In This Newsletter:
Featured New Arrivals
New Arrival Special Feature:
La Gerla
Featured New Arrivals
New Arrival Special Feature:
La Gerla
New Week – New Arrivals
New Arrivals from the Ever so Elegant Cascina delle Rose
Arriving Mid-December:
Rocca di Castagnoli
New Arrivals from the Ever so Elegant Cascina delle Rose
Arriving Mid-December:
Rocca di Castagnoli
Featured New Arrivals
Gaja Rossj-Bass Langhe, Piedmont 2019 750ml $69 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wilson Daniels importer note “The grapes come from different vineyards, including the Rossj vineyard named by Lucia and Angelo after their second daughter Rossana. 95% Chardonnay, 5% Sauvignon Blanc.”
Wilson Daniels importer note “The grapes come from different vineyards, including the Rossj vineyard named by Lucia and Angelo after their second daughter Rossana. 95% Chardonnay, 5% Sauvignon Blanc.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $84.89
The next best price is $84.89
Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2020 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge, Burgundy 2020 750ml $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!)
Falstaff Magazine 90 points “[Translated] Medium ruby garnet and violet reflections. Fine herbal spices, dark wild berries, a hint of cranberries, tobacco nuances. Medium body, red fruit, integrated tannins, mineral aftertaste, versatile and fresh.”
Frederick Wildman importer note “Domaine Faiveley combines the principles of modern winemaking methods with the time honored traditions that have been practiced for centuries within their 19th century cellars. Each terroir and each vintage, benefits from special attention which makes the cuvées unique. Each bottle therefore becomes the faithful reflection of its terroir. Terroir: Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Rouge is is sourced from vineyards spread throughout the terroirs of the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and the Côte Chalonnaise. Vinification: The Bourgogne Rouge is vinified in the cellars of Domaine Faiveley for 12 to 14 months in the same manner as their broad selection of reds from the Côte de Nuits.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Domaine Faiveley Clos des Myglands Monopole, Mercurey Premier Cru 2019 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “As I wrote earlier this year, Faiveley’s 2019 Mercurey 1er Cru Clos des Myglands is a success, delivering aromas of sweet berry fruit, plums, espresso roast and spices. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with powdery tannins and lively acids, it’s a heartier, more muscular wine than the ethereal Framboisière.”
New Arrival Special Feature:
La Gerla
La Gerla makes fantastic Brunello in a traditional (yet approachable) style. The wines always have striking purity of fruit and elegant structures, but are free of the sweet tinted oak that masks many “easy drinking” Brunellos. The pricing is on-point and the combination of all of the above has turned the estate into a Vinopolis staple.
Newly Arrived from La Gerla:
La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2020 750ml $24 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “A quintessential Rosso, this elegant, delicious red hits all the right buttons. It opens with heady aromas of wild berries, blue flowers and baking spice while the savory, elegant palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, blood orange, star anise and white pepper alongside polished tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it bright and balanced. Drink through 2028. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2020 Rosso di Montalcino keeps you coming back to the glass to take in its vivid and rich bouquet, as dusty cedar spice box gives way to cloves, ripe strawberries and waxy rose. It soothes with silky textures and a pleasant inner sweetness, casting ripe red fruits and violet floral tones across the palate. This leaves a tart twang of wildberries and hints of sour citrus, as it tapers off fresh and with medium length.”
