November 3rd Monday Newsletter

Jump Start Sale  

These half bottles available here now from FX Pichler are sure to please!

FX Pichler Riesling Loibenberg 2011 375ML ($49.95) $33 special 3 half-bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Intense and pure, featuring an aroma of white pepper and a minerally cast to the flavors of red peach, accented by anise and dried basil. Quince and lemon peel hints enliven the crisp finish. Drink now through 2020.”

FX Pichler Gruner Veltliner M Smaragd 2012 375ML ($59.95) $49 special 9 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Expressive bouquet fascinates with papaya, nougat, woodsmoke, white chocolate and orange zest. A sweet, leesy core of plum is wrapped in layers of green peppercorn, cardamom and orange. Unctuously rich and almost Burgundian in its creaminess, and carrying considerable alcoholic clout, this has the depth and intensity of flavor to carry the style.”

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OREGON
Bow & Arrow Gamay Noir Willamette Valley 2013 ($21.95) $18 special
Vinopolnote -The Frank’s winemaking inspiration is the Loire Valley and Bow and Arrow’s Gamay Noir is a dead ringer for a light style Gamay from Touraine.

Cameron Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2013 ($21.95) $18 special

CALIFORNIA
Sanford Chardonnay Santa Rita Hills 2011 ($31.95) $14 special
Winery Notes “Our 2011 “Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay is sourced exclusively from our two estate vineyards in the heart of this cool climate appellation. The 2011 vintage was marked by low yields due to spring frost. This resulted in intense flavors with bright acid. By gently whole cluster pressing and barrel fermentation in French oak, this Chardonnay has lovely texture to balance the vibrant palate. Our 2011 estate Chardonnay offers intriguing aromas of lemon peel, apricot and toasted hazelnut. In addition to the bright fruit, this wine has aromas of white flowers. On the palate the minerality and acidity give this wine great structure, which carries through its long finish. This full bodied wine has nice acidity to keep it in balance and makes a nice complement to most seafood, poultry and pasta with lighter sauces, and makes and excellent pairing with mushrooms (especially chanterelles and morels).”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The next best price is $17.99 / bottle

Rodney Strong Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Sonoma County 2011 ($41.95) $31.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Lengthy and expansive, this wine offers cherry and herb on the nose, followed by a taste of chocolate and anise, with a jolt of spicy black pepper on the finish. Ready to drink now it’s also structured enough to age 2017-2019.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is 25% higher at $40/ bottle

Rodney Strong Symmetry Meritage Alexander Valley 2011 ($59.95) $36 special
Winery notes” Our Symmetry meritage is created in our small lot winemaking facility, the artisan cellar. Under the direction of consulting winemaker David Ramey, we employ state of the art techniques such as cluster pre-sorting, berry sorting, and extended maceration. Only indigenous yeast and naturally occurring malo-lactic fermentation are allowed. With small tanks and equipment sized for the most discriminating vineyard selection process, this facility is truly state of the art and represents the Klein family commitment towards producing the finest wines possible. The 2011 Symmetry greets you with an opulent bouquet of blackberries, cassis, and sweet spices. It unfolds on the palate with layers of black fruits, dark chocolate and spice. This mouth-filling wine is rich and silky in texture with a long, lingering finish and the structure for several years in the cellar. Intended to be enjoyable on release, the 2011 Symmetry is destined for evolution in the bottle.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is 33% higher at $48 / bottle

Forman Chateau La Grande Roche Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2005 ($49.95) $33 special
Vinopolnotes- Ric crafts the Grande Roche Cabernet Sauvignon towards suppleness, offering his fans a glimpse of his wine craft without a wait in the cellar. This wine is very nicely balanced; and something special on the dinner table.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average price is $38 / bottle

Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2004 ($89.95) $59 special
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Good bright ruby-red. Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, licorice and aromatic spices. Richer and seemingly riper than the young 2005, but with lovely definition to the flavors of redcurrant and sour cherry. This features a lusher, softer, sweeter middle followed by chewier and more obvious tannins that showed a firmer edge with aeration.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is over 25% higher at $75 / bottle

Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard Red Mountain 2011 ($199.95) $179 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes all from the Golitzin’s Red Mountain vineyard and is almost all Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the richest and most concentrated wines in the vintage, it offer fabulous creme de cassis, black raspberry, graphite, toast and licorice aromas and flavors to go with a full-bodied, seamless and beautifully balanced profile on the palate. As expected, it doesn’t have the sheer wealth of material that’s present in the prior vintages, yet everything is perfectly proportioned, it has excellent mid-palate depth and notable, sweet tannin. It benefits from a decant and will have upwards of two decades of longevity.”

Quilceda Creek Palengat Vineyard Red Horse Heaven Hills 2011 ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “A blend of 61% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2011 Palengat Vineyard has a great bouquet of sweet plum liqueur, blackberry, graphite, lead pencil shavings and toast. This is followed by a full-bodied effort that has beautiful concentration (especially in the vintage), loads of texture and ripe underlying tannic structure. Reasonably approachable now, it will nevertheless evolve gracefully on its overall balance. Enjoy bottles over the coming 10-15 years.”

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Dom Perignon Metamorphosis Brut 2004 ($219.95) $179 special
IRIS VAN HERPEN EDITION
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2004 Dom Pérignon continues to develop beautifully. A vibrant, focused Champagne, the 2004 clearly reflects the personality of the year. Freshly cut flowers, white peaches and pears are woven together in a Champagne that impresses for its focus and energy. Chiseled saline note support the crystalline finish. I imagine the 2004 will always remain relatively bright and linear, but at the same time, each time I have tasted it over the last two years the 2004 seems to have a little more body and broader shoulders. The 2004 will appeal most to readers who find the 2002 and 2003 too exuberant. There is a lot to like in the glass.”

FRANCE-BURGUNDY
Chevillon Nuits-St-Georges Vieilles Vignes 2011 ($69.95)$51.90 special
Burghound 87-89 points “A discreet touch of wood sets off equally fresh and bright red berry fruit and soft earth aromas that give way to mouth coating, delicious and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess good mid-palate concentration, all wrapped in a seductively textured, balanced and solidly persistent finish.”

