Vinopolis Newsletter 11-18-24

 
Italy
 

 

It’s November again and that means three things: Turkey, Pumpkin Pie, and Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list.
 
This year, one of our very favorite bottlings from one of our favorite wineries has been included. Year after year, GD Vajra (and especially their Albe Barolo) provides top quality wine for an amazing price.
 
G.D. Vajra is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels with their more entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is quite simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points they are benchmark wines against which all others are judged.
 
“This effusive red displays cherry, raspberry, rose, iron, juniper and hay flavors, underscored by vibrant acidity. Harmonious and supple in texture, with a long aftertaste of red fruit, mineral and floral elements. Best from 2028 through 2049. 3,500 cases imported.” –Bruce Sanderson-Wine Spectator
 
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2020 750ml $36 special, 36+ bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 Points “You can’t beat this value. The G.D. Vajra 2020 Barolo Albe is buttoned up with fresh primary fruit, and the wine does not have that hint of over-ripeness that is found across this vintage. The fruit is dark and savory, and there is a big mineral component to match, but the bouquet is nicely redolent of dark currant, plum, granite and a raspy dry note that brings crushed shale to mind. The tannins are quite impactful, and they give this wine extra runway for moderate bottle aging.”
 
…also in stock from GD Vajra:
 
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $33.50 special, 22 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 Points “This is certainly one of the most popular and versatile wines made in Italy, and deservedly so. The well-priced G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Albe shows some ripe fruit and softness with cherry, dried raspberry and crushed rose. This vintage is similar in character to the 2016 release in that both vintages offer a linear style with good structure at the back. The mouthfeel is polished and long, affording accessibility and complexity too.”
 
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $69 special, 13 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 Points “Compared to Bricco delle Viole, Coste di Rose is distinguished by sandstone soils at lower elevations of 340 to 350 meters above sea level. There is a lot of variability in the soils, and as they change, Nebbiolo behaves differently, picking up new aromas and textural qualities along the way. The beauty of this wine is the mouthfeel, which feels rich, tight and silky. Coste di Rose was first made in 2015.”
 
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 26 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 Points “The organic G.D. Vajra 2019 Barolo Ravera (with fruit from the most sought-after cru in the village of Novello) reveals gorgeous tonality and color. The wine shines bright with dark ruby and garnet gemstone. Healthy Nebbiolo colors like this can be admired across the 2019 vintage. It is softly textured but also strong in fiber, with silky sensations followed by dark fruit and concentration. Ravera has a character all its own, and the operative word here is power.”
 

 

Terre Nere ‘Dagala di Bocca d’Orzo’ Etna Rosso, Sicily, Italy 2022 750ml $138 special, 8 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “This is really alluring with a density and a creamy, silky texture that goes on and on. Medium- to full-bodied, it has great texture and length with raspberries and some dried orange peel. Subtle, seductive and caressing. Drink or hold”


Oregon

Sivilli Wine Co. Sparkling Wine, Willamette Valley United States NV 750ml $38 special, 36 bottles available
VinopolNote “This is a balanced, mouth-watering sparkler from Cameron Winery’s assistant winemaker, Tom Sivilli. Those in the know will understand that these wines are among the best in the Willamette Valley and are unfortunately very limited production, so they never last long! Nice and toasty on the palette, even a bit Brioche-y. Highly recommended.”
 
 
California
 
“Ric Forman’s 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is shaping up to be epic. A wine of unreal precision and energy, the 2019 dazzles with its magnicent purity and class.” –Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media
 
Forman Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA 2019 750ml $125.50 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 Points “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich, heady wine. Even though it was just bottled, the 2019 possesses remarkable textural intensity. A whole range of floral and savory notes open as this statuesque Cabernet shows off its personality. This is an especially rich, bombastic Cabernet from Ric Forman.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley offers a classic, old school Napa Cabernet nose of darker currants, green tobacco, spring flowers, camphor, and new leather. As with the 2018, it plays in a more medium to full-bodied, elegant style, has ripe yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. The 2019 is more accessible and open than the 2018 and should continue drinking brilliantly for another two decades if stored correctly.”
 
