In This Newsletter:
Super Sales for Oregon Wine Month
New Week – New Arrivals
New Grapelive Review
De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo
Trendy Bubbles
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $22
Consistently one of our favorite producers, Tyson Crowley’s Pinots are elegant and lean in style.
Crowley Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1993 to Wente clone Chardonnay (1.5 acres) and Dijon clone Chardonnay (.75 acres), and beginning in 2017 (2.5 acres) of Draper clone. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed. Tasting Note: 2019 was year 2 of absorbing the grafted Draper clone into the cellar and we’re beginning to see our Chardonnay’s take shape in the best way possible. More austerity, saltiness, minerality and piercing electricity. Un-fined and unfiltered, this 2019 Willamette Valley Chardonnay compromises nothing of mouthfeel to match the high acidity and 12.5% alcohol. Opening with spice, lemon zest and crème brulee on the nose you know you’re in for a taut and rich experience. Aged in oak and finished in steel the wine displays warmth and expanse of barrel aging with the linearity of steel. High energy in all aspects, the mouth begins with typical purity and sense of place, doubles down on the citrus elements, and gracefully expands into peach, orange, clove, and cinder and closes with delicate lees roundness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23
We carry a vast assortment of wines from Marcus Goodfellow, and each and every one is distinctive and delicious from the humble Willamette Valley bottlings up to the single block and Heritage wines.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($39.95) Was $36, Now $31.90 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Whistling Ridge has a wonderful, mineral-driven character that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup at Goodfellow. The nose offers pure scents of poached pears, apples, white peaches and floral perfume with a rocky undercurrent, while the palate is precise and laser-like with restrained fruits but loads of perfumed nuances on the long, delicate finish. I expect this will grow in bottle, so give it another couple of years in the cellar.”
Winery note “Chalk, salinity, rock dust, and fresh grain. Meyer lemon curd, kumquats, orange pith, almond flower, and new spring growth. Linear body, briny and citrusy, stoney and salty in the finish. This balances broadness with enough structure and acidity to be enjoyable, refreshing, and age worthy. There are similarities to Chablis in the weight, drive, and mineral finish (at least to the classicist producers who still ferment in barrel). 12.8% alcohol, 113 cases produced. Drink now to 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $31.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Durant Vineyard is shielded from the wind by the hill behind it… The cool air flows down to the bottom of the hill, where it pools and slows ripening for the Chardonnay planted there. The vineyard typically sees gentle breezes that do little more than keep the air refreshed. However, the vineyard is cooled effectively by the evaporation of moisture in the topsoils. In comparison to some of the other sites, walking the Durant vineyard over the last decade, I am routinely struck by how pleasant and idyllic it is among the vines. Never too hot, never too dry, never humid.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($26.95) Was $22.75, Now $20.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Modest yields combined with a cool growing season led to a very ideal set of Chardonnays in 2019. These are light to medium bodied wines, with great depth, structure, and acidity. Alcohols are between 11.8-12.8%, giving them a weightlessness, balanced by textural richness from extended elevage on the lees. Flavors are a seamless transition from attack to the finish, and they are more sinewy than soft. While it may seem overly dramatic, as I tasted through the line up, I kept thinking of looking at an exhibit of Samurai swords that came through Portland several years ago. While they will be fine to consume young, these wines scream for a few years in the cellar and I believe will be absolutely outstanding in 5-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($29.95) Was $26, Now $25.50 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir is made up entirely of fruit from Whistling Ridge Vineyard. Vines sit ridge-top and catch the daily winds that blow in, slowing ripening, evaporating moisture, and thickening skins. Shallow soils are formed from upli ed marine sedimentary rock, and dry out quickly in the growing season. Richard and Patricia Alvord planted and have farmed the 14 acre plot for the past two and a half decades. Patricia does all of her own grafting, and Pinot Noir plantings are a selection massale of over half a dozen clones. The wines are red-fruited, perfumed, structured and elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $29
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($44.95) Was $36, Now $34.50 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard has a pale ruby color with a lovely perfume of mint leaves, crushed black cherries and turned earth with an iron-like streak. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with a fine balance of intense, dark fruits and earthy accents, and it finishes long and flavorful.
Winery Note “I love this wine. Vibrantly red fruited, elegant, light-bodied and gamine-like. Perhaps the most purely red of the 2018 Pinot Noirs. Red currants, dry red cherries, potpourri, and orange peel. Weightless, refreshing, crystalline, juicy in the mouth adding strawberries to the parade of red fruits. Very pure, very Pinot Noir. Drink for a year with food, then from 2023-2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) Was $21.90, Now $20.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 points “Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley has a nose of red and black berries with wafts of licorice and dried flowers. The palate is light-bodied, soft and juicy with a fine balance of bright berry fruit and earthy accents, and it finishes long and perfumed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Belle Pente Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) Was $16.60, Now $15.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “We have always gravitated to a rich, ripe style of Pinot Gris inspired by the great wines of Alsace, and the warm 2015 growing season gave us exactly what we needed! Fans of innocuous, dilute, mass-produced Pinot Grigio may not find a lot to like in this wine. But if your reference point is a Grand Cru from Turckheim or Hunawihr, you’ve come to the right place!…The marine sedimentary soils of Yamhill-Carlton tend to impart a compelling savory saline quality and stony minerality to frame the apple and pear flavors and aromas of the Pinot gris grape. As per our normal protocol, roughly half of the wine is vinified and aged in wood (foudre & neutral barrel) and the other half in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation takes place slowly at cool temperatures and the wine is not bottled until right before the next harvest. It is then held for at least another year before release. The hybrid vinification, coupled with sur lie and bottle aging, creates a wine that has both richness and freshness. It is easy to enjoy on it’s own, and there is not a dish on the planet that it won’t compliment splendidly!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $18
Bonus Sales
We can’t just let Oregon wines have all the fun!
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne 2012 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $47 special, 11 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2012 vintage. 2010 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 92 points “This elegant blanc de blancs shows a pleasing vibrancy from the lively bead and bright acidity, both well-meshed to pretty floral and spice accents and flavors of Gala apple, biscuit and lemon zest. Creamy. Drink now through 2025. 16 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $25.50 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful aromas of mushrooms, bark, cigar tobacco and plums with just a hint of citrus. Full-bodied with incredible softness and complexity. Subtle chocolate, fruit and walnut in the aftertaste. Goes on for minutes. Fantastic wine. Classic, textbook Rioja. A joy. Incredible value! Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “I was quite impressed by the 2012 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza, a classical Rioja that is nicely crafted, with less aging in barrel than the rest of reds and therefore with more fruit character and less López de Heredia signature. This was born as a red for tapas, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo with 13.5% alcohol. It matured in well-seasoned American oak barrels for three years. It has ripe fruit (black rather than red) without excess and a pinch of spices and a twist of oak. 94,500 bottles produced. There are seven lots of this. I tasted a bottled that was filled in May 2018.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Glistening ruby. Spice-accented aromas of red berries, cherry cola and candied rose, plus a smoky nuance in the background. Supple and energetic in style, with a core of zesty acidity adding lift and cut to bitter cherry and red currant flavors that take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Finishes long and smooth, delivering gentle tannic grip, a snap of peppery spices and repeating florality.”
Plus a new case special!
