2022 Orvieto Classico Superiore Terre Vineate Palazzone
"Unquestionably the number one small estate of Orvieto" according to Stephen Tanzer, Palazzone produces delicious white wines from indigenous grape varietals of Umbria, balancing irresistible fruit aromas and flavors with an oh-so stony backdrop and nerve; produce of 50% Procanico, 30% Grechetto and 20% of Verdello, Drupeggio and Malvasia, vinified in stainless steel to keep things fresh; medium‑bodied, supremely balanced white wine with aromas that speak clearly of cool of the morning harvest fresh grapes and notions of floral honey, beeswax and something like hazelnut and elderflower and, yet again, stone; at once, just ample and round, crisp and dusty, citrusy dry and alive with fresh grapey flavor.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2016 Barolo La Villa Fratelli Seghesio
The 2016 Barolo La Villa is a beguiling wine that needs a bit of time in bottle to fully open up. Then again, it is a young Barolo, so that is very much to be expected. Dried herbs, mint, licorice, dark cherry, underbrush and a whole range of spiced/balsamic notes fill out the layers. Next to the straight Barolo, La Villa has more body, depth and texture. It is another fine effort from Seghesio. Drink 2024‑2036. Rated
94. - Antonio Galloni,
vinous.com October, 2020
$67.50 the bottle $688.56 the case
2018 Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Il Poggione
While tasting through the 2018 Brunellos, I couldn’t help but notice that quality in the southwest (in this case, Sant'Angelo in Colle) were generally higher across the board than in the north. This is not to say that every estate made a great wine, but that many more than usual made very balanced wines in the context of the growing season. However, Il Poggione made one of the top wines of 2018. What makes their Brunello so special is its balance of depth and structure that is seldom seen in this vintage, yet married to the exotic aromatics that many 2018s are noted for. So how did they succeed? Once again, this shows the importance of place in Montalcino. Alessandro Bindocci, manager and winemaker at Il Poggione, described 2018 in the southwest as having heavy precipitation throughout the spring that built up water supplies in the soils, which helped to mitigate the hot temperatures in May through July. Average August temperatures and light precipitation followed, with a cooling trend leading into September. While there was more rain in September, the strong Mistral winds maintained the health of the vines. In the end, production at Il Poggione was down due to strict selection of bunches to deal with the humid conditions. For this reason, Bindocci decided to use all of the fruit from the Paganelli vineyard in the estate Brunello, instead of producing a Riserva. The result is easily one of the top wines of the vintage and a bottle that collectors should not miss. As for looking to the future, the estate has begun organic conversion as of 2022 as well as upgraded irrigation across 100 hectares of vineyards.
Impressing from the first tilt of the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino makes itself known, with a heady burst of exotic spice and crushed ashen stone giving way to dried black cherries and grilled herbs. This combines the energy of the vintage with the dark balsamic-tinged fruits of Montalcino’s southern reaches, as zesty acidity maintains balance throughout, and flinty minerals saturate toward the close. It finishes long, savory and structured, yet its tannins are more rounded than anticipated, creating both a classic feel, but also leaving a mouthwatering sensation that tricks the taster back to the glass for more. Easily one of the top wines of the vintage, the 2018 is not to be missed. Rated
96+. - Eric Guido,
vinous.comOctober, 2022
$87.50 the bottle $446.28 the case of 6
2021 Rosso di Montalcino Tenuta Il Poggione
Produced entirely from hand‑harvested Sangiovese grapes, sourced from the estate's younger vineyards, this perennially excellent and emblematic Rosso di Montalcino is aged in a combination of botti grandi and tonneau of 350‑litre capacity before a period of bottle aging. Translucent ruby garnet in color with aromas suggestive of sanguine roasted red berry fruit, singed earth, saddle leather, macchea mediterranea and more; just plump on entry with shape and volume, then demonstrating a gentle structure of rounded tannins and nerve and a push of fruity intensity leaving the mouth fresh and pleasingly challenged.
$27.50 the bottle $280.56 the case
2016 Brunello di Montalcino Canalicchio di Sopra
The 2016 Canalicchio di Sopra Brunello di Montalcino is flat-out stunning, remarkably vibrant and an almost-ethereal expression. There’s an exotic citrusy tinge to its ripe black cherries, taking on hints of sage, cedar and allspice, all grounded by moist earth tones. It’s focused and remarkably pure with a noticeable inner sweetness to the red and hints of blackberry fruit, all cast across a silky, feminine frame. The structure builds like a crescendo, as minerals fade to youthful tannins. Juicy acids maintain perfect balance from start to finish, making for a surprisingly fresh expression yet with amazing length. There’s simply so much going on here, and there are promises of more good things to come. Drink 2024‑2038. Rated
95. - Eric Guido,
vinous.com November, 2020
$125.00 the bottle $1,275.00 the case
2019 Toscana Tignanello Marchesi Antinori
The 2019 Tignanello is one of the most reserved, understated young wines I can remember tasting here. In so many vintages Tignanello is quite showy, but in 2019 the nervous energy and brightness of Sangiovese takes center stage. That’s intriguing, because the 2019 blend has a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon than normal, a decision made to compensate for some of the lighter qualities in the Sangiovese. With air the 2019 shows gorgeous depth and captivating inner perfume, even if it is clearly still coming together. The 2019 spent about 14 months in oak, with 50% new wood. Things are always in constant evolution at Antinori. This is the first vintage to incorporate some larger 500L barrels, an approach I think will work brilliantly. Drink 2027‑2041. Rated
95. - Antonio Galloni,
vinous.com February, 2022
$150.00 the bottle $765.00 the case
2015 Toscana Montebello Badia a Coltibuono
Produce of nine historical grape varieties, namely, Mammolo, Ciliegiolo, Pugnitello, Colorino, Sanforte, Malvasia Nera, Canaiolo, Fogliatonda and, of course, Sangiovese from vines now 20 to 30 years in age and planted to the clay/limestone soils of Monti in Chianti with brilliant exposures on the hill of Montebello. The fruit is hand-picked and sorted at the winery set in the heart of the vineyards. Each variety is then vinified and aged separately in 500-litre open-top barrels utilizing indigenous yeasts and natural fermentations. Medium ruby to garnet at the edges in color, with utterly enticing aromas that just sing Toscana, sanguine Sangiovese, the perfectly singed crust of bistecca alla fiorentina, the patina of the annata solare of 2015, tanned leather, sun‑roasted herb (Henry noted sage and bay leaf), or is it just the macchia mediterranea itself (all these bits left to the imagination are just tantalizing); lithe on entry, its structure immediately apparent, with finely resolved granular tannins that give the wine push and pull and tension that, for us, defines the very finest of such red wines; calmly, comfortably building in presence and in flavor on the palate and all the while holding something more in reserve, oh had we the time or the remaining volume of wine to give this a proper decanting and …
$62.50 the bottle $159.39 the case of 3
2016 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Grosso Sanese Podere Il Palazzino
Il Palazzino's Chianti Classico Grosso Sanese is often one of the great wines of Chianti Classico, as it is once again in 2016. Dark, somber and explosive, the 2016 possesses off the charts intensity to match its brooding personality. Black cherry, scorched earth, tobacco, licorice and incense hit the palate. Deep and layered in the glass, the 2016 is superimpressive. What a wine! Il Palazzino is, inexplicably, one of the most under the radar estates in all of Chianti Classico. Alessandro and Andrea Sderci craft, rich, large‑scaled Chianti Classicos that capture all of the natural intensity of Monti in Chianti, where the estate is located. Readers who have not tasted these wines owe it to themselves to do so. Drink 2022‑2031. Rated
96. - Antonio Galloni,
vinous.com June, 2022
$50.00 the bottle $510.00 the case
2016 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Cerna
Produce of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Colorino and Canaiolo fruit from vines planted to the stony soils at about 280 meters in elevation near Castellina in Chianti in the southern part of the Classico zone; discreet sanguine Sangiovese aromas suggestive of stony soils, sottobosco, saddle leather and a hint of wintergreen; smooth and finely polished onto the tongie, then building in volume, potency and warmth with fine pulverized stony dusty tannins carrying ever more complex flavors long on the finish and well-demonstrating the preeminence of the 2016 vintage in Toscana.
$37.50 the bottle $382.56 the case
2018 Montefalco Rosso Tenuta Alzatura
Produce of fruit of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Merlot and 15% Sagrantino vines planted to clay/limestone/sandy soils at 250 meters of elevation in Umbria in central Italia; ruby red to just garnet at the edges in color; typical Sangiovese aromas suggestive of sweet cured meats, cherries, macchea mediterranea and the dusty summertime vineyard floor (eventually, with air, there was the scent of rose petals and a hint of liquirizia); slips smoothly out of the glass and onto the tongue with gentle Sangiovese astringency (the more fierce tannins of the Sangiovese and Sagrantino are ameliorated here by the softer Merlot); simply lovely Italian picnic red, perfect to cut against the oil of a good salami or to foil hard cheeses, and perfect for mid-week pasta and pizza, too.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2022 Pecorino Colline Pescaresi La Valentina
La Valentina is a leading example of the modern renaissance of winemaking in Abruzzo. The region has a history as a source of inexpensive bulk wine production, but a new generation of winemakers have dedicated themselves to harnessing the excellent terroir to produce high quality rather than high quantity — and La Valentina is at the forefront of this movement. The di Properzio brothers, proprietors of La Valentina, remain true to the traditional varieties associated with Abruzzo: Montepulciano d'Abruzzo and Trebbiano d'Abruzzo, along with a time‑honored but almost forgotten variety, Pecorino. The shift in focus is not in the grapes but in the way they are grown and vinified. La Valentina has acquired several vineyard sites that are located at higher elevations in the foothills of the Apennines, near a national park in pristine condition. In all of their vineyards, La Valentina have made a strong commitment to sustainability, avoiding the use of artificial or chemical products, ensuring maximum biodiversity and relying on minimal intervention in the land’s natural processes. To this end, all the estate vineyards have been certified organic since 2016. The name of the Pecorino grape is derived from Uve delle Pecora, a reference to the sheepherders who ate the grapes while accompanying their flocks across the hills and valleys of Abruzzo and the Marche. The wine is produced from 100% Pecorino fruit from vines planted to the clay soils of the communes of San Valentino, Scafa, and Spoltore in the province of Pescara, some 150 to 350 meters in elevation. Pale yellow/gold in color with initially reticent, eventually enticing aromas suggestive of stone fruits and salt sea air; silken smooth, tactile and viscous onto the tongue with a wellspring of energy, engaging the palate with a fresh saline minerality and hyper-refreshingness.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2021 Vermentino di Gallura Superiore Jankara
Vermentino is the workhorse white wine grape variety grown around the span of southeastern France and the northwestern and western coasts of Italy down to Tuscany and to the islands of Corsica and Sardegna. It seems especially well adapted to the coastal vineyards of the Ligurian and Tyrrhenian seas (this wine is more clear evidence). Produce of 100% Vermentino hand harvested from vines planted in 2008 to the primarily crushed granite soils of microclimate of Vena di San Leonardo in the Alta-Gallura; vivid yellow/platinum in color with glints of green and ultra fresh aromas that make this taster want to travel again with reminiscence of sweet ripe green gold berries kissed with the fresh salt sea air and a hint of ginestra and the vine leaf itself lending pith (Jankara themselves suggest aromas of Sardinian mandarin and white almond flowers); just ample on entry, then fresh and vibrant on the tongue, almost as though the wine inherently wants to bubble, with an intensity of flavor and saline minerality that stir the salivary glands long and fresh on the finish.
