In Today’s Newsletter:
A Quartet of Goodfellow Subscriber Specials
Freshly Restocked
Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon Shipping Special
First Offer: Saint Cosme’s 2018 Gigondas
Arriving Friday
A Dual 94 Point Super Tuscan – Under $40
Abbatucci Blanc at the Lowest Price in the Country
Don’t Miss Out On
Our 2015 Huet Subscriber Sale
Clos Rougeard Subscriber Special
Trending
Collector’s Corner
Top Wines From Domaine Fourrier
A Quartet of Goodfellow Subscriber Specials
Freshly Restocked
Marcus Goodfellow is one of the premier winemakers in Oregon. He founded Matello wines, his original label, in 2002 and hasn’t looked back since, making wines that have continually improved—both in bottle and from vintage to vintage. These are profound wines, both white and red, that are made in a style that’s distinctly savory—no fruit bombs here. Rather, we love them for their coiled power and Burgundian structure.
Like most wineries in the Willamette Valley, Marcus has been hit hard by the recent restaurant shutdown, and so we’re working with him to bring a bunch of wines to you at much lower prices than normal. It puts (much needed) cash in the wineries pocket and allows you to save a ton on wines that already over-delivered at their original prices.
We launched this quartet of Subscriber Specials over the weekend to a great response—enough that we had to get the winery to bring more wine yesterday! These previously sold out (or close to it) wines are now fully stocked and ready for your sheltering-in-place tables.
Like most wineries in the Willamette Valley, Marcus has been hit hard by the recent restaurant shutdown, and so we’re working with him to bring a bunch of wines to you at much lower prices than normal. It puts (much needed) cash in the wineries pocket and allows you to save a ton on wines that already over-delivered at their original prices.
We launched this quartet of Subscriber Specials over the weekend to a great response—enough that we had to get the winery to bring more wine yesterday! These previously sold out (or close to it) wines are now fully stocked and ready for your sheltering-in-place tables.
Subscriber Special #1
A Special 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot at Special Pricing
A Special 2016 Willamette Valley Pinot at Special Pricing
Our first of the Goodfellow Subscriber Specials is a wine that we’ve never sold at retail before, technically—a special “restaurant edition” of the 2016 Goodfellow Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. The regular ’16 Willamette Valley was one of our bestselling bottles when we had it in and this new wine offers even more value. First of all, we’re able to offer it to you for even less than the original WV went for—under $20 a bottle, which is a stellar price for a wine of this quantity. If you’re willing to commit to a half or a full case (and why wouldn’t you?) the price gets truly nuts: $16.50/btl or just $15.75 respectively.
The wine itself is a slightly different blend than the “regular” bottling, emphasizing a bit more fruit and softer, more elegant tannins. Its base is made from the Bednarik vineyard (the star vineyard for Panther Creek in the late 90’s and a hidden gem in the Willamette Valley), which provides a rich, textured core that has plenty of Goodfellow zest and savoriness. The other main vineyards are layered in as well, with Durant providing florals and fruit, Whistling Ridge spice and structure and Fir Crest bringing some earth and color to the mix.
The resulting wine is one of the most delicious, complete bottles of WV Pinot we’ve tasted for the price. As you’d expect of a wine blended for glass pouring, this is fantastic out of the gate, no need to age this one. We’re sure it’ll improve over the next 5ish years, but if you’re looking for a Willamette wine to keep you company during a self-quarantine, you should pop (many) of them now.
A special restaurant reserve bottling of the Willamette Valley Pinot Noir!
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($129.95) $99 special (that’s only $16.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($219.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
This is (technically) the only listing the USA today!
The average price on the 2016 WVPN is $27
The average price on the 2016 WVPN is $27
Subscriber Special #2
Your New House White?
Goodfellow “Dundee Hills” at Exceptional Pricing
Your New House White?
Goodfellow “Dundee Hills” at Exceptional Pricing
Unlike the last wine, the “Dundee Hills” bottling of Chardonnay has been a mainstay over the last year. Made primarily from the Lark Block of Durant Vineyard, this is a classic Goodfellow Chard. It’s now $5 per bottle cheaper than it was yesterday, so stock up. At $24, this was one of the better deals in Willamette Chard. At $19, welcome to your new house white.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($29.95) Was $24, Now $19 Subscriber Special, 24+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 90+ points “The fruit for the Dundee Hills bottling of chardonnay from Marcus Goodfellow all hails from the Durant Vineyard. The wine is excellent aromatically, wafting from the glass in a complex and slightly reductive blend of pear, apple, almond, iodine, a good base of soil and a well done framing of new oak. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and youthfully closed, with a good core of fruit, lovely soil signature, zesty acids and fine balance on the long and vibrant finish. This is perfectly drinkable today, if one decants it a bit and unlocks the reduction, but it is built to age and will be an even better dink with some bottle age. 2020-2035. 90+.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Subscriber Special #3
Staff Pick: Syrah From…The Willamette Valley?
