2/3/16
Staff Top Ten Picks; Brick House Arrivals; Karthauserhof 2014; Henri Boillot; Owen Roe; Resonance Highlight; Arriving This Week!; Time to Say ‘Good Buy’: Two Hands & Kaiken; Cameron Arrival
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This Week’s Top Ten
Epic Staff Picks
OREGON
Cameron Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2013 750ML ($81.95) $66 special, 25 bottles available
Why we love it: Complexity and charm – honeysuckle, citrus, tarragon, and honey cover the palate while remaining lively and buoyant. Layered and energetic, maintaining a balance between force and elegance. Mr. Paul swung for the fences here! – Tyler
Winemaker’s note: “Clos Electrique is farmed organically which means that we use elemental sulfur during the growing season to prevent growth of powdery mildew and use copper hydroxide and leaf removal in the vicinity of grape clusters to inhibit botrytis. Insect pests are generally kept in check by cultivation of predatory insects with integrated cover crops. This is one of the warmer vineyard sites in the Red Hills of Dundee and usually is harvested during the second half of September. Yields of the “blanc” generally yields 2.0 tons per acre (27 hl/hectare).
FRANCE-RED BURGUNDY
Domaine Pierre Guillemot Savigny-les-Beaune Les Grands Picotins, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 10 bottle available
Why we love it: Energy! A really soulful wine. The black fruits here shine, with a lingering, spice-kissed finish. Guillemot is my go-to for reliable, affordable Burgundy. I just love it. – Tyler
Importer’s note: Pinot Noir from clay and limestone soils; vines are 50 years in age. Aged in barrel for 18 months and 6 months in bottle.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
FRANCE-WHITE BURGUNDY
Pierre-Yves Colin-Morey Les Combes, Saint-Aubin Premier Cru 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 9 bottles available
Why we love it: Balance. PYCM’s been putting out white wines with such consistency over the past few years, this gem most certainly notwithstanding. They’re drinking well now and they’ll only continue to do so… – Tyler
Wine Advocate 88-90 points “The 2013 Saint Aubin les Combes has another very expressive bouquet with hints of mango and overripe Satsumas combining nicely with the mineral component. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, quite refined, although it just eases off a little prematurely on the tapered finish. Otherwise I envisage this slipping down the throat with ease.” WA
FRANCE-CHAMPAGNE
Aubry Cuvee ‘Aubry de Humbert’ Premier Cru Millesime Classique, Champagne 2006 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 14 bottles available
Why we love it: Richness. Toast and citrus mingle beautifully with this bottle of bubbles, with a finish as tasty as the wine itself. – Tyler
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “(made from roughly equal parts Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and aged for over more than five years on its lees; disgorged June, 2012): Pale gold. Fresh citrus zest, strawberry and quince aromas are deepened by notes of anise, vanilla and musky herbs. Dusty, gripping lemon rind and blood orange flavors give way to deeper red berries in the mid-palate, picking up a hint of chalky minerality on the back half. Finishes with firm grip, very good length and lingering strawberry and vanilla notes.”ST
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The next best price is $79.99
FRANCE-JURA
Jean Francois Ganevat Vieux Macvin du Jura NV (05) 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Why we love it: It’s dynamic. A great bottle to bring to shake things up at a potluck, it’s a delicious wine to start off a meal with alongside soft cheeses, meats, nuts, and anything else, really! – Tyler
Importer note: Blend of 2/3 unfermented must of Savagnin and 1/3 Marc of Savagnin. Aged in barrel for 8 years before bottling.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
FRANCE-LANGUEDOC
Clos Canos Corbieres Les Eoliennes 2013 750ML ($14.95) $11.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Why we love it: Freshness! Much lighter on the palate than expected, with a shock of bright red fruit giving way to darker, spicier elements. Nice texture, too.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
ITALY-PIEDMONT
Antoniolo ‘Osso San Grato’, Gattinara DOCG 2008 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 5 bottles available
Why we love it: An all-around goldmine. Aromas, flavor, body, the whole bit. Such pretty, surprising fruit with an enduring freshness. The ‘08s from Gattinara are in a really wonderful place right now. Please buy all of these so that I don’t have to! – Tyler
