Thanksgiving Hours; West Coast Black Friday Sale; Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines
Thanksgiving Weekend Shop Hours
Our shop is closed for Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 23rd
We will reopen for our regularly scheduled hours on Friday, November 24th
10 am – 6 pm
Don’t forget, though, that our web store never closes and
is packed full of 2700+ wines
Black Friday West Coast Wine Sale
Discount does not apply to Case-6 or Case-12 SKU’s
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging
Sale Ends Friday, November 24th at 11:59 PST
We offer over 200 wines from the Pacific Northwest in stock right now, from Washington Cabernet and Syrah to Oregon Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (and also some pretty decent juice from the Bear Republic). All of it is on sale for Black Friday as a way to say thanks to all of you (and to help out our awesome local winemakers). We’ve included a selection of our favorites below, but if you are itching to get into the West Coast action, just click here to head straight to our web store.
Oregon:
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it. This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels. This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame. Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is pretty good now but will be stellar in a few years.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($41.95) Displayed Price: $29, Your Price: $26.10
Grapelive 91 points “Delicately layered and spicy, the 2014 Bishop Creek is a pretty effort, especially for a richer vintage in Oregon. Made by Marcus Goodfellow, the ex-Evesham Wood and Westerly man, [he] is coming into his own as a talent, inspired by Doerner of Cristom and John Paul of Cameron. You can see the style showing through here. Bishop Creek, planted to Pommard and Wadenswil (old Swiss clone), [is] now owned by Nicolas Meo of the famed Burgundy Domaine Meo-Camuzet. [The vineyard] ([which is] not far from Shea Vineyards) formed this wine with its distinct strawberry and racy red cherry core along with the mixed spice, mineral tones and light wood influence. Its southern exposure and Willakenzie soils (dark rocky marine sediment) give warmth and grace. Planted in 1988, the vines ripen without flamboyant extraction, allowing more finesse to show through. At 13.9% this medium weight wine offers fine detail, opulence and restrained, almost earthy, soulfulness. Hints of bitter herb, cedar and candied citrus rind add a tangy note to the whole and the finish echoes the red fruits in subtle fashion with a touch of wilted roses lingering on. It shines right now, though best to enjoy it with cuisine to match as it is a tad shier than other 2014 Oregon Pinots (I’ve tried) and needs time and coaxing to reach its beautiful peak. Best from 2018 to 2022.”
Winery note “Twenty five year old un-grafted Wadensville vines, dry farmed in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA are handpicked for this wine. From 3 acres, each clone is fermented separately with native yeasts in small lots, typically with 50-60% whole-clusters. The wine is aged in 0%-40% new French oak barrels for 18-21 months and bottled unfined and unfiltered. There is intensity at Bishop Creek, with deep, dark toned fruit, a spicy floral edge and savory tones with acidity and length.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple, the 2015 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard is scented of kirsch, mulberries and raspberry tart with underlying Chinese five spice, hoisin and mossy bark hints. Medium-bodied, there’s a very seductive mid-palate of red berry and exotic spice flavors, supported by velvety tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with spicy layers.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Vivid ruby-red. Heady, complex scents of fresh red and dark berries, incense and Asian spices, with a bright mineral overtone. Intense black raspberry and spicecake flavors convey a shapely, seamless quality. Fleshes out and deepens with aeration and finishes sweet and extremely long, with lingering smokiness and harmonious tannins.”
Washington:
Charles Smith K Vintners ‘M.C.K. Motor City Kitty’ Syrah, Washington 2014 750ML ($39.95) Displayed Price: $36, Your Price: $32.40
Wine Advocate 95 points “Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it’s a crazy value.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points –Editors’ Choice–“This aromatically brooding wine brings aromas of brown stems, scorched earth, smoked meat, iron, violets, orange peel and blue and black fruit. The flavors coat the palate from end to end with silky soft, unabashedly appealing fruit and savory notes. It hits the delicious gong hard, with an enduring finish.”
