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| 2022 Clos Apalta (375ml) | ||
| Carmenere from Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The iconic Clos Apalta is arguably Chile's greatest wine, with a critical track record to rival even the First Growth Bordeaux titans. Previous vintages have notched multiple 100-point scores, nabbed Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year title, and accumulated pretty much every superlative and measure of praise you can think of in the world of fine wine, so it's no surprise to see the newly released 2022 grand vin flirt with perfection once again. "It's an absolutely sensational red from this team that comes close to topping out my scale." - Jeb Dunnuck This 99-point expression is further evidence that "Clos Apalta is one of those rare Chilean wines that reliably showcases the characteristics of each vintage while maintaining a consistent house style," as described by Vinous' Joaquin Hidalgo. Indeed, the cool 2022 growing season produced a Clos that Jeb Dunnuck praises as "brilliantly balanced, seamless, medium to full-bodied red that has ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish." The wine's fresh, vineyard-expressive character melds beautifully with the estate's signature style developed over the years by famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland. The result is a delicious Bordeaux-inspired blend reflecting its exceptional Chilean terroir that promises savvy collectors over two decades of pleasurable drinking. | ||
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| Highland Park Cask Strength Batch #4 Single Malt Scotch (750ml) | ||
| From Kirkwall, Islands, Scotland | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "A giant of a whisky ... Highland Park Cask Strength Batch #4 combines power and intensity with expressive subtlety." - Jonny McCormick, Whisky Advocate Single malt fans need no introduction to Highland Park or their 2023 #2 Whisky of the Year, the Cask Strength Batch #4. This powerhouse expression from master blender Gordon Motion blew the doors off the collectible Scotch scene when it first hit the market, and its status was further confirmed when it notched 95 points from Advocate along with that #2 honor. Motion went way outside the box with this batch, using a highly varied, unconventional mix of finishing casks to create a flavor and aroma profile that is singular in every way. The signature here is his rare use of port pipes as part of the finishing regimen, adding "a daring new streak of flavor," as noted by McCormick. It's a "stellar accomplishment" any way you look at it, and now we have it at a remarkable, market-leading price, but only for a limited time and while supplies last. Once it's gone, it's gone for good. | ||
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| 2021 Brezza Barolo Sarmassa (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Renato Ratti Marcenasco (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Lynch-Bages (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2021 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Castelletto (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2022 Vieux Chateau Saint Andre (750ml) | ||
| From Montagne Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2023 Robert Weil Riesling Kabinett (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Rheingau, Germany | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Wilhelm Weil presented a stunning 2023 vintage–hair-raising even. The dry Rieslings are utterly clear and brilliant while brimming with fruit. The off-dry and sweet wines have electric, spectacular acidity, giving them even more definition than usual, heightening every nuance of flavor and assuring longevity." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous Weingut Robert Weil is one of the top three undisputed reference-points for the Rheingau, and we're not surprised to see them turn in some of the most acclaimed wines of the vintage throughout their entire range. Of course the entry-level wines are top-tier performers in their categories, as seen in the 94-point Rheingau Kabinett and the JS92 Estate Trocken. The Grafenberg vineyard is the crown jewel and easily one of the greatest Riesling sites in the world, with deep slate soils over mica-quarz phyllite bedrock, so the wines are always inclined toward exuberant fruit and firm mineral backbone, along with generous yet precise textures, no matter the style being made. In 2023, the site shines on every level, starting with the 98-point 2023 Grafenberg Grosses Gewächs, which Wine Advocate's Stephan Reinhardt calls "a dense, powerful and majestic yet also finessed Gräfenberg" that exemplifies how majestic dry Riesling can be. Moving to the prädikat wines, the double 97-point 2023 Grafenberg Spätlese is "simply exquisite, simply beautiful, thrilling and oh so pure ... a glorious wine" per Anne Krebiehl, while Stuart Pigott dubs it "a giant Spätlese, but in terms of depth and expression, not in sheer volume or density." The 2023 Auslesen are on another level altogether and represent some of the best wines of the vintage, anywhere. The double 99-point 2023 Grafenberg Auslese is "a glorious wine of utter purity, brilliance, concentration and incredible lightness ... a Riesling that will outlast us all." The ne plus ultra, however, is the 2023 Grafenberg Trockenbeerenauslese. It will undoubtedly stand as a generational wine at the pinnacle of its category, with multiple 100-point scores already and near perfection from others. "An elixir of the utmost purity-a superlative," it's a nearly immortal creation, "highly finessed yet not made for this life or the next ... [but] for the future that is not ours anymore," as Reinhardt so poetically puts it. You don't have to be a German wine fan to understand the specific greatness on offer in this set. If you're a collector of the world's greatest long-term cellar propositions, period, then every one of these spectacular treasures should be on your shortlist. | ||
