Vinopolis

ANGRY!
Yesterday I had cause to celebrate and a rare afternoon of leisure. I chose to be a little spendy on a bottle of wine and put my feet up with no agenda. Figuring I needed to buy it at the right place I went to Vinopolis downtown. I had a good memory from some years ago meeting the owner and doing a tasting at their old store.
Everything starts fine. I get to the store, tell them what I want, get some direction and pick a sure thing winner (the attendant recommends a Crowley 2010 Pinot Noir). I take it home, build the fire, open the wine, take a sniff, not so good. I Wait a little while, take a sip, it tastes off. Now, since it was a $ 67 bottle and I am still learning to express my palette, I felt it appropriate to proceed humbly. So I got in the car, drove back to the store (about 25 minutes) and presented my case. I mean, maybe I was wrong, maybe I just didn’t understand the profile of the wine, etc. So I leave it to the team to decide. The first employee tries it and immediately says, «no, that’s definitely off.» The second says, «that’s not how it should taste, but I wouldn’t call it off.» The third one says,“no, that’s actually great. It’s the style of the wine.” OK, I think to myself. Side note, slightly brownish in color, chemical on the nose and musty/​sour finish means off to me, but again, I’m not an expert. I just love wine… but not this one. It tasted rotten and like something was wrong.
So, as the employees are now deliberating amongst themselves, the manager (I assume) suggests I exchange it for another. Fair enough, I agree. As a good sport I even upgrade my purchase and spend an additional $ 15 on something that is sure to knock my socks off. In jest, I ask if maybe a small discount for my trouble, loss of time and driving might be appropriate. The quick response without hesitation, «Oh no, I don’t want to get fired for that, sorry. «Not what I would say to someone but, OK,» I think. So, off I go with my new bottle, a Cameron 2011 Pinot Noir Clos Electrique, $ 79. I’m excited.
I get home, open the wine, pour it in the decanter and… it’s brownish in color, off smell. I’m getting pissed but I wait. The staff told me, decanting is really important so I wait an hour. I take a sip. It’s BAD. There’s no question this time to me, but now I need to know if there’s something wrong with my head. So I head down to my usual wine bar and I bring my bottle with me, The owner, who I see frequently takes a whiff and says «I don’t even need to drink it.» but he does and… «aww man, that’s bad!,» he says. «What a shame.» He pours me a glass of cab to cheer me up, I thank him and I head to the grocery store to get my dinner. My afternoon is now wasted and it’s too late to go back to Vinopolis (at this point I’m too put out to drive all the way back down there anyways, and I’m out $ 80.
So I stop at Fred Meyer to get some groceries and pass through the wine section. Maybe I will find a decent consolation bottle… and what do I find sitting there on the shelf but a bottle of Cameron 2011 Clos Electrique… and it’s, WHAT!?, $ 48 (over $ 30 less than the EXACT SAME BOTTLE I bought at Vinopolis). I ask the wine steward if this is mis-​marked, or on sale. He says, «nope, regular price.» I can’t f****ing believe this. To complete this circle of comedy, I buy the bottle, I take it home… it’s STELLAR, DELICIOUS, PERFECT. I drank half of it last night and I am enjoying the other half as I sit here and write this. I have since checked the price of this bottle (same vintage) at multiple locations… average price $ 54.
MY GRIEVANCE
Buying a bad bottle, I can live with (it undoubtedly happens to everyone). Buying a bad bottle, presenting my case and getting marginalized leaves a bad feeling. Buying a bad bottle, getting marginalized, getting a second bad bottle and paying almost double for that… Vinopolis, you took a well-​intending customer and sent him away resentful and mistrusting. BAD BUSINESS GUYS! BAD FORM!

Vinopolis is my favorite wine shop in Portland.
1 reason. Selection. They have an extensive selection of wines from the world over.
By far the best selection or Burgundy, Rhone and Bordeaux in the state.
I have found the service to very knowledgeable too.

I’m not sure if these other reviewers are in the same Vinopolis I’m in. This store rocks! Perhaps the finest selection in the PNW, certainly in Portland. Prices are fantastic. Staff is superb, knowledgable, and friendly. I’m a wine geek and this store has everything, maybe a little sparse on common wines that you can get anywhere, but a great depth and breadth across many types, styles, regions, and makers.

First visit to this new location. In fact, it’s been so long since I’ve been to Vinopolis that I didn’t even know they had moved. I used to shop the old store plenty often back in the day.
While these new digs seem a little more sterile, the wine selection here continues to be top notch. This is the place I go when I need to score something interesting and I want mad selection. They have everything. And while it can be fun to poke around at smaller wine shops in town, this is the only store that simply home in on when I want the highest likelihood of finding something I want.
Pricing here is generally very good. If not way better than most other shops in town. Whether you’re in the market for some old brunello or magnums of champagne, they have some pretty rad options in all price ranges. My most recent pickup was some Gimonnet Special Club 2005 and 2007, both priced at $ 59. A quick internet search will tell you that’s a good retail price. Their Bollinger Cuvee was about $ 10 under average retail price as well. In fact, I had to stop myself from just going nuts in the bubbles section altogether.
I definitely dig the parking situation in this new location. While I’ll miss the more dated, classic environs of the old store, this new one will do just fine. Now only if it weren’t on the west side of the river…

Great store — wonderful selection, and knowledgable staff that know their products and provide good suggestions based on questions about your preferences and other wines you like.

I would not recommend Vinopolis for Bordeaux futures. I waited years and never received my order. I had to call and email multiple times to check the status and finally to get a refund. Each time the staff member needed to «talk to the owner», but no follow up action was taken. 2 stars since the staff was actual very nice even with their Kafkaesque responses.

Very poor customer service. Dismissive of my concerns on phone and failed to answer e– mails. They failed to be accountable for a delayed shipment that ended up going from Northern California to Los Angeles and back. I got two bad bottles. The two high end bottles of Clos Du Pape turned out to be poor quality, one bottle was bad, the other not much better though drinkable. They have a good inventory but I conclude provenance is questionable. I will avoid this place.

Agree w/​other comments.
The Good: Large selection of wine and decent prices. But who really buys a VIetti Barolo ’10 for $ 299? (OK I WOULD IF I HAD THE DOUGH)
The Huh: Why the confusing signs? (Eg;See my photo)
The bleh: Is there ambiance or personality in this place? I don’t know.
I’ll be back w/​out a bag on another day
Tip– ask for the sale!

I have shopped here by default but would welcome another wine shop in town. Today I came in looking for a specific wine and when told they didn’t have it, said I would look for something else. Upon hearing this, the employee was only interested in taking my bag to put it behind the counter. I was the only customer in the shop and was in plain view, so I don’t understand why she felt the need to confiscate my bag. I smiled but was mortified.