Category Archives: Wineries We Cherish

Limited and Lovely: Pichler Family Wines: August 2023

Limited and Lovely: Pichler Family Wines

With now 7 generations of winemkaing experience under their belts, the Pichler family knows every detail of Gruner Veltliner, Riesling, and the Wachau Valley where they have grown fine wine since 1898. The story of this family is the story of successive uncompromising individuals whose focus has been to consistently increase the quality and reputation of Austria’s wines. Today we’re blessed with the ability to taste wines made by differnt family members, as the Pichler name currently represents two different labels: FX Pichler & Pichler-Krutzler.

FX Pichler

Lucas Pichler took over the original family estate from his father Franz Xavier (FX) back in 1999, and a decade later a new winery housed the production that critics like Robert Parker had already lauded. Lucas has expanded the family’s holdings, and now manages 20 hectares (49 acres) of exceptional single-vineyard sites situated in Loiben and Dürnstein, with an even split between Grüner Veltliner and Riesling plantings. Around 35 percent of the vines grow on steep bedrock terraces with dry-stone walls, and gneiss soils that can only be worked by hand. Any wine tasted from FX Pichler will add definition to the appellation and to the grape; be it the spicy and structured Gruners or the intensely perfumed rieslings.

Pichler-Krutzler

Since their marriage in 2007, Elisabeth Pichler-Krutzler (the daughter of Franz Xavier) and Erich Krutzler have made gorgeous wines under their own label near the town of Dürnstein in the Wachau. The estate spans approximately 10 hectares with top sites such as Klostersatz, Supperin, Loibenberg, Kellerberg and Pfaffenberg. Erich as winemaker works in similar but distinctly unique methods in comparison to FX Pichler, drawing upon a foundation of more organic mentality in the vineyard and what could be perceived as more natural winemaking. What culminates are wines of more fine bone and sublety in comparison to that of the FX estate.

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I personally think these wines are built to synchronize over the course of a meal or evening. Beginning with a Pichler-Krutzler bottling is a refreshing opener to bright summer appetizers, while following with an FX Pichler is a natural transition into more intense pairings and matured conversations.

Below you’ll find all the Pichler Family Wines that we have available at Vinopolis. I’ll emphasize that our current stock is rapidly running out as folks take advantage of our excellent pricing. Don’t miss your chance to grab a few!

FX Pichler and Pichler-Krutzler Wines Available Now

PICHLER FAMILY WINES	VWS PRICE	RETAIL PRICE	AVAILABLE	REVIEWS	LINK
FX PICHLER GV LOIB RIED KLO 20	$41.90	$59.95	10	93 FS	Link
FX PICHLER GV RIED LIEBEN 20	$69.00	$79.95	10	94-96 FS	Link
FX PICHLER GV LIEBENBERG SMD 19	$59.00	$69.95	5	95 JS	Link
FX PICHLER GV LOIBNER FED 19	$28.00	$39.95	26	91 JS	Link
FX PICHLER RIESLING RIED LO SMAR 20	$69.00	$79.95	9	96 JS	Link
FX PICHLER RIESLING BURGSTALL 19	$31.90	$41.95	36+	92 JS	Link
FX PICHLER RIESLING LOIBENBER 15	$49.00	$59.95	4	92 WA	Link
PICHLER-KRUTZLER GV LOIBENB 19	$45.00	$59.95	7	95 WE	Link
PICHLER-KRUTZLER GV PFAFFEN 19	$69.00	$79.95	5	94 WA	Link
PICHLER-KRUTZLER RIESLING KELLER 19	$69.00	$79.95	4	97 WE	Link
PICHLER-KRUTZLER RIESLING WAND 2019	$33.00	$41.95	6	94 WE	Link

We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Browse the 2,900+ wines we offer
online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com or
shop at our convenient NW Glisan and 16th location
in Portland, OR from 10 am – 6 pm daily.

