Vinopolis Flash Sale!
Arriving Tomorrow
Classic Grand Marque Champagne
Classic Vintage
Best in the US Price!
Moet & Chandon Grand Vintage Brut, Champagne 2008 750ML ($69.95) $48 pre-arrival specialWine Spectator 93 points “Sleek, with a smoky underpinning and a lively, detailed bead, this firm version offers flavors of black currant, toast, lemon curd and honey. Lingering finish. Drink now through 2030.”
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Just beginning to mature, this balanced, ripe wine is complex, with bright acidity, toast and pear and green-plum fruits. It is rich, with a tight mouse that shows intensity as well as a stylish character. This is a fine wine just coming into its own but well worth aging further until 2020.”
The average price is $71
New Arrivals
Antonio Galloni – Vinous 92 points “The 2009 Meursault Luchets is rich, round and supple. It is one of the more open, accessible wines from Roulot in 2009. Layers of warm, radiant fruit caress the palate in stunning style. Mineral notes appear on the finish, but the Luchets is essentially about fruit, within the context of Meursault, of course.”
Burghound 94-97 points “A dazzlingly complex, perfumed and pure nose reveals a bit of wood influence yet remains strikingly elegant with its superb scope of spicy red berry fruit aromas that are followed by ripe, seductive and beautifully intense flavors that display marvelous depth and perfect balance on the sappy and naturally sweet finish of monumental length. This is a wine of indisputable class and a model of grace and understatement that should age effortlessly for 20 to 30 years.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Very pure aromas and flavors of raspberry and strawberry mark this juicy, elegant Brunello. The acidity keeps this focused and taut, while the vibrant tannins will give it longevity. Shows terrific balance and harmony. Best from 2013 through 2026. 4,000 cases made.”
James Suckling 97 points “Amazing aromas of black truffles, crushed blackberries and dark chocolate. Dried flowers too. Full-bodied, with wonderful fruit that is layered and gorgeous. The finish is fruity, long and stylish. Give it three years to come together. Best after 2013.”
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2009 Galatrona is a beautifully centered wine. It shows terrific energy, freshness and vibrancy from start to finish. Cassis, blackberries, mint, spices and new leather are all woven together nicely in the 2009. Firm yet well-integrated tannins support the finish. Although quite overt today, the 2009 appears to have the structure to age well for a number of years. The 2009 is a serious wine with a bright future. Both bottles I tasted were immensely pleasing. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2024.”
The average price nationally is $94
Wine Advocate 96 points “A massive expression of Merlot, the 2010 Galatrona is heaven-sent. The layers are infinite here spanning dark fruit, spice and chocolate. I fall in love with this wine year after year. The mouth is caressed with stirring complexity and fine tannins that feel silky and smooth. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.”
James Suckling 95 points “Aromas of black olives, violets and fresh fruit follow through to a full body, with a dense palate of dark fruits and olives. Long and polished. Handmade wine. You sense it. Pure Merlot sensation.”
Kapcsandy’s 2015 Majestic
Cabernet From Napa
Lou Kapcsandy’s biography reads like a Horatio Alger story in a lot of ways. Man flees communist Hungary, lands in the US and makes a name (and business) for himself. Grows to love the wines of Bordeaux, so he starts an import company before he stumbles upon a once-legendary vineyard in Napa that has been ripped up and needs to be revived.
And that’s where we pick up. In 2000 Lou Kapcsandy discovered that the old Beringer State Lane vineyard, primary source for the Private Reserve Cabernet program, was ripped out due to phylloxera and was for sale. He bought the twenty acre vineyard, replanted it and starting in 2005 began producing some of the most lauded wines to come out of the Napa Valley.
The late Denis Malbec, formerly of Chateau Latour in Bordeaux, got the project up and running and served as a consulting viticulturist and winemaker, producing wines of depth and power. These are Napa wines with a Bordeaux spine and sensibility. Kapcscandy’s grape growing philosophy involves instense cultivation, involving meticulous hedging and maintenance with continuity in the way the vines are planted, cared for and harvested. Vines are planted 4-5 times more densely than is typical for Napa Valley, showing similarities with the plantings of 1st Growth Bordeaux’s. This higher density spacing creates smaller berries with higher skin-to-juice ratios and induces natural stressing of the vines without artificial human intervention, resulting in a higher intensity of flavors, complexities and aromas.
Fame and accolades have been showered upon all the wines coming out of the Kapcsandy Family Winery. Every year, we try and buy as much as we can, but it never seems like there’s enough to go around, so consider yourself warned.
