Vinopolis Newsletter – Monday 11/27/2023

Featured Winery
 
Championship Bottle

 

“Saul Mutchnick makes small batches of stellar white wines at a corrugated tin outpost in the Eola-Amity Hills. For me, they are among the best in Oregon.”

Inspired by the crisp whites of the Friuli region in Northeast Italy, Championship Bottle combs through the Willamette’s best cool climate sites to find the unique terroirs that infuse the wines texture, minerality, and elegant acidity that they are known for.
 
Saul Mutchnick, the owner and wine-maker, is both a music geek and a wine geek. Unsurprisingly, he brings these two interests together in the winery as much as possible… he likens his wine-making style to high-fidelity recording, finding the purity of the vineyard itself while turning down the excess noise and distractions as much as possible. His bottlings are named as references to his favorite musicians and songs and even the winery itself is a reference to a classic music geek film.
 
These soulful, lifted wines are great for food pairing, but if you want to pair them to music as well, Saul provides a Spotify playlist, in roughly chronological order, about the music behind the wines.
 

Championship Bottle Gravity’s Pull Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $31.90 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “2021 is a dynamite vintage for Chardonnay in the Willamette Valley, and we think this is perhaps the best vintage of Gravity’s Pull yet. As always, this hails from Dion Vineyard and its ungrafted, 30+ year-old Chardonnay vines, planted in windblown loess soils. It’s telling that across Europe, producers who are lucky enough to have ungrafted vineyards prize them supremely for the je ne sais quoi they seem to provide. Every time we taste Gravity’s Pull, we think that must be happening here, as well, and are grateful to get to work with the vineyard.”
 
Championship Bottle Lost Coastline Fir Crest Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $33.50 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Lost Coastlines hails from Fir Crest Vineyard—a site that we believe to be the most interesting in all of the prestigious Yamhill-Carlton AVA, but whose reputation hadn’t yet caught up to its quality.
Fir Crest responds beautifully to whole-cluster fermentation, and we avoided masking any of the site’s personality with new oak. 120 cases were produced, though we are earmarking a chunk of those for our library already.”

“That means a wine with a intriguing dialectic between dark color and lively acidity, between red and black fruits, all laced with a distinct edge of rosemary and thyme. It’s a structured bottle that’s built for the cellar—perhaps less playful than our other reds, but with a tremendously compelling personality.”
 
Championship Bottle Lusty Little Crushes Red, Willamette Valley 2022 750ml $19.50 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “We love making light, fresh reds—the kind of wines that make you wonder where the rest of the bottle went and seemingly pair with everything. Lusty Little Crushes is the newest incarnation of that paradigm, a co-fermentation of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris that reminds us of bottles from the Loire or Beaujolais in its red fruited, vibrant personality.”
 

 
Championship Bottle Broken Radios Red 2021 750ml $28 special, 15 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “The 2021 Broken Radios is a wine we thought we’d never make—in fact it got its name as a nod to its one-off status during its only other release. Red fruited and snappy, with vibrant acidity and a distinct exotic spice undertone, this is a co-fermentation of Pinot Noir (25%) and Pinot Gris (75%) from Whistling Ridge Vineyard.”

New Arrivals
 
Champagne

“Jose Dhondt”

 

If you love grower Champagnes (and we know you do!) you cannot allow yourself to miss out on these quality offerings from Domaine José Dhondt. With vineyards in the Grand Cru villages of Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and the Côte de Sézanne village of Saudoy, they produce wines of character and place.
 
Jose Dhondt Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $49 special, 24 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 Points “A vibrant blanc de blancs in a harmonious frame, this deftly knits a chiseled spine of acidity with raw silklike texture and flavors of plumped white cherry, salted almond, crystallized honey and white blossoms. Mouthwatering finish.”
Wine Advocate 92 Points “The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs flows with the essence of lemon, white flowers, almonds and pears. It is a bright, focused wine backed up with considerable plushness and generosity in its fruit. The Blanc de Blancs should drink beautifully for a number of years.”
 
Jose Dhondt Vielles Vignes Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru Les Crayeres, Champagne 2015 750ml $79 special, 24 bottles available
Winery Note “From the Crayeres vineyard in Oger planted by José’s grandfather in 1949, Slow, gentle pressing of the grapes in a traditional press, followed by a 12 to 24-hour decanting period. Fermentation takes roughly three weeks. Vinification is done in small, temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks. The wine spends 5 years on lees.”
 

