| In This Newsletter: Special Arrivals Hot Spanish deals! New Arrivals Altovinum, Luigi Einaudi, Bereche, E. Guigal, Bott-Geyl, and Dusted Valley Champagne Pre-Arrivals Pierre Peters, Doyard, Gaston Chiquet, Aubry, Chartogne-Taillet, and Marc Hebrart Staff Pick Elise Dechanne Tradition Close-out Sales Rieslings from the “Good Doctor” and more! Collector’s Special Arrival- Arriving November 10th Crystal clear visions of luxury with Roederer and Leflaive  Special Arrivals! Spain “Hot deals to take the chill off of Autumn!” Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha, Calatayud 2021 750ml $13.50 special, 36 bottles available Altovinum Evodia Old Vines Garnacha, Calatayud 2021 Case of 12 bottles $145 special, 6 cases available [That’s $12.08 per bottle!] Wine Advocate 91 Points “The 2021 Evodia comes from a cold year with snow, frost and some extreme temperatures (-18 degrees Celsius!) but an average rest of the season, some hail in July(!) and quite a lot of rain in early October, so not a year without challenges. They estimate a 25% decrease in yields, but the grapes picked before the rain delivered fresh wines with good aging potential. This finished at 14.6% alcohol and with good freshness and acidity. It fermented with some 15% full clusters in concrete, and 60% of the volume remained in concrete while the rest was equal parts in used 225-liter barrels and large oak vats for five months.”Lowest Listed Price in the USA! Comando G ‘La Bruja de Rozas’ Sierra de Gredos, Spain 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 36 bottles available 95 Points Wine Advocate “The 2021 La Bruja de Rozas is their edgiest and most austere mineral and soil-driven version of their entry-level red. It’s herbal, with no concession for fruit, and it has electricity and grip. It’s a good preview of what’s to come from 2021. It has a lot of 2018 and 2016 characteristics, a cool summer, a year with rain and even some during harvest that complicated matters and made them lose some grapes, but there’s more grip, more minerality, more depth, layers and subtleness. It needs time in the glass, and my guess is that at age eight it’s going to reach an outstanding level. A grown-up Bruja, it’s more for soil fanatics than the general public, and it’s one to lay down in your cellar (by the case) while you drink your 2020s. There were 55,184 bottles produced. It was bottled in August 2022.” New Arrivals Italy “Poderi Luigi Einaudi” Luigi Einaudi Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2020 750ml $21.90 special, 36+ bottles available Vinous 90 Points “The 2019 Langhe Nebbiolo is absolutely delicate, aromatic, light on its feet and yet full of energy. The 2019 delivers in every way. Crushed flowers, sweet red berry fruit, chalk, mint and blood orange give this high-toned, perfumed Langhe Nebbiolo tons of vibrancy.”Lowest listed price in the USA! Luigi Einaudi Nei Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles available Vinous 93 Points “The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is super-polished and elegant. Rich and ample, in the style of the year, the 2015 has quite a bit of volume, but the aromatics and silky tannins are very clearly those of Cannubi. Rose petal, sweet red cherry, blood orange, spice and mint add lovely top notes. Today, the 2015 gives the impression it will drink well early and mature at a relatively fast pace.” Wine Advocate 93 Points “In increasing order of intensity and structure, we tasted Poderi Luigi Einaudi’s Baroli from Cannubi, Costa Grimaldi (Terlo) and Bussia. This estate will soon add a new Barolo from the Monvigliero cru in Verduno, and that wine will probably come before Cannubi (at the start of the line) in terms of power when it is ready to be presented. The 2015 Barolo Cannubi is a finessed and light-bodied expression with a light and luminous personality that prizes red berry, cassis, blue flower and white licorice. The tannins are silky and tightly textured.”Lowest listed price on the West coast! Luigi Einaudi Nei Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2018 750ml $99 special, 12 bottles available Vinous 93 Points “The 2018 Barolo Cannubi is another terrific wine in this range from Einaudi. There is an effortless, gracious quality to the Cannubi that is impossible to miss. Expressive aromatics meld into a core of