$19.99 the bottle $101.94 the case of 6
2020 Verdicchio dei Castelli di Jesi Classico Superiore Bucci
Produce of 100% organically-farmed Verdicchio grapes from vines on average 35-plus years in age and planted to the clay/limestone soils in this golden zone of the Marche in northeastern Italia; shimmering yellow/gold in color with aromas immediately suggestive of lemon or bergamot-like citrus flower, orchard fruits and the flesh of yellow/golden apple (a number of experts have historically noted bitter almond as well; Carol noted its Adriatic salinity); ample, full, rounded and satisfying on the tongue yet with vibrant citrusy acidity and pithiness that serve to amplify the wine's considerable volume and intensity of flavor on the finish.
$22.50 the bottle $229.56 the case
2022 Colterenzio Chardonnay Altkirch Alto Adige
Produce of 100% Chardonnay from deep sandy soils on gravelly deposits in the otherworldly gorgeous Südtirol-Alto Adige of northeastern Italia. Temperature‑controlled (read cool) fermentation in stainless steel tanks (read unoaked), the new wine subsequently matures for several months on the fine lees. The result is a brilliant, shimmering lemon yellow/gold with glints of green in color; ultra‑fresh aromas suggestive of vines in flower, flesh and skin of fresh green apple, melon and mango; supple and nicely rounded on the tongue with just a hint of citrus and saline mineral tang; both satisfying and refreshing, and all for a price so gulpably easy on the pocketbook.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2021 Terre Siciliane Bianco Pomice Tenuta di Castellaro
Produce of 60% Malvasia delle Lipari and 40% Carricante fruit handpicked from bush vines planted to the sandy, volcanic soils of the island of Lipari just north of Etna. Shimmering platinum/yellow in color with aromas suggesting sweet salt sea air, stone fruits and orange/lemon zest (Castellaro themselves suggest almond and the Mediterranean maquis as well); ultra‑fresh, almost weightless, poised and delicious on the tongue with lovely contrast of delicacy and salty tangy minerality; makes this taster wish he lived on such an island near the coast and a restaurant specializing in shellfish.
$29.99 the bottle $152.94 the case of 6
2021 Sauvignon Ronco del Cerò Venica
Dusty, floral and sweetly satisfying, the 2021 Sauvignon Ronco del Cerò opens with incense and exotic spice, giving way to grapefruit and sour melon zests. This is deeply textural yet focused on purity, with cooling minerality and herbal-tinged orchard fruits motivated by zesty acidity. It leaves the cheeks puckered while tapering off with a twang of sour citrus offset by sweet chamomile. The Ronco del Cerò is so pretty today, yet the best is undoubtedly yet to come. Drink 2023‑2030. Rated
92+. - Eric Guido,
vinous.com January, 2023
$24.99 the bottle $254.88 the case
2021 Malvasia Pètris Collio Venica
Shimmering, pristine yellow/gold in color with immediate and alluring aromas of yellow fruits like prugna mirabella (both Chris and Henry both sensed tropical fruit like guava; Venica themselves note apricot and aromatic herbs such as sage and thyme) and, for us, an almost palpable minerality; fully engaging on the palate, at once both tender, firmly mineral and gently saline, stirring the salivary glands and staying fresh with remarkable intensity of flavor long on the finish.
$27.50 the bottle $140.28 the case of 6
2021 Valpolicella Brigaldara
Produce of 55% Corvina, 25% Corvinone and 20% Rondinella fruit hand-harvested from 45 hectares of vines planted from 1970 to 1980 at 150 to 200 mètres in elevation at Marcellise near Verona. The vines are trained in both the Guyot and the
Pergola Veronese methods. Limpid ruby red in color with subtle yet alluringly complex aromas suggesting rose petals, black and red berries, dried cherries and an inkling of orange peel, spice and earth; supple on entry, then expanding to almost velvety in texture, demonstrating a certain spine and presence without weight and the gentlest tannins carrying delicate but persistent flavors long on the finish. In a word,
vinosità.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2020 Valpolicella Superiore Case Vecie Brigaldara
Spicy, floral and citrus-tinged, the 2020 Valpolicella Superiore Case Vecie is impossible to ignore. Soft-textured and open-knit, this impresses with a core of mineral-tinged red fruits
under an air of violets and lavender. This finishes remarkably fresh and with a salty flourish as residual acids maintain a lovely freshness. Drink 2023‑2026. Rated
92. - Eric Guido,
vinous.com December, 2022
$29.99 the bottle $305.88 the case
2019 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Sanperetto Roberto Mazzi e Figli
Produce of 65% Corvina, 5% Corvinone, 20% Rondinella and 10% Molinara fruit from the Calcarole, Poiega, Sanperetto and Villa vineyards near Negrar. The soils here are calcareous clay and loam, the exposures are to the southwest. Pale ruby/garnet to just tawny at the edges with delicate aromas suggesting floral (rose petal) tinged dark berries with a hint of cracked pepper, aromas that speak of carefully hand-made wine of place; supple and fine, silken in texture, tactile to be sure on entry with mouthwatering berryish acidity keeping things fresh and vibrant long to the finish. Lovely, if undeniably elevated entry level Valpolicella.
$22.50 the bottle $229.56 the case
2017 Valpolicella Classico Superiore Poiega Roberto Mazzi e Figli
Produce of 65% Corvina, 5% Corvinone, 25% Rondinella and 5% Molinara fruit harvested late in the season (mid‑November) from 2½ hectares of vines in the Poiega vineyard near Negrar. Alluring medium translucent ruby in color to just lighter tawnier at the edges with rich blue‑fruited berry and rose petal aromas; ample and, if the Sanperetto is silken in texture, the Poiega goes somewhere between silk and satin and velvet, ultra tactile wine, this, with gentle but palpable intensity and persistence of flavor carried long on the finish by jittery fine‑grained tannins.
$29.99 the bottle $305.88 the case
Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva Veneto Valpolicella Bonamini
Multi-awarded in major Italian and international oil competitions, this bottling represents the flagship of the Frantoio Bonamini. Production from the fruit of some 6,500 trees planted on terraces and hillsides just north of Verona where the cooler climate and native varieties Grignan and Favarol yield a sublime olive oil with delicate green fruit and vegetable flavors that allow for this oil to be slathered on just about anything, but it excels on seafood risotto, pesce crudo, vegetable pasta, roasted chicken, salads and even lemon gelato.
$24.99 the 500ml bottle
2016 Montefalco Sagrantino Scacciadiavoli
Founded in 1884, Scacciadiavoli (from scacciare, to banish, and diavoli, devils) takes its name from an exorcist that lived in a town at the borders of the property who used wine for his rituals. Scacciadiavoli is today managed by the 3rd and 4th generations of the Pambuffetti family, who specialize in the profound and somewhat under the radar DOC of Montefalco Sagrantino. Sagrantino is a grape variety thought by many to be indigenous to Umbria and Montefalco. Produce of 100% Sagrantino fruit, the superb 2016 Montefalco of Scacciadiavoli offers sweet sanguine Sagrantino aromas suggestive of blue fruits, teaberry, brilliant winegrowing soils (Glenn picked up red fruits, sotto bosco and bramble with air); structured, fully dry and fully engaging with broad resinous tannins with firm but gentle grip causing some serious salivation; vino profondo davvero.
$37.50 the bottle $191.28 the case
2021 Cannonau di Sardegna Costera Argiolas
Produce of about 85% Cannonau, 10% Carignano and 5% Bovale Sardo planted to pebbly, calcareous clay-loam soils with southeastern exposures on the island of Sardegna. Cannonau is also known as Garnacha in Spain, as Grenache in France and elsewhere. It is unclear from where it originated but, suffice to say, it is very much at home in Sardegna. Pale translucent ruby to just tawnier at the edges with alluring aromas of red berries and spice, a gentle scent of
macchia mediterranea and a certain overarching
vinosità; supple on entry, almost silky in texture, medium-full in body with a warming grip of jittery fine granular tannins carrying a gentle intensity of spicy berryish flavors long on the finish.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2021 Etna Rosso Tenuta delle Terre Nere
Etna Rosso is, for us, a most wonderful if somewhat recent discovery of some, um, magmatude. And Tenuta delle Terre Nere have emerged a favorite producer of the wine among our discerning clientèle. This Etna Rosso, their opening salvo among a number of delicious bottlings, is produced from a preponderance of Nerello Mascalese along with a dash of Nerello Cappuccio fruit from the young vines of the estate cropped at low yields of around 35 hectolitres per hectare and growing on the hillsides of the famous volcano on the eastern edge of the island of Sicily. Absolutely gorgeous translucent deep ruby in color with a certain vinosità what with almost almost fermentive aromas of crushed ripe berries, grape pomace, rose petals and stone; deceptively supple on entry, then building in body with a steady crescendo of substantial ripe tannins, power and volcanic warmth on the tongue. While there has been a good deal of comparison of Etna Rosso to Burgundian Pinot Noir, the aromatic profile is really quite different and the silken-textured opening quickly gives way, builds into somewhat more of a southern powerhouse on the tongue, with fine-grained tannins seemingly carrying bursting flavors right on up that hill, potent and long to the finish. Maybe a comparison to a mythical marriage of Chambolle‑Musigny and Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape would be more apt but, then again, no. Etna Rosso is sui generis. One might say it enters on silken slippers, all carefree, island-hopping light on its feet, but goes out with a firm and forceful resolve, as one might reasonably expect of a wine whose vines' dance partner is the stuff of an active volcano.
$22.50 the bottle $229.56 the case
Olio Extra Vergine di Oliva Biologico Tenuta delle Terre Nere
There is no such thing as «the best olive oil». And I would never say that ours is the best. I will, however, say that some may and do care for their trees and olives as much as we do, but none more than us. All our trees are organically raised and kept, the soil around them tilled and tilled again; all expertly pruned every two years. The olives are all hand picked, and every day’s harvest cold pressed every evening. The oil is then left to naturally decant until February/March and is bottled without filtering. Our volcanic soils confer sweetness and finesse to it, and a lovely bouquet. The cold nights inhibit our fruit's worst enemy, the olive fly. The result is an outstanding Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Costs are very high. We lose a little money every year. Someday soon I hope to break even. It doesn’t really matter that much, especially when you see the newly pressed gold/green olive oil gushing free from the press. Some things just have to be done. - Marco de Grazia, paraphrased from
www.tenutaterrenere.com$29.99 the 750ml bottle
View more of our selection of olive oils on the Olive Oil page of our website.
2022 Dão Branco Encruzado Quinta das Marias
Produce of 100% Encruzado grapes grown in the Dão about an hour's drive almost due south of the heart of the Douro. Encruzado yields a wine that when, as in this case, is well-made can perform much like a fine white Burgundy and, yet, there is a more tactile quality and a breadth to be enjoyed (even moreso with bottle age) that perhaps Chardonnay is more hard-pressed to give. Discreet aromas that hint at citrus flower, lemon peel and pith, white peppercorn and stone; at once both full and mineral crisp on the palate with impressive intensity of flavor and breadth and outright power in reserve; one can easily sense the benefit of aging a bit of this a good bit longer but, then, all of a sudden, we find the bottle is already empty.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2021 Clarete Negra Mole Vinho Regional Algarve Morgado do Quintão
From the Algarve, Portugal with all apparent and attendant love; produce of 100% Negra Mole fruit from 40+ year old vines planted to iron-rich sandy loess mixed with limestone (known locally as arenitos) at 250+ feet above sea level, with the cool maritime influence of the Atlantic Ocean only some 5 miles away and warmed by the Levante winds from Africa. The fruit is harvested by hand into small 20 kilogram crates, crushed gently by foot before undergoing a pre-fermentation maceration for 5 days. It is then fermented slow and cool in stainless steel and aged for 10 months prior to bottling. Oh so translucent ruby at the core to garnet/ruby/fuchsia toward the edges with alluring fragrance suggestive of cherry and wild strawberry, prickly pear, rose petals/rose hips and notions of damp earth; Pinot Noir or Grenache-like supple and silky on the tongue (the wine takes on more volume and breadth with air) but with an underlying nerve and fine granular tannins that keep things balanced and energized. Vinho muito delicioso do Algarve, Portugal. To be sure, we find this a most unique and delicious wine sure to appeal to lovers of more delicate southern Rhône Valley wines, Burgundy, Etna et al.