Special Feature: The Wines of Domaine Huet: August 2023

The BEST Prices on Domaine Huet

Burrowed in the deep chalky hillsides of the Loire rests a wine of impressive immortality and beguiling flavor. In caves hollowed out of the tuffeau rock for the development of the valley’s grandest Chateaux, chenin blanc slumbers, develops, and evolves into one of the most compelling and unique white wines in the world. We’re speaking of course about the wines of Vouvray, one of France’s very first designated appellations following the founding of the INAO in 1936, and a region whose wine history traces back to the middle ages. This region’s most iconic and classic producer is undoubtedly Domaine Huet.

I like to be careful when I throw around the word ‘classic’. I think such a term can often be overused or misunderstood in the intent of what it is meant to convey. Something that is ‘classic’ is not necessarily something that is good, and likewise the interpretation of ‘classic’ is relative to the ebbs and flows of wine styles and techniques over time. The consummate version of ‘classic’ is when a wine or winemaker is able to intimately evoke the soul of variety and its heritage region in a way that cannot be imitated by the ambitious or the new. For me, this is where the chenin of Domaine Huet stands a world apart.

Founded in 1928 by Victor Huët, a former Parisian bistro owner, this winery has engendered global recognition for the quality of wines in the Vouvray appellation and remains the top Vouvray label of restaurants and collectors around the globe. The wines are simply miraculous. Whether it’s the bone-dry and bracing Sec labeled versions of Le Haut Lieu, Clos Du Bourg, and Le Mont, or the immensely complex and charming off-dry Demi-Sec and Moelleux variations, these wines are cellar essentials for anyone serious about wine or collecting.

Why are they essential?

They’re immortal. These wines can age for 30+ years without batting an eye. The dry versions and the off-dry alike.
They’re amazingly affordable. Almost every Huet wine falls between $30-65 retail.
They’re some of the top chenin blanc that exists. Period. Look at the Most Popular, Best, and Best Value lists of Vouvray on Wine Searcher. Notice anything? Domaine Huet occupies the first 5+ wines in every category.
They’re DELICIOUS. With the texture of a fine Mersault, the beautiful structure of a cave aged Loire white, and intense Autumnal aromas of apple, quince, and honey, these are a category of their own and a perfect marriage with food.

Someday when I retire, I’m going to putter around in my cellar and grin when I see all the Domain Huet labels resting delicately in the cool darkness; the nectar inside growing ever more delicious by the year. I’m making my investment today before the trend curve makes these whites unobtainable. Will you be as wise?

Domaine Huet Wines Available Now (Aged gems highlighted)

We’re uniquely positioned to offer a broad selection of Huet wines that have aged gracefully at temperature control. I’ll emphasize that these are still only at the beginning of their total lifespan, and can mature for decades to come.

P.S…..Perhaps the most consistently high scored wines I’ve ever seen.

DOMAINE HUET WINE	VWS PRICE	AVAILABLE	REVIEWS	LINK
HUET CUVEE CONSTANCE 2015 500ML	$159.00	7	99 WS	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC BOURG 2016	$39.00	36+	95 WS	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC BOURG 2020	$44.00	36+	97 VINOUS	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC HAUT LIEU 2016	$39.00	32	96 WS	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC HAUT LIEU 2017	$36.00	4	95 JD	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC HAUT LIEU 2020	$39.00	25	96 WS	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC LE MONT 2016	$41.90	9	95 WS	Link
HUET DEMI-SEC LE MONT 2020	$44.00	14	96-96 WA	Link
HUET MOELLEUX BOURG 1ER TRIE 16	$59.00	36+	96 WS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX BOURG 2016	$59.00	26	97 WS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX CLOS BOURG TRIE 20	$69.00	9	97 VINOUS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX HAUT LIEU 2016	$39.00	36+	95 WS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX HAUT LIEU 2020	$44.00	28	96 VINOUS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX HAUT LIEU TRIE 20	$59.00	12	96 VINOUS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT 2015	$49.00	1	96 WA	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT 2016	$49.00	36+	96 WS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT 2017	$49.00	9	96 WS	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT 2018	$36.00	1	95 WA	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT 2020	$46.00	22	96 WA	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT TRIE 2016	$69.00	36+	97 WA	Link
HUET MOELLEUX LE MONT TRIE 2020	$66.00	32	97-98 WA	Link
HUET SEC LE MONT 2021	$41.90	9	96 VINOUS	Link

