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| Bollinger Brut Champagne Special Cuvee (750ml) | ||
| Sparkling from Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More There are Grandes Marques, "Mini-Marques," and then there are the TRULY grande marques. Bollinger is so grande (so important) that the most famous quotes on Champagne are attributed to its most endearing owner. Lily Bollinger was not only the most important character in the story of Bollinger, she remains its most charismatic. The technical side of Bollinger – the unmatched level of investment in every bottle produced – is every bit as important as Lily's story. Stepping into the cellars of Bollinger will take your breath away. Imagine the greatest collection of Champagne you could ever hope to personally witness in one place. Imagine magnums of the most pristine, Grand Cru Champagne – bottled under cork – resting there before your eyes. How many bottles would it take for you to think, "Holy bubbles, Batman, that's a LOT of Champagne?" In the cellars of Bollinger rests 600,000 magnums (100,000 cases) of Champagne reserves. It is this massive – truly mind-boggling – stash of reserves which contributes to the unmatched quality and consistency of the Bollinger Special Cuvée. The master blending performed which results in the richness, the depth and full body we love in Bollinger includes 50% of these reserve wines, some of which are up to 15 years of age. This Bollinger Special Cuvée you're buying today contains a healthy percentage of reserve wine from the vintage of 2000. Moreover, in keeping with the historical Bollinger tradition and winemaking style – the style Lily championed across Europe – the Special Cuvée is vinified in seasoned oak barrels of varying size, shape and age. This barrel vinification is followed by another three years of aging on the fine lees, a process absolutely unmatched across the region. It's a time-consuming, laborious, expensive process that's driven by passion; as only Lily Bollinger would have had it. Lily took over the estate upon her husband's passing in 1941 and is celebrated for greatly expanding the estate's vineyard holdings as well as the soaring popularity during her time as director and beyond. Recalling her arrival to London to declare her 1955 vintage, a reporter made public Lily Bollinger's reply when asked how much she enjoyed her own product. I think of it every day, or least every day I have a bottle of Bollinger: "I drink my Champagne when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty." One of the finest Bollinger Special Cuvée bottlings to date, with my price making it that much finer: | ||
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| 2023 Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is a magical property. Of late, the wines have been pretty magical too." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous While Tignanello gets all (or almost all) the attention in the Marchesi Antinori stable, the Guado al Tasso wines have started to gain some serious traction of their own among Italian fans, and they now stand apart from their more famous sibling in all the right ways. Indeed, recent vintages have seen the estate hit new benchmarks in quality and acclaim, something that continues in this trio of new releases. The 2023 Il Bruciato stands out as one of the Tuscany's leading value buys once again, capturing the power of the warm vintage while retaining ample freshness to make it accessible even today. This JD93 blend of Bordeaux varietals plus Syrah offers up a thoroughly modern profile with tons of broad, crowd-pleasing appeal and a price to match. The Super Tuscan blends are the attention-getters in the Antinori portfolio, but the 2022 Cont' Ugo Merlot is an insider's savvy buy. We know, we know ... Merlot? Yes, Merlot. It's one of the most intriguing and dynamic varietals in Tuscany today. The coastal climate and soils are ideally suited to this Bordeaux transplant, but the result is never just an imitation of the Right Bank style. Instead, Merlot takes on its own singular Tuscan character that lends a new and vibrant perspective to the grape and the category as a whole, and the 94-point 2022 Cont' Ugo is a prime example. Finally, the latest vintage of Guado al Tasso shows the unmatched pedigree of Antinori, from the sterling quality of the fruit, to the clear terroir signatures, to the precise and meticulous winemaking, which really was deciding factor in the 2022 vintage. As Monica Larner of Wine Advocate declares in her 96-point review, "The wine is velvety and richly textured at its core, but it is also seamless with very pleasurable sweetness." Everything about the 2022 is expertly composed and in its proper place, earning it three rock-solid, 96-point reviews from Italy's leading critics. For those who follow the Italian collectible scene, especially the Super Tuscan category, you'll no doubt be making room in the cellar for this exceptional expression from one of Italy's most iconic estates. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2020 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2019 Caiarossa (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically. This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere. | ||
