Saturday, June 4th, 2016
Jump Start Sale; Bethel Heights; F. X. Pichler – New Releases Arrive Late June; 2013 Betz and Cayuse; Marcel Deiss; Giovanni Corino; Domaine Jamet; Staff Pick; Mount Etna; Paitin; Felsina – Arriving in July; Perrier Jouet Super Savings: New Arrivals
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Jump Start Sale
Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant 2012 750ML ($17.95) Was $14, Now $11.90, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant 2012 750ML ($199.95) Was $149, Now $119, 3 cases available
Wine Spectator 90 points “This focused red offers flavors of black cherry, kirsch, licorice, toast and mineral, with juicy acidity and well-integrated tannins. Features a nice balance of fruit and savory character. Garnacha, Cariñena and Tempranillo. Drink now through 2020. 2,500 cases made.”
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High Scoring Willamette Pinots
Newly Arrived
Bethel Heights Vineyard ‘Aeolian’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2012 750ML ($44.95) $33 special, 6 bottles available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 92 points “Brilliant ruby. High-pitched, mineral-laced red and dark berry scents are complemented by notes of cola, anise and vanilla bean. Silky and open-knit on entry, offering sweet black raspberry and rose pastille flavors that tighten up with air and pick up an exotic blood orange nuance. Shows excellent clarity and lift on the finish, which is framed by silky tannins.”
Arriving Late June
Bethel Heights Vineyard Flat Block Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Ripe and vibrant, open-textured and centered on currant and plum fruit, picking up hints of wet stone and spice as the finish comes together harmoniously. Has presence and depth. Best from 2018 through 2024.”
Bethel Heights Vineyard ‘Justice Vineyard’ Pinot Noir, Eola-Amity Hills 2014 750ML ($61.95) $51.90 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 93 points “Focused, expressive and refined, layering the generous currant, blackberry. tobacco and dill flavors into a seamless package, rolling gently into a long finish against lightly prickly tannins. Best from 2018 through 2024.”
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F.X. Pichler
Special effects along the Danube
The estate of F.X. Pichler has been in the family for 5 generations, producing gorgeous whites from vineyards along the Danube in the Wachau Valley of Austria. The region is known for its dry Gruner Veltliner and Rieslings, and it is no exaggeration to say that F.X. Pichler is one of the most esteemed and sought-after estates from the area. The wines show character and reflect the terroir with refreshing precision. Since 1999, Lucas Pichler has been the winemaker while his father cares for the vineyards.
We are pleased to present the 2013 releases of Riesling below, arriving late June. The Gruners will be featured in Monday’s newsletter. You can get a head start on the full list by visiting our web site: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
F.X. Pichler Loibner Burgstall Riesling Federspiel, Wachau 2013 750ML ($44.95) $39 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 90 points “Bottled already in February of 2014, this offers scents and flavors of ripe apricot reminiscent of Riesling from the gravelly nearby Oberhäuser, wreathed in musky peony-like perfume and accompanied by a high-toned suggestion of pistachio extract. On a firm yet glossy and brightly juicy palate, it offers lemony-green tartness of sorrel allied to the pit-inflected but fleshy apricot, and finishes with persistent verve and invigorating tang.”
F.X. Pichler Durnsteiner Kellerberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($119.95) $99 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 97 points “Succulent white peach and Persian melon are tinged more subtly than usual for this bottling with Madagascar and Szechuan peppercorns, black tea and crushed stone. There is hauntingly bittersweet floral perfume wafting through this entire performance, almost as though some Achleiten or Heiligenstein got loose in the fermenter. A high-toned suggestion of almond extract adds to the sweet impression of fruitiness (despite analytical dryness); and a mandarin orange note adds aromatic as well as brightly juicy allure in perfect harmony with a seductively creamy texture. Piquancy of peach kernel lends stimulating counterpoint and engenders a glowingly persistent finish. The combination of pit fruit, citrus and floral aromatics with complex peppery notes left in the empty glass is head-turning. This is as refined a Kellerberg Riesling as it has been my pleasure to experience. What’s more, it represents the first time I can recall using the word “buoyant” to describe one–and that for a wine picked in the last week of November!”
Wine Advocate 95 points “From the estate’s parade vineyard, the 2013 Riesling Smaragd Dürnsteiner Kellerberg displays a very rich and intense aroma of super-ripe and concentrated Riesling berries. Rich and powerful, but also precise, impressively concentrated and piquant on the palate, this well-balanced and highly elegant Riesling with its lemon and orange aftertaste is another signature wine of both the Wachau and the 2013 vintage. It’s aging potential should be terrific. A serious, tension-filled Riesling of great expression, which I highly recommend.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Loibenberg Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 94 points “Beautifully concenrated with apricot perfume, the 2013 Riesling Smaragd Loibner Loibenberg is a rich, full-bodied and enervating fresh and salty Smaragd of remarkable elegance and purity. Very well-balanced and long on the palate, this tension-filled Riesling elixir has a persistent salinity and steely acidity that gives it excellent aging potential.”
David Schildknecht–Vinous 94 points “Ravishingly sweet floral perfume is mingled on the nose with hints of smoky Latakia tobacco and lemon oil, and a suggestion of ripe white peach that then takes on luscious palate presence. While the feel is polished and subtly creamy, juicy fresh lemon and grapefruit serve for zesty verve and refreshment, leading to a vibrantly sustained and nearly head-spinningly kaleidoscopic finish.”
