In Today’s Newsletter:
Volnay’s Rising Star Clos de la Chapelle
At Reduced Prices
Additional Price Drops on Burgundy
Including Dugat-Py & Château De La Tour
More Price Reductions? More Price Reductions!
From France, Germany and Beyond
Cristom’s 2017 Single Vineyards
A Popular Subscriber Special Encore
Durand’s Distinguished Northern Rhônes
Volnay’s Rising Star Clos de la Chapelle
At Reduced Prices
Every now and then, we encounter a producer that’s clearly Going Places—like the star student in a high school class, it’s painfully obvious that some domaines are driven in a fundamentally different way from their peers. The current incarnation of Clos de la Chapelle is clearly one of those estates—the praise keeps coming and it won’t be long before these are thought of with wines like D’Angerville, Lafon and Lafarge as some of the top bottlings in Volnay.
The drive that is pushing them to greatness comes down to one person, their (American) owner, Mark O’Connell. He bought the domaine in 2011 and has poured money and time into elevating it from a historic (yet perhaps underperforming) producer, with excellent holdings, to one of the elite domaines in the Côte de Beaune. The winery now owns land in an array of the top vineyard sites in Volnay, Pommard and Corton and makes truly excellent renditions of each—with moderate whole cluster use, small amounts of new oak and brilliantly balanced ripeness.
This is a domaine that’s only been around in its current incarnation since 2011, and yet has already been a featured winery at La Paulee and has received strong reviews from both Burghound and John Gilman. Clos de la Chapelle monopole was always considered to be one of the premier terroirs (it’s right next door to the Clos de la Bousse d’Or and there are records of Louis Pasteur buying 50 bottles of the 1858), but it’s mainly since the changeover that the wines have lived up to the promise of the land.
We believe in these wines and want to get them onto as many of our customer’s tables as possible. To that end, we’ve reduced prices on a handful of their best wines and are excited to feature them once again today.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Corton Rognet Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2014 750ML ($149.95) Was $99 Now $89, 20 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “The Rognet in 2014 from Clos de la Chapelle was raised in onethird new wood and included fifty percent whole clusters this year. These vines lie just above those of JeanNicolas Méo on the slope. The wine really shows the elegant side of the vintage, wafting from the glass in a beautiful aromatic constellation of cherries, red currants, a superb base of minerality, a bit of gamebird, lovely Corton spice tones and a bit of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied and nascently complex, with fine transparency, lovely focus and grip and a very long, ripely tannic and tangy finish. There is a touch of stems here today, but these will become cinnamonlike down the road and just add to the spicy appeal of this lovely Corton. 20252075+.”
Burghound 93 points “Sweet Spot. A touch of oak sets off the mildly reduced nose though a note of menthol is evident in the background. There is excellent volume and concentration to the broad-shouldered and muscular flavors that brim with mouth coating dry extract before concluding in an overtly robust and slightly austere finish of outstanding depth and length. This is a classic Rognet that is presently quite compact and it is immediately evident that this is going to need every bit of a decade to unwind the firm tannic spine and 15 years would not surprise me. In a word, impressive.”
The drive that is pushing them to greatness comes down to one person, their (American) owner, Mark O’Connell. He bought the domaine in 2011 and has poured money and time into elevating it from a historic (yet perhaps underperforming) producer, with excellent holdings, to one of the elite domaines in the Côte de Beaune. The winery now owns land in an array of the top vineyard sites in Volnay, Pommard and Corton and makes truly excellent renditions of each—with moderate whole cluster use, small amounts of new oak and brilliantly balanced ripeness.
This is a domaine that’s only been around in its current incarnation since 2011, and yet has already been a featured winery at La Paulee and has received strong reviews from both Burghound and John Gilman. Clos de la Chapelle monopole was always considered to be one of the premier terroirs (it’s right next door to the Clos de la Bousse d’Or and there are records of Louis Pasteur buying 50 bottles of the 1858), but it’s mainly since the changeover that the wines have lived up to the promise of the land.
We believe in these wines and want to get them onto as many of our customer’s tables as possible. To that end, we’ve reduced prices on a handful of their best wines and are excited to feature them once again today.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Corton Rognet Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2014 750ML ($149.95) Was $99 Now $89, 20 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “The Rognet in 2014 from Clos de la Chapelle was raised in onethird new wood and included fifty percent whole clusters this year. These vines lie just above those of JeanNicolas Méo on the slope. The wine really shows the elegant side of the vintage, wafting from the glass in a beautiful aromatic constellation of cherries, red currants, a superb base of minerality, a bit of gamebird, lovely Corton spice tones and a bit of new wood. On the palate the wine is pure, fullbodied and nascently complex, with fine transparency, lovely focus and grip and a very long, ripely tannic and tangy finish. There is a touch of stems here today, but these will become cinnamonlike down the road and just add to the spicy appeal of this lovely Corton. 20252075+.”
