TWP Featured in Detroit’s Jewish News

The Wine Poor was recently featured in the Jewish News, commemorating 9 years of business in Michigan. Read the full article below:

The Wine Poor Distribution celebrates nine years of business in Michigan.

Brothers Jon and Nathan Kunzman grew up in a family that celebrated wine and enjoyed exploring boutique wineries while traveling, but never imagined it would one day become a family business. However, it was a seamless transition for the Kunzman brothers.

Spotlight on Amici Cellars

Amici Cellars, a family-owned winery located in the foothills of the Palisades near Calistoga, Napa Valley, is dedicated to crafting true-to-varietal wines that reflect its exceptional vineyard sources. Focusing on Napa and Sonoma's most prestigious heritage, hillside, and valley vineyards, Amici Cellars produces a diverse portfolio, including its brands Amici, Olema, and No Curfew, all carried by TWP Distribution.

Each wine is made with attention to detail and deep respect for the vineyards, resulting in elegant, balanced, and expressive wines. Amici's single-vineyard red wines and Chardonnays are carefully crafted from some of the region's most impressive vineyards, including Hyde Vineyard in Carneros and Charles Heintz Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast. The Amici Reserve wines are blended to achieve density, richness, and complexity.

At the heart of Amici Cellars' success is its talented winemaking team, led by Tony Biagi and Matt Courtney. Their decades-long relationships with growers have been instrumental in producing wines that are not only accessible for everyday enjoyment but also worthy of aging.

Spotlight on Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir, known for its complexity, offers diverse aromas and flavors shaped by its region, climate, and winemaking style. Typically lighter in color, this wine often reveals red fruit notes like cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, with floral hints of violet or rose. As it ages, more earthy and spicy aromas, such as mushroom, forest floor, and clove, emerge. On the palate, its silky texture, vibrant acidity, and lower tannins make it approachable and food-friendly, pairing well with dishes like roasted poultry, duck, mushrooms, and salmon. Check out some of our featured Pinot Noirs:

Senses 2021 MCM88 Pinot Noir

“The Senses 2021 MCM88 Pinot Noir is medium to deep ruby-purple in color. After a swirl or two, the nose explodes with alluring notes of cherry pie, blackberry preserves, wild blueberries, and chocolate mint, followed by an undercurrent of wet slate and star anise. Full-bodied, the decadently opulent palate delivers a velvety texture and fabulous tension to support the generous black and blue fruit layers, finishing long with a minty kick.”

- 95 Pts, Lisa Perrotti-Brown

RAEN 2022 Sonoma Royal St. Robert Pinot Noir

"The 2022 Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert comes from a ten-acre vineyard on the Sonoma Coast and pours a rich ruby hue. It reveals lovely, perfumed notes of framboise, mossy earth, tea leaf, and roses that lead to a medium-bodied red that’s pure and elegant all the way through, remaining pure and complex, with fine tannins and a lovely, balanced spice through the elegant finish. It’s fantastic now but will drink well over the coming 8-10 years."

- 94 Pts, Jeb Dunnuck

Denison 2021 Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

"Blackberries and damp forest floor aromas are punctuated by a burst of smoked black tea. Rich blackcap raspberry and strawberry fruit flavors are joined by notes of caramel and orange. Balanced, with 12 months in French oak, 15% new."

1. 91 Pts, Wine Enthusiast

Featured Winemaker: Phillip Corallo-Titus

Phillip is well known for his work at Chappellet Vineyards and Titus Vineyards. Ralph Hertelendy (founder and winemaker at Hertelendy Vineyards), approached Phillip as his wine consultant because he loves his classy style of winemaking, creating silky smooth, well-balanced wines.

Phillip discovered his passion for viticulture and wine at the age of 12 when he began helping his father in the family vineyard. Building on this foundation, Phillip studied agronomy, viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis and began his professional career in Napa Valley in 1981.

Combining Ralph’s complex, bold approach and Phillip’s elegant finesse of winemaking, wines from Hertelendy Vineyards meet in the middle of their styles, birthing beautiful expressions of art that wouldn’t otherwise have been made. They have formed a symbiotic relationship over the years, and continue to push the envelope with their winemaking techniques in the pursuit towards winemaking perfection.

Spotlight on Hertelendy Cabernet Sauvignon

Hertelendy Cabernet Sauvignon

2018: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon | 8% Petit Verdot | 1% Malbec | 1% Merlot

With a total production of 437 cases of the 2018 Hertelendy Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine comes from the highly esteemed Napa areas including Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak and Rockwell Ridge estate vineyard. Barrel aged 23 months in 90% New French and Hungarian Oak.

"The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is based on 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, and the balance Malbec and Merlot. Beautiful crème de cassis, blueberries, flowers, cedarwood, tobacco, and rocky, mineral-like notes emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless texture, building tannins, and a great finish. This rich, powerful 2018 has the vintage's purity and freshness, stunning overall balance, and the class to evolve for 20 years or more."

— Jeb Dunnuck, 95 Points

Featured Winemaker: Jim Binns, Andremily Wines

Andremily Wines owner and winemaker Jim Binns has managed to become one of the greatest producers of Rhône-varietal blends in California’s Central Coast.

Binns has had a direct hand in developing some of the most highly collectible Californian wines ever made during his 12 years as assistant winemaker to Manfred Krankl at Sine Qua Non.

At the heart of Binns' winemaking philosophy is a reverence for nature and a dedication to sustainable practices. He meticulously tends to his vineyards, employing organic and biodynamic methods to nurture the vines and preserve the land for future generations. By working in harmony with nature, Binns believes he can coax out the true essence of the grapes and create wines that express the purest expression of their terroir.

Binns' portfolio encompasses a diverse array of varietals, each crafted with precision and care to showcase the unique characteristics of the grapes. From elegant Chardonnays to bold Cabernet Sauvignons, his wines exhibit a remarkable depth of flavor, balanced acidity, and silky tannins that captivate the palate.

Featured Wine: Andremily 2020 EABA

2020: 65% Syrah | 22% Mourvèdre | 10% Grenache

"The EABA is more Syrah-dominated and checks in as 65% Syrah, 22% Mourvèdre, 10% Grenache, and the rest Viognier that saw plenty of stems and close to two years in 50% new French oak. Its inky purple hue is followed by a sensational bouquet of bloody blue fruits, black raspberries, iron, ground pepper, baking spices, and who knows what else.

Incredibly complex and nuanced (yet intense) aromatically, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, and a finish that won’t quit.

It’s certainly one of the biggest, richest wines in the lineup, yet like all of Jim’s wines, it remains light on its feet, has brilliant purity of fruit, and is as drinkable as could be."

- Jeb Dunnuck | 99 Pts

Featured Wine: Melka Metisse Martinez

2019: 92% CABERNET SAUVIGNON,  7% CABERNET FRANC, 1% PETIT VERDOT, 100% NAPA VALLEY

The 2019 Metisse Martinez is the fifth vintage from this vineyard located on Pritchard Hill at 1,200 feet in elevation above Oakville.  A fruit profile of dark cherry and plum, with tobacco, black licorice and cola, all leaping from the glass. The wine is iron-rich, extremely lush and vibrant showing incredible depth with licorice, spice and minerality dominating the palate. The wine carries through with a very long finish that continues to linger and begs you to revisit for another sip.

"A spectacular example of a classic hillside site showing intense power and finesse."

-Philippe & Cherie Melka

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2017: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon | 20% Cabernet Franc | 10% Petit Verdot | 100% Napa Valley

The third vintage from this vineyard created a full throttle Cabernet. It has an exuberant dark blackberry nose with touches of graphite, tobacco, licorice and hot gravel. An incredibly structured wine with a pure mountain fruit expression, this stunner will benefit with a bit more bottle age and drink well for decades.

"This 2017 has so much to offer - even in the early going, this wine is a knockout."

-Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Featured Winemakers: Philippe + Cherie Melka, Melka Estates

As co-proprietors and winemakers for Melka Estates, Philippe and Cherie produce four distinct brands:  Métisse and CJ from Napa Valley, Mekerra from Sonoma Valley, and Majestique from sites around the world.

Born in Bordeaux, Philippe has degrees in Geology, Agronomy and Enology.