Wine Advocate 96-99 points “Another candidate for the wine of the vintage will be the 2014 Syrah Klein, which comes from the rocky soils of the Klein Vineyard in Walla Walla. Possessing a liquid rock like character as well as lots of gunpowder, graphite, savory herbs, olives and background meatiness, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a thick, unctuous texture, sweet tannin and terrific length. While it has tons of fruit and texture, it still has a concentrated core of fruit and serious underlying structure. It should benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for 10-15 years.”Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) Displayed Price: $59, Your Price: $53.10
Wine Advocate 94 points “All from Dick Boushey’s vineyard in Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne was also all destemmed and brought up in barrel. It’s a more elegant, complex and nuanced Syrah compared to the Cote Rousse and offers classic notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, lavender and spring flowers. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Wine Spectator 88 points “Intense and vibrant, with zesty, raw-edged green apple, pear and light citrus flavors, joined by cedary oak on the finish. Clean throughout. Drink now.”
Wine Spectator 89 points “This shows good length and depth to the suave pear, apricot and ripe apple flavors that are accented by floral and spicy notes. The creamy finish offers toasty and buttery accents. Drink now through 2019.”
Winery notes: “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve is a beautifully balanced wine. Firm yet well-integrated tannins frame a core of dark red berries, flowers, mint, spices and licorice. The Reserve shows lovely inner perfume and mid-palate juiciness. It should drink well with a minimum of cellaring. The main vineyards in the 2009 are Home (37%), Lampyridae (23%), Vogt (14%), Chabot (11%) and Rancho del Oso (9%). Each lot was aged separately for about two years before the final blend was assembled.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Starting off the Syrah-based wines, the 2004 Poker Face (Syrah) is aging beautifully. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier (from the Eleven Confessions, White Hawk, Alban, Bien Nacido, and Alta Mesa vineyards) that was aged in 80% new French oak, it offers up a perfumed, fresh bouquet of sweet blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and licorice that gives way to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured feel on the palate. Rich and decadent, it has notable, yet beautifully integrated acidity and stays remarkably fresh, detailed and even elegant. It still needs a lengthy decant to shine, and will continue to thrill over the coming decade or so.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum on the West Coast!
Discount does not apply to pre-arrival offers
Discount does not apply to Case-6 or Case-12 SKU’s
Discount will not appear in online shopping cart
We will apply it here before charging
Sale Ends Friday, November 24th at 11:59 PST
Wine Spectator Top 100 WinesHere At Vinopolis
Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list always inspires a certain amount of fanaticism—these are the wines that most excited the editors and writers at the most widely read American wine publication, so it makes sense that a certain amount of hype gets thrown into the mix. We love the excitement that comes with the release of the list and so wanted to highlight the wines in the Top 100 that we have in stock and on the way.In Stock Now:
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 3 magnums in stock now
#5 Wine Of The Year Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “A textbook version of the brawny side of Gigondas, this offers a grippy alder bass line underneath layers of dark currant and fig fruit, while lots of tobacco, rosemary and bay fill in throughout. Muscular and energetic, this is built for the cellar. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Starting with the 2015 Gigondas Classique from Barruol, this blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and the rest Syrah and Cinsault will be a wine that readers will want to stockpile. Full-bodied, rich, beautifully textured and layered, with killer notes of crème de cassis, white pepper, spice and garrigue, it’s a classic Gigondas that will drink well for 15+ years.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Case-6 Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2016 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
#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.”Arriving ETA May 2018:Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2014 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
#7 Wine Spectator Wine Of The Year 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “This cuts a wide swath, with mouthwatering tobacco and warm ganache notes leading the way, followed by a wave of fig, blackberry and black currant preserves. Shows remarkable definition already, even though the structure is strident. Tempting now, but just put this in the back of the cellar. Best from 2020 through 2035. 4,083 cases made.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “One of the wines of the vintage, the 2014 Canon La Gaffelière is explosive, lifted and aristocratic in its breeding. Bright Cabernet Franc aromatics give the wine its signature lift and precision. Raspberry jam, rose petal, mint, blood orange, tobacco and pomegranate build slowly on the palate, leading to a super-expressive, finely knit finish. Powerful yet also impeccably refined, the 2014 has it all. The 2014 is 55 % Merlot, 37 % Cabernet Franc and 8 % Cabernet Sauvignon. Don’t miss it. Tasted two times.”In Stock Now:
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2012 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 26 bottles in stock now’
#11 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 96 points– Highly Recommended “Cherry, leather and iron notes mark this suave, elegant red. A bit reticent now, but the fruit is fresh and long on the finish. The dense tannins leave a mouthcoating impression, but this opens up beautifully over a few hours. Best from 2021 through 2035.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points– Top 20 Brunello “Marking the winery’s 40th harvest, this vintage offers classic Sangiovese fragrance: wild berry, blue flower, baking spice and a whiff of new leather. The palate is sleek and elegant, doling out juicy red cherry, crushed raspberry, cinnamon and star anise, framed by lithe, polished tannins and fresh acidity. It’s loaded with finesse and tempting now but will be even better with a few more years in bottle. Drink 2019–2026.”
