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| 2021 Gran Enemigo Gualtallary (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Mendoza, Argentina | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "I found these firmly among Argentina's most exciting wines, cementing [Cabernet Franc's] rightful place alongside Malbec as a vehicle for expressing the Uco Valley." - Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate El Enemigo is easily one of the most exciting projects in South American wine over the past decade. The brainchild of Adrianna Catena and Alejandro Vigil (Catena's long-time winemaker) has racked up a dizzying array of huge scores and accolades over their relatively short time in the spotlight, and they're doing it at every point in the price spectrum and with outside-the-box offerings that only add to the singular appeal of the estate's range. Case in point is this pair of back-to-back tete de cuvee masterpieces from their Gran Enemigo line of single-vineyard Cabernet Francs. Sure, Malbec may still be king in Argentina, but these wines redefining the luxury collectible category in Argentina in absolutely stunning fashion. There are four single-vineyard expressions in the Gran Enemigo category, but among them, Gualtallary is "the supreme example" according to Matthew Luczy, and the twin-titan, 99-point 2020 and 2021 show exactly why. Both vintages showcase the wine's inimitable balance, which places it almost in a class of its own. The 2020 is "light on its feet and with great inner power" according to Luis Gutierrez of Wine Advocate. Regarding the 2021, Vinous' Eric Guido likewise muses, "Is it possible to create a wine with structure but without weight? The 2021 Cabernet Franc Gran Enemigo Gualtallary offers a remarkable answer to that apparent paradox." Gutierrez' Wine Advocate colleague Matthew Luczy notes its "incomparable finesse, depth and complexity" to further emphasize the 2021 as a singular achievement. For any serious collector of the world's finest wines, this pair is a sure bet to add a whole new dimension to your cellar. | ||
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| High N' Wicked The Jury 15yr Straight Bourbon 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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| 2021 Rippon Emma's Block Pinot Noir (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Central Otago's Rippon is unequivocally a "grand cru" New Zealand estate by any measure, even aesthetic, as it's arguably the most beautiful wine estate in the world, situated on the shores of the iconic Lake Wanaka with the South Island's Alps as a jaw-dropping backdrop.A family run estate since their founding, the Rippon Pinot Noirs represente the very top echelon of the country's offerings in that category and set the bar vintage after vintage for the cream of Central Otago's crop. Our first allocation of the newly released 2021s has just landed, and it's safe to say that these are once again world-class offerings with stratospheric critical accolades that can compete with virtually any Pinot Noir in the world, from Burgundy, Sonoma, or anywhere else. Leading off, the flagship 2021 Mature Vines boasts 97 points from James Suckling, while it's a "gorgeous" offering that "expounds mineral freshness and detail in spades" according to Wine Advocate's Erin Larkin. Taking the estate profile to another level of nuance and detail, the single-block bottlings, always highly acclaimed and highly limited, are collectible stunners of the first order. The WA98 Tinker's Field "is a wine of impact and tremendous grace," while the JS97 Emma's Block is "mineral, detailed, and quietly spoken," each wine offering a distinct side of the Rippon estate's personality. For any collector of reference-point, singular Pinot Noirs, Rippon belongs on your short list. If you haven't yet discovered them, do yourself a favor and make some room in the cellar next to your other trophy bottlings, as these mesmerizing gems will cruise in dynamic fashion with the best of the best. | ||
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| 2021 Petrolo Galatrona (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Val d'Arno di Sopra, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is just a tremendous wine by any measure." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Widely considered one of the world's finest collectible Merlots, Petrolo's Galatrona hit astounding heights in 2021. The Galatrona vineyard in the southeast Chianti hills is ideally suited to Merlot, with southeast exposure and loamy clay soils rich in marl, shale, and sandstone that retain plenty of moisture in the hot Tuscan summers. This superb terroir allows for a beautifully expressive wine seemingly regardless of vintage conditions, and what's more it routinely stands along side iconic bottlings like Masseto and Messorio at a mere fraction of their prices. The 2021 has garnered huge press from across the critical spectrum, with a pair of 98-point scores and a pair of 97-point scores for good measure. Antonio Galloni describes "a feeling of vertical, explosive energy that catapults the 2021 into the stratosphere," while Wine Spectator calls it "seamless and luxuriously saturated ... more about finesse and elegance than power, with a vibrant profile and superlong finish." Galatrona's track record is iron-clad, one of the finest in the region and certainly in the top echelon of Italian Bordeaux-varietal wines, and the 2021 is all teed up to become another legend in the making for this iconic Tuscan superstar, at a razor-sharp price that's nearly unbeatable in the market. | ||
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| 2021 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2021 Vina Sena Sena (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Aconcagua Valley, Chile | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "One of Chile's icon wines and deservedly so" Wine Advocate When visionaries Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi created Vina Sena in 1995, they embarked on a joint mission to create one of the world's greatest red wines, and with the first taste of the perfect scoring 2021 Vina Sena, collectors and wine aficionados will enthusiastically agree: Mission Accomplished. Standing shoulder to shoulder with First Growths and cult Napa Cabs and among the most sought-after South American wines, the powerful 100 pt. 2021 Vina Sena offers fresh, decadent fruit framed with remarkable vibrant acidity on an unwavering finish, confirming its status as Chile's premier cult wine and one to make room for in the cellar at an unbeatable value. With a family history in the region dating back to the 1870's beginning with Don Maximiano Errazuriz, passionate vintner Eduardo Chadwick was committed to restoring his family's run-down 19th century estate to its former glory, inspired in the 1980's on a visit to Chateau Margaux to create a benchmark Chilean blend that rivaled the First Growths of Bordeaux. Fast forward to 1991, when Augustin Huneeus (yes, that "other" Chilean born winemaker and the visionary behind Napa's Quintessa) organized a trip for his friend Robert Mondavi to visit Chile and asked Eduardo to show him around. Inspired by the potential of the region's vineyards and the success of his venture with the Rothschild's, Mondavi partnered with Eduardo and began a four-year search for the perfect terroir to craft an "Opus One of South America" predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon with Chile's indigenous grape Carmenere, discovering the perfect site in the Aconcagua Valley. Boasting well-drained rocky soils of gravel and loam, the hillside 42-hectare Sena vineyard was planted in 1998 to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and other red Bordeaux varieties as well as Carmenere, its temperatures moderated by winds off the Pacific and pure mountain water from the snowcapped Andes supplying water for the vines. After Mondavi's death in 2003, Eduardo took over the project in its entirety, bringing the wine to global attention at the blind 2004 Berlin Tastings where wine experts ranked the Vina Sena above First Growths Chateaux Margaux and Lafite, continuing vintage over vintage to build its legendary reputation as "a compelling world class wine" according to Jeb Dunnuck. Produced in an outstanding relatively cool vintage allowing for extended hang times and slow, complete ripening of the biodynamically farmed grapes, longtime winemaker Francisco "Pancho" Baettig aged the 2021 Vina Sena for 22 months in a mix of 70% new French oak barrels with 10% in larger foudres, marking his last harvest as Sena's winemaker and yielding a finessed and perfectly balanced blend with lush, refined tannins and an exceptional potential for aging. Delivering on Eduardo Chadwick's goal to craft "a unique Bordeaux style blend with a very Chilean soul," the enticing 100 pt. 2021 Vina Sena is a remarkably elegant wine that James Suckling notes is "traded around the world like Bordeaux's First Growths," at a mere fraction of the price, a rare opportunity to enjoy terroir-driven perfection for less than many entry level Napa Cabs and a "mission" that collectors of the world's greatest red wines will be glad they accepted. | ||
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| Hakata 16yr Sherry Cask Finish Japanese Whisky | ||
