Diamond Creek Super Sale; Staff Pick; Charles Smith – K Vintners & Casa Smith New Releases; Gigondas 2013 & 2014 – Vintage Perspectives; Pink Pegau Back In; Jamet Cotes du Rhone & Clape Cornas; New Reviews for Donnhoff and Keller 2014s from Josh Raynolds; Domaine Vigot & Bonus Hubert Lamy; Domaine Guiberteau
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2013 Diamond Creek Super Sale
Arriving Friday, May 13th
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($229.95) $188 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Lots of blackberries, plums and cherries on the nose. Full body, ultra-velvety tannins and a long, long finish. A broad and layered red with refined textures. Very long. Juicy. Riper than the Red Rock and Gravelly Meadow. Better in 2019. 608 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $220
Also Arriving Friday:
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special (only 6 bottles available)
James Suckling 98 points “The aromas to this wine are phenomenal with blueberry and blackberry. It is so perfumed and floral with violets, lilacs and roses. Full body, firm tannins and super silky tannins. Yet cool and racy. Minerally with stone, as it should be. Classic Diamond Creek style. Better in 2020 but a joy to taste. 430 cases made.”
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($239.95) $199 pre-arrival special (only 6 bottles available)
James Suckling 97 points “Aromas of blackberry, blueberry and warm stone. Full body, very layered. Perfectly fine tannins. Round and dense texture yet perfectly balanced. A pretty and joyous young wine. 537 cases made. Enjoy tasting but better in four or five years.”
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Staff Pick:
Petterino Gattinara DOCG, Piedmont 2001 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special, 16 bottles available
Hate to sound like a salesman, but I am one! Nebbiolo with fifteen years of bottle age for under $35? That’s about the best pitch I can muster… For those still unconvinced, here’s the deal: northern Italian Nebbiolo grown in alpine hills. Gattinara wines aren’t quite a secret, but they’re not terribly far from it. More energetic, buoyant, and wild than some of their neighbors, they’re an absolute value. The Petterino ’01 has cranberry and tamarind notes alongside freshly-tilled earth and a fine mineral backbone; this wine is very much alive and by all accounts, required reading for Nebbiolo nerds and anyone else looking for a good deal and a fine glass o’ wine.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Charles Smith – K Vintners
& Casa Smith New Releases
Charles Smith nimbly occupies the space between entrepreneur and madman. Early on, he left Sacramento for Denmark, where he lived the expat life and managed rock bands for nearly a decade. An appreciation for food and wine grew from sojourns on the road. Upon returning to the United States, he capitalized on a hunch that wine would be a worthwhile next step. He opened a shop on Bainbridge Island, Washington, further exploring the grapes and regions which inspired him.
While traveling around his new state, Smith was encouraged to dig deeper into the wine world. Drawing from the winemaking culture in his new town, Smith taught himself how to make wine and – come 2001 – released just over 300 cases of his inaugural effort, the ’99 K Syrah. Since then, Smith and his team have grown to produce intense, age-worthy wines which have enlivened the Washingtonian wine scene. The wines – bottled behind simple yet confident labels in black and white, have earned great critical acclaim while remaining edgy and unpredictable.
Though Smith & Co. have gone on to create other labels and side-projects, the K Vintners wines remain the marquee effort. Focusing on single-vineyard bottlings of Syrah in addition to various field blends (Cabernet, Grenache, Syrah, Tempranillo, Viogner…), the grapes are hand-harvested and crushed by foot, basket-pressed, and employ only naturally-occurring yeasts in fermentation.
Last year’s release included 98 and 99 pointers!
K Vintners Wines Arriving May 17th
Charles Smith K Vintners The Creator Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “I think the first time its all from Jack’s Vineyard in Walla Walla, the 2013 The Creator (70/30 Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah) is still aging in 50% new French oak. It has lots of iodine, dried blood (these are classic Rocks aromatics), pepper, chocolate and peat moss that flow to a full-bodied, voluptuously textured, ripe Cabernet that has plenty of mid-palate depth and sweet tannin. While it’s a big, rich, ripe wine, it never comes across as heavy or cumbersome. It should benefit from 2-3 years in the cellar and drink well over the following decade.”
