We have an exciting set of wines to offer today! Including: Hot Rhones for Cold Weather, Value Classé Margaux, New Cameron Chardonnay, Two Titans of Barolo and some High Scoring Hispanic pre-arrivals (at amazing prices!). We’ve also got some rare white Burgundy and John Gilman’s take on some Champagnes, Domaine Huet 2015’s and 2015 Beaujolais. To wrap it all up, don’t miss the highlights of Oregon Syrah and their French counterparts, Domaine Clape and finally a few Frugal and Fruity picks for everyday drinking!
High-Value Rhone Wines
for Winter Weather Relief
Just Arrived
Chateau Pesquie Ventoux Terrasses, Rhone 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, in stock
Wine Advocate 91 points “Always a terrific value, the 2014 Ventoux Terrasses is no exception and offers complex, classic southern Rhone notes of dried garrigue, pepper, spice-box, licorice and sweet cherry fruit. These carry to a medium to full-bodied, elegant and balanced red that gains depth and richness with time in the glass, has loads Provencal character and a great finish. Made from a blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah that was aged in tank and old barrels, it can last for 7-8 years (I know as I just finished a case of the ’05, which was still going strong at age 10.) While 2013 and 2014 were difficult in the southern Rhone, readers should keep in mind that Ventoux is a huge region that has a varied climate that’s often quite different than what’s seen closer to the Rhone River. Chateau Pesquie is without a doubt one of the top estate in Ventoux and the wines are under-priced given their quality.”
Chateau Redortier Gigondas, Rhone 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, in stock
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91-93 points “Dark ruby. Spicy black raspberry, licorice, herbs and pepper on the nose, with floral pastille and mineral nuances adding lift and complexity. Silky, sweet and penetrating, with nicely delineated flavors of dark berries, licorice pastille and lavender. Supple tannins come on late, giving grip to the juicy, floral, impressively persistent finish.” 2012
Don’t miss over a hundred more wines from the Rhone, available at our website: www.vinopoliswineshop.com!
Mouthwatering Margaux
Both the Wine and its Price!
Arriving January 16th
Chateau d’Issan, Margaux 2012 750ML ($69.95) $53.80 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles arriving January 16th
Robert Parker 95 points “The 2012 Château d’Issan, builds on the richness of the second wine and adds more body, structure and density. It has an inky purple color and a stunning nose of spring flowers, blueberry and blackberry fruit as well as touches of incense and graphite. Medium to full-bodied and stunningly concentrated, this 2012 is a great success in the vintage, one of the superstars. Moreover, its precociousness suggests it could be drunk in the next 4-5 years or cellared through 2025. I underrated this wine dramatically in my report of April, 2013.”
2014 Cameron Reserve Chardonnay
Arriving Friday
The ‘Reserve’ level of Cameron Chardonnay is always an incredible deal. Made of declassified barrels of Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, so without the new oak that the lower level bottling sees, this wine shows facets of the grace and intensity of Abbey and the Clos without the pricetag of those higher end bottlings. In 2014, all of the Abbey Ridge was moved to this bottling, making it an even better deal than usual.
Cameron Reserve Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available, arriving January 13th
Two Titans of Barolo: Arriving Friday!
This Friday, we have wines arriving from two titans of Piedmontese wines: Bartolo Mascarello and Giacomo Conterno. While neither needs an introduction, we figured we’d write a quick one in case you aren’t familiar. As you’d expect, then, these wines disappear very quickly, with or without scores.
Bartolo Mascarello
The Bartolo Mascarello name isn’t a secret amongst lovers of Piedmontese wines. Bartolo was famously traditionalist during a period of time when “traditional” was a bad word, but he kept making wines the way he believed was correct. Now he’s revered and his daughter, Maria Theresa, is making wines that are as good or better than her father ever made, at a time when traditional is cool again. The estate only bottles one Barolo, because traditionally estates blended their vineyards to make a representation of the DOC, and so that’s how they do it here. It is a can’t-miss wine in any vintage.
The Barolo is obviously the highlight of the offering, but smart buyers know to look toward the Dolcetto and Barbera as well. Antonio Galloni says, “Maria Teresa’s entry-level wines are delicious and also a good substitute when a bottle of her Barolo is not in the cards. The wines are made with the same artisan spirit and direct, unfussy style that has been this estate’s calling card for years, with an extra degree of purity that has characterized these wines over the last decade.”
Arriving This Friday, January 13th
Bartolo Mascarello Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles arriving Friday, January 13th
VinopolNote: “Cellar-worth Barbera. This wine always over delivers, even at a price that’s higher than almost every other Barbera on the market. The flavors are more direct and fruit driven, but the seriousness and complexity are akin to what you find in the more prestigious bottles. If you’re looking into figuring out what this estate is about without dropping $125+, this is your wine.”
Bartolo Mascarello Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2012 750ML ($149.95) $125 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available, arriving Friday, January 13th
Antonio Galloni 95 points “Freshly cut flowers, mint, raspberry and red stone fruits all lift from the glass in the Maria-Theresa Mascarello’s 2012 Barolo. Silky, open-knit and gracious, the 2012 is surprisingly delicious today. This is a decidedly mid-weight, approachable Barolo that is already quite open and delicious. Best of all, the 2012 won’t need years to come together. Mascarello fans should buy the 2012 to drink over the near and medium-term, while some of the more structured vintages age in the cellar. A model of grace and finesse, the 2012 is striking in its beauty, even if it clearly doesn’t have the depth or multi-dimensional personality of the very best years. Drink: 2018-2032.”