Matrot Saint Aubin En Creots Premier Cru 2012 ($39.95) $33 special
Burghound 89 points “This is much, much more elegant with cool and high-toned aromas of very fresh raspberry and cherry. There is a real sense of energy to the detailed and mineral-inflected flavors that possess fine delineation before terminating in a balanced, delicious and lingering finish. This is a classic En Créots of finesse.”

Mischief & Mayhem Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011 ($29.95)$16 special
Case-6 Mischief & Mayhem Bourgogne Pinot Noir 2011 ($149.95) $89 special (that’s only $14.83 / bottle!)**
Importer notes “Mischief and Mayhem is the creation of Michael and Fiona Ragg, whose passion for wine and for Burgundy in particular, inspired them to move to the region and create the company. Michael Ragg spent nearly 10 years working with leading UK wine merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd before moving with his wife Fiona, to Burgundy in spring 2003. The company achieved full domaine status in 2012 with the purchase of a small vineyard plot in Aloxe-Corton. An additional vineyard in Savigny-les Beaune Premier Cru Aux Gravains was added to the portfolio in 2013, and the company is currently engaged in a renovation programme, creating its new winery and barrel cellars in Aloxe-Corton.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The next best price is 56% higher at $24.99 / bottle

FRANCE-BORDEAUX
Chateau Le Bon Pasteur Pomerol 2010 ($119.95) $99 special
Robert Parker 95 points “Michel and Dany Rolland’s flagship estate, Bon Pasteur, turned out an atypically powerful wine in 2010. It boasts a dense ruby/purple color, great fruit on the attack, mid-palate and finish, super freshness for its size, full-bodied power and lots of mulberry, caramel, mocha, earth and graphite characteristics. Give this beauty 5-7 years of cellaring (unusual for a Bon Pasteur) and drink it over the following 25 years.”

Chateau Gruaud Larose Saint Julien 2010 ($119.95) $99 special
James Suckling 96 points “Ripe raspberries and blueberries with hints of fresh flowers. Deep nose of dark fruits. Full body, with silky tannins and a beautifully integrated tannin structure. It’s long and very refined. Better than 2009. Try in 2018.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “For anybody looking for classic Bordeaux, this is the bottle to seek. “Classic” here means a wine with a tannic structure that also relies on a black currant flavor, with acidity providing freshness but not losing any concentration or aging potential. Keep for many years.”

Chateau Troplong Mondot Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2009 ($249.95) $219 special
Robert Parker 99 points “It boasts an inky/purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of mocha, chocolate, blackberry and cassis fruit, an unctuous texture, a full-bodied, viscous mouthfeel and a skyscraper-like, multilayered finish. This spectacular wine is nearly overwhelming in its richness, thickness and intensity. Once all its baby fat falls away, the terroir characteristics and additional nuances will emerge. This blockbuster, fabulous Troplong Mondot will benefit from 10-15 years of cellaring and keep for three decades or more. It is not shy either, bouncing over the palate with 15.5% natural alcohol. The 2009 Troplong Mondot will provide plenty of competition for the 2010, 2005 and 2000. It comes closest in style to the prodigious 1990 that proprietress Christine Valette produced 22 years ago. A phenomenal effort, it unquestionably justifies its relatively new Premier Grand Cru St.-Emilion status. Readers should keep in mind that the 1990, which probably has lower acidity and not the level of concentration found in the 2009, is drinking incredibly well at age 22 and reveals no signs of falling apart.”

FRANCE- JURA/ARBOIS
Caves Jean Bourdy Cremant Du Jura Rose NV ($29.95)$24 special
Wine Spectator  91 points “A racy and engaging sparkler, with delightful apple, pear and fig notes laced with powdered ginger, dried persimmon and heather hints. Shows excellent length and cut on the finish, delivering mouthwatering drive. Chardonnay. Drink now.”

FRANCE-LOIRE VALLEY
Andre Neveu Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2013 ($41.95)$33 special
Winery notes “This Sancerre white comes from our exclusively hand-harvested limestone-clay vineyards in Chavignol, on the famous “Cote des Monts Damnés”, so named by our ancestors because it was a very awkward slope to work. However, it does have an exceptional terroir and ideal exposure. Excellent drunk young, it will open up over time, and age without effort. It will combine perfectly with all types of fish, and white meats in sauce.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The next best listed price 15% at $37.99 / bottle

ITALY-PIEDMONT
Massolino Barolo DOCG 2010 ($59.95) $49 special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2010 Barolo is gorgeous. Sage, rosemary, tar, dried rose petals and sweet spices meld together. An impeccable, perfumed Barolo, the 2010 impresses for its balance. Fine, silky tannins support the gracious finish in this medium-bodied, refined Barolo. Readers who want to get a sense of what the 2010 vintage is all about will want to check out this fabulous effort from Massolino. This is decidedly a medium-bodied style for Serralunga, but it works.”

Ca Del Baio Barbaresco DOCG Asili 2011 ($59.95) $36.60 special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Asili captures the pedigree of this great site. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red berries, mint and cinnamon all resonate in an impeccable, silky Barbaresco loaded with class. A translucent, crystalline wine, the 2011 impresses for its balance and overall harmony. What a gorgeous wine this is.”

Spotlight Highlight
New Arrival

Muscadet Mavericks
Luneau Papin and Pepiere

Muscadet is the key appellation of the Pays Nantais, the district of the western Loire Valley around Nantes, on the central western coast of France. The name covers exclusively white wines made from Melon de Bourgogne (or simply Melon) – the variety that was traditionally called Muscadet. The vineyards are concentrated mostly to the south and east of Nantes city and along the banks of the local rivers – the Loire and its tributaries, stretching for about 55 miles along the banks. There are four Muscadet appellations: Cotes de Grandlieu, Coteaux de la Loire,Muscadet itself and, the most prolific of all the appellations, is Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine. Officially established as an appellation in 1936, Muscadet Sevre et Maine produces about 80% of all Muscadet’s wines. The entire vineyard area benefits from a temperate maritime climate with even rainfall throughout the year. There are slight differences in climatic characteristics from one end of the region to the other, caused by varying distances from the coast, Loire and other bodies of water.

