VinopolPick Weekend – 9-10-16

Barolo SuperDeal: Cordero di Montezemolo Enrico; Cristomania Sale: Up To 10% Off Cristom Wines; New Review: Louis Latour Corton Charlemagne; Bodegas Roda; Cantina del Pino; Willamette Valley Cellar Raiding: Matello & Goodfellow (and new releases, too!); Paradise Has Arrived: Domaine Eden; A Steal of a Deal – Bastide Miraflors – Newly Arrived; Bedrock: Ancient Vines; New Grapelive Review: Diamond Creek 2013; Loire’s Best Value: Pepiere Muscadet-Sur-Lie; Spanish Cellar Selections: ’61, ’64, ’73 & ’81 Lopez de Heredia; Grower Champagnes: Bouchard, Pierre Peters & Selosse; Cellar Treasures; Xavier Vignon: The Man behind the Curtain; Heymann-Loewenstein “R”

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Jump Start Sale

Barolo SuperDeal

Cordero di Montezemolo Enrico VI, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $85
James Suckling 96 points  “Wonderful aromas of crushed berries and flowers here. Particularly roses. Full body, with fine yet chewy tannins and a long intense finish. Needs four or five years to open. Best wine ever from here?” JS
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2010 Barolo Enrico VI sees fruit sourced from the celebrated Villero cru in Castiglione Falletto. It’s hard not to be enthusiastically impressed by this gorgeous effort. The fruit is stunning and dark with a deep, penetrating level of aromatic intensity that spans from creme de cassis to dried licorice root. In the mouth, it is extraordinarily bright and silky and the seamless finish can be counted in long, delicious minutes. A special nod goes the high energy and vibrant quality of this beautiful Barolo. Drink: 2016-2026.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This structured, vibrant Barolo opens with a medley of scents including violet, leather, black cherry, thyme and toast. The palate delivers candied cherry accented with mocha, orange peel and clove alongside brisk acidity and fine tannins. Drink after 2020.”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 94 points “The estate’s Barolo Enrico VI, which emerges from the Villero vineyard in Castiglione Falletto, is one of the most beautiful wines I have tasted here in some time. Vivid and layered in the glass, the 2010 is all about polish, silkiness and pure nuance. Sweet, silky tannins support a core of dark red cherries, plums, tobacco, menthol and smoke, all in a textured, layered style that is hugely appealing. The Enrico VI is a wine of significant potential. I can’t wait to see how it ages.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Balance, elegance, fruit and a dense texture are the hallmarks of this red. Cherry, plum, leather and spice flavors prevail as this tightens up on the finish. Well-proportioned and built for the long haul. Best from 2018 through 2035. 770 cases made.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $89.99
The average price is $96

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Cristomania!

Subscriber-Only Sale Ends Midnight Monday

5% off any 6+ bottles of Cristom
10% off any 12+ bottles of Cristom

Paul Gerrie founded Cristom after falling in love with Oregon Pinot at the International Pinot Noir Celebration in McMinnville (who else hasn’t been tempted after attending?). He moved his family from the East Coast and, with the help of Mike Etzel from Beaux Freres, founded the estate in 1992.

Winemaker Steve Doerner left Calera in 1992 in order to join the Cristom family. Doerner, who studied under Jacques Seysses of Domaine Dujac, has worked with the Pinot Noir grape for almost forty years. As he puts it, “…I wanted to continue making Pinot Noir, and second I wanted to work for a small company. It didn’t take much persuasion from Paul Gerrie to convince me that Oregon was the place and that Cristom was the company. At the time it seemed like a hard decision but it’s been twenty years now, and I’ve never looked back.” Gerrie and Doerner are joined by vineyard manager Mark Feltz, son of one of the first people to plant a vineyard in the Eola Hills in 1973. Feltz’s career has taken him to Bethel Heights, Stagg’s Leap, and Chalk Hill, and he’s been at Cristom since the beginning.

Cristom owns eight estate vineyards, with six named after matriarchs within the family. They vinify wines with native yeasts with whole-cluster fermentation and aim for minimal cellar intervention. With no shortage of praise, the wines are known for their ageability.

Pick Your Wines – We’ll Provide the Sale

Newly Arrived:

Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($69.95) Displayed price: $59, that’s $56.05 after our 5% discount or $53.10 after our 10% discount!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright red. Tightly wound red berry and Asian spice aromas pick up a suave floral nuance with air. Silky and precise, offering energetic raspberry and bitter cherry flavors with a touch of star anise. A suave, seamless Pinot with no excess weight. Closes tangy and very long, with silky tannins and lingering spiciness.”

Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($69.95) Displayed price: $59, that’s $56.05 after our 5% discount or $53.10 after our 10% discount!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Ruby-red. Highly perfumed scents of dark berries, cola and rose oil. Fleshy, expansive black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors display a suave blend of richness and energy, picking up a spicy character with air. Finishes juicy and very long, with lingering dark fruit flavors and slow-building tannins.”

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2013 750ML ($69.95) Displayed price: $59, that’s $56.05 after our 5% discount or $53.10 after our 10% discount!
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Deep red. Hugely aromatic bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, incense and Asian spices, along with a bright mineral overtone. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering sweet raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and elegance, finishing with harmonious tannins and remarkable clarity and length.”

Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) Displayed price: $28, that’s $26.60 after our 5% discount or $25.20 after our 10% discount!
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Mt Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, which contains around 50% whole cluster fruit, has a lively, wild strawberry and candied orange peel scented bouquet, a touch of freshly sliced tangerine in the background. This is a vivacious bouquet with more intensity than the 2013. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh, lithe tannin. This is nicely balanced with good grip in the mouth, the 15% new oak nicely integrated with a subtle saline note towards the earthy finish. For thirty bucks, this is a great value.”

Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) Displayed price: $69, that’s $65.55 after our 5% discount or $62.10 after our 10% discount! Limit 2 bottles – sorry
Winery note “Originally planted in 1982, the Marjorie Vineyard is one of the oldest vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA and home to some of the oldest vines we farm. Marjorie is a gently sloped East-facing hillside found between 480 feet and 615 feet above sea level. Named for Paul Gerrie’s mother, the first single vineyard estate Marjorie was released in 1994. A true example of terroir, the soil, elevation, climate, and vine age meet and produce a wine capable of great depth, complexity, and long-term age ability.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Including Cristom Wines Arriving Friday, September 16th

Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) Displayed price: $59, that’s $56.05 after our 5% discount or $53.10 after our 10% discount!
Winery note “Perched high on a hill, Eileen Vineyard has a commanding view of the Cristom Estate, the Eastern Cascade Mountains, and the Western Coastal Range. The vineyard’s elevation soars from 540 to 705 feet, giving Eileen the highest elevation on the Cristom property. Eileen is also known for having the youngest vines: 16.6 acres of Pinot Noir were planted in 1997; in 2007, 4.52 acres of Wädenswil clone Pinot Noir were added. This gives Eileen the distinction of having the youngest vines on the farm and the largest planting. Named for Paul Gerrie’s wife (and co-owner of Cristom), Eileen Gerrie, the Eileen Single Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir was first released in 2000.”

Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) Displayed price: $59, that’s $56.05 after our 5% discount or $53.10 after our 10% discount!
Winery note “The views from the top of the east-facing Jessie Vineyard are some of Cristom’s most spectacular. On a clear day, the Cascade Mountains (including Mts. Jefferson, Hood, and Adams) sparkle. Named after Paul Gerrie’s paternal grandmother, Jessie Sommers, Jessie Vineyard is the steepest on the Cristom property. It is also the vineyard with the greatest elevation change and most diverse soils. First released in 1998, Jessie is typically deep, rich and floral with multiple layers of flavor.”

Cristom Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) Displayed price: $59, that’s $56.05 after our 5% discount or $53.10 after our 10% discount!
Winery note “Paul Gerrie’s maternal grandmother was the namesake of Louise Vineyard, the first Cristom estate vineyard planted. Thanks to a slope that separates the upper and lower parts of the vineyard, Louise is distinctive because it usually has some of the first and last fruit harvested each year. Louise Vineyard Pinot Noir was first released in 1996. It typically has more acid and tannin than other single vineyard estate Pinot Noirs – a result of its lower elevation and warmer site.”

These are the only listings in the USA today!

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Lovely Louis Latour

Newly Reviewed

Family owned since 1797, the famed Louis Latour’s 2014 release of Corton-Charlemagne offers excellent potential from this stunningly promising vintage:

Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “A charming, broad white, featuring lemon, baked apple, vanilla, clove and nutmeg flavors, with fine concentration and length. Shows a bright structure and chalky intensity on the slightly tannic finish. Best from 2019 through 2032.”

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Bodega Roda

Tempranillo remains a grape unmastered by anyone outside of Spain. The Ribera del Duero has become famous for its version of Iberia’s noblest grape, but the world’s finest Tempranillo still comes from La Rioja. Perfect growing conditions aside, La Rioja possesses a centuries-old tradition of Tempranillo winemaking, which usually blends in some Graciano, Mazuelo, and/or Grenache. Today, styles vary in La Rioja, and amongst the more modern wineries Bodegas Roda stands out. Absolute quality drives Roda’s vinous pursuits.

Old vines abound in Roda’s estate vineyards, and the ultra-modern winery keeps the site’s 19th-century cellars at different temperatures depending on the stage of vinification. Each of the 17 vineyards ferments and ages separately in French oak until the wines are blended to create Roda’s signature wines. The Roda cuvée offers red fruit in a silky, fruit-forward fashion, while the Roda I tends toward dark fruit and a full, complex palate of chocolate and spice—both are Reservas. The Sela lends itself to earlier, easier drinking, with definite Roda character. All three of these wines are ready to drink, but could also cellar for years more. We’re delighted to have Roda on our list: it’s one of Spain’s best.

Bodegas Roda Wines Available Here Now

Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Roda Sela, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($399.95) $269 special (that’s only $22.42/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Sela will be released in March 2015, and it’s a great example of Sela. It opens to bright red fruit, more shiny than 2011, and is still pretty young showing faint lactic notes and more traces of the barrel that should be absorbed with time. 2012 could be fresher and more accessible. It’s an elegant and balanced wine, with some fine-grained tannins that will be polished with bottle age. The palate is very tasty and has almost salty flavors that are quite gentle and velvety. In 2012 Sela was a blend of Tempranillo with 3% Graciano and 1% Garnacha.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35

Bodegas Roda Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Deep ruby. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry and cherry, with complicating notes of rose oil, pipe tobacco and vanilla. Spicy oak nuances emerge with air and carry onto the palate, which displays sappy dark fruit liqueur flavors and hints of mocha and floral pastilles. The expansive, focused, long finish leaves vanilla and spicecake notes behind. The malo occurred in large French oak casks and the wine was then aged in French oak barriques, 40% of them new, for 14 months.”
Wine Advocate 91 points “Against all odds I gave the edge to the 2009 over the 2010 Roda Reserva, A blend of Tempranillo with 10% Graciano. This serious and very spicy wine mixes red and black fruit with an aniseed touch that slowly grows in the glass, serious and concentrated, ripe and fresh and getting closer to the profile of Roda I. It is starting to develop complexity and takes a little bit longer than the 2009 to unfurl its aromas and juicy palate, with very fine tannins. This is accessible today, but it will be even better with time in bottle.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $47

