Vinopolis Newsletter 8-30-24

 
 
We’ve added dozens of new selections to our Close-Out Sale, only to drop the prices below further for you during our three-day sale!
   
 
France
   
Within Pernand Vergelesses are three of the most famous vineyards in all of Burgundy, namely Corton, Corton-Charlemagne, and Charlemagne. Tucked away within Pernand Vergelesses near these Grand Crus is one of our very favorite wineries in Burgundy, the venerable Domaine Rapet.
 
Founded in 1765, Rapet has become known as a winery built from both great fortune in their placement and immense dedication. Vincent and Sylvette Rapet head the estate and are known their classic winemaking style. The whites are whole cluster pressed, fermented in barrels (about 20% new oak), and aged in 350-liter barrels. Reds see an average 15-day maceration period followed by maturation in 228-liter oak barriques (around 30% new wood).
 
WAS $49
Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils Aux Fourneaux Red, Savigny-les-Beaune Premier Cru, France 2020 750ml NOW $41.90 special, 18 bottles available
Neal Martin-Vinous 91-93 Points “The 2020 Savigny-lès-Beaune Aux Fourneaux offers attractive tertiary, red berry fruit mixed with briary and light tobacco scents. The palate is mediumbodied with lithe tannins, a fine bead of acidity, very harmonious with a lovely elegant finish. This is absolutely delicious.”
 
WAS $59
Domaine Rapet Pere et Fils En Caradeux, Pernand-Vergelesses Premier Cru, France 2020 750ml NOW $49 special, 10 bottles available
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 Points “The 2020 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru En Caradeux Blanc exhibits notes of citrus oil, oyster jus, dried white flowers and youthful reduction, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate that’s textural and vibrant, retaining terrific energy in this warm vintage.”
   

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
RAPET BOURGOGNE ROUGE EN BULLY 2020 750ml	$39	$33.00		23	LINK
RAPET PERNAND VERGELESSES BELLES FILLES ROUGE 2020 750ml	$39	$33.00		6	LINK
RAPET SAUVIGNY LES-BEAUNE AUX FOURNAUX 2020 750ml	$49	$41.90		10	LINK

 
   
The Giants of Gigondas. Really, Saint Cosme is one of the great wineries in the entire Rhône. The Cosme has really honed in on a fresher, brighter style that is both serious and crowd-pleasing. In blind tastings, it is often their wines that stand out in a crowd, as they drink so nicely even at younger ages.
 
We have long supported these wines and are proud as punch to offer their Chateauneuf-du-Pape at the lowest price in the USA.
 
WAS $59
Saint Cosme Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhone, France 2019 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles available
WAS $349
CASE-6 of Saint Cosme Chateauneuf du Pape 2019 $279 special, 4 six-packs available (Save 2 dollars per bottle!)
WAS $799
CASE-12 of Saint Cosme Chateauneuf du Pape 2019 $528 special, 3 twelve-packs available (Save 5 dollars per bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Modern and stylish, offering an engaging mix of raspberry puree, warm baking spices and red licorice, with vanilla highlights. A beam of iron minerality brings shape and balance to this version, while invigorating acidity and tannins drive the energy. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and Cinsault. Drink now through 2035.”
 
 
Germany
 
So… you’re looking for the highest quality German wines you can get, but you’re on a budget. We’ve got you covered with close-out pricing on some of the very best brands to ever rock a Riesling bottle.
 
   
Dönnhoff is one of our favorite German producers, and one we stock by the pallet-load. They excel with both dry and off-dry wines, producing some of the highest rated and most enthusiastically praised Rieslings in nearly every vintage. Their privileged location in the Nahe, includes some of the finest and most geologically diverse vineyards in all of Germany. All this is backed by a father and son duo who will stop at nothing to produce the best wines in Germany.
 
These are wines for any occasion, at prices that still suggest the producer inhabits that weird status of insider secret despite receiving heaps of praise (and massive scores) for over a decade. We just laugh, shake our heads, and share these with you on our three-day sale.
 
WAS $99
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe, Germany 2020 750ml NOW $89 Special, 23 bottles available
WAS $49
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese GK, Nahe, Germany 2020 375ml NOW $39 special, 22 half-bottles available
Stuart Pigott (Suckling) 98 Points “Such an exotic nose with a slew of passion fruit, mangosteen and King Alfonso mango. Compact and concentrated, but the more important things are the coolness and gracefulness of this moderately sweet Auslese that turns in a dark, “earthy” direction at the powerful finish. Very limited production. From organically grown grapes with Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
 
WAS $59
Weingut Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe, Germany 2021 375ml NOW $49 special, just 1 half-bottle available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 98 Points “Picked a few days before the GG, the 2021 Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Riesling Auslese is based on highly ripe Riesling berries and opens with a clear, lemony, pure, fresh and finely concentrated bouquet with grapefruit, lime and slate aromas. Basket pressed, this is a lush and generous, pure, saline and piquant Auslese with a long, intense and highly stimulating finish with very fine bitters. The Hermannshöhle was picked with the highest must weight and acidity level and represents the most complex and generous yet also precise Auslese of the vintage. 8% stated alcohol.”
 
