In Today’s Newsletter:
Weeknight Right Bank Bordeaux
Esprit de Pavie
Featured Pre-Arrival
La Fortuna’s Epic 2016 Brunello
Saint Cosme’s 2019 Single Vineyards
First Offer
New Wines Landing Friday
From Italy & France
Top Champagne Picks $99 – $169
Clos Mogador
A Name to Watch in Monstant
Staff Recommended Bubbles
All $10 – $20
Weeknight Right Bank Bordeaux
Esprit de Pavie
A blend of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a healthy splash of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Esprit de Pavie is a classically framed Right Bank red. Approachable in its youth, this is Bordeaux that doesn’t require decades of patient, offering immediate rewards -especially when paired with grilled meats and other hearty dishes. The product of what many consider to be Bordeaux’s finest vintage of the decade, this is a no-brainer for anyone looking for a new weeknight red.
Pre-Arrival ETA Late March:
Esprit de Pavie, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Esprit de Pavie, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($169.95) $136 pre-arrival special (that’s only $22.67/bottle)
James Suckling 93 points “A juicy and rich red with blackberry and black-truffle aromas and flavors. Layered and beautifully toned. Full-bodied, round and juicy. Beautiful wine. Really well done. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “This vintage is a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged for 15 months in one-year-old barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Esprit de Pavie (a blend of vines in Côtes do Castillon and young vines from Pavie and Monbousquet) opens with expressive red and black plums notes plus touches of baking spices, vanilla pod, dark chocolate and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the bright fruit fills the mouth with plenty of spicy red and black fruits, supported by chewy tannins and finishing with a refreshing lift.”
Love red Bordeaux? We have 39 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Château Goubau, Château le Pavillon, Château Tour de Pez and more, on our web store now.
Pre-Arrival ETA Late March:
Esprit de Pavie, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Esprit de Pavie, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($169.95) $136 pre-arrival special (that’s only $22.67/bottle)
James Suckling 93 points “A juicy and rich red with blackberry and black-truffle aromas and flavors. Layered and beautifully toned. Full-bodied, round and juicy. Beautiful wine. Really well done. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “This vintage is a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and was aged for 15 months in one-year-old barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Esprit de Pavie (a blend of vines in Côtes do Castillon and young vines from Pavie and Monbousquet) opens with expressive red and black plums notes plus touches of baking spices, vanilla pod, dark chocolate and dried Provence herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the bright fruit fills the mouth with plenty of spicy red and black fruits, supported by chewy tannins and finishing with a refreshing lift.”
Love red Bordeaux? We have 39 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Château Goubau, Château le Pavillon, Château Tour de Pez and more, on our web store now.
Featured Pre-Arrival
La Fortuna’s Epic 2016 Brunello
2016 was an excellent year across much of Europe, and the vintage produced Brunello di Montalcino of exceptional quality. Even for a region known for world-class wines, these are all-timers. Our first 2016 Brunellos have started to arrive, and we’ve now lined up pricing from one of our favorite producers, La Fortuna. One of the bestselling wineries in Vinopolis history (for good reason), La Fortuna makes fantastic wines year in and out. However their 2016 Brunello is poised to be one of their finest bottles ever.
For those unfamiliar with the estate, La Fortuna is a top producer of Brunello, having turned their small (11 hectare) estate into one of the most consistently excellent in all of Tuscany. Stylistically the wines lean modern, with rich, ripe fruit and plush textures. But they also maintain an earthiness that keeps them grounded, allowing them to age beautifully. It is no wonder that these wines have developed such a following over the years.
Pre-Arrival ETA August 2021:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($54.95) $47 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Enticing aromas of black cherries, dark mushrooms, bark and dried flowers, such as roses and honeysuckle. It’s full-bodied, layered and chewy with loads of cherry, plum and orange peel on the palate. Chewy finish with some bitter lemon and smoke at the end. Best ever? Give it four or five years to soften. Try after 2024.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “I have really enjoyed these latest releases from La Fortuna from the past few years. The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino (with 35,000 bottles produced) opens to a dark ruby or garnet appearance and shows impressive aromatic intensity. With that intensity comes sharpness and precision. The aromas unfold quickly to display candied fruit, cocktail cherry, licorice, cola and dark spice. This is a frank and naked expression of Sangiovese from an excellent vintage.”
Love Brunello? We have over 56 different options in stock, including more from the 2016 vintage. Shop the entire selection on our web store now.
