In This Newsletter:
Produttori’s 2016 Crus
First Tranche, Limited Supplies
#2 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection
Château Pontet-Canet’s 2016 Paulliac
Stellar Spanish Values
From Longtime Customer Favorite Zorzal
Staff Recommended Champagne
All $50 – $60
Collector’s Corner
Kopke’s Legendary Tawny & Colheita Ports
Produttori’s 2016 Crus
First Tranche, Limited Supplies
Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas 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 extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else.
“Just as I had expected, 2016 has turned out to be a truly magnificent vintage. Last year, I wrote, “The 2016s, wines from a potentially historic vintage, may very well put Barbaresco on the map big time. As I traveled from producer to producer, I experienced that sense of excitement and energy I always feel when in the presence of important vintages and wines.” I feel exactly the same way today.” – Antonio Galloni
“The Produttori del Barbaresco has been producing stellar wines since its inception in 1958, and is clearly one of the most impressive success stories for a winegrowers’ cooperative in the history of wine. Since its very first vintage, it has been remarkable for the high quality of its wines, which rival the very best estates in Piemonte, and in its steadfast championing of the terroir of the top crus in Barbaresco… It is rather surprising, given the extremely high quality of the Produttori wines year in and year out, and their very reasonable price vis à vis the other top domaines in Barbaresco and Barolo, that they do not have a higher profile on the international wine market, and really remain (outside of Italy), one of the best-kept secrets for superb, ageworthy Piemonte wines.” –John Gilman, A View from the Cellar
Pre-Arrivals ETA Mid-April 2021:
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Asili marries power and sensuality the way only Nebbiolo can. Soaring aromatics, beautifully pliant red-toned fruit and tons of pure depth emerge in a stunning Barbaresco that captivates all the senses. Silky, refined and exceptionally beautiful, the 2016 is quite simply one of the most complete Asilis I have tasted from the Produttori. It is an unforgettable wine.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Montefico is a jewel of a wine. Freshly cut flowers, minerals, crushed rocks, rose petal and lavender are all finely cut. As always, the Montefico is tense and chiseled in style. Its sense of transparency is simply beguiling. Sage, mint and sweet pipe tobacco are some of the nuances that linger. The Montefico is a Barbaresco that will thrill readers who enjoy taut reds. It blends the fruit richness of the Montestefano with the verve of Ovello.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is another profound wine in this lineup. There is virtually no perception of tannin, as the fruit is so rich and so voluptuous. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, menthol, licorice and a whole range of balsamic inflections grow as the Montestefano shows off its class. This profound Barbaresco will thrill readers for years to come.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota continues this tasting of frankly awe-inspiring wines. Rich, deep and super-expressive, the 2016 hits all the right notes. Black cherry, plum, spice, leather, licorice emerge, but only with great reluctance. The Muncagota is another wine in this range that clearly needs time.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is the most severe and angular of these wines. It will appeal most to die-hard classicists. Chalk, white pepper, mint and sweet red cherry fruit all grace this chiseled, beautifully translucent Barbaresco. As always, the Ovello needs a number of years in bottle to reveal its charms, which in 2016 are many. It is a positively stellar wine in every way.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $85 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Pajè opens with deeply pitched spice notes that are so alluring. Pliant and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2016 possesses tremendous density and brawn. Blue/purplish fruit, cloves, lavender and menthol infuse this rich, hedonistic Barbaresco with tons of character. The tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer density of the fruit. In a word: impressive.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a brooding wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Iron, smoke, tobacco, cedar and dried flowers add a feral, earthy quality that is so appealing. Pora is often one of the more approachable Riservas in this range, but the 2016 is an exception. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a few years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a brooding wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Iron, smoke, tobacco, cedar and dried flowers add a feral, earthy quality that is so appealing. Pora is often one of the more approachable Riservas in this range, but the 2016 is an exception. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a few years.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a brooding wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Iron, smoke, tobacco, cedar and dried flowers add a feral, earthy quality that is so appealing. Pora is often one of the more approachable Riservas in this range, but the 2016 is an exception. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a few years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is brooding in its intensity. Swaths of tannin, acid and mineral notes infuse the 2016 with striking gravitas. A wine of staggering proportion and breathtaking beauty, the Rabajà is the sort of wine I wish every Vinous reader could taste because it captures the essence of place and vintage with so much pedigree and so much class. Black cherry, sage, crushed rocks, menthol and lavender are some of the many nuances that linger on the eternal finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is a serious, somber wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol show off the darker side of Nebbiolo to great effect. In most vintages, Rio Sordo is an easygoing wine, but not in 2016. Readers will find a potent, brooding yet mid-weight Barbaresco that screams with character. What a way to start this tasting!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love Barbaresco? We have 58 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including staff favorites like Cantina del Pino and Cascina delle Rose, as well as more from Produttori Del Barbaresco.
