Weekend VinopolPick 9-11-20

In Today’s Newsletter:

Hot Deals on 2013 Il Poggione Brunello
& 2016 Caiarossa Pergolaia
Two Top Tuscans from Great Vintages


First Offer
’18 Beaux Freres Upper Terrace


New Reviews for Saint Cosme

Staff Picks:
Three Under-$20 Bubbles


New Reviews and New Wines from Ridge
Pure, Classic, California


New Reviews for Etna’s Flagship Producer
Terre Nere


Trending Wines

Grapelive Reviews a Standout Oregon Value

Collector’s Corner:
Levet’s Cult Classic Cote-Rotie


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Hot Deals on 2013 Il Poggione Brunello

& 2016 Caiarossa Pergolaia

Two Top Tuscans from Great Vintages


Let’s cut to the chase: any lover of Brunello—no, any lover of Italian wine—should have a case of Il Poggione’s Brunello in their cellar if they can afford it.  The combination of classical proportions and attention grabbing power and complexity is extremely rare in a wine, especially at these sorts of prices.  They are truly Great Brunello, along with names like Biondi-Santi, Soldera, Saliciutti, etc. except at half (or less) the price of its peer group. Il Poggione made some of the wine of the vintage in 2013 and we sold out several months ago—until a new opportunity allowed us to bring in a final round at an even better price.

The price is lowest in the country and fully $20+ per bottle lower than the average wine-searcher listing by the case.  Simply put, this wine shouldn’t be available at a price like this, but here’s your chance.

If you’re unfamiliar with the wines of Il Poggione, let’s catch you up quickly.  They are a classic Brunello Brunello producer working with very traditional methods in the subzone of Sant’Angelo in Colle, a region that tends to produce wines with big, bold personality.  The resulting wines are both crowd pleasing (rich fruit, up front aromatics) and intellectually stimulating (age-worthy, not obstructed by new oak) in way that is nearly unique in Brunello, outside of names that trade for significantly more money per bottle.

That combo, and that pricing, is what makes Il Poggione a contradiction in the best way—a traditional Brunello that’s often approachable young.  An ageworthy wine that doesn’t have to be aged.  A wine that’s top tier collectible and respected while remaining in the reasonable stratosphere of affordability.  It’s a lot for a wine to be, but luckily there it is and it’s even cheaper than it was (when they were merely excellent buys), at least until we’re sold out.

Re-Arriving ETA October:

Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $59 Subscriber Special
Case-6 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2013 750ML ($519.95) $336 Subscriber Special (that’s only $56/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points
“The 2013 Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the impeccable reputation garnered by this estate over the years. This is a profound and beautifully rendered Sangiovese that delivers bold and luscious fruit quality with black cherry and spicy plum at the start. The bouquet follows through with mild oak notes of smoke, tar and toasted nut. There is another aromatic component that includes crushed stone and dried herb or mint. This Brunello shows elegant evolution in the glass and promises a very long aging future ahead. Some 200,000 bottles were made, so it should be easy to locate this excellent wine.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 95 points “Bright red. Pure, refined red cherry and wild strawberry aromas and flavors complicated by sweet spices and aromatic herbs. Deep and multilayered, the wine boasts polished tannins and a harmonious acid spine that lifts and extends the red fruit on the long, suave finish. An essence of Sant’Angelo in Colle with bigger body and palate weight than, for example, the Brunellos of Montosoli, but still sleek and refined as the best wines of Sant’Angelo in Colle can be. The cool-climate-styled 2013 vintage is precisely the type of year in which Il Poggione excels: this lovely, focused wine is the best classico Brunello from Il Poggione in years. Superb.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $78


Looking for a high scoring Super Tuscan under $30 from the owner of Chateau Giscours?  We’ve got you covered.  (If you weren’t looking for one, perhaps you should be).  This stunner arrives this Friday and is ready for your table (or cellar!) This coastal Tuscan estate was founded in 1998. A thoughtful exploration of the land’s terroir let the original owners to subdivide the vineyard into 12 parcels as defined by their soil type, carefully selecting the ideal varieties for each parcel’s planting. Even in the cellar is thought and respect given to the grapes: new oak is kept to a minimum to highlight rather than overwhelm terroir. The results are impressive, especially for the price we’re able to offer this for.

