In Today’s Newsletter:
A Dual 94 Point Priorat, 45% Off
New Arrivals from Leonetti and Figgins
Featured New Arrival
Giovanni Rosso’s Serralunga Barolo
Trending Wines
The Mosel’s Most Charming Rieslings
New 2018’s From the Merkelbach Brothers
Staff Pick:
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
Don’t Forget Our Weekend Subscriber Sale
On New Sequitur Releases
Collector’s Corner
Two Stunning Vintages of a Tuscan Icon
Hot Deal!
A Dual 94 Point Priorat, 45% Off
A Dual 94 Point Priorat, 45% Off
Ferrer Bobet is one of the hottest names in Priorat, producing some of the most impactful wines in the region. They’re known for marrying stylishness and elegance to the raw power that Priorat always delivers, making them some of the most coveted wines in Barcelona’s cutting edge culinary scene. We’ve offered their entry-level bottling before (and indeed, have the 2016 arriving later this month) but just secured a stellar price for their next tier up—the intense Vinyes Velles (old vines) bottling.
How stellar a price? Well, we’re able to offer you the 2015 Ferrer Bobet Priorat VV at $36 per bottle or (even better) just $389 per case (which works out to just $32.42/bottle)! By comparison, the entry level bottling is going to set you back an average of $40—and that’s for an inferior wine. That we can offer you the Vinyes Velles for over $26 off its average price on wine-searcher (across all vintages) is nearly unbelievable—and yet here we are.
We could go on about the perfumed fruit, the intensity of the flavor and how long the finish is (and the two 94 point scores this wine received certainly do) but we only have twenty cases of this available to sell. This is a wine that’s going to move and if you don’t get on the train before it leaves the station, it’ll be gone.
Arriving ETA Late May:
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
How stellar a price? Well, we’re able to offer you the 2015 Ferrer Bobet Priorat VV at $36 per bottle or (even better) just $389 per case (which works out to just $32.42/bottle)! By comparison, the entry level bottling is going to set you back an average of $40—and that’s for an inferior wine. That we can offer you the Vinyes Velles for over $26 off its average price on wine-searcher (across all vintages) is nearly unbelievable—and yet here we are.
We could go on about the perfumed fruit, the intensity of the flavor and how long the finish is (and the two 94 point scores this wine received certainly do) but we only have twenty cases of this available to sell. This is a wine that’s going to move and if you don’t get on the train before it leaves the station, it’ll be gone.
Arriving ETA Late May:
Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($74.95) $36 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Ferrer Bobet Vinyes Velles, Priorat DOCa 2015 750ML ($699.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!)
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “The old vine 2015 Vinyes Velles checks in as a Carignan-dominated blend from vines just outside the village of Porrera that includes one-third Grenache, all of which spent over a year in French oak. It’s a bigger, riper, sexier wine than the Ferrer Bobet cuvée and boasts a deep purple color as well as rocking notes of black plums, black licorice, ground pepper, violets, and new leather. Ripe and full-bodied, with moderate acidity and terrific balance, it’s a seamless Priorat to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.”
James Suckling 94 points “This really captures the freshness of the carignan grape with its bright cherry character. Medium-to full-bodied with spice from the grenache and excellent vitality on the long, crisp finish. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average listed price for all vintages is $59
The average listed price for all vintages is $59
New Arrivals from Leonetti and Figgins
Leonetti is always one of our most anticipated offers of the year. The winery is one of the two or three most collectible in Washington and they’ve been a standard bearer in both quality and scarcity for decades. These are powerful, bold reds with a long track record of ageability and complexity. From their iconic Reserve bottling on down, each of these wines is one of the pinnacles of their categories.
Because we’ve been selling the wines for over a decade and so get a healthy allocation—by Leonetti standards. That’s to say that there are no more than twelve bottles of any of these trophies (plus a mere twelve bottles of the Figgins Estate red featured alongside). Washington collectors shouldn’t dally—normally these wines sell out in a flash and these will be no different.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only twelve bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Lots of cassis, camphor, spice, and violets notes as well as background oak emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is all Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 22 months in new barrels. With full-bodied richness, awesome purity of fruit, and a powerful, mouthfilling style, it’s in the top two or three Bordeaux blends in the vintage. Give this remarkable 2017 3-5 years of bottle age, longer if you can, and it’s going to be very long-lived. There are 2,863 cases produced.”
