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Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Reserve Exclusive (750ml)

Sparkling from Epernay, Champagne, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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"Too much of anything is bad, but too much Champagne is just right."

Mark Twain

While lovers of fine Champagne don’t need an excuse to indulge, this exceptional offer featuring the 92 pt. Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Brut N/V will make it especially easy to “pop a cork” and enjoy some bubbly deliciousness at a price worth celebrating (see how we did that?) . Crafted in a style that “above all expresses elegance” according to the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson, the Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Brut offers creamy, fresh fruit on a fine beaded, satiny mousse, one of Champagne’s top values now specially bargain priced for stocking up ahead of the holiday season.

Based in Chouilly about 10 minutes from Epernay, Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte is perched on a hill overlooking rolling vineyards, a modern chic welcome center and tasting salon fronting high tech winemaking facilities so large that it also serves as a secondary production and storage site for Moet & Chandon. Known as a flamboyant socialite whose inner circle of high profile friends included the glamourous Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall, entrepreneur Nicolas Feuillatte established the Champagne brand bearing his name in 1976 in partnership with Henri Macquart, founder of the Centre Vinicole de la Champagne, the largest cooperative of growers in the region. Sourced from over 2,100 hectares of vineyards farmed by over 5,000 growers across the appellation, the Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Brut is a balanced blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, with aging on the lees for 36 months before bottling yielding a well-balanced Champagne that’s “bright and pillowy” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, revealing “a fleshy core of fruit and tangy acids” hinting of brioche on an impressive silky finish.

Boasting a pleasing “upfront charm” according to Decanter’s Simon Field, the 92 pt. Nicolas Feuillatte Reserve Exclusive Brut is drinking beautifully now, its subtle flavors and delicate bubbles making it the perfect choice as an aperitif and an “easy to reach for” house champagne at bargain pricing.

92WS 92TP

An elegant Champagne, linear and well-meshed, with creamy plushness to the nevertheless lively mix of ripe cherry, apricot, toast point and lemon tart flavors. Clean-cut, spiced finish. Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay. Drink now. 30,000 cases imported.

92 points, Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator (Nov 2022)

Light golden color and aromas of fresh pear. A charming wine with moderate but firm bubbles and expressive pear and apricot notes. Crisp, tangy, and lively; balanced, juicy, and long.

92 points, Anthony Dias Blue, Tasting Panel (May 2021)

$29.98

Compare At: $34.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
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“These wines compete with the best of Napa”

Jeb Dunnuck

Building on its well-earned reputation for producing some of the best value, highly rated Cabernet Sauvignon blends from California, the powerful 95 pt. 2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve delivers the goods, revealing intensely aromatic ripe dark fruit hinting of graphite, cedar and earthy spice with lush tannins on a long, velvety finish, an elegantly crafted Paso Bordeaux blend affordably priced to enjoy often.

Set at the highest point overlooking Paso Robles at the same altitude of Napa’s Howell Mountain, the opulent Daou Vineyards tasting room offers breathtaking panoramic views of rolling vineyards and the hills beyond, surrounded by meticulously manicured grounds at 2,200 feet above sea level on the steep slopes of the Adelaida District. Once described by legendary consulting winemaker Andre Tchelistcheff as “a jewel of ecological elements," the sustainably farmed Daou vineyard is situated on a western hilltop close to the Pacific Ocean above the coastal fog and away from the heat of eastern Paso Robles, its unique combination of high altitude, calcareous limestone soils and a cooler climate allowing the grapes to attain full ripeness while balancing acidity. Produced in a hot and dry Paso vintage yielding smaller clusters and greater concentration, the refined 2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon from the Daou estate and top vineyards across Paso blended with 23% Petit Verdot and aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak, yielding rich, silky dark fruit layered with herbal and mineral notes and smooth, balanced tannins from a vintage producing “early drinking, accessible wines built on elegance and ripe fruit” according to Eric Guido of Vinous.

Earning 90 plus point ratings for over a decade and counted among “the greatest Bordeaux blends I’ve tasted from Paso Robles” according to Jeb Dunnuck, the rich and robust 95 pt. 2022 Daou Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve reflects the Daou legacy for exceptional quality and consistency from the first taste, a delicious and beautifully balanced Paso Cab ready to enjoy at a price that makes it easy to pull the cork.

95JS

Fruit- and spice-driven, with aromas of blackberry compote, cigar box, cloves and violets. The palate is full-bodied with seamless tannins and integrated acidity, showing notes of blood plums, blueberries and graphite. Very fresh and balanced, with an underlying elegance that suggests it will age for years to come. Drink or hold.

95 points, James Suckling (Sep 2024)

$34.98

Compare At: $49.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2015 Torre de Ona Finca Martelo Reserva (750ml)

Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
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A vineyard-driven Rioja crafted by the team of La Rioja Alta, the elegant 94 pt. 2015 Torre de Ona Martelo Reserva layers fragrant juicy fruit with lush, chalky tannins on a long, silky finish, expressing its distinctive Rioja Alavesa terroir in the foothills of the Sierra de Cantabria and delivering outstanding value.

Seeking to produce a more modern Rioja in contrast with its traditionally styled reds, La Rioja Alta purchased Torre de Ona in 1995 to craft a terroir-driven Rioja from estate grown fruit, its stately manor house in Paganos-La Guardia surrounded by vines reminiscent of a Bordeaux chateau. Spread across 50 hectares surrounding the manor, the Tempranillo vines in the south facing Torre de Ona vineyard are planted in shallow clay and limestone-rich soils at over 575 meters above sea level and protected from the humid north winds by the imposing mountains, the milder temperatures allowing for complete ripening of the grapes. Divided into 50 individual parcels by soil type, the hand harvested grapes undergo strict selection to determine if the quality is suitable to produce the Reserva and each parcel is then vinified separately in stainless steel tanks. Blending in a small amount of other varietals, La Rioja Alta winemaker Julio Saez aged the enticing 2015 Torre de Ona Martelo Reserva in a mix of new American oak and used French oak barrels and racked the wine in a traditional method by candlelight to remove sediment, yielding pure, elegant red fruit with soft silky tannins on a long spicy finish.

Produced in a manner described by James Suckling as “a mix of Riojan craftsmanship and Burgundy style,” the beautifully balanced 94 pt. 2015 Torre de Ona Reserva expertly combines exceptional Tempranillo reflecting its vineyard origins with extended oak aging, a delicious Rioja narrowing the gap between the classic and modern styles that’s ready for Rioja fans to enjoy often at a terrific price.

94WA 93V 92WS 92JS

I found a very complete 2015 Finca Martelo that followed the style and the quality path of the previous vintages. The release of this wine was an important milestone for Torre de Oña, where they look for the typicity of Rioja Alavesa through a blend of old-vine Tempranillo with 6% other varieties (Mazuelo, Garnacha and even white Viura). 2015 was a healthy harvest, and the wine shows a nice combination of power and elegance. It's clean and modern but with a traditional twist, some developed aromas and very fine chalky tannins from the limestone-rich soils. 80,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2019.

94 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Issue # 251 - Oct 2020)

Glistening violet. Potent, mineral- and smoke-accented dark berry, cherry cola and floral scents show excellent clarity and spicy lift. Lively and seamless in texture, offering sweet black raspberry, cherry preserve and boysenberry flavors and hints of spicecake and candied rose. Closes on an appealingly sweet note, with sneaky, slow-mounting tannins and strong, smoky persistence.

93 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous (Apr 2021)

Supple, polished and harmonious, this red shows cherry, tea, vanilla, leafy and spicy notes, with modest and balanced tannins and acidity. A bit reserved, but has focus and length. Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo and Viura. Drink now through 2027. 550 cases imported.

92 points, Thomas Matthews, Wine Spectator (Dec 2020)

A rich, fruity red with lots of ripe fruit that verges on being jammy. A little old-school, but fruity and delicious. Full body. Firm tannins give it form. Drink after 2021.

92 points, James Suckling (Nov 2020)

$29.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

100JD 99V

The 2019 Château Lynch-Bages is stunningly good, and it's going to be interesting to compare this to the 2018 over the coming decades. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, brought up in 75% new French oak, its dense purple hue is followed by an incredible bouquet of pure crème de cassis, freshly sharpened cedar pencil, spring flowers, smoke, and graphite, with an almost liqueur of rocks-like minerality. A massive, incredibly concentrated Lynch-Bages, Jean-Charles has hit a home run in the vintage, and this sensational wine has building, perfect tannins, insane purity, and a finish that won't quit. It has the purity, finesse, balance, and depth to offer pleasure not only today but to evolve for 40 to 50 years. Smart money will hide these for a good 7-8 years, but wow, what a wine. Bravo.

100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

The 2019 Lynch Bages is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel, if not moreso. What a wine! Towering and vertical in its bearing, the 2019 is a total stunner. There is plenty of Lynch Bages charm, but what distinguishes the 2019 most is its spine of tannin and energy. Time in the glass brings out sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate and mint. The 2019 is a great, great, great Lynch Bages. It reminds me of the epic 1989, but with the youthful grip of this vintage. A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar.

99 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

$144.88

Compare At: $149.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Lapostolle Apalta (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
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From the maker of Chile’s iconic Clos Apalta declared “one of the world’s greatest red wines” by James Suckling, the lush 93-point 2021 Lapostolle Apalta is the estate's opulent Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend offering luscious, juicy fruit with fine tannins on a lengthy finish, crafted as an introduction to Lapostolle and its exceptional terroir at a superb value for Clos Apalta fans and anyone seeking a rich, Bordeaux-style blend for everyday enjoyment.

Discovering a unique walled vineyard or "clos" in Chile's Apalta Valley planted with 100 year old pre-phylloxera vines, French Grand Marnier heiress Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet founded Lapostolle in 1994, hiring renowned French enologist Michel Rolland to lead the restoration of the vineyards and pioneering the use of French winemaking expertise in Chile, its flagship Bordeaux-style blend earning universal critical acclaim including becoming the only South American wine named Wine Spectator Wine of the Year. Sourced mainly from the estate’s biodynamically farmed vineyard in the newly christened Apalta DO, the entry level 2021 Apalta is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon with 23% Merlot, 10% Carmenere and small amounts of Syrah and Cab Franc, the vines protected from the searing afternoon sun by the towering Cordillera mountains while the cooling influence of the Tinguiririca River preserves the grapes’ freshness and acidity. Fermenting the hand harvested grapes in stainless steel tanks, winemaker Andrea Leon aged 70% of the richly textured 2021 Lapostolle Apalta for 12 months in a mix of new and second use French oak barrels and the remaining 30% for 12 months in stainless steel, yielding a full-bodied blend with fresh, vibrant spiced fruit and refined, layered tannins promising “aging potential remarkable for the price” according to the Wine Advocate’s Luis Gutierrez.

