Featured New Arrival: Machete; 99-100 Point Wines In-Stock Now; New Arrivals from Philippe Pacalet; New Oregon Pinot Reviews from Josh Raynolds of Vinous Media; Staff Picks; Winter Weight Wines: Northern Rhone; The Life of the Party: Magnums; Wine Spectator Top 100 Recap; Orin Swift Wines Arriving December 20th; Terre Nere: New Releases Arriving January 2017; December Sales Recap
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Vinopolis Wine Shop
Will Be Closed on Christmas Day, December 25th
Re-opening 10 am December 26th
We are otherwise open for our regularly scheduled hours 10 am – 6 pm daily
Our website is always open: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Featured New Arrival
Machete: This Is the Boss
Orin Swift Machete Red Blend, California 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 25 bottles available
#6 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2016
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2014 Proprietary Red Blend Machete finished at 15.7% natural alcohol and is a blend of Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache aged 10 months in 40% new French oak. This wine, at 15,500 cases, is telltale opaque bluish/purple with a super nose of barbecue meat and herbs, blackberries, blueberries, white flowers and sweet, dark raspberries in the background. The wine has fabulous texture, great intensity, full-bodied power (15.7%), and a long, long finish. It is a killer effort and like the Abstract, probably best drunk in its first 5-6 years of life because of its charm.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “Generous and expressive, big and brawny, offering a mouthful of tannins but also brimming with flavors and aromas, including Earl Grey tea, dark chocolate, dried violet and toasted gingerbread. Rich notes of plum and black cherry are balanced by forest floor and earthy accents, lingering on the long finish. Petite Sirah, Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2030.”
To see our special feature new offers on Orin Swift wines
(arriving Tuesday December 20th) – keep reading!
Want more Wine Spectator Top 100 wines? Check out our special recap at the bottom of this newsletter!
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99 Problems but Points Ain’t One
We have in stock now 26 wines with 99-100 point scores – that’s 124 bottles! This includes:
Hundred Acre Kayli Morgan Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2013 750ML ($519.95) $459 special, 6 bottles available
Robert Parker 100 points “The perfect 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Kayli Morgan spent 32 months in French oak prior to being bottled unfiltered. Like all of the Woodbridge wines, it can be noted for its inky/bluish purple color, extraordinary fragrance of white flowers, crème de cassis, blackberry and graphite. Totally opulent, I always thought the wine tasted more like the great Pomerols, which are made mostly from Merlot, versus Woodbridge’s 100% Cabernet Sauvignon. But this vineyard has a lot of clay in it that seems to provide a silkiness to the tannins. This is a beautifully balanced, full-throttle and highly extracted wine with no hard edges and a finish of a good 45-50 seconds. The fruit character is still vibrant and intense, despite the 32 months of oak age. Drink it over the next 30 years.”
Chateau Pavie, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2000 1.5L ($1,999.95) $1,699 special, 1 magnum available
Robert Parker 100 points “Just beginning to come around and strut its enormous potential, this wine at age 15 has been evolving like a glacier. The wine has an inky, opaque, plum/purple color and a stunningly rich nose of mulberries, bramble berries, blackberries, licorice and incense as well as touches of toast and graphite. Fabulously concentrated and full-bodied, with a multidimensional mouthfeel, this profound Pavie is in mid-adolescence. It should evolve and continue to drink well for at least another 30-40 years. This is clearly the first compelling effort made by the Perse family.” 8/2015
Want more? See the full list below. To read full reviews or order – visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Holiday Shipping Guide
Plan Ahead Now / Toast Your Forethought Later
No UPS shipping services on December 24th, 25th and 26th.
No UPS shipping services on December 31st, January 1st and January 2nd.
