Vinopolpick Monday Bonus 5-31-21

Oregon

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Fresh, delicate & mineral-driven
Gran Moraine Brut Rosé, Yamhill-Carlton District NV 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “That rare domestic rosé that captures the vibrant acidity of Champagne, offering delicate strawberry, raspberry flavors laced with steely minerality and sprinkle of graham cracker on the finish. Drink now through 2022. 1,000 cases made.”


Proof that Oregon sparkling wine has arrived
Flâneur Wines Extra Brut, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($79.95) $64 special, 5 bottles in stock now
VinopolNote “We adore all things winemaker Grant Coulter makes, whether under his own label Hundred Suns or at the gorgeously beautiful winery of Flâneur. His current projects may be relatively new to the scene, but his long experience in the Valley, commitment to sustainability and terroir expression, and the profundity of the resulting wines make him a must-watch. This 2017 is a fabulous follow up to the 2016 and proves Oregon sparkling wines have arrived in style.”
Winery note “Sea salt and briny aromas envelop citrus and green pear characteristics. The tightly wound palate leads with pronounced minerality and follows through with ripe citrus and orchard fruit, balanced by laser sharp acidity and a fine, persistent bead of bubbles. 43% Pinot Meunier, 31% Chardonnay, 26% Pinot Noir.”

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Champagne

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A cellar pick
Savart L’Ouverture Blanc de Noirs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $44.50 special, 7 bottles in stock now
John Gilman 91+ points “The l’Ouverture cuvée from Monsieur Savart is composed entirely from pinot noir grown in the village of Écueil, with half of the vins clairs barrel-fermented and raised in cask and the other in tank. Only the reserve wines that go into the blend have gone through malo for this wine, which is aged under cork, rather than crown cap prior to disgorgement. This release was disgorged in September of 2020 and finished with a dosage of seven grams per liter. It offers up a lovely nose of white peach, apple, patissière, chalky soil tones and a nice touch of orange zest in the upper register. On the palate the wine is crisp, full-bodied and complex, with a fine core, good mineral drive, frothy mousse and lovely focus and balance on the long and youthful finish. This is a lovely bottle that will be even better with a few years in the cellar. 2021-2040+.”

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“The best expression of the Gimonnet style at an affordable price”
Pierre Gimonnet et Fils Blanc de Blancs Cuis Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $45 special, 8 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 91 points “Disgorged in July 2019 with six grams per liter dosage, the latest rendition of Gimonnet’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Cuis is based on the 2016 vintage, complemented by some 30% reserve wines matured in magnum. Offering up aromas of citrus oil, fresh peach, clear honey, white flowers and oyster shell, it’s medium to full-bodied, pillowy and elegantly fleshy, with crisp acids, elegant mousse and chalky back-end grip. Amounting to some 130,000 bottles per annum, this is Gimonnet’s largest cuvée by some margin.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The NV Blanc de Blancs Cuis 1er Cru is such a classic Gimonnet wine. Light on its feet and gracious, with soaring aromatics and tons of nuance, the 1er Cru is a winner. Bright floral overtones, citrus, brioche and apple are some of the many notes that are delineated in the glass. Among the entry-level wines in this range, the Cuis 1er Cru offers the best expression of the Gimonnet style at an affordable price. I loved it. Disgorged: March 16, 2019.”


A vintage Champagne drinking beautifully today
Diebolt-Vallois Blanc de Blancs Brut Millésimé, Champagne 2011 750ML ($59.95) $46 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
No reviews for the 2011 vintage. 2010 review provided for reference.
Wine Spectator 92 points “This elegant blanc de blancs shows a pleasing vibrancy from the lively bead and bright acidity, both well-meshed to pretty floral and spice accents and flavors of Gala apple, biscuit and lemon zest. Creamy. Drink now through 2025. 16 cases imported.”

