In This Newsletter:ArrivalsLeflaive Grand Cru, Roccolo Grassi, Quintessa, and more
Featured Winery
All About The BubblesCelebrate with Oregon Sparkling Wines
Staff Pick
En Rama Sherries
Close Out SalesGrand Cru Grower Champagnes from Waris-Hubert!Guy Charlemagne Champagnes!
June Sale- Spanish Wines
Save Up To 10% On Your Favorite Wines
Collector’s Corner
Best of the Best: White Wines of the World
New Arrivals
Oregon
Timothy Malone Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2019 750ml $28 special, 24 bottles availableVinopolnote “Timothy Malone, a native New Yorker, first came to Oregon as an assistant winemaker for J. Christopher and later expanded his horizons with stints at Dundee’s Cameron Winery and Sonoma’s Flowers Vineyards. He played a major part in developing the J. Christopher approach to winemaking early on and returned as the head winemaker in 2020. Wherever he goes, Tim crafts elegant minimal-intervention Pinot Noirs that always impress for the price.”
California
Quintessa Red Rutherford 2019 750ml $219 special, 18 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 100 Points “Cellar Selection. This is a winemaker’s master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039.” Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “I was blown away by the 2019 Red Blend from Quintessa, which is up with the crème de la crème of the vintage. Based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère, this full-bodied beauty has a perfectly balanced, seamless, yet expansive and classic 2019 style as well as gorgeous aromatics of cassis, flowers, chalky minerality, and integrated oak. It’s hard to resist already, but I have no doubt this will evolve for 20 years if stored properly.” Decanter 96 Points “Dark chocolate, violets and blackcurrants on the nose. Sticky, sweet, full, plush and ripe, fruit is dark – blackcurrant, black cherry and plum with lots of sweet liquorice and some earthy notes that give it a savoury touch. A bold and powerful style, you can feel the alcohol a bit and the wood still but there is good vibrancy and energy with a chiselled frame and generous freshness.
Champagne
Valentin Leflaive Le Mesnil Grand Cru NV 750ml $95 special, 12 bottles availableVinopolnote “The grapes used for the production of Valentin Leflaive’s Champagne Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Mesnil 15 50 stem from parcels classified as Grand Cru of Mesnil-sur-Oger. With a low dosage of 5 g/l, this 100% Chardonnay cuvée contains 12% reserve wines. Drawn in April 2016, this cuvée was disgorged in February 2020. After bottling, the champagne is aged on lees for three and a half years.The palate hamoniously expresses this wine’s minerality, a typical feature of Mesnil-sur-Oger and its terroir composed of chalk and flint.”
Andre Clouet Brut Grande Reserve NV 750ml $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Andre Clouet Brut Grande Reserve NV 1.5L $99 special, 6 bottles availableVinopolnote: 100% Grand Cru Bouzy Pinot Noir! Clouet has quickly become one of Vinopolis’ favorite champagnes. There is nowhere else to find this level of fantastic quality for such value. Andre Clouet Dream Vintage 2016 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles availableVinopolnote: Dream Vintage by Andre Clouet is dedicated to the grand vintages of Champagne. In contrast to their other wines, Dream Vintage is 100% grand cru Chardonnay from their vineyards in Bouzy. Bottled one year after harvest.
France
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Rose 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles availableVinopolnote “Amazing Burgundian Rosé wine… from vines between 30 and 60 years of age.” Plouzeau Chinon Rose Rive Gauche 2022 750ml $16 special, 36 bottles availableImporter Note “Rosé wine. Chinon, Loire Valley, France. 100% Cabernet Franc. Organic. Cherry pit, red currant, pungent flowers and a suggestion of succulent herbs on the nose. Sappy and focused in the mouth, offering bitter cherry and orange flavors and a zesty hint of white pepper that adds back-end spiciness. Closes supple and long, featuring lingering florality and a sweet raspberry flourish. This wine has the heft to work with full-flavored food, but there’s also a raciness that makes it extremely easy to drink by itself.”