Only six bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Already bottled, the 2018 Merlot comes from a mix of vineyards in Walla Walla (Loess, Mill Creek, and Leonetti) and spent 15 months in new and once-used French oak. Juicy, vibrant, and pure, yet also with plenty of power, it is loaded with ripe currants and black cherry fruit as well as notes of chocolate, leafy herbs, and graphite. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with ripe tannins, it’s a rocking Merlot that’s going to benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and drink brilliantly for 8-10 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only six bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Reserve, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “I had two off bottles of the 2017 Reserve, both showing huge volatile acidity, yet I had two great bottles as well, which are represented by this note. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Petit Verdot, and 10% Malbec, all aged 22 months in new barrels (as well as some neutral oval botti), it reveals a stunning bouquet of lead pencil shavings, toasty oak, incense, and dried tobacco, and it’s complex, nuanced, and layered aromatically. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this deep purple-hued effort, which offers the essence of blackberry liqueur fruits as well as full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, and an opulent, expansive, yet precise mouthfeel. Made in a more elegant style than the 2015 and not far off the magical 2016, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and should have 3-4 decades of overall longevity.”
Only six bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($119.95) $95 special
Only eight bottles available!
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Winemaker Chris Figgins has produced one of the wines of the vintage and his 2016 Estate Red Wine checks in as a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot that spent 23 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a deep ruby/purple color as well as a killer bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, tobacco, and earth. Incredibly pure, full-bodied, and layered on the palate, it’s a magical wine that has no hard edges, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s the finest wine under this label to date.”
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Because we’ve been selling the wines for over a decade and so get a healthy allocation—by Leonetti standards. That’s to say that there are no more than twelve bottles of any of these trophies (plus a mere twelve bottles of the Figgins Estate red featured alongside). Washington collectors shouldn’t dally—normally these wines sell out in a flash and these will be no different.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Only twelve bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Lots of cassis, camphor, spice, and violets notes as well as background oak emerge from the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is all Cabernet Sauvignon aged in 22 months in new barrels. With full-bodied richness, awesome purity of fruit, and a powerful, mouthfilling style, it’s in the top two or three Bordeaux blends in the vintage. Give this remarkable 2017 3-5 years of bottle age, longer if you can, and it’s going to be very long-lived. There are 2,863 cases produced.”
Only six bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla Valley 2018 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Already bottled, the 2018 Merlot comes from a mix of vineyards in Walla Walla (Loess, Mill Creek, and Leonetti) and spent 15 months in new and once-used French oak. Juicy, vibrant, and pure, yet also with plenty of power, it is loaded with ripe currants and black cherry fruit as well as notes of chocolate, leafy herbs, and graphite. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, with ripe tannins, it’s a rocking Merlot that’s going to benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and drink brilliantly for 8-10 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Only six bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Reserve, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $179 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ points “I had two off bottles of the 2017 Reserve, both showing huge volatile acidity, yet I had two great bottles as well, which are represented by this note. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Petit Verdot, and 10% Malbec, all aged 22 months in new barrels (as well as some neutral oval botti), it reveals a stunning bouquet of lead pencil shavings, toasty oak, incense, and dried tobacco, and it’s complex, nuanced, and layered aromatically. There’s not a hard edge to be found in this deep purple-hued effort, which offers the essence of blackberry liqueur fruits as well as full-bodied richness, beautiful concentration, and an opulent, expansive, yet precise mouthfeel. Made in a more elegant style than the 2015 and not far off the magical 2016, it’s going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and should have 3-4 decades of overall longevity.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $187
The average price nationally is $187
Only six bottles available!
Leonetti Cellar Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($119.95) $95 special
Only eight bottles available!
Figgins Estate Red, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($119.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “Winemaker Chris Figgins has produced one of the wines of the vintage and his 2016 Estate Red Wine checks in as a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot that spent 23 months in 50% new French oak. It offers a deep ruby/purple color as well as a killer bouquet of crème de cassis, toasted spice, tobacco, and earth. Incredibly pure, full-bodied, and layered on the palate, it’s a magical wine that has no hard edges, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. It’s the finest wine under this label to date.”
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About Our May Oregon Shipping Special
Free Oregon Ground Shipping on Orders Over $120
Featured New Arrival
Giovanni Rosso’s Serralunga Barolo
Giovanni Rosso makes Barolo that’s synonymous with the perhaps the most prestigious commune in the area: Serralunga d’Alba. The commune is known for powerful, ageworthy versions of Barolo, highlighted by its most famous wines: Conterno’s Francia (and Monfortino), Giacosa’s Rocche del Falletto, Brovia’s Ca’Mia and a number of wines from Vigna Rionda.
Perhaps no winery is more closely associated with the subregion than Giovanni Rosso, a winery that goes back to the 1890’s and has made its mark with powerful, intense Barolos. We’re excited to offer their 2015 Barolo normale today—a fantastic value in general and an even better buy in a warm vintage like ’15. This wine is sourced from the wineries extensive holdings in Serralunga (plus a few new vineyards in the towns of Barolo and Castiglione Falletto) and is a brilliant bottle of Barolo for under $40.
