In Today’s Newsletter:
Back By Popular Demand
K Vintners Subscriber Special
The Fastest Growing Segment in Fine Wine
Italian Whites
Why Pour Your Money into the Côte-d’Or?
Try These Instead
Overlooked and Undervalued
And Insiders Hope They Stay That Way
Back By Popular Demand
K Vintners Subscriber Special
The K Vintners wines need little in the way of introductions. But if you are unfamiliar with the winery, know that K Vintners’ winemaker Charles Smith fashions himself as a bit of a rock star and he ought to—he used to manage them. Then, one day, on a motorcycle trip, he rode through Walla Walla and was struck by the majesty of the terrain and the vineyards. Within a few years, he had returned to open a winery.
At this point, Charles Smith is one of Washington’s defining winemakers. His wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacony quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else.
Back by popular demand, Subscriber Special pricing on select K Vintners wines.
In stock and priced to move:
K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2016 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard comes from Snipes Mountain and has a singular, pretty, fresh style with more obvious acidity as well as tannins, yet it still stays in the plush, sexy style of the estate. Blue and black fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spice notes all define the bouquet and it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure and seamless on the palate. It’s a beautiful wine that’s going to come together nicely for 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.”
James Suckling 95 points “From a sloping plot of deep river rock, this has a fresh array of red and blue berries with a fine, stony edge. The palate has a very sleek, composed feel with such length and composure. The purity of blackberry and blueberry flavors is entrancing. Holds so fresh. Drink this now or hold for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King leads with expressive red, black and blue fruits on the nose with a density that can be sensed just by nosing the glass. Black cherry, blackcurrant and boysenberry compote all vie for your attention with savory spices and resinous purple flowers. The full-bodied palate is dense with a pedal-to-metal winemaking approach with chewy tannins and supporting acidity. It continues to linger with spice tones as it changes over a 20-30 second period after the wine has left the palate. Just under 500 cases were produced-AM “
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Lively scents of redcurrant, raspberry and dried herbs, plus a whiff of tea leaf. Bright on entry, the pliant but firm in the middle palate, with its dense flavors of red berries and rocky minerality enlivened by penetrating acidity (the pH is actually 3.85). This savory, subtle midweight finishes surprisingly reticent but very long. I never would have guessed the alcohol but it should help this wine age well. Leighton noted that this vineyard was created when “the mountain rose up and pulled the river up the side of the hill”–hence the cobblestones at this altitude. (15% alcohol; from mineral-rich cobblestone soil”
At this point, Charles Smith is one of Washington’s defining winemakers. His wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacony quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else.
Back by popular demand, Subscriber Special pricing on select K Vintners wines.
In stock and priced to move:
K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2016 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard comes from Snipes Mountain and has a singular, pretty, fresh style with more obvious acidity as well as tannins, yet it still stays in the plush, sexy style of the estate. Blue and black fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spice notes all define the bouquet and it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure and seamless on the palate. It’s a beautiful wine that’s going to come together nicely for 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.”
