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| 2021 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Gramolere (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Manzone turned out a fabulous set of 2021 Barolos ... Readers who enjoy savory, classically built Barolos informed by cooler microclimates will want to check these wines out." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Giovanni Manzone is one of Barolo's great hidden gems, and we're excited to kick our direct partnership with them into high gear with the fabulous 2021 vintage. Based in Monforte d'Alba, Manzone owns prime parcels in Castelletto and Gramolere, where today's pair of single-vineyard all-stars comes from. "The 2021 Barolo Gramolere is deep, layered and super-expressive ... a drop-dead gorgeous beauty," declares Antonio Galloni of Vinous. This steep south/southwest-facing slope, situated between Castelletto and Bussia, is ideal Nebbiolo terroir, and the wines it produces are consistently classic in style. The rocky, with clay-calcareous soils are too poor to grow anything other than vines, so of course, we're talking about primo raw materials for stunning, single-cru Barolo. Galloni doesn't mince words about the Castelletto either: "This poised, dramatic Barolo has it all. It's one of the very finest wines I have tasted at this address in a very long time. Don't miss it." The 2021 rendition more than lives up to the hype with "a beguiling mix of aromatic intensity, fruit depth and structure." This steep, east-southeast-facing slope of sandy, calcareous soils yields a classical style of Barolo, and the incredible 2021 growing season puts its stamp on this monumental expression. A complete wine in every sense, the 2021 Castelletto is an ultimate Piedmont insider's score, standing with other Barolo masterpieces (like Sandrone's Le Vigne, Burlotto's Casteletto, and Vietti's Cerequio, to name a few) at a mere fraction of their prices. We recently tasted the full range of Manzone 2021s, and they as quintessential in style as you could wish for from a great Barolo vintage – perfect fruit ripeness, exquisite aromatics, and textural brilliance, all in primary form and ready to evolve into something special. | ||
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| 2021 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Castelletto (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Manzone turned out a fabulous set of 2021 Barolos ... Readers who enjoy savory, classically built Barolos informed by cooler microclimates will want to check these wines out." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Giovanni Manzone is one of Barolo's great hidden gems, and we're excited to kick our direct partnership with them into high gear with the fabulous 2021 vintage. Based in Monforte d'Alba, Manzone owns prime parcels in Castelletto and Gramolere, where today's pair of single-vineyard all-stars comes from. "The 2021 Barolo Gramolere is deep, layered and super-expressive ... a drop-dead gorgeous beauty," declares Antonio Galloni of Vinous. This steep south/southwest-facing slope, situated between Castelletto and Bussia, is ideal Nebbiolo terroir, and the wines it produces are consistently classic in style. The rocky, with clay-calcareous soils are too poor to grow anything other than vines, so of course, we're talking about primo raw materials for stunning, single-cru Barolo. Galloni doesn't mince words about the Castelletto either: "This poised, dramatic Barolo has it all. It's one of the very finest wines I have tasted at this address in a very long time. Don't miss it." The 2021 rendition more than lives up to the hype with "a beguiling mix of aromatic intensity, fruit depth and structure." This steep, east-southeast-facing slope of sandy, calcareous soils yields a classical style of Barolo, and the incredible 2021 growing season puts its stamp on this monumental expression. A complete wine in every sense, the 2021 Castelletto is an ultimate Piedmont insider's score, standing with other Barolo masterpieces (like Sandrone's Le Vigne, Burlotto's Casteletto, and Vietti's Cerequio, to name a few) at a mere fraction of their prices. We recently tasted the full range of Manzone 2021s, and they as quintessential in style as you could wish for from a great Barolo vintage – perfect fruit ripeness, exquisite aromatics, and textural brilliance, all in primary form and ready to evolve into something special. | ||
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| 2023 Hartford Old Vine Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Russian River, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Hartford Family's roots in Sonoma's Russian River Valley are second to none, and they farm some of the Golden State's most prized plots of old-vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Their reference-point range runs the gamut from incredible single-vineyard expressions to some of the greatest bang-for-the-buck values in the appellation. The 2023 Russian River Pinot Noir delivers everything that long-time fans of the estate are looking for. Pure Pinot Noir charm is on full display in vibrant, ripe fruit, silky texture, and, most importantly, superb balance, all at an easy price that makes this undisputed crowd-pleaser accessible to a broad audience. The 2023 Russian River Chardonnay is "a worthy follow-up to the brilliant 2022," displaying classic, richly textured Russian River fruit, vibrant acidic balance, and a luxurious finish that reveals its world-class pedigree. Fans of California Chardonnay may have grown used to overpaying for underwhelming quality, but this 94-point, sub-$20 beauty is ideally suited to buck that trend. Turning to the estate's wheelhouse, don't miss the trio of top-flight, single-vineyard Zinfandels, highlighted by the WS96 Highwire Vineyard from the acclaimed 2023 vintage. "Zin rarely shows this much focus and tenstion," notes Wine Spectator, and we couldn't agree more. Whether you're looking for an easy everyday go-to or a top-tier reference-point expression for the cellar, this range from Hartford has it in spades. | ||