 
Jose Dhondt Rose De Saignee Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $79 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arriving!
Wine Spectator 93 Points “An understated version, with a waft of pretty cherry blossom and spice notes on the nose drawing you into the glass, where a backbone of chiseled acidity is aligned with flavors of ripe red apple and raspberry fruit, pickled ginger and an underpinning of chalky mineral. Fine and vibrant in texture, this expands slowly, so give it time. 200 cases made, 70 cases imported.”
 

 
RH Coutier Grand Cru Brut Millesime, Champagne 2015 750ml $69 special, 11 bottles available
Importer Notes “75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. Golden yellow color with a very “pinot” nose (read cherry). Rich and full in the mouth, with plenty of creaminess. Nice acidity and structure enhanced by the Chardonnay finishes very fresh and long. Wonderful balance with ripe fruit aromatics makes this a very seductive bubbly.” “This area consists of pure Belemnite chalk originating from Bouzy and continuing throughout most of Champagne. This unique soil allows the vines to root deeply, retaining the ideal amount of moisture while allowing the excess to drain away thoroughly. Produced only the best years. It is the reflection of the harvest from the vintage in our terroir. This wine show complexity and the best expression of the vintage it represents. The time on lees adds an extra dimension to the wine thus achieving what we think is a perfect balance.”
 

 
Charles Ellner Cuvee De Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 375ml $26 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “An attractive color announces the intensity of this blend. The nose is lively and vinous. It develops fresh and floral aromas, with a touch of fruitiness and mineral notes. This is a perfectly balanced blend, with finesse and longevity on its lengthy finish. Blend: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir.”
Charles Ellner Rose Brut, Champagne NV 375ml $26 special, 24 bottles available
Tasting Notes “The robe is strong pink: an invitation to the eyes.  Strong on the nose with hints of strawberry, this gourmandaise Champagne develops intensively fruity aromas. The Chardonnay that represents half of the blend is giving it freshness, but also longevity. 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir.”
 
Charles Ellner Seduction Brut, Champagne 2007 750ml $69 special, 24 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “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.”
 

 
Doyard Cuvee Vendemiaire Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $62.50 special, 10 bottles available
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.”
 

United States
 
“Delille”

 
WINE SPECTATOR #66 TOP 100 2023!!!
Delille Metier Cabernet Sauvignon 2021, Columbia Valley 750ml $21.90 special 36 bottles available
Wine Spectator 91 points “A terrific value that would probably run you three times the price if it was from Napa, the 2021 Metier Cabernet Sauvignon has textbook leafy herbs, tobacco, and darker currant fruits in a medium-bodied, elegant, balanced package. It has classic Cabernet herbal, floral, spicy notes and is well worth drinking any time over the coming decade or so.”

“Failla”
 
California Offerings:

 
Failla ‘Platt Vineyard’ Chardonnay, Sonoma Coast 2021 $51.90 special, 34 bottles available
Vinous 95 Points “The 2021 Chardonnay Platt Vineyard shows all the translucent finesse and nuance that is so typical of wines from this site. Lemon peel, chalk, mint white pepper and crushed rocks all run through this finely sculpted, delineated Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. This is such a gorgeous wine.”
 
Failla Olivet Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley 2021 750ml $49 special, 20 bottles available
Vinous 94 Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Olivet Ranch is laced with crushed red berry fruit, spice, cedar, tobacco, incense and dried flowers. Medium in body yet quite deep, the Oliver Ranch exudes class. Bright acids extend the vibrant finish effortlessly. Time adds notable texture and volume as the flavor profile turns a bit darker.”
 
Failla Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir, California $84.50 pre-arrival special, 32 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Hirsch Vineyard is gorgeous, with a floral perfume of fresh roses, raspberry eau de vie, fresh coniferous herbs, and spice. Medium-bodied, this stunning wine has wonderful transparency, with fine sweet tannins, ripe red berries, and fresh flowers. Its fabulous, mineral-laced texture lasts for days, and while it will certainly have serious longevity, it’s irresistible now. Drink 2023-2043.”
 
Failla Estate Vineyard Syrah, Fort Ross-Seaview 2021 750ml $59 special, 23 bottles available
Vinous 96 Points “The 2021 Syrah Estate Vineyard is magnificent. What a wine. Silky and yet powerful, the 2021 is supremely well-balanced. Dark blue/purplish fruit, sage, mint, lavender and black pepper open over time, but what is most impressive about the 2021 is its impeccable balance.”
 

Failla Seven Springs Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml $59 special, 18 bottles available
Winemaker Notes “Aromatically the wine has notes of bramble, tart blackberry, cigar box, Asian spice, and black tea compliment a balanced tannin structure. This wine will age in a cellar for years to come. On the palate, there is a hint of riper fruit flavors, as well as restrained tannins that showcase just how cellar-worthy this bottle is.”
 