Bartolo Mascarello Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, 12 bottles arriving Friday, January 13th
VinopolNote: “2015 looks to be a very good year for grapes like Barbera and Dolcetto in the Piedmonte. Riper and richer than usual, this already very serious Dolcetto looks like a potential bargain if you can keep your hands off of it for 5-10 years. Really good stuff.”
In stock now!
Bartolo Mascarello Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($37.95) $33 special, 3 bottles available, in stock
Antonio Galloni “A classic, mid-weight wine, the 2014 Dolcetto d’Alba is pretty, but also shows the limits of the year. Plum, lavender, licorice and sweet spiced notes are laced throughout. The 2014 is a bit old fashioned in its classic mid-weight feel, but very pretty just the same.”
Giacomo Conterno
The wines of Giacomo Conterno are (and have been) prized for their quality, ageworthiness and exceptional reflection of the terroir of different soils of the Barolo region. Unlike the B. Mascarello wines that we featured, Conterno makes a few different Baroli from individual vineyards (or parcels within vineyards). These wines are more overtly powerful and will cellar for near an eternity. The prices have started to climb in recent years, but compared to their counterparts in the world of wine (DRC, Roumier, Rousseau, First Growth Bordeaux) they remain an absolute steal.
Arriving Friday, January 13th
Giacomo Conterno Cerretta Barbera d’Alba 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available, arriving January 13th
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Cerretta is a magnificent expression and an unexpected surprise. The Barbera d’Alba Cerretta has often taken a back seat to the more prominent Barbera d’Alba Francia. Among the two, I found that this wine offers even more depth of expression and nuance. The vineyard site in Serralunga d’Alba has clay soils that have contributed to the sheer sense of elegance and structure offered here. The results are grand and opulent. The wine ends with a playful touch of brimstone or dark mineral that frames its fruity core.”
Giacomo Conterno Vigna Francia Barbera d’Alba 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available, arriving January 13th
Giacomo Conterno Vigna Francia Barbera d’Alba 2014 1.5L ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 6 bottles available, arriving January 13th
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Francia opens to beautiful fullness and sheer depth that represents the darker, softer and more generous side of this grape. I tasted the wine from barrel approximately one month before bottling. Roberto Conterno says that 2014 was a good year for both Barbera, but especially Nebbiolo that experienced a natural selection process in the vineyard due to low yields. This wine offers ripe fruit tones with bold lines and beautifully balanced concentration.”
This is the lowest listed price for the magnum in the USA today!
Giacomo Conterno ‘Cerretta’, Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special, 11 bottles available, arriving January 13th
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “Conterno’s 2012 Barolo Cerretta boasts superb aromatic presence, precision and overall silkiness, with seemingly endless layers of fruit that come from all directions. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red cherry/plum fruit, hard candy, spice and new leather lead to the pliant, silky finish. The 2012 might very well be the most precise, nuanced Cerretta yet.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “To be released in October 2016, the 2012 Barolo Cerretta opens to a profound and buoyant bouquet that is particularly driven by menthol freshness, as well as pretty nuances of balsam herb and forest fruit with licorice, tilled earth and truffle. The wine is balanced and ethereal. It’s so difficult to achieve this level of aromatic definition (especially in a warm year like 2012), but Roberto Conterno has done so with a deft hand. This is a complete expression of Barolo with aromatic intensity that is matched by an enduring sense of structure and medium-weight appeal.”
Giacomo Conterno Francia Barolo DOCG 2012 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles available, arriving January 13th
Antonio Galloni 94-97 points “The 2012 Barolo Francia is dark, virile and intense, with a huge center of fruit to match its distinctly brooding personality. Today, the 2012 also comes across as quite closed in on itself, but there is a level of pure depth here that is absolutely compelling. Conterno has decided not to bottle a Monfortino, so there is good reason to think the bottled Francia has the potential to be stellar.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Since the 2010 vintage, this wine is named Francia (not Cascina Francia) to keep with the new Menzioni Geografiche Aggiuntive (or official cru naming) in Barolo and Barbaresco. The 2012 Barolo Francia is a seductive and silky expression that flows gracefully over the palate with power and determination. The nose is expressive, and decidedly more articulate than many of the more muted wines made by neighboring estates in this warm vintage. The quality of the mouthfeel is of special interest. This beautiful Barolo already shows stunning texture, richness and integrity, despite this very early preview tasting. I tasted this wine in barrel shortly before bottling.”
Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado! Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25.
