Friday Night Newsletter 8-26-22

In This Newsletter:

New Weekend – New Arrivals

Tour Germany’s Saar Region with Peter Lauer!
 
Domaine Rapet

Stellar Salvioni
 
Collector’s Corner:
2017 Produttori Crus



Vinopolis Wine Shop

Will Be Closed

Wednesday, August 31st

We’re open for our regularly scheduled hours all other days:

10 am – 6 pm

Can’t wait? Browse & shop our webstore here!
 


New Weekend – New Arrivals

Oregon

Hope Well ‘Monday’s Child’ Pinot Noir Rosé, Eola Amity Hills 2021 750ml $44 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Mimi Casteel’s note “Monday’s Child, in traditional rosé style, spent less than 24 hours on the skins and went to press cold. A cold and brief infusion to preserve the layers of crisp flavor and the effusive bouquet of spring flowers and berries. Alcohol 13.0%”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Hope Well ‘Tuesday’s Child’ Pinot Noir Rosé, Eola Amity Hills 2021 750ml $44 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Mimi Casteel’s note “Tuesday’s Child spent 48 hours on skins, a longer infusion, at ambient temperature (which was cool, not cold) before going to the press. At 48 hours she was a completely different child than her sister, spice and bramble in her hair. Alcohol 13.6%”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Vincent Rosé Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $19.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Our first wine of the exciting 2021 vintage, this is mostly whole cluster pressed and old barrel fermented Pinot Gris from 1990s vines at Zenith Vineyard. I managed to secure a nice acre of Pinot Gris at Zenith for the long term so there’s more to come in the future too! This Rosé also contains small amounts of Pinot Noir and Gamay, for color and texture with the very mineral Gris. I really appreciate all the interest in our first Rosé last year, I think this one is even better and we have more of it. 12% alcohol. Three barrels produced.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!


England

Ambriel Classic Cuvee Sparkling, Sussex, England NV 750ml $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Decanter 95 points “A refined, elegant style of English sparkling wine with subtle nuances of green apple and floral notes on the nose. A gentle, persistent, mousse with fresh and driving acidity on the palate. Elegant finish with a hint of sweet fruit. Drinking Window 2021 – 2030.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $39


France – Champagne

Bereche et Fils Ambonnay Grand Cru Millesime, Champagne 2016 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now

Bereche et Fils Mailly-Champagne Grand Cru, Champagne 2016 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now

Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Summer 2022 release! 2019-base. Reviews are for 2018-base.
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The NV Brut Cuvée Ste.-Anne is one of the great values in Champagne. Broad and creamy, with high-toned aromatics, the Cuvée Ste.-Anne is a total pleasure bomb. The intensity of the flavors is so beautifully dialed up. Orchard fruit, dried flowers and spice all flesh out effortlessly. More than anything, though, I admire the wine’s balance and raciness. This release is based on 2018. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: March, 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Based on the 2018 vintage and disgorged in March 2021 with five grams per liter dosage, Chartogne’s newly released NV Brut Sainte Anne reveals inviting aromas of pear, white peach, fresh bread and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and charming, it’s seamless and enveloping, with a generous core of fruit, lively acids and a pillowy mousse. It’s a lovely wine that wears its heart on its sleeve.”


France – Rhône & Southern

Domaine des Bosquets Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, Rhône 2019 750ML $88 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 100 points “The 2019 Gigondas Le Lieu-Dit is as good as it gets – hats off to the young Julien Brechet for one of the finest Gigondas ever made. Coming from a cooler, sandy terroir next to this estate and all Grenache, it was 70% destemmed and spent 18 months in used demi-muids before being moved to concrete tanks prior to bottling. A Grand Cru Red Burgundy-like array of wild strawberries, framboise, flowers, sappy green herbs, and spice all emerge on the nose. This is followed by a seamless, full-bodied, incredibly pure Gigondas that’s more about finesse and elegance than sheer power. I love it today, yet it has the balance, as well as structure, to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for two decades if stored properly.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Bold raspberry and black cherry aromas are laced with Campari-like spice on the nose of the stunning 2019 Gigondas Le Lieu Dit, which comes from a sandy, southwest-facing parcel that is consistently among the last plots on the estate to be harvested. Full-bodied and velvety in texture, this is a rich, tannic (but ripe) example of Grenache that should be capable of aging well for close to two decades.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Delicious crushed raspberry and blackberry coulis flavors weave together, giving this version an equally enticing textural edge, while mouthwatering red licorice and rooibos tea notes stitch up the edges. Subtle mineral note infuses the finish, giving this a subtle grounding as the fruit sails through. Drink now through 2035. 540 cases made, 50 cases imported. — JM”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