Burghound 93 points “Sweet Spot. A touch of oak sets off the mildly reduced nose though a note of menthol is evident in the background. There is excellent volume and concentration to the broad-shouldered and muscular flavors that brim with mouth coating dry extract before concluding in an overtly robust and slightly austere finish of outstanding depth and length. This is a classic Rognet that is presently quite compact and it is immediately evident that this is going to need every bit of a decade to unwind the firm tannic spine and 15 years would not surprise me. In a word, impressive.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Les Chanlins, Pommard Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($119.95) Was $89 Now $79, 36 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “Happily, there was no frost here in 2016, and as these vines close in on their ninetieth birthday (which will take place in the vintage of 2018), they are producing one of the most beautiful examples of Pommard in the village. The nose here wafts from the glass in a stunning blend of red plums, cherries, raw cocoa, gamebird, woodsmoke, a nice touch of mustard seed, a beautiful base of soil and just a touch of cedar. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, transparent and sappy at the core, with great focus and balance, a very elegant structural chassis and a long, vibrant and nascently complex finish. The inherent elegance of the 2016 vintage is very much on display here! 2028-2060+.”
Burghound 92 points “(from a .25 ha parcel; 50% whole clusters). A gentle touch of wood sets off highly attractive aromas of lavender, violet, cassis and plum. The rich, intense and relatively large-scaled flavors are distinctly earthy though there is plenty of the hallmark minerality on the extract-rich and powerful finish. This succulent yet quite serious effort is impressively scaled and clearly built to age. Patience strongly advised”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Les Chanlins, Pommard Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) Was $89 Now $79, 24 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “The domaine’s vines here in les Chanlins are closing in on ninety years of age and they have produced a very elegant and soil-driven example of Pommard this year- albeit with all of the depth and structural integrity one expects from the very best wines from this commune. The bouquet is precise, red fruity and youthful, offering up scents of cherries, sweet quince, beautifully complex soil tones, raw cocoa, a bit of bonfire, pigeon, a touch of mustard seed and a very discreet foundation of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, transparent and beautifully generous at the core, with ripe, seamless tannins, excellent focus and grip, bright acids and a long, complex and very promising finish. All this beautiful wine needs is some time in the cellar to properly blossom. 2030-2085”
Burghound 91 points “Abundant oak frames the ripe and fresh aromas of red currant, rose petal and plum that are abundantly infused with spice and floral whiffs. I very much like the mouth feel of the velvet-textured medium weight flavors that exhibit fine length on the robust, powerful and impeccably well-balanced finale. This is quite serious and firmly structured so patience advised.”
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Grands Épenots, Pommard Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) Was $99 Now $89, 23 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2017 Grands Épenots bottling from Clos de la Chapelle is a bit more youthfully plush on the attack than the excellent Chanlins this year, but this too is a superb Pommard that is going to be make very old bones! The bouquet is more black fruity than the Chanlins, wafting from the glass in a very promising constellation of black plums, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, bitter chocolate, gamebird, a touch of currant leaf, a great base of dark soil tones, gentle spice tones, a hint of violet and a judicious framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is fullbodied, focused and shows off both excellent soil signature and mid-palate depth of fruit, with, ripe, fine-grained tannins, excellent balance and a long, nascently complex and beautifully focused finish. Great juice. 2030-2090.”
Burghound 93 points “Here the wood influence is discreet though it must be said that it’s far from a background element on the red and blue pinot fruit-scented nose that is trimmed in copious earth and spice characters. The delicious, supple and caressing yet powerful medium-bodied plus flavors coat the palate with good amounts of dry extract on the moderately austere and built-to-age finish. This offers excellent aging potential and is a wine that will need extended patience.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA
Now even lower!
The average price nationally is $103
Now even lower!
