In This Newsletter:
Featured New Arrival
Marie-Courtin: The Maven of Champagne
New Week – New Arrivals
Boulay:
The best in Sancerre since the 14th Century!
Domaine du Pegau:
Paragon of Châteauneuf
Staff Pick:
Can Feixes, The Prize of Penedès
Rosé:
The Shades of Summer
Staff Pick:
Weingut Wwe Dr. Erben Thanisch
We are back open for in-store shopping
Please note that we will not be shipping out of our facility from July 20th to the 29th
Featured New Arrival
Marie-Courtin:
The Maven of Champagne
We can’t introduce these wines any better than Antonio Galloni of Wine Advocate: “This is a breathtaking set of wines from proprietor Dominique Moreau. I can’t say enough good things about these artisan Champagnes. If Moreau keeps making wines like these she will soon be one of the superstars of Champagne. Readers should do whatever they can to taste these fabulous wines.”
Dominique opened the vineyard in 2005, naming the house after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, who she described as a “woman of the earth”. That same spirit in mind, Dominique has set out to produce single-vineyard, single varietal, single vintage Champagnes from biodynamically-grown grapes, using indigenous yeasts and no dosage. Dominique also embraces a spirituality in her production and pays devoted care to the evolution of the grape in the vineyard as well as in the wine. Each of the estate’s four cuvees have their own personality and spiritual significance to Dominique. With these wines, Marie Courtin is quickly becoming a recognizable name in grower champagne.
New Arrived from Marie-Courtin:
Marie-Courtin Resonance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne (2017) 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 92 Points “The 2016 Extra Brut Resonance, 100% Pinot Noir from a tiny parcel of 40 year-old vines in Polisot, bristles with energy and tension. Orchard fruit, white flowers, sage, chalk and mint all race out of the glass. With a bit of air, the richer side of Pinot starts to emerge as the wine gains breadth and volume. Proprietor Dominique Moreau has captured energy as well as richness, while avoiding the stark austerity that once defined her Champagnes. Bright floral and savory overtones linger effortlessly. Disgorged: November, 2019.”
Dominique opened the vineyard in 2005, naming the house after her grandmother, Marie Courtin, who she described as a “woman of the earth”. That same spirit in mind, Dominique has set out to produce single-vineyard, single varietal, single vintage Champagnes from biodynamically-grown grapes, using indigenous yeasts and no dosage. Dominique also embraces a spirituality in her production and pays devoted care to the evolution of the grape in the vineyard as well as in the wine. Each of the estate’s four cuvees have their own personality and spiritual significance to Dominique. With these wines, Marie Courtin is quickly becoming a recognizable name in grower champagne.
New Arrived from Marie-Courtin:
Marie-Courtin Resonance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne (2017) 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 92 Points “The 2016 Extra Brut Resonance, 100% Pinot Noir from a tiny parcel of 40 year-old vines in Polisot, bristles with energy and tension. Orchard fruit, white flowers, sage, chalk and mint all race out of the glass. With a bit of air, the richer side of Pinot starts to emerge as the wine gains breadth and volume. Proprietor Dominique Moreau has captured energy as well as richness, while avoiding the stark austerity that once defined her Champagnes. Bright floral and savory overtones linger effortlessly. Disgorged: November, 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
In Stock Now from Marie-Courtin
Marie-Courtin Efflorescence Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML (99.95) $69 special
Antonio Galloni 94 Points “A complete and wonderfully nuanced wine, the 2013 Extra Brut Efflorescence is fabulous. Bright and sculpted to the core, the 2013 exudes energy. Chalk, mint, jasmine and orchard fruit add complexity, but it is the wine’s overall balance that is most impressive. The Efflorescence offers striking translucence and energy from start to finish. The non-dosé style is especially successful here. Disgorged in April 2017 with no dosage.”
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “Efflorescence is from an east-facing vineyard with 40-year-old vines (sélection massale) on Kimmeridgian soils. Fermented and aged for one year in pièces and 36 months on the second lees before the disgorgement…” –, writing on the 2013 vintage
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Marie-Courtin Eloquence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Champagne 2015 750ML ($99.95) $75 special
Antonio Galloni 93 Points “The 2015 Extra Brut Eloquence (Chardonnay) is another superb wine in this range from Marie Courtin. Bright and focused, the 2015 is loaded with character. Citrus confit and floral notes take on striking richness as this resonant, expansive Champagne shows off its personality. The purity of the flavors is just striking. Disgorged: May, 2019.”