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
Bruna Grimaldi
Thankfully, you don’t need to spend $100 for excellent Barolo…
Bruna Grimaldi Badarina Vigna Regnola, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $38 special, in stock
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “this 1.5-hectare plot, planted on shallow white soil at a high altitude of 420 meters in Serralunga, is the estate’s “original” vineyard, where Bruna Grimaldi’s grandfather was born; the only Barolo for which Grimaldi uses cappello sommerso for extraction): Medium-deep red. Complex aromas of raspberry, truffle, smoke and underbrush. Large-scaled, concentrated and rich, offering powerful, lightly medicinal flavors of raspberry and strawberry complicated by licorice and menthol. This very young wine finishes dry and broad, with serious granular tannins calling for extended aging. The Badarina spends a full 36 months in oak and is released a year later than the other Barolos of its vintage. (Grimaldi kept a bit of this fruit in both 2010 and 2009 to make a reserve bottling, but the 2009 will not be released until 2015.)” ST
Bruna Grimaldi Camilla, Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($39.95) $31 special, in stock
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of minerals, walnut shells and dark fruits follow through to a full body. Fine tannins and a succulent finish. Drink or hold. Much better than 2010.”
But wait, there’s more Barolo at www.vinopoliswineshop.com!
Over 75 more in stock now, in fact!
High Points, Even Higher Value
Buy Early to Lock in
Special South American and Spanish Pricing
We’re always thinking ahead here at Vinopolis and we’ve got a selection of really amazing Spanish wines that we just managed to lock in prices for. Spain offers a really unique and wonderful intersection of price and extreme quality, which is reflected in the reviews for these wines. All of these wines are arriving in May and quantities are scarce (also it’s unlikely prices will be this good once we have them physically on our shelves). If any of these sounds appealing to you (and they should), jump on this opportunity now!
Arriving in May
Arrayan Estela, Mentrida 2010 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles arriving May 2017
James Suckling 95 points “Beautiful, layered wine showing great depth on the nose. Ripe strawberries, cacao, roasted coffee beans, iodine and salt undertones. Full-bodied and round-textured red with soft tannins following through to a mouth-watering and juicy finish. Blend of syrah, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and petit verdot. Drink now.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo Gualtallary’ Cabernet Franc, Tupungato 2012 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special, 48 bottles available, arriving May 2017
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The nose of the 2012 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary Single Vineyard almost made me fall from my chair. It is the expression of elegance and austerity coupled with strong minerality. It is mostly Cabernet Franc from a very chalky vineyard in Gualtallary at 1,430 meters altitude that fermented together with a small percentage of Malbec. In 2012 they fine tuned the élevage and fermentation, which was in rolling 500-liter barrels that were new in 2006 (so by then quite neutral), where the wine was kept for one more year and then transferred to 1,000-liter egg-shaped cement vats for one further year. This reminded me of my favorite Bordeaux, Lafleur, because of the elegance, the refinement of the tannins and length. It has citric, effervescent acidity that makes you salivate. Winemaker and Owner Alejandro Vigil has done a very strict selection of the soils in the field, and only kept the very center of the vineyard where the high density (12,000 plants per hectare) generates a lot of competition, because the plants from the borders have more space in the sides, which means in 2012 he could only fill 1,800 bottles. Awesome, and ultra fresh for a vintage like 2012. Bravo!”
Bodega Aleanna ‘Gran Enemigo’, Mendoza 2012 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available, arriving May 2017
Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 El Gran Enemigo is a blend of some 40% Malbec, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% each Cabernet Franc and Merlot, quite a different blend from the 2011 vintage, but also all from Gualtallary in the Uco Valley. The idea for this blend is to only use grapes from limestone soils, always a blend, while the single vineyard from Gualtallary is basically a varietal Cabernet Franc. 2012 was a little cooler than 2011, but there’s a lot more Malbec here, and there are less herbal aromas and more floral tones. There’s hardly any oak in these wines now; they are aged in used, well-seasoned, neutral oak barrels and then transferred to cement vats. It feels purer, more defined, aromatic and subtle. This is really superb, with incredible citric acidity that makes you salivate. It keeps changing in the glass, one minute giving more herbal notes, the following minute turning floral, spicier, growing in the glass and developing new nuances. This is an impressive, age-worthy blend, with the telltale chalky tannins and a supple finish.”
Finca la Emperatriz Cepas Viejas Garnacha, Rioja DOCa 2014 750 ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special, 36 bottles available, arriving May 2017.
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely herbal and floral nose displaying raspberries, cherries and hints of cloves. Mint, too. Medium body, ripe and juicy tannins and a very long, citrusy and savory finish. Made from vines over 65 years old. A wine that boasts superb finesse and style. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that won my heart this time was without a doubt the 2014 Finca la Emperatriz Garnacha Cepas Viejas. This wine is sourced from the Rioja Alta subzone, not quite the classical Garnacha place, from the only old-vine Garnacha plot they have in the estate. It displays a captivating nose of sweet Garnacha fruit akin to cherries in liqueur, but keeping the freshness in a coolish vintage like 2014. The uncrushed grapes fermented in open-top stainless steel vats and 500-liter oak barrels with indigenous yeasts after five days of pre-fermentative maceration, and it matured in 500-liter oak barrels for ten months. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, delicious fresh flavors and very good length, ending with a tasty, almost salty note.”
Meanwhile, in Premier Cru White Burgundy…
Arriving this month
Philippe Colin comes from a distinguished line of Chassagne winemakers. His father, Michel, taught the next generation well, as Philippe proves each vintage. The man crafts a wonderful Chevalier-Montrachet, so fine-tuned are Philippe’s skills, but if you can’t afford that, you will find tremendous delight in his Chassagne Premier Cru Les Vergers and Les Chenevottes. Plus, the vibrant 2011 white Burgundies are entering their drinking window, so stock up on these gems while we’re able to offer them.