With a very high output among French wines, Muscadet has long been the accepted wine of choice for matching with seafood, often viewed as “the” oyster wine pairing. To glean as much flavor and character from the grape as possible, many Muscadet wines are left sur lie (“on the lees”) for a period of several weeks or even months. Extended contact with the lees imparts a richer, creamier mouthfeel to the wines and contributes to the general flavor profile, expect flavors of apple and citrus with hints of mineral and a slight salinity, an output of the Loire’s Valleys cerished chalky soils.

Pierre Luneau-Papin’s estate, also known as Pierre de la Grange, is situated in the heart of Muscadet country and has been in existence since the early 18th century. The Luneau family is well established in the region; their presence here may be traced as far back as the late 17th Century. Pierre Luneau is the thirteenth generation of his family to bear the name Pierre, and he and his wife, Monique, are the seventh generation of vignerons to run Domaine Pierre de la Grange.

With approximately 40 hectares of vines at his disposal, Pierre’s wines are meticulously produced, from the hand-harvested old vines (averaging 45 years of age) to his exceedingly careful cellar work. Clean, crisp wines with underlying intense minerality are the result. This is one of those rare Muscadets producers whose wines will age beautifully and remain true to their crisp, mineral-rich terroir. With his large amount of holdings that are divided based on their soil composition, Pierre’s main goal is transparency, each parcel is kept seperate to preserve the inherent flavors of each location. The Muscadet Clos des Allees is a single vineyard wine made from South-facing vines of atleast 45 years of age. The vineyard for Terre de Pierre is from a place called de la Butte de la Roche, and is designed to celebrate the Serpentine soil found in the area, metamorphic, extremely old soil known for its high mineral concentration. The real gem in the Luneau-Papin crown is their excelent cuvée L’d’Or, made from some of their oldest vines, raised in their best soils of granite and gneiss, this wine spends more time on the lees than most(9-11 months) and is known for the rich, creamy tecture that this extended againg imparts. (Pictured left Pierre-Marie with his son Pierre, the newest generation of the Luneau-Papin lineage)

Luneau Papin Muscadet Clos Allees Vieilles Vignes 2012 ($21.95) $18 special 2+ cases available

Luneau Papin Muscadet Terre De Pierre 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 3 cases available

Luneau Papin Muscadet L d’Or 1999 ($69.95) $59 special 12 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “The granite soil of the vineyard is dominant in this textured, mineral wine with its kerosene aroma and its taut, almost austere acidity. While the primary fruit has gone, this is still nowhere near mature, a wine that shows considerable freshness, life, potential.”

Marc Ollivier of Domaine de la Pepiere is an example of a winemaker who has grown with his vines. In the early 1980’s Marc, who was an engineer at the time, decided to move to the country for a slower pace of life. His father owned some vineyards in the cool Atlantic-influenced zone of Muscadet-Sèvre et Maine but was not a winemaker.
Marc took over his father’s vineyards and bought a parcel called Clos de Briords from an elderly neighbor, emabrking on his first vintage in 1985. As Marc matured as a winemaker, he remained open-minded and experimented with ambient yeasts and began bottling with minimal amounts of SO2. The results were extraordinary, producing wines that showed greater depth, richness and complexity. Encouraged by his success, Marc began transitioning all his vineyards to organic and continued his minimalist approach in the winery. In spite of a relatively large surface of vineyards (28 hectares), all of Domaine Pepiere’s vineyards are farmed organicly and special care is taken at the harvest and handling of the grapes so that his wines can be vinified without lab yeasts and nutrients.

Domaine de la Pépière makes very beautiful Muscadet wines on terroirs thick with granite stones and debris. All the vineyards are from original stock: Ollivier is the only grower in the Muscadet who does not have a single clonal selection in his vineyards, and all of the vines are at least 40 years old. With ideal vineyard, Domaine Pepiere’s racy, lemon-tinged, mineral-driven Muscadets have since become the benchmark for the region and have opened up a world of previously unknown potential in the area. Apart from his celebrated entry-level Muscadet, Marc produces two cuvee Muscadets; the Clos des Briords is a single vineyard cuvée with classic minerality and freshness, as well as firm acidity and concentrated citrus and pear notes, and Chateau Thebaud is is a newly acquired parcel in the Clos des Morines, named for a particular type of fissured granite which gives the vines access to moisture during the summer, this wine sees extended lees contact, the 2010 left sur lie for over a year.

Domaine De La Pepiere Muscadet Sevre et Maine Sur Lie 2013 ($17.95) $14 special 2+ cases available

Pepiere Muscadet Clos Des Briords 2013 750ml ($21.95) $18 special 12+ cases available
Pepiere Muscadet Clos Des Briords 2013 1.5 LITER ($59.95) $49 special 6 magnums available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Bottled in May 2014, the 2013 Muscadet de Sevre et Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords is from a Clos in the sub-region of Chateau Thébaud where the vines have grown for 50 years in granite soils. The wine offers a delicious and brillant bouquet of rather white than yellow-fleshed fruits and a refreshing lime aroma. The palate is pure and straight, the structure firm and mineral, its aging potential enormous. Marc offered me the 1995, which he had opened recently with friends. It still had a vibrant citrus color and showed a beautifully matured aroma of dried white fruits and tasted almost like a matured Rheingau Riesling. It was very mineral, yet balanced on the palate, and still extremely vibrant if not racy, with some caramel and chamomile aromas in the finish.”

Domaine Pepiere La Pepie Rose 2013 ($19.95) $16 special 12+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 87 points “Bright pink.  Pungent aromas of redcurrant and cherry pit, with subtle floral and herbal nuances adding complexity.  Dry and chewy on the palate, offering bitter cherry and orange pith flavors and a touch of white pepper.  Finishes somewhat rigid and tight, with echoing florality and good length.”

