In Today’s Newsletter:
Pax Subscriber Special – While They Last!
Wine Tariffs & You
Barolo in Lockdown
The Wine Advocate Reviews Profound Piedmont Bottles
Trending
A Dessert Steal from a Spanish Master
Collector’s Corner
2015 Chateau d’Yquem
Pax Subscriber Special – While They Last!
Pax Mahle is a true superstar in the world of California wine. His eponymous label, Pax, achieved widespread acclaim and then imploded due to a dispute between the principal partners. Pax went on to form
Wind Gap and again his wines drew the spotlight and press—this time in part because he was moving away from the ripe, powerful wines he had made his early name with.
He’s finally restored his namesake brand, Pax, to the market. The latest incarnation offers wines that might be described as a hybrid of the two styles that brought him to fame. Bright, refreshing and electric, these nonetheless have more richness and power than Wind Gap. Don’t miss out.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Pax Griffin’s Lair Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 subscriber special, 16 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “One of the many highlights of this range, Pax’s 2015 Syrah Griffin’s Lair Vineyard is powerful and explosive in the glass, conveying a compelling sense of vertical energy. Dried flowers, tobacco, menthol, licorice, spice and leather add myriad shades of nuance to a beautifully delineated, expressive Syrah. This cool site in the Petaluma Gap gracefully handled the rigors of the warm vintage while yielding a wine endowed with terrific freshness and structure.”
Wind Gap and again his wines drew the spotlight and press—this time in part because he was moving away from the ripe, powerful wines he had made his early name with.
He’s finally restored his namesake brand, Pax, to the market. The latest incarnation offers wines that might be described as a hybrid of the two styles that brought him to fame. Bright, refreshing and electric, these nonetheless have more richness and power than Wind Gap. Don’t miss out.
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Pax Griffin’s Lair Syrah, Sonoma Coast 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 subscriber special, 16 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “One of the many highlights of this range, Pax’s 2015 Syrah Griffin’s Lair Vineyard is powerful and explosive in the glass, conveying a compelling sense of vertical energy. Dried flowers, tobacco, menthol, licorice, spice and leather add myriad shades of nuance to a beautifully delineated, expressive Syrah. This cool site in the Petaluma Gap gracefully handled the rigors of the warm vintage while yielding a wine endowed with terrific freshness and structure.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $59.99
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $59.99
Pax Castelli-Knight Ranch Syrah, Russian River Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49 subscriber special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Syrah Castelli-Knight Ranch is sensual, open-knit and quite inviting. Blood orange, star anise and spice add gorgeous aromatic nuance to the rich, layered fruit. Ample, silky and creamy, the 2015 is a real pleasure to taste today. The combination of a north-facing site with a warm microclimate yields a wonderfully complete and nuanced wine. All the elements simply fall into place in a refined, gracious Syrah that will drink well upon release.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $58.99
The next best price is $58.99
Pax Quail Run Vineyard Valdiguie, Solano County 2018 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $25 subscriber special, 3 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “Another very pretty wine in this range, the 2018 Valdiguie is bright, focused and wonderfully energetic. Rose petal, lavender and sweet dark cherry all grace this exquisite, vibrant Valdiguie from Pax. The 2018 is shaping up to be a gem. I tasted it from tank just prior to bottling.”
Pax Fannuchi-Wood Road Vineyard Trousseau Gris (Rose), Sonoma County 2018 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $25 subscriber special, 2 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 89-91 points “I tasted the 2018 Trousseau Gris Fanucchi Wood Road Vineyard from tank prior to filtration and bottling. Today, the 2018 appears to have a bit more energy and verve than the 2017, but some of that may be attributable simply to the wine’s youth. In any event, the 2018 is shaping up to be another very pretty and delicious wine from Pax Mahle.”
Wine Tariffs & You
Wine tariffs negatively impact all aspects of the wine community from you, the consumer, to wine shops, wineries, restaurants, importers, and distributors. This puts jobs and small businesses at risk through no fault of their own, when the industry is already reeling from pandemic shutdowns.