Philippe Colin Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 21 bottles available, arriving in January
Wine Advocate 92 points “Tasted blind at the Burgundy 2011 horizontal tasting in Beaune. The Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru les Chenevottes 2011 from Philippe Colin has a more floral and feminine bouquet that its peers with subtle touches of white flowers, shaved almond and popcorn that unfolds beautifully in the glass. The palate is clean and fresh with vibrant candied orange peel and citrus lemon. This is well defined and focused with a long and engaging, terroir-driven finish. This is a great Chassagne from Philippe Colin.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $100
Philippe Colin Les Vergers, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available, arriving in January
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Bright yellow. Reticent nose dominated by crushed stone and menthol. Tightly wound but already quite nuanced, showing excellent acid/mineral cut to its flavors of lemon, hay and fresh herbs. Finishes juicy and long, with suggestions of orchard fruits. An excellent showing today, but there’s more to come.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $90
New Reviews from John Gilman!
John Gilman offers a welcome alternative to the ripeness-oriented palates of Robert Parker, James Suckling, etc. He’s written his newsletter, View from the Cellar, from his home in New York and attracted a following as a voice of reason, or at least of classicism. We love his writing because of the history and detail he provides for each estate, as well as his willingness to use a much broader spectrum of the 100 point scale. He doesn’t inflate scores like some others and so when we see a high scoring wine (which we’ll say is 90 and above for him), we know we should pay attention. He recently released a new issue which had reviews of some things we had in stock or on pre-arrival, so we felt we should share them with you:
From Champagne, we have the following in stock:
Ulysse Collin ‘Les Pierrieres’ Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne NV (2012) 750ML ($119.95) $89 special, 12 bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The Ulysse Collin Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut all hails from the single parcel of Les Perrières, which is planted with thirty-five year-old vines. Like all of Olivier’s Collin’s wines these days, the vins clairs are barrel-fermented and aged for an extended period in older casks prior to bottling, after which the wine spends two to three years aging sur latte. The new release of Les Perrières, which is marked on the back label as Lot 12 (meaning it hails from the base year of 2012) offers up a lovely bouquet that shows just a touch of buttery oak influence in its blend of pear, delicious apple, pastry cream, a fine base of soil, buttery oak and a distinctly smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and quite dry, with lovely mousse, a fine core and lovely backend mineral drive on the long, balanced and nascently complex finish. The dosage on this bottling is between one and two grams and the balance is impeccable, making the wine eminently accessible right out of the blocks. Fine juice, where the gentle oak influence is very nicely done. 2016-2030.”
Louis Roederer Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “The new release of Louis Roederer “Brut Premier” is composed of its traditional blend of forty percent each of chardonnay and pinot noir, with the balance made up of pinot meunier. The wine is aged three years sur latte and an additional six months in bottle after disgorgement. The bouquet is truly superb, wafting from the glass in a precise and vibrant blend of apple, gentle notes of tangerine, beautifully complex soil nuances, warm bread and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and supremely elegant, with a lovely core, seamless balance, refined mousse and outstanding length and grip on the complex and very classy finish. I love the precise elegance of this release. This is one of the best examples of Brut Premier in years! 2016-2030+. 92.”
The average listed price for this wine is $50!
Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs Brut Millesime, Champagne 2009 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 16 bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 93 points “It had been a bit over a year since I last tasted the 2009 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésime, and the wine has started to blossom nicely and is really starting to come into its own. As readers may recall, this wine was aged just under five years sur latte prior to disgorgement, with the vins clairs barrel-fermented in foudres and not undergoing malolactic fermentation. The finishing dosage is nine grams per liter. The bouquet is showing a bit more almond than it back in the summer of 2015, wafting from the glass in a superb blend of pear, apple, lovely nuttiness, a fine base of chalky minerality, gentle fruit blossoms, brioche and still that exotic (and truly captivating) topnote of lavender. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and already starting to blossom nicely, with a lovely core, fine focus and grip, elegant mousse and a very long, complex and classy finish. The warmer vintage character of 2009 has allowed his wine to come forward a bit quicker than I anticipated when I tasted the wine last and the wine is drinking very nicely today. It may not last quite as long as I anticipated when I tasted it soon after release, but it is now ready and showing beautifully. 2016-2030+. 93.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price for this wine is $81!
Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne 2009 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 20 bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “Philippe Starck is the French artist who collaborated on the packaging for the 2009 Brut Nature bottling from Louis Roederer. Monsieur Starck also collaborated on the initial release of Brut Nature from the house in the 2006 vintage. The wine is a blend of one-third chardonnay and two-thirds pinot noir and pinot meunier, with all of the grapes hailing from the village of Cumières. The vins clairs did not undergo malolactic fermentation, but one-third of the blend was barrel-fermented for this cuvée (which is down from fifty percent for the 2006 version). It spent five years aging sur latte and is non-dosé. The bouquet is deep and complex, offering up a fine blend of apple, white peach, complex soil tones, a touch of pastry cream, gentle smokiness and a topnote of hazelnut. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and focused , with bright acids, frothy mousse, lovely complexity and grip and a long, poised and seamlessly balanced finish. The ripe fruit of the 2009 vintage provided the perfect gras for a non-dosé bottling, with the lack of malo delivering the customary structural integrity and grip one expects from a vintage-dated bottling from Louis Roederer. Fine, fine juice that is accessible today and should age very well indeed. 2016-2035+. 93+.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price for this wine is $85!
