A Vinopolis Classic Returns Friday
High Scoring, Coveted, and Arriving Tomorrow
New Weinbach Reviews from Vinous
There’s Burgundy in Them April Sales!
#Trending: The Hottest Wines of the Weekend
Sori Paitin: New Releases from a Historic Producer
Returning Friday:
A Vinopolis Classic –
The Best Under $20 Cabernet on the Market?
Substance ‘Cs’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon was vinified in tank before being pressed to barrel where it went through malo. Aged 13 months in barrels, its vibrant purple color is followed by a terrific bouquet of blueberries, cassis, scorched earth, and spice. Deep, rich, full-bodied, and beautifully balanced, this is the real deal, ladies and gentlemen, and it’s a no-brainer purchase. Just pretend you paid three times the price.”
High Scoring, Coveted, and Arriving Tomorrow
Featured (Re)Arriving Tomorrow:
Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2013 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
Case-6 Mazzei Castello di Fonterutoli, Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG 2013 750ML ($419.95) $269 special (that’s only $44.83/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 95 points “An essence of sweet cherry grounds the surrounding flavors of leather, iron, spice and tobacco in this firm red, which remains vibrant and refined. Bracing acidity and dense, muscular tannins play out on the long finish. Drink now through 2028.”
Other Highlights:
Domaine des Comtes Lafon Champans, Volnay Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) $179 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Saturated red-ruby. Dark aromas and flavors of black fruits, licorice and bitter chocolate. Sweet, sappy and very rich but elegant too for all its density. The extremely long, palate-staining finish features powerful dusty, broad tannins, an element of chocolatey richness and superb lift. This explosive Volnay appears to have considerable aging potential.”
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2015 750ML ($89.95) $75 pre-arrival special
Jeb Dunnuck – Rhone Report 95-97+ points “A vintage compared to 2010 by Laurence, the 2015 Châteauneuf-du-Pape looks to be one of the big successes in the vintage. Possessing a ripe, rounded, sexy style backed up by solid density and concentration, it offers classic Pegau notes of currants, pepper, and cured meats. Big, rich, concentrated and beautifully textured, it offers a rare depth of fruit and richness in the vintage.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “The 2015 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée is beauty, and about as classic an expression of this estate as I can recall. Blackcurrants, peppery herbs, roasted meats and garrigue all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, balanced, nicely concentrated 2015 that has ripe tannin and a great finish. It’s not on par with the 2010, 2009 or 2003, but it should surpass the 2012 and have two decades or more of longevity.”
Weingut Donnhoff Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2016 750ML ($69.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stuart Pigott 97 points– Jamessuckling.com “Unexpectedly charming on the nose for a wine from volcanic soil this has stunning grapefruit and lime character. Then just when you think it’s a nice guy the totally radical, smoky and mineral finish comes through to remind you how strong nature can be! Drink now or hold.”
Terry Theise notes “Perhaps the apex of porphyry (though it contains decomposed melaphyr also), and I would argue this is the finest expression of what I deem to be Riesling’s most noble home. I could write at great length about the flavor of porphyry-grown Riesling, among wine’s greatest miracles. Suffice it to say, these wines taste as though they were made by a vizier with a boiling cauldron and a set of a hundred spice boxes. It’s hard to fathom such wines coming from prosaic grapes and dirt, and yet they do. And while any solidly competent grower lucky enough to have Riesling sites on this soil will make fascinating wine, Dönnhoff is like Bach, another order of being. This ’16 is a euphoric thrall of porphyry aromas, and the palate is an entire quarry or pulverized mineral with edges of sorrel and dandelion greens. It’s both limpid and energetic.”
James Suckling 100 points “This is an extraordinary merlot with such purity and focus. Flowers such as violets and hints of orange peel. It is full-bodied yet incredibly energetic and structured. The finish goes on for minutes. Seamless texture. Fresh yet dense. Contrasty. Best Redigaffi ever. Hard not to drink now but a wine for decades.”
James Suckling 100 points “Stunning aromas of blackcurrant, stone, blueberry and licorice. Also iodine. Floral. Perfumed. Full body, fantastic density of fruit and ripe tannins. It goes on for minutes on the palate with such energy and focus. Touch of chewiness on the finish. A complex and complete wine that delivers a generosity with firmness. Drink in 2021 but already a classic to drink.”
