In This Newsletter:
La Fortuna’s Landmark Brunello Riserva
Marcus Molitor’s Perfect Beerenauslese
One of the Rarest Wines in Germany Arrives Next Week
Crowley’s Stunning Four Winds Vineyard
Chartogne-Taillet – Merfy’s Champagne Renaissance
New Week – New Arrivals
Including Twill, Vieux Moulin, Vajra
Produttori del Barbaresco, La Poderina and More!
Sharp Pricing Alerts!
New Reviews from Grapelive
Rosés of the Day!
Down the Rhine and through the Donau: Rheingau Edition
We are back open for in-store shopping
La Fortuna’s Landmark Brunello Riserva
La Fortuna is a top producer of Brunello, having turned their small (11 hectare) estate into one of the most consistently excellent in all of Tuscany. The winery makes beautiful wines, with rich, ripe fruit and plush textures that maintain an earthiness to them grounded and allows them to age beautifully. The star of their lineup is undoubtedly their Brunello Riserva—a towering wine that is as majestic and complex as they come in Tuscany.
Made from the best parcels of their vineyard and then held longer in barrel and bottle for maximum complexity, it’s one of the highlights of any Brunello vintage, and even more special in a year like 2012. We have the best price in the country, so make sure you grab a six-pack (or two) for your cellar.
In Stock Now:
La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($119.95) $89 special
Case-6 La Fortuna Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2012 750ML ($699.95) $515 special
Wine Spectator 97 points “Perfumed, with wild herb aromas and a subtle mix of strawberry and cherry fruit. Vibrant and dense, with fine acidity driving the long finish. Though elegant, there is intensity and fine energy on the aftertaste. Best from 2022 through 2028.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Marcus Molitor’s Perfect Beerenauslese
One of the Rarest Wines in Germany Arrives Next Week
Marcus Molitor’s starred Beerenauselse is a sweet wine that’s as precious and rare as it is outstanding. Only made in the most outstanding years, it’s got dizzying complexity that puts all but the finest years of d’Yquem to shame—except it’s that much harder to find.
Collectors and restaurants in Germany, France, and Austria fight for single-bottle allocations of this wine, but we’ve managed to secure a tiny amount for our loyal customers. The ’17 was rated a perfect 100 points by the Wine Advocate—putting a capstone on a total coup for us.
Arriving ETA August 12th:
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * 2017 750ML ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * 2017 375ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * (Golden Capsule) is intense, fine and flinty on the highly precise nose with crunchy slate and grapefruit notes. Dense and concentrated on the palate, it has sweet but elegant and highly refined fruit intertwined with salty-finessed slate salinity and delicate acidity. This is a beautifully balanced BA from Molitor’s most important grand cru vineyard. Many readers might prefer its sweet and charming richness to the delicate finesse and crystallinity of the Würzgarten BA, which will be ready to drink sooner. But this Zeltinger Sonnenuhr in turn will gain even more finesse and drinkability over the years. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”
Collectors and restaurants in Germany, France, and Austria fight for single-bottle allocations of this wine, but we’ve managed to secure a tiny amount for our loyal customers. The ’17 was rated a perfect 100 points by the Wine Advocate—putting a capstone on a total coup for us.
Arriving ETA August 12th:
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * 2017 750ML ($499.95) $399 pre-arrival special
Markus Molitor Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * 2017 375ML ($249.95) $199 pre-arrival special
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 100 points “The 2017 Riesling Zeltinger Sonnenuhr Beerenauslese * (Golden Capsule) is intense, fine and flinty on the highly precise nose with crunchy slate and grapefruit notes. Dense and concentrated on the palate, it has sweet but elegant and highly refined fruit intertwined with salty-finessed slate salinity and delicate acidity. This is a beautifully balanced BA from Molitor’s most important grand cru vineyard. Many readers might prefer its sweet and charming richness to the delicate finesse and crystallinity of the Würzgarten BA, which will be ready to drink sooner. But this Zeltinger Sonnenuhr in turn will gain even more finesse and drinkability over the years. Tasted at the domain in April 2019.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley’s Stunning Four Winds Wines
Still a relatively undiscovered growing area in Oregon, wines from the Coast Range generally feature high toned acidity, vibrant fruit, and a finish that meanders from alpine to oceanic. This is on account of multiple cooling factors including coastal winds from the Pacific Ocean, the surrounding forest, and the Van Duzer corridor. They’re stunning examples of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that are only represented in a handful of vineyards.
Ask anyone in the shop their favorite wines from this corner of the Willamette Valley, and you’ll always hear Crowley Wines. Tyson Crowley farms the Four Winds vineyard, working with mostly 30 year old, own-rooted vines on this high elevation site. He delivers masterpieces with every vintage. Their house style is described as “A focus on transparent, terroir-driven winemaking to create the most direct evidence of both vintage and place” and can be seen throughout their portfolio. Natural fermentations are employed, and new oak is deliberately judicious as to not hide the varietal character of their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As President of the Deep Roots Coalition, Tyson Crowley eschews irrigation to better allow grapevines to fully express terroir.
The 2019s arrive Friday, and show all the elegance inherent to both the house style, vineyard, and vintage. These are fragrant yet restrained and tense wines with layers of flavors that will reward five to ten years in the cellar.
“Despite building up an impressive track record for producing finely detailed, graceful Pinots over the last decade, Crowley’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are still under the Oregon radar. Even in warm and hot years, I’ve consistently impressed by their light touch, blend of depth and energy and ability to age gracefully.” — Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Arriving Friday, August 13th:
A riotously fragrant release, this shows notes of dried lemon zest, sea salt, lime flower, and pear tart. Its creamy mouthfeel balances the bright, palate-cleansing acidity. One of the finest vintages to date.
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Jasmine, lemongrass and salty mist jump out of the glass initially. Striking minerality melts into honeysuckle nectar on the palate. Earthen complexity is backed by apricot and white peach which lead into an incredibly long finish. A touch of wood frames this wine with firm structure. Wente, Dijon & Draper clones. Native fermentation. 200 cases.”
A reserved nose hints at red forest berries, iodine, and loam. There’s layers of flavors on the palate, with tart red berries, rose petals, gentian, tea berries and soy. Its austerity hides a subtle, lingering richness that melts into fine, grippy tannins on the finish. Bravo!
Ask anyone in the shop their favorite wines from this corner of the Willamette Valley, and you’ll always hear Crowley Wines. Tyson Crowley farms the Four Winds vineyard, working with mostly 30 year old, own-rooted vines on this high elevation site. He delivers masterpieces with every vintage. Their house style is described as “A focus on transparent, terroir-driven winemaking to create the most direct evidence of both vintage and place” and can be seen throughout their portfolio. Natural fermentations are employed, and new oak is deliberately judicious as to not hide the varietal character of their Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. As President of the Deep Roots Coalition, Tyson Crowley eschews irrigation to better allow grapevines to fully express terroir.