La Colline aux Fossiles Chardonnay, Vin de France 2019 750ml $16 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “All Chardonnay brought up in used demi-muids, the 2019 La Colline Aux Fossiles sports a medium gold hue to go with terrific stone fruits, caramelized citrus, white flowers, and honeysuckle-like aroma and flavors as well as a beautiful sense of minerality that emerges with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully textured, with a layered mouthfeel and a great finish, it’s another knockout Chardonnay from the team of Eric Solomon and Jean-Marc Lafage.”


Italy

Jeio (Bisol) Prosecco Brut DOC, Veneto NV 750ml $14.75 special, 12 bottles in stock now
“Flavors of tart lemon and tangy green apple finish with a wash of cleansing salinity. The fruit carries enough weight to work well at the dinner table.” -Wine & Spirits Magazine
“Green apple and fragrant spring-blossom aromas leap out of the glass while the enjoyable palate delivers creamy white peach, citrus and pear. It’s bright and charming, with crisp acidity and a foaming mousse.” Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast


Spain

Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML $228 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Daphne Glorian note, from Eric Solomon Selections “2019 was a dramatic change from 2018, with little rain during the winter (less than 136 liters between January and September), resulting in a drought compounded by an unheard-of heatwave in June, with temperatures reaching 42 degrees (107 F.) for almost a week. But trust the vines of the Priorat. Even though the extreme temperatures of June hit them hard, they are used to harsh conditions, and they adapted, returning to their normal thrifty mode. The resulting volumes were, of course, almost 20% below those of 2018 but in line with the yields we often get, 18-19 hectolitres per hectare. Harvest began at the end of August with Syrah and finished only a day earlier than average on September 18th.  As expected, the combination of low yields and high temperatures speeded up the ripening process. The wines are a perfect example of Mediterranean varieties producing their best under challenging conditions. They are concentrated, solar, and yet velvety, with a strong will but happy demeanor.”
 
Conreria d’Scala Dei Black Slate Escaladei, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML $24 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Eric Solomon Selections note “Black Slate Escaladei, a blend of Garnatxa with 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and/or Carinyena sourced from the foothills of the Montsant mountains. It stands out among its Black Slate siblings as the most elegant of the lineup, inclined more towards red fruit than black, with a high-toned minerality and spiciness. It is selected from fruit aged in foudre and French oak demi-muids.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Bodegas Mas Alta Black Slate La Vilella Alta, Priorat DOCa 2019 750ML $24 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Eric Solomon Selections note “Eric Solomon, Bixente Oçafrain, and Philippe Cambie collaborate to create Black Slate La Vilella Alta by selecting Garnacha and Carinyena grown on both licorella and clay-limestone soils. A blend of old and young-vine fruit and small additions of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah, La Vilella Alta is a dense and intensively flavored wine fermented in tank and aged in French oak barrels, of which 30% are new.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Bodegas Rafael Palacios ‘As Sortes Val do Bibei’ Godello, Valdeorras 2019 750ML $79 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 points “Sampled from a vat, this is one of the best As Sortes I have ever tasted, comparable to the iconic 2011. It’s a prodigy of subtleness and elegance. Everything is firmly delicate in this wine. Restrained aromas open up parsimoniously, with a steely structure like a great Burgundy, but with flinty acidity almost like Grosses Gewächs from Rheingau. Despite the fact that the sample was not yet bottled, the wine had no oak influence, just the indication that it had been aged, as top Godello must. Rafael Palacios is refining his work year after year, reaching the magic of the greatest wines. A top wine, and one to keep.”
 
 
Tour Germany’s Saar Region with Peter Lauer!

