In Today’s Newsletter:
September Sale Highlight – Santa Ema
The Northern Rhone’s Best Kept Secret?
New Arrivals, Including:
Goodfellow, St. Innocent, Ulysse Collin,
Vouette et Sorbee, Rollin and More!
#Trending
A Vinopolis Exclusive Lalande de Pomerol
Cayuse Mania
First Offer on Fall Grower Champagne
Napa Perfection (100 Point Eisele)
Top Vintage Hermitage, Under $62
The September Sale, In Full
September Sale Highlight
Santa Ema Merlot
Santa Ema produces some of the best values in South American wine. One of the venerable Chilean wineries, they seem to be capable of producing wines that are absolute gems at a variety of different prices. Case in point: this just arrived Riserva Merlot that’s just gone in the September Clearance Sale. Bold, rich and silky, it’s a reminder that Merlot was incredibly popular for good reason—this wine gives a lot of $25 Napa and Washington state examples a run for their money, at a price under $10/bottle by the case. Stock up on this while we have it—it’ll be a perfect house red through the fall.
Santa Ema Reserve Merlot, Maipo Valley, Chile 2013 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 Clearance Price
Case-12 Santa Ema Reserve Merlot, Maipo Valley, Chile 2013 750ML ($179.95) $119 Clearance Price (that’s only $9.92/bottle- the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “This lush and spicy red offers concentrated flavors of dark cherry, plum and dried raspberry that are creamy and rich-tasting. Milk chocolate and loads of Asian spice details fill in on the finish, revealing some savory touches. Drink now through 2019.”
Head to the end of the newsletter for a full list and a few highlighted bottles!
Discover One of the Northern Rhone’s
“Best Kept Secrets”!
Last year, Emanuel Darnaud’s wines were one of the best surprises. This small producer made spectacular Crozes-Hermitage wines, which were some of the best deals in red while they were in stock. From top to bottom, the Darnaud wines over performed, with density, power and drinkability. They are Syrah with soul and immediate appeal.
A passionate advocate for terroir-specific wines, Emmanuel Darnaud has been crafting robust reds from individual parcels in the northern Rhone since 2001. His six parcels are spread over 15 hectares, where the grapes are hand harvested. Each is vinified separately with differing oak aging and maturation practices depending upon the wine. No matter which bottling, though, he manages to bring the best of the site to the wine.
The 2016 versions are a worthy follow up to their breakthrough 2015’s. From the low to the (relatively) high end, these are wines that over deliver at each price point. Crozes often offers a good deal of value, but, as we found out last year, Darnaud is something unique. Grapelive just reviewed the entry level bottling from Darnaud and found it as good as we’d expect.
“a no brainer for the price!”
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Mise en Bouche, Rhone 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “One of the Northern Rhone’s best kept secrets and producer of some of finest values in the region, Domaine Emmanuel Darnaud crafts some excellent Syrah(s) from his tiny set of parcels in the Crozes-Hermitage area. He started his domaine in 2001 with just postage stamp (sized block) of vines but worked his way up to a more serious set of vineyards. [They are] all on the southern side of Crozes-Hermitage set on the zone’s glacial alluviums of mostly smooth pebbles. His painstaking work in the vineyard yields amazing results. How he can sell this beautiful and authentic wine at under $20 is one of the great and most pleasurable mysteries in the world of Syrah! The 2016 is utterly delicious with an earthy intensity that starts with porcini/truffle and gamey Crozes purity before opening to beautiful violets and blueberry notes. Darnaud’s Crozes Mise en Bouche is a fine example of time and place, yummy from start to finish adding bright peppery spice, a touch of anise, dried herbs and damson plum as well as mineral notes and a touch of kirsch. Lighter in frame than some, there’s no wimpiness, but rustic layers of classic Northern Rhone Syrah at its best. Fermented in concrete vats and rested in small barrels, this 100% Syrah, 100% de-stemmed cuvee [is one that] you’d never guess it had one third new oak such is the refinement and quality of fruit found here. This is a vintage to buy as much as you can. It drinks lovely now, and should easily go for a decade too! Search this one out; it’s a winner, and a no brainer for the price!”
