In Today’s Newsletter:
Subscriber Special:
What’s Better Than Good Under-$30 Barolo?
Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon Shipping Special
Now extended through April!
A New Vintage of Our Best-Selling Beaujolais Producer
Re-Arrival Special: Champagne Lilbert
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Clos Rougeard Subscriber Special
Rose of the Day – Subscriber Special
The Undervalued Greatness of Domaine Huet
Staff Pick: A Top Brunello Riserva for Drinking Now
Collector’s Corner
Magnums of Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne
Subscriber Special:
What’s Better Than Good Under-$30 Barolo?
Good Under-$25 Barolo
Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon Shipping Special
Now extended through April!
Subscriber Special:
What’s Better Than Good Under-$30 Barolo?
Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon Shipping Special
Now extended through April!
A New Vintage of Our Best-Selling Beaujolais Producer
Re-Arrival Special: Champagne Lilbert
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Clos Rougeard Subscriber Special
Rose of the Day – Subscriber Special
The Undervalued Greatness of Domaine Huet
Staff Pick: A Top Brunello Riserva for Drinking Now
Collector’s Corner
Magnums of Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne
Subscriber Special:
What’s Better Than Good Under-$30 Barolo?
Good Under-$25 Barolo
Veglio Michelino is a new producer to us here, despite their long and venerable history. How they escaped our notice for such a long time, we don’t know (we’ll blame their local distribution), but when we found out they made a well scoring (92 point) traditional Barolo for under $30, we were all in. The wine’s been selling well for a few weeks, but to put it in even more glasses, we’re dropping the price to just $24. That’s right—a well made Barolo from a great vintage, under $25. This is something you’re going to want to go long on, and quickly. This price only lasts until Sunday at 6PM (or we run out, which is a possibility with less than ten cases left in stock).
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 29th at 6PM (PT)
In Stock Now
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 29th at 6PM (PT)
In Stock Now
Veglio Michelino & Figlio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special
James Suckling 92 points “Some swanky, glossy oak adds toffee aromas to the ripe red cherries. Plenty of vanilla here, too. The palate delivers a fullish and round impression with plenty of oak again in the mix. Praline and ripe red cherries in abundance here. Try from 2022.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Subscriber Special Pricing Valid Until Sunday, March 29th at 6PM (PT)
Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon Shipping Special
Now extended through April!
Free Oregon Ground Shipping on Orders Over $120
Looking for our great deals and shipping specials to continue? Tell a friend who’s not on our email list to take advantage of this great offer and keep us busy in these unusual times!
A New Vintage of Our Best-Selling Beaujolais Producer
The 2018’s from Vissoux Deliver
The 2018’s from Vissoux Deliver
Pierre Chermette was just 22 when he took over Domaine Vissoux from his parents in 1982. In the intervening decades, Pierre has remained at the forefront of Beaujolais’ quality movement, pushing the estate towards lower yields and sustainable viticulture. Pierre was also a visionary within the region, not only recognizing the potential of the region’s Cru villages, but acting on the hunch. In the mid-90s Pierre purchased vines in Fleurie and Moulin à Vent, and over the past quarter century has continued to expand the firm’s holdings.
Neither modern, nor traditional, Vissoux’s wines are known for quality, defying simple categorization. And maybe because they lack simple categorization, they remain some of the region’s best values, punching way above their weight, even in a region known for delivery serious bang for the buck. There’s a reason they’re our best-selling Beaujolais estate each year—these are some fantastic wines at great prices.
Arriving tomorrow, Vissoux’s beautiful 2018s, the perfect reds for springtime on the back porch—and priced to move.
Arriving Friday, March 27th
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Coeur de Vendanges, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “As I’ve written before, this bottling represents one of the great values in French wine, and the 2018 Beaujolais-Villages Coeur de Vendanges will not disappoint long-time fans of the cuvée. Wafting from the glass with a rich bouquet of dark berry fruit, rose petals and licorice, it’s full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, its powdery tannins concealed in a lavish core of succulent, lively fruit. A wine to purchase by the case, expect it to offer irresistible drinking for the better part of a decade.”