$32.50 the bottle $165.78 the case
2020 Côtes-du-Rhône Réserve Domaine de La Janasse
Produce of 55% Grenache, 25% Syrah, 10% Carignan, 5% Cinsault and 5% Mourvèdre grown on 20 acres adjacent to the Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape vineyards of Domaine de La Janasse. This superb Côtes‑du‑Rhône has been a go‑to bottle for us for some years now: deep ruby red, with hints of garrigue and pulverized stone almost wholly subsumed by sun‑drenched, almost new-world ripe grapey aromas; rich, round, generous and powerful on the tongue, with ripe kirsch‑like Grenache flavors and fine chalky/stony ripe tannins building on the palate, giving shape and structure on to the warm and invigorating finish.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2021 Résonance Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
When Maison Louis Jadot looked for its first project outside Burgundy, Oregon’s Willamette Valley and its distinctive terroir stood out. The French house staked its claim in Oregon’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, building a new brand around Résonance Vineyard, which was originally planted in 1981. The winemaking team consists of Guillaume Large and Jacques Lardière, who was Jadot’s chief winemaker for 42 years until he "retired" in 2012. Thibault Gagey is director of operations. The Willamette Valley 2021 is a blend from Résonance and other estate vineyards as well as other top sites in the Willamette Valley. The wine aged 15 months in French oak, of which 30 percent was new.
Precise and elegantly structured, with detailed raspberry, savory tea and crushed stone accents that gather richness and tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2031.
Smart Buy. (#9 among
Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2023). Rated
94. - Tim Fish,
Wine Spectator June, 2023, November, 2023
$40.00 the bottle $408.00 the case
2019 Donnachadh Family Wines Chardonnay
Family owned and organically farmed, Donnachadh (um, let's get this out of the way quickly, it's pronounced DON-nuh-kuh) Vineyard is located in the Santa Rita Hills viticultural area of Santa Barbara County. The vineyard was planted in 2013, the culmination of a dream for erstwhile Austinite owners Drew Duncan and his wife, Laurie. The property is 285 acres with approximately 40 acres under vine. The climate here is dominated by the Pacific Ocean, which lies about 7 miles from the vineyard. Morning fog cools the grapes and consistent afternoon ocean breezes keep heat from building up over the course of the day. Quite pure Chardonnay aromas suggest the salt sea, orange zest, mirabelle plum and green/golden berries hanging in the cool of the maritime morning; quite tactile on the palate, caressing in texture with a gentle minerality and flourish of flavor on the finish that suggest a judicious use of toasty oak and those same now delicious green/golden berries along with a fully mouthwatering hint of salinity.
$67.50 the bottle $688.56 the case
2020 Donnachadh Family Wines Pinot Noir Santa Rita Hills
The Pinot Noir vines (California heritage clones Swan, Calera and Pommard) are planted midslope on a north-facing hillside where fog and strong winds provide cooling and prolong the growing season. Well-drained soils derived from marine shale provide a lean nutrient diet and just the right amount of moisture. The fruit was hand harvested at ripeness levels to retain bright acidity and intense flavors. At the winery, the fruit was destemmed and crushed while still cool, then fermented with its own native yeasts. Translucent medium ruby in color with aromas that are at once sappy, savory and brambley, with notions of Asian five spice, candied orange peel, a hint of wood smoke and, with some air, ripe bing cherry; at once, both supple and nervy on the tongue, with just an inkling of fine-grained grape skin and stem tannins, a touch of salinity and a gentle mouthwatering acidity on the laid back west coast sunset of a flavorful finish.
$67.50 the bottle $688.56 the case
Champagne Le Mesnil Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
Produce of 100% Chardonnay from grand cru vineyards near Le Mesnil sur Oger, in the heart of the Côte des Blancs — holy ground for lovers of the finest Champagne. This bottling represents some 2⁄3 of the production of the very well-run cooperative that is Champagne Le Mesnil. Brilliant white-gold in color, this Brut Blanc de Blancs has a lovely harmony of elements, fresh and most enticing and inviting aromas suggestive of melon, cool of the morning grape plucked from the vine, buttered biscuit and flower pollen; nice medium-full mousse, then expansive on the tongue and supremely flavorful, its crisp fresh chalky dry finish just begging another delicious pull.
$40.00 the bottle $408.00 the case
$22.50 the 375ml half-bottle $229.56 the case of 12
$250.00 the 3-litre double magnum
View more of our selection of Champagne on the Champagne page of our website.
Champagne Palmer Brut Réserve
Champagne Palmer Brut Réserve is produced from about 1⁄2 Chardonnay, 1⁄3 Pinot Noir and the balance Pinot Meunier from a selection of the most prestigious terroirs in Champagne with premier and grand crus from the Montagne de Reims predominating and making their distinctive mark. A significant proportion of from 30% to 40% reserve wines contributes a rare fullness and maturity. Brilliant light lemon yellow/platinum in color with an abundance of vibrant bubbles shimmering upward; fine and discreet aromas suggest citrus blossom, citrus preserve, lightly toasted baguette and chalky stone; fine, gently frothy on entry, then building to full, round and chalky dry with a zesty lemony tang of refreshingness and full mineral vibrancy and potency, both mouthwatering and satisfying.
$50.00 the bottle $255.00 the case of 6
Champagne Bollinger Brut Special Cuvée
If ever there were a Champagne a meal unto itself, Bollinger would be the one. And their Brut Special Cuvée is the purest expression of the style of Champagne Bollinger. Produce of 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier; luminous yellow/gold in color; noticeably and reliably rich and toasty on the nose with nuance of citrus peel and buttered biscuit; full-bodied and dry, frothy and toasty on the tongue with bold, sumptuous and satisfying depth of flavor. Mais oui, c'est Bollinger!
$80.00 the bottle $408.00 the case of 6
Champagne Ayala Brut Majeur
Champagne Ayala was established in Aÿ in 1860 in the heart of the vineyards of Champagne. Independent and family‑owned, it is still today an archetype of a great and historic house, producing top quality sparkling wines which are enjoyed throughout the world for their freshness and elegance. Produce of 40% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier, Champagne Ayala's calling card Brut Majeur offers aromas suggesting oven-fresh buttered biscuit with a dash of the best lemon curd, crisp green apple and le miel de fleurs blanches all on a backdrop of wine-moistened chalk; ample on entry, round, tactile, with presence and power in reserve but retaining a certain lightness of being, then crisp and chalky dry with flavors a delicate reprise of its alluring aromatic sweep.
$57.50 the bottle $586.56 the case
Champagne Billecart-Salmon Brut Rosé
In the year 1818, Nicolas François Billecart and Elisabeth Salmon were married, following which they decided to found Maison Billecart-Salmon in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, the family’s home town. Subsequently, Nicolas François joined forces with Louis Salmon, his wife’s brother. He oversaw all the commercial activity whilst his brother-in-law, who was passionate about oenology, dedicated himself to the creation of the wines. In the 1970s, Jean Roland-Billecart began to pursue the production of a Brut Rosé, his objective to create a Champagne pale in colour with flavour distinguished by its freshness and subtle notes of red berries. The gamble paid off and their Brut Rosé has since become the flagship cuvée of the house. And Champagne Billecart Salmon Brut Rosé is now long a favorite of our discerning clientèle. Attractive copper pink to silver at the rim in color with cool come hither aromas suggestive of fresh berries and cream, a hint of wintergreen and toasted baguette; an immediate presence on the tongue, ample in body and nicely rounded with a generous froth engaging, almost embracing the palate; chalky dry and intensely fresh and flavorful to the finish, an absolute joy of a sparkling wine.
$100.00 the bottle $1,020.00 the case
Champagne Laurent-Perrier Cuvée Rosé Brut
Laurent-Perrier are one of only a few houses with such a high reputation for their sparkling rosé production. Tasting this for the first time in too, too long, we now understand the pourquoi of it more completely. Produce of 100% Pinot Noir fruit from 10 different crus mainly in the Montagne de Reims, the wine demonstrates a brilliant array of pinks in color like some of those available in the finest 'city of the violet crown' sunsets; alluringly fresh and decidedly red berry fruits on the nose; Henry noted crunchy red fruits on the palate, too, and a blood orange like citrus quality; Ian noted a saline and citrus quality; and there is an overarching sense of equilibrium with this wine that makes it a most affable and quaffable affair, finishing with a flourish of freshness and flavor. Strange as it may seem for us to say, pink Champagne is no sure thing. Champagne Laurent‑Perrier, on the other hand, make it look like une promenade dans le parc. Laissez couler le Champagne rosé!
$87.50 the bottle $446.28 the case of 6
$212.50 the 1.5-litre magnum $541.89 the case 3
Champagne Taittinger Brut La Française
Taittinger utilize some 40% of Chardonnay fruit in crafting their maison Brut La Française, lending a certain refinement to the wine, characteristic of the house style. Subtle, pale gold in color with a fine steady bead of ultra fine bubbles; delicate lemon and limestone aromas, with nuance of stone fruits and pastry dough; a fine froth broadens out balanced and well-rounded, almost spherical on the tongue with delicate toast and citrus flavors; finishing deliciously crisp and dry. Très élégant, trés raffiné, très Taittinger!
$50.00 the bottle $255.00 the case of 6
Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve
Champagne Charles Heidsieck Brut Réserve is produce of about 1⁄3 each Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier from a selection of approximately 60 different crus individually vinified in stainless steel. The blend contains a high proportion of about 40% reserve wines an equal mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and between 5 and 15 years of age. Luminous yellow/gold in color with a wealth of fine bubbles; full, toasty, doughy aromas; rich and round on the palate, sumptuous even, with a freshening zest of citrus on the finish. Brut Réserve is the splendid calling card of Champagne Charles Heidsieck.
$50.00 the bottle $255.00 the case of 6
Paul Chollet Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé
Produce of fruit from vineyards in the Côte de Beaune, Côte de Nuits, the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune and Hautes-Côtes de Nuits, the blending of which offers all the balance, generosity, and strength of character of the Burgundian terroir as demonstrated by its most noble vine, the Pinot noir. Lovely sunset peach-skin pink to rose red with glints of copper in color; aromas redolent of Pinot noir with typical red berry fruits, say strawberry, raspberry, and cherry all, a veritable cornucopia of baies rouges mélangées; fine, persistent yet delicate sparkle, fresh and easy on the palate, hyper-refreshing, so delicious and so just begging another pull. Fine, fine bubbles from Burgundy!
$19.99 the bottle $203.88 the case
View more of our selection of Crémant de Bourgogne on the Sparkling Wine page of our website.
Louis Picamelot Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Les Terroirs Rosé
Produce of 100% Côte Chalonnaise Pinot Noir fruit. The color here is a lovely rose to sunset orange pink at the edges; aromas that define allure, you can almost smell the refreshment to come, with a pinch of spice and a kiss of red berry and a real sense of that wonderful stony Burgundian wine-growing soil underpinning; this one has both body and refreshingness as well as something that simply piques, perhaps pinches, but certainly imbues the imbiber with the feeling of having consumed ever so well with a nervy freshness and spiced red berry flavors that linger in most welcome reprise. This is like bottled joie de vivre. Get some!