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Saint Cosme’s 2019 Single Vineyards
First Offer
“Always one of my favorite tastings in the Rhône is with Château de Saint Cosme’s Louis Barruol and this feisty, talented, and passionate vigneron makes some of the best wines in France. The estate is located just outside the village of Gigondas and the lineup has been simplified today to include a classic Gigondas and three single vineyards. The wines are all made in the same fashion, with no destemming and aging in just about 100% used barrels, so what you get is a clean expression of each of the vineyards. Looking at the 2018s, these are undoubtedly more plush, soft, charming wines, yet they are still going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and should evolve beautifully. The 2019s look to be on another level, and my money is on this being another truly special vintage from this estate. These are gorgeous wines across the board, and I certainly have plenty in my personal cellar.” –Jeb Dunnuck
Pre-Arrivals ETA September 2021:
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhône 2019 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhône 2019 750ML ($299.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.83/bottle)
Case-12 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhône 2019 750ML ($599.95) $449 pre-arrival special (that’s only $37.42/bottle)
Matt Walls-Decanter 94 points “Great sense of concentration and vibrancy with acidity that is marked for the vintage and the oak well integrated. Extremely vibrant, dark fruited this year, damson, shot through with very fine tannins. All whole bunch fermented in concrete with natural yeasts, then aged in concrete, recently used barriques and some new ones (around 20%).”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “Starting off the 2019 barrel samples, the 2019 Gigondas reveals a deeper ruby/plum color to go with a rich, powerful, medium to full-bodied and concentrated style that carries lots of classic dark fruits, ground pepper, and scorched earth-like aromas and flavors. This rich, dense 2019 will reward 3-5 years of bottle age and have two decades of prime drinking.”
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhône 2019 750ML ($129.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “Lastly, the 2019 Gigondas Hominis Fides is another wine that’s going to flirt with perfection. Deep purple/ruby hued, with a stunning bouquet of crème de cassis, kirsch liqueur, scorched earth, and loads of violet and floral nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, no hard edges, and one hell of a great finish. There is certainly no shortage of tannins and this needs 4 to 5 years of bottle age, but it will be one of the longest-lived of wines in the vintage.”
Matt Walls-Decanter 97 points “A seriously upright and skybound style, so much energy and very long. It’s a seriously tannic wine this year, but elegant with it – and such freshness. Little spicy note in the background accentuates its natural freshness and pep. Grenache planted in 1902 on Miocene calcareous sand. Single vineyard. No destemming. 12 months maturation in French oak barriques: 30% new, 30% one-year-old, 30% two-year-old. Unfiltered.”
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhône 2019 750ML ($129.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Decanter 97-99 points “Also all Grenache from a single vineyard just down from the estate, the 2019 Gigondas Le Claux offers more minerality as well as structure and is another 2019 that’s going to benefit from bottle age. A complex bouquet of redcurrants, loamy soil and dried garrigue, camphor, and licorice emerges from the glass, and this beauty has building tannins, flawless balance and a great, great finish.”
Decanter 96 points “Very dense, somewhat earthbound for now with an extremely dense tannic structure. Great energy and salinity, very vibrant with a lovely acid structure. Will take a long time to come round but will be good. Organically grown Grenache planted in 1870, planted on Miocene marls and yellow clay. Fermented in concrete, no destemming, indigenous yeasts, and matured 100% in barriques; 30% new, 30% second use, 30% third use.”
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhône 2019 750ML ($129.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “As always, the 2019 Gigondas Le Poste is a more elegant, ethereal, and Burgundian styled wine that has incredible purity in its aromas and flavors of black and blue fruits, spring flowers, crushed rock, and Provençal garrigue. This is never the biggest or richest wine in the lineup, yet it just might be the most complex, as well as nuanced, and this beauty builds with time in the glass, is full-bodied, has a stacked mid-palate, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s going to flirt with perfection on release and evolve for 20 to 25 years.”
Matt Walls-Decanter 97 points “Extraordinary tannic structure for a 100% Grenache, with intensity of fruit, salinity and great driving freshness throughout. Extraordinary depth and floral on the finish, violets. Grenache planted on limestone marl. Single vineyard. No destemming. 12 months maturation in French oak barriques: 20% new, 50% one-year-old, 30% two-year-old. Unfiltered.”
Love Gigondas? We have 30 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including staff favorites like Gour de Chaule and Santa Duc, as well as more from Saint Cosme.
