In This Newsletter:


Arrivals
Peter William, Comte Lafon, and Agrapart!

Woman Winemakers We love
Woman Winemakers of Walla Walla

 

 

Oregon
 
 

 

Have you caught the Southern Oregon wine buzz yet?
 
Oregon’s Rogue Valley AVA has been quietly building in reputation for years and with wineries like Peter William producing high quality Rhône influenced reds at fantastic prices, it’s primed to explode in popularity. With a viticultural history dating back to the 1870’s, the Rogue Valley is older than the Willamette region and severely undervalued. Little by little though, consumers are rediscovering this overlooked region. For fans of Rhône and Rioja varietals, the Rogue Valley is an absolute treasure trove of Syrah, Grenache, and Tempranillo.
 
Since 2013, husband and wife team Peter Adesman and Robin Miller have been making their single vineyard focused estate wines in Medford, Oregon. While it’s been common knowledge for a while that areas like Milton-Freewater in Eastern Oregon are producing some of the best Rhône varietals outside of the Rhône, now Southern Oregon is finally getting its due.
 
These wines have kept satisfied Vinopolis customers coming back for more and more delicious Rogue Valley wine. We are selling them at the lowest prices in the USA!

Peter William Egan Vineyard Chardonnay, Rogue Valley 2023 750ml $26.50 special, 12 bottles available
Sean Sullivan- NW Wine Report 92 Points: Critic’s Choice “Each year our winemaker Eric Weisinger works with the fruit from this vineyard, and this one is another stunner! Renamed for the new owners, This vineyard was originally known as the “Gold Vineyard.” The vineyard was formerly owned by Rogue Valley wine legend Randy Gold. The wine was produced for us by Eric Weisinger. This one has approximately 30% new French Oak (with the remainder done in neutral oak). A subtle toasty quality from the oak is just enough to accent the wine, without overpowering the fruit. Rich, balanced, creamy, with just a hint of spice & oak.”
 
Peter William Sauvignon Blanc, Rogue Valley 2023 750ml $24 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Notes “Classic characters of Sauvignon Blanc. A hint of grassiness, a beautiful grapefruit note, finishing dry and refreshing!”
 
Peter William Viognier Daisy Creek Vineyard, Rogue Valley 2023 750ml $26 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “Double Gold Medal, SavorNW Wine Competition (2025) “We source fruit every year for this wine from our friends at Daisy Creek Vineyard.”
 

 
 
France
 

 
Dominique Lafon took over his family estate in Meursault, Domaine des Comte Lafon, in 1984 and within a few short years, his wines were some of the most prized in Burgundy. Moving from success to success, he founded a new biodynamic winery in 1999, Héritiers du Comte Lafon, in Macon.
 
A longtime proponent of Organic and sustainable viticulture, Héritiers (meaning “inheritors” in French) is a project he runs with his daughter and nephew. His belief in and passion for the Macon region has made Héritiers a towering beacon for fine wine in this previously undervalued Chardonnay mecca. On top of creating higher quality wines, he believes that his commitment to sustainable viticulture is a commitment to the next generation of the Lafon family, the future “héritiers” of the estate.
 
Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Bussieres, Burgundy 2023 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles available
(Not reviewed yet. 2021 review provided for reference.)
Neil Martin- Vinous 88 Points “The 2021 Mâcon-Bussières, a blend of different parcels, has a strict and more focused nose compared to the other cuvées. Airy with Granny Smiths and pear. The palate is well balanced with a tangy, marmalade and pear-tinged opening, spicy, almost Rhône-like towards the finish with plenty of extract. Very fine.”
 
Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette, Burgundy 2023 750ml $49 special, 3 bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 Points “The 2023 Mâcon-Chardonnay Clos de la Crochette has one of the best aromatics of the range: crushed stone, sea cave and light Granny Smith scents with good focus. The palate is well balanced with a crisp entry. This has fine weight and density but is more backward and perhaps befits a couple of years in bottle.”
 
Heritiers Du Comte Lafon Macon Milly Lamartine, Burgundy 2023 750ml $44.50 special, 6 bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 Points “The 2023 Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four has a well-defined bouquet with fine mineralité, opening with red apples and a touch of tinned peach and becoming more floral. The palate is well balanced with a sapid entry, grapefruit and light lime cordial notes and a touch of white pepper on the finish. Lovely.”
 
Heritiers Du Comte Lafon Macon Prisse, Burgundy 2023 750ml $44.50 special, 3 bottles available
Neil Martin- Vinous “The 2023 Mâcon-Prissé has a pretty nose with lime and light lemon verbena scents. The palate is well balanced with a simple grape fruit and pear-tinged opening, quite elegant with ample weight on the finish. Enjoy over three to four years.”
 
