In This Newsletter:
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending
Staff Pick:
Gour de Chaulé
Staff Pick:
Spanish Rosé
Raise a Glass to Sunshine:
Top Picks Under $20
Due to technical issues, not all wines may be listed
on our web store at the time of publication.
To order, please email, call or drop by.
Thank you!
New Week – New Arrivals
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $24.99
Twill Cellars Chardonnay, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Smells of tangerine, cream, kaffir lime, saline and toasted grain, with bass notes of peach, cashew and crushed rock. Flavors of sinewy citrus fruits including tangerine, lime, and grapefruit pith are followed with resonating flavors of saline and cream.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Whistling Dog Cellars Dijon Blocks Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
France – Champagne
Michel Mailliard Cuvee Gregory Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
VinopolNote: Mailliard is a Cote des Blancs grower based in Vertus. This bottling is 95% Chardonnay with 5% Pinot Noir made without malolactic fermentation with approximately 5.5g/L residual sugar. L12/4/17
Importer note “Michel Mailliard is a complex man. Besides being a vigneron and champagne maker, he is an innovator, entrepreneur, and leader with a touch of politician. While his name is unknown in America, among the champagne producers of Vertus, he is a very prominent figure. Decades ago Michel saw many of his neighbors with small vineyard plots of very good quality grapes in need of a better place to produce their champagnes. So, he created one of the first in champagne of what we call today custom crush facilities. These types of facilities are now common place in many wine regions around the world, helping artisan producers and garagists. Over time, the small start-up grew to house the current state-of-the-art champagne producing equipment and perfect storage facilities. Each vigneron controls the production of his/her champagne separately from the other producers. It has allowed even the smallest of champagne producers to make their own style of champagne. A number of years ago Michel turned his focus to further expanding and developing his family vineyards and brand Champagne Michel Mailliard. The objective of the House is to grow and create champagnes that reflect the vision and sensory cues that have been passed on from father to son. Until recently, Champagne Michel Mailliard was only available in France, sold mostly to private customers and poured in restaurants in Paris. Michel and his son, Gregory, are dedicated to presenting to the world their highly precise expressions of Champagne.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $48.98
Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($29.95) $24 special
***Half bottle***
Peter Liem “Maillart’s wines are bold and full of flavor, with an expressive character and harmonious depth. I enjoyed his father’s wines in the past, made in a more traditional style, but Nicolas Maillart’s wines express more depth and more clarity of fruit, demonstrating a contemporary emphasis on viticulture. Most of the wines are blended from Maillart’s three main terroirs of Ecueil, Villers-Allerand and Bouzy, all of which have different soil types… Nicolas Maillart has renamed the estate’s non-vintage brut as Platine, blended from three different years and made predominantly from pinot noir.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the half-bottle!
Nicolas Maillart Brut Rose Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Disgorged 4/2018. 6g/L
Doyard ‘Revolution’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non-Dose, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non Dosé Révolution is the new name of the former Cuvée Vendémiaire Extra Brut, and it is sourced only in grand cru villages. This intensely yellow colored cuvée is based on 2011 (plus reserve wines from 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007). It offers a deep, ripe and intense but pure, fresh, very precise and expressive nose with ripe, concentrated citrus fruit aromas and some greenish chalky notes that demand further bottle aging. Full-bodied, round and creamy, with great elegance, finesse and complexity, this is another promising cuvée from Charles Doyard who sadly passed away in April 2017. It is nicely finessed but needs even more years to find its final character. Highly promising, though. Tasted April 2018.”
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cuvee Fleuron Premier Cru Brut Millesime 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Fleuron included some wine from Oger—which Gimonnet has subsequently eliminated from the blend, feeling it matures too fast and dominates the style of the blend. Offering up aromas of pear, peach, wheat toast and mandarin, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich but incisive, with a youthfully frothy mousse and a saline finish.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2010 Brut Blanc de Blancs Fleuron is a very pretty and expressive wine. It is also noticeably broader and creamier than most of the wines in this range. Lemon confit and marzipan notes give the Fleuron a real feeling of density and sweetness that is quite alluring. The 2010 is ready to drink, but it is also fresher and more elegant than so many other wines in this challenging vintage. Readers who enjoy Champagnes that have started to develop the aromatic complexity that comes with age will find much to like. Dosage is 5 grams per liter.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Gimonnet’s 2010 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Fleuron is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with aromas of white flowers, lemon oil, mandarin, fresh hazelnuts and oyster liquor. It’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive on the palate, with ripe but racy acids, a crystalline core of fruit and a fine, low-pressure mousse, concluding with a saline, chalky finish.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Mottelettes’ Blanc de Blancs Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
No reviews for the 2014. Review for the 2012 provided for reference.
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Les Mottelettes Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut is from an old vineyard planted with Chardonnay and roughly 10% Pinot Blanc in 1961. The wine opens very precise and fresh on the nose, where ripe, concentrated and slightly flinty fruit aromas are revealed. Round and generous on the palate yet precise and fresh, with a crispy character, this is a “white” Bouzy with great complexity and length. Still terribly young, this fascinating Blanc de Blancs should be kept for at least a decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $64.89
Pierre Paillard ‘La Grande Recolte’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Winery note “La Grande Récolte represents the quintessence of the Paillards vineyards. Crafted by blending only the first press of old vine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay. 1.8 g/L dosage. Hard chalk bedrock with clay topsoil. La Grande Récolte benefits from extended aging “sur lie”: 10 years in our 19th century cellars at a depth of 53 feet/16 meters and at a constant 50°F/10°C temperature.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $79
France – Rhone
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “EDITORS’ CHOICE. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne, this dry white balances crisp pineapple and peach flavors against hints of nuts and smoke. It’s mouthwatering and silky on the palate but finishes with a refreshing mineral lift. Lovely already it should develop smokier, earthen complexities with time.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Star fruit, Key lime and white peach flavors race through in this bright, detailed white, backed by a light lemon shortbread note on the finish. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne. Drink now through 2022. 4,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $27 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Alluring, with flow to the cassis, cherry compote and raspberry coulis flavors, backed by light rooibos tea, tobacco and dried blood orange accents. The silky finish is sneaky long, offering a light sanguine echo. Drink now through 2025. 16,666 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Black-plum and mulberry notes are plump and easy on the palate of this velvety, plush red. Ripe and rich, it’s elegantly balanced by crisp acidity and fine, firm tannins. Primary and fruity now, with delicate hints of nut and spice, it should develop earth and spice tones through 2025.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $36
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe and forward in feel, featuring crushed raspberry and blackberry compote notes, mixed with red licorice, blood orange, rooibos tea and fruitcake hints. Silky from start to finish, with a subtle sanguine thread lacing up the finish. Very enticing. Best from 2020 through 2037. 16,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $35
France – Loire
Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Chenin/Pineau d’Aunis from 25+ year old vines grown in clay & flint soil.
Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut Rose, Loire NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Pineau d’Aunis from 25+ year old vines grown in chalky limestone soil.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Domaine Philippe Tessier Cheverny Rose, Loire 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Gamay/Pinot Noir blend. Low sulfur.
