Vinopolis Newsletter – Friday 3-15-24

 In This Newsletter:

Special Arrivals
Calfornia Cult and Cru Champagne
Arrivals
Coe Cellars, Evesham Wood, Ott, William Fevre, and more!
Newly Reviewed
One of our favorite producers gets love from Grapelive
Produttori Pre-Sale Opportunity
Coming soon… reserve yours today!
Close-Out Sales
Save big on some of our best wines

Special Arrival

 

Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley, USA 2021 750ml $2,699 special, 2 bottles available
Vinous 98-100 Points “The 2021 The Flight is magnificent. The aromatics alone are utterly beguiling. Crushed flowers, mint and red/purplish berry fruit make a strong opening statement. Medium in body and supremely gracious, the Flight possesses silky tannins that wrap it all together in style, with bright acids that punctuate the finish. Readers will find a wine of supreme elegance and class. This is a phenomenal showing. I loved it.”

Lowest price in the USA
Average price is $3,066!

 

Sine Qua Non Distenta “III” Grenache, California, USA 2021 750ml $289 special, just 1 bottle available!
Vinous 96-99 Points “The 2021 Grenache Distenta III is one of the most refined wines I have tasted from Sine Qua Non. Floral aromatics make a strong first impression. There’s plenty of SQN richness, but also less overt opulence than most vintages. I tasted this from a tank sample just prior to bottling. The 2021 is simply magnificent. I can’t wait to taste it from bottle.”

Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Grenache, Sta. Rita Hills, USA 2020 750ml $399 special, 3 bottles available
Not yet reviewed, previous review provided for reference
Erin Brooks Wine Advocate 97 Points (2019 vintage) “Deep ruby-purple in color, it takes significant time to open and is mostly coiled and shy on day one. On day two, its aromas unfurl: cherry pie and wild berry jam scents are layered with tones of cured meat, peppercorn, bergamot and wildflowers. The full-bodied palate is seamless and ultra powdery in texture, with balancing bursts of juicy acidity that highlight pretty spice and floral tones that fan across the long finish. It deserves generous cellar time and will be long lived. 922 cases and 240 magnums were made.
 

Only listing in the United States!

 
Sine Qua Non Eleven Confessions Vineyard Syrah, Sta Rita Hills, USA  2020 750ml $399 special, 1 bottle available
Not yet reviewed, previous review provided for reference
Erin Brooks Wine Advocate 99 Points (2019 vintage) “This gorgeous Syrah opens over several days and never seems to diminish. It offers pure aromas of crème de cassis, tar, salami and ringing tones of violet. The full-bodied palate is incredibly velvety in texture, and despite its concentration and powerful style, it manages noticeable freshness and detail, with that magical violet perfume echoing across the long finish. This will develop gracefully in the cellar over the next two decades or more.”
 

Lowest price in the USA

 
In fact, many authorities feel that Champagne Bérêche et Fils has now taken its place among the region’s finest producers, house or grower. Antonio Galloni calls Raphaël and Vincent’s Champagnes “among the very best readers will come across,” adding that he buys the wines “whenever I see them.” John Gilman writes simply that Bérêche is “at the top of its game and producing some of the finest wines in all of Champagne! –Rarewine Co., Importer.
 
Raphael et Vincent Bereche ‘Cote’ Grand Cru Extra-Brut Millesime, Champagne, France 2016 750ml $149 special, 30 bottles available

OREGON
 

 

This versatile red wine was born from owner and winemaker Aaron Coe’s love of Brunello di Montalcino and dedication to making the best Sangiovese outside of Tuscany possible. A longtime veteran of the local wine scene, Coe Cellars is building their reputation on local wine lists and wine shops like yours truly.
 