Spain
Espectacle Del Montsant 2019 750ml $125 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 99 Points “It’s always an exciting moment tasting a new vintage of the wine from one of the most beautiful vineyards in Montsant, and the 2019 Espectacle del Montsant didn’t disappoint. It’s always Mediterranean, heady and ripe, decadent and hedonistic. 2019 was a warm and quite classical vintage in the zone, with good ripeness (the wine’s label lists 15.5% alcohol), and the wine is hedonistic, nuanced and complex, with very good acidity, which is one of the characteristics that makes this vintage so complete. Despite everything, the wine is medium to full-bodied and comes through as perfumed and ethereal. They do long macerations and long aging in foudre. 2019 is a very serious vintage for this wine; it’s a little closed and needs time in the glass, and it’s tight and seamless, a little austere for what this wine usually is. This is truly spectacular.”
***Lowest Price in the United States***
This wine also applies to our month long Spanish wine sale
New Zealand
Te Pa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 750ml $17 special, 36 bottles availableTe Pa Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 Case of 12 750ml bottles $199 special, that’s $16.58 a bottleRaymond Chan Wine Reviews “Bright, pale yellow with a slight green hue, even colour throughout […] The wine is ethereally smooth flowing, guided by integrated, spicy acidity, carries concentrated fruit with elegance. There is a subtle, fine-textured, chalky minerality that adorns the mouthfeel. This is a well-rounded Sauvignon Blanc with concentrated flavours of white cassis and gooseberries, elderflower and spice on an ethereally smooth-flowing palate.”
Arriving Late June
Roccolo Grassi Valpolicella Superiore 2016 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles available (Pre-Arrival)Vinous 94+ Points “An enticing mix of incense, black tea, cracked pepper and red wild berries emanate from the 2016 Valpolicella Superiore. This is undeniably elegant, with its silky textures that seem to coat the entire palate in a seductive layer of violet-tinged fruits and suave lavender and chocolate notes. That said, this is not sweet nor overly rich; in fact, the 2016 is truly harmonious and poised, boasting tremendous concentration that’s lifted by saline-infused acids. It leaves the palate completely saturated with cloves and allspice, as it tapers off structured and long. This is next-level Valpolicella Superiore, and it may even one day warrant a higher score. Marco Sartori uses 30% appassimento grapes in his Valpolicella, which are dried for twenty days. This wine is refined in a 50% – 50% mix of large oak cask and barrique, of which only about 20% are new.”
Featured WineryCrowley Wines
Crowley Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2020 750ml $24 special, 25 bottles availableWinery Note “Lemon-lime aromatics burst from the glass, laced with a touch of floral wood. Quenching salinity on the palate stretches long, eventually giving way to chalk and balanced acidity. Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1993 to Wente clone Chardonnay (1.5 acres) and Dijon clone Chardonnay (.75 acres), and beginning in 2017 (2.5 acres) of Draper clone. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed.” Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $36 special, 29 bottles availableWinery Note “This wine has an herbaceous and citrusy nose, with traces of cranberry, graphite, allspice and pomegranate. The palate is full of ripe raspberry, plum, and anise framed by striking acidity. Generous and playful the 2021 Entre Nous embodies our favorite trait for Pinot…accessibility without sacrifice.” Crowley Four Winds Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 33 bottles availableWinery Note “In the glass this wine shines translucent red with amber hued edges. Herbs and dried flowers greet the nose, then give way to black cherry and watermelon. As it opens up, traces of pencil shavings give this wine. Crowley La Colina Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $49 special, 34 bottles availableWinery Note “The 2021 La Colina introduces the results of a technique that brings our Pinots ever closer to the refined aim we aspire to…maximum polish with a searing terroir presence. Pumpover cap treatment during fermentation (much like a pour-over coffee experience) delivers delicate but powerful fruit essences.” Crowley Phoebe Four Winds Chardonnay 2020 750ml $55 Special, 18 Bottles AvailableWinery Note “Aromas of Asian pear, lemon chiffon, honeysuckle, mint and a trace of eucalyptus. The palate has the typical Four Winds high tension and firm acidity combined with mineral to complete its austerity. Richness from barrel enters mid palate and merges with silky texture and creamy fruit to a complete high energy finish. Beeswax lingers as does lime-pie. Wente & Draper clones. Native fermentation.”
