Vinopolis Newsletter 12-18-24 PM

 
 

 

Second generation winemaker Pierre Rostaing has taken this famous winery to glorious new heights.

“René Rostaing is one of Côte Rôtie’s most masterful growers.”– Robert Parker
 
Côte Rôtie, a sun-drenched region in the Northern Rhône, produces world-class Syrah wines. Known for their rich, powerful flavors and elegant aromas, these wines are among our very favorite Syrahs and Viogniers in the Rhône, and Domaine Rostaing has remained one of the finest producers in the region. With holdings in some of Côte Rotie’s finest lieux-dits as well as Condrieu
 
Importer’s Note “Historically referred to as the Cote Rotie “Classique”, Rostaing’s Ampodium is elegant, well-balanced and classic! Ampodium refers to the Provencal name for the famed village of Ampuis where the vines are planted.”
Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cuvee Classique Ampodium, Rhone, France 2022 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points “Tasted from multiple barrels, the 2022 Côte Rôtie Ampodium will easily be an outstanding wine. All of the barrels had saturated purple hues, terrific purity, lots of both red and blue fruits, integrated oak, and ripe, polished tannins. It’s going to be a smoking good base cuvée from this talented family.”
 
Importer’s Note “This is often the most tannic and structured of the Côte Roties, and can take decades to reveal its true potential.”
Domaine Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Landonne, Rhone, France 2022 750ml $184.50 special, 2 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points “The 2022 Côte Rôtie La Landonne ratchets everything up a notch, offing a darker, meaty style in its smoked black fruits, raw steak, ground pepper, and graphite notes. It’s medium to full-bodied and has ripe, polished tannins and terrific overall balance.”
 
Domaine Rene Rostaing Les Lezardes Syrah, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, France 2022 750ml $49 special, 6 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 89-91 Points “Juicy red fruits, pepper, and violet notes all emerge from the 2022 Collines Rhodaniennes Les Lézardes, a medium-bodied, elegant Syrah that’s going to offer ample pleasure right out of the gate.”
 
Domaine Rene Rostaing Les Lezardes Viognier, IGP Collines Rhodaniennes, France 2023 750ml $39 special, 6 bottles available
Importer’s Note “From several parcels of old vines immediately adjoining Côte Rôtie and Condrieu, the domaine produces a gorgeous Vins de Pays white and red called Les Lézardes.
 
Domaine Rene Rostaing Condrieu La Bonnette, Rhone, France 2023 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
(No reviews for 2023 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.)
Nicolas Greinacher-Vinous 93 Points “The fragrant 2022 Condrieu La Bonnette dazzles with vivid quince, apricot, ripe peach and spring blossom aromas. Viscously textured and fruit-forward, it is built around a juicy core of stone fruits and brings it home with a complex finale.”
 
Domaine Rostaing’s Languedoc project. As with their Rhône bottlings, the grapes are expertly sourced for these blends. Located on a small plateau, the ground is covered with galets roulés – rounded stones – very similar to those found in parts of nearby Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
 

These are the only listings for these wines in the USA:

 
Domaine Rene Rostaing Languedoc Puech Noble Blanc, France 2023 750ml $27 special, 24 bottles available
No reviews for the 2023 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.
Jeb Dunnuck “A blend of Vermentino, Grenache Blanc, and Viognier, the 2021 Languedoc Puech Noble Blanc is a juicy, citrus, pear, and honeysuckle-scented white that’s medium-bodied, nicely balanced, and has a clean, dry finish. It’s going to be versatile on the dinner table and keep for a year or two.”
 
Domaine Rene Rostaing Coteaux du Languedoc Le Vassal, France 2022 750ml $29 special, 24 bottles available
Importer Notes “A blend of 70% Syrah, 15% Mourvedre & 15% Grenache from a cool vineyard site on limestone cobbles near the town of Nîmes.”
 

 

Founded in 1993 by Peter Sisseck, Pingus has grown into one of the biggest cult wineries on the planet. Sisseck, a Danish born winemaker had fallen in love with the Ribera Del Duero and its native clone of Tempranillo, Tinto Fino. His work elevated the region to an unprecedented level of international acclaim and interest.
 
This wine project, Pingus PSI, came from a cooperative effort at the behest of Sisseck by nearby grape growers to restore the soil and vineyard practices of many old vine plantings in the surrounding Duero region.
Dominio de Pingus ‘PSI’, Ribera del Duero, Spain 2022 750ml $33 special, 36+ bottles available
Luis Gutiérrez-Wine Advocate 93-95 Points “The 2022 PSI is clean, expressive and open, much more approachable than the more reductive 2021 that I tasted next to it. It’s primary, fruit-driven and precise. “The fruit selection was better in 2022,” explained Sisseck. It has contained ripeness and a polished texture and is sleek and elegant, with fine tannins. It feels like a step up from 2021. This was also the final blend waiting to be bottled—clarified, sulfur added and everything, so pretty much the wine that is going to be bottled.”