F.X. Pichler Loibner Oberhauser Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($41.95) $39 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 93 points “Site-typical pit-tinged apricot in the nose is joined by scents of honeysuckle and high-toned nut extracts. The silky palate offers a luscious evocation of apricot fruit laced with brightly fresh lime, an impression of great purity carrying into the impressively penetrating and exhilaratingly refreshing finish, in which the sheer abundance of fruit is more than up to the counterpoint of pit piquancy and liquid floral notes perfectly complement a sense of wafting buoyancy.”
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F.X. Pichler Loibner Steinertal Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($69.95) $59 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 95 points “Salt, white pepper and Szechuan peppercorn mouthwateringly and invigoratingly inflect luscious, juicy white peach, pineapple and lime. A sleek and refined texture contributes to this bottling’s overall sense of elegance. With a similar ringing clarity to that of the Oberhäuser, but with greater depth and complexity as befits its steep and stony origins, this projects liquid perfume of a bittersweet, iris-like sort; smoky black tea; crushed stone; and diverse peppercorns, finishing with phenomenal persistence. Interestingly and perhaps not coincidentally, at just 13% it is one of the alcoholically lightest wines of the present collection.”
F.X. Pichler ‘Unendlich’ Riesling Smaragd, Wachau 2013 750ML ($219.95) $199 pre-arrival special
David Schildknecht–Vinous 96 points “From 60% Kellerberg and 40% Loibenberg fruit, this installment of the periodically rendered Pichler Riesling essence leads with high-toned scents of lemon oil and lemon blossom as well as intimations of the white peach and pink grapefruit that then lusciously inform a glycerol-rich, subtly creamy, enveloping palate. Billowing inner-mouth perfume of gentian and iris add bittersweet allure, and there is smoky, peppery counterpoint, especially in the finish, such as one usually expects to encounter in Pichler Riesling primarily with Steinertal- and Kellerberg-dedicated bottlings. A dark, deeply savory, resonant finish certainly makes a serious effort at living up to the name “Endless,” adding a welcome touch of saliva-stimulating salinity. Incidentally, this finished at 13.9% alcohol, modest by historical standards set by “Unendlich” bottlings, and amazing considering that, as Lucas Pichler explained, this installment derived from pickings done just ahead of the main harvest of certain parcels where subtly desiccated berries could be found, the latest of which was in mid-November. I’ve often referred to installments of Unendlich as “liqueurs of Riesling,” but that would almost be to do a disservice to the clarity and dynamic complexity of this one.”
Wine Advocate 95+ points “Pichler’s late harvested 2013 Riesling Smaragd Unendlich (German for unending, infinite, endless) opens with a clear, pure, precise and cool, mineral-fresh and aromatic white peach and fully ripe Riesling bouquet of great, yet not exaggerated, concentration. The wine is full-bodied, thrillingly mineral, tension-filled and elegant on the palate. This powerful, intense, highly complex and concentrated yet still fresh, precise and long-finishing Riesling elixir has a remarkable yet variety-typical racy acidity that structures and inspires. This is a great and potent Austrian Riesling tycoon. The wine is still extremely young and needs time to open up (better years than hours). However, its aging potential should be terrific.”
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2013 Betz and Cayuse
New Vintage of Washington Wonders
Arriving Friday, June 10th
Betz Family Winery Pere de Famille Cabernet Sauvignon, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “Dark ruby. Aromas and flavors of blackcurrant, minerals, violet and bitter chocolate. A wine of outstanding finesse, showing great cut and lift but also a wonderfully supple texture. (Bob Betz feels that the effect of the Pulsair treatment is clear in this wine’s dimension and weight on the palate.) Finishes with utterly refined, nearly invisible tannins But this wine is still quite backward and will need serious cellaring to fully express itself.”
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “More approachable than the 2012, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Pere de Famille (89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot) has a full-bodied, sexy, yet still focused and pure style to go with pretty and expressive notes of red plums, cassis, black raspberries, violets, graphite and spring flowers. It has a great finish and sweet tannin, and while it has plenty of fruit, I suspect it will firm up once in bottle and require short-term cellaring.”
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The average price is $81
Betz Family Winery Clos de Betz, Columbia Valley 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “Tasted out of barrel and scheduled to be bottled in June of this year, the 2013 Clos de Betz checks in as a blend of 63% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 22% Petit Verdot, mostly from Red Mountain and Yakima Valley, that spent 19 months in French oak. Inky colored, it has terrific and classic notes of plums, black raspberry, violets, espresso and scorched earth to go with full-bodied richness, lots of fruit and mid-palate depth, and an overriding sense of elegance and purity that carries through the finish. I wrote “classic” about three time in the note, and this is a beautiful 2013 that will cruise for 15 years or more in the cellar.”
