21-on-21: Save 21% In-Store Today Only on Top Recs-www.b-21.com

PREV

2

of 3

NEXT

66 items found

Sort by:

Popularity

2018 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri (750ml)

Shiraz from South Australia, Australia

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

“This iron fist in a velvet glove is immensely impressive.”

Angus Hughson, Vinous

Considered the complementary "twin" to the Grange in Penfolds' high end portfolio, the powerful 99 pt. 2019 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri layers richly aromatic, dense, dark fruit with elegant, silky tannins and a lingering, lush finish that “makes you want to dive in for more” according to Decanter’s David Sly, an elegant, full-bodied expression of Shiraz sharing the Grange’s ability to age without the influence of new oak that's certain to thrill Aussie collectors and lovers of big bold Syrah at an equally thrilling value price.

With a history that predates Penfolds, St. Henri was originally a Claret style red made in the 19th century by the Auldana Winery, its vineyards located adjacent to the Magill Estate, Penfold’s original property near Adelaide. At the same time Penfolds winemaker Max Schubert was pioneering the use of French oak barrels in Australia while creating Grange in the 1950’s, another Penfolds winemaker at the time named John Deveran was tasked with recreating a Bordeaux style blend after Penfolds purchased the Auldana property, transitioning St. Henri over the next decades to a Shiraz-dominant wine. Sourced from vineyards throughout South Australia including McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley in Penfold’s multi-regional style, the luxurious and understated 2019 Penfolds St. Henri was aged for 12 months in large, seasoned oak vats, yielding a deeply structured Shiraz with minimal oak character built for decades of evolution, its luscious concentrated fruit and rich complexity summed up as “gorgeous” by the Wine Advocate’s Erin Larkin.

As the Wine Spectator’s Harvey Steiman noted, “The sneaky little secret that so many savvy Australian wine collectors know is that, yes, St. Henri can age as long as Grange does,” this offer for the compelling 99 pt. 2019 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri representing a terrific opportunity for collectors of age worthy Aussie Shiraz to stock up at a fraction of the price of the higher profile Grange and enjoy it often over the next decades

99JS 97WA 97AWC

A great St. Henri and, although multi-regional, this is very much a wine that speaks of the Barossa Valley, with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums that are so fresh, together with tobacco, young-leather, earth, chocolate, coal-smoke and tarry accents. Effortless depth on the palate with summer berries, framed in fine, alabaster-like tannins that are underscored with discreet power. So long and captivating. A blend of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.

99 points, James Suckling (Feb 2022)

The 2018 St Henri Shiraz is a terrific effort, perhaps rivaling the top-flight wines under this label in 1976 and 1986. Remarkably fine and silky in texture yet simultaneously dense and concentrated, it showcases the amazing fruit harvested in 2018. Boysenberry, mulberry and mocha shadings all swirl together effortlessly in a whorl of full-bodied elegance, finishing long and effortless. Mainly Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, it includes smaller amounts of fruit from Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills, all aged 12 months in large old wooden vats.

97 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Jul 2021)

Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills fruit. Matured 12 months in 50+yo vats. The effortless, unassuming self-assuredness of St Henri holds a unique and beloved place in the assemblage of Penfolds heroes, and 2018 marks a particularly special release. Accomplished, spicy, glossy black fruits of grand integrity unfold to magnificent effect in the glass, contrasting a fine-boned frame of rigid yet graceful, powder-fine tannins that carry a finish of long-lingering line and alluring appeal. I look forward to spectating from the sidelines as its fruit slowly unfurls over the decades to come. An adorable St Henri that exemplifies all that this label stands for.

97 points, Tyson Stelzer, Halliday Wine Companion (Aug 2021)

2018 Domaine la Soumade Rasteau (750ml)

Grenache from Côtes du Rhône Villages, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Located on steep, south-facing slopes and mostly clay soils, Rasteau produces deep, concentrated wines that have distinct minerality to go with savory, chocolaty, earthy aromatics. While most drink well on release, the best can easily keep for 10-15 years. It’s worth pointing out that while the region was known in the past for making more rustic, alcoholic wines, that’s no longer the case, and the wines today show much more polish, elegance, and balance. The top wines are a match for anything coming out of the Southern Rhône Valley today."
– Jeb Dunnuck

Dunnuck designates the top seven domaines of Rasteau, La Soumade among them along with three other properites we work with. Don't miss Fleur de Confiance that Wine Advocate writer Joe Czerwinski declared "the most impressive Rasteau to have ever passed these lips."

89WA

Fragrant notes of garrigue and red raspberries emerge on the nose of Frédéric Roméro's 2018 Rasteau. For a Rasteau, it's charming, being medium to full-bodied, silky-textured and refreshing on the finish, not a super ripe, chocolaty blockbuster. It should drink well for several more years, although there's no reason to defer gratification.

89 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Nov 2020)

2019 Caparsa Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino (750ml)

Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

“A highly recommended discovery from Radda in Chianti”

Monica Larner, Wine Advocate

Producing “deep, soulful wines loaded with character” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, these highly rated 2019 Caparsa selections from masterful winemaker Paolo Cianferoni are a must for Sangiovese fans and collectors of age worthy Italian red wines, bargain priced for mixing a case or two or selecting a favorite to enjoy over the next decade.

Boasting imposing defensive walls and medieval towers, the centuries old hilltop village of Radda in Chianti boasts a panoramic view overlooking a woven landscape of lush, low-lying forests and manicured vineyards in the middle of Chianti Classico, the cooler hilly terrain yielding wines of “extreme elegance” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe. Working over 50 harvests at his family’s Radda in Chianti estate since the age of seven, passionate winemaker Paolo Cianferoni is a pioneer in Chianti Classico since taking the reins in 1982, implementing a vineyard-driven approach to crafting his Sangiovese wines and among the first to employ organic viticulture in the region. Described by critic Galloni as “a truly a special place,” Caparsa’s organically certified vineyards span 12 hectares, planted with old vine Sangiovese averaging around 60 years of age in rugged galestro and albarese soils on a hillside around 450 meters above sea level, with most of the estate remaining forested to support biodiversity. Fermenting the hand selected fruit with indigenous yeasts in cement vats in the estate’s centuries’ old cellar and bottling without filtering or fining, the vibrant 93 pt. 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino was aged in large oak barrels for around 15 months, “giving it a super-classic feel that is absolutely thrilling” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, while noting the smaller production, single vineyard 95 pt. 2019 Doccio a Matteo Riserva boasts “a real sense of exoticness,” aged in a mix of mostly smaller oak casks and cement for over two years before bottling to yield fresh, richly concentrated fruit balanced by fine integrated tannins. Naming it to honor his longtime partner Gianna whose nickname is Mimma, Paolo selected his best grapes for the 96 pt. 2019 Mimma Rosso IGT, aging it in large old casks with nearly 3 years longer in bottle and crafting a rich and uniquely elegant Sangiovese that Galloni describes as “aromatically beguiling and light on its feet.”

From an excellent Chianti vintage producing fresh Sangiovese wines with “wonderful concentration and ripe tannins” according to Jeb Dunnuck, these alluring 2019 Caparsa selections are a reference point for Radda in Chianti while remaining one of the best kept secrets in Chianti Classico, three incredibly delicious and pure expressions of Sangiovese from one of the region’s most undervalued producers promising a decade or more of enjoyment.

93WA 92V

This organic wine shows a humorous sketch on the front label of an old man with a traditional Chianti flask. The Caparsa 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino offers a pretty spread of dark fruit, ripe berry nuances, toasted spice and earth. It's all Sangiovese matured in large oak casks. This plush, medium-bodied red represents a production of 12,000 bottles all said and done.

93 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Feb 2023)

The 2019 Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino is an absolutely joyous wine that expresses all of the pedigree of this small hillside estate. Wonderfully pure and nuanced, the Caparsino is a super-classic Radda Chianti Classico. Bright saline notes run through a core of sweet red cherry fruit, chalk, mint, flowers and white pepper. All the elements are so well balanced.

92 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jul 2022)

2021 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif (750ml)

Petite Sirah from North Coast, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Welcome to Round Two of our exceptional offer from the Wagner Family of Wines, a terrific opportunity to stock up on the limited 2020 Caymus liters along with some outstanding big, bold reds from Caymus-Suisun and a selection of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot crafted by the Caymus team, all at specially negotiated pricing while they last. Backed by the quality legacy of Caymus founder Chuck Wagner, here’s what’s in stock and ready to enjoy.

Sourced from Monterey, Chuck Wagner’s richly styled 2022 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Reserve offers opulent, buttery tropical fruit. Crafted by Chuck’s daughter Jenny Wagner, the crisp and refreshing 2022 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc offers citrus fruit flavors with bright acidity, and the full-bodied 2021 Emmolo Merlot boasts ripe and rich dark fruit hinting of oak and vanilla with smooth supple tannins. Produced at the Wagner Family’s new state of the art winery located in Solana County’s Suisun Valley (pronounced su-soon), the outstanding 2021 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif is a blend highlighting bold, luscious dark Petit Sirah with hints of toasted herbs and spice layered with plush tannins while the lush 2021 Caymus-Suisun Walking Fool boasts the earthy, spiced flavors of Zinfandel with tantalizing acidity on a smooth finish. Declared “an American classic,” by Decanter’s Stephen Brook, the newly released 2021 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from top quality ripe Napa fruit and aged in mostly new French oak for 16 months before bottling, its rich texture layered with luscious vanilla and toasted oak, finishing long with integrated, velvety tannins that promise longevity. As the first to introduce Caymus to Florida, B-21 Caymus fans are reaping the rewards of our long standing relationship with special pricing on one liter bottles of 2021 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (1000ml), available while they last at the same price as the standard 750ml.

With the Caymus reputation for quality behind each label, this unique opportunity to stock up on one liter bottles of 2020 Caymus or mix a case or two from the Wagner's wide ranging portfolio at special bargain pricing is offered for a limited time, all immensely enjoyable wines that will have Caymus fans wishing they’d bought more.