Winery note “This is a classic year for this awesome wine. Textbook aromas and flavors…let’s go! Cured black olive, fresh and dried herb, earthy and meaty. The Cabernet wins the day with graphite, pencil lead, black currant, and rock galore. Hail The Creator!”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘El Jefe’ Stoneridge Vineyard Tempranillo, Wahluke Slope 2013 750ML ($69.95) $56.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Coming from the same vineyard as the Royal City Syrah, the 2013 El Jefe Tempranillo Stoneridge Vineyard (100% Tempranillo) sports a semi-opaque ruby color to go with lots of spice-box, dried violets, toasted bread and cured meat-like aromas and flavors. Firm, savory and still full-bodied and textured, it should come together nicely once in bottle, but I suspect short-term cellaring will help.”
Winery note “Spanish it is. Roasted tomato, blood sausage, and oh so savory. Depth and complexity rule the day, as does Stoneridge Vineyard, the home of El Jefe.”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Outlook Vineyard, Washington State 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Coming from an older vineyard planted next to Dick Bushey’s Bushey Vineyard, Smith’s 2013 M C K Syrah (this stands for Motor City Kitty) is inky colored and off-the-charts good, with layers of black fruits, olive tapenade, crushed rock and pepper. Massive, full-bodied, decadent and voluptuous, it’s certainly not for those craving lightweight aromas and flavors and dishes out immense pleasure.”
Charles Smith K Vintners River Rock Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Immediately earthy, meaty and brooding. A finessed mouthful of crushed stone, cool ash, hung meat and savory herb. Long on the palate and long in the memory. The River Rock Vineyard is owned and farmed by Dana Dibble, planted in 2001. The site is located south of Walla Walla in the old Walla Walla River bed; the soil is rocky and with great drainage. The clone of Syrah sourced is Tablas Creek, which thrives in the big river stone cobble. This is the warmest site in the Walla Walla Valley.”
Charles Smith K Vintners Rock Garden Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $56.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Offering up impressive plum, peat, light black powder, ground pepper and violets, the 2013 Syrah Rock Garden gives up medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate, with fine tannin and outstanding length. It should end up being a low to mid 90s scoring effort that will impress for upwards of a decade. I’ll have reviews for all of the 2013s from barrel next year as well.”
Winery note “Asian five spice, black plum, and cool ash – that’s just the nose. It pushes on to a palate of raw meat and cured olive saturated in an unctuous deep mouthfeel. From the Rocks. It Rocks!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
CasaSmith Cervo Barbera, Northridge Vineyard, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
100% Barbera. Winery note “Northridge Vineyard: Planted in 2003, this vineyard is a very unique 92 acre site in the Wahluke Slope. An alluvial fan gravel bed, the site rests above the flood plain of the Columbia River. under the topsoil is a layer of caliche and basalt, 6-12 inches deep, creating a calcium and iron rich media that forces roots to struggle.”
CasaSmith Barbera Jack’s Vineyard, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
100% Barbera. Winery note “From my historical home. Grown in Jack’s Vineyard, the cobblestone strewn vineyard in Walla Walla. Twenty-year old vines, low yields, barrel aged. Deeply complex wine. Great depth and length. Groundbreaking wine. Destined to be a classic.”
CasaSmith Porcospino Primitivo, Northridge Vineyard, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
100% Primitivo. Winery note “Zinfandel in America. Primitivo in Italy. Rich, dark, unctuous. Briar berry, explosive, ripe and restrained. Makes me want to roll up my sleeves and dig into some spaghetti, red sauce, meatballs and parmesano with crushed red pepper. From my cellar to your table!”
CasaSmith Cinghiale Sangiovese, Wahluke Slope 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
100% Sangiovese. Winery note “Rosebud: This vineyard is at the same location as Wahluke Slope Vineyard and Northridge Vineyard. It has an alluvial fan gravel bed and rests above the flood plain of the Columbia River. Under the topsoil is a layer of caliche and basalt, creating calcium and iron rich soil.”