Pre-Arrivals ETA September 2021:
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhône 2019 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhône 2019 750ML ($299.95) $239 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.83/bottle)
Case-12 Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhône 2019 750ML ($599.95) $449 pre-arrival special (that’s only $37.42/bottle)
Matt Walls-Decanter 94 points “Great sense of concentration and vibrancy with acidity that is marked for the vintage and the oak well integrated. Extremely vibrant, dark fruited this year, damson, shot through with very fine tannins. All whole bunch fermented in concrete with natural yeasts, then aged in concrete, recently used barriques and some new ones (around 20%).”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “Starting off the 2019 barrel samples, the 2019 Gigondas reveals a deeper ruby/plum color to go with a rich, powerful, medium to full-bodied and concentrated style that carries lots of classic dark fruits, ground pepper, and scorched earth-like aromas and flavors. This rich, dense 2019 will reward 3-5 years of bottle age and have two decades of prime drinking.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhône 2019 750ML ($129.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “Lastly, the 2019 Gigondas Hominis Fides is another wine that’s going to flirt with perfection. Deep purple/ruby hued, with a stunning bouquet of crème de cassis, kirsch liqueur, scorched earth, and loads of violet and floral nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, no hard edges, and one hell of a great finish. There is certainly no shortage of tannins and this needs 4 to 5 years of bottle age, but it will be one of the longest-lived of wines in the vintage.”
Matt Walls-Decanter 97 points “A seriously upright and skybound style, so much energy and very long. It’s a seriously tannic wine this year, but elegant with it – and such freshness. Little spicy note in the background accentuates its natural freshness and pep. Grenache planted in 1902 on Miocene calcareous sand. Single vineyard. No destemming. 12 months maturation in French oak barriques: 30% new, 30% one-year-old, 30% two-year-old. Unfiltered.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhône 2019 750ML ($129.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Decanter 97-99 points “Also all Grenache from a single vineyard just down from the estate, the 2019 Gigondas Le Claux offers more minerality as well as structure and is another 2019 that’s going to benefit from bottle age. A complex bouquet of redcurrants, loamy soil and dried garrigue, camphor, and licorice emerges from the glass, and this beauty has building tannins, flawless balance and a great, great finish.”
Decanter 96 points “Very dense, somewhat earthbound for now with an extremely dense tannic structure. Great energy and salinity, very vibrant with a lovely acid structure. Will take a long time to come round but will be good. Organically grown Grenache planted in 1870, planted on Miocene marls and yellow clay. Fermented in concrete, no destemming, indigenous yeasts, and matured 100% in barriques; 30% new, 30% second use, 30% third use.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Château de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhône 2019 750ML ($129.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “As always, the 2019 Gigondas Le Poste is a more elegant, ethereal, and Burgundian styled wine that has incredible purity in its aromas and flavors of black and blue fruits, spring flowers, crushed rock, and Provençal garrigue. This is never the biggest or richest wine in the lineup, yet it just might be the most complex, as well as nuanced, and this beauty builds with time in the glass, is full-bodied, has a stacked mid-palate, and a finish that won’t quit. It’s going to flirt with perfection on release and evolve for 20 to 25 years.”
Matt Walls-Decanter 97 points “Extraordinary tannic structure for a 100% Grenache, with intensity of fruit, salinity and great driving freshness throughout. Extraordinary depth and floral on the finish, violets. Grenache planted on limestone marl. Single vineyard. No destemming. 12 months maturation in French oak barriques: 20% new, 50% one-year-old, 30% two-year-old. Unfiltered.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love Gigondas? We have 30 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store, including staff favorites like Gour de Chaule and Santa Duc, as well as more from Saint Cosme.
New Wines Landing Friday
From Italy & France
Italy
Arriving Friday, March 19th:
Monsecco Pratogrande Nebbiolo Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($27.95) $23.50 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Exclusively composed of the local Ribolla grape; fermented in Georgian amphorae buried underground; long maceration with wild yeasts and no temperature control; after fermentation, the wine rests again in amphorae for five more months and then is aged in large oak barrels for an additional six years; bottled without fining or filtering. Certified organic.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Paolo Bea Santa Chiara Bianco Umbria IGT 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “The second of Bea’s two early and highly influential skin-macerated white wines, “Santa Chiara” hails from the fabled Pagliarocru, and combines roughly equal proportions of five varieties: Garganega, Grechetto, Malvasia, Sauvignon, and Chardonnay. Everything ferments together, without any additions or temperature regulation, in stainless steel, and the wine is given several years of settling before being bottled without fining or filtration. The rich, forward 2017 spent 28 days on its skins, and was bottled in May 2019 after 20 months of aging. Compared to the relatively racy 2013 “Arboreus” and the typically chiseled 2016 “Lapideus,” this vintage of “Santa Chiara” swaggers out of the bottle with macerated peaches, brassy spice notes, a liberal dash of white pepper, and candied citrus. Despite its somewhat explosive and brash personality, it possesses terrific drive and a focused, tannin-derived sense of architecture.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Gravner Ribolla Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2011 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Decanter 93 points “Glorious vivid amber colour. Elegant and complex with aromas of dried fruits, earth, citrus zest, and honey. Amazing for its age.”