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| 2020 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The successful wines of 2020 are absolutely gorgeous." - Eric Guido, Vinous How does Brunello follow an act like the epic 2019 vintage? That's the million-dollar question surrounding Brunello's 2020 vintage, and to be sure, it doesn't boast the generation excellence or across the board consistency of 2010, 2016, or 2019, but as with any great wine region, the great producers certainly made great wines, and they're ripe for the picking if you know where to look. Today's offer distills our broad and deep selection of 2020 Brunellos into a quartet of favorites that we believe capture the vintage perfectly while offering exceptional quality-to-price ratio. The "harmonious and vibrant" 2020 Camigliano takes this estate's overachieving class to the next level with a glowing 95-point score from Wine Spectator, while the 2020 Caparzo "is really pretty ... Creamy and so polished. It goes on for minutes. A graceful and complex 2020 Brunello," as noted James Suckling, hinting at one of the vintage's finest qualities, its approachability in the near term. Fans of the world's best Sangioveses can rest assured that all the varietal's most striking and important features can be found in spades in this stunning expression of "ample energy and dimension." It should come as no surprise that Montosoli's most famous estate, Altesino, turned out some stellar wines yet again in this vintage. The 2020 Altesino is once again a razor-sharp buy with three of 95-point scores under its belt. "Offering both refined complexity and true drinking pleasure, with nothing heavy or weighted, it's fabulous all around," declares Dunnuck's Italy critic, Audrey Frick. Finally, the 2020 Casanova di Neri boasts an extra dimension this vintage, as that estate's legendary Cerretalto was not produced, the fruit going instead into this bottling, resulting in 96-point rendition that is "especially spicy, lifted and intense" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. As the 2020 Brunellos have come to market, it's becoming clear that this vintage is a more than worthy follow-up to the heralded 2019s, and best of all, performers like these show that they're among the smartest buys in Italian wine at the moment. | ||
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| 2023 Veyder-Malberg Gruner Veltliner Hochrain (750ml) | ||
| Gruner Veltliner from Wachau, Lower Austria, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Based on this showing, Veyder-Malberg is indeed as mad and as genius as they say he is." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Austria Buyer You may not know Peter Veyder-Malberg, but among Austrian wine insiders, he's one of the most iconoclastic, not to mention talented, winemakers in the Wachau. His wines don't get nearly the wider attention that they deserve thanks to his general aversion to having them reviewed professionally (he's not a fan of tagging an arbitrary number onto his wines), so in order to get an idea of how truly special they are, you have to taste them yourself, and that's what B-21 Austria buyer Andrew Kitz recently did with the exceptional 2023s. Based in the Spitzer Graben, a narrow side valley of the Wachau with a decidedly cooler microclimate, Veyder-Malberg has been marching to the beat of his own drummer since the beginning, and the results are in a class all their own, starting with his "entry-level" Grüner Veltliner Liebedich. Sourced from many of Wachau's most prized sites, including Loibenberg and Hochrain, it's "a quintessential example of Austria’s most famous native grape in every way ... a layered, textured expression that Austrian wine fans shouldn’t miss." His true genius, however, shines in his single-vineyard wines, like the 2023 Grüner Veltliner Hochrain. Andrew describes a 95-point expression with aromas of "pure, shimmering minerality" and a palate that's "achingly elegant and precise ... a study in restrained intensity and ethereal elegance." Likewise, the 96-point 2023 Riesling Bruck is a remarkable, singular style that could only come from a winemaker like Veyder-Malberg. "Peter Veyder-Malberg’s 2023 Riesling Bruck is simply stunning. Like his other wines, it demands time, it demands proper temperature, and it demands attention. When all three conditions are met, you’re rewarded with a Riesling of absolutely beguiling delicacy, shimmering personality, and generally jaw-dropping finesse." It bears noting that these are not wines for immediate gratification. They are intellectual to say the least, and the 2023s at the moment are very primary, so patient collectors can confidently stock up knowing there is some tremendous evolution in store. If you're a fan of truly world-class Austrian wines, you need to jump on the Veyder-Malberg train without hesitation. | ||
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| 2023 Veyder-Malberg Riesling Bruck (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Wachau, Lower Austria, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Based on this showing, Veyder-Malberg is indeed as mad and as genius as they say he is." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Austria Buyer You may not know Peter Veyder-Malberg, but among Austrian wine insiders, he's one of the most iconoclastic, not to mention talented, winemakers in the Wachau. His wines don't get nearly the wider attention that they deserve thanks to his general aversion to having them reviewed professionally (he's not a fan of tagging an arbitrary number onto his wines), so in order to get an idea of how truly special they are, you have to taste them yourself, and that's what B-21 Austria buyer Andrew Kitz recently did with the exceptional 2023s. Based in the Spitzer Graben, a narrow side valley of the Wachau with a decidedly cooler microclimate, Veyder-Malberg has been marching to the beat of his own drummer since the beginning, and the results are in a class all their own, starting with his "entry-level" Grüner Veltliner Liebedich. Sourced from many of Wachau's most prized sites, including Loibenberg and Hochrain, it's "a quintessential example of Austria’s most famous native grape in every way ... a layered, textured expression that Austrian wine fans shouldn’t miss." His true genius, however, shines in his single-vineyard wines, like the 2023 Grüner Veltliner Hochrain. Andrew describes a 95-point expression with aromas of "pure, shimmering minerality" and a palate that's "achingly elegant and precise ... a study in restrained intensity and ethereal elegance." Likewise, the 96-point 2023 Riesling Bruck is a remarkable, singular style that could only come from a winemaker like Veyder-Malberg. "Peter Veyder-Malberg’s 2023 Riesling Bruck is simply stunning. Like his other wines, it demands time, it demands proper temperature, and it demands attention. When all three conditions are met, you’re rewarded with a Riesling of absolutely beguiling delicacy, shimmering personality, and generally jaw-dropping finesse." It bears noting that these are not wines for immediate gratification. They are intellectual to say the least, and the 2023s at the moment are very primary, so patient collectors can confidently stock up knowing there is some tremendous evolution in store. If you're a fan of truly world-class Austrian wines, you need to jump on the Veyder-Malberg train without hesitation. | ||
