In Today’s Newsletter:
New Library Chablis Releases
From Daniel-Etienne Defaix
Az. Ag. La Torre
“Some of the Best” Traditional Brunello
We Probably Shouldn’t Even Say This
But Pepiere’s Clos des Briords Has Arrived
Our First Ever Offer
of R. Pouillon’s Hyper-Articulate Champagne
Trending Wines
The Weightless Concentration of Champagne Marc Hebrart
Cheval Blanc in South America:
The 100-Point 2017 Cheval des Andes
Collector’s Corner
2018 Diamond Creek
At Subscriber Special Pricing
New Library Chablis Releases
From Daniel-Etienne Defaix
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 special
Importer Note “The Defaix vineyard holdings in the Cote de Lechet are placed at a 38 degree slope facing southeast. The majority of the Defaix vines are situated within the Clos des Moines parcel. In all, Defaix owns 3.5 hectares of this special 1er Cru which gives the most emphatic and pure expression of the minerality that is the mark of this unique and compelling appellation. As with the other 1er Crus, the vines are 45 years of age on average which results in consistently smaller yields and greater concentration. Perhaps the most complex of the trio of 1er Crus, Defaix promotes the Cote de Lechet as a fine accompaniment to all the white meats, citing specifically rack of veal, farm-raised chicken (best when immersed in crème and married to morels!) or how about risotto with black or white truffles.”
Also back in stock:
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “Dramatic aromas of blanched almonds, beeswax, honey and preserved lemon introduce the 2005 Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys, a full-bodied, textural wine that’s rich, concentrated and structured, with a tight-knit core, tangy acids and a stony finish. Like Defaix’s other 2005s, it’s very much in its prime and will be well worth seeking out when it reaches the marketplace.”
Grapelive 93 points “Daniel-Etienne Defaix … continues [his family’s] tradition of wine growing, which has been working the vines around Chablis since the 1500s. He manages 26 hectares planted exclusively to Chardonnay, which most all there vines in a selection of Premier Crus. Defaix, a natural minded vigneron whose family is from Avallon, not far from Chablis, he uses largely self-taught methods to craft his wines with ideas passed down and learned from his own experiences. His severe selections of grapes and his long fermentations highlight his deft and gentle touch in the cellar, which shows here in his latest release of Les Lys from the 2005 vintage. [This] is a gorgeous Chablis with incredible texture, mineral notes, remarkable lively character from this warm vintage and polished depth. This 2005 gives a subtle floral perfume, hints liquid rock, clarified cream, apple, pear and lemon preserves as well as wet stone (chalk), acacia honey, hazelnut and lingering fleshiness of form. It is a seamless Chardonnay of great class and detail. The Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys comes from a monopole plot known as ‘Clos du Roi’ and the average age of the vines is close to 45 years. [The vines are planted] on a sloping hillsides that has a near perfect southwest exposure allowing warm ripe flavors and richness, while the Kimmeridgian (limestone) soils give fabulous structure, acidity and minerallity. Daniel Defaix ferments 100% de-stemmed grapes in stainless steel tank using 100% natural yeasts at cold temps, which takes close to three weeks, and then the wine is rested almost three years on the lees, again in stainless (only) and goes through natural malos, then racked again back to stainless tanks to aged up to ten years before bottling! The results are amazing and this 2005, which shows the benefits of that regime and the age delivers a great performance in the glass with a sexy layered mouth feel and secondary elements beginning to shine through. The ‘Les Lys’ Premier Cru vineyard, part of the Vaillons, is located on the left bank of the Serein River, overlooking the villages of Chablis and Milly, making for an intriguing terroir, one of the most rare in the series of Premier Crus from Chablis and with a stony personality, but with a softer tone than some of neighboring sites. This Defaix version is wonderfully elegant, especially now.”
Importer Note ““Les Lys” is a tiny five-hectare cru of which Defaix owns three and a half hectares, all in a southeast-facing section called “Clos du Roi”—effectively a monopole of the domaine. Its poor soils of pure Kimmeridgian limestone produce perhaps the most complete and distinctive wine in Defaix’s cellar. Combining some of the power of the “Vaillon” with the chalky intensity of the “Côte de Lechet,” the 2005 “Les Lys” ratchets up the aromatic complexity of the previous two, yet comes across as startlingly pure and harmonious. The almost viscous palate displays the richness of the vintage, yet with shimmering tension and muscular strictness rather than opulence. There’s an enormous sensation of dry extract on the chiseled finish, where acidity and minerality interlock like two sides of a zipper. Once again, one gets the impression that this wine is just entering its early maturity, and if the 1971 Danny blind-tasted us on during our last visit is any indication, this 2005 will reveal mind-bending complexity and as-yet-unplumbed layers over the next several decades.”
Az. Ag. La Torre
“Some of the Best” Traditional Brunello
We Probably Shouldn’t Even Say This
But Pepiere’s Clos des Briords Has Arrived
It’s a cult favorite for a reason, and allocations keep dropping every year. Our five cases arrived today and will disappear soon. Crisp, mineral and refreshing, as always—but a bit more fruit because of the warm ’19 vintage.
In Stock Now:
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Importer note “100% Melon de Bourgogne. Clos des Briords is a lieu-dit in which Marc has long held 3 hectares of massale vines planted from 1930 to 1950. These are the oldest vines of the estate, planted on soils of granite de Thébaud, which differs from granite de Clisson in containing more feldspar and clay–it is cooler, slower ripening, holds and drains water well, supplies more nutrients and is looser (so roots can go deep to the hard granite mother rock). The farming is organic and harvest and all work by hand. Like for the rest of the Pepière wines, the fruit is direct-pressed and the juice settled naturally for 12 hours. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts; the wine is aged on its lees in large, underground vats–8 to 9 months in the case of Briords–until bottling without fining or filtering. Briords is generally the most structured and powerful of Pepière’s wines.”
Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?
Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:
#503-223-6002
(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)
Our First Ever Offer
R. Pouillon’s Hyper-Articulate Champagne
New Library Chablis Releases
From Daniel-Etienne Defaix
Az. Ag. La Torre
“Some of the Best” Traditional Brunello
We Probably Shouldn’t Even Say This
But Pepiere’s Clos des Briords Has Arrived
Our First Ever Offer
of R. Pouillon’s Hyper-Articulate Champagne
Trending Wines
The Weightless Concentration of Champagne Marc Hebrart
Cheval Blanc in South America:
The 100-Point 2017 Cheval des Andes
Collector’s Corner
2018 Diamond Creek
At Subscriber Special Pricing
New Library Chablis Releases
From Daniel-Etienne Defaix
Daniel-Etienne Defaix releases Chablis when he believes the wines are ready. This can mean 15 years past their release. Luckily, the time has come for the truly awesome 2006’s. They’re not really library release (despite the title of this section), but represent the current vintage on offer (and imported by Rosenthal, so you know it’s good). These are magnificent bottlings that have just reached their peak maturity window. What could you possibly expect to pay for such an experience? At Vinopolis – under $55/bottle!
