Staff Picks: Producers of the Year
December Sales
Arriving Tomorrow: Domaine Vocoret
Rare Barolo
Vinopolis Wine Shop
will be closed on
Wednesday, January 1st
We will reopen 10 am – 6 pm
Thursday, January 2nd
Our Online Store is always open!
Ameztoi Rubentis
Ameztoi Rubentis Rosado, Getariako Txakolina 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Shimmering orange-pink. High-pitched red currant, strawberry, orange zest and a bright mineral element on the incisive nose. Lithe and penetrating on the palate, offering intense red berry and citrus fruit flavors that pick up a sexy floral quality as the wine stretches out. Delivers a solid punch of flavor but comes off lithe, betraying no excess fat and finishing very long and precise, with a lingering suggestion of bitter citrus pith.”
VinopolNote: The much-loved and lightly fizzy pink from the Basque region in Spain! A staff favorite. Always light, bright, fresh, salty and fun. The perfect aperitif wine.
Roederer
“one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all” – Antonio Galloni
From the 2008 vintage across all appellations, Galloni only rated Salon and Cristal Rosé higher.
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML ($339.95) $249 special
Case-6 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Millesime, Champagne 2008 750ML (1999.95) $1,439 special (that’s only $239.83/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.””
Wine Enthusiast 100 points “Top Cellar Selection. This latest incarnation of the famous brand is a superb wine. It is on par with, maybe even better than, the already legendary 2002. Its balance is impeccable: Apple and citrus flavors working with the tight minerality to give a textured yet fruity wine. Produced from Roederer’s own vineyards which are mainly biodynamic, the wine has its own intense purity and crispness. It has amazing potential and is likely to age for many years. Drink from 2020.”
James Suckling 100 points, Jeb Dunnuck 100 points
Case-12 Roederer Estate Brut, Anderson Valley NV 750ML ($299.95) $225 special (that’s only $18.75/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “Sleek and luxurious, with expressive Asian pear, strawberry blossom and roasted hazelnut flavors that build richness on an opulent finish. Drink now through 2020. “
Keller
Weingut Keller Westhofener Kirchspiel RR Riesling, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 von der Fels Riesling Trocken is magnificent this year and is probably the very finest bargain in the universe of dry Rieslings in all of Germany in this vintage! The wine offers up a beautifully pure and vibrant bouquet of pink grapefruit, tart orange, chalky minerality, dried flowers, citrus peel, a dollop of wild yeasts and a gently smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, precise and impressive tensile for the vintage, with a great core, superb elegance and focus, outstanding backend mineral drive and a very long, very pure and complex finish. Great juice. 2023-2060+.”
Weingut Keller Gruner Silvaner Trocken, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
John Gilman 91 points “The 2018 Grüner Silvaner Trocken from Weingut Keller had been bottled only two weeks before my visit, but was showing beautifully. This is 11.5 percent octane this year and offers up a lovely and quite serious nose of tart orange, grapefruit, chalky minerality and a lovely, smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, focused and beautifully balanced, with bright acids and lovely length and grip. Germany’s most popular wine to pair with white asparagus is outstanding this year and a great bargain! 2019-2040.”
John Gilman 91 points “I cannot recall ever having a better, basic Riesling Trocken from Klaus-Peter, and I am sure the ramping up of the average age of vines for each bottling is the reason for this! The bouquet is flat out stunning, soaring from the glass in a complex blend of pink grapefruit, blood orange, chalky soil tones, wild yeasts, dried flowers and a topnote of orange peel. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish and again, really deep at the core, with great acidity and grip, superb focus and a very long, very classy and beautifully complex finish. This is not all that far off the quality level of the GGs fifteen years ago! It is a stunning value. 2019-2050.”
John Gilman 91 points “The Limestone Riesling QbA this year is essentially the same wine as the Riesling Trocken bottling, except this cuvée has one full gram higher acidity and finished its fermentation at twenty-one grams of sugar. The wine is superb, offering up a complex bouquet of pink grapefruit, passion fruit, pulverized limestone, apple blossoms and a delicate topnote of wild yeasts. On the palate the wine is pure, fullish, complex and beautifully balanced, with a lovely core of fruit, fine focus and grip and lovely bounce on the long, succulent and flat out delicious finish. Just a lovely wine. 2020-2045.”