Importer note “Single parcel of Chardonnay located in the village of Polisot near the Pinot vineyard in the Cote des Bars. Massale selection, low-vigor rootstock, 15-20 yr old vines. Clay and Kimmerdigian Limestone bands similar to those found in Chablis. The Cotes des Bar is closer in proximity to Chablis than to Epernay. Aged in used barriques and bottled with no dosage. Remeniscent of Chablis with bubbles, this Blanc de Blanc is full, yet chiseled with intense mineral character.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marie-Courtin Concordance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $75 special
Antonio Galloni 93 Points “The 2015 Extra Brut Concordance Sans Soufre (100% Pinot Noir) is bright, precise and absolutely gorgeous. Dominique Moreau seems to have really dialed in her approach over the last few years. I can’t remember tasting a Concordance with this much translucent energy. Pinot Noir in the Aube has rarely been this weightless and nuanced. The purity of the flavors is just striking. No dosage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marie-Courtin Resonance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer note “Sourced from massale selection vines 35-40 years in age from a single parcel located in Polisot (Cote des Bar). The fruit for Resonance comes from the top of the slope where there is little topsoil. Clay and Kimmerdigian Limestone bands similar to those found in Chablis. The Cotes des Bar is closer in proximity to Chablis than to Epernay. Aged in stainless steel and bottled with no dosage. Fresh and nervy with a rounder character than in past years. Classic Marie Courtin cut with a bit more meat on the bone.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marie-Courtin ‘Indulgence’ Extra Brut Rose, Champagne 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Antonio Galloni 92 Points “The 2015 Extra Brut Rosé Indulgence is 100% Pinot Noir that sees a maceration of about 48 hours. Pomegranate, mint, dried flowers, game and dried pear are all finely knit. Lifted floral and savory notes suggest at least some whole cluster influence. This is such a classy and expressive Champagne. Here, too, I see what appears to be more finesse than in the past. No dosage. Disgorged: November, 2018.”
Importer note “50 year old Pinot Noir vines from .30 hectares. Sandy marl with veins of kimmeridgian. Balanced above all else, the Indulgence rose is made from 100% Pinot Noir that macerated for four days. Not too fruity, not too meaty…just right! Non-dosé.”
Marie-Courtin Presence Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Importer note “70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Blanc. Harvested from massale selection vines of 1/3 Pinot Blanc and 2/3 Chardonnay averaging 20 years of age. The Pinot Blanc is planted in kimmerdgian-centric soils while the Chardonnay is planted in portlandian soils. Aged in epoxy lined tank, three year elevage sur lie, unfined and unfiltered, zero dosage and zero sulfur added. Dominique Moreau’s Blanc de Blanc blend combines Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc grown in the unique kimmeridgian and portlandian soils of the Aube. This zero dosage, no sulfur added cuvee is rich and racy and has a commanding “presence”, if you will, just as we have come to expect from this rising star.
We offer 164 different Champagnes in stock now, including cult growers such as Savart, Bereche & Laval. Shop our selection on the web store now!
New Week – New Arrivals
Rosé
Proprieta Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa’ Rosato Coste della Sesia, Italy 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Eric Guido Vinous 92 points “The 2020 is an understated and delicate rendition of Rosa Del Rosa. Nuances of peach tea, chamomile, green apple and hints of ginger can all be found with coaxing. It’s silky and pliant in feel, the vibrant acids and mineral tones mixing to create a tug-of-war of sweet and salty tension, as notes of ripe melon give way to pretty inner florals. This tapers off persistent, lightly structured and buzzing with residual energy, completely refreshing the palate with a twang of sour citrus. The Rosa Del Rosa is a blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina. It’s very enjoyable already, but it will likely blossom further with a bit more time in bottle.”
Proprieta Sperino ‘Rosa del Rosa’ Rosato Coste della Sesia, Italy 2020 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Eric Guido Vinous 92 points “The 2020 is an understated and delicate rendition of Rosa Del Rosa. Nuances of peach tea, chamomile, green apple and hints of ginger can all be found with coaxing. It’s silky and pliant in feel, the vibrant acids and mineral tones mixing to create a tug-of-war of sweet and salty tension, as notes of ripe melon give way to pretty inner florals. This tapers off persistent, lightly structured and buzzing with residual energy, completely refreshing the palate with a twang of sour citrus. The Rosa Del Rosa is a blend of Nebbiolo and Vespolina. It’s very enjoyable already, but it will likely blossom further with a bit more time in bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Bunan Cotes de Provence Belouve Rosé France 2020 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Winery note “Cinsault : 60% Cabernet Sauvignon : 30% Ugni blanc : 10%. Nose and palate: Pale salmon pink hue. Elegant and fruity nose revealing aromas of citrus fruits. A direct and harmonious wine. A crunchy rosé with a clean attack elongated by lingering fruity notes.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Pago Casa Gran ‘Casa Benasal’ Rosado Valencia, Spain 2020 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special
Winery note “Refreshing wine, young and dry. It’s pleasant with enough body to sustain it. Great acidity. Monastrell and Syrah.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France- Chablis
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
*No review available for 2006, 2005 substituted*
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2005 Chablis 1er Cru Côte de Léchet is more complex than the Vaillon, unfurling with complex aromas of honeycomb, mandarin oil, fresh mushroom, almond paste and oyster shell. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, rich and gourmand, with a satiny attack, a deep, concentrated core and tangy balancing acids. It’s a textural, sapid Chablis that will work well at the table.”
