Vinopolis Newsletter 9-30-24 PM

 

 

 
Our long-standing relationship with the winery allows us to provide our customers with consistent, high-quality wines. One such relationship that we’re incredibly proud to promote is that of Château Saint Cosme in the Southern Rhone.
 
Everything Louis Barroul gets his hands on turns into magic in the glass. The estate is now producing wines denominated across all the famous appellations of the Rhône and across all consumer price-points. You heard it here first, the Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone bottlings are one of the finest values in all of wine. That’s not an overstatement or embellishment.
 
Château Saint Cosme is a renowned wine estate in the Rhone Valley with a history dating back to 1490. Current owner Louis Barroul has focused on producing high-quality wines using biodynamic farming and traditional winemaking techniques. The estate’s wines are known for their balance of fruit, acidity, and freshness, thanks to the unique limestone soils of Gigondas.
 
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhône Rouge, France 2022 750ml $16 special, 36+ bottles available
(Not reviewed yet, 2021 vintage provided for reference)
Stuart Piggot, JamesSuckling.com 93 Points “Stacks of dark forest berries plus notes of smoke, pepper and tar make this a very expressive St.-Joseph. Impressive depth and ripeness for the 2021 vintage on the front and mid-palates, then the stony minerality kicks in giving it more power at the sleek and structured finish. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.”
 
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Les Deux Albion, Rhone, France 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 22 bottles available
Saint Cosme CDR Les Deux Albion 2021, Rhône, France 1.5L $39 special, 5 magnums available
James Suckling 92 Points “Textured, layered and focused. It expresses notes of dark berries, roasted meat, warm spices, bay leaves and some dried thyme. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Plenty of energy, focus and structure. More compact toward the finish. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2025.”

Lowest listed 750ml price on the West Coast
Lowest Magnum price in entire USA

 
Saint Cosme Les Deux Albion Blanc, IGP Vaucluse Principaute d’Orange, France 2023 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
30% Viognier, 30% Picpoul, 20% Marsanne, 6% Clairette, 6% Ugni Blanc, 5% Bourboulenc.
Winery Notes “Château de Saint Cosme is the leading estate of Gigondas and produces the benchmark wines of the appellation. The property has been in the hands of the Barruol family since 1490. Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992 making a dramatic shift to quality and converting to biodynamics in 2010.“

Lowest listed price on the West Coast

 

 

 
Washington
 
K Vintners ‘The Boy’ Grenache, Walla Walla Valley, USA 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 36+ bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “Super smooth and mouth-filling but also lacy and filigreed, the wine combines powerful, broad and ripe strawberries, red plums and cedar on a full body blanketed in soft tannins but with fresh acidity. Aged 18 months on the lees in neutral, large-format barrels. Drink now or hold.”

Average listed price is $52

 
K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington, USA 2021 750ml $39 special, 22 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “The aromas leap out of the glass. Wet earth, tapenade, green peppercorns, volcanic ash and tea leaves. Hints of orange peel. It’s electric on the palate, so savory, so earthy and so minerally, with stemmy and tea-like tannins. The freshness and energy are astounding, and the finish just keeps going. Delicious syrah. Drink or hold.”

Average listed price is $41

 
 
Oregon
 

 

“Erin Nuccio of Evesham wood and Haden Fig is making some of the most delicious, compelling Pinot Noir in Willamette Valley.” -Food and Wine Magazine
 
We’ve had the pleasure of drinking Evesham Wood’s wines for over a decade now and they never, ever disappoint. Beyond their dedication to organic viticulture and natural winemaking, they are expertly restrained, terroir-focused wines perfect for pairing with great food.
 
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $51.90 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 97 Points “What a beautiful Pinot Noir from the Evesham Wood estate Le Puits Sec, with 85% of this wine coming from the older vine, 1986 plantings. Aromatics of smoky rose petals and dried violets are buoyed by notes of wild mint, tea tree oil and a seaspray saline note that goes on and on. The palate is delicate, refined and yet so energetic. Mouthfuls of vibrant red cranberries, a spritz of blood orange and delightfully spiced wild strawberries. The cool 2022 vintage has set this wine up perfectly, it’s brilliantly harmonious now, and it will age for aeons. Burgundy, eat your heart out.”
 
Evesham Wood Mahonia Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 95 Points “To the south of the Eola-Amity appellation lies Mahonia Vineyard, planted in 1985, and farmed diligently by winemaker Erin Nuccio. It abounds with savoury and floral with chicory root spice complexity. Aromatics of alpine herbs and flowers, fresh spearmint and dried blood orange peel. The palate is elegant and refined, with tart red berries, savoury dried herbs and mint and a rich note of amaro-driven herbaceous character delivering tremendous complexity.”
 
