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| 2015 Chateau Pontet-Canet (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Alfred Tesseron and his team, led by estate manager Jean-Michel Comme, have completely transformed both the vineyards and identity of Château Pontet-Canet by embracing organic and biodynamic practices. Recognizing the extraordinary terroir of Pontet Canet – the heart lies in a plateau outcropping of Garonne Gunz gravel which overlays limestone bedrock, these poor soils allow drainage that's optimal for Cabernet. The center of this plateau is planted to Cabernet Franc which is surrounded by Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is planted on the gravelly clay soils that meet the perimeter of the gravel plateau. Tesseron's campaign for biodynamic agriculture began in 2004 and tasting results confirmed this to be the estate's future; the Medoc's first Classified Growth dedicated to biodynamics. Pontet Canet received its organic certification in 2010 and Demeter in 2014 – the world's largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture used in 50 countries. Three Breton draft horses were added to the estate's stable replacing tractors in 2008, now at total of seven horses tend the vineyards. With great terroir and extraordinary dedication to excellence, Tesseron has elevated Pontet Canet beyond its historic performance; now among the top estates in Bordeaux. | ||
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| 2023 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Meursault 1er Cru Les Charmes (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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| 2023 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chalumeaux (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Puligny Montrachet, 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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| 2021 Brovia Barolo Garblet Sue (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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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 "Acknowledging that 2019 is already a heralded vintage, the salient question is whether it represents the summit of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 triumvirate. 'Yes' is the answer. I have always felt that is the case." - Neal Martin, Vinous Of course, you may or may not agree with Martin in terms of 2019 place in the "trifecta," but it's undeniable that is a truly spectacular Bordeaux vintage that has more than lived up to its day-one hype since the wine's have hit the market, hit collector's cellars, and found their way into the glasses of impatient enthusiasts. Best of all, pricing has always been highly favorable compared to 2018 and 2020 (to say nothing of 2022), so the 2019s have also been some of the sharpest collectible buys on the market from the get-go and remain so today. We've just landed a must-see treasure trove from this heralded campaign at ... you guessed it ... razor-sharp pricing cross the board, with superb performers in every classification and price tier. | ||
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| 2020 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Readers looking for the next superstar in Bordeaux need to jump on the bandwagon of Les Carmes Haut-Brion..." - Jeb Dunnuck Jeb Dunnuck says it all - arguably the brightest star on the Left Bank in the past decade, Les Carmes Haut Brion has stepped fully into the limelight, with a critical track record that rivals not only that of its famous First Growth neighbor, but those of every other blue-chip Bordeaux estate on the right or left bank of the Gironde. On offer today, we have four modern classic vintages that show this estate in all its contemporary glory, with multiple 100-point reviews across the range, not to mention several more that flirt with perfection. We could commence with a litany of quotes and numbers for each rendition, but suffice to say, each rendition is one of the absolute sharpest collectible buys in modern Bordeaux, and any serious collector will want to fill the cellar with this astounding vertical. | ||
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| 2021 Prunotto Barolo Bussia (1.5L) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Brovia Barolo Brea Vigna Ca' Mia (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Brovia Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Brovia Barolo Villero (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Pichon-Longueville au Baron de Pichon Longueville (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Acknowledging that 2019 is already a heralded vintage, the salient question is whether it represents the summit of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 triumvirate. 'Yes' is the answer. I have always felt that is the case." - Neal Martin, Vinous Of course, you may or may not agree with Martin in terms of 2019 place in the "trifecta," but it's undeniable that is a truly spectacular Bordeaux vintage that has more than lived up to its day-one hype since the wine's have hit the market, hit collector's cellars, and found their way into the glasses of impatient enthusiasts. Best of all, pricing has always been highly favorable compared to 2018 and 2020 (to say nothing of 2022), so the 2019s have also been some of the sharpest collectible buys on the market from the get-go and remain so today. We've just landed a must-see treasure trove from this heralded campaign at ... you guessed it ... razor-sharp pricing cross the board, with superb performers in every classification and price tier. | ||