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Another wine that has developed beautifully over the last year, the 2008 Gattinara Osso San Grato impresses for its layered, inviting personality. Sweet tobacco, herbs, menthol, coffee and plums meld together nicely in the glass. This is a surprisingly textured, voluptuous Osso San Grato with terrific potential for the future, although it is quite beautiful, even today. The aromatics and tannins show some elements of development, but the wine is still a bit fresher on the palate.” AG
San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2001750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles available
San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2005 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 5 bottles available
San Fereolo Dolcetto di Dogliani Superiore DOCG, Piedmont 2007 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 17 bottles available
Why we love it: How often can you watch a wine develop like this? The ’01 was such a treat a few weeks ago, and the others sing in such nice harmony with it. This stuff is Dolcetto like you’ve never seen it. Piedmont which you’d never expected. Try them – I dare you! – Tyler
Importer note “The most important wine of the estate. The Dolcetto for the top wine is sourced from parcels found in prime positions as well as the oldest vines of the estate. The seven-year wait from harvest to release reflects the important of the San Fereolo to Nicoletta, who carefully tends the wine through its three years in large barrel before a 3-4 year hibernation in the bottle cellar. Our tasting of each vintage from 2001 to 2008 revealed a consistent vein of dense, warm fruit, which spoke of the Langhe source. Fresh mineral notes, mint, licorice and savory elements permeated each expression, while a lively freshness was alive in every wine, including the 14-year old 2001 vintage. As with the Austri, the 2007 is the current release, and we are pleased to be able to source multiple back vintages.”
ITALY-FRIULI
Stanislao Radikon ‘Slatnik’ Venezia Giulia IGT, Friuli-Venezia Giulia 2013 750ML ($47.95) $41.90 special, 3 bottles available
Why we love it: This dance between familiarity and exoticness. The skin contact and aging regimen imbue secondary notes and sub-flavors which could take hours to truly expound upon. Serve chilled but not too cold, and watch it over a few hours (or nights!)… We’re lucky to have these. – Tyler
Importer note “80% Chardonnay, 20% Tocai. Vinification: 3 weeks of skin maceration. Aged in barrel one year, then bottled and released.”
AUSTRIA
Weingut Bernhard Ott Feuersbrunner Spiegel Gruner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage, Wagram 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Why we love it: Length and layers. There’s the pretty, initial fruit and then everything which follows. That kick of ginger and spice is particularly lovely, and I was struck with a nostalgic reflectiveness once the bottle had emptied. – Tyler
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Honey, white peach and quince allied to hints of truffle and kelp put one in mind of certain very rich Chenins. Full yet barely over 13% in alcohol, and boasting lusciously satisfying primary juiciness, this takes on more typical Grüner Veltliner characteristics in the mid-palate in the form of caramelized parsnip, snap pea and blond tobacco, not to mention the white pepper, allied with ginger, that informs its long mouthwateringly savory and buoyant finish. Fruit from these vines, noted Ott, was especially affected by millerandage and consequently concentrated. A mere 600 liters were harvested from the Spiegel’s eight hectares!”
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2013 Grüner Veltliner Spiegel Erste Lage is Ott’s third vintage of this Feuersbrunn cru which carries a mix of very old and very young vines which are cultivated on south-facing terraces in 280 to more than 300 meters above sea level and well protected to the northwest by the Hengstberg gravel ridge. The soils, derived from a massive blanket of loess that is draped over the Gföhler gneiss bedrock, marine sediments, and ancient gravels of the Danube River, are calcareous and silty and, in 2013, bore a light golden colored, tropical flavored, rich, sweet and harmonious Veltliner of great intensity and elegance. It intermixes ripe peach and mango aromas with tobacco and mineral flavors and develops a great length which makes the Spiegel on a par with the Rosenberg., the former more sweet, the latter more subtle perhaps.” WA
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Brick House
Fantastic Cuvees Comin’ Back!
~ New Arrivals & Re-Arrivals ~
Wines Arriving February 5th
Brick House Vineyards Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($29.95) $26 re-arrival special
Vinopolnote: 100% Chardonnay from the trazilblazing biodynamic producer Brick House.
