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| 2012 Andre Clouet Dream Vintage (750ml) | ||
| From Bouzy, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More As the head of the historic Champagne house named for his grandfather Andre Clouet, larger than life vigneron Jean-François Clouet is considered by critics as one of the top grower-producers in the region. Jean-François' flamboyant personality, dubbed by one reviewer as a combination of "winemaker and circus ringmaster," belies his serious dedication and singular passion for producing rich and concentrated expressions of Pinot Noir-based Champagne, also known as Blanc de Noirs. From the outstanding 91pt non-vintage Grande Reserve to the exceptional 96pt Brut 1911, the champagnes of Andre Clouet exhibit the purity of the Pinot Noir fruit, with terroir-driven chalky minerality and deep complexity, ranking Andre Clouet among the region's finest producers and representing one of its best values. Inextricably tied to Champagne's history, the Clouet family have resided in the Montagne de Reims since 1492, first serving as book printers for King Louis XV in 1491 (a legacy now reflected in the Champagne house's ornate labels), producing their first champagne in Bouzy in 1741. Highlighting the Grand Cru pedigree of their 8 hectares of mid-slope sites in Bouzy and Ambonnay, the top cuvees are sourced from these estate vineyards, with additional Pinot Noir purchased from 60 hectares of growers' vineyards and each plot vinified separately. While upholding his family's traditional approach in the vineyard including hand pruning and selection, Francois continues to innovate in the cellar, including employing Sauternes barrels sourced from Château Doisy-Daëne for aging the Brut 1911 as a way of reducing the dosage, with the goal of adjusting sweetness without adding sugar. Exhibiting a gentle mousse and refined bubbles, the wines of André Clouet also boast notably creamy textures due to Jean-François' practice of extended aging on the lees, balancing crisp acidity and tantalizing minerality. While Andre Clouet remains relatively under the radar among the grower-producers in Champagne, these highly rated selections are among the best Blanc de Noir wines of the region, at a fraction of the price of prestige offerings from the larger Champagne houses like Krug and Bollinger. With the holiday season quickly approaching, this is the perfect opportunity to stock up on an array of the exquisite, artisanal Champagnes of Andre Clouet, one of the finest grower estates in the region today, whether for everyday enjