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| 2023 Stags' Leap Winery Chardonnay (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sometimes the best choice is one that's so familiar that you might forget it's even there, but these top scoring Stags' Leap Winery selections deserve the full attention of Napa wine lovers seeking outstanding value, a range of seriously delicious white and red wines from prime Napa terroir available at bargain pricing whether choosing a few favorites or mixing a case. Among the oldest growers in the Stags Leap District, the 240-acre property Stags' Leap Winery on the Silverado Trail has been continuously planted with vines since the late 1800's, the once abandoned estate undergoing a lengthy renovation beginning in the 1970's and becoming part of Treasury Wine Estates in 2011. More than a nostalgic reminder of the days when great Napa wines didn't have to cost an arm and a leg, these high-scoring Stags' Leap Winery selections deliver the goods, all well-crafted, delicious wines reasonably priced for stocking up to enjoy anytime a taste of Napa calls. | ||
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| 2020 La Rioja Alta Reserva Vina Alberdi (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "It is approachable, elegant and ticks all the boxes for this style of wine at an affordable price." - Decanter La Rioja Alta's Vina Alberdi needs little to no introduction here at B-21. It's been a perennial best-seller for years on end and one of the most consistent values in Spanish wine during that entire span of time. The 93-point 2020 vintage continues the sterling track record of this benchmark overachiever and this reference-point estate. Forty-year-old vines, expert and precise aging in American oak (a La Rioja Alta specialty), and extended bottle aging before release all contribute to a "lively, harmonious, focused red" that bears the classic Rioja profile while remaining eminently approachable today. Even better the price tag offers the kind of versatility that makes it easy to stack some away in the cellar for a few years or pop the cork tonight – or both. | ||
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| 2023 Stags' Leap Winery Sauvignon Blanc (750ml) | ||
| Sauvignon Blanc from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sometimes the best choice is one that's so familiar that you might forget it's even there, but these top scoring Stags' Leap Winery selections deserve the full attention of Napa wine lovers seeking outstanding value, a range of seriously delicious white and red wines from prime Napa terroir available at bargain pricing whether choosing a few favorites or mixing a case. Among the oldest growers in the Stags Leap District, the 240-acre property Stags' Leap Winery on the Silverado Trail has been continuously planted with vines since the late 1800's, the once abandoned estate undergoing a lengthy renovation beginning in the 1970's and becoming part of Treasury Wine Estates in 2011. More than a nostalgic reminder of the days when great Napa wines didn't have to cost an arm and a leg, these high-scoring Stags' Leap Winery selections deliver the goods, all well-crafted, delicious wines reasonably priced for stocking up to enjoy anytime a taste of Napa calls. | ||
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| 2022 Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sometimes the best choice is one that's so familiar that you might forget it's even there, but these top scoring Stags' Leap Winery selections deserve the full attention of Napa wine lovers seeking outstanding value, a range of seriously delicious white and red wines from prime Napa terroir available at bargain pricing whether choosing a few favorites or mixing a case. Among the oldest growers in the Stags Leap District, the 240-acre property Stags' Leap Winery on the Silverado Trail has been continuously planted with vines since the late 1800's, the once abandoned estate undergoing a lengthy renovation beginning in the 1970's and becoming part of Treasury Wine Estates in 2011. More than a nostalgic reminder of the days when great Napa wines didn't have to cost an arm and a leg, these high-scoring Stags' Leap Winery selections deliver the goods, all well-crafted, delicious wines reasonably priced for stocking up to enjoy anytime a taste of Napa calls. | ||
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| 2021 Vajra Barolo Albe (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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| 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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| Heaven Hill 7yr 100° Bourbon (750ml) | ||
| From Bardstown, Kentucky | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "A vivacious, rich, and nicely layered Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon that delivers everything you want in a fine Whiskey for sipping and mixing high-end cocktails." - Beverage Testing Institute No introduction needed here, for the distillery or the whiskey. The 7 Year Old Bottle-in-Bond Straight Bourbon from Kentucky's most iconic distillery has been a workhorse thoroughbred in the stable since its first release in 2019, when it was named Whisky Advocate's #4 Whisky of the Year. All these years later, it's still going strong, now boasting a devoted following for its "explosive, bold, and buttery" profile that offers "pure bourbon bliss" to its legions of fans. Now we harken back to those halcyon days of 2019 with a limited-time, razor-sharp price under $40 and less than the original debut SRP. Whether it's already your go-to favorite Kentucky dram or you're looking to experience what Heaven Hill is all about for the first time, don't miss this opportunity to load up. | ||