Sharing the rich pedigree of Chile’s standard-bearing Bordeaux blend at a fraction of the price, the powerful 93 pt. 2021 Lapostolle Apalta was created to celebrate Apalta’s official designation as an appellation as a pure reflection of its exceptional terroir, a deliciously satisfying and unbeatable value among age worthy Chilean reds from a legendary producer.

93V 93JS 91WS

The 2021 Red Blend Apalta is 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 10% Carménère, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Syrah from Apalta, Colchagua, and was aged in used barrels. An intense purple in color. The attractive nose offers plum jam, pink pepper and hints of cinnamon. In the mouth, it’s both opulent and juicy with finely grained tannins. The fairly concentrated palate flows expansively before the easygoing, lingering finish. A ripe red given the cool year.

93 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Jun 2023)

Some dark olives to the mixture of red and black fruit. Cherries, plums and a dose of grilled spice. Medium-bodied, juicy and pretty linear with even tannins. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 10% carmenere, 7% cabernet franc and 6% syrah. Drink now.

93 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Apr 2023)

The blend of the 2021 Apalta is quite different from the 2019 I tasted last time, with 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 10% Carmenere, 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Syrah. It has a lot less Cabernet and more Merlot but still with a pristine and pure Bordeaux nose, herbal, spicy and peppery. It's medium to full-bodied but fine-boned with elegant tannins. It's impressive, and even more so when you look at the price tag. 120,480 bottles produced. It was bottled in September 2022.

91 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Apr 2023)

$15.98

Compare At: $17.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

99JS #77 Top 100 98JA 98D 96WS #3 Top 100

A beautifully layered red with blackcurrant, hazelnut and lead-pencil character and fine, velvety tannins. Full-bodied and reserved. It’s like a tightly knit ball of polished tannins that are cashmere in texture. So very long and impressive. Give this time. A terrific Lynch. Better after 2027.

99 points, James Suckling (May 2023)

#77 - James Suckling Top 100 of 2023

A superb Lynch Bages that grabs you and carries you through the palate, slowly edging forward. Poised with a ton of slate and pencil lead on the finish, this is pure Pauillac, just so precise and full of character, so much grip, it's classic with a mouthwatering finish, feels profound but throroughly approachable. 75% new oak, 3.73ph. First vintage in new winery.

98 points, Jane Anson (Feb 2023)

One of my favourite wines of the vintage, this is a wonderful example of high definition winemaking but still offering plenty of Pauillac swagger. Smells dark and slightly savoury, full of black fruit and toasted aromas. Bright and lively on the palate with clarity and precision to the berry fruit, shining and clear with juicy, mouthwatering acidity - so much energy in the glass. Chalky, graphite-laced tannins fill the mouth, giving structure and clear terroir markers with a lingering minerality on the finish. Perfectly weighted with incredible delectability and drinkability. Persistent with a long finish. Superb effort.

98 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2023)

Gorgeous from the start, with cassis and violet notes leading off, followed by additional waves of black cherry and blackberry fruit as well as sweet tobacco and iron. Shows subtle savory and cedar hints that stay in the background, as the iron note pierces through the fruit on the finish. Almost approachable for the fruit, but wait if you can. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2040. 20,000 cases made.

96 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2023)

#3 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2023

$129.88

Compare At: $139.99

This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 2/26/2025. 60+ bottles available.

1

2018 Labegorce (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate, and the wines now play with the top in the appellation." - Jeb Dunnuck

Bordeaux remains arguably the greatest hotbed of collectible value in the world of fine wine, and at the forefront of that trend the past decade has been Margaux's Chateau Labegorce. Since 2015, this dynamic estate has been outpacing its station in the quality and price heirarchies, delivering exceptional, cellar-worthy character and style at prices that allow Bordeaux collectors of all stripes to line their cellars.

Today's mini-vertical showcases the past decade at this insider's favorite in all its glory, with stellar acclaimed renditions from five benchmark vintages. Consistent praise has followed the 2016 since en primeur, "afabulously textured Margaux" that shines in a modern classic vintage, while the 2018 "exudes elegance and class" according to Dunnuck. The 2019 and 2020 renditions round out the "trifecta" in fine form, each vintage expressing the full character of this lauded trio. Finally, the double 95-point 2022 just confirms that the estate is here to day among the elite of the appellation, a resounding triumph that still maintains the brilliant value this dynamic property has come to symbolize among Bordeaux's savviest collectors.

Whether you're building a mini-vertical of your own or your just looking for a new surefire Left Bank winner that you can enjoy with abandon, this selection has it and then some.

94JD 93WA 93V 93JA 93D 92WS

The 2018 Château Labegorce is a perfumed, already complex Margaux based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Its medium ruby hue gives way to lovely notes of blueberries, raspberries, flowers, sandalwood, and assorted baking spice cabinet-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied, with beautifully pure fruit and silky tannins, it's a wine that grows on you with time in the glass. It's not a blockbuster, but it exudes elegance and class as well as balance. Enjoy bottles any time over the coming 20-25 years or more.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2021)

The 2018 Labégorce is a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. It has 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps from the glass with a beautiful perfume of kirsch, black cherry compote and cassis, plus hints of licorice, lilacs and baking spices. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly played with soft tannins and compelling freshness supporting the fragrant red and black fruits, finishing on a spicy note.

93 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Mar 2021)

The 2018 Labégorce is a plump, juicy Margaux that will drink well right out of the gate. Succulent dark cherry, plum, spice, licorice, chocolate and new French oak are all kicked up in this decidedly opulent, heady Margaux. Soft curves and pliant fruit add to its raciness. Drink it over the next 10-15 years.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Mar 2021)

Rich blackberry and fig fruits, well structured dominant tannins that remain fairly tight at this point, exuberant turmeric, black pepper and dried herbs, with a flash of heat on the finish. Atypical in the lineup, reflecting the heat of the vintage, but a ton of pleasure to be found here. 33% new oak. Harvest September 20 to October 15, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck.

93 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2023)

Strong grilled oak on the nose that will settle down but definitely needs time. Black fruit comes through on the palate, and a ton of juice that is shot through the fruit and helps the entire thing to power along enjoyably. Good-quality.

93 points, Decanter (Nov 2020)

Silky and refined in feel, with perfumy black currant paste, plum reduction and blackberry compote notes forming the core while sandalwood, black tea and cedar accents drape the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2034. 9,000 cases made.

92 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2021)

2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Suffice it to say that the 2022s at Bethel Heights are classic ... Fans of the estate will be smiling from ear to ear." - Eric Guido, Vinous

Reflecting this benchmark estate’s reputation for outstanding, Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these top-scoring 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast the enticing combination of elegant fruit and balanced acidity, produced in a high-quality Oregon vintage of “exceptional wines” according to Jeb Dunnuck's Oregon critic Audrey Frick, ranging from ready-to-enjoy, entry-level offerings to cellar-worthy, vineyard-expressive cuvees and available in a variety of formats all affordably priced for stocking up.

Founded over four decades ago on a hillside at the east end of the Van Duzer Corridor, Bethel Heights was one of the first wineries established in the Willamette Valley’s Eola-Amity Hills, expanding its holdings to 82 acres of sustainably farmed, estate vineyards boasting a mix of old vines and newer, phylloxera-resistant plantings that are now entering full maturity. Described as “impressive” by Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Alberty, the rich and ripe 93 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate reveals fragrant spiced fruit with ripe tannins and substantial structure and is blended from across the three estate vineyards, while the vibrant 93 pt. Bethel Heights Chardonnay Estate balances fresh citrusy fruit with flinty acidity and is a “killer value” according to Jeb Dunnuck critic Audrey Frick. Named for the pervasive marine winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor, the intensely aromatic 2022 Bethel Heights Aeolian offers “highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish” according to the Wine Advocate’s Erin Brooks while the muscular 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard balances “concentrated, powerful flavors” with “abundant, velvety tannins,” both promising to reward patient cellaring with over a decade of longevity. Sourced from five blocks selected from Lewman and the original Bethel Heights vineyards, critic Erin Brooks declares the 97 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel “concentrated and powerful,” balancing “fine, chalky tannins and mouth watering acidity,” while the alluring 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard is “very appealing across the board” according to critic Audrey Frick, sourced from the 6.4 acre Lewman Vineyard near Oregon's iconic Zena Crown Vineyard and revealing “a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel.”

Sourced from an exciting Willamette Valley vintage of “classic, almost throwback-style wines that impress” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, these highly rated 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast outstanding quality across the portfolio while overdelivering value, all available in a range of price points and formats perfect for mixing a case.

93WA 92JD 92WS #47 Top 100

The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is bursting with strawberry, raspberry and orange peel aromas, and with time it reveals touches of cinnamon, bitters and wildflowers. The light-bodied palate is finely astringent and refreshing with complex, bitters-laced flavors and a long, spicy finish.

93 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jul 2024)

Coming from across the whole property and pouring a medium ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is fragrant and perfumed with lovely notes of black raspberries, fresh violets, and stony earth. Medium-bodied, with ripe tannins and a good bit of structure, I really enjoyed this wine. It’s appealing now and will drink well over the next 6-8 years.

92 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)

Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish. Best from 2025 through 2031. 4,548 cases made.

92 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Jun 2024)

#47 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024

$29.98

Compare At: $32.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2022 Kelley Fox Pinot Noir Mirabai (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Declared “one of the most exciting portfolios of wines made in the United States” by Eric Guido of Vinous, these Kelley Fox selections from Willamette Valley include a top scoring range of elegant vineyard-expressive Pinot Noirs and a rich, energetic Chardonnay, her record of exceptional quality earning the portfolio a devoted cult following worldwide and available in limited quantities outside her exclusive winery list.

