| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Sylvaner (750ml) | ||
| Sylvaner from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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| 2023 Hartford Old Vine Zinfandel Highwire Vineyard (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Russian River, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Hartford Family's roots in Sonoma's Russian River Valley are second to none, and they farm some of the Golden State's most prized plots of old-vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Their reference-point range runs the gamut from incredible single-vineyard expressions to some of the greatest bang-for-the-buck values in the appellation. "A lot of wine for the value," the 2022 Russian River Pinot Noir delivers everything that long-time fans of the estate are looking for. Pure Pinot Noir charm is on full display in vibrant, ripe fruit, silky texture, and, most importantly, superb balance, all at an easy price that makes this undisputed crowd-pleaser accessible to a broad audience. The 2023 Russian River Chardonnay is "a worthy follow-up to the brilliant 2022," displaying classic, richly textured Russian River fruit, vibrant acidic balance, and a luxurious finish that reveals its world-class pedigree. Fans of California Chardonnay may have grown used to overpaying for underwhelming quality, but this 93-point, sub-$20 beauty is ideally suited to buck that trend. Turning to the estate's wheelhouse, the 95-point 2022 Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel captures everything that makes this cuvée a perennial favorite among fans of great California Zin. Blended from six top-tier old-vine sites spread across the Russian River AVA (several of which make up the estate's highly acclaimed, single-vineyard range), the 2022 is everything you're looking for in a classic California Zin. Speaking of single-vineyard Zins, don't miss the trio of top-flight expressions below, highlighted by the WS96 Highwire Vineyard from the acclaimed 2023 vintage. "Zin rarely shows this much focus and tenstion," notes Wine Spectator, and we couldn't agree more. Whether you're looking for an easy everyday go-to or a top-tier reference-point expression for the cellar, this range from Hartford has it in spades. | ||
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| PM Spirits Project Destilado de Agave Espadin | ||
| From Jalisco, Mexico | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Campfire season is now officially underway, even here in Florida (which just means it's not sweltering), and we all know a good dram in hand can turn a good campfire into a great campfire. These four picks on offer today are all stunning hidden gems with style and character that match the season to a T, no matter what your preference is. Scotch fans take note, the 94-point Lochlea Fallow Edition Single Malt is matured in ex-oloroso Sherry butts to bring forth a clear autumnal character, showcasing all the gorgeous oloroso depth and beautifully charming profile of Lochlea's malt. This is the final release of this bottling, as Lochlea is turning its focus to more experimental and single-cask expressions, along with their core line-up. It's impressively complex for a young whisky, but it's also just flat-out delicious. ""Lochlea’s Fallow Edition is in its final release," notes Whisky Advocate, "and boy, is it going out with a bang." Hand-selected exclusively for B-21, Elijah Craig's 9 Year Old Barrel #6871256 shows the famed profile of this Heaven Hill benchmark at its pinnacle. Bottled at a full barrel proof of 120.4, this cask is full-throttle intensity and opulence from start to finish. A towering aromatic profile defined by deep red fruits and luxurious barrel character leads the way, while the palate is a kaleidoscope of depth and complexity riding a weighty but balanced texture to an incredibly refined, drawn-out finish, "arguably the most compelling B-21 single-cask bourbon in our inventory," according to Spirits Buyer Andrew Kitz. For the rum fanatics, Mexico's Alambique Serrano may not be a household name, but the craftsmanship and work ethic of this third-generation distillery are undeniable, leading to the La Sociedad Florida Rum Society Cask, the very first Florida Rum Society single-cask selection from "south of the border." It's an 11 on the intensity scale, a full cask-strength stunner that's unlike anything else we've ever come across in the rum category. "Not one for the faint of heart, it's a big, brash powerhouse that challenges the established rum conventions in the best possible way," notes Andrew. Finally, full still-strength mezcals and destilados are a relative rarity, and that's only one reason we jumped on PM Spirits Project's Destilado de Agave Espadin. More than anything, it's immediately apparent that this is artisanal Espadin desitlado of the highest order and the maestro who made it knows his craft. The varietal purity and focus are second to none, even for at a monumental 62% ABV, and the myriad layers of complexity are almost too much to describe in one go. As B-21's Andrew Kitz notes, "The push-pull tension is really something to experience, and I have no doubt that the more I go back to it, the more subtle nuances and facets I’ll find that I somehow missed the first time around." We secured all that was left at a must-see, market-best price and once this is batch is gone, we won't be seeing more of it. | ||
