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2020 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas (750ml)

From Gigondas, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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"Gigondas delivers some of the best bang for my buck in cellar-worthy red wines from France today."

Josh Raynolds, Vinous

A favorite producer of B-21 Rhone fans and collectors offering incredible quality at an unbeatable value, Domaine du Cayron’s 96 pt. 2020 Gigondas hits the mark once again, easily eclipsing many pricier blends from neighboring Chateauneuf-du-Pape with its bright fragrant garrigue-scented fruit and seamless tannins poised to “age reliably and gracefully” according to Vinous critic Josh Raynolds, a superb value for stocking the cellar.

Located in the heart of Gigondas in the shadow of the craggy saw-toothed Dentelles de Montmirail, fifth generation sisters Roseline, Cendrine, and Delphine source their family’s single cuvee from old vines planted at some of the appellation’s highest altitudes, the domain's name “Cayron” referring to the crest of the Dentelles. Spanning nearly 17 hectares on 20 different parcels, the Domaine’s vineyards are planted with mostly Grenache and smaller amounts of Syrah, Cinsault and Mourvedre on a mix of clay, marl and limestones soils, located from 300 to 400 meters above sea level with vines ranging from 40 to over 70 years of age. Employing traditional methods that are “old school all the way” according to Jeb Dunnuck, the Faraud sisters fermented the 2020 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas in subterranean concrete tanks before aging it two years in large, neutral oak foudres dating back more than 50 years, yielding plush, Grenache fruit layered on a backbone of spiced Syrah with the “downright Provençal characters that I absolutely love” according to Jeb Dunnuck, framed by fresh acidity and integrated mineral-tinged tannins on a long, polished finish.

Ranking as one of the highest rated Gigondas of the vintage while remaining a relatively little-known gem, the richly textured 96 pt. 2020 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas is “an unapologetically traditional expression of the appellation” according to critic Raynolds that will captivate fans of bold Southern Rhone reds on the first sip, remarkably bargain priced for collectors to enjoy often over the next decade or more.

96V

Dark magenta. Vibrant cherry, raspberry and lavender aromas show excellent clarity and a spicy white pepper hint. Sweet and penetrating on the palate, it displays expansive red fruit and spicecake flavors with a subtle touch of candied licorice. Closes sappy and impressively long, with resonating floral and red fruit notes and gentle tannins that build slowly.

96 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous (Jan 2023)

$29.98

Compare At: $34.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2023 Diatom Chardonnay (750ml)

Chardonnay from Santa Barbara, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Fans of winemaker Greg Brewer’s pure and precise Santa Barbara County Chardonnays won’t need convincing to stock up on the new vintage of the elegant 93 pt. 2023 Diatom Chardonnay, transparently expressing the essence of fragrant Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay with shimmering minerality on a vibrant, saline finish and a “screaming value” according to Jeb Dunnuck that over delivers.

Described as “the purest possible expression of Chardonnay from this region” by the Wine Independent’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, veteran winemaker Greg Brewer established Diatom in 2005 in the Central Coast’s Sta. Rita Hills AVA to capture Chardonnay in its “most pure and unadulterated state,” naming it for the region’s distinctive marine sedimentary soils of fossilized plankton among the largest deposits in the world. Sourced from the Mission Hills Vineyard in Los Alamos, the low yielding Chardonnay vines produce smaller clusters and tiny berries that enhance concentration and depth, while cooling breezes funneling off the Pacific allow for longer ripening and flavor development and preserve the grapes’ natural acidity. Renowned as the co-founder of Brewer-Clifton and Melville with over three decades of winemaking experience, Brewer employed a non-interventionist approach to craft the 2023 Diatom, forgoing the use of oak and malolactic fermentation, an often-employed technique known for producing a softer, more buttery style of Chardonnay and instead producing a crisp, clean Chardonnay in a style reminiscent of Chablis. Fermented and matured in 100% stainless steel, the refined 2023 Diatom Chardonnay beautifully balances bright, lively fruit with refreshing, mineral-tinged acidity, reflecting Brewer’s signature style of “vibrant purity and freshness, with plenty of textural richness on the palate” according to Jeb Dunnuck and a mouthwatering finish that begs for another sip.

From a unique terroir described as producing “natural tight acidity, tension, and an ocean-kissed salinity” by Decanter’s Jessica Dupuy, Greg Brewer’s impeccably balanced 93 pt. 2023 Diatom Chardonnay is richly layered with nuanced complexity and refreshing acidity, crafted by a masterful winemaker to transparently reflect its Sta. Rita Hills origins and an incredible value bargain priced for savvy Chard lovers to scoop up by the case.

94JD 94V 93WS

Made by Greg Brewer and already bottled, the 2023 Chardonnay comes from the Mission Mills Vineyard just outside of Los Alamos. Its vivid medium gold hue is followed by a vibrant nose of salted citrus, tangerine, exotic flowers, and subtle spice. Medium-bodied, pure, rounded, and beautifully balanced, it has plenty of power and density, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This impeccably made Chardonnay should be snatched up by readers, as it competes with wines at two to three times the price.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Aug 2024)

The 2023 Chardonnay (Santa Barbara County) is a total stunner. Bright, aromatic and vibrant, the 2023 is lights-out, brilliantly marrying fruit intensity and energy. Apricot, mint and white flowers abound. This is a stunning wine for the price and for its production of around 40,000 cases. All of this fruit is from Mission Hills in Los Alamos.

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Aug 2024)

This stunning wine leaps out of the glass, with concentrated flavors and aromas of white peach, quince and pineapple, plus floral accents of orange blossoms and lemon curd. Finishes with mouthwatering acidity, a note of crunchy sea salt minerality and a whiff of lemon verbena. Drink now.

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

$19.98

Compare At: $22.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Leviathan Red (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from California

B-21 Top Recommendation
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“A gorgeous wine that over delivers on all counts”

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Renowned as a Napa Cab expert with two 100 pt. Screaming Eagle vintages to his credit, legendary veteran winemaker Andy Erickson knocks it out of the park with the rich and powerful 94 pt. 2021 Leviathan Red, boasting fresh, dark fruit hinting of graphite and savory spice on a satiny smooth finish, called a “seriously affordable, serious California blend” by the Wine Advocate and built to enjoy now and over the next decade.

Born of his desire to create a bold red blend free of the constraints of California’s appellation system, Andy Erickson established the Leviathan project as an ever-changing proprietary mix intended to showcase the best characteristics of each vintage, working in partnership with Agustin Huneeus, the passionate vintner behind Quintessa. With an illustrious resume reading like a who’s who of the region’s top producers including Harlan, Staglin and Mayacamas, Erickson blended mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Syrah, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc in the 2021 Leviathan, sourcing it from mountainside parcels ranging from the Faust Vineyard in Napa’s southerly Coombsville AVA to Obsidian Ridge of Red Hills in the northern Mayacamas Mountains. Fermenting and aging each parcel before blending, Erickson utilized a mix of 25% new French oak and 75% two and three year old barrels for 15 months, yielding a rich and layered 2021 Leviathan with enticing aromatics, rich ripe fruit and substantial, supple tannins that’s “already impossible to resist” according to Jeb Dunnuck yet structured to evolve in the cellar.

Calling it “one of the best” Leviathan blends in memory, Vinous critic Antonio Galloni of Vinous credits Erickson’s vast expertise in crafting extraordinary, terroir-driven Napa Cabs, the robust and refined 94 pt. 2021 Leviathan an immensely satisfying pour from one of the region's top winemakers and a sure bet for Napa Cab fans seeking an exceptional value to reach for often over the next decade

94JD 93V 93JS

Always a good value, the 2021 California Red Wine is no exception and has darker berry fruits, some leafy herb, sage, lavender, and chocolate nuances, full-bodied richness, and a lush, round, seamless style that's already impossible to resist. This is primarily Cabernet Sauvignon (with plenty of other red varieties), and it should shine for 7-8 years, if not a decade, although I would drink this puppy in its youth.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Dec 2023)

The 2021 Leviathan is fabulous. In fact, the 2021 is one of the best editions of Leviathan I can remember tasting. The purity of the flavors is just remarkable. Dark cherry/plum fruit, spice, new leather and licorice are all dialed up. Shortening the time in barrel from 18-20 months to 14 makes a huge difference in how the wine captures fruit intensity and finesse. Few winemakers know Napa Valley as well as Andy Erickson does. All of that expertise comes through in a gorgeous wine that over-delivers on all counts.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Dec 2023)

Blueberries, black berries, and flowers. Some stone. Spearmint and fresh bay leaves. Medium to full body with layers of juicy tannins that are rounded and textured. Creamy and caressing. 65% cabernet sauvignon with cabernet franc, petite sirah, petit verdot and merlot. Lovely to drink now.

93 points, James Suckling (Jan 2024)

$34.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

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2021 Dominio de Pingus Psi (750ml)

Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Leon, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
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“Incredibly elegant”

Luis Gutierrez, Wine Advocate

From the producer of one of Spain's most highly collectible wines, the rich and polished 96 pt. 2021 Dominio de Pingus Psi offers fresh and juicy aromatic fruit hinting of spice with zesty acidity and layered, silky tannins, a refined and age worthy Ribera del Duero priced well below the estate’s flagship cuvee and an unbeatable value for fans of bold Tempranillo blends to enjoy often over the next decade.

Awarded the highest Wine Advocate score ever for a Spanish wine at the time, Danish-born and Bordeaux trained winemaker Peter Sisseck released the first vintage of Pingus in 1995, but the boat transporting the first 75 cases to the USA was shipwrecked in the Azores, fueling its already soaring demand and rocketing Pingus to cult status with premium pricing to match. Thankfully for Ribera del Duero fans, Sisseck soon had another idea to craft an affordable wine from old vine fruit mirroring the quality legacy of Pingus, raising the standards among the region’s independent growers by incentivizing them to improve viticultural practices and naming it Psi for the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet. Formed as a coop from established growers in 2006, the Psi project has supplied technical expertise to preserve many of the region’s century-old, head-pruned vines while reducing yields and implementing biodynamic and organic farming practices to improve overall vineyard health, producing exceptional fruit by paying the independent growers a premium for quality instead of quantity. Sourced from over 700 high-altitude parcels in eastern Castilla y Leon, the 2021 Dominio de Pingus Psi is a blend of 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha, fermented with indigenous yeasts and aged for 18 months mainly in used oak vats and a small amount of new oak barrels, yielding “a distinctive Ribero del Duero with excellent nuance and agility” according to Vinous critic Joaquin Hidalgo with the structure to age for another decade and beyond.