We’re giant fans of the Defaix wines, but we’re not the only ones—the past vintages of these wines sold out in a flash. Plus, William Kelley (the Burgundy reviewer at the Wine Advocate) published a little bit about the wines and the estate that included some glowing praise. We’ve included his notes below, but trust us as well—you’re going to want to stock up on these wines.
“A genial gourmet, Daniel-Etienne Defaix is one of Chablis’s personalities, and his wines are no less characterful. He releases his sapid, gourmand expressions of Chablis at maturity—that’s to say, some 15 years after everyone else in the region….These are textural, complex wines that evoke the white Burgundies of yesteryear, and they may confuse consumers habituated to the tart, brittle, processed wines that are often passed off as expressions of region’s “terroir.” Their potential to develop in bottle and their capacity to pair with a thrilling variety of foods, however, make them fascinating, at least to this writer. Much of the production is sold to France’s best restaurants, but what reaches the export market is well worth seeking out.” – William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Vaillon, Chablis Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 special
Importer Note “Grapes are planted in a steeply sloped (28 degrees) hill in the original parcel of “Vaillon”» with a southeast exposure. The soil here is particularly influenced by iron deposits which yields a wine of fruit and spice and great density. The Vaillons is influenced by notes of “soubois” and, although lacking the elegance of its two companion 1er Crus, it is often the most generous wine of the domaine. The average age of the vines is 45 years.”
We’re giant fans of the Defaix wines, but we’re not the only ones—the past vintages of these wines sold out in a flash. Plus, William Kelley (the Burgundy reviewer at the Wine Advocate) published a little bit about the wines and the estate that included some glowing praise. We’ve included his notes below, but trust us as well—you’re going to want to stock up on these wines.
“A genial gourmet, Daniel-Etienne Defaix is one of Chablis’s personalities, and his wines are no less characterful. He releases his sapid, gourmand expressions of Chablis at maturity—that’s to say, some 15 years after everyone else in the region….These are textural, complex wines that evoke the white Burgundies of yesteryear, and they may confuse consumers habituated to the tart, brittle, processed wines that are often passed off as expressions of region’s “terroir.” Their potential to develop in bottle and their capacity to pair with a thrilling variety of foods, however, make them fascinating, at least to this writer. Much of the production is sold to France’s best restaurants, but what reaches the export market is well worth seeking out.” – William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Vaillon, Chablis Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 special
Importer Note “Grapes are planted in a steeply sloped (28 degrees) hill in the original parcel of “Vaillon”» with a southeast exposure. The soil here is particularly influenced by iron deposits which yields a wine of fruit and spice and great density. The Vaillons is influenced by notes of “soubois” and, although lacking the elegance of its two companion 1er Crus, it is often the most generous wine of the domaine. The average age of the vines is 45 years.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Cote de Lechet, Chablis Premier Cru 2006 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 special
Importer Note “The Defaix vineyard holdings in the Cote de Lechet are placed at a 38 degree slope facing southeast. The majority of the Defaix vines are situated within the Clos des Moines parcel. In all, Defaix owns 3.5 hectares of this special 1er Cru which gives the most emphatic and pure expression of the minerality that is the mark of this unique and compelling appellation. As with the other 1er Crus, the vines are 45 years of age on average which results in consistently smaller yields and greater concentration. Perhaps the most complex of the trio of 1er Crus, Defaix promotes the Cote de Lechet as a fine accompaniment to all the white meats, citing specifically rack of veal, farm-raised chicken (best when immersed in crème and married to morels!) or how about risotto with black or white truffles.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Also back in stock:
Domaine Daniel-Etienne Defaix Les Lys, Chablis Premier Cru 2005 750ML ($64.95) $52.50 special
William Kelley – Wine Advocate 93 points “Dramatic aromas of blanched almonds, beeswax, honey and preserved lemon introduce the 2005 Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys, a full-bodied, textural wine that’s rich, concentrated and structured, with a tight-knit core, tangy acids and a stony finish. Like Defaix’s other 2005s, it’s very much in its prime and will be well worth seeking out when it reaches the marketplace.”
Grapelive 93 points “Daniel-Etienne Defaix … continues [his family’s] tradition of wine growing, which has been working the vines around Chablis since the 1500s. He manages 26 hectares planted exclusively to Chardonnay, which most all there vines in a selection of Premier Crus. Defaix, a natural minded vigneron whose family is from Avallon, not far from Chablis, he uses largely self-taught methods to craft his wines with ideas passed down and learned from his own experiences. His severe selections of grapes and his long fermentations highlight his deft and gentle touch in the cellar, which shows here in his latest release of Les Lys from the 2005 vintage. [This] is a gorgeous Chablis with incredible texture, mineral notes, remarkable lively character from this warm vintage and polished depth. This 2005 gives a subtle floral perfume, hints liquid rock, clarified cream, apple, pear and lemon preserves as well as wet stone (chalk), acacia honey, hazelnut and lingering fleshiness of form. It is a seamless Chardonnay of great class and detail. The Chablis 1er Cru Les Lys comes from a monopole plot known as ‘Clos du Roi’ and the average age of the vines is close to 45 years. [The vines are planted] on a sloping hillsides that has a near perfect southwest exposure allowing warm ripe flavors and richness, while the Kimmeridgian (limestone) soils give fabulous structure, acidity and minerallity. Daniel Defaix ferments 100% de-stemmed grapes in stainless steel tank using 100% natural yeasts at cold temps, which takes close to three weeks, and then the wine is rested almost three years on the lees, again in stainless (only) and goes through natural malos, then racked again back to stainless tanks to aged up to ten years before bottling! The results are amazing and this 2005, which shows the benefits of that regime and the age delivers a great performance in the glass with a sexy layered mouth feel and secondary elements beginning to shine through. The ‘Les Lys’ Premier Cru vineyard, part of the Vaillons, is located on the left bank of the Serein River, overlooking the villages of Chablis and Milly, making for an intriguing terroir, one of the most rare in the series of Premier Crus from Chablis and with a stony personality, but with a softer tone than some of neighboring sites. This Defaix version is wonderfully elegant, especially now.”
Importer Note ““Les Lys” is a tiny five-hectare cru of which Defaix owns three and a half hectares, all in a southeast-facing section called “Clos du Roi”—effectively a monopole of the domaine. Its poor soils of pure Kimmeridgian limestone produce perhaps the most complete and distinctive wine in Defaix’s cellar. Combining some of the power of the “Vaillon” with the chalky intensity of the “Côte de Lechet,” the 2005 “Les Lys” ratchets up the aromatic complexity of the previous two, yet comes across as startlingly pure and harmonious. The almost viscous palate displays the richness of the vintage, yet with shimmering tension and muscular strictness rather than opulence. There’s an enormous sensation of dry extract on the chiseled finish, where acidity and minerality interlock like two sides of a zipper. Once again, one gets the impression that this wine is just entering its early maturity, and if the 1971 Danny blind-tasted us on during our last visit is any indication, this 2005 will reveal mind-bending complexity and as-yet-unplumbed layers over the next several decades.”