The average price is $24
Also in stock now from Emmanuel Darnaud:
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Goodfellow Family Cellars Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
Winery note “Durant vineyard sits on a gentle east facing slope rising from 200-700ft in the heart of the Dundee Hills. The Pinot Noir sits at the mid-point of the hill rising up to about two thirds of the way up. Optimally situated for collecting gentle morning sunshine, cooling the plants in the afternoon, and draining cold air down the hill. The iron infused clay soils give wines from the Durant vineyard a silken texture, classic Dundee Hills aromatics, and weightless power. Paul Durant is the second generation of Durants to farm this 60 acre vineyard, first planted in 1973.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Fir Crest Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery note “Fir Crest Vineyard sits in the coastal foothills in the far southwest corner of the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. Soils are older sedimentary series, and aspect of the slope is south-east. The wines are deeply colored, intense, rich, and powerful, reminiscent of an Oregon version of Clos de La Roche.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Whistling Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Winery note “Whistling Ridge Vineyard was first planted in 1990. The 14 acre vineyard sits on the ridge top, with a slight south-east aspect, catching the evening breeze from the northwest year round. Shallow soils force roots deep in Oregon’s drought summer conditions, creating wines defined by elegance married to structure. Mixed clonal plantings of Pinot noir, Chardonnay, Pinot gris, and Riesling have been carefully hand grafted by Patricia.”
St. Innocent Temperance Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “(aged in French oak barrels, 21% of them new) Deep lurid red. An expansive, impressively complex bouquet evokes ripe cherry, black raspberry, incense and potpourri, and smoky mineral and Asian spice nuances build with aeration. Silky, sweet and concentrated, yet lively as well, offering palate-staining red and dark berry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding clarity and back-end lift. Supple tannins frame the red-fruit-dominated finish, which hangs on with outstanding tenacity.”
The next best price is $32.73
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Enfers’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2013) 750ML ($219.95) $189 special
VinopolNote: Enfers is a small parcel with clay and limestone soils near Les Roises.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2014) 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Blanc d’Argile Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne (2014) 1.5L ($199.95) $149 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Wine & Spirits 94 points “Working in the Cote des Bar, Bertrand Gautherot has farmed his Demeter-certified vineyards biodynamically since 1998. Fermented spontaneously in oak barrels, presented without dosage, Blanc d’Argile is a bare, naked chardonnay that bristles with energy, then quiets to the warmth of the cool autumn sun. Crunchy apple and complex herbal notes add to the wine’s stony, mineral power. It’s lovely Champagne, elegant and compellingly drinkable.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “From a rather young vineyard (less than ten years old) planted with nothing but Chardonnay, the NV Brut Nature Blanc d’Argile—here, the “R14,” which is entirely based on the 2014 harvest—is an intensely citrus colored, white-golden shimmering beauty. Intense yet fine and floral on the nose, this oak-fermented (you don’t really get that aromatically!) Blanc de Blancs shows an iodine and almost floral (think of broom!), intense and vinous nose like a fine Chablis. The palate is round yet dry, firm and mineral until the long, tensioned, well-structured and very salty finish. This is a great mix of ripe, lush fruit, elegance, finesse and iodine flavors—so, where are the oysters? Disgorged in March 2017; tasted in July 2018.”
Importer Note “From Clay, Kimmeridgian limestone soils. Hand harvested, natural yeast fermentation in French oak, [and] minimal SO2. Mainly from a small parcel of Chardonnay in Briaunes supplemented with scattered plantings of Chardonnay in Bertrand’s other lieux-dits. Small in volume now, it will increase when the young vines in Vouette begin to come online. Mineral, nougat, salty and long – basically a Grand Cru Chablis with bubbles.”Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne (2014) NV 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 31 bottles in stock now
Vouette et Sorbee Cuvee Fidele Extra Brut, Champagne (2014) 1.5L ($149.95) $128 special, 10 magnums in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Brut Nature Fidèle (R14) is a Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir on Kimmeridgian soils and is entirely based on the 2014 vintage. Disgorged in October 2017 the oak-fermented wine shows a golden-reddish apricot color and opens with a very delicate, floral and herbal yet intense and vinous bouquet of red fruits, with warm, dry earth and spices and just a hint of oak. Bone dry (of course), fresh and elegant on the palate, this is an impressively delicate and filigreed Champagne to be enjoyed as a still wine rather than a fizz. The finish is long, clear, dry and well-structured (even with fine tannins) and reveals discreet salinity. In fact, Fidèle drinks like a Burgundy-inspired Coteaux Champenois with very fine but not effervescent bubbles, persistent lemon juice and a touch of oaky flavors. Don’t use a flute to enjoy this young, gastronomic wine; instead, use a wine glass or one of the rounder, more voluminous Champagne glasses like the Lehmann Jamesse (which stresses the finesse rather than the vinous character). Don’t serve the Fidèle too fresh, either, but if you must, wait a bit and don’t worry if the wine is suddenly 12 or even 14 degrees Celsius—it’s still delicious and even more vinous then! (To be honest, when tasted at 15 or 16 degrees Celsius, I even got some Gewürztraminer notes (lychees) on the nose…!) Tasted in July 2018.”