Garnering the same score as the estate’s prestigious second label Flor de Pingus in 2021 and crafted with the meticulous standards of the flagship cuvee, the alluring 96 pt. 2021 Dominio de Pingus Psi continues its run as one of Ribera del Duero’s top-rated values, quietly creating its own cult-like following among savvy Spanish wine lovers and collectors seeking an exceptional deal.

96V 95WA 94JS

The 2021 PSI is 90% Tempranillo and 10% Garnacha sourced from old vines planted in calcareous soils and was aged for up to 16 months in mostly sizeable French oak barrels. In the glass, it's garnet-red with a light purple sheen. The nose offers blood notes along with sour cherry and blackberry, intertwined with violets and dried flowers, resulting in a layered, complex profile. On the palate, it's dry and velvety. Chalky tannins define a compact mouthfeel and long-lasting fruit and floral flavors. The 2021 is a distinctive Ribera del Duero with excellent nuance and agility.

96 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Nov 2023)

Black cherries, asphalt, hedgerow, dark spices and dried Mediterranean herbs. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with dusty, effusive tannins and a vertical finish. Pristine and stripped-down. Drink or hold.

94 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Nov 2023)

A new era starts in 2021, when they got a new winemaker for PSI. The 2021 PSI—still unbottled, as it should have an élevage of 20 months—comes from a cooler year than 2020, but it was also a drier vintage and the wine has more finesse than in 2020. It develops a note of honey, beeswax and pollen—Peter thinks this comes from the wine from Gumiel de Izán (and it also happens in Quintana del Pidio), as the 2021 has a significant percentage from Gumiel de Izán. 2021 is an approachable vintage, and the wine feels very elegant. It has 14.1% alcohol, slightly higher than 2020, but even if they do not harvest looking at the alcohol, they try to avoid going over 14%. I tasted a sample from 80% oak vat and 20% in barrel, with some new barrels. This is going in the right direction. They expect to bottle some 360,000 bottles. As they harvest early, they start the élevage almost one month earlier than others, so they think the wine might be bottled in May 2023.

93-95 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Jan 2023)

$29.98

Compare At: $34.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Chateau La Vieille Cure (750ml)

Merlot from Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described as “one of the clear go-to wines in Fronsac” by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, the opulent 93 pt. 2019 Chateau La Vieille Cure boasts fresh, ripe dark fruit hinting of spiced chocolate with rich, velvety tannins on an elegant finish, an under the radar gem that “dazzles from start to finish” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous and a top value for Bordeaux fans to stash away and savor over the next decade.

Declared “so reliable” by critic Jane Anson that it’s “a bellwether to the success of a vintage,” Chateau La Vieille Cure is considered a benchmark in the region, its exceptional consistency over the last decade driven by winemaker Jean Luc Thunevin, the well-known consultant and owner of Valandraud who took the reins in 2013. Considered one of the top terroirs in Fronsac, the 20-hectare Chateau La Vieille Cure vineyard is situated in a single contiguous plot facing Pomerol, planted mostly to Merlot averaging 40 years of age with the oldest vines over 75 years in limestone-rich clay soils mixed with chalk sloping up to 65 meters, its southwest exposure encouraging optimal ripening. Fermenting the hand harvested grapes with indigenous yeasts, the seductive 2019 La Vieille Cure is a blend of 75% Merlot with 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in a third new French oak barrels, yielding a luscious, full-bodied Bordeaux blend that's already a pleasurable pour and summed up by Jeb Dunnuck as a “classic Right Bank beauty to drink over the coming 10-12 years.”

From an outstanding vintage producing rich and structured reds with “wonderful freshness and brightness” according to James Suckling, the elegant 93 pt. 2019 Chateau La Vieille Cure offers stunning quality matching many of the wines of nearby St. Emilion at a bargain price, “a year-in, year-out best value” according to Jeb Dunnuck that “does everything right” and an easy call for Bordeaux bargain hunters seeking a thrilling wine at an equally thrilling price.

93JD 93V 93JS 92WS

A year-in, year-out best value, the 2019 Château La Vieille Cure is another winner from this château that does everything right. Revealing a deep ruby/purple hue as well as great aromatics of black cherries, tobacco leaf, spicy oak, and loamy earth, it's medium to full-bodied, perfectly balanced, has silky tannins, and a great finish. It's just an impeccably made, satisfying, classic Right Bank beauty to drink over the coming 10-12 years. Bravo!

93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Apr 2022)

The 2019 La Vieille Cure is just as fabulous from bottle as it was in barrel. Super-ripe red cherry, mocha, spice, new leather, licorice, tobacco and cedar are all dialed up in this decidedly flamboyant Fronsac. All the elements are so well balanced.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2022)

Vibrant nose of wild raspberries, brambleberries, lemon zest, thyme and sandalwood. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins and bright acidity. Vibrant and fragrant. Firm yet elegant finish. Drink after 2024.

93 points, James Suckling (Jan 2022)

Stylish, with crushed plum and lightly warmed cassis flavors infused gently with dark earth and tobacco accents, followed in the end by a hint of cast iron. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2032. 5,180 cases made, 500 cases imported.

92 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (2022)

$27.88

Compare At: $32.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Chateau Troplong Mondot (750ml)

Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Here’s an exciting opportunity to enjoy a vertical of outstanding new releases from Chateau Troplong Mondot, three incredibly promising vintages garnering multiple 100 pt. scores and wowing critics across the board, each built for three decades of pleasurable drinking and unbeatably priced to over deliver value.

Perched in a spectacular location with a 360-degree view overlooking St. Emilion, Chateau Troplong Mondot is marked by the prominent water tower at St. Emilion’s highest point, its stunning new cellars viewed from above on a glass catwalk reflecting the estate’s dramatic transformation since its purchase by insurance company SCOR in 2017. Immediately hiring Bordeaux veteran Aymeric de Gironde, formerly of Pichon Baron and Cos d’Estournel, to lead the estate, Troplong Mondot pivoted to a classical, terroir-driven style, identifying the unique qualities of even the smallest parcels of its organically farmed 65 hectares of vineyards and reducing the amount of new oak to allow their rich minerality to shine through, described by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson as reflecting “a more evident respect for the powerful terroir that does not need to be overly dressed up” under the guidance of renowned consulting enologist Thomas Duclos. Vinified in vats instead of barrels to preserve freshness, the 98 pt. 2018 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “simply breathtaking” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, aged in 60% new oak with a small percentage in large vats and amphorae to yield a Troplong with “brighter red fruit flavors” that’s “backed by a distinct flinty minerality” according to the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth. Earning the #13 spot of the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022, the “perfect” 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “impressive” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, with chalky limestone tannins that “speaks of its soils,” boasting “a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression” according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle who sums it up as “incredible.” Declared “one of the Right Bank’s finest wines in this vintage” by the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley with another perfect score – the “fabulous” 100 pt. 2020 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “wonderfully exuberant right out of the gate” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, with aromatic, rich dark fruit described as “powerful and dense” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss that “ends with a whoosh of freshness and lift” according to Jane Anson.

Describing these recent vintages as marking “the upward trajectory and unveiling of the new expression of this very special site at Troplong Mondot,” the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley declared, “what an exhilarating ride this is!” while Jeb Dunnuck unequivocally declares “there is no denying the incredible quality from this chateau today” – these value priced Chateau Troplong Mondot selections offering an exciting opportunity for Bordeaux fans and collectors to mix a case or pick a few favorites and jump aboard St. Emilion’s rising star for the thrilling journey ahead.

100WE 99D 98WA 98JS

The magnificent Merlot in the blend has pushed up the alcohol, while also giving a velvet touch and power to the wine. This estate is now on top form, producing this generously ripe, black plum flavored wine. It is lifted by acidity while powering the wine's intensity. Drink from 2026.

100 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Oct 2022)

Such a seductive soft perfume to the nose, delicate yet generous aromatics of cherry and rose. The palate is juicy and fresh, charming yet energetic with such crystalline purity and balance. Tannins are smooth but softly textured giving nuance to the flavours where refreshing high toned ripe red and black cherry fruit play alongside mint, dark chocolate and graphite. Clearly powerfully but carefully controlled from start to finish giving such a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression. Incredible.

99 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2022)

Has any Bordeaux château realized a more wholesale stylistic revolution in so short a time than Troplong Mondot? Since Aymeric de Gironde arrived at the estate in late 2017, the ultra powerful "shock and awe" style of the 2000s is out, and a new refinement is in. Of course, the deep clays that define the core vineyards around the château itself are never likely to produce light or ephemeral wines, but de Gironde has astutely understood that (to develop an analogy), when driving down hill, one can ease off on the accelerator. The 2019 Troplong Mondot is a ringing endorsement of the new direction, wafting from the glass with complex aromas of wild berries, violets, coniferous forest floor, licorice, raw cocoa and subtle spices, followed by a full-bodied, velvety and layered palate that's seamless and perfumed, its enveloping core of succulent fruit framed by rich, powdery tannins and lively acids. Harmonious and penetrating, I never thought I'd taste a wine like this from Troplong Mondot.

98 points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)

The purity of fruit is pretty phenomenal here with blackcurrants, cherries and crushed-stone undertones. Floral notes of roses and violets, too. Full-bodied, yet this is a linear style with super fine tannins and great length and beauty. You really want to drink it. It grows on the palate and shows real power, with breadth and depth. Remains fresh throughout. Really something. Try after 2026.

98 points, James Suckling (Mar 2022)

$109.88

Compare At: $119.99

This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 12/31/2024. 60+ bottles available.

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2020 Avignonesi Grifi (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Tuscany, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Crafted by “one of the reference points in Montepulciano” according to Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, the sumptuous 93 pt. 2020 Avignonesi Grifi is a top Super Tuscan value, an elegant 50-50 blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon offering fragrant dark fruit hinting of wild herbs and spice with dense, layered tannins on a fresh, lingering finish that’s bargain priced to enjoy often over the next decade.

Founded in Italy’s first and oldest red wine appellation, Avignonesi owner Virginie Saverys purchased the historic winery in the Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOC in 2009, transforming the estate to organic and biodynamic viticulture over the next decade with the help of renowned agronomer Adriano Zago and implementing an intense study to identify the unique qualities of each vineyard parcel. Now the largest biodynamic wine estate in Italy and the fifth largest in the world spanning 175 hectares, Avignonesi produced the terroir expressive 2020 Grifi from vines located in the rolling hills near the medieval town of Montepulciano as well as a plot in nearby Cortona, the parcels planted in sedimentary soils of calcareous limestone, clay and sand at altitudes ranging up to 375 meters above sea level. Vinified with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel vats, the appealing 93 pt. 2020 Avignonesi Grifi was aged for 24 months in a mix of oak casks and barriques, yielding dark, lightly spiced fruit with “fresh, fine-grained tannins and a cooling finish” according to James Suckling worthy of aging over the next ten years.

