2005 Barolo from Giacosa: Vinopolis-Cellared Treasure; New Review from Wine Spectator: Saint Cosme; New Grapelive Review: Summer’s Unique Rose; Arriving Friday from Around the World; Breaking News: 2013 Felsina; Francesco Rinaldi: Traditional Barolo & More Delights
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A Vinopolis-Cellared Treasure:
Giacosa’s Incredible 2005 Barolo Falletto
Now Entering Its Prime Drinking Window
A Barolo legend to enjoy now, or in the years to come…
“In my opinion, the 2005 Barolos are the best balanced of the last decade.” – Sergio Germano, winemaker, Ettore Germano estate, Serralunga d’Alba
“Many [2005 Barolos] show dark tonalities of fruit and generally virile, masculine personalities. I initially thought the 2005s would age on the faster side (in relative terms for Barolo), and while that will likely be the case compared with the recent highly tannic, structured vintages (2006 and 2010 come to mind), firm tannins and high acidities will almost certainly give the 2005s plenty of ageworthiness. I have been following Giacosa’s 2005 Barolos for several years and I have been fond of these wines for some time, as they have always demonstrated exceptional balance. Now that the wines are in bottle they are every bit as delicious as they were from barrel. Giacosa fans will want to give these 2005 Barolos (and the Barbarescos, too) careful consideration. The wines seem to have been helped quite a bit by the southern exposure of the Falletto vineyard.” – Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
The perfect marriage of Bruno Giacosa and his winemaker Dante Scaglioni came full circle with the classic 2005 vintage. Just a few years shy of Scaglioni’s resignation in order to pursue his own label, this bottling presents the absolute best of their 16-year partnership. As we revisit tasting notes and scores, it comes to our attention that this cuvee from Signore Giacosa is just beginning to enter the early stages of a drinking window which will extend, most likely, across many years. We raise our glass to that!
We have over six original import cases that have been in our (temperature-controlled) care almost 10 years:
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2005 750ML ($249.95) $169 special, 36+ bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2005 Barolo Falletto offers up a gorgeous bouquet of red cherries, flowers, spices and menthol. This is a relatively delicate, elegant Barolo Falletto yet it offers gorgeous balance, tons of inner perfume and a long, refined finish. It is one of the overachievers in 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”WA
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Medium red. Backward yet precise aromas of red cherry, blood orange, dried flowers and spices; there’s something almost Chambolle-like about this. Then suave and silky in the mouth, but with superb density and energy to the savory red fruit and spice flavors. Finishes very long and chewy, with a broad dusting of tannins and sneaky length.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $201
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It’s about to reach 107˚ in Portland
But we have the coolest wines in town
We keep the AC set to 60˚ because we care!
(You should see our sweater collection…)
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New Review from Wine Spectator!
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 2015 750ML ($69.95) $53.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-6 Saint Cosme Cote Rotie 2015 750ML ($359.95) $299 special, 2 six-packs available (that’s only $49.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “This has a little sauvage note peeking out, with bay leaf and game accents adding range to the rich core of crushed plum and blackberry fruit. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.99
The average price is $65
See the complete list of all in stock Saint Cosme wines below. We offer one of the largest and deepest selections in the country with 481 bottles in stock:
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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New Grapelive Review
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Tibouren Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 special, 5 bottles available
Grapelive 93 points “One of the most interesting wines in France, the Clos Cibonne Tibouren is a light Vin Gris (Rosé) made from a pale red grape that is extremely rare these days. Clos Cibonne is the only estate that is allowed to use the Tibouren varietal on its labels due to its history and is one of only 18 Cru Classes in the Cotes du Provence. Clos Cibonne dates back to 1797 and still is in the hands of the Roux family descendants, with many re-vitalizations along the way. Andre Roux [made] the historic decision in 1930 to ditch the post phylloxera Mourvedre and Grenache (brought in from Spain in the late 1,800’s) and to re-introduce the native Tibouren grape. [This] heroic moment was the game changer here, though recent upgrades to the cellar and intriguing winemaking have elevated this estate to its current glory. The Cuvee Speciale des Vignettes Rosé is crafted from the oldest estate vines, about 60 years old on average, grown on schist soils. [The wine is] fermented in stainless with a light maceration then aged in 100 year old foudre(s) for a year on its lees under fleurette (Flor like fino sherry). [This process] is unique and gives this Rosé its signature style and character. The wine feels silky and earthy with a hint of cheesiness and truffle. Its delicate orange/pink/salmon hue belies its depth and complexity. This is glorious old world wine with an inner vibrancy, but with wood aged silken textures, showing spicy mineral notes to go with subtle fruit essences that leans towards dried cherries, wild strawberry, quince paste, red peach and blood orange with hints of wild rose, lavender, wet river stones, saline/iodine, faint nutty elements and damp/dankness. The tasting profile is refined and wonderfully seductive, even with its leathery wrapping. This is a Rosé by Clos Cibonne that fills the palate with cool crispness, but still rich in mouthfeel and length, making this a fascinating wine that can age for years!”