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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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| 2023 Domaine de l'Amandine Cotes du Rhone Villages Seguret (750ml) | ||
| Syrah from Côtes du Rhône Villages, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Domaine de l'Amandine's Mathilde Suter and her father have an enviable knack for bringing out the absolute best of the vines in their wines, and yet somehow they do it while keeping their prices almost unbelievably affordable. Indeed, these are some of the greatest buys in the appellation. The 2023 Seguret, a Syrah-dominant blend, offers everything that makes Seguret such a hotbed of savvy picks with unbeatable quality-to-price ratio. "Quite possibly our direct-import Rhône value of the year." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Rhône Buyer The sandy, limestone slopes of the estate's vineyards bring out the most charming qualities of each varietal, with the depth of the Syrah forming a sturdy core that's accented by brighter notes from the Grenache component, all the with vibrant energy of the vintage. "I have loved previous vintages of this exceptional Rhône overachiever in the past, and when I got reacquainted with it at this year’s WineParis/Vinexpo, I was thrilled to find that it’s as good as it’s ever been in the 2023 vintage," notes B-21's Andrew Kitz. The wine's charming aromatics are full-on Rhône in every sense, while the palate "is deeper and more structured than you’d expect at this price point," suggesting that the 2023 Seguret could be your new house red for years to come if you stock up at our must see, case-buy price. | ||
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| 2021 Le Cinciole Chianti Classico (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "I was once again deeply impressed with Le Cinciole. Valeria Viganò and Luca Orsini have quietly turned Le Cinciole into one of the leading estates in all of Italy ... Readers should do everything they can to check out these new releases." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous One of the Italian jewels of our growing Direct Import portfolio, Le Cinciole is a name that fans of ultra-classic Tuscan reds need to know. Leading off, the 2021 Chianti Classico delivers incredible bang for the buck as a "juicy, vivid, and crunchy" entry-level value star, while the 2021 Aluigi Campo ai Peri Gran Selezione continues a recent run of stratospheric accolades that this cuvée has racked up from Antonio Galloni, who lauds it as "detailed and vibrant in the glass, with captivating energy." From a single parcel of vines on the region's famed galestro soils, the "terrific" 2021 is a quintessential Sangiovese expression, "balanced and bright with a pretty sense of fruit purity and focus" according to Monica Larner, which should be snatched up by savvy buyers. The estate plays mostly in the Sangiovese category with outstanding results, but that same exceptional vineyard [pedigree and winemaking talent come to bear in stunning fashion with Cabernet Sauvignon, as we clearly see in the 94-point 2020 Camalaione. A blend of 70% Cab, with the balance Syrah and Merlot, this is a powerhouse wine of real substance and layered intensity, with the signature characteristics that only Tuscany can bring to the native Bordeaux varietal. Finally, the 2021 Petresco, made of 100% Sangiovese from the estate's highest-elevation vineyard, is a paragon of age-worthy Sangiovese that can stand toe to toe with the most iconic renditions from Brunello and Chianti. The mineral- and -earth-driven profile will thrill fans of classic Tuscan reds, with the poise and refinement of a wine two or three times its price. Chianti's epic 2021 vintage produced "a restrained and complex wine with rare depth and vibrancy," as James Suckling describes it, denoting a level of class and sophistication that can stand with Italy's best collectibles. Fans of the estate won't want to miss these, and if you've never experienced Le Cinciole before, it's high time you got to know "one of the leading estates in all of Italy." | ||
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| 2024 Capichera Vermentino Lintori (750ml) | ||
| Vermentino from Sardinia, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Full-bodied, precise and pristine, with a silky texture and zesty acidity." - James Suckling It seems Italy's white wine scene is getting better and better with each vintage, and you can now add the 95-point 2024 Capichera Vermentino Lintori to the list of the country's benchmark, native-grape expressions. Arguably the finest estate in Sardinia's Gallura DOCG. The recent acquisition of the estate by Italian wine entrepreneur Carlo Campanini Bonomi has ensured that this iconic property not only remains a standard-bearer for the island, but that it takes its game to next level by staying true to its singular terroir. Bonomi considers the property to be one of great heritage, and it's his responsibility to carry that heritage forward. To that end, his extensive investments since his purchase are now paying off big time, as we clearly see in this riveting value performer. Harvested entirely from estate vineyards, the Lintori is quintessential Vermentino, with an intense mineral backbone balanced by full weight and texture. The original vision of Capichera's founder is on full display in this latest rendition under the estate's new ownership - to produce the finest expressions of an Italian winemaking tradition that dates back a thousand years, and to position the estate as its global ambassador. Based on the 2024 Lintori, we'd say they're succeeding with flying colors. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine Durieu Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Lucile Avril (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Domaine Durieu has been one of our most successful and enduring direct-import relationships over the past several years, with the flagship Cuvée Lucile Avril reaching all-time best seller status at B-21. We recently tasted the 2022 with François Durieu earlier this year, and it more than met our expectations. Now, a brand new, glowing 97-point review from James Suckling's senior Rhône critic puts the exclamation point on another stunning rendition that picks up right where Durieu's previous showstoppers left off. "A great masterpiece of elegance and finesse." - Stuart Pigott, JamesSuckling.com "With medium to full body, a beautifully textured mouthfeel, and ripe tannins ... [it] brings a more classic, broad, textured profile," according to Jeb Dunnuck. In other words, the 2022 Lucile Avril is a crystal clear expression of Durieu's signature winemaking style, with an emphasis on balance and freshness (he uses no oak on any of his cuvées). It bears repeating, this wine is always one of our top-selling items in the category, so our legions of Durieu fans are in for a true classic that is, once again, one of the sharpest buys of the vintage at our domaine-direct pricing. | ||
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| 2023 Hourglass HG III (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "It's medium to full-bodied, round, supple, and balanced, with some classic Napa richness and depth ..." - Jeb Dunnuck We'll say it time and time again – finding any Napa red with a rock-solid score and premium pedigree under $40 is a search for a needle and a haystack, but with the 94-point 2023 HGIII blend from cult phenom Hourglass, we've got the needle in hand. If you've ever looked at a map of Napa Valley, you'll see immediately where Hourglass got its name. The estate sits at the narrowest pinch where the hillsides are only a mile apart, the crux of the "hourglass" as its become known over the decades. Complementing this prized parcel, the Blueline vineyard in Calistoga was added to the estate in 2005 and planted to all five Bordeaux varietals. It's this site of ancient river gravel that forms the base of the proprietary 2023 HGIII blend, a "charming, sexy beauty" based on Merlot, crafted by winemaker Tony Biagi to be an immediately accessible, captivating expression that Napa fans can indulge in without hesitation. The incredible 2023 growing season puts its stamp on the finished wine in an outstanding balance of plush fruit and structural vivacity, "expressive and detailed" to the utmost with varietal purity to spare. While the flagship Hourglass wines have become cult-caliber trophies over the years (with the price tags to match), the HGIII blend is a stunning and exceedingly rare value in today's Napa landscape that will thrill anyone's palate and budget. | ||
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| 2022 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Reflecting its owner's commitment to producing authentic, terroir-driven wines, this dynamic duo from Raymond Vineyards are two of Napa Valley's top values. The enticing 91-point 2023 Raymond Chardonnay Reserve Selection and elegant, 93-point 2022 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection are both sourced from exceptional Napa fruit at an outstanding price for stocking up. Known for his larger-than-life personality and flamboyant, velvet-jacket attire, Burgundy-born Jean-Charles Boisset is a true believer that great wines are made in the vineyard, and his first priority after purchasing Raymond Vineyards in 2009 was to upgrade the existing 90-acre property and implement organic and biodynamic viticulture. Established in Napa Valley over 50 years ago by long-time Beringer winemaker Roy Raymond, Raymond Vineyards now spans over 300 acres in Rutherford and St. Helena, the vineyards and winemaking managed under the direction of 100-point consulting winemaker Phillippe Melka since 2009. In addition to gaining organic and biodynamic certification for the vineyards and building one of Napa's largest solar panel projects to generate electricity for the winery, Boisset hired former Far Niente winemaker Stephanie Putnam to work alongside Melka to refine the blends, consistently garnering 90-plus points throughout her tenure. Expertly crafted from outstanding Napa fruit, this duo of top scoring Raymond Reserve Selections boast a winning combination of quality and value, both ready to enjoy now and promising pleasurable drinking for years ahead at an easy to reach for price. | ||
