In Today’s Newsletter:
48 Hour Special Pricing
First Offer: 2018 Cameron Single Vineyards
The Best Value in Barolo?
Bruna Grimaldi’s Stunning 2016’s
Tement
The Best Sauvignon Blanc Americans Haven’t Heard Of
Top Tier Alsace:
New Wines from Albert Mann and Schoffit
Trending Wines
48 Hour Special Pricing
First Offer: 2018 Cameron Single Vineyards
Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic. This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year.
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it. This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels. This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame. Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is quite good now but will be stellar in a few years.
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery. Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver. This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup. We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.
The Best Value in Barolo?
Bruna Grimaldi’s Stunning 2016’s
Bruna Grimaldi ‘Scassa’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bruna Grimaldi ‘Scassa’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “You get fabulous value here. The Bruna Grimaldi 2017 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Scassa is a dark and thickly concentrated red wine that would make a great choice with savory kitchen favorites like fried chicken or pork roast. The natural darkness of the wine is nicely broken up by the acidic freshness and those pure fruit aromas. It ages in tonneaux for one year, but the oak is seamlessly integrated. Bruna Grimaldi and her team have created a fine Barbera, with 25,000 bottles on the market now. “Scassa” comes from the Italian verb “to break apart,” and the name refers to the farming hardships that always result in very low yields. For that reason, this wine is always released as a Barbera d’Alba Superiore, which requires extra months of aging time.”
Can’t wait? Check out the last remaining bottles of the stellar ’15 Barolos, in stock now:
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “($90) This wine has already evolved to show some tar and savory aromas. The 2015 Barolo Badarina offers pretty color saturation with linear and fresh lines of plum, black fruit, dark spice and tilled earth. The wine delivers much of the heft and power promised by this Badarina cru in Serralunga d’Alba. If you’re looking for a Barolo vintage to pair with a rich meat like liver or game, this could be the one. This is Bruna Grimaldi’s flagship Barolo, as her mother was born in Badarina and this site has always had special meaning to her family. Some 8,000 bottles were produced.”
Bruna Grimaldi Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Scassa is a meaty red wine to pair with simple beef or pork dishes. This Barbera is characterized by a dark concentration (from 12 days of skin maceration), a sweet tone of blackberry fruit and plum and integrated notes of spice, tar and licorice. It is aged for up to 15 months in tonneaux. You’ll appreciate the soft, fruit richness. Some 25,000 bottles were made.”
Bruna Grimaldi Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
James Suckling 91 points “Candied orange peel, raspberry fool, rhubarb and hibiscus. Medium body, medium-firm tannins and plenty of vibrant cherries. Mineral and savory on the finish. Tightly wound. Drink now.”
Weingut Tement is one of the blue-chip names in Austrian wine, and yet virtually unknown to American drinkers, for one simple reason: the Austrians drink almost all of it. A Sauvignon Blanc specialist in one of the world’s greatest regions for the grape, Styria, their wines have a cult-like following in their native land, with tiny allocations heading to all the top Michelin starred restaurants around the country.
The demand is high for good reason—the bottles are stunning, and incredible value. Their single-vineyard bottlings, like today’s Grassnitzberg, compete with the Dagueneaus and the Cotats of the world, but sell for half the price of their French competitors, and their entry level wines deliver in spades, for under $20.
We’ve just brought in a one-time drop of two of their excellent wines, and this is a rare opportunity to taste what the Viennese have been selfishly keeping to themselves. Act accordingly.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Weingut Tement Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc, Steiermark, 2017 750ML ($41.95) $38 special
Falstaff 95 points “Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Delicate tangerine zest, a hint of yellow tropical fruit, dark minerality, fine-spicy bouquet. Tight, close-knit, white fruit, salty structure, fine gooseberry nuances in the finish, lime touch, very piquant, stays on for a long time, probably the best Grassnitzberg so far. [Translated]”
Winery Note “Single-vineyard Grassnitzberg was the first vineyards owned by family Tement and was planted in the early 50ies. The old vines of the south south-east facing slopes grow on massive shell-limestone soil. Thee aromatic and elegant vintage 2017 impresses with mineral flavours such as pear, caper salt as well as black currant. A lot of limestone spices are present and leave an eternally long taste. May be drunk young but after 3-5 years bottle ageing the typical „Grassnitzberg terroir notes“ emerge.”
