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| 2022 Chateau Meyney (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Poujeaux (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Moulis-en-Medoc, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Sociando-Mallet (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Haut-Medoc, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Acknowledging that 2019 is already a heralded vintage, the salient question is whether it represents the summit of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 triumvirate. 'Yes' is the answer. I have always felt that is the case." - Neal Martin, Vinous Of course, you may or may not agree with Martin in terms of 2019 place in the "trifecta," but it's undeniable that is a truly spectacular Bordeaux vintage that has more than lived up to its day-one hype since the wine's have hit the market, hit collector's cellars, and found their way into the glasses of impatient enthusiasts. Best of all, pricing has always been highly favorable compared to 2018 and 2020 (to say nothing of 2022), so the 2019s have also been some of the sharpest collectible buys on the market from the get-go and remain so today. We've just landed a must-see treasure trove from this heralded campaign at ... you guessed it ... razor-sharp pricing cross the board, with superb performers in every classification and price tier. | ||
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| 2024 F.X. Pichler Loibner Gruner Veltliner Federspiel (750ml) | ||
| Gruner Veltliner from Wachau, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Lukas Pichler delivered one of the best collections of the year—extract, tautness, freshness and fill all shine in 2024." - Anne Krebiehl, Vinous For fans of Austria's finest expressions, F.X. Pichler occupies elite status among a handful estates that set the bar in the Wachau and beyond. Winemaker Lucas Pichler is a renowned perfectionist with such confidence in his own skills and style that he recently decided to withdraw from the Vinea Wachau, the region's official wine classification organization that sets the criteria for the familiar Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd designations, instead opting to allow his wines to distinguish themselves on pure terroir character rather than empirical measures like residual sugar, ripeness, and alcohol levels. This range of magnificent 2024 Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners, including another showstopping double 100-point Riesling Kellerberg, continue to vindicate Pichler's approach, offering crystalline purity and site specificity that capture the attention of fine wine collectors the world over. With outstanding press across the board from James Suckling, Vinous, and Peter Moser of Austria's renowned Falstaff Magazine, these are surefire winners that will shine in your cellar for many years along side the world's great collectible white wines. | ||
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| 2023 Eric Forest Macon-Pierreclos Clos des Charmes (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Maconnais, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More His name doesn't appear much in the critical press these days, but Eric Forest quietly remains one of Pouilly-Fuissé most engaging and talented winemakers. Our Burgundy team recently paid a visit to his cellars, and they were thrilled to discover Eric and his wines in exceptional form. The range of 2023s got nods all around, but the Les Crays 1er Cru was the undisputed standout. "One of the top three wines from our recent trip to Burgundy, and we’re thrilled to get it directly from the domaine’s cellars." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Burgundy Buyer The Les Crays vineyard itself boasts every feature that makes a quintessential Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay - southerly exposure, very poor soils of broken limestone, moderate slope, and old vines (these planted between 1930 and 1966). At the foot of the famed Roche de Vergisson, Les Crays is terroir excellence in a nutshell, and Forest's 2023 "is a head-turning expression that shows why this vineyard is a bona fide 1er cru," according to Andrew. It's a complete wine in every sense that is already starting to synch its components into a harmonious whole that will only gain in complexity and personality over the coming several years. Further underscoring the excellence of Forest's domaine holdings are his old-vine, single-vineyard gems from Terre Noire in St-Véran and Clos des Charmes in Mâcon-Pierreclos. The former comes from a small, 100-year-old parcel on dark clay over bleached white limestone, and it's "easily the most concentrated and intense wine in Forest’s line-up," tightly wound today but with utterly compelling cellar potential for the medium to long term. The latter, by contrast, is an "upfront, charming yet precisely crafted gem ... with real style and substance that does everything it’s supposed to." Today's Burgundy market is a wild place, and when you find a top-notch, single-vineyard expressions like these under $60, you jump at them, plain and simple. | ||