Visit the Wine Trade Alliance’s web site for an easy to use template to email your local representatives in Congress and the US Trade Representative! Comments close on proposed 100% tariffs on July 26th—just a few days from now. Make sure your voice is heard in the fight to end tariffs on imported wines.
Visit the Wine Trade Alliance’s web site for an easy to use template to email your local representatives in Congress and the US Trade Representative! Comments close on proposed 100% tariffs on July 26th—just a few days from now. Make sure your voice is heard in the fight to end tariffs on imported wines.
Barolo in Lockdown:
The Wine Advocate Reviews Profound Piedmont Bottles
“I became profoundly moved by their grace, power and persistence. I am touched by their majesty and beauty, so carefully crafted by the thousands of families, winemakers, vineyard workers, cellar hands, marketers and sales agents collectively responsible for their creation….
“Delivered to me during lockdown, these are the ultimate lockdown wines. They are profound expressions built for safekeeping. You should lock them down in your cellar for many years to come.” – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Revealing an open-knit and immediately welcoming personality, the Francesco Rinaldi & Figli 2015 Barolo Cannubi offers a good taste of that inner sunshine and warmth that so beautifully defines this vintage. The Cannubi vineyard is one of the first sites to ripen, and the wines tend to show enormous elegance and Nebbiolo fruit purity. This vintage is particularly successful in its showing of wild berry fruit, rose hip and chopped mint. The tannins are silky and fine.”
G.D. Vajra Viola delle Viole Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “This wine carries the fantasy name “Viola delle Viole,” when in fact, its fruit comes from the Bricco delle Viole vineyard and the Bricco Bertone, two sites with different soil types, one adding structure and one adding aromatic purity. The G.D. Vajra 2017 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Viola delle Viole opens to an inky almost impenetrable appearance. The bouquet opens to robust aromas of blackberry jam and cherry preserves. You feel the heat and richness of the vintage, and there’s no way around it. The 2017 growing season produced very concentrated fruit with smaller berry size due to heat and drought. In effect, you get a super-sized Barbera that ups the ante in terms of extraction and intensity. There is a point of almost-sweetness on the close followed by good acidity. A pairing with marinated or spicy barbecued meat might work best. Some 12,000 bottles were released. Honestly, I’m not a fan of overripe wines, but I make an exception with Barbera because this grape handles the warmest growing seasons with grace and always offers enough acidity to balance things out.”
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “If you were to consider the entire portfolio of wines made in the Barolo appellation, this wine always stands in its own little corner. Albe is a brand on its own, and it represents one of the most versatile, accessible and well-priced Baroli to emerge from the appellation. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Albe sets off on the right foot, offering forthcoming intensity with forest fruit, wild cherry, crushed stone and blue flowers. Winemaking is straightforward in stainless steel, and the wine finishes in Slavonian oak casks. Some 40,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA Late July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or “evergreen” wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant’Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Late July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Boasting a lithe, mid-weight style and a very silky finish, the G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is fragrant, floral and delicate. The bouquet here is almost all wild rose, violet and honeysuckle or jasmine. The fruity component of the wine is fine and light with cassis, white cherry and cranberry. Fruit comes from a 1.5-hectare parcel inside the Coste di Rose cru with a high percentage of well-draining sandy soils that contribute to the wine’s graceful textural embroidery. There is a hint of cherry or raspberry sweetness on the finish. A mere 4,800 bottles are hitting the market now. This is the second vintage produced.”
“Delivered to me during lockdown, these are the ultimate lockdown wines. They are profound expressions built for safekeeping. You should lock them down in your cellar for many years to come.” – Monica Larner, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Revealing an open-knit and immediately welcoming personality, the Francesco Rinaldi & Figli 2015 Barolo Cannubi offers a good taste of that inner sunshine and warmth that so beautifully defines this vintage. The Cannubi vineyard is one of the first sites to ripen, and the wines tend to show enormous elegance and Nebbiolo fruit purity. This vintage is particularly successful in its showing of wild berry fruit, rose hip and chopped mint. The tannins are silky and fine.”