Evesham Wood Sojeau Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $41.95 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “The Sojeau Vineyard formerly Sojourner sits at about 270m in the Eola-Amity Hills and is both organic and dry-farmed, planted in 2007. Winemaker Erin Nuccio uses Pommard, Wadenswil, and 115 in this single vineyard bottling. Its aromatic intensity hits you with dollops of florals, ripe blue fruit aromatics and a note of freshly turned earth. The palate pulsates with freshness and minerality but offers an intensity of blue and dark red berry fruits. Red plum skins, wild mountain berries and sweet hints of ripe strawberry draw you in, the finish closes with elements of tea leaves and dried mint.”
 
Evesham Wood Temperance Pinot Noir 2022 750ml $44.50 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points “Richly mineral, with the elegance evocative of Burgundy. The Temperance Hill Pinot Noir from Evesham Wood is comprised of mostly 1982 planted vines, along with some replanting from 2015. Aromatics of dusty books, pencil lead and dried rose petals announce this beautiful Pinot Noir from one of Oregon’s definitive cru sites. The palate is silken, with fine country hints of rusticity. Dried herbs, tamari and chicory root set a savoury tone met by elements of black tea and red plum skins. Delicious, refined and timeless.”

Italy
 

“The Prà winery, although only started in the early 1980’s, has come to be not only one of the top producers in the Soave appellation, but also one of the most important and visionary white wine makers in all of Italy.” –Polaner Selections
 
 hot deal!  Cantina Pra Soave Classico Otto 2023 750ml $19 special, 35 bottles available
Ned Goodwin MW, JamesSuckling.com 90 Points “Energetic, mid-weighted Soave. Delicious drinking. Prosaic in the best sense, with attractive notes of garden herbs, aniseed and freshly sliced Asian pears. Some unresolved CO2 adds to the easygoing length. From organically grown grapes. “

Average listed price $23

 
Cantine Pra Staforte Soave Classico, Veneto, Italy 2021 750ml $26 special, 11 bottles available
James Suckling 91 Points “White peach and peach skin aromas follow through to a medium-bodied palate with crushed-stone minerals on the mid-palate. Crisp, fruity and mineral finish with decent length. From organically grown grapes.”

Average listed price $28

 

 Collector’s Corner
 

 

 

 
…brand new arrival:
 
Quintessa Red, Rutherford, California, USA 2021 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 100 Points “An exquisite wine, relying primarily on Cabernet Sauvignon from a single estate. Aromas of lavender, dried herbs and grapefruit pith combine with flavors of firm fruits and cocoa on a structure of abundant, powder-fine tannin and a mouthwatering finish. This wine is refined, detailed and delicious, with as much elegance as energy. Best 2026-2040.”
James Suckling 99 Points “So much graphite and volcanic character on the nose with metal shavings and gunpowder. Black ink, iron and rust, too. Blackberry and blackcurrant undertones. Full-bodied but not overpowering, with chewy and juicy tannins that are long and very subtle. Superb finish. From biodynamic grapes with Demeter certification. 91% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 3% carmenere, 1% merlot, and 1% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in 2027.”
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points ” …the 2021 Proprietary Red was just bottled in July of this year and checks in as 91% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 3% Carmenere, and the rest Petit Verdot and Merlot, brought up in 64% new French oak. It offers pure blue fruits, spring flowers, violets, and spicy oak, with a beautiful chalky, mineral note that comes through more on the palate. It’s elegant, full-bodied, has ultra-fine tannins, good acidity, and terrific length. It’s another gorgeous wine that will evolve for 15+ years.”

Average listed price is $262

 
…also available from Quintessa:
 
Quintessa Red, Rutherford, California, USA 2019 750ml $219 special, 2 bottles available
Virginie Boone, Wine Enthusiast 100 Points “Cellar Selection. This is a winemaker’s master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039. -“
 
Quintessa Red, Rutherford, California, USA  2018 750ml $219 special, 7 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023.”
Wine Enthusiast 98 Points “This is an exceptional vintage of this exceptional wine, its foundation built around 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, with dustings of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Beautiful in berry fruit, textured and refined tannin and hints of lavender, licorice and sage, it has complexity and energy in equal measure, lengthy and beautifully focused, a truly impressive achievement of site, vintage and winemaker.”