In Today’s Newsletter:
New Arrival Special
Gulfi’s Best Vintage Yet: 2016
More From The Forefront of “New Spain”
Laura Lorenzo’s Groundbreaking Galician Project
A Dual 94-Point Priorat at 47% Off
An Umbrian Star’s Flagship Bottling
Levet’s Coveted Cult Cote Rotie
Trending Wines
Collector’s Corner:
2017 Spottswoode
New Arrival Special
Gulfi’s Best Vintage Yet: 2016
“This is the estate that focused everyone’s attention on the need to bottle single-contrada Nero d’Avolas – something that, unlike on Etna, has only started to take hold recently on the rest of the island with grape varieties other than Carricante or the Nerellos….More importantly, perhaps, is that Gulfi has made some of its best wines ever these last two years, and especially so in 2016, which is admittedly a fantastic vintage in Sicily. The 2016 Nerobufaleffj and 2016 Nerosanlorè are, if not the best, then definitely among the best wines ever made from these contrade, at least at a similar stage of development. But all the other wines, whites included, have improved by leaps and bounds, too, boasting greater precision, depth and refinement.” – Ian D’Agata, Vinous
Gulfi first came to prominence as a champion of Nero D’Avola—the rich dark grape that they proved could be a transparent expression of terroir. The single vineyards Nero’s that Gulfi made changed perceptions of the grape and has helped lead to the current renaissance of Sicilian viticulture. These are wines that are intense, powerful, yet graceful.
Gulfi’s Nero d’Avola is typically extracted and rich, with subtle nuances reflecting the vineyard locations spread around the southeastern corner of the island. Variations in altitude and proximity to the sea influence the delicate aromatics, as ripeness is certainly not the issue. Salinity and sea breeze influences are present and add nuance to the ripe, roasty, smoky characteristics. Drink them if you like California Cabernet or Brunello or Syrah from the Northern Rhone or anywhere in between.
The Neromaccarj (pronounce the “j” as an “i” with the Gulfi names) is a vineyard that sits almost at sea level, and the wines from the vineyard are the biggest, richest and darkest fruited of the lot. By contrast, the Nerosanlore is a higher altitude site with a stronger marine influence and so the wines temper Nero d’Avola’s natural richness with higher acidity, redder fruits and grippier tannins. NeroBaronj is a vineyard that sits in a warm pocket but with almost pure limestone as its soil foundation, giving wines that are bright, zippier and more delicate than the rest of the set. Finally, NeroBufaleffj’s volcanic origins produces a wine with rich, redder fruits and elegant tannins.
We’ve just brought in the set of 2016’s, which are some of the finest they’ve made—a real upgrade in terms of finesse and elegance over previous years (don’t worry, these are still plenty powerful). Like with most of Italy, the ’16’s seem to have a bit of magic to them and we’ve been stocking up across the board.
Newly Arrived from Gulfi
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Case-6 Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $237 special (that’s only $39.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 97 points “Luminous red. Precise, brooding aromas of ripe red cherry, flint, orange rind, cinnamon, lavender and violet, complicated by iodine and earth. Silky and sappy with refined but very concentrated extract, this smothers the taste buds but stays vibrant and not at all heavy, offering lovely definition and lift to the red cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral flavors. Finishes extremely deep and long, with ultra-suave tannins, mesmerizing inner-mouth perfume and extreme refinement; very Barolo-like. A lovely multilayered wine showcasing the elegant side of Nero d’Avola that very few producers ever manage to showcase.”
Gulfi first came to prominence as a champion of Nero D’Avola—the rich dark grape that they proved could be a transparent expression of terroir. The single vineyards Nero’s that Gulfi made changed perceptions of the grape and has helped lead to the current renaissance of Sicilian viticulture. These are wines that are intense, powerful, yet graceful.
Gulfi’s Nero d’Avola is typically extracted and rich, with subtle nuances reflecting the vineyard locations spread around the southeastern corner of the island. Variations in altitude and proximity to the sea influence the delicate aromatics, as ripeness is certainly not the issue. Salinity and sea breeze influences are present and add nuance to the ripe, roasty, smoky characteristics. Drink them if you like California Cabernet or Brunello or Syrah from the Northern Rhone or anywhere in between.
