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Vin Chicago Newsletter - May 2023

Leading off with an impressive pair of newly released Chardonnays from Greg Brewer and Domaine Drouhin Oregon, we have some really cool stuff for you this month. A 93-Point, $19.99 Alexander Valley Cabernet? Yep. Powerful Bordeaux from the great 2019 vintage? That too! Plus a bevy of French whites, an array of unique West Coast reds, Rosé and a whole bunch more. Scroll down to check it all out!

And, we invite you to join us tonight (Thursday, May 4th) from 5:00 to 7:00 at our Highland Park store (1350 Old Skokie Road) to meet winemaking superstar Greg Brewer, maker of Brewer-Clifton, Diatom and Ex Post Facto. Greg is a super-nice guy, and he will be pouring an array of his latest releases and pretty much just hanging out.

Hot Chardonnay from California and Oregon!

Roserock - Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay 2021
Roserock - Eola-Amity Hills Chardonnay 2021
White Wine 
JS
94
The last time we featured this delicious Chardonnay from Domaine Drouhin Oregon was the 2019 vintage, which earned an incredible 99 points from Wine Advocate. We're excited to have the new 2021 release, and look forward to... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $35.99
Qty: 
Diatom - Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2022
Diatom - Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2022
White Wine 
WS
92
This enticing Chardonnay from Greg Brewer also has a history of love from Wine Advocate, with the 2021 vintage earning an incredible 98 points. The 2022 was just released and has already taken home a 92 points from Wine Spectator.... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $19.99
Qty: 

93-Point Cali Cab For Twenty Bucks!

Rodney Strong - Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Rodney Strong - Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Red Wine 
WE
93
This tasty Alexander Valley Cabernet spent 24 months in French oak, 50% of which was new. That's a lavish expenditure, and it shows through in the bottle. The days of quality California Cabernet for twenty bucks are still... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $19.99
Qty: 

2019 Bordeaux = Delicious = Massive Value

Chateau Troplong Mondot - Saint-Emilion 2019
Chateau Troplong Mondot - Saint-Emilion 2019
Red Wine 
WE
100
WA
98
(4/7/2022) "Has any Bordeaux chateau realized a more wholesale stylistic revolution in so short a time than Troplong Mondot? Since Aymeric de Gironde arrived at the estate in late 2017, the ultra powerful "shock and awe" style... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $122.99
Qty: 
Chateau Laroque - St.-Emilion 2019
Chateau Laroque - St.-Emilion 2019
Red Wine 
WA
94
JD
95
(4/11/2022) "I continue to just love this chateau, which is located in one of the cooler terroirs in the appellation, sitting on pure limestone soils. Director David Suire continues to fine-tune every aspect of the estate and... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $32.99
Qty: 
Chateau Poujeaux - Moulis-en-Medoc 2019
Chateau Poujeaux - Moulis-en-Medoc 2019
Red Wine 
WA
92
D
92
JS
93
VNM
94
(1/4/2022) "Bright nose, strawberries, red cherries and touches of dark chocolate with soft perfume aromas. Nice plump fruit here with a milky chalky edge to the tannins that are quite mouth coating right now. It has good drive... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $29.99
Qty: 

...And More French Reds!

Domaine Guillon - Clos des Portes Monopole Marsannay 2018
Domaine Guillon - "Clos des Portes" Monopole Marsannay 2018
VIN
94
(3/2023) The 2018 Clos des Portes presents in the glass just as expected for classic Burgundy, with a medium-ruby core and faded pink-ruby rim. On the nose, hints of barnyard, earth and mineral open with each swirl. With a few... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $56.99
Qty: 
Domaine Catherine et Pierre Breton - Trinch Bourgueil 2021
Domaine Catherine et Pierre Breton - "Trinch" Bourgueil 2021
Red Wine 
VIN
91
One of the pioneering growers in the world of natural wines, Catherine and Pierre Breton bottle some of our favorite Loire Valley wines. "Trinch" ("Drink" in old French) is an invitation from the Breton's to enjoy this refreshing... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $26.99
Qty: 

...And Delicious French Whites!