The average price nationally is $103
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle ‘Clos de la Chapelle’, Volnay Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($149.95) Was $99 Now $89, 19 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “The Clos de la Chapelle monopole has quickly become one of Volnay’s most elegant bottlings and the 2017 vintage is one of my absolute favorite vintages so far from Mark’s flagship terroir. The nose here is beautifully complex and transparent right out of the blocks, offering a very refined blend of plums, red and black cherries, raw cocoa, gamebird, a touch of fresh nutmeg, beautifully complex and understated fresh herb tones, a gorgeous base of chalky minerality, gentle smokiness and a discreet framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, nascently complex and absolutely defined by its soil element, with a lovely core of fruit, ripe, seamless tannins, good acids and outstanding length and grip on the youthful and very, very promising finish. I have adored this bottling since the very first vintage, but it seems to me that the 2017 has taken the level of complexity and transparency here up another level, though the wine is qualitatively still about the same as it has been since its debut vintage of 2010. It is just finer, more transparent and ultimately just a hair more pleasing to an old Burgundy hand like me this year! This will be approachable in another six or seven years, due to its exquisite balance, but I would try to not touch a bottle for at least a decade, as this wine is built a little bit along the lines of one of Frédéric Lafarge’s top Volnays and it is going to be so much better to drink at age twenty or thirty than it will be at age seven or eight! 2030-2085+”
Burghound 92 points “Here the wood treatment is no longer subtle as the toast and menthol characters stop just short of dominating the otherwise fresh and pretty rose petal and lavender-suffused aromas of red cherry and raspberry. The lilting and ultra-refined flavors possess a lovely sense of underlying tension before concluding in a lacy, balanced and sneaky long finish where the tannins are firm but beautifully well-integrated. Note that my rating assumes that the wood will eventually integrate as it’s not a background element at present.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA
Now even lower!
The average price nationally is $116
Now even lower!
The average price nationally is $116
Also in Stock from Clos de la Chapelle:
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Carelle Sous La Chapelle, Volnay Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 4 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The domaine’s vines in En Carelle are planted northsouth, which served to shelter the bunches a bit during the hail at the end of June and there was really quite moderate damage done here in 2014. The wine was raised in twenty percent new oak and these fiftyfive to sixty yearold vines have produced and excellent wine in this vintage4. The bouquet offers up scents of cherries, red plums, raw cocoa, gamebird, cedar and a lovely topnote of spices. On the palate the wine is fullish, pure and intensely flavored, with a velvety attack, a good core and a long, suavelytannic finish. Just a lovely wine. 20212060.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 10 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The new addition of Taillepieds in the Clos de la Chapelle cellars hails from a parcel of forty to fifty year-old vines that lie between the rows of Domaines de Montille and Marquis d’Angerville, so very well-placed indeed. With the hail damage, there were only three casks of this wine this year, with one barrel being new oak. The wine is excellent and sappy on both the nose and palate, offering up a deep and complex nose of red and black cherries, gamebird, a complex base of soil, woodsmoke, fresh herbs and a deft framing of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, elegant and nicely reserved out of the blocks, with a fien core of fruit, ripe tannins and a long, nascently complex and very classy finish. This was one of the 2013s where the malo was late to finish and the wine had only been bottled a month prior to my visit. A superb new source for top flight Taillepieds! 2022-2060.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “The beautiful 2017 Taillepieds is an absolutely textbook example of this great terroir, as one might expect in a great vintage and sixty-five-plus year-old vines tucked in between d’Angerville and de Montille in the heart and soul of the vineyard. The stunning nose soars from the glass in a nascently complex blend of sweet black cherries and plums, dark chocolate, fresh nutmeg and other delicate spice tones, dark soil tones, gamebird, woodsmoke and a bit of vanillin oak. With extended aeration there is a touch of Bonnes-Mareslike heather tones as well here, which is utterly gorgeous. On the palate the wine is deep, full, focused and properly structured, with a beautiful core of fruit, great soil signature, ripe, wellintegrated tannins and a long, tangy and perfectly balanced finish. Great juice. 2030-2090”
Burghound 93 points “Relatively deeply colored. There is plenty of wood influence to the aromas of menthol, spice, orange peel and tea scents. The slightly bigger and more powerful medium weight flavors exhibit even more mineralityon the tautly muscular and beautifully persistent finish that reflects the typical youthful austerity of a classic Taillepieds. Excellent”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price nationally is $100
The average price nationally is $100
Love the Côte de Beaune? We have over 100 different red wines from the Côte de Beaune in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including famous names like Montille and Chandon de Briailles, as well as more from Clos de la Chapelle.
Additional Price Drops on Burgundy
Including Dugat-Py & Château De La Tour
Dugat-Py makes some of the most coveted wines in Burgundy—powerful, rich versions of Pinot Noir that have made the estate one of the most admired and talked about in the world of wine. They’ve been a celebrated producer for decades, focusing on extremely careful farming, low yields and old vines in a way that most other domaines only talk about.
