Goodfellow Bishop Creek
Last Chance at These Ultra-Low Prices
Bishop Creek Vineyard is a special vineyard, located in the western part of Yamhill-Carlton at a higher elevation than many of the famous sites of the AVA. Though it’s now the estate vineyard for Nicolas Jay Winery (the Oregon outpost of esteemed Burgundy producer Jean-Nicolas Meo), Marcus Goodfellow for several years made wine for his own label and also for Bishop Creek, which were often highlights both of his portfolio as well as Yamhill in general. Since the sale of the vineyard, though, he’s been unable to make more and so we were able to secure the last of it made under the Goodfellow label.Stylistically, it shows some of its intrinsic Yamhill-Carlton personality through darker toned fruit, but compared to almost anything else in the appellation (save perhaps Belle Pente) it’s much more elegant and vivid, with a levity that’s unusual for the AVA. The 2014 is a bit of a (delicious) paradox—dark fruited and more powerful than a “typical” Goodfellow wine, but fresher and more elegant than a typical Yamhill-Carlton bottling, especially from 2014. The good news is that almost anyone should feel comfortable popping a bottle and enjoying it, either now or (especially) 5+ years down the road.
This is the last chance to grab some at these historic prices, so if you’re interested, act quickly. New pricing effective midnight Jan 14.
Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($41.95) Was $37, Now $29, Will Be $33, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!) , Will Be $349
Case-6 Goodfellow Family Cellars Bishop Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2014 750ML ($219.95) $166 special (that’s only $27.67/bottle!) , Will Be $189
Grapelive 91 points “Delicately layered and spicy, the 2014 Bishop Creek is a pretty effort, especially for a richer vintage in Oregon. Made by Marcus Goodfellow, the ex-Evesham Wood and Westrey man, [he] is coming into his own as a talent, inspired by Doerner of Cristom and John Paul of Cameron. You can see the style showing through here. Bishop Creek, planted to Pommard and Wadenswil (old Swiss clone), [is] now owned by Nicolas Meo of the famed Burgundy Domaine Meo-Camuzet. [The vineyard] ([which is] not far from Shea Vineyards) formed this wine with its distinct strawberry and racy red cherry core along with the mixed spice, mineral tones and light wood influence. Its southern exposure and Willakenzie soils (dark rocky marine sediment) give warmth and grace. Planted in 1988, the vines ripen without flamboyant extraction, allowing more finesse to show through. At 13.9% this medium weight wine offers fine detail, opulence and restrained, almost earthy, soulfulness. Hints of bitter herb, cedar and candied citrus rind add a tangy note to the whole and the finish echoes the red fruits in subtle fashion with a touch of wilted roses lingering on. It shines right now, though best to enjoy it with cuisine to match as it is a tad shier than other 2014 Oregon Pinots (I’ve tried) and needs time and coaxing to reach its beautiful peak. Best from 2018 to 2022.”
The next best price for any vintage is $36
(And here you thought you’d missed your chance…)
When Wine Spectator put the Baumard Savennieres in the top-15 of their Top 100 list, we won’t say that we were surprised. At 94 points (and under $25), it was a clear critical favorite—with good reason. Baumard is one of the top producers in the Loire and for dry Chenin Blanc this is a tough wine to beat. (Really, for dry, full bodied whites in general, but we digress.) Needless to say, the wine sold out almost instantly as a result of the additional press, but we’re pleased to have it back in stock again.This wine is one of the better values you’ll see and also one of the most versatile wines in the store in terms of pairings. The wine marries a rich texture (that’s oak-free) to a crisp acidity that cleanses the palate and anchors the long, mineral finish. This pairs with everything from white fish to roast pork and at a price/quality level that means you can drink it on Tuesday or on a special occasion. Just don’t delay if you’re interested—we don’t expect it to stick around long this time, either.
#15 Wine of the Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Domaine des Baumard Savennieres, Loire 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Alluring, with quince, creamed pear, verbena and green almond flavors allied to a creamy texture, all offset beautifully through the finish by light quinine and mineral hints. Approachable, but this seems built for the cellar. Best from 2018 through 2030.”
