Please note that Vinopolis Wine Shop will be closed on Labor Day, September 4th.
We will be open for our regularly scheduled hours on Tuesday, September 5th
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Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage; New Week – New Arrivals; Agusti Torello Mata New Cava Arrivals; The Trendiest Wine of the Year; 2011 Il Poggione: Best Price / Exceptional Wine; Felsina; 2009 Bordeaux; 2014 Opus One – Best Price!
Delas Freres
Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage
“One of the gems in the vintage” – Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
“This wine shouts Hermitage.” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, yet they still manage to be overlooked when people put together collections of wine from the region. Delas makes wines that are a) delicious and well-made and b) more than reasonably priced. This combination means that it’s possible to drink your way up and down the Northern Rhone, trying fantastic wines from fabled appellations, and you can still afford your next car payment. Sure, the wines aren’t collectible, but if you’re buying to drink, rather than to resell, give these a look. Who else produces a better bang for the buck Hermitage for under $100 (or in our case under $60)?
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($549.95) $319 special, 8 cases in stock now (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Jancis Robinson 18/20 points “Very dark purple indeed. Altogether broader and less focused than the Côte Rôties on the nose. Peppery and subtle. Very glossy, layered, complex and magnificent. I would reproach this only very slightly on the finish but it’s a pretty magnificent wine”
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”
James Suckling 93 points “This has a refined, fragrant and very composed character with inherent aromatic spices and a stony edge, in addition to licorice and some star anise. The fruits are in the dried-plum and dried-cherry spectrum, but this also hints at plenty of cloves, cardamom and pepper. The palate’s succulent, powerful, even and really finely layered. The tannins are most definitely a feature now, and this has plenty of ageing potential. Enjoy the dark-plum and black-cherry finish. Best from 2020 and for a decade after that. Fom 100% granitic soils.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Brilliant violet. Complex mineral- and smoke-accented scents of dark fruit liqueur, violet and olive paste gain urgency from a smoky mineral quality . Juicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering sappy blueberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows excellent depth and vivacity and finishes spicy and very long, displaying a resonating floral quality and building tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $86\
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New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Morgen Long Yamhill Vineyards Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($37.95) $30.90 special
Winemaker note “The Willamette Valley Chardonnay is declassified from Yamhill Vineyard, a site in off of Blackburn Road in Yamhill Carlton with 30-year-old clone 108b that is owner farmed sustainably and is own-rooted and non-irrigated with sandy marine sediment soils. The Willamette Valley Chardonnay is a blend of three barrels, a once fill and two neutrals, which fermented slow with native yeasts and no additions other than sulfur (much slower than the two barrels – one new and one neutral – which were bottled as Willamette Valley Chardonnay Sandi. A blend of all five was bottled as Yamhill Vineyard and is sold out). The Willamette Valley was in barrel for 11 months and in steel for 7 months before sterile filtration and bottling in early May. I like how the filtration seems to lean out the wine and highlights a cleaner mineral feel than the two other unfined and unfiltered bottlings. As a counterpoint to the briny minerality, it presents a roundness which is very welcoming and leans towards tropical citrus and spiced apple aromatics and flavors”
Love & Squalor Riesling, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Pale gold. Mineral-driven aromas of lime pith jasmine and smoky minerals take on a kerosene note in the glass. Dry and nervy in style offering bitter citrus zest and quince flavors and a touch of ginger on the back half. Closes firm focused and dry featuring very good clarity a touch of florality and lingering stoniness.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Love & Squalor Sauvignon Blanc, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Winery notes: “The second bottling of Love & Squalor Sauvignon Blanc is a perfect balance of acid and fruit and is comprised of grapes from two vineyards: Redford-Wetle in the Eola-Amity hills and Aurora Colony Vineyard in Aurora, OR.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $17.99
Love & Squalor ‘Antsy Pants’ Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This displays the big, chunky, California-style fruit of the 2012 vintage. It’s forward, ripe, lusciously fruity, with plums, cherries, orange peel and more. Highlights of cinnamon and chocolate add complexity to the finish. Drink now through 2020.”