At Even Better Pricing
Staff Pick: Syrah From…The Willamette Valley?
At Even Better Pricing
We originally ran this staff pick a few months ago. Now that we’ve gone ahead and dropped the price on Marcus’ 2015 Syrah Reserve, well… an already exceptional wine is now even more of a must-buy.
Saul:
At first glance, the Willamette Valley might seem like an odd place to grow Syrah—after all, we think of Syrah as a warmth loving grape. That said, when you look at the historical temperatures in the Northern Rhone combined with the volcanic soils that define both the Valley and areas like Cote Rotie, you start to wonder about the possibilities of the grape here. Cristom has occasionally released them, but we recently tasted one of the finest bottles of Syrah I’ve had from Oregon.
You might know that Marcus Goodfellow makes Syrah from Deux Vert Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton, but in 2015 he produced a Syrah Reserve bottling—and boy is it fantastic. The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result. While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over the top fruit here. It reminded me of really high quality St. Joseph, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone. I’m grabbing some for now and some for the cellar—it’s delicious now but I suspect it’s going to be a stunner in a decade.
In Stock Now:
Goodfellow Family Cellars Deux Vert Reserve Syrah, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) Was $36, Now $31.90 Subscriber Special, 35 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91+ points “Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard (Reserve) bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
VinopolNote: The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result. While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over-the-top fruit here. This reminds us of high quality Northern Rhone wines, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone. One for the table with some air or for the cellar.
Saul:
At first glance, the Willamette Valley might seem like an odd place to grow Syrah—after all, we think of Syrah as a warmth loving grape. That said, when you look at the historical temperatures in the Northern Rhone combined with the volcanic soils that define both the Valley and areas like Cote Rotie, you start to wonder about the possibilities of the grape here. Cristom has occasionally released them, but we recently tasted one of the finest bottles of Syrah I’ve had from Oregon.
You might know that Marcus Goodfellow makes Syrah from Deux Vert Vineyard in Yamhill-Carlton, but in 2015 he produced a Syrah Reserve bottling—and boy is it fantastic. The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result. While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over the top fruit here. It reminded me of really high quality St. Joseph, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone. I’m grabbing some for now and some for the cellar—it’s delicious now but I suspect it’s going to be a stunner in a decade.
In Stock Now:
Goodfellow Family Cellars Deux Vert Reserve Syrah, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($47.95) Was $36, Now $31.90 Subscriber Special, 35 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91+ points “Marcus Goodfellow’s 2015 Deux Vert Vineyard (Reserve) bottling of Syrah includes five percent viognier, which grows alongside these syrah vines, which were the first to be planted in the Willamette Valley in 1994. The 2015 version comes in at 13.8 percent octane and delivers a refined and red fruity bouquet of raspberries, pepper, woodsmoke, roasted meats, lovely soil tones, plenty of spice elements and a nice framing of cedary oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and rock solid at the core, with excellent transparency and grip, ripe tannins and a long, focused and nascently complex finish. This will be a lovely bottle in due course, but it needs some time in the cellar to allow its backend tannins to resolve a bit. Fine juice. 2030- 2055+. 91+.”
VinopolNote: The Reserve bottling spent longer in barrel (over 30 months) and was selected for structure, savoriness and power. Like most of Marcus’ wines, there’s a lot of whole-cluster fermentation in this bottling and it definitely reads as more “serious” as a result. While the wine is rich and intense, don’t expect over-the-top fruit here. This reminds us of high quality Northern Rhone wines, with dark, fresh fruits and a distinct meaty, savory overtone. One for the table with some air or for the cellar.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Looking for a Syrah with a playful, floral side? Check out the “standard” bottling from ’13
Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2013 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Bright violet. Smoke-tinged dark berries and pungent flowers on the nose. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and cassis flavors that take a sweeter turn on the back half. Dusty tannins make a late appearance and add gentle grip to the smooth, energetic finish.”
Winery note “From the Willamette Valley’s first planting of Syrah, this cool climate, low alcohol wine will redefine your idea of the possibilities of new-world Syrah. If you like your Syrah French, here is a kindred but one of a kind wine from Oregon.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Subscriber Special #4
’15 Whistling Ridge Pinot from the Winery’s Cellar
’15 Whistling Ridge Pinot from the Winery’s Cellar
Whistling Ridge is Marcus Goodfellow’s Cros Parantoux—a site he seems to have particular affinity with, producing exceptional wines. It’s located on top of a hill in Ribbon Ridge, adjoining Patricia Green and the Beaux Freres Upper Terrace. This is often his most “Burgundian” bottling and takes a few years to open up.
