Mid-Week Newsletter 2-2-22

Oregon- Eola-Amity Hills 

Zena Crown Vineyard Slope Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “A wine of presence and personality, with dynamic black raspberry and guava flavors that take on stony mineral and dusky spice accents as this gathers richness and tension toward broad-shouldered tannins. Best from 2022 through 2032. 487 cases made. — TF”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.95

South Africa-Swartland 

Super juicy/earthy, easy-drinking Cinsault
Mother Rock ‘Force Celeste’ Cinsault, Swartland 2020 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A medium-bodied red with ripe tannins, depth and drinkability from whole bunch fermentation. A great addition to the Force Majeure range.”

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Mother Rock ‘Holocene’, Swartland 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Fragrant and distinctive, this tangy red is light- to medium-bodied and racy, offering an expressive profile of steeped raspberry and peach fruit flavors meshed with notes of dried flowers, blood orange zest and medicinal herbs. Lingering, zesty finish. Carignan, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2025. 222 cases made, 56 cases imported. — AN”

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A staff favorite of the style
Mother Rock ‘Force Majeure – Force Celeste’ Cuvee PN Pet Nat, Swartland 2021 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A Pet-Nat that puts Pinotage in the spotlight. South Africa’s native grape is best known for its bright fruit and deep earthy character, which translate beautifully in this joyful rosé fizz. Slightly hazy salmon-pink in the glass, with aromas of raspberries, blood orange and earthy rhubarb. Fresh in the mouth, with crunchy cranberry fruit and a savoury edge. Delicious and dangerously drinkable at only 11%!”

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Every year the wine writer Madeline Puckette and her publication Vinepair publish their lists of the most underrated wines and wine styles for the year. She polls somms in the biz for their top recommended, and we of course, stock quite a few!

Kelly Mitchell, Skurnik Wines and Spirits, New York — “Champagne can be a great option throughout a meal, pairing beautifully with a wide range of salty, savory, and crunchy foods…” 

Kelley Mitchell Selections in stock now: 

Frederic Savart Bulle de Rose Premier Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Disgorged June 2021. No current reviews available.
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The NV Bulle de Rosé is a pretty wine, even if it is a bit less exciting than the other Champagnes in this range. Pale-colored, light and gracious, the Bulle de Rosé is an enjoyable drink. Even so, I think Fred Savart could do more to elevate this wine to a level where it is closer to his other Champagnes. The Bulle de Rosé is the same base as the Accomplie, approximately 65% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, with about 5% still red Pinot. Disgorged January 2018. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.”

Marguet Pere & Fils Avize & Cramant Grand Cru, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Demeter certified. 100% Chardonnay.”
Peter Liem note “[Writing on the 2011 release] This comes from two chardonnay vineyards, both farmed organically: Les Chantereines in Avize and Les Fourches du Levant in Cramant. It combines breadth and finesse in the inimitable style of the northern Côte des Blancs, with a pinpoint texture and a racy, elongated structure.”

Marguet Pere & Fils ‘Shaman 17’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($64.95) $51.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Marguet Pere & Fils ‘Shaman 17’ Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 3L ($319.95) $279 special, 2 bottles in stock now     
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Scents of pear, waxy citrus rind, mandarin orange, peach and buttery pastry, Marguet’s NV Shaman 17 is medium to full-bodied, pillowy and vinous, with bright acids and chalky grip. It was disgorged in September 2020. As readers will remember, the “17” denotes the base vintage, which is complemented by reserve wines from a solera established in 2010.”

Christopher Sealy, wine director and sommelier, Toronto — “Austrian Grüner Veltliner…Very clean and precise.” 

Ray Sholes, Sommelier — “Although many people are aware of Grüner Veltliner, many people still have not the slightest idea of how delicious this variety truly can be…”

Top Austrian Grüner picks in stock now: 

Malat Gruner Veltliner, Kremstal 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18.50 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Malat’s 2020 Furth Kremstal Grüner Veltliner is brighter in color and finer on the nose than the corresponding Riesling, offering a clear, fresh and subtle bouquet of white fruits along with spicy and floral notes. Round and structured by a fine acidity/tannin complex, this is an intense, dense and sustainable Grüner with stimulating grapefruit bitters on the finish. 12% alcohol. Tasted at Schloss Gobelsburg in June 2021.”

