Angela Estate – Super Pricing/ Arriving Tuesday; Priorat New Arrivals; California Collector’s Corner; Let’s Get Vertical: Seven Vintages of Cayuse; Staff Picks; Trending Like #MarchMadness: Hot Wines from Around the World; Il Poggione Vigna Paganelli Riserva 2010: Arriving Next Friday; Arrowood and Freemark Abbey: 98+ Points from Parker – Cali Classics Arriving Friday; Jean-Marc Pillot’s Classic Chassagne; 2016 Winner of Best Riesling from Europe: Weingut Malat; 2013 Barolo Pre-Arrival Recap; California Collector’s Corner, Part 2
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Jump Start Sale
Arriving Tuesday
Two Pinots at crazy-low pricing on a Ken Wright affiliated project in Yamhill-Carlton!
Angela Estate Abbott Claim Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2012 750ML ($59.95) $36 pre-arrival super special
Wine Enthusiast 94 points “Editors’ Choice. Here is a powerful young wine with concentrated plum and cherry fruit. It’s beautifully built around perfectly ripened tannins that provide solid support without being intrusive. Compact and well proportioned, it lingers with highlights of espresso grounds, dark chocolate and black tea.”
Wine Spectator 91 points “This earthy style plays a woodsy, coffee and spice character against a core of black cherry, lingonberry and licorice flavors. The finish lingers against firm yet unobtrusive tannins. Best from 2017 through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $40
The average price is $52
Angela Estate Pinot Noir, Yamhill-Carlton District 2013 750ML ($44.95) $28 pre-arrival super special
Wine Enthusiast 92 points –Cellar Selection– “The label does not bear the name Angela Vineyard, but the fruit is estate grown. This is a tight, focused, young red wine, with tangy raspberry fruit that touches on black cherry. Vivid and penetrating, it needs plenty of time to breathe, and as it does it reveals subtle layers of mocha and caramel. This has the bones to age. Drink now through 2030.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $37.99
The average price is $41!
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New Arrivals Preview
From Priorat
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($219.95) $199 special
Wine Advocate 97 points “There is a little more Syrah in the blend of the 2014 Clos Erasmus, where it reached around 30% to complement the majority of Garnacha. As is the norm, the wine matured for some 18 months before bottling, with most of the volume in French oak barrels, 40% of which are renewed each vintage, but there are also one or two amphorae. I tasted it next to the 2013 and as the 2013 required so much attention, it took some time to get to the 2014. It showed a bit shy at first, but when I finally came back to it, I found that it had really blossomed with a mixture of violets, ground, smoky meat and black raspberries. The slight increase in Syrah was noticeable, but it somehow also seemed to increase the voice of the slate in the bottle. The palate is medium to full-bodied with terrible balance and elegance combined with inner strength. This is simply terrific. 3,000 bottles were filled at the end of May 2016.”
Clos i Terrasses Clos Erasmus ‘Laurel’, Priorat DOCa 2014 750ML ($59.95) $51.90 special
Wine Advocate 95 points “I was really blown away by the aromatics of the 2014 Laurel. As soon as I put my nose in the glass I was transported to the vineyards of Gratallops, with a blast of wild herbs and flowers followed by a stream of smoked meat, juicy red currants and raspberries. It is mostly Garnacha but with some 10% each Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The grapes are cooled down during the night and in the morning some are destemmed, and some others are left with the stems on and fermented mostly with indigenous yeasts. The élevage here is one year in a combination of used oak barrels, oak vats, cement and amphorae. They have increased the volume of wine being raised in amphorae in this 2014. This might very well be the finest Laurel to date.”
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California Collector’s Corner:
We’re highlighting some of the best offers
from the Golden State!