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| 2009 Andre Clouet Dream Vintage Grand Cru (750ml) | ||
| From Bouzy, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More As the head of the historic Champagne house named for his grandfather Andre Clouet, larger than life vigneron Jean-François Clouet is considered by critics as one of the top grower-producers in the region. Jean-François' flamboyant personality, dubbed by one reviewer as a combination of "winemaker and circus ringmaster," belies his serious dedication and singular passion for producing rich and concentrated expressions of Pinot Noir-based Champagne, also known as Blanc de Noirs. From the outstanding 91pt non-vintage Grande Reserve to the exceptional 96pt Brut 1911, the champagnes of Andre Clouet exhibit the purity of the Pinot Noir fruit, with terroir-driven chalky minerality and deep complexity, ranking Andre Clouet among the region's finest producers and representing one of its best values. Inextricably tied to Champagne's history, the Clouet family have resided in the Montagne de Reims since 1492, first serving as book printers for King Louis XV in 1491 (a legacy now reflected in the Champagne house's ornate labels), producing their first champagne in Bouzy in 1741. Highlighting the Grand Cru pedigree of their 8 hectares of mid-slope sites in Bouzy and Ambonnay, the top cuvees are sourced from these estate vineyards, with additional Pinot Noir purchased from 60 hectares of growers' vineyards and each plot vinified separately. While upholding his family's traditional approach in the vineyard including hand pruning and selection, Francois continues to innovate in the cellar, including employing Sauternes barrels sourced from Château Doisy-Daëne for aging the Brut 1911 as a way of reducing the dosage, with the goal of adjusting sweetness without adding sugar. Exhibiting a gentle mousse and refined bubbles, the wines of André Clouet also boast notably creamy textures due to Jean-François' practice of extended aging on the lees, balancing crisp acidity and tantalizing minerality. While Andre Clouet remains relatively under the radar among the grower-producers in Champagne, these highly rated selections are among the best Blanc de Noir wines of the region, at a fraction of the price of prestige offerings from the larger Champagne houses like Krug and Bollinger. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on an array of the exquisite, artisanal Champagnes of Andre Clouet, one of the finest grower estates in the region today, whether for everyday enjoyment, celebrations or gifting and now offered at the best pricing on the market. | ||
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| Andre Clouet Brut Un Jour de 1911...Grand Cru (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Bouzy, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More As the head of the historic Champagne house named for his grandfather Andre Clouet, larger than life vigneron Jean-François Clouet is considered by critics as one of the top grower-producers in the region. Jean-François' flamboyant personality, dubbed by one reviewer as a combination of "winemaker and circus ringmaster," belies his serious dedication and singular passion for producing rich and concentrated expressions of Pinot Noir-based Champagne, also known as Blanc de Noirs. From the outstanding 91pt non-vintage Grande Reserve to the exceptional 96pt Brut 1911, the champagnes of Andre Clouet exhibit the purity of the Pinot Noir fruit, with terroir-driven chalky minerality and deep complexity, ranking Andre Clouet among the region's finest producers and representing one of its best values. Inextricably tied to Champagne's history, the Clouet family have resided in the Montagne de Reims since 1492, first serving as book printers for King Louis XV in 1491 (a legacy now reflected in the Champagne house's ornate labels), producing their first champagne in Bouzy in 1741. Highlighting the Grand Cru pedigree of their 8 hectares of mid-slope sites in Bouzy and Ambonnay, the top cuvees are sourced from these estate vineyards, with additional Pinot Noir purchased from 60 hectares of growers' vineyards and each plot vinified separately. While upholding his family's traditional approach in the vineyard including hand pruning and selection, Francois continues to innovate in the cellar, including employing Sauternes barrels sourced from Château Doisy-Daëne for aging the Brut 1911 as a way of reducing the dosage, with the goal of adjusting sweetness without adding sugar. Exhibiting a gentle mousse and refined bubbles, the wines of André Clouet also boast notably creamy textures due to Jean-François' practice of extended aging on the lees, balancing crisp acidity and tantalizing minerality. While Andre Clouet remains relatively under the radar among the grower-producers in Champagne, these highly rated selections are among the best Blanc de Noir wines of the region, at a fraction of the price of prestige offerings from the larger Champagne houses like Krug and Bollinger. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on an array of the exquisite, artisanal Champagnes of Andre Clouet, one of the finest grower estates in the region today, whether for everyday enjoyment, celebrations or gifting and now offered at the best pricing on the market. | ||
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| NV Agrapart 7 Crus Extra Brut Disgorgement July 2025 (750ml) | ||