#2 Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Cellar Selection
Château Pontet-Canet’s 2016 Paulliac
Known for producing wines of impressive concertation and structure, balanced by freshness that has become all too rare in Bordeaux, Château Pontet-Canet makes some of the finest wines coming out of Paulliac today. A fifth growth according to the 1855 classification, the property is not lacking in history. However, unlike many of its classified peers, its best years are not behind it.
This fate was not preordained. The property was in near disrepair when the Tesseron family purchased it in 1975. The vineyards were slowly replanted and conditions in the cellar incrementally improved until the 1990s when Alfred Tesseron took over management of the estate. The improvements have been meteoric ever since, and many consider Château Pontet-Canet to be on par with many of the region’s first and second growths today. But thanks to their clearly outdated classification (a great deal has changed in 166 years!) their 100-point 2016 can still be yours for less than $180.
Arriving Friday, March 12th:
#2 Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection in 2019
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 2016 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “#2 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2019. A voluptuous wine, this is rich and fruity yet properly balanced by a magnificent structure. Pure, crisp and packed with a black currant flavor, this will be a remarkable wine as it develops. Still young, it needs many years to develop. Don’t think about drinking before 2025. -Roger Voss”
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2016 Pontet-Canet is absolutely breathtaking. Powerful, ample and racy in the glass, the 2016 is one of the most exquisitely well-balanced young Pontet-Canets I can remember tasting. Savory, high-toned aromatics and brisk mineral notes lend energy and delineation as this vivid wonderfully alive wine opens up in the glass. The flavors are dark and incisive, but it is the wine’s total sense of harmony that is most compelling. All of the elements are simply in the right place. The 2016 is tremendous. It’s as simple as that. As is often the case, Pontet-Canet is one of the most singular wines in Bordeaux. Alfred Tesseron could have chosen to play things safe when he took over the management of the estate in the mid-1990s. Instead, he chose a very different path. No proprietor in Bordeaux has taken more risks over the last two decades than Alfred Tesseron. A commitment to biodynamic farming, sustainability across the entire estate more broadly, and the adoption of new concepts for Bordeaux, such as aging a portion of the wine in terra cotta, set Pontet-Canet apart from other properties in Pauillac and the Left Bank. Not surprisingly, the wine is also starkly different from the wines of neighboring estates.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98+ points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Pontet-Canet hits the ground running with a hedonic nose of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis and blueberry pie plus suggestions of candied violets, hoisin, chocolate mint, charcuteries and forest floor with a waft of star anise. Full-bodied, rich, profoundly layered and powerfully fruited, the palate is built like a brick house, with very firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and harmonious freshness, finishing with incredible length and depth. Still incredibly primary and yet already strutting so many layers, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this warrants the three-digit score in a few years’ time.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “Reminding me of the 2010 and, I suspect, a wine that will merit a triple-digit rating in a decade or so (I tasted this on multiple occasions and thought it was perfect on one of them), the 2016 Château Pontet-Canet comes from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot that spent 16 months in 50% new French oak, 35% in concrete amphora, and the rest in second fill oak. Thrilling notes of pure crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, crushed mint, graphite, and crushed rock notes all emerge from this deep, powerful, yet elegant Pauillac. The style of this wine has become more and more finesse-driven and pure, yet it hasn’t lost a beat on concentration or length. This singular, beautiful Pontet-Canet needs 7-8 years of cellaring (it has some accessibility today given its purity and balance) and will keep for 4-5 decades.”
Decanter 98 points “The 2016 is a vintage that shows off the best of Pontet, and is similar in feel to their 2010. Gorgeously rich right from the first nose, it opens stunningly in the glass, showing waves of tight black fruits, touches of redcurrant, liquorice and aniseed, fine tannins and mouthwatering salinity. It manages to remain balanced without losing the punch and concentration of Pauillac, rising up through the palate. It’s hard not to fall in love with this wine, and it will clearly age with grace and ease. Bottled in July 2018.”
Love Bordeaux reds? We have 38 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Malescot St-Exupéry, Château Canon and more, on our web store now.
This fate was not preordained. The property was in near disrepair when the Tesseron family purchased it in 1975. The vineyards were slowly replanted and conditions in the cellar incrementally improved until the 1990s when Alfred Tesseron took over management of the estate. The improvements have been meteoric ever since, and many consider Château Pontet-Canet to be on par with many of the region’s first and second growths today. But thanks to their clearly outdated classification (a great deal has changed in 166 years!) their 100-point 2016 can still be yours for less than $180.