Arriving ETA September 18th:

Caiarossa ‘Pergolaia’ Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points
“Flavors of black cherry and blackberry stand up to the dense tannins in this fresh, deep and intense red, but this is equally about the vibrant acidity driving the fruit, wild herb nuances and spice-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 4,700 cases made, 1,200 cases imported.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92 points “Mostly Sangiovese with the other 30% composed of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Pergolaia is all about matching grapes to soils, a tribute to Tuscany from a French-owned estate better known for its international approach. This vintage has slightly less Sangiovese than usual in order to create a more accessible wine, with more freshness and juiciness. It’s almost crunchy in texture, a full-bodied red that covers the whole mouth. The aging is spread out evenly between botte and tonneaux, as they reserved the big wood for the more delicate Sangiovese grape. The fruit here shows perfect ripeness with lots of primary intensity and freshness. It’s a versatile red to match with all kinds of pastas and meats. It’s ready to open now or to age for just a few more years.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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First Offer

’18 Beaux Freres Upper Terrace


Beaux Freres is one of the Great Names in Oregon wine—one of the wineries that helped put the Willamette Valley on the map.  Big, rich wines with lots of character (plus a familial relation to the Mayor of Monkton) mean that these wines were some of the earliest sought-after wines from our corner of the wine world.  They continue to make excellent wines and we’re excited to offer them to you at pricing that’s more exceptional than usual.  The 2018 Upper Terrace lands this coming Friday and we’ve got it for $91.90—a price so good we can’t list it online.

Please note: we can’t display our Subscriber Price of $91.90 on our website, but we’ll manually adjust the pricing before finalizing your order and running your credit card (or you can call/email).


Arriving Friday, September 18th

Beaux Freres The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 Displayed Price, $91.90 Subscriber Special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points
“Vivid magenta. A hugely perfumed bouquet displays an array of ripe red and blue fruits, pungent flowers and exotic spices, along with hints of cola and smoky minerals. Deeply concentrated yet lively as well, offering palate-staining cherry, black raspberry and boysenberry flavors and building lavender and allspice flourishes. A smoky quality emerges on the strikingly persistent finish, which features steadily building tannins and a strong floral echo.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $105
 
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New Reviews for Saint Cosme
 
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste Rouge 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, only 10 bottles remaining!
Wine & Spirits 98 points
“In spring 2018, the outlook for the vintage was bleak. ‘Never before had we experienced so many issues with mildew,’ Louis Barruol reported in his annual newsletter. ‘ When it rains every three days and the temperature peaks at 28 degrees C, everything becomes difficult.’ And yet the estate’s 2018 Gigondas are some of the most profound wines we tasted this year. Barruol credits the health of his vines, which have been tended under organic principles since his father, Henri, began working there in 1957; they’ve been certified organic by Ecocert since 2010. And there’s also the quality of his parcels, such as Le Poste, a steep two and a half acres of limestone soils that his father planted to vines in 1963. At a cool elevation of 918 feet, Le Poste yielded a wine that’s monumental in size and scope, clearly built to last for ages. It feels all of a piece, with no signle flavor taking precedence. There’s hints of foie gras and leg of lamb layered into fruit notes of figs and cherries, an enticing play of freshness and funk, light and dark, lift and gravitas. And the flavors last, held up by a structure that promises to carry the wine for many years in the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109
The average listed price is $130

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 14 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 94 points
“When Louis Barruol’s ancestors planted Hominis Fides some 90 years ago, they hoped to mitigate unpredictable weather by including Alicante, aramon, carigana and a host of other varieties among the grenache plantings. They also chose a spot where the movement of two geological faults brought Miocene limestone sand to the surface. That fast-draining soil and the mix of vines were fortuitous choices for a wet vintage like 2018. The wine shines bright and deep, quickly moving past toasty oak notes (20 percent of the lot aged in new barrels). Then it’s all spiced cherries, wild thyme and rosemary, the resinous edge of the herbal notes adding cut to its generous build, and echoing the fine tannic structure. The wine lasts for days after opening, each sip a liquid trip to Gigondas’s garrigue-scented hills.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109
The average listed price is $131

