05-25-2022 Wednesday Newsletter

Bolgheri is unique amongst other Tuscan appellations in a number of ways. The most standout of these in the appellation requirements, which do not require any influence from native Italian varietals in stark contrast to other villages that require at least a dollop of Sangiovese. Tempered by breezes from the Mediterranean with soils rich in fossilized sea-life and minerals, these are among the most plush and ripe wines in the entire region. Featuring the plush richness of Napa with quintessential Tuscan earthiness, these are fantastic alternatives to more in-demand appellations at comparable or better return! 

Bolgheri Wines in stock now: 

Tenuta Argentiera ‘Argentiera’ Bolgheri Superiore Tuscany 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Argentiera is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, and the Cabernet Sauvignon logically feels and tastes most prominent. This is a dark and penetrating Tuscan red that is beautifully elevated, thanks to the extremely elegant and buoyant quality of the aromas. They lift gracefully from the glass with light-footed, almost fleeting character. However, don’t underestimate the power and the concentration of the wine, because this vintage delivers both with abundance. I’ve had my eye on this estate since the vineyards were first planted some 20 years ago, and there is no doubt that this vintage brings Tenuta Argentiera into a new era as a Bolgheri protagonist. Some 80,000 bottles were made.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Castello di Bolgheri Bolgheri Superiore Tuscany 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Very tightly wound, with a dense bed of tannins providing support for the black currant, black cherry, wild herb, mineral and earth flavors. Ripe, yet lively, showing fine intensity on the fruit-, mineral- and tar-filled aftertaste. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2040.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Marchesi Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Bolgheri Superiore Tuscany 2018 750ML ($149.95) $135 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2018 Guado al Tasso is silky, delicate and exceptionally polished. I can’t remember tasting another Guado like it. Medium in body and gracious, the 2018 offers up a compelling mélange of dark fruit, chocolate, cedar, licorice and dried herbs, all in a mid-weight style that is incredibly appealing. The 2018 has just been bottled, so it needs time to bounce back. I can’t wait to taste it with a bit more time in bottle.”

Check out our other Bordeaux Blends from Tuscany including Tenuta Arceno, Isole E Olena’s Cepparello and Bibi Graetz’s Testamatta!

Domaine Des Tourelles is based in the Bekka Valley, A high elevation region between Mt. Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon mountains. The elevation and mountainous conditions allows for massive temperature shifts during the evenings, allowing for the grapes to slowly ripen with good acidity. The Rouge is comprised of 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Syrah and the remainder being split between Cinsault and Carignan, all grown at high elevation and practicing organic. The French influence from their expat winemaker and owner is evident, with the flavors being reminiscent of red blends from the Languedoc Roussillon but with the distinctive frankincense and sumac character I find in most Lebanese reds.    

The wine itself is solid and well structured. The Syrah is blended in nicely for some more complexity with herbaceous and spice notes. This wine would be a great pairing with a lamb dish or even with your everyday burger.

Domaine Des Tourelles in stock now: 

Domaine des Tourelles Rouge Bekaa Valley 2019 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2019 vintage. 2018 vintage review provided for reference.
Decanter 93 points “Mediterranean-like character with lots of vibrant redcurrant, raspberry and herbal notes. Floral, restrained and quite finely textured on the palate. Drinking Window 2021 – 2026.”

We also carry wines from Chateau Musar as well, including their single-village bottling from Aana!

 

Kia Ora to North Canterbury’s Natural wine gem:

Hermit Ram
 

It’s no secret that we love Pinot Noir and Burgundian varietals as a whole here at Vinopolis. While Oregon holds our hearts, there’s something to be said about what our siblings in Aotearoa (New Zealand) are doing across the Pacific. Blessed with high levels of spectral radiation that boost ripening against the otherwise chilly growing conditions from the nearby Pacific Ocean, these are wines unlike anywhere else on the planet. The old saying of “Beautiful places make beautiful wines” is particularly apropos with the visually spectacular Southern Alps comprising the appellation’s spine.   