Failla Seven Springs Vineyard Chardonnay, Eola-Amity Hills 2021 750ml $49 special, 18 bottles
Not reviewed, 2019 review provided for reference
Wine Enthusiast 91 “This biodynamic fruit has been fermented and aged in a mix of concrete egg and oak barrels, 10% new. The flavors have the wild feral character that suggests native yeasts were used, and that mix of fruit and flower and notes of pollen and spice and certain unidentifiable herbs makes this a wine to contemplate rather than pound down.”
 

Spain
 
“Envinate”

 
Envínate is a small group of winemaking friends (Alfonso Torrente, José Ángel Martínez, Laura Ramos, and Roberto Santana) that seek to highlight the individual terroirs of the Canary Islands and Ribeira Sacra. The friends produce wines of purity with low-intervention winemaking and vineyard management using ancient vineyards.  The wines are highly sought after as authentic expressions of their terroirs and forerunners of the “New Spanish” wine movement.
 
These are fascinating, age-worthy expressions of “New Spain” wines that are not to be missed.
 
Envinate ‘Benje’ Blanco, Canary Islands 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 9 bottles available
Jose Pastor importer note “100% Listán Blanco. From several parcels of 70–110-year-old vines at 900-1200m elevation farmed by Envínate and 15 local families. Viticulture here is highly traditional: vines grow untrained, the soils [are] worked by hand, and no chemicals are used.”
 

 
Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2022 750ml $29.50 special, 9 bottles available
Jose Pastor importer note “90% Listán Prieto, 9% Listán Blanco, 1% Tintilla. From several parcels of 70–120-year-old vines at 900-1200m elevation farmed by Envínate and 15 local families. Viticulture here is highly traditional: vines grow untrained, the soils is worked by hand, and no chemicals are used.”
 

 
Envinate ‘Albahra’, (Castilla-La Mancha) Vinos Mediterráneos 2022 750ml $25.50 special, 8 bottles available
Jose Pastor importer note “About 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Moravia Agria with small quantities of old vine Pardillo and young Garnacha Tinta. From a number of parcels of vines (3 of Garnacha Tintorera near Albacete, 1 of Moravia Agria near Manchuela) planted on calcareous, clay, and sandy soils of up to 900m of elevation. Viticulture is organic, vines are trained en vaso and mostly range from 30-45-years-old.”
 

 
A James Suckling Top 100 Wine of 2023!
Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2021 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
Zekun Shuai-James Suckling 98 points “Nervy, nicely funky, precise and mineral nose with a “protective” flintiness and an alluring peppery edge to the wild berries and pomegranate. Fine, dissolved tannins with a mealy, dusty texture, tapping into a super tangy, fresh palate full of grapefruit zest and wild berries. Really long and irresistible now, but can age.”
 
Envinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Migan Chingao’ Tinto, Valle de la Orotava 2022 750ml $44.50 special, 6 bottles available
Jose Pastor importer note “100% Lístan Negro. From the La Habanera parcel of 100+ year-old vines, all north-facing and trained in the traditional cordón trenzado at 620m above sea level.”
 
Envinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Albahra Chingao’, Castilla La Mancha 2022 750ml $31.50 special, 12 bottles available
Jose Pastor importer note “100% Garnacha Tintorera. From a single parcel of 30-year-old Garnacha Tintorera vines planted on calcareous soils at 800m elevation. The vines are trained en vaso and the only vineyard treatments are with sulfur.”

Loibner Berg Gruner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2021 750ml $59 special, 4 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Points “There’s a whole basket of yellow fruit here, including ripe apricot and King Alfonso mango, but there’s nothing loud about this beautiful high-end gruner veltliner, rather it opens slowly and steadily in the glass. Exact balance of ripeness and freshness, the latter accentuated by a note of tobacco leaf. Long and juicy, yet fresh and very precise finish that pulls you back for more. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Wine Advocate 96 Points “The 2021 Loibner Grüner Veltliner Ried Loibenberg offers a fascinating, clear and pure, deep, intense and mineral-rich bouquet with just-ripe fruit but also grassy and herbal aromas with a hint of smoke, dates and tobacco leaves. Full-bodied yet vital and fresh on the palate, this is a rich and intense but also pure, refined and very elegant Loibenberg with a dense body uplifted by fine mineral acidity. It’s an impressive, stimulating, saline and refreshing mineral and herbal GV with a sustainable and complex finish. Absolutely gorgeous Loibenberg. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
 
Pichler-Krutzler Gruner Loibenberg, Wachau 2021 750ml $49 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 Points
 