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Bright red. Aromas of zesty red fruits and white pepper, with a subtle floral note in the background. Tangy redcurrant and pomegranate flavors show very good energy and convey a weightless quality. Finishes on a refreshingly bitter note, with lingering spiciness, subtle late-arriving tannins and very good persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Burgundy
Domaine Charles Audoin Marsannay Cuvee Marie Ragonneau, Cote de Nuits 2014 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Wine Spectator 91 points “Spicy wild berry and cherry flavors mark this sleek, racy red. Tightens up on the finish, leaving a mouthwatering impression. Minerally undertow. Best from 2020 through 2032.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Beaujolais
Philippe Pacalet Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Philippe Pacalet Moulin-a-Vent, Beaujolais 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special
Burghound 91 points -Outstanding Top Value-“A discreet touch of wood sets off exceptionally fresh aromas of pepper, lavender, earth and various red berries. There is terrific tension and lovely detail to the muscular middle weight flavors that possess a caressing mouth feel, all wrapped in a complex, concentrated and balanced finale. This is really very good and absolutely worth considering if you don’t mind giving it a few years of cellar time first.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2014 Moulin-à-Vent from Philippe Pacalet has a bright, clean, fresh raspberry and strawberry pastille-scented bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with a fleshy opening. I love the acidity here, the harmony that comes through, the structure towards the finish that suggests it will age as well as being approachable now. What a beautifully crafted Beaujolais. Tasted September 2016.”
Vinopolnote: A new Cru Beaujolais cuvee from the star Burgundian; Pacalet is a natural winemaker and negociant who carefully chooses his vineyard sources on a yearly basis, rejects industrial winemaking techniques, and takes close consideration of individual terroirs.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $59.95
France – Rhone
Marie et Pierre Benetiere Condrieu, Rhone 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Importer note “Benetiere makes a small amount of Condrieu from the lieu-dit known as Tinal in Verin just south of the commune of Condrieu. The vines are organically grown and and benefit from ideal southern exposure. There is richness, lift and elegance to be savored in this fine bottle. Pierre Bénétière is a self-made man and staunch Northern Rhone traditionalist cut from the mold of the great icons of the region, Gentaz-Dervieux, Verset, Juge, Allemand, etc. While Pierre grew up in a wine family, his parents did not actually produce wine, but were merchants in Condrieu selling local table wines to the bars and restaurants in the area. He eventually studied Enology and started his winery in the late `80s by acquiring a small parcel of land in the southern end of Cote Rotie (in the lieu-dit of Cordeloux near Condrieu) and clearing and planting the vineyards himself. He later added two small vineyards in Condrieu itself as well as a small parcel of old vines in the heart of the Cote Rotie appellation, on the Cote Brune and right in the middle of Guigal’s famed “La Turque”!”
Domaine Santa Duc Cotes du Rhone Rouge ‘Les Vieilles Vignes’, Rhone 2012 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Spectator notes: “Rounded and easy, featuring cherry fruit laced with a light licorice snap note”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $17
Italy – Piedmont
G.B. Burlotto Verduno Pelaverga, Piedmont 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: A light bodied wine produced from the rare Pelaverga variety. Often described as having aromas of fresh strawberries and black pepper.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $25
Cantina Del Pino Barbera D’Alba, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
“Ripe plum and fresh cherry flavors are supported by nice mineral tannins which give this wine great elegance. Let it open and it becomes succulent with a lovely long finish. This wine will age nicely, but it is so delicious it is almost too tempting to pass up enjoying now.”–Winery note
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cantina del Pino Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
“100% Nebbiolo grapes grown in the hills above Barbaresco. Delicate perfume with aromas of dark cherry and black pepper and a hint of tobacco from a fine cigar. Elegant and fully ripe with intense fruit and wonderful structure and balance. Aged two years in oak and one year in the bottle, this wine is drinking very well now and will age for many years.”–Winery note
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Giacomo Fenocchio Barbera d’Alba Superiore, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