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Cayuse Vineyards Impulsivo Tempranillo, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($179.95) $149 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 97-99 points “Aging in 50% new puncheons (they’re moving to using more and more puncheons), the 2013 Impulsivo was one of the top barrel samples I was able to taste from the vintage. Inky colored, with incredible purple fruits, violets, licorice, cedar and pen ink-like aromatics, this thrilling, dense, concentrated and structured Tempranillo will require 3-4 years of bottle age and keep for over two decades.” JD
Cayuse Vineyards Cailloux Vineyard Syrah, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 pre-arrival special
Wine Spectator 96 points “Broad and expressive, playing the cherry, raspberry and pear notes against fine tannins. Picks up tobacco, tar and mineral notes as the finish sails on. Has terrific presence without weight. Drink now through 2025.”
Wine Advocate 94-97 points “Starting off the 2013 Syrahs from barrel, the 755-case 2013 Syrah Cailloux Vineyard was cofermented with 5% Viognier and is aged in twice-used French oak. It offers a ripe, voluptuous style in its ground pepper, smoked meats, peat and sweet dark fruits. These give way to a full-bodied Syrah that has solid concentration and good tannin. The Viognier here normally gives this cuvee some early charm, but it should evolve gracefully as well.” JD
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Mid-West, East & South
Summer Shipping Saver
For the summer season we are offering
UPS Three Day Select Service for the price of UPS Ground
for shipments normally travelling 4 or more business days.
Free service upgrade only applies on single orders shipped during the promotional period.
Additional fees will apply to orders held for any reason until after the promotional period
and shipped by Three Day Select.
Offer not valid on pre-arrival items that arrive after the promotional period.
Don’t forget about our other current shipping promos:
We offer flat rate shipping on any size single order / single shipment
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California for $25
These rates do not apply to orders held in storage here for any reason.
Multiple orders consolidated into one shipment
do not qualify for flat rate shipping.
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Domaine Marcel Deiss
Jean-Michel Deiss of Domaine Marcel Deiss represents centuries of Alsatian winegrowing, winemaking, and wine tradition. Outspoken and old-school, he advocates for a future that embraces the past, and if his wines are proof, we ought to listen. Founded in Bergheim in 1744, the domaine consistently produces splendid whites and reds that shout of their terroir origins, while seducing the senses beyond boundaries. In Alsace, France and Germany meet: Riesling finds a weightier expression, and the Pinot family is reunited. And in the hands of Jean-Michel, over a dozen grape varieties can converge in the same bottle.
Deiss proudly practices the timeless Alsatian tradition of complantation, which translates to an assortment of varieties grown in the same vineyard and harvested all at once for a single cuvée. The label laws don’t allow for this in every appellation, but Altenberg Grand Cru is an exception: the Deiss vineyard here includes 13 different grape types, to make a wine of rich individuality. His Huebuhl bottling regroups the Pinots: Noir, Blanc, Gris, and Meunier… Meanwhile, Deiss produces single-varietal and late-harvest wines. Biodynamics guide the efforts in the vineyard and winery.
Alsace possesses a wealth of soil types to complement its array of grape varieties. Over 20 soil variations exist – from marl to Vosges granite, volcanic sediment to sandstone – and the Vosges mountains to the west create a rain shadow. Jean-Michel Deiss revels in such diversity (he farms 220 parcels), as do the wine writers. Beautiful, complex, invigorating, and impressive are some of the terms frequently used to describe Deiss wines, and scores regularly rank in the 90s. Add to this the long ageing potential of Jean-Michel’s wines, and you really have some profound concepts of history, viticulture, and geology to ponder, for years.
Domaine Marcel Deiss Wines Available Here Now
Domaine Marcel Deiss Riesling 2012 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 18 bottles available
Ian d’Agata Vinous 89 points “Bright straw with a gold tinge. Peach, tea and spice on the forward nose. Rich, ripe and suave, with lovely tropical fruit flavors that persist nicely at the back, with a touch of alcoholic heat becoming apparent with aeration. The grapes for this wine are sourced from three main areas: Saint Hippolyte (on soils rich in granite and clay that yield wines with less acidity), Bergheim (slightly bigger, richer wines), and a few small plots between Riquewihr and Béblenheim. Mathieu Deiss told me that “when I first came to work at the estate, I thought why not join these grapes together rather than make single bottlings of each? It’s not as if we don’t have enough single-site wines, and besides, I didn’t think our clients were die-hard fans of the Saint Hippolyte or Bergheim wines themselves.””
