Midweek Vinopolpick 7-14-20

We’re offering you fantastic Subscriber Special today on three titans of Pacific Northwest winemaking: Cristom, K Vintners and Sequitur.  All are made by visionary winemakers who’ve become legends for their work over the years.  It’s rare to see discounts off our already-great pricing on these wines, so make sure you don’t miss your chance to save 5% on 6-11 bottles or 10% on 12+ (mix and match across the three)—but only until we open for business on Thursday morning.

Pacific Northwest Titans Subscriber Special:
5% Off Any Mix of 6-11 Cristom, K Vintners and/or Sequitur Wines
10% Off Any Mix of 12+ Cristom, K Vintners and/or Sequitur Wines
Offer Ends Thursday, July 16th at 10AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your credit card

The wines of K Vintners need very little introduction, as the wines Charles Smith makes under this label are some of our most popular year in and out. If you’re unfamiliar with the winery, know that Charles Smith fashions himself a bit of a rock star and he ought to—he used to manage them.  Then, one day, on a motorcycle trip, he rode through Walla Walla and was struck by the majesty of the terrain and the vineyards.  Within a few years, he had returned to open a winery.

His first vintage was 1999 and he produced a mere 300 cases of Syrah under his label ‘K Vintners.’ The winery has grown by leaps and bounds since—by our count, K makes well more than 15 wines, most of them single vineyard Syrah, and all of them are consistently excellent.

At this point, Charles Smith is one of the defining wine makers for what might be the modern Washington style.  His wines are big, rich, and ripe but polished. They show distinct differences between the vineyards and always have a hint of that savory, bacony quality that Syrah can bring to the table like nothing else.  The only thing we can complain about is that they sell out and we can’t carry them more often.


Some highlights, in stock now:

Charles Smith K Vintners The Beautiful Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($89.95) $66 Displayed Price, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Syrah The Beautiful Powerline Vineyard is stunning and one of the finest Syrahs in the vintage. Coming all from Clone 470, co-fermented with 3-4% Viognier in concrete tanks, and brought up in mostly neutral oak, it’s a rich, meaty, smoky, full-bodied Syrah that has classic Northern Rhône-like aromas of black olives, smoked meats, ground, earth, and dark fruits. With a stacked mid-palate and beautiful balance, it’s going to keep for 10-15 years.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Syrah The Beautiful is rich and lush on the nose with an impressive core of sappy fruit, savory essence, olive tapenade and crushed violets. The full-bodied palate is generous and compelling with a robust yet velvety base that demonstrates elegance with power. The wine glides over the palate, connecting structuring tannins and supporting acidity to carry this wine for more than a decade. The wine ends with a long and drawn-out finish, with mineral tension and lingering spice tones on the aftertaste. Just 1,135 cases were produced.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 93 points “Wild, northern Rhône-like aromas of raspberry, game and roasted notes lifted by a note of jasmine that must come from the small Viognier component. Then surprisingly firm on the palate, with juicy but very suave flavors of black raspberry, grilled meat, spices and musky minerality complemented by nuances of flowers, tar and earth. Finishes with substantial dusty, broad tannins and a peppery accent. “A great Rocks vineyard with structure,” is the way winemaker Brennon Leighton describes Powerline. These vines are planted to the 470 Syrah clone from Tablas Creek, which Leighton says is usually more floral and focused than meaty and earthy. (14% alcohol)”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Cattle King Syrah, Snipes Mountain 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 Displayed Price, that’s $65.55 at 5% off and $62.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King Upland Vineyard comes from Snipes Mountain and has a singular, pretty, fresh style with more obvious acidity as well as tannins, yet it still stays in the plush, sexy style of the estate. Blue and black fruits, blood orange, violets, and exotic spice notes all define the bouquet and it’s full-bodied, incredibly pure and seamless on the palate. It’s a beautiful wine that’s going to come together nicely for 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for over a decade.”
James Suckling 95 points “From a sloping plot of deep river rock, this has a fresh array of red and blue berries with a fine, stony edge. The palate has a very sleek, composed feel with such length and composure. The purity of blackberry and blueberry flavors is entrancing. Holds so fresh. Drink this now or hold for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2016 Syrah Cattle King leads with expressive red, black and blue fruits on the nose with a density that can be sensed just by nosing the glass. Black cherry, blackcurrant and boysenberry compote all vie for your attention with savory spices and resinous purple flowers. The full-bodied palate is dense with a pedal-to-metal winemaking approach with chewy tannins and supporting acidity. It continues to linger with spice tones as it changes over a 20-30 second period after the wine has left the palate. Just under 500 cases were produced-AM “
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Lively scents of redcurrant, raspberry and dried herbs, plus a whiff of tea leaf. Bright on entry, the pliant but firm in the middle palate, with its dense flavors of red berries and rocky minerality enlivened by penetrating acidity (the pH is actually 3.85). This savory, subtle midweight finishes surprisingly reticent but very long. I never would have guessed the alcohol but it should help this wine age well. Leighton noted that this vineyard was created when “the mountain rose up and pulled the river up the side of the hill”–hence the cobblestones at this altitude. (15% alcohol; from mineral-rich cobblestone soil”