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| 2018 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2023 Stolpman Vineyards La Cuadrilla Ballard Canyon (750ml) | ||
| Syrah from Santa Barbara, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...one of the better values in all of California wine." - Matthew Luczy, Wine Advocate The long-awaited new release of this all-time B-21 best seller is here. Stolpman's La Cuadrilla has been a bona fide value champion for us for several vintages running, and it's basically cornered our market on sub-$20 California reds. A blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre and Sangiovese, this spectacular, "lights out" favorite has always brought its A-game big time, and that all continues apace in 2023. "Bright, punchy and full of character, the 2023 delivers superb quality and striking purity of fruit," notes Antonio Galloni. Made every year by the estate's vineyard workers, who then split the proceeds from sales, this is a true wine of community and collective effort and reward. There's not much else to say – if you're already fan, then make some room and stock up like you always do. The 2023 La Cuadrilla is ready to rock with stunning character and unbeatable value, just like it always has. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Gloria (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Showing beautifully, with the polished, pure, elegant style of the vintage ... It should be a no-brainer purchase for the wine lovers out there." - Jeb Dunnuck Bordeaux's 2019s remain some of the sharpest buys in the market up and down the price spectrum, and that's doubly true for a perennial overachieving estate with an overly impressive track record. Chateau Gloria is arguably the greatest hidden gem in St-Julien. Seeing as it doesn't fall under the 1855 classification, it has historically traded at prices that far underestimate the inherent quality of the estate's terroir and the resulting wines. The 2019 grand vin has been a head-turning specimen since En Primeur, and the years since its release have only reaffirmed it as a top contender for Left Bank value of the vintage. Led by Neal Martin's glowing 96-point review, the critical line is full of accolades and praise. Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson declares, "Pure pleasure, this is hard to resist," and Jeb Dunnuck notes it as "a hands-down winner." The strides made at this estate in the past two decades have been nothing short of astounding, yet the pricing remains accessible to nearly any fan of Bordeaux's best, proving once again that the region is the world's top hotbed for long-term cellar value. | ||
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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 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2016 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2010 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| High N' Wicked The Judge 14yr Whiskey (750ml) | ||
| From Tennessee | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Founded by two veterans of spirits giant Brown-Forman, independent bottler High N' Wicked has a made a name for themselves in the craft whiskey scene by their access to superb stocks from the country's best sources. Their series of highly limited, age-stated releases have been cult collector's hits since their debut in 2020, but now you can add "stunning value star" to their list of must-try offerings. When we tasted the High N' Wicked Kentucky Straight Bourbon earlier this year, it was clear from the get-go that everything about this whiskey was done with pure pleasure in mind. "Complex and enticing," according to Wine Enthusiast's 95-point review, this 5-year-old gem boasts quite a high rye content, but its sweet mashbill finds the perfect pocket of balance and opulence that make it incredibly approachable for a wide audience. Of course, you'll also want to pay close attention to the The Judge and The Jury. The market on age-stated American whiskey is through the roof, and you're almost always looking at triple digits for anything with this kinds of number on them. That makes this pair a can't-miss, flat-out steal in the category. After 14 years in new #4 char oak, High N' Wicked gave the 96-point The Judge an addition six months in Hungarian Tokaji dessert wine casks. Ramping up the intensity, the 94-point The Jury saw an extra year in the new #4 char barrel, finishing in a premium ex-Madeira cask. Nothing added and nothing chill-filtered out, these are luxurious, altogether singular expressions that we seldom see in the bourbon category. | ||