Bodegas Roda ‘Roda I’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2008 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 93 points “Released later than many others, the 2008 Roda I Reserva is a truly Atlantic, classical Rioja, with developed aromas of leather, blackberries and spicy and toasted sesame seed notes. The weaker vintages show the effect of the oak more evidently, but it is absorbed over time, much as I saw with the 1997–a somewhat similar vintage. This Atlantic has fresh notes than might feel a little herbal when young that turn into dry roses with a good decade in bottle. I see some earthy hints (peat), a combination of red and black fruit and that spiciness coming back in the palate. The wine is a bit stiff, as these kinds of vintages often take longer to come into their own. It has good depth, very fine tannins and is very fresh. Santolaya also uncorked a bottle of the 1994, a superb wine, aging in the direction of the classical Riojas and should still live a long life, and still feels young at age 21. This will surely live a long life in bottle and it’s one to have with food. Is it possible that cooler vintages age more in a Burgundian way and the warmer/riper vintages go more Bordeaux?”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $58

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Cantina del Pino

The birth of Barbaresco coincides with what is today named Cantina del Pino. Toward the end of the 19th century, Domizio Cavazza, director of Alba’s Royal Enological School, purchased vines in Ovello and produced the first wine labeled “Barbaresco.” (He also founded the Produttori del Barbaresco…)  In 1912, the Vacca family bought the Cavazza estate, and eventually helped revive the Produttori’s endeavors. Then, in 1997, the Vaccas set their Ovello and other Barbaresco holdings aside to create Cantina del Pino. Both consumers and critics alike took note, and today the Cantina del Pino ranks among Barbaresco’s finest.

While old-vine Ovello remains the estate’s gem, similarly old vines in Albesani do the Cantina del Pino equal justice. Structured, ripe, and elegant, these wines define Barbaresco. “Not only were the wines from Cantina del Pino among the standouts of my tastings,” writes Antonio Galloni, “they also happen to be among the best values in Barbaresco.” Such values also include Cantina del Pino’s straight Barbaresco and their Langhe Nebbiolo, both terrific exemplars of Piedmont’s fame. To best appreciate the wines of Barbaresco and Cantina del Pino, follow Domizio Cavazza’s advice: “If you want to taste the wine Barbaresco, please do not ask for a small sample to be delivered to your address. Instead buy a case of the vintage you want or, even better, a mixed case of several vintages. This will be the best way for you to understand Barbaresco.” With this in mind, we have Cantina del Pino from 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2014, in case you’re curious.

Cantina del Pino Wines Available Here Now

Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Cantina del Pino Langhe Nebbiolo 2014 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2014 Langhe Nebbiolo captures the brightness and energy of the year. Cranberry, strawberry, mint and white pepper are some of the signatures in this lively, refreshing Nebbiolo. The 2014 is a blend of fruit from both the eastern and western portions of Ovello, plus Starderi. Readers who like aromatic, lifted wines will find much to like in the 2014. Proprietor Renato Vacca had this fruit seven days on the skins and aged the wine in tank.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $24

Cantina del Pino Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Cantina del Pino’s 2011 Barbaresco offers a classic interpretation of both territory and grape at an excellent price point. The wine is pristine and forthcoming with dark berry nuances followed by coffee, tar, licorice and fragrant garden herb. In the mouth, it shows sweet tannins and rich texture. It still must undergo further evolution. This wine is still in its infancy. ” ML
Wine Spectator 92 points “A rich, dense texture creates a matrix of cherry, licorice, floral and tar flavors in this expressive red.  Firm despite the sweet fruit, with a lingering aftertaste of tobacco, mineral and spice.  Best from 2017 through 2025.”BS

Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “The picture of harmony, this red exudes cherry and floral aromas, with plenty of berry, tobacco and balsamic flavors. Balanced and firm, with a lingering aftertaste of spice and mineral. Accessible now, yet will improve. Best from 2014 through 2025” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $55

Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Cantina del Pino’s 2010 Barbaresco Albesani is another huge, powerful wine. Black cherries, smoke, licorice and asphalt hit the palate in a powerful, structured Barbaresco that is going to require some time. As always, the richness and depth of Albesani comes through, but in this vintage, there is also plenty of underlying structure to allow the 2010 to age gracefully for years.” AG

Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Albesani is the wine that surprised me most among Cantina del Pino’s new releases. It shows an exceptional level of focus and clarity with tight tannins at the back that keep it stitched together tightly. It shows an impressive level of unity and precision. The bouquet is slow to start, but once it does it delivers a steady stream of dark fruit, licorice, balsam herb and crushed mineral. The Albesani cru, with its thick clay soils, evidently had enough underground moisture to avoid heat stress on the vines during the hot summer.” ML

Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Showing great persistency and length, the 2010 Barbaresco Ovello is an extremely elegant and refined expression with crushed flowers, forest fruit and strong mineral definition. The Ovello cru (at 300 meters above sea level) overlooks the Tanaro River valley where early morning fog banks appear and temperature shifts are very pronounced thus helping aromatic development of the wine. The results are ethereal and finessed. Drink: 2017-2035.” WA

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Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver

For the summer season we are offering
UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground
for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.

Free service upgrade only applies on single orders shipped during the promotional period.
Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period
and shipped by Three Day Select.
Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.

