Vinopolpick 01-11-22 Newsletter

Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an incredible expression of Nebbiolo anywhere else.

Produttori in stock now:

Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $239 special, that’s only $39.83/bottle!) 
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’ Piedmont 2017 750ML ($599.95) $459 special, (that’s only $38.25/bottle!)
Decanter 96 points “Aromatic notes of dried sage and rosemary combined with juicy, ripe red cherries, tar and red roses. Silky, ripe, approachable, with a great fine-grained tannic structure. Nominated by Justin Knock MW. Wines of the Year 2021: the top Classic wines. Drinking Window 2022 – 2040.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco shows just how appealing this vintage can be. In 2017, the warm, dry growing season gave the Barbaresco an extra kick of richness that fills out its frame and adds so much immediacy. Sweet red berry fruit, cinnamon, rose petal and mint are open in the glass, but it is the wine’s seductive radiance that wins the day. Pora, Ovello, Montestefano, Muncagota and Rio Sordo are the main vineyards used for the straight Barbaresco. The 2017 is such an inviting and expressive wine. Don’t miss it!”
Grapelive 93 points “The brilliant ruby and orange tinted 2017 Barbaresco DOCG from the Produttori del Barbaresco is already drinking fabulously with classic Nebbiolo character. Though it has a ripe sensation on the full bodied palate from the warm vintage, it still has a chalky mineral note and some rustic tannin to balance things out. This is a remarkably poised and alluring effort. The stylish and high quality co-op continues to impress. While I loved the 2013s and especially the 2016s here, this 2017 is just about equal. I was captivated with my first impressions here and the lovely aromatics with wilted roses, anise and earthy tones adding to the brandied cherries and damson plum fruits. The palate is complex, playing the heightened fruit against a nice savory edginess. It adds a deeper sense of currant and a nice cedary spice to the mix as it opens up. Food brings greater depth and pleasure to the experience and brings out the softer and [prettier] side of this Nebbiolo, while hints of iron/meat and truffle come through in the background… Coming from various parcels and exposures, set on limestone and clay soils, rich in calcium with sandy veins, the 2017 was stainless steel vat fermented and then aged 24 months in traditional large oak casks… It is quite amazing that this wine, with 22,000 cases made, can be this good, this unique and this consistent. It is a tribute to each and every one of the collection of individual farmers that go about their work with such pride and passion.”

We have over 28 different bottlings from Produttori, available on our web store and in-store! 

You know the Maresh family for their stunning examples of old-vine Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In the spirit of experimentation Jim decided to launch a separate label, named Tan Fruit, in order to craft Oregon Chardonnay completely untethered. After blowing us away during a visit to the shop and sweeping Wine Advocate’s 2021 Oregon Chardonnay awards, there’s something special going on! Jim noted that his goal was “to explore outside of the Dundee Hills.” In future vintages, he will continue to explore, sourcing from a mixture of vineyards, new sources, and even new regions within Oregon.

He began Tan Fruit to “experiment and play around with techniques” for crafting Chardonnay, but the essentials for making Oregon Chard great in the winery will always be in his mind to pick early, age in a combination of steel and oak, and to ferment bone dry. He said that he loves Chardonnay. It’s his “favorite to drink and favorite to make.”

Sourcing from vineyards throughout the Willamette Valley, these represent dry-farmed artistry at its finest. These Chardonnays exhibit a complete and unique showing of Oregon’s terror as well as the varietals reputation for being a “winemaker’s grape”. Regardless of vineyard location, vine age and élevage these are both delightfully accessible now and yet demand further bottle age.

We also can’t get enough of Jim’s winemaking in the estate lineup, with the critics agreeing with us! Consistently one of the top scoring Oregon Chardonnay’s on the market, you’d be hard pressed to find a dry-farmed chardonnay of this caliber and price point anywhere.  

Newly Arrived Direct from the Winery:

Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special 
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2019 Dundee Hills Chardonnay was matured for 12 months in barrel and six months in stainless steel. It has a pure perfume of white orchard fruits laced with beeswax, almonds and flint. The palate is satiny and energetic from its linear acidity and expansive, gently honeyed layers, and it finishes long and youthfully shimmery. This is an excellent candidate for some extended time in the cellar.”

