In Today’s Newsletter:
Torbreck’s Epic 2015 RunRig Shiraz
The (Still) Underrated Wines of Austria
Featured Pre-Arrivals
Aldo Conterno: Barolo’s Modern Master
10 Smart Buys for Under $20
10 Great Wines for Under $40
Modern Classics from Ribera del Duero
Torbreck’s Epic 2015 RunRig Shiraz
Torbreck is one of the truly iconic Australian wineries. Producing wines at every price-point, they’re known in their native land for their “RunRig” Shiraz—a towering bottling that sits with Penfold’s Grange and Henschke’s Hill of Grace as one of the country’s best wines made in any given vintage. The 2015 is one of the best iterations yet, combining the raw power of Barossa with enough polish to take the wine into transcendent realms. Our limited allocation arrives Friday, but likely won’t last long.
Pre-Arrival ETA Friday, October 23rd:
Torbreck RunRig Shiraz – Viognier, Barossa Valley 2015 750ML ($199.95) $166 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98 points “Who would’ve thought that in the context of Barossa Shiraz, the 2015 RunRig would seem like a relative bargain? It’s certainly much less expensive than Grange or Hill of Grace will be when they’re released. It’s also more approachable in its youth, with enormously appealing aromas of grilled fruit, savory complexities and rich, velvety tannins. Of course, it’s full-bodied and concentrated, with the stuffing to age for up to a couple of decades, and it has a long, licorice-tinged finish. Winemaker Ian Hongell, who joined Torbreck from Peter Lehmann, may not have made this wine, but he deserves a lot of credit for the blending and finishing of this tour de force.”
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The (Still) Underrated Wines of Austria
In 1985, a handful of rogue Burgenland producers were caught illegally adulterating their sweet wines. The subsequent scandal received international attention, and the (often hyperbolic) press coverage dealt the reputation of Austrian wines a devastating blow. But what the coverage often ignored was how isolated the scandal was, and also how high quality so many of the country’s wines were, even then. But perception is reality, and the country’s producers were left to clean-up the PR mess.
Austria responded by implementing the world’s strictest quality standards, and has since become a model for ambitious wine regions around the globe. This history is the reason that Austria is now the most consistent wine producing country in the world. It really is difficult to find a bad bottle of Austrian wine. If they exist, we’ve yet to encounter one. Instead, we’re proud to offer 67 different Austrian wines, all excellent, including some favorites featured below.
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”
Austria responded by implementing the world’s strictest quality standards, and has since become a model for ambitious wine regions around the globe. This history is the reason that Austria is now the most consistent wine producing country in the world. It really is difficult to find a bad bottle of Austrian wine. If they exist, we’ve yet to encounter one. Instead, we’re proud to offer 67 different Austrian wines, all excellent, including some favorites featured below.
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “Like the Liebenberg from weathered granite and gneiss soils, but in a higher and cooler spot, the 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg opens with an intense and herbal-flavored, rather spicy and stony bouquet of ripe and concentrated bright fruits. Full-bodied, ripe and piquant on the palate, this is a rich and powerful, well-concentrated and elegant Kellerberg with a rich extract and a long and persistent finish. The 2015 should be cellared for at least another 3-5 years.”
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F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Liebenberg Grüner Veltliner Smaragd, Wachau 2015 750ML ($69.95) $48 special, 13 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93-94 points “The 2015 Grüner Veltliner Smaragd Dürnsteiner Liebenberg comes from 70- to 80-year-old vines on a rare calcareous slate soil. The wine displays a very clear and pure, pretty open and lovely spicy, crystalline and flinty bouquet with ripe pip fruit aromas. Very distinguished and rather coolish in its expression. Full-bodied, round and elegant, with tension, salt and grip in the finish, this is a charmingly ripe and juicy but also challenging mineral and piquant Veltliner from one of the most exciting terroirs. The finish is powerful and complex but also fresh and stimulatingly piquant. Pichler has bottled this wine since 2010.”
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Schloss Gobelsburg Ried Lamm Grüner Veltliner Erste OTW Lage, Kamptal DAC 2018 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2018 Kammern Ried Lamm 1ÖTW displays an intense golden-yellow color and opens with a deep, clear and complex, remarkably refined and elegant, crystalline and flinty bouquet of crushed stones, herbs and ripe Veltliner fruit. Full-bodied, lush and intense but fine and elegant on the silky-textured and well-balanced palate, this is a perfectly round and sweet, lush and ripe, pretty generous Lamm with a long and elegant, beautifully balanced but tensioned and stimulating salty finish. Tasted at Schloss Grafenegg and Schloss Gobelsburg in September 2019.”