 
France
 
Olga Raffault Chinon Champ-Chenin, Loire, France 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 23 bottles available
David Bowler Importer Note “100% Chenin Blanc. Raffault planted Chenin under ten years ago on the special clay-limestone terroir of the Les Picasses hills and bottled it as “Chenin de Picasses” for this first time in the 2020 vintage (note: in France the wine bears a different label and name, “L’Or d’Olga”). The farming is certified-organic and the harvest is manual. The whole clusters are gently pressed and the must settled overnight. Fermentation to dryness takes place spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in 500-liter, second-and-third-use demi-muids; the wine does not go through malolactic fermentation and is aged on its fine lees for a year in the same barrels. It clarifies naturally during aging and is bottled without filtration.”
 
Olga Raffault Chinon Champ-Chenin, Loire, France 1993 750ml $54.50 special, 12 bottles available
Louis Dressner Importer Note “There is a scant amount of Chenin Blanc grown in Chinon compared to Cabernet Franc. Some of the oldest vines are in Raffault’s one-hectare monopole called Champ Chenin, a particularly limestone-rich patch of ground due west of Les Picasses.”
 
Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire, France 2009 750ml $64.50 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “The nose here displays plum, liquorice, gentle spices and a light earthy touch reminiscent of damp forest floor. The palate is striking for its vivacity and an overall impression of crystalline harmony. Exemplary Loire freshness coming from a solar vintage.”
 
Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses, Loire, France 2018 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2018 Chinon Les Picasses is from the famous plateau between the Loire and the Vienne Rivers. Rooting in deep silty clay soils on chalky tuff limestone mother rock and covered by limestone pebbles for 15-60 years and aged for 12 months in three- to seven-year-old barrels, the 2018 opens with an intense but elegant and refined bouquet of dark fruits and spicy notes. Silky, round and intense on the palate, this is a full-bodied, deep and complex, very long and sustainable Picasses with stimulating vitality and salinity. The tannins are ripe and fine and  intermingle well with the fine acidity of this juicy and stimulating Chinon—for now and the next 20-30 years (if cellared perfectly).”

 

 
Here at Vinopolis, we love to spend our time trying fun new wine pairings. While we’ve found that it is relatively easy to find good pairings for the foods of Thanksgiving, the experiences of the holiday are equally deserving of their own wines. As such, we turned to our resident humorist for 12 excellent wine pairings:
 
To drink by yourself while cooking and waiting for the onslaught of your loved ones to arrive:
1 Liter of Berger Grüner Veltliner 2023 $18 special, 32 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “[This wine] is a perfect foil for the infectious drinkability that this variety is known for but has an extra level of clarity and complexity that is sometimes missing from this category. Fermented entirely in stainless steel from estate grown. Loess dominated vineyards in the Kremstal.”
 
To serve to your uncle that only drinks light beer:
Substance Charles Smith Cabernet 2019 750ml $14.50 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “Juicy blue fruits, leafy tobacco, violets, and orange blossom notes all emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Cs and it’s medium to full-bodied, has a beautifully balanced, fruit-forward style, no hard edges, and a great finish. It’s no simple fruit bomb and has notable structure, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It reminds me of a top Cru Bourgeois from Bordeaux and represents a stunning value. Drink it over the coming 7-8 years.”
 
To drink while watching your younger cousins get married while you’re still single:
Tan Fruit Sophie’s Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Sophie’s Vineyard comes from an isolated vineyard near the town of Yoncalla in the Umpqua Valley, planted in the late 1970s with Draper and Wente selection. Matured in oak and finished with four months in stainless steel, it has fresh scents of green pear, quince and citrus blossom with undertones of almonds, flint and honey. The light-bodied palate is creamy and plush with gently nutty fruits and a long, refreshing finish.”
 
To drink while watching the Oregon Ducks continue to dominate this college football season:
Flaneur Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, 2022 750ml $28 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 Points “The 2022 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is rich in the glass, with a whiff of violets and lavender giving way to crushed raspberries and peppery rose tones. This is juicy and round with crisp wild berry fruits and tantalizing acidity that pinches at the cheeks. It finishes with a tart concentration and cranberry crunchiness, leaving edgy tannins that resonate.”
VinopolNote “This pinot noir is juicy, concentrated, and full of darker berry fruit and spice showing on the nose and palate. The structure has bright acidity and a long finish and is very approachable. This wine is ready to drink now and makes the perfect pairing pinot!”
 
Feigning interest in your aunt showing off the color palate for her new bathroom renovation:
Nino Franco Prosecco Rustico, NV 750ml $19 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Kerin O’keefe-Wine Enthusiast 94 Points “[Reviewed November 2021] This lovely sparkler never disappoints. It’s fragrant, with delicate scents of white spring flowers and white stone fruits while the dry, refreshing palate offers ripe pear, apple and white peach alongside a hint of fennel seed. An elegant perlage and fresh acidity provide the backdrop.”
 