All About the BubblesOregon’s Finest Sparkling Wines 
Considering how accomodating Oregon’s climate is to Burgundian varietals, it’s no surprise that we have quickly become a top American region for premium Sparkling wines. Here’s a list of some of our favorite local producers and their sparkling options.
Carlton Hill Blanc De Noir Extra Brut 2016 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles availableWinery note “This was our first year working with Tuckaway Chenin Blanc and we’re hooked. Pinot Noir grapes were handpicked the morning of October 5 and Chenin Blanc grapes were handpicked on October 7, whole cluster pressed, and the juice was hyperoxidized. After settling, the Pinot Noir juice was racked off the gross lees into 100% NOVUM amphorae where fermentation began spontaneously. Same for the Chenin Blanc, but into a concrete egg. As primary fermentation was finishing, the pinot noir and chenin blanc were blended in tank and racked off of fine lees then chilled to halt fermentation. Certified Biodynamic.” Eyrie Spark Sparkling Rose Willamette NV 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Advocate 90 Points “The NV Spark is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 37% Chasselas Doré and 8% Pinot Blanc, from 31-year-old vines. It is an “ultra brut,” although this particular bottling is made using forced carbonation instead of méthode Champenois. Medium to deep cherry-pink in color, it has aromas of cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries and lemon peel with notes of stone and toast. The palate is dry with citrus and red berry flavors, spritely mousse and a refreshing, mineral-driven finish.” Gran Moraine Brut Rose NV 750ml $44.50 special, 10 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “That rare domestic rosé that captures the vibrant acidity of Champagne, offering delicate strawberry, raspberry flavors laced with steely minerality and sprinkle of graham cracker on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 1,000 cases made.” Lundeen Brut Sparkling Willamette Valley NV 750ml $39 special, 9 bottles availableWinery Note “Almost all Pinot Noir, with just 5% Chardonnay, this méthode Champenoise wine was barrel fermented and aged 20 months en tirage. It’s a tawny gold and opens with a slightly earthy aroma that evolves into a complex mash-up of toast, butter, coffee grounds and tart fruits.” Mellen Meyer Whistling Ridge North Block Blanc De Noirs 2017 750ml $53.50 special, 14 bottles availableWinery note 100% Pinot Noir from Whistling Ridge North Vineyard, Ribbon Ridge. Aged 34 months on the lees. Disgorged November 18 th, 2020. Produced from non-irrigated vines.” Ovum Rare Form Day Moon Brut Nature NV 750ml $59 special, 29 bottles availableWinery note “Day Moon is inspired by aged Blanc de Blanc Champagne. Striking straw gold color with a modest, fine mousse. An inviting nose of fresh brioche with a small pad of salted butter and lemon confit. Native fermentation is completed in amphora, where it is then racked to age in neutral French oak for 1-2 years. We used Riesling juice to build a yeast population that she will use to tirage the base wine at a specific atmosphere of pressure designed to match the vinosity of the wine (Day Moon: 3 bar). Minimum 18 months of bottle age on less, additional 6 months age post disgorgement. Brut Nature – 2gL dosage made from aged Riesling. No added sulfites.” Perkins Harter Methode Ancestrale Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $44 special, 9 bottles availableWinery note “We grew the grapes and the bubbles were created with a honey tirage from the our own beehives and were bottled under crown cap. A compelling example of Oregon sparkling wine and an extremely tasty one at that!” Sivilli Wine Co Charlie’s Vyd Blanc De Noirs Brut Zero 2018 750ml $41.90 special, 17 bottles availableWinery note “100% dry-farmed pinot noir. Inoculation in neutral French oak barrel. Full malo. Brut zero. Bottled 8/2019, disgorged 7/2021. 75 cases produced.” St Innocent Brut Willamette Valley 2017 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles availableWinery Note “Our Brut is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot noir. This is our most complex sparkling wine with a broad range of flavors and rich textures, which are a result of long aging on the lees. It has a fine and beautiful mousse that effortlessly dissipates on the palate.”