Wine Spectator 90 points “A beautiful rosé that is drinking almost like a light red, this exhibits notes of cherry and rose hip, while white pepper and vanilla accents mingle in the background. Features vibrant acidity and light tannins that impart some structure. Gamay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2021. 1,000 cases made, 110 cases imported.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Italy – Friuli-Venezia
“Year after year, Vie di Romans makes some of my favorite Italian Chardonnays… Gianfranco Gallo’s Vie di Romans is one of the most accomplished, quality-minded estates in Italy. I am always impressed by their offerings” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
“Gianfranco [Gallo], who has managed the estate since 1978, introduced radical and far-reaching viticultural programmes and has devoted painstaking attention to winemaking practices; these initiatives have given the stamp of unique personality to the wines of Vie di Romans over the last 20 years. ” –Winery note
“[These are] some of the most premier wines in the entire peninsula. The 57 hectares of vineyards are located in a niche microclimate that benefits from soil rich in alluvial fans and minerals that have been carried there by glaciers over the millennia, as well as, the Bora winds from the east that result in large, daily temperature fluctuations.” –Vias Wine Imports
Vie di Romans Chardonnay Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
James Suckling 93 points “A medium-bodied white with a solid core of fruit and creamy texture. Dried apricot and apple character throughout. Tangy acidity at the end. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $32
Vie di Romans Ciampagnis Vieris Chardonnay Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $26
Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($39.95) $24 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte Pinot Grigio Dessimis is classified as a white, but it is really a ramato, or copper in color, reflecting the real color of this grape’s skins. Slightly reductive in nature, it brings out notes of cranberry and bright cassis with some white cherry as well. It was fermented in steel and aged on the lees in barrique. This is a very interesting wine that would make a good pairing with sliced porchetta. Exactly 52,286 bottles were released.”
James Suckling 93 points “Vivid peach pit, red guavas, cloves, dried rose petals, lavender, dried herbs and nutmeg. Full body, a very phenolic and oily texture with loads of red-apple flavors and a textured finish. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $42
Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special
James Suckling 93 points “A beautifully colored and intense pinot grigio with sliced cooked apples and peaches and hints of watermelon and almonds. Full body. Very creamy texture and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 91+ points “Pale pink. Very delicate red berry and floral aromas and flavors are enhanced by good spicy cut and a mineral edge. Nicely juicy and saline freshness on the slightly tactile, rising, long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $35
Vie di Romans Flors di Uis Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Slightly lower in price compared to this estate’s mono-variety wines, the 2016 Friuli Isonzo Flors di Uis is a blend of 45% Malvasia Istriana, 40% Riesling Renano and 15% Friulano. Production is 23,286 bottles. This unoaked white blend shows a razor-sharp delivery of primary fruit aromas, with zesty freshness and citrusy acidity on the close, followed by white jasmine and honey. The wine shows beautifully in the glass, with a radiant and brilliant appearance.”
James Suckling 90 points “There’s quite a lot of candied-apple character on the nose, even though the dried florals are attractive and spicy. Medium to full body, bright acidity and a textured finish. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $30.34
Italy – Tuscany
Gagliole Rubiolo, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
James Suckling 92 points “This has lovely dark plums, fresh herbs and violets. On the palate it’s tightly knit and elegant with a firm row of tannins, running through layers of pretty berries. Drink from 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $20
Gagliole Rosso Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
James Suckling 93 points “This shows delicious plum and black-cherry essence as well as richer notes such as chocolate, coffee beans and licorice. Pepper. Full body, round tannins and an extremely juicy finish indeed. So enjoyable now, but will come together from 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.95
The average price is $53
Italy – Other
Back in stock by popular demand!
Azienda Vitivinicola Tiberio Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 91 points “Luminous straw-green. Perfumed pomaceous orchard fruits, minerals, lemon verbena and a hint of anise on the nose. Then very pretty, nuanced flavors of lemon ice and flinty minerality showcase intense inner-mouth perfume. A wine of impeccable balance, and very persistent and fragrant on the pure finish. Extremely strong for an entry-level Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. The Tiberio family has an uncanny ability to make outstanding Trebbiano d’Abruzzo every year, no doubt thanks to their individual talents, but also because of some marvelously old vines (as much as 60-80 years of age) that can weather and adapt to just about every growing season’s climatic conditions. Such is the magic of old vines.”
Eric Asimov, New York Times “I’ve written about this wine several times, but it’s so good it deserves the attention. The siblings Christiana and Antonio Tiberio run this excellent estate, and they are good spokespeople for the trebbiano Abruzzese grape. Other strains of the trebbiano grape are more common, and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo may be made of either trebbiano Toscano, trebbiano Abruzzese or a combination. But the trebbiano Abruzzese grape is superior. For evidence, try this wine. The 2018 is dry, aromatic and richly textured, with bracing saline and floral flavors. Tiberio also makes a wonderful single-vineyard Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Fonte Canale, which is considerably more expensive, and an excellent pecorino, which is not. (The Sorting Table, Napa, Calif.)”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Germany
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 89 points “From loess soils covering the quartzite bedrock and vinified in stainless steel and large oak in nearly equal parts, the 2018 Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Spätlese offers a very clear, bright and reductive bouquet that is still very discreet and too shy to sing. Lush and sweet but also piquant on the palate, this is a juicy/fruity, still sweetish Spätlese with nice grip and nervosity. Tasted from AP 22 19 in July 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Trending
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
“This is a winery on the rise” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Ca’ del Baio Vallegrande, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-12 Ca’ del Baio Vallegrande, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($599.95) $379 special (that’s only $31.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Lots of dried strawberries with watermelon and hints of cherries on the nose and palate. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins. Flavorful finish. Drink after 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Vallegrande is bright and fragrant, with tremendous energy driving the red/purplish berry fruit, spice and floral flavors. Medium in body and finely cut, the 2016 is a model of elegance and finesse. It is easily one of the most polished Barbarescos I have tasted from Ca’ del Baio, and, frankly, what Barbaresco is all about.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $43
Feudo Montoni ‘Vrucara’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Fabio Sireci farms one of the most beautiful vineyard spots in Italy that overlooks an infinite expanse of vines and shifting waves of grain over softly rolling hills in inland Sicily. On a cloudy day, you can watch the magnificent peek-a-boo of brilliant sunbeams shine over the landscape as if you were in front of a life-sized movie screen. Those beautiful images always come to mind when I drink this wine. Tasted from magnum, the 2014 Sicilia Nero d’Avola Vrucara is maturing beautifully and slowly. The wine is dark and ripe at its core, but it shows a delicate framing of cola, dried rosemary, scorched earth, smoke, wild mushroom and fragrant rose hip. The bouquet is fluid and ever moving—much like that Sicilian landscape I described above—offering new layers of aromas with every swirl of the glass. In the mouth, the wine is fresh and very alive.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $53
Think of this as a less expensive Flor de Pingus and you’d be on the right track.