These only scratch the surface of our Champagne offerings—we have a hundred different Champagnes in stock at www.vinopoliswineshop.com !
John Gilman Loves 2015 Huet!
We also are getting in a number of the really wonderful
2015’s in from Domaine Huet
These wines are arriving in March:
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 pre-arrival special, 23 bottles available, arriving March 2017
John Gilman 91+ points “:The 2015 Le Haut Lieu Sec from Domaine Huët is a ripe and fairly wide open rendition of this superb bottling, offering up a very pretty and inviting bouquet of pear, sweet quince, a bit of lanolin, lovely soil tones, a whisper of lavender and a topnote of dried flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and fairly crisp, with a very good core of fruit, fine soil signature, good, solid acids and fine length and grip on the still quite primary finish. Then focus here is not quite what one expects from this bottling in most vintages, but Sec is certainly not the strength of the 2015 vintage in Vouvray. Structurally, this wine is fairly accessible right out of the blocks, but this has not yet begun to develop any of its secondary layers of complexity and really deserves at least a few years in the cellar to blossom. But, it will not require extended cellaring to start to drink very well. 2016-2035+. 91+.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special, 20 bottles available, arriving March 2017
John Gilman 93 points “Domaine Huët’s 2015 Le Mont Sec is deeper and more precise that the Le Haut Lieu Sec on the nose, offering up a complex and serious aromatic blend of quince, fresh pineapple, hints of honeycomb, a superb base of soil, lanolin and a touch of white flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, crisp and very long, with a rock solid core of fruit, excellent nascent complexity, fairly low acids for this bottling, but lovely focus and balance on the very long and classy backend. This has the lower acidity of the vintage, but also the superb structure of Le Mont and should age longer than most dry 2015 Vouvrays. 2016-2050. 93.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($41.95) $36 pre-arrival special, 4 bottles available, arriving March 2017
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2015 Le Haut Lieu Demi-Sec is outstanding from Domaine Huët, as the touch of botrytis here gives the wine impressive concentration and aromatic lift. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a nascently complex blend of pineapple, quince, a touch of tangerine, bee pollen, chalky soil tones, lanolin and orange peel. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, bright and beautifully balanced, with great concentration at the core, lovely focus and grip and a very long, still primary, but very promising finish. Again, the acids are not overly snappy here, but the concentrating effect of a bit of noble rot has elevated them a touch and they are more than adequate to carry this wine far, far into the future. This has great depth without undue weight. 2016-2065. 93+.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available, arriving March 2017
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Domaine Huët is an outstanding young wine, with even more depth and potential than the superb Le Haut Lieu Demi. The bouquet is bottomless, delivering scents of pineapple, sweet quince, incipient notes of honey, chalky minerality, a touch of lanolin, floral tones redolent of buttercups and lovely, esthery citrus elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, beautifully balanced and displays stunning depth at the core, with lovely acidity (particularly for the vintage!), great focus and grip and a very, very long, primary and exceptional finish. This does not have the backend cut or grip of a vintage such as 2007 or 2008, but it is going to be a great example of Domaine Huët Demi-Sec. It is deceptively easy to drink today, but its true apogee is at least a decade or more out from the vintage! 2016-2075. 95.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Moelleux, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available, arriving March 2017
95 points John Gilman “The 2015 Vouvray “Le Mont” Moelleux from Domaine Huët is yet another brilliant wine from the estate in this vintage, soaring from the glass in a nicely botrytized blend of apple, quince, honeycomb, dried flowers, a touch of dusty chalkiness, orange peel and an exotic topnote of sweet corn in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and more primary in personality than the Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, with a rock solid core, great focus and grip, lovely framing acids and impeccable balance on the very, very long and stunning finish. This is less developed than the 2015 Le Haut Lieu Moelleux, but it seems to have even superior potential for the long haul! Great juice. 2020-2085. 95.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Le Haut Lieu Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special, 18 bottles available, arriving March 2017
John Gilman 95+ points “Domaine Huët’s 2015 Première Trie from the Le Haut Lieu vineyard is more primary and reserved in personality than the straight Moelleux bottling, but deeper, more pristine and ever more promising. The bouquet shows a beautiful glaze of clean botrytis in its aromatic blend of pineapple, sweet quince, tangerine, honey, a lovely cornerstone of soil, orange peel, dried flowers and a bit of smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, focused and full-bodied, with marvelous depth and balance, bright acids, great complexity to come and stunning length and bounce on the superbly energetic and seamless finish. This has a bit of that early vinosity that was found in the Clos du Bourg Demi-Sec and augurs very, very well for its future development! 2020-2085. 95+.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos du Bourg Premiere Trie, Loire 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special, 15 bottles available, arriving March 2017
John Gilman 98 points “The Clos du Bourg” Moelleux Première Trie from Domaine Huët is another absolutely stunning young example of the 2015 vintage. The very complex bouquet wafts from the glass in one of the most beautifully-botrytized blends I have ever had the pleasure to experience, with notes of pineapple, candied quince, incipient notes of apricot, a whisper of lanolin, honeycomb, a lovely touch of soil, a bit of orange zest, incipient notes of heather and barley sugar, dried flowers, sweet corn and just a whisper of browned butter in the upper register. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and alluring in its promise of stunning complexity to come, with a great core, bright, zesty acids, laser-like focus and stunning length and grip on the still youthful, but utterly suave finish. This does not have the spine of acidity for perfection, but that is really all that is missing here! Like the 2015 Le Mont Première Trie, this is delicious already, thought it really should not be touched for close to another decade! 2025-2085. 98.”