Petrolo Galatrona Valdarno di Sopra, Tuscany, 2015 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96-97 points “The depth of fruit and intensity of tannins that set this Galatrona aside are some of the most impressive in years. Full body, velvety tannins and a long finish. A new 2004?”
New Weinbach Reviews
From Vinous
We have a selection of the Weinbach wines in stock and arriving soon that received some noteworthy praise from Vinous. We wanted to share the reviews with you and we hope that you’ll find the selection as exciting as we (and Ian D’Agata) do.
In Stock Now:
Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Catherine, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($69.95) $54.80 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata – Vinous 94 points “Luminous straw-yellow. Clean, fresh aromas and flavors of white flowers, powdered rock, lime and a hint of anise. Racy but tactile wine, displaying minty and talc-like nuances on a long, fresh back end that hints at flint and aromatic herbs. Delightfully well-balanced, racy Riesling.”
Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Furstentum, Alsace Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Ian D’agata – Vinous 92 points “Vivid straw-green. Bright apple and pear are lifted by floral aromas. Then dense and dry in the mouth, featuring a saline element and very good cut and clarity to the citrus and honeyed stone fruit flavors. This brisk, tactile Pinot Gris really tickles the taste buds, finishing long and with a lively peppery zing. Unlike the 2015 Pinot Gris Altenbourg, for which the grapes were harvested in early September, in 2016 the grapes were picked in mid-October, and I think this longer hang time probably helped create more complexity in both grapes and wine. Also, in 2016 the Pinot Gris grapes were hit by slightly more noble rot than in 2015 (15% versus 10%) but also by less passerillage (10% versus 20%), so this 2016, though honeyed and off-dry, tastes very fresh and lively.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 91 points “Crystalline straw-green. Fresh lemon and jasmine aromas and flavors, plus hints of powdered rock. Energetic and focused, presenting an enticing multilayered quality. Bright and very saline on the long, vibrant finish (this strikes me as the most saline of all the wines I tried at the domaine this year). Made from vines grown at the top of the Schlossberg cru, which is characterized by stonier and poorer soils that usually give much more floral wines than the bottom part of the grand cru. There is less of this wine available than usual in this vintage; the estate declassified some of the grapes because the vines had suffered from water stress (not a rare occurrence at the top of the Schlossberg).”
Arriving Later This Month:
Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Altenbourg, Alsace 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata – Vinous 92 points “Vivid straw-green. Bright apple and pear are lifted by floral aromas. Then dense and dry in the mouth, featuring a saline element and very good cut and clarity to the citrus and honeyed stone fruit flavors. This brisk, tactile Pinot Gris really tickles the taste buds, finishing long and with a lively peppery zing. Unlike the 2015 Pinot Gris Altenbourg, for which the grapes were harvested in early September, in 2016 the grapes were picked in mid-October, and I think this longer hang time probably helped create more complexity in both grapes and wine. Also, in 2016 the Pinot Gris grapes were hit by slightly more noble rot than in 2015 (15% versus 10%) but also by less passerillage (10% versus 20%), so this 2016, though honeyed and off-dry, tastes very fresh and lively.”
Domaine Weinbach Riesling Clos des Capucins Cuvee Theo, Alsace 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata – Vinous 90 points “Pale straw-yellow. Lemon curd and white flowers on the nose and in the mouth. Boasts a refined, juicy mouthfeel and a floral finish that persists nicely. Very elegant and food-friendly Cuvée Théo, less powerful than the 2015 but with more lively cut and better clarity. Made with grapes grown mainly in the Clos and a few vineyards in Kientzheim. Strikes me as one of the more successful Cuvée Théo wines in years.”
Domaine Weinbach Sylvaner Reserve, Alsace 2016 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata – Vinous 91 points “Pale straw-green. Delightful green fruit, coriander and mineral aromas and flavors. Bright, juicy and fresh, showing complexity that tells you this is made from old vines (in fact, they are 45 years old). Delicious, pure, vibrant Sylvaner, but with sneaky concentration and texture. The grapes were harvested on October 18, and this late date helps explain the slightly fleshier, rounder mouthfeel than, for example, the 2014 (a year similar to 2016 in many respects, but slightly more vertical).”
