Weekend VinopolPick: 2-25-17

The Great Sales Edition

Featured February Sale: 2013 Pegau CDP; March Sale: Remi Jobard; Final Countdown February Sales: California & Italy; New Arrivals from William Fevre; Trending; Final Countdown February Sales: Spain; Beerenauslese: German Dessert Riesling; Charles Smith Sale: Wines Re-Arriving Tuesday; Arriving Friday: Bergstrom & Montevertine; 2015 Burgundies; New Wine Spectator Review: Altesino Montosoli 2012; Final Countdown February Sales: France; Late Breaking Arrivals: Paul Hobbs and Oreno

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Featured February Sale Wine

Sale Ends Feb 28

Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2013 750ML ($69.95) Was $53.50, Now $49, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Potent aromas of ripe dark berries, licorice pastille, woodsmoke, game and garrigue, plus a peppery nuance that adds spiciness and lift. Round and fleshy on the palate, offering intense blackberry and bitter cherry flavors that become livelier and sweeter with air. The very long, energetic, sharply focused finish features fine-grained tannins and subtle, lingering notes of dark berries and smoked meat.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $63

We’ve reduced prices on 122 wines this month. These sales end Tuesday – don’t miss out! To see the complete list of wines on sale now, keep reading!

March Sale

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We’ve reduced our prices on all in-stock wines from Remi Jobard. Sale ends March 31st at midnight, but the best selection is today!  See the complete list below:

The Jobard family works with some of the finest parcels in all of Meursault. As powerful as they are graceful, the estate’s wines see the longest fermentation in the region – topping out at two months! The wines are aged in in large Austrian barrels. Remi bottles the wines unfiltered about a year and a half after harvest. Many of the vines are over 50 years old, while the Genevrieres and Poruzot Dessus are near-ancient, topping out at 70+ and 80+ years old respectively. The wines are known for their mineral-laden, opulently concentrated style. It’d be a bit unfair to dub the Jobard estate as “up and coming”, as they’ve enjoyed high praise (and scores!) for some time now. Still, they’re one to look out for. We’re happy to stock some of the finest Jobard bottlings in-stock and on sale now!

Domaine Remi Jobard Bourgogne Blanc 2012 750ML ($37.95) Was $28, Now $24, 5 bottles available
Importer note “To capture all of the texture and nuance Remi now bottles all of his wines without filtration sixteen months after vintage. He does the longest fermentation in Meursault 2 months long! To enhance the mineral character over sweetness or bitterness, Remi ages all his wines in tight-grained 1200L Stockinger barrels from Austria.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Remi Jobard Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79, 21 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Pale-medium yellow. Bright aromas of lemon, lime, peach skin and nut oil. Densely packed and tactile but with lovely minty lift and energy to its lightly saline fruit salad flavors. Tactile and slightly phenolic but still shows a lovely light touch. Finishes with resounding minerality. Half of this wine is from vines between 25 and 30 years of age, the other half from 85-year-old vines.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Remi Jobard Les Genevrieres, Meursault Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) Was $89, Now $79, 23 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “(this fruit was picked at 12.2% potential alcohol and was chaptalized to 13%): Pale lemon-yellow color. Complex, refined aromas of white peach, citrus fruits, nut oil and white flowers. Dense, tactile and saline, boasting terrific purity and precision to its piquant fruit and rocky mineral flavors. This very classy wine finishes with succulent salinity and terrific juicy length. The yield here was around 40 hectoliters per hectare, the highest among these Meursault bottlings, but this wine displays lovely balance and an exhilarating light touch.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $99.99

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault Les Chevaliers 2013 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91+ points “(from vines more than 60 years of age): Medium yellow. Fresh apricot, stone and menthol on the inviting nose. Rich and broad but energetic too, with harmonious acidity giving punch to the ripe fruit salad flavors. Tactile and saline but not austere. A superb village wine with good echoing grip.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault Les Narvaux 2012 750ML ($79.95) Was $66, Now $59, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2012 Meursault Les Narvaux comes from 40 and 50-year old vines in the lieu-dit “Narvaux-Dessus” that was purchased in 2008. It has more potency on the nose compared to the En Luraule and the Sous la Velle, whilst the palate is crisp and taut with good focus and impressive tension on the vibrant finish. This is another great Narvaux – premier cru in all but name as far as I am concerned.” WA

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $78.99

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault Les Narvaux 2014 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $59, 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91 points “Pale color. Aromas of crystallized lemon peel and peach show a candied aspect in a positive, fresh way. Juicy, elegant and gripping, showing the thickness of the vintage’s better examples but also solid balancing acidity. Its flavors of citrus fruits and acacia flower are enlivened by underlying minerality. Finishes generous, dry and long. Incidentally, Jobard told me that his 2014s finished drier than his 2015s.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!

