In This Newsletter:
Black Friday Sales Continue
New Week – New Arrivals
Black Friday Sales Continue
New Week – New Arrivals
Drink Local!
Holiday Party from the Willamette Valley
Avancia’s Crowd-Pleasing White
Trending
Nikolaihof
Collector’s Corner
Pommery Champagne
Vinopolis Wine Shop
Will Be Closed
Thursday, November 24th
We’re open for our regularly scheduled hours all other days:
10 am – 6 pm
Can’t wait? Browse & shop our webstore here!
Holiday Party from the Willamette Valley
Avancia’s Crowd-Pleasing White
Trending
Nikolaihof
Collector’s Corner
Pommery Champagne
Vinopolis Wine Shop
Will Be Closed
Thursday, November 24th
We’re open for our regularly scheduled hours all other days:
10 am – 6 pm
Can’t wait? Browse & shop our webstore here!
Black Friday Sales Continue
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ml Was $19, Now $16 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Shimmering orange-pink. Pungent cherry and red berry scents take on floral and spice nuances with air. Shows silky texture and good depth to the zesty red currant and bitter cherry flavors, which turn sweeter through the midpalate. Smoothly blends heft and energy and finishes long and nervy, with a hint of bitter orange pith adding final bite.”
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Shimmering orange-pink. Pungent cherry and red berry scents take on floral and spice nuances with air. Shows silky texture and good depth to the zesty red currant and bitter cherry flavors, which turn sweeter through the midpalate. Smoothly blends heft and energy and finishes long and nervy, with a hint of bitter orange pith adding final bite.”
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Caiarossa ‘Aria’ Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ml Was $39, Now $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “The selection of grapes in this blend has changed a bit, with much younger vines of Syrah, older Alicante vines, filled out by Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. The 2015 Aria di Caiarossa goes through 20% new oak and shows a nice richness and velvety mouthfeel. It is immediate and exuberant and a bit sweeter than past vintages.”
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “This blend of Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Alicante opens with aromas evoking mature dark-skinned fruit, underbrush and cooking spice. The firm palate delivers ripe black plum, clove and star anise alongside polished tannins. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Wine Spectator 90 points “This red leans toward the fruity side, offering cherry and plum flavors, accented by wild thyme, rosemary, iron and tobacco notes. Solidly built, with a line of dry, dusty tannins on the finish. Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Alicante Bouschet. Drink now through 2025. 7,600 cases made, 1,500 cases imported. — BS”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cresti Fattoria Carpineta Fontalpino Do ut des Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ml Was $48, Now $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “The fruit here really takes your breath away with its intensity, as well as purity. Blackberry crumble, pressed violets, ink, iodine, charcoal, vanilla and resin. It’s the polish of the tannins that really makes this wine, carrying itself effortlessly over a shimmer of electric acidity to the long finish. Drink in 2023. Made from organically grown grapes.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Do Ut Des (a blend of Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon) exhibits a generous and expansive personality that hits the palate like a warm embrace from a favorite friend. This is a succulent and smooth red wine with thick layers of bold cherry, dried blackberry, leather, rose hip and scorched earth. In the mouth, the wine proceeds with medium- to full-bodied texture and elegantly contoured fruit flavors.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Sleek and focused, with black currant, black cherry, plum, iron and tobacco flavors coursing through from start to finish. Tightly wound and vibrant, this lingers with subtle licorice and spice elements. Shows fine harmony and length. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2023 through 2036. 1,650 cases made, 200 cases imported. — BS”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Weingut Clemens Busch Marienburg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2018 750ml Was $24, Now $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “Lightly smoky with some lemon pith and dried spices. There’s some light sweetness here, but it’s nicely balanced out by the edgy acidity. Taut and very precise on the finish. Drink now.”