In 2011, Antonio Galloni remarked that “The Dugat-Py wines are breathtaking for their richness and depth. Despite their sheer concentration, the wines retain tons of vineyard and vintage character. These are some of the most viscerally thrilling, exciting wines I tasted on my recent trip through Burgundy.” High praise, certainly, but he was echoing a line of other writers praising these gems of the Côte de Nuits.
We have a handful of bottles left from two of Burgundy’s finest vintages in recent memory, 2009 & 2010, and are thrilled to offer them today at just reduced prices.
In Stock Now & Just Reduced:
Domaine Dugat-Py Bourgogne Cuvée Halinard, Burgundy 2010 750ML ($119.95) Was $89 Now $69, 2 bottles in stock now
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dugat-Py Champeaux Trés Vieilles Vignes, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($399.95) Was $299 Now $249, 1 bottle in stock now
Burghound 92-95 points “Outstanding. This is almost like a hypothetical combination of the Gevrey “1er” and the Petite Chapelle with a ripe and admirably pure nose of cassis, spiced plum, wet stone and pungent earth aromas. There is genuinely brilliant complexity to the exceptionally rich and equally stony broad-shouldered flavors that possess perhaps a bit more refinement than usual on the strikingly persistent finish. This is a stunner of a Champeaux in a vintage that produced any number of them.”
Antonio Galloni 92-94 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Les Champeaux is a more structured, tannic wine than the Petite Chappelle. The fruit tends towards the redder end of the spectrum, but ultimately the Champeaux is more about minerality and sheer length. This is a 2010 with firm, imposing tannins that is going to require quite a bit of cellaring.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Dugat-Py Gevrey-Chambertin Cuvée Coeur de Roy Trés Vieilles Vignes, Côte de Nuits 2010 750ML ($249.95) Was $169 Now $149, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Coeur du Roi is racy, deep and totally sensual. Clean veins of minerality support a core of expressive blue and black fruit. The 2010 is both deep and long. All the elements are beautifully balanced in this impeccable, mineral driven wine. Cassis, blueberries, sweet flower and mint inform the energetic, palate staining finish. Dugat used 75% whole clusters, which gives the wine an attractive aromatic lift throughout. These vines are between 50-100 years old.”
Burghound 90 points “Outstanding. A ripe and attractively perfumed nose features notes of black cherry, cassis and plum that are given added lift from the copious floral nuances. There is simply incredible concentration to the round and suave medium weight plus flavors that possess a velvety mouth feel on the powerful, precise and superbly focused and persistent finish. This explosive effort delivers knockout quality for its level.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next best listed price is $201.99
Now even lower!
The next best listed price is $201.99
Domaine Dugat-Py Petite Chapelle, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($399.95) Was $299 Now $249, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93-95 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Petite Chappelle emerges from the glass with freshly cut flowers, spices, mint and licorice. This is a totally harmonious, gracious wine from Bernard Dugat. The richness and weight of the fruit are very nicely balanced by the cooler, more vibrant qualities of the year. This is all class and elegance. Small red berries, flowers and licorice reappear on the finish. The Petite Chapelle was vinified with 50% whole clusters and aged in 100% new oak.”
Burghound 93 points “Outstanding. Here the nose is more elegant and airier with an almost Chambolle-like aromatic profile. The floral and liqueur of red raspberry fruit notes are refined and pure. There is beautiful precision and intensity to the medium-bodied flavors that brim with an almost pungent minerality on the complex, long and balanced finish. Though this is lacy and indeed delicate, the Gevrey roots express themselves via the sleek but taut muscularity that arrives right on the finish. Impressive juice with plenty of upside potential.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA
Now even lower!
The next best listed price is $339
Now even lower!
The next best listed price is $339
Domaine Dugat-Py Pommard La Levrière Trés Vieilles Vignes, Côte de Beaune 2009 750ML ($249.95) Was $199 Now $179, 5 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-92 points “A very ripe nose features nose of plum, cassis and warm earth aromas that lead to rich, full-bodied and very serious big-bodied flavors that possess excellent mid-palate concentration and a sappy, long and mouth coating finish. This is an exceptionally good villages.”