Andremily comes from the assistant winemaker of Sine Qua Non. We’ve gotten our hands on Jim Binns’ inaugural two releases (including rare magnums) and are happy to offer them to you today:
Andremily Wines Syrah No. 1, Santa Barbara County 2012 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 2 bottles available
Andremily Wines Syrah No. 1, Santa Barbara County 2012 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 97 points “The inaugural release, Jim’s 2012 No. 1 is about as good a first release as you’re likely to find anywhere in the wine world today. A blend of 93% Syrah, 5% Viognier and 2% Mourvedre (the Syrah and Viognier were co-fermented) that spent 25 months in 58% new French oak, it offers extraordinary notes of sweet black fruits, licorice, scorched earth, spring flowers and beautifully integrated oak that only shows as hints of creaminess and vanilla. Weightless, fresh, lively and nicely focused, yet also rockingly full-bodied and layered, with an awesome texture, this is a gorgeous Syrah that’s hard to resist now, yet I suspect will continue to knock it out of the park for another decade.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
Andremily Wines Syrah No. 2, Santa Barbara County 2013 750ML ($299.95) $249 special, 3 bottles available
Andremily Wines Syrah No. 2, Santa Barbara County 2013 1.5L ($599.95) $499 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 99 points “The second release from Andremily’s Jim Binns, the No 2 is an utterly profound blend of 85% Syrah, 11% Mourvèdre and 4% Viognier that saw a touch of whole cluster fermentation and 23 months in 62% new French oak barrels. Its inky purple color is followed by an incredibly pure bouquet of creme de cassis, pepper, caramelized meat, violets and hints of lavender. Big, full-bodied and luxuriously textured, it has a firm, structured, concentrated mid-palate as well as ripe tannin, notable freshness and a finish that just won’t quite. Give this incredibly youthful, even backwards 2013 four to five years of cellaring, and enjoy bottles over the following two decades. Hats off to the team at Andremily!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
On the topic of Sine Qua Non, here’s a selection of bottles and magnums that are in stock now:
Sine Qua Non Poker Face Syrah, Santa Barbara County 2004 1.5L ($2,199.95) $1,799 special, 1 magnum available
Wine Advocate 97 points “Starting off the Syrah-based wines, the 2004 Poker Face (Syrah) is aging beautifully. A blend of 96% Syrah, 2.5% Mourvedre and 1.5% Viognier (from the Eleven Confessions, White Hawk, Alban, Bien Nacido, and Alta Mesa vineyards) that was aged in 80% new French oak, it offers up a perfumed, fresh bouquet of sweet blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, spring flowers and licorice that gives way to a full-bodied, seamless, gorgeously textured feel on the palate. Rich and decadent, it has notable, yet beautifully integrated acidity and stays remarkably fresh, detailed and even elegant. It still needs a lengthy decant to shine, and will continue to thrill over the coming decade or so.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $2,175
Sine Qua Non Raven Series Grenache #8, Santa Barbara County #8 2006 1.5L ($1,199.95) $999 special, 1 magnum available
Robert Parker 98 points “2006 Ravens Series (# 6 and 7 Grenache): This blend of 90% Grenache and 10% Syrah, largely from the 11 Confessions Vineyard, with a small amount from Bien Nacido, spent 21 months in barrel. It is really strutting its stuff now, and showing even better than my original note predicted in August of 2009. The wine has loads of meat, licorice, smoke, charcoal and graphite, as well as huge peppery, blackberry and black cherry notes. Full-bodied, with great acidity, nicely integrated tannin, an admirable mouthfeel and tremendous length, this killer Grenache is still young and probably 3-5 years away from prime time drinking.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Sine Qua Non Rattrapante Grenache, California 2012 750ML ($899.95) $599 special, 1 bottle available
Robert Parker 100 points “A perfect wine any way you look at it, the 2012 Grenache Rattrapante comes all from the Eleven Confessions Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and spent 33 months in 27% new French oak. My notes start – and end – with “Wow.” Giving up tons of black raspberries, peppery herbs, licorice, dried flowers and cured meats, it’s a massively concentrated, rich and layered Grenache that somehow manages to stay graceful, lively and fresh on the palate. There are roughly 800 cases of this elixir and any Grenache lover should do their best to latch onto a bottle (or two). It’s also worth noting that this cuvee saw 26% whole clusters, which is a small change from past vintages.”
We have two vintages of perfectly aged Napa red, in stock and in pristine condition:
Cardinale Estate Meritage Red, Napa Valley 1991 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 2 bottles available
Condition Note–Pristine!
Wine Spectator 91 points “Shows off its ripe black cherry, currant and wild berry flavors that stretch to a jammy edge, adding pretty spice and anise and firm tannins. Well crafted.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Cardinale Estate Meritage Red, Napa Valley 1993 750ML ($149.95) $128 special, 3 bottles available
Condition Note–Pristine!
This is the only listing in the USA today!
More cellar treasures from California, in-stock now:
Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Grand-Vin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2009 1.5L (799.95) $699 special, 3 magnums available
Antonio Galloni 98 points “The 2009 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin opens with the most beguiling bouquet imaginable. Freshly cut flowers, mint, cinnamon and licorice all make an appearance as this vivid, beautifully delineated wine opens up in the glass. A model of total finesse and elegance, the 2009 wraps around the palate with what feels like endless layers of aromas and flavors. This totally seamless, polished Cabernet Sauvignon is virtually impossible to resist today, but it will be even better in another few years. The 2009 is 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc.”