Terry Theise note “Lamm as a rule is buckwheat-y, rusky, savory but not thick, like a vegetable-veal stock with barley, yet oddly also like lamb itself. (“Lamm” doesn’t mean lamb, but is rather a dialect word for “loam.”) It is a great wine though virtually without fruit per se. Its poise of gloss and power, intensity and outline, mass and transparency are emblems of the paradox without which no wine is truly great. If Renner commences the birds to sing, Lamm commences the wolves to howl. This `18 has its customary virtues though it also suggests alcohol could be an issue. Is it eucalyptus spice or jalapeño heat? I liked it better in a moderate-sized tulip, unusually, where it was almost elegant and certainly showed more fruit.”
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Meinklang Burgenland Rot, Burgenland 2018 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Distributor note “Bio-dynamic, hand harvested Zweigelt, Blaufränkisch, & Sankt Laurent. Spontaneous, semi-carbonic fermentation in stainless steel, aged for 6 months in SS. Unfined, unfiltered, 30 mg/L So2.”
Familie Saahs Nikolaihof Riesling vom Stein Smaragd, Wachau 2014 750ML ($69.95) $49 special
David Schildknecht 97 points “In a departure from usual Nikolaihof practice – given that it had by then been filtered and assembled into tank – I was offered my first taste of this wine shortly before the initial, December 2017 bottling. The wine was exciting then, and when re-tasted repeatedly in the course of 2018 had only gained in stature. Moss, lemon zest, peach kernel and toasted grain on the nose put me in mind of a relatively austere white Burgundy. But that sense of kinship dims with the emergence of high-toned hints of lavender and mint, mouthwatering ocean breeze and a sappy, juicy abundance of fresh lime and white peach juiciness on the silken palate. There are also faint hints of kirsch and mothball such as one can encounter from time to time at this address and to whose volatility some tasters might object. The finish is transparent to a veritable carpet of mineral matter – albeit a levitating, vibrantly undulating one! Crushed stone, alkali, mineral salts and iodine combine with herbal and protein-rich flavors for something approximating a blend of oyster liquor and clam stock that set my salivary glands to palpitating. And now for the astonishing kicker: This remarkable stuff filled the largest cask in the Nikolaihof cellar, with a capacity of 12,000 liters! Half was bottled in 2017 and 2018; the rest will be held back – let’s hope eventually to inform a Vinothek offering. “The only sense in which this wine needed to be bottled,” noted Saahs, “was in order to avoid Vom Stein Smaragd temporarily dropping from our price list and to make room in the cellar. It wasn’t the phases of the moon calling the shots,” he added with a sly grin. (Re-tasted alongside, the corresponding 2013 showed at the upper end of my earlier projection. But despite issuing from one of the two finest Wachau vintages that it has been my privilege to taste as young wines, that 2013 doesn’t quite reach the complexity nor exhibit the clarity and energy of this 2014 – not for now, at least.)”
James Suckling 95 points “An intensely minerally riesling that combines considerable power with a slim silhouette. Finely etched dried-pear and candied-lemon flavors echo through the long, subtle finish. From biodynamically grown grapes. Demeter certified. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Weingut Bernhard Ott Fass 4 Grüner Veltliner, Wagram 2018 750ML ($31.95) $28 special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points “Subtle citrus pith mixes with salty yeast on the shy nose. The palate then presents a mix of bright lemon peel and pith, salt, yeast and crushed arugula in a surprisingly slender but concentrated package. The finish is savory and dry.”
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of dried white flowers, lime blossom and sliced apples make a fresh impression on the nose. The palate delivers white-pepper, apple and mirabelle flavors with a fresh, green-pear finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
Terry Theise note “The first of the `18 surprises; whereas this wine usually indicates a tangible leap ahead of Am Berg, in `18 this is less overt; the wine is saltier but not so much richer as denser, like the stock after an extra few hours on the stove; fennel, legume, collagen— an inferential GV.”
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Love Austrian wine? We have over 50 wines from Austria currently available.
Shop our entire selection, including staff favorites like Alzinger, Ingrid Groiss, Malat, and more on our web store!
Featured Pre-Arrivals
Aldo Conterno: Barolo’s Modern Master
Aldo Conterno is one of Piedmont’s defining modern producers. His split from his family in the late 1960’s (after years of arguing with his brother about winemaking style) was a watershed moment in Barolo’s history. And over the next several decades he established his namesake winery as one of the most important in Italy.
Based in the Bussia hamlet in Monforte, Aldo Conterno’s wines have always been powerful yet polished, with dark rich fruit. But despite their evident density and power, they maintain a remarkable level of nuance and complexity. Needless to say these wines are epic, and if you like a more modern interpretation of Nebbiolo and Barbera, you simply won’t find a smarter buy than these modern classics.