David Schildknecht-Vinous 91 points “White peach, apple, honeydew melon and lime are tinged with lemongrass and cilantro on the nose, and with nippy cress on an otherwise polished, lusciously fruited and subtly soothing palate. Nearly 60 grams of sugar manage to come off as entirely supportive, and the lingering finish both soothes and stimulates. (This year’s village-level Busch Kabinett seemed oddly out-of-sorts on the sole occasion – side by side with this Marienburg – that I was able to taste it, so I have left it un-reviewed.)”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows yeasty notes at first, with accents of jasmine and hops, followed by electric acidity that fuels the green apple, lemon and nectarine flavors. Balanced and beautiful in terms of texture, exhibiting substance. Smoky details emerge on the well-defined finish. Best from 2021 through 2033. 550 cases made, 60 cases imported. — AZ”
AP #11
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Le Clos du Caillou Tradition Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2017 750ml Was $44.50, Now $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-92 points “Glistening ruby-red. Pungent cherry pit and black currant aromas, along with hints of licorice, musky herbs and cracked pepper. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering slow-to-open bitter cherry and dark berry flavors braced by an undercurrent of juicy acidity. Shows firm tannic grip on the persistent finish, which leaves suggestions of candied licorice and cherry preserves behind. This is a pretty serious example of a “basic” bottling, and it deserves some patience.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “Kirsch, blackberry, ground pepper, and incense notes all dominate the bouquet of the medium to full-bodied 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Le Caillou. It offers beautiful purity of fruit, a rounded, mouthfilling texture, and a great finish. Drink it over the coming decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Week – New Arrivals
France – Champagne
R. Pouillon & Fils Grande Vallee Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $66 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “[Reviewed 2022] Aromas of dried orange and apple with spices, such as saffron and cloves. Full-bodied and layered red with lots of spices on the palate, as well as orange-peel, stone and light strawberry flavors. Layered and structured. More textured than some. Good one for food. 65% pinot noir, 15% chardonnay and 20% pinot meunier. Based on 2019 and 2018 with reserve wines. Dosage 2g/L. Disgorged early 2022. Drink or hold.”
R. Pouillon & Fils Grande Vallee Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $66 special, 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “[Reviewed 2022] Aromas of dried orange and apple with spices, such as saffron and cloves. Full-bodied and layered red with lots of spices on the palate, as well as orange-peel, stone and light strawberry flavors. Layered and structured. More textured than some. Good one for food. 65% pinot noir, 15% chardonnay and 20% pinot meunier. Based on 2019 and 2018 with reserve wines. Dosage 2g/L. Disgorged early 2022. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
R. Pouillon & Fils Le Montgruguet Premier Cru Extra Brut Millesime, Champagne 2018 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Tangy and lightly oxidative, with aromas of walnuts, lemon peel, dried flowers, raspberries and burnt apple tart. Sleek bubbles. Flavorful walnut character, with a tangy yet creamy finish. 100% pinot noir. Dosage 3g/L. Disgorged early 2022. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R. Pouillon & Fils Solera Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The idea of this cuvée is to erase the influence of vintage and focus solely on terroir. It is 50% each chardonnay and pinot noir and all from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Every year, 30% is racked off for secondary fermentation and replaced with 30% new wine. Up until the 2010 vintage was added, the entire Solera was aged in steel; it is now aged in oak uprights and undergoes full malolactic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R. Pouillon & Fils ‘Les Terres Froides’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2018 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “This is our secret-wine as it comes from a peaceful haven on the edge of a forest on the Mountain of Reims. It is only austere when it comes to its name, evoking the parcel’s northern exposure. The latter underscores the chalky subsoil’s character and produces a wine with a special kind of expression, brought about by crispness and salinity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