Newly Arrived from La Gerla:
La Gerla Rosso di Montalcino, Tuscany 2020 750ml $24 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “A quintessential Rosso, this elegant, delicious red hits all the right buttons. It opens with heady aromas of wild berries, blue flowers and baking spice while the savory, elegant palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, blood orange, star anise and white pepper alongside polished tannins. Fresh acidity keeps it bright and balanced. Drink through 2028. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 points “The 2020 Rosso di Montalcino keeps you coming back to the glass to take in its vivid and rich bouquet, as dusty cedar spice box gives way to cloves, ripe strawberries and waxy rose. It soothes with silky textures and a pleasant inner sweetness, casting ripe red fruits and violet floral tones across the palate. This leaves a tart twang of wildberries and hints of sour citrus, as it tapers off fresh and with medium length.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
A blend of both the Canalicchio and Castelnuovo vineyards
La Gerla Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ml $51.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The La Gerla 2017 Brunello di Montalcino is silky and polished, offering a nice perspective on a vintage that was not always easy to navigate. This wine manages smooth integration with none of the rougher spots that can sometimes occur in hot and dry growing seasons. The bouquet shows nuanced detail with wild berry, forest floor, grilled herb and wild rose. The wine is firm on the palate with tight stemmy tannins.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 92 points “The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino keeps you coming back to the glass again and again with a bouquet that’s like an emulsion of raspberry sauce and violet candies plus black tea, blood orange and clove. This is a soft, round effort that impresses with cool-toned red fruits and salty minerals and acids that tug at the cheeks as they work their way across the palate. Those grippy 2017 tannins are there, but they’re nicely offset by cooling herbal tones and pretty inner florals.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Elegantly structured, this offers balsamic aromas of camphor that mingle with new leather, forest floor and blue flower. The taut, polished palate features mature Marasca cherry, blood orange and star anise before closing on a hint of mocha. Fine-grained tannins provide support. Drink 2024–2029. -Kerin O’Keefe”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $71
The average price nationally is $71
A new single-vineyard cuvee
La Gerla La Pieve, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2017 750ml $61.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “This delicious, elegantly structured red opens with classic Sangiovese aromas of blue flowers, ripe red berries, new leather and forest floor. The smooth, velvety palate delivers mature Marasca cherry, raspberry compote, baking spice and licorice alongside polished tannins. It’s already drinking beautifully but will also offer several years of enjoyment. Drink through 2027. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Monica Larner-Wine Adovate 93+ points “Here’s a new discovery from La Gerla. The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Pieve shows more tannic firmness than we saw in the Brunello annata, and this wine is also more nervous or tightly wound. It just needs a little more bottle evolution before it starts to shine. The bouquet is nicely balanced with dried rose, wild berry, earth and balsam herb. La Gerla does a great job of pulling out the varietal purity of Sangiovese.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 93 points “Crushed stone, wilted violets, black currants, balsam herbs and worn leather can all be found as the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino La Pieve blossoms in the glass. It plays tricks on the palate, at once rich and suave, and then suddenly slender and poised, yet always potent, with masses of red and black berries that penetrate deeply. This is so youthfully wound up yet full of balanced pleasures, as salty minerals, licorice and tart blackberries linger incredibly long under an air of violet florals. Even with the difficult vintage, this is a fantastic inaugural performance for La Gerla’s La Pieve, which is a single-vineyard expression sourced from Castelnuovo dell’Abate.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $71
The next best price is $71
From a one hectare parcel of old vines within the family’s estate vineyard
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles in stock now
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 1.5L $219 special, only 9 magnums available
La Gerla Riserva gli Angeli, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 3L $449 special, only 3 double-magnums available
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 points “Smoldering with remarkable depth, the 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Gli Angeli makes itself known with a blend of spicy citrus peels and minty herbs giving way to masses of black cherry, strawberries, hints of iodine and smoke. This is a textural thrill ride, velvety and almost weighty in feel, while finding wonderful balance in its vibrant acidity and the tart wild berry fruits and savory spices that are unleashed upon the palate. Hints of mocha combine with sour cherry and almond paste through the impressively long and classically structured finale. In the end, the 2016 Gli Angeli is the total package. This Riserva is a single-vineyard bottling from La Gerla’s northern Montalcino vineyard, which was planted by Biondi-Santi in 1968.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Inviting aromas of wild berries, baking spice, new leather and charcuterie come to the forefront. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the smooth palate features dried cherry, baked plum, vanilla and mocha framed in fine-grained tannins. Drink 2024–2031. Kerin O’Keefe”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The La Gerla 2016 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva gli Angeli is polished and tightly knit with lots of silky inner shine. The fruit shows good primary intensity with dried cherry and cassis, but this Riserva also accommodates some tertiary or aged aromas of spice, leather and tar. Earthy tones, cola and wild rose are folded into this fresh and elegant Sangiovese. There are some smoky oaky tones that are a little aggressive at first, but they do largely subside.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Week – New Arrivals
California
Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend, Sonoma Valley 2020 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Looking for a chance to see how epic the 2020 vintage could have been across California? Will Bucklin was spared smoke taint on this wine (confirmed by laboratory tests). Year in, year old, this is one of the most underrated wines in California – 100+ year old dry-farmed, organic-before-it-was-a-thing, vines; including quite possibly the oldest Zinfandel planting in the state (Zin and other vines were replanted after phylloxera in 1880). Sure Joel Peterson put Zin on the map, but guess where he sourced the fruit from? 15.3% ABV
Winery note “12 Acres, 35 grape varieties, 1 wine. Our “Ancient Field Blend” comes from the original vines that were planted on Old Hill Ranch in the 1880’s. Approximately 65% Zinfandel with the remaining varieties co harvested and fermented together. Includes Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre to name a few.”