creamy, exquisitely layered Cannubi red-toned fruit. Sweet red cherry, red plum, rose petal, mint and blood orange emerge, but only with great reluctance. The 2018 is pretty closed right now, but that won’t be an issue in another few years’ time.”Lowest listed price per bottle in the USA… if you want it cheaper you’ll need import it from… The Netherlands?! Luigi Einaudi Ludo, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml $41.90 special, 12 bottles available Wine Spectator 93 Points “This is fresh, harmonious and expressive, featuring rose, strawberry, cherry, and eucalyptus flavors. Firms up nicely, lending support for future potential, yet finds its equilibrium on the finish. On the elegant side, with fine length. Best from 2024 through 2042.” Luigi Einaudi Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi, Barolo DOCG 2017 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles available Wine Advocate 95 Points “With fruit from old, southeast-facing vines, the Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2017 Barolo Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi shows very nicely in this hot vintage. The positioning of the vines and the age of the deeply furrowed roots surely play a big role toward achieving the balance and pretty intensity offered here. The wine is streamlined and tight, with no loose ends, held firmly together by fresh Nebbiolo acidity and well-managed tannins. There is a lot of power built up in this Terlo fruit, but the wine also reveals austerity and sharp lines.” Luigi Einaudi Terlo Vigna Costa Grimaldi, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles available Wine Spectator 94 Points “Macerated cherry, black currant and tar flavors predominate, with accents of eucalyptus, tobacco and rose hip tea. Toned and graceful like an athlete, with plenty of innate power, showing terrific balance and length. Best from 2024 through 2050. 200 cases imported.”These Grimaldi Barolos are not to be missed! And we have the lowest prices on the West Coast! France “Bereche- It’s back!” Bereche Brut Reserve, Champagne NV (2020 Base) 750ml $65 special, 36+ bottles available Antonio Galloni 92 Points “The NV Brut Réserve is bright and finely sculpted right out of the glass. There’s terrific purity and energy running through the Brut Réserve. Crushed red berry fruit, white pepper, crushed rocks and mint all race out of the glass. This release is based on 2020, with a good bit of reserve wine (35%) that serves to create terrific balance. The 5.5 grams of dosage is not at all felt.” “E. Guigal”Produced from seven of the most exceptional plots of the domain, Château d’Ampuis is a classy wine with toasty aromas of black fruit. Its tannic structure and elegance contribute to its ageing potential. E. Guigal Chateau d’Ampuis Cote Rotie, Rhône 2012 750ml $119 special, 24 bottles available Robert Parker 95 Points “The 2012 Côte Rôtie Château d’Ampuis is a bigger, richer wine that offers full-bodied richness and a broad, expansive style on the palate. Black raspberries, toasted spices, cured meats and licorice all emerge from this incredibly sexy, complex and nuanced Côte Rôtie, and my notes finish with “wish I could drink a glass.” Enjoy bottles anytime over the coming 15 or more years.”Best price by far! Next lowest is $159 per bottle! “Domaine Bott-Geyl” Jean-Christophe, the current proprietor of this 300+ year-old domaine has taken the winery back to its traditions in order to preserve its future. With 15 hectares of biodynamically and sustainably farmed vines plus a non-interventionist winemaking style, these wines are natural and authentic, plus refined and delicious. The wines of Alsace used to be known as more off-dry, but at the same time palettes have been changing, warming climates have obliged consumers with much drier styles. Bott-Geyl Cremant d’Alsace Cuvee Paul-Edouard Extra Brut, France NV $29 special, 24 bottles available Bott-Geyl Metiss Blanc, Alsace 2021 750ml $19.50 special, 24 bottles available Vinous “The 2021 Alsace Métiss is a blend of Muscat, Riesling, Sylvaner, Chasselas and Pinot Blanc, a contemporary take on the Edelzwicker blends of old. It is the only wine in the range that is certified Ecocert rather then Biodyvin, since a small amount of Muscat is bought from a grower for this blend. The nose is scented and fresh, full of spring