Neither modern, nor traditional, Vissoux’s wines are known for quality, defying simple categorization. And maybe because they lack simple categorization, they remain some of the region’s best values, punching way above their weight, even in a region known for delivery serious bang for the buck. There’s a reason they’re our best-selling Beaujolais estate each year—these are some fantastic wines at great prices.
Arriving tomorrow, Vissoux’s beautiful 2018s, the perfect reds for springtime on the back porch—and priced to move.
Arriving Friday, March 27th
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Coeur de Vendanges, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “As I’ve written before, this bottling represents one of the great values in French wine, and the 2018 Beaujolais-Villages Coeur de Vendanges will not disappoint long-time fans of the cuvée. Wafting from the glass with a rich bouquet of dark berry fruit, rose petals and licorice, it’s full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, its powdery tannins concealed in a lavish core of succulent, lively fruit. A wine to purchase by the case, expect it to offer irresistible drinking for the better part of a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly Pierreux, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Aromas of raspberries, plums and orange rind preface the 2018 Brouilly Pierreux, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy wine with a satiny attack that segues into a fine-boned, elegantly structured mid-palate, with lively acids and a fragrant, expansive finish. This cuvée, which sees six months’ élevage in old foudres, has turned out very well.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie les Garants, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Chermette’s 2018 Fleurie Les Garants delivers a striking bouquet of raspberries, peonies, warm spices and candied peel, followed by a medium to full-bodied, satiny but incisive palate that remains lively and tensile, despite its abundant endowment of ripe, succulent fruit. Elegant and precise, this is one of the high points of the portfolio.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of rose petals, sweet red cherries, dried flowers and ripe strawberries, the 2018 Fleurie Poncié is medium to full-bodied, lively and enveloping, with a charming, fruit-driven profile this year that tends to obscure its elegantly fine-boned tannic chassis. But don’t be fooled, this is reliably one of Chermette’s finest cuvées, and the 2018 rendition should evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Moulin-à-Vent Les Trois Roches is also showing very well, exhibiting an inviting bouquet of black raspberries, spices, candied peel and peonies. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, satiny and enveloping, with a deep and concentrated core of fleshy fruit that largely conceals the wines tannins. This is another terrific effort from Chermette in this gourmand, attractively immediate vintage.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Saint Amour Les Champs-Grilles, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Saint-Amour Les Champs-Grillés is a serious wine, “not just for Valentine’s Day,” as Jean-Étienne Chermette observes. Revealing attractive notes of raspberries, rose petals and cherries, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and spicy, with a muscular chassis of fine, powdery tannins. As usual, it’s a cuvée that stands to gain from a couple of years in the cellar.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Saint-Amour Les Champs-Grillés is a serious wine, “not just for Valentine’s Day,” as Jean-Étienne Chermette observes. Revealing attractive notes of raspberries, rose petals and cherries, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and spicy, with a muscular chassis of fine, powdery tannins. As usual, it’s a cuvée that stands to gain from a couple of years in the cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Other great Beaujolais arriving tomorrow:
Chateau Grange Cochard Morgon Les Charmes, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93+ points “Offering up notes of blackberries, cherries and dried flowers that are framed by a delicate touch of recently used oak, the 2017 Morgon Les Charmes is medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with good concentration and a rich, dramatic core of fruit, framed by fine but youthfully firm tannins. Of the estate’s two lieu-dit bottlings, it’s the more forward and expressive out of the gates.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Vivid magenta. Intense, mineral-accented red/blue fruit aromas pick up a sexy floral quality with air. Concentrated yet lively in style, offering juicy black raspberry, bitter cherry and violet pastille flavors that show excellent clarity and back-end punch. Shows a hint of candied licorice on the youthfully tannic finish, which hangs on with strong, mineral tenacity.