In This Newsletter:
Featured Re-Arrival
Vajra’s 2016 Albe Barolo
Rosé of the Day
Domaine de Triennes
Brovia Subscriber Special
Trending
Summer Wines from Kelley Fox
Value Wines of Terroir from Rioja’s Neighbor
A Local Rising Star
Hundred Suns
Collector’s Corner
Modern Treasures from Cayuse’s Christophe Baron
Featured Re-Arrival
Vajra’s 2016 Albe Barolo
“For many growers, the 2016s are not just epic, they are career-defining wines” – Antonio Galloni
“Italy’s most famous wine lives up to the hype after a spectacular, long 2016 growing season, perfect for the thin skinned, sometimes finicky Nebbiolo. These powerful wines combine elegance with firm structure, offering delicate notes of rose, herbs and red berry framed by licorice and tobacco creating breathtaking tension.” – Kerin O’Keefe, Wine Enthusiast
“You are going to find some great bottles right now if a trip to a wine shop, or a visit online, means buying wine from Italy’s Piedmont region. First, plenty of new and classic quality 2016 Barolos and Barbarescos are now available and they are reminiscent of the excellent and well-structured 2010s, which some say is one of the best vintages ever…. so many have such beautiful early drinkability, yet they have a formidable structure of tannins, fruit and acidity. It’s hard not to drink them now even knowing that they are wonderful wines for the cellar. I heard that legendary vintages such as 1964 and 1958 were like that when they were young and I can tell you that they are still great now, because I have drunk a number of 1964s and 1958s recently and they are superb.” – James Suckling
Newly Re-Arrived:
G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($41.95) $33 special
Case-6 G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($249.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 G.D. Vajra Albe, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($479.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “If you were to consider the entire portfolio of wines made in the Barolo appellation, this wine always stands in its own little corner. Albe is a brand on its own, and it represents one of the most versatile, accessible and well-priced Baroli to emerge from the appellation. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Albe sets off on the right foot, offering forthcoming intensity with forest fruit, wild cherry, crushed stone and blue flowers. Winemaking is straightforward in stainless steel, and the wine finishes in Slavonian oak casks. Some 40,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
2016 Barolos will be epic. Don’t miss out!
Arriving Mid-August
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 98 points “From the Bricco delle Viole cru, or the vineyard most strongly associated with this historic estate, this is a versatile or “evergreen” wine that always delivers consistent results. The G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Bricco delle Viole sees fruit from a seven-hectare vineyard with high exposures positioned at 400 to 480 meters above sea level. This site shows characteristic Tortonian-era soils classified as Sant’Agata marl with fossils. These soils have an enormous capacity to regulate the ripening process, resulting in the longer growing seasons relished by the Nebbiolo grape. In a word, the profile here is classic. You get delicate fruit tones and wild rose with camphor ash, licorice and tar. The wine is beautifully harmonious and ethereal. Some 15,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “Boasting a lithe, mid-weight style and a very silky finish, the G.D. Vajra 2016 Barolo Coste di Rose is fragrant, floral and delicate. The bouquet here is almost all wild rose, violet and honeysuckle or jasmine. The fruity component of the wine is fine and light with cassis, white cherry and cranberry. Fruit comes from a 1.5-hectare parcel inside the Coste di Rose cru with a high percentage of well-draining sandy soils that contribute to the wine’s graceful textural embroidery. There is a hint of cherry or raspberry sweetness on the finish. A mere 4,800 bottles are hitting the market now. This is the second vintage produced.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
G.D. Vajra Ravera, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2016 Barolo Ravera is the most angular, powerful and vertical of the various Baroli presented by G.D. Vajra. The optimal growing conditions of this classic vintage contribute to the wine’s vertical lift and pronounced depth. The Ravera cru (that spans the comuni of Novello and Barolo) is characterized by Toronian-era marl with clay and sandstone at 320 to 340 meters above sea level. That’s the ideal spot for wines that show both power and elegance. The tannins are sweeter on this wine, but the fiber is tight and firm. Red and purple fruits with licorice, tar and white truffle are folded neatly within. Some 6,000 bottles are hitting the market now.”
We have 11 Vajra wines in stock now,
shop the complete list on our web store!
Rosé of the Day
Domaine de Triennes
Curious what two of the most respected winemakers in the world can do with rosé? What if we told you that it sells at Vinopolis for less than $15 a bottle? And what if we told you that it’s absolutely delicious?
Domaine de Triennes was founded by three friends, including two illustrious figures in Burgundy, Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, owner of DRC. The Aix en Provence estate’s cool microclimate and clay-limestone soils immediately attracted the pair, and their instincts have proven prophetic. In terms of style, the Burgundian influence is immediately apparent, as the wine shows excellent structure and balance. But the wine is also incredibly refreshing thanks to the cool microclimate of Aix en Provence which helps the (primarily Cinsault) grapes retain acidity and finesse. The result is the perfect summer sipper; and at $14 a bottle it’s priced to share liberally at your next backyard get-together.
