WillaKenzie 2012 & 2013; Classic and Neo-Classic Barolo: Giacosa and Vietti; New December Sales: Terre Nere; VinopolPicks of the Week: Cantalupo, Eminent Domaine, Sixto Chardonnay; Arriving from Allegrini: Amarone 2012 and Palazzo della Torre 2013; More Wines Arriving Friday: Ruinart 2004, Marie Courtin Resonance 2013
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WillaKenzie Pinot Noirs at Mouth-Watering Prices
Arriving Friday
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Kiana’ Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($51.99) $39 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Distinctive, spicy, complex and inviting, featuring a curled-up ball of blackberry, cherry, Earl Grey tea and spice flavors, pushing against refined tannins into a long and reverberating finish. Best from 2017 through 2022. 800 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $70
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Kiana’ Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($51.99) $39 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Fresh and pleasantly pointed, with crisp tannins on a medium frame, offering lively, generous cherry and floral flavors that persist into a deftly structured finish. Best from 2017 through 2021. 600 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $52
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Triple Black Slopes’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($61.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “Skiers will appreciate the nom de vin, a reference to the steepness of the vineyard. Firm and concentrated, this mixes ripe cherries and red plums, baking spices and a streak of minerality. It’s a big, chunky, flavorful wine that rides on through a luscious finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $62
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Terres Basses’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($61.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Sleek and lively, dripping with black cherry, guava and chai tea flavors, coming together smoothly on the long, reverberating finish. The polished tannins don’t get in the way. Drink now through 2022. 500 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $60
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Terres Basses’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($61.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Big, dark and rich, the black-cherry fruit is veined with iron ore. That resonant minerality, along with zippy acids, makes this wine seem especially dry. Tannins are polished and flavors linger magnificently, with a mocha-java finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $62
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Emery’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($51.99) $39 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Sleek, open-textured and distinctive, with plum and red currant fruit. Shadings of orange peel and cardamom add to the complex, polished finish. Drink now through 2022. 800 cases made”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $47
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Emery’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($51.99) $39 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Lithe and open-textured, offering well-focused cherry, dark plum and floral flavors on a generous frame. Offers a light-footed finish, with fine tannins. Drink now through 2023. 800 cases made”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $52
WillaKenzie Estate ‘Aliette’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($51.99) $39 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “Light and tangy, with juicy cherry, raspberry, white chocolate and spice flavors, coming together seamlessly on the lively finish and lingering against fine tannins. Drink now through 2021. 700 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $53
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Also Arriving Friday
Don’t Wait For Christmas …
Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs Millesime Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($199.95) $139 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2004 Dom Ruinart is just as brilliant and viscerally thrilling as it has always been. If anything, the 2004 has shut down considerably over the last six months. Tightly coiled and exceptionally beautiful, the 2004 boasts fabulous intensity, class and pedigree. The flavors are vibrant, chiseled and crystalline in their precision. Time in bottle is doing wonders for the 2004. This is a tremendous showing.” AG
Marie Courtin Resonance Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The (2013) Extra Brut Resonance, is wonderfully fleshy, open-knit and expressive. Creamy and ample the Resonance boasts impeccable balance in this vintage. The Resonance, one of Marie Courtin’s 100% Pinot Noir Champagnes, can at times be angular and austere upon release. Happily, that is not the case here at all. Hints of smoke, slate, dried pear and red stone fruits built into the expressive, open-knit finish. The 2013 Resonance is one of the most impressive and complete young Champagnes I have tasted from proprietor Dominique Moreau. Disgorged: January 2016.”
Vinopolnote- technically a NV Champagne, but our bottling is 100% 2013; and the Resonance that we’ve been waiting for- a peer to the here-to-fore matchless 2010.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOCG, Veneto 2012 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “A dense and rich Amarone with soft and velvety tannins, lots of ripe-fruit flavors and tar, coffee and raisin undertones. Flavorful finish. Generous wine. Full-throttle. Drink or hold.”
Allegrini Palazzo della Torre Veronese IGT, Veneto 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 92 points “A linear and fresh red with pretty layers of ripe fruit. Full to medium body. Gorgeous. Drink now.”
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado! Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25.