$49.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2015 Azelia San Rocco (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Azelia's owner Luigi Scavino is cousin to Enrico Scavino of the more famous Paolo Scavino winery, both sharing ownership of the famous Fiasco hill in Castiglione Falletto (Bricco del Fiasc). Located in Castiglione Falletto, it is no surprise that Azelia's village Barolo is primarily sourced here and is styled to drink upon release; very elegant and refined. Showing more power depth and structure, Azelia's single vineyard wines from Serralunga d'Alba are San Rocco and Margheria. San Rocco is one of Serralunga's top sites and this old vine San Rocco proves it. Also from older vines, the Margheria shows more breadth and openness afforded by clay balanced with limestone energy representing the vintage well.

95WA 94JS 93V

There is a lot of fruit ripeness in the 2015 Barolo San Rocco, with blackberry, wild berry, plush softness, spice and licorice. The fruit is nicely balanced and shows bright intensity. Located in Serralunga d'Alba, San Rocco was purchased by Luigi Scavino's father in the 1990s. The vines are 65 years old today. Some 6,600 bottles of this vintage were made.

95 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Issue # 243 - Jun 2019)

A very vibrant and clearly defined nose with fresh and dried roses, woody aromas and light dried spices, as well as tar and fresh cherries. The succulent palate has a seamless build of fine, ripe tannins, carrying bright red-cherry flavor in attractively focused mode. So fresh at the finish. Try from 2022.

94 points, James Suckling (Jun 2019)

The 2015 Barolo San Rocco is the most potent and structured of the Azelia Barolos. Swaths of tannin enshroud this tightly wound, classically austere Barolo. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a few years. This is one of the more reticent young Barolos I have tasted at Azelia.

93+ points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2019)

2018 Standish The Relic Shiraz-Viognier (750ml)

Shiraz from Barossa, South Australia, Australia

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

For fans of bold Aussie Shiraz and muscular reds seeking a big bang for the buck, here's a unique opportunity to snap up the expertly crafted, top rated 2018's from The Standish Wine Company to enjoy over the next decade at best on the market pricing. Ranked among the highest rated Shiraz from the outstanding 2018 vintage, the Standish Wine Company’s 100 pt. 2018 The Standish and 99 pt. 2018 The Relic offer up layered, luscious dark fruit and muscular structure built to age, “among the very best” Australian Shiraz according to the Wine Advocate’s Erin Larkin, almost exclusively available to their mailing list of cult followers and delivering top value.

Establishing his eponymous South Australia winery over two decades ago, former Torbreck winemaker Dan Standish is known for his extremely high, exacting standards, with rigorous pruning and strict selection at the core of his hands-on vineyard management. In the wine making, Dan employs a traditional, non-interventionist approach, hand harvesting and treading the grapes by foot and fermenting with native yeasts, selecting a mere 30% of the barrels for the final bottling and sealing the bottles with top quality cork in lieu of screw caps. A co-fermented blend of Shiraz with 2% Viognier, the 99 pt 2018 The Relic boasts “fleshy, deep-set fruit flavors and a gently spicy thread” according to James Suckling that’s “full bodied yet approachable,” the Viognier adding pleasing aromas and softening tannins. Crafted from 100% old vine Shiraz, Dan aged the 100 pt. 2018 The Standish in mostly used oak barrels seasoned for 48 months, yielding “terrific buoyancy to the fruit” and “a ripe but powerful tannin structure” according to Decanter’s Sarah Ahmed, with a complex, lingering finish.

Boasting big bold flavors and powerful structure, these outstanding 2018 selections from The Standish are meticulously crafted, textbook Barossa Shiraz - in the understated words of critic Josh Raynolds of Vinous, “These are not wines for the timid, to be sure." Uniquely Australian in their robust style, the 100 pt. 2018 The Standish and the 99 pt. 2018 The Relic are available in limited quantities, priced at a fraction of big name competitors and guaranteed to sell out in a flash.

99WA

Despite being only 2% Viognier, in its current state, Standish's 2018 The Relic Shiraz-Viognier shows prominent notes of stone fruit and spice, plus the blackberries and blueberries of the Shiraz. Full-bodied, lush and creamy-textured, with a long, silky finish, this beauty should drink well for a couple of decades after its release next year.

96-99 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Nov 2019)

2020 Stolpman Vineyards Originals (750ml)

Syrah from Santa Barbara, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Declared “one of the reference-point estates in Ballard Canyon” by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, these highly rated, site specific wines from Stolpman Vineyards deliver superb quality at an astonishing price. Establishing their reputation as pioneering growers in California’s Ballard Canyon and selling their fruit to cult producers like Sine Qua Non, second-generation Pete Stolpman along with esteemed vineyard manager Ruben Solorzano now craft the outstanding Stolpman portfolio from their 150 acres of estate vineyards planted over three distinct limestone ridges in Santa Barbara County, yielding vibrant, complex and impeccably balanced wines ranging from entry level offerings to top estate cuvees.

Described as “a total charmer” and “a ridiculous value” by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, the 93 pt. 2021 La Cuadrilla is a rich blend dominated by estate grown Syrah with proceeds benefiting Solorzano’s dedicated La Cuadrilla vineyard crew. Stolpman’s white wines include the richly textured 97 pt. 2020 L'Avion Roussanne named “one of the stars” of the outstanding 2020 vintage by the Wine Advocate’s Erin Brooks, reminiscent of the Northern Rhone’s great white wines at a fraction of the cost. Stolpman’s most unique wines include the savory, dark-fruited 96 pt. 2020 Hair of the Bear, a combination of co-fermented Petite Sirah and Roussanne that’s “magical” according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Matt Kettman. Based on old vine fruit planted by founder Tom Stolpman, the 96 pt. 2020 Sangiovese offers “layered flavors and loads of juicy appeal” according to the Wine Advocate’s Erin Brooks, an homage to Tuscany’s revered grape crafted by winemaker Kyle Knapp in a ripe California style. Inspired by his love of Northern Rhone wines, Tom Stolpman’s Syrah plantings are the oldest in the Ballard Canyon AVA is the full-bodied 94 pt. 2020 Angeli Cuvee is sourced from the estate’s oldest own-rooted Syrah, described as a “pure, downright vibrant wine” by Jeb Dunnuck.

Boasting 90 plus point ratings across their portfolio, these selections from Ballard Canyon’s iconic Stolpman Vineyards are garnering well deserved attention from critics across the board, challenging its under the radar status and making now the best time to mix a case or two of these top rated and top value Santa Barbara beauties and take advantage of this exceptional pricing

97WE 95WA

The 2020 vintage took this bottling from older vines to another level. Light game, plum paste, charred meat and white-pepper aromas lead into a palate of pure meat, roasted elderberry and woodsmoke. The richness is balanced by firm tannins. Drink now–2040.

97 points, Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2022)

The 2020 Syrah Originals Estate comes from vines planted in 1992-1993. Medium ruby, it has a core of blackberry and blueberry with accents of green olive, violet and warm chocolate. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and floral with grainy tannins, rounded acidity and a long, perfumed finish. 520 cases produced.

95 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Dec 2022)

$49.99

49 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2015 Peirson Meyer Pinot Noir Bateman Vineyard (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Sonoma County, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Robbie Meyer, winemaker at Peirson-Meyer, is a Georgia native with an early interest in wine and food which led him to a UC Davis degree in Enology. His previous work at wineries such as Peter Michael Winery and Lewis Cellars fueled the interest to create his own wine project.

Alan Peirson, the viticultural manager with a 20 year history at Peter Michael, has always had an intense interest in food, wine and design. Alan is also a sculptor. The 2015 Maquette – "maquette" is the name given to a small three dimensional model made for a larger scale sculpture – the minor to the Cabernet. Alan is also viticulturist at O'Shaugnessy Vineyards up on Napa's Howell Mountain.

In 2001, they joined forces, both with supportive friends, extensive experience and intuition began their project. Sophia's Vineyard Chardonnay, planted by Warren Dutton back in the '70s in Russian River, is a great example of a perfect collaborative of winemaker and viticulture, albeit 300 case production. This collaborative effect could be said of each Peirson-Meyer wine.

95V 93WA

The 2015 Pinot Noir Bateman Vineyard is quite fresher and more nuanced than the Miller. Freshly cut flowers, sweet red cherries, mint and chalk give the Bateman its characteristic lifted profile. There is a sense of energy and tension to the Miller that play off the natural richness of the year very nicely.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Apr 2018)

Medium to deep ruby-purple in color, the 2015 Pinot Noir Bateman Vineyard gives up beautiful, bright, exuberant crushed raspberries and Bing cherries with hints of cranberries, rose hip tea, lavender and dusty soil with a waft of cinnamon stick. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm frame of very ripe, fine-grained tannins supporting the super intense flavors, finishing long and minerally. 75 cases produced.

93 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Issue # 237 - Jun 2018)

$59.99

29 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Tyler Mae Estate Chardonnay (750ml)

Chardonnay from Sta. Rita Hills, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Marking the first estate vineyard release from the Tyler winery in the Sta. Rita Hills, the remarkable 97pt 2019 Tyler Mae Estate Chardonnay boasts bright, crisp fruit balanced on a backbone of tangy acidity, described as "captivating from the get go" by Vinous critic Antonio Galloni and crafted with the promising potential to age by rising star winemaker Justin Willett.

Sourcing his Tyler Chardonnays from a range of historic vineyards throughout Santa Barbara County since 2005, founder Justin Willett purchased the 45-acre Mae Estate property in 2015, planting 26 acres with a selection of California heritage Chardonnay clones suited to the rugged terrain. Located in the Sta. Rita Hills just 15 miles from the Pacific Coast, the Mae Vineyard enjoys long sunlit days with temperatures moderated by maritime fog and breezes in the afternoon, yielding optimally ripe, bright fruit with saline-tinged acidity. Practicing minimal intervention in the cellar while employing a restrained use of oak, Justin aged the outstanding 2019 Mae Estate Chardonnay for 10 months in 20% new large French oak barrels, yielding a crisp, elegantly styled Chardonnay of impeccable balance and finesse.

Spearheading projects across the region including a collaboration with Burgundy's iconic Domaine de Montille, the tremendously talented Justin Willett crafted the mineral-driven 97pt 2019 Tyler Mae Estate Chardonnay from a uniquely Sta. Rita Hills terroir with a Burgundian sense of refinement rendering Vinous critic Galloni "blown away," an exciting small production estate offering that fans and collectors of California Chardonnay will want to be among the first and "happy few" to enjoy.