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Grange Cochard Morgon Vieilles Vignes, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Deep, brilliant ruby. Displays an array of ripe black/blue fruit and spice qualities on the expressive nose, along with building spice and mineral elements. Smooth, broad and open-knit, showing very good depth to its juicy boysenberry and cherry flavors, which pick up a sweetening hint of cola on the back half. Supple tannins lend shape to a persistent, dark fruit-driven finish that leaves a suggestion of smoky minerality behind.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2017 Morgon Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with a pretty bouquet of red cherries, rose petals and wild berries. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, with a layered core of fleshy fruit, ripe acids and powdery tannins that gently assert themselves on the finish. It will be even better after a year in bottle.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “Juicy acidity binds the ripe raspberry, peach and cherry flavors of this supple red, with accents of peach, floral and licorice lingering into the moderately tannic finish. Drink now through 2025. 100 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Re-Arrival Special:
Champagne Lilbert
Champagne Lilbert
Lilbert is one of the best kept secrets in Champagne. Drawing from Grand Cru vineyards in the Cote des Blancs, Lilbert makes blanc de blancs wines from some excellent vineyards in a finessed, minerally style. Their wines havenotable brioche-y character, as well, due to the large quantities of reserve wines in their various blends. At the prices asked, these are wines that massively over-deliver. That’s certainly because they fly under the radar (at the moment) but that could (and should) change over the next few years.
Just Arrived, Back In Stock:
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A fresh and elegant blanc de blancs Champagne, with juicy nectarine and mango fruit accented by hints of candied kumquat, spring blossom and salted almond. Long and creamy on the mouthwatering finish. Disgorged summer 2016. Drink now through 2022. 1,650 cases made, 100 cases imported. — AN”
Lilbert-Fils “Perle” Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “This bottle of Lilbert’s NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in summer 2018 with five grams per liter dosage and is based on the 2013 vintage, with 35% reserve wines. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, crushed chalk and hints of warm biscuits, it’s medium to full-bodied, with an elegant pinpoint mousse, a deep and tight-knit core, racy acids and a penetrating, precise finish. Dry and incisive, it’s classic Lilbert, showing Cramant’s serious side, and it will evolve beautifully in the cellar.”
Just Arrived, Back In Stock:
Lilbert-Fils Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “A fresh and elegant blanc de blancs Champagne, with juicy nectarine and mango fruit accented by hints of candied kumquat, spring blossom and salted almond. Long and creamy on the mouthwatering finish. Disgorged summer 2016. Drink now through 2022. 1,650 cases made, 100 cases imported. — AN”
Lilbert-Fils “Perle” Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “This bottle of Lilbert’s NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Perle was disgorged in summer 2018 with five grams per liter dosage and is based on the 2013 vintage, with 35% reserve wines. Offering up aromas of lemon oil, crushed chalk and hints of warm biscuits, it’s medium to full-bodied, with an elegant pinpoint mousse, a deep and tight-knit core, racy acids and a penetrating, precise finish. Dry and incisive, it’s classic Lilbert, showing Cramant’s serious side, and it will evolve beautifully in the cellar.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
-Please note: Vinopolis is not open for in-person browsing right now,
in compliance with new Oregon regulations, however our webstore is open 24/7-
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Clos Rougeard Subscriber Special
Ends Sunday (or when we run out)
Limited supplies of these library releases.
Act fast if you want any!
Act fast if you want any!
Shop the subscriber special on our webstore!
Rose of the Day – Subscriber Special
Domaines Bunan is one of the most interesting and undervalued producers in Bandol. They’re a historic estate with some of the most privileged vineyards in the region. The Moulin des Costes is a vineyard close to the ocean and you can almost feel that sea breeze in the wine. It’s a fantastic rose and a total steal at half the price of Tempier. To make it even better, we’re discounting the frontline price and offering a further discount on bulk orders until the end of day Saturday!