Importer note “Exclusively composed of the local Ribolla grape; fermented in Georgian amphorae buried underground; long maceration with wild yeasts and no temperature control; after fermentation, the wine rests again in amphorae for five more months and then is aged in large oak barrels for an additional six years; bottled without fining or filtering. Certified organic.”
France
Arriving Friday, March 19th:
Château Pradeaux Bandol, Provence 2015 750ML ($54.95) $47.50 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Bandol from Pradeaux is a creature whose soul emerges from Mourvedre. The classic Cuvée is 95% Mourvedre and 5% Grenache, with the Grenache adding spice to the bouquet and leavening some of the drama provided by the intimidating structure of the Mourvedre. One of the hallmarks of Pradeaux is that the grapes are never destemmed. The result is a wine of ferocious tannin in its youth, another reason for the prolonged aging in these large wooden barrels, a time for the wine to repose and find its identity as it emerges from the cocoon of tannins to reveal an exceptionally complex crowd of aromas and flavors. Although situated mere steps from the Mediterranean, harvest at Pradeaux (always manual) frequently starts in earnest for the Mourvedre during the first weeks of October. The average age of the vines is approximately 35 years and harvest levels are quite low, often in the range of 25 hectoliters per hectare. Fermention occurs at temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius and the wines are racked into large oak ovals and foudres where they rest with occasional rackings for four years before being bottled. Neither new oak nor small barrels are ever used at Pradeaux and the red wines are never fined nor filtered.”
Domaine Lionnet Cornas Terre Brûlée, Rhône 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant violet. Suave, expansive aromas of fresh blueberry, blackberry, incense and candied flowers. Juicy, seamless and concentrated, offering intense, smoke-tinged dark fruit preserve, violet and olive flavors and suggestions of licorice and spicecake that build on the back half. In a generous, fruit-forward style; sneaky tannins frame the energetic dark fruit on a very long, floral-tinged finish.”
Importer note “Very old plantings (40 to 100 years old) in several notable Cornas vineyards, which are all blended into their single Cuvée ‘Terre Brûlée’: Mazards, with 50-year-old vines in granite-inflected soils of clay limestone, is dark and powerful; Chaillot contributes classic granitic heft and dusty spice; clay limestone Pied de la Vigne, which flanks Chaillot’s eastern edge, provides structural rigor; and Combe, the southernmost lieu-dit in the appellation, comprises sandy granite soils which give rounder, more voluptuous fruit and overtly floral aromas. Aged entirely in well-used 600-liter demi-muids, ‘Terre Brûlée’ is a Cornas of immense concentration, deep, meaty aromatics, intense effusive spiciness, and a bristling tension that beckons for a bit of patience but is thrilling in its vibrancy. All whole cluster. Certified organic.”
Top Champagne Picks $99 – $169
In Stock Now:
“A beautiful wine that is absolutely built for the table”
Doyard Oeil de Perdrix Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 2 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “The 2015 Doyard Oiel de Perdrix Extra Brut Millésime is composed from a cépages of seventy-five percent pinot noir and twenty-five percent chardonnay, with the pinot noir hailing from Aÿ and the chardonnay from Avize. The vins clairs do not go through malolactic and are given some extended aging in old Burgundy casks prior to bottling up for secondary fermentation in September of 2016. The wine was aged thirty-six months sur latte and disgorged in September of 2019, with a finishing dosage of three grams per liter. It is quite pale in color and offers up a beautiful bouquet of white cherry, peach, rye bread, chalky soil tones, dried flowers, discreet spice tones and just a whisper of oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and complex, with fine mid-palate depth and soil signature, bright acids, frothy mousse and a long, vibrant finish. This is a beautiful wine that is absolutely built for the table! 2020-2040+.”
Importer note “80% Pinot Noir from Ay and 20% Chardonnay from Avize.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A rare dessert style Champagne
Pierre Gerbais L’Unique, Champagne NV (2015) 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 9 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “A sweet Champagne produced from late-harvested Pinot Blanc from a parcel of ancient vines, the 2015 Doux L’Unique exhibits aromas of pear, fresh apricot and white flowers, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that’s sweet but lively. Youthful and expressive, this would make for a beautiful desert wine.”