| Sparkling from Avize, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Crafted by artisan producer and B-21 favorite Pascal Agrapart in the chalky Cote des Blancs, Champagne Agrapart has enjoyed an under the radar reputation, but with the release of these highly rated 2025 cuvees, that's about to change. From one of the top grower-producers in the region, these selections from Agrapart offer a rare taste of meticulously crafted, terroir-driven Champagne at a remarkable value that's bound to sell out in a flash. Now run by the fourth consecutive generation, Agrapart ranks at the top echelons of Champagne, earning a 3-star rating in the Revue de Vin du France alongside only 7 other houses, including Krug. Planted almost entirely with Chardonnay with a few small plots of Pinot Noir, the ten-hectare Agrapart Domaine comprises more than 70 small parcels predominantly in the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oiry, and Oger with a few Premier Cru plots on the Cote de Blancs, boasting low yielding vines averaging over 40 years of age with the oldest over 70 years. Taking the reins of his family's historic estate in Avize over four decades ago, Pascal works the soils manually while employing organic practices, tilling with horses to ensure his soils do not get compacted (one of his parcels is worked by and named for his horse Venus). Fermenting the base wines exclusively with native yeasts which he believes is critical to expressing the terroir, Pascal employs a mix of older barrels dependent on the cuvee and longer than required bottle aging on the lees, yielding gorgeous, pure fruit impeccably balanced with chalky minerality that finishes long, each cuvee uniquely identified with a different colored plaque (i.e., the round metal disk on top of the cork). | ||
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| 2022 Antinori Cervaro della Sala (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Umbria, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More When we're talking collectible Italian wines, the conversation is almost always centered on the reds of Piedmont and Tuscany, but true Italian aficionados know the spectacular white wine gems that await savvy collectors, starting with Italy's undisputed benchmark Chardonnay, Cervaro della Sala from Antinori. "...this is the best Cervaro della Sala I have tasted." - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate The soon-to-be-released 2023 Cervaro follows the magnificent 98-point 2022 with great fanfare already in the critical press. This double 97-point stunner builds on the wine's lofty reputation as one of the world's great Chardonnays from anywhere.The historic Castello della Sala estate is the white-wine jewel in the Marchesi Antinori crown, its ancient, marine limestone soils suited to several varietals, especially Chardonnay. The Cervaro is the estate's true tête de cuvée, crafted explicitly to be a cellar-worthy treasure that can age with class alongside the best of white Burgundy. "Classic Burgundian style," notes James Suckling, and Vinous' Eric Guido calls it "pure elegance in the glass." The 2023 growing season was near perfect for the development of the Chardonnay, and the Cervaro shows it in spades, with its classically primary nose and exquisitely precise palate that show a winemaking team at the top of its game. With the pedigree and collectible upside of many wines two or three times its price, the 2023 Cervaro della Sala is once again one of the sharpest buys in the market for reference-point, age-worthy Chardonnay. | ||
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| 2023 Antinori Cervaro della Sala (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Umbria, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More When we're talking collectible Italian wines, the conversation is almost always centered on the reds of Piedmont and Tuscany, but true Italian aficionados know the spectacular white wine gems that await savvy collectors, starting with Italy's undisputed benchmark Chardonnay, Cervaro della Sala from Antinori. "...this is the best Cervaro della Sala I have tasted." - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate The soon-to-be-released 2023 Cervaro follows the magnificent 98-point 2022 with great fanfare already in the critical press. This double 97-point stunner builds on the wine's lofty reputation as one of the world's great Chardonnays from anywhere.The historic Castello della Sala estate is the white-wine jewel in the Marchesi Antinori crown, its ancient, marine limestone soils suited to several varietals, especially Chardonnay. The Cervaro is the estate's true tête de cuvée, crafted explicitly to be a cellar-worthy treasure that can age with class alongside the best of white Burgundy. "Classic Burgundian style," notes James Suckling, and Vinous' Eric Guido calls it "pure elegance in the glass." The 2023 growing season was near perfect for the development of the Chardonnay, and the Cervaro shows it in spades, with its classically primary nose and exquisitely precise palate that show a winemaking team at the top of its game. With the pedigree and collectible upside of many wines two or three times its price, the 2023 Cervaro della Sala is once again one of the sharpest buys in the market for reference-point, age-worthy Chardonnay. | ||
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| Mhoba The Shaldon Overproof High-Ester White Rum | ||
| From South Africa | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...on its own level altogether. The Shaldon is, quite simply, a singular expression of white rum. There's nothing else like it." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer If you're a rum fan, you've no doubt seen South Africa's Mhoba appear in recent years on various independent bottlings, most notably from Holmes Cay and Habitation Velier, but their distillery bottlings have yet to reach the the states, until now. We're thrilled to be the first to introduce you to Mhoba's official entry into the U.S. market. The Shaldon is an astonishing white rum expression that should immediately have this distillery on every tiki head's radar. Founded in 2013 by Robert Greaves, Mhoba is a true farm-to-glass operation. The distillery hand-harvests two varietals of cane exclusively from the surrounding farm in Mpumalanga province then subjects them to extremely long, wild-yeast fermentations to draw out the most esters possible. One varietal is single-distilled and the other double-distilled on a custom pot still designed by Greaves himself, with only the heart of each distillate making it into the bottle at a full still strength of 63% ABV. The Shaldon is "arguably the most impressive rum distillery debut of recent memory" according to Andrew, thanks to its "wildly complex nose" and "incredibly racy texture." It brings some serious funk for those who get down with that, but it's extraordinarily balanced with well-defined tropical character and a refreshingly bright finish. An overproof rum of huge personality, it'll make any classic tiki cocktail take off like a rocket, but it's just an undeniably fascinating specimen on its own. More than anything, it's just a smash-hit introduction to the rum scene's next cult star.