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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Barolo: A Pair of Producers, United in Quality
Available Here Now
We’re pleased to highlight a few rare wines, some from Bruno Giacosa, some from Vietti. Both wineries are known for their uncompromising approach to quality and for their service to the terroir of Barolo
Giacosa: The End of an Era? Always a Classic
It’s no secret that the wines of Bruno Giacosa are some of the most coveted and dramatic wines in the world. What gets talked about less is that in 2008, his longtime oenologist/winemaker Dante Scaglione left, with a marked impact on the quality of the wines since.
That’s why we’ve been trying our hardest to get our hands on as much pre-2008 Giacosa Barolo as possible and we’re pleased to present a few wines that will go down as from the last of the glory vintages of the winery.
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.”
The average listed price for this wine is $210!
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2007 750ML ($249.95) $189 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Spectator 96 points “An elegant, fruity style, boasting raspberry, cherry and floral aromas and flavors. This is pure and delicate for the commune, with fine intensity, finesse and depth. The tannins mesh beautifully with the wine’s silky texture, ending with an excellent finish. Just surprisingly open and approachable. Best from 2014 through 2032”
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good deep red. Perfumed, complex nose melds plum, red cherry, mocha, tobacco, wild herbs and spices. Sweet, silky and seamless, with almost painful intensity to its fruit if not yet as complex in the mouth as on the nose. Healthy acidity accentuates the wine’s perfume. Finishes with very suave tannins and outstanding floral persistence. Said Dante Scaglione: “I thought 2007 in Serralunga would be great from the moment of the harvest.”
Falletto di Bruno Giacosa ‘Falletto’, Barolo DOCG 2008 1.5L ($419.95) $319 special, 7 bottles available
96 Points Wine Spectator “Warm and chewy, this red exhibits cedar, sandalwood, tobacco and leather accents enhancing the core of cherry and raspberry. As this plays out on the palate, the wine turns more supple and vibrant, building to the long, expansive finish. Best from 2016 through 2035.”WS
Vietti’s Neo-Classicism
Vietti is a classic producer working in a neo-classic style, in our minds. The wines aren’t ultra-traditional, but they do combine what Luca Currado values most about traditional wines of the Piedmont with modern cellar practices. The result is a set of wines that show tons of Nebbiolo character and distinct terroir signatures, but with an elegance that’s all Vietti.
Vietti Barbaresco Masseria, Barbaresco DOCG 2006 3L ($499.95) $399 special, 1 double-magnum available
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Good deep red. Medicinal cherry and violet on the nose, with a hint of nuts. Sweet and fresh, with excellent inner-mouth energy and floral lift. But this also boasts an opulent texture, with the sweet tannins arriving late. I find this softer than the 2005 version, but again these tannins reminded me of a Barolo.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vietti Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2006 3L ($829.95) $699 special, 1 double-magnum available
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Bravo! The Brunate cru has awarded Vietti with a stellar product: a wine that is unusually dark and plush with impressive intensity and crafted aromas of black fruit, spice, earth, licorice, balsam and gianduia chocolate-hazelnut spread. The soft, velvety texture is seductively delicious and the wine will age many long, glorious years.”
Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Good medium red. Perfumed aromas of camphor, brown spices and menthol. Silky-sweet and aromatic in the mouth, with lovely class and a light touch for a wine with such a plush texture-no doubt due to a mineral element that reminded me of Musigny. Very intensely flavored, suave Brunate with an impressive rising finish. A superb showing: this has the structure for a slow evolution in bottle but the complexity to give it considerable early appeal.”
Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2007 1.5L ($449.95) $349 special, 2 magnums available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2007 Barolo Lazzarito is a superb, plush wine loaded with dark fruit, flowers of all sorts, sweet menthol and minerals, all of which flow through to the long, powerful finish. The wine’s inner perfume emerges over time, adding even more nuance and subtlety to this big Barolo. The 2007 Lazzarito is far from an open, easygoing wine, in fact it needs time, and lots of it. Anticipated maturity: 2022-2042.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vietti Brunate, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2011 Barolo Brunate is a wine of enormous pedigree, although it does not fully reach the aspiring heights of the 2010 and 2009 vintages immediately before it. Those wines set the bar so high, you need to settle for this wine that is a masterpiece in its own right. It offers deep, dark intensity with generous tones of ripe fruit, blackberry and red currant. Background notes of rosemary, cherry cola and licorice add vitality and focus. There is a subtle touch of softness in the mouth that is followed by firm tannins.” ML
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “A dark, exotic Barolo, the 2011 Brunate boasts tons of density and volume. Black cherry, plum, spice, licorice, new leather and menthol are some of the many nuances that flesh out in the glass. Ultimately, though, the 2011 is largely defined by the texture and amplitude of the year. Brunate is often slow out of the gate, so I will not be surprised if that is the case here as well. Ideally, readers should plan on giving the 2011 at least a few years in bottle to fully come together.” AG
Vietti Lazzarito, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is a landmark wine and one of the best expressions made region-wide in this challenging vintage. The bouquet is gorgeous thanks to the never-ending aromas of dark fruit, licorice and balsam herb that peel off the top. The Lazzarito vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba is characterized by thick soils and deep shifts between daytime and nighttime temperatures. These are important factors that lead to quality fruit despite the summer heat.” ML
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2011 Barolo Lazzarito is fabulous in this vintage. Rich, ample and structured, the 2011 is both opulent and savory in style. Iron, plums, dark red cherries, smoke, licorice and tobacco meld together in a remarkably harmonious young Serralunga Barolo. This is the first year the Vietti Lazzarito includes a second recently acquired parcel, which may be one of the factors that influences quality, but at the same time, the Lazzarito has been the most improved Barolo in the range. All the elements come together in the 2011, a wine that has it all. This is a great showing from the Lazzarito. Best of all, readers won’t have to wait forever to enjoy this beautiful, pedigreed Barolo.” AG
Vietti Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2009 Barolo Rocche is a solid, unwavering expression that brings the intensity meter even higher. Sweet red fruit, licorice, leather and moist pipe tobacco are some of the many layers that peel back from the bouquet. The balance, structure and persistence of the wine are all superb. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2036” WA
Vietti Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Antonio Galloni–Vinous 95 points “Vietti’s 2011 Barolo Rocche is rich and sumptuous in this vintage, with gorgeous textural resonance. The classic Rocche signatures are present, but the 2011 has a bit more body than is often the case. Freshly cut flowers mint, sweet spices and rose petals form a hugely appeal fabric of flavors and textures. Voluptuous and racy in the glass yet with plenty of nuance and finesse, the 2011 Rocche captures the very best qualities of the year. All things considered, this is one of the more subtle wines of the year.” AG
Wine Advocate 94 points “Previously known as Barolo Rocche, the 2011 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione now boasts the full name of its vineyard designate. It shows profound fruit intensity with dark layers of blackcurrant and exotic spice. The overall effect is enriched, opulent and velvety. A firm tannic backbone is paired to bright acidity to fuel the wine’s considerable persistence and its rich structured texture. The beauty of the wine will only improve in time.”
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December Sales
Here Now
Latest Addition: A Taste of Etna
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Vigne Niche’ Bianco Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “I was delighted by the 2013 Etna Bianco Cuvèe delle Vigne Niche because it shows a broader style that I did not expect. This is a pure expression of Carricante from vines that are up to 60 years old in age. It sees brief oak contact. You get a pure sense of mineral dryness at first, but that layer lifts gracefully to expose orange peel, dried jasmine and exotic fruit at the back. This Etna white delivers a firm style with muscle and density. It should evolve nicely over the next five years.”
Ian D’agata–Vinous 91 points “Deep straw-gold. Yellow flowers, minerals, fennel and a smoky note on the nose. Densely packed, bright and juicy, offering rich orchard fruit and botanical herb flavors. Finishes vibrant, complex and long. This was fermented in oak and aged for about nine months in 20-hectoliter barrels.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the only listing for a 750ML in the USA today!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna, Sicily 2012 750ML ($47.95), Was $39, Now $33 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “A firm and chewy version, offering sappy cherry and berry fruit that shows stylish accents of cocoa powder and oak spice, with a subtle vein of smoky mineral. Fresh and mouthwatering, with a grippy, spicy finish. Best from 2016 through 2024.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95), Was $39, Now $33 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 93 points “Bright red. Captivating nose combines red cherry, faded red rose, violet and tar; I know everyone speaks of Etna in terms of Burgundy, but this reminds me a lot more of a great Nebbiolo! Then pure and penetrating on the palate, with rich red cherry and raspberry flavors complicated by minerals and tar. Complex and long on the fine-grained finish. This outstanding wine possesses a measure of depth and complexity that the other crus in 2013, as wonderful as they are, don’t have.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “My mind wanders to the immense beauty of this stunning vineyard site when I taste the 2013 Etna Rosso Guardiola. Throughout my many years covering Italian wine, this is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever had the honor to visit. That otherworldly beauty – with volcanic stone walls, knotted pre-phelloxera vines, cherry trees and wild flowers with little shrines to the Madonna peeping through the vines – is forever etched in my memory. Guardiola is among my favorite Etna Contrade. This is a shapely and sophisticated expression with dark fruit tones of cassis and blackcurrant backed by crushed mineral and dried flowers. The tannins are firm and drying. This vintage far exceeds my expectations.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($24.95), Was $19, Now $17 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “A perfumed, light- to medium-bodied red, with crushed raspberry, mineral and spice flavors. Light tannins show on the supple finish. Elegant and very drinkable. Drink now through 2021.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95), Was $39, Now $33 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 92 points “Dark red. Strong stony minerality currently overshadows aromas of red cherry and raspberry. Penetrating and vibrant on the palate, with red berry and mineral flavors displaying noteworthy purity and complexity. Lingers long on the youthfully chewy finish, which features a bright mineral overlay and a violet topnote. This cru is located at roughly the same altitude as Feudo di Mezzo but the soil is extremely gravelly. It’s almost always the most Burgundian of Terre Nere’s many crus and it’s no different this year. Only about 800 meter walk away from the Feudo di Mezzo Quadro delle Rose vineyard, but the wines are a world apart.”