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| 2022 Bodegas Muga Anden (750ml) | ||
| From Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More As a bastion of collectible Rioja, Bodegas Muga produces many of the region's most acclaimed and sought-after collectibles, but their extensive history of reference-point quality extends throughout their line-up, all the way into their entry-level, everyday value standouts. The 2022 Muga Andén de la Estanción, a blend of Tempranillo and Garnacha, is a classic bang-for-the-buck Spanish red. "Serious despite being approachable," as Wine Advocate's Luis Gutiérrez describes it, the 2022 Andén is a hallmark representaiton of what Rioja does best at the value end of the spectrum. With the vibrant, fresh red fruit character of Tempranillo, touches of spice from the Garnacha, and a pliant, tensile structural base, it's tailor-made for versatility and pleasure, a food-friendly performer and crowd-pleaser par excellence that's easy on the palate and the wallet. | ||
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| 2009 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2020 Caiarossa (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically. This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere. | ||
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| 2017 Domaine de la Bongran Vire-Clesse Cuvee Levroutee (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Maconnais, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...a Mâconnais reference point that produces some of the region's most idiosyncratic wines." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate Our new direct-import relationship with Gautier Thevenet's Domaine de la Bongran is one of the most exciting results of our November trip to Burgundy last year. As one of the most meticulous and thoughtful growers and winemakers in Viré-Clessé, his wines occupy two realms simultaneously - on the one hand, they're paragons of classic, age-worthy white Burgundy, while on the other, they're stylistically singular in ways that none of his contemporaries can seem to match. The elusive Cuvée E.J. Thevenet is "one of Burgundy's greatest wines [and] what's more, its longevity is legendary," according to Kelley. The 2020 more than lives up to this lofty reputation. Based on that endorsement alone, you'd assume a triple-digit price is the norm, but for less than $40, you can stock up on a bona fide cellar contender that will outlive many Côte-de-Beaune benchmarks at many times its price. "Rich and bright ... Super in its style," the 2020 E.J. Thevenet is one of the most distinctive and intriguing white Burgs we've seen in a while. Taking that same character to another level, the 2017 Cuvée Levroutée is easily the most unique expression we encountered on this trip. It's safe to say there's nothing else like it in Burgundy. Made only in certain vintages that provide the perfect conditions for botrytis formation (the last being 2006), Levroutée is simply a one-of-a-kind wine, with 95 points from Kelley and 94 points from Neal Martin and Jasper Morris, who declares, "This really is gorgeous as it combines the pretty side of botrytis aromatics with a classic chardonnay heart." The 2017 Levroutée is a collectible treasure par excellence, only hinting at its full potential and set to cruise for a long, long time in the cellar. Finally, not part of the original Bongran domaine but one that Thevenet's father purchased several decades ago, the vineyards for the Cuvée Emilian Gillet are classic Viré-Clessé limestone terroir, which results in a wine markedly distinct from its stablemates. While the warm 2022 vintage provides it with just the right level of fruit ripeness, the terroir signature is all verve and nerve, with racy acidity and pristine minerality providing a thrilling background for those old-school white Burgundy purists seeking structure and longevity. The quality trajectory of the Mâcon has skyrocketed in recent years, with domaines like Bongran at the forefront. Fortunately though, prices remain accessible for anyone, and once you've experienced these wines for yourself, you'll surely want to be on the lookout for more discoveries like these that are coming through our pipeline in the future. | ||