G.D. Vajra Viola delle Viole Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93+ points “This wine carries the fantasy name “Viola delle Viole,” when in fact, its fruit comes from the Bricco delle Viole vineyard and the Bricco Bertone, two sites with different soil types, one adding structure and one adding aromatic purity. The G.D. Vajra 2017 Barbera d’Alba Superiore Viola delle Viole opens to an inky almost impenetrable appearance. The bouquet opens to robust aromas of blackberry jam and cherry preserves. You feel the heat and richness of the vintage, and there’s no way around it. The 2017 growing season produced very concentrated fruit with smaller berry size due to heat and drought. In effect, you get a super-sized Barbera that ups the ante in terms of extraction and intensity. There is a point of almost-sweetness on the close followed by good acidity. A pairing with marinated or spicy barbecued meat might work best. Some 12,000 bottles were released. Honestly, I’m not a fan of overripe wines, but I make an exception with Barbera because this grape handles the warmest growing seasons with grace and always offers enough acidity to balance things out.”
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “If you were to consider the entire portfolio of wines made in the Barolo appellation, this wine always stands in its own little corner. Albe is a brand on its own, and it represents one of the most versatile, accessible and well-priced Baroli to emerge from the appellation. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Albe sets off on the right foot, offering forthcoming intensity with forest fruit, wild cherry, crushed stone and blue flowers. Winemaking is straightforward in stainless steel, and the wine finishes in Slavonian oak casks. Some 40,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA Late July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or “evergreen” wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant’Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA Late July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Boasting a lithe, mid-weight style and a very silky finish, the G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is fragrant, floral and delicate. The bouquet here is almost all wild rose, violet and honeysuckle or jasmine. The fruity component of the wine is fine and light with cassis, white cherry and cranberry. Fruit comes from a 1.5-hectare parcel inside the Coste di Rose cru with a high percentage of well-draining sandy soils that contribute to the wine’s graceful textural embroidery. There is a hint of cherry or raspberry sweetness on the finish. A mere 4,800 bottles are hitting the market now. This is the second vintage produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA Late July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera is the most angular, powerful and vertical of the various Baroli presented by G.D. Vajra. The optimal growing conditions of this classic vintage contribute to the wine’s vertical lift and pronounced depth. The Ravera cru (that spans the comuni of Novello and Barolo) is characterized by Toronian-era marl with clay and sandstone at 320 to 340 meters above sea level. That’s the ideal spot for wines that show both power and elegance. The tannins are sweeter on this wine, but the fiber is tight and firm. Red and purple fruits with licorice, tar and white truffle are folded neatly within. Some 6,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
Brovia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Brovia is one of the brightest stars of Castiglione Falletto, the comune at the heart of the appellation that benefits from a complicated mix of soil types from different geological periods that intersect in and around this village. The 2015 Barolo is wine of character and brawn with dark fruit aromas followed by savory tobacco, spice and a very distinctive note of rusty nail or ferrous earth. The bouquet is large in scale, reflecting the intensity and expansive personality of this warm vintage. The tannins are elegantly integrated, and the wine leaves a lasting and beautiful impact on the palate.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Giovanni Rosso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 23+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Giovanni Rosso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate “93 points The Giovanni Rosso estate makes some very pretty wines from the Serralunga d’Alba subzone in the Barolo appellation. This classic wine, the 2015 Barolo, provides a good introduction to the distinct taste profile shared by the two single-vineyard wines, Cerretta and Serra, also reviewed here. However, this wine hails from the warm and sunny 2015 vintage and supplies a greater kick of soft cherry fruit and rich concentration when compared to the more streamlined, long-term 2016 vintage. Those dark primary fruit aromas, the acidity and the tannic imprint are all beautifully measured to the enhanced intensity of this pretty and well-priced 2015 Barolo.”