R. Pouillon & Fils Chemin du Bois Methode Fabrice Pouillon, Champagne 2015 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Schatzi Wines importer note “This is Fabrice’s most daring wine. Conceived as a Champagne that shows how farming can affect ripeness and ultimately influence the Champagne Method, which is highly interventionist, this Champagne is made only with grapes and grape sugar without any other sugar added. It is legal to add sugar in three steps in making Champagne: chaptalization, prise de mousse, and dosage. Fabrice sources this 100% pinot noir from a single parcel in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ called “Chemin du Bois.” Here, he can achieve 12° Baumé at harvest. He then separates 15% of the pressed juice and holds it in steel until spring. The rest is fermented in neutral barrels with ambient yeast. After 12 months he blends the vin claire with the grape juice and the fermentation starts again with ambient yeast. When the remaining sugar reaches 24 grams/Liter, he bottles the wine under cork for the secondary fermentation. If dosage is used, it is made with grape juice. There is no other Champagne like this one.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes, Rhône 2020 750ml $33 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “Looking at the Gigondas releases, the 2020 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes doesn’t give anything to the two single vineyard releases and offers awesome aromatics, full-bodied richness, a round, lush, yet pure mouthfeel, and ripe yet certainly present tannins. It’s loaded with Provençal, garrigue, and peppery goodness, and it’s going to be a brilliant value. This cuvée is an 80/20 split of Grenache and Mourvèdre raised all in foudre.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas La Louisiane Vieilles Vignes, Rhône 2020 750ml $36 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2020 Gigondas La Louisiane is also just about overflowing with Provençal charm and character, offering full-bodied aromas and flavors of red and black fruits, ground pepper, violets, and orange blossom. It too is seamless, has ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. The blend is 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre, and the rest Cinsault and Syrah.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas ‘Les Souteyrades Vieilles Vignes’, Rhône 2020 750ml $36 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2020 Gigondas Les Souteyrades is more structured, with notable acidity as well as tannins. Full-bodied aromas and flavors of blackberries, cassis, ground pepper, and violets give way to a rich, concentrated, focused Gigondas that’s going to benefit from a handful of years in the cellar. All of these 2020 barrel samples are brilliant.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas ‘Clovis Saurel’, Rhône 2020 750ml $44 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-97 points “All Grenache aged in demi-muid, the 2020 Gigondas Clovis Saurel is certainly more modern in style, but it never loses its Southern Rhône soul. It has complex Provençal garrigue, spice box, cherry, and peppery aromas and flavors as well as a deep, rich, broad mouthfeel.”
Italy – Piedmont
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $41.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “From a vineyard site in Roddi with classic Sant’Agata marl soils and fossils, the Bruna Grimaldi 2018 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio shows pretty harmony and balance, with a considerably softer character that finishes with very smooth and silky tannins. The fruit is compact and fresh with wild cherry and cassis. That more tart flavor profile cedes to floral notes and some earthy tones as well in this production of 4,500 bottles.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “With fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the Bruna Grimaldi 2018 Barolo Badarina opens nicely and completely, relative to its young age, within a few hours of popping the cork. The character of the wine is hearty and firm, although there is also a silkiness or smoothness that is especially associated with this vintage. You get some of those vaguely metallic aromas of rusty nail or iron ore that come with the Serralunga d’Alba territory. There is also plenty of dark fruit, licorice and wild rose. Fruit from the special Vigna Regnola site is blended into this wine in 2018 because no Riserva was produced. This is a release of 6,000 bottles.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Drink Local!
Holiday Party from the Willamette Valley
Cameron Winery fans alert!! What was hands-down the most exciting sparkling wine we’ve tasted from the Valley this year? The first release from Cameron Winery’s assistant winemaker (and, if you ask John Paul, the guy who actually makes the Cameron wines), Tom Sivilli. We’ve known it’s been in the works for a few years now – the wine spent four years en tirage/on the lees. We knew in our hearts it would be delicious, and it was thrilling to finally, FINALLY, confirm with our palates.
Sivilli Wine Co Charlie’s Vineyard Blanc de Noirs Brut Zero, Dundee Hills 2018 750ml $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “100% Pinot Noir (Wadenswil and Coury clones) [dry farmed]. Inoculation in neutral French oak barrel. Full malo. Brut zero. Bottled 8/2019, disgorged 7/2021. 75 cases produced.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Light, bright, crunchy, this is the perfect aperitif!
Illahe Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $19 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The aromatics of the gris jump out of the glass with notes of lemon peel, pear drop, muddled mint, key lime pie, peach, and kiwi. The Santa Maria wooden fermenter helps give this gris has lovely texture with racy acidity, stone, and salinity. Alcohol 12.50%.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A shout out to the trending style of Gamay produced by such illustrious and fan-favorite Beaujolais as Anne-Sophie Dubois and Daniel Bouland, who in turn take their inspiration from Burgundy. This is no saccharine fruit-bomb, but a serious and seriously drinkable Gamay that will astound. This, folks, is the wine we’ve been waiting for. It’s exciting, bold, and fresh, with a prickly acidity that lingers on the finish.
