Vinopolis Newsletter 7-3-24 PM

Special Arrival
 

Produttori del Barbaresco.

 

Before the late 19th century, Barbaresco was stuck in Barolo’s shadow. The great vineyards of the Barbaresco region were producing grapes for their famous neighbor and that was about it. Things began to change when a local viticulturalist, Domizio Cavazza, attempted to improve the region’s reputation by becoming part of the greater Barolo region. Although he was denied by the powers that be, Domizio, ever the visionary, had an idea.

What do you do when you are denied a piece of the pie? You make your own pie! Shortly after this realization, Domizio and nine Barbaresco growers formed a cooperative, bottling their own wines and grabbing much attention from Barolo in the years that followed.
 
However, amid the horrors of fascist Italy and the devastation of two world wars, Barbaresco was left in dire straits. Again, the people came together. With nineteen growers this time, the village priest helped to resurrect their Co-op, thus ensuring the survival of this commune.
 
Today Produttori del Barbaresco has 51 growers, many accolades, and remains a testament to the powers of collaboration.
 
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Barbaresco DOCG’, Piedmont, Italy 2019 750ml $48.50 special, 19 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 94-95 Points “There is a more pronounced mineral and delicately spiced character to the 2019 Barbaresco, with notes of wet asphalt and kirsch and vibrant purity. It has elegant concentration, with fine coiled tannins in its hints of tea leaves, bergamot, and ripe wild raspberry, and has a more pronounced structure, This is a fantastic expression. Drink 2024-2040.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 17 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is a very pretty, silky wine that shows all the signatures of this site in its refined, mid-weight personality. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, cedar, mint and tobacco all grace this classy Barbaresco. The 2019 is classic Asili, with firm tannins from the year.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Montefico, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $85 special, 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93+ Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Montefico is one of the most searingly tannic wines in the range. Readers will have to be patient with the 2019, as it is going to need time. As always, Montefico is a Barbaresco built on linear intensity more than size. In 2019, the qualities are quite accented. Time in the glass opens the bouquet nicely, but the 2019 remains quite closed.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 14 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 95 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano is perhaps the most complete of the 2019 Riservas at this stage. It offers fine depth, plenty of tannin and nascent emerging inner sweetness to tie it all together. A wine of stature and textural depth, the Montestefano is my early favorite in this lineup.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is powerful, savory and intensely linear, in classico Ovello style, and yet it appears to have enough fruit behind its imposing tannins to develop well over the coming years. In this tasting, the Ovello feels pretty closed post bottling, but its inherent balance and qualities are there. Clean saline notes extend the finish in promising fashion.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco ‘Paje’, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 17 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is full of character. Strong mineral, savory and floral notes jump out of the glass, before veins of tannin make themselves felt on the palate. A powerful, young Barbaresco, the Pajè is going to need a number of years to come into its own. That said, all of its signatures are very much present.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $79 special, 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 92 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a pretty tightly wound wine, certainly moreso than is typically the case for this Barbaresco, which is often much more engaging in the early going. Dried herbs, tobacco, cedar and earthiness lend notable savory nuance in this decidedly nervy, somber Pora. There’s good fruit intensity and plenty of character that makes me want to revisit this in a few months’ time.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 16 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 94 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is redolent of dark fruit, crushed rocks, graphite, sage, menthol and lavender all race across the palate, supported by bracing, young Rabajà tannins that make themselves felt. This mid-weight, powerhouse Barbaresco packs quite a punch.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $85 special, 10 bottles available
Antonio Galloni-Vinous 93 Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is quite deep in this vintage, with notable depth in its dark-toned fruit. This is an especially powerful Rio Sordo that is still coming together. Its intensity is palpable, even if I see less of the finesse that I associate with wines from this site. Today, all of the wine’s energy is directed inwards.”

 

New Arrivals
 

 
DOMESTIC WINES
 

Dominus Estate.
 

