Wednesday VinopolPick 8-12-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

James Suckling’s Wine of the Decade

Charles Heidsieck’s Brut Reserve Returns!

A Stellar Rhone Wine from Lucien Le Moine

Trending Wines

Don’t Forget: K Vintners Subscriber Special
Back By Popular Demand!


Wine Spectator Insider Explores Cayuse

Two Great Bordeaux Values

Telmo Rodriguez’s Secret Star Sticky

Collector’s Corner
The High Scoring Bevan Cellars

 
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James Suckling’s Wine of the Decade

James Suckling declared his “wine of the decade”—the single bottling that impressed him most over the course of the last ten years.  His choice? The profoundly powerful 2017 Almaviva Puente Alto—a perfect wine made under the auspices of Mouton Rothschild and Concha y Toro.

The winery has been one of the best in the world over the course of the decade, earning two perfect scores, and Suckling notes that “”For the last 10 years, vintage after vintage, Almaviva vineyard has been quietly, consistently establishing a track record as one of the greatest wine producers in Chile, if not all of the world.” 

The 2017 is the best vintage they’ve made—a powerful Cabernet based blend that resembles the First Growth Bordeaux that inspired it.  This is a wine that’s going to become a legend—the ’85 Heitz Martha’s or 1982 Mouton of Chilean wine.  In summarizing the bottling, James suckling declared that “Almaviva set a new bar for Chilean wines with nuanced, rigorously blended vintages that marry classic Bordeaux expertise with New World vitality.”  All that’s left is for you to secure some while you can.


Arriving Tomorrow:

Vina Almaviva, Puente Alto 2017 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points
“The estate, which is a joint venture between Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Concha y Toro, has been striving for perfection since its launch in 1998. And, with the Almaviva Puente Alto 2017, they’ve achieved it…. The aromas of blackberry leaves and iodine are wild and exotic here with mussel shells and earth underneath. Full-bodied, tight and chewy with powerful tannins that show muscle. It’s structured and powerful. Dense and very, very deep. Don’t touch this until 2025.”
Wine & Spirits 95 points “The joint venture between Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Mouton) and Concha y Toro began in the mid-1990s, launched with the 1996 vintage. The winery was constructed in the midst of the 148 acres of vines dedicated to Almaviva at Puente Alto. It’s an ideal site for cabernet sauvignon, a plateau at 2,130 feet, nestled into the Andes on a terrace above the north bank of the Maipo River. In 2017, the blend includes cabernet sauvignon (65 percent), carmenere (23 percent), cabernet franc, petit verdot and merlot, the wine aged 19 months in new Fresh oak barrels. It’s a dynamic red, its distinctive red fruit seriously concentrated yet carrying the freshness of mountain air. The tannins have a cocoa richness and subtle nuances of truffles. While the vintage may have been hot and dry, there is no apparent heat in the wine, just plump ripeness and impressive power, ready to carry it for a decade or more in the cellar.”

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Previously Sold Out, Re-Arriving Tomorrow!

Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve
 
Charles Heidsieck is one of the great, historic houses of Champagne, but because of their small size they tend to be overlooked.  They make wines that are notable for their richness and texture, incorporating long aging on the lees and significant amounts (40+%) of older (reserve) wines in their NV blends.  Based on the quality in the bottle and the age required to get there, you’d expect these wines to be 25-40% more expensive than they are.  Their Brut Reserve is one of the best entry level wines from a great house in Champagne, especially if you love wines with a classic, toasty feel to them.


Previously Sold Out!
Re-Arriving Tomorrow:


Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($359.95) $259 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.17/bottle!)
Case-12 Charles Heidsieck Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($719.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92+ points
“Based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by fully 40% old reserve wines, the new release of Charles Heidsieck’s NV Brut Réserve was disgorged earlier this year. It’s showing very well, opening up in the glass with notes of green apple, dried white flowers, pear, candied peel and walnuts. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a textural attack and a racier, tighter-knit core than either the 2012- or 2010-base renditions, displaying good concentration and underlying richness. This is a bottling that continues to punch above its weight and which both merits and rewards a few years in the cellar before opening.”