97WA 95V

Mae Estate is brand new cuvée from Tyler. "This place came on the market in 2014," explains winemaker Justin Tyler Willett. "We had contemplated buying a place, so we will break ground here in 2022 on a new winery." Located in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation on marine sediment soils, the Mae Estate will become the new home for Tyler wines. The 2019 Chardonnay Mae Estate is a beautiful first iteration. The nose features creamy panna cotta, lemon peel and pastry aromas streaked with sweet spice, and the palate has a unique satiny texture that coats the mouth and draws out its plush, creamy citrus and apricot layers. Don't hesitate to try this promising new cuvée from Tyler.

97 points, Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate (Mar 2022)

The 2019 Chardonnay Mae Estate Vineyard is a bright, effusive wine endowed with striking translucence and energy. Lemon peel white flowers, white pepper and mint open first. This is an especially airy, gracious Chardonnay. Time in the glass brings out striking textural richness to play all of those bright, high-toned notes. A mesmerizing wine of dimension and phenolic intensity, the 2019 is captivating from the get go. The way it changes in the glass bodes very well for the future.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Oct 2021)

Casa Dragones Joven Tequila (750ml)

From Tequila, Jalisco, Mexico

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Estate Grown Tequila? You bet! Hey, Tequila comes from a specific place and the agave plant is treated with as much reverence as vines in Burgundy, Bordeaux or Napa Valley. Jalisco is the Mexican state where Tequila comes from, and the agave plant thirsts for the trinity of soil, climate and altitude found here. Casa Dragones takes the pureness of flavor a blanco has and adds a small amount of extra añejo to round out the palate, producing what the Robb Report called "the greatest single sipping tequila," this crystal clear potion they call "Joven." Drinkers of fine whiskey the world over should take notice here, tequila delivers some of the world's most flavorful and palate-pleasing spirits.

96WE

Although billed as a joven, this Tequila is blended with a touch of añejo. The end result is extraordinarily smooth, with a very sweet, fruity, almost wine-like nose but a bold, pure peppery flavor that finishes cleanly. The packaging is gift-worthy, presenting the bottle in a gold-and-robin’s egg blue box, like a precious jewel.

96 points, Wine Enthusiast (May 2013)

2019 Continuum Proprietary Red (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Elegant and perfectly balanced, the powerful 99pt 2019 Continuum is a testament to co-founder Tim Mondavi's dedication to crafting a singular, exceptional Bordeaux style Napa blend from 100% estate grown Pritchard Hill mountain fruit, boasting fresh concentrated dark flavors layered with hints of savory herbs and graphite and now an outstanding value at the best price on the market.

Described as having "Oakville sophistication with the extra intensity of a hillside" by famed consultant Philippe Melka, Pritchard Hill is known as a prime growing terroir in Napa, home to a "who's who" of elite producers including Bryant Family, Colgin, Brand, Chappellet and Dalla Valle. Established as the base for Continuum's single-vineyard estate winery in 2008, the Continuum Sage Mountain Vineyard now spans 71 acres of organically farmed Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot vines planted on low-yielding, rocky soils at elevations of 1,300 to 1,600 feet. Vinified mostly in a combination of various sized concrete tanks with 10% in barrel to preserve freshness, the spectacularly nuanced 2019 Continuum was aged in two thirds new French oak barrels for 20 months before bottling, building a tannic backbone that "will have upwards of three decades of overall longevity" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck.

Visiting the mountainside winery during the outstanding 2019 harvest, the Wine Spectator's James Laube declared, "Ten years in, Tim Mondavi's Napa flagship and its Sage Mountain Vineyard are hitting their stride." With limited production mostly allocated to members of Continuum's mailing list and reserved for high-end restaurants, this opportunity to acquire the powerful and long-lived 2019 Continuum at outstanding pricing is a rare chance for collectors and fans of top-rated Napa blends to stash this 99pt beauty away in the cellar and enjoy its evolution for years to come.

99JS #50 Top 100

Blackberries, dark wet soil and blackcurrants. Graphite, too. So aromatic. Pure fruit. Full-bodied with superbly polished, fine tannins that draw you down through the center of palate. Extremely layered and the texture is so curated, giving wonderful persistence. Real plushness and fine, velvety texture. 50% cabernet sauvignon, 37% cabernet franc, 7% petit verdot and 6% merlot. Better after 2026.

99 points, James Suckling (Mar 2022)

#50 - James Suckling Top 100 of 2022

2016 Andrea Oberto Rocche dell'Annunziata (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Widely acclaimed as one of the best vintages in 25 years, the breathtaking 2016 Barolo vintage “lives up to the hype” according to the Wine Enthusiast's Kerin O'Keefe, producing elegantly structured Nebbiolo wines with great richness and long-lived tannins. Taking advantage of our long-standing relationships in Piedmont, Barolo fans and collectors of bold Italian reds will want to secure a share of these highly rated, value priced 2016 Baroli, selecting a few favorites or mixing a case or two and reaping the benefits for years to come.

From perhaps the finest ‘garagiste’ in Piedmont, Mario Marengo’s long-lived 95 pt. 2016 Marengo Barolo offers “beautifully pure and brilliant fruit” according to the Wine Advocate’s Monica Larner, calling it a “graceful expression” of Barolo worth seeking out. Vinous critic Antonio Galloni describes the elegant 93 pt. 2016 Prunotto as an “airy, finessed Barolo” crafted to enjoy now, while critic James Suckling calls the dazzling old vine 97 pt. 2016 Domenico Clerico Ciabot Mentin “very powerful with intensely rich tannins that show polish and strength” and Monica Larner describes the silky 96 pt. 2016 Elvio Cogno Barolo Cascina Nuova as “a terrific go-to Barolo” with “impeccable balance.” Called “one of the best Barolos I have tasted from Rocche Costamagna” by critic Galloni, the ready to enjoy 95 pt. 2016 Rocche Costamagna Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata “shows just how appealing this vintage is.” Among the smallest production gems in this selection, the outstanding 95 pt. 2016 Enzo Boglietti Brunate and 95 pt. 2016 Andrea Oberto Rocche dell'Annunziata are both richly structured, superlative Nebbiolos poised to reward patient cellaring priced at a fraction of higher profile producers. A pair of excellent wines from Luigi Baudana, the 95 pt. 2016 Barolo Baudana offers a bigger, lush fruit profile according to Monica Larner, while the 96 pt. 2016 Barolo Cerretta boasts the Cru’s signature minerality, both just approaching their decades’ long drinking windows. A powerful, long-lived Barolo that delivers exceptional value, the 98 pt. 2016 Damilano Barolo Cannubi “boasts muscular, imposing structure and power” according to critic James Suckling, and the artisan-crafted 94 pt. 2016 Elio Altare Barolo is “positively stunning” and ready to enjoy over the next decade. From a favorite B-21 producer, the profound 96 pt. 2016 Massolino Barolo Parussi is sourced from Castiglione Falletto, capturing all its “sensuality” according to critic Galloni and “firmly structured,” for over two decades of enjoyment according to the Wine Enthusiast’s Kerin O’Keefe. Owned by Luigi Scavino, cousin to Enrico Scavino of the more famous Paolo Scavino winery, critic Galloni describes Azelia’s Barolos as “spectacular,” both selections crafted from old vines, the elegant 95 pt. 2016 Margheria “showing the natural weight and gravitas of Serralunga” while the 94 pt. 2016 San Rocco is “deep, powerful and loaded with pedigree.” Finally, described as “positively stellar” and “captivating” by Galloni, the 97 pt. 2016 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Enrico VI is “full and complex with a gorgeous palate” according to James Suckling, already offering a glimpse of its bright future ahead.

From a top-rated vintage hailed by critics across the board, the 2016 Baroli are “truly spectacular, breathtaking wines” according to Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, describing them as capturing “all the pedigree that Nebbiolo and Barolo are capable of.” While each of these selections reflects their unique terroirs, these 2016 Barolo all share a lush density of elegant, fresh fruit, focused savory acidity and substantial tannic structure that make them all winning choices, some ready to enjoy now but all poised to evolve over the next decades – echoing the advice of James Suckling, “buy, drink and enjoy this marvelous vintage.”

95WA 94V

The 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is the most complete (and long-term) of these wines from Andrea Oberto. This pretty vintage offers beautiful clarity and linearity with aromas of wild berry, blue flower and crushed limestone. Hints of licorice, smoke and tar also appear to round off the edges. This wine shows a profound and powerful tannic composition, although the actual fiber of the wine remains fine and compact. Fruit comes from a site that is smaller than a hectare in size and sees primarily sandy soils. It ages in barrique and botte for 26 months. Production is a mere 3,800 bottles.

95 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Jul 2020)

The 2016 Barolo Rocche dell'Annunziata is dark and balsamic in this vintage. Black cherry, menthol, lavender, spice, pine, licorice, hard candy and dried herbs are all layered together in this super-expressive Barolo. Vivid and expansive, the 2016 offers a striking interplay of richness and detail, all in the mid-weight style of the year.

94+ points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Feb 2020)

2020 Mas Alta Cirerets (750ml)

Carignan from Priorat, Catalonia, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Balancing the fresh, pure flavors of Garnacha with the elegance and complexity of old vine Cariñena, the powerfully rich 95pt. 2018 Bodegas Mas Alta Cirerets is a bargain-priced beauty, boasting luscious fruit hinting of wild herbs with flinty minerality and delivering serious bang for the buck for lovers of robust, terroir-driven Spanish reds.

Although often overshadowed by larger regions like Ribera del Duero and Rioja, the rugged, remote Priorat DOC southwest of Barcelona has gained an elite reputation among collectors over the last several decades, its unforgiving, steep vineyards planted on the dark, decomposed slate known as llicorella mixed with shale and red clay, producing highly rated red blends but often with stratospheric prices to match. Established in 1999 as a joint project under the direction of renowned Rhone negociant and winemaker Michel Tardieu and the late, iconic French enologist Philippe Cambie, Bodega Mas Alta crafted the outstanding value-driven 2018 Cirerets in the village of Vilella Alta, its organically farmed vineyards located at high altitudes from 100 to 600 meters in the shadow of the Serra del Montsant mountains. A blend of Garnacha (Grenache) from 20-year-old vines and Cariñena (Carignan) from low-yielding 60-year-old vines, the grapes for the outstanding 2018 Cirerets were fermented separately in concrete tanks with local yeasts, then aged separately for 16 months before blending – the Garnacha in used barrels and the Cariñena in new ones – yielding elegant, velvety tannins finishing with mineral-tinged acidity rooted in the region's unique volcanic soils.