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay, Ribbon Ridge 2012 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 91 points “This sleek, open-textured and inviting white is light on its feet, showing apricot-tinged pear and spice flavors and finishing with finesse. Appealing now, but should develop depth with cellaring. Drink now through 2019. 520 cases made.”WS
David Schildknecht -Wine Advocate 90-91 points “Last tasted from barrels (old demi-muids) in July, the pieces that will have become Tunnell’s 2012 Chardonnay Cascadia – from several clones (some top-grafted to older vines) – display fresh apple laced with candied lime peel and garlanded with honeysuckle. There is a lovely sense of lift and primary refreshment allied to textural caress and subtly creamy lees-enhancement. This is going to be a deliciously versatile wine for enjoying through at least 2017. (I won’t of course report until next year on Tunnell’s 2012 Pinots, but can’t help mentioning already that from barrel they are an extremely impressive group.)”DS
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Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 re-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Fresh and expressive, soft in texture, this offers generous flavors of cherry, raspberry and clove that linger effortlessly against velvety tannins. Drink now through 2023.” WS
Brick House Vineyards Select Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 re-arrival special
Winemaker Notes “When Mother Nature offers a bountiful year, we routinely bottle this entry level Pinot Noir. As the name implies, the “Select” is a selection of barrels representing all the vineyard blocks on the farm at the discretion of the winemaker. The most easy-going and approachable of all our Pinot Noirs, the “Select” is a moderately priced, estate grown wine and a worthy accompaniment to a casual meal of salmon, lamb or wild game.”
Also Currently Available from Brick House:
Brick House Vineyards Gamay Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26.60 special, 22 bottles available
Winery note “For centuries Gamay Noir au Jus Blanc has been the singular grape of the Beaujolais region of France. But the marine sediments of Ribbon Ridge share much in common with the rolling hills of Beaujolais, including low soil pH and an abundance of mica/silica. Bright, floral and often laced with hind of anise or licorice, Brick House Gamay has found many friends since first released in 1995.”
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cuvee du Tonnelier’ Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Vibrant, focused, open-textured and distinctive, with savory elegments weaving through the cherry and creme fraiche flavors, extending into a long finish. Best from 2017 through 2023.”HS
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New Vintage Karthauserhof
Arriving Friday
Weingut Karthauserhof ‘Ruwer’ Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Winemaker’s note: Alcohol 11.5 % vol., Residual sugar 7.3 g/l, Acidity 8.5 g/l, Sugar-free extract 24.1 g/l
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Riesling Feinherb, Mosel 2014 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($34.95) $29 pre-arrival special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Grosse Lage, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Grosse Lage, Mosel 2014 1.5L ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
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Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Tyrells Edition Riesling Trocken, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Winemaker’s notes: “Ripe stone fruit, complex structure, fine fruity finish. Analysis: Alcohol: 11,5 % vol, residual sugar. 7.7 g/l Acidity: 9.1 g/l of sugar-free extract: 26.9 g/l”
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Weingut Karthauserhof Alte Reben Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken 2014 750ML ($39.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Winemaker’s notes: Mineral elegance, yellow fruits; Analysis: Alcohol: 11.5% Vol, residual sugar. 5,9 g / l Acidity: 9.1 g / l of sugar-free extract: 27.3 g / l
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Weingut Karthauserhof Eitelsbacher Karthauserhofberg Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2014 375ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special
Winemaker’s notes: “A fruity Auslese wine from the site Grosse Lage. The fragrance notes of fresh botrytis, rich floral scent of elderflower, subtle notes of honey, plenty of fruit and melting. Nevertheless, very slim and very compact. Slate abundance in pure form.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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Henri Boillot
An Incomparable Array
of Beautiful Burgundy
Henri Boillot represents the fifth generation of winemakers within his family. Begun in 1855, the estate has won great acclaim for wines of great structure, intensity, and for their ageability. Their holdings include many Premier Crus from Meursault (Les Poruzots, Les Charmes, Les Genevrières, Les Perrières), Puligny Montrachet (les Folatières, les Perrières, les Pucelles), Chassagne-Montrachet (Chevenottes, Embrazees), Volnay and Savigny-les-Beaune, including the impressive and exclusive Les Mouchères monopole in Puligny-Montrachet.