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Antonio Galloni 89 points “Le Cinciole’s 2013 Chianti Classico is a very pretty, delicate, mid-weight wine. Lifted and gracious in style, the 2013 will drink nicely for at least the next few years. Crushed flowers, sweet red fruit, cherry pit and spices add lovely shades of nuance throughout. This is a very pretty, understated Chianti Classico from Le Cinciole.”
The average price is $20
Le Cinciole Petresco, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $29, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2010 Petresco shows the darker side of Sangiovese. Black cherries, plums, smoke, sage, tobacco and leather are all pushed forward in a big, powerful wine that is going to need time to soften and become fully expressive. Then again, the Cinciole wines have a way of blossoming in bottle, so it will be interesting to see what time brings.”
The next best price is $36
Francesco Rinaldi & Figli Barbaresco DOCG, Piedmont, Italy 2013 750ML ($49.95) Was $39, Now $33, 34 bottles in stock now
“Toasted hazelnut, menthol, culinary spice and mature berry aromas lift out of the glass. The straightforward palate offers dried black cherry, licorice, clove and firm tannins.”–Wine Enthusiast
Giacomo Conterno Cerretta Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2014 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2014 Barbera d’Alba Cerretta is a magnificent expression and an unexpected surprise. The Barbera d’Alba Cerretta has often taken a back seat to the more prominent Barbera d’Alba Francia. Among the two, I found that this wine offers even more depth of expression and nuance. The vineyard site in Serralunga d’Alba has clay soils that have contributed to the sheer sense of elegance and structure offered here. The results are grand and opulent. The wine ends with a playful touch of brimstone or dark mineral that frames its fruity core.”
The average price is $52
Weingut Willi Schaefer Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $69, Now $59, 29 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This “maiden wine” comes from the “new” parcel in the central part of the vineyard which was replanted after the 2011 vintage. This shows a quite smoky nose at first and only gradually reveals a fruity side driven by apricot and orange as well as mint and yellow peach. The wine is creamy and smooth on the palate, with just the right amount of acidity to keep things interesting. The unctuous feel to the finish in the finish adds to the pleasure of enjoying this deep and direct expression of Sonnenuhr Auslese. 2025-2040”
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93 points ““This was the one place where we had early botrytis,” explained Willi Schaefer, “but that was simply because of the replanting and young vines that had so few clusters, with berries so tiny and thin-skinned that they were vulnerable to botrytis and needed early picking regardless.” Mango and passion fruit wreathed in heliotrope and lily make for a head-turningly heady nose, then pick up a welcome bit of fresh apple juiciness and tartness on the expansive, buoyant palate. The lingering, lusciously fruited finish is soothing and enveloping, yet not without refreshment. Given the amazing focus, clarity and energy that characterize so many wines in the Schaefers’ 2015 collection, one has to recalibrate to appreciate the manifest but very different virtues of this Wehlener – almost the alter-ego of the corresponding Himmelreich rendered from later-picked, wind-desiccated berries.”
Joh. Jos. Christoffel Erben Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Auslese *** Goldkapsel, Mosel 2015 750ML ($79.95) Was $59, Now $49, 26 bottles in stock now
Mosel Fine Wines 94 points “This proves very delicate and rather restrained on the nose as scents of anise, yellow peach, smoke (bacon) and bergamot emerge from the glass. The wine only really reveals its intensity and complexity on the palate after some airing. Yet the finish is airy, light and pure. This terrify effort should develop into a great subtle Auslese in a decade or two. 2025-2050.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $65.99
Peter Lauer Fass 8 Ayler Kupp Kabinett, Mosel 2014 750ML ($37.95) Was $31.90, Now $26, 36+ bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91-92 points ‘The 2014 Ayler Kupp Kabinett from Florian Lauer is really a lovely and quite classic example of this Prädikat, with lovely acidity and minerality providing a fine filigree to the wine and a nice sense of reserve out of the blocks as well. The very classy nose wafts from the glass in a mix of green apple, tart orange, slate, lovely smokiness and a touch of dried flowers in the upper register. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, pure and focused, with a good core, bright acids, a nice touch of sweetness on the attack and lovely length and grip on the elegant and nascently complex finish. This is quite approachable now, but still a touch primary, and I would be inclined to give it at least a few years in the cellar to develop its secondary layers of complexity. 2019-2035+.” JG
Weingut Joh. Bapt. Schafer Burg Layer Schlossberg Riesling Spatlese, Nahe, Germany 2015 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 35 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2015 Burg Layer Schlossberg Riesling Spätlese was auctioned in Bad Kreuznach in September 2016. Sourced from vines that are less than 30 years old, it opens with a very clear, ripe and almost tropical fruit aroma intertwined with delicate, flinty notes from the reddish/silvery slatey clay soils. This is another reductive styled, racy, piquant and finesse-full Riesling with tropical fruit aromas, some toasted speck and date flavors. Its combination of finesse and lush fruit texture reminds me of red slate Rieslings from the Mosel such as Ürziger Würzgarten or the red slate parts of the Pünderich Marienburg. The finish is full of tension and grip. A gorgeous Spätlese of which 400 liters have been produced.”