Az. Ag. La Torre
“Some of the Best” Traditional Brunello
“If you love the traditional side of Montalcino, Luigi Ananìa’s La Torre makes some of the best and most consistent wines you will find” – Monica Larner, Wine Advocate
Az. Ag. La Torre is one of our favorite producers for very traditionally made Brunello. They specialize in bold, age-worthy bottlings that have power and grace wrapped up together. With a large, 36 hectare estate that has a mere 5.6 hectares under vine, they’re devoted to an old-school understanding of how vineyards and their ecosystems work—and that commitment to tradition extends to their winemaking, as well.
With picking decisions that balance freshness with the inherent richness of their site and a commitment to native yeasts and long aging in large barrels, they turn out absolute classic renditions of Sangiovese. We love them for their rich power, beautiful, floral-accented aromatics and discreet earthiness, as well as their pricing. Despite being in the upper echelon of Brunello producers, their star-turn 2015 is still well under $60.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Azienda Agricola La Torre Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $52.50 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “If you love the traditional side of Montalcino, Luigi Ananìa’s La Torre makes some of the best and most consistent wines you will find. Their 2015 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a quality of fruit that is both plump and succulent, and this is very much a characteristic of the 2015 vintage. However, the house style is extremely precise and focused. It starts off slowly, revealing itself in small steps before coming into full bloom. The wide aromatic span of the wine should become even more prominent with three or four more years of cellar age. This wine does a nice job of matching the acidity of Sangiovese to the generous fruit of the warm 2015 vintage. Some 13,000 bottles will be released in March 2020.”
While their top-end Brunello gets most of the love, their Rosso might be the best deal out there. It’s expensive for a Rosso di Montalcino, but if you think of it as a Brunello at the price, all of a sudden you’ll understand why the wine is so highly allocated. This is beautiful, detailed wine with oodles of Sangiovese character and complexity to spare. For under $35 a bottle, it’s hard to do better from Montalcino.
Azienda Agricola La Torre Rosso di Montalcino 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Grapelive 95 points “The 2016 is going to be legendary in Tuscany. We are seeing the top wines already getting unbelievably good press, but there are also some killer deals on lesser known wines, especially wines like this gorgeous deep fruited and elegant La Torre Rosso di Montalcino. [Such wines] are incredible and offer a wonderful value for much less than their Brunello version. Lighter on its feet than the Brunello(s) the Rosso [shows] style and grace, it shows a complex array of flavors and a sense of never-ending length with a beautiful rose petal perfume and exotic spices. This La Torre has, what it is cliche to say, Burgundy class in the glass with ripe tannins and a gorgeous garnet/ruby hue that seduces the senses with layers of black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum fruits to begin on its open and generous palate with gains structure with air as well as highlighting the background elements, mineral notes and light earthiness. Additionally there is classic anise, fine cigar tobacco wrapper, sandalwood and lingering dried flowers and cranberry/currant, making for a lovely Sangiovese wine that gets even better with food, bringing out more depth and fruit intensity. There is almost nothing to fault here and the detailing and mouth feel is exceptional in this remarkable Rosso di Montalcino. This is a wine that needs to be taken out of the “Baby Brunello” box; it is really next level stuff on its own. The La Torre winery was founded not all that long ago by Italian standards back in 1976 by Giuseppe Ananìa, who purchased the La Torre estate from the famous Ciacci family of Montalcino. Now Luigi Anania, Giuseppe’s son, is the present owner and producer of the wines of La Torre. The estate is located in the commune of La Sesta, approximately 8 kilometers south of Montalcino, which is in the highest altitude section of the Brunello appellation. La Torre make four main wines, all from organic vines: Brunello di Montalcino (with a Riserva in the best years as well), Rosso di Montalcino, with the Brunello and Rosso being exclusively Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello Clone) by law, as well as a Rosso di Toscano and a Rosso di Toscano “Ampelio” which have touches of Ciliegiolo and Alicante added to a mainline of Sangiovese. The wines are all made from all grapes that are de-stemmed prior to fermentations and only indigenous yeasts are used before an extended 20 maceration on the skins. Ferments are done in a combination of steel and oak with an 18 month elevage being in large oak casks of French origin, with only about 10% of the ultimate cuvée being aged in small French barrels. Made for more early drinking pleasure and a sublime vintage really show here and I absolute love this stuff. Judging it purely on its intent and delivery it is fantastic, drink this brilliantly crafted beauty over the next 3 to 5 years.”
Az. Ag. La Torre is one of our favorite producers for very traditionally made Brunello. They specialize in bold, age-worthy bottlings that have power and grace wrapped up together. With a large, 36 hectare estate that has a mere 5.6 hectares under vine, they’re devoted to an old-school understanding of how vineyards and their ecosystems work—and that commitment to tradition extends to their winemaking, as well.
With picking decisions that balance freshness with the inherent richness of their site and a commitment to native yeasts and long aging in large barrels, they turn out absolute classic renditions of Sangiovese. We love them for their rich power, beautiful, floral-accented aromatics and discreet earthiness, as well as their pricing. Despite being in the upper echelon of Brunello producers, their star-turn 2015 is still well under $60.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
Azienda Agricola La Torre Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2015 750ML ($69.95) $52.50 special
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 95+ points “If you love the traditional side of Montalcino, Luigi Ananìa’s La Torre makes some of the best and most consistent wines you will find. Their 2015 Brunello di Montalcino reveals a quality of fruit that is both plump and succulent, and this is very much a characteristic of the 2015 vintage. However, the house style is extremely precise and focused. It starts off slowly, revealing itself in small steps before coming into full bloom. The wide aromatic span of the wine should become even more prominent with three or four more years of cellar age. This wine does a nice job of matching the acidity of Sangiovese to the generous fruit of the warm 2015 vintage. Some 13,000 bottles will be released in March 2020.”
While their top-end Brunello gets most of the love, their Rosso might be the best deal out there. It’s expensive for a Rosso di Montalcino, but if you think of it as a Brunello at the price, all of a sudden you’ll understand why the wine is so highly allocated. This is beautiful, detailed wine with oodles of Sangiovese character and complexity to spare. For under $35 a bottle, it’s hard to do better from Montalcino.