Kapcsandy Family Winery State Lane Vineyard Grand-Vin Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($499.95) $399 special, 3 bottles available
Antonio Galloni 98 points “A powerful, tightly-wound wine, the 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Grand Vin is likely to require the better part of the next decade to come into its own. The most backward and brooding of these wines, the Grand Vin is also quite primary and closed in on itself. Still, the energy, drive and focus of the best vintages is very much in evidence. Today, the 2014 is dense, seamless and utterly impeccable, with no hard edges, beautifully integrated oak (100% new) and exceptional balance.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Schrader Cellars RBS Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley 2014 750ML ($499.95) $319 special, 2 bottles available
Robert Parker 96 points “The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon RBS is made from the same clone (337) as the Georges III, but comes from the To Kalon Vineyard in Oakville and not the Rutherford Georges III. This was aged in 85% new Darnajou and 15% new Taransaud. It has fabulous concentration, notes of incense, licorice, blackcurrants, blackberries, as well as spring flowers. The wine is juicy, savory and full-bodied, with wonderful underlying energy and freshness. This wine is a more forward style than we saw with the 2013s, and is best drunk over the next 16-20 years.”
We offer 78 different in-stock red wines from California. See the complete list of all in-stock cellar treasures from California at the bottom of this newsletter!
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Let’s Get Vertical
Seven Vintages of Cayuse
“As I’ve said numerous times, Christophe Baron and assistant winemaker Elizabeth Bourcier produce some of the most singular and impressive wines out there.” – Jeb Dunnuck, Wine Advocate
We offer a stunning 21 selections from Cayuse in-stock now, including an impressive seven vintages of the God Only Knows. This single-vineyard wine hails from the Armada Vineyard, which is one of the highest-density plantings in Walla Walla. The cobbled soils of the area truly captured Christophe’s imagination back in the 90s. While on the hunt for space in the Willamette Valley to grow Pinot, a friend introduced him to the cobbled soils of Walla Walla that are ideal for the core Chateauneuf du Pape varieties of Grenache and Syrah. This fortunate turn of events resulted in one of the greatest wineries in the Walla Walla. The Armada Vineyard has the highest concentration of clay among the estate vineyards and is one of the driest. Vines must dig deep into the soils to compete for water and the result are some of Baron’s most terroir-driven wines.
We’re pleased to offer seven vintages of the God Only Knows, all in-stock now:
“One of the most intriguing Grenache bottlings I’ve tasted to date from the West Coast” – Stephen Tanzer
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2007 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The Rhone-style offerings begin with the 2007 Grenache God Only Knows. According to Baron, it is a blend of 90% Grenache and 10% “God only knows”, hence the name. It was aged in puncheons (500-liter barrels) from Cote-Rotie producer Rene Rostaing. Dark ruby-colored, it sends up a sensational aromatic array of mineral, underbrush, truffle, bright cherry and raspberry aromas. Incredibly intense, vibrant, and lingering on the palate, this superb effort will surely evolve as well as any great Chateauneuf-du-Pape.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next best price is $125
The average price is $133
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2008 750ML ($169.95) $139 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Baron’s 2008 Grenache Armada Vineyard God Only Knows displays delectable scents and luscious palate presence of lightly-cooked strawberry and plum laced with nut oils and shadowed by plum and herb distillates. Seamlessly polished, almost velvety and glycerol-rich as well as sweetly ripe, this, nonetheless, projects a torrent of primary fruit juiciness along with levity and energy. Saliva-inducing salinity along with piquant fruit pit, and iodine accents add riveting counterpoint to a finish of prodigious length that manages to simultaneously sooth and stimulate. I would expect this to reward attention for at least another decade.”