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| Jacquesson Cuvee 747 (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "[Jacquesson] is poised to continue producing Champagnes with exceptional freshness and crystalline textures. The range is impressively consistent, and each cuvée beautifully reflects the soul and the distinct terroirs of this house based in Dizy." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate Consistency is indeed the name of the game at this long-time fan favorite of B-21. Jacquesson's star rose to new heights under the lengthy ownership of the Chiquet brothers, and since its acquisition by the François Pinault juggernaut (owner of Chateau Latour, Clos de Tart, and Napa iconic Eisele Vineyard) in 2022, there have been no signs that anything is any different. The newly arrived Cuvée 747 is exemplary of this flagship bottling in many ways, but the higher inclusion of Pinot Noir in this 2019-base rendition gives it a notably more intense personality than in previous years. Earning 96 points from James Suckling, it's "a structured and creamy-textured Jacquesson NV with a very fine-bubble texture and lovely polish ... medium- to full-bodied with length and sophistication." Showing the genius of the Chiquet brothers in transparent clarity, the 747 is "an edition that closely reflects the character of the vintage, marked by its tension and phenolic complexity" according to Yohan Castaing, and given the tension, textural depth, and structural foundation from the increased presence of the Pinot Noir, this is set for a wonderful evolution in the cellar over the next several years. Not to be overlooked, we still have a small amount of the luxurious 746. Based on the warm, solar vintage of 2018, it's "plush with showy red fruit that shimmers amid a vibrant acid energy that brings loads of freshness to the long finish." The 746 will provide a fascinating juxtaposition to the more linear, stately 747, so you can have repeated enjoyment comparing the two side by side for years to come. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Altenbourg (750ml) | ||
| Gewurztraminer from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2021 Vajra Barolo Bricco delle Viole (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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| 2024 Invivo X, SJP Sarah Jessica Parker Sauvignon Blanc (750ml) | ||
| Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Garnering a steady string of 90-point-plus ratings vintage over vintage, the appealing 92-point 2024 Invivo X Sauvignon Blanc Sarah Jessica Parker is the real deal, offering classic Marlborough flavors of fresh, aromatic passion fruit, peach, and grapefruit with bright acidity on a smooth and juicy finish, appearing multiple times on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Values since its first release in 2019 and a solid choice for fans of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc seeking outstanding value. From an excellent Marlborough vintage producing Sauvignon Blancs that are "pure, juicy and fresh, with zesty acidity," according to Rebecca Gibb of Vinous, the refreshing 92-point 2024 Invivo X Sauvignon Blanc Sarah Jessica Parker boasts an appeal that goes far beyond celebrity and loyal SJP fans, a terrific choice for anyone seeking a delicious, easy drinking white as well as lovers of New Zealand Sauv Blanc looking for an affordable, everyday pour and an unbeatable bargain for stocking up by the case. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Pinot Blanc (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Blanc from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2021 Vajra 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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| 2019 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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| Alambique Serrano La Sociedad Florida Rum Society Cask Rum (750ml) | ||
| From Oaxaca, Mexico | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Not one for the faint of heart, it's a big, brash powerhouse that challenges the established rum conventions in the best possible way." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer If you're a rum fanatic, Florida is where you want to be - after all, we're America's gateway to the tropics. The Florida lifestyle is fully in sync with tiki culture, and nobody celebrates it better than the Florida Rum Society, a group of industry professionals and hardcore rum aficionados on a mission to bring this remarkable spirit into the mainstream. Part of that mission is hand-selecting truly distinctive single casks from all over the rum world to showcase the incredible stylistic diversity and singular character of this beloved spirit. While many of their selections hail from some of the category's most well-known and distinguished names (think Worthy Park, Hampden, Planteray, Rhum Clement, Holmes Cay, etc.), they have a knack for unearthing some unbelievable, under-the-radar finds that will broaden the horizons of even the most seasoned rum veteran. Today's offer fits that bill and then some. Mexico's Alambique Serrano may not be a household name, but the craftsmanship and work ethic of this third-generation distillery are undeniable, leading to La Sociedad, the very first FRS single-cask selection from "south of the border." Founded in the early 1930s in Oaxaca by German immigrant Max Krassel, Alambique Serrano is now run by Max's four grandsons, who still put in the same kind of arduous work their grandfather did when he began producing his aguardiente in the village of Santa Maria Tlalixtac high in the Oaxacan cloud forest. The cane fields here are so steep that the brothers harvest and transport the cane by donkey, horse, and mule to a mobile trapiche for milling, before gravity-feeding the cane juice down the mountain to the palenque, a labor of love if there ever was one. After fermenting in an open-top pine vat with ambient yeasts and distilling on a rustic, copper alembic still, the spirit was aged for two years in virgin French oak in dry conditions over 5,600 feet above sea level. The result is an 11 on the intensity scale, a full cask-strength stunner that's unlike anything else we've ever come across in the rum category. If you're looking to take your rum collection to the next level, this cask and the several other FRS cask selections available on our website are unequivocal must-try specimens for anyone who's serious about the world's best rum. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Gewurztraminer Furstentum Grand Cru (750ml) | ||