K Vintners Wines Available Here Now:
Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Lithe and savory, showing green olive, moss and wet leaf notes around a core of black cherry and plum fruit. The tannins are nicely contained, and the finish rolls on without excess weight. Best after 2017. 658 cases made. –HS
Charles Smith K Vintners The Boy Grenache – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 90 points “(done in used puncheons; 45 days on the skins): Medium red with a palish rim. Pretty, floral aromas of cherry and raspberry convey a Pinot-like quality. Sweet, lightly smoky and silky, with raspberry, cherry and earth flavors dominating. The tannins are quite suave owing to the extended maceration. Smooth and round from day one–and remarkably easy to drink.”
Winery notes “88% Grenache, 12% Syrah from the Northridge & River Rock Vineyards. A regal wine. A beautiful ruby robe, velvety and revealing – layer upon layer of supple and refined fruit. Layers of ‘je ne sais quoi,’ complex, sophisticated and elegant wine.”
Charles Smith K Vintners Charlotte, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “(a Châteauneuf du Pape blend from the Rocks, fermented entirely with whole clusters in cement and stainless steel, with the white grapes and the lighter reds at the bottom of the tank; then aged in large neutral puncheons for 30 months): Moderately saturated medium red. Spicy, iron-scented cherry and raspberry aromas display noteworthy precision. A step up in intensity from the Boy, boasting terrific cut and energy to its uncompromisingly dry red berry and spice flavors. Finishes with a firm spine of acids and dusty, fine-grained tannins, hints of bay leaf and fresh blood, and subtle saline length.”
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘El Jefe’ Stoneridge Vineyard Tempranillo, Washington 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Aged in 80% new French oak, the 2012 El Jefe Tempranillo Stoneridge Vineyard gives up classic Christmas spice, cedar and graphite to go with a core of both red and black styled fruit. Medium to full-bodied, elegant and with the tannic grip of the variety, this solid effort will benefit from short-term cellaring and evolve gracefully for over a decade.” WA
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Guido’, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 14 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2012 Sangiovese Guido sports a translucent ruby color to go with outstanding notes of black cherries, dried herbs, rose petal and cured meats. It’s nicely balanced, has classic typicity and will have a decade of longevity” JD
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Just a reminder about our current shipping specials during this season:
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
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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Vintage Perspectives
from Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media
Gigondas 2014 & 2013
Fans of ripe and unctious Gigondas may take pause, but the 2013 and 2014 vintages are nothing to shy away from, and offer better value than recent point-grabbing years. As Josh Raynolds notes, “rabid demand for the Next Big Thing virtually guarantees gentler mark-ups for vintages such as 2013 (and, I would wager, 2014) , which is great news for savvy, value-minded wine lovers more interested in drinking the wines than in bagging cellar trophies.” To reach the AOCs required minimum of 50% Grenache, many producers pared down the number of cuvees on offer (adding their better fruit to more humble cuvees) or included higher than typical amounts of Syrah and Mourvèdre.