Drawing praise from Robert Parker over a decade ago for producing top value in the region, Mas Alta's bright and youthful 2018 Cirerets offers rich, ripe freshness with hints of exotic spice and stony minerality, ready to enjoy now and over the next few years, a stunning, cellar-worthy value.

94WA

It's always interesting to taste two vintages of the same wine side by side. 2020 was a heterogeneous year with ups and downs, as it was challenging, and the wines reflect the work in the vineyard in a difficult time during the pandemic. The 2020 Cirerets, 60% Garnacha and 40% Cariñena, shows clean aromas and flavors, definition and elegance within the powerful, ripe and concentrated style from Priorat and the winery. 17,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2022.

94+ points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)

$39.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2020 Mas Alta Els Pics (750ml)

Grenache from Priorat, Catalonia, Spain

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Balancing the fresh, pure flavors of Garnacha with the elegance and complexity of old vine Cariñena, the powerfully rich 95pt. 2018 Bodegas Mas Alta Cirerets is a bargain-priced beauty, boasting luscious fruit hinting of wild herbs with flinty minerality and delivering serious bang for the buck for lovers of robust, terroir-driven Spanish reds.

Although often overshadowed by larger regions like Ribera del Duero and Rioja, the rugged, remote Priorat DOC southwest of Barcelona has gained an elite reputation among collectors over the last several decades, its unforgiving, steep vineyards planted on the dark, decomposed slate known as llicorella mixed with shale and red clay, producing highly rated red blends but often with stratospheric prices to match. Established in 1999 as a joint project under the direction of renowned Rhone negociant and winemaker Michel Tardieu and the late, iconic French enologist Philippe Cambie, Bodega Mas Alta crafted the outstanding value-driven 2018 Cirerets in the village of Vilella Alta, its organically farmed vineyards located at high altitudes from 100 to 600 meters in the shadow of the Serra del Montsant mountains. A blend of Garnacha (Grenache) from 20-year-old vines and Cariñena (Carignan) from low-yielding 60-year-old vines, the grapes for the outstanding 2018 Cirerets were fermented separately in concrete tanks with local yeasts, then aged separately for 16 months before blending – the Garnacha in used barrels and the Cariñena in new ones – yielding elegant, velvety tannins finishing with mineral-tinged acidity rooted in the region's unique volcanic soils.

Drawing praise from Robert Parker over a decade ago for producing top value in the region, Mas Alta's bright and youthful 2018 Cirerets offers rich, ripe freshness with hints of exotic spice and stony minerality, ready to enjoy now and over the next few years, a stunning, cellar-worthy value.

91WA

There's more finesse in the 2020 Els Pics, which has upfront berry fruit and integrated spice and smoke in the back. It was produced with 60% Garnacha, 30% Cariñena, 5% Merlot and 5% Syrah and matured in oak and concrete. The palate is medium to full-bodied with fine, nice ripe tannins and good balance, combining power and elegance. 2020 was a challenging year of low yields and concentration and it took a lot of work to achieve finesse. 66,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in May 2022.

91 points, Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate (Sep 2022)

2021 Samuel Billaud Chablis (750ml)

Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Counted “alongside the likes of Raveneau and Vincent Dauvissat" according to Neal Martin of Vinous, these small production 2021 Chablis selections from Maison Samuel Billaud exhibit intriguing depth, precision and tension throughout the entire range, crafted by Samuel Billaud to reflect the uniqueness of their Kimmeridgian soil origins and an exceptional value for Chablis fans and collectors of age worthy White Burgundy.

Leaving his family’s domain after over two decades as head winemaker, Samuel Billaud began crafting wines under his own name in 2009, securing some of his family’s top parcels after the eventual sale of Domaine Billaud-Simon to Faiveley in 2014 and rapidly emerging “as one of the town's best half-dozen producers” according to the Wine Advocate’s Willian Kelley. Working with four hectares of organically farmed estate vineyards and long-term grower relationships, Billaud employs early manual harvesting followed by fermentation in tank or neutral oak, crafting his wines under the medieval ramparts of the village of Chablis. Maturing the wines on the lees for longer than typical, Billaud employs a minimum of 12 months for his village wines and up to 18 months for his Premier and Grand Crus, yielding fresh, bright flavors with a creamy brioche nuance and enticing flinty minerality. A blend of three different parcels, the 91 pt. 2021 Samuel Billaud Chablis offers engaging citrusy aromas and fine, crisp acidity, a classically styled Chablis that's a delicious introduction to Billaud’s range. Sourced from a parcel of 70-year old vines with a south and east exposure, Billaud vinified the 94 pt. 2021 Samuel Billaud Vaillons Vieilles Vignes Chablis 1er Cru in stainless steel for 15 months, balancing acidity and minerality with “an abundance of classic Chablis elements” summed up as “impressive” by Burghound and promising to age over a decade or more. Coming from a south-facing .45 hectare parcel on the steep hillside lieu-dit, the 94 pt. 2021 Samuel Billaud Mont de Milieu Chablis 1er Cru is “a serious Chablis” according to Neal Martin of Vinous, while the 94 pt. 2021 Samuel Billaud Montee de Tonnerre Chablis 1er Cru is summed up as “lovely stuff” by Burghound, both matured mostly in stainless steel and around 20% in large oak barrels to reveal rich, textural depth on an elegant, lengthy finish and built to evolve over the next decade.

Creating some of the most elegant and evocative Chablis from the 2021 vintage, these Samuel Billaud Chablis selections represent the upper echelon of quality while ranking among the region’s greatest bargains for White Burgundy lovers and collectors - echoing the words of Neal Martin of Vinous, “Quite simply, Samuel Billaud is one of the best producers in Chablis at the moment. If you have not discovered the wines, what are you waiting for?”

91V

The 2021 Chablis Grands Terroirs comes from three parcels. This has fine definition and mineralité on the nose with scents of flint and smoke. The palate is fresh on the entry with a fine bead of acidity, crisp and precise with an effervescent finish. Recommended.

91 points, Neal Martin, Vinous (Sep 2022)

2017 Brezza Barolo Riserva Bricco Sarmassa (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

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, available in 750ml and 1.5L ready for cellaring 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)

2018 Enzo Boglietti Barolo Arione (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Described by the Wine Advocate as crafting “some of the richest, most deeply flavored Barolos in Piedmont,”, this selection of highly rated Cru Barolos from Enzo Boglietti rank among the Piedmont’s top bargains, each sourced from small family-owned parcels spread across Barolo’s top Cru’s and all promising to age over the next decade or more at an incredible value price.

Ending his family’s decades’ long practice of selling grapes to the local coop, Enzo Boglietti established his La Morra winery with 3 hectares of vineyards in 1991, counted among the group of rebellious young winemakers at the time producing a more modern style Barolo crafted to be immediately accessible. Over the years Enzo has moderated his approach, limiting the use of new French oak barriques and reducing extraction times during fermentation to produce elegantly styled, site expressive Barolos from some of the region’s top Crus, his vineyards now spanning 20 hectares across the Langhe. Described by James Suckling as “clean and fresh”, the appealing 92 pt. 2018 Enzo Boglietti Boiolo is sourced from a 1.95 hectare parcel at 300-350 meters above sea level on the northern border of Rocche dell’Annunziata, while the aromatic 94 pt. 2016 Enzo Boglietti Fossati expresses the typical character of the Fossati cru with floral aromatics and balsamic nuances, summed up by the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson as “graceful yet packs a punch.” From the warmer, protected Cru situated between the upper portion of Fossati and Cerequio, James Suckling calls the 96 pt. 2015 Enzo Boglietti Case Nere “impressively refined” while describing the 95 pt. 2016 Enzo Boglietti Brunate as “fullbodied” and finishing “tight, dense and long,” sourced from a tiny half hectare Brunate parcel known for producing elegant, silky Barolo with deep complexity. From the southernmost Cru in Serralunga that exhibits a “distinctly wild, feral quality strong on iron and mineral” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the refined 95 pt. 2018 Enzo Boglietti Barolo Arione is his most “pinot-like” Barolo according to Enzo, while the 94 pt. 2018 Enzo Boglietti Brunate delivers Brunate’s legendary combination of elegance and power “balanced by juicy, acidity” according to the Wine Independent’s Susan Hulme with “a lovely fresh finish.”

Described as “a young producer on the rise” crafting “sumptuous Barolos” by critic Antonio Galloni over a decade ago, these elegantly crafted Cru Barolo selections from Enzo Boglietti overdeliver in a big way, priced at a mere fraction of his competitors and offering a terrific opportunity to mix a case and enjoy Boglietti’s full range of top scoring Cru Barolo reflecting the region’s diverse terroirs for years to come.

95WA

The Arione site usually shows extra muscle and power, and that's exactly what you get here. The Enzo Boglietti 2018 Barolo Arione is very polished and firm with a pretty succession of aromas that include redcurrant, dried spice, licorice and dried apricot or sweet orange.

95 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Aug 2022)

$79.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Nicolas-Jay l'Ensemble Pinot Noir (750ml)

Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

A “best of the best” blend of the most outstanding barrels from top Willamette Valley parcels, Burgundy superstar winemaker Jean-Nicolas Meo’s alluring 94 pt. 2019 Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir l’Ensemble offers lush earthy aromas of rich, bright red fruit with refined, velvety tannins, meticulously crafted by a “winemaker at the top of his art” according to the Wine Spectator’s Per-Henrik Mansson and a terrific value certain to appeal to fans of classically styled Willamette Valley Pinot Noir and lovers of Red Burgundy alike.