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New Arrivals from Philippe Pacalet
Mostly Exclusive – All Best Price
Philippe Pacalet Chassagne-Montrachet 2014 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 21 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “Outstanding. A restrained nose displays notes of rosemary resin, petrol and mostly white orchard fruit aromas that are cut with subtle lemon rind nuances. There is again fine richness and volume to the seductively textured medium-bodied flavors that also culminate in a clean, dry and lightly saline finale. This is worth a look.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $99.95
Philippe Pacalet Pommard Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 89-92 points “The 2009 Pommard 1er Cru offers up sweet red berries, dried rose petals and mint. It offers a round, harmonious expression of fruit supported by firm tannins that add grip on the finish. This is a pretty, attractive wine from Pacalet.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Philippe Pacalet Pommard 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 22 bottles available
Grapelive 95 points “I may have mentioned Pacalet a few times, may even have reviewed his wines a few times, maybe this wine too, but WOW this beautiful 2010 Pommard is now stunning and has really blossomed into a fantastic Pinot Noir and merits extra attention now. Philippe Pacalet is one of the new darlings of the natural wine movement and certainly a rising star in Burgundy, his careful artisan technique and minimalist winemaking is turning more than a few heads, these wines are clear, bright, fresh and transparent, not in the least bit old school barnyard funky, and while people argue the whole gambit of ideas about so called natural wine, Pacalet is quietly crafting elegant and glorious Burgundy. I tasted some of his first imported efforts and was very impressed, especially with his Chambolle-Musigny, and when recently sampled his whites I was blown away, his Meursault and Puligny wines are off the charts, but a few days ago I got a chance to taste this Pommard and I can tell you it was a magic moment, this is a delicate and gorgeous red Burgundy that seduces and charms in a way that only a Cote d’ Or can, in majestic fashion and spiritually emotional in experience. The nose is perfumed with fresh rose petals, red tea, hints of pepper, violets and raspberry leading to a dreamy palate of silky cherry, plum and currant fruits with a lift of acidity, a gentle spine of refined tannin, a touch of oak, mineral and earth adding mystery and a long finish that lingers with hints of red peach, cinnamon stick, kirsch, lavender essence and truffle. This soulful effort is a medium bodied Pinot Noir that reveals everything with a light touch, but has sultry powers that will drive you crazy for more, sometimes a wonderful Burgundy can touch your soul, this is that kind of wine, drink from 2014 to 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $84
Philippe Pacalet Les Arvelets, Pommard Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Pommard Clos des Arvelets blossoms on the palate with sweet red cherries, crushed flowers, mint and spices. The Arvelets impresses for its caressing texture and fine overall balance. There is plenty of underlying minerality to give the wine its energy, but I also see this drinking well upon release.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Our Current Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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New Josh Raynolds Reviews For Oregon Pinot
Newly Arrived:
Belle Pente Estate Reserve Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Dark red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh red fruits, incense and Asian spices, along with bright mineral and floral overtones. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering alluringly sweet raspberry preserve, lavender pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen and spread out slowly with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and elegance, finishing with silky, harmonious tannins and excellent clarity and floral-driven persistence.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cuvee du Tonnelier’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($59.95) $44 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(30 percent new French oak) Vivid ruby-red. Complex aromas of ripe red and blue fruits, candied rose, cola and oak spices. Sweet and broad on the palate, offering juicy black raspberry, boysenberry and spicecake flavors that are given spine and sharpened by a jolt of zesty acidity. Round, even tannins shape the sweet, velvety finish, which hangs on with impressive tenacity.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Brilliant red. A highly perfumed and incisive bouquet evokes fresh red berries, Asian spices and candied rose, along with a zesty mineral overtone. Juicy, focused and light on its feet, especially in the context of the vintage, offering intense strawberry, cherry and blood orange flavors that deepen slowly on the back half. Clings with strong tenacity on the finish, leaving a suave floral pastille note behind.”
Many More Available Here Now:
Ayres Lewis Rogers Lane Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Vivid red. A perfumed bouquet evokes ripe cherry and blackberry, and notes of rose and cola build in the glass. Sappy and seamless on the palate; zesty acidity provides lift and spine to bitter cherry and dark berry skin flavors. Shows very good depth as well as vivacity and finishes with solid, fruity punch and supple tannins that sneak in slowly to add shape.”
Ayres Pioneer Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 2 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Brilliant red. Powerful, mineral-tinged cherry and dark berry scents, along with a hint of candied rose in the background. Fleshy and broad on entry and then tighter in the midpalate, offering bitter cherry and blackberry flavors that become more energetic and sweeter as the wine opens up. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the floral-driven, youthfully tannic finish, which leaves a sappy dark berry note behind.”
Belle Pente Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 11 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Vivid red. Mineral- and spice-laced aromas of fresh red berries and rose, joined by a hint of blood orange that builds in the glass. Clean and nervy on entry, then deeper and broader in the midpalate, offering energetic black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors complemented by a sweet touch of floral pastilles. Supple tannins build slowly on the sappy, penetrating finish, which hangs on with strong, spicy persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Belle Pente Murto Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “(made from vines planted in 1978) Limpid red. High-pitched red berry, Asian spice and mineral aromas are complicated by a suave floral quality. Incisive raspberry and bitter cherry flavors slowly gain flesh and become sweeter in the midpalate while maintaining vivacity. Impressively precise, vibrant and pure, delivering strong finishing cut and silky, harmonious tannins that make a late appearance. This wine should age gracefully on its balance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bethel Heights Vineyard Flat Block Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant red. Sexy, mineral-accented cherry and red berry preserve scents pick up floral and cola nuances with air. Fleshy and expansive in the mouth, offering appealingly sweet raspberry and cherry flavors and suggestions of mocha and rose pastille. Nicely energetic for its power, finishing with solid, fruity punch, sneaky tannins and floral notes.”