Alphonse Mellot - La Moussiere Sancerre 2021
Alphonse Mellot - "La Moussiere" Sancerre 2021
White Wine 
D
91
(3/28/2022) "An impressive 2021 with quite ripe, rich, mouth-filling fruit with notes of grapefruit. Currently it is a little tight in the well-balanced finish, but I expect the young 2021 will develop further in bottle. The long... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $31.99
Qty: 
Claude Manciat - Courtelong Pouilly-Fuisse 2020
Claude Manciat - "Courtelong" Pouilly-Fuisse 2020
White Wine 
VIN
91
(4/2023) Marie-Pierre Manciat is the 5th generation of her family to farm grapes in the Pouilly-Fuisse zone of Burgundy. Her "Courtelong" bottling represents a delicious exploration of accessible-now White Burgundy, offering a... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $25.99
Qty: 
Champalou - Les Fondraux Vouvray 2019
Champalou - "Les Fondraux" Vouvray 2019
White Wine 
V
91
(2/2021) "The 2019 Les Fondraux might be a Vouvray in the demi-sec mold (residual sugar is in the region of 20g/L) but it is a contemporary interpretation of it. It's pure as well as being tender, likely down to the clay proportion... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $23.99
Qty: 
Domaine Meyer-Fonne - Alsace Vieilles Vignes Pinot Blanc 2019
Domaine Meyer-Fonne - Alsace Vieilles Vignes Pinot Blanc 2019
White Wine 
WE
91
(4/1/2022) "Salinity defines the nose of this wine. The palate is savory, with almonds, mild Swiss cheese and a hint of smoke, plus veins of salinity and acidity. Bits of Granny Smith apple around the edges add playful fruit to... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $18.99
Qty: 
Yannick Paquet - Domaine des Granges Macon-Villages 2021
Yannick Paquet - "Domaine des Granges" Macon-Villages 2021
White Wine 
VIN
90+
(4/2023) Crafted from declassified Macon-Chaintre fruit growing just outside the Pouilly-Fuisse appellation, Yannick Paquet's 2021 Domaine des Granges Macon-Villages is simply delicious. Aromas and flavors of Meyer lemon,... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $16.99
Qty: 
Saint Cosme - Little James' Basket Press Pays d'Oc Sauvignon-Viognier 2021
Saint Cosme - "Little James' Basket Press" Pays d'Oc Sauvignon-Viognier 2021
White Wine 
WS
89
Delicious stuff here! With this new release, Saint Cosme has taken the vibrancy of this fan-favorite white to the next level.
 
Vin Chicago Price  $13.99
Qty: 

Hot New Italians!

Castagnoli - Chianti Classico 2018
Castagnoli - Chianti Classico 2018
Red Wine 
VIN
93
(12/2022) This deliciously serious, traditional Chianti Classico is imported by the great Kermit Lynch. 100% Sangiovese from Chianti Classico's southwestern Castellina sub-zone. Hand harvested grapes grown at elevation in... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $24.99
Qty: 
Tasca D'Almerita - Mozia Siclia Grillo 2021
Tasca D'Almerita - "Mozia" Siclia Grillo 2021
White Wine 
V
90
(6/2022) "The 2021 Grillo Mozia is spicy yet refined, wafting up from the glass with dusty dried flowers, hints of peach skins and ground ginger. It's round in feel with a core of green-citrus tinged acidity and saline-mineral... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $21.99
Qty: 
Fattoria Selvapiana - Chianti Rufina 2020
Fattoria Selvapiana - Chianti Rufina 2020
Red Wine 
JS
93
(7/4/2022) "So much crushed-stone character here with citrus and black-cherry aromas. Medium-bodied with iodine and oyster-shell undertones to the blue fruit. Lemon rind at the end. Drink or hold."
 