Our First Look: 2014 Gigondas Wines:
“Fans of approachable southern Rhône red wines will find plenty to like from the 2014 vintage in Gigondas, wines that resemble the elegant 2008s and 2004s… that have emerged in recent years as exemplars of the southern Rhône in a minor key.” –Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2014 750ML ($39.95) $30 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Bright ruby-red. Intense red berry preserve, incense and floral pastille scents are sharpened by suggestions of smoky minerals and white pepper. Sweet, penetrating and vibrant, offering concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is firmed by silky tannins and a repeating mineral note.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91-93 points “Deep ruby. Powerful, smoke-accented aromas of dark berries and incense, complicated by suave floral pastille and woodsmoke nuances. Fleshy and deeply concentrated, showing impressive depth to the densely packed red and blue fruit flavors, which are lifted by juicy acidity. The smoky note repeats on a youthfully tannic finish that shows impressive energy, power and thrust.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Vivid ruby-red. Highly perfumed red fruit liqueur, potpourri and Asian spice scents show impressive clarity and vivacity. Sappy, tangy and precise, offering lively raspberry and floral pastille flavors and a touch of spicecake. Closes on a smoky mineral note, displaying superb focus, silky tannins and emphatic, floral-driven persistence.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “Bright ruby-red. Intense red berry preserve, incense and floral pastille scents are sharpened by suggestions of smoky minerals and white pepper. Sweet, penetrating and vibrant, offering concentrated raspberry and bitter cherry flavors and a suave spicecake nuance. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is firmed by silky tannins and a repeating mineral note.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
2013 Gigondas Available Here Now:
“With its cold early spring, 2013 was a problematic vintage for the precocious and extremely important Grenache (AOC regulations require that Gigondas include at least 50% Grenache). Winemakers relied more heavily than usual on Syrah and, especially, Mourvèdre to make up their blends. Many of (the 2013 Gigondas) wines are very good indeed, and they can often be found at appealing prices, as the 2013 vintage is already being largely ignored by consumers increasingly focusing on the ‘15s.” –Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 4 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90-92 points “Deep ruby. Smoky cherry and dark berry aromas are complemented by candied violet and cracked pepper; really shows its Syrah component. Spicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that open slowly with air. Very northern Rhône in character, with firm tannins adding grip to a peppery, floral finish.” JR
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 25 bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Grippy and well-packed, with a core of macerated currant, blackberry and raspberry flavors, offering mouthwatering notes of bay, roasted alder, tar and ganache. Best from 2017 through 2027.”JM
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Vivid ruby. Deeply pitched dark berry and cherry pit scents open slowly, picking up hints of lavender, anise and allspice. Taut and sharply focused, with bitter cherry and boysenberry flavors given spine by juicy acidity. Shows excellent clarity and power on the long, youthfully tannic finish, with the cherry and floral notes echoing.” JR
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Valbelle 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 27 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Brilliant ruby. An expansive, complex bouquet evokes fresh blackberry and boysenberry, lifted by a sexy floral topnote and a hint of incense. Silky, sweet and palate-caressing, with intense black and blue fruit flavors given spine by tangy acidity. This juicy, pure wine finishes with excellent clarity and smooth, building tannins.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Les Pallieres Gigondas Terrasses du Diable 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90-92 points “Bright violet color. Ripe cherry and dark berries on the nose, with a peppery note adding vivacity. Silky and open-knit, displaying very good lift and clarity to its black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors. Closes on a spicy note, with excellent tenacity and smooth, late-arriving tannins.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Offers a taut, slightly sinewy feel, with cedar-laced grip cutting through the core of dried cherry, red currant and raspberry flavors. Displays a lightly chalky spine on the finish, with an ample tobacco note.”
We offer 18 Gigondas wines, in stock or arriving soon. Browse the full list here: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Pink Pegau Back In Session
Get your sunshine in a bottle
before it sells out again (for good, this time!)
Domaine du Pegau ‘Pink Pegau’ Rose 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer’s note: “A delicious new rosé from Laurence Féraud of Domaine du Pegau, Pink Pegau was crafted at Château Pegau, a recently purchased estate of more than 100 acres located less than 4 miles from Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Tasting Notes: Pale pink/salmon in color, with peach, floral and red fruit aromas. Bone dry, with a crisp, mouth-watering acidity leading to a long, spicy, mineral finish.”
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Domaine Jamet
Côtes du Rhône
From a mere 1/3 hectare of vines purchased in 1950, Joseph Jamet and his sons, Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc, built one of the most highly sought after Côte Rôtie domaines. The domaine bottles wines from 25 parcels offering a variety of terroirs. The majority of sites are in the Côte Brune, a sub-region known for its brown schist soils that offer dark, tannic, long-aging wines. The Côte Blonde sites offer floral and aromatic nuance to the blend. Each vintage, a new blend from the sites is created to balance the cuvee. (Often, not all sites are included.) The domaine has a fiercely classical take on producing Côte Rôtie: employing whole clusters for the long fermentation before aging in mostly neutral oak pieces and demi-muids for two years. The Cotes du Rhone undergoes a similar cellar treatment, but is bottled younger.