The 2019s arrive Friday, and show all the elegance inherent to both the house style, vineyard, and vintage. These are fragrant yet restrained and tense wines with layers of flavors that will reward five to ten years in the cellar.
“Despite building up an impressive track record for producing finely detailed, graceful Pinots over the last decade, Crowley’s Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays are still under the Oregon radar. Even in warm and hot years, I’ve consistently impressed by their light touch, blend of depth and energy and ability to age gracefully.” — Josh Raynolds, Vinous Media
Arriving Friday, August 13th:
A riotously fragrant release, this shows notes of dried lemon zest, sea salt, lime flower, and pear tart. Its creamy mouthfeel balances the bright, palate-cleansing acidity. One of the finest vintages to date.
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Jasmine, lemongrass and salty mist jump out of the glass initially. Striking minerality melts into honeysuckle nectar on the palate. Earthen complexity is backed by apricot and white peach which lead into an incredibly long finish. A touch of wood frames this wine with firm structure. Wente, Dijon & Draper clones. Native fermentation. 200 cases.”
A reserved nose hints at red forest berries, iodine, and loam. There’s layers of flavors on the palate, with tart red berries, rose petals, gentian, tea berries and soy. Its austerity hides a subtle, lingering richness that melts into fine, grippy tannins on the finish. Bravo!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Winery note “Cool aromas of tangerine tea mingled with spicy sativa weave into ripe cherry. This intriguing nose leads into an airy palate layered with pomegranate, mushroom and lean strawberry. Acidity is crisp and determined and framed by a complex and restrained fruit profile. 100% Pommard clone. Native fermentation. 200 cases.”
Winery note “Cool aromas of tangerine tea mingled with spicy sativa weave into ripe cherry. This intriguing nose leads into an airy palate layered with pomegranate, mushroom and lean strawberry. Acidity is crisp and determined and framed by a complex and restrained fruit profile. 100% Pommard clone. Native fermentation. 200 cases.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
In Stock Now from Crowley:
Crowley Pinot Noir Rose, Willamette Valley 2020 750ML ($24.95) $17.70 special, 20 bottles in stock now
Winery note “This wine opens with a bloom of apricot blossoms and crunchy pear aromas. The palate is focused and fresh, layered with stone fruits and mouthwatering salinity. We are astonished and pleased with the complexity this wine reveals – not your everyday rosé!”
VinopolNote: From the Four Winds and Tukwilla Vineyards, this is a top WV rosé every year. The Four Winds fruit is 100% Pommard clone from an own-rooted block dedicated to rosé production, it has a depth, richness, and complexity that will reward all year round. Full malo. Fully delicious.
Region: Willamette Valley, Oregon. Dry farmed.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley La Colina Vineyard Pinot Noir, Dundee Hills 2018 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 17 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2018 La Colina is bold and beautiful. Harvested in cool late September, it’s mature and vigorous with the added power of a dry summer growing season that certainly left its mark. Dark ruby is the color with traces of blue on the edges. The nose is tobacco and mushroom and ripe raspberry. Signature La Colina tropical notes mix with ash and forest floor to create a captivating experience. Great rigid structure combines with fresh acidity and dark sweet fruit to get the wine moving on the palate while dark cherry, coffee, anise, and wintergreen all make a graceful appearance to keeps this wine mysterious. The angular mouthfeel with supple tannin provides lift and the finish is gorgeous and long. “
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($49.95) $45 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The 2018 is dark and leads with alluring graphite and light oak that gives way to rich blackberry and anise on the nose. Four Winds’ rocky soils also express wet stone and mineral to keep the aromatics lighter and lifted. 2018 delivers a richer than normal flavor profile, a result of a dry summer. The mouth is succulent, broad, and full. Sweet strawberry, clove, sage, and vanilla mix it up as does a trace of new wood. The structure is soft and delicate as is typical of the more feminine Four Winds. The length is excellent and the old vine Pommard is supremely balanced and composed.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Four Winds Vineyard Chardonnay, Willamette Valley 2018 750ML ($55.95) $45 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Winery note “The nose presents salt, wet stone and cement which merge with herb and flinty notes to generate energy and excitement. Rounded out by hits of the usual lemon/lime and pear, the Draper clone brings austerity and a taut nose while Wente brings the expressive fruitiness. The mouth is angular and rich. The oak is subtle and elegant. The 20 months lees contact bring complexity and sweetness reminiscent of brulee and delicate maple. Dried apricot makes an appearance as this wine stays clean, mouthwatering, rich, and long.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Crowley Willamette Valley Chardonnay 2019 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vineyard info: Four Winds was planted in 1993 to Wente clone Chardonnay (1.5 acres) and Dijon clone Chardonnay (.75 acres), and beginning in 2017 (2.5 acres) of Draper clone. Elevation is 825 feet and south facing. Own rooted and dry farmed. Tasting Note: 2019 was year 2 of absorbing the grafted Draper clone into the cellar and we’re beginning to see our Chardonnay’s take shape in the best way possible. More austerity, saltiness, minerality and piercing electricity. Un-fined and unfiltered, this 2019 Willamette Valley Chardonnay compromises nothing of mouthfeel to match the high acidity and 12.5% alcohol. Opening with spice, lemon zest and crème brulee on the nose you know you’re in for a taut and rich experience. Aged in oak and finished in steel the wine displays warmth and expanse of barrel aging with the linearity of steel. High energy in all aspects, the mouth begins with typical purity and sense of place, doubles down on the citrus elements, and gracefully expands into peach, orange, clove, and cinder and closes with delicate lees roundness.”
Crowley Pinot Noir Willamette Valley 2019 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Winery note “Vineyard info: Blend of Tuckwilla Vineyard (15%) Four Winds Vineyard (37%) La Colina Vineyard (30%) Oracle Vineyard (18%) All vineyards dry farmed. Tasting Note: Bright ruby red color mixed with garnet shows right away we’re in the classic Pinot realm. The stature is light and fresh and energetic. The nose follows suit with high tone cherry and strawberry, driving distinctly light red. Serious notes begin to emerge…graphite, pepper, anise, and mushroom. The mouth is acid driven and shiny to start, reluctant to reveal its fruit core without air. Crunchy cranberry, citrus notes, pomegranate, and dark cherry emerge beneath a candied shell, while the delicate tannin produces tension. Ultimately deft and buoyant this wine is pure pleasure and displays the distinction of 2019 perfectly.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Chartogne-Taillet
Merfy’s Champagne Renaissance
Alexandre Chartogne is single handedly credited with reviving the reputation of his home village of Merfy. Located just northwest of Riems in the Massif de Saint-Thierry, Alexandre Chartogne took over his family’s 28 acres in 2006 after apprenticing under legendary Champenois, Jacques Selosse. At its peak acclaim in the Middle Ages, there were more grapevines planted in Merfy than the entire Marne region of Champagne thanks to the local monks.