The Neromaccarj (pronounce the “j” as an “i” with the Gulfi names) is a vineyard that sits almost at sea level, and the wines from the vineyard are the biggest, richest and darkest fruited of the lot. By contrast, the Nerosanlore is a higher altitude site with a stronger marine influence and so the wines temper Nero d’Avola’s natural richness with higher acidity, redder fruits and grippier tannins. NeroBaronj is a vineyard that sits in a warm pocket but with almost pure limestone as its soil foundation, giving wines that are bright, zippier and more delicate than the rest of the set. Finally, NeroBufaleffj’s volcanic origins produces a wine with rich, redder fruits and elegant tannins.
We’ve just brought in the set of 2016’s, which are some of the finest they’ve made—a real upgrade in terms of finesse and elegance over previous years (don’t worry, these are still plenty powerful). Like with most of Italy, the ’16’s seem to have a bit of magic to them and we’ve been stocking up across the board.
Newly Arrived from Gulfi
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Case-6 Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $237 special (that’s only $39.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 97 points “Luminous red. Precise, brooding aromas of ripe red cherry, flint, orange rind, cinnamon, lavender and violet, complicated by iodine and earth. Silky and sappy with refined but very concentrated extract, this smothers the taste buds but stays vibrant and not at all heavy, offering lovely definition and lift to the red cherry, raspberry, floral and mineral flavors. Finishes extremely deep and long, with ultra-suave tannins, mesmerizing inner-mouth perfume and extreme refinement; very Barolo-like. A lovely multilayered wine showcasing the elegant side of Nero d’Avola that very few producers ever manage to showcase.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Gulfi Nerobufaleffj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special
Case-6 Gulfi Nerobufaleffj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($299.95) $237 special (that’s only $39.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 96+ points “Luminous deep red. Aromas of red cherry, minerals, Oriental spices and vanilla on the refined nose. Then luscious, rich, deep and multilayered with spices, herbs and aromatic oak notes dominating the underlying red and spicy flavors beneath. Finishes long but with less than the usual nectar-like quality that typifies this cru; undoubtedly, a much more elegant version of Nerobufaleffj, a wine that often reaches Amarone-like levels of richness and lusciousness. This very young wine is a potential knockout; still brooding and folded upon itself; it’s a beauty that requires time in your cellar, and watch it develop into something special.”
Gulfi Nerobaronj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Case-6 Gulfi Nerobaronj Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93+ points “Good full medium red. Riveting high-pitched perfume of raspberry, blood orange and violet, lifted by hints of lemon and talc. Clean, focused, and well delineated, with strong minerality and fresh spices lifting the raspberry fruit and very floral flavors. Easygoing and very drinkable already, this expresses a very silky texture. Finishes vibrant and very long, with subtle perfume of strawberry and violet. A pretty wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Gulfi Neromaccarj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-6 Gulfi Neromaccarj Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Amazing floral and spicy nose of black fruit, herbs and grilled steak. Then rich and tactile, but vibrant and energetic, with well delineated flavors similar to the aromas. Finishes long with mounting but relatively polished tannic bite.”
More From The Forefront of “New Spain”
Laura Lorenzo’s Groundbreaking Galican Project
Yesterday’s Envinate offer seemed to tap into vein of interest (and rightly so!) and many those wines sold out quickly, so today we’re presenting another top face in new-wave Spainish wine. Laura’ Lorenzo is a true trailblazer and works out of Galicia (like one of Envinate’s branches) in a natural, but classical fashion.
Laura Lorenzo made her name as the winemaker of trailblazing Ribeira Sacra producer Dominio do Bibei before striking out on her own and the wines she’s producing these days justify her inclusion in any “best winemaker in Spain” discussion. Her wines speak loudly of the places they come from—which means vineyards with old vines that have often been forgotten or abandoned when she begins to work with them.
These are wines that have a purity and elegance to them that seem remarkably effortless. Both red and white wines are made with little “done” to them and although you can easily call them Natural, they strike us as more “classic” than anything. If you like the Envinate wines, you owe it to yourself to stock up on Laura’s bottles.
We’ve accumulated quite the collection of her wines, as she makes a number of different single-vineyard reds and whites. Quantities on each one are painfully limited, though, so don’t let these sell out without trying them.