Tenuta Fanti Rosso di Montalcino 2018 750ML ($24.95) Was $19, Now $17.50 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Tenuta Fanti Rosso di Montalcino 2018 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 89 points “The extroverted 2018 Fanti Rosso di Montalcino is showing masses of ripe strawberry, sweet spices and exotic florals with grounding notes of worn leather and hints of undergrowth. Silky textures meld into tart red berries with a peppery-herbal twist, in a soft and easygoing effort that’s energized by bright acids that only come forward toward the finale. A mix of red fruits resonate on the finish, along with wild herbs and florals, punctuating the experience on a Rosso that is very easy to like.”
Super Deals Arriving This Week:
On May the 4th, this can be with you…
G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($17.95) $12.50 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Grapelive 90 points “Vajra’s Langhe Rosso blend is primarily the classic varietals Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, but also has an interesting addition of Albarossa, Freisa and even a touch of Pinot Noir all of which makes for a unique Piedmonte red that shows silky tannins, tangy vibrant fruits including brandied cherries, plum, cranberry, grilled citrus (Moro orange) and tart red currant along with wild herbs, delicate rustic notes, floral elements, mineral and savory spices….Giuseppe Vajra continues the traditions of his father Aldo, who was a big advocate for organic and holistic farming and promoted a sense of lightness in the wines always searching out vineyard sites thought to be too cold and too high up to ripen, but as history shows he was spot on and Vajra’s high elevation Barolo is one of the most prized wines in the world. The Vajra Rosso is mostly all stainless steel fermented with each lot and varietal done separately and blended before an early bottling to preserve fresh brightness, which this dark ruby/blue hued 2018 shows with lovely transparent clarity. This 2018 opens up nicely with air adding pipe tobacco, black tea, cola bean and dried rose petals, but the minty zesty tartness remains until the finish, in fact it is really nice with a bit of chill and with a picnic spread and or pasta dishes. The 2017 vintage was very warm and the wines are a bit bigger and fruit driven, with these 2018 shows a little more finesse and acidity, which shows through in this Langhe Rosso, it is wine to enjoy now and often, it has a hand crafted feel, but has no pretense, it is easy and delicious. For those looking for value with want this one, no question, but if you want to stay varietal pure, I highly recommend Vajra’s Dolcello, Barbera and Nebbiolo bottlings, there’s quality, value and grace throughout the lineup here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $15
Oregon
Illahe Vineyards ‘Capitol Fizz’ Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special
A light pink blend of Pinot Noir, Gruner, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Chardonnay.
Winery note “Capitol Fizz is a dry, pink bubbly bottle of refreshment for workers, picnickers, fishers, makers, singers, and watchers of the western sunset. Picked early at harvest, it has lively acid and a pretty aroma enhanced by its sparkle and joined together with the feeling of seeing a rainbow behind a waterfall. Capitol Fizz comes in two sizes–individual enjoyment, and friendly gathering. This is a sparkling wine that you can drink like a beer. Just pop the crown cap. No pontification required.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Illahe Vineyards Viognier, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
A light, zippy & fragrant version of this Rhone grape.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Illahe Vineyards Estate Tempranillo Rose, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery note “(For the 2019 vintage) The 2019 Illahe tempranillo rosé offers fresh aromas Lemon zest, spruce tip, rhubarb, and fleshy watermelon rind. A fresh, bright, and crisp harmonious pallet rounds into juicy honeydew melon and Oregon strawberry finish. Pair with sunshine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Just landed and already almost sold out. More arrives next Friday!
Kelley Fox Willamette Blanc, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
Unmacerated Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir with a splash of Chardonnay.
Winery note “This is a dry white wine lovingly produced from old vine Pinot Noir and from Chardonnay aged in neutral French oak barrels. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The classé-ist wine in town!
Belle Pente “Cuvée Classé” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Winery note “This is a brand new wine for the 2018 vintage, a blend of 26 “reserve quality” barrels, 2/3 from our Belle Pente estate vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton and 1/3 from Murto Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. These barrels were “de-classified” from the single vineyard bottlings to create a “Super Willamette” blend from these two great vineyards in the top appellations within the valley. Since it is definitely more “class” than “de-class”, we are naming it Cuvee Classe. Enjoy! 65% Belle Pente Estate Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton, marine sedimentary soil, planted 1998 & 1999. – Pommard, Wadenswil and Dijon 113, 114, 115 and 777 clones. 35% Murto Vineyard, Dundee Hills, volcanic soils, planted 1978 & 1986 – Pommard clone.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ayres Vineyard & Winery Red Blend, Oregon 2018 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
A Tempranillo-based red blend that’s ready for your next grill fest or BBQ.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Washington
Back in stock!
Luke Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery note “LUKE Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas dominated by marionberry and dark chocolate, accented by hints of mint and molasses. Supple, focused and expressive, layering coffee-accented blackberry and currant flavors with polished tannins and hints of cedar and smoke. Wahluke Slope AVA, Columbia Valley. Vineyards: Weinbau, Ravenscliff, Stonetree, Rosebud, Clifton Hill Varietals: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Petit Verdot 1% Malbec.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
France – Champagne
We were deeply impressed by the Champagnes from Huré Frères, and think you will be, too. This is an estate that just passed into hands of the younger generation that’s gaining great press. The ‘4 V’ wines are single parcel, single vintage, single varietal (and single vision) wines with no dosage aged for at least four years on the lees.
Huré Frères (Pierre et François Huré) “4 V” Chardonnay Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
(Formerly labeled as 4 Éléments)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Disgorged in December 2019 with three grams per liter dosage, the 2015 Extra-Brut 4 Éléments Chardonnay derives from Les Blanches Voies in Rilly-la-Montagne—which readers will recognize as the source of a new single-vineyard bottling from Vilmart. Opening in the glass with scents of pear, dried white flowers, smoke and blanched almonds, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and concentrated, with racy acids and chalky structuring extract, complemented by a youthfully frothy mousse. This will be even better after a year on cork.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Huré Frères (Pierre et François Huré) “4 V” Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
(Formerly labeled as 4 Éléments)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Disgorged with three grams per liter dosage in December 2019, the 2015 Extra-Brut 4 Éléments Pinot Noir derives from lieu-dit La Perthe in Ludes. Exhibiting aromas of waxy orchard fruit, red berries, smoke and toasted almonds, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and incisive, with tangy acids and a tightly wound core. Concentrated and penetrating, this will blossom with some age on cork.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Huré Frères L’Invitation Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine & Spirits 93 points “This is Huré’s flagship, a blend of equal parts pinots noir and meunier, with 20 percent chardonnay, aged four years on the lees. It’s the first wine we’ve tasted from him, reported to be a talented young grower, and it makes us want to drink more of his range. This is a subtle wine, brisk with sunny limestone on the surface, ripe with red fruit underneath. That fruit reveals more complexity as the wine opens in the glass, with hints of lime and hazelnuts, lasting with ornate finesse.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Based on the 2016 vintage and disgorged in January 2020 with five grams per liter dosage, the latest release of the NV Brut Invitation offers up aromas of apples, pears and toasted bread. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and nicely concentrated, it’s fleshy and textural, with racy acids, ripe fruit and a pillowy mousse.”
2016-base, disgorgement date may vary from reviews.
Distributor note “Flagship cuvée for the estate. Lutte raisonnée, yet in practice organic. In Ludes in the Montagne de Reims, also some vineyards from villages Tardenois and Vitry. This wine is mostly 2016 with some reserve wine (reserve perpétuelle started in 1984). Partial Malo and 8% in oak.”
France – Loire
Henri Bonneau is a producer without peer in the Southern Rhône. No other winemaker has produced as many epic bottles in the last 30 years. These bottles offer exceptionally rare opportunities to experience what Jeb Dunnuck describes as “the essence of traditionally made Châteauneuf-du-Pape”.
Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Celestins, Rhone 2012 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, only 6 bottles available!
Wine Spectator 97 points “This defines old school, with savory detail and notes of roasted chestnut, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar and brick dust leading off, backed by a core of currant, cherry and plum fruit flavors that is lightly dried yet nonetheless fresh and racy in feel. Singed juniper and bay leaf hints score the finish. Likely to hold just like this for some time. Best from 2020 through 2040. 400 cases made, 100 cases imported. — JM”
France – Provence
A lighter style of Bandol rosé, this is always the first to arrive and the first to sell out!
Le Galantin Bandol Rose, Provence 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special
Importer note “Classic Provençal rosé with delightful tree-fruit and citrus notes (peach, nectarine, grapefruit) and a crisp finish. Structured and complex, with citrus and red fruit on the palate. Around 5850 cases produced. Around 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault and 25% Grenache, from vines planted on southwest facing hillsides, with clay/limestone soil.”
Importer note “The ancient steep vineyards of Bandol – first planted by Phocaean Greeks c.600BC – are the perfect home for Mourvèdre. This variety produces wines that can age at least three decades. As at le Galantin, the best vineyards are planted on poor clay and sandy soil on old terraces, known locally as restanques. The appellation’s 1400 hectares of largely south facing vineyards get an extraordinary 3,000 hours of sun a year, but the heat is tempered by constant wind and also humidity from the sea. Following the steps of her father Achille, who bought the land in 1960 and produced his first vintage in 1972, Céline Pascale took over the domaine in 1999. She is helped by her brother Jérôme, who takes care of the vineyards. Today, Domaine le Galantin farms 30 hectares of terraced vineyards located in Le Plan du Castellet. Everything is hand-harvested and done with organic methods.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Burgundy
Vincent Girardin is one of the most reliable producers of Burgundy, both red and white. His wines leave the cellar with plenty of personality from their vineyards, but also the focus of a clear and steady winemaker who has honed his craft over decades.
Vincent Girardin Corton Les Perrieres Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2017 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Super Subscriber Special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The most serious of these reds is the 2017 Corton-Perrières Grand Cru, a wine that unwinds in the glass with notes of red berries, cassis and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and nicely concentrated, with the most mid-palate volume of any wine in the range, this will reward a bit of bottle age.”
Burghound 91 points “A relatively high-toned and slightly fruity nose displays unusual (for Corton) notes of cranberry and dark raspberry. The sleek, intense and mineral-inflected medium weight flavors possess better depth and persistence on the balanced if youthfully austere finale.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Pinot Noir Cuvee Saint-Vincent, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
VinopolNote: From 45 year-old vines in the Cote de Beaune. Aged in French oak (10% new) for ten months.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
France – Bordeaux
Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Case-6 Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $37.42/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Attractive dark-stone aromas with graphite and ripe dark berries sit fresh on the nose. The palate has a riper feel with very rich, dense fruit presence and a heavier, tannin line weight. Full body. Try from 2022.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Grand Corbin has grown into a powerful, dense Saint-Émilion. This is a fairly rich, bombastic style, and yet all the elements fall into place. I would give the 2016 a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften, but there is good depth and plenty of potential. A rush of chocolate, leather, licorice, smoke and black cherry meld into the potent finish. Tasted three times with consistent notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A new-school overachieving Bordeaux that’s delicious now and over the next decade.
Château Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Case-6 Château Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ML ($239.95) $206 special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.”
Back in stock and ready to party!
Von Winning Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Grapelive 92 points “German bubbles are incredible and this one is a classy example at a reasonable price, not to be outdone by Prosecco, the Cremants of Alsace, the Loire and Burgundy, and Champagne even, these modern Sekt(s) are stylish, elegant and full of personality. This one [is] in the mold of one of my favorite small Champagne house, Agrapart, with its cool invigorating mineral tones and extreme dry flavors. Von Winning is one of Germany’s top wineries, based in the chalky sandstone soiled Pfalz region, with an exceptional range of wines, especially their absolutely awesome series of Grosses Gewachs (Grand Cru) Rieslings, though there is excellence throughout the collection here and as I have noted in my prior reviews, Von Winning does one of the finest Sauvignon Blanc(s) in the world, too. The Extra Brut Riesling Sekt is vibrant and steely from the start with a mix of zesty citrus and peachy fruits, a hint of wet stones, leesy/yeasty notes and a faint floral element all of which folds together nicely and vigorously on the energy driven light to medium bodied palate that gains texture with air, but stays firmly taut with an expressive, subtly luxurious small bubbled mousse. This is delicious stuff, I’m so happy after a lengthy wait that the Von Winning sparkling Riesling is more readily available in the States… I highly recommend grabbing some of this fine bubbly and celebrate any of life’s happier moments and, wallet allowing, add a few of the single vineyard Trockens, especially those GG’s, as well as the Paradiesgarten, which is an awesome value. The Von Winning Sekt is crafted in the classic methode champenoise style with 100% Riesling being used, sourced from, as the winery notes, a selection of different vineyards close to Deidesheim on loess-clay and red sandstone soils with a lengthy period on the lees. There’s a lot to explore here at Von Winning and I suggest sampling any and all of their offerings.”
Disgorgment date and base vintage may vary from review.
Beurer Rose Trocken, Wurttemberg 2020 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
A saignee blend of Trollinger, Zweigelt and Spatburgunder in an eye-popping bottle. Certified biodynamic.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Zealand
Back in stock just in time for Sauv Blanc season!
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Decanter 93 points “Herbaceous on the nose with bell pepper and pea shoots along with lime, guava and passion fruit. Some spice and exotic fruits on the palate and a smokey character that adds roundness. Elegant and balanced with a long finish.”
James Suckling 93 points “Very vivid, fresh passion fruit, lemon, yellow grapefruit and lime here with well cut, flinty elements in play. Some herb and lime-leaf notes, too. The palate has fresh, lively and assertively zesty lime and passion-fruit flavors with a succulent, fleshy feel and big impact. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 92 points “Lovely weight on the midpalate, providing a feeling of sumptuousness. This was whole-bunch-pressed and hand-harvested, and neutral yeast was used (20% wild), which has created an air of restraint. Yes, there are classic passion fruit and gooseberry flavors, but the volume is turned down, and a citrus backbone offers a fresh, composed conclusion.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Perhaps the most complex regular Savvy I can recall from Dog Point, the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc offers up aromas that range from subtle notions of garden peas to melon, nectarine and pink grapefruit. It’s medium-bodied and silky in texture, generous yet crisp, with a focused, slightly chalky and deliciously lingering finish.”
Vermouth / Aperitif
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Yzaguirre Vermouth Rojo, Catalonia, Spain NV 1L ($19.95) $17 special
Winery note “With a mahogany colour and orange highlights, Yzaguirre Classic Red Vermouth has an intense aroma with herby and spicy notes. Mild balsamic touches give it a pleasant and very unique structure. It has a good aromatic intensity in the mouth which balances out the acidity very well. Long, intense and slightly bitter aftertaste.”
Yzaguirre Rojo Reserva Vermouth, Catalonia, Spain NV 1L ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “Mahogany red in colour, Yzaguirre Reserva Red Vermouth is highly aromatic, velvety and pleasant on the palate, with woody, herby and spicy notes reminiscent of ripe fruit. Its initial flavour is very tasty and balanced, in perfect harmony with its acidity. Twelve months in oak barrels give it consistency and character.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 12 bottles available
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2019 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 6 magnums available
Grapelive 93 points “One of Beaujolais’ most classic producers, the Clos de la Roilette in Fleurie, run by Alain and Alexis Coudert, is a small estate that made traditional wines of old vine concentration, texture and complexity. [The wines] are always wonderfully delicious with a bit of raw earthiness along with the granite influenced mineral tones. This 2019 Cuvee Tardive is beautifully round and silken with pretty floral detail, dark berry fruit and hints of spice, leather and walnut wood, the opulent and ripe medium bodied palate delivers crushed blackberry, plum, strawberry and kirsch as well as touches of cinnamon, anise, rose oil and orange tea. I loved the depth of fruit and ease of drinkability here. This is a fine example of elegant and pure Gamay from Fleurie, though these vines in particular are close to Moulin à Vent and have that Cru’s influence and muscle tone. It is really enthralling now, but looks to have substance and structure to age with studied evolution and grace…The Cuvée Tardive is always crafted using the estate’s oldest vines, which are now 80 plus years old, set on the heavy clay and granite soils, again just inside the Fleurie zone with a cooler northeast exposures, which allows this wine to preserve its fresh and lively acidity…The Cuvee Tardive is 100% whole cluster with a spontaneous native yeast primary fermentation, it is done in open-top, neutral wood vats with, as the winery notes, the cap submerged for an extended maceration that lasts for about 18 days. The aging or elevage is on the lees in old foudres, typically it is raised about 9 months in the wood before bottling with low SO2. These Clos de la Roilette wines are very authentic and joyful offerings, and these 2019s are exceptional, especially this attractive Cuvee Tardive.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Also In Stock Now from Clos de la Roilette:
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($159.95) $129 special (that’s only $21.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Bottled only a week before I tasted it, Alain Coudert’s 2019 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of rose petals, red cherries, raspberries, spices and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, it’s elegant and fine-boned, with lively acids, refined structuring tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Readers who gravitate toward classical styles of Beaujolais will prefer the 2019 to the richer, more gourmand 2018, but both are lovely vintages for this reference-point address.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Love Beaujolais?
We have 37 Beaujolais wines in stock now.
Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Daniel Bouland, Domaine du Vissoux, and more on our web store!
Super Sales for Oregon Wine Month
New Week – New Arrivals
New Grapelive Review
De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo
Trendy Bubbles
Super Sales for Oregon Wine Month
We offer over 230 wines from the Willamette Valley in stock now (that’s 2,000+ bottles in the shop). We aim to be the best price in the country, and are matchless in our depth and breadth of in-stock wines. We’re not brokers: we’re invested in our suppliers in that we actually purchase and carry large inventories here now. We put our money where our mouths (and hearts) are to offer you the greatest selection of local (and international) wines available. Now we’re slashing prices even further!
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Brick House Vineyards Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($26.95) Was $21.90, Now $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Chardonnays are a homage to the ways of the Old World…specifically the great white wines of Burgundy. Fresh fruit is fully pressed and run into a variety of French oak barrels where it is allowed a native fermentation under the careful eye of the winemaker. Because we strive to reveal the essence of this exceedingly malleable grape, the juice sees few manipulations…a majority of the barrels are seasoned from use year after year…the percentage of new wood is kept decidedly low. The resulting wine completes malolactic fermentation and remains on its gross lees for a full year, after which it is moved to tank for another six months when it is bottled by hand in the farm winery.”
Certified biodynamic
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Brick House Vineyards Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($26.95) Was $21.90, Now $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our Chardonnays are a homage to the ways of the Old World…specifically the great white wines of Burgundy. Fresh fruit is fully pressed and run into a variety of French oak barrels where it is allowed a native fermentation under the careful eye of the winemaker. Because we strive to reveal the essence of this exceedingly malleable grape, the juice sees few manipulations…a majority of the barrels are seasoned from use year after year…the percentage of new wood is kept decidedly low. The resulting wine completes malolactic fermentation and remains on its gross lees for a full year, after which it is moved to tank for another six months when it is bottled by hand in the farm winery.”
Certified biodynamic
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $22
Consistently one of our favorite producers, Tyson Crowley’s Pinots are elegant and lean in style.
Crowley Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1993 to Wente clone Chardonnay (1.5 acres) and Dijon clone Chardonnay (.75 acres), and beginning in 2017 (2.5 acres) of Draper clone. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed. Tasting Note: 2019 was year 2 of absorbing the grafted Draper clone into the cellar and we’re beginning to see our Chardonnay’s take shape in the best way possible. More austerity, saltiness, minerality and piercing electricity. Un-fined and unfiltered, this 2019 Willamette Valley Chardonnay compromises nothing of mouthfeel to match the high acidity and 12.5% alcohol. Opening with spice, lemon zest and crème brulee on the nose you know you’re in for a taut and rich experience. Aged in oak and finished in steel the wine displays warmth and expanse of barrel aging with the linearity of steel. High energy in all aspects, the mouth begins with typical purity and sense of place, doubles down on the citrus elements, and gracefully expands into peach, orange, clove, and cinder and closes with delicate lees roundness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $23
We carry a vast assortment of wines from Marcus Goodfellow, and each and every one is distinctive and delicious from the humble Willamette Valley bottlings up to the single block and Heritage wines.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($39.95) Was $36, Now $31.90 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Chardonnay Whistling Ridge has a wonderful, mineral-driven character that sets it apart from the rest of the lineup at Goodfellow. The nose offers pure scents of poached pears, apples, white peaches and floral perfume with a rocky undercurrent, while the palate is precise and laser-like with restrained fruits but loads of perfumed nuances on the long, delicate finish. I expect this will grow in bottle, so give it another couple of years in the cellar.”
Winery note “Chalk, salinity, rock dust, and fresh grain. Meyer lemon curd, kumquats, orange pith, almond flower, and new spring growth. Linear body, briny and citrusy, stoney and salty in the finish. This balances broadness with enough structure and acidity to be enjoyable, refreshing, and age worthy. There are similarities to Chablis in the weight, drive, and mineral finish (at least to the classicist producers who still ferment in barrel). 12.8% alcohol, 113 cases produced. Drink now to 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $31.90 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The Durant Vineyard is shielded from the wind by the hill behind it… The cool air flows down to the bottom of the hill, where it pools and slows ripening for the Chardonnay planted there. The vineyard typically sees gentle breezes that do little more than keep the air refreshed. However, the vineyard is cooled effectively by the evaporation of moisture in the topsoils. In comparison to some of the other sites, walking the Durant vineyard over the last decade, I am routinely struck by how pleasant and idyllic it is among the vines. Never too hot, never too dry, never humid.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($26.95) Was $22.75, Now $20.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Modest yields combined with a cool growing season led to a very ideal set of Chardonnays in 2019. These are light to medium bodied wines, with great depth, structure, and acidity. Alcohols are between 11.8-12.8%, giving them a weightlessness, balanced by textural richness from extended elevage on the lees. Flavors are a seamless transition from attack to the finish, and they are more sinewy than soft. While it may seem overly dramatic, as I tasted through the line up, I kept thinking of looking at an exhibit of Samurai swords that came through Portland several years ago. While they will be fine to consume young, these wines scream for a few years in the cellar and I believe will be absolutely outstanding in 5-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($29.95) Was $26, Now $25.50 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “The Ribbon Ridge Pinot Noir is made up entirely of fruit from Whistling Ridge Vineyard. Vines sit ridge-top and catch the daily winds that blow in, slowing ripening, evaporating moisture, and thickening skins. Shallow soils are formed from upli ed marine sedimentary rock, and dry out quickly in the growing season. Richard and Patricia Alvord planted and have farmed the 14 acre plot for the past two and a half decades. Patricia does all of her own grafting, and Pinot Noir plantings are a selection massale of over half a dozen clones. The wines are red-fruited, perfumed, structured and elegant.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $29
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($44.95) Was $36, Now $34.50 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard has a pale ruby color with a lovely perfume of mint leaves, crushed black cherries and turned earth with an iron-like streak. The medium-bodied palate is grainy and fresh with a fine balance of intense, dark fruits and earthy accents, and it finishes long and flavorful.
