Vinopolis Wine Shop
Will be closed today in honor of the 4th of July
We will reopen on Wednesday, July 5th for our regularly scheduled hours
10 am – 6 pm
This shop never closes: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Summer Case Specials; Staff Picks; Knoll’s Wachau Masterpieces; Chateau Le Puy; 2008 Produttori; 2013 Barolo; Dauvissat, Avignonesi and More!
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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Case Deals: Stock Up For Summer Entertaining
A red wine made for chilling and being served chilled? Yes, please! This is the #1 contender for “breakout summer wine,” though it won’t bust any blocks out there. Super-tasty.
Case-12 Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 special (that’s only $10.67/bottle!)
Maitia ‘Aupa Pipeno’, Maule Valley 2016 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The super-tasty and gulpable 2016 Aupa Pipeño is a blend of País with some 30% Carignan (and whatever is found in the old vineyards) from a slightly cooler year. It keeps the style of previous vintages with the bright red fruit and the freshness of short macerations. In the dry-farming part of Maule they only saw 30 to 50 millimeters of rain when in the central valley they got 200! These grapes were harvested before the rain anyway, but the wine retains the freshness of a cooler year, fresher than 2015, more in line with the 2014 and 2013.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This is what everyone says they want: old-school, every-night, inexpensive Cotes du Rhone from a good producer. It’s less than $10/btl by the case. Get on it!
Case-12 Lavau Cotes du Rhone Villages, Rhone 2013 750ML ($179.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92/bottle!)
Lavau Cotes du Rhone Villages, Rhone 2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special
Wine Spectator 88 points “Juicy blackberry and raspberry fruit races along, inlaid with subtle black tea and anise notes. Focused finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
If you’re looking for a more serious version that you can pour with burgers, steaks or a nice night on the porch, check out the Lavau’s meaty Gigondas, for a price that reminds you of why Gigondas was such a great value.
Case-12 Lavau Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Lavau Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “Features a dark profile, with steeped plum, black licorice and graphite notes framed by Lapsang souchong tea and carrying through the fleshy, well-defined finish. Very solid.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Looking for a light, crisp, white wine to pour with seafood (or sunsets)? Look no further. This Rosenthal selection comes from a great (and under the radar) producer in the western Loire. This is bright, citrusy and almost a little salty—basically everything we crave in warm weather.
Case-12 Hubert Rousseau Domaine des Trois Toits Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire 2015 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle—the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Hubert Rousseau Domaine des Trois Toits Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie, Loire 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
Importer note “After harvest the grapes are pressed and the juice is placed in underground cuves in typical and ancient fashion in the Muscadet district. The alcoholic fermentation proceeds at low temperatures for three to five weeks. Afterwards the wine is racked off the gross lies and is left to age on the fine lies until bottling. During the period of elevage, the wines are in constant contact with the lies, with frequent batonage. The result is a fresh, mineral-driven wine that occasionally carries an almost imperceptible effervescence. Bottling normally occurs during the period of March through May of the year following harvest.”
This is what every New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc wishes it was. Bright and a little tropical, with a touch of grassiness, this is one of the best bottles of Verdejo we’ve tasted in a while. This is a perfect warm-weather wine.
Case-12 Isaac Cantalapiedra ‘Cantayano’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2015 750ML ($259.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Isaac Cantalapiedra ‘Cantayano’ Vino de la Tierra de Castilla y Leon 2015 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special
John Gilman 93+ points “Isaac Cantalapiedra and his son, winemaker Maule, cultivate twenty hectares of vines in and just outside of the borders of Rueda- hence the Castilla y León DO on this bottle, despite the fact that seven hectares of their Verdejo vineyards are in the heart of Rueda. This wine is crafted with natural yeast fermentation, with ninety percent fermented in stainless steel and ten percent in older French casks, with the wine spending eight months nurturing on its fine lees prior to bottling. The 2015 Cantayano delivers a deep, complex bouquet loaded with personality, reveling in scents of pear, peach stone, wild fennel, incipient notes of beeswax, salty soil tones and a nice herbal touch of lemongrass in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, focused and very full-bodied for Verdejo, with a rock solid core, excellent soil signature, bright acids and outstanding length and grip on the vibrant and still quite youthful finish. This is a dynamite bottle of Verdejo that should continue to improve over the next five to seven years in the bottle and may well last longer than that! 2017-2025+.”