Paitin ‘Serraboella’, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 pre-arrival special, ETA July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2016 Barbaresco Serraboella delivers the same grace and beautiful fragility that you get in the other wines in Paitin’s portfolio of new releases. This production of 9,800 bottles shows a slow and steady progression of wild berry, forest floor, blue flower, dried lilac, blood orange and delicate licorice or tar. There’s a lot going on in terms of the bouquet, and all that energy is nicely balanced by the wine’s lithe body and its natural tannic backbone.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paitin ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA July
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Bright, energetic and vivid, the Paitin 2016 Barbaresco Serraboella Sorì Paitin (with 15,000 bottles made) wins your heart at the very first sip. The wine shows an outstanding level of purity and Nebbiolo authenticity, with the delicate and fragile nuances that give magic to the grape. It shows a lean-weight approach, but there is plenty of power and lasting intensity that sticks to the senses for many long and pleasurable minutes. The tannins are smooth, silky and integrated.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $65 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “One of the protagonists in this group of nine, the Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Asili (with some 13,333 bottles made) shows bright cherry fruit, dried raspberry and blood orange. The wine’s delicate aromatic layering continues with rusty iron, aniseed, tea leaf and camphor ash. Those lifted and vertical aromas contribute to the energy and vibrancy that this wine awards to the palate. The finish is extremely polished and tight, and those pretty flavors are folded neatly into the wine’s silky texture. This wine has many years, or decades, of aging built into its inner clock.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico boasts a solid center of gravity with dark fruit, plum, spice and spent embers. Everything about this wine is sultry, velvety and succulent. It goes to follow that the wine’s structure is more pronounced, contoured and shapely. This Riserva delivers more sheer fruit weight (in the context of the always elegant Nebbiolo grape) that is carried with grace and poise throughout. Some 16,666 bottles were released.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “This is the last wine I tasted in this group of nine from Produttori del Barbaresco. The reason I placed the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano last is because it is usually considered to be the most powerful and determined in the flight. However, when you really get down to it, this vintage is more tight, streamlined and ethereal than expected. It is saving the best for later, and indeed, the wine is poised to evolve and open fully many years from now. There is a note of shyness here or restraint. Exactly 16,036 bottles were made, and this Riserva demands patience.”
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Muncagota’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota shows beautifully in this sunny and warm vintage, producing intense and compelling primary fruit with wild cherry, plum and black currant. Compared to the other Riservas, the fruit profile of Muncagota is darker and richer. More significant is the role the tannins play in this wine. They contribute to a long and firm spinal cord that gives structure and muscle mass. This Barbaresco Riserva shows an affinity to shaved truffles over egg pasta, or gamey fowl such as duck or pigeon. Some 16,666 bottles were made.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $62.50 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 1.5L ($179.95) $135 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello has a very distinct character that is expressed in terms of its fine but present tannic structure and its somewhat fragile primary fruit. The Ovello dives straight into those ephemeral Nebbiolo aromas with an emphasis on licorice, tar, blue flower and campfire ash. If you consider this timeline of Riservas, this wine brings us through that magic threshold in which Nebbiolo starts to show its unique aromatic appeal and mystique. This is always one of my favorites in this series of nine. Production is 18,741 bottles.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Following the suggestion of Produttori del Barbaresco General Manager [Aldo] Vacca, I am starting off this series of nine Riservas with the 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Pora. This wine is usually the most delicate, slender and ephemeral of this set. However, I can immediately confirm that this is not necessarily the case with this exuberant 2015 vintage. The sunny heat of the growing season has successfully drawn out more fruit weight and intensity in this edition of Pora. The wine overdelivers in terms of aromas, but its streamlined and polished personality follows through to the palate. Those divergent intensity levels will smooth out with more bottle age. Some 16,666 bottles were released.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) $65 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a stunning wine. The aromas rise from the glass with purpose, clarity and extreme definition. This is indeed a very special wine, thanks to the direct and linear quality of fruit and the elegant tannins that build the long finish. The Nebbiolo grape is elevated to a beautiful plain or plateau, where it shows off its naked beauty in a clear and unobstructed manner. The wine affords us a panoramic view of the Piedmont grape, planted in the white tuffaceous marl soils of Rabajà. Exactly 16,104 bottles were made.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($89.95) $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “This wine usually falls somewhere in the middle of the Riserva continuum (starting with the most lithe and elegant wine and ending with the most powerful) presented by Produttori del Barbaresco in this knockout series of nine single-vineyard expressions. The 2015 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is another personal favorite. This group of Ovello, Rio Sordo, Asili and Rabajà (that sweet spot of neighboring vineyard sites in Barbaresco) is especially profound in 2015, striking a careful balance between elegance against power. The Rio Sordo offers tight and sharp fruit complete with a little tannic pinch or crunch on the close. Production is 13,333 bottles.”