Tan Fruit Dux Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 98 points “The aromas of the 2019 Chardonnay Dux Vineyard are alluring and savory, with ripe peach layers, beeswax, roasted almonds and pastry. The palate has a singular satiny texture and impressive concentration, enlivened by tangy acidity and streaks of graphite and finishing with tremendous length and energy. Wow!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Tan Fruit Eyrie Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 98+ points “Only one Damy barrel of the incredible 2019 Chardonnay Eyrie Vineyard was made, from Draper selection vines planted in 1968. It was matured for 20 months, about 14 in barrel and six in stainless steel. The Eyrie is characterized by singular tones of graphite and mushroom powder. “There’s only one barrel in the cellar that behaves like that,” says Maresh, “and it’s the Eyrie. It’s just something in those vines. I oxidize early and make wine that heavily combats reduction. But even with my process, there is something that still comes through on the Eyrie.” Its aromas continually open and evolve as it spends time in the glass, the palate mirroring with waves of savory, flint-streaked flavor. It finishes with tremendous length. This exceptional, age-worthy Chardonnay should rest in the cellar at least another 3-5 years.”
VinpolNote: Featuring savory gunsmoke reduction on opening, there’s a nearly endless cascade of sensory notes ranging from Fuji apple, white peach, and Madagascar vanilla. Structure is beautifully layered and exhibits both minerality and a textual softness that’s only achieved with French oak. 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from Dijon clones planted in 1991, and it was matured in about 35% new oak. This vintage is pure and tensile, with scents of tarragon and fragrant herbs, beeswax and almonds, with plush white peach fruit. The palate combines intense ripe fruit with a spine of tangy, tense acidity, and it finishes with tremendous length. Allow it another 3-5 years in bottle.”

Tan Fruit Oak Grove Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2019 Chardonnay Oak Grove Vineyard has a unique personality that combines powerful exotic fruit with tangy energy and a shimmery saline quality, derived from a year’s maturation in barrel and then stainless steel. Guava, peaches, lilac and beeswax aromas burst from the glass, and the textural palate, which continues to change and evolve as it spends time in the glass, demands your attention with its rich but precise fruit. This unabashedly hedonistic Chardonnay has the intensity and energy to age well, but that youthful, gregarious fruit is hard to resist!”

Tan Fruit Tank Fruit (Oak Grove Vineyard) Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 99 points “The Chardonnay Tank Fruit comes from the same Oak Grove fruit as that vineyard designate, but was aged a bit longer, with 12 months in oak and another 12 months in stainless steel. It is pure, ultra perfumed, intense and layered, with alluring white peaches and lilac interwoven with cashews and honeycomb on the nose. The palate derives incredible energy from the push-pull of those deeper tones with salty, energetic acidity, and it finishes with extraordinary length.”

Tan Fruit Vojtilla Vineyard Chardonnay, Chehalem Mountains 2019 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “Vojtilla is a small, four-acre vineyard in the Chehalem Mountains that sits at around 500 to 600 feet in elevation and, says Jim Maresh, is influenced by the nearby Willamette River. Harvested in October this vintage, the 2019 Chardonnay Vojtilla Vineyard comes from Dijon clone vines planted in 1991, and it was matured in about 25% new Damy barrels. It has a stunning perfume of quince paste and mushrooms, pastry and flowers, and the palate is satiny, plush and pure, with a seamless tangy streak and long, powerful finish.”

 

You’ve heard of Banshee and their cult following out of Sonoma County, but did you know they also had a project in the Willamette Valley? Founded in 2015, Averaen has established itself as one of the best values on the market. As a negociant or merchant, they source Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the entire valley as opposed to a singular estate, which allows tremendous creative freedom not unlike painting with different sets of colors. We’re pleased to welcome the exceptional wines of Averaen to Vinopolis—at more than exceptional pricing. We were able to secure an allotment of their reserve cuvee, sourced from two vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills

In stock now: 

Averaen Flood Line Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($39.95) $24 special, 36+bottles in stock now
Case-12 Averaen Flood Line Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($479.95) $249 special, (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Wine & Spirits 93 points “This is the new Oregon venture from the California team at Banshee wines. Tasted over three days, this wine changed dramatically. Everything was on display when first poured, with dark oak and sanguine notes, plum and minerals. But it takes time for those elements to harmonize, the wine coming into balance and focus, with a tender mineral give to the tannins that feels flexible and expressive. —P.J.C.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Averaen Chardonnay Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) $18 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Paul Gregutt-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “It would be hard to find a better Chardonnay at this price. A blend of grapes from two AVAs, it’s been given reserve-level care, including aging in 10% new French oak. Toasty, tasty and well balanced, it offers ripe apple fruit accented with nut butter and caramel.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Light, glistening gold. Spice- and smoke-accented pear, melon and tangerine on the nose, along with a building hint of vanilla. Silky, palate-coating citrus and orchard fruit and fennel flavors smoothly blend depth and energy. Shows strong tenacity on the incisive finish, which features subtle vanilla and bitter citrus pith qualities.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We carry Chardonnay from around the world including Kumeu in Aotearoa, Goodfellow in Oregon and Fevre in Chablis! 