Bucklin Old Hill Ranch Ancient Field Blend, Sonoma Valley 2020 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote: Looking for a chance to see how epic the 2020 vintage could have been across California? Will Bucklin was spared smoke taint on this wine (confirmed by laboratory tests). Year in, year old, this is one of the most underrated wines in California – 100+ year old dry-farmed, organic-before-it-was-a-thing, vines; including quite possibly the oldest Zinfandel planting in the state (Zin and other vines were replanted after phylloxera in 1880). Sure Joel Peterson put Zin on the map, but guess where he sourced the fruit from? 15.3% ABV
Winery note “12 Acres, 35 grape varieties, 1 wine. Our “Ancient Field Blend” comes from the original vines that were planted on Old Hill Ranch in the 1880’s. Approximately 65% Zinfandel with the remaining varieties co harvested and fermented together. Includes Grenache, Alicante Bouschet, Petite Sirah, Grand Noir, Syrah, Carignan, and Mourvedre to name a few.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Champagne
Louis Roederer Cristal Millesime Brut, Champagne 2008 1.5L $999 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.””
Wine Enthusiast 100 points; Jeb Dunnuck 100 points; Decanter 98 points
Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 3L $499 special, 1 double-magnums available
2015-base, disgorgement date 2022-05-06
Wine Spectator 92 points “Vibrant, almost buoyant acidity enlivens this graceful blanc de blancs Champagne, while the creamy mousse offers a finely woven mix of glazed apricot, lemon curd, pastry cream and dried papaya flavors. Smoke and spice accents linger on the finish.”
R.H. Coutier Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $41.90 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Fall 2022 release!
No reviews for the current disgorgement. Review is for 2021 release.
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is bright, focused and beautifully chiseled. The purity of the fruit is compelling. Citrus peel, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks all grace this taut, super-expressive Blanc de Blancs from Coutier. Year in year out, the Coutier Blanc de Blancs is one of Champagne’s hidden gems. This release is based on 2016, plus 40% reserve wines. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: February, 2020.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Bereche et Fils Brut Reserve, Champagne NV 750ml $59 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Fall 2022 release! 2019-base.
Audrey Frick-Jeb Dunnuck 92 points “The current release of the NV Champagne Brut Reserve is based on the 2019 vintage. It is roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Meunier, and Pinot Noir, with 35% reserve wine blended in. Fruity, floral, and open, with notes of fresh citrus blossoms, orchard fruits, and fresh bread, the palate is generous and approachable, with apricot, berries, and a lightly savory broth. This is consistently one of the best entry wines that versatile enough to drink alone or to accompany a meal. Drink 2022-2030.”
Agrapart & Fils Complantee Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $119 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Disgorged February 2022
Antonio Galloni 92 points “[Reviewed Nov 2021] The NV Extra Brut Complantée Grand Cru is especially airy and lifted. The field blend of the seven permitted grapes yields a distinctly aromatic, weightless Champagne. There is a bit of youthful austerity at present, so I would cellar the Complantée for another 6-12 months at a minimum. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Based on the 2018 vintage, the latest rendition of Agrapart’s NV Extra Brut Grand Cru Complantée delivers aromas of pear, crisp red apple, Meyer lemon, bread dough and pastry. Medium to full-bodied, chalky and incisive, it’s a taut, structured wine built around a racy spine of acidity. It’s a blend of Champagne’s six grape varieties, planted together.”
Agrapart & Fils L’Avizoise Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut Millesime, Champagne 2015 750ml $199 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2015 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs L’Avizoise Grand Cru stands out in this range for its breadth and power. Lemon peel, savory herbs, dried flowers, grapefruit and mint lend a bit of upper register and aromatic presence. Slight vegetal notes, a characteristic of any 2015s, lurk beneath, while texturally the Avizoise is on the lighter side. For those reasons, I would not push my luck on aging. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.”
Agrapart & Fils Mineral Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ml $169 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Agrapart & Fils Mineral Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 1.5L $399 special, 1 magnum in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Minéral Grand Cru is bracing, taut and wiry. Crushed rocks, mint, white pepper and lemon peel drive this blend. The Minéral is especially fine in 2015. There is a bit of youthful austerity, but nothing a few years in bottle can’t take care of. The Minéral is one of the finer 2015s I have come across so far. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.”
Agrapart & Fils Les 7 Crus Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “Based on the 2019 vintage and disgorged in April 2022, Agrapart’s NV Brut 7 Crus wafts from the glass with scents of crisp green apple, freshly baked bread, white flowers and buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s an ample, incisive wine, with racy acids and a saline finish. When the range begins like this, you know you’re in the presence of one of Champagne’s greatest producers.”
