellow. Knockout nose combines lemon, ginger, botanical herbs, shiso leaf and crushed-rock minerality. Seriously concentrated wine, showing the juicy side of the 2016 vintage and the impeccable balance that was possible when yields were normal. The sharply delineated citrus, spice and mineral flavors are framed and intensified by harmonious acidity (“which was easy to control because we had so many barrels,” according to Barnier). Conveys an impression of outstanding density without weight and finishes with great palate-staining length, herbal lift and salty grip.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Aromas of yellow orchard fruit, waxy lemon rind, iodine and smoky new oak introduce the 2016 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru (Domaine des Héritiers Jadot), a full-bodied, satiny and nicely layered wine that’s deep, concentrated and persistent. It’s a youthfully reserved but decidedly impressive Corton-Charlemagne that will reward bottle age.”

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Domaine Rollin Père et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jancis Robinson 17.5/20
“Bottled. Seems subtle at first but opens up to a complex if embryonic combination of lemon and orange fruit, stony freshness and the suggestion of the round creamy character of lees and barrel.”
Rosenthal Note “The Rollin family for many years has exploited two separate parcels totaling about one-half hectare within the appellation of Corton-Charlemagne. One parcel is on the Aloxe-Corton side within “Le Charlemagne” and the other piece is on the Pernand side of the hill known as “En Charlemagne”. The grapes from each parcel are harvested and vinified separately and are then assembled prior to bottling (after more or less fifteen months of elevage). From our personal perspective, the Corton-Charlemagne from Rollin is one of the finest white wines in our portfolio, a true Grand Cru. We purchase two barrels a year … and a small amount of magnums are drawn for us annually.”

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Domaine Michel Juillot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2016 1.5L ($399.95) $319 special, 12 magnums in stock now
Burghound 91 points
“Generous wood dominates the otherwise fresh green apple, pear and white flower scents. There is ample minerality on the solidly dense and relatively powerful medium weight flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel that contrasts markedly with the powerful and impressively long finish where the wood is again quite prominent. I can’t say that the style appeals to me as the wood is more than I prefer but this should still make for fine drinking in a few years time.”

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