Value Reds for Thanksgiving
Cameron Delivers the Goods (and New Wines)
Produttori Crus for the Holidays
Hyper Rare Burgundy Gems: Olivier Bernstein
Please Note:
Vinopolis will be closed Thanksgiving Day, November 22nd
We will return to our normally scheduled hours (10AM-6PM)
on Friday, November 23rd.
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2005 750ML ($349.95) $299 special
2018 Winery Library Release
Wine Advocate 97 points “[Tasted June 2018] Baron’s 2005 Syrah Armada Vineyard is in its prime, bursting from the glass with a deep and expressive bouquet of dark chocolate, black truffles, burning embers and dark, plummy fruit. On the palate, it’s powerful, super concentrated and multidimensional, with velvety structuring tannins and an ample core of fruit. It’s a rich, imposing Syrah that’s beautifully complete. The wines Baron is making today are even better, but what an impressive achievement this 2005 represents!”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 points “[Tasted June 2011] A spectacular wine (the first word in my notes is “Wow”) that is just now entering the early adolescences stage, the 2005 Cayuse Syrah Armada Vineyard exudes a liquid mineral/rock like quality that’s buffered by rich plum sauce, leather, tobacco, citrus rind, and smoky nuances on the nose. This is followed by medium to full bodied, perfectly proportioned wine that possesses solid concentration, a polished, seamless texture, and a very long finish. There’s still plenty of life here and given the balance and quality of fruit, this should easily continue to evolve and drink well for another 10-12 years. Rock star stuff.”Only three bottles available
Cayuse Vineyards Armada Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2015 750ML ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “The 2015 Syrah Armada Vineyard is superb, wafting from the glass with a complex and savory bouquet of dark chocolate, peat, candied violets, plums and marinading meat. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, rich and layered, with a deep core of sapid fruit framed by powdery, fine-grained tannins and concluding with a saline finish. Seamlessly integrated and elegant, the 2015 was harvested on September 9 and fermented with 60% to 70% whole clusters, finishing with 13.7% natural alcohol. It was matured in foudres and demi-muids, seeing 10% new oak and—as has been the case since 2011—no smaller cooperage.”
James Suckling 97 points “The depth and complexity on offer is instantly impressive with smoky bacon and charcuterie notes across gun flint, peppers and an array of mostly red-tinged fruits. The palate has impressively smooth tannins, carrying deeper blue-plum and cherry flavors in a smooth, fine and supple mode. Impressive. Drink or hold.”
Jeb Dunnuck 96 points “The only Syrah bottled in 2015 due to issues with corks, the 2015 Syrah Armada Vineyard is a classic expression of this vineyard and gives up a rocking bouquet of ripe black cherries, peat moss, sous bois, tapenade and scorched earth. It’s medium to full-bodied, silky and polished on the palate, with sweet tannin, impeccable balance, and great finish. Drink it anytime over the coming 10-15 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Cayuse Vineyards En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Jeb Dunnuck 94-96 points “The 2016 Widowmaker En Chamberlin Vineyard offers a ruby/plum color to go with a singular bouquet of lavender, crème de cassis, campfire, and truffle. It’s medium to full-bodied, silky, and elegant on the palate, with a rounded, sexy texture and perfect balance. It shows slightly more sous bois and Rocks character than the 2015 did at this stage and I expect it will drink nicely right out of the gate.”Only three bottles available
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2016 750ML ($149.95) $128 special
Jeb Dunnuck 97-99 points “Moving to the Syrahs and always the largest production release, the 2016 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard includes a small amount of co-fermented Viognier and is raised all in puncheons. Cold campfire/ash, plums, dried violets, and pepper all flow to a rich, full-bodied, incredibly opulent Syrah that has a stacked, thick mid-palate, bright acidity, and a great, great finish. It’s another killer vintage for this vineyard and it’s going to be one of the Syrahs of the vintage.”