Weingut Keller Limestone Kabinett Riesling, Rheinhessen 2018 750ML ($47.95) $39 special
John Gilman 93 points “The 2018 Limestone Riesling Kabinett was produced from selected parcels in the Kirchspiel and Abtserde vineyards this year. The wine is just beautiful, delivering a marvelous bouquet of tangerine, pink grapefruit, chalky minerality, citrus zest, apple blossoms and an esthery topnote of bee pollen. On the palate the wine is pure, delicate and medium-full, with lovely filigree and grip, great focus and balance, electric acids and a very, very long, complex and dancing finish. A glorious Kabinett! 2023-2060.”
Felsina
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($34.95) $29 special
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2016 1.5L ($99.95) $79 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Streamlined and elegant, this mid-weight red trots out notes of grilled herb and dark fruit nuances that segue to spice, tilled earth and savory tobacco, with great complexity. This 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Berardenga is still a bit closed and tight, but this beautiful wine boasts all the best qualities of this vintage. It shows elegance and power, two contrasting characteristics that only work well together in the world’s most achieved expressions. The most satisfying aspect of this Riserva is the crisp acidity on the close that keeps the palate refreshed and ready for the next sip.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “This red offers density and focus, creating an ideal frame for the cherry, strawberry, almond, leather and earth flavors. A firm backbone of tannins lends structure and the finish persists, leaving an accent of bitter almond. Best from 2022 through 2040. —B.S.”
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva shows all the quality and pedigree of the year in its layered personality and overall nuance. Cedar, dried cherry, game licorice and tobacco convey the darker, gamier side of Sangiovese that is such a signature at Fèlsina. The 2016 finishes with terrific energy and bright acids that suggest it will enjoy a long life in the cellar, but readers should plan on giving it at least a few years in bottle.”
A Chianti for the ages
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 375ML ($34.95) $28 special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2016 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Decanter Magazine 97 points “The south-facing Rancia vineyard reaches altitudes of 420 metres, overlooking the lower-lying vineyards of Colli Senesi. It boasts complex soils of calcareous clay layered with the chalky white limestone-like alberese and schistose galestro. This 2016 vintage is simply stunning. It’s stately yet gracious, with personality for days, leading with a sumptuous nose of smoke, exotic spice and iron-rich earth. Ripe fruit coats the mouth yet it remains buoyant and tangy as chalky tannins charge in to frame the palate. A seductive wine with an appetising, savoury edge and a long, long life ahead. Drinking Window 2023 – 2041.”
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is powerful, rich and explosive, with tremendous drive. Even so, several bottles have been quite closed. That is probably a very good sign for the long-term, but readers should not plan on touching a bottle anytime soon. A wine of vertical drive and aromatic nuance, the 2016 Rancia is super-complexed. Only with a few hours of air does it show the nuances and layers that were so evident from barrel. The 2016 is a painfully stubborn wine in the early going, but it will offer superb drinking pleasure for those who can wait.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points, Wine Spectator 95 points
#73 – James Suckling’s Top 100 Wines of the Year
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special
James Suckling 98 points “Amazing aromas of licorice, wet earth, orange peel and lavender. Full body, tight and super compact and polished. Goes on for minutes. Clearly great. Better in 2021, but already a star.”
Tiberio
“Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy.” –Ian D’Agata, Vinous
Tiberio Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2017 750ML ($24.95) $18.50 special
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Vibrant red. Captivating aromas of red currant, dark plum, blueberry, licorice and Oriental spices. Broad and ripe on entry, then luscious in the middle, finishing with a riper mouthfeel than is usual for this wine, but in keeping with the 2017 vintage (dry and hot). Finishes long, with serious, building tannins and noteworthy sweetness. This is a real miracle considering the vintage’s less-than-stellar growing season; timely rainfall at the end of September provided much-needed liquid refreshment for the Montepulciano, allowing the vines to recover from the summer drought and heat and benefit from longer hang times. On a side note, wine lovers have something else to look forward to, as the 2018 vats of Montepulciano I tried during my cellar visit were absolutely superb; they are undoubtedly the best entry-level Montepulciano wines Tiberio has ever made, so there’s something to really look forward to here.”