Domaine Remi Jobard Le Poruzot Dessus, Meursault Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) Was $69, Now $59, 28 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “A deep, earthy wine, the 2011 Meursault 1er Cru Poruzots-Dessus hits the palate with tons of muscle and power. The style is bold and direct. There isn’t a whole lot of complexity here, but there is plenty of pure stuffing. It will be interesting to see where the 2011 goes over the coming year. Today structural elements dominate over fruit.” AG

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $74.94

Domaine Remi Jobard Meursault Sous la Velle 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “Pale lemon-yellow. Fresh scent of lemon zest. Firm and clean in the mouth, with its ripe flavors of white peach, citrus fruits and white flowers showing a lovely balance of sweetness and acidity. Almost creamy for 2014 but finishes with excellent grip. (Jobard’s two Bourgogne Blanc bottlings are both well worth buying, with the one simply labeled Bourgogne Blanc–the more expensive of the two–showing strong yellow fruit, spice and hazelnut aromas and flavors with excellent intensity and lift.)”

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It’s The Final Countdown

February Sales End Tuesday at Midnight

From California:

Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Estate Cuvee, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($299.95) Was $199, Now $169, 2 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2014 Estate Cuvée is vibrant, intense and beautifully delineated. Super-expressive aromatics and finessed tannins give the 2014 its exceptional balance. Tasted next to the 2013, the 2014 feels like it has more freshness, brighter acidity and a bit more energy as well, which may be partly attributable to the slightly higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend and a touch less new oak as well. That is of course splitting hairs, as both wines are superb, but I find the energy, tension and vibrancy here absolutely compelling.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Sine Qua Non Patine Syrah, California 2011 750ML ($599.95) Was $449, Now $299, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 98 points “A wine that needs to be forgotten in the cellar for 5-6 years, the 2011 Syrah Patine checks in as a blend of roughly 97% Syrah and the balance Roussanne and Viognier. It too comes all from the estate’s Eleven Confessions Vineyard and saw 39 months in 63% new French oak. Backward, tight, concentrated and structured, with full-bodied richness and depth, it gives up Guigal La Landonne like aromas and flavors of graphite, sweet oak, smoked meats, pepper and black raspberry and cassis-like fruit. While it shows the vintage’s cooler nature, it has a stacked mid-palate and will evolve gracefully for 15-20 years.” JD

We have 14 wines from California on sale now. See the complete list below! Visit our web store to read reviews and shop: www.vinopoliswineshop.com


From Italy:

Frescobaldi Luce della Vite ‘Luce’ Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2008 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $71.90, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of dark berries, currants, toasted oak and chocolate. Full and velvety, with soft and silky tannins and a long delicious finish. I really appreciate the balance to this.”

Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Vecchie Vigne’ Sori Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) Was $69, Now $62.10, 22 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2010 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie hits the palate with fabulous depth and intensity. Savory herbs, smoke, tobacco, incense, menthol and licorice race out of the glass in an intense, structured Barbaresco loaded with class, energy and pure power. There is plenty to look forward to, once the tannins soften a bit. The 2010 has closed down pretty dramatically since the last time I tasted it, about a year ago. Readers will have to be patient. The 2010 spent a total of 30 months in cask.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We have 9 wines from Italy on sale now. See the complete list below! Visit our web store to read reviews and shop: www.vinopoliswineshop.com


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Fevre – Changing Tastes, Changing Chablis

The Domaine William Fevre seems to have sprung from the side of Athena in 1959, when William declared his first vintage; this, in a region where winemaking families stretch for centuries, not just decades. The purchase of land seemed to be first and foremost in their mission, acquiring a whopping 78 hectares over 90 separate parcels. The access to this much fruit, in one of the priciest AOC in France, gives Fevre a leg up in making some of the most iconic Chablis available today.