To serve to your uncle, after he decides to bring up politics at the dinner table:
Leitz “0.5%” Pinot Noir 750ml $21.90 special, 22 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “The new ZERO-POINT-FIVE Pinot Noir offers a very appealing, vinous character; that is clean and fresh. Fruity notes of red currants and cherries are surrounded by a nicely embedded tannin structure and an almost dry finish. Of course, an alcohol-free wine will never have the same depth, structure and mouthfeel as a wine with alcohol, but the ZP5 comes extremely close and is simply a wine that tastes like … Impressive! This can pair well with roasts or game; it’s a nice option with grilled fish or a lamb biryani. Enjoy the newest addition slightly chilled and in a large glass.”(Due to UPS shipping policies, we are unable to ship this item.)

***Non-alcoholic still Pinot Noir. Contains 0.5% alcohol.***
Price includes 10 cent OR deposit. Shipping not available.
 

When a family member tries to sell you insurance:
Marietta Cellars Old Vine Red Lot 74 NV 750ml $18 special, 33 bottles available
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The NV Old Vine Red Lot 74 is primarily Zinfandel, with some Syrah, Petite Sirah, Carignan, Grenache and Barbera. Spicy and easy to drink, it has aromas of red and black cherries, mint, bitter chocolate and allspice with earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate is finely chalky and refreshing, with spicy fruit and an easygoing finish. This will be enjoyable with almost any dish at the table and, as always, overdelivers for the price.”
 
When a family member tries to get you to join their multi-level-marketing scheme:
Ameztoi Txakolina Rubentis, 2021 750ml $19 special, 36+ bottles available
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 Points “Pale orange. Finely etched red berry, citrus zest and floral aromas, along with building herb and mineral flourishes. Taut and nervy in the mouth, offering sappy strawberry, cherry and tangerine flavors that show fine delineation and spicy lift. Closes firm and right, with persistent red fruit notes and a refreshingly bitter edge.”
 
To serve when your aunt insists she found the best chardonnay in the world at her local grocery store:
Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet Grand Cru, 2021 750ml $1699 special, 2 bottles in stock now
Burghound 95-98 Points “Once again a subtle but not invisible application of wood frames cool and ripe aromas of green apple, acacia blossom, petrol and airy zest-tinged nuances. Interestingly, the middleweight flavors aren’t quite as dense as those of the Bienvenues-Bâtard-Montrachet yet the intensity is even higher, indeed it’s almost painful, while flashing impressive power on the gorgeously complex, sneaky long and equally well-balanced finale. This is also stunning but patience required.”
 
When you find out someone else in your family is a wine nerd:
Gobelsburg Tradition 3 Years Edition 831 NV 750ml $61.90 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Based on Gaisberg Riesling and Renner Grüner Veltliner, the NV Tradition Heritage Cuvée 3 Years Edition 851 combines the vintages 2019 and 2017. Deep, intense and very elegant on the nose, with ripe but fine fruit aromas, this is a full-bodied, textured, very elegant and balanced white wine with lots of Veltliner features. The wine has ripe and elegant acidity but reveals fine and grippy tannins on the intensely aromatic finish. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork.”
 
Anxiously watching your uncle try to deep fry a turkey (Also stuffing):
Huet Vouvray Moelleux Clos Du Bourg 1er Trie 2016 750ml $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 96 Points “This is ripe and broad, taking a slightly more power-driven approach, with a mix of tropical mango and papaya fruit, backed by orchard fruit accents of yellow apple and peach. The long, heather honey–accented finish has light piecrust and crystalized ginger hints. Best from 2020 through 2035.”
 
Your stepmom asking you when you’re going to leave the wine industry to find a “real job”:
Whole bottle of Graham Vintage Port 2017 750ml $99 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Decanter 98 Points “Based on Touriga Franca from south-facing slopes at Quinta dos Malvedos, with Touriga Nacional from quintas Vila Velha and Vale de Mealhadas (both predominantly north-facing), topped out with fruit from old vines at Quinta da Tua and 10% Sousão. It’s a very deep blue-black colour with an expressive, super-ripe nose of plum, mint and bergamot which springs from the glass. The palate is rich, velvety and voluptuous in typical Graham’s style. The initial richness makes the tannins, which show up on the ripe, broad, mouthwatering finish. Wonderful purity and definition. A real wow of a wine!”