Chez Boillot, vineyards are farmed sustainably and a strict pruning regiment limits yields. Grapes are handpicked, sorted twice by hand, and completely destemmed. We’re proud to stock a wide range of Msr. Boillot’s wines, all listed below.
Henri Boillot Wines Available Here Now:
Domaine Henri Boillot Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2011 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 10 bottles available
Burghound 94 points “This is also notably ripe but the aromas do not run to the exotic as the honeysuckle, apricot, white peach and subtle spice notes are entirely classic. There is an appealing succulence to the delicious, intense and strikingly fine medium-bodied flavors and while there is certainly a sense of focused power present on the long, clean and refined finish, this is essentially a Bienvenues of finesse.”BH
Domaine Henri Boillot Clos du Roi, Beaune Premier Cru 2009 750ML ($99.95) $75 special, 36+ bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Saturated medium ruby. Deep aromas of kirsch, smoke, minerals, flowers and earth are reticent but pure. Big, rich and broad, with harmonious acidity framing the black cherry, chocolate and leather flavors. This classic, complete Beaune wine spreads out to saturate the palate, with lush tannins reaching the front teeth. Quite thick in the style of the vintage but without any excess weight.”ST
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The next best price is $83.99
Domaine Henri Boillot Criots-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2011 750ML ($269.95) $219 special, 1 bottle available
Burghound 93 points “This is notably riper than the Caillerets with overtly exotic dried yellow fruit, spice and floral aromas. There is outstanding richness to the powerful and broad-shouldered flavors that possess a distinctly muscular mouth feel before culminating in an opulent, clean and very dry finish. This retains a fine sense of balance and while there is certainly fine complexity, it isn’t at the same level as displayed by the other grands crus in the range.”BH
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The next best price is $259
Domaine Henri Boillot Pommard, Cote de Beaune 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 special, 32 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 90-92 points “The 2010 Pommard is pure sensuality. Sweet roses, dark red fruit and spices wrap around the palate in this supple, refined wine. The Pommard impresses for its elegance and richness. It is a beautiful and highly representative 2010. Sweet floral notes linger on the finish. The Pommard is made from vines in Clos Blanc, a 1er Cru vineyard. – Henri Boillot turned out a superb set of 2010 reds. Best of all, readers won’t have to shell out a fortune to enjoy them, as a number of the more modestly priced wines far exceed the quality of their respective appellations” AG
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Domaine Henri Boillot Les Rugiens, Pommard Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 13 botles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Good bright, deep red. Redcurrant, pepper, iron and earth tones on the nose, lifted by a suggestion of dried flowers. Reticent today but showing outstanding vinosity to its soil-driven flavors of redcurrant, spices, licorice, pepper and underbrush. Best today on the very long, floral back end, where the firm tannins currently clamp down on the wine’s fruit. This youthfully medicinal wine is tighter than the Volnay premier crus here and in need of a good seven or eight years of cellaring. Incidentally, Sebastien Boillot describes the family’s 2011s as less charming than the ’10s and ’12s and believes that they will need long aging.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2010 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90-92 points “The 2010 Savigny-les-Beaune Les Lavieres boasts striking inner perfume and an expressive core of dark red fruit. This is another big wine within the context of its appellation, but the balance is first-rate. Layers of fruit continue to build to the powerful, textured finish. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2025.” WA
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Domaine Henri Boillot Les Lavieres, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36 bottles available
Burghound 89 points “A pungently earthy nose of lightly spiced plum and various dark pinot fruit aromas leads to energetic and well-detailed flavors that exude a fine minerality on the delicious and solidly persistent finish. I like the mouth feel as it’s relatively fine and about the only nit is a bit of gas so I would suggest decanting this if you’re going to try a bottle young.”BH