France – Rhone
Expect the same vibrancy, character and structure we’ve come to associate with RemeJeanne. Run by a father-son team Remy and Oliver Klein in the high elevation village of Sabran, they farm a visually stunning estate of 86 acres directly facing Mount Ventoux and entirely organic to boot. This proximity to the mountain puts the domaine right in the path of the Mistral wind, which cools the air and creates grapes of greater intensity. Remejeanne has bottled summertime.After the resounding success of the 2017 Chevrefeuilles that we previously stocked, we’ve expanded our offering for this year to include two of their whites and their oldest vine Syrah from their top site
Domaine la Remejeanne Les Arbousiers Blanc Cotes du Rhone, Rhone 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Importer note “Certified organic. 25% Roussanne, 25% Viognier, 25% Clairette, 13% Marsanne, 12% Bourbolenc. 25+ year old vines. 250m altitude. Eastern exposure. Loess soils over limestone and sandstone. Indigenous yeast. Aged in tank.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine la Remejeanne Les Chevrefeuilles Blanc Cotes du Rhone, Rhone 2020 750ML ($19.95) $17.70 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine la Remejeanne Les Chevrefeuilles Cotes du Rhone, Rhone 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Importer note “70% Syrah, 10% Grenache, 10% Mourvèdre, 5% Carignan, 5% Marselan. Grown on loess over limestone and sandstone on southeast-facing slopes at 250m of altitude.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Remejeanne Eglantiers Cotes du Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
VinopolNote: 50+ year old syrah vines grown organically at 700 ft elevation.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Loire
Chateau de Breze – Arnaud Lambert Saumur Clos de Midi, Loire 2020 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special
No review available for the 2020 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 93 points “This offers an expressive mix of yellow apple, persimmon and Meyer lemon flavors infused with light notes of hazelnut and hints of smoke. The acidity is electric, giving this plenty of verve and carrying all the elements to the long and seductive, lightly floral finish. Best from 2022 through 2034. 3,750 cases made, 627 cases imported.”
Chateau de Breze – Arnaud Lambert Saumur Clos David, Loire 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
No reviews available for 2016 vintage. 2015 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 93 points “[2015 vintage] High-pitched, leading off with green almond, white peach and honeysuckle notes. Bright, detailed and pure, with lemon peel, quinine and star fruit elements racing through the finish. Shows no signs of maturity despite the late release. Drink now through 2025. 584 cases made, 95 cases imported.”
Importer note “Size: 1.3 ha (3.21 ac). Variety: Chenin. Vine Age: Planted in 1965. Terroir: Northeast-facing, 70 cm lightly silty sandy soil on softer Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified), Guyot Poussard pruning. Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation, 50% in older foudres and 50% in barrel (15% new oak). Aged for 12 months in barrel, an additional 6 months blending and aging in tank.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only one magnum available
Clos Rougeard Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux 2006 1.5L ($999.95) $749 special
David Schildknecht-Wine Advocate 91 points “The Foucaults’ 2006 Saumur-Champigny Les Poyeux is decidedly gamy in the nose, with concentrated blackberry and cassis as well as beet, rhubarb, sweet pea, brown spices, black tea, and dark leafy green notes, a remarkable combination that has me imagining a Cabernet Franc – Gruner Veltliner co-fermentation! Firmer, brighter, and more austere than the corresponding regular Clos bottling, this also displays saline, peaty, iodine mineral depth, all of which will set it in good stead for another 5-7 years of bottle aging, during which it is likely to retain its striking complexity while taking on a more flattering textural patina.”
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
France – Other
Olivier Pithon Mon P’tit Pithon IGP Roussillon 2020 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Importer Note: IGP Cotes Catalanes/ Roussillon. Grenache (34%), Mourvedre (33%), Syrah (33%)
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Italy – Piedmont
Only 12 bottles available
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Monvigliero, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ML ($899.95) $269 special (Not listed online, to order please call, email or stop in!)