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| 2020 Domaine de la Bongran Vire-Clesse Cuvee EJ Thevenet (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Maconnais, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...a Mâconnais reference point that produces some of the region's most idiosyncratic wines." - William Kelley, Wine Advocate Our new direct-import relationship with Gautier Thevenet's Domaine de la Bongran is one of the most exciting results of our November trip to Burgundy last year. As one of the most meticulous and thoughtful growers and winemakers in Viré-Clessé, his wines occupy two realms simultaneously - on the one hand, they're paragons of classic, age-worthy white Burgundy, while on the other, they're stylistically singular in ways that none of his contemporaries can seem to match. The elusive Cuvée E.J. Thevenet is "one of Burgundy's greatest wines [and] what's more, its longevity is legendary," according to Kelley. The 2020 more than lives up to this lofty reputation. Based on that endorsement alone, you'd assume a triple-digit price is the norm, but for less than $40, you can stock up on a bona fide cellar contender that will outlive many Côte-de-Beaune benchmarks at many times its price. "Rich and bright ... Super in its style," the 2020 E.J. Thevenet is one of the most distinctive and intriguing white Burgs we've seen in a while. Taking that same character to another level, the 2017 Cuvée Levroutée is easily the most unique expression we encountered on this trip. It's safe to say there's nothing else like it in Burgundy. Made only in certain vintages that provide the perfect conditions for botrytis formation (the last being 2006), Levroutée is simply a one-of-a-kind wine, with 95 points from Kelley and 94 points from Neal Martin and Jasper Morris, who declares, "This really is gorgeous as it combines the pretty side of botrytis aromatics with a classic chardonnay heart." The 2017 Levroutée is a collectible treasure par excellence, only hinting at its full potential and set to cruise for a long, long time in the cellar. Finally, not part of the original Bongran domaine but one that Thevenet's father purchased several decades ago, the vineyards for the Cuvée Emilian Gillet are classic Viré-Clessé limestone terroir, which results in a wine markedly distinct from its stablemates. While the warm 2022 vintage provides it with just the right level of fruit ripeness, the terroir signature is all verve and nerve, with racy acidity and pristine minerality providing a thrilling background for those old-school white Burgundy purists seeking structure and longevity. The quality trajectory of the Mâcon has skyrocketed in recent years, with domaines like Bongran at the forefront. Fortunately though, prices remain accessible for anyone, and once you've experienced these wines for yourself, you'll surely want to be on the lookout for more discoveries like these that are coming through our pipeline in the future. | ||
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| High N' Wicked Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) | ||
| From Kentucky | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Founded by two veterans of spirits giant Brown-Forman, independent bottler High N' Wicked has a made a name for themselves in the craft whiskey scene by their access to superb stocks from the country's best sources. Their series of highly limited, age-stated releases have been cult collector's hits since their debut in 2020, but now you can add "stunning value star" to their list of must-try offerings. When we tasted the High N' Wicked Kentucky Straight Bourbon earlier this year, it was clear from the get-go that everything about this whiskey was done with pure pleasure in mind. "Complex and enticing," according to Wine Enthusiast's 95-point review, this 5-year-old gem boasts quite a high rye content, but its sweet mashbill finds the perfect pocket of balance and opulence that make it incredibly approachable for a wide audience. Of course, you'll also want to pay close attention to the The Judge and The Jury. The market on age-stated American whiskey is through the roof, and you're almost always looking at triple digits for anything with this kinds of number on them. That makes this pair a can't-miss, flat-out steal in the category. After 14 years in new #4 char oak, High N' Wicked gave the 96-point The Judge an addition six months in Hungarian Tokaji dessert wine casks. Ramping up the intensity, the 94-point The Jury saw an extra year in the new #4 char barrel, finishing in a premium ex-Madeira cask. Nothing added and nothing chill-filtered out, these are luxurious, altogether singular expressions that we seldom see in the bourbon category. | ||
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| 2021 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2023 Bethel Heights Pinot Noir Estate (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Willamette, Oregon | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This wine consistently makes a compelling case for one of the best under $50 Oregon Pinot Noirs." - Clive Pursehouse, Decanter One of the best under-$50 Oregon Pinot Noirs? No question. We'll do you one better – how about the best Oregon Pinot Noir for under $30? We think that's exactly what you're getting in the 2023 Bethel Heights Estate Pinot Noir at our market-best pricing. Sourced from three of the Casteel family's outstanding estate vineyards, this wine is the very definition of bang for your buck. Winemaker Ben Casteel is an ardent believer in bringing his A-game to everything he makes, and that includes his entry-level offering. This double 94-point gem is "medium-bodied, ripe, and elegant, with fine tannins and more density than the 2021 or 2022 vintages, yet it remains light on its feet." In short, it's a showcase of all that we love about Eola-Amity Hills Pinot, and it even has "serious enough structure to lay down should you choose" according to Decanter. It's also a perfect example of what makes Bethel Heights our best-selling Oregon wine brand, several years running. | ||
