Featured New Arrival Andre Clouet’s Silver Label Brut Nature Champagne
Alvear Arriving Tuesday
New Reviews for Oregon’s Finest
Staff Pick: Ferrer Bobet
Arriving Friday: 2019 St. Damien Gigondas
What they lack in centuries of history and breadth of portfolio is a head-turning, traditionally-styled wine experience in the three reds on offer (and a “magnificently mustachioed Joël Saurel at the helm,” to quote Joe Czerwinski of the Wine Advocate). This humble, family-owned domain is ready to rumble with old-vine Grenache-based blends that show deep, earthy flavors and superior style due to their intensely rigorous quality standards. We love their wines so much that we jumped at the first opportunity to acquire their next vintage!
The 2019 is being lauded as one of the rare vintages that captured both phenolic ripeness and elegance thanks to cool evenings and perfectly timed rains during the season. The exceptionally old vines on the St. Damien estate were able to weather the heat spells and drought conditions well. The house style of utilizing whole clusters during fermentation paid off tremendously this vintage, with the stems being perfectly ripe and contributing further tannic structure.
St. Damien wines arriving Friday, December 24th:
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Vieilles Vignes Rhone 2019 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles arriving Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2019 Gigondas Classique Vieilles Vignes shows a touch of cedary oak on the nose—nothing obtrusive, but enough to notice alongside the black cherries and subtle garrigue notes. Full-bodied and generous, with a smooth, silky feel on the palate, it ends with a gentle wash of dusty tannins and an attractive hint of licorice.” Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 points “Moving to the three Gigondas I was able to taste, the 2019 Gigondas Vieilles Vignes comes from a mix of terroirs on the lower plain, around the estate, and is mostly Grenache brought up in larger, very old foudre and concrete tanks. Deep purple/ruby hued, with a beautiful perfume of black raspberries, candied flowers, and sweet garrigue, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a silky texture, great tannins, and plenty of length on the finish. This is a more finesse-driven, silky, elegant wine than past vintages and it’s going to drink nicely for over a decade.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas La Louisiane Vieilles Vignes Rhone 2019 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles arriving Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2019 Gigondas La Louisiane hails from a south-facing slope of clay and sand and is a blend of 80% Grenache, 15% Mourvèdre and 5% Syrah and Cinsault, all aged in foudre. Loaded with black cherries and mixed berries, it’s a big, full-bodied effort that drinks surprisingly well already yet has the concentration, length and structure that should enable it to age another 15 years or more.”
Domaine Saint Damien Gigondas Les Souteyrades Vieilles Vignes Rhone 2019 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 pre-arrival special, 36+ bottles arriving Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “Also showing considerable elegance, the 2019 Gigondas Les Souteyrades sports a ruby/purple hue to go with beautiful and exotic notes of black raspberries, kirsch, candied orange, violets, and peppery garrigue. Beautifully balanced, medium to full-bodied, and downright silky on the palate, this heavenly Grenache should be snatched up by readers. It’s going to keep for 15 years.” Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Not as effusive on the nose as the La Louisiane, the 2019 Gigondas les Souteyrades is drier, sterner stuff—not as immediately approachable, with more savory notes of black olives and earth. There are still notes of ripe plums and raspberries in this full-bodied effort but also a firm core of dusty tannins to ensure more than a decade of longevity. It’s a blend of Grenache and Mourvèdre from a clay-rich, north-facing slope.”
Shop our full selection of Gigondas and red Rhone wines on our web store now!
Sometimes finding a great value Champagne is all the reason you need to open a bottle of bubbles. Andre Clouet’s Silver Label is produced with 100% Pinot Noir from Grand Cru vineyards in the exalted Champagne village of Bouzy. Jean-Francois’s is committed to making wines that reflect the rich history of the region. His wines do just that, while representing some of the best values available. We also have an allotment of his Grande Reserve coming tomorrow as well!
Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now Case-6 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $206 special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!) Case-12 Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $389 special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!) Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 1.5L ($119.95) $89 special, 7 magnums in stock now Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 3L ($349.95) $279 special, 20 double-magnums in stock now Andre Clouet Silver Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Brut Nature, Champagne NV 6L ($699.95) $599 special, 2 six liter bottles in stock now ***In store pick up only. Shipping not available. Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “[Reviewed Apr 2021] Clouet’s NV Silver Brut Nature Grand Cru is a pure Bouzy Pinot Noir that was disgorged without any dosage. This disgorgement displays a medium intense golden color and a complex and refined bouquet of ripe and pureed apples and discreet chalky as well as brioche aromas. The palate is elegant, straight and fresh, very pure and salty on the finish. This is a challenging Brut Nature that needs to be aged for two or three years to gain complexity and finesse and to smooth its current edges. The finish is mineral, limestone and salty but also a bit drying at this moment.” Grapelive 92 points “The beautiful ‘Silver’ Andre Clouet 100% Pinot Noir non-vintage Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs is one of the best values in Champagne. This recent disgorgement is stunning and luxurious bubbly to enjoy almost guilt free. The Silver is a no dosage Brut Nature, meaning it is exceptional dry and vibrant in style, in a more grower-producer style, but still with regal richness and complexity with plenty of leesy brioche notes and a dense mouth feel showing lemon curd, quince, apple, wet stones, clove spice and hazelnut…”
Arriving Tomorrow, December 23rd from Andre Clouet:
Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($39.95) $36 pre-arrival special Case-6 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne, Champagne NV 750ML ($249.95) $206 pre-arrival special (that’s only $34.33/bottle!) Case-12 Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne, Champagne NV 750ML ($499.95) $389 pre-arrival special (that’s only $32.42/bottle!) Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne, Champagne NV 1.5L ($119.95) $79 special, 11 magnums in stock now Andre Clouet Grande Reserve Brut, Champagne, Champagne NV 3L ($349.95) $279 special, 10 double-magnums in stock now Decanter 92 points “[Reviewed 2021] Incredible value for a blanc de noirs (100% Pinot Noir) grower Champagne from the grand cru vineyards of Bouzy. It shows gorgeous aromas of stone fruit, citrus and strawberry, with complex brioche nuances, remarkable balance, ongoing elegance and a rich, refined, persistent finish. Drinking Window 2021 – 2026.” Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “[Reviewed Apr 2021] The NV Brut Grand Réserve Grand Cru is a pure Pinot Noir from Bouzy. It’s pure, fresh, fine and aromatic on the nose and round and delicate on the palate. The fruit-intense finish is chalky-mineral and stimulatingly fresh in its salty finesse and elegant yeastiness. Nice lemon juice flavors give an extra kick of refreshment. This is a picture-book NV Brut. No indication of disgorgement given.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Apex of Andalucía: Alvear Arriving Tuesday, December 28th, 2021
Alvear is a house that is synonymous with Spanish history. Family records indicate their first step into the wine industry was in 1729 with the construction of their family bodega in Andalucía. The family’s fame continued to rise for the next century, reaching its apex when Diego de Alvear y Ponce de León established a Spanish colony in what is now Uruguay and Argentina.
The family has stayed busy throughout their centuries in business, with their Sherries out of Montilla-Morales being some of the best examples of their region’s output. On the eve of the new millennium the Alvear clan decided to expand outside of the Sherry triangle and establish a new winery in the Extremadura, a Spanish desert region famous for her agricultural output.
Planting indigenous clones of Tempranillo and Grenache with other warm-climate varietals like Syrah and Petit Verdot, the idea was to best exemplify the terroir of Extramadura. The Envinate Group of Canary Island and Ribera Del Duero fame were tapped to lead the winemaking and viticulture programs. Their imprint is clearly evident in the finished products, with no pesticides or synthetic inputs used in the vineyard and minimal intervention being practiced in the cellar.
Arriving Tuesday, December 28th, 2021:
Alvear Palacio Quemado La Raya Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2016 750ML ($34.95) $27 special Case-12 Alvear Palacio Quemado La Raya Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2016 750ML ($419.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!) Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Dark garnet. Intensely perfumed, mineral-driven red and blue fruit, potpourri and incense scents show excellent clarity and spicy lift. Palate-staining raspberry, boysenberry, spicecake and floral pastille flavors deepen steadily through the back half. Manages to come off powerful as well as lithe and shows no rough edges. Finishes smooth and extremely long, featuring sneaky tannins and lingering red fruit, mineral and floral notes.” Vinopolnote– A vineyard blend of the rich and dark Port grapes Trincadeira Prieta and Touriga Nacional in addition to Garnacha and Syrah
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Alvear Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2018 750ML ($21.95) $18 special Case-12 Alvear Palacio Quemado La Zarcita Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2018 750ML ($299.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!) Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Opaque magenta. Red and blue fruit, floral and spice qualities on the expressive nose. Supple and appealingly sweet, offering spice-accented raspberry and boysenberry flavors and a musky hint of licorice. Finishes long and juicy, with repeating florality and gentle tannins adding final grip.” Vinopolnote– A vineyard blend of the rich and dark Port grapes Trincadeira Prieta and Touriga Nacional in addition to Garnacha and Syrah