The warm nature of the ’15 vintage has raised the quality floor for entry-level bottlings and nothing is a better example than the Giovanni Rosso on offer today. We’ve got the best price on the west coast by the bottle and the best price in the country if you’re picking up a case—and why wouldn’t you?
In Stock Now:
Giovanni Rosso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 16+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Giovanni Rosso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
James Suckling 93 points “Dried oranges, rose petals, citrus and fresh herbs. Medium to full body, grainy tannins and a spice-driven, flavorful finish. Drink from 2021.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Fresh, offering cherry, strawberry, rose and white pepper aromas and flavors. Graceful, yet with ample grip on the long, dense and dusty finish. Captures the best of the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2040. 2,100 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Camphor, wild berry, blue flower and brown spice aromas lead the way. The taut palate shows cranberry, pomegranate, baking spice and a hint of chopped mint alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity.-Kerin O’Keefe”
Perhaps no winery is more closely associated with the subregion than Giovanni Rosso, a winery that goes back to the 1890’s and has made its mark with powerful, intense Barolos. We’re excited to offer their 2015 Barolo normale today—a fantastic value in general and an even better buy in a warm vintage like ’15. This wine is sourced from the wineries extensive holdings in Serralunga (plus a few new vineyards in the towns of Barolo and Castiglione Falletto) and is a brilliant bottle of Barolo for under $40.
The warm nature of the ’15 vintage has raised the quality floor for entry-level bottlings and nothing is a better example than the Giovanni Rosso on offer today. We’ve got the best price on the west coast by the bottle and the best price in the country if you’re picking up a case—and why wouldn’t you?
In Stock Now:
Giovanni Rosso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 16+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Giovanni Rosso Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!)
James Suckling 93 points “Dried oranges, rose petals, citrus and fresh herbs. Medium to full body, grainy tannins and a spice-driven, flavorful finish. Drink from 2021.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “Fresh, offering cherry, strawberry, rose and white pepper aromas and flavors. Graceful, yet with ample grip on the long, dense and dusty finish. Captures the best of the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2040. 2,100 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. — BS”
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Camphor, wild berry, blue flower and brown spice aromas lead the way. The taut palate shows cranberry, pomegranate, baking spice and a hint of chopped mint alongside fine-grained tannins and fresh acidity.-Kerin O’Keefe”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Vinopolis Wine Shop Curbside Pick Up
Don’t want to stop in?
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up,
just park in our lot, give us a call,
& we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you, please let us know
their name when placing your order.)
#503-223-6002
Don’t want to stop in?
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up,
just park in our lot, give us a call,
& we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you, please let us know
their name when placing your order.)
#503-223-6002
Trending Wines
A fantastic bottle of “baby Barolo” that has a lot of character for the price.
G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from a parcel in Sinio. Dark fruit, spice, earthy notes and a good bit of tannin give the Vajra’s Langhe Nebbiolo a decidedly brooding, powerful feel and quite a bit more seriousness than is typical at this level. Sweet red berry fruit, mint and spice add freshness alongside bright acidity as the 2018 opens up in the glass. This is such a pretty and expressive wine.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2019 – Smart Buys
Cambria Estate Winery Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Case-12 Cambria Estate Winery Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2017 750ML ($249.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points “Well-structured, with a smoky richness to the mineral-infused apple and pear tart flavors. The fresh, spicy finish lingers with a creamy texture. Drink now through 2022. 40,000 cases made.”
Corsica has always been a great destination for whites and Abbatucci is at the top of the heap.
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise—each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”
G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 90 points “The 2018 Langhe Nebbiolo emerges from a parcel in Sinio. Dark fruit, spice, earthy notes and a good bit of tannin give the Vajra’s Langhe Nebbiolo a decidedly brooding, powerful feel and quite a bit more seriousness than is typical at this level. Sweet red berry fruit, mint and spice add freshness alongside bright acidity as the 2018 opens up in the glass. This is such a pretty and expressive wine.”
Wine Spectator Top 100 in 2019 – Smart Buys
Cambria Estate Winery Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2017 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Case-12 Cambria Estate Winery Katherine’s Vineyard Chardonnay, Santa Maria Valley 2017 750ML ($249.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 91 points “Well-structured, with a smoky richness to the mineral-infused apple and pear tart flavors. The fresh, spicy finish lingers with a creamy texture. Drink now through 2022. 40,000 cases made.”
Corsica has always been a great destination for whites and Abbatucci is at the top of the heap.