Importer Note “A very cool Premier Cru vineyard for elegant wines. Destemmed, harvested by hand, 12 hour skin contact, natural yeast fermentation, 12-18 month on the lees without sulphor, bottled without filtration “
Weingut Tement Kalk & Kreide Sauvignon Blanc, Sudsteiermark 2019 750ml ($24.95) $19 special
Falstaff 93 points “Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Herbal spices underlaid with fine yellow tropical fruit, nuances of peppers, dark mineral notes, delicate cassis, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, firm, white apple fruit, finesse-rich acid curve, lemony-salty aftertaste, a versatile companion at the table. [Translated]”
Winery Note “This organic Gutswein belongs to the most important wines of our familiy winery. It is a unique Terroir mix of 55 Sauvignon blanc parcels mainly grown on mineralic limestone soil. The grapes have been selectively harvested by hand. The low yields in combination with optimal vineyard management ensure high physiological ripeness of the grapes. The fantastic vintage 2019 is inspired by complexity and deep citric flavours. Ripe pears blended with aromatic elderberries. A mix of air and time reveal spicy cassis on the palate. Excellent with asparagus, mozzarella, fish and salads.”
Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?
Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:
#503-223-6002
(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)
Top Tier Alsace
New Wines from Albert Mann and Schoffit
48 Hour Special Pricing
First Offer: 2018 Cameron Single Vineyards
The Best Value in Barolo?
Bruna Grimaldi’s Stunning 2016’s
Tement
The Best Sauvignon Blanc Americans Haven’t Heard Of
Top Tier Alsace:
New Wines from Albert Mann and Schoffit
Trending Wines
48 Hour Special Pricing
First Offer: 2018 Cameron Single Vineyards
What’s the most anticipated Willamette Valley release in our shop? Cameron Winery’s single vineyard bottlings. This is one of our favorite offers of the year, and for good reason—Cameron makes some of the most profound wines in the Willamette Valley and their single vineyard Pinot and Chardonnay are the pinnacle of their yearly releases. These 2018 are among the best we’ve ever tasted from Cameron and winemaker/owner John Paul is (somehow) more excited than we’ve seen him in years. The best part? We’re putting these on pre-arrival sale through the close of business on Sunday, November 8th.
If you’re a longtime fan of Cameron, this is a vintage to stock up on. It’s classical in all the best ways—more elegant and detailed than the trio of hot vintages that preceded it, but with more depth and richness than the (very pretty) 2017’s. 2012 is a comparison that’s been thrown around a lot, which speaks very highly of this new set of wines—the ’12’s are among the best wines Cameron’s ever made and these show in that vein, but with a bit more brightness and verve.
The whites are crystalline and spicy, with beautiful aromatics and vibrant acidity. These are impressively incisive Chardonnays that have taken to their long elevage with aplomb. The reds have the tone of a cool vintage but with more fruit and texture—a great combo that’s already drinking well but will age beautifully. All the new single vineyards are on sale until the end of our business hours on Sunday. If you love the Cameron wines, now’s the time to stock up.
If you’re a longtime fan of Cameron, this is a vintage to stock up on. It’s classical in all the best ways—more elegant and detailed than the trio of hot vintages that preceded it, but with more depth and richness than the (very pretty) 2017’s. 2012 is a comparison that’s been thrown around a lot, which speaks very highly of this new set of wines—the ’12’s are among the best wines Cameron’s ever made and these show in that vein, but with a bit more brightness and verve.
The whites are crystalline and spicy, with beautiful aromatics and vibrant acidity. These are impressively incisive Chardonnays that have taken to their long elevage with aplomb. The reds have the tone of a cool vintage but with more fruit and texture—a great combo that’s already drinking well but will age beautifully. All the new single vineyards are on sale until the end of our business hours on Sunday. If you love the Cameron wines, now’s the time to stock up.
