Jump Start Sale: Best Price on Quintessa 2013; New Arrival & a Final Release from Ken Wright Cellars; New Best-Buy Arrivals; Spring has Sprung: Freshly Arrived Rose Wines; New Grapelive Review for Bow & Arrow’s Rhinestones; New Reviews from Stephan Reinhardt of the Wine Advocate for Heymann-Löwenstein; Trending – Wines on Fire; Bedrock Wine Co.: New Arrival; Valdespino’s Very Old Rare Sherries; Passopisciaro; Arriving Late March from Produttori del Barbaresco; Late Breaking News: Clos Erasmus New Releases
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Jump Start Sale
Arriving March 9th
Quintessa Red, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($199.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Quintessa Red, Rutherford 2013 750ML ($1,199.95) $732 pre-arrival special (that’s only $122/bottle!)
James Suckling 98 points “This is really fantastic on the nose with blackberry, blueberry, lavender, and violets. Even sage. Full body plus extremely integrated tannins that are polished and refined. The balance and harmony is phenomenal. Goes on for minutes. Beautiful now but will satisfy for decades. (5/3/16)”
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2013 Proprietary Red Wine has always been good, but I think they have re-positioned themselves at a much higher pinnacle with the 2013. This is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend but has important component parts such as Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot from their gorgeous vineyards just off the Silverado Trail in Rutherford. The wine has a dense bluish/purple color and a beautiful nose of black raspberries, blueberries, lead pencil shavings, and touches of oak and spring flowers. The complexity of the fragrance is followed by a wine with terrific body, stunning purity, wonderful balance, and great depth and richness. This is certainly the most profound Quintessa made to date and should evolve gracefully for at least 20-25 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $139.95
The average price is $182
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New Arrival from Ken Wright Cellars
Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-6 Tyrus Evan Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Claret, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Winery note “Ken Wright, known for his highly-rated, single-vineyard Pinot Noir, introduced a new label in 2001, Tyrus Evan. The name on the vintage western label came from Ken’s two son’s middle names. The wine, all made in Carlton at Ken Wright Cellars, is from fruit sourced from Ciel du Cheval vineyard in Washington State’s Red Mountain AVA and Seven Hills vineyard which lies on the Oregon side of the Walla Walla AVA. The vineyard Ciel du Cheval lies in the heart of the tiny Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA) in southeast Washington. Initially planted to just three acres in 1975, the vineyard now encompasses 120 acres and provides outstanding fruit to 26 wineries in the northwest. As owner Jim Holmes puts it, ‘This is a hobby that has gone crazy.’ 43% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot”
This is the final vintage of Mr. Wright’s Ciel du Cheval Claret
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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New Best-Buy Arrivals
From Around the World!
From Oregon:
Cristom Mt. Jefferson Cuvee Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 special
James Sucking 94 points “Aromas of walnuts, berries and spices with hints of orange peel. Full-bodied with a soft texture and chewy tannins. A juicy and delicious wine already. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2018”
Josh Raynolds Vinous 91 points “Aromas of walnuts, berries and spices with hints of orange peel. Full-bodied with a soft texture and chewy tannins. A juicy and delicious wine already. Needs a year or two to soften. Better in 2018”
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.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
From Washington:
Blackbird Vineyards Arise, Oak Knoll District 2013 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This is a Merlot-dominant blend, with 30% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Cabernet Franc blended in. It offers cooler-climate elements of dried herb, cedar and currant, with the tannins sleek and polished. The finish flirts with a taste of coconut. Drink now through 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The Merlot-based 2013 Arise, Blackbird’s entry-level wine, is dark, voluptuous and juicy. Dark red and blue fruit , violets, lavender and spices round out the succulent, open-knit finish. Drink this delicious red over the next few years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Blackbird Vineyards Paramour, Oak Knoll District 2013 750ML ($129.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The Cabernet Franc-based 2013 Paramour has turned out beautifully. Espresso, mocha, soaring spice notes and black stone fruits are pushed forward. Aromatic, inviting and ample on the palate, the 2013 is full of Franc sensuality. Like all of the 2013s, the Paramour needs time in bottle to soften, but it is quite expressive today just the same.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109.74!