Case-12 Tiberio Cerasuolo Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 92 points “Luminous pink-red. Bright aromas of red cherry, redcurrant, blood orange and botanical herbs. Then bright and juicy, with laser-like acidity lifting and extending the red fruit flavors on the juicy, long, floral and slightly saline finish. A very precise, seamless Cerasuolo with no hard edges and sneaky concentration.”
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Abruzzo’s Tiberio winery has quickly risen to the top of the hierarchy not just in Abruzzo’s but in all of Italy. What the talented Cristiana Tiberio has achieved in the very hot 2017 vintage with Pecorino (a variety that does not like heat) is a testament to her talent. The 2017 Tiberio Pecorino is by no means the best Pecorino she has ever made (and frankly, it would have been very strange if it was otherwise, given the year’s weather), but it offers lovely balance with pure sage and kiwi notes that mingle with ripe orchard fruit nuances complicated by a saline edge. Both these wines made for a wonderful start to my meal, but they would have paired very well with all the other dishes I chose to eat this evening.”
The average price nationally is $22
Ian D’Agata – Vinous 90 points “Bright straw-green. Reticent aromas and flavors of ripe peach, apple and pear, plus a hint of flinty silex. Rather round, fat and silky, this is quite full in the mouth for a Trebbiano d’Abruzzo and a Tiberio wine, but there was no getting away from the hot 2017 vintage in Abruzzo. A lovely wine with a delicately floral, long finish, but also a bigger wine than is usual from this estate. It will merit a higher score if it loses some of its baby fat in bottle while maintaining freshness.”
Tie: Goodfellow & Cameron
Is this is best release ever of Clos Blanc? Quite possibly…
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it. This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels. This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame. Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is quite good now but will be stellar in a few years.
From top to bottom, the 2017’s are some of the best he’s made. These are profound wines, both white and red, that are made in a style that’s distinctly savory—no fruit bombs here. Rather, we love them for their coiled power and Burgundian structure. These are wines that speak with an Oregon voice, but the tannin and acidity comes from an old-world point of view.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Temperance Hill Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($47.95) $36 special
Winery note “Translucent crimson. Elegant nose of fresh tobacco, smoke, strawberries and red apple skin, with sea air, stoney ground, iris root, roses, asian spice, orange peel, and cedar cigar box. There are wines that leap at you and wines that beckon you into the glass- this is the later. The cedar note is a classic expression of Temperance Hill terroir, and I was happy to see it in this wine. The palate on opening is bright, with red berries, currants, pie cherries, rhubarb, strawberry tea and hints of citrus peel. Juicy and refreshing, with tartly balanced acids and fine tannins, the wine fills in texture with air, with a mid-weight silkiness that is ideal for pork belly, tortilla de Espanol, and roast chicken. 13.7% alcohol, 160 cases produced. Drink now, or from 2023-2034.”
To Save You $$$
December Sales
“14 years old but still on the rise…” – Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
“already a joy to drink…, though it will continue age gracefully for many, many decades to come” – John Gilman
Krug Brut, Champagne 2004 750ML ($299.95) Was $259, Now $233 special
Antonio Galloni 97+ points “Krug’s 2004 Vintage is absolutely mesmerizing. Layers of bright, chiseled fruit open up effortlessly as the wine fleshes out with time in the glass. Persistent and beautifully focused, with a translucent sense of energy, the 2004 captures all the best qualities of the year. Moreover, the 2004 is clearly superior to the consistently underwhelming 2002 and the best Krug Vintage since 1996. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 97 points, John Gilman 97 points
The average price nationally is $286
Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2014 750ML ($69.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 750ML ($799.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Syrah, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($59.95) $24 special
Case-12 Chateau St Jean Benoist Ranch Syrah, Sonoma County 2014 750ML ($599.95) $249 special (that’s only $20.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “This is a big and rich wine with lots of dried berry and chocolate character. Full body, layered and rich. Very long and flavorful. Drink now.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2014 Syrah Benoist Ranch has notes of preserved plums, blueberry pie and black forest cake with hints of Indian spices, violets and charcoal. Medium to full-bodied, the structure on the mouth is seamless and fine, defining the berry preserves flavors and finishing long and perfumed.”