blossom and lemon. The rounded palate follows suit, presenting fragrant peachiness and lovely, lemony richness – despite the slender body. A light, fragrant, and bone-dry aperitif, ideal for a summer table.” Bott-Geyl Pinot Gris Sonnenglanz, Alsace Grand Cru 2013 750ml $45 special, 24 bottles available Vinous 92+ Points “Vivid straw. Knockout nose is redolent of lemon verbena, ripe pear, grilled peach, nectarine and sweet spices complicated by spicy, lemony noble rot. Tactile, rich and utterly seamless in the mouth, with flavors similar to the aromas. I love this wine’s long, textured finish, which shows a spicy honeyed nuance (thanks to the presence of noble rot) that makes it absolutely irresistible. Since 2011, Bott harvests these grapes early to help preserve acidity.” Bott-Geyl Riesling Schlossberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2018 750ml $51.90 special, 12 bottles available Vinous 93 Points “The 2018 Riesling comes from a terraced, steep parcel at the top of Schlossberg Grand Cru, at its center, just below the forest, lending coolness. The granitic soils are weathered and poor, yields are small. The nose announces the ripeness and dryness of 2018 with a lifted scent of orange peel, golden apple and candied orange. The palate, likewise, is ripe and rounded, brimming with juicy, ripe Mirabelle that is edged with dried lemon peel freshness. A phenolic edge lends some welcome bitterness and more texture. The finish is dry and lasting, delving deeper into that stone. (Bone-dry)” Domaine Bott-Geyl Riesling Schoenenbourg, Alsace Grand Cru 2018 750ml $51.90 special, 12 bottles available Vinous 94 Points “The 2018 Riesling Schoenenbourg Grand Cru is from various parcels within the grand cru, between 20, 30 and 60 years old. The nose is totally open and lifted with dried yarrow and dried lemon peel. More air brings hints of dried and fresh yellow pear. The palate is focused, intense, linear and edged with utterly mouth-watering freshness. There is a lovely chalky texture while notions of candied orange peel pop up, yet a completely dry focus drives this to a refreshing finish. Again a contrast between nose and palate delivers intense, chalky length. (Bone-dry)” Washington StateLocated in the epicenter of Washington State’s premiere Wine Country, DVV calls the Walla Walla Valley home. This rolling valley, back dropped by the Blue Mountains, has historically been landscaped by golden wheat fields, green vegetable fields (the Walla Walla Sweet Onion our favorite) and fruit orchards. However, this oasis has quickly become home to world class vineyards and wines. Dusted Valley Stained Tooth Syrah, Columbia Valley 2020 750ml $29 special, 36 bottles available Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points “A co-fermented blend of 97% Syrah and 3% Viognier, the 2020 Syrah Stained Tooth sports a medium ruby/plum color as well as great nose of ripe black raspberry and blueberry fruit, iron, peppery herbs, and bacon fat. It’s medium to full-bodied, has lots of fruit, ripe tannins, and an outstanding finish.” James Suckling 91 Points “Ripe and mellow plums and mulberries with chocolate and sweet spices. Citrus peel, too. Rich and juicy with medium to full body, firm tannins and bright acidity. Flavorful and satisfying. Drink now.”Lowest Price in the USA today! Champagne Pre-ArrivalsArriving November 10th “Pierre Peters”  “These are sleek, racy Champagnes, expressing a classic character of Côte des Blancs Chardonnay. They are marked by their fine acidity and prominent minerality, yet while they are always brisk and chalky, they are rarely austere, with the possible exception of certain vintages of the Cuvée Spéciale. All of the wines go through malolactic, due to their naturally high acidities: “We have a lot of acidity and a lot of minerality in all our wines,” says Rodolphe Péters. “We want to build the structure of our wines around both acidity and minerality, not acidity alone.”