VinopolPick Monday

Monday, July 27th, 2015

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New Arrival Special Feature

California Dreamin’

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($599.95) $479 special, 3 bottles available
98+ POINTS ROBERT PARKER “One of the most backward yet promising wines of the vintage is the 2003 Harlan Estate. Its dense opaque plum/purple color is accompanied by a sumptuous bouquet of graphite, camphor, creme de cassis, smoky barbecue wood and a hint of forest floor. Similar flavors hit the mouth with full-bodied splendor, a multidimensional mouthfeel and texture, and the sensational finish lasts more than 45 seconds. Some tannins are still present, and this wine seems much younger than expected at ten years of age, so give it 4-5 more years of bottle age and consume it over the following 20-25 years.” RP

Harlan Estate, Napa Valley 2004 750ML (699.95) $519 special, 3 bottles available
98 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “Very deep garnet-black colour with a purple rim. Though still very youthful and muted, this vintage is already subtly revealing a wide array of aromas including blackberry tart, cedar, violets, truffles, liquorice and all spice. In the mouth however this is no shrinking violet–the ’04 is a big, concentrated and highly structured wine with somewhat impenetrable, tightly grained tannins and medium to high acid supporting its rich weight. Very, very long finish displaying hints of savoury earthiness and that signature minerality that appears to surface in better years. Drink 2009-2030.” RP

Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2001 750ML (399.95) $299 special, 1 bottle available
98 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill Vineyard (a valley floor site planted on a slight incline north of St. Helena) exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a beautifully sweet nose of creme de cassis, licorice, lead pencil shavings and pen ink. A classic Napa Cabernet Sauvignon with sweet tannin, full-bodied power and gorgeous purity and intensity, it will benefit from another 5-7 years of cellaring and should keep for 30+ years.” RP

Colgin Cellars Tychson Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2003 750ML (299.95) $219 special, 1 bottle available
96 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The small hillside vineyard across from Freemark Abbey called Tychson Hill is unquestionably a noble site, as evidenced by every wine that has been produced from this vineyard planted under the guidance of superstar viticulturist, David Abreu. Colgin’s 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon Tychson Hill possesses an exquisite perfume of acacia flowers, cedar, creme de cassis, licorice, and graphite. Its style suggests a hypothetical blend of a Pauillac and Margaux. With silky tannin as well as an enormously concentrated yet elegant, pure style, this sensational Cabernet can be drunk now, but will be even better with another 5-7 years of bottle age. It should last for 20-25 years.” RP

Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2002 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 1 bottle available
94 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR & STEPHEN TANZER–VINOUS “(this north-facing vineyard was the last to be picked in 2002) Saturated ruby. Highly aromatic nose of black raspberry, violet, mocha and smoked meat, lifted by sexy baking spices. Dense, chewy and thick but leavened by its sheer extract and sappiness. This has virtually liqueur-like ripeness but comes across as fresher and fruitier than the young 2003. Finishes with outstanding length and substantial ripe tannins. Winemaker Aubert says that of the Colgin sites, this vineyard produces fruit highest in phenolics.” ST

Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 2 bottles available
95 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST “Almost black in color. Flavors are of blackberry, cassis, Provençal herbs; the 100% new oak adds rich toast and char notes. Tannins are brilliant, dense and fluffy. Grown at the base of Howell Mountain, this is classic mountain Cab, beautiful now, fleshy and fat, but with a 20-year lifespan.” WE

Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 1 bottle available
94+ POINTS STEPHEN TANZER–VINOUS “(15.2% alcohol): Healthy dark red. Explosive, liqueur-like aromas of black raspberry, mocha, smoke, truffle and graphite. A juicy, powerful fruit bomb on the palate, with penetrating minerality and a surprising edge of acidity giving cut and lift to the dense dark fruit and mocha flavors. In a distinctly masculine style and fairly tannic but this wine softened nicely in the glass.” ST

Colgin Cellars Herb Lamb Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2005 750ML ($399.95) $319 special, 2 bottles available
97 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR “Shows amazing purity of fruit, focus, balance and depth, with tiers of spicy currant, anise, hazelnut, mineral and melted licorice, combining power with finesse and grace with intensity. Ends with a long, lingering finish that keeps repeating the core flavor themes. Best from 2010 through 2019. 110 cases made.” WS

Colgin Cellars Cariad Red, Napa Valley 2003 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, 3 bottles available
97 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “My favorite wine of this quartet is the 2003 Cariad, a proprietary blend (50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 9% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc) that comes from David Abreu-owned vineyards, primarily the Madrona Ranch in St. Helena. Its dense color is accompanied by a big, sweet bouquet of charcoal, white chocolate, spring flowers, meaty, blueberry and blackberry fruit. This stunningly complex, rich, full-bodied 2003 is just entering its plateau of full maturity. Drink this beauty over the next 10-15 years.” RP

Colgin Cellars Cariad Red, Napa Valley 2004 750ML ($399.95) $279 special, 3 bottles available
96 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The 2004 Cariad, a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 8% Cabernet Franc, was made from fruit purchased from David Abreu’s vineyards, most of it coming from his St. Helena property, the Madrona Ranch. Always one of the most aromatically complex wines, the 2004 comes across as a Graves-like offering with enormous notes of scorched earth, a hot rocks sort of nose and meaty black currant and black cherry fruit. Some tannins are still left, but the wine is round, generously endowed, full-bodied and opulent with terrific complexity. Drink it over the next 10 years.” RP