“The color is a deep ruby red with garnet reflections. It has a rather intense bouquet, with scents typical of the vine and a full bodied and dry flavor, with a distinct and pleasing acidity. It becomes mature with aging, acquiring a full and balanced flavor.”–Importer note
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2013 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
James Suckling 93 points “Very refined and polished with gorgeous berry, spice and light leather character. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a lightly chewy, tannin background. Hard not to drink now. Better in three years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Bussia, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Wine Enthusiast 97 points –Cellar Selection–“Rose, iris, wild berry and baking spice aromas merge with scents of new leather and a balsamic menthol note on this stunning and classically crafted Barolo. The structured polished palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, pipe tobacco and licorice framed in tightly knit noble tannins and bright acidity. It’s going to just keep getting better and better over the next few decades. Drink from 2023 through 2053.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Giacomo Fenocchio Barolo Villero, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful aromas of chocolate, flowers and berry follow through to a full body, dense and juicy fruit and a long and flavorful finish. Polished and soft tannins. Fine textured at the end. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $59
Portugal
Niepoort 10 Year Aged Tawny Port 750ML ($44.95) $38 special
Wine Advocate 91 points “The NV 10 Year Old Tawny Port was bottled in 2015 with a long cork. This is a lovely 10 Year Tawny, elegant in the mid-palate, but complex, precise and focused. There’s a bit of a bite on the finish, giving it some length to go with the flavor. The next day it was more about power, with considerable intensity of old-tawny flavor as well, more than I normally see in a 10 Year Old. This is a fine one for the category. It showed best around 56 degrees Fahrenheit. Don’t drink it too warm.”
Niepoort Late Bottled Vintage Port 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Late Bottled Vintage Port was bottled in 2016 with a long cork. Focused and precise, this traditional LBV is notable for its subtle concentration and power. It’s not at all jammy, but the expressive fruit lingers and makes it seem richer than it is on opening while the wine’s inherent freshness cuts through the mid-palate and gives it a lively feel. The structure is actually better than the fruit–apart from the crisp feel, this has a real backbone. That supports the fruit beautifully and it was even more apparent after some six hours open. Not surprisingly, this young LBV was a bit tight. If it is not always impressive for its depth, it is for its power, precision and lift. I loved the firm feel on the finish. Overall, this is very pretty, age-worthy and likely to become increasingly complex. If the mid-palate keeps up as it ages–which still has to be proven–this might have a nice, long life.”
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New Arrivals – In Stock Now
Agusti Torello Mata
Divine Cava
“From a family of musicians and tailors, Agusti Torello Mata founded his winery in 1950, supporting this venture by constructing Penedes first dedicated wine laboratory. The winery now manages 100 hectares of organically farmed old vines, the youngest being 30 years. They are dedicated to producing reserva and gran reserva cavas from the traditional indigenous grape varities (Macabeo from the coast, Xarel·lo form the central area and Parellada from the pre-costal mountain range, together with the red Trepat and white Malvasia/Subirat Parent varieties). The wines are benchmarks for great cava.” –Importer note
Newly Arrived Wines from Agusti Torello Mata – In Stock Now:
Agusti Torello Mata Cava Brut Reserva, Catalonia 2013 750ML ($19.95) $18 special
Case-12 Agusti Torello Mata Cava Brut Reserva, Catalonia 2013 750ML ($239.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Macabeu 39%, Xarel·lo 23% and Parellada 38%. From vines in the Penedès region.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agusti Torello Mata Gran Reserva Brut Nature Cava, Catalonia 2011 750ML ($31.95) $24 special
Macabeu 38%, Xarel·lo 28% and Parellada 34%. From vines in the Penedès region.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agusti Torello Mata Trepat Rosat Brut Cava, Catalonia 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Agusti Torello Mata Trepat Rosat Brut Cava, Catalonia 2014 750ML ($279.95) $225 special (that’s only $18.75/bottle!)
100% Trepat
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Also In Stock Now from Agusti Torello Mata
Agusti Torello Mata Gran Reserva Brut Cava, Catalonia 2012 375ML ($19.95) $14 special, 35 half-bottles in stock now
Macabeo, Xarel.lo and Parellada from the Penedès area.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Agusti Torello Mata Kripta Gran Reserva Cava, Penedes 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Macabeu 45%, Xarel·lo 20% and Parellada 35% From very old vines in the Penedès region.