$22.50 the bottle $229.56 the case
Louis Picamelot Crémant de Bourgogne Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Jeanne Thomas
Dedicated to Jeanne Thomas Picamelot, Louis' wife, this cuvée is said to combine a feminine elegance and strong personality. We can but smile and nod in complete and utter agreement. 'Happy wife, happy life' comes to mind. This is a vintage‑dated sparkling wine, but we tend not to focus on that. Produce of mostly Chardonnay with a slight admixture of Aligoté, all hand‑harvested from the Côte Chalonnaise, Côte de Beaune and Côte de Nuits (the best addresses for white grapes from this part of Burgundy). Vivid green/gold in color with generous and persistent tiny bubbles and aromas ever so fresh and inviting, suggesting white flower, citrus zest and fine wine‑friendly limestone‑rich soils; full and round, powerful, yes, and eventually sumptuous on the palate, this wine both refreshes and satisfies. Picamelot themselves recommend it as a perfect Crémant pour le gastronome (it works especially well at the dinner table, that is).
$27.50 the bottle $140.28 the case of 6
Vitteaut-Alberti Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Blanc de Blancs Cuvée Agnès
Maison Vitteaut-Alberti was founded in 1951 in Rully in the Côte Chalonnaise by M. Lucien Vitteaut and his wife née Alberti, who chose to specialise in the production of sparkling white wines using the Méthode Champenoise. Today they are operating among the most highly-regarded sparkling wine operations in Burgundy from Rully in the Côte Chalonnaise, about twenty minutes south of Beaune. The Cuvée Agnès (Agnès is the granddaughter of the founders, now active in the company) is a blend of a strict selection of 100% Chardonnay grapes coming from the Côte Chalonnaise and the Côte de Beaune. Brilliant yellow-gold in color with just a wealth of fine bubbles; ultra fresh aromas titillate the nostrils with suggestion of stone fruits, citrus blossom, ultra-fine brioche just in the oven; ultra-fine on the palate, too, with a delicate froth, poised, balanced, almost spherical in shape; then, a freshness of flavor that resonates long. Among the finest Crémants de Bourgogne that we've encountered. And we've encountered, mmmm, quite a few.
$27.50 the bottle $140.28 the case of 6
2019 Raventós i Blanc Conca del Riu Anoia Blanc de Blancs
Raventós i Blanc are part of a movement in Spain to further quality in the category of sparkling wines. And, as have a number of other fine producers there, they have chosen not to use the DOC 'Cava' for their fine sparkling wines. Their excellent Blanc de Blancs is produce of a typical mix of Xarel·lo, Macabeu and Parellada fruit planted to the clay and limestone soils of the Conca del Riu Anoia in the Penedès in northeastern Spain. Ultra-fresh aromas that suggest stone and orchard fruits and the wonderful work of the yeast genus Saccharomyces that gives a kind of toasty quality on the nose; fresh on the palate, too, with a wealth of fine bubbles, a building power and a kind of stony underpinning melded with a freshness of flavor. While discussion of the source(s) of the best sparkling wine in the world can be spirited and devolve into a mere accounting of so many opinions, it is safe to say that if a wine of this quality were produced in Champagne, it would cost at least twice as much.
$19.99 the bottle $203.88 the case
Adriano Adami Prosecco Treviso Garbèl Brut
Garbèl, which in ancient local dialect means a dry, crisp, pleasantly tart wine, is produced from the hilly vineyards in the Colli Trevigiani area, where the cool nights and hot days are ideal for expressing the typical fruit notes of the Prosecco (aka, Glera) grape. A wonderfully versatile sparkler, Garbèl’s 13 grams of residual sugar place it between the Brut and Extra Dry styles: lucid, platinum in color; vibrant and fresh aromas pull one in with suggestion of orchard fruits like yellow plum and pear (it is, of course, the Prosecco grape); vivid, frothy, crisp and mouthwatering on the tongue with just a hint of minerality; leaves the palate fully refreshed and ready. Unpretentious, unaffected, engaging and refreshing, Adami Garbèl is our go-to Prosecco.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2021 Siduri Pinot Noir Willamette Valley
The 2021 Siduri Willamette Valley Pinot Noir comes from vineyards in Yamhill-Carlton and Eola-Amity, along with a splash of fruit from a vineyard in the southern Willamette Valley, Maple Grove, that adds structure and richness; alluring translucent ruby in color with redolent aromas suggesting Oregon blackberry and bramble, dark ripe cherry, a hint of cola and holiday baking spices; at once, both sturdy and silken on the tongue with crisp acidity and soft, ripe, rounded tannins carrying fresh taut spicy berry flavor long on the finish
$35.00 the bottle $357.00 the case
2021 Siduri Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
Siduri blends fruit from Santa Maria Valley and the Sta. Rita Hills to produce this superb Santa Barbara County wine: Pinot Noir from Santa Maria Valley provides crunchy fresh fruit laden with spice notes, whilst fruit from the Sta. Rita Hills provides opulent and energetic red and black fruits. Lovely translucent ruby in color with deep pitched, contemplative aromas that suggest dark ripe berries, cinnamon, clove, tea leaf and dried orange peel (with some air there was also a hint of reglisse); ample and broad on the palate, gently structured with dusty tannins carrying deliciously complex spicy berry flavors on the finish.
$27.50 the bottle $280.56 the case
2022 Château Pavillon de Boyrein Graves
Produce of about half each Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon fruit harvested from vines planted to the gravel, clay and limestone soils of southern part of the Graves winegrowing area near the city of Bordeaux itself; supremely fresh and pure aromas of cool green/gold berries hanging in the cool of morning with suggestion of snappy, sappy mint leaf and green fig; delightful equilibrium on the palate, at once feather light, delicate, sleek and soothing on the tongue with a wellspring of fresh green/gold berry flavor, a fresh chervil-like winter aromatic herbal quality and an uplifting mineralité on the finish.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2020 Château Croix de Mai Médoc
Produce of 60% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec and Petit Verdot vines averaging over 50 years in age and grown on gravel soils over a rare outcropping of limestone near the town of Bégadan north of Lesparre on the Médoc peninsula. Deep through the glass darkly just translucent ruby/purple in color with then more classic claret aromas suggestive of dark ripe berries, ripe blue plum, cassis, toasted baguette, baking spices and a sense of the parched vineyards floor underneath it all; cool, smooth, polished on entry with fine chalky tannins giving shape and sustaining complex dark berry and earth-tinged flavors long on the finish. In our humble estimation, this is the most impressive effort yet from this property at the far reaches of the northern Médoc.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2018 Château Mauvesin Barton Moulis en Médoc
In 2011, Lilian Barton (of Châteaux Léoville-Barton and Langoa-Barton) and her husband, Michel Sartorius, purchased Château Mauvesin, a 220-hectare property which, as Lilian herself puts it « has a real soul that envelops you when you visit, casting a spell as you discover the unique charm of the place ». The vineyard is situated in the Moulis‑en‑Médoc appellation to the north of the city of Bordeaux and on the left bank of the Gironde estuary. The 46 hectares of vines comprise 54% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Cabernet Franc. A portion of the vineyards are planted to clay/gravel soils, perfectly suited for the growing of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Another portion is planted to fine gravel and sandy soils, on which the Cabernet Sauvignon may reach full ripeness. Lovely medium ruby in color; classic (and classy) restraint on the nose with aromas suggestive of cassis, violet and earth (more petrichor than just dirt; with more air there is also a hint of reglisse, always a welcome feature of fine European red wine); our wine buyer found it gently austère on the palate, whereas both Andrea and Henry found it more giving, with fine dusty tannins, then finishing in a flourish of intense earthy berry flavor and mouthwatering minerality; this is clearly a fine if more reasonably priced Bordeaux from folks that have long possessed the savoir‑faire to produce the very finest.
$24.99 the bottle $254.88 the case
2019 Dão Tinto Lote Quinta das Marias
Produce of a typical Dão blend (Lote means blend or batch in Português) of Touriga Nacional, Tinta Roriz (Tempranillo), Jaen (Mencía) and Alfrocheiro; rich almost sanguine ruby red in color with an old world allure and vinosidade what with aromas at once both resinous and floral and suggestion of spiced plum and plump berries hanging above an arid vineyard floor at the peak of season; sophisticated and smooth, fully dry, but still country onto the tongue with both complexity and generosity of flavor and an embracing warmth on the finish.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2022 Nortico Alavarinho Vinho Regional Minho
Produce of 100% Alvarinho (aka Albariño in España) fruit from the "garden vineyards" planted to granitic soils on the southern banks of the river Minho in far northern Portugal (across from Galicia in northwestern Spain); rather immediate aromas suggestive of wine-moistened stone, flowers and orchard fruits like peach and apple (Darcie noted honeysuckle and fresh green herbal qualities); crisp, mineral tang on the tongue and then a gentler
redondeza and salt-sea salinity (the Atlantic is a beautiful thing indeed from this perspective), finishing innervating and fresh and just begging another pull. This one will compliment both the freshest catch or the finest tin of Iberian conservas and is so highly recommended to beat this dog days heat.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2021 Douro Branco Vale do Bomfim Dow
A new white wine bottling by the Symington Family and the House of Dow from the Douro River valley of Portugal, a blend of soon sure to be household names in white wine grape varieties: 45% Malvasia Fina, 25% Rabigato, 20% Viosinho and 10% Arinto grown in higher elevation sites that give freshness and acidity to the eventual wines. It may be that the Malvasia Fina dominates the initial aromatic impression giving suggestion of mildly exotic citrus the likes of kumquat or bergamot orange along with quince and uma mistura de flores (Symington themselves suggest apricot, peach and pineapple with some subtle honeysuckle fragrance in the background); ample and rounded on the tongue, a tactile white wine, to be sure, but with an engaging freshness and zing and not insignificant mouthwateringly saline quality that quite simply titilates the tastebuds. Our winebuyer has noted that the Douro Valley can seemingly successfully grow most anything it chooses. It is, just the same, thrilling that one of our favorite sources for fine dry red table wines (and, of course, Porto) can also produce such delicious, fresh and so clearly useful a dry white wine. Olé !
$11.99 the bottle $122.28 the case
2020 Douro Tinto Vale do Bomfim Dow
From Douro Valley vineyards of the Symington family in northern Portugal, including the Quinta do Bomfim and Quinta da Senhora da Ribeira, which have traditionally supplied the famed Porto House of Dow. Vale do Bomfim represents a new style of table wine from the Upper Douro Valley, where the region's wealth of grape varieties, mature vineyards and modern winemaking have been successfully combined. Produce of 40%
Touriga Nacional, 30% Tinta Roriz, 20% Touriga Franca and 10% Tinta Barroca, hand‑selected and vinified at the Quinta do Sol, among the most modern winemaking facilities in Portugal; deep dark ruby in color with plump ripe red and dark berry aromas (one can almost sense the ripening clusters of grapes hanging in the vineyard just prior to harvest) along with suggestion of the lifted floral/resinous scent of the rock rose (known as
Esteva in the Douro) and underpinned by the schistous vineyard floor itself; supple on entry, just this side of velvety in texture, medium to just medium‑full in body with a certain vibrancy and balancing edge of fruity acidity with just the gentlest tannins lending structure; then, long on flavor, fresh and mouthwatering to the finish. Among our best-selling popularly-priced red wines for years now and getting even better as the vintages roll by.