Pre-Arrival ETA Friday, October 23rd:
Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Conca Tre Pile is piled high with dark fruit intensity, soft tannins and a pinch of fresh acidity that breaks apart the wine’s rich fruit flavors. The hot vintage has taken well to the Barbera grape, accentuating its volume, richness and generosity. The bouquet offers black fruit, dried plum, spice, truffle-infused earth and toasted hazelnut. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”
Pre-Arrivals ETA October 30th:
Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Very fine-grained with pretty berry, spice, roasted-nut and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet polished and intense. Very, very long. Try after 2022.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows dark fruit intensity, dried cherry, spice, licorice and tilled earth. The wine delivers its aromas in a direct and immediate manner, with menthol and balsam herb fitting into oaky aromas of sweet spice. For whatever reason, I notice the oak more in Colonnello, but this will relax with time. The wine will be ready to drink after the 10-year mark. Approximately 6,000 bottles were made.”
Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “A really exotic red, showing burnt orange-peel to the dried-strawberry, chocolate-powder and light toasted-oak character. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet ever so polished. A wild wine. Drink after 2022 and onwards.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Cicala offers a ripe fruit profile with layers of menthol and medicinal herb. The finish is beautiful, long and chalky, and you don’t get as much alcohol in the Cicala (compared to Romirasco). The fruit is dried and streamlined, and this wine does show good promise for aging. The tannins are beautiful, coating your teeth and palate with no bitter edge. About 6,000 bottles were made.”
In Stock Now:
Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, licorice and spice fill the glass as this red unfolds. Offers dense tannins and bright acidity, lending definition to the cherry, strawberry, tobacco and spice flavors that persist through the long finish. Best from 2017 through 2030. 300 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “An aromatically beguiling wine, the 2009 Barolo Cicala is laced with dark plums, truffles, tar, incense and a host of other balsamic-infused aromas. Today, the fruit lies a bit in the background, while the wine’s aromatics and overall structure are much more in evidence. I imagine the 2009 will require at least a few more years in bottle to flesh out, but it is quite beautiful, even at this stage. There is a weightless tension in the 2009 that is remarkable.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Barolo Cicala reveals the particular dynamic of the vintage with firmly astringent tannins and power coupled with a leaner, more streamlined mouthfeel. You can also feel some of the heat of the 2009 summer with upfront aromas of prune and cassis followed by a visibly darker appearance and sweet spice on the bouquet. The wine has the inherent complexity, structure and acidity for long aging, but it offers less pulp to sink your teeth into. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.”
Based in the Bussia hamlet in Monforte, Aldo Conterno’s wines have always been powerful yet polished, with dark rich fruit. But despite their evident density and power, they maintain a remarkable level of nuance and complexity. Needless to say these wines are epic, and if you like a more modern interpretation of Nebbiolo and Barbera, you simply won’t find a smarter buy than these modern classics.
Pre-Arrival ETA Friday, October 23rd:
Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Case-6 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Poderi Aldo Conterno Conca Tre Pile Barbera d’Alba, Piedmont 2017 750ML ($419.95) $359 pre-arrival special (that’s only $29.92/bottle!)
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2017 Barbera d’Alba Conca Tre Pile is piled high with dark fruit intensity, soft tannins and a pinch of fresh acidity that breaks apart the wine’s rich fruit flavors. The hot vintage has taken well to the Barbera grape, accentuating its volume, richness and generosity. The bouquet offers black fruit, dried plum, spice, truffle-infused earth and toasted hazelnut. Some 20,000 bottles were made.”
Pre-Arrivals ETA October 30th:
Poderi Aldo Conterno Colonnello, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($219.95) $179 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 96 points “Very fine-grained with pretty berry, spice, roasted-nut and cedar aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet polished and intense. Very, very long. Try after 2022.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Colonnello shows dark fruit intensity, dried cherry, spice, licorice and tilled earth. The wine delivers its aromas in a direct and immediate manner, with menthol and balsam herb fitting into oaky aromas of sweet spice. For whatever reason, I notice the oak more in Colonnello, but this will relax with time. The wine will be ready to drink after the 10-year mark. Approximately 6,000 bottles were made.”
Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($199.95) $169 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 98 points “A really exotic red, showing burnt orange-peel to the dried-strawberry, chocolate-powder and light toasted-oak character. It’s full-bodied and chewy, yet ever so polished. A wild wine. Drink after 2022 and onwards.”
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Poderi Aldo Conterno 2016 Barolo Bussia Cicala offers a ripe fruit profile with layers of menthol and medicinal herb. The finish is beautiful, long and chalky, and you don’t get as much alcohol in the Cicala (compared to Romirasco). The fruit is dried and streamlined, and this wine does show good promise for aging. The tannins are beautiful, coating your teeth and palate with no bitter edge. About 6,000 bottles were made.”