 

Christian Moueix’s storied career began with some of Bordeaux’s finest Chateaus including among many others Belair-Monange, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, and Château Trotanoy. Dominus Estates was Christian’s first California project, started on a recommendation from Robert Mondavi himself. The winery has received top marks from some of the world’s most prestigious and influential wine critics, including 4 perfect 100 point scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
 
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley, USA 2021 750ml $359 special, 30 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “One of the legendary Dominus, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon is unquestionably in the same league as the 2018, 2016, 2015, 2013, 2010, and 1991, and to my mind, wine simply doesn’t get any better. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, crushed stone, cedar pencil, smoke tobacco, and baking spices, it’s rich, full-bodied, and voluptuously textured, with ripe yet building tannins. It reminds me slightly of the 2010 (maybe the 2013), and I suspect it will have a similar evolution. Hide bottles for 7-8 years, and it will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Hats off to the team of Christian Moueix and director Tod Mostero.”
James Suckling 99 Points “The purity of the cabernet fruit is so enticing, with blackcurrant, rose petals, nettles and subtle graphite. Touches of terra cotta and licorice. Full-bodied with super integrated tannins that are wonderfully polished, giving a cashmere texture that is really luxurious to taste at this early stage. It is quenching and so delicious already. 95% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. Needs three to four years to come around but already a joy to taste.”
 

Average Price $385

 

 
Quintessa Red, Rutherford, USA 2018 750ml $219 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 99 Points “This is beautifully polished with firm, dusty tannins to the blue fruit, as well as chocolate and cedar character. Some much earthier character, too, from mushrooms to bark. Forest flowers. Perfumed. It’s full-bodied with round tannins and a soft, creamy finish. Some iron and iodine to this. So attractive at the finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Better after 2023.”
 
…also available from Quintessa:
 
Quintessa Red, Rutherford, USA 2019 750ml $219 special, 5 bottles available
Virginie Boone-Wine Enthusiast 100 Points “Cellar Selection. This is a winemaker’s master class in blending and understanding of a long-standing site. Dried herb, cedar and pencil shavings accent lifted red fruit and brilliant acidity on the palate, with a supple yet still youthfully grippy texture that is framed by structured, graceful tannins. Enjoy from 2029–2039.”
 

 
Brick House Vineyards Select Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge, USA 2022 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles available
Grape Live 93 Points “This 2022 Select is fresh and lively in the glass with loads of charm, character and a delicate earthiness, it shows off a vibrant array of black cherry, cranberry, wild berry, plum and tart red currant fruits, plus a light dusting of spices, sandalwood, mineral tones, crushed flowers, loamy underbrush, a touch of toasty vanilla, snappy herbs and blood orange tea. This vintage is silken and has fine grained ripe tannins that melt into this pretty medium bodied Pinot Noir, sourced from all organic grapes coming from the Ribbon Ridge’s ancient Willakenzie soils.”
 
 
CHAMPAGNE
 

 
Mignon’s unique approach to viticulture, fondly referred to as the Mignon Method, combines natural practices including biodynamics, phytotherapy, homeopathy and geobiology. The moon is his guiding force for all actions in the vineyard and cellar. -Polaner Selections
 
Christophe Mignon ADN de Meunier Brut Nature Millesime, Champagne, France 2016 750ml $99 special, 11 bottles available
Winery Notes “A beautiful shimmering hue, with elegant highlights, delicate and persistent ring of bubbles.  Refined nose with iodine notes. Creamy, distinguished and concentrated mouth. Subtle bitternessnice gritty and mineral tension.”
 
Christophe Mignon ADN de Meunier Brut Nature, Champagne, France (2017) 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
Importer’s Note “A beautful shimmering hue, with elegant highlights, delicate and persistent ring of bubbles. Very clean and delicate nose, with subtle woody notes. Unctuous and round mouth, with toasted almond flavors.”
 
Christophe Mignon ADN de Foudre Pinot Noir Brut Nautre, Champagne, France (2017) 750ml $89 special, 6 bottles available
Winery Note “A beautiful shimmering hue, with elegant highlights, delicate and persistent ring of bubbles. Very clean and delicate nose, with subtle woody notes. Powerful mouth with hight precision, very fresh with toasted almond flavors.”
 

 
Vilmart & Cie ‘Cuvee Rubis’ Brut Rose, Champagne, France NV 750ml $99 special, 22 bottles available
Vinous 92 Points “In the NV Brut Rosé Cuvée Rubis readers will find one of the most elegant, nuanced Rosés in the market. Light and gracious, yet also wonderfully deep, the Rubis has so much to offer. Red berry fruit, crushed rocks, rose petal, mint and white pepper are some of the many notes that pulse through this vivid, taut Champagne. I am especially impressed by the translucent energy of the Rubis. In a word: gorgeous.”
 