$11.99 the bottle $122.28 the case
2018 Douro Prazo de Roriz Quinta de Roriz Prats & Symington
While the art of creating Port wine was being perfected, Bordeaux — another region with a talent for satisfying the thirst of the English — was inventing vinification using a process of prolonged maceration, allowing for the gradual and gentle extraction of tannins. This gave rise to the balance and finesse of the great red wines of the Médoc. The attempt to apply Bordeaux winemaking methods to grapes which are traditionally destined for the production of vintage Port is the essence of this exciting Prats & Symington project. Prazo de Roriz is produce of a classic mingling of 35% Touriga Franca, 20% Touriga Nacional, 15% Tinta Roriz, 10% Tinta Barroca and the remaining 20% 'mixed black' varieties hand‑harvested from the vineyards of Quinta de Roriz and Quinta da Perdiz. Quinta de Roriz is situated in a natural amphitheatre facing north on the banks of the Douro. Its mineral‑rich, schistous soils give highly aromatic wine of red‑fruited, mineral‑driven character. Quinta da Perdiz lies on a steep gradient on the other side of the same mountain in the relatively closed‑in Rio Torto Valley and produces ripe, soft, velvety wines from this warmer climate. Altogether, Prazo de Roriz is an exceptional Douro Valley red wine: deep almost opaque purple/ruby in color with alluring saturated aromas redolent of mineral soils‑influenced ripe berries and dried cherries, cacao, baking spices, grape pomace and graphite; then, at once, cool and classy, fresh, intense and vibrant on the palate, its mineral edge on keen display with fine ripe stony, but pliant tannins carrying penetrating flavors that remain fresh, long and mouthwatering to the finish.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2018 Alentejo Portalegre Quinta da Fonte Souto
A nice, seductive wine, with a velvety-textured core of warmed cherry and plum puree, backed by singed vanilla and a subtle sanguine thread on the finish. Delivers a late flicker of violet. Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Alfrocheiro. Drink now through 2024. 2,469 cases made, 250 cases imported. Rated 90. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, December, 2021
$22.50 the bottle $114.78 the case of 6
2019 Alentejo Alfrocheiro Sierra de São Mamede Quinta da Fonte Souto
Of uncertain origin, the grape Alfrocheiro appeared in the early part of the last century in Portugal and is valued for its adaptability and for producing structured, deep‑colored wines. This Alfrocheiro of Quinta da Fonte Souto embodies all of the strengths of the property’s unique terroir: the freshness and balance afforded by elevation and the complexity and structure provided by mature, low‑yielding vines. Produce of 100% Alfrocheiro fruit sourced from two of its highest vineyards (at just over 500 metros, that's 1,640 feet in elevation) and not at all far beyond which lies the border with España, about 80% of the blend was aged 11 months in 2nd‑year 400‑litre French oak barrels. Deep, midnight ruby/purple in color with unique aromatic qualities that at once suggest the vinosity/complexity of the old world but the richness of new world fruit what with aspects of stony schistous soils and vibrant fresh fermentive scents of dark berries and spice (Symingtom themselves also note the influence of the nearby forest); plush and rich on entry, almost completely enveloping the palate, holding its shape well with gentle but present "peppery" tannins and berryish acidity and a warmth, a generosity, a persistence and freshness of flavor long on the finish. More rock solid evidence of the Alentejo advancing, amplifying, augmenting … The Alentejo is on the rise!
$35.00 the bottle $178.50 the case of 6
2019 Douro Tinto Duas Quintas Ramos-Pinto
Produce of 51% Touriga Nacional, 26% Touriga Franca and 23% other traditional Douro varieties harvested from the Quinta de Ervamoira and Quinta dos Bons Ares vineyards. The grapes are harvested by hand into 150 kg boxes, then fermented in a combination of granite lagares, large oak, concrete and stainless steel vats. After malolactic fermentation, 20% of the wine is aged in French oak barrels, 30% in large oak and the remainder in stainless steel for about 12 months. Saturated ruby/purple in color with suggestion of fleshy ripe wild berry and plum along with notions of baking spices and dusty summer sun-baked schistous soils; ample, just rich in texture on the palate, demonstrating a certain Iberian balance with nicely resolved tannins holding everything in shape good and long on the flavorful, slow-melting and mouthwatering finish. And, simply splendid value at its oh so modest price.
$13.75 the bottle $140.28 the case
2011 Douro Barca Velha Casa Ferreirinha
Terrific structure, depth of colour and flavour articulate an outstanding year. Great warp and weft of ripe fruit (blackberry, strawberry, plum, dried fig and jam) and signature savoury roast chestnut, smoky clove and leather notes, with hints of bergamot and white flowers. Unerring acidity and impeccably judged iron-filing tannins underpin and fan the flavours. Exceptionally long, retro-nasal finish. Prodigious. Drink 2021‑2045. Rated
98. - Sarah Ahmed,
decanter.com March, 2021
$625.00 the bottle $1,593.75 the case of 3
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape les Hauts-lieux Domaine de la Vieille Julienne
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Hauts-Lieux includes slightly more Mourvèdre and comes from a cooler parcel in the northern part of the appellation. It has another level of purity and precision compared to the Trois Sources and has extraordinary notes of blueberries, cassis, black licorice, violets, and crushed stone-like minerality. Incredibly concentrated, massive, and yet perfectly balanced, it has no hard edges and is just an incredible tasting experience. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years. Drink 2025‑2051. Rated
98+. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com November, 2021
$100.00 the bottle $1,020.00 the case
2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape les Trois Sources Domaine de la Vieille Julienne
Moving to the Chateauneuf du Papes from barrel, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Les Trois Sources comes from more sandy soils. In general, this cuvée is the closest in style to the Reserve release and offers a more opulent style compared to the more structured Les Hauts-Lieux release. Gorgeous black and blue fruits, violets, black licorice, and sappy garrigue emerge on the nose, and it’s full-bodied, with ultra-fine tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish. Rated
94-96+. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com November, 2021
$75.00 the bottle $765.00 the case
2020 Côtes-du-Rhône lieu dit Clavin Rouge Domaine de la Vieille Julienne
The 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Lieu-Dit Clavin is a pretty, elegant, medium-bodied effort that shows the classy style of this estate. More blue fruits, cherries, licorice, and peppery notes define the nose, and it has fine tannins and outstanding balance. It’s capable of evolving for a decade in cold cellars. Drink 2022‑2032. Rated
90. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com November, 2022
$27.50 the bottle $280.56 the case
2020 Côtes du Rhône Villages Sablet Domaine de Piaugier
Produce of 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah fruit from vines an average age of 25 years and planted to sand, clay and silt soils. The Grenache is fermented in cement tank, the Syrah in 3- to 4-year old barrels. Importer Charles Neal notes aromas of black fruits and pepper, we noted ripe berry with suggestion of reglisse and just the faintest hint of garrigue; slippery smooth on entry, then building in volume and presence to a more robust and generous, stone-tinged berry, full-throttle flavorful and satisfying red wine with fine-grained jittery Grenache tannins carrying flavor long. Henry underscored the excellent push/pull tension between juicy ripe fruit and those ultra-fine tannins, noting this is a whole heckuva lot of wine for just the scrawniest amount of scratch.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2020 Côtes du Rhône Villages Cuvée Vieilles Vignes Domaine Roger Perrin
Produce of 75% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 5% Mourvèdre grapes hand‑harvested from vines averaging 60 years in age from vineyards near Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape in the southern Rhône Valley. Each cluster is carefully sorted and the grapes are entirely destemmed then chilled to 12°C to undergo a cold soaking, extracting as much fruit flavour and colour as possible. They are then put into stainless steel vats and undergo pigéage and a slow, temperature‑controlled fermentation for some 15 to 20 days, yielding more robust, round, persistent tannins and body. The wine is then aged in concrete vats for 12 to 15 months before bottling. Lovely translucent cherry skin red with aromas of pulverized stone, wild strawberry, cherry, rosemary, lavender and more; supple on entry, then expansive on the palate to a generous mouth‑filling medium‑full in body with fine dusty jittery ripe tannins keeping everything fresh and flavorful long on the finish.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2020 Côtes-du-Rhône La Muse Papilles Domaine Montirius
Produce of 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah fruit organically/biodynamically farmed and hand-harvested from vines an average of 25 years old and planted to the garrigues and Helvetian sand and sandstone soils in the Mediterranean climes of the southern Rhône Valley near Vacqueyras. Winemaking is traditional, the fruit is completely destemmed, there is a light crushing of the berries and fermentation on natural indigenous grape yeasts, the wine is aged in cement for one winter, then bottled. Vibrant and glowing translucent ruby to fuchsia at the edges in color with exotic almost perfumed aromas suggestive of wild strawberry conserve and grape pomace (it is, of course, biodynamically farmed grapes) with maybe just a hint of reduction (almost like roasted coffee beans; Henry noted the scent of garrigue after a bit of time in the glass); silken smooth onto the palate, then fresh and crisp, almost crunchy in texture (crunchy red berries), with pulverized stone-like, chalky dry jittery tannins building, carrying at once delicate and vibrant flavors long and fresh on the finish. An amusement for the tastebuds, indeed.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2019 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Domaine Roger Perrin
The 2019 Châteauneuf Du Pape has some rustic, old wood notes as well as solid darker cherry and assorted berry fruits, medium to full body, a beautifully seamless, elegant texture, and nicely balanced tannins. It cleans up nicely with time in the glass, and the elegance and balance here are superb. Rated
90. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com November, 2021
$40.00 the bottle $408.00 the case
2020 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Le Vieux Donjon
The 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape is another winner from this team, and readers can’t go wrong here. Based on 75% Grenache, 10% each of Syrah and Mourvedre, with the balance Cinsault, it was partially destemmed and brought up all in foudre. This beauty just about jumps out of the glass with its Provençal aromatics of ripe cherries, ground pepper, saddle leather, garrigue, and spice. These carry to a medium to full-bodied wine that has the vintage’s charming, pure character front and center, yet still brings good mid-palate density and ripe tannins. Buy a case, count yourself lucky, and enjoy bottles any time over the coming 10-15 years. Drink 2022‑2037. Rated
95. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com November, 2022
$67.50 the bottle $688.56 the case
2020 Vin de Pays de Vaucluse Rouge Le Pigeoulet
Produced at Domaine du Vieux Télégraphe in Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape, this is, as they say, a 'gateway' to the more 'elevated' wines of the southern Rhône Valley. Only, in this case, the Ventoux appellation is actually higher still in elevation, and more elevation in this part of the winegrowing world tends to give more freshness and more of an easygoingness and, you'll notice, a little lighter touch in terms of price. Produce of about 55% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 15% Carignan, 8% Cinsault and 7% Mourvèdre all hand-harvested from two vineyard sites, 3 hectares of Côtes‑du‑Rhône on the left bank of the Rhône river 15 km north of Avignon, and 7 hectares in the commune of Caromb, at the foot of Mont Ventoux in the appellation of Ventoux itself. The wine is fermented in temperature‑controlled cement tanks, then aged in a combination of the same and foudres (read, large neutral oak barrels). Lovely ruby in color with aromas suggestive of fleshy berries (fraises des bois, myrtille, framboise), spice, black pepper, with subtler hints of garrigue and crushed limestone; medium in body, both fresh and firm with a Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape‑like generosity and energy on the tongue and with fine‑grained pulverized stone‑like tannins giving structure, then mouthwatering and fresh long on the finish. Put this one in a nice bowl‑shaped Burgundy glass and pretend to yourself that you paid a lot more for it. And it'll get better still with air.
$19.99 the bottle $203.88 the case
2020 Ventoux Quintessence Château Pesquié
Moving to the 2020s from bottle, the 2020 Ventoux Quintessence is beauty revealing assorted blackberry and black raspberry-like fruits, some obvious chalky minerality, medium to full body, and a complex bouquet of violets, flowers, and spice. I love its purity, and it's going to age for 10-15 years in cold cellars. Drink 2023‑2038. Rated
93. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com March, 2023
$24.99 the bottle $254.88 the case
View more of our selection of Rhône Valley wines on the Rhône Valley page of our website.