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2009 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 4 bottles available
Wine Advocate 95 points “The Cayuse 2009 Grenache Armada Vineyard God Only Knows (named for the otherwise unspecified roughly 10% share of this that he claims isn’t Grenache) was cropped at only a ton and a half per acre (ca. 20 hectoliters per hectare) because, as Baron puts it, “we are struggling every year just to get Grenache ripe. But we love it for the challenge,” he hastens to add. “Even a monkey can make a great Syrah, but Grenache , We’ve got 7 acres of this grape now,” compared with more or less 25 of Syrah, he reports, commenting: “You’ve got to be crazy!” Fresh strawberry and elderberry are tinged with birch bark extract, black tea, and basil, making for an aromatically intriguing and lip-smacking palate presence. An upwelling of beef marrow and a Syrah- (or Gewurztraminer-) like hint of smoked meat add to the wine’s saliva-inducing savor. Here is a really vivid illustration of how the best Washington wines offer nearly luxuriant richness and sweet berry intensity but at the same time exhilarating vibrancy and lift. And, true to Baron’s repeatedly stated intentions, there are – beyond salt, stone, and smoky aura of black tea – elements impinging on this wine’s superbly sustained finish that can only be called “mineral,” even if one can’t find further words for them. I suspect this will be worth following for at least a decade. Incidentally, the wine was vinified in concrete and then aged in demi-muids plus one concrete egg. Apropos controlling alcohol and enhancing ripe flavors (for more on which, see my winery introduction), this beauty clocked in at what – in comparison with other recent vintages – counts as a modest 14.3%, despite its warm growing season; yet as you can tell from my description, there’s nothing under-ripe about its performance!”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The average price is $132
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2010 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93+ points “The almost all Grenache 2010 God Only Knows (named as such because the full blend is unknown, or so we’re told) is a complex, elegant version of this wine, with a Rayas-like perfume of kirsch, white pepper, stem, herbes de Provence and a gamey meatiness that comes out with air. Medium to full-bodied, silky and seamless on the palate, with juicy acidity, polished tannin and a light, clean texture, it lacks the back-end concentration of a top vintage, yet possesses brilliant purity and balance. It will benefit from short-term cellaring and impress for upwards of a decade. Drink 2015-2020. ”
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2011 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 1 bottle available
Wine Advocate 96 points “The 2011 Grenache God Only Knows is shockingly good in the vintage. Sporting a big, masculine profile, with notions of lite gunpowder, ground pepper, herbs and wild strawberry and blackberry fruit, it flows onto the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a full, rich mid-palate and a healthy dose of tannin that will require short-term cellaring to integrate. This knockout Grenache will be at its finest from 2016-2026.”
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2012 750ML ($179.95) $149 special, 3 bottles available
Wine Advocate 96 points “Structured and backward, the 2012 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard offers lots of framboise, black cherries, bouquet garni and spice to go with a full-bodied, seamless, elegant feel on the palate. It picks up more and more tannin with time in the glass, and needs 3-4 years of cellaring, but should keep for 15 years or more.” JD
Cayuse Vineyards God Only Knows Armada Vineyard Grenache, Walla Walla Valley 2013 750ML ($149.95) $119 special, 2 bottles available
Wine Advocate 94 points “Grenache seemed to handle the heat nicely in 2013 and the 2013 Grenache God Only Knows Armada Vineyard offers a gorgeous, rich, almost masculine style (especially when it’s tasted next to the No Girls Grenache) in its dark fruits, crushed herbs, mineral and leather scented profile. Even showing a touch of game with time in the glass, this beauty has fine tannin, plenty of fruit and a great finish, all suggesting it will drink nicely for another decade.”
You can see the complete list of Cayuse wines in stock now below. Visit our web store to read reviews and purchase online.
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Staff Picks
Saul:
Pinot Blanc is often the most boring member of the Pinot family, but occasionally I taste wines that demonstrate why the grape is so special. These two wines both very much fall into that category and are really exciting to have on the shelf (and at the table). The Cameron is an incredibly balanced wine, with orchard fruits and a zesty finish, whereas the Vincent is a little leaner with a citrus oil personality and enough fruit to keep it tasty.
Cameron Winery ‘Cameroni Giovanni’ Pinot Bianco, Willamette Valley 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special, 30 bottles available
VinopolNote: 80% Pinot Blanc with Chardonnay & Pinot Gris. All Abbey Ridge fruit.
Vincent Pinot Blanc, Willamette Valley 2015 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 10 bottles available
VinopolNote: “Crisp, fresh and citrusy–in a lemon oil way, but with some stone fruit preventing the wine from becoming too lean. This wine reminds us in many ways of Melon de Bourgogne from the Loire. It’s a great wine as an aperitif or with seafood.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Suzanne:
Ayres Vineyard Rosé of Pinot Noir, Ribbon Ridge AVA 2016 750ML ($19.95) $16 special
The Pinot for the Ayres Rosé is picked from the estate specifically for rosé. What does this mean in the glass? Essentially, higher acidity and lower alcohol – basically what you ask for in rosé year in, year out. There is mindfulness in the production that speaks for itself in the glass. The wine is light and bright with good acidity and notes of fresh strawberries. It’s minerally and delicious at only 13.5% alcohol. Keep in mind that with a scant 200 cases produced, this delicious forerunner of spring always sells out just as the sunshine breaks through Portland’s rainy weather.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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Our Current
Shipping Promos:
Welcome to the club, Colorado!