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2013 Etna Rosso Calderara Sottana shows a different personality compared to Tenuta delle Terre Nere’s other single-vineyard expressions. Calderara Sottana offers more balsamic definition with wild fennel, rosemary spring, dark fruit and scorched earth. To my palate, it is the most ethereal of the bunch and the hardest to pin down given that the aromas are in constant evolution and flux. Pretty fruit and berry tones fill in the back. Despite the enormous definition presented on the bouquet, the wine is more immediate and direct in the mouth. Bright berry is followed by ash, smoke and dusty tannins. This vintage feels less complex overall but it should age nicely. ”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2012 750ML ($47.95), Was $41.90, Now $33 special
James Suckling 94 points “I love the dried-strawberry, chocolate, nut and plum character to this. Full body, dusty tannins and a juicy, fresh finish. Excellent acidity, too. Better in 2016.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95), Was $39, Now $33 special
Ian D’agata–Vinous 91 points “Vivid red. Earth tones and licorice on the nose. Then fruitier and large-scaled in the mouth, offering ripe red fruit and botanical herb flavors that carry through a long, vibrant, chewy finish. The polished tannins provide lovely backbone to the rich red fruit flavors. This is always the first cru to be harvested, roughly two weeks ahead of Guardiola, which is located about 350 meters higher.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna, Sicily 2012 750ML ($47.95), Was $39, Now $33 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Though medium-bodied and elegant overall, there’s a density to this spicy red. Sinewy tannins wrap around a juicy core of crushed black raspberry and rich loamy earth flavors, accented by hints of bergamot and mocha. Drink now through 2022”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna, Sicily 2013 750ML ($49.95), Was $39, Now $33 special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2013 Etna Rosso Santo Spirito is an abundant and enriched expression from the darkened volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna Santo Spirito runs through parts of Passopisciaro at the heart of Etna’s best production zones. This gorgeous wine opens to a dark garnet appearance with inkier colors of crimson and ruby. Crisp and crunchy tones of wild berry, cranberry, red rose and dark mineral characterize the mouthfeel. This was a difficult vintage that saw slow and uneven ripening for many producers. Marco De Grazia has evidently mastered when to harvest his fruit at optimal ripeness.”
For the complete list of wines on sale for the month of December, see the bottom of this newsletter!
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
Can’t decide on the perfect gift?
Let them!
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store.
To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Ready-to-Drink VinopolPicks
In-Stock Now
Eminent Domaine ‘First Protocol’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote: A newer winery in the Willamette Valley, Eminent Domain made it onto the map quickly. Critics have praised the wines, and we were lucky to get our hands on some. The 2013 First Protocol Pinot Noir consists of all estate-grown Ribbon Ridge fruit, and it shows the Oregon character of a classic cooler vintage, one which winemakers themselves prefer to the last string of hot ones. This wine offers glassfuls of red Pinot fruit laced with a spice rack assortment of overlying notes, and an underlying grace that is the signature of 2013. Here’s an Oregon Pinot to drink while the dense and structured 2014s take their time to come around.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marques de Vargas Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Marques de Vargas Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2009 750ML ($299.95) $236 special
VinopolNote: If you have any affinity for Rioja wine, for Tempranillo blends, drink this wine. Classic Rioja with a twist: some Cabernet Sauvignon makes its way into the blend, adding a luscious element to the already delicious wine. Concentrated without being dense, smoothly tannic, and wonderfully balanced, this Reserva has had enough time to evolve into a true Spanish beauty, at a terrific price. See for yourself.