James Suckling 95 points “From a sloping plot of deep river rock, this has a fresh array of red and blue berries with a fine, stony edge. The palate has a very sleek, composed feel with such length and composure. The purity of blackberry and blueberry flavors is entrancing. Holds so fresh. Drink this now or hold for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King leads with expressive red, black and blue fruits on the nose with a density that can be sensed just by nosing the glass. Black cherry, blackcurrant and boysenberry compote all vie for your attention with savory spices and resinous purple flowers. The full-bodied palate is dense with a pedal-to-metal winemaking approach with chewy tannins and supporting acidity. It continues to linger with spice tones as it changes over a 20-30 second period after the wine has left the palate. Just under 500 cases were produced-AM “
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Lively scents of redcurrant, raspberry and dried herbs, plus a whiff of tea leaf. Bright on entry, the pliant but firm in the middle palate, with its dense flavors of red berries and rocky minerality enlivened by penetrating acidity (the pH is actually 3.85). This savory, subtle midweight finishes surprisingly reticent but very long. I never would have guessed the alcohol but it should help this wine age well. Leighton noted that this vineyard was created when “the mountain rose up and pulled the river up the side of the hill”–hence the cobblestones at this altitude. (15% alcohol; from mineral-rich cobblestone soil”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
K Vintners ‘King Coal’ Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $89, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Always from the Stoneridge Vineyard, the 2016 Cabernet / Syrah King Coal is a ripe, sexy, yet savory effort that has awesome notes of red and black currants, spice box, graphite, and ground herbs. Deep ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied, beautifully layered, and with a blockbuster finish, it’s one of those powerful yet still ethereal wines that gives up tons of richness and depth yet has no sense of heaviness or weight.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the 2016 King Coal Stoneridge Vineyard starts with the blue fruited tones with stewed plum, boysenberry and Chambord on the nose with inky purple flowers. The palate is full-bodied, rich and generous, with a focused core of bold fruits that are dense and chewy. A high-octane wine, it ends with a long-lasting finish. Only 818 cases were produced in 2016.-AM”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2017 750ML ($41.95) Was $36, Now $33, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Coming from the Oldfield and Boushey Vineyards (basically the same vineyard), the 2017 Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard is slightly darker colored and, as with all the Rhones here, wasn’t destemmed and was brought up in mostly neutral puncheons. Blackberries, smoked earth, game, chocolate, and chalky minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it’s a powerful, full-bodied, concentrated effort that will evolve positively for 2-4 years and keep for a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
K Vintners Powerline Estate Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) Was $41.90, Now $38, 32 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “Bright, dark red. Slightly liqueur-like aromas of raspberry and exotic spices. Bright and penetrating, offering sharply delineated flavors of boysenberry, pomegranate and game. This high-pitched midweight delivers serious energy and a late note of pungent citrus peel adds grip to the finish. This wine and The Beautiful have similar pHs around 3.95, according to Leighton. (from the Phelps clone; fermented in large stainless steel seed bins)”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
K Vintners River Rock Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 21 bottles in stock now
Winery note “This wine smells really good. It is really good! Energy galore, a focused palate. Aroma of undergrowth, raspberry, plum, sandalwood, anise, marjoram and cured meat. All culminating in a lush, taunt delivery and an unending finish. Yes, really good! 100% Syrah / 100% whole cluster pressed / Native yeast / 40 days on skins / 40% new French oak puncheons / 20 mo. barrel-aged on lees.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
K Vintners The Deal Sundance Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($41.95) Was $36, Now $33, 13 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2016 Syrah The Deal comes from the sandy, loamy soils of the Wahluke Slope and has classic earthy notes of spices, forest floor, dried herbs, hot stones, and a crushed rock-like sensation of minerality. Full-bodied, concentrated, and opulent on the palate, it has a beautiful balance between richness and elegance, fine tannins, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93+ points “Bright, dark ruby-red. Scents of black cherry, tar, African violet and licorice on the dark, aromatic nose. Quite primary and concentrated but already plush, ripe and savory, with a piquant note of pink peppercorn providing definition and lift. With its palate-dusting length, this penetrating, peppery wine should offer serious aging potential. (from a gravelly site with volcanic sand; vinified entirely in concrete)”
James Suckling 94 points “This is from the Sundance Vineyard, which has volcanic, sandy soils at a higher elevation than the surrounding plots. The nose has aromas of crushed dried flowers and bright red berries that follow to the palate where a streak of sweetly spicy oak threads into the ripe, composed and elegant red-plum finish. Drink over the next decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
K Vintners The Boy Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $36, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Made from 100% Powerline Vineyard (since 2015), the 2017 Grenache The Boy Powerline Vineyard sports a lighter ruby hue as well as Rayas-like notes of decayed flowers, kirsch liqueur, licorice, and cured meats. Seamless, medium-bodied, and beautifully polished, with fine tannins, it’s a stunning, Burgundian example of this variety to enjoy over the coming 15-20 years. There are a little over 1,000 cases produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($69.95) Was $49, Now $41.90, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The 2017 Cabernet / Syrah The Creator Powerline Vineyard doesn’t match the 2016 yet is still a brilliant blend (75/25 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) sourced from a site on the southern side of the Walla Walla Valley. Loads of jammy blackberry and black cherry fruits as well as hints of chocolate and peppery herbs emerge from this purple/plum-hued 2017. Offering full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it’s another sexy, pleasure-bent effort from this team that can be drunk any time over the coming 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Charles Smith ‘Royal City’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($119.95) $119 special, 23 bottles in stock now
No reviews for this vintage yet. Last release (2015) scored 98JD/98WA.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love Washington Syrah? We have over 30 Washington Syrahs currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including local favorites like Betz, Cayuse, Reynvaan and more, on our web store!