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until 6PM, November 8th
Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic. This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley. Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills. The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice. This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley. Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills. The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice. This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $75.99
The next best price is $75.99
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it. This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels. This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame. Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is quite good now but will be stellar in a few years.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59 Subscriber Special
VinopolNote: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery. Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver. This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup. We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Looking for more Cameron?
We’ve got 15 different bottlings in stock now.
Head to our webstore to shop them all.
We’ve got 15 different bottlings in stock now.
Head to our webstore to shop them all.
The Best Value in Barolo?
Bruna Grimaldi’s Stunning 2016’s
Bruna Grimaldi remains one of the best sleeper Barolo producers, making dense and powerful wines at exceptional pricing. The two cru bottlings are absolutely stellar and neither tops $50—a remarkable feat that’s aided by our strong relationship with their Oregon importer. These have been top sellers whenever we’ve brought them in for good reason.
On the whole, Grimaldi wines are beautifully expressive, polished wines that combine the cleanliness and rich, round flavors of a modern producer with a more traditional sensibility when it comes to oak usage. That’s a beautiful thing in her Barolos and also in her value-driven Barbera and Nebbiolo.
The 2016 Barolo vintage is one of the best in recent memory, up there with 2010 and ’01 for the best of the century, and Grimaldi absolutely killed it. The new releases are some of the best deals of the vintage and deserve the attention of any Piedmont lover.
Arriving ETA November 16th:
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Woodland-berry, eucalyptus, star anise and new leather aromas are front and center on this radiant red. Firmly structured, the youthfully austere palate shows Marasca cherry, strawberry compote and licorice accompanied by assertive, fine-grained tannins that need a few more years to fully unwind. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced and lends great aging potential. Drink 2026–2056.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “You will be very favorably impressed by the delicate and floral aromas that peel softly off the bouquet in the Bruna Grimaldi 2016 Barolo Badarina. There are distinct notes of wild rose and pressed violets that pop out with playful intensity. Badarina is located in Serralunga d’Alba, known for some of the most powerful expressions of Nebbiolo in the appellation. This estate farms a 1.8-hectare plot at 450 meters above sea level with a mix of white marl and calcareous deposits with layers of sandstone. In the end result, this wine exudes elegance more than it does power per se. I feel the tighter grip of the young tannins on the close, but otherwise, this wine will be remembered for its overall finesse and startling clarity. Like the other wines in this group, this Barolo is fermented with submerged cap and completes its secondary fermentation in cement tanks. It refines in large oak casks for 30 months. Some 6,000 bottles will hit the market in July 2020.”
James Suckling 95 points “A layered, rich young Barolo with dried-strawberry, orange-peel and bark character. It’s full and flavorful with lots of fruit and fine, dusty tannins. Serious red. Try after 2023.”
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($41.95) $35.75 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Camphor, pressed rose, truffle and wild red-berry aromas are front and center on this full-bodied red. Juicy and delicious, the taut muscular palate has unexpected finesse, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, black raspberry, vanilla and licorice alongside enveloping, velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Thanks to the ripe, delicious fruit, you can’t detect the declared abv of 15%. Drink 2024–2036.”
James Suckling 94 points “Complex Barolo with crushed berries, walnuts and chocolate that follow through to a medium to full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Hints of bitter citrus at the end. Needs time to soften. Better after 2023.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Bruna Grimaldi’s 2016 Barolo Camilla shows a fine and silky texture with just enough weight and texture to support elegant and fragile aromas. The bouquet reveals a subtle approach, followed by wild berry, violet, spice, tar and smoke that follow with slow and seamless transitions. The tannins are young and tight, but the texture of the wine is fine and silky overall. Fruit for this wine is a blend from the Raviole, Borzone, Roere di Santa Maria, Bricco Ambrogio and Badarina vineyards. It was previously a single-vineyard expression from a plot located behind the Grinzane Cavour castle, but that is no longer the case. Given the more-pronounced structure of the vintage, I have extended the drinking window, allowing for extra lead time for cellar aging. Some 18,000 bottles were produced.”