We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Browse the 2,900+ wines we offer
online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com or
shop at our convenient NW Glisan and 16th location
in Portland, OR from 10 am – 6 pm daily.

Shop Our Selections By Category:
Champagne * Walla Walla * Brunellos * Oregon Pinot Noir * Rhone Reds * Rosé
And dozens more!

Sale: Three Pioneers of Oregon Wine: June 2023

In This Newsletter:

Special Sale
Three Pioneers of Oregon Wine

Get Ready for July Fourth With Three Pioneers of Oregon Wine

Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount*
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount

Celebrate with the pioneers whose success led to many, many more wineries staking their futures in the Willamette Valley.

“Arterberry Maresh and Tan Fruit, founded 1959”

Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Maresh Vyd 2021 750ml $72 special, 27 bottles available
Wine Advocate 98+ Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard is an arresting wine that grows in bottle over several days, offering singular expression, purity and a touch of magic. Medium ruby, the nose is very complex and offers something new with each return to the glass. A deep core of pomegranate and cranberry sauce blossoms to orange peel, tea leaves, mossy bark and lilac with an array of amaro-like undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and has tremendously concentrated flavors for its harmonious, velvety frame (this sits at only 12.8% alcohol). Layered, dynamic and very long, it stands out as one of the best expressions of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.”

Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Old Vines 2021 750ml $56.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Old Vines comes from the Maresh Vineyard, from vines that were planted in 1970, and has a singular expression with detailed, spicy accents reminiscent of bitters or amaro. “You only get those high-toned essences if you pick al dente,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains. “It’s easy to volatilize all that away.” The Old Vines has a medium ruby color and arresting aromas of orange bitters, mossy bark and tobacco leaves complementing a deep core of pomegranate, rhubarb and cranberry. The light-bodied palate offers remarkably pure, detailed flavors. It has velvety tannins, seamless freshness and a very long finish with a flourish of spicy accents.”

Tan Fruit Cuvee Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2021 750ml $39 special, 20 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Cuvée Tan Fruit comes from Dijon vines in the Maresh Vineyard, planted on a south-facing slope in 1991, plus a number of other sources around Willamette Valley. Bottled a few months earlier than the other Tan Fruit Chardonnays, its savory aromas explode from the glass: a core of peachy fruit is streaked with touches of candle smoke, matchstick, pie crust and floral tones. Medium-bodied, seamless and satiny, it flows effortlessly through the mouth with both depth of flavor and freshness. It has a pleasing touch of grip to anchor the long finish and feels like it has more to give as it unwinds in bottle over the next several years. Around 1,000 cases were made.”

Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 2019 750ml $59 special, 34 bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard comes from Dijon clones planted in 1991, and it was matured in about 35% new oak. This vintage is pure and tensile, with scents of tarragon and fragrant herbs, beeswax and almonds, with plush white peach fruit. The palate combines intense ripe fruit with a spine of tangy, tense acidity, and it finishes with tremendous length. Allow it another 3-5 years in bottle.”

Tan Fruit Maresh Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 97 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard has pure aromas of red apples, pie crust, almonds and jasmine blossoms with top notes of salty lemon. The medium-bodied palate is generous yet balanced, with a concentrated core of savory fruit tempered by streaks of matchstick and spice. It has seamless, energetic acidity and a long, nuanced finish and will benefit from 3-5 more years in bottle.”