Describing the estate’s ability to craft wines that transparently express their terroir, Eric Guido of Vinous declared, “For a lesson on Montepulciano’s terroir, one needs to look no further than Avignonesi,” the impressive 93 pt. 2020 Avignonesi Grifi a deliciously rich and complex Tuscan blend reflecting the estate’s meticulous attention to detail at an unbeatable value price

93WS 93JS

An elegant red, featuring a gleam of pure cherry, currant and strawberry fruit. This is also intense and firmly built, with a layer of dense tannins guarding the finish. Excellent length. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2026 through 2037. 3,347 cases made, 1,667 cases imported.

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

Excellent purity and ripeness to the fruit-expressive nose, but this still has some complexity to offer, too. Some violets, graphite and spices to the fresh blue fruit and slate. I like the texture here on the palate with fresh, fine-grained tannins and a cooling finish. Long, fresh and juicy. From biodynamically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink or hold.

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

$19.98

Compare At: $22.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Domaine de la Charbonniere Rouge (750ml)

Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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“Harmonious and well made”

James Suckling

From a “charming, forward vintage” producing “a sea of beautifully textured” wines according to Jeb Dunnuck, the elegant 94 pt. 2020 Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge offers fresh aromatic garrigue-laden fruit perfectly balanced by vibrant, velvety tannins on a lingering, graphite-scented finish, a deliciously silky CDP ready to enjoy for years to come at a terrific value price.

Founded by the Maret family in 1914, third generation Michel Maret inherited Domaine de la Charbonniere from his father in 1973 and has worked alongside his talented daughters Caroline and Veronique since 2004, producing an array of CDP’s that have steadily risen in quality over the last two decades. Sourced from across 19.5 hectares of vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape, the estate’s holding include 50 year old vines in the Charbonniere lieu-dit as well as a parcel in Le Crau adjacent to Vieux Telegraphe with vines averaging 75 years of age, planted in clay sandy soils strewn with the region’s renowned rounded stones called galets roules. Hand harvesting with selective sorting and employing minimal intervention in the cellar, winemaker Veronique Maret vinified the 70% Grenache and 15% Syrah together and the 15% Mourvedre separately before aging the refined 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape mainly in wooden vats with small amounts in foudre, tank and used barrels, yielding a smooth, traditionally styled CDP with fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins built to “age gracefully” according to Jeb Dunnuck.

Described by Vinous critic Nicolas Greinacher as offering “divine drinking pleasure,” the fresh and appealing 94 pt. 2020 Domaine de la Charbonniere Rouge ranks among the top-scoring Chateauneuf du Pape's of the vintage for far less than the region's higher profile estates, a top value CDP for Southern Rhone collectors to savor over the next decade.

94JD 94JS 93V 93WS

Looking at the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape, it's a blend of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 15% Mourvedre from all the estate's holdings. Ruby/plum-hued, with a great nose of black raspberries, new saddle leather, Provençal herbs, and Asian spices, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant, layered mouthfeel, perfect balance, and a great finish. It might be one of the finest examples of the base cuvée I've tasted.

94 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2022)

A harmonious and well-made Chateauneuf-du-Pape. Notes of red berries, dried thyme, bay leaves, mild spices and hints of black olives. Full-bodied with finely grained tannins. Well-balanced and layered with a velvety touch on the palate and a generous and focused long finish. Best after 2027.

94 points, James Suckling (May 2023)

The 2020 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is composed of 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah and 15% Mourvèdre. The 2020 displays fragrant aromas of blackberry, black cherry, raspberry, crème de cassis and dried herbs. Tightly structured, full-bodied and layered, the ripe tannins are very well integrated into the wine, as is the 15.5% alcohol.

93 points, Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous (Jun 2023)

Ripe yet energetic, showing bitter cherry and mulled plum flavors backed up by zesty spices, citrus peel acidity and fine-grained tannins, with a lot of graphite power coursing through the round palate. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Drink now through 2035. 2,600 cases made, 900 cases imported.

93 points, Kristen Bieler, Wine Spectator (Nov 2023)

$39.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco (750ml)

Pinot Blanc from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

94JS

The density and depth is very impressive for a pinot bianco, with fresh white flowers, dried apples, lemons and pears. It’s full-bodied, but feels fresh and vivid on the palate. Stony and minerally undertones at the end. Drink or hold.

94 points, James Suckling (Sep 2022)

$28.98

Compare At: $32.99

41 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Chateau Troplong Mondot (750ml)

Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Here’s an exciting opportunity to enjoy a vertical of outstanding new releases from Chateau Troplong Mondot, three incredibly promising vintages garnering multiple 100 pt. scores and wowing critics across the board, each built for three decades of pleasurable drinking and unbeatably priced to over deliver value.

Perched in a spectacular location with a 360-degree view overlooking St. Emilion, Chateau Troplong Mondot is marked by the prominent water tower at St. Emilion’s highest point, its stunning new cellars viewed from above on a glass catwalk reflecting the estate’s dramatic transformation since its purchase by insurance company SCOR in 2017. Immediately hiring Bordeaux veteran Aymeric de Gironde, formerly of Pichon Baron and Cos d’Estournel, to lead the estate, Troplong Mondot pivoted to a classical, terroir-driven style, identifying the unique qualities of even the smallest parcels of its organically farmed 65 hectares of vineyards and reducing the amount of new oak to allow their rich minerality to shine through, described by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson as reflecting “a more evident respect for the powerful terroir that does not need to be overly dressed up” under the guidance of renowned consulting enologist Thomas Duclos. Vinified in vats instead of barrels to preserve freshness, the 98 pt. 2018 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “simply breathtaking” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, aged in 60% new oak with a small percentage in large vats and amphorae to yield a Troplong with “brighter red fruit flavors” that’s “backed by a distinct flinty minerality” according to the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth. Earning the #13 spot of the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022, the “perfect” 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “impressive” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, with chalky limestone tannins that “speaks of its soils,” boasting “a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression” according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle who sums it up as “incredible.” Declared “one of the Right Bank’s finest wines in this vintage” by the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley with another perfect score – the “fabulous” 100 pt. 2020 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “wonderfully exuberant right out of the gate” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, with aromatic, rich dark fruit described as “powerful and dense” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss that “ends with a whoosh of freshness and lift” according to Jane Anson.

Describing these recent vintages as marking “the upward trajectory and unveiling of the new expression of this very special site at Troplong Mondot,” the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley declared, “what an exhilarating ride this is!” while Jeb Dunnuck unequivocally declares “there is no denying the incredible quality from this chateau today” – these value priced Chateau Troplong Mondot selections offering an exciting opportunity for Bordeaux fans and collectors to mix a case or pick a few favorites and jump aboard St. Emilion’s rising star for the thrilling journey ahead.

100D 98WI 98V 98WE

A sensational Troplong. Vibrant and vivid, this makes you smile from the first smell: milk chocolate, floral notes of roses and lavender, wet stones, liquorice, cinnamon and ripe bramble fruits. Round and thrilling on the palate, tannins are abundant with a chalky blueberry coolness while a salty tang settles around the mouth. Lovely precision and purity of fruit; you feel the sharp definition - still linear which makes it less immediately charming than the 2019 but giving undeniable complexity. Deep but not heady, this remains pure and detailed, with a leanness from the terroir really setting this apart. After a few minutes, the glamour starts to appear giving a salivating, succulent and moreish aspect to the finish. An absolute beauty.

100 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2023)

A blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Troplong Mondot is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a swirl or two to release a profound nose of plum preserves, juicy blueberries, and chocolate-covered cherries, giving way to hints of violets, black truffles, fertile loam, and tar, with a waft of licorice. The full-bodied palate shimmers with energy, delivering tightly wound layers of black fruits, floral notes and mineral layers, framed by very fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and minerally. So very fresh and bright - it needs time, but is already a temptress.

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

The 2020 Troplong Mondot is fabulous. Rich, dark and expansive, the 2020 is wonderfully exuberant right out of the gate. Black cherry, plum, gravel, incense and licorice are all dialed up. There's tremendous breadth and power, but without the excess weight of the past. Even so, the 2020 is a big, big wine that needs the better part of a decade to soften. All the classic Troplong structure is there, but buffered by vibrant acids and tons of supporting minerality. Harvest started on September 5 and finished on October 8, a very wide window for the Right Bank, and a reminder of how different the parcels are. The 2020 was done in 60% new oak, 12% foudres 28% once-used barrels.

98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2023)

This firmly structured wine with its high percentage of Merlot is powerful and dense. The bold black fruits and perfumed density are impressive. It will age, ready to drink from 2028.

98 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2023)

$109.88

Compare At: $119.99

32 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Ranking among “the finest Barolos being made” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, the elegant 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi boasts brightly perfumed aromas and silky, red spiced fruit with layered complexity that has made Cannubi one of Barolo’s most famed and collectible Crus, bargain priced at a fraction of its better-known competitors and available in a variety of age worthy formats for stocking the cellar.

Located just a few steps from the center of the town of Barolo, the historic Brezza winery is run by fourth generation Enzo and his nephew Francesco, continuing the family tradition of bottling wines from estate grown Nebbiolo fruit since 1910. Considered icons of traditional winemaking while employing sustainable practices including organic viticulture for over a decade, Brezza’s vineyards span a total of 16.5 hectares surrounded by hazelnut groves, its 1.4-hectare parcel in Cannubi originally planted between 1993 and 2003. Situated where two of Barolo’s most important geological formations meet (Cannubi coming from the Latin “connubio” or marriage), Brezza’s Cannubi parcel is located on the prime central part of the hill, its Nebbiolo vines planted in a mix of silty sand, clay and limestone at 250 meters above sea level on a southeasterly orientation favorable for even ripening. Surrounded by the highest slopes of La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte that shelter it from the cold and wind, Enzo and Francesco cultivate their sloping Cannubi vineyard by hand, employing techniques like green harvesting and thinning to further lower yields. After fermenting the hand harvested grapes with native yeasts in stainless steel, the supple and sleek 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi was aged in a mix of large, used Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered and unfined and cellared for another year prior to release, maintaining its fresh acidity while integrating refined tannins that promise over a decade of longevity.

From a “stellar vintage” that will “thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo” according to Vinous critic Galloni, the powerful 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Cannubi is an elegantly crafted, finessed Barolo from a top Cru that’s well-priced for savvy collectors to enjoy often without breaking the bank, at an unbeatable value.