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Roddi is one of the least-traveled areas in the appellation, and Bricco Ambrogio is one of its best growing sites, with clay and Sant’Agata marl soils. Bruna Grimaldi and her family reveal one of the finest interpretations of the site, offering a wine that is sturdy on its feet and compelling in terms of its aromatic offerings and complexity. The 2016 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio plays a strong hand in terms of mouthfeel, where this structured and firm wine grips tightly to the palate. The aromas are fleeting and fluid with a flurry of wild rose, forest berry, tar and black licorice aromas. I found this wine to have a larger disconnect between nose and palate compared to the more seamless Baroli from the estate. The wine is fermented with submerged cap and completes its malolactic fermentation in tank. Both methods play toward the delicate nature of this Barolo. Only 4,500 bottles will be released in July 2020.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Mature dark-skinned berry, eucalyptus and rose aromas lead the nose on this full-bodied, enveloping red. On the densely concentrated velvety palate, close-grained tannins surround fleshy black cherry, baked plum and licorice alongside the warmth of alcohol before a clenching finish. Drink 2024–2031.”
On the whole, Grimaldi wines are beautifully expressive, polished wines that combine the cleanliness and rich, round flavors of a modern producer with a more traditional sensibility when it comes to oak usage. That’s a beautiful thing in her Barolos and also in her value-driven Barbera and Nebbiolo.
The 2016 Barolo vintage is one of the best in recent memory, up there with 2010 and ’01 for the best of the century, and Grimaldi absolutely killed it. The new releases are some of the best deals of the vintage and deserve the attention of any Piedmont lover.
Arriving ETA November 16th:
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Woodland-berry, eucalyptus, star anise and new leather aromas are front and center on this radiant red. Firmly structured, the youthfully austere palate shows Marasca cherry, strawberry compote and licorice accompanied by assertive, fine-grained tannins that need a few more years to fully unwind. Fresh acidity keeps it well balanced and lends great aging potential. Drink 2026–2056.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “You will be very favorably impressed by the delicate and floral aromas that peel softly off the bouquet in the Bruna Grimaldi 2016 Barolo Badarina. There are distinct notes of wild rose and pressed violets that pop out with playful intensity. Badarina is located in Serralunga d’Alba, known for some of the most powerful expressions of Nebbiolo in the appellation. This estate farms a 1.8-hectare plot at 450 meters above sea level with a mix of white marl and calcareous deposits with layers of sandstone. In the end result, this wine exudes elegance more than it does power per se. I feel the tighter grip of the young tannins on the close, but otherwise, this wine will be remembered for its overall finesse and startling clarity. Like the other wines in this group, this Barolo is fermented with submerged cap and completes its secondary fermentation in cement tanks. It refines in large oak casks for 30 months. Some 6,000 bottles will hit the market in July 2020.”
James Suckling 95 points “A layered, rich young Barolo with dried-strawberry, orange-peel and bark character. It’s full and flavorful with lots of fruit and fine, dusty tannins. Serious red. Try after 2023.”
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($41.95) $35.75 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($479.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Camphor, pressed rose, truffle and wild red-berry aromas are front and center on this full-bodied red. Juicy and delicious, the taut muscular palate has unexpected finesse, delivering juicy Marasca cherry, black raspberry, vanilla and licorice alongside enveloping, velvety tannins and fresh acidity. Thanks to the ripe, delicious fruit, you can’t detect the declared abv of 15%. Drink 2024–2036.”