Along with Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California,
we now offer flat rate shipping to Colorado. Here’s the scoop:
Single orders of any quantity of wines qualify for the flat rate;
this does not apply to orders held in storage for any reason
or multiple orders consolidated into one shipment.
The flat reach for each state is, as follows:
-to Oregon for $17,
-Washington & Idaho for $20,
-and California & Colorado for $25
Take Advantage of the Flat Rate!
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Trending Like #MarchMadness
Hot Wines from Around the World
Gerard Boulay Sancerre Chavignol Rose, Loire 2015 750ML ($26.95) $18 special, 31 bottles available
Josh Raynolds – Vinous 92 points “Light, bright orange. Fresh blood orange, raspberry and jasmine on the intense, mineral-accented nose. Smooth, juicy and seamless in texture, offering intense red berry, nectarine and orange pith flavors that deepen on the back half. Shows excellent focus, thrust and mineral lift on the finish, which leaves behind hints of orange zest and chalky minerals. I really like the marriage of power and elegance here.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Terlato Family Vineyards Angel’s Peak, Napa Valley 2009 750ML ($69.95) $28 special, 36+ bottles available
Wine Spectator 90 points “Soft and fleshy on entry, showcasing fine depth, focus, purity and a range of flavors, with crushed rock, red berry, spice and mineral notes that turn elegant and silky on the finish. Drink now through 2022.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next lowest listed price is $39.17!
The average listed price is $47!
Charles Smith ‘Sixto’ Roza Hills Chardonnay, Washington State 2013 ($59.95) $39 special, 36 bottles available
Wine Advocate 93 points “The richest, full-throttle and decadent in the lineup, the 2013 Chardonnay Roza Hills Vineyard offers lots of baked apple tart, white flowers and creaminess in a layered, balanced, classic style. Like the other wines here, it will drink well for at least 2-4 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
The next lowest listed price is $48!
Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant 2014 750ML ($21.95) $18 special, 36+ bottles available
Case-12 Buil & Gine 17-XI, Montsant 2014 750ML ($249.95) $199 special (that’s only $16.58/bottle!), 4 cases available
Josh Raynolds–Vinous 91 points “Brilliant ruby. Highly perfumed, evoking ripe cherry and blackcurrant that are complemented by slowly emerging aromas of cured meat, lavender and minerals. Enlivened by a spicy nuance, the silky, sweet and penetrating palate offers intense dark fruit and floral pastille flavors. Seamless and very nicely concentrated, with smooth tannins lending shape to a very long, fruit-driven finish.” JR
Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOC 2010 750ML ($39.95) $36 special, 13+ bottles available
Case-12 Remelluri Granja Nuestra Senora de Remelluri Reserva, Rioja DOC 750ML ($419.95) $379 special (that’s only $31.58/bottle!), 1 case available
James Suckling 95 points “A wine with beautiful finesse and depth. Dark fruits, dark chocolate, hazelnut and floral character. Polished and refined. Full body. Long and beautiful. Tasty finish. The first recent vintage 100% made by Telmo Rodriguez. Drink or hold.”
Peñín Guide To Spanish Wine 96 points– Podium Award – Exceptional Wine “(tempranillo, garnacha, graciano). Colour: cherry, garnet rim. Nose: ripe fruit, spicy, creamy oak, complex, expressive. Palate: flavourful, toasty, round tannins, balanced, elegant.”
Wine Advocate 93 points “The wine that represents the house style and also the biggest volume here with around 350,000 bottles produced is the 2010 Reserva which was cropped from an almost perfect growing season. A blend of the reds Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and the whites Viura and Malvasía Riojana, it fermented with indigenous yeasts in a combination of stainless steel and oak vats then matured in French oak barrels for 17 months. The nose has earthy aromas and notes of ripe orange peel giving old-style character to the wine marked by very well-integrated oak and an obvious Rioja character. There are cherries, plums and spices with licorice and ink aromas. The day after, it has more strawberries with very good freshness, so the evolution in bottle should be good. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and good acidity that ends with sweet fruit flavors and something earthy, very pleasant and easy to drink. It grows on you.”
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Il Poggione
Arriving Next Friday
From the greatest Brunello vintage of recent years – this highly anticipated release lands next Friday!