Triennes Rosé 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Translucent onion skin. Orange zest, persimmon, red berries and a subtle floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Concentrated but lithe and seemingly weightless, offering tangy red currant, strawberry and blood orange flavors that pick up a spicy nuance on the back half. Finishes brisk and tight, with repeating spiciness and a sneaky floral quality. This wine has the depth of flavor to handle full-flavored foods, but there’s no excess fat here, either. A solid value.”
VinopolNote: Triennes is the fine result of two of the greatest Burgundian producers making wine in paradise: Jacques Seysses of Dujac and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
We have 75+ rosés in stock now,
shop the complete list on our web store!
Domaine de Triennes was founded by three friends, including two illustrious figures in Burgundy, Jacques Seysses, founder of Domaine Dujac, and Aubert de Villaine, owner of DRC. The Aix en Provence estate’s cool microclimate and clay-limestone soils immediately attracted the pair, and their instincts have proven prophetic. In terms of style, the Burgundian influence is immediately apparent, as the wine shows excellent structure and balance. But the wine is also incredibly refreshing thanks to the cool microclimate of Aix en Provence which helps the (primarily Cinsault) grapes retain acidity and finesse. The result is the perfect summer sipper; and at $14 a bottle it’s priced to share liberally at your next backyard get-together.
Triennes Rosé 2019 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 90 points “Translucent onion skin. Orange zest, persimmon, red berries and a subtle floral nuance on the fragrant nose. Concentrated but lithe and seemingly weightless, offering tangy red currant, strawberry and blood orange flavors that pick up a spicy nuance on the back half. Finishes brisk and tight, with repeating spiciness and a sneaky floral quality. This wine has the depth of flavor to handle full-flavored foods, but there’s no excess fat here, either. A solid value.”
VinopolNote: Triennes is the fine result of two of the greatest Burgundian producers making wine in paradise: Jacques Seysses of Dujac and Aubert de Villaine of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
We have 75+ rosés in stock now,
shop the complete list on our web store!
Brovia Subscriber Special
For traditionally made Barolo (and if you’re looking for a not-discovered-pricing alternative to Burlotto), Brovia are some of the best wines you can buy (at any price, really, but especially for the price).
If you’re new to Brovia, here’s the scoop: Wonderful, expressive wines made and farmed in traditional methods. They hit all the right notes in terms of thoughtful vineyard management (organic without certification, careful pruning, and hand harvesting) and are unapologetically classic in their winemaking (long and slow fermentation and long aging in large barrels and, subsequently, in bottle).
Brovia has an assortment of excellent vineyard holdings that are mostly in Serralunga. Rocche and Villero are obviously top vineyards that are well known, but the other gem in the portfolio is the Brea “Ca’Mia” which is a wine that stands out in any lineup for its combination of Serralunga power and elegance.
We try and carry as many of their wines as we can and the 2015 Barolos are notable successes. Brovia’s normal style is lean and coiled, so the extra warmth of the vintage pushed the wines to be a little grander than usual. These are all wines that are shaping up to be epics and are also wines that you’ll look back on and wish you had bought more of (especially the way Brovia’s star/pricing is rising).
5% off any 6-11 bottles of Brovia
10% off any 12+ bottles of Brovia
Offer Ends Wednesday, August 12th at 10 AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
On Sale & In Stock Now
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($119.95) Displayed price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% or $89.10 at 10% off
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($269.95) Displayed price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% or $197.10 at 10% off
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The Brovia 2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (the last wine I tasted in this series of cru expressions) opens to the darkest color of this series, with a firm core of black fruit. This wine is silky and satiny in terms of texture—one of the trademarks of this sandy-soil cru in Castiglione Falletto—but don’t underestimate that structural firmness that holds it tightly together. It would take nicely to veal involtini with asparagus.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Brovia’s flagship 2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a decidedly full-bodied wine. The richness of this warm vintage comes through loud and clear in an ample, resonant Barolo endowed with serious textural depth. Lifted floral and spice notes add an attractive upper register as the 2015 starts to open up in the glass. Even so, the Rocche stands out for its volume and sheer size, both of which are unusual for this Castiglione Falletto site, where the wines tend to be more lithe. The Rocche appears to be the Barolo most shaped by the growing season in this range.”
If you’re new to Brovia, here’s the scoop: Wonderful, expressive wines made and farmed in traditional methods. They hit all the right notes in terms of thoughtful vineyard management (organic without certification, careful pruning, and hand harvesting) and are unapologetically classic in their winemaking (long and slow fermentation and long aging in large barrels and, subsequently, in bottle).
Brovia has an assortment of excellent vineyard holdings that are mostly in Serralunga. Rocche and Villero are obviously top vineyards that are well known, but the other gem in the portfolio is the Brea “Ca’Mia” which is a wine that stands out in any lineup for its combination of Serralunga power and elegance.
We try and carry as many of their wines as we can and the 2015 Barolos are notable successes. Brovia’s normal style is lean and coiled, so the extra warmth of the vintage pushed the wines to be a little grander than usual. These are all wines that are shaping up to be epics and are also wines that you’ll look back on and wish you had bought more of (especially the way Brovia’s star/pricing is rising).