Heritiers du Comte Lafon Macon Uchizy, Burgundy 2023 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles available
(Not reviewed yet. 2021 review provided for reference.)
Neil Martin- Vinous 90 Points “The 2021 Mâcon Uchizy is a blend of vineyards within the climat (i.e. not Les Maranches) as the northern sector lost 90% of volume due to frost. It has a lilting orchard fruit, apricot-tinged bouquet with a spring in its step. The palate is well balanced with good depth, substance, fine acidity and a spicy, persistent finish. Excellent.”
 
Heritiers du Comte Lafon Vire-Clesse, Burgundy 2023 750ml $54.50 special, 6 bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 90 Points “The 2023 Viré-Clessé has a lively bouquet with more yellow fruit than the other cuvées and touches of beeswax that develop in the glass. The palate is poised on the entry, lightly spiced with impressive harmony, a “fluid” Viré-Clessé with a persistent finish. A notch above the 2022.”


Champagne
 
 

 
You know these champagnes already. Or else you should.
 
Champagne Agrapart is one of the most important names in the world of Grower Champagne. Started in 1894, they have bottled their own wines since the very beginning, one of just a handful of smaller domaines to do so. Located in the village of Avize in the Côte des Blancs region of Champagne, this historic estate is managed by fourth generation owner Pascal Agrapart.  A talented farmer and acclaimed winemaker, Pascal’s dedication to the minutia of terroir has led the winery on a pilgrimage toward organic viticulture and a focus on sustainable practices in the vineyards, featuring some of the oldest vines in the region.
 
As Antonio Galloni of Vinous has said, “For readers who want to discover what the Côte des Blancs is all about, I can’t think of a better place to start than here.” We can only agree. For our money, Agrapart bottles some of the best Chardonnay dominant wines in all of Champagne.
 
Agrapart Les 7 Crus Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 3 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “Vibrant fruit here, with peaches, apricots, lemons, pears, almonds and spicy anise notes. Fresh and crisp with very fine bubbles. Textured, with wonderful purity of fruit. 90% chardonnay and 10% pinot noir from 7 villages. Fruit 60% from 2019 and 40% from 2018. Bottled 2020. Disgorged May 2022. 5g/L dosage. Drink now. (7/18/22)”
Decanter 93 Points “Agrapart describes this as its ‘entry-level’ wine, but it’s far from your normal non-vintage Champagne. A blend of premier and grand cru grapes from two different vintages, its super-fresh, lemony nose segues into a tight, steely palate with delicious stone-fruit ripeness. It’s light on its feet and very vital, with delightful juiciness balancing mineral inclusions. Very impressive. (Oct 2019)”
 
Agrapart Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne, NV 750ml $99 special, 4 bottles available
James Suckling 95 Points ” Creamy and flavorful, yet it remains precise and vertical, with an array of lemons, green apples, pie crust, almonds, hazelnuts and chalk. Medium-bodied with creamy, fine bubbles. Lots of energy, with zesty citrus notes at the end. Layered blanc de blancs. 100% chardonnay from 4 Grand Cru villages. 40% from 2018 and 60% from 2017. Disgorged May 2022. Drink now or hold.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The latest rendition of Agrapart’s NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Terroirs is excellent. Based on the 2018 vintage, with fully 80% reserve wines from 2017 (some 40% of which mature in wood), it’s medium to full-bodied, seamless and chiseled, evocative of citrus oil, buttered toast, mint and fresh bread. It derives from holdings in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry. Drink: 2022-2040.”
 
 
 

 
 

 

“Historically, women were excluded from the critical stages of wine production, hampered by the prevailing societal belief that it was strictly “a man’s work.” No Girls offers a new narrative driven by women’s strength and resilience. The wines are as modern, opinionated, and powerful as the name suggests.” –NoGirlsWine.com
 
Do you want to know Washington State wine’s darkest secret?
 
Well, it turns out that some of the very best wines to come out of Washington actually come from Oregon. Karin Gasparotti (and before her Elizabeth Bourcier who spent 16 pivotal years at Bionic Wines) is the current winemaker for all of Christophe Baron’s wine projects, including Cayuse, Horsepower, and No Girls. Gasparotti originally attended college in with plans to become a nurse. However, after attending a lecture from a visiting winemaker she refocused her sights on wine. After completing a degree in viticulture and enology Washington State University,
 
Gasparotti worked at a number of wineries including Terra Blanca Winery and Château Ste. Michelle before moving to the Walla Walla area to pursue work with biodynamically cultivated grapes… leading her straight to Oregon’s very own Cayuse (aka Washington’s best wine.)
 
