In Today’s Newsletter:
Customer Favorite Spanish Values
Viña Zorzal
Lilbert’s Under the Radar Blanc de Blancs
Subscriber Special
Durand’s Distinguished Northern Rhônes
Merkelbach’s Old-School Mosel Riesling
Familia Nin-Ortiz
Subscriber Specials & Case Pricing
Fantastic Fondrèche
Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
Collector’s Corner
New Back-Vintage Arrivals
Customer Favorite Spanish Values
Viña 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 led 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 $12.50/bottle and $14.17/bottle when you purchase by the 6-pack. 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
Case-6 Viña Zorzal Corral De Los Altos, Navarra 2018 750ML ($149.95) $135 special (that’s only $22.5/bottle!)
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
Case-6 Viña Zorzal ‘Cuatro del Cuatro’, Navarra 2018 750ML ($199.95) $165 special (that’s only $27.50/bottle!)
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
Case-6 Viña Zorzal Garnacha, Navarra 2019 750ML ($99.95) $75 special (that’s only $12.50/bottle!)
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
Case-6 Viña Zorzal Graciano, Navarra 2018 750ML ($119.95) $85 special (that’s only $14.17/bottle!)
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
Case-6 Viña Zorzal Mayaleto, Navarra 2018 750ML ($179.95) $139 special (that’s only $23.17/bottle!)
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 90 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Daniel Landi, Marqués de Murrieta, Terroir al Límit and more, on our web store now.
Lilbert’s Under the Radar Blanc de Blancs
Lilbert is one of the best kept secrets in Champagne. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Côte de Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines have notable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. At the prices asked, these are wines that massively over-deliver. That’s certainly because they fly under the radar (at the moment) but that could (and should) change over the next few years.
In Stock Now:
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “This graceful Champagne is like the finely tailored suit that somehow never goes out of style, with a lovely overtone of minerally chalk and brine enticing you into the glass, where flavors of apricot and Marcona almond, and hints of passionfruit coulis and pickled ginger, ride the fine, satinlike mousse. Disgorged autumn 2018. Drink now through 2028.”
Lilbert-Fils “Perle” Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 10 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.”
Pre-Arrival ETA Fall:
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Cramant Grand Cru Vintage Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $109 pre-arrival special
Love Champagne? We have 148 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Nicolas Maillart, Pierre Gimonnet and more, on our web store now.
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Subscriber Special
Durand’s Distinguished Northern Rhônes
The Durand brothers are making it look easy. It’s hard to find Northern Rhône wines that combine soul and polish—it seems as if most of the new wines we taste are either hyper glossy or very rustic. To hit that sweet spot, crafting wines that speak very loudly of place but are elegant, drinkable and age-worthy—that’s special indeed.
“Consistently brilliant wines emerge from Domaine Durand, which is run with incredible talent and passion by Eric and Joël Durand. Located in the tiny village of Châteaubourg, they pull from roughly 22 hectares of vines, 8.5 hectares in Saint Joseph, 9.5 hectares in Cornas and tiny amounts in Saint-Péray and Vin de Pays. The brothers took over the estate in 1991, and while the winemaking is relatively modern, these are classic, pure, beautifully made wines that speak clearly to their region and terroir.” – Jeb Dunnuck
In Stock Now & Priced to Move:
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 34 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Warm fig, blackberry and black currant fruit gives this a decidedly dark profile, while licorice root, dark olive and bay leaf notes score the finish. A tarry edge adds grip and length. Shows range and depth, and begs for cellaring. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.98
The next best price is $34.98
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Cornas Prémices 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “Lots of blueberries, jammy blackberries, violets, licorice, and floral notes emerge from the 2017 Cornas Prémices. This fleshy, sexy, full-bodied beauty is a quintessential, hedonistic Cornas that’s already hard to resist. Nevertheless, it has enough sweet tannins to keep for over a decade. This cuvée comes from slightly younger vines (15 to 30-year-old vines) and is aged in 20% new French oak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $38
The next best price is $38
Domaine Eric et Joël Durand Saint-Joseph Lautaret 2017 750ML ($39.95) $29.70 Subscriber Special, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fleshy and forward in feel, with a hint of ganache leading steeped plum and raspberry fruit along, accented by singed alder and licorice root notes. The solidly grippy finish pulls everything together. Needs a touch of cellaring. Best from 2022 through 2032. 340 cases made, 50 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.98
The next best price is $34.98
Love Rhône reds? We have 179 different options in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including famous names like Chapoutier and Jaboulet, as well as more from Eric et Joël Durand.