Domaine Marcel Deiss Altenberg de Bergheim Alsace Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 95 points “Like its 2011 counterpart, the Deiss 2010 Altenberg de Bergheim is strikingly floral, but tends toward bitter-sweet and elusive perfume of iris and lily-of-the-valley. The influence of quinine and black tea as well as a welcome suggestion of fresh peach and citrus juiciness serve as more effective counterpoint and push-back to the wine’s prominent sweetness than is the case with the 2011. A gorgeous sense of openness and levity prevails here, with quince and nut pastes subtly complimenting the prominent impression of liquid floral perfume on a silken and expansive palate, leading to a prodigious finish at once caressing as well as stimulating in its dynamic interaction of flower, fruit, and mouthwatering mineral salts…” WA
Domaine Marcel Deiss Grasberg 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “Striking, high-toned aromas of maraschino, pistachio and mirabelle distillate in the Deiss 2010 Grasberg put me in mind of previous renditions from this site and field-blend that favors Riesling, Pinot Gris and Traminer variants. Tingling pineapple informs its firm yet lusciously juicy palate, leading to a long, supportively sweet finish featuring the invigorating interaction of chalk, white pepper, orange and lemon zests, and nut extracts with peach and pineapple. Look for this beauty to perform impressively through at least 2025.” WA
Domaine Marcel Deiss Huebuhl 2008 750ML ($59.95) $41.90 special, 16 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 92 points “Full orange-gold. Pungent, high-toned aromas of orange, spices and medicinal herbs; conveys a strong botrytis character. A very sweet, energetic fruit bomb in the mouth, with brisk acidity giving grip to the rather exotic flavors of tangerine, apricot, yellow peach, botanical herbs and spices. Big and broad but not heavy. Finishes long, tactile and slightly phenolic, showing its pinot gris side today.” ST
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Domaine Marcel Deiss Schoenenbourg Grand Cru 2010 750ML ($119.95) $99 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Advocate & Stephen Tanzer 94 points “Fresh peach and citrus lusciously inform the Deiss 2010 Schoenenbourg, whose creamy texture and honeyed richness, are matched by vivacious juiciness. White pepper, chalk, quinine, and shimmering mineral matter offer invigoration and counterpoint in a sustained and dynamically complex finish. The sweetness here is supportive without remotely getting the upper hand, so that I can well imagine over the 20-25 years during which this beauty will deserve to be admired, its versatility at table will vary inversely with a diminishing sense of sweetness.” WA
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Domaine Marcel Deiss Burlenberg 2009 750ML ($49.95) $36 special, 2 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Bright ruby-red. Red cherry, raspberry syrup and fresh herbs on the perfumed nose. Creamy and tactile in the mouth, with pure, rich flavors of ripe red berries and cherry supported by fine-grained tannins. Turns slightly tighter, even a bit austere, on the very long finish, which features lingering smoke and iron notes. (Deiss told me he finds a taste of blood in this wine.) All this very impressive, mostly pinot noir red wine needs is a little time.” ID
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Mount Etna
Just as Sicily is an island of unique character, so too is its volcano, Mt. Etna. Vineyards on Etna revel in the cooler air 1000-3000 feet above sea level. And they’re often in the shadow of the volcano, whose black pumice and ash form the nutrient-poor, well-draining soils that produce fine wine. Comparisons have been drawn between Nerello Mascarese, a red grape grown on Etna for countless centuries, and Pinot Noir, thanks to the red fruitiness, tight acidity, and refreshing weightlessness. Combine these qualities with the diverse outcroppings of rocky soil, and you’ll see why today some call Etna the Mediterranean Burgundy or Barolo.
These days, while Etna puffs and erupts in the background, a flurry of winemakers are steadily fashioning a new identity for the mountain’s Nerello Mascarese-based wines. Benanti, Passopisciaro, and Tenuta delle Terre Nere figure as some of Etna’s most prominent producers. They coax the best out of their promising red grape, offering wines of fine texture and fruit, whose high acidity and alcohol lend to cellaring, and to accompanying the best Mediterranean food. From the simple Etna Rosso DOC, to the Contrade crus (also DOC) where old vines outnumber the young, to the mineral, exotic whites led by the Carricante grape, Etna covers the wine lover’s palate with novelty and flavor.
We offer 20 from Mount Etna (and 19 more from Sicily). Below are newly reviewed wines from Passopisciaro and seven additional selections from Mount Etna. Browse the full list at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Newly Reviewed Wines from Passopisciaro
Passopisciaro Contrada P Porcaria 2011 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 5 bottles available
Stephen Tanzer 92+ points “Good bright red. Complex, highly perfumed scents of red cherry, raspberry, marzipan, iron, white flowers and peppery herbs. Sweeter in the middle and more powerful than all the other cru bottlings from Passopisciaro in 2011, but with lively spicy lift. Finishes ripe and long, with mouthcoating tannins, a hint of vanilla and repeating red cherry and berry notes. A lovely wine, seemingly less austere than the other 2011s here. The Porcaria cru area is my favorite, with its north-exposed 80-year-old vineyards, as the grapes in this section of Etna benefit from the longest, slowest ripening period and often give wines of mindblowing complexity.”
Wine Spectator 92 points “This minerally red shows a sense of finesse, seamlessly layering supple tannins, fresh acidity and pure flavors of strawberry, black raspberry, star anise and graphite, with hints of grilled herb and black olive tapenade. Features a firm, lasting finish. Drink now through 2027. 160 cases made.”
Passopisciaro Contrada G Guardiola Rosso 2011 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Spectator 92 points “Fine-grained tannins impart a chewy character to the pure flavors of black raspberry and wild strawberry fruit, while mouthwatering acidity enlivens the hints of star anise, mocha and smoky mineral that echo on the creamy finish. Nerello Mascalese. Drink now through 2024. 250 cases made.”
Stephen Tanzer 90+ points “Good full, bright red. High-toned aromas of red cherry, cough drop, sweet spices and almond paste, plus a whiff of alcohol. Sweet and juicy, with superb penetration to the vibrant mineral and red cherry flavors. Very long wine with an electric, firmly tannic finish and excellent grip, but this needs time to smooth out. A note of marzipan that is typical of the Guardiola cru repeats at the back.”