Also in-stock now from Clos Cibonne:
Clos Cibonne Cotes de Provence Cuvee Tradition Rose, Provence 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 20 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant orange-pink. A perfumed, mineral-accented bouquet evokes dried red berries, orange pith, lavender and jasmine, along with a suggestion of peach pit in the background. Silky and broad on entry and then more taut in the middle, offering juicy red currant and blood orange flavors and a hint of anise. Shows a suave blend of depth and energy and finishes long and seamless, leaving behind floral, mineral and red berry notes.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price nationally is $28
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Arriving Friday
Washington
Charles Smith Substance Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) $14.80 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “One of the best values I’ve tasted in a long time, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon from the team at K Vintners was hand-harvested, natively fermented and aged all in French oak. Smoking good notes of cassis, black currants and hints of plum all emerge from this rich, beautifully textured, layered beauty that has solid tannic grip, a silky, elegant texture and a great finish. It has real elegance and finesse and is a dark fruited, unctuous beauty to drink over the coming 3-4 years.”
France
Cave Yves Cuilleron ‘Les Vignes d’a Cote’ Marsanne, Rhone 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This cuvée is sourced from vineyards in Chavanay that sit on granite-infused soil. The fermentations (alcoholic and malolactic) take place in stainless steel; then, the wine is racked into a mix of stainless steel and small barrel for six months before bottling.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Italy
Giacomo Fenocchio Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This is a touch earthy yet concentrated and dense, sporting blackberry, pomegranate and black pepper notes. The finish is fluid, with a lingering essence of graphite. Drink now through 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Marco Porello ‘Camestri’, Roero Arneis DOCG 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 pre-arrival special
“This unoaked Arneis has delicate fragrances of ripe fruits and flowers, while it has a fresh taste thanks to its balanced acidity, very well supported by a rich body and structure. Due to its fragrance the wine can be enjoyed young or left to age for two or three years.”–Winery note
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
San Matteo Gavi DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: This refreshing white wine is high in acidity with notes of fresh citrus, almonds and white flowers. A lovely wine to toast the end of this heat wave!
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
La Miraja Chinato NV, Piedmont 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The singular wines of La Miraja have heretofore been impossible to find in the United States. The estate is nestled within the original castle of Castagnole Monferrato, constructed in the 11th century and retrofitted to serve as a cellar in the 1400s. In this armory-turned-cellar, Eugenio Gatti turns out Barbera d’Asti, Grignolino, Chinato and his fabled Ruché. A seventh-generation viticulturist, Eugenio personally tends to the oldest vineyard of Ruché in Castagnole Monferrato, the original birthplace of Ruché. It is here that Eugenio Gatti devotes his life’s work to producing 840 transcendent cases of wine each year.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Germany
Weingut Keller ‘Von der Fels Riesling’ Trocken, Rheinhessen 2016 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: The wine name translates to ‘from the rock’ and is a tribute to the slatey soils in which the vines are grown. Bone dry with excellent cellaring potential.
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Is Felsina the overall best Chianti?
Many say so.
You?
Breaking News – Arriving in September:
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($37.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “A deep, powerful wine, the 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva has quite a bit of depth for a cool, late-ripening vintage. Sage, tobacco, menthol, smoke and dark cherry hit the palate in a deep, beautifully layered Chianti Classico endowed with real personality and class. This is another terrific wine from Fèlsina. Hints of leather, smoke and licorice reappear on the deeply expressive, virile finish.”