5% Off 6-11 bottles of Moulin des Costes
10% Off 12+ bottles of Moulin des Costes
Offer Ends Saturday, March 27th at 6 PM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
Domaine Bunan Moulin des Costes Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 750ML ($27.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 special, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Hints of crushed stone and lime zest appear on the nose of the 2018 Bandol Rose Moulin des Costes, a blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache. Although only light to medium-bodied, it’s pleasantly silky in texture, with ample length on the refined, elegant finish.” -Wine Advocate
5% Off 6-11 bottles of Moulin des Costes
10% Off 12+ bottles of Moulin des Costes
Offer Ends Saturday, March 27th at 6 PM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
Domaine Bunan Moulin des Costes Bandol Rose, Provence 2018 750ML ($27.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 special, that’s $20.81 at 5% off and $19.71 at 10% off, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Hints of crushed stone and lime zest appear on the nose of the 2018 Bandol Rose Moulin des Costes, a blend of 50% Cinsault, 40% Mourvèdre and 10% Grenache. Although only light to medium-bodied, it’s pleasantly silky in texture, with ample length on the refined, elegant finish.” -Wine Advocate
This was the lowest listed price,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $28.99
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $28.99
Shop our entire collection of rose wines on our webstore!
The Undervalued Greatness of Domaine Huet
Huet makes some of the most undervalued great wine in the world. Take any metric you’d use to adjudicate greatness (complexity, age-worthiness, terroir, aromatic intensity, world-wide praise, etc) and Huet’s Vovray is on the list, at prices far below almost anything else in the world of wine. They own some of the greatest vineyards in the Loire and make sure that they reach their potential year in and out.
They seemingly age forever, gaining complexity and density, but impressively are priced like low-tier white Burgundy. It’s this last part that’s so perplexing. You can put well-aged Huet on the table with any top tier white Burgundy and it has a chance of being not only in the same league, but the best wine on the table. It often costs 1/2-1/5th that of the Burgs. That’s insane.
Huet makes some of the top wines in Vouvray and has for quite some time now. What makes them and amazing producer is that they make incredible wines all the way from bone dry, mineral drenched Sec to nobly sweet, honeyed dessert wines (and everything in between—including the Demi-Sec range, which are some of our favorites and, like German Riesling, are very flexible at the table). We have a broad selection of vintages and styles in stock now. Some highlights are listed below, but you can also check out the full list in our web store.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “From 30-year-old vines on calcareous loam soils, the 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec offers a clear, pure, fine and intensely aromatic bouquet with tropical fruit and chalky aromas. Round, lush and exotic on the palate, with a silky texture and salty piquancy on the finish, the 2016 needs up to a decade to integrate the 19 grams of residual sugar. The finish is lovey, concentrated, juicy and well structured, with a lingering and stimulating salinity. Tasted February 2018.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle—the lowest listed price on the West Coast!!)
#6 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
They seemingly age forever, gaining complexity and density, but impressively are priced like low-tier white Burgundy. It’s this last part that’s so perplexing. You can put well-aged Huet on the table with any top tier white Burgundy and it has a chance of being not only in the same league, but the best wine on the table. It often costs 1/2-1/5th that of the Burgs. That’s insane.
Huet makes some of the top wines in Vouvray and has for quite some time now. What makes them and amazing producer is that they make incredible wines all the way from bone dry, mineral drenched Sec to nobly sweet, honeyed dessert wines (and everything in between—including the Demi-Sec range, which are some of our favorites and, like German Riesling, are very flexible at the table). We have a broad selection of vintages and styles in stock now. Some highlights are listed below, but you can also check out the full list in our web store.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with creamy-edged nectarine, yellow and green apple, pear and quince flavors that are brightly defined from start to finish, flecked with verbena and honeysuckle hints and backed by a off-dry edge on the finish. Stays fresh and pure throughout. Tempting now but there’s no rush. Drink now through 2032.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “From 30-year-old vines on calcareous loam soils, the 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec offers a clear, pure, fine and intensely aromatic bouquet with tropical fruit and chalky aromas. Round, lush and exotic on the palate, with a silky texture and salty piquancy on the finish, the 2016 needs up to a decade to integrate the 19 grams of residual sugar. The finish is lovey, concentrated, juicy and well structured, with a lingering and stimulating salinity. Tasted February 2018.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle—the lowest listed price on the West Coast!!)