In Stock Now:
Poderi Aldo Conterno Bussia Cicala, Barolo DOCG 2009 750ML ($179.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Aromas of fresh cherry, raspberry, licorice and spice fill the glass as this red unfolds. Offers dense tannins and bright acidity, lending definition to the cherry, strawberry, tobacco and spice flavors that persist through the long finish. Best from 2017 through 2030. 300 cases imported.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “An aromatically beguiling wine, the 2009 Barolo Cicala is laced with dark plums, truffles, tar, incense and a host of other balsamic-infused aromas. Today, the fruit lies a bit in the background, while the wine’s aromatics and overall structure are much more in evidence. I imagine the 2009 will require at least a few more years in bottle to flesh out, but it is quite beautiful, even at this stage. There is a weightless tension in the 2009 that is remarkable.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2009 Barolo Cicala reveals the particular dynamic of the vintage with firmly astringent tannins and power coupled with a leaner, more streamlined mouthfeel. You can also feel some of the heat of the 2009 summer with upfront aromas of prune and cassis followed by a visibly darker appearance and sweet spice on the bouquet. The wine has the inherent complexity, structure and acidity for long aging, but it offers less pulp to sink your teeth into. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2027.”
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The national average is $142
The national average is $142
Love Piedmont? We have nearly 200 wines from Piedmont currently available.
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When you’re ready to pick up, just park in our lot,
give us a call, & we’ll bring your order to your car.
(If another adult is picking up for you,
please let us know their name when placing your order.)
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
10 Smart Buys for Under $20
Southern Hemisphere
An excellent sub-$10 Chardonnay, Excelsior Chardonnay
Excelsior Chardonnay, Robertson 2018 750ML ($11.95) $9.90 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Excelsior was 25% fermented in new French oak and 25% fermented with wild yeast. It has a detailed, fresh citrus peel and light passion fruit bouquet, the oak neatly integrated. The palate is taut and fresh, offering a lovely twist of sour lemon on the entry, moderate depth and a taut, quite saline finish. Excellent.”
“Balanced…complete and precise”
Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “2019 was a milder year than 2018, and the 2019 Cenizas de Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc is marginally more civilized than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It was kept with the lees in the fermentation vessel for some eight months. Even so, in this part of much cooler Maule, the differences between vintages tend to be more subtle, and 2019 is not a warm vintage, just less cold. Perhaps the wine is a little rounder, more citrusy than herbal and surprisingly has lower alcohol than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It has terrific balance on the palate, with acidity that still makes you salivate and is effervescent but perhaps not as sharp as colder years. It’s a balanced vintage, and the wine feels very complete and precise. 18,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019. He has moved from screwcap to natural cork in 2019, as he thinks it will result in higher complexity as the wine ages in bottle. Bravo!”
One of the best values in Malbec, a category already known for great value
Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful intensity of crushed berries, pink pepper and volcanic salt. Full-bodied, yet fresh and vivid with energy and focus. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold.”
An excellent sub-$10 Chardonnay, Excelsior Chardonnay
Excelsior Chardonnay, Robertson 2018 750ML ($11.95) $9.90 special
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2018 Excelsior was 25% fermented in new French oak and 25% fermented with wild yeast. It has a detailed, fresh citrus peel and light passion fruit bouquet, the oak neatly integrated. The palate is taut and fresh, offering a lovely twist of sour lemon on the entry, moderate depth and a taut, quite saline finish. Excellent.”
“Balanced…complete and precise”
Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc, Maule Valley 2019 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 94+ points “2019 was a milder year than 2018, and the 2019 Cenizas de Laberinto Sauvignon Blanc is marginally more civilized than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It was kept with the lees in the fermentation vessel for some eight months. Even so, in this part of much cooler Maule, the differences between vintages tend to be more subtle, and 2019 is not a warm vintage, just less cold. Perhaps the wine is a little rounder, more citrusy than herbal and surprisingly has lower alcohol than the 2018 I tasted next to it. It has terrific balance on the palate, with acidity that still makes you salivate and is effervescent but perhaps not as sharp as colder years. It’s a balanced vintage, and the wine feels very complete and precise. 18,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in November 2019. He has moved from screwcap to natural cork in 2019, as he thinks it will result in higher complexity as the wine ages in bottle. Bravo!”
One of the best values in Malbec, a category already known for great value
Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Case-12 Vaglio Wines Aggie Malbec, Uco Valley 2018 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!)
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful intensity of crushed berries, pink pepper and volcanic salt. Full-bodied, yet fresh and vivid with energy and focus. Extremely long and flavorful. Drink or hold.”
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Pacific Northwest
A bottle that will get you excited about the 2018 vintage
Twill Cellars Pinot Noir, Northern Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19.80 special
Winery note “Brooding, savory aromatics of dried rose, bitter cherry, earth, blood orange, soy, toasted grain and ripe raspberries. Flavors of blood orange, dark chocolate, warm spices, espresso, and ripe raspberry. Both taut and intense.”
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Like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps
Loop de Loop White Blend, Columbia Gorge 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
VinopolNote: A fragrant and balanced white blend from the high elevation Acadia Vineyard in the Gorge. Beautiful and soulful, it’s like wandering through an ancient orchard in the French Alps.