From France:
Veuve Fourny & Fils Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 375ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Toasted brioche and coffee notes accent lemon parfait and glazed apricot flavors in this creamy Champagne. Fresh, with a finely detailed bead and a spiced, minerally finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Francoise Bedel Cuvee Comme Autrefois Extra-Brut, Champagne NV ($119.95) $79 special
Winemaker’s note: “Extra brut. This reserve is vinified completely in oak casks and bottled directly with a traditional cork in a square bottle ring, and left to age on its lees for at least 10 years. Visual impression : When served, this champagne produces a lovely, creamy mousse that is held up at the surface by tumultuous effervescence. Nose : The first whiff is powerful and expressive, with a pleasing blend of freshness and maturity. The bouquet then evolves into dried fruits and sweet spices, finishing on mineral and lightly salty notes. Palate : Powerful and persistent. The duality of maturity and freshness scented in the bouquet is confirmed on the palate. The wine presents dried fruit aromas and a general sensation of vivacity. Biodynamic, hand-harvested. 40 % Pinot Meunier, 40 % Pinot noir, 20 % Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Georges Duboeuf Domaine Mont Chavy Morgon, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($21.95) $14 special
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Morgon Domaine Mont Chavy was cropped at 45 hectoliters per hectare this year. It has a precise red cherry and bergamot-scented nose that unfurls in the glass. The palate is juicy and quite dense – thick tannin shrouded in lightly spiced redcurrant and blackcurrant fruit that lead to a sharp, nicely focused finish that demonstrates fine backbone. This is probably the best from Georges Duboeuf this year. Very fine.” NM
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $21.99
From Spain:
Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Planetes de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2012 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “I was thoroughly impressed by the 2012 Planetes de Nin, a bright ruby-colored, fragrant Garnacha-based red with some 30% Cariñena from the Planetes vineyard in Porrera. It has a beautiful floral nose of violets and lilies, with showy aromas of blood orange peel, wild berries and oriental spices in a Vosne-Romanée way, very Burgundian overall and truly captivating. The palate is ultra-sleek, silky with very refined tannins and a subtle minerality that adds to the freshness and makes the wine very focused and precise. This is so different from previous vintages, so much more elegant and focused, pure and elegant. This should age in bottle nicely, but it will be very difficult to resist. And it’s a very good value. 9,000 bottles.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $46
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Spring Has Sprung
Freshly Arrived Pink Wines:
Domaines Ott Cotes de Provence ‘By.Ott’ Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($24.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 89 points “Vivid peach skin color. Deeply pitched nectarine, orange and redcurrant aromas show good focus and pick up a floral element with air. Supple and dry, offering mineral-tinged citrus and pit fruit flavors and a refreshingly bitter suggestion of quinine. Closes on a stony, dry note, with a honeysuckle nuance lingering.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $21
Chateau de Trinquevedel Tavel Cuvee Traditionelle Rose 2015 750ML ($21.95) $11.90 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Vivid orange. Potent cherry and red currant scents, along with hints of blood orange and pungent flowers. Sappy and focused, offering bitter cherry and berry skin flavors that unfold slowly with air. Shows very good energy and thrust on the chewy, persistent finish, which strongly echoes the cherry and orange notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $17
Domaine Les Pallieres Au Petit Bonheur Les Pallieres Gigondas Rose 2015 750ML ($27.95) $16 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Pale salmon skin. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red berries, tangerine, jasmine and iodine, and a smoky mineral nuance builds in the glass. Concentrated but impressively graceful, offering intense strawberry and orange pith flavors and an exotic suggestion of toasted grain. Lingers on the finish with real intensity and persistence, leaving floral and mineral notes behind.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $19.97