Winery Note “I love this wine. Vibrantly red fruited, elegant, light-bodied and gamine-like. Perhaps the most purely red of the 2018 Pinot Noirs. Red currants, dry red cherries, potpourri, and orange peel. Weightless, refreshing, crystalline, juicy in the mouth adding strawberries to the parade of red fruits. Very pure, very Pinot Noir. Drink for a year with food, then from 2023-2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($29.95) Was $21.90, Now $20.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 points “Pale ruby, the 2018 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley has a nose of red and black berries with wafts of licorice and dried flowers. The palate is light-bodied, soft and juicy with a fine balance of bright berry fruit and earthy accents, and it finishes long and perfumed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Belle Pente Pinot Gris, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) Was $16.60, Now $15.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery Note “We have always gravitated to a rich, ripe style of Pinot Gris inspired by the great wines of Alsace, and the warm 2015 growing season gave us exactly what we needed! Fans of innocuous, dilute, mass-produced Pinot Grigio may not find a lot to like in this wine. But if your reference point is a Grand Cru from Turckheim or Hunawihr, you’ve come to the right place!…The marine sedimentary soils of Yamhill-Carlton tend to impart a compelling savory saline quality and stony minerality to frame the apple and pear flavors and aromas of the Pinot gris grape. As per our normal protocol, roughly half of the wine is vinified and aged in wood (foudre & neutral barrel) and the other half in stainless steel tanks. Fermentation takes place slowly at cool temperatures and the wine is not bottled until right before the next harvest. It is then held for at least another year before release. The hybrid vinification, coupled with sur lie and bottle aging, creates a wine that has both richness and freshness. It is easy to enjoy on it’s own, and there is not a dish on the planet that it won’t compliment splendidly!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $18
Bonus Sales
We can’t just let Oregon wines have all the fun!
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne 2012 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $47 special, 11 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2012 vintage. 2010 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 92 points “This elegant blanc de blancs shows a pleasing vibrancy from the lively bead and bright acidity, both well-meshed to pretty floral and spice accents and flavors of Gala apple, biscuit and lemon zest. Creamy. Drink now through 2025. 16 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $25.50 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful aromas of mushrooms, bark, cigar tobacco and plums with just a hint of citrus. Full-bodied with incredible softness and complexity. Subtle chocolate, fruit and walnut in the aftertaste. Goes on for minutes. Fantastic wine. Classic, textbook Rioja. A joy. Incredible value! Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “I was quite impressed by the 2012 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza, a classical Rioja that is nicely crafted, with less aging in barrel than the rest of reds and therefore with more fruit character and less López de Heredia signature. This was born as a red for tapas, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo with 13.5% alcohol. It matured in well-seasoned American oak barrels for three years. It has ripe fruit (black rather than red) without excess and a pinch of spices and a twist of oak. 94,500 bottles produced. There are seven lots of this. I tasted a bottled that was filled in May 2018.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Glistening ruby. Spice-accented aromas of red berries, cherry cola and candied rose, plus a smoky nuance in the background. Supple and energetic in style, with a core of zesty acidity adding lift and cut to bitter cherry and red currant flavors that take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Finishes long and smooth, delivering gentle tannic grip, a snap of peppery spices and repeating florality.”
Plus a new case special!
Tenuta Fanti Rosso di Montalcino 2018 750ML ($24.95) Was $19, Now $17.50 Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Tenuta Fanti Rosso di Montalcino 2018 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
Eric Guido-Vinous 89 points “The extroverted 2018 Fanti Rosso di Montalcino is showing masses of ripe strawberry, sweet spices and exotic florals with grounding notes of worn leather and hints of undergrowth. Silky textures meld into tart red berries with a peppery-herbal twist, in a soft and easygoing effort that’s energized by bright acids that only come forward toward the finale. A mix of red fruits resonate on the finish, along with wild herbs and florals, punctuating the experience on a Rosso that is very easy to like.”
Super Deals Arriving This Week:
On May the 4th, this can be with you…
G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($17.95) $12.50 pre-arrival special
No reviews for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Grapelive 90 points “Vajra’s Langhe Rosso blend is primarily the classic varietals Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, but also has an interesting addition of Albarossa, Freisa and even a touch of Pinot Noir all of which makes for a unique Piedmonte red that shows silky tannins, tangy vibrant fruits including brandied cherries, plum, cranberry, grilled citrus (Moro orange) and tart red currant along with wild herbs, delicate rustic notes, floral elements, mineral and savory spices….Giuseppe Vajra continues the traditions of his father Aldo, who was a big advocate for organic and holistic farming and promoted a sense of lightness in the wines always searching out vineyard sites thought to be too cold and too high up to ripen, but as history shows he was spot on and Vajra’s high elevation Barolo is one of the most prized wines in the world. The Vajra Rosso is mostly all stainless steel fermented with each lot and varietal done separately and blended before an early bottling to preserve fresh brightness, which this dark ruby/blue hued 2018 shows with lovely transparent clarity. This 2018 opens up nicely with air adding pipe tobacco, black tea, cola bean and dried rose petals, but the minty zesty tartness remains until the finish, in fact it is really nice with a bit of chill and with a picnic spread and or pasta dishes. The 2017 vintage was very warm and the wines are a bit bigger and fruit driven, with these 2018 shows a little more finesse and acidity, which shows through in this Langhe Rosso, it is wine to enjoy now and often, it has a hand crafted feel, but has no pretense, it is easy and delicious. For those looking for value with want this one, no question, but if you want to stay varietal pure, I highly recommend Vajra’s Dolcello, Barbera and Nebbiolo bottlings, there’s quality, value and grace throughout the lineup here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $15
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Illahe Vineyards ‘Capitol Fizz’ Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley NV 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special
A light pink blend of Pinot Noir, Gruner, Pinot Gris, Viognier and Chardonnay.
Winery note “Capitol Fizz is a dry, pink bubbly bottle of refreshment for workers, picnickers, fishers, makers, singers, and watchers of the western sunset. Picked early at harvest, it has lively acid and a pretty aroma enhanced by its sparkle and joined together with the feeling of seeing a rainbow behind a waterfall. Capitol Fizz comes in two sizes–individual enjoyment, and friendly gathering. This is a sparkling wine that you can drink like a beer. Just pop the crown cap. No pontification required.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Illahe Vineyards Viognier, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
A light, zippy & fragrant version of this Rhone grape.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Illahe Vineyards Estate Tempranillo Rose, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery note “(For the 2019 vintage) The 2019 Illahe tempranillo rosé offers fresh aromas Lemon zest, spruce tip, rhubarb, and fleshy watermelon rind. A fresh, bright, and crisp harmonious pallet rounds into juicy honeydew melon and Oregon strawberry finish. Pair with sunshine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Just landed and already almost sold out. More arrives next Friday!
Kelley Fox Willamette Blanc, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($29.95) $27 special
Unmacerated Weber Vineyard Pinot Noir with a splash of Chardonnay.
Winery note “This is a dry white wine lovingly produced from old vine Pinot Noir and from Chardonnay aged in neutral French oak barrels. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The classé-ist wine in town!