 

 
 
Champagne
 
Gaston Chiquet Premier Cru Brut Tradition, Champagne, France NV 750ml $46.50 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Spectator “[Reviewed 2023] A fresh, firm Champagne, with a crunchy texture as this carries notes of green pear, wet chalk, elderflower and almond biscotti along. Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.”
 
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuis Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France NV 1.5L $159 special, 6 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 Points “{Reviewed Nov 2023] The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuis 1er Cru (2020 base) sizzles with energy. White flowers, chalk, mint, white pepper, green pear and lime all race across the palate. Medium in body and finely cut, the 1er Cru is a jewel of a wine. It will appeal most to readers who enjoy taut, airy Blancs de Blancs.”
 
Hebrart Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Champagne, France NV 750ml $79 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 Points “[Reviewed Nov 2023] The NV Brut Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes is a blend of 75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay taken from ten lieux-dits in Mareuil. Rich, creamy and ample in feel, Mes Favorites offers a beguiling mix of old-vine intensity wrapped around a core of bright acids. Kirsch, dried flowers, mint, spice and pear build as this showy, inviting Champagne offers a warm embrace.”
 
Hebrart Premier Cru Brut Rose, Champagne, France NV 750ml $69 special, 12 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 Points “Reviewed Nov 2023] The NV Brut Rosé is a very pretty, effusive Champagne. Light in color but with gorgeous depth, the Rosé is a charmer. Cranberry, white pepper, mint, crushed rocks and slate give this its dynamic upper register. The blend is 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir from Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ, but the Pinot is quite strong in this release.”
 
Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France NV 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 91 Points “[Reviewed Nov 2023] The NV Brut Sélection is a blend from Mareuil-sur-Ay, Avenay-Val-d’Or and Bisseuil. Aromatic and vibrant, the Brut Sélection impresses with its balance and sensuality. Lemon confit, white flowers, apricot, mint, chamomile and plum meld together in an understated, classy Champagne ready to go now. I loved it.”
 
Suenen ‘Les Robarts’ Grand Cru Cramant Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut, Champagne, France 2017 750ml $249 special, 6 bottles available
Decanter 95 Points “This sought-after cuvée may be the most refined and energetic of Aurélien Suenen’s wines from the northern Côte, focusing on a single plot of Chardonnay planted on fine vermiculite clay over belemnite chalk situated on the border between Avize and Cramant. With a stunningly bright, fluid energy running through roasted citrus and groundnut richness derived from subtle oak fermentation, this is a tremendously elegant Chardonnay-driven Champagne full of chalky crunch and delicate, dancing detail. (Drink between 2024-2030).”
 
 
Washington
 

 
“For 30 years, DeLille Cellars has been driven by our founders’ mission to create meaningful experiences that celebrate and enhance everyday life. By working with only the finest grape varieties and vineyard sites to craft world-class blends, DeLille has risen to be one of the most recognized, accessible, and loved wineries in Washington State.” -Delillecellars.com
 

These are thre lowest listed prices in the USA:

#66 in Wine Spectator’s TOP 100 of 2023
DeLille Cellars ‘Metier’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley, USA 2021 750ml $19 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Spectator “A terrific value that would probably run you three times the price if it was from Napa, the 2021 Metier Cabernet Sauvignon has textbook leafy herbs, tobacco, and darker currant fruits in a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced package. It has classic Cabernet herbal, floral, spicy notes and is well worth drinking any time over the coming decade or so.”

 
DeLille Cellars D2, Columbia Valley, USA 2020 750ml $33 special, 36 bottles available
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2020 D2 Proprietary Red Wine was made from 61% Merlot, 27% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The nose is as brilliant as always, with focused, dark red fruits, hints of black cherry skin and oak essence that sways out of the glass. Full-bodied and mineral tensioned, the palate offers fine-grained tannins with succulent healthy fruit flavors before ending with a fresh, food-friendly finish. At these prices, buy the entire case. About 108,000 bottles were filled after the wine rested in 68% new French oak for 20 months. Bravo!”
Winery Notes “Showcasing a classic layering of red and dark fruits, our 2020 D2 is built upon a softer, approachable structure and style that allow for this wine to be so reliable to be enjoyed in its youth.  Whiffs of dried cranberry, black cherry, vanilla bean, and lavender flower flow into a palate filled with flavors reminiscent of milk chocolate, green peppercorn, and fresh ground nutmeg.  Many of the state’s most heralded sites provide pure fruit and savory characteristics here, with toasty oak influence deftly supporting in the background.  Enjoy now with a gentle decant or cellar for up to 15 years.”
 
 
Spain
 
La Rioja Alta S.A. Vina Ardanza Reserva, Rioja DOCa, Spain 2016 750ml $44.50 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 95 Points “Savory and complex with dried orange peel, cedar and plenty of sweet spices, walnuts, caramel, dried mushrooms and pine needles. Shows maturity here, with a medium body and superb freshness. Incredibly long finish with lots of truffle and walnut. Lasts over a minute. Very complete now, but you can still hold it.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ Points “The 2016 Viña Ardanza Reserva was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha that matured in used American oak barrels for three years, where it was hand-racked from barrel to barrel six times in the case of Tempranillo and five times for the Garnacha, as it had a slightly shorter élevage of 30 months.”
 