A chance encounter with Jean-Claude Berrouet, the technical director for Christian Moueix's Château Petrus, took Philippe across the pond to the Moueix-owned Dominus in California in 1991. After work was complete at Dominus, he did a stint at Ridge with Paul Draper, which is where he met Cherie, who was working as a lab technician. Cherie boasts a degree in

Microbiology and a diploma in French Studies from the University of Bordeaux III. 

The beginnings of Melka Estates started in 1996, after Philippe and Cherie moved back to Napa Valley from France. They decided that they would love to produce their own label, despite each working for different wineries. They started modestly with only two wines in 1996: Métisse and CJ for a total case production of 500.

The organic growth that ensued over two decades has resulted in them having two estate vineyards, their own winery and ten distinctive wines in their portfolio.  They work side by side using their strengths and knowledge to decide harvest dates, fermentation protocols, maceration length, barrel regime and final blends before bottling. 

Featured Wine: Melka 2016 Proprietary White

100% Sauvignon Black | 100% Fermented | 100% Knights Valley

The 2016 Proprietary White is the sixth vintage of mountain fruit Sauvignon blanc to be produced from Melka's vineyard at 2,300 foot elevation in Knights Valley.

Aromatics include lemon peel, white plum and nectarine, with notes of stony fruits like white peach, and underlying tones of toasted almonds and May flowers. One of the most striking aromatic profiles of this wine to date.

“This stunning Sauvignon Blanc is quickly becoming a signature wine in our portfolio. The 2016 is the rock star of the group.”

— Philippe + Cherie Melka

Featured Wine: Melka 2016 Proprietary Red Knights Valley

2019: 53% MERLOT,  47% CABERNET FRANC, 100% KNIGHTS VALLEY

Both the Cabernet franc and Merlot were the first to be planted on this parcel of land in 2004. Possessing a deep garnet color, the aromatics boast dark fruit, plum, mocha and pepper. This wine has a velvety texture, yet it is juicy, rich and dense along with amazing acidity which provides a great structural backbone. The tannins are leathery, the finish is very powerful and the cabernet franc elements are simply delightful. Another excellent vintage of proprietary red from Mekerra which is sure not to disappoint.

"Deep, rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and tons of character."

— Antonio Galloni

Spotlight on Allbaer Wines

Allbaer Grenache

78% Grenache, 14% Syrah, 8% Graciano

Grenache is a grape variety that is appreciated by sommeliers and wine professionals, but can often be overlooked by consumers.

Grenache is wonderfully food-friendly, pairing well with grilled meats, fruit-based sauces and even sings with pizza.

“Bright cherries, chocolate, sappy flowers, and spice... Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, some grippy tannins, and a solid finish.”

— Jeb Dunnuck (93 Pts)

“Nice depth to the nose with dark strawberries, morello cherries, white pepper, wild herbs and spiced lemon on the nose. A medium- to full-bodied grenache showing some glycerol sweetness and texture to the palate, with a nice touch of bitter herbs in the finish.”

— James Suckling (91 Pts)

Allbaer Syrah

77% Syrah, 23% Graciano

“Its deep purple hue is followed by a great nose of ripe blackberries, Bing cherries, chocolate, peppery herbs, and hints of iodine and iron. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful, it has a pure, focused texture, beautiful acidity, and ripe tannins, all making for a brilliant bottle.”

— Jeb Dunnuck (91 Pts)

Allbaer Sangiovese

100% Sangiovese

“Shows Sangiovese character with cherry, chocolate and some walnuts. It’s full-bodied, yet fresh and delicious. One of the best Sangioveses in California now. Drink now.”

— James Suckling (94 Pts)

“Spiced cherries, pepper, leather, and dried herb notes all emerge from the 2020 Sangiovese, a pretty, complex, nuanced red with lots of character. I like it today, but I see no reason why it wouldn’t evolve for 5-7 years or so. This is all varietal and sourced from the Solana Vineyard outside Paso Robles, aged 20 months 43% in new oak.”

— Jeb Dunnuck (92 Pts)

Featured Winemaker: Alex Baer, Allbaer Wines

Alex Baer didn’t grow up as a generational winemaker. It wasn’t until he was a sophomore in high school that wine became a part of his life. His parents’ company had contracted to make a small condo atop a barn on a vineyard. His father finessed one ton of Petite Sirah into the contract. Shoveling grapes into a destemmer late into the evening in 2007 was his first exposure to the vinification and winemaking process. 

He graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in Enology, and a minor in Agricultural Business. His wine career has included stints at Clos Solène, Chateau Petrus, Domaine la Barroche and Sine Qua Non.

While working at SQN, Alex decided to make a small amount of wine from a particular area of his family's vineyard. The plan was to continue to work full time at SQN, and when he had time, drive back to make what would become Un Petit Début. After much thought and deliberation, he decided to make the leap and commit to his winery full time. He opened Allbaer Winery in 2018.

““I started the brand because I had plateaued in my career. I had worked for so many incredible producers. Those people had already accomplished goals that I could never have imagined. My work for them was to help maintain that consistency of quality they had already established. I hadn’t been a defining figure in their success. ALLBAER gives me the opportunity to create something from scratch. My work with this brand will show what I’m capable of doing. It will be a trial by fire. I’ll learn through successes and failures like all new brands.” ”

— Alex Baer

Follow Allbaer Wines on Instagram.

Our Favorite Collectible Wines

Special occasions call for special additions that leave lasting memories. As passionate wine enthusiasts, we enjoy collecting special vintages to savor and enjoy with family and friends. Below are just a few our our favorite collectible wines carried by TWP Distribution:

Roy Estate 2018 Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
(94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot)

The 2018 Roy Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is an expression of this bountiful and acclaimed vintage. After an initial flood of ripe, dark fruit, the wine intrigues with notes of toasted grains and dried hay. Dark cherry, black plum and blueberry notes cascade decadently from the glass, while wild mountain herbs like thyme, mint and fennel promise freshness. Evoking golden fields on a warm autumn day, the comforting mid-palate complements warm, lingering tones of roasted coffee beans and baking spices on the finish. Exceptionally focused tannins, a signature of Roy Estate hillside blocks, provide precise structure and the ability to age for the next 15-20 years.

“2018 stands as the most collectible and critically acclaimed Napa Valley vintage of the past decade,” says Crétier. “Making the most of such an ideal growing season, Philippe demonstrated unflappable patience in allowing each step of the winegrowing process to follow its natural course. Now, nearly three years from harvest, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon, certainly among the vintage’s finest examples, stands ready for its debut.”

Except courtesy of Wine Industry Advisor

The Vineyard House 2018 Block 8 Cabernet

95+ Points - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon The Boss Block 8 comes from a site close to Futo and Harlan, in Oakville, and it’s another inky hued, concentrated, powerful, age-worthy wine from this team. Giving up plenty of red and black fruits as well as violets, minty herbs, and hints of eucalyptus, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a balanced, concentrated, structured mouthfeel, fine tannins, and good acidity. Everything points to a seriously good bottle of wine. Give it 4-5 years as well. - Jeb Dunnuck

brilliant mistake The Poet and The Muse

The Poet & The Muse is a luxurious best barrel selection showcasing a rich and multilayered personality; 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from St. Helena and Rutherford. This bold and powerful wine impresses with a deep garnet-purple color when poured. Vibrant and plush with layers of creamy ripe black and red cherries, chocolate, plum, black currants, cedar, espresso, and herbs are present in the glass. Structured and intense silky tannins and acidity coat the palate, with a finish epic in length. This wine will age gracefully for decades, but it’s also delicious and approachable now so don’t hesitate to pull the cork!

Excerpt courtesy of brilliantmistakewines.com

Bring in the Bubbly this Holiday

With the holiday season now upon us, it’s officially time to break out the bubbly. At TWP Distribution, we offer a variety of champagne and prosecco varietals, perfect to compliment any dish or occasion.

Champagne Juillet-Lallement

Champagne Juillet-Lallement produces precise wines, showing elegance, minerality and above all, a true personality. Husband-and-wife team Jean and Virgine carry on the family tradition of winemaking spanning three generations.

Maison Marcel

Inspired by the epic love story of his grandparents, Marcel and Helene, Maison Marcel's founder carries on their legacy with every bottle produced. With vineyards located in the south of France, each bottle is infused with tradition and playfulness.

