In Today’s Newsletter:
The Perfect Turkey Day
Whites & Rosés
New Wines from Jaboulet
Arriving this Week
Staff Recommended
Thanksgiving Reds
Top Values from Alto Piemonte
The Staff Favorite Wines of Cantalupo
Prestige Holiday Champagne
In Stock Now
The Perfect Turkey Day Whites & Rosés
Whites
Elegant and balanced
Domaine Marc Colin et Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 88 points “Already bottled, the 2017 Bourgogne Chardonnay offers up aromas of white flowers, citrus oil and wet stones. On the palate, its medium-bodied, elegantly glossy and succulent, though it’s quite tight-knit after its recent bottling. As usual, it’s an excellent introduction to the domain’s range.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Classic mineral-driven Chablis
William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Burghound 88-90 points “A ripe and fresh nose offers up notes of iodine, oyster shell, mineral reduction, pear and plenty of citrus influence. There is fine density to the concentrated and sappy flavors that possess fine volume while delivering very good length and solid depth. Good stuff and worth a look.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A Loire classic
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Organic!
Weingut Dönnhoff Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Nahe 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling.com 95 points “This might have happened by accident, due to the high level of ripeness that resulted from the frost damage and very low yield, but it works really well. Ripe citrus and peach aromas, but there’s great freshness and very lively acidity that animates the medium-full body and lifts the long finish. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Multilayered, featuring well-sculpted and concentrated flavors of baked apple, gooseberry, roasted pineapple and vanilla bean. Acidity cuts through, delivering freshness midpalate and presenting ripe melon and quinine notes on the finish. Best from 2022 through 2030.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2017er Bad Kreuznacher Krötenpfuhl GG delivers a spicy and minty nose of ripe fruits including pear, apple, prune and grapefruit. But it is on the palate that this wine really shines, combining energy and finesse with beautifully f lowery and grapefruit driven elements. A great salty side adds depth to the fully dry and superbly mineral after-taste. This is a great dry Riesling in the making. 2025-2037.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Rosés
If you love Pinot rosé from the Willamette Valley, you owe it to yourself to try the original
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rosé, Côte de Nuits 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Pinot Noir from clay & limestone soils. Sustainable. Ripe pomegranate, strawberries and raspberries. Medium body.”
VinopolNote: Marsannay is the only village in Burgundy that permits rosé bottled under its AOC. As you might expect, the rosé from the village is outstanding stuff and Domaine Collotte’s offers excellent value (just like their reds, for what that’s worth). Made from 100% Pinot Noir, the Marsannay rosé shows the dry and serious side of the genre, while managing to be delicious and fresh at the same time. If you love Pinot rosé from the Willamette Valley, you owe it to yourself to try the original.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Smooth and polished
Crowley Rosé, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The signature of this year’s Rosé is citrus and melon…mandarin orange and green watermelon to be exact. Traces of herb bring in savory notes and mint makes an appearance for cooling effect. A reductive note adds interest and layers to the just opened bottle aromatics while the mouthfeel is uniquely smooth and polished. 2019 delivered a clean and round rosé with no hard edges. There’s succulence to the fruit to go with the usual high energy, and lower alcohol keeps it airy and light. Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1990 to 4 acres of own-rooted Pommard clone Pinot Noir. We isolate a portion of this and dedicate the farming to our Rosé program. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed. Appellation and soil: This vineyard is located in the McMinnville Coast Range. Soils are classified as Jory and Nekiah. These soils are typically uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts, with alluvial overlays. As compared to other appellations in the Willamette Valley, these soils are uniquely shallow for winegrowing with low total available moisture. The resulting wines have pronounced leanness and mineral tones. 2/3rds is fermented in neutral French oak and 1/3rd in stainless (to provide a little brightness) as always with native yeast.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Lively and delicious
Thibaud Boudignon Rosé de Loire 2019 750ML ($27.95) $24 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Importer note “80% Cabernet Franc, 20% Grolleau from 25+ year old vines grown on shallow soils of grey schist and rhyolite (volcanic soil) and clay. Indigenous yeast fermentation of direct press rosé with no malo. Aged in stainless steel.”