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 93 points
“Le Claux was planted in 1870 using the first phylloxera-resistant American rootstocks available in the region, and the vineyard still retains some of those original vines-about ten percent, Louis Barruol believes, crediting his father for his heroic efforts to revive them. Those old vines, planted in an alluvial fan, grew a particularly dark, brooding Gigondas in 2018. It’s chewy and dense, with black-fig and blackberry flavors and an intriguingly earthy, gamey funk, and yet there’s still crunch to the fruit, a vibrancy that keeps it from feeling too heavy. Built for a thick-cut steak, or a decade in the cellar.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $109
The average listed price is $133

Saint Cosme Cotes Du Rhone 2019 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
Grapelive 93 points
“The deep purple/blue/garnet 100% Syrah Cotes du Rhone from Saint Cosme is without question one of the world’s greatest values and this 2019 vintage is thrillingly delicious with wonderful purity and layers of boysenberry, black cherry, plum and blueberry coulis along with some spicy accents, a hint of earth, graphite and salty melted black licorice. Louis Barruol’s Chateau de Saint Cosme is one of the Rhone’s finest producers, most famous for the estate’s classic Gigondas bottlings from his ancient and historic cellars at the site of a Gallo-Roman villa from the 1400s….The latest vintage of Saint Cosme’s Côtes du Rhône Rouge was crafted using Syrah grapes that were partially de-stemmed with some whole cluster from vines set on sandy limestone, red clay and pebbles on Villafranchian terraces and it was fermented and aged solely in tank. This 2019 is concentrated and impressive in the mouth adding pretty touches of violets and wild sage to its array of opulent dark fruits and lingering creme de cassis, this little Cotes du Rhone is simply outstanding, as goes without saying it’s a steal at the price. Even Barruol is saying the 2019 is one of the best versions he’s made, rivaling his 2010, and I couldn’t agree more, this is a vintage you’ll want to stock up on. Known as a Grenache specialist, Barruol is quite handy with Syrah, he also has made some fantastic Northern Rhone wines from purchased grapes, these include a brilliant collection of Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, Cote-Rotie and Crores-Hermitage bottlings, all which are worth searching out. Most recently, Barruol added the Château de Rouanne in Vinsobres to his lineup and this property is very exciting, with the first efforts here showing amazing potential. There’s so to admire in Saint Cosme’s latest set it’s hard to stay focused, but this edition of their Cotes du Rhone deserves a lot of attention, be sure not to miss it!”

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Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:


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Staff Picks

Three Under-$20 Bubbles


Andy:
The joy of quality bubbles for under $20 is taken very seriously around our house. It can often be a disappointment, a headache in a bottle, or cava. Sweetness, blandness, or screaming acidity can take what would be a Wednesday night surprise and turn it into a Wednesday night massacre. When we receive a sparkler that stands out both for its quality and value, I will shout it from the rooftops. When we receive three at once? I’m almost beyond words. 

The Loire valley is a secret treasure trove for affordable sparkling wines, usually a Chenin or rosé made from Cab Franc. Two options that will stump the resident Somm are now available; Bruno Cormerais Methode Traditionelle Brut and the Brazilier Methode Traditionelle Brut Rose. The Cormerais is a wine that I will drink all year long (while supplies last) simply for the versatility of the flavor in pairing. It is made primarily from Folle Blanche, a grape some view almost as an afterthought in the area. It has a chance to shine here, bringing freshness and a slightly tropical, white floral nose. The palate is bright and lively without tasting like it was just thrown together as an afterthought. Quite the contrary, this is a wine made with the intention of showcasing another wonderful varietal from a great producer. I had it over two nights, just to see if it held up, and it might have been even better the second night. I would also recommend you open one of Maxime’s ’13 Clisson Muscadet for an example of what you can expect from this producer.

Domaine Bruno Cormerais Methode Traditionnelle Brut NV 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
VinopolNote
: Mostly Folle Blanche, from an assortment of terroirs in Muscadet.  Aged 2-3 years on the lees in bottle before disgorgement, low dosage.