Arriving Friday, March 12th:
#2 Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection in 2019
Château Pontet-Canet, Pauillac 2016 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “#2 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2019. A voluptuous wine, this is rich and fruity yet properly balanced by a magnificent structure. Pure, crisp and packed with a black currant flavor, this will be a remarkable wine as it develops. Still young, it needs many years to develop. Don’t think about drinking before 2025. -Roger Voss”
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2016 Pontet-Canet is absolutely breathtaking. Powerful, ample and racy in the glass, the 2016 is one of the most exquisitely well-balanced young Pontet-Canets I can remember tasting. Savory, high-toned aromatics and brisk mineral notes lend energy and delineation as this vivid wonderfully alive wine opens up in the glass. The flavors are dark and incisive, but it is the wine’s total sense of harmony that is most compelling. All of the elements are simply in the right place. The 2016 is tremendous. It’s as simple as that. As is often the case, Pontet-Canet is one of the most singular wines in Bordeaux. Alfred Tesseron could have chosen to play things safe when he took over the management of the estate in the mid-1990s. Instead, he chose a very different path. No proprietor in Bordeaux has taken more risks over the last two decades than Alfred Tesseron. A commitment to biodynamic farming, sustainability across the entire estate more broadly, and the adoption of new concepts for Bordeaux, such as aging a portion of the wine in terra cotta, set Pontet-Canet apart from other properties in Pauillac and the Left Bank. Not surprisingly, the wine is also starkly different from the wines of neighboring estates.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate 98+ points “Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Pontet-Canet hits the ground running with a hedonic nose of Black Forest cake, crème de cassis and blueberry pie plus suggestions of candied violets, hoisin, chocolate mint, charcuteries and forest floor with a waft of star anise. Full-bodied, rich, profoundly layered and powerfully fruited, the palate is built like a brick house, with very firm, super ripe, grainy tannins and harmonious freshness, finishing with incredible length and depth. Still incredibly primary and yet already strutting so many layers, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this warrants the three-digit score in a few years’ time.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98+ points “Reminding me of the 2010 and, I suspect, a wine that will merit a triple-digit rating in a decade or so (I tasted this on multiple occasions and thought it was perfect on one of them), the 2016 Château Pontet-Canet comes from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot that spent 16 months in 50% new French oak, 35% in concrete amphora, and the rest in second fill oak. Thrilling notes of pure crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, crushed mint, graphite, and crushed rock notes all emerge from this deep, powerful, yet elegant Pauillac. The style of this wine has become more and more finesse-driven and pure, yet it hasn’t lost a beat on concentration or length. This singular, beautiful Pontet-Canet needs 7-8 years of cellaring (it has some accessibility today given its purity and balance) and will keep for 4-5 decades.”
Decanter 98 points “The 2016 is a vintage that shows off the best of Pontet, and is similar in feel to their 2010. Gorgeously rich right from the first nose, it opens stunningly in the glass, showing waves of tight black fruits, touches of redcurrant, liquorice and aniseed, fine tannins and mouthwatering salinity. It manages to remain balanced without losing the punch and concentration of Pauillac, rising up through the palate. It’s hard not to fall in love with this wine, and it will clearly age with grace and ease. Bottled in July 2018.”
Love Bordeaux reds? We have 38 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Château Mouton Rothschild, Château Malescot St-Exupéry, Château Canon and more, on our web store now.
Stellar Spanish Values
From Longtime Customer Favorite Zorzal
We love the wines from Zorzal. They’re a winery that’s not afraid to think outside the box in how they farm and vinify their wines. That’s lead to a lot of brilliant moments from regions that have been historically overlooked. Not just content to work with overlooked vineyards in their native Argentina, they’ve been spending the other half of the year in the Northern Hemisphere since 2007, where they’re translating their visionary approach to off-the-radar terroirs in Spain.
Their entire Spanish portfolio offer outstanding value. These are wines that have tons of immediate appeal, with rich textures and juicy fruit flavors. They’re also loaded with character, with Zorzal’s light touch in winemaking (native fermentations, minimal new oak) allowing the grapes and terroirs to shine through.
Best of all they’re all priced below $30/bottle, with their entry-level Garnacha and Graciano at $14 and $16 respectively. Time to see what you’ve been missing!