The wines, from Petit Chablis up to Grand Cru, are marked by their chalky, smoky intensity. A character branded into the vineyards by Kimmeridgian soil, clay and sea floor sediment; a strata that reaches from Chablis, through Champagne and out to the Loire. The acidity is preserved by a growing zone at the edge of being too cool, yet this has been challenged with warmer vintages creeping in more recently. How does a winery who rests their very brand upon a hallmark style change with the climate? Diversify and reinvent Chablis, bien sur. Play with ripeness and judiciously incorporate more oak regime into the mix, but make certain that the heart of Chablis is preserved. Some purists cry foul; Fevre just keeps on their course.

Fortunately for us, 2014 was a vintage to turn back the clocks, ever so slightly. 2014 was cooler than 13 and 15 to follow; much more of that gunflint character comes out in every bottling. Even, the Vaudesir, which has had the most wood influence over the recent past, seems resplendent with tight, white fruit just falling into ripeness. All of these share the potential to age beautifully, developing a balance and integration to the minerality. They’re not shy now, but your patience will be rewarded.

New Arrivals from William Fevre

William Fevre Bougros Cote Bouguerots, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 96 points “Once again, based on the nose alone, this could be nothing else but Chablis with its mélange of tidal pool, mineral reduction, citrus blossom and discreet spice nuances. There is fantastic detail to the focused, mineral-driven and powerful middle weight plus flavors that do a slow build from the mid-palate all the way back to the explosively long, balanced and bone dry finish. This appears to be drawn directly from liquid Kimmeridgian and should also amply reward longer-term cellaring. In a word, brilliant.”

William Fevre Fourchaume, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “This white reveals richness and breadth, with a hint of spice framing the apple, melon, yellow plum and mineral flavors. The terrific finish keeps pumping out the fruit and stone notes. Drink now through 2020.”

William Fevre Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Very pale lemon-yellow. Alsace Riesling-like aromas of lime zest and powdered stone complicated by a touch of olive tapenade reduction. Wonderfully dense and energetic but not hard, conveying terrific breadth and a refined texture to its tactile, saline lime and pineapple flavors. This outstanding, classy wine finishes with subtle rising length and terrific grip. Didier Séguier predicts that this bottling will be at its apogee in five to ten years.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

William Fevre Montee de Tonnerre, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 9 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “An ultra-fresh, cool and admirably pure nose features notes of white flowers, shellfish, pear, mineral reduction and pungent iodine nuances. There is outstanding volume and intensity to the medium weight plus flavors that deliver beautifully focused power on the palate coating, mineral-driven and hugely persistent finale. Once again if tasted blind it would be all but impossible not to identify this as Chablis and a first-rate example at that!”

William Fevre Les Preuses, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 11 bottles available
Burghound 96 points “Along with the Côte Bouguerots and Les Lys, this possesses the most elegant nose in the range with an ultra-pure mixture of green fruit, tidal pool, white flower, citrus rind and iodine hints. There is terrific intensity and delineation to the attractively textured and refined yet powerful flavors that exude a fine bead of minerality on the gorgeously long, balanced and Zen-like finale. The Vaudésir and Les Clos are both genuinely remarkable but there is another dimension present here. Once again it’s worth pointing out that this is going to need plenty of cellaring. Another ‘wow’ wine.”

William Fevre Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 24 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “Pale, green-tinged yellow. Smells riper than the Montmains but also displays pungently fresh iodiney minerality. Densely packed and sweet, with youthful grapefruit and pineapple flavors dominated on the back end by the strong iodiney minerality. Very firm but not austere, this superb premier cru saturates the mouth without leaving any impression of excess weight. Built to age.”

William Fevre Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 95 points “Here the wood is so subtle as to be all but invisible as it easily allows the riper and denser mix of both white and yellow orchard fruit, petrol, spice and sea breeze scents to shine. The ripeness exhibited by the nose continues onto the juicy, even succulent yet beautifully focused flavors that deliver superb complexity on the impressively lingering finale. This should age effortlessly and I would expect the minerality to develop even more with age. A ‘wow’ wine.”

William Fevre Vaulorent, Chablis Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 12 bottles available
Burghound 93 points “Yet again the ultra-fresh and strikingly layered white flower nose is packed with typical Chablis aromas that include cool mineral reduction, citrus and oyster shell nuances. The medium weight flavors are almost painfully intense while brimming with minerality on the chiseled and moderately austere finish that is tight to the point of being linear. This terrific effort will require at least 5 to 7 years of cellaring to reveal its full, and considerable, potential. In a word, impressive.”