Case in point: the now-stunning 2015 edition, which showed immeasurable promise when young (but not very much immediate pleasure). Recently, though, the wine seems to have turned a corner and offers an exceptional experience. Red cherry, spice and orange notes linger over a powerful palate that features a beautiful measure of red and black fruit over a beam of mineral energy. It’s gonna age for a while more, but is delicious right now. Marcus has been generous enough to pull a few cases out of the winery’s library and we’re excited to re-release it to you today.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “From a vineyard planted in 1990, the pale to medium ruby colored 2015 Pinot Noir Whistling Ridge Vineyard has a spicy nose of coriander, warm cinnamon, potpourri and dried leaves over a core of baked cranberry and red cherry fruit with meaty/savory touches. Light to medium-bodied, it has spice-laced red fruits in the mouth, with a great frame of fine-grained tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing very long and very spicy. 270 cases produced.”
VinopolNote “Whistling Ridge has become Marcus Goodfellow’s Cros Parantoux—a vineyard that somehow went overlooked but now produces exceptional wines in the right hands. Nestled on the ridgetop abutting the Beaux Freres Upper Terrace, wines from Whistling Ridge tend to be compact and powerful-built for aging. Lots of spice and floral notes blend with a mix of black and red fruits for a stellar wine that’s one of the best versions yet.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Be a Friend/Tell a Friend
About Our Oregon Shipping Special
Now extended through April!
Free Oregon Ground Shipping on Orders Over $120
Looking for our great deals and shipping specials to continue? Tell a friend who’s not on our email list to take advantage of this great offer and keep us busy in these unusual times!
First Offer
Saint Cosme’s 2018 Gigondas
“largely plush, sumptuous wines, many of which are delicious already.” – Joe Czerwinski, The Wine Advocate, on the 2018 vintage in the Southern Rhone
“For me, 2018 is a top vintage. The tannins are long and deep.” – Marc Perrin, Perrin Famille/Château de Beaucastel
Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures. To highlight these varying terroirs, the estate bottles a handful of single vineyard Gigondas which are the most interesting and coveted wines in the portfolio.
The 2018’s are some of the best wines they’ve yet made. The Valbelle cuvee is gone—blended in to the base level Gigondas. The remaining single vineyards are stunning. From the “best of everything” Hominis Fides to the more elegant Le Claux or the richer, more powerful Le Poste, these are a world-beating set of wine—at fantastic, best in country pricing. If past is precedent, these will sell out quickly, so secure your wines immediately.
Arriving ETA July:
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($269.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 1.5L ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Blended on the spot from several different barrels, the 2018 Gigondas looks very promising. Asphalt, black cherries and tapenade feature on the nose, while the palate is almost painfully intense, with ample weight, great richness and a long, velvety finish.-JC”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “Moving to the Gigondas releases, the 2018 Gigondas (which now always includes the grapes that previously went into the Valbelle cuvée) is a drop-dead gorgeous wine that readers should snatch up. Tons of blackberry fruit, peppery herbs, violets, and wildflower notes all give way to a medium to full-bodied Gigondas that has the rounded, sexy style of the vintage front and center. I love it, and while it’s going to be drinkable right out of the gate, it’s going to keep for 15-20 years.”
“For me, 2018 is a top vintage. The tannins are long and deep.” – Marc Perrin, Perrin Famille/Château de Beaucastel
Saint Cosme is one of the notable estates of the Southern Rhone. Louis Barroul is a talented winemaker and is the 14th generation of his family to make wines in the domaine that was founded in the 1500’s. The wines he makes are rich and powerful, with undeniable terroir signatures. To highlight these varying terroirs, the estate bottles a handful of single vineyard Gigondas which are the most interesting and coveted wines in the portfolio.
The 2018’s are some of the best wines they’ve yet made. The Valbelle cuvee is gone—blended in to the base level Gigondas. The remaining single vineyards are stunning. From the “best of everything” Hominis Fides to the more elegant Le Claux or the richer, more powerful Le Poste, these are a world-beating set of wine—at fantastic, best in country pricing. If past is precedent, these will sell out quickly, so secure your wines immediately.
Arriving ETA July:
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($44.95) $38 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 750ML ($269.95) $219 pre-arrival special (that’s only $36.50/bottle!)