WAS $79
Weingut Donnhoff ‘Felsenturmchen’ Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe, Germany 2021 750ml NOW $69 special, 8 bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 Points “Dönnhoff’s 2021 Felsenberg GG is pure, bright and flinty on the deep, intense and iodine nose that also reveals phenolic complexity. Full-bodied but refined and elegant on the plate, this is a balanced and light-footed, rich and dense Felsenberg with juicy fruit and crystalline acidity, whereas the tannins step back compared to the Höllenpfad im Mühlenberg. The finish is rich yet refined and saline, with delicate lemon bitters and lush fruit. Although the 2021 is already charming, the wine needs some years on the bottle to show all its complexity and finesse without its youthful charm. This is not an austere wine that needs to soften its edges; it’s already dangerously good or even too good to cause patience. But the wine will reward those who can wait. 13% stated alcohol.”
 
WAS $99
Weingut Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe, Germany 2021 750ml NOW $89 special, 6 bottles available
WAS $49
Weingut Donnhoff Schlossbockelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe, Germany 2021  375ml NOW $39 special, 9 half-bottles available
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 96 Points “Pressed with whole bunches in a basket press for about five hours and vinified in a single halbstück (650 liter), the 2021 Schlossböckelheimer Felsenberg Riesling Auslese is one of the rare botrytis wines of the vintage, and it opens with a clear, precise and aromatic bouquet with candied pink grapefruit aromas. Lush and round on the palate, this is an intense, generous and salty, piquant and delicate yet also rich and sweet but light and lifted Auslese with great balance and elegance. A fabulous, delicate and fine, juicy and filigreed Auslese. 8% stated alcohol.”
 

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
DONNHOFF FELSENBERG GROSSES GEWACHS 2021 750ml	$79	$69.00	96 WA	8	LINK
DONNHOFF HOLLENPFAD IM MUHLENBERG GG 2018 750ml	$59	$49.00	93+ JG	8	LINK
DONNHOFF KREUZNACHER KROTENPFUHL GG 2018 750ml	$59	$49.00	93 JG	9	LINK
DONNHOFF NIEDER. HERMANNSHOHLE AUSLESE GK 2018 750ml	$79	$69.00	98 JG	2	LINK
DONNHOFF OBERHAUSER BRUCKE AUSLESE GK 2018 375ml	$39	$33.00	96 WA	10	LINK
DONNHOFF OBERHAUSER BRUCKE AUSLESE GK 2018 750ml	$69	$59.00	96 WA	36+	LINK
DONNHOFF OBERHAUSER BRUCKE AUSLESE GK 2021 750ml	$99	$89.00	97 WA	10	LINK
DONNHOFF OBERHAUSER LEISTENBERG KABINETT 2020 750ml	$39	$24.00	93 WA	6	LINK
DONNHOFF PINOT BRUT 2016 750ml	$69	$59.00	94 DECANTER	2	LINK

 
   
So, you’re looking for a great bottle of German wine, but you also want value. We are here to help!
 
Muller-Catoir is a standout estate in the Pflaz region, renowned for its minimal-intervention approach. The wines showcase crisp minerality, aromatic complexity, and a refreshing salinity. When thinking of German wine, the Pfalz might not be the first region that comes to mind. Yet, this area, nestled near the Rhine, has a long history of winemaking dating back to 550 BCE. Known for its powerful, dry wines, the Pfalz produces some of Germany’s most exciting and value-driven offerings. As Jancis Robinson noted, the Pfalz is a “One of Germany’s most exciting regions,” offering exceptional quality at a great price point.
 

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR BURGERGARTEN BREUMEL AUSLESE 2015 375ml	$49	$39.00	96 WA	36+	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR BURGERGARTEN IM BREUMEL GG 2018 750ml	$49	$39.00	97 SUCKLING	36+	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR BURGERGARTEN RIESLING SPATLESE 2017 750ml	$32	$28.00	95 SUCKLING	36+	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR BURGERGARTEN RIESLING SPATLESE 2018 750ml	$33	$28.00	94 SUCKLING	36+	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR BURGERGARTEN RIESLING TROCKEN 2017 750ml	$39	$29.00	94 SUCKLING	22	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR BURGERGARTEN RIESLING TROCKEN 2018 750ml	$33	$28.00	90+ WA	36+	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR GIMMELDINGEN RIESLING KABINETT 2018 750ml	$24	$20.90	91 VINOUS	36+	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR HAARDT RIESLING TROCKEN 2018 750ml	$26	$21.90	93 SUCKLING	15	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR HERRENLETTEN TROCKEN RIESLING 2018 750ml	$37	$28.00	92 WS	36	LINK
MULLER-CATOIR MANDELGARTEN RIESLING TROCKEN 2018 750ml	$33	$28.00	91+ WA	36+	LINK