Roagna Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “Drawing its fruit from a leased vineyard in Neive, the Roagna 2014 Barbaresco Albesani opens to a medium ruby color with pretty garnet highlights. The wine is redolent of dark fruit, dried cherry, tilled earth and black licorice. There is much more aromatic intensity here than you might expect given the rather subtle and nuanced appearance the wine makes in the glass. The soils in Albesani are fundamentally calcareous, and these conditions add to the perfumed and fragrant qualities you get here. Production for this wine is 230 cases (of 12 bottles each).”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Roagna Paje, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2014 Barbaresco Pajè is probably the most representative wine from the Roagna family. This 1.8-hectare parcel has been in family hands since 1953. Pajè (located in the comune of Barbaresco) shows ample structure and power, making a fitting platform to carry its expressive bouquet. Wild rose, lavender, sour cherry, licorice root and plenty of balsam herb lift beautifully from the glass. The wine is fermented with indigenous yeasts and sees five years of aging between wood and cement. This 8,400-bottle release is a true classic from the 2014 vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Vietti Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($349.95) $279 special, only one bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “The Vietti 2016 Barolo Ravera sees fruit from Novello in a site that faces the Novello castle up on the hill in the distance. This wine offers an impeccable balance between nose and mouth, showing immense purity and power all in one package. That harmony is sublime, and it forces the spotlight on Ravera, especially in a classic vintage such as this. This expression hits all the major cornerstones of a great Barolo, and this vintage does a great job of packaging it all together. Dark fruit, ephemeral spice, balanced acidity and elegant tannins are rolled into one beautiful wine. Production is 7,560 bottles and 300 magnums.”
Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 special, only one bottle in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “Drawing its fruit from Serralunga d’Alba, the Vietti 2016 Barolo Lazzarito is built like a pyramid. It is grounded by a thick base of robust fruit and power and soars upward in intensity thanks to its beautifully lifted bouquet. It reveals direct and solid lines with blackberry, plum, spice, tar, licorice, candied orange peel and truffle-infused earth. A second wave of aromas offers dark minerals and ferrous qualities such as iron ore and rust. Baroli from Serralunga d’Alba are often in a category apart thanks to their richness and sheer fruit weight. With extra aeration, Lazzarito delivers mint, balsam herb or Fernet-Branca. Production is 9,293 bottles and 300 magnums. This is the finest, most complete set of wines I have ever tasted from Vietti. Congratulations.”
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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.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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This would be a great ringer in a Cote-Rotie tasting.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Deux Vert Reserve Syrah, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) Was $36, Now $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91+ points “Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard (Reserve) bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
VinopolNote: The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result. While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over-the-top fruit here. This reminds us of high quality Northern Rhone wines, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone. One for the table with some air or for the cellar.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Deux Vert Reserve Syrah, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) Was $36, Now $31.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91+ points “Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard (Reserve) bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
VinopolNote: The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result. While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over-the-top fruit here. This reminds us of high quality Northern Rhone wines, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone. One for the table with some air or for the cellar.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We got a great deal on this back vintage Flaccianello (compare to the ’17 @ $179)
Fontodi Flaccianello della Pieve, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “Tasted next to the 2012 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo, the Flaccianello is richer, deeper and more flamboyant. Super-ripe red stone fruit, smoke, licorice and dark spices meld together in a deep, powerful wine. The 2012 is impressive, but personally I prefer the finesse and freshness of the Sorbo. The greater influence of new French oak is also felt in the wine’s texture. Still, that is splitting hairs, as the level here is high. Very high.”