Perched high in the Dundee Hills west of Newberg in Willamette’s Yamhill-Carlton AVA, the 53 acre Nicolas-Jay estate boasts a contemporary state-of-the-art gravity winemaking facility and intimate tasting room in a restored cattle barn bordered by towering fir trees and Oregon white oaks, its newly planted vineyards situated on a natural amphitheater with breathtaking views of the Chehalem Mountains. A culmination of a three-decade long friendship founded on a shared love of Pinot Noir, Nicolas-Jay was established by music producer Jay Boberg and renowned Burgundy winemaker Jean-Nicolas Meo in 2012, the co-owner of Domaine Meo-Camuzet known for his 30 year legacy of producing exceptional red Burgundy from Grand Cru vineyards including Richebourg, Clos de Vougeot and Echezeaux. Employing techniques that mirror his vineyard-focused approach at Meo-Camuzet, Jean-Nicolas’ expertise influences all aspects of the winemaking at Nicolas-Jay, his meticulous attention to detail including strictly limiting yields, harvesting earlier than many neighboring producers and placing the fruit in small cherry bins to prevent bruising. After separating the 100% destemmed Pinot Noir grapes into up to 30 individual native yeast fermentations to focus on the purity of the fruit, Jean-Nicolas utilizes gentle pump-overs to keep the berries intact before switching to the more common punch-downs to build tannic structure. Blending the most exceptional barrels sourced from their top parcels from a range of AVA’s across the Valley, Jean-Nicolas and associate winemaker Tracy Kendall aged the elegant 2019 Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir l’Ensemble in 35% new French oak barrels crafted by the same coopers used for the Meo-Camuzet wines for 16 months before bottling it unfiltered and unfined, yielding a polished and silky Pinot Noir reminiscent of red Burgundy with fresh earthy fruit and a lengthy spiced finish hinting of chalky minerality that reflects its Willamette Valley origins.

From a classic Oregon vintage producing “epic Pinot Noirs of noteworthy elegance and energy” according to Vinous critic Josh Raynolds, Jean-Nicolas Meo’s fresh and vibrant 94 pt. 2019 Nicolas-Jay Pinot Noir l’Ensemble is a harmonious, terroir-expressive blend of exceptional Pinot Noir crafted by a masterful Burgundy winemaker and structured to continue to evolve in the glass and in the cellar, offering a unique opportunity to enjoy an elegant and finessed Burgundy-style Pinot Noir at a seriously non-Burgundy price.

94WS 93JS 92WE

A wine with grace and tension, this opens with pretty violet aromas that lead to vibrant, steely raspberry and guava flavors accented by forest floor and spices. Ends with refined, mineral-tinged tannins. Drink now through 2020. 1,329 cases made.

94 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Feb 2023)

Aromas of strawberries, spices and flowers follow through to a medium body with a firm and slightly chewy mouth-feel and a delicious finish. Give it time to come together and open. Unfined and unfiltered. Drink after 2025.

93 points, James Suckling (Aug 2022)

The aromas smell like a big bowl of fruit, with notes of raspberries and strawberries still on the vine. Peppermint and dried herb add accents. Medium-bodied flavors follow, coating the palate from end to end, with powdered cinnamon tannins and black-tea flavors. It's completely captivating.

92 points, Sean P. Sullivan, Wine Enthusiast (Sep 2022)

$64.99

59 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2017 Domaine La Soumade Cuvee Confiance (1.5L)

Grenache from Rasteau, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

"Located on steep, south-facing slopes and mostly clay soils, Rasteau produces deep, concentrated wines that have distinct minerality to go with savory, chocolaty, earthy aromatics. While most drink well on release, the best can easily keep for 10-15 years. It’s worth pointing out that while the region was known in the past for making more rustic, alcoholic wines, that’s no longer the case, and the wines today show much more polish, elegance, and balance. The top wines are a match for anything coming out of the Southern Rhône Valley today."
– Jeb Dunnuck

Dunnuck designates the top seven domaines of Rasteau, La Soumade among them along with three other properites we work with. Don't miss Fleur de Confiance that Wine Advocate writer Joe Czerwinski declared "the most impressive Rasteau to have ever passed these lips."

94WA 92JD 92WE

Made from 50- to 100-year-old vines, the 2017 Rasteau Cuvee Confiance is a foudre-aged blend of 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre. It shows more freshness than the younger-vine cuvées, featuring raspberry and garrigue notes on the nose. Still full-bodied and rich on the palate, it adds hints of chocolate on the long, velvety finish. Tasted twice (once blind), with generally consistent notes, although one bottle was a bit more chewy-tannic than the other.

94 points, Joe Czerwinski, Wine Advocate (Issue # 245 - Oct 2019)

Another terrific wine from this benchmark estate is the 2017 Rasteau Cuvée Confiance. Based on 65% Grenache, 25% Syrah, and the rest Mourvèdre, raised all in foudre, it offers powerful notes of blackcurrants, ground herbs, garrigue, and peppered meat. Medium to full-bodied, it stays nicely polished and elegant on the palate, with fine tannins and outstanding purity. It’s a beautiful wine that’s already drinking nicely yet will keep for a decade.

92 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Sep 2019)

This is a big, brawny blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre packed with concentrated black plum and crème de cassis flavors. It's a glossy, decadent sip but subtle shadings of crushed green olive and herbes de Provence lend complexity. In its youth, the finish is tightly packed with tannins, but this is a wine that should improve well through 2030.

92 points, Anna Lee C. Iijima, Wine Enthusiast (Dec 2020)

$69.99

55 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2019 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri (750ml)

Shiraz from South Australia, Australia

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

“This iron fist in a velvet glove is immensely impressive.”

Angus Hughson, Vinous

Considered the complementary "twin" to the Grange in Penfolds' high end portfolio, the powerful 99 pt. 2019 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri layers richly aromatic, dense, dark fruit with elegant, silky tannins and a lingering, lush finish that “makes you want to dive in for more” according to Decanter’s David Sly, an elegant, full-bodied expression of Shiraz sharing the Grange’s ability to age without the influence of new oak that's certain to thrill Aussie collectors and lovers of big bold Syrah at an equally thrilling value price.

With a history that predates Penfolds, St. Henri was originally a Claret style red made in the 19th century by the Auldana Winery, its vineyards located adjacent to the Magill Estate, Penfold’s original property near Adelaide. At the same time Penfolds winemaker Max Schubert was pioneering the use of French oak barrels in Australia while creating Grange in the 1950’s, another Penfolds winemaker at the time named John Deveran was tasked with recreating a Bordeaux style blend after Penfolds purchased the Auldana property, transitioning St. Henri over the next decades to a Shiraz-dominant wine. Sourced from vineyards throughout South Australia including McLaren Vale and Barossa Valley in Penfold’s multi-regional style, the luxurious and understated 2019 Penfolds St. Henri was aged for 12 months in large, seasoned oak vats, yielding a deeply structured Shiraz with minimal oak character built for decades of evolution, its luscious concentrated fruit and rich complexity summed up as “gorgeous” by the Wine Advocate’s Erin Larkin.

As the Wine Spectator’s Harvey Steiman noted, “The sneaky little secret that so many savvy Australian wine collectors know is that, yes, St. Henri can age as long as Grange does,” this offer for the compelling 99 pt. 2019 Penfolds Shiraz St. Henri representing a terrific opportunity for collectors of age worthy Aussie Shiraz to stock up at a fraction of the price of the higher profile Grange and enjoy it often over the next decades

99JS

A great St. Henri and, although multi-regional, this is very much a wine that speaks of the Barossa Valley, with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums that are so fresh, together with tobacco, young-leather, earth, chocolate, coal-smoke and tarry accents. Effortless depth on the palate with summer berries, framed in fine, alabaster-like tannins that are underscored with discreet power. So long and captivating. A blend of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.

99 points, James Suckling (Aug 2021)

$119.99

36 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2013 Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant (1.5L)

Sparkling from Champagne, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Equally appealing for collectors of fine wine looking to stock up on impeccably crafted Champagne at bargain prices and for Champagne lovers who just can’t get enough of the really good stuff, these Larmandier-Bernier selections beautifully express their terroir with underlying, mineral-driven energy and impeccable balance, boasting “notable pedigree and pure class” according to critic Antonio Galloni and all superb values.

Sourced from 18 hectares of biodynamically certified estate vineyards in the Cotes des Blancs, the dynamic duo of 7th generation Pierre Larmandier and his wife Sophie craft their deeply textured Champagnes from Premier and Grand Cru vines averaging 35 years and ranging over 80 years, vinifying the rigorously sorted, hand-picked grapes partly or wholly in oak with indigenous yeasts on the lees for about a year, then adding low amounts of sugar or dosage and bottling without filtering or fining before extended aging in the cellar. Incorporating 40% of reserve wines begun in 2004, the two non-vintage cuvees are a study in contrasts, the 93 pt. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude offering fleshy, rounded fruit while the 94 pt. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Longitude is “more chiseled than its Latitude counterpart,” both finishing long on a fine-beaded mousse and among the region’s finest values, “a classy introduction” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley into the incredible depth of this portfolio. Also aged for over two years in bottle, Pierre crafted the elegant 94 pt. Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut Premier Cru Rose de Saignee with mostly Pinot Noir that’s fully macerated over several days to yield its alluring dark rose color and rich flavors, described as “perennially superb” by William Kelley (Saignee translating as “bleeding” in French, referring to the unique method of incorporating the juice of the red-skinned grapes). Sourced from 100% Chardonnay from the single mid-slope “Les Barillers” parcel in Vertus, Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the muscular 93 pt. 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus “a brilliant wine that combines textural richness and energy” while the powerful 94 pt. 2014 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus (available exclusively in magnums) is “full bodied, layered and vinous” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, both crafted in the zero dosage/no added sugar style and aged for over 5 years before bottling. Crafted from 100% Grand Cru Chardonnay vines ranging from 50 to over 80 years old, the 95 pt. 2013 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant and the 96 pt. 2012 Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Vieille Vigne du Levant (available exclusively in magnums) are dense, rich and harmonious wines of notable complexity, while the 96 pt. 2014 Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru Les Chemins d'Avize 96 pt. “possesses tremendous density from start to finish” according to Antonio Galloni, all capturing the essence of their unique old vine origins.

Counted “among Champagne’s finest estates” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, elite grower-producer Larmandier-Bernier crafts each cuvee to express its unique vineyard origins with minimal intervention, these knock-out selections a must buy for every Champagne lover and collector of the world’s finest sparkling wines at value prices that make it easy to experience their full range of dynamic, one of a kind Champagnes.