Cayuse Vineyards En Chamberlin Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2003 750ML ($199.95) $169 special
2018 Winery Library Release
Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Ruby-red. Knockout nose combines dark berries, gunflint, coffee, smoked meat and a floral element. Densely packed and tactile, with a slightly salty character to the blackberry and floral flavors. A distinctly Old World style of syrah that conveys a high-pH mouth feel.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
2018 Winery Library Release
Wine Advocate 97 points “The Bordeaux-style wines begin with the 2008 Flying Pig, a blend of 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Merlot, Dried herbs, spice box, mineral, cassis, and black cherry aromas inform the nose of a savory, succulent, layered, lengthy offering that will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring and provide optimum drinking through 2023.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Top Value Reds for Thanksgiving
Matello Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, Oregon 2014 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
VinopolNote: Lots of whole cluster to balance out the warmth and richness of the year. 2014 power and fruit marries with spice and structure to produce a beautifully integrated bottle of Pinot Noir.
Gulfi Cerasuolo di Vittoria DOCG, Sicily 2016 750ML ($24.95) $18 special
Winery note “Grape varieties: Nero d’Avola 70%, Frappato di Vittoria 30%. Nero d’Avola is named after Avola, a small town near Pachino in the province of Siracusa where it was selected by local growers several hundred years ago. Frappato di Vittoria is an old indigenous wine grape variety from the southeast part of Sicily. It likely originates in the territory of Vittoria where it has been grown since the XVIIth century.”
Domaine de Pallus Chinon Messanges Rouge, Loire 2016 750ML ($17.95) $14 special
Wine Spectator 90 points “A very fresh style, with high-pitched red currant and bitter cherry notes, lined with a mouthwatering iron streak. Bright savory and floral accents add lift on the finish. Very pure. Drink now through 2022. 2,000 cases made.”
Thierry Triolet Carte Noire Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($44.95) $33 special
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “(90% Chardonnay and 10% Pinot Noir; 10 g/l dosage): Light yellow. Vibrant, mineral-accented aromas of fresh citrus and orchard fruits, with suave floral and candied ginger notes adding complexity. Fleshy and broad on entry, then tighter in the mid-palate, offering juicy green apple and orange zest flavors and a touch of white pepper. Closes silky and smoky, with good clarity and length.”
Ruby Pinot Noir Laurelwood Blend, Chehalem Mountains 2015 750ML ($34.95) $21.90 special
Wine Enthusiast 90 points “($36) The name references a type of soil. The flavors combine red berries and a whiff of mushroom, along with spice, orange peel and citrus. The wine seems to tighten up through the midpalate, which leaves the finish feeling a bit restrained. Try giving it a good long decanting, or cellar till 2020.”
VinopolNote: Disregard the Wine Enthusiast’s hesitation – this wine is open and ready to go! No further cellaring required. This wine exhibits a full range of Pinot Noir flavors in a well-balanced, medium-weigh body. Nothing seems tight or restrained. Eric Hamacher doesn’t make wines like that after all!
The next best price is $35.99
Emmanuel Darnaud Crozes-Hermitage Mise en Bouche, Rhone 2016 750ML ($24.95) $19 special
Grapelive 92 points “One of the Northern Rhone’s best kept secrets and producer of some of finest values in the region, Domaine Emmanuel Darnaud crafts some excellent Syrah(s) from his tiny set of parcels in the Crozes-Hermitage area. He started his domaine in 2001 with just postage stamp (sized block) of vines but worked his way up to a more serious set of vineyards. [They are] all on the southern side of Crozes-Hermitage set on the zone’s glacial alluviums of mostly smooth pebbles. His painstaking work in the vineyard yields amazing results. How he can sell this beautiful and authentic wine at under $20 is one of the great and most pleasurable mysteries in the world of Syrah! The 2016 is utterly delicious with an earthy intensity that starts with porcini/truffle and gamey Crozes purity before opening to beautiful violets and blueberry notes. Darnaud’s Crozes Mise en Bouche is a fine example of time and place, yummy from start to finish adding bright peppery spice, a touch of anise, dried herbs and damson plum as well as mineral notes and a touch of kirsch. Lighter in frame than some, there’s no whimpiness, but rustic layers of classic Northern Rhone Syrah at its best. Fermented in concrete vats and rested in small barrels, this 100% Syrah, 100% de-stemmed cuvee [is one that] you’d never guess it had one third new oak such is the refinement and quality of fruit found here. This is a vintage to buy as much as you can. It drinks lovely now, and should easily go for a decade too! Search this one out; it’s a winner, and a no brainer for the price!”