Also Just Reduced from Burgundy:
Jérôme Chézeaux Nuits-Saint-Georges, Côte de Nuits 2017 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $52.50, 35 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Chézeaux’s holdings of villages-level Nuits-Saint-Georges encompass 3.3 hectares spread throughout the appellation, with a significant proportion from the vineyards of Aux Saint Julien and Chaliots. In keeping with the spirit of the underlying terroir, this is wilder in character than the Vosne-Romanée, marked by notes of iron, and with a rambunctious bent to its tannins. Never deficient in fruit, it offers plenty of earth and sous-bois elements as well, all in a driving fashion.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Labet & Dechelette Château de La Tour Clos de Vougeot Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2014 750ML ($319.95) Was $249 Now $219, 7 bottles in stock now
Burghound 95 points ” Here the nose is compositionally similar to that of the regular cuvée but as is usually the case it is more reserved, more complex and the wood treatment is more subtle. There is notably better concentration to the impressively rich, powerful and muscular big-bodied flavors are shaped by dense but relatively fine tannins on the wonderfully long, balanced and again youthfully austere finale. This terrific effort is really most impressive though note well that it is going to need at least 10 years of bottle age and reward 15 to 18.”
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “this is the last vintage of this wine to come entirely from a block of vines planted in 1910, and the last to be labeled Vieilles Vignes de Plus de 100 Ans, as François Labet is beginning a replanting program; beginning with 2015, this wine will come from several of Labet’s holdings around the Clos and will simply be called Vieilles Vignes): Bright ruby-red. Lovely mineral and peony high notes lift dark fruits on the nose. Sappy, dense and penetrating, offering terrific concentration and lift to its flavors of dark berries, licorice and minerals. A superb vintage for this wine, less austere than some previous years. “We’re coming from an era of cooler soils to warmer soils,” noted Labet. “Global warming has been very good for Clos-Vougeot.” This thick but energetic wines finishes with suave but serious building tannins and superb length. Incidentally, there was no separate Hommage bottling in 2014.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love the Côte de Nuits? We have over 240 different red wines from the Côte de Nuits in stock now. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like DRC, Dujac, Fourrier and more, on our web store.
More Price Reductions? More Price Reductions!
From France, Germany and Beyond
France
Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône 2017 750ML ($74.95) Was $59 Now $52.50, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is an awesome wine from Laurent, and while it shows the sunny, ripe, sexy style of the vintage, it never loses the elegance and purity that’s the hallmark of Charvin. Lots of kirsch, graphite, dried flowers, garrigue, and ample minerality flow to a medium to full-bodied, silky, incredibly well-balanced red that has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it will cruise over the following two decades.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94-95 points “Brilliant magenta. An assertively perfumed bouquet of ripe red and blue fruits, Moroccan spices and incense carries a smoky overtone. Sweet, penetrating raspberry preserve, cherry, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors show impressive depth as well as vivacity. Displays superb clarity and floral thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and lingering spiciness. This wine shows just how much complexity can be achieved, even in a hot vintage, in the absence of any oak, old or new.”
Domaine Charvin Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône 2017 750ML ($74.95) Was $59 Now $52.50, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape is an awesome wine from Laurent, and while it shows the sunny, ripe, sexy style of the vintage, it never loses the elegance and purity that’s the hallmark of Charvin. Lots of kirsch, graphite, dried flowers, garrigue, and ample minerality flow to a medium to full-bodied, silky, incredibly well-balanced red that has a stacked mid-palate, building tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years of bottle age and it will cruise over the following two decades.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 94-95 points “Brilliant magenta. An assertively perfumed bouquet of ripe red and blue fruits, Moroccan spices and incense carries a smoky overtone. Sweet, penetrating raspberry preserve, cherry, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors show impressive depth as well as vivacity. Displays superb clarity and floral thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and lingering spiciness. This wine shows just how much complexity can be achieved, even in a hot vintage, in the absence of any oak, old or new.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Château d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 1.5L ($1,099.95) Was $879 Now $789, 3 magnums in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d’Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d’Yquem. I’ve been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.-LPB”
James Suckling 99-100 points “This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let’s wait and see.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points ” The 2015 d’Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Just as alluring from bottle as it was from barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic. Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine’s sense of balance and total harmony that impress most. In 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893. Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above all else, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don’t miss it!”
Germany
Weingut Dönnhoff Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Spätlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($69.95) Was $59 Now $49, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling.com 99 points “Most people who drink wine know what a ripe peach tastes like. However, this wine gives you a completely new appreciation of the meaning of the word “peach”. Beyond that, it possesses subtlety that is extremely rare anywhere in the world of food and wine. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Absolutely delicious now, but could be held for decades.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 95 points “Lily perfume on the nose of this Hermannshöhle reminds me both of the corresponding 2016 and of this year’s Kirschheck. That is accompanied by ripe, fresh and high-toned, distillate-like notes of pear and quince. The glossy palate is lusciously fruited, billowingly perfumed, as well as seductively glossy and creamy in texture. Piquancy of pear pip and hints of anise add counterpoint, while fresh grapefruit and white peach contribute welcomed bright juiciness en route to a ravishingly-sustained, impeccably-balanced finish. The covering term “mineral” will for now have to serve the strikingly transparent finish, which becomes more intriguing the longer the wine takes on air.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA
Now even lower!