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| 2022 Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso Cont'Ugo (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is a magical property. Of late, the wines have been pretty magical too." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous While Tignanello gets all (or almost all) the attention in the Marchesi Antinori stable, the Guado al Tasso wines have started to gain some serious traction of their own among Italian fans, and they now stand apart from their more famous sibling in all the right ways. Indeed, recent vintages have seen the estate hit new benchmarks in quality and acclaim, something that continues in this trio of new releases. The 2023 Il Bruciato stands out as one of the Tuscany's leading value buys once again, capturing the power of the warm vintage while retaining ample freshness to make it accessible even today. This JD93 blend of Bordeaux varietals plus Syrah offers up a thoroughly modern profile with tons of broad, crowd-pleasing appeal and a price to match. The Super Tuscan blends are the attention-getters in the Antinori portfolio, but the 2022 Cont' Ugo Merlot is an insider's savvy buy. We know, we know ... Merlot? Yes, Merlot. It's one of the most intriguing and dynamic varietals in Tuscany today. The coastal climate and soils are ideally suited to this Bordeaux transplant, but the result is never just an imitation of the Right Bank style. Instead, Merlot takes on its own singular Tuscan character that lends a new and vibrant perspective to the grape and the category as a whole, and the 94-point 2022 Cont' Ugo is a prime example. Finally, the latest vintage of Guado al Tasso shows the unmatched pedigree of Antinori, from the sterling quality of the fruit, to the clear terroir signatures, to the precise and meticulous winemaking, which really was deciding factor in the 2022 vintage. As Monica Larner of Wine Advocate declares in her 96-point review, "The wine is velvety and richly textured at its core, but it is also seamless with very pleasurable sweetness." Everything about the 2022 is expertly composed and in its proper place, earning it three rock-solid, 96-point reviews from Italy's leading critics. For those who follow the Italian collectible scene, especially the Super Tuscan category, you'll no doubt be making room in the cellar for this exceptional expression from one of Italy's most iconic estates. | ||
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| 2021 Caiarossa (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically. This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere. | ||
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| High N' Wicked The Jury 15yr Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) | ||
| From Tennessee | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Founded by two veterans of spirits giant Brown-Forman, independent bottler High N' Wicked has a made a name for themselves in the craft whiskey scene by their access to superb stocks from the country's best sources. Their series of highly limited, age-stated releases have been cult collector's hits since their debut in 2020, but now you can add "stunning value star" to their list of must-try offerings. When we tasted the High N' Wicked Kentucky Straight Bourbon earlier this year, it was clear from the get-go that everything about this whiskey was done with pure pleasure in mind. "Complex and enticing," according to Wine Enthusiast's 95-point review, this 5-year-old gem boasts quite a high rye content, but its sweet mashbill finds the perfect pocket of balance and opulence that make it incredibly approachable for a wide audience. Of course, you'll also want to pay close attention to the The Judge and The Jury. The market on age-stated American whiskey is through the roof, and you're almost always looking at triple digits for anything with this kinds of number on them. That makes this pair a can't-miss, flat-out steal in the category. After 14 years in new #4 char oak, High N' Wicked gave the 96-point The Judge an addition six months in Hungarian Tokaji dessert wine casks. Ramping up the intensity, the 94-point The Jury saw an extra year in the new #4 char barrel, finishing in a premium ex-Madeira cask. Nothing added and nothing chill-filtered out, these are luxurious, altogether singular expressions that we seldom see in the bourbon category. | ||
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| 2022 Antinori Tenuta Guado al Tasso (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | ||