Who’s to complain about more Drouhin wine from Oregon? Few winemakers possess the talent, experience, and intuition of Véronique Drouhin, be it State-side or in France. One of the first to plant in the Willamette Valley, their estate in Dundee is among the most highly regarded in the entire state. 

Domaine Drouhin Oregon wines arriving Wednesday, January 11th, 2022:
  
Domaine Drouhin Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is defined, expressive and layered, with pure lavender, peppercorn and wild berry aromas and a velvety texture with bursts of freshness that highlight floral perfume and an array of spicy accents on the extended finish.”
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Sleek and elegantly layered, with bright cherry and raspberry flavors accented by black tea and stony mineral notes that glide toward the long, vibrant finish.”

Roserock Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills  2019 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This version is defined by a beam of vibrant acidity and tannins that’s framed by refined blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by stony minerality and dusky spiced tea. Drink now through 2031. 6,745 cases made. — TF”

Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($64.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deep in structure yet loaded with finesse, offering raspberry, pomegranate and rose petal accents that build tension toward fine-grained tannins. Captures the essence of Eola-Amity. Drink now through 2030. 1,737 cases made. — TF”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Zéphirine has layered aromas, with a pretty juxtaposition of tobacco leaves and dried flowers accenting a core of sweet rhubarb, raspberry and blueberry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is silky and elegant, offering loads of earth and spice-laced fruits and a long, uplifted and juicy finish.”
James Suckling 96 points “Very intense violets and fresh wild cherries, blueberries and a spicy, bracken-like note with a stony edge, too. The palate shows the clarity of tannin that is the hallmark of great pinot noir – super fresh, well-defined and fine yet powerful – carrying cherry flavors long and fresh. Drink or hold.”

Love Oregon Pinot? We carry over 89 different bottlings with additional Pinot Noir from Burgundy 

Have you ever wanted to try an Amarone wine but found the cost prohibitive? Farina has something for you!
The pride of the Veneto for hundreds of years, Amarone’s are among the most labor intensive and expensive wines to produce. This is attributable to a number of factors including the finicky nature of the grapes used for the blend, the months of drying prior to fermentation and extensive aging required prior to release.   

Sourced from a collection of vines that range from 25-40 years old this is a quintessential Amarone experience at a fraction of the typical cost. Made from the traditional blend of Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella; There are the classic flavors of Morello Cherry, Prunes and dark chocolate underscored by violets, pipe tobacco and roses with a finish of butterscotch. The body of the wine slightly edges out the acid and has an exceptionally long finish that goes on for minutes.      

In stock and available now: 

Farina Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG Veneto 2017 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “A nose of redcurrants, plums, spices, nuts and mocha. It’s medium-to full-bodied with chewy tannins. Balanced and focused with a nice structure and a creamy texture on the palate. Flavorful finish with delicious length. Supple. Drink or hold.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico opens up with an inviting yet somewhat understated mix of peppery florals, cherry liquor, plums and sage. Here I’m finding silky textures offset by tart wild berry fruits, salty minerals and brisk acids in an expression that is much more savory than sweet. A coating of fine tannins lingers, along with a note of baker’s chocolate. I have to give Farina credit for creating such a versatile and balanced expression of Amarone.”

We carry a number of wines from the Veneto, available both online and in-store.

As fun as it is to feature the best and rarest wines in the world, we at Vinopolis still love a bargain. We’ve compiled a few of our favorites from around the world, including some fantastic Champagne offers! 

In stock now: 

True to Roederer’s house style the Brut Excellence is mostly Chardonnay with enough Pinot Noir to contribute red fruited character. Reflective of the generous growing conditions found in California relative to Champagne, Scharffenberger’s Brut Excellence undergoes complete malolactic fermentation, contributing a fuller and creamier texture.

Scharffenberger in stock now: 

Scharffenberger Cellars Brut Mendocino County NV 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special, 36+bottles in stock now
Case-12 Scharffenberger Cellars Brut Mendocino County NV 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “A well-rounded, supple texture surrounds attractive toast and nut flavors in this suave and mouthfilling wine. Notes of biscuit, peach and toasted bread give it a nice sense of maturity and complexity. -Jim Gordon”
Wine & Spirits 91 points “[Best California Sparkling Buy of 2021 by Wine & Spirits] This is clean and crisp with rich undertones of brioche and lemon custard. It offers a balance of the soft and the lively, a refreshing sparkling wine to kick off a dinner party. —J.G.”