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| 2022 Philippe Alliet Chinon L'Huisserie (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Chinon, Loire, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "What a great scoop for our Loire direct-import portfolio to have Philippe Alliet and his son Pierre join the fold ... these wines are easily among the very best in Chinon." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Loire Buyer While not extremely well-known on this side of the Atlantic, Domaine Philippe Alliet is one of the Chinon appellation's leading lights, standing in strong company right alongside the likes of Charles Joguet. Father and son Philippe and Pierre employ meticulous methods to their prized vineyard holdings (some of the very best in all of Chinon), spearheading a new wave of viticulture that emphasizes very low yields and optimally ripe fruit at all costs. The resulting wines are nothing short of revelatory, reference-point expressions, which we saw first-hand during a tasting last fall. The entire range is superb, but the 93-point 2022 Vieilles Vignes offers a perfect introduction to this remarkable, must-know estate.Selecting from the oldest vines in their various plots, all at least 70 years old, the Alliets vinify and age the VV entirely in cement vats, while full de-stemming only adds to the sheer allure of the wine's personality and expression. As Yohan Castaing of Wine Advocate writes, "This vintage is one of the most precise and pure expressions of Vieilles Vignes I have ever tasted. Kudos!" Turning to the single-vineyard cuvées, the 2022 L'Huisserie hails from a south-facing on Chinon's most favored hillside, the clay and flint soils imparting both a round, fleshy, full-fruited character as well as a firm mineral signature to the wine. This "multidimensional wine" showcase the Alliet style to a T, with none of the rusticity that often follows Chinon Cab Franc. Finally, the 2023 Coteau de Noiré is a stupendous expression of a Chinon "grand cru" site with similar clay and marl soils and a much steeper 40% incline. The wine exhibits a firm structural foundation, sappy mid-palate, and brooding fruit profile for what amounts to a pinnacle expression of cellar-worthy Cabernet Franc. Best of all, we're bringing you the Alliet wines directly from the domaine as new additions to our rapidly expanding Loire direct-import range, so the quality for price, which was already outstanding, becomes essentially unbeatable in the category. | ||
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| 2023 Patrice Rion Cote de Nuits Villages Vieilles Vignes (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Côtes de Nuits, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More One of our top additions to our direct-import portfolio in the past two years is undoubtedly Domaine Michele & Patrice Rion, a consistently excellent property now run by Patrice's son Maxime. The domaine is on a true roll of late, resulting in benchmark renditions from their holdings in Vosne, Chambolle, and Nuits. Garnering generous accolades from Burgundy's three most influential critical voices, the 2023s follow suit on the equally stunning 2022s, highlighted by their trio of 1er crus from Nuits-St-Georges, which stand with elite company of the appellation in names like Gouges, l'Arlot, and Chevillon, but at a fraction of their prices thanks to our direct access to the domaine's cellars. Each one is a pure reflection of its Nuits-St-Georges terroir and the outstanding 2023 vintage, offering undeniable collectible appeal for the cellar. The "harmony and beauty" of the 1er Cru Clos des Argillieres kicks it off with 96-point potential from Jasper Morris, while the "lovely" Les Hautes Pruliers, from a top-of-slope parcel in the famed 1er cru, shows 94-point potential per Neal Martin and quintessential appellation character. The crown-jewel of the domaine, however, is the singular 1er Cru Clos St-Marc from a monopole parcel of 60 year old vines just under a hectare in size. With 96-point potential according to Morris and 93-95 points from Neal Martin, the Clos St-Marc is "the Domaine's standout cuvée in 2023—superb," a powerful Nuits with focus and poise that will cruise for two-plus decades. As great as the NSGs are, don't overlook the "racy, beautifully detailed and solidly concentrated" Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes, a wonderfully suave and savvy buy that can punch with much more expensive expressions, or the stupendous value of the sub-$40 Cote-de-Nuits Village, which offers solid proof that "Rion takes things seriously at every level of their line-up." We're thrilled to present these impressive, under-the-radar Cote-de-Nuits standouts to our Burgundy clients at our unbeatable, domaine-direct pricing, so don't miss this opportunity to load your cellar with some of the sharpest collectible buys in the acclaimed 2023 vintage. | ||
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| 2023 Servin Vaillons Chablis 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The 30-hectare Domaine Servin ... continues to number among Chablis's most reliable addresses." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate Long-time B-21 Burgundy aficionados know Domaine Servin as a bastion of the classical Chablis style. Year in and year out, this exceptional estate holds true to the characteristics that have earned the region its legions of adoring fans. Even in a warm vintage like 2023, the domaine's extensive range of wines maintain the chiseled cut and energy that fans of the old school know and love. These are proven performers that deliver quintessential Chablis style and first-class QPR. A standout trio of 1er crus is lead by the "simply beautiful" Montée de Tonnerre that garnered 94 points from View From the Cellar's John Gilman and 90-93 points and an Outstanding designation from Meadows of Burghound, who notes its "The super-sleek, intense and equally attractively textured flavors " The crown jewels in the Servin stable are undoubtedly the Les Clos and Bougros Grands Crus, both of which are superbly structured renditions that collectors will love to have in their cellars for years to come. As the region's recent growing seasons have tended to favor a more modern, upfront style, it's becoming increasingly harder to find Chablis expressions that capture the very best of what made the region famous in the first place, but Domaine Servin is still holding true to form, and you'll be hard-pressed to find more transparent terroir character in the 2023 vintage than this line-up on offer today. | ||