Chablis in a warm year is a “do anything” sort of white wine. Richer than a classic vintage, the 2015 from Servin still has that Chablis minerality and zest, but with the ability to take on more robust foods. This has been a consistent favorite and this vintage continues the trend.
Case-12 Domaine Servin Chablis Premiere Cuvee Les Pargues, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($279.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Domaine Servin Chablis Premiere Cuvee Les Pargues, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
“(made from a variety of parcels near Préhy): Bright, light yellow. Pineapple, melon and menthol on the nose, accented by a minty nuance. A step up in energy and intensity from the of pineapple, melon and menthol; touch of mint. A step up in energy and intensity from the slightly diffuse Petit Chablis Sur Le Clos but still a bit minty and awkward. This dry, stony wine finishes with a lemony streak.”–Stephen Tanzer
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Staff Picks: July Holidays Edition
Andy:
July lines up my favorite holidays right in a row: The beginning of the Tour de France, my wedding anniversary and Bastille Day. I love the 4th of July, too, but the food is better for the 14th of July. Here are my staff picks for each holiday:
The Tour starts in Germany this year which is a reason to celebrate with Riesling. It was an early start here on the west coast, so I picked a Jos. Christoffel Feinherb – its light slate-filled and citrus peel and spice aromas were a great way to watch a crash filled, rainy opening time trial. This is a classic Riesling with beautiful fruit and mouthwatering salinity. The 2014 wines don’t get the press of the 2015, but they’re delicious now. Alcohol clocks in well under 8% and so my breakfast wine was not met with too much scorn at home.
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Spatlese Feinherb, Mosel 2014 750ML ($29.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
VinopolNote on Urziger Wurzgarten: The Urziger Wurzgarten, or ‘spice garden’ is an intensely steep, iron-rich red slate vineyard. Though it’s located right next to the Erdener vineyards, the Ürziger wines are vastly different: the volcanic soils and favorable drainage lead to an earthy, spice-laden, tropical fruit-tinged wine.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
For the 4th of July, we’re having dinner with friends who are spending the morning crabbing. Since it is the day to celebrate all things ‘Merican, I picked the Melon from Bow & Arrow. I’m a huge fan of Muscadet, but we’ll save those for another day. Scott Frank’s tribute to these classics is brilliant and direct in its fruitiness. Very crunchy with minerals on the nose, but so well balanced and electric on the palate. One of the freshest examples I’ve had of Melon de Bourgogne outside of France.
Bow & Arrow Melon Johan Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($24.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 89 points “Bright straw. Aromas of lemon zest, green apple and quinine, along with subtle floral and herb nuances in the background. Juicy orchard and citrus fruit flavors unfurl slowly with air and show good delineation and lift. Finishes on a zesty lemon note, showing good cling and lingering florality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $22
Wedding anniversaries are tricky if you don’t know what you’re eating in advance. Fortunately, we both
drink Champagne with anything. Nicolas Maillart’s Brut Rose helps make this a wise decision. The color is a sexy pale orange, and the nose is of fresh spice and rhubarb pie. The freshness and direct attack of the fruit is delicious and persistent, and the finish holds on showcasing the clean mineral notes. I’m partial to this wine not only because it is delicious, but it’s the best looking redhead since I met my wife.
Nicolas Maillart Brut Rose Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($71.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Pale orange. Deeply pitched scents of redcurrant, orange pith, musky rhubarb and buttered toast. Densely packed red berry flavors are underscored by a chalky mineral note and pick up a hint of white pepper as the wine opens up. This lithe rosé packs a serious punch, finishing with excellent cut and length and repeating minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $51
And finally, for the Quatorze de Juillet – Bastille day! I could think of a good many wines to enjoy, but this year we’re going Burgundian with the Matrot En Creots Premier Cru Saint-Aubin. It’s been summer of hits and misses weather-wise so this should fit the bill no matter the weather. It’s a pinot of the lightest body, but surprising intense and enjoyable in its youth. It could well age for another few years, but it won’t matter for our drinking pleasure. The light cherry and slightly tart cranberry notes mark a wine that is ready to go. It plays nicely with a wide array of plates as the lacy acidity and fine tannins really come to life. If we’re patient, it might open up and give of some earthiness, but there will be sparklers, petanque and good friends around, so like the owl and the tootsie-pop the world may never know.