Establishing her winery in 2007 with her father Gus Stearns, Kelley Fox was mentored by David Lett of The Eyrie Vineyards before spending a decade as the winemaker at Scott Paul Wines, crafting her wines as a transparent expression of their vineyard origins with limited intervention in the winery and gaining access over her career to some of Oregon's top vineyards. Employing small lot fermentations with all native yeasts and aging in in used barrels, Eric Guido of Vinous describes Kelley’s 2022 Pinot Noirs as “lifted, finessed and ethereal yet still vibrantly fruit-focused and nearly spiritual in the way that seemingly only Pinot Noir can be,” while the white wines are “potent and rich yet driven by an energetic mineral core that adds remarkable depth.” Sourced from the Dundee Hills AVA, the entry level 92 pt. 2022 Kelly Fox Pinot Noir Mirabai offers “soft elegant fruit as well as a supple texture and fresh acidity” according to Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck, while the beautifully aromatic 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Liminal Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir has “approachable, fine tannins, vibrant, mouthwatering, even acidity, and crystalline purity” and promises to evolve for over a decade. Vinous critic Eric Guido calls the rich and juicy 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir “a model of purity, silken to the core” with “unbelievable freshness,” while the fresh and zesty 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Golden-Crowned Sparrow Blocks Pinot Noir is “darkly alluring” with “silky textures and simulating acidity,” both built for a decade or more of enjoyment. Sourced from the Freedom Hill Vineyard and aged in stainless steel for six months, Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck calls the 93 pt. 2023 Kelley Fox Willamette Valley Chardonnay “hard to resist,” offering fresh, spiced fruit with “outstanding energy propelling it through the lovely, savory, mineral-noted finish” and declaring it “a tremendous value.”

Focusing on the clearest expression of a vineyard's character, Kelley Fox is a name for Oregon wine fans to add to their must try list, or as succinctly stated by Vinous critic Eric Guido, “Anyone looking for Oregon Pinot Noir purity and transparent communication of terroir from the soil to the vine to the bottle must explore Kelley Fox Wines.”

90JD

Vibrant and lifted with poppy fruit, the 2022 Pinot Noir Mirabai is a brilliant ruby hue, with fresh, lifted aromas of wild red cranberry, white pepper, and fresh tangerine. Open and approachable, with medium body and soft elegant fruit as well as a supple texture and fresh acidity, it's even-keeled and has a hint of spice on the finish. I love this wine for youthful fresh drinking.

90 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Sep 2023)

$37.98

Compare At: $39.99

57 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2018 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

98JD 97WS 97JS 96WA 96V 96WE

One of the finest vintages I've ever tasted from this address, the 2018 Château Lynch-Bages has everything you look for in a great wine: incredible aromatics, richness without weight, perfect balance, and a purity of fruit that's just about off the charts. Dense purple, it reveals a glorious perfume of blackcurrants and blackberry fruits, a deep, unctuous mouthfeel, building tannins, and a complex array of cedar pencil, tobacco, wood smoke, and chocolate. A true blockbuster in every sense, with masses of fruit and tannins as well as moderate acidity, it will probably merit a triple-digit score in a decade and is a 50+-year wine from this team.

98+ points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2021)

Vibrant, with a violet and cassis lead-in that then expands to include steeped black cherry and plum fruit as well as extra savory, iron and licorice root notes. Nice latent grip too, with a mouthwatering tug of earth at the very end. The fruit is so vibrant, it's a tease now, but there's structure here for the long haul, so be patient. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040.

97 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2021)

Aromas of blackberries, cloves, licorice, dried leaves, graphite and black olives. It’s full-bodied with firm, tight tannins. Structured and tannic with beautiful austerity and a long, mineral and layered finish. The tannins grow on the palate. Try from 2026.

97 points, James Suckling (Mar 2021)

Composed of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2018 Lynch-Bages was aged in 75% new barriques. Deep garnet-purple in color, it soars out of the glass with a magnificently expressive nose of blueberry compote, black cherry preserves and blackcurrant pastilles, plus suggestions of dark chocolate, licorice, tar and violets with a waft of hoisin. The medium to full-bodied palate is just as impactful as the nose, coating the mouth with juicy black berry and spicy layers, supported by firm, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long with a refreshing earthiness coming through at the end.

96 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Mar 2021)

An utterly fabulous wine, the 2018 Lynch-Bages captures all of the richness and generosity that make the year so appealing, and yet doesn’t stray too far from its classic feel. Rose petal, lavender, spice, sweet red berry fruit and mint are all beautifully lifted in the glass. Racy and silky to the core, the 2018 is a real head-turner from the very first taste. All the elements fall into place effortlessly. Readers will have a very hard time keeping their hands off this jewel of a wine.

96 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Mar 2021)

The Lynch-Bages style is unmistakeable in this wine’s richness and the density of its structure and tannins. In addition it conveys a great sense of style, restrained power and opulence. Drink this wine from 2027.

96 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (May 2021)

$139.88

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60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch (750ml)

Chardonnay from Russian River, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Here’s a terrific opportunity to stock up on an array of top-rated wines from Patz & Hall, experts in California cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourced from Sonoma’s most iconic vineyards and offered at bargain pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Sharing a mutual passion for Burgundian style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, veteran winemaker James Hall joined with partners Donald Patz, Anne Moses and Heather Patz to establish Patz & Hall in 1988, sourcing their wines with the region’s most prestigious growers including Dutton Ranch and maintaining those long-term relationships over the last three decades. Retaining his role as head winemaker after its purchase in 2016 by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, James recently bought back the winery with his investment partners, continuing the Patz & Hall legacy of producing vineyard-designated and regional blends of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that have consistently earned 90 plus pt. scores. Sourced from a collection of eighteen single-vineyard quality sites that reads like a who’s who of Sonoma’s vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Gap’s Crown, Zio Tony and Durrell, the rich and harmonious 93 pt. 2021 Patz & Hall Chardonnay aged on the lees in 26% new French oak barrels for 10 months, yielding bright lightly spiced fruit with a creamy texture and vibrant acidity, described by Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck as finishing with “a nice flourish of decadence” and ready to enjoy over the next five or so years. A silky and mouthwatering Russian River Chardonnay, the 95 pt. 2021 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch was aged for 16 months in 25% new French oak, described as called an “elegant wine” that “seduces you slowly” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jim Gordon, who calls its crisp, clean expression of California Chard “a breath of fresh air.” The elegant 94pt 2020 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir offers aromatic juicy spiced fruit structured by grainy tannins and bright acidity, a seamless, silky Pinot sourced from sixteen diverse vineyards and aged in 40% new French oak that’s beautifully approachable now and built to enjoy over the next five or more years.

Described as “one of California’s most consistently outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, these high scoring Patz & Hall selections range from the enticing entry level and single vineyard Chardonnays to “a classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that won’t break the bank” according to Jeb Dunnuck, an easy call for fans of California cool climate wines seeking outstanding value to stock up and enjoy often.

95D 94WE 93WS

This Patz & Hall Chardonnay immediately gives the scent of golden kiwis and sponge cake with a marshmallow topper. It's medium—to full-bodied with a chalky finish and great acid backbone. The Chardonnay has surprising flavours that are seemingly unrelated but meld fantastically together. It’s a surprising juxtaposition that adds dimension.

95 points, J'nai Gaither, Decanter (May 2024)

Silky and subdued at first, this elegant wine seduces you slowly with its subtle Meyer lemon, Bosc pear, mineral and ginger flavors lifted by tangy, appetizing acidity. As an alternative to the butter-bomb Chardonnays, this reasonably priced wine from the Patz & Hall portfolio is a breath of fresh air. Best through 2030.

94 points, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2023)

Vibrant and citrusy, with tangerine, lemon and yuzu notes on a sleek and juicy frame. A hint of pineapple emerges, showing lingering details of honeycomb, lemon thyme and vetiver on the finish alongside a mouthwatering grace note of sea salt. Drink now. 3,500 cases made.

93 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator (Jul 2024)

$35.98

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60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Labegorce (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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"Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate, and the wines now play with the top in the appellation." - Jeb Dunnuck

Bordeaux remains arguably the greatest hotbed of collectible value in the world of fine wine, and at the forefront of that trend the past decade has been Margaux's Chateau Labegorce. Since 2015, this dynamic estate has been outpacing its station in the quality and price heirarchies, delivering exceptional, cellar-worthy character and style at prices that allow Bordeaux collectors of all stripes to line their cellars.

Today's mini-vertical showcases the past decade at this insider's favorite in all its glory, with stellar acclaimed renditions from five benchmark vintages. Consistent praise has followed the 2016 since en primeur, "afabulously textured Margaux" that shines in a modern classic vintage, while the 2018 "exudes elegance and class" according to Dunnuck. The 2019 and 2020 renditions round out the "trifecta" in fine form, each vintage expressing the full character of this lauded trio. Finally, the double 95-point 2022 just confirms that the estate is here to day among the elite of the appellation, a resounding triumph that still maintains the brilliant value this dynamic property has come to symbolize among Bordeaux's savviest collectors.

Whether you're building a mini-vertical of your own or your just looking for a new surefire Left Bank winner that you can enjoy with abandon, this selection has it and then some.

94JA 93JD 93V 93WI 93D

Clear depth to the cassis fruits, studded with fennel, anis, cut herbs, raspberry leaf and smoked earth, delivering complexity and pleasure. A brilliant wine, and a great value pick. 33% new oak. Harvest September 16 to October 1, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck.

94 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2023)

A forward, textured, already delicious wine, the 2020 Château Labégorce offers lots of red and black fruit as well as notes of cedar, smoke tobacco, and chocolate. Based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, aged in 40% new barrels, it has perfectly integrated oak, ripe, fine-grained tannins, and outstanding overall balance. Give bottles just a year or three and enjoy over the following 10-15 years or more.

93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)

The 2020 Labegorce, matured in 40% new oak, has a fragrant, floral bouquet with wilted rose petals infusing the lively red cherry and crushed strawberry fruit. There is something "airy" about the aromatics here. The palate is slightly honeyed in texture, saturated tannins, a mixture of red and black fruit commingling with white pepper and iodine. Great persistence and salinity on the finish - an excellent, quite substantial Margaux for long-term ageing.

93 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2023)

Deep garnet-purple in colored, the 2020 Labegorce tumbles out of the glass with fragrant notions of kirsch, red roses, and stewed plums, leading to suggestions of damp soil and truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is juicy and plush with a sense of gravitas coming through on the long, layered finish.

93 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent (Mar 2023)

Beautiful, perfumed blackcurrants on the nose, smells lovely. Juicy and supple, this has a nice roundness and a fleshy texture in the glass while still being quite focused and streamlined. This has a sleekness to the tannins, the fruit goes in one line from start to finish, so it’s not so expansive or particularly deep but does have a nice style to it. Good acidity, concentration and freshness. Focused, driven, clean with precision. Classic, easy to drink and to recommend.