Antonio Galloni 90 points “[Reviewed Nov 2021] Agrapart’s Brut 7 Crus is a very pretty wine. Tropical accents add an exotic flair to the lemon confit, jasmine and passionfruit flavors that meld together in the glass. The 7 Crus is beautifully done, and also a terrific introduction to this range. A softer, more open-knit personality relative to the top wines means the 7 Crus can be enjoyed upon release. Dosage is 6 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.”
Agrapart & Fils Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “[Reviewed Nov 2021] The NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Terroirs Grand Cru is bright, punchy and full of the tension that is such an Agrapart signature. Grapefruit, mint, white pepper and crushed rocks all lend quite a bit of brilliance to this striking, sculpted Champagne. The balance and purity here is unreal, especially at this price point. The Terroirs is the hidden gem in the Agrapart range this year. Don’t miss it. Dosage is 5 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The latest rendition of Agrapart’s NV Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Terroirs is excellent. Based on the 2018 vintage, with fully 80% reserve wines from 2017 (some 40% of which mature in wood), it’s medium to full-bodied, seamless and chiseled, evocative of citrus oil, buttered toast, mint and fresh bread. It derives from holdings in Avize, Oger, Cramant and Oiry.”
Please note that disgorgement dates may not match reviews
France – Burgundy
Bret Brothers La Soufrandiere Au Vignerais, Pouilly-Fuisse Premier Cru 2019 750ml $59 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 93 points “The 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé Climat “Au Vignerais” has the most Zen-like bouquet that demands the most coaxing from the glass, eventually revealing green apple and crushed rock scents. The nose is very well defined. The palate is taut and fresh, quite saline and tensile, building in concentration towards a very harmonious, orange pith and pear-tinged finish. This is a lovely, cerebral Pouilly-Fuissé.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Aromas of pear, citrus zest, toasted almonds and vanilla pod introduce the 2019 Pouilly-Fuissé Au Vignerais, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and ample wine that’s lively and saline. Seamless and elegant, it’s already showing well.”
Domaine Matrot La Piece Sous Le Bois, Blagny Premier Cru Rouge 2018 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine & Spirits 93 points “This pinot noir grows in the same block as the chardonnay vines for Matrot’s Meursault-Blagny 1er Cru, high up the hill, at the border with Puligny. The thin soils leave the vines in close contact with limestone, providing a wine with buzzing energy and a delicate frame. This is a beautiful, old-fashioned Burgundy, its scent parallel to equally old-fashioned roses, its sleek raspberry and black-cherry flavors lasting with textural grace. The silken weave draws you into a wine that fells completely integrated, lovely to drink now and over the next five years.”
Domaine Faiveley La Combe d’Orveau, Chambolle-Musigny Premier Cru 2019 750ml $219 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Producer notes “2019 is a fresh and well-balanced vintage characterised by extreme weather conditions (frost spells, heatwave). Volumes are low although the quality is outstanding. The harvests began on Monday 9 September and came to an end on the 21 September. The red wines are seductive, well-balanced, aromatic, fresh and direct. The tannins are elegant and approachable. The palate discloses aromas of juicy fruits as well as warm, sunny, spicy notes. Appellation description: The ‘La Combe d’Orveau’ parcel is situated just above the Musigny Grand Cru. This parcel most probably owes its name to its position in the upper parts of the valley and its south facing exposure: Orveau or le val d’or. It is one of the rare parts of Bourgogne where a Grand Cru, a 1er Cru and a village appellation sit side by side: ‘En Orveau.'”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Winery cellared release!
Domaine Ponsot Corton-Bressandes Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2013 750ml $449 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Jancis Robinson 18/20 “Mid crimson. Very expressive nose and savoury. Lip smacking and hugely appetising with its medium weight of red-fruit flavours – pomegranate? – and bone-dry finish. Most attractive. Great balance and very neat finish.”
France – Bordeaux
Chateau Lynch-Bages Blanc de Lynch-Bages, Bordeaux 2018 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Decanter 94 points “A balanced, juicy, slate-filled mineral edge here, with a crisp shot of mint. Has a lovely balance of rich texture and acidity, with lime blossom and citrus. Drinking Window 2020 – 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Rhône
Paul Jaboulet Aine Hermitage La Chapelle, Rhône 2019 750ml $199 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98-100 points “Might this be the next vintage of La Chapelle to crack triple digits? Knockout aromas of crushed stone, violets, blueberries, and cassis mark the nose of the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle, while the full-bodied palate is undeniably more intense and powerful than the more elegant 2018. Rich and velvety, it coats the mouth with dark fruit and creamy-textured espresso, yet retains remarkable length and licorice-derived peppery freshness on the finish. Wow!”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Showing even better than when I tasted it last year, the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle is another ripe, powerful, sexy, and full-bodied example of this cuvée that brings classic La Chapelle gamey darker fruits as well as smoked meats, chocolate, sandalwood, and peppery spice. Full-bodied on the palate, it has good concentration, lots of ripeness, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. As with the 2018, it’s opened up beautifully on the palate since I tasted it at the domaine and is a ripe, expansive, pure, beautiful Hermitage.”