-Peter Liem, Champagneguide.net Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $59.50 pre-arrival special Wine Spectator 93 Points “[Reviewed 2023] Firm and minerally up front, with well-honed acidity and notes of smoke, chalk and oyster shell transitioning as they’re integrated with a creamy range of crunchy pear, ripe green apple, pink grapefruit pith and almond skin flavors, which expand through the midpalate and lightly spiced finish. Elegant, but with good complexity and focus throughout.” Importer Note “Anticipated assemblage: 2020 base with 1988, 1990, 1993 and 1995-2019, except ‘99 and ‘03; village/vyd Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Grand Cru, Cramant Grand Cru, Avize Grand Cru and Oger Grand Cru.” “Doyard”“This Vertus domaine numbers among my favorite addresses on the Côte de Blancs, and the Doyard family’s vinous, incisive Champagnes deserve a place in any well-stocked cellar. Deep, concentrated and characterful, everything that bears the Doyard label is well worth serious attention.”-William Kelley, Wine AdvocateDoyard Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 $149 pre-arrival special William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ Points “The swan song vintage of this cuvée, Doyard’s 2015 Extra-Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru mingles aromas of citrus oil with notions of buttery pastry, dried white flowers and warm biscuits. Medium to full-bodied, layered and structured, with chalky dry extract and lively acids, it’s a taut, compact wine that will require a bit of bottle age to unwind.” Doyard Oeil de Perdrix Grand Cru Brut Rose, Champagne 2018 750ml $169 pre-arrival special William Kelley-Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2018 Extra-Brut Grand Cru Millésimé Œil de Perdrix is lovely, wafting from the glass with scents of orange blossom, mirabelle plum, sweet citrus fruit and red berries. Medium to full-bodied, ample and pillowy, with a fleshy core of fruit and lively acids, it’s an elegant, charming wine that offers demonstrative drinking out of the gates.” Doyard ‘Revolution’ Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non-Dose, Champagne NV 750ml $87.50 pre-arrival special No reviews for the 2023 release. Review for 2022 release provided for reference. William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 Points “Based on the 2016 vintage and disgorged early this year, Doyard’s NV Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Non Dosé Révolution offers up aromas of citrus oil, freshly baked bread, honeycomb, almonds and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and incisive, it’s a taut, elegantly textural Champagne with a fine mousse and a long, saline finish. It’s another fine rendition of this immensely reliable cuvée.” Doyard Cuvee Vendemiaire Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $62.50 pre-arrival special Wine Spectator 93 Points “[Reviewed 2023] A graceful Champagne, with a satiny mousse, revealing ripe apricot, mirabelle plum, preserved lemon, white blossoms and a streak of salty minerality enriched by hints of toasted hazelnut and pastry cream, all framed by well-knit, chiseled acidity on the long finish.” “Gaston Chiquet- Grower Champagne innovators” “In 1919, two brothers, Fernand and Gaston Chiquet—winemakers born and bred—came together to create their house Chiquet Brothers. They were ‘pioneers’ in Champagne, the very first winemakers to take the initiative, bold at the time, to keep their grapes, turn them into Champagne and sell their own wine.”-Richard Juhlin, 4000 ChampagnesGaston Chiquet Premier Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 pre-arrival special Antonio Galloni 92 Points “The NV Brut Rosé (2020 base) is stellar. Lifted floral and savory accents meld into a core of punchy red-toned fruit. Cranberry, white pepper, mint, crushed rocks and blood orange build into the nervy, resonant finish. The Rosé is light in color and finessed, but also has tons of richness, much of that coming from the 18% still Pinot in the blend.” Gaston Chiquet Tradition Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $43.50 pre-arrival special Wine Spectator 89 Points “[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.” “Marc Hebrart” Hebrart Mes Favorites Vielles Vignes Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $69 pre-arrival special Importer note “75% Pinot Noir / 25% Chardonnay. Old vines.” Antonio Galloni 92 Points “[Review for prior disgorgement.] The NV Brut Mes Favorites Villes Vignes is a powerful, structured Champagne. There’s plenty of old-vine intensity and bright acid driving a core of Pinot-based fruit. I would prefer to cellar this for at least another year or two, as it is clearly