5% off any 6-11 bottles of Brovia
10% off any 12+ bottles of Brovia
Offer Ends Wednesday, August 12th at 10 AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
On Sale & In Stock Now
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($119.95) Displayed price: $99, that’s $94.05 at 5% or $89.10 at 10% off
Brovia Rocche di Castiglione, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($269.95) Displayed price: $219, that’s $208.05 at 5% or $197.10 at 10% off
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 95 points “The Brovia 2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (the last wine I tasted in this series of cru expressions) opens to the darkest color of this series, with a firm core of black fruit. This wine is silky and satiny in terms of texture—one of the trademarks of this sandy-soil cru in Castiglione Falletto—but don’t underestimate that structural firmness that holds it tightly together. It would take nicely to veal involtini with asparagus.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Brovia’s flagship 2015 Barolo Rocche di Castiglione is a decidedly full-bodied wine. The richness of this warm vintage comes through loud and clear in an ample, resonant Barolo endowed with serious textural depth. Lifted floral and spice notes add an attractive upper register as the 2015 starts to open up in the glass. Even so, the Rocche stands out for its volume and sheer size, both of which are unusual for this Castiglione Falletto site, where the wines tend to be more lithe. The Rocche appears to be the Barolo most shaped by the growing season in this range.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
The average price nationally is $106
The average price nationally is $106
Brovia Brea ‘Vigna Ca’ Mia’, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) Displayed price: $88, that’s $83.60 at 5% or $79.20 at 10% off
Brovia Brea ‘Vigna Ca’ Mia’, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($249.95) Displayed price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% or $179.10 at 10% off
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2015 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia captures all the best the vintage has to offer. Black cherry, plum, espresso, sage, menthol, licorice and leather are all kicked up a few notches in a decidedly dark, strapping Barolo that screams with Serralunga character. Exotic, dark and totally alluring, the 2015 has a very bright future, but readers should be prepared to be patient, as the tannins clearly need time to soften.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 93 points “The Brovia 2015 Barolo Brea Vigna Ca’ Mia offers good balance and an authentic representation of the vintage. You can sense some of the heat of the growing season here, thanks to the wine’s open and accessible persona; it enters the palate with softness and elegance. This was the first of the single-vineyard wines from Brovia released this year that I tasted in a flight meant to increase in intensity.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $104
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $104
Brovia Garblet Sue Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($89.95) Displayed price: $79, that’s $75.05 at 5% or $71.10 at 10% off
Brovia Garblet Sue Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 1.5L ($219.95) Displayed price: $189, that’s $179.55 at 5% or $161.10 at 10% off
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is dense and powerful in the glass. A rush of black cherry, plum, lavender, iron and sage literally burst from the glass. Ample, full-bodied and intense, the Garblèt Sue’ is another stellar wine in this range. The typically incisive Garblèt Sue’ tannins are nearly buried by the sheer richness of the fruit. Today, the Garblèt Sue’ is distinguished by its wild, feral profile and huge core of fruit. In this vintage, the Garblèt is the overachiever in the range relative to how it shows in most vintages.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “Showing some immediate softness, the 2015 Barolo Garblèt Sue’ is beautifully approachable and generously accommodating, even at this early stage in the wine’s drinking window. Bring it out with a selection of goat cheeses. It’s interesting to note that, at 40 years old, the vines of this cru in Castiglione Falletto actually rank as some of the youngest held by the Brovia estate, founded in 1863, before the unification of Italy.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $93
The average price is $93
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 750ML ($99.95) Displayed price: $88, that’s $83.60 at 5% or $79.20 at 10% off
Brovia Villero, Barolo DOCG 2015 1.5L ($249.95) Displayed price: $199, that’s $189.05 at 5% or $179.10 at 10% off
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2015 Barolo Villero offers richness and darkness with fruit from Castiglione Falletto, and it’s one of the more intense wines I tasted within this selection. The Villero is a balanced and polished Barolo that opens to nicely integrated fruit and spice tones, expertly interwoven and united. The wine has a beautiful entry to the palate. Indeed, this pretty wine presented a united front, with seamless and graceful integration.”
Antonio Galloni 93+ points “The 2015 Barolo Villero is a very pretty, mid-weight wine. Silky tannins and beautifully expressive aromatics give the Villero considerable finesse. On the palate, though, the 2015 is far less expressive. That is not entirely surprising, as the Villero often needs a few years to truly blossom. Sweet floral and spice notes start to open with time in the glass, but the Villero is not an especially forthcoming 2015 Barolo.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $103
The average price is $103
Brovia Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($59.95) Displayed price: $49, that’s $46.55 at 5% or $44.10 at 10% off, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer Note “Always a stunning value and a perfect encapsulation of the Brovia house style, their Barolo “normale” is comprised 60% of a portion of their holdings in Brea (the oldest and best-exposed vines are bottled separately as “Ca’Mia”—see below) and 40% of the younger vines of their three crus in Castiglione Falletto. One feels both the spicy, boisterous generosity of Serralunga d’Alba and the mineral thrust of Castiglione Falletto in this wine, and the 2015 is a particularly layered, dynamic version, offering excellent concentration but relative accessibility at this early stage.”