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| Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Single Barrel Select Bourbon (750ml) | ||
| From Bardstown, Kentucky | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "... arguably the most compelling B-21 single cask bourbon in our inventory."- Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer The Iconic Heaven Hill distillery has a number of benchmark brands under their umbrella, but none have the kind of cachet and following that Elijah Craig does. Of course, the flagship bottlings are consistent, perennial top sellers, and the limited Barrel Proof releases always get scooped up by the hardcore bourbon collectors, but there's really nothing like an Elijah Craig single cask to make your collection stand out. Hand-selected exclusively for B-21, the 9 Year Old Barrel #6871256 shows the famed Elijah Craig profile at its pinnacle. Bottled at a full barrel proof of 120.4, this cask is full-throttle intensity and opulence from start to finish. A towering aromatic profile defined by deep red fruits and luxurious barrel character leads the way, while the palate is a kaleidoscope of depth and complexity riding a weighty but balanced texture to an incredibly refined, drawn-out finish. Fans and collectors of Heaven Hill's most coveted whiskeys will not want to miss this showstopping expression, but any avid bourbon enthusiast is going to be bowled over by the world-class character of this singular cask. | ||
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| 2021 Patz & Hall Pinot Noir Gap's Crown (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Sonoma Coast, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Ripe, succulent ... generous and juicy ...The intensity persists on the finish." - Wine Spectator Since its founding in 1988, Patz & Hall has done as much as any other producer to define Sonoma's modern wine scene, from expressive appellation bottlings to flat-out superb single-vineyard gems from the region's most storied and coveted sites. One of the greatest features of the appellation bottlings is that they comprise many of those same incredible vineyard sites that form the top end of the range, which goes a long way in explaining the outstanding, 93-point 2022 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay. Sourced from six blocks of the famed Dutton ranch and augmented by fruit from such illustrious locales as Durell, Zio Tony, Gap's Crown, and Parmalee-Hill, the 2022 displays all the hallmark features of the ultra-classic Sonoma profile – big, vibrant fruit, soaring aromatics, scintillating tension, and exceptional balance, all at a price that makes it one of the most versatile offerings in its category. Equally impressive and maybe more so, the 96-point 2021 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir stands as one of the sharpest buys in Cali Pinot in our entire inventory, with a "Textbook vintage and AVA profile" that landed it a spot on last year's Wine Spectator Top 100 list. Our long-time California fans are by now well familiar with the benchmark quality and character of Patz & Hall's wines, and this pair delivers everything you've come to love from a true Sonoma icon. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Lascombes (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, 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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| PM Spirits Project Destilado de Agave Espadin | ||
| From Jalisco, Mexico | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "When we tasted this with PM Spirits’ Nicolas Palazzi, we knew straight away that we had to go all in." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer Full still-strength bottlings are a relative rarity in the world of mezcal, and that's only one reason we jumped on this offering from PM Spirits. More than anything, it's immediately apparent that this is artisan agave spirit (shh...don't call it "mezcal") of the highest order and the maestro who made it knows his craft. When Jason Cox, founder of Cinco Sentidos, stumbled on this batch from mezcalero Rene Parada Barriga, he put it in the hands of PM's Nicolas Palazzi, and the entire batch was soon on its way to Nicolas' warehouse. One snap decision after another, and we've picked up all of Nicolas' remaining supply of this highly limited edition, and one taste will prove our point. The varietal purity and focus are second to none, even for such a monumental spirit of 62% ABV, and the myriad layers of complexity are almost too much to describe in one go. As B-21's Andrew Kitz notes, "The push-pull tension is really something to experience, and I have no doubt that the more I go back to it, the more subtle nuances and facets I’ll find that I somehow missed the first time around." We secured all that was left at a must-see, market-best price and once this is batch is gone, we won't be seeing more of it. | ||
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| 2023 Prager Smaragd Achleiten Stockkultur Gruner Veltliner (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Wachau, Niederosterreich, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Weingut Prager's Toni Bodenstein is indisputably in the top echelon of his generation of Austrian winemakers, and now that his son Robert has taken the helm at the revered Wachau estate, it's clear that the next generation will be one of continued brilliance. Always among the most sought-after names in Austrian wine, Prager's flagship bottlings set the bar, vintage after vintage, for Grüner Veltliner, and today's offer features the superlative 2023s that have already found great favor among our long-time fans and collectors of Austria's best, not to mention garganutan scores from Vinous and Stuart Pigott. Each wine is a highlight unto itself, but you should take serious note of the 98-point Wachstum Bodenstein, "an incredibly delicate and subtle Grüner Veltliner in spite of the great concentration." Likewise, the "incredible intensity" and "certain aging potential" of the 98-point Achleiten Stockkultur make it a masterpiece of class and a benchmark for the category. Finally, don't miss a 99-point rarity in the Zwerithaler Kammergut, produced from a micro-parcel of 120-year-old vines owned by the local abbey. "So fluid, but so fine-boned, immensely dense and rounded but without heaviness," notes Vinous' Anne Krebiehl, it's a singular expression and one of the most unique wines in Austria. Prager's legions of fans will find across-the-board stardom in this range, as these 2023s are yet again up there with the most highly praised wines of the vintage, and they're also available at must-see pricing that puts them among the sharpest buys in the market. | ||
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| 2023 Prager Smaragd Wachstum Bodenstein Gruner Veltliner (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Wachau, Niederosterreich, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Weingut Prager's Toni Bodenstein is indisputably in the top echelon of his generation of Austrian winemakers, and now that his son Robert has taken the helm at the revered Wachau estate, it's clear that the next generation will be one of continued brilliance. Always among the most sought-after names in Austrian wine, Prager's flagship bottlings set the bar, vintage after vintage, for Grüner Veltliner, and today's offer features the superlative 2023s that have already found great favor among our long-time fans and collectors of Austria's best, not to mention garganutan scores from Vinous and Stuart Pigott. Each wine is a highlight unto itself, but you should take serious note of the 98-point Wachstum Bodenstein, "an incredibly delicate and subtle Grüner Veltliner in spite of the great concentration." Likewise, the "incredible intensity" and "certain aging potential" of the 98-point Achleiten Stockkultur make it a masterpiece of class and a benchmark for the category. Finally, don't miss a 99-point rarity in the Zwerithaler Kammergut, produced from a micro-parcel of 120-year-old vines owned by the local abbey. "So fluid, but so fine-boned, immensely dense and rounded but without heaviness," notes Vinous' Anne Krebiehl, it's a singular expression and one of the most unique wines in Austria. Prager's legions of fans will find across-the-board stardom in this range, as these 2023s are yet again up there with the most highly praised wines of the vintage, and they're also available at must-see pricing that puts them among the sharpest buys in the market. | ||