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Passopisciaro Contrada C Chiappemacine 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 5 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “An accessible version, with juicy acidity and refined tannins, this features a smoky minerality underscoring the subtle flavors of plum sauce, black licorice drop, bacon fat and black cherry coulis. Finely balanced and silky, presenting a lasting finish of ripe fruit and herb. Nerello Mascalese. Drink now through 2021. 240 cases made.”
Stephen Tanzer 89+ points “Medium red. Musky raspberry, redcurrant, minerals, white flowers and a whiff of cough syrup on the nose. Minerally, serious and tightly structured, with a restrained sweetness to the vibrant red fruit and herbal flavors. The saline finish displays excellent length, serious tannins and a hint of orange peel. The name refers to the Chiappemacine area of Etna; the vines here are 80 years old.”
Passopisciaro Contrada S Sciaranuova 2011 750ML ($79.95) $69 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “This medium-bodied red offers a herb-tinged palate of creamy black cherry, raspberry fruit, red licorice, smoke and ground anise, while fresh acidity and chewy tannins impart focus through to the graphite-laced finish. Nerello Mascalese. Drink now through 2021. 160 cases made.”
Passopisciaro Contrada R Rampante 2011 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “An elegant red, featuring refined tannins that nevertheless lend some grip to flavors of currant, tobacco, spice box and seared mushroom. Light-footed and fresh, with a lasting, herb-tinged finish. Drink now through 2024. 240 cases made.”
Available Here Now from Mount Etna
Benanti Bianco di Caselle Etna 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 19 bottles available
James Suckling 92 points “An Etna white with sliced-pear, apple and chalk aromas and flavors. Full-bodied, round and rich with dried pineapple and hints of minerals. Firm structure and freshness. Beautiful pure carricante. Drink now.”
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Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Le Vigne Niche’ Bianco Etna 2013 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 23 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92 points “I was delighted by the 2013 Etna Bianco Cuvèe delle Vigne Niche because it shows a broader style that I did not expect. This is a pure expression of Carricante from vines that are up to 60 years old in age. It sees brief oak contact. You get a pure sense of mineral dryness at first, but that layer lifts gracefully to expose orange peel, dried jasmine and exotic fruit at the back. This Etna white delivers a firm style with muscle and density. It should evolve nicely over the next five years.”
Ian d’Agata–Vinous 91 points “Deep straw-gold. Yellow flowers, minerals, fennel and a smoky note on the nose. Densely packed, bright and juicy, offering rich orchard fruit and botanical herb flavors. Finishes vibrant, complex and long. This was fermented in oak and aged for about nine months in 20-hectoliter barrels.”
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Benanti Rosso di Verzella Etna 2013 750ML ($19.95) $16.60 special, 36 bottles available
Ian d’Agata–Vinous 92 points “Bright red. Aromas of fresh red berries and pungent herbs are complicated by mineral and floral nuances. Dense, juicy and bright in the mouth, with sweet, floral red berry flavors lifted by lively acidity. Multilayered but youthfully discreet. The red berry flavors linger long on the vibrant finish. This superb wine is quite Pinot Noir-like.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere ‘Feudo di Mezzo’ Etna Rosso 2012 750ML ($47.95) $41.90 special, 10 bottles available
James Suckling 94 points “I love the dried-strawberry, chocolate, nut and plum character to this. Full body, dusty tannins and a juicy, fresh finish. Excellent acidity, too. Better in 2016.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Guardiola Rosso Etna 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 13 bottles available
Ian d’Agata–Vinous 93 points “Bright red. Captivating nose combines red cherry, faded red rose, violet and tar; I know everyone speaks of Etna in terms of Burgundy, but this reminds me a lot more of a great Nebbiolo! Then pure and penetrating on the palate, with rich red cherry and raspberry flavors complicated by minerals and tar. Complex and long on the fine-grained finish. This outstanding wine possesses a measure of depth and complexity that the other crus in 2013, as wonderful as they are, don’t have.”
Wine Advocate 93-95 points “My mind wanders to the immense beauty of this stunning vineyard site when I taste the 2013 Etna Rosso Guardiola. Throughout my many years covering Italian wine, this is one of the most beautiful sites I have ever had the honor to visit. That otherworldly beauty – with volcanic stone walls, knotted pre-phelloxera vines, cherry trees and wild flowers with little shrines to the Madonna peeping through the vines – is forever etched in my memory. Guardiola is among my favorite Etna Contrade. This is a shapely and sophisticated expression with dark fruit tones of cassis and blackcurrant backed by crushed mineral and dried flowers. The tannins are firm and drying. This vintage far exceeds my expectations.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Prephylloxera La Vigna di Don Peppino Rosso Etna 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 special, 13 bottles available
Ian d’Agata–Vinous 93 points “Vibrant red. Very Nebbiolo aromas of red cherry and red rose are complicated by Pinot-Noir like flint and darker fruits. Dense and large-scaled but juicy too, offering bright, pure flavors of red berries and cherry supported by silky tannins. The finishes is pure, suave and very long, with mineral and floral reminders. I find this to combine the best traits of the Guardiola and Calderara wines, which is not that surprising as the grapes used to make it come from the Calderara Sottana and Santo Spirito vineyards (the latter is located right beneath Guardiola, so I wasn’t too far off the mark). Great stuff.”