In Stock Now:
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Blanco, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Portela do Vento Blanco comes from several parcels of native white varietiesprimarily from the Amandi (south-facing young vines) as well as Val do Bibei (north & northeast-facing old vines) subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand in late September due to a warm and humid summer. The fruit was destemmed into used chestnut barrels and amphora for wild yeast fermentation with 5 days of skin maceration. The wine was then raised for 11 months in the same vessels and bottled without fining or filtration. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
Laura Lorenzo made her name as the winemaker of trailblazing Ribeira Sacra producer Dominio do Bibei before striking out on her own and the wines she’s producing these days justify her inclusion in any “best winemaker in Spain” discussion. Her wines speak loudly of the places they come from—which means vineyards with old vines that have often been forgotten or abandoned when she begins to work with them.
These are wines that have a purity and elegance to them that seem remarkably effortless. Both red and white wines are made with little “done” to them and although you can easily call them Natural, they strike us as more “classic” than anything. If you like the Envinate wines, you owe it to yourself to stock up on Laura’s bottles.
We’ve accumulated quite the collection of her wines, as she makes a number of different single-vineyard reds and whites. Quantities on each one are painfully limited, though, so don’t let these sell out without trying them.
In Stock Now:
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’ Blanco, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 34 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Portela do Vento Blanco comes from several parcels of native white varietiesprimarily from the Amandi (south-facing young vines) as well as Val do Bibei (north & northeast-facing old vines) subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand in late September due to a warm and humid summer. The fruit was destemmed into used chestnut barrels and amphora for wild yeast fermentation with 5 days of skin maceration. The wine was then raised for 11 months in the same vessels and bottled without fining or filtration. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Blanco, Arribes 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Blanco comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, from native Malvasia, Verdejo & Puesta en Cruz varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20th, destemmed, crushed and wild yeast fermented in used 250 & 500L chestnut barrels with 10 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a “mountain white” showing bright orchard fruit, savory minerality and refreshing acidity. Pair it with grilled fish and poultry, paella and good friends.”
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Azos de Vila’, Galicia 2017 750ML ($49.95) $37 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 94 points “Laura Lorenzo is one of the Ribeira Sacra’s rockstars. This Azos de Vila vino tinto village cuvée is a field blend of red varieties that includes local varietals, some unknown outside this remote region… that were organically farmed on the almost impossible steep slopes above the Sil River on a mix of Granite, Gneiss, Clay, Slate and Schiste soils. This Galician red is like nothing you’d expect from Spain, it’s an amazing wine that takes cues from the Northern Rhone, the Loire and even Burgundy with dark fruits, loads of mineral, spice and racy acidity in an elegant medium bodied frame. This 2017 vintage of the old vine Azos de Vila comes from many Pueblos…all from plots which average between 80 to 120 years old and are within the Val do Bibei…where the cool Atlantic influences collide with the continental climate. This 2017 is beautiful ruby/garnet in the glass with a slightly earth note rising up and quickly fading into delicate floral notes on the nose with hints of herbs and flinty spices that leads to a gorgeous layering of peony flowers, sweet plums, cherry, tangy currant and cranberry in the mouth with lifted acidity, fine mineral tones and a hint of amaro. This wine is just so real and pretty, especially after it opens up….12.5% natural alcohol keeps things vivid and lighter, this is special stuff….in the cellar the hand harvested grapes were partially de-stemmed, with a small bit of whole bunches included and fermented, as Lorenzo notes, using indigenous yeasts in used chestnut and French oak barrels with a two week maceration, after which she then raised the Azos de Vila for 12 months in the same barrels. Bottling was as normal here done without fining or filtration”
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Azos do Pobo’, Galicia 2017 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 4 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “Laura Lorenzo’s Azos De Pobo is made from a field blend from an extremely old vineyard (somewhere from eighty to one hundred and twenty years of age- no one is quite sure when it was planted!) and composed of a blend of probably fifty percent Gran Negro and Garnacha Tintorera, and the other half a mix of Mencía, Mouraton, Merenzao and whatever else might have been available in the first quarter of the twentieth century in Ribeira Sacra. The grapes are destemmed and foot-trodden, barrel-fermented and raised in old Burgundy casks for eleven months prior to bottling. The 2017 version comes in at a cool 12.5 percent octane and offers up a beautifully complex nose of cassis, smoked meats, wild fennel, espresso, complex soil tones, lovely botanicals (that will get autumnal like Burgundy with bottle age) and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and beautifully transparent in personality, with a lovely core of fruit, ripe, moderately chewy tannins and superb focus and grip on the long and very complex finish. This is a superb wine that combines great, traditional country rusticity in its cépages with the most refined winemaking sensibilities. 2025-2055. 93.”