This was the lowest listed price in the USA today,
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $59
Now it’s even lower!
The average price is $59
Brovia Sori del Drago Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($35.95) Displayed price: $31.90, that’s $30.31 at 5% or $28.71 at 10% off, 17 bottles in stock now
Importer note “This Barbera is produced from grapes harvested in the “Garblet” vineyard (also known as “Fiasco”) of Castiglione Falletto from a 0.8 hectare plot on a south-southeast facing slope at 250 meters altitude. The major part of the vineyard was planted in 1970 with a portion being replanted in 1993. The “Sori del Drago” is fermented at 28 degrees Celsius for slightly more than a week. The wine is then racked into stainless steel tank and is aged for 15 to 18 months before being bottled (unfiltered). Approximately 4500 bottles are produced annually with 2400 allocated to us for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
5% off any 6-11 bottles of Brovia
10% off any 12+ bottles of Brovia
Offer Ends Wednesday, August 12th at 10 AM
Discount Will Not Display Online or In Your Cart
We will adjust your invoice before processing your card
We have 70+ Barolos in stock now,
shop the complete list on our web store!
Trending
Sometimes, you just need a butter-bomb
Harken Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, California 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
VinopolNote: An unapologetic buttery-toasty Cali Chard, harkening back (get it?) to the classic butter-bomb style. A real Rombauer-killer.
Classic Sangiovese at a killer price
Podere La Berta Sangiovese di Romagna, Emilia-Romagna 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The 2018 Podere La Berta Romagna Sangiovese shows moist earth notes and minerals, plus hints of young strawberry, bell pepper and dusty florals. It finishes medium in length and remarkably fresh, while still resonating on fruit purity and hints of subtle spice.”
Harken Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, California 2018 750ML ($17.95) $13.50 special
VinopolNote: An unapologetic buttery-toasty Cali Chard, harkening back (get it?) to the classic butter-bomb style. A real Rombauer-killer.
Classic Sangiovese at a killer price
Podere La Berta Sangiovese di Romagna, Emilia-Romagna 2018 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The 2018 Podere La Berta Romagna Sangiovese shows moist earth notes and minerals, plus hints of young strawberry, bell pepper and dusty florals. It finishes medium in length and remarkably fresh, while still resonating on fruit purity and hints of subtle spice.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The perfect weeknight Italian red from a staff favorite producer
Il Poggione Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($24.95) $14 special
Case-12 Il Poggione Rosso Toscana IGT, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($299.95) $149 special (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Winery Note “A younger, more fruity wine, it is produced from Sangiovese, Merlot and Cabernet grapes. After the fermentation it ages in large French oak barrels and barriques. The winemaking and the combination of these three varieties, make this wine soft and ideal for the everyday enjoyment. Ruby red in colour; on the nose it is intense, with notes of red fruit, sweet spices and vanilla. On the palate it is soft and with a good and pleasant acidity. A wine for every meal, ideal with white meats, pasta and medium strength cheeses, and even a casual pizza.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
You can’t coach brilliance like this
Zlatan Otok Rosé, Island of Hvar 2019 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Winery Note “Quality dry, clean and fresh rosé made of Plavac Mali grapes grown on the localities of Sv. Nedjelja. The wine is produced from red grapes with processing technology as that of white grapes. Aromas of cherries, ripe and fruity. Fresh on the nose, smooth structure and a pleasant pungent end.”
VinopolNote: This wine is not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but it is pretty delicious.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Big, bold and perfect for summer BBQ
Jorge Ordonez Triton Tinta de Toro 2016 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The larger production cuvée from Ordonez, the 2016 Tinta de Toro Tritón (100% Tinta de Toro) comes all from very old, ungrafted vineyards and was brought up mostly in used barrels. This beautifully sexy red boasts smoking good notes of ripe plums, black cherries, liquid violets, and loads of scrub brush and dried earth. Full-bodied and silky on the palate, with fine, fine tannin, it has remarkable purity, no hard edges, and enough structure to warrant another year in bottle. It’s a seriously impressive wine.”
James Suckling 92 points “Plenty of bright and attractive fruit on the nose with summer berry compote and complementary meaty and spicy oak. The palate has attractive plush sweet fruit presence in an easy-drinking mode. Drink now.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The secret is out about this under-the-radar Piedmontese variety
Castello di Verduno Basadone Pelaverga, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Importer Note “Pelaverga is indigenous to the village of Verduno, it produces red wines that are light in color but savory and distinctive on the palate. Reminds me a lot of Grignolino, another geeky Piedmontese variety. This one is aged in stainless steel before bottling without filtration. The winery’s website cannot be improved on for a description: ‘Soft, though bright ruby red. Intense fragrant nose, showing clear spicy overtones of black pepper and nutmeg, as well as fruity sensations reminiscent of cherries in spirit and strawberries. Nicely-balanced, lingering dry flavour.’ Great with salumi. I would drink this at cellar temperature.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The best Beaujolais producer you’ve never heard of
Pierre-Marie Chermette Domaine du Vissoux Fleurie Poncie, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94 points “Unwinding in the glass with aromas of rose petals, sweet red cherries, dried flowers and ripe strawberries, the 2018 Fleurie Poncié is medium to full-bodied, lively and enveloping, with a charming, fruit-driven profile this year that tends to obscure its elegantly fine-boned tannic chassis. But don’t be fooled, this is reliably one of Chermette’s finest cuvées, and the 2018 rendition should evolve gracefully for 15 years or more.”