Chateau de Roquefort Cotes de Provence Corail Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($19.95) $11.90 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Extremely pale pink. Aromas of tangerine, strawberry, melon and white flowers show very good clarity and a zesty mineral element. Juicy and sharply focused, offering vibrant red berry and pit fruit flavors that put on weight and pick up an orange pith nuance with air. Fleshy, silky and focused on the finish, which hangs on with strong, stony tenacity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Rose, Loire 2015 750ML ($26.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, bright orange. Fresh blood orange, raspberry and jasmine on the intense, mineral-accented nose. Smooth, juicy and seamless in texture, offering intense red berry, nectarine and orange pith flavors that deepen on the back half. Shows excellent focus, thrust and mineral lift on the finish, which leaves behind hints of orange zest and chalky minerals. I really like the marriage of power and elegance here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $22
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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New Review from Grapelive
We love it. You’ll love it. And of course it’s getting great press…
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Grapelive 94 points “Scott Frank’s Rhinestones 2015 maybe the best under $25 wine I’ve ever tasted from Oregon. In fact the 2015 is so good I almost prefer it to some over $50 Pinot Noir offerings. This is serious stuff that really delivers the quality and depth you’d not maybe expect from this fun blend. Sourced from organic/biodynamic vineyards, mostly Johan Vineyards, and picked a bit early, Bow & Arrow gets detailed ripeness, but with zesty freshness of acidity. The fruit is very gently handled with partial whole cluster and, in traditional Loire Valley style, low oak winemaking is employed. Like Passetoutgrains in Burgundy or Cheverny in the Loire, this blend has long been an interesting marriage of varietals with the Pinot Noir giving beauty, depth and earthy charms while the Gamay gives color, vibrancy and fruitiness. This wine goes even further with this vintage taking to a new level: this Rhinestones will change all perception on what can be achieved with this blend of grapes and it should be honored as one of the great terroir wines of its generation. It redefines Oregon’s paradigm! The 2015 starts with a nose of dark roses, spice, truffle and blue fruits leading to a vivid palate of black cherry, blueberry, plum and tart currant fruits along with walnut/cedar, peppery stones, sage/mint/anise, cinnamon and iron/mineral tones finishing long and lingering with strawberry, earthy beet root and lavender. The texture is amazing and the mouth feel is exceptional considering how alive and bright this brilliant medium weight wine is. It is a satiny stunner with glorious vitality and grace. Don’t over think the grapes or label: this wine is the new Oregon and it deserves your open mind and attention. Drink this over the next 5 to 10 years. What a truly fantastic effort! I’m a huge fan of Frank’s wines, but this is by far the best vintage of Rhinestones. Also look for their straight Gamay Noir, Melon (think bone dry, leesy Muscadet) and Sauvignon Blanc. These Loire inspired wines are lovely Oregon surprises that will thrill and seduce the senses.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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New Reviews
from Stephan Reinhardt of the Wine Advocate for
Heymann-Löwenstein
Reinhard Löwenstein fits in with this crazy-steep region as an absolute perfectionist who will do any and everything possible to make sure that his wines are as profound as possible. His yields and selection in the vineyards are made solely with quality in mind and he holds his wines back longer before release than most German producers—cash flow be damned.
In terms of style, the word that comes to mind when tasting these wines is ‘mineral.’ Not minerality paired with fruitiness, like with much Mosel Riesling, but sheer rockiness in liquid form. The wines are lean, racy and benefit from air or a few years in bottle, but are incredibly rewarding in the way that only the great wines of the world can be.
We’re proud to announce new reviews from Stephan Reinhardt of the Wine Advocate, who writes “The wines from the Uhlen are exceptional again in 2015, including most of the Rothlay (R) again but also the Laubach (L) and the Blaufüsser Lay (B). These are flinty, refined and elegant terroir wines with perfectly ripe Riesling flavors, plus intensity, finesse and great tension. These wines serve the intellectuals as well as the hedonists.”