A rosé with depth
Evening Land ‘Seven Springs Vineyard’ Rosé of Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2019 Seven Springs Rosé of Pinot Noir comes from young vines Pinot planted up on the vineyard’s East Ridge. These densely planted vines grow in well-draining soils and receive a full day of sunshine during the growing season. The gradual and even ripening that occurred during the 2019 growing season resulted in beautifully layered wines, with nuance and refinement. For the rosé, we were fortunate to realize a depth of flavor and aroma across the bright fruit and floral spectrum while still retaining mouthwatering acidity and freshness. The wine opens with a subtle whiff of reduction followed by under-ripe strawberries, white flowers, and dried apricots. The palate is lively and whimsical and begs for a dish like fritto misto or a salde nicoise.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
New Wines from Jaboulet
Arriving this Week
The hill of Hermitage is one of the most famous wine landmarks in the world. The hill of Hermitage was the home of a knight seeking solace from the horrors of the Crusades upon his return home. He planted the vineyards that would become Hermitage and then built a chapel to pray in and that building, the Chapel of Saint Christopher, is the defining marker of the hillside. The name, Hermitage, takes the name of the hermit’s refuge.
Jaboulet purchased the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the surrounding plot of land in 1919—possibly the choicest part of the whole appellation. This is the core of their blend for La Chapelle, which for many defines what Hermitage can be, though the entire line of wines Jaboulet makes from the AOC (and its neighbor) is exceptional. These are big, dense wines, with loads of Hermitage character and those effortless Syrah flavors that just don’t quit on extremely long finishes. Year in year out critics agree that Jaboulet is one of the region’s standout producers, and we’re thrilled to receive our first of their 2018s this week.
Pre-Arrivals ETA Thursday, November 19th:
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29.90 special, ETA Thursday
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, lush and velvety, underscored by doses of salinity and licorice on the lengthy finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2018 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert comes from deeper, pebbly soils and is a full-bodied, opulent wine. Notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, ground pepper, and melted licorice all flow to a full-bodied wine that has tons of baby fat as well as sound underlying structure.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhône 2018 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, ETA Thursday
Wine Advocate 98-100 points “Jaboulet’s 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It’s a classic trio, backed by a wine that’s full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum and black olive flavors without any sense of heaviness or excess weight. Then the wine finishes long and softly dusty, with tannins that accentuate its savory character, picking up delicious hints of licorice at the very end. The proportion of new oak has been trimmed back to a very reasonable 20% and is hardly noticeable in the wine.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “A deep, powerful, primordial wine (which is exactly what you’d expect for a great vintage of this cuvée), the inky hued 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle offers tons of crème de cassis as well as a liquid rock-like minerality, peppery herbs, burning embers, and graphite aromas and flavors. The palate mirrors the intensity of the bouquet and is full-bodied, concentrated, and tight, yet still packs a huge amount of baby fat. The 2018 is a beautifully pure, balanced, massively endowed La Chapelle that will need a decade of cellaring and keep for 3-4 decades with no problems.”
Jaboulet purchased the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the surrounding plot of land in 1919—possibly the choicest part of the whole appellation. This is the core of their blend for La Chapelle, which for many defines what Hermitage can be, though the entire line of wines Jaboulet makes from the AOC (and its neighbor) is exceptional. These are big, dense wines, with loads of Hermitage character and those effortless Syrah flavors that just don’t quit on extremely long finishes. Year in year out critics agree that Jaboulet is one of the region’s standout producers, and we’re thrilled to receive our first of their 2018s this week.
Pre-Arrivals ETA Thursday, November 19th:
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Domaine de Thalabert Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29.90 special, ETA Thursday
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Although the fruit sourcing has changed from the old days, the 2018 Crozes Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert remains a solid offering in the Jaboulet lineup. Violets accent blackberries and plums on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, lush and velvety, underscored by doses of salinity and licorice on the lengthy finish.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2018 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert comes from deeper, pebbly soils and is a full-bodied, opulent wine. Notes of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, ground pepper, and melted licorice all flow to a full-bodied wine that has tons of baby fat as well as sound underlying structure.”