VinopolNote: The Hirschs are some of the best under-the-radar producers in Beaujolais. The style is fresh, complex and delicious, with enough structure to reward short term cellaring. All their wines show off old vines and are very true to the various terroirs.Celine et Nicolas Hirsch Julienas, Beaujolais 2017 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Celine et Nicolas Hirsch Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Celine et Nicolas Hirsch Chenas Les Brureaux, Beaujolais 2016 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
These are the only listings in the USA today!
Domaine Rollin Pere et Fils Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2015 750ML ($169.95) $149 special, 11bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Matured in 50% new oak, the 2015 Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru has an elegant bouquet with citrus peel, walnut and lemon curd aromas that are well defined, a little backward at first but soon gaining vigor. The new oak is nicely integrated here. The palate is crisp and minerally on the entry. There is lovely balance here, well-judged acidity and great poise on the finish. Frankly, this is one of the best Corton-Charlemagne that I have encountered.”
Domaine Rollin Pere et Fils Les Vergelesses, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Burghound 90-92 points “Discreet but not invisible wood frames the layered, ripe and fresh aromas of black cherry, earth and appealing violet nuances. There is excellent concentration to the seductive and velvet-textured medium-bodied flavors that possess a caressing mid-palate mouth feel that contrasts with the serious, built-to-age and ever-so-mildly rustic finale. This beauty should drink well young but age well too.”
Chateau Coutet, Barsac 2004 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “A fresh, delicious wine, the natural richness of the botrytis balanced beautifully with acidity. It is ripe but delicate, a style that floats over the sweet fruit.”
Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewachs Trocken, Pfalz 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht-Vinous 92 points ” Cooling basil and saliva-inducing suggestions of sea breeze and sweat make for a fascinating opening gambit, and this wine’s palate presence is about as generously juicy, as close to schmalzig and as marrowy in its meaty savor as a Riesling Grosses Gewächs gets. In that context, a hint of wood serves as a suitable sort of firming support. The long finish underscores this bottling’s seamlessness and polish. Ungeheuer – especially as defined by the VDP to exclude certain portions of the eponymous Einzellage – is almost universally counted among the Pfalz’s handful of greatest sites, often deemed superior to Pechstein (albeit not by this taster). Von Winning’s pricing of it – on a par with their four Deidesheim Grosse Gewächse but 40-50% lower than their other three Forsters – simply reflects the estate’s comparatively larger surface area and hence much larger Grosses Gewächs production. Which also explains why there is enough left over to inform a separate, more prominently wooded (and more expensive) Von Winning bottling dubbed “Forster Riesling U500” that’s also 100% Ungeheuer, or their new “Mar-Mar” bottling, which in vintage 2015, at least, is from Ungeheuer.”
The average price is $60
Edmunds St. John Barsotti Ranch Syrah, El Dorado County 2014 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 17 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “It has been nearly two years since I last tasted the 2014 Barsotti Ranch Syrah from Steve Edmunds, as I last tried this wine when it was still a puppy during a visit out to taste with Steve in Berkeley. I did not note at the time how beautifully low in octane this wine was, as it comes in just under twelve percent alcohol in 2014. This was the first vintage of Barsotti Ranch Syrah bottled on its own by Steve, as these old vines had been abandoned for several years before he nursed them back to good health in time for the 2013 vintage (which saw the grapes blended into his North Canyon Road bottling. The 2014 Barsotti was stellar two years ago and is blossoming beautifully today, offering up a pure and very complex nose of dark berries, black raspberries, smoked meats, pepper, granite, a touch of blood and iron. On the palate the wine is medium-full, tangy and very transparent, with a fine core of fruit, superb intensity of flavor, excellent focus and grip, moderate, ripe tannins and outstanding length and grip on the complex and soil-driven finish. This is a beautiful bottle of young syrah! 2024-2065+.”