In Stock Now:
Viña Zorzal Corral De Los Altos, Navarra 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 92 points “All the guest winemakers that take part in the Lecciones de Vuelo joint venture with Viña Zorzal are offered to produce their interpretation of the paraje Corral de los Altos in Fitero. The 2018 Corral de los Altos is Zorzal’s own interpretation of a 45-year-old plot of 2.1 hectares of Garnacha planted on a north-facing stony part of the village. The grapes fermented in stainless steel with some 25% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in seven used (second and third use) 500-liter oak barrels. This has contained ripeness and a medium to full-bodied palate with the classical chalky tannins and texture from the limestone-rich soils and the length and tastiness they provide”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Viña Zorzal ‘Cuatro del Cuatro’, Navarra 2018 750ML ($36.95) $29 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The pure Graciano 2018 Cuatro del Cuatro was first produced in 2015 as an homage to the Sanz brothers’ father, who kept his Graciano vines when the majority ripped them up. They have seen that, with a soft vinification, the variety is not as rustic as most think and, in fact, can be quite elegant. 2018 was a tricky vintage for the variety, and the wine has moderate alcohol (13.3%), a very low pH (3.35) and notable acidity (six grams of tartaric acid per liter). It was produced with grapes grown in the village of Corella (especially from a vineyard planted in 1978), which has more Mediterranean influence that Fitero, the other village where they have the majority of their vineyards. This is a super serious Graciano, fresher than the majority of varietal bottlings out there, as they have lost the fear of harvesting it earlier, and it delivers a very spicy wine, with lots of black and even white peppercorns. I think this is very much in line with the 2016. It matured in used oak barrels of different sizes, and they did a barrel selection to produce 2,900 bottles of it.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Viña Zorzal Garnacha, Navarra 2019 750ml ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 91 points “The entry-level red simply called 2019 Garnacha is what they define as their regional bottling, using grapes from the villages of de Corella, Cintruénigo and Fitero, produced in an approachable and easy-to-understand way. It had a gentle vinification, starting with grapes of moderate ripeness with a good pH, fermented with indigenous yeasts and using 20% full clusters. The difference in vintage is noticeable when tasted with a majority of 2018s; this is a clearly riper and more open vintage, with a more Mediterranean character, with sweet fruit and aromatic herbs. It reminds me of some of my favorite old-time unoaked Garnachas from Navarra. It has a serious palate, with freshness and chalky tannins and a serious finish. Great value!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Viña Zorzal Graciano, Navarra 2018 750ml ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2018 Graciano, the first wine they produced at the new Viña Zorzal in 2007, was produced with grapes from the village of Corella, and they want to show the expression of the grape in the village, more Mediterranean than Fitero, where they have a significant percentage of their vines. The spicy character of the wine and the lively palate are the expression of the Graciano in their village, what they have been trying to express since 2015. It fermented in stainless steel with moderate extraction and matured in used French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. This is a very fresh vintage, and the wine is harmonious, spicy, with an herbal hint, with some dusty tannins, chalky and a bitter twist in the finish. I think the earlier harvest of the grape delivers wines that are more transparent, and this is quite stony and tasty. This is a very good value and a great introduction to Graciano”.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Viña Zorzal Mayaleto, Navarra 2018 750ml ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The really impressive and mineral 2018 Malayeto was produced with Garnacha from a single vineyard that produces wine of unusual elegance and minerality. This was the first plot they bottled separately, and this 2018 is the sixth vintage they have produced. It’s a 2.9-hectare plot planted 40 years ago, on the same slope as Corral de los Altos but at a higher altitude and therefore with different soils, surprisingly deep but with lots of calcium carbonate and fine gravel. This fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in a 4,000-liter oak foudre and nine used 500-liter oak barrels for nine months. This wine clearly transcends its price. It’s serious but started quite shy and needed time to open up (it’s extremely young and just bottled), but there is great purity and detail, and it’s elegant and balanced, extremely harmonious. The palate is incredibly elegant, seamless, balanced, with very fine tannins, great integration of the oak and very good freshness, with citrus-like freshness (think blood orange skin). Most of the time, this is my go-to wine in Zorzal’s portfolio, a wine of great finesse in its finest vintage to date.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Love Spanish reds? We have 125 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Comando G, Daniel Landi, Terroir al Límit and more, on our web store now.
Staff Recommended Champagne
All $50 – $60
In Stock Now:
“Vinous and charming”
Nicolas Maillart Brut Rosé Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The new release of Maillart’s NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru is based on the 2015 vintage, complemented by one-third reserve wines, and was disgorged in October 2019 with six grams per liter dosage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe red apples, pears, plums and fresh bread, it’s fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of fruit, ripe but racy acids and a nicely defined finish. Vinous and charming, it’s a blend of 60% Pinot Noir (some 7% of which is still red wine) and 40% Chardonnay, all from Bouzy.”
60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. 60% aged in oak. Disgorged 12/2019.
Winery Note “Salmon-pink in colour with a fine, lingering bead Nose: Intense with notes of fruit (ripe and from the forest floor) Palate: The initial impact is wonderfully fresh and vinous, followed by great finesse. Maceration on skins for 52 hours Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in the barrel for a certain volume of reserve wines. Average two-year maturing period in the bottle. Disgorged by hand and laid down for at least three months before sale.”
“Exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist”
Pierre Péters Cuvée de Réserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $52.50 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Pierre Péters Cuvée de Réserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Disgorged December 2019. 2017-base. Reviews provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Péters’ NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée de Réserve offers up a lovely bouquet of citrus oil, pear, pastry cream, dried white flowers, hazelnuts and crushed chalk. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and elegant, with ripe but racy acids, a delicate pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. As usual, this is an immensely refined Champagne that exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist.”
“Vinous and charming”
Nicolas Maillart Brut Rosé Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $51.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The new release of Maillart’s NV Brut Rosé Grand Cru is based on the 2015 vintage, complemented by one-third reserve wines, and was disgorged in October 2019 with six grams per liter dosage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe red apples, pears, plums and fresh bread, it’s fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of fruit, ripe but racy acids and a nicely defined finish. Vinous and charming, it’s a blend of 60% Pinot Noir (some 7% of which is still red wine) and 40% Chardonnay, all from Bouzy.”
60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. 60% aged in oak. Disgorged 12/2019.
Winery Note “Salmon-pink in colour with a fine, lingering bead Nose: Intense with notes of fruit (ripe and from the forest floor) Palate: The initial impact is wonderfully fresh and vinous, followed by great finesse. Maceration on skins for 52 hours Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in the barrel for a certain volume of reserve wines. Average two-year maturing period in the bottle. Disgorged by hand and laid down for at least three months before sale.”
“Exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist”
Pierre Péters Cuvée de Réserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $52.50 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Pierre Péters Cuvée de Réserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Disgorged December 2019. 2017-base. Reviews provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Péters’ NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Cuvée de Réserve offers up a lovely bouquet of citrus oil, pear, pastry cream, dried white flowers, hazelnuts and crushed chalk. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fine-boned and elegant, with ripe but racy acids, a delicate pinpoint mousse and a long, saline finish. As usual, this is an immensely refined Champagne that exemplifies the timeless style of this Mesnil-based Chardonnay specialist.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
“One of the very finest Champagnes in its peer group”
Bérêche et Fils Brut Réserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $52.50 special, 34 bottles in stock now
L18. No reviews for the current disgorgement. Prior reviews provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest release of the NV Brut Réserve was disgorged in October 2019 with seven grams per liter dosage, and it’s based on the 2017 vintage. Exhibiting a glass bouquet of citrus oil, oyster shell, fresh peach and toasted nuts, it’s medium to full-bodied, racy and tensile, with lovely depth and concentration, fine energy and a long, penetrating finish.”
Peter Liem note “The range begins with the Brut Réserve, a non-vintage brut that usually contains about 25 percent chardonnay, 25 percent meunier and 20 percent pinot noir from the base vintage, along with 30 percent of reserve wines, also from the three varieties.”
“I often find myself reaching for the NV Brut Réserve, which is reliably one of the very finest Champagnes in its peer group” –Antonio Galloni, Vinous
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Crisp, fresh & balanced
A. Margaine Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The NV Brut Rosé is positively stellar. The blend of 80% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Noir (including 5% still Pinot) works so well here in giving the wine a real sense of proportion that is impossible to miss. In tasting, the Brut Rosé is crisp and taut, but also has more than enough depth to balance things out. Bright red berry fruit and perfumed floral notes race out of the glass, with beams of saline intensity that lend shape through to the salivating finish. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. Disgorged: June, 2020.” [Disgorged 09/2020]
Importer note “cépage 80% Chardonnay, 15% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Noir vin rouge. Assemblage 2015 Base. Village/vyd Villers-Marmery 1er Cru; Chardonnay (Alouettes, Champs d’Enfer, Grands Arbres), Pinot Noir (Levoies, Cugnets) – chalk and clay. Malo 30%. Elevage 100% stainless steel. Sur latte 30 Months.”
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“Uncanny balance between precision and richness”
Roger Coulon Réserve de L’Hommée Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Neil Rosenthal note “Eric and Isabelle Coulon are the representatives of the eighth generation of the Coulon family to be engaged as récoltant-manipulants, producing Champagne from Vrigny and the surrounding villages in the northwest corner of the Montagne de Reims. Since 1806, this family has gradually increased its holdings so that there are now 10 hectares under vines, almost all located within the 1er Cru rated villages of Vrigny, Coulommes and Pargny, about 10 kilometers distance from Reims. In terms of their rigorous vineyard management and cellar practices, eighth-generation Eric and, as of late, his bright son Edgar occupy a tiny fringe within a region still largely mired in chemical farming and dominated by the ultra-powerful Grandes Marques: organic viticulture, spontaneous fermen- tations, low sulfur, and no fining or filtration all allow this estate’s terroirs to speak clearly of the magic that one can encounter on the slopes surrounding Reims. Coulon is one of only 6 growers in the élite Trait d’Union, an association committed to expressing terroir and working as naturally as possible. The other members, Egly-Ouriet, Larmandier-Bernier, Sélosse, Prévost, and Jacquesson, are lofty company indeed, with prices far higher than Coulon’s. Eric and Edgar’s wines strike an uncanny balance between precision and richness, combining pene- trating minerality with the boldness and power these red-grape-dominated terroirs deliver at their best.”