Belle Pente “Cuvée Classé” Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Winery note “This is a brand new wine for the 2018 vintage, a blend of 26 “reserve quality” barrels, 2/3 from our Belle Pente estate vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton and 1/3 from Murto Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. These barrels were “de-classified” from the single vineyard bottlings to create a “Super Willamette” blend from these two great vineyards in the top appellations within the valley. Since it is definitely more “class” than “de-class”, we are naming it Cuvee Classe. Enjoy! 65% Belle Pente Estate Vineyard, Yamhill-Carlton, marine sedimentary soil, planted 1998 & 1999. – Pommard, Wadenswil and Dijon 113, 114, 115 and 777 clones. 35% Murto Vineyard, Dundee Hills, volcanic soils, planted 1978 & 1986 – Pommard clone.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Ayres Vineyard & Winery Red Blend, Oregon 2018 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
A Tempranillo-based red blend that’s ready for your next grill fest or BBQ.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Washington
Back in stock!
Luke Cabernet Sauvignon, Wahluke Slope 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Winery note “LUKE Cabernet Sauvignon offers aromas dominated by marionberry and dark chocolate, accented by hints of mint and molasses. Supple, focused and expressive, layering coffee-accented blackberry and currant flavors with polished tannins and hints of cedar and smoke. Wahluke Slope AVA, Columbia Valley. Vineyards: Weinbau, Ravenscliff, Stonetree, Rosebud, Clifton Hill Varietals: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon 3% Petit Verdot 1% Malbec.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
France – Champagne
We were deeply impressed by the Champagnes from Huré Frères, and think you will be, too. This is an estate that just passed into hands of the younger generation that’s gaining great press. The ‘4 V’ wines are single parcel, single vintage, single varietal (and single vision) wines with no dosage aged for at least four years on the lees.
Huré Frères (Pierre et François Huré) “4 V” Chardonnay Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
(Formerly labeled as 4 Éléments)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Disgorged in December 2019 with three grams per liter dosage, the 2015 Extra-Brut 4 Éléments Chardonnay derives from Les Blanches Voies in Rilly-la-Montagne—which readers will recognize as the source of a new single-vineyard bottling from Vilmart. Opening in the glass with scents of pear, dried white flowers, smoke and blanched almonds, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and concentrated, with racy acids and chalky structuring extract, complemented by a youthfully frothy mousse. This will be even better after a year on cork.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Huré Frères (Pierre et François Huré) “4 V” Pinot Noir Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
(Formerly labeled as 4 Éléments)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Disgorged with three grams per liter dosage in December 2019, the 2015 Extra-Brut 4 Éléments Pinot Noir derives from lieu-dit La Perthe in Ludes. Exhibiting aromas of waxy orchard fruit, red berries, smoke and toasted almonds, it’s medium to full-bodied, deep and incisive, with tangy acids and a tightly wound core. Concentrated and penetrating, this will blossom with some age on cork.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Huré Frères L’Invitation Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine & Spirits 93 points “This is Huré’s flagship, a blend of equal parts pinots noir and meunier, with 20 percent chardonnay, aged four years on the lees. It’s the first wine we’ve tasted from him, reported to be a talented young grower, and it makes us want to drink more of his range. This is a subtle wine, brisk with sunny limestone on the surface, ripe with red fruit underneath. That fruit reveals more complexity as the wine opens in the glass, with hints of lime and hazelnuts, lasting with ornate finesse.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “Based on the 2016 vintage and disgorged in January 2020 with five grams per liter dosage, the latest release of the NV Brut Invitation offers up aromas of apples, pears and toasted bread. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and nicely concentrated, it’s fleshy and textural, with racy acids, ripe fruit and a pillowy mousse.”
2016-base, disgorgement date may vary from reviews.
Distributor note “Flagship cuvée for the estate. Lutte raisonnée, yet in practice organic. In Ludes in the Montagne de Reims, also some vineyards from villages Tardenois and Vitry. This wine is mostly 2016 with some reserve wine (reserve perpétuelle started in 1984). Partial Malo and 8% in oak.”
France – Loire
Henri Bonneau is a producer without peer in the Southern Rhône. No other winemaker has produced as many epic bottles in the last 30 years. These bottles offer exceptionally rare opportunities to experience what Jeb Dunnuck describes as “the essence of traditionally made Châteauneuf-du-Pape”.
Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Reserve des Celestins, Rhone 2012 750ML ($499.95) $419 special, only 6 bottles available!
Wine Spectator 97 points “This defines old school, with savory detail and notes of roasted chestnut, fresh tobacco leaf, cedar and brick dust leading off, backed by a core of currant, cherry and plum fruit flavors that is lightly dried yet nonetheless fresh and racy in feel. Singed juniper and bay leaf hints score the finish. Likely to hold just like this for some time. Best from 2020 through 2040. 400 cases made, 100 cases imported. — JM”
France – Provence
A lighter style of Bandol rosé, this is always the first to arrive and the first to sell out!
Le Galantin Bandol Rose, Provence 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19.90 special
Importer note “Classic Provençal rosé with delightful tree-fruit and citrus notes (peach, nectarine, grapefruit) and a crisp finish. Structured and complex, with citrus and red fruit on the palate. Around 5850 cases produced. Around 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault and 25% Grenache, from vines planted on southwest facing hillsides, with clay/limestone soil.”
Importer note “The ancient steep vineyards of Bandol – first planted by Phocaean Greeks c.600BC – are the perfect home for Mourvèdre. This variety produces wines that can age at least three decades. As at le Galantin, the best vineyards are planted on poor clay and sandy soil on old terraces, known locally as restanques. The appellation’s 1400 hectares of largely south facing vineyards get an extraordinary 3,000 hours of sun a year, but the heat is tempered by constant wind and also humidity from the sea. Following the steps of her father Achille, who bought the land in 1960 and produced his first vintage in 1972, Céline Pascale took over the domaine in 1999. She is helped by her brother Jérôme, who takes care of the vineyards. Today, Domaine le Galantin farms 30 hectares of terraced vineyards located in Le Plan du Castellet. Everything is hand-harvested and done with organic methods.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Burgundy
Vincent Girardin is one of the most reliable producers of Burgundy, both red and white. His wines leave the cellar with plenty of personality from their vineyards, but also the focus of a clear and steady winemaker who has honed his craft over decades.
Vincent Girardin Corton Les Perrieres Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2017 750ML ($149.95) Was $119, Now $99 Super Subscriber Special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The most serious of these reds is the 2017 Corton-Perrières Grand Cru, a wine that unwinds in the glass with notes of red berries, cassis and spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and nicely concentrated, with the most mid-palate volume of any wine in the range, this will reward a bit of bottle age.”
Burghound 91 points “A relatively high-toned and slightly fruity nose displays unusual (for Corton) notes of cranberry and dark raspberry. The sleek, intense and mineral-inflected medium weight flavors possess better depth and persistence on the balanced if youthfully austere finale.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Pinot Noir Cuvee Saint-Vincent, Burgundy 2017 750ML ($34.95) $24 special
VinopolNote: From 45 year-old vines in the Cote de Beaune. Aged in French oak (10% new) for ten months.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
France – Bordeaux
Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special
Case-6 Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $37.42/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Attractive dark-stone aromas with graphite and ripe dark berries sit fresh on the nose. The palate has a riper feel with very rich, dense fruit presence and a heavier, tannin line weight. Full body. Try from 2022.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Grand Corbin has grown into a powerful, dense Saint-Émilion. This is a fairly rich, bombastic style, and yet all the elements fall into place. I would give the 2016 a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften, but there is good depth and plenty of potential. A rush of chocolate, leather, licorice, smoke and black cherry meld into the potent finish. Tasted three times with consistent notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A new-school overachieving Bordeaux that’s delicious now and over the next decade.