Also Available Here Now from William Fevre

William Fevre Les Clos, Chablis Grand Cru 2004 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 15 bottles available
Burghound 95 points “Stylistically, this closely resembles the Valmur with its ultra elegant and pure aromas featuring white flowers, oyster shell and subtle spice notes that perfectly complement the round, powerful, rich and full-bodied flavors that coating the mouth and culminate in a saliva-inducing, incredibly intense finish that reminded me more than a little of a great Corton-Charlemagne. This just oozes minerality and the texture is minerally to the point of this resembling a block of stone. A great Les Clos” BH

William Fevre Vaillons, Chablis Premier Cru 2007 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 89-92 points –Outstanding–“This is almost as ripe as the Mont de Milieu with a fruit compote nose that displays a hint of exoticism that merges into extremely rich, full, frank and overtly powerful flavors that possess excellent volume, punch and vivacity on the exceptionally pure and driving finish. The acid backbone is firm and despite the ripeness of the fruit, this finishes quite dry and with a seductive texture.” BH
This is the only listing in the USA today!

William Fevre Vaudesir, Chablis Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 2 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “A mildly exotic and atypically reticent nose that is ripe yet airy showcases aromas of orange peel, peach and hints of roasted nut and iodine, before leading to rich, even opulent medium plus weight flavors that are delicious, round and strikingly persistent on the mouth coating and moderately austere finish. This has really come together since I last saw it and like the Bougros, this is quite a bit more refined than I’m used to seeing. An excellent example.” BH

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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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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Trending

Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: Mostly from Briscoe Vineyard with some declassified Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique fruit.

Three Wine Company Old Vines Field Blend, Contra Costa County 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 30 bottles available
Winery note “This Old Vine Field Blend is a luscious combination of ancient-vine Carignane (47%), Petite Sirah (21%), Zinfandel (16%), Mataro (15%), and Alicante Bouschet (1%). Each of these varietals contribute to the deep purple/black color and piercing, high-toned aromas of boysenberry, violets and dark plum. Massive on the attack, showing off all of its 100+-year-old-vine pedigree. Packed with crushed black fruits and black cherry liqueur, the finish remains firm and vibrant. Drink now (hard not to), or lay down for up to a decade. As with all these ancient-vine reds, oxygen is its friend.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 21 bottles available
VinopolNote: This entry-level Cab Franc red from Guiberteau hails from three parcels of silt and sand over limestone from vines planted between 1955 and 1957.  The wine sees a similar treatment as the single-vineyard: careful attention in the vineyard, dense plantings with low yields all the way through the long maceration and natural yeast fermentation. This wine is aged in tank for 6 months before release, resulting in a fresh & more forward wine.

Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 25 bottles available
Case-6 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($299.95) $264 special, 2 six-packs available (that’s only $44/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Focused, juicy and long, this red is packed with cherry, floral, tobacco and underbrush flavors. Still a bit tight now, but stays long. The sweet fruit returns on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 26 bottles available
Case-12 Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2015 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 7 cases available (that’s only $18.25/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer note “You all know by now the stratospheric work Florian is doing in the Saar.  This has always been the ambassador wine from the winery but this vintage elevates to Senior levels of complexity.”

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It’s The Final Countdown

February Sales End Tuesday at Midnight

From Spain:

R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva, Rioja DOCa 1981 750ML ($249.95) Was $199, Now $179.10, 11 bottles available
Winery-direct cellar released bottles
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1981 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva has a vibrant nose reminiscent of coeval Burgundy, with scents of citrus peel, orange rind, singed leather and a Tuscan delicatessen. The palate has a penetrating orange peel and tart cherry entry with potent earthy notes at its core. It is supremely well-balanced with an energetic finish underpinned by crisp dry tannins. This wonderful Rioja is drinking perfectly now and will age effortlessly. Drink now-2020+ ” (08/2012)

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $189.95
The average price is $230

Familia Nin-Ortiz ‘Nit de Nin’, Priorat DOCa 2013 750ML ($119.95) Was $99, Now $79.10, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2013 Nit de Nin matured in 3,200-liter oak foudres for some 16 months, and wants to be an old-style blend of grapes from slope vineyards showcasing the typicity of Priorat. The full clusters from ancient vineyards fermented with indigenous yeasts and produced some 4,000 bottles that were filled in March 2015. I previously had the opportunity of tasting the wine just after being bottled and was somehow reduced and dizzy. Now it’s a completely different story. The 16 months in bottle have polished the wine and the reductive character is completely gone. However, everything is subtler, it’s not as explosive as when it is really young and shows its exuberance, there is a calmed beauty. The palate is always very refined with fantastic freshness and subtle minerality, pure and fresh, even if it’s also very powerful.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $90