Italy – Piedmont
Elvio Cogno Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml $94.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The 2017 Barolo Ravera makes a statement with its intense aromas of licorice, kirsch, pipe tobacco, and spice. Revealing a balanced and chiseled structure, the palate conveys dried raspberry, blood orange, and dried herbs. A great wine from the 2017 vintage, it feels like it will hold up to the test of time. Drink 2024-2042”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The Ravera cru is seeing renewed energy and interest, thanks to the hard work of the Elvio Cogno team. They believed in Novello from the very beginning, and today a wine like the 2017 Barolo Ravera shows special confidence and pride. This pretty Barolo made with a blend of Nebbiolo clones (Lampia and Michet) reveals a slow succession of aromas with dark cherry and blackberry. The results are lasting, contoured and beautifully focused, thanks to mineral notes of rusty iron or brick. Nuanced notes of licorice and campfire ash round off the finish.”
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $79 special, 22 bottles in stock now
#9 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022 – Wine Enthusiast
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. Heady aromas of violet, camphor, leather and tobacco lead the way on this fragrant red. On the palate, tightly knit, fine-grained tannins accompany ripe Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry and licorice. Fresh acidity keeps it balanced. Drink 2025–2035. -Kerin O’Keefe”
Wine Spectator 95 points “An elegant version, this red features rose, black currant, cherry, mineral and a hint of eucalyptus aromas and flavors. Linear in profile, this is solidly built on a graceful frame, with finely woven tannins and vibrant acidity. Best from 2026 through 2045. —B.S.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is finely cut and chiseled, as it so often is. Dried flowers, mint, crushed rocks, pine and red berry fruit all grace this taut, sculpted Barolo. The 2018 has all of the energy of this site, but its signatures are decidedly dialed down.”
G.D. Vajra Coste di Rose, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $62.50 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 points “The 2018 Barolo Coste di Rose is a delicate, understated Barolo that will need a bit of time to fully emerge. There’s lovely purity to the fruit here, but also some angular contours that need to resolve. The 2018 is a mid-weight wine in the style of the vintage, and yet there is fine balance.”
James Suckling 92 points “Very clean red-berry fruit on the nose, together with citrus and cedar notes. Medium body with fine-grained tannins and a tight bead of fruit at the end. Sustainable. Best from 2024.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2018 Barolo Ravera is a powerful, tightly wound wine. Gravel, smoke, cured meats, spice, leather, tobacco and menthol emerge, but only with quite a bit of reticence. This deceptively mid-weight Barolo has a good bit of brawn. It will be interesting to see if the fruit emerges from behind the tannins.”
James Suckling 93 points “Rich, ripe mixed berries and perfumed bark on the nose. Medium-to full-bodied with some lightly firm tannin giving support to the fruit. Lacks the complexity of recent vintages, but has a promising core. Give it a while to broaden out. Try from 2024.”
Italy – Tuscany
San Giusto a Rentennano ‘Percarlo’ Sangiovese Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ml $199 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2016 Percarlo captures all of the beauty it has always shown in the cellar. Pliant, silky and exceptionally polished, the 2016 simply has it all. Freshly cut flowers, rose petal, mint, spice and blood orange add striking aromatic nuance to a core of brilliant Sangiovese fruit. Powerful and ample, with superb aromatic lift, the 2016 Percarlo is exceptionally beautiful and moving from the very first taste. A whole range of floral and mineral notes extend the finish effortless. The tannins need time to soften, so readers should plan on at least a few years of cellaring. In a word: compelling.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98+ points “The iconic San Giusto a Rentennano 2016 Percarlo is a gorgeous expression, opening slowly to reveal black fruit, blue flowers, lilac, honey, potting soil and a touch of fragrant porcino mushroom. These are stunning results, with a soft and contoured mouthfeel followed by elegant tannins, balanced acidity and a long finish that wraps over the palate with silky intensity. Keep the wine in your cellar for a few more years, allowing it to take on extra complexity and volume. In a sense, Percarlo transcends Sangiovese. Not only does it deliver the classic characteristics of the variety, it does so with a touch of magic, transforming the grape into an ethereal and soulful expression of Tuscany.”