| Gewurztraminer from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2023 Raymond Chardonnay Reserve Selection (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Carneros, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Reflecting its owner's commitment to producing authentic, terroir-driven wines, this dynamic duo from Raymond Vineyards are two of Napa Valley's top values. The enticing 91-point 2023 Raymond Chardonnay Reserve Selection and elegant, 93-point 2022 Raymond Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve Selection are both sourced from exceptional Napa fruit at an outstanding price for stocking up. Known for his larger-than-life personality and flamboyant, velvet-jacket attire, Burgundy-born Jean-Charles Boisset is a true believer that great wines are made in the vineyard, and his first priority after purchasing Raymond Vineyards in 2009 was to upgrade the existing 90-acre property and implement organic and biodynamic viticulture. Established in Napa Valley over 50 years ago by long-time Beringer winemaker Roy Raymond, Raymond Vineyards now spans over 300 acres in Rutherford and St. Helena, the vineyards and winemaking managed under the direction of 100-point consulting winemaker Phillippe Melka since 2009. In addition to gaining organic and biodynamic certification for the vineyards and building one of Napa's largest solar panel projects to generate electricity for the winery, Boisset hired former Far Niente winemaker Stephanie Putnam to work alongside Melka to refine the blends, consistently garnering 90-plus points throughout her tenure. Expertly crafted from outstanding Napa fruit, this duo of top scoring Raymond Reserve Selections boast a winning combination of quality and value, both ready to enjoy now and promising pleasurable drinking for years ahead at an easy to reach for price. | ||
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| 2023 Thierry & Pascale Matrot Meursault Les Chevalieres (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 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Cuvee Sainte Catherine (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 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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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Altenbourg (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2021 Le Cinciole Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Aluigi (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "I was once again deeply impressed with Le Cinciole. Valeria Viganò and Luca Orsini have quietly turned Le Cinciole into one of the leading estates in all of Italy ... Readers should do everything they can to check out these new releases." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous One of the Italian jewels of our growing Direct Import portfolio, Le Cinciole is a name that fans of ultra-classic Tuscan reds need to know. Leading off, the 2021 Chianti Classico delivers incredible bang for the buck as a "juicy, vivid, and crunchy" entry-level value star, while the 2021 Aluigi Campo ai Peri Gran Selezione continues a recent run of stratospheric accolades that this cuvée has racked up from Antonio Galloni, who lauds it as "detailed and vibrant in the glass, with captivating energy." From a single parcel of vines on the region's famed galestro soils, the "terrific" 2021 is a quintessential Sangiovese expression, "balanced and bright with a pretty sense of fruit purity and focus" according to Monica Larner, which should be snatched up by savvy buyers. The estate plays mostly in the Sangiovese category with outstanding results, but that same exceptional vineyard [pedigree and winemaking talent come to bear in stunning fashion with Cabernet Sauvignon, as we clearly see in the 94-point 2020 Camalaione. A blend of 70% Cab, with the balance Syrah and Merlot, this is a powerhouse wine of real substance and layered intensity, with the signature characteristics that only Tuscany can bring to the native Bordeaux varietal. Finally, the 2021 Petresco, made of 100% Sangiovese from the estate's highest-elevation vineyard, is a paragon of age-worthy Sangiovese that can stand toe to toe with the most iconic renditions from Brunello and Chianti. The mineral- and -earth-driven profile will thrill fans of classic Tuscan reds, with the poise and refinement of a wine two or three times its price. Chianti's epic 2021 vintage produced "a restrained and complex wine with rare depth and vibrancy," as James Suckling describes it, denoting a level of class and sophistication that can stand with Italy's best collectibles. Fans of the estate won't want to miss these, and if you've never experienced Le Cinciole before, it's high time you got to know "one of the leading estates in all of Italy." | ||
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