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhône 2018 750ML ($219.95) $189 special, ETA Thursday
Wine Advocate 98-100 points “Jaboulet’s 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle features scents of crushed stone, violets and cassis. It’s a classic trio, backed by a wine that’s full-bodied, rich and powerful yet also airy, somehow carrying intense plum and black olive flavors without any sense of heaviness or excess weight. Then the wine finishes long and softly dusty, with tannins that accentuate its savory character, picking up delicious hints of licorice at the very end. The proportion of new oak has been trimmed back to a very reasonable 20% and is hardly noticeable in the wine.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “A deep, powerful, primordial wine (which is exactly what you’d expect for a great vintage of this cuvée), the inky hued 2018 Hermitage La Chapelle offers tons of crème de cassis as well as a liquid rock-like minerality, peppery herbs, burning embers, and graphite aromas and flavors. The palate mirrors the intensity of the bouquet and is full-bodied, concentrated, and tight, yet still packs a huge amount of baby fat. The 2018 is a beautifully pure, balanced, massively endowed La Chapelle that will need a decade of cellaring and keep for 3-4 decades with no problems.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paul Jaboulet Aîné Hermitage La Petite Chapelle – La Maison Bleue, Rhône 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, ETA Thursday
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2,000-case 2018 Hermitage Maison Bleue comes from the eastern side of the appellation and is a much more fleshy, opulent wine compared to the more mineral-laced La Chapelle. Jammy blackberry and cassis fruit, notes of ground herbs, graphite, and violets, full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, and a great finish all make for a compelling Hermitage. It’s going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2018 Hermitage La Maison Bleue offers up aromas of mocha, raspberries and a hint of black olive. It’s full-bodied, velvety and plush, with a finish that’s marked by hints of maple syrup and a slightly open-knit quality. It should drink well for at least a decade after release.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Shop our entire selection of 11 Jaboulet wines in stock now or arriving this month on our web store!
Staff Recommended Thanksgiving Reds
France
“One of the best under-the-radar producers in Beaujolais”
Céline et Nicolas Hirsch Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The Hirschs are some of the best under-the-radar producers in Beaujolais. The style is fresh, complex and delicious, with enough structure to reward short term cellaring. All their wines show off old vines and are very true to the various terroirs.
“One of the best under-the-radar producers in Beaujolais”
Céline et Nicolas Hirsch Moulin-à-Vent, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: The Hirschs are some of the best under-the-radar producers in Beaujolais. The style is fresh, complex and delicious, with enough structure to reward short term cellaring. All their wines show off old vines and are very true to the various terroirs.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Old vine red Burgundy for under $30!
Domaine Forey Père et Fils Bourgogne Pinot Noir, Burgundy2017 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Neal Rosenthal “The 40-to-60-year-old vines of Forey’s Bourgogne Rouge—produced from various parcels in Nuits and Vosne—typically yield a wine of impressive depth for its category. Vinified with 50% whole clusters and aged in 10% new 500-liter demi-muids, this 2017 is a vibrant, lip-smacking example of pure Pinot Noir pleasure, offering beaming red fruits and an attractive dusting of spices in its juicy and easygoing personality.”