Beaux Freres Beaux Freres Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Ruby-red. Heady, deep-pitched aromas of black raspberry, cherry cola and candied flowers, plus an Indian spice nuance and a hint of vanilla. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering cherry liqueur, dark berry and spicecake flavors complemented by suggestions of mocha and licorice. Manages to be rich as well as lively, with no rough edges that I can detect. Tightens up very slowly with air and finishes sweet and extremely long; smooth tannins add gentle grip to the sappy fruit.”
Cristom Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Brilliant red. Highly fragrant, expansive scents of ripe red berries, Asian spices, blood orange and candied rose; a smoky mineral element builds in the glass. Silky and seamless in texture, offering palate-staining raspberry and floral pastille flavors that show a striking interplay of depth and vivacity. Closes sweet, gently tannic and impressively long, delivering lingering notes of emphatic red berry, spice and floral pastille.”
Cristom Marjorie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Vivid red. Sexy, intensely perfumed cherry, boysenberry and floral pastille scents are complemented by hints of cola, rhubarb and Asian spices. Palate-staining red and blue fruit and spicecake flavors convey power as well as vivacity thanks to a core of juicy acidity. The floral quality comes back strong on a strikingly long, sappy and focused finish that’s shaped by smooth tannins.”
Cristom Jessie Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Deep red. Ripe black raspberry and cherry cola scents are complemented by suggestions of exotic floral oils, Indian spices and woodsmoke. Plush, sweet and sappy on the palate, offering concentrated red and dark berry and cherry liqueur flavors that become more lively with aeration. In a rich but decidedly vibrant style, thanks to a spine of juicy acidity. Finishes smooth, focused and extremely long, with building spiciness and smooth, gently gripping tannins.”
Crowley Entre Nous Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($31.95) $28 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Light bright red. Vibrant, spice-tinged red currant and strawberry aromas, along with suggestions of pungent flowers and blood orange. Sappy and energetic in style, offering juicy red berry and white pepper flavors that pick up a bitter chocolate nuance as the wine opens up. Closes silky and tight, carrying an echo of fresh red berries and candied flowers.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 5 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Limpid ruby-red. Spice- and mineral-laced cherry and boysenberry scents are complemented by notes of anise, candied flowers and mocha. Bitter cherry, dark berry and spicecake flavors show impressive clarity and lift, and a smoky nuance emerges with air. Closes very long and sweet, offering repeating spiciness, building tannins and gentle hints of lavender and cola.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($49.95) $44 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant red. Lively, expansive cherry and red berry scents are complicated by suggestions of potpourri and spicecake. Taut, sharply focused black raspberry, bitter cherry and rose pastille flavors gain lift and spine from juicy acidity and turn sweeter with air. Closes with serious energy, an echo of florality and fine-grained tannins that come on late and add shape to the vibrant fruit.”
Goodfellow Family Cellars Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “Deep red. Fresh and incisive on the nose, displaying intense red berry, cherry pit and star anise qualities and a hint of candied flowers. Juicy and subtly sweet, offering raspberry and cola flavors that unfold and put on weight with air. Shows good vivacity for a wine from a ripe vintage and finishes sappy, gently tannic and long, with a lingering red fruit note.”
Maison Roy Petite Incline Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 1 bottle available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Brilliant red. Assertive aromas of ripe red fruits, potpourri and five-spice powder take on an exotic incense note as the wine opens up. Juicy, penetrating and appealingly sweet, offering juicy black raspberry and cherry flavors that are enlivened by suggestions of blood orange and white pepper. A hint of vanilla appears on the long, focused and vibrant finish, which is shaped and given gentle grip by harmonious tannins.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $33
J. Christopher ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(25 percent new oak) Brilliant red. Powerful, spice-laced red berry and rose pastille scents are complemented by hints of smoky minerals and star anise. Juicy and precise on the palate, offering sappy bitter cherry and raspberry flavors that deepen and become sweeter on the back half. Delivers a serious punch of red fruit flavor but comes off lithe and elegant, finishing with impressive persistence and sneaky, fine-grained tannins.”