Vin Chicago Price  $17.99
Qty: 
Valle Reale - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2021
Valle Reale - Montepulciano d'Abruzzo 2021
Red Wine 
JS
90
(9/6/2022) "Aromas of suede, bright red berries and bark. Medium-bodied with integrated tannins. Fresh. Some citrus character. Tasty. Drink now."
 
Vin Chicago Price  $14.79
Qty: 
Mastroberardino - Mastro Campania Greco 2018
Mastroberardino - "Mastro" Campania Greco 2018
White Wine 
WS
88
Country: Italy
Region: Campania
Varietal: Greco
 
Vin Chicago Price  $10.99
Qty: 

Spanish and Portuguese Wines That ROCK!

Suertes del Marques - Las Suertes Tinto 2020
Suertes del Marques - "Las Suertes" Tinto 2020
Red Wine 
WA
96
(2/17/2022) "The second vintage of the single-vineyard Listan Negro from El Ciruelo is under its new commercial name, the 2020 Las Suertes. From a centenary cordon trenzado vineyard, this fermented with 90% full clusters in concrete... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $49.99
Qty: 
Bodegas Muga - Rioja Reserva 2018
Bodegas Muga - Rioja Reserva 2018
Red Wine 
JS
94
TA
93
The new vintage of Muga Reserva Rioja has arrived in Chicago, and it is a beauty! We've always adored this bottling. The partnership of power and nuance has been its calling card for years, and it continues strong with the... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $25.99
Qty: 
Dominio do Bibei - Lalume Ribeiro Blanco 2018
Dominio do Bibei - "Lalume" Ribeiro Blanco 2018
White Wine 
VIN
92
(2/2023) "This impressive white is crafted from primarily Treixadura, with a small bit of Albarino, grown in the steep vineyards of Ribeiro in northwest Spain. Fleshy and densely packed with material, this wine offers flavors... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $23.99
Qty: 
Silk & Spice - Portugal Red Blend 2021
Silk & Spice - Portugal Red Blend 2021
WE
91
(5/1/2023) "This rich, black-fruited wine has solid tannins that are balanced by a dense texture. A blend of fruit from different regions of Portugal and with five different grapes, the wine is still a little young. As its texture... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $9.99
Qty: 

Fun and Fresh Pinot Noir!

Patricia Green Cellars - Hyland Vineyard Coury Clone Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2021
Patricia Green Cellars - "Hyland Vineyard Coury Clone" Dundee Hills Pinot Noir 2021
Red Wine 
Country: Oregon
Region: Willamette Valley
Varietal: Pinot Noir
 
Vin Chicago Price  $72.99
Qty: 
Cloudline - Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021
Cloudline - Willamette Valley Pinot Noir 2021
Red Wine 
WA
91
This is a LEGIT Willamette Valley Pinot Noir for under twenty bucks!
 
Vin Chicago Price  $16.79
Qty: 
Monte Degli Angeli - Collezione del Barone Piemonte Pinot Noir 2020
Monte Degli Angeli - "Collezione del Barone" Piemonte Pinot Noir 2020
Red Wine 
JS
91
(4/28/2021) "Nice pinot with some bright red berries and minerals. Medium-bodied with slightly astringent tannins, giving a tight, firm finish. Drink now."
 
Vin Chicago Price  $9.99
Qty: 

Sauvignon Blanc!

Laroche - La Chevaliere Pays d'Oc Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Laroche - "La Chevaliere" Pays d'Oc Sauvignon Blanc 2021
White Wine 
VIN
89
A fun Sauvignon Blanc from the same famous Laroche of Chablis!
 
Vin Chicago Price  $12.99
Qty: 
Lapostolle - Valle de Apalta Sauvignon Blanc 2021
Lapostolle - Valle de Apalta Sauvignon Blanc 2021
White Wine 
JS
92
(6/17/2022) "A fresh delivery of tangy gooseberry, guava and some white pepper that follow through to a crisp, bright palate with fresh acidity and an array of green fruit. Drink now."
 