Jeb Dunnuck 90-92 points “The 2016 Crozes-Hermitage Mise En Bouche comes from the southern parts of the appellation and is aging in a mix of tank, used barrels and foudre. It offers terrific red and black fruits, spice, tapenade and peppery herb aromatics, medium to full-bodied richness, moderate tannin and a great finish. It’s a hidden little gem in the vintage.”
New Arrivals from Cameron
Cameron holds a special place in the heart of anyone who loves Oregon wine. Winemaker John Paul has been making some of the best wines to come out of the Willamette Valley since 1984. The wines have Burgundian sensibilities, in that they age extremely well and have impeccable balance, but they are as ‘Oregon’ as they come. If you were to ask a selection of winemakers here who their top 5 wineries are; Cameron will be in every list.
There are two main vineyards, Clos Electrique and Abbey Ridge, both in the Dundee Hills AVA. The Clos (named after the electric deer fence that surrounds the property) makes slightly more powerful wines, while Abbey Ridge (at higher elevation) produces wines with a little more acidity and structure. The whites are complex and intense as well.
Cameron is also notable for being the leading member of the Deep Roots Coalition—an organization of wineries that are committed to dry farming and for being one of the most thoughtful farmers in the valley. In every measurable respect these are some of the finest wines made in the US today, and we’re proud to announce a few new releases from the master.
In Stock Now:
Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Chardonnay, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Blanc, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: The Clos Electrique is Cameron’s estate vineyard, named after the electric deer fence that surrounds it. This is planted to a mix of clones and is vinified traditionally—no racking and all in older barrels. This is crisp and coiled, with distinct minerality and a lot of power in a lithe frame. Like most vintages of the Electrique Blanc, this is pretty good now but will be stellar in a few years.
Cameron Winery Dundee Hills Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($21.95) $19 special
Cameron Winery ‘Abbey Ridge’ Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge is one of the most hallowed sites in the Willamette Valley. Planted in 1975, the Pinot Noir here is own rooted and at one of the highest elevations in the Dundee Hills. The elevation and classic Jory soils give the wine an intense personality—high toned, elegant and tensile, with good power and a strong voice. This bottling has been one of the defining Oregon Pinots since John Paul started making it.
Cameron Winery Clos Electrique Rouge, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($79.95) $59 special
VinopolNote: Named after the electrified deer fence surrounding the vineyard, the Clos Electrique is the estate vineyard surrounding Cameron’s winery. Located just up the road from Maresh vineyard, on Worden Hill Road, it’s in the promised land of the Dundee Hills and the wines deliver. This is always the meatiest, most primal Pinot of the Cameron lineup. We love it for its intense savoriness and quiet power—every year this is an absolute treat to drink.
Cameron Winery Nebbiolo, Dundee Hills 2014 750ML ($49.95) $36 special
Extremely Limited
Cameron Winery Giuliano White, Willamette Valley 2017 750ML ($27.95) $24 special
Winery Note “This complex white wine, inspired by the field blends of Northeastern Italy, expresses notes of lemon soufflé, spearmint and sea air. It has luscious, round, rich, mouth filling flavors of marzipan, peach and apricot with a slight bitter almond on the back of the palate. Oyster eaters, this is your wine! A blend of Friulano, Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris with a dash of Muscat.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 91 points “Limpid yellow. Anjou pear, Meyer lemon and chamomile scents, along with hints of fennel and sweet butter. Dry and sharply focused in the mouth, offering dried orchard fruit and citrus marmalade flavors; a late suggestion of melon adds succulence and depth. Finishes with very good cling, leaving bitter citrus pith and pear nectar notes behind.”
VinopolNote: Abbey Ridge sits high atop the Dundee Hills; a collection of vines planted on their own roots in the mid-70’s. It’s unquestionably one of the most special sites in the Willamette Valley and though it’s better known for Pinot Noir, the Abbey Chard is fantastic. This is the most limited of the Chardonnay bottlings from Cameron and isn’t produced every year (there was no 2014 version).
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
VinopolNote “This wine sees the same elevage as the two single vineyard Chardonnays. With no new oak to hide behind, the character of the two vineyards its sourced from (Abbey Ridge and Clos Electrique) are in full force. It shows a little less complexity than the single vineyard offerings, but is nonetheless one of the best values in Oregon Chardonnay.”