Tenuta delle Terre Nere Santo Spirito Rosso Etna 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 35 bottles available
Wine Advocate 92-94 points “The 2013 Etna Rosso Santo Spirito is an abundant and enriched expression from the darkened volcanic slopes of Mt. Etna Santo Spirito runs through parts of Passopisciaro at the heart of Etna’s best production zones. This gorgeous wine opens to a dark garnet appearance with inkier colors of crimson and ruby. Crisp and crunchy tones of wild berry, cranberry, red rose and dark mineral characterize the mouthfeel. This was a difficult vintage that saw slow and uneven ripening for many producers. Marco De Grazia has evidently mastered when to harvest his fruit at optimal ripeness.”
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Paitin di Pasquero-Elia
Paitin estate history goes back to 1796, when Benedetto Elia (Paitin) purchased a vineyard of about 5 acres in the Neive region of Piedmonte. About 30 years later, Elia bought roughly 5 more acres of Nebbiolo and Barbera vineyards with a house and cellar, and the first Barbaresco wine was bottled in 1893. Following historic tradition, Paitin estate has remained within the family and since 1965 (7 generations later) Secondo Pasquero Elia has taken over the winery and now runs the estate with his sons, Silvano and Giovanni.
Paitin is now one of the highly acclaimed wineries in Piedmonte for Barbaresco. The family passionately works with the fruit, dependent upon the soil patterns of the slopes, the microclimates of each parcel and the differentiations between the multiple layers of schist soils throughout the vineyards. This is an incredible value for this Barbaresco, in which you rarely see price tags under the $40-$50 range for such high quality, and certainly nowhere near Barolo prices. Paitin’s Serra tends to have notes of both dark and tart bing cherry fruit, beautiful peppery spice, followed by soft, fine-grained tannins.
New Releases from Paitin, Arriving in July
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Sori Paitin’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Antonio Gallnoi 93 points “Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mint and leather are some of the notes that emerge from the 2012 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin. The Sorì Paitin is quite a bit more complex than it was from barrel, largely because the bottled wine is composed of approximately 30% wine that was originally destined for the Vecchie Vigne. As a result, this is one of the few 2012s I tasted that has real upside potential, even if it is relatively approachable today.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Vecchie Vigne’ Sori Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2010 750ML ($89.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2010 Barbaresco Sorì Paitin Vigne Vecchie hits the palate with fabulous depth and Intensity. Savory herbs, smoke, tobacco, incense, menthol and licorice race out of the glass in an intense, structured Barbaresco loaded with class, energy and pure power. There is plenty to look forward to, once the tannins soften a bit. The 2010 has closed down pretty dramatically since the last time I tasted it, about a year ago. Readers will have to be patient. The 2010 spent a total of 30 months in cask.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Available Here Now from Paitin
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia Ca Veja Nebbiolo d’Alba 2012 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special, 27 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2012 Nebbiolo d’Alba Ca’ Veja has turned out beautifully. Supple, open-knit and absolutely delicious, the 2012 offers up a compelling mix of sweet red berries and stone fruit laced with attractive floral overtones. This is a classic example of Nebbiolo from Alba, with that extra kick of mid-palate pliancy that is such a Paitin signature.”
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($41.95) $31.90 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2011 750ML ($419.95) $359 special, 7 cases available (that’s only $29.92/bottle and the lowest listed price in the USA today!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Rich and velvety, yet also vibrant and complex, this red boasts floral, berry, anise, leather and mineral flavors. Harmonious, this turns slightly chewy in texture on the lingering finish. Best from 2017 through 2027. 1,000 cases made.” WS
Antonio Galloni 93 points “Crushed flowers, sweet red berries, spices and mint race across the palate in the 2011 Barbaresco Serra. This is one of the most intense, tannic 2011 Barbarescos readers will come across. Far from an easygoing wine, the 2011 is going to need considerable patience. Hints of sweet tobacco, mint and anise add nuance on the layered, super-expressive finish. The 2011 Serra spent two years in 50-hectoliter casks.” AG
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Serra’, Barbaresco DOCG 2012 750ML ($39.95) $29 special, 14 bottles available
James Suckling 93 points “This is very silky and refined with chocolate, meat and coffee aromas and flavors, but it’s so refined and beautiful. Impressive for its delicate complexity. Drink now or hold.” JS
Paitin di Pasquero-Elia ‘Vecchie Vigne’ Sori Paitin, Barbaresco DOCG 2004 750ML ($79.95) $71.90 special, 5 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2004 Barbaresco Sori’ Paitin Vecchie Vigne is marvelous. Dark red berries, crushed flowers, smoke, ash and tar are just some of the notes that emege from this big yet beautifully articulated Vecchie Vigne. The 2004 shows superb class and fabulous overall balance. As always this is a fairly large-scaled Barbaresco, but all of the elements meld together beautifully. A long, sensual finish rounds things out in style. With air the 2004 is approachable today, but it clearly has the stuffing and freshness to drink well to age 25, perhaps beyond. The Vecchie Vigne captures the essence of this great Piedmontese vintage in spades.” AG
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Giovanni Corino
The beautiful commune of La Morra became home to the famed Giovanni Corino and his family in 1952; at the time, most of the wine was sold to negociants with the remainder being consumed among the family and their friends. Come the mid-eighties, the family began bottling a Barolo under their own name. Dolcetto and Barbera were to follow, with a renewed focus on pruning and vine upkeep. Some wine was still sold off in order to invest in the cellaring of wines.