Tan Fruit Petite Tan Fruit Chardonnay 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Winery Notes “The “Petite” in the name represents the Chablisienne character of this wine. This is a 100% steel tank fermented wine with high-toned acidity and notes of citrus and green apples. This is Arterberry’s best value in wine yet. Drink it cool and celebrate the summer!

Vintage	Wine	Points	Price and Availability
2021	Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Maresh Vineyard 750ml	Wine Advocate 96 Points	$72 special, 34 bottles
2021	Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Weber Vyd 750ml	Wine Advocate 97+ Points	$72 special, 16 bottles
2021	Tan Fruit Fairview Chardonnay 750ml	Wine Advocate 95 Points	$66 special, 17 bottles
2021	Tan Fruit Oak Grove Chardonnay 750ml	Wine Advocate 97 Points	$59 special, 36 bottles
2021	Tan Fruit Sophie’s Chardonnay 750ml	Wine Advocate 93 Points	$59 special, 36+ bottles
2021	Tan Fruit Tank Fruit Chardonnay 750ml	Wine Advocate 97 Points	$59 special, 36+ bottles
2019	Tan Fruit Vojtilla Vineyard Chardonnay 750ml	Wine Advocate 97 Points	$56.50 special, 36 bottles

“Eyrie Vineyards, founded 1965”

Eyrie Estate Chardonnay 2021 750ml $39 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Estate offers exotic aromas of ripe peaches, honey, pie crust, tangerine oil and musky floral perfume. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with an impressively concentrated core of spicy fruit. Its broad, mouth-coating texture is balanced by fireworks of fresh acidity, and it has a long, spicy finish with flavor that goes on and on.”

Eyrie Pinot Noir Daphne 2018 750ml $74.50 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 99 Points “You know you’ve encountered a world-class wine when you struggle to find the words to describe it, and the 2018 Pinot Noir Daphne, from vines planted in 1974, leaves me speechless! Pale ruby in the glass, it has singular aromas of wild berries, grapefruit and orange peel, aniseed, cracked pepper, tea leaves and floral potpourri. Highly concentrated and perfumed yet weightless in the mouth, the Daphne is bursting with fireworks of refreshing acidity, and it boasts a finish that goes on and on. It’s one of the very best Pinot Noirs from the 2018 vintage in the Willamette Valley.”

Eyrie Trifolium Dundee Hills 2020 750ml $33 special, 13 bottles available
Vinopolnote “A mixture of the three red grapes grown by Eyrie (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Trousseau) featuring red fruit flavors backed with earthy notes and leathery tannins: this limited edition wine feels like a Loire wine by way of Willamette. This is the best Oregon red blend we’ve tasted in some time.”

Vintage	Wine	Points	Price and availability
2018	Eyrie Vineyard Pinot Meunier 750ml	James Suckling 93 Points	$39 special, 6 bottles
2019	Eyrie Pinot Noir Roland Green Vineyard 750ml	Wine Advocate 97 Points	$61.50 special, 2 bottles
2019	Eyrie Pinot Noir Sisters Vineyard 750ml	Wine Advocate 96 Points	$47.50 special, 3 bottles
NV	Eyrie Spark Sparkling Rose Willamette 750ml	Wine Advocate 90 Points	$19 special, 30 bottles

“Domaine Drouhin, founded 1987”

Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay 2021 750ml $37.50 special, 12 bottles available –Presale, Arriving June 28
James Suckling 94 Points “This has a beautiful nose of lemon curd, cream, sliced green apples and cardamom buns. Some toasted hazelnuts, too. It’s medium- to full-bodied with a deliciously creamy, gently spicy palate, married with vibrant acidity. Drink or hold.”

Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $45 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “Fragrant and open pinot with aromas of cherries, wild strawberries, orange zest, nutmeg and white pepper. It’s medium-bodied with silky, creamy tannins. Delicious balance of just-ripe berry fruit and subtle spice. Very long, too. Drink or hold.”

Domaine Drouhin Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $59 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.”

*Sale ends Friday at 6 pm.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.

Have a happy Holiday, from all of us at Vinopolis!