2015 Beaujolais: A Return to…1947?
The 2015 Beaujolais is going to be a landmark vintage, that much is clear. With intense heat and comparable ripeness, we were worried that this might be another 2003 in the making. However, once we started to read what John Gilman had to say about some of these wines, our fear turned to excitement. It looks like the best wines from 2015 all managed to capture the power of the vintage but retained the freshness and elegance we look for with Gamay. These wines look like they will be wonderful to cellar now but will age effortlessly for a long, long time. Some wineries are already making the comparison with the legendary 1947 vintage. We didn’t get to try those young (or ever, really), but we’re pretty excited about these:
In Stock Now:
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Moulin-a-Vent Les Trois Roches, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 96 points “The 2015 Moulin-à-Vent “Les Trois Roches” from Domaine du Vissoux is another absolutely stellar example of the vintage from Pierre-Marie Chermette, coming in at 13.5 percent octane and offering up all of the depth and intensity of the vintage, without sacrificing any of the customary Vissoux precision and purity. The stunning nose is youthful, but oh, so promising, as it delivers scents of sweet cassis, black cherries, espresso, violets, dark soil tones, a touch of licorice, gamebird, woodsmoke and lead pencil. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and seamlessly balanced, with ripe tannins, laser-like focus, a superb core and a very, very long, soildriven and still quite youthful finish. If one wanted a prime example of a 2015 that might replicate the longevity of the finest 1947s, this would be it, as it has stunning concentration, tied to impeccable balance and plenty of structural integrity. 2022-2075. 96.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 94+ points “The 2015 Poncié from Pierre-Marie Chermette’s Domaine du Vissoux is a superb followup to the brilliant 2014 bottling of this wine. The bouquet is deep, very, very pure and shows a nice touch of sappiness in its aromatic constellation of black cherries, pomegranate, intense violets, bitter chocolate, a fine base of dark soil tones, fresh thyme, a hint of cedar and a topnote of spit-roasted gamebirds. On the palate the wine is deep, pure, full-bodied and hauntingly wellbalanced, with tangy acids, a fair bit of tannin (particularly for a young Fleurie), lovely midpalate concentration and superb intensity of flavor on the very, very long and minerally finish. I loved the 2014 Poncié, but this seems likely, with sufficient bottle age, to be even better! 2020-2045+. 94+.”
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Brouilly Pierreux, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 93+ points “As I have mentioned in the past, the Brouilly “Pierreux” bottling from Pierre-Marie Chermette hails from the southern part of Brouilly appellation, just to the east of the village of Odenas, and often this wine has more in common with bottlings of Côte de Brouilly as a result. The 2015 Pierreux is fairly low octane for the vintage, coming in at 13.5 percent, but offering plenty of depth and structure, which are the hallmarks of this year. The complex bouquet is a bit more black fruity out of the blocks than the 2014 was at a similar age, offering up scents of black cherries, pomegranate, a striking base of soil tones, woodsmoke, fresh rosemary, chicory and a nice touch of meatiness. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, tangy and laser-like in its focus, with a rock solid core, some firm, well-integrated tannins and superb soil drive on the very long and youthful finish. This is going to be a stunning bottle of Brouilly, but, like many of the very best 2015s, it is going to want some time in the cellar. 2019-2045+. 93+.”