 Staff pick!  Coe Cellars Mission Hills Sangiovese, Walla Walla Valley, USA 2020 750ml $23.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinopolnote “Coe Cellars produces just one wine: a 100% Sangiovese Grosso (the specific clone used in Brunello Di Montalcino production) grown exclusively in the Mission Hill Vineyard in Walla Walla. Dedicated to making “as old world of a wine in the New World as possible,” Coe Cellars’ Sangiovese has a ripe cherry profile, with hints of savory dried herbs around the edges, lithe tannins, and a pleasantly tart finish. Blind fold us and we’d swear this is from Tuscany.”
 

Best Price in the USA

Evesham Wood.

 Staff pick!  Evesham Wood Blanc du Puits Sec, Eola-Amity Hills, USA 2023 750ml $18 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Notes All the estate whites (except for the Chardonnay) were again harvested together and co-fermented in neutral oak barrels with spontaneous fermentation and went through full malolactic fermentation. We really achieved a great balance with rich mouthfeel and a crisp finish. A floral nose of jasmine and honeysuckle, richly textured mid-palate with more honeysuckle finishing crisp with rose and spice. 325 cases produced.
 
Evesham Wood Eola-Amity Hills Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, USA 2022 750ml $30.90 special, 36 bottles available
Winery Note “2020 tried to smoke us and ‘21 tried to roast us, but ‘22 tried to freeze us with March snows before budbreak and a hard frost following. While many of our hillside blocks made it through without loss, at lower elevations where those hills flatten out in Le Puits Sec, La Grive Bleue, and Torres Hill there was a notable reduction in yields. The parts of vineyards that didn’t see any losses still suffered delays and harvest started at the end of Sept. and continued well into Oct. At this early point in their lives, the ‘22s are reminding us of a friendlier version of the 2010s.”
Tasting Notes “Delicious: raspberry gastrique running to pomegranite juice to grenadine (the good version) lead ahead of lavender and lilac and are followed by ume, blood orange, Christmas spices, and fresh-turned earth.”
 

These are the only listings in the USA

 

 
Evesham Wood Cuvee J Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, USA 2021 750ml $59 special, 13 bottles available
Winery Note “2021 is another vintage that began with a warmer than average Summer (it hit 118f in June!) but ended on  a cooler than average harvest. It resulted in a vintage with the richness of ‘18 but with ‘19’s pretty side — it’s built on poise rather than broad shoulders. One of the greatest characteristics Russ finds in our proprietary yeast that he “isolated” from a bottle of 1986 Jayer Echezeaux is the velvety texture it imparts on the wines. While we use that yeast in every Pinot Noir we make, the texture it imparts is particularly notable in this wine. The 6 barrels selected from Le Puits Sec display a beautiful balance of elegance while also concentration and power.  Bright red berries, rhubarb, pomegranite molasses, and plum-frangipane tart that finishes with great length and haunting flowers.”
 

Lowest price in the USA

 
Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills, USA 2021 750ml $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “What a beauty! The 2021 Pinot Noir Le Puits Sec blossoms in the glass with a gorgeous mix of dusty violets and roses complemented by autumnal spice, giving way to citrus-tinged wild berries. This sweeps across the palate with finesse, lifted and ethereal, with shades of blue and purple inner florals accentuating dark red fruits. It finishes long and hauntingly floral with a tactile mineral crunch and coating of gently grippy tannins. For lovers of old-school Oregon Pinot, the 2021 is dreamy.”
 

 
Flaneur Wines Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles available
Staff Notes “This wine features a pleasant weight plus bright citrus notes and a dash of baking spices. Elegant and perfect for drinking on the patio.”
 
 Staff pick!  Flaneur Wines Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $28 special, 24 bottles available
Staff Notes “This pinot noir is juicy, concentrated, and full of darker berry fruit and spice showing on the nose and palate. The structure has bright acidity and a long finish and is very approachable. This wine is ready to drink now and makes the perfect pairing pinot!”
 
CALIFORNIA
 

 
Kind of a wine Supergroup featuring world famous vignerons such as Rodolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Péters and Domaine de Montille’s Étienne de Montille, Racines is bringing French experience to California’s rolling and fertile Santa Rita hills. These wines are worthy of their provenance:  ebullient, complex, and with great aging potential.
 