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2018 1.5L ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “Blended on the spot from several different barrels, the 2018 Gigondas looks very promising. Asphalt, black cherries and tapenade feature on the nose, while the palate is almost painfully intense, with ample weight, great richness and a long, velvety finish.-JC”
Jeb Dunnuck 92-94 points “Moving to the Gigondas releases, the 2018 Gigondas (which now always includes the grapes that previously went into the Valbelle cuvée) is a drop-dead gorgeous wine that readers should snatch up. Tons of blackberry fruit, peppery herbs, violets, and wildflower notes all give way to a medium to full-bodied Gigondas that has the rounded, sexy style of the vintage front and center. I love it, and while it’s going to be drinkable right out of the gate, it’s going to keep for 15-20 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only twenty four bottles available
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 points “A step up, the 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides offers slightly more mid-palate depth and richness as well as full body, ripe, polished tannins, and stunning notes of blackberries, ground herbs, peppery garrigue, and loamy soil. This fleshy, opulent, sexy wine does everything right.”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Bold scents of asphalt and cassis appear on the nose of the 2018 Gigondas Hominis Fides. Like the other 2018s here, it’s a big, concentrated and powerful wine. In this case, it’s loaded with intense fruit and backed by waves of rich, velvety tannins, yet it finishes with zesty-briny notes and tremendous length.-JC”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only twenty four bottles available
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Claux, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Everything about the all-Grenache 2018 Gigondas le Claux is big. From the huge black cherry and blackberry fruit, to the insane levels of concentration, the rich, velvety tannins and the never-ending, licorice-tinged finish, this beauty should evolve positively for at least a decade and a half.-JC”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95 points “The 2018 Gigondas Le Claux comes from a single vineyard located just down the road from the domaine, across the street from the Hominis Fides parcel. Notes of camphor, incense, spice box, and black raspberries all flow to a forward, medium to full-bodied, elegant effort that has soft, ripe tannins. It’s another wine that shows the style of the vintage beautifully. Drink it any time over the coming 15 to 20 years.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Only twenty four bottles available
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas Le Poste, Rhone 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate “96-98 points Given the intensity of every cuvée at this estate, I was blown away by the elegance shown by the 2018 Gigondas le Poste. Violet and aniseed aromas accent plum and black cherry fruit, while this full-bodied wine is creamy-velvety in texture, with a long, silky finish that folds in distinct salted-licorice notes. Wow!-JC”
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “Lastly, the 2018 Gigondas Le Poste comes from a slightly higher elevation parcel just up the slope from the estate. Always a fresher, more perfumed, complex wine, the 2018 offers terrific floral and violet notes as well as plenty of dark fruits, peppery herbs, and earth. Full-bodied, concentrated, and seamless on the palate, with ultra-fine tannins (another hallmark of this cuvée), it’s perfectly balanced and a beautiful wine in the vintage.”
Only twelve bottles available
Chateau de Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone Le Poste Blanc, Rhone 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Château de Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc Le Poste is from a 1-hectare terraced vineyard that sits near the chapel of Saint Cosme, a short uphill climb from the winery. The maximum elevation is 280 meters, 140 meters above the Gigondas valley floor, and is one of the coolest vineyards in Gigondas. The terraces and elevation make it necessary to plow the vineyard by horse. The vineyard was replanted in 1963 by Henri Barruol to a field blend based mainly on Grenache and one small parcel of Clairette from which Le Poste Blanc is produced. This 100% Clairette was vinified in used traditional demi-muids without malolactic fermentation and aged 10 months on lees. Clairette is an old variety that likely originated in southern France often used to produce simple and crisp dry white wines or as a component in a blend such as Châteauneuf-du-Pape blanc. White wines from Clairette have a tradition at Saint Cosme, specifically at Le Poste, where Louis Barroul’s grandfather produced famously long-lived Le Poste Blanc. Limestone soils give Le Poste Blanc a flavor of gunflint and the ability to age for twenty years or more. “
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Arriving Friday
A Dual 94 Point Super Tuscan – Under $40
Looking for a high scoring Super Tuscan under $40 from the owner of Chateau Giscours? We’ve got you covered. (If you weren’t looking for one, perhaps you should be). This stunner arrives Friday with a few years of cellar time already on it.
