In This Newsletter:Special Oregon ArrivalsComing Very Soon: Cameron and GoodfellowArrivalsBott-Geyl, Laurent Perrier, Billecart Salmon, Pegau, and more!Re-ArrivalsResonance, Decugnano dei Barbi
Staff Pick Winery
Envinate: New Releases from the New Spain Movement
Delas Sale EXTENDEDEnds at 6pm Tonight!
Special Collector’s Arrival
The Greatest Napa Cab of All Time? Special Oregon ArrivalsComing Very Soon: Cameron and GoodfellowThese Are Two of the Most Requested Wineries in the Willamette Valley!“Cameron”
 The artist at work…
In 2021 owner/wine-maker/mad scientist John Paul Cameron was preparing for a pretty standard vintage, especially after the drama of the 2020 wildfires. Then came the heat dome and it changed everything…
A constant advocate for dry farming and agricultural biodiversity with a biochemistry background, John Paul has an intrinsic understanding of the winemaking process from grape to bottle. For this reason he wasn’t worried about the heat dome. According to him, it could not have happened at a better time occuring just after fruit set, thus effectively stressing the grapes into a dormant state for five days, turning this vintage inward and bringing more focus.
Don’t just take his or our word for it though, grab as much of these wines as you can… these fabulous wines speak for themselves!
Arriving Friday:
Cameron Abbey Ridge Chardonnay 2021 750ml $89 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles arrivingWinery Note “Our Abbey Ridge Chardonnay wine emanates from vines that have been growing for over 45 years in one of the highest-elevation vineyards in the Dundee Hills. As a result, this wine is always lean with perfect mouthwatering acidity. It is quite reminiscent of wines from Chablis. Aromas of lemon grass, lime leaf and tarte tatin fill the nose and its palate offers mineral nuances. Its rich vibrancy is due in part to its 2 year aging with the yeast sediment on the bottom of French oak barrels.” Cameron Abbey Ridge Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $79 pre-arrival specialWinery Note “WOW is the descriptor that immediately comes to mind. A vivid dark ruby color, unusual for Abbey Ridge, is your first indication that this is something different. The aromas are equally intense notes of black cherry, cardamom, nutmeg and cinnamon. The mouth is sublime, ending with Abbey Ridge Pinot’s signature lingering finish. This may well be one of the greatest offerings of Abbey Ridge Pinot noir ever!” Cameron Clos Electrique Blanc Chardonnay 2021 750ml $75 pre-arrival specialThis delicious wine has aromatic notes of kaffir lime, lemon curd and brioche with background notes of coriander. When chilled, the mouth has a mineral quality which gives way to a bright grapefruit flavor as it warms. Cameron Clos Electrique Rouge Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $75 pre-arrival specialWinery Note The Clos Electrique Rouge from 2021 is an astounding wine with notes of leather, porcini mushrooms, forest floor and a dose of plums bringing in the finish. Its perfect silky mouth and a nice round finish cry for a café 90’s Duck l’orange, chanterelles sautéed with butter and sherry, a Ribeye cooked to perfection or perhaps even cardboard. I mean really, this wine makes anything taste better.
“Goodfellow”
“The 2021 harvest was also one that ended with cooler nights and moderate summer temperatures in the last half of August, though it was quite different earlier in the season. The tone was set with a “heat-dome” that settled over the Pacific Northwest just after fruit set, bringing abnormal heat (for June) in the 90s for a couple of days, and then unheard-of temperatures for Oregon, over 110F for two days in a row… This vintage most reminds us of the ’17s that were so savory and structured when we released them, but are showing some tremendous enjoyment now, and promising still more in the coming years.”
-Marcus & Megan Goodfellow
Arriving Friday:
Goodfellow House Block Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ml $51.90 pre-arrival specialVinous 95 Points – Josh Raynolds “Brilliant red. An impressively complex bouquet evokes mineral-tinged red fruits, potpourri and exotic spices, and a hint of botanical herbs emerges as the wine opens up. Juicy, sharply focused and energetic on the palate, offering sweet cherry liqueur, raspberry and floral pastille flavors and an exotic touch of blood orange. The spice and floral notes drive a strikingly long, smooth finish framed by polished, well-knit tannins.”