Domaine Weinbach Pinot Gris Clos des Capucins Cuvee Sainte Catherine, Alsace 2016 750ML ($59.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Ian D’agata – Vinous 90 points “Bright golden-tinged straw. Discreet aromas of pomaceous fruit; as it warms up in the glass, hints of caramel, truffle and spicy noble rot emerge. Bright and very juicy but also round. Apple and herbal flavors pick up spicy notes on the slightly bittersweet finish. Made from grapes grown in the Clos, a piece of the Schlossberg, and the young vines (now 10 years old) of the Marckrain Grand Cru. All these grapes were picked in mid-October. About 5-10% of the grapes were hit by noble rot. I think this is a little youthfully disjointed presently, but I’m not sure it will ever blossom into a truly great wine.”
There’s Burgundy in Them
April Sales!
Perrot-Minot made their name as a producer of big, powerful Burgs in the Dugat-Py mold, but starting in the mid-00’s transitioned into a somewhat more restrained style. They remain a reference point producer for many and the wines they produce are highly coveted and collectible. 2010 remains a landmark vintage in general and certainly for them, with the Beaux Monts as a crown jewel in their collection of Premier Cru holdings.
Domaine Perrot-Minot Les Beaux Monts Vieilles Vignes, Vosne-Romanee Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($199.95) Was $179, Now $159 Clearance Price
Antonio Galloni 91-93 points “The 2010 Vosne-Romanée Les Beaux Monts is deep, dark and sensual. It currently comes across as young, but there is gorgeous fleshiness and mid-palate pliancy that makes the Beaux Monts totally irresistible.”
Fabrice Vigot has worked the land of Vosne Romanee since 1990. His own estate – Domaine Vigot – produces silky and elegant wines from covetable plots across both Vosne and old vines in Gevery-Chambertin. Under a sharecropping agreement, he also tends and sources from vines owned by Mugneret-Gibourg alongside Pascal Mugneret as well as vines he and his wife own. Fabrice, along with Pascal Mugneret, shares in caretaking duties of all of the Mugneret-Gibourg parcels.
We’re determined that these should go overlooked no longer and so they arepart of our April sale for some truly outrageous pricing—but only until the end of the month. They were already good deals for the age of the vineyards and the talent involved and now they’re great. We only have a case or less of each wine, so they aren’t things to dawdle on.
Domaine Fabrice Vigot Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2013 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49 Clearance Price
Vinopolnote: Sourced from a trio of vineyards: Crais, Les Etelois, and Billards. Medium-bodied, with vibrant freshness and a suave finish; 100% destemmed.
Now it’s even lower!
Vinopolnote: Sourced from a trio of vineyards: Crais, Les Etelois, and Billards. Medium-bodied, with vibrant freshness and a suave finish; 100% destemmed.
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Now it’s even lower!
Vinopolnote: From 30 year old vines, with bright red fruit and abundant acidities; 100% destemmed.
Now it’s even lower!
Vinopolnote: From 30 year old vines, with bright red fruit and abundant acidities; 100% destemmed.
The next best price is $59
Vinopolnote: Situated on the other side of the village as La Romanée-Saint-Vivant, the La Colombiere vineyard offers a very Vosne character, and Vigot farms his plot organically.
Now it’s even lower!
Vinopolnote: Situated on the other side of the village as La Romanée-Saint-Vivant, the La Colombiere vineyard offers a very Vosne character, and Vigot farms his plot organically.
Vinopolnote: From a hilltop vineyard, this cuvee is entirely destemmed and offers high-toned aromatics and an enduring finish. Tasted here– in one word: purity.
Now it’s even lower!
Just click here to view a full list on our website (at least until the end of the month).
#Trending
The Hottest Wines of the Weekend
Burghound 89-92 points “Very ripe and expressive black cherry-infused aromas blend into linear, beautifully textured and detailed flavors underpinned by very firm but ripe tannins. Despite the structure, this is quite elegant, indeed feminine in style with gorgeous balance. A stellar effort.”
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Bottled just a month ago, the 2012 Barbaresco Vie Erte is quite closed and compact today, especially in feel, but the classic red-toned profile of Erte is very much present in the glass. Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, orange peel, mint and white pepper give the 2012 an attractive upper register and a level of delineation that is unusual in this vintage. The steep site, planted just in 1997, has really begun to come around and produce fabulous wines. The Vie Erte was aged entirely in cask.”