Staff Pick
Lustau En Rama – Three Bottles
Lustau Fino En Rama El De Jerez 2021 500ml $24 special, 18 bottles availableLustau Fino En Rama El Puerto 2021 500ml $24 special, 25 bottles availableLustau Manzanilla En Rama Sanlucar 2021 500ml $24 special, 13 bottles available“Wild and raw Sherry.” The En Rama bottlings by Lustau are wines taken straight from cask to bottle. With notes of Atlantic sea breeze and layers of flor, these are great for food and refreshing in the sunshine. Each wine is bottled at the same time to highlight the different micro climates they are grown in. All are very dry with different nuances, with a coastal brine and saline finish that leaves you wanting more. You may feel extra hydrated after drinking this…” -Trevor
Close Out Sales
Grand Cru and Grower Champagnes for Less
“Waris-Hubert”A Champagne house that was born from the marriage of Stéphanie Hubert and Olivier Waris, two fourth generation vignerons from the Grand Cru-classified village of Avize in the Côte des Blancs. They vinify each parcel according to terroir and vintage, focusing on a house style that combines freshness and drinkability with minerality and refined structure. These are Champagnes that both the novice and the experienced taster will enjoy!
Importer note “To the eye, a luminous champagne, wrapped in a yellow robe with pronounced golden highlights. The first scents encompass the universe of herbal and garrigue flowers like lime blossom, eucalyptus and mint. Then, they give way to exotic fruits: pineapple, lychee and mango. On the palate the wine is tender and voluptuous. This gives it a silky, full-bodied dimension, thanks to yellow peach and apricot flavors. It is a profound wine with fine harmony and perfect balance. The heady complexity of the 2012 vintage is perfectly expressed in this 2012 Blanche Millésime Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs from Waris-Hubert.”
Lowest Price in the USA– $85 Elsewhere
Waris-Hubert Grand Cru Blanc De Blanc Brut Albescent NV 750ml WAS $59 Now $49 special, 20 bottles availableImporter Note “It has the finesse and exceptional potential of the Chardonnay Grand Cru of Côte des Blancs. To the eye, a pale golden robe with discrete green highlights. The wine’s aromas announce its extreme purity, airy dimension and elegance. Timid at first. Then hazelnut and almond characterize the rich, creamy dimension of this cuvee. The mouthfeel is just as elegant as the aromas: one begins with lemon zest and white fruits’ aromas and tastes. Chrystalline, with barley sugar accents, it highlights our preferred grape variety, Chardonnay. An excellent dinner and aperitif wine.”
Waris-Hubert Grand Cru Blanc De Blanc Lilayle NV 750ml WAS $59 Now $49 special, 21 bottles availableImporter note: “Pale golden colour with intense glints of emerald green. Fine and lively effervescence; lasting beads of bubbles. The aromas are elegant and expressive with a floral and springlike tone. Notes of lime blossom, mint and freshly mown grass develop, which evolve to white fruit and fresh Mirabelle plum. The scent of Viennese pastries and brioche fill the senses. The palate is full and with a rich attack. Firm and powerful. Dense in the evolution phase with lively lemon flavors, complimented by minerality and hints of wild citrus fruits. It’s the purity, and elegance of the chardonnay grand cru of the Côte des Blancs. Elegant and expressive.”