Austrian Riesling doesn’t get much better than this
Schloss Gobelsburg Tradition Riesling Reserve, Kamptal 2017 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 94 points “Entirely from the Gaisberg cru, the 2017 Riesling Tradition displays a clear and flinty, intense, fresh and complex bouquet of ripe and concentrated stone fruits intertwined with notes of crushed stones and herbal tea. On the palate, this is a rich and concentrated, lush and fruity Riesling with a sustainable, salty-piquant and well-structured, highly stimulating finish. This is a great wine made to age for a decade and more. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and at the domain in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Look, this is just heart-rendingly beautiful. The chiseled piquancy emerging from its stately beauty is hardly of-this-world. If you sometimes wonder “Have I forgotten how to love?” take a sip, and watch those old hidden lights come on.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price nationally is $60
The average price nationally is $60
Rich and powerful Pinot from a homestate hero
Sequitur Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 95 points “Bright ruby-red. A highly perfumed bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, cherry pie, potpourri and exotic spices, all sharpened by a smoky mineral overtone. Deeply concentrated and energetic in the mouth, offering sappy, mineral- and spice-drenched black raspberry, cherry cola and rose pastille flavors that spread out steadily on the back half. Shows fine definition and finishes extremely long and sappy, with polished tannins and lingering floral and blue fruit liqueur notes. 25% new oak.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price nationally is $90
The average price nationally is $90
A Washington Cab that needs no introduction
Leonetti Cellar Cabernet Sauvignon, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($129.95) $99 special
Jeb Dunnuck 98 points “The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec, and 2% Merlot that spent 22 months in 75% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a sensational, full-bodied, layered wine that’s overflowing with notions of crème de cassis, crushed rocks, smoked tobacco, and hints of camphor. Seamless, elegant, and layered, yet also powerful, it rates with the top wines of the vintage. Readers should snatch this beauty up.”
James Suckling 98 points “This regal wine really sets the tone for delivering poise, balance and elegance. Such distinctive cabernet redcurrants, cassis and red cherries, framed in cedary oak and tobacco. The palate is cast in noble tannins that deliver elegance and length. Deeply flavorful blackcurrants and dark cherries with chocolate that’s laced into the finish. A blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 13% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% merlot. Drink for the next decade and then some.”
Wine Advocate 95 points “A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Merlot, the 2016 Walla Walla Cabernet Sauvignon offers up a focus of fruit on the nose that is rarely seen in wine, along with a bold, plush, vibrant core of fruit that exudes power and a velvety roundness. Dark red, black and even hints of blue fruit are found in the mouth, with a rich and vibrant core that gives way to chewy tannins. With a bold spiciness and layers of oak, the bold, full-bodied wine lingers with intensity and a long, thought-provoking, complex finish that is focused and delivers pleasure as the wine puts a smile on my face. Only 2,900 cases were made, and they are worth every penny!”
Summer Wines from Kelley Fox
Kelley Fox makes some of the prettiest and most captivating wines in all of the Willamette Valley—fresh and delicate with a palate-pleasing intricacy. Her hands-on approach to farming and use of whole-cluster fermentations mean that the wines have a dialectic of fresh and savoriness coupled with an energy that has vaulted her into the stratosphere of Willamette Valley producers.
Kelley Fox Wines Nerthus, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winemaker note “I’m very happy to offer you this lovely skin-contact white wine made of 40% old vine Early Muscat and 60% Grüner veltliner. The destemmed fruit from both vineyards was fermented in 1.5-ton open top fermenters with one pigeage a day. The Muscat was pressed at dryness (about twelve days) while the Grüner was pressed into the tank of Muscat after about six days of skin contact to complete its fermention. The Nerthus was allowed to complete malolactic fermentation. Élevage was in a stainless tank until bottling. It is bone-dry and very clean and fresh. The Nerthus is transparent to the point of brilliance, and its colour is youthful, shimmering gold. The nose is full of minerals, stone fruits (apricot/peach), and has this incredibly fresh smell that reminds me of the ozone in the air after a huge thunderstorm. Unlike the nose, the mouth is more Grüner-like than Muscat-like, but still, there are hints of tangerine and stone fruit. And like a Grüner, this wine will need a little time to take on its body and weight (though it will never become heavy or cloying). The finish is consistent with the mouth with maybe some spice. It is fresh and clean (in a good, not-at-all sterile way), and is a wine that I hope evokes an alpine white full of early spring life emerging from the snow-melt.”