Il Poggione Vigna Paganelli, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 750ML ($149.95) $99 pre-arrival special
Il Poggione Vigna Paganelli, Brunello di Montalcino Riserva DOCG 2010 1.5L ($249.95) $219 pre-arrival special
Wine Advocate 98+ points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a phenomenal achievement and a wine that captures not only the spirit of this classic vintage, but the true essence of an age-worthy wine like Brunello. This single vineyard Riserva is sharp, pristine and immaculate. It starts slow and shy, but then blossoms to beautiful intensity and aromatic brilliance. It delivers a very authentic and genuine read of Sangiovese with wild berry aromas followed by pressed violets, wet earth, tobacco and lightly toasted spice. The bouquet is seamless and very long in persistence. The same holds true for the mouthfeel. The wine delivers a fine and silky texture with a good dose of power and personality at the rear.”
Antonio Galloni 95 points “The 2010 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is magnificent. Huge swaths of tannin coat the palate as the 2010 shows off its power, breadth and overall intensity. Plum, black cherry, bittersweet chocolate, smoke, licorice and cloves are some of the many notes that hit the palate. The Riserva is dark, powerful and brooding. It will require at least a handful of years before it becomes approachable. These old vines, planted in 1964, confer weight, power and gravitas, all qualitites that come through loud and clear on the huge, explosive finish.” AG
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today for the magnum!
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Arrowood and Freemark Abbey:
The Resurrection of Two California Classics
Wines Arriving March 24th
Freemark Abbey’s modern era dates back to 1967, when the winery was purchased quickly transformed into one of the most recognized and prestigious wineries in the 70’s and 80’s. Unfortunately, over time, quality slipped and the reputation of the once legendary winery fell into a bit of obscurity.
After a few ownership changes, the winery was sold in 2005 to Jackson Family, who have poured money and attention into it in a way that hasn’t been seen since the original heyday of the winery in the 70’s and early 80’s. Winemaker Ted Edwards was brought in and the winery has been on a steady path upwards ever since. The single vineyard wines are especially nice and Bosché, the most famous of these vineyard designates, is from an old vineyard that been producing spectacular wines for Freemark since the winery’s early days.
Arrowood is a similar story with a shorter timeline. Founded in Sonoma in 1986 by Dick Arrowood, the winery made a name for itself but then suffered a bit of a decline in the late 90’s. Recently, though, Arrowood has been on a roll, making full bodied Sonoma Cabernet from the west side of the Mayacamas range that rivals any Napa wine near it in price. We’re excited to feature both Arrowood’s wines and those of Freemark Abbey at the lowest prices in the country.
New Releases Arriving March 24th:
Arrowood Winery Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Antonio Galloni 91 points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon (Knights Valley), all Knights Valley fruit in this vintage, is superb. Raspberry jam, spice, scorched earth, rose petal, cloves and new leather are some of the signatures. Knights Valley is often noted for Graves-like sense of gravel-infused minerality, naturally allied to a California expression of fruit. That is exactly what readers will find in the 2013.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Arrowood Proprietary Red Blend, Sonoma 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 pre-arrival special
VinopolNote: A limited release blend of 63% Cab, 15% Cab Franc, 14% Merlot and 8% Malbec. Aged for 6 months in 38% new French oak.
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Freemark Abbey ‘Bosche’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford Vyd 2013 750ML ($149.95) $128 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 98+ points “The famous Bosché Vineyard is a spot in Rutherford composed of gravelly, loamy soil and situated just at the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. A blend of 93.8% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.2% Merlot, the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Bosché Vineyard was aged 28 months in French oak. This vineyard has turned out many a classic wine capable of lasting 30-40 years, and this 2013 is one of the all-time great Bosché Cabernet Sauvignons. It offers an inky ruby/purple color, a gorgeous nose of graphite, black cherry, wood spice and barbecue notes, enormous body and richness, and a heady, full-bodied, long finish of 50+ seconds with moderately high tannins. This is a great classic from Napa, but not one for drinking over the near-term. Give it 7-8 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 50 years.”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
Freemark Abbey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, California 2013 750ML ($44.95) $34.40 pre-arrival special
Robert Parker 92+ points “The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon, Freemark Abbey’s generic bottling from Napa, is a brilliant example, and at $50, a heck of a value. It is also one of their larger cuvées at 24,332 cases. A blend of 75.1% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10.9% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec, this wine spent nearly 26 months in oak. Opaque purple in color, it exhibits beautiful blackberry and blackcurrant fruit with hints of white chocolate, allspice and tobacco leaf. It is rich, full-bodied, seriously concentrated, and has 2013’s relatively serious structure and tannic clout. Give it 3-4 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.”