The Fastest Growing Segment in Fine Wine
Italian Whites
(Who Knew?)
For years, Italian whites were a difficult sell. Now we can’t keep them on the shelves. Discover for yourself what all the fuss is about.
Ronchi di Pietro Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($19.95) $14 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Yellow-straw colour with beautiful greenish tinges. Its intense aroma recalls wild flowers, hay and almond. Fine, delicate, and full-bodied, with a remarkable scent of bitter almond.”
Ronchi di Pietro Friulano Colli Orientali del Friuli, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($19.95) $14 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Yellow-straw colour with beautiful greenish tinges. Its intense aroma recalls wild flowers, hay and almond. Fine, delicate, and full-bodied, with a remarkable scent of bitter almond.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Azienda Vitivinicola Tiberio Pecorino Colline Pescaresi IGT, Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata – Vinous 90 points “Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy. What the talented Cristiana Tiberio has achieved in the very hot 2017 vintage with Pecorino (a variety that does not like heat) is a testament to her talent. The 2017 Tiberio Pecorino is by no means the best Pecorino she has ever made (and frankly, it would have been very strange if it was otherwise, given the year’s weather), but it offers lovely balance with pure sage and kiwi notes that mingle with ripe orchard fruit nuances complicated by a saline edge. Both these wines made for a wonderful start to my meal, but they would have paired very well with all the other dishes I chose to eat this evening.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G. B. Burlotto Viridis Langhe Sauvignon, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“This estate was the second to plant Sauvignon Blanc in the Langhe after Angelo Gaja. The first vines set root in 1986 and a second parcel was planted ten years later. The folks at Comm. G.B. Burlotto were very happy with the results, and they remain one of the most important proponents of this white grape in a region dominated by red varieties. The wine is made in a very simple fashion and only sees contact with stainless steel.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (no reviews available)
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Bianco Etna, Sicily 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 91 points “In 2019, moderate warmth from July through September, followed by a cool October, provided near-perfect conditions for carricante, which comprises about 70 percent of this blend, the balance coming from catarratto, gracanico and minella. The wine is tautly structured, its assertive flavors of white peach, crisp pear and lemon riding on a zipline of acidity that leads to a clean, chiseled finish.”
Winery note “I first made this wine in 2005. I wanted to remove that more or less 5% of white grapes that the local vignerons used to mingle with their red ones, in order to make my Etna Rosso from red grapes alone. The white grapes were a mumbo-jumbo of local varieties: Carricante, Catarratto, Grecanico, Inzolia and Minnella. So that’s what my Etna Bianco was: a field blend of all the above, with Carricante dominating the blend with roughly 65%. And that’s what it still is. All from old vines. And, somehow, it works. A perfectly lovely wine. With the effortless uplift of a dancer, it allows me to let it go freely through life, malo included, without it ever losing its bright demeanor and lively step. Deviously drinkable, still it always clings, leaving one wondering how it delights and where do the goodies come from. In aging, the noblesse of the Etna and its remarkable terroir emerge. And the loveliness turns thoughtful and deepens, still graceful, never redundant. Fish, meat or fowl, all are fine, if very gently cooked. It loves seafood, particularly over pasta: after all, it is Sicilian.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2018 750ML ($33.95) $29 special, 24 bottles in stock now
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata – Vinous 93 points “Bright yellow. Apple jelly, lime, lemon curd and sweet herbs on the captivating nose. Then mellow and suave, featuring flavors similar to the aromas and a hint of gingery spiciness on the long, juicy finish. A lovely result from a very hot year, and one of the better Trebbiano d’Abruzzo wines from Emidio Pepe in recent memory.”
Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($119.95) $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The nose opens with fresh and sweet flavors consisting of white melon and white nectarine peach combined with elder and jasmine. On the entry, this wine opens with citrus fruits and fresh hints menthol (reminiscent of pepper mint). The sharp acidity gives freshness and incredible length to a crisp, lingering finish. This wine is produced from grapes grown in several estate-owned vineyards. The Rossj vineyard, planted in 1984, is named for Angelo Gaja’s younger daughter Rossana (Rossj). Bass is Piedmontese for the Italian basso, meaning low, a name derived from the vineyard’s position. Pheasants are featured on Rossj-Bass’ label to commemorate the beautiful birds that inhabit the forests adjacent to GAJA’s vineyards.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Why Pour Your Money into the Côte-d’Or?
(Try These Instead)
We’ve looked on with a mix of astonishment and concern as the cost of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the Côte-d’Or has skyrocketed in recent decades. However, real value still exists if you’re willing to venture into neighboring regions, or embrace the remarkable wines being made a little closer to home.
Chablis
William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ 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.”
Chablis
William Fevre Chablis, Burgundy 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ 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!
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Les Forets, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “This is a richer, more powerful version of Foret, sourced from an old vine-parcel of particular note. Like all of the other Premier and Grand Cru wines from Vocoret, this is fermented and aged in wood, though it sees a touch more new oak than the “regular” Foret bottling. A stunner, especially in 2017.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Le Domaine d’Henri Fourchaume Heritage Premiere Trie, Chablis Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “Our Cuvée Héritage is dedicated to the memory of Henri. Hand harvested and hand selected, this is a “première trie”, or selection, of the finest grapes from our oldest parcel of vines, planted in 1937. Vinified and aged in stainless steel tanks (70%) and 228-litre oak barrels (30%), this is an elegant, precise yet racy wine, that expresses the tension and refreshing minerality associated with the great Chablis terroirs. For Henri, this was the purest expression of the Chardonnay grape. A grand vin that will start to reveal its full potential between five and twenty years. The Cuvée Héritage encapsulates our savoir-faire. By selecting only the very best grapes, the production is limited to only a few thousand bottles per year an the volume will vary each year, depending on the quality of the vintage. Serve between 14-15° and decant for 15 minutes before serving. This is a bottle for special occasions. Appreciate on its own with fellow wine lovers, or enjoy with fish, lobster, guinea fowl or even an aged Comté.”
Mâconnais
Domaine Talmard Macon Chardonnay, Burgundy 2019 750ML ($17.95) $16 special, 36 bottles in stock now
No reviews available for the 2019. Review is for 2018.