Wine Advocate 92 points “The current vintage of the special cuvée is the 2008 Kripta, a classical blend of the local grapes Macabeo, Xarello and Parellada aged in contact with the lees in bottle for a long time, no less than five years, during which time the bottle is closed with a cork (it’s usually a crown stopper). Apparently this gives the wine a different character and is the way it was traditionally done. This is a polished Cava with yeast and brioche aromas and a soft palate with clean, developed flavors and integrated acidity. A benchmark for the Cavas with five years in contact with lees. 24,300 bottles produced.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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Summer Shipping Special:
Midwest, East, & South
For the summer season we are offering UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground for shipments normally traveling 4 or more business days by ground.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders purchased and shipped during the promotional period. Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period and shipped by Three Day Select. Offer not valid on items purchased before the promotional period or on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period ends.
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In Stock Now
#Trending
The Trendiest Wine of the Year
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Chateau de Saint Cosme Gigondas, Rhone 2015 1.5L ($89.95) $79 special
Wine Spectator 95 points “A textbook version of the brawny side of Gigondas, this offers a grippy alder bass line underneath layers of dark currant and fig fruit, while lots of tobacco, rosemary and bay fill in throughout. Muscular and energetic, this is built for the cellar. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
This is the only listing for a magnum in the USA today!
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In Stock Now
2011 Il Poggione
Back Vintage Brunello @
The Best Price in the Country
No need to say much here, we’ve got some 2011 Il Poggione in and the pricing we have on it is spectacular. This is one to drink while your 2012’s mature and is no slouch on its own–there wasn’t a Riserva made in 2011, so all of that fruit went into this bottling.
In Stock Now:
Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($79.95) $58.50 special
Case-6 Il Poggione Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2011 750ML ($419.95) $319 special (that’s only $53.17/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 95 points “Il Poggione has done a terrific job with its 2011 Brunello di Montalcino. The wine is soft, yielding and charged with a velvety and smooth texture. It is deeply redolent of dark berry, black cherry, spice, leather and tobacco. The wine’s sunny personality never feels flat or too dense. In fact, the wine offers a very tight and steely backbone that gives the wine stature and strength. This is one of my favorite Brunellos from the 2011 vintage.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “A dark, powerful wine, the 2011 Brunello di Montalcino offers notable depth and intensity. Il Poggione’s 2011 is one of the richest, most powerful wines of the year. Black cherry, plum, lavender, cloves and new leather are some of the first nuances that open up. With time in the glass, the 2011 becomes more lifted, as brighter red cherry and raspberry-infused flavors gradually release. This is a rare 2011 that demands at least a good few years in the cellar. In 2011, Il Poggione did not bottle a Riserva. All the juice went into the straight Brunello.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $75!
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Is Felsina the overall best Chianti?
Many say so.
You?
Arriving in September:
Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($37.95) $26 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “A deep, powerful wine, the 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva has quite a bit of depth for a cool, late-ripening vintage. Sage, tobacco, menthol, smoke and dark cherry hit the palate in a deep, beautifully layered Chianti Classico endowed with real personality and class. This is another terrific wine from Fèlsina. Hints of leather, smoke and licorice reappear on the deeply expressive, virile finish.”
Arriving Late August:
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $44 pre-arrival special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 96+ points “Fèlsina’s 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia bristles with energy, with veins of underlying acidity that give the wine its focus and drive. Dark red cherry, plum, rose petal, herb and licorice are some of the signatures. Most of the Fèlsina Chianti Classicos are defined by their dark fruit and savory notes, but the Rancia is also wonderfully bright and lifted from start to finish while staying very much true to the house style. Today, the Rancia gives the impression it will unwind at a glacial pace. I imagine most bottles of the 2013 will be drunk before the wine truly enters its prime.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Here is another highlight of the vintage. The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia is a dark, moody and sophisticated wine. It does not reveal itself immediately or in any obvious way. Instead, it doses out its intensity in careful measurements. The whole performance is seductive to say the least. That slow momentum leads to dark cherry with spice, grilled herb, wet earth and dried rose. Felsina’s Riserva Rancia is a very elegant wine, both on the nose and in the mouth.”