Pichler-Krutzler Riesling Kellerberg, Wachau 2021 750ml $69 special, 21 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “The 2021 Dürnsteiner Riesling Ried Kellerberg is extremely concentrated and deep on the finely flinty and substantial nose. On the palate, this is a full-bodied, rich and savory, finely tannic and grippy Kellerberg with ripe and concentrated fruit but also a firm and saline finish. The acidity is enormous here (9.4 grams per liter), and the piquancy is well interwoven here with the extract. This is a wine to be cellared for at least 3-4 years. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”
 
Pichler-Krutzler Riesling Loibenberg, Wachau 2021 750ml $59 special, 9 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 Points “Picked between October 16 and 18, the 2021 Loibner Riesling Ried Loibenberg opens with a spectacularly pure, fresh, precise and flinty as well as dense and perfectly ripe stone fruit aroma intermingled with lemon notes. On the palate, this is a salty, saline and savory Loibenberg with an elegant, intense and persistently saline finish with tension, salt and grip. 13.5% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted at the domaine in September 2022.”

 
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne 1.5L $89 special, 8 bottles available
Tracy “What’s better for your holiday celebrations than a bottle of the best value in Champagne? A BIGGER bottle of it! 100% Pinot Noir fruit from Grand Cru vineyards in Bouzy. This wine really satisfies with notes of tart green apples, bright citrus, and brioche!”
 

We also have this wine in 750ml and 3L sizes as well!
 
Browse over 200 Champagnes on our website!

 

 

Domaine Leflaive Batard Montrachet Grand Cru 2021 750ml WAS $1,999  NOW $1,799 special, 2 bottles available
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 Bienvenues Batard Montrachet 2021750ml WAS $2,199  NOW $1,999 special, 2 bottles available
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.”
 
Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili, Piedmont 2019 750ml WAS $289 NOW $219 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 98 Points “Sweet and succulent aromas of tangerines, freshly cut ripe strawberries, cherries and flowers follow through to a full-bodied palate with sleek and dense tannins that run the length of the wine and then fan out into a dense, vivid finish of fruit. It’s chewy and seriously structured with finesse and energy. Silky texture. This needs at least four or five years to come together and open. Try after 2027.”

 
Aubert Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard, Sonoma Coast 2016 750ml $159 special, 1 bottle available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “The 2016 Pinot Noir UV-SL Vineyard flirts with perfect and is another incredible effort from the Sonoma Coast. Deeply colored, with ripe cherries, underbrush, black currants, graphite, blood orange, and forest floor notes, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ample tannin, a big mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. Despite being a rich, powerful wine, it shows remarkable elegance and purity, as well as a weightless, seamless texture. Brought up in 70% new French oak, drink it over the coming decade.”
 
Beau Marchais Clos Pepe Est Pinot Noir 2020 750ml $85 special, 10 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 Points “While there won’t be any releases from Santa Lucia due to smoke, they were able to release their Clos Pepe Pinot Noirs. The 2020 Pinot Noir Clos Pepe Est Vineyard saw 25% stems, 48 days on stems, and aging all in new barrels. Lots of mulberry, chocolate covered strawberries, and plum fruits as well as notes of orange blossom and spice emerge from the glass, and it’s a rich, full-bodied, textured beauty that packs one heck of a mid-palate. With ripe tannins and an expansive, supple texture, drink this hedonistic, sexy Pinot Noir on release and over the following 7-8 years.”
 
Racines Sainte-Rose Pinot Noir, Sta. Rita Hills 2020 750ml $79 special, 12 bottles available
Decanter 94 Points “From organic vineyards along the Santa Rosa Road corridor, this Pinot Noir from Racines is a straightforward cooler site Pinot Noir from Sta Rita Hills. Aromas of strawberry fruit leather give way to notes of turned earth and crushed black basalt. The palate is savoury, with underlying dried fruit flavours. Montmorency cherries, garden soil and clove, evolve into notes of savoury herbs and streaks of graphite minerality.”
 
Raen Sea Field Vineyard Pinot Noir, Fort-Ross Seaview 2021 $115 special, 2 bottles available
James Suckling 98 Points “Extremely aromatic with plums, crushed strawberries, rose flower, powdery dirt, before turning to cherries. Hints of flower stems. Perfumed. Full-bodied and very, very firm. Rather steely. Tight at the end. It opens beautifully in an hour or so. Drink after 2025”
 

 
Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Old Vines 2021 750ml $56.50 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Advocate 98 Points “The 2021 Pinot Noir Old Vines comes from the Maresh Vineyard, from vines that were planted in 1970, and has a singular expression with detailed, spicy accents reminiscent of bitters or amaro. “You only get those high-toned essences if you pick al dente,” winemaker Jim Maresh explains. “It’s easy to volatilize all that away.” The Old Vines has a medium ruby color and arresting aromas of orange bitters, mossy bark and tobacco leaves complementing a deep core of pomegranate, rhubarb and cranberry. The light-bodied palate offers remarkably pure, detailed flavors. It has velvety tannins, seamless freshness and a very long finish with a flourish of spicy accents.”
 