Domaine Pepiere Muscadet Chateau Thebaud Clos des Morines 2010 1.5LITER ($69.95) $59 special 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2010 Muscadet Sevre et Maine Chateau-Thebaud Clos des Morines is a mouthful of succulent and mineral structured Muscadet with deep and nutty flavors and a complex taste and length. Full-bodied, powerful and well balanced it develops an enormous minerality on the palate that is knocking on Burgundy’s (Chablis!) door.”

Shop online at
www.vinopoliswineshop.com

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Arriving This Week

Frog’s Leap Rutherford, Napa Valley 2012 ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Frog’s Leap Rutherford, Napa Valley 2012 ($599.95) $519 pre-arrival special (that’s only $43.25 / bottle!)**
Winery’s note: “This Cabernet Sauvignon has all the hallmarks of the legendary Cabernets of Rutherford: the deep, cassis-currant aromas, the classic notes of ‘Rutherford Dust,’ and the earthen flavors of cedar and black olive. The mouthfeel is plush across the palate with velvety tannins, yet balanced by bright acidy and firm structure that hints at promising years to come. Pair it with rack of lamb, N.Y. Strip, or just another glass! This wine is destined to give decades of drinking pleasure.”

Jacquesson Champagne Extra Brut Cuvee 737 NV ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special

Tarlant Champagne Zero Brut Nature NV ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Brut Nature Ero is a fascinating wine. It shows plenty of richness, despite the non-dosage style. Pears, apple tart, pastry, hazelnuts and dried flowers are some of the many nuances that flow from this deep, textured Champagne. This is a fabulous showing. Now, with a full year of disgorgement, the wine is drinking absolutely beautifully. The Ero is equal parts Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from vineyards in the Vallee della Marne.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $54 / bottle

Tarlant Champagne Rose Zero Brut Nature NV ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Tarlant’s NV Brut Nature Rosé is even better. All of the elements come together beautifully in the glass as this powerful, precise wine takes shape over time. The wine shimmers across the palate with layers of beautifully articulated, perfumed fruit, showing marvelous precision and balance. The Brut Nature Rosé is 90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir based on 2006 with the addition of reserve wines.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $65 / bottle

Tarlant Champagne Cuvee Louis Extra Brut NV ($99.95)$89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Apricots, dried pears, spices, flowers, honey and hazelnuts meld together in the NV Cuvée Louis. Warm, toasty and resonant to the core, the 1999 is built on gorgeous breadth and pure volume. Readers who like rich, oxidative Champagnes will love the Cuvée Louis. This release is based on the 1999 vintage, with 15% reserve wine from the previous release (1998, 1997, 1996), equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.”

Henri Bonneau Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins 2009 ($379.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-98 points “The 2009 Chateauneuf du Pape Reserve des Celestins might be the wine of the vintage and got a big “Wow” in the notebook. Thrillingly perfumed, with kirsch, currants, herbs de Provence, dried meats and spice-like aromas and flavors, it is an absolute knockout on the nose. This is all backed up by full-bodied richness in the mouth, and it possesses terrific mid-palate depth, layers of sweet tannin and a finish that pumps out plenty of sweet fruit. I don’t know when it will be bottled, but certainly, I was blown away by the wine.”

We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25

These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason. Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment do not qualify for flat rate shipping.

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Special Feature

The Bounty of Cru Beaujolais

When one thinks of Beaujolais, usually ‘Beaujolais Nouveau’ comes to mind and all the festivities in France with the annual release on the third Thursday of November.  With people racing to get the first bottles to different markets around the globe,  ‘Beaujolais Day’ is a celebration involving clever marketing and public events.  The wine is only fermented for a few weeks and is intended to be drunk young, but because of this has developed a bit of a reputation for being slightly lackluster.  Just North of Beaujolais, are the incredibly valued and underappreciated Cru’s of
Beaujolais- 10 of them total.  Each Cru has their own distinct characteristics, with their individuality coming from their particular soils and its minerals, their aspect to the sun, elevation levels, etc.   Bottom line, these wines are very unique, and although considered ‘unfashionable’ in a way for far too long, the value for money is better than anything you will get in Burgundy.

Gamay Noir is the grape being used with each and every Cru; a variety very similar to Pinot Noir, with its thin skins creating wines of very light tannin structure, along with beautiful cherry notes and great mineral components.  The improvement of quality and stability of these wines throughout the years has been positively astounding.  Thankfully, these Burgundies have still remained a secret to most, somewhat suffering from living in the shadow from its highly regarded Northerly neighbor.   Therefore, the value coming out of the region is phenomenal and we want to share this little secret with you!

The region itself is comprised of mostly granite based soils, with clay, schist, limestone and even pink granite soils in Fleurie.  So what are all the Cru’s of Beaujolais we so happily rave about?  Listed from North to South; Saint Amour, Julienas, Chenas, Moulin-A-Vent, Fleurie, Chiroubles, Morgon, Regnie, Brouilly, and Cote de Brouilly. Here is a quick guide to the Cru’s we now have in stock and the qualities that make them shine.

These wines are incredibly well-made, food friendly, and with just a slight chill, are enjoyable any time of the year.  They also make a perfect wine pairing for all the wonderfully different flavors we get to enjoy at Thanksgiving.

Aufranc Julienas Les Cerisiers Vieilles Vignes 2012 ($17.95) $14 special 1 bottle available
Wine Enthusiast 89 points “This wine’s name translates to ‘cherry,’ and cherries are in its aroma along with spice. The palate shows a juicy, forward fruity character, a tang of acidity and soft tannins.”

Daniel Bouland Chiroubles 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 2+ cases available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Chiroubles comes from 60-year-old vines on sandy soils and undergoes a semi-carbonic maceration. It has a composed and refined bouquet with dark cherries and bergamot scents that unfurl in in the glass. The palate is fresh and well-defined with a fine thread of acidity. This is very harmonious and approachable, with just the right amount of tension on the finish. Drink now-2017.”