The use of sulfur and copper are strictly monitored and pesticides are only used when absolutely necessary. Cow manure is used as fertilizer, only indigenous yeasts are employed, and no filtration or clarification is performed.
Come 2005, the estate was split evenly between the family’s two sons, Giuliano and Renato. Giovanni Corino, the ‘classic’ estate, fell under Giuliano’s control, though the brothers get along well and often collaborate.
Giovanni Corino Wines Available Here Now
Giovanni Corino Dolcetto d’Alba 2011 750ML ($29.95) $14 special, 30 bottles available
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Dolcetto d’Alba 2011 750ML ($249.95) $149 special, 6 cases available (that’s only $12.42/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 88 points “Corino’s 2011 Dolcetto d’Alba is an absolutely joyous, delicious wine bursting with juicy, varietal fruit. Plums, violets, tar and exotic spices flesh out on the vinous, inviting finish.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Giovanni Corino Barbera d’Alba 2012 750ML ($24.95) $17 special, 30 bottles available
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barbera d’Alba 2012 750ML ($249.95) $179 special, 3 cases available (that’s only $14.92/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 88 points “The 2012 Barbera d’Alba is juicy, expressive and generous. Dark red cherries, plums, spices and licorice meld together in a pretty, vinous Barbera to drink over the next few years.” AG
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Giovanni Corino Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($44.95) $29 special (was $33), 30 bottles available
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($479.95) $319 special (was $359), 3 cases available (that’s only $26.58/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 90 points “A fresh, elegant red, showing cherry, floral, loam and underbrush flavors. This is firm, yet ripe and long, with gripping tannins on the finish. Best from 2017 through 2030.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $39.99
Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($59.95) $47 special, 25 bottles available
Case-6 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($299.95) $264 special, 4 six-packs available (that’s only $44/bottle!)
Case-12 Giovanni Corino Barolo Vigna Giachini, Barolo DOCG 2010 750ML ($599.95) $479 special, 5 cases available (that’s only $39.92/bottle!)
Wine Spectator 94 points “Focused, juicy and long, this red is packed with cherry, floral, tobacco and underbrush flavors. Still a bit tight now, but stays long. The sweet fruit returns on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2030.” WS
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Domaine Jamet
Côte Rôtie
From a mere 1/3 hectare of vines purchased in 1950, Joseph Jamet and his sons, Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc, built one of the most highly sought after Côte Rôtie domaines. The domaine bottles wines from 25 parcels offering a variety of terroirs. The majority of sites are in the Côte Brune, a sub-region known for its brown schist soils that offer dark, tannic, long-aging wines. The Côte Blonde sites offer floral and aromatic nuance to the blend. Each vintage, a new blend from the sites is created to balance the cuvee. (Often, not all sites are included.) The domaine has a fiercely classical take on producing Côte Rôtie: employing whole clusters for the long fermentation before aging in mostly neutral oak pieces and demi-muids for two years.
From the mid-1980s, when Joseph retired, to 2013, the estate was run by Jean-Paul and Jean-Luc. The domaine split in 2013, and Jean-Luc will produce his own domaine wines from the family lieux-dit on the Lancement. Domaine Jamet wine will be labeled under the full name of Domaine de Jean-Paul & Corinne Jamet.
Domaine Jamet Wines Available Here Now
Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie 2012 750ML ($199.95) $169 special, 6 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2012 Cote Rotie is smoking good and should be up with the top wines from this estate. Inky colored, full-bodied and beautifully concentrated, it offers classic pepper, violets, bacon fat, olive and sweet cassis-like fruits. Opening up with time in the glass, it has the approachable, supple feel of the vintage, yet has more than enough mid-palate depth and fine tannin to keep it drinking beautifully for another two decades.” WA
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “(15% new oak): Deep ruby. Complex, highly perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and dark berries, incense, violet and cracked pepper, along with a vibrant mineral overtone. Juicy and focused on the palate, offering intense blackberry, bitter cherry and floral pastille flavors that stretch out slowly with air. This concentrated yet lively Côte-Rôtie finishes with superb clarity and even tannins.” JR
Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 31 bottles available
Domaine Jamet Cote Rotie 2013 1.5L ($319.95) $279 special, 1 magnum available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 94 points “Inky ruby. A vibrant spice- and mineral-accented bouquet evokes ripe black raspberry and blueberry, candied flowers, incense and peppery spices. Sweet, palate-staining red and blue fruit compote and violet pastille flavors are complicated by notes of cracked pepper and bitter chocolate, with a spicecake nuance gaining strength in the glass. Velvety, pliant tannins add gentle grip to a strikingly long and incisive finish that strongly repeats the floral and mineral notes.” JR
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Staff Pick
Johan Vineyards Petillant Naturel Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2014 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
Spicy and yeasty, this Pet Nat spins your expectations for Oregon Pinot on its head. Sure, there are some classic red berry notes, a touch of tarragon and a nice body, but this bottling highlights the funky side of Pinot. Decidedly bubbly, enjoy with just about any food – cheeses, chicken, or even burgers and fries. –Suzanne
