Vinopolpick Mid-Week 7-7-21

Looking for a critically-acclaimed sub-$30 Super Tuscan that is drinking beautifully today? We’ve got you covered. Caiarossa’s 2016 ‘Pergolaia’ is ready for your table (or cellar)!

Caiarossa was founded along the Tuscan coast in 1998. A thoughtful exploration of the land’s terroir led the original owners to subdivide the vineyard into 12 parcels as defined by their soil type. Careful selection of varieties for planting in each parcel followed. Over two decades later, new oak is kept to a minimum to highlight rather than overwhelm the estate’s cherished terroirs. And the results are impressive.

Caiarossa’s 2016 ‘Pergolaia’ was named one of ‘Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines’ in 2020 for good reason. Made with slightly less Sangiovese than usual, the wine is more accessible in its youth than past vintages. But similar to previous bottlings, it is built to age gracefully. If there’s a better $26 Super Tuscan out there, we’d love to know about.

In Stock Now:

Caiarossa ‘Pergolaia’ Toscana IGT 2016 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Flavors of black cherry and blackberry stand up to the dense tannins in this fresh, deep and intense red, but this is equally about the vibrant acidity driving the fruit, wild herb nuances and spice-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese with Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2022 through 2040. 4,700 cases made, 1,200 cases imported.”


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Pauline Passot took advantage of her family’s long history growing grapes in Chiroubles to found a small winery in 2016. Their parcels are ancient, with nothing younger than 40 years old, and some vines 70, 90, or even 100 years old. These special vines yield the perfect material for crafting classically-styled Beaujolais.

Of course in Burgundy proper, the juice of similarly ancient Pinot Noir vines would set you back $100-$500/bottle. Fortunately, some fool in the 14th century decreed the grape as ‘disloyal’ and 600 years later Passot’s gems are under $25/bottle. So if you’re looking to stock up on some summertime reds, you’ll be hard pressed to find better value than (what remains) of our lineup of La Grosse Pierre’s 2018 Crus.

In Stock Now:

Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles Cuvée Claudius, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 17 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Bursting with aromas of cherries, blackberries, licorice and violets, the 2018 Chiroubles Claudius is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a muscular chassis of powdery tannin largely concealed by a rich core of fruit. This is a terrific Chiroubles with the stuffing (and a high-quality Trescases cork) to evolve with grace in the cellar.”
VinopolNote “From 90-100 year old vines.”


Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Morgon Douby, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 6 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Unfurling in the glass with aromas of blackberries, violets, licorice and cracked pepper, the 2018 Morgon Douby is medium to full-bodied, velvety and succulent, with a fleshy core of fruit underpinned by powdery tannins that mark this out as one of Passot’s more structured wines this year.”
VinopolNote “From 70 year old vines.”


Domaine de la Grosse Pierre Chiroubles, Beaujolais 2018 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 19 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “I underestimated the 2018 Chiroubles La Grosse Pierre when I tasted it not long after it had been bottled, and six months later, it’s performing very well. Mingling aromas of black cherries and blackberries with hints of cracked pepper and herbs, the wine is medium to full-bodied, supple and elegantly fleshy, with succulent acids, melting tannins and a seamless profile.”
VinopolNote “From 45 year old vines.”


Love Beaujolais? We have over 40 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Anne-Sophie Dubois, Chermette Vissoux, Daniel Bouland and more, on our web store now.

Von Winning makes some of the most profound white wines on the planet. The combination of incredible vineyard sites, meticulous winemaking and a commitment to producing only the finest wines yields exactly what you’d hope: white wines of depth and complexity, with grace and mineral power. The Rieslings are dry, but unlike some of their neighbors, powerful fruit isn’t the goal here. No, the Von Winning’s Rieslings offer floral and mineral flavors that are both intense and furtive.

But what really separates Von Winning from their peers in Germany are their Sauvignon Blancs. Germany is of course not where you’d expect to find some of the best Sauvignon Blanc in the world, but the wines will make a believer out of anyone. These are rich, textural examples that move beyond varietal characteristics and into unique territory. Their closest comparison is probably the top Sauvignon of Friuli (eg, Miani, Ronco del Gnemiz), or the very best estates in Austria.