The average price nationally is $67
Now even lower!
The average price nationally is $67
California
Cliff Lede Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2017 750ML ($89.95) Was $69 Now $59, 35 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “With small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, this is a classically structured, earthy and impressive wine. Char, herb and earth accents frame the elegant, crisp fruit and graceful tannins, with a lasting taste of crushed rock.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon (Stags Leap District) shows off the more extroverted side of the year to great effect. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, leather, lavender, spice, menthol and cloves are all amped up. The 2017 is a rich, explosive wine built on flamboyance and volume. This large-scaled, potent Cabernet Sauvignon has a ton to offer. Best of all, with a case production of over 5,500, it will be relatively easy to find, and is just as nearly as exceptional as the flagship bottlings in this range. In a word: superb.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cristom’s 2017 Single Vineyards
Cristom is one of the Hallowed Names in Oregon. They’ve been a top name since their inception in 1993 and make reference point wines from their beautiful estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills. Much of the credit for their success goes to their vineyards—located just below Bethel Heights and Temperance Hill, truly Cristom is one of the Grand Cru sites of Oregon. The rest of the credit goes to Steve Doerner, their winemaker since the beginning, who made a name for Calera in the 1980s before moving to Oregon and becoming a local legend.
These are wines that have powerful personalities allied to a Burgundian sense of proportion and savor. Doerner loves to use a lot of whole clusters in fermentations and so the wines always have a grip and earthiness that grounds their deep fruit and rich textures. 2017 was a bit of a return to older-school Oregon, as vintages go, warmer than historical averages but much cooler than the heat years of 2014-2016. We’ve been thrilled with many of the wines we’ve tasted from the year and Cristom is no exception—these are some stunning wines, beautiful and nuanced already.
In Stock Now:
Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Bright red. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays ripe red/blue fruit, baking spice, incense qualities and a strong, mineral overtone. Offers sweet, penetrating raspberry, blueberry, cherry pit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that show serious depth as well as vivacity. Displays impressive clarity and spicy thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and suave, clinging floral and mineral notes.”
Wine & Spirits 95 points “In an otherwise warm year, this pinot, from the highest elevations of Cristom’s property, reflects a windblown coolness, dramatizing a tension between savory whole-cluster scents and luminous lean fruit. It’s aromatically seductive, with its scents of clove, thyme, lavender and leaves leading into dark cherry flavors. What’s most impressive is the texture, firm but lively, with an acid-tannin matrix that drives the wine with firm, silken intensity.
James Suckling 94 points “This has a very bright array of rich red cherries, together with a herbal accent and a thread of rose-like perfume, as well as autumnal leaves and sweet, woody spices. The palate has very assertive red cherries with elegant tannins that are paper-fine, but have combined length and strength. Great detail here. Drink or hold.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard was made with 48% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 67% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and opens with cinnamon stick, dried leaves and dusty earth, segueing slowly to black cherries, peppered meats, Earl Grey tea leaves, charcuterie, dried herbs and a spicy vein. The medium-bodied palate is slow to blossom, softly chalky and super fresh with a long, nuanced finish. This will benefit from another year or two in bottle. 876 cases produced.”
These are wines that have powerful personalities allied to a Burgundian sense of proportion and savor. Doerner loves to use a lot of whole clusters in fermentations and so the wines always have a grip and earthiness that grounds their deep fruit and rich textures. 2017 was a bit of a return to older-school Oregon, as vintages go, warmer than historical averages but much cooler than the heat years of 2014-2016. We’ve been thrilled with many of the wines we’ve tasted from the year and Cristom is no exception—these are some stunning wines, beautiful and nuanced already.
In Stock Now:
Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Bright red. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays ripe red/blue fruit, baking spice, incense qualities and a strong, mineral overtone. Offers sweet, penetrating raspberry, blueberry, cherry pit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that show serious depth as well as vivacity. Displays impressive clarity and spicy thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and suave, clinging floral and mineral notes.”
Wine & Spirits 95 points “In an otherwise warm year, this pinot, from the highest elevations of Cristom’s property, reflects a windblown coolness, dramatizing a tension between savory whole-cluster scents and luminous lean fruit. It’s aromatically seductive, with its scents of clove, thyme, lavender and leaves leading into dark cherry flavors. What’s most impressive is the texture, firm but lively, with an acid-tannin matrix that drives the wine with firm, silken intensity.