|
B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is a magical property. Of late, the wines have been pretty magical too." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous While Tignanello gets all (or almost all) the attention in the Marchesi Antinori stable, the Guado al Tasso wines have started to gain some serious traction of their own among Italian fans, and they now stand apart from their more famous sibling in all the right ways. Indeed, recent vintages have seen the estate hit new benchmarks in quality and acclaim, something that continues in this trio of new releases. The 2023 Il Bruciato stands out as one of the Tuscany's leading value buys once again, capturing the power of the warm vintage while retaining ample freshness to make it accessible even today. This JD93 blend of Bordeaux varietals plus Syrah offers up a thoroughly modern profile with tons of broad, crowd-pleasing appeal and a price to match. The Super Tuscan blends are the attention-getters in the Antinori portfolio, but the 2022 Cont' Ugo Merlot is an insider's savvy buy. We know, we know ... Merlot? Yes, Merlot. It's one of the most intriguing and dynamic varietals in Tuscany today. The coastal climate and soils are ideally suited to this Bordeaux transplant, but the result is never just an imitation of the Right Bank style. Instead, Merlot takes on its own singular Tuscan character that lends a new and vibrant perspective to the grape and the category as a whole, and the 94-point 2022 Cont' Ugo is a prime example. Finally, the latest vintage of Guado al Tasso shows the unmatched pedigree of Antinori, from the sterling quality of the fruit, to the clear terroir signatures, to the precise and meticulous winemaking, which really was deciding factor in the 2022 vintage. As Monica Larner of Wine Advocate declares in her 96-point review, "The wine is velvety and richly textured at its core, but it is also seamless with very pleasurable sweetness." Everything about the 2022 is expertly composed and in its proper place, earning it three rock-solid, 96-point reviews from Italy's leading critics. For those who follow the Italian collectible scene, especially the Super Tuscan category, you'll no doubt be making room in the cellar for this exceptional expression from one of Italy's most iconic estates. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine Christian Clerget Les Charmes 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More We were thrilled to come across this small parcel of excellent 2022s from a domaine that is highly coveted among collectors, yet which has very little presence in the U.S. market. Now run by Justine Clerget, this fourth-generation domaine makes a miniscule quantity of wine from some truly enviable holdings in Chambolle, Vosne, Morey, and Vougeot. Leading off, the 2022 Morey-St-Denis Les Crais Blanc (the only white made by Clerget) is "really well balanced, the best I remember" according Japser Morris of Inside Burgundy, offering a rare example of what Chardonnay can achieve in this Pinot Noir-dominated appellation. "Worth seeking out" per Vinous' Neal Martin is the village Chambolle-Musigny for its "sense of vibrancy and tension ... with a very well-controlled and persistent finish," while the "beautifully layered" Chambolle-Musigny Aux Croix presents a sharp buy for collectors looking to maximize their purchasing power. The Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Charmes with its "joyous, almost rumbustious energy" and "silky smooth texture" is a quintessential example of this lieu-dit that will cruise for years, right alongside the "well delineated and linear" Echezeaux En Orveaux that Morris declares "will emerge as a charming and graceful" rendition in the due course of time. One look at the current market for Clerget's wines will tell you that opportunities like this don't come along often, and with only limited quantities available to us, serious collectors should jump at the chance to add these boutique beauties to their cellars. | ||
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| 2021 Rippon Rippon Pinot Noir Mature Vines (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Central Otago's Rippon is unequivocally a "grand cru" New Zealand estate by any measure, even aesthetic, as it's arguably the most beautiful wine estate in the world, situated on the shores of the iconic Lake Wanaka with the South Island's Alps as a jaw-dropping backdrop.A family run estate since their founding, the Rippon Pinot Noirs represente the very top echelon of the country's offerings in that category and set the bar vintage after vintage for the cream of Central Otago's crop. Our first allocation of the newly released 2021s has just landed, and it's safe to say that these are once again world-class offerings with stratospheric critical accolades that can compete with virtually any Pinot Noir in the world, from