Produttori Crus for the Holidays
“Two thousand thirteen …is shaping up to be an epic vintage of classic proportions and superb pedigree… No one knows every nook and cranny of Barbaresco better than Aldo Vacca, but Vacca has also proven to be incredibly wise in making choices that have positioned the Produttori for much continued success in the future.”– Antonio Galloni
2013 is the greatest vintage in Barbaresco since…2007? 2001? 1996? 1990? Further back? Regardless of where you put 2013 in that esteemed set, it’s time to stock up—this is an all caps GREAT VINTAGE which should be bought as heavily as you can afford. The wines show incredible amounts of promise and beautiful definition. They’re going to be seen as legends in a decade or two.
We’re fully stocked up on the 2013 Produttori Riservas—the benchmark wines of the appellation. More importantly, we have some of each and every cru available for sale and in stock, with the exception of the recently sold out. No matter if you’re looking for the lean and elegant Ovello, the soft and delicious Pora or the regal Rabaja (or anything in between), there’s something in stock for you now
Some Highlights (In Stock Now):
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 special
Produttori del Barbaresco Montestefano, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special
Wine Spectator 96 points “This is full-bodied, displaying cherry, licorice, wild herb, iron and tobacco notes. The dense tannins take over and dominate the finish now, despite this remaining fresh and long. Full-bodied and minerally. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
Wine Enthusiast 96 points– Editors Choice “New leather, camphor, forest berry, dried rose and culinary spice are some of the aromas you’ll find on this exceptional red. The firmly structured, poised palate doles out juicy cranberry, crushed raspberry, white pepper and star anise framed in tightly-knit, refined tannins while bright acidity provides energy and balance. Drink 2020–2033.”
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “A dark, brooding wine, the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano comes across as quite virile today, with huge tannins and equally imposing dark fruit. Smoke, leather, licorice and game add to an impression of raw, almost unrestrained, power. There is not a whole lot of finesse here at least not now. The Montestefano is a wine painted in broad brush strokes that emphasize power over elegance. Then again, that is Montestefano. Readers should be in no rush to open the 2013.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95 points “The final wine in this portfolio of amazing single-vineyard expressions is the 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Montestefano. This is the densest and darkest of them all, and I would therefore suggest that the longest drinking window be reserved for this expression. Montestefano is shaped as an amphitheater of vines that locks in the summer heat and sees less wind compared to Montefico. This is a solid and firm wine with deep, dark intensity and solid tannins that form an unyielding backbone. You should hold onto this bottle for at least 5 more years before popping the cork.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 special
Produttori del Barbaresco Rabaja, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($199.95) $179 special
Wine Enthusiast 97 points– Cellar Selection “A hallmark expression of Nebbiolo, Produttori del Barbaresco’s 2013 Rabajà Riserva offers aromas of wild red berry, menthol, Alpine herb, saddle leather and dark culinary spice. The concentrated palate boasts enviable finesse and is practically weightless in the mouth, showing crushed black cherry, juicy raspberry, orange zest, clove and licorice alongside firm, velvety tannins. Bright acidity provides impeccable balance. Drink 2021–2033.”
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is shockingly seamless in this tasting. Deep layers of fruit virtually bury the tannins, something that is so unusual for a young Rabajà. A host of dark blue-tone fruits, lavender, mint, violet and spice race across the palate in an utterly vivid, compelling Barbaresco of the highest level. Perhaps I caught the Rabajà on an unusually open day, but it is terrific and also quite refined for such a young wine.”
Monica Larner – Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Rabajà is a gorgeous wine with a dark and penetrating quality of fruit that wraps sensuously over the palate. Our tasting order sees this wine as the sixth sample in a lineup of nine Riservas that were tasted in order of increasing structure and power. Well-exposed and sun-drenched fruit from the Rabajà cru offers dark color saturation and thickness. The high limestone content of the soils means this is a hotter growing site that performs best in cooler vintages like 2013. Those soil types help to concentrate the fruit, and you taste that here in terms of the wine’s broad concentration and vertical delivery of black fruit aromas. This is a complete and seamlessly integrated wine with drying mineral sensations on the powerful finish.”