Mijita Wine Co. Abbey Road Farm Vineyard Gamay Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $28 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “Winemaker Lizzy Esqueda’s first two wines are tiny micro releases under her brand spanking new the Mijita Wine Co. label, featuring a skin contact Pinot Gris ‘orange wine’ and this vibrant and charming Gamay Noir. Both are from the 2021 vintage, a year which is starting to create a buzz with the Oregon natives. This dark garnet/ruby 100% Gamay is already drinking well with a medium bodied palate, that is very silken and Pinot Noir like, with an array of dark fruits, crunchy herbs, a light spiciness and some subtle earthy elements that gives this well-made Gamay a fine tension between ripe fruit and savory tones. The flavor band here rotates smooth in the mouth with a layering of black cherry, brambly raspberry, tart plum and Mission fig fruits, along with a touch of walnut, saddle leather, anise and cinnamon. This wine, with its low alcohol (12.3%), is excitingly old world themed and has hints of pretty florals to go with its rustic personality. It opened up well and stayed impressively entertaining all evening and was joyous with a simple, but hearty meal. I look forward to following Lizzy Esqueda’s Mijita Wines and I can’t wait to try her skin fermented Pinot Gris…”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cameron Winery Pinot Gris Ramato, Dundee Hills 2021 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Pinot Gris that spent time on its skins, contributing the barest hint of tannin, a dollop of color and a completely different interpretation of the classic Oregon varietal.
Winery note “Rame: Italian for copper, ramato: copper-colored. Ramato is a copper-colored Pinot grigio made in the tradition of north-eastern Italy. A very tricky wine to pull off. Very limited production.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Last call!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Bright garnet. Zesty red fruits and spices on the nose, plus hints of blood orange and botanical herbs. Tangy and sharply focused, offering nervy red currant, bitter cherry, orange zest and licorice flavors that take a sweet turn on the back half. Closes long and smooth, with the spice and herb notes repeating. This is a distinctly savory, restrained Pinot, which is uncommon for an entry-level offering.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Richly flavored with a lithe body, this is a promising pairing at the table!
Hundred Suns Syrah, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ml $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Reminiscent of wines from the northern Rhone in its complexity and structure. Initial aromas of flint and molasses give way to Asian plum, espresso, and hoisin. Vineyard: 2019 was a long growing season with moderate but dry days and cool nights blowing from the vast Columbia River. We were lucky to secure 1.5 tons of mixed clone Syrah from the Three Sleeps Vineyard located in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge AVA. This windswept vineyard located outside the town of Mosier consists of silty clay soils over basalt rocks formed from eons of floods, glacial movement, and volcanic activity. Planted in 2002 by Patrick Reuter and Leigh Bartholomew, it is farmed organically. Winemaking: 100% whole bunches were placed in an open-top fermenter and a 500 liter amphora and allowed to ferment untouched for ten days. Then, we foot stomped the clusters to release the dark juice from inside. After three days of maceracion the grapes were pressed to stainless steel where they finished primary fermentation. The wines were aged in a combination of terracotta and seasoned French oak. After 10 months they were racked to all neutral oak and left to age for an additional seven months. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in March of 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Avancia’s Crowd-Pleasing White
Arriving Friday
Arriving Friday
Need a crowd-pleasing white on a budget? Think outside the Chardonnay box!
Bodegas Avancia Cuvee de O Godello, Valdeorras 2019 750ml $18 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bodegas Avancia Cuvee de O Godello, Valdeorras 2019 750ml $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Green-hued yellow-gold. Assertive aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, along with hints of smoky lees, vanilla and melon in the background. Rich but impressively lively in the mouth, offering intense Anjou pear, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Clings with strong tenacity on the penetrating finish, which leaves bitter citrus pith and floral notes behind.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The entry-level white 2019 Cuveé de O Godello has an expressive nose of white pepper and herbs that makes me think of a Gruner Veltliner, very spicy and peppery. It’s ripe and juicy at 14.31% alcohol and has good freshness, combining volume and balance. It’s a blend of wines that matured in stainless steel and oak with the lees for nine months. 29,819 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2020.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “A vibrant acidity cuts through the quince, tangerine and ginger flavors in this round and polished white, underscored by chive, spice and heather elements, followed by a long, mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2024. 3,000 cases made, 1,750 cases imported.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “All Godello, the 2019 Cuvée de O Godello offers a ripe, musky, slightly tropical style in its guava, citrus, minty herb, and honeyed toast-like aromas and flavors. A richer, medium-bodied white, it has plenty of texture, good, balancing acidity, and a great finish. It’s geared for the dinner table and will keep for 2-3 years with no issues, although I see no need to delay gratification.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Trending
Don’t miss the 2018s, which capture the grace and immense pleasure of the vintage (to paraphrase Antonio Galloni) with the “power and breadth” that most others lack.