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 Points “(75% tempranillo, 10% mazuelo, 10% cabernet sauvignon and 5% garnacha): Saturated ruby. Assertive aromas of raspberry, rose oil and oak spice show very good intensity and focus. Smooth, sweet and spicy, with ripe red and dark berry flavors, a subtle vanilla nuance and strong back-end lift. Sweet and energetic on the long, floral finish, which shows no rough edges. This is pretty delicious and looks just about ready to go.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($44.95) $38 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Antichi Vigneti di Cantalupo ‘Cantalupo Anno Primo’ Colline Novaresi, Piedmont 2009 750ML ($479.95) $399 special
VinopolNote: Set in the rolling Alpine foothills 25 miles west-northwest of Milan, on morainic soil suited especially well to Nebbiolo, it’s no surprise people have been growing wine in Ghemme since Neolithic times. Cantalupo continues this tradition, having made a reputation as one of Ghemme’s best wineries. The Anno Primo 2009 impresses immediately. Smoothed and refined by bottle time, the wine’s medium body lets the fruit shine through—cherries, strawberries, blueberries—alongside dry, mellow tannins. If you like Barolo or Barbaresco, but don’t want to wait eons for the wine to mellow, or empty your pocketbook, seek out a Cantalupo wine. Anno Primo is the place to start.
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2009 Cantalupo Anno Primo is a gorgeous, super-classic Ghemme. Rosewater, bright red cherry, geranium, tobacco, pine and mint are beautifully delineated throughout. Aromatically intense and focused, the 2009 shows exactly what makes Nebbiolo from Ghemme so delicious. This is an absolutely gorgeous wine that won’t break the bank. At times, the aromatic signatures are quite reminiscent of Mascarello’s Barolo Monprivato, although the tannic and acid signatures are very much those of Ghemme.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
R. Dumont & Fils Solera Reserve, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 32 bottles available
VinopolNote: “It’s really cool to find a Champagne that’s got a hefty dose of older base wine in it and the Dumont Solera reserve is special as a result. They first filled the solera tanks in 1991, so there’s still a little bit of that wine floating around, along with a bit of every vintage since. The result is a wine that both has lots of freshness (which you’d expect from a current release NV Champagne) but also has some of those deep smokey and toasty notes that you only get when your wine has a chance to age. A real find and stellar for the price.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(made from a blend of 20 vintages, with 1991 as its base; roughly 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay; 6 g/l dosage): Pale yellow. A wild, assertively perfumed bouquet displays scents of mineral-accented poached pear, honey, toasted nuts and smoky lees, with a suave floral element building in the glass. Stains the palate with ripe orchard and pit fruit flavors, along with suggestions of buttered toast, marzipan and bitter lemon pith. Shows excellent clarity and power on the finish, which clings with strong fruity persistence. This complex, concentrated Champagne would be fantastic with aged or blue cheeses.”
Charles Smith ‘Sixto’ Moxee Chardonnay, Washington State 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 18 bottles available
VinopolNote: Chardonnay to reckon with, made by Washington’s notorious winemaker Charles Smith. The Sixto label only represents the Chardonnay grape, in Smith’s effort to revitalize interest in this variety, while making good use of old vines. Fans of big Chard will appreciate this formidable effort, which is four years old and drinking like a rockstar.
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2012 Chardonnay Moxee Vineyard comes from a site that lies at 1,400 feet in elevation and a mix of basalt and limestone soils. More exotic than the Frenchman Hills Chardonnay, with lots of chamomile, lemon, spice and toasty notes, it has lively acidity, plenty of texture and a clean, brilliantly focused finish. It’s another terrific Chardonnay to enjoy over the coming couple of years.”
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December Sales Recap
We’re up to 66 wines on sale through the month of December! These sales expire December 31st at midnight
Read reviews and browse the full selection of sale wines by searching for “December Sale” on our web store – we’re also happy to talk you through the offerings if you email us at info@vinopoliswineshop.com or call 503-223-6002.