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Camino de la Frontera’ Tinto, Arribes 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Camino de la Frontera Tinto comes from Angel’s ancient, northwest-facing vineyard in the Parque Natural de Los Arribes del Duero, planted to mostly Juan Garcia, Tinta Madrid (aka Tempranillo), and Rufete balanced by other indigenous varieties. After a cool, wet & humid summer, the grapes were hand-harvested on September 20-21st, 50% foot-trodden whole-cluster and 50% destemmed, wild yeast fermented in a used 4000L French oak cask and a 1000L chestnut foudre with 11 days of skin maceration, then raised in the same vessels for 11 months. This is a red wine of elegant rusticity, with a floral nose and a touch of toasty oak from the new foudre, along with soft tannins and bright acidity.”
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores ‘Portela do Vento’, Ribeira Sacra 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “omes from several south-facing parcels of Mencía and Garnacha Tintorera in the Amandi and Quiroga-Bibei subzones. The grapes were harvested by hand and mostly destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel vats, and raised for 9 months in used 500 liter French barrels. This is Laura’s “glou-glou” wine that she loves to share with her American friends. Fresh and easy-drinking, it is very versatile with a wide variety of foods…or straight from the porrón!”
Laura Lorenzo / Daterra Viticultores Tabernerio Tinto, Ribera Sacra 2018 750ML ($35.95) $31.90 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Due to extremely adverse weather in 2018, Laura and Alvaro lost almost all of their fruit that goes into the Gavela, Erea and Azos wines. Thus was born Tabernario, half of which comes from the surviving Val do Bibei Mencía & Palomino,plus Alicante Bouschet & Mencía from the Amandi (which typically go into Portela do Vento). The grapes were harvested by hand in early September and 50% destemmed, skin-macerated for 10 days and spontaneously fermented in 500L & 1000L chestnut barrels. The wine was then raised for 11 months and bottled without fining or filtration, and only minimal additions of SO2.”
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
A Dual 94-Point Priorat at 47% Off
Ferrer Bobet is one of the hottest names in Priorat, producing some of the most impactful wines in the region. They’re known for marrying stylishness and elegance to the raw power that Priorat always delivers, making them some of the most coveted wines in Barcelona’s cutting edge culinary scene. We’ve offered their entry-level bottling before (and indeed, have the 2016 arriving later this month) but just secured a stellar price for their next tier up—the intense Vinyes Velles (old vines) bottling.
How stellar a price? Well, we’re able to offer you the 2015 Ferrer Bobet Priorat VV at $36 per bottle or (even better) just $389 per case (which works out to just $32.42/bottle)! By comparison, the entry level bottling is going to set you back an average of $40—and that’s for an inferior wine. That we can offer you the Vinyes Velles for over $26 off its average price on wine-searcher (across all vintages) is nearly unbelievable—and yet here we are. The lowest listed price for the 2016 is $51.99 and the lowest price for the ’14 is $55.99—but at Vinopolis the 2015 is just $36.
We could go on about the perfumed fruit, the intensity of the flavor and how long the finish is (and the two 94 point scores this wine received certainly do) but we only have twenty cases of this available to sell. This is a wine that’s going to move and if you don’t get on the train before it leaves the station, it’ll be gone.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
How stellar a price? Well, we’re able to offer you the 2015 Ferrer Bobet Priorat VV at $36 per bottle or (even better) just $389 per case (which works out to just $32.42/bottle)! By comparison, the entry level bottling is going to set you back an average of $40—and that’s for an inferior wine. That we can offer you the Vinyes Velles for over $26 off its average price on wine-searcher (across all vintages) is nearly unbelievable—and yet here we are. The lowest listed price for the 2016 is $51.99 and the lowest price for the ’14 is $55.99—but at Vinopolis the 2015 is just $36.
We could go on about the perfumed fruit, the intensity of the flavor and how long the finish is (and the two 94 point scores this wine received certainly do) but we only have twenty cases of this available to sell. This is a wine that’s going to move and if you don’t get on the train before it leaves the station, it’ll be gone.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average listed price across all vintages is $59
The average listed price across all vintages is $59
An Umbrian Star’s Flagship Bottling
Arnaldo Caprai is one of the stars of Italian wine. One of the two faces of Montefalco (along with Paolo Bea), their wines are rich, lush bottlings that manage to tame Sagrantino’s tannins more than most. Decidedly modern in approach, this is an estate devoted to turning Umbria’s wealth of powerful, if rustic, red grapes into bottles of wine that are silky, bold and delicious straight out of the gate. We’ve received our allocation of their coveted Collepiano—a 100% Sagrantino bottling that symbolizes the growing area that Caprai is based out of. It’s become something of a flagship for the winery and we’ve got the stunning 2015 arriving on Friday.