Azienda Agricola La Torre Rosso di Montalcino 2016 750ML ($39.95) $33 special
Grapelive 95 points “The 2016 is going to be legendary in Tuscany. We are seeing the top wines already getting unbelievably good press, but there are also some killer deals on lesser known wines, especially wines like this gorgeous deep fruited and elegant La Torre Rosso di Montalcino. [Such wines] are incredible and offer a wonderful value for much less than their Brunello version. Lighter on its feet than the Brunello(s) the Rosso [shows] style and grace, it shows a complex array of flavors and a sense of never-ending length with a beautiful rose petal perfume and exotic spices. This La Torre has, what it is cliche to say, Burgundy class in the glass with ripe tannins and a gorgeous garnet/ruby hue that seduces the senses with layers of black cherry, raspberry, strawberry and plum fruits to begin on its open and generous palate with gains structure with air as well as highlighting the background elements, mineral notes and light earthiness. Additionally there is classic anise, fine cigar tobacco wrapper, sandalwood and lingering dried flowers and cranberry/currant, making for a lovely Sangiovese wine that gets even better with food, bringing out more depth and fruit intensity. There is almost nothing to fault here and the detailing and mouth feel is exceptional in this remarkable Rosso di Montalcino. This is a wine that needs to be taken out of the “Baby Brunello” box; it is really next level stuff on its own. The La Torre winery was founded not all that long ago by Italian standards back in 1976 by Giuseppe Ananìa, who purchased the La Torre estate from the famous Ciacci family of Montalcino. Now Luigi Anania, Giuseppe’s son, is the present owner and producer of the wines of La Torre. The estate is located in the commune of La Sesta, approximately 8 kilometers south of Montalcino, which is in the highest altitude section of the Brunello appellation. La Torre make four main wines, all from organic vines: Brunello di Montalcino (with a Riserva in the best years as well), Rosso di Montalcino, with the Brunello and Rosso being exclusively Sangiovese Grosso (Brunello Clone) by law, as well as a Rosso di Toscano and a Rosso di Toscano “Ampelio” which have touches of Ciliegiolo and Alicante added to a mainline of Sangiovese. The wines are all made from all grapes that are de-stemmed prior to fermentations and only indigenous yeasts are used before an extended 20 maceration on the skins. Ferments are done in a combination of steel and oak with an 18 month elevage being in large oak casks of French origin, with only about 10% of the ultimate cuvée being aged in small French barrels. Made for more early drinking pleasure and a sublime vintage really show here and I absolute love this stuff. Judging it purely on its intent and delivery it is fantastic, drink this brilliantly crafted beauty over the next 3 to 5 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Shipping Season is Here
Do you have wines on hold waiting for wine shipping weather?
Please give us a call or send us an email
to schedule your shipment now!
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
Do you have wines on hold waiting for wine shipping weather?
Please give us a call or send us an email
to schedule your shipment now!
www.vinopoliswineshop.com
info@vinopoliswineshop.com
503-223-6002
We Probably Shouldn’t Even Say This
But Pepiere’s Clos des Briords Has Arrived
It’s a cult favorite for a reason, and allocations keep dropping every year. Our five cases arrived today and will disappear soon. Crisp, mineral and refreshing, as always—but a bit more fruit because of the warm ’19 vintage.
In Stock Now:
Domaine de la Pepiere Muscadet Sevre-et-Maine Sur Lie Clos des Briords 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Importer note “100% Melon de Bourgogne. Clos des Briords is a lieu-dit in which Marc has long held 3 hectares of massale vines planted from 1930 to 1950. These are the oldest vines of the estate, planted on soils of granite de Thébaud, which differs from granite de Clisson in containing more feldspar and clay–it is cooler, slower ripening, holds and drains water well, supplies more nutrients and is looser (so roots can go deep to the hard granite mother rock). The farming is organic and harvest and all work by hand. Like for the rest of the Pepière wines, the fruit is direct-pressed and the juice settled naturally for 12 hours. It is then fermented in stainless steel tanks with natural yeasts; the wine is aged on its lees in large, underground vats–8 to 9 months in the case of Briords–until bottling without fining or filtering. Briords is generally the most structured and powerful of Pepière’s wines.”
Have Wine Ready to Pick Up?
Stop by our shop 10 am – 6 pm daily
Feel free to call ahead before you arrive or for curbside service:
#503-223-6002
(You’ll help free up some space for your next order!)
Our First Ever Offer
R. Pouillon’s Hyper-Articulate Champagne
Francois Pouillon is both an innovator and a traditionalist, looking to ancient traditions in Champagne as a way to drive forward the quality of his wines. With an assortment of top-class vineyards in Äy, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Montagne de Reims, which he farms organically (with some biodynamics thrown in) he looks to make pure, crystalline champagnes.
Like most of the very best growers, he’s begun bottling a number of single-vineyard wines, but that doesn’t tell the story of his dedication. He still uses a wooden basket press, which is an extremely gentle (and very low yielding) way to press wines, and he makes sure that all the vineyards’ lots are kept separately until the very last minute. The resulting wines are beautifully complex and detailed, with a vitality that’s really special.
We’ve brought in a selection of these gems, which are finally available in Oregon. Lovers of Champagne should take note and act quickly, because there isn’t a lot of each bottling to go around.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
R. Pouillon & Fils Cuvee de Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer Note “Each year this is a blend of crus from all of Pouillon’s holdings and is composed of roughly 65% pinot noir, 20% pinot meunier, and 15% chardonnay. This cuvée has evolved over time and improved in quality to better reflect the evolution of the domaine at large. Today the “Réserve” Brut is fermented with native yeasts predominantly in neutral barrique, with 20% fermented in enameled tank. Elevage continues a minimum of 6-8 months before the wine is is blended with the previous vintage and the “perpetual cuvée” to be refermented in bottle. “
Like most of the very best growers, he’s begun bottling a number of single-vineyard wines, but that doesn’t tell the story of his dedication. He still uses a wooden basket press, which is an extremely gentle (and very low yielding) way to press wines, and he makes sure that all the vineyards’ lots are kept separately until the very last minute. The resulting wines are beautifully complex and detailed, with a vitality that’s really special.
We’ve brought in a selection of these gems, which are finally available in Oregon. Lovers of Champagne should take note and act quickly, because there isn’t a lot of each bottling to go around.
Just Arrived, In Stock Now:
R. Pouillon & Fils Cuvee de Reserve Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 special
Importer Note “Each year this is a blend of crus from all of Pouillon’s holdings and is composed of roughly 65% pinot noir, 20% pinot meunier, and 15% chardonnay. This cuvée has evolved over time and improved in quality to better reflect the evolution of the domaine at large. Today the “Réserve” Brut is fermented with native yeasts predominantly in neutral barrique, with 20% fermented in enameled tank. Elevage continues a minimum of 6-8 months before the wine is is blended with the previous vintage and the “perpetual cuvée” to be refermented in bottle. “
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R. Pouillon & Fils Solera Premier Cru Extra Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($89.95) $69 special
Importer Note “The idea of this cuvée is to erase the influence of vintage and focus solely on terroir. It is 50% each chardonnay and pinot noir and all from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ. Every year, 30% is racked off for secondary fermentation and replaced with 30% new wine. Up until the 2010 vintage was added, the entire Solera was aged in steel; it is now aged in oak uprights and undergoes full malolactic.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R. Pouillon & Fils ‘Les Chataigniers’ Extra Brut, Champagne 2014 750ML ($119.95) $84 special
Importer Note “Les Châtaigniers is a vineyard parcel located in the village of Festigny on the left bank of the Marne valley. Here the concentration of clay in the soil makes this terroir an ideal expression for pinot meunier. François farms meunier vines of 10 and 25 years old with the same organic rigor he applies elsewhere.”
Importer Note “Les Châtaigniers is a vineyard parcel located in the village of Festigny on the left bank of the Marne valley. Here the concentration of clay in the soil makes this terroir an ideal expression for pinot meunier. François farms meunier vines of 10 and 25 years old with the same organic rigor he applies elsewhere.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
R. Pouillon et Fils Valnons Brut Nature, Champagne 2012 750ML ($129.95) $95 special
Importer Note “The name of this cuvée is short for “les Valnons Froid Cul”—a famous and seemingly cold hill in Aÿ. This wine embodies a very unique and rare experience: tasting true blanc de blancs from one of the best situated slopes in Aÿ, a grand cru famous for rich, articulate pinot noir. This wine delivers clear mineral verve with distinctive richness and intense texture. “
This is the only listing in the USA today!