Domaine Matrot En Creot Rouge, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 17 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “This is markedly cooler and more elegant with its pretty nose of high-toned pomegranate, cherry and cranberry scents. There is a lovely minerality to the racy, intense and beautifully delineated lighter weight though not dilute flavors that possess an attractive saline character on the clean, polished and dry-in-the-best-sense finale. This refined effort could easily be enjoyed young.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Happy summer, everyone!
Chateau Le Puy
Old-School Bordeaux, Made Naturally
The modern Bordeaux landscape is dominated by, well, modern Bordeaux. The dominant model of Bordeaux is wine made with all the modern tricks—ripe picked, lots of new oak, perhaps a little (or a lot) of micro-oxygenation. With all that in mind, we’ve been on the constant hunt for classical wines from the region. We were excited, then, to see Chateau le Puy (a selection here for a while) highlighted in this great article from the New York Times.
If you don’t have the time to read the article, we’ll give you the synopsis: Old-school Bordeaux still exists, made in a style that works well with food and is fresher than what we think of today. Chateau Le Puy also farms Biodynamically, using horses to plow the vineyard. The resulting wines have depth and complexity (and a little rusticity) but are delicious in a way the 100% new oak crowd can’t get to.
The wine we had in stock immediately sold out (we weren’t the only ones who read the article, apparently) and we’ve been working on bringing more back in. We’ll have a few more of the wines arriving in a few weeks, but wanted to offer them now—at the lowest prices on the West Coast.
Arriving Mid-July:
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Barthelemy, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2010 750ML ($179.95) $138 pre-arrival special
Importer note “A wine of more limited production (approximately 15,000 bottles per annum), this cuvée, 85% Merlot plus 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, is sourced from a single vineyard site known as “Les Rocs” on a plateau with a deep limestone bedrock. The wine spends 24 months in 228L barrels (less than 10% new) with no addition of SO2 at any stage of the elevage. A more dense and mysterious wine than its companion with a deeper robe and more firm structure, we see resemblance here to the finest old wines of its neighbors to the west in the best districts of Saint Emilion and Pomerol.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
“The most important cuvée of the domaine in terms of volume is composed of 85% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Carmenère. It spends a year in 50hl foudres before a year in 228L barrel. Its approach is silky from the fine tannins and it bears a color of garnet red with a hint of ruby, a seductive wine of great elegance.” – Importer note
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2012 750ML ($519.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Chateau le Puy Cuvee Emilien, Bordeaux Cotes de Francs 2013 750ML ($519.95) $419 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.92/bottle!)
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Knoll’s Wachau Masterpieces
Several years ago, I had the opportunity to go to a small, sit down tasting with Abe Schoener, winemaker and founder of the Scholium Project, in California. We tasted through a few of his wines interspersed with wines that inspired him. One of those wines was an Emmerich Knoll Smaragd, which Abe held up as a wine that aspired to make—the epitome of minerality in white wine.
That Knoll inspires like that should be no surprise if you’ve tried the wines. If you haven’t, know that unlike fellow masters such as FX Pichler, the Knoll wines are built not on fruit, but on visceral minerality on the palate. These are wines that seem to bypass taste and go directly to feeling. They’re some of our favorite wines in the world and his high end wines are some of the best values—far better than any white Burgundy at the price.
The 2015’s are bigger, broader wines than might be typical for Knoll, but they’re incredibly enjoyable now, which isn’t something you can say every year about these wines. They should age really well, but more importantly, they’re something you can be astounded by in the short term while you keep your hands of the age-needing 2013 vintage.
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Loibner Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 10 bottles available
David Schildknecht 89 points “Fresh lime and white currant on the pungent nose and firm, bright, tangy palate call to mind a Ruwer Riesling, and certainly don’t leave one thinking “2015.” In a refreshingly sustained if almost strident finish, the piquancy of lime seed and the crunch of currant seeds strikingly invigorate while a lick of salt serves for saliva inducement.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Loibner Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
David Schildknecht 90-91 points “Fresh pear, white peach and lime greet the nose – garlanded in muskily perfumed narcissus – then inform a brightly juicy but expansive, subtly oily, and pithily chewy palate. This clings with smoky, stony and iodine-like notes as well as pronounced fruit seed piquancy accenting persistently generous fruit. (Last tasted, assembled, from cask.)”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Ried Schutt Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 11 bottles available
David Schildknecht 92-93 points “The most multidimensional of its vintage’s Knoll Rieslings, this combines the focus, brightness, extract-richness and animation of the corresponding Pfaffenberg Selektion with extra measures of textural silkiness and depth of fruit. Succulent white peach is complemented by juiciness of fresh lime and piquancy of hazelnut and peach kernel, along with a fascinating range of marine mineral nuances. The finish is forceful and saliva-inducing, full of intrigue, yet never abandons vintage-typical fruitiness or forgets Riesling’s obligation to refresh.”