James Suckling 94 points “Complex Barolo with crushed berries, walnuts and chocolate that follow through to a medium to full body, round and juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Hints of bitter citrus at the end. Needs time to soften. Better after 2023.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Bruna Grimaldi’s 2016 Barolo Camilla shows a fine and silky texture with just enough weight and texture to support elegant and fragile aromas. The bouquet reveals a subtle approach, followed by wild berry, violet, spice, tar and smoke that follow with slow and seamless transitions. The tannins are young and tight, but the texture of the wine is fine and silky overall. Fruit for this wine is a blend from the Raviole, Borzone, Roere di Santa Maria, Bricco Ambrogio and Badarina vineyards. It was previously a single-vineyard expression from a plot located behind the Grinzane Cavour castle, but that is no longer the case. Given the more-pronounced structure of the vintage, I have extended the drinking window, allowing for extra lead time for cellar aging. Some 18,000 bottles were produced.”
Bruna Grimaldi Bricco Ambrogio, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Roddi is one of the least-traveled areas in the appellation, and Bricco Ambrogio is one of its best growing sites, with clay and Sant’Agata marl soils. Bruna Grimaldi and her family reveal one of the finest interpretations of the site, offering a wine that is sturdy on its feet and compelling in terms of its aromatic offerings and complexity. The 2016 Barolo Bricco Ambrogio plays a strong hand in terms of mouthfeel, where this structured and firm wine grips tightly to the palate. The aromas are fleeting and fluid with a flurry of wild rose, forest berry, tar and black licorice aromas. I found this wine to have a larger disconnect between nose and palate compared to the more seamless Baroli from the estate. The wine is fermented with submerged cap and completes its malolactic fermentation in tank. Both methods play toward the delicate nature of this Barolo. Only 4,500 bottles will be released in July 2020.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Mature dark-skinned berry, eucalyptus and rose aromas lead the nose on this full-bodied, enveloping red. On the densely concentrated velvety palate, close-grained tannins surround fleshy black cherry, baked plum and licorice alongside the warmth of alcohol before a clenching finish. Drink 2024–2031.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Bruna Grimaldi ‘Scassa’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($24.95) $19 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bruna Grimaldi ‘Scassa’ Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “You get fabulous value here. The Bruna Grimaldi 2017 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Scassa is a dark and thickly concentrated red wine that would make a great choice with savory kitchen favorites like fried chicken or pork roast. The natural darkness of the wine is nicely broken up by the acidic freshness and those pure fruit aromas. It ages in tonneaux for one year, but the oak is seamlessly integrated. Bruna Grimaldi and her team have created a fine Barbera, with 25,000 bottles on the market now. “Scassa” comes from the Italian verb “to break apart,” and the name refers to the farming hardships that always result in very low yields. For that reason, this wine is always released as a Barbera d’Alba Superiore, which requires extra months of aging time.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Can’t wait? Check out the last remaining bottles of the stellar ’15 Barolos, in stock now:
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “($90) This wine has already evolved to show some tar and savory aromas. The 2015 Barolo Badarina offers pretty color saturation with linear and fresh lines of plum, black fruit, dark spice and tilled earth. The wine delivers much of the heft and power promised by this Badarina cru in Serralunga d’Alba. If you’re looking for a Barolo vintage to pair with a rich meat like liver or game, this could be the one. This is Bruna Grimaldi’s flagship Barolo, as her mother was born in Badarina and this site has always had special meaning to her family. Some 8,000 bottles were produced.”
Bruna Grimaldi Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2016 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Scassa is a meaty red wine to pair with simple beef or pork dishes. This Barbera is characterized by a dark concentration (from 12 days of skin maceration), a sweet tone of blackberry fruit and plum and integrated notes of spice, tar and licorice. It is aged for up to 15 months in tonneaux. You’ll appreciate the soft, fruit richness. Some 25,000 bottles were made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bruna Grimaldi Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
James Suckling 91 points “Candied orange peel, raspberry fool, rhubarb and hibiscus. Medium body, medium-firm tannins and plenty of vibrant cherries. Mineral and savory on the finish. Tightly wound. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Shipping Season is Here
Do you have wines on hold waiting for wine shipping weather?
Please give us a call or send us an email
to schedule your shipment now!
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Do you have wines on hold waiting for wine shipping weather?
Please give us a call or send us an email
to schedule your shipment now!