Don’t forget about our other current shipping promos:

We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment

-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25

These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.

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Willamette Valley Cellar Raiding

And New Arrivals

From Matello & Goodfellow

Winery Direct Cellar Selections

Matello ‘Bishop Creek’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2008 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 4 bottles available
Winemaker’s note “The 750ML takes about an hour to really get going, but it’s a really lovely bottle of wine. Yamhill-Carlton weight, Matello acidity…”
Josh Raynolds 89+ points “Bright red. Red and dark berry aromas, with notes of cherry and sassafras coming up with air. Chewy blackberry and bitter cherry flavors are complicated by a smoky quality and a touch of licorice. Shows a spicy quality on the finish, which features youthfully firm tannins and a lingering hint of cherry pit. Here’s an ’08 that needs to rest for a bit.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Matello ‘Hommage A&D’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 7 bottles available
Winemaker’s note “This is delicious. It wants about an hour to unwind, and has years ahead of it still. A blend of Winter’s Hill, Bishop Creek, and Cherry Grove fruit.”
Josh Raynolds 91 points “Bright red. Musky red berry and floral aromas are complicated by suggestions of cinnamon, star anise and white pepper. Racy and taut on entry, then gains sweetness and breadth in the mid-palate, offering attractive red fruit flavors and a touch of bitter cherry pit. Deeper and more fruit-driven than the Winter’s Hill; less edgy and a bit more mainstream. The spicy finish is sweet, expansive and impressively persistent. Still, this isn’t a wine to serve to friends who use, say, Kosta-Browne as a benchmark for their pinot love and can’t see past it. But pinot is really a big tent wine so give it a shot: you never know.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Matello ‘Hommage A&D’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2004 1.5L ($159.95) $133 special, 2 magnums available
Winemaker’s note “Provenance has been exceptional, fruit is Winter’s Hill, Whistling Ridge and Momtazi. The wine drinks well but is youthful in 750ML. Drink or hold.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Matello ‘Winter’s Hill’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2006 1.5L ($199.95) $149 special, 3 magnums available
Winemaker’s note “This is a lovely 2006! It’s very, very pretty, has the weight to please the newer PN persona and the class to please the more refined drinker. Tasted a month ago in magnum and it was in a great spot.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

New Arrivals

First, a special announcement! The new 2014 Four Winds Chardonnay from Crowley has arrived:

Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Winery note “Four Winds is an ideal vineyard site for the fresh, acid driven and austere Chardonnay that we aspire to make. Located high in the foothills of the McMinnville Coast Range, these 20 year old Wente clone vines deliver pristine Chardonnay with personality and restrained elegance.”
VinopolNote “Outstanding! Aged on the lees with no stirring for 20 months in two neutral barrels and one second fill barrel. 100% Wente clone.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Matello ‘Whistling Ridge’ White, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
Winery note “Co-fermented from Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Gewurztraminer vines. The incredibly shallow soils at Whistling Ridge imbue this wine with transparency, minerality, and weightless power. A mélange of fruit flavors, it’s the minerality that sets it apart.”

Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay Richard’s Cuvee, Whistling Ridge Vineyard 2014 750ML ($41.95) $37 special
Winery note “Dry-farmed chardonnay from a 1-acre parcel at Whistling Ridge, hand-picked, whole-cluster pressed. After a brief period settling the wine is racked into large French oak vessels. Fermentation and elevage lasts about 21 months on the gross lees. The shallow marine sediment soils and windy environs at Whislting Ridge produce a Chardonnay that is mineral, deep and long with chalky citrus fruit.”

Goodfellow Family Cellars Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “New to Oregon Chardonnay and want to see put your toes in the pool? This delightful wine raises its hand and asks that you pop the cork. Made with neutral wood, but full malo-lactic fermentation, it plays well with most food yet isn’t lacking in personality.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery note “Produced from hand-picked Pommard and Dijon 114, planted in 1973 and 1993, the Durant Vineyard is often the first site at full ripeness. It is fermented in small lots with native yeasts with a good portion of whole clusters. The wine is aged for 18 months in 15%-25% new French oak barrels and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Durant is often tense, silken and delicate with spicy red-fruited purity and clean texture from one of the original Dundee Hills vineyards.”

Goodfellow Family Cellars Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winery note “This bottle holds a special place in our portfolio as an introduction to the smallest AVA with a reputation of the highest regard. We are thrilled to work with this fruit, and pass it along to you. Enjoy deep flavors of clove, mulberry and a touch of strawberry with the structure we are known for.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($41.95) $37 special
Winery note “With more than ten clones of Pinot Noir planted in the shallow marine sedimentary soils at Whistling Ridge, the clonal diversity here creates an expression of site totally removed from clonal character. Dry farming encourages deep roots and daily wind that blows in the afternoons and evening keeps the canopy fresh in the heat of the summer. Handpicked fruit sorted and fermented with native yeasts in small lots with varying amounts of whole clusters. Elevage takes place in 25% new French oak puncheons for 18-21 months and the wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wines show off Ribbon Ridge character of dusty red and black fruit, sappy spice and firm, savory structure.”

