In This Newsletter:
Isole e Olena Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Korrell
Isole e Olena Sale
Unlock Your Discount Now
Isole e Olena Sale
&
Vinopolis Close-Out Featurette: Korrell
Isole e Olena Sale
Unlock Your Discount Now
Paolo de Marchi, owner of Isole e Olena since taking over from his father in 1976, is one of Chianti’s leading winemakers. Unlike most renegades who took to experimenting with Bordeaux varietals along the Tuscan coast, he wanted to create a wine that centered Sangiovese. Back then, Chianti regulations stipulated that a certain proportion of white grapes be included in red wines.
In 1980, de Marchi released his first vintage of Cepparello, a 100% Sangiovese wine. He bottled it under the broad category of “vino da tavola”, as did other early “Super Tuscans” such as Sassicaia. You could say he foresaw that what Chianti needed wasn’t necessarily more grapes (French or white) but instead a more focused approach on what makes the region great. And de Marchi knew that that was Sangiovese.
Isole e Olena’s Chianti Classico and flagship Cepparello are both firmly rooted in the primacy of Sangiovese and the idea of Tuscan typicity. Both wines show the nuance and bright fruit you’d expect from a classic wine of the region combined with the density and complexity of top-tier, noble wines.
Today, at the top of the Chianti range, there is a new category: the Gran Selezione. This is a longer-aged wine than even Chianti Classico Riservas. Isole e Olena’s is a barrel selection of Cepparello, a Cepparello Riserva if you will. And in the 2015 vintage, it ranks among the greatest wines produced in all of Tuscany.
This is not to say that de Marchi is opposed to “international” (aka French) varieties. Instead, perhaps, it would be more apt to describe him as focused on single-varietal wines as a way to express his winery’s terroir. Elegant and polished, his 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines are top class examples that can stand their grown against the finest triple-digit examples from France or California.
In 1980, de Marchi released his first vintage of Cepparello, a 100% Sangiovese wine. He bottled it under the broad category of “vino da tavola”, as did other early “Super Tuscans” such as Sassicaia. You could say he foresaw that what Chianti needed wasn’t necessarily more grapes (French or white) but instead a more focused approach on what makes the region great. And de Marchi knew that that was Sangiovese.
Isole e Olena’s Chianti Classico and flagship Cepparello are both firmly rooted in the primacy of Sangiovese and the idea of Tuscan typicity. Both wines show the nuance and bright fruit you’d expect from a classic wine of the region combined with the density and complexity of top-tier, noble wines.
Today, at the top of the Chianti range, there is a new category: the Gran Selezione. This is a longer-aged wine than even Chianti Classico Riservas. Isole e Olena’s is a barrel selection of Cepparello, a Cepparello Riserva if you will. And in the 2015 vintage, it ranks among the greatest wines produced in all of Tuscany.
This is not to say that de Marchi is opposed to “international” (aka French) varieties. Instead, perhaps, it would be more apt to describe him as focused on single-varietal wines as a way to express his winery’s terroir. Elegant and polished, his 100% Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah wines are top class examples that can stand their grown against the finest triple-digit examples from France or California.
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Isole e Olena
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Isole e Olena
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Sunday, November 3rd at 9 am Pacific.
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Isole e Olena
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Sale ends Sunday, November 3rd at 9 am Pacific.
We offer eight options from Isole e Olena on sale now, including:
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $66, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata opens to an enriched appearance with round fruit and loads of deep intensity. What is remarkable about this Tuscan Cabernet Sauvignon (blended with very small parts of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot) is that it shows none of the greenness or tightness often associated with the grape. This warm and sunny vintage has ironed out any wrinkles and contributes to the loose, rich fabric of the wine. This wine shows lushness and balanced integration. It’s a lovely expression whose berry and forest endnotes make it perfect for a rosemary and garlic roasted lamb. Only 6,000 bottles were made.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Cabernet Sauvignon Toscana IGT 2018 750ml Displayed Price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off, 11 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Lots of blackcurrants and currant bush with some graphite and black ink on the nose. Full-bodied with a chewy and polished tannin backbone and lots of blue fruit and stones in the finish. Sandalwood and violets, too. Great structure at the end. Give this time to soften. Try after 2025, but will age for a long time.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96 points “The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Collezione Privata is another stellar wine in this range from Isole e Olena and Paolo De Marchi. Still pretty tightly wound, the 2018 is going to need at least a few years to fully unwind. Dark blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice, mocha and espresso are some of the many aromas and flavors that start to open with a bit of aeration. The Isole Cabernet has a brilliant track record of aging. I expect the 2018 will one day take its place among the very finest editions.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2017 1.5L Displayed Price: $169, that’s $160.55 at 5% off and $152.10 at 10% off, 2 magnums in stock nowIsole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2017 3L Displayed Price: $379, that’s $360.05 at 5% off and $341.10 at 10% off, 3 double-magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 points “The 2017 Cepparello is another in a series of stunningly beautiful Cepparellos from Paolo de Marchi. Bright and beautifully focused in the glass, with tremendous depth, the 2017 is positively stellar from the very first taste. Succulent dark cherry, plum, licorice, spice, menthol and coffee all open up with a bit of air. Here, too, Paolo De Marchi has done a tremendous job in preserving freshness in the wine. Readers who can muster the patience will be rewarded with a spectacular wine.”