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| 2023 Vincent Paris Cornas Granit 30 (750ml) | ||
| Syrah from Cornas, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Vincent Paris continues to craft distinctive, age-worthy Cornas, as evidenced once again during my most recent visit..." - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous Our direct-import portfolio has taken some major steps in the past year and landed some big names, and now we can add Cornas icon Vincent Paris to that list. Thanks to some very fortuitous connections, we gained domaine-direct access to this perennial superstar producer and his benchmark wines. The outstanding 2023s have just landed in stock. Made from Paris' younger parcels on 30% slopes (and now with vines almost 30 years old), the 96-point 2023 Granit 30 exhibits fantastic signature elements of its granitic soils, as well as Paris' ultrafine winemaker's touch. "This is always the most forward and approachable of Paris's cuvées and will put a smile on your face right out of the gate," declares Dunnuck. Paris' wines are renowned for their cellar potential, but that doesn't mean you can't pop and pour the Granit 30 tonight. After all, it's "an accessible Cornas that’s packed with remarkable energy and freshness all the way through," so stocking the cellar is an easy choice. Next up, as the name suggests, the 97-point 2023 Granit 60 comes from three plots of old-vines on steep granite slopes, densely planted and low-yielding. Paris' winemaking methods are traditional yet meticulous, so he's able to showcase his prime terroir in crystal-clear fashion in each of his wines. There's tons of Cornas soul here, but the wines avoid the rustic, untamed nature that's sometimes associated with this appellation. Instead, we get ""a full-bodied 2023 that's beautifully balanced, elegant, and layered ... another smoking value from this incredibly talented vigneron." according to Dunnuck. Finally, boasting serious press from prominent voices like Suckling, Dunnuck, and Vinous among others, the 98-point 2023 Geynale is an outstanding collectible proposition that ranks with the region's elite names. This magnificent showstopper, made from the oldest vines in two of Cornas' most prized sites, is "full-bodied on the palate, with ripe tannins, the classic, wild, sauvage character of the appellation, and a great finish," while Wine Spectator declares, "Massive in scale yet achieves perfect harmony between its ripeness, texture and energy." We brought a staggering number of top-tier domaines into our direct-import fold in 2025, but Vincent Paris might just take the cake. These wines are built to age with incredible panache, so make room, stash a few away, and get ready to enjoy some of the most consistently excellent Northern Rhône Syrahs on the market. | ||
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| 2023 Zind-Humbrecht Gewurztraminer (750ml) | ||
| Gewurztraminer from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Zind-Humbrecht is one of the most famous domaines in Alsace – deservedly so ... No matter what variety, the expressions are layered and pure." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous Just landed in stock, we have a thrilling range of 2023s from one of France's benchmark domaines. Zind-Humbrecht is unquestionably one of the three most iconic domaines in Alsace, routinely racking up huge press and glowing accolades up and down their comprehensive line-up. As expected, the 2023s show out in fine form, the warm vintage balanced by Pierre-Emile Humbrecht's highly finessed winemaking. The domaine's exquisite terroirs all acquit themselves with extraordinary class and precision, starting wth the Roche series, which are simply declassified younger vines in the domaine's priceless Grand Cru holdings. The 95-point Roche Calcaire Riesling is "taut, lemony, long, streamlined and tightly coiled—a wellspring of freshness," per Anne Krebiehl, while the "very dynamic and driving" 95-point Roche Volcanique Pinot Gris shows the noble varietal's exceptional class. Of course, for anyone seeking the apex of Alsace, the grands crus from Clos St-Urbain plot in the Rangen de Thann are the only way to go. The 2023 Riesling Clos St-Urbain flirts with perfection with 99 points from Stuart Pigott and 98 points from Krebiehl, A wine of "gigantic concentration, elegance and finesse," it showcases what Alsace Riesling is all about. The "incredible" 2023 Pinot Gris Clos St-Urbain actually hits perfection, with 100 points from Pigott, who declares, "The brain-rattling concentration, smokiness and flinty energy of this unique dry pinot gris don’t fit in any box on this planet." Both of these selections are naturally among the world's finest, most long-lived collectible whites anywhere. These are just a few highlights from a truly stellar range of timeless classics that astute collectors will be thrilled to own in the years to come. | ||
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| 2023 Zind-Humbrecht Riesling (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Zind-Humbrecht is one of the most famous domaines in Alsace – deservedly so ... No matter what variety, the expressions are layered and pure." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous Just landed in stock, we have a thrilling range of 2023s from one of France's benchmark domaines. Zind-Humbrecht is unquestionably one of the three most iconic domaines in Alsace, routinely racking up huge press and glowing accolades up and down their comprehensive line-up. As expected, the 2023s show out in fine form, the warm vintage balanced by Pierre-Emile Humbrecht's highly finessed winemaking. The domaine's exquisite terroirs all acquit themselves with extraordinary class and precision, starting wth the Roche series, which are simply declassified younger vines in the domaine's priceless Grand Cru holdings. The 95-point Roche Calcaire Riesling is "taut, lemony, long, streamlined and tightly coiled—a wellspring of freshness," per Anne Krebiehl, while the "very dynamic and driving" 95-point Roche Volcanique Pinot Gris shows the noble varietal's exceptional class. Of course, for anyone seeking the apex of Alsace, the grands crus from Clos St-Urbain plot in the Rangen de Thann are the only way to go. The 2023 Riesling Clos St-Urbain flirts with perfection with 99 points from Stuart Pigott and 98 points from Krebiehl, A wine of "gigantic concentration, elegance and finesse," it showcases what Alsace Riesling is all about. The "incredible" 2023 Pinot Gris Clos St-Urbain actually hits perfection, with 100 points from Pigott, who declares, "The brain-rattling concentration, smokiness and flinty energy of this unique dry pinot gris don’t fit in any box on this planet." Both of these selections are naturally among the world's finest, most long-lived collectible whites anywhere. These are just a few highlights from a truly stellar range of timeless classics that astute collectors will be thrilled to own in the years to come. | ||
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| 2021 Caparsa Chianti Classico Riserva Caparsino (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More We still can't believe our good fortune to have the singularly talented Paolo Cianferoni's Caparsa estate in our direct-import stable. Even more so, we still can't believe these wines are not on everyone's radar, so utterly refined, precise, and authentic are their character and substance. "Caparsa remains one of Chianti Classico's under-the- radar gems, a small estate known only to relatively small subset of wine lovers. These new releases are nothing short of captivating." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous After a recent tasting of the full range of 2021 Classicos, we fell head over heels with no hesitation, and we went all in on this spectacular trio. The 2021 Chianti Classico Caparsino kicks everything off with its pair of 95-point reviews from Decanter and Antonio Galloni, who praises it as "plush and wonderfully deep right out of the gate" making for "a Riserva of uncommon character and distinction." The Caparsino is brought up entirely in concrete tank to give it the purest Sangiovese character possible, something to be desired when the vineyards and fruit as impeccable as Caparsa's. After all, Paolo does everything the hard way, which almost always makes the best wines, and we're quite confident in saying that Caparsa is firmly among the elite producers in the region, even if their production and recognition are dwarfed by many of their larger peers. That also means that these are some of the sharpest, cellar-worthy Tuscan wines in our inventory, so you should have no doubts about going big, as they will remain absolutely thrilling expressions for years and years to come. | ||
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| 2021 Elena Fucci Titolo Aglianico del Vulture (750ml) | ||
| Aglianico from Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Elena Fucci is a force." - Eric Guido, Vinous It's been a slow, grinding but steady ascent for Italy's premier southern denominacions, and Aglianico del Vulture is at the head of the pack. Several producers are forging the region's modern path, but arguably none are as dynamic as Elena Fucci. Having taken over her family's estate in 2000 at a very young age, she has risen as the most prolific voice and advocates of Vulture, as well as one of its most talented winemakers. Her style has evolved over the years, blending forward-looking vision and rooted tradition. In short, it straddles a fine line between Old World and New World. Her latest set of releases further confirm her as a must-know for any true Italian insider. Centered around the 7.5-hectare family vineyard of Titolo, these Aglianico wines are full of distinctive personality, reflecting in part her objectively great winemaking and in part the amazing volcanic terroir of the DOCG. The 2022 SCEG is a classic introduction to the varietal, made in an accessible style, which for Aglianico still means a few years in the cellar to show all its cards. Even today though, it's "savory yet cool-toned, with depths of dark red fruits and tactile minerality" that will offer loads of enjoyment. The Titolo bottlings are the crown jewels, conveying the family estate and the varietal in its purest form. The 2021 flagship Titolo is "impossible to ignore," boasting a seamless, balanced, measured profile that earned 94 points from both Eric Guido and Wine Advocate's Monica Larner, who writes, "the 2021 Aglianico del Vulture Titolo is classic Elena Fucci and is the wine you should buy if you love her signature style." Elena's stylistic evolution is also fully evident in the 2021 Titolo by Amphora, which as one might induce, is done entirely in clay amphorae, which means it is pure varietal expression to the max. This double 94-point, "precious and limited release" is a fascinating counterpoint to the flagship Titolo, with "wonderfully soft contours and vivid fruit" that showcase the full potential of this fantastic estate. Best of all, these wines are all tailor-made for the cellar, with potential lifespans that rival the finest red wines of Tuscany and Piedmont, for a fraction of their prices. If you're on the hunt for your next great discovery from the Boot, Elena Fucci should be top of your list. | ||