Daniel Bouland Cote De Brouilly Cuvee Melanie 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie comes from 60-year-old vines planted in sandy soil and undergoes a semi-carbonic maceration. It has a bright bouquet of red currant and raspberry leaf scents that are well-defined and natural. The palate is very well-balanced with good structure and plenty of fresh red cherry and strawberry fruit. The finish is refined and focused – a top class Cote de Brouilly. Drink now-2018.”

Daniel Bouland Morgon Corcelette Vieilles Vignes 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 2+ cases available
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Morgon Corcelette comes from 60-year-old vines and IS aged in foudres. It has a broodier nose than the Cote de Brouilly with dusky blackberry and briary scents, touches of wild hedgerow and woodland. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. It is very well-balanced, but there is something introspective toward the finish that is very engaging and urges you to take another sip. Drink now-2020.”

Daniel Bouland Morgon Cuvee De Lys 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 13 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Morgon Vieilles Vignes comes courtesy of 60-year-old vines. It has an understated bouquet of raspberry, tilled earth and briary scents that unfold in the glass. The palate is crisp and fresh with a slightly higher acidity than the Corcelette, but with more tension and vibrancy on the finish. This is another superb Morgon from Daniel Bouland. Drink now-2020.”

Chermette Vissoux Fleurie Garants 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 3 cases available
Winery notes “The area called Les Garants is one of the Fleurie appellation area’s most noble granitic terroirs. Very well sited (south-west facing) and harvested at full ripeness, the grapes from these vines give a concentrated cuvée. The result, in the mouth, is dense and long, foretelling of really good cellaring potential. The fruit is intense, lively and ‘sappy’. A cuvée worthy of being called “Queen of Beaujolais”!”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA!

Chermette Vissoux Fleurie Poncie 2012 ($29.95) $24 special 3+ cases available
Winery notes “Very representative of AOC Fleurie, the queen of the Beaujolais Crus, this cuvée bears the stamp of the terroir of Poncié. The silky tannins and floral aromas give the wine a feminine personality, packed with finesse and suavity. This is a thirst quenching wine, giving immediate pleasure, suited to a wide variety of dishes.”

Chignard Fleurie Les Moriers 2011 1.5LITER ($69.95) $59 special 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Bright violet color. A seductively perfumed bouquet evokes red and dark berries, lavender, Asian spices and smoky minerals. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering vibrant black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors that gain sweetness with air.  The mineralquality comes back strong on the finish, which features silky tannins and a zesty floral pastille nuance.”

Clos De La Roilette Fleurie 2012 ($22.95) $19.90 special 15 bottles available

Desvignes Morgon Javernieres 2010 ($31.95) $27 special 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Vivid purple. Displays aromas of black raspberry, cherry and candied licorice, with slight smokiness and building spice notes. Deeply pitched yet vibrant dark berry flavors are lifted by cracked pepper and mineral qualities.  Closes gently chewy and long, with excellent clarity and lingering spiciness”

Desvignes Morgon Javernieres 2011 ($31.95) $27 special 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Hugely aromatic nose displays scents of smoky dark berries, potpourri and minerals. Broad and chewy on the palate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors and a t a touch of fruitcake. Richer than the straight Cote du Py bottling, finishing with impressive power, grip and spicy persistence.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $30 / bottle

Domaine Des Nugues Fleurie 2010 ($24.95) $16 special 14 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “An impressive wine, finely balanced between fragrant red fruits and firm tannins. It shows how structured a Fleurie can be, the acidity cutting through the firm structure. This is a wine for aging, over 4 years, when it will round out and bring out the rich texture.”

Domaine Foretal Moulin A Vent 2010 ($21.95) $18 special 6 bottles available

Guy Breton Morgon 2009 ($34.95) $29.50 special 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91-92 points “Breton’s 2009 Morgon Vieilles Vignes is one of those wines of its vintage positively peachy in its expression of sheer ripeness, boasting as well intense red raspberry and cherry, nut extracts, inner-mouth florality and spices (like its Regnie sibling), but also dark chocolate and toasted pecan underlying richness as well as suggestions of crushed stone and forest floor. There is lovely lift to the long finish and ample sense of brightness and refreshment to accompany its plush texture and glyceral richness, thus belying the wine’s low sulfur. I would expect this beauty to be worth following for 5-6 years”

Guy Breton Regnie 2009 ($29.95) $27.50 special 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 90-91 points “Breton is (rightfully) becoming something of a regional star, and not only do his wines command a respectable price, he also makes a statement about its appellation’s potential with a 2009 Regnie that costs as much as his wine from across the line in Morgon. From tank, this boasted vivid, bright red raspberry and cherry, with (for Breton typical) low-sulfur seeming to accentuate the purity of fruit and encourage a caressing texture without sacrificing any sense of refreshment. Almond and pistachio extract; brown spices, bittersweet inner-mouth iris florality, and invigorating salinity add allure. The sense of richness no doubt comes with fairly high alcohol (Breton was not present when I tasted, and I did not have chance to inquire about the level of this or his corresponding Morgon) but there is neither heat nor roughness.”

Jadot Chateau des Jacques Morgon Cote Du Py 2011 ($34.95) $29 special 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Chateau des Jacques’s 2011 Morgon Cote de Py – at only 13.4%, still the highest in alcohol of their vintage collection – leads with intimations of charred, roasted red meats and crushed stone along with sandalwood- and fruit pit-tinged, concentrated, ripe dark cherry and purple plum. Infectiously juicy, palpably dense, and finely tannic, this finishes with a luscious, dynamic, sustained exchange of stony, carnal, peaty and fruity elements…92”

Jadot Chateau Jacques Moulin A Vent 2011 ($21.95) $16 special 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Reflecting (as explained in my introductory notes) the inclusion of all of Chateau des Jacques’s fruit from Champs de Cour and Clos des Thorins as well as the usual selected lots  from all of their other Clos holdings, a generic 2011 Moulin-a-Vent mingles ripe dark cherry, plum and cassis with marrow-rich savory suggestions of meat stock. Salt, stone, iodine, mocha and toasted nuts add intrigue to a sustained finish in this lovely, tenderly textured and relatively gentle offering that pales slightly only in comparison with the active impingement that characterizes this year’s Chenas and Fleurie tasted immediately before. Incidentally, this was brought-up in one-third each in new barriques, used barriques and tank, in contrast with the nearly 100% new barrels in which the estate’s single vineyard Moulin-a-Vents continue to be raised. An outstanding value, it should reward following at least through 2017 and quite possibly beyond.”