96WE 95V

Coming from the heart of the original part of Cannubi, this wine lifts from the glass with such elegance that it automatically sets you on your heels. Aromas of fresh cherries, pink roses, sweet spices, new leather and incense all combine in the glass. The purity of the palate is remarkable with flavors of crushed red fruits, dried violets, wild herbs and dried earth. Superfine tannins hide their seriousness as this wine will go the distance. Drink now–2050.

96 points, Jeff Porter, Wine Enthusiast (Apr 2024)

The 2019 Barolo Cannubi is one of the best wines I have tasted from Brezza in a very long time. Sweet, perfumed and silky, the 2019 bristles with Cannubi character. Crushed red berry fruit, cedar, mint, rose petal and orange zest are some of the notes that grace this exquisite but potent Barolo. Give the tannins a few years to soften.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2023)

$59.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Argyle Brut Blanc de Blancs (750ml)

Sparkling from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
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A top value sparkling wine from a “stellar vintage” for Oregon Chardonnay according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Paul Gregutt, the elegant 93 pt. 2019 Argyle Brut Blanc de Blancs offers fragrant, fresh fruit with crisp, mineral-driven acidity on a creamy, refined mousse, an enticing 100% Chardonnay sparkler “packed full of flavor and tension” according to Neal Martin of Vinous that’s bargain priced for everyday enjoyment.

While sparkling might not be the first wine that comes to mind when considering Willamette Valley, Oregon’s ability to produce complex Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with the balanced acidity required for sparkling wine production has long been recognized by Argyle founder Rollin Soles, ranking among the top producers in the US for over three decades and scoring the highest ratings given by the Wine Spectator and Wine Advocate for sparkling wines outside of Champagne. Encouraged by his friendship with legendary Bollinger vintner Christian Bizot, Rollin established Argyle in Dundee, Oregon in partnership with Australian businessman Brian Croser in 1987, confident the combination of Willamette Valley’s cool climate and extended growing season would produce exceptional New World sparkling wines that would rival Champagne. Produced as a new cuvee in the 2019 vintage, the Argyle Brut Blanc de Blancs was sourced from the estate’s original 124 acre Knudsen Vineyard at 630 to 1000 ft. above sea level in the heart of the Dundee Hills as well as the 137 acre Spirit Hill Vineyard at 600 to 700 ft. above sea level in Eola-Amity Hills, the combined cooling effects of higher elevation along with gusting winds through the Van Duzer corridor preserving the grapes’ freshness and acidity. Crafted in the traditional method by Nate Klostermann, Rollin’s handpicked successor since 2013, the alluring 2019 Argyle Brut Blanc de Blancs was made exclusively from hand harvested, estate grown fruit from the 2019 vintage, 40% barrel fermented over six months before bottling and aged on the lees for 30 months with minimal dosage, yielding ripe fruit hinting of toasty brioche and mouth filling, fine bubbles that linger on the refined and elegant finish.

A delicious sparkler boasting impressive complexity from an outstanding vintage, the 93 pt. 2019 Argyle Brut Blanc de Blancs reflects Argyle’s long standing reputation as Oregon’s pioneering producer of Champagne-style wines, and as one of the few producers who crafts their sparkling wines in house, an exceptional value, summed up simply as an “excellent sparkler for an excellent price” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Michael Alberty and a true bargain for sparkling wine fans seeking to pop the cork more often.

93WS 91WA

Focused like a razor, with vibrant lemon and lime flavors laced with fresh ginger and hints of brioche on the long, steely finish. Drink now. 2,200 cases made.

93 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Jun 2023)

A brand new wine from Argyle, the 2019 Vintage Blanc de Blancs comes from the Knudsen Vineyard and Spirit Hill Vineyard. It offers pretty scents of quince, elderflower, pastry, honey and almonds. The palate is light-bodied, dry and creamy, with focused acidity and a long, mineral-driven finish. Inexpensive yet delicious, it's a sparkling to enjoy any night of the week.

91 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Mar 2023)

$25.98

Compare At: $29.99

30 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos (750ml)

Carmenere from Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
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“Bright, brooding and intense”

Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Sourced from the same vineyard as its iconic flagship cuvee, the rich 95 pt. 2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos boasts fresh, vibrant dark fruit hinting of cedar and spice and soft, plush tannins on a long-lived finish, a luscious Bordeaux-inspired blend described as “one heck of a second wine” by Jeb Dunnuck expertly crafted by the Clos Apalta team for an unbeatable value price.

Commissioned by owner and Grand Marnier heiress Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, the stunning Clos Apalta winery in Santa Cruz is an architectural marvel, a spectacular seven level underground complex built into the granite hillside, its cylindrical roof surrounded by wooden slats depicting the staves of an open air barrel and the excavated rock repurposed throughout the structure from floor tiles in the gravity fed cellars to a rooftop sundial. Established in 1997 to craft a world class wine in Chile’s Colchagua Valley, Clos Apalta founders Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet hired renowned French oenologist Michel Rolland to produce a uniquely Chilean blend of the indigenous Carmenere with Bordeaux varietals crafted with French winemaking expertise, garnering unanimous acclaim over the next decades including becoming the only South American wine ever to garner the coveted #1 spot on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100. First crafting the second wine in 2014 as a youthful expression of the Clos Apalta terroir, winemaker Jacques Begarie sourced the 2020 Le Petit Clos from a mix of mostly younger vines planted in the granite soils of the estate’s organically and biodynamically farmed El Condor vineyard, its unique microclimate in the shadow of the towering Cordillera Mountains creating optimal conditions for ripening Carmenere while maintaining its freshness and acidity. Blending 40% Carmenere, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, Begarie aged the elegant 2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos for 26 months in a mix of 53% new French oak barrels and 47% in second use French oak barrels, bottling it without filtering or fining to reveal fresh, luscious fruit hinting of peppery spice with bright acidity and outstanding length promising to age gracefully over the next decade.

Reflecting its exceptional Chilean terroir, the lush and powerful 95 pt. 2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos is a delicious and enticing second wine crafted with same meticulous attention to detail as the iconic Clos Apalta at a fraction of the price, a terrific opportunity for Clos Apalta collectors and fans of top tier Chilean reds to pull the cork more often.

95JS 94V 93WA

A beautiful delivery of Petit Clos with spiced black cherries, cassis, olives and some red capsicums to the nose. Chalky tannins are densely packed on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Tight, structured and fine-grained. Very long. Drink or hold.

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

The 2020 Blend Le Petit Clos is a mix of mostly Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon from Apalta, Colchagua. Dark garnet red in hue. The complex nose offers plum jam, hints of sweet spice, herbs and pepper against a backdrop of cigar box, graphite and a whiff of violets. A ripe, broad, full-bodied red with precise acidity and a juicy, grippy flow, the finish is intense and complex. The 2020 vintage is notably lean compared to other vintages.

94 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Jun 2023)

The second wine from Clos Apalta, the 2020 Le Petit Clos, was produced with the grapes from younger vines and in a different proportion than in the grand vins; it's a blend of 40% Carmenere, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from their granite soils in the warm Apalta valley from a warm and ripe year. The wine has the lush and ripe signature, with 15% alcohol, decadent and showy, with a nose of violets and camphor, ripe berries, herbs and spices and integrated oak. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, with five to six weeks of maceration, manual punch-downs and malolactic in French oak barrels. The élevage was 26 months in 53% new oak and 47% second use oak. It has the velvety tannins from a warm vintage—fine-grained and abundant—with a long finish with a bitter twist. 77,580 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022.

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

$44.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2018 Chateau La Vieille Cure (750ml)

Merlot from Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Described as “one of the clear go-to wines in Fronsac” by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, the opulent 93 pt. 2019 Chateau La Vieille Cure boasts fresh, ripe dark fruit hinting of spiced chocolate with rich, velvety tannins on an elegant finish, an under the radar gem that “dazzles from start to finish” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous and a top value for Bordeaux fans to stash away and savor over the next decade.

Declared “so reliable” by critic Jane Anson that it’s “a bellwether to the success of a vintage,” Chateau La Vieille Cure is considered a benchmark in the region, its exceptional consistency over the last decade driven by winemaker Jean Luc Thunevin, the well-known consultant and owner of Valandraud who took the reins in 2013. Considered one of the top terroirs in Fronsac, the 20-hectare Chateau La Vieille Cure vineyard is situated in a single contiguous plot facing Pomerol, planted mostly to Merlot averaging 40 years of age with the oldest vines over 75 years in limestone-rich clay soils mixed with chalk sloping up to 65 meters, its southwest exposure encouraging optimal ripening. Fermenting the hand harvested grapes with indigenous yeasts, the seductive 2019 La Vieille Cure is a blend of 75% Merlot with 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in a third new French oak barrels, yielding a luscious, full-bodied Bordeaux blend that's already a pleasurable pour and summed up by Jeb Dunnuck as a “classic Right Bank beauty to drink over the coming 10-12 years.”

From an outstanding vintage producing rich and structured reds with “wonderful freshness and brightness” according to James Suckling, the elegant 93 pt. 2019 Chateau La Vieille Cure offers stunning quality matching many of the wines of nearby St. Emilion at a bargain price, “a year-in, year-out best value” according to Jeb Dunnuck that “does everything right” and an easy call for Bordeaux bargain hunters seeking a thrilling wine at an equally thrilling price.

93JD 93JS 92WA 92V 92WS

The deep ruby-hued 2018 Château La Vieille Cure is a smoking wine that readers should snatch up! Lots of red and black currants, cedary spice, dried tobacco, and a touch of chalky minerality all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a fruit-loaded, concentrated mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. It has a touch of background oak, but that should integrate with 2-4 years in the cellar, and this gorgeous Fronsac will shine over the following decade or more.

93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2021)

Aromas of plum, blueberry, dark chocolate and walnut husk. Some pine cone, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with firm, powdery tannins. Chewy, creamy and polished all at once. Extremely well done. Try from 2023.

93 points, James Suckling (Mar 2021)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Vieille Cure opens with cedar chest, graphite and tree bark scents, giving way to a core of baked blackberries, stewed plums and cherry compote, with wafts of Sichuan pepper and star anise. The full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) is wearing a lot of oak at this stage, with a good core of baked black fruits and loads of exotic spice accents, supported by grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing woody. Give it a good 5 years for the oak to integrated and drink it over the next 12-15 years or more.

92+ points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Apr 2021)

The 2018 La Vieille Cure is a total pleasure bomb. Rich, sumptuous and exotically beautiful, the 2018 grabs hold of all the senses and never lets up. Inky dark fruit, spice, new leather, licorice, mocha and chocolate build as this exuberant, deeply layered Fronsac shows off its soft curves and considerable charms. In a word: fabulous.