 

 
“The Cayuse wines continue to set the benchmark for Rhône varieties in Washington State…Cayuse Vineyards remains one of only a handful of biodynamic estates in Washington, which I have always found odd, as they prove that biodynamic principles are possible in the region and can create world-class wines. The closed mailing list often dissuades readers looking to explore the range. However, Cayuse continues to release a limited amount of wines into the market that can be found with a bit of searching.” -Eric Guido, Vinous
 
Cayuse Impulsivo Tempranillo 2022 750ml $149 special, 12 bottles available
(not reviewed yet, 2021 review provided for reference)
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Another expressive red from this estate, the 2021 Impulsivo (100% Tempranillo) has a great nose of both red and black fruits as well as iron, sandalwood, and violets. A rich, medium to full-bodied, structured wine on the palate, it has building tannins, a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, and plenty of meaty, gamey, umami character on the finish. It will benefit from just a few years in the cellar and will evolve for at least two decades.”
 
Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard 2021 750ml $159 special, 10 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “One of the bigger, richer wines in the lineup, the 2021 Syrah Armada Vineyard comes from a high-density vineyard located just beside the cellar and was brought up all in demi-muids. This deeper ruby/plum-hued Syrah boasts a big, masculine bouquet of smoked red and black fruits, sauteed mushrooms, cured meats, iron, and cold fireplace nuances (it almost has a Graves-like character) that flows to a medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated Syrah with terrific overall balance, ripe tannins, and a great finish. As with the other 2021s here, it needs lots of air to show at its best and will ideally be given 4-5 years in the cellar. It’s going to hit its 20th birthday in fine form.”
 
Cayuse Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard 2022 750ml $135 special, 6 bottles available
(not reviewed yet, 2021 review provided for reference)
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “One of the more black and blue-fruited Syrahs in the lineup in 2021, the 2021 Syrah En Chamberlin Vineyard is deep ruby/plum-hued and offers a beautiful perfume of ground pepper, liquid violets, crushed stone, and bouquet garni. It’s rich, medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and ripe, polished tannins. It has a little bit of Cayuse funk, but this is a pure, focused, impressive Syrah that will benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar.”
 
 

 
“Located in the Stones of the Walla Walla Valley, Horsepower Vineyards is about tradition and history—and making history” –Horsepowervineyards.com
 
When they say tradition, they mean it. Bionic Wines founder Christophe Baron was inspired by his own family’s practices at their Champagne estate and began using horses to plough these special vineyards.
 
Horsepower Syrah High Contrast Vineyard 2020 750ml $169 special, 2 bottles available
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 Points “The 2020 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is youthfully restrained, with blackberry and clove offset by wet stone and sage. This is soft and enveloping, with silken textures and ripe black fruits, all energized by brilliant acidity. This finishes with a salty flourish, gripping the palate with youthful tension. Spiced citrus mingles with silty tannins as savory hints of rosemary fade. This is so giving today, yet also beautifully balanced for the cellar.”
 
Horsepower Syrah Tribe Vineyard 2016 750ml $169 special, 13 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The 2016 Syrah The Tribe is largely in the same mold with a gamy, meaty, backward profile. Smoked meats, earthy dark fruits, ground pepper, and wood smoke are all present in this medium to full-bodied, concentrated Syrah that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and cruise for 15-20 years.”
 
 

 
“No Girls celebrates the belief that empowered women create empowered wine—and champions the many talented and independent women of this profession and beyond.” –NoGirlsWine.com
 
No Girls Syrah La Paciencia Vineyard 2016 750ml $135 special, only 1 bottle available
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 97 Points “Not yet released when I tasted it, the nose of the 2016 Syrah la Paciencia Vineyard immediately reminds me of Côte-Rôtie with the ever-present floral lift and mineral tension. The nose is silky and elegant, with a focus on quality and precision that is instantly recognizable, with hints of black truffle, orange peel and a soft smokiness to the expression. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine’s mineral tension evolves into a petrichor note reminiscent of the first rain of the season over sun-baked earth. The palate continues to grow with red and dark fruits that become more expressive with each passing moment. This Syrah has an extraordinary length and texture for such a graceful wine, and the aftertaste lingers for days. This is the bottling that you will want to hide away in your cellar.  Only 331 cases were made.”
 
No Girls Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard 2016 750ml $119 special, 7 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Similarly colored, the 2016 Tempranillo La Paciencia Vineyard offers an exotic bouquet of black cherries, violets, chocolate, tobacco, smoke, and candied orange rind. It’s deep, beautiful, savory, and full-bodied, with a thrilling texture. It’s another incredibly elegant, singular wine from this estate. 321 cases.”