Arriving Next Month:
Clos des Papes Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($139.95) $119 pre-arrival special
#14 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 98 points “This has a drop-dead gorgeous core of cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors that holds center stage but still allows notes of Lapsang souchong tea, anise, incense and shiso leaf to chime in. Very long, with a sublime feel through the mineral-tinged finish. So seductive already, but this will cruise in the cellar. Drink now through 2040.”
Wine Advocate 97 points “Bottled in May, the 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape is a floral, elegant, unbelievably complex wine. Roses and violets, cherries and stone fruit, cinnamon and allspice and more are carried across the full-bodied yet almost weightless palate, finishing in a swirl of silky tannins and lingering spice. Drink it over the next two decades.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94-96 points “(raised in foudres) Deep ruby. Hugely aromatic red and dark berry, potpourri and floral scents are underscored by smoky minerality and an exotic suggestion of Asian spices. Sappy, focused and impressively deep yet lively, offering alluringly sweet raspberry, cherry compote and spicecake flavors and a refreshingly bitter touch of blood orange. Puts on weight and spreads out steadily with air, acquiring a succulent herb note that carries through the strikingly long, mineral-laced, gently tannic finish. This beauty is shaping up to be among the standouts of this extremely successful vintage.”
In Stock Now:
Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($319.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
#15 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 94 points “Alluring, with quince, creamed pear, verbena and green almond flavors allied to a creamy texture, all offset beautifully through the finish by light quinine and mineral hints. Approachable, but this seems built for the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
Arriving Later This Month:
Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($29.95) $18.50 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($299.95) $199 pre-arrival special
#19 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 93 points “Black cherry, currant and floral notes are expressive and alluring, balanced by loamy earth, tobacco and mineral elements that add a savory quality. Firm, well-integrated tannins give support to the polished texture, while orange peel acidity fuels the fresh finish. Drink now through 2027.”
Arriving ETA December:
Mazzei Tenuta Belguardo Maremma Toscana, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
#23 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 95 points “A red of great purity and polish, offering black cherry, blackberry, spice and herb flavors, this evokes tobacco, graphite and leather nuances as it builds nicely on the palate. Finishes with grip, harmony and complexity, as well as terrific length. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2028.”
#25 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 92 points “A voulptuous and expressive sparkler, with floral red apple, brioche and cinnimom spice aromas and rich, vibrant flavors that finish on a luxurious note. Drink now through 2018.”
#31 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 92 points “Weighty for a Riesling, with a rounded feel and layers of creamed yellow apple, white peach and persimmon flavors. Delivers energy and cut throughout, with lemon pith, citrus oil and chamomile accents filling in. Shows length and range through the finish. Drink now through 2021.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Arriving ETA December 1st:
Dopp Creek Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $24 pre-arrival special
#42 Wine Of The Year Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 91 points “Firm and focused, with cinnamon notes floating around red berry and floral flavors, finishing with gentle persistence against lively acidity and fine tannins. Best from 2018 through 2022. 3,100 cases made.”