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2017 Barolo Monvigliero is such a classy wine. Light on its feet and beautifully perfumed, the Monvigliero is superb. The whole clusters are very nicely integrated. Rose petal, mint, sage and bright red berry fruit all run through this supremely gracious, deceptively mid-weight wine. It will almost certainly gain in volume over the coming year. As always, Monvigliero is done with 100% stems.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Other
Pojer e Sandri Nosiola Vigneti delle Dolomiti IGT Trentino-Alto Adige 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Eric Guido-vinous 92 points “Zesty lemon peel, lime, stone dust, granny smith and a hint of nutty richness defines the bouquet on the 2019 Nosiola. It’s energetic and spicy, tugging at the palate with zesty acids, minerals and notes of tart apple with building inner florals. Citrus-driven tension creates a sweet and sour effect throughout the lip-smacking finale, like grapefruit with a sprinkle of white sugar, backed by a hint of smoke. This is really very pretty and a benchmark expression of Nosiola.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Piancornello Rosso di Montalcino Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Ian D’agata-Vinous 92 points “Bright deep red. High-pitched, spicy aromas of crushed red berries and plum lifted by a whiff of rose petal. A juicy, sweet, rather full-bodied and easygoing fruit bomb, with good energy to its creamy red berry flavors. Nicely precise on the long finish. An easy to love wine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Highly Recommended. This rich red is energetic and balanced, saturated with black cherry, plum and mineral flavors. Accents of wild rosemary and sage chime in as this remains fresh and long on the iron and underbrush aftertaste. Best from 2024 through 2045. 310 cases made, 100 cases imported. — BS.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “This Riserva from La Fiorita boasts a full and generous style with pretty richness, concentration and ample intensity. This pretty wine really does hit those 2015 vintage expectations dead on. The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva offers plush fruit and good softness with cherry, cassis, spice, potting soil and candied orange peel. There is balanced intensity here with Sangiovese purity that cedes to lightly toasted aromas.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of plums and berries with flowers and dried meat. It’s full-bodied with round, juicy tannins and an extremely polished and beautiful finish. Hints of walnut and spice at the end, not to mention ash. Very attractive to taste now, but better after 2025.”
Germany
Seehof Elektrisch Riesling Kabinett Germany 2020 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Stein Rose Secco Sparkling Rose 2020 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Importer note “Steep slate soils. Second fermentation in tank. Pinot Noir with approximately 20% Cabernet and Merlot, élevage all stainless.”
Spain
Mesquida Mora Sotil Pla I Levant 2019 750ML ($79.95) $58 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “I already loved the 2017, and the 2018 Sòtil was possibly more impressive, floral, aromatic with detail and nuance, harmonious, velvety with very fine tannins and great purity. It’s precise and focused and has symmetry and great clarity. It’s a very elegant expression of the Mediterranean produced in a very subtle way, ethereal, with moderate alcohol and lots of inner power. 2,180 bottles were filled in December 2019. Mesquida Mora is the personal project of Bàrbara Mesquida Mora, who works exclusively with her biodynamic vineyards in the villages of Porreres and Felanitx in Mallorca. She produces 85,000 to 90,000 bottles per year.” –
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Boulay:
The best in Sancerre since the 14th Century!
“Given the crystalline purity of his Sauvignon Blancs, he has become one of my favorite producers of the central Loire. If you want to know what true Sancerre tastes like, try one of his single-vineyard bottlings. It does not come any better!”-Joel Payne, Vinous.
You’ve heard of Didier Dagueneau and his $150+ Sancerre’s, but have you heard of Gerard Boulay? Gerard Boulay is one of a handful of producers in the world that makes exceptionally age worthy, collectible and profound Sauvignon Blancs. This is a cult level producer that’s still at an accessible price point. It’s remarkable that these wines are available on the open market, considering the Boulay family has been known for exceptional quality since the 14th century as the Cathedral of Bourges “Church white”.
We were able to secure a complete assortment of their portfolio, ranging from their entry level wines to their rarest and most collectible labels. For the prices that Boulay charges, these are some of the most electric and profound whites in all of France. While low-tier Sancerre always seems overpriced, the top producers in the region make extraordinary wines that seem to be completely undervalued. 2019 and 2020 were fantastic years in the Loire and Boulay has had some of the best bottles in his career during this unprecedented streak of “Good to Exceptional” vintages.