Colgin Cellars IX Estate Syrah, Napa Valley 2010 750ML ($499.95) $359 special, 3 bottles available
100 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The 2010 IX Estate Syrah is one of the most compelling Syrahs ever made in California. It ranks alongside some of the perfect Syrahs from Sine Qua Non in Santa Ynez and the Santa Rita Hills. Tasting like liquified steak au poivre with blackberry and blueberry sauce, this amazing wine reveals staggering aromas of flowers, bouquet garni, melted asphalt, licorice, pepper and meaty notes. It should drink well for 15+ years assuming you have that much patience.” RP

Sine Qua Non The 17th Nail in My Cranium, Sta Rita Hills 2005 750ML ($1499.95) $1299 special, 1 bottle available
100 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The 2005 Syrah The 17th Nail In My Cranium, a blend of 96.5% Syrah and 3.5% Viognier which is aged 38 months prior to bottling. (I always wonder what Marcel Guigal would think of a wine like this which seems to tip its hat in the direction of Cote Rotie and then goes into high gear and clearly says, “I’m just something very different, but thanks for even thinking of that appellation while smelling and tasting me.”) Black as a moonless night, the 2005 17th Nail reveals a stunning nose of spring flowers intermixed with creme de cassis, blackberries, charcoal, graphite, and hints of lard and barbecue spices. Dense, with an endless (and I mean endless) finish, remarkable purity, and layer upon layer of flavor, but no sense of heaviness or flabbiness, this prodigious Syrah should evolve for 15 or more years.” RP

Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe203 Syrah 1A, Central Coast 2005 750ML ($799.95) $579 special, 1 bottle available
100 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The perfect 2005 Syrah Atlantis Fe 203-1a,b,c is a blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 2% Viognier, with 25% whole clusters. Whereas the Ode to E is all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, this cuvee is a combination of 43% from the estate vineyard, 28% from the White Hawk Vineyard, 21% from the Alban Vineyard, and 8% from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The good news is there are nearly 1,500 cases of this recently released offering. An extraordinarily flowery nose interwoven with scents of blueberries, blackberries, incense, and graphite soars from the glass. Although not the biggest or most concentrated Syrah Krankl has made, it is one of the most nuanced, elegant, and complex. It remains full-bodied, but builds incrementally on the palate, and comes across as elegant and delicate, especially when compared to many California Syrahs. Nevertheless, the intensity is mind-boggling, and the finish lasts for nearly a minute. Drink this amazing effort over the next 10-15+ years.” RP

Sine Qua Non Atlantis Fe203 Syrah 1B, Central Coast 2005 750ML ($799.95) $579 special, 1 bottle available
100 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “The perfect 2005 Syrah Atlantis Fe 203-1a,b,c is a blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Grenache, and 2% Viognier, with 25% whole clusters. Whereas the Ode to E is all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard, this cuvee is a combination of 43% from the estate vineyard, 28% from the White Hawk Vineyard, 21% from the Alban Vineyard, and 8% from the Bien Nacido Vineyard. The good news is there are nearly 1,500 cases of this recently released offering. An extraordinarily flowery nose interwoven with scents of blueberries, blackberries, incense, and graphite soars from the glass. Although not the biggest or most concentrated Syrah Krankl has made, it is one of the most nuanced, elegant, and complex. It remains full-bodied, but builds incrementally on the palate, and comes across as elegant and delicate, especially when compared to many California Syrahs. Nevertheless, the intensity is mind-boggling, and the finish lasts for nearly a minute. Drink this amazing effort over the next 10-15+ years.” RP

Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2012 750ML (249.95) $199 special, 10 bottles available
99 POINTS ROBERT PARKER “Flirting with perfection, the 2012 Dominus is composed of 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Five thousand cases were produced, a relatively modest amount from this large vineyard’s big crop. Christian Moueix told me that there was plenty of heat in 2012, but there were no excessive hot spells that can plague Napa Valley vintners during the growing season and harvest. This wine’s opaque plum/purple color is accompanied by a beautiful nose of sweet crème de cassis, a touch of background oak (only 40% new oak is used), spice box, cedarwood, black cherries and a hint of spring flowers. The complex, intense aromatics are followed by a deep, opulent, multidimensional, full-bodied wine with not a hard edge to be found. Everything is seamlessly crafted in this beauty and the vintage’s abundant richness is well-displayed. This 2012 can be drunk in its exuberant youthfulness or cellared for another 20-25 years.” RP
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CALIFORNIA
Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2012 ($27.95) $21.90 special
“Grapes for the Carpe Diem Cabernet Sauvignon have been selected exclusively from the best vineyards in the world-renowned Napa Valley. Vinified under the strict supervision of Christian Moueix’s winemaking team in Yountville, Carpe Diem embodies the essence of Napa Valley classic Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a straightforward wine expressing its bountiful fruit with aromas of wild strawberries and soft tannins. Oak is used sparingly to keep Carpe Diem fresh and vibrant. Aged: 12 months in barrel. Fermentation: 15 days, stainless steel.” Winery Notes

OREGON
Domaine Serene ‘Evenstad Reserve’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
93 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE “The 2012 Pinot Noir Evenstad Reserve was picked from late summer after one of the driest on record. There was better heat accumulation, according to Erik Kramer, but he does not regard it has a hot vintage. It was a low yield at around 1.7 and 1.8 tons per acre, partly due to a preflowering cluster removal. The skin-to-pulp ratio was very high and it was raised in 65% new oak over 16 months. It has a deep garnet color. The bouquet is in stark contrast with strawberry pastille and raspberry coulis, hints of iodine developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fleshy ripe red berry fruit interlaced with sea salt and white pepper. There is an undercurrent of gaminess to this 2012 that lends intrigue toward the finish that gently grips the mouth. Not as opulent as other 2012 Pinot Noirs that I have tasted, but clearly very well crafted by winemaker Erik Kramer and with a prosperous future ahead.” NM