A Wine Enthusiast ‘Editor’s Choice’
Pierre Gerbais L’Osmose Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2013) 750ML ($79.95) $55 special, 16 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2013-base. Reviews are for reference.
Decanter 94 points “Made with 100% Chardonnay, L’Osmose is aged for 30 months on its lees and captures plenty of mineral, pastry and white fruit aromas. Rich and creamy, the structure is perfectly vinous and dense, with splendid mineral notes on the finish.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editor’s Choice. Although not labeled as such, this is a blanc de blancs produced from two old-vine parcels of Chardonnay, one facing north, the other south. That in itself helps the balance of this dry wine. It is perfumed and crisp with a taut mineral texture that contrasts with the ripe apple and pink-grapefruit flavors. Drink now.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2014 Extra Brut L’Osmose (Chardonnay) is bright, punchy and full of flavor. This is a decidedly savory expression of Chardonnay built on structure and nuance more than anything else. The 2014 is a bit tight today, but a few years in bottle should do the trick. It is one of the highlights in this range from Gerbais. Dosage is 3-4 grams per liter. Disgorged: July, 2018.” [Disgorgement date may vary.]
Importer note “Disgorged November 2017. 100% Chardonnay. Vine Age: Majority planted in 1973. Terroir: Kimmeridgian bedrock, mostly from the north-facing lieu-dit Les Côtes. Viticulture: Certified sustainable (Ampelos) since 1996. Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation in stainless steel tanks, aged on fine lees. 36 months with organic yeast sur lattes. Extra-brut dosage of 3-4 g/L.”
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A vintage Blanc de Blanc from our best-selling Champagne producer
André Clouet ‘Dream Vintage’ Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($65.95) $55 special, 17 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “100% Chardonnay, bottled one year after harvest. Disgorged to order for the importer.”
“Focuses on subtlety and finesse rather than power”
Hugues Godmé Blanc de Noirs Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 20 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “Poised and balanced with a bright pop of fruit.”
Peter Liem note “…the Blanc de Noirs, comes entirely from the grand cru villages of Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont-sur-Vesle, and like the Blanc de Blancs, it always contains a high percentage of reserve wine. A slightly larger percent of this is aged in wood, but even then, it’s a blanc de noirs that focuses on subtlety and finesse rather than power.”
Importer note “Disgorged January 2018, 4.5 years en tirage.”
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A staff favorite grower delivering transparency without sacrificing flavor
René Geoffroy Empreinte Premier Cru Vintage Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 6 bottles in stock now
No review available for the 2014. 2013 review provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Disgorged in May 2019, the 2013 Brut Premier Cru Empreinte is showing well, opening in the glass with notes of citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, clear honey and wet stones. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, tensile and incisive, with an inviting core of fruit, ripe but racy acids and a long, saline finish. This is a beautifully elegant, classically balanced Champagne from Geoffroy that bears the stamp of the late, cool growing season.”
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A zero dosage Champagne drinking beautiful today
Doyard ‘Révolution’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non-Dosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Disgorged 2018; reviews may not match disgorgement.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in September 2019, the NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non Dosé Révolution is based on the 2012 vintage—and it’s the same blend as the 2012-base Cuvée Vendémiaire but sees two additional years sur lattes. Revealing aromas of confit citrus, warm brioche, almond paste and peach, the wine is full-bodied, broad and vinous, with a concentrated but incisive profile. It’s showing beautifully and is well worth seeking out.”
John Gilman 92 points “The current release of Champagne Doyard’s Révolution Brut Nature is from the fine base year of 2012, with fifty percent of the blend made up of reserve wines from 2011 and 2010. Half of the vins clairs are raised in older Burgundy casks and half in stainless steel, with only fifteen percent of the blend undergoing malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged fully seven years sur latte prior to disgorgement. It offers up an excellent bouquet of apple, pear, fresh-baked bread, hazelnut, chalky minerality and a discreetly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is bright, fullbodied, focused and complex, with a fine core, good mineral drive, elegant mousse and a long, beautifully-balanced finish. This is my idea of first class non-dosé, as the wine has been given plenty of time aging in the cellars to allow the acidity to back off and the wine to drink with generosity today, rather than some of the younger non-dosé bottlings out there that are really structured for a sword swallower when they are first released. This is superb. 2020-2035+.”