Boulay’s estate vineyards are based in Chavignol, the true beating heart of Sancerre and the host of all the top names in the region (Vatan, the Cotats, Boulay, Dagueneau, etc.) and Boulay owns some of best situated sites in some of the finest vineyards in the town. From his parcel in La Grande Cote to Monts Damnes to the famed Clos Beaujeu, all of his wines ring with terroir and the unique minerality that’s inherent to Chavignol. Gerard Boulay says “Nature makes the wine” and strives for age worthiness above all else, having examples of his work dating back to the 1960’s still drinking beautifully. The estate’s farming is entirely chemical free, and was one of the first producers in the region to convert to organics. If that isn’t enough, he also makes a Rosé and Pinot Noir from small plantings on the same vineyards! Expect a completely different expression of Pinot Noir that’s largely unseen in today’s market dominated by powerhouse region’s like Burgundy, Germany and the United States.
The whites and rosé land at the end of the month, but tend to go quickly. Secure your allocation now!
Arriving ETA Late July:
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol 2020 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol 2020 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Importer note “Blend of young vine parcels on kimmeridgian slopes in the village of Chavignol.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Rosé 2020 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Practicing organic. From 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines on the steep hillsides in front of the Boulay home in Chavignol. Soil: Steep clay hillside. Viticulture: Gerard works the soil manually and lets nature make the wine. Vinification: Tank fermented. Boulay adds no yeast and minimal amounts of SO2. Aging: Tank aged. Production: 200 cases annually. Notes: Unlike many Sancerre Roses, Gerard harvests his Pinot specifically to make rose by direct press, then into tank. It is not a selection of young vines as he has no young Pinot vines. What makes the rosé one year could make red another, and vice versa, depending on what the vintage gives.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu, Loire 2019 750ML ($79.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu, Loire 2019 1.5L ($179.95) $105 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The unfiltered 2019 Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu comes from vines averaging 45 years of age in a southeast-facing vineyard on loamy Kimmeridgian chalk and opens with an herbal and brightly fruity bouquet. On the palate, this is a clear, fresh, round, fruity and structured Sancerre with bright fruit, some hazelnut nuances and long grip and salinity. Entirely vinified in used barriques for 12 months. Tasted in February 2021.”
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse, Loire 2019 750ML ($99.95) $61.90 pre-arrival special
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse, Loire 2019 1.5L ($219.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “From 50-75 year old vines located in the sweet spot of the Mont Damnés vineyard (bottom of the slope, near Clos La Neore of Vatan), this is often the most powerful wine from Boulay’s lineup. Vintage 2005 was the inaugural release.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes, Loire 2019 750ML ($79.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes, Loire 2019 1.5L ($179.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Boulay began farming the steeply sloped Mont Damnés vineyard in 1982. His plot has an average vine age of 45 years. Mont Damnés’ reflective soils and south-facing exposition make it one of Chavignol’s warmest sites. Overall, Gerard Boulay’s ‘terre blanche’ vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay’s neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan). These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above ‘regular’ Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote, Loire 2019 750ML ($85.95) $55 pre-arrival special
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote, Loire 2019 1.5L ($189.95) $115 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate93 points “From a southeast-facing plot, the 2019 Sancerre La Côte is pure, deep and intense yet also fresh on the iodine-scented nose, with grip, lemon and tropical notes. The wine opens bright, clear and almost tropical on the nose and then shows tight, tense and lingering salinity and firm grip. Tasted in February 2021.”
Can’t Wait? In Stock Now from Gerard Boulay:
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rouge Oriane 2015 750ML ($59.95) $37 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Boulay makes tiny amounts of still red Pinot Noir from these same vineyards as the rose, which are 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines located on the steep hillsides in front of the his home in Chavignol. Aged in used 300-liter casks.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine du Pegau
Paragon of Châteauneuf
We’ve carried Domaine du Pegau for a number of years here at Vinopolis, and this year we’ve been able to snatch the best price we’ve seen for it in 7 years! Being one of the few houses that uses all of the 13 permitted varietals in the Chateauneuf De Pape appellation, this caliber of producer quality are normally wines that sell for $100 or more. With an average vine age of 60 years old, biodynamic practices and some of the best sites in Chateauneuf under their banner, this is among the most cellar-worthy out of the entire appellation!
Domaine du Pegau was founded in 1987 by father/daughter team Paul and Laurence Feraud (the family was formerly bottling the wine under the name of Domaine Feraud). Their family has farmed the area since the 17th century. Their Cuvee Reservee is hand-picked blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4 % Mourvedre and 10% other permitted varieties (not destemmed). The grapes are grown in stony soils with a mix of clay, chalk and iron rich sand. The wine is fermented with the stems in cement vats with natural yeast and without temperature control. The wine is aged for two years in old oak barrels.