North Canterbury has especially caught our eye with their reputation for cool-climate experimentation, and a hotbed of new winemaking talent. “The coolest little wine region in the country” as the region bills is home to clay-limestone soils that are a dead ringer for top tier Burgundy, and a climate particularly conducive to bright and ageworthy wines. Hermit Ram is taking the wine world by storm with their field blends and Pinot Noir, hybridizing traditional Burgundian practices with “New wave” techniques like low intervention in the cellar, amphora for fermentation and stem inclusion over new oak. 

Their field blend Rose is a completely unique and compelling iteration of the style. Primarily Riesling with Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon there’s tremendous aromatic punch and length that speaks to the limestone rich growing conditions of North Canterbury   Reminiscent of a rose from Tavel there’s a deep color and pervasive aromatics that speak to the component grapes in a way that doesn’t wash the individual elements out. Presenting a symphony of red fruits like fresh raspberry, cranberries and redcurrants against saline minerality and rosehip tea this is a rare bottling that’s equal parts compelling and compatible with a variety of food. Perfect as a “Red wine drinkers Rose” or something for the natural wine fan in your life.   

The Pinot Noir is beautifully structured and derives its tannins entirely from skin, stems and seeds as opposed to new oak. This combined with the marginal growing conditions seen in North Canterbury creates a plethora of flavors ranging from Assamese black tea, fresh rhubarb, black raspberry, lavender and redcurrants. Beyond the fruit and floral components there is also a mineral component redolent of crushed stone and turned loam.  

Hermit Ram wines in stock now: 

The Hermit Ram Whole Bunch Zealandia Pinot Noir North Canterbury 2019 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Winery Note: “This Pinot Noir comes from two vineyards, one a small close planted vineyard on the Omihi slopes and the other on the valley floor. The soil in Omihi is predominantly clay with bands of limestone and iron oxide, and the valley floor has glacial gravels with layers of silt and the odd bit of broken limestone dispersed throughout the profile. The clay parcel brings a richness and flesh to this wine whilst the gravel site adds spice and finesse. The use of whole bunches helps to add floral aromatics and length to balance out these textures and to knit the whole wine together. The structural elements and aroma gained from using whole bunches in Pinot Noir from North Canterbury also serves to promote longevity in the wine. It’ll make for fascinating drinking over the coming years. This wine has approximately 50% whole bunches in the ferment. It was fermented with indigenous yeasts. It underwent natural malolactic fermentation. It has no Sulphur added until bottling. It is unfined and unfiltered. 20 ppm SO2 Total.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

The Hermit Ram Field Blend Rose North Canterbury 2020 750ML ($44.95) $39 special
Riesling/Pinot Noir/Cab Sauv/Gewurz
Winery note “The act of fermenting which ever varieties are planted in your vineyard together is intriguing and the results can be delicious and a really unique picture of a particular vineyard site and region. This wine is a field blend of Riesling, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Gewurztraminer. It comes from one of North Canterbury’s earliest planted vineyards. It presents itself like a delicate pinot with insane aromatics. The fruit was picked on the proportions it grows in the vineyard. It was destemmed and naturally fermented on skins for 6 weeks. Pressed off in to Amphora and allowed to go through a natural malolactic ferment. This wine was bottled with no fining, filtration or Sulphur.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 
The Hermit Ram Amphora Salty White North Canterbury 2020 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Julia Harding MW 17 points “Slightly cloudy very pale gold. Intensely citrus with a light herbal quality. Sour apricot and dried grasses are very subtle. This is complex, creamy, extremely salty. Great complexity and a lovely blend with nothing dominating. Dry, finely tannic, the best flavours of Sauvignon at the core, citrus and herbal and finally green fruits like greengage. Deep, long, salty, a wine for the evening. Good value. Drink 2021–2024”
 

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

 

Trending Rose 

You’ve heard of the Rosso and Bianco wines coming from the legendary Mt. Etna, but did you know that Rosato is also produced from the same basaltic vineyards? Representing a fraction of the production in the region, Terra Nere makes a unique rosato that features both the legendary volcanic terroir and the beauty of Sicily’s indigenous varietals.