Newly reviewed and in-stock now from Heymann-Löwenstein:
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Kirchberg VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2015 Riesling Kirchberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ opens with a generous and warm, ripe Riesling aroma intertwined with some herbal and iron lemon flavors on the clear and elegant nose. This is a full-bodied, charming, finessed and elegant wine with fine tannin structure and a dry and persistent finish. Still young, the Kirchberg will benefit from further bottle aging.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Röttgen VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2015 Riesling Röttgen ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ has the clear, deep, ripe, elegant and complex nose of a great wine. Crushed stone flavors along with almond cookie flavors and a thousand more flavors lead to a dense, powerful and well structured palate of great complexity and persistency. This Winninger Röttgen combines richness, power and structure with finesse, transparency and elegance. The finish is stimulatingly salty and aromatic. This is a great dry and pretty powerful Riesling that will shine in 5-10 or more years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Stolzenberg VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91+ points “Some lactic flavors of ripe yellow fruits open to the 2015 Riesling Stolzenberg ‘VDP Grosse Lage’, a full-bodied, intense and well concentrated wine with piquant acidity and a serious, age-worthy structure. Like in the Kirchberg, the tannins are more dominant here than in former years but structure the power of this wine very well. I am curious to see where it will go from here. The wine seems a bit closed at the moment but is elegant and finessed. A bit demure and drying at this early stage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Uhlen B Blaufüsser VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Riesling Uhlen B ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ from the Blaufüsser Lay offers the purity and perfume of the Vom blauen Schiefer but with more intensity, ripeness and complexity. This is perfectly ripe Riesling fruit on milled blue slate. Lovely flinty flavors here. On the palate, this is Riesling as a melting rock! Finessed purity and elegance with a great, very clear and salty finish. This Uhlen B is tightly woven but nevertheless transparent, finessed and elegant.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Uhlen L Laubach VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 96 points “From the Laubach formation of the grand cru, the 2015 Riesling Uhlen L ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ is super flinty, refined and elegant on the nose where perfectly ripe Riesling and white truffle aromas are displayed. On the palate, this is an intense, dense and finessed Riesling with great tension, salinity and complexity. The finish is aromatic, pure and very long, really what Reinhard Löwenstein was aiming for: to serve the intellectuals as well as the hedonists. A great and age-worthy Riesling.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Vom Blauem Schiefer 2015 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Riesling Vom Blauen Schiefer opens with a beautifully clear and slatey bouquet of perfectly ripe Riesling flavors. The wine is round, piquant and salty on the palate, reveals picture book finesse and transparency and is extremely stimulating in its dry but perfectly balanced finish. The aftertaste is pretty long and already complex. If you are looking for a picture book wine of the terraced Lower Mosel, this is the one you have to taste. Thirteen percent of alcohol can hardly taste lighter and more stimulating.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
And one more coming in April:
Heymann-Löwenstein Riesling Uhlen R Roth Lay VDP Grosse Lage 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA April
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Tasted from the barrel and still dusty in its ripe golden color, the 2015 Riesling Uhlen R ‘VDP Grosse Lage’ (which is always bottled late) combines super ripe, rich and intense tropical fruit aromas (pineapples) with the spicy flavors of red (iron-rich) slate. The palate, however, is stunningly pure and finessed, highly elegant and almost light whereas the finish is very long, full of salt, grip and tension. A great promise!”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Trending: #WinesEnFuego
CrossBarn by Paul Hobbs Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Even better news is the Crossbarn 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. There are 10,500+ cases of this wine, and while $50.00 is hardly a bargain, this is a brilliant wine from Hobbs. There is a little Merlot and Cabernet Franc in the blend, but it reflects this great vintage, revealing blueberry, blackberry and cassis as well as some licorice, incense, and forest floor. The wine has full-bodied opulence, a sumptuous mouthfeel, and is just a terrific, savory, expansive Cabernet Sauvignon that should drink well for 15 or more years.”
James Suckling 93 points “This is a fantastic example of the super 2013 vintage in Napa. Full body, currants, graphite, spice, and light chocolate. The length and balance to this is superb. Don’t miss it. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Zorzal Eggo Blanc de Cal, Tupungato, Argentina 2014 750ML (27.95) $20.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Eggo Blanc de Cal is pure Sauvignon Blanc from two different vineyards in Gualtallary. The full clusters are pressed and the must was fermented and aged in contact with the lees for nine to ten months in their famous egg-shaped cement vats. This is more subtle and earthy, less Sauvignon, with the fruit expressing itself in a lower-pitched voice, more of a baritone. It’s also has a little wider, pungent and powerful character in the mouth. This is only around 13% alcohol, and even though in 2014 it didn’t go through malolactic fermentation, it’s still a very light and fresh wine. Groundbreaking Sauvignon. 4,800 bottles were produced, fruit of two eggs.” LG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $26.25
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe, Germany 2004 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Jancis Robinson – Top 20 German Wine Producer in 2004
“Rumpf’s 2004 Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese smells of pineapple, pear and white peach, following with a delicate and refined palate impression saturated with a sense of liquid slate and pure pear, peach and pineapple fruit. The finish is smooth and long with generous fruit augmented by subtle spice and crushed stone. Classic 2004 virtues are on display.” -David Schildknecht [Reviewed 2005]
Wine Spectator 89 points “Very firmly structured, but this is dense and offers spice and mineral shadings to complement the apple and white peach notes. Still leaning toward the structure on the finish, but this shows promise. Best from 2007 through 2020. 250 cases made.” WS [Reviewed 2006]
Terry Theise notes “Dautenpflänzer is one the leading Grand Crus of the lower Nahe, with a typical mélange of soil types within its borders. Rumpf claims some of it is slatey and some of it is “sandy loam,” which agrees more with the standard references. It is in any case singular and immediately significant, giving a sometimes damnably complex set of aromas and flavors including coconut, violet, soursop, leaf-smoke—it is a very long list even if you’re sober. In any case it belongs with the vamping exotics of the Nahe.” [Reviewed 2015]
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $44
Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 13 bottles available
90% Syrah, 10% Viognier from the Deux Vert vineyard
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Sexy, highly perfumed red berry liqueur, five-spice powder and floral pastille scents show very good clarity and a hint of smokiness. Silky, sweet and focused, offering fresh raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly with aeration. Shows real northern Rhône aromatic and flavor character, with Pinot-like weight and texture. Suggestions of menthol and white pepper build steadily on the very long, gently tannic finish, which leaves a note of clove behind.”