J. Christopher Lia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir, Chehalem Mountains 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 7 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “(25 percent new oak) Lurid red. Highly perfumed black raspberry, cherry cola and floral scents are complemented by hints of white pepper and cola, and a mineral element adds nerve and lift. Sappy, deeply concentrated but lively red fruit liqueur, mocha and floral pastille flavors are accented by a touch of allspice on the back half. Closes silky, sweet and very long, delivering impressive clarity and smooth tannins that fade slowly into the juicy fruit.”
J. Christopher ‘Sandra Adele’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 3 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Lurid red. High-pitched aromas of ripe raspberry, cherry pit, Asian spices and fresh flowers develop a zesty mineral quality in the glass. Gently sweet, penetrating and focused on the palate, offering vibrant red berry and bitter cherry flavors that flesh out and put on weight with air. Smoke and spicecake notes appear on the clinging, smoke-tinged finish, which features even tannins and an echo of bitter cherry.”
Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $64 special, 10 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep bright red. A complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red fruits, cola, Asian spices and rhubarb, plus a suave floral topnote. Juicy and focused on entry, then broader in the midpalate, offering appealingly sweet, supple red and dark berry and spicecake flavors and suggestions of candied flowers and mocha. Finishes sappy and very long, displaying repeating spiciness and smooth, slow-building tannins. This is quite an impressive wine for a “basic” bottling, much less a freshman effort.”
Timothy Malone Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 22 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 90 points “(16 percent new oak) Vivid red. Spice-accented cherry and black raspberry aromas are complicated by suggestions of cola and allspice. Fresh and supple on the palate, offering juicy red and dark berry flavors that turn sweeter on the back half. The long, smooth finish is framed by dusty tannins and leaves a subtle floral quality behind.”
Timothy Malone Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2014 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 24 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “(made from La Colina fruit and 12 percent new oak) Brilliant red. Smoke-tinged dark berries and cherry cola on the highly perfumed nose. Pliant and seamless in texture; a spicy element adds cut to sappy blackberry and cherry flavors. Very nicely balanced, offering an interplay of richness and vivacity and smooth tannins that frame the gently sweet, lingering dark berry and cherry notes.”
Vincent Bjornson Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep red. Smoke-accented dark berries and cherry cola on the fragrant nose; mineral and spice flourishes add vivacity. Sappy, concentrated bitter cherry and black raspberry flavors are lifted by a bright floral quality and a suggestion of white pepper. Rich but energetic as well, delivering strong finishing cut and smoky persistence.”
Vincent Zenith Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 8 bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby-red. Powerful, smoke- and spice-tinged cherry and black raspberry aromas, along with hints of cola and lavender that gain strength with aeration. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors that turn sweeter and more lively on the back half. Smoothly plays its vivacity off the richness of the vintage and finishes impressively long and sweet, with gentle tannins making a cameo appearance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Newly Reviewed Wines Arriving (or Re-Arriving) Next Week
Beaux Freres The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 re-arrival special, ETA December 20th
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “Limpid ruby-red. Explosive, mineral-accented aromas of red berry liqueur, cherry cola, vanilla and potpourri, accompanied by a sexy floral overtone that gains strength as the wine opens up. Juicy, concentrated and expansive on the palate, offering intense black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastille flavors and a touch of cola. Displays an extremely impressive interplay of power and finesse, showing a seamless texture and a firm mineral spine. A strikingly long, sappy finish features smooth, sneaky tannins, resonating florality and a lingering suggestion of five-spice powder.”
Ayres Perspective Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($29.95) $26 re-arrival special, re-arriving December 23rd
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Bright red. Spice-tinged cherry, boysenberry and violet aromas show very good clarity and lift. Smooth and juicy on the palate, offering sweet red and blue fruit flavors and a building suggestion of spicecake. Fleshy and forward, delivering powerful closing thrust, even tannins and a suave floral pastille nuance that lingers on the finish.”
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
With only seven more shopping days before Christmas & Hanukkah, why not make picking a last minute gift easy?
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Staff Picks
Suzanne:
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2010 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 36+ bottles available
Gulfi Nerosanlore Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2010 1.5L ($119.95) $99 special, 4 magnums available
Gulfi winery is one of the few producers on the island of Sicily to bottle single-vineyard Nero d’Avola. Most Neros seem to suffer from what strangled the Chianti region for so long: the push for bulk, cheap, generic wines. Not so here. As one of the few to hold strong against ‘branding,’ Gulfi is a rare source for quality and heritage. The vineyards are densely packed with vines, requiring manual harvesting and vineyard management. The winery still practices bush style pruning, known as alberello, which is well-adapted to the extreme environment of the area.
