Vinopolpick Mid-Week 11-03-21

With all the gummed up workings of the transport industries, the flow of wine from wineries and importers is shrinking retail selection and availability across the United States. If you’re in want of wines for the holiday season, your best selection and pricing is now! 

As a result of UPS and FedEx being overwhelmed, shipped orders may experience some delays. Plan accordingly and buy now. 

We offer over 2,000 selections in stock now. Browse our options on our web store now!

 

Bergstrom Wines is a long-time favorite at the shop. We were thrilled to see the latest batch of glowing praise from Wine Spectator, including for his Cumberland Reserve.

Bergstrom ‘Cumberland Reserve’ Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton District 2019 750ML ($44.95) $35.50 special  
Wine Spectator 93 points ” Generous and structured, with savory raspberry, tarragon and black tea flavors that build tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030. —T.F.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

We carry an assortment of wines by Bergstrom, including back vintages and limited bottlings in stock now. 

Arriving Friday: 

Elio Grasso Gavarini Vigna Chiniera Barolo DOCG 2011 750ML ($99.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94 points “Grasso’s 2011 Barolo Gavarini Vigna Chiniera captures the essence and personality of the year in its inviting, radiant personality. Bright red stone fruits, crushed rocks, pine, mint and flowers are all lifted and aromatically expressive in the glass. The Gavarini is already quite open and inviting. I imagine it will offer a wide window of pure drinking pleasure over the next 20 years or so. This is a striking Barolo from the Grasso family.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2011 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera shows a terrific level of balance and harmony despite the warmer-than-average growing conditions in 2011. The bouquet here is generous and rich with shapely tones of spice, dark fruit, grilled herbs and dried flowers. It also excels in terms of its textural richness that is powerful and elegant at the same time. The wine should continue its bottle evolution over the next ten years.”
Kerin O’Keefe Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Dark berry, tobacco, leather and a balsamic note are some of the aromas you’ll find on this stunning wine. The firm, full-bodied palate delivers ripe black cherry, black pepper, licorice and chopped mint alongside youthfully assertive but refined tannins that need time to unwind. Drink 2021–2031. “

This is the only listing in the USA today!
The lowest price on the current vintage is $79.99 

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Roserock Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2019 750ML ($37.95) $33 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “This version is defined by a beam of vibrant acidity and tannins that’s framed by refined blueberry and cherry flavors, accented by stony minerality and dusky spiced tea. Drink now through 2031. 6,745 cases made. — TF”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($64.95) $54.50 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 95 points “Deep in structure yet loaded with finesse, offering raspberry, pomegranate and rose petal accents that build tension toward fine-grained tannins. Captures the essence of Eola-Amity. Drink now through 2030. 1,737 cases made. — TF”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2018 Pinot Noir Zéphirine has layered aromas, with a pretty juxtaposition of tobacco leaves and dried flowers accenting a core of sweet rhubarb, raspberry and blueberry fruit. The medium-bodied palate is silky and elegant, offering loads of earth and spice-laced fruits and a long, uplifted and juicy finish.”
James Suckling 96 points “Very intense violets and fresh wild cherries, blueberries and a spicy, bracken-like note with a stony edge, too. The palate shows the clarity of tannin that is the hallmark of great pinot noir – super fresh, well-defined and fine yet powerful – carrying cherry flavors long and fresh. Drink or hold.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Drouhin Roserock in stock now: 

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Roserock Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($37.95) $31.90 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Roserock Chardonnay Eola-Amity Hills 2018 750ML ($219.95) $182 special (That’s only 30.34 per bottle!) 
Wine & Spirits 94 points “Roserock lies on the southern reaches of the Eola–Amity Hills near the outskirts of Salem, Oregon’s state capital. It’s a large vineyard, planted mostly to pinot noir save for about 11 acres of chardonnay planted a little over a decade ago. Those vines grew an opulent wine in 2018, made firm and shapely by the coolness of the site and of the Oregon summer. It leads with scents of honey and peach, and has a hazelnut breadth. It’s built like a Beaune wine (no surprise there); for a chicken fricassee.”
Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. Drouhin Oregon’s Eola-Amity Hills Roserock vineyard is maturing nicely, as this rich, almost unctuous new Chardonnay demonstrates. Rippled with butterscotch around fruit flavors of apples and nectarines, this tasty bottle is buoyed with Meyer lemon acidity, and accented with whiffs of toasted hazelnuts. -Paul Gregutt”
Erin Brooks 92 points “The 2018 Chardonnay offers bright, fresh apple fruit with deeper, more savory bass notes of honeycomb, almonds and spice. The medium-bodied palate is super silky and bursts with tensile, mineral-laced fruits, expanding into a long, juicy and gently honeyed finish.”