Bodegas Hacienda Monasterio, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($54.95) $45 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Made with guidance from Peter Sisseck [of Pingus], the 2015 Crianza from Hacienda Monasterio is a blockbuster effort that’s a blend of 75% Tinto Fino, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Merlot, all of which spent 18 months in 30% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by terrific notes of blueberries, violets, graphite, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and elegant, with a traditional style and building tannin, it’s incredible that they produce upward of 30,000 cases of this beauty. It’s no doubt beautiful today yet will keep for a decade or more. Even at $50, it’s a smoking value!”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The flagship Crianza is now simply referred to as 2015 Hacienda Monasterio. This is their biggest production, with some 181,630 bottles in this classical and powerful vintage where the secret was an early harvest to keep the acidity and freshness in the wine and keep the alcoholic degree under control. It’s mostly Tempranillo, with 10% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, fermented with indigenous yeasts and with long and soft macerations. It matured for some 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% of them new (a percentage that has been gradually lowered in the last few years). It has a balanced nose, with nuance and subtleness, with the oak nicely folded into the fruit, incipient perfume, and even if young, you can almost see where it can go in bottle. The foreign varieties are not really noticed; they are very integrated. The palate has terrific balance and refined tannins. There is no heat or excess ripening whatsoever. For a moment, I thought I was tasting the 2014. This is one of the best and most widely available wines from Ribera del Duero. It should evolve nicely in bottle.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $51
Bodega Tapiz Black Tears Malbec, Uco Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Age has settled this concentrated malbec into a good place with rich, ripe plums and a gently peppery edge. The palate has intensity and depth with concentrated dark berries, finding focus and length. Impressive poise here. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Big and ripe, featuring concentrated raspberry, red plum and spiced cherry flavors. Pastry notes show midpalate, with a finish filled to the brim with chocolate and cream details and hints of white pepper. Drink now through 2023. 1,800 cases made, 1,100 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The floral, aromatic and fresh 2014 Black Tears Malbec comes from the higher-altitude vineyards where the soils are shallow and have lots of stones. It was matured in new and second use French oak barrels for 24 months and has integrated oak and ripe fruit without excess. It’s quite intense and has a powerful yet balanced and elegant palate. It’s tasty and shows good purity of fruit and a stony/mineral sensation in the palate, a texture rather than a flavor… 19,200 bottles were filled in June 2016.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $44.99
The average price is $49
Staff Pick
Gour de Chaulé
Classic is Cool Again
The average price is $35
Arriving June 5th
Gigondas makes big, powerful reds, but this rosé is anything but. Light, fresh and prettily mineral, Gour de Chaule has turned out another classic.
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Amour de Rose, Rhone 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Gigondas Rosé: The Rosé at Gour de Chaulé is made from the direct press method. The juice is quickly drawn off the skins (6 to 9 hours of contact), then fermented. A cold stabilization follows. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation and is bottled in the early spring of the year following harvest. The Rosé is composed of Cinsault (50%), Grenache, and Mourvedre. This is a brilliantly colored wine with hues of pink and rose accompanied by flavors and a bouquet dominated by the impression of freshly crushed strawberries. Again, a limited amount of this wine is produced annually, only enough for us to have 1200 bottles per year [100 cases] for the US market.”
Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?
Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:
#503-223-6002
(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)
Staff Pick
Spanish Rosé
Shop all 49 rosé wines in stock now on our web store!
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
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Raise a Glass to Sunshine
Top Picks Under $20
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mirabeau ‘Classic’ Rose Cotes de Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “An expressive nose of berry notes that, on the palate, transforms into succulent and juicy red cherries, raspberries and strawberries. The palate offers a light creaminess and silky texture with a round, crisp finish. Made from 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Cinsault, it has complexity and drive, delivering great quality and value.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Fizzy
Yeasty and floral, like a baked pear tart with a wildflower honey drizzle. Dry yet sleek.
Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Veneto NV 750ML ($17.95) $13.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Delicious combination of pear and biscuit on the palate with medium body, bright acidity and a fresh finish. Fresh and satisfying. A different style of Prosecco that you should check out.”
Decanter 89 points “Loredan Gasparini’s Asolo Prosecco Superiore is grown on mineral soils that give the wine structure. This wine uses wild yeasts, providing a beautiful range of flavours; elderflower and peaches are supported by a lovely, soft mousse.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $16
Red
From vineyards in Brunello, this 100% Sangiovese is a value winner. We’ve joked about doubling the price because it’s hard to convince folks that something this good costs this little.
La Fortuna Fortunello Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fantastic value, showing pretty varietal notes of red cherries and spice. Moderately rich, savory and expressive.
Winery Note “A wine that first expresses itself through its colour; intense ruby red. Extraordinary via its intensity and absolute pleasure on the palate, vigor, length, freshness and fruity finish. A wine that will improve with age with its scents of raspberry and red berries.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special, 21 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “This is pure syrah from both sides of the southern Rhône and has very rich dark cherries and sweet ripeness to the palate. Good depth and detail here. Juicy and long. Quite plush, too. Drink now. “
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Cotes du Rhone is 100% Syrah, sourced from the Gard (on the right bank of the Rhône) and Vinsobres (left bank, higher elevation). Violets, black olives and cassis and blueberry flavors provide terrific varietal expression in a medium to full-bodied package framed by silky tannins. Depending on your local pricing, it should be a terrific value.”
Wine Spectator 89 points “SMART BUY! Lively savory, lavender, cherry and black currant notes mix in this friendly, open-knit wine, which reveals a tug of dark earth at the end. Drink now through 2020. 30,000 cases made, 20,800 cases imported.”
Bonus Round:
Top Value Champagne
Newly Arrived
Our new favorite for budget-friendly, no quality-compromised Champagne from the Cote des Blancs.
Subscriber-only special ends Friday, June 5th!
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
100% Chardonnay. A full bodied, richly textured vintage Champagne balanced with a racy acidity. This vintage wine blends grapes from holdings in the villages of Cuis, Chouilly and Epernay. The winery describes Cuis as adding minerality and delicacy to the Champagne and comprises the majority of the blend. Aged on the lees for roughly five years, it’s an excellent choice for lovers of toasty and brioche-y Champagnes.
No reviews for the 2011 vintage. 2010 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 92 points “This elegant blanc de blancs shows a pleasing vibrancy from the lively bead and bright acidity, both well-meshed to pretty floral and spice accents and flavors of Gala apple, biscuit and lemon zest. Creamy. Drink now through 2025. 16 cases imported.”
Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Week – New Arrivals
Trending
Staff Pick:
Gour de Chaulé
Staff Pick:
Spanish Rosé
Raise a Glass to Sunshine:
Top Picks Under $20
Due to technical issues, not all wines may be listed
on our web store at the time of publication.
To order, please email, call or drop by.
Thank you!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Timothy Malone Medici Vineyard Riesling, Chehalem Mountains 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “EDITOR’S CHOICE. This is a deep, intense and focused wine sourced from 40-year-old vines. Its 28 g/l of residual sugar is all but buried in bright acids, creating tension and depth. Grapefruit, lime and pineapple flavors burst through, making this highly cellar-worthy wine irresistible already.”
Timothy Malone Medici Vineyard Riesling, Chehalem Mountains 2015 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “EDITOR’S CHOICE. This is a deep, intense and focused wine sourced from 40-year-old vines. Its 28 g/l of residual sugar is all but buried in bright acids, creating tension and depth. Grapefruit, lime and pineapple flavors burst through, making this highly cellar-worthy wine irresistible already.”