Goodfellow Lewman Vineyard Pinot Gris 2019 750ml $28 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arriving Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir 2019 375ml $21.90 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arrivingWinery Note “Vibrantly red fruited, elegant and light-bodied. Red currants, pie cherries, and fresh strawberry, stony earth, wood spice, kitchen herbs and orange peel. Weightless, refreshing, crystalline, juicy in the mouth while still being youthfully edgy and tightly wound.” Goodfellow Whistling Ridge Pinot Gris 2021 750ml $28 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arrivingWinery Note “Fennel seed, orchard fruit, a hint of smoked meat, and green honey, with dried apricot and mandarin in the palate. The texture and nerve is tremendous, and this is one of the most delicious and serious Pinot Gris we have produced. Don’t let crappy Pinot Gris make you think you don’t like the grape…done well, it is refreshing and quenching, with lovely crispness while still having a dynamic, textural presentation. Fermented in neutral Acacia 820L puncheon, this is a delicious and serious aromatic white.”
Arriving November 24th:
Goodfellow Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021, Oregon 750ml $44.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arrivingWinery Note “Densely fruited, boysenberry, purple flowers, gravelly, intense, a shade darker than usual. There is a wonderful sense of intrigue in the 2021 Durant, so much going on just beneath the surface. It has the aromatics of whole cluster Dundee hills wines but in a stonier, sinewy way. Violet in tone, luxurious texture, energy, a mineral crunchiness that provides a framework for the mid-weight fruit, and fine finishing tannins.” Goodfellow Heritage No. 17 Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021750ml $66.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arrivingWinery Notes “Deeper red hues and spice on the nose, black cherry, boysenberry, violets, cardamom, balsam, enveloping and textural with juicy, lovely acidity, firm tannins on opening that integrate over several days as the weight and texture of the wine fills in. Aromatically, the high point seems to really arrive after being open for about 48 hours, and the seamless interplay between fruit, baking spice, loamy earth, and hints of kitchen herbs is dramatic and superlative. In the zone the nose here is absolutely intoxicating.” Goodfellow Heritage No. 18 Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $66.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arriving Goodfellow Heritage No. 19 Whistling Ridge Pinot Noir 2021 750ml $66.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arrivingWinery Notes “From the Beloved Acre at Whistling Ridge, the density of the vintage shows through in the color of the wine, a dramatic deep garnet red. The nose opens with dark cherry and loamy earth surrounded by sweet floral notes and baking spices. The palate is more coiled with a clean direct entry, sweet red berries, excellent weightless texture, bright acidity and firm tannins. After 48 hours open, the nose has evolved into a remarkably compelling array of nuances, the wine is very foresty, with notes of conifer, underbrush, and humus. Fruit is darkly red and savory but folds seamlessly into the non-fruit components. At this much air nothing is fading and the wine is a joy to inhale, and shows the remarkable potential of the 2021 vintage.” Goodfellow Temperance Hill Pinot Noir 2021, Eola-Amity 750ml $44.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles arrivingWinery Note “Classic, dense Temperance Hill fruit, powerful, tannins are distinct and refined. Dark berries, cedar, velvety dense nose with loads of graceful spices. Dense fruit in the palate, with Temperance Hill’s unique blend of power and grace. This is quite seamless for such a young wine from THV, but there is an abundance of dry extract folded into the velvety texture.”
New Arrivals
Champagne
#1 WINE ON JAMES SUCKLING 2023 TOP 100… Laurent Perrier Grand Siecle No. 26, Champagne NV 750ml $249 special, 12 bottles availableJames Suckling 100 Points “This is really something. Electric on the palate. The aromas are so complex with sliced fresh and dried ginger, subtle pie crust, tarte tatin and hints of nutmeg with some salted caramel. Toasted bread, too. Always subtle. The palate is full- to medium-bodied yet hemmed-in with a freshness and balance that draws you back. Savory and vibrant. It’s full of energy. Spectacular. Fascinating. Symphonic blend of 2012, 2008 and 2007. 65% of the 2012, 25% of the 2008 and 10% of the 2007. Eight grand cru. Chardonnay 58% and 42% pinot noir. Disgorged February 2023. 