Vinopolis Newsletter 3-10-25 PM

In This Newsletter:


Arrivals
Leonetti, Screaming Eagle, Fattoria Le Pupille, Fullteron, Faively, and more!

Wineries We Love
The secrets of Sancerre’s finest producer
 

 
 

 

“Leonetti Cellar is unquestionably Washington State’s finest Cabernet Sauvignon producer.” -Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
 
“The 2021s from Leonetti Cellar are to die for.” –Eric Guido, Vinous Media
 
Second generation winemaker Chris Figgins is Washington Wine royalty. Leonetti Cellars, founded in 1977, was Walla Walla’s first commercial winery and one of the first producers in Washington State to bring Cabernet Sauvignon to a level comparible to the likes of Napa and Bordeaux. Walla Walla, with its hot summer days, cool nights, and iron rich soils, has proven an ideal climate for creating concentrated, balanced, and mineral-rich, age worthy wines.
 
 
Washington
 
Leonetti Cabernet, Walla Walla 2021 750ml $119 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The classic 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon from this reference point estate checks in as 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Malbec raised 22 months in once-filled oak and neutral oval botti. Its vivid purple hue is followed by a perfumed, youthful bouquet of cassis and blue fruits that give way to more graphite, chalky minerality, violets, and spicy oak. It’s deep, rich, and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a gorgeous mid-palate, ripe, building, polished tannins, and fabulous length on the finish. This absolutely brilliant Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be forgotten for 2-4 years and will evolve gracefully over the following two decades. It’s another sensational wine from the talents of Chris Figgins.”
Eric Guido-Vinous 96 Points “The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is intense, smoldering up with a dark blend of blackcurrants, crushed rocks, hints of graphite and sage. This is cool-toned and crisp, with crunchy red and black fruits that cascade across the palate as a saturation of primary concentration adds inner tension. A web of finegrained tannins penetrates deeply, yet the 2021 maintains a fresh persona, tapering off long, staining and truly classic. A mineral tinge lingers on the finish.”
 
Leonetti Cellar Merlot, Walla Walla 2022 750ml $95 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points “All Merlot aged in once-filled and neutral oak, the 2022 Merlot sports a vivid ruby/purple hue as well as solid aromatics of ripe black cherries, cedary herbs, dried flowers, and a kiss of background oak. It’s medium to full-bodied, has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, polished tannins, and a great finish. It will keep from 10-12 years with ease.”
Anthony Mueller-Wine Advocate 93+ Points “Deeply colored and extracted for a Merlot, the 2022 Walla Walla Merlot displays mocha notes with plum and blackberry compote with soft notions of brown baking spices that sway from the glass with a firm, mineral essence. Full-bodied, the palate is still tight with firm, gripping tannins that will release with additional years in the cellar yet will remain food-friendly for the next decade. The wine spent 15 months in a mix of new and used French oak and neutral botti. 23,448 bottles were made.”
 
 

 
 
Oregon
 
 hot deal  Fullerton Rocks District Syrah, Walla Walla, USA 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 35 bottles available
VinopolNote This scrumptious Syrah opens with notes of white pepper and fresh roasted coffee. Swirl it in the glass a little bit and whiffs of dusty, iron enriched earth and wet river bank emerge, with high-toned red cherry on the palette as well. This is a very giving and complex wine, nurturing through the darkest of winter nights and lithe enough to pair with seared steelhead, roasted lamb, and rich tomato sauces. -Tracy”
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.”
 
 
France
 
Domaine Faiveley Meursault, Cote de Beaune, France 2020 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles available
Winemaker Note “The nose is complex, showing delicate floral aromas mixed with a few woody notes. It has long lasting tastes on the palate and distinguishes itself with a very good balance between richness and acidity.”

 
Lowest Price in the USA
Average price is $93!

 
Kermit Lynch Selections Cotes du Rhone Villages, France 2023 750ml $18 special, 36 bottles available
(Produced for Kermit Lynch by Cave des Vignerons d’Estézargues)
Importer Notes “We aimed for maximum drinkability in our blend, and accordingly, you’ll find plenty of hedonistic, purple-tinged fruit in this wine, along with a hint of wild herbs and lovely floral notes akin to lavender and violets. A touch of supple tannin and a stony finish provide texture and just enough grit to this smooth-flowing rouge. It is a plump, yet delightfully juicy Rhône red that can be sipped casually with a slight chill as an apéritif or on movie night, but has enough weight to stand up to burgers, pizza, grilled meats, or anything else you might throw its way.”
 