2020 Ventoux Silica Château Pesquié
The 2020 Ventoux Silica is beautiful, with ripe strawberry and framboise fruit notes as well as notes of sappy garrigue, chalky minerality, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's as seamless as they come and offers richness without weight, beautiful balance, and a great finish. I like it today yet it will certainly have 10-15 years of overall longevity. Drink 2022‑2037. Rated
95. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com, March, 2023
$47.50 the bottle $242.28 the case of 6
2020 Crozes-Hermitage Domaine de Thalabert Paul Jaboulet Aîné
The 2020 Crozes Hermitage Domaine De Thalabert is terrific as well. Coming from old vines in the Chassis region, it has a darker ruby/purple hue as well as classic Thalabert black and blue fruits, black olive, smoke, and ground pepper. Medium to full-bodied, it offers fine tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. It will evolve for over two decades. Drink 2022‑2042. Rated
93. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com December, 2022
$32.50 the bottle $331.56 the case
2021 Silverado Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Miller Ranch Yountville Napa Valley
Produce of 93% Sauvignon Blanc and 7% Semillon estate grown fruit from silty, cool and deep Yolo loam and Clear Lake clay drained soils of Miller Ranch Vineyard south of Yountville, between the Napa River and Hopper Creek. Open to the south, the vineyard enjoys the benefit of bay breezes and fog which contribute to the wine’s aromatic complexity and bright minerality. Bright yellow/gold in color with springtime fresh aromas suggestive of cool fresh Melon Blanc d'Antibes (er, that's a honeydew), gooseberry, kiwi fruit, citrus zests and more; cool, almost minty fresh, crisp yet pliant, an absolute textural delight on the tongue and, importantly, so delicious, have another glass kind of stuff. And, in the full 1‑liter bottle, well, the party just lasts that ⅓ more longer.
$17.50 the 1-liter bottle $178.56 the case
2021 Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay Estate Grown
Perched in the remote Gavilan Mountain Range, about 1,800 feet above the Salinas Valley, the Chalone Vineyard sits at the base of an extinct volcano bordering the Pinnacles National Park in Monterey County. Chalone Vineyard is one of the few wineries in the United States growing grapevines on limestone‑based soils, the same type of soils as found in Burgundy. The spare, well‑drained ground, limited rainfall and low crop levels attracted Dick Graff, who wanted to make top‑flight Burgundian‑styled Chardonnay. Graff made his first vintage under the Chalone Vineyard label in 1966, producing what would become a benchmark for California Chardonnay. Nowadays, Chalone Vineyard is owned by Foley Family Wines who have placed renewed emphasis on the inherent quality possible given this climate and these soils. Vivid platinum/yellow in color with aromas suggestive of green/gold Chardonnay berries hanging in the cool of a late California summer's morning, wine‑moistened limestone, flesh of green apple, lemon preserves on toasted baguette, white flowers; rounded on entry, slippery smooth, ample, with an enveloping richness, full in body without excessive weight, then mineral and fresh long on the finish. Bravo!
$22.50 the bottle $229.56 the case
2021 Chalone Vineyard Pinot Noir Estate Grown
Limpid ruby in color with alluring suggestion of concentrated cherry and baking spice and a hint of toast atop notes of dusty stony earth; seductive, silken smooth in texture on the tongue, with gentle structure from powdery crushed stone-like tannins and delicate but penetrating flavor lingering long and fresh on the finish; this is a brilliant California Pinot Noir and a brilliant value in an otherwise all too often too expensive category.
$27.50 the bottle $280.56 the case
View more of our selection of west coast Pinot Noir wines on the California and Oregon pages of our website.
2022 Duckhorn Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc North Coast
Produced from a blend of mostly Sauvignon Blanc with a dollop of Sémillon fruit from vineyards in Sonoma County and Napa Valley plus a touch from Mendocino; shimmering platinum with glints of green in color; delicate aromas suggesting crisp honeydew melon, fig, and the grapevine leaf itself; light and fresh on entry then gently rounded and just ample on palate with a refreshing intensity of flavor causing gentle salivation.
$27.50 the bottle $280.56 the case
2021 Bonny Doon Vineyard Le Cigare Volant Red Wine of the Earth
As the story goes, back in 1954, the village council of Châteauneuf-du-Pape was quite perturbed and apprehensive that flying saucers or 'flying cigars' might do damage to their vineyards were they to land therein. So, right-thinking men all, they passed an ordinance prohibiting the landing of flying saucers or flying cigars in their vineyards. The ordinance further states that any flying saucers or flying cigars that did land were to be taken immediately to the pound. Well, Le Cigare Volant may be a flight of fancy in the mind of winemaker/poet and among the first of the Rhône Rangers, Randall Grahm, but it is also one heck of an original all-American take on France's very first
Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée, namely, Châteauneuf‑du‑Pape. Produce of 65% Grenache, 18% Syrah, 15% Cinsaut and 2% Petite Sirah fruit from California's Central Coast. Medium ruby in color with come hither aromas of a mixture of berries from red to blue to black, a touch of cracked white peppercorn, petrichor (Bonny Doon themselves note a spicy, licorice component from the Syrah and griotte cherry from the Cinsaut); silken in texture on entry, with building spine of fine-grained tannins lending structure and carrying/extending gently bursting California berry flavors right on target and onto the spacious landing-pad of a finish.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
The story of Châteauneuf-du-Pape and flying cigars, whimsical as it may sound, is real, and is more or less paraphrased from right off the back label of the wine itself. The re‑telling of the story here is presumably the work of Randall Grahm himself.
The Whole Shebang Sixteenth Cuvée California Red Wine
The Whole Shebang is a wine made entirely by the crew at Bedrock Wine Co., intended to offer "authentic Californian deliciousness" at a most reasonable price. The fruit comes from old vineyards that Bedrock are rehabilitating along with younger vine parcels and barrels of Bedrock wines that do not make the cut for their spiffier/spendier bottlings. Produce of an inspired mingling of Zinfandel, Carignan, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Mataro, and other compatible varieties, this Sixteenth Cuvée of The Whole Shebang is a limpid ruby in color to just garnet at the edges with aromas suggesting berries, spice and the parched northern California vineyard floor (Henry noted one could smell the very California sunshine in the glass); medium to medium full in body, nicely rounded in texture the discreetly grapey and gently grippy on the tongue, warm and impactful, long and flavorful, too; this is a real red wine that will appeal to folks who prefer honesty in wine production over marketing puffery and frippery. And at its very modest price, it will give a boost to the old wine budget as well.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2021 Martinelli Pinot Noir Bella Vigna Sonoma Coast
The Martinelli family has been farming their estate vineyards since the 1880s and are today 6th generation winegrowers. Their reputation as such in Sonoma County has been and remains solid. Their Bella Vigna Pinot Noir is a selection from the Martinelli estate vineyards in the Sonoma Coast appellation meant to offer a wine that reflects the characteristics of these vineyards and also the Martinelli style. It has become go-to Sonoma Coast stuff for us over the last few vintages. Medium translucent ruby in color with glints of fuchsia in color; alluring highly-perfumed Pinot Noir aromas suggestive of grape confiture, black cherry, Italian blue plum, candied orange peel and baking spices; silken-textured on the tongue, just medium in body, both supple and gently rich, with lovely ripe berry flavors and excellent nerve giving voice to the jittery intensity of flavors that carry on long on the warming mouthwatering finish. As per usual, Martinelli Bella Vigna is indeed a lovely Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir.
$42.50 the bottle $433.56 the case
2018 Inglenook Zinfandel Edizione Pennino Rutherford Napa Valley
With great admiration for his maternal grandfather and namesake, Francesco Pennino, Francis Coppola produced the first vintage of Edizione Pennino Zinfandel in 1988, replicating the name and logo of the music publishing company begun by Mr. Pennino after he immigrated to New York from Naples in 1905. According to Inglenook's historical records, Zinfandel is the oldest variety planted on the estate, pre-dating Captain Niebaum's arrival. The Coppolas were advised to remove these vineyards when they first purchased the property in 1975, but because Francis Coppola said that he enjoyed drinking Zinfandel, the vineyards remained. The wine's iconic label features two images: the Bay of Naples and the Statue of Liberty, reflecting Francesco Pennino's mutual love for Italy and for America. Adding an even more nostalgic note, each vintage has one of Mr. Pennino's song titles imprinted on the bottle's cork (this 2018 vintage «Sicilianella» from 1919). The wine remains a favorite of ours here: rich, almost midnight ruby in color with aromas suggesting fleshy California sun-drenched berries and a sense of vinosity (or is it just chicks and hens?), the parched vineyard floor and reminiscence of Rutherford dust (Andrea noted baking spices; Henry noted savory dried herbs); almost velvety rich in texture with gentle broad tannins lending structure and carrying dusty berry flavors that freshen as they fade into that not far from the long Pacific sunset of a finish. Mmmm. Here's to simpler times, when money wasn't the only object. And kudos to Mr. Coppola for helping preserve a part of California's (and America's) greater wine heritage, that is Napa Valley Zinfandel.
$50.00 the bottle $255.00 the case of 6
- with information paraphrased from the Inglenook website.
2017 Inglenook Rubicon Rutherford Napa Valley
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Rubicon is another wine that has turned out very well. In this vintage, the Cabernet Sauvignon and Rubicon aren't that materially different. Red fruit, cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, menthol and licorice all develop in the glass. Here, too, I am quite impressed with the wine's freshness. Drink 2020‑2042. Rated
95. - Antonio Galloni,
vinous.com January, 2020
This is absolutely delicious. Powerful, intense and concentrated with seductive black cherry and raspberry leaf aromatics. It slowly and steadily pulls you in and compares to the very greatest Cabernets in its excitement, structure and grip. As the liquorice, chocolate and cassis notes stretch out, it comes to a mouthwateringly slow conclusion. This keeps the savoury edge of Cabernet and the tannins give focus and poise. Opulent and concentrated, and very good. 100% new oak. Drink 2022‑2050. Rated
98. - Jane Anson,
decanter.com August, 2020
$175.00 the bottle $892.50 the case of 6
2021 Massaya Blanc Sauvignon Blanc Obeïdi Beqaa Valley
Produce of 70% Sauvignon Blanc and 30% Obeïdi grapes grown in chalky clay soils on the foothills of the Mount Lebanon mountain range between 1,200 and 1,600 metres above sea level in the Beqaa Valley of Lebanon. Vivid yellow/gold in color with discreet aromas that are fresh and floral along with suggestion of yellow orchard fruits (Massaya themselves note an eastern twinkle thanks to the local Obeïdi grape, Henry noted suggestion of star anise); fresh, cool and delicately tactile onto the tongue, ultra-refreshing with an emerging minerality, potency and intensity of flavor; undeniable white wine deliciousness from Beqaa Valley of Lebanon.
$19.99 the bottle $203.88 the case
2020 Massaya Le Colombier Grenache Cinsault Tempranillo Beqaa Valley
Produce of 35% Grenache, 35% Cinsault and 30% Tempranillo grapes grown on the hillsides of the Beqaa Valley at 900 to 1,200 metres above sea level; the fruit is hand-picked, conveyed in crates, and sorted on tables outside the vat room, fully destemmed, then fermented in stainless-steel for 20 to 30 days; lovely medium ruby in color with aromas of plump, ripe, juicy red and blue berries along with hints of the Beqaa Valley scrub; juicy and rounded on the tongue with nerve of gentle dusty tannins keeping things flavorful, fresh, and moving along nicely (Massaya themselves note a fresh, thirst-quenching wine for everyday drinking, distinguished by hints of spice and pepper; they suggest drinking this young to take full enjoyment of its fruit. We fully concur).
$19.99 the bottle $203.88 the case
2020 Saint-Amour Vieilles Vignes Stéphane Aviron
The late great man of wine, Alexis Lichine, once described the folks of Beaujolais as « convivial, round-faced, rosy cheeked people » who « seem to have been created for the making of wine ». And, although we wouldn't necessarily describe him as round-faced, we've been following the work of Stéphane Aviron for the last few years with increasing interest and appreciation. He seems to be able to translate the specific qualities of the various Beaujolais crus with a focus on deliciousness and urgency and that certain je ne sais quoi. The cru Saint-Amour is located in the north of Beaujolais where the soils begin their transition from granitic to clay and limestone and where you begin to see more Chardonnay under cultivation. This Saint-Amour is, of course, produce of 100% Gamay fruit; deep, just translucent ruby in color with almost irresistible aromas that all but blurt out Beaujolais what with spice and berry and bramble and a certain drink me — now (!) — quality; full, frontal, fleshy Gamay fruit that happily fills the mouth, tantalizes and vivifies the palate with crunchy berryish acidity that causes some serious salivation, warms the very cockles of the heart and could likely even change one's disposition from gloom to glee.
