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| 2019 Bodegas Beronia Reserva (750ml) | ||
| From Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Renowned for producing "classical, reliable wines" according to Wine Advocate's Luis Gutierrez, Beronia is a household name in overachieving Rioja value. Vintage after vintage, the estate delivers some of the best bang for the buck in all of Spain, attracting legions of fans who have made these wines into best-selling benchmarks over the years. The 2019 Beronia Reserva is another well-crafted edition of this fan-favorite to add to its consistent track record of reliability. The profile is everything long-time fans know and love, immediately accessible and charming, "balanced, with polished tannins, berry character and a pleasant, longish finish," as James Suckling describes it. Made from Beronia's oldest vines, the 2016 Beronia Gran Reserva also brings home the goods and then some. Aged over 28 months in French oak followed by three years in bottle prior to release to develop its trademark complexity and depth, the 2016 is a "lively red, with well-meshed, sculpted tannins" according to Wine Spectator. It's a perfect pair to stock up on - the 2021 Crianza will stand out as your next go-to everyday winner, while the 2016 Gran Reserva will shine as an ultimate age-worthy value in your cellar for the next 15 years, all for some of the sharpest price in the market. | ||
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| 2023 Clos Henri Estate Sauvignon Blanc (750ml) | ||
| Sauvignon Blanc from Wairau Valley, Marlborough, New Zealand | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Very fresh and clean with a mountain stream-like transparency. It's light-bodied but has a density and tension as well as subtle and vivid flavors..." - James Suckling Like many of the top properties in Chlie and Argentina that have been established by Bordeaux royalty, New Zealand's Clos Henri has its roots with a legendary French winemaking family. With ten generations of experience making some of Sancerre's finest wines, Domaine Henri Bourgeois knows a thing or two about Sauvignon Blanc, and it makes perfect sense that they'd set up shop in New World's most dynamic Sauv Blanc region. The 2023 vintage has already brought us one smash-hit from this pedigreed estate, and now we're back with another. With not one, not two, but three 93-point scores behind it, the 2023 Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is a hallmark representation of the region's classic terroir as well as a testament to the unmatched depth of expertise that the Bourgois family brings to the world of Sauvignon Blanc. "Powerfully concentrated, energetic and alive" according to Wine Advocate, the 2023 delivers superb value and world-class quality that outpace most contenders in the category. | ||
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| 2023 Benton Lane Estate Pinot Noir (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is a ripe and expressive Pinot Noir..." - Clive Pursehouse, Decanter In the realm of domestic Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley is still ground zero for unbeatable value, and Benton-Lane's 2023 Pinot Noir shows exactly why. This 86-acre estate at the southern end of Willamette Valley on the border of Benton County and Lane County (get it?) has been a source of outstanding overachievers for decades, despite being off the beaten path of Oregon's most famous AVAs. The warmer micro-climate at this end of the valley results in a wine of "generosity of fruit" and "impressive freshness," with solid critical praise and an easy case-buy price that makes it a perfect addition to your go-to Pinot repertoire. | ||
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| Bruno Paillard Extra Brut Premiere Cuvee (750ml) | ||
| Sparkling from Reims, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This airy, nuanced Champagne from Bruno Paillard is a delight." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous From a prominent Champagne family with deep roots in the region, Bruno Paillard is a benchmark name for elegant, finessed wines of unimpeachable quality and class. Seeing as the house owns vineyards all over the prime grand cru real estate of Champagne, including Le Mesnil, Oger, Bouzy, and Verzenay, it's no surprise that even the entry-level Premiere Cuvee is a flat-out gem in its price point. We recently revisited this 94-point, perennial best-seller ourselves and were immediately reminded of why it's such a successful hit among Champagne aficionados. A blend of all three Champagne varietals with a good portion of the wine coming from a perpetual reserve dating to 1985, the Premiere Cuvee boasts outstanding vinous complexity and intensity while remaining true to the pinpoint precision and effortless grace that mark all of Paillard's wines. "One of my favorite entry level wines," notes Jeb Dunnuck's Champagne critic Audrey Frick, "this consistently over-delivers." We couldn't agree more, which is why we took a big position that invites you to stock up in multiples at a must-see, razor-sharp price. | ||