Robert Parker 98-100 points “Another potentially perfect wine, with off-the-charts richness, is their largest cuvée of 700 cases, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin State Lane Vineyard. The wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Merlot harvested Sept. 10-25. Notes of graphite, black chocolate, crème de cassis, blackberry and subtle smoke are all present in this dense, seamless, full-bodied wine that has magnificent fruit purity, richness and depth. This is a 30-year wine, and a fabulous one at that.”
Robert Parker 95-98 points “The 2015 Estate Cuvée State Lane Vineyard, 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, exhibits beautiful blackcurrants, white chocolate, licorice and a touch of oak, an opaque purple color and full-bodied mouthfeel, but a terrific equilibrium and balance among its elements. The wine has magnificent fruit, which is a characteristic of the top wines of this vintage, and a lushness that recalls vintages such as 2012, 2007 and 2002. This will be a gorgeous wine to drink upon release and is certainly capable of aging for 20 or more years.”
Robert Parker 98-100 points “Their 100% Cabernet Franc cuvee, the 2015 Rapszodia Proprietary Red, spent its whole life in 100% new French oak and is an exhilarating wine with off-the-charts richness, an exquisite bouquet of spring flowers, forest floor, rich blue and black fruits, voluptuous texture, incredibly fine, silky tannins, and, for a Kapcsandy wine, relatively elevated alcohol at 14.5%. This is a “wow” wine that should drink beautifully young and last 20-30+ years.”
Robert Parker 95-98 points “Their 100% Merlot cuvée, the 2015 Merlot Roberta’s Reserve, is another fabulous product with outstanding purity, great balance, loads of chocolate, black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, silky, juicy tannins and terrific concentration, depth and overall balance. It will also be approachable upon release and last 20-25 years.”
Chateau Lanessan
Eight Generations of Haut Medoc
Chateau Lanessan finds itself in an enviable position in a time when wine lovers are starting to return to Bordeaux looking for the traditional wines of the past, but are also looking for a wine that can be enjoyed on a regular basis. Lanessan wines have always been known as affordable and balanced, never receiving quite the attention they deserved. This has always left their image as a wine that was well made and under the radar. Never a darling for the points crowd, and perhaps all the better for it, Lanessan wines are true to their terroir and their legacy.
2010 was a terrific year for Lanessan, as it was for most of Bordeaux, and the wine was built with a solid core upon release that has only recently started to soften and show the silky layers and aromas that were hiding behind the taut leather and brown spices. The color is not nearly as dark as one would imagine – offering bright highlights of ruby at the edges with a deep red core that still shimmers in the light. The nose takes some time to develop, but an hour in the decanter certainly helps it along. Currants, cherry, anise, leather and fresh gravel, but all laced with a set of brown baking spices that keep the scents intriguing. The 2010 delivers excellent flavor to the palate, still wound tight but developing nicely. There is a long road for the Lanessan, be it in your cellar or in your glass, there’s no need to rush it.
Chateau Lanessan, Haut-Medoc 2010 750ML ($29.95) $26 special
Case-12 Chateau Lanessan, Haut-Medoc 2010 750ML ($359.95) $279 special (that’s only $23.25/bottle!)
James Suckling 92 points “Aromas of currants, plums, and minerals follow through full body, with chewy tannins and a chewy finish. Needs time to soften. Serious depth to this wine. Better in 2015.”
Chateau Malescot St Exupery, Margaux 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 95 points “Gorgeous, flowery, classic Margaux once again, the 2010 Malescot St.-Exupery continues to show virtually no toasty oak, given the impeccable balance and full-bodied, full-throttle style it possesses. Black raspberries, creme de cassis and spring floral notes intermixed with forest floor and a hint of charcoal are followed by an opulent, sexy, full-bodied wine whose tannins have become much sweeter, while the wine is less restrained yet still exuberant and impressive. This is a phenomenal example once again for this estate, harmonious in every sense of style, extraordinarily long, rich and ageworthy. Three to four years of bottle age will do wonders to make it more accessible, but this wine is set for 25-30 years of longevity.”
Delas Freres
Domaine des Tourettes Hermitage
“This wine shouts Hermitage.” – Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Delas is one of the most notable landholders in the Northern Rhone, with holdings in some of the best vineyards in every major AOC, yet they still manage to be overlooked when people put together collections of wine from the region. Delas makes wines that are a) delicious and well-made and b) more than reasonably priced. This combination means that it’s possible to drink your way up and down the Northern Rhone, trying fantastic wines from fabled appellations, and you can still afford your next car payment. Sure, the wines aren’t collectible, but if you’re buying to drink, rather than to resell, give these a look. Who else produces a better bang for the buck Hermitage for under $100 (or in our case under $50)?
Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($119.95) Was $59, Now $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Delas Freres Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes-Marquise de la Tourette, Rhone 2013 750ML ($549.95) Was $319, Now $279 special, 8 cases in stock now (that’s only $46.50/bottle!)
Jancis Robinson 18/20 points “Very dark purple indeed. Altogether broader and less focused than the Côte Rôties on the nose. Peppery and subtle. Very glossy, layered, complex and magnificent. I would reproach this only very slightly on the finish but it’s a pretty magnificent wine”
Wine Advocate 94 points “One of the gems in the vintage is the 2013 Hermitage Domaine des Tourettes, which comes from both the Bessards and Grandes Vignes lieux-dits on Hermitage Hill. Completely destemmed, then vinified in stainless steel and concrete tanks, the wine is aged 18 months in 30% new French oak; it offers terrific notes of dark fruits, graphite and ample minerality in a full-bodied, layered, ripe profile. It’s more approachable than the Les Bessards, yet will still have three decades of longevity.”
James Suckling 93 points “This has a refined, fragrant and very composed character with inherent aromatic spices and a stony edge, in addition to licorice and some star anise. The fruits are in the dried-plum and dried-cherry spectrum, but this also hints at plenty of cloves, cardamom and pepper. The palate’s succulent, powerful, even and really finely layered. The tannins are most definitely a feature now, and this has plenty of ageing potential. Enjoy the dark-plum and black-cherry finish. Best from 2020 and for a decade after that. Fom 100% granitic soils.”
Josh Raynolds 93 points “Brilliant violet. Complex mineral- and smoke-accented scents of dark fruit liqueur, violet and olive paste gain urgency from a smoky mineral quality . Juicy and sharply focused on the palate, offering sappy blueberry and bitter cherry flavors that deepen and become sweeter with air. Shows excellent depth and vivacity and finishes spicy and very long, displaying a resonating floral quality and building tannins.”
The next best price is $54.99
The average price is $86
More 2014 Cayuse!
We don’t have to say too much, other than we’ve got some the new Cayuse wines in at below market pricing (and we have a few bottles left of our last drop, that we’ll highlight in a minute). French winemaker Christophe Baron converted a rocky few acres into one of Walla Walla’s most esteemed producers. The offers are always tiny and highly lauded. We’re pleased to offer the following at some of the lowest listed prices:
Cayuse Vineyards Camaspelo, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “Made from 79% Cabernet Sauvignon and 21% Merlot that’s aging in 30% new French oak puncheons, the 2014 Camaspelo offers lots of cherry pit, black and blue fruits, violets and spice characteristics in a full-bodied, silky, polished style. It shows a touch of graphite with time in the glass, has building tannin and will keep for two decades.”
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2014 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95-97 points “The only Syrah to incorporate Viognier, the 2014 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard is co-fermented with 7% Viognier and brought up all in puncheons. The Viognier shows on the nose and it has a floral, perfumed bouquet of ripe berry fruits, plums, orange blossom, fruit cake and mulled spices. Picking up a touch of green olive with time in the glass, this full-bodied, ripe, downright sexy beauty will have two decades of longevity.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “Impressively expressive and well-built, with evocative raspberry and smoky bacon aromas and sleek, dynamic black cherry, crushed rock and green olive flavors that build momentum toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2025.”
The next best price is $149.99
The average price is $189
Wine Advocate 94-96 points “The 2014 Syrah En Cerise was a touch more streamlined and reticent on this occasion, yet still offers beautiful black cherry and cassis fruits, underbrush and a hint of espresso roast in a full-bodied, silky, elegant style. Like all of Christophe’s wines, it will benefit from short-term cellaring.”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 97 points “There are 533 cases of the 2014 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard, and as always, it’s an unknown blend that’s dominated by Grenache (reportedly from vine cuttings from Rayas). It’s fermented with just about 100% whole clusters in concrete and aged mostly in neutral puncheons and foudre, with one concrete egg. A bigger, richer wine than the No Girls cuvee, this beauty packs a punch in its black cherry, reduced strawberry, herbes de Provence and crushed violet aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, a supple, elegant style and fine tannin, this singular beauty will benefit from a year or three of cellaring and keep for 10-15 years.”
