SALEBRATION Part 1

We opened Vinopolis Wine Shop 10 years ago. Opened to you on the day following Thanksgiving. But at this time in 2004 we were already working every day, prepping for what was to come. And we’ll share this aspect of wine that we learned over the years- in the markets there are thousands of shops to buy wines, tens of thousands of wines to choose from, and millions of bottles for sale. It didn’t take us long to learn that we wanted to focus on good wines at great prices; and range on up into very great wines at good prices. Thriving as a single location specialty merchant is only meaningful in relative terms. But, thanks to you we have thrived relatively. So what is a Salebration? For us it is a period between now and the end of 2014 to gleefully double up the everyday efforts to provide greater value on the spectrum of good to great wines in our trade. Here is a look at some today — enjoy.Donnhoff Special Pricing – All Here Now

Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese 2011 375ML ($199.95) $149 salebration special, 18 half-bottles available
Wine Adovcate 96 points “Intriguingly musky and subtly fungal as well as piercing in its evocation of distilled pit fruits and botanicals, the nose of Donnhoff’s 2011 Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Beerenauslese – which was picked alongside its Auslese counterpart – promises an intense palate experience that the wine very much delivers. Distilled extracts of wormwood, woodruff and anisette; maraschino and serviceberry seem to lace the amalgam of quince jelly with pear and white peach nectars in a lusciously multi-layered yet animated palate performance. A spicy and tropical suggestion of mango chutney compounds the vibrantly penetrating effect of pungent herbal and pit fruit essences in a tonsil-gripping, mouth-shaking finish.” WA

Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel 2010 375ML ($59.95) $39 salebration special, 22 half-bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Rich golden yellow. Luscious aromas of candied pineapple, lemon oil and acacia honey on a bed of smoky botrytis. The succulent weight of papaya fruit is levitated by crisp minerality on the palate. A fine balance of creamy fruit and herbal spice on the seductive, very long finish.”ST

Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Eiswein 2011 375ML ($239.95) $149 salebration special, 16 half-bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “Musk and leather; prickly radish and lemon rind; caramel apple and honey; passion fruit and mango inform an intense aromatic as well as ultra-concentrated palate performance. Unlike with so many other 2011s rendered from frozen grapes in early 2012, one can’t complain here about a lack of Eiswein-like acidity – but it takes-on a somewhat detached, slightly metallic and strident edge. Perhaps this extreme wine’s caramelized and animal aspects will reconcile themselves in time with its sharp citricity and radish-like sizzle, but the ways of Eiswein in the bottle are capricious.” WA

Donnhoff Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett 2010 ($34.95) $21.90 salebration special, 15 bottles available
Wine Advocate 91 points “Enhanced levity to Donnhoff’s 2010 Oberhauser Leistenberg Riesling Kabinett, even when compared with the corresponding Krotenpfuhl, may well be the effect of these vines’ literally slate underpinnings. In any event, this displays a lovely hint of creaminess allied to refreshment, and features a dynamic finishing interaction of fresh lemon and grapefruit, herbs, and wet stone. I would anticipate 12-15 years of high-performance.”WA

Donnhoff Riesling Trocken 2012 ($23.95) $16 salebration special, 3+ cases available
92+ points Fine Wine Review: “It seems that with every vintage, Helmut Dönnhoff manages to come up with a collection that is striking both for the quality of the wines and for the consistency across the board, no matter what the vintage conditions — such is the extent of his knowledge, skill, and care. The trocken is mostly from volcanic soils. The nose is pure, focused, and dusty. The mouth is dry with a fair amount of power. There are dusty, almost earthy, flavors with plum fruit starting to come out. 12% stated alcohol. (Issue #142; 2014)”
88 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): “The 2012 Estate Riesling Trocken from Weingut Dönnhoff is a lovely wine, with alcohol in the 11.5 to 11.8 percent range and a fine base of minerality to augment the very stylish fruit tones. The bouquet offers up scents of grapefruit, slate, petrol, wild yeasts, citrus peel and a gentle topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, long and crisp, with lovely focus and grip, bright acids and fine mineral drive on the backend. This is a really delightful bottle of dry Riesling for everyday drinking and would be great as a wine by the glass for restaurants. 2013-2025+. (Mar/Apr 2013)”