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| Maestro Dobel 50 Extra Anejo Cristalino Tequila (750ml) | ||
| From Jalisco, Mexico | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "A flavorful ice cream shop of a Cristalino Tequila; great for the Whiskey lover." - Beverage Testing Institute A groundbreaking expression from a pioneering producer of single-estate tequila, Maestro Dobel's Extra Anejo 50 Cristalino is now available for a limited time at must-see pricing. Produced in honor of founder Juan Dobel's 50th birthday, this special edition Extra Anejo was aged in a combination of European and American oak before being made into its Cristalino form by a special filtering process to remove the color. Dobel is the first distillery to apply this technique to an Extra Anejo, and the result is a luxurious specimen of singular character. The flavor and aroma profiles are, of course, wonderfully complex, but the texture is where its pedigree shines - velvety smooth and sleek with a persistent finish that really showcases the purity of the estate-grown Blue Weber agave. Best of all, it's available at a razor-sharp price that leads the market, so now is the perfect time to add this one-of-a-kind luxury edition to your collection. | ||
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| 2023 Tenuta delle Terre Nere Rosso (750ml) | ||
| Nerello Mascalese from Etna, Sicily, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Etna is arguably Italy's most dynamic wine region at present, and leading the way is a familiar name to Italian aficionados, Tenuta della Terre Nere. Winemaker Marco de Grazia has been a force in the region's rise to prominence, and his 2023s continue a remarkable run of excellence for this iconic estate. "The [2023s] are some of the most exotic, finessed and elegant wines Terre Nere has ever produced." - Eric Guido, Vinous The inimitable single-vineyard bottlings are collectible gems in every way, but the entry-level, 95-point Etna Rosso shows every bit of de Grazia's top-tier talent that the flagship bottlings do. Sourced from younger vines across the estate's prized vineyards on the north side of the volcano, the 2023 Etna Rosso is "an energetic and wickedly fresh effort [that] aims to please" according to Eric Guido. It's a wine of "brightness, lovely density and focus ... with an almost pinot sensibility and a long finish" per James Suckling. We recently sourced this parcel at superb pricing, so anyone from hardcore Italian aficionados to everyday wine lovers can stock up on an artfully crafted beauty that's "easily one of the best buys coming out of Etna today." | ||
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| 2016 Bodegas Beronia Gran Reserva (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Renowned for producing "classical, reliable wines" according to Wine Advocate's Luis Gutierrez, Beronia is a household name in overachieving Rioja value. Vintage after vintage, the estate delivers some of the best bang for the buck in all of Spain, attracting legions of fans who have made these wines into best-selling benchmarks over the years. The 2019 Beronia Reserva is another well-crafted edition of this fan-favorite to add to its consistent track record of reliability. The profile is everything long-time fans know and love, immediately accessible and charming, "balanced, with polished tannins, berry character and a pleasant, longish finish," as James Suckling describes it. Made from Beronia's oldest vines, the 2016 Beronia Gran Reserva also brings home the goods and then some. Aged over 28 months in French oak followed by three years in bottle prior to release to develop its trademark complexity and depth, the 2016 is a "lively red, with well-meshed, sculpted tannins" according to Wine Spectator. It's a perfect pair to stock up on - the 2021 Crianza will stand out as your next go-to everyday winner, while the 2016 Gran Reserva will shine as an ultimate age-worthy value in your cellar for the next 15 years, all for some of the sharpest price in the market. | ||