Vin Chicago Price  $11.99
Qty: 

Rosé Season is HERE!

Bedrock - Ode to Lulu Sonoma Valley Rose of Mouvedre 2021
Bedrock - "Ode to Lulu" Sonoma Valley Rose of Mouvedre 2021
Rose Wine 
VJR
92
A couple weeks back we welcomed Bedrock into our Highland Park store for a tasting. Today we have just a bit of their tremendous Rose left, and it is EVERY bit as good as you'd expect!
 
Vin Chicago Price  $21.99
Qty: 
Gerard Bertrand - Hampton Water South of France Rose 2022
Gerard Bertrand - "Hampton Water" South of France Rose 2022
Rose Wine 
VIN
89
A blend of 60% Grenache, 15% Cinsault, 15% Mourvedre and 10% Syrah, this is crisp, clean and everything you need for a summer pink. With a kiss of strawberry, watermelon and cantaloupe - its fleshy palate broadens on the finish... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $17.99
Qty: 

Funky New School Domestic Wines!

James Rahn - Abbey Road Farm Willamette Valley Gruner Veltliner 2021
James Rahn - "Abbey Road Farm" Willamette Valley Gruner Veltliner 2021
White Wine Natural Item 
VIN
90+
A shapeshifter wine, this rare 179 case micro-production Willamette Valley Gruner opens with piquant lemon pith and a rounded soft structure which hints at a different style of for the grape. Completely blossoming with aeration... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $28.99
Qty: 
Mr. Brightside - Arroyo Seco Gamay Noir Blanc 2022
Mr. Brightside - Arroyo Seco Gamay Noir Blanc 2022
White Wine 
VIN
91
(4/2023) White wine from a red grape? Yup, this wine is 100% Gamay and 100% delicious! The new vintage of Mr. Brightside's Gamay Blanc is fresh and fruity but still has the underlying chalky minerality that made us fall in... Read More
 
Vin Chicago Price  $18.99
Qty: 
Field Recordings - Freddo Central Coast Carbonic Sangiovese 2022
Field Recordings - "Freddo" Central Coast Carbonic Sangiovese 2022
Red Wine 
VIN
89
Last year's vintage of this fun and juicy carbonic Sangiovese was an instant hit with our staff, and this year's is even tastier!
 
Vin Chicago Price  $16.99
Qty: 

Upcoming Events

Tonight in Highland Park: Please join us tonight (Thursday, May 4) as we welcome Greg Brewer, the superstar winemaker from Brewer-Clifton, to our 1350 Old Skokie Rd. location from 5:00-7:00! It will be a super-casual event, with him pouring new releases of Brewer-Clifton and his just-released 2022 Diatom Chardonnay, the previous vintage of which earned 98 Points from Wine Advocate! There is no charge for the get-together, and no need to RSVP. Just round up a few friends and stop on by. Greg will be waiting for you!

 

Weekly Saturday Tasting: Come on in to any of our Vin Chicago locations from 12:00-4:00 as we open up six incredible wines to have available to taste, free of charge. Grab some friends and make this a recurring get-together in your weekend plans!

 

Bouchaine Vineyards Dinner at D&J Bistro: We invite you to join us on Thursday, May 18, at 6:30 pm at D&J Bistro as we welcome Scott Stowe of Bouchaine Vineyards for an evening of terrific food and wine. As usual, we will be pairing Bouchaine wines with an assortment of appetizers and four courses from the wonderful and talented Chef Masato. Of the five Bouchaine wines we will be pouring, two will be exclusively available at our dinner, making this an event you do not want to miss! To purchase tickets, please click HERE!

 

June Sneak Preview Tasting: Please join us on Wednesday, June 7 at our 1826 N. Elston Ave. location as we pop the corks on over thirty of our newest and most exciting wines! As usual, tickets will cost $10 and can be purchased by clicking HERE!

 

 

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