“In these great and exceedingly rare wines of the Saar, there is a combination of qualities which I can perhaps best describe as indescribable – austerity coupled with delicacy and extreme finesse, an incomparable bouquet, a clean, very attractive hardness tempered by a wealth of fruit and flavor which is overwhelming.” – Frank Schoonmaker, The Wines of Germany (1956).

The Saar is one of the coldest areas in the entire Mosel, and has one of the smallest production footprints compared to the other sub-areas. This is largely due to the exposure to the frigid east winds, which causes temperatures to drop precipitously almost as soon as the sun sets. This results in a race to harvest in most vintages, but is rapidly changing due to climate change.

In previous decades this was a growing area known for producing a good vintage 3-4 times every 10, not unlike in Port and Champagne. Due to the challenge of ripening the majority of the styles of wine coming from this area feature high acids, delicate stone fruit character and a steely minerality with plenty of age potential regardless of how much sweetness is still present at bottling, such as the filigreed wines of Peter Lauer.

“This is the Saar and Florian Lauer is currently one of the greatest winemakers in this sacred place… Vintage 2021 is one of the first truly cool vintages in about a decade; it is a piquant middle-finger to our age of climate change and ubiquitous ripeness. This vintage is a time machine to a colder time. This vintage is fresh spring peas after a decade or two of foie gras. WARNING: I write the following sentence as a German wine fanatic and collector and not as an importer: I personally am going very deep in 2021. Maybe such an admission – putting your money where your mouth is, as it were – is meaningful to you personally, maybe it isn’t. I’m just telling you a fact. As an importer, however, I want to write something grander, a bit more philosophical and heady in that vaguely impactful way. So here it is: I think 2021 will prove to be one of the most defining, most consequential vintages of our era.” –Vom Boden (US Importer for Peter Lauer)

2021 Arrivals from Peter Lauer:

Peter Lauer ‘Barrel X’ Saar Riesling, Mosel 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Vom Boden note “The most important category of Lauer wines we’ll call the “terroir” wines. These are the Rieslings that have made Lauer so famous. These wines eschew the whole Prädikat system (Kabinett, Spätlese, etc) completely. They ferment spontaneously with natural yeasts and thus they find their own balance. In most cases they have a bit more residual sugar than a purely dry wine, yet not nearly enough sugar to be considered sweet. Let’s call them dry-tasting to off dry. First, there is the appellation-level Barrel X. This is Lauer’s Platonic ideal of what a Saar Riesling should be. If we were in Burgundy this would be the equivalent of a Bourgogne Blanc. As an appellation-level wine, it is sourced from multiple vineyards in three different villages of the Saar. This is always a thrilling off-dry and a silly value.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Fass 25 Trocken, Mosel 2021 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 88 points “The 2021er Ayler Riesling N°25 is a dry wine (with 6 g/l of residual sugar) made from fruit picked on the Scheidterberg and Rauberg side hills. It proves rather backward and only reveals shy scents of bergamot, mirabelle, and smoky elements on the nose. After extensive airing, a touch of earthy spices joins the party. The wine proves firm and rather structured on the palate and leaves a precise and focused feel of tart herbs and faint orchard fruits in the long finish. The aftertaste is all about smoke at this stage. This wine will really benefit from a year or more of bottle aging and should then prove a spicy expression of dry Saar Riesling. 2023-2026.”

Peter Lauer Ayler Riesling Fass 4 Feinherb, Mosel 2021 750ml $28 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 89 points “The 2021er Ayler Riesling N°4 is a fully off-dry wine (with 33 g/l of residual sugar) made from fruit harvested from the Scheidterberg and Sonnenberg side hills. It offers a rather undercooled nose made of fern, herbs, vineyard peach, mirabelle, earthy spices, and smoky elements. The wine reveals more of the green herbs on the palate. Far from disturbing, they add freshness to the beautifully mouthwatering palate. The finish is still slightly firm and beautifully zesty. Now-2031”