The average price is $59

Portland is one of the greatest cities in the country for Champagne, and we offer one of the largest selections of in-stock Champagnes in the state. Shop Tete de Cuvees, Special Clubs, 100% Biodynamic, 100% Pinot blanc, back-vintages, case deals, demi-sec, cult growers, Methusalehs, and more on our web store!
 
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A Stellar Rhone Wine from Lucien Le Moine

Lucien Le Moine (the nom de plume for Mounir and Rotem Saouma) is one of the hottest names in Burgundy.  The rise has been meteoric due to the scarcity of the wines (Mounir wants to keep production under 100 barrels) and also the fact that they only work with grand and premier cru vineyards (with the exception of a tiny amount of Bourgogne).

The Saouma family also has a Chateauneuf based project and we’ve secured some of their excellent Cotes du Rhone Village “Inopia”—arriving at the end of the month.  It’s a do-not-miss Rhone wine that should appeal to lovers of both powerful Rhone wines and robust Burgundy.

Arriving Friday:

Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge, Rhone 2016 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Rotem & Mounir Saouma Cotes du Rhone Villages ‘Inopia’ Rouge, Rhone 2016 750ML ($219.95) $165 pre-arrival special (that’s only $27.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points
“Bright raspberry and cherry coulis flavors stream through, laced with light floral and lavender notes. Moderate in scale but seductive in feel. Grenache Noir, Mourvèdre, Counoise, Syrah and Cinsault. Drink now through 2021. 150 cases imported.”
 
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Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up

Order Online / By Phone / By Email

When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.


(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)

www.vinopoliswineshop.com

info@vinopoliswineshop.com

503-223-6002

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Trending Wines

A unique, mineral-driven white from an up and coming Willamette winemaker.
Championship Bottle ‘Silicone on Sapphire’ White, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27 special
Winery note
“A remix of a Friuli-style blend. This might be the singular wine that embodies what we hope to accomplish—more proof that the native tongue of the Willamette Valley has a Furlan accent. It’s inspired by the tradition of blended white wines from that corner of Italy and is composed of 26% Ribolla Gialla, 8% Tocai Friulano, and 33% each Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay.  This was done partially for practical reasons (there are a total of one and a quarter rows of the Ribolla/Friulano at Omero Vineyard) and partially because both grapes do so well as blending components.  Ribolla has an austerity to it that provides structure and spine, while Friulano is blessed with beautiful fruit but lacks some acidity.  Pinot Blanc seemed to heighten those grapes’ characteristics and Chard provided a beautiful background texture.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

What a wine.  A titan of traditional Barolo delivers in a great vintage.
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Wine Enthusiast 99 points
“Cellar Selection. From the estate that proved the extraordinary quality of the Ravera subzone, this compelling wine opens with heady scents of rose, iris, perfumed berry, new leather and camphor. Focused and full bodied, the precise palate is delicious and firmly structured, featuring ripe red cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and tobacco framed in tightly knit fine-grained tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it beautifully balanced and lends youthful tension. Drink 2024–2056 – Kerin O’Keefe”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera shows all of the energy and tension this site is so well-known for. Penetrating acids and veins of tannin give the Ravera its drive and overall feel. Naturally, the 2016 is going to need at least a few years to be at its best, but it has tremendous breeding and character to burn. White pepper, mint, sweet red cherry and citrus add to the wine’s high-toned profile. This is another stellar wine from Cogno.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

One of several exclusive super-deals on local wines in stock now!
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points
“The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $49.50