Racines Bentrock Vineyard Chardonnay, Sta. Rita Hills, USA 2018 750ml $79 special, 3 bottles available
Decanter 97 Points “One of the finest Chardonnay examples produced in Santa Barbara County, if not California in its entirety. This has a striking, dramatic minerality that vaults from the glass and only ever gains in intensity with exposure to air. The palate is full, layered and high-toned while steering clear of either shrillness or thickness. The finish is both explosive and poised; a truly recalibrating California Chardonnay for those still skeptical of what can be achieved here. Drinking Window 2020- 2040.”
 
Racines ‘Sta. Rita Hills Cuvee’ Pinot Noir, California, USA 2018 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter Magazine 94 Points “Racines is a collaboration between Tyler Winery’s Justin Willett, Domaine de Montille’s Étienne de Montille and Brian Sieve, and Rodolphe Péters of Champagne Pierre Péters, working with entirely Sta. RIta Hills fruit. For the most part, the entire lineup levels-up the intensity and structure of the Tyler wines, as is the case with their Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir. Sourced from multiple sites across the appellation with a backbone of La Encantada Vineyard. Meaty, dense, and reminiscent of a damp forest on the nose and palate, with a balanced, dark-fruited, saline-heavy finish.”
 

These are the lowest prices in the USA

 
FRANCE
 
Domaine Bitouzet-Prieur Taillepieds, Volnay Premier Cru, France 2019 750ml $119 special, 10 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points “One of the more muscular wines in the range is the 2019 Volnay 1er Cru Les Taillepieds, a medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered wine evocative of plums, woodsmoke and spices. This stands out as one of the finest cuvées in this tasting.”
Burghound 91-93 Points “Here too there is a mentholated top note on the more deeply pitched aromas of plum, black raspberry and subtle tea and floral wisps. As is always the case, there is more size, weight and power to the intensely mineral-driven flavors that possess a velvety mid-palate that contrasts with the dusty, youthfully austere and even more complex and persistent finale. This is a riper Taillepieds but one with outstanding development potential.”
Vinous 91-93 Points “The 2019 Volnay Les Taillepieds 1er Cru comes from a single plot of 0.70 hectares. This has an outgoing bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, touches of pressed iris flower and a light sea spray aroma, becoming ever more complex with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, rounded in texture, very fleshy and plush though I would like a little more backbone to counterbalance that on the finish. Fine.”
 
Domaines Ott Chateau de Selle Provence Rose 2022 $49 special, 24 bottles available
Vinous 93 Points “The 2022 Rosé Château de Selle Cru Classé opens with a striking bouquet, blending dusty dried flowers with ginger, a spritz of lemon and crushed apples. It’s supple and soothing to the senses, with a textural wave of white strawberry, candied orange and sweet inner florals. A core of brilliant acidity maintains a fantastic balance as this tapers off long and potent. A mineral staining and citrus hints tease the taste buds. Please pour me another.”
Wine Enthusiast 92 Points “Smoothly textured, this wine with its classic dominance of Grenache and Cinsault is rich. It has a lively backdrop to the ripe red berry fruits that are freshened with orange zest. Drink the wine now. Organic.”
 
William Fevre Chablis Grand Cru Bougros 2019 750ml $99 special, 18 bottles available
Jasper Morris-Inside Burgundy 94 Points “This is not the legendary Côte de Bouguerots bottling, but the regular Bougros – which still stood out alongside its peers. The fruit shows grand cru weight and the sunshine quality of the vintage, juicy but well balanced, while the crystalline purity of the finish sets this wine apart.”
James Suckling 94 Points “Aromas of aniseed and lemon rind with dried apple and pear follow through to a full body. Yet, it’s tight and layered with a compact palate and plenty of fruit … Try after 2023.“