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Domaine Henri Boillot Les Chevrets, Volnay Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-94 points “Bright ruby-red. Expressive, very ripe nose combines black cherry, wild herbs, leather, smoke and earth. Wonderfully sweet and silky but bright, with a creamy small-berry character to the intense flavors of black cherry, iron, dark chocolate and minerals. For all its density, this conveys a juicy quality and considerable elegance.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Chevrets, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($99.95) $77 special, 10 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Bright red-ruby. Rather brooding aromas of cassis, blackberry, smoke and licorice are pure and discreet. Surprisingly rich on entry, then lush and seamless in the middle, but with very good acidity framing and lifting the black fruit and game flavors. The powerful, rising finish features building tannins and a distinct thick-skinned character. The old vines in Boillot’s parcel were strongly affected by millerandage, which largely explains this wine’s extra measure of texture and concentration.” ST
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The next best price is $99.97
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 8 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Good deep red. Black cherry, licorice and herbs on the nose, given punch by strong peppery spices. Sweet, supple and nicely concentrated if a bit less complex and high-pitched than the 2009 version. Lovely black cherry fruit displays a tangy sweetness. The very long finish features dusty, fine-grained tannins. The crop level here was just 18 hectoliters per hectare, according to Boillot.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Les Fremiets, Volnay Premier Cru 2008 750ML ($99.95) $77 special, 14 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Deep red-ruby. Highly perfumed, musky aromas of black raspberry and smoky minerality. Large-scaled, round and rich but not yet complex; less creamy and fine-grained than the Chevrets, showing a youthful toughness from the calcaire-rich soil. Despite the fact that this was the first pinot parcel Boillot picked in 2011, this wine relies more on its big, ripe tannins than on its acids for balance. Really saturates the palate on the aftertaste.” ST
Domaine Henri Boillot Santenots, Volnay Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($119.95) $79 special, 11 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92-94 points “Deep red-ruby. Black raspberry, dark chocolate, game and a wild hint of leather on the nose, with a floral element emerging with air. Sweet, rich, broad and deep, boasting a velour-like, utterly mouthfilling texture that’s rare for the vintage. Excellent acidity gives this firmly tannic, very long wine terrific energy and lift. Very strong Santenots.” ST
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Overview Owen Roe
Good Relations between Oregon + Washington
Not long after co-launching Sineann winery, David O’Reilly released his first Owen Roe wines in 1999. Based in the Willamette Valley and featuring Oregon Pinots, he was one of the first winemakers in the Valley to produce reds wine from Yakima Valley grapes. Today, David is joined by his wife, Angelica, and Julie and Ben Wolff as co-owners. After 15 years of purchasing fruit from Washington vineyards through long-term contracts, O’Reilly has expanded production and purchased an estate vineyard in Yakima Valley in 2011. Planting was recently completed at the vineyard, renamed Union Gap. The modest estate’s winery was completed in 2014, and is the new home of Washington wine production for Owen Roe.
The windswept Union Gap vineyard is situated on intensely rocky soils of cobblestones and large boulders. It is to the far north of the Yakima Valley AVA and sees long, warm days with cooling winds. The land is so rugged that they were forced to use rebar to train the vines as the bamboo proved too flimsy to be hammered into the soil. Some of the harshest land includes alluvial soil from the Ellensburg Formation, an ancient riverbed; it is here and in the windiest areas that they planted Rhone varietals to best slow the maturation of the grapes and allow for concentration and structure in the resulting wines. On the south-facing slopes, they planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.