We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Browse the 2,900+ wines we offer
online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com or
shop at our convenient NW Glisan and 16th location
in Portland, OR from 10 am – 6 pm daily.

The Wines of Chateau Saint Cosme: June 2023

In This Newsletter:

Special Feature
The Wines of Chateau Saint Cosme

The Best Winery in Gigondas

Over the years at Vinopolis we’ve made a pointed effort at investing in wineries which offer a longevity of quality and uncompromising translation of the world’s iconic regions. We’ve developed deep relationships with estates all across the world, and in turn deep relationships with the bottlings that they release vintage after vintage. One such relationship that we’re incredibly proud to promote is that of Château Saint Cosme in the Southern Rhone.

The timeline of our own interest and investment in the wines of Château Saint Cosme is but a blip dwarfed by the legacy of the Barruol family which has owned the estate since 1490. I won’t sing the full rhyme for you, but that traces back 2 years before Columbus sailed the ocean blue. Maybe he had some Gigondas on board with him? Winemaking at the estate extends even further back into antiquity, with Gallo-Roman vats discovered in the limestone hills below the Château and artifacts of the wine-god Bacchus located nearby in the region.

In more recent times, the world class winemaking and determination of Louis Barroul has brought this estate to the greatest heights it has ever known. Taking over from his father in 1992, Louis rapidly transitioned the estate into uncompromising standards for fine-wine production (biodynamic since 2010), and dramatically expanded the family’s holdings throughout the Rhone Valley. At Louis’ disposal is some of the finest fruit that this Mediterranean landscape has to offer, and it clearly shows in the wines. Dedicated to a philosophy of balancing fruit and freshness (whole-cluster ferments, neutral cement and used barrique elevage), Louis’ wines are becoming a haven of dependability in a region that faces increasing ripeness and alcohol with climate change. Time and again when tasting the wines of Saint Cosme we’re delighted to find that classic grenache richness tempered by delicate acidity and a palate that refreshes vs overwhelms. These are wines whose structure and freshness is aided by the unique limestone soils of Gigondas and which embody the Latin meanings of the name: great pleasure and enjoyment.

Everything Louis Barroul gets his hands on turns into magic in the glass. The estate is now producing wines denominated across all the famous appellations of the Rhone, (Cote-Rotie, Hermitage, Châteauneuf du Pape, etc.) and across all consumer price-points. You heard it here first, the Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone bottlings are one of the finest values in all of wine. That’s not an overstatement or embellishment.

The fruit of our investment at Vinopolis is the fortune of our loyal customers. We have a deep selection of Château Saint Cosme wines for you to explore and at the best prices this side of the Atlantic. You want my advice? Take a look at the Château Saint Cosme inventory listed below and assemble yourself a half to full case of different cuvees. As the late evening sun of this season warms your shoulders and graces the conversations of your family and friends, open up these wines bottle by bottle and find your spirit warmed as well.

Special Feature Wines:

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2018 750ml $99 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half.-JC”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Quite ripe, with waves of warmed plum sauce and blackberry preserves rolling through, wrapped liberally with licorice root, sage and lavender notes. Iron minerality runs through the finish, letting the fruit and savory notes meld wonderfully. Built for the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2035.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2020 750ml $119 special, 30 bottles available
Vinous 98 points “Opaque red. Sharply defined red fruit, floral and Moroccan spice aromas, along with intense mineral, garrigue and cola nuances. Shows superb depth as well as vivacity on the palate, offering juicy red and blue fruit, floral pastille and spicecake flavors and an exotic hint of blood orange. Finishes impressively long and precise with firm tension, discreet tannins and reverberating red fruit and floral notes.”
Decanter 96 points “Beautifully fragrant nose of star anise, cedar and cigar tobacco. Full-bodied, rounded and seductively plump and juicy, showing clarity, precision and focus on the palate, the fruit melds well with the considerable oak element, and it finishes long, tight and saline. Best Gigondas of the vintage. Very old vines, all whole-cluster fermented in concrete, no destemming, indigenous yeasts, and matured 100% in barriques; one third new, one third second use, and the rest third use. Drinking Window 2028 – 2038.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2020 750ml $128 special, 16 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “At the moment, the 2020 Gigondas Hominis Fides looks to be the standout of the three single vineyards, although all three are beautiful wines in the making. It certainly offers the most power and concentration, with lots of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, violets, and loamy soils notes, as well as a darker cassis and berry-driven core of fruit. It builds beautifully on the palate, with ample structure, incredible balance, and a great, great finish.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “A rich, velvety red, showing both power and grace, this is introduced with heady steeped cherry and incense. Reveals raspberry coulis and charred plum flavors that race alongside black licorice and iron. The supple palate is quickly hemmed in by fine-grained tannins, with singed herbs and white pepper notes dancing through the long finish. Best from 2024 through 2035. —B.S.”

Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2020 750ml $119 special, 13 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “A behemoth of a wine, with dense layers of sweet, ripe plum sauce and mulled cherry that take a dark, savory turn on the palate, coated in melted iron, black licorice, balsamic reduction and singed herbs. Despite its massive power and coiled energy, this is surprisingly delicious now, with beautiful harmony to the texture and structure. A wine to savor and contemplate. Drink now through 2040.—B.S.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “More camphor, dried garrigue, flowers, and savory red and black fruits emerge from the 2020 Gigondas Le Poste, a medium to full-bodied red with a rich, concentrated mouthfeel, building tannins, and no shortage of length on the finish. The cellar will be your friend on this one, but it’s another wine that ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage.”

All Chateau Saint Cosme Wines Available Now:

For the following wines, the Vinopolis price ranges between 10-15% lower than the average retail online! Not convinced? Look for yourself!

CHÂTEAU SAINT COSME WINE	PRICE	AVAILABLE	REVIEWS	LINK
SAINT COSME CHATEAUNEUF 2018	$ 45.00	36+	Wine Spectator 95 points	Link
SAINT COSME CHATEAUNEUF 2019	$ 49.00	36+	Vinous 93 points	Link
SAINT COSME CONDRIEU 2020	$ 84.50	9	Wine Spectator 94 points	Link
SAINT COSME COTE ROTIE 2017	$ 55.00	5	Jeb Dunnuck 94 points	Link
SAINT COSME COTE ROTIE 2018	$ 69.00	29	Jeb Dunnuck 92-95 points	Link
SAINT COSME COTE ROTIE 2020	$ 69.00	23	Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points	Link
SAINT COSME COTES RHONE 2021	$ 16.00	36+		Link
SAINT COSME COTES RHONE 2021 MAGNUM	$ 29.00	36+		Link
SAINT COSME CROZES HERMITAGE 2019	$ 33.00	3	Grapelive 94 points	Link
SAINT COSME CROZES HERMITAGE 2020	$ 39.00	36+	Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points	Link
SAINT COSME DEUX ALBION 2017 MAGNUM	$ 39.00	3		Link
SAINT COSME DEUX ALBION 2020	$ 20.90	24	Wine Spectator 92 points	Link
SAINT COSME DEUX ALBION 2020 MAGNUM	$ 39.00	19	Wine Spectator 92 points	Link
SAINT COSME DEUX ALBION BLANC 2020	$ 20.90	36+	Jeb Dunnuck 90 points	Link
SAINT COSME GIGONDAS 2018	$ 49.00	6	Jeb Dunnuck 93 points	Link
SAINT COSME GIGONDAS 2018 MAGNUM	$ 79.00	25	Jeb Dunnuck 93 points	Link
SAINT COSME GIGONDAS 2019 MAGNUM	$ 99.00	11	Grapelive 95+ points	Link
SAINT COSME GIGONDAS 2020	$ 49.00	36+	Wine Spectator 94 points	Link
SAINT COSME GIGONDAS 2020 MAGNUM	$ 99.00	23	Wine Spectator 94 points	Link
SAINT COSME HOMINIS FIDES 2020	$ 128.00	16	Jeb Dunnuck 97-100 points	Link
SAINT COSME LE CLAUX 2017	$ 99.00	6	Vinous 96 points	Link
SAINT COSME LE CLAUX 2018	$ 99.00	21	Wine Advocate 95-97 points	Link
SAINT COSME LE CLAUX 2019	$ 119.00	4	Wine Spectator 97 points	Link
SAINT COSME LE CLAUX 2020	$ 119.00	30	Vinous 98 points	Link
SAINT COSME LE POSTE 2020	$ 119.00	13	Wine Spectator 96 points	Link
SAINT COSME LE POSTE BLANC 2019	$ 59.00	7		Link
SAINT COSME LE POSTE BLANC 2020	$ 59.00	6	Jeb Dunnuck 93 points	Link
SAINT COSME ST JOSEPH 2020	$ 39.00	36+	Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points	Link