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!


The Brazilier Methode Traditionelle Brut Rose. 100% Pineau d’Aunis which accounts for the intense floral and white pepper notes. Less refined than the Cormerais, it still has a beautiful berry attack on the palate that will stand up to grilled meats as well as a pretty salad with good cheeses. Aromatically the wine is just fun and different. I love it when this wine comes in and try it as soon as it lands. I think that the price makes this a great option for casual get-togethers when you’re not certain what will be on the menu. If you like the wine, but are looking for a still rosé with the same profile, Brazilier makes one from what we believe to be the same base wine. Delicious.

Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut Rose NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Pineau d’Aunis from 25+ year old vines grown in chalky limestone soil.
Winery Note “This quality sparkling wine comes from a long aging process: after fermentation, it spends about 12 months sur lattes to give it its fine bubbles and the typical aromas of Pineau d’Aunis such as peony.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

In the shop, we also love to try to sell each other on our favorite new wines, and I fell prey to Suzanne’s recommendation on the Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore. To be honest, I usually enjoy Prosecco the way I enjoy Drumstick ice cream cones; though they’re mass produced, you know how it’ll taste and you’ll enjoy it if it is the only thing available. Gasparini is an ice cream cone of a whole different level. Aromatically, the wine is just lovely with lightly toasty almond cookie and apple/pear scents. There is a very pretty, creamy softness to the mousse and distinct clarity to the palate. I don’t find this to be quite as versatile in pairings as it seems a little more lush and creamy than the easy pairs from the Loire, but I would enjoy having this with Taleggio to Tagliatelle.  The price is ridiculous, and I am kind of disappointed I didn’t grab a few of these to just have on hand. Like a nice cone of Gelato among Drumsticks.

Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG NV 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG NV 1.5L ($49.95) $31.90 special
James Suckling 90 points
“Delicious combination of pear and biscuit on the palate with medium body, bright acidity and a fresh finish. Fresh and satisfying. A different style of Prosecco that you should check out.”
Decanter 89 points “Loredan Gasparini’s Asolo Prosecco Superiore is grown on mineral soils that give the wine structure. This wine uses wild yeasts, providing a beautiful range of flavours; elderflower and peaches are supported by a lovely, soft mousse.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $16

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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
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New Reviews and New Wines from Ridge

Pure, Classic, California


In Stock Now

Ridge Vineyards East Bench Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 91 points
“The 2018 Zinfandel East Bench is an absolute joy to taste. Bright acids perk up the sweet red berry fruit in this lively, flavorful 100% Zinfandel from vineyards in Dry Creek. Fresh, vinous and so wonderfully inviting, the 2018 is delicious now, but also has the energy to develop in bottle for another decade, perhaps more.”
Wine & Spirits 93 points “Best Buy. Not far from Ridge’s Lytton Springs, East Bench was planted to vines in the 19th century, though those vines were abandoned in the early 20th. Nearly 100 years on, the team at Ridge started replanting the site, using cuttings selected at four vineyards planted before Prohibition. David Gates farms it as he does Ridge’s historic mixed plantings, the vines head trained and spur pruned. John Olney made this wine from vines planted in 2000 and 2001, creating a plump and delicious zinfandel emphasizing cozy fruit richness and firm tannins. It is exuberant, a pleasure to drink, while holding enough tension to make it a cellar candidate.”