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Twill Cellars Chardonnay, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Smells of tangerine, cream, kaffir lime, saline and toasted grain, with bass notes of peach, cashew and crushed rock. Flavors of sinewy citrus fruits including tangerine, lime, and grapefruit pith are followed with resonating flavors of saline and cream.”
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Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”
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Whistling Dog Cellars Dijon Blocks Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
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France – Champagne
Michel Mailliard Cuvee Gregory Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $39 special
VinopolNote: Mailliard is a Cote des Blancs grower based in Vertus. This bottling is 95% Chardonnay with 5% Pinot Noir made without malolactic fermentation with approximately 5.5g/L residual sugar. L12/4/17
Importer note “Michel Mailliard is a complex man. Besides being a vigneron and champagne maker, he is an innovator, entrepreneur, and leader with a touch of politician. While his name is unknown in America, among the champagne producers of Vertus, he is a very prominent figure. Decades ago Michel saw many of his neighbors with small vineyard plots of very good quality grapes in need of a better place to produce their champagnes. So, he created one of the first in champagne of what we call today custom crush facilities. These types of facilities are now common place in many wine regions around the world, helping artisan producers and garagists. Over time, the small start-up grew to house the current state-of-the-art champagne producing equipment and perfect storage facilities. Each vigneron controls the production of his/her champagne separately from the other producers. It has allowed even the smallest of champagne producers to make their own style of champagne. A number of years ago Michel turned his focus to further expanding and developing his family vineyards and brand Champagne Michel Mailliard. The objective of the House is to grow and create champagnes that reflect the vision and sensory cues that have been passed on from father to son. Until recently, Champagne Michel Mailliard was only available in France, sold mostly to private customers and poured in restaurants in Paris. Michel and his son, Gregory, are dedicated to presenting to the world their highly precise expressions of Champagne.”
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Nicolas Maillart Platine Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 375ML ($29.95) $24 special
***Half bottle***
Peter Liem “Maillart’s wines are bold and full of flavor, with an expressive character and harmonious depth. I enjoyed his father’s wines in the past, made in a more traditional style, but Nicolas Maillart’s wines express more depth and more clarity of fruit, demonstrating a contemporary emphasis on viticulture. Most of the wines are blended from Maillart’s three main terroirs of Ecueil, Villers-Allerand and Bouzy, all of which have different soil types… Nicolas Maillart has renamed the estate’s non-vintage brut as Platine, blended from three different years and made predominantly from pinot noir.”
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Nicolas Maillart Brut Rose Grand Cru, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Disgorged 4/2018. 6g/L
Doyard ‘Revolution’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non-Dose, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special
Wine Advocate 94 points “The NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non Dosé Révolution is the new name of the former Cuvée Vendémiaire Extra Brut, and it is sourced only in grand cru villages. This intensely yellow colored cuvée is based on 2011 (plus reserve wines from 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2007). It offers a deep, ripe and intense but pure, fresh, very precise and expressive nose with ripe, concentrated citrus fruit aromas and some greenish chalky notes that demand further bottle aging. Full-bodied, round and creamy, with great elegance, finesse and complexity, this is another promising cuvée from Charles Doyard who sadly passed away in April 2017. It is nicely finessed but needs even more years to find its final character. Highly promising, though. Tasted April 2018.”
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Cuvee Fleuron Premier Cru Brut Millesime 2010 750ML ($79.95) $66 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2010 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Fleuron included some wine from Oger—which Gimonnet has subsequently eliminated from the blend, feeling it matures too fast and dominates the style of the blend. Offering up aromas of pear, peach, wheat toast and mandarin, it’s medium to full-bodied, rich but incisive, with a youthfully frothy mousse and a saline finish.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2010 Brut Blanc de Blancs Fleuron is a very pretty and expressive wine. It is also noticeably broader and creamier than most of the wines in this range. Lemon confit and marzipan notes give the Fleuron a real feeling of density and sweetness that is quite alluring. The 2010 is ready to drink, but it is also fresher and more elegant than so many other wines in this challenging vintage. Readers who enjoy Champagnes that have started to develop the aromatic complexity that comes with age will find much to like. Dosage is 5 grams per liter.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Gimonnet’s 2010 Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Fleuron is showing very well, unfurling in the glass with aromas of white flowers, lemon oil, mandarin, fresh hazelnuts and oyster liquor. It’s medium to full-bodied, elegantly textural and incisive on the palate, with ripe but racy acids, a crystalline core of fruit and a fine, low-pressure mousse, concluding with a saline, chalky finish.”
Pierre Paillard ‘Les Mottelettes’ Blanc de Blancs Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
No reviews for the 2014. Review for the 2012 provided for reference.
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2012 Les Mottelettes Bouzy Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut is from an old vineyard planted with Chardonnay and roughly 10% Pinot Blanc in 1961. The wine opens very precise and fresh on the nose, where ripe, concentrated and slightly flinty fruit aromas are revealed. Round and generous on the palate yet precise and fresh, with a crispy character, this is a “white” Bouzy with great complexity and length. Still terribly young, this fascinating Blanc de Blancs should be kept for at least a decade.”
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Pierre Paillard ‘La Grande Recolte’ Bouzy Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Winery note “La Grande Récolte represents the quintessence of the Paillards vineyards. Crafted by blending only the first press of old vine Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay. 1.8 g/L dosage. Hard chalk bedrock with clay topsoil. La Grande Récolte benefits from extended aging “sur lie”: 10 years in our 19th century cellars at a depth of 53 feet/16 meters and at a constant 50°F/10°C temperature.”
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France – Rhone
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, Rhone 2017 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “EDITORS’ CHOICE. A blend of Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne, this dry white balances crisp pineapple and peach flavors against hints of nuts and smoke. It’s mouthwatering and silky on the palate but finishes with a refreshing mineral lift. Lovely already it should develop smokier, earthen complexities with time.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “Star fruit, Key lime and white peach flavors race through in this bright, detailed white, backed by a light lemon shortbread note on the finish. Grenache Blanc, Clairette, Bourboulenc and Roussanne. Drink now through 2022. 4,000 cases made, 500 cases imported.”
Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2015 750ML ($49.95) $27 special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Alluring, with flow to the cassis, cherry compote and raspberry coulis flavors, backed by light rooibos tea, tobacco and dried blood orange accents. The silky finish is sneaky long, offering a light sanguine echo. Drink now through 2025. 16,666 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Black-plum and mulberry notes are plump and easy on the palate of this velvety, plush red. Ripe and rich, it’s elegantly balanced by crisp acidity and fine, firm tannins. Primary and fruity now, with delicate hints of nut and spice, it should develop earth and spice tones through 2025.”
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Domaine du Vieux Lazaret Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe and forward in feel, featuring crushed raspberry and blackberry compote notes, mixed with red licorice, blood orange, rooibos tea and fruitcake hints. Silky from start to finish, with a subtle sanguine thread lacing up the finish. Very enticing. Best from 2020 through 2037. 16,000 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.”
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France – Loire
Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut, Loire NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Chenin/Pineau d’Aunis from 25+ year old vines grown in clay & flint soil.
Domaine Brazilier Methode Trad Brut Rose, Loire NV 750ML ($21.95) $17 special
Pineau d’Aunis from 25+ year old vines grown in chalky limestone soil.