Mosel Fine Wines 92 points “Made from a 25-year-old parcel and harvested at 94° Oechsle, this delivers a nice set of fruity and juicy aromatics including yellow peach, quince star anise, rose water and grapefruit juice. The wine starts off on the light side on the palate but creamy fruits paired with rich Auslese GK styled sweetness quickly take over before some pear, pineapple and peach lead the way to a juicy and creamy long finish. This is a nicely creamy and clean Auslese GK styled Riesling. 2022-2035”
Selbach-Oster ‘Anrecht’ Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2014 750ML ($49.95) Was $33, Now $26, 34 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “Bottled with 8% alcohol, the 2014 Zeltinger Himmelreich Riesling Spätlese Anrecht (erroneously designated as Spätlese instead of Auslese) opens with a super ripe and intense, stunningly bright and clear bouquet of very fine Riesling flavors; there are apple and pip aromas due to a higher proportion of golden and green grapes, and a lesser proportion of botrytis, due to the higher altitude of the Anrecht plot. There is so much finesse and piquancy in this juicy, elegant and well concentrated Riesling, which reveals a long and complex finish, as well as great finesse.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “This product of block-picking (as opposed to selective picking) conveys a sense of ripeness and botrytization that could as easily have been captured in the word “Auslese.” Candied lemon, mint and anise mingle in the nose with suggestions of the quince, apple and Persian melon that come to dominate on a lush and expansive yet animatedly juicy palate. A hint of white raisin testifies delectably to the share of shriveled berries. Sweaty salinity lends mouthwatering intrigue while the fruit retains an invigoratingly tangy edge in a finish that readily stimulates the desire to take the next seductive, by no means overly sweet sip.”
The average price is $38
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr ‘Rotlay’ Riesling, Mosel 2014 750ML ($59.95) Was $44, Now $39, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94+ points “The 2014 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese Rotlay offers a superbly clear and concentrated bouquet with tropical fruit aromas (mango, pineapples) and fine botrytis. Picked with 110° Oechsle, this is a sweet, piquant, highly elegant and refined Riesling with a lingering purity and salinity, as well as the repetition of the tropical fruit aromas of the nose. With great finesse and concentration, this is quite noble and expressive Riesling.”