“This is an attractive, ripe and creamy wine, with tropical fruits and balanced acidity. It is developing well and quickly and should be ready from 2020.” –Wine Enthusiast
Domaine Leflaive Macon-Verze Les Chenes, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 90 points “A new lieu-dit bottling from Leflaive that derives from two southeast-facing parcels, the 2017 Mâcon-Verzé Les Chênes offers up aromas of white peach, Meyer lemon and crisp orchard fruit, followed by a medium-bodied, satiny palate, with racy acids, good concentration and more texture and amplitude than the regular Mâcon-Verzé.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Beaujolais
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Saint Amour Les Champs-Grilles, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Saint-Amour Les Champs-Grillés is a serious wine, “not just for Valentine’s Day,” as Jean-Étienne Chermette observes. Revealing attractive notes of raspberries, rose petals and cherries, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and spicy, with a muscular chassis of fine, powdery tannins. As usual, it’s a cuvée that stands to gain from a couple of years in the cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Coudert Pere ‘Clos de la Roilette’ Fleurie Griffe du Marquis, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Lurid ruby. A suave, spice-accented bouquet evokes ripe red/blue fruits and incense, and a smoky mineral flourish adds urgency and lift. Chewy, focused and appealingly sweet, offering densely packed black raspberry, boysenberry and violet pastille flavors that open up slowly with aeration. Shows very good heft, but there’s distinct elegance here as well. Closes sappy, youthfully tannic and extremely long, leaving a sexy floral note behind.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Fleurie Griffe du Marquis reveals an attractive bouquet of violets, rose petals and berries, framed by a light patina from its time in barrels (ranging between two and eight years of age). On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, with a similar structural profile to the Clos de la Roilette Cuvée Tardive but displaying less chunky structure and a more aromatic personality. The oak influence here is very deftly handled, and the wine is a success.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Willamette Valley
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
VinopolNote: A follow up vintage of Marcus Goodfellow’s secret ‘restaurant-only’ Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. With restaurants only offering takeout for the foreseeable future, Marcus is letting us share his by-the-glass Pinot with you. It’s an insane value!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Lingua Franca ‘Avni’ Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The aroma is complex with layers of lemongrass, honeycomb, citrus, and spice. On the palate, the wine is silky, round and supple, with a long finish. The wine has an open texture and deeper flavor, reflecting the even growing conditions throughout the season. The finish is long and mouthwatering.”
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Glistening straw-yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of white peach, Anjou pear, melon and Meyer lemon carry a bright floral overtone. Juicy and densely packed, displaying a suave blend of richness and vivacity to the mineral-drenched citrus and orchard fruit and floral flavors. Picks up smoky lees, honey and iodine notes with air and shows outstanding clarity on a strikingly long, penetrating finish that echoes the mineral and citrus fruit notes.”
Winery Note “The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “
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
Overlooked and Undervalued
(And Insiders Hope They Stay That Way)
The wines of Germany, the Loire, and Sicily are every bit the equal to those of the most famous wine regions in the world. If these bottles hailed from Burgundy or Piedmont, their price tags would be orders of magnitude higher. Instead, they offer serious value, not something you’d expect from truly world-class wines.
Germany
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points ” Effusive aromas of apricots and lemon zest with hints of summer flowers. At once succulent, graceful and finely nuanced on the palate, then very long and filigree at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 93 points “The Burgergarten in the Haardt vineyard as used by the famed Mueller-Catoir, or hill garden, is a Premier Cru site that is composed of weathered yellow sandstone interspersed with layer of loess and clay giving the perfect conditions to make a lush, but crisply dry Riesling of refined elegance and with a concentrated underlying power, which in 2017 is incredible and joyously perfumed. ….The 2017 Burgergarten Trocken [has] exotic tropical fruit and floral aromas with plumeria, jasmine, dried pineapple, gingery/peppery notes and grilled citrus leading the way on the racy palate, this Riesling feels a bit like Trimbach’s Cuvee Frederic Emile, adding layers of wild peach, while cherry, tangy apricot and zesty lime notes along with loads of tannin like structure, zippy acidity, chalky stones and a Chablis like steely edge! Air brings more body out and clears the touch of reduction that easily blows and this Riesling becomes in fact more white Burgundy like in some ways, while also gaining hints of spearmint, chamomile and verbena, which clearly are Riesling influences and it is strikingly impressive for keeping its tension , clarity and severity, like a firm GG should…This area can produce monumental dry Riesling, as witnessed here with this Erste Lage Trocken from Mueller-Catoir….Terry Theise, Mueller-Catoir’s famous importer, says the estate produces wines of outstanding transparency and density, and remains emblematic of Riesling at its most sophisticated, and I totally agree, these are amazingly pure wines that are both wildly entertaining in expression and wines of remarkable class and finesse…. This Burgergarten grows on you with every sip and should get even more intriguing with 3 to 5 years more are on it, patience I think will be well rewarded, and I hope I get to revisit it a few more times.”