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“Five vineyards… coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon”
Ovum ‘Old Love’ White Blend, Oregon 2019 750ML ($24.95) $19.90 special
Winery note “It’s golden hue is the first thing you’ll notice (thanks amphora), and without putting your nose to the glass you’ll start getting wafts of salted lemon, fresh peeled orange and aloe vera. The aromas are multiple layers deep where you’ll find verbena, straw, key lime, sea spray, river rock. The palate shows the sensual texture of cask fighting with the rawness of amphora, and yet it finishes with bright minerality. Bitter orange marmalade lingers on the fingers, echoing the initial top notes of wine. 2019 OLD LOVE comes from FIVE vineyards planted throughout Oregon: Willamette, Eola-Amity, Columbia Gorge, Southern OR. The sites are focused on sustainable farming practices – dry farming, organic and minimal additions. Some are not certified organic, but are in the process of converting. Each site is chosen for its unique qualities that it will lend to the final wine. 2019 is primarily Riesling, but OLD LOVE is not about a single grape – it is about the vineyards coming together to make a singular wine of Oregon.”
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France
A steal from legendary Château Siran
Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Superieur 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special
Case-12 Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Superieur 2016 750ML ($239.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast 88 points “This spicy wine with firm tannins is setting out well. Black-currant flavors are balanced with generous tannins and a rich character that will give the wine a full and juicy character. Drink from 2022.”
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2015 produced a number of top value Bordeaux and this is one of our favorites
Château Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Case-12 Château Marjosse, Bordeaux 2015 750ML ($239.95) $189 special (that’s only $15.75/bottle!)
James Suckling 91 points “Aromas of spices, currants and milk chocolate with fresh-basil undertones. Full-bodied, layered and rich with lots of fruit and character on the finish. Tannins are velvety and dusty in texture. Excellent for this chateau. Needs two or three years to soften. Try in 2020.”
“Pierre Lurton’s 2015 Marjosse is a big, bold wine packed with black cherry, tobacco, chocolate, smoke, leather and licorice. This dark, brooding wine should drink nicely upon release. There is plenty going on.” –Antonio Galloni
“The medium garnet-purple colored 2015 Marjosse has a nose of crushed black raspberries and red plums with touches of blackberries and damp soil. Medium to full-bodied, it has good expression and a chewy frame with nice balance and plenty of fruit.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate
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Organic and traditionally made
Domaine la Remejeanne Côtes du Rhône Un Air de Remejeanne, Rhône 2019 750ML ($19.95) $17 special
Importer note “Owned by the dynamic Oliver Klein, this certified organic domaine is located in the small high altitude village of Sabran, nestled in dramatic hills divided between forests of green oak and sun-soaked vineyards. All of the vines at the estate are found at high altitudes between 200 and 280 meters. This results in a cooler climate than most of the Southern Rhône, and endows the wines with a freshness and liveliness not often encountered in the region. Klein is an extremely conscientious winemaker, using very traditional methods to maintain the highest quality of wine. All the grapes are hand-harvested, undergoing long, slow fermentations with indigenous yeasts before being aged in concrete or older wood. This hands off approach creates wines of elegance and class.”
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Saint Cosme’s best value?
Chateau de Saint Cosme Côtes du Rhône Les Deux Albion, Rhône 2018 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Importer Note “Château de Saint Cosme Côtes-du-Rhône Les Deux Albion is a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre, and Clairette from the three Côtes-du-Rhône-Villages communes of Plan de Dieu, Saint Maurice, and Cairanne. The whole clusters are co-fermented with indigenous yeasts and vinified in conical wooden vats and concrete tanks for 18 months. Les Deux Albions is one of the outstanding wines of Louis Barruol’s collection and highlights the exceptional value that can still be found in the Côtes-du-Rhône category. The wine combines depth, structure, and finesse with aromas and flavors of roasted game, mesquite, and olive, crushed plum, and black currants.”
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Looking for the best values in the shop? Check out the 168 case specials we’re currently offering on our web store.
10 Great Wines for Under $40
California
Classic but not overdone
Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolf vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
“Gorgeous and expressive”
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2018 Evangelho Heritage Wine is so alluring. Sweet cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and perfumed red roses all grace this silky, captivating wine from Bedrock. Dollops of Mataro and Carignan round out this field blend, but it is the high percentage of Zinfandel, and its bright acid profile, that carries the day. This is such a gorgeous and expressive wine.”
Winery Note “2018 was our second vintage with full control of farming at our nearly 130-year-old estate site (still gives me chills to say that), and we enjoyed a mild and even vintage leading to a relatively late harvest at this amazing Delta site. This is a classic Evangelho, showing the bright and composed fruit we expect along with the savory bite inflected by the Mataro and Carignan, and one that should provide plenty of pleasure throughout the years.”