Domaine Comte Abbatucci Faustine Blanc, Corsica 2017 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 16 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Summing up Jean-Charles Abbatucci’s contagious energy in just a few lines is virtually impossible. The best way to experience it is to stand in his vineyards in central Corsica and feel it radiate through your body from the ground up. Luckily, that energy finds its way into every bottle he makes, and this gentle, breezy white from old-vine Vermentinu delivers it without compromise—each sip is like a gust of warm Mediterranean air flooding your senses with a perfume of flowers and wild maquis.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39
The next best price is $39
“frankly, what Barbaresco is all about.” – Antonio Galloni
Ca’ del Baio ‘Vallegrande’, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 29+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ca’ del Baio ‘Vallegrande’, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($599.95) $379 special (that’s only $31.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Lots of dried strawberries with watermelon and hints of cherries on the nose and palate. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins. Flavorful finish. Drink after 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Vallegrande is bright and fragrant, with tremendous energy driving the red/purplish berry fruit, spice and floral flavors. Medium in body and finely cut, the 2016 is a model of elegance and finesse. It is easily one of the most polished Barbarescos I have tasted from Ca’ del Baio, and, frankly, what Barbaresco is all about.”
Ca’ del Baio ‘Vallegrande’, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 29+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Ca’ del Baio ‘Vallegrande’, Barbaresco DOCG 2016 750ML ($599.95) $379 special (that’s only $31.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “Lots of dried strawberries with watermelon and hints of cherries on the nose and palate. Medium to full body. Firm and silky tannins. Flavorful finish. Drink after 2021.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Vallegrande is bright and fragrant, with tremendous energy driving the red/purplish berry fruit, spice and floral flavors. Medium in body and finely cut, the 2016 is a model of elegance and finesse. It is easily one of the most polished Barbarescos I have tasted from Ca’ del Baio, and, frankly, what Barbaresco is all about.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $43
The average listed price is $43
Quarantine friendly pricing on one of our favorite value champers.
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed 10/2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “[Reviewed 4/2019] The latest release of the NV Carte d’Or Brut was disgorged in November 2017, and it’s showing well today, wafting from the glass with notions of waxy lemon rind, hazelnuts, fresh peaches and lily pollen. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with pinpoint bubbles, brisk acids and good length and definition on the chalky finish. Attractively balanced, it will gain depth with bottle age.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]
Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($49.95) $34.50 special
Case-6 Drappier Carte d’Or Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $33.17/bottle!)
Decanter 91 points “[Reviewed 10/2019] Described by Drappier as ‘almost a blanc de noirs’, this Pinot Noir-dominant wine sourced from the Côte des Bar is the house’s calling card. 5% of the cuvée is matured in barrels for a year for added complexity and texture, and it’s bottled unfiltered with a fairly low dosage of 7g/l. There are some melon and apple scents on the nose along with a splash of red fruits, while the palate is intense, with notes of apple, quince and grape wrapped in a red-fruit veil. It’s full-bodied and long, with a lovely texture from the red wine tannins and oak-matured portion.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “[Reviewed 4/2019] The latest release of the NV Carte d’Or Brut was disgorged in November 2017, and it’s showing well today, wafting from the glass with notions of waxy lemon rind, hazelnuts, fresh peaches and lily pollen. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, pure and vibrant, with pinpoint bubbles, brisk acids and good length and definition on the chalky finish. Attractively balanced, it will gain depth with bottle age.”
[Disgorgement may vary from reviews]
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
One of standard bearers in Beaujolais over-delivers yet again.
Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Shimmering purple. Assertive dark berry, cherry, spicecake and floral pastille scents are complemented by suggestions of succulent herbs and licorice. Sappy and deeply concentrated on the palate, offering mineral-laced bitter cherry and blackberry preserve flavors that stretch out and turn sweeter with aeration. Youthfully gripping tannins add framework to the finish, which lingers with outstanding, mineral-driven tenacity. Drink: 2022-2029. (Oct 2019)”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Côte de Brouilly is still a little closed after its recent bottling, but it’s a promising wine in the making, unwinding in the glass with scents of cherries, plums, licorice and rich soil tones, complemented by floral top notes that blossom as the wine sits in the glass. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and satiny, with a textural, enveloping profile, a deep and voluminous core, ripe but succulent acids and powdery structuring tannins. Drink: 2020-2035. (Aug 2019)”
Ripe and rich, this super Tuscan is a lot of wine for under $20.
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “A ripe style, verging on overripe, boasting plum and blackberry flavors, with iron, leather and wild herb notes. Broad and powerful, revealing a dense layer of tannins on the long, savory finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2028. 3,333 cases made, 580 cases imported.”