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Alvear Palacio Quemado Los Acilates Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura Spain 2016 750ML ($27.95) $24 special Case-12 Alvear Palacio Quemado Los Acilates Vino de la Tierra de Extremadura 2016 750ML ($359.95) $259 special (that’s only $21.58/bottle!) Josh Raynolds-Vinous 93 points “Deep, shimmering ruby. A pungent, mineral-accented bouquet evokes fresh cherry, boysenberry and exotic spices, along with a suave floral overtone. Sappy and expansive on the palate, offering appealingly sweet red and blue fruit and floral pastille flavors and a suggestion of baking spices. The impressively long, sweet, floral-tinged finish is shaped by fine-grained tannins that fold smoothly into the wine’s vibrant fruit.” Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 92 points “The elegant, floral and perfumed 2016 Los Acilates reflected a cooler year with a longer growing season, which resulted in higher yields that achieved perfect ripeness. The aromas and flavors are precise and pure, and there is a sense of harmony that I like very much. The spectrum of aromas is about red fruit and flowers with just a pinch of spices. The palate is very elegant, with fine-grained tannins and a dry, chalky texture that I often associate with limestone soils. Delicious! 7,000 bottles produced.” Vinopolnote– A vineyard blend of the rich and dark Port grapes Trincadeira Prieta and Touriga Nacional in addition to Garnacha and Syrah
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Alvear 3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special Case-12 Alvear 3 Miradas Ladera de Benavente Montilla-Moriles 2019 750ML ($324.95) $239 special (that’s only $19.92/bottle!) Bianca- 100% pedro jimenez; from one of the crus described below. The Tres Miradas project is the latest collaboration between Bodegas Alvear & Envinate. It represents a goal of the Alvear family and Envinate to express the terroir that has been historically known as the Sierra de Montilla, with a winemaking approach that focuses more on the vineyard and less on the ageing process in the cellar. The Tres Miradas Vino de Pueblo, classified as a village wine in the Burgundian classification, is a selection of grapes a variety of plots that are directly pressed without maceration and fermented in tinajas, traditional concrete amphora of 4800L. With Tres Miradas, they followed the Burgundian classification by producing one village wine, and three single vineyards or “crus.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
New Reviews for Oregon’s Finest
. Arterberry Maresh Pinot Noir Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $28 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Dundee Hills is ethereal and perfumed this vintage. It offers pure scents of raspberry preserves, bergamot, tangerine and Angostura with wafts of sweet balsamic. The palate is soft, bright and super silky, with layer after layer of sweet fruit, spice and citrus, and it finishes long and perfumed.”
Arterberry Maresh Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2019 Dundee Hills Chardonnay was matured for 12 months in barrel and six months in stainless steel. It has a pure perfume of white orchard fruits laced with beeswax, almonds and flint. The palate is satiny and energetic from its linear acidity and expansive, gently honeyed layers, and it finishes long and youthfully shimmery. This is an excellent candidate for some extended time in the cellar.”
Beaux Freres The Upper Terrace Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($129.95) $109 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir The Upper Terrace opens with graphite and earth aromas that segue to scents of briary fruits, peppered meats, blood orange and dark spices. Finely silty and super fresh, it boasts concentrated, layered fruit and a very long finish with a flourish of savory accents.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Bergstrom ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton District 2019 750ML ($44.95) $35.50 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “A barrel blend, the 2019 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve has a medium ruby-purple color and opens with some flinty tones over cranberries, bitter citrus and amaro aromas. Grainy and fresh, the medium-bodied palate offers crunchy fruits and fine earthy accents, finishing long, uplifted and spicy.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Brick House Vineyards Intentional Rose of Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($39.95) $28 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 91 points “This is the first iteration of an “intentional” rosé from Brick House. Harvested before the smoke hit, the 2020 Intentional Rosé of Pinot Noir has a pale onion skin color and a soft melon, red berries and garrigue perfume with touches of lemon peel. The palate offers pleasing fruit concentration and refreshing acidity, finishing long and textural.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Brick House Vineyards ‘Cascadia’ Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge 2018 750ML ($49.95) $35.50 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “After some time in the glass, the 2018 Chardonnay Cascadia opens to dried chamomile and apple slices with notes of hay, candle smoke, roasted almonds and beeswax. The palate is broad and creamy with expansive, honeyed layers, finishing with great length and powerful flavor. It’s pure pleasure!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cristom ‘Eileen Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 special, 18 half-bottles in stock now Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Eileen Vineyard is pure, delicate and so pretty! It has layered aromas of raspberries and blueberries with tangerine peel, aniseed and an array of earthy accents. Bursting with juicy acidity and super silky in texture, the palate has a weightless feel despite its intense, layered flavors, and it finishes with tremendous length.” Cristom ‘Jessie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Jessie Vineyard offers notable layering and purity this vintage. Intense, savory cranberry fruit is accented by tones of charcuterie and sweet balsamic on the nose, and the palate combines that sweet, savory and earthy character in a silky frame, finishing with a flourish of spices and great length.”
Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special Cristom ‘Louise Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Louise Vineyard has a medium ruby color and takes some time to open up its delicate scents of wild red and black berries, prosciutto, aniseed and potpourri. Seamless and ethereal, the palate is light-bodied and silky with a flourish of dark spices and a long, savory finish.”
Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($79.95) $69 special Cristom ‘Marjorie Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 375ML ($41.95) $36 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 96 points “Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Marjorie Vineyard offers scents of raspberry preserves, Earl Grey tea leaves, licorice and an undertone of gravelly mineral character. The light-bodied palate is intensely flavored but delicately styled, with a silky texture and juicy acidity, finishing with ethereal perfume.”
Domaine Drouhin Arthur Chardonnay Dundee Hills 2019 750ML ($44.95) $39 special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Chardonnay Arthur is pure, precise and extraordinarily pretty this vintage, with expressive key lime, pencil lead and saline aromas, plus wafts of spring flowers and beeswax. The stunning palate combines creamy texture and fresh tang, gently honeyed fruits and citrusy uplift, which make for a very long, energetic finish. It’s the best iteration of the Arthur cuvée I’ve tried.”
Hundred Suns ‘Bednarik Vineyard’ Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 32 bottles in stock now Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Bednarik Vineyard comes from organically grown, own-rooted vines in marine sedimentary soils planted in 1988. It has nuanced, autumnal aromas of woodsmoke and fragrant earth with notes of licorice, cracked pepper and garrigue. The palate is silky and inviting, with swirls of spicy berry fruit and a long, pure finish. This embodies the weightlessness and transparency of the best 2019 Pinot Noirs in the Willamette Valley.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Hundred Suns Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton District 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 6 bottles in stock now Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard will be the last iteration of this single vineyard for Hundred Suns, which is bittersweet because this iteration is magical. It boasts pure spice and earth aromatics, with intense cranberry and blueberry and wafts of tobacco leaves. Grainy, fresh and seamless, it’s über detailed, with a flourish of Angostura-like spices on the long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Newly Reviewed and Arriving Thursday, December 23rd:
Brick House Vineyards ‘Les Dijonnais’ Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 95 points “The 2019 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais has a medium ruby-purple color and perfumed red cherries, cranberry sauce, lavender and tangerine with spicy accents. The medium-bodied palate is silky with crunchy, fragrant fruit and has refreshing acidity that highlights all those pretty perfumed notes on the long finish.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Brick House Vineyards Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge 2020 750ML ($31.95) $26 pre-arrival special Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2020 Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge overdelivers for the price. The nose is alluringly savory, with a lush core of white peaches and jasmine, and accents of roasted almonds, saline and cured meats. Soft and silky, the palate begins linear and citrusy, then unfolds to those savory, nutty undertones and finishes uplifted. It’s designed to work as a by-the-glass selection in restaurants, but it offers so much more!”
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Staff Pick: Ferrer Bobet
Priorat remains one of the most sought after and highly lauded wine producing regions in all of Spain. The high concentration of old vines; cult level producers, high elevation and Mediterranean climate have made it a hotbed for Spain’s fine wine revolution. Priorat wines are largely based around Grenache and Carignan, grapes usually associated with being medium bodied and fruity. However they take on a whole new dimension on the terraced vineyards of martian-esque shale. Called llicorella by the locals it’s famous for the savory minerality that’s imparted to the grapes, in addition to ripening grapes faster by heat radiation.
We’re proud to offer the 2016 Priorat that’s sourced entirely from the Bobet Estate. Still comprised of Carignan but with the addition of Syrah and Cabernet Sauvigion, this is meant to reflect the elegance that Priorat is capable of. In the words of Daphne Glorian of Clos Erasmus “Priorat is Burgundy in reverse, both geologically and climactically speaking” and this iteration of Bobet exemplifies that in spades with plenty of development still ahead in the bottle. Considering the exceptional quality the vintage conditions provided in 2016, this is a wine to stock up on while you can because it’s only going to get better for the next decade.
In stock now:
Ferrer Bobet Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($59.95) $44.56 special, 36+ bottles in stock now Case-6 Ferrer Bobet Priorat DOCa 2016 750ML ($359.95) $249 special (That’s only $41.50 per bottle!) James Suckling 97 points “Such purity of ripe blackberries and dark cherries, as well as redder, cherry notes, really makes a striking impression on the nose. The fresh florals and leafy nuances are followed by such pure berries and red plums. The tannins are stunning, so polished and perfectly formed, holding super long and fresh. Wow. Drink or hold.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop located in Portland, Oregon that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
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