We have 6 wines from Spain on sale now. See the complete list below! Visit our web store to read reviews and shop: www.vinopoliswineshop.com

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Beerenauslese

Fun to Say / Fun to Drink

German Dessert Riesling: The Best

Sauternes, at the upper end of the dessert wine market, gets all of the glory, but across the board, there’s no better dessert wine out there than Beerenauslese Riesling from Germany.  The reason for this is simple.  No other dessert wine out there has such freshness and elegance while maintaining that luscious complexity that you want out of an after dinner beverage.

These wines are so delicious that (unlike most Sauternes, in our opinion) you don’t have problems emptying a bottle once it’s open, but they’re also so aromatic it can be hard to stop smelling the wines and start drinking them!  Even better—the pricing.  Compared to almost any other wine in their class, they’re bargains.  We have a great collection (including some newly arrived picks from Jos. Christoffel Jr.) and wanted to share them with you today.

Newly Arrived Beerenauslese:

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 750ML ($179.95) $133 special, 12 bottles available
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2005 375ML ($89.95) $69 special, 24 half-bottles available
2005 Vintage: Wine Spectator 98 points “Lush, ripe Rieslings at all quality levels; acidity, though low in some, balances richness in most.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!

German Beerenauslese Wines Also Available Here Now:

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 special, 9 bottles available
1976 Vintage: Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1976 700ML ($219.95) $179 special, 11 bottles available
1976 Vintage: Wine Spectator 96 points “Ripe, powerful; plenty of botrytis.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 1995 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
VinopolNote: “Re this brilliant dessert wine is beginning to enter the prime of its drinking window (which should last another  20-30 years).  The Wehlener Sonnenhur is one of the prime vineyards in the middle Mosel and this wine shows why.  Brilliant acidity and freshness combine with tropical botrytis inflected fruit flavors to make this a wine that is as compelling to drink as it is to smell.”

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2011 375ML ($199.95) $149 special, 9 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Intriguingly musky and subtly fungal as well as piercing in its evocation of distilled pit fruits and botanicals, the nose of Donnhoff’s 2011 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese – which was picked alongside its Auslese counterpart – promises an intense palate experience that the wine very much delivers. Distilled extracts of wormwood, woodruff and anisette; maraschino and serviceberry seem to lace the amalgam of quince jelly with pear and white peach nectars in a lusciously multi-layered yet animated palate performance. A spicy and tropical suggestion of mango chutney compounds the vibrantly penetrating effect of pungent herbal and pit fruit essences in a tonsil-gripping, mouth-shaking finish.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $174.98 for the half-bottle!

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese, Nahe 2015 375ML ($179.95) $138 special, 10 half-bottles available
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Hermannshöhle BA is still a baby and was in its primary stage of development, but this will clearly be a great wine as well. The bouquet offers up scents of baked apple, tangerine, a touch of papaya, gentle smokiness, orange oil and honey. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, bright and very, very deep, with great focus and grip, a very long, perfectly balanced and nascently complex finish. This will of course be approachable from the moment that it is released, but I would strongly suggest giving it at least four or five years in the cellar to allow it to start to really blossom and show some of the secondary layers of complexity that will come with bottle age. 2016-2075+.”