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| 2021 Beaulieu Vineyard Reserve Tapestry (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "It's medium to full-bodied, with a layered, elegant mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Bravo to the team at Beaulieu for delivering this level of quality..." - Jeb Dunnuck Legendary Napa pedigree and a benchmark vintage come together to form a top-tier overachiever in the 2021 BV Tapestry Reserve. Often known as "Baby Latour", it's a lovely precursor to the estate's iconic flagship wine, at a fraction of the price. Not only that, but the 2021 also boasts some impressive accolades, led by a 96-point score from James Suckling, who declares it "one of the best I have had." The vintage's outstanding growing conditions resulted in a wine with "excellent length and serious tension" between plush fruit and precisely executed structure. As Antonio Galloni remarks, "Soft, silky contours wrap it all together, adding to a sense of immediacy that is impossible to miss." The winemaking team at BV is firing on all cylinders in the past few vintages, and any fan of super-classic Napa Cabernet should take a good look at this surefire, sub-$40 winner. | ||
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| 2023 Servin Butteaux Chablis 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The 30-hectare Domaine Servin ... continues to number among Chablis's most reliable addresses." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate Long-time B-21 Burgundy aficionados know Domaine Servin as a bastion of the classical Chablis style. Year in and year out, this exceptional estate holds true to the characteristics that have earned the region its legions of adoring fans. Even in a warm vintage like 2023, the domaine's extensive range of wines maintain the chiseled cut and energy that fans of the old school know and love. These are proven performers that deliver quintessential Chablis style and first-class QPR. A standout trio of 1er crus is lead by the "simply beautiful" Montée de Tonnerre that garnered 94 points from View From the Cellar's John Gilman and 90-93 points and an Outstanding designation from Meadows of Burghound, who notes its "The super-sleek, intense and equally attractively textured flavors " The crown jewels in the Servin stable are undoubtedly the Les Clos and Bougros Grands Crus, both of which are superbly structured renditions that collectors will love to have in their cellars for years to come. As the region's recent growing seasons have tended to favor a more modern, upfront style, it's becoming increasingly harder to find Chablis expressions that capture the very best of what made the region famous in the first place, but Domaine Servin is still holding true to form, and you'll be hard-pressed to find more transparent terroir character in the 2023 vintage than this line-up on offer today. | ||
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| 2024 Domaine Huet Vouvray Clos du Bourg Sec (750ml) | ||
| Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Loire, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Huet remains a pillar of Vouvray and a touchstone for Chenin Blanc worldwide, a domaine where viticulture, philosophy and place converge in bottles of extraordinary clarity and longevity." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate The above quote from Yohan Castaing sums up almost everything you need to know about the magnificent wines of Domaine Huet. Sure, we could also mention that they have been a biodynamic pioneer since 1993, or that their wines age as well as almost any wines in the world, red or white. But at the end of the day, it's the singular character and class of the juice in the bottle that sets them apart from their contemporaries. The newly released, single-vineyard Sec bottlings from 2024 show why the domaine is a force to be reckoned with, not only in Vouvray, but anywhere in the Loire. Even in an exceedingly difficult vintage, this trio adds more glowing acclaim to add to the domaine's already full resumé, proving that Huet is still at the pinnacle. Our parcel comes in at razor-sharp pricing that puts the already spectacular cellar appeal of these gems in even brighter light, so avid Loire enthusiasts or any collector of world-class, reference-point wines can take their collections up a notch or two. The iconic Clos du Bourg site produced "a lacy, seductive version, with impressive range," according to Wine Spectator, while John Gilman of View From the Cellar notes the 94-point Le Haut Lieu as "bright, focused and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent soil transparency and grip, a fine spine of acidity and lovely precision." Rounding out the 2024s, the WA93 Le Mont rounds out the 2024s is "both dense and lively ... a crystalline expression of Vouvray." | ||
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| 2024 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec (750ml) | ||
| Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Loire, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Huet remains a pillar of Vouvray and a touchstone for Chenin Blanc worldwide, a domaine where viticulture, philosophy and place converge in bottles of extraordinary clarity and longevity." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate The above quote from Yohan Castaing sums up almost everything you need to know about the magnificent wines of Domaine Huet. Sure, we could also mention that they have been a biodynamic pioneer since 1993, or that their wines age as well as almost any wines in the world, red or white. But at the end of the day, it's the singular character and class of the juice in the bottle that sets them apart from their contemporaries. The newly released, single-vineyard Sec bottlings from 2024 show why the domaine is a force to be reckoned with, not only in Vouvray, but anywhere in the Loire. Even in an exceedingly difficult vintage, this trio adds more glowing acclaim to add to the domaine's already full resumé, proving that Huet is still at the pinnacle. Our parcel comes in at razor-sharp pricing that puts the already spectacular cellar appeal of these gems in even brighter light, so avid Loire enthusiasts or any collector of world-class, reference-point wines can take their collections up a notch or two. The iconic Clos du Bourg site produced "a lacy, seductive version, with impressive range," according to Wine Spectator, while John Gilman of View From the Cellar notes the 94-point Le Haut Lieu as "bright, focused and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent soil transparency and grip, a fine spine of acidity and lovely precision." Rounding out the 2024s, the WA93 Le Mont rounds out the 2024s is "both dense and lively ... a crystalline expression of Vouvray." | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Chasse-Spleen (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Moulis, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2023 La Cayetana El Corazon Manda (750ml) | ||