93 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2023)

$29.88

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60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2016 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

97WA 95D

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Lynch Bages comes charging out of the gate with pronounced cassis, chocolate-covered cherries, mulberries and menthol notions, backed up by scents of garrigue, tilled soil and a waft of tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fantastically concentrated, the generous fruit is superbly framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins with tons of pepper, cinnamon and cloves layers coming through on the finish. Truly, a legendary Lynch Bages!

97+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # Interim - Nov 2018)

One of the best Lynch-Bages since 1990. Powerful, full-bodied, dark in colour and fruit character, this has intense, exotic, spicy fruit notes adding extra layers of complexity to the structured palate. A classic Pauillac with some lead-pencil notes and great focus, this will be a long-lived wine capable of ageing for several decades.

95 points, Andy Howard, Decanter (Nov 2021)

$169.88

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This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 2/26/2025. 60+ bottles available.

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2020 Stephane Ogier Le Temps est Venu Rouge (750ml)

From Côtes du Rhône, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described by Jeb Dunnuck as “unquestionably one of the top handful of domains in the Rhone Valley,” superstar 100 pt. Rhone winemaker Stephane Ogier hits the mark with the lush 92 pt. 2020 Stephane Ogier Le Temps est Venu Rouge, a delicious Cotes du Rhone expertly balancing silky spiced fruit hinting of garrigue with focused bright acidity and an incredible value crafted by one of the Rhone’s hottest winemakers at a fraction of the price of his collectible Cote Roties.

Coming from seven generations of growers selling to Rhone heavy hitters including Guigal and Chapoutier, Stephane Ogier began working alongside his father Michel in 1997 before taking the reigns of his family’s winery in 2003, crafting refined and hedonistic Northern Rhone Syrahs that have become cult favorites over the last two decades and more recently gaining acclaim for his expertly balanced Cotes du Rhone blends. Composed of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah, Stephane sourced the grapes for the 2020 Le Temps est Venu Rouge from the Plan de Dieu and Visan communes in the Cotes du Rhone Villages AOC, the sustainably farmed vineyards planted with old vines averaging between 30 and 50 years of age and boasting the pebbly marl and clay-limestone soils found in Chateauneuf du Pape. Hand-harvesting and double sorting the grapes before fermenting the varietals separately with native yeasts, Stephane aged the fresh and vibrant 2020 Le Temps est Venu Rouge for 10 months in concrete tanks, yielding a harmonious blend of dark, peppery Syrah and juicy, ripe red Grenache with classic Southern Rhone nuances of earthy bramble and spiced pepper and a smooth, lengthy finish, summed up by the Wine Advocate’s Joe Czerwinski as “a supple, silky wine to enjoy over the next 4-5 years”

Described as producing “a bevy of brilliant wines” by Jeb Dunnuck, the enticing 92 pt. 2020 Stephane Ogier Le Temps est Venu Rouge offers top value for fans of bold Southern Rhone reds, a satisfying and delicious CDR crafted by a masterful winemaker that’s unbeatably priced for stocking the cellar to enjoy often.

92JD 90WA

Moving to the reds, the 2020 Côtes Du Rhône Le Temps Est Venu has a round, seamless, incredibly pretty style as well as assorted red and black cherry fruits, notes of peppery spice and flowers, soft tannins, and a great finish. A blend of 60% Grenache and 40% Syrah brought up in tank and concrete, it’s a delicious Côtes Du Rhône to enjoy over the coming 5-6 years or so.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2022)

A blend of fruit from the Southern Rhône, the 2020 Cotes du Rhone le Temps Est Venu features a hint of garrigeu set against a backdrop of ripe cherries and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied, it's a supple, silky wine to enjoy over the next 4-5 years.

90 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Jan 2022)

$17.98

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60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Patz & Hall Chardonnay (750ml)

Chardonnay from Sonoma Coast, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Here’s a terrific opportunity to stock up on an array of top-rated wines from Patz & Hall, experts in California cool climate Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, sourced from Sonoma’s most iconic vineyards and offered at bargain pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Sharing a mutual passion for Burgundian style Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, veteran winemaker James Hall joined with partners Donald Patz, Anne Moses and Heather Patz to establish Patz & Hall in 1988, sourcing their wines with the region’s most prestigious growers including Dutton Ranch and maintaining those long-term relationships over the last three decades. Retaining his role as head winemaker after its purchase in 2016 by Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, James recently bought back the winery with his investment partners, continuing the Patz & Hall legacy of producing vineyard-designated and regional blends of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that have consistently earned 90 plus pt. scores. Sourced from a collection of eighteen single-vineyard quality sites that reads like a who’s who of Sonoma’s vineyards including Dutton Ranch, Gap’s Crown, Zio Tony and Durrell, the rich and harmonious 93 pt. 2021 Patz & Hall Chardonnay aged on the lees in 26% new French oak barrels for 10 months, yielding bright lightly spiced fruit with a creamy texture and vibrant acidity, described by Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck as finishing with “a nice flourish of decadence” and ready to enjoy over the next five or so years. A silky and mouthwatering Russian River Chardonnay, the 95 pt. 2021 Patz & Hall Chardonnay Dutton Ranch was aged for 16 months in 25% new French oak, described as called an “elegant wine” that “seduces you slowly” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jim Gordon, who calls its crisp, clean expression of California Chard “a breath of fresh air.” The elegant 94pt 2020 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir offers aromatic juicy spiced fruit structured by grainy tannins and bright acidity, a seamless, silky Pinot sourced from sixteen diverse vineyards and aged in 40% new French oak that’s beautifully approachable now and built to enjoy over the next five or more years.

Described as “one of California’s most consistently outstanding Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producers” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, these high scoring Patz & Hall selections range from the enticing entry level and single vineyard Chardonnays to “a classic Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir that won’t break the bank” according to Jeb Dunnuck, an easy call for fans of California cool climate wines seeking outstanding value to stock up and enjoy often.

93W&S 92WS 92WE 91JD

Blended as a mosaic of small, family-owned vineyards in Western Sonoma County, this is gingery with a pollen-like spice. The fruit has the tight feel of a nectarine just coming into ripeness, the wine intentionally reductive and flinty-fresh. This is leesy, spicy, floral and cool.

93 points, Joshua Greene, Wine & Spirits (Oct 2023)

Everything here fits together seamlessly, with pineapple, lemon curd and peach flavors backed by bright acidity, plus savory overtones of toasted, salted almond and a hint of candied ginger. There's plenty of intensity on the fresh finish, where the flavors crescendo. Drink now. 7,400 cases made.

92 points, MaryAnn Worobiec, Wine Spectator (Jun 2024)

This harmonious and well-balanced wine opens with light butter, toast and Bartlett pear aromas, then fills the mouth with rich pear and peach flavors accented by vanilla. A full body is nicely paired with good acidity, so the wine works fine as a cocktail or with lunch and dinner.

92 points, Jim Gordon, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2023)

A bright straw yellow color, the 2021 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is forward and ripe in the glass, with oak-inflected spiced notes of baked apple, toasted baking spice, and honeyed citrus. Medium-bodied, it keeps nice tension on the palate, with a vibrant but ripe spine of acidity and a rounded, medium to full-bodied feel that wraps it. It has a mouthwatering feel and a nice flourish of decadence. Drink now or over the next 4-5 years. 8913 cases produced.

91 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Jun 2024)

$23.98

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1

2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino (750ml)

Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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“The 2019s from Altesino are some of the best new releases I can remember tasting at this address. The Brunello, a blend of vineyards throughout the region, is stunning.”

Eric Guido, Vinous

A favorite of B-21 Brunello collectors and acclaimed by critics across the board, the rich and full-bodied 95 pt. 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino lives up to the estate’s exceptional reputation for over delivering value, a “polished and perfumed” Brunello according to critic Kerin O’Keefe revealing bright, expressive Sangiovese Grosso fruit with radiant acidity on a velvety smooth and long-lived finish, unbeatably value priced for stocking the cellar.

Set in the northern hills of Montalcino near Siena in central Tuscany, Altesino is located on a magnificent, sprawling 80-hectare estate that includes the elegant 15th century Palazzo Altesi and 50 hectares of rolling vineyards, the historic winery known for pioneering the use of small French barriques and bottling single Cru vineyard wines in the region. Reportedly winning in a bid against France’s Chateau Margaux, the estate was purchased in 2002 by the enigmatic Elisabetta Gnudi Angelini, owner of nearby Tenuta Caparzo, an acquisition “that would cement her reputation as one of the most powerful women in Italian wine” according to the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner. Sourced from six parcels of varied soil types, exposures, elevations and microclimates throughout the appellation, the enticing 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino matured in a mix of used large Slavonian oak barrels for up to 42 months with 6 months longer in bottle, yielding a gracious and silky Brunello with beguiling aromatics that’s “already accessible” according to Decanter’s Michaela Morris and boasting “sufficient depth, concentration and backbone for a solid decade of enjoyment.”

Sourced from “the vintage we’ve all been waiting for” according to Eric Guido of Vinous blending “power and elegance in a way seldom seen,” the sumptuous 95 pt. 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino offers an intriguing combination of classic Sangiovese aromatics and flavors with the freshness and beautifully balanced acidity of the vintage, counted “among the denomination’s best values” according to Decanter’s Michaela Morris and an easy call for savvy collectors seeking to enjoy a gorgeous Brunello more often.

95WA 95JD 94V 93WS 93JS 93D

The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality).

95 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Dec 2023)

Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046.

95 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2024)

A dark ruby color in the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a beguiling blend of dusty earth, crushed rocks, savory herbs and dried roses. This is racy and sleek, with vividly ripe wild berry fruits elevated by orange and sage, all guided by vibrant acidity. Grippy tannins take control through the finish, yet the mouth is left watering for more as a bitter licorice tinge and dark chocolate adds a crunchy sensation.

94 points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Dec 2023)

Though solidly structured, this red displays macerated flavors of cherry, plum, earth and wild herbs, backed by vibrant acidity. A hint of chocolate graces the finish alongside dense tannins. Best from 2026 through 2039. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 9,200 cases made, 3,100 cases imported.

93 points, Bruce Sanderson, Wine Spectator (Jun 2024)

A medium-bodied red with pretty plum and berry aromas and flavors. Fine tannins and a fresh finish. Very fine and focused. Not the most structured but this is all about finesse and polish. Drinkable but better in two or three years.

93 points, James Suckling (Sep 2023)

Altesino counts approximately 50 hectares throughout Montalcino’s northern and southern stretches. A compilation of diverse sites, the estate Brunello is among the denomination’s best values. If the Montosoli bottling is more solemn in tone, this 2019 is joyful and bright. Heady red currant and cherry mingle with plum and anise. The sumptuously fruited, plush palate is mouth filling yet agile. Sandy textured tannins envelop and caress while citrusy acidity lifts the whole. Already accessible, it has sufficient depth, concentration and backbone for a solid decade of enjoyment.