Castello di Radda Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2019 750ml $28 special, 12+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Castello di Radda Chianti Classico DOCG, Tuscany 2019 750ml $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Decanter 97 points “One of the nicest observations you might wish to hear as a wine producer in the Chianti Classico DOCG region of Tuscany is that the contents in the bottle are described as ‘very Radda’. This signifies a Chianti Classico with obvious refinement, which in this case derives in no small part from the high altitude of the prized Radda zone. This area’s cool conditions are easy to sense in this wine’s smooth, palpable crunchiness, a Chianti Classico hallmark. Picking at optimum ripeness is vital for Sangiovese to show its brisk silkiness and finesse. The grapes ferment in a newly constructed, low-energy winery built into the rock. Small amounts of Colorino and Canaiolo grapes add colour and spice to the Sangiovese. The compact clay and limestone (‘alberese’) soils here give mouth-watering wines with vibrant sour cherry fruit, really crisp and with well-shaped tannins. Very Radda.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Italy – Sicily
Feudo Montoni ‘Vrucara’ Nero d’Avola Sicilia IGT, Sicily 2016 750ml $49 special, 26 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Made with bush-trained pre-phylloxera vines, this fascinating wine needs time to breathe before releasing intense aromas of menthol, dried earth, ripe black-skinned berry and star anise. The aromas carry on to the smooth, juicy palate along with ripe plum, black cherry, vanilla and a hint of iron. Soft tannins provide gentle support.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Germany
Weingut Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Auslese, Nahe 2020 375ml $38 special, 10 half-bottles in stock now
James Suckling 98 points “Very intense, candied yellow-grapefruit nose. Super-concentrated, but the most important thing about this Auslese is the incredibly tight focus on the palate and the purity of the dried apricot and mango. Super-succulent and vibrant finish that doesn’t want to stop. Drink or hold.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2020 Halenberg Auslese is intensely aromatic, precise and fresh on the nose that reveals tropical (passion) fruit aromas intertwined with flinty notes. Lush and generous but precise and elegant on the palate, this is a very dangerous (digestible) Auslese that is so generous but also so precise and crystalline that it is impossible to spit out. A gorgeous Halenberg. Tasted at the domain in July 2021.”
This is the only listing in the USA today for the 375ml!
Spain
Bodegas Avancia Cuvee de O Godello, Valdeorras 2019 750ml $18 special
Case-12 Bodegas Avancia Cuvee de O Godello, Valdeorras 2019 750ml $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Green-hued yellow-gold. Assertive aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, along with hints of smoky lees, vanilla and melon in the background. Rich but impressively lively in the mouth, offering intense Anjou pear, white peach and Meyer lemon flavors underscored by a smoky mineral quality. Clings with strong tenacity on the penetrating finish, which leaves bitter citrus pith and floral notes behind.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 91 points “The entry-level white 2019 Cuveé de O Godello has an expressive nose of white pepper and herbs that makes me think of a Gruner Veltliner, very spicy and peppery. It’s ripe and juicy at 14.31% alcohol and has good freshness, combining volume and balance. It’s a blend of wines that matured in stainless steel and oak with the lees for nine months. 29,819 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2020.”
Wine Spectator 90 points “A vibrant acidity cuts through the quince, tangerine and ginger flavors in this round and polished white, underscored by chive, spice and heather elements, followed by a long, mineral-laced finish. Drink now through 2024. 3,000 cases made, 1,750 cases imported.”
Jeb Dunnuck 90 points “All Godello, the 2019 Cuvée de O Godello offers a ripe, musky, slightly tropical style in its guava, citrus, minty herb, and honeyed toast-like aromas and flavors. A richer, medium-bodied white, it has plenty of texture, good, balancing acidity, and a great finish. It’s geared for the dinner table and will keep for 2-3 years with no issues, although I see no need to delay gratification.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
New Zealand
Millton Opou Vineyard Chardonnay, Gisborne 2019 750ml $33 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Wilson Daniels importer note “In 1984 James and Annie Millton established Millton Vineyards on the banks of the Te Arai River, on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand in the wine appellation of Gisborne. It is here in 1871 that early settlers first planted grapevines. Millton is New Zealand’s first organic and second biodynamic wine estate, certified by Bio-Gro and Demeter respectively, and has been cultivated this way since the winery’s founding. Opou Vineyard is planted with a mixture of Chardonnay selections. The soil type is complex clay loam over river derived silts giving wines of aroma and texture. First planted as a vineyard in 1969 by Annie Millton’s parents who owned and operated the Opou Station, this site is Millton’s longest established vineyard.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
South Africa
Klein Constantia Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine, Constantia 2016 500ml $69 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 97 points “[Reviewed July 2022] The 2016 Vin de Constance contains 165g/L of residual sugar. This has a wonderful bouquet with layers of wild honey and acacia, little-changed since I last encountered it a couple of years back. The palate is concentrated, multi-faceted yet primal at the moment. I suspect this vintage is maturing at a glacial pace, but I cannot wait to taste this at 12-15 years of age. Outstanding.”