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| 2023 Robert Weil Riesling Trocken (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Rheingau, Germany | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Wilhelm Weil presented a stunning 2023 vintage–hair-raising even. The dry Rieslings are utterly clear and brilliant while brimming with fruit. The off-dry and sweet wines have electric, spectacular acidity, giving them even more definition than usual, heightening every nuance of flavor and assuring longevity." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous Weingut Robert Weil is one of the top three undisputed reference-points for the Rheingau, and we're not surprised to see them turn in some of the most acclaimed wines of the vintage throughout their entire range. Of course the entry-level wines are top-tier performers in their categories, as seen in the 94-point Rheingau Kabinett and the JS92 Estate Trocken. The Grafenberg vineyard is the crown jewel and easily one of the greatest Riesling sites in the world, with deep slate soils over mica-quarz phyllite bedrock, so the wines are always inclined toward exuberant fruit and firm mineral backbone, along with generous yet precise textures, no matter the style being made. In 2023, the site shines on every level, starting with the 98-point 2023 Grafenberg Grosses Gewächs, which Wine Advocate's Stephan Reinhardt calls "a dense, powerful and majestic yet also finessed Gräfenberg" that exemplifies how majestic dry Riesling can be. Moving to the prädikat wines, the double 97-point 2023 Grafenberg Spätlese is "simply exquisite, simply beautiful, thrilling and oh so pure ... a glorious wine" per Anne Krebiehl, while Stuart Pigott dubs it "a giant Spätlese, but in terms of depth and expression, not in sheer volume or density." The 2023 Auslesen are on another level altogether and represent some of the best wines of the vintage, anywhere. The double 99-point 2023 Grafenberg Auslese is "a glorious wine of utter purity, brilliance, concentration and incredible lightness ... a Riesling that will outlast us all." The ne plus ultra, however, is the 2023 Grafenberg Trockenbeerenauslese. It will undoubtedly stand as a generational wine at the pinnacle of its category, with multiple 100-point scores already and near perfection from others. "An elixir of the utmost purity-a superlative," it's a nearly immortal creation, "highly finessed yet not made for this life or the next ... [but] for the future that is not ours anymore," as Reinhardt so poetically puts it. You don't have to be a German wine fan to understand the specific greatness on offer in this set. If you're a collector of the world's greatest long-term cellar propositions, period, then every one of these spectacular treasures should be on your shortlist. | ||
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| 2021 Pio Cesare Barolo (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2022 Jean Collet Les Forets Chablis 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More We've been eyeing Domaine Jean Collet for a while as a new addition to our direct-import stable, and now we have them. This family-run domaine, now under the direction of the very talented Romain Collet, is a bastion of classically styled Chablis, even in a ripe vintage like 2022. Even better, pricing remains more than reasonable, as is quite evident in this lovely trio of 2022s on offer today. Leading off is the overachieving 1er Cru Montmains. Collet's five plots were all planted between 1970 and 1985 and all are within the original Montmains lieu-dit on rocky, shallow soils of Kimmeridgian limestone. There is virtually no clay at all in these plots, so the style of the wine is "Crisp, cool and precise ... a fine example of Montmains," according to Decanter, made all the more so by the stainless steel vinification and aging. However, the warm vintage certainly adds a layer of depth that offers perfect counter-point to the fine minerality and steely energy of the Montmains cru. Both Jasper Morris and Allen Meadows found great favor in the intensity and density of the 1er Cru Les Forêts, from a high-density planting of 8,000 vines/ha. Vinification and aging in concrete egg give the 2022 exceptional balance, allowing just enough 2022 ripeness to shine while not going overboard. With 93-point potential per Morris, it's a sharp choice for fans of classic Chablis with a touch of modern flair. Finally, the 94-point Valmur from a plot planted in 1972 offers "concentrated flavors that possess both impressive power and intensity before terminating in a compact, serious, youthfully austere and sneaky long finish" as noted by Allen Meadows of Burghound. With "plenty of energy" and the typical Valmur structure, the 2022 will cruise in the cellar for several years before reaching its apogee. As even Chablis prices have begun to jump in recent years, sharp collectors should be taking a good look at domaine-direct offers like this to maximize their white Burgundy buck, especially if the put a premium on classic winemaking and terroir expression. | ||