10 years on the lees. 7g/L dosage. Drink or hold.” Janis Robinson 19.5/20 Points“Powerful aroma of orange peel and something in the putty/chalk spectrum. It somehow manages to be both tight yet approachable, dense in terms of flavour concentration yet filigree in terms of texture. As usual, it’s so Chardonnay! Overriding citrus character and quite amazingly long, a mouthful tingling on the palate for minutes not seconds. Enormous finesse. Massive pleasure. This would make the most luxurious aperitif. Michel Fauconnet, having welcomed the new chef de cave in January 2023, must be especially proud of this wine.” Billecart Salmon Brut Rose, Champagne NV 750ml $89 special, 12 bottles availableTyson Stelzer- Champagne Guide 93-95 Points “(40% chardonnay, 30% pinot from the Montagne de Reims and the Grande Vallée de la Marne, 30% meunier from the Vallée de la Marne and the southern slopes of Épernay; less than 8% red wine; 40% reserves; vinified in stainless steel tanks; full malolactic fermentation; aged 36 months on lees; 9g/L dosage; DIAM). Some 20% of Billecart’s production is rosé (400,000 bottles), claimed to be the biggest proportion of rosé among Champagne’s larger houses… The generous 2015 season has emphasised the more structured and savoury side to this delicate label, upholding its pale salmon hue and rose petal and strawberry personality, accenting it with notes of red apple skin and firm beurre bosc pear. The ripeness of 2015 lends a little bite to the finish, though its tannin texture remains as elegantly fine and eloquently controlled as ever, testimony to the skill of the house in crafting super-fine red wine. This cuvée has attained that wonderful place where lees age contributes great texture and mouthfeel, without diminishing purity or freshness. Eminently persistent, it carries with grace and poise amidst fine chalk mineral texture, taut acid focus and a fine, creamy bead. Enjoy it in its ravishing youth. The 2014 base captures the season in a beautifully fresh, elegant and lively style of rose petal, liquorice and pink grapefruit, even redcurrants in time, culminating in a long-lingering, fine chalk mineral finish. Even as the oldest, the 2013 base is the most delightfully refined, fresh and chalk mineral of them all. (2020-2021).” Audrey Frick- JebDunnuck.com 94 Points “The NV Champagne Brut Rose is an attractive pale salmon hue, with a fresh perfume of wild strawberry, ripe peach, white and red flowers, a hint of tropical fruit, and grapefruit. The palate is rounded, with fruit up front and through the mid-palate, and it has a silky and fresh lift. There is a wonderful ease and drinkability to this wine, which delivers balance and finesse. Drink 2022-2037.”
France
Domaine du Pegau Chateauneuf De Pape Cuvee Reservee, Rhone 2020 750ml $81.90 special, 26 bottles availableWine Advocate 96-98 Points “I was even more impressed by the 2020 Châteauneuf du Pape Cuvée Réservée than the 2019. Boasting crazily complex floral scents, garrigue, raspberries and cherries, this is one incredibly perfumed example of Pegau. Medium to full-bodied, silky, elegant and long, this is quintessential Pegau. My tastings during my evening visit to Domaine du Pegau included a number of other wines, both from Chateau Pegau and Selection Laurence Feraud. Those will be included in my follow-up coverage of other appellations of the Southern Rhône. For this report, I’ve focused on the current and upcoming releases from the property itself.” Vinous 96 Points “The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Réservée is one of the strongest vintages for this wine in recent history. It is magnificent, soaring from the glass with pungent aromas of crème de cassis, ripe raspberry and strawberry, cured meat, tobacco, licorice, iodine and garrigue. Full-bodied, vibrant to the core and offering a multidimensional profile, this wine is really, really good. The Féraud family and the entire team deserve a round of applause for this sublime Cuvée Réservée, which will still be kicking ass 20 years from now.” James Suckling 96 Points “A layered and well-balanced Chateauneuf-du-Pape with aromas of wild berries, dried herbs, leather, roasted meat and stones. It’s full-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Lots of layers and poise with a restrained character on the palate, despite the generous nature of the vintage. Complex and velvety with lots of cherry character and dried herbs towards the finish. Funnelled and structured with great focus and length. Better after 2025.”
Italy
Fratelli Alessandria Barolo DOCG, Piedmont 2019 750ml $59 special, 36 bottles availableWine Advocate 95 Points “These village-specific wines are growing in popularity, and among the various expressions on the market today, this wine from Verduno is really quite special thanks to its highly distinctive floral aromas and its delicate sense of inner balance. A new project being inaugurated with this vintage, the Fratelli Alessandria 2019 Barolo del Comune di Verduno shows a fine, streamlined mouthfeel with polished tones of river stone, crushed rose and licorice root. The aromas are refined and fragile. This is a 20,000-bottle release.”
Spain
“Raul Perez”
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques, Bierzo 2021 750ml $22.50 special, 24 bottles availableWine Advocate 93 Points “The biggest volume of the winery is the 2021 Ultreia Saint Jacques, which represents some 170,000 bottles, and according to Raúl Pérez, it’s the most difficult wine to make here. They now work a lot to produce this wine, a blend of 11 wines selected from the 17 they made. It’s a wine that represents Bierzo and is from a year when they used more grapes from sandy soils. It has 13.16% alcohol and a pH of 3.66; it’s serious and restrained but juicy and easy to drink. Seventy percent of the wine matured in barrel and the rest in troncoconic oak vats.”