SPAIN
Teofilo Reyes, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2011 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-12 Teofilo Reyes, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2011 750ML ($319.95) $259 special

Suertes del Marques La Solana, Valle de la Orotava, Spain 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
92 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE “The 2012 La Solana is a single-vineyard Listán Negro planted with very old, ungrafted vines at 300-450 meters altitude on volcanic soils, probably their oldest vineyard. The wine aged for one year in 500-liter French oak barrels. It feels serious and closed, ripe with plums, violets and rocks, developing more perfume with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, with fresh, acid red fruit flavors and a mineral, earthy finish with the dried roses making a glorious comeback in the finish. 9,000 bottles.” WA
91 POINTS JOSH RAYNOLDS–VINOUS “Brilliant ruby. A complex bouquet evokes intense raspberry, floral and mineral scents and a hint of Asian spices. Vibrant and precise on the palate, offering lively red fruit flavors that gain sweetness with air. Silky tannins give shape to the finish, which emphasizes juicy red fruit and rose pastille qualities.” JR

Suertes del Marques 7 fuentes Tinto, Valle de la Orotava, Spain 2013 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
92 POINTS WINE ADVOCATE “The QPR champion 2013 7 Fuentes is a blend of Listán Negro and 15% Tintilla (the local name given to Trousseau) from different plots on volcanic soils of ungrafted, old vineyards. Each plot is fermented separately with indigenous yeasts in cement vats and small bins. Sixty-five percent of the wine matures in cement and the rest is transferred to 500-liter oak barrels for a period of seven months. After some initial reduction (give it an energetic decanting) there are showy aromas of dried flowers, white pepper, pumice, volcanic ash and perhaps some plums with savage, meaty undertones. The palate is silky with supple tannins framing the red fruit and pungent flavors that are intermixed with notes of volcanic rocks. It reminds me quite a lot of the 2011 that is pure minerals. This is one to buy by the case; it is a bargain” WA
91 POINTS JOSH RAYNOLDS–VINOUS “(98% listan negra and 2% tintilla; aged for eight months in a combination of concrete tanks and 500-liter French oak barrels): Brilliant red. Spice- and mineral-tinged red fruits on the intensely perfumed nose and palate. Fine-grained and very well balanced, with sexy floral pastille and incense qualities coming up with aeration. Finishes with strong mineral cut, no obvious tannins and excellent spicy persistence.” JR

ITALY
Giordano Lombardo Sasso Alto Barbera Piemonte, Piedmont, Italy 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Larmandier-Bernier ‘Longitude’ Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne, France NV ($59.95) $41.90 special
Winery note “It is made exclusively from our Chardonnays grown on the Côte des Blancs: Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant, which form a line close to the 4th meridian. “Longitude” is also an allusion to the length and the very pure, frank and mineral style of these great terroirs, where the chalk is very close to the surface.”

This is the lowest price in USA today!

Larmandier-Bernier Terre de Vertus Blanc de Blancs Non-Dose Premier Cru, Champagne, France 2009 ($69.95) $51.90 special
Winery note “No blending for this single-cru Champagne: Chardonnays only, coming from the vineyard plots of Les Barillers and Les Faucherets situated mid-slope in Vertus, facing south-east. One terroir only and one vintage only.”

This is the lowest price in USA today!

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Mid-West, East & South – Summer Shipping Saver

Whisk your wine through warmer weather!
Now for the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.

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Arriving Tomorrow

Cadence Winery Coda, Red Mountain 2013 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Bright raspberries on the nose are accompanied by the subtle wood spice notes and lovely Cabernet Franc floral accents. The palate is rich, plush, and silky textured yet retains surprising energy from the well balanced acidity. Supple tannins caress the long finish as berries and spice refuse to let go.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cadence Winery Tapteil Vineyard Red, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “More ripe, layered and textured, the 2011 Tapteil Vineyard is knockout stuff. Showing impressive black and blue fruits, wild herbs, underbrush and hints of flowers, it is full-bodied, concentrated and has plenty of sweet tannin and integrated acidity. Enjoy this beauty anytime over the coming decade or more.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cadence Winery Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93 points “(a blend of 35% Cabernet Franc, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% each petit verdot and Cabernet Franc): Good deep red. Musky aromas of blackberry, redcurrant, mint and nutty oak. Juicy, suave and energetic, offering enticing, bright flavors of blackberry, red cherry and bitter chocolate and a captivating restrained sweetness. This very intense, tightly coiled wine really screams out Ciel du Cheval. Finishes with terrific grip and length. I got an early look at this wine a year ago, and it’s evolving at a snail’s pace.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $47

Cadence Winery Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard Red, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 94 points “(84% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 8% petit verdot; this and the Camerata were aged in 50% new French oak): Bright ruby-red. Exhilarating floral lift to the aromas of redcurrant and nutty oak; very Cabernet Franc. Perfectly integrated acidity energizes this somewhat muscular yet ultimately very suave wine, with the redcurrant and cherry flavors complicated by flowers, dusty dried herbs and minerals. Great subtle density here. Finishes with outstanding length and lift, harmonious smooth tannins, and a building sweetness to its floral perfume. This remarkably classy cab franc-based wine should evolve gracefully over the next 10 to 15 years.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.89