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| 2018 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Readers looking for the next superstar in Bordeaux need to jump on the bandwagon of Les Carmes Haut-Brion..." - Jeb Dunnuck Jeb Dunnuck says it all - arguably the brightest star on the Left Bank in the past decade, Les Carmes Haut Brion has stepped fully into the limelight, with a critical track record that rivals not only that of its famous First Growth neighbor, but those of every other blue-chip Bordeaux estate on the right or left bank of the Gironde. On offer today, we have four modern classic vintages that show this estate in all its contemporary glory, with multiple 100-point reviews across the range, not to mention several more that flirt with perfection. We could commence with a litany of quotes and numbers for each rendition, but suffice to say, each rendition is one of the absolute sharpest collectible buys in modern Bordeaux, and any serious collector will want to fill the cellar with this astounding vertical. | ||
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| 2020 Clos des Papes Blanc (1.5L) | ||
| Grenache Blanc from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Avril family, their renowned parcels planted adjacent to the ruins of the old papal towers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, have been consistently bottling brilliant wines for decades. Among my very favorites – my personal collection spans multiple vintages – these are wines of unmistakable breed and character; a complete joy to experience. Originally established in the 18th century, their primary parcel is augmented by seventeen old vine plots throughout the appellation, adding further dimension to a wine already at the very highest levels of quality. Over the last few vintages, my notes indicate ever improved character. Paul-Vincent has bottled even more in a long line of rock stars. Draconian selections followed daily passes through each of his parcels, painstakingly clipping each vine for nothing but the very finest berries. | ||
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| 2016 Chateau Pontet-Canet (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Alfred Tesseron and his team, led by estate manager Jean-Michel Comme, have completely transformed both the vineyards and identity of Château Pontet-Canet by embracing organic and biodynamic practices. Recognizing the extraordinary terroir of Pontet Canet – the heart lies in a plateau outcropping of Garonne Gunz gravel which overlays limestone bedrock, these poor soils allow drainage that's optimal for Cabernet. The center of this plateau is planted to Cabernet Franc which is surrounded by Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is planted on the gravelly clay soils that meet the perimeter of the gravel plateau. Tesseron's campaign for biodynamic agriculture began in 2004 and tasting results confirmed this to be the estate's future; the Medoc's first Classified Growth dedicated to biodynamics. Pontet Canet received its organic certification in 2010 and Demeter in 2014 – the world's largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture used in 50 countries. Three Breton draft horses were added to the estate's stable replacing tractors in 2008, now at total of seven horses tend the vineyards. With great terroir and extraordinary dedication to excellence, Tesseron has elevated Pontet Canet beyond its historic performance; now among the top estates in Bordeaux. | ||
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| 2021 Clos des Papes Rouge (1.5L) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Avril family, their renowned parcels planted adjacent to the ruins of the old papal towers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, have been consistently bottling brilliant wines for decades. Among my very favorites – my personal collection spans multiple vintages – these are wines of unmistakable breed and character; a complete joy to experience. Originally established in the 18th century, their primary parcel is augmented by seventeen old vine plots throughout the appellation, adding further dimension to a wine already at the very highest levels of quality. Over the last few vintages, my notes indicate ever improved character. Paul-Vincent has bottled even more in a long line of rock stars. Draconian selections followed daily passes through each of his parcels, painstakingly clipping each vine for nothing but the very finest berries. | ||
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| 2020 Marguet Ambonnay Brut Nature Grand Cru (1.5L) | ||