Cantina del Glicine Sconsolata Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 20 bottles available
Winery note “Color: an intense ruby red, tending towards a garnet-red color. Flavor: dry and pleasantly tart, fruity. Following an old local tradition, during fermentation we add 10%-15% of Nebbiolo grapes to the Barbera grapes. This process makes Barbera d’Alba Nebbiolata wine mellower and enhances its bouquet.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $31
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
Can’t decide on the perfect gift?
Let them!
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Bedrock Wine Co.
New Arrival
You’d be forgiven for thinking Morgan Twain-Peterson was taking a free ride into the industry, his father Joel Peterson founded Ravenswood, but you’d soon learn that he is blazing his own, very opinionated and talented trail. Morgan’s passion is preservation of California’s heritage vineyards and the myriad of varietals not found anywhere else. This appreciation and dedication came from a distance as he was in New York finishing his degree in American History. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, and Morgan returned to make wine.
Most notably, the focus of Bedrock is their ancient vines. Morgan repeats again and again that wines are made in the vineyard. And what tremendous vineyards he works with. Gnarled old dinosaurs poking their heads up through cracked and ancient soil: varietals like Carignane, Mourvedre, Tempranillo, Alicante Bouschet, Valdigué, Peloursin, Serene, Petite Bouschet, Grand Noir de la Calmette to name a few. These vines, in Twain-Peterson’s view, represent so much more than California’s history. They represent a wine that is uniquely Californian, a style not to be found or replicated anywhere else in the world. This is could well be California’s future.
These wines aren’t shy, but the surprising little aromatics and spice notes are delicate and only get better with time. They’ve got the fruit and depth that you would expect from California, but they’re tight, structured and will reward patience. Similar to some of the older Ridge Zinfandels, you won’t be disappointed if you throw them into the decanter and punch your ticket, but book in advance. Getting there is half the fun.
New Arrival from Bedrock Wine Co.:
Bedrock Wine Co. Sh’Bubbles First Cuvee Sparkling Rose, California NV 750ML ($24.95) $16 special, 35 bottles available
Vinopolnote: 90% Old vine Carignan and a dab of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The still wine evolved on lees in tank for eight months then put through secondary fermentation and bottle using the Charmat method. Full of red fruits and fun. 6 g/l dosage.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Below are three of the five additional wines we have in-stock from Bedrock. To browse the full list, or to see the 75 other red wines from California in-stock now, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2015 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 13 bottles available
Robert Parker 93 points “From Contra Costa County, the 2015 Proprietary Red Evangelho Heritage comes from directly rooted Zinfandel, Mourvèdre, Carignan, Palomino, Alicante and Mission all planted in the 1890s on what is basically a sandy bench. The briary intensity of the Zinfandel is well-displayed, but then the blue and black fruits seem to jump out as do some dusty/loamy soil notes, forest floor, underbrush, pepper and background smoky notes. This is rich, floral, heady, intriguing and provocative. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.”
Bedrock Wine Co. ‘The Bedrock Heritage’ Wine, Sonoma Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 23 bottles available
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
Bedrock Wine Co. Lorenzo’s Heritage, Dry Creek Valley 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 8 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2014 Lorenzo’s Heritage Wine exudes Dry Creek intensity, with searing tannin and vibrant acidity that support a core of blue and purplish-hued fruits. This powerful, virile wine needs time in the bottle, as it is raw and not fully formed today. Still, I find it absolutely compelling.”