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Weingut Tement
The Best Sauvignon Blanc Americans Haven’t Heard Of
The Best Sauvignon Blanc Americans Haven’t Heard Of
Weingut Tement is one of the blue-chip names in Austrian wine, and yet virtually unknown to American drinkers, for one simple reason: the Austrians drink almost all of it. A Sauvignon Blanc specialist in one of the world’s greatest regions for the grape, Styria, their wines have a cult-like following in their native land, with tiny allocations heading to all the top Michelin starred restaurants around the country.
The demand is high for good reason—the bottles are stunning, and incredible value. Their single-vineyard bottlings, like today’s Grassnitzberg, compete with the Dagueneaus and the Cotats of the world, but sell for half the price of their French competitors, and their entry level wines deliver in spades, for under $20.
We’ve just brought in a one-time drop of two of their excellent wines, and this is a rare opportunity to taste what the Viennese have been selfishly keeping to themselves. Act accordingly.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Weingut Tement Grassnitzberg Sauvignon Blanc, Steiermark, 2017 750ML ($41.95) $38 special
Falstaff 95 points “Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Delicate tangerine zest, a hint of yellow tropical fruit, dark minerality, fine-spicy bouquet. Tight, close-knit, white fruit, salty structure, fine gooseberry nuances in the finish, lime touch, very piquant, stays on for a long time, probably the best Grassnitzberg so far. [Translated]”
Winery Note “Single-vineyard Grassnitzberg was the first vineyards owned by family Tement and was planted in the early 50ies. The old vines of the south south-east facing slopes grow on massive shell-limestone soil. Thee aromatic and elegant vintage 2017 impresses with mineral flavours such as pear, caper salt as well as black currant. A lot of limestone spices are present and leave an eternally long taste. May be drunk young but after 3-5 years bottle ageing the typical „Grassnitzberg terroir notes“ emerge.”
Importer Note “A very cool Premier Cru vineyard for elegant wines. Destemmed, harvested by hand, 12 hour skin contact, natural yeast fermentation, 12-18 month on the lees without sulphor, bottled without filtration “
Weingut Tement Kalk & Kreide Sauvignon Blanc, Sudsteiermark 2019 750ml ($24.95) $19 special
Falstaff 93 points “Light yellow-green, silver reflections. Herbal spices underlaid with fine yellow tropical fruit, nuances of peppers, dark mineral notes, delicate cassis, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, firm, white apple fruit, finesse-rich acid curve, lemony-salty aftertaste, a versatile companion at the table. [Translated]”
Winery Note “This organic Gutswein belongs to the most important wines of our familiy winery. It is a unique Terroir mix of 55 Sauvignon blanc parcels mainly grown on mineralic limestone soil. The grapes have been selectively harvested by hand. The low yields in combination with optimal vineyard management ensure high physiological ripeness of the grapes. The fantastic vintage 2019 is inspired by complexity and deep citric flavours. Ripe pears blended with aromatic elderberries. A mix of air and time reveal spicy cassis on the palate. Excellent with asparagus, mozzarella, fish and salads.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Top Tier Alsace
New Wines from Albert Mann and Schoffit
Albert Mann
Albert Mann makes some of the best, least hyped wines out of Alsace. In Europe, you spot their wines in tons of Michelin-starred establishments, but here in the USA they tend to fly under the radar. That’s a shame, as they’re some of the most classically built, best-value wines to come out of Alsace. As such, we’re thrilled to receive three of their delicious Pinot Gris bottlings this week.
As is the case with all classically made Alsatian Pinot Gris, these are as distinct from cheap, tasteless Pinot Grigio as can be imagined. Concentrated, intense, and structured, these are stunning wines in their youth, and built to age gracefully. Albert Mann’s wines always seem to disappear quickly, so if you love Alsatian whites, don’t delay.