Burghound “An attractively fresh and softly oaked nose reflects notes of a variety of red berries and a healthy dose of earth that can also be found on the nicely detailed and vibrant flavors that are refreshing, persistent and reasonably complex on the crunchy finish. This delicious effort should drink well early on.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
World Wine Awards 97 points
Château Pesquié Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Château Pesquié Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 special
Decanter-World Wine Awards 97 points “This is stacked with the black fruits of the region, plus violets, thyme, lavender, dried herbs and tannins that are ripe and of the appropriate proportion. Still very youthful and will flourish with time in bottle. Modern and very classy indeed. Genius wine, very long and intense, its purity magnificent.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvée Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvée. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Powerful yet harmonious
Domaine Santa Duc Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille, Rhône 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Mostly (80%) grenache with 10% each of mourvèdre and syrah. There’s a very impressive, sheer and crunchy texture to the palate and a peppery edge. Tannins drive a long, powerful finish. Best from 2020.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “The 2015 Gigondas Clos Derrière Vieille (80% Grenache and 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre) comes from the wall vineyard located just beside the village. It offers terrific notes of dusty earth, dried cherries and herbes de Provence, medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannin and a beautiful texture. Like the other 2015s, it’s going to drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe raspberry, cherry liqueur, violet and a hint of garrigue on the deeply perfumed nose. Fleshy, appealingly sweet and expansive in the mouth, offering plush red and blue fruit flavors and a subtle note of candied licorice that builds in the glass. Becomes more energetic with air and finishes on a sweet red berry note, showing powerful thrust, harmonious tannins and impressive persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Willamette Valley
“Effortlessly drinkable”
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”
“Effortlessly drinkable”
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A Wine Enthusiast “Editor’s Choice”
Patricia Green Cellars ‘Estate Vineyard – Old Vine’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Dark scarlet. Expressive aromas of red and dark berry liqueur, exotic spices and incense take on vanilla and cola nuances as the wine opens up. Fleshy and broad in the mouth but surprisingly animated as well, offering intense, gently oak-spiced black raspberry, cherry and boysenberry flavors and a hint of candied flowers. Finishes subtly chewy and very long, with an echo of juicy blue fruit and slowly mounting tannins.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Compelling and graceful, this offers pretty aromas of raspberry and fresh violet, with elegantly layered cherry, mineral and black tea flavors that take on tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2029. 898 cases made.”
Wine Enthusiast “Editor’s Choice” 93 points Happily this old vine selection is among the winery’s biggest production Pinots. The texture and detail that often accompany old vine wines are here in abundance. Flavors deftly mix black cherry, coffee and sandalwood, with toasted walnut highlights. The fruit-acid-tannin balance is textbook perfect.”
Winery Note ” As the Estate vines tap their roots deep into the soft sub-soil they eventually make contactwith the mineralized water on the property. This brings a whole new element tothe flavor and texture profile of the wine…. Given the diversity within the vineyard (we have a 360-degree aspect on our hillside vineyard) and the range of vine age (22-33years) we were able to pick at different times and then blend this together with a greater degree of diversity than we have ever had available….This wine is one of the few truly older vine bottlings that exists from Ribbon Ridge.Older vineyards here,have the capacity to translate the mineral laden nature of our water and soil into the refined, focused nature of the fruit.This AVA is a special place and makes some of the mostinteresting, dramatic and amazing as some of our bottlings, and this is one of them!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Intense and complex
Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750 ($419.95) $336 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 on the West Coast today!
“This wine’s Beaux Freres bloodline is very clear to see”
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Smoky, mineral-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and incense carry a strong spicecake overtone. Stains the palate with sappy red berry liqueur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that are lifted and given definition and tension by juicy acidity. At once rich and nervy, with no excess fat but showing excellent depth and intensity of flavor. Finishes with sexy notes of candied violet and smoky Indian spices and superb, gently tannic persistence. This wine’s Beaux Freres bloodline is very clear to see.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Broad and spicy, open-textured and generous, with ripe plum and currant flavors, shaded by pepper, sage and coffee notes as the finish sails past fine-grain tannins. Completely harmonious and made to age. Drink now through 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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
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
Top Values from Alto Piemonte
The Staff Favorite Wines of Cantalupo
The Piedmont outside of Barolo and Barbaresco remains a bit of a paradox: lovers of elite, collectible Nebbiolo will readily concede that there are some amazing wines made there, but then turn around and proceed never to buy any. This despite the fact that the best wines are outstandingly well priced! If you love Barolo and Barbaresco, you should be paying real (fiscal) attention to the wines from Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo, in Ghemme. Cantalupo remains one of the top producers in the appellation, making wines that are traditional with a touch of polish to them. They deserve to be considered among the top wineries in Piedmont, not just in Ghemme. And we’re excited to receive a new parcel of their wines early next year.