Ridge Vineyards Geyserville, Alexander Valley 2018 750ML ($54.95) $44 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94+ points
“The 2018 Geyserville is an infant. That much is obvious, especially in this lineup of otherwise more settled 2018s. Ripe Zinfandel flavors drive the overall profile. A blast of wild cherry, leather, tobacco, smoke, licorice, menthol and spice hit the palate first, followed by swaths of tannin and a touch of new oak that suggest the wine still needs time to come together. Readers should be in no rush. I am not sure the 2018 will ever be truly refined, as it is quite burly today. Aeration helps to some degree. The fermentations at Geyserville were slow to start and slow to finish. That longer time of extraction comes through in potent tannins that will likely always mark the wine.”
Wine & Spirits 94 points “The Geyserville vineyard isn’t much to look at, a relatively flat gravel wash with stones deposited by a river that ran through the valley long before vines arrived. The vines themselves have been here a long time, more than 130 years for the oldest. The Trentadue family owns the vineyard and has sold the fruit to Ridge since 1966; David Gates oversees the farming, working to sustain the vines, a field blend of zinfandel with carignane, petite sirah and mataro. The history of the vines and the farming come together in this 2018, an elegant California classic. It’s a silky red, and mineral bath of fine vine-wood tannins over complex fruit notes that only emerge days after the bottle is first opened-bergamot, raspberry and cherry skin in subtle, dark red warmth and equally subtle richness. This is a great vintage of Geyserville to treasure in your cellar for as long as you can wait-though it’s usually best to wait at least ten years form the vintage.”


Arriving Friday September 18th

Ridge Vineyards Lytton Estate Petite Sirah, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“The 2018 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah is totally stunning. Bright, focused and powerful, the 2018 presents a breathtaking interplay of rich Petite fruit allied to a classic, old-school sense of structure. Dark blue/purplish fruit, leather, licorice, lavender, menthol and gravel are some of the many notes that infuse the 2018 with all those layers of flavor. The 2018 is a real stunner.”

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

Ridge Lytton Springs, Dry Creek Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $44.50 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96 points
“The 2018 Lytton Springs is magnificent. Elegant, layered and so complete, the 2018 has a lot to offer, but it needs time to fully come together. Sweet red cherry, red plum, blood orange, spice, mint and rose petal open up in the glass. Bright acids and beams of tannin give the wine its vibrant energy. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2018 for at least a few years. Wow!”

Ridge Vineyards Pagani Ranch Zinfandel, Sonoma Valley 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points
“The 2018 Zinfandel Pagani Ranch is superb. A burst of sweet red/purplish fruit, exotic spice, flowers and blood orange fleshes out in a Zinfandel of tremendous class. The Pagani has a level of textural breadth and resonance that separates it from most wines in this range. It also has a bit more new oak than the other wines here, but that should not be an issue in time. Bold, creamy and sensual, the Pagani just hits all the right notes. I wouldn’t touch a bottle anytime soon. Readers who can find it will own a small piece of history, as Pagani is one of the most pedigreed vineyard sites in the United States. The blend is 84% Zinfandel, 9% Alicante Bouschet and 7% Petite Sirah.”

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New Reviews for Etna’s Flagship Producer

Terre Nere

More than any other winery, Terre Nere is responsible for the modern interest in wines from Etna.  With vineyards in most of the historically important crus of the slopes of Etna and very old vines, Terre Nere was the first to bottle single-parcel wines from the indigenous variety Nerello and brought international focus and admiration to this once-overlooked region. The high altitude and dark volcanic soils help yield distinctive wines from the indigenous grape varieties and the winery hews to a very traditional model inspired by Burgundy.  

Marc de Grazia started the Terre Nere winery in 2002 from 30 hectares of vineyards divided in 10 parcels over four crus.  The vines are between 50 to 100 years old except for 6 hectares of recently planted vines and several self-rooted plots over 130 years old that are famous for surviving phylloxera.  The red wines are 100% Nerello Mascalese, a variety known for producing wines of great elegance and the whites are based on Carricante a grape that gives mineral, piercing wines.

As for the individual wines…The soil in the Calderara Sottana cru is covered in large black volcanic pumice and is the stoniest cru.  The wine offers floral, spice and leather aromas.  The two vineyards composing the Guardiola cru stand at the highest elevation on Mount Etna, and are quite possibly the highest in Europe.  It has poor soil composed of volcanic sand, basalt and ash.  The vineyard is steeply terraced, necessitating manual labor and harvest.  The wine is lean and elegant.  Santo Spirito is adjacent to Guardiola but with black volcanic ash soil.  The Etna Rosso Prephylloxera “La Vigna di Don Pepino” is named for the grape grower who worked the parcel for over 70 years.  Grazia believes the vineyard survived and thrived only through Don Pepino’s meticulous care.