We’re smitten with the delightful and textured wines from La Gerla. This offers a sneak peak into the house style for a lot less money than a Brunello.
La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Eric Guido – Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Rosso di Montalcino is polished, dark and earthy, with crushed black cherry lifted by peppery herbs and minerals as sweet spices develop in the glass. Silky textures carry brisk acids over the senses, ushering in tart red fruits, with hints of savory herbs, in a wonderfully fresh expression. The finish is medium in length, coating the palate in tart red fruits, with saturating fine tannin and cedary spices.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average price across all vintages is $27
The average price across all vintages is $27
Staff pick “a youthful wine with old world grace”
Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer 2017 750ML ($24.95) $17 special
Case-12 Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer 2017 750ML ($299.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
No reviews for the 2017 vintage. Review is for reference.
Josh Raynolds 91 points “[2016 Vintage] Shimmering red. Vibrant, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit and floral scents, along with a savory herb nuance and a hint of smokiness. Appealingly sweet and sharply focused on the palate, offering lively redcurrant, raspberry and rose pastille flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Silky tannins come on late and support a seamless, floral-driven finish that hangs on with strong tenacity.”
One of the classic, reference-point Beaujolais bottlings.
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special, re-arriving tomorrow
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing very well, revealing an inviting bouquet of ripe cherries and cassis mingled with spices, violets and peonies. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, enveloping and layered, with fine-grained structuring tannins, ripe acids and a fleshy core of fruit. Gourmand and expressive, Coudert says the 2018 reminds him of his 2011, an analogy with which I concur.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Shimmering violet. Highly perfumed dark berry and floral aromas are complemented by suggestions of exotic spices and minerals. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. In a seamless, energetic style, displaying a suave blend of richness and finesse and finishing gently sweet and impressively long, with well-knit tannins and lingering florality.”
When a certain Hollywood couple bought a winery to make Miraval, the original owner kept the best vines so he could keep making this…
Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Ultra pale and coppery-hued, La Mascaronne’s certified-organic 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose Quat’Saisons is a blend of Cinsault and Grenache. Like previous vintages, it starts with notes of crushed stone and citrus, then adds the merest hints of red fruit. It’s medium-bodied but focused and streamlined, coming to an elongated, mouthwatering, complex finish that adds peach, melon and anise to the mix.”
What a deal—this wine is fully $15+ less than any listing of the 2016
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer 2017 750ML ($24.95) $17 special
Case-12 Biggio Hamina “Biha” Pinot Noir, Van Duzer 2017 750ML ($299.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
No reviews for the 2017 vintage. Review is for reference.
Josh Raynolds 91 points “[2016 Vintage] Shimmering red. Vibrant, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit and floral scents, along with a savory herb nuance and a hint of smokiness. Appealingly sweet and sharply focused on the palate, offering lively redcurrant, raspberry and rose pastille flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Silky tannins come on late and support a seamless, floral-driven finish that hangs on with strong tenacity.”
One of the classic, reference-point Beaujolais bottlings.
Clos de la Roilette Fleurie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special, re-arriving tomorrow
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Fleurie from the Clos de la Roilette is showing very well, revealing an inviting bouquet of ripe cherries and cassis mingled with spices, violets and peonies. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, enveloping and layered, with fine-grained structuring tannins, ripe acids and a fleshy core of fruit. Gourmand and expressive, Coudert says the 2018 reminds him of his 2011, an analogy with which I concur.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Shimmering violet. Highly perfumed dark berry and floral aromas are complemented by suggestions of exotic spices and minerals. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering black raspberry, cherry and floral pastille flavors that are given spine by a core of juicy acidity. In a seamless, energetic style, displaying a suave blend of richness and finesse and finishing gently sweet and impressively long, with well-knit tannins and lingering florality.”