Chateau Thivin Cote de Brouilly, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($34.95) $27.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Shimmering purple. Assertive dark berry, cherry, spicecake and floral pastille scents are complemented by suggestions of succulent herbs and licorice. Sappy and deeply concentrated on the palate, offering mineral-laced bitter cherry and blackberry preserve flavors that stretch out and turn sweeter with aeration. Youthfully gripping tannins add framework to the finish, which lingers with outstanding, mineral-driven tenacity. Drink: 2022-2029. (Oct 2019)”
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Côte de Brouilly is still a little closed after its recent bottling, but it’s a promising wine in the making, unwinding in the glass with scents of cherries, plums, licorice and rich soil tones, complemented by floral top notes that blossom as the wine sits in the glass. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, broad and satiny, with a textural, enveloping profile, a deep and voluminous core, ripe but succulent acids and powdery structuring tannins. Drink: 2020-2035. (Aug 2019)”
Ripe and rich, this super Tuscan is a lot of wine for under $20.
Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($21.95) $17.70 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Camigliano Poderuccio Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 92 points “A ripe style, verging on overripe, boasting plum and blackberry flavors, with iron, leather and wild herb notes. Broad and powerful, revealing a dense layer of tannins on the long, savory finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2028. 3,333 cases made, 580 cases imported.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The Mosel’s Most Charming Rieslings
New 2018’s From the Merkelbach Brothers
“Merkelbach’s wines are like the world before anyone wrote poems about it.” – Terry Theise
We adore the wines that Rolf and Alfred Merkelbach make, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. These are wines that are as old-school as you can find for the region (the brothers are in their 80’s and haven’t changed styles since they started) and they capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, their importer, describes their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Truchot’s wines in burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that seemed to trigger Stendhal Syndrome anytime you had the pleasure of drinking them. We’d like more people to appreciate these wines while the brothers are still making them (a problem for, say, Truchot) and before the prices go crazy.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #1, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese AP 01 was harvested from partially botrytized grapes at 101° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (70 g/l). It offers a comparatively opulent and intensely aromatic nose made of apricot, coconut, pear and melon, all pepped up by pungent earthy spices. The wine remains playful and elegant on the almond and fruit infused palate. The finish is smooth but also elegantly refined and long. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “No. 1 is many other growers’ “1-star Spätlese,” so don’t worry it will be too rich. A sheer beauty, it’s a giddy giggle of apples and slate. No. 12 is more the “true” Auslese, both in feel and in concentration.”
We adore the wines that Rolf and Alfred Merkelbach make, irrationally and perhaps more than any other grower in the Mosel. These are wines that are as old-school as you can find for the region (the brothers are in their 80’s and haven’t changed styles since they started) and they capture the delicacy and etherealness of Riesling like few other wines we’ve tried. Terry Theise, their importer, describes their wines as “like VAPING Mosel Riesling.”
They have a charm and an energy that’s unlike almost any other wine we’ve tasted. In fact, their closest comparison might not be in the Mosel at all, but rather with Truchot’s wines in burgundy—another producer who managed to create unbearably delicate, ethereal wines that seemed to trigger Stendhal Syndrome anytime you had the pleasure of drinking them. We’d like more people to appreciate these wines while the brothers are still making them (a problem for, say, Truchot) and before the prices go crazy.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Merkelbach Kinheimer Rosenberg Auslese #1, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Kinheimer Rosenberg Riesling Auslese AP 01 was harvested from partially botrytized grapes at 101° Oechsle and was fermented down to sweet levels of residual sugar (70 g/l). It offers a comparatively opulent and intensely aromatic nose made of apricot, coconut, pear and melon, all pepped up by pungent earthy spices. The wine remains playful and elegant on the almond and fruit infused palate. The finish is smooth but also elegantly refined and long. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “No. 1 is many other growers’ “1-star Spätlese,” so don’t worry it will be too rich. A sheer beauty, it’s a giddy giggle of apples and slate. No. 12 is more the “true” Auslese, both in feel and in concentration.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Auslese Urgluck, Mosel 2018 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Mosel Fine Wines 93 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Auslese Urglück was harvested at 102° Oechsle in this prime part of the vineyard still planted with ungrafted vines, and was fermented down to fully sweet levels of residual sugar (80 g/l). It offers a beautiful nose made of apricot, cream, strawberry, smoke and herbs. The wine is beautifully playful and delicately zesty on the fruity and nicely creamy palate. The finish is sweet but still remarkably mouthwatering. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “In its sighing way this is as profound a wine as has ever been made here. Without the anvil-solidity of years like 2010 or 2015, nothing obtrudes upon the purity of fruit—and acidity can be distracting, you know. Here it’s not merely “slate and apples” any more. Something para has entered the picture; fruit but also not-fruit; refers to mineral but not “minerally.” Just some arcane synergy, some voice of the vineyard we’ll never quite account for.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Kabinett #13, Mosel 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special
Mosel Fine Wines 91 points “The 2018er Ürziger Würzgarten Riesling Kabinett was harvested from old un-grafted vines at 90° Oechsle in the part of the vineyard situated above the cellar of the Merkelbachs, just behind the village, and was fermented down to fruity-styled levels of residual sugar (50 g/l). It offers a hugely aromatic nose of white peach, apricot, floral elements and spices. The wine is beautifully balanced on the palate and leaves a long and refined feel of herbs in the finish. 2028-2048.”