Daniel Bouland Morgon Delys, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($31.95) $27 special, 36+ bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 90-94 points “These great old vines are getting very close to their ninetieth vintage, as they were planted in 1926. This wine is also listed at 14.5 octane, but seems like it might be just a touch higher to my palate. The bouquet is deep, black fruity and ripe, delivering a fine blend of black cherries, sweet dark berries, woodsmoke, roasted gamebird, a touch of garrigue, dark soil tones and a hint of cedar. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, sappy and rock solid at the core, with firm, slightly coarse tannins, fine focus and grip and a very long, nascently complex and very promising finish. This has almost bottomless depth and stunning length on the backend, and it may well be a legend in the making that will need a decade of bottle age to blossom completely. It is more hunkered down out of the blocks than the Bellevue, and though it is hard to get a precise read on out of the blocks, I would be willing to bet it will ultimately be a great bottle of Morgon. 2023-2050+. 90-94?”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Daniel Bouland Cote de Brouilly Cuvee Melanie, Beaujolais 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “Daniel Bouland’s 2015 Côte de Brouilly “Cuvée Mélanie” is a bit riper than his beautiful Chiroubles, coming in at 14.5 percent alcohol on the label this year. However, the wine shows no signs of sur maturité on the nose, jumping from the glass in a sappy mélange of black cherries, pomegranate, a touch of grilled meats, woodsmoke, dark chocolate, a dollop of fresh herbs, a good base of soil, just a hint of the autumn leaves to come and a bit of cedar in the upper register (this is barrel-fermented). On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and flamboyantly sappy at the core, with firm, ripe tannins, tangy acids and outstanding length and grip on the moderately heady finish. This seems higher than 14.5 percent to my palate, as there is a bit of overt heat poking out on the backend right now, but at the same time, the acids are bright and the wine is impressively pure for its octane level and really does not seem overripe. This has the chassis to age for decades and decades, and if it can carry its octane over the long haul, then it will be a magical wine. I have no experience with aging Cru Beaujolais at this level of alcohol for the very long haul, but I am inclined to be that this wine will age like a ’47! 2016-2040+. 92.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Willamette Valley Syrah:
The Next Great Oregon Grape Variety?
The Willamette Valley is clearly known for great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as it should be—the wines are exceptional and extremely undervalued. However, more and more “other” grape varieties continue to be planted and one that we continue to be excited about is Syrah. The wines produced are really fascinating and delicious—much more in the style of the Rhone than of California, but with a touch more approachability and fruit. These are some of our favorites:
Arriving Friday, January 13th
Cristom Estate Syrah, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, 24 bottles available, arriving January 13th
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93 points “Highly perfumed scents of black and blue fruits, Indian spices, pungent flowers and cola, joined by a smoky nuance that builds in the glass. Palate-staining blackberry and boysenberry flavors show very good depth, and exotic violet pastille and black pepper nuances add complexity. Finishes smooth, spicy and warm, displaying lingering notes of sweet dark berry liqueur and gentle tannins.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
In Stock Now:
Matello Fool’s Journey Deux Vert Vineyard, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 28 bottles available, in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby-red. Sexy, highly perfumed red berry liqueur, five-spice powder and floral pastille scents show very good clarity and a hint of smokiness. Silky, sweet and focused, offering fresh raspberry and spicecake flavors that deepen slowly with aeration. Shows real northern Rhône aromatic and flavor character, with Pinot-like weight and texture. Suggestions of menthol and white pepper build steadily on the very long, gently tannic finish, which leaves a note of clove behind.”
Franchere Havlin Vineyard Syrah, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 25 bottles available, in stock now
John Gilman 92 points “Franchere Wines is the brainchild of Mike Hinds, who has only started up his own small project with the 2013 vintage. All of his vineyards are farmed organically (though not yet certified) and he is doing good work already. The 2014 Havlin Vineyard Syrah from Franchere is fermented with native yeasts, raised in old casks and bottled unfined and unfiltered. The wine tips the scales at a very civilized 12.9 percent octane and offers up an excellent youthful bouquet of cassis, black raspberries, black pepper, a touch of meatiness, woodsmoke, dark soil and a nice topnote of spiciness. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and rock solid at the core, with ripe, chewy tannins, fine grip and a long, nascently complex and promising finish. This is a proper young bottle of syrah and will need four to six years in the cellar to blossom, but it will be an excellent example with a bit of bottle age. 2020-2045+. 92.”
Speaking of Syrah…
The Return of 2014 Clape Cornas
(and more!)
There’s very little that needs to be said about Domaine Clape, in Cornas. We don’t get very much of the wine in and they tend to sell out as pre-arrivals, especially for the top wines. We’ve got some more Cornas coming in February and we have some of the other wines in stock now. The Domaine keeps moving from strength to strength and 2014 and 2015 were both incredibly successful vintages.
Arriving in February
Domaine Clape Cornas 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 15 bottles available, arriving February 2017
Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media, 93-95 points “Brilliant purple. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and blackberry scents, along with notes of bacon fat, licorice, potpourri and pungent flowers. Pure, concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that gain weight and become sweeter with air. Closes extremely long, sappy and sweet, juicy acidity adding lift and cut to the blue-fruit-dominated, youthfully tannic finish.”
In Stock Now
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas, Rhone 2014 1.5L ($299.95) $249 special, 1 magnum available, in stock
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 93-95 points “Brilliant purple. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and blackberry scents, along with notes of bacon fat, licorice, potpourri and pungent flowers. Pure, concentrated and energetic on the palate, offering deeply concentrated black and blue fruit flavors that gain weight and become sweeter with air. Closes extremely long, sappy and sweet, juicy acidity adding lift and cut to the blue-fruit-dominated, youthfully tannic finish.”
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance, Rhone 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 1 bottle available, in stock
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “Pierre-Marie also excelled in 2013, and his Cornas Renaissance offers fleshy, ripe, full-bodied notes of powdered rock, cassis, black raspberry and ground herbs. With time in the glass, it becomes dominated by its mineral-component and it gains mid-palate depth and richness. It will drink reasonably well on release, but have 15 years or more of overall longevity.” WA
The average listed price for this wine is $81!