The next best price is $32.99
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords, Loire 2016 750ML ($21.95) $19 special, 35 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Melon de Bourgogne. Clos des Briords is a lieu-dit in which Marc has long held 3 hectares of massale vines planted from 1930 to 1950. These are the oldest vines of the estate, planted on soils of granite de Thébaud, which differs from granite de Clisson in containing more feldspar and clay–it is cooler, slower ripening, holds and drains water well, supplies more nutrients and is looser (so roots can go deep to the hard granite mother rock). The farming is organic and harvest and all work by hand. Like for the rest of the Pepière wines, the fruit is direct-pressed and the juice settled naturally for 12 hours. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts; the wine is aged on its lees in large, underground vats–8 to 9 months in the case of Briords–until bottling without fining or filtering. Briords is generally the most structured and powerful of Pepière’s wines.”
The average price nationally is $21
Newly Arrived!
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This shows serious density and balance with a blackberry, licorice and blueberry character. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Sleek and racy. Structured yet wonderfully polished. Drink in 2021.”
The average price is $56
Newly Arrived!
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2015 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2015 1.5L ($139.95) $115 special, 12 magnums in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Plenty of dark plums, black cherries, blackberry pie, cedar, tobacco and a hint of orange rind. There’s a real vitality to the palate, which is so well carved out by firm, savory tannins and seriously bright acidity. A chewy finish. Drink in 2022.”
Our bestselling Malbec and great every year!
Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Case-12 Zorzal Eggo Tinto de Tiza, Tupungato, Argentina 2015 750ML ($319.95) $266 special (that’s only $22.17/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94 points “The one blend in the Eggo range is the 2015 Eggo Tinto de Tiza, which mixes Malbec with 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented in 2,000-liter egg-shaped cement vats where the wine matured for almost one year. This feels quite complete and balanced, with good ripeness while keeping the balance and poise. The palate is juicy and fresh, with fine-grained tannins and a bittersweet finish akin to sour cherries. Very tasty and long. Super. Incredible for the price. 16,000 bottles were filled in January 2016.”
The average price nationally is $26
Back in stock!
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken, Mosel 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2016 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken has a lovely clear and flinty-scented white stone fruit aroma with refreshing slate notes. Clear, lush and intense on the palate, this is a light but pretty complex and remarkably well-defined Kabinett in the off-dry style. Very digestible and with stimulating grip and salinity. 10.5% alcohol.”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 points “On the nose, this displays sea breeze and sweaty salinity, anticipating the savory mineral and animal aspects that follow on a buoyant palate brimming with juicy fresh apple. Tinglingly salty, stony notes and a faintly peppery impingement enliven a buoyant, mouthwatering, refreshing finish that just barely hints at sweetness. Once again, this is a model of its type, and I wish the Selbachs raised other such halbtrocken bottlings that combine levity with efficacious yet genuinely hidden residual sugar.”
Exclusively Available @ Vinopolis
Chateau Samion, Lalande-de-Pomerol 2015 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Château Samion is the family domaine of Jean‐Claude Berrouet, the man who oversaw more than 40 vintages at the famed Château Petrus in Pomerol from 1964 until his retirement in 2007. Together with his son Jean‐Françis, they produce a small amount of wine from their holdings in Lalande‐de‐Pomerol which total a scant 1.2 hectares. The first vintage for Château Samion was in 1979 when they rented the vineyards, but since 1985 they have been owned by the Berrouet family and the vines are now an average of 45 years in age. Lalande‐de‐Pomerol is just north of the famous appellation of Pomerol which is home to the great estates of Petrus, Le Pin, and Trotanoy among others. Separated from Pomerol by the small Barbanne river, the appellation of Lalande‐de‐Pomerol consists of 2 communes, Néc and Lalande‐de‐Pomerol proper. In Lalande, the subsoils are principally gravel while in Néc, the vineyards are planted on a slightly elevated plateau on soils composed of gravel and sand. The vineyards of Château Samion are located in Lalande where the Merlot offers supple, deep red‐fruited wines that have fine tannins. ‘I try to work as naturally as possible’, Jean‐Claude says when asked about his practices in the vineyard. ‘It’s healthy for wine and for life’, he says. At Château Samion, there are no chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides used. Treatments to avoid rot or mildew are all that is ever employed and only when necessary. There is but one wine made at Château Samion. The wine is made from 100% Merlot, and one will find it is made in the same manner and with the same exacting care as Château Petrus. The grapes are harvested by hand, and then vinified in concrete vats. Following the vinification, the wine is racked and aged for 20 months in 15% new French oak casks (225 liters).”