#Trending
“Owner/winemaker Todd Hamina has an admirable track record for producing ageworthy Pinot Noir and his 2016s are no exception.” –Josh Raynolds
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”
Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($39.95) $28 special
Case-6 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($199.95) $159 special (that’s only $26.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Biggio Hamina Claygate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge 2016 750ML ($399.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/bottle!)
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 94 points “Bright red. An exotically perfumed bouquet displays intense red fruit, potpourri and incense qualities. Spice and savory herb nuances build as the wine opens up. Bright and energetic in the mouth, offering densely packed and appealingly sweet raspberry liqueur, cherry and spicecake flavors that pick up a smoky mineral note on the back half. Plays power off of finesse deftly and finishes extremely long and floral, with sneaky, fine-grained tannins and a touch of exotic spices.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $34.50
The next best price is $34.50
Day describes their Momtazi bottling as their “our flagship Pinot Noir from one of Willamette Valley’s most prized biodynamic vineyards and our most age-worthy wine.” It‘s normally the most expensive Pinot in the Day Wines lineup at $54, but we’re able to offer it for just $33 per bottle and $28.75 per bottle on case purchases.
Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($53.95) $33 special
Case-6 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($299.95) $189 special (that’s only $31.50/bottle!)
Case-12 Day Wines Momtazi Vineyard Pinot Noir, McMinnville 2016 750ML ($599.95) $345 special (that’s only $28.75/bottle!)
John Gilman 93 points “The 2016 Momtazi Vineyard bottling of Pinot Noir from Day Wines is the ripest of these 2016s, as it comes in at fourteen percent octane. It is beautifully black fruity on the nose (as all the examples from Momtazi have been that I have been fortunate enough to taste), offering up scents of black plum, sweet dark berry, black tea, balsam bough, a beautiful base of soil tones, chicory, gentle spice tones and a bit of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and beautifully balanced, with a fine core of fruit, great mineral drive and grip, ripe, well-integrated tannins and a long, tangy and promising finish. While this is the ripest of the 2016 pinots from Brianne Day, it is no less pure or precise and is a great bottle in the making. 2024-2055.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Limpid red. A highly aromatic bouquet evokes fresh dark berries and baking spices, along with smoky mineral and musky earth overtones. Juicy and broad on the palate, offering alluringly sweet black raspberry, cherry, rose pastille and spicecake flavors that deepen steadily with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and energy and finishes with finely woven tannins and strong, floral-driven persistence.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
One of the biggest sleepers in the Rhone, year in and out.
Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 special
Decanter-World Wine Awards 97 points “This is stacked with the black fruits of the region, plus violets, thyme, lavender, dried herbs and tannins that are ripe and of the appropriate proportion. Still very youthful and will flourish with time in bottle. Modern and very classy indeed. Genius wine, very long and intense, its purity magnificent.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvee. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.”
Scott will hate us calling this wine “crushable”—but it is.
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”
Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($49.95) $39 special
Case-6 Château Pesquie Ventoux Artemia, Rhône 2016 750ML ($299.95) $219 special
Decanter-World Wine Awards 97 points “This is stacked with the black fruits of the region, plus violets, thyme, lavender, dried herbs and tannins that are ripe and of the appropriate proportion. Still very youthful and will flourish with time in bottle. Modern and very classy indeed. Genius wine, very long and intense, its purity magnificent.”
Jeb Dunnuck 94 points “Made from equal parts Syrah and Grenache, the 2016 Ventoux Cuvee Artemia is another terrific vintage for this cuvee. Still young, backward and unevolved, it has tons of potential in its blue fruits, graphite, crushed rock and violet-tinged aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, with terrific purity of fruit, and fine, building tannin, it needs 2-3 years of bottle age and will keep for a decade or more.”
Wine Advocate 94 points “A 50-50 blend of Grenache and Syrah, aged in 50% new oak, the 2016 Ventoux Artemia is a tremendous effort. It combines blueberries and stone fruit with cedary notes and then underscores those attractive aromas and flavors with a full-bodied, velvety texture and a bright, crisp finish. Lovely stuff.”
Scott will hate us calling this wine “crushable”—but it is.
Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special
Case-12 Bow & Arrow Rhinestone Red, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($319.95) $228 special (that’s only $19/bottle!)
Winery note “To understand Rhinestones we have to talk about the Cheverny region of France’s Loire Valley where, by law, the red wines must be a blend of Gamay and Pinot Noir. We follow this stricture with all the Pinot and Gamay fruit we source from Johan Vineyard. The blend is determined by nature and vintage. Aged in a mixture of concrete and old barriques, this wine is the flagship of the Bow & Arrow operation and communicates what we’re about as much as anything we make. Effortlessly drinkable but rewards detective work if you’re in the mood.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Grant Coulter is one of the hottest winemakers in the Willamette Valley right now.
Hundred Suns Old Eight Cut Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($39.95) $29 special
Winery note “This bottling is Hundred Suns Wine’s first vintage producing Chardonnay. Grapes were sourced from two organically farmed vineyards in the Eola-Hills. Bracken Vineyard sits between 630-730 feet on volcanic soils (Nekia, Ritner, Witzel and Jory) of varying depths. Koosah is a stunning high-elevation site perched at 1,000 feet. Both lots were whole cluster pressed in to 500 liter neutral puncheons. Slow natural fermentations and 11 months sur lee aging produced a wine with bright acid, stone fruit, and floral aromatics.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
A delicious bubbly from the closest winery to Barcelona.
AA Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva Brut Nature Cava NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light, bright yellow-gold. Displays pungent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, lemon pith, fennel and chamomile that show very good clarity and spicy lift. Weighty, focused and dry on the palate, which displays refreshingly bitter citrus pith, pear skin and quinine flavors and a hint of peachiness. Manages to come off hefty as well as graceful and finishes long and taut, with resonating stoniness and a touch of spicy ginger. (disgorged after 15 months on its lees).”
AA Alta Alella Mirgin Reserva Brut Nature Cava NV 750ML ($21.95) $18 special
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 91 points “Light, bright yellow-gold. Displays pungent, mineral-accented aromas of dried pear, lemon pith, fennel and chamomile that show very good clarity and spicy lift. Weighty, focused and dry on the palate, which displays refreshingly bitter citrus pith, pear skin and quinine flavors and a hint of peachiness. Manages to come off hefty as well as graceful and finishes long and taut, with resonating stoniness and a touch of spicy ginger. (disgorged after 15 months on its lees).”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
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The Weightless Concentration
of Champagne Marc Hebrart
“an utter masterpiece of weightless concentration, as huge and yet as penetrable as a cumulous cloud.” – Terry Theise
Marc Hebrart is a relatively new estate, having been founded when Marc Hebrart started producing under his own name only since 1964. His son Jean-Paul taking over the domaine in 1997. Though the history might not be terribly lengthy, the wines have been on a stealthy climb up the ladder of producers to know. The house style has always emphasized balance over power, and while there is plenty of depth to his bottlings they’re always drinkable and delightful. Peter Liem writes, “Hébrart’s wines have a broad appeal: if you like to think about your wines, they’re intellectually engaging enough to satisfy you; on the other hand, if you’re just looking to drink, they’re simply delicious. The wines are full and generous without being weighty, complex and soil-driven without being demanding. Overall, the entire range is of consistently high quality, and represents excellent value for the money.”