93 points, Michaela Morris, Decanter (Nov 2023)

$53.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese (750ml)

Nerello Mascalese from Sicily, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Crafted by Italy’s legendary 100 pt. winemaker Carlo Ferrini from Sicily’s volcanic slopes, these top scoring Giodo Alberelli di Giodo selections offer a range of meticulously crafted red and white wines from “one of the world's most interesting, high-quality, yet value-driven categories” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, transparently expressing their unique Mount Etna terroir and value priced to enjoy now and over the next decade.

Inspired by a handful of perfectly situated vineyard sites on the slopes of Mount Etna, famed consulting enologist Carlo Ferrini established Giodo Alberelli after more than a decade of consulting with some of Sicily’s most renowned estates, naming it for the traditional low-bush vines in the region resembling little trees known as “alberelli” and releasing his first vintage to unanimous critical acclaim in 2016. Assembling a patchwork of parcels on Etna’s north-facing black lava terraces in the Sicilia DOC, Ferrini sourced the Giodo Alberelli wines from a range of small plots situated from 800 to 950 meters above sea level planted with low yielding, pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines averaging 80-100 years along with a tiny parcel of the indigenous white Carricante averaging 50 years of age. Boasting lush aromatics evocative of citrus and wild herbs, the zesty 95 pt. 2022 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Sicilia Carricante reaffirms “that some of the most interesting wines from Etna today are the whites” according to the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, balancing crisp energetic fruit hinting of flinty crushed stone with saline acidity on a mouthwatering finish. Conveying its varied soils and elevations much like Pinot Noir grown in the Cote de Beaune, the elegant 96 pt. 2020 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese reveals pure red earthy fruit with refined minerality and subtle integrated tannins on “a long, vibrant, fresh finish” according to Decanter’s James Button who sums it up simply as “beautiful,” while Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares the powerful and fresh 96 pt. 2021 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese “oh so juicy and full of minerality,” both age worthy reds layered with old vine character and focused tannins promising to evolve over the next decade and beyond.

From the region described as “Italy’s most dynamic wine scene” by the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, these top scoring Giodo Alberelli di Giodo selections are pure and refined expressions of Mount Etna’s volcanic terroir crafted by a master of Italian wine, value priced for Etna fans to stock the cellar and a stellar mixed case for wine lovers seeking to explore the region's best.

96WA 94JS

Carlo Ferrini's 2020 Sicilia Nerello Mascalese opens to a beautiful ruby hue and an elegantly lean appearance. The wine delivers tart cherry fruit, cassis, blue flower, iron ore and orange peel. These various layers come together with balanced intensity. This vintage shows enormous elegance and tannins that melt onto the palate slowly and with lasting flavors. This bottle offers a very genuine and classic expression from the Sicilian volcano.

96+ points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Jun 2023)

A medium-bodied, very tight and precise red with focused, firm tannins framing sleek layers of cranberries, blackberries, stones, slate and tobacco. Hints of dried fruit. too. Mineral and stony. Old-vine character here, with lots of bark and spice at the end. Lightly austere. Try this from 2024.

94 points, James Suckling (Aug 2022)

$54.98

Compare At: $59.99

24 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2010 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

98JS 97WA 96WS 96WE

A wine with great beauty and finesse. Such elegance and ethereal quality for this estate. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a juicy delicious finish. Long and beautiful. This is the best Lynch in a long, long time. I love the precision here. Try in 2018.

98 points, James Suckling (Feb 2013)

Still a saturated ruby-black in hue, the 2010 Lynch-Bages offers up aromas of rich cassis fruit mingled with hints of pencil shavings, loamy soil and cigar wrapper. Full-bodied, deep and muscular, it's rich and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit that's framed by firm, powdery tannins and lively acids. The most brooding, backward Lynch-Bages of the decade and one of the real successes of the vintage, this is a vibrant, tightly wound wine that is still an infant at age 10. Readers with bottles in their cellars might try one now out of curiosity, but this 2010 won't begin to hit its stride until age 20.

97 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Issue # 259 - Feb 2022)

Roasted cedar, tobacco and bay leaf notes start off this structured but lively bottling, with intense currant, blackberry and black cherry flavors at the core. The iron-laced grip and pleasantly austere plum pit and licorice snap accents fill in on the tar-tinged finish. Great range, character and typicity. If you ever need to explain Pauillac to someone, give them this. Best from 2018 through 2037. 25,000 cases made.

96 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2013)

This sumptuous wine is driven by perfectly ripe fruit as well as dense, dusty and dry tannins. Great swathes of blackberry sweep across the palate, followed by juicy acidity. Such a combination will make this impressive wine a delight to drink in 10 years and beyond.

96 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Feb 2013)

$199.88

Compare At: $229.99

34 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2023 Kelley Fox Willamette Valley Chardonnay (750ml)

Chardonnay from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Declared “one of the most exciting portfolios of wines made in the United States” by Eric Guido of Vinous, these Kelley Fox selections from Willamette Valley include a top scoring range of elegant vineyard-expressive Pinot Noirs and a rich, energetic Chardonnay, her record of exceptional quality earning the portfolio a devoted cult following worldwide and available in limited quantities outside her exclusive winery list.

Establishing her winery in 2007 with her father Gus Stearns, Kelley Fox was mentored by David Lett of The Eyrie Vineyards before spending a decade as the winemaker at Scott Paul Wines, crafting her wines as a transparent expression of their vineyard origins with limited intervention in the winery and gaining access over her career to some of Oregon's top vineyards. Employing small lot fermentations with all native yeasts and aging in in used barrels, Eric Guido of Vinous describes Kelley’s 2022 Pinot Noirs as “lifted, finessed and ethereal yet still vibrantly fruit-focused and nearly spiritual in the way that seemingly only Pinot Noir can be,” while the white wines are “potent and rich yet driven by an energetic mineral core that adds remarkable depth.” Sourced from the Dundee Hills AVA, the entry level 92 pt. 2022 Kelly Fox Pinot Noir Mirabai offers “soft elegant fruit as well as a supple texture and fresh acidity” according to Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck, while the beautifully aromatic 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Liminal Maresh Vineyard Pinot Noir has “approachable, fine tannins, vibrant, mouthwatering, even acidity, and crystalline purity” and promises to evolve for over a decade. Vinous critic Eric Guido calls the rich and juicy 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Durant Vineyard Pinot Noir “a model of purity, silken to the core” with “unbelievable freshness,” while the fresh and zesty 96 pt. 2022 Kelley Fox Maresh Vineyard Golden-Crowned Sparrow Blocks Pinot Noir is “darkly alluring” with “silky textures and simulating acidity,” both built for a decade or more of enjoyment. Sourced from the Freedom Hill Vineyard and aged in stainless steel for six months, Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck calls the 93 pt. 2023 Kelley Fox Willamette Valley Chardonnay “hard to resist,” offering fresh, spiced fruit with “outstanding energy propelling it through the lovely, savory, mineral-noted finish” and declaring it “a tremendous value.”

Focusing on the clearest expression of a vineyard's character, Kelley Fox is a name for Oregon wine fans to add to their must try list, or as succinctly stated by Vinous critic Eric Guido, “Anyone looking for Oregon Pinot Noir purity and transparent communication of terroir from the soil to the vine to the bottle must explore Kelley Fox Wines.”

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The 2023 Chardonnay Willamette Valley is more savory than sweet, with crushed almonds and yellow florals accentuating green apples. This is sweetly spiced with silken textures and ripe orchard fruits, all offset by a tinge of saline minerals and sour citrus. Depths of lemony concentration linger as this finishes with tremendous length. The 2023 is just a baby today and seems to evolve further with each tilt of the glass. This is fabulous.

93+ points, Eric Guido, Vinous (Aug 2024)

Pouring a medium yellow/golden hue, the 2023 Chardonnay Willamette Valley comes from younger vines within the Freedom Hill Vineyard and is floral and expressive with aromas of quince, grapefruit, a hint of sweet spice, and delicate toast. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate and has a mouthwatering feel, a silky, rounded midpalate, and outstanding energy propelling it through the lovely, savory, mineral-noted finish. It’s hard to resist now and offers tremendous value. Drink 2024-2032.

93 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)

The 2023 Chardonnay Willamette Valley comes from young vines at Freedom Hill Vineyard. Fermented and matured in stainless steel, it has exuberant aromas of guava and peach accented by wafts of jasmine, spice and honey. The medium-bodied palate is powerful yet weightless, its highly concentrated flavors foiled by vertical acidity, and it has a long, flavor-packed finish. 623 cases produced.

92 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Dec 2024)

$27.98

Compare At: $32.99

50 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Labegorce (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate, and the wines now play with the top in the appellation." - Jeb Dunnuck

Bordeaux remains arguably the greatest hotbed of collectible value in the world of fine wine, and at the forefront of that trend the past decade has been Margaux's Chateau Labegorce. Since 2015, this dynamic estate has been outpacing its station in the quality and price heirarchies, delivering exceptional, cellar-worthy character and style at prices that allow Bordeaux collectors of all stripes to line their cellars.

Today's mini-vertical showcases the past decade at this insider's favorite in all its glory, with stellar acclaimed renditions from five benchmark vintages. Consistent praise has followed the 2016 since en primeur, "afabulously textured Margaux" that shines in a modern classic vintage, while the 2018 "exudes elegance and class" according to Dunnuck. The 2019 and 2020 renditions round out the "trifecta" in fine form, each vintage expressing the full character of this lauded trio. Finally, the double 95-point 2022 just confirms that the estate is here to day among the elite of the appellation, a resounding triumph that still maintains the brilliant value this dynamic property has come to symbolize among Bordeaux's savviest collectors.

Whether you're building a mini-vertical of your own or your just looking for a new surefire Left Bank winner that you can enjoy with abandon, this selection has it and then some.

94JD 94V 94JA 92JS 92D

Gorgeous notes of red, blue, and black fruits as well as sandalwood, tobacco leaf, chocolate, and spicy notes emerge from the 2019 Château Labégorce, one of the richer, more opulent, and straight-up sexy wines in the vintage. A blend of 46% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, all raised in 40% new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, has beautifully integrated oak, a stacked mid-palate, and one heck of a great finish. Drink this rich, sensationally textured Margaux any time over the coming two decades. It’s unquestionably in the same league as the 2015, 2016, and 2018.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

The 2019 Labégorce was the first vintage vinified in the new cellar and also the first to use Cabernet Franc from the north part of the appellation, on more limestone soils, a massal selection from an organic producer in the south of France. Matured in 40% new oak, this has a voluminous, multifaceted bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, cedar and perhaps more rose petal than violet at the moment. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, very well balanced, and a little spicier than I found from barrel, leading to a detailed, tensile finish.