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Give the Gift that Never Expires!
Can’t decide on the perfect gift?
Let them!
We offer gift certificates in any amount with no taxes, fees or expiration date.
Gift certificates are not available through our web store. To order, please stop in, call or email. We are happy to mail gift certificates to any domestic address at no charge.
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Jean-Marc Pillot’s Classic Chassagne
Arriving Next Week
Chassagne-Montrachet may never be as prestigious as its neighbor, Puligny, but it has two big things going for it: price and versatility. Unlike its big brother, the wines of Chassagne offer real value in both red *and* white wines. That’s right, red Chassagne is real and it’s spectacular—softer and approachable than most red Burgundy of its class and complexity.
Jean-Marc Pillot is one of our favorite producers of both red and white Chassagne-Montrachet and we look forward to our allocation of his wines every year. The wines are very classically made with intense minerality framed by gentle fruit. The wines are fantastic wines to lay down and whenever we try older examples we’re incredibly impressed. The wines are also incredible deals—if these were from Puligny, they’d be significantly more expensive for this sort of quality (and given the recency of their scarcity, they could be headed that direction). These have just arrived and we’re excited to share them with you.
Jean-Marc Pillot Wines Available Here Now
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grandes Terres, Burgundy 2014 750ML ($29.95) $24 special, 19 bottles available
Importer note “This little red is a favorite of ours for its rustic, wild berry fruit and ebullient palate presence. The vineyard is located south of Chassagne in the town of Remigny. Some of the vines are quite old, approaching the 60-year mark.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Mes Vieilles Vignes Rouge, Cote de Beaune 2013 750ML ($49.95) $39 special, 18 bottles available
Importer note “Pillot exploits over a hectare of vineyards planted in 1960 to Pinot Noir at the village level. This is a robust, cherry-flavored wine of strength and vigor. A simple, satisfying red from a village that should be more recognized for the quality of its reds, this being a prime example.”
Jean-Marc Pillot Wines Arriving Next Week:
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grands Champs, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($29.95) $24 pre-arrival special
Importer note “From a parcel on the southeastern end of Chassagne Montrachet, this wine now passes its elevage in stainless steel tank to preserve its freshness. It shares the broad shoulders and dense texture of the wines of Chassagne. Bottled twelve months after the harvest, this wine establishes the base-line for the generous, open style adopted by Jean-Marc Pillot for all of his wines. In years of normal production, we import 2400 bottles for the US market.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne-Montrachet Les Chaumes, Cote de Beaune 2014 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Bright lemon-yellow. Knockout nose combines musky grapefruit oil, lemon, lime, leesy baked bread and pungent crushed stone. At once penetrating and refined, conveying superb energy and precision to its bulletproof fruit. Extremely young but not hard, this premier cru reverberates and rises on the very long finish. I underestimated this wine a year ago.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Les Chenevottes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $66 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 92+ points “Pale, bright yellow. Penetrating aromas of lemon, minerals and white flowers. More austere than the Chaumes, offering brisk, intense flavors of lime and crushed stone. Boasts terrific inner-mouth energy and finishes with palate-saturating minerality.”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Morgeot Les Fairendes, Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru 2014 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Stephen Tanzer–Vinous 93+ points “(30% new oak; Pillot has picked this parcel much earlier since 2012): Bright, pale yellow with green highlights. Aromas of lemon, lime and vanilla, plus a flinty note of limestone reduction. Highly concentrated and powerful, dominated in the early going by tactile, rocky minerality. A superb mineral-driven example of Morgeot with the spine for a slow and positive evolution in bottle.”
Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Les Grandes Terres, Burgundy 2015 750ML ($29.95) $21.90 pre-arrival special
Importer note “This little red is a favorite of ours for its rustic, wild berry fruit and ebullient palate presence. The vineyard is located south of Chassagne in the town of Remigny. Some of the vines are quite old, approaching the 60-year mark (as of 2012).”
This is the lowest listed price in the USA today!
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The Best Riesling in Europe!?
Weingut Malat Takes Home Top Prize
Wine Arrives in June
Michael Malat isn’t the most well-known Austrian winemaker to the American public, but that might soon change. He recently took home the top prize in the 2016 Best of Riesling competition, hosted by the renowned Meininger Verlag publishing house. His 2010 Malat Silberbichl Riesling Kremstal Reserve took the top honors out of a field of more than 2600 Rieslings from around the world and we’re excited to offer it to you today! We didn’t get much (as you’d expect) so if this intrigues you, make sure to get you order in early.