Pre-Arrival ETA Late July:
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2018 750M ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Grown on varied lieux-dits around the appellation on a mix of soils, this was fermented in concrete then aged for 24 months in foudre. All whole bunch, which is evidenced by the pleasantly stemmy aromatics. Very full-bodied and concentrated, savoury despite the oak, with bay leaf and thyme. Very tannic, quite hard on the palate in fact. It’s well balanced despite the alcohol, thanks to its concentration and intensity. It’s an outlying style due to its darkness, hardness and brooding character. It will be fantastic in time however. But wait.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is full-bodied but quite approachable and easy to drink, loaded with black cherries and plummy fruit and tinged with licorice. A blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 10% other permitted varieties, it finishes long and silky.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91-94 points “Not yet bottled, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Réservée continues to show beautifully and is a soft, charming example of this cuvée that’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate. Loads of blackcurrants, peppery herbs, bloody meat, and violet notes emerge from the glass and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me of an improved 2014, and despite its upfront appeal, it’s going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. This estate has a long track record of off vintages aging and drinking beautifully far longer than anyone would predict, and I’m sure the same will be the case with the 2018.”
Domaine du Pegau was founded in 1987 by father/daughter team Paul and Laurence Feraud (the family was formerly bottling the wine under the name of Domaine Feraud). Their family has farmed the area since the 17th century. Their Cuvee Reservee is hand-picked blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4 % Mourvedre and 10% other permitted varieties (not destemmed). The grapes are grown in stony soils with a mix of clay, chalk and iron rich sand. The wine is fermented with the stems in cement vats with natural yeast and without temperature control. The wine is aged for two years in old oak barrels.
Pre-Arrival ETA Late July:
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2018 750M ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Grown on varied lieux-dits around the appellation on a mix of soils, this was fermented in concrete then aged for 24 months in foudre. All whole bunch, which is evidenced by the pleasantly stemmy aromatics. Very full-bodied and concentrated, savoury despite the oak, with bay leaf and thyme. Very tannic, quite hard on the palate in fact. It’s well balanced despite the alcohol, thanks to its concentration and intensity. It’s an outlying style due to its darkness, hardness and brooding character. It will be fantastic in time however. But wait.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 92-95 points “The 2018 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is full-bodied but quite approachable and easy to drink, loaded with black cherries and plummy fruit and tinged with licorice. A blend of 80% Grenache, 6% Syrah, 4% Mourvèdre and 10% other permitted varieties, it finishes long and silky.”
Jeb Dunnuck 91-94 points “Not yet bottled, the 2018 Châteauneuf Du Pape Cuvée Réservée continues to show beautifully and is a soft, charming example of this cuvée that’s going to drink nicely right out of the gate. Loads of blackcurrants, peppery herbs, bloody meat, and violet notes emerge from the glass and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It reminds me of an improved 2014, and despite its upfront appeal, it’s going to evolve nicely for 15 years or more. This estate has a long track record of off vintages aging and drinking beautifully far longer than anyone would predict, and I’m sure the same will be the case with the 2018.”
Staff Pick:
Can Feixes, The Prize of Penedès
Looking for the primal delight of a super Tuscan, but at a Spanish price point? Then look no further beyond the Can Feixes 2008 Negre Traditional. Priced like a current release, but with the bottle age of a library wine, this is a steal for its price point!
Entirely estate grown, organically farmed and coming from the northern mountains of Catalonia, the negre is 45% Tempranillo, 26% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. For an area known more for cava and indigenous Spanish varietals, this is an outlier that demands the spotlight. Beautifully ripe flavors of boysenberry, marionberries and black raspberry intermingle with aromas of seco tobacco leaf, cedar and terra cotta. Well integrated with high tannins, medium plus acid and a medium body with a long finish evocative of toasted oak, café leche and dried cherries. The extended bottle aging before release has harmonized all the elements together without being discordant and shockingly vibrant for it’s age. This is a perfect wine for grilling, picnicking or binge watching tv at home. Fried chicken, pulled pork or a brisket would make this wine dance a sardana on your palate.
Can Feixes Huguet Negre Tradicio, Penedes, Spain 2008 750ML ($29.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Certified organic. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, with 8% Petit Verdot, aged for one year in French oak and four years in bottle before release. A concentrated wine with soft, ripe tannins, the Petit Verdot noticeably enhancing complexity.”