Wine Spectator 96 points “Fruity, featuring floral, cherry and plum flavors, along with savory leather, licorice and tobacco notes. A chewy texture and lively acidity keep this well-defined through the long finish. Complex and classy. Best from 2023 through 2038.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special
Produttori del Barbaresco Ovello, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2013 1.5L ($179.95) $149 special
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The Produttori’s 2013 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is all power, tension and nerve. Even so, the 2013 is remarkably civilized and much less austere than young Ovello Barbarescos usually are. Scents of cranberry, white pepper and mint give the wine its signature high-toned aromatics. The Ovello has a Volnay-like purity to its fruit, with Nebbiolo tannins and structure, of course. If that sounds appealing, well, it is. Vivid, sculpted and impossibly beautiful, the Ovello is simply magnificent.”
Wine Spectator 95 points “This red starts out with bright cherry, strawberry, rose and mineral flavors, allied to a refined, linear frame. Harmonious now and should be ready soon, but the vivid structure will serve it well into the future. Best from 2023 through 2037.”
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Wild berry, camphor, moist earth and violet aromas unfold in the glass. The structured, refined palate delivers juicy Marasca cherry, crushed raspberry, orange slice and white pepper alongside polished tannins and bright acidity. A soothing licorice note lingers on the finish. Drink through 2028.”
Want to see all the 2013s in stock right now? Just check out this spreadsheet below:
Hyper Rare Jewels of Burgundy
Olivier Bernstein
Rarity and quality drive Burgundy. There’s no other way around it—high quality, scarce wines appreciate and become scarcer and more expensive. A prime example: Olivier Bernstein’s high flying Grand Crus.
Olivier Bernstein founded his micro-negociant in 2007, choosing to buy grapes from only the best vineyards he could find. As a result, the only wines to bear his name are grand and premier crus, from old vines (40+ years, at a minimum). They’ve become incredibly hot items, reference points, really, in the Burgundy world, due both to that magic touch and the tiny, tiny amounts they’re produced and imported in. (Less than 30 six-packs of many of these wines make it to the US.)
These are wines for serious collectors looking for the pinnacle of Burgundy (or for excellent arbitrage opportunities). The 2016’s are stunning wines (the vintage is as good as 2015 and more expressive of terroir) and although we were able to negotiate a large allocation of these wines, quantities for each individual bottling does not exceed 6 bottles. Many shops might not let these hit the open market, but we’d like to think that anyone interested should have a shot. Act quickly, though, it’s first come, first served.
Arriving ETA December:
“Boasts terrific precision and inner-mouth mineral grip”
Olivier Bernstein Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($869.95) $779 pre-arrival special, only 4 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-96 points “(Bernstein works with two strips of vines that extend from the bottom to the top of the cru on the Chambolle side, thus giving him both red and white soil influences): Healthy dark red with ruby suggestions. Reticent, pure aromas of musky raspberry, spices and rocky minerality, lifted by a floral topnote. Boasts terrific precision and inner-mouth mineral grip but this is youthfully imploded today and less accessible than the Clos de la Roche, with a touch of peppery stems contributing to the impression of tension. The very long, building finish stimulates the salivary glands, leaving behind notes of black and white pepper in the empty glass. This wine, too, should be long-lived. Bernstein vinified in 2016 with an average of 50% whole clusters but this one was more like two-thirds.”
Olivier Bernstein Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($1299.95) $1199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 95-98 points “Full dark red; more saturated than the Clos de Bèze. Shows a brooding, dark character on the nose, with aromas of blackberry and licorice complicated by a subtle animal quality. Incredibly concentrated but youthfully imploded, with its sappy dark berry, spice and earth flavors intensified by underlying saline minerality. Despite the impression of pent-up power, there’s nothing hard about this beauty. The extraordinary slow-mounting finish goes on and on with uncanny subtle persistence, leaving the taste buds quivering.”
Importer note “The story has been told that the great reputation of Clos-de-Beze inspired a neighbor to become a vigneron: a certain Mr. Bertin whose name of Germanic origin denotes the son of Bert, the brilliant. He planted vines in his field in place of cereals, using cuttings from his neighbor’s plants and adopted the same work methods. Success was not long in coming and in due course the field was named the champ de Mr. Bertin, hence Chambertin.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Olivier Bernstein Chambertin Clos-de-Beze Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($1299.95) $1199 pre-arrival special, only 3 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94-97 points “Dark red-ruby. Knockout nose combines raspberry, cherry, game and saline underbrush, plus a whiff of torrefaction. At once fully ripe and delicate; in a distinctly more feminine style than the Mazis. The plush, rich yet elegant flavors of medicinal dark fruits, spices and exotic flowers are complicated by salty minerality. Less sweet in the early going than the Mazis, finishing precise, classic and extremely long, with serious but fully buffered tannins that melt into the palate.”