92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Mar 2021)

This has a succulent feel, pulling you into its mix of fresh plum, red cherry and raspberry coulis flavors while bergamot and red tea accents stay in the background. Finish is juicy but tightly focused, with an underlying chalky thread lending precision. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2030. 7,633 cases made.

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

$29.88

Compare At: $34.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2015 Chateau Haut-Brion (750ml)

Merlot from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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From two legendary Bordeaux estates, these rare cellar selections from Chateau Haut-Brion and its sister property Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion boast a plethora of perfect scores and rank among the most long-lived and highly sought after collectibles, delivered in perfect provenance at best on the market pricing while they last. Lots of treasures here so let’s dig in.

As part of Domaine Clarence Dillon, First Growth Chateau Haut-Brion and “Super Second” Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion have shared the same winemaking team in Pessac-Leognan for nearly two decades, crafting blends that uniquely reflect each estate’s exceptional terroir, La Mission offering bigger, more concentrated flavors with Haut-Brion displaying greater length and finesse according to renowned third generation winemaker Jean-Phillipe Delmas. Described by James Suckling as “already breathtaking” with “enormous aging potential,” the extravagant 100 pt. 2009 Haut-Brion offers the estate’s signature ripe, opulent fruit elegantly balancing massive tannins and declared “one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made” by Robert Parker Jr. Describing it as “pure perfection and one of truly legendary wines out there,” the powerful 100 pt. 2010 Haut-Brion is “a massive wine in every sense” according to Jeb Dunnuck that Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares “ready to power through the ages,” certain to be a focal point in any collection in original wooden cases of one. The Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth calls the impressive 100 pt. 2015 Chateau Haut-Brion “a brick house of a wine,” while Antonio Galloni describes the massive 100 pt. 2016 Chateau Haut-Brion as a "nearly indescribable beauty,” exclaiming “What a wine!” Describing it as “a hugely captivating wine,” Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares the opulent 98 pt. 2017 Chateau Haut-Brion “one of the contenders for red of the vintage,” while the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss names it a Cellar Selection that’s destined to be “a magnificent wine.” According to the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, “Domaine Clarence Dillon pretty much nailed it across the board in 2018,” with James Suckling calling the elegant 100 pt. 2018 Chateau Haut-Brion “a classic beauty in the making.”

Called “a beautifully dense, ripe wine” with “an opulent structure and gorgeous fruits,” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss, the powerful 100 pt. 2010 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is described as “a real head turner” by the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robustly structured to evolve over the next five decades. “A total knockout,” Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 99 pt. 2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion “absolutely delicious and the kind of wine that is so suggestive of a very bright future,” while he describes the “gracious and wonderfully nuanced” 97 pt. 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion as “a positively stunning wine” that “simply has it all.” Naming it one of the wines of the vintage, the 100 pt. 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion is “already showing its class,” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson and is summed up by Jeb Dunnuck as “one of the few 2019s that will make your eyes roll back in your head,” available exclusively in cellar-ready magnums.

A treasure trove of top scoring Bordeaux blends that will make it hard to choose, these outstanding releases from the iconic Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion offer an excellent foundation for a new Bordeaux collection and a golden opportunity for seasoned collectors to fill in a few holes in the cellar, all guaranteeing patient Bordeaux lovers decades of enjoyment ahead.

100WA 100JD 98V 98WS 98JS

A blend of 50% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Haut-Brion is reticent to begin, languidly revealing crushed black cherries, ripe black plums and wild blueberries with sparks of cinnamon stick, cloves, nutmeg, espresso, unsmoked cigars, tapenade, crushed rocks and lavender. The full-bodied palate possesses wonderfully complementary contrasts of bold black and blue fruit richness and delicately nuanced cherry fruit, baking spices and floral accents, strutting ripe, finely pixelated tannins and seamless acidity that is placed firmly in the background, finishing very long and with plenty of attitude. This impeccably poised, exquisitely perfumed 2015 Haut-Brion possesses the most alluring yet seemingly effortless beauty. While it bears only a passing resemblance in its opulent personality to the now legendary 1989, like that vintage the 2015 cannot fail to hedonically satiate and intellectually edify all lovers of great Bordeaux who drink it. What’s more, it also has the blue-blooded tenaciousness to remain this jaw-droppingly impressive, throughout its many guises over time, and for a very, very long time.

100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # Interim - Feb 2018)

The 2015 Haut Brion is a perfect wine that couldn’t be any better and is certainly at the top of this great vintage. A blend of 50% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Cabernet Franc, this full-bodied, concentrated, backward, yet sensationally pure 2015 boast knockout notes of blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, ground herbs, and graphite, with a terrific damp earth/minerality quality emerging with time in the glass. Straight, focused, and built like a skyscraper, with a stacked mid-palate, forget bottles for 7-8 years and enjoy over the following three to four decades.

100 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2017)

A huge, dramatic wine, the 2015 Haut-Brion is magnificent. Vertical in its construction and towering in its reach, the 2015 is going to need a good decade-plus to even start becoming approachable, as it needs to lose baby fat and develop the full range of its aromatics. Even at this early stage, though, it is wonderfully complete and positively stunning.

98 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2018)

A brick house of a wine, loaded with roasted fig, warmed currant compote and plum reduction flavors that are as broad as they are deep, carried by warm tar, ganache and smoldering bay leaf and charcoal notes. A swath of tobacco through the finish pulls everything together and ties it up with a bow of roasted mesquite. The core shows lean, muscular strength in spades. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2045. 11,250 cases made.

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

This is all about seduction and beauty with tobacco, berries, tea and wet earth. Full-bodied, round and sexy. Love the polished and beautiful tannins. Racy and refined. Try in 2023.

98 points, James Suckling (Dec 2018)

2018 Chateau Troplong Mondot (750ml)

Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Here’s an exciting opportunity to enjoy a vertical of outstanding new releases from Chateau Troplong Mondot, three incredibly promising vintages garnering multiple 100 pt. scores and wowing critics across the board, each built for three decades of pleasurable drinking and unbeatably priced to over deliver value.

Perched in a spectacular location with a 360-degree view overlooking St. Emilion, Chateau Troplong Mondot is marked by the prominent water tower at St. Emilion’s highest point, its stunning new cellars viewed from above on a glass catwalk reflecting the estate’s dramatic transformation since its purchase by insurance company SCOR in 2017. Immediately hiring Bordeaux veteran Aymeric de Gironde, formerly of Pichon Baron and Cos d’Estournel, to lead the estate, Troplong Mondot pivoted to a classical, terroir-driven style, identifying the unique qualities of even the smallest parcels of its organically farmed 65 hectares of vineyards and reducing the amount of new oak to allow their rich minerality to shine through, described by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson as reflecting “a more evident respect for the powerful terroir that does not need to be overly dressed up” under the guidance of renowned consulting enologist Thomas Duclos. Vinified in vats instead of barrels to preserve freshness, the 98 pt. 2018 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “simply breathtaking” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, aged in 60% new oak with a small percentage in large vats and amphorae to yield a Troplong with “brighter red fruit flavors” that’s “backed by a distinct flinty minerality” according to the Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth. Earning the #13 spot of the Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Cellar Selections 2022, the “perfect” 100 pt. 2019 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “impressive” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, with chalky limestone tannins that “speaks of its soils,” boasting “a satisfying overall mouthful and lasting impression” according to Decanter’s Georgina Hindle who sums it up as “incredible.” Declared “one of the Right Bank’s finest wines in this vintage” by the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley with another perfect score – the “fabulous” 100 pt. 2020 Chateau Troplong Mondot is “wonderfully exuberant right out of the gate” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, with aromatic, rich dark fruit described as “powerful and dense” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss that “ends with a whoosh of freshness and lift” according to Jane Anson.

Describing these recent vintages as marking “the upward trajectory and unveiling of the new expression of this very special site at Troplong Mondot,” the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley declared, “what an exhilarating ride this is!” while Jeb Dunnuck unequivocally declares “there is no denying the incredible quality from this chateau today” – these value priced Chateau Troplong Mondot selections offering an exciting opportunity for Bordeaux fans and collectors to mix a case or pick a few favorites and jump aboard St. Emilion’s rising star for the thrilling journey ahead.

98JS 97V 96WA 96JD

This is a very linear red and layered at the same time, showing blackberry, blueberry, black-truffle, bark and stone character. Chalk and minerality, too. It’s full-bodied and well framed with gorgeous intensity and freshness. Muscular with wonderful structure and brightness. Salty and savory notes on the finish. Try after 2024.

98 points, James Suckling (Mar 2021)

The 2018 Troplong Mondot will take readers who haven't tasted these wines in a few years aback. Stunning in its aromatic presence, the 2018 is silky, medium-in body and super-refined. Once again, I am blown away by the wine's total sense of precision. The Cabernets are only 15% of the blend, and yet the 2018 is so strongly marked by floral and savory accents. Sweet red cherry, blood orange, mint, rose petal and lavender all build in the glass. The 2018 is regal, refined and absolutely exquisite.

97 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Mar 2021)

The 2018 Troplong Mondot is blended of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, with 15% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, with considerable coaxing and swirling it slowly emerges from the glass like a waking giant, building to a towering bouquet of preserved plums, blueberry pie and Morello cherries with gentler wafts of violets, star anise, fruitcake and cast-iron pan. The concentrated, full-bodied palate possesses impressive purity and brightness of fruit commingled with richer, riper elements and supported by firm, velvety tannins, finishing with lovely freshness and on a lingering ferrous note. It's a wine that's not just delicious, it's seriously interesting too.

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

The 2018 Château Troplong Mondot showed beautifully. Based on 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc, it reveals a dense purple color as well as ripe beautiful aromatics of black cherries, red plums, graphite, espresso, Asian spices, and gravelly earth. Beautiful on the palate as well, it's medium to full-bodied and has a rounded, expansive texture, plenty of mid-palate depth, building tannins, and present yet integrated oak. This classic, impressive Troplong Mondot will need 5-7 years of bottle age but will evolve for 30 years or more.

96 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2021)

$99.88

Compare At: $119.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Brezza Barolo Sarmassa (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Ranking among “the finest Barolos being made” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, the elegant 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi boasts brightly perfumed aromas and silky, red spiced fruit with layered complexity that has made Cannubi one of Barolo’s most famed and collectible Crus, bargain priced at a fraction of its better-known competitors and available in a variety of age worthy formats for stocking the cellar.