Recently Restocked

Matello Caprice, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
80% Pinot Blanc, 20% Pinot Gris
Winery note “The Caprice white wine is produced from a single block of fruit planted to Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris. The vineyard soils are from the oldest marine sedimentary deposits in Oregon. Caprice has white flower notes, a slight smokiness, and hints of mango and passionfruit in the nose. The palate is sturdy and intense, with stone fruit and tropical notes, a rich texture and mouth-watering acidity. It’s a perfect wine for pairing with almost anything that swims. This wine will evolve for the next several years in bottle and can be drunk anytime between now and 2020.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Goodfellow Family Cellars Clover Reserve Pinot Gris 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “Pinot Gris in the style of white Burgundy, from the older vines at the highest point of the Whistling Ridge and Bishop Creek Vineyards (both vineyards are dry farmed). Fermented in neutral wood (30% Acacia, 70% French oak), then aged for 15-17 months on the lees.”

Matello Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “The Willamette Valley cuvee is a blend of each of our vineyards, highlighting the terroir of the northern Willamette Valley. All are dry farmed vineyards (of which 2 are certified LIVE), with vines averaging above 20 years of age. Ferments are in small bins with indigenous yeast and no temperature control. Foot treading is employed as well as punching down the cap by hand. Wines are racked directly to barrel at the end of fermentation and remain so until just prior to bottling. Aged 17 months in barrel this cuvee highlights the elegant character of the vintage. The 2013 Willamette Valley will develop well for the next 5 years.”

Goodfellow Family Cellars Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Winery note “Uplifted Sedimentary & Volcanic soils. 15 months French oak. Average vine age 24 years.”

Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Winery note “From the Willamette Valley’s first planting of Syrah, this cool climate, low alcohol wine will redefine your idea of the possibilities of new-world Syrah. If you like your Syrah French, here is a kindred but one of a kind wine from Oregon.  90% Syrah, 10% Viognier.”

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Paradise Has Arrived

Mount Eden Vineyards ‘Domaine Eden’ Chardonnay, Santa Cruz Mountains 2013 750ML ($37.95) $28 special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 93 points “Domaine Eden’s 2013 Chardonnay is subtle, poised and gracious to the core. Dried pear, dried flowers, sage, mint and chamomile grace the palate in this understated, exquisite Chardonnay. Hints of smoke, slate and dried pear reappear on the super-classic, expressive finish. What a gorgeous wine this is. Quite simply, the 2013 Domaine Eden Chardonnay is a tremendous wine for the money. In 2013, the blend is approximately 72% declassified Mt. Eden juice and 28% wine from the Domaine Eden estate proper.”

Mount Eden Vineyards ‘Domaine Eden’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains 2012 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “Domaine Eden’s Cabernet Sauvignon remains one of the real undiscovered gems in California. Plump, juicy and exuberant, the 2012 offers gorgeous breath and intensity throughout. Red-fleshed fruit, sweet spices, mocha and flowers are all pushed forward. The interplay of expressive, pliant fruit and classic structure is compelling. Readers can look forward to another decade or so of fine drinking.”

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A Steal of a Deal

From Bastide Miraflors

Newly Arrived

Domaine Lafage Bastide Miraflors, IGP Cotes Catalanes 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Robert Parker 92 points “A steal from Lafage is the 2014 Bastide Miraflors, which is a Cotes du Roussillon, and a blend of 70% Syrah and 30% Grenache, with the Grenache aged in concrete tanks and the Syrah in 500-liter demi-muids. Lafage makes more expensive wines than this, but certainly excels with his value lineup. He has really hit a home run with this 10,000-case cuvée. It is deep, ruby/plum/purple, with fresh notes of blackcurrants, plums, Provençal herbs as well as licorice. Deep, medium to full-bodied, with amazing fruit, the purity, authenticity and Mediterranean upbringing of this wine are obvious. Quite deep, round and succulent, this wine should drink well for another several years. This is one to buy by the case.”

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Bedrock

Highlighting the Ancient Vines of Sonoma Valley

Newly Arrived

Bedrock Wine Co. Old Vine Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2014 750ML ($27.95) $23.90 special
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 91 points “The 2014 Old Vine Zinfandel is deep, rich and luscious, with plenty of up-front fruit and tons of appeal. More of a field blend than a true Zinfandel, the 2014 is soft and forward, with expressive red-fleshed fruit, bright acidity and terrific overall balance. The Old Vine is 77% Zinfandel and a generous 23% mixed blacks. Best of all, the Old Vine Zinfandel is a fabulous value.”

Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2013 Bedrock Heritage Wine is one of the most intriguing wines in the range. Smoke, cedar, tobacco and a host of savory notes meld together in a powerful yet nuanced wines built on delineation and energy. Even with all of its intensity, the 2013 remains lifted, floral and light on its feet for such a big wine. This is by far the most polished and refined wine I have tasted from the Bedrock Vineyard, where the wines have often been much riper and bigger.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46