Arriving Friday:
Arnaldo-Caprai Collepiano, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano benefits from more stringent fruit selection. “We are limited to only the best fruit for this wine, and we changed the way we pick with multiple harvests,” says Marco Caprai. This warm and sunny vintage has shaped a generous and inviting wine that is opulent, bold and rich all at once. This wine offers ample power, yet it’s not as bruising as past vintages I remember. The 2015 vintage flaunts its curvy physique.”
Arriving Friday:
Arnaldo-Caprai Collepiano, Sagrantino di Montefalco DOCG 2015 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Collepiano benefits from more stringent fruit selection. “We are limited to only the best fruit for this wine, and we changed the way we pick with multiple harvests,” says Marco Caprai. This warm and sunny vintage has shaped a generous and inviting wine that is opulent, bold and rich all at once. This wine offers ample power, yet it’s not as bruising as past vintages I remember. The 2015 vintage flaunts its curvy physique.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Levet’s Coveted Cult Cote Rotie
Bernard Levet has moved from an unsung hero of the Northern Rhone to a genuine star. The Cote Rotie he bottles is unlike anyone else’s. Feral, tannic and uncompromising, his wines need time to blossom, but when they do, there’s nothing in the world of Syrah (or wine, in general) quite like them. These should disappear very quickly, so if you’re interested, now’s the time to act—these are only going to become scarcer and hard to find.
Newly Arrived:
Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie La Chavaroche, Rhone 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Dark purple. Ripe dark fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose, along with hints of licorice, black cardamom, espresso and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that slowly unfold and take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Youthfully chewy tannins add firm grip to a strikingly long, energetic finish that emphatically echoes the cassis and mineral notes. Made with 100% whole clusters.”
Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie Les Journaries, Rhone 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, licorice, exotic spices and potpourri and shows outstanding definition. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet black raspberry, blueberry and cherry preserve flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Shows superb energy and floral lift on an impressively long, focused finish shaped by steadily mounting tannins. This is quite a powerful wine (about 70% of the fruit comes from La Landonne, by the way) for one that checks in at only 13% alcohol. Made entirely with whole clusters.”
Newly Arrived:
Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie La Chavaroche, Rhone 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds 96 points “Dark purple. Ripe dark fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose, along with hints of licorice, black cardamom, espresso and smoky minerals. Stains the palate with deeply concentrated cassis, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that slowly unfold and take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Youthfully chewy tannins add firm grip to a strikingly long, energetic finish that emphatically echoes the cassis and mineral notes. Made with 100% whole clusters.”
Vignobles Bernard Levet Cote Rotie Les Journaries, Rhone 2017 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Josh Raynolds 95 points “Inky ruby. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and dark berries, licorice, exotic spices and potpourri and shows outstanding definition. Stains the palate with appealingly sweet black raspberry, blueberry and cherry preserve flavors that slowly tighten up on the back half. Shows superb energy and floral lift on an impressively long, focused finish shaped by steadily mounting tannins. This is quite a powerful wine (about 70% of the fruit comes from La Landonne, by the way) for one that checks in at only 13% alcohol. Made entirely with whole clusters.”
Trending Wines
We secured the final allocation of this crushable white from John Paul.
Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock… for now!
Winery Note “The Italian side of our clan (the Cameronis) also influences part of our white wine program. In this case the wines of Friuli and Alto Adige offer a model that works exquisitely with much of our fruit. The Pinot Bianco (given the nomer “Giovanni”) is fermented in stainless steel, typically in 3 different lots with appropriate aromatic yeasts, and bottled in its exuberant youth in the early Spring.”
Cameron Winery ‘Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock… for now!