The 2015 vintage keeps delivering magic in Brunello.
Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($49.95) $38 special
Case-6 Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany2015 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points
“The Camigliano 2015 Brunello di Montalcino sees fruit from a 50-hectare vineyard planted 300 to 350 meters above sea level. The soils show lots of variation with clay, sand, rock and marine fossils. The wine’s bouquet reveals classic Brunello characteristics of wild berry, forest floor, pressed rose petal, crushed stone and spice. You also get those typical balsam and herbal tones that are so specific to Montalcino. In fact, I argue that they come across with even more intensity in a beautifully balanced and sunny vintage such as 2015. This wine ages in 60-hectoliter botti for 24 months, making for a firm yet surprisingly streamlined mouthfeel. With 160,000 bottles made, the wine was released in January 2020.”
James Suckling 94 points “A bright and elegant Brunello that suggests sliced oranges, tulips and rose petals. Medium-to full-bodied and finely structured, drawing on silky layers of tannins and a vibrant edge of acidity. Drink now or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A focused, lively red, this exhibits cherry, strawberry, earth, mineral and Mediterranean herb flavors. Dense, staying fresh as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Best from 2023 through 2042.”
 
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Don’t Forget: K Vintners Subscriber Special

Back By Popular Demand!


We ran a Subscriber Special for the K Vintners wines a few months ago that was a wild success—so much so that we’ve been getting requests to bring it back.  It seems as though y’all didn’t adequately stock up last time, so here we go: you have until 10AM on Friday to save 5% on 6-11 bottles of K Vintners wines and 10% off any mix of 12+ bottles of K.

The wines of K Vintners need very little introduction, as the wines Charles Smith makes under this label are some of our most popular year in and out. If you’re unfamiliar with the winery, know that Charles Smith fashions himself a bit of a rock star and he ought to—he used to manage them.  Then, one day, on a motorcycle trip, he rode through Walla Walla and was struck by the majesty of the terrain and the vineyards.  Within a few years, he had returned to open a winery.

His first vintage was 1999 and he produced a mere 300 cases of Syrah under his label ‘K Vintners.’ The winery has grown by leaps and bounds since—by our count, K makes well more than 15 wines, most of them single vineyard Syrah, and all of them are consistently excellent.

5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 K Vintners Wines
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ K Vintners Wines 
Offer Ends Friday, August 14th at 10AM
But the Best Selection is Tonight!
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your credit card



Some highlights, in stock now:

K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($89.95) $66 Displayed Price, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points
“The 2016 Syrah The Beautiful Powerline Vineyard is stunning and one of the finest Syrahs in the vintage. Coming all from Clone 470, co-fermented with 3-4% Viognier in concrete tanks, and brought up in mostly neutral oak, it’s a rich, meaty, smoky, full-bodied Syrah that has classic Northern Rhône-like aromas of black olives, smoked meats, ground, earth, and dark fruits. With a stacked mid-palate and beautiful balance, it’s going to keep for 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Syrah The Beautiful is rich and lush on the nose with an impressive core of sappy fruit, savory essence, olive tapenade and crushed violets. The full-bodied palate is generous and compelling with a robust yet velvety base that demonstrates elegance with power. The wine glides over the palate, connecting structuring tannins and supporting acidity to carry this wine for more than a decade. The wine ends with a long and drawn-out finish, with mineral tension and lingering spice tones on the aftertaste. Just 1,135 cases were produced.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “Wild, northern Rhône-like aromas of raspberry, game and roasted notes lifted by a note of jasmine that must come from the small Viognier component. Then surprisingly firm on the palate, with juicy but very suave flavors of black raspberry, grilled meat, spices and musky minerality complemented by nuances of flowers, tar and earth. Finishes with substantial dusty, broad tannins and a peppery accent. “A great Rocks vineyard with structure,” is the way winemaker Brennon Leighton describes Powerline. These vines are planted to the 470 Syrah clone from Tablas Creek, which Leighton says is usually more floral and focused than meaty and earthy. (14% alcohol)”