Charles Smith K Vintners The Hidden Syrah, Wahluke Slope 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 Displayed Price, that’s $75.05 at 5% off and $71.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “Flirting with perfection, the 2016 Syrah The Hidden is a classic example of the old saying “an iron fist in a velvet glove.” Beautiful notes of dark fruits, damp earth, iron, and crushed rocks as well as ground pepper all emerge from this full-bodied effort that has no hard edges, a terrific mid-palate, sweet tannins, and a finish that goes on for over a minute. It’s a brilliant, brilliant Syrah and one of the wines of the vintage.”
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The nose of the 2016 Syrah The Hidden Northridge Vineyard offers a round, open-knit and voluptuous expression of dark red and black fruit characteristics—dusty plum skin, blackberry jus and cherry compote—over a wet rock minerality and savory black spices with hints of sweet oak. Full-bodied, the palate is generous but still has a rigidity to the mid-palate, with a note of bitter espresso and gripping tannic backbone. Ending with a long, spicy finish, the wine is going to go the distance and live for decades if you can just forget about it in your cellar. It will be a lucky day if you add any of the 684-case production to your cellar.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of sweet earth, pepper, espresso, plums and blackberries follow to the palate. This delivers a big, bold hit of ripe, sweet and round fruit with a very encompassing feel, married with a class and breed that really sets it apart. Nothing pedestrian, but a lovingly familiar syrah. Drink from 2023.”
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 94 points “Bright red-ruby. Musky dark raspberry, leather, black pepper and a whiff of shoe polish on the complex nose; yet more evidence of how different all these Syrah cuvées are. A seriously vibrant, fine-grained midweight in the mouth, offering terrific perfumed lift to its nuanced flavors of raspberry, spices, lavender and dried oregano. A hint of almost lemony acidity and a suggestion of orange peel contribute to the overall impression of vibrancy and lift. Smooth tannins saturate the front teeth on the very long, spicy aftertaste. (from broken volcanic soils with a bit of limestone)”

Charles Smith ‘King Coal’ Stoneridge Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 Displayed Price, that’s $94.05 at 5% off and $89.10 at 10% off!
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Always from the Stoneridge Vineyard, the 2016 Cabernet / Syrah King Coal is a ripe, sexy, yet savory effort that has awesome notes of red and black currants, spice box, graphite, and ground herbs. Deep ruby/purple-colored, full-bodied, beautifully layered, and with a blockbuster finish, it’s one of those powerful yet still ethereal wines that gives up tons of richness and depth yet has no sense of heaviness or weight.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, the 2016 King Coal Stoneridge Vineyard starts with the blue fruited tones with stewed plum, boysenberry and Chambord on the nose with inky purple flowers. The palate is full-bodied, rich and generous, with a focused core of bold fruits that are dense and chewy. A high-octane wine, it ends with a long-lasting finish. Only 818 cases were produced in 2016.-AM”

Charles Smith K Vintners ‘Ovide’ Jack’s Vineyard Cabernet – Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 Displayed Price, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off! 
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Named after Smith’s father, the 2016 Ovide comes from the Walla Walla Valley and is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Syrah. This savory, full-bodied, earthy blend offers complex red and black fruits intermixed with notes of dried earth, asphalt, baking chocolate, and spice. It has terrific balance and is going to evolve for 10-15 years.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

 

 

Mike Etzel, the founder and winemaker of Sequitur, is a living legend in the Willamette Valley.  He co-founded Beaux Freres in the late 80’s and was the winemaker there until recently passing the duties to his son.  Never one to rest on his laurels or stay still, though, he began planting a vineyard adjacent to Beaux Freres in 2010—a project that became what we know as Sequitur.

It’s helpful to think of Sequitur as a distillation of everything Mike Etzel learned while starting and producing Beaux Freres over the decades.  The Sequitur vineyard sits right next to the Beaux Freres “Upper Terrace” but is planted to a wider array of clones at tighter spacing.  It’s been farmed biodynamically since the beginning and is sheltered with Douglas Fir—in short, it’s the fully realized vision of a man who’s helped define Willamette Valley Pinot.

The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Freres (though his son, Mikey, is the day-to-day winemaker). Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard.  In short order, they’ve established themselves as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserve your attention as such.