Cantina Del Pino – Arriving Early November

Cantina del Pino Albesani, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 ($59.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Cantina del Pino’s 2010 Barbaresco Albesani is another huge, powerful wine. Black cherries, smoke, licorice and asphalt hit the palate in a powerful, structured Barbaresco that is going to require some time. As always, the richness and depth of Albesani comes through, but in this vintage, there is also plenty of underlying structure to allow the 2010 to age gracefully for years.” AG

Cantina del Pino Ovello, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 96 points “Showing great persistency and length, the 2010 Barbaresco Ovello is an extremely elegant and refined expression with crushed flowers, forest fruit and strong mineral definition. The Ovello cru (at 300 meters above sea level) overlooks the Tanaro River valley where early morning fog banks appear and temperature shifts are very pronounced thus helping aromatic development of the wine. The results are ethereal and finessed. Drink: 2017-2035.” WA

Elio Perrone – Here Now

The family estate of Elio Perrone was first discovered by its American importer during a blind tasting of Moscato d’Asti wines from top producers in the area.  The area is known for producing light and fresh wines.  Stefano Perrone had taken over for his father at the time.  In the late 1990s, he began expanding his estate by purchasing two old Barbera vineyards, one aged at forty years old and the other at an impressive 70 years old.  He sourced his grapes from north-facing sites that produce the freshest style.  Yields are strictly limited and grapes are rigurously sorted.

He replanted half of the Mongovone vineyard in 2001 and uses these younger vines for his Tasmorcan Barbera, the Piedmontese name for the badgers that kept eating his vines.  The Tasmorcan is 100% Barbera and is aged for 6-10 months in large oak barrels.  Dark berry fruit, with a touch of mint, and soft, silky tannins make this a splendid wine for a variety of tomato sauce-based dishes…or even pizza!

We are pleased to share this bright and fresh Barbera at an outstanding price.

Elio Perrone Tasmorcan Barbera d’Asti 2012 ($19.95) $11.90 special, 3+ cases available
Case-12 Perrone Tasmorcan Barbera d’Asti 2012 ($179.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.92 / bottle), 5 cases available
Antonio Galloni 88 points “The Barbera d’Asti Tasmorcan is a wonderfully joyous, exuberant, vinous Barbera to drink over the next few years. Sweet spices, flowers, mint and dark berries all jump from the glass in this hugely delicious, mid-weight Barbera from Perrone. 2013 – 2016″

Guido Porro – Arriving October 24th

Guido Porro is the fourth generation of his family to produce Barolo from the family’s estate in the Serralunga d’Alba.  Within the Lazzarito cru, Porro harvests grapes from the family’s vineyards of “Lazairasco”, “Santa Caterina” and “‘l Pari.”  The vineyard are rich in limestone and produce long-lived and full-bodied Barolos.  The vines line an amphitheatre that faces south-southwest.  The LThe Santa Caterina monopole is slightly cooler than the other holdings.  The wines typically are quite elegant. In the winery, Porro follows traditional practices learned from his father and grandfather, the only new practice he has added is selling his wines in bottle rather than in barrel.