“4 Monos Viticultores”
4 Monos Viticultores ‘GR10’ Vino Blanco de la Sierra de Gredos, Spain 2021 750ml $26.50 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 91+ Points “The regional white 2021 GR-10 Blanco was produced with 60% Albillo Real and 15% Viura, with the remaining 25% composed of a mixture of varieties including Moscatel and Chelva Rosa from different vineyards in Cadalso de los Vidrios and San Martín de Valdeiglesias. It’s a little lighter than the wines produced with pure Albillo, with 13.5% alcohol. It’s a refreshing white with good balance and acidity. This fermented in a mixture of barrels and stainless steel and matured in used barrels for six months. The varietal mix changes here quite a lot, and so does the character of the wine. This feels fresher (it does have less alcohol), but the effect of the skin contact is also more noticeable; it’s a little cloudier and feels a bit wilder, and the chalky sensation is also stronger (it did have more skin contact than the 2020). It also comes through as a little funkier (but I like it!). 2,997 bottles were filled in August 2022.” 4 Monos Viticultores ‘GR10’ Vino Tinto de la Sierra de Gredos, Spain 2020 750ml $24.50 special, 12 bottles availableWine Advocate 92 Points “The 2020 GR-10 Tinto was produced with 92% Garnacha and 8% Cariñena from different vineyards in the villages of San Martin de Valdeiglesias, Cenicientos and Cadalso de los Vidrios. It fermented with full clusters and matured for nine months in barrels of different sizes and one 4,200-liter oak vat. It has 13.5% alcohol and very good freshness, but it’s a little darker than the 2021 I tasted next to it. It also comes through as riper, as it was a slow-ripening year that allowed them to wait for rounder tannins. They did a little longer maceration, and the wine is more structured and should be long lived. 13,950 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 20221.”
These are the lowest listed prices on the West Coast today!
Arriving Friday
France
“Domaine Bott-Geyl”
Bott-Geyl Cremant d’Alsace Cuvee Paul-Edouard Extra Brut, France NV $29 pre-arrival specialWinery Note “A blend of Pinot Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir (vinified as a white wine).” Bott-Geyl Pinot Gris Sonnenglanz, Alsace Grand Cru 2013 750ml $45 pre-arrival specialVinous 92+ Points “Vivid straw. Knockout nose is redolent of lemon verbena, ripe pear, grilled peach, nectarine and sweet spices complicated by spicy, lemony noble rot. Tactile, rich and utterly seamless in the mouth, with flavors similar to the aromas. I love this wine’s long, textured finish, which shows a spicy honeyed nuance (thanks to the presence of noble rot) that makes it absolutely irresistible. Since 2011, Bott harvests these grapes early to help preserve acidity.” Bott-Geyl Riesling Schlossberg, Alsace Grand Cru 2018 750ml $51.90 pre-arrival specialVinous 93 Points “The 2018 Riesling comes from a terraced, steep parcel at the top of Schlossberg Grand Cru, at its center, just below the forest, lending coolness. The granitic soils are weathered and poor, yields are small. The nose announces the ripeness and dryness of 2018 with a lifted scent of orange peel, golden apple and candied orange. The palate, likewise, is ripe and rounded, brimming with juicy, ripe Mirabelle that is edged with dried lemon peel freshness. A phenolic edge lends some welcome bitterness and more texture. The finish is dry and lasting, delving deeper into that stone. (Bone-dry)” Domaine Bott-Geyl Riesling Schoenenbourg, Alsace Grand Cru 2018 750ml $51.90 pre-arrival specialVinous 94 Points “The 2018 Riesling Schoenenbourg Grand Cru is from various parcels within the grand cru, between 20, 30 and 60 years old. The nose is totally open and lifted with dried yarrow and dried lemon peel. More air brings hints of dried and fresh yellow pear. The palate is focused, intense, linear and edged with utterly mouth-watering freshness. There is a lovely chalky texture while notions of candied orange peel pop up, yet a completely dry focus drives this to a refreshing finish. Again a contrast between nose and palate delivers intense, chalky length. (Bone-dry)”
Re-Arrivals
“Resonance”
What does a life-long French Vigneron doin their retirement? Start a new winery of course! That’s exactly what Jacques Lardiere, the long-time winemaker for Louis Jadot did with his former employers, finding a new home in Carlton, Oregon. Without even leaning on their clout, these wines are conquering American palettes and wowing major publications, including their recent spot in Wine Spectator’s Top Ten Wines of 2023!#9 IN WINE SPECTATOR TOP 100 OF 2023! Resonance Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2021 750ml $34.50 special, 36 bottles availableWine Spectator 94 Points “Precise and elegantly structured, with detailed raspberry, savory tea and crushed stone accents that gather richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031.”