Terre Nere Etna Bianco 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 91 points
“In 2019, moderate warmth from July through September, followed by a cool October, provided near-perfect conditions for carricante, which comprises about 70 percent of this blend, the balance coming from catarratto, gracanico and minella. The wine is tautly structured, its assertive flavors of white peach, crisp pear and lemon riding on a zipline of acidity that leads to a clean, chiseled finish.”

Terre Nere Etna Rosato 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 90 points
“Delicate floral scents introduce this wine; then racy acidity draws its flavors of juicy peach and soft red berries together in a graceful, refined finish.”

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

Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2018 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 92 points
“Best Buy. Produced from a mix of young and old vines on Etna’s north slope, this wine unfolds with flavors of wild strawberry and blood orange accented by notes of crunchy herbs. High-toned and transparent, it gains depth with air, developing a dark current of smoke and tar that offers a superb introduction to Etna Rosso.” 

Terre Nere Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 95 points
“According to Marco de Grazia, Calderara Sottana is one of only two contrade with soils fully derived from lava flows and deposits that came out of the Ellittico eruptive center, dating back some 15,000 to 60,000 years (the other is San Lorenze, which produced a wine also recommended here). Fist-sized black pumice stones dot his vineyard, and the vines that produce this wine have survived on the stony soils for 50 to 100 years. In the warm and dry 2017 vintage, they gave a wine redolent of red roses and Bing cherries, with hints of tarragon. Rich, ripe tannins wrap around its juicy fruit while racy acidity draws the flavors upward, picking up notes of warm spice on the way to a long, harmonious finish.”

Terre Nere Etna Rosso Feudo Di Mezzo 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 94 points
“Nerello mascalese culled from 40- to 80-year-old vines planted in shallow volcanic ash soils produced this sultry wine. Notes of chocolate and warm spices mingle with plum and black cherry flavors, the wine knit together by silky tannins. Those dusky fruit tones glow on the long finish, giving the wine plenty of early appeal.”

Terre Nere Moganazzi Etna Rosso 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 92 points
“Marco de Grazia first bought a tiny plot of vines in the Moganazzi contrade in 2007, dedicating its production to a charity project. He’s since expanded his holdings to nearly five acres, and this is the first release of some 3,000 bottles under the new label. A steeply terraced site with deep volcanic ash soils anchoring 80-year-old vines, Moganazzi produced a wine that feels more earthbound than some of Terre Nere’s more ethereal wines in the warm, dry 2017 growing season. With dense black-rock tannins and ripe and fleshy plum and black raspberry flavors, this ought to benefit from a year or two of cellaring before pairing with braised lamb shanks.”

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

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Trending Wines

A great new lower price on Latour’s entry-level wine.
Le Pauillac de Chateau Latour 2013 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $69 special
James Suckling 90 points
“A firm and silky red with currant, plum and berry character. Medium body, fresh finish. Stone and dark fruit. Drink now.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $89

Day’s flagship wine at a steal of a price—$20+ less than the winery
Day Wines ‘Momtazi Vineyard ‘ Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special
Case-6 Day Wines ‘Momtazi Vineyard ‘ Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines ‘Momtazi Vineyard ‘ Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points
“The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
Winery Note “Momtazi Vineyard is a certified biodynamic site nestled in the foothills of the Cascade Range, composed primarily of uplifted marine sedimentary loams and silts with alluvial overlays and an underlying base of basalt. One of the revered vineyards in Willamette, this is our cornerstone source for Pinot noir. We are always thrilled to work with this fruit, as it’s some of the most coveted in in the Valley. Many people wish they could get their hands on it, and we’re fortunate that we do. Easily our most intense and deeply fruited Pinot noir, the wine displays hallmark Momtazi notes of black cherry and black raspberry, both on the nose and on the palate. Additional notes of sandalwood spice and forest floor emerge with air, giving a glimpse at the complexity to come. It’s a moody, broody teenager at present, which is no surprise given the vineyard’s reputation for structure. The tannins are suave but sturdy, and the well-integrated acidity holds everything together seamlessly in an enchanting marriage of power and finesse. As flagship wines go, the 2016 Momtazi is a worthy standard-bearer.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Compare to $54 directly from the winery!