K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 Displayed Price, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points
“The 2016 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard comes from Snipes Mountain and has a singular, pretty, fresh style with more obvious acidity as well as tannins, yet it still stays in the plush, sexy style of the estate. Blue and black fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spice notes all define the bouquet and it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure and seamless on the palate. It’s a beautiful wine that’s going to come together nicely for 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.”
James Suckling 95 points “From a sloping plot of deep river rock, this has a fresh array of red and blue berries with a fine, stony edge. The palate has a very sleek, composed feel with such length and composure. The purity of blackberry and blueberry flavors is entrancing. Holds so fresh. Drink this now or hold for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King leads with expressive red, black and blue fruits on the nose with a density that can be sensed just by nosing the glass. Black cherry, blackcurrant and boysenberry compote all vie for your attention with savory spices and resinous purple flowers. The full-bodied palate is dense with a pedal-to-metal winemaking approach with chewy tannins and supporting acidity. It continues to linger with spice tones as it changes over a 20-30 second period after the wine has left the palate. Just under 500 cases were produced-AM “
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Lively scents of redcurrant, raspberry and dried herbs, plus a whiff of tea leaf. Bright on entry, the pliant but firm in the middle palate, with its dense flavors of red berries and rocky minerality enlivened by penetrating acidity (the pH is actually 3.85). This savory, subtle midweight finishes surprisingly reticent but very long. I never would have guessed the alcohol but it should help this wine age well. Leighton noted that this vineyard was created when “the mountain rose up and pulled the river up the side of the hill”–hence the cobblestones at this altitude. (15% alcohol; from mineral-rich cobblestone soil”

K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 Displayed Price, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points
“Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Syrah The Hidden is a classic example of the old saying “an iron fist in a velvet glove.” Beautiful notes of dark fruits, damp earth, iron, and crushed rocks as well as ground pepper all emerge from this full-bodied effort that has no hard edges, a terrific mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a finish that goes on for over a minute. It’s a brilliant, brilliant Syrah and one of the wines of the vintage.”
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The nose of the 2016 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard offers a round, open-knit and voluptuous expression of dark red and black fruit characteristics—dusty plum skin, blackberry jus and cherry compote—over a wet rock minerality and savory black spices with hints of sweet oak. Full-bodied, the palate is generous but still has a rigidity to the mid-palate, with a note of bitter espresso and gripping tannic backbone. Ending with a long, spicy finish, the wine is going to go the distance and live for decades if you can just forget about it in your cellar. It will be a lucky day if you add any of the 684-case production to your cellar.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of sweet earth, pepper, espresso, plums and blackberries follow to the palate. This delivers a big, bold hit of ripe, sweet and round fruit with a very encompassing feel, married with a class and breed that really sets it apart. Nothing pedestrian, but a lovingly familiar syrah. Drink from 2023.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Bright red-ruby. Musky dark raspberry, leather, black pepper and a whiff of shoe polish on the complex nose; yet more evidence of how different all these Syrah cuvées are. A seriously vibrant, fine-grained midweight in the mouth, offering terrific perfumed lift to its nuanced flavors of raspberry, spices, lavender and dried oregano. A hint of almost lemony acidity and a suggestion of orange peel contribute to the overall impression of vibrancy and lift. Smooth tannins saturate the front teeth on the very long, spicy aftertaste. (from broken volcanic soils with a bit of limestone)”

K Vintners ‘King Coal’ Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 Displayed Price, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points
“Always from the Stoneridge Vineyard, the 2016 Cabernet / Syrah King Coal is a ripe, sexy, yet savory effort that has awesome notes of red and black currants, spice box, graphite, and ground herbs. Deep ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied, beautifully layered, and with a blockbuster finish, it’s one of those powerful yet still ethereal wines that gives up tons of richness and depth yet has no sense of heaviness or weight.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the 2016 King Coal Stoneridge Vineyard starts with the blue fruited tones with stewed plum, boysenberry and Chambord on the nose with inky purple flowers. The palate is full-bodied, rich and generous, with a focused core of bold fruits that are dense and chewy. A high-octane wine, it ends with a long-lasting finish. Only 818 cases were produced in 2016.-AM”

K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 Displayed Price, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off! 
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points
“Named after Smith’s father, the 2016 Ovide comes from the Walla Walla Valley and is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah. This savory, full-bodied, earthy blend offers complex red and black fruits intermixed with notes of dried earth, asphalt, baking chocolate, and spice. It has terrific balance and is going to evolve for 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

 
5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 K Vintners Wines
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ K Vintners Wines 
Offer Ends Friday, August 14th at 10AM
But the Best Selection is Tonight!
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your credit card
 