| From Japan | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Esoteric to some, utterly singular any way you slice it, this trio offers Japanese whisky fans an experience unlike any other." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer The Hakata range isn't exactly boutique or under the radar, but the spirits themselves nonetheless occupy a space all their own in the broader realm of Japanese whisky. They were born as an experiment over 20 years ago by Naomi Mitsuya, master distiller at Fukuoka's Hikari Distillery, with no real agenda or aim. Using the distillery's highly traditional malted barley and koji rice mash, he filled the distillate into top-quality Spanish sherry casks and let them sit completely undisturbed for years on end, letting the casks themselves and the region's extreme continental climate variations work their magic. The results were unexpected, to say the least, but also incredibly compelling, leading to some big scores from Whisky Advocate. After a recent tasting of the entire range, we were equally enthralled. Each bottling represents the quintessential umami character of artisan koji whisky, but as one would expect, the varying timespans in the sherry casks have imparted a different expression of the casks' influence. The 10 Year Old is, of course, the most primary, with a fruit-forward core, spicy edges, and clear sherry tones. The 12 Year Old is the most umami of the three, this element taking center stage throughout in a savory, salty melange accented with dried fruit and barrel character. Finally, the 16 Year Old offers up a wildly complex profile. "A spectacular drink" according to Whisky Advocate's Jonny McCormick, it carries all manner of luxurious fruit, from rich citrus to dark berries, while the perfectly integrated umami and sherry tones play in absolute harmony in the background. Whether you're a hardcore fan of the koji heritage or just an adventurous spirits lover, the Hakata whiskies belong on your shortlist of must-try discoveries, and our market-best pricing on all three gives you the perfect excuse to dive in. | ||
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| 2021 Rippon Tinker's Field Pinot Noir (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Central Otago's Rippon is unequivocally a "grand cru" New Zealand estate by any measure, even aesthetic, as it's arguably the most beautiful wine estate in the world, situated on the shores of the iconic Lake Wanaka with the South Island's Alps as a jaw-dropping backdrop.A family run estate since their founding, the Rippon Pinot Noirs represente the very top echelon of the country's offerings in that category and set the bar vintage after vintage for the cream of Central Otago's crop. Our first allocation of the newly released 2021s has just landed, and it's safe to say that these are once again world-class offerings with stratospheric critical accolades that can compete with virtually any Pinot Noir in the world, from Burgundy, Sonoma, or anywhere else. Leading off, the flagship 2021 Mature Vines boasts 97 points from James Suckling, while it's a "gorgeous" offering that "expounds mineral freshness and detail in spades" according to Wine Advocate's Erin Larkin. Taking the estate profile to another level of nuance and detail, the single-block bottlings, always highly acclaimed and highly limited, are collectible stunners of the first order. The WA98 Tinker's Field "is a wine of impact and tremendous grace," while the JS97 Emma's Block is "mineral, detailed, and quietly spoken," each wine offering a distinct side of the Rippon estate's personality. For any collector of reference-point, singular Pinot Noirs, Rippon belongs on your short list. If you haven't yet discovered them, do yourself a favor and make some room in the cellar next to your other trophy bottlings, as these mesmerizing gems will cruise in dynamic fashion with the best of the best. | ||
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| 2022 Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is a magical property. Of late, the wines have been pretty magical too." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous While Tignanello gets all (or almost all) the attention in the Marchesi Antinori stable, the Guado al Tasso wines have started to gain some serious traction of their own among Italian fans, and they now stand apart from their more famous sibling in all the right ways. Indeed, recent vintages have seen the estate hit new benchmarks in quality and acclaim, something that continues in this trio of new releases. The 2023 Il Bruciato stands out as one of the Tuscany's leading value buys once again, capturing the power of the warm vintage while retaining ample freshness to make it accessible even today. This JD93 blend of Bordeaux varietals plus Syrah offers up a thoroughly modern profile with tons of broad, crowd-pleasing appeal and a price to match. The Super Tuscan blends are the attention-getters in the