#51 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Ultreia St Jacques is the entry-level red for the
Ultreia range and is amazingly good for the price. Produced from old vines, this is a serious wine, with juicy fruit, a fine palate and good freshness for the conditions of the year. They have included new vineyards that they have been working for the last four or five years, so they are able to bottle a little bit more wine. This is a great value.”Grapelive 93 points “It was a great honor to meet and taste with Raul Perez, one of Spain’s most heroic and influential winemakers (also known as the godfather of Mencia). Perez has mentored many rising stars, including Pedro Rodriguez and Veronica Ortega, whose wines I recently discovered and who is still working with him. Raul Perez’s lineup was mind-blowing and lived up to my huge expectations in every way. I was wildly thrilled with each and every one of these offerings, especially this new Ultra Saint Jacques Bierzo Tinto that delivers wonderful depth and complexity at a price that makes it a bargain by any standards. [It is] made from mainly from Mencia, but with some inter planted Bastardo (thought to be Trousseau) and Garnacha Tintorera (Alicante Bouschet) coming off vines that average about 75 years old. This dark and ripe vintage shows an almost Northern Rhone-like character and has an earthy/savory/spicy edge like a lighter Cornas. This was fermented with native yeasts, about 80% whole cluster in large oak cask with long macerations lasting between 2 and 5 months and then aged in mixed vessels including some cement, as well as 225L and 500L oak. [It was bottled] unfined and unfiltered. It’s pretty in detail with violet/floral tones, peppercorn and a medium body that flows with sweet tannins. It shows vibrant but smooth acidity, and flinty mineral elements as well as a core of loganberry, plum, candied cherry and tart currant fruits as well as salted black licorice, lavender, pipe tobacco, shale stones, earthy charms and a hint of cinnamon. This 2015 is lovely stuff that drinks very well right now and should prove pleasing for 3 to 5 years. For this price you’ll want a case!”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Smoke, forest floor and mineral notes mingle in this savory red. Lively acidity and light, firm tannins give grip to the polished texture. Cherry and floral accents sing through the finish. Energetic. Drink now through 2023. 1,200 cases imported.”
#58 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 94 points “A beautiful wine, with dark fig, warm boysenberry reduction and alluring creamed raspberry flavors streaming forth, accented by graphite, black tea and pastis. There’s a healthy dose of singed apple wood through the finish, but it’s well-embedded as everything pulls together. Best from 2020 through 2040.–JM “
#61 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 97 points “A pretty, firmly structured red, with delicate flavors and subtle power, this evokes floral, red berry, mineral, tobacco and tar aromas and flavors, remaining harmonious and long on the mineral- and tobacco-tinged finish. Best from 2020 to 2036.”
#75 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 93 points “Supple and elegantly structured, with expressive raspberry and orange zest aromas and polished flavors that pick up depth and momentum toward a spicy finish framed by refined tannins. Drink now through 2023. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 4,000 cases made.”
#95 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 93 points “Pungent, with aromas of slate and ripe orchard fruit, this sleek white displays complex flavors of flowers, peach, quince and slate. A hint of chive works into the mix as this remains persistent on the finish. Drink now through 2024.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90+ points “The 2015 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken offers a serious, clear, deep and flinty/mineral bouquet with crushed slate and perfectly ripe, defined Riesling flavors. Round, finessed and elegant in the mouth, this is another mouth-filling, aromatic, very elegant and finessed Riesling. It has perfectly ripe stone fruit aromas and a long, salty finish. This is excellent quality.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 90 points “This year’s version of what has become a reliable Selbach classic could easily have joined the newly expanded ranks of wines from this estate labeled feinherb, inasmuch as it displays a bit more sweetness than usual or than I expect under the rubric halbtrocken – especially in a high-acid vintage. Be that as it may, the wine has found its own delectable balance. Vanilla- and mint-tinged fresh apple as well as a lovely combination of creaminess with juicy refreshment could easily have come from a Zeltinger Sonnenuhr. Stony and nutty accents serve for counterpoint on a lusciously lingering finish of admirable clarity.”
Thank you for reading!