When a certain Hollywood couple bought a winery to make Miraval, the original owner kept the best vines so he could keep making this…
Chateau la Mascaronne Cotes de Provence Quat’Saisons Rose 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “Ultra pale and coppery-hued, La Mascaronne’s certified-organic 2019 Cotes de Provence Rose Quat’Saisons is a blend of Cinsault and Grenache. Like previous vintages, it starts with notes of crushed stone and citrus, then adds the merest hints of red fruit. It’s medium-bodied but focused and streamlined, coming to an elongated, mouthwatering, complex finish that adds peach, melon and anise to the mix.”
What a deal—this wine is fully $15+ less than any listing of the 2016
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average listed price across all vintages is $57
The average listed price across all vintages is $57
Utterly classic Chinon, with some bottle age.
Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire 2008 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery Library Release!
Jason Wilson-Vinous 92 points “Light ruby in color, bright and fresh, featuring aromas and flavors of tomatoes and cherries throughout. Balanced and cool, with a hint of dark minerality on the finish. Incredibly fresh and seamless. Has a long life ahead. Aged one year in foudre. Drink 2020 – 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Arriving Friday:
New case specials on one of the Willamette Valley’s best producers.
Case-12 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($839.95) $636 pre-arrival special (that’s only $53/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Case-6 Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($419.95) $336 pre-arrival special (that’s only $56/bottle!)
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.”
A Dessert Steal from a Spanish Master
We’ve highlighted Telmo Rodriguez before, under the guise of Remelluri, his family estate—but there’s more to him than that. Case in point: the Molino Real dessert wines he makes from the hillsides near Malaga. Moscatel is dried on mats to luscious sweetness and aged to make wines that were once world famous. We’ve scored a deal on the 2009 version—50% off the next lowest price in any vintage. This is one for any dessert-wine lover out there.
Arriving ETA Late July:
Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez ‘Molino Real’, Malaga 2009 500ML ($59.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez ‘Molino Real’, Malaga 2009 500ML ($349.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2009 vintage. Review of the 2010 provided for reference.
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Molino Real is the flagship and initial wine produced here, a sweet Moscatel from the schist slopes of Málaga at altitudes over 550 meters high, fermented with indigenous yeasts in 225-liter French oak barrels where the wine matures for 20 months. The grapes are dried in the sun for two weeks to get more concentration. The nose is extremely aromatic with notes of condensed milk, a touch of volatility and bay leaf; it is extremely complex, attractive and extremely young with the giveaway note of syrup that denotes youth. The wine has 13.5% alcohol and 127 grams of residual sugar. It was a relatively late harvest and the growing season was cooler and warmer than the average. The palate is extremely balanced with perfect harmony between sweetness and acidity leaving the palate with a fresh, minty sensation, rich, intense, with the spiciness of the grape, fine and elegant. I tasted 2009 and 2007 for context, and they are both young, as these are wines thought for the long haul. 7,8824 half-liter bottles were produced. ($75)”
Arriving ETA Late July:
Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez ‘Molino Real’, Malaga 2009 500ML ($59.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Compania de Vinos Telmo Rodriguez ‘Molino Real’, Malaga 2009 500ML ($349.95) $119 pre-arrival special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
No reviews available for the 2009 vintage. Review of the 2010 provided for reference.