The average price is $165
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “(bottled in magnum): Healthy, moderately saturated dark red. Musky aromas of dark berries, mocha and brown spices, plus a hint of creamy vanilla. Savory and youthfully tight; offering less early sex appeal than the 2012 version but this wine possesses an impressive thickness and finishes with big, broad tannins that suggest a slow evolution in bottle. Distinctly saline and backward–and perhaps less distinctive today than the single-vineyard Syrah bottlings from Cayuse. This wine represents Baron’s tribute to Jamet’s Côte-Rôtie, which is a blend of multiple sites.”
Need masterful Cabernet to compliment your holiday table?
In Stock Now from Quilceda Creek
Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2013 750ML ($219.95) $179 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 98 points “An utterly prodigious effort that would most likely be the wine of the vintage if not for its big brother, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard comes all from Red Mountain and was raised in 100% new French oak. Revealing a healthy ruby/purple color and classic notes of sage brush, graphite, black cherries, currants and chocolate, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness; building, present, yet ripe and polished tannin; perfect integration of its fruit, alcohol and oak; and awesome length. This is a powerhouse Cabernet Sauvignon that still holds onto a sense of elegance and finesse. Forget it for 4-5 years and drink bottles over the following two decades.”
This item is not listed online. To order, call, (503-223-6002) email or stop by our shop!
Quilceda Creek Galitzine Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Red Mountain 2014 750ML ($279.95) $219 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Wine Advocate 100 points “The finest vintage ever for this cuvee, the utterly spellbinding 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Galitzine Vineyard is 100% Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon that was brought up in new barrels. Slightly deeper and richer than the Columbia Valley Cabernet, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a smorgasbord of graphite, crushed violets, crushed rocks, cassis and dark chocolate. With incredible richness, ultra-fine tannin, no hard edges and a stacked mid-palate, give this crazy good red 2-3 years of cellaring and enjoy over the following two decades! Bravo to the team at Quilceda!”
The average price is $230
Quilceda Creek ‘CVR’ Red Wine, Columbia Valley 2015 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 8 bottles in stock now
Winemaker’s note “The 2015 Quilceda Creek “CVR” Columbia Valley Red Wine is a wonderful preview into the incredible 2015 vintage. A combination of all our vineyard sites, it is filled with satisfying red and blue fruits, smoke, spice and minerals. One of the best CVRs to date, it is the first vintage of CVR that will bear the new label showing an iridescent black version of the classic gold Quilceda Creek label. This blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot will be best enjoyed over the next 15 years.”
Quilceda Creek Palengat Vineyard Red, Horse Heaven Hills 2014 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 1 bottle in stock now
Wine Advocate 96 points “A blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, the sensational 2014 Palengat Vineyard is loaded with notions of chocolate covered plums, licorice, roasted herbs, and graphite/lead pencil shavings. Up there with the of the top vintages of the cuvee, this full-bodied, rounded and hedonistic 2014 shines in the vintage, has no hard edges, gorgeous purity, and plenty of ripe, sweet tannin. It’s a serious mouthful of a Cabernet and will drink nicely for 10-15 years.”
The average price is $138
Rising Star of Marsannay
(Bringing the Heat in 2015)
We’ve carried the wines from Phillipe Collotte for a few years now and each release reminds us of both what a star he is and how good the wines from Marsannay and Fixin can be. These are stunning values from Burgundy, made from “humble” terroir, but old vines, and with a steadied hand. Additionally, the newly released 2015’s show why this is the exact sort of vintage to buy.
Capital “G” Great Vintages, like 2015, are wonderful times to go exploring the less famous villages of Burgundy. Historically, the vineyard (and village) classificiations have been based on consistent ripeness and power, as well as complexity, so in a warm year the “lesser” sites often show much more dramatic improvement over their baseline quality than a “great” vineyard will. The wines that arrive tomorrow are perfect examples of this—much better than you’d expect any from the cru’s involved.
We don’t mean to suggest that Phillippe Collotte is some hack winemaker who got lucky in 2015, either. He’s a serious talent with old vines and a very attentive touch in the cellar. These are wines that over deliver in every vintage (witness his string of 92 point scores for the 2014’s…) but are on another plane this year. We’ve got a bit (ok, more than a bit) of everything coming in and while these wines have yet to be reviewed, we expect stocks to be quite low by the time they’re scored—the wines are delicious and won’t be a secret for long.
2015 Collotte Wines Arriving December 1st
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Cuvee Vieilles Vignes, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Domaine Collotte Fixin, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Les Champsalomon, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Domaine Collotte Marsannay Les Boivins, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($34.95) $28 pre-arrival special
Domaine Collotte Fixin Les Crais de Chene, Cote de Nuits 2015 750ML ($44.95) $36 pre-arrival special