Decanter 97 points “Strikingly pure, fresh and youthful, this is almost like an ‘essence of Muscat’. Hints of elderflower and subtle spices on the nose are complemented by a licquorous palate with zesty citrus peel and honey, balanced by crisp acidity. 2016 was a very early vintage due, in part, to El Nino but the dry, warm season was mitigated in Constantia by prevailing cool sea-breezes, and cool night-time temperatures. This really needs 2-3 years to bring out the complex flavours which will make this a memorable sweet wine for many decades. Drinking Window 2023 – 2050.”
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 94 points “Lucious tones of apricot, dried nectarine, honey and spiced orange syrup with subtle tones of cinnamon all beg for your attention on the nose of the 2016 Vin de Constance Natural Sweet Wine. The wine is rich and dense on the palate, expanding and unfolding, showing layers of depth and breadth across the mid-palate. It’s perfectly sweet with the precision and balance to counter the acidity, so you can continue to drink it throughout the night. The finish is long and thoughtful and continues to evolve on the palate, leaving a viscous layer, flopping back and forth between flavors of honey, orange marmalade and apricot paste. I see blue cheese or crème brûlée as a beautiful pairing for this wine.”
New Arrivals from the Ever so Elegant
Cascina delle Rose
Cascina delle Rose
“Cascina delle Rose is without question one of the emerging estates in Barbaresco. Readers who have not tasted these wines should make a point of doing so, as they encapsulate everything that makes Barbaresco so alluring.”– Antonio Galloni
When coming up with a list of the “most beloved” Piemontese estates, Cascina delle Rose would definitely be on it—to the surprise of many who aren’t familiar with the estate. Cascina delle Rose does fly under the radar—that’s for sure, but those who know the wines love them and buy them year in and out. The love for the wines is easy to understand once you taste them—they’re soulful renditions in an elegant style. The grace the wines display is hard to come across in a region increasingly warming and concerned with critical appeal—they’re wines for a set, not for the masses.
These are wines with soaring aromatics and beautiful textures—and they’re surprisingly ageworthy for such ethereal bottlings, as well. These are wines that are striving for beauty and achieve it without sacrificing their drinkability and the ability to satisfy. The winemaking here is extremely traditional, verging on natural and the vineyard management fully organic.
Newly Arrived from Cascina delle Rose:
Cascina delle Rose ‘Mun Cru’ Langhe Bianco, Piedmont 2021 750ml $48 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Arneis; 100% stainless steel. Mun Crü – in Piedmontese dialect, literally “raw bricks” – is the name that has always been used to indicate this particular area of Neive. As the production is very limited, it is always offered first to our historical customers. Sensory notes: Bright and intense yellow, with golden reflections. Elegant floral notes, jasmine, hints of sweet citrus peel, white peach and acacia honey. Intriguing structure, full of flavors. Round and balanced, savory and with a long finish.”
When coming up with a list of the “most beloved” Piemontese estates, Cascina delle Rose would definitely be on it—to the surprise of many who aren’t familiar with the estate. Cascina delle Rose does fly under the radar—that’s for sure, but those who know the wines love them and buy them year in and out. The love for the wines is easy to understand once you taste them—they’re soulful renditions in an elegant style. The grace the wines display is hard to come across in a region increasingly warming and concerned with critical appeal—they’re wines for a set, not for the masses.
These are wines with soaring aromatics and beautiful textures—and they’re surprisingly ageworthy for such ethereal bottlings, as well. These are wines that are striving for beauty and achieve it without sacrificing their drinkability and the ability to satisfy. The winemaking here is extremely traditional, verging on natural and the vineyard management fully organic.