From the mid-1980s, when Joseph retired, to 2013, the estate was run by Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc. The domaine split in 2013, and Jean-Luc will produce his own domaine wines from the family lieux-dit on the Lancement. Domaine Jamet wine will be labeled under the full name of Domaine de Jean-Paul & Corinne Jamet.
Arriving May 13th
Domaine Jamet Cotes du Rhone 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “(sourced from a schist site completely surrounded by Côte-Rôtie vineyards in the Côte Brune): Opaque ruby. Fresh black raspberry, cassis, olive and peppery spices on the fragrant nose. Lively and expansive in the mouth, offering juicy, spice-tinged dark berry flavors and a touch of candied violet. Displays an attractive marriage of richness and finesse, with sneaky tannins adding shape to a very long, penetrating finish. This suave wine could easily pass for a Côte-Rôtie.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Jamet Available Here Now:
Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie, Rhone 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 31 bottles available
Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie, Rhone 2013 1.5L ($319.95) $279 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Inky ruby. A vibrant spice- and mineral-accented bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry and blueberry, candied flowers, incense and peppery spices. Sweet, palate-staining red and blue fruit compote and violet pastille flavors are complicated by notes of cracked pepper and bitter chocolate, with a spicecake nuance gaining strength in the glass. Velvety, pliant tannins add gentle grip to a strikingly long and incisive finish that strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes.” JR
Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie, Rhone 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2012 Cote Rotie is smoking good and should be up with the top wines from this estate. Inky colored, full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, it offers classic pepper, violets, bacon fat, olive and sweet cassis-like fruits. Opening up with time in the glass, it has the approachable, supple feel of the vintage, yet has more than enough mid-palate depth and fine tannin to keep it drinking beautifully for another two decades.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “(15% new oak): Deep ruby. Complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and dark berries, incense, violet and cracked pepper, along with a vibrant mineral overtone. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense blackberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that stretch out slowly with air. This concentrated yet lively Côte-Rôtie finishes with superb clarity and even tannins.” JR
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Bonus Rhone Pre-Arrival!
Clape Cornas
Arriving Late June
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93-95 points “Brilliant purple. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and blackberry scents, along with notes of bacon fat, licorice, potpourri and pungent flowers. Pure, concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that gain weight and become sweeter with air. Closes extremely long, sappy and sweet, juicy acidity adding lift and cut to the blue-fruit-dominated, youthfully tannic finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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New Reviews from David Schildknecht
for Donnhoff and Keller 2014s
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Tonschiefer Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2014 750ML ($27.95) $19 special, 22 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “This bottling based as usual on the heavily clay- (Ton) rich slate of the Oberhäuser Kieselberg no doubt also reflects that site’s superior ventilation in eclipsing this year’s basic dry generic. Apple and white peach are mingled with hints of orange and grapefruit and tinged with brown spices on the nose. The aforementioned fruits collaborate for a colorful and succulent mid-palate where peach stone piquancy and wet stone add interesting counterpoint. A cooling combination of floral and herbal inner-mouth elements delightfully complements the fruit in a succulently sustained finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2014 750ML ($47.95) $36 special, 12 bottles available
Weingut Donnhoff Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 2 magnums available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “Helmut and Cornelius Dönnhoff are out to revive the imposingly butte-like Höllenpfad (“path to hell”), whose reputation peaked close to a century ago when it was farmed by some of their relatives whose cellar was an adjacent 13th-century hospital. “Because this site is relatively warm and close to the Rhine there was more botrytis,” explained Dönnhoff Senior, “and we had to pick it very early.” Smoky pungency of nut oils and black tea practically assaults the nose, then carries over to a firm palate, adding to the invigorating quality supplied by tart rhubarb and apple. There is a prickly sense to the high-energy, gripping finish that suggests peach fuzz and pineapple core. This wine could wake you from a dead sleep. (The 2013, when tasted alongside, is now even more fascinating and mouthwatering, not to mention more mannerly.)”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Redcurrant, lime and mint waft alluringly from the glass. The luscious and delicate palate suggests jellied redcurrant and lime sorbet laced with green herbal extracts as well as mineral salts. The result is coolingly soothing yet at the same time stimulating, not least of the salivary glands. Suggestions of almond paste and candied lime peel tug the long finish in a confectionery direction but without primary juiciness or refreshment being denied.”