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “From yellow-colored sandstone soils, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “VDP. Erste Lage” is intense yet fine and pure on the slightly salty/stony, very elegant nose with its ripe and concentrated yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. The palate is pure and salty, very long and intertwines weathered terroir aromas with an airiness and lingering, very stimulating salinity. The wine is less textured than the Haardter but even more pure, deep, finessed and salty. Bone dry, with less than three grams of residual sugar, this is a concentrated yet still young Riesling that will shine in five years. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
Germany
Muller-Catoir Haardter Burgergarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points ” Effusive aromas of apricots and lemon zest with hints of summer flowers. At once succulent, graceful and finely nuanced on the palate, then very long and filigree at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Grapelive 93 points “The Burgergarten in the Haardt vineyard as used by the famed Mueller-Catoir, or hill garden, is a Premier Cru site that is composed of weathered yellow sandstone interspersed with layer of loess and clay giving the perfect conditions to make a lush, but crisply dry Riesling of refined elegance and with a concentrated underlying power, which in 2017 is incredible and joyously perfumed. ….The 2017 Burgergarten Trocken [has] exotic tropical fruit and floral aromas with plumeria, jasmine, dried pineapple, gingery/peppery notes and grilled citrus leading the way on the racy palate, this Riesling feels a bit like Trimbach’s Cuvee Frederic Emile, adding layers of wild peach, while cherry, tangy apricot and zesty lime notes along with loads of tannin like structure, zippy acidity, chalky stones and a Chablis like steely edge! Air brings more body out and clears the touch of reduction that easily blows and this Riesling becomes in fact more white Burgundy like in some ways, while also gaining hints of spearmint, chamomile and verbena, which clearly are Riesling influences and it is strikingly impressive for keeping its tension , clarity and severity, like a firm GG should…This area can produce monumental dry Riesling, as witnessed here with this Erste Lage Trocken from Mueller-Catoir….Terry Theise, Mueller-Catoir’s famous importer, says the estate produces wines of outstanding transparency and density, and remains emblematic of Riesling at its most sophisticated, and I totally agree, these are amazingly pure wines that are both wildly entertaining in expression and wines of remarkable class and finesse…. This Burgergarten grows on you with every sip and should get even more intriguing with 3 to 5 years more are on it, patience I think will be well rewarded, and I hope I get to revisit it a few more times.”
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “From yellow-colored sandstone soils, the 2017 Riesling Bürgergarten “VDP. Erste Lage” is intense yet fine and pure on the slightly salty/stony, very elegant nose with its ripe and concentrated yellow-fleshed fruit aromas. The palate is pure and salty, very long and intertwines weathered terroir aromas with an airiness and lingering, very stimulating salinity. The wine is less textured than the Haardter but even more pure, deep, finessed and salty. Bone dry, with less than three grams of residual sugar, this is a concentrated yet still young Riesling that will shine in five years. Tasted in Haardt, December 2019.”
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Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spatlese #10, Mosel 2016 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Spätlese (AP #10) is one of three Spätlesen that were selected in 2016. The wine has a very clear and smoky bouquet of perfectly ripe, healthy Riesling berries and yellow-fleshed stone fruits. Round, lush and piquant, this is a very elegant and stimulating Spätlese with lingering, mouthwatering salinity. The wine is complex but not all too intellectual. It has a ripe but coolish-elegant character with a long, well-structured finish.”
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Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2017 750ML ($359.95) $279 special
Stuart Pigott-jamessuckling.Com 96 points “So light and filigree with such a delicate white-peach note. Yet, behind the almost weightless exterior is enormous depth and an almost savage mineral freshness at the finish. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Ripe pear, quince and raspberry, honeysuckle and peony combine for a seductive nose and palate, the latter polished, glossy and billowing with inner-mouth perfume. But the characteristic brightness of Brücke really shows in the animation of a superbly-sustained, luscious yet, focused finish that delivers less sense of overt sweetness than was harbored by this year’s Krötenpfuhl or Leistenberg Kabinetts, let alone by the corresponding Kirschheck Spätlese.”