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $48
Selbach-Oster Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese**, Mosel 2013 375ML ($39.95) Was $33, Now $24, 36+ half-bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “Bright in color the two-starred 7.5% alcohol 2013 Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Riesling Auslese ** is an intensely (noble) sweet and creamy-textured selection, which was picked on November 1 and is made for future generations. Very sweet and dense on the palate it still has to become more wine-y but the wine has definitely talent.” WA
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau, Austria 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 33 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “Warm and intense on the nose, ripe and concentrated white fruit aromas open the 2015 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg, which is pure and citric on the nose and very inviting. Pure, fresh and piquant on the palate, this is rather coolish and stunningly lean and pure Loibenberg compared to the corresponding Grüner Veltliner. Lucas believes that Riesling has eventually stopped the ripening process during the vegetation period. This 2015 has grip and tension and a rather coolish character.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A concentrated, peach-flavored white, with accents of honey, anise and apple exuding ripeness, while citrusy acidity reigns everything in. Stretches out lazily on the finish. Drink now through 2020.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $55
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Vom Stein Jungfernlese Riesling, Wachau, Austria 2006 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39, 27 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise notes: “It means the virgin-vintage, the first crop from young vines. And it’s what the Germans would call Feinherb, and it’s what any sane person would call irresistible! A potion of iris and lavender, spicy and penetrating; very long, seductively earthy, like a really profound Nahe Spätlese, almost the 5-spice and wildflower of Dönnhoff’s Felsenberg.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $53.99
Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant, Spain 2014 750ML ($21.950 Was $18, Now $14, 36+ bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Highly perfumed, evoking ripe cherry and blackcurrant that are complemented by slowly emerging aromas of cured meat, lavender and minerals. Enlivened by a spicy nuance, the silky, sweet and penetrating palate offers intense dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. Seamless and very nicely concentrated, with smooth tannins lending shape to a very long, fruit-driven finish.” JR
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The Hottest Wines of the New Year
Case-12 Marques de Caceres Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
#19 Wine Of The Year – Wine Spectator Top 100 2017
Wine Spectator 93 points “Black cherry, currant and floral notes are expressive and alluring, balanced by loamy earth, tobacco and mineral elements that add a savory quality. Firm, well-integrated tannins give support to the polished texture, while orange peel acidity fuels the fresh finish. Drink now through 2027.”
Domaine Huet Vouvray ‘Le Mont’ Demi-Sec, Loire 2015 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $36, 36+ bottles in stock nowWine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Vouvray Le Mont Demi-Sec is deep, rich and flinty on the nose, with caramel and vegetable flavors indicating a great complexity. Full-bodied, dense and powerful, this is highly complex and persistent, yet refreshing and transparent Chenin with a juicy fruit and lots of grip, energy and tension. Rather demure at the moment, this enormously structured wine has a great aging potential and I recommend to store it for 6-10 years, at least.”
John Gilman 95 points “The 2015 Le Mont Demi-Sec from Domaine Huët is an outstanding young wine, with even more depth and potential than the superb Le Haut Lieu Demi. The bouquet is bottomless, delivering scents of pineapple, sweet quince, incipient notes of honey, chalky minerality, a touch of lanolin, floral tones redolent of buttercups and lovely, esthery citrus elements in the upper register. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, beautifully balanced and displays stunning depth at the core, with lovely acidity (particularly for the vintage!), great focus and grip and a very, very long, primary and exceptional finish. This does not have the backend cut or grip of a vintage such as 2007 or 2008, but it is going to be a great example of Domaine Huët Demi-Sec. It is deceptively easy to drink today, but its true apogee is at least a decade or more out from the vintage! 2016-2075. 95.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “Named after a cat owned by Charles when he was living in Walla Walla, the 2014 M C K Syrah sports a deep purple color as well as ripe, decadent notes of black fruits, plums, graphite, crushed rock and licorice. Big, sexy, seamless and pure, with present, yet ripe tannin, drink it through 2024. It’s worth noting that this comes completely from the River Rock vineyard in this vintage. As usual, it’s a crazy value.”
Grapelive 93 points “The Charles Smith K Vintners “M*C*K Syrah is a rock and roll red that proves both powerful and wonderfully textural in feel with sharp detailing and extra length, and while tannic by nature there is a lot to love in this vintage with black raspberry, sweet currant and dark chocolate covered bacon bits! This lush Syrah perfectly illustrates the house style and the terroir. Its bold frame is balance by perfectly reasonable 14% natural alcohol and inner acidity and an electric boost of energy matching its sweet fruited palate. Washington State is home to magical Syrah, with Cayuse, Betz and Gramercy Cellars (one of my personal favorites) being two of the higher profile examples. Many more are filling the scene with great wines like Reynvaan, Horsepower, Dunham Delmas, Waters, Mark Ryan, Trust, Syncline, Gorman, Rotie, Sleight of Hand, Amavi and Efeste all offering amazing quality. Charles Smith’s K Vintners reminds me of either Guigal or Jaboulet with his amazing array of bottlings from entry level wines to top single vineyard Crus, with lots of seriously good stuff in the middle, like this well rounded Motor City Kitty Syrah. [It] was fermented using native yeasts, with a long 43 days on the skins and aged 22 months in French puncheons, 30% new, from a Walla Walla vineyard planted to a Tablas Creek clone. [It is] 100% Syrah and grown on old river bed with large cobbles and well-draining rocky soils. This 2014 maintained its natural acidity allowing a real fresh verve to stay in this alluring and richly flavored wine that shows ripe boysenberry, minty plum, blueberry compote, sweet black cherry and dense creme de cassis as well as subtle vanilla wood notes, hints of acacia flowers, graphite, bitter coco, anise and that candied bacon bits mentioned above. The evolution in the glass is graceful and more refined than I had imagined. There is plenty of life here and I think in many ways it will be even more rewarding in 3 to 5 years in bottle. It’s not exactly what I expected, but thrilling none the less with very impressive detail and a very worthy performance.”Wine Enthusiast 93 points –Editors’ Choice–“This aromatically brooding wine brings aromas of brown stems, scorched earth, smoked meat, iron, violets, orange peel and blue and black fruit. The flavors coat the palate from end to end with silky soft, unabashedly appealing fruit and savory notes. It hits the delicious gong hard, with an enduring finish.”