Domaine Drouhin Oregon Roserock Zephirine Pinot Noir Eola-Amity Hills 2017 750ML ($64.95) $55 special, 22 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 96 points “This has a very impressive sense of density and power with such immaculate detail and definition, in terms of tannin and fruit. The aromas are in the spicy and floral zone with blue-fruit and leafy nuances. Deceptively elegant and convincingly excellent pinot noir. Drink across the next decade.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Limpid ruby-red. Highly perfumed, mineral- and spice-accented red fruit liqueur, incense and potpourri scents show fine definition and assertive lift. Appealingly sweet and penetrating on the palate, offering vibrant raspberry, cherry, red currant and blood orange flavors that deepen and take on spicecake and floral pastille nuances on the back half. Shows outstanding focus and solid thrust on a long, floral-tinged finish shaped by subtle, polished tannins.”
Erin Brooks-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2017 Zéphirine Pinot Noir is a selection of the best barrels from the Roserock vineyard. Pale to medium ruby-purple, it’s scented of crushed boysenberries, blackberries, cranberries, bergamot and forest floor with touches of dried rose petals and violets. Medium-bodied and über silky, it offers great intensity and flavor layers, grainy and fresh with a long, layered finish.”
Wine Spectator 94 points “A dynamic wine, showing both grace and structure, this opens like a flower bloom, revealing notes of raspberry, crushed stone, fresh violet and savory tea. Builds richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2027. 1,830 cases made.”

 

It’s not too early to be thinking about your Thanksgiving feast, and Beaujolais (made from Gamay) is the go-to pairing for this meal. Gamay’s bright acidity, fresh fruit, light body, and perceptible yet not overwhelming tannins make it a stunner with the wide range of foods traditionally served. The bang for the buck is unmatched anywhere else in France (except maybe Muscadet!). These are newly arrived just in time to make your holiday shopping easy – and highly affordable!

“Young producer, son of Lucien Lardy, Yohan started his estate in Moulin a Vent in 2012 in the lieu-dit “Les Michelon” with 5 acres of old vines planted in 1903, 1911 and 1950 on red granite sandy soil with seams of manganese (iron mineral). Organic farming. Cold soak, fermentation under native yeasts, and aging in neutral oak barrels for 9 months before bottling.” –Importer note

In stock now: 
 
Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Case-6 Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Vieilles Vignes de 1903, Beaujolais 2019 750ML ($219.95) $175 special (that’s only $29.17/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Saturated magenta. A deeply perfumed bouquet evokes ripe, spice-tinged red and dark berries, licorice, violet and smoky minerals. Palate-staining black raspberry, bitter cherry, blueberry, floral pastille and succulent herb flavors turn sweeter as the wine opens up. Shows impressive power and sharp definition on the subtly tannic finish, which leaves cherry pit, allspice and floral notes behind.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Cellar Selection. Exceptional in its density, this wine comes from 116-year-old vines that yield small berries with concentration. The wine is dark and firm, with a great structure, packed black fruits and spice from the wood aging. Drink from 2023. -Roger Voss”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

The average price is $39

Yohan Lardy Moulin-a-Vent Les Michelons, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 18 bottles in stock now
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Deep ruby. Dark berries, cherry pit, candied licorice, baking spices and a hint of potpourri on the fragrant nose. Sappy, well-delineated black and blue fruit flavors show bright mineral lift and turn sweeter through the back half. In an ample but energetic style, finishing velvety and long, with a repeating cherry note and just a hint of fine-grained tannins.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Shop our sumptuous selections of Beaujolais in stock now on our web store.

Alexandre Chartogne is single handedly credited with reviving the reputation of his home village of Merfy. Located just northwest of Riems in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, Alexandre Chartogne took over his family’s 28 acres in 2006 after apprenticing under legendary Champenois, Jacques Selosse.  At its peak acclaim in the Middle Ages, there were more grapevines planted in Merfy than the entire Marne region of Champagne thanks to the local monks.

Alexandre instituted organic farming methods, horse plowing and restorative cover crops, while phasing out all chemical based inputs on the estate. Call it technical skill, or exceptional farming either way his entry level easily hits at a $75-$100 price point, with his vintage offering comparable to any Tête de cuvee on the market. 

Comprised of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a splash of Pinot Meunier from his estate holdings, there is a full spectrum of Citrus, Mashed quince, Golden Apple and a finish that is savory and salty, redolent of yellow miso.

Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Ste Anne, Champagne NV 750ML ($51.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Ste Anne, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $249 special (that’s only $41.50/bottle!)
John Gilman 90+ points “The current release of Alexandre Chartogne’s Cuvée Ste. Anne non-vintage Brut is from the base year of 2017. The vins clairs were raised in a combination of both stainless steel and oak and the wine was not bottled up for secondary fermentation until July of 2018. The cépages is its customary blend of nearly equal parts of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier and the wine was disgorged in February of 2020, with a finishing dosage of just over five grams per liter. The wine offers up a vibrant bouquet of apple, white peach, a fine base of soil tones, brioche, gentle smokiness and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, elegant bubbles, fine balance and grip and a long, zesty and quite classy finish. This seems a touch longer on the backend to me than the last couple of iterations of this bottling that I have tasted and is first class, non-vintage Brut. But, this is still a fairly young wine and I would be inclined to give it some bottle age to let it start to blossom properly. 2022-2040.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of Chartogne’s NV Brut Sainte Anne is based on the 2017 vintage, complemented by 40% reserve wines. Disgorged in September 2020 with five grams per liter dosage, it opens in the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers and fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s elegantly textural, bright and precise, with a seamless, harmonious profile.”
Disgorgement date may vary from reviews.

This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!

Chartogne-Taillet Les Couarres Extra Brut Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 6 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 92+ points “Alexandre Chartogne’s 2015 Les Couarres is composed entirely of pinot noir. He barrel ferments the vins clairs for this wine and gave them a bit of extra aging in the cellar prior to bottling them up for secondary fermentation in July of 2016. It aged four years sur latte prior to disgorgement in June of 2020 and finished with a dosage of “approximately” six grams per liter. The wine delivers a superb bouquet of apple, white peach, a touch of hazelnut, fresh-baked bread, a fine base of soil tones and a smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and complex, with a bit of oak influence showing up on the backend, a fine core, lovely soil signature, refined mousse and a long, classy finish. This is certainly quite drinkable today, but the bit of palate oakiness it shows today might be a good reason to give it a few years in the cellar, just to allow this element to integrate as well on the palate as it already has on the nose. 2023-2055.”

What’s not to love about a Super Tuscan? The confluence of rich fruit character, classic Bordeaux structure and quintessential “Italian Rusticity” make them one of the most enjoyable styles of wine on the market. The mineral rich sands, heavy clay and proximity to the Tyrrhenian Sea create a delicious juxtaposition between elegance and ripeness. 

Brancaia exemplifies this beautifully in their Il Blu, the top offering in their organically farmed estate located in Chianti. Their super Tuscan is comprised primarily of Merlot, with Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon making up the difference and entirely farmed organically. With an average vine age of 25 years, entirely French oak cooperage and dedication to hand labor; this is a super Tuscan built for the long haul. After some bottle age or extensive decanting you can expect additional floral, spice and mineral character to emerge such as cornflower, dried cherry, terra cotta and oregano.  

This commitment to producing a high quality product is matched by Poggio Al Teso, who takes a different approach to their production. Sourcing a singular varietal (In this case Cabernet Franc), from a single vineyard, the idea is to offer a highly focused snapshot of Bolgheri’s terroir. The low elevation and generous weather conditions create a Cabernet that is deeply colored, structured and aromatic while still maintaining verve and lift. Firmly black and blue fruited in the showing, evocative of blackberries, blueberry compote, Italian plum and Mahonia berry. There’s also a layer of spice notes like cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves that make this a dream with charred cuisine of any kind.  

In stock and available now: 

Brancaia Il Blu Toscana 2013 750ML ($79.90) $39 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “The 2013 Il Blu is truly an exceptional wine. This blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Sangiovese and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon pours from the bottle with midnight black intensity. The wine is luscious and loud in terms of its aromatic intensity but the effect is beautifully balanced all the while. The wine is streamlined and tight in the mouth but don’t underestimate its length and persistence. The finish can be counted in many long heartbeats.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Poggio al Tesoro ‘W’ Dedicato a Walter Cabernet Franc Toscana IGT Tuscany 2012 750ML ($65.90) $49 special  
Wine Spectator 93 points “($60) Fresh black currant and leafy flavors announce this juicy red. Wild herb, graphite and olive notes complete the picture as this unwinds on the lingering aftertaste. Very youthful, yet has all the components, including a dense structure. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2033.”
James Suckling 93 points “A super refined and pretty red with sweet tobacco, currant and berry character. Red stone. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. Drink now.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!