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 750ml $285 special (that’s only $47.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 750ml $549 special (that’s only $45.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 1.5L $115 special, 10 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is an absolutely stunning wine. The archetype of Rancia in the past has been of a big, potent Chianti Classico but in 2018, Rancia is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse. Silky, perfumed and indescribably finessed, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. It’s a magical wine in every way.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 is an unusual vintage that shows an especially austere character. Off the bat, it must be said that the Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia would certainly benefit from more cellar time and a long drinking window. The Rancia is elegant and streamlined with a medium-bodied style that breaks from some of the more concentrated vintages we’ve seen in the past. The bouquet reveals a lot of dark or black character with blackcurrant, tar, resin, iron ore and a dusty hint of dry graham cracker (which reminds us of the vintage heat). Structurally, the wine offers a solid and firm footing, but it would benefit from further evolution.”
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 750ml $285 special (that’s only $47.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 750ml $549 special (that’s only $45.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Fèlsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2018 1.5L $115 special, 10 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is an absolutely stunning wine. The archetype of Rancia in the past has been of a big, potent Chianti Classico but in 2018, Rancia is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse. Silky, perfumed and indescribably finessed, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. It’s a magical wine in every way.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 is an unusual vintage that shows an especially austere character. Off the bat, it must be said that the Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia would certainly benefit from more cellar time and a long drinking window. The Rancia is elegant and streamlined with a medium-bodied style that breaks from some of the more concentrated vintages we’ve seen in the past. The bouquet reveals a lot of dark or black character with blackcurrant, tar, resin, iron ore and a dusty hint of dry graham cracker (which reminds us of the vintage heat). Structurally, the wine offers a solid and firm footing, but it would benefit from further evolution.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2021 750ml $28 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Fans of old-school Beaujolais will adore the 2021 Fleurie Cuvée Tardive from the Clos de la Roilette. Bursting with aromas of crunchy red berries, peonies, spices and plums, it’s medium-bodied, ample and enveloping, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a pretty, perfumed finish. Despite the challenges of the year, the Coudert family have produced a lovely classic, and it’s a wine that’s much more drinkable and vibrant than some of the recent banner vintages at this address.”
Alvaro Palacios ‘Les Terrasses’ Velles Vinyes, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ml $34.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The regional 2019 Les Terrasses Velles Vinyes was produced with a blend of grapes from 80 plots in eight villages from Priorat, 82% Garnacha with 17% Cariñena and 1% white grapes, a year unusually high in Garnacha and unusually low in Cariñena that suffered a lot from the heat. The destemmed and lightly crushed grapes fermented in concrete and oak vats with indigenous yeasts, and the wine matured in French oak barrels for 12 months. What happened here is that Cariñena was burned by a heat spike of 43 degrees Celsius on the 28th of June, and there was a wildfire in Montsant that perhaps could have warmed things up even more. I think there might be a change toward more Garnacha and elegance in the wines from Álvaro Palacios in Priorat, as this is brighter and less rustic than this wine used to be, more polished, perfumed and fine. The year of heat and drought. 101,600 bottles produced.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A juicy red, offering raspberry ganache and red licorice flavors, a fragrant skein of dried sage and milled white pepper and rich hints of smoke and toast. This concentrated, medium- to full-bodied version remains fresh and focused, thanks to the tang of orange peel acidity and fine, taut tannins. Garnacha and Samsó. Drink now through 2028. 8,200 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Nikolaihof
Nikolaihof is a giant of Austrian wine—a producer whose history and quality are unrivaled even in a country full of great producers. The estate dates back to Roman times and the Saahs family has run the property for well over a century. They produce wines of deep resonant flavors, which have fresh brightness, but standout for an undercurrent of vinosity. They’re bright, precise and mineral-drenched with the power and density of the Wachau. These are the heights of Austrian wine.