Importer note “50% 2012, 25% 2011, 25% 2010. Village/vyd 45+ year old vines. 70% Avize Grand Cru, 10% Oger Grand Cru, 10% Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru, 10% Cramant Grand Cru.”
A cellar pick
Savart L’Accomplie Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 16 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The Savart “l’Accomplie” Vieilles Vignes bottling is composed from a cépages of eighty percent pinot noir and twenty percent chardonnay. The vins clairs are again raised in a combination of casks and tank, with thirty percent of the blend made up of reserve wines from the previous two vintages. It was disgorged in September of 2020 and received a dosage of five grams per liter. The bouquet is deep and serious, wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, peach, brioche, a touch of nutskin, a lovely base of soil tones and just a touch of buttery oak influence in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and shows off a fine spine of acidity, with lovely focus and complexity, a rock solid core, frothy mousse and a long, well-balanced and impressive finish. This too deserves some additional bottle age to really blossom completely. It is already a lovely drink and will improve with further cellaring. Fine juice. 2021-2050.”
Importer note “Disgorged September 2020”
Softly textured thanks to lower than usual pressure
Lilbert-Fils Perle Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points ” The Perle style is a comparative rarity in Champagne, bottling the wine at a lower than usual pressure. This dry Champagne is therefore softly textured with an open mousse. It does however have all the fine, tight minerality of great Chardonnay in Champagne and will surely develop further. Drink from 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points ” The latest release of the NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in fall 2018 with five grams per liter dosage, and it’s a blend of equal parts 2015 and 2014, complemented by some 10% reserve wines. Offering up a lovely bouquet of fresh peach, lemon oil, white flowers and hints of the elegantly nutty complexity to come, the wine is medium to full-bodied and textural but incisive, with a creamy low-pressure mousse, a tight-knit core that needs a little time on cork to unwind and an elegantly chalky finish.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Ripe pineapple and white cherry fruit flavors are accented by honeysuckle and spice notes in this appealing blanc de blancs Champagne, which is lithe and harmonious, with a fresh, lightly chalky finish. Disgorged autumn 2018. Drink now through 2023. 200 cases made, 40 cases imported.”
Importer note “45% 2015, 45% 2014, 10% Reserve wine. Disgorged in autumn 2018”
Famous terroir meets brilliant winemaking
Eric Rodez Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 4 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “[Reviewed Apr 2019] Offering up aromas of smoky green orchard fruit, hazelnuts and waxy citrus that are delicately framed by their time in barrel, the latest rendition of Rodez’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs is a medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy wine with a bright spine of acidity, a frothy mousse and a long, vinous and subtly oak-inflected finish. Unsurprisingly, its Ambonnay origins and Rodez’s style mark it just as much as its cépage.”
[Review is for prior disgorgement]
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Depth, concentration & elegance
Varnier-Fannière Cuvée Jean Fannière Origine Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 4 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “(Reviewed Apr 2019) Aromas of warm biscuits, crisp peach, yellow citrus fruits and hazelnuts introduce the latest release of Varnier-Fannière’s NV Extra Brut Cuvée Jean Fannière Origine… On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad-shouldered and vinous, with ripe but racy acids, considerable depth and concentration, an elegant, pinpoint mousse and a lingering, expansive finish. This is a layered, powerful Champagne with the lowest dosage in the range.”
[Review is for July 2017 disgorgement]
Importer note ” Disgorged 07/07/2017″
Love Champagne? We have over 190 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Bollinger, Delamotte, Taittinger and more, on our web store now.
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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
Collector’s Corner
Kopke’s Legendary Tawny & Colheita Ports
Kopke, founded in 1638, makes what might be the most vibrant and long lived port wines available. Like many of their neighbors, they’ve been through adverse times in their near 400 year history, seeing dramatic shifts in the climate, swings in the popularity of their product, and the rise and fall of populist dictators. Through all of this, they’ve been consistent in their commitment to making the greatest Tawny and Colheita (vintage Tawny) Port available.
We’re fortunate to have a tremendous lineup available: Colheita vintage selections from 1958, 1966, 1989, 1999, and 2000, and the 30 Year and 40 Year Tawnies. The vintage wines are stuffed with aromatics from across the spectrum; floral notes, fresh citrus, walnuts and fig with substantial but surprisingly silky tannins. You can experience the unbelievably youthful 1958 or 1966 – these are perfect examples of age adding concentration and depth, but the traditional Kopke freshness that keeps these so vibrant. Flickers of warmth are reminiscent of Cognac, but the clarity of the fruit and spice dominate the balance. While the 1999 might be the best Tawny we’ve tasted in the past 20 years. We would strongly recommend this for the long haul (perhaps as a gift!), but if you can’t resist, take your time with it. Allow it to develop and fill your glass to the fullest. All of these will continue to show their highlights and develop rich spice and dried fruit characteristics for years to come.