“Guy Charlemagne”
Champagne Guy Charlemagne is situated in the heart of the Côte des Blancs, in the small village of Mesnil sur Oger. Strictly a family affair, the winery has been passed from father to son since 1892, exclusively harvesting and vinifying grapes from the estate vineyards.Guy Charlemagne Brut Mesnillesime Grand Cru 2014 750ml WAS $119 Now $99 special, 36+ bottlesWinery Note “A Grand Champagne with character from the Côte des Blancs terroir, specifically from Le Mesnil sur Oger (limestone parcels averaging 60 years of age). This champagne produced from first press of Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru juices, highlights the exact characteristic of our village. Jewel of the Charlemagne house, this vintage wine combines both authenticity and the search for perfect quality. Elegantly presented with exceptional labelling, this Mesnillesime cuvee is produced with rigorous vinification, partially in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation, and a very light dosage of 4 grams per liter. Matured for 6 years in our chalk underground cellars, this cuvee highlights the excellence of our production. Chardonnay, the only grape here, shows what balance, harmony and purity can mean. A rare champagne for unforgettable moments. Pale yellow with green hues. Persistent mousse with very fine bubbles. Powerful yet elegant nose dominated by acacia honey eventually shows notes of candied lemon, smoke and a blend of pepper. Unctuous, lightly oaked and complex on the palate, candied fruit and citrus aromas pave the way to a fresh, vanilla finish.” Guy Charlemagne Brut Nature NV 750ml WAS $49 Now $41.90, 32 bottles availableWine Enthusiast 92 Points “Produced from grapes grown in the Côte de Sézanne, south of Epernay, this blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir is properly dry. With acidity, the crispest white fruits and a taut, edgy texture, this bottling is young and will develop well as it matures, bringing out toastiness. Drink from 2020.” Winery Note “For lovers of pure sensation, we have created this Brut Nature, Champagne without sugar, a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. This champagne, clean and fresh, reveals all the expression of the terroir and grapes from Sézanne Straw yellow colour. Steadily rising bubbles. Floral (white flowers) and fresh nose with light, intense and rising fruit aromas. Rich smooth with grapefruit aromas. Very good length that ends on a fresh note. Ideal aperitif wine or with seafood and fishes.” Guy Charlemagne Brut Rose Nv 750ml WAS $59 Now $49 special, 36+ bottles availableWine Enthusiast “A beautifully balanced wine, this has great freshness from the red-currant flavors along with a tight, zesty texture and finishes with great acidity. This bottling is ready to drink now.” Winery note “This Champagne is made with our vineyards from Mancy and Cuis, with a chalky-clay soil. It is produced 100% from Pinot Noir. Its color is obtained by macerating the grapes with the juice, giving it the colour typical of « rosé de saignée ». Its nose is particularly marked by red berry notes. Elaborated in thermo regulated stainless steel and matured 2 years in our underground cellars, the Brut rosé with its subtle 8 grams per liter dosage is the fruit of a rigorous vinification. It is the ideal wine with which to celebrate the most beautiful emotions… A fine stream of bubbles underline a deep rose colour. The warm nose shows ripe berry aromas (blackberries) and cherries in alcohol. Its’ elegant mouth is dominated by cassis, blackberry and strawberry jam notes.”
June Sale- All Spanish Wines
Big Savings On Our Top Brands
Buy 6-11 bottles for a 5% discount
Buy 12+ bottles for a 10% discount
Ends June 30th at 6pm… the best selection is NOW!
This is first come / first served and limited to stock on hand.Discount does not apply to pre-arrival wines or case discounts.
Discount will not display online, we will adjust your invoice before charging your card.Pingus Psi Ribera Del Duero 2019 750ml $28 special, 32 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ Points “The 2019 PSI combines their knowledge of the vineyards and their new winery. They learned a lot in 2018, a more heterogeneous vintage, and their sorting machine for grapes had to work a lot. 2019 was more homogeneous, an easier harvest when most people made better wine. In the winery, they invested in a simple building but top technology. They used some 10% Garnacha in the blend, which was done one year after aging the lots separately. It really reminds me of the young wines from Ribera del Duero from the early 1990s, with some aromas of orange peel, earthy and smoky (very mild) and with fine-grained tannins. It has good ripeness at 14% alcohol and integrated acidity but great balance. It showcases the style of the 2019s here, fresher than expected and still a sunny vintage, when 2018 was more crystalline. A triumph over the natural conditions of the year. They finally bottled the expected 345,000 bottles. It was bottled in July 2021.”