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Gorgeous and soft, the 2013 Fontalloro is another landmark wine from this classic vintage. There is enormous intensity here and the wine is only at the beginning of its long aging trajectory. I suggest you put off drinking it for five to ten more years. There is evident thickness and generosity here, especially in the way those bold fruit flavors are woven between dark spice and leather. There are sour accents on the close that remind you of the wine’s youth. The tannins are fine and well integrated.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of plums, clay tiles and sage follow through to a full to medium body, silky tannins and a linear and racy finish. Love the underlying freshness and brightness to this. Excellent. A little tannic now, so better in 2018”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Fontalloro shows the richer, creamier style of the vintage while maintaining plenty of Fèlsina character. Silky tannins wrap around a core of dark stone fruits as the 2013 shows off its personality. Fontalloro naturally doesn’t have the pure energy of Rancia, but it will drink well with just a few more years in bottle. Fontalloro is the most overt and ripe of the Fèlsina wines with the exception of the Colonia. A hint of French oak shapes the supple, inviting finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
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2009 Bordeaux
Here Now & Arriving This September
In many ways, the 2009 Bordeaux vintage represented the crest of the wave for futures offerings. Prices were high and so many big-time players sat out the vintage when the wines were released. Now, that looks like the smart play as a backlog in inventory has forced Bordeaux estates and brokers to cut prices on what has been hailed as an exceptional vintage. The high end wines might hold pricing, but the “lesser” estates need to sell their wines and so we’re seeing really incredible deals come through.
The trickledown effect has been great for the average consumer, especially those looking to try some of the cru bottlings of the vintage. The wines are ready to roll now, the prices are terrific, and if you’re looking to try picking up some of the classified growths, it is a good way to test the waters to see if it is the vintage for you.
So how are the wines? They’re as subtle as the Rose Parade. Compared to the wound up ’10 vintage these are showing their stripes now, in all their ripe glory: lush fruit, soft tannins, and perfume for days. This makes for wines that are accessible now and, while traditionalists might pooh-pooh such opulence, this is a great intro for many drinkers who are trending toward domestic producers. At a recent dinner with friends, who collect almost exclusively California reds, we drank some of the 09 Chateau Bel Air. The wine was definitely right bank Bordeaux, with licorice, dark fruit and plenty of spice, but the intensity of the fruit wowed my friends into asking about what else we could try from Bordeaux.
We offer 6 different 2009 Bordeaux options in stock now and 3 arriving next month. See our special highlight below. If you are a CA drinker looking to dip your toes on the other side of the pond, here are a few to try, including the insanely popular Chateau Bel-Air and Malescot St. Exupery:
Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol 2009 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol 2009 750ML ($419.95) $299 special, 1 case in stock now (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
“Owned by the Martin family (who also own Gloria), this dense ruby/plum-colored sleeper of the vintage displays oodles of fruit as well as some notes of Christmas fruitcake and roasted herbs along with loads of cassis. Tasty, round, generous, and ripe, this 2009 has a lot going for it.”–Robert Parker
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $85
Malescot St. Exupery 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 19 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “A wine with intense spice and berry character with hints of sweet tobacco. It changes all the time from flowers to fruit and wet earth. Full-bodied with super fine tannins and ripe fruit. It’s long and juicy with lovely fruit. Super long and beautiful with fine tannins that last for minutes. Tight now but juicy and gorgeous. Best ever from here.”
Le Carre, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 97 points “Achieving nearly 15% natural alcohol (one of the highest of the Jonathan Maltus St. Emilion estates) , this blend of approximately 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc is from vineyards that sit on limestone soils near Clos Fourtet, an area that performed brilliantly in 2009. Inky purple, with notes of graphite, vanillin, blackberry and cassis as well as crushed rock and floral notes, the wine has breathtaking extravagance and a luxuriant fruit quality that simply has to be tasted to be believed. Phenomenally rich, full-bodied, and brilliantly poised and well-balanced, this is a tour de force in winemaking and a colossal Le Carre, the finest Jonathan Maltus has yet produced. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2028.”