Alexandre instituted organic farming methods, horse plowing and restorative cover crops, while phasing out all chemical based inputs on the estate. Call it technical skill, or exceptional farming either way his entry level easily hits at a $75-$100 price point.
Comprised of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and a splash of Pinot Meunier from his estate holdings, there is a full spectrum of Citrus, Mashed quince, Golden Apple and a finish that is savory and salty, redolent of yellow miso.
Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Ste Anne, Champagne NV 750ML ($51.95) $44 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-6 Chartogne-Taillet Cuvee Ste Anne, Champagne NV 750ML ($299.95) $249 pre-arrival special (that’s only $41.50/bottle —the lowest listed price in the country!), ETA August 12th
John Gilman 90+ points “The current release of Alexandre Chartogne’s Cuvée Ste. Anne non-vintage Brut is from the base year of 2017. The vins clairs were raised in a combination of both stainless steel and oak and the wine was not bottled up for secondary fermentation until July of 2018. The cépages is its customary blend of nearly equal parts of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier and the wine was disgorged in February of 2020, with a finishing dosage of just over five grams per liter. The wine offers up a vibrant bouquet of apple, white peach, a fine base of soil tones, brioche, gentle smokiness and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied, focused and complex, with a good core, elegant bubbles, fine balance and grip and a long, zesty and quite classy finish. This seems a touch longer on the backend to me than the last couple of iterations of this bottling that I have tasted and is first class, non-vintage Brut. But, this is still a fairly young wine and I would be inclined to give it some bottle age to let it start to blossom properly. 2022-2040.”
William Kelley-Wine Advocate 90 points “The latest release of Chartogne’s NV Brut Sainte Anne is based on the 2017 vintage, complemented by 40% reserve wines. Disgorged in September 2020 with five grams per liter dosage, it opens in the glass with aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers and fresh pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it’s elegantly textural, bright and precise, with a seamless, harmonious profile.”
Disgorgement date may vary from reviews.
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
New Week – New Arrivals
Oregon
Twill Cellars Orange Wine Willamette Valley 2020 ($24.95) $20.90 special
VinopolNote: This “orange wine” is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Chris Dickson, winemaker at Twill Cellars, describes it as a “riff off Champagne” blends (though this wine is still). It has a light, coppery color in the glass and shows elegant fruit notes of pear, peach, and apricot that develop into passionfruit and green payaya as the wine comes to room temperature. Grapes were harvest from Stormy Morning vineyard the Monday before the winds brought the devasting smoke. The Chardonnay grapes were crushed and soaked for twelve hours to extract extra color and mineral notes from the skins. The Pinot was pressed whole bunch before joining the Chardonnay juice in a coferment in fudre and amphora egg. The wines is gorgeously expressive. One to drink all year long.
VinopolNote: This “orange wine” is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Chris Dickson, winemaker at Twill Cellars, describes it as a “riff off Champagne” blends (though this wine is still). It has a light, coppery color in the glass and shows elegant fruit notes of pear, peach, and apricot that develop into passionfruit and green payaya as the wine comes to room temperature. Grapes were harvest from Stormy Morning vineyard the Monday before the winds brought the devasting smoke. The Chardonnay grapes were crushed and soaked for twelve hours to extract extra color and mineral notes from the skins. The Pinot was pressed whole bunch before joining the Chardonnay juice in a coferment in fudre and amphora egg. The wines is gorgeously expressive. One to drink all year long.
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Twill Cellars Syrah Oregon 2019 750ML ($24.95) $21.90 special
VinopolNote: 25-30% Stormy Morning vineyard, with the remainder from Steelhead Vineyard. 85% whole cluster aged 20 months. Unfined and unfiltered.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
France – Corbieres
Chateau Vieux Moulin Corbieres 2020 750ML ($21.95) $17 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “30% Carignan, 30% Grenache, 20% Syrah, 20% Mourvedre co-fermented. Native yeast.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Chateau Vieux Moulin Natura Soli Rouge, France 2020 750ML ($24.95) $19.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% old vine Carignan (60 year old). Two week maceration in stainless steel. No SO2 added.”
Chateau Vieux Moulin Vin Orange ‘Pulp,’ France 2020 750ML ($26.95) $21.90 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Importer note “100% skin contact Grenache gris. 100% destemmed. Maceration for one month in tank. Fermnetation under temperature control in steel vats. 100% malo. No filtration. No SO2 added.”
Italy – Piedmont
GD Vajra Barolo Albe 2017 750ML ($41.95) $33 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “This is one of the most accessible and trustworthy wines you can buy from Piedmont. Keeping in line with past vintages, the G.D. Vajra 2017 Barolo Albe opens to medium concentration and a very expressive or fruit-forward bouquet. This hot-climate 2017 edition shows a little more ripeness and roundness as is to be expected, but these results are a safe bet nonetheless. Cherry and raspberry aromas are followed by blue flower and pressed violets. Set this bottle aside for medium or long-term drinking. Production is an ample 40,000 bottles.”
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Editor’s Choice. Red berry, rose and camphor aromas waft out of the glass. Tangy and delicious, the smooth, full-bodied palate doles out ripe Marasca cherry, fleshy raspberry and hints of ground baking spice framed in taut, polished tannins. It’s already accessible but also has good midterm aging potential. Drink 2022–2029.”
Jeb Dunnuck 93 points “The 2017 Barolo Albe has generous aromas of fresh black cherry, dried roses, baking spice, and tar. The palate has concentration of fruit that remains fresh with tension, noted by dried cranberry, orange zest, and cocoa. Once again, this wine proves a great value that well over-delivers for an entry Barolo. Drink 2021-2036.”
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2017 Barolo Albe is exquisite. Bright and beautifully lifted, the 2017 Albe is a wine of pure and total pleasure. All the elements come together so gracefully. Crushed flowers, red berries, mint, cinnamon and lavender are some of the many notes that open in the glass. The 2017 is so nicely done in the way it captures the radiance of the year and the classicism that runs through all these wines. Vineyard sites are Fossati, Costa di Vergne and Le Volte.”
Giacomo Fenocchio Barbera d’Alba Superiore 2019 ($24.95) $19 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Monica Larner, Wine Advocate “The Giacomo Fenocchio 2019 Barbera d’Alba Superiore is zesty and fresh with a bright quality that translates to dark cherry, cassis, potting soil and grilled herb. The wine is honest and forthcoming, especially in terms of its youthful primary aromas, and you get plenty of good freshness and material here to pair with a blackened salmon steak. About 20,000 bottles were produced.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Produttori del Barbaresco Muncagota, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special
Antonio Galloni 94+ points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Muncagota continues this tasting of frankly awe-inspiring wines. Rich, deep and super-expressive, the 2016 hits all the right notes. Black cherry, plum, spice, leather, licorice emerge, but only with great reluctance. The Muncagota is another wine in this range that clearly needs time.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Pora, Barbaresco Riserva DOCG 2016 750ML ($89.95) $79 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is a brooding wine, its mid-weight structure notwithstanding. Iron, smoke, tobacco, cedar and dried flowers add a feral, earthy quality that is so appealing. Pora is often one of the more approachable Riservas in this range, but the 2016 is an exception. Readers should be prepared to cellar it for at least a few years.”