Burgundy, Sonoma, or anywhere else. Leading off, the flagship 2021 Mature Vines boasts 97 points from James Suckling, while it's a "gorgeous" offering that "expounds mineral freshness and detail in spades" according to Wine Advocate's Erin Larkin. Taking the estate profile to another level of nuance and detail, the single-block bottlings, always highly acclaimed and highly limited, are collectible stunners of the first order. The WA98 Tinker's Field "is a wine of impact and tremendous grace," while the JS97 Emma's Block is "mineral, detailed, and quietly spoken," each wine offering a distinct side of the Rippon estate's personality. For any collector of reference-point, singular Pinot Noirs, Rippon belongs on your short list. If you haven't yet discovered them, do yourself a favor and make some room in the cellar next to your other trophy bottlings, as these mesmerizing gems will cruise in dynamic fashion with the best of the best. | ||
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| 2005 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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| 2021 Rippon Tinker's Field Pinot Noir (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Central Otago, New Zealand | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Central Otago's Rippon is unequivocally a "grand cru" New Zealand estate by any measure, even aesthetic, as it's arguably the most beautiful wine estate in the world, situated on the shores of the iconic Lake Wanaka with the South Island's Alps as a jaw-dropping backdrop.A family run estate since their founding, the Rippon Pinot Noirs represente the very top echelon of the country's offerings in that category and set the bar vintage after vintage for the cream of Central Otago's crop. Our first allocation of the newly released 2021s has just landed, and it's safe to say that these are once again world-class offerings with stratospheric critical accolades that can compete with virtually any Pinot Noir in the world, from Burgundy, Sonoma, or anywhere else. Leading off, the flagship 2021 Mature Vines boasts 97 points from James Suckling, while it's a "gorgeous" offering that "expounds mineral freshness and detail in spades" according to Wine Advocate's Erin Larkin. Taking the estate profile to another level of nuance and detail, the single-block bottlings, always highly acclaimed and highly limited, are collectible stunners of the first order. The WA98 Tinker's Field "is a wine of impact and tremendous grace," while the JS97 Emma's Block is "mineral, detailed, and quietly spoken," each wine offering a distinct side of the Rippon estate's personality. For any collector of reference-point, singular Pinot Noirs, Rippon belongs on your short list. If you haven't yet discovered them, do yourself a favor and make some room in the cellar next to your other trophy bottlings, as these mesmerizing gems will cruise in dynamic fashion with the best of the best. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Lynch-Bages is pure magic in 2019....A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar…Don't miss it. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Savvy Bordeaux collectors won't need convincing – the thrilling 100pt. 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages continues this estate's epic run of exceptional quality, elegantly balancing concentrated lush dark fruit with grippy, mouth-coating tannins on "an extremely persistent, almost Lafite-like finish" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson who declares it "a great Lynch-Bages of the modern era," offered at an equally spectacular value and delivered ex-Chateau in original wooden cases of six. Owned by the Cazes family for nearly a century, visitors to Chateau Lynch-Bages encounter an almost fairytale-like village complete with a Michelin-starred restaurant and luxury hotel, its stunning new contemporary winemaking facility designed by noted architects and sons of the masterful architect I.M. Pei, creator of the once controversial glass Louvre pyramid in Paris. Spanning 100 hectares planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, the vineyards are located on a range of terroirs across Pauillac, from close to the Chateau on the gravelly Bages plateau to bordering St. Julien next to Chateau Pichon Lalande, the estate's vines for the Grand Vin averaging 30 years of age with some as old as 60 years. Under the direction of fourth generation Jean-Charles Cazes, the powerful 2019 Chateau Lynch-Bages was aged for 18 months in 75% new French oak, revealing intense, dark Cabernet aromatics described as "gorgeous from the start" by the Wine Spectator's James Molesworth, embodying the hedonistic Lynch-Bages style with a core of fresh opulent fruit layered over rich, ripe tannins that according to Decanter's Georgina Hindle give "no doubt that this is going to age slowly and for many decades." | ||
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