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| 2021 Elio Grasso Barolo Gavarini Chiniera (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Elio Grasso Barolo Ginestra Casa Mate (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Massolino Barolo Parafada (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2022 Clos Apalta (750ml) | ||
| Carmenere from Apalta Vineyard, Colchagua Valley, Chile | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The iconic Clos Apalta is arguably Chile's greatest wine, with a critical track record to rival even the First Growth Bordeaux titans. Previous vintages have notched multiple 100-point scores, nabbed Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year title, and accumulated pretty much every superlative and measure of praise you can think of in the world of fine wine, so it's no surprise to see the newly released 2022 grand vin flirt with perfection once again. "It's an absolutely sensational red from this team that comes close to topping out my scale." - Jeb Dunnuck This 99-point expression is further evidence that "Clos Apalta is one of those rare Chilean wines that reliably showcases the characteristics of each vintage while maintaining a consistent house style," as described by Vinous' Joaquin Hidalgo. Indeed, the cool 2022 growing season produced a Clos that Jeb Dunnuck praises as "brilliantly balanced, seamless, medium to full-bodied red that has ultra-fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish." The wine's fresh, vineyard-expressive character melds beautifully with the estate's signature style developed over the years by famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland. The result is a delicious Bordeaux-inspired blend reflecting its exceptional Chilean terroir that promises savvy collectors over two decades of pleasurable drinking. | ||
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| 2022 Jean Collet Valmur Chablis Grand Cru (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Chablis, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More We've been eyeing Domaine Jean Collet for a while as a new addition to our direct-import stable, and now we have them. This family-run domaine, now under the direction of the very talented Romain Collet, is a bastion of classically styled Chablis, even in a ripe vintage like 2022. Even better, pricing remains more than reasonable, as is quite evident in this lovely trio of 2022s on offer today. Leading off is the overachieving 1er Cru Montmains. Collet's five plots were all planted between 1970 and 1985 and all are within the original Montmains lieu-dit on rocky, shallow soils of Kimmeridgian limestone. There is virtually no clay at all in these plots, so the style of the wine is "Crisp, cool and precise ... a fine example of Montmains," according to Decanter, made all the more so by the stainless steel vinification and aging. However, the warm vintage certainly adds a layer of depth that offers perfect counter-point to the fine minerality and steely energy of the Montmains cru. Both Jasper Morris and Allen Meadows found great favor in the intensity and density of the 1er Cru Les Forêts, from a high-density planting of 8,000 vines/ha. Vinification and aging in concrete egg give the 2022 exceptional balance, allowing just enough 2022 ripeness to shine while not going overboard. With 93-point potential per Morris, it's a sharp choice for fans of classic Chablis with a touch of modern flair. Finally, the 94-point Valmur from a plot planted in 1972 offers "concentrated flavors that possess both impressive power and intensity before terminating in a compact, serious, youthfully austere and sneaky long finish" as noted by Allen Meadows of Burghound. With "plenty of energy" and the typical Valmur structure, the 2022 will cruise in the cellar for several years before reaching its apogee. As even Chablis prices have begun to jump in recent years, sharp collectors should be taking a good look at domaine-direct offers like this to maximize their white Burgundy buck, especially if the put a premium on classic winemaking and terroir expression. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Prieure Lichine (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Gloria (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Lascombes (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaux, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2021 Giovanni Manzone Barolo Gramolere (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Giulia Negri Barolo La Tartufaia (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Tenute Neirano Barolo (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2022 Chateau Les Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2021 Gaja Barolo DaGromis (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Giovanni Rosso Barolo Cerretta (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2021 Luigi Baudana Barolo Cerretta (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Barolo, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Two thousand twenty-one is a superb vintage for Barolo." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The hype has been going for some time now, but you never know just how good or great a vintage can be until the wines hit the market. Now that the 2021 Barolos are here, it's clear that the early praise and accolades are well warranted. Apart from a few isolated weather events, the growing season was ideal by modern Barolo standards, with a long cycle and normal harvest time. Normal diurnal temperature shifts and heat patterns also contributed to the incredible overall quality that is becoming evident in the finished wines. As Galloni notes in his comprehensive vintage report, "The 2021 Barolos are finessed, elegant wines that will delight Piedmont fans." Against this backdrop, we present a staggering array of the vintage's most compelling recent releases, over forty wines spanning entry-level gems and values for near-term enjoyment to cult-caliber cellar performers that will show the 2021 vintage in all its glory decades down the road. Names like Vietti, Vajra, and Gaja dot the landscape, as well as under-the-radar winners like Brezza, Manzone, and Elio Grasso. If this introductory list below tells us one thing, it's that the 2021 Barolo campaign is going to offer immense enjoyment for collectors and Piedmont fans as they stock the cellar with one incredible wine after another. | ||
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| 2023 Robert Weil Riesling Grafenberg Spatlese (750ml) | ||
| Riesling from Kiedrich, Rheingau, Germany | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Wilhelm Weil presented a stunning 2023 vintage–hair-raising even. The dry Rieslings are utterly clear and brilliant while brimming with fruit. The off-dry and sweet wines have electric, spectacular acidity, giving them even more definition than usual, heightening every nuance of flavor and assuring longevity." - Anne Krebiehl MW, Vinous Weingut Robert Weil is one of the top three undisputed reference-points for the Rheingau, and we're not surprised to see them turn in some of the most acclaimed wines of the vintage throughout their entire range. Of course the entry-level wines are top-tier performers in their categories, as seen in the 94-point Rheingau Kabinett and the JS92 Estate Trocken. The Grafenberg vineyard is the crown jewel and easily one of the greatest Riesling sites in the world, with deep slate soils over mica-quarz phyllite bedrock, so the wines are always inclined toward exuberant fruit and firm mineral backbone, along with generous yet precise textures, no matter the style being made. In 2023, the site shines on every level, starting with the 98-point 2023 Grafenberg Grosses Gewächs, which Wine Advocate's Stephan Reinhardt calls "a dense, powerful and majestic yet also finessed Gräfenberg" that exemplifies how majestic dry Riesling can be. Moving to the prädikat wines, the double 97-point 2023 Grafenberg Spätlese is "simply exquisite, simply beautiful, thrilling and oh so pure ... a glorious wine" per Anne Krebiehl, while Stuart Pigott dubs it "a giant Spätlese, but in terms of depth and expression, not in sheer volume or density." The 2023 Auslesen are on another level altogether and represent some of the best wines of the vintage, anywhere. The double 99-point 2023 Grafenberg Auslese is "a glorious wine of utter purity, brilliance, concentration and incredible lightness ... a Riesling that will outlast us all." The ne plus ultra, however, is the 2023 Grafenberg Trockenbeerenauslese. It will undoubtedly stand as a generational wine at the pinnacle of its category, with multiple 100-point scores already and near perfection from others. "An elixir of the utmost purity-a superlative," it's a nearly immortal creation, "highly finessed yet not made for this life or the next ... [but] for the future that is not ours anymore," as Reinhardt so poetically puts it. You don't have to be a German wine fan to understand the specific greatness on offer in this set. If you're a collector of the world's greatest long-term cellar propositions, period, then every one of these spectacular treasures should be on your shortlist. | ||
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| 2022 Le C des Carmes Haut-Brion (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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| 2022 Larrivet Haut Brion Rouge (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is an extraordinary vintage that will go down in record books as one of the all-time greats." - Jeb Dunnuck When Bordeaux's 2022 vintage premiered three years ago, there was some uncertainty as to how the wines would play out from such a hot, dry growing season, one which surely promised wines of massive power, ripeness, and weight. Would it be too much of a good thing? As it appeared then, and as it has turned out now that the wines are releasing to market, it's an extraordinary campaign among the best of the century. As Dunnuck observes, "Now that the wines are in bottles, it’s clear they have fully lived up to the early hype—and not just at the high end. The 2022s are deep, layered, and concentrated while staying beautifully balanced, light on their feet, and elegant." Today's selection presents an incredible treasure trove that showcases the vintage's greatest features at every price in the spectrum, leaving no doubt as to how good 2022 Bordeaux really is. | ||
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