The San Lorenzo vineyard, from which this wine hails, is 2.5 hectares and overlooks the Mediterranean Sea. It is densely planted with 40+ year-old vines all organically grown without irrigation to encourage the older vines to dig deep into the soil to reach for water and nutrients. The resulting with is sensuous wine with soft, silky tannins and lush aromatics. It suggests its marine heritage with delicate saline flavors underneath a core of ripe black fruits, violets, tar and cherries. The winery suggests pairing with richly flavored seafood dishes: those featuring tomatoes, capers and blue fish – I say bring on the wood-fired pizza and grilled meats!
In addition, Ian D’Agata from Vinous awarded the wine 95 points this vintage:
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 95 points “Fully saturated ruby. Pure, very deep aromas of black cherry, red plum, medicinal herbs and minerals. Rich, dense and suave, with complex flavors of saline red berries and dark plum complicated by repeating botanical herb and balsamic nuances. Finishes seamless an long. A wine of noteworthy purity, with an excellent balance of sweetness, acidity and tannins. This is Gulfi’s closest vineyard to the sea and almost always gives the estate’s most elegant, refined wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Saul:
Domaine Guiberteau Saumur Blanc Les Moulins, Loire 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Guiberteau is officially the ‘next Rougeard’ and the lineage is obvious is a lot of ways. That said, the comparison is unfair because it doesn’t highlight the unique things that Guiberteau does, like this wine. Vinified entirely in stainless, this dry Chenin has all of the power you’d expect from a top-tier Samur vineyard, but in a lighter, less stepped on package. If you ever wish that Breze was made without new wood, try this wine.
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Winter Weight Wines: Northern Rhone
Cornas, Hermitage, St. Joseph, Côte-Rotie… Syrah grows at home along the northern Rhône. Succulent, rich, and dark in color and fruit profile, it makes some of France’s, and the world’s, best red wines. The whites aren’t too shabby, either. Whether from an icon like JL Chave, or from a rising star like Matthieu Barret, northern Rhône wines possess a distinguished pedigree: High quality is to be expected. We love Rhône wines especially during this time of year. With a glass of fine Rhône Syrah, the blood thaws, the dark nights become lively, and winter stews find their ideal match. Take a look at our extensive list of northern Rhône wines and you will see the endless possibilities that await you between now and Spring.
We offer 40 wines in stock from the Northern Rhone (that’s over 500 bottles!). That includes:
M. Chapoutier Ermitage Le Meal Blanc, Rhone 2011 750ML ($219.95) $159 special, 15 bottles available
Wine 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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Saint Cosme Condrieu, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $54.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 95 points “Gorgeous, with papaya, white peach, mango, persimmon and Cavaillon melon notes seamlessly stitched together, lined with light honeysuckle and jasmine accents and backed by a twinge of bitter citrus oil and well-buried minerality. An exemplary display of large-scale fruit and precision. Drink now through 2019. 416 cases made.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $66.99
Saint Cosme Cote Rotie, Rhone 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 points “A firm, taut, minerally style, with lots of iron-edged grip striding from start to finish, while red currant and damson plum fruit push out from the core. White pepper and singed juniper details fill in the background. This will need some time to stretch out fully. Best from 2019 through 2030.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92-94 points “(made, as usual, from vineyards in the Côte Brune): Opaque ruby. Vibrant, sharply focused black and blue fruits on the nose, complicated by peppery spice and mineral notes. Lithe and precise, showing strong lift to the intense blueberry, violet pastille and spicecake flavors. Picks up a smoky quality with air and finishes sweet, seamless and very long, with sneaky tannins adding shape and grip.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 89-91 points “The 2014 Cote Rotie is a solid step up from the Crozes Hermitage and St Joseph releases. Fermented with 100% stems and aged in 30% new barrels, it has a crazily perfumed bouquet of rose garden, peppery, stems, black raspberries and sweet oak. This gives way to a medium-bodied, nicely concentrated Cote Rotie that has solid mid-palate depth, good freshness and a great finish. It should have 10-15 yeas. of overall longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $60
See the full list below. To order or read full reviews, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Not a Party without a Mag
Ok, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but nothing looks cooler on a table or at a party that a big bottle of killer wine. As much as we like to pretend that showing up with a few smaller bottles is also cool, let’s face it—everyone remembers the person who walked in with the bottle that weighed ten pounds. You want to be that person. (Peer pressure!!)