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Domaine Philippe Tessier Cheverny Rose, Loire 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Gamay/Pinot Noir blend. Low sulfur.
Wine Spectator 90 points “A beautiful rosé that is drinking almost like a light red, this exhibits notes of cherry and rose hip, while white pepper and vanilla accents mingle in the background. Features vibrant acidity and light tannins that impart some structure. Gamay and Pinot Noir. Drink now through 2021. 1,000 cases made, 110 cases imported.”
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Italy – Friuli-Venezia
“Year after year, Vie di Romans makes some of my favorite Italian Chardonnays… Gianfranco Gallo’s Vie di Romans is one of the most accomplished, quality-minded estates in Italy. I am always impressed by their offerings” –Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
“Gianfranco [Gallo], who has managed the estate since 1978, introduced radical and far-reaching viticultural programmes and has devoted painstaking attention to winemaking practices; these initiatives have given the stamp of unique personality to the wines of Vie di Romans over the last 20 years. ” –Winery note
“[These are] some of the most premier wines in the entire peninsula. The 57 hectares of vineyards are located in a niche microclimate that benefits from soil rich in alluvial fans and minerals that have been carried there by glaciers over the millennia, as well as, the Bora winds from the east that result in large, daily temperature fluctuations.” –Vias Wine Imports
Vie di Romans Chardonnay Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
James Suckling 93 points “A medium-bodied white with a solid core of fruit and creamy texture. Dried apricot and apple character throughout. Tangy acidity at the end. Drink now.”
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Vie di Romans Ciampagnis Vieris Chardonnay Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special
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Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($39.95) $24 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2016 Friuli Isonzo Rive Alte Pinot Grigio Dessimis is classified as a white, but it is really a ramato, or copper in color, reflecting the real color of this grape’s skins. Slightly reductive in nature, it brings out notes of cranberry and bright cassis with some white cherry as well. It was fermented in steel and aged on the lees in barrique. This is a very interesting wine that would make a good pairing with sliced porchetta. Exactly 52,286 bottles were released.”
James Suckling 93 points “Vivid peach pit, red guavas, cloves, dried rose petals, lavender, dried herbs and nutmeg. Full body, a very phenolic and oily texture with loads of red-apple flavors and a textured finish. Drink now.”
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Vie di Romans Dessimis Pinot Grigio Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2017 750ML ($39.95) $24 special
James Suckling 93 points “A beautifully colored and intense pinot grigio with sliced cooked apples and peaches and hints of watermelon and almonds. Full body. Very creamy texture and a flavorful finish. Drink or hold.”
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 91+ points “Pale pink. Very delicate red berry and floral aromas and flavors are enhanced by good spicy cut and a mineral edge. Nicely juicy and saline freshness on the slightly tactile, rising, long finish.”
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Vie di Romans Flors di Uis Friuli Isonzo, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2016 750ML ($39.95) $21.90 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “Slightly lower in price compared to this estate’s mono-variety wines, the 2016 Friuli Isonzo Flors di Uis is a blend of 45% Malvasia Istriana, 40% Riesling Renano and 15% Friulano. Production is 23,286 bottles. This unoaked white blend shows a razor-sharp delivery of primary fruit aromas, with zesty freshness and citrusy acidity on the close, followed by white jasmine and honey. The wine shows beautifully in the glass, with a radiant and brilliant appearance.”
James Suckling 90 points “There’s quite a lot of candied-apple character on the nose, even though the dried florals are attractive and spicy. Medium to full body, bright acidity and a textured finish. Drink now.”
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Italy – Tuscany
Gagliole Rubiolo, Chianti Classico DOCG 2017 750ML ($21.95) $16.60 special
James Suckling 92 points “This has lovely dark plums, fresh herbs and violets. On the palate it’s tightly knit and elegant with a firm row of tannins, running through layers of pretty berries. Drink from 2020.”
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Gagliole Rosso Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
James Suckling 93 points “This shows delicious plum and black-cherry essence as well as richer notes such as chocolate, coffee beans and licorice. Pepper. Full body, round tannins and an extremely juicy finish indeed. So enjoyable now, but will come together from 2019.”
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The average price is $53
Italy – Other
Back in stock by popular demand!
Azienda Vitivinicola Tiberio Trebbiano d’Abruzzo 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Ian D’Agata-Vinous 91 points “Luminous straw-green. Perfumed pomaceous orchard fruits, minerals, lemon verbena and a hint of anise on the nose. Then very pretty, nuanced flavors of lemon ice and flinty minerality showcase intense inner-mouth perfume. A wine of impeccable balance, and very persistent and fragrant on the pure finish. Extremely strong for an entry-level Trebbiano d’Abruzzo. The Tiberio family has an uncanny ability to make outstanding Trebbiano d’Abruzzo every year, no doubt thanks to their individual talents, but also because of some marvelously old vines (as much as 60-80 years of age) that can weather and adapt to just about every growing season’s climatic conditions. Such is the magic of old vines.”
Eric Asimov, New York Times “I’ve written about this wine several times, but it’s so good it deserves the attention. The siblings Christiana and Antonio Tiberio run this excellent estate, and they are good spokespeople for the trebbiano Abruzzese grape. Other strains of the trebbiano grape are more common, and Trebbiano d’Abruzzo may be made of either trebbiano Toscano, trebbiano Abruzzese or a combination. But the trebbiano Abruzzese grape is superior. For evidence, try this wine. The 2018 is dry, aromatic and richly textured, with bracing saline and floral flavors. Tiberio also makes a wonderful single-vineyard Trebbiano d’Abruzzo, Fonte Canale, which is considerably more expensive, and an excellent pecorino, which is not. (The Sorting Table, Napa, Calif.)”
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Germany
Kruger-Rumpf Munsterer Dautenpflanzer Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 89 points “From loess soils covering the quartzite bedrock and vinified in stainless steel and large oak in nearly equal parts, the 2018 Münsterer Dautenpflänzer Riesling Spätlese offers a very clear, bright and reductive bouquet that is still very discreet and too shy to sing. Lush and sweet but also piquant on the palate, this is a juicy/fruity, still sweetish Spätlese with nice grip and nervosity. Tasted from AP 22 19 in July 2019.”
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Trending
This is so good, especially for the price—hard to believe it didn’t become a Julia bottling.
Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Back at last! No reviews for the 2017 vintage – this review is for the previous vintage, 2015:
Grapelive 94-96 points (Review of the 2015 vintage) “John Paul is an Oregon legend and his wines just as legendary, especially his Pinots, like this one from A slightly younger vine planting within Abbey Ridge vineyard, that was planted in 1990, and Cameron Winery, part of the Deep Roots Coalition is sustainably farmed, non-irrigated and has been fanatically Burgundy influenced, since Paul started producing wine here in 1984. He uses mainly Dundee Hills fruit, the estate Clos Electrique and Abby Ridge, as well as a newer parcel in Ribbon Ridge, his Clos Electrique and his Abby Ridge bottlings are his top old vine cube’s, but his regular Willamette Valley, Dundee and Reserve offerings are stunning as well, with this Arley’s Leap being new to me, and one I was thrilled to get my hands on! The eponymous hero, on the label, was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat. Abbey Ridge is one of the highest vineyards in Dundee and is picked relatively late, it’s farmed pretty much all organic and allows for deep flavors and complexity, it’s significantly cooler and with it’s Jory soils, which are volcanic based there is a lot of natural acidity that helps with balance and gives these wines tremendous aging structure along with a slightly exotic character. 2015 is looking like an outstanding vintage in Oregon and John Paul took advantage of the year to craft an amazing set of wines, and in my opinion, this Arley’s Leap is a sleeper, in particular it’s a earthy dark beauty that is wonderfully expressive and intriguing. This 2015 shows the years ripe personality, at 13.9%, but thrills for it’s brilliant energy, tanginess, a porcini note, forest floor and rustic charm that resembles a fine Nuits-Saint-Georges! This stuff entrances with a heady mix of plum, black cherry, strawberry, dusty red spices, minty herbs, crushed violets and a touch of leather adding to the dense kirsch, currant and wilted rose petals, making for an amazing palate and bouquet, it’s very much sex in a bottle as only a great Pinot can be! Paul employs traditional Burgundian winemaking and subtle well integrated French oak, it’s as good as it gets, drink over the next decade, it will fascinating to see how this ages!
Winery Note “Arley’s leap harkens from a block of Pinot noir planted in 1990 at Abbey Ridge Vineyard. The eponymous hero was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat.”
Cameron Winery ‘Arley’s Leap’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Back at last! No reviews for the 2017 vintage – this review is for the previous vintage, 2015:
Grapelive 94-96 points (Review of the 2015 vintage) “John Paul is an Oregon legend and his wines just as legendary, especially his Pinots, like this one from A slightly younger vine planting within Abbey Ridge vineyard, that was planted in 1990, and Cameron Winery, part of the Deep Roots Coalition is sustainably farmed, non-irrigated and has been fanatically Burgundy influenced, since Paul started producing wine here in 1984. He uses mainly Dundee Hills fruit, the estate Clos Electrique and Abby Ridge, as well as a newer parcel in Ribbon Ridge, his Clos Electrique and his Abby Ridge bottlings are his top old vine cube’s, but his regular Willamette Valley, Dundee and Reserve offerings are stunning as well, with this Arley’s Leap being new to me, and one I was thrilled to get my hands on! The eponymous hero, on the label, was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat. Abbey Ridge is one of the highest vineyards in Dundee and is picked relatively late, it’s farmed pretty much all organic and allows for deep flavors and complexity, it’s significantly cooler and with it’s Jory soils, which are volcanic based there is a lot of natural acidity that helps with balance and gives these wines tremendous aging structure along with a slightly exotic character. 2015 is looking like an outstanding vintage in Oregon and John Paul took advantage of the year to craft an amazing set of wines, and in my opinion, this Arley’s Leap is a sleeper, in particular it’s a earthy dark beauty that is wonderfully expressive and intriguing. This 2015 shows the years ripe personality, at 13.9%, but thrills for it’s brilliant energy, tanginess, a porcini note, forest floor and rustic charm that resembles a fine Nuits-Saint-Georges! This stuff entrances with a heady mix of plum, black cherry, strawberry, dusty red spices, minty herbs, crushed violets and a touch of leather adding to the dense kirsch, currant and wilted rose petals, making for an amazing palate and bouquet, it’s very much sex in a bottle as only a great Pinot can be! Paul employs traditional Burgundian winemaking and subtle well integrated French oak, it’s as good as it gets, drink over the next decade, it will fascinating to see how this ages!
Winery Note “Arley’s leap harkens from a block of Pinot noir planted in 1990 at Abbey Ridge Vineyard. The eponymous hero was Bill and Julia Wayne’s old dog Arley, who survived a jump from a second story balcony when startled by a cat.”
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“This is a winery on the rise” –Kerry Winslow, Grapelive
Ca’ del Baio Vallegrande, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special
Case-12 Ca’ del Baio Vallegrande, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($599.95) $379 special (that’s only $31.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Lots of dried strawberries with watermelon and hints of cherries on the nose and palate. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins. Flavorful finish. Drink after 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Vallegrande is bright and fragrant, with tremendous energy driving the red/purplish berry fruit, spice and floral flavors. Medium in body and finely cut, the 2016 is a model of elegance and finesse. It is easily one of the most polished Barbarescos I have tasted from Ca’ del Baio, and, frankly, what Barbaresco is all about.”
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The average price is $43
Feudo Montoni ‘Vrucara’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 points “Fabio Sireci farms one of the most beautiful vineyard spots in Italy that overlooks an infinite expanse of vines and shifting waves of grain over softly rolling hills in inland Sicily. On a cloudy day, you can watch the magnificent peek-a-boo of brilliant sunbeams shine over the landscape as if you were in front of a life-sized movie screen. Those beautiful images always come to mind when I drink this wine. Tasted from magnum, the 2014 Sicilia Nero d’Avola Vrucara is maturing beautifully and slowly. The wine is dark and ripe at its core, but it shows a delicate framing of cola, dried rosemary, scorched earth, smoke, wild mushroom and fragrant rose hip. The bouquet is fluid and ever moving—much like that Sicilian landscape I described above—offering new layers of aromas with every swirl of the glass. In the mouth, the wine is fresh and very alive.”
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The average price is $53
Think of this as a less expensive Flor de Pingus and you’d be on the right track.
Bodegas Hacienda Monasterio, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($54.95) $45 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “Made with guidance from Peter Sisseck [of Pingus], the 2015 Crianza from Hacienda Monasterio is a blockbuster effort that’s a blend of 75% Tinto Fino, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Merlot, all of which spent 18 months in 30% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by terrific notes of blueberries, violets, graphite, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, deep, concentrated, and elegant, with a traditional style and building tannin, it’s incredible that they produce upward of 30,000 cases of this beauty. It’s no doubt beautiful today yet will keep for a decade or more. Even at $50, it’s a smoking value!”
Wine Advocate 94 points “The flagship Crianza is now simply referred to as 2015 Hacienda Monasterio. This is their biggest production, with some 181,630 bottles in this classical and powerful vintage where the secret was an early harvest to keep the acidity and freshness in the wine and keep the alcoholic degree under control. It’s mostly Tempranillo, with 10% each Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, fermented with indigenous yeasts and with long and soft macerations. It matured for some 18 months in French oak barrels, 25% of them new (a percentage that has been gradually lowered in the last few years). It has a balanced nose, with nuance and subtleness, with the oak nicely folded into the fruit, incipient perfume, and even if young, you can almost see where it can go in bottle. The foreign varieties are not really noticed; they are very integrated. The palate has terrific balance and refined tannins. There is no heat or excess ripening whatsoever. For a moment, I thought I was tasting the 2014. This is one of the best and most widely available wines from Ribera del Duero. It should evolve nicely in bottle.”
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The average price nationally is $51
Bodega Tapiz Black Tears Malbec, Uco Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 23 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Age has settled this concentrated malbec into a good place with rich, ripe plums and a gently peppery edge. The palate has intensity and depth with concentrated dark berries, finding focus and length. Impressive poise here. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Wine Spectator 93 points “Big and ripe, featuring concentrated raspberry, red plum and spiced cherry flavors. Pastry notes show midpalate, with a finish filled to the brim with chocolate and cream details and hints of white pepper. Drink now through 2023. 1,800 cases made, 1,100 cases imported.”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The floral, aromatic and fresh 2014 Black Tears Malbec comes from the higher-altitude vineyards where the soils are shallow and have lots of stones. It was matured in new and second use French oak barrels for 24 months and has integrated oak and ripe fruit without excess. It’s quite intense and has a powerful yet balanced and elegant palate. It’s tasty and shows good purity of fruit and a stony/mineral sensation in the palate, a texture rather than a flavor… 19,200 bottles were filled in June 2016.”