Arriving in August:
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Fèlsina’s 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia bristles with energy, with veins of underlying acidity that give the wine its focus and drive. Dark red cherry, plum, rose petal, herb and licorice are some of the signatures. Most of the Fèlsina Chianti Classicos are defined by their dark fruit and savory notes, but the Rancia is also wonderfully bright and lifted from start to finish while staying very much true to the house style. Today, the Rancia gives the impression it will unwind at a glacial pace. I imagine most bottles of the 2013 will be drunk before the wine truly enters its prime.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Here is another highlight of the vintage. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a dark, moody and sophisticated wine. It does not reveal itself immediately or in any obvious way. Instead, it doses out its intensity in careful measurements. The whole performance is seductive to say the least. That slow momentum leads to dark cherry with spice, grilled herb, wet earth and dried rose. Felsina’s Riserva Rancia is a very elegant wine, both on the nose and in the mouth.”
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Gorgeous and soft, the 2013 Fontalloro is another landmark wine from this classic vintage. There is enormous intensity here and the wine is only at the beginning of its long aging trajectory. I suggest you put off drinking it for five to ten more years. There is evident thickness and generosity here, especially in the way those bold fruit flavors are woven between dark spice and leather. There are sour accents on the close that remind you of the wine’s youth. The tannins are fine and well integrated.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of plums, clay tiles and sage follow through to a full to medium body, silky tannins and a linear and racy finish. Love the underlying freshness and brightness to this. Excellent. A little tannic now, so better in 2018”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Fontalloro shows the richer, creamier style of the vintage while maintaining plenty of Fèlsina character. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark stone fruits as the 2013 shows off its personality. Fontalloro naturally doesn’t have the pure energy of Rancia, but it will drink well with just a few more years in bottle. Fontalloro is the most overt and ripe of the Fèlsina wines with the exception of the Colonia. A hint of French oak shapes the supple, inviting finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Francesco Rinaldi
Beautiful, Traditional Barolo and More
The estate of Francesco Rinaldi crafts wines from the Piedmonte that are everything we love—traditionally made and affordable. From white (to nearly rose) to red, all of the wines they produce have attractive balance, with good fruit and bright, fresh flavors. We’re lucky enough to be getting the whole lineup, including two 2013 Barolo cru wines.
2013 is shaping up to be a legendary year in Barolo, on par with 2001 and the other great years of the past. We know that Septemberis a ways off, but we wanted to give you a chance to start locking these wines in now so you can make sure you’re appropriately stocked up.
Arriving in September:
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Gavi DOCG, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
“Its color is light straw-yellow. The scent is fresh and fruity. The taste is dry and delicate. It perfectly matches with hors d’oeuvres, fish and white meat.”–Winery note
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($27.95) $24 pre-arrival special
“The color is intense ruby red with purple reflections. The scent is winey and ethereal. The taste is dry, intense, well-bodied. It is suitable to drink at any meal.”–Winery note
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Grignolino d’Asti, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $16 pre-arrival special
“Its color is light ruby red. The smell is subtle with scent of rose. Its taste is fresh, flowery and mild to the palate. It perfectly matches with hors d’oeuvres, soups, fish and white meat.”–Winery note
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Nebbiolo d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($29.95) $26 pre-arrival special
“Its color is ruby red with garnet reflections. Its smell is ethereal and persisting with scents of flowers and fresh fruit. Its taste is dry, intense, well-bodied. It is suitable to drink at any meal.”–Winery note
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barolo Brunate, Barolo 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
“Its color is ruby garnet red with slightly orange reflections after ageing. The smell is ethereal, wide and embracing with scents of rose, violet and soft balmy notes. The taste is dry, severe, savoury and harmonic. It matches very well with red and braised meat, game and cheese.”–Winery note
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: Cannubi is possibly the most legendary vineyard in Barolo and this shows why. It’s a dense wine with immense power, but with the uplifting grace of the 2013 and Rinaldi’s light touch. This would be a shame to drink before it turns 15, but will likely impress its entire life.
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Thank you for reading!