Sourced from a single estate in the breakaway Conca del Riu Anonia region, this is one of the best examples of sparkling wine in the entire country even before you consider the price. Made from old-vine, biodynamically farmed indigenous varietals this is a dead ringer for cote de blancs champagne at a fraction of the cost. 

Raventos in stock now: 

Raventos I Blanc ‘Blanc de Blancs’ Espumoso Conca del Riu de Arnoia Catalonia 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 94 points “[Best Spanish Sparkling Buy of 2021 by Wine & Spirits] Pepe Raventós adds depth and a touch of color to this estate-grown sparkler with fruit from monastrell vines planted in 1974. That addition lays a smoky note and red-fruit hints over a base of xarel-lo, macabeo and parellada. You could contemplate the narcissus scents, the peach fuzz, the brisk clarity of flavor for hours if you had some oysters, and if you didn’t immediately race through the bottle, as its elegance is hard to resist.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Pale, green-tinged yellow. Lively, mineral-accented citrus and orchard fruits and succulent flowers on the nose, along with fennel and ginger accents that build as the wine stretches out. Sharply focused and lively on the palate, offering intense Meyer lemon, pear skin and honeysuckle flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Shows impressive energy and minerally thrust on the finish, which hangs on with strong tenacity.”

Alexandre Chartogne is single handedly credited with reviving the reputation of his home village of Merfy. Located just northwest of Riems in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, Alexandre Chartogne took over his family’s 28 acres in 2006 after apprenticing under legendary Champenois, Jacques Selosse.  Alexandre instituted organic farming methods, horse plowing and restorative cover crops, while phasing out all chemical based inputs on the estate. Call it technical skill, or exceptional farming either way his entry level easily hits at a $75-$100 price point, with his vintage offering comparable to any Tête de cuvee on the market.

Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($51.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (That’s only $41.50 per bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
John Gilman 90+ points “The current release of Alexandre Chartogne’s Cuvée Ste. Anne non-vintage Brut is from the base year of 2017. The vins clairs were raised in a combination of both stainless steel and oak and the wine was not bottled up for secondary fermentation until July of 2018. The cépages is its customary blend of nearly equal parts of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier and the wine was disgorged in February of 2020, with a finishing dosage of just over five grams per liter. The wine offers up a vibrant bouquet of apple, white peach, a fine base of soil tones, brioche, gentle smokiness and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, elegant bubbles, fine balance and grip and a long, zesty and quite classy finish. This seems a touch longer on the backend to me than the last couple of iterations of this bottling that I have tasted and is first class, non-vintage Brut. But, this is still a fairly young wine and I would be inclined to give it some bottle age to let it start to blossom properly. 2022-2040.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of Chartogne’s NV Brut Sainte Anne is based on the 2017 vintage, complemented by 40% reserve wines. Disgorged in September 2020 with five grams per liter dosage, it opens in the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers and fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s elegantly textural, bright and precise, with a seamless, harmonious profile.”
Importer note “60% 2017 base, 40% from 2016 & 2015.”  Disgorgement date may vary from reviews.

Drappier Carte d’Or Brut Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in April 2021, Drappier’s new NV Brut Carte d’Or delivers attractive aromas of golden orchard fruit, stone fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s charming and elegantly vinous, with a flavorful core of fruit, lively acids and a chalky finish.” 
Wine Spectator 90 points “Racy acidity enlivens this crisp and lacy Champagne. Well-knit, with the delicate mix of ripe white cherry, blanched almond, yellow plum and grated ginger flavors. Drink now. 3,000 cases imported. — AN”
[Disgorgement date may vary from reviews]

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Sekt Extra Trocken Mosel  2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
VinopolNote: Selbach-Oster is known as one of the best Riesling houses in the entire Mosel River Valley. Based in the Mittelmosel they estimate 55% of their grapevines are still ungrafted and entirely planted on mind-bendingly steep slopes. These factors converge with generations of winemaking talent to make some of the most compelling examples of Riesling in the world, be they sweet, dry or sparkling. Their Sekt is no exception, which undergoes champagne-style fermentation in the bottle as opposed to the more standard tank method. This creates a finer bubble, additional complexity and aging potential in the bottle, at half the price of what grower champagne is selling for these days!