Importer note “2015. 100% Pinot Blanc. Vine Age: Majority planted in 1904. Terroir: Kimmeridgian, mostly from lieu-dit Les Proies (marl and limestone soils, 10,000 vines per hectare plantation density). Viticulture: Certified sustainable (Ampelos) since 1996. 62 g/L dosage, 3 years on the lees.”
VinopolNote “Dessert style Champagne (Doux).”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A cellar pick with loads of potential
Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “Alexandre Chartogne’s 2015 Les Couarres is composed entirely of pinot noir. He barrel ferments the vins clairs for this wine and gave them a bit of extra aging in the cellar prior to bottling them up for secondary fermentation in July of 2016. It aged four years sur latte prior to disgorgement in June of 2020 and finished with a dosage of “approximately” six grams per liter. The wine delivers a superb bouquet of apple, white peach, a touch of hazelnut, fresh-baked bread, a fine base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with a bit of oak influence showing up on the backend, a fine core, lovely soil signature, refined mousse and a long, classy finish. This is certainly quite drinkable today, but the bit of palate oakiness it shows today might be a good reason to give it a few years in the cellar, just to allow this element to integrate as well on the palate as it already has on the nose. 2023-2055.”
“Clear mineral verve with distinctive richness and intense texture”
R. Pouillon & Fils Les Valnons Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer note “The name of this cuvée is short for “les Valnons Froid Cul”—a famous and seemingly cold hill in Aÿ. This wine embodies a very unique and rare experience: tasting true blanc de blancs from one of the best situated slopes in Aÿ, a grand cru famous for rich, articulate pinot noir. This wine delivers clear mineral verve with distinctive richness and intense texture.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“Cult” Grower Champagne
Georges Laval Cumières Premier Cru Brut Nature, Champagne NV (2018) 750ML ($129.95) $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Importer note “45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier. 2018-base. Premier Cru.”
A full-bodied Brut Nature
Jacques Lassaigne Millésime Brut Nature, Champagne 2010 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 10 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 points “(Reviewed Aug 2019) Due to be disgorged commercial a few weeks after I tasted it was the 2010 Brut Nature Blanc des Blancs Millésime, a vintage that Lassaigne described as characterized by “very high maturity” and which was vinified entirely in tank. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, green apple, warm bread and chalky soil tones, it’s full-bodied, ample and vinous, with chewy dry extract and a fleshy core, crisp acids and a long, saline finish. Once again, it’s a blend of Les Paluets, Le Cotet and La Grande Côte, Lassaigne commenting that it always tends to come from the same parcels.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
“A serious, vinous rosé that numbers among the challenging 2005 vintage’s successes”
Charles Heidsieck Rosé Millésime, Champagne 2005 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich, toasty overtone brings you into the glass of this satiny rosé, offering flavors of baked white cherry and raspberry fruit, saffron, brioche and citrus peel, all deftly meshed with vibrant acidity. Elegant. Disgorged 2017. Drink now through 2029. 100 cases imported. — AN”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “This bottle of the 2005 Brut Rosé was disgorged in 2017 with ten grams per liter dosage. It’s a lovely wine that offers up complex notes of red apple, mandarin, white cherries, brioche and nutmeg. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with a fleshy core of fruit, brisk acids, a refined mousse and lovely chalky grip on the finish. This is a serious, vinous rosé that numbers among the challenging 2005 vintage’s successes.”