95V

The 2013 Extra Brut Vieille Vigne de Levant Grand Cru is a Champagne of real breadth and substance that captures the essence of these 50-70-year-old vines. Apricot, chamomile, dried flowers and a kiss of oak are all amplified. Vinous and creamy, the 2013 builds beautifully with time in the glass, showing tremendous character and pedigree. The 2013 was fermented and aged in a combination of neutral barrique and foudre. Its a super-classic Larmandier-Bernier Champagne. Dosage is 2 grams per liter. Disgorged: May, 2022.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (May 2022)

2013 Pehu-Simonet Grand Cru Fins Lieux #7 (750ml)

Chardonnay from Champagne, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Grower and artisan producer David Pehu’s terroir-driven cuvees are a Champagne lover’s dream, a selection of highly rated Champagnes sourced from Grand Cru and Premier Cru estate vineyards in the Montagne de Reims that Vinous critic Antonio Galloni sums up simply as ”Impressive,” priced to deliver amazing value.

Located in the Grand Cru village Verzenay, fourth generation David Pehu sources his cuvees from 7.5 hectares of organically farmed estate vineyards, mostly planted to Pinot Noir in the Montagne de Reims. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards, the N/V 94 pt. Pehu-Simonet 'Face Nord Brut' was aged mostly in stainless steel with 20% in barrique for 30 months, balancing the lush red fruit flavors of Pinot Noir with Chardonnay’s crisp, flinty minerality on a delicate mousse. Described as “gorgeous” by critic Galloni, Pehu crafted the 94 pt. 2013 Pehu-Simonet Fins Lieux #7 from 100% Chardonnay sourced from his Premier Cru parcel in Villers-Marmery, aging it for 72 months in stainless steel to yield an elegant Blanc de Blancs with energetic fruit hinting of chalk and tantalizing acidity. Sourced from 100% Pinot Noir from his Verzenay Grand Cru parcel, the 94 pt. 2014 Pehu-Simonet Grand Cru Fins Lieux #1 was aged in barrique for 60 months, boasting powerful, rich flavors with creamy hints of vanilla floating on a raft of fine bubbles.

Crafted in a range of styles from exquisite vintage Blanc de Blancs and powerful Blanc de Noirs to an elegantly balanced N/V blend packed with Grand Cru fruit at a bargain price, these luscious and complex Pehu-Simonet Champagnes deliver exceptional value - whether choosing a favorite cuvee or mixing a case, in the words of Vinous critic Antonio Galloni , “it’s pretty hard to go wrong with any of these wines.”

94V

The 2013 Extra Brut Villers-Marmery Les Chouettes Fins Lieux #7 shows why Villers-Marmery is often highly regarded. Citrus peel, white flowers, chalk, white pepper and mint give the 2012 its brilliant, sculpted personality. There's plenty of energy and tension here. Bright acids punctuate the intensely, mineral, saline finish. The 2013 is gorgeous. Dosage is 3 grams per liter. Disgorged: February, 2021.

94 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Nov 2021)

2017 Georges Vernay Maison Rouge (750ml)

Syrah from Côte-Rôtie, Rhône, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Domaine Georges Vernay, founded by Francis Vernay in 1937, is a third-generation, venerable wine producer, located in the heart of Condrieu, France. The efforts of Francis Vernay were instrumental in the creation of the official Condrieu appellation in 1940. In later years, Francis was succeeded by his son Georges, who played a key role in restricting the geographical boundaries of Condrieu, preserving the character of the appellation and ensuring its future greatness. In 1996, Christine Vernay, Georges' daughter, took over as winemaker and General Manager of the Estate. Recognized as one of the great winemakers in France, several of her wines have recently been awarded the coveted 100 points in the world’s top wine publications; remarkable - since the 2011 vintage, not a score below 96 from Jeb Dunnuck for the Coteau de Vernon. Among the top two or three Condrieu in any vintage, the Coteau de Vernon comes from very old vines planted in 1936 and 1960, on the steep granite slopes just behind the Vernay estate.

96JD 95V 95WS

The flagship Côte Rôtie, the 2017 Côte Rôtie Maison Rouge comes from a lieu-dit in the southern part of the appellation, and this terroir always yields a more finesse-driven, elegant style of wine. Gorgeous black raspberry, spring flowers, bay leaf, sandalwood, and exotic spice notes characterize this rich, full-bodied, beautifully textured Côte Rôtie. With sweet yet present tannins, an expansive mouthfeel, and integrated oak, this stunning, young, unevolved 2017 will benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and keep for 15 years or more.

96 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Nov 2020)

Shimmering purple. A strongly scented bouquet evokes ripe red and blue fruits, pungent wisteria, licorice and exotic spices, along with a smoky mineral quality and a hint of black pepper. Broad and fleshy but lively on the palate, offering concentrated Chambord, cherry, cassis and fruitcake flavors that are enlivened by building spice and floral accents. Smooth, steadily building tannins add shape to an extremely persistent finish that echoes the spice and floral notes. One-third whole clusters and one-third new oak.

95 points, Josh Raynolds, Vinous (Apr 2020)

Lively, with lots of savory and iron streaks amidst the steeped cherry and plum fruit, ending with a flurry of mouthwatering mineral notes on the finish. Sleek and piercing in feel. Best from 2021 through 2036.

95 points, James Molesworth, Wine Spectator (Dec 2020)

$149.99

56 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2018 Belargus Anjou Treilles Blanc (750ml)

Chenin Blanc from Anjou, Loire, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

A not to be missed selection of top-rated Chenin Blancs from the Loire Valley’s newest rockstar producer, this stellar lineup of exquisite wines from Domaine Belargus is “a must investment for all fans of Chenin Blanc” and equally appealing to those who enjoy “the very great white wines of this world” according to the Wine Advocate’s Stephen Reinhardt, produced in limited quantities and available while they last.

Established in 2018 by Ivan Massonnat, Domaine Belargus is founded on the groundwork of Anjou legend Jo Pithon, among the first to shift focus to vineyard specific Chenin Blanc in the late 1980’s and responsible for the revitalization of the dramatic Coteau des Treilles, a steep, terraced vineyard referred to as the Cote Rotie of the Layon Valley. Originally known for sweet wines but also producing dry Chenins since the late 20th century, the Anjou Noir region boasts a mosaic of complex mineral and volcanic soils perfect for growing Chenin Blanc, with each of the Belargus cru’s expressing its unique origins, including premium parcels in the famed Quarts-de Chaume AOP, the only Grand Cru site in the entire Loire Valley. Leading off with the dry selections, the entry level 94 pt. 2018 Belargus Anjou Ronceray Blanc offers classic Chenin Blanc spiced fruit “all backed by finely beaded acidity” according to the Wine Spectator’s Aleks Zecevic while the powerful 97 pt. 2018 Belargus Anjou Treilles Blanc is a silky, seamlessly textured Chenin Blanc with a mineral tinged finish sourced from the famed 2.72-hectare Coteau des Treilles monopole, a beauty that “any serious wine lover should at least taste” according to critic Reinhardt. Sourced from vineyards along the Layon River, its humid air aiding in the late season development of botrytis, the 96 pt. 2018 Belargus Coteaux du Layon Moelleux Layon is a harmonious blend of polished fruit and honeyed texture, offering “great tension between acidity and sweetness” according to critic Zecevic with a “sensationally long” finish and delivering incredible value. Sourced from one of the three plots listed in the original declaration of the Grand Cru Quarts-de-Chaume appellation, the 96 pt. 2018 Belargus Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru Roueres is “rich yet finessed and elegant” according to critic Reinhardt, bottled in full size 750 ml. Described as “fabulous” and “irresistible,” the 99 pt. 2018 Belargus Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru Les Quarts pairs “richness and sweetness with crystalline finesse and elegance in an unrivaled way” according to Reinhardt, and the viscous and intensely concentrated 100 pt. 2018 Belargus Quarts-de-Chaume Grand Cru Ultra is “made for eternity,” and with only one barrel produced, a must for collectors of “the finest noble sweet wines,” poised to age for decades, both of these beauties offered in 375 ml. half bottles.

Offered in a range of styles and levels of complexity, these selections from Domaine Belargus highlight Chenin Blanc's chameleon-like ability to elegantly mirror its terroir when crafted by an exceptional producer. Sourced from an outstanding 2018 Loire Valley vintage, Chenin Blanc fans and anyone looking to explore the Loire’s best whites won’t want to miss this opportunity to enjoy these masterful Loire wines from Domaine Belargus, ideal for mixing a case at an astoundingly good price.

97WA 95WS

The south-facing 2.72-hectare monopole Coteau des Treilles in Rochefort was resuscitated at the end of the 1990s by Jo Pithon from Domaine Pithon, once famous for world-class noble sweet wines from the Coteaux du Layon. Abandoned after the war because of its 30% to 70% steep slopes, this south-facing hillside is based on "geological chaos," as Ivan Massonnat puts it. "The subsoils are made up of magmatic rocks, schists, pudding stone and ancient limestones. ... This plot is located in the heart of the Pont-Barré Natural Reserve, a heaven of biodiversity that has never known chemistry and is home to exceptional flora and fauna, observed as early as the 18th century by Angevin botanists." I remember well my first visit here 17 years ago when I was deeply impressed by the vineyard and Jo's initiative to bring this grand cru back on the map of the Loire's finest vineyards. I have always adored Jo's wines from this cru, but the Belargus 2018 Anjou Coteau des Treilles seems to top everything that I have known from here. Intensely golden-yellow in color, the wine opens with a pure, refined and elegant yet intense and flinty nose of perfectly ripe yet fine fruits that intermingle with the schistous terroir as well as pastry and lemon/orange-scented fruit aromas. Filigreed and intense on the refined and elegant palate, this is a full-bodied, dense, intense and tensioned yet highly finessed and elegant Chenin with elderflower and orange blossom flavors at this early stage and a delicate tannin structure. The wine is rich and intense but always stimulating, with great finesse and elegance as well as long and juicy, wonderfully concentrated fruit. Everything is in great harmony, and any serious wine lover should at least taste this beauty.

97 points, Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (Jul 2021)

Not a powerhouse, and a bit restrained at first, but with air, this opens up beautifully, allowing the notes of peach, ginger and yellow plum to emerge tied to a bony frame. The complexity makes this almost a philosophical drink, but a bright mineral note and the alluring, mouthwatering edge bring back the immediate enjoyment. Superlong and harmonious, but the slight crunch on the finish suggests this could benefit from more aging. Best from 2023 through 2035. 333 cases made.