Antinori portfolio, but the 2022 Cont' Ugo Merlot is an insider's savvy buy. We know, we know ... Merlot? Yes, Merlot. It's one of the most intriguing and dynamic varietals in Tuscany today. The coastal climate and soils are ideally suited to this Bordeaux transplant, but the result is never just an imitation of the Right Bank style. Instead, Merlot takes on its own singular Tuscan character that lends a new and vibrant perspective to the grape and the category as a whole, and the 94-point 2022 Cont' Ugo is a prime example. Finally, the latest vintage of Guado al Tasso shows the unmatched pedigree of Antinori, from the sterling quality of the fruit, to the clear terroir signatures, to the precise and meticulous winemaking, which really was deciding factor in the 2022 vintage. As Monica Larner of Wine Advocate declares in her 96-point review, "The wine is velvety and richly textured at its core, but it is also seamless with very pleasurable sweetness." Everything about the 2022 is expertly composed and in its proper place, earning it three rock-solid, 96-point reviews from Italy's leading critics. For those who follow the Italian collectible scene, especially the Super Tuscan category, you'll no doubt be making room in the cellar for this exceptional expression from one of Italy's most iconic estates. | ||
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| 2018 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2012 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2020 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2010 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2008 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2006 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2007 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2022 Le Pupille Saffredi (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Maremma, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Fattoria Le Pupille's flagship Saffredi has always been a top-echelon Tuscan collectible, with multiple 100-point vintages in its track record and a consistent reputation for delivering one of the finest expressions of the coastal Tuscan terroir available. Proprietor Elisabetta Geppetti has fashioned the estate and this benchmark wine into a standard bearer for Maremma, and now that her son, Ettore, has taken the reins, the future looks brighter than ever, as is plainly clear in the newly released, highly acclaimed 2022 Saffredi. "To my mind, the 2022 stands apart from almost every other past vintage of Saffredi. This is a new direction for the wine that we can all happily embrace." - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate The 2022 growing season offered the winemaking team plenty of opportunity to take a different course with Saffredi, and they chose wisely. The 2022 "deftly plays upon the elegance and fruity brightness of the growing season, while also harnessing its freshness and its slightly more streamlined appeal," as noted by Monica Larner in her 98-point review. Decanter also tags it with 98 points, declaring, "The 2022 Saffredi is the result of the estate's hard work and it has paid dividends ... It's a stunner. Wow!" There isn't much more we can add to that, but to say that this is a can't-miss opportunity for savvy collectors to stack the cellar high and deep with a long-haul performer at the best price in the country. | ||
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| 2022 Fingers Crossed Life & Death Red (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Initially produced under the Faethm label, the Fingers Crossed wines from Nicolas Krankl (son of Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl) are now under their own banner, and they're making an immediate splash in the cult collectible scene, which is soon to become a bigger splash with the latest set of stratospheric scores from Jeb Dunnuck. "These are consistently world-class wines that show remarkable balance between richness and elegance." - Jeb Dunnuck Sourcing from some of Santa Barbara's best sites including Bien Nacido and Stolpman, as well as some old parcels of Sine Qua Non, Nicolas is blazing a real trail for himself. Indeed, as Jeb Dunnuck makes clear, "It's important to realize that these are not Sine Qua Non copycats. They have their own style, which leans slightly more Old World, with notable stem influence and elegance, while still delivering serious California fruit." But they do share the Sine Qua Non penchant for top-shelf accolades, as Dunnuck's recent 100-point score for the 2022 Life and Death Syrah indicates. This "singular, as well as absolutely perfect, wine" is poised to become an instant coveted classic, while "the marriage of richness, purity, and finesse" in the 99-point Grenache-based Red Wine "is something to behold." Best of all, each wine has the old-school foundation to be a cellar all-star, so you can (and should) count on holding onto a few bottles for a while. The only caveat is that our stock at this incredible, must-see pricing is highly limited, so you'll want to pull the trigger while you can. | ||