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| 2020 Massolino Barolo Parussi (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Massolino is among the estates I place at the top of Piedmont's hierarchy because of the consistency of the wines across their entire range." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous One of Piedmont's leading lights, Massolino is a perennial standout among Barolo fans for their super-refined, elegant house style. From the village wine to the single-cru expressions, you'll find captivating profiles that have won critical accolades year in and year out. We just sourced a must-see parcel of some of the estate's finest recent releases, showcasing the impeccable excellence that characterizes every bottle of Massolino. This WA94 2021 straight Barolo is a quintessential expression of what makes Massolino such a reference-point estate for Serralunga terroir. "So elegantly composed," declares Decanter, while Galloni calls it "a fabulous wine that shows both the quality of the year and the very high standards at Massolino." Every bit as compelling is the 2019 straight Barolo from an equally prodigious vintage, which "straddles the line between power and elegance ... offering terrific balance and length" according to Wine Spectator. We also have a pair of superb single crus from 2020 in the WAS97+ Parussi and WA95 Margheria. The latter is "especially fine-textured and elegant" for the warm vintage, while the former is "a stunner ... radiant and bright with an especially direct and focused quality." In short, these are some of the savviest buys in Barolo from a producer with one the finest track records in the category. | ||
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| 2021 Massolino Barolo (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Massolino is among the estates I place at the top of Piedmont's hierarchy because of the consistency of the wines across their entire range." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous One of Piedmont's leading lights, Massolino is a perennial standout among Barolo fans for their super-refined, elegant house style. From the village wine to the single-cru expressions, you'll find captivating profiles that have won critical accolades year in and year out. We just sourced a must-see parcel of some of the estate's finest recent releases, showcasing the impeccable excellence that characterizes every bottle of Massolino. This WA94 2021 straight Barolo is a quintessential expression of what makes Massolino such a reference-point estate for Serralunga terroir. "So elegantly composed," declares Decanter, while Galloni calls it "a fabulous wine that shows both the quality of the year and the very high standards at Massolino." Every bit as compelling is the 2019 straight Barolo from an equally prodigious vintage, which "straddles the line between power and elegance ... offering terrific balance and length" according to Wine Spectator. We also have a pair of superb single crus from 2020 in the WAS97+ Parussi and WA95 Margheria. The latter is "especially fine-textured and elegant" for the warm vintage, while the former is "a stunner ... radiant and bright with an especially direct and focused quality." In short, these are some of the savviest buys in Barolo from a producer with one the finest track records in the category. | ||
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| 2022 Hartford Zinfandel Hartford Estate (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Russian River, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Hartford Family's roots in Sonoma's Russian River Valley are second to none, and they farm some of the Golden State's most prized plots of old-vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Their reference-point range runs the gamut from incredible single-vineyard expressions to some of the greatest bang-for-the-buck values in the appellation. "A lot of wine for the value," the 2022 Russian River Pinot Noir delivers everything that long-time fans of the estate are looking for. Pure Pinot Noir charm is on full display in vibrant, ripe fruit, silky texture, and, most importantly, superb balance, all at an easy price that makes this undisputed crowd-pleaser accessible to a broad audience. The 2023 Russian River Chardonnay is "a worthy follow-up to the brilliant 2022," displaying classic, richly textured Russian River fruit, vibrant acidic balance, and a luxurious finish that reveals its world-class pedigree. Fans of California Chardonnay may have grown used to overpaying for underwhelming quality, but this 93-point, sub-$20 beauty is ideally suited to buck that trend. Turning to the estate's wheelhouse, the 95-point 2022 Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel captures everything that makes this cuvée a perennial favorite among fans of great California Zin. Blended from six top-tier old-vine sites spread across the Russian River AVA (several of which make up the estate's highly acclaimed, single-vineyard range), the 2022 is everything you're looking for in a classic California Zin. Speaking of single-vineyard Zins, don't miss the trio of top-flight expressions below, highlighted by the WS96 Highwire Vineyard from the acclaimed 2023 vintage. "Zin rarely shows this much focus and tenstion," notes Wine Spectator, and we couldn't agree more. Whether you're looking for an easy everyday go-to or a top-tier reference-point expression for the cellar, this range from Hartford has it in spades. | ||