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2010 Molino Real is the flagship and initial wine produced here, a sweet Moscatel from the schist slopes of Málaga at altitudes over 550 meters high, fermented with indigenous yeasts in 225-liter French oak barrels where the wine matures for 20 months. The grapes are dried in the sun for two weeks to get more concentration. The nose is extremely aromatic with notes of condensed milk, a touch of volatility and bay leaf; it is extremely complex, attractive and extremely young with the giveaway note of syrup that denotes youth. The wine has 13.5% alcohol and 127 grams of residual sugar. It was a relatively late harvest and the growing season was cooler and warmer than the average. The palate is extremely balanced with perfect harmony between sweetness and acidity leaving the palate with a fresh, minty sensation, rich, intense, with the spiciness of the grape, fine and elegant. I tasted 2009 and 2007 for context, and they are both young, as these are wines thought for the long haul. 7,8824 half-liter bottles were produced. ($75)”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner
2015 Chateau d’Yquem
Chateau d’Yquem is arguably the most prestigious sweet wine in the world” – James Molesworth, Wine Spectator
“What Nature bestowed in 2015 is everything you could possibly desire in a Sauternes” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
“Readers who can find the 2015 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent!” – Antonio Galloni
2015 Chateau d’Yquem is looking like one of the two best wines the estate has produced this century (trailing, perhaps by a hair, the 2001). In other words, it’s a monumental wine—a true collector’s icon and one of the most complex wines produced anywhere in the world in 2015. We sold out of half-bottles but pulled off a vinous coup—750’s and (more impressively) magnums of this legend. Only a very tiny percentage of d’Yquem is bottled in large formats, so securing any of this liquid gold in a rare opportunity that we couldn’t pass up. Neither should you.
In Stock Now:
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 750ML ($499.95) $379 special
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 1.5L ($1099.95) $879 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d’Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d’Yquem. I’ve been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.”-LPB
James Suckling 99-100 points “This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let’s wait and see.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 d’Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Just as alluring from bottle as it was from barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic. Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine’s sense of balance and total harmony that impress most. In 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893. Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above all else, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don’t miss it!”
“What Nature bestowed in 2015 is everything you could possibly desire in a Sauternes” – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate
“Readers who can find the 2015 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent!” – Antonio Galloni
2015 Chateau d’Yquem is looking like one of the two best wines the estate has produced this century (trailing, perhaps by a hair, the 2001). In other words, it’s a monumental wine—a true collector’s icon and one of the most complex wines produced anywhere in the world in 2015. We sold out of half-bottles but pulled off a vinous coup—750’s and (more impressively) magnums of this legend. Only a very tiny percentage of d’Yquem is bottled in large formats, so securing any of this liquid gold in a rare opportunity that we couldn’t pass up. Neither should you.
In Stock Now:
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 750ML ($499.95) $379 special
Chateau d’Yquem, Sauternes 2015 1.5L ($1099.95) $879 special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Following a very long harvest stretching nearly two months, the 2015 Château d’Yquem came in at 13.9% alcohol and 144 grams per liter of residual sugar, sporting a pH of 3.65 and six grams per liter of tartaric acid. None of these numbers, however, even remotely begin to tell you how profound this wine is. The nose opens with electric notes of ripe pineapples, green mango, orange blossoms and lemon tart with hints of fungi, lime zest, crushed rocks and jasmine. The freshness on the palate is just astonishing, permeating and lifting layer upon layer of tropical fruits and earthy notions, all encased in a sumptuous texture and culminating in a very, very long, mineral-tinged finish. Truly, this is a legendary vintage for d’Yquem. I’ve been conservative with my drinking window here, and I would not be at all surprised if our descendants are drinking this vintage well into the next century.”-LPB
James Suckling 99-100 points “This is an incredible young Yquem that is so vinous like a great vintage of Montrachet but then on the palate it turns to Yquem with spice, dried fruit and mushroom as well as sweet fruit. Last for minutes. Acidity is all there giving it a dynamic vibrance that jolts your senses. Special wine. It has a little more than than 140 grams of residual sugar, less than the legendary of 2001. But is very close in greatness. Let’s wait and see.”
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2015 d’Yquem is without question one of the wines of the vintage. Just as alluring from bottle as it was from barrel, the 2015 is a wine that engages all of the senses, from the intellectual to the more hedonistic. Lilting notes of pineapple, mint, orange peel and white flowers grace the palate, but it is the wine’s sense of balance and total harmony that impress most. In 2015, Yquem had its earliest start to the harvest since 1893. Even so, the winemaking team did a magnificent job of preserving freshness. The 2015 was fermented in 100% new oak, and residual sugar is 145 grams per liter, but great wine is never about numbers. Above all else, the 2015 Yquem is a wine of energy and class. Don’t miss it!”
Stay safe, be well, & drink well.