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| 2020 San Vicente (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More San Vicente is as unconventional a project as you'll find in Rioja. When the Eguren family ripped up their vineyard in the early 1980s and replanted it with a massale selection of clones from their lowest-yielding vines, the consternation and ridicule came from all corners of the region. But he who laughs last laughs best, and now the Eguren family's efforts have been totally vindicated, as the wine is coveted Rioja collector's treasure year in and year out. "A nuanced, modern Rioja, this wine is a masterpiece of Marcos Eguren's winemaking technique—a truly elegant Tempranillo."- Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous At its debut one of the first single-cru bottlings that Rioja had ever seen, San Vicente has changed the region's dynamics over the past few decades, with numerous producers now following the Eguren family's lead and going for a site-specifi, terroir-driven approach to their wines. A true original and still one of the best, San Vicente has once again stunned critics left and right in the 2020 vintage, a "pure, clean, incredibly impressive Rioja" per Jeb Dunnuck's 96-point review, one of a pair along side that of Vinous' Joaquin Hidalgo. The wine's refined, modern style and impeccable class have garnered the San Vicente a devoted following that will no doubt go head over heels for this latest expression, especially at our unmatched private client price that beats the rest of the market by a wide margin. | ||
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| 2021 Bodegas Beronia Crianza (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Renowned for producing "classical, reliable wines" according to Wine Advocate's Luis Gutierrez, Beronia is a household name in overachieving Rioja value. Vintage after vintage, the estate delivers some of the best bang for the buck in all of Spain, attracting legions of fans who have made these wines into best-selling benchmarks over the years. The 2019 Beronia Reserva is another well-crafted edition of this fan-favorite to add to its consistent track record of reliability. The profile is everything long-time fans know and love, immediately accessible and charming, "balanced, with polished tannins, berry character and a pleasant, longish finish," as James Suckling describes it. Made from Beronia's oldest vines, the 2016 Beronia Gran Reserva also brings home the goods and then some. Aged over 28 months in French oak followed by three years in bottle prior to release to develop its trademark complexity and depth, the 2016 is a "lively red, with well-meshed, sculpted tannins" according to Wine Spectator. It's a perfect pair to stock up on - the 2021 Crianza will stand out as your next go-to everyday winner, while the 2016 Gran Reserva will shine as an ultimate age-worthy value in your cellar for the next 15 years, all for some of the sharpest price in the market. | ||
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| 2021 Mazzei Concerto (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "…plush and resonant to the core." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Crafted as a forerunner to the Super Tuscan movement and one of the region's top rated international blends, the elegantly balanced, triple 96-point 2021 Mazzei Concerto is a seamless combination of fresh, vibrant Sangiovese fruit and the layered opulence of rich Cabernet Sauvignon, produced from the legendary Mazzei family's hillside Tuscany. Initially crafted as an "outright experiment" in 1981 and now celebrating its 40th anniversary, the cuvée was christened "Concerto" to pay homage to its harmonious expression of the estate's two most important varietals. The Sangiovese comes from a parcel in the estate's mid-slope terroir called Scassi, and the Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from the small Brotine parcel with a unique microclimate created by the surrounding oak forest. Winemaker Gionata Puglignani aged the Sangiovese in French oak tonneaux and the Cabernet Sauvignon in smaller French oak barriques for 18 months with four additional months in concrete tanks before bottling, yielding lush, juicy fruit in an enticing, seamless blend described by Decanter as "a really delicious, mouthwatering compelling glass of wine" that's built to evolve over the next few decades. Described as "intense and vivid … a delicious bottle that is easy to recommend" by Anson, the 2021 Concerto is available at market-best pricing, so fans and collectors of bold Italian blends can stock up and reach for it again and again. | ||
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| 2019 Mayacamas Cabernet Sauvingon (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is clearly on another level ... This stunning bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon will drink nicely over the coming 30 years or more." - Jeb Dunnuck The historic Mayacamas estate has been a definitive exponent of Mount Veeder Cabernet for decades, and rising star winemaker Braiden Albrecht, along with Napa icon Andy Erickson consulting, has done a masterful job of expressing the estate's signature terroir and style, no matter the vintage conditions. As a result, few wines in Napa rack up such consistent accolades year after year, and the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a prime example. The vintage is known for producing ripe, bombastic Cabernets, and the 2019 Mayacamas certainly shows shades of that character, but the familiar classicism that has made it a household name among collectors of the finest Napa cellar gems is all still readily apparent. "Loaded with character and energy" and "showing an old-school touch" according to Wine Spectator, the 97-point 2019 is a showstopper par excellence. Antonio Galloni notes, "the 2019 is shaping up to be majestic." As many of its peers in the cult Napa space have absolutely sky-rocketed in price, Mayacamas remains a relative collectible steal considering the wine's stunning quality, critical acclaim, and formidable cellar potential. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine Bosquet des Papes A La Gloire de Mon Grand Père (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The wines from Bosquet des Papes span the full spectrum ... Regardless of the style, the quality is brilliant, and these are beautiful wines." - Jeb Dunnuck Bosquet des Papes' stellar 2022s prove once again that this rising-star estate is a favorite among Châteauneuf insiders and aficionados, who will be thrilled at this set of stunners from winemaker Nicolas Boiron. The trio of A La Gloire de Mon Grand Père, Chante le Merle, and Les 7 des Pignan each demonstrate Boiron's broad, multi-faceted style. The JD98 Grand Père is "up with the crème de la crème of the vintage ... a stunning success" that strides a fine line between the past and the present, while the Chante le Merle is made in the staunchly traditional method, resulting in a straight-down-the-line "age-worthy, classic, incredibly satisfying Châteauneuf-du-Pape" per Jeb Dunnuck. The perfect juxtaposition to Chante le Merle's classicism is Les 7 des Pignan. The 2022 marks only the second vintage of this 100%-Grenache, micro-production cuvée fashoned from seven miniscule parcels in the Pignan lieu-dit. Seeing 98-point potential, Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski marvels at the "incredible complexity and elegance in this full-bodied wine that's concentrated and tannic yet supple, finishing long and velvety. Wow." Vinous puts an exclamation point on its unabashedly modern character, declaring it "bursting with energy and quite expressive ... with remarkable concentration and an expansive finish." The 2022 Bosquet des Papes line-up is emblematic of the many shades of contemporary Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all expertly crafted by one of its most dynamic estates and winemakers. | ||
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| 2023 Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee St Vincent (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Bourgogne, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Vincent Girardin's rise from reference-point négociant to powerhouse domaine has been one of the more interesting stories in Burgundy over the past 20 years. These days, Domaine Vincent Girardin holds a truly enviable stable of vineyard parcels up and down the Cote d'Or, but their bread and butter, as it were, are still their prime vineyards in and around their home base of Meursault. When we visited the domaine in April, it was clear that these Meursault wines were the highlights, and that unimpeachable pedigree extends all the way to the "humble" entry-level 2023 Bourgogne Blanc, which is actually anything but humble. "Girardin's Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Blanc over-delivers in a big way ... If you have a yen for Meursault on a budget, this one is a must-try." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Burgundy Buyer The Cuvée St-Vincent is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its hugely overperforming class and character. B-21 Buyer Andrew Kitz explains, "We came across a number of great value reds on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." With an aromatic profile that screams Meursault and a palate to match, even the most seasoned Burgundy aficionados would be hard-pressed to deny the exceptional quality and value of this sub-$30 gem. | ||
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| 2021 Peter Jakob Kuhn Doosberg Riesling Trocken Grosses Gewachs (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Rheingau, Germany | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn has produced a stellar range of 2021ers that will be cellar treasures a handful of years down the road." - John Gilman,View From the Cellar For whatever reason, the estate of Peter Jakob Kuhn flies under the radar of even many tried and true German wine fanatics, but this pair of 2021s on offer today should go a long way towards rectifying that situation. As classic and traditional as they come in terms of style, the wines are nonetheless made according to owner Peter Bernhard Kuhn's forward-looking vision and innovative approach to farming. The 2021 vintage was a clear study in the classic German Riesling profiles, the cooler conditions lending themselves to old-school, pure, filigreed wines that