Andy’ staff pick is selling like crazy.
La Fortuna Fortunello Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fantastic value, showing pretty varietal notes of red cherries and spice. Moderately rich, savory and expressive.
Winery Note
“A wine that first expresses itself through its colour; intense ruby red. Extraordinary via its intensity and absolute pleasure on the palate, vigor, length, freshness and fruity finish. A wine that will improve with age with its scents of raspberry and red berries.”

Excellent Cote de Blancs Champagne that way over delivers for the price.
Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 91 points
“Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”
 
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

From a favorite winery, this formerly restaurant-only bottling is a QPR winner.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($129.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
VinopolNote
: We can’t get enough of Marcus Goodfellow’s Willamette Valley Pinots. With restaurants only offering takeout for the foreseeable future, Marcus is letting us share his by-the-glass Pinot with you. It’s an insane value!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

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Grapelive Reviews a Standout Oregon Value


In Stock Now:

Evesham Wood Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Grapelive 92 points
“The special nine barrel Evesham Wood Dundee Hills Pinot Noir from Winemaker and owner Erin Nuccio is one of the best hand crafted and small lot Pinots from the vintage, especially for the price, in Oregon, with its beautiful details and texture it is a class act and joins Evesham’s stellar and value priced lineup. For the last twelve years I’ve been following this label after my first visit to the Willamette Valley wine country and the Portland wine scene when a friend up there clued me in on some underwear the radar wineries, if you are into Oregon Pinot and looking for bargains, Nuccio’s wines are a must try collection, especially the Evesham Wood’s basic Willamette Valley cuvee and this one if you can still find it. With classic Dundee Hills, Jory soil (volcanic and iron rich) influence showing, the Evesham Wood Dundee Hills Pinot delivers layers of dusty red spiced black cherry, plum and strawberry fruits along with a touch of earthy reduction, rose petals, snappy herbs, moro orange tea and delicate wood accents, all of which caresses the medium bodied palate. With air the ruby/garnet 2018 Dundee Hills Pinot gains a darker almost blue fruit tone and becomes wonderfully expressive and pure in a performance that you’d expect from a wine two or three times the cost, I knew I should have bought a few more bottles.  Nuccio says his Dundee Hills Cuvée, which came from a very famous single vineyard, is most likely one-time only wine for Evesham Wood and came about when a friend who is the winemaker this well known, but can’t be named, winery in the Dundee Hills asked if Erin was interested in some Dundee Hills fruit and as she adds, after initially saying he had enough grapes booked, he came back with a price that was too good to pass up. The plan was to have it go into the regular Willamette Valley blend, but when Nuccio started seriously tasting the barrels it became apparent he had some special barrels, so made the choice to do this bottling from those 9 barrels, which in hindsight was an awesome decision.” 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $30

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Collectors Corner

Levet’s Cult Classic Cote-Rotie


Bernard Levet has moved from an unsung hero of the Northern Rhone to a genuine star.  The Cote Rotie he bottles is unlike anyone else’s.  Feral, tannic and uncompromising, his wines need time to blossom, but when they do, there’s nothing in the world of Syrah (or wine, in general) quite like them. These should disappear very quickly, so if you’re interested, now’s the time to act—these are only going to become more scarce and hard to find.


In Stock Now:

Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie La Chavaroche, Rhone 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points
“Dark purple. Ripe dark fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose, along with hints of licorice, black cardamom, espresso and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that slowly unfold and take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Youthfully chewy tannins add firm grip to a strikingly long, energetic finish that emphatically echoes the cassis and mineral notes. Made with 100% whole clusters.”

Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie Les Journaries, Rhone 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Josh Raynolds 95 points
“Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, licorice, exotic spices and potpourri and shows outstanding definition. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet black raspberry, blueberry and cherry preserve flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Shows superb energy and floral lift on an impressively long, focused finish shaped by steadily mounting tannins. This is quite a powerful wine (about 70% of the fruit comes from La Landonne, by the way) for one that checks in at only 13% alcohol. Made entirely with whole clusters.”

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