In Stock Now:
Albert Mann Pinot Gris Furstentum, Alsace Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Furstentum is beautifully clear and fresh on the nose, provided with lots of fresh pineapple and tangerine notes. From 25-year-old vines and harvested on September 19, this rich, intense and powerful Pinot Gris is concentrated, fleshy but firmly structured almost like a red Pinot. Very expressive and with a salivating finish. Bottled with 13.5% alcohol and 17 grams of residual sugar. Tasted October 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Albert Mann Pinot Gris Hengst, Alsace Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 points “Harvested on September 19, the 2017 Pinot Gris Grand Cru Hengst offers generous and open (tropical) fruit with lots of floral aromas and great elegance. On the palate, this is a generous, dense, persistently salty and finely tannic Pinot with a great and lively finish. From an average of 30-year-old vines on limestone-sandstone soils, this is “Madame Hengst,” one of the most female Hengst grands crus I have tasted. It is lush and salty on the finish, even with some exotic Gewurtz flavors, always refined and very, very elegant. Bottled with 14% alcohol plus 22 grams of residual sugar, so there is a lot to swallow here. Tasted at the domaine in October 2018.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Albert Mann Pinot Gris Rosenberg, Alsace 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From silty clay and limestone soils, the 2017 Pinot Gris Rosenberg is perfectly clear, ripe and elegant on the nose, with ripe mirabelle but also stunning flinty-mineral notes. On the palate, this is a rich, tightly structured, very elegant and salty Pinot with grip and tension. Stunningly firm and fresh. Tasted at the domaine in October 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schoffit
In Alsace, the Schoffit name is synonymous with quality. Bernard Schoffit was one of the greatest champions of Rangen de Thann, which today is widely considered one of Alsace’s finest Grand Cru vineyards. Working with some the region’s oldest vines, and maintaining some of its lowest yields, every decision from vineyard to bottle is made with quality in mind. This of course reads like the standard boilerplate language used by every quality-minded producer in the world. However, the intensity, varietal transparency, concentration, and balance of Schoffit’s finished wines leave no doubt that these are not merely aspirational words. Whether you drink them young, or lay them down for decades (they are certainly capable of long aging), a profoundly rewarding experience awaits you.
In Stock Now:
Schoffit Riesling Sommerberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Subtle lemon and lemon balm play on the nose of this wine. The palate is suffused with juiciness but underneath lies precision and the solidity of stone. The wine is concentrated, a wellspring of lemon and juicy apple with a dry, vivid, lemon-flavored finish. This Riesling has years ahead of it. Drink until 2045.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Schoffit Riesling Rangen de Thann Clos Saint-Theobald, Alsace Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “The spicy, evocative scent of Seville orange peel entices from the first sniff. The palate is dry, restrained and sylph-like but with time reveals tangerine and lemon zest. This is a feast, a celebration of citrus flavors, unfolding and shimmering at every moment. This is dry but faceted, taut but playful. Irresistible now but with a brilliant, aromatic and totally seductive future ahead. Drink 2016–2030.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2014 Riesling Grand Cru Rangen de Thann is flat out gorgeous and reveals an exotic, perfumed bouquet of lychee, citrus rind, peach and tangerine peel. Beautifully textured, with an incredible sweetness of fruit, as well as a lengthy, clean finish, enjoy this layered, impossible to resist Riesling anytime over the coming decade or more.”
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This is always our best-selling Rioja and has a massive fan base at the shop
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($34.95) $23.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “One of the flagship cuvées from this estate that’s produced in every vintage, the 2015 Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that spent 24 months in used French and American oak. Blackberries, currants, cigar wrapper, cedar box, and hints of vanilla all flow to a medium-bodied, concentrated, beautiful Rioja that has ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. You couldn’t go wrong with a case of this.”