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Diamond Creek

California’s Original Cult Wine

New Review from Grapelive

Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($229.95) $188 special, 22 bottles available
Grapelive 95+ points “Long before there was Opus One, Dominus, Far Niente, Harlan, Colgin, Bryant Family or Screaming Eagle there was Diamond Creek making great “Cult” Cabernet. In fact Diamond Creek made the very first labeled single vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon. Founded in 1968 by Boots and the late Al Brounstein, Diamond Creek continues to produce one of California’s top wines, crafted by long time winemaker Phil Steinschreiber. These Cabernets are amazingly age worthy and pure. The three main wines are Gravelly Meadow, Red Rock Terrace and Volcanic Hill. I’ve been lucky enough to spend a few hours with the late Al Brounstein and his wife Boots and have seen their passion. Even after losing Al a few years back, Boots, with her son Phil Ross, [still] runs the winery with pride, humility and focus. I have tasted many Diamond Creek vintages, most recently an ’81 which blew my mind, so it was a pleasure to taste through the upcoming releases from the 2013 vintage. While all three of the main wines were outstanding, for me, the 2013 Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill stood out (though I’m sure after 20 to 30 years they will all be remembered as classics much in the same way we look back at 1974 or 1985)! The Volcanic Hill starts with lead pencil, acacia flower, black plum and flinty spices along with a deep garnet/purple hue. Right away you know you are on to something really special. I have this same sensation when I taste a vintage left bank Bordeaux like Chateau Latour or Haut Brion, a Ridge Monte Bello, Shafer Hillside or Cathy Corison’s Kronos. The palate of this Diamond Creek 2013 is filled with glorious richness and tannin, which is surprisingly supple. You know it with hold this beauty together for 3 decades if not more! Beautiful detail and vitality make this Cabernet a classic with black currant, blackberry, sweet tobacco leaf, black licorice, hints of shale/stones, creme de cassis and opulent textures as well as polish and refined French oak. This is stunning stuff. Full bodied and dense with spectacular length this Diamond Creek Volcanic hill is a thrill ride of a wine that highlights the near perfect vintage Napa enjoyed in 2013. In a world where you have wineries selling wines that have no history or pedigree selling for over $300, Diamond Creek seems a bargain. I hope I get to re-visit this wine in many years when it is fully developed. I’m pretty sure it will then reach a near 100 Point score. The potential is clearly there. Best from 2023 to 2050!”

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Close Out Madness

New Arrivals & Wines Arriving Next Friday

All Incredible Prices

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Loire’s Best Value Wine: Pepiere

What else would drink well for 30 years at $14/bottle?

Arriving September 16

Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
Importer notes “When Marc Ollivier is on, these are the top wines of the AOC – wines that are not only delicious young, but that can also age 10, 20 or 30 years.  Ollivier’s Muscadet-sur-Lie is the authentic item — it has lees contact until the time of bottling, generally in late May. This extended contact gives it the crispness that makes Muscadet so refreshing, and the classic wine match for seafood. It is the traditional way to make Muscadet, but has become the exception as growers and shippers rush to bottle “technically correct” wines by early January.  Ollivier takes his time. He hand harvests (also a rarity in the region), uses natural yeasts, waits for the wine to finish and bottles with a very light filtration. The vineyards are in old vines (40 years and older) with a particularly good exposition on a plateau overlooking the river Sèvre. All the vineyards are from original stock: Ollivier is the only grower in the Muscadet who does not have a single clonal selection in his vineyards.”

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Spanish Cellar Selections

Arriving September 16th

VinopolNote: These are all ex-winery cellar direct releases imported to Portland, OR by Phil Smith Wines.

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1964 750ML ($1,199.95) $999 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Decanter Magazine 98 points, Wine Spectator 95 points “Extraordinary. Sweet vanilla and dried berry aromas and flavors have an unexpected richness in this vibrant red. Impressive for its balance of concentration and elegance; firm tannins meld with a creamy texture. The long finish defines traditional Rioja at its best.”

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1981 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1981 Vina 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+ ” (08/2012)

Arriving Late December

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1961 750ML ($1,499.95) $1,289 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Medium red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays red fruit preserves, smoked meat and potpourri. Deeply pitched redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show a slight medicinal reserve, which makes this wine seem far younger than it is. The potpourri note builds with air and carries through a long, chewy, smoky finish. Definitely let this air out for an hour or so. Incidentally, I had the chance to drink two lithe and highly fragrant bottles of the 1961 Vina Bosconia at a restaurant in San Sebastian that had been in their cellar for at least the last 20 years. If you’re lucky enough to own that wine (like these older wines, it is still available from the winery) there’s absolutely no reason to hold off drinking it. I couldn’t hold off, twice.”
VinopolNote: These are the last 6 bottles available from the Lopez de Heredia cellar!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $1,499.99

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva Blanco, Rioja DOCa 1973 750ML ($999.95) $799 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 98 points “The 1973 Vina Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva is so sublime, so complete and natural that it may bring tears to the eyes. It has a complex bouquet of beeswax, lanolin, lemon curd and almond that is effortlessly combined. The palate is nigh-perfectly balanced with very good weight. It has a seamless waxy texture and a peacock’s tail of almond, creme brulee, marzipan and dried apricot. There is a beguiling sense of completeness here. Heaven in a glass, and one of the finest Tondonia Blancos I have encountered. Drink now-2020+”
VinopolNote: These are the last 9 bottles available from the Lopez de Heredia cellar!

This is the only listing in the USA today!
Looking for a cellar-worthy (or cellared & ready) Spanish wine available here now? We’ve got you covered. Below is a list of five picks:

Remelluri ‘Lindes de Remelluri Vinedos de San Vicente’, Rioja DOCa 2010 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 17 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Glass-staining ruby.  Heady aromas of boysenberry, cassis, fennel and pipe tobacco, with a sexy vanilla undertone.  Lush, velvety and sweet in the mouth, with sexy flavors of black and blue fruit preserves, licorice and floral pastilles.  A fleshy, powerful but shockingly energetic Rioja, with supple tannins framing a long, sweet finish.” ST

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2003 750ML ($47.95) $33 special, 19 bottles available
Case-12 R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2003 750ML ($499.95) $359 special, 5 cases available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Cigar box, cedar and balsamic notes frame cherry, raisin and licorice flavors in this lean, firm red. Displays grip and focus. A traditional style. Drink now through 2023.”