“Gorgeous”
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvée’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 12 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Disgorged in May 2018 with seven grams per liter dosage, Vilmart’s new 2011 Brut Coeur de Cuvée is showing beautifully, offering up an expressive bouquet of crisp green pear, yellow apple, dried white flowers, English walnuts and spices. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly fleshy and nicely concentrated, it’s a fine-boned, precise rendition of this cuvée, built around ripe but racy acids and complemented by a pinpoint mousse. Vilmart is the sort of grower that succeeds in vintages such as 2011, and this wine met my expectations.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2011 Coeur de Cuvée is gorgeous, especially within the context of the year. Translucent and airy, the 2011 is a Champagne of real elegance. Sage, mint, dried flowers, orchard fruit and lemon peel all grace this super-expressive and pretty Champagne. These 60-year-old vines handled the challenges of 2011 well. Harvest took place in August, which after 2003 and 2007, is not as freakishly unusual as it would have been a generation ago. The 2011 is undoubtedly terrific. Even so, I would not push my luck on aging given the inherent fragility of the year. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“A very complete Champagne to enjoy now and over the next handful of years”
Hébrart ‘Rive Gauche Rive Droite’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Brut Rive Gauche-Rive Droite Grand Cru is another superb wine in this range from Hébrart. Ample and creamy, the 2013 possesses tremendous depth from start to finish. The first signs of aromatic nuance are starting to appear, which makes this Brut Rive Gauche-Rive Droite Grand Cru a very complete Champagne to enjoy now and over the next handful of years. Rive Gauche-Rive Droite is a blend of equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Unlike the other wines in the range, it is vinified in oak, which adds quite a bit of texture. Dosage is 4.5 grams per liter.” [Disgorgement may not match review]
One of Champagne’s criminally underrated houses
Pommery Cuvée Louise Brut Nature, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $149 special, 22 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “A creamy and refined 2004 with a very reserved and tight palate of ultra fine tannins that lend the wine beautiful creaminess and finesse. Subtly floral, offering lightly cooked apples and lemons. Flavorful, yet always hiding behind the fine bubbles. Drink now.”
“This really has it all: freshness, extract, power, balance and concentration”
Deutz Amour de Deutz Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($199.95) $159 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Decanter 97 points “Amour was created by Deutz’s long-standing managing director, Fabrice Rosset. It’s a prestige blanc de blancs which is only made in the best years, so there was little surprise when Deutz produced an Amour from the highly acclaimed 2008 vintage. This really has it all: freshness, extract, power, balance and concentration. Already, the primary nose shows chamomile and iris, while the palate is crammed with white fruits, nougat, chamomile, candied fruit and minerals. Deutz’s signature spine-tingling acidity balances out the weight and creamy texture of this generous, well structured fizz. It’s fabulous as an aperitif now but it will also develop well into old age as a gastronomic wine with delicate seafood dishes. 40,000 bottles produced.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The citrus-colored 2008 Amour de Deutz Brut Millésime is still yeasty on the nose, but very clear and elegant on the palate. This is a super pure and mineral, well-balanced Millésime with a long, intense and persistent finish. This is full of tension and finesse. A great wine.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “[Review is for 375ml] This wine is rich and surprisingly full-bodied. It comes from a great Champagne vintage, giving it both intensity and an acidity built for longterm aging. This half-bottle version is filling out, showing almond flavors yet retaining its citrus edge. Drink from 2019.”
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A beautiful bottle containing an even more beautiful wine
Piper-Heidsieck Rare Brut Millésime, Champagne 2006 750ML ($179.95) $169 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Aromas and flavors of toasted brioche and grilled nut enrich the yellow plum, nectarine and grated ginger notes of this rich and creamy Champagne. Finely woven and beautifully integrated, with a firm backbone of mouthwatering acidity providing precise balance for the lush range of flavor. Drink now through 2029. 14,000 cases made, 1,800 cases imported.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Piper-Heidsieck’s luxury cuvée with its beautifully decorated bottle is a well-matured blend of mainly Chardonnay with some Pinot Noir. Great drive and energy comes from the ripe fruit with its hints of almonds and toast. Drink this wine now.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2006 Brut Cuvée Rare is a rich, gourmand rendition of this prestige bottling, unfurling in the glass with a complex bouquet that mingles aromas of yellow orchard fruit, pears and fresh pineapple with nuances of buttered toast, iodine and smoke. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and textural, while remaining fresh and surprisingly tight-knit at the core, concluding with a long and saline finish. There’s sufficient structural tension here to promise more than a decade’s graceful evolution, and although this is nicely balanced, it’s a generous, sun kissed rendition of the Cuvée Rare that reflects the warm vintage. The blend is 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir.”
“This wine is totally memorable and magnificent”
Charles Heidsieck Blanc des Millénaires, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter – World Wine Awards 2019 98 points “This Blanc de Blancs Champagne is a bright morning gold in colour, with fine-seamed bubbles and rich, expressive and expansive aromas. Beaten cream, pounded hazels, a hint of baking apples, brioche fresh from the oven. But all these notes are drawn with great subtlety, underscoring the fruit quality of the Chardonnay vineyards used in this blend. On the palate, the wine retains all that aromatic grace and amplitude, marrying it to a shapely fruit presence, vibrant though now well-rounded acidity and textural charm, too. A head-turner. Drink 2019-2028.”
Roger Voss-Wine Enthusiast 98 points “This is an iteration of a legendary Champagne. Perfectly balanced, still packed with white fruit but just touching nuttiness, the wine is at its peak. Celebrating one of the great Champagne vintages of this century, this wine is totally memorable and magnificent.”