Spagnol

Spagnol began as a family business, and remains so to this day. The entire family, including father Orazio, mother Loreta and brothers Stefano, Marco, Alberto and Mattia, are intricately involved all of the winemaking. The winery is located in Colbertaldo di Vidor, and includes

Solighetto di Pieve di Soligo vineyard, which belonged to Count Marco Giulio Balbi Valier, who isolated the Prosecco Balbi.

Featured Winemaker: Helen Keplinger

The culture of wine has been a part of Helen Keplinger's life for as long as she can remember. Her dad had a wine cellar, which was the source of her childhood wine bottle collection — she also collected rocks, an early indication of her future as a winegrower.

Helen earned a degree in viticulture and enology at the University of California, Davis in 1998. After completing her formal education, she began working with Heidi Barrett, Kathy Joseph, Michel Rolland and David Abreu. She also served as winemaker for Cellars Melis (Priorat), Kenzo Estate, Fort Ross, Sarocka, Scully, Arrow & Branch and Bryant Family Vineyards.

After founding Keplinger Wines in 2004 with her husband, DJ Warner, that became her main focus. Keplinger wines are greatly influenced by Helen and DJ's love of the Mediterranean lifestyle, where they both spent a significant amount of time. They believe that great wine is only possible for great vineyards - they select vineyards, farm grapes and make wine by this mantra.

Featured Winery: La Pelle Wines

In 2016, La Pelle Wines was founded by three partners connected through the wine industry - Maayan Koschitzky, a former winemaker at Screaming Eagle and Atelier Melka winemaking team leader, Miguel Luna, a long-time viticulturist, and Pete Richmond, who runs Silverado Farming Co, a Napa-based vineyard management company.

La Pelle pays homage to both the vineyard and the cellar with respect to a tool that is used in both areas. It is said that Miguel would frequently joke about returning to California to start his own brand, simply calling it the shovel. La Pelle produces single vineyard wines, as well as wines from their Bien Nacido, Napa Valley vineyards and a Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - a barrel selection which varies each year.

Featured Winery: For Your World

For Your World was started by Erin Wiehe and Rhiannon LaForest, two Michigan residents who share a passion for Italian wine.

Their goal is to connect small lesser-known wineries with the dining tables of the USA - telling the stories of their community, their family and their terroir. By doing this, they hope to deliver an experience, and enable the consumer to really “taste Italy”.

Erin started her journey to Italian wines more than 20 years ago when she lived in Rome during her undergrad studies.

She returned in 2018 to take a year long sabbatical, this time sheltering between the Tuscan hills and extending her passion for wine. While teaching English and learning Italian Erin’s love of Italy grew to where she would turn a passion into a business.

Rhiannon grew up in England. She received a BS in European Business with Technology and spent these precious years studying and living in both England and Italy. Italy, however, was to become her home for another 8 years and the rolling terrain of Piedmont cultivated her love of wine and the Italian way of life.

New Brand: Hertelendy Vineyards

We are pleased to announce that we are now carrying wines by Hertelendy Vineyards. Hertelendy Vineyards specializes in producing Bordeaux varietals from premium mountain fruit, including Oakville, Pritchard Hill, Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, Coombsville, and its very own 4+ acre Crystal Springs mountainside 1365 ft elevation “Rockwell Ridge” estate vineyard (35 ft below the Howell Mountain AVA) planted in 1993. They also produce a Russian River Valley Chardonnay from the legendary Ritchie Vineyard. With a limited total annual production of 750 cases, the winery’s focus is on producing unparalleled wines of superior quality with a commitment towards excellence. 

Featured Winemaker: Jordan Fiorentini

Passionate, dedicated and not afraid to push the envelope, Jordan brings an enthusiastic and experienced spirit to Epoch Estate Wines. Under her direction, Epoch Estate Wines has produced some of the most revered wines in Paso Robles.

Jordan holds an engineering degree from Dartmouth College and a masters degree in viticulture from UC Davis. Jordan started her career working at her family’s winery in Georgia, Araujo Estate in Napa Valley, Antinori Winery in Italy, and as head winemaker at Chalk Hill in Sonoma.

An interesting fact about Jordan is her unique approach to developing her tasting notes. Her descriptors are hand-drawn, visual representations of each vintage, which she refers to as Vinpressions. "Your palate has a beginning, middle and end so I’m trying to draw what I feel.”