Avancia Mencia VV 2019 750ml $31.90 special, 36+ bottles availableJames Suckling 92 Points “Dark plums, blackcurrants, grilled herbs, roasted coffee and smoked meat on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, velvety tannins. Smoky, rich and concentrated. Very smooth-textured. Drink or hold.” Espectacle Del Montsant 2018 750ml $119 special, 17 bottles availableWine Spectator 98 Points “As with other wines, I also tasted the 2018 Espectacle del Montsant next to the 2017 to catch up, as I last tasted the region some 16 months ago. 2018 was a cooler year of slow ripeness, and the grapes achieved an amazing 16% alcohol. The wine is truly spectacular, true to its name. It has tons of violet notes and aromatic herbs, the palate is gentler, and the tannins are rounder, polished and elegant. It has full body but isn’t heavy. There is a lot of complexity, and the wine developed slowly in the glass, showing nuances of cereals, kirsch, orange peel and lots of spices and herbs. It’s opulent and full, deep and complex. Amazing in its style. Some 6,500 bottles produced.” Bodegas Muga Aro 2019 750ml $349 special, 4 bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 points “Pure magic, the 2019 Aro is 70% Tempranillo and 30% Graciano from a plant by plant selection of the Muga family’s oldest vines of Tempranillo, blended with a substantial portion of Graciano. This dense purple behemoth has a primordial bouquet of pure cassis, graphite, crushed stone, lead pencil, new leather, and hints of spring flowers. Building incrementally on the palate, with full-bodied richness, a huge mid-palate, and ripe, velvety tannins, this is one heavenly Rioja that deserves 7-8 years of bottle age and will age like a First Growth from Bordeaux. Hats off to the team at Muga for another incredible wine.”
Collector’s Corner
Best of the Best: White Wines of the World
Austria
Falstaff 99 Points “Medium yellow-green, silver reflections. Blossom honey, tangerine zest, DELICATE mango, peach, pineapple and passion fruit, multi-faceted youthful bouquet. Juicy, sweet white stone fruit nuances, fresh acidity, mineral-salty notes in the finish, still lacks the length promised in the name of the wine, will benefit from bottle MATURITY.”
Germany
Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese*** GK 2017 750ml $299 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 100 Points “As always, Molitor’s 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Auslese *** (Golden Capsule) is one of the ripest and most concentrated Auslesen of the vintage. Incredibly clear and intense notes of ripe peaches and mangoes on the nonetheless delicate and fresh nose intertwine with noble slate, fine oak and nougat aromas. The wine is round and elegant on the palate, with stunning vivacious, filigreed acidity that gives it lightness, great finesse, lots of salt and tension and stimulating grip. This is still a baby, but in terms of complexity and finesse, it’s one of the finest wines Markus Molitor has produced in 2017. I cannot remember having tasted a three-starred Auslese from the Zeltinger Sonnenuhr that was so fresh, lean and filigreed. This 2017 Sonnenuhr is precise as a Swiss watch. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”
Molitor Zelt Sonnenhuhr Beerenauslese * 2017 750ml $399 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 100 Points “The 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * (Golden Capsule) is intense, fine and flinty on the highly precise nose with crunchy slate and grapefruit notes. Dense and concentrated on the palate, it has sweet but elegant and highly refined fruit intertwined with salty-finessed slate salinity and delicate acidity. This is a beautifully balanced BA from Molitor’s most important grand cru vineyard. Many readers might prefer its sweet and charming richness to the delicate finesse and crystallinity of the Würzgarten BA, which will be ready to drink sooner. But this Zeltinger Sonnenuhr in turn will gain even more finesse and drinkability over the years. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”
Molitor Zelt Sonnenuhr TBA GK 2019 750ml $499 special, 12 bottles available
Molitor Zelt Sonnenuhr TBA GK 2019 375ml $249 special, 18 bottles availableWine Advocate 97 Points “The 2019 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Trockenbeerenauslese is deep, intense and flinty on the nose that exhibits clear, ripe and concentrated fruit with very fine botrytis notes intertwined with aromas of crushed slate and candied lemon rind. Round and elegant on the seamless palate, this is a rich yet finessed and elegant, super tensioned and mineral TBA with electrifying acidity and a highly stimulating finish. There are not many TBAs around that are as digestible as this one, which is really extraordinary. 6.5% alcohol. Tasted in May 2021 (AP 29 20).”