Terry Theise note “Of course this is a Spätlese but it was the only Fuder one could even think of declassifying; it’s on the strawberry side of UW, and ridiculously long. Würzgarten has two profiles, which normally overlap while emphasizing one side or another. You have strawberry of various types, and you have another face of kiwi and sassafras. And of course you have slate. These may be variations based on cadaster, as it stands to reason that steepness, altitude and soil-structure would all play roles. As a rule I’d say, if it looks rocky the wines will probably taste rocky.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Spatlese #5, Mosel 2018 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Terry Theise note “This is superb. Mineral, archetypal, with rapturous fruit. Eternal youth in a bottle!”
We have eighteen different Merkelbach wines in stock and arriving this month.
You can view the entire list on our webstore.
Staff Pick
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
A Perfectly Balanced Washington Syrah
Andy:
In spring I find myself torn between something savory and dark, or perhaps something light and bright: it is pretty clear which wine won this round. The Betz La Serenne is a perennial favorite of mine as it rings true to some of my preferred Northern Rhone wines. There are notes of blackberry, olive, sage, lavender, and smoky fat. Everything is balanced and built to go the distance. Even the fruit, which is fully ripe and enjoyable has a cut to it that shows great quality. I love that the wine has extreme presence in the glass but isn’t overwhelming or flabby. It is indeed quite muscular, but in the way one watches a thoroughbred running a race, not a linebacker smashing through the line. The finish is wonderful; lingering and representative of everything you’d enjoyed previously, but doesn’t add heat or anything out of character. All in all, the ’15 La Serenne might be my favorite Washington State Syrah in the past 5 years. Enjoy now or hold it for another decade – it definitely has the ability to make the distance.
In Stock Now:
Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Coming from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne is full-bodied, fresh and elegant, with classic cooler climate Syrah notes of peppery herbs, darker berry fruits, lavender, spring flowers, and smoked earth. It has terrific complexity and glides over the palate, making for a sensational Syrah from Washington State. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “All from Dick Boushey’s vineyard in Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne was also all destemmed and brought up in barrel. It’s a more elegant, complex and nuanced Syrah compared to the Cote Rousse and offers classic notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, lavender and spring flowers. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
Also in stock from Betz:
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “As usual, the 2015 Syrah La Cote Rousse offers a more masculine, structured, mineral-driven style. This cuvée comes all from the warmer Red Mountain AVA and is a power-packed 2015 loaded with notions of black, black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and charred meats. It’s a big, rich, inky effort, yet like all the wines from this estate has awesome purity of fruit and is impeccably balanced.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035.”
In spring I find myself torn between something savory and dark, or perhaps something light and bright: it is pretty clear which wine won this round. The Betz La Serenne is a perennial favorite of mine as it rings true to some of my preferred Northern Rhone wines. There are notes of blackberry, olive, sage, lavender, and smoky fat. Everything is balanced and built to go the distance. Even the fruit, which is fully ripe and enjoyable has a cut to it that shows great quality. I love that the wine has extreme presence in the glass but isn’t overwhelming or flabby. It is indeed quite muscular, but in the way one watches a thoroughbred running a race, not a linebacker smashing through the line. The finish is wonderful; lingering and representative of everything you’d enjoyed previously, but doesn’t add heat or anything out of character. All in all, the ’15 La Serenne might be my favorite Washington State Syrah in the past 5 years. Enjoy now or hold it for another decade – it definitely has the ability to make the distance.