Produttori del Barbaresco Rio Sordo, Barbaresco Riserva 2016 750ML ($89.95) $75 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is a serious, somber wine. Black cherry, plum, lavender, spice and menthol show off the darker side of Nebbiolo to great effect. In most vintages, Rio Sordo is an easygoing wine, but not in 2016. Readers will find a potent, brooding yet mid-weight Barbaresco that screams with character. What a way to start this tasting!”
Italy – Tuscany
Castello di Camigliano Brunello di Montalcino DOCG 2016 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 93 points “The Camigliano 2016 Brunello di Montalcino offers a more robust bouquet compared to its peers, with its dark and saturated fruit. One thing Camigliano has going for it is that it always delivers the characteristics of its environment. In this case, the vines are located in a warm, sun-drenched corner of Tuscany, and the warm ripeness of the fruit is a testament of place. You also get aromas of scorched earth, grilled porcino mushroom and a touch of burnt rubber or summer asphalt. This is an ample 150,000-bottle production.”
Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2018 750ML ($34.95) $28 special, 32+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Castello di Ama Chianti Classico 2018 750ML ($499.95) $299 special (that’s only $24.92/btl—the lowest listed price in the country!)
Kerin O’Keefe-Wine Enthusiast 93 points “Fragrant and refined, this features enticing aromas of rose, iris, woodland berry and crushed botanical herb. Medium bodied and loaded with finesse, the elegant palate features juicy Marasca cherry, strawberry compote and dark culinary spice. Polished tannins and fresh acidity keep it well balanced. Drink through 2028.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 92+ points “This is the quintessential happy wine from Tuscany that will easily pair with wintery pici al ragù or summery pasta al pomorodo. There is enormous versatility in the all-season Castello di Ama 2018 Chianti Classico Ama. The wine is round, plump and approachable. It offers enormous freshness and the bright berry intensity of the Sangiovese grape. Red cherry and cassis are backed by red rose petal and softly fragrant potting soil. I tasted this wine immediately after Castello di Ama’s Pinot Nero di Toscana Il Chiuso, and I was struck by the similarities of the two wines in terms of silkiness and those pretty rose aromas. An ample 105,000 bottles were made.”
Antonio Galloni 92 points “The 2018 Chianti Classico Ama shows just how promising the vintage is. A burst of sweet red cherry fruit, cedar, leather, spice and orange peel give the 2018 a feeling of exuberance that is impossible to miss. The purity of the flavors is just striking. This is such a beautiful wine.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast!
La Poderina Brunello Di Montalcino 2016 750ML ($69.95) $59 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Jeb Dunnuck 95 points “The 2016 Brunello is lifted with dried raspberry, orange peel, thyme, and dusty earth. The palate is medium-bodied with fresh cherry fruit, Mediterranean herbs, and a saline mineral finish. The tannins are fine-grained with refreshing and balanced acidity. This red opened up and stayed fresh for days. Enjoy over the next 15 years, 2021-2036.”
James Suckling 95 points “A lovely, polished young Brunello with black cherries and floral, orange-peel and some mineral notes. It’s full-bodied and very fine-tannined with a long, focused finish. Give it two or three years to open. Better after 2022.”
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 94 points “La Poderina’s 2016 Brunello di Montalcino shows a lot of charm and grace, with a bouquet that is defined not so much by the ripeness of its fruit but by the many nuances hidden directly under the surface. The fruit shows lifted red tones with cherry and dried raspberry, but it also offers very precise minerality with crushed limestone and chalk that adds points of dustiness or dryness to the bouquet (and ultimately subtracts from the density of the mouthfeel). These lithe background tones shape what is fundamentally a very elegant, streamlined and pretty Brunello. I am very happy to recommend this new release (with 65,000 bottles to hit the market in March 2021) from La Poderina.”
Italy – Other
Ca’ La Bionda Valpolicella Classico 2020 750ML ($19.95) $17 special, 24 bottles in stock now
Winery note “70% Corvina, 20% Corvinone, 10% Rondinella and Molinara. From the historically classic zone of the Valpolicella. The wine opens with a nose of fresh red fruits and floral notes that recall violets. Elegant and light, this wine is all about freshness and easy drinking, a wine to drink everyday in good company and with a wide variety of Italian style foods from pasta to roast meats. This Valpolicella is fermented in stainless steel tanks at a maximum temperature of 25°C. Following fermentation the wine is left to rest on its skins for a period of 10 days. A further ageing period of 3 months follows before the wine is bottled and released commercially.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Spain
Raul Perez Ultreia Saint Jacques Bierzo 2018 750ML ($24.95) $19 special, 12 bottles in stock now
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93+ points “The truly impressive 2018 Ultreia Saint Jacques transcends its price category. They destemmed more grapes because they fermented it in the oak vats they bought from Vega Sicilia to use in the new winery, where it macerated for two months and then matured in used barrels for nine to 10 months. The secret is to use very good grapes from very good vineyards. The wine is clean, precise and fresh, and the oak is super-subtle, almost unnoticeable. The palate reflects a fluid wine of pleasure, a red of thirst. This is the wine where they have invested more, and 2018 has to be the finest vintage to date. They did 150,000 bottles of this in the outstanding 2018 vintage. It was bottled in October/November 2019.”
Josh Raynolds-Vinous 92 points “Bright ruby. Cherry, pungent flowers and baking spices on the fragrant nose, along with a hint of gaminess. Appealingly sweet and seamless in texture, offering juicy dark berry, cherry cola and floral pastille flavors that pick up a minerally nuance with air. Shows very good clarity and spicy thrust on the persistent finish, which is framed by supple, even tannins.”
Sharp Pricing Alerts!
New review!
Arnaud Lambert Clos de Midi Saumur Blanc 2020 750ML ($26.95) Was $21.90, Now $19.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Arnaud Lambert Clos de Midi Saumur Blanc 2020 ($249.95) $212 special, (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 Points “The latest Clos di Midi is a fresh, bright and energy filled version that shows mineral driven intensity and an ever expanding textural pleasure on the medium bodied palate with classic white peach, citrus and green apple fruits, wet stones, delicate herb and spice with just a hint of honeycomb and melon. This is a wine that can be really enjoyed now, its youthfulness is not a penalty at all, such is the quality and completeness here and its dry nature and chalky salty element makes it very cleansing and excellent with food, while still joyous as a solo sipper, especially for the Chenin enthusiasts. The all organic Clos de Midi, a southeast facing parcel that was planted in 1985, was fermented using Indigenous yeasts and was done in 50% in stainless steel tanks and 50% in older Burgundian barrels, after which is was aged for 12 months. This was the first time I’ve had this wine under this label and I was incredibly impressed by Arnaud’s touch and subtly here, this is an exceptional value for what you get in the glass….Arnaud Lambert, who began as part of a father and son team with his dad Yves, made a name for himself when he took over at the historic estate of the Château de Brézé, one of France’s great properties and one that the French royals, as noted by the winery, used to exchange wines of Brézé annually for Château d’Yquem Sauternes…. Brézé is a unique site due to its relatively high elevation and Tuffeau, the chalky limestone soils here that gives these wines their distinct character. “
Arnaud Lambert Clos de Midi Saumur Blanc 2020 750ML ($26.95) Was $21.90, Now $19.90 special, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Arnaud Lambert Clos de Midi Saumur Blanc 2020 ($249.95) $212 special, (that’s only $18.25/bottle!)