James Suckling 95 points “A beautifully linear and refined sangiovese with polished tannins and super tight fruit. Yet, it shows subtle complexity of blackberries, black cherries and dark chocolate. Some hazelnuts. Intense, vibrant finish with a creamy texture. Extremely well done for this hot, dry vintage. Drink after 2023.”
These are the only listings for the magnum and double-magnum in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ml Displayed Price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% off and $197.10 at 10% off, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 96+ points “The 2015 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione, essentially a selection of the best barrels of Cepparello, is a gorgeous wine. More than anything, the 2015 is remarkable considering the challenges of a growing season in which rain during harvest created significant challenges. Nevertheless, Paolo De Marchi coaxed all of the potential out of his vines in 2015, adding a good dollop of Petit Verdot to the Sangiovese in crafting the Gran Selezione. Dense, powerful and beautifully textured, with intense underpinnings of saline minerality. The 2015 has a brilliant future, but it won’t see the light until fall 2020 at the very earliest.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Isole e Olena Collezione Privata Syrah Toscana IGT 2019 750ml Displayed Price: $75, that’s $71.25 at 5% off and $67.50 at 10% off, 30 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 points “The 2019 Syrah Colleziore Privara is quite delicate and silky in this vintage, with a distinctly red-fruited profile that is unusual. Spice, orange peel, dried flowers and white pepper lend brightness to a Syrah that is both deep and light on its feet. I especially admire the vibrancy here.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Arriving in November:
Isole e Olena Cepparello Toscana IGT 2020 750ml Displayed Price: $124.50, that’s $118.28 at 5% off and $112.05 at 10% off, 6 bottles arriving in November
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 98 points “The 2020 Cepparello is a total stunner, just as it was last year. Deeply colored, layered and explosive in the glass, the 2020 possesses striking textural richness and overall intensity. Black cherry, graphite, plum, spice and lavender flesh out effortlessly. There’s tremendous pedigree and sheer stature here. Cepparello is surely one of the wines of the year.”
Vinopolis Close-Out Sale Featurette:
Korrell
Korrell is a rising star Nahe producer. The winery dates back to 1832, but it’s only with young Martin taking over the cellar that the family has attained their current standing.
The best vineyard that Korrell owns (and the backbone for all their Rieslings) is a monopole site called, appropriately, “Paradis.” Paradis is a limestone-heavy site (a rarity, much like Keller’s Kirschspiel GG), with shallow soils and privileged exposition—in short, everything you could ask of a Riesling vineyard, especially to produce dry wines.
The revitalization of the site, combined with Martin’s work in the cellar, has vaulted Korrell into the top tier of producers both in the Nahe and across Germany. We’re proud to be the first and only shop in the USA to offer these wines.
In Stock Now:
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Trocken 2017 750ml Was $41.90, Now $36, 19 bottles in stock now
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Trocken 2017 3L Was $179, Now $149, 2 double-magnums in stock now
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Trocken 2017 1.5L Was $79, Now $66, 6 magnums in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “The radiant and graceful Korrell Paradies Trocken leads with expressive pure apple tones. [It] impresses for its elegance and subtle character. It’s a wine of great poise and delicacy, especially admirable for such a young Riesling. The monopole estate vineyard, Paradies, is the oldest single site Korrell has and is the flagship wine from winemaker Martin Korrell. It comes from his family’s vines that are set on limestone and clay soils in Bad Kreuznach area of the Nahe region. The Paradies Riesling Trocken is a gorgeous white of depth and precise winemaking that takes advantage of this unique site in the Nahe. This wine is the heart and soul of Korrell and it is product of its unique climat,or terroir. It sees more sunshine and the limestone allows for serious concentration, while retaining acidity,”
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Very clean and fresh, but behind the effusive, fruit-salad character that makes this so seductive, there is a lot of structure and the finish keeps pumping out the fruit and chalky minerality. Drink or hold.”