Chateau Haut Rian Blanc, Bordeaux, France 2023 750ml $14 special, 24 bottles available
Roger Voss- Wine Enthusiast 90 Points “Old Sémillon vines grown on limestone soil form the background to this wine. With pineapple aromas and a mineral texture, the wine’s fruit is full of grapefruit and kiwi flavors. It is crisp, ripe and ready to drink.”
 

Lowest listed price in the USA!

 
Chateau Haut Rian, Cotes de Bordeaux, France 2020 750ml $16 special, 24 bottles available
(not yet rated, 2019 review provided for reference)
Roger Voss- Wine Enthusiast 91 Points ‘This dense wine relishes its richness and full black fruits. With spice and tannins enveloped by ripeness, the generous wine will be ready to drink from 2023.”
 

Lowest listed price in the USA!

Thevenet & Fils Bourgogne Rouge Bussieres Les Clos, Burgundy, France 2023 750ml $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Importer Notes “The pinot noir for this wine is found in the village of Bussières and is sourced from the lieu-dit Les Clos.  The vines are south-facing at 350 feet above sea level on gently sloping hills that are principally composed of clay.  The fruit tends to ripen early due to its excellent exposure.  Pigeage and remontage are practiced during fermentation.  This wine is marked by notes of black, ripe berries, often a touch “sauvage”.”
 

Lowest listed price in the USA!

 
Italy
 

 
Fattoria Le Pupille Riserva, Morellino di Scansano DOCG, Italy 2018 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The Fattoria le Pupille 2018 Morellino di Scansano Riserva is Sangiovese with an addition of 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (drawn from various vineyard sites, including the historic plot that makes Saffredi, the estate’s top wine). Fermentation occurs in stainless steel, just like with all the other estate reds, and this Riserva goes into oak casks for 15 months. The 2018 and 2019 vintages share similar characteristics in that they are both cooler, certainly compared to 2020. This is a solid, mid-weight red that boasts a very pretty and vibrant bouquet. There are floral notes and wild cherry capped by graphite or pencil shavings. The wine reveals a lovely, dark garnet color in the glass, and some of that oak spice comes out as well.”
 

This is the only listing for this wine in the USA!

 
 

 
 

 

The original cult Napa winery, Screaming Eagle’s quality was already a poorly kept secret among oenophiles before a perfect 100 point review by Robert Parker launched its reputation into the stratosphere!
 
Screaming Eagle Cabernet, Napa Valley 2022 750ml $2,199 special, 3 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points “While I wasn’t able to taste the 2021s, the 2022s from Screaming Eagle are undeniable successes. Tasted from multiple barrels, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon has medium to full-bodied, richness, beautiful purity of fruit and ripe, building tannins, as well as a good spine of acidity. This estate did an incredible selection, and it certainly shows in all the samples I was able to taste.”

Lowest listed price on the West Coast

Average price $2,294!

 
…and if you just can’t wait for their legendary Cabernet to land, we have several bottles of their Bordeaux blend in stock today:
 
Screaming Eagle The Flight, Napa Valley 2019 750ml $999 special, 3 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “Extremely floral and aromatic with violets and lavender throughout. Black olives, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, very fine-grained tannins that run the length of the wine. Goes on for minutes. A greenish undertone comes out at the end with some spearmint, green tea and green olive. About two-thirds merlot. Best after 2028, but already stunning.”
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 97 Points “The 2019 The Flight, the estate’s Merlot-based wine, is dark, powerful and brooding in demeanor, almost shockingly so. The natural concentration of a year with low yields and small berries is very much in evidence. A rush of black cherry, plum, graphite, lavender and blue/purplish fruit builds as this virile, explosive wine shows off its arresting beauty. In a word: impressive.”
 