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Champagne’s most underrated winemaker?
José Michel & Fils Clos Saint Jean Blanc de Blancs Brut, Champagne 2012 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Importer note “The Blanc de Blancs is produced in the best vintages. It is made from Chardonnay grown in several of Michel’s best plots that are in and around Moussy. The wine is fermented in stainless steel with an extended period “sur lie”. After the secondary fermentation it rests “sur lattes” for 5 years allowing the Chardonnay qualities to broaden and mature. Dosage is 9 grams. It is a wine of impeccable character, showing both nobility and restraint. It is worthy of cellaring for at least a year after disgorgement.”

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“Beautifully elegant, classically balanced”
René Geoffroy Empreinte Premier Cru Vintage Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($69.95) $55 special, 2 bottles in stock now
No review available for the 2014. 2013 review provided for reference.
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Disgorged in May 2019, the 2013 Brut Premier Cru Empreinte is showing well, opening in the glass with notes of citrus oil, crisp yellow orchard fruit, clear honey and wet stones. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, tensile and incisive, with an inviting core of fruit, ripe but racy acids and a long, saline finish. This is a beautifully elegant, classically balanced Champagne from Geoffroy that bears the stamp of the late, cool growing season.”

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One of the region’s most celebrated ‘Growers’ for a reason
Hébrart Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 13 bottles in stock now
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “Disgorged in August 2019, Hébrart’s new release of the NV Brut Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes is based on the 2015 vintage. Wafting from the glass with aromas of pear, white flowers, blanched almonds and Meyer lemon, it’s medium to full-bodied, bright and pillowy, with a pretty core of fruit, lively acids and a refined mousse. Once again, it derives from superior, south-facing sites in Mareuil-sur-Ay that also inform his Special Club bottling.”

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Perfectly cellared and ready to pop
André Clouet ‘Dream Vintage’ Brut, Champagne 2006 750ML ($79.95) $59 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% Chardonnay, bottled one year after harvest. Disgorged on order.”
VinopolNote “André Clouet is a Champagne house known for many things, chief among them being some of the best values in the appellation.  The wines they’re making are fantastic, from their base non-vintage blend all the way through the prestige “1911” cuvee which is perpetually one of the best under $100 Champagnes out there. The wines, on the whole, tend to be Pinot based, which makes our offering today a bit of a departure: it is 100% Chardonnay. André Clouet calls this new release “Dream Vintage” and like everything else they make, it’s a steal for the price.  Made with Grand Cru fruit, it’s bottled a year after vintage and then disgorged to order.  Let that sink in for a second.  The wines have been on the lees for a long time and well, they’re from great vintages to begin with.  The 2006 will be classically proportioned, with a balance of richness and elegance buttressed by the extended time on the lees.  The only catch with these are the quantities involved: we won’t have these around for long.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love Champagne? We have over 165 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including staff favorites like Bérêche, Lilbert, Pierre Péters and more, on our web store now.

We’ve been on a high since we secured a parcel of great value Bordeaux: 2016 Ch. Puygueraud. It’s a new customer favorite in the category. The 94-point score made us sit up and pay attention —this is an insane value for the price. We bought up all that we could get our hands on and only have a couple cases remaining, so act quick before the rest disappears.

In Stock Now:

Château Puygueraud, Côtes de Francs 2016 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Case-6 Château Puygueraud, Côtes de Francs 2016 750ML ($149.95) $119 special (that’s only $19.83/bottle!)
James Suckling 94 points “This is so good! I want to drink it now. Iodine, mushrooms, dark fruit and orange peel on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, yet polished and fresh. Lovely tension. A blend of 80 per cent merlot, 15 per cent cabernet franc and five per cent malbec.”


Also in Stock Now:

Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Supérieur 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Château Siran Saint-Jacques de Siran, Bordeaux Supérieur2016 750ML ($239.95) $179 special (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Wine Enthusiast “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.”