Arriving ETA Friday, April 3rd
Caiarossa Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “($65) Vanilla, toast and coffee aromas wrap around the core of ripe black cherry and blueberry flavors. Hints of tar and iron, as well as dusty tannins, keep this red squarely in the Old World. Shows fine harmony and a lingering finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and others. Best from 2021 through 2033. 2,900 cases made, 400 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a gorgeous blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Alicante. The 2013 Caiarossa struts its stuff with a soft, velvety mouthfeel and beautiful aromatic intensity. This vintage is complete and generous on all fronts. The bouquet opens slowly and seductively with dark fruit and dried cherry. Those primary aromas segue to spice, smoked cedar and bitter chocolate. You don’t get a clear sense of any one variety, but this blend of seven grapes offers power, structure, intensity and textural richness nonetheless.-ML”
Arriving ETA Friday, April 3rd
Caiarossa Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “($65) Vanilla, toast and coffee aromas wrap around the core of ripe black cherry and blueberry flavors. Hints of tar and iron, as well as dusty tannins, keep this red squarely in the Old World. Shows fine harmony and a lingering finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah and others. Best from 2021 through 2033. 2,900 cases made, 400 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Advocate 94 points “This is a gorgeous blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Sangiovese, Petit Verdot and Alicante. The 2013 Caiarossa struts its stuff with a soft, velvety mouthfeel and beautiful aromatic intensity. This vintage is complete and generous on all fronts. The bouquet opens slowly and seductively with dark fruit and dried cherry. Those primary aromas segue to spice, smoked cedar and bitter chocolate. You don’t get a clear sense of any one variety, but this blend of seven grapes offers power, structure, intensity and textural richness nonetheless.-ML”
Abbatucci Blanc at the Lowest Price in the Country
Abbatucci remains the premier producer of aristocratic Corsican wine—noble expressions of a wild island. We’re offering you a great deal on their “Faustine” blanc—one of the best examples of Vermentino in the world. This is a wine both powerful and delicate and a steal for under $35.
Arriving Friday:
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise—each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”
Arriving Friday:
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Ajaccio Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise—each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.99
The average listed price is $42
The next best price is $35.99
The average listed price is $42
Don’t Miss Out On
Our 2015 Huet Subscriber Sale
“2015 is an exceptional and historic vintage again at Huet (perhaps the best since 1997). I can only recommend to buy cases of all styles. You might know or have learned from my last Huet report (see Interim November 2015), that even the dry and medium-dry wines can age for decades…. The 2015s combine super ripe, tropical fruit flavors and juicy textures with concentration, perfectly integrated acidities and enormous precision that reflects the different terroirs” –Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’ …” Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist
Vouvray wines offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for over a century. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Horses still plough between the rows. In the winery, the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malo. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, Vouvray, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.
Who wouldn’t want to acquire some of that?
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 Subscriber Special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Domaine Huët is an outstanding young wine, with even more depth and potential than the superb Le Haut Lieu Demi. The bouquet is bottomless, delivering scents of pineapple, sweet quince, incipient notes of honey, chalky minerality, a touch of lanolin, floral tones redolent of buttercups and lovely, esthery citrus elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, beautifully balanced and displays stunning depth at the core, with lovely acidity (particularly for the vintage!), great focus and grip and a very, very long, primary and exceptional finish. This does not have the backend cut or grip of a vintage such as 2007 or 2008, but it is going to be a great example of Domaine Huët Demi-Sec. It is deceptively easy to drink today, but its true apogee is at least a decade or more out from the vintage! 2016-2075. 95.”
“Domaine Huet’ means ‘I make the best damn Chenin Blanc on the planet’ …” Mike Steinberger, Wine Diarist
Vouvray wines offer near-unmatched flexibility at the table, and Domaine Huet’s reputation guarantees long ageing potential. Made according to tradition and terroir, with utmost respect for nature, Huet wines can keep for over a century. This is one of France’s pioneers in biodynamic viticulture. Horses still plough between the rows. In the winery, the recipe remains relatively simple. Fermentation takes place half in stainless steel, half in old oak, without malo. After only six months, the wines are bottled and then laid to age in a cellar dug from tuffeau rock, no air conditioning required. From here the Huet work is done: the rest is up to nature, Vouvray, and what eventually tastes like divine intervention.
Who wouldn’t want to acquire some of that?
In Stock & On Sale Now:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 Subscriber Special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Domaine Huët is an outstanding young wine, with even more depth and potential than the superb Le Haut Lieu Demi. The bouquet is bottomless, delivering scents of pineapple, sweet quince, incipient notes of honey, chalky minerality, a touch of lanolin, floral tones redolent of buttercups and lovely, esthery citrus elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, beautifully balanced and displays stunning depth at the core, with lovely acidity (particularly for the vintage!), great focus and grip and a very, very long, primary and exceptional finish. This does not have the backend cut or grip of a vintage such as 2007 or 2008, but it is going to be a great example of Domaine Huët Demi-Sec. It is deceptively easy to drink today, but its true apogee is at least a decade or more out from the vintage! 2016-2075. 95.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($49.95) Was $41.90, Now $39 Subscriber Special, 15 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Offers a big, broad feel, with layers of glazed pear, apple and peach falling over each other, backed by fresh ginger, honeysuckle and quince notes. Everything pulls together through the finish, with green tea accents and racy minerality providing the foil. Drink now through 2035.”