Grapelive 92 Points “The latest Clos di Midi is a fresh, bright and energy filled version that shows mineral driven intensity and an ever expanding textural pleasure on the medium bodied palate with classic white peach, citrus and green apple fruits, wet stones, delicate herb and spice with just a hint of honeycomb and melon. This is a wine that can be really enjoyed now, its youthfulness is not a penalty at all, such is the quality and completeness here and its dry nature and chalky salty element makes it very cleansing and excellent with food, while still joyous as a solo sipper, especially for the Chenin enthusiasts. The all organic Clos de Midi, a southeast facing parcel that was planted in 1985, was fermented using Indigenous yeasts and was done in 50% in stainless steel tanks and 50% in older Burgundian barrels, after which is was aged for 12 months. This was the first time I’ve had this wine under this label and I was incredibly impressed by Arnaud’s touch and subtly here, this is an exceptional value for what you get in the glass….Arnaud Lambert, who began as part of a father and son team with his dad Yves, made a name for himself when he took over at the historic estate of the Château de Brézé, one of France’s great properties and one that the French royals, as noted by the winery, used to exchange wines of Brézé annually for Château d’Yquem Sauternes…. Brézé is a unique site due to its relatively high elevation and Tuffeau, the chalky limestone soils here that gives these wines their distinct character. “
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Bodegas Ostatu Blanco, Rioja DOCa 2020 750ML ($18.95) $14.50 special, 12 bottles in stock now
De Maison Selections note “2020 at Ostatu produced balanced wines with moderate alcohol, good acidity, and well-developed fruit. The vintage is of very high quality and has the potential to age well. Ostatu Blanco is an incredible value and introduction to their range of wines. It says something about a winery when they pursue excellence from the beginning of their range to the top. For this reason, Ostatu Blanco is one of the most beloved white wines of substance and complexity from Rioja Alavesa. The secret lies in the high-altitude, bush-trained vineyards of indigenous viura and malvasía grapes coming from the villages of Samaniego, Laguardia, and Leza in Rioja Alavesa at an altitude of 580m. These villages are located directly at the convergence of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean climatic influences, which mold the character of the vintages. This unique soil and climate also lend a certain austerity and structure to Ostatu wines, which differentiates them from the Rioja wines of other subzones. Ostatu is pure Alavesa mountain wine, born of the tension and energy of an extreme climate. Grapes are farmed organically, and only native yeasts are utilized to ferment in stainless steel tanks, yielding an impressive, transparent expression of high-altitude mountain Rioja.”
Bodegas Ostatu Rosado Rioja DOCa 2020 750ML (19.95) $14.50 special, 17 bottles in stock now
De Maison Selections note “Ostatu Rosado is an incredible value and introduction to their range of wines. It says something about a winery when they pursue excellence from the beginning of their range to the top. For this reason, Ostatu Rosado is one of the most beloved pink Rioja Alavesa wines, offering a very different experience than many other rosado wines from Rioja that are often made as an afterthought… Grapes are farmed organically, and only native yeasts are utilized to ferment in stainless steel tanks, yielding a light, refreshing rosé from Rioja with substance, as well as charm.”
Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia ‘Vina Cubillo’ Crianza, Rioja DOCa 2012 750ML ($39.95) $25.50 special, 8 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 95 points “Wonderful aromas of mushrooms, bark, cigar tobacco and plums with just a hint of citrus. Full-bodied with incredible softness and complexity. Subtle chocolate, fruit and walnut in the aftertaste. Goes on for minutes. Fantastic wine. Classic, textbook Rioja. A joy. Incredible value! Drink or hold.”
Luis Gutierrez-Wine Advocate 93 points “I was quite impressed by the 2012 Viña Cubillo Tinto Crianza, a classical Rioja that is nicely crafted, with less aging in barrel than the rest of reds and therefore with more fruit character and less López de Heredia signature. This was born as a red for tapas, a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 20% Garnacho and 5% each Graciano and Mazuelo with 13.5% alcohol. It matured in well-seasoned American oak barrels for three years. It has ripe fruit (black rather than red) without excess and a pinch of spices and a twist of oak. 94,500 bottles produced. There are seven lots of this. I tasted a bottled that was filled in May 2018.”
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Glistening ruby. Spice-accented aromas of red berries, cherry cola and candied rose, plus a smoky nuance in the background. Supple and energetic in style, with a core of zesty acidity adding lift and cut to bitter cherry and red currant flavors that take a sweeter turn through the midpalate. Finishes long and smooth, delivering gentle tannic grip, a snap of peppery spices and repeating florality.”
Domaine Brazilier Coteaux du Vendomois Tradition Rose 2020 750ML ($18.95) was $14.40, now $13.30, 36+ bottles in stock now
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Remejeanne Un Air Cotes Du Rhone Rouge 2019 750ML ($19.95) Was $17, now 15.75, 36+ bottles in stock now
Case-12 Remejeanne Un Air Cotes Du Rhone Rouge 2019 750ML ($219.95) $169 special (that’s only $14.08/bottle!)