The value of a bottle of Champagne can be measured many ways: in price tags, points, or the memories attached with the moment the cork pops. I have been lucky to enjoy large selections of various vintages of Special Club champagnes over twenty some-odd years in wine, but one of the absolute finest I have ever tried was from Marc Hebrart. It was part of a tasting of over twenty Special Club producers, and while there were some that I scored higher in aromatics or initial flavors, the one that scored the highest for overall pleasure was the Hebrart. Over the years, this has continued to hold true across the board with the Hebrart lineup. From the Rive Gauche/Rive Droit, all the way down to the Cuveé de Reserve, the overall impression is harmony and delight.
There is something to be said for nostalgia when it comes to Champagne, even when that feeling only takes you back 15 years or so. Marc Hebrart wines take me back to several special moments, and still have a place in our permanent rotation just in case we have something new to commemorate. These should never fail to bring that extra dash of joy to your touchstone moments as well.
“Again and again I confront these Champagnes, tasting them there with him, tasting them elsewhere with you, drinking them at home, and every time I’ve had them in my glass for the past several years I’ve found myself thinking ‘Does Champagne really get any better than this?’”– Terry Theise
In Stock Now from Marc Hebrart
Marc Hebrart ‘Noces de Craie’ Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $109 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “…this preview bottle was extraordinary, following on the heels of the masterly 2012. It’s 100% Aÿ PN, from Cheuzelles, Longchamp, Pierre Robert, Pruche and Chauffour. Another Coeur de Cuvée, massale selection, deg 9/2018. Our “marriage of chalk” is surprisingly lapidary and ready. More seductive than the “Favorites” and also fruitier. It has a huge adamant length you did not expect—all the power is in the back, it only seems to yield. Like a sweet-natured person who always seems to prevail, or a sideways strength you don’t feel being used. A wonderful, surprising work of genius.”
Marc Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droite Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Rive Gauche Rive Droite is a blend of Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Chardonnay from Oiry, Chouilly and Avize, all Grand Crus. Resonant and expansive on the palate, it possesses tremendous richness and depth from start to finish. Dried pear, pastry, dried herbs and crushed flowers give the stunningly beautifully, expressive Champagne with tons of complexity. Disgorged: December 19, 2018” [Disgorgement date may vary.]
Arriving Late November from Marc Hebrart
Hebrart Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “[Review is for prior release] Disgorged in April 2018, the latest iteration of Hébrart’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru is lovely, bursting with aromas of Meyer lemon, green apple, brioche and subtle hints of blanched almond. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seductive, with ripe acids, a youthfully frothy but incipiently fine mousse and a sapid, vinous finish that belies this bottling’s easy charm. Not only is this a terrific wine, it’s a terrific value.”
Hebrart Cuvee Reserve Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Review is for prior disgorgement] Disgorged in April 2018, the latest iteration of Hébrart’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru is lovely, bursting with aromas of Meyer lemon, green apple, brioche and subtle hints of blanched almond. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seductive, with ripe acids, a youthfully frothy but incipiently fine mousse and a sapid, vinous finish that belies this bottling’s easy charm. Not only is this a terrific wine, it’s a terrific value.”
Marc Hebrart is a relatively new estate, having been founded when Marc Hebrart started producing under his own name only since 1964. His son Jean-Paul taking over the domaine in 1997. Though the history might not be terribly lengthy, the wines have been on a stealthy climb up the ladder of producers to know. The house style has always emphasized balance over power, and while there is plenty of depth to his bottlings they’re always drinkable and delightful. Peter Liem writes, “Hébrart’s wines have a broad appeal: if you like to think about your wines, they’re intellectually engaging enough to satisfy you; on the other hand, if you’re just looking to drink, they’re simply delicious. The wines are full and generous without being weighty, complex and soil-driven without being demanding. Overall, the entire range is of consistently high quality, and represents excellent value for the money.”
The value of a bottle of Champagne can be measured many ways: in price tags, points, or the memories attached with the moment the cork pops. I have been lucky to enjoy large selections of various vintages of Special Club champagnes over twenty some-odd years in wine, but one of the absolute finest I have ever tried was from Marc Hebrart. It was part of a tasting of over twenty Special Club producers, and while there were some that I scored higher in aromatics or initial flavors, the one that scored the highest for overall pleasure was the Hebrart. Over the years, this has continued to hold true across the board with the Hebrart lineup. From the Rive Gauche/Rive Droit, all the way down to the Cuveé de Reserve, the overall impression is harmony and delight.
There is something to be said for nostalgia when it comes to Champagne, even when that feeling only takes you back 15 years or so. Marc Hebrart wines take me back to several special moments, and still have a place in our permanent rotation just in case we have something new to commemorate. These should never fail to bring that extra dash of joy to your touchstone moments as well.
“Again and again I confront these Champagnes, tasting them there with him, tasting them elsewhere with you, drinking them at home, and every time I’ve had them in my glass for the past several years I’ve found myself thinking ‘Does Champagne really get any better than this?’”– Terry Theise
In Stock Now from Marc Hebrart
Marc Hebrart ‘Noces de Craie’ Grand Cru Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut, Champagne 2015 750ML ($149.95) $109 special, 7 bottles in stock now
Terry Theise note “…this preview bottle was extraordinary, following on the heels of the masterly 2012. It’s 100% Aÿ PN, from Cheuzelles, Longchamp, Pierre Robert, Pruche and Chauffour. Another Coeur de Cuvée, massale selection, deg 9/2018. Our “marriage of chalk” is surprisingly lapidary and ready. More seductive than the “Favorites” and also fruitier. It has a huge adamant length you did not expect—all the power is in the back, it only seems to yield. Like a sweet-natured person who always seems to prevail, or a sideways strength you don’t feel being used. A wonderful, surprising work of genius.”
Marc Hebrart Rive Gauche Rive Droite Grand Cru Extra Brut, Champagne 2013 750ML ($149.95) $125 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Rive Gauche Rive Droite is a blend of Pinot Noir from Aÿ and Chardonnay from Oiry, Chouilly and Avize, all Grand Crus. Resonant and expansive on the palate, it possesses tremendous richness and depth from start to finish. Dried pear, pastry, dried herbs and crushed flowers give the stunningly beautifully, expressive Champagne with tons of complexity. Disgorged: December 19, 2018” [Disgorgement date may vary.]
Arriving Late November from Marc Hebrart
Hebrart Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “[Review is for prior release] Disgorged in April 2018, the latest iteration of Hébrart’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru is lovely, bursting with aromas of Meyer lemon, green apple, brioche and subtle hints of blanched almond. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seductive, with ripe acids, a youthfully frothy but incipiently fine mousse and a sapid, vinous finish that belies this bottling’s easy charm. Not only is this a terrific wine, it’s a terrific value.”