All of the grapes are hand-harvested and undergo minimal processing. The wide range of cuvees from both side of the Columbia River are fermented in small lots and aged in French oak. We are pleased to offer a selection of Owen Roe wines from Oregon and Washington, all available here now:
Newly Arrived and Re-Arrived Owen Roe Wines:
OREGON
Owen Roe O’Reilly’s Pinot Noir 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 12 bottles available
Vinopolnote: A reliable and easy-drinking Oregon pinot with broad appeal and elegance.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast – Editors’ Choice 91 points “This deservedly popular value bottle gets the star Pinot treatment—nine months in French oak, 27% new. It’s spicy and full-flavored, with resonant blue plum fruit, buttery toast and a tannic frame.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $23
Owen Roe ‘Eola – Amity Hills’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Vivid ruby. Intensely perfumed aromas of fresh blackberry, smoky minerals and incense, along with a suave floral overtone. Pure, expansive red and dark berry flavors put on weight with air and pick up a candied rose quality while maintaining impressive clarity. This rich yet energetic pinot finishes with excellent back-end thrust, supple tannins and lingering smokiness.” JR
Owen Roe Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 11 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes red berries, gingerbread and potpourri, with a vanilla nuance adding depth. Smooth and seamless on the palate, with sappy black raspberry and bitter cherry flavors enlivened by clove and allspice. Sweet and focused on the clinging finish, which is firmed by supple, late-arriving tannins.” JR
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Owen Roe The Kilmore Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2014 750ML ($44.95) $39 special, 3 bottles available
Winery note “2014 was a vintage of ripe clean grapes with moderate to high sugar levels and ripe phenolics. Yields increased by 16% from 2013 and grapes were picked at a high level of ripeness. Merriman Vineyard and Lenne Vineyard are both located in Yamhill-Carlton and fall in the rain shadow of Trask Mountain, the tallest mountain in the Coastal Range. The 2014 Kilmore Pinot Noir is a blend of Pommard, Wadensvil and Dijon clone Pinot Noir from exceptional vineyard sites in the Yamhill-Carlton AVA. The dark fruit and coffee notes are hallmarks of the distinct ocean bottom soils in the area of Oregon.”
WASHINGTON
Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 2 bottles available
From the winery “Always a crowd favorite, the 2013 vintage proves to be another great attempt at creating a fruit forward, yet bold Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine exudes juicy aromas of pomegranate, blackberry and tobacco spice. Flavors of jalapeno, hints of eucalyptus and mint and a balanced mouth-feel finish with bright acidity and firm tannins. We recommend opening this wine now and enjoying it at a young age, however, this will age well for 4-6 years when properly cellared.”
Owen Roe Sharecropper’s Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2014 750ML ($17.95) $14 special, 5 bottles available
“Everyone’s favorite go-to weeknight Cab does not disappoint in 2014. Sweet aromas of blackberry, candied fruit, vanilla and brown sugar leads to a more savory palate of pomegranate, green pepper and oil cured olives. This Cabernet finishes with bright acidity and lingering tannins. We recommend opening this wine now and enjoying it at a young age, however, this will age well for 4-6 years when properly cellared.”–Winery Notes
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $17
Owen Roe Abbot’s Table Red 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
46% Zinfandel, 31% Sangiovese, 14% Blaufränkisch, and 9% Malbec
Stephen Tanzer – Vinous 89 points “(the Zinfandel component comes from a very hot, rocky site): Good full red. Dark berries, black pepper and licorice aromas are lifted by a violet topnote. Very smooth and sweet but juicy as well, showing lovely peppery, spicy verve to the black fruit flavors. In a distinctly brisk style: O’Reilly picks this fruit at very reasonable sugars–as low as 22.5 degrees Brix for the Malbec component. An attractive, creamy wine with sappy freshness, this early-released “cash-flow blend” relies as much on its acidity as on its tannins for structure. Finishes with good persistence.”ST
Owen Roe ‘Ex Umbris’ Syrah, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 points “This 100% varietal wine offers generous notes of fig, chocolate and smoke. It’s restrained yet rich, supple and layered with boysenberry and chocolate flavors that linger.”
Owen Roe Yakima Valley Red, Washington 2012 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 90 points “A good value, the 2012 Yakima Valley Red Wine is a blend of 36% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Malbec, all of which spent 20 months in 20% new French oak, where it was racked only once prior to bottling. Inky colored, with ample plum and darker berry fruits, licorice and herbal notes, it’s medium to full-bodied, rounded, supple, and downright sexy by this estate’s standards. It offers tons of pleasure and will drink nicely for 4-5 years.”
Owen Roe Yakima Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A focused red, with fine tannins underlining the ripe cherry, herb and black olive flavors, coming together harmoniously on the generous, refined finish. Drink now through 2020.”