 
   
“There are no wines along the Mosel more honorable than those of Selbach-Oster. They are grounded, honest, intelligent and meaningful – like the family who produce them. Where wine is concerned I trust Johannes as I trust very few other people. He’s not only highly intelligent, he’s also smart and judicious. He has found his path. His wines have identity and purpose.” -Terry Theise, 2009 German Catalogue
 

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
SELBACH-OSTER BERN BADSTUBE RIESLING SPATLESE 2019 750ml	$33	$28.00	93 WA	18	LINK
SELBACH-OSTER SCHLOSSBERG RIESLING GG 2019 750ml	$45	$37.50	94 SUCKLING	16	LINK
SELBACH-OSTER ZELT SCHLOSSBERG SCHMITT AUSLESE 2021 750ml	$69.00	$59.00	95-96 WA	2	LINK
SELBACH-OSTER ZELT SCHLOSSBERG RIESLING KAB 2019 750ml	$29	$22.50	93 WA	28	LINK
SELBACH-OSTER ZELT SONN RIESLING BA 2018 375ml	$79	$69.00	97 WA	11	LINK

 
   
I know, I know. We are always, always going on about the greatness of Markus Molitor. The fact is however, that he is one of the most consistent and progressive winemakers in Germany and maybe even the world!
 
Passionate, inspired, perhaps even mad, Molitor showcases the unique character of each individual parcel he owns, meticulously vinifying each lot to its full potential, resulting in a daunting number of hyper-specific wines.
 
Nevertheless, his wines walk that tightrope of uber-geeky and approachable with aplomb!
 

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE** GK 2016 750ml	$69	$59.00	97 WA	6	LINK
MOLITOR GRAACH HIMMELREICH AUSLESE*** GREEN 2016 750ml Top of Form Bottom of Form	$89	$79.00	98 WA	16	LINK
MOLITOR GRAACH HIMMELREICH AUSLESE*** GREEN 2018 750ml	$125	$99.00	97 WA	24	LINK
MOLITOR GRAACHER HIMMELREICH AUSLESE** GK 2019 750ml	$59	$49.00	96+ WA	11	LINK
MOLITOR KINHEIMER ROSENBERG AUSLESE*** GREEN 2016 750ml	$89	$79.00	97 WA	22	LINK
MOLITOR OCKFENER BOCKSTEIN SPATLESE WK 2018 750ml	$32	$28.00	93 DECANTER	25	LINK
MOLITOR URZIGER WURZGARTEN  AUSLESE**  TROCKEN 2017 750ml	$59	$49.00	96+ WA	20	LINK
MOLITOR WEHL KLOSTERBERG RIESLING AUSLESE** GK 2015 750ml	$59	$49.00	96 WA	2	LINK
MOLITOR ZELTINGER SONNENUHR AUSLESE** GK 2016 750ml	$69	$59.00	97 WA	6	LINK

   