It’s OK, we’ve got you.
Weingut A.J. Adam Dhroner Hofberg Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 2 magnums available
Wine Advocate 92 points “From a warmer vineyard that was planted in 1953 with ungrafted vines that deliver small, healthy berries and low yields, the 2014 Hofberg Spätlese displays an intense and ripe apple bouquet mixed with flinty and spicy/mineral aromas. Picked with 92° Oechsle, this is an elegant, round and voluptuous Riesling with a smooth palate, but also a piquant and mineral acidity that takes this lush and sensual Spätlese to a long, charming finish with a lingering and mouthwatering salinity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Matthieu Barret Domaine du Coulet Cornas Billes Noires, Rhone 2011 1.5L ($199.95) $159 special, 5 magnums available
Wine Advocate 95 points “Even better, the 2011 Cornas Billes Noires, which spends one year in old wood followed by one year in concrete tank, offers blockbuster levels of black raspberry, smoked earth, chocolate, licorice and crushed rock on the nose and palate. Medium to full-bodied, long, elegant and with laser-like focus, it nevertheless does not lack for fruit or texture, and has fine-grained tannin framing the finish beautifully. With a scant 600 cases to go around, there’s not much of it, but don’t miss a chance to grab a couple of bottles if you can. It too will drink well for 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Anne et Jean-Francois Ganevat ‘De Toute Beaute’ Nature, Vin de France 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 4 magnums available
Grapelive 93 points “The 2014 De Toute Beaute is a bright and vibrant red that shows the 50% Gamay from Fleurie (Cru Beaujolais) as the dominate force here at this moment, though the spice and earthiness of the Mondeuse is easily picked out as well, while the Syrah from Cote-Rotie in the Northern Rhone and the Alsace Pinot Noir are hard to see and add shyly to the mix. There is a chance they’ll shine through with more time, but overall this wild wine is a joy and pleasing in the glass. The acidity is gripping with tangy tart red berry, cherry, unripe plum and strawberry fruits leading the way with an orange zest, red peach and an impression of juicy floral elements. Mineral tones, white pepper, loam and flinty stones all unfold on the light and lean palate. The latest De Toute Beaute does get going a little more with air and works with food very well, though best to have with less spicy cuisine. It should prove more entertaining with holiday fare and roast chicken or turkey with a variety of sides, and cheese or salads. While nicely made and intriguing, I do prefer Ganevat’s more traditional Cotes du Jura red wines and his amazing old vine Chardonnays. Drink this De Toute Beaute Nature sooner v. later, as its vital fresh charm is its most appealing quality, still it’s too cool to pass up!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Nicolas Maillart Champagne Premier Cru Brut Platine Degorgement Tardif NV NV 1.5L ($149.95) $119 special, 4 magnums available
Importer note “80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. The Platine Brut degorgement tardif is exclusively comprised of Grand Cru and Premier Cru grapes primarily grown in Ecueil, as well as Villers Allerand and Bouzy. 40% Reserve wine. Slow, gentle pressing using gravity-flow techniques. Vinification in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats and a period in barrel for a certain amount of the reserve wines. Aged for an average of 8 years in bottle. Disgorged by hand and laid down for at least three months before release. Dosage: 6 g/liter. The Maillart family’s vine growing practices can be traced back to 1753, when their ancestors grew vines in the neighboring village of Chamery. It is now the turn of the ninth generation to take the reins, in the form of Nicolas, who returned in 2003 after completing his studies in engineering and oenology. He is thus perpetuating an almost three hundred year old tradition and maintains their house philosophy of bringing out the full potential of the terroir of Champagne in his wines all while maintaining strong biodiversity in the vineyards with minimal use of chemicals and nearly organic farming practices.”
This is the only listing in the USA for the magnum!
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2008 1.5L ($219.95) $199 special, 11 magnums available
Wine Advocate 96+ points “The 2008 Barbaresco Riserva Rabaja is utterly magnificent in this vintage. Usually a powerhouse, the 2008 is incredibly refined to the point it seems to literally hover on the palate. It is a wine of exquisite grace and beauty. All the elements are in place. I could describe the aromas and flavors, but that would be doing this majestic Barbaresco a huge disservice. Ultimately, the 2008 Rabaja, is all about textural finesse and pure elegance. This is another breathtaking wine from the Produttori. A king among kings. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2048.” WA
This is the only listing in the USA for the magnum!