Peter Lauer Fass 8 Ayler Kupp Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2021 750ml $36 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “The 2021er Kupp Kabinett N°8, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, was made from fruit picked at 79° Oechsle on the original Kupp hill, and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (46 g/l). It offers a superb nose of whipped cream, fern, cassis, gooseberry, and smoky slate. The wine is hugely vibrant, intense, and yet remarkably light-footed on the zesty palate and leaves a remarkably feel of fruits and herbs in the finish. The aftertaste is all about zesty tension which adds presence and intensity to the hugely lemony and fruity flavors. What a stunning Kabinett in the making! 2031-2051”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Peter Lauer ‘Kern’ Ayler Kupp Fass 9 Riesling, Mosel 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2021er “Kern” N°9, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, is a fully off-dry wine (with 33 g/l of residual sugar) made from fruit picked in a complete cross section (bottom to top) of a prime south-west-facing old-vine parcel (called Kern) situated well into the side valley on the original Ayler Kupp hill. It offers a superbly creamy nose made of vineyard peach, pear, green apple, whipped cream, smoke, and fine spices. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate driven by zesty acidity, fruity sorbet, and beautifully creamy elements. The finish is racy, focused, and hugely persistent. This is a gorgeous almost fruity-styled tasting Saar Riesling! Now-2036.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

Peter Lauer Neuenberg Fass 17 Riesling, Mosel 2021 750ml $56.50 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 92+ points “The 2021er Neuenberg N°17, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, is a barely off-dry wine (with 11 g/l of residual sugar) made from fruit picked in this prime Lieu-Dit forming the south-southwest facing, central part of the original Kupp hill (at the foot of the hill). It offers a rather backward nose made of mirabelle, herbs, and fine spices. The wine is beautifully focused and airy on the palate and leaves a stunning feel of fresh zesty herbs and earthy spices in the long finish. The overall feel is one of irresistible intensity and feather-lightness. This off-dry wine now needs to shed its primary reduction and reveal its goods, which should happen in a year or so. 2023-2031.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Peter Lauer Schonfels Kabinett Riesling, Mosel 2021 750ml $56.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2021er Schonfels Kabinett, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, was made from fruit harvested at 80° Oechsle in this steep, south-east facing Lieu-Dit overseeing the Saar, and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (52 g/l). It offers a superb nose of pear, fine spices, a touch of whipped cream, starfruit, aniseed herbs, and smoke. The wine is stunningly vibrant on the palate, where green herbs, citrusy elements, and vineyard peach seem to dance with the kick of acidity. The finish is racy, vibrant, and gorgeously balanced as pear and lemon sorbet interplays with herbs and chalky minerals. The aftertaste is all about lightness and intensity. This Kabinett is a delight! 2026-2041.”

Peter Lauer ‘Stirn’ Ayler Kupp Fass 15 Riesling, Mosel 2021 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2021er “Stirn” N°15, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, is a fully off-dry wine (with 34 g/l of residual sugar) made from fruit picked in the prime south-west-facing, upper-front part of the original Ayler Kupp hill. It offers a beautiful nose made of herbs, gooseberry, citrusy fruits, wet stone, smoke, and aniseed herbs. Great zing is beautifully balanced out by fruity and creamy elements on the palate. The finish is vibrant, racy, and hugely playful. This almost fruity-styled tasting Saar Riesling is a great success! Now-2036.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Peter Lauer Ayler Kupp Unterstenberg Fass 12 Riesling, Mosel 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2021er Unterstenberg N°12, as it is referred to in the central part of the label, is a barely off-dry wine (with 8 g/l of residual sugar) made from fruit picked in the similarly-named prime Lieu-Dit forming the south-southwest facing, front part of the original Kupp hill (at the foot of the hill). It offers a beautiful nose made of mirabelle, grapefruit, a hint of earthy spices, herbal elements, a dash of whipped cream, and quite some smoke. A creaminess adds a smooth and off-dry side to the palate. This is then gradually wrapped up into zesty acidity in the long and multi-layered finish. The aftertaste is precise, airy, and incredibly persistent. This (barely) off-dry Saar wine is a real winner. 2023-2031.”
 
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!

 
Domaine Rapet

Domaine Rapet is a historic producer in the Cote de Beaune, yet one that remains under the radar—and underpriced—to this day. Based in Pernand-Vergelesses, which is a village we always look to for exceptional value in Burgundy, they’re known for an understated, classically elegant style.