Entirely estate grown, organically farmed and coming from the northern mountains of Catalonia, the negre is 45% Tempranillo, 26% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Petit Verdot. For an area known more for cava and indigenous Spanish varietals, this is an outlier that demands the spotlight. Beautifully ripe flavors of boysenberry, marionberries and black raspberry intermingle with aromas of seco tobacco leaf, cedar and terra cotta. Well integrated with high tannins, medium plus acid and a medium body with a long finish evocative of toasted oak, café leche and dried cherries. The extended bottle aging before release has harmonized all the elements together without being discordant and shockingly vibrant for it’s age. This is a perfect wine for grilling, picnicking or binge watching tv at home. Fried chicken, pulled pork or a brisket would make this wine dance a sardana on your palate.
Can Feixes Huguet Negre Tradicio, Penedes, Spain 2008 750ML ($29.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Certified organic. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, with 8% Petit Verdot, aged for one year in French oak and four years in bottle before release. A concentrated wine with soft, ripe tannins, the Petit Verdot noticeably enhancing complexity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Rosé:
The Shades of Summer
Rosé and summertime are an inseparable pairing, or at least we think so. Nothing quite illustrates that better than Ameztoi’s Rosado. This is easily our best-selling rose in house, and rightly so! A blend of both Hondarribi Beltza and Zuri sourced from a series of organically farmed, high elevation sites in the Basque Region with the oldest vines being over 100 years old. Fermented in the traditional style of the Basque region which leaves it slightly sparkling and naturally low in sulfur! Fully dry and incredibly nuanced yet delicate with a whole spectrum of fruits ranging from strawberry to white peach.
Our most popular rosé year in, year out
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.”
Looking for a style of rose that can stand up to heartier fare like barbequed meat, but is still at home with lighter options like sheep’s milk cheese? Try our Malbec rose from Cahors! Tu Boi Coa is a rarity in that it is the only non-red wine that they make at Domaine Berangeraie, a portfolio otherwise dominated by Malbec based blends. The rose is a perfect example of the fruity and playful side of Malbec, yet with a solid backbone of minerality evocative of the gravely loam and native Causses (Limestone plateaus). Additional flavors include crushed blue and blackberries, strawberry and bing cherry with medium plus acidity and aromatic intensity.
100% Malbec from Cahors, this is a rosé made for barbeque
Domaine de la Berangeraie ‘Tu Bois Coa’ Rosé, IGP Cotes du Lot 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Malbec rosé. Sustainable. Ripe cherry flavors with fresh strawberry and raspberry. Medium body with a long finish.”
Winery note: 100% Malbec. Very aromatic (raspberry, wild strawberry, blueberry), with a pronounced pomegranate color. The palate is rich, vinous, and unctuous. Drink as an aperitif, or with BBQ and exotic fruits.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Two illustrious figures in Burgundy, Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, owner of DRC, founded the Triennes Domaine in Aix en Provence with their friend, Michel Macaux. The estate’s cool microclimate and clay-limestone soils immediately attracted the pair. The wines are influenced by their Burgundian ties: showing excellent structure and balance. The cooler microclimate helps the grapes retain acidity and finesse. The rose is primarily Cinsault with some Grenache, Syrah and Merlot. The Saint Auguste bottling is a reserve selection of Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Both bottlings are aged in seasoned barrels from Domaine Dujac.
Domaine de Triennes Rose, IGP Var, France 2020 750ML ($19.95) $14.90 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Domaine de Triennes Rose, IGP Var, France 2020 1.5L ($39.95) $34.50 special, only 7 magnums in stock now
Domaine de Triennes Rose, IGP Var, France 2020 3L ($99.95) $79 special only 1 double-magnum in stock now
Winery note “Cinsault – Syrah -Grenache – Merlot. This wine has a bouquet of strawberries and white flowers with hints of vanilla. It has the harmony and elegance that has earned world-wide appreciation of the rosés of Provence. Triennes Rosé is the perfect accompaniment to a sunny summer afternoon.”
Staff Pick:
Weingut Wwe Dr. Erben Thanisch
From curing Archbishop Boemund II of illness in the 14th century to pairing amazingly with an array of food, I can’t think of a more overlooked and underappreciated producer in the Mosel. However, I am just as guilty as anyone else who has had the opportunity to try the wine from Dr. H. Thanisch and passed on them for producers I was already familiar with.
With vines dating back over 100 years, 45% of them ungrafted and situated in decomposed blue slate. Dr. H. Thanisch estate’s topography and microclimate is unquestionable one of the finest in the Mosel, making these truly some of the most expressive Rieslings and priced beyond appropriately. Bottom line, if you consider yourself a fan of Riesling, and Dr. H. Thanisch has not been on your radar, then I can’t think of a better producer to introduce you to!