Kelley Fox Wines Maresh Vineyard Pinot Gris (Rosé), Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winemaker note “Produced from self-rooted vines planted in 1991 at the historic Maresh Vineyard, the 2019 Pinot gris was 100% destemmed and fermented in three 1.5 ton “macrobin” (food-grade plastic) fermentors. One pigeage (foot-treading) happened each day. About 20 days of skin contact occurred before the wine was pressed at dryness. Élevage was in a uterine-shaped concrete amphora tank and some neutral 228 liter Burgundy barrels from tight-grained French forests. The Maresh Pinot Gris is dry and ML-complete with a final pH of 3.4. It has a beautiful deep pink/blue-toned fuchsia colour and has far more complexity in the nose (spicy floral notes like natural carnations, strawberries, and some exotic notes I can’t articulate) and mouth than ordinary white Pinot gris/Pinot grigio. It has more structure and power than the white, but drinks more like a rosé than a Pinot. It has a fine, silken texture, and a slightly spicy finish and has delicious pink energy.”
We have 6 Kelley Fox wines in stock now,
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Kelley Fox Wines Nerthus, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winemaker note “I’m very happy to offer you this lovely skin-contact white wine made of 40% old vine Early Muscat and 60% Grüner veltliner. The destemmed fruit from both vineyards was fermented in 1.5-ton open top fermenters with one pigeage a day. The Muscat was pressed at dryness (about twelve days) while the Grüner was pressed into the tank of Muscat after about six days of skin contact to complete its fermention. The Nerthus was allowed to complete malolactic fermentation. Élevage was in a stainless tank until bottling. It is bone-dry and very clean and fresh. The Nerthus is transparent to the point of brilliance, and its colour is youthful, shimmering gold. The nose is full of minerals, stone fruits (apricot/peach), and has this incredibly fresh smell that reminds me of the ozone in the air after a huge thunderstorm. Unlike the nose, the mouth is more Grüner-like than Muscat-like, but still, there are hints of tangerine and stone fruit. And like a Grüner, this wine will need a little time to take on its body and weight (though it will never become heavy or cloying). The finish is consistent with the mouth with maybe some spice. It is fresh and clean (in a good, not-at-all sterile way), and is a wine that I hope evokes an alpine white full of early spring life emerging from the snow-melt.”
Kelley Fox Wines Maresh Vineyard Pinot Gris (Rosé), Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Winemaker note “Produced from self-rooted vines planted in 1991 at the historic Maresh Vineyard, the 2019 Pinot gris was 100% destemmed and fermented in three 1.5 ton “macrobin” (food-grade plastic) fermentors. One pigeage (foot-treading) happened each day. About 20 days of skin contact occurred before the wine was pressed at dryness. Élevage was in a uterine-shaped concrete amphora tank and some neutral 228 liter Burgundy barrels from tight-grained French forests. The Maresh Pinot Gris is dry and ML-complete with a final pH of 3.4. It has a beautiful deep pink/blue-toned fuchsia colour and has far more complexity in the nose (spicy floral notes like natural carnations, strawberries, and some exotic notes I can’t articulate) and mouth than ordinary white Pinot gris/Pinot grigio. It has more structure and power than the white, but drinks more like a rosé than a Pinot. It has a fine, silken texture, and a slightly spicy finish and has delicious pink energy.”
We have 6 Kelley Fox wines in stock now,
shop the complete list on our web store!
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Don’t want to stop in?
Order Online / By Phone / By Email
When you’re ready to pick up,
just park in our lot, give us a call,
& we’ll bring your order to your car.
#503-223-6002
Value Wines of Terroir from Rioja’s Neighbor
Zorzal
Zorzal makes some of the most overlooked wines in Spain, solely because they work in Navarra, not its more famous neighbor, Rioja. Working primarily with Garnacha and Graciano, brothers Xabi, Iñaki and Mikel Sanz have made vintage after vintage of terroir-driven values since the winery’s inception in 2007. This is a winery that over delivers from the low to the “high” end (still sub $25) with high scoring, delicious wine. These are wines that have tons of immediate appeal, with rich textures and juicy fruit flavors. They’re also loaded with character, with Zorzal’s light touch in winemaking (native fermentations, minimal new oak) allowing the grapes and terroirs to shine through.