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
CLEMENS BUSCH RIESLING FAHRLAY AUSLESE 2014 375ML	$59	$49.00	94 WA	2	LINK
CLEMENS BUSCH MARIENBURG ROTHENPFAD AUSLESE 14 375ml	$59	$49.00	93 WA	5	LINK
CLEMENS BUSCH RIESLING TROCKEN 2022 750ML	$24	$21.90		13	LINK
DR. H THANISCH ERBEN BERNKAST DOCTOR SPATLESE 2016 750ml	$49	$41.90	93 WA	2	LINK
DR. H THANISCH ERBEN BERNKASTELER GRABEN GG 2019 750ml	$41.90	$36.00	91+ WA	12	LINK
J.H. SELBACH ZELT HIMMELREICH RIESLING KABINETT 2019 750ml	$18	$14.00		8	LINK
JOH. BAPT. SCHAFER BURG LAYER SCLOSS SPATLESE 2015 750ml	$49	$49.00	93 WA	12	LINK
KARLSMUHLE KASELER NIES’CHEN AUSLESE LGC 2017 750ml	$42	$33.00	93 SUCKLING	17	LINK
KARLSMUHLE LORENZHOFER TBA 2007 375ml	$119	$99.00	93+ WA	22	LINK
KELLER GRAUER BURGUNDER RESERVE 2021 750ML	$89	$79.00		11	LINK
KELLER RIESLANER AUSLESE 2019 375ML	$49	$39.00		4	LINK
KELLER SPATBURGUNDER BURGEL GG 2021 750ML	$159	$139.00	93 VINOUS	1	LINK
KORRELL PARADIES RIESLING TROCKEN NAHE 2017 3L	$179	$149.00	94 GRAPELIVE	2	LINK
KORRELL PARADIES RIESLING TROCKEN NAHE 2017 1.5L	$79	$66.00	94 GRAPELIVE	7	LINK
KORRELL PARADIES RIESLING TROCKEN NAHE 2017 750ml	$41.90	$36.00	94 GRAPELIVE	19	LINK
KORRELL RIESLING EISWEIN PARADIES NAHE 2016 375ml	$79	$69.00	94 GRAPELIVE	8	LINK
KORRELL VON DEN GROSSEN LAGEN RIES TROCKEN NAHE 2017 750ml	$33	$29.00	94 SUCKLING	16	LINK
JOH. BAPT. SCHAFER BURG LAYER SCLOSS SPATLESE 2015 750ml	$59	$49.00	93 WA	12	LINK
SCHAFER-FROHLICH FELSENECK SPATLESE RIESLING 2017 750ml	$39	$33.00	93 VINOUS	28	LINK
SCHAFER-FROHLICH FELSENECK SPATLESE GOLDKAPSEL 2018 750ml	$59	$49.00	93+ GILMAN	17	LINK
SCHAFER-FROHLICH STROMBERG GG RIESLING 2017 750ml	$85	$75.00	96 VINOUS	18	LINK
SCHATZEL NIERSTEIN RIESLING KABINETT 2017 750ml	$29	$24.00	92 DECANTER	7	LINK
SCHATZEL PETTENTAL RIESLING KABINETT S 2017 750ml	$79	$69.00	95 SUCKLING	10	LINK
THORLE PROBSTY SILVANER TROCKEN 2017 750ml	$33	$28.00	94 SUCKLING	1	LINK

 
 
Italy
   
Biondi-Santi is beyond foundational to Brunello Montalcino. What’s deeper rooted and more foundational than a foundation? Well, Biondi Santi discovered the Brunello clone of Sangiovese and invented the wine region. All these years later, they are still the top dogs of Montalcino.
 
If you’ve never tried these wines before, there has never been a better time to take the plunge!
 

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
BIONDI SANTI IL GREPPO BRUNELLO 2017 750ml	$219	$179.00	96 WA	10	LINK
BIONDI SANTI IL GREPPO BRUNELLO RISERVA 2011 750ml	$419	$379.00	96 WE	12	LINK
BIONDI SANTI IL GREPPO BRUNELLO RISERVA 2012 750ml	$599	$497.00	97 WA	1	LINK
BIONDI SANTI IL GREPPO BRUNELLO RISERVA 2013 750ml	$599	$499.00	98 WA	1	LINK
BIONDI SANTI IL GREPPO BRUNELLO RISERVA 2016 750ml	$699	$619.00	99 WA	6	LINK

 
   

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
CHATEAU PEYRASSOL PROVENCE ROSE 2017 3L	$159	$135.00	90 WE	1	LINK
CHATEAU PEYRASSOL PROVENCE ROSE 2018 6L	$319	$269.00		1	LINK
CHATEAU PEYRASSOL PROVENCE ROSE 2022 1.5L	$99	$89.00	92 VINOUS	3	LINK
PEYRASSOL LE CLOS PEYRASSOL ROSE 2019 1.5L	$129	$99.00	93 WA	7	LINK
PEYRASSOL LE CLOS PEYRASSOL ROSE 2021 1.5L	$119	$99.00	94 VINOUS	14	LINK
GRAMONA MART ROSAT XAREL-LO VERMELL PENEDES 2020	$28	$19.00		9	LINK

 
Rose Wines
 

WINES	OLD PRICE	NEW PRICE	POINTS	AVAILABLE	LINK
CHATEAU PEYRASSOL PROVENCE ROSE  2017 3L	$159	$135.00	90 WE	1	LINK
CHATEAU PEYRASSOL PROVENCE ROSE 2018 6L	$319	$269.00		1	LINK*
CHATEAU PEYRASSOL PROVENCE ROSE 2022 1.5L	$99	$89.00	92 VINOUS	3	LINK
PEYRASSOL LE CLOS PEYRASSOL ROSE 2019 1.5L	$129	$99.00	93 WA	7	LINK
PEYRASSOL LE CLOS PEYRASSOL ROSE 2021 1.5L	$119	$99.00	94 VINOUS	14	LINK
GRAMONA MART ROSAT XAREL-LO VERMELL PENEDES 2020 750ml	$28	$19.00		9	LINK