#6 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This tilts toward the flattering side of off-dry, showing a plump feel to the core of creamed pear, white peach and yellow apple fruit. Lovely verbena, honeysuckle and mineral accents keep this balanced and driven, with a long finish that lets the fruit echo. Drink now through 2032.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Green plum and verbena notes lead the way for now, with a flash of quinine on the finish. This is juicy, but still a bit compact overall, with the core of ample pear, quince and ginger flavors in reserve. Just wait for everything to knit together and stretch out, as the purity and length are there. Best from 2018 through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Clos du Bourg’ Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($499.95) $419 special (that’s only $69.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Huet’s bright golden colored 2016 Vouvray Clos du Bourg Moelleux Première Trie is clear, fresh and intensely fruity on the remarkably precise nose. Medium-bodied yet concentrated, elegant and sweet on the palate, this is a salty, piquant, mineral Chenin Blanc with intense, elegant and well-structured fruit. The wine reveals a chalky finesse and long tensioned finish. Bottled with 84 grams of residual sugar, this is still a pretty sweet but doubtlessly promising Vouvray. Tasted February 2018.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux, Loire 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 points “Bright, even exuberant in feel, with a parade of Jonagold apple, green melon, Bosc pear and quince flavors streaming through, gilded with heather, honeysuckle and verbena notes on the long, lithe finish. Remarkably elegant despite the off-dry style. Drink now through 2035.”
Want to see all 23 different bottlings in stock from Domaine Huet? Just head to our webstore for the full list!
Staff Pick
A Top Brunello Riserva for Drinking Now
Andy:
Young Brunello can be a tough nut to crack. Oftentimes, you’re only getting glimpses of the potential contained in the bottle. We were glad to taste the 2012 La Fortuna BdM Reserva again this week, and while it is still early, you’re not going to be disappointed getting into this wine now. All of the classic hallmarks are on display; tart cherry, a graphite core, light blueberry and dusty cocoa on the finish. The aromatics were a little tight, but a little swirl kept it refreshed. I of course recommend holding this over the next decade, but get it now. There is no regret on this one.
In Stock Now:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($619.95) $564 special (that’s only $94/bottle!)
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 1.5L ($259.95) $219 special, 5 magnums in stock now
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 3L ($499.95) $428 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Perfumed, with wild herb aromas and a subtle mix of strawberry and cherry fruit. Vibrant and dense, with fine acidity driving the long finish. Though elegant, there is intensity and fine energy on the aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2028.”
Young Brunello can be a tough nut to crack. Oftentimes, you’re only getting glimpses of the potential contained in the bottle. We were glad to taste the 2012 La Fortuna BdM Reserva again this week, and while it is still early, you’re not going to be disappointed getting into this wine now. All of the classic hallmarks are on display; tart cherry, a graphite core, light blueberry and dusty cocoa on the finish. The aromatics were a little tight, but a little swirl kept it refreshed. I of course recommend holding this over the next decade, but get it now. There is no regret on this one.
In Stock Now:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($619.95) $564 special (that’s only $94/bottle!)
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 1.5L ($259.95) $219 special, 5 magnums in stock now
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2012 3L ($499.95) $428 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Perfumed, with wild herb aromas and a subtle mix of strawberry and cherry fruit. Vibrant and dense, with fine acidity driving the long finish. Though elegant, there is intensity and fine energy on the aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price for a double-magnum in the USA today
This is the lowest listed price for a double-magnum in the USA today
Want to see all ten bottlings in stock from La Fortuna? Just head to our webstore for the full list.