Beaux Freres “The Beaux Freres Vineyard” Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $124.95 special, 8 bottles available
Beaux Freres  Beaux Freres Vyd Pinot Noir 2021 1.5L $269 special, 3 magnums available
Wine Advocate 95+ Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Beaux Frères Vineyard opens slowly on the nose to a core of wild blackberry and blueberry, revealing tones of forest floor, licorice, bitters and floral potpourri as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is soft and juicy with surprisingly concentrated flavors for its delicate frame, and it has a long, floral finish. This is elegant, expressive and easy to drink!”
 
Bergstrom Estate Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $141.80 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Pale ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard segues from gentle flinty tones to scents of raspberry, cranberry, lavender, dried herbs and touches of orange peel. The light-bodied palate is delicate and perfumed with a softly chalky texture, fireworks of fresh acidity and a long, ethereal finish with wafts of floral and citrus. Offer it another 2-3 years in bottle.”
 
Bergstrom Le Pre Du Col Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $114.50 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Le Pré du Col Vineyard has pretty scents of raspberry, cranberry, bergamot and mushroom, revealing more aromatic detail as it spends time in the glass. The light-bodied palate is chalky and refreshing with concentrated fruit and loads of botanical and floral accents on the long, layered finish. I love this fragrant, detailed expression!”
 
Bergstrom Silice Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $99 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 Points “Medium ruby-purple, the 2021 Pinot Noir Silice Vineyard blossoms slowly to pomegranate, blackberry, watermelon, dried herbs and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with wild berry fruit. Combining power and elegance, it’s silky and seamless in the mouth, and a flourish of spicy accents across the finish hints it has more to reveal over the next 2-3 years in bottle.”
Wine Spectator 95 Points “Supple, richly textured and elegantly complex, this Pinot opens with a burst of fresh raspberry, then unfolds with notes of forest floor and brown baking spices, plus a touch of licorice as it builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.”
 
Composition Pinot Noir WV 2021 750ml $89 special, 8 bottles available
Vinopolnote “The Composition Wines are now a project of Bertrand de Villaine. Yes, the de Villaine family that brought us the famed Domaine de Romanee-Conti. The vineyard sits on a south-facing ridge in the southern Eola-Amity Hills AVA. The terroir evokes volcanic soils, cooler temperatures, and an ideal elevation range.”
 
Drouhin Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir 2021 1.5L $128 special, 2 bottles available
James Suckling 97 Points “Beautifully fragrant notes of cocoa-dusted raspberries and crushed blueberries with dried rose petals, sencha tea, cherry chocolate and crushed rocks. Ground spices, too. It shows both delicacy and power, with a compact and silky feeling to the tannin structure and impressive acidity which carries the freshness and tone through to the finish. Attractive tension of crunchy blue fruit and spices. Drink or hold.”
  
Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Liminal Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $89 special, 11 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points “A gorgeous perfume lifts from the glass of the 2021 Pinot Noir Maresh Vineyard Liminal revealing notes of rhubarb, rosehip, and raspberry eau di vie. Coming from vines planted in close proximity to walnut trees and pouring a vibrant ruby color with youthful hints of orange, it offers fine tannins, a linear, weightless feel, and a clean, long, perfumed finish. It is very attractive now but will have significant longevity over the coming 6-8 years.”
Winery Note “The Maresh bottling is one I feel very deeply entrained with each year, and more so with each vintage. These vines planted on their own roots in 1970. This time spent each year working in these blocks has changed me. I have the utmost love and respect for these plants of great and sometimes mischievous character.
 
Nicolas Jay Own Rooted Pinot Noir 2019 750ml $89 special, 1 bottles available
Wine Spectator 94 Points “Floral and savory, this Pinot offers elegance and dimension, with cherry and pomegranate flavors that mingle with orange peel, fresh violet and dusky spice. Finishes with polished tannins.”
 
Zena Crown Slope Pinot Noir Eola Amity 2019 750ml $99 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Spectator 93 Points “Like a brooding teenager, this Pinot has a lot going for it but patience is required. Offers notes of blueberry, stony minerality and forest floor framed by a tannic bite on the finish. Best from 2023 through 2030.”