In Stock Now from Nikolaihof:
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2014 750ml $44 special, 13 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht 97 points “In a departure from usual Nikolaihof practice – given that it had by then been filtered and assembled into tank – I was offered my first taste of this wine shortly before the initial, December 2017 bottling. The wine was exciting then, and when re-tasted repeatedly in the course of 2018 had only gained in stature. Moss, lemon zest, peach kernel and toasted grain on the nose put me in mind of a relatively austere white Burgundy. But that sense of kinship dims with the emergence of high-toned hints of lavender and mint, mouthwatering ocean breeze and a sappy, juicy abundance of fresh lime and white peach juiciness on the silken palate. There are also faint hints of kirsch and mothball such as one can encounter from time to time at this address and to whose volatility some tasters might object. The finish is transparent to a veritable carpet of mineral matter – albeit a levitating, vibrantly undulating one! Crushed stone, alkali, mineral salts and iodine combine with herbal and protein-rich flavors for something approximating a blend of oyster liquor and clam stock that set my salivary glands to palpitating. And now for the astonishing kicker: This remarkable stuff filled the largest cask in the Nikolaihof cellar, with a capacity of 12,000 liters! Half was bottled in 2017 and 2018; the rest will be held back – let’s hope eventually to inform a Vinothek offering. “The only sense in which this wine needed to be bottled,” noted Saahs, “was in order to avoid Vom Stein Smaragd temporarily dropping from our price list and to make room in the cellar. It wasn’t the phases of the moon calling the shots,” he added with a sly grin. (Re-tasted alongside, the corresponding 2013 showed at the upper end of my earlier projection. But despite issuing from one of the two finest Wachau vintages that it has been my privilege to taste as young wines, that 2013 doesn’t quite reach the complexity nor exhibit the clarity and energy of this 2014 – not for now, at least.)”
In Stock Now from Nikolaihof:
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2014 750ml $44 special, 13 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht 97 points “In a departure from usual Nikolaihof practice – given that it had by then been filtered and assembled into tank – I was offered my first taste of this wine shortly before the initial, December 2017 bottling. The wine was exciting then, and when re-tasted repeatedly in the course of 2018 had only gained in stature. Moss, lemon zest, peach kernel and toasted grain on the nose put me in mind of a relatively austere white Burgundy. But that sense of kinship dims with the emergence of high-toned hints of lavender and mint, mouthwatering ocean breeze and a sappy, juicy abundance of fresh lime and white peach juiciness on the silken palate. There are also faint hints of kirsch and mothball such as one can encounter from time to time at this address and to whose volatility some tasters might object. The finish is transparent to a veritable carpet of mineral matter – albeit a levitating, vibrantly undulating one! Crushed stone, alkali, mineral salts and iodine combine with herbal and protein-rich flavors for something approximating a blend of oyster liquor and clam stock that set my salivary glands to palpitating. And now for the astonishing kicker: This remarkable stuff filled the largest cask in the Nikolaihof cellar, with a capacity of 12,000 liters! Half was bottled in 2017 and 2018; the rest will be held back – let’s hope eventually to inform a Vinothek offering. “The only sense in which this wine needed to be bottled,” noted Saahs, “was in order to avoid Vom Stein Smaragd temporarily dropping from our price list and to make room in the cellar. It wasn’t the phases of the moon calling the shots,” he added with a sly grin. (Re-tasted alongside, the corresponding 2013 showed at the upper end of my earlier projection. But despite issuing from one of the two finest Wachau vintages that it has been my privilege to taste as young wines, that 2013 doesn’t quite reach the complexity nor exhibit the clarity and energy of this 2014 – not for now, at least.)”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2016 750ml $69 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Bottled in April this year, the 2016 Vom Stein Riesling Smaragd is perfectly ripe and concentrated on the precise, coolish and flinty nose that reveals apricot and white peach aromas. Full-bodied, round and crystalline, this is a fresh, very elegant and textural Vom Stein in a linear and classic style. The finish is intense and reveals firm tannins and makes this an excellent gastronomic wine. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in June 2021.