James Suckling 94 points “This has a very bright array of rich red cherries, together with a herbal accent and a thread of rose-like perfume, as well as autumnal leaves and sweet, woody spices. The palate has very assertive red cherries with elegant tannins that are paper-fine, but have combined length and strength. Great detail here. Drink or hold.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard was made with 48% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 67% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and opens with cinnamon stick, dried leaves and dusty earth, segueing slowly to black cherries, peppered meats, Earl Grey tea leaves, charcuterie, dried herbs and a spicy vein. The medium-bodied palate is slow to blossom, softly chalky and super fresh with a long, nuanced finish. This will benefit from another year or two in bottle. 876 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($419.95) $279 special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
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!
Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($479.95) $339 special (that’s only $56.50/bottle!)
Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 375ML ($39.95) $33 special, 2 half bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Translucent red. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, exotic spices and candied flowers, with smoky mineral and incense notes that acquire strength as this youthful wine gains its footing. Stains the palate with vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, star anise and rose pastille flavors that show a compelling blend of depth and litheness. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on a strikingly long, finely etched finish that features baking spice, floral and subtle earth notes.”
James Suckling 95 points “An earthy thread here with more savory, herbal and gently spicy notes, as well as graphite. Latent red cherries, too. The palate has a very sleek and succulent feel with evenly cast, sturdy tannins that harness great length and depth. Powerful yet measured and all about the earth. Try from 2023.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard was made with 51% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Medium ruby, it has a very pretty nose: nuances of crushed stone, Campari, earth and blood orange mingle over a core of red and black cherries, rhubarb and cranberry. The medium-bodied palate has lovely, nuanced, amaro-laced flavor layers with a softly chalky frame and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 384 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Also in Stock from Cristom:
Cristom ‘Estate’ Syrah, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “Inky ruby-red. Mineral- and smoke-accented blackberry, cherry and olive scents pick up floral and incense accents with air. Sappy, energetic black and blue fruit and violet pastille flavors open up steadily and reveal a potent, spicy topnote. Concentrated yet graceful in style, showing a smoky mineral quality that adds lift to an impressively long, floral- and spice-tinged finish.”
Winery Note “Cristom began experimenting with Syrah in 2002, by grafting over plantings of Chardonnay on the lower slopes of our estate. We carefully selected which vines to graft over, choosing a low-lying block on our hillside where heat accumulation is at its highest on the estate, giving our Syrah the best opportunity to ripen in a moderate maritime climate. We produce an extremely limited quantities of this wine, resulting in a bit of a cult following for it over the years. The Cristom Estate Syrah wines are defined by spice, balance, perfume, texture and nuance, gaining complexity in the bottle for a decade or more.”
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 local legends like Beaux Frères, Cameron, The Eyrie Vineyard and more, on our web store.
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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
A Popular Subscriber Special Encore
Durand’s Distinguished Northern Rhônes
The Durand brothers are making it look easy. It’s hard to find Northern Rhône wines that combine soul and polish—it seems as if most of the new wines we taste are either hyper glossy or very rustic. To hit that sweet spot, where your wines speak very loudly of place but are elegant, drinkable and age-worthy—that’s special indeed.
“Consistently brilliant wines emerge from Domaine Durand, which is run with incredible talent and passion by Eric and Joël Durand. Located in the tiny village of Châteaubourg, they pull from roughly 22 hectares of vines, 8.5 hectares in Saint Joseph, 9.5 hectares in Cornas and tiny amounts in Saint-Péray and Vin de Pays. The brothers took over the estate in 1991, and while the winemaking is relatively modern, these are classic, pure, beautifully made wines that speak clearly to their region and terroir.“ – Jeb Dunnuck
In Stock Now:
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cornas Prémices comes from a mix of granite terroirs and was mostly destemmed (75%) and aged in 20% new barrels. It offers an incredibly rich, opulent style in its plum, blackberry liqueur, lavender and peppery herb aromas and flavors. Thick, unctuous, and incredibly broad and expansive on the palate, with sweet tannin, it’s the largest production cuvée from this estate and is going to be an incredible value! Don’t miss it.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant purple. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of cherry pit, cassis and olive, along with a subtle floral quality that expands as the wine stretches out. Juicy, appealingly sweet black and blue fruit flavors show very good clarity, and a suggestion of cracked pepper adds spicy bite. Conveys a suave blend of power and delicacy and finishes with building sweetness and velvety, even tannins.”