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Valdespino’s Very Old Rare Sherries
Are Simply Sublime
Valdespino is probably the best sherry bodega, for our money. They focus on the farming of their vineyards in a way that most houses don’t and the wines are absolutely stellar from their entry level Fino, Innocente, all the way on up. The most incredible wines they make, though, are their “VORS” series, which stands for Very Old Rare Sherry. By rule, VORS wines must be at least 30 years old, though Valdespino often doubles that age for their wines—these wines are 50-60+ years old when they get bottled. Aside from Madeira, there’s no other way that you can enjoy a wine this old (and this good) for this kind of money.
On an absolute basis, sure, they’re a little pricey—they’re over fifty year old sherry from the best producer in Jerez! Compare that to any other region and you’ll never see value like that. We also should remind you that the wines are very, very good. Stock up while you can, we don’t always have these in.
Available Here Now from Valdespino:
A.R. Valdespino Coliseo Amontillado VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($249.95) $179 special, 9 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Amontillado Coliseo VORS, is an extremely old (much older than the 30 years certified by the VORS classification) and concentrated wine. It is unique, as its origin is from Sanlucar de Barrameda, mainly from the Pago Miraflores, which produced very sharp wines. Dark mahogany colored, with a bright green border, is very aromatic, balsamic and complex, with wild herbs, candied orange rind, spices and dates. The palate is extremely concentrated, dry, and intense but it has no edges, with lively acidity and an eternal finish. It’s an extreme wine, some might find it too much, but it’s certainly unique and among the greatest wines in the world, to be sipped slowly and in tiny quantities. One of the greatest Amontillados in existence today. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
Peter Liem–“A complex demanding wine averaging over 60 years of age. This actually originates as a manzanilla, spending 15 to 20 years in Sanlucar before being blended and aged in Jerez. The result is an amontillado of tremendous finesse, balancing its vivid concentration with a stelly, racy structure”
A.R. Valdespino Cardenal Palo Cortado VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 750ML ($299.95) $279 special, 1 bottle available
A.R. Valdespino Cardenal Palo Cortado VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($199.95) $133 special, 7 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The NV Palo Cortado Cardenal VORS, like the whole VORS collection from Valdespino is outstanding. It is fed from the solera of the Palo Cortado C.P. where the Palomino grapes come from the Macharnudo Alto vineyard, fermented in American oak botas. It’s 22% alcohol and has nine grams of (undetectable) residual sugar which makes it very drinkable. It’s a monumental wine of dark mahogany color with a green edge, a complex, ever-changing, concentrated, clean and delineated nose of spices, dark chocolate, Cuban cigar and balsamic notes of incense, and a sharp, saline palate. It is highly concentrated, powerful and clean, with an eternal, lingering aftertaste. Deciding between Coliseo and Cardenal might be splitting hairs, and as much as I love Coliseo, I felt Cardenal was just one notch above. At the quality helm of Palo Cortado. Drink 2013-2025.” WA
Peter Liem– “Its palo cortado counterpart is the Cardenal, a wine of similar age and equally multi-faceted complexity, although, with its richer girth and more velvety texture on the palate, it comes off as less forbidding. It essentially represents the ultimate conclusion of Valdespino’s expression of the Marcharnudo vineyard.”
A.R. Valdespino Ninos Pedro Ximenez VORS Sherry, Andalucia NV 375ML ($219.95) $179 special, 3 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 points “The NV Ninos Pedro Ximenez 30 Anos VORS is again a monumental wine, redolent of its sibling, Moscatel Toneles, as often the extremely old wines have so many similarities that even the grape and the origin is diminished. This beast of a wine has 470 grams of sugar. It’s believed to average 50 years of age, and shows a dark mahogany, almost black color. Being extremely concentrated, is not just power, it has finesses and balance. Curry, spices, coconut, balsamic notes (eucalyptus), tar, Cuban cigar, and nutmeg can be identified in its nose. The palate is velvety, dense, thick, long, and intense, with pungent acidity but at the same time it feels smooth. Again, choosing between Ninos and Toneles might be purely academic. Drink 2013-2035.” WA
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Passopisciaro
One constant on the island of Sicily is the looming shadow of Mt. Etna, the highest and most active volcano in Europe. Its rich soils have been key to the island’s agriculture for centuries; however, the farmers gamble with their crops every year. Etna giveth, and Etna taketh away – abruptly. And yet, the appeal of revitalizing the vineyards – some half buried by recent lava flows – is too great to resist. Nerello mascalese is so perfectly paired to its place that there is no place on earth that could even begin to replicate the results achieved here.