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| 2022 Fingers Crossed Life & Death Syrah (750ml) | ||
| Syrah from California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Initially produced under the Faethm label, the Fingers Crossed wines from Nicolas Krankl (son of Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl) are now under their own banner, and they're making an immediate splash in the cult collectible scene, which is soon to become a bigger splash with the latest set of stratospheric scores from Jeb Dunnuck. "These are consistently world-class wines that show remarkable balance between richness and elegance." - Jeb Dunnuck Sourcing from some of Santa Barbara's best sites including Bien Nacido and Stolpman, as well as some old parcels of Sine Qua Non, Nicolas is blazing a real trail for himself. Indeed, as Jeb Dunnuck makes clear, "It's important to realize that these are not Sine Qua Non copycats. They have their own style, which leans slightly more Old World, with notable stem influence and elegance, while still delivering serious California fruit." But they do share the Sine Qua Non penchant for top-shelf accolades, as Dunnuck's recent 100-point score for the 2022 Life and Death Syrah indicates. This "singular, as well as absolutely perfect, wine" is poised to become an instant coveted classic, while "the marriage of richness, purity, and finesse" in the 99-point Grenache-based Red Wine "is something to behold." Best of all, each wine has the old-school foundation to be a cellar all-star, so you can (and should) count on holding onto a few bottles for a while. The only caveat is that our stock at this incredible, must-see pricing is highly limited, so you'll want to pull the trigger while you can. | ||
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| 2016 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2016 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2009 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2010 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2005 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2020 Chateau Lynch-Bages (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2021 Vina Sena Sena (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Aconcagua Valley, Chile | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "One of Chile's icon wines and deservedly so" Wine Advocate When visionaries Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi created Vina Sena in 1995, they embarked on a joint mission to create one of the world's greatest red wines, and with the first taste of the perfect scoring 2021 Vina Sena, collectors and wine aficionados will enthusiastically agree: Mission Accomplished. Standing shoulder to shoulder with First Growths and cult Napa Cabs and among the most sought-after South American wines, the powerful 100 pt. 2021 Vina Sena offers fresh, decadent fruit framed with remarkable vibrant acidity on an unwavering finish, confirming its status as Chile's premier cult wine and one to make room for in the cellar at an unbeatable value. With a family history in the region dating back to the 1870's beginning with Don Maximiano Errazuriz, passionate vintner Eduardo Chadwick was committed to restoring his family's run-down 19th century estate to its former glory, inspired in the 1980's on a visit to Chateau Margaux to create a benchmark Chilean blend that rivaled the First Growths of Bordeaux. Fast forward to 1991, when Augustin Huneeus (yes, that "other" Chilean born winemaker and the visionary behind Napa's Quintessa) organized a trip for his friend Robert Mondavi to visit Chile and asked Eduardo to show him around. Inspired by the potential of the region's vineyards and the success of his venture with the Rothschild's, Mondavi partnered with Eduardo and began a four-year search for the perfect terroir to craft an "Opus One of South America" predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon with Chile's indigenous grape Carmenere, discovering the perfect site in the Aconcagua Valley. Boasting well-drained rocky soils of gravel and loam, the hillside 42-hectare Sena vineyard was planted in 1998 to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and other red Bordeaux varieties as well as Carmenere, its temperatures moderated by winds off the Pacific and pure mountain water from the snowcapped Andes supplying water for the vines. After Mondavi's death in 2003, Eduardo took over the project in its entirety, bringing