94 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Feb 2022)

A brilliant wine with heart and personality. This captures so much Left Bank signature, as is often the case with Labégorce. Slate texture, grippy tannins that tug through the palate, holding tight to the brambled blackberry and cassis fruits laced with hawthorn and raspberry leaf. Great quality. 33% new oak. Harvest September 19 to October 12, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck. 94 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2023) Aromas of blackberries, blueberries, plums, espresso, orange chocolate and wet earth. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Rich and creamy with generous ripe-berry and chocolate notes. Walnut and earth notes on the finish. Drink from 2024.

92 points, James Suckling (Apr 2022)

The largest of the Perrodo estates in Margaux, this is a little heavier set and muscular than the Marquis d'Alesme, extremely accomplished and majoring on coffee beans and tobacco alongside blackcurrant fruits. Enjoyable, a little less signature Margaux that its sibling property but this is a delicious gourmet-edged wine, and a brilliant (relatively) value choice in the appellation.

92 points, Decanter (May 2020)

$32.88

Compare At: $37.99

This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 4/23/2025. 60+ bottles available.

1

2016 Labegorce (750ml)

Merlot from Margaux, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate, and the wines now play with the top in the appellation." - Jeb Dunnuck

Bordeaux remains arguably the greatest hotbed of collectible value in the world of fine wine, and at the forefront of that trend the past decade has been Margaux's Chateau Labegorce. Since 2015, this dynamic estate has been outpacing its station in the quality and price heirarchies, delivering exceptional, cellar-worthy character and style at prices that allow Bordeaux collectors of all stripes to line their cellars.

Today's mini-vertical showcases the past decade at this insider's favorite in all its glory, with stellar acclaimed renditions from five benchmark vintages. Consistent praise has followed the 2016 since en primeur, "afabulously textured Margaux" that shines in a modern classic vintage, while the 2018 "exudes elegance and class" according to Dunnuck. The 2019 and 2020 renditions round out the "trifecta" in fine form, each vintage expressing the full character of this lauded trio. Finally, the double 95-point 2022 just confirms that the estate is here to day among the elite of the appellation, a resounding triumph that still maintains the brilliant value this dynamic property has come to symbolize among Bordeaux's savviest collectors.

Whether you're building a mini-vertical of your own or your just looking for a new surefire Left Bank winner that you can enjoy with abandon, this selection has it and then some.

95JS 94JD 94V 94WE 94JA 93WA 93D

A very elegant and polished Margaux with great structure and an attractive touch of herbal freshness, then a delicate touch of sweetness at the long, fine finish. A blend of 38 per cent cabernet sauvignon, 52 per cent merlot, six per cent cabernet franc and four per cent petit verdot.

95 points, James Suckling (Jan 2019)

From an estate on the uptick and showing beautifully on two separate occasions, the 2016 Château Labégorce is a head-turner of a Margaux that’s based on 52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was brought up in 45% new oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. Sexy notes of blackcurrants, black raspberries, crushed flowers, sandalwood, and incense all flow to a medium to full-bodied, fabulously textured Margaux that carries ripe tannins, loads of fruit and richness, and a great finish. Since arriving in 2009, Marjolaine de Coninck has resurrected this estate and the wines now play with the top in the appellation. Give bottles 3-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2019)

The 2016 Labégorce comes from a property that has really been getting its act together in recent years. It has a gorgeous, very pure blackberry, raspberry and pressed violet bouquet, almost understated, but there is real focus here. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin and quite Pauillac-like in style, and there is impressive density on the finish. Wonderful. Look out for this.

94 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Jan 2019)

This estate on the north side of the village of Margaux is performing at its peak. As befits the vintage it's a rich wine with big tannins. But it also has the style that characterizes a Margaux, with a smooth, perfumed aftertaste. Drink from 2025.

94 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (May 2019)

Concentrated but restrained with old school charm and an abundance of muscular tannins, it's easy to feel the heart of this wine, packed with liqourice, slate, black chocolate, cassis, brambled hedgerow, aniseed and fennel, with plenty of grip. Years ahead of it, an impressive wine in this exceptional vintage, offering good value. Harvest September 4 to October 21. 50% new oak, technical director Marjolaine de Coninck.

94 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2023)

The 2016 Labégorce is composed of 52% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, aged in 45% new and 55% one-year-old French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it leaps out of the glass with gregarious cassis, kirsch and black raspberries, candied violets, dark chocolate and spearmint. Medium-bodied, elegant, fresh and with exciting intensity, it delivers a fantastically long, fragrant finish. 12,000 cases produced.

93+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Nov 2018)

Bravo for a strong performance in an excellent vintage from this non-classified estate in the heart of the Margaux appellation. Not as diaphanous as the region’s top-tier wines, but has smooth tannins. The 45% new oak ageing is nicely integrated on a palate that reflects charm from the majority Merlot in the blend, with breadth and depth that outclasses some underperforming classified growths. The UK price is especially attractive.

93 points, Panos Kakaviatos, Decanter (Apr 2022)

$47.88

Compare At: $54.99

This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 4/23/2025. 60+ bottles available.

1

2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate (375ml)

Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
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"Suffice it to say that the 2022s at Bethel Heights are classic ... Fans of the estate will be smiling from ear to ear." - Eric Guido, Vinous

Reflecting this benchmark estate’s reputation for outstanding, Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these top-scoring 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast the enticing combination of elegant fruit and balanced acidity, produced in a high-quality Oregon vintage of “exceptional wines” according to Jeb Dunnuck's Oregon critic Audrey Frick, ranging from ready-to-enjoy, entry-level offerings to cellar-worthy, vineyard-expressive cuvees and available in a variety of formats all affordably priced for stocking up.

Founded over four decades ago on a hillside at the east end of the Van Duzer Corridor, Bethel Heights was one of the first wineries established in the Willamette Valley’s Eola-Amity Hills, expanding its holdings to 82 acres of sustainably farmed, estate vineyards boasting a mix of old vines and newer, phylloxera-resistant plantings that are now entering full maturity. Described as “impressive” by Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Alberty, the rich and ripe 93 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate reveals fragrant spiced fruit with ripe tannins and substantial structure and is blended from across the three estate vineyards, while the vibrant 93 pt. Bethel Heights Chardonnay Estate balances fresh citrusy fruit with flinty acidity and is a “killer value” according to Jeb Dunnuck critic Audrey Frick. Named for the pervasive marine winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor, the intensely aromatic 2022 Bethel Heights Aeolian offers “highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish” according to the Wine Advocate’s Erin Brooks while the muscular 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard balances “concentrated, powerful flavors” with “abundant, velvety tannins,” both promising to reward patient cellaring with over a decade of longevity. Sourced from five blocks selected from Lewman and the original Bethel Heights vineyards, critic Erin Brooks declares the 97 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel “concentrated and powerful,” balancing “fine, chalky tannins and mouth watering acidity,” while the alluring 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard is “very appealing across the board” according to critic Audrey Frick, sourced from the 6.4 acre Lewman Vineyard near Oregon's iconic Zena Crown Vineyard and revealing “a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel.”

Sourced from an exciting Willamette Valley vintage of “classic, almost throwback-style wines that impress” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, these highly rated 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast outstanding quality across the portfolio while overdelivering value, all available in a range of price points and formats perfect for mixing a case.

93WA 92JD 92WS #47 Top 100

The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is bursting with strawberry, raspberry and orange peel aromas, and with time it reveals touches of cinnamon, bitters and wildflowers. The light-bodied palate is finely astringent and refreshing with complex, bitters-laced flavors and a long, spicy finish.

93 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jul 2024)

Coming from across the whole property and pouring a medium ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is fragrant and perfumed with lovely notes of black raspberries, fresh violets, and stony earth. Medium-bodied, with ripe tannins and a good bit of structure, I really enjoyed this wine. It’s appealing now and will drink well over the next 6-8 years.

92 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)

Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish. Best from 2025 through 2031. 4,548 cases made.

92 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Jun 2024)

#47 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2024

2015 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

96V 96WE 95JS 94JD 94WS 94JA

The 2015 Lynch-Bages has a very complex bouquet with layers of blackberry and bilberry fruit, crushed stone, cedar and graphite. It becomes earthier with aeration, with a hint of cough candy in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins. This is intense, backward, almost surly, yet the finish has incredible precision and persistence. Not to be underrated. Tasted at the Lynch-Bages vertical at the château.

96 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Jul 2023)

This vintage was ideal for the rich style that this estate has made its own. This wine is full bodied and ripe with black-currant and dark berry fruits. The tannins fall into the cushioned wine with ease and richness. Of course, the wine should be aged, so wait until 2026.

96 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Feb 2018)

Brambly and attractive ripe blackberries and red-plum aromas with some floral accents, too. The palate has a very plush, polished and regal shape as tannins frame up a core of ripe black fruit. Succulent, impressive finish. Best from 2022.

95 points, James Suckling (Feb 2018)

The inky colored 2015 Château Lynch-Bages is a seriously impressive Pauillac that’s up with the crème de la crème of the appellation in 2015. Notes of ripe blackcurrants, caramelized cherries, tobacco leaf and a kiss of lead pencil all emerge from this textbook Pauillac that has medium to full-bodied richness, notable concentration, and building structure. Made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that saw 75% new barrels, it needs 5-7 years of cellaring and will be one of the longer-lived wines from the Médoc.

94+ points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2017)

This has an ample core of plum, fig and blackberry compote flavors, underlined liberally with graphite and smoldering tobacco notes. Fleshy and focused, with ample grip through the juniper- and tar-accented finish. Well-built. Best from 2023 through 2038.

94 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2018)

Excellent quality, but a little less depth through the mid palate than the 2014 or 2016 - making it one of the rare wines where the 2015 vintage is not beating out the 2014 in a vertical. Could simply be that it is closed down right now, as those Pauillac tannins can be pretty fierce in the early days. Certainly as it opens the texture deepens and widens, and you find coils of bilberry and raspberry fruits with waves of smoked earth, sage and saffron spice. 75% new oak.