[Disgorgement dates may vary from reviews]
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Clos Mogador
A Name to Watch in Monstant
“Com Tu is a new project in Montsant owned by the Barbier family of Clos Mogador fame in Priorat (among other things). They have been in La Figuera since 2002-2003, and they got involved in the Espectacle project. Their Laurona project always had some Garnacha from the village, and after discovering Espectacle, they put more attention in the village. This new venture is based on three vineyards, all Garnacha, at some 550 to 600 meters in altitude close to the Espectacle vineyard. The character of the village’s wines is defined by flowers, an ethereal nose with orange peel aromas and an incredible structure, as seen in the Espectacle bottling. A new name to follow. They will produce 10,000 bottles in 2017 and don’t expect to do more than 15,000 bottles.” –Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate
In Stock Now:
(Clos Mogador) ‘Com Tu’, Montsant 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “I was so impressed with the debut vintage that I was very happy I could also preview the 2016 Com Tu, which was aging in a 4,000-liter used oak foudre and waiting to be bottled. The Garnacha grapes fermented in that same foudre with indigenous yeasts. It’s still very young and raw and the nose needs to develop, but it has subtle notes of raspberry leaf and wild cherries. The palate is livelier than the 2015, and I think this wine will be better in the long run, with more acidity and freshness. This is one of the names to watch in Montsant. There will be some 5,300 bottles of this.”
VinopolNote: 100% Garnacha from 35-50 year old vines in red clay and limestone soils at 580-600 meters above sea level.
Winery note “In the early part of this century, my son René and I first started experimenting with wine-making in the village of La Figuera (70 unhabitants). We met some winemakers and we vinified around 4.000 kilos of Garnacha vines. In 2002 I discovered the centennial vineyard that belonged to Mr. Joan Anguera (today it’s the Spectacle vineyard) and we started to promote that area so exceptionally good for Garnachas with the collaboration of the winemakers of the area. The idea of the name Com Tu was my son’s, Anderson Barbier Meyer, an artist that together with his mother, came up with this label. And also my second son, Christian, joined us in this project. He is leading Clos Mogador into the path of biodynamic agriculture. The Garnacha grapes from La Figuera produce wines with a unique color range, tender and fluid; with a fresh aroma, of flowers, orange peel, incense, as well as wide range of white fruit, citrus, very fresh. Its high alcohol content together with its extraordinary acidity, helps the wine to age perfectly. In palate it’s soft, with harmony but the taste development goes in crescendo, and it leaves us with an exceptional post-taste. This wine amazes us and fills us with vitality.”
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Pre-Arrival ETA Fall 2021:
Clos Mogador Vi de Finca, Priorat DOCa 2018 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 98 points “The flagship 2018 Clos Mogador is a blend of 45% Garnacha, 29% Cariñena, 16% Syrah and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon that fermented with natural yeasts and showcases their philosophy—slow fermentations with long maceration and long aging. It matured for 18 months in 2,000-liter oak vats and 30% in 300-liter oak barrels. There was a lot of rain in 2018, and the vineyards were extremely happy and everything seemed very easy; in fact, René Barbier told me it was perhaps too easy… It’s an atypical year: It has a gentle profile, and the wines are not as concentrated as those from 2013 (the last rainy year before 2018)—they are more elegant and nuanced. This should develop beautifully in bottle. 27,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2020.”
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Staff Recommended Bubbles
All $10 – $20
Austria
Meinklang Frizzante Blanc de Noir Rosé, Burgenland 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Distributor note “100% Pinot Noir from a biodynamically farmed vineyard with sandy loam soil. Winemaking: gentle press, short maceration, spontaneous fermentation in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts, finished in pressure tanks. Meinklang is an original, family-run mixed farm, set in the middle of the World Heritage Site of the National Park Neusiedlersee, on the Eastern side of the Neusiedlersee Lake, bordering directly on the Hungarian lowlands, where life’s diversity and complexity are celebrated. This farm functions much like an organism, relying not only on the people but also on the local herd of cows which contributes in an essential way with their natural and invaluable fertilizer. The farm’s diversity is enriched by ancient grains such as spelt, farro, and einkorn wheat, as well as the fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, meadows of wild herbs and flowers, and the elegant charm of the grapevines.”
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Cava
Torre Oria Brut Reserva Cava, Requena NV 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Decanter World Wine Awards 89 points ” 80% Macabeo, 20% Chardonnay. Fresh green apple with pear and apricot nose. Creamy mousse with tension on the palate.”