In Stock Now:
Vina Zorzal Corral De Los Altos, Navarra 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 92 points “All the guest winemakers that take part in the Lecciones de Vuelo joint venture with Viña Zorzal are offered to produce their interpretation of the paraje Corral de los Altos in Fitero. The 2018 Corral de los Altos is Zorzal’s own interpretation of a 45-year-old plot of 2.1 hectares of Garnacha planted on a north-facing stony part of the village. The grapes fermented in stainless steel with some 25% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in seven used (second and third use) 500-liter oak barrels. This has contained ripeness and a medium to full-bodied palate with the classical chalky tannins and texture from the limestone-rich soils and the length and tastiness they provide”
In Stock Now:
Vina Zorzal Corral De Los Altos, Navarra 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 92 points “All the guest winemakers that take part in the Lecciones de Vuelo joint venture with Viña Zorzal are offered to produce their interpretation of the paraje Corral de los Altos in Fitero. The 2018 Corral de los Altos is Zorzal’s own interpretation of a 45-year-old plot of 2.1 hectares of Garnacha planted on a north-facing stony part of the village. The grapes fermented in stainless steel with some 25% full clusters and indigenous yeasts and matured in seven used (second and third use) 500-liter oak barrels. This has contained ripeness and a medium to full-bodied palate with the classical chalky tannins and texture from the limestone-rich soils and the length and tastiness they provide”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Vina Zorzal ‘Cuatro del Cuatro’, Navarra 2018 750ML ($36.95) $29 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The pure Graciano 2018 Cuatro del Cuatro was first produced in 2015 as an homage to the Sanz brothers’ father, who kept his Graciano vines when the majority ripped them up. They have seen that, with a soft vinification, the variety is not as rustic as most think and, in fact, can be quite elegant. 2018 was a tricky vintage for the variety, and the wine has moderate alcohol (13.3%), a very low pH (3.35) and notable acidity (six grams of tartaric acid per liter). It was produced with grapes grown in the village of Corella (especially from a vineyard planted in 1978), which has more Mediterranean influence that Fitero, the other village where they have the majority of their vineyards. This is a super serious Graciano, fresher than the majority of varietal bottlings out there, as they have lost the fear of harvesting it earlier, and it delivers a very spicy wine, with lots of black and even white peppercorns. I think this is very much in line with the 2016. It matured in used oak barrels of different sizes, and they did a barrel selection to produce 2,900 bottles of it.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Vina Zorzal Graciano, Navarra 2018 750ml ($19.95) $16 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2018 Graciano, the first wine they produced at the new Viña Zorzal in 2007, was produced with grapes from the village of Corella, and they want to show the expression of the grape in the village, more Mediterranean than Fitero, where they have a significant percentage of their vines. The spicy character of the wine and the lively palate are the expression of the Graciano in their village, what they have been trying to express since 2015. It fermented in stainless steel with moderate extraction and matured in used French oak barrels of different sizes for nine months. This is a very fresh vintage, and the wine is harmonious, spicy, with an herbal hint, with some dusty tannins, chalky and a bitter twist in the finish. I think the earlier harvest of the grape delivers wines that are more transparent, and this is quite stony and tasty. This is a very good value and a great introduction to Graciano”.
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Vina Zorzal Malayeto, Navarra 2018 750ml ($29.95) $26 special
Luis Gutierrez – Wine Advocate 94 points “The really impressive and mineral 2018 Malayeto was produced with Garnacha from a single vineyard that produces wine of unusual elegance and minerality. This was the first plot they bottled separately, and this 2018 is the sixth vintage they have produced. It’s a 2.9-hectare plot planted 40 years ago, on the same slope as Corral de los Altos but at a higher altitude and therefore with different soils, surprisingly deep but with lots of calcium carbonate and fine gravel. This fermented in a combination of stainless steel and concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in a 4,000-liter oak foudre and nine used 500-liter oak barrels for nine months. This wine clearly transcends its price. It’s serious but started quite shy and needed time to open up (it’s extremely young and just bottled), but there is great purity and detail, and it’s elegant and balanced, extremely harmonious. The palate is incredibly elegant, seamless, balanced, with very fine tannins, great integration of the oak and very good freshness, with citrus-like freshness (think blood orange skin). Most of the time, this is my go-to wine in Zorzal’s portfolio, a wine of great finesse in its finest vintage to date.”
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A Willamette Valley Rising Star
Hundred Suns
Grant Coulter is one of the hottest names in the Willamette Valley. The former assistant winemaker at Beaux Freres (under tutelage of the legendary Mike Etzel), Grant’s made a name for himself as the winemaker of rising star Flaneur, as well as with his own label: Hundred Suns.
Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to the Willamette Valley. We recently tasted through the set of 2018 single-vineyard wines and were blown away. You can taste the Beaux Freres-inspired style, but these are wines that are uniquely Grant, from an assortment of some of the most interesting vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
Anyone who’s loved the Beaux Freres or Flaneur wines in the past needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing at Hundred Suns. His project represents one of the most exciting new labels in the Willamette Valley and Pinot lovers ought to buy in now, before our few remaining bottles disappear.
Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Rich aromas of crushed violets and blueberries with a deeply spicy edge, as well as cocoa powder, dark chocolate and darker cherries, berries and plums. There’s striking purity here with more red fruit on the palate. Very plush, concentrated and balanced. Drink or hold.”
Named for the number of days between flowering and harvest, the Hundred Suns Pinots drink like a love letter to the Willamette Valley. We recently tasted through the set of 2018 single-vineyard wines and were blown away. You can taste the Beaux Freres-inspired style, but these are wines that are uniquely Grant, from an assortment of some of the most interesting vineyards in the Willamette Valley.
Anyone who’s loved the Beaux Freres or Flaneur wines in the past needs to be paying attention to what Grant is doing at Hundred Suns. His project represents one of the most exciting new labels in the Willamette Valley and Pinot lovers ought to buy in now, before our few remaining bottles disappear.