Château La Bastienne, Montagne-Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Château La Bastienne, Montagne-Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($199.95) $124 special (that’s only $20.67/bottle!)
Case-12 Château La Bastienne, Montagne-Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($399.95) $219 special (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Very rich blackberry and vibrant fruit aromas in the mulberry and dark-plum spectrum with a concentrated palate that offers a very fleshy and attractive set of supple fruit, framed in ripe, sturdy tannins. Try from 2022.”
Wine Advocate 90 points “The 2016 La Bastienne is medium to deep garnet-purple colored and features fragrant roses, oolong tea and baking spices scents with touches of warm plums, black cherries and raspberry pie. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with expressive red berry and floral layers with a fine-grained frame and long, lively finish.


Château Tour De Pez, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 29 bottles in stock now
Case-12 Château Tour De Pez, Saint-Estèphe 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni – Vinous “The 2016 Tour de Pez is a tasty, mid-weight Saint Estèphe. Nothing in particular stands out, as all the elements are very nicely balanced. Sweet red cherry, smoke, plum, and white pepper all grace this impeccable balanced wine.”
Neal Martin – Wine Advocate “The 2016 Tour de Pez comes sprinting out of the blocks on the nose with precocious black cherries and blueberry fruit, violets and iris following just behind. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, quite tensile in the mouth with good acidity, flecks of brown spice and meat juices imparting a savory vein on the finish. There is plenty of character to this Saint Estèphe and it should age with style.”


Château Fombrauge, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Château Fombrauge, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru 2016 750ML ($599.95) $399 special (that’s only $33.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Fombrauge has come together beautifully during its aging and is now a much more refined wine than it was from barrel. Sweet red berry fruit, mocha, espresso, mint and floral notes all grace this exquisite, mid-weight Saint-Émilion. The 2016 is simply impeccable, not to mention incredibly delicious. There is not much more to it than that. Tasted two times.”
James Suckling 94 points “There’s a very rich and powerful core of red-plum and mulberry aromas and flavors here, delivering an assertive and very shimmery, polished palate. Great tannin texture. Long and regal. Every bit as good as the 2015, but more lively in 2016. Try from 2023.”


Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($49.95) $41.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($299.95) $239 special (that’s only $39.83/bottle!)
Case-12 Château Grand Corbin, Saint-Émilion 2016 750ML ($599.95) $449 special (that’s only $37.42/bottle!)
James Suckling 93 points “Attractive dark-stone aromas with graphite and ripe dark berries sit fresh on the nose. The palate has a riper feel with very rich, dense fruit presence and a heavier, tannin line weight. Full body. Try from 2022.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2016 Grand Corbin has grown into a powerful, dense Saint-Émilion. This is a fairly rich, bombastic style, and yet all the elements fall into place. I would give the 2016 a few years in bottle to allow the tannins to soften, but there is good depth and plenty of potential. A rush of chocolate, leather, licorice, smoke and black cherry meld into the potent finish. Tasted three times with consistent notes.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love red Bordeaux? We have over 30 different options in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Mouton Rothschild, Cos d’Estournel, Château Canon and more, on our web store now.

Sérafin is one of the best names in Gevrey-Chambertin that’s not talked about enough—and we’re trying to correct this. Christian Sérafin is one of the best producers in Gevrey, making powerful, intense wines, at prices that are far lower than most of his peers. However critics are starting to take notice, and if recent scores are any indication, the secret appears to be getting out.

Besides organic viticulture, low yields, and old vines, Sérafin sticks to an idiosyncratic recipe in the cellar: total destemming, long cuvaisons, and mostly new or lightly used barrels. Their richness and concentration beg cellaring, and the magic of the Côte de Nuits rewards such patience. This is serious Burgundy. Complexity is a given, as is age-worthiness —there are no shrinking violets in this bunch.

We have a number of Sérafin bottlings in stock now from 2011, 2012 and 2014, all wines that belong in any Burgundy lover’s cellar -especially at the prices we’re able to offer them at.