Top Riesling in Europe Arriving in June
Malat Silberbichl Riesling Reserve Erste OTW Lage, Kremstal 2010 750ML ($79.95) $69 pre-arrival special
Falstaff Magazine “Light yellow-green. Aromas of fresh peaches and ground herbs with nuances of pineapple, orange zest, and wildflower honey. Firm texture on the palate with notes of apple preserves. It has a crisp acid structure that is vibrant and mineral. Aromas of apricot on the finish. Will benefit from some cellaring.”
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The Glory of 2013 Barolo
Offers are trickling in from Piedmont for the out-of-this world vintage. Below are just a few of many more to come!
Here’s your quick recap on arrivals:
Arriving in May
G. B. Burlotto Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($59.95) $49 pre-arrival special, ETA May
Antonio Galloni 92 points “Burlotto’s 2013 Barolo is one of the very best wines in its price range and class. Orange peel, bright red stone fruit, mint, licorice and star anise give the 2013 its exotic aromatic profile. The tannins are incisive and piercing, but also very fine grained. Best of all, the 2013 will drink well with minimal cellaring while giving readers a terrific look at the vibrancy, energy and polish. There is so much to like here. Breri, which is a vineyard close to Monvigliero, is the core of the Barolo, while Rocco dell’ Olmo and Neirane round out the blend. The 2013 is as good or better than many vineyard designate Barolos in this vintage. Don’t miss it.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
G. B. Burlotto Barolo Acclivi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($79.95) $59 pre-arrival special, ETA May
Antonio Galloni 94 points “The 2013 Barolo Acclivi is another knockout from Burlotto. The Acclivi shows slightly red and purplish hued fruits, with lavender, mint, violet and spice that develop in the glass. The 2013 is naturally very tightly wound, but it offers superb freshness, along with a striking interplay of pliant fruit, lifted, floral-infused aromatics, and an acid/tannin profile that adds brightness throughout. Readers will have to be patient, but there is no rush. This is a fabulous Barolo in the making.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Arriving in October:
G.D. Vajra Bricco delle Viole, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $79 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 97 points “The 2013 Barolo Bricco delle Viole is a real head-turner. Sweet, perfumed, vivid and exceptionally beautiful, the 2013 is simply stunning. A wine of exceptional finesse and sensuality, the 2013 hits all the right notes. Today, the 2013 reminds me of the 2008, but with more depth, density and creaminess – especially through the middle – and slightly redder fruit tones.”
This is the only listing in the USA today!
Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera, Barolo DOCG 2013 1.5L ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 95+ points “The 2013 Barolo Gavarini Chiniera is racy, exotic and super-elegant, with a finesse to tannins that is almost impossible to believe in a young Barolo. This is an especially delicate, refined style that shows just how elegant Nebbiolo can be. Sweet red cherry, kirsch, chalk, mint, white pepper and rose petals meld into a super expressive, inviting finish laced with veins of bright, salivating acidity. The 2013 gets better and better with time in the glass, but its finest drinking belongs to the future.”
Elio Grasso Ginestra Vigna Casa Matè, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($99.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Elio Grasso Ginestra Vigna Casa Matè, Barolo DOCG 2013 1.5L ($219.95) $189 pre-arrival special, ETA October
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Ginestra Casa Matè is powerful and intense, with huge beams of tannin underpinning the fruit. Black cherry, plum, violet, mint and licorice develop in the glass. Today, the 2013 is quite reticent, with tons of power in reserve, but all the elements are in the right place. Not surprisingly, the 2013 is a tightly wound ball of energy. Readers need to be patient.”
E. Pira & Figli Chiara Boschis Cannubi, Barolo DOCG 2013 750ML ($119.95) $89 pre-arrival special, ETA Fall 2017
Antonio Galloni 96 points “The 2013 Barolo Cannubi is silky, vibrant and wonderfully perfumed. Sweet floral notes, meld into a core of bright red cherry, mint, white pepper and white flowers. Aromatically precise and finely sculpted, the 2013 possesses superb balance. In 2013, the Cannubi is all class. This is one of the most refined and gracious of Chiara Boschis’ 2013 Barolos and a very typical wine for the vintage. In a word: terrific!”
This is the lowest listed price on the West Coast today!
The average price is $108
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California Collector’s Corner, Part 2
Explore our complete selection of top collectors’ picks from California, available here now. To read reviews or shop online visit our web store at www.vinopoliswineshop.com
Thank you for reading!