France
Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc 2011 750ml $279 special, 2 bottles availableWine Advocate 99 Points “Surprisingly, I preferred the 2011 Ermitage le Meal Blanc over the 2012 on this occasion and it showed a more flamboyant, sexy style in its caramelized pineapple, tropical, honeyed and floral personality. Big, rich and decadent, with fabulous fruit intensity and length, this rock star flirts with perfection and will keep for another 3-4 decades.” Dagueneau Asteroide 2019 750ml $1499 special, 2 bottles availableVinous 92 Points “Just 400 bottles of Pouilly Fumé Asteroide were made in 2019 from the same vineyard as Pur Sang, but the winemaking is different: half of the wine goes in a glass wine globe (a bit like a bonbonne), the other half in a barrel. This is a more varietal expression of the grape and the vineyard with nettle tea, dill and boxwood. Winemaker Jean-Philippe Agisson suggests this varietal character might be down to the influence of the wine globe. There’s a firm, tangy finish and a touch of savory, nuttiness on the length. The Pur Sang is a more complete wine than the Asteroide despite the latter having the rarity X factor due to being ungrafted. Certainly doesn’t represent good value!” Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet 2020 750ml $1899 special, 1 bottle availableBurghound 95-97 Points “Don’t Miss! A wonderfully floral-suffused nose reflects additional notes of petrol, citrus, white orchard and a hint of oak toast. The bigger and richer flavors also possess a gorgeous mouthfeel that is almost delicate yet racy with excellent delineation on the youthfully austere and beautifully balanced finish that just goes on and on. This is potentially a magnificent Bâtard and it’s going to be interesting to compare this with the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet in a decade’s or so time. In sum, I would offer the same advice – if you can find it, buy it.” Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet 2020 750ml $2499 special, 1 bottle availableBurghound 96-98 Points “Don’t Miss! Strikingly elegant, cool and restrained aromas are comprised by notes of citrus confit, mineral reduction, anise, exotic tea and the classic acacia blossom nuances. The almost painfully intense medium-bodied flavors are at once succulent yet chiseled while the practically pungent minerality adds a sense of lift to the hugely long finish that is youthfully austere and Zen-like in its harmony. This is quite simply majestic in its class and grace and is a wine that should age effortlessly for years.” Dujac Puligny Montrachet Folatieres 2019 1.5L $599 special, 1 bottle availableBurghound 91-93 Points “Outstanding! Smoky reduction currently overshadows the underlying fruit though there is fine freshness and verve to the nicely delineated middle weight flavors that are supported by firm acidity on the clean, dry and linear finale. Like the 2018 version, this attractively persistent effort could use better depth, but the underlying material appears to be present for that to occur.” Louis Jadot Corton Charlemagne Heretiers 2016 750ml $249 special, 17 bottlesWine Enthusiast 96 Points “From vineyards owned by the inheritors of the Louis Jadot estate, this wine has all the power expected from this vineyard. Its density and richness are palpable, even when crispened by a fresh citrus edge. Wood aging adds spice and enhances the aging potential. Drink from 2024.” Vatan Sancerre Clos Neore 2016 750ml $449 special, 5 bottles availableVinous 98 Points “Clos La Néore is one of the world’s most sophisticated Sauvignon Blancs. It is always pure and attractively austere with enormous substance. Produced from a 1 hectare parcel of mass-selected vines that were planted by Edmond Vatan in 1970 on clay-limestone.” Vatan Sancerre Clos Neore 2018 1.5L $799 special, 3 bottles availableVinous 96 points “Clarity is a term that accurately describes the 2018 Sancerre Clos La Neore. It has a pure and intense core of fruit. But it’s not fruity. It’s a sophisticated style with a distinctive aromatic profile- chamomile tea, lemon, honey, and almond meal and an almost tonic-like edge. While showing the ripeness of the 2018 season, it retains its shape with a corset of acidity and phenolics that guide the wine on and on.”
|
|