Collector’s Corner
Magnums of Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne
Magnums of Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne
True to its name, Duval-Leroy’s ‘Femme de Champagne” is the brainchild of Carol Duval-Leroy and Sandrine Logette-Jardin. The former is one of Champagne’s few female Presidents, the latter one of its few female Head Winemakers. This is their rarest bottling, only made in the most spectacular years (just three vintages were made in the 1990s), and we’re thrilled to have sourced a limited quantity from the underrated 2000 vintage.
It was a year that delighted Duval-Leroy with top quality fruit and the decision to make “Femme” was easy. When you taste this wine will understand why. Long known for elegance and finesse, this bottle exemplifies Duval-Leroy’s house style. This is not the loudest voice at your dinner party, but instead the most compelling, with silky textures and rich, understated brioche tones.
In Stock Now
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2000 1.5L ($349.95) $299 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich version, with beautiful integration and mouthwatering acidity that seems to amplify the flavors of toasted raisin bread, black currant, candied orange zest and salted almond. Fresh and focused, showing hints of oyster shell and spice on the lasting finish.”
Other Incredible Champagnes, In Stock Now
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($339.95) $249 special, only 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.””
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “Top Cellar Selection. This latest incarnation of the famous brand is a superb wine. It is on par with, maybe even better than, the already legendary 2002. Its balance is impeccable: Apple and citrus flavors working with the tight minerality to give a textured yet fruity wine. Produced from Roederer’s own vineyards which are mainly biodynamic, the wine has its own intense purity and crispness. It has amazing potential and is likely to age for many years. Drink from 2020.”
James Suckling 100 points “Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.”
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.”
Decanter 98 points “Cristal 2008 is on a roll to yet higher levels of exquisite purity and precision of fruit in a paradoxical balance of weightlessness and depth of flavour, permeated with minerals and a salinity reflecting the greatest terroirs of the Roederer estate. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon believes that 2008 is his best effort to date, and it’s easy to see why. It’s from a cooler, maritime vintage that came right in the end, with one of the longest harvests ever, running from mid-September to early October. The colour is a stylish pale gold flecked with green. Aromas of white flowers are joined by a cleansing citrus vigour and richer tones of peach and mirabelle. The palate is still quiet, but a tender creaminnes shows through, and there’s so much concentration to come if you drink if after 2021. The greatness of the wine owes everything to the influence of organic and biodynamic precepts in the field – and Lecaillon’s sleepless perfectionism in the cellar towards finer fruit and a careful brake on too much yeasty expression. The acidity is vibrant but better integrated in the 2008 than in the 1996. Magnificent. Dosage 7.7g/l.”
Krug Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) $259 special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “Krug’s 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Combining subtleness with complexity, the coolish Krug 2004 Brut opens with a highly elegant, fascinatingly clear, bright and refreshing bouquet of ripe (apple) fruits. Dense and round, with a delicate mineral soul, the pure but perfectly balanced 2004 reveals great finesse and weightless elegance with a long and round finish. This is a gorgeous Krug vintage that is 14 years old but still on the rise. Tasted from ID 316034 in New York in November 2018.”-SR
Decanter 97 points “This is the current and latest vintage release from Krug, and is a fitting successor to 2002, though it’s very different in style – unusually, the blend contains more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. Despite this, it is hallmark Krug with its oxidative profile. It has a luminous freshness and good density without heaviness. There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004, displaying candied fruits, minerals, gingerbread, white chocolate, caramel and marzipan. This has a long, dry autolytic finish, great balance and lovely bead. Disgorged just after the next, and very different, vintage we tasted, the Krug 2003. Drinking Window 2017-2037.”