These are fantastic bottles for anyone who loves Burgundy—with beautifully pure fruit and a very light touch on the oak front. The 2018’s reflect the outstanding, solar nature of the year with more accessible personalities and a bit more body, making them perfect to drink over the next ten years or so.

In Stock Now:

Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils Les Greves, Beaune Premier Cru 2018 750ML $75 special, 13 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves is showing especially well, mingling aromas of cassis and cherries with hints of forest floor and burning embers. Medium to full-bodied, layered and lively, its deep core of fruit is underpinned by fine-grained tannins and lively acids. This will reward a bit of bottle age.”
Burghound 92 points “Sweet Spot Outstanding. An admirably pure and fresh nose of liqueur-like red and dark berries possesses even more evident floral elements along with plenty of warm earth influence. The ultra-refined mid-palate of the bigger-bodied flavors adds a sense of elegance to the balanced, long and impressively complex finish. This powerful effort is excellent though it’s clearly one to buy and cellar as it’s sufficiently firm to require extended bottle age.”
Winery note “A great Burgundy red wine from the Beaune commune. The grape variety used is Pinot Noir. This more than 50 year old parcel, on a very steep slope, is gradually revealing its potential to produce great wines. Grèves de Bourgogne, as the Graves du Médoc, designates a scree slope of small stones, gravelly and sandy soil, particularly ideal for wine-growing.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Rapet Pere & Fils Les Cent Vignes, Beaune Premier Cru 2018 $59 special, 17 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “More reserved than the exuberant Bressandes, Rapet’s 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Cents Vignes unfurls in the glass with notes of cherries, raspberries, spices and rich soil tones. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, this has promising aging potential.”
Burghound 91 points “Outstanding. This too is attractively fresh with its nicely layered mix of red and dark raspberry, earth, spice and soft floral hints. The supple, plump and seductively textured medium weight flavors coat the palate with sappy dry extract that also buffers the firm tannic spine shaping the firm, dusty and serious finish. This fine Beaune will definitely need a few years of cellaring to soften the structure and render it more pliant.”
Winery note “This ‘climat’* on a gentle slope is characterized by a brown, very filtering limestone soil, mixed with clay and sand. The Pinot Noir expresses itself marvellously, blending the smoothness and roundness of the Beaunes with the force, richness and depth of the cellaring wines, the ‘vins de garde’.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils Savigny-les-Beaune 2018 750ML $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Often confused with the 1er Cru “Aux Fourneaux,” this is a single-parcel village-level wine.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89+ points “Aromas of dark berries, blood orange and rich soil tones introduce the 2018 Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Fourneaux, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and textural wine that’s ample and generous, underpinned by a muscular chassis of ripe, powdery tannin. This will need time, but it possesses fine potential.”
Burghound 89 points “Outstanding Top Value. As is usually the case, this is at once riper and earthier with its aromas of sauvage-tinged poached plum. There is fine volume and impressive mid-palate density to the medium-bodied flavors that possess an abundance of dry extract, all wrapped in a rustic, firm and lingering finish. This offers fine quality for its level and is recommended.”
Winery note “The importance of this commune resides in the size of it’s surface and the number of renowned climats. Our Savigny-les-Beaune comes from the “les Fournaux” climat, characterized by a deep and ferruginous ground. The wines are coloured, elegant, quite powerful, marked by a dominant of Morello cherries, black currant, raspberry, then subsequently developing notes of undergrowth after some years. Savigny-les-Beaune is delicate with discreet tannins.”

Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles 2019 750ml $44 special, 11 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2019 Pernand-Vergelesses Les Belles Filles opens in the glass with notes of sweet berry fruit, cherries and cassis, complemented by an elegant top note of orange rind. Medium-bodied, melting and elegantly gourmand, it’s bright and charming, concluding with a perfumed finish.”
 