Arriving Friday, October 5th
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “I think the best of the Syrahs is the 2013 Syrah Bionic Frog, and while I’ve liked other single vineyards more than this cuvee in the past, it seems a solid step up in both 2012 and 2013. The 2013 offers incredible notes of roasted herbs, beef blood, mushrooms, scorched earth and sweet black fruits in a full-bodied, gorgeously concentrated, structured, serious style. Short-term cellaring should be the name of the game here, and while it should offer plenty of pleasure around age 5-6, I’d put money on it still singing at age 20.” JDCayuse Vineyards Bionic Frog Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($399.95) $349 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 100 points “Always one of the most unique in the lineup, the 2014 Syrah Bionic Frog is phenomenal stuff any way you look at it. Cold fireplace, charred meat, tapenade, shiitake and loads of dark, earthy fruit all emerge from this full-bodied, tight, backward and beautifully concentrated Syrah that readers just need to taste. Incredibly long, elegant, building and heavenly juicy, don’t miss a chance to get some of this! It needs 3-5 years of cellaring and is going to blow you away over the following two decades.”
Christophe Baron Hors Categorie Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($349.95) $319 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 99 points “The first vintage for this new vineyard (they made a 2013 but kept it all in magnum… if you get a bottle, call me), the inky colored 2014 Syrah is a huge, unctuous effort the exhibits crazy notes of Asian spice, soy, shiitake mushroom, blackcurrants and tar. Tasking like a young Hermitage la Chappelle from Jaboulet (from a great vintage), with lots of tannin, blood, minerality and smoke, a huge mid-palate, and tons of tannin, it’s a tour de force in Syrah I wish I could pour for every reader. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and drink over the following two decades or more.”
The grower Champagne market is a wonderful thing, expanding our understanding of terroir in the region. It’s brought us more choice and great value—there are too many good deals out there to pass up. Each year we’ve expanded our selection and this year are excited to introduce a number of excellent new growers to the Vinopolis lineup. These wines arrive next month (try as we might, the Champagne business is still very winter holidays focused) and you’d do well to secure these now, at their pre-arrival pricing.
Arriving ETA October:
Lean, mineral driven and full of character.
Bourdaire-Gallois Brut Non Dosage, Champagne NV 750ML ($47.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Bourdaire-Gallois Brut Non Dosage, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $349 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.08/bottle!)
Importer note “The Brut NV is 100% Pinot Meunier harvested from six different parcels. After a slow and gentle pressing in a traditional Coquard vertical press, the juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks. It undergoes a malo-lactic fermentation and then rests “sur lattes” for a minimum of 18 months. The Champagne is finished with a dosage of 0g/l.”
Bourdaire-Gallois Brut Rose Non Dosage, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Brut Rosé NV is 100% Pinot Meunier harvested from six different parcels. It is made by combining 21% red wine with 79% white wine from Pinot Meunier (blanc de noir). The juice is fermented in stainless steel tanks and an “assemblage is made that includes 20%reserve wine from the previous vintage. The wine goes through a malo-lactic fermentation and then rests “sur lattes” for a minimum of 3 years. The Champagne is finished with a dosage of 0g/l.”