Merkelbach’s Old-School Mosel Riesling
We adore the wines that Rolf and Alfred Merkelbach make, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. These are wines that are as old-school as you can find for the region (the brothers are in their 80s and haven’t changed styles since they started) and they capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, their importer, describes their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Truchot’s wines in Burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that seemed to trigger Stendhal Syndrome anytime you had the pleasure of drinking them. We’d like more people to appreciate these wines while the brothers are still making them (a problem for, say, Truchot) and before the prices go crazy.
Highlights, in Stock Now:
Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #1, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 33 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 Rosenberg Auslese AP #1 from Alfred and Rolf Merkelbach is a beautiful wine in the making. The complex nose offers up a constellation of passion fruit, a hint of the yellow plum to come, incipient notes of honeycomb, salty minerality, violets, lavender and a gentle glaze of very clean botrytis. On the palate the wine is fullish, pure and nascently complex, with a lovely core of fruit, fine mineral undertow, bright acids and lovely length and grip on perfectly balanced and very promising finish. I have the impression this was made from very lightly botrytized fruit. It will want some bottle age before it really starts to blossom, but it will be a lovely bottle when it start to get rolling! 2026-2065.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Spätlese #3, Mosel 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 35 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “The 2018 Rosenberg Spätlese AP #3 from the Merkelbachs is a touch more mineral in personality and has just a bit more mid-palate stuffing than the AP #2 version, but without sacrificing any of the classic filigree of this Prädikat level. It is also the more reserved of the two bottlings in its youthful phase, offering up scents of apple, pear, a beautiful base of slate, incipient notes of bee pollen, violets and iris blossoms. On the palate the wine is pure, medium-full and quite solid at the core, with lovely mineral undertow, zesty acids and fine focus and grip on the long and nascently complex finish. This is the Rosenberg Spätlese from 2018 that is going to demand a bit of bottle age before it starts to blossom, so the AP #2 is by far the better selection for those who are predisposed to want to drink their Merkelbach Spätlese on the early side. But, this wine will age superbly. 2024-2055+.”
Terry Theise note “Two fuders, two different pickings. No. 2 is pure pure Mosel, great firm bones and slate-slate-slate. No. 3 shows botrytis and feels less fruity; it’s very good but I like #2 best.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Auslese Urglück, Mosel 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94 points “The Urglück section of the Würzgarten is the Merkelbachs’ filet section, still planted with ungrafted old vines. The 2018 Urglück Auslese from Weingut Merkelbach is an utterly refined and effortless example of the vintage. The bouquet is the epitome of elegance, wafting from the glass in a blend of pear, apple, strawberry chiffon, bee pollen, lovely minerality, lime blossoms and hints of the honeycomb to come with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, bright and fullish, with lovely filigree and focus, a fine core, good mineral undertow and a long, nascently complex and simply superb finish. This is not flashy, but the one more pays attention to it, the further one is drawn into its bottomless sense of beauty. 2026-2065.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Merkelbach Ürziger Würzgarten Spätlese #5, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 21 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2018 Spätlese AP #5 from the Würzgarten is a beautifully classical interpretation of both this great vineyard and its Prädikat level. The bouquet offers up scents of strawberries, kiwi, a touch of lime, lovely spice tones, a gorgeous base of red slate and a topnote of citrus blossoms. On the palate the wine is bright, bouncy and medium-full, with lovely tension and grip, a juicy core of fruit, lovely acidity and focus and a long, complex and filigreed finish. Just an utterly classical bottle of Spätlese! 2020-2055+.”
Terry Theise note “This is superb. Mineral, archetypal, with rapturous fruit. Eternal youth in a bottle!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Love German wine? We have over 350 different options (not a typo!) in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including staff favorites like Dönnhoff and Kruger-Rumpf, as well as more from Merkelbach.
Familia Nin-Ortiz
Subscriber Specials & Case Pricing
Familia Nin-Ortiz is one of the leading lights of “New Priorat”. Both Ester Nin and Carles Ortiz are renowned viticulturists (Ester, notably, was the vineyard guru behind Clos Erasmus) and some of the earliest proponents of biodynamics in Priorat, but what they’re doing together on the winery side is stunning indeed. Their wines are some of the most compelling in Priorat, combining the power inherent in the terroir with a stunning sense of energy and vitality.
Nin-Ortiz is probably best known for their “Nit de Nin” single vineyard bottling, however their ‘Planetes’ releases are also excellent. Stylistically they are gentler and more elegant, perfect for drinking now. And unlike the estate’s top wines you don’t have to spend a lot to enjoy some of the most exciting wines coming out of Spain today.