John Gilman 94 points “The 2015 Le Haut Lieu Moelleux from Domaine Huët is a superb wine in the making, with its glaze of botrytis beautifully managed and the wine showing excellent potential on both the nose and palate. The bouquet offers up a pure and complex mélange of sweet quince, orange, honey, just a whisper of lanolin, beautiful chalky soil tones, a whisper of the leather to come, citrus zest and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with bright acids, a lovely core and outstanding focus and grip on the very long, refined and nicely glazed finish. This will be all apricot, honey and tea leaves in the future, but it is so good to drink out of the blocks, that it is going to be hard not to open bottles in its more exotic youthful period. 2016-2085. 94.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Premiere Trie Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($99.95) Was $79, Now $66 Subscriber Special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux Première Trie is super clear, ripe and aromatic on the nose, highly elegant and with lovely flinty flavors. Intense and concentrated, with great finesse and vitality, this is a highly elegant and perfectly balanced wine with a persistent grip and salinity. Great balance and harmony.”
John Gilman 97 points “The 2015 Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Moelleux Première Trie from Domaine Huët is utterly brilliant wine, which is at least fifteen years away from truly blossoming, but is so good right now that it is going to be next to impossible not to drink this wine in the blush of youth! The stunning nose shows a gorgeous glazing of botrytis in its constellation of pineapple, honeyed quince, sweet grapefruit, lovely minerality, orange blossoms, a hint of lavender, citrus oils, dried flowers and just a whisper of the new leather that will arrive with bottle age. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless in balance, with a great core, laser-like focus, superb nascent complexity and lovely grip on the endless, vibrant and dancing finish. Magical juice. 2025-2085. (Sep/Oct 2016)”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Cuvee Constance Moelleux, Loire 2015 500ML ($249.95) Was $199, Now $159 Subscriber Special, 35 500ml-bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 99 points “Stunning from the start, with a silky and refined feel despite the panoply of dried quince, fig, pear and apricot flavors that are exotic in nature. Lovely green tea, orange blossom and persimmon notes fill in the background. Obviously sweet, but with persistent dry almond and orange extract details that lend latent tension through the seamless and nearly endless finish. The first Cuvee Constance bottling since the 2009 vintage. Drink now through 2060.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Rarely produced and selected from the vineyards Le Haut-Lieu, Le Mont and Clos du Bourg, Huet’s 2015 Vouvray “Cuvée Constance” offers a deep, clear, intense and concentrated nose of ripe stone fruits, peanut butter cookie, spicy, earthy-mineral and some volatile aromas. Sweet, salty, piquant and mineral with a firm structure and very elegant, concentrated, refined fruit, this is a sweet wine with great purity and mineral finesse on the very long, promising finish. The 2016 is still pretty sweet (142 grams of residual sugar) and should be cellared for at least two or three decades. Total production: 2,800 500-milliliter bottles. Tasted February 2018.”
John Gilman 98 points “I have been looking forward to the release of Domaine Huët’s 2015 Cuvée Constance ever since I tasted a year ago the rest of the stunning range of wines produced here in the vintage. It is a great vintage for Domaine Huët and the Cuvée Constance is everything one could hope for from the confluence of this great estate and a legendary vintage. The wine is still very youthful, but its ultimate brilliance is very easy to see, as the wine wafts from the glass in a celestial constellation of orange, fresh apricot, incipient tea leaves, a nice touch of soil, hints of lanolin, orange peel, barley sugar and a hint of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is pure, full and nascently complex, with laser-like focus, a bottomless core, great acids and marvelous balance on the very, very long, zesty and energetic finish. This is still a very young wine and will need years to start to show its secondary and tertiary layers of complexity, but they are lurking here and in the fullness of time, this will be breathtaking in its beauty. (Drink between 2025-2100).”
There’s more! Head to our webstore to see all the 2015 Huet on sale now!
Clos Rougeard Subscriber Special
Limited supplies of these library releases.
Act fast if you want any!
Act fast if you want any!
Trending
A Burgundian approach to Chinon
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($359.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special
Importer Note “When Charles Joguet took over the family vineyards in 1957, he set out to do something that was unheard of in the Loire Valley. Rather than blending all the fruit from his varied parcels, he opted for a more Burgundian approach and began vinifying each individually, highlighting Chinon’s diversity of soils and exposures and playing with the nuances of vine age to propose a gamut of different wines of unique character. It is in this spirit that the domaine’s current vigneron, Kevin Fontaine, crafts the cuvée Les Petites Roches, named for the estate’s gravelly terroirs. Given light treatment in the cellar, this wine shows off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form, rife with aromas of roses, damp earth, and little red berries, along with a gentle tannin holding it all together. This classic representation of Cabernet Franc from Chinon can be enjoyed over the next five or so years with roast chicken, pork chops, or game.”