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Warm fig, blackberry and black currant fruit gives this a decidedly dark profile, while licorice root, dark olive and bay leaf notes score the finish. A tarry edge adds grip and length. Shows range and depth, and begs for cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Cornas Prémices, from relatively young vines, has turned out well. Menthol, leather and plum combine on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple and charming. Already easy to drink, it offers decent concentration and a long finish lined with soft, dusty tannins.”-JC
“Consistently brilliant wines emerge from Domaine Durand, which is run with incredible talent and passion by Eric and Joël Durand. Located in the tiny village of Châteaubourg, they pull from roughly 22 hectares of vines, 8.5 hectares in Saint Joseph, 9.5 hectares in Cornas and tiny amounts in Saint-Péray and Vin de Pays. The brothers took over the estate in 1991, and while the winemaking is relatively modern, these are classic, pure, beautifully made wines that speak clearly to their region and terroir.“ – Jeb Dunnuck
In Stock Now:
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2015 Cornas Prémices comes from a mix of granite terroirs and was mostly destemmed (75%) and aged in 20% new barrels. It offers an incredibly rich, opulent style in its plum, blackberry liqueur, lavender and peppery herb aromas and flavors. Thick, unctuous, and incredibly broad and expansive on the palate, with sweet tannin, it’s the largest production cuvée from this estate and is going to be an incredible value! Don’t miss it.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Brilliant purple. Mineral- and spice-accented aromas of cherry pit, cassis and olive, along with a subtle floral quality that expands as the wine stretches out. Juicy, appealingly sweet black and blue fruit flavors show very good clarity, and a suggestion of cracked pepper adds spicy bite. Conveys a suave blend of power and delicacy and finishes with building sweetness and velvety, even tannins.”
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Warm fig, blackberry and black currant fruit gives this a decidedly dark profile, while licorice root, dark olive and bay leaf notes score the finish. A tarry edge adds grip and length. Shows range and depth, and begs for cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Cornas Prémices, from relatively young vines, has turned out well. Menthol, leather and plum combine on the nose, while the full-bodied palate is supple and charming. Already easy to drink, it offers decent concentration and a long finish lined with soft, dusty tannins.”-JC
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Lots of blueberries, jammy blackberries, violets, licorice, and floral notes emerge from the 2017 Cornas Prémices. This fleshy, sexy, full-bodied beauty is a quintessential, hedonistic Cornas that’s already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it has enough sweet tannins to keep for over a decade. This cuvée comes from slightly younger vines (15 to 30-year-old vines) and is aged in 20% new French oak.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers a ripe, slightly toasty profile, featuring plum and blackberry fruit, tinged with ganache and alder notes. Shows some heft, with the toast clinging to the finish. A light violet echo gives this some needed lift at the end. Best from 2020 through 2030. 875 cases made, 120 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Saint-Joseph Les Coteaux 2017 750ML ($39.95) $26.10 Subscriber Special, 13 bottles in stock now
Decanter 93 points “Sourced from 15- to 30-year-old vines on granite soils towards the south of the appellation, the fruit for this wine is all destemmed, spending 12 months maturing in barriques and demi-muids, 15% new. It has a lovely purity of expression, the fruit using the oak for support, not influence. It’s a medium-bodied, very fresh expression with no overextraction and an elegant finish. It has refined tannins and good persistence. An unforced, easy to drink with with good typicity.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Bright and juicy, with lots of blackberry and plum compote flavors, inlaid with licorice and singed apple wood notes. A lively briar accent through the finish offsets the toast. Best from 2021 through 2030. 2,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Bright purple. Spice-accented blue fruit and floral scents, along with hints of cured tobacco and olive. Broad and fleshy in the mouth, offering sappy boysenberry and bitter cherry flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. Youthful, gripping tannins add shape to the finish, which hangs on with strong, dark-fruit-driven tenacity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Saint-Joseph Lautaret 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 15 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fleshy and forward in feel, with a hint of ganache leading steeped plum and raspberry fruit along, accented by singed alder and licorice root notes. The solidly grippy finish pulls everything together. Needs a touch of cellaring. Best from 2022 through 2032. 340 cases made, 50 cases imported.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92+ points “The top Saint Joseph, the 2017 Saint Joseph Lautaret comes from older vines from the southern part of the appellation (near the village of Châteaubourg) and was brought up in 15% new French oak. It has a juicy, fresh, yet concentrated style to go with vivid dark berry fruits, crushed rock, graphite, and ground pepper notes. This terrific wine will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for over a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love Rhône reds? We have 160 in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including famous names like Domaine Clape and Jaboulet, as well as more from Eric et Joël Durand.
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