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard Chapel Block Syrah, Yakima Valley 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Adovcate 94 points “A smoking effort, the 2011 Syrah Chapel Block offers up beautiful blackberry and raspberry fruit, crushed rock and spice to go with a medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless feel on the palate. Made from 100% Syrah and aged 12 months in 35% new French oak, this layered, pure and balanced 2011 can be consumed anytime over the coming decade.” WA
Owen Roe Red Willow Vineyard 1973 Block Cabernet Sauvignon, Yakima Valley 2012 750ML ($79.95) $66 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “(14.5% alcohol): Healthy bright red-ruby. Musky black raspberry, tobacco, mocha, bitter chocolate, cola spices, menthol and licorice on the nose, with suggestions of very ripe fruit. Plush, sweet and deep, offering lovely concentration and complexity to its brooding dark fruit, tobacco and spice flavors. Tactile and broad but in no way exaggerated. Finishes with serious ripe, dusty tannins and outstanding energy and rising perfume. This has buns of steel to support a graceful evolution in bottle.” ST
Owen Roe Union Gap Cabernet Franc, Yakima Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “(46% new oak): Good full red. Redcurrant, raspberry, tobacco leaf, licorice and flowers on the nose, with complementary oak tones; O’Reilly told me he plucked out the green berries that did not “color up, as they would have resulted in a mouth full of pyrazines.” Boasts terrific concentration and floral lift to the berry and spice flavors, with a firm mineral underpinning contributing definition. Very pretty, perfumed and long on the aftertaste, with a serious tannic backbone to support aging. Offers terrific balance and class.” ST
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Owen Roe Union Gap, Yakima Valley 2011 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Union Gap Vineyard is a blend of 38% Cabernet Franc, 29% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Malbec. Complex, yet also subtle on the nose, with beautifully pure black raspberry, crushed flowers and underbrush-like aromas, this beauty hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, fine tannin and a seamless, lengthy finish that keeps you coming back to the glass. It will have 15+ years of longevity.”
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Jadot’s Résonance Vineyard
Debuting in America
Jacques Lardiere made his name as winemaker for Maison Louis Jadot for 42 years. He is arguably the most important winemaker and personality in Burgundy in the last 20+ years and oversaw the production of more than 140 different wines from more than 100 different classified appellations around Burgundy and Beaujolais.
His new focus is on crafting Pinot Noir from the Résonance Vineyard in the Yamhill-Carlton region of Oregon. This dry-farmed, bio-dynamic vineyard covers 32 acres (19 acres planted) and holds some of the oldest rootstocks (non-grafted) in the Willamette Valley. Planted in 1981 in a mix of sedimentary deposits and ancient basaltic soils the site ranges from 250-450 feet in elevation and is south/southwest facing.
Arriving This Friday, February 5th
Résonance Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Light and focused, showing distinctive subtlety. A layer of crinkly tannins underlies a pulsing core of mineral-accented cherry and red berry flavors, hinting at cinnamon as the finish lingers gently.” HS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $64.99
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Domestic Bliss
Other Fantastic Wines
Upcoming Arrivals
Also Arriving February 5th:
Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington 2013 750ML ($59.95) $43.80 pre-arrival special
Case-12 Woodward Canyon Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, Washington 2013 750ML ($599.95) $479 pre-arrival special (that’s only $39.91/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc; Release notes:“This ‘Artist Series’ Cabernet Sauvignon is produced from many of the finest and most highly regarded vineyards in Washington State. Each produces fantastic wine in their own right; when blended they produce an extraordinary wine. This enticing and deeply colored red wine shows a complex nose of baking spice, black olive and graham integrated beautifully with aromas of ripe berry. Integrated tannins enhance the texture and give proportion; the finish is complex, generous, and long. While this wine can be enjoyed now it will benefit greatly from additional cellaring and, with proper storage, should develop for ten years or more.”
Silver Oak Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2011 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Winery notes: “Our 2011 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant representation of Napa Valley Cabernet from a cool vintage. It presents an opaque garnet hue in the glass and reveals aromas of sandalwood and roasted meats. Flavors of vanilla, coffee beans and raspberries are buttressed by dusty tannins, firm acidity and a mouth-coating texture. Given proper cellaring, this wine should provide drinking pleasure through 2029.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Mark Ryan Winery Long Haul Proprietary Red, Red Mountain 2012 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 92 points “The 2012 Long Haul Ciel du Cheval Vineyard is another terrific Bordeaux blend from this team. Made from 49% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it was vinified in stainless steel and aged in once used French oak barrels. It exhibits subtle hints of coffee bean in its red and black fruits, roasted meats, spice and licorice-styled bouquet, and picks up more and more floral nuances with time. Full-bodied, tight, focused and a little backward, it opens up nicely in the glass, has integrated acidity and a clean finish. Give it 2-4 years and drink it through 2032.”