In 2000, Andrea Franchetti arrived on the slopes of Etna with a goal of rehabilitating hundred-year old vineyards spread across the slopes of the mountain. Each contrada is reflective of individual lava flows, all of which came from different levels of magma within the mountain, and Franchetti decided on vinifying the single-vineyard sites separately. The five contrada wines demonstrate Nerello’s underrated ability to reflect the essence of each site. The results continue to surprise Franchetti himself, his winemaking evolving to compliment the fruit at its peak rather than trying to manipulate results in the winery.
Despite the cool temperatures, often 20-30 degrees cooler than at the coast, the vines are healthy and active due to the sunlight that reflects off the seas below. Passopisciaro is balanced, polished and definitely a refined take on a grape that was viewed as quaint for its rusticity for decades. The Passorosso, a blend of the five contrada that Franchetti works with, is viewed as one of the best introductions available to the wines of Etna, with 2014 being hailed by Ian d’Agato of Vinous as the best vintages yet for this wine.
Passopisciaro wines in-stock now:
Passopisciaro Contrada C Chiappemacine, Sicily 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “An accessible version, with juicy acidity and refined tannins, this features a smoky minerality underscoring the subtle flavors of plum sauce, black licorice drop, bacon fat and black cherry coulis. Finely balanced and silky, presenting a lasting finish of ripe fruit and herb. Nerello Mascalese. Drink now through 2021. 240 cases made.”
Stephen Tanzer 89+ points “Medium red. Musky raspberry, redcurrant, minerals, white flowers and a whiff of cough syrup on the nose. Minerally, serious and tightly structured, with a restrained sweetness to the vibrant red fruit and herbal flavors. The saline finish displays excellent length, serious tannins and a hint of orange peel. The name refers to the Chiappemacine area of Etna; the vines here are 80 years old.”
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Passopisciaro Contrada G Guardiola Rosso, Sicily 2011 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Fine-grained tannins impart a chewy character to the pure flavors of black raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, while mouthwatering acidity enlivens the hints of star anise, mocha and smoky mineral that echo on the creamy finish. Nerello Mascalese. Drink now through 2024. 250 cases made.”
Stephen Tanzer 90+ points “Good full, bright red. High-toned aromas of red cherry, cough drop, sweet spices and almond paste, plus a whiff of alcohol. Sweet and juicy, with superb penetration to the vibrant mineral and red cherry flavors. Very long wine with an electric, firmly tannic finish and excellent grip, but this needs time to smooth out. A note of marzipan that is typical of the Guardiola cru repeats at the back.”
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Passopisciaro Contrada P Porcaria, Sicily 2011 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Good bright red. Complex, highly perfumed scents of red cherry, raspberry, marzipan, iron, white flowers and peppery herbs. Sweeter in the middle and more powerful than all the other cru bottlings from Passopisciaro in 2011, but with lively spicy lift. Finishes ripe and long, with mouthcoating tannins, a hint of vanilla and repeating red cherry and berry notes. A lovely wine, seemingly less austere than the other 2011s here. The Porcaria cru area is my favorite, with its north-exposed 80-year-old vineyards, as the grapes in this section of Etna benefit from the longest, slowest ripening period and often give wines of mindblowing complexity.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This minerally red shows a sense of finesse, seamlessly layering supple tannins, fresh acidity and pure flavors of strawberry, black raspberry, star anise and graphite, with hints of grilled herb and black olive tapenade. Features a firm, lasting finish. Drink now through 2027. 160 cases made.”
Passopisciaro Contrada R Rampante, Sicily 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “An elegant red, featuring refined tannins that nevertheless lend some grip to flavors of currant, tobacco, spice box and seared mushroom. Light-footed and fresh, with a lasting, herb-tinged finish. Drink now through 2024. 240 cases made.”
Vinopolnote: Grown from vines at nearly 3,500 feet in altitutude. As Italian Wine Geek phrases it, “This is not your sun-drenched Sicilian beach. These are the “Alps” of Sicilia!”