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Bosconia’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2004 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2004 Vina Bosconia Reserva is a blend of 80% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho and the remaining 5% Mazuelo and Graciano aged for five years in used barrels, racked twice per year and fined with egg whites before being bottled unfiltered. Dark ruby-colored, with notes of beef blood, iron, antique shop, incense, blood orange and a touch of volatile acidity, the palate is very fresh, with good concentration, clear flavors and enough grip and fruit to age gracefully. A perfumed and feminine great Rioja. The Bosconia vineyard wines are the only ones from Lopez de Heredia bottled in Burgundy bottles. Drink now-2024.” WA

Bodegas Marco Abella Mas Mallola, Priorat DOCa 2008 750ML ($49.95) $26 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Dry, schisty aromas of cherry and spice are reserved and elevated. This is a bright wine with juicy acidity and complexity. Flavors of baked berry fruits are minerally at the core, while the finish is smooth, mature and steady, with lasting purity. Drink through 2019.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “(63% garnacha, 20% carinena, 11% cabernet sauvignon and 6% merlot; aged for 20 months in French oak): Deep ruby. Lively aromas of fresh red berries, potpourri, vanilla and pipe tobacco, with a hint of incense gaining strength with air. Fresh and lively on the palate, offering intense raspberry and cherry-vanilla flavors and a zesty blood orange note. Juicy, appealingly sweet and seamless, boasting very good energy and thrust to its smooth, gently tannic finish.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bodega Akutain Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2004 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles available
John Gilman 94 points “The 2004 Rioja Gran Reserva from Bodegas Akutain is a lovely the elegant side of Rioja Alta fruit, as it offers up a complex and utterly classic bouquet of plums, raspberries, cigar smoke, an impressively complex base of soil tones, cloves and toasted coconut. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with a great core of fruit, impeccable balance, lovely complexity and a very long, bright and classy finish. Just a great bottle of old school Rioja! 2016-2035+”

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Grower Champagnes

Cedric Bouchard Arrives September 23rd:
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Blanc de Noirs Cote de Val Vilaine, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Inflorescence LCote de Bechlin, Champagne NV (2009) 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Haute-Lemblee Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne La Boloree Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs, Champagne 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Les Ursules Blanc de Noirs, Champagne 2012 1.5L ($399.95) $279 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Rose de Saignee ‘Le Creux d’Enfer’, Champagne 2012 750ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Cedric Bouchard Roses de Jeanne Presle, Champagne 2012 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special

Also Arriving in September:

Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale ‘Les Chetillons’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($149.95) $136 pre-arrival special
Pierre Peters Cuvee Speciale ‘Les Chetillons’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne 2008 1.5L ($319.95) $299 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This harmonious Champagne offers fine interplay between power and finesse, with ripe poached apricot, rich lemon meringue pie and spun honey flavors married to chalky minerality and focused acidity. The overall impression is elegant and fresh. Drink now through 2030.”

Jacques Selosse Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Anselme’s Rosé is pure, intensely mineral Chardonnay from a pair of vintages, with a small amount of still Ambonnay Pinot Noir added.”

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Cellar Treasures

Arriving Late September

Chateau Malescot-St-Exupery, Margaux 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “A wine with intense spice and berry character with hints of sweet tobacco. It changes all the time from flowers to fruit and wet earth. Full-bodied with super fine tannins and ripe fruit. It’s long and juicy with lovely fruit. Super long and beautiful with fine tannins that last for minutes. Tight now but juicy and gorgeous. Best ever from here.”

Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2003 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Honey, apple tart and lemon rind. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and very spicy with intense flavors of mace, apple and honey. Long finish. Thick and powerful. Best after 2010.”

Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes 2003 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Big, rich and juicy. Voluptuous, with aromaas of caramel, apple and light tropical fruit. Full-bodied, round and very sweet, with loads of ripe fruit and a long butterscotch and piecrust aftertaste. viscous texture. Hard not to drink it now. A wonderful sticky. Best after 2010.” WS
Cellar Treasure

Arriving in October

Domaine Arnoux-Lachaux Romanee-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru 2005 3L ($4,199.95) $3,599 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 95+ points “Medium red-ruby. Sexy, distinctly wild aromas of raspberry, minerals, coffee and smoke. Wonderfully ripe and dense but classically dry; thicker and more powerful than the Suchots but not showing that wine’s finesse today. The finish is broad and palate-staining, revealing more iron-like minerality than primary fruit. This is less sexy today than the Suchots and much more closed. Even in 2005, Lachaux chaptalized this wine about a half-degree (it’s 13.5% in bottle) to prolong the fermentation.”

This is the only listing in the USA today for the 3L!

Cellar Treasures

Arriving November

Emidio Pepe Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2012 ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2000 ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Emidio Pepe Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Riserva 2001 ($189.95) $159 pre-arrival special

These are the only listings in the USA today!

Roberto Voerzio Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate 2004 1.5L ($699.95) $569 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 98 points “Voerzio no longer makes his Barolo Riserva Vecchie Viti dei Capalot e delle Brunate. The 2004 is a great reminder of just how fabulous this wine was. A huge, vertical wine, the 2004 boasts magnificent depth and overall intensity. The flavors are boldly sketched in a dramatic Barolo built on pure muscle. A host of black cherry, cloves, smoke, menthol, tar and blackberry jam flow through to the intense finish. Beguiling and powerful, the 2004 will provide fascinating drinking for the next 10-15 years, perhaps longer. Of all the 2004s here, this is the wine that has had the most positive evolution in bottle.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Cellar Treasures

Arriving February 2017

Domaine Faiveley Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($379.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Offers power and grace, showcasing lemon oil, peach, apple and white flower aromas and flavors. Harmonious, lulling you with elegance and a gossamer texture until the afterburners kick in on the superb finish. Latent mineral notes should emerge with time. Best from 2019 through 2034.”