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| 2012 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine Charvin Chateauneuf-du-Pape (1.5L) | ||
| From Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Laurent Charvin is, in an inexplicable way, one of the most underappreciated vignerons in Châteauneuf-du-Pape." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate Domaine Charvin is a first-rate, under-the-radar favorite that routinely lands on the short lists of Châteauneuf insiders everywhere. The domaine's vineyard in the south of the appellation could produce a ripe, powerhouse style, but Laurent Charvin's methods make these wines some of the region's most elegant and refined, vintage after vintage. His Midas touch is amply evident in this stunning 2022 Châteauneuf that notched a whopping 98 points from James Suckling's Rhône critic, Stuart Pigott, who captures the style perfectly: "This astonishing Chateauneuf-du-Pape has the enormous aromatic complexity and subtlety that we expect from Grand Cru red Burgundies." Yohan Castaing likewise lauds it as "one of my favorites this year," going on to extol its "long and ethereal" finish and "delicate tannic frame." Not only will hardcore Rhône fans go head over heels for the "sensuality, elegance, finesse and an ethereal character" of this beguiling red, but Burgundy fans and collectors can find much to love in a beautiful expression with tons of cross-over appeal. | ||
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| 2022 Hartford Old Vine Zinfandel Fanucchi-Wood Road Vineyard (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Russian River, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The Hartford Family's roots in Sonoma's Russian River Valley are second to none, and they farm some of the Golden State's most prized plots of old-vine Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Their reference-point range runs the gamut from incredible single-vineyard expressions to some of the greatest bang-for-the-buck values in the appellation. "A lot of wine for the value," the 2022 Russian River Pinot Noir delivers everything that long-time fans of the estate are looking for. Pure Pinot Noir charm is on full display in vibrant, ripe fruit, silky texture, and, most importantly, superb balance, all at an easy price that makes this undisputed crowd-pleaser accessible to a broad audience. The 2023 Russian River Chardonnay is "a worthy follow-up to the brilliant 2022," displaying classic, richly textured Russian River fruit, vibrant acidic balance, and a luxurious finish that reveals its world-class pedigree. Fans of California Chardonnay may have grown used to overpaying for underwhelming quality, but this 93-point, sub-$20 beauty is ideally suited to buck that trend. Turning to the estate's wheelhouse, the 95-point 2022 Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel captures everything that makes this cuvée a perennial favorite among fans of great California Zin. Blended from six top-tier old-vine sites spread across the Russian River AVA (several of which make up the estate's highly acclaimed, single-vineyard range), the 2022 is everything you're looking for in a classic California Zin. Speaking of single-vineyard Zins, don't miss the trio of top-flight expressions below, highlighted by the WS96 Highwire Vineyard from the acclaimed 2023 vintage. "Zin rarely shows this much focus and tenstion," notes Wine Spectator, and we couldn't agree more. Whether you're looking for an easy everyday go-to or a top-tier reference-point expression for the cellar, this range from Hartford has it in spades. | ||
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| 2019 Boscarelli Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Sotto Casa Riserva (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Luca De Ferrari and the team at Boscarelli make some of the most beautiful wines in the appellation." - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate Of course, Montalcino is ground zero in Italy for Sangiovese, but savvy Italian insiders know that some of the varietal's best bangs for the buck can be found in Montepulciano. Situated southwest of Chianti, Montepulciano's slightly warmer climate means there's no shortage of ripeness in its wines, but the sandy, well-draining soils also imbue them with striking minerality that's more intense than in the wines of Chianti or even Montalcino. This trio from Boscarelli highlights one of the region's most accomplished estates firing on all cylinders. The 94-point 2021 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano "is a total pleasure to the senses" according to Vinous,offering the elevated terroir expression that one typically finds in the finest examples from further north. The estate's benchmark pedigree, however, is on full display in the two Riserva bottlings below. The 2020 Riserva is a "sleek yet solidly built red," demonstrating the age-worthy quality of a great Vino Nobile according toWine Spectator's 95-point review. Also notching 95 points from James Suckling, the 2019 Riserva Sotto Casa is a stellar expression of the estate's most prized plot planted to high density in alluvial, red clay soils. A blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot, it's a captivating example of what makes Montepulciano such a dynamic region.