94 points, Jane Anson (Apr 2022)

$149.88

Compare At: $159.99

40 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Michelini i Mufatto A Merced Mencia (750ml)

Mencia from Bierzo, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Andrea Mufatto and Gerardo Michelini are fashioning some of the brightest boutique gems in the Argentine wine scene, and since they branched out to Spain's Bierzo region a few years back, they've made quite the mark there too, as evidenced by a mountain of consistent, glowing acclaim from Wine Advocate's Luis Gutierrez, as well as 2024 Winemaker of the Year honors from Tim Atkin, MW.

This set of spectacular new releases showcases their incredible touch with the native Mencia varietal, putting them on par with the region's most notable luminaries, like Raúl Pérez and Descendientes de Jose Palacios. The entry-level 2022 En El Camino is the perfect introduction to this must-know producer, a WA92+ charmer that offers a classic Mencia marriage of dark red fruit, stony slate minerality, and bright structural freshness, each of its 50-year-old vineyard components playing its best-suited role in the finished blend. Stepping up to the single-vineyard wines, the 2021 A Merced is easily one of the best hidden-gem collectibles in Spanish wine. The El Canto vineyard's northerly exporsure, slate/quartz soils, and 80-year-old vines endow the 2021 with an unmistakable terroir signature. As Gutierrez describes it, "It's a little earthy but also floral and elegant, combining that wild side that seems to be inherent to this place," praise which garnered 95 points, all at a sub-$30 price tag. Finally, the micro-production 2021 Encrucijada comes from the 80-year-old Alto de Valdecañada site, notching 97 points from Gutierrez, who dubs it "fresh, tightly wound, very tasty and fine, with elegant tannins. It has to be the most elegant and balanced vintage of Encrucijada so far."

We're confident in saying this is one of the most intriguing, under-the-radar projects in Spain right now, and these three must-try showstoppers demonstrate the range and precision that Michelini i Mufatto bring to the table. If you're looking for a rising star that still offers tremendous bang for the buck, you've found it in this trio of singular Spanish standouts.

95WA

The 2021 A Merced is surprisingly a little higher in alcohol than the 2020 I tasted next to it, despite the much cooler year. It fermented with 50% foot-trodden whole clusters in 1,000-liter oak casks with indigenous yeasts and a long maceration. It matured in used 225-liter French oak barrels for one year. It's a little earthy but also floral and elegant, combining that wild side that seems to be inherent to this place, as I've noticed it in the last few vintages. It's quite expressive and showy, very complete and balanced. 10,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in October 2022.

95 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Aug 2023)

$29.98

Compare At: $34.99

58 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese (750ml)

Nerello Mascalese from Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Crafted by Italy’s legendary 100 pt. winemaker Carlo Ferrini from Sicily’s volcanic slopes, these top scoring Giodo Alberelli di Giodo selections offer a range of meticulously crafted red and white wines from “one of the world's most interesting, high-quality, yet value-driven categories” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, transparently expressing their unique Mount Etna terroir and value priced to enjoy now and over the next decade.

Inspired by a handful of perfectly situated vineyard sites on the slopes of Mount Etna, famed consulting enologist Carlo Ferrini established Giodo Alberelli after more than a decade of consulting with some of Sicily’s most renowned estates, naming it for the traditional low-bush vines in the region resembling little trees known as “alberelli” and releasing his first vintage to unanimous critical acclaim in 2016. Assembling a patchwork of parcels on Etna’s north-facing black lava terraces in the Sicilia DOC, Ferrini sourced the Giodo Alberelli wines from a range of small plots situated from 800 to 950 meters above sea level planted with low yielding, pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines averaging 80-100 years along with a tiny parcel of the indigenous white Carricante averaging 50 years of age. Boasting lush aromatics evocative of citrus and wild herbs, the zesty 95 pt. 2022 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Sicilia Carricante reaffirms “that some of the most interesting wines from Etna today are the whites” according to the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, balancing crisp energetic fruit hinting of flinty crushed stone with saline acidity on a mouthwatering finish. Conveying its varied soils and elevations much like Pinot Noir grown in the Cote de Beaune, the elegant 96 pt. 2020 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese reveals pure red earthy fruit with refined minerality and subtle integrated tannins on “a long, vibrant, fresh finish” according to Decanter’s James Button who sums it up simply as “beautiful,” while Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares the powerful and fresh 96 pt. 2021 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese “oh so juicy and full of minerality,” both age worthy reds layered with old vine character and focused tannins promising to evolve over the next decade and beyond.

From the region described as “Italy’s most dynamic wine scene” by the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, these top scoring Giodo Alberelli di Giodo selections are pure and refined expressions of Mount Etna’s volcanic terroir crafted by a master of Italian wine, value priced for Etna fans to stock the cellar and a stellar mixed case for wine lovers seeking to explore the region's best.

96JS 94JD 94JA

Aromas of plum, iron and pumice with some flowers. It’s medium-bodied with powdered, fine tannins. It’s layered and elegant yet so structured. Very long and focused. Wild finish with a lava-like undertone to it all. Just above the contrada of Rapante. Drinkable but better in two or three years.

96 points, James Suckling (Oct 2023)

Named after the training system in Etna, the 2021 Nerello Mascalese is from old vines on the north side of Etna and has a wonderful vibrancy in the glass on opening, with a delicate smoky note on the nose of ripe cherries and rosy perfume. It’s snappy on the palate with a leaner texture, although it has good length and a lovely citrus-tapered finish with a great snappy feel. Drink it over the next 8-10 years.

94 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2024)

Translucent red with a deep ruby core. This has more kick than many Etna wines, a little more grip, still oh so juicy and full of minerality, salinity, pummice stone, redcurrant, mandarin, saline cracker, oyster shell and vivid fresh fruits that are so distinctive to this location. Both super dry and yet super fruity at the same time, with clear acidities that give definition and lift. This is tingling, exciting, juicy, clings on and just subtly demands you to take another sip. One to share. Carolo Ferrini winemaker. As so often with wines from this part of Sicily, it brings home the much-maligned concept of minerality, and is great value. 80 year old vines, 35hl/h yield, just 7,000 bottles from north facing slopes set at 950m, aged in large 500 and 700l oak casks, then moved into concrete.

94 points, Jane Anson (Aug 2023)

$49.98

Compare At: $59.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2022 Bethel Heights Chardonnay Estate (750ml)

Chardonnay from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Suffice it to say that the 2022s at Bethel Heights are classic ... Fans of the estate will be smiling from ear to ear." - Eric Guido, Vinous

Reflecting this benchmark estate’s reputation for outstanding, Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these top-scoring 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast the enticing combination of elegant fruit and balanced acidity, produced in a high-quality Oregon vintage of “exceptional wines” according to Jeb Dunnuck's Oregon critic Audrey Frick, ranging from ready-to-enjoy, entry-level offerings to cellar-worthy, vineyard-expressive cuvees and available in a variety of formats all affordably priced for stocking up.

Founded over four decades ago on a hillside at the east end of the Van Duzer Corridor, Bethel Heights was one of the first wineries established in the Willamette Valley’s Eola-Amity Hills, expanding its holdings to 82 acres of sustainably farmed, estate vineyards boasting a mix of old vines and newer, phylloxera-resistant plantings that are now entering full maturity. Described as “impressive” by Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Alberty, the rich and ripe 93 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate reveals fragrant spiced fruit with ripe tannins and substantial structure and is blended from across the three estate vineyards, while the vibrant 93 pt. Bethel Heights Chardonnay Estate balances fresh citrusy fruit with flinty acidity and is a “killer value” according to Jeb Dunnuck critic Audrey Frick. Named for the pervasive marine winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor, the intensely aromatic 2022 Bethel Heights Aeolian offers “highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish” according to the Wine Advocate’s Erin Brooks while the muscular 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard balances “concentrated, powerful flavors” with “abundant, velvety tannins,” both promising to reward patient cellaring with over a decade of longevity. Sourced from five blocks selected from Lewman and the original Bethel Heights vineyards, critic Erin Brooks declares the 97 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel “concentrated and powerful,” balancing “fine, chalky tannins and mouth watering acidity,” while the alluring 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard is “very appealing across the board” according to critic Audrey Frick, sourced from the 6.4 acre Lewman Vineyard near Oregon's iconic Zena Crown Vineyard and revealing “a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel.”

Sourced from an exciting Willamette Valley vintage of “classic, almost throwback-style wines that impress” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, these highly rated 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast outstanding quality across the portfolio while overdelivering value, all available in a range of price points and formats perfect for mixing a case.

93WA 93JD 93JS

The 2022 Chardonnay Estate opens with scents of seashells, citrus blossoms and beeswax, and its flinty undertones are well integrated. The light-bodied palate is very energetic! Its flavors are deeper and more honeyed than the nose leads you to believe, and its taut acidity contributes to a shimmery feel on the finish. It will benefit from 2-3+ years in bottle.

93+ points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jul 2024)

A bright silver/yellow hue, the 2022 Chardonnay Estate has light flinty aromas of fresh pear, white flowers, a touch of oak spice, beeswax, and raw hazelnut. Medium to full-bodied, it has a very appealing pithy structure, although it’s more refined than that, and it’s long on the palate. It’s a killer value in the range to drink over the next 5-6 years.

93 points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)

Notes of quince and peaches with honeysuckle and hints of pie crust. Medium-bodied, compact and polished on the palate, with a textural, lightly phenolic mouthfeel and savory aftertaste. Drink or hold.

93 points, James Suckling (Apr 2024)

2022 Michelini i Mufatto En El Camino Mencia (750ml)

Mencia from Bierzo, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Andrea Mufatto and Gerardo Michelini are fashioning some of the brightest boutique gems in the Argentine wine scene, and since they branched out to Spain's Bierzo region a few years back, they've made quite the mark there too, as evidenced by a mountain of consistent, glowing acclaim from Wine Advocate's Luis Gutierrez, as well as 2024 Winemaker of the Year honors from Tim Atkin, MW.

This set of spectacular new releases showcases their incredible touch with the native Mencia varietal, putting them on par with the region's most notable luminaries, like Raúl Pérez and Descendientes de Jose Palacios. The entry-level 2022 En El Camino is the perfect introduction to this must-know producer, a WA92+ charmer that offers a classic Mencia marriage of dark red fruit, stony slate minerality, and bright structural freshness, each of its 50-year-old vineyard components playing its best-suited role in the finished blend. Stepping up to the single-vineyard wines, the 2021 A Merced is easily one of the best hidden-gem collectibles in Spanish wine. The El Canto vineyard's northerly exporsure, slate/quartz soils, and 80-year-old vines endow the 2021 with an unmistakable terroir signature. As Gutierrez describes it, "It's a little earthy but also floral and elegant, combining that wild side that seems to be inherent to this place," praise which garnered 95 points, all at a sub-$30 price tag. Finally, the micro-production 2021 Encrucijada comes from the 80-year-old Alto de Valdecañada site, notching 97 points from Gutierrez, who dubs it "fresh, tightly wound, very tasty and fine, with elegant tannins. It has to be the most elegant and balanced vintage of Encrucijada so far."