Classic but not overdone
Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special
Case-12 Mount Eden Vineyards Wolff Vineyard Chardonnay, Edna Valley 2017 750ML ($299.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “This comes mostly from the Wolf vineyard with some fruit from the Middle Ranch vineyard. The 2017 Edna Valley Chardonnay opens with wonderful aromas of honeycomb, orange blossoms, saline, crushed shell and loads of baked apple and quince with an earthy undercurrent. The palate is medium-bodied, satiny and intense, with seamless freshness on the finish, which lingers with honeyed notions.”
“Gorgeous and expressive”
Bedrock Wine Co. Evangelho Vineyard Heritage Red, Contra Costa County 2018 750ML ($41.95) $34.90 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2018 Evangelho Heritage Wine is so alluring. Sweet cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and perfumed red roses all grace this silky, captivating wine from Bedrock. Dollops of Mataro and Carignan round out this field blend, but it is the high percentage of Zinfandel, and its bright acid profile, that carries the day. This is such a gorgeous and expressive wine.”
Winery Note “2018 was our second vintage with full control of farming at our nearly 130-year-old estate site (still gives me chills to say that), and we enjoyed a mild and even vintage leading to a relatively late harvest at this amazing Delta site. This is a classic Evangelho, showing the bright and composed fruit we expect along with the savory bite inflected by the Mataro and Carignan, and one that should provide plenty of pleasure throughout the years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
A customer favorite Cabernet
Marietta Cellars ‘Game Trail’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Yorkville Highlands 2017 750ML ($41.95) $36 special
Antonio Galloni 90-93 points “The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Game Trail is decidedly aromatic and peppery in its flavor profile, much of that a reflection of the personality of this site planted at 1400 feet. Hints of spice, licorice and chocolate add complexity to the dark-toned flavors, but the wine’s overall feel leans towards the more savory side of Cabernet.”
Tuscany
A steal from a staff favorite producer
Gagliole Rosso Colli della Toscana Centrale IGT, Tuscany 2014 750ML ($49.95) $29 special
James Suckling 93 points “This shows delicious plum and black-cherry essence as well as richer notes such as chocolate, coffee beans and licorice. Pepper. Full body, round tannins and an extremely juicy finish indeed. So enjoyable now, but will come together from 2019.”
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A classic wine from a classic vintage
I Fabbri Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2015 750ML ($39.95) $34.50 special
Winery Note “100% Lamole Sangiovese grosso. Intense ruby red color; ample scent of good intensity and persistence with typical notes of red fruits combined with floral hints of violets. The taste is harmonious, of great structure; red fruit and oak combined in a pleasant and persistent finish. Aging is in 500-liter barrels of French oak from the central massif for 12 months.”
“Immensely rewarding”
Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, Tuscany 2017 750ML ($41.95) $35.50 special
Antonio Galloni 93 points “The 2017 Chianti Classico Riserva Castello di Volpaia is an immensely rewarding, inviting wine. Juicy and racy, with no hard edges, the Riserva captures the allure of this warm, dry year. There is plenty to like in the 2017, starting with its depth and volume, I won’t be surprised if the Riserva turns out to be even better than this note suggests. Sweet red fruit, cedar and blood orange give the 2017 striking aromatic intensity and lift.”
Importer Note “The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby-red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish. Barrel Aging: 24 months in oak casks (combination of Slovenian and French) and minimum 3 months in bottle. Varietal Composition: 100% Sangiovese. A record year for heat and drought throughout the growing season. This condition presented extremes which began early bud break in the vineyard, followed by a spring frost over late April. The frost affected the lower portions of the Volpaia estate. Spring and summer months were dry with higher than average temperatures. Rainfall in mid-September helped the grapes achieve complete ripeness of tannins and other phenolic compounds despite low yields.”
Spain
“Ethereal, perfumed and elegant”
Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($37.95) $33 special
Case-12 Casa Castillo Las Gravas, Jumilla 2017 750ML ($419.95) $369 special (that’s only $30.75/bottle!)
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2017 Las Gravas is surprisingly floral and ethereal, perfumed and elegant. Syrah has disappeared from the blend of this wine—it now has 20% Garnacha to complement the Monastrell—and they think this is going to be the blend that stays in this wine, which has seen more changes in its life than the rest of the portfolio. This is for sure the most elegant vintage for this bottling; the wine matured in 500-liter barrels and then spent four months in 5,000-liter vats after the blend was done. There are no aromas of oak whatsoever, and the wine is surprisingly fresh, as if the Garnacha helps to contain the power of Monastrell on the gravel soils, adding texture and perfume. This is beautiful. 26,500 bottles were filled in March 2019.”