Located just a few steps from the center of the town of Barolo, the historic Brezza winery is run by fourth generation Enzo and his nephew Francesco, continuing the family tradition of bottling wines from estate grown Nebbiolo fruit since 1910. Considered icons of traditional winemaking while employing sustainable practices including organic viticulture for over a decade, Brezza’s vineyards span a total of 16.5 hectares surrounded by hazelnut groves, its 1.4-hectare parcel in Cannubi originally planted between 1993 and 2003. Situated where two of Barolo’s most important geological formations meet (Cannubi coming from the Latin “connubio” or marriage), Brezza’s Cannubi parcel is located on the prime central part of the hill, its Nebbiolo vines planted in a mix of silty sand, clay and limestone at 250 meters above sea level on a southeasterly orientation favorable for even ripening. Surrounded by the highest slopes of La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte that shelter it from the cold and wind, Enzo and Francesco cultivate their sloping Cannubi vineyard by hand, employing techniques like green harvesting and thinning to further lower yields. After fermenting the hand harvested grapes with native yeasts in stainless steel, the supple and sleek 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi was aged in a mix of large, used Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered and unfined and cellared for another year prior to release, maintaining its fresh acidity while integrating refined tannins that promise over a decade of longevity.

From a “stellar vintage” that will “thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo” according to Vinous critic Galloni, the powerful 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Cannubi is an elegantly crafted, finessed Barolo from a top Cru that’s well-priced for savvy collectors to enjoy often without breaking the bank, at an unbeatable value.

97D

Brezza is dedicated to organic viticulture, and works only with indigenous yeast, big oak vessels and long macerations in the cellar. His 2019 Sarmassa is one of the most elegant Barolos of the vintage, if not the most. Bright ruby in the glass and vibrant on the nose, the tannins are impeccable. Plenty of Parma violet notes are to the fore, soaked with rhubarb root, liquorice stick and a whiff of yellow fruits. The attack is poised, soft and silky, with long, lifted acidity. There is a perfect extraction here – the tannins are very well judged and ripe.

97 points, Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter (Jan 2023)

2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa (750ml)

Merlot from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

94JS

Raspberry, redcurrant bush and bark on the nose. Some lead pencil, too. Full-bodied, but not overpowering, with linear and polished tannins that run the length of the wine. Very solid and structured, yet there is openness at the end. Drink after 2024 and onwards.

94 points, James Suckling (Sep 2022)

$28.98

Compare At: $32.99

35 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Chateau La Vieille Cure (750ml)

Merlot from Fronsac, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Producing “seductive wines” boasting “depth, elegance and freshness” according to Wine Advocate’s Yohan Castaing, Bordeaux’s underrated Fronsac appellation continues to rise with these top-scoring 2020s sourced from some of the region’s most outstanding producers. From an excellent vintage that “delivers the goods” according to Neal Martin of Vinous, this is a terrific opportunity to stock up on an array of age-worthy Bordeaux gems at a bargain price.

Situated on the Right Bank of the Garonne River northeast of Bordeaux city proper, Fronsac produces its red wines primarily from vines planted in a mix of clay and limestone soils as wells as pockets of a well-draining bedrock of clay, chalk, and sandstone found at some leading Saint-Emilion estates. Based predominantly on Merlot with smaller amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cab Franc, these humble overachievers often compete with wines from neighboring St-Emilion “but at far better prices” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson. Described as “just gorgeous” by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the 93-point 2020 Château de la Dauphine boasts perfumed dark fruit with firm, soft tannins, while the “solidly built” 93-point 2020 Château Moulin Haut-Laroque “has good tension from underlying chalky minerality” according to Wine Spectator, both promising to evolve over the next decade. Crafted by former Mouton-Rothschild winemaker Patrick Leon, the 94-point 2020 Château Les Trois Croix is “a fabulous Fronsac” offering perfumed dark fruit with “a precise quite minerally finish that is pure class” according to Vinous' Neal Martin, while the “straight-up impressive” 2020 Château Fontenil boasts layers of spiced dark fruit and a “supple, elegant texture” according to Jeb Dunnuck's 95-point review, who declares it “a winner and well worth a case purchase.” Described as “one of the go-to names in the appellation” by Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson, the “superb” 93-point 2020 Château La Vieille Cure is “rich and sumptuous in the glass” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous with “gorgeous depth and texture,” its silky tannins built to enjoy over the next decade and beyond.

From an undervalued, under-the-radar region delivering “high quality at a sensible price” according to Decanter, these superb 2020 Fronsac selections offer top value from “a great modern-day Bordeaux vintage.” Best of all, they're perfectly priced for Bordeaux bargain hunters to stock the cellar and enjoy for years to come.

93JD 93V 93JS 93WA 92D 91WS

Always a winner, I can't remember the last vintage of this cuvée that didn't put a smile on my face. The 2020 Château La Vieille Cure has lots of up-front cassis and black cherry fruits to go with complex floral, lead pencil, and green tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and elegant, it has the vintage's concentrated, pure style front and center. It will evolve for 10-12 years.

93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Mar 2023)

The 2020 La Vieille Cure is fabulous. Rich and sumptuous in the glass, the 2020 offers up a heady mélange of black cherry, mocha, licorice, plum, incense and chocolate. There's gorgeous depth and texture here. The 2020 is a superb Vieille Cure.

93 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2023)

A pretty deep and broad-shouldered Fronsac with impressive intensity. Nose has lots of blackcurrants, dark cherries, some cocoa powder and a hint of cigar box. Full-bodied on the palate with dense yet creamy tannins that will take a few more years to integrate. Lengthy and pretty plush. An outstanding Fronsac. Drinkable now, but better from 2025.

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

The 2020 La Vieille Cure is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. Broody tar, black truffles, and damp earth notes give way to a fragrant core of baked black plums and fruitcake with a waft of sandalwood. The full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and exotic spice accents, supported by plush tannins, finishing with great length.

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

Fresh and nicely balanced with cool blue fruit, mint and wet stone elements. The texture is dominant, a chalky, crushed velvet aspect to the tannins that coat the mouth, giving structure and weight. Plump and driving, this has good direction with just the most gorgeous cola, blue fruit and cooling mintiness. Doesn't feel too overdone or overworked. Yes, it's still hefty, with power and concentration underneath that extends vertically, and a touch of heat and clove, and tons of liquorice, but feels well presented. Lovely.

92 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Dec 2022)

This has a nice fresh edge to the mix of damson plum and bitter cherry coulis notes, while leather, tobacco and savory hints fill in the background. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2023 through 2033. 10,480 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

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

$27.88

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60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2016 Chateau Haut-Brion (750ml)

Merlot from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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From two legendary Bordeaux estates, these rare cellar selections from Chateau Haut-Brion and its sister property Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion boast a plethora of perfect scores and rank among the most long-lived and highly sought after collectibles, delivered in perfect provenance at best on the market pricing while they last. Lots of treasures here so let’s dig in.

As part of Domaine Clarence Dillon, First Growth Chateau Haut-Brion and “Super Second” Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion have shared the same winemaking team in Pessac-Leognan for nearly two decades, crafting blends that uniquely reflect each estate’s exceptional terroir, La Mission offering bigger, more concentrated flavors with Haut-Brion displaying greater length and finesse according to renowned third generation winemaker Jean-Phillipe Delmas. Described by James Suckling as “already breathtaking” with “enormous aging potential,” the extravagant 100 pt. 2009 Haut-Brion offers the estate’s signature ripe, opulent fruit elegantly balancing massive tannins and declared “one of the most compelling examples of Haut-Brion ever made” by Robert Parker Jr. Describing it as “pure perfection and one of truly legendary wines out there,” the powerful 100 pt. 2010 Haut-Brion is “a massive wine in every sense” according to Jeb Dunnuck that Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares “ready to power through the ages,” certain to be a focal point in any collection in original wooden cases of one. The Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth calls the impressive 100 pt. 2015 Chateau Haut-Brion “a brick house of a wine,” while Antonio Galloni describes the massive 100 pt. 2016 Chateau Haut-Brion as a "nearly indescribable beauty,” exclaiming “What a wine!” Describing it as “a hugely captivating wine,” Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson declares the opulent 98 pt. 2017 Chateau Haut-Brion “one of the contenders for red of the vintage,” while the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss names it a Cellar Selection that’s destined to be “a magnificent wine.” According to the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, “Domaine Clarence Dillon pretty much nailed it across the board in 2018,” with James Suckling calling the elegant 100 pt. 2018 Chateau Haut-Brion “a classic beauty in the making.”

Called “a beautifully dense, ripe wine” with “an opulent structure and gorgeous fruits,” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss, the powerful 100 pt. 2010 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion is described as “a real head turner” by the Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robustly structured to evolve over the next five decades. “A total knockout,” Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 99 pt. 2016 Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion “absolutely delicious and the kind of wine that is so suggestive of a very bright future,” while he describes the “gracious and wonderfully nuanced” 97 pt. 2017 La Mission Haut-Brion as “a positively stunning wine” that “simply has it all.” Naming it one of the wines of the vintage, the 100 pt. 2019 La Mission Haut-Brion is “already showing its class,” according to Inside Bordeaux’s Jane Anson and is summed up by Jeb Dunnuck as “one of the few 2019s that will make your eyes roll back in your head,” available exclusively in cellar-ready magnums.

A treasure trove of top scoring Bordeaux blends that will make it hard to choose, these outstanding releases from the iconic Chateau Haut-Brion and Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion offer an excellent foundation for a new Bordeaux collection and a golden opportunity for seasoned collectors to fill in a few holes in the cellar, all guaranteeing patient Bordeaux lovers decades of enjoyment ahead.

100WA 100V 100WE 100JS 98JD 98WS

The 2016 Haut-Brion is blended of 56% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6.5% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose is at once profound and arresting, offering drop-dead gorgeous Morello cherries, lilacs and red rose scents with a core of Black Forest cake, warm blackcurrants and blueberry preserves plus wafts of sandalwood and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the elegantly crafted palate is completely packed with intense floral, mineral and cassis-laced flavors with a firm frame of very finely pixelated tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and achingly stunning.

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

The 2016 Haut-Brion is quite possibly even more magnificent from bottle than it was from barrel. Powerful and rich, yet not at all heavy, the 2016 is a wine of nearly indescribable beauty. Haut-Brion is often a thrilling wine, but it is rarely this finessed in its youth. Gravel, cure meat, tobacco and cedar are some of the many nuances that develop with air, but it is an extraordinary sense of harmony that really stands out. What a wine!

100 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2019)

Immensely tannic, this is a great Haut-Brion, one of the finest for many years. It shows the severe side of this estate, with a dense structure to match the powerful black fruits. Rich with berry flavors and lifted by enough acidity, the wine will age for many years. Drink from 2026.