Shop the complete list of December sale wines on our web store!
New Wines from Domaine Vocoret
Arriving Tomorrow
At these prices, that’s going to be an easy thing to do. These arrive tomorrow and you’d do well to put your order in right now.
Arriving Tomorrow:
Grand Crus
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Blanchot, Chablis Grand Cru 2017 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Blanchot bursts from the glass with a fragrant bouquet of orange rind, citrus blossom and honeysuckle. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with ripe but succulent flavors and good dry extract.”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2017 Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos is the high point of the range, unfurling to reveal a rich bouquet of confit citrus, peaches, white flowers and almond paste. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with the most concentration and length of any wine in the cellar, buttressed by ripe acids.”
VinopolNote “Valmur is always one of the most mineral inflected, stony and long-aging of the Grand Crus and so it is here at Vocoret. This is an impressive, coiled Chablis that’s built for the cellar but will repay that time admirably.”
VinopolNote “Vaudesir is always the ‘overlooked’ Grand Cru, which is a shame. This is a beautiful, expressive bottle of Chablis that’s the most open of Vocoret Grand Crus. Big aromatics, mineral detail and delicately orchard fruit frame beautiful acidities and a fantastic texture.”
Domaine Vocoret et Fils Les Forets, Chablis Premier Cru 2017 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Importer Note “Fôrets is on the western side of the Serein river on a south-facing hill of high-quality Kimmeridgian soils just a few miles southwest of the town of Chablis. This site is known for elegant, steely expressions of Chardonnay.”
VinopolNote “This is a richer, more powerful version of Foret, sourced from an old vine-parcel of particular note. Like all of the other Premier and Grand Cru wines from Vocoret, this is fermented and aged in wood, though it sees a touch more new oak than the “regular” Foret bottling. A stunner, especially in 2017.”
The next best price is $49.99
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 90 points “Aromas of orange rind, green apples and white flowers introduce the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Montée de Tonnerre, a medium to full-bodied wine that’s quite powerful and concentrated, with a fleshy core of fruit but lively balancing acids.”
The next best price is $47.99
The average listed price is $52
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 91 points “From a parcel in Séchet planted in the 1950s, the 2017 Chablis 1er Cru Les Vaillons Vieilles Vignes is one of the high points of the range, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe lemons, green apple, spring flowers and crushed chalk. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, satiny and tangy, with good tension and chalky grip on the finish.”
The next best price is $36.99
Older, Top Bottlings from Cappellano and Burlotto
Two of the most heralded names in traditional Barolo are Cappellano and Burlotto, both known for old-school, age worthy wines that are some of the most profound bottlings in the region. Both use long macerations and age their wines only in large botti (casks). The result are wines that can often be austere in their youth but blossom over the decades into sensual, intellectually and hedonistically satisfying bottles.
We secured a large parcel of back vintage wines from both producers at prices that are excellent given the provenance and market conditions for these wines. These are very hard to find on the secondary market, as well—unlike some names, collectors of these bottles tend to drink rather than re-sell. Now is your chance to secure some rare bottlings.
Unfortunately as you’ll see below, the quantities on each individual bottling are small, so you’re going to have to act quickly. You can view the entire list from each producer below or click here to see all of the wines from Cappellano or here to see the wines from Burlotto that are available for purchase.
Please Note: Cappellano is adamantly opposed to the idea of numeric score being attached to a wine and requests his wines not be reviewed. As a result, these wines lack the scores and reviews we usually publish. If you’re unfamiliar with these wines, we encourage you to search the internet for more information about these bottles—we’re sure you’ll only be more excited to drink them.