In Stock now from Thanisch:
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb, Mosel 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett feinherb is clear, refined and flinty on the crunchy/slatey nose. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a delicate and delicious Kabinett with white stone fruit aromas and a juicy finish with a stimulating slate structure and salinity. Remarkably fine. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is an off-dry wine (with 21 g/l of residual sugar) with a superbly complex and refined nose of almond cream, candied grapefruit, laurel, rosemary, mint, and freshly cut lemon. The wine develops a very beautifully juicy and fruity presence on the palate and leaves one with a refreshing feel of ripe acidity in the superbly long finish. The after-taste is beautifully animating and zesty with minty flavors of tangerine and lime. This succulent off-dry Riesling has quite some aging potential. 2024-2039.”
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett feinherb is clear, refined and flinty on the crunchy/slatey nose. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a delicate and delicious Kabinett with white stone fruit aromas and a juicy finish with a stimulating slate structure and salinity. Remarkably fine. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett Feinherb is an off-dry wine (with 21 g/l of residual sugar) with a superbly complex and refined nose of almond cream, candied grapefruit, laurel, rosemary, mint, and freshly cut lemon. The wine develops a very beautifully juicy and fruity presence on the palate and leaves one with a refreshing feel of ripe acidity in the superbly long finish. The after-taste is beautifully animating and zesty with minty flavors of tangerine and lime. This succulent off-dry Riesling has quite some aging potential. 2024-2039.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93 points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2019er Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is a sweet wine with a refined and floral nose of whipped cream, vineyard peach, smoke, herbs, orange blossom, and fine spices. It proves gorgeously playful and creamy on the palate and leaves a great feeling of energy and finesse in the finish. This is a great and juicy Spätlese in the making. 2029-2049.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Mosel Fine Wines 95 points “The 2019er Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Auslese was made from fruit harvested at approx. 100° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar. It offers a hugely restrained, aniseed, and smoky nose of honeyed yellow peach, minty herbs, pear, melon, quince jelly, and vanilla touch. The wine coats the palate with ample juicy and exotic fruits, as well as apricot, black berry, and a hint of smoky raisin. The finish is still on the smooth and creamy side, even if the after-taste more than hints already at the depth, complexity, and freshness to come. Patience will be needed for this beautiful Auslese to come around and deliver all its nuances. But the wait will be more than worth it! 2034-2069.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkastel-Kues Alte Reben, Mosel 2019 ($24.95) $21.90 special
Mosel Fine Wines 90 points “The 2019er Bernkastel-Kues Riesling Alte Reben is a barely off-dry wine (with 12 g/l of residual sugar) made from grapes harvested from 40-year-old vines in the Kueser part of the city. It offers a superbly complex and refreshing nose of anise, pink grapefruit, orange peel, tangerine, mint, lead pencil, and smoke. The wine proves hugely enjoyable thanks its animating presence on the palate and leaves a precise and dry-tasting feel in the long finish. The wine develops more weight and presence with airing, but retains a great sense of grip and playfulness in the animating and beautifully balanced after-taste. Now-2034.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Wwe Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Graben Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Mosel 2019 ($49.95) $41.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 91+ points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ML ($34.95) $24 special, 23 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2016 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese offers a clear, elegant nose with bright fruit, green asparagus and flinty aromas. Racy and lush on the palate, this is a refreshing, elegant but still pretty sweet Spätlese with crystalline, piquant acidity and structure. The finish is long and complex, but the wine needs a decade to integrate all its components into a fine and elegant Spätlese. Tasted March 2018.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “The 2016er Badstube Spätlese offers a nice nose made of pear, white peach, cassis, minty herbs and a hint of whipped cream. The wine is nicely playful and loaded with white fruits and minerals on the palate. The finish is beautifully playful and complex. While still young, this hints at great potential. 2026-2041”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese, Mosel 2017 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 33 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 95+ points “The coolish, precise and elegant 2017 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese (AP 3 18) opens to very fine tropical fruit aromas intermixed with the smoky scents of crushed black rocks. Lush and finessed on the palate, this is a firmly structured, very elegant and persistently mineral Doctor Spätlese whose salty-piquant finish and fine, crystalline structure develops enormous length and tension but also finesse and a highly elaborate style. Highly stimulating. Tasted in March 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Love German Riesling? We have over 350 different options (not a typo!) in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Dönnhoff and JJ Prüm, as well as more from Thanisch.
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
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