A cellar-worthy Rioja at a drink now price
Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri ‘Remelluri’ Reserva, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep ruby. Ripe red berries, dried flowers, illicit herb and smoky minerals on the exotically perfumed nose. The palate offers spicy, penetrating, concentrated flavors of black raspberry, cherry compote and floral pastilles, with a zesty mineral quality building in the glass. Shows excellent clarity and intensity on the very long, floral, gently tannic finish.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The flagship 2012 Reserva was cropped from a year when they started seeing the results of improvements made to the work in the vineyards that started in 2010. 2012 was not as warm and ripe as 2011, and the wine comes through as a nice balance between power and elegance, with some earthiness, good fruit and a fine palate. It has a personality between the Labastida and San Vicente bottlings of the Lindes bottlings. It matured in barrique for 18 months, but the wood feels very well integrated. 2012 was a shorter crop, and they produced some 281,000 bottles. It was bottled in April 2015.”
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A Spanish wine for Beaujolais lovers
Bernabeleva Arroyo del Tortolas, Madrid 2017 750ML ($44.95) $34.50 special
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The pale and aromatic 2017 Arroyo del Tórtolas has a herbal twist perhaps because of the hurried ripening of the grapes in a very warm year. At the same time, it has contained alcohol, and with the benefit of one extra year in bottle, the nose is fully open, expressive and approachable. It is medium-bodied and fresh, with fine tannins, and is lighter than the 2018 but beautiful to drink now. Delicious. 2,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in March 2019.”
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“Rich and energetic”
Bodegas San Roman, Toro 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93 points “(aged for two years in 75 percent French and 25 percent American oak barrels, half of them new) Inky purple. Heady cherry, dark berry, vanilla and violet pastille qualities on the oak-accented nose. At once rich and energetic; a firm spine of acidity provides lift to sweet cassis, blueberry and vanilla flavors. Closes with youthful tannic grip and impressive persistence, leaving dark berry and licorice candy notes behind.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2013 San Román was produced with fruit from older vineyards in Toro. In 2012 they started reducing the amount of the new oak in this wine and the change is quite noticeable. There is something leafy and floral showing elegance within the power that the place provides naturally. 2013 was quite different in Toro from Ribera del Duero, here the cooler years are a plus, as they balance the extra ripeness the place provides. In 2013 there was no rain during the harvest and the grapes were very healthy. There are some fine tannins and the profile of a more austere and transparent vintage, a mineral year. But it does have the smokey and slightly wild character of Toro. 87,000 bottles produced.”
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The national average price is $54
The national average price is $54
Modern Classics from Ribera del Duero
Not long ago, any discussion regarding fine, age-worthy Tempranillo began and ended with Rioja. During the second half of the 20th century however, a region emerged as a worthy rival. In embracing modern winemaking techniques (often resulting in bigger, bolder wines), Ribera del Duero developed a dedicated following within Spain and beyond. All the while, the region attracted some of Spain’s top winemaking talent, including many famous names from the aforementioned Rioja.
Today, Ribera del Duero is universally considered to be one of Spain’s preeminent regions for fine wine, and has cemented its more modern interpretation of Tempranillo in the country’s wine canon. For those more accustomed to hardy reds from Washington and California, but looking to dip your toes into European wine, Ribera del Duero is as good a starting point as you will find.
Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($399.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Firm and polished, this solid red shows loamy earth, espresso and clove notes framing a core of currant and dried fig flavors. The muscular tannins are well-integrated and balanced by lively acidity. Harmonious and energetic. Drink now through 2035. 10,620 cases made, 2,340 cases imported.”
Goyo Garcia Viadero Joven de Viñas Viejas, Ribera del Duero 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “There is an unoaked red, the 2018 Joven de Viñas Viejas (young from old vines), produced with Tempranillo from vines planted in 1982; such grapes are usually destined for oak-aged wines, as they provide more complexity and concentration. There is some creaminess in the nose, which showed a combination of red and black fruit, clean and aromatic. The palate is medium-bodied, and there is good ripeness without excess, fine tannins and good freshness, with a lifted and dry finish. 20,000 bottles produced.-LG”
Importer Note “Joven de Viñas Viejas is from a single vineyard planted entirely to Tempranillo on sandy clay & limestone soils at high elevation. The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel tank with light extraction, then raised over the winter entirely in tank. Bottling is without fining or filtration, and only a tiny addition of SO2 if needed. This is a classic, young Ribera del Duero with an extra shade of vibrancy and fabulous tension between dark fruit, florals, mineral, and acidity. In short, the way Ribera should taste. Pair with blood sausage, charcuterie, and grilled lamb chops.”