In Stock Now:
Betz Family Winery La Serenne Syrah, Yakima Valley 2015 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Coming from the Boushey Vineyard in the Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne is full-bodied, fresh and elegant, with classic cooler climate Syrah notes of peppery herbs, darker berry fruits, lavender, spring flowers, and smoked earth. It has terrific complexity and glides over the palate, making for a sensational Syrah from Washington State. Drink it anytime over the coming decade.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “All from Dick Boushey’s vineyard in Yakima Valley, the 2015 Syrah La Serenne was also all destemmed and brought up in barrel. It’s a more elegant, complex and nuanced Syrah compared to the Cote Rousse and offers classic notes of blackberries, peppery herbs, lavender and spring flowers. Full-bodied, fresh and lively, drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
Also in stock from Betz:
Betz Family Winery La Cote Rousse Syrah, Red Mountain 2015 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “As usual, the 2015 Syrah La Cote Rousse offers a more masculine, structured, mineral-driven style. This cuvée comes all from the warmer Red Mountain AVA and is a power-packed 2015 loaded with notions of black, black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and charred meats. It’s a big, rich, inky effort, yet like all the wines from this estate has awesome purity of fruit and is impeccably balanced.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Syrah la Cote Rousse is a blockbuster Syrah from Red Mountain that’s from the Ranch at the End of The Road and Ciel du Cheval vineyards. It’s a mix of four different clones and is brought up in barrel. This deep, inky, seriously black Syrah gives up Hermitage-like notes of scorched earth, charred meats, graphite and licorice. It’s a big, concentrated effort that’s going to benefit from short-term cellaring and keep through 2035.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Don’t Forget Our Weekend Subscriber Sale
On New Sequitur Releases
On New Sequitur Releases
We’ve got the new releases from Sequitur arriving this coming week and are excited to offer you a special sale on what looks to be their best vintage yet. Mix and match six or more bottles between the 2018 Sequitur Pinot Noir and 2018 Sequitur Chardonnay and receive a 10% discount on them.
2018 looks to be a modern classic for the Willamette Valley, combining the richness of a warm year like ’15 with more brightness, verve and freshness. We started hearing great things from the moment that grapes started coming in and winemakers of all styles have been raving about it ever since. Mike Etzel thinks his new releases are some of the best yet and reflects both the quality of the vintage and the increasing vine age of his vineyard.
Mike Etzel, the founder and winemaker of Sequitur, is a living legend in the Willamette Valley. He co-founded Beaux Freres in the late 80’s and was the winemaker there until recently passing the duties to his son. Never one to rest on his laurels or stay still, though, he began planting a vineyard adjacent to Beaux Freres in 2010—a project that became what we know as Sequitur.
It’s helpful to think of Sequitur as a distillation of everything Mike Etzel learned while starting and producing Beaux Freres over the decades. The Sequitur vineyard sits right next to the Beaux Freres “Upper Terrace” but is planted to a wider array of clones at tighter spacing. It’s been farmed biodynamically since the beginning and is sheltered with Douglas Fir—in short, it’s the fully realized vision of a man who’s helped define Willamette Valley Pinot.
The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Freres (though his son, Mikey, is the day-to-day winemaker). Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard. In short order, they’ve established themselves as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserve your attention as such.
Mix and Match Six or More 2018 Sequitur Wines, Receive a 10% Discount
Subscriber Special Valid Until 6PM Sunday, May 17th
Discount will not display online.
We will apply your discount manually before finalizing your order.
Arriving ETA May 20th:
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “
2018 looks to be a modern classic for the Willamette Valley, combining the richness of a warm year like ’15 with more brightness, verve and freshness. We started hearing great things from the moment that grapes started coming in and winemakers of all styles have been raving about it ever since. Mike Etzel thinks his new releases are some of the best yet and reflects both the quality of the vintage and the increasing vine age of his vineyard.
Mike Etzel, the founder and winemaker of Sequitur, is a living legend in the Willamette Valley. He co-founded Beaux Freres in the late 80’s and was the winemaker there until recently passing the duties to his son. Never one to rest on his laurels or stay still, though, he began planting a vineyard adjacent to Beaux Freres in 2010—a project that became what we know as Sequitur.
It’s helpful to think of Sequitur as a distillation of everything Mike Etzel learned while starting and producing Beaux Freres over the decades. The Sequitur vineyard sits right next to the Beaux Freres “Upper Terrace” but is planted to a wider array of clones at tighter spacing. It’s been farmed biodynamically since the beginning and is sheltered with Douglas Fir—in short, it’s the fully realized vision of a man who’s helped define Willamette Valley Pinot.
The winemaking style is exactly what you’d expect—these are wines that are made by the same hand that delivered so many high scores to Beaux Freres (though his son, Mikey, is the day-to-day winemaker). Big, powerful and bold, these nevertheless have energy and grace that we think comes from the extra-attentive farming and unique clonal selection in the vineyard. In short order, they’ve established themselves as one of the very best producers in the Willamette Valley and deserve your attention as such.