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New Reviews from Grapelive
Cos Pithos Bianco Grecanico, Sicily 2019 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “[The] Pithos Bianco is, as the name suggests, a white wine made in the large terra-cotta pots as done in ancient times…. Macerated for close to two weeks with whole berries and aged on the skins this incredible dry wine shows a unique, intensity and powerful structure from the extract and is wonderfully textured on the zesty palate. Made from 100% of the Grecanico grape, a local variety of Garganega (of Soave fame), quite rare, but remarkably well suited to the southern tip of the island, where it gets a cooling ocean influence and breezes that help retain a salty freshness…. Azienda Agricola COS was founded back in 1980 by three friends, Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano, but is led by the dynamic personality of Giusto Occhipinti, uncle to superstar Arianna Occhipinti, who was pushed COS towards natural winemaking and all organic with all of their vineyards being… The winery explains that the long skin contact and amphora, which allows movement of the lees, provides an additional level of complexity that can be seen clearly in this exotic white wine”
Graillot Domaine Des Lises Crozes-Hermitage 2018 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, 19 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 91 points “Maxime Graillot of Equis, who also now makes the wines at his famous father’s Alain Graillot, has crafted a full bodied charmer of a Syrah from his Domaine des Lises in Crozes-Hermitage that is bursting with ripe black and blue fruits, ultra silky tannins and a mouth filling plush sensation, adding hints of violets, sweet herbs, licorice, cassis and a touch of pepper and cedar. This 2018 is surprisingly luxurious and supple, making it a wine that is ready to drink young, no cellaring required here and it so easy to quaff, you’ll almost think it is a new world wine, though with food and air the true nature and terroir come through with subtle earthy accents. This a more impactful version of Maxime’s Crozes-Hermitage than normal and big step up from the the other Equis Syrahs, which are food friendly quaffers. The Domaine des Lises 2018 Crozes-Hermitage, made from 100% Syrah, comes from an organic 40 year old parcel in the lieu-dit of “Les Picheres” set on the regions classic rocky gravel soils, which is less than 2km from the renown estate vines of Domaine Alain Graillot. Maxime employed a traditional approach here, using about 30% whole-cluster and native yeasts with ripe, late picked grapes and he aged this vintage in well seasoned old French oak barrels for close to a year. “
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Guimaro Finca Meixeman, Ribeira Sacra 2017 750ML ($54.95) $39 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Grapelive 93 points “One of my favorite wines and favorite people, Pedro Rodriguez’s Guimaro Mencia bottling always brings smiles and offers authentic and terroir driven flavors that capture the soul of their region with pure drinking pleasure. This 2017 Meixeman Cru provides an earthy complexity and depth of fruit that transports you to this remote and ancient growing region in Spain’s wild Ribeira Sacra. This starts with a hint of reduction with earth and dark fruits leading the way, it quickly gains itself in the glass, becoming almost Nuits-Saint-Georges like in taste and feel with, a smooth medium body and layers of black cherries, tangy currants, wild plum fruits along with a crunch of mineral, grilled herbs, dried flowers, a touch of peppery spice, leather, woodsy notes and anise…. Founded in 1991, Guimaro has now become an iconic winery within this small appellation in Galicia, and vigneron Rodriguez, who was mentored by the legendary Raul Perez, the Godfather of Mencia, has grown into his status has as one of the top winemakers in the Ribeira Sacra with a rebellious smile and with lots of classic heavy metal!….His hard work in the vines, really make these wines what they are and when you see the difficulty of hand tending the steep sites, you’d not believe you were looking at Spain, as the Ribeira Sacra “the sacred blanks” looks more like the steepest sections of the Mosel and there are places without any roads, some only accessed by small boats and by foot trails, it is not easy and historically none to profitable to farm these incredible vineyards. “
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Rosés of the Day!
Direct press rose made from biodynamically farmed, old vine, Pinot Noir planted in the heart of Sancerre from a cult producer? You’re not dreaming! Gerard Boulay makes a tiny amount of Rose from his already small holdings of Pinot Noir, rarely exceeding 200 cases per year.
Boulay’s estate vineyards are based in Chavignol, the true beating heart of Sancerre and the host of all the top names in the region (Vatan, the Cotats, Boulay, Dagueneau, etc.) and Boulay owns some of best situated sites in some of the finest vineyards in the town.
Gerard Boulay says “Nature makes the wine” and strives for age worthiness and presence of terroir in the finished product at all times. The estate’s farming is entirely chemical free, and was one of the first producers in the region to convert to organics. Expect a light bodied rose with delicate aromas, flinty minerality and a long finish evocative of White Darjeeling and white peach.
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Rose 2020 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Practicing organic. From 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines on the steep hillsides in front of the Boulay home in Chavignol. Soil: Steep clay hillside. Viticulture: Gerard works the soil manually and lets nature make the wine. Vinification: Tank fermented. Boulay adds no yeast and minimal amounts of SO2. Aging: Tank aged. Production: 200 cases annually. Notes: Unlike many Sancerre Roses, Gerard harvests his Pinot specifically to make rose by direct press, then into tank. It is not a selection of young vines as he has no young Pinot vines. What makes the rosé one year could make red another, and vice versa, depending on what the vintage gives.”
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One of the most beloved producers amongst the staff, Stein makes incredible wines from abandoned vineyards in the Mosel river valley. Among these sites, Dr. Stein discovered one of the oldest plantings of Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon in the entire valley and currently uses them as the backbone for his Rose program.
These are fascinating examples of terroir featuring the ethereal body, slatey minerality and exceptionally long finish of a classic Mosel wine re-interpreted through reds. If that’s not enough there’s even a sparkling pink version! Fermented in tank so as not to alter the flavors with autolysis, it’s almost too drinkable with notes of cherry juice, fresh cranberries, Nasturtium, and rose water.
Stein Rose Secco Sparkling Rose, Mosel 2020 750ML ($29.95) $26 special, 15 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Steep slate soils. Second fermentation in tank. Pinot Noir with approximately 20% Cabernet and Merlot, élevage all stainless.” Sparkling wine.
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Down the Rhine and through the Donau: Rheingau
While the Mosel Valley absorbs the majority of press about German wine, the Rheingau was once the face of the entire country’s production! The Rheingau is synonymous with German wine history having their wine being first mentioned by writers from the Roman and Holy Roman Empire. Production hit a new scale with the arrival of the Benedictine and Cistercian monks, who found the hillside vineyards they planted beside their monasteries to produce exceptional wine. These events pale in comparison to the economic impact of a visit made by Queen Victoria herself on vacation, sparking a country-wide proclivity for German Riesling that catapulted their prices to above even Burgundy.
If that wasn’t enough the Rheingau is also credited with inventing and implementing the the Prädikatswein system that is still in use today throughout Germany. The topographic isolation provided by confluence of the Taunus Mountains and Rhine River creates an oasis for growing Riesling. The 6,000 hours of sunlight during the growing season creates a richer, fuller bodied style of Riesling and allows for the creation of the rarest expressions of Riesling; Beerenauslesen, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein. The latter is considered the most difficult to produce, as it requires multiple weeks of freezing temperatures at night with dry daytimes.
In contrast to other growing regions that feature a high percentage of slate, the Rheingau is characterized by high proportions of Sandstone and Quartzite, lending a crystalline nature to the finished product not unlike crystallized pineapple or ginger. The Rheingau style of Riesling is generally medium bodied, with a fruit driven character encompassing citrus, stonefruit and pomes, delicate acidity and multifaceted minerality with a slight spiciness not unlike nutmeg or cinnamon.
In spite of the climatic features, most of the production in the Rheingau is dry or dry-adjacent and remain some of the most age worthy in all of Germany. That said its one of the few areas in Germany that produces exceptional versions of every style of Riesling. We carry some of the most critically acclaimed producers from this area including Spritzer, Leitz, and Becker!