Perseval-Farge Cuvee de Pinots Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The “C. de Pinots” is a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. A gentle pressing is done with a vertical press and the juice is vinified in stainless steel vats and in barrels (not new). A part of the wine goes through a malolactic fermentation. This cuvée is typically a blend of several vintages with at least 40% being reserve wine. The Champagne rests 48 months “sur lattes” before being disgorged. The dosage is 7g/L.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Perseval-Farge Premier Cru Terre de Sables Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Terre de Sables is a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. As referenced in its name, the cuvée is made from grapes grown on the domain’s sandiest soils and is sharply marked by it, with notes of marine minerals being supported by bright acidity. This cuvee is a blend of vintages, with 50% of reserve wine. It is held “sur lattes” for four years before disgorgement and finished with a dosage of 7g/L.”
Thierry Triolet Vieilles Vignes Blanc de Blancs, Champagne 2012 750ML ($59.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Importer note “The Vieilles Vignes is a vintage Champagne produced only in the best years. It is made entirely from Chardonnay and is harvested from one parcel with vines that are at least 40 years old. Dosage is 9 grams. This cuvée evolves beautifully over time.”
R. Dumont & Fils Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
R. Dumont & Fils Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($24.95) $18 pre-arrival special
R. Dumont & Fils Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($89.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Case-12 R. Dumont & Fils Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($419.95) $319 pre-arrival special (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Importer note “The Dumont Brut NV is a blend of 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. The grapes from their vineyard have qualities that seem less aggressive and more sumptuous than those from the northern districts. In addition, vinification of whole berries at low temperatures enhances this quality of soft elegance. The NV is a blend of vintages typically between two and five years old. It is aged for two years on the lees before disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams.”
This is the lowest listed price for a magnum in the USA today!
This is the only listing for a half bottle in the USA today!
Arriving Friday:
“Full-bodied, concentrated and downright explosive in the mouth”
Eisele Vineyard (Araujo) Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 750ML ($699.95) $549 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles available!
Eisele Vineyard (Araujo) Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 375ML ($349.95) $289 pre-arrival special, only 10 half-bottles available!
Eisele Vineyard (Araujo) Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2015 1.5L ($1,299.95) $1,149 pre-arrival special, only 6 magnums available!
Wine Advocate 100 points “Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon charges from the gate with exuberant red and black cherries notes, black currants and mulberries with a beautiful roses and lavender perfume, plus hints of sandalwood and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, concentrated and downright explosive in the mouth, it is still wearing loads of gorgeous puppy-fat fruit flavors, offering suggestions of the complex, multilayered blockbuster that it will emerge into. The structure deserves its own mention: wonderful, seamless freshness and oh-so-fine, pixelated tannins, with an extraordinary persistence of fruit and mineral nuances. Wow.”
This is the only listing in the USA for the half-bottle!
The average price is $575 for the 750ml
Top Vintage Hermitage Under $62?
Delas Does the Impossible
“Delas Frères is located just outside of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols and has plenty of prime parcels spread throughout the entire northern Rhône Valley. The 2015s are the finest wines I’ve tasted from this estate since the 2010s, and if anything, the wines appear to be slightly more balanced and polished, with less obvious oak. The 2016s are less showy, yet have very classic, balanced profiles, and this is unquestionably another good vintage for this estate, which appears to be firing on all cylinders.” –Jeb Dunnuck
Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, and as a resulte are rightfully considered to be one of the most important producers in the Northern Rhone.
Delas makes wines that are powerful and impressive, with density and richness a hallmark of both the reds and the whites—there are no shrinking violets in the lineup. The St. Joseph is among the more structured, ageworthy examples to come of the region and a fantastic deal for ageworthy Syrah. We’ve also getting in their Hermitage Tourettes—one of the best values in the Northern Rhone. It’s hard to find Hermitage under $100, much less under $70, especially at this level of quality.