Dr. Crusius Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Beerenauslese Goldkapsel 2015 375ML ($179.95) $159 special, 12 half-bottles available
2016 Auction Wine
Mosel Fine Wines 98 points “Harvested at a full-on 153° Oechsle (i.e. sugar levels technically qualifying for TBA), this auction BA starts off on the primary and discreet side at first before rapidly exhibiting huge finesse, complexity and depth with honeyed notes of apricot, pineapple, mango, vanilla cream and other exotic fruits. The botrytis gives the wine a great exotic, luscious and unctuous texture with plenty of juice, creamy viscosity and smoothness on the palate. The wine is, of course, still very sweet at this stage (it has no less than 229 g/l of residual sugar), but the interplay with some gorgeously playful acidity makes for a superbly clean and focused feel in the long finish. The only drawback of this little masterpiece of a BA is that it is still a good decade away from maturity. Patience is required! 2030-2085.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Selbach-Oster Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2006 375ML ($119.95) $99 special, 6 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2006 Bernkastler Badstube Riesling Beerenauslese smells of liqueur-like, jellied, vanilla- and chocolate-covered purple plums and black cherries. The implosive palate concentration though is simply beyond “liqueur-like” and into realms I can’t recall. Strong brown spices, herbal concentrates add complexity and a buttery, creamy texture does not prevent this wine from preserving the most remarkable clarity of jellied pit fruit concentration, photo-electric brilliance of fruit acids lighting the way to an endless finish. It may not be the most complex Beerenauslese today, but give it time! Is this a “fifty year” wine … “seventy”…? All that matters is to decide whether you want to greedily take it with you to the grave or pass some on. The Germans have an expression: “So was kurz vorm Sterben” – “to experience such a thing shorly before dying.” This wine is one of those things. ”

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Schlossberg Riesling Beerenauslese*, Mosel 2005 375ML ($149.95) $99 special, 12 half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 98 points “Sweet and backed by a vibrant structure, this is elegant and detailed, with concentrated red berry, lime and nectarine. One of the few BAs to show a mineral component. Terrific balance and harmony, ending with a long, slate-tinged aftertaste. Drink now through 2040.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the one-star!

Weingut Willi Schaefer Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2011 375ML ($209.95) $159 special, 5 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The Schaefer 2011 Graacher Domprobst Riesling Beerenauslese restores the brightness, vivacity, penetrating and interplay of flavors that characterized the two magnificent Domprobst Spatlesen in the present collection but had receded as one made one’s way through the Spatlesen. Never has Willi Schaefer’s repeated mantra that green-golden ripe berries must be well-represented in a B.A. been more deliciously illustrated. Juicy and candied lemon, apple jelly and fresh apple concentrate, quince paste, white raisin, vanilla cream, and salted caramel all inform a rich yet exuberant palate performance that enervates even as it envelops. This should have half a century of adventure in store.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $184.99

Weingut Daniel Vollenweider Wolfer Goldgrube Riesling Beerenauslese, Mosel 2007 375ML ($179.95) $139 special, 2 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Rich golden yellow. Intense bouquet of yellow plum, candied pineapple and spicy botrytis. The rich, dense, honey-glazed tropical fruit flavors are highlighted by a precise minerality that keeps the palate fresh in spite of the wine’s considerable depth and sweetness. The long, complex finish features a burst of slate. An excellent beerenauslese for the vintage.”ST

This is the only listing in the USA today!

If BA is not exotic enough, we’re proud to offer the incredibly rare 2011 Donnhoff TBA. This masterpiece of a wine was released directly from the winery to the official VDP Nahe-Ahr auction (not to be confused with wine auctions selling private wine collections). Our German wine insider won the wine on our behalf before directly importing it to us. It almost goes without saying that this is the only listing in the USA today…

Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Trockenbeerenauslese, Nahe 2011 375ML ($1,195.95) $999 special, 1 half-bottle available
Wine Advocate 97 points “Extremely high-toned and penetrating scents of pear distillate, Chartreuse, maraschino, and almond extract roar from the glass, bringing to attention not just the hairs in my nostrils, but those on the back of my neck! Viscous and creamy yet persistently vibrant thanks to not only its (largely hidden) springs of acidity but also its persistently volatile elements this coats the palate with an impression of honey and marzipan, caramel and maraschino syrup, finishing with phenomenal, if as yet somewhat undifferentiated and extremely sweet persistence. Blessed is he who one day has a chance to compare this back-to-back with its stunning 2010 counterpart. If possible, give either of them 15-20 years before you even think about tucking into a bottle.” WA

This is the only listing in the USA today!

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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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Charles Smith Sale!