Winery Note “The Italian side of our clan (the Cameronis) also influences part of our white wine program. In this case the wines of Friuli and Alto Adige offer a model that works exquisitely with much of our fruit. The Pinot Bianco (given the nomer “Giovanni”) is fermented in stainless steel, typically in 3 different lots with appropriate aromatic yeasts, and bottled in its exuberant youth in the early Spring.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Think of this as Grand Cru Chablis and it starts to look like a real bargain…
Do Ferreiro Albarino Cepas Vellas, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2018 Albariño Cepas Vellas has to be one of the finest vintages of this old-vine (reaaaaally old vine!) cuvée, in a vintage where the wine reached levels of elegance and harmony that I don’t remember before. After having the wine in the glass for almost two hours, the nose was explosive, and the palate felt like bottled electricity, with effervescent acidity that makes you salivate, and it had incredible depth and concentration. They now tell me they think the vines could have been planted in 1785, in a property that had been a granite quarry, so I don’t need to tell you what the soils are like here. This is a zone with a lot of fog, and that brings intense salinity to the wines. I need to dig out some bottles of 2010 I have somewhere in my cellar and check the evolution, because they tell me, and I agree, that this is a modern version of the 2010. There are 8,000 bottles of this wine. It was bottled in September 2019.”
Do Ferreiro Albarino Cepas Vellas, Rias Baixas 2018 750ML ($69.95) $54 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2018 Albariño Cepas Vellas has to be one of the finest vintages of this old-vine (reaaaaally old vine!) cuvée, in a vintage where the wine reached levels of elegance and harmony that I don’t remember before. After having the wine in the glass for almost two hours, the nose was explosive, and the palate felt like bottled electricity, with effervescent acidity that makes you salivate, and it had incredible depth and concentration. They now tell me they think the vines could have been planted in 1785, in a property that had been a granite quarry, so I don’t need to tell you what the soils are like here. This is a zone with a lot of fog, and that brings intense salinity to the wines. I need to dig out some bottles of 2010 I have somewhere in my cellar and check the evolution, because they tell me, and I agree, that this is a modern version of the 2010. There are 8,000 bottles of this wine. It was bottled in September 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
High altitude Spanish Garnacha at an attractive price. A big winner.
Bodegas Maranones 30,000 Maravedies, Madrid 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The fully developed, aromatic and open 2016 30.000 Maravedíes, with nice aromatics and a very pleasant palate. It’s fragrant and elegant, with pungent flavors and very good persistence. This is a superb showing for this bottling. 39,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.”
A new project from the team at Saint Cosme and reminds us of where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago.
Chateau de Rouanne, Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “There’s some interest here – it’s just a touch rustic perhaps from the ample use of stems, the tannins are a little fibrous and grainy. A good intensity of fruit however, bright, juicy and fresh. Tannins are pretty fierce, so give it a year or two to settle. There’s a whiff of Provençale herbs and oregano with a saline finish. Alcohol is high, but overall the effect is balanced. A solid start. In organic conversion, old vines on limestone marls. The first vintage since this estate was bought by Louis Barruol of Château de Saint-Cosme.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2018 Vinsobres comes from an estate owned by Louis Barruol (of Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas) and checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel just outside the village of Vinsobres. Revealing a deep purple, translucent hue as well as lots of mulberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with notes of ground pepper, violets, and game, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a rounded, supple, elegant texture, notable purity, and outstanding length. Seeming to have one foot in the Northern Rhône with its gamey, violet characteristics and one foot in the south with its richness and opulence on the palate, it’s a terrific, noteworthy Vinsobres to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.”
Library Owen Roe Syrah from perhaps their best vineyard—at unthinkably good pricing.
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Case-12 Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($719.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright medium ruby. Musky, earthy aromas of raspberry, roasted strawberry, smoked meat and charred oak. Fat, sweet and deep, with good spicy lift to the very ripe flavors of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and spices. A very rich, tactile Syrah with sexy sweetness but plenty of ripe, dusty tannins to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Ultimately richer than the Union Gap Syrah but also more tannic.”
Bodegas Maranones 30,000 Maravedies, Madrid 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91+ points “The fully developed, aromatic and open 2016 30.000 Maravedíes, with nice aromatics and a very pleasant palate. It’s fragrant and elegant, with pungent flavors and very good persistence. This is a superb showing for this bottling. 39,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2017.”
A new project from the team at Saint Cosme and reminds us of where Gigondas was 10-15 years ago.