Schloss Gobelsburg Gobesburger Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC 2020 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 22 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “Attractive lemon and white-peach nose with hints of green apples and fresh herbs. Juicy, mid-weight palate with a lot of character and a lovely balance of warm elements and cool, minty undertones. Long, very harmonious finish. Drink now. Screw cap.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “From fruit sourced in Langenlois and Gobelsburg, the 2020 Gobelsburg Kamptal Grüner Veltliner opens with fabulous delicate, tender and fresh white fruit with leafy notes and the coolish character of the good old days. A classic Kamptaler Veltliner again! Juicy, fresh and piquant on the palate, with citric freshness, a straightforward character and lovely grip, this is a cool and clear character. Tasted in June 2021.”

Familie Saahs Nikolaihof im Weingebirge Smaragd Gruner Veltliner, Wachau 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96+ points “Bottled at the end of April this year, the 2015 Im Weingebirge Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is clear, deep and intense on the nose with its subtle aromas of crushed stones and lemons. Some animal leather and wild boar scents here as well. Full-bodied and intense but also very elegant and finessed on the palate, this is a lush and impressively long and very tensioned, highly expressive Smaragd made for decades. Its slightly oxidative style reminds me of traditional white Riojas, but the crystalline acidity and mineral character is clearly Wachau. A potential top-scorer, but the wine is far too young to be served today. 12.5% alcohol. 2030-2060.”

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Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Wosendorfer Kirchweg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2018 Ried Kirchweg Wösendorfer Grüner Veltliner Smaragd is clear, deep, intense and slightly crystalline and flinty on the elegant nose. Full-bodied and sweetish on the palate but fresh and elegant, with fine mineral grip, this is a charming Veltliner with a refined and elegant, aromatic and nicely grippy finish. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”

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Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Rotes Tor Gruner Veltliner Federspiel, Wachau 2018 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Assembling the fruit from several vineyards that were picked in the first half of October, the 2018 Spitz Grüner Veltliner Federspiel Rotes Tor offers a clear, ripe and elegant nose of tropical fruits intermixed with elegant and flinty terroir notes. Ripe and piquant on the crystalline and salty palate, this is an elegant and already pretty complex Veltliner with an aromatic and refreshing, elegant finish with good grip. 12.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”

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The average price is $35

Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Rotes Tor Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 94 points “The nose here has a very restrained and rocky feel with such intense aromas of ripe citrus fruit, pepper and pears. The palate is dry, sheer and linear with good, fresh acidity drive and a smoothly rendered finish. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Rotes Tor is entirely based on the fruit from Spitz (the vineyards below the red gate) and opens with a deep, precise and flinty bouquet that shows a coolish-mineral and darker-toned character with rather discreet fruit aromas. On the palate, this is a lush and mouth-filling, very fine and elegant Grüner with a long, intense and refreshing crystalline and salty finish. Excellent grip. From pure, weathered gneiss soils. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.”

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The next best price is $69.60

Weingut Franz Hirtzberger Spitzer Donaugarten Gruner Veltliner Steinfeder, Wachau 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 11 bottles in stock now
“Hirtzberger’s 2018 Spitz Grüner Veltliner Steinfeder was picked between October 17 and 19 and opens with a ripe and elegant, fruit-intense and charming nose with delicate crystalline aromas. Round and salty-piquant on the palate, this is a mouth-filling and refreshing Grüner bottled with 11.5% alcohol. Tasted at the domain in September 2019.” -Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate

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Ellyn Cook, Sommelier, Chicago— “A great expression of [Cabernet Franc] is made by Domaine Guiberteau, and it’s from the Loire Valley… elegant, crisp, and lively.” 

Ellyn Cook’s pick in stock now: 

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge Cuvee Les Arboises, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 1 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Dark cocoa and iron notes mingle with apple wood bacon and roasted rosemary elements that frame the core of dark plum, cherry and blackberry flavors. Picks up a touch of sweetness midpalate, balanced by a vanilla hint and firm tannins. Sandalwood and sanguine details mark the finish, but give this a bit more time for added pleasure. Best from 2022 through 2030. 450 cases made, 45 cases imported.”