Vilmart & Cie Les Blanches Voies Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France 2012 750ml $349 special, 3 bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “The 2012 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Les Blanches Voies is elegant, weightless and crystalline in its purity. Lemon peel, white flowers, crushed rocks and marzipan abound. Another six months has done the 2012 wonders. A wine of transparency and crystalline purity. Even with more than two years of disgorgement, the 2012 is very tightly wound. It’s all understatement and class here.”
 
Vilmart & Cie ‘Coeur de Cuvee’ Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France 2015 750ml $179 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Fragrant, with wafts of lime blossoms and exotic cardamom, anise and saffron spices, this weaves a firm streak of racy acidity with a satiny texture and finely detailed notes of crushed blackberry, ripe yellow peach, blanched almond and a crackle of fleur de sel, which lingers on the lively, lasting finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Disgorged March 2022. Best from 2025 through 2033. 150 cases imported.”
 

 
Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France NV 750ml $64.50 special, 22 bottles available
Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut, Champagne, France NV 375ml $31.90 special, 7 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points “The latest rendition of Hébrart’s NV Brut Premier Cru Sélection, disgorged earlier this year, is derived largely from Mareuil-sur-Ay, supplemented by some 13% from Chouilly. Offering up aromas of citrus oil, white flowers and fresh pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, with good concentration and structure in a charming format, concluding with an elegantly chalky finish.”
 
 
ITALY
 
Gurrieri Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Italy 2021 750ml $21.90 special, 36 bottles available
Eric Guido-Vinous 91 Points “The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria is floral and dusty with a spicy blend of crushed raspberries and clove. This traverses both savory and sweet with a core of tart wild berries under an air of violet inner florals. It tapers off with admirable length and a staining of primary concentration, yet through it, all enlivened by a bump of residual acidity. Very nice.”


SPAIN
 
Rothchild y Vega Sicilia Macan Rioja DOCa, Spain 2018 750ml $99 special, 10 bottles available
Luis Gutierrez Wine Advocate 94+ Points ” …The wine is serious and harmonious, which was a challenge, and winemaker Gonzalo Iturriaga told me that they had to be very careful and sort and select the grapes. It’s textured and elegant, a style that follows the path of the 2016; it’s elegant but with depth, managing the élevage in foudre better, which was a learning process they started in 2016. 74,570 bottles, 2557 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in September 2020.”
 
Rothchild y Vega Sicilia Macan Rioja DOCa, Spain 2019 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles available
Robert Parker-Wine Advocate 94 Points “2019 was a more concentrated and powerful year that was warmer and drier; it was saved by the 80 liters of rain in the first half of September, and they tried to select the higher-altitude vineyards to have more freshness. Give it some more time in bottle, and enjoy with powerful food. 87,377 bottles, 2,583 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in August 2021.”
 
 
AUSTRIA
 
Natural wine alert!
Heidi Schrock & Sohne ‘Nostalgie Naturelle’ Pet Nat, Burgenland, Austria 2021 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles available
Variety: 70% Pinot Blanc, 30% Pinot Gris
Importer Note “Dry with supple, edginess and  gorgeous nuance. Soft white stone fruit with pronounced minerality amid notes of golden apple and a fun fizz. Refreshing.”
 
Schlosskellerei Gobelsburg Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal DAC, Austria 2023 750ml $19.50 special, 36 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “The classical expression of Austrian culture  – a perfect food companion for every day paired with an easy drinkability.”
 

 
Weingut Bernhard Ott Engabrunner Stein Gruner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal DAC, Austria 2021 750ml $71.90 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-96 Points “Tasted as a sample, the 2021 Ried Stein 1ÖTW Engabrunn Grüner Veltliner offers a deep, fresh and flinty/stony bouquet of ripe fruits and smoky bacon. Full-bodied, rich and dense on the palate, this is an opulent but elegant, fresh, savory and salty Veltliner with spectacular grip and tension. A fascinating wine. Tasted as a sample in September 2022.”
 