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| 2023 Prager Smaragd Achleiten Gruner Veltliner (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Wachau, Niederosterreich, Austria | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Weingut Prager's Toni Bodenstein is indisputably in the top echelon of his generation of Austrian winemakers, and now that his son Robert has taken the helm at the revered Wachau estate, it's clear that the next generation will be one of continued brilliance. Always among the most sought-after names in Austrian wine, Prager's flagship bottlings set the bar, vintage after vintage, for Grüner Veltliner, and today's offer features the superlative 2023s that have already found great favor among our long-time fans and collectors of Austria's best, not to mention garganutan scores from Vinous and Stuart Pigott. Each wine is a highlight unto itself, but you should take serious note of the 98-point Wachstum Bodenstein, "an incredibly delicate and subtle Grüner Veltliner in spite of the great concentration." Likewise, the "incredible intensity" and "certain aging potential" of the 98-point Achleiten Stockkultur make it a masterpiece of class and a benchmark for the category. Finally, don't miss a 99-point rarity in the Zwerithaler Kammergut, produced from a micro-parcel of 120-year-old vines owned by the local abbey. "So fluid, but so fine-boned, immensely dense and rounded but without heaviness," notes Vinous' Anne Krebiehl, it's a singular expression and one of the most unique wines in Austria. Prager's legions of fans will find across-the-board stardom in this range, as these 2023s are yet again up there with the most highly praised wines of the vintage, and they're also available at must-see pricing that puts them among the sharpest buys in the market. | ||
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| 2012 Andre Clouet Dream Vintage (750ml) | ||
| From Bouzy, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More As the head of the historic Champagne house named for his grandfather Andre Clouet, larger than life vigneron Jean-François Clouet is considered by critics as one of the top grower-producers in the region. Jean-François' flamboyant personality, dubbed by one reviewer as a combination of "winemaker and circus ringmaster," belies his serious dedication and singular passion for producing rich and concentrated expressions of Pinot Noir-based Champagne, also known as Blanc de Noirs. From the outstanding 91pt non-vintage Grande Reserve to the exceptional 96pt Brut 1911, the champagnes of Andre Clouet exhibit the purity of the Pinot Noir fruit, with terroir-driven chalky minerality and deep complexity, ranking Andre Clouet among the region's finest producers and representing one of its best values. Inextricably tied to Champagne's history, the Clouet family have resided in the Montagne de Reims since 1492, first serving as book printers for King Louis XV in 1491 (a legacy now reflected in the Champagne house's ornate labels), producing their first champagne in Bouzy in 1741. Highlighting the Grand Cru pedigree of their 8 hectares of mid-slope sites in Bouzy and Ambonnay, the top cuvees are sourced from these estate vineyards, with additional Pinot Noir purchased from 60 hectares of growers' vineyards and each plot vinified separately. While upholding his family's traditional approach in the vineyard including hand pruning and selection, Francois continues to innovate in the cellar, including employing Sauternes barrels sourced from Château Doisy-Daëne for aging the Brut 1911 as a way of reducing the dosage, with the goal of adjusting sweetness without adding sugar. Exhibiting a gentle mousse and refined bubbles, the wines of André Clouet also boast notably creamy textures due to Jean-François' practice of extended aging on the lees, balancing crisp acidity and tantalizing minerality. While Andre Clouet remains relatively under the radar among the grower-producers in Champagne, these highly rated selections are among the best Blanc de Noir wines of the region, at a fraction of the price of prestige offerings from the larger Champagne houses like Krug and Bollinger. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on an array of the exquisite, artisanal Champagnes of Andre Clouet, one of the finest grower estates in the region today, whether for everyday enjoyment, celebrations or gifting and now offered at the best pricing on the market. | ||
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| 2023 Henri Gouges Nuits-St.-Georges Rouge (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Nuits-St-Georges, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Across the board, these were some of the most perfumed, delineated wines we've tasted yet this year, and the structural and textural finesse are almost unbelievable for Nuits-St-Georges." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Burgundy Buyer Our visit to Domaine Henri Gouges earlier this year was revelatory in more ways than one. First, it showed us some of the best 2023 reds we've come across, indicating that, at the top end, this is a super-classic vintage for Burgundy purists to take special interest in. Second, it showed us that Gouges is back on top in a big way. This Nuits-St-Georges benchmark "hits hard" in 2023 according to Andrew, with a standout range that eclipses even some previously acclaimed vintages, in his opinion. The village Nuits is always an "energetic gem that does everything it's supposed to do" in fine fashion, while the 1er crus simply shine, in our humble opinion. The 2023 Clos des Porrets St-Georges is "an indisputably classic 2023 NSG 1er cru in every way," while the Pruliers "takes this site to the level of more lauded crus like its stablemate, the Vaucrains." Speaking of which, this stellar cru produced a potential 96-pointer that Jasper Morris calls "Immediately classy on the nose from this great terroir. Not hugely open, but very fine, and this continues on the palate. A sense of refinement despite the level of energy." Finally, the Les St-Georges makes a fine case for this vineyard as the best in the appellation (perhaps deserving of grand cru status?). Burghound describes the 2023 as "super-sleek, intense and detailed, mineral-driven and muscular," showing all the pedigree of this hallowed site in a vintage that allows it to shine in every facet. Needless to say, when we were offered our allocation, we jumped on every last bottle, so now our Burgundy collectors can stock up on some of the sharpest collectible gems of the vintage at superb, market-leading pricing. | ||
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| Privateer Faux Fall Rum Florida Rum Society Cask P913 (750ml) | ||
| From Ipswich, Massachusetts | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "No question as to why the FRS rum geeks picked this one. The Faux Fall Rum cask from Privateer packs a big personality into a very refined and polished package." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer We've had some really fantastic Florida Rum Society cask selections come through our doors in the last year, so when we were approached to be the exclusive online U.S. retailer for their latest selection, we jumped at the chance. After all, these are some of the savviest, most knowledgeable rum fanatics out there, and their picks always deliver the goods. FRS has had a long and fruitful relationship with Privateer distillery out of Massachusetts, and this latest cask might be their best Privateer pick yet. Named Faux Fall Rum for the fact that our autumns in Florida can more accurately be called "summer light," this 5-year-old cask of Privateer's much-loved Navy Yard Rum offers up a fantastic array of dense, savory flavors and aromas that belies its age, taking on the complexity and depth of a much older rum, thanks to the distillery's double distillation and super-premium molasses base. These FRS casks have a devoted following, and this one checks every box that their audience is looking for - outsized complexity, singular personality, and limited availability. In other words, a perfect addition to your collection.