Cadence Winery Camerata Cara Mia Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Camerata is the Cabernet Sauvignon dominated blend that’s all from the estate Cara Mia Vineyard. Incorporating 7% each of Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot and spending 23 months in roughly 50% new French oak, it’s a thrilling 2011 that makes the most of the vintage. Loaded with red and black currants, black cherry, dried spices, toast and graphite, this medium to full-bodied effort has a stacked mid-palate, masses of ripe tannin, and a savory, chewy finish. It will be better in another couple of years and be long lived.” WA

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.89

Arriving Later This Week

Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG, Piedmont, Italy 2010 750ML ($399.95) $299 pre-arrival special
99 POINTS ANTONIO GALLONI “The 2010 Barolo is one of the most striking, hauntingly beautiful wines I have ever tasted here. Mysterious and slow to show its cards, the 2010 impresses for its inner perfume, sweetness and exceptional overall balance. Today the striking fruit and classic, austere elements of the vintage take turns in dominating the wine’s balance. The 2010 was always magnificent in barrel. It is equally spectacular from bottle. Readers who can find the 2010 should not hesitate. Ideally I wouldn’t dream of touching a bottle until age 15 or so, although I doubt I will personally have the discipline to follow my own advice!” AG

Echo de Lynch Bages Chateau Haut-Bages Averous, Pauillac, France 2010 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
92 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING “A juicy wine with strawberry and blueberry character. It’s full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Lots of ripe fruit. Excellent second wine of Lynch-Bages. Better in 2015.” JS

Chateau Grand-Puy Ducasse, Pauillac, France 2009 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING “A solid red, with raspberry and currant aromas and flavors. Full body, with solid tannins. Polished texture. Well crafted. Try after 2018.” JS

Chateau Quinault L’Enclos, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau Quinault L’Enclos, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France 2009 750ML ($599.95) $499 pre-arrival special
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING “A soft and fruity wine, with orange peel and berries and plums. Full body, with super fine tannins and a fruity finish. Refined and very pretty. Structured in the end. Fresh. Succulent. A style away from the over extracted one a few years ago. Try after 2018.” JS

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande Reserve de la Comtesse, Pauillac, France 2005 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
89 POINTS WINE SPECTATOR “Floral, blackberry and mineral on the nose. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a pretty finish of mineral and fruit. Very reserved and refined for a second wine. Best after 2012” WS

Chateau Sociando-Mallet, Haut-Medoc, France 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
92 POINTS STEPHEN TANZER–VINOUS “(55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 5% cabernet franc): Good bright red-ruby. Pungent, expressive nose offers black raspberry, blueberry, bitter chocolate, leather and flowers. Densely packed, juicy and sweet, with excellent inner-mouth energy to the black raspberry and mineral flavors complicated by sexy smoky oak. Lovely ripeness and vinosity here. Finishes with substantial firm tannins that will support a couple decades of graceful evolution in bottle. Like some past outstanding vintages of Sociando-Mallet, this will make a great ringer in future tastings with classified growers from the northern Medoc.” ST

Arriving in August

FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($269.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Case-12 R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($519.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, 100% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, remains one of the most compelling, under the radar wines in Champagne, not to mention a fabulous value. Round, textured and supple in the glass, the Blanc de Blancs shows the more textured, side of Chardonnay. These soils in Ambonnay confer an unusual level of richness and breadth. In my view, this is Coutier’s best Champagne. Disgorged May 2014. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99/bottle

ITALY-TUSCANY
Castello di Argiano Sesti Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany, Italy 2010 ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
95 POINTS WINE ENTHUSIAST “This pure expression of Sangiovese opens with aromas of rose petal, leather, game, Mediterranean herb and wild berry. The vibrant, full-bodied palate delivers layers of crushed Morello cherry, raspberry, cinnamon and grilled herb alongside firm, polished tannins and bright acidity. It boasts character and depth. Drink 2017–2030.” WE
94 POINTS ANTONIO GALLONI “Sesti’s 2010 Brunello di Montalcino is a wine of real class and personality. In fact, the 2010 is one of the best wines I have tasted from this estate in Sant’Angelo in Colle. Iron, sweet red cherries, wild flowers and earthiness are some of the many notes that inform a juicy, plump Brunello that already drinks well. The 2010 is quite forward and fruit-driven, but there is good underlying complexity as well as enough acidity to ensure a decade-plus of fine drinking. My only quibble is that the aromatics could be a little more focused, but that is a relatively small critique for a wine that delivers this much pleasure.” AG

Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $169 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a protagonist of the vintage. The fruit is deep and dark with rich levels of extract, intensity and flavor. It goes far beyond your standard cherry and blackberry to include plum cake, spice bread and bacon-wrapped prune. Nothing is obvious or monochromatic about this wine. Everything is nuanced and ethereal. Tenuta Nuova is also distinguished by the linear mineral notes that are characteristic of this single-vineyard site. In 2010, those traits are especially well-defined and pronounced. The tannins reach a level of suppleness that is almost impossible to find in the sometimes prickly and acidic Sangiovese grape. If there is one thing Giacomo Neri has mastered, it is harvesting at optimal ripeness: He knows his property and his vines better than most and it shows. Collectors will want to put this wine aside ten years or longer.” WA

Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico DOCG 2010 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 91 points “Bright red. Flinty red cherry and smoky underbrush on the refined nose. Classically dry and firm, this midweight Chianti delivers plenty of pure sangiovese flavor (licorice, flint, red cherry) and seems slightly more accessible to me than past versions of this wine, which usually started out life tough as nails but evolved beautifully and showed rare ageworthiness. Chianti Classico does not get any better or any more traditional than this.” ID

Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($59.95) $47 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Rich, enveloping and beautifully layered, the 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva is a rare Riserva that will drink nicely with minimal cellaring. Sweet tobacco, licorice, leather, cedar and underbrush meld together as this radiant, supple Riserva opens up in the glass. More classic elements of structure emerge on the finish.” AG

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata—Vinous 92+ points “Good bright red. Nose began closed and brooding, but showed vibrant notes of redcurrant, mint and dried flowers with aeration, complicated by a strong mineral quality. Sweet and nicely lush in the mouth, with suave flavors of redcurrant, herbs and tobacco joined on the back end by a very strong element of gunflint. The long finish features a firm acid spine and youthfully chewy but noble tannins.” ID

Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2006 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2006 Chianti Classico Riserva hits all the high notes. Ripe and structured, yet also wonderfully contained, the 2006 boasts stunning depth, power and richness. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2006 is also likely to require a considerable amount of time to come around. All the elements are in the right place for the 2006 Riserva to develop into a splendid wine. The mid-weight, firm style is classic Castell’in Villa.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60

Castell’in Villa ‘Poggio delle Rose’, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2009 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “Castell’in Villa’s 2009 Chianti Classico Riserva Poggio delle Rose captures the generosity of the vintage while retaining a gorgeous sense of freshness and energy. Red stone fruit, tobacco, menthol, sage and leather nuances are bright and nicely focused, but with the additional breadth provided by the warm vintage. A long, silky finish rounds things out in style.” AG

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Castell’in Villa Santacroce Toscana IGT 2007 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2007 Santacroce is a huge wine endowed with tons of richness and sheer textural depth. Dark cherries, plums, graphite, incense and tobacco burst from the glass in this intense, powerful wine. I very much like the way the 2007 fleshes out with time in the glass. It is a young, young wine that needs time to shed some baby fat and develop its bouquet. In 2007 Santacroce is more than 50% Cabernet Sauvignon for the first time, signaling the direction the wine will take as it gradually becomes a pure Cabernet Sauvignon.” AG

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Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:

For the Mid-West, East, and South during the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments that would normally travel four or more business days to their destination.

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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Arriving Tomorrow

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $47

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.89

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.89
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Arriving This Month
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-6 R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($269.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Case-12 R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($519.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Coutier’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru, 100% Chardonnay from Ambonnay, remains one of the most compelling, under the radar wines in Champagne, not to mention a fabulous value. Round, textured and supple in the glass, the Blanc de Blancs shows the more textured, side of Chardonnay. These soils in Ambonnay confer an unusual level of richness and breadth. In my view, this is Coutier’s best Champagne. Disgorged May 2014. Dosage is 6 grams per liter.” AG

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $43.99/bottle
ITALY-TUSCANY
Casanova di Neri Tenuta Nuova, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2010 750ML ($219.95) $169 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Nuova is a protagonist of the vintage. The fruit is deep and dark with rich levels of extract, intensity and flavor. It goes far beyond your standard cherry and blackberry to include plum cake, spice bread and bacon-wrapped prune. Nothing is obvious or monochromatic about this wine. Everything is nuanced and ethereal. Tenuta Nuova is also distinguished by the linear mineral notes that are characteristic of this single-vineyard site. In 2010, those traits are especially well-defined and pronounced. The tannins reach a level of suppleness that is almost impossible to find in the sometimes prickly and acidic Sangiovese grape. If there is one thing Giacomo Neri has mastered, it is harvesting at optimal ripeness: He knows his property and his vines better than most and it shows. Collectors will want to put this wine aside ten years or longer.” WA
Castell’in Villa Chianti Classico DOCG 2010 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 91 points “Bright red. Flinty red cherry and smoky underbrush on the refined nose. Classically dry and firm, this midweight Chianti delivers plenty of pure sangiovese flavor (licorice, flint, red cherry) and seems slightly more accessible to me than past versions of this wine, which usually started out life tough as nails but evolved beautifully and showed rare ageworthiness. Chianti Classico does not get any better or any more traditional than this.” ID

This is the only listing in the USA today!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Steller Wines

Below is a list of nine top-rated Oregon Pinots available here now!

Aberrant Amplus Gran Moraine Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2012 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 21 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Flamboyant red and dark berry aromas are accented by smoky Indian spices, lavender, cola and woodsmoke. Sappy and expansive on the palate, displaying potent blackberry and cherry compote flavors underscored and lifted by zesty minerals and a hint of white pepper. Sweetens up with air and finishes with slowly mounting tannins and excellent persistence. Suave and approachable now but this pinot has the depth to age.” JR
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Amplus comes from a vineyard on the foothills of the Coast Range that Eric Eide started working with in 2011, although in that year he got hit by botrytis, so this marks its debut. It comes from Pommard and 667 clones and was cropped on October 12, including 10% whole-cluster berries. It spends 16 months in French oak, 45% new. It has more red berry fruit on the nose compared to the other cuvées from Eide, with plenty of red cherry, cranberry leaf and damp moss aromas that you might find in a fine Pommard. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, quite tensile tannin and well-judged acidity that neatly cuts through the plush red berry fruit. There is impressive substance here, good backbone and sense of authority that lend the finish persistence. Give this 12 months for the oak to fully integrated and you will have (another) excellent 2012 from Aberrant Cellars.”