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Passopisciaro Contrada S Sciaranuova, Sicily 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 1 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “This medium-bodied red offers a herb-tinged palate of creamy black cherry, raspberry fruit, red licorice, smoke and ground anise, while fresh acidity and chewy tannins impart focus through to the graphite-laced finish. Nerello Mascalese. Drink now through 2021. 160 cases made.” Vinopolnote: Situated at 2,800 feet above sea level. Hardened lava soils which are segemented like pebbles or clumps of coal; 80+ year old vines.”
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Arriving Fall 2017:
Passopisciaro ‘Passorosso’ Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 97 points “Bright red-ruby. The captivating nose combines strawberry, raspberry, minerals, violet and flint aromas. Creamy-sweet but amazingly light on its feet, offering palate-staining, perfumed flavors of soft red berries, ripe red cherry, vanilla, aromatic herbs and crushed rock. Rich, ripe and suave, but displays a penetrating, saline and energetic quality that gives this beauty a three-dimensional mouthfeel and a light-on-its-feet quality. Finishes with great length and wonderfully polished tannins. Absolute knockout wine: from a memorable vintage on Etna, this is most likely the best Passorosso ever (in earlier vintages, it used to be called simply Passopisciaro). Mainly Nerello Mascalese.”
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Arriving Late March
Produttori del Barbaresco
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree.” –Antonio Galloni
Produttori has aimed to communicate the individual terroir of a given place from vintage to vintage. Founded in 1958, undertaking has grown to include 52 members who occupy over 100 hectares, producing a Barbaresco DOCG from a blend of their vineyards and nine single-vineyard cuvees in exceptional years from premier vineyards. Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for its commitment to quality and transparent winemaking, producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas that allow a rare chance to taste the true terroir of each vineyard site. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo.
Produttori del Barbaresco Wines Arriving Late March:
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2013 is a tasty, easygoing Barbaresco to drink over the next decade or more. There is good depth in the glass, with pretty notes of tobacco, licorice, herb and worn-in leather that add nuance. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate and a closing burst of acidity meld into the finish. The tannins are present, but they are also pretty much buried by the creaminess of the fruit. A lovely impeccably balanced, understated wine that offers considerable regional and varietal expression. In other words: textbook. The Produttori’s Barbaresco has a track record of aging well, but the 2013 is also surprisingly accessible. It should drink well with minimal cellaring.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Full bodied vintage, ripe, dark red fruit and spicy notes with a powerful well integrated tannins in the finish”
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Late Breaking News:
Clos Erasmus
******Something exciting*******
Daphne Glorian, who was born in Switzerland, seems an unlikely figure to be a leading winemaker in Priorat, but here we are and she’s now a rock star in the region on the level of Palacios and Barbier. Clos Erasmus represents her finest wine and a truly spectacular example of what the region is capable of. Rich, bold and powerful, the wines nonetheless display remarkable subtlety and grace, which is the calling card of her style. We’ve got a few of the new releases arriving in March and wanted to give you, our subscribers, the first chance to buy them.
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “There is a little more Syrah in the blend of the 2014 Clos Erasmus, where it reached around 30% to complement the majority of Garnacha. As is the norm, the wine matured for some 18 months before bottling, with most of the volume in French oak barrels, 40% of which are renewed each vintage, but there are also one or two amphorae. I tasted it next to the 2013 and as the 2013 required so much attention, it took some time to get to the 2014. It showed a bit shy at first, but when I finally came back to it, I found that it had really blossomed with a mixture of violets, ground, smoky meat and black raspberries. The slight increase in Syrah was noticeable, but it somehow also seemed to increase the voice of the slate in the bottle. The palate is medium to full-bodied with terrible balance and elegance combined with inner strength. This is simply terrific. 3,000 bottles were filled at the end of May 2016.”
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Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “I was really blown away by the aromatics of the 2014 Laurel. As soon as I put my nose in the glass I was transported to the vineyards of Gratallops, with a blast of wild herbs and flowers followed by a stream of smoked meat, juicy red currants and raspberries. It is mostly Garnacha but with some 10% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are cooled down during the night and in the morning some are destemmed, and some others are left with the stems on and fermented mostly with indigenous yeasts. The élevage here is one year in a combination of used oak barrels, oak vats, cement and amphorae. They have increased the volume of wine being raised in amphorae in this 2014. This might very well be the finest Laurel to date. Simply stunning! 24,000 bottles were produced in 2014.”
Thank you for reading!