Hebrart Cuvee Reserve Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($54.95) $45 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 92 points “[Review is for prior disgorgement] Disgorged in April 2018, the latest iteration of Hébrart’s NV Brut Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru is lovely, bursting with aromas of Meyer lemon, green apple, brioche and subtle hints of blanched almond. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied, fleshy and seductive, with ripe acids, a youthfully frothy but incipiently fine mousse and a sapid, vinous finish that belies this bottling’s easy charm. Not only is this a terrific wine, it’s a terrific value.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Hebrart Cuvee Rose Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “[Review is for 2019 release] Aromas of sweet red berries, fresh pastry, orange rind and spices introduce Hébrart’s latest NV Brut Premier Cru Rosé, a medium to full-bodied, elegant and charming wine with a delicate core of fruit, fine-boned structure and a mouthwateringly chalky finish. It was disgorged earlier this year.”
Hebrart Selection Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Importer note “50% ’15, 50% ’14. Disgorged 2019.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “A sleek Champagne, mouthwatering and refined in texture, offering a creamy, well-meshed blend of crème de cassis, toast point, crystallized honey and lemon curd. Disgorged December 2018. Drink now through 2021.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 92 points “The latest rendition of Hébrart’s NV Brut Premier Cru Sélection, disgorged earlier this year, is derived largely from Mareuil-sur-Ay, supplemented by some 13% from Chouilly. Offering up aromas of citrus oil, white flowers and fresh pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, with good concentration and structure in a charming format, concluding with an elegantly chalky finish.”
Marc Hebrart Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes, Champagne NV 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 93 points “The NV Brut Premier Cru Mes Favorites Vieilles Vignes is a new cuvée for Hébrart that’s well worth seeking out, derived from superior, south-facing sites in Mareuil-sur-Ay that also inform his Special Club bottling. The inaugural released, based on the 2014 vintage, is showing very well, wafting from the glass with aromas of apples, pears, tangerine, white flowers, spice and pastry cream. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, concentrated and nicely structured, with good cut and dry extract, as well as all the charm that defines the house style.”
Terry Theise Note “[+++]The facts first—It is 75% PN from Mareuil, 25% Chard also from Mareuil. Old vines, massale selection. Deg 4/2018. 60% 2014, 20% 2013, 20% 2012. It’s from his favorite parcels in Mareuil, and is intended as a tribute to its terroir. It has a truly noble PN fragrance, leading to an utter masterpiece of weightless concentration, as huge and yet as penetrable as a cumulous cloud. Mareuil is clearly great but it’s also somewhat inscrutable; it has some of the malt of Aÿ, some mirabelle confiture, an almost gingery spice and top notes of chalk. This wine has great, gossamer opulence.
Hebrart Special Club Brut Millesime, Champagne 2015 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 94+ points “Hébrart produced around 10,000 bottles of his 2015 Brut Premier Cru Special Club, a lovely wine that offers up inviting aromas of fresh pear, warm bread, cassis, white flowers and mango. On the palate, it’s full-bodied, rich and concentrated, with real depth and concentration at the core, chewy structuring extract and lively acids, concluding with a long and precise finish. Tasted from a non-commercial early trial disgorgement, this appears to be a serious Special Club that will reward bottle age in the making.”
Peter Liem note “Hébrart’s Special Club contains pinot noir from Louvois for the first time (16 percent), blended with 45 percent of pinot noir from Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, 34 percent of chardonnay from Mareuil, and 5 percent of chardonnay from Oiry and Chouilly. It’s fragrant and inviting on the nose, showing subtle notes of pomelo, pink grapefruit, guava and pear, and it turns richer on the palate, with a ripe depth of fruit and a vivid presence. It already shows a detailed complexity of flavor, and while there’s a hint of the bitterness characteristic of 2015, it’s folded into the whole and integrated well. The finish is chewy and almost tannic, imparting a feeling of dry extract, yet it’s balanced well, with length, depth and complexity of fruit. My rating may be conservative, and it depends on how this develops with time: will that 2015 character assert itself, or will it recede into the fruit and allow the other elements to shine? Last tasted: 3/20.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
Cheval Blanc in South America:
The 100-Point 2017 Cheval des Andes
The 100-Point 2017 Cheval des Andes
Cheval des Andes is a joint project between Saint Emilion’s Château Cheval Blanc and Argentina’s Terrazas De Los Andes. Many of you are likely familiar with the former, the most famous of Saint Emilion’s 4 Premier Grand Cru Classé ‘A’ producers. If the name sounds familiar, but you just can’t seem to place it, know that the 1961 vintage was the object of Miles’ obsession, and the contents of his styrofoam cup during the climactic scene of the classic 2004 film Sideways.
As for Terrazas De Los Andes, it would be on the short list for grand cru status if Argentina ever considered implementing their own classification system. A pioneer of high elevation viticulture, Terrazas De Los Andes was one of the first producers to demonstrate Argentina’s potential for cool-climate winemaking. Hailing from a country best known for high alcohol, bombastic wines, Cheval des Andes zigged while others zagged. Today their wines are considered some of the continent’s most elegance, complex and age-worthy.
Always one of the South America’s most sought after wines, the 2017 Cheval des Andes is poised to become the most collectable vintage ever. In awarding the wine a perfect 100-point score, James Suckling didn’t mince words: “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever.”
Pre-Arrival ETA January 2021:
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’, Mendoza 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling. Available in September 2020. Better after 2024.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “In the last few years, a handful of wines from Chile and Argentina—often French owned—have been released in September through the Place de Bordeaux, the network of négociants that sell most of the Bordeaux wines and some of the leading wines from other regions. The 2017 Cheval des Andes is one such wine. 2017 saw an early harvest, but they started picking on the 6th of March and continued until the 10th of April, more or less normal dates, early but not so much. The varietal break down this vintage comes to 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine is slightly riper and higher in alcohol than 2016 (this 2017 is 14.2% alcohol). The different plots fermented separately with selected yeasts, and the élevage lasted for 15 months and was in 50/50 new and second use barrels, 90% of them French and the rest made with wood from Eastern Europe. They used 45% Bordeaux barrels, 45% 400-liter barrels and, for the first time, a 2,500-liter oak foudre. This is clearly the darkest of the trio of vintages I tasted together here—2015, 2016 and 2017—but all three have the elegant and powerful profile, the luxurious and creamy character found in the best Bordeaux wines in the last few years, wines of power with precision, concentration, energy and finesse. This seems to combine the clout of the 2015 and the freshness of the 2016 and feels something in between those two vintages. Their work in the vineyard toward the maturity of the tannins meant the challenge in 2017 was to not let the grapes ripen too fast and too early. The work is different for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, to get round tannins in Cabernet and get some tension in Malbec, the contrary of the normal tendency of the varieties. 2017 has less ripeness than the 2015 but more density than the 2016. The texture is velvety, precise and harmonious. This year, they introduced a larger foudre for 10% of the wine, with the aim to reach 20%, so that volume is increasing every year. I think this is showing more precision, and in a more challenging year, they managed to keep the quality on par with 2016. They have changed the label this year, to a cleaner and more elegant label that also reflects the direction the wine is going in. 81,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2019.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “The seventeenth vintage of Cheval des Andes, a wine that has undergone a model transformation. I recently tried the 2007, and it’s fascinating to trace the different stages of its evolution, all of which say something about the contemporary history of Argentine wine. To sum up, it started out with a French love of concentration and ripeness and ended up with an equally French love of equilibrium and local terroir. The 2017 is a new beginning in itself. A blend of Malbec with 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, it presents a bold nose of fresh fruit such as sweet and sour cherry with fleshy aromas and a touch of white pepper over a bold, woody backdrop. A fluid wine, slightly taut on the palate with medium structure, a delicate feel and active tannins well integrated into the terse texture, overall it is nuanced and full of flavor. Possesses a balance that respects the concentration of the vintage without ever letting it get out of hand. An Argentine wine made with more than a nod to French expertise.”