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| Lochlea Fallow Edition Third Crop Single Malt Scotch Whisky | ||
| From Ayrshire, Lowlands, Scotland | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Campfire season is now officially underway, even here in Florida (which just means it's not sweltering), and we all know a good dram in hand can turn a good campfire into a great campfire. These four picks on offer today are all stunning hidden gems with style and character that match the season to a T, no matter what your preference is. Scotch fans take note, the 94-point Lochlea Fallow Edition Single Malt is matured in ex-oloroso Sherry butts to bring forth a clear autumnal character, showcasing all the gorgeous oloroso depth and beautifully charming profile of Lochlea's malt. This is the final release of this bottling, as Lochlea is turning its focus to more experimental and single-cask expressions, along with their core line-up. It's impressively complex for a young whisky, but it's also just flat-out delicious. ""Lochlea’s Fallow Edition is in its final release," notes Whisky Advocate, "and boy, is it going out with a bang." Hand-selected exclusively for B-21, Elijah Craig's 9 Year Old Barrel #6871256 shows the famed profile of this Heaven Hill benchmark at its pinnacle. Bottled at a full barrel proof of 120.4, this cask is full-throttle intensity and opulence from start to finish. A towering aromatic profile defined by deep red fruits and luxurious barrel character leads the way, while the palate is a kaleidoscope of depth and complexity riding a weighty but balanced texture to an incredibly refined, drawn-out finish, "arguably the most compelling B-21 single-cask bourbon in our inventory," according to Spirits Buyer Andrew Kitz. For the rum fanatics, Mexico's Alambique Serrano may not be a household name, but the craftsmanship and work ethic of this third-generation distillery are undeniable, leading to the La Sociedad Florida Rum Society Cask, the very first Florida Rum Society single-cask selection from "south of the border." It's an 11 on the intensity scale, a full cask-strength stunner that's unlike anything else we've ever come across in the rum category. "Not one for the faint of heart, it's a big, brash powerhouse that challenges the established rum conventions in the best possible way," notes Andrew. Finally, full still-strength mezcals and destilados are a relative rarity, and that's only one reason we jumped on PM Spirits Project's Destilado de Agave Espadin. More than anything, it's immediately apparent that this is artisanal Espadin desitlado of the highest order and the maestro who made it knows his craft. The varietal purity and focus are second to none, even for at a monumental 62% ABV, and the myriad layers of complexity are almost too much to describe in one go. As B-21's Andrew Kitz notes, "The push-pull tension is really something to experience, and I have no doubt that the more I go back to it, the more subtle nuances and facets I’ll find that I somehow missed the first time around." We secured all that was left at a must-see, market-best price and once this is batch is gone, we won't be seeing more of it. | ||
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| 2020 Massolino Barolo Margheria (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Massolino is among the estates I place at the top of Piedmont's hierarchy because of the consistency of the wines across their entire range." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous One of Piedmont's leading lights, Massolino is a perennial standout among Barolo fans for their super-refined, elegant house style. From the village wine to the single-cru expressions, you'll find captivating profiles that have won critical accolades year in and year out. We just sourced a must-see parcel of some of the estate's finest recent releases, showcasing the impeccable excellence that characterizes every bottle of Massolino. This WA94 2021 straight Barolo is a quintessential expression of what makes Massolino such a reference-point estate for Serralunga terroir. "So elegantly composed," declares Decanter, while Galloni calls it "a fabulous wine that shows both the quality of the year and the very high standards at Massolino." Every bit as compelling is the 2019 straight Barolo from an equally prodigious vintage, which "straddles the line between power and elegance ... offering terrific balance and length" according to Wine Spectator. We also have a pair of superb single crus from 2020 in the WAS97+ Parussi and WA95 Margheria. The latter is "especially fine-textured and elegant" for the warm vintage, while the former is "a stunner ... radiant and bright with an especially direct and focused quality." In short, these are some of the savviest buys in Barolo from a producer with one the finest track records in the category. | ||