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Wine Spectator Insider Explores Cayuse

“Vintner Christophe Baron’s Cayuse winery takes its name from a Native American tribe that was given the same name by French Canadian fur traders—the visitors referred to the region’s inhabitants as cailloux, French for ‘stones’ or ‘pebbles,’ possibly a reference to the rocky terrain the indigenous people inhabited. Cayuse is apropos for Baron (pictured), a native of France who planted all his vineyards in The Rocks District of southern Walla Walla Valley. ‘A Frenchman coming and planting a vineyard there,’ he says, ‘it made sense.’

“Baron planted his first vineyard, Cailloux, in 1996, and today he farms five vineyards on 60 acres, all on stony soils. Because the vineyards are highly stressed by those meager soils, the average yield is just 2 tons per acre. Syrah is the dominant grape and Baron’s passion, although Grenache, Cabernet Sauvignon and even Tempranillo are planted; in addition to Cayuse, the vineyards supply two other Baron brands: No Girls and Horsepower. With such a distinctive terroir, all of the wines share common threads. A pure, earthy minerality is the most prominent trait, with accents of black olive and smoked meats often adding to the mix. The 2017 and 2016 vintages in Washington are outstanding, and Baron’s wines are among the best of the best.”—Tim Fish, Wine Spectator

Newly reviewed and in stock now:

Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Structured and impeccably layered, with rich and expressive blueberry and raspberry flavors, laced with licorice, bacon fat and crushed stone notes that pick up speed toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


Looking for more Cayuse? Check out the other Cayuse bottlings available now:

Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points
“The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $185

Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points
“Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”

No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 97 points
“Editor’s Choice. Aromas of potpourri, white pepper, charcuterie, crushed flowers, soot and raspberry captivate on the nose. Exuberant and outrageously flavorful on the palate, intense accents of smoked meat and earth arise alongside the fruit. An extremely long finish of earth and flowers completes it.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Not yet released when I tasted it, the 2016 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard has a nose that opens with a bang, boasting majestic and explosive notes of dusty red fruit—raspberries, cherries and spiced red plum—with a rocky core of minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine expresses the semi-carbonic notes of sweet red fruit and dusty red flower petals with iron and lava rocks. It has expressive and silky tannins that linger on the long, ethereal finish. I am impressed! This is delicious juice and is a must-have for serious collectors. Only 338 cases made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard sports a translucent ruby color as well as a terrific bouquet of black cherries, strawberries, cold fireplace, white flowers, and spice. Seamless, elegant, and vibrant, with great tension, it’s a thrilling, Rayas look-alike to drink over the coming 10-15 years. 338 cases.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Two Great Bordeaux Values

Excellent Bordeaux doesn’t have to be expensive. Top vintages bestow favors on estates both hallowed and humble and modern winemaking manages to polish grapes toward perfection—the perfect recipe for modestly-priced bottles to greatly over-achieve. 

Case in point? These two winners—both from excellent vintages and top value producers.  We’ve got new stock arriving on both tomorrow and wanted to highlight what sorts of special wines you can get for under $25 in Bordeaux these days.  Big, rich and powerful, these are just as at home in your cellar for another five years as they are on the table next to a roast chicken or some pork chops.


In Stock Now:

Chateau Puygueraud, Cotes de Francs 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-6 Chateau Puygueraud, Cotes de Francs 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Chateau Puygueraud, Cotes de Francs 2016 750ML ($299.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points
“This is so good! I want to drink it now. Iodine, mushrooms, dark fruit and orange peel on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, yet polished and fresh. Lovely tension. A blend of 80 per cent merlot, 15 per cent cabernet franc and five per cent malbec.”

Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 Chateau Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points
“Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
Antonio Galloni “Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate “The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

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Telmo Rodriguez’s Secret Star Sticky

We’ve highlighted Telmo Rodriguez before, under the guise of Remelluri, his family estate—but there’s more to him than that.  Case in point: the Molino Real dessert wines he makes from the hillsides near Malaga.  Moscatel is dried on mats to luscious sweetness and aged to make wines that were once world famous.  We’ve scored a deal on the 2009 version—50% off the next lowest price in any vintage.  This is one for any dessert-wine lover out there.

Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez ‘Molino Real’, Malaga 2009 500ML ($59.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez ‘Molino Real’, Malaga 2009 500ML ($349.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2009 vintage.  Review of the 2010 provided for reference.
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points
“The 2010 Molino Real is the flagship and initial wine produced here, a sweet Moscatel from the schist slopes of Málaga at altitudes over 550 meters high, fermented with indigenous yeasts in 225-liter French oak barrels where the wine matures for 20 months. The grapes are dried in the sun for two weeks to get more concentration. The nose is extremely aromatic with notes of condensed milk, a touch of volatility and bay leaf; it is extremely complex, attractive and extremely young with the giveaway note of syrup that denotes youth. The wine has 13.5% alcohol and 127 grams of residual sugar. It was a relatively late harvest and the growing season was cooler and warmer than the average. The palate is extremely balanced with perfect harmony between sweetness and acidity leaving the palate with a fresh, minty sensation, rich, intense, with the spiciness of the grape, fine and elegant. I tasted 2009 and 2007 for context, and they are both young, as these are wines thought for the long haul. 7,8824 half-liter bottles were produced. ($75)”

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Collector’s Corner

The High Scoring Bevan Cellars

Bevan Cellars has quickly emerged as one of the top handful of Napa Cabernet producers in a crowded marketplace.  Since their founding in 2005, they’ve earned multiple perfect scores for their bold, silky style.  These are intense expressions of Cabernet (and a few impressive Cabernet-based blends) that manage to be delicious and texturally impressive now.  They don’t see a lot of action in the retail world (most of their wine is sold to a fervent mailing list) but we’ve got our hands on some, available in limited quantities.

In Stock Now:

Bevan Cellars Tench Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Oakville 2016 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 97+ points
“The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard is very deep purple-black in color with an earthy, meaty, broody nose with notes of mocha over baked plums and crème de cassis plus wafts of spice box and mincemeat. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated, rich and earthy with great vibrancy on the finish. 839 cases produced.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “From a steep hillside in Oakville, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Tench Vineyard offers a more savory, masculine, layered style as well as a huge nose of red and black fruits, dried herbs, chocolate, and earth. It hits the palate with a full-bodied, mouthfilling style that carries plenty of tannins, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and a great finish. I like it today, yet it’s going to continue drinking brilliantly for two decades.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Bevan Cellars Tench Vineyard ‘EE – Double E’ Red, Oakville 2016 750ML ($249.9) $189 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points
“A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Cabernet Franc and 5% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Proprietary Red EE Tench Vineyard is scented of pure plums and ripe blueberries with redcurrants and touches of lavender, roses, bay leaves and dusty earth. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm, fine-grained, vibrant and refreshing, finishing long and perfumed. 1,403 cases produced.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Tench Vineyard EE Red Wine checks in as a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Merlot, which is the smallest amount of Cabernet Franc to date. Brought up in new barrels, it has gorgeous blue fruits, violets, spring flowers, and damp earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and just about as seamless and silky as it gets, this is a magical wine to drink over the coming 15 years or more.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Bevan Cellars Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Stags Leap District 2015 750ML ($279.95) $199 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points
“Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Vixen Block Wildfoote Vineyard offers up a very serious nose of cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry compote with hints of dried lavender, underbrush, Chinese five spice and cigar box, plus a waft of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and densely packed with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, it has a firm frame of finely grained tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with epically long exotic spice nuances. Only 125 cases were produced.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wildfoote Vineyard Vixen Block is one of the more refined, elegant wines in the lineup and reveals a perfumed bouquet of white flowers, blue fruits, violets, and spice. It’s seamless and silky on the palate, yet has building underlying tannin and is beautifully balanced. It’s one of those wines that carry loads of intensity and texture yet just glides over the palate. Drink it anytime over the coming two decades.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States. Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team.



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