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The average price is $49
Staff Pick
Gour de Chaulé
Classic is Cool Again
Saul:
While the modern conception of the Southern Rhone is all 15%+ alcohol monsters with lots of new wood, there are still a few holdouts who value an old school style. Gour de Chaule is a top example, in the heart of the Southern Rhone but with drinkability in their hearts. These are powerful wines, but with a soulful edge and a freshness that makes them immensely appealing. When you factor in their pricing, they become can’t miss offerings for anyone who longs for older style wines from the Rhone.
I had a chance to try both the 2015 and 2005 Gour de Chaule Gigondas at a blow-out dinner several months back and was stunned by the depth, complexity and freshness of the older version as well as the promise that the younger version clearly showed. On a night with a ton of expensive world class wines open, this under-$35 bottle was one of the highlights. The 2016 is a superior version of the wine I tried and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ll be grabbing a few to open in 10+ years, confident that it’ll be suitable for any occasion.
In Stock Now from Gour de Chaulé:
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($399.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and pit fruits, potpourri and garrigue, and an exotic spice note emerges in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily put on weight with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes extremely long and floral, with fine-grained tannins lending discreet grip.”
While the modern conception of the Southern Rhone is all 15%+ alcohol monsters with lots of new wood, there are still a few holdouts who value an old school style. Gour de Chaule is a top example, in the heart of the Southern Rhone but with drinkability in their hearts. These are powerful wines, but with a soulful edge and a freshness that makes them immensely appealing. When you factor in their pricing, they become can’t miss offerings for anyone who longs for older style wines from the Rhone.
I had a chance to try both the 2015 and 2005 Gour de Chaule Gigondas at a blow-out dinner several months back and was stunned by the depth, complexity and freshness of the older version as well as the promise that the younger version clearly showed. On a night with a ton of expensive world class wines open, this under-$35 bottle was one of the highlights. The 2016 is a superior version of the wine I tried and I couldn’t be more excited. I’ll be grabbing a few to open in 10+ years, confident that it’ll be suitable for any occasion.
In Stock Now from Gour de Chaulé:
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Tradition, Rhone 2016 750ML ($399.95) $359 special (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Vivid ruby. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and pit fruits, potpourri and garrigue, and an exotic spice note emerges in the glass. Stains the palate with sweet raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily put on weight with air. Conveys a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes extremely long and floral, with fine-grained tannins lending discreet grip.”
The average price is $35
Arriving June 5th
Gigondas makes big, powerful reds, but this rosé is anything but. Light, fresh and prettily mineral, Gour de Chaule has turned out another classic.
Domaine du Gour de Chaule Gigondas Amour de Rose, Rhone 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “Gigondas Rosé: The Rosé at Gour de Chaulé is made from the direct press method. The juice is quickly drawn off the skins (6 to 9 hours of contact), then fermented. A cold stabilization follows. The wine does not undergo malolactic fermentation and is bottled in the early spring of the year following harvest. The Rosé is composed of Cinsault (50%), Grenache, and Mourvedre. This is a brilliantly colored wine with hues of pink and rose accompanied by flavors and a bouquet dominated by the impression of freshly crushed strawberries. Again, a limited amount of this wine is produced annually, only enough for us to have 1200 bottles per year [100 cases] for the US market.”
Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?
Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:
#503-223-6002
(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)
Staff Pick
Spanish Rosé
Suzanne:
I first found this rosé intriguing because of the vines. These are 100+ year old beauties producing tiny amounts with an unusual trellising style (braided cord). But it was the taste that really caught my attention. It’s unapologetically not a shy rosé. This is no light bodied, watery thing that tastes mostly like lemon water and sulfur. It’s assertive and expressive and left me mentally ticking off food associations in my head long after tasting. The wine opens with a spicy zestiness like blood orange juice and cinnamon. There’s a rich floral note of violets and dried rose petals. It’s all rounded out with an undertone of herby green tea and dark earth. Drink this now with barbeque, grilled foods, or any of the seasonal takeout food options from our Portland restaurants (and beyond!)
Newly Arrived:
Dolores Cabrera Fernandez ‘La Araucaria’ Rosado, Valle de la Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain 2019 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “La Araucaria Rosado is made from centenarian Listan Negro vines from two vineyards, Montijo and Hacienda Perdida. Both vineyards are in the Valle de La Orotava and are in the unique cordón trenzado (“braided cord”) style. The grapes are skin macerated for 12 hours, and the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks. The wine is bottled with light fining and filtration, and a minimal amount of SO2. Dolores Cabrera is a long-time farmer working in the Valle de la Orotava, Tenerife. Her vineyards have always been worked organically, with a portion of the parcels being certified organic. After selling her grapes to larger producers for many years, Dolores started making and bottling her own wine in 2013. The product of her efforts is La Araucaria, a singular and natural approach to the Listan Negro grape, the predominate grape of her region. The D.O. of Valle de La Orotava is located in northern Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, and named after its historic town. Wine-growing dates back to the Spanish conquest of the 15th century, and this is the oldest of the 5 appellations on the island. The valley is shaped by Pico del Teide, the 3rd largest active volcano in the world with its peak at 3715 meters. The hot maritime climate is moderated by the cool, humid trade winds blowing off the coast throughout the year.”
I first found this rosé intriguing because of the vines. These are 100+ year old beauties producing tiny amounts with an unusual trellising style (braided cord). But it was the taste that really caught my attention. It’s unapologetically not a shy rosé. This is no light bodied, watery thing that tastes mostly like lemon water and sulfur. It’s assertive and expressive and left me mentally ticking off food associations in my head long after tasting. The wine opens with a spicy zestiness like blood orange juice and cinnamon. There’s a rich floral note of violets and dried rose petals. It’s all rounded out with an undertone of herby green tea and dark earth. Drink this now with barbeque, grilled foods, or any of the seasonal takeout food options from our Portland restaurants (and beyond!)
Newly Arrived:
Dolores Cabrera Fernandez ‘La Araucaria’ Rosado, Valle de la Orotava, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain 2019 750ML ($24.95) $20.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Importer note “La Araucaria Rosado is made from centenarian Listan Negro vines from two vineyards, Montijo and Hacienda Perdida. Both vineyards are in the Valle de La Orotava and are in the unique cordón trenzado (“braided cord”) style. The grapes are skin macerated for 12 hours, and the wine is aged in stainless steel tanks. The wine is bottled with light fining and filtration, and a minimal amount of SO2. Dolores Cabrera is a long-time farmer working in the Valle de la Orotava, Tenerife. Her vineyards have always been worked organically, with a portion of the parcels being certified organic. After selling her grapes to larger producers for many years, Dolores started making and bottling her own wine in 2013. The product of her efforts is La Araucaria, a singular and natural approach to the Listan Negro grape, the predominate grape of her region. The D.O. of Valle de La Orotava is located in northern Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands, and named after its historic town. Wine-growing dates back to the Spanish conquest of the 15th century, and this is the oldest of the 5 appellations on the island. The valley is shaped by Pico del Teide, the 3rd largest active volcano in the world with its peak at 3715 meters. The hot maritime climate is moderated by the cool, humid trade winds blowing off the coast throughout the year.”