buck the trend of recent warmer vintages like 2020 and 2022, instead defined by their bright precision, electric vibrancy, and most importantly, long-term cellar potential. The Kuhn estate releases a year later than the majority of their contemporaries, so these 2021s are just now showing up where many 2022s (and even 2023s) are already on the market. Carrying big scores from some prominent voices in German wine, Kuhn's 2021s belong on the shortlist of smart collectible buys for any serious enthusiast. Leading off, the 2021 Doosberg Grosses Gewächs boasts a towering 97-point score from Vinous. "Utterly concentrated, intense, almost searing with luminosity and brightness," it's a spectacular rendition of a treasured Rheingau site and the crown-jewel in the Kuhn range. For those seeking a razor-sharp cellar buy that punches well above its price tier, the 2021 Hallgärtener Hendelberg Erste Lage is just the ticket. "A premier cru bottling that clearly approaches the quality of Grosses Gewächs because of its old vines," according John Gilman, the 2021 is resounding triumph, "superb, impressive, profound, absolutely focused and delicious, yet so resonant and rich" as described by Vinous. The only drawback (if you can call it that) is their highly limited presence in the US market, so the smart move is to lock in and add this pair of surefire cellar contenders to your collection while you can. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine Bosquet des Papes Les 7 de Pignan (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The wines from Bosquet des Papes span the full spectrum ... Regardless of the style, the quality is brilliant, and these are beautiful wines." - Jeb Dunnuck Bosquet des Papes' stellar 2022s prove once again that this rising-star estate is a favorite among Châteauneuf insiders and aficionados, who will be thrilled at this set of stunners from winemaker Nicolas Boiron. The trio of A La Gloire de Mon Grand Père, Chante le Merle, and Les 7 des Pignan each demonstrate Boiron's broad, multi-faceted style. The JD98 Grand Père is "up with the crème de la crème of the vintage ... a stunning success" that strides a fine line between the past and the present, while the Chante le Merle is made in the staunchly traditional method, resulting in a straight-down-the-line "age-worthy, classic, incredibly satisfying Châteauneuf-du-Pape" per Jeb Dunnuck. The perfect juxtaposition to Chante le Merle's classicism is Les 7 des Pignan. The 2022 marks only the second vintage of this 100%-Grenache, micro-production cuvée fashoned from seven miniscule parcels in the Pignan lieu-dit. Seeing 98-point potential, Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski marvels at the "incredible complexity and elegance in this full-bodied wine that's concentrated and tannic yet supple, finishing long and velvety. Wow." Vinous puts an exclamation point on its unabashedly modern character, declaring it "bursting with energy and quite expressive ... with remarkable concentration and an expansive finish." The 2022 Bosquet des Papes line-up is emblematic of the many shades of contemporary Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all expertly crafted by one of its most dynamic estates and winemakers. | ||
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| 2022 Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...a dark horse of a Sassicaia that isn't giving much away today but will greatly reward those who can cellar it." - Decanter The original Super Tuscan needs no introduction, and the newly arrived 2022 slots right in with the iconic estate's previous landmark releases, boasting a bevy of 98- and 97-point reviews that put it among the top performers of the vintage. The notoriously hot growing season got the better of many estates in Italy, but it's no surprise that the elite team at Tenuta San Guido managed the conditions with utmost skill and produced another magisterial, stunning wine of exceptional class. Perhaps the most notable aspect of the 2022 Sassicaia is its universally acclaimed, long-term potential. Every critic of note calls this a Sassicaia for the cellar, and you'd be missing out on a stupendous addition to your collection of Sassicaia greats if you overlooked this remarkable, showstopping 2022. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine Bosquet des Papes Chante Le Merle Vieilles Vignes (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The wines from Bosquet des Papes span the full spectrum ... Regardless of the style, the quality is brilliant, and these are beautiful wines." - Jeb Dunnuck Bosquet des Papes' stellar 2022s prove once again that this rising-star estate is a favorite among Châteauneuf insiders and aficionados, who will be thrilled at this set of stunners from winemaker Nicolas Boiron. The trio of A La Gloire de Mon Grand Père, Chante le Merle, and Les 7 des Pignan each demonstrate Boiron's broad, multi-faceted style. The JD98 Grand Père is "up with the crème de la crème of the vintage ... a stunning success" that strides a fine line between the past and the present, while the Chante le Merle is made in the staunchly traditional method, resulting in a straight-down-the-line "age-worthy, classic, incredibly satisfying Châteauneuf-du-Pape" per Jeb Dunnuck. The perfect juxtaposition to Chante le Merle's classicism is Les 7 des Pignan. The 2022 marks only the second vintage of this 100%-Grenache, micro-production cuvée fashoned from seven miniscule parcels in the Pignan lieu-dit. Seeing 98-point potential, Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski marvels at the "incredible complexity and elegance in this full-bodied wine that's concentrated and tannic yet supple, finishing long and velvety. Wow." Vinous puts an exclamation point on its unabashedly modern character, declaring it "bursting with energy and quite expressive ... with remarkable concentration and an expansive finish." The 2022 Bosquet des Papes line-up is emblematic of the many shades of contemporary Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all expertly crafted by one of its most dynamic estates and winemakers. | ||
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| 2021 Peter Jakob Kuhn Hallgarten Hendelberg Riesling Trocken (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Rheingau, Germany | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Weingut Peter Jakob Kühn has produced a stellar range of 2021ers that will be cellar treasures a handful of years down the road." - John Gilman,View From the Cellar For whatever reason, the estate of Peter Jakob Kuhn flies under the radar of even many tried and true German wine fanatics, but this pair of 2021s on offer today should go a long way towards rectifying that situation. As classic and traditional as they come in terms of style, the wines are nonetheless made according to owner Peter Bernhard Kuhn's forward-looking vision and innovative approach to farming. The 2021 vintage was a clear study in the classic German Riesling profiles, the cooler conditions lending themselves to old-school, pure, filigreed wines that buck the trend of recent warmer vintages like 2020 and 2022, instead defined by their bright precision, electric vibrancy, and most importantly, long-term cellar potential. The Kuhn estate releases a year later than the majority of their contemporaries, so these 2021s are just now showing up where many 2022s (and even 2023s) are already on the market. Carrying big scores from some prominent voices in German wine, Kuhn's 2021s belong on the shortlist of smart collectible buys for any serious enthusiast. Leading off, the 2021 Doosberg Grosses Gewächs boasts a towering 97-point score from Vinous. "Utterly concentrated, intense, almost searing with luminosity and brightness," it's a spectacular rendition of a treasured Rheingau site and the crown-jewel in the Kuhn range. For those seeking a razor-sharp cellar buy that punches well above its price tier, the 2021 Hallgärtener Hendelberg Erste Lage is just the ticket. "A premier cru bottling that clearly approaches the quality of Grosses Gewächs because of its old vines," according John Gilman, the 2021 is resounding triumph, "superb, impressive, profound, absolutely focused and delicious, yet so resonant and rich" as described by Vinous. The only drawback (if you can call it that) is their highly limited presence in the US market, so the smart move is to lock in and add this pair of surefire cellar contenders to your collection while you can. | ||
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| 2020 Moulin du Cadet (750ml) | ||
| From Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The 2020 Moulin du Cadet marries intensity with energy, a combination that works so well ... This is very nicely done. In a word: terrific." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous We love Bordeaux for several reasons, but chief among them is the incredible value that the region turns out, year after year. Sure, the iconic châteaux and collector's trophies often fetch prices that defy the laws of gravity, but there's so much great wine in Bordeaux at such fair prices that it's almost daunting to try to dig into it. That's why we do it for you. Our latest find is the sensationally overperforming 2020 Moulin du Cadet St-Émilion, a remarkable wine of "terrific purity" with a "gorgeous perfume" as Jeb Dunnuck notes in his review of 94+ points. He's not the only, as James Suckling, Antonio Galloni, and Neal Martin have all chimed in with glowing compliments. Sourced from a small parcel on the upper part of the St-Émilion plateau, the 2020 is a classic example of the ideal balance that Merlot can achieve on the right limestone terroir. "Hedonistic yet without compromising delineation or terroir definition," it's a quintessential Right Bank beauty in every sense, from a vintage that really brings out the best in this small, under-the-radar property. | ||