Spreitzer Winkeler Jesuitgarten Spatlese, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright and succulent, featuring notes of yellow apple, peach and floral. Offers a light-bodied frame but remains very flavorful, with high acidity providing balance and support. Best from 2022 through 2032. 100 cases imported.”
Terry Theise note “There were two options. A drier one is classic, upholstered, earthy and dense with just an edge of sweetness, rural and with a fragrance of leaf-decay. The “sweeter” wine ran to the usual violet and lavender but showed a sweet finish, and yet the wine’s more playful. You guessed it; we blended them and enjoyed much of the best of both worlds, though Andi will keep at it until he gets the exact one he wants. I want this wine to be earnest and Jesuitical and also delicious. Tall order, but Andi’s a pretty tall guy.”
If that wasn’t enough the Rheingau is also credited with inventing and implementing the the Prädikatswein system that is still in use today throughout Germany. The topographic isolation provided by confluence of the Taunus Mountains and Rhine River creates an oasis for growing Riesling. The 6,000 hours of sunlight during the growing season creates a richer, fuller bodied style of Riesling and allows for the creation of the rarest expressions of Riesling; Beerenauslesen, Trockenbeerenauslese and Eiswein. The latter is considered the most difficult to produce, as it requires multiple weeks of freezing temperatures at night with dry daytimes.
In contrast to other growing regions that feature a high percentage of slate, the Rheingau is characterized by high proportions of Sandstone and Quartzite, lending a crystalline nature to the finished product not unlike crystallized pineapple or ginger. The Rheingau style of Riesling is generally medium bodied, with a fruit driven character encompassing citrus, stonefruit and pomes, delicate acidity and multifaceted minerality with a slight spiciness not unlike nutmeg or cinnamon.
In spite of the climatic features, most of the production in the Rheingau is dry or dry-adjacent and remain some of the most age worthy in all of Germany. That said its one of the few areas in Germany that produces exceptional versions of every style of Riesling. We carry some of the most critically acclaimed producers from this area including Spritzer, Leitz, and Becker!
Spreitzer Winkeler Jesuitgarten Spatlese, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($37.95) $29 special, 23 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 90 points “Bright and succulent, featuring notes of yellow apple, peach and floral. Offers a light-bodied frame but remains very flavorful, with high acidity providing balance and support. Best from 2022 through 2032. 100 cases imported.”
Terry Theise note “There were two options. A drier one is classic, upholstered, earthy and dense with just an edge of sweetness, rural and with a fragrance of leaf-decay. The “sweeter” wine ran to the usual violet and lavender but showed a sweet finish, and yet the wine’s more playful. You guessed it; we blended them and enjoyed much of the best of both worlds, though Andi will keep at it until he gets the exact one he wants. I want this wine to be earnest and Jesuitical and also delicious. Tall order, but Andi’s a pretty tall guy.”
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Spreitzer ‘303’ Oestricher Lenchen Riesling Spatlese 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 10 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 92 points “Concentrated, with peach, orange peel and spice aromas and flavors set on a velvety texture. Nicely structured, showing complexity, focus and length due to the acidity, which will help this age gracefully. Best from 2022 through 2036. 50 cases imported.”
Terry Theise note “The cadaster is called Eiserberg (iron hill), from which a record-setting wine of 303º Oechsle was gathered back in the 1920s. The record’s since been broken but come on; this is the climate-change era. This ’18 has a blatant fragrance of iron, white flowers and pickled ginger and a mass of pulverized mineral; it’s as sleek as the 2004 and yet as rich as the 2015, and if there’s any botrytis it’s clean and discreet. The sweetness is taut and buzzing. The most exciting vintage in many years! What is this wine, though? It’s somewhat too rich and intense for a typical Spätlese and too buoyant for a typical Auslese, and so it becomes a wine that’s oblique to the notion of “utility,” how it might be used. This can drive you crazy unless you can somehow cherish the whole idea of a wine existing merely because it is beautiful. OK, yes, that’s all well and good, but at some point we decide to open it, and then what, when, why, how? My only answer would be, that we contrive the occasion for the wine to be like a painting on your wall; you look at it and are happier and richer. It doesn’t have to “perform” in any way. It simply returns your life to you as a finer and deeper matter. And if a painting can do this, why not a wine?”
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Spreitzer Rosengarten Riesling GG, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Wine Spectator 94 points “Pure and focused, with underlying silkiness giving this a seductive texture, while flavors of guava, kiwifruit and quince blossom lend ample charm. Very open despite the high acidity, exhibiting more than enough flesh for harmony. Well-made, showing a lemon-lime mix on the finish. Best from 2021 through 2034.”
Terry Theise note “Herbs, quince, mint, pea-shoot and a curious underlying stoniness; it made me think of oolongs and Sencha and grassy green teas; a singular Riesling of leaf upon leaf.”
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The next best price is $57.50
Spreitzer Wisselbrunnen Riesling GG, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($59.95) $49 special, 11 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Rheingau Riesling Trocken “GG” is subtle and deep on the nose, with bright yet concentrated fruit flavors. Full-bodied, lush and mineral on the palate, this is a tensioned, stimulatingly salty Wisselbrunnen with a firm structure and very good length. Tasted at Schloss Johannisberg and in Wiesbaden in August 2019. “
Terry Theise note “I can’t recall when a young Wisselbrunnen was this present, even more than the ’17 was. There’s a fine refined aroma of hickory nuts and conifer, that leads into a serious and suavely firm and substantive palate with lots of echo and umami, and then a stoniness enters, and the finish just doesn’t quit. Reminds me of 2012 at its graceful best, and it’s a pure Rheingau Grand Cru (at least from the riverfront), self-assured but not haughty.”
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 92+ points “The 2018 Hattenheimer Wisselbrunnen Rheingau Riesling Trocken “GG” is subtle and deep on the nose, with bright yet concentrated fruit flavors. Full-bodied, lush and mineral on the palate, this is a tensioned, stimulatingly salty Wisselbrunnen with a firm structure and very good length. Tasted at Schloss Johannisberg and in Wiesbaden in August 2019. “
Terry Theise note “I can’t recall when a young Wisselbrunnen was this present, even more than the ’17 was. There’s a fine refined aroma of hickory nuts and conifer, that leads into a serious and suavely firm and substantive palate with lots of echo and umami, and then a stoniness enters, and the finish just doesn’t quit. Reminds me of 2012 at its graceful best, and it’s a pure Rheingau Grand Cru (at least from the riverfront), self-assured but not haughty.”
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Leitz Rudesheimer Klosterlay Riesling Kabinett, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($29.95) $20.90 special, 30 bottles in stock now
Importer note “‘Lay’ is a very old word meaning slate and “Kloster” is the German translation of Abbey. The Klosterlay sits beneath the Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard, above the eastern edge of the village. Here, the Rüdesheimer Berg begins to gently undulate as it levels out toward the village of Geisenheim. Josi believes this site is destined for a fruity style and therefore always makes Kabinett from this vineyard.”