We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.

Unfailingly Delicious Felsina: June 2023

In This Newsletter:

Special Feature
The Wines of Felsina

Unfailingly Delicious Felsina

2017 Felsina Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia – The Accidental Wine Company

Today we embark on an exploration of Felsina Winery and its rich history of crafting exceptional wines. Nestled in the heart of Tuscany, Felsina Winery has been producing world-class wines since its establishment by Domenico Poggiali in 1966. The winery’s name ties back to the Etruscan roots of Castelnuovo Berardenga where it is located. With a commitment to tradition, quality, and sustainability by the next two generations of the Poggiali family, the winery has become a beacon of excellence with timeliness consistency in the wine industry.

The winery’s vineyards are situated in the prestigious Chianti Classico region, renowned for its picturesque landscapes and ideal terroir for grape cultivation. Felsina Winery’s commitment to organic and sustainable farming practices ensures that each grape is nurtured to perfection, resulting in wines that truly capture the essence of the region.

I open up bottles of Chianti Classico when I know the moment is ripe for a perfect food and wine pairing experience. I open up bottles of Felsina when I want to take my friends and guests beyond the meal, and into an eye-opening appreciation of sangiovese and the terroir of Tuscany. In a region that’s riddled with examples of high production wine best suited for the average trattoria pasta, the true gems stand well apart. These wines are a testament to dedication and expertise, and are more giving than their Montalcino counterparts. It’s hard to say there’s a more apt example of Italian red wine than what Felsina bottles year in and year out.

Main Wines of the Estate:

Felsina Chianti Classico Berardenga Riserva: This iconic wine captures the essence of the Tuscan terroir. Crafted from a blend of Sangiovese grapes harvested in Castelnuovo Berardenga, it boasts a vibrant ruby color and seductive aromas of ripe cherries, red berries, and subtle spice.
Felsina Rancia Riserva: As the pinnacle of Felsina’s portfolio, Felsina Rancia is a true masterpiece. Crafted from a rigorous selection of Sangiovese grapes grown in the renowned Rancia vineyard, this single-vineyard Chianti Classico Riserva embodies elegance, complexity, and age-worthiness. This wine is a must-try for enthusiasts seeking a truly extraordinary Chianti Classico experience.
Fontalloro: Another gem from Felsina Winery, this wine showcases the winery’s commitment to expressing the unique character of their property and the potential greatness achieved in blending. This Tuscan IGT wine is crafted from a blend of Sangiovese and Merlot, sourced from vineyards in the heart of the Chianti Classico region. With its rich, velvety texture, enticing aromas of ripe black fruits, herbs, and tobacco, and a long, satisfying finish, Fontalloro embodies the perfect marriage of tradition and innovation.