Average price $1,129

 
Screaming Eagle The Flight, Napa Valley 2020 750ml $919 special, 5 bottles available
James Suckling 98 Points “Aromas of blackberries, red and black currants. Green olives, too. Dark roses and perfume. Medium-bodied with super crunchy energy and brightness. Very fine tannins. Elegant and precise. So subtle and complex, it’s really something. A blend of 64% merlot and 36% cabernet sauvignon. Needs four to five years to open and come together.”
 

Average price $1,129

 

 

“Given the crystalline purity of his Sauvignon Blancs, he has become one of my favorite producers of the central Loire. If you want to know what true Sancerre tastes like, try one of his single-vineyard bottlings. It does not come any better!” –Joel Payne, Vinous
 
The Boulay family has farmed their unique parcels of land in Chavignol since 1380 and it is this deep understanding of the land that lends their production such gravity and purity. Chavignol, located in the Village of Sancerre, is famous for their “Terre Blanche” the same Kimmeridgian soils that run through Champagne and Chablis. It is these soils that give Boulay’s famed crus (Monts Damnés, La Grande Côte, and Clos de Beaujeu) their character. As a result, these wines are electric and high-minded like Chablis, with the earthiness and vivacity of the Loire. Everything in the vineyards is done in the family’s traditional style, including organic farming, hand harvesting, and partial aging in neutral oak barrels, which prolongs the longevity of the wines for decades.
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu 2023 750ml $62.50 special, 21 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Clos de Beaujeu 2023 1.5L $128 special, 2 magnums available
Importer Notes “The Clos de Beaujeu is among the most historic sites in the village of Chavignol. In the 14th century the Clos de Beaujeu supplied the Cathedral of Bourges with white wine. At that time, Sancerre was famous for its red wines. Boulay’s Clos de Beaujeu is a richer, denser step up from the Chavignol village wine.”
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol 2023 750ml $36.50 special, 14 bottles available
VinopolNote “This is a sharp-tongued devil of a wine. Grown in the same Kimmeridgian soils that cover Chablis and Champagne’s Côte-des-Bar, this is a Sancerre for those who love their wines bristling with intensity and minerality. An epic wine for cheeses or seafood. Try this with oysters, sashimi, or baked fish. -Tracy”

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse 2023 750ml $77.50 special, 7 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Comtesse 2023 1.5L $159 special, 2 magnums available
Importer Notes “The most powerful and complex wine from Boulay’s lineup, with an incredible intensity of fruit and a strong mineral core. Definitely one to put away and follow for years to come.”
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Côte 2023 750ml $66.50 special, 4 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote 2023 1.5L $136 special, 2 bottles available
Importer Notes  “First crafted in the 2010 vintage, Gerard’s old vine parcel in La Cote (referred to by the Cotat brothers as La Grande Cote) produces a wine of incredible precision, power and lazer sharp minerality…Boulay’s signature style!”
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote 2022 750ml $64.50 special, 6 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre La Cote 2022 1.5L $129 special, 2 magnums available
Importer Note “Boulay’s parcel in “La Grande Côte,” which is partially owned and partically rented, is one of three designated Crus of Chavignol and is reputed for producing wines of incredible precision. Vintage 2010 was the inaugural release.”

Gerard Boulay Sancerre Les Monts Damnes 2023 750ml $66.50 special, 18 bottles available
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Mont Damnes 2023 1.5L $128 special, 2 magnums available
Importer Notes “Old vines located on a steep slope in the Mont Damnes vineyard that Boulay began farming in 2004. Vines average 45 years old. Aged on the lees in a combination of barrel and tank then bottled unfiltered.
 
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Mont Damnes 2022 1.5L $119 special, 2 magnums available
Importer Note “These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above “regular” Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay’s place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons.”
 
Cool and geeky! 100% Loire Pinot noir… really cool mineral and savory notes
 staff pick  Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rouge Oriane 2020 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
Rebecca Gibb MW-Vinous 91 Points “The 2020 Oriane is a young, richly fruited mouthful of suave, aromatic Pinot Noir. It is somewhat atypical on the nose with agave and wormwood-like characters – a result of half of the wine undergoing whole bunch fermentation – joining cola, wood smoke and licorice. Round with good concentration and a veil of powdery, chalky tannins coating all sides of the palate, reflecting the Kimmeridgian soils of the vineyards. Fine length and line.”