 
Oregon
 
Fullerton Syrah, The Rocks District of Milton Freewater, USA 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Audrey Frick-Jebdunnuck.Com 93 Points “Pouring a deep but transparent purple, the 2020 Syrah Rocks District Of Milton-Freewater is elegant with balanced aromas of primary blackberry fruit, pencil shavings, toasted black pepper, and fresh violets. Supple and full-bodied, though weightless and elegant, it delivers a silky, chocolaty texture, sweet tannins, and a hint of charcuterie. It is in a great spot now, and I like where this is going over the next 6-8 years.”
 
…also available from Fullerton:
 
Fullerton Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville, USA 2018 750ml $44.50 special, 30 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 94 Points “This fine-tuned elaboration emphasizes the fruit component of this biodynamic vineyard with crisp, fresh raspberry flavors upfront. The wet rock minerality of the AVA and the inherent herbal pungency of the site are threaded in, and the finish is buoyed with juicy acidity that brightens it. Slightly more than one-quarter of the barrels were new.”
James Suckling 94 Points “Cool ocean-breeze influence here, with a very fragrant violet, red-cherry and blueberry nose, really pristine. The palate has impressive weight, richness and round, ripe blueberry and cherry flavors. Really expressive and juicy pinot here. 320 dozen produced. Drink or hold.”
 
 
Italy
 
Cascina Baricchi ‘Riva della Coda’ Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont, Italy 2020 750ml $34.50 special, 12 bottles available
(Not reviewed, 2018 review provided for reference)
Vinous-Antonio Galloni (2020) “Cascina Baricchi’s 2018 Barbera d’Alba Riva della Coda is a heady, bombastic wine. Sumptuous black cherry, licorice, menthol, game, tobacco and earthy notes all hit the palate. The 2018 is rich and quite boisterous. While not the most elegant Barbera readers will come across, the 2018 does pack a pretty huge punch. It’s a big wine for the dinner table.”
 
Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico, Marche, Italy 2023 750ml $14.50 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Note “The Umani Ronchi Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Casal di Serra comes from selecting only the best grapes grown in the special Montecarotto vineyard, this crisp white shows gorgeous notes of granny smith apple, jasmine and under-ripe peach in the glass. The palate is firm and elegant, with pear and sage coming through, and is marked with a touch of mineral tension. This is the perfect wine for seafood, aged cheeses, or grilled chicken.”
 

 
“Scot Bilbro has the magic touch when it comes to crafting wines that deliver superb quality for the money across the various tiers in this range.” — Antonio Galloni, Vinous
 
Founded by the late, great Chris Bilbro, this winery has been crafting incredible, value-driven California wines for decades. Nowhere else can you find high quality cab blends, single vineyard Syrahs and old vine zinfandels for the price.
 
Marietta Cellars Arme, Sonoma – Mendocino County, USA 2021 750ml $26 special, 36+ bottles available
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2021 Armé Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It has pretty tones of blueberries and black cherries with nuances of lavender, thyme and underbrush. The palate is medium-bodied, chalky and refreshing, with surprising depth of crunchy fruit and floral sparks across the long, juicy finish.”
 
Marietta Cellars ‘Game Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Yorkville Highlands, USA 2021 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles available
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 Points “The 2021 Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon is crunchy, refreshing and easy to drink. It’s scented of fresh blackcurrants and cherries, plus nuances of garrigue and charcuterie. The full-bodied palate is light on its feet with softly chalky tannins, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish.”
 
Marietta Cellars Gibson Block Syrah, McDowell Valley, USA 2021 750ml $39 special, 36 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 Points “The 2021 Gibson Block, old-vine Syrah and Grenache, is a heady, extroverted wine. Ripe dark-toned fruit, new leather, spice, dried herbs, gravel, incense and tobacco all saturate the palate. Readers will find a wine of textural intensity and stature to burn. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish to balance the wine’s more extroverted qualities.”
 
Marietta Cellars ‘Roman’ Estate Grown Zinfandel, North Coast, USA 2022 750ml $24 special, 36+ bottles available
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 Points “The 2022 Román Zinfandel is a blend of 93% Zinfandel, 4% Barbera, 3% Petite Sirah. It has pure, layered scents of apricot, graham cracker, raspberry jam, mossy bark and spice. The palate is light-bodied, soft and juicy with a core of nuanced berry fruit and a mouthwatering, perfumed finish. This is ideal for spicy food! 2,000 cases produced.”
 
…also available:
 
Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Rose, California, USA 2022 750ml $14.50 special, 21 bottles available
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 92 Points “A blend of 50% Syrah, 25% Grenache Noir and 25% Grenache Gris, the 2022 Old Vine Rosé has a medium cherry-pink color and pretty scents of peach, dried herbs and charcuterie. The light-bodied palate is bright and refreshing with a deep core of fruit, a touch of anchoring texture and a long, spicy finish. It drinks well on its own, although it will pair widely at the table.”
 
Marietta Cellars OVR Old Vine Red, California, USA NV 750ml $18 special, 26 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.”