Guido Porro Wines Arriving October 24th

Guido Porro Vigna S. Caterina, Barolo DOCG 2009 ($41.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “A mix of cherry, plum, eucalyptus and licorice aromas and flavors highlights this chewy red. Vibrant and juicy, with a firm yet mouthwatering finish. Best from 2017 through 2028.” WS

Guido Porro Vigna Lazzairasco, Barolo DOCG 2010 ($49.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Enthusiast 95 points, Antonio Galloni 94 points “Bright aromas including wild cherry, red rose, white pepper and clove lead the nose on this structured but refined Barolo. Succulent Morello and black cherry, raspberry, mint, sage and black pepper seamlessly intertwine on the palate alongside exhilarating acidity and firm tannins. It promises great aging potential and complexity further down the road.” WE

Bodega Rio Elorza of Patagonia – All Here Now

In 2001, the Del Rio Elorza family purchased their estate in the Alto Valle del Rio Negro region of Patagonia in Argentina.  The estate vineyards were planted decades earlier by Italian and Spanish immigrants before being abandoned.  The family restored the vineyards and the 90+ year old vines. This region of Patagonia is fed by meltwater from the Andes that runs into the Neuquén and Limay rivers.  The soil is rich in clay.  The arid desert climate causes the vines to struggle for water.  At night, the land cools sharply.  The strong diurnal temperature swing helps ripening grapes retain acidity.  The dry, windy conditions are quite favorable for producing the wines organically.   The estate’s first release was in 2007 and was released internationally in 2009.

With internationally renowned Alberto Antonini and locals Mariano Vignoni and Agustín Lombroni as winemakers, Verum has been a shining example of the amazing winemaking potential in Patagonia.  Their experience and understanding of this unique area, along with Marcelo Casazza’s precise vineyard management, impart great personality to the wines. All work is done manually with with little intervention, producing the highest expression of Patagonian terroir and wines that are celebrated for their fresh fruit character.  In the vineyards, workers thin grape bunches to ensure maximum ripeness and concentration in the remaining fruit.  During harvest, grapes are hand sorted for maximum quality.  The wines are aged in French and American oak.

The Chardonnay opens with lush notes of candied papaya, fresh mango.  It has a rich mouth-feel and a soft herbal and vanilla finish.  The Pinot Noir is fruit forward with notes of fresh raspberries and strawberries.  It has an excellent balance of acidity with fine tannins.  The Malbec shows classic notes of crushed blackberries and vanilla with a hint of toast and eucalyptus on the finish.

Bodega Rio Elorza Verum Chardonnay Patagonia 2012 ($19.95) $10.90 special, 3+ cases available
Case-12 Bodega Rio Elorza Verum Chardonnay Patagonia 2012 ($199.95) $99 special (that’s only $8.25 / bottle!), 5 cases available
Stephen Tanzer and Wine Advocate 88 points “Bright pale yellow.  Slightly liqueur-like tropical fruits dominate the nose.  Bright, subtle stone fruit flavors are lifted by flowers and complicated by a touch of vanillin oak.  Supple, pliant, moderately concentrated chardonnay with understated stone fruit flavors and a slightly edgy finish.”

Bodega Rio Elorza Verum Malbec Patagonia 2012 ($21.95) $11.90 special, 3+ cases available
Case-12 Bodega Rio Elorza Verum Malbec Patagonia 2012 ($249.95) $119 special (that’s only $9.91 / bottle!), 2 cases available
Wine & Spirits 91 points, Wine Enthusiast 88 points “”From eight-year-old vines, malbec’s softness plays into this wine’s youthful character – tasting like freshly bottled fruit captured in the wild. Violet scents join cherry flavors in a tense wine packed with extract. Best Buy.”

Bodega Rio Elorza Verum Pinot Noir Patagonia 2012 ($24.95) $16 special, 21 bottles available
Case-12 Bodega Rio Elorza Verum Pinot Noir Patagonia 2012 ($249.95) $159 special (that’s only $13.25 / bottle!), 2 cases available
Wine Advocate 89 points “The 2012 Verum Pinot Noir Classic shows a light translucent ruby color, and a clean, fruity nose with notes of cranberry, acid raspberry and some leafy aromas. It has very polished tannins, good acidity, persistence and length. A pleasure to drink. Drink now-2016.”