Chateau Valcombe Ventoux Epicure Rose, Rhone 2017 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Importer Note “While Luc Guenard mentioned that hydric stress was not much of an issue for him in 2017, his vineyards were hit hard by a May 17th frost, resulting in a 35% reduction of crop. The vineyards he normally uses for rose were particularly devastated, so he included some fruit from prime sites usually destined for the Ventoux Rouge “Epicure” this vintage—a solution that elevated the rose beyond even its usual high level. Comprising 50% Grenache, with 25% each Cinsault and Syrah, the 2017 Ventoux Rose is made entirely from direct-press wine picked at rose ripeness. As is typically the case, this vintage completely lacks any confected character, expressing its dusty, rugged environment of origin clearly and honestly. Copper-pink with a silvery cast, it offers a juicy, attractive, red-fruited nose, and the palate is crunchy and tension-filled—a profoundly dry wine that suffers none of the excesses of Grenache’s susceptibility to jamminess.”
Ian D’agata–Vinous 95 points “Fully saturated ruby. Pure, very deep aromas of black cherry, red plum, medicinal herbs and minerals. Rich, dense and suave, with complex flavors of saline red berries and dark plum complicated by repeating botanical herb and balsamic nuances. Finishes seamless an long. A wine of noteworthy purity, with an excellent balance of sweetness, acidity and tannins. This is Gulfi’s closest vineyard to the sea and almost always gives the estate’s most elegant, refined wine.”
Importer note “In the traditional style of txakolina from Getaria, this light and crisp wine is bottled with a little bit of residual carbon dioxide to give it its signature natural spritz. Tasting Notes: Bright briny sea salt combined with limey fruits. Fresh and eminently quaffable, tastes like joy and springtime. Vinification: This 100% hondarribi zuri txakolina is fermented with indigenous yeasts in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.”
Ian D’agata – Vinous 91 points “Pale straw-green. The nuanced nose combines ripe peach, yellow apple, white flowers and a hint of toffee. Then plenty of generous, pliant fruit nicely framed by harmonious acids and supported by a mineral backbone. Finishes long, rich and elegant and with a hint of residual sugar. This doesn’t qualify as a “classically dry” wine, but boasts such balance that it seems barely off-dry”
VinopolNote: The Disrstelberg vineyard is mostly composed of pink sandstone and is known as a high quality vineyard for a variety of grapes. The wines from the site tend to be linear and crisp, with good varietal character. Unlike many Alsatian producers, Bursin errs on the side of delicacy and raciness rather than pick too late and allow the wines to become rich and flabby for the sake of power.
New Releases from Azienda Agricola Paitin
History in the Folded Hills of Piedmont
The Elia family purchased their vineyards in 1796. From atop the hill where the winery sits, you can overlook the two main vineyard sites and understand the difference in microclimate, soil type and techniques for farming. The Bricco di Nieve side of the hill is steep, breezy and has beautiful older vines that produce the gorgeous sori Paitin Barbaresco. The other side of the hill has the looser iron rich soil that is the Serra vineyard. Tasting the two Barbaresco side by side is a lesson in site location and the unique qualities that can be shown, just a stone’s throw away.
Secondo Pasquero-Elia and his two sons, Giovanni and Silvano have enlisted enologist Dante Scaglione (Bruno Giacosa) to draw even more from such an amazing site. The results offer a glimpse into the future of the winery and the wines to come. The wines are solid, deep, and built to last – echoing the family and their tie to their home and spectacular vineyards.
Arriving ETA Next Week:
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($41.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2014 750ML ($399.95) $359 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “Currant, strawberry, cherry, floral and leafy flavors are the highlights of this racy, elegant red. Balanced on the firm side, with excellent length. Best from 2020 through 2032. 800 cases made.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Intense aromas and flavors of pure cherry, raspberry and flowers introduce this silky, delicate red, which is firmly structured, with dusty, assertive tannins. Notes of tobacco and mineral are woven into the long, detailed aftertaste. Best from 2021 through 2033. 1,200 cases made.”
The average price is $47
Thank you for reading!