Château Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Case-6 Château Lilian Ladouys, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ML ($239.95) $206 special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “The blueberry and blackberry aromas are certainly attractive here. Full-bodied and dense with a very velvety texture and a long, generous finish of ripe fruit and spice. Drink from 2022.”
Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “A perennial overachiever, the 2016 Château Lilian Ladouys brings the goods in 2016 and has a complex, medium to full-bodied, character-filled style to go with loads of blue fruits, incense, dried herbs, and a hint of violets. A blend of 62% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6% Petit Verdot all raised in 30% new barrels, this charming, front end-loaded effort is well worth seeking out. It should keep for 10-15 years.”
Neal Martin – Vinous 92 points “This is the third time I have tasted the 2016 Lilian Ladouys in bottle. It retains a very intense blackberry and boysenberry bouquet laced with minerals, but displays a little more amplitude than it did in August. The tightly knit palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and still shows the graphite seam that I remarked upon previously. There is a little more persistence now, hence the slightly higher score. Good potential.”
Back in stock and ready to party!
Von Winning Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Grapelive 92 points “German bubbles are incredible and this one is a classy example at a reasonable price, not to be outdone by Prosecco, the Cremants of Alsace, the Loire and Burgundy, and Champagne even, these modern Sekt(s) are stylish, elegant and full of personality. This one [is] in the mold of one of my favorite small Champagne house, Agrapart, with its cool invigorating mineral tones and extreme dry flavors. Von Winning is one of Germany’s top wineries, based in the chalky sandstone soiled Pfalz region, with an exceptional range of wines, especially their absolutely awesome series of Grosses Gewachs (Grand Cru) Rieslings, though there is excellence throughout the collection here and as I have noted in my prior reviews, Von Winning does one of the finest Sauvignon Blanc(s) in the world, too. The Extra Brut Riesling Sekt is vibrant and steely from the start with a mix of zesty citrus and peachy fruits, a hint of wet stones, leesy/yeasty notes and a faint floral element all of which folds together nicely and vigorously on the energy driven light to medium bodied palate that gains texture with air, but stays firmly taut with an expressive, subtly luxurious small bubbled mousse. This is delicious stuff, I’m so happy after a lengthy wait that the Von Winning sparkling Riesling is more readily available in the States… I highly recommend grabbing some of this fine bubbly and celebrate any of life’s happier moments and, wallet allowing, add a few of the single vineyard Trockens, especially those GG’s, as well as the Paradiesgarten, which is an awesome value. The Von Winning Sekt is crafted in the classic methode champenoise style with 100% Riesling being used, sourced from, as the winery notes, a selection of different vineyards close to Deidesheim on loess-clay and red sandstone soils with a lengthy period on the lees. There’s a lot to explore here at Von Winning and I suggest sampling any and all of their offerings.”
Disgorgment date and base vintage may vary from review.
Beurer Rose Trocken, Wurttemberg 2020 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
A saignee blend of Trollinger, Zweigelt and Spatburgunder in an eye-popping bottle. Certified biodynamic.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Zealand
Back in stock just in time for Sauv Blanc season!
Dog Point Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Decanter 93 points “Herbaceous on the nose with bell pepper and pea shoots along with lime, guava and passion fruit. Some spice and exotic fruits on the palate and a smokey character that adds roundness. Elegant and balanced with a long finish.”
James Suckling 93 points “Very vivid, fresh passion fruit, lemon, yellow grapefruit and lime here with well cut, flinty elements in play. Some herb and lime-leaf notes, too. The palate has fresh, lively and assertively zesty lime and passion-fruit flavors with a succulent, fleshy feel and big impact. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 92 points “Lovely weight on the midpalate, providing a feeling of sumptuousness. This was whole-bunch-pressed and hand-harvested, and neutral yeast was used (20% wild), which has created an air of restraint. Yes, there are classic passion fruit and gooseberry flavors, but the volume is turned down, and a citrus backbone offers a fresh, composed conclusion.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92 points “Perhaps the most complex regular Savvy I can recall from Dog Point, the 2019 Sauvignon Blanc offers up aromas that range from subtle notions of garden peas to melon, nectarine and pink grapefruit. It’s medium-bodied and silky in texture, generous yet crisp, with a focused, slightly chalky and deliciously lingering finish.”
Vermouth / Aperitif
Liquore delle Sirene Americano Rosso Aperitivo, Piedmont 750ML ($39.95) $34.50 special
Distributor note “Natural red aperitif made by somm Elisa Carta, inspired by the Venetian heritage. Handmade in small batches, blending wines from the Lake Garda area and single botanical macerations. The natural color is extracted from Hibiscus and Monarda flowers. Not artificial colors or flavorings.”
Distributor note “Natural red aperitif made by somm Elisa Carta, inspired by the Venetian heritage. Handmade in small batches, blending wines from the Lake Garda area and single botanical macerations. The natural color is extracted from Hibiscus and Monarda flowers. Not artificial colors or flavorings.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Winery note “With a mahogany colour and orange highlights, Yzaguirre Classic Red Vermouth has an intense aroma with herby and spicy notes. Mild balsamic touches give it a pleasant and very unique structure. It has a good aromatic intensity in the mouth which balances out the acidity very well. Long, intense and slightly bitter aftertaste.”
Yzaguirre Rojo Reserva Vermouth, Catalonia, Spain NV 1L ($27.95) $24 special
Winery note “Mahogany red in colour, Yzaguirre Reserva Red Vermouth is highly aromatic, velvety and pleasant on the palate, with woody, herby and spicy notes reminiscent of ripe fruit. Its initial flavour is very tasty and balanced, in perfect harmony with its acidity. Twelve months in oak barrels give it consistency and character.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
New Grapelive Review
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 12 bottles available
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie Cuvee Tardive, Beaujolais 2019 1.5L ($69.95) $59 special, 6 magnums available
Grapelive 93 points “One of Beaujolais’ most classic producers, the Clos de la Roilette in Fleurie, run by Alain and Alexis Coudert, is a small estate that made traditional wines of old vine concentration, texture and complexity. [The wines] are always wonderfully delicious with a bit of raw earthiness along with the granite influenced mineral tones. This 2019 Cuvee Tardive is beautifully round and silken with pretty floral detail, dark berry fruit and hints of spice, leather and walnut wood, the opulent and ripe medium bodied palate delivers crushed blackberry, plum, strawberry and kirsch as well as touches of cinnamon, anise, rose oil and orange tea. I loved the depth of fruit and ease of drinkability here. This is a fine example of elegant and pure Gamay from Fleurie, though these vines in particular are close to Moulin à Vent and have that Cru’s influence and muscle tone. It is really enthralling now, but looks to have substance and structure to age with studied evolution and grace…The Cuvée Tardive is always crafted using the estate’s oldest vines, which are now 80 plus years old, set on the heavy clay and granite soils, again just inside the Fleurie zone with a cooler northeast exposures, which allows this wine to preserve its fresh and lively acidity…The Cuvee Tardive is 100% whole cluster with a spontaneous native yeast primary fermentation, it is done in open-top, neutral wood vats with, as the winery notes, the cap submerged for an extended maceration that lasts for about 18 days. The aging or elevage is on the lees in old foudres, typically it is raised about 9 months in the wood before bottling with low SO2. These Clos de la Roilette wines are very authentic and joyful offerings, and these 2019s are exceptional, especially this attractive Cuvee Tardive.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Also In Stock Now from Clos de la Roilette:
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($159.95) $129 special (that’s only $21.50/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Bottled only a week before I tasted it, Alain Coudert’s 2019 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of rose petals, red cherries, raspberries, spices and orange rind. Medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, it’s elegant and fine-boned, with lively acids, refined structuring tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Readers who gravitate toward classical styles of Beaujolais will prefer the 2019 to the richer, more gourmand 2018, but both are lovely vintages for this reference-point address.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Love Beaujolais?