In Stock Now:

Sérafin Père & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($219.95) $139 special, 4 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 93 points “Moderately saturated medium red.  Very reticent but pure aromas of redcurrant, dark cherry, earth, leather and spices.  A dense, nicely balanced midweight, with ripe acidity giving shape to the cherry, licorice and espresso flavors.  Firmly tannic but with plenty of thickness of texture to support its backbone.  Finishes chewy and long but youthfully tight, with lovely aromatic persistence.  I’d hold this until 2020.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92-94 points “Good bright, deep red. Reticent aromas of black cherry, minerals, mint and menthol. Densely packed, fresh and energetic, showing a strong spice character to its black cherry and mineral flavors. Has the thickness of texture to carry its tannins. Finishes spicy and long, with a lingering note of chocolatey oak. From a crop level of 38 hectoliters per hectare: Sérafin made four barrels, compared to a normal five.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Les Cazetiers, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($219.95) $149 special, 5 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 93 points “The 2014 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Les Cazetiers has a lifted bouquet, very well defined with blackcurrant, black cherry, undergrowth and cold black tea aromas that gain intensity on the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, the oak neatly integrated here and allowing the terroir to show through on the clean, precise, minerally finish. This is just a lovely Gevrey-Chambertin from Sérafin.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes, Côte de Nuits 2012 750ML ($139.95) $99 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Neal Martin-Vinous 91 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin Vieilles Vignes is one of my favourite recent vintages with plush, exuberant black plum and raspberry fruit, a touch of tomato vine in the background. I admire its definition and it shows more charm than its 2011 counterpart. The palate has a fine grip as it is gentle and insistent. Yes, there is a sturdiness to this Gevrey, like many of Sérafin’s wines, yet there is admirable delineation and freshness on the finish. You could drink this now, though I would prefer to leave it for two or three more years. Tasted at Goedhuis’s Burgundy tasting at Vintners Hall.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Les Corbeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Corbeaux comes from 0.45-hectares of vines planted in 1968 by Christian’s father adjacent to Mazis-Chambertin. It has a precocious bouquet compared to the Vieilles Vignes, with scents of mulberry, dark plum and luscious black fruit that are tightly controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly grainy entry. This is showing the oak a little more than the Vieilles Vignes at the moment, but there is sufficient concentration to absorb that with time. The linear finish, crisp and taut, bodes well for the future.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Le Fonteny, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2011 750ML ($159.95) $99 special, 3 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 91 points “Moderately saturated medium red.  Black cherry, raspberry and a whiff of meat on the nose, lifted by pungent pepper and blood orange treble notes.  Less open than the village wine, showing lovely spicy lift to the flavors of red fruits and flowers.  Juicy, elegant Gevrey with serious length and lingering spice character.”

This is the only listing in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Le Fonteny, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($199.95) $119 special, 9 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 91-93 points “The 2012 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Fonteny comes from 0.33-hectares of vine planted in 1965. It has a somehow more “languid” bouquet, demonstrated a touch more fruit compared to the Corbeaux, the fruit erring more to red than black. The palate is rounded and velvety smooth on the entry with vibrant cassis and blackcurrant fruit, fine tannins and impressive presence towards the finish that continues long after the wine has departed. Excellent.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Sérafin Père & Fils Les Millandes, Morey-Saint-Denis Premier Cru 2012 750ML ($149.95) $89 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Stephen Tanzer 91-93 points “Deep, spicy aromas of black cherry, violet, menthol and espresso. Densely packed and sappy, with a liqueur-like ripeness to the flavors of black cherry and mint. A rather rectilinear wine with a serious spine of dusty tannins that will require some aging. In a more structured, masculine style in 2012, like the Gevrey Vieilles Vignes and the Cazetiers.”

This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!

Love the Côte de Nuits? We have 219 different reds in stock. Shop the entire selection, including famous names like Dujac, Fourrier, Roumier and more, on our web store now.