Some highlights, in stock now:

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($89.95) $69 Displayed Price, that’s $65.55 at 5% off or $62.10 at 10% off
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2016 Sequitur Chardonnay has a gregarious nose of spiced, baked yellow apples and warm pineapple with notes of toast, honey, hazelnut and hay. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the mouth with warm orchard and tropical fruits accented by nuances of baking spice, nuts and honey, with a touch of creaminess to the texture, juicy acidity and a long, mineral-laced finish. 85 cases produced.”
 

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 Displayed Price, that’s $65.55 at 5% off or $62.10 at 10% off
Winery Note “The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today, 
Now it’s even lower!

Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($119.95) $79 Displayed Price, that’s $75.05 at 5% off or $71.10 at 10% off
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Deep brilliant red. A strikingly complex bouquet evokes ripe, mineral-accented red berries, cherry cola, vanilla, five-spice powder and sandalwood. Alluringly sweet, seamless and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated black raspberry, cherry liqueur, spicecake and lavender pastille flavors that are given spine and lift by a core of juicy acidity. Delivers a compelling blend of power and delicacy and finishes extremely long and smooth; rounded tannins frame the lingering red fruit preserve notes.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Pale to medium ruby purple in color, the 2015 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a very provocative nose of Bing cherries and cranberries over a core of red roses, game, yeast extract and underbrush. Medium-bodied, with wonderful energy and freshness, it has a lively backbone and long finish paved with very fine, ripe tannins.”
Winery note “Sequitur 2015 Pinot Noir “Two fold,” a collaboration between our Mother, the earth, those of us who “play” in the vineyard and winery, and you, the wine lover.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average listed price is $100

 
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($119.95) $79 Displayed Price, that’s $75.05 at 5% off or $71.10 at 10% off
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 96 points “Glimmering red. A hugely aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, Asian spices and potpourri, along with a bright mineral overtone and a touch of smokiness. Juicy, seamless and precise on the palate, offering potent, mineral-laced raspberry preserve, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out steadily on the back half. Delivers a compelling blend of power and finesse and finishes with silky tannins, outstanding clarity and floral- and mineral-driven persistence.”
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2016 Sequitur Pinot Noir has a lovely, open nose of black and red cherries and blackberries with notions of wood smoke, turned earth, autumn leaves, cardamom and potpourri. Medium-bodied, it floods the mouth with ripe black and red fruits with wonderful earthy/spicy accents, very fine, grainy tannins and mouthwatering acidity, finishing long with spice and floral layers. 480 cases produced.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $89.99

 
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2017 750ML ($119.95) $79 Displayed Price, that’s $75.05 at 5% off or $71.10 at 10% off
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94-95 points “Lurid red. Spice-tinged blackberry and cherry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola, incense and smoky minerals. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering concentrated dark berry and spicecake flavors and suggestions of rose pastille and mocha that build with air. Concentrated but also vibrant and precise in style, delivering superb finishing cut, well-knit tannins and impressive, fruit-driven persistence. (30% new French oak).”
Nick Stock-JamesSuckling 96 points “Beautifully deep, blueberries and plums on offer with notes of fresh violets and moist, fresh-tilled earth. This is full of life and very pure. The palate has focused and fresh tannins that sit in very vibrant style with a deep push of concentrated blue fruit, holding the finish in superb style. So fresh and long, this will age well. Drink across the next decade or more.”
Winery Note “TOTALITY—During the growing season of 2017, Oregon was treated to a total solar eclipse, where the moon passed exactly between the earth and the sun.  Day turned to night, the temperature dropped and the farm animals were disoriented.  The moment of awe was tempered with a deep sense of vulnerability, as we witnessed our world bow down to the power of nature.  May this 2017 vintage seeped in “totality,” bring you a fresh perspective.”
 

This is the only listing in the USA today!

 

Cristom is one of the Hallowed Names in Oregon.  They’ve been a top name since their inception in 1993 and make reference point wines from their beautiful estate vineyards in the Eola-Amity Hills.  Much of the credit for their success goes to their vineyards—located just below Bethel Heights and Temperance Hill, truly Cristom is one of the Grand Cru sites of Oregon.  The rest of the credit goes to Steve Doerner, their winemaker since the beginning, who made a name for Calera in the 80’s before moving to Oregon and becoming a local legend.

These are wines that have powerful personalities allied to a Burgundian sense of proportion and savor.  Doerner loves to use a lot of whole clusters in fermentations and so the wines always have a grip and earthiness that grounds their deep fruit and rich textures. 2017 was a bit of a return to older school Oregon, as vintages go, warmer than historical averages but much cooler than the heat years of ’14-’16.  We’ve been thrilled with many of the wines we’ve tasted from the year and Cristom is no exception—these are some stunning wines, beautiful and nuanced already.