 
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Stellar Salvioni

You’ve heard of iconic Brunello’s like Biondi Santi but Salvioni should also be on your radar. With less than 10 acres or 1/5th of their property planted to grapevines, pampered doesn’t begin to cover the winegrowing philosophy. Grown at over 1,200 feet above sea level, there is a near constant breeze that assists in maintaining acidity and reducing disease pressure. The confluence of breezes and high elevation ensure that freshness is maintained even in exactingly hot vintages like 2017. The resulting wines combine jammy ripeness with lifted acidity, almost Napa-esque. In order to maximize the power of their old vines, yields are highly reduced and spend more than the required time in vat and bottle.

In Stock Now from Salvioni:

Salvioni Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ml $219 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 100 points “Cellar Selection. Absolutely stunning, this gorgeous red has enticing aromas of wild rose, forest berries, new leather and camphor. Full-bodied and delicious, the smooth, structured palate is all about flavor, focus and finesse, doling out succulent black cherry, crushed raspberry, star anise and white pepper notes framed in tightly knit, refined tannins. Bright acidity keeps it impeccably balanced. Beautiful now and will continue to age and develop even more complexity for years to come”.
Eric Guido-Vinous 97+ points “The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino slowly comes to life, opening with a smoky, brooding and dark bouquet. It first unleashes its florals with crushed roses and hints of geranium, then deepens to reveal black cherry and raspberry, and finally a chorus of tobacco and wild herbs. You could lose yourself in the glass. The 2016 is incredibly silky and textural, displaying a youthful density that tempts the imagination while casting a savory display of mineral-tinged dark fruits, more black than red, with hints of dried orange and exotic spice. A saturation of fine tannin awaits on the finish, previously masked by the Salvioni’s primary power, as a mix of sage and hints of licorice slowly fade. There is so much potential here; but today, the 2016 is in dire need of cellaring. I tasted the 2016 multiple times over the course of two days and it didn’t budge.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Salvioni Cerbaiola Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ml $199 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Cerbaiola grows in intensity in the glass, with delicate aromas that are especially floral and light in character. Instead of blackberry or blackcurrant, this elegant wine delivers cassis and cranberry. Instead of overt spice, you get licorice, balsam herb and camphor ash. The Salvioni house style is ethereal and light, and although that extra vintage ripeness and concentration does register on the palate, farming and winemaking at this estate puts an emphasis on acidity over power or structure. These choices were particularly important in 2017.”

Salvioni Cerbaiola Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2018 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Salvioni Rosso di Montalcino leads off with a zesty, fresh display of Sangiovese fruit, as a mix of cherry and strawberry is complemented by hints of sweet spice, leather and gorgeous exotic florals. On the palate, I’m finding a wonderfully pure expression, focused on ripe red fruits with energizing acids and subtle spice, as pretty inner rose develops toward the close. Hints of fine tannin and minerals mingle throughout the finish, and a staining of black cherry lingers on and on. What a beautiful, feminine, and truly enjoyable vintage for the Salvioni Rosso.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 93 points “Medium bright red. Candied raspberry, blueberry, and flowers on the nose and in the mouth. Suave but still youthfully tight, vibrant and perfumed on the long steely finish. A bright Rosso that finishes clean and seamless, featuring terrific cut and length.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Giulio Salvioni’s 2018 Rosso di Montalcino La Cerbaiola is a silky and fine expression of Sangiovese, a welterweight offering that jabs with little punches of wild berry, tilled soil and blue flower. This Rosso accomplishes an important feat here: It is not a less intense expression of the mighty Tuscan grape, but rather a more nuanced one. That’s exactly what a top-ranked Rosso di Montalcino should be. We’re not looking for that characteristic Brunello power. This wine instead provides us with an approachable yet pleasurable experience, packed tight with varietal and territorial purity. This release weighed in at a relatively sprightly 10,133 bottles.”

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
 

Collector’s Corner:

2017 Produttori Crus

“I’ve written this many times before, but it bears repeating: Produttori del Barbaresco is one of Italy’s ultimate values for your money.” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

Produttori del Barbaresco is revered for producing classically-styled Barbaresco and Riservas of uncompromising quality and transparency. It’s a miracle that these wines are still affordable and available, especially when compared to the skyrocketing prices of Barolo. 