The best part? The prices. Most of Cantalupo’s wines are between $20-50. In addition to the featured pre-arrivals, we have a handful of their Nebbiolo-based reds in stock right now, as well as their fantastic NV white. Up and down the line, these are wines that are surprisingly serious for their price tag. The white is a blend of Erbaluce and Arneis, the two great native grapes of the region, with a splash of Chardonnay for texture and power. But the reds are the star attraction. All are excellent, with perhaps the 2013 Ghemme Collis Breclamae representing the standout. Not known for point inflation, Antonio Galloni awarded it 96 points, noting that it “can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but it also has the pedigree to develop in the cellar for many years to come”.
Cantalupo’s wines have been staff favorites for years. And if we’re being honest we’re hesitant at times to advertise them, preferring to keep them all for ourselves! So consider this an early holiday gift from your good friends at Vinopolis Wine Shop.
Pre-Arrivals ETA January 2021:
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2018 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2018 Nebbiolo Colline Novaresi Agamium is a terrific introduction to these wines. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berry fruit, mint and orange peel are beautifully delineated. The 2018s is vinous and fresh, but it also has plenty of depth too. All the elements are impeccably balanced.”
The best part? The prices. Most of Cantalupo’s wines are between $20-50. In addition to the featured pre-arrivals, we have a handful of their Nebbiolo-based reds in stock right now, as well as their fantastic NV white. Up and down the line, these are wines that are surprisingly serious for their price tag. The white is a blend of Erbaluce and Arneis, the two great native grapes of the region, with a splash of Chardonnay for texture and power. But the reds are the star attraction. All are excellent, with perhaps the 2013 Ghemme Collis Breclamae representing the standout. Not known for point inflation, Antonio Galloni awarded it 96 points, noting that it “can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but it also has the pedigree to develop in the cellar for many years to come”.
Cantalupo’s wines have been staff favorites for years. And if we’re being honest we’re hesitant at times to advertise them, preferring to keep them all for ourselves! So consider this an early holiday gift from your good friends at Vinopolis Wine Shop.
Pre-Arrivals ETA January 2021:
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Colline Novaresi Nebbiolo 2018 750ML ($27.95) $20.90 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2018 Nebbiolo Colline Novaresi Agamium is a terrific introduction to these wines. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berry fruit, mint and orange peel are beautifully delineated. The 2018s is vinous and fresh, but it also has plenty of depth too. All the elements are impeccably balanced.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’, Ghemme DOCG 2012 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
“The 2012 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a powerful, dark potent wine. Wild cherry, spice, tobacco and menthol contribute to its brooding, somber rustic personality. The 2012 is very big and dense.” –Antonio Galloni
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Breclemae, Ghemme DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Ghemme Collis Breclamae is fabulous. Deep, dark and also translucent, the 2013 possesses magnificent clarity as well as structure. Black cherry, lavender, truffle, mint, spice and new leather all develop in an ample, resonant Ghemme that hits all the right notes. A rich, substantial finish rounds things out in style. The 2013 can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but it also has the pedigree to develop in the cellar for many years to come. Each time I come back to the 2013 it is more impressive.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Collis Carellae, Ghemme DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Ghemme Collis Carellae is another huge wine in this range from Cantalupo. Sweet red cherry, plum, cedar, tobacco, mint, dried flowers and licorice are all amped up here. Even with all of its natural intensity, the 2011 possesses just enough freshness and verve to keep things in check. The 2011 is very obviously a dramatic wine, but all of the elements are nicely balanced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Mia Ida’ Spumante Brut Rosé, Piedmont NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata-Vinous 92 points “Very pale pink. Boasts extremely refined floral nuances to the vanilla and red cherry aromas and flavors. Bright and clean, with a lovely creamy presence on the palate and boasting sneaky concentration and complexity, not to mention a long precise finish. Lovely.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Signore di Bayard, Ghemme DOCG 2011 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
In stock now:
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Carolus Bianco, Piedmont NV (2018) 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 27 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo Carolus Bianco, Piedmont NV (2018) 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
VinopolNote: A blend of Erbaluce, Arneis and Chardonnay. This wine is all about contrasts–bright and crisp, but with some texture from the Chardonnay. It has a melange of stone fruit on the nose and palate, but also a pleasant herbaceousness and a touch of spice. Pairs with just about anything, including just by itself.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We have 6 wines from Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store!