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A ripe, powerful wine, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia offers a level of finesse that balances some of the more overt intensity of the year. Dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice add shades of nuance as this beautifully delineated Rancia opens up in the glass. Because of its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2012 will give up its charms relatively early by Rancia standards, which means around age 15-20. The 2012 is not an obvious or explosive Rancia, rather is a wine built on compelling overall harmony.”Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2011 750ML ($59.95) Was $49, Now $39 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Broad and brooding, this muscular Barbaresco packs in black cherry, tar, licorice and spice flavors. More about power than finesse, with a long finish. Best from 2019 through 2035.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2011 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is sweet, round and sensual. Beautifully layered in the glass, the Pora is absolutely exquisite, with plenty of sweet red cherry, plum, mint and spice notes woven throughout. The Pora is typically the most open of the Produttori’s nine Riservas, as it is once again this year. There is so much to like here.” AG
The next best price is $47.67
The average price is $56
Bonus Sale Wines
Ultra-Rare/Ultra-Classic
Winery-Cellared Release
Winery-direct cellar released bottles
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Medium red. A highly perfumed bouquet displays red fruit preserves, smoked meat and potpourri. Deeply pitched redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors show a slight medicinal reserve, which makes this wine seem far younger than it is. The potpourri note builds with air and carries through a long, chewy, smoky finish. Definitely let this air out for an hour or so. Incidentally, I had the chance to drink two lithe and highly fragrant bottles of the 1961 Vina Bosconia at a restaurant in San Sebastian that had been in their cellar for at least the last 20 years. If you’re lucky enough to own that wine (like these older wines, it is still available from the winery) there’s absolutely no reason to hold off drinking it. I couldn’t hold off, twice.”Now it’s even lower!
The next best price for the winery-cellared release is $1,399
Winery-direct cellar released bottles
Decanter 98 points, Wine Spectator 95 points “Extraordinary. Sweet vanilla and dried berry aromas and flavors have an unexpected richness in this vibrant red. Impressive for its balance of concentration and elegance; firm tannins meld with a creamy texture. The long finish defines traditional Rioja at its best.”WS
Bin End Cali Pinot
Hartford Family Winery Hartford Court Fog Dance Vineyard Pinot Noir, Green Valley 2014 750ML ($69.95) Was $59, Now $49, 8 bottles in stock nowRobert Parker 93 points “The 2014 Pinot Noir Fog Dance Vineyard comes from Dijon clones 115, 667 and 777 grown in another cold, windy area in the Green Valley, south of the old hippie town of Forestville. Soft, spicy, tart red cherries in addition to some plum, Asian spice, and forest floor are all present in this luscious, sexy, complex wine that offers up loads of fragrance, medium to full body and a heady finish. Drink it over the next 7-10 years.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $66.99
Wine Advocate 92 points “Pale to medium ruby-purple in color, the 2014 Pinot Noir Olivet Lane offers an earthy nose of underbrush, moss, dusty soil and truffles over notes of crushed Bing cherries and cranberries, plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium-bodied, elegant and fresh in the mouth, the red berry and earth flavors are well-supported by chewy tannins and give a nice long finish.”
Now it’s even lower!
The next best price is $77.43
The average price is $82
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