John Gilman 97 points “The new release of 2004 Krug is absolutely beautiful and is already quite elegant and open on both the nose and palate and is drinking with great finesse. I had expected this wine to be a bit more steely in structure out of the blocks, but the refinement of the blend this year has produced a wine that is already a joy to drink at age thirteen, though it will continue age gracefully for many, many decades to come. The cépages in 2004 is thirty-nine percent Chardonnay, thirty-seven percent Pinot Noir and twenty-four percent Pinot Meunier, with the wine having been disgorged in the winter of 2016. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined mix of apple, a touch of walnut, warm bread, lavender, a superb base of soil tones and a topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with vibrant acids, great focus and grip, a lovely core, refined mousse and a very long, complex, racy and energetic finish. There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace that is fairly rare in the 2004 vintage. Chapeau! 2017-2060.”
Delamotte Collection Brut, Champagne 2000 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Delamotte Collection Brut, Champagne 2000 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special
De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Extra Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2002 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Harmonious, with fine intensity, offering rich notes of spice cake, toasted almond, dried cherry, grilled plum and smoky mineral. Almost velvety in texture, with juicy acidity that brings you back for another sip. Delicious. Drink now through 2022. 54 cases made.”
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime, Champagne 2002 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This well-aged wine from a top Champagne vintage is just now ready to drink after 12 years. It has a touch of toast, but it’s the rich, complex texture and fine structure that set it apart. It’s not a dry wine, it feels soft. It is so well integrated, elegant with hints of apples, a layer of minerality and still-fresh final acidity.”
James Suckling 94 points “A beautifully seductive and creamy nose with plenty of honey and clotted cream across lemon and grapefruit. Some white peach too, really alluring. The palate’s nicely orchestrated and balanced; it builds in stages and delivers pithy lemon and grapefruit flavor amid assertive driving acidity, good depth and concentration. Another great ’02. Drink now or in five or more years.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2002 Cuvée Louise Brut is dressed in an intense citrus colored robe and offers – as if it was a Pfalz Riesling – ripe yellow fruit aromas of pineapples, oranges and ripe peaches along with noble yeasty layers in the background. Full-bodied, rich and fresh on the palate, Madame Louise is a firm and almost mineral structured, persistent Champagne of complexity, finishing with a refreshing citric aroma as well as a stimulating salinity and purity. Good length and balance.”
It was a year that delighted Duval-Leroy with top quality fruit and the decision to make “Femme” was easy. When you taste this wine will understand why. Long known for elegance and finesse, this bottle exemplifies Duval-Leroy’s house style. This is not the loudest voice at your dinner party, but instead the most compelling, with silky textures and rich, understated brioche tones.
In Stock Now
Duval-Leroy Femme de Champagne 2000 1.5L ($349.95) $299 special
Wine Spectator 94 points “A rich version, with beautiful integration and mouthwatering acidity that seems to amplify the flavors of toasted raisin bread, black currant, candied orange zest and salted almond. Fresh and focused, showing hints of oyster shell and spice on the lasting finish.”
Other Incredible Champagnes, In Stock Now
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($339.95) $249 special, only 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.””
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “Top Cellar Selection. This latest incarnation of the famous brand is a superb wine. It is on par with, maybe even better than, the already legendary 2002. Its balance is impeccable: Apple and citrus flavors working with the tight minerality to give a textured yet fruity wine. Produced from Roederer’s own vineyards which are mainly biodynamic, the wine has its own intense purity and crispness. It has amazing potential and is likely to age for many years. Drink from 2020.”
James Suckling 100 points “Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.”
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.”
Decanter 98 points “Cristal 2008 is on a roll to yet higher levels of exquisite purity and precision of fruit in a paradoxical balance of weightlessness and depth of flavour, permeated with minerals and a salinity reflecting the greatest terroirs of the Roederer estate. Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon believes that 2008 is his best effort to date, and it’s easy to see why. It’s from a cooler, maritime vintage that came right in the end, with one of the longest harvests ever, running from mid-September to early October. The colour is a stylish pale gold flecked with green. Aromas of white flowers are joined by a cleansing citrus vigour and richer tones of peach and mirabelle. The palate is still quiet, but a tender creaminnes shows through, and there’s so much concentration to come if you drink if after 2021. The greatness of the wine owes everything to the influence of organic and biodynamic precepts in the field – and Lecaillon’s sleepless perfectionism in the cellar towards finer fruit and a careful brake on too much yeasty expression. The acidity is vibrant but better integrated in the 2008 than in the 1996. Magnificent. Dosage 7.7g/l.”