Arriving February 28th

Charles Smith ‘Sixto’ Roza Hills Chardonnay, Washington State 2013 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The richest, full-throttle and decadent in the lineup, the 2013 Chardonnay Roza Hills Vineyard offers lots of baked apple tart, white flowers and creaminess in a layered, balanced, classic style. Like the other wines here, it will drink well for at least 2-4 years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47.20

Charles Smith K Vintners River Rock Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Broad and open-textured, offering juicy, pear-accented blackberry, licorice and black tea flavors, finishing harmoniously and with pinpoint focus. Has presence and depth without great weight. Best from 2017 through 2023.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “A wine that just screams “The Rocks” is the 2013 Syrah River Rock Vineyard and it is about as classic a representation of this terrific terroir located around the town of Milton Freewater as I could imagine. Medium to full-bodied, fresh, focused and with fine, polished tannin, it has tons of pepper, bloody meats, olive and ripe dark fruits all soaring from the glass. I like it today, but it will keep for a decade.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43

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Arriving Friday

New Releases from Bergstrom

Bergstrom Wines Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2015 750ML ($69.95) $61.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Gregory Ranch is our new, 26-acre estate vineyard in the rolling, sandy hills of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Planted by Bergström Wines club member Dr. Kenton Gregory and his family, Gregory Ranch’s viticulture and biodynamic programs have been managed by Josh Bergström and the Bergström Wines farming team since the vineyard’s inception in 2007. Perched on the top of a 580-foot sandstone hillside, Gregory Ranch Vineyard sits where the Willamette Valley climbs up into the rugged Pacific Coast Mountain Range. The vineyard property sprawls through and around oak and Douglas fir trees as well as Scotch broom, which paints the hillside bright yellow in the spring. Wines from Gregory Ranch Vineyard are soil-driven with dark fruit aromas of black cherry, blackberry and blueberry as well as wild dried mushroom, cinnamon, tobacco and meat notes. Sweet baking spices, characteristic of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA, are also present, lending sweetness and lush textures.”

Bergstrom Wines Silice Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery note “To gaze across the 21 rolling acres of the Silice Vineyard is to look back through Oregon’s rich and storied geological history. At one time, this land lay entirely under the ocean’s waves. Millions of years ago the same violent volcanic and tectonic activity that formed the Oregon Coast Range thrust these sea beds upwards and slowly carved out and created our beautiful landscape. What remains today are gentle rolling hills of sandy soils resting atop layers of sandstone and shale. Sweet baking spices such as cinnamon, clove and star anise along with fresh, savory garden herbs are the hallmark aromas and flavors of the Silice Vineyard. Natural acidity by virtue of the site’s special terroir adds brightness, while the vineyard’s unique soils bless its wines with incredibly intense fruit flavors. Marionberry, huckleberry, blueberry and dark, tart cherry are customarily found in the Pinot Noirs.”

Also Arriving Friday

Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Perhaps no Tuscan wine is a better vintage ambassador than the Montevertine 2013 Le Pergole Torte. This gorgeous wine seems to have captured the energy, the freshness, the spirt and the edginess of this classic vintage. It really speaks to my palate thanks to its silky consistency, its steady aromatic momentum and its understated elegance. The wine shows an uncanny level of the proverbial Tuscan nobility. The bouquet offers a delicate embroidery of wild berry and underbrush, with lingering tones of dark fruit and spice that appear on second nose. The mouthfeel is ethereal and polished with tannins that already show a superior level of integration despite the wine’s young age. The aging future looks very bright for the 2013 Le Pergole Torte.”

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2015 Burgundies

Arriving This Fall

Domaine Faiveley Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-95 points “Bright red-ruby. Ripe, wonderfully complex scents of redcurrant, plum, dark cherry, animal fur, minerals and sexy oak, plus suggestions of darker berries. Round, silky and sweet, with its full ripeness leavened by saline, soil-driven minerality. A crunchy raspberry element is nicely shaped on the finish by suave tannins. The longest of these 2015s to this point in my tasting, this wine boasts grand cru volume. Its impression of rising length reminded me a bit of the superb Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuées.”