Coming from a parcel of younger vines on the northern slope the Rosato is described as having “The body of a white but the soul of a red; A wine that is joyful without frivolity and bright without being superficial”. Farmed organically without any synthetic input at high elevation, there is a fabulous purity to this wine that speaks to the meticulous practices of Terra Nere. 

The Rosado delivers a full spectrum of fresh white peach and assorted oranges ranging from blood, Cara-Cara and Dekopon with a subtle note of hibiscus and papaya with a finish of valerian flower. Perfect for any type of day and even more so paired with something crunchy like wakame, caprese or a green salad.      
In stock and available now:         

Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosato Etna Sicily 2020 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Kerin O’Keefe Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Lightly hued, this refined, onion-colored rosato, made with organically grown Nerello Mascalese grapes, has delicate aromas suggesting Mediterranean scrub and wild berries. The dry, savory palate offers pomegranate, peach and citrus before a tangy mineral finish suggesting oyster shell. – “
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2020 Etna Rosato lifts up wonderfully fresh and perfumed, offering notes of sweet peach and white smoke backed by honeyed florals and wedges of candied lime. It’s silky-smooth and round yet spry, washing nuances of ripe pear and nectarine across a core of saturating saline-minerality. There’s simply so much going on here for a Rosato as the 2020 punches well above its class, finishing incredibly long yet juicy, and fizzling out to hints of sour citrus and cheek-puckering green apple.”
 

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

Known more by its Italian name Schiava, Trollinger is the most planted varietal in the German region called Swabia and nicknamed the areas “National Drink”. Vinified by local celebrity winemaker Jochen Beurer with a biodynamic field blend of other red grapes including Pinot Noir, Zwigelt, and Portugieser; this is the epitome of easy drinking rose. Made from the saignée method with no filtering or sulfur added, the rose walks the line between fleshy and fresh. With a medium body and a plethora of fruits, citrus and herbs that reminds one of maraschino cherry, fresh squeezed orange juice, and basil. The finish is refreshing and incredibly food friendly, to the point where you don’t want to share.

In Stock Now

Beurer Rose Trocken Wurttemberg 2020 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 10 bottles in stock now
A saignée blend of Trollinger, Portugieser, Zweigelt and Spätburgunder in an eye-popping bottle. Certified biodynamic.
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Working with some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the Baden, Enderle and Mole eschew any synthetic inputs in their vineyards. The result across all of their bottlings are exceptionally ageworthy wines that transmit their growing environment perfectly. Expect the classic botanical driven flavors that German Pinot Noir delivers against baking spices and a chalky finish.    

Enderle & Moll Spatburgunder Rose Baden 2020 750ML ($29.95) $27 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Vom Boden importer note “The estate known as Enderle and Moll is really just a tiny cellar, a basket press, a few hectares of old vines and a hell of a lot of buzz. Absolutely no use of insecticides/pesticides; demeter-approved spraying for fungus with minimal copper
use (1/3 amount as allowed by organic certifications), minimal plowing, excess vegetation is trimmed, otherwise the soil is left alone.
All vineyard work and harvesting is done by hand.”
 

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

 

Castello di Ama’s 

Refined & Quintessential Tuscan Treasure
 

Looking for a single village Chianti that’s priced and labeled as a Classico? Consider Castello di Ama, one of our in house favorites from the village of Ama. If you were to put a bullseye over the Chianti Classico region, Castello di Ama would be almost dead center, at an average elevation of 1600 feet above sea level. Climatically perfect for growing Sangiovese, the area was first cultivated by the Etruscans before becoming a famous wine village in 1773. As the legend goes, the Grand Duke of Tuscany was so impressed with the wine and sightseeing that he wrote a poem to commemorate the occasion.

Founded in 1978, Castello di Ama was also instrumental in the region’s promotion from DOC to DOCG in 1984. They haven’t been content to sit on their laurels however, and have undergone major overhauling of their vineyards and fermentation facilities. These changes are clearly paying off, with the wines exhibiting the quintessential sour cherry, dark chocolate, terra cotta and sage character of a good Chianti. Made from Sangiovese accented with a sprinkle of Merlot, this is drinking beautifully now but would also be right at home in the cellar for 5-7 years.