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Conquilla Brut Cava, Catalonia NV 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Conquilla Brut Cava, Catalonia NV 750ML ($219.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle)
Importer note “Conquilla is Catalan for ‘shell’ referencing the sedimentary limestone soils of Spain’s Penedes Valley. With all estate fruit this Champagne-method sparkler has fine bubbles, a bright citrus nose, and a hint of almond on the zippy finish.”
Jaume Giró i Giró Brut Rosat Cava, Catalonia NV 750ML ($24.95) $16 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Trepat. Organic. The son of Jaume Giró i Giró and current proprietor is Ramon Giró y Gramona; he has a great sense of humor, is a world traveler, and makes friends wherever he goes. His family has been involved in growing Cava, producing the base wines or making and aging Cava since at least 1836, although that is just the earliest found documentation. They have likely been involved even longer. Ramon learned how to make Cava from his grandfather, the Gramona. His Cavas are aged on the lees for extended periods of time (for some bottlings, over 100 months), and he does not disgorge until he receives an order. The result are elegant, lees driven Cavas, with great intricacy, value and food friendliness.”
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Jaume Giró i Giró Elaboración Reserva Brut Nature 2015 750ML ($29.95) $17 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Xarel-lo/Macabeo/Parellada/Chardonnay. Organic. The son of Jaume Giró i Giró and current proprietor is Ramon Giró y Gramona; he has a great sense of humor, is a world traveler, and makes friends wherever he goes. His family has been involved in growing Cava, producing the base wines or making and aging Cava since at least 1836, although that is just the earliest found documentation. They have likely been involved even longer. Ramon learned how to make Cava from his grandfather, the Gramona. His Cavas are aged on the lees for extended periods of time (for some bottlings, over 100 months), and he does not disgorge until he receives an order. The result are elegant, lees driven Cavas, with great intricacy, value and food friendliness.”
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AA Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2017 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 AA Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2017 ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light, bright yellow-gold. Displays pungent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, lemon pith, fennel and chamomile that show very good clarity and spicy lift. Weighty, focused and dry on the palate, which displays refreshingly bitter citrus pith, pear skin and quinine flavors and a hint of peachiness. Manages to come off hefty as well as graceful and finishes long and taut, with resonating stoniness and a touch of spicy ginger. (disgorged after 15 months on its lees).”
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Loire
Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut Rosé, Loire NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “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.”
Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Chenin/Pineau d’Aunis from 25+ year old vines grown in clay & flint 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 subtle and original aromas of this blend.”
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Caves Louis de Grenelle Saumur Corail Brut Rosé, Loire NV ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “This palest pink-colored wine is equally light and fresh to taste. It has a crisp raspberry flavor with a zest of orange squeezed over it. It’s delicious. –Roger Voss”
Caves Louis de Grenelle Crémant de Loire Cuvée Louis de Grenelle Brut, Loire NV ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Produced from organic grapes, this is a smooth, lightly toasty wine. It has ripe apple and a crisp tight, mineral texture that adds to the refreshing character of the wine. The aftertaste is all fresh fruit. –Roger Voss”
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Chéreau Carré Vices & Vertus ‘Orgueil’ Brut NV ($24.95) $19.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Importer note “As the voice of the new generation at the Chéreau Carré winery in France’s Loire Valley, Louise Chéreau is shaking things up by creating fresh new expressions of traditional grapes and terroirs. In this spirit, she’s releasing a bottle-fermented sparkling wine made with melon de bourgogne, the traditional grape of Muscadet. The fruit comes from 40-year-old vines at the winery’s Chasseloir estate, a prime location on the Maine river on schist soils. This shows off a different side of the muscadet and hints at the immense potential of this region for sparkling wines.”
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Oregon
Art + Science Petillant Naturel Rosé, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Winery note “120 cases, 13.2% Alc. This sparkling rosé was made from Pinot Noir grapes from a small vineyard called Morning Mist where Dan has been consulting in organic and biodynamic farming practices. Morning Mist is in theMcMinnville AVA and sits at 700’ elevation facing directly into the VanDuzer Corridor. It is very likely one of the latest ripening vineyards in all of the Willamette Valley, making it a perfect site for sparkling wine! The fruit was picked relatively early, at lower sugars and higher acidity. Unfiltered, contains lees – pour off slowly or invert to evenly distribute. Bottled via the Pétillant-naturel or méthode ancestrale, process. This process is where the product is bottled before it finishes its final fermentation, thus producing a naturally carbonated beverage. Wild fermented, no sulfur added.”
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