As for Terrazas De Los Andes, it would be on the short list for grand cru status if Argentina ever considered implementing their own classification system. A pioneer of high elevation viticulture, Terrazas De Los Andes was one of the first producers to demonstrate Argentina’s potential for cool-climate winemaking. Hailing from a country best known for high alcohol, bombastic wines, Cheval des Andes zigged while others zagged. Today their wines are considered some of the continent’s most elegance, complex and age-worthy.
Always one of the South America’s most sought after wines, the 2017 Cheval des Andes is poised to become the most collectable vintage ever. In awarding the wine a perfect 100-point score, James Suckling didn’t mince words: “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever.”
Pre-Arrival ETA January 2021:
Terrazas de Los Andes ‘Cheval des Andes’, Mendoza 2017 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
James Suckling 100 points “This is the greatest Cheval des Andes ever. The integration of fruit, tannins and acidity is fantastic. Full-bodied, tight and solid with beautiful depth and integrity. Extremely long and exciting. Complex and compelling. Available in September 2020. Better after 2024.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 97+ points “In the last few years, a handful of wines from Chile and Argentina—often French owned—have been released in September through the Place de Bordeaux, the network of négociants that sell most of the Bordeaux wines and some of the leading wines from other regions. The 2017 Cheval des Andes is one such wine. 2017 saw an early harvest, but they started picking on the 6th of March and continued until the 10th of April, more or less normal dates, early but not so much. The varietal break down this vintage comes to 62% Malbec and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the wine is slightly riper and higher in alcohol than 2016 (this 2017 is 14.2% alcohol). The different plots fermented separately with selected yeasts, and the élevage lasted for 15 months and was in 50/50 new and second use barrels, 90% of them French and the rest made with wood from Eastern Europe. They used 45% Bordeaux barrels, 45% 400-liter barrels and, for the first time, a 2,500-liter oak foudre. This is clearly the darkest of the trio of vintages I tasted together here—2015, 2016 and 2017—but all three have the elegant and powerful profile, the luxurious and creamy character found in the best Bordeaux wines in the last few years, wines of power with precision, concentration, energy and finesse. This seems to combine the clout of the 2015 and the freshness of the 2016 and feels something in between those two vintages. Their work in the vineyard toward the maturity of the tannins meant the challenge in 2017 was to not let the grapes ripen too fast and too early. The work is different for Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, to get round tannins in Cabernet and get some tension in Malbec, the contrary of the normal tendency of the varieties. 2017 has less ripeness than the 2015 but more density than the 2016. The texture is velvety, precise and harmonious. This year, they introduced a larger foudre for 10% of the wine, with the aim to reach 20%, so that volume is increasing every year. I think this is showing more precision, and in a more challenging year, they managed to keep the quality on par with 2016. They have changed the label this year, to a cleaner and more elegant label that also reflects the direction the wine is going in. 81,500 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2019.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 95 points “The seventeenth vintage of Cheval des Andes, a wine that has undergone a model transformation. I recently tried the 2007, and it’s fascinating to trace the different stages of its evolution, all of which say something about the contemporary history of Argentine wine. To sum up, it started out with a French love of concentration and ripeness and ended up with an equally French love of equilibrium and local terroir. The 2017 is a new beginning in itself. A blend of Malbec with 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, it presents a bold nose of fresh fruit such as sweet and sour cherry with fleshy aromas and a touch of white pepper over a bold, woody backdrop. A fluid wine, slightly taut on the palate with medium structure, a delicate feel and active tannins well integrated into the terse texture, overall it is nuanced and full of flavor. Possesses a balance that respects the concentration of the vintage without ever letting it get out of hand. An Argentine wine made with more than a nod to French expertise.”
Collector’s Corner
2018 Diamond Creek
At Subscriber Special Pricing
Diamond Creek invented much of what we think of as pillars of cult California Cabernet. The single vineyard bottlings, the exclusive mailing list and the high price tags all seemed to spring from this tiny estate on the hillsides of Diamond Mountain. The wines are as iconic as ever—monuments to the greatness of their Napa terroir.
Stylistically, these are powerful Cabernets. Although there are distinct differences between the three vineyards, the wines show a common vein of Diamond Mountain ruggedness—an intensity of flavor and minerality that’s unique to the AVA. Diamond Creek manages to harness it to produce wines that dazzle with their complexity and age worthiness; wines that rival the finest in Bordeaux.
We’re offering a pre-arrival Subscriber Special on their stunning 2018’s—wines that will stand the test of time as some of the greatest produced in Napa. The winery is very sensitive about online pricing, so these discounts won’t display in our webstore—but don’t worry, we’ll manually adjust them before running your credit card.
Diamond Creek Subscriber Special
Subscriber Special pricing will not display online
We will manually adjust the price before finalizing your order and running your credit card.
Arriving ETA November:
Diamond Creek Volcanic Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($279.95) Displayed price $249, Your Price: $219 pre-arrival special, only 24 bottles available
Winery notes “Volcanic Hill is comprised of 8 acres of south facing hillside vineyard. It is the warmest of all our micro-climates. The color of the soil is gray, and the consistency is that of fluffy, volcanic ash, originally deposited from the eruption of Mt. Konocti 8 million years ago. Volcanic Hill is the longest lived of our wines. Our winemaker describes these wines as “full bodied, loaded with intense ripe berry fruit, cassis, violets and a smoky richness, finishing with good length and firm tannins. The Volcanic Hill bottling includes a small amount of the extra-ordinary Petit Verdot grape.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Diamond Creek Red Rock Terrace Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($279.95) Displayed price $249, Your Price: $219 pre-arrival special, only 24 bottles available
Winery notes “Red Rock Terrace, a warm microclimate, is 7 acres of north facing vineyard. The red tinted soil is high in iron content. The wine from Red Rock Terrace is the most accessible and earliest drinkable of all our wines. Our winemaker describes Red Rock Terrace as “having velvety tannins, rich and well balanced, medium dark ruby color with cherry, mint and black currant flavors.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Diamond Creek Gravelly Meadow Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2018 750ML ($279.95) Displayed price $249, Your Price: $219 pre-arrival special, only 24 bottles available
Winery notes “Our second coolest micro-climate is our five-acre Gravelly Meadow vineyard. Originally a pre-historic river bed, this stony, gravelly soil drains rapidly and the vines struggle for moisture. Gravelly Meadow is our lowest yielding vineyard. The wines are described as “earthy, cedary, jammy and ripe blackberry with a spicy expansive finish.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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