James Suckling 94 points “Complex nose with ripe black cherries, deeply integrated cedary oak, baking spices, dried flowers, leather, fresh tobacco and earthy notes. This is silky and mellow with long, laid-back tannins that deliver ripe dark plum flavors into a spicy and earthy finish. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “…This was a very long harvest (similar to 2016). They started at the end of August with the Cava, and they finished at the end of October with very healthy grapes, good yields and very good quality. The wine shows very good ripeness but without any excess. It has incipient complexity, still young and undeveloped but with very good balance between power and elegance, with fine-grained tannins and integrated acidity. This has to be one of the best recent vintages of this popular bottling. There are around one million bottles of it.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Earthy black fruit aromas are warm and ripe. Befitting a reserva from a hot year like 2015, this is big-bodied and flush, with flavors of toasty oak, chocolate and mixed berry fruits. Ripeness is not lost on a finish with mild heat. Drink through 2023.”
Bodegas Muga Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2015 750ML ($34.95) $23.50 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “One of the flagship cuvées from this estate that’s produced in every vintage, the 2015 Reserva is a blend of 70% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, and Graciano that spent 24 months in used French and American oak. Blackberries, currants, cigar wrapper, cedar box, and hints of vanilla all flow to a medium-bodied, concentrated, beautiful Rioja that has ripe tannins, beautiful balance, and a great finish. You couldn’t go wrong with a case of this.”
James Suckling 94 points “Complex nose with ripe black cherries, deeply integrated cedary oak, baking spices, dried flowers, leather, fresh tobacco and earthy notes. This is silky and mellow with long, laid-back tannins that deliver ripe dark plum flavors into a spicy and earthy finish. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “…This was a very long harvest (similar to 2016). They started at the end of August with the Cava, and they finished at the end of October with very healthy grapes, good yields and very good quality. The wine shows very good ripeness but without any excess. It has incipient complexity, still young and undeveloped but with very good balance between power and elegance, with fine-grained tannins and integrated acidity. This has to be one of the best recent vintages of this popular bottling. There are around one million bottles of it.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Earthy black fruit aromas are warm and ripe. Befitting a reserva from a hot year like 2015, this is big-bodied and flush, with flavors of toasty oak, chocolate and mixed berry fruits. Ripeness is not lost on a finish with mild heat. Drink through 2023.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $27
The average price is $27
One of the best values in Champagne, this always offers tons of personality for the price.
Aubry ‘Ivoire et Ebene’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $45 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Offering up a lovely bouquet of blanched almonds, citrus oil, white flowers and subtle hints of peat, Aubry’s 2013 Brut Ivoire et Ebene is medium to full-bodied, taut and incisive, with racy acids, a vibrant core of fruit and a penetratingly saline finish. The wine’s delicate, low-pressure mousse sets off its racy profile to fine effect. This new release was disgorged in November 2018.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2013 Ivoire et Ebène is a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir and 25% Meunier done in oak. Still very reticent, the 2013 needs time to soften. It is another wine in this range built on serious power and textural resonance, both of which make it a wine for the dinner table.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $52
The average price is $52
“Owner/winemaker Todd Hamina has an admirable track record for producing ageworthy Pinot Noir and his 2016s are no exception.” –Josh Raynolds
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.50
The next best price is $34.50
Just austere enough to be classic, this Sangiovese massively over-delivers
Lisini San Biagio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Case-12 Lisini San Biagio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($259.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle)
Eric Guido – Vinous 90 points “What a wonderfully fresh and vibrant expression of Sangiovese, showing peppery herbs and florals up front and then giving way to crushed cherries with hints of leather and undergrowth. On the palate, the 2016 Lisini San Biagio is cool-toned and silky, while delivering a beautiful display of pure red berry fruits, laced with minerals and spice. The finish is long with a staining of cherry, as zesty acids and mineral tones sizzle upon the senses. Lisini never ceases to amaze.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
“Powerful, full-bodied, concentrated”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Coming from the Oldfield and Boushey Vineyards (basically the same vineyard), the 2017 Syrah Motor City Kitty Oldfield-Boushey Vineyard is slightly darker colored and, as with all the Rhônes here, wasn’t destemmed and was brought up in mostly neutral puncheons. Blackberries, smoked earth, game, chocolate, and chalky minerality all emerge from this beauty, and it’s a powerful, full-bodied, concentrated effort that will evolve positively for 2-4 years and keep for a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Thanks for reading!