still coming together. It’s a wine for readers who enjoy rich, vinous Champagnes at the dinner table.” Hebrart Premier Cru Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $59 pre-arrival special Pre-Arrival ETA November 10th Importer note “Cépage 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir (6% vin rouge). Anticipated assemblage: Chardonnay from 2020, Pinot Noir from 2019-2020. Village/vyd: Mareuil-Sur-Aÿ 1er Cru.” Wine Spectator 92 Points “[Reviewed in 2023] Well-knit and minerally, with a crisp texture and flavors of ripe raspberry, poached apricot, tangerine peel and biscuit. Chalky finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.” Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut NV 750ml $54.50 pre-arrival special Wine Spectator 92 Points “[Review for previous disgorgement.] A sleek Champagne, mouthwatering and refined in texture, offering a creamy, well-meshed blend of crème de cassis, toast point, crystallized honey and lemon curd.” Hebrart Special Club Brut Millesime, Champagne 750ml $99 pre-arrival special No reviews for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference. Wine Spectator 93 Points “A fresh, harmonious Champagne, with a lacy texture and a minerally underpinning, revealing ripe cherry and Gala apple fruit layered with candied ginger, toast point, oyster shell and blanched almond notes. This would be a fine aperitif, but there’s a bit more focus and depth to it, recommending it to pairing with food or cellaring. Disgorged April 2022. Drink now through 2033.” “L. Aubry Fils” HOT DEAL Aubry Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $39.50 pre-arrival special Importer Note “Cépage 40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 20% Meunier, 5% Arbanne, Petit Meslier and Fromenteau. Anticipated assemblage 60% 2020, 40% reserve wine back to 1998. Village/vyd: Jouy-lès-Reims 1er Cru, Villedommange 1er Cru, Pargny-lès-Reims 1er Cru, Coulommes-la-Montagne 1er Cru. Elevage: Mostly stainless steel with a portion of the Chardonnay aged in used barrique.” “Chartogne-Taillet” Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Sainte Anne Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $54.50 special, 36 bottles available Wine Spectator 93 Points “[Reviewed 2023] This vibrant Champagne leads with an enticing floral note, opening on the raw silk–textured palate to reveal a finely meshed range of salted Marcona almond, ripe white cherry, blood orange pith and lime blossom flavors that echo through the lingering finish. Classy. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier.” Importer Note “Cépage Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier. Anticipated assemblage: 80% 2020, 20% reserve wines. Village/vyd: Merfy, Saint Thierry, Avize Grand Cru.” Staff Pick Elise Dechannes Tradition Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2017 750ml $49 special, 33 bottles available Sometimes I crave bubbles that are fruity and fun, and Dechannes Tradition answers the call. Vibrant yet supremely gulpable, this has the poise and precision of Champagne with the fun and verve of sparkling Vouvray I want to sip with shortbread cookies and fresh berries. –Suzanne Close-out SalesGreat deals on Rieslings from the Good Doctor and more The story behind the famous Bernkasteler Doktor is that a wine made from the vineyard was once offered as medicine to a dying man who just so happened to be one of the highest Arch-Bishops in the Holy Roman Empire. Upon his miraculous recovery, the Arch-Bishop proclaimed the Vineyard “Doctor” and the title has remained ever since. We cannot comment on the healing properties of these wines, but we can proclaim it one of the most delicious, crave-worthy Rieslings we’ve ever tried. Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Kabinett, Mosel 2016 750ml WAS $26 NOW 21.90 special, 2 bottles available David Schildknecht – Vinous 91 Points “Ripe pear and apple dominate on the nose as well as on a silken, buoyant palate, supported by subtle sweetness. Mouthwatering salinity and transparency to crystalline stony nuances give the long, refreshingly juicy finish a fascinating and delightful sense of shimmer.”Lowest listed price in the USA! Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Bernkasteler Badstube Spatlese, Mosel 2017 750ml WAS $28 NOW $21.90 special, 21 bottles available Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2017 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is still pretty reductive but clear and elegant on the crunchy slate and floral nose. Lush and salty on the pure, refined and elegant palate, this is a concentrated, densely woven and sensual Badstube with the mineral grip and tension of this often underrated Grosse Lage. Tasted from AP 8 18 in March 2019.” Dr. H. Thanisch Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spatlese, Mosel 2019 750ml WAS $29 NOW $24 special, 6 bottles available Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 Points “Vinified in old fuder vats until May and bottled at the end of August this year, the 2019 Bernkasteler Badstube Riesling Spätlese is clear, precise and elegant on the flinty and crunchy nose. On the palate, this is a perfectly round, textured, finessed and stimulatingly salty Spätlese of great elegance and finesse. I tried to spit it three times and always failed. There is this very rare reflex that you can’t avoid, and before you even think about it, you want to swallow it. Gorgeous. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”Lowest listed price in the USA! Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Bernkasteler Doctor Spatlese, Mosel 2016 750ml WAS $49 NOW $41.90 special, 9 bottles available Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 Points “The 2016 Berncasteler Doctor Riesling Spätlese shows a complex, smoky, fresh and elegant bouquet but is still slightly reductive. Piquant and mineral on the palate, with generous fruit, this is an elegant, crystalline and complex Doctor Spätlese with a dense, salty, very expressive and persistent finish. Keep this wine for at least a decade. Tasted March 2018.”Lowest listed price in the world! (Including Germany… somehow) Dr. H. Thanisch Erben Bernkasteler Graben Grosses Gewachs 2019 750ml WAS $41.90 NOW $36 special, 16 bottles available Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91+ Points “The 2019 Bernkasteler Graben Riesling GG is adjacent to Thanisch’s Doctor parcel yet a bit less warm. From 60- to 70-year-old-vines, this is a smoky, intense and elegant Riesling with very fine, precise and crunchy gray slate aromas. Medium-bodied, intense and complex on the palate, this is a tight, long and structured dry Graben Riesling with a refreshing lemon aroma on the concentrated and refreshing finish. This is complex but very promising and currently pretty closed, although the bottle was opened two days earlier. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.”Lowest listed price in the USA! Not enough Glorious Riesling for you? Korrell is one of the great values in Riesling and we just made it a better deal! Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 750ml WAS $33 NOW $29 special, 34 bottles available Stuart Pigott-Jamessuckling.com 94 points “What a beautiful nose of leaves and white flowers, dripping after rain. With aeration, peach, nectarine and mandarin-orange notes emerge. Concentrated, racy and very polished, this is a stunning dry riesling with a long, mineral finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.” Weingut Korrell Johanneshof Kreuznacher Paradies Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2017 3L WAS $179 NOW $149 special, 3 bottles available Grapelive 94 Points “This is a winery that about to break out and join some elite company, in fact they are riding high after winning, as mentioned, the famous Riesling Cup award with their unique multi (Grand) cru Von den Grossen Lagen Trocken Riesling. This wine is just extra proof there is real quality here! The lightly golden hued and generously textured Paradies will age well. It’s full of charm, class and potential. Best to let this one have another 3 to 5 years, though it certainly is delicious right now.”Only listings in the USA!Click here to Shop for all 215+ of our Close Out Sale wines! Collector’s Corner Pre-Arrivals“Crystal” clear visions of luxury with Roederer and Leflaive  Arriving November 10thCristal– perhaps the most prestigious champagne in history. Literally fit for a King, this wine was originally designed for Tsar Alexander II in 1867 in a clear crystal glass—either to impress Kaiser Wilhelm or because he feared assassination by poison depending on which legend you prefer. No matter the