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2014 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 9 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 92 points “A head-turning nose of cherry and apple with their flowers incorporates intimations of mint and cress. This combination serves for a succulently fruity and coolingly herbal impression on the silky mid-palate that simultaneously invigorates thanks to nips of fruit pit, pips and cress. Prominent sweetness complements the wine’s effusive fruitiness while its piquant and incisive elements supply welcome contrast leading into a lusciously lingering finish.”
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 20 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “Peach, pink grapefruit and fig very ripely inform the nose as well as a luscious, expansive, subtly creamy palate. Persian melon and Maine blueberry deliver unexpected fruity bonus, resulting in one of the most colorful and effusive young Dönnhoff Hermannshöhle Spätlesen that I can recall. A confectionery impression of nut pastes is nicely complemented by piquancy of candied orange and lemon rinds in a generous and deeply layered finish mouthwateringly laced with mineral salts.”
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 19 bottles available
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2014 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special, 1 magnum available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 94 points “A haunting nose mingles buddleia and almond extract with intimations of the white peach, Meyer lemon and grapefruit that then juicily and bracingly saturate the palate. A stony undertone, hints of iodine, and a glowing alliance of cyanic peach kernel and almond lend intrigue if also a touch of austerity, leading into a terrifically sustained and multifaceted finish capped by mouthwatering salinity. As with the corresponding Dellchen, I have little doubt that this will improve in bottle, but that doesn’t mean one should deny oneself the succulent and refreshing as well as complex pleasure of drinking a youthful bottle or two.”
Weingut Donnhoff Norheimer Dellchen Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 20 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “White peach and Rainier cherry are tinged with cardamom on the nose and brightly laced with grapefruit on a firm palate that is underlain with wet stone but that boasts the buoyancy and succulence to banish any sense of austerity. Raw almond and piquant peach pit add interest en route to a superbly sustained and multifaceted finish. I have little doubt that this will be even more impressive in a few years, but that is no reason to defer enjoyment of one’s first bottles.”
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 19 bottles available
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points “Smoky pungency of both blond and Latakia tobacco as well as piquancy of juniper and huckleberry share aromatic billing with intimations of the ripe white peach, Rainier cherry and grapefruit that go on to dominate a glossy, buoyant palate. A cooling suggestion of mint and basil lends a delightfully soothing contrast to the wine’s persistently pungent and piquant elements, leading into a finish of dynamic complexity and impressive sheer length.”
Newly Reviewed Keller Riesling Arriving Early June:
Weingut Keller Westhofener Brunnenhauschen Abts Erde Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Rheinhessen 2014 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht- Vinous 96 points “Marine-breeze alkaline and saline notes, black tea smokiness and a hints of framboise distillate penetrate the nostrils, and the mineral complexity that follows on the polished, expansive (even at 12.8% alcohol), remarkably buoyant palate does not disappoint the expectations aroused by the nose. At the same time, there is an infectious abundance of white peach, grapefruit and red raspberry juiciness on tap, invigoratingly accented by piquant but never outright bitter pits and pips along with tart, seed-crunching impingement. A finish of vibratory intensity and consummate refreshment left me exhilarated and panting after the next fascinating, sensuously satisfying sip. Keller calls this the butterfly among his Grosse Gewächse and attributes the jump in quality that it typically represents in tasting that line-up to the stony purity and rapid drainage of the site’s limestone soils. There’s something approaching magic here, that’s for sure!”
+++++
Domaine Vigot
of Vosne-Romanee
Fabrice Vigot has worked the land of Vosne Romanee since 1990. His own estate – Domaine Vigot – produces silky and elegant wines from covetable plots across both Vosne and old vines in Gevry-Chambertin. Under a sharecropping agreement, he also tends and sources from vines owned by Mugneret-Gibourg alongside Pascal Mugneret. We are proud to introduce new releases from the Domaine, all arriving this Friday. Very limited, only one case each wine. Tune in Saturday for a deeper pre-arrival offer of 2014 vintage.