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof (im Weingebirge) Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2020 750ml $33 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “Previously called Im Weingebirge, the 2020 Grüner Veltliner Federspiel comes along without single-vineyard designation and opens intense and aromatic on the nose that is deep, precise and focused and reveals perfectly ripe and intense fruit. Round and lush on the palate, this is a mouth-filling, salty-piquant and mineral structured Federspiel with substance, grip and a sustainable finish. 12% alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in June 2021.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2016 750ml $66 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Bottled with 13% alcohol at the end of July 2019 but filtered in early 2017, the 2016 Im Weingebirge Grüner Veltliner Smaragd offers a fascinatingly clear, fresh and coolish apricot aroma intermixed with morel/mushroom aromas and flinty notes of crushed stones. Full-bodied, round and fleshy on the palate, this is a generous and mouth-filling wine with rather delicate acidity and a slightly bitter, well-structured finish with lingering salinity and mineral freshness. Very promising. Tasted from lot 1420619 at the Nikolaihof in September 2019.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2017 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95+ points “Bottled in April this year, the 2017 Im Weingebirge Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is fascinatingly deep and refined on the complex, fresh, elegant and remarkably complex nose with its crystalline stone notes. On the palate, the wine reveals great finesse and elegance combined with substance, grip and sustainability. It is a full-bodied, powerful, rich and almost sweet, concentrated and tensioned terroir wine that is still young and ready to go a long distance. 13% alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in June 2021.”
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Steinriesler Riesling, Wachau 2007 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 points “Bottled in June 2019 after 12 years in a large oak vat, the 2007 Riesling Steinriesler is from the Vom Stein in Mautern and exhibits an intense and matured bouquet with caramel and leathery/feral as well as concentrated fruit but also crystalline, stony aromas. Deep, coolish and elegant. On the palate, this is a crystalline, refined and pure, very complex and concentrated wine with a great and complex finish that is structured, still tannic and seriously biting but with the right concentration and power for a long-distance run. It is mouth-watering, enormously tensioned and pushing on the finish. A great dry Riesling for real Riesling lovers. The wine should be decanted for maybe a day or two. 12% alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in June 2021.”
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Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Gut’s Riesling, Wachau 2013 750ml $21.90 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise: “23 g/l of residual sugar, as it happened, and every wine here is as-it-happened. So Nikki declined to futz with it. The result tastes like something Florian Weingart would have made in the Wachau, all the mirabelle and herbs but with a different twangy terroir here. I don’t know what “use” you’ll make of it; I only know I like it.”
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Collector’s Corner:
Pommery Champagne
You’ve heard of the Champagne widow and pioneer Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin (also known as Madame Clicquot), but have you heard of Louise Pommery? While you can be forgiven for not knowing her, Champagne as we know it would not exist without her contributions. In the 1870’s Champagne was one of the sweetest wines of the world for a number of reasons. The first and foremost was to balance out the otherwise searing acid that was seen in Champagnes of the period. The second was to cater to commercial preferences of the era, particularly from the Russian royal family and their contemporaries who loved exceptionally sweet wines.
This all changed when Madame Louise Pommery commissioned her cellar master to make a champagne with as little added sugar as possible, creating the category we now know to be “Brut”. The debut vintage in 1874 was an overnight success in England, who had developed a preference for drier styles of wine. It was so popular in fact, that it set records in London for the highest ever paid for champagne at auction. The Brut style clearly outlived its sweeter contemporary, given the latter is rarely seen on the market anymore.
The top Champagne from Pommery is named after Madame Louise. In honor of her legacy, it has the barest amount of sugar added. Comprised of three Grand Cru vineyard sources in Avize, Cramant and Aÿ and aged for 11 years on its lees before disgorgement. The blend itself is predominantly Chardonnay but has 40% Pinot Noir inclusion as well. The grand cru sources for the fruit are clearly evident in the concentrated flavors, strong mineral character and high acidity. This is Champagne built for the long haul. We also carry a number of magnums, back vintages and the elusive Rosé bottling!