Jadot Chateau Jacques Moulin-A-Vent Clos de Rochegres 2009 ($41.95) $37 special 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 93-94 points “Intriguing suggestions of crushed stone and iodine mingle with blackberry and cherry in the nose of the Chateau des Jacques 2009 Moulin-a-Vent Clos de Rochegres, from a site that features thin, iron-rich soil over hard granite mother rock at the summit of its appellation. This has a very different shape from any of its stable mates, round and enveloping, yet at the same time exhibiting vibratory energy, and depth of marrow and mineral matter, not to mention sweet fruit. Palate-staining in its persistence, this memorable and extraordinary value should prove a monument to its vintage worth following for 8, 10 ? (who can say really how many?) years.”

Fabien Dupperay Domaine Jules Desjourneys L’Interdit 2008 ($39.95) $29 special 4+ cases available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that will be known as 2008 Desjourneys is none other than Duperray’s 2008 Fleurie–combining Chapelle des Bois and Les Moriers–that was refused appellation and so is officially, merely, “vin de France.” Believe me, this is “vin de France” in the same sense that Debussy signed many of his late masterpieces “musicien francais.” The high-toned floral, herbal, and fruit distillate esters that memorably marked the Chapelle des Bois from cask as well as the black tea-tinged and more bittersweetly herbal and concentrated dark berries of the original Les Moriers, have been preserved in this marriage-in fact, after recovering from my chagrin at this wine’s having been denied its rightful appellation, I am now entirely reconciled to the two sites having been blended, inasmuch as the whole seems, remarkably, even greater than the sum of its already profoundly delicious parts! This finishes with mouthwatering salinity and a tenacious, almost Gewurztraminer-like meld of brown spices concentrated floral and herbal essences. I would anticipate it being worth following for half a dozen years, but on no account should it be missed earlier-on.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $35 / bottle

Domaine Marcel Lapierre Morgon 2013 1.5LITER ($69.95) $59 special 4 magnums available

Liger-Belair Moulin A Vent La Roche 2010 ($44.95) $33 special 4+ cases available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Deep, bright ruby. Candied red and dark berries on the nose, with notes of violet and star anise adding complexity. Juicy and gently sweet, offering plush black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a broad, velvety texture.  A weighty but energetic Beaujolais that finishes with intense spiciness and a lingering note of floral pastilles.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $40/ bottle

Liger-Belair Moulin A Vent Vieilles Vignes 2010 ($31.95) $23.90 special 4+ cases available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Vivid ruby. Raspberry, cherry, licorice and violet on the assertively perfumed nose and in the mouth. Juicy and precise, with very good depth, energy and building spiciness. Lingers with impressive tenacity, showing finishing notes of spices and flowers.  I find this year’s bottling of this wine far more vibrant and incisive than its ’09 sibling.”
Vinopolnotes-This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $29 / bottle

Lucien Le Moine Chenas 2011 1.5 LITER ($149.95) $133 special 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 92-93+ points “…it mingles striking wisteria perfume with scents and flavors of blueberry, pomegranate, black raspberry and smoked meat. Mouthwateringly salt-tinged and with crystalline suggestions of stony counterpoint, its infectiously juicy primary fruit informs a silken-texture palate and strikingly vibrant and persistent finish.”

Richard Rottiers Moulin A Vent 2013($27.95) $24 special 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Moulin-a-Vent Tradition comes from 2.5 hectares of 50-year-old vines, undergoes semi-carbonic maceration before four months in wooden vats (30% barrel aged.) It has an engaging bouquet of dark cherries, bergamot and undergrowth that is well-defined and gains vigor in the glass. The palate is well-balanced with supple, ripe tannins. There is good weight and focus, fresh mineral-rich dark berry fruit with a crisp, structured finish. This is very fine. Drink now-2022.”

Trenel Saint Amour 2010 ($27.95) $21.90 special 4 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “Named after a Roman centurion rather than a god of love, Saint-Amour produces structured Beaujolais. This wine with its sold tannins and firm structure proves the point. It is concentrated, it’s acidity and mineral red fruit character dominating at this stage and showing how it does need to age over the next year or two.”

Jean-Paul Thevenet Morgon Vieilles Vignes 2010 ($34.95) $27.50 special 4+ cases available
Wine Advocate 90+ points “Jean-Paul Thevenet’s 2010 Morgon Vieilles Vignes prominently displays exuberant, tart, seedy red raspberry, and sour cherry with its pit. Roasted nuttiness and marrow-rich beef stock-like carnal elements well-up on the otherwise lively and juicy as well as polished palate, and a streak of salinity helps serve for a mouthwatering not to mention bright and piquant finish. I suspect that this will add richness as it puts distance between itself and bottling. Certainly it has energy and juice to spare, and I would expect it to perform well for at least 3-4 more years.”

Just in time for Thanksgiving is the arrival of Clos de Roilette, one of the most iconic producers within all of the cru Beaujolais appellations.   Located in the village of Fleurie, Clos de Roilette lies on nine hectares of one of the greatest slopes, due to its location and the soils it lies upon.  Bordering the Moulin-à-Vent appellation with an Eastern exposure, soils are primarily of clay and manganese and vine age ranges from 25-80 years old. The heavy clay is only found in a 50 hectare radius and brings a greater amount of structure to the wine, opposed to the rest of the A.O.C that lies on mostly granite.  Vine age is critical with quality and the ability to age, and these Fleurie’s have a beautiful richness to them when young, with the capacity to age up to 15 years.