Krug Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) $259 special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “Krug’s 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points “Combining subtleness with complexity, the coolish Krug 2004 Brut opens with a highly elegant, fascinatingly clear, bright and refreshing bouquet of ripe (apple) fruits. Dense and round, with a delicate mineral soul, the pure but perfectly balanced 2004 reveals great finesse and weightless elegance with a long and round finish. This is a gorgeous Krug vintage that is 14 years old but still on the rise. Tasted from ID 316034 in New York in November 2018.”-SR
Decanter 97 points “This is the current and latest vintage release from Krug, and is a fitting successor to 2002, though it’s very different in style – unusually, the blend contains more Chardonnay than Pinot Noir. Despite this, it is hallmark Krug with its oxidative profile. It has a luminous freshness and good density without heaviness. There’s a controlled power to this poised, vinous, linear 2004, displaying candied fruits, minerals, gingerbread, white chocolate, caramel and marzipan. This has a long, dry autolytic finish, great balance and lovely bead. Disgorged just after the next, and very different, vintage we tasted, the Krug 2003. Drinking Window 2017-2037.”
John Gilman 97 points “The new release of 2004 Krug is absolutely beautiful and is already quite elegant and open on both the nose and palate and is drinking with great finesse. I had expected this wine to be a bit more steely in structure out of the blocks, but the refinement of the blend this year has produced a wine that is already a joy to drink at age thirteen, though it will continue age gracefully for many, many decades to come. The cépages in 2004 is thirty-nine percent Chardonnay, thirty-seven percent Pinot Noir and twenty-four percent Pinot Meunier, with the wine having been disgorged in the winter of 2016. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a refined mix of apple, a touch of walnut, warm bread, lavender, a superb base of soil tones and a topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with vibrant acids, great focus and grip, a lovely core, refined mousse and a very long, complex, racy and energetic finish. There is marvelous precision here on both the nose and palate, not to mention a sense of harmony and grace that is fairly rare in the 2004 vintage. Chapeau! 2017-2060.”
Delamotte Collection Brut, Champagne 2000 750ML ($249.95) $219 special
Delamotte Collection Brut, Champagne 2000 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special
De Venoge Louis XV de Venoge Extra Brut Rose Millesime, Champagne 2002 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Harmonious, with fine intensity, offering rich notes of spice cake, toasted almond, dried cherry, grilled plum and smoky mineral. Almost velvety in texture, with juicy acidity that brings you back for another sip. Delicious. Drink now through 2022. 54 cases made.”
Pommery Cuvee Louise Brut Millesime, Champagne 2002 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This well-aged wine from a top Champagne vintage is just now ready to drink after 12 years. It has a touch of toast, but it’s the rich, complex texture and fine structure that set it apart. It’s not a dry wine, it feels soft. It is so well integrated, elegant with hints of apples, a layer of minerality and still-fresh final acidity.”
James Suckling 94 points “A beautifully seductive and creamy nose with plenty of honey and clotted cream across lemon and grapefruit. Some white peach too, really alluring. The palate’s nicely orchestrated and balanced; it builds in stages and delivers pithy lemon and grapefruit flavor amid assertive driving acidity, good depth and concentration. Another great ’02. Drink now or in five or more years.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2002 Cuvée Louise Brut is dressed in an intense citrus colored robe and offers – as if it was a Pfalz Riesling – ripe yellow fruit aromas of pineapples, oranges and ripe peaches along with noble yeasty layers in the background. Full-bodied, rich and fresh on the palate, Madame Louise is a firm and almost mineral structured, persistent Champagne of complexity, finishing with a refreshing citric aroma as well as a stimulating salinity and purity. Good length and balance.”
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