Newly Arrived from Cascina delle Rose:
Cascina delle Rose ‘Mun Cru’ Langhe Bianco, Piedmont 2021 750ml $48 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Arneis; 100% stainless steel. Mun Crü – in Piedmontese dialect, literally “raw bricks” – is the name that has always been used to indicate this particular area of Neive. As the production is very limited, it is always offered first to our historical customers. Sensory notes: Bright and intense yellow, with golden reflections. Elegant floral notes, jasmine, hints of sweet citrus peel, white peach and acacia honey. Intriguing structure, full of flavors. Round and balanced, savory and with a long finish.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cascina delle Rose Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The vineyard is located in the village of Barbaresco, in lean soils, rich in mineral salts and densely stratified. Born from old clones and from a particular selection, fermented and aged in steel and cement. Bright garnet red, elegant classic fruity and floral notes of the Three Stars, deep, clean, the clear expression of the grape. Dense texture of tannin, fine, silky. Very persistent finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cascina delle Rose Tre Stelle, Barbaresco DOCG 2019 750ml $75 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe 97 points
Winery note “The soils are of marine origin from the Tertiary era, characterized by outcropping bluish marls, lean, calcareous, compact lands. The stratification is dense and complex, rich in mineral salts and natural springs. The Barbaresco Tre Stelle is the result of the best exposure of this geographical mention. 100% Nebbiolo grapes. Great character, undoubted finesse and femininity together for a long-lived wine of surprising pleasantness even when young thanks to the dense, snappy and silky tannic texture. Garnet red in color, elegant notes of rose and violet, red berries, a vein of fresh minerality, snappy and silky tannins. Long, persistent finish. Nebbiolo in all its beauty.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Also In Stock Now from Cascina delle Rose:
Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Tre Stelle 2015 750ml $66 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Tre Stelle 2015 1.5L $128 special, 4 magnums in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe – Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Delicate tantalizing scents of woodland berry, rose petal, iris and exotic spice mingle with new leather and a balsamic whiff of cedar. The palate is ethereal, delivering cranberry, red cherry, star anise, brown pepper and crushed herb alongside tight fine-grained tannins. It’s still youthfully austere and needs time to come around and develop even more complexity. Drink 2025–2035.”
These are the lowest listed prices in the USA today!
Cascina delle Rose Barbaresco Tre Stelle 2016 1.5L $128 special, 2 magnums in stock now
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 96 points “Editor’s Choice. Enticing scents of rose, violet, menthol and nutmeg float above the glass on this fragrant, radiant red. Elegantly structured, the focused palate delivers raspberry compote, juicy cherry, star anise and cinnamon. Taut, ultrarefined tannins and bright acidity lend precision and balance. Drink 2022–2034.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cascina delle Rose Barbera d’Alba 2018 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
“Here is a comparably food-friendly red wine to pair with simple roast meats or risotto with wild mushrooms. The Cascina delle Rose 2018 Barbera d’Alba is an easier wine when contrasted with the Barbera d’Alba Superiore Donna Elena from 2017 that I also tasted in this report. Yet this wine does not show that jammy ripeness that you get in the Superiore and ultimately shows more balance as a result. There is some softness with dried blackberry and Morello cherry, but the cooler 2018 vintage manages those aromas with more precision and a softer touch. Some 4,500 bottles were released.” -Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Cascina delle Rose A Elizabeth Dolcetto d’Alba 2019 750ml $19 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2019 Dolcetto d’Alba A Elizabeth is a delicate, understated wine. Dried flowers, almonds, herbs and red-toned fruit are all nicely lifted. This savory, mid-weight Dolcetto offers tons of appeal in a decidedly classic style that is not easy to find these days.”
Winery note “Dolcetto grapes 100% from old vineyards in Tre Stelle and Rio Sordo. Fermentation and vinification in still for to exalt his crispness and purity. Its colour is bright ruby red with violet hues, crisp on the palate, delicate scent of wild rose and violet, cherry, red fruits and gooseberry, pleasant wine, which is the fruit pulp. Elegant notes ethereal, sensation of spices: cinnamon and cloves of carnation. Good structure acid, silky tannins and lovely aromatic persistence. It combines well with appetizers, pasta dishes with light sauces, fresh cheeses.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving Mid-December:
Rocca di Castagnoli
Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle, Tuscany 2016 750ml $49 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle, Tuscany 2016 750ml $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle, Tuscany 2016 750ml $529 pre-arrival special (that’s only $44.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle is a beautiful and distinctive wine, but it also needs time to come together. Sangiovese bristles with energy and cut as this nervy, tightly wound wine shows off its personality. The combination of a high altitude site and whole clusters in fermentation yields a Chianti Classico endowed with notable power and intensity.”
Case-6 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle, Tuscany 2016 750ml $279 pre-arrival special (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Rocca di Castagnoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle, Tuscany 2016 750ml $529 pre-arrival special (that’s only $44.08/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Stielle is a beautiful and distinctive wine, but it also needs time to come together. Sangiovese bristles with energy and cut as this nervy, tightly wound wine shows off its personality. The combination of a high altitude site and whole clusters in fermentation yields a Chianti Classico endowed with notable power and intensity.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $57.99
The next best price is $57.99
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.
Be well & drink well.