In stock and available now:
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime 2004 1.5L $279 special, 9 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A very fine-textured Champagne with lovely density and finesse. The bubbles roll off the palate. Full body. Extremely creamy and flavorful. Shows wonderful finesse and a lovely, chalky, lemon-curd and brioche aftertaste. Drink now.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Pommery’s prestige Champagne is named after one of the great Champagne widows of the 19th century who took over when her husband, Alexandre Pommery, died. It is a rich, mature wine, with toast and almond flavors as much as fruit. Full of mineral Chardonnay (60% of the blend), this ripe wine is very ready to drink.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bright and minerally, featuring smoke and pastry dough notes layered with lemon curd and pureed black currant details, riding the lively bead. Offers a creamy finish, with a lightly floral overtone. Drink now through 2024. 16,666 cases made.”
This all changed when Madame Louise Pommery commissioned her cellar master to make a champagne with as little added sugar as possible, creating the category we now know to be “Brut”. The debut vintage in 1874 was an overnight success in England, who had developed a preference for drier styles of wine. It was so popular in fact, that it set records in London for the highest ever paid for champagne at auction. The Brut style clearly outlived its sweeter contemporary, given the latter is rarely seen on the market anymore.
The top Champagne from Pommery is named after Madame Louise. In honor of her legacy, it has the barest amount of sugar added. Comprised of three Grand Cru vineyard sources in Avize, Cramant and Aÿ and aged for 11 years on its lees before disgorgement. The blend itself is predominantly Chardonnay but has 40% Pinot Noir inclusion as well. The grand cru sources for the fruit are clearly evident in the concentrated flavors, strong mineral character and high acidity. This is Champagne built for the long haul. We also carry a number of magnums, back vintages and the elusive Rosé bottling!
In stock and available now:
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime 2004 1.5L $279 special, 9 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A very fine-textured Champagne with lovely density and finesse. The bubbles roll off the palate. Full body. Extremely creamy and flavorful. Shows wonderful finesse and a lovely, chalky, lemon-curd and brioche aftertaste. Drink now.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Pommery’s prestige Champagne is named after one of the great Champagne widows of the 19th century who took over when her husband, Alexandre Pommery, died. It is a rich, mature wine, with toast and almond flavors as much as fruit. Full of mineral Chardonnay (60% of the blend), this ripe wine is very ready to drink.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Bright and minerally, featuring smoke and pastry dough notes layered with lemon curd and pureed black currant details, riding the lively bead. Offers a creamy finish, with a lightly floral overtone. Drink now through 2024. 16,666 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Nature 2004 750ml $149 special, 26 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “A creamy and refined 2004 with a very reserved and tight palate of ultra fine tannins that lend the wine beautiful creaminess and finesse. Subtly floral, offering lightly cooked apples and lemons. Flavorful, yet always hiding behind the fine bubbles. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Rose Millesime 2004 750ml $219 special, 28 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This is a new release and shows wonderful finesse and beauty. You know that the moment you see the pale-amber color. It’s medium bodied with freshness and energy and a long, vivid finish. A joy to taste. Drink now.”
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Pommery Grand Cru Brut Millesime 2008 750ml $79 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Winery note “It was a must for Pommery not to miss out on one of the greatest vintages of champagne. One single term to characterise 2008: unexpected! After a difficult summer, nature succeeded in aligning its stars and allowed us to have an exceptional harvest. 2008 has already conquered aficionados from all over the world, but it is a special vision of 2008 in the pure style of our Maison that we propose to you. Only originating from grands crus, with an exceptional ageing potential, slowly brought to maturity in the freshness of our 18 kilometres of galleries, it is necessary to wait to taste a Pommery vintage at its zenith: the precise moment when all the components are in harmony and when maturity, freshness and complexity come together. This moment has come for our 2008 vintage. The nose presents the patina of the Pommery vintages: elegance, minerality, freshness. First of all intense floral notes reach us: the peony floats around the hawthorn. Maturity is expressed by fruity notes of pear and fresh apricot. The great Pinot Noir present themselves with notes of crushed fresh strawberries. On the palate, the tasting is floating, with a great uprightness. A mineral structure fills the palate from the attack to the finish like a spine. Notes of acacia honey and Mirabelle underline the central element of the tasting. The finish is punctuated by a nice sweetness, marked by flavours of blood orange.”
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Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.
Be well & drink well.