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Loire Valley
Domaine Andre Neveu Sancerre Le Manoir Vieilles Vignes, Loire 2019 750ML ($36.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine Andre Neveu Sancerre Le Manoir Vieilles Vignes, Loire 2019 750ML ($419.95) $312 special
Winery note “Produced from 50 year old vines planted on a limestone pebble soil, this wine gives intense aromas, a pleasing roundness, and length in the mouth. This is a wine that will keep well for several years. Drink as an aperitif or with Loire river fish, and white meats.”
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Bernard Baudry Chinon Le Clos Guillot, Loire 2016 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “This shows beautiful harmony between the rustic herbal and mineral elements and ripe dark berry fruit. Medium-bodied and velvety in texture, this glides smoothly across the palate, leaving a complex impression and inviting you back for another sip. Drink now through 2027. 240 cases imported.”
Jason Wilson-Vinous 92 points “Same aging and vinification as the 2017, but this is even fruiter, with more oak influence. More floral than savory, and purple in all ways: purple color, purple flowers, purple fruit. In the mouth, there’s black cherry and plum and big, wild acidity, almost white-wine-like acidity, and a cool, fresh finish. Should be interesting to see how this has developed in a year or two. Drink 2021 – 2046.”
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Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “From 30-year-old vines on calcareous loam soils, the 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec offers a clear, pure, fine and intensely aromatic bouquet with tropical fruit and chalky aromas. Round, lush and exotic on the palate, with a silky texture and salty piquancy on the finish, the 2016 needs up to a decade to integrate the 19 grams of residual sugar. The finish is lovey, concentrated, juicy and well structured, with a lingering and stimulating salinity. Tasted February 2018.”
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Sicily
Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Tascante ‘Ghiaia Nera’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2016 750ML ($24.95) $16.60 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Tasca d’Almerita Tenuta Tascante ‘Ghiaia Nera’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $179 special
Falstaff Magazine 91 points “[Translated] Bright medium-density ruby garnet. Opened with notes of fresh cherry and pomegranate, some flint. Shows pithy tannins and fine fruit.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “An elegant red, balanced and fresh, featuring sculpted tannins that frame flavors of crushed plum and cherry fruit, with lemon thyme and smoke-tinged mineral accents. Drink now through 2026. 4,986 cases made, 940 cases imported.”
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Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso Etna, Sicily 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 92 points “Best Buy. Produced from a mix of young and old vines on Etna’s north slope, this wine unfolds with flavors of wild strawberry and blood orange accented by notes of crunchy herbs. High-toned and transparent, it gains depth with air, developing a dark current of smoke and tar that offers a superb introduction to Etna Rosso.”
Winery note “Made from very fine Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio from low yielding vineyards (35 Hl. Per hectar), both young and old. The grapes are macerated until the end of fermentation. The wine then continues its life in wood until bottled roughly one year after harvest. Even young it is a distinguished wine. Fresh, fragrant, beautifully slender and with a fine grip, it has a natural polish, a stage presence, as it were. And, in aging, as its weave gathers into rich complexity, it is a wine for gentlemen. It is an aristocratically liberal wine: enjoy it with whatever food you wish, as long as its properly cooked.”
Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special
Ian D’agata – Vinous 93+ points “Good full medium red. Riveting high-pitched perfume of raspberry, blood orange and violet, lifted by hints of lemon and talc. Clean, focused, and well delineated, with strong minerality and fresh spices lifting the raspberry fruit and very floral flavors. Easygoing and very drinkable already, this expresses a very silky texture. Finishes vibrant and very long, with subtle perfume of strawberry and violet. A pretty wine.”
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