Chateau de Rouanne, Vinsobres 2018 750ML ($31.95) Was $28, Now $24 Subscriber Special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “There’s some interest here – it’s just a touch rustic perhaps from the ample use of stems, the tannins are a little fibrous and grainy. A good intensity of fruit however, bright, juicy and fresh. Tannins are pretty fierce, so give it a year or two to settle. There’s a whiff of Provençale herbs and oregano with a saline finish. Alcohol is high, but overall the effect is balanced. A solid start. In organic conversion, old vines on limestone marls. The first vintage since this estate was bought by Louis Barruol of Château de Saint-Cosme.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “The 2018 Vinsobres comes from an estate owned by Louis Barruol (of Château Saint Cosme in Gigondas) and checks in as a blend of 50% Grenache, 40% Syrah, and 10% Mourvèdre, all from a single parcel just outside the village of Vinsobres. Revealing a deep purple, translucent hue as well as lots of mulberry and black raspberry fruit interwoven with notes of ground pepper, violets, and game, it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a rounded, supple, elegant texture, notable purity, and outstanding length. Seeming to have one foot in the Northern Rhône with its gamey, violet characteristics and one foot in the south with its richness and opulence on the palate, it’s a terrific, noteworthy Vinsobres to enjoy over the coming 4-6 years.”
Library Owen Roe Syrah from perhaps their best vineyard—at unthinkably good pricing.
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $33 special
Case-12 Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($719.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92 points “Bright medium ruby. Musky, earthy aromas of raspberry, roasted strawberry, smoked meat and charred oak. Fat, sweet and deep, with good spicy lift to the very ripe flavors of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and spices. A very rich, tactile Syrah with sexy sweetness but plenty of ripe, dusty tannins to support a graceful evolution in bottle. Ultimately richer than the Union Gap Syrah but also more tannic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price in any vintage is $49.50
The average listed price across all vintages is $55
The next best price in any vintage is $49.50
The average listed price across all vintages is $55
Excellent Cote de Blancs Champagne that way over delivers for the price.
Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Collector’s Corner
2017 Spottswoode
Spottswoode makes some of the most iconic wines in Napa from their beautiful estate vineyard. Their wines have been some of the most collectable, age-worthy wines in Napa since the 80’s and are sold almost exclusively to their mailing list. The wines easily compete with cult bottlings twice their price and are worth the trouble we have to go through to secure even these modest allocations—these are stunning bottles.
Arriving in July:
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2017 750ML ($289.95) $225 pre-arrival special, only 24 bottles available!
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 97+ points “Made of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color and prances out of the glass with vivacious blackberries, crushed black cherries, warm black currants and red currant jelly scents plus exotic hints of cassia, cardamom, fenugreek and star anise with a waft of underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic energy and beautiful poise, with bags of bright, crunchy black and red fruit plus a firm, fine-grained texture, finishing long and spicy.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Spottswoode’s 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has been simply tremendous on both occasions I have tasted it so far. Sweet red cherry, red plum, flowers and mint give the 2017 striking freshness to complement its decidedly mid-weight structure. The intense heat of the vintage caused ripening to slow down and yielded a wine with just 13.7% alcohol, which is low for both the estate and Napa Valley in general. Spottswoode was one of the first estates in the valley to adopt a more moderate approach to farming and that really paid off in 2017, as a wine of this level in that year could have only resulted from impeccable farming. In a word: magnificent!”
James Suckling 96 points “A soft, velvety red with dark-berry, blackcurrant and plum aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, creamy and delicious. Pretty tension of fruit and tannins. Very refined. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Looking at the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which was bottled two months prior to my tasting, it too has a Château Margaux-like complexity and elegance, with beautiful notes of crème de cassis, sandalwood, dried flowers, tobacco leaf, and lead pencil. Harvested all pre-fire, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and remarkable purity, all making for a quintessential Spottswoode that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20+ years.”
Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special, only 36 bottles available!
James Suckling 93 points “Lots of blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, round and soft tannins and a flavorful finish. 84% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot with cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst is blended of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it offers soft spoken notes of dried lavender, wild blueberries, fresh black currants and kirsch plus hints of dried herbs, unsmoked cigars and spice cake. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the muscular, beautifully retrained flavors, finishing on a lingering earthy note.”
Arriving in July:
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2017 750ML ($289.95) $225 pre-arrival special, only 24 bottles available!