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you, please let us know
their name when placing your order.)
#503-223-6002
Raise a Glass to Sunshine
Top Picks Under $20
Looking to celebrate the springtime sun and get ready for summer? Stock up some of our favorite easy-breezy value wines. They’re in stock now at prices that won’t blow your budget.
Rosés
This is Portland’s favorite non-sparkling pink and Bandol rosé at its crisp-est. This is always the first rosé we sell out of each year. Partly because our supply is limited but mostly because it’s just so damn delicious. We have under eight cases in stock. For this wine, that’s not a lot.
Le Galantin Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Classic Provençal rosé with delightful tree-fruit and citrus notes (peach, nectarine, grapefruit) and a crisp finish. Structured and complex, with citrus and red fruit on the palate. Around 5850 cases produced. Around 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault and 25% Grenache, from vines planted on southwest facing hillsides, with clay/limestone soil.”
Importer note “The ancient steep vineyards of Bandol – first planted by Phocaean Greeks c.600BC – are the perfect home for Mourvèdre. This variety produces wines that can age at least three decades. As at le Galantin, the best vineyards are planted on poor clay and sandy soil on old terraces, known locally as restanques. The appellation’s 1400 hectares of largely south facing vineyards get an extraordinary 3,000 hours of sun a year, but the heat is tempered by constant wind and also humidity from the sea. Following the steps of her father Achille, who bought the land in 1960 and produced his first vintage in 1972, Céline Pascale took over the domaine in 1999. She is helped by her brother Jérôme, who takes care of the vineyards. Today, Domaine le Galantin farms 30 hectares of terraced vineyards located in Le Plan du Castellet. Everything is hand-harvested and done with organic methods.”
Rosés
This is Portland’s favorite non-sparkling pink and Bandol rosé at its crisp-est. This is always the first rosé we sell out of each year. Partly because our supply is limited but mostly because it’s just so damn delicious. We have under eight cases in stock. For this wine, that’s not a lot.
Le Galantin Bandol Rose, Provence 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer note “Classic Provençal rosé with delightful tree-fruit and citrus notes (peach, nectarine, grapefruit) and a crisp finish. Structured and complex, with citrus and red fruit on the palate. Around 5850 cases produced. Around 50% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault and 25% Grenache, from vines planted on southwest facing hillsides, with clay/limestone soil.”
Importer note “The ancient steep vineyards of Bandol – first planted by Phocaean Greeks c.600BC – are the perfect home for Mourvèdre. This variety produces wines that can age at least three decades. As at le Galantin, the best vineyards are planted on poor clay and sandy soil on old terraces, known locally as restanques. The appellation’s 1400 hectares of largely south facing vineyards get an extraordinary 3,000 hours of sun a year, but the heat is tempered by constant wind and also humidity from the sea. Following the steps of her father Achille, who bought the land in 1960 and produced his first vintage in 1972, Céline Pascale took over the domaine in 1999. She is helped by her brother Jérôme, who takes care of the vineyards. Today, Domaine le Galantin farms 30 hectares of terraced vineyards located in Le Plan du Castellet. Everything is hand-harvested and done with organic methods.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mirabeau ‘Classic’ Rose Cotes de Provence 2019 750ML ($27.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Decanter 90 points “An expressive nose of berry notes that, on the palate, transforms into succulent and juicy red cherries, raspberries and strawberries. The palate offers a light creaminess and silky texture with a round, crisp finish. Made from 60% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 15% Cinsault, it has complexity and drive, delivering great quality and value.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Fizzy
Yeasty and floral, like a baked pear tart with a wildflower honey drizzle. Dry yet sleek.
Loredan Gasparini Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG, Veneto NV 750ML ($17.95) $13.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
James Suckling 90 points “Delicious combination of pear and biscuit on the palate with medium body, bright acidity and a fresh finish. Fresh and satisfying. A different style of Prosecco that you should check out.”
Decanter 89 points “Loredan Gasparini’s Asolo Prosecco Superiore is grown on mineral soils that give the wine structure. This wine uses wild yeasts, providing a beautiful range of flavours; elderflower and peaches are supported by a lovely, soft mousse.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $16
Red
From vineyards in Brunello, this 100% Sangiovese is a value winner. We’ve joked about doubling the price because it’s hard to convince folks that something this good costs this little.
La Fortuna Fortunello Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: A fantastic value, showing pretty varietal notes of red cherries and spice. Moderately rich, savory and expressive.
Winery Note “A wine that first expresses itself through its colour; intense ruby red. Extraordinary via its intensity and absolute pleasure on the palate, vigor, length, freshness and fruity finish. A wine that will improve with age with its scents of raspberry and red berries.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Cotes du Rhone 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special, 21 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 91 points “This is pure syrah from both sides of the southern Rhône and has very rich dark cherries and sweet ripeness to the palate. Good depth and detail here. Juicy and long. Quite plush, too. Drink now. “
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Cotes du Rhone is 100% Syrah, sourced from the Gard (on the right bank of the Rhône) and Vinsobres (left bank, higher elevation). Violets, black olives and cassis and blueberry flavors provide terrific varietal expression in a medium to full-bodied package framed by silky tannins. Depending on your local pricing, it should be a terrific value.”
Wine Spectator 89 points “SMART BUY! Lively savory, lavender, cherry and black currant notes mix in this friendly, open-knit wine, which reveals a tug of dark earth at the end. Drink now through 2020. 30,000 cases made, 20,800 cases imported.”
Bonus Round:
Top Value Champagne
Newly Arrived
Our new favorite for budget-friendly, no quality-compromised Champagne from the Cote des Blancs.
Subscriber-only special ends Friday, June 5th!
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2011 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
100% Chardonnay. A full bodied, richly textured vintage Champagne balanced with a racy acidity. This vintage wine blends grapes from holdings in the villages of Cuis, Chouilly and Epernay. The winery describes Cuis as adding minerality and delicacy to the Champagne and comprises the majority of the blend. Aged on the lees for roughly five years, it’s an excellent choice for lovers of toasty and brioche-y Champagnes.
No reviews for the 2011 vintage. 2010 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 92 points “This elegant blanc de blancs shows a pleasing vibrancy from the lively bead and bright acidity, both well-meshed to pretty floral and spice accents and flavors of Gala apple, biscuit and lemon zest. Creamy. Drink now through 2025. 16 cases imported.”
Diebolt-Vallois Brut Tradition, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 91 points “Bright, with citrusy acidity, this harmonious Champagne offers a creamy mousse and a minerally underpinning layered with flavors of apricot, honeysuckle, salted almond and biscuit. A crowd-pleaser. Drink now through 2020. 125 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!
Stay safe, be well & drink well.
Thank you for reading and for continuing to support our team at Vinopolis!
Stay safe, be well & drink well.