Dunham Cellars Lewis Estate Vineyard Syrah, Columbia Valley 2011 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Another terrific effort, and one of the strongest Syrahs in the vintage, the 2011 Syrah Lewis Vineyard is 100% Syrah that spent 30 months in 90% new French oak, which you’d never know by tasting it. Gorgeous blackberry, blueberry, wild herbs, licorice, chocolate and hints of crushed rock all emerge from this beauty, and it flows onto the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, bright acidity and a seamless, elegant profile. It’s enjoyable now, but will shine for another decade at least as well.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $74.95
Doubleback Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Bright, medium ruby-red. Sexy nutty oak complements ripe cassis, minerals, licorice and herbs on the nose. Wonderfully silky and refined, but with sexy herbal lift to the seamless berry and spice flavors. Very suave, youthful, classy Cabernet with sneaky depth of flavor and noble tannins. Sappy, subtle and long on the aftertaste. I find this wine much easier to taste today than the more backward 2012. Will it go into a shell or will it remain harmonious?” ST
R. Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco, Rioja DOCa 1981 750ML ($249.95) $189 pre-arrival special
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate 95 points “The 1981 Vina Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva has a complex bouquet of barley sugar, candle wax, dandelion and a touch of melon. The palate is medium-bodied with fine acidity, dried honey and a touch of lemongrass than lends it edge. The finish is bone dry, beautifully defined and persistent in the mouth. Drink now-2030+”
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 93 points “The richly-colored 1981 1981 Viña Tondonia Blanco Gran Reserva captures the essence of this house’s wines. It is a wine of great complexity as well as contrasts. At once mature yet seemingly ageless, full-bodied yet somehow also miraculously delicate, it displays evolved sensations of earthiness, smoke, roasted nuts and dried apricots in a more oxidative style with great persistence on the palate and enough acidity to make me think it will drink well for at least another ten or so years.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 93 points “True gold, but remarkably youthful for its age. W ild, complex bouquet of pungent flowers, succulent herbs, orange peel, violet, vanilla, toasted nuts and baking spices. Rich, deep and beautifully concentrated, with surprising energy to the ripe pear and poached apple flavors complemented by marzipan and vanilla. This actually tightens up on the finish, showing a lingering exotic, spicy character. You could drink this right now or even hold it for a few more years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $35.99 more per bottle at $224.99
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Time to Say Good Buy!
Two Hands Bella’s Garden
Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $47 special, 36 bottles available
Case-6 Two Hands Wines Bella’s Garden Shiraz, Barossa Valley 2013 750ML ($349.95) $249 special, 7 half-cases available
Wine Advocate 94+ points “Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2013 Shiraz Bella’s Garden has wonderfully pure black and blue fruit notes of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and cassis with nuances of black pepper, star anise, tar and cumin seed. Big, rich and concentrated in the mouth, the full-bodied palate bursts with peppered blackberry flavors supported by firm, grainy tannins and lively acidity, finishing with great persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $54.98
Kaiken Terroir Series Corte Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Petit Verdot, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($19.95) $14 special, 34 bottles available
Case-12 Kaiken Terroir Series Corte Cabernet Sauvignon – Malbec – Petit Verdot, Mendoza, Argentina 2012 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 9 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “This is beautiful and sexy with lots of dark fruits, dark chocolate and hints of vanilla bean. Cappuccino too. There’s lots of new wood showing but it’s integrated and delicious. Cabernet sauvignon, malbec and petit verdot. Drink now.” JS
The case price is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Last Minute Addition!
Cameron Winery Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 pre-arrival special
Vinopolnote: Declassified Yamhill-Carlton bottling from, as always, non-irrigated vines. Sourced from the Briscoe Vineyard, all-Wadensweil clone.
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