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Loibner Schutt Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 7 bottles available
David Schildknecht 92-93 points “In a surprising reversal of typical behavior, this wine was harvested at a marginally higher must weight than its Loibenberg counterpart, which Knoll senior attributes to especially low yields. Lime, papaya, winter squash and parsnip combine for a penetratingly pungent nose and forceful, bittersweet palate impression. There is a far greater measure of primary juiciness here than in the corresponding Loibenberg. A vibrant finish introduces intrigue and counterpoint by way of smoky, peppery and iodine-like accents, with the cyanic piquancy of fruit pit expressed as penetrating, persistently glowing intensity.”
Also in stock from Knoll:
Weingut Emmerich Knoll ‘Vinothekfullung’ Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 17 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Always made with botrytis grapes, the 2013 Gruner Veltliner Smaragd Loibner Vinothekfullung offers a very clear and intense, though noble and fresh, aroma of honeydew melon, pineapples and hints of lychee. Very rich in extract and highly concentrated on the palate, this opulent yet still well-balanced wine is one to be enjoyed in small sips rather than in bottles (at least when it’s so young). This is an impressively rich and velvety textured wine, indeed, though it lacks the tension and freshness of the Schütt at the moment.” WA
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll ‘Vinothekfullung’ Loibner Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 22 bottles available
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Marine breeze and a slight sweatiness in the nose are joined by high-toned mintiness and nuances of peach and nectarine that then lusciously inform the full, faintly oily palate. Pithy pit piquancy serves for welcome counterpoint and grapefruit for zesty and vivacious juiciness. For all of its almost honeyed richness, this wine’s finishing penetration is downright rapier-like, displaying an alluring interchange with bright citrus, glowingly cyanic fruit pit, and cooling green herbal notes. It originated in a portion of Loibenberg where there was considerable fog and trapping of moisture, explained Knoll Senior, and consequently a higher instance of botrytis. I continue to find it slightly disconcerting that it is precisely the botrytis-influenced wines that get chosen for labeling as Knoll Vinothekfüllungen. That said, the present example is certainly impressive on those terms.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Emmerich Knoll Ried Pfaffenberg Riesling Auslese, Wachau 2013 500ML ($69.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “The finely tuned sweetness of this Auslese brings out the muskier notes of apple: a mix of fresh and baked fruit, with peeled skin and compote flesh. Initially, there still is the spectre of yeast but with some time there are hints of burnt sugar and apricot compote, too. A lovely, engulfing apple tartness makes this as suited to baked fruit desserts and fruit tarts as to creamy, ripe cheeses. Full marks for poise and freshness. This is a baby still and will need time to come into its own and unfold even more layers. Drink from 2018.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
We offer 113 different white wines from Austria in-stock now from such names as FX Pichler, Nikolaihof, Gobelsburg. Visit our web store to explore the complete selection!
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2008 Produttori del Barbaresco Crus
Winery Library Release
Arriving July 7th
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($749.95) $649 pre-arrival special (that’s only $54.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is exquisite and harmonious from start to finish. Among the more structured 2008s, the Montestefano is the wine that most hides its tannin, as the fruit is intensely perfumed, rich and totally seductive. Today the Montestefano provides the illusion of being relatively accessible, but it is virtually certain to shut down in bottle. The 2008 boasts striking aromatics, seemingly endless layers of fruit and power to burn. Readers can think of the Montestefano as a synthesis of Montefico, Ovello and Rabajà. Not bad, to say the least.”