“The fact that this estate is crafting some of the very best dry wines in Germany is no fluke, rather a result of nearly obsessive winemaker Stephan Attman’s commitment to both dedicated cultivation of Deidesheim and Forst’s best sites and meticulous work in the cellar. Von Winning maintains some of the oldest parcels in Grosses Gewächs vineyards smattered across Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg. Attman’s every decision is informed by great enthusiasm and experiences at estates in the Cote d’Or and abroad.” – Skurnik Wines

In Stock Now:

Von Winning ‘II’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($21.95) $19.50 special, 25 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “Tasted for the second time in May this year, von Winning’s 2019 Sauvignon Blanc II offers a clear and refreshing Sancerre-like bouquet of white and green fruits along with herbaceous and flinty aromas. Round and fruity on the palate, with good freshness and a silky texture, this is a medium-bodied, very elegant, stimulatingly salty and grippy Sauvignon Blanc with a mouthwatering finish. It is much better this time than when tasted soon after the bottling half a year ago.”


Von Winning ‘I’ Sauvignon Blanc Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($44.95) $36 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Terry Theise note “How did I ever live without von Winning Sauvignon Blanc? I mean really. And how did they ever forgive my stubborn reluctance to taste these wines all those years ago? Attmann doesn’t look to the Loire for his model; he looks to White Bordeaux, and if he doesn’t deliberately look to Styria, his wines themselves do, to the volcanic zone around Kitzeck and also in southeast-Styria. He will protest that his wines don’t have the (often) excessive alcohol of the top Styrians—correctly—but I’m talking more about flavors per se.The 2018 “I” recalls my all-time favorite 2013, and only ‘18’s jalapeño nibble obtrudes upon its eerie serenity.”

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Von Winning Kirchenstuck Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz 2017 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 6 bottles in stock now
David Schildknecht – Vinous 93-94 points “Site-typically musky notes of narcissus mingle with anticipations of the bright lime and pure, luscious white peach that dominate a silken, subtly oily, expansive palate. The layering of inner-mouth floral perfume, high-toned green herbal essences and mouthwateringly scallop-like savor is hugely impressive, leading to a finish whose musky bittersweetness reminds me of sucking on the stem-end of honeysuckle blossoms; whose salinity tugs at the salivary glands; and whose effusive fruit is transparent to stony underpinnings.”
Terry Theise [+++] “(Forst) After being overtaken by Pechstein in 2016, this supernal vineyard reasserts itself, and creates a sublime dry riesling that stands with the greatest I’ve ever encountered. Sublime, the only word that suffices. Seizes you gently but doesn’t let go. Visits every cell in your mouth and leaves you coated with flowers and stones. Great wines take you into the ground, but you don’t have subterranean eyes, and so you are blind and blissful and still and surrounded, and all the world below is present for you.”


Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Stephen Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2018 Riesling Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten “VDP. Erste Lage” opens with a clear and fragrant bouquet of white and yellow-fleshed fruits and floral and delicate fresh oak aromas. On the palate, this is a medium-bodied, tight, fresh and lush dry Riesling with edges and a grippy character. Green apples on the aftertaste. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”
Terry Theise note “The best vintage I recall of this surprising wine; curvaceous and leafy, the often-noted caraway seed nuance, along with ‘18s beaming plum-blossom aromas and the fennel and mirabelle-drenched palate could hardly be more fetching. The salty finish also doesn’t hurt!”

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Von Winning Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling Trocken, Pfalz 2019 750ML ($36.95) $31.90 special, 28 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt – Wine Advocate 92-93 points “The 2019 Deidesheimer Paradiesgarten Riesling is very fine and sublime as well as complex on the deep, multi-layered and coolish, terroir-driven and slightly flinty nose that is really spectacular for this price point. It comes from vines grown on the eastern slope of the 1er cru (an extension of the Langenmorgen Grand Cru) on deep, calcareous loam and red sandstone. This is an elegant, juicy, very fine and salty-piquant Riesling with a core of white stone fruits and notes of peach stone. The finish is long and intense and is carried by vivacious, structuring acidity. The aftertaste reveals flavors of white vineyard peach. This is a beautiful wine and by far the best Paradiesgarten I have tasted from this producer. Tasted as a sample in May 2020.”