Domaine Faiveley Lavaux Saint-Jacques, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Burghound 92-94 points “A distinctly earthy, cool and ripe nose flashes notes of red and black cherries nuanced by hints of smoke, the sauvage and crushed herb. Interestingly, the powerful and very serious middle weight flavors are relatively refined thanks to the dense but fine-grained tannins that shape the punchy, intense and stony finish that is presently youthfully austere. This is also built-to-age and is going to need it.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Faiveley Aux Chaignots, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 91-93 points “(25% vendange entier; 40% new oak; from limestone-rich soil): Bright red with ruby tones. Sexy scents of raspberry, redcurrant, rose petal and exotic spices (Flous says the wine’s floral character is due to its whole-cluster component). Fresh and energetic, with suave, lightly saline red berry and spice flavors lifted by the wine’s floral element. This suave wine finishes with slowly building, toothdusting tannins and lovely grip.”
Burghound 91-93 points “A markedly floral nose offers up notes of herbal tea, earth, spice and both red and dark cherry nuances. There is both excellent volume and mid-palate concentration to the refined and lightly mineral-inflected flavors that possess focused power on the elegant and lingering finale. This is picture perfect Chaignots that should be approachable after only a few years of cellaring if that’s your preference.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Faiveley Les Porets-Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Burghound 90-93 points “A pretty if restrained nose speaks of various wild red berries, earth and once again sauvage nuances. The supple yet concentrated medium weight flavors possess both fine volume and detail on the punchy and lightly mineral-inflected finale that is less rustic than usual. What is entirely typical though is the expected aging curve as this is almost certainly to be extremely long-lived.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Faiveley Les Damodes, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Burghound 91-93 points “This is completely different with its brooding and reserved nose of ripe extract of black cherry along with plenty of earth, floral and sauvage hints. The powerful and concentrated middle weight plus flavors possess a lush and velvety mouth feel while displaying ample muscle on the structured, serious and impressively persistent finale. Like the Clos de l’Ecu, this moderately rustic effort will need patience.”

2013 Barolo – Also Arriving This Fall

E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, meld into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis’ 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!”

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New Wine Spectator Review

Wine Arrives in October 2017

Altesino Montosoli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2012 750ML ($99.95) $71.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This finds good equilibrium between the ripe berry, cherry, tobacco, iron and tea notes. Firm and chewy, with hints of leather and under-brush on the long aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2035.”

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It’s The Final Countdown

February Sales End Tuesday at Midnight

From France:

Jacques Selosse Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Millesime, Champagne 2003 750ML ($519.95) Was $399, Now $379, 13 bottles available
James Suckling 97 points “A wine that has an absolutely unique character, Selosse has interpreted a truly extraordinary vintage with poetic insight. He describes the double stresses of an April frost that claimed 75% of the yield in Avize, coupled with a very hot and dry June and August. He speaks of the evapotranspiration and the effect of depositing an immense amount of mineral residue into the plant, which has manifested in this striking wine, and compares it to a chef reducing and concentrating a sauce. The smoky, toasty notes are more than autolysis; you can smell the heat of the vintage here. It has profound stony and chalky aromas, gentle spices, grilled hazelnuts and dehydrated stone fruits. The minerals explode onto the palate. It’s electric, hitting like an ionic blast before rolling out dark nutty flavors ahead of plush orange and ripe nectarine, peach and big, rich phenolics. It has many layers through the finish. Extremely long, balanced and resolved. Drink now or age confidently for a fascinating savory journey – this has a sturdy nature.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $445

Louis Jadot Pommard 2012 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $44.10, 24 bottles available
“Juicy and exuberant, the 2012 Pommard hits the palate with plenty of intensity and richness. Hard candy, sweet red berries, wild flowers and mint inform an opulent Pommard with plenty of immediacy and raciness. There is plenty of near and medium term appeal. In 2012, the Pommard includes some Commaraine fruit.”–Antonio Galloni

Domaine Faiveley Les Saint-Georges, Nuits-Saint-Georges Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($129.95) Was $99, Now $89.10, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points & Burghound 91-93 points “Palish medium red. Medicinal red cherry, minerals, crushed stone, violet, rose petal and white pepper on the noble nose. Wonderfully silky and pure, with ineffable flavors of red fruits, spices, flowers and minerals. This is wonderfully delicate, and not a fleshy wine, yet saturates every square millimeter of the palate with flavor. The long, sweet, rising finish offers terrific cut and floral lift. Should make a worthy successor to the outstanding 2007, which also transcends its village. Hervet says that this will be bottled by hand, without filtration.”ST

We have 93 wines from France on sale now. See the complete list below! Visit our web store to read reviews and shop: www.vinopoliswineshop.com

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Late Breaking Pre-Arrivals

Arriving in February & March!

Paul Hobbs CrossBarn Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA February 28th
Robert Parker 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.”

Tenuta Sette Ponti Oreno Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA March 25th
James Suckling 96 points “There is a purity of fruit in this young Tuscan red with flowers, citrus fruit and currants. Full body, with firm and silky tannins that are ultra-fine and wonderfully polished. The structure builds to a racy finish. This is a Bordeaux blend that is all in harmony. Give it time as the tannins and fruit melt together. Try in 2016.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $52.89
The average price is $79

Thank you for reading!