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| 2014 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses (1.5L) | ||
| Sparkling from Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Concentrated and scintillating, so good" Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Described as "a monument among Champagnes" by the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss, there's just not much of the extraordinary 96 pt. 2014 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses to go around, so those who know it well are likely already hitting reply. Revealing intensely aromatic fruit with impeccable balance and a luscious fine-beaded mousse, this newest vintage from Champagne Philipponnat's iconic single vineyard is available in a range of formats destined to be a focal point in any collection and poised to deliver a thrilling ride for those who act quickly to secure their bottles. While most of the Grande Vallee of the Marne River is a landscape of gently rolling vine-covered hills, the single walled vineyard of Clos des Goisses is an anomaly, the 5.83 hectares of vines planted on a startlingly steep slope of pure chalk cascading down towards the river, a legendary terroir on the best hillside in Mareuil-sur-Ay ranked alongside the Grand Cru monopoles of Burgundy. Released as the first-ever single vineyard Champagne in 1935, the combination of the steep terrain along with its unique southerly exposure allows for the complete ripening and development of the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes long before the surrounding vineyards, the Champagne house granted special permission to harvest earlier in a region not known for making exceptions to the rules. Vinified in a mix of wood casks and stainless steel using only the first press with no malolactic fermentation, the powerful 2014 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses aged for eight years on the lees in bottle, its very low dosage of 4.25 grams allowing for the transparent expression of the vinosity and minerality of its exceptional terroir with "the emphasis on finesse" according to Inside Bordeaux's Jane Anson. Promising to develop magnificently for decades, the elegant 96 pt. 2014 Philipponnat Clos des Goisses is a truly spectacular, terroir-driven gem that Champagne lovers and collectors of the world's best sparkling wines will want to have on hand to reach for on those special occasions when only an exceptional Champagne will do. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Weinbach Riesling Altenbourg (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Alsace, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Weinbach is an iconic domaine ... The wines are amongst the most elegant and poised in Alsace. They are paradigms of varietal expression and age effortlessly." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous For four generations, Domaine Weinbach has stood as a standard bearer for Alsace's finest expressions, producing universally acclaimed wines that have few equals in the region or anywhere in France for that matter. Winemaker Eddy Lieber-Faller now helms this treasured estate along with his brother Théo, carrying on the remarkable legacy laid down by their grandmother, mother, and aunt. It seems that one vintage after another, this storied domaine finds resounding success, and these newly arrived 2023s continue that trend. From the entry-level cuvées to the coveted collectible icons, the 2023s show the domaine and the family at the top of their game, starting with an undeniable insider's favorite, the V92 Sylvaner from a 70-year-old parcel in the famed Clos du Capucins. Every bit as compelling is the "super-clean and wonderfully harmonious" JS93 Pinot Blanc. Moving to the single-vineyard wines, the domaine's pedigree truly shines in a pair of 97-point stunners. The "dangerously fresh and wonderfully inspiring" Altenbourg Gewürztraminer offers fans and collectors a can't-miss, cellar-worthy expression for a steal, while the Schlossberg Grand Cru Riesling is yet another benchmark expression from this hallowed site. The coup de grâce, however, is the near-perfect Riesling Schlossberg Grand Cru Cuvée Ste-Catherine, a marvelous expression of "crystalline clarity" that exhibits the inimitable tension of this hallowed terroir, or as Stuart Pigott puts it, "So many aspects of this masterpiece speak of lightness and delicacy, but the other side is all about the dark world down in the soil." Of course, with a reference point domaine like Weinbach in a great vintage like 2023, fans and collectors don't have to be choosy – you can have a field day up and down the range, knowing that you'll get everything you're looking for and more with every option on the table. | ||
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