Prestige Holiday Champagne
Looking for a centerpiece for your holiday table? We have a huge selection of Champagnes, including many hard-to-find prestige and back vintage bottlings. Check out the featured wines below or shop the entire selection on our web store.
In stock now:
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2002 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Impeccably balanced and silky, with finely honed acidity shaping the expansive flavors of toasted brioche, crushed blackberry, lemon preserves and honey, revealing hints of Frangelico liqueur and smoked nut. Rich and vivid, with a lasting finish. Drink now through 2027. 2,500 cases made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “A gorgeous wine that’s a legend in the making, the 2002 Rare Brut is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, with just under 10 grams of dosage. Offering incredible notes of stone fruits, brioche, white flowers, and hints of toasted nuts, this flat out awesome wine is concentrated and opulent, yet still dances on the palate with vibrant acidity and great, great finish. It’s going to drink beautifully for another two to three decades. Bravo! This cuvée has only been made in 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002, and in 2007.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The pale gold, greenish shimmering 2002 Rare Millésimé – 30% Pinot Noir and 70% Chardonnay – offers a very intense and rich, yet fresh nose of exotic fruit aromas of pineapples, mango, kiwi and passion fruit. On the palate, this is a mouthful of luscious Champagne: powerful and intense, but pure and with the complexity of matured wines. The finish is very exotic in its fruit aromas, but also persistently mineral.”
Decanter 95 points “Looks like becoming another legendary Piper in the same style and league as 1988, ’76 and ’55. Already focused and concentrated. Tough acids might scare some but sublime coffee and biscuity complexity is building up slowly. Sensual wine for all occasions.”
John Gilman 95 points “I reported on the 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Rare a year ago and time does not seem to have touched it at all over the last twelve months, for if anything, this particular bottle seemed even younger than last year’s! The wine beautifully synthesizes the ripe fruit of ’02 with great structural integrity and seems likely to drink at its peak for at least another twenty years. The bouquet is a pure, complex blend of apple, white peach, a touch of leesiness, a great base of soil, fresh-baked bread, a touch of citrus peel and an overtly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and superbly detailed, with a fine core of fruit, elegant mousse, bright acids and excellent backend mineral drive on the long, vibrant and very classy finish. (Drink between 2016-2035).”
Delamotte Collection Brut, Champagne 2000 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 2 bottles in stock now
In stock now:
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2002 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 97 points “Impeccably balanced and silky, with finely honed acidity shaping the expansive flavors of toasted brioche, crushed blackberry, lemon preserves and honey, revealing hints of Frangelico liqueur and smoked nut. Rich and vivid, with a lasting finish. Drink now through 2027. 2,500 cases made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “A gorgeous wine that’s a legend in the making, the 2002 Rare Brut is a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, with just under 10 grams of dosage. Offering incredible notes of stone fruits, brioche, white flowers, and hints of toasted nuts, this flat out awesome wine is concentrated and opulent, yet still dances on the palate with vibrant acidity and great, great finish. It’s going to drink beautifully for another two to three decades. Bravo! This cuvée has only been made in 1976, 1979, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1998, 1999, 2002, and in 2007.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The pale gold, greenish shimmering 2002 Rare Millésimé – 30% Pinot Noir and 70% Chardonnay – offers a very intense and rich, yet fresh nose of exotic fruit aromas of pineapples, mango, kiwi and passion fruit. On the palate, this is a mouthful of luscious Champagne: powerful and intense, but pure and with the complexity of matured wines. The finish is very exotic in its fruit aromas, but also persistently mineral.”
Decanter 95 points “Looks like becoming another legendary Piper in the same style and league as 1988, ’76 and ’55. Already focused and concentrated. Tough acids might scare some but sublime coffee and biscuity complexity is building up slowly. Sensual wine for all occasions.”