Arriving Friday:
“Decugnano dei Barbi”
We can’t keep these hot new wines in stock.! If you haven’t tried them yet, what are you waiting for?!
Don’t miss out
Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Frammento’ Orvieto Classico, Umbria 2021 750ml $16 pre-arrival special
Suzanne: What a fascinating nose! It is decidedly mineral with layers of chalk, talc, and calcium. It’s as minerally as an antacid! Joking aside, there are lovely notes of pear juice, fresh bay, and mint. In the mouth, this is more reserved than the Casa Pica, but with noticeably more depth. The body is moderate, perhaps a touch lighter than the Casa Pica, but with more acidity. It’s exceedingly well balanced. The finish shows touches of lees, like a high quality Muscadet or a Côte des Blancs Champagne. Winery note “Immerse yourself in the experience of tasting our Orvieto Classico, Frammento – an elegant and pleasantly versatile wine, perfect for accompanying your everyday moments. Its name evokes the fragments of seashells that fill our soils, witnesses of the sea that once covered them millions of years ago. But it also evokes the philosophical concept of terroir, and the fact that even in a sip of wine (a “fragment”), the totality of the soul of the place is still preserved.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $20/bottle by the case
Decugnano dei Barbi ‘Mare Antico’ Orvieto Classico Superiore, Umbria 2021 750ml $21.90 pre-arrival special
Suzanne: This pours a delicate straw color. The nose has floral aromas of peonies, geraniums, jasmine and mint. There’s a touch of vanilla fragrance like vanilla bean ice cream. On the palate, this is densely flavored with notes of pear tart, Chantilly cream, oyster shells, and white tea. There’s a briskness note here like freshly ground coffee. Overall, this gives an impression of a dry GG Riesling or Chablis. The finish has notes of cultured butter and Maldon sea salt. It’s long and lingering. An incredible value. Winery Note “Mare Antico is the wine that best represents Decugnano dei Barbi. The name itself refers to that ancient sea on which our vineyards grow today. The grapes come from our oldest vineyards, whose roots lie in sandy and shell-rich soils to capture the soul of the place and transform it into a delicious drop of wine.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $25/bottle by the case
Staff Pick Winery
New Releases from the New Spain Movement
“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. If you’re not familiar with the winery or wines, let’s get you up to speed fast: Despite being warm, tropical islands, the Canaries are home to several wine-growing regions, particularly along the foggy cliffs and slopes that line the Atlantic Ocean along the northern coastline on the main island, Tenerefe. Roberto Santana takes the lead for Envínate here, having consulted with Suertes del Marques and having extensive knowledge of the ancient vines, terroir, and local varieties. The ‘Albahra’ wines from the Castilla-La Mancha, along the middle of the eastern coast, are Garnacha Tintorera-based, aka Alicante Bouchet. This grape is one of the few grape varieties to have red juice. Aromatically, it is somewhere in the realm of Grenache and Syrah, though typically done in a lighter style, especially chez Envinate. The bottlings labeled “Chingao” are collaborative project with importer Jose Pastor and made as natural wines, with lower intervention and no sulfur added at bottling. These are fascinating, age-worthy expressions of “New Spain” wines that are not to be missed. Arriving Friday:
Envinate ‘Benje’ Blanco, Canary Islands 2022 750ml $29.50 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles availableJose 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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average listed price is $34
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Envinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Migan Chingao’ Tinto, Valle de la Orotava 2022 750ml $44.50 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles availableEnvinate (& A Chingao Vineyards) ‘Migan Chingao’ Tinto, Valle de la Orotava 2022 1.5L $94.50 pre-arrival special, only 2 magnums availableJose 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.” A James Suckling Top 100 Wine of 2023!Envinate ‘Migan’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2021 750ml $49 pre-arrival special, only 12 bottles availableZekun 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 ‘Albahra’, (Castilla-La Mancha) Vinos Mediterráneos 2022 750ml $25.50 pre-arrival special, only 36 bottles availableJose 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.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Can’t Wait? In Stock Now:
Envinate ‘Benje’ Tinto, Canary Islands 2021 1.5L $79 special, 2 magnums in stock nowDecanter 94 points “Some of Tenerife’s highest altitude vines, at 1,000m, combined with a pronounced Atlantic influence and volcanic soils make this a quintessential example of the island’s idiosyncratic reds; in this case Listan Prieto (aka País) is the red variety for a wine with a certain crunchiness of texture and a puff of peppery smoke to the blackcurrant fruit.” 90% Listán Prieto, 9% Listán Blanco, 1% Tintilla Envinate La Santa de Ursula, Tenerife, Canary Islands 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 6 bottles availableJames Suckling 96 points “Beautiful nose full of white pepper funk, grapefruit, wild raspberries, chalk and mineral. On the palate, this is ethereal and lively but super tense with a bit more verticality than the equally attractive, funky but linear Táganan. Textured, mineral and wild finish that develops in the finish. Goes on and on. Delicious and so drinkable now, but this can age, for a decade, too, if not more.” The Orotava Valley wine, Palo Blanco, represents a cool region along the northern slope of the Teide volcano. Here the Listan Blanco (white, also known as Palomino) vines are trained in the traditional “cordon trenzado” style of braiding the vines along the rows. Envinate ‘Palo Blanco’, Canary Islands 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 4 bottles in stock nowJames Suckling 96 points “Fresh, reductive nose with a hint of white sesame. A mineral coating to the tangy lime citrus and pomelo skins. White chalk, freshly cut parsley and celery as well. A laser beam of piercing acidity provides energy, sharpness and speed to the pure and bone-dry palate that’s full of tension but no flesh. Demanding and austere, yet so delicious and effortlessly pure and gastronomic in nature, with electric linearity and a mouthwatering finish. Even more extreme than 2020? Only 11.5% alcohol. Embrace the acidity! Drink now.” The Ribeira Sacra wines are composed of ancient native vines of mostly Mencía co-planted with other varietals. The vines are ancient, starting at 60-years-old at minimum with single vineyard bottlings going well up from there. These are excellent examples of what this profound and profoundly Spanish grape can do. Much like Terre Nere’s work with indigenous Sicilian grapes, Envínate’s Mencía can give international superstars like Syrah and Pinot Noir a run for their money. The “village” wine from Lousas, but not to be snubbed, this is composed of at least 60-year-old vines in the Ribeira Sacra region. Envinate ‘Lousas’ Vina de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2020 1.5L $88 special, 1 magnum in stock nowLuis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The 2020 Lousas Viñas de Aldea is slightly higher in alcohol and has less freshness than the 2019. It was a very early harvest (September 2nd to 14th), and they kept 20% of the wine in concrete and the rest in oak barrels and 2,000-liter oak foudres for 11 months. The grapes were very small, so the ratio of juice to skin was different from 2019. The wines from 2020 had less maceration and more stems; they have more bones but are still fluid, with some dusty tannins. 22,500 bottles and 400 magnums produced. It was bottled in November 2021.” Envinate ‘Lousas’ Vina de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2021 750ml $44.50 special, 20 bottles in stock nowEnvinate ‘Lousas’ Vina de Aldea, Ribeira Sacra 2021 1.5L $99 special, 3 magnums in stock nowJames Suckling 96 points “Excellent depth with a vibrant lift of pepperiness to the wild and airy bramble fruit and minerality. Chalky and broad on the palate but really weightless with chalky tannins and a fresh, refined finish. Delicious now.” Envinate Lousas Doad, Ribeira Sacra 2021 750ml $59 special, 5 bottles in stock nowJames Suckling 95 points “Fine, chalky nose with fresh brambly fruit, pomegranate, tile and white pepper. Lots of wild fruit on the palate with fine, fresh tannins and a long finish full of wild herbs and some cooked grapefruit. So drinkable now, why hold?” 89% Mencía, 10% other varieties Envinate Lousas Parcela Rosende, Ribeira Sacra 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 5 bottles in stock nowImporter note “From a single vineyard of 28-60-year-old vines in Rosende, in O Saviñao, the soils here remind them of the northern Rhône with granite crystals flecked through the sand. The wine is full of cherries, berries, wild strawberries and a slightly savoury, umami finish.” 85% Mencía, 15% other varieties A Chingao Vineyards & Envinate ‘Misturado de Abeleda’, Ribeira Sacra 2021 750ml $54.50 special, 11 bottles in stock nowJose Pastor importer note “Misturado de Abeleda is sourced from a centenarian parcel located in Ribeiras do Sil. This is a rare, mixed-planted parcel, with about 70% red and 30% white grapes. The grapes were hand-harvested, foot-trodden and co-fermented 100% whole cluster with wild yeasts in open top plastic tubs, then raised in used 300 and 400 liter French oak for 11 months with no racking. The finished wine is bottled without fining, filtration or added SO2. A throwback to Ribeira Sacra’s early days.”