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| 2022 Bosquet des Papes Tradition (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The wines from Bosquet des Papes span the full spectrum ... Regardless of the style, the quality is brilliant, and these are beautiful wines." - Jeb Dunnuck Bosquet des Papes' stellar 2022s prove once again that this rising-star estate is a favorite among Châteauneuf insiders and aficionados, who will be thrilled at this set of stunners from winemaker Nicolas Boiron. The trio of A La Gloire de Mon Grand Père, Chante le Merle, and Les 7 des Pignan each demonstrate Boiron's broad, multi-faceted style. The JD98 Grand Père is "up with the crème de la crème of the vintage ... a stunning success" that strides a fine line between the past and the present, while the Chante le Merle is made in the staunchly traditional method, resulting in a straight-down-the-line "age-worthy, classic, incredibly satisfying Châteauneuf-du-Pape" per Jeb Dunnuck. The perfect juxtaposition to Chante le Merle's classicism is Les 7 des Pignan. The 2022 marks only the second vintage of this 100%-Grenache, micro-production cuvée fashoned from seven miniscule parcels in the Pignan lieu-dit. Seeing 98-point potential, Wine Advocate's Joe Czerwinski marvels at the "incredible complexity and elegance in this full-bodied wine that's concentrated and tannic yet supple, finishing long and velvety. Wow." Vinous puts an exclamation point on its unabashedly modern character, declaring it "bursting with energy and quite expressive ... with remarkable concentration and an expansive finish." The 2022 Bosquet des Papes line-up is emblematic of the many shades of contemporary Châteauneuf-du-Pape, all expertly crafted by one of its most dynamic estates and winemakers. | ||
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| 2021 Dunn Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Of the names that define ultra-classic Napa Valley Cabernet, few compare to the history and pedigree of Dunn. This Howell Mountain estate has been turning out towering, collectible masterpieces that compete with the best of Bordeaux since 1979, beginning with founder Randy Dunn and continuing with his son Mike. The Howell Mountain Cabernet is a monumental wine in any vintage, but in a neo-classical vintage like 2021, it hits all the marks that have define any benchmark expression from Dunn. A trio of 98-point reviews lead the way in a critical line of unanimous glowing acclaim. The wine's "incredibly intense, mineral-driven profile" fits the Dunn paradigm perfectly, while Antonio Galloni declares it "one of the most polished young wines I have ever tasted from Dunn ... What a wine!" The Howell Mountain Cabernet routinely draws comparisons to the titans of Pauillac, and in the spectacular 2021 vintage, it more than holds its own among the world's most cellar-worthy Cabernets. | ||
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| Lochlea Our Barley Single Malt Scotch Whisky | ||
| From Ayrshire, Lowlands, Scotland | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The flagship Our Barley is about as fan-friendly as a whisky can get, and although it’s hard to look past the super-stylish packaging, once you get into the juice itself, you’ll be hooked." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer One of the more exciting yet under-the-radar rising stars in the Scotch scene, Lochlea should (and probably will) be on every single malt fanatic's list of must-try discoveries in short order. Founded in 2018, they've already racked up some impressive critical accolades across their range, and as the distilling team hits their stride, there's no telling how high their star will climb. As B-21's Andrew Kitz declares, "If you’re looking for a new, boutique single-malt distillery to go nuts over, here’s your champion." The Lochlea property itself, once belonging to the immortal Scottish poet Robert Burns, was historically a cattle farm, and that's what owners Neil and Jen McGeoch had in mind when they purchased it in 2006. However, it was soon apparent that cows wouldn't cut it financially, and they turned to the property's other historical cash crop. Now, 50 acres of malting barley are the backbone of this grain-to-glass operation, with the old cattle-farming structures and facilities converted into a modern, functioning distillery in 2016. Long-time Laphroaig master distiller John Campbell set the standards with the first batches, and that uncompromising quality is now seen across the board in every release. You'll no doubt see more from this fabulous, bootstrapped project in the near future, but the flagship Our Barley is the perfect dram to sink your teeth into as you fall in love with a true star in the making in boutique Scotch whisky. | ||
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