Some highlights, in stock now:

Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 Displayed Price, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off!
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Bright red. An intensely perfumed bouquet displays ripe red/blue fruit, baking spice, incense qualities and a strong, mineral overtone. Offers sweet, penetrating raspberry, blueberry, cherry pit, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that show serious depth as well as vivacity. Displays impressive clarity and spicy thrust on the finish, which features smoothly interwoven tannins and suave, clinging floral and mineral notes.”
James Suckling 94 points “This has a very bright array of rich red cherries, together with a herbal accent and a thread of rose-like perfume, as well as autumnal leaves and sweet, woody spices. The palate has very assertive red cherries with elegant tannins that are paper-fine, but have combined length and strength. Great detail here. Drink or hold.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard was made with 48% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 67% new French oak. It has a medium ruby color and opens with cinnamon stick, dried leaves and dusty earth, segueing slowly to black cherries, peppered meats, Earl Grey tea leaves, charcuterie, dried herbs and a spicy vein. The medium-bodied palate is slow to blossom, softly chalky and super fresh with a long, nuanced finish. Thiswill benefit from another year or two in bottle. 876 cases produced.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom ‘Jessie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 Displayed Price, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off!
James Suckling 97 points “A very distinctive nose with a wild array of red berries and cherries and a thread of blue fruit, too. There’s a dried wild-rose perfume and a violet-like thread with subtle, herbal-based notes. It’s a moving target in the glass with incredible complexity. This has a gift of revelation. The palate has a very assertive edge with a powerful core of intense tannins that carry a spicy thread of rich dark cherries and dark plums in a defined, savory and athletic stance. A star of the vintage. Drink over the next decade or more.”
Josh Raynolds 94 points “Bright red. Intense black raspberry, cherry, exotic spice and floral pastille scents are given depth by building cola and licorice notes. Offers palate-staining red and dark berry flavors that show excellent clarity and energy thanks to a spine of smoky minerality. Expands steadily with air and picks up a smoky quality that carries through an impressively long, dark berry -driven finish.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Spirited yet elegantly layered, with polished raspberry, orange peel and violet accents that dance on a long finish toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2025.—T.F.”

Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $59 Displayed Price, that’s $56.05 at 5% off and $53.10 at 10% off!
James Suckling 95 points “This cuvée has a very energetic and intense feel with a wealth of fresh and attractive red cherries and raspberries, plenty of florals and subtle herbal, forest-wood and light-chocolate notes. There’s a very keenly articulated feel to the palate with a plush, very fleshy and assertively long, detailed finish. Deep fruit presence here. Drink across the next decade.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Vivid red. Expansive aromas of ripe red berries, candied flowers and baking spices, with a smoky mineral topnote that gains strength as the wine opens up. Coats the palate with appealing sweet raspberry and cherry liqueur flavors that tighten up and become spicier on the back half. Shows excellent clarity and floral lift on an impressively long finish that’s shaped by fine-grained, even tannins.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 Displayed Price, that’s $62.70 at 5% off and $59.40 at 10% off!
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Translucent red. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, exotic spices and candied flowers, with smoky mineral and incense notes that acquire strength as this youthful wine gains its footing. Stains the palate with vibrant raspberry, bitter cherry, star anise and rose pastille flavors that show a compelling blend of depth and litheness. Fine-grained tannins build slowly on a strikingly long, finely etched finish that features baking spice, floral and subtle earth notes.”
James Suckling 95 points “An earthy thread here with more savory, herbal and gently spicy notes, as well as graphite. Latent red cherries, too. The palate has a very sleek and succulent feel with evenly cast, sturdy tannins that harness great length and depth. Powerful yet measured and all about the earth. Try from 2023.”
Erin Brooks – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard was made with 51% whole clusters and aged 18 months in 75% new French oak. Medium ruby, it has a very pretty nose: nuances of crushed stone, Campari, earth and blood orange mingle over a core of red and black cherries, rhubarb and cranberry. The medium-bodied palate has lovely, nuanced, amaro-laced flavor layers with a softly chalky frame and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 384 cases produced.”

Cristom ‘Estate’ Syrah, Eola-Amity Hills 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 Displayed Price, that’s $46.55 at 5% off and $44.10 at 10% off!
Winery Note “Cristom began experimenting with Syrah in 2002, by grafting over plantings of Chardonnay on the lower slopes of our estate.  We carefully selected which vines to graft over, choosing a low-lying block on our hillside where heat accumulation is at its highest on the estate, giving our Syrah the best opportunity to ripen in a moderate maritime climate.  We produce an extremely limited quantities of this wine, resulting in a bit of a cult following for it over the years.  The Cristom Estate Syrah wines are defined by spice, balance, perfume, texture and nuance, gaining complexity in the bottle for a decade or more.”

This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!