Chateau d’Arcole, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 22 bottles in stock now
“A light-bodied, open-knit red, with direct damson plum and cherry preserves notes backed by modest toast that hangs on the slightly lean finish.”–Wine Spectator
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chateau Marojallia, Margaux 2009 750ML ($179.95) $138 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 95+ points “This is possibly the finest wine I have ever tasted from this property, run by Jean-Luc Thunevin and his partner Murielle Andraud. An absolutely stunning nose of violets, creme de cassis, lead pencil shavings, forest floor and subtle new oak burst from the glass. The wine has great fruit, superb texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel and an extravagantly rich, concentrated palate with low acidity and ripe tannin. Give it another 3-4 years to firm up and lose some baby fat, then drink it over the following 20+ years.” RP
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste, Pauillac 2009 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Robert Parker 95 points “Performing better from bottle than it did from cask (and comparable to their wines 2005, 2000, 1990 and 1982), this is a great classic from Xavier Borie’s estate situated on the back roads west of the town of Pauillac. Its dense ruby/purple color is followed by hints of spring flowers, crushed rocks, black currants, cedar and earth/underbrush. Precise and elegant as well as backward and foreboding, it should put on weight in the bottle and evolve for two decades. Very concentrated as well as velvety-textured, it is a beauty of finesse, balance, purity and nobility. It will benefit from 5-7 more years of bottle age.”RP
2009 Bordeaux Arriving in September:
Chateau Quinault L’Enclos, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 93 points “A soft and fruity wine, with orange peel and berries and plums. Full body, with super fine tannins and a fruity finish. Refined and very pretty. Structured in the end. Fresh. Succulent. A style away from the over extracted one a few years ago. Try after 2018.” JS
Wine Spectator 92 points “This is very distinctive, with live-wire acidity running through the core of damson plum, linzer torte and blackberry fruit that’s framed by a mouthwatering roasted apple wood note. The long and driven finish has a piercing iron edge and a smoldering tobacco note that adds to the dramatic profile. Best from 2015 through 2025.” WA
Chateau Gazin, Pomerol 2009 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 96 points “Ferocious extract, huge tannin, an opaque purple color, and enormous richness all make for a potentially brilliant wine from this vineyard, located on the plateau of Pomerol just adjacent to Petrus. Probably a late finisher of malolactic given its showing on three separate occasions, this wine, which is enormously endowed, very rich, and full-bodied, has a chance to be the best Gazin ever made. However, patience will be a virtue, as the wine will certainly need 5-8 years of cellaring” RP
Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 2009 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 93 points “Gloria has long been one of the most popular wines in America, but I do not believe they have ever made better wines than they have over the last decade, and the 2009 is one of their finest. While this estate is not a classified growth, it certainly performs like one in 2009. A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by an expressive, flamboyant bouquet of black fruits, Christmas spices, licorice and roasted Provencal herbs. Fuller-bodied, more concentrated and extracted than most vintages with soft tannins, its low acidity and a sumptuous, plump style remind me of a modern day version of the 1982 (which is fully mature but still in great shape). The 2009 Gloria is a very smart purchase for those looking to maximize their buying power. In fact, this may be the value of the vintage.”
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Arriving in October
2014 Opus One
Best Price in the USA!
The Luxurious Pride of Napa, With the Medoc Soul
Opus One Proprietary Red Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($319.95) $289 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “Mesmerizing aromas of flowers, bark, currants and blackberries. So perfumed. You just want to smell it. Exquisite tension and finesse with an almost Burgundian texture, yet it’s Napa in its soul with ripe fruit, stones, spices and Chinese tea leaf flavors. Savory and delicious. Drinkable but better in 2020.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2014 Opus One has turned out to be a gorgeous wine. Savory, tightly wound and intensely aromatic, the 2014 is going to need time to unwind, but it looks like it will develop along the more classic vintages here. The tannins are firm but also impeccably balanced. A sleeper wine for the year, the 2014 is shaping up to be a gorgeous wine that will handsomely repay several decades of cellaring. The 2014 is not an obvious Opus One, like the 2010, 2012 or 2013, but over time, I will not be surprised if it challenges or even surpasses some of those vintages. In short, the 2014 is a wine of tension, power and grace.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price listed today is $298.99
The average price is $304
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