$27.50 the bottle $280.56 the case
2021 Côte de Brouilly Château Thivin
The vineyard parcels of Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly are predominantly south-facing and are planted entirely with Gamay vines that average 50 years of age on steep (48% grade) slopes of blue volcanic rock comprised of plagioclase and biotite on the Mont Brouilly. Importer Kermit Lynch has famously described the wine as resembling "a country squire who is not afraid to get his boots muddy. Handsome, virile, earthy, and an aristocrat." Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly is long among our favorite of the Beaujolais crus. Translucent purple ruby to fuchsia at the edges in color with fermentive and fleshy, gently reduced post‑volcanic Gamay fruit suggestive of a compote de baies mélangées together with notions baking spices, violet and an underpinning of crushed stone (graphite and granite); crunchy berry Beaujolais again (Henry found it more lithe and taut and all the while silky) on the palate with this cooler vintage 2021, with a refreshing, bursting, vibrant mouthwatering intensity of flavor that is just irresistible.
$32.50 the bottle $331.56 the case
2020 Bourgogne Rouge Joseph Drouhin
Attractive if just translucent deep ruby in color with bolder than normal Bourgogne Pinot Noir aromas suggesting dark ripe cherry, baking spices, orange peel and a sense of petrichor from those celebrated clay/limestone Burgundian soils; smooth in texture on entry, then rather more powerful and fuller in body than previous vintages of the wine with solid stony underpinning and a gentle warmth on the deceptively long and mouthwatering finish.
$22.50 the bottle $229.56 the case
2021 Bourgogne Côte d'Or Pinot Noir Milliane Claudie Jobard
Claudie Jobard (daughter of Laurence Jobard, former œnologue at Joseph Drouhin) is newly in charge of the domaine following her mother's recent retirement. The wines remain among the most prized values in red Burgundy in the opinion of our discerning clientèle. This Bourgogne Côte d'Or Milliane is from a small plot of old vines near the village of Pommard and is named after the great grandmother of Claudie Jobard, whose nickname was « Milliane ». It is also meant to serve as a salute to women in the wine business. Alluring limpid ruby red in color with aromas suggestive of dried cherries, baking spices, the petrichor of parched Pommardienne soils after a summer's freshening rainfall, then mushroom and forest floor; gently rich on entry with nicely rounded edges and a freshness, nerve and spine and a delicately penetrating flavor; textbook Burgundian Pinot Noir for a most reasonable price.
$29.99 the bottle $305.88 the case
2017 Monthélie 1er Cru Champs-Fulliots Domaine Potinet-Ampeau
Monthélie is just off the beaten path in the Côte de Beaune, just a bit above and between Meursault and Volnay on the slope and with 34+ hectares of premier cru vineyards dedicated to the production of red wine (from Pinot Noir, of course). It bears mentioning, too, the Domaine Potinet-Ampeau are among a very few producers to release their wines comparatively late, preferring to hold them in their quite cool cellars until they feel they are more ready to drink. We feel this lends a touch of spice to our selection of fine Burgundy wines, as a bit of bottle age can certainly make for a more contemplative affair at the table. Delicate translucent ruby fading to just garnet at the edges in color with subtle perfumed Pinot Noir aromas suggesting ripe cherry, baking spices and dried orange peel (with air there came more complexity still with notes dried cherry and rhubard); silken in texture on entry, then displays the nerve and spine of fruity acidity, a kirsch-like warmth and solid limestone underpinning with gentle but bonafide premier cru length of complex and gently intense Burgundian Pinot Noir flavor.
$50.00 the bottle $510.00 the case
2022 Mâcon-Villages Chardonnay Louis Jadot
Produce of 100% Chardonnay fruit from the Mâconnais area in southern Burgundy; vinified without oak to retain the wine’s elegant aromas and clean, fresh character; pale yellow/gold in color with ultra-fresh aromas suggesting, flesh of crisp apple and pear, just a hint of citrus and a fresh delicate green herbal quality (comme cerfeuil); cool and crisp on the tongue, ultra-refreshing, chalky dry with an easy-going minerality and refreshing berryish acidity; a completely delicious quaff of crisp, clean Burgundian Chardonnay.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2021 Mâcon-Lugny Les Charmes Chardonnay Cave de Lugny
The « Les Charmes » vineyard near the village of Lugny in the Mâconnais region of southern Burgundy is prized for its exceptional southern exposure and for the age of its vines, averaging some 40 years of age on the whole. Around here, we prize its production as among the surest of bets for value in dry white wine. Vinified entirely in stainless steel and bottled sans bois, that is, unlumbered, 100% unencumbered by oak, at the nearby Cave de Lugny; green/gold in color, the wine is fresh and vibrant with aromas that would suggest hazelnut, citrus flower and acacia honeys on a foundation of refreshing summer rains on limestone; medium-bodied, ample in weight, with a clean, crisp and lasting flavor on the finish. Given the consistently excellent quality and its extremely fair price, it’s not much wonder that Mâcon-Lugny Les Charmes Chardonnay is among the best-selling of white Burgundies in the United States!
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2021 Rully En Villerange Claudie Jobard
From old Chardonnay vines (an average age of 70 years) planted to the clay/limestone soils of a small hillside plot of just over 2 hectares well exposed to the south/southeast. Vivid yellow/gold in color with aromas suggestive of toasted baguette, crisp pippin apple, lemon preserve and wine-moistened limestone; both supple and ample on entry, then demonstrating nerve and spine of crisp acidity, chalky dry and mouthwateringly crisp; deliciously compelling Burgundian Chardonnay!
$37.50 the bottle $382.56 the case
2019 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques Domaine Louis Jadot
The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques (Domaine Louis Jadot) is very promising, wafting from the glass with aromas of raspberries, cherries, warm spices, candied peel, rose petals and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, layered and muscular, with serious concentration and rich reserves of ripe, powdery tannin, it concludes with a bright, precise finish. Rated
(93‑95+). - William Kelley,
robertparker.com January, 2021
Slightly more subtle, though still moderately prominent, wood sets off the very spicy, cool and elegant aromas that consist mostly of red and dark currant and iron-inflected earth. There is very good volume and verve suffusing the refined and classy middle weight flavors that brim with minerality and dry extract where the latter helps to buffer the very firm tannic spine shaping the compact, powerful and strikingly long finale. This excellent effort will likely need a minimum of 10 years before it can be reasonably approached and should reward up to 20 years of keeping. Drink 2036+. Rated
(92‑95). ♥.
Outstanding. - Allen Meadows'
burghound.com April, 2021
The 2019 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru is surprisingly reticent at first, offering quite strong earthy aromas and gradually opening with sage, thyme and mint. I feel that compared to the other Clos Saint-Jacques, the aromatics never quite click into fifth gear. The palate is medium-bodied with the best backbone of the four Gevrey Premier Crus tasted from Jadot. Spicy black pepper and clove notes furnish the middle and the finish, which feels sustained and persistent, yet I wonder whether it will have the unadulterated charm of the Les Cazetiers when in bottle. We will find out soon. Drink 2024‑2042. Rated
(92‑94). - Neal Martin,
vinous.com December, 2020
$225.00 the bottle $1,147.50 the case of 6
$457.50 the 1.5‑litre magnum $1,166.64 the case of 3
$1,000 the 3-litre double magnum
2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques Domaine Louis Jadot
I continue to just love these 2018 Red Burgundies, and the 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos Saint-Jacques doesn't disappoint, offering an incredibly pure, focused, yet concentrated style carrying ample bright berry fruits, spring flowers, spice, and graphite-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a terrific spine of acidity, ripe, yet ultra-fine tannins, and just about flawless balance. It shows the ripe style of the vintage yet is pure, fresh, and focused. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 20 years or more. Drink 2021‑2041. Rated
95. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com April, 2021
The 2018 Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Saint-Jacques 1er Cru has a wonderful bouquet that just pips the Cazetiers for precision and poise. This is detailed and very finely tuned, the oak married perfectly with the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and very well-judged acidity, almost sorbet-fresh. The vivacious blood-orange-infused finish seems to shimmer. This is a great Clos Saint-Jacques from Louis Jadot. Drink 2024‑2050. Rated
(94‑96). - Neal Martin,
vinous.com January, 2020
$225.00 the bottle $1,147.50 the case of 6
$450.00 the 1.5‑litre magnum $1,147.50 the case of 3
2019 Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Ursules Domaine des Héritiers Louis Jadot
The 2019 Beaune Clos des Ursules 1er Cru has a fragrant bouquet featuring a mélange of red and black fruit intermingled with orange blossom and iodine aromas. Good intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with a stocky opening, fine structure and symmetry and a fine bead of acidity. There’s a dark fruit flourish toward the finish, which leaves behind a subtle marine-themed aftertaste. Excellent. Drink 2023‑2038. Rated
(91‑93). - Neal Martin,
vinous.com December, 2020
$95.00 the bottle $484.50 the case of 6
$195.00 the 1.5‑litre magnum $497.25 the case of 3
2022 Grüner Veltliner Niederösterreich Weingut Berger
Light yellow/gold with glints of green in color; fresh, spring-infused aromas hint at things like orchard fruits, chervil and fresh snow pea shoots; lovely equilibrium, easy and refreshingly light on its feet, but somehow also just ample in body and oh so satisfying. Talk about yer perfect porch-pounder. And — this is a full 1-litre bottle. Delicious and longer-lasting, too.
$14.99 the 1-litre bottle $152.88 the case
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Roussanne Château du Trignon
There is a certain restraint on the nose here that finally gives way to something more discernably varietal, then more mineral and nutty; there is a certain aloof highwire equilibrium on the palate, a minerality (Henry noted fleur de sel, a certain stoniness and subtle but intense palate feel); then everything echoing, resonating, reverberating long and fine on the finish.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Viognier Château du Trignon
Produce of 100% Viognier from vineyards of medium-sized rolled pebbles (gravel and clay) in Plan de Dieu and fully gravel soils near the town of Violès; aromas suggestive of pithy sea salted melon blanc d'Antibe, apricot, pulverized stone, paraffin and white flowers; slippery smooth on the tongue, tactile, poised, nicely balanced, then salty, tangy, mineral, tantalizing and long on flavor.
$14.99 the bottle $152.88 the case
2022 Domaine de Pouy Côtes de Gascogne
From the land of d'Artagnan and the Three Musketeers comes this keen-edged little number. Noted wine critic, Robert M. Parker, Jr., has called it 'among the greatest white wine values in the world.' Long a favorite among our best fresh white wine quaffs, the warm 2022 vintage here has yielded a demonstrably more ripe and rounded than vintages prior. The wine has also been tweeked somewhat with the addition of Gros Manseng and a touch of Sauvignon Blanc added to the usual mix of Ugni Blanc and Colombard. Brilliant platinum/yellow in color with fresh, floral and cool melon-like fruit aromas; again, a touch more rounded and tactile on the tongue than we might remember yet, still, ultra fresh, clean, gently vibrant and just a simply delicious quaff. Serve this one up well-chilled for maximum refreshment and to better foil that summer heat.