95 points, Aleks Zecevic, Wine Spectator (Nov 2020)

Marguet Shaman 19 Brut Nature Rose Grand Cru (750ml)

Chardonnay from Champagne, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Tasting off the beaten path in the gently rolling hills below Reims, it’s a thrilling experience to discover a smaller grower-producer of exceptional quality Champagne with limited production rarely available in the U.S. and even better when it's a terrific deal. Described as “a fast-rising star in the Montagne de Reims if not in the entire Champagne region” by the Wine Advocate, these elegant cuvees from Champagne Marguet Pere & Fils boast rich flavors and distinct minerality on a creamy, fine beaded mousse reflecting some of the region’s top Grand and Premier Cru terroirs, offering an opportunity to enjoy outstanding Champagne from an under the radar grower-producer without ever stepping on a plane at a superb value price.

Based in the village of Ambonnay on the south side of the Montagne de Reims hill, Champagne Marguet Pere & Fils is a small, family-run Champagne house dating back to the 19^th century, producing a range of cuvees from Premier and Grand Cru vineyards in Ambonnay and neighboring Bouzy with its oldest vines dating back to 1925. Sourced from 8.5 hectares of estate vineyards along with a few plots leased from other family members, fifth-generation Benoit Marguet trained at Champagne Mumm before assuming the role of Chef de Cave in 2005, converting the family vineyards to organic viticulture and implementing biodynamic principles including plowing by horse. Employing barrel fermentation with native yeasts and extended lees aging, Benoit adds a minimal amount of sulfur and no dosage or sugar before further lengthy aging in bottle, yielding impeccably balanced Champagnes with distinct minerality mirroring their unique vineyard origins. Described as “a wonderful introduction” to Champagne Marguet by James Suckling, the 95 pt. NV Marguet Shaman Extra Brut Grand Cru is a blend of mostly Pinot Noir from Grand Cru parcels in Ambonnay and Bouzy and the 93 pt. NV Marguet Shaman Rose Extra Brut Grand Cru JS is mostly Chardonnay blended with over a quarter reserve wines and some still Pinot Noir. Sourced from Grand Cru vineyards renowned for their exceptional Pinot Noir, the 92 pt. 2015 Marguet Brut Ambonnay Grand Cru offers “an elegant expression of both site and vintage” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, while the powerful 95 pt. 2018 Marguet Ambonnay Brut Nature Grand Cru “breaks the rules in a beautiful way” according to James Suckling. A limited release of only 900 bottles, the 94 pt. 2015 Marguet Brut Avize & Cramant Grand Cru draws complexity from the rich chalky soils of its Grand Cru vineyards, and the 94 pt. 2018 Marguet Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru is 100% Chardonnay from Avize, “a very original interpretation of this famous terroir” according to James Suckling. Among Marguet’s single vineyard cuvees, the exceptional 2018 Marguet Le Parc Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru from 100% Chardonnay reveals a subtle minerality reflecting its origins above the village of Ambonnay bordering Krug’s Clos du Mesnil and just down slope from Selosse’s Le Bout du Clos lieu-dit, the unique mid-slope parcel containing deep deposits of tuffe, a chalk-heavy bedrock. From a prized and distinctive lieu-dit planted in 1970, the stunning 2018 Marguet Brut Ambonnay Grand Cru Les Crayeres is 100% Pinot Noir from the sunny, mid-slope parcel, a long-lived Champagne of great energy and depth and the 97 pt. 2018 Marguet Bouzy Brut Nature from 100% Pinot Noir boasts an “almost supernatural energy” according to James Suckling. From vines planted in 1967 on alluvial soils, the 94 pt. 2015 Marguet Brut Ambonnay La Grande Ruelle Grand Cru and the 98 pt. 2018 Marguet Brut Ambonnay La Grande Ruelle Grand Cru both from 100% Pinot Noir balance rich spiced fruit and vibrant energy “with an almost endless finish” according to James Suckling. Considered Champagne's first organic prestige cuvee, the 96 pt. 2014 Marguet Sapience Extra Brut 1er Cru is a collaborative blend with fellow biodynamic growers Benoit Lahaye, Vincent Laval and David Leclapart revealing rich depth and a “staggeringly fresh finish” according to James Suckling that will continue to evolve for another decade.

A true insider find for bubbly fans, these exceptional Champagne Marguet selections are offered in limited quantities at a fraction of the pricey prestige cuvees, all meticulously crafted to reflect their exceptional terroir and promising to reward Champagne lovers who act quickly with some seriously pleasurable drinking ahead.

93JG

The Champagne Marguet “Shaman 19” Rosé Brut Nature is crafted from a blend of seventy-seven percent chardonnay and twenty-three percent pinot noir in this vintage. This is already beautifully expressive on the nose, delivering a refined blend of tangerine, white peach, dried rose petals, rye bread, a lovely base of chalky soil and a gentle topnote of brown spices. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, young and complex, with a rock solid core, excellent mineral drive and cut, pinpoint bubbles and a long, zesty and elegant finish. First class Rosé.

93 points, John Gilman (Feb 2023)

2016 Fonseca Vintage Port (1.5L)

From Douro, Portugal

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

After returning from Portugal's spectacular Duero River Valley, I am happy to report that 2016 is unanimously declared a vintage by the Port trade. Lunching in Oporto with Rupert Symington, who reigns over the top Port houses Dow, Warres, Graham's, Cockburn and Taylor. He related 2016 to be unique but a hypothetical combination of 2007 and 2011 but with intense floral aromatics not in recent memory.

Having tasted a number of dry reds from 2016 the unique aspects of the vintage are clear to me; aromatics, concentration, intensity – in particular old vines at higher elevations. At Fonseca, vineyard vine age exceeds 35 years. The extraction, concentration, combined with floral perfumes, finesse and a lengthy elegant finish with fine tannins define the vintage for both sweet and dry reds.

2016 Ports were just bottled in the recently, so not many reviews are out yet from the professional critics, but you should know that vintages are only declared with the wines are superb, This happens roughly three times a decade, similar to vintage Champagne. I am confident offering Fonseca, and at early-bird prices that won't be matched. This is a Port vintage that will be drinkable early on and hold for decades.

98JS 97WA

Lots of ripe fruit here with raisins and wet earth that turn to violets and hot stones. Full-bodied, tannic and powerful with fantastic grip and intensity. Grabs you. Impressive. Drink in 2025.

98 points, James Suckling (May 2018)

The 2016 Vintage Port is a field blend sourced from the typical three Quintas (Panascal in the Tavora Valley and Quinta do Cruzeiro and Quinta de St Antonio in the Pinhão Valley). This was not quite bottled when first seen (set for a week later). It is now in the USA. It was aged for 20 months in wood and comes in with 99 grams of residual sugar. This dry and focused Fonseca was, in my initial July 2018 report, the pick of the Fladgate Group's litter in 2016. What has most changed in this issue is that Taylor's is showing a lot better while this has closed down a bit more. This is not seriously diminished, though. It is pretty brilliant. If you want that old-school power, it comes with Fonseca in this vintage. Taylor's may have the sexiest fruit of the three, but this seems to have the most muscle. It is true that the balance on the two just might be affecting that perception. Taylor's has a bit more mid-palate depth to soak up the power. Still, if Taylor's is flashier and richer in 2016, this seems even more serious. In the long lifespan of Ports, to be sure, it won't be unusual for them to keep flipping back and forth. Admittedly, this is also probably the hardest to read. Still, I couldn't help but think that this might have slightly more upside potential. Check in around 2060 or so to see if I'm right. (Send me an email if you don't think so. I want to hear from you.) On this second look, this Fonseca is still remarkably expressive, lifted and gloriously fresh, even with that slight closing. It has reasonable mid-palate concentration but even better intensity of flavor. Despite that intensity of flavor, it is not quite as sexy as it is in some years, at least not yet, as the tannins are firmly in charge. That isn't changing anytime soon. This rather stern Fonseca simply revels in its brilliant structure. This is a Port that demands cellaring if you want it to be all it can be. You and it will profit from at least 10 more years of cellaring. Doubling that will help a lot more.

97 points, Mark Squires, Wine Advocate (Issue # 240 - Dec 2018)

2021 Emmolo Merlot (750ml)

Merlot from Napa, California

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Welcome to Round Two of our exceptional offer from the Wagner Family of Wines, a terrific opportunity to stock up on the limited 2020 Caymus liters along with some outstanding big, bold reds from Caymus-Suisun and a selection of Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Merlot crafted by the Caymus team, all at specially negotiated pricing while they last. Backed by the quality legacy of Caymus founder Chuck Wagner, here’s what’s in stock and ready to enjoy.

Sourced from Monterey, Chuck Wagner’s richly styled 2022 Mer Soleil Chardonnay Reserve offers opulent, buttery tropical fruit. Crafted by Chuck’s daughter Jenny Wagner, the crisp and refreshing 2022 Emmolo Sauvignon Blanc offers citrus fruit flavors with bright acidity, and the full-bodied 2021 Emmolo Merlot boasts ripe and rich dark fruit hinting of oak and vanilla with smooth supple tannins. Produced at the Wagner Family’s new state of the art winery located in Solana County’s Suisun Valley (pronounced su-soon), the outstanding 2021 Caymus-Suisun Grand Durif is a blend highlighting bold, luscious dark Petit Sirah with hints of toasted herbs and spice layered with plush tannins while the lush 2021 Caymus-Suisun Walking Fool boasts the earthy, spiced flavors of Zinfandel with tantalizing acidity on a smooth finish. Declared “an American classic,” by Decanter’s Stephen Brook, the newly released 2021 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon was crafted from top quality ripe Napa fruit and aged in mostly new French oak for 16 months before bottling, its rich texture layered with luscious vanilla and toasted oak, finishing long with integrated, velvety tannins that promise longevity. As the first to introduce Caymus to Florida, B-21 Caymus fans are reaping the rewards of our long standing relationship with special pricing on one liter bottles of 2021 Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon (1000ml), available while they last at the same price as the standard 750ml.

With the Caymus reputation for quality behind each label, this unique opportunity to stock up on one liter bottles of 2020 Caymus or mix a case or two from the Wagner's wide ranging portfolio at special bargain pricing is offered for a limited time, all immensely enjoyable wines that will have Caymus fans wishing they’d bought more.