| Sparkling from Ambonnay, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Talk about an unbelievable coup de grâce for our direct-import portfolio! We are thrilled to announce our new domaine-direct relationship with Ambonnay's most dynamic and forward-thinking visionary, Benoît Marguet. You will seldom meet a vigneron more passionate about his craft and more confident in his methods than Benoît, and while his stellar Champagnes might give him ample reason for arrogance, he's anything but. After our domaine visit last October, we went all in on this singular grower. Combine his almost obsessively meticulous viticulture with some of the finest vine holdings in Bouzy and Ambonnay and you get a range of wines that are simply gorgeous through and through, starting with his flagship 94-point Shaman. Based on the outstanding 2022 vintage, this grand cru blend is "a wonderful combination of fruit, roundness, and freshness" while also maintaining "intensity, power, and a salty structure." The village grand Cru Ambonnay is itself a 95-point gem of the highest caliber, a "fragrant and very pretty" blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that shows the multi-dimensional potential of both Marguet's vine holdings and his winemaking, but the true brilliance of the range lies in his single-vineyard showstoppers. Made and allocated in highly limited quantities, these are some of the most tranparent, terroir-expressive Champagnes on the market. The 96-point Les Bermonts comes from half-hectare of Chardonnay planted in 1952 on clay and limestone and is "a wine of marvelous harmony that knits everything together into a seamless fabric of the vineyard itself." Likewise, the double 95-point Les Crayeres displays "vivid, chalky aromatics of stunning purity" and a palate of "marvelous fruit intensity" where "the structure and textural vibrancy are just breathtaking." Finally, the 96-point 2017 Sapience represents Marguet's appreciation for communal, like-minded growers who exhibit the same passion for their work. It's a blend of all three Champagne varietals, cultivated by growers with equally serious methods and repuations – Meunier from Vincent Laval in Cumières, Chardonnay from David Leclapart in Hautvilliers, and Pinot Noir from Marguet's own Ambonnay plots. A "wonderful, profound, lasting" wine of singular character, it's an expression in a category of its own. This was indisputably the finest line-up top to bottom on our last trip to Champagne, and getting direct access to this cellar is one of the top three highlights of 2025 for our direct-import program, so any avid collector or fan of the most compelling grower Champagnes should dive deep into this selection without hesitation. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2023 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Meursault 1er Cru Perrieres (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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| 2023 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Puligny Montrachet, 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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| 2019 Massolino Barolo Vigna Rionda Riserva (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Massolino is another winery that has been on a roll of late. These new releases are stellar." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous One of Piedmont's leading lights, Massolino is a perennial standout among Piedmont fans for their super-refined, elegant house style. From the village wines to the single-cru expressions, you'll find captivating profiles that have won critical accolades year in and year out. We just landed a parcel of new releases showcasing the impeccable excellence that characterizes every bottle of Massolino. The 2021 Barolo vintage is one for the record books, and now that the wines are hitting the market, it's clear that they hype is real. Massolino's Barolo normale is "a fabulous wine that shows both the quality of the year and the very high standards at Massolino, while the single-vineyard wines are simply stunning masterpieces. The 2021 Parafada's critical line is bursting with effusive praise, led by 98 points from Kerin O'Keefe and additional 97-point scores from Wine Spectator, Suckling, and Wine Advocate. The triple 96-point Margheria is likewise "classy and utterly delicious," a resounding triumph for this hallowed Serralunga cru. The icing on the cake, however, is the estate's 2019 Vigna Rionda Riserva, another superlative expression from a benchmark vintage. A pair of 98-point scores from Spectator and O'Keefe shine a bright light on the Vigna Rionda's impeccable pedigree, while Antonio Galloni calls it "a wine of elegance and poise" perfectly in keeping with Massolino's hallmark style, even in a vintage like 2019. Spectator likewise dubs it a "fresh, multidimensional and built for the long haul" that collectors can confidently stock up on for decades of future enjoyment. There's nothing quite so thrilling as a benchmark Barolo estate in an epic vintage, and this set from Massolino provide ample proof that these remains some of the most compelling collectible wines in the world. | ||