We offer 103 different wines in magnum in-stock and available here now! See the full list on our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Wine Spectator Top 100 Recap
We offer seven of the top 100 wines remaining in stock with one more arriving this Spring. See the full list below.
Don’t miss out on scooping up your Top 100 picks! To read reviews or order online, visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
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Orin Swift Wines
A Short Wait for These Weighty Wines
Arriving December 20th
Orin Swift Abstract Red, California 2015 750ML ($37.95) $27 pre-arrival special
No Reviews For the 2015 Yet
2014 Review– Robert Parker 94 points “The absurdly delicious 2014 Proprietary Red Blend Abstract comes from multiple AVAs: Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Amador and El Dorado and is a blend of Grenache, Petite Sirah and Syrah aged 10 months in 30% new French oak. This is a beauty and a great price for a wine of this quality. There are 26,547 cases, and the wine has an opaque ruby/purple color, gorgeous nose of creosote, kirsch liqueur and cassis with a touch of licorice, Provençal herbs and pepper. Delicious, full-bodied, unctuously textured, thick and juicy, this mouth-filling, big wine cuts a broad swath across the palate, but is never hot or awkward. Best drunk in its first 5-6 years. It finished at 15.7% natural alcohol.”
Orin Swift Mannequin White Blend, California 2014 750ML ($31.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 92 points “One of his most popular wines is the creatively packaged 2014 Chardonnay Mannequin. The label alone would draw plenty of interest. This wine, primarily Chardonnay with a few percent of Viognier, Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Muscat and Roussane, was aged sur lie for nine months in 40% French oak. It is no shy wine at 15.5% alcohol and there is plenty of it – 8,073 cases, which is good because it is a hot-selling wine to say the least. This wine offers notes of brioche, white peach, honeysuckle and citrus oil in a full-bodied intense style, but with terrific acidity and rather restrained oak. The wine is rich, ripe and impressive. Drink it over the next 3-4 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $30
Orin Swift Mercury Head Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($119.95) $106.60 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 96 points “A spectacular wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Mercury Head is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from the Taplin and Morisoli vineyards and several Atlas Peak vineyards, aged 18 months in 50% new French oak. There are 5,461 cases of this wine. The wine is a classic, broad-shouldered, compelling Cabernet Sauvignon with beautiful blueberry and crème de cassis fruit, Christmas fruitcake, cedar wood, white chocolate notes and a hint of graphite and background toast. It is ripe, full-bodied, pure, multidimensional and a mouthful of succulent Cabernet Sauvignon to drink over the next 20+ years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $122
Orin Swift Papillon Red, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 94 points “The 2014 Bordeaux Proprietary Blend Papillion (15,748 cases) was aged 16 months in 40% new French oak. Fairly priced for what the consumer gets, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc (15.1% alcohol) exhibits notes of forest floor, graphite, blackcurrant, blackberry fruit and spring flowers followed by a full-bodied, unctuously textured, deep, rich pure wine to drink over the next 10-15+ years.”
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Terre Nere
New Releases Arriving January 2017
The wines made on Mount Edna are unlike those made on Sicily, in Italy, or anywhere else in the world. Native varietals Nerello Mascalese and Nerello Cappuccio make for an extraordinary blend: high acidities, lots of spice, immensely layered and complex, surprisingly not too full-bodied… Though the two grapes’ roots can be traced back partially to Sangiovese, they are truly unique.
Marco de Grazia came to the volcano’s northern slopes in 2002 and conceived Terre Nere, a domain which has grown to become one of Etna’s most beloved wineries. Fiercely dedicated to the terroir of Etna and preserving old rootstocks – some dating back 130+ years! – de Grazia owns vines across ten parcels spread across thirty hectares. 80% of the estate’s vines are 50-100 years, along with the aforementioned pre-phylloxera vines. The wines of Terre Nere are an astonishing value considering their quality.