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

Stunning black fruit with plenty of forest berries in there, the whole picture cool and very delicate, also on the concentrated and highly structured palate. The tannins are very fine-grained, but decisively austere and, together with the vibrant acidity, they propel the finish out towards infinity and leave a breathtaking final impression. A blend of 56 per cent merlot, 37.5 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 6.5 per cent cabernet franc. Very long aging potential, but you could try it in 2023.

100 points, James Suckling (Dec 2019)

As to the reds, the 2016 Haut Brion is a prodigious, legendary wine in the making, although it’s not for those seeking instant gratification. Deeper colored and more concentrated than the La Mission Haut Brion, it reveals a purple/ruby color as well as a sensational bouquet of blackcurrants, cassis, cigar tobacco, cold fireplace, violets, and lead pencil. Deep, masculine, structured, and mineral-laced, it has a stacked mid-palate, full-bodied richness, building tannins, and a firm, blockbuster styled finish that lasts for close to a minute. A wine for the ages, don’t even think about opening bottles for at least 7-8 years. It should keep for half a century. The blend in 2016 is 56% Merlot, 37.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 6.5% Cabernet Franc.

98+ points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2019)

Large and in charge, this has a prodigious core of steeped plum, black currant and loganberry fruit flavors that show both compote and coulis aspects. While that steeps, this delivers a sturdy frame of roasted mesquite, smoldering tobacco and incense, surrounding a muscular spine of worn cedar and tar. Still rather backward, this will be showing well when most others from the vintage have had their day. Best from 2025 through 2045. 11,600 cases made.

98 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Mar 2019)

2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia (750ml)

Malvasia from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

92JS

Lots of sliced pineapple and peach with some apricot. Also lychee. Medium-to full-bodied with a creamy texture and a long, delicious finish. Drink now.

92 points, James Suckling (Sep 2022)

2020 Domaine de la Charbonniere Cuvee Vieilles Vignes (750ml)

Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

“Harmonious and well made”

James Suckling

From a “charming, forward vintage” producing “a sea of beautifully textured” wines according to Jeb Dunnuck, the elegant 94 pt. 2020 Domaine de la Charbonniere Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge offers fresh aromatic garrigue-laden fruit perfectly balanced by vibrant, velvety tannins on a lingering, graphite-scented finish, a deliciously silky CDP ready to enjoy for years to come at a terrific value price.

Founded by the Maret family in 1914, third generation Michel Maret inherited Domaine de la Charbonniere from his father in 1973 and has worked alongside his talented daughters Caroline and Veronique since 2004, producing an array of CDP’s that have steadily risen in quality over the last two decades. Sourced from across 19.5 hectares of vineyards in Chateauneuf du Pape, the estate’s holding include 50 year old vines in the Charbonniere lieu-dit as well as a parcel in Le Crau adjacent to Vieux Telegraphe with vines averaging 75 years of age, planted in clay sandy soils strewn with the region’s renowned rounded stones called galets roules. Hand harvesting with selective sorting and employing minimal intervention in the cellar, winemaker Veronique Maret vinified the 70% Grenache and 15% Syrah together and the 15% Mourvedre separately before aging the refined 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape mainly in wooden vats with small amounts in foudre, tank and used barrels, yielding a smooth, traditionally styled CDP with fresh acidity and well-integrated tannins built to “age gracefully” according to Jeb Dunnuck.

Described by Vinous critic Nicolas Greinacher as offering “divine drinking pleasure,” the fresh and appealing 94 pt. 2020 Domaine de la Charbonniere Rouge ranks among the top-scoring Chateauneuf du Pape's of the vintage for far less than the region's higher profile estates, a top value CDP for Southern Rhone collectors to savor over the next decade.

98WA

Even better than I remember it prior to bottling, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Vieilles Vignes—90% Grenache and 10% Mourvèdre—boasts bold, concentrated aromas of black cherries, dark chocolate and red raspberries. It's full-bodied, rich and expansive, framed by silky tannins that ease into a long, elegant finish. Despite its size, there's a fine sense of proportion to this wine and a notable absence of alcohol-derived heat.

98 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (May 2024)

$64.98

Compare At: $69.99

38 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2017 Brezza Barolo Riserva Bricco Sarmassa (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Ranking among “the finest Barolos being made” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, the elegant 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi boasts brightly perfumed aromas and silky, red spiced fruit with layered complexity that has made Cannubi one of Barolo’s most famed and collectible Crus, bargain priced at a fraction of its better-known competitors and available in a variety of age worthy formats for stocking the cellar.

Located just a few steps from the center of the town of Barolo, the historic Brezza winery is run by fourth generation Enzo and his nephew Francesco, continuing the family tradition of bottling wines from estate grown Nebbiolo fruit since 1910. Considered icons of traditional winemaking while employing sustainable practices including organic viticulture for over a decade, Brezza’s vineyards span a total of 16.5 hectares surrounded by hazelnut groves, its 1.4-hectare parcel in Cannubi originally planted between 1993 and 2003. Situated where two of Barolo’s most important geological formations meet (Cannubi coming from the Latin “connubio” or marriage), Brezza’s Cannubi parcel is located on the prime central part of the hill, its Nebbiolo vines planted in a mix of silty sand, clay and limestone at 250 meters above sea level on a southeasterly orientation favorable for even ripening. Surrounded by the highest slopes of La Morra, Castiglione Falletto and Monforte that shelter it from the cold and wind, Enzo and Francesco cultivate their sloping Cannubi vineyard by hand, employing techniques like green harvesting and thinning to further lower yields. After fermenting the hand harvested grapes with native yeasts in stainless steel, the supple and sleek 2019 Brezza Barolo Cannubi was aged in a mix of large, used Slavonian oak barrels for 24 months before being bottled unfiltered and unfined and cellared for another year prior to release, maintaining its fresh acidity while integrating refined tannins that promise over a decade of longevity.

From a “stellar vintage” that will “thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo” according to Vinous critic Galloni, the powerful 95 pt. 2019 Brezza Cannubi is an elegantly crafted, finessed Barolo from a top Cru that’s well-priced for savvy collectors to enjoy often without breaking the bank, at an unbeatable value.

95V 94D

The 2017 Barolo Riserva Sarmassa Vigna Bricco is fabulous. Best of all, it will be ready to drink with minimal cellaring. Kirsch, blood orange, spice, dried rose petal, mint and sweet red cherry all meld together in a Barolo that marries a classic sense of structure with the natural intensity of a drought vintage. This heady Barolo is wonderfully exotic, and a real pleasure to taste today. Impressive.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2023)

There's evidence here of winemaking aimed at preserving the freshness of the fruit in the 2017 vintage, with – for example – a shorter 24 months of oak ageing. Bright ruby and garnet in colour, it opens with elegant violet and cinnamon, camphor-like minerality, dried rose, and and red currant fruit core. On the palate, the fruit and peppery notes dominate. The attack is firm, with velvety and dusty tannins which result in power without being too stern. There's a bit of dryness on the finish but otherwise it has a great profile and fruit freshness.

94 points, Aldo Fiordelli, Decanter (Feb 2023)

2020 Rippon Tinker's Field Pinot Noir (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

From an outstanding growing season yielding New Zealand’s “vintage of the century” according to James Suckling, the fresh and refined 97 pt. 2020 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines is an enticing, small production gem offering earthy, seductive red fruit shimmering with bright acidity and finishing with firm, mouth coating tannins, masterfully crafted by talented winemaker Nick Rolfe from old vine fruit for collectors and lovers of the world’s best Pinot Noirs to enjoy over the next decade.

Overlooking the turquoise waters of glacier fed Lake Tanaka framed by stunning vertical cliffs, Rippon’s sloping 15 hectares of vines on New Zealand’s mountainous South Island are among the world’s most photographed vineyards, producing equally impressive award-winning Pinot Noirs that rank it among “New Zealand’s most celebrated wineries” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Christine Packard. Among the first to cultivate wine grapes in Central Otago, Nick’s father Rolfe Mills was serving in World War II when he recognized the similarity of the schist soil slopes of Portugal’s Douro Valley to those back in Wanaka and returned to his family’s lakeside farm decades later to experiment with different varietals before founding his winery in 1982. After training at some of Burgundy’s most iconic estates including Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron, Nick took the reins of his family’s winery in 2003, converting the vineyards to biodynamic viticulture, fermenting the hand harvested grapes parcel by parcel with indigenous yeasts and bottling without filtering or fining. Located in a protected area where the indigenous Maori came for a “place of rest,” Rippon’s 40 plus year old own rooted Pinot Noir vines are planted in a mix of schist with clay and loam at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level without irrigation, the vineyard’s proximity to the lake creating a microclimate that shields the vines from the South Island’s harsh winter temperatures. Maturing over two winters in barrel, the richly concentrated 2020 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines was aged in 15% to 20% new in the first winter and completely neutral oak in the second winter before bottling without filtering or fining and spending two years longer in the cellar prior to release, yielding a harmonious, mineral-nuanced Pinot Noir promising to mature gracefully over the next decade and offering “a tantalizing glimpse of what New Zealand Pinot Noir can achieve with mature vines” according to Vinous critic Neal Martin.

From a standard bearer of the region reflecting the very essence of its pristine Central Otago terroir, the remarkably elegant 97 pt. 2020 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines ranks among the world’s most complex and cellar-worthy old vine Pinot Noir cuvees, an under the radar beauty delivering exceptional value and promising Pinot lovers a thrilling evolution ahead.

99JS 97WA

Aromas of raspberries and plums with forest fruits and violets. Orange blossom, too. Medium- to full-bodied. Superbly polished tannins that run vertically down the wine and take you very deep and long. It's seemingly endless. Dark strawberry and raspberry and hints of terra cotta and dark stones. It's complete and moving to taste now. Drinkable even now, but try to be patient. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Best after 2026, but already stunning.

99 points, James Suckling (Nov 2023)

The 2020 Tinker's Field Mature Vine Pinot Noir is, as per usual, restrained on the nose but concentrated and driven in the mouth. This is a wine immune to hyperbole, and so eloquently of its place, that it is often a wine I am proud to show internationally. It never fails. The tannins are sleek but totally within the wine. The tannins are finely milled, ductile, gray in every respect and delicate but not brittle. The 2020 seems more open-armed than the 2019 before it (not better, not worse—just different), and it is making for pleasurable drinking here today. A beauty. The vines face north and are sheltered and protected behind Ruby Island. The vineyard is warm and on pure schist. 13.5% alcohol, sealed under Diam.