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge, Loire 2019 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Rouge, Loire 2019 ($269.95) $219 special (That’s only $36.50 per bottle) 
Wine Advocate 91 points “From three parcels with vines planted between 1955 and 1957 on silt and sand topsoil covering softer limestone bedrock. the 2019 Saumur Rouge is pure Cabernet Franc naturally fermented in tank for six months. The 2019 opens with a pure and refreshing as well as spicy/floral nose with dark fruit and fresh lemon aromas as well as stony notes and a nice reduction. Wonderfully untamed. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, fresh and silky-textured Saumur with a stimulating salty, round and fruity finish. At this young age, charm is not its greatest talent, but with bottle age, this will be a terrific Saumur rouge for many dishes and opportunities. I like this tight and traditional, straightforward style that might be a bit unpleasant at this early stage but will reward those with patience. 13.5% alcohol”

Also in stock by Domaine Guiberteau: 

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Breze, Loire 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: From the legendary Brézé climat that rests at a high elevation among soils of chalky limestone (tuffeaux) with clay and sand.

Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos des Carmes, Loire 2012 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Vinopolnote: Chenin vines planted on clay and limestone soils along  the base of Brézé. Hand-harvested and sorted, with native-yeast fermentation and no chapitalization. Aged on the lees for 18-30 months in new and used oak with the intention of aging over 15 years.

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Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2013 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.

Lea Williams, Educator and Owner/Founder, Let’s Talk Wine, NYC — “…many don’t realize the Furmint grape makes a lovely dry white that is very food friendly.” 

Lea Williams spotlight in stock now: 

Royal Tokaji ‘The Oddity’ Furmint, Tokaj 2018 750ML ($17.95) $16 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “Aromas of apricot, white peach and flint entice your nose, while flavors of crisp apple, stone fruits and wet river rock excite your palate. It is crisp and clean with great minerality in the finish. -Jeff Jenssen”

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Looking for a Burgundy that walks the line between elegance and extraction? Look no further than the wines of Pierre Bourée. Just like their cult neighbor Domaine Dujac, the reds are vinified entirely with whole clusters in foudre and raised in oak for two years. New oak is only used to retire barrels too old for production, allowing for the full character of their winemaking practices to be seen.

Founded in 1864 the Domaine has always done mixed production between estate holdings and négociant purchasing from long-term contracts. Currently run by Brothers Bernard and Jean-Christophe Vallet, intervention in the vineyard is limited to pruning in the spring and organic compost for fertilizer. We’ve put our extensive selection on sale for a limited time to offer our readers the best opportunity to explore the producer.  

Shop the full lineup of Bouree wines on our web store now!

Led by the brother and sister team Cyril and Catherine Robert, the estate is farmed as organic as possible, with no artificial inputs being used during fermentation. Cyril trained in Champagne originally and his training shines through in the crisp and clean flavors accentuated by the grapes naturally occurring sugar for dosage. Catherine’s specialty is in Loire viticulture, which she’s worked in for over a decade in the field. 

These skillsets converge to create a dead ringer for a blanc de blanc style champagne, delivering a very similar plethora of fruit, nut and mineral flavors. Unlike Chardonnay however, Chenin blanc tends to deliver a fruit character that is more along the lines of Pears, Yellow Apples and Soursop, accentuated by a smokey minerality associated with the tuffeau soils only found in the Loire. 

Alain Robert Vouvray ‘Troglodyte’ Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 89 points “A finely balanced NV Brut Troglodyte that’s spent around 18–24 months on lees. It’s a well-balanced, gentle style with attractive weight in the mouth and just the right amount of roundness. There’s nice tension on the finish, too, making for a great vinous drink with a fine bubble. Excellent value. (Drink between 2021-2027).”
Importer note “Christiane and Alain Robert founded the domaine in 1973. They are located in Chancay, just east of Vouvray. Their 38 hectares of vineyards, situated around the estate and in the neighboring village of Noizay, are mostly planted with Chenin Blanc, on silex and clay-limestone soil. Chardonnay, Grolleau and Chenin Noir (Pineau d’Aunis) are also cultivated on a few parcels. Their son Cyril, who trained in Champagne, joined them in 2000, followed by his sister Catherine two years later. Catherine brought with her ten years of experience gained in the Loire, including working alongside Jack Blot at Domaine de la Taille aux Loups.”

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Prosecco is unfairly maligned for being one note and sickly sweet but much like Zima and the Rolodex that’s all in the past. After decades of reworking the appellation requirements the Italian government now labels prosecco in a pyramidal way, with the best sites and practices now labeled as such. The Prosecco Superiore is now considered the calling card of the region, featuring aspects of the quality revolution at a budget friendly price. 

Gasparini’s iteration illustrates this concept in spades, with the wine being sourced from a single vineyard of old vines planted in 1969. Fermented with native yeasts for 9 months prior to bottling, there is no sugar added beyond what is left in the juice as it stops fermentation. The confluence of old vines and low fermentation temperature give the finished prosecco tremendous length and dimension, offering a bouquet of white flowers ranging from pommes, citrus and anise.  

Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Veneto NV 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 92 points “[Reviewed Oct 2021] Lots of initial froth here, which takes a while to subside and allow the lovely lemon and lemon blossom aromas to rise out of the glass. There are hints of licoricy chalk here, too. On the rather dense palate, the chalk turns to fresh cream and the lemon is absorbed into the creamy mineral texture with enough fizz to keep the sparkle up. Lovely, enduring and creamy yet biting finish. This is very fine Prosecco. Drink now.”   

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German Riesling is probably the favorite wine category amongst the staff here at Vinopolis, and for good reason! You’d be hard pressed to find so many styles of wine in one place, with sparkling being the latest to make waves in the wine world! Sekt as it’s called in Germany has been around on the market for a while and has seen a quality revolution alongside the rest of the country’s production. Climate change has also been a notable influence as well with Germany experiencing some of the best yields and growing years ever recorded.

Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Sekt Extra Trocken, Mosel 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 22 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Selbach-Oster is known as one of the best Riesling houses in the entire Mosel River Valley. Based in the Mittelmosel they estimate 55% of their grapevines are still ungrafted and entirely planted on mind-bendingly steep slopes. These factors converge with generations of winemaking talent to make some of the most compelling examples of Riesling in the world, be they sweet, dry or sparkling. Their Sekt is no exception, which undergoes champagne-style fermentation in the bottle as opposed to the more standard tank method. This creates a finer bubble, additional complexity and aging potential in the bottle, at half the price of what grower champagne is selling for these days!

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One of the most beloved producers amongst the staff, Stein makes incredible wines from abandoned vineyards in the Mosel river valley. Among these sites, Dr. Stein discovered one of the oldest plantings of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the entire valley and currently uses them as the backbone for his Rose program. These are fascinating examples of terroir featuring the ethereal body, slatey minerality and exceptionally long finish of a classic Mosel wine re-interpreted through reds. If that’s not enough there’s even a sparkling version! Fermented in tank so as not to alter the flavors with autolysis, it’s almost too drinkable with notes of cherry juice, fresh cranberries, Nasturtium, and rose water. There’s a definite Mosel character on the finish that’s reminiscent of wet river rock and mist, which makes it wholly unique in the literal sea of options on the market. 

Wein-Erbhof Stein Secco Sparkling Rose, Mosel 2020 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Steep slate soils. Second fermentation in tank. Pinot Noir with approximately 20% Cabernet and Merlot, élevage all stainless.”

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Avinyo is synonymous with delivering exceptional quality at a proletariats price. Growing organically and with holdings at 820 feet above sea level and higher, these are benchmark examples of “Grower Cava”. Their entry level is sourced from an indigenous cultivar of Muscat grown at 1,000 feet above sea level and bottled as a Petillant, resulting in lower pressure than the Champagne Method. Delivering the classic navel orange, musk, sea salt and pear flesh with the slightest hint of residual sugar the petillant is perfectly suited to everything from spicier fare to more delicate options like sushi.    

Their other offerings are equally as compelling even before their price point is considered, with Avinyo being one of the few producers to grow enough Pinot Noir to vinify by itself. Coming from a single vineyard nestled in the mountains, there is 

Avinyo in stock now: 

Exceptionally old vines and 5 years of aging on the lees before disgorgement make this a benchmark example of the style.  
Avinyo Seleccio La Ticota Gran Reserva Cava Catalonia 2014 750ML ($49.95) $37 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Importer note “La Ticota, Avinyó’s oldest single vineyard, is a 2ha plot planted in 1940 by their grandfather to 85% xarel-lo and 15% macabeo, in primarily clay-calcareous soil. La Ticota produces one of the most distinctive and complex single-vineyard méthode traditionnelle wines from Spain. Produced in very limited quantities from the best vintages, it is among the great single-vineyard sparkling wines of the world. La Ticota is currently undergoing the certification process in the newly-formed Cava de Paraje designation of the Cava D.O., a new category that recognizes the uniqueness of “a smaller area” of the appellation on the label, similar to Burgundy’s climats or lieux-dits.”