The best vineyard that Korrell owns (and the backbone for all their Rieslings) is a monopole site called, appropriately, “Paradis.” Paradis is a limestone-heavy site (a rarity, much like Keller’s Kirschspiel GG), with shallow soils and privileged exposition—in short, everything you could ask of a Riesling vineyard, especially to produce dry wines.
The revitalization of the site, combined with Martin’s work in the cellar, has vaulted Korrell into the top tier of producers both in the Nahe and across Germany. We’re proud to be the first and only shop in the USA to offer these wines.
In Stock Now:
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Trocken 2017 750ml Was $41.90, Now $36, 19 bottles in stock now
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Trocken 2017 3L Was $179, Now $149, 2 double-magnums in stock now
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Trocken 2017 1.5L Was $79, Now $66, 6 magnums in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “The radiant and graceful Korrell Paradies Trocken leads with expressive pure apple tones. [It] impresses for its elegance and subtle character. It’s a wine of great poise and delicacy, especially admirable for such a young Riesling. The monopole estate vineyard, Paradies, is the oldest single site Korrell has and is the flagship wine from winemaker Martin Korrell. It comes from his family’s vines that are set on limestone and clay soils in Bad Kreuznach area of the Nahe region. The Paradies Riesling Trocken is a gorgeous white of depth and precise winemaking that takes advantage of this unique site in the Nahe. This wine is the heart and soul of Korrell and it is product of its unique climat,or terroir. It sees more sunshine and the limestone allows for serious concentration, while retaining acidity,”
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “Very clean and fresh, but behind the effusive, fruit-salad character that makes this so seductive, there is a lot of structure and the finish keeps pumping out the fruit and chalky minerality. Drink or hold.”
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Weingut Korrell Von Den Grossen Lagen Riesling Trocken 2017 750ml Was $33, Now $29, 1 bottle in stock now
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 94 points “What a beautiful nose of leaves and white flowers, dripping after rain. With aeration, peach, nectarine and mandarin-orange notes emerge. Concentrated, racy and very polished, this is a stunning dry riesling with a long, mineral finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher ‘Paradies’ Riesling Eiswein 2016 375ml Was $79, Now $69, 8 half-bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “Korrell is one of the Nahe’s latest break out stars and every wine I’ve tried from Martin Korrell has been absolutely stunning, including this Eiswein. Crafted from old vines at their estate monopole Paradies Vineyard in Bad Kreuznach, from those grapes that hang out until the first freeze and were individual berry picked off the vine. Concentrated in sugars, but still bristling with natural acidity the gorgeous and opulent 2016 Korrell Eiswein Paradies goes on and on in mouth. Even with the residual sugar levels off the carts, this wine stays incredibly balanced and doesn’t drink as sweet as you’d imagine, making for a heavenly experience from its perfumed nose to its lingering tropical fruits. This is entrancing stuff with layers of lychee, candied pineapple, apricot jelly, honeycomb, lime blossom, white roses, chamomile, a hint of spearmint, mineral spice and cool wet stone…”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We offer 242 wines on our Close-Out Sale in stock now.
Shop the sale on our webstore now!
Don’t miss our additional sales going on now:
Crowd-Pleasers By-The-Dozen:
Champagne Edition
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from our Champagne Crowd-Pleasers Sale
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from our Champagne Crowd-Pleasers Sale
Cali Disrupters Sale:
Pax/Bedrock/Dominus
5% off any 3-5 in-stock bottles from Pax / Bedrock / Dominus
10% off any 6 or more in-stock bottles from Pax / Bedrock / Dominus
Discount will not display online or in your cart,
We will adjust your invoice before processing your charge.
Champagne Crowd-Pleasers sale ends Friday, November 1st at 9 am Pacific. Cali Disrupters sale ends Saturday, November 2nd at 9 am Pacific.