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Von Winning Ruppertsberger Reiterpfad Riesling, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($39.95) $31.90 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “Many growers would bottle this wine as a GG; it’s probably the best site in Ruppertsberg (though Bürklin has a claim with its monopole Gaisböhl); this ’18 is peachy, sweet white corn, chervil and tarragon; it’s more melodic than Paradiesgarten but with an aloe vera and sorrel note common to good ‘18s; it’s the most appealing of the 1er Lages, sweet-natured and with a lovely grace.”

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Von Winning – Dr. Deinhard Riesling Sekt Extra Brut, Pfalz NV 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Grapelive 92 points “I’m lucky to have enjoyed this exciting Riesling Sparkler on a few occasions now. I love its intensity, crisp detail and briskly dry profile that make it celebratory but sublime with meals especially first courses or as an aperitif to whet the palate. German bubbles are incredible and this one is a classy example at a reasonable price, not to be outdone by Prosecco, the Cremants of Alsace, the Loire and Burgundy, and Champagne even, these modern Sekt(s) are stylish, elegant and full of personality. This one [is] in the mold of one of my favorite small Champagne house, Agrapart, with its cool invigorating mineral tones and extreme dry flavors. Von Winning is one of Germany’s top wineries, based in the chalky sandstone soiled Pfalz region, with an exceptional range of wines, especially their absolutely awesome series of Grosses Gewächs (Grand Cru) Rieslings, though there is excellence throughout the collection here and as I have noted in my prior reviews, Von Winning does one of the finest Sauvignon Blanc(s) in the world, too. The Extra Brut Riesling Sekt is vibrant and steely from the start with a mix of zesty citrus and peachy fruits, a hint of wet stones, leesy/yeasty notes and a faint floral element all of which folds together nicely and vigorously on the energy driven light to medium bodied palate that gains texture with air, but stays firmly taut with an expressive, subtly luxurious small bubbled mousse. This is delicious stuff, I’m so happy after a lengthy wait that the Von Winning sparkling Riesling is more readily available in the States. The Von Winning estate, founded in 1849 [and] located in Deidesheim, owns and farms, all organically, some of the oldest plots in the best Grosses Gewächs vineyards in the region, with their historic parcels divided in the Forst, Deidesheim, and Ruppertsberg zones of the Pfalz. [They] have the talents of Stephan Attmann in the cellar, who is inspired by the great wines of Burgundy and has put in place many tried and true Cote d’Or practices in place here, both in the vineyard with high density and Burgundy style pruning as well as winemaking techniques in the winery. These methods, which include small barrels in the elevage and all gravity flow (gentle) handling of the wines have led to worldwide acclaim. As mentioned their dry Rieslings are unique, richly flavored and are as beautifully compelling as any top white Burgundy, including the best from Meursault, Corton-Charlemagne and even the fabled Le Montrachet. Anyone who’s had Von Winning’s Kirchenstück, Kalkofen, Ungeheuer and or Pechstein GG’s will instantly recognize the greatness in the glass. Trust me these are outrageously good wines. Back to the sparkler, I highly recommend grabbing some of this fine bubbly and celebrate any of life’s happier moments and, wallet allowing, add a few of the single vineyard Trockens, especially those GG’s, as well as the Paradiesgarten, which is an awesome value. The Von Winning Sekt is crafted in the classic methode champenoise style with 100% Riesling being used, sourced from, as the winery notes, a selection of different vineyards close to Deidesheim on loess-clay and red sandstone soils with a lengthy period on the lees. There’s a lot to explore here at Von Winning and I suggest sampling any and all of their offerings.”