Lowest Price on The West Coast

Weingut Bernhard Ott ‘Am Berg’ Gruner Veltliner, Wagram, Austria 2023 750ml $26 special, 11 bottles available
No reviews for the 2023 vintage. 2022 review provided for reference.
Aleks Zecevic-Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “This is light on its feet, but generous in its offering, featuring aromas of rose petal and peach blossom, with prominent and expressive flavors of white raspberry, pear, flint and spice. It finishes with a mouth-watering, spice- and mineral-infused note.”
 

Lowest Price on The West Coast

 
Weingut Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Gruner Veltliner, Wagram, Austria 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 91 Points “Complex and focused, with nuances of kiwi, durian and ruby grapefruit and featuring hints of white pepper and wet stone. Long and graceful on the finish, delivering impressively spiced character with shaved ginger and savory mineral.”
 
 
GERMANY
 
Lukas Hammelmann ‘Caesslin’ Blanc de Noirs, Pfalz, Germany 2022 750ml $24 special, 11 bottles available
Importer Notevom Boden “Blanc de Noirs,” or Pinot Noir vinified as a white wine, is pretty common in Germany; it is their “Chardonnay”  a white wine with more texture and a lower acid – though of course Hammelmann shapes a Blanc de Noir of extreme lightness and more zing – this has around 7.2 acid and is only 11% alcohol. The wine did go through malolactic, and was bottled unfiltered with only 10mg sulfur. The wine shows pretty soil tones along with fragrant red fruits, strawberries along with a citrus to lift the edges. Ultra-easy-drinking.“
 

 
Weingut Carl Loewen Leiwener Laurentiuslay Riesling Spatlese, Mosel, Germany 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 12 bottles available
James Suckling 94 Points “Wonderful nose of white peach, lemon zest and fresh mint. Very bright and zesty with impressive energy this is an extremely refreshing wine for a Spatlese with the conventional amount of unfermented grape sweetness, in fact it taste barely off-dry. Exciting purity and precision at the vibrant finish. Vegan. Drink or hold.”
 

Lowest Price on the West Coast

Weingut Carl Loewen Leiwener Laurentiuslay Alte Reben Riesling Trocken, Mosel, Germany 2021 750ml $33 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “I love the delicate lemon balm and Amalfi lemon nose of this very elegant and filigree dry Mosel riesling. Long racy and lemony finish. Just 11.5% alcohol, but it’s still clearly medium-bodied, perhaps because of the up to 100 year old vines. Vegan. Drink or hold.”
   
Weingut Carl Loewen Longuicher Herrenberg Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany 2022 750ml $26 special, 33 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “It’s hard to resist the warm peach fruit and baking spice aromas of this succulent Kabinett. However, on the palate this has an exciting twist of cassis freshness. Excellent vitality. From up to 100-year-old ungrafted vines.”
   
Weingut Alfred Merkelbach Urziger Wurzgarten Riesling Kabinett, Mosel, Germany 2022 750ml $31.90 special, 23 bottles available
James Suckling 93 Points “An elegant and finely-nuanced Mosel Kabinett with a wide spectrum of aromas that range from mandarin orange to pomegranate and wild strawberry. In spite of the juiciness on the front and mid-palate this is delicate and has a tantalizing spiciness at the long finish. Drink or hold.”
   
     
Moving from Poland to Ireland to Portugal, while moving also moving professionally from Tesco’s corporate wine buyer to the owner of her own distribution company and wine project, Natalia Jessa has proven herself one of the savviest personalities in wine today. Using her many relationships within the Portugeuse wine industry, Natalia is able to source the best organic grapes from the best sites for each wine she makes.

These are expressive, place-oriented wines at incredible prices. If you haven’t already taken the plunge, drink these wines and see why Portugal has become Europe’s top viticultural hotspot!
 
Gota Wines Private Selection ‘Prunus’ Tinto, Dao, Portugal 2021 750ml $16 special, 24 bottles available
Decanter World Wine Awards 95 Points “An intense jammy bedrock of blueberry and damson offset with a lively herbaceous and white pepper lift; succulent and juicy with a long, refreshing finish. Stunning!”
 
Gota Wines Private Selection ‘Prunus’ Branco, Dao, Portugal 2021 750ml $14 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Well-rounded and harmonious with concentrated fruit flavors of peaches yellow plums, apricots and floral notes while mineral on the palate with long mouth-watering finish.”

Shop Our Selections By Category:
Champagne * Austria * Brunellos * Oregon Pinot Noir * Rhone Reds * Rosé
And dozens more!