| Malbec from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Among the many exceptional boutique projects popping up in Argentina, it's hard to keep track of which (or how many) new kids on the block to add your list of new discoveries. But if you're going to add any, one of them has to be La Cayetana. The brainchild of Ver Sacrum winemaker Eduardo Soler and his wife, Emilia Armando, this project is in its infancy, having only released their first wines in 2020, but they're already making big waves among the critical press. "This is a wine of higher expression compared with other reds from Uco Valley. Structured yet unforced, it offers length, balance and quiet authority." - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Based in Uco Valley just outside of Mendoza proper, Soler has access to some truly excellent vines, from which he makes a few stellar single-vineyard offerings. Chief among them is the 96-point 2023 El Corazon Manda, made from 70-year-old, ungrafted vines in El Cepillo, at the very southern, very cold end of the valley. Nestled at over 1,000 meters in elevation, this site produces otherworldly Malbec fruit, delivering a style that challenges most modern conventions surrounding the varietal. "Dry, vibrant and distinctly chalky, it shows fine-grained tannins and an intense palate that flows with precision toward a long finish." It's a thoroughly beguiling, thought-provoking expression of Malbec that just screams craftsmanship and artistry, and the fact that we can offer it for under $50 just goes to prove that Argentina is still the destination for many of the world's finest wine values. | ||
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| 2024 F.X. Pichler Gruner Veltliner Ried Klostersatz (750ml) | ||
| Gruner Veltliner from Wachau, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Lukas Pichler delivered one of the best collections of the year—extract, tautness, freshness and fill all shine in 2024." - Anne Krebiehl, Vinous For fans of Austria's finest expressions, F.X. Pichler occupies elite status among a handful estates that set the bar in the Wachau and beyond. Winemaker Lucas Pichler is a renowned perfectionist with such confidence in his own skills and style that he recently decided to withdraw from the Vinea Wachau, the region's official wine classification organization that sets the criteria for the familiar Steinfeder, Federspiel, and Smaragd designations, instead opting to allow his wines to distinguish themselves on pure terroir character rather than empirical measures like residual sugar, ripeness, and alcohol levels. This range of magnificent 2024 Rieslings and Grüner Veltliners, including another showstopping double 100-point Riesling Kellerberg, continue to vindicate Pichler's approach, offering crystalline purity and site specificity that capture the attention of fine wine collectors the world over. With outstanding press across the board from James Suckling, Vinous, and Peter Moser of Austria's renowned Falstaff Magazine, these are surefire winners that will shine in your cellar for many years along side the world's great collectible white wines. | ||
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| 2023 Eric Forest Saint-Veran Terre Noire (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Maconnais, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More His name doesn't appear much in the critical press these days, but Eric Forest quietly remains one of Pouilly-Fuissé most engaging and talented winemakers. Our Burgundy team recently paid a visit to his cellars, and they were thrilled to discover Eric and his wines in exceptional form. The range of 2023s got nods all around, but the Les Crays 1er Cru was the undisputed standout. "One of the top three wines from our recent trip to Burgundy, and we’re thrilled to get it directly from the domaine’s cellars." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Burgundy Buyer The Les Crays vineyard itself boasts every feature that makes a quintessential Pouilly-Fuissé Chardonnay - southerly exposure, very poor soils of broken limestone, moderate slope, and old vines (these planted between 1930 and 1966). At the foot of the famed Roche de Vergisson, Les Crays is terroir excellence in a nutshell, and Forest's 2023 "is a head-turning expression that shows why this vineyard is a bona fide 1er cru," according to Andrew. It's a complete wine in every sense that is already starting to synch its components into a harmonious whole that will only gain in complexity and personality over the coming several years. Further underscoring the excellence of Forest's domaine holdings are his old-vine, single-vineyard gems from Terre Noire in St-Véran and Clos des Charmes in Mâcon-Pierreclos. The former comes from a small, 100-year-old parcel on dark clay over bleached white limestone, and it's "easily the most concentrated and intense wine in Forest’s line-up," tightly wound today but with utterly compelling cellar potential for the medium to long term. The latter, by contrast, is an "upfront, charming yet precisely crafted gem ... with real style and substance that does everything it’s supposed to." Today's Burgundy market is a wild place, and when you find a top-notch, single-vineyard expressions like these under $60, you jump at them, plain and simple. | ||