Arriving July 14th
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($999.95) $849 pre-arrival special (that’s only $70.75/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 96 points “One of the absolute highlights in this portfolio of utterly amazing wines, the 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Asili possesses marvelous depth and richness, but also little of the early approachability and sexiness of Asili. With time in the glass, the wine’s inner perfume gradually emerges, but ultimately this is a Barbaresco to bury in the deepest corner of the cellar. Once again, the Produttori have done a fabulous job with the Asili. The 2008 has nerves of steel and a huge, never-ending finish. It is by far the most imposing and structured Asili I have ever tasted from the Produttori. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” AG
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ml ($789.95) $649 pre-arrival special (that’s only $54.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico hits the palate with a blast of fruit intermingled with copious acidity and pure structure. Montefico shares a boundary with Ovello, and shows many of the structural elements typically associated with that side, but with more depth in its fruit, probably because of the southern exposure. The high altitude of these parcels ensures there is plenty of freshness and vibrancy. The Montefico is dazzling, but it will require considerable patience. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2048” AG
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 750ml ($1199.95) $949 pre-arrival special (that’s only $/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja is utterly magnificent in this vintage. Usually a powerhouse, the 2008 is incredibly refined to the point it seems to literally hover on the palate. It is a wine of exquisite grace and beauty. All the elements are in place. I could describe the aromas and flavors, but that would be doing this majestic Barbaresco a huge disservice. Ultimately, the 2008 Rabaja, is all about textural finesse and pure elegance. This is another breathtaking wine from the Produttori. A king among kings. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048”
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The Glory of 2013 Barolo
Antonio Galloni “In 2013, a cool growing season and late harvest produced gorgeous Barolos with striking aromatics, silky tannins, sculpted, vibrant fruit and mid-weight structures. Readers will find a number of thrilling, utterly captivating wines that speak to the pedigree and class that are the signatures of the best Barolo vintages… Overall, the 2013s are Barolos that speak to finesse above all else. These are wines that will hold considerable appeal to readers who enjoy classically built wines.”
Offers are trickling in from Piedmont for the out-of-this world vintage. Below are just a few of many more to come!
Newly Arrived:
G. B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 13 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Burlotto’s 2013 Barolo is one of the very best wines in its price range and class. Orange peel, bright red stone fruit, mint, licorice and star anise give the 2013 its exotic aromatic profile. The tannins are incisive and piercing, but also very fine grained. Best of all, the 2013 will drink well with minimal cellaring while giving readers a terrific look at the vibrancy, energy and polish. There is so much to like here. Breri, which is a vineyard close to Monvigliero, is the core of the Barolo, while Rocco dell’ Olmo and Neirane round out the blend. The 2013 is as good or better than many vineyard designate Barolos in this vintage. Don’t miss it.”
Arriving This Month
Conterno Fantino Sori Ginestra, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($89.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2013 Barolo Sorì Ginestra, the estate’s flagship Barolo, hits all the classic Ginestra notes. Sweet, balsamic-inflected notes wrap around a core of intense dark blue and purplish fruit. Veins of salinity and tannin give the 2013 much of its personality. The 2013 is a bit restrained today, but it packs a serious punch. This big boy needs time to shed some of its formidable tannin, but it is impressive.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $85
Arriving in October:
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2013 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a real head-turner. Sweet, perfumed, vivid and exceptionally beautiful, the 2013 is simply stunning. A wine of exceptional finesse and sensuality, the 2013 hits all the right notes. Today, the 2013 reminds me of the 2008, but with more depth, density and creaminess – especially through the middle – and slightly redder fruit tones.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera, Barolo DOCG 2013 1.5L ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is racy, exotic and super-elegant, with a finesse to tannins that is almost impossible to believe in a young Barolo. This is an especially delicate, refined style that shows just how elegant Nebbiolo can be. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, chalk, mint, white pepper and rose petals meld into a super expressive, inviting finish laced with veins of bright, salivating acidity. The 2013 gets better and better with time in the glass, but its finest drinking belongs to the future.”
Elio Grasso Ginestra Vigna Casa Matè, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Elio Grasso Ginestra Vigna Casa Matè, Barolo DOCG 2013 1.5L ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is powerful and intense, with huge beams of tannin underpinning the fruit. Black cherry, plum, violet, mint and licorice develop in the glass. Today, the 2013 is quite reticent, with tons of power in reserve, but all the elements are in the right place. Not surprisingly, the 2013 is a tightly wound ball of energy. Readers need to be patient.”
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, meld into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis’ 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price is $108
Thanks for reading!