Arriving ETA December:
“well worth a case purchase”-Jeb Dunnuck
Delas Freres Hermitage Tourette 2015 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Tourette 2015 750ML ($479.95) $369 pre-arrival special (that’s only $61.50/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “This is loaded with well-defined loganberry, blackberry and boysenberry pâte de fruit flavors, flecked with anise and black tea notes and carried by a fine iron streak that lingers wonderfully. A wine of cut, purity and precision. Best from 2020 through 2035. From France.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A blend of Syrah grapes from several lieux-dits, including Les Bessards, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes is aged in new and second use barrels. It’s a dark, concentrated wine, meaty, rich and tannic but with a bright beam of cassis fruit that lifts it and gives it great definition and shape on the palate. Give this medium to full-bodied wine at least 5 years in the cellar and drink it over the next 15.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “While the Les Bessards gets all the attention, the 2015 Hermitage Domaine Des Tourettes isn’t far behind and is unquestionably the value play. Beef blood, cassis, blackberry liqueur and loads of crushed rock nuances all emerge from this ripe, concentrated, full-bodied Hermitage that has a classic, structured profile. It’s well worth a case purchase and will keep for two to three decades. As always, this cuvée comes from two parcels, the lower part of the Bessards lieu-dit and the Les Grandes Vignes located at the highest point on Hermitage Hill. It’s completely destemmed and sees 16 months in 30% new French oak.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Enticing hints of sweet spice, black pepper and bacon fat seduce on the nose of this rich but balanced Hermitage. Blackberry and cherry flavors are fresh and juicy but structured by firm tannins and brisk acidity. A polished wine already, it should intensify its savory, smoky complexities well through 2030.”
The next best price is $81.19
The average price is $86!
Delas Freres St Joseph Sainte Epine 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 94 points “Dark and winey, featuring a deep core of red and black currant fruit steeped gently with anise and apple wood notes. The finish lets a bright iron edge run through. There’s lots to like here. Drink now through 2026. 500 cases made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93-95+ points “The 2016 Saint Joseph Sainte Epine comes from the cool, fine, granite soils of the Sainte Epine lieu-dit located just outside of Saint-Jean-de-Muzols. Its deep purple color is followed by a sensational perfume of crème de cassis, black pepper, graphite and crushed flowers. Full-bodied, elegant and seamless, with incredible purity, it’s going to be one of the superstars of the vintage.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The Delas wines are among the best in Saint Joseph, and the 2016 Saint Joseph Sainte-Epine doesn’t miss a beat. It shows spicy-herbal complexity on the nose, combined with ripe black cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it’s supple, plush and long. It should be a beauty, capable of rivaling the impressive 2015.”
September Clearance Sale Recap
Weingut Jos. Christoffel Jr. Christoffel-Prum Erdener Pralat Riesling Auslese***, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) Was $33, Now $29 Clearance Price
VinopolNote: Erderner Prälat occupies a mere 2.2 hectares. Entirely south-facing, the vineyard is surrounded by cliffs which insulate the vines – as a result, Prälat is one of the warmest plots in the region. Over time, it has also become one of the most sought-after vineyards. Given the limited space, only a few winemakers have access to the vineyard.
Orin Swift Abstract Red, California 2015 750ML ($37.95) Was $24, Now $21.90 Clearance Price
Case-12 Orin Swift Abstract Red, California 2015 750ML ($419.95) Was $259, Now $239 Clearance Price (that’s only $19.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “Moderately complex, though loaded with zesty, supple fruit and offering appealing notes of black raspberry, smoky beef and cracked pepper. Grenache, Syrah and Petite Sirah. Drink now through 2022.”
The next best price is $28.95
The average price is $33
Bereche et Fils Reflet d’Antan Brut, Champagne NV 1.5L ($299.95) Was $219, Now $199 September Clearance Price, 10 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The flagship NV (2012) Reflet d’Antan is quite rich and intense, yet it also maintains striking translucence. Dried flowers, herbs and spices add aromatic nuance throughout, but, as is often the case, Reflet d’Antan is a wine of texture and feel above all else. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged December 2016.”Steely lean and vivid, a pure bolt of Alpine freshness
Domaine Jean Masson & Fils Savoie Apremont Coeur d’Apremont Vieilles Vignes 2016 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $36 Clearance Price, 36 bottles in stock now
Importer note: Shows a deep minerality and super long finish.
Winery note “Our flagship wine, the cuvee Coeur d’Apremont is sourced from the same plots every year, selected with the greatest care by Jean-Claude Masson. The grass cover-cropping and the age to the vines (80 years on average) result in tiny yields. Thus, when the fruit is picked at optimum maturity, it highly expresses all its aromatic potential. The result, after a long fermentation on fine lees, is a powerful wine of purity, characterized by notes of exceptional candied fruit: apricot, fig and peach.”