We're confident in saying this is one of the most intriguing, under-the-radar projects in Spain right now, and these three must-try showstoppers demonstrate the range and precision that Michelini i Mufatto bring to the table. If you're looking for a rising star that still offers tremendous bang for the buck, you've found it in this trio of singular Spanish standouts.

92WA

I also tasted two vintages of their village red, but in this case it was already 2022 and 2021. 2022 was also a warm year, extremely dry, with a very torrid summer, but they managed to keep the alcohol level of the 2022 En el Camino to the same 12.5% as the 2021 I tasted next to it. Furthermore, there might have been some blocking in the plants, as the alcohol didn't go up and the acidity was kept. It's very primary and innocent. It's 90% Mencía with 10% other grapes like Palomino, Doña Blanca and Alicante Bouschet, fermented with 30% full clusters and a short maceration. Fifty percent of the wine matured in oak casks and the other 50% in stainless steel for a period of a little less than one year. 30,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2023.

92+ points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Aug 2023)

$16.98

Compare At: $19.99

42 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2022 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Bianco Terre Siciliane Carricante (750ml)

Carricante from Terre Siciliane, Sicily, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Crafted by Italy’s legendary 100 pt. winemaker Carlo Ferrini from Sicily’s volcanic slopes, these top scoring Giodo Alberelli di Giodo selections offer a range of meticulously crafted red and white wines from “one of the world's most interesting, high-quality, yet value-driven categories” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, transparently expressing their unique Mount Etna terroir and value priced to enjoy now and over the next decade.

Inspired by a handful of perfectly situated vineyard sites on the slopes of Mount Etna, famed consulting enologist Carlo Ferrini established Giodo Alberelli after more than a decade of consulting with some of Sicily’s most renowned estates, naming it for the traditional low-bush vines in the region resembling little trees known as “alberelli” and releasing his first vintage to unanimous critical acclaim in 2016. Assembling a patchwork of parcels on Etna’s north-facing black lava terraces in the Sicilia DOC, Ferrini sourced the Giodo Alberelli wines from a range of small plots situated from 800 to 950 meters above sea level planted with low yielding, pre-phylloxera Nerello Mascalese vines averaging 80-100 years along with a tiny parcel of the indigenous white Carricante averaging 50 years of age. Boasting lush aromatics evocative of citrus and wild herbs, the zesty 95 pt. 2022 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Sicilia Carricante reaffirms “that some of the most interesting wines from Etna today are the whites” according to the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, balancing crisp energetic fruit hinting of flinty crushed stone with saline acidity on a mouthwatering finish. Conveying its varied soils and elevations much like Pinot Noir grown in the Cote de Beaune, the elegant 96 pt. 2020 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese reveals pure red earthy fruit with refined minerality and subtle integrated tannins on “a long, vibrant, fresh finish” according to Decanter’s James Button who sums it up simply as “beautiful,” while Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares the powerful and fresh 96 pt. 2021 Giodo Alberelli di Giodo Nerello Mascalese “oh so juicy and full of minerality,” both age worthy reds layered with old vine character and focused tannins promising to evolve over the next decade and beyond.

From the region described as “Italy’s most dynamic wine scene” by the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, these top scoring Giodo Alberelli di Giodo selections are pure and refined expressions of Mount Etna’s volcanic terroir crafted by a master of Italian wine, value priced for Etna fans to stock the cellar and a stellar mixed case for wine lovers seeking to explore the region's best.

95D 94JS 94JA

So fragrant on the nose, wild white flowers mixed with dried herbs and aromatic peaches and lychees. Crisp yet round, a lovely burst of citrus juiciness on the palate with high acidity that zings and then settles revealing more creamy white peach and pear with subtle wet stone saltiness and herbal spice around the edges. Feels like a serious, gourmet wine, with body, structure and yet lots of life. Ends mineral and salty, I love it, with a flash of heat and southern Italy spice about it. 100% Carricante vines, averaging 50 years in age, planted between 800-900 in altitude. Ageing six months in steel tanks on the lees and 10 months in bottle before release.

95 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jul 2023)

This is pure carricante with honeysuckle, lemons, and light grapefruit with a salty sense to the aromas. The same character comes through on the palate with a medium to full body, creamy texture and pretty finish. Lemongrass and mineral highlight the subtle fruit flavors and acidity. Tangy. Clean and clear nature to this. Drink now.

94 points, James Suckling (Oct 2023)

White flowers, white pear, and juice-drenched peach, everything here is dense yet light, tiptoeoing through the palate, then scraping through the volcanic slate and graphite. Delicously gentle and then savage by turns. Fermented in steel tanks, then 6 months on its lees, moving into concrete vats before bottling, held back at the propery in bottle until release. Unoaked.

94 points, Jane Anson (Aug 2023)

2009 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don’t miss it.

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Savvy Bordeaux collectors won’t need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate’s epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on “an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson who declares it “a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era,” offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six.

Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as “gorgeous from the start” by the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle give “no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades.”

Embodying the terroir of Pauillac with magnificent aging potential, the long-lived, benchmark 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages is “a true classic from this estate” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, among only a handful of perfectly rated 2019 Bordeaux standing shoulder to shoulder with the First Growths at a fraction of the price. As British wine critic Oz Clarke famously declared, "Lynch Bages is impressive at five, beautiful at ten, and irresistible at twenty" - secure yours while they last and prepare to enjoy the remarkable odyssey ahead.

98WI 96WA 96WS #93 Top 100 96WE 96JS

Powerful, rich, tannins that are chewy and physical in the mouth. Liquourice bud, turmeric root, cloves, rose stems, with tight blackcurrant and softer blackberry fruits. The muscular structure of the appellation and the concentration of Lynch Bages add a more serious side to the generosity of the 2009 vintage, and together they make something very special. This is begining to open up, with plenty more to give. 70% new oak.

98 points, Jane Anson (Apr 2022)

The medium to deep garnet colored 2009 Lynch Bages is boldly scented of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and baked plums with chocolate box, incense and underbrush suggestions plus a waft of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, taut and well sustained in the mouth, it has a firm, grainy texture and a lively backbone lifting the black fruit core to a nice long finish.

96 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Mar 2019)

Tight and backward, this has dense, almost chewy layers of fig, currant and plum cake behind a very solid wall of cedar, roasted vanilla and charcoal notes. There's serious grip on the finish, with an iron edge that won't quit. Best from 2015 through 2035. 31,500 cases made.

96 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2012)

#93 - Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2012

A dense, immense, solidly powerful wine. The ripest fruit overflows, paralleling the dark, solid tannins. As so often, Lynch-Bages is a blockbuster, dark and concentrated, with immense aging potential.

96 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Feb 2012)

A powerful and ripe wine with a wide-screen personality, this makes a very bold statement without becoming a jot heavy. Serious tannins at the long finish suggest this has long-term aging potential. Drink now with a big steak or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

96 points, James Suckling (Mar 2019)

$199.88

Compare At: $229.99

56 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Aeolian (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Suffice it to say that the 2022s at Bethel Heights are classic ... Fans of the estate will be smiling from ear to ear." - Eric Guido, Vinous

Reflecting this benchmark estate’s reputation for outstanding, Burgundian-style Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, these top-scoring 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast the enticing combination of elegant fruit and balanced acidity, produced in a high-quality Oregon vintage of “exceptional wines” according to Jeb Dunnuck's Oregon critic Audrey Frick, ranging from ready-to-enjoy, entry-level offerings to cellar-worthy, vineyard-expressive cuvees and available in a variety of formats all affordably priced for stocking up.

Founded over four decades ago on a hillside at the east end of the Van Duzer Corridor, Bethel Heights was one of the first wineries established in the Willamette Valley’s Eola-Amity Hills, expanding its holdings to 82 acres of sustainably farmed, estate vineyards boasting a mix of old vines and newer, phylloxera-resistant plantings that are now entering full maturity. Described as “impressive” by Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Alberty, the rich and ripe 93 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate reveals fragrant spiced fruit with ripe tannins and substantial structure and is blended from across the three estate vineyards, while the vibrant 93 pt. Bethel Heights Chardonnay Estate balances fresh citrusy fruit with flinty acidity and is a “killer value” according to Jeb Dunnuck critic Audrey Frick. Named for the pervasive marine winds that blow through the Van Duzer Corridor, the intensely aromatic 2022 Bethel Heights Aeolian offers “highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish” according to the Wine Advocate’s Erin Brooks while the muscular 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Justice Vineyard balances “concentrated, powerful flavors” with “abundant, velvety tannins,” both promising to reward patient cellaring with over a decade of longevity. Sourced from five blocks selected from Lewman and the original Bethel Heights vineyards, critic Erin Brooks declares the 97 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Casteel “concentrated and powerful,” balancing “fine, chalky tannins and mouth watering acidity,” while the alluring 96 pt. 2022 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Lewman Vineyard is “very appealing across the board” according to critic Audrey Frick, sourced from the 6.4 acre Lewman Vineyard near Oregon's iconic Zena Crown Vineyard and revealing “a touch more plushness and a broad-shouldered feel.”

Sourced from an exciting Willamette Valley vintage of “classic, almost throwback-style wines that impress” according to Eric Guido of Vinous, these highly rated 2022 Bethel Heights selections boast outstanding quality across the portfolio while overdelivering value, all available in a range of price points and formats perfect for mixing a case.

94JD 94WA

A jeweled ruby/magenta color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Aeolian is aromatic of framboise, peppery spice, candied grapefruit, and candied flowers. It’s medium-bodied and very pure, with finely defined tannins, a lovely, long finish, and a lot of clarity throughout. Drink 2024-2036.

94+ points, Audrey Frick, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)

The 2022 Pinot Noir AEolian has intense aromas of roasted cranberries, Cara Cara oranges and raspberries with continually blossoming accents of forest floor, mixed tea leaves and spice. Though it's light-bodied with finely astringent tannins and fireworks of fresh acidity, the palate offers highly concentrated, nuanced flavors and a very long, ultra spicy finish.

94 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Jul 2024)