Von Winning Ungeheuer Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Pfalz 2018 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “Pure, clear, fresh and oaky on the deep, intense and elegant nose, von Wininng’s 2018 Ungeheuer GG “VDP. Grosse Lage” is sweetish, round and all too charming for my personal tastes, but it’s elegant, refined and persistently long on the complex and promising finish. Fine tannin grip and orange peel flavors on the finish. Tasted in Deidesheim, December 2019.”

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Love German wine? We have over 350 different options (not a typo!) in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Dönnhoff, Kruger-Rumpf, Peter Lauer and more, on our web store now.

G.D. Vajra remains one of our favorite producers in the Piedmont. Probably best known for their exceptional Barolo, Vajra also makes some of the best values coming out of Piedmont today. At all price points they are reference point wines that others are judged against.

The estate has always been good, but seems to have reached another level over the last decade. Delicious, attractively priced, and organically cultivated, anyone serious about their Piemonte drinking ought to be stocking up.

Highlights, in Stock Now:

G.D. Vajra ‘Coste di Rose’, Barolo DOCG 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 95 points “Dusty cherry, black currant, eucalyptus and hay aromas and flavors highlight this energetic red. There is purity to the beam of fruit, and while the structure is muscular, the lasting impression is of sweet fruit. Best from 2023 through 2045.”
James Suckling 95 points “This has some very attractive rose perfume and anise spice with raspberry, redcurrant and red-cherry aromas. Blueberry pastry, too. So perfumed. The palate has very fine, almost crystalline tannins and such intense, juicy and vivaciously delivered flavors of essence-like red fruit. So precise. Drinkable now, but with potential for long-term cellaring.”


G.D. Vajra Coste & Fossati Dolcetto d’Alba, Piedmont 2018 750ML ($27.95) $21.90 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Dolcetto d’Alba Coste & Fossati is a gorgeous wine. Usually, the Coste & Fossati is a richer, bigger wine; the 2018, on the other hand, offers lovely mid-palate depth, but in a restrained, perfumed style that is hugely appealing. Dark red cherry, red plum, chocolate, licorice and spice all flesh out in this delicious and inviting Dolcetto from the Vajra family. The 2018 marks the second vintage of the return to submerged cap maceration, an approach the Vajra family used up until the late 1980s.”

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G.D. Vajra Freisa ‘Kye’ Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2015 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 36 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 92+ points “The 2015 Langhe Freisa Kyé is incredibly finessed. Once huge and bombastic, the Kyé has developed into a much more refined wine in recent vintages. The 2015 Kyé is dark and mysterious, not to mention quite closed in on itself. I won’t be surprised if there is more to this wine. Time will tell.”

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G.D. Vajra Langhe Nebbiolo, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($26.95) $19.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Winery note “2019 was marked by an early bud break, late flowering and a slow and progressive ripening. These elements turned the vintage into one of the longest and latest of the decade. Early winter snows and moderate rain falls throughout the year preserved the water reservoirs and laid the conditions for a balanced phenolic ripening. Thankfully, the Langhe were spared from both the April frost and the dramatic heat of late June. A severe hailstorm hit some vineyards on September 5th. Low yields since flowering, slow ripening, late harvest, excellent phenolic maturity and a great acidity spine: it all reminds of 2013. We foresee the potential for a truly remarkable vintage.”