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 750ML ($359.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
Domaine Charles Joguet Chinon Les Petites Roches, Loire 2016 1.5L ($59.95) $49 special
Importer Note “When Charles Joguet took over the family vineyards in 1957, he set out to do something that was unheard of in the Loire Valley. Rather than blending all the fruit from his varied parcels, he opted for a more Burgundian approach and began vinifying each individually, highlighting Chinon’s diversity of soils and exposures and playing with the nuances of vine age to propose a gamut of different wines of unique character. It is in this spirit that the domaine’s current vigneron, Kevin Fontaine, crafts the cuvée Les Petites Roches, named for the estate’s gravelly terroirs. Given light treatment in the cellar, this wine shows off Cabernet in its most delicate, charming form, rife with aromas of roses, damp earth, and little red berries, along with a gentle tannin holding it all together. This classic representation of Cabernet Franc from Chinon can be enjoyed over the next five or so years with roast chicken, pork chops, or game.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
Top quality Rioja at a value price
CVNE ‘Cune’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Brilliant ruby. Energetic, mineral-accented raspberry and cherry aromas reveal hints of rose, vanilla and woodsmoke. Silky and expansive on entry, offering nicely concentrated red fruit flavors that gain energy and a smoky mineral quality with air. Floral pastille and cracked pepper notes linger on the juicy, focused finish, which shows very good clarity and sneaky, fine-grained tannins. Much of the juice that would normally go into the high-end Imperial bottlings wound up in here this vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
One of the Southern Rhone’s finest winemaking talents
Xavier Vignon Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme X, Rhone 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck – Rhone Report 96 points “The inky colored 2015 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Anonyme is a serious winner in the vintage. A blend of 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvedre and the rest counoise, Vaccarese and Muscardin, it offers a huge nose of blackberry jam, garrigue, crushed violets, and incense. Ripe, unctuous and opulent, yet not over the top, it reminds me of the Trois Source cuvee from Vieille Julienne. This is a smoking good release that will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and shine of over a decade.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “Xavier Vignon is one of the Rhône’s leading winemaking consultants, and so it’s no surprise he had access to some great fruit for his 2015 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Anonyme. Tellingly, the blend entirely omits Syrah, containing 60% Grenache, 25% Mourvèdre, 8% Counoise, 4% Vaccarèse and 3% Muscardin. Floral notes and ripe cherries appear along licorice and vanilla (one-fourth of the wine was matured in new barriques), yet this is no drink-now version of CdP. This full-bodied wine boasts broad shoulders, a plush, creamy center and a muscular finish loaded with ripe tannins and spice. Give it a few years to mellow, and drink it over the next 15.”
One of the better Super Tuscans we’ve tried recently, from an outstanding vintage. Powerful and delicious.
Rocca di Montegrossi Geremia Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The Geremia, Rocca di Montegrossi’s Merlot/Cabernet Sauvignon blend, is outrageously beautiful in 2015. Racy and pliant, with soft curves, Geremia captures all of the radiant beauty of the vintage. Sweet red cherry, plum, mint, mocha and sweet spice are all fused together. At the moment, there is a touch of new oak that still needs to integrate, but a few more years in bottle should do the trick. Time in the glass brings out attractive floral notes and red-toned fruit character that lend freshness and lift to play off the wine’s more extroverted leanings. The 2015 is a gorgeous Geremia.”
Collector’s Corner
Top Wines From Domaine Fourrier
Top Wines From Domaine Fourrier
Domaine Fourrier makes some of the most captivating wines in Burgundy. To Burgophiles, this isn’t much of a claim—the wines that Jean-Marie has produced since taking over from his father have become hot tickets in the Burgundy world. If you aren’t familiar, though, these are wines to put on your radar. Fourrier’s style is heavily influenced by his time working under Henri Jayer and the wines show this.
When young they’re among the most impressive in Burgundy, combining succulent fruit with minerality and a complexity that’s nearly unmatched in newly released wines. They improve with age, as well, though we’ve always had a hard time keeping our hands off of the lower-tier wines in the first five years after the vintage. Fourrier works exclusively with old massale vineyards (anything from vines younger than 30 years is sold off) and that sort of soul really makes it into the bottle.
We’ve secured an astounding array of back-vintage Fourrier, all arriving this month. It’s far too many to feature, so today we want to focus on two village Gevrey-Chambertin bottlings.