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| 2023 Philippe Alliet Chinon Coteau de Noire (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Chinon, Loire, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "What a great scoop for our Loire direct-import portfolio to have Philippe Alliet and his son Pierre join the fold ... these wines are easily among the very best in Chinon." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Loire Buyer While not extremely well-known on this side of the Atlantic, Domaine Philippe Alliet is one of the Chinon appellation's leading lights, standing in strong company right alongside the likes of Charles Joguet. Father and son Philippe and Pierre employ meticulous methods to their prized vineyard holdings (some of the very best in all of Chinon), spearheading a new wave of viticulture that emphasizes very low yields and optimally ripe fruit at all costs. The resulting wines are nothing short of revelatory, reference-point expressions, which we saw first-hand during a tasting last fall. The entire range is superb, but the 93-point 2022 Vieilles Vignes offers a perfect introduction to this remarkable, must-know estate.Selecting from the oldest vines in their various plots, all at least 70 years old, the Alliets vinify and age the VV entirely in cement vats, while full de-stemming only adds to the sheer allure of the wine's personality and expression. As Yohan Castaing of Wine Advocate writes, "This vintage is one of the most precise and pure expressions of Vieilles Vignes I have ever tasted. Kudos!" Turning to the single-vineyard cuvées, the 2022 L'Huisserie hails from a south-facing on Chinon's most favored hillside, the clay and flint soils imparting both a round, fleshy, full-fruited character as well as a firm mineral signature to the wine. This "multidimensional wine" showcase the Alliet style to a T, with none of the rusticity that often follows Chinon Cab Franc. Finally, the 2023 Coteau de Noiré is a stupendous expression of a Chinon "grand cru" site with similar clay and marl soils and a much steeper 40% incline. The wine exhibits a firm structural foundation, sappy mid-palate, and brooding fruit profile for what amounts to a pinnacle expression of cellar-worthy Cabernet Franc. Best of all, we're bringing you the Alliet wines directly from the domaine as new additions to our rapidly expanding Loire direct-import range, so the quality for price, which was already outstanding, becomes essentially unbeatable in the category. | ||
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| 2023 Servin Montee de Tonnerre 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The 30-hectare Domaine Servin ... continues to number among Chablis's most reliable addresses." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate Long-time B-21 Burgundy aficionados know Domaine Servin as a bastion of the classical Chablis style. Year in and year out, this exceptional estate holds true to the characteristics that have earned the region its legions of adoring fans. Even in a warm vintage like 2023, the domaine's extensive range of wines maintain the chiseled cut and energy that fans of the old school know and love. These are proven performers that deliver quintessential Chablis style and first-class QPR. A standout trio of 1er crus is lead by the "simply beautiful" Montée de Tonnerre that garnered 94 points from View From the Cellar's John Gilman and 90-93 points and an Outstanding designation from Meadows of Burghound, who notes its "The super-sleek, intense and equally attractively textured flavors " The crown jewels in the Servin stable are undoubtedly the Les Clos and Bougros Grands Crus, both of which are superbly structured renditions that collectors will love to have in their cellars for years to come. As the region's recent growing seasons have tended to favor a more modern, upfront style, it's becoming increasingly harder to find Chablis expressions that capture the very best of what made the region famous in the first place, but Domaine Servin is still holding true to form, and you'll be hard-pressed to find more transparent terroir character in the 2023 vintage than this line-up on offer today. | ||
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| Granalta Tequila Blanco (1L) | ||
| From Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Value and craftsmanship collide in this excellent, artisanal blanco ... Dollar for dollar, it might just be the best tequila value in the store." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer The value end of the tequila spectrum continues to be awash in overly manufactured, adulterated juice that can barely be considered tequila, so that's why we're always on the lookout for winners like this exceptionally priced blanco from Granalta. Made with highly traditional methods and absolutely zero additives, this blanco is a serious hitter for its price, especially when you consider the 1-liter bottle. Not only are the agaves roasted extremely slowly in stone ovens with gentle crushing on a roller mill, but inclusion of fibers in the fermentation gives the already excellent raw materials additional depth of flavor and textural intensity that we hardly ever see in this price tier. From the "outstanding, balanced sweetness" to the "textural, full weight and viscosity," the Granalta Blanco is a remarkably versatile offering that's right at home in your favorite cocktail or on its own with a few rocks. We all love a good go-to performer, and this one is perfectly suited to pretty much anything you want to do with it.