Hacienda Solano ‘Finca Peña Lobera’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($67.95) $51.90 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Hacienda Ernestina Solano Finca Peña Lobera is a noteworthy follow-up of the 2010 vintage (the wine was not produced in the warm 2011). The grapes come from a single vineyard, a small plot of very old plants with a lot of white vines and some dead ones, so the yields are very low. The soil is very poor, very stony, and shallow with a calcareous subsoil equating to fresh soils and also a fresh climate, as the vineyard is surrounded by forests. The vines only yield two or three bunches per plant. The final blend includes 5% Albillo in the bottled wine. The wine was raised exclusively in used barrels in this vintage and there are bare traces of oak-related aromas after 18 months in barrel. The wine is ripe, aromatic, expressive and showy with notes of blueberries; it’s a little heady, with aromas of decayed violets and perhaps hints of malt whisky. The palate is powerful and elegant at the same time with a very fine, silky texture, great balance and length, plus a fresh, mineral finish. Great Ribera and a good value for the quality it delivers. There was only two barriques of this wine, so only 568 bottles were produced.”
Today, Ribera del Duero is universally considered to be one of Spain’s preeminent regions for fine wine, and has cemented its more modern interpretation of Tempranillo in the country’s wine canon. For those more accustomed to hardy reds from Washington and California, but looking to dip your toes into European wine, Ribera del Duero is as good a starting point as you will find.
Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($34.95) $26 special
Case-12 Bodegas Resalte de Penafiel ‘Origen de Resalte’, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($399.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 93 points “Firm and polished, this solid red shows loamy earth, espresso and clove notes framing a core of currant and dried fig flavors. The muscular tannins are well-integrated and balanced by lively acidity. Harmonious and energetic. Drink now through 2035. 10,620 cases made, 2,340 cases imported.”
Goyo Garcia Viadero Joven de Viñas Viejas, Ribera del Duero 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 92 points “There is an unoaked red, the 2018 Joven de Viñas Viejas (young from old vines), produced with Tempranillo from vines planted in 1982; such grapes are usually destined for oak-aged wines, as they provide more complexity and concentration. There is some creaminess in the nose, which showed a combination of red and black fruit, clean and aromatic. The palate is medium-bodied, and there is good ripeness without excess, fine tannins and good freshness, with a lifted and dry finish. 20,000 bottles produced.-LG”
Importer Note “Joven de Viñas Viejas is from a single vineyard planted entirely to Tempranillo on sandy clay & limestone soils at high elevation. The grapes are hand-harvested, destemmed, fermented with wild yeasts in steel tank with light extraction, then raised over the winter entirely in tank. Bottling is without fining or filtration, and only a tiny addition of SO2 if needed. This is a classic, young Ribera del Duero with an extra shade of vibrancy and fabulous tension between dark fruit, florals, mineral, and acidity. In short, the way Ribera should taste. Pair with blood sausage, charcuterie, and grilled lamb chops.”
Hacienda Solano ‘Finca Peña Lobera’, Ribera del Duero 2012 750ML ($67.95) $51.90 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2012 Hacienda Ernestina Solano Finca Peña Lobera is a noteworthy follow-up of the 2010 vintage (the wine was not produced in the warm 2011). The grapes come from a single vineyard, a small plot of very old plants with a lot of white vines and some dead ones, so the yields are very low. The soil is very poor, very stony, and shallow with a calcareous subsoil equating to fresh soils and also a fresh climate, as the vineyard is surrounded by forests. The vines only yield two or three bunches per plant. The final blend includes 5% Albillo in the bottled wine. The wine was raised exclusively in used barrels in this vintage and there are bare traces of oak-related aromas after 18 months in barrel. The wine is ripe, aromatic, expressive and showy with notes of blueberries; it’s a little heady, with aromas of decayed violets and perhaps hints of malt whisky. The palate is powerful and elegant at the same time with a very fine, silky texture, great balance and length, plus a fresh, mineral finish. Great Ribera and a good value for the quality it delivers. There was only two barriques of this wine, so only 568 bottles were produced.”
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Goyo Garcia Viadero Finca Valdeolmos, Ribera del Duero 2014 750ML ($89.95) $66 special
John Gilman 93+ points “The 2014 vintage of Finca Valdeolmos from Goyo Garci´a is the new release of this single vineyard bottling. Readers may recall that these vines are well over eighty years of age, with the soils here a red sand topsoil over a hard base of limestone. The 2014 version of Finca Valdeolmos is a beautiful young wine, coming in at 13.5 percent octane and offering up stunning purity on both the nose and palate. The bouquet is still fairly primary, offering up a lovely blend of black cherries, plums, raw cocoa, a bit of lead pencil, a touch of clove, lovely, chalky soil tones and a hint of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, focused and beautifully balanced, with an excellent core of fruit, fine soil signature, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, nascently complex and very, very promising finish. As always, this is a supremely elegant example of Ribera del Duero that will age very long and gracefully, but really deserves some time in the cellar to stretch its wings and start to blossom. 2023-2065”
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Valtostao Legon Premium, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Decanter 96 points “Very good expression of Tempranillo from Ribera, the wine has pronounced intensity on the nose with red and black fruits, spices, oak and chocolate. The palate is full-bodied with a black cherry expression. It finishes impressively with just a touch of supportive liquorice. Bravo!”
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