Felsina Wines Available Now:

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, 2016 1.5L $79 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Streamlined and elegant, this mid-weight red trots out notes of grilled herb and dark fruit nuances that segue to spice, tilled earth and savory tobacco, with great complexity. This 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is still a bit closed and tight, but this beautiful wine boasts all the best qualities of this vintage. It shows elegance and power, two contrasting characteristics that only work well together in the world’s most achieved expressions. The most satisfying aspect of this Riserva is the crisp acidity on the close that keeps the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This red offers density and focus, creating an ideal frame for the cherry, strawberry, almond, leather and earth flavors. A firm backbone of tannins lends structure and the finish persists, leaving an accent of bitter almond. Best from 2022 through 2040. —B.S.”

Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, 2018 750ml $33 special, 18 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “This is a very solid, full-bodied riserva with firm and chewy yet fine-grained tannins that are nicely layered and intense. Very drinkable now, but a year or two of bottle age will soften it. Drink or hold.”
Vinous 93+ points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva is a powerful, brooding wine. Readers will have to be patient with the 2018, as it needs time to soften. The tannins are especially potent today. Time brings out a whole range of black cherry, plum, gravel, spice, game and leather notes. The Riserva spent 16 months in oak of various sizes.”

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, 2017 750ml $48 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 95 points “Plenty of fruit concentration with cherry and strawberry aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and lots of concentration. Intense and rich. Give it a year or two to come together.”
Vinous 95 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is incredibly polished and sophisticated. Silky tannins give the 2017 its racy, sleek personality. Over the last year, the 2017 has really settled into a gorgeous place. There is plenty of vintage 2017 intensity, but Rancia is distinctly medium in body and restrained. The wilder side of Sangiovese, one of the signatures of Rancia and Fèlsina more broadly, tastes a bit baked out. I can’t wait to see how the 2017 develops over the coming years and decades.”

Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, 2018 750ml $48 special, 26 bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, 2018 1.5L $115 special, 10 bottles available
Vinous 97 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is an absolutely stunning wine. The archetype of Rancia in the past has been of a big, potent Chianti Classico but in 2018, Rancia is a wine of mind-blowing elegance and finesse. Silky, perfumed and indescribably finessed, the 2018 dazzles from start to finish. It’s a magical wine in every way.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2018 is an unusual vintage that shows an especially austere character. Off the bat, it must be said that the Fèlsina 2018 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia would certainly benefit from more cellar time and a long drinking window. The Rancia is elegant and streamlined with a medium-bodied style that breaks from some of the more concentrated vintages we’ve seen in the past. The bouquet reveals a lot of dark or black character with blackcurrant, tar, resin, iron ore and a dusty hint of dry graham cracker (which reminds us of the vintage heat). Structurally, the wine offers a solid and firm footing, but it would benefit from further evolution.”

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, 2018 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles available
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, 2018 1.5L $128 special, 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2018 Fontalloro is bright, floral and full of energy. In most vintages, Fontalloro is quite open, but the 2018 is especially nervy and taut. That won’t be an issue in time, of course, but readers should plan on being patient. Sangiovese is so expressive here. A whole range of floral and savory accents lingers on the close.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “To my palate, the 2018 vintage sometimes feels a little too ripe or baked. I was reminded of those characteristics when tasting the Fèlsina 2018 Fontalloro. There is plenty of dark fruit at its core, but this wine also reveals dry tones of jarred oregano, grilled Mediterranean herb, crushed aspirin and graham cracker. The mouthfeel is pleasantly lean and silky, and perhaps the wine delivers more in terms of length than it does weight or texture. A little more bottle age should help flesh out and soften these results.”

Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, 2019 750ml $62.50 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 96 points “A fresh and crunchy Fontalloro with currants, orange peel and hints of peaches and cedar. Medium body, firm and fine tannins and a crisp and bright finish. Lots of energy and verticality to this! Drink after 2025.”
Vinous 94 points “The 2019 Fontalloro is terrific. In this vintage, the blend of three vineyards is a plus in giving a wine endowed with density, resonance and plenty of Sangiovese character. Dried herbs, leather, incense, tobacco and cedar open with time in the glass.”

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