Olivier Bernstein Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($579.95) $519 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-95 points “Bright, dark red. Wild yet precise nose combines aromas of musky small red berries, dried flowers and game. Dense, sappy and thick but gentle too, offering outstanding intensity to its fine-grained flavors of purple fruits, flowers and animal fur. There’s a juicy delicacy here in the style of the vintage’s best examples. Spreads out to dust the palate on the very pure, rising finish, leaving behind a distinctly dark impression of blackberry and boysenberry.”
The next best price is $525
Olivier Bernstein Clos de la Roche Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($729.95) $649 pre-arrival special, only 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 93-95 points “(the fruit Bernstein buys comes from lower down in this grand cru, where vine yields are always around 30 hectoliters per hectare, and thus he didn’t notice “a clear reduction in production” in 2016): Bright, dark red. Musky raspberry, spicy underbrush and flowers on the expressive, terroir-driven nose. At once thick and sappy, conveying outstanding subtle intensity to its flavors of bitter cherry, spices and minerals. Finishes with very fine-grained tannins. This elegant young Clos de la Roche really dances on the palate. It should evolve positively in bottle for a long time.”“wonderfully rich… expands impressively on the back half”
Olivier Bernstein Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($869.95) $779 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 94-96 points “Dark red-ruby. Wild but reticent nose offers scents of black raspberry, spices, game, coffee and mint. Then wonderfully rich and surprisingly sweet in the mouth, with a deep core of dark berry, Asian spice and licorice flavors accented by a tangy peppery quality. Expands impressively on the back half, finishing with suave, fine-grained tannins, a captivating blend of sweetness and spiciness, and lingering perfume that goes on and on.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Olivier Bernstein Clos Vougeot Grand Cru, Vougeot 2016 750ML ($579.95) $519 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-95 points “Healthy dark red. Quite tight and youthfully unforthcoming on the nose, hinting at black cherry and licorice. Then juicy and imploded in the mouth, but showing atypical energy for young Clos Vougeot, with its dark fruit flavors sharpened by violet and stony minerality. Finishes firmly tannic, precise and very long, with a subtle coffee nuance. Should make a worthy follow-up to the superb 2015.”
The next best price is $525
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91-94 points “Dark red. Highly perfumed nose combines purple fruits, animal fur, spices and musky coffee. Enters the mouth broader and sweeter than the Champeaux, then tightens up in the middle palate, showing terrific mineral spine to its flavors of medicinal red cherry, spicy oak and flowers. This seriously sappy premier cru is tough going today, with its tannins more obvious than those of the Champeaux. The yield here was just 30 hectoliters per hectare, as these vines are in the Combe Lavaux and were thus touched by the frost.”
The next best price is $315
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 91-93 points “(no frost here): Healthy dark red. Aromas of raspberry, rose petal and musky espresso convey a noble reduction. Then pure, juicy and penetrating on the palate, boasting terrific inner-mouth floral precision and lift. Finishes firmly tannic but not at all dry, with a piquant hint of black pepper.”
Olivier Bernstein Les Champeaux, Gevrey-Chambertin Premier Cru 2016 750ML ($319.95) $299 pre-arrival special, only 6 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 92-94 points “(the crop level here was 35 hectoliters per hectare): Medium red. Complex, alluring scents of raspberry, animal fur and pepper. A step up in finesse of texture from the village Gevrey, but still with terrific nuance and inner-mouth lift to its youthfully tight flavors of raspberry, crushed rock and flowers. The energetic yet edge-free finish is juicy, palate-cleansing and very subtle.”“terrific finesse for village wine”
Olivier Bernstein Gevrey-Chambertin ‘Villages’, Cote de Nuits 2016 750ML ($169.95) $149 pre-arrival special, only 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer-Vinous 90-92 points “(aging in 70% new oak, vs. 100% for the rest of these ’16s): Good full red. Alluring aromas of dark raspberry, smoked meat and mocha torrefaction. Then surprisingly subtle and precise on the palate, offering complex flavors of black raspberry, coffee and game lifted by a floral element. Finishes juicy and pure, with a restrained sweetness, resounding length and terrific finesse for village wine.”