In Stock Now & Priced to Move:
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Garnatxes en Àmfora, Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($44.95) Was $33 Now $29, 29 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Planetes de Nin Garnatxes en Àmfora was produced with biodynamically farmed Garnacha that fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 700- and 1,000-liter terracotta amphorae for seven months. They do two versions, one with a little SO2 and the other without, and the difference is minimal. At first one was more closed, but when it opened up, they were very similar and showed some herbal and raspberry leaf aromas intermixed with wild berries and notions of earth, aromatic and balanced. It has fine tannins and a velvety texture. 7,395 bottles were filled in April 2017.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’ Blanc, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($99.95) Was $75 Now $69, 17 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “Cariñena Blanca has finally been added to the registry of varieties in Spain, which means it should soon be allowed by the Priorat appellation, so they could start putting it on the labels of the 2018 Planetes de Nin Carinyena Blanca. This fermented and matured in used 300-liter oak barrels for seven months. It’s 13% alcohol and has a pH of 3.2 with 6.5 grams of acidity (tartaric); they struggled to get the minimum 13% alcohol required by the appellation, as the year was very cold and they lost a lot of grapes waiting for the alcohol level. It’s a year with lots of freshness, and the wine, which feels really young and undeveloped, needs some time in the glass to open up. This is an exceptional year that is going to develop slowly in bottle. The palate is vibrant, focused and dry, with citrus freshness and a mineral finish. 1,948 bottles were filled in April 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 subscriber special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($299.95) $279 subscriber special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2017 750ML ($579.95) $539 subscriber special (that’s only $44.92/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Planetes de Nin comes from the four hectares of 20-year-old Garnacha and 11-year-old Cariñena in the Planetes vineyard in Porrera at 450 meters in altitude. It’s 60% Garnacha (some of it Peluda) and the rest Cariñena, harvested early. It fermented with indigenous yeasts and matured in 3,200-liter oak vats and one 1,000-liter amphora for 17 months. It has depth and harmony, and the vines are getting older and seem to be better and better balanced. This is not that different from the 2016; it feels quite stable and has its style and character, especially since the 2015 vintage. 9,704 bottles were filled in April 2019.”
Love Spanish wine? We have 22 whites and 94 reds from Spain in stock now. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Terroir al Límit and Vega Sicilia, as well as more from Nin-Ortiz.
Fantastic Fondrèche
Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
Ventoux’s Powerhouse Producer
The Ventoux is a massive swath of the Rhône, east of the river and on the other side of the Dentelles from Gigondas. It sits between the heart of the Southern Rhône and Provence, and the wines have that wild, slightly untamed character that you often find in wines from the mountainous regions of Provence. Today Ventoux is attracting some top-tier talent because of the affordability of its vineyard land. Old vines on interesting soils are still available here, so young, driven winemakers are increasingly leaving Châteauneuf and Gigondas to make a name for themselves in Ventoux. Domaine de Fondrèche represents a prime example of this trend.
If you love big, powerful red wines and you’ve never had the top wines of Domaine de Fondrèche, you need to rectify that situation immediately. These are some of the gutsiest, most expressive wines in the Rhône, with incredible critical praise and a price tag that’s equivalent to mid-tier CdP. From their mostly Syrah “Divergente,” which puts a lot of $80 Hermitage to shame, to their “Il Était Une Fois,” a Châteauneuf destroyer, their wines represent excellent values and compelling drinking experiences. Because of the obscurity of Ventoux, these aren’t as expensive as they should be, despite a multitude of high scores (case in point, 97 and 95 for the pair today).