history, this is a wine synonymous with the highest levels of quality and luxury. Louis Roederer Cristal 6 Pack 750ml $2,799 special, just 1 one case arriving! TWO bottles of each: 2006, 2008, 2012 Louis Roederer Cristal, Champagne 2006 Decanter 97 points “Fantastic from the start. A colossal power of beautiful rumbling Pinot maturity. It’s like chewing on the ripest grapes from Ay and Verzenay. At the same time ultra stylish: unmistakable Cristal essence of peach and mango sweetness, pineapple, coconut, vanilla, sprightly acidity and citrus blossom. Many similarities with 2002 but with a clearer Pinot touch.” James Suckling 96 Points “Deep maturing nose with plenty of ripe pear and apricot, plus a whiff of smoke. This is a big and powerful champagne with notes of spice and grapefruit alongside some red berry fruit from pinot noir. Long chalky finish that’s more vibrant than the first impression suggests. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023.” Louis Roederer Cristal, Champagne 2008 Wine Enthusiast 100 points “This latest incarnation of the famous brand is a superb wine. It is on par with, maybe even better than, the already legendary 2002. Its balance is impeccable: Apple and citrus flavors working with the tight minerality to give a textured yet fruity wine. Produced from Roederer’s own vineyards which are mainly biodynamic, the wine has its own intense purity and crispness. It has amazing potential and is likely to age for many years. Drink from 2020. Cellar Selection.” James Suckling 100 Points “One of the masterpieces of this exceptional vintage (the last that was this cool). Ravishing nose of Amalfi lemon and white peach with hints of white chocolate, chamomile and oyster shell. Super-elegant and tightly structured with a hint of creaminess on the mid-palate adding tension. Very long steely finish carried by the linear mineral acidity. A cuvée of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, part of which (unusually for Cristal) underwent malolactic fermentation. Getting very scarce on the secondary market, partly because of the great aging potential! Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023.” Jeb Dunnuck 100 Points “The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simply does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.” Louis Roederer Cristal, Champagne 2012 Wine Enthusiast 98 points Cellar Selection “As the first 100% biodynamic Cristal, entirely from Roederer-owned vineyards, this is an important milestone. This latest incarnation is a great Champagne with its density, elegance and poise. Still impressively young, the wine is taut, tightly wound and textured. At the same time, it has pure, ripe white and citrus fruits that are perfumed, and an important part of this wine’s long-term future. Drink at the earliest from 2023. Wine Advocate 97+ points “Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that’s built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself.” Why wait? We have bottles of Cristal waiting to be purchased today! Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2013 750ml $619 special, 2 bottles available William Kelley-Wine Advocate 99 Points “A candidate for wine-of-the-vintage honors in Champagne, Roederer’s 2013 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, red berries, stone fruit, freshly baked bread and tangerine oil. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, the vintage’s bright girdling acids are amply cloaked in exuberant, expressive and notably concentrated fruit; so while this Cristal is as tensile and age-worthy as one would expect, it’s also impressively fleshy and generous given the year. Concluding with an intensely sapid finish, the 2013 isn’t as overtly structured as the muscular, tightly wound 2012: rather, it’s the 2013’s alliance of cut and flesh, precision and charm that’s so compelling this year. This is another banner vintage for what I consider the reigning champion of the region’s tête de cuvée bottlings, and it will be worth an effort to acquire.” Antonio Galloni 98 Points “The 2013 Cristal Rosé is searingly intense right out of the glass, just like the Blanc, except it has a bit more fleshiness because of the skin contact on the Pinot. Cristal Rosé has one of the best track records for aging in Champagne. I suspect the 2013 will join the ranks of the epic vintages, but it is painfully tight today. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ) and 45% Chardonnay (from Avize and Mesnil) done in the classic Roederer infusion style in which Pinot Noir is vinified on the skins and then blended with Chardonnay to complete the fermentation. About 25% of the lots were done in oak, while malolactic fermentation was blocked. (Originally published in May 2021)” Louis Roederer Cristal Vinotheque 1999 750ml $1,245 special, 3 bottles available James Suckling 98 Points “The nose has such beautiful, autolysis character with brown-mushroom and toasted-almond aromas. The nose has still-fresh lemons and oyster shell. Very smooth, pastry-like texture on the palate with even layers and a core of fresh lemons and peaches. The striking thing here is the balance and melted-together complexity. In a very great place. This spent seven years sur latte, seven sur pointe and was disgorged in 2014. Drink now.” [Reviewed 2019] Antonio Galloni 97 Points “Roederer’s 1999 Cristal Vinothèque is endowed with tremendous power and concentration, especially for a Champagne of its age. Palate staining minerals, chalk, white pepper, mint, citrus and orchard fruit soar out of the glass. Tasted next to the Rosé the Blanc has a slightly more toasty character along with more body and a stronger presence of the mousse, which in this wine wraps around the fruit. At the time, Cristal was made from 37 parcels. The Pinots were a blend from Aÿ (where the wines are naturally riper) and Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont-sur-Vesle, (where Pinots are nervy and taut), while the Chardonnay was sourced from Avize, Mesnil and Cramant. Dosage is 7-8 grams per liter.” [Reviewed 2020] “Domaine Leflaive” Medieval Lore tells us that the Lord of Puligny divided his land between his eldest son, the knight (Le Chevalier) and his illegitimate son (Le Bâtard) which in time became the greatest white wine vineyard in all of Burgundy. At Domaine Leflaive, it was Anne Leflaive, the daughter of former owner Vincent Leflaive who brought the winery to greatness. An early adopter of Biodynamics in the region, she was considered wine royalty and a true wine-maker’s wine-maker. These bottles of Grand Cru can easily be considered the Crème de la crème de la crème of wine. Domaine Leflaive Bienvenues-Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2021 750ml $1,999 special, 2 bottles arriving Burghound 95-98 points “A trace of reduction isn’t sufficient to materially reduce the appeal of the honeysuckle, citrus confit and softly spiced aromas that are also trimmed in just enough wood to merit pointing out. The medium-bodied flavors aren’t necessarily finer than those of the Pucelles though they do possess more power and weight while retaining a beguilingly silky texture as well as excellent complexity on the strikingly long, balanced and Zen-like finale. This is a very serious and moderately austere BBM that is very clearly built to repay long-term keeping. In a word, superb.” Domaine Leflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune 2021 750ml $2,199 special, 2 bottles arriving 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.” Need it faster? This wine is here right now: Domaine Leflaive Chevalier-Montrachet Grand Cru, Côte de Beaune 2020 750ml $2,499 special, 1 bottle available Burghound 96-98 Points “Don’t Miss! Strikingly elegant, cool and restrained aromas are comprised by notes of citrus confit, mineral reduction, anise, exotic tea and the classic acacia blossom nuances. The almost painfully intense medium-bodied flavors are at once succulent yet chiseled while the practically pungent minerality adds a sense of lift to the hugely long finish that is youthfully austere and Zen-like in its harmony. This is quite simply majestic in its class and grace and is a wine that should age effortlessly for years.” We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM dailyOrder Online / By Phone / By EmailThank you from the team at Vinopolis!Be well & drink well. |
| Browse the 2,900+ wines we offer online at www.vinopoliswineshop.com or shop at our convenient NW Glisan and 16th location in Portland, OR from 10 am – 6 pm daily. |
| Shop Our Selections By Category: Champagne * Walla Walla * Brunellos * Oregon Pinot Noir * Rhone Reds * Rosé And dozens more! |