Domaine Faiveley Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($279.95) $229 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A fresh white, exuding lemon tart, apple, peach and toasted spice flavors. Elegant and racy, firming up on the stony finish and echoing notes of citrus and spice. Shows terrific focus and precision on the long aftertaste. Best from 2019 through 2032.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Xavier Vignon

The Man behind the Curtain

Arriving Late December

Few in the Southern Rhône can make wine like Xavier Vignon. Grand Veneur’s 100 Point Châteauneuf-du-Pape VV 2010, along with Raymond Usseglio’s 99 Point Cuvée Impériale 2010: Xavier fashioned both. Having studied at Montpellier’s prestigious winemaking school, and polished his skills in places like Napa, Bordeaux, and Australia, Xavier arrived in Châteauneuf in the late 1990s. Following his success there, and heeding industry advice, he began buying specific barrels from some of his winery clients and blending his own line of wines. The wine world has since thanked Xavier for his contribution, and critics like Robert Parker continuously praise his signature bottlings.

Xavier’s mission remains simple: to showcase, and exalt, the character of the Rhône Valley’s most celebrated appellations. The wines of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras, and Rasteau, for example, sing in their purest voices under the guidance of Xavier. His intuition and decades of experience as a Rhône winemaker pay off not just in 99-100 points, but likewise in his own brand of wines. We are offering an assortment of Xavier Vignon wines, all in the 90+ point range, at a fraction of what you’d pay for the wines Xavier makes as consultant. Dig deep into the Rhône and you’ll find treasures like these.

Xavier Vignon Wines Arriving in December

Xavier Rasteau, Rhone 2012 750ML ($34.95) $28.80 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “One of my favorite wines from this estate, the 2012 Rasteau offers tons of ripe dark fruit, crushed rock, licorice and minerality in its full-bodied, concentrated profile. Made from 75% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 10% Mourvedre, it’s a classic Rasteau to drink over the coming 7-8 years.”

Xavier Vignon Côtes du Rhône S.M. NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Côtes du Rhône S.M. is thrilling stuff. Made from equal parts Grenache and Syrah and aged half in concrete and half in barrel, it offers a full-bodied, voluptuous and decadent style to go with overflowing notes of plum and darker fruits, licorice and violets. Gorgeous on all counts, it’s a shockingly good Côtes du Rhône to drink over the coming 4-6 years, although I wouldn’t be surprised to see it last even longer.”

Xavier Vacqueyras, Rhone 2010 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2010 Vacqueyras was made from a somewhat unusual blend of 50% Syrah, 30% Mourvedre and 20% Grenache, most of it from the Plateau de Garrigue, near Sarrians in Vacqueyras. This rich effort reveals lots of forest floor, roasted herb, blackberry and cassis notes as well as a hint of acacia flowers. Impeccably pure, rich and long, it should drink well for 6-8 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The powerful, rich 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme reveals an off-the-chart level of extract, lots of glycerin (nearly 16% natural alcohol) and copious black cherry, blueberry, forest floor, lavender and graphite characteristics. This full-throttle red requires 3-4 years of cellaring and should keep for two decades.”

Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine of the estate, the 2011 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme is a hidden gem in the vintage! A blend of Grenache, Mourvedre, Syrah, Counoise and Vaccarese, from 90-year-old vines and aged in one-third new barrels (although you wouldn’t know it), it possesses fabulous notes of blackberry and currant fruit, big minerality, roasted meats and leather. Full-bodied, with beautiful freshness, big tannin and a layered, thrillingly concentrated mid-palate, it will be better in another year or two, and have over 15 years of longevity. Drink 2015-2026.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The top wine from the portfolio, the 2012 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme offers thrilling purity and focus in its lively dark fruits, roasted meats and underbrush-scented bouquet. Full-bodied, ripe and textured, with fantastic polish and sweetness to its tannin, it has a supple, forward feel, yet will easily evolve for 10-15 years.”

Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape 2010 750ML ($47.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91+ points “Richer, fuller and denser is the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape, which is composed of 65% Grenache and the rest equal parts Mourvedre and Syrah. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by abundant notes of black fruits, licorice, lavender, Provencal herbs as well as a meaty richness.”

Xavier Chateauneuf-du-Pape La Reserve VII IX X NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “While I reviewed this NV Châteauneuf du Pape La Reserve VII IX X (a blend from the 2007, 2009 and 2010 vintages) last year, I was able to taste it again this go around, and it still blew me away. Fabulously full-bodied and decadent, with loads of lavender, incense, black raspberry and cured-meat nuances, it’s still youthful and vibrant, with notable freshness and purity. Enjoy this brilliant wine through 2028.”

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Heymann-Loewenstein

Arriving in April

Heymann-Lowenstein Uhlen ‘R’ Roth Lay Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA April 2017
VinopolNote: No review yet for the 2015, but Mosel Fine Wines recently reviewed the 2014: “94+. The Winninger Uhlen R (R stands for Rothlay) is aged in casks for 18 month before being bottled. The 2014er Uhlen R released in spring 2016 offers a stunning nose of bergamot, cassis, pear, minerals and wet stones. The wine is superbly well balanced on the palate and leaves a clean and juicy feel in the incredibly long finish. Grip comes through as well, but without being imposing: It just adds length and depth. This is a huge success and one of the greatest wines of the vintage. This is easily the greatest Uhlen R since the magical 1998! 2019-2034.”
Winery note “A ship full of ore is sailing through mysterious seas on its journey to Atlantis.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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Have a lovely weekend!