Castello di Ama in stock now: 

Castello di Ama ‘Castello di Ama’ – ‘Ama’ Chianti Classico DOCG 2015 1.5L ($69.95) $39 special, 24 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “So much sweet tobacco and cherry character here with hints of smoked meat. Medium body, fine tannins and a bright and fruity finish. Acid tension give this definition. Tangy. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “The raspberry and cherry flavors are immediate in this elegant, balanced red, followed by accents of earth and spice. Not excessively long, but well-proportioned. Drink now through 2022. 900 cases imported.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Castello di Ama Vigneto La Casuccia Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto La Casuccia is rich, sensual and inviting, as it so often is. The addition of Merlot to Sangiovese yields a Chianti Classico built on textural resonance, with silky tannins, soft curves and tons of sheer allure. The 2016 won’t be ready to drink anytime soon, but it is unquestionably a great wine in the making. Succulent dark cherry, red plum, menthol, licorice, cloves and new oak infuse the creamy, voluptuous finish.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Mature black-skinned berry, rose, tilled soil and a balsamic whiff of eucalyptus shape the nose. The bright, elegant palate has energy, tension and depth, delivering ripe wild cherry, red plum, licorice and crushed botanical herb. Taut, fine-grained tannins lend polished support while fresh acidity keeps it balanced. A gorgeous wine. Drink through 2031.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “From the small vineyard facing Castello di Ama from the north, the 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto la Casuccia shows a dark and hearty side with rich fruit that flows steadily from the bouquet. Like the other new releases from this iconic estate, this wine shows a pretty earthy note that is particularly well defined and fine-tuned in this vintage. The fruit is broad, thick and horizontal. This is a Sangiovese painted with broad brush strokes. It’ll stand another decade or two, or open it sooner with a pappardelle al cinghiale.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This aromatic Chianti Classico features violet, black cherry, leather, earth and spice flavors. A laser of bracing acidity and muscular tannins runs underneath. The balance tips toward the tannins today, but put this in your cellar for another few years. Sleek and very long. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2023 through 2042. 315 cases made, 40 cases imported.”
James Suckling 95 points “A dense and layered red with spice and berry character. Medium to full body. Blueberry, wet-earth and walnut undertones. Iodine. Shows structure and intensity. Drink in 2020 and onwards.”
 

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

 

Winning with Von Winning 
 

Von Winning makes some of the most profound white wines on the planet. The combination of incredible vineyard sites, meticulous winemaking and a commitment to producing only the finest wines yields exactly what you’d hope: white wines of depth and complexity, with grace and mineral power. The Rieslings are dry, but unlike some of their neighbors, powerful fruit isn’t the goal here. No, the Von Winning’s Rieslings offer floral and mineral flavors that are both intense and furtive.

But what really separates Von Winning from their peers in Germany are their Sauvignon Blancs. Germany is of course not where you’d expect to find some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, but the wines will make a believer out of anyone. These are rich, textural examples that move beyond varietal characteristics and into unique territory. Their closest comparison is probably the top Sauvignon of Friuli (eg, Miani, Ronco del Gnemiz), or the very best estates in Austria.

“The fact that this estate is crafting some of the very best dry wines in Germany is no fluke, rather a result of nearly obsessive winemaker Stephan Attman’s commitment to both dedicated cultivation of Deidesheim and Forst’s best sites and meticulous work in the cellar. Von Winning maintains some of the oldest parcels in Grosses Gewächs vineyards smattered across Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. Attman’s every decision is informed by great enthusiasm and experiences at estates in the Cote d’Or and abroad.” – Skurnik Wines

Von Winning in stock now: 

Von Winning Riesling Trocken Pfalz 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Limestone, Loam, & Red Sandstone. Fermentation & Elevage: Stainless Steel.”

Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken Pfalz 2020 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Paradiesgarten is located on top of the slope right underneath the forest, growth on sandstone and is our coolest, nest and most elegant site. Completely barrel fermented and aged on the lees for one year, it has a silky texture but a firm structure and great length.”

Von Winning Sauvignon Blanc II – Royale Trocken Pfalz 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Multiple vineyards in Deidesheim, mostly Paradiesgarten, but there is also fruit from Deidesheimer Herrgottsacker and Kallstadter Steinacker. Soil: sandy loam, red sandstone, basalt, & löss. Fermentation & Elevage: Fermented entirely in stainless steel.”

Check out our 17 different bottlings from Von Winning, available both online and in-store!

Collector’s Corner:
Last Call on Vega Sicilia

If Spain had an aristocracy of wines, Vega Sicilia would be king. Founded in 1864, over a century before creation of the Ribera del Duero DOC, the estate’s various owners have made singular wines ever since. In fact, Vega Sicilia can hardly be compared to other Spanish wines, not even the greats of Rioja. For one thing, the grape varieties originally planted and still grown in Vega Sicilia’s 500-acre limestone-soil vineyard include Bordeaux varieties, though eighty percent of the vines are Tempranillo. As a result, Vega Sicilia doesn’t taste like other Tempranillo-based wines from Spain.

They’re dense and sumptuous, intense but full of finesse, complex and long-lingering on the palate, with the individuality of a monarch. Vega Sicilia is one of the rare instances were a singular producer is synonymous with the entire region as a whole, not unlike Biondi-Santi in Brunello, Dönnhoff and the Nahe and Ridge Vineyards in Sonoma. Prized and often fought over by celebrities, collectors and the best restaurants in the world these are “Blink and you’ll miss it wines” given the exceedingly low production. We only receive this allocation once per year and are one of the few accounts in Oregon to be offered the wines!

Vega Sicilia in stock now: 

Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5 Ribera del Duero 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2016 Valbuena was produced with a blend of 94% Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) and 6% Merlot from 140 hectares dedicated to this wine. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, and the first year it matured in barrels (75% French, 25% American) and the second year in large oak vats. This is again a floral and elegant vintage of Valbuena, very much in line with what has happened in the best vintages since 2010. 2016 is going to be a wine that the public is going to like; it has an extroverted personality and is perfumed and generous, juicy and tasty and nicely textured, with fine-grained tannins and very focused and clean flavors. 2016 was a year of very good freshness in Ribera del Duero, a year they like even better than 2018.
Wine & Spirits 96 points “This is the second vintage of Valbuena for Gonzalo Iturriaga, the Rioja-born technical director of Vega-Sicilia. And if it is any indication of his talents, the young Iturriaga has a lot to contribute to this iconic Castilian estate. The fruit for Valbuena comes from vines on Vega-Sicilia’s north-facing hillside in Valladolid, below the parcels that go into Unico, and above the road that separates the hillside from the bodega itself and the richer soils approaching the Duero river. In 2016, it has the exuberant energy of spring, cool and sunny with scents of Queen Anne’s lace and wild anise. The floral fruit ranges from the high-toned brightness of an August tomato to the deeper tones of green figs and dark plums. Then, the spicy note of crystalized ginger in the finish has an earthiness that calls to mind the crystalized gypsum in the soil on this hill. A remarkably elegant take on Valbuena, this is a wine to covet for your cellar.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Dark violet. Powerful red and dark fruit preserve, pipe tobacco and potpourri aromas are complemented by exotic spice, mocha and incense flourishes. Sappy and energetic in character, offering palate-staining blackberry, cherry liqueur, floral pastille and spicecake flavors underscored by a vein of juicy acidity. Gently chewy tannins build steadily on an impressively long, focused and penetrating finish that leaves smoky mineral, floral and juicy dark berry notes behind.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “This red shows both power and finesse, with generous flavors of ripe red plum and currant accented with anise, cedar, olive and wild herb. Spice and loamy earth notes fine-tune the finish. Tinto Fino and Merlot. Drink now through 2040.