The wines that most people know Fourrier for are his Gevrey-Chambertin “Aux Echezeaux” and his Gevrey-Chambertin Vielle Vigne. Although the wines are priced like premier crus, they still manage to over-deliver for the money. The VV bottling is sourced from some of his oldest vines, while the Aux Echezeaux comes from a prestigious parcel bordering the Grand Cru Mazoyeres-Chambertin. Shop our highlights below!
Highlight Fourrier Wine In Stock Now:
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “Vieille Vigne (always singular at Fourrier) is sourced from 12 different parcels, most of them on the better, western side of the route nationale. This is always a pleasure to drink, and the 2017 is no exception, with supple, scented, alluring red berry notes, some vanilla oak and a zesty finish.”
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2005 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 88-91 points “Good bright, deep red. Wilder, musky nose hints at roast coffee. Sweet on entry, then sappy and imploded in the middle, showing less fat than the Echezeaux and a more muscular texture. Ultimately much less sweet than the south-side example. Finishes with substantial building tannins.”
Burghound 88-91 points – Outstanding Top Value “There is no reduction here however as the very fresh, bright and exuberant nose features briar, red and blue fruit and iron-infused earth aromas that complement to perfection the round, rich and sweet flavors that are unusually well-detailed and finish with punch and power. This too is recommended.”
When young they’re among the most impressive in Burgundy, combining succulent fruit with minerality and a complexity that’s nearly unmatched in newly released wines. They improve with age, as well, though we’ve always had a hard time keeping our hands off of the lower-tier wines in the first five years after the vintage. Fourrier works exclusively with old massale vineyards (anything from vines younger than 30 years is sold off) and that sort of soul really makes it into the bottle.
We’ve secured an astounding array of back-vintage Fourrier, all arriving this month. It’s far too many to feature, so today we want to focus on two village Gevrey-Chambertin bottlings.
The wines that most people know Fourrier for are his Gevrey-Chambertin “Aux Echezeaux” and his Gevrey-Chambertin Vielle Vigne. Although the wines are priced like premier crus, they still manage to over-deliver for the money. The VV bottling is sourced from some of his oldest vines, while the Aux Echezeaux comes from a prestigious parcel bordering the Grand Cru Mazoyeres-Chambertin. Shop our highlights below!
Highlight Fourrier Wine In Stock Now:
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2017 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Decanter 92 points “Vieille Vigne (always singular at Fourrier) is sourced from 12 different parcels, most of them on the better, western side of the route nationale. This is always a pleasure to drink, and the 2017 is no exception, with supple, scented, alluring red berry notes, some vanilla oak and a zesty finish.”
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2005 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, only 1 bottle available
Stephen Tanzer 88-91 points “Good bright, deep red. Wilder, musky nose hints at roast coffee. Sweet on entry, then sappy and imploded in the middle, showing less fat than the Echezeaux and a more muscular texture. Ultimately much less sweet than the south-side example. Finishes with substantial building tannins.”
Burghound 88-91 points – Outstanding Top Value “There is no reduction here however as the very fresh, bright and exuberant nose features briar, red and blue fruit and iron-infused earth aromas that complement to perfection the round, rich and sweet flavors that are unusually well-detailed and finish with punch and power. This too is recommended.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2010 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, only 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Good bright, full red. High-pitched aromas of tangy red and darker berries and rose petal, complemented by lower-toned earth and smoke notes. Boasts terrific volume for village wine: dense, salty and soil-driven, with raspberry fruit complicated by earth and minerals. Really stimulates the taste buds on the smooth, long, lightly saline finish. Terrific village wine.“
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is striking. Attractive floral aromatics meld into expressive fruit in this sweet, perfumed wine. Dark red cherries, freshly cut flowers, mint and hard candy wrap around the sensual, fragrant finish. This is a very classy showing. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.”
Burghound 89-91 points – Outstanding “This is also exceptionally fresh and complex and the composition of the aromas is much the same as the Aux Echézeaux except perhaps here they are ever-so-slightly more elegant. The textured, intense and solidly well-concentrated medium weight flavors possess real verve on the delineated, balanced and focused finish. This also is an excellent villages that is built to age and is also worthy of your consideration.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Fourrier Gevrey-Chambertin Aux Echezeaux Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, only 6 bottles available
Burghound 89-91 points – Outstanding Top Value “An expressive nose of relatively high-toned red currant, floral and warm earth scents precedes the equally refined and delineated middle weight flavors that culminate in a balanced, complex and beautifully persistent finish. This is notably finer than the old vines cuvée if not quite a long or concentrated. Still this is lovely and also worth your consideration as it should drink reasonably well young.”
See the complete grand selection of Fourrier wines, including rare back vintages, in stock and arriving soon, in our webstore.
Thanks for reading!