Hundred Suns Bednarik Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Rich aromas of crushed violets and blueberries with a deeply spicy edge, as well as cocoa powder, dark chocolate and darker cherries, berries and plums. There’s striking purity here with more red fruit on the palate. Very plush, concentrated and balanced. Drink or hold.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 1 bottle in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “This has a very fresh, attractive nose with roses and violets, as well as boysenberries, red cherries and a savory, stony edge. Some sappy nuances, too. The palate is very succulent and has strikingly fresh red berries and cherries, underscored with vibrant acidity and a very uplifting, dynamic finish. A richer vintage, made in a fresher style, works very well here. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Breaker Vineyard Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 7 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “A unique wine that has a very striking, blueberry and violet nose with an iodine-like, savory edge and some darker-fruit and fresh-herb notes. The palate has such an intense, powerful feel with concentrated blueberries and an assertive frame of fluffy, succulent, fresh and long tannins. Drinkable now, but best from 2023.”
We have 140+ Oregon Pinot Noirs in stock now,
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Collector’s Corner
Modern Treasures from Cayuse’s Christophe Baron
Modern Treasures from Cayuse’s Christophe Baron
Christophe Baron makes some of the most in-demand wines in North America. Having built a reputation for producing wines from both Rhone and Bordeaux varieties that are among the finest in the world, many of them are sold exclusively through his mailing list. Even if you wanted to buy the wines directly off that list, you’d be looking at a long wait before getting an opportunity, so every chance to sell them is special.
We’re always on the hunt for more of these hyper-rare bottlings—and the handful of bottles left from our most recent allotment are prime examples of why they’re so exciting.
Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”
We’re always on the hunt for more of these hyper-rare bottlings—and the handful of bottles left from our most recent allotment are prime examples of why they’re so exciting.
Horsepower Vineyards ‘High Contrast Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95+ points “The 2017 Syrah High Contrast Vineyard is more wound up and tight, with backward notes of chocolaty black fruits, toasted spice, mulled plums, cured ham, and sweet mulch all developing with time in the glass. Full-bodied and concentrated on the palate, with plenty of tannins, this is one 2017 that’s going to reward bottle age. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years if possible, and it should see its 20th birthday in fine form. This is certainly for those who like a big dose of funk in their Syrah!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Horsepower Vineyards ‘The Tribe Vineyard’ Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($219.95) $169 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “Beautiful notes of red and black raspberries, tobacco, plum sauce, loamy earth, and loads of floral notes emerge from the 2017 Syrah The Tribe Vineyard, another tight, closed wine that’s going to benefit from bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, with notable freshness as well as plenty of underlying structure, it reminds me of Cote Rotie from the Cote Blonde lieu-dit with its incredible floral character as well as its seamless texture. Beautifully done and one of the standouts in the lineup in 2017, give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and my money is on it benefiting from 2-3 years of bottle age and evolving for 15-20 years or more.”
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 3 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “Lots of blackberry, tar and blueberry aromas with hints of dried earth. Full bodied, tight and focused with intensity and savoriness in the center palate. Plush and attractive at the end, but not overpowering. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “The only Syrah that includes some Viognier, the 2017 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard (this is the same site used for the Viognier) is always a great representation of the vintage as well as the wines of Christophe Baron. Ruby/purple-hued, with a rocking bouquet of black raspberries, smoked game, black pepper, and spring flowers, it has plenty of classic Rocks funkiness and meaty notes, medium to full body, a core of sweet fruit, and a great, great finish. It ranks with the top two to three wines in this vintage. It opens up nicely with time in the glass and shows well today, and it’s certainly going to cruise for 15+ years or more.”
Winery Note ” Cailloux Vineyard—Christophe’s first Walla Walla Valley vineyard, this 10-acre plot was our first vineyard planted in the stones of Milton Freewater in 1997, and produces the flagship Cailloux Syrah.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
No Girls La Placiencia Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Wine Enthusiast 97 points “Editor’s Choice. Aromas of potpourri, white pepper, charcuterie, crushed flowers, soot and raspberry captivate on the nose. Exuberant and outrageously flavorful on the palate, intense accents of smoked meat and earth arise alongside the fruit. An extremely long finish of earth and flowers completes it.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “Not yet released when I tasted it, the 2016 Grenache la Paciencia Vineyard has a nose that opens with a bang, boasting majestic and explosive notes of dusty red fruit—raspberries, cherries and spiced red plum—with a rocky core of minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, the wine expresses the semi-carbonic notes of sweet red fruit and dusty red flower petals with iron and lava rocks. It has expressive and silky tannins that linger on the long, ethereal finish. I am impressed! This is delicious juice and is a must-have for serious collectors. Only 338 cases made.”
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Grenache La Paciencia Vineyard sports a translucent ruby color as well as a terrific bouquet of black cherries, strawberries, cold fireplace, white flowers, and spice. Seamless, elegant, and vibrant, with great tension, it’s a thrilling, Rayas look-alike to drink over the coming 10-15 years. 338 cases.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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