Delas Freres Sale—EXTENDED! Three-day Special Offer:Order any 6-11 bottles for a 5% discountOrder 12+ bottles for a 10% discountOffer ends @ 6 PM November 15th 
Delas Freres Crozes-Hermitage Le Clos, 2019 750ml $59 special, 20 bottles availableVinous 92-94 points “A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe black/blue fruits, olive and potpourri, and a mineral element adds lift. Sappy and penetrating on the palate, offering broad-shouldered boysenberry, bitter cherry and candied violet flavors that are given spine and lift by a core of juicy acidity. Shows sharp focus on the penetrating finish, where dusty, slow-building tannins add gentle grip and focus.” Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Francois de Tournon, 2019 750ml $44.50 special, 25 bottles availableVinous 92-94 points “Powerful, mineral- and spice-accented aromas of ripe black/blue fruits, candied flowers, olive and allspice. Supple and energetic on the palate, offering bitter cherry, blueberry and fruitcake flavors that tighten up slowly with air and show fine delineation. The cherry note drives a long, spicy finish that’s given shape by fine-grained, even tannins. There’s a quite graceful quality here that defies the old stereotype of Cornas being necessarily rustic.” Delas Freres Saint-Joseph Sainte-Epine, 2019 750ml $79 special, 29 bottles availableWine Spectaor 94 points “This flows beautifully, with a ripe, pure and steady beam of cassis and dark cherry preserves that shows good brightness and delineation through the finish, picking up light floral and mineral accents along the way. Seductive in style, with a lovely mouthfeel and sneaky length. Best from 2022 through 2032. 500 cases made.” Delas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, 2019 750ml $219 special, 36+ bottles availableDelas Freres Hermitage Les Bessards, 2019 1.5L $449 special, 6 magnum bottles available Jeb Dunnuck 99 points “My favorite release from this estate is consistently their Les Bessards Hermitage, and their 2019 is no exception. Coming from the western part and pure broken granite soils on the west side of this magical hill, it sports a dense purple hue to go with a brilliant perfume of cassis, graphite, scorched earth, burning embers, spring flowers, and peppery herbs. Incredibly complex, layered, and nuanced, with classic Hermitage characteristics, it still stays firmly planted in the ripe, sunny, sexy vintage. Full-bodied, concentrated, and structured on the palate, it has a wealth of tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic that needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will evolve for 20-30 years in cold cellars. Hats off to the team at Delas for another incredible wine.” Wine Spectator 97 points “This is loaded with dark and winey plum sauce, blackberry paste and fig compote flavors that glide through over notes of warm earth, sweet tobacco and anise. A subtle singed alder hint infuses the finish, along with a flicker of violet, while the fruit takes an encore. This shows seriously hefty fruit matched with a terrific underpinning of terroir. For the cellar. Best from 2024 through 2039. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 583 cases made, 50 cases imported. –JM”
More Delas Wines Available:
| DELAS FRERES WINES |
VWS PRICE |
AVAILABLE |
LINK |
| DELAS CROZES GRANDS CHEMINS 2019 |
$39.00 |
5 |
Link |
| DELAS CORNAS CHANTE PERDRIX 2019 |
$69.00 |
35 |
Link |
| DELAS HERMITAGE TOURETTES 2019 |
$89.00 |
13 |
Link |
| DELAS HERMITAGE BESSARDS 2019 |
$219.00 |
36+ |
Link |
| DELAS HERMITAGE GRANDES VIG 2019 |
$299.00 |
12 |
Link |
| DELAS HERMITAGE BESSARDS 19 MAG |
$449.00 |
7 |
Link |
| DELAS COTE ROTIE LANDONNE 19 MAG |
$549.00 |
2 |
Link |
| DELAS HERMITAGE GRANDES 19 MAG |
$619.00 |
3 |
Link |
| |
|
|
|
Special Collector’s Arrival
“Dominus Estate– The Best Napa Cab of all Time?”
Christian Moueix’s storied career began with some of the most well-regarded Chateaus in Bordeaux including, among many others, Belair-Monange, Château La Fleur-Pétrus, and Château Trotanoy. Dominus Estates was Christian’s first California project, started on a recommendation from Robert Mondavi himself. The winery has received top marks from some of the world’s most prestigous and influential wine critics, including 4 perfect 100 point scores from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.
Go ahead, treat yourself.
 Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2020 750ml $349 special, 6 bottles availableDominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2020 375ml $189 special, 12 bottles availableDominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2020 3L $1,799 special, 1 3-liter bottle availableJames Suckling 98 Points “Aromas of blackcurrants, black cherries, hints of graphite, wet earth, and lavender. Sandalwood. Full-bodied with an impressive and refined structure that runs deep and vertical in the wine. Chewy. Hints of chocolate and hazelnut at the end. Needs five or six years to soften.” The Wine Independent 96 Points “A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Dominus has a deep garnet-purple color. It rolls out of the glass with expressive notes of baked blackberries, preserved plums, and kirsch, with suggestions of Indian spices, sandalwood, potpourri, and black truffles, plus a ferrous hint. The full-bodied palate delivers a firm, grainy texture with just enough freshness to support the generous fruit, finishing long and oh-so-spicy. Yum!” Wine Advocate 95 Points “An excellent wine, even if not a great Dominus, the 2020 Dominus delivers waves of dark fruit—think predominantly cassis. A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, it’s full-bodied and richly textured, perhaps a bit warm and open-knit because of the summer’s heat, but with a long, velvety finish attractively tinged with mocha and dark chocolate” Wine Spectator 95 Points “This throws off dense kirsch and linzer torte aromas and flavors, along with a mix of smoldering tobacco, leather, warm paving stone and licorice root hints that provide a brooding edge on the back end. Surprisingly backward for the vintage and impressively done. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.” Also Available from Dominus:
Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2019 750ml $319 special, 11 bottles availableLisa Perrotti-Brown- The Wine Independent 100 Points “Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot, the 2019 Dominus was harvested from September 29 to October 10. It was aged in 40% new oak. Deep garnet-purple colored, the nose slowly unfurls to unveil beguiling floral notes of candied violets and rose oil over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie, and plum preserves, giving way to notions of licorice, Indian spices, iron ore, and crushed rocks. Full-bodied, the palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, intertwined with gorgeous floral and exotic spice accents, and framed by firm, finely grained tannins with seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. Tightly coiled with so much latent energy waiting to explode, this is a spectacular expression of the vintage and Napanook vineyard. Still tightly coiled, give it a good 6-7 years in the cellar before broaching, and allow it a few hours in a decanter if consumed before 2032.” Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 Points “The 2019 Dominus is blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged in 40% new French oak. Impressively dark-hued in the glass, it yields scents of cherries and cassis on the nose—or is it black cherries and redcurrants? Subtle notes of mocha, pencil shavings and almost Graves-like earthiness wind through the concentrated, medium to full-bodied palate, giving it a sense of savory gravitas, while the finish is silky and long, leaving a lingering residue of soft tannins and mouthwatering freshness.” Wine spectator #1 wine of the year 2021! Dominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2018 750ml $419 special, 8 bottles availableDominus Estate Christian Moueix, Napa Valley 2018 375ml $219 special, 19 half-bottles availableJeb Dunnuck 100 Points “The flagship 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon checks in as 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot brought up in 40% new French oak. With an essence of Cabernet-like character in its darker currants, green tobacco, cedar, graphite, and floral aromas and flavors, this gorgeous wine is full-bodied and has bright yet integrated acidity, polished tannins, and a great, great finish. It’s just gorgeously put together and a magical, flawless wine. It’s going to take a decade to hit maturity but will evolve for 40-50 years in cold cellars. It is as good as it gets in classic, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon!” James Suckling 100 Points “This is incredible on the nose, offering hot stones, blackcurrants, iodine and wet earth. Full-bodied with a tight center palate, then it opens with a tannin structure that is weightless and spreads across the palate. Totally integrated on the palate. This is a magic-carpet wine. Really incredible. One of the reference points for the vintage. Drinkable now and please try a bottle, but it’s one for the cellar.” Wine Advocate 99+ Points “Very deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Dominus slowly emerges from the glass with profound notes of blackcurrant cordial, ripe black plums, boysenberries and Black Forest cake with hints of violets, star anise, cracked black pepper, raspberry leaves and pencil lead, plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers impactful black fruit layers, creating a beguiling sense of richness that is beautifully countered by invigorating freshness and great poise, framed by super ripe, plush tannins and beautiful tension, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note and, finally, lots of mineral sparks. For all that it is at the moment, one cannot help but feel that this 2018 is holding something back. Give it a good five years in bottle, at least, and then get set for what I suspect will be a mind-blowing transformation over the next 30 years+.-LPB” Antonio Galloni 97 Points “The 2018 Dominus is wild and exotic from the first taste. Lifted aromatics make a strong opening impression. There is something exuberant about the 2018 that is hard to describe. The 2018 is not a huge Dominus, nor is it massively structured, but the intensity of the flavors is remarkable just the same. Dark raspberry, spice, leather and cedar are some of the many notes that open over time.”
We’re open 10 AM – 6 PM daily
Thank you from the team at Vinopolis!
Be well & drink well.
|
|