Avinyó Blanc de Noirs Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Avinyó was one of the very first wineries in Spain to plant pinot noir on an experimental basis when Avinyó founder Joan Esteve returned from France with vine cuttings in 1980. The resulting Blanc de Noirs comes from this original single-vineyard called La Fassina, planted in 2000 in Avinyonet del Penedès at 250m to 275m. La Fassina receives the most rain of the estate’s vineyards while being protected from the easterly winds by mountains. The fertile soil is deep and well-drained with a silty-clay-loam texture and accumulations of calcium carbonate ideal for pinot noir to flourish and express the unique terruño of the site. The surrounding mountains provide a perfect channel for the cool air to enter the vineyard at night, preserving pinot noir’s trademark acidity. Blanc de Noirs is an extremely elegant expression of the La Fassina vineyard, a limited release once a year. Farming is organic.”

You’re familiar with Siduri, and their state spanning portfolio of California and Oregon Pinot Noir but did you know there’s another boutique operation? Enter Beau Marchais, collaboration between Adam Lee and the late Philippe Cambie of France. Building off the work done at Siduri, Beau Marchais is sourced entirely from the Santa Rita Hills. One of the vineyard sources is right next door to the legendary Gary’s Vineyard and managed by the same family. Stylistically these are Pinot Noir’s that walk the line of Californian ripeness with an almost Oregonian elegance. As you can expect with their limited sourcing, these are highly allocated wines that are only being supplied to retail wine shops as chosen by the winery. 

Beau Marchais wines in stock now: 

Beau Marchais Clos Pepe Vineyard Est Pinot Noir Sta Rita Hills 2020 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “While there won’t be any releases from Santa Lucia due to smoke, they were able to release their Clos Pepe Pinot Noirs. The 2020 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Est Vineyard saw 25% stems, 48 days on stems, and aging all in new barrels. Lots of mulberry, chocolate covered strawberries, and plum fruits as well as notes of orange blossom and spice emerge from the glass, and it’s a rich, full-bodied, textured beauty that packs one heck of a mid-palate. With ripe tannins and an expansive, supple texture, drink this hedonistic, sexy Pinot Noir on release and over the following 7-8 years.”

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Beau Marchais Clos Pepe Vineyard Ouest Pinot Noir Sta Rita Hills 2020 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “The 2020 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Ouest Vineyard comes from the western side of the vineyard, which sees slightly smaller berries and yields due to being hammered by the winds. It tends to be a riper Pinot Noir yet always seems more structured and focused than the Est Pinot Noir. Similarly deep purple-hued, with a beautiful bouquet of blue fruits, iron, candied orange zest, and spice, it’s another rich, full-bodied, concentrated Pinot Noir that stays beautifully balanced and has ripe, building tannins as well as a great finish. While it’s not for the Burgundy lovers out there (although you might be surprised), it has depth, structure, and is a brilliant Pinot Noir!”
Vinous-Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2020 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Vineyard Ouest is terrific. Powerful and ample in the glass, the 2020 possesses tremendous richness right out of the gate. Luscious red/purplish berry fruit, blood orange, spice and pomegranate are all dialed up. The super-sized Santa Barbara Pinot offers tons of immediacy and yet retains a good deal of energy as well. The Ouest is a noticeably bigger wine than the Est. “

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Beau Marchais Soberanes Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 2019 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points ” loved these wines from barrel last year, and they didn’t disappoint from bottle. Starting with the Santa Lucia Highlands release, the 2019 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard has a deep, nuanced yet powerful style that offers impressive black raspberry and red currant fruits to go with lots of spice, loamy soil, spring flower, and earthy forest floor notes. Gorgeously textured on the palate, this medium to full-bodied Pinot has ripe, polished tannins, a great mid-palate, and the fruit and opulence to drink nicely today yet also evolve for a good 7-8 years, if you’re so inclined.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “This collaboration between California’s Adam Lee and the Rhône Valley’s Phillipe Cambie yields a rich, spicy wine. Heavy aromas of cola, root beer, baked cherry and boysenberry gummies lead into a multi-layered palate of cardamom, clove, nutmeg and baked fruit, framed by polished tannins.”
Wine Advocate-Erin Brooks 92-94 points “I tasted the 2019 Pinot Noir Soberanes Vineyard as a final blend while still in barrel, aging in about 90% new oak. Medium ruby-purple, it’s loaded with dark fruits and nuances of bitter chocolate, mint leaves, charcuterie and fragrant earth. In the mouth, it’s medium-bodied with a firm, grainy frame and good freshness, opening up to brighter fruits on the long finish. This is shaping up to be a concentrated, savory and structured Pinot Noir. This is due to be bottled sometime around August 2020.”

 
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