“The first Rieslings of the very dry and warm as well as early 2018 vintage are also promising and stunningly precise and elegant due to the conditions of the vintage that brought nothing but perfectly ripe and healthy grapes. Leitz pressed the grapes in fractions, so he was able to keep the acidity fine and fresh even though it is naturally lower than in 2017… Doubtlessly, Leitz is one of the region’s best Riesling producers. Having said that, he is also one of the best Riesling ambassadors in the wine world, with regular tastings in the US as well as in Norway, two of his most important export markets.” Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Sustainable, Fair ‘N Green
Importer note “‘Lay’ is a very old word meaning slate and “Kloster” is the German translation of Abbey. The Klosterlay sits beneath the Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard, above the eastern edge of the village. Here, the Rüdesheimer Berg begins to gently undulate as it levels out toward the village of Geisenheim. Josi believes this site is destined for a fruity style and therefore always makes Kabinett from this vineyard.”
“The first Rieslings of the very dry and warm as well as early 2018 vintage are also promising and stunningly precise and elegant due to the conditions of the vintage that brought nothing but perfectly ripe and healthy grapes. Leitz pressed the grapes in fractions, so he was able to keep the acidity fine and fresh even though it is naturally lower than in 2017… Doubtlessly, Leitz is one of the region’s best Riesling producers. Having said that, he is also one of the best Riesling ambassadors in the wine world, with regular tastings in the US as well as in Norway, two of his most important export markets.” Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Sustainable, Fair ‘N Green
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Leitz Rudesheimer Magdalenenkreuz Riesling Spatlese, Rheingau 2018 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 21 bottles in stock now
Importer note “Further east and upstream of the Klosterlay is the Magdalenenkreuz. The name translates to “the cross of Mary Magdalene,” named after a red sandstone cross that can be found amongst the vines. Here the soils are comprised of sandy loam—fatter and ideal for ripe expression; the riesling grown here is always textured, opulent and forward. Though the wine is of Spätlese quality it perceivably drinks more like a Kabinett.”
Winery note “The vineyard “Rüdesheimer Magdalenenkreuz” is located to the east of our town where you will find the gentle hills with profound loess and loam soils, good content of chalk that secure even in hot years a sufficient water supply. The vines are bearing enduring and fruitful wines. The Magdalenenkreuz Spätlese has a savoury nose with fruity hints of ripe apples and pear; as well as an exotic trace of grapefruit, orange and quince.The perception of taste creates in conjunction with the exceptional play of fruit and acidity a very unique exaltation and withal an intense finish.Beside these expressive scents of fruit, subtle mineral hints are joining this sappy Riesling-variation. The Spätlese shows how simple a Riesling is able to compete with substantial dishes and offers a wealth of possible combinations. We enjoy this wine with Curry, peach slices, with a condimental Biryani-chicken, or on its own with dark chocolate.”
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “The first Rieslings of the very dry and warm as well as early 2018 vintage are also promising and stunningly precise and elegant due to the conditions of the vintage that brought nothing but perfectly ripe and healthy grapes. Leitz pressed the grapes in fractions, so he was able to keep the acidity fine and fresh even though it is naturally lower than in 2017… Doubtlessly, Leitz is one of the region’s best Riesling producers. Having said that, he is also one of the best Riesling ambassadors in the wine world, with regular tastings in the US as well as in Norway, two of his most important export markets.”
Sustainable, Fair ‘N Green
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J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Alte Reben Riesling Kabinett Trocken Rheingau 2015 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, only 17 bottles in stock now
Stephan Reinhardt-Wine Advocate 91 points “The 2015 Rheingau Riesling Wallufer Walkenberg Kabinett Trocken is bright and herbal on the nose. On the palate, this is a classic: lean, straight, mineral and a bit steely but waking the dead up to life. This wine is bone dry, but it has stunningly intense and concentrated apricot fruit. A fascinating Kabinett at 12% alcohol. Highly recommended!”
James Suckling 92 points “This dry Riesling is decptively light when you taste the first sip, but the longer you give it, the more lemon and earth character and the more textural complexity emerges. Super-straight and very pure with a long mineral finish, this is just beginning to give its best and will blossom through 2030.”
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J.B. Becker Wallufer Walkenberg Riesling Spatlese Trocken Rheingau 2019 750ML ($39.95) $33 special, only 24 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Cool and herbal with a lot of earthy depth, this is a super classic dry riesling that gives you a good idea of how the great Rheingau wines of a century ago tasted. Not only concentrated, but so precisely contoured with great minerality, this is still quite tightly wound. However, the long, crisp mineral finish leaves you in no doubt about the wine’s class. Made from organically grown grapes. Better from 2022.”
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J.B. Becker Wallufer Oberberg Riesling Kabinett Halbtrocken Rheingau 2019 750ML ($37.95) $28 special, only 22 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 93 points “Very fresh and floral with white peaches and delicate herbal overtones, this riesling kabinett is almost dry and so crisp. It cries out for smoked salmon or sturgeon, but would also make a great refresher after powerful reds. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.”
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate “The 2019 Wallufer Oberberg Riesling Kabinett halbtrocken is pure, fresh, clear and floral on the coolish, lean, elegant and even flinty and herbal nose. Bottled with 11.5% alcohol, this is as juicy, fresh and charming but also grippy Kabinett in the off-dry style. Straight character with levity. Tasted from AP 8 19 in April 2020.”
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J.B. Becker Eltviller Sonnenberg Riesling Spatlese Rheingau, Germany 750ML 2019 ($45.95) $34.50 special, only 7 bottles in stock now
James Suckling 94 points “Anyone for duck-liver parfait? This rich, almost dry beauty from an excellent vintage for the Rheingau is brimming with white peach and citrus, but also has a lot of finesse. I love the creamy, silky texture on the palate. And,n spite of the sophistication, this is a no-brainer wine. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”
Weingut Kunstler Hochheimer Holle Riesling Grosses Gewächs, Rheingau 2016 ($89.95) $66 special, 6 bottles in stock now
Stuart Pigott 98 points ” All ripe yellow fruit, but without the slightest hint of exaggeration. Great concentration, combined with power and brilliance. Gigantic finish that doesn’t want to stop, but somehow it remains totally refined. From organically grown grapes. Fair’n Green certification. Drink or hold.”
Terry Theise note “This Hochheim “GG” seems always to show best in cooler years, when its savory generosity isn’t overbearing. Like now! A first impression of cask is quickly overwhelmed by a seductive palate, a savory malty wine, maple and candy-cap mushrooms; mineral embedded in the sweetest doughiest swoon of charm and loveliness.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Vinopolis is an independent wine shop in Portland that opened in 2004. Our goal has always been to offer the finest, broadest, and largest selection of wines at the best prices to our customers in Portland, in Oregon, across the West Coast, and throughout the United States.
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