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 97+ points “Made of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon is deep garnet-purple in color and prances out of the glass with vivacious blackberries, crushed black cherries, warm black currants and red currant jelly scents plus exotic hints of cassia, cardamom, fenugreek and star anise with a waft of underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic energy and beautiful poise, with bags of bright, crunchy black and red fruit plus a firm, fine-grained texture, finishing long and spicy.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “Spottswoode’s 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon has been simply tremendous on both occasions I have tasted it so far. Sweet red cherry, red plum, flowers and mint give the 2017 striking freshness to complement its decidedly mid-weight structure. The intense heat of the vintage caused ripening to slow down and yielded a wine with just 13.7% alcohol, which is low for both the estate and Napa Valley in general. Spottswoode was one of the first estates in the valley to adopt a more moderate approach to farming and that really paid off in 2017, as a wine of this level in that year could have only resulted from impeccable farming. In a word: magnificent!”
James Suckling 96 points “A soft, velvety red with dark-berry, blackcurrant and plum aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, creamy and delicious. Pretty tension of fruit and tannins. Very refined. 89% cabernet sauvignon, 7% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “Looking at the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, which was bottled two months prior to my tasting, it too has a Château Margaux-like complexity and elegance, with beautiful notes of crème de cassis, sandalwood, dried flowers, tobacco leaf, and lead pencil. Harvested all pre-fire, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and remarkable purity, all making for a quintessential Spottswoode that’s going to benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 20+ years.”
Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2017 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special, only 36 bottles available!
James Suckling 93 points “Lots of blueberry and chocolate aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, round and soft tannins and a flavorful finish. 84% cabernet sauvignon and 10% merlot with cabernet franc, malbec and petit verdot. Drink or hold.”
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Lyndenhurst is blended of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Malbec and 1% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it offers soft spoken notes of dried lavender, wild blueberries, fresh black currants and kirsch plus hints of dried herbs, unsmoked cigars and spice cake. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a solid structure of ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the muscular, beautifully retrained flavors, finishing on a lingering earthy note.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $84
The average price is $84
In Stock Now:
Spottswoode Sauvignon Blanc, Napa County – Sonoma County 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Sauvignon Blanc bursts from the glass with notes of lemon tart, key lime pie and orange blossoms with nuances of acacia honey, baking bread, fresh grapefruit and crushed stones. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastically intense citrus and mineral notes, framed by great freshness and a silken texture, finishing very long and perfumed.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Lemon meringue, spice and grapefruit flavors reveal whiffs of lanolin and spice lingering in the background, as well candied ginger and floral details. Balances focus and intensity, with a light body and fresh, juicy acidity. Drink now. 3,754 cases made.”
Spottswoode Family Estate Grown Cabernet Sauvignon, St. Helena 2015 750ML ($249.95) $225 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the deep purple-black colored 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon has a beautiful nose of dried roses, lavender and Chinese five spice over a core of warm blackcurrants, kirsch and wild blueberries, plus wafts of fallen leaves and dusty earth. The medium to full-bodied palate features the most amazing intensity of perfumed red, black and blue fruit flavors supported by exquisitely fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length and depth. Truly stunning.”
Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “A more exuberant, sexy wine than the 2014, yet still in the house style emphasizing elegance and purity, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate knocks it out of the park with its huge nose of crème de cassis, plums, Asian spices, scorched earth, tobacco leaf and graphite. This flows to a full-bodied, opulent, incredibly concentrated wine reminiscent of the 2013 on steroids. Full-bodied, with building tannin, integrated acidity, a stacked mid-palate, and a great finish, this is a tour de force in Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from one of the greats. It has three to four decades of life ahead of it.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon possesses off the charts ripeness as well as a level of exoticism that recalls the 2010. An infusion of dark red cherry, plum, white flowers, leather, tobacco and menthol accompany this super-expressive, sumptuous Cabernet Sauvignon. Violet, licorice and a host of spiced nuances develop with time in the glass. In 2015, Spottswoode’s Cabernet is decidedly luscious and flamboyant, but I would give it a few years to shed some baby fat. There is plenty to look forward to.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon, St Helena 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “EDITOR’S CHOICE. This wine continues to overdeliver on its price point, offering elegant yet powerful aromas of fig, forest floor and earth. Firm tannins offer grip around flavors of black currant, sage, cedar and flint, with spicy clove lingering on the finish.”
James Suckling 94 points “Attractive, fresh, violet-like flowers, roasting herbs and cassis, leading to a medium-to full-bodied palate that has a smoothly succulent resolve at the plum-soaked, velvety finish. A blend of mostly cabernet sauvignon with touches of petit verdot, merlot, petite sirah and cabernet franc and a dash of malbec. Drink or hold.”
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