We have 37 Beaujolais wines in stock now.
Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Daniel Bouland, Domaine du Vissoux, and more on our web store!
De Forville
Arriving Friday, May 7th
Year in and year out, De Forville makes some of the most elegant wines available: classic, high-toned, ageable and delicious. They aren’t frequently reviewed, nor are they frightfully overpriced. In fact, they’re downright affordable for the level of quality.
Rosenthal Wine note “The DeForville family emigrated to Piedmont from Belgium in 1848 and established themselves in the village of Barbaresco in 1860. Here, the family was instantly engaged in growing the Nebbiolo grape under the direction of Gioachino De Forville. He was succeeded by his son, Vincenzo, followed by Vincenzo’s nephew, Paolo and, then, the fourth generation is represented by Paolo’s daughter, Mafalda and her husband, Bruno Anfosso. Now, the fifth generation is in place: Valter and Paolo Anfosso, the two sons of Bruno and Mafalda. We are particularly proud to note that, along with the Ferrando family in the northern reaches of Piedmont, we have worked with the Anfosso-De Forville family since the very first moment of our engagement as importers of wine for the USA. Our first vintage together was 1978 and we have worked together every vintage since that time.”
De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 pre-arrival special
Rosenthal Wine note “Langhe Nebbiolo: This cuvée is a selection of Nebbiolo from the younger vines of the various “cru” in Barbaresco supplemented by grapes from the neighboring village of Neive. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The wine is fermented in stainless steel for 10 days to 2 weeks and then is refined in large oak barrels for an additional year before being bottled. An astonishing value … as are all of the fine wines from this remarkable estate. We import as much as 9600 bottles per year of the Langhe Nebbiolo.”
Rosenthal Wine note “The DeForville family emigrated to Piedmont from Belgium in 1848 and established themselves in the village of Barbaresco in 1860. Here, the family was instantly engaged in growing the Nebbiolo grape under the direction of Gioachino De Forville. He was succeeded by his son, Vincenzo, followed by Vincenzo’s nephew, Paolo and, then, the fourth generation is represented by Paolo’s daughter, Mafalda and her husband, Bruno Anfosso. Now, the fifth generation is in place: Valter and Paolo Anfosso, the two sons of Bruno and Mafalda. We are particularly proud to note that, along with the Ferrando family in the northern reaches of Piedmont, we have worked with the Anfosso-De Forville family since the very first moment of our engagement as importers of wine for the USA. Our first vintage together was 1978 and we have worked together every vintage since that time.”
De Forville Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 pre-arrival special
Rosenthal Wine note “Langhe Nebbiolo: This cuvée is a selection of Nebbiolo from the younger vines of the various “cru” in Barbaresco supplemented by grapes from the neighboring village of Neive. The average age of the vines is 30 years. The wine is fermented in stainless steel for 10 days to 2 weeks and then is refined in large oak barrels for an additional year before being bottled. An astonishing value … as are all of the fine wines from this remarkable estate. We import as much as 9600 bottles per year of the Langhe Nebbiolo.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $22
Trendy Bubbles
Our favorite rosé is back!
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Aromas of cinnamon spice and everything nice!
Domaine de la Garreliere Milliard d’Etoiles, Loire NV 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Cabernet Franc & Chenin Blanc. Methode ancestrale
Domaine Bruno Cormerais Methode Traditionnelle Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($19.95) $18 special, 32 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Mostly Folle Blanche, from an assortment of terroirs in Muscadet. Aged 2-3 years on the lees in bottle before disgorgement, low dosage.
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2020 750ML ($319.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Importer note “The pink sibling of Ameztoi’s flagship white, this vibrant rosé is made from a mix of red and white indigenous grapes and is bottled with a little residual carbonation to give it a light spritz.”
Aromas of cinnamon spice and everything nice!
Domaine de la Garreliere Milliard d’Etoiles, Loire NV 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Cabernet Franc & Chenin Blanc. Methode ancestrale
Domaine Bruno Cormerais Methode Traditionnelle Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($19.95) $18 special, 32 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Mostly Folle Blanche, from an assortment of terroirs in Muscadet. Aged 2-3 years on the lees in bottle before disgorgement, low dosage.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.83 (ouch!)
This ‘almost a blanc de noirs’ is the house’s calling card
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($199.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Reviewed Nov 2017] This bright and zesty Champagne is lightly juicy and appealing, offering flavors of Honeycrisp apple, ripe white cherry, biscuit and pickled ginger. Balanced and lacy in texture, with a lingering, spiced finish. Drink now through 2022. 2,200 cases imported.”
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed Oct 2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Reviewed Apr 2020] Disgorged in June 2019, the latest rendition of Drappier’s NV Brut Carte d’Or is showing well, bursting with pretty aromas of peach, honeyed orchard fruit and white flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, with fine depth and tension and a penetrating finish.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]
Our best-selling Rosé Champagne
Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($319.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Andre Clouet Grand Cru Brut Rosé, Champagne NV 750ML ($599.95) $469 special (that’s only $39.08/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Review from prior disgorgement] The latest release of Clouet’s deeply colored NV Brut Rosé No 3 Grand Cru is showing well, opening in the glass with notes of blood orange, red berries, ripe apples and oatmeal. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, broad and vinous, with ripe acids, a frothy mousse and a moderately intense finish. This is an attractive, gastronomic rosé that hails exclusively from Bouzy.”
Full-bodied and generous
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
R. Dumont & Fils Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($27.95) $20.90 special, 36+ half bottles in stock now
Importer note “The Dumont Brut NV is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The grapes from their vineyard have qualities that seem less aggressive and more sumptuous than those from the northern districts. In addition, vinification of whole berries at low temperatures enhances this quality of soft elegance. The NV is a blend of vintages typically between two and five years old. It is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Le Domaine d’Henri 821 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs de Chardonnay 2018 750ML ($35.95) $29.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Produced from 35+ year old vines in the Chablis appellation using the Méthode Ancestrale meaning that the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and bottled before aging with the CO2 necessary for the long haul already in the bottle. Aged on its lees for 24 months, it is then disgorged with no added sugar. 821 refers to the minimum total number of days necessary to produce this wine from the beginning of the growing season to the moment the bottle leaves the cellar. Delightful toast and citrus notes with some exotic tinges lead into a serious wine with high mineral tension, full fruit in the middle and a very fine and persistent bead. This is an impressive wine that will surprise many.”
Importer note “Produced from 35+ year old vines in the Chablis appellation using the Méthode Ancestrale meaning that the alcoholic fermentation takes place in stainless steel vats and bottled before aging with the CO2 necessary for the long haul already in the bottle. Aged on its lees for 24 months, it is then disgorged with no added sugar. 821 refers to the minimum total number of days necessary to produce this wine from the beginning of the growing season to the moment the bottle leaves the cellar. Delightful toast and citrus notes with some exotic tinges lead into a serious wine with high mineral tension, full fruit in the middle and a very fine and persistent bead. This is an impressive wine that will surprise many.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.