the wine to global attention at the blind 2004 Berlin Tastings where wine experts ranked the Vina Sena above First Growths Chateaux Margaux and Lafite, continuing vintage over vintage to build its legendary reputation as "a compelling world class wine" according to Jeb Dunnuck. Produced in an outstanding relatively cool vintage allowing for extended hang times and slow, complete ripening of the biodynamically farmed grapes, longtime winemaker Francisco "Pancho" Baettig aged the 2021 Vina Sena for 22 months in a mix of 70% new French oak barrels with 10% in larger foudres, marking his last harvest as Sena's winemaker and yielding a finessed and perfectly balanced blend with lush, refined tannins and an exceptional potential for aging. Delivering on Eduardo Chadwick's goal to craft "a unique Bordeaux style blend with a very Chilean soul," the enticing 100 pt. 2021 Vina Sena is a remarkably elegant wine that James Suckling notes is "traded around the world like Bordeaux's First Growths," at a mere fraction of the price, a rare opportunity to enjoy terroir-driven perfection for less than many entry level Napa Cabs and a "mission" that collectors of the world's greatest red wines will be glad they accepted. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2021 Vina Sena Sena (3L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Aconcagua Valley, Chile | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "One of Chile's icon wines and deservedly so" Wine Advocate When visionaries Eduardo Chadwick and Robert Mondavi created Vina Sena in 1995, they embarked on a joint mission to create one of the world's greatest red wines, and with the first taste of the perfect scoring 2021 Vina Sena, collectors and wine aficionados will enthusiastically agree: Mission Accomplished. Standing shoulder to shoulder with First Growths and cult Napa Cabs and among the most sought-after South American wines, the powerful 100 pt. 2021 Vina Sena offers fresh, decadent fruit framed with remarkable vibrant acidity on an unwavering finish, confirming its status as Chile's premier cult wine and one to make room for in the cellar at an unbeatable value. With a family history in the region dating back to the 1870's beginning with Don Maximiano Errazuriz, passionate vintner Eduardo Chadwick was committed to restoring his family's run-down 19th century estate to its former glory, inspired in the 1980's on a visit to Chateau Margaux to create a benchmark Chilean blend that rivaled the First Growths of Bordeaux. Fast forward to 1991, when Augustin Huneeus (yes, that "other" Chilean born winemaker and the visionary behind Napa's Quintessa) organized a trip for his friend Robert Mondavi to visit Chile and asked Eduardo to show him around. Inspired by the potential of the region's vineyards and the success of his venture with the Rothschild's, Mondavi partnered with Eduardo and began a four-year search for the perfect terroir to craft an "Opus One of South America" predominantly of Cabernet Sauvignon with Chile's indigenous grape Carmenere, discovering the perfect site in the Aconcagua Valley. Boasting well-drained rocky soils of gravel and loam, the hillside 42-hectare Sena vineyard was planted in 1998 to mostly Cabernet Sauvignon and other red Bordeaux varieties as well as Carmenere, its temperatures moderated by winds off the Pacific and pure mountain water from the snowcapped Andes supplying water for the vines. After Mondavi's death in 2003, Eduardo took over the project in its entirety, bringing the wine to global attention at the blind 2004 Berlin Tastings where wine experts ranked the Vina Sena above First Growths Chateaux Margaux and Lafite, continuing vintage over vintage to build its legendary reputation as "a compelling world class wine" according to Jeb Dunnuck. Produced in an outstanding relatively cool vintage allowing for extended hang times and slow, complete ripening of the biodynamically farmed grapes, longtime winemaker Francisco "Pancho" Baettig aged the 2021 Vina Sena for 22 months in a mix of 70% new French oak barrels with 10% in larger foudres, marking his last harvest as Sena's winemaker and yielding a finessed and perfectly balanced blend with lush, refined tannins and an exceptional potential for aging. Delivering on Eduardo Chadwick's goal to craft "a unique Bordeaux style blend with a very Chilean soul," the enticing 100 pt. 2021 Vina Sena is a remarkably elegant wine that James Suckling notes is "traded around the world like Bordeaux's First Growths," at a mere fraction of the price, a rare opportunity to enjoy terroir-driven perfection for less than many entry level Napa Cabs and a "mission" that collectors of the world's greatest red wines will be glad they accepted. | ||
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