In Stock Now:
Kopke 30 Year Old Tawny Port 750ML ($179.95) $128 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A very inviting, open style, with butterscotch and caramel notes framing the core of glazed pear, caramelized peach, golden raisin and warm fig flavors. The lush finish lets crème brûlée and ginger cream details hang, showing a flash of honeysuckle for lift. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Dark gold in color, this Port relishes its age. Like an aged tawny, it has lost its fruit at this mature stage, while gaining the rich, intense character that comes from long wood aging. It has concentrated acidity and a long, lingering aftertaste. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV 30 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2017 with a bar-top cork and 130 grams per liter of residual sugar. The last release I saw of this was pretty fine. So, too, here. This adds a layer of depth and more complexity to the Burmester, although it lacks the Burmester’s elegance and sex appeal. While the finish here is bigger and more gripping, it is no more flavorful (actually, less so). Still, as this rolls around the mouth, it is impressive, not necessarily more exciting than the Burmester, but definitely different stylistically. They are good examples of the diversity you can get in one portfolio. As always, these last indefinitely, barring cork failures, but they are not really meant to be held.”
[Bottling year may vary from review]
Kopke 40 Years Old Tawny Port 750ML ($219.95) $199 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “This offers a dreamy mix of caramelized pear, fig and peach flavors at the core, while caramel, sesame oil and date notes fill in through the expansive finish. At first glance this is quite lush, but the finish lingers with cut and drive. Drink now. 200 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV 40 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2016 with a bar top cork and 145 grams per liter of residual sugar. This adds a bit more brandy as a nuance on the finish to the 30, reviewed this issue, but it still seems much like the 30 Year Old, surprisingly fresh and easy, beautifully balanced and on the lighter side in terms of mid-palate concentration. It is a lovely tawny on its own terms–I’m just not sure it delivers enough of an uptick to justify the price spike from the 30 (or, perhaps even the 20). On its own, though, it won’t disappoint. The price references a 750 milliliter bottle.”
[Bottling year may vary from review]
Kopke Colheita Port 1958 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Kopke Colheita Port 1966 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 1966 Colheita Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with 126.3 grams per liter of residual sugar, and comes with a bar top cork (as is typical here). As we start getting seriously old in the lineup from Sogevinus this issue, this shows what you get with increasing age: the superb concentration of flavor, the long, intense finishes and the complex medley of flavors that old Tawnies deliver effortlessly. That, to me, is what makes them worth the extra bucks. If some of the youngsters lean more to caramel, this adds more molasses with a touch of Brandy in the background. The concentrated flavors linger more or less endlessly, driven into the palate by the wine’s power and acidity. You can smell and taste this for a long time. The graceful mid-palate is deceptively friendly at first. It sure does grip the palate at the end, though, finishing with juicy bursts of fruit and sugar. Over several days, it acquired a bit more harmony and shed a touch of aggression. The alcohol, speaking relatively, is not as well integrated here as with the 1965, also reviewed, but that is relative. I tended to like this just slightly better anyway for its complexity and concentration on several fronts. The freshness on the 1965 is quite enticing, though. It tastes younger. It depends on what you want: that old-wine complexity and depth or a livelier feel. They both have plenty of power on the finish. You can’t go wrong, really.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Bottled in 2015, this wine from a great Port vintage is dark in color and so concentrated. It is powered by intense acidity from the wood aging as much as any residual fruit. Spice, dried fruits and a perfect balance give this great wine elegance and surprising freshness. Drink now.”
[Bottling year may vary from reviews.]
Kopke Colheita Port 1989 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Kopke Colheita Port 1999 750ML ($59.95) $39 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jamie Goode-Wine Anorak 94 points “Complex, spicy and raising with an appealing saline edge. Some lovely savoury notes developing here. Has warmth and complexity.”
Kopke Colheita Port 2000 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Mark Squires- Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2000 Colheita Tawny Port is a roughly equal blend of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca coming in with 116 grams of residual sugar. This release was bottled in July 2020 with a bar-top cork. There is a reason to pay the extra money and trade up from the 2001—although a small reason. The 2001 is a little gentler and more precise. This might be a little more complex and fuller bodied—a little. What I often see as the difference between the two vintages is depth—the 2000s were a bit fatter in vintage style, which often shows in the Colheitas as well. Here, that comes through too, but modestly. They are both lovely. I’d take this if I had to choose, but it’s worth noting that the 2001 is a very nice buy.”
Love Port? We have 28 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Niepoort, Quinta do Noval, Taylor Fladgate and more, on our web store now.
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
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