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G.D. Vajra Langhe Rosso, Piedmont 2019 750ML ($17.95) $12.50 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2019. 2018 review provided for reference.
Grapelive 90 points “Vajra’s Langhe Rosso blend is primarily the classic varietals Nebbiolo, Dolcetto, and Barbera, but also has an interesting addition of Albarossa, Freisa and even a touch of Pinot Noir all of which makes for a unique Piedmonte red that shows silky tannins, tangy vibrant fruits including brandied cherries, plum, cranberry, grilled citrus (Moro orange) and tart red currant along with wild herbs, delicate rustic notes, floral elements, mineral and savory spices….Giuseppe Vajra continues the traditions of his father Aldo, who was a big advocate for organic and holistic farming and promoted a sense of lightness in the wines always searching out vineyard sites thought to be too cold and too high up to ripen, but as history shows he was spot on and Vajra’s high elevation Barolo is one of the most prized wines in the world. The Vajra Rosso is mostly all stainless steel fermented with each lot and varietal done separately and blended before an early bottling to preserve fresh brightness, which this dark ruby/blue hued 2018 shows with lovely transparent clarity. This 2018 opens up nicely with air adding pipe tobacco, black tea, cola bean and dried rose petals, but the minty zesty tartness remains until the finish, in fact it is really nice with a bit of chill and with a picnic spread and or pasta dishes. The 2017 vintage was very warm and the wines are a bit bigger and fruit driven, with these 2018 shows a little more finesse and acidity, which shows through in this Langhe Rosso, it is wine to enjoy now and often, it has a hand crafted feel, but has no pretense, it is easy and delicious. For those looking for value with want this one, no question, but if you want to stay varietal pure, I highly recommend Vajra’s Dolcello, Barbera and Nebbiolo bottlings, there’s quality, value and grace throughout the lineup here.”

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G.D. Vajra Moscato d’Asti DOCG, Piedmont 2020 750ML ($19.95) $14.50 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Milena Vaira note “Moscato is part of the culinary tradition of Piedmont. We seek for purity in our work, preserving its natural energy and wish it will always go along well with the most joyful moments of our lives and that of our friends.”

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G.D. Vajra Rosabella Rosato, Piedmont 2020 750ML ($17.95) $14.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2020 vintage. 2019 review provided for reference.
Eric Guido-Vinous 90 points “The 2019 Vajra Rosabella, this year is a blend of 90% Nebbiolo and 10% Barbera, lifts from the glass with a remarkably pretty yet understated display of ripe pear offset by white smoke minerality, a hint of lime, and spring florals. On the palate, it coasts across the senses, delivering a more tart fruit sensation, further accentuated by saline-minerals and brisk acids. The finish is medium in length, yet buzzing with energy and neatly framed by hints of lemon and green apple.”

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Love Piedmont? We have 190 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection on our web store now, including famous names like Brovia and Vietti, as well as more from G.D. Vajra.

If Spain had an aristocracy of wines, Vega Sicilia would be king. Founded in 1864, over a century before creation of the Ribera del Duero DOC, the estate’s various owners have made singular wines ever since. In fact, Vega Sicilia can hardly be compared to other Spanish wines, not even the greats of Rioja. For one thing, the grape varieties originally planted and still grown in Vega Sicilia’s 500-acre limestone-soil vineyard include Bordeaux varieties, though 80% of the vines are Tempranillo. As a result, Vega Sicilia doesn’t taste like other Tempranillo-based wines from Spain. They’re dense and sumptuous, intense but full of finesse, complex and long-lingering on the palate, with the individuality of a monarch. This is like Spain’s First Growth, its Dominus.

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Vega Sicilia Tinto Valbuena 5, Ribera del Duero 2015 750ML ($199.95) $179 special, 5 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 97 points “The aromas to this are so complex and enticing with nutmeg, dark berries, chocolate and white pepper. Full body. Dense and layered with so much wonderful, complex and succulent character. It just makes you want to drink it. Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2015 Valbuena, a red blend of mostly Tempranillo with some 5% Merlot, is released in the fifth year after the harvest. It’s explosive and showy, with a complex nose that shows a mixture of flowers and wild herbs, balsamic touches and great nuance. This wine has gained in complexity since the 2010 vintage, where they implemented some changes that increased the expressivity and precision of this wine. The tannins are fine-grained and there is very good balance, and the warm conditions of the year have been absorbed well by the wine. Despite the natural conditions of the year, the wine follows the path of freshness of the 2010. 173,673 bottles, 5,625 magnums and some larger formats produced. It was bottled in June 2018.”


Love Spanish reds? We have over 120 different options in stock. Shop our entire selection, including famous names like Comando G, Daniel Landi, Raúl Pérez and more, on our web store now.