John Gilman 95 points “I reported on the 2002 Piper-Heidsieck Rare a year ago and time does not seem to have touched it at all over the last twelve months, for if anything, this particular bottle seemed even younger than last year’s! The wine beautifully synthesizes the ripe fruit of ’02 with great structural integrity and seems likely to drink at its peak for at least another twenty years. The bouquet is a pure, complex blend of apple, white peach, a touch of leesiness, a great base of soil, fresh-baked bread, a touch of citrus peel and an overtly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and superbly detailed, with a fine core of fruit, elegant mousse, bright acids and excellent backend mineral drive on the long, vibrant and very classy finish. (Drink between 2016-2035).”
Delamotte Collection Brut, Champagne 2000 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 2 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Louis Roederer Cristal Millésimé Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 98 points “As the first 100% biodynamic Cristal, entirely from Roederer-owned vineyards, this is an important milestone. This latest incarnation is a great Champagne with its density, elegance and poise. Still impressively young, the wine is taut, tightly wound and textured. At the same time, it has pure, ripe white and citrus fruits that are perfumed, and an important part of this wine’s long-term future. Drink at the earliest from 2023.”
James Suckling 98 points “Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well..”
De Venoge Louis d’Or Brut, Champagne 1996 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 1996 Louis d’Or Brut Millésimé is a blend of 50% Pinot Noir from Verzenay, Ambonnay, Mailly and Bouzy and 50% Chardonnay from Avize, Cramant, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Chouilly. Fermented in stainless steel, with malolactic, and it was disgorged in March 2016 with a dosage of six grams per liter. This luxurious, golden colored vintage Champagne offers a beautifully complex, matured and vinous bouquet with lovely brioche, mushroom and yeasty flavors. The visual CO2 is gone quickly, but on the palate it gives this lean and steely yet enormously complex Millésime a tight structure and enormous length. It is tastes bone dry so that you can fully concentrate on the very complex and mineral character and the lovely austere finish. This is great a Champagne for purists, and the finish is enormous, reminding me of matured dry Rieslings from the good old Rheingau. Many of our readers may eventually ask for more roundness and charm here… But first: this is 1996. And second: this is Louis d’Or, and there is no Champagne like this.-SR”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Grand Siècle par Laurent-Perrier, Champagne 1990 750ML ($599.95) $499 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 94 points ” Medium orange-gold color. Musky, wild aromas of strawberry, raspberry, smoke and earth; rather pinot noir-like and expressive of its soil. Rich, ripe and dense with material but not at all heavy; red berry flavors offer a compellingly tangy quality. Very concentrated and still very young. Finishes with superb lift and length.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Salon Cuvée ‘S’ Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 1997 (’17 Disgorgement) 750ML ($999.95) $899 special, 5 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2017 disgorgement. Review is for the 2018 disgorgement.
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “Disgorged earlier this year (2018), the Salon 1997 Blanc de Blancs Le Mesnil Brut opens with a deep, intense and concentrated yet pure, fine and complex bouquet of chalk intertwined with ripe yellow-fleshed fruit, brioche and hazelnut notes. This is a bright, perfectly matured Champagne from Mesnil-sur-Oger with hints of caramel, white mushrooms, parsley root and a beautiful varnish on the nevertheless fresh nose with its characteristic chalky Mesnil expressions. The palate is full and intense, almost rich in the first moment compared the the 2007, but then the 1997 proceeds as pure, elegant and fresh as a Salon should be. Yes, there are some similarities to the 2007 in terms of finesse, with the linear, mineral and vinous style fortified by the complexity of 21 years of age. This is a really fine Champagne but not as ripe as the 2007. The rigid taster will find some drying green apple phenolics in the aftertaste, but the hedonist (who doesn’t look at the price) won’t get that. So enjoy! The late disgorgement of the 1997 Salon (which spent nearly 20 years on the lees) combines the elegance and finesse of the house style with the vinous complexity of a matured Champagne. There is just one dilemma: the price.”
Shop the entire selection of over 130 Champagnes in stock now on our web store!
Thanks for reading!