Vinopolis California Special 1-9-20

 

Eisele is one of the most hallowed terroirs in the Napa Valley.  Tucked into the foothills in Calistoga, it has produced incredible wines since 1971 for Phelps, Araujo and now (indirectly) Chateau Latour, who bought the property a few years ago.  Their flagship bottling is made to compete with first growth Bordeaux and very much does—this is collectible and profoundly complex and ageworthy.  As you might expect, allocations are very limited and we have four bottles arriving next week.  They’re first come, first served and we expect these double-hundred pointers to disappear quickly.


Arriving Friday, January 17th:

Only four bottles available
Eisele Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2016 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon has a deep garnet-purple color. Its nose begins a little reserved, slowly revealing a quiet intensity of freshly crushed blackberries, chocolate-covered cherries, cassis and aniseed with compelling nuances of black tea, cigar box, truffles and charcuterie, plus, with coaxing, gentle wafts of red roses and crushed rocks emerge. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply arresting, offering a a myriad floral and earth sparks amidst a black fruit core and with seamless, firm, very fine-grained tannins. Well-knit freshness brings forth layer after layer of delicate nuances on the very long, mineral-laced finish. The team at Eisele, led by Frédéric Engerer (of Chateau Latour) and beautifully orchestrated by winemaker Hélène Mingot, have knocked it out of the park this vintage with this singular expression that both embraces the site’s heritage and reveals parts unknown.-LPB”
Decanter 100 points “One of the most legendary vineyards in the Napa Valley, the Eisele Vineyard was purchased by François Pinault of Château Latour in Pauillac in the Médoc, Bordeaux from the Araujo family which had owned it for 23 years (from 1990 to 2013). The winemaking is now in the hands of 41-year-old winemaker Hélène Mingot. For this vintage, Hélène used only rockiest blocks planted in shallow soils near Simmons Creek.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $558

 

Freemark Abbey makes some of the most undervalued Cabernet in Napa, from old vineyards in prime terroirs that (now) command high scores.  We’ve just secured our allocation of their two stellar 2015 single vineyard Cabs—both of which scored an eye-opening 97 points from the Wine Advocate. You’d expect wines from these sorts of terroirs with these scores to cost well over $200, but we’re able to offer you both bottlings for under $150 per bottle. 

A lot of that has to do with Freemark Abbey’s rocky road their current status as an elite producer. Their modern era dates back to 1967, when the winery was purchased quickly transformed into one of the most recognized and prestigious wineries in the 70’s and 80’s.  Unfortunately, over time, quality slipped and the reputation of the once legendary winery fell into a bit of obscurity.

After a few ownership changes, the winery was sold in 2005 to Jackson Family, who have poured money and attention into it in a way that hasn’t been seen since the original heyday of the winery in the 70’s and early 80’s.  Winemaker Ted Edwards was brought in and the winery has been on a steady path upwards ever since. 

The single vineyard wines are the showstoppers with Bosché and Sycamore leading the way. Bosché is the most famous of these vineyard designates, from an old vineyard that been producing spectacular wines for Freemark since the winery’s early days.  Sycamore is located only a few miles down the road, with a profile that belies its proximity to Oakville (compared to Bosché’s pure Rutherford signature).  Both excelled in the 2015 vintage and scored 97 points from the Wine Advocate. We have limited quantities of each arriving next week and would urge you to secure these now.


Arriving Friday, January 17th:

Only eighteen bottles available
Freemark Abbey Bosche Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97 points “Blended of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosche Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color and is scented of earthy nuances of truffles, dusty soil and underbrush with a core of crème de cassis, black cherry compote and blueberry pie plus hints of camphor and scorched earth. Full, concentrated, rich and densely packed with loads of earth and black fruit layers, it has a firm, ripe, grainy frame and oodles of freshness, finishing long. 2,018 cases produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Only eighteen bottles available
Freemark Abbey Sycamore Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford 2015 750ML ($179.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97+ points “A blend of 88.2% Cabernet Sauvignon,  4.4% Petit Verdot, 4.2% Cabernet Franc and 3.2% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Sycamore Vineyards comes skipping out of the glass with a spring it its step and singing notes of crushed blackcurrants, fresh blackberries and red and black plums with touches of underbrush, fungi, wild sage, chocolate mint and cigar boxes. Full-bodied and built like a brick house, it has a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness supporting the generous, crunchy fruit, finishing long with a touch of minerality. 2,101 cases produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!