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Aberrant Cellars ‘Virtus ex’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Pinot Noir Virtus Ex comes from Eola-Amity Hills and tends to be the slowest to evolve and what Eric sees as the most Old World influence. The vines are located on volcanic soils and includes 15% whole-cluster fruit due to the relatively longer hang time. It sees 15 months in 42% new French oak. It came in at 3.3 pH and 14% alcohol so no acidification was necessary. The nose makes an immediate impression: redcurrant, wild strawberry and undergrowth, almost mulchy scents. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, plenty of refined red cherry and cranberry fruit interlaced with spice, leading to a finish that has plenty of finesse and Old World charm. This is a superb wine from winemaker Eric Eide.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Sexy, spice-laced red and dark berry scents are complicated by notes of cola, mocha, potpourri and smoky minerals. Fleshy, focused and lively, offering appealingly sweet black raspberry and cherry pit flavors that tighten up and gain spiciness with air. Packs a serious punch of fruit but comes off as lithe, finishing with excellent thrust and silky, even tannins that add structure.” JR

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Argyle Artisan Series Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 11 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “A crisp and tangy red, with inviting red berry, red plum and quince flavors on a lively frame, finishing against fine tannins with intensity, persistence and harmony. Best from 2016 through 2022.” WS

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J. Christopher ‘Sandra Adele’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 points “Sleek and polished, this is generous, with cherry, mocha, mint and floral flavors on a supple frame, lingering easily against deftly woven acidity and texture. Best from 2016 through 2022.” WS

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Owen Roe Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 15 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes red berries, gingerbread and potpourri, with a vanilla nuance adding depth. Smooth and seamless on the palate, with sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors enlivened by clove and allspice. Sweet and focused on the clinging finish, which is firmed by supple, late-arriving tannins.” JR

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Owen Roe ‘Soujourner’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 14 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh blackberry, smoky minerals and incense, along with a suave floral overtone. Pure, expansive red and dark berry flavors put on weight with air and pick up a candied rose quality while maintaining impressive clarity. This rich yet energetic pinot finishes with excellent back-end thrust, supple tannins and lingering smokiness.” JR

Seven of Hearts Special Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Intense dark berry and floral pastille aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola, anise and smoky minerals. At once fleshy and lithe, showing excellent clarity and lift to its black raspberry and cherry-cola flavors. Brighter red fruits emerge with air and carry through a strikingly long, seamless finish, which features youthfully chewy tannins and a hint of spicecake. Bet on this concentrated, lively pinot to reward at least another six-plus years of aging.” ST

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The next best price is $43.89

Trisaetum Estates Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Deeply pitched dark berry preserve, cola and incense aromas show very good energy, with a smoky quality emerging as the wine opens in the glass. On the palate, juicy blackberry and cherry compote flavors are lifted and sharpened by a zesty mineral nuance and a hint of fresh flowers. Sweet vanilla and berry liqueur notes build on the finish, which is firmed by youthful, deftly integrated tannins. ” ST
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IPNC Celebration, Continued!

Oregon AVA Highlights

Yamhill-Carlton AVA

Pat and Joe Campbell (Elk Cove Vineyards) were the first to plant in 1974 in what was established as the Yamhill-Carlton AVA in 2004. The AVA is named for the two surrounding towns. The area lies in a rain shadow from the Coast Range and is composed of quick-draining sedimentary soils over sandstone and silt. The vineyards are between 200-1,000 feet in elevation.

Yamhill-Carlton Featured Producer:
Belle Pente

Once a tech product marketer, Brian O’Donnell began making wine at home, eventually using grapes from a grower in the Russian River Valley. He relocated to Oregon in 1992 with wife Jill to a farm in Carlton. They planted two acres of grapes in 1994 and completed several more parcels over the next few years. The winery is dry-farmed and part of the Deep Roots Coalition, which is, according to the group’s website, “an advocacy group for the production of wine sourced exclusively from non-irrigated vineyards.”

The first official vintage at Belle Pente was the 1996. The O’Donnells produce an Estate Reserve, which is a barrel selection mostly from the earliest planting, as well as a Willamette Valley blend mostly from the Bella Vida Vineyard in Dundee, which is also dry-farmed. They produce a single-vineyard wine from a six acre block in the Murto Vineyard that they have contracted since 1996. The wine is made according to Burgundian methods (long cold soak of destemmed fruit with 4-6 day fermentations, a slow malolactic fermentation in a mix of mostly older wood (including local barrels).

Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2010 375ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 16 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid red. High-pitched aromas of black raspberry, Asian spices and fresh rose. Juicy, penetrating and pure, offering vibrant red berry and bitter cherry flavors that gain flesh and weight with aeration. Darker fruit notes come up on the clinging finish, with its lingering floral and spicecake qualities. Very suave pinot, with the balance to age but plenty of upfront appeal as well.” ST

This is the only listing in the USA today for the 375ML!

Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2011 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 15 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Bright, hazy red. Assertive smoke- and spice-accented aromas of black raspberry, cherry pit, sassafras and incense. Supple, tangy and sharply focused on entry, then broader in the middle, offering smoky cherry, blood orange and dark berry flavors and a hint of bitter herbs. Shows a refreshingly tangy quality on the finish, which clings with outstanding tenacity and no obvious tannins. Distinctly elegant in style, showing the best attributes of this cool vintage.” ST

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Belle Pente Belle Pente Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 5 bottles available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2011 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 17 bottles available
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2011 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 7 magnums available
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Smoke- and spice-accented aromas of blackberry, cherry-cola and fresh lavender, with a hint of spicecake in the background. Silky, seamless and expansive, displaying intense red and dark berry flavors and a hint of allspice. Puts on weigh with aeration while maintaining vivacity. The mineral and floral qualities build on the persistent finish, which is firmed by fine-grained, harmonious tannins.” ST
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2011 Pinot Noir Estate Reserve is a vineyard parcel and barrel selection. It was picked October 27 at 22 Brix and 100% de-stemmed, undergoing 45% new French oak. It has quite a dense bouquet with plenty of raspberry and crushed strawberry fruit that is well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannin. There is plenty of backbone here, but it is very focused and harmonious with superb tension on the finish. This is an excellent contribution to the vintage—one of the best of Belle Pente’s current releases and well worth hunting down.”

Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2011 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Highly perfumed aromas of red fruit liqueur, Asian spices, rose oil and musky underbrush, with a subtle touch of smokiness in the background. Silky and penetrating on the palate, showing very good clarity to its spicy raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. The spiciness builds on the finish, which is firmed by silky, building tannins. Quite elegant in style and balanced to age, although it’s already delicious.” ST

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 14 bottles available

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Yamhill-Carlton Featured Producer:
Shea Wine Cellars

Originally a New York investment banker, Dick Shea purchased a vineyard in 1988 in the Yamhill-Carlton. His wines became so highly regarded that he bought out his partners and launched his winery with his wife Deirdre as Shea Wine Cellars. He has produced several block specific wines over the years and a barrel selection called Homer (in reference to a home run). He sells about 75% of the grapes grown on the estate to other top class Oregon winemakers, including Bergstrom and Penner Ash.

Shea Wine Cellars Block 5 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 3 bottles available
Winery note: “Made from Dijon clone 777, Block 5 is very expressive aromatically in the plum, raspberry, blueberry and violet spectrum. The palate is mouth-coating with impressive length and concentration. Tannins are fine-grained and silky.”

Shea Wine Cellars Block 7 Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 1 bottles available
Winery note: “Made from Wädenswil clone Pinot noir, Block 7’s aromatics are classic Shea Wädenswil: blue fruited and floral with warm spice notes. The lush, savory blue fruit continues on the palate with hints of allspice and black currant. Tannins are structured and the wine is beautifully balanced. We find Block 7, in particular, responds well to cellaring.”
Shea Wine Cellars Estate Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($44.95) $34 special, 3 bottles available
Winery note: “A blend of all the best Shea Vineyard has to offer. This wine has raspberry, dark cherry, plum and rose aromatics. On the palate the wine displays savory notes of clove, cinnamon, black tea and carob. It is luscious and broad, highlighted by fine-grained tannins, well-balanced acidity, and a long, mouth-watering finish.”
Dundee Hills AVA

Several of the pioneering grape growers launched vineyards in the late 1960s in what became the Dundee Hills in 2005, such as David Lett, Dick Erath, Bill Blosser and Susan Sokol Blosser. The AVA hosts the most severe climate in the Northern Willamette and some of the highest elevations: 200-1,067 feet. The soil is typically rich, red Jory soil from volcanic basalt, silt, clay and loam.

Dundee Hills Featured Producer:
Archery Summit

Gard Andrus, an Olymic skier who studied enology in France and owned the Pine Ridge Winery in Napa, founded Archery Summit in 1992. He was attracted to Oregon for Pinot Noir after doing several comparative tastings. Today, the winery is owned by Leucadia National.

There are four estate vineyards in the Dundee Hills and a long-term lease in the Ribbon Ridge. The plantings are mostly Dijon clones, with some cuttings claimed to be from the famous vineyards of La Tache, La Romanee-Conti and Le Musigny. Sam Tannahill was winemaker from 1995-2002 and was succeeded by Anna Matzinger from 2002-2013. Matzinger converted the vineyards to (uncertified) organic and has since introduced biodynamic practices. Chris Mazepink took over as winemaker and general manager in 2013.

Archery Summit Arcus Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($99.95) $88 special, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Bright ruby. Explosive dark berry and cherry liqueur aromas are complicated by suggestions of Indian spices, licorice and vanilla, with a subtle mineral quality adding vibrancy. Palate-staining blackberry and lavender pastille flavors are sweetened and deepened by mocha and fruitcake notes that build with air. Shows excellent vivacity for its heft and power. Closes spice, smoky and long, with supple tannins coming in slowly.” JR

Archery Summit ‘Premier Cuvee’ Estate Bottled Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles available

Archery Summit Red Hills Estate Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Powerful raspberry compote, cola, licorice and floral aromas are lifted by pepper, spice and mineral nuances. Sweet, deeply pitched black raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors reach every corner of the palate, offering a compelling blend of richness and vivacity. Notes of vanilla and star anise come up with air, along with a hint of cola. Finishes very long, sappy and precise, with just a hint of velvety tannins.” JR

Dundee Hills Featured Producer:
Bergstrom Wine

John and Karen Bergstrom founded the winery to create a legacy for their children inkeeping with their Swedish agricultural heritage. Josh assisted his parents and worked various wineries in the late 1990s to gain experience before undertaking the CFPPA certificate program in Beaune. They produced their first vintage with fruit from Archery Summit before eventually opening the winery. Josh strives for the lowest Brix (sugar level) with the longest hang time. The grapes undergo a long cold soak and ferments with no native yeast (to help keep Brett away). The amount of new oak varies by cuvee from 0 – 100%. The wines are deep, concentrated and show grippy tannins and are suberb cellaring candidates.

Bergstrom Wines Le Pre Du Col Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Winery note “This wine has great mineral cut and juicy mouthwatering natural acidities with very fine tannins. The wine is very spicy and sweet in the mouth with a slight hint of reduction, mushrooms and red fruits. Always a staff and sommelier favorite it is a great vintage for this vineyard that is going from strength to strength as the vines mature and all 16 acres are now producing.”