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| High N' Wicked The Judge 14yr Whiskey (750ml) | ||
| From Tennessee | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Founded by two veterans of spirits giant Brown-Forman, independent bottler High N' Wicked has a made a name for themselves in the craft whiskey scene by their access to superb stocks from the country's best sources. Their series of highly limited, age-stated releases have been cult collector's hits since their debut in 2020, but now you can add "stunning value star" to their list of must-try offerings. When we tasted the High N' Wicked Kentucky Straight Bourbon earlier this year, it was clear from the get-go that everything about this whiskey was done with pure pleasure in mind. "Complex and enticing," according to Wine Enthusiast's 95-point review, this 5-year-old gem boasts quite a high rye content, but its sweet mashbill finds the perfect pocket of balance and opulence that make it incredibly approachable for a wide audience. Of course, you'll also want to pay close attention to the The Judge and The Jury. The market on age-stated American whiskey is through the roof, and you're almost always looking at triple digits for anything with this kinds of number on them. That makes this pair a can't-miss, flat-out steal in the category. After 14 years in new #4 char oak, High N' Wicked gave the 96-point The Judge an addition six months in Hungarian Tokaji dessert wine casks. Ramping up the intensity, the 94-point The Jury saw an extra year in the new #4 char barrel, finishing in a premium ex-Madeira cask. Nothing added and nothing chill-filtered out, these are luxurious, altogether singular expressions that we seldom see in the bourbon category. | ||
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| 2023 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Meursault (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Meursault, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "An exceptional range throughout that shows this Meursault reference-point in a brilliant light." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Burgundy Buyer This iconic Meursault domaine, spearheaded by the legendary Pierre Matrot, is now in its third generation under Pierre's granddaughters Elsa and Adele, who are shepherding it into a thrilling new era, as our Burgundy team discovered last spring during their visit. The sisters have undertaken a subtle yet remarkable transformation of the domaine's style, moving away from the more solidly built, heavily oaked wines of their father, Thierry, and toward a more nuanced expression of terroir signature with very judicious use of the barrel. The results are vividly compelling wines that convey the domaine's prized holdings in crystal-clear fashion. The 2023 vintage favored Chardonnay in the Côte de Beaune, and Matrot's wines also capture the balanced brilliance of the vintage perfectly. The treasured 1ers crus of Puligny Combettes and Meursault Perrieres surely turned out some absolutely thrilling renditions in 2023, the former "super-sleek, delicious, and appealingly tension-filled" and the latter showing 95-point potential according to both Martin and Morris for its "cool, pure and beautifully layered" personality. The sleeper star, however, is the "marvelous" Puligny 1er Cru Chalumeaux, showing 96-point potential from Morris. It's great to see such an iconic domaine showing this level of potential and promise as it enters a new era, and based on what we saw from them earlier this year, Matrot's best days may yet be ahead of us. | ||
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| NV Agrapart Terroirs Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut Grand Cru Disgorgement July 2025 (750ml) | ||
| Sparkling from Avize, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Crafted by artisan producer and B-21 favorite Pascal Agrapart in the chalky Cote des Blancs, Champagne Agrapart has enjoyed an under the radar reputation, but with the release of these highly rated 2025 cuvees, that's about to change. From one of the top grower-producers in the region, these selections from Agrapart offer a rare taste of meticulously crafted, terroir-driven Champagne at a remarkable value that's bound to sell out in a flash. Now run by the fourth consecutive generation, Agrapart ranks at the top echelons of Champagne, earning a 3-star rating in the Revue de Vin du France alongside only 7 other houses, including Krug. Planted almost entirely with Chardonnay with a few small plots of Pinot Noir, the ten-hectare Agrapart Domaine comprises more than 70 small parcels predominantly in the Grand Cru villages of Avize, Cramant, Oiry, and Oger with a few Premier Cru plots on the Cote de Blancs, boasting low yielding vines averaging over 40 years of age with the oldest over 70 years. Taking the reins of his family's historic estate in Avize over four decades ago, Pascal works the soils manually while employing organic practices, tilling with horses to ensure his soils do not get compacted (one of his parcels is worked by and named for his horse Venus). Fermenting the base wines exclusively with native yeasts which he believes is critical to expressing the terroir, Pascal employs a mix of older barrels dependent on the cuvee and longer than required bottle aging on the lees, yielding gorgeous, pure fruit impeccably balanced with chalky minerality that finishes long, each cuvee uniquely identified with a different colored plaque (i.e., the round metal disk on top of the cork). | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2021 Massolino Barbaresco Albesani (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barbaresco, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The 2021s are marvelously complete wines that offer a captivating mix of energy, structure, depth and plenty of site character." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous To paraphrase Mark Twain's infamous quip about good whiskey, too much great wine is not enough, and we still can't get enough of Barbaresco's epic 2021 vintage. Ever since these wines began to hit the market, they've delivered on the early praise that was heaped on them by critics across the board. There's obviously no shortage of spectacular buys in this vintage, but that breadth of choice can often make selection daunting, so we've hand-picked some of our absolute favorites get you going in this reference-point campaign. Massolino shines with a pair of superb offerings in their "super-classic" village bottling and their triple 95-point Albesani single cru. Produttori's 2021 village bottling is once again one of the steals of the vintage. With 95+ points from Wine Advocate, it's a "a classical expression of Nebbiolo that gives us good reason to be excited for the upcoming 2021 Barbaresco Riservas." Next up, the 2021 Fontanabianca Bordini is a no-brainer, razor-sharp buy for Piedmont collectors looking to maximize their collectible bang for the buck, a "stunning ,,, utterly delicious" offering with glowing accolades from several critics, led by Kerin O'Keefe's 96 points and 95 points from Larner. Finally, don't miss the single-cru sleeper stars from Albino Rocca and Giuseppe Cortese. "This vivid, sculpted Barbaresco is hugely promising," writes Galloni in his 95-point review of Rocca's 2021 Ronchi. He likewise praises Cortese's 2021 rendition of the iconic Rabaja cru as "complex, dynamic and youthfully austere—in other words, it's classic Rabajà ... a drop-dead gorgeous beauty." No matter which way you turn, it seems Barbaresco's 2021 vintage is knocking it out of the park, and our market-leading pricing on these fan favorites and collectible hits provides you ample opportunity to stock the cellar full for the next couple of decades. | ||
