GD Vajra and Baudana Sale 2-22-25

In This Newsletter:
 
GD Vajra & Baudana Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Domaine Rapet

 
Benchmarks of Piedmont
 
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GD Vajra & Baudana
 
G.D. Vajra is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels with their more entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points, they craft benchmark wines against which all others are judged.
 
As we climb the ladder, there are small-production wines from rare grapes (Freisa) and the cellar-defender Langhe Nebbiolos and village-level Barolos. At the top end, we find single-vineyard Barolos including the Ravera, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure.
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Vinopolis Newsletter 2-21-25

Special Arrivals
 
 
France
 
Domaine Michel Lafarge
 

Meet the whole Lafarge Lafamily

“The 2022 vintage was showing well during my annual barrel tasting chez Lafarge, emphasizing the charming, pretty side of the year. The team began picking on August 26, another early harvest. As usual, reds were destemmed, in some cases manually, and élevage is taking place in predominantly used barrels, with the Lafarge’s habitual racking with aeration. The result is wines with a resolutely old-school style that have a good track record of evolving gracefully in the cellar.” –Wine Advocate
 
Domaine Michel Lafarge is a cornerstone of Burgundy winemaking, particularly in Volnay, where it has produced elegant, terroir-driven wines since the 19th century. Under Lafarge’s leadership, the estate became a pioneer in biodynamic viticulture, converting fully in the late 1990’s and inspiring others to follow.
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Fab Faiveley Sale 2-20-25

In This Newsletter:
 
Faiveley Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Pichler-Krutzler

 
Superlative Burgundy
 
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Faiveley
 
The superlative wines of Faiveley, while always known for their quality, were not always known for immediate approachability. Concentrated, stern, and cellar-worthy were more apt descriptors. It could be why the wines are more likely to find a home in their native country: the French people and their restaurants have more patience and inclination for cellaring.
 
It took the new generation to ease the winery into approachability. The wines became softer while still offering the potential to age with grace.
 
This modern incarnation of Faiveley began in 2007 when Francois Faiveley retired and his children, Erwan and Eve Faiveley, became the seventh generation to manage the Domaine.
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Vinopolis Newsletter 2-19-25 PM

In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
Domaine Michel Lafarge

New Arrivals
Louis-Claude Devignes, Bernard Baudry, Champagne Marguet, Pra, Carol Shelton, and more!
 
Special Arrivals
 
 
France
 
Domaine Michel Lafarge
 
 

“The 2022 vintage was showing well during my annual barrel tasting chez Lafarge, emphasizing the charming, pretty side of the year. The team began picking on August 26, another early harvest. As usual, reds were destemmed, in some cases manually, and élevage is taking place in predominantly used barrels, with the Lafarge’s habitual racking with aeration. The result is wines with a resolutely old-school style that have a good track record of evolving gracefully in the cellar.” –Wine Advocate
 
Domaine Michel Lafarge is a cornerstone of Burgundy winemaking, particularly in Volnay, where it has produced elegant, terroir-driven wines since the 19th century.
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JC Somers Sale – Your New Old Favorite 2-19-25

In This Newsletter:
 
JC Somers Sale
Close-Out Featurette: Max Ferd. Richter

 
New Label, Same Old-School Quality
 
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JC Somers
 
Jay Somers and Ronda Newell-Somers have been making waves in the Willamette Valley wine scene for almost 30 years. Best known for their previous winery, J. Christopher, which they founded in 1996 and have since parted ways from. Those longing for the glory days of J. Christopher are in luck: Jay and Ronda’s new project, JC Somers, brings you that impeccable quality and ridiculous value that you’ve come to expect.
 
How do we know? Aside from tasting through these, we know the pedigree. They’re still working with the vines that made them famous, including some of the finest vineyards in the Dundee Hills: Abbey Ridge, Bella Vida, and La Colina, as well as Croft, their longtime source for delectable Sauvignon Blanc.
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