You’d be hard-pressed to find such consistent quality and complexity out of such an extensive range of single-vineyard Nebbiolos anywhere else. 2017 is being compared to the legendary 2015 harvest, with a warm and dry growing season against cool nights and timely rains making for ripe but not overwrought wines. This was on account of the season’s early warmth, which contributed to smaller leaves during the vegetative growth period according to Gaia Gaja of the eponymous cult label. The smaller leaves meant for slower sugar accumulation, resulting in wines that were able to maintain balance.   

In Stock Now:

Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $89 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is especially broad and thick in texture. It feels generous to the senses, wrapping thickly over the palate with a pretty mix of firm tannins and soft fruit fiber. These elements help to increase both the volume and the persistence of this classic wine. There is some dryness on the finish (and 15% alcohol), and you also taste crushed mineral and stone. Production is 10,000 bottles. I give this wine an edge in terms of future aging potential.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Montefico is one of the stand-outs in this range. It shows the piercing tannins typical of this site, and yet has more than enough fruit to balance those tannins, certainly moreso than wines like the Rabajà. This exposed site benefits from cooling winds from the north, clearly a benefit in 2017. Even in the early going, the balance here is terrific. In 2017, the Montefico is one of the clear stand outs in the range.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Marked by plum and menthol, this also has elements of iron, tar and tobacco. Muscular and brooding, with a strong grip of tannins on the finish. Best from 2026 through 2043. —B.S.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $75 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L $169 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is darkly concentrated and among the richest wines in this series of single-vineyard Riservas. Montestefano is angular, textured and bold with dark fruit aromas, dried blackberry, toasted almond and cured tobacco. With this vintage, you get an age-worthy wine that offers brawn and power for drinking in the medium term, but it will become increasingly silky and slender with time. Dusty tannins and crushed stone appear on the long finish. There were 14,486 bottles produced.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is a potent, savory wine. Today, the fruit is very much in the background. A brooding, backward Barbaresco, the Montestefano clearly needs time, it is a somber, imposing Barbaresco. Dark plum, earthiness, cloves, menthol and licorice infuse the finish with notable gravitas. There’s plenty of Montestefano breadth and resonance.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ML $85 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Presents a bright, pure expression of cherry, strawberry, rose and grassy aromas and flavors underscored by a vein of minerality, with tannins that flex their muscles on the long finish. Intense but balanced, with tension that bodes well for future evolution. Best from 2026 through 2043. —B.S.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota plays some of its best cards in terms of texture, offering silky tannins, firmness and a long-lasting veil of fruit flavors. Cassis, wild cherry, camphor ash, spice and iron ore are aromatic protagonists. This wine is lean and compact but very linear and focused. Like the other Riservas in this group of new releases, the wine is fermented in steel and aged in large oak casks for 32 months. 10,000 bottles were produced.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $85 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L $179 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Taut and sinewy, boasting cherry, black currant, grass, iron and tar notes. Powerful tannins drive the finish, which is compact for now. In the end, this is lightly astringent, but has plenty of drive and should find equilibrium with time. Best from 2026 through 2043. —B.S.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Paje Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is impressive on all fronts, but especially in terms of aromas. There’s so much brightness here with red and purple fruits, rust and a dark note of clove or exotic spice. No element is out of place, but together they help to build the intensity of this balanced wine. It shows a soft, velvety texture, and perhaps there is a little more ripeness overall in this warm vintage. Production is 6,666 bottles.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is a fine choice for readers who enjoy wines of freshness, verve and energy. Dark fruit, menthol, spice, pine and crushed rocks are beautifully delineated. This is an especially chiseled wine in the range of 2017 Riservas. I very much like the balance of richness and vibrancy. In a word: classic.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Leads with a whiff of freshly mown hay, which leads to cherry, currant, tar and eucalyptus flavors. Linear and chewy, with hints of underbrush and iron on the lingering finish. Best from 2025 through 2042. —B.S.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Pora Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $75 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Pora (with 13,333 bottles released) is usually the first wine I taste each year when I review this set of Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco. That’s because it usually appears as the most delicate, and the intensity of each successive bottle increases  after this one. But these schematics are a bit more difficult to align in a hot and dry vintage such as this that produced richer and more succulent fruit across the board. The Pora is redolent of red and purple fruit with a little more blackberry and plum compared to previous editions. The tannic strength of the wine is also more elaborate. Pora works very well in 2017.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is rich, creamy and layered, with a bit more generosity than is typically the case. Sweet red cherry, red plum, spice and rose petal are amplified in a radiant, open-knit Barbaresco that will start drinking well in a few years’ time.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “A rich, fruity version, this Barbaresco exudes ripe cherry fruit augmented by accents of tar, mint, earth and spice. Firms up nicely on the finish, yet stays fresh and energetic. Best from 2024 through 2040. —B.S.” 

Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $85 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 1.5L $189 special, 3 magnums in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96+ points “The Produttori del Barbaresco 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is another spectacular release from this cooperative winery that hits it out of the ballpark with each set of new releases. That impressive track record includes this wine that delivers extreme focus, depth and integrity. The bouquet is very clear cut with dark cherry, tart plum, spice and blood orange, but it is also complex and fluid. It offers new perspectives with each swirl of the glass. From a hot vintage, the Rabajà is smooth, powerful and balanced. I would bet on long aging for this bottle. 14,438 bottles were produced.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dense, featuring fruit flavors of plum, cherry and raspberry, with accents of tar, eucalyptus and iron. A powerful red that needs time to resolve the muscular tannins, with plenty of ripe fruit coursing underneath. Best from 2026 through 2043. —B.S.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a potent, searingly tannic wine that will need a few years to come together. Brooding and backward, even for young Rabajà, the 2017 is painfully young today. It will be interesting to see what time brings. Today, the 2017 is a real powerhouse. Black fruit, menthol, licorice, melted road tar, game and menthol develop in the glass, but only with great reluctance.”

Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2017 750ml $75 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Delivers depth and velvety texture, which are a perfect foil for the saturated cherry and raspberry fruit flavors. Underlined by mineral and spice notes, this is harmonious and long, with a mineral aftertaste. Feels approachable now, but this has structure and will age beautifully. Best from 2025 through 2043. —B.S.”

Bonus Bottling: 2018 Barbaresco Normale:

When the stars don’t quite align in Barbaresco, when even just one vineyard of the Cooperative’s line up doesn’t quite, well, line up, Produttori del Barbaresco uses all of its renowned and glorious fruit in its normale bottling. In 2018, instead of bottling the single vineyard Riservas of, say, Rabaja, Montestefano, Ovello and friends, all of the best (and rigorously selected) fruit went into their straight Barbaresco bottling. This is an incredible opportunity that collectors in the know jump on. For you, this means the top notch grapes are available at more every day pricing. Added bonus? This wine doesn’t need two decades in the cellar to shine. 

Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG 2018 750ML $44.50 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Packaged in its distinctive brown paper label, the Produttori del Barbaresco 2018 Barbaresco is a beautifully lean and luminous expression of Nebbiolo, and that pretty color should remain intact over time. The aromas are bold and ripe with dark and purple fruit, but the bouquet shows interesting twists with earth, truffle, licorice and grilled herb. As the wine opens in the glass, you begin to notice heavier aromas of raisin and dried apricot. It wears a warm-vintage signature for sure, and for that reason, I would suggest a shorter drinking window for the 2018. With an ample 300,000 bottles made, you get a great value with this bottle.”
James Suckling 93 points “Lovely barbaresco, with all the typical nebbiolo characteristics, such as red berries, mushrooms and dried leaves, as well as hints of bitter orange peel and spice. All this follows through to the medium-to full-bodied palate, where fine, lightly firm tannins add a little grip and additional focus. Compact, but bursting with flavor. Delicious now, but give it a year or two. It will only get better.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2018 Barbaresco is an attractive, open-knit wine to drink now and over the next 10-15 years, maybe more. In 2018 the Produttori did not bottle their Riservas. Instead, all of the best lots of those grapes went into the straight Barbaresco bottling, another in a long string of successes from this historic house. Dark cherry, cedar, tobacco and spice fill out the layers. There is good depth and a good deal of tannin too, just not the complexity or nuance of the very best years.”


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