Domaine Auguste Clape Cornas Renaissance, Rhone 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 6 bottles available, in stock
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92-94 points “Saturated ruby. Potent black and blue fruit, cola, olive and smoky Indian spice aromas are lifted by a suggestion of cracked pepper. Sappy, pliant and appealingly sweet, offering ripe blueberry and cherry compote flavors that tighten up steadily with air. Rich yet energetic, showing strong closing punch and velvety tannins that fold smoothly into sappy dark fruit on the impressively long finish.”
The average listed price for this wine is $85!
2015 Domaine Auguste Clape Cotes du Rhone 2015 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 2 bottles available, in stock
Wine Advocate 90 points “Readers on a budget looking for a taste of the style of this benchmark estate need to latch onto a few bottles of the Vin des Amis and Côtes du Rhône (although, unfortunately, some retailers gouge consumers for these cuvées). Also bottled in September, the 2015 Côtes du Rhône is another inky-colored beauty that’s packed with fruit. It’s more complex and elegant than the Vin des Amis and offers more smoked meats, garrigue, peppery herbs, and red and black fruits. This cuvée comes from more pebbly soils and is open-knit and ready to go. Both entry-level releases are loaded with character.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Domaine Auguste Clape Saint-Peray Blanc, Rhone 2015 750ML ($51.95) $46 special, 8 bottles available, in stock
Wine Advocate 91 points “Looking at the only white produced, I loved Clape’s 2015 St Péray, and this cuvée gets better and better every year. Medium-bodied, elegant and with serious length, it has the classic minerality of the appellation, as well as lots of brioche, buttered citrus and crisp orchard fruits. Drink it over the coming 4-5 years.”
Domaine Auguste Clape Le Vin des Amis, Rhone 2015 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 21 bottles available, in stock
Wine Advocate 90 points “Readers on a budget looking for a taste of the style of this benchmark estate need to latch onto a few bottles of the Vin des Amis and Côtes du Rhône (although, unfortunately, some retailers gouge consumers for these cuvées). A great vintage, the 2015 Le Vin des Amis should be snatched up by savvy readers. Bottled the first of September, it sports an inky color as well as classic Clape notes of violets, iron, and black and blue fruits. It comes from clay soils and is a bigger, richer and chunkier wine than the Côtes du Rhône. It is ideal for drinking over the coming 3-4 years.”
Fruity and Frugal
Don’t Think Twice, Just Uncork and Enjoy
Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant, Spain 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, in stock
Case-12 Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant, Spain 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special, in stock
VinopolNote: Surrounding Priorat on all sides, the Montsant DOC offers an exciting, earlier-drinking equivalent. Think Langhe or d’Alba compared to Barolo and Barbaresco. Wine drinkers ought to feel grateful for lesser-known (and far better value) regions like Montsant.
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Highly perfumed, evoking ripe cherry and blackcurrant that are complemented by slowly emerging aromas of cured meat, lavender and minerals. Enlivened by a spicy nuance, the silky, sweet and penetrating palate offers intense dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. Seamless and very nicely concentrated, with smooth tannins lending shape to a very long, fruit-driven finish.” JR
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Numanthia Termes, Toro, Spain 2012 750ML ($27.95) $16 special, in stock
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Since its inception, Numanthia has never once bottled a disappointing Termes. Aromas of lemon peel and orange rind mix with blackberry and cassis notes. This feels tight and tannic, but structured and appropriate. Dark-berry and chocolate flavors finish tannic but healthy. This is true-to-form Toro.”
Robert Parker 90 points “The 2012 Termes is pure Tinta de Toro (aka Tempranillo) from a number of vineyards on sandy and stony soils aged in 30% new barrels for 12 to 15 months. There are some savory aromas mixing cured meat with the classical Tempranillo black raspberries, and some lactic and spice aromas (cola nut), with hints of granite and licorice. The palate shows good freshness within the ripe and powerful style of the zone; it has good balance between tannins, alcohol and acidity. This is the more drinkable of the three.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $29
Diez-Caballero Tempranillo Crianza, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, in stock
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2012 Crianza is pure Tempranillo fermented in concrete vats and aged in French and American oak barrels for 15 months. It has a nose of smoky bacon and terse, ripe black fruit with spices and floral notes. The palate is fresh, supple and tasty with good tension, good acidity and balance. A great example of modern traditional (or traditional modern) Rioja. Very good value.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bodegas Emilio Moro Finca Resalso, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2014 750ML ($17.95) $11.90 special, in stock
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright violet color. Spicy dark berries on the nose, with a suave floral quality building in the glass. Round and seamless in texture, offering sweet black and blue fruit flavors and a touch of smokiness. Shows more red fruit character on the finish, with silky tannins coming in late to add grip. This fruit-driven Ribera is pretty delicious right now.”
Rio Madre Graciano, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($14.95) $9.90 special, in stock
Case-12 Rio Madre Graciano, Rioja DOCa 2014 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, in stock
Josh Raynolds 90 points “Brilliant violet color. Intensely perfumed dark berry and floral pastille scents, along with suggestions of anise, violet and pipe tobacco. Sweet and expansive on the palate, offering sappy black and blue fruit flavors that put on weight with air. Shows very good energy and power on the long, gently tannic finish, leaving behind notes of blueberry and peppery spices.”