Beginning with the 2019 vintage, this is an outstanding, classic year with linear, tension-packed wines possessing austere, compact structures that will demand bottle age. –Audrey Frick, Jebdunnuck.com
 
There’s a lot to explore in these new releases from Produttori del Barbaresco. The 2019 Riservas show a good amount of vineyard definition, but they are also marked by a strong, somber, brooding quality. “Weather was up and down during the last phase of ripening,” Managing Director Aldo Vacca explained. “We had one good week of weather, but then conditions would deteriorate before improving again. This required us to be especially selective, so production for the crus is down about 20%.” In vintages like 2019 that are hard to read, I typically revisit the Riservas once they have had more time in bottle, which I expect to do this year. I imagine the 2019s will require a measure of patience. In the meantime, the 2020 Barbaresco will give readers a very good idea of the style of that year. –Antonio Galloni, Vinous

This famous collective, probably the world’s most respected wine-making cooperative, produces wine from 9 crus. The Northerly crus of Montefico, Montestefano, and Ovello are typically full bodied and the other crus to the south are known for their elegance.

 
Produttori del Barbaresco Asili, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles available
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, 12 bottles available
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, 12 bottles available
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 Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $85 special, 12 bottles available
Vinous 93+ Points “The 2019 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota is shaping up to be gorgeous. The 2019 is marked by a very evident brightness that is not always present. Medium in body and gracious, with terrific balance, the Muncagota is very impressive in this early tasting of the 2019 Riservas. It could turn out to be one of the surprises in this range. Keep an eye on this.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles available
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 $99.95 special, 12 bottles available
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, 12 bottles available
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, 10 bottles available
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, 12 bottles available
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.”
 
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG, Italy 2019 750ml $48.50 special, 22 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.”
 
We have multiple vintages to choose from. Click here to shop our entire Produttori collection online!

Don’t just take our word for it though– as the original man with a plan, Produttori’s founding enologist Domizio said:

 
If you want to taste the wine Barbaresco, please do not ask for a small sample to be delivered to your address. Instead buy a case of the vintage you want or, even better, a mixed case of several vintages. This will be the best way for you to understand Barbaresco. -Domizio Cavazza,”Barbaresco and Its Wines.”

FRANCE
 
Was $59
Guy Charlemagne Brut Rose, Champagne, France NV 750ml Display Price: $49 special, 3 bottles available
Roger Voss Wine Enthusiast 90 Points “A beautifully balanced wine, this has great freshness from the red-currant flavors along with a tight, zesty texture and finishes with great acidity. This bottling is ready to drink now.”
Winery Note “This Champagne is made with our vineyards from Mancy and Cuis, with a chalky-clay soil. It is produced 100% from Pinot Noir. Its color is obtained by macerating the grapes with the juice, giving it the colour typical of « rosé de saignée ». Its nose is particularly marked by red berry notes. Elaborated in thermo regulated stainless steel and matured 2 years in our underground cellars, the Brut rosé with its subtle 8 grams per liter dosage is the fruit of a rigorous vinification. It is the ideal wine with which to celebrate the most beautiful emotions… A fine stream of bubbles underline a deep rose colour. The warm nose shows ripe berry aromas (blackberries) and cherries in alcohol. Its’ elegant mouth is dominated by cassis, blackberry and strawberry jam notes.”
 
Was $119
Guy Charlemagne Mesnillesime Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Brut, Champagne, France 2014 750ml Display Price: $99 special, 26 bottles available
Winery Note “A Grand Champagne with character from the Côte des Blancs terroir, specifically from Le Mesnil sur Oger (limestone parcels averaging 60 years of age). This champagne produced from first press of Le Mesnil sur Oger Grand Cru juices, highlights the exact characteristic of our village. Jewel of the Charlemagne house, this vintage wine combines both authenticity and the search for perfect quality. Elegantly presented with exceptional labelling, this Mesnillesime cuvee is produced with rigorous vinification, partially in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation, and a very light dosage of 4 grams per liter. Matured for 6 years in our chalk underground cellars, this cuvee highlights the excellence of our production. Chardonnay, the only grape here, shows what balance, harmony and purity can mean. A rare champagne for unforgettable moments. Pale yellow with green hues. Persistent mousse with very fine bubbles. Powerful yet elegant nose dominated by acacia honey eventually shows notes of candied lemon, smoke and a blend of pepper. Unctuous, lightly oaked and complex on the palate, candied fruit and citrus aromas pave the way to a fresh, vanilla finish.”
 