New Arrivals Friday from Domaine Vigot:
Domaine Fabrice Vigot Vosne-Romanee Les Damaudes, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From a hilltop vineyard, this cuvee is entirely destemmed and offers high-toned aromatics and an enduring finish. Tasted here in the past week – in one word: purity.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Fabrice Vigot Vosne-Romanee La Columbiere, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Fabrice Vigot Vosne-Romanee Les Chalandins, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From 30 year old vines, with bright red fruit and abundant acidities; 100% destemmed.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Fabrice Vigot Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: Sourced from a trio of vineyards: Crais, Les Etelois, and Billards. Medium-bodied, with vibrant freshness and a suave finish; 100% destemmed.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
+++++
Bonus Burgundy Pre-Arrival!
Arriving in June from Hubert Lamy
Domaine Hubert Lamy Puligny-Montrachet Les Tremblots Vieilles Vignes 2014 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2014 Puligny Montrachet les Tremblots has quite an arresting bouquet in the offering, with gorgeous peach skin and nectarine scents that are extremely well defined. The palate is very well balanced with crisp acidity, very saline in the mouth with just a hint of bitter lemon. I like the energy and precision here, a complex Puligny that has the potential to be “a little gem” once in bottle.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
+++++
Domaine Guiberteau
Next-Generation Saumur
Arriving Late June
Romain Guiberteau bears one of the most esteemed names in all of the Loire; the Guilberteaus have grown grapes in the region for over the past 100 years. His great-grandfather began purchasing sites in the area prior to the First World War, slowly giving way to a familial tradition and an enviable roster of vineyard sites. Romain’s grandfather, one-time mayor and head of the local growers’ cooperative, was a beloved member of Saumur’s winemaking community. He and his wife built upon the family’s land holdings until their son took over. It was he who converted the domaine to organic viticulture, slowly pulling back land from the co-op for the family’s private use. Soon after, Romain left a career in law and joined his father. Today, Romain carries on family’s traditions while forging the domaine onward.
Worth mentioning is that Romain was mentored by the Foucault brothers over at the inimitable Clos Rougeard. It’d be equally unwise to depend upon the relationship as it would be to downplay it, however. Search online for Guiberteau and you’re sure to come across the proxy-sales and comparisons – “the new Rougeard”, “the Disciple”, and so forth.
Clos Rougeard being the most famed and important domaine of the region makes this a rather impressive – and daunting – comparison. The Guiberteaus and Foucaults share some vineyard sources and, above all, a determination to craft the very best wines possible from their land. These are stand-out wines with true pedigree; whatever it may have been that the Foucaults told Romain, it seems to be working… Domaine Guiberteau itself is now one of the most sought-after producers in the Loire.
The “Domaine” wines from Guiberteau are rendered in all stainless steel with the vision to showcase purity of fruit and freshness. Vineyard-designate wines are raised in both new and used oak with extended lees contact. We’re thrilled to offer an array of the domaine’s wines, all viewable below.
Domaine Guiberteau Wines Arriving Late June:
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos des Carmes, Loire 2012 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: Chenin vines planted on clay and limestone soils along the base of Brézé. Hand-harvested and sorted, with native-yeast fermentation and no chapitalization. Aged on the lees for 18-30 months in new and used oak with the intention of aging over 15 years.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos des Carmes, Loire 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: Chenin vines planted on clay and limestone soils along the base of Brézé. Hand-harvested and sorted, with native-yeast fermentation and no chapitalization. Aged on the lees for 18-30 months in new and used oak with the intention of aging over 15 years.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Le Clos de Guichaux, Loire 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: From younger vines planted to chalk and clay soils. Whole clusters are gently pressed by pneumatic press; native yeast fermentations with light filtration in order to discourage secondary fermentations. Low yields and an all-manual harvest and sorting, with organic viticulture and wines never chapitalized.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Les Moulins 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: All stainless-steel fermentation with the intent to present freshness and complexity of fruit; native yeast fermentations with hand-harvesting and no chapitalization.
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