In Stock Now:
Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Divergente, Rhône 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Reminding me of one of the Sélections Parcellaires Hermitage from Michel Chapoutier, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was mostly destemmed and brought up in foudre. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, peppered meats, graphite, and liquid rock notes all flow to a fat, unctuous, sexy Syrah that has beautiful acidity, fine tannin, and a huge finish. It’s a true “Wow” wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Put this in a blind lineup of top Hermitage and shock all your friends.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine de Fondrèche Ventoux Il Était une Fois, Rhône 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The flagship is the 2016 Ventoux Il Était Une Fois, which is mostly Grenache with tiny amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre brought up all in foudre. Violets, red and black fruits, spice, and dried earth/limestone minerality all give way to an elegant, medium to full-bodied Grenache that gains depth, freshness, and purity with time in the glass. It has fine, building tannin, a seamless texture, and a great, beautiful finish. Over the previous few years, the quality of this cuvée has soared, and this is one of the finest to date.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Collector’s Corner
New Back-Vintage Arrivals
New Back-Vintage Arrivals
*The below wines have been professionally stored since their original release*
Burgundy
Domaine Bonneau du Martray Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2009 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2009 Corton-Charlemagne shows gorgeous balance and overall harmony. The overt, forward fruit is nicely buttressed by the wine’s underlying minerality and crystalline purity. The 2009 is juicy and oily, but without being overwhelming. A clean, vibrant finish rounds things out nicely. The 2009 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $392.99
The next best price is $392.99
Domaine Henri Boillot Criots-Bâtard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2011 750ML ($349.95) $299 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Burghound 93 points “This is notably riper than the Caillerets with overtly exotic dried yellow fruit, spice and floral aromas. There is outstanding richness to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a distinctly muscular mouth feel before culminating in an opulent, clean and very dry finish. This retains a fine sense of balance and while there is certainly fine complexity, it isn’t at the same level as displayed by the other grands crus in the range.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Louis Jadot Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2012 750ML ($549.95) $499 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The 2012 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru, which like the Chapelle-Chambertin is domaine-owned, has a more voluminous, multi-faceted bouquet with engaging incense and mineral notes infusing the beautifully defined black fruits. The palate is very well balanced on the entry with more tension and nervosite than the Chambertin, building effortlessly towards a quite regal, sophisticated finish whose mineralite lingers long in the mouth. Outstanding.”
Louis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges, Côte de Nuits 2010 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Burghound 89-92 points “Outstanding! This sports what is perhaps the most complex nose of any of the villages level wines in the extensive Jadot portfolio. A dense and beautifully layered nose features a variety of black fruit aromas along with notes of earth, spice and game. The mouth feel is unusually sophisticated and refined with ripe and dense but quite fine-grained tannins that possess a high degree of phenolic maturity, all wrapped in a mouth coating and firmly structured finish. This is terrific and should deliver exceptionally good value.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Mongeard-Mugneret Richebourg Grand Cru, Côte de Nuits 2012 750ML ($699.95) $599 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Burghound 93-95 points “Don’t miss! A distinctly toasty nose of subtle spice, earth and very cool yet ripe dark berry fruit aromas are trimmed in plenty of floral character. There is gorgeous intensity to the mineral-driven big-bodied flavors that possess outstanding delineation on the extract-rich mid-palate before terminating in a refined but overtly powerful and muscular finish that delivers strikingly good length. This too is decidedly built for longer-term cellaring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine de la Vougeraie Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru Les Mazoyères, Côte de Nuits 2011 750ML ($249.95) $219 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Bright, full red. Musky red berries, flowers, leather and potpourri spices on the complex nose. Juicy and penetrating, conveying excellent energy and lift to the complex flavors of red fruits, smoky underbrush and saline minerality. Rich, dense and creamy but with lovely restraint. Finishes with a firm edge of tannins and excellent building length. Already quite nuanced but I’d hold this for at least three or four years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Spain
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tórtolas, Madrid 2014 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The single vineyard Garnacha 2014 Arroyo del Tórtolas reminded me of the outstanding 2012. This is always sourced from a north-facing slope at 800 meters altitude that always has a slower ripening. And, in 2014, it seems to have ripened to perfection as the nose is explosive, and the palate has supreme elegance, very fine tannins and focused, clean and delineated flavors with refined tannins and a very lengthy finish. This is a little headier, developing more notes of cherries in liqueur that transported me to the best wines of Châteauneuf du Pape. This is super tasty… The Château Rayas of Bernabeleva? At this price, it’s a steal!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R. López de Heredia Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1981 750ML ($399.95) $279 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1981 Viña Tondonia Gran Reserva has a vibrant nose reminiscent of coeval Burgundy, with scents of citrus peel, orange rind, singed leather and a Tuscan delicatessen. The palate has a penetrating orange peel and tart cherry entry with potent earthy notes at its core. It is supremely well-balanced with an energetic finish underpinned by crisp dry tannins. This wonderful Rioja is drinking perfectly now and will age effortlessly. Drink now-2020+ “
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $299.99
The next best price is $299.99
Tuscany
Fattoria Poggio di Sotto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2007 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2007 Brunello di Montalcino wraps around the palate with dark red fruit, licorice, anise and sweet herbs. Silky tannins frame the fruit as the wine shows off its breadth and volume. This is a very representative 2007 Brunello with generous fruit and an open, accessible personality. I don’t see the 2007 being a super long-term ager, but I doubt that will be much of an issue considering how delicious the wine is today. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $219
The next best price is $219
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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