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| Historias y Memorias Espadin Joven Mezcal (750ml) | ||
| From Oaxaca, Mexico | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...if you love delicious, artisanal, versatile mezcal for a bargain, this ought to be your new favorite." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer The overall quality in the mezcal scene is certainly on the upswing in the past decade, but that rise has also come with higher prices for what you're getting. So, when we came across this outstanding, hand-crafted gem from master mezcalero José Luis Hernandez, it was a no-brainer at under $45. Hernandez is all traditional in his methods - underground pit oven, horse-drawn tahona, open-top wood fermentations, double distillation on a copper alembic still - so Historias y Memorias exhibits real craftsmanship and varietal purity, with classic, dark, savory aromatics and flavors on a weighty, full-bodied palate showing a well-restrained smoky character. We don't often see this kind of character and authenticity at this price point, and with such a quintessential profile and broad stylistic appeal, the Historias y Memorias is perfectly poised to enter your regular rotation in whatever way you choose to let it shine. | ||
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| 2023 Frank Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Frank Family Vineyards has earned a loyal following for their consistently outstanding wines priced well below their fellow Napa competitors, and these Napa Valley selections are no exception, a spectrum of ready-to-enjoy wines from outstanding California vintages, ranging from their opulent Carneros Chardonnay to a top-scoring Napa Cab described as "superb" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, all delivering exceptional value. Working from 380 acres of estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford, and Capell Valley, long-time winemaker and GM Todd Graff employs the same barrel aging across the entire Napa line-up, utilizing a mix of one-third new French oak barrels with one-third once-used barrels and one-third twice-used barrels. Sourced from cooler climate vineyards in Carneros, the luscious 2023 Frank Family Vineyard Chardonnay balances rich, fragrant fruit and a creamy texture from lees stirring with bright acidity, while the aromatic 2022 Frank Family Pinot Noir reveals fresh, juicy fruit hinting of earthy spice with vibrant acidity on a satiny finish. The 2021 Frank Family Vineyard Zinfandel offers ripe, dark bramble fruit layered with pepper and spice from estate vineyards in Capell Valley and Rutherford, while the smooth and satisfying, 2022 Frank Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon contains well-integrated tannins that promise a decade of longevity. A range of deliciously appealing Napa Valley wines that over-deliver, these Frank Family Vineyards selections reflect Frank Family's trademark consistency and quality, guaranteed to please at a price that won't break the bank. | ||
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| 2023 Flowers Pinot Noir (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "I was blown away by the wines I tasted this year from Flowers." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Long before the Sonoma Coast AVA was a thing, the Sonoma Coast style was being pioneered by Flowers in the far-flung reaches of the county out near Jenner and Fort Ross. Fast-forward a few decades and here we are, still looking at Flowers as the reference point for cool-climate California Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The latest flagship releases showcase a pair of excellent vintages in 2023 and 2024, but more importantly they deliver the utterly classic Flowers personality that has made them all-time best sellers and fan-favorites in California wine. And each one carries rock-solid critical praise as always. The 94-point 2024 Chardonnay is "a terrific introduction to this range" with its "intensity and sleek, mouthwatering acidity that give this precision." The 2023 Pinot Noir is a likewise a 94-point gem and "a great reflection of the long, cool growing season." With strong press across the board, it's yet another proven performer that long-time fans should find checks every box in the Flowers paradigm. When consistent excellence is the name of the game, Flowers is a hall of fame player. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau LaTour Martillac Rouge (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Latour-Martillac remains one of the great value estates on the Left Bank, and this is especially true in outstanding vintages like the ones on offer today. With classic Graves terroir and expert winemaking, these wines consistently punch way above their weight class, as you can clearly see in the bevy of excellent press that accompanies each one. The highlights of the list are undoubtedly the 96-point 2019, which is "gorgeous, so bright and precise," delivering unreal bang for the buck at under $40, and the astounding 97-point 2022. Jeb Dunnuck dubs this powerhouse "a remarkably pure, medium to full-bodied Pessac-Léognan ... a brilliant 2022 that should be snatched up by readers." Of course, sharp-eyed collectors shouldn't over the 95-point 2018 or the "harmonious and well-defined" 2020. Last but certainly not least, the estate's white has always served as a reference-point for the category, made in part from Semillon vines over 140 years old. With 94-point potential according to several critics, the 2023 Blanc is "beautifully textured, rich, yet still racy white with tons to love," proving once again that Graves' whites are sometimes every bit as compelling as its reds. Whether you pick your favorite or go in for the whole vertical, you can rest assured you're getting some of the best quality-to-price character that the Left Bank has to offer. | ||
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| 2017 Larrivet Haut Brion Rouge (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Confirming my expectations, the 2022 Larrivet Haut-Brion is one of the best wines ever produced at this estate." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate As part of the general trend of overperforming Pessac estates in the past decade, Larrivet Haut-Brion's stock is steadily rising among the critical press and Bordeaux enthusiasts alike. Thanks to the guiding hand of famed enologist Michel Rolland, the style of the estate's wines has taken on an unprecedented level of class and polish culminating in the spectacular 2022 vintage. Following the overall character of the vintage, this triple 95-point, sub-$50 standout is "a dramatic, deeply resonant wine" with loads of structural stuffing to go the distance in the cellar. To further emphasize the estate's marvelous recent trajectory, we also have four back-vintage gems on offer that showcase how well Larrivet performs year in and year out. The 2016 is now in its prime drinking window where it will remain for years, while the 95-point 2019 shows "a rich, broad, mouth-filling, spicy, complex and full-bodied style that has loads to love" per Jeb Dunnuck. Keen-eyed collectors also won't sleep on the AG95 rendition from the "off-vintage" of 2017. "Bold, rich and intense, the 2017 exudes tremendous depth and intensity ... Readers should expect a wine of real energy and explosive power," declares Galloni. All in all, we love featuring Pessac, because the appellation is rife with stupendous collectible values, and while collectors often focus on building verticals of Bordeaux's most hallowed names, this line-up proves that you can get tremendous mileage out of doing the same with under-the-radar gems like Larrivet. | ||
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