97 points, Erin Larkin, Wine Advocate (Dec 2023)

2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon (750ml)

Sauvignon Blanc from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

93JS

This is fresh and savory with crushed apples, spicy herbs, sea shell and citrus leaf on the nose. Medium-bodied, bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality. Some saline undertones. Very gastronomic sauvignon. Drink now or hold.

93 points, James Suckling (Sep 2023)

$28.98

Compare At: $32.99

38 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Rippon Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

From an outstanding growing season yielding New Zealand’s “vintage of the century” according to James Suckling, the fresh and refined 97 pt. 2020 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines is an enticing, small production gem offering earthy, seductive red fruit shimmering with bright acidity and finishing with firm, mouth coating tannins, masterfully crafted by talented winemaker Nick Rolfe from old vine fruit for collectors and lovers of the world’s best Pinot Noirs to enjoy over the next decade.

Overlooking the turquoise waters of glacier fed Lake Tanaka framed by stunning vertical cliffs, Rippon’s sloping 15 hectares of vines on New Zealand’s mountainous South Island are among the world’s most photographed vineyards, producing equally impressive award-winning Pinot Noirs that rank it among “New Zealand’s most celebrated wineries” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Christine Packard. Among the first to cultivate wine grapes in Central Otago, Nick’s father Rolfe Mills was serving in World War II when he recognized the similarity of the schist soil slopes of Portugal’s Douro Valley to those back in Wanaka and returned to his family’s lakeside farm decades later to experiment with different varietals before founding his winery in 1982. After training at some of Burgundy’s most iconic estates including Domaine de la Romanee-Conti and Domaine Jean-Jacques Confuron, Nick took the reins of his family’s winery in 2003, converting the vineyards to biodynamic viticulture, fermenting the hand harvested grapes parcel by parcel with indigenous yeasts and bottling without filtering or fining. Located in a protected area where the indigenous Maori came for a “place of rest,” Rippon’s 40 plus year old own rooted Pinot Noir vines are planted in a mix of schist with clay and loam at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level without irrigation, the vineyard’s proximity to the lake creating a microclimate that shields the vines from the South Island’s harsh winter temperatures. Maturing over two winters in barrel, the richly concentrated 2020 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines was aged in 15% to 20% new in the first winter and completely neutral oak in the second winter before bottling without filtering or fining and spending two years longer in the cellar prior to release, yielding a harmonious, mineral-nuanced Pinot Noir promising to mature gracefully over the next decade and offering “a tantalizing glimpse of what New Zealand Pinot Noir can achieve with mature vines” according to Vinous critic Neal Martin.

From a standard bearer of the region reflecting the very essence of its pristine Central Otago terroir, the remarkably elegant 97 pt. 2020 Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines ranks among the world’s most complex and cellar-worthy old vine Pinot Noir cuvees, an under the radar beauty delivering exceptional value and promising Pinot lovers a thrilling evolution ahead.

97JS

Extremely perfumed with a pretty ripeness and clarity, offering plums and al-dente strawberries. Some cantaloupe, too. It's medium- to full-bodied with juicy fruit that's lovely and open. You want to drink it now. And do. Crunchy yet velvety and caressing in the mouth-feel from the lovely, open tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Best in a year or two, but right on.

97 points, James Suckling (Nov 2023)

$49.98

Compare At: $54.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano (750ml)

Friulano from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

93JS

Oyster shell, light flint, match stick, dried pear, and apple puree aromas and flavors. Medium to full body. Layered. Very minerally. Tight and focused. Serious. Drink or hold.

93 points, James Suckling (Sep 2023)

$28.98

Compare At: $32.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio (750ml)

Friulano from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

97JS

Dried peach, mango and pear with some melon. Flint, too. Full-bodied, tight and focused center-palate with density and energy at the same time. Spiced pear and matchstick at the end. Very complex and complete. From 60-year-old vines in a single plot of Collio. Drink or hold

97 points, James Suckling (Dec 2022)

2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos (375ml)

Carmenere from Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

“Bright, brooding and intense”

Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Sourced from the same vineyard as its iconic flagship cuvee, the rich 95 pt. 2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos boasts fresh, vibrant dark fruit hinting of cedar and spice and soft, plush tannins on a long-lived finish, a luscious Bordeaux-inspired blend described as “one heck of a second wine” by Jeb Dunnuck expertly crafted by the Clos Apalta team for an unbeatable value price.

Commissioned by owner and Grand Marnier heiress Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle, the stunning Clos Apalta winery in Santa Cruz is an architectural marvel, a spectacular seven level underground complex built into the granite hillside, its cylindrical roof surrounded by wooden slats depicting the staves of an open air barrel and the excavated rock repurposed throughout the structure from floor tiles in the gravity fed cellars to a rooftop sundial. Established in 1997 to craft a world class wine in Chile’s Colchagua Valley, Clos Apalta founders Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet hired renowned French oenologist Michel Rolland to produce a uniquely Chilean blend of the indigenous Carmenere with Bordeaux varietals crafted with French winemaking expertise, garnering unanimous acclaim over the next decades including becoming the only South American wine ever to garner the coveted #1 spot on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100. First crafting the second wine in 2014 as a youthful expression of the Clos Apalta terroir, winemaker Jacques Begarie sourced the 2020 Le Petit Clos from a mix of mostly younger vines planted in the granite soils of the estate’s organically and biodynamically farmed El Condor vineyard, its unique microclimate in the shadow of the towering Cordillera Mountains creating optimal conditions for ripening Carmenere while maintaining its freshness and acidity. Blending 40% Carmenere, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, Begarie aged the elegant 2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos for 26 months in a mix of 53% new French oak barrels and 47% in second use French oak barrels, bottling it without filtering or fining to reveal fresh, luscious fruit hinting of peppery spice with bright acidity and outstanding length promising to age gracefully over the next decade.

Reflecting its exceptional Chilean terroir, the lush and powerful 95 pt. 2020 Clos Apalta Le Petit Clos is a delicious and enticing second wine crafted with same meticulous attention to detail as the iconic Clos Apalta at a fraction of the price, a terrific opportunity for Clos Apalta collectors and fans of top tier Chilean reds to pull the cork more often.

95JS 94V 93WA

A beautiful delivery of Petit Clos with spiced black cherries, cassis, olives and some red capsicums to the nose. Chalky tannins are densely packed on the medium- to full-bodied palate. Tight, structured and fine-grained. Very long. Drink or hold.

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

The 2020 Blend Le Petit Clos is a mix of mostly Carménère and Cabernet Sauvignon from Apalta, Colchagua. Dark garnet red in hue. The complex nose offers plum jam, hints of sweet spice, herbs and pepper against a backdrop of cigar box, graphite and a whiff of violets. A ripe, broad, full-bodied red with precise acidity and a juicy, grippy flow, the finish is intense and complex. The 2020 vintage is notably lean compared to other vintages.

94 points, Joaquín Hidalgo, Vinous (Jun 2023)

The second wine from Clos Apalta, the 2020 Le Petit Clos, was produced with the grapes from younger vines and in a different proportion than in the grand vins; it's a blend of 40% Carmenere, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot from their granite soils in the warm Apalta valley from a warm and ripe year. The wine has the lush and ripe signature, with 15% alcohol, decadent and showy, with a nose of violets and camphor, ripe berries, herbs and spices and integrated oak. It fermented with indigenous yeasts, with five to six weeks of maceration, manual punch-downs and malolactic in French oak barrels. The élevage was 26 months in 53% new oak and 47% second use oak. It has the velvety tannins from a warm vintage—fine-grained and abundant—with a long finish with a bitter twist. 77,580 bottles produced. It was bottled in July 2022.

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

$24.99

26 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

This item is a 375ml half bottle. Did you intend to order a half bottle?

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio (750ml)

Pinot Grigio from Friuli Venezia Giulia, Veneto, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

A dazzling selection from the exceptional northern Italian producer “who put Friuli on the map” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these top rated Schiopetto selections are crafted as unique and transparent expressions of their northern Italian terroir, an opportunity for anyone seeking to explore the exceptional range of white wines from the Collio region as well as two high scoring red cuvees at outstanding value pricing perfect for mixing a case.

Among the first to prove “Italy can make serious whites” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe, Schiopetto is one of the oldest wineries in northeastern Italy established in the 1960’s, its founder pioneering cold fermentation and ageing in stainless steel tanks in the region and now spanning 30 hectares of estate vineyards planted on the ancient sea beds of marly clay and limestone known locally as “Ponca” near the Slovenian border. While all the Schiopetto wines offer richly aromatic fruit and distinct minerality, here are some unique highlights of each selection

2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Grigio – 93 pt. Called “remarkably pretty, wickedly fresh” by Eric Guido of Vinous with ripe spiced orchard fruit and citrusy undertones
2022 Schiopetto Collio Friulano – 93 pt. Focused on “perfectly ripe stone fruits, wildflowers and crushed rocks” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with saline undertones and balanced acidity
2021 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. “Generous and sweetly alluring” with a “juicy, acidic core” of rich apple and pear according to critic Eric Guido of Vinous
2022 Schiopetto Collio Pinot Bianco – 94 pt. Called “silky and enveloping” by Vinous critic Eric Guido with a vibrant interplay of citrus and stone fruit and refreshing acidity
2022 Schiopetto Collio Sauvignon – 93 pt. “Bright and vivid with citrusy freshness, mouthwatering acidity and chalky minerality” according to James Suckling
2021 Schiopetto Collio Malvasia - 92 pt. Creamy textured with “vividly ripe peach and nectarine propelled by juicy acidity” according to Eric Guido of Vinous
2021 Schiopetto Mario Schiopetto M Collio 97 pt. An exquisite single vineyard blend of 95% Friulano and 5% Riesling described as “super tasty with a core of ripe and fresh stone fruits” by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter with “fantastic balance between weight and acidity”
2019 Schiopetto Rivarossa 94 pt. A blend of Cabernet and Merlot described by the Wine Enthusiast’s Jeff Porter as offering “luscious dark cherry and plum flavors” with “a velvety texture and a lasting, satisfying finish”
2019 Schiopetto Podere dei Blumeri 95 pt. A “beguiling blend” of Merlot and Refosco according to Eric Guido of Vinous with “soft textures and ripe red and blue fruits”

93JS

Aromas of quince fruit, glazed lemons, peaches and hints of praline. Some wet stones, too. Medium- to full-bodied with depth and a delicate phenolic edge to its texture. Lengthy and tense with lively, nervy acidity that goes on and on. Lots of crushed stones and spices. Attractive. Drink or hold.

93 points, James Suckling (Sep 2023)

$28.98

Compare At: $32.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1