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| 2020 Clos des Papes Rouge (1.5L) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Avril family, their renowned parcels planted adjacent to the ruins of the old papal towers in Chateauneuf-du-Pape, have been consistently bottling brilliant wines for decades. Among my very favorites – my personal collection spans multiple vintages – these are wines of unmistakable breed and character; a complete joy to experience. Originally established in the 18th century, their primary parcel is augmented by seventeen old vine plots throughout the appellation, adding further dimension to a wine already at the very highest levels of quality. Over the last few vintages, my notes indicate ever improved character. Paul-Vincent has bottled even more in a long line of rock stars. Draconian selections followed daily passes through each of his parcels, painstakingly clipping each vine for nothing but the very finest berries. | ||
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| 2021 Vietti Barolo Brunate (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Vietti Barolo Ravera (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2016 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Readers looking for the next superstar in Bordeaux need to jump on the bandwagon of Les Carmes Haut-Brion..." - Jeb Dunnuck Jeb Dunnuck says it all - arguably the brightest star on the Left Bank in the past decade, Les Carmes Haut Brion has stepped fully into the limelight, with a critical track record that rivals not only that of its famous First Growth neighbor, but those of every other blue-chip Bordeaux estate on the right or left bank of the Gironde. On offer today, we have four modern classic vintages that show this estate in all its contemporary glory, with multiple 100-point reviews across the range, not to mention several more that flirt with perfection. We could commence with a litany of quotes and numbers for each rendition, but suffice to say, each rendition is one of the absolute sharpest collectible buys in modern Bordeaux, and any serious collector will want to fill the cellar with this astounding vertical. | ||
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| 2017 Marguet Sapience Brut Nature 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| From Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Talk about an unbelievable coup de grâce for our direct-import portfolio! We are thrilled to announce our new domaine-direct relationship with Ambonnay's most dynamic and forward-thinking visionary, Benoît Marguet. You will seldom meet a vigneron more passionate about his craft and more confident in his methods than Benoît, and while his stellar Champagnes might give him ample reason for arrogance, he's anything but. After our domaine visit last October, we went all in on this singular grower. Combine his almost obsessively meticulous viticulture with some of the finest vine holdings in Bouzy and Ambonnay and you get a range of wines that are simply gorgeous through and through, starting with his flagship 94-point Shaman. Based on the outstanding 2022 vintage, this grand cru blend is "a wonderful combination of fruit, roundness, and freshness" while also maintaining "intensity, power, and a salty structure." The village grand Cru Ambonnay is itself a 95-point gem of the highest caliber, a "fragrant and very pretty" blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that shows the multi-dimensional potential of both Marguet's vine holdings and his winemaking, but the true brilliance of the range lies in his single-vineyard showstoppers. Made and allocated in highly limited quantities, these are some of the most tranparent, terroir-expressive Champagnes on the market. The 96-point Les Bermonts comes from half-hectare of Chardonnay planted in 1952 on clay and limestone and is "a wine of marvelous harmony that knits everything together into a seamless fabric of the vineyard itself." Likewise, the double 95-point Les Crayeres displays "vivid, chalky aromatics of stunning purity" and a palate of "marvelous fruit intensity" where "the structure and textural vibrancy are just breathtaking." Finally, the 96-point 2017 Sapience represents Marguet's appreciation for communal, like-minded growers who exhibit the same passion for their work. It's a blend of all three Champagne varietals, cultivated by growers with equally serious methods and repuations – Meunier from Vincent Laval in Cumières, Chardonnay from David Leclapart in Hautvilliers, and Pinot Noir from Marguet's own Ambonnay plots. A "wonderful, profound, lasting" wine of singular character, it's an expression in a category of its own. This was indisputably the finest line-up top to bottom on our last trip to Champagne, and getting direct access to this cellar is one of the top three highlights of 2025 for our direct-import program, so any avid collector or fan of the most compelling grower Champagnes should dive deep into this selection without hesitation. | ||
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| 2021 Vietti Barolo Lazzarito (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Vietti Barolo Cerequio (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Vietti Barolo Monvigliero (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole (1.5L) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Vietti Barolo Rocche di Castiglione (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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