90WS

Lithe and sleek up front, revealing black cherry, spiced cinnamon and tomato leaf flavors, underlined by an increasingly tense structure as this approaches broad-shouldered tannins. Drink now through 2029. 22,900 cases made.

90 points, Tim Fish, Wine Spectator (Nov 2023)

$47.99

48 bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1

2018 Enzo Boglietti Brunate (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Described by the Wine Advocate as crafting “some of the richest, most deeply flavored Barolos in Piedmont,”, this selection of highly rated Cru Barolos from Enzo Boglietti rank among the Piedmont’s top bargains, each sourced from small family-owned parcels spread across Barolo’s top Cru’s and all promising to age over the next decade or more at an incredible value price.

Ending his family’s decades’ long practice of selling grapes to the local coop, Enzo Boglietti established his La Morra winery with 3 hectares of vineyards in 1991, counted among the group of rebellious young winemakers at the time producing a more modern style Barolo crafted to be immediately accessible. Over the years Enzo has moderated his approach, limiting the use of new French oak barriques and reducing extraction times during fermentation to produce elegantly styled, site expressive Barolos from some of the region’s top Crus, his vineyards now spanning 20 hectares across the Langhe. Described by James Suckling as “clean and fresh”, the appealing 92 pt. 2018 Enzo Boglietti Boiolo is sourced from a 1.95 hectare parcel at 300-350 meters above sea level on the northern border of Rocche dell’Annunziata, while the aromatic 94 pt. 2016 Enzo Boglietti Fossati expresses the typical character of the Fossati cru with floral aromatics and balsamic nuances, summed up by the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson as “graceful yet packs a punch.” From the warmer, protected Cru situated between the upper portion of Fossati and Cerequio, James Suckling calls the 96 pt. 2015 Enzo Boglietti Case Nere “impressively refined” while describing the 95 pt. 2016 Enzo Boglietti Brunate as “fullbodied” and finishing “tight, dense and long,” sourced from a tiny half hectare Brunate parcel known for producing elegant, silky Barolo with deep complexity. From the southernmost Cru in Serralunga that exhibits a “distinctly wild, feral quality strong on iron and mineral” according to Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the refined 95 pt. 2018 Enzo Boglietti Barolo Arione is his most “pinot-like” Barolo according to Enzo, while the 94 pt. 2018 Enzo Boglietti Brunate delivers Brunate’s legendary combination of elegance and power “balanced by juicy, acidity” according to the Wine Independent’s Susan Hulme with “a lovely fresh finish.”

Described as “a young producer on the rise” crafting “sumptuous Barolos” by critic Antonio Galloni over a decade ago, these elegantly crafted Cru Barolo selections from Enzo Boglietti overdeliver in a big way, priced at a mere fraction of his competitors and offering a terrific opportunity to mix a case and enjoy Boglietti’s full range of top scoring Cru Barolo reflecting the region’s diverse terroirs for years to come.

94WA 94WI 92JS

The 2018 Barolo Brunate shows ripe and soft fruit with mature cherry, blackberry, wild raspberry and dried sage. This is a fine and delicate wine that creeps up on you in terms of intensity, structure and power. Give it a few moments in the glass, and this wine goes from being tame to opulent in just a few steps.

94 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Aug 2022)

The 2018 Enzo Boglietti Barolo Brunate begins with aromas of heady spice followed by baking spices, brown sugar, dark, spicy fruit and some fruit cake aromas and flavors all balanced by juicy, acidity giving a lovely fresh finish. The tannins are nicely integrated into the wine - they are firm, clipped, and assertive in nature adding length to the finish. The Brunate vineyard in La Morra is at an altitude of 300-350 meters with a south-south-east exposure so it gets the early morning sun. The vines, which were planted in 2004/2005, are on a loamy, clay soil which tends to produce fuller bodied wines.

94 points, Susan Hulme, Wine Independent (Jul 2022)

Some complexity on the nose, with dried red fruit and some richly spiced and nutty notes. Medium-bodied with tight, brighter fruit on the palate. Fine, lightly firm tannins and a medium finish. Enough focus to keep you interested. Drink from 2023.

92 points, James Suckling (Aug 2022)

2014 Larmandier-Bernier Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus (1.5L)

Sparkling from Cote des Blancs, Champagne, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

Equally appealing for collectors of fine wine looking to stock up on impeccably crafted Champagne at bargain prices and for Champagne lovers who just can’t get enough of the really good stuff, these Larmandier-Bernier selections beautifully express their terroir with underlying, mineral-driven energy and impeccable balance, boasting “notable pedigree and pure class” according to critic Antonio Galloni and all superb values.

Sourced from 18 hectares of biodynamically certified estate vineyards in the Cotes des Blancs, the dynamic duo of 7th generation Pierre Larmandier and his wife Sophie craft their deeply textured Champagnes from Premier and Grand Cru vines averaging 35 years and ranging over 80 years, vinifying the rigorously sorted, hand-picked grapes partly or wholly in oak with indigenous yeasts on the lees for about a year, then adding low amounts of sugar or dosage and bottling without filtering or fining before extended aging in the cellar. Incorporating 40% of reserve wines begun in 2004, the two non-vintage cuvees are a study in contrasts, the 93 pt. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Latitude offering fleshy, rounded fruit while the 94 pt. Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Longitude is “more chiseled than its Latitude counterpart,” both finishing long on a fine-beaded mousse and among the region’s finest values, “a classy introduction” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley into the incredible depth of this portfolio. Also aged for over two years in bottle, Pierre crafted the elegant 94 pt. Larmandier-Bernier Extra Brut Premier Cru Rose de Saignee with mostly Pinot Noir that’s fully macerated over several days to yield its alluring dark rose color and rich flavors, described as “perennially superb” by William Kelley (Saignee translating as “bleeding” in French, referring to the unique method of incorporating the juice of the red-skinned grapes). Sourced from 100% Chardonnay from the single mid-slope “Les Barillers” parcel in Vertus, Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the muscular 93 pt. 2015 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus “a brilliant wine that combines textural richness and energy” while the powerful 94 pt. 2014 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus (available exclusively in magnums) is “full bodied, layered and vinous” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, both crafted in the zero dosage/no added sugar style and aged for over 5 years before bottling.

Counted “among Champagne’s finest estates” according to the Wine Advocate’s William Kelley, elite grower-producer Larmandier-Bernier crafts each cuvee to express its unique vineyard origins with minimal intervention, these knock-out selections a must buy for every Champagne lover and collector of the world’s finest sparkling wines at value prices that make it easy to experience their full range of dynamic, one of a kind Champagnes.

94WA

Disgorged in January 2020, the 2014 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Terre de Vertus is a fine follow-up to the excellent 2013 and 2012 renditions. Unwinding in the glass with scents of white flowers, citrus oil, crisp orchard fruit, fresh pastry and almonds, it's full-bodied, layered and vinous, with more richness and mid-palate amplitude than the tauter 2013, underpinned by racy acids and chalky structuring extract.

94+ points, William Kelley, Wine Advocate (Mar 2021)

2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Enrico VI (750ml)

Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy

B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More

“Another highly successful vintage for one of La Morra's leading estates.”

Antonio Galloni, Vinous

From an “exemplary” vintage according to the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson that “will reward patient Nebbiolo fans,” the enticing 95 pt. 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto delivers richly aromatic, luscious fruit with layered, silky tannins crafted to be enjoyed over the next few decades, an elegant Barolo from one of the region’s most iconic estates and a fantastic value.

Traveling the winding drive to the historic Cordero di Montezemolo winery in the Piedmont, visitors pass the gated path to the legendary hilltop 165 yr. old Cedar of Lebanon, a marker of the family’s centuries’ long history in La Morra that has become such a popular attraction that it’s kept under lock and key. Rewarded with a spectacular panoramic view upon reaching the top, the historic 28-hectare single vineyard extends over all sides of the hill, its contiguous planting a rarity in Barolo and managed by 19th generation winemaker Alberto Cordero di Montezemolo since 2007. Sourcing most of its fruit for the Monfaletto from the Gattera cru with some from Annunziata, the organically grown Nebbiolo vines ranging up to 50 years of age are planted at 300 meters above sea level on sandy clay and calcareous soils, situated in an amphitheater with a southerly exposure that promotes even ripening. Employing a mix of different types of French and Slovenian wood, Alberto aged the parcels for the luxurious 2019 Monfaletto separately for 18 to 24 months before bottling with another year in the cellar before release, yielding a deeply textured Barolo that finishes “balanced and long” according to the Wine Spectator’s Bruce Sanderson “with a swath of solid tannins” that predict pleasurable drinking for several decades to come.

Declared “a very fine Barolo” by Antonio Galloni that “will thrill readers who appreciate the nuance, subtlety and structure of Nebbiolo,” the 95 pt. 2019 Cordero di Montezemolo Barolo Monfalletto delivers the goods for Barolo collectors, impeccably balancing fresh opulent fruit with polished silky tannins on a lengthy mineral-tinged finish, an unbeatable value worthy of making room in the cellar to enjoy over the next decades.

96WA 96JS 95V

The flagship wine from Cordero di Montezemolo is the 2019 Barolo Enrico VI (with 6,200 bottles hitting the market now). This organic wine is made from a special selection of fruit at 300 meters in elevation from the Villero cru in Castiglione Falletto. It reveals a slow and long presentation of aromas with blackcurrant, cassis, grilled herb and crushed rose. These delicate aromas are presented in the context of a concentrated, full-bodied Nebbiolo that is built for long cellar aging.

96 points, Monica Larner, Wine Advocate (Aug 2023)

The rose flower, violet, dark berry and cedar aromas are impressive on the nose. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are powerful and muscular. Excellent length. Classic Barolo that needs at least four or five years to soften. From organically grown grapes. Try after 2027.

96 points, James Suckling (Jul 2023)

The 2019 Barolo Enrico VI is a super-classic wine from this site. Spice, menthol and a whole range of balsamic inflections open first, before the firm Villero tannins kick in. I imagine the 2019 is going to need a number of years to be at its best, but it is another stellar wine in this lineup up from Cordero di Montezemolo.

95 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Jan 2023)

$109.99

60+ bottles in stock and ready to ship.

1