Below is a list of in-stock wines from Terre Nere, all at greatly reduced cost per our December sale! You can read full reviews on our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
We’re pleased to announce the new releases, available for pre-order now and arriving in January 2017
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Vigne Niche’ Calderara Sottana Bianco Etna, Sicily 2015 750ML ($39.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Winery note “As opposed to my other Etna Bianco, which is a field blend of five varieties, Vigne Niche is 100% Carricante. I made this wine for the first time in 2007, after having had the fortune of tasting a 42 year old Carricante from the East side of the Etna. It was so beautiful, vigorous and impeccable in its venerable age that I was moved to produce something like it myself. I tried to imagine how a talented winemaker would have made such a wine half a century ago, with little or no technology and sought to do the same. Vigne Niche is the result. Have it with leek, pumpkin or onion soup, lobster bisque, risotto, oven baked fish, poultry, braised rabbit.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.80
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Vigne Niche’ Santo Spirito Bianco Etna, Sicily 2015 750ML ($37.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Winery note “The two new white Crus, Calderara Sottana and Santo Spirito, feature Carricante grapes from old and young vines, for Carricante is a rare commodity in a D.O.C. overwhelmingly devoted to reds, rarer still on Etna’s Northern slopes. In fact, Carricante vineyards answer for only 4% of the appellation. Both wines are barrel fermented and aged in large oak barrels. These are late blooming wine of unusual complexity and great longevity, which will reward you for your patience with a rare, noble beauty.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.80
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Calderara Sottana Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 92+ points “Good deep red. Captivating aromas of sweet cherry, crushed rocks and violet. Juicy, suave and perfumed, showing excellent vinosity to the complex, very precise flavors of plum, sour red cherries and dried herbs. Fine-grained tannins and lovely lingering aromatic perfume are featured on the long, very pure finish. Another superb vintage for this bottling, which is the most Burgundian of all of Terre Nere’s various Etna Rosso crus. It also strikes me as having less of an alcohol thrust than the other reds made at Terre Nere in this vintage.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $40
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 89 points “Bright ruby-red. Aromas of raspberry, minerals, potpourri and ink. Suave, clean and tight, offering reticent red fruit flavors accented by mint and botanical herbs. Less expressive and showy than is common for this cru; though it’s suave and sharply delineated, it seems a tad clenched and simple today on the long, firmly tannic, almost tough back end. The 2104 vintage, one of the greatest ever on Etna, has generally given more austere, deeper Etna Rosso wines that aren’t as forward as usual, so I may in fact be underestimating this wine. Time will tell.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 95+ points “Good full red. The captivating nose combines raspberry, red currant, minerals, violet and truffle and has a penetrating quality. Then sweet, fresh and juicy, showing outstanding purity and a Nebbiolo-like texture to the red fruit, floral and sweet spice flavors. Impeccably balanced, fine-grained Etna Rosso that finishes extremely long, vibrant and suave. Guardiola is the Etna cru that most often delivers Barolo-like reds. It’s also a relatively cool site whose wines really benefit in warmer vintages, when Nerello Mascalese’s anything-but-shy tannins are able to reach optimal ripeness, giving a highly structured but magically polished wine. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this merit an even higher score in four or five years’ time.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 96+ points “Luminous red. Red cherry, marzipan, raspberry jam, quinine, blood orange and a dusting of powdered minerals on the drop-dead gorgeous nose. Wonderfully juicy, sweet and gripping in the mouth, showing superb nuance and verve to the soft, fleshy red fruit, candied violet and balsamic flavors. Finishes vibrant and with noteworthy length; broad but polished tannins coat the entire mouth. An Etna Rosso of memorable purity and precision, this is great to drink already but promises greater things still to come. Made from a parcel of old pre-phylloxeric vines that grow in the Calderara Sottana vineyard (one row of which actually grows in the Santo Spirito cru), but at 100+ years of age, the Don Peppino vines are much older than those used for the Calderara Sottana bottling. In fact, this wine is a textbook example of the importance of old vines, because as delightful as the Calderara Sottana Etna Rosso is, the Don Peppino is vastly superior due to its softer, nobler tannins and greater depth and complexity of fruit.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $110
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna, Sicily 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Ian D’Agata–Vinous 94 points “Deep red. Fresh, very deep red cherry, almond paste, sweet spice and fresh herbs on the aromatic nose. Then vibrant, juicy and dense, showing a firm tannic backbone; lively but harmonious acidity extends the ripe deep red cherry and mineral flavors on the long, suave, complex back end. Very typical of the Santo Spirito cru. With its soft, fleshy, perfumed personality, this is readier to drink than some of the other crus from Terre Nere in 2014, but has the stuffing to age well. A truly outstanding Etna Rosso, made from grapes grown in the highest portion of Santo Spirito, not far from the Guardiola cru.”
December Sales Recap
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It’s the Final Countdown
We’re up to 68 wines on special sale through the month of December! These sales expire December 31st at midnight
Read reviews and browse the full selection of sale wines by searching for “December Sale” on our web store – we’re also happy to talk you through the offerings if you email us at info@vinopoliswineshop.com or call 503-223-6002.