$9.99 the bottle $101.28 the case
2021 Costières de Nîmes Cuvée Tradition Blanc Mas des Bressades
Founded by Roger Marès in the 1960s, the Mas des Bressades is located in the Costières de Nîmes, in the southern Rhône Valley of France. It extends across 45 hectares to the north of the Camargue, where the vines are planted at an elevation of 70 meters on what the French call galets roulés or rolled pebbles (medium sized stones, really) rolled and rounded by glacial action and the great Rhône River. The name «Bressades» comes from the Provençal patois and, fittingly, means to rock. While the estate has long been cultivated with respect for nature and the soil, in 2017 Cyril Marès requested certification in organic farming. After three years of conversion, it is now official. Produce of an inspired south of France mingling of 50% Roussanne, 30% Grenache Blanc, 10% Marsanne and 10% Viognier, their Costières de Nîmes Blanc is a vivid pale platinum/yellow in color with aromas suggestive of white pepper, fresh salt sea breezes, cool green/gold berries and crisp cool melon blanc d'Antibe (Henry noted a floral tone like chamomile, Glenn noted flesh of white peach); both ample and bright with its mineral edge on keen display, mouthwateringly fresh and vibrant on the tongue and just oh so deliciously refreshing and quaffable.
$13.75 the bottle $140.28 the case
2022 Costières de Nîmes Cuvée Tradition Rosé Mas des Bressades
Produce of 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah and 20% Cinsault from the typically stony soils of the Costières de Nîmes, a splendid somewhere between Châteauneuf-du-Pape and the Mediterranean Sea. Copper/pink with sunset orange reflections in color with discreet aromas that suggest a kiss of red berry, an underlying salt sea minerality and a touch more left to the imagination (Henry noted a blood orange-like citrus quality); at once, both ample and minerally crisp on the tongue with a bursting berry fruit and a saline mouthwateringness. And while we all agreed that, given its volume, this is a rosé wine most useful at the dinner table, its sheer saline refreshingness is simply undeniable, too.
$13.75 the bottle $140.28 the case
2020 Costières de Nîmes Cuvée Tradition Rouge Mas des Bressades
Rich, dense, almost opaque ruby in color with aromas that suggest sun and sea and berry and stone (Henry noted a peppery/savory quality as well); deep-pitched, pulverized stone and spicy fleshy berry on the tongue, potent, generous, (Henry noted that for all of this, the vibrancy of the wine was still apparent); and while we might tend to compare this to its Rhône Valley neighbor Châteauneuf-du-Pape (less than an hour's drive to the northeast), this remains more upfront, juicy and pliant if still stony/mineral, potent red wine.
$13.75 the bottle $140.28 the case
2020 Mas des Bressades Les Cinq Sens
Produce of 100% Cinsault fruit from the galets roulés‑strewn soils of this southern Rhône Valley vineyard, aged in concrete for one year and produced without the addition of added sulfites. Dense purple/ruby in color with aromas of forward ripe fleshy berry, earth and wet stone; vibrant and alive on the palate, full-throttle, with lift and berryish acidity keeping things fresh and flavorful long to the finish.
$19.99 the bottle $203.88 the case
2022 Sancerre Les Longues Fins Domaine André Neveu
Domaine André Neveu was founded in the mid-1960s and is located in the town of Chavignol, also famous for its superb goat cheese
Crottin de Chavignol. Valérie (3rd generation and the daughter of André Neveu) and her husband Thomas now run the domaine that extends to about 13 hectares (about 32 acres) of vines in the AOC of Sancerre. The name of the wine
«Les Longues Fins» is a nod to the long slender plot of vines (all in Chavignol) planted to soils exclusively of limestone and from which the Sauvignon Blanc fruit for this wine is sourced. Brilliant platinum yellow in color with a panoply of ultra-fine aromas suggestive of honeysuckle,
peche de vigne, juicy ripe ruby red grapefruit, orange zest, crisp cool green melon, fresh picked chervil and summer rain-moistened limestone; ultra-fine on the palate as well, at once both slender of frame, yet ample, crisp and yet supple, too, and all the while fresh as spring itself with a nice streak of nervy fruity acidity keeping the taste buds all atwitter, indeed, long on the finish.
Delicieux!$32.50 the bottle $331.56 the case
2022 Corbières Rosé Gris de Gris Domaine de Fontsainte
The first vineyards at Domaine de Fontsainte, in the Corbières appellation, were planted by the Romans. Artifacts found in these vineyards such as an old coin dating from the time of Marcus Agrippa in 25 A.D. are a testament to its antiquity. The original domaine was built around a thermal spring, which was later named for the local, twelfth-century patron saint, Saint Siméon; hence Fontsainte — the saint's fount. Yves Laboucarié's family has been making wine here since the seventeenth century. The Fontsainte vineyards surround the hamlet of Boutenac in the area known as «The Golden Crescent». This swath of land is one of the sunniest in the appellation of Corbières, enjoying south/southeast exposures, and protection from the cold, northeast winds by a large 500-hectare forest. The cool sea breezes from the Mediterranean help this sun-soaked terroir achieve balance as well. Their Gris de Gris rosé has been an important part of our rosé offerings here for years now. Produce of the hand-harvested fruit of 90% Grenache Gris, 5% Carignan and 5% Mourvèdre vines planted to silica, clay and gravelly limestone soils with large galets (rounded stones). A portion of the juice destined for red wine production is drawn off while still only pink in color (this is known as the saignée method of rosé production). After a 24-hour débourbage or settling of the must, alcoholic fermentation takes place at cool temperatures for 35 days. Malolactic fermentation is blocked and the wine is allowed to rest for one month before bottling to preserve freshness and aromatic intensity: pale sunset orange copper pink in color with fresh powdery citrus and red berry aromas; very primary intense vivid berry flavors burst wildly on the tongue leaving the palate both stimulated and refreshed.
$17.50 the bottle $178.56 the case
2021 North Valley Vineyards Pinot Noir Classic Willamette Valley
Our friend and former co-worker James Cahill moved northwest to Oregon back in the mid to late 1990s, following his dream to produce fine Pinot Noir. He worked for a good while with Mike Etzel at Beaux Frères, then briefly with his friend Adam Campbell at Elk Cove Vineyards before finally landing the work that would come to define his career there alongside Tony Soter at Soter Vineyards. More recently,
James, with Tony's full blessing and every assistance, has taken the helm as founder/winemaker/managing partner at North Valley Vineyards, a continuance of work that he had performed for Soter Vineyards for some time. And their classic Willamette Valley Pinot Noir continues to be among our favorites from Oregon: deep, yet still translucent ruby in color with fleshy ripe fruit aromas suggesting dark cherry, blackberry and Italian blue plum, baking spices and a hint of reglisse (or is it simply the true deep deep blue Oregonian Pinot noir grape expressing itself in the rather classic, picture-perfect harvest of a 2021 vintage); at once ample and silky onto the tongue, juicy, nicely rounded but at the same time demonstrating the snap of taut crisp berryish acidity and freshness of flavor long to the finish.
$32.50 the bottle $331.56 the case
View more of our selection of Oregon wines on the Oregon page of our website.
2021 Ponzi Vineyards Pinot Noir Laurelwood
The 2021 Pinot Noir Laurelwood District has a pale ruby-purple color and slowly unfolding aromas of cranberries, tangerine peel, pipe tobacco and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is powerful and generous with concentrated fruit, grainy tannins, plenty of refreshing acidity and a long, spicy finish. Drink 2024‑2034. Rated
96. - Erin Brooks,
robertparker.com May, 2023
$42.50 the bottle $433.56 the case
2021 Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir Dundee Hills
Domaine Drouhin Oregon was among the first Oregon Pinot Noir wines we worked with following our opening back in 1991. One of our favorite customers, a Mr. John St. Lawrence, brought along some Riedel Vinum Pinot Noir wine glasses and a bottle of the premier vintage of the wine (1988, if memory serves) along with his friendly advice: 'you need to buy this glass and you need to buy this wine!' Um, we did. Both the glass and the wine. And Domaine Drouhin Oregon Pinot Noir has been a fixture among our offerings and a favorite of our discerning clientèle since. Famed wine critic Robert Parker has for years compared it to the red wines of the town of Beaune, the heart and soul of Burgundy and where Maison Joseph Drouhin are based. And Véronique Drouhin herself now oversees production of this wonderfully successful experiment melding Burgundian savoir faire and Oregonian raw material — her Burgundian instincts, her careful hand and delicate touch are apparent in the wine. Lovely limpid, vivid ruby in color with complex if somewhat restrained aromas suggestive of dark ripe cherries, blackberries, baking spices, a hint of toasted baguette and, of course, the Dundee Hills basaltic vineyard floor (with more air there was also suggestion of cranberry and petrichor); supple in texture, ample if gently firm, medium in body, demonstrating more of its structure, its nerve and gentle intensity of flavor at this early stage in its development with taut berry flavors and hints of baking spices stretching out long on the finish. Give this one the benefit of a nice, splashy decanting for best result.
$50.00 the bottle $255.00 the case of 6
2021 Elk Cove Vineyards Pinot Noir Estate Willamette Valley
Produce of 100% estate grown Pinot Noir fruit from all 6 of the Elk Cove vineyard sites: The Winery Estate, Mount Richmond, Five Mountain, Clay Court, Goodrich and Windhill. These sites are planted to both Pommard and Dijon clones of Pinot Noir and comprise all three of the major Willamette Valley soil types: Willakenzie (marine sedimentary), Laurelwood (windblown loess) and Jory (clay/volcanic), all of which is to say that one is getting a pretty good look here at what the Willamette Valley might offer in terms of (oh, let's use the French word) typicité. Alluring translucent ruby in color to just fuchsia at the edges with fresh fermentive Pinot Noir aromas suggesting cherry, blackberry bramble and spice along with grape pomace itself; supple on entry then both rounded and crisp on the palate with vivifying acidity and crunchy taut berry fruit, gentle structure from fine-grained, melting granular tannins and a freshness and energy on the finish that gives lift and appeal and surely beckons another pull. This is a quite simply gorgeous example of Oregon Pinot Noir.
$29.99 the bottle $305.88 the case
2016 Montsant Espectacle Spectacle Vins
A project of Christopher & Charlotte Cannan, René & Isabelle Barbier and Fernando & Marta Zamora, from a single very steep vineyard of 2 hectares (5 acres) planted to 100 plus year old Garnacha vines in the clay-limestone soils of the commune of La Figuera on the northern edge of Montsant looking onto the famous
Serra de Montsant itself as well as having spectacular views of the Ebro valley and even the distant Pyrenees 200 kilometres away (hence the name
Espectacle). Lovely translucent medium-ruby in color with an alluring, subtly perfumed red-fruited quality
à la Chambolle-Musigny or Domaine Charvin (Lindsay noted a savory quality and strawberry fruit leather, she said it reminded her of being back on the farm, not the barnyard, but the carrot field; Henry noted bilberry, dried violet and anise; our winebuyer noted rhubarb); supple on entry, almost Burgundian cool, sophisticated, smooth and silken in texture, but then generating a more southerly warmth with sapid, mostly red berry flavors both elegant and intense with fine pulverized stony jittery tannins stretching the whole thing out long, long on the fine and gently mouthwatering finish. All in all, we are wholly impressed. This is ultra-fine wine on the world stage.
$112.50 the bottle $1,147.56 the case
View more of our selection of Spanish wines on the España page of our website.
2019 Château Lafite Rothschild Pauillac
The Grand Vin 2019 Château Lafite Rothschild is based on 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot that hit 13.4% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.9. It's a pure, seamless, incredibly accessible Lafite offering a beautiful, classic array of ripe currants, spice box, tobacco, and classic Lafite sandalwood and lead pencil nuances. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully balanced on the palate, it has a seamless, layered mouthfeel, just about perfect tannins, and a finish that just keeps you coming back to the glass. Despite the high pH, it remains fresh, lively, and a perfect example of the class this estate is known for. It's up-front and accessible (and I'd gladly drink a bottle), but smart money will hide bottles for just 5-7 years and enjoy them over the coming 30-40 years. Drink 2027‑2062. Rated
98. - Jeb Dunnuck,
jebdunnuck.com August, 2022
$1,000.00 the bottle $5,100.00 the case of 6
View more of our selection of Bordeauxwines on the Bordeaux page of our website.
All orders subject to confirmation. All wines subject to prior sale.