Was $69
Charles Ellner Seduction Brut Millesime, Champagne, France 750ml Display Price: $59 special, 18 bottles available
International Wine Review 93 Points “The 2007 ‘Seduction’ is a lovely showing from this house. This begins to impress with inviting aromas of baked apples, pears and lemon oil with hints of toast and chalky mineral nuances all taking shape. On the palate this displays a wonderful elegant side, but with plenty of energy from the underlying acidity which drives this wine through the complex finish. Overall this is a fantastic bottle of Champagne that is drinking beautifully today and still has a few more years of drinking pleasure ahead.”
Lowest price on the West Coast
 
Was $79
Moillard Epenots, Pommard Premier Cru, France 2019 750ml Display Price: $69 special, 22 bottles available
Anna Lee C. Iijima-Wine Advocate 94 Points While the nose is subtle, the palate of this powerful Pinot Noir is lavish, with sun-kissed blackberry and black-plum flavors. Generous and weighty in mouthfeel, it’s structured by firm, bristling tannins and a vibrant lift of acidity. The forward fruit is charming young but the wine should gain complexity and finesse through 2035 and hold further.
 
GERMANY
 
Was $99
Weingut Donnhoff Oberhauser Brucke Riesling Auslese, Nahe, Germany 2020 750ml Display Price: $89 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 98 Points “…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…”
 

Lowest price in the United States!

 
ITALY
 
Was $88
Caiarossa Rosso di Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2016 750ml Display Price: $59 special, 15 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2016 Caiarossa will be released in September. This wine is a blend of seven grapes—42% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot, 15.5% Syrah, 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, 4.5% Sangiovese and 1% Alicante. This vintage sees a slightly higher percentage of Cabernet Franc than usual, but I am told that the 2018 edition will see more Syrah instead. The bouquet presents a beautiful first wave of dark fruit that pushes the limits of ripeness but remains safely within the realm of elegance. The aromas are balanced and focused with blackberry, cassis, and light touches of salty or rusty mineral. The wine is not too constructed or big in the mouth, rather is shows a delicate level of elegances that absolutely seals the deal.”
 

Lowest price in the United States

 
Was $149
Castello del Terriccio Lupicaia Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy 2009 750ml Display Price: $128 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Beautifully resonant in the glass, the 2009 Lupicaia is a standout. Sweet red cherries, flowers, mint, anise, savory herbs and spices all ring out in a supple, gracious wine loaded with class. The 2009 needs a few years for some of the contours to soften, but it is a gorgeous wine with tons of personality. This is a decidedly round, sexy Lupicaia that is going to offer plenty of enjoyment over the course of the next fifteen years or so.”
 

Lowest price in the United States

 
UNITED STATES
 
Was $219
Caladan Cabernet Franc 2017 750ml $199 special, 12 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points “A top bottling of the variety, this small-production wine is structured and strong, opening reductively, with elements of tobacco leaf, oak and sage. The savory character persists in the form of leather and black pepper, allowing just a touch of sharp red fruit to enter and complement.”
 

Lowest price in the United States

 
Was $133
Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley, USA 2020 750ml Display Price: $119, 23 bottles available
Jeb Dunnick 94+ Points “…medium to full-bodied richness, a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, and ripe tannins that emerge on the finish. I like its concentration, and its tannins are polished and beautifully integrated…”
 

Lowest price in the United States