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| 2022 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Consistently earning critical acclaim vintage over vintage including the #4 spot on the Wine Spectator's Top 100, the decadent 2022 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon continues the Faust reputation for over delivering value, an immensely satisfying Napa Cab from the founder of Quintessa offering an enticing combination of fresh, opulent dark fruit and lush, velvety tannins, unbeatably priced for Napa Cab fans to scoop up by the case and enjoy often. Located just past Beringer heading north on Highway 29, Faust chose to open its new sleek tasting and event center in a once run down Victorian on a hillside near Healdsburg, using it as an opportunity to expose visitors to Napa's lesser-known, less-visited Coombsville AVA 20 minutes to the south where the Faust vineyard is located. Recognizing the cooler region's potential for growing Cabernet Sauvignon over a decade before it became an AVA in 2001, former Concha y Toro CEO and longtime California vintner Agustin Huneeus established Faust on the site of a former dairy farm in 1998, the early vintages of Faust establishing the reputation of Coombsville as a site capable of producing high-quality, complex Cabs and attracting a who's who of celebrated winemakers to the area including Andy Erickson and Paul Hobbs. Located just east of the town of Napa, the certified organic 128-acre Faust vineyard is planted in rich gravelly loam and volcanic rock soils that enhance minerality while the nearby cup and saucer like ridge coined the 'Coombsville caldera' funnels winds from the San Pablo Bay and create conditions for extended, gradual ripening. Blending 86% Cabernet Sauvignon with small amounts of Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc primarily from Faust's Coombsville site, former Harlan and Groth winemaker David Jelinek aged the 2022 Faust for 20 months in 25% new French oak barrels, yielding a bold and pleasurable Cab with elegant, plush fruit and bright acidity built to age gracefully over the next decade. Declaring the AVA "Napa Valley's Rising Star," the Wine Enthusiast called Coombsville a top choice for "buyers that desire something new from Napa," the 2022 Faust Cabernet Sauvignon living up to its reputation as an exceptional, cellar worthy Napa Cab reflecting the pioneering winemaking legacy of Quintessa founder Agustin Huneeus at an incredible bargain price. | ||
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| 2023 Chateau Beaucastel Rouge (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More One of the most anticipated Rhone releases in any vintage is Beaucastel's reference-point Chateauneuf-du-Pape, and the 97-point 2023 delivers everything we expect from this iconic estate. "... yet another outstanding red Beaucastel with the potential to match or even outperform the delicious 2022." - Nicolas Greinacher, Vinous The warm, dry growing season provided optimal conditions for all the estate's varietals to excel and the finished wine is classic Beaucastel in all respects. Jeb Dunnuck notes, "It has the purity, medium to full-bodied richness, and ripe, yet still fresh and lively style of the vintage and brings plenty of mid-palate depth, sweet tannins, and a great finish." The year saw a higher-than-usual Mourvedre content in the blend, so you can count on this rendition to cruise in the cellar, but the freshness and vibrancy of the Grenache components (with help of the highly aromatic Terret Nori, Vaccarese, and Muscardin) make it a true charmer right out of the gate. James Suckling's Rhone critic Stuart Pigott declares it "full-bodied but with a lightness of touch. Then the power and stony intensity pour over you in a giant wave. The freshness is extraordinary for this hot and dry vintage." In other words, one of France's leading wine estates hit another home run, and collectors can add this superb rendition to their cellars for a razor-sharp price. | ||
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| 2020 Domaine Giraud Galimardes Rouge (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Domaine Giraud is a relative newcomer in the Southern Rhone, crafting its first wine in 1974 from 4 hectares of rented vines and producing its first estate cuvee in 1998 under second generation siblings Marie and Francois Giraud. Spanning over 17 hectares spread over 64 separate parcels across the appellation, Giraud's estate owned vineyards are planted with vines averaging 60-80 years of age in a diverse mix of pebble, sand, clay, and limestone soils, each parcel farmed organically with minimal treatments and managed manually from harvesting to sorting. Sourced primarily from old-vine Grenache including parcels in Les Gallimardes and La Crau, the elegant 2020 Domaine Giraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape Tradition Rouge is a blend of 80% Grenache and 5% Mourvedre aged for 18 months in cement vats and 15% Syrah matured in used Bordeaux barriques and bottled without filtering or fining, crafted in a vineyard-driven style with "relatively simple, unadorned winemaking" according to Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski with fine-grained tannins that frame the intense, luscious fruit and predict a long and satisfying evolution in the cellar. A small-production cuvee that wasn't produced at all in 2021 due to frost damage, the enticing 95-point 2020 Domaine Giraud Chateauneuf-du-Pape Les Gallimardes Rouge comes from a terroir-expressive vintage "producing athletic, elegant wines of intensity and panache" according to Decanter's Matt Walls, an under-the-radar gem priced far below the region's higher profile estates and expertly crafted to reward savvy collectors with over a decade of pleasurable drinking ahead. | ||
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