Mix and Match Six or More 2018 Sequitur Wines, Receive a 10% Discount
Subscriber Special Valid Until 6PM Sunday, May 17th
Discount will not display online.
We will apply your discount manually before finalizing your order.
Arriving ETA May 20th:
Sequitur Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge2018 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Winery Note “The 2018 growing season was warm and dry, resulting in yet another remarkable vintage on Ribbon Ridge. Towards the end of the summer, just before harvest, Jack was born. With the arrival of our first grandchild, we felt for the first time the presence of a new generation on the farm, reminding us of the cycle of renewal and growth. This vintage has the bright freshness of new breath—we hope you enjoy it! “
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 97 points “A very succulent, concentrated pinot with a strong (40%) whole-cluster influence, delivering sappy, fresh and aromatic lift to the blueberry and ripe-cherry aromas. The palate has such succulent and assertive tannin drive, yet the textural interface remains silky and fluid. It has depth and volume and a very commanding finish. Give this some time. Try from 2024.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
The average listed price across all vintages is $92
The average listed price across all vintages is $92
Mix and Match Six or More 2018 Sequitur Wines, Receive a 10% Discount
Subscriber Special Valid Until 6PM Sunday, May 17th
Discount will not display online.
We will apply your discount manually before finalizing your order.
We have verticals of both Sequitur Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in stock going back to their first vintage in 2014. Head to our webstore to shop them all.
Subscriber Special Valid Until 6PM Sunday, May 17th
Discount will not display online.
We will apply your discount manually before finalizing your order.
We have verticals of both Sequitur Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in stock going back to their first vintage in 2014. Head to our webstore to shop them all.
Collector’s Corner
Two Stunning Vintages of a Tuscan Icon
Two Stunning Vintages of a Tuscan Icon
2015 and 2016 were very kind to Tuscany—and especially so to the great wines of the region. Pergole Torte is in the short list of the very best wines from the area, alongside Soldera, Biondi-Santi’s Riserva and precious few others. That is to say that both the 2015 and ’16 versions are epic, world-class bottlings that can show better than anything else on your table, which is no mean feat for a wine under $200. We’ve got limited stock of both of them, ready for a slumber in your cellar.
If you’re unfamiliar with the wine, know that one of Chianti’s greatest wines isn’t labeled as a Chianti, despite being made in the heart of the Classico zone. Montevertine originally left the appellation because at the time, white grapes were required to call a wine Chianti and Sergio Manetti wanted to make a wine that was 100% Sangiovese, a scandalous thing. Thus Le Pergole Torte was born. It’s a special wine, one that stops a conversation every time you get a chance to taste it.
It’s tempting to compare this wine to Grand Cru Burgundy, after all, most of Montevertine’s most ardent fans are Burg lovers first and foremost. That’s doing it a disservice, though—this is a wine that is iconic in its own right.
In Stock Now:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($189.95) $166 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2015 Le Pergole Torte captures all the radiance and intensity of the vintage. Deep, powerful and resonant, the 2015 will be a racy wine once it emerges from its recent bottling. As always, the Pergole Torte is differentiated from the Montevertine by its greater textural richness and perfume. In 2015, Pergole Torte is exotically ripe and flamboyant, not to mention utterly captivating. Don’t miss it.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96-98 points “Tasted as a barrel sample, the 2015 Le Pergole Torte is a 100% expression of Sangiovese sourced from the estate’s oldest vines (between 30 and 50 years old). Like the other wines from Montevertine, Le Pergole Torte sees both its alcoholic and malolactic fermentations in cement, and the wine later ages in new oak barrels for 12 to 18 months depending on the vintage. After that first phase in barrique, it goes into large botte to complete its integration. This gorgeous vintage opens to a deep, dark appearance with a velvety presentation of dark fruit and black cherry flavors. The wine’s textural richness is ultimately what sets this fantastic vintage apart.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 8 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 99 points “The 2016 Le Pergole Torte is magnificent, just as it was last year. Rich, dense and explosive, with stunning depth and texture, the 2016 possesses off the charts intensity while remaining light on its feet for such rich a powerful, lay+ered wine. There is almost no perception of tannin. Black cherry, plum, lavender, menthol, spice and new leather all meld together in a pliant, striking Pergole Torte endowed with tremendous pedigree and nuance. Put simply, the 2016 is off the charts great. The only reason the 2016 does not earn a perfect score is that cramped quarters in the cellar oblige Montevertine to bottle Pergole Torte in several lots.”
Arriving Later This Month:
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 1.5L ($419.95) $369 pre-arrival special, 4 magnums available
Montevertine Le Pergole Torte Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2016 3L ($999.95) $799 pre-arrival special, 2 double-magnums available
Thanks for reading!