“Vinopolis, an endless holy temple of wine, is home to one of Portland’s best selections of peasant fizz. The shop stocks a regular supply of Johan Vineyards’ pét-nat of pinot noir ($21.90), a wine that defies any preconceived notions you might have about what Oregon pinot can be. Effervescent, unctuous, peppery, glowing sunset orange in color and deceptively easy to drink, this wine is both a conversation piece for your next hang and an everyday chill–out drinker. Accessible, agreeable, perfect for beer geeks—Johan’s is not the only great Oregon pét-nat, but it is my favorite. This is another great wine for farmhouse beer fans, with layered flavors like peach, white pepper and red fruits balanced by intriguing, fermenty funk.” –Jordan Michelman – Willamette Week
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 90 points “Deep, lurid pink. A wild, highly perfumed bouquet evokes medicinal red fruits, blood orange, potpourri and quinine, with a zesty white pepper overtone; smells exactly like a Negroni. The palate offers incisive redcurrant and bitter cherry flavors and a jolt of orange pith, along with a hint of candied ginger. Dry and minerally on the long, precise finish, which shows resonating spice and floral notes. The Brooklyn and Portland crowd will especially go nuts for this but I suspect that plenty of un-hip wine lovers will as well; I did and I’m an old suburban guy.” JR
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Felsina
Chianti Classico Reserva Rancia Arrives in July
Fattoria di Fèlsina has long been one of the great names in Tuscany. Based in the Chianti Classico region, Fèlsina produces one of the finest ranges of age worthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings. In 1966, when Italian viticulture was synonymous with cheap, boring wine, Dominic Poggiali Fèlsina purchased the estate. His son-in-law Giuseppe Mazzocolin took over in the 1980s and refocused the winery on producing high quality, full-bodied Sangiovese. The vineyards are maintained with massale selections from their oldest vines. They produce several Sangiovese wines, including the declassified Fontalloro made from 50+ year old vines grown in the hills bordering Chianti Classico and Colli Sensi.
Over the past fifty years, the estate has continued to produce wines in a pure, traditional style without being tempted by international-style influences. As a result, Fèlsina has come to be known for one of the finest ranges of ageworthy and complex Sangiovese bottlings in all of Italy.
The estate has proved to be one of our most popular wineries, and we are pleased to announce our pre-arrival offer on the 2012 vintage of the Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia, arriving in July:
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
Felsina Berardenga Rancia, Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG 2012 1.5L ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “A ripe, powerful wine, the 2012 Chianti Classico Riserva Rancia offers a level of finesse that balances some of the more overt intensity of the year. Dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, menthol and licorice add shades of nuance as this beautifully delineated Rancia opens up in the glass. Because of its mid-weight structure, I expect the 2012 will give up its charms relatively early by Rancia standards, which means around age 15-20. The 2012 is not an obvious or explosive Rancia, rather is a wine built on compelling overall harmony.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $48
We offer twelve wines from Felsina available here now, including three vintages of Fontalloro (100% Sangiovese). Browse for the remainder on our web site: www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($69.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2009 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 2 cases available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94 points “There is a lot to like in the 2009 Fontalloro (Sangiovese). For starters, the wine is rich, broad and ample on the palate. Hints of tobacco, savory herbs, licorice and menthol all add complexity over time. The over juiciness of the fruit is nicely balanced by clean veins of underlying acidity that give the 2009 much of its freshness. This is another wine endowed with superb balance and class.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 35 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2010 750ML ($579.95) $519 special, 1 case available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2010 Fontalloro (Sangiovese) is impeccable. A sweet, open bouquet melds into expressive red fruits. Compared to the 2010 Rancia, Fontalloro is a decidedly more delicate, feminine wine. All the elements are very nicely balanced. I expect the 2010 will enjoy a fairly broad window of drinkability. Today I give the 2010 a very slight nod over the 2009, only because I think the 2010 will age a little longer, but both are striking.” AG
Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 21 bottles available
Case-12 Felsina Berardenga Fontalloro Toscana IGT 2011 750ML ($699.95) $519 special, 1 case available (that’s only $43.25/bottle!)
Wine Spectator & Antonio Galloni 94 points “Felsina’s 2011 Fontalloro is wonderfully expressive today. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, rose petal and sweet spices all blossom in the glass. Impeccably layered and sensual, the 2011 captures all the best qualities of the year. Sweet floral and red-toned notes burst with great energy on the structured finish. Fontalloro seems to have come a long way over the last few years. The 2011 is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty.” AG
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Perrier Jouet Super Savings
Newly Arrived
Perrier-Jouet Belle Epoque Brut 2006 750ML ($149.95) $99 special, 18 bottles available
Wine Enthusiast 95 points “Cellar Selection. This is a full-bodied and ripe wine, showing some toastiness as well as concentrated apple and peach flavors. There is a crisp edge to this opulent and rich wine. It has a great future: it is drinkable now, but will continue well into the 2020s.” WE
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $144
Perrier Jouet Grand Brut NV 750ML ($49.95) $33 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Spring blossom and smoke notes mix in this lively Champagne, with a creamy bead carrying hints of lemon shortbread, peach and ground ginger. Drink now through 2017.” WS
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Have a lovely weekend!