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Bergstrom Wines ‘Bergstrom Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, bottles available
Winery note “The Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir is our flagship single vineyard Pinot Noir. Our first estate vineyard, planted in 1999, located in the red volcanic Jory soils of the Dundee Hills. This wine is usually one of our more cellar-worthy Pinot Noirs sometimes taking two or three years after bottling to fully blossom and unfurl its potential. The 2013 Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir is vibrant ruby in color with pink reflections and has aromas of pipe tobacco, dark chocolate, citrus oils, savory herb garden, black cherries, and mint. There is sweet bright crunch of fruit in the mouth with succulent mouthwatering acidity which drives this wine’s energy. This wine possesses a core of dark red fruits and sweet spices in the mid palate with very fine dusting of sweet tannins and a long finish. A very unique but special bottling from this great vineyard site. Behaving much more like a young Burgundy, this great Oregon Pinot Noir should be consumed between 2017 and 2025, but could drink well for two decades or more.”

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Bergstrom Wines ‘Silice’ Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 1 bottle available
Winery note “Silice (pronounced “sea-lease”) is French for silica, the shiny, quartz rock found in the sandy, beach soils of the Chehalem Mountains AVA. Found in the 21 acres of vineyard land contiguous to the winery, these bright, reflective oceanic soils produce our most concentrated, spicy and fruit-forward Pinot Noir, a wine we now call “Silice.” This wine is the epitome of our biodynamic farming efforts on sandstone soils, studying and revealing a special terroir that creates wines of great finesse and power. Between 2003 and 2011, you knew it as de Lancellotti.”

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Bergstrom Wines ‘Cumberland’ Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 9 bottles available
Bergstrom Wines ‘Cumberland’ Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 375ML ($21.95) $19 special, 22 bottles available
Bergstrom Wines ‘Cumberland’ Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 1.5L ($99.95) $89 special, 6 magnums available
Winery note “The 2013 Cumberland Reserve is dark red cherry in color and showcases an explosive and heady aromatic profile of fresh black cherries, red raspberries a slight kirsch note and ripe blueberries. The fruit character is bright and pure and only slightly lifted and framed by great Oregon spice and loamy earth character which adds depth and dimension to this very promising wine. In the mouth the wine is a fantastic expression of pure Oregon Pinot Noir with great verve and lift and vibrancy showing off rich, ripe berry flavors and a suave velvet-like structure which caresses the palate with its succulence but also promises a great future with its minerality and sweet tannins. Drink now-2019+”

Bergstrom Wines Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Winery note “Our fourth bottling of the Gregory Ranch Estate Vineyard really shows off the friendly personality of the 2013 vintage. Once again natural yields on this 21 acre vineyard were very low, a late spring frost reduced our overall crop by up to 40% in some blocks proving that although the Gregory Ranch may be our most climactically challenging parcel, the reward is always in the glass. The 2013 Gregory Ranch Pinot Noir is a vibrant ruby red color and possesses a very floral bouquet of roses and sweet purple violets as well as notes of ripe fruits on the nose like cherries, ripe strawberries and even red candies. A dark earthy note of mushrooms, oak spice, cola and sandalwood as well as citrus oils make this wine extremely intriguing now and promise great things as it develops with age. In the mouth it is bright and medium bodied with a tight tannic grip which opens up and melts away with aeration or decantation but still exudes lovely sweet fruit. This wine has succulent acidity and a long finish but remains tight now and will age well but is a very pleasant and easy drinking wine representative of the warm vintage. Needs 1-2 years to open up and develop then should drink well for 5-10 years.”
Dundee Hills Featured Producer:
Westrey Wine Company

Amy Wesselman and David Autrey launched Westrey in 1993 after working harvests with de l’Arlot and Dom Dujac in Burgundy and various Oregon wineries. The estate vineyard (Oracle) was purchased in 2000. They produce some of the elegant and sheer Pinot Noirs in a “fruit-driven Burgundian-style.” Wesselman is the Executive Director of the IPNC.

Westrey “Cuvee 20” 20th Anniversary Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Brilliant ruby-red. Expressive, spice-tinged aromas of red and dark berries, cola, allspice and potpourri, with a hint of smokiness in the background. On the palate, intense, appealingly sweet black raspberry and boysenberry flavors are sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity and a touch of peppery spices. Suave, seamless and penetrating on the finish, framed by silky, fully enveloped tannins.” JR

Westrey Abbey Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, 21 bottles available

Westrey Justice Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Ruby-red. Intensely perfumed red and dark berry, cola and potpourri scents are given en exotic twist by notes of incense and smoky Indian spices. Offers palate-staining black raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that are sharpened and lifted by juicy acidity and a touch of white pepper. Becomes livelier on the penetrating finish, which shows excellent clarity and depth and gentle tannic grip.” ST

Westrey Oracle Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 11 bottles available

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Westrey Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 25 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright violet color. Smoky cherry and dark berries on the nose, with hints of licorice and dried flowers building in the glass. Sappy and focused, offering bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors and a touch of succulent herbs. Finishes spicy and tight, with an echo of smokiness and strong tangy bite. Quite lively for a 2012: this shows the nerviness that I associate with better 2011s.” JR

Westrey Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2009 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 12 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Deep, vivid red. Complex, perfumed bouquet of candied red berries, star anise, rose oil and mocha. Supple, deeply pitched red and dark berry flavors show a refreshingly bitter quality and gain sweetness in the middle. A smoky note comes up with air and carries through the very persistent, spicy finish. Quite suave, and approachable now.” ST

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Westrey Reserve Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2011 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 89 points “Bright red. Dried cherry, redcurrant and peppery spices on the incisive nose. Tangy and precise, offering lively red berry and bitter cherry flavors and a hint of blood orange that builds with air. Finishes with good tangy cut, a hint of cherry pit and lingering spiciness.” JR

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!