Despite the name, the Clos de Tardive is not a late harvest wine, but rather a wine coming from 80 year old vines. Although this special gem drinks lovely when young, it is a great example that Gamay is a grape that can achieve more than youthful drinkability.  The Griffe du Marquis is a very interesting example of Gamay that is aged in barrel, creating greater complexities without the wood masking the fresh fruit characteristics that the variety naturally expresses.

Clos De La Roilette Fleurie Tardive 2013 750ML ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Clos De La Roilette Fleurie Tardive 2013 1.5LITER ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Clos De La Roilette Fleurie Tardive 2013 3LITER ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special

Clos De La Roilette Griffe Du Marquis 2012 750ml ($49.95) $37 pre-arrival special
John Gilman 90 points“The 2012 Fleurie “Cuvée Griffe du Marquis” from Alain Coudert is one of the best wines I have tasted from this vintage. The bouquet shows some of the herbacité of 2012, but also sweet and sappy fruit tones that nicely buffer the herbs, as it wafts from the glass in a blend of black cherries, pomegranate, vine smoke, lovely, dark soil tones, fresh herbs and a bit cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, medium-full and concentrated at the core, with a fine signature of soil, tangy acids, a bit of well-integrated tannins and fine length and grip on the low fat, complex finish. This is really long and shows great intensity of flavor on the backend, with the herbacité of the vintage just a gentle footnote, rather than the focal point of the wine. A very, very impressive 2012 Beaujolais! 2014-2025.”

New Reviews from

All arriving last week of November
 

Donnhoff Riesling Norheimer Dellchen Grosses Gewachs Nahe 2013 ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Citrus colored, the 2013 Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs has a lovely clear and perfumed bouquet of fresh limes and cooked apples. Very pure on the palate, the juicy fruit is completely integrated into the thrilling, mineral texture of this beautiful and tension-filled, full-bodied wine that seems light and open-hearted.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $64 / bottle

Donnhoff Riesling Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Grosses Gewachs Nahe 2013 ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Coming from volcanic porphyry soils, the citrus colored 2013 Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs displays aromas of powdered volcanic stones mixed with intense citrus flavors and layers of lees-notes. Showing a complex palate that is very mineral, tightly structured and dusted with stone powder, it has very good mid-palate weight and very good length with citric aromas. It is an impressive wine that is still closed but full of potential.”
Vinopolnotes – This is the lowest listed price in the USA!

Donnhoff Riesling Niederhauser Hermannshohle Grosses Gewachs Nahe 2013 ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95 points “Intense yellow with greenish shimmer, the 2013 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs has spicy flavors with ripe peach aromas alongside spiced shortbread biscuits and almond notes. Pure and intense on the palate, quite powerful and full-bodied, very salty, far away from maturity, great aging potential though. A very long and complex wine indeed and one of the finest dry German Rieslings of the vintage. ”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $69 / bottle

Ott Gruner Veltliner Stein 2013 ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The Engabrunner 2013 Grüner Veltliner Stein is Ott’s one and only Veltliner from the adjacent Kamptal. It comes from terraces on gravel and gneiss soils which are covered by a big loess layer and bewitches with very ripe aromas of apples and stone fruits highlighted by fresh and delicately mineral and herbal flavors. The palate is intense and elegant, very juicy and stimulatingly salty what makes this full-bodied ad powerful Stein a harmonious and well balanced Veltliner which is already accessible but can be drunk for the eight years.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $56 / bottle

Ott Gruner Veltliner Spiegel 2013 ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Grüner Veltliner Spiegel Erste Lage is Ott’s third vintage of this Feuersbrunn cru which carries a mix of very old and very young vines which are cultivated on south-facing terraces in 280 to more than 300 meters above sea level and well protected to the northwest by the Hengstberg gravel ridge. The soils, derived from a massive blanket of loess that is draped over the Gföhler gneiss bedrock, marine sediments, and ancient gravels of the Danube River, are calcareous and silty and, in 2013, bore a light golden colored, tropical flavored, rich, sweet and harmonious Veltliner of great intensity and elegance. It intermixes ripe peach and mango aromas with tobacco and mineral flavors and develops a great length which makes the Spiegel on a par with the Rosenberg., the former more sweet, the latter more subtle perhaps.”

Ott Gruner Veltliner Rosenberg 2013 ($64.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “According to Bernhard Ott, the 2013 Grüner Veltliner Rosenberg Erste Lage comes from “the very best loess cru of the Wagram.” The vineyard (in 280 and 320 meters above sea level) is located in a topographic basin that is open to the south but provides a high level of protection from the wind and has an excellent heat-conserving capacity. The vineyard is bordered to the north by a mixed forest on Tertiary gravels from a former watercourse of the Danube River whereas the calcareous, silty soils of the vineyards developed from a thick blanket of loess which can be up to 20 meters thick. Ott’s vines are more than 50 old and give a remarkable elegant and well balanced Veltliner with an intense citrus color and a lovely purity of ripe, juicy peaches and mangoes intermixed with fresh, clear mineral flavors on the nose. Gentle and remarkably elegant on the palate, the full-bodied wine matches its natural richness and fruit intensity with freshness and a nice piquancy in a very delicious way. Its elegance and balance is really beautiful.”
Vinopolnotes– This is the lowest listed price in the USA! The average listed price is $59 / bottle

Staff Picks

Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Chardonnay 2013 ($21.95) $18 staff pick special
“This Dundee Hills Chardonnay is actually all Abbey Ridge fruit picked from the same block from which they source their Dundee Hills Pinot.  Although this wine undergoes full malolactic fermentation with about 30% new oak aging, don’t expect a buttery vanilla-bomb.  This wine is all elegance: silky smooth on the palate with aromas of graham cracker crust, white flowers and lemon zest.  It almost goes without saying that you should buy this now:  Cameron wines don’t last long on our shelves.  But don’t let that keep you from cellaring a bottle or two for a couple years.”

Oregon Wines
Arriving This Week

Russ and Mary Raney founded the Evesham Wood Vineyard and Winery in 1986 and produced wines from the estate vineyard and others with their son, Aidan.  In 2010, they retired and sold the estate to Erin and Jordan Nuccio, the winemaking-couple of Haden Fig.  Erin and Jordan were mentored by the previous owners and had produced the Haden Fig wines at Evesham Wood since its foundation in 2008.

Today, the Nuccios produce both Haden Fig and Evesham Wood wines at the estate winery.  They have kept practices at Evesham Wood the same, producing wines of elegance and grace.  Russ and Mary originally planted the estate vineyard, Le Puits Sec, with mostly Pommard clone Pinot Noir, 108 clone Chardonnay and some white varietals.  Plantings were expanded with other clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and other Austrian and German white varieties.  The vineyard is in the eastern portion of the Eola-Amity Hills with shallow volcanic soils and good elevation.  The Raneys also began the practice of producing wines from grapes from the Mahonia, Temperance Hill, and other vineyards.  Today, about half of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes are purchased and the rest are estate grown.

Haden Fig is named for the Nuccio’s son, Haden.  The label was born out of Erin’s passion for winemaking and an interest in the Willamette Valley’s potential for making interesting, balanced and complex wines.  The couple works with vineyards around the Valley that grow grapes sustainably and they produce wines using natural, hands-off methods.

Haden Fig Juliette Chardonnay 2012 ($34.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: This Chardonnay underwent full malolactic fermentation. It was aged completely in barrel, 15% of which was new, with no lees stirring. Haden Fig Juliette Pinot Noir 2011 ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special

Haden Fig Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: A blend of grapes from the Cancilla, Bjornsen and Croft Vineyards. This bottling saw less than 10% new oak during aging.

Evesham Wood Cuvee J Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: This is a bottling of select barrels from the certified organic estate vineyard. It is quite young and deserves further cellaring.

Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: A pretty wine that deserves further cellaring. Illahe Vineyard is a close neighbor to the estate vineyard.

Evesham Wood Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 ($31.95) $27 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: This vineyard is certified organic

Haden Fig Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2013 ($19.95) $16 special 4 bottles available

Evesham Wood Illahe Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 ($31.95) $26 special 2 bottles available
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 ($39.95) $33 special 15 bottles available
Evesham Wood Mahonia Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 ($31.95) $27 special 12 bottles available
Evesham Wood Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 375ML ($14.95) $11.90 special 8 half-bottles available
Evesham Wood Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 ($21.95) $18 special 6 bottles available

Ken Wright Cellars was founded around the idea of showcasing the terroir of select Willamette Valley vineyards the winery owns or leases long-term.  Their contracts allow total control of what happens in the vineyard: from clonal and rootstock selection, spacing and trellising through to crop management during the growing season and harvest.

Ken Wright founded the winery in 1994 after several years as winemaker in California and after founding Panther Creek Cellars.  Outside the winery, he has played a leading role in developing the six AVAs in the Northern Willamette with a special interest in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA.  He has also led efforts to revitalize downtown Carlton and supported many local charities through fundraising efforts. The Tyrus Evan label was created to feature warm-climate grapes.  The wines are made in the Carlton winery from fruit  sourced from Del Rio Vineyard in Oregon’s Rogue Valley, Ciel du Cheval in the Red Mountain AVA of Washington and Seven Hills in the Walla Walla AVA of Oregon

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2013 ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
VinopolNotes: From the Freedom Hill and Meredith Mitchell Vineyards

Tyrus Evan Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2010 ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This is 100% Syrah from the Seven Hills vineyard, a firm and tannic effort with dark, rich flavors. Cassis, black pepper, coffee grounds and gravelly mineral flavors combine in a muscular wine with big bones and a finishing lick of citrus.”

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2012 ($24.95) $21.90 special 7 bottles available
Vinopolnotes: From the Freedom Hill and Meredith Mitchell Vineyards

Ken Wright Cellars ‘Freedom Hill Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 375ML ($34.95) $28 special 15 half-bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 points “The Freedom Hill selection from Ken Wright has never been better than this exceptionally rich, dark and dense Pinot Noir. Black cherry, smoke, earth and chocolate intertwine in a remarkably smooth, long, complex and extended finish. A sensational wine to enjoy right now.”

Ken Wright Cellars ‘Meredith Mitchell Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2010 ($69.95) $59 special 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Offers a bright red color and vivid flavors, with a peppermint note adding interest to the profile of raspberry and spice. Lingers effortlessly on the finish. Drink now through 2020.”

Ken Wright Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2010 ($27.95) $24 special 4 bottles available
Library Release
Wine Spectator 91 points “Velvety, spicy and appealing, featuring a broad texture without excess weight, this red delivers dark berry and plum flavors accented by clove and cinnamon overtones. Refined, this lingers impressively on the finish. Drink now through 2018.”

Au Sommet is a 7-acre vineyard on Atlas Peak, in the Western Vaca Mountain Range in Napa Valley. It is a partnership between Heidi Peterson Barret, John Schwartz and Jim Barbour. The winemaker is Barret, who for more than 30 years has been a Napa Valley winemaker and has worked with such producers as Screaming Eagle, Grace Family, and Oakford Vineyards. She currently is the winemaker for Amuse Bouche, Jones family, Barbour Vineyards and others. At an elevation of 2,100 feet, Atlas Peak is one of the highest vineyard sites in Napa Valley. Au Sommet grows Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot in the shallow, volcanic soil of its Atlas Peak Vineyard. Unlike the Napa Valley floor, which is often covered in morning fog, the mountain vineyard is exposed to more sun during the growing season. Refreshing mountain breezes cool hot summer days, protecting the fruit from overheating. The nights are much cooler than other areas and can sometimes experience a 20-degree drop in temperature. These cool nights allow for slower maturation of the fruit, resulting in well-balanced, complex wine.

Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon Atlas Peak 2009 ($299.95) $149 special
Robert Parker 93 points “The 2009 Au Sommet is a bit lighter on its feet than the 2008. Sweet, silky tannins frame the fruit. Unlike the 2008, the 2009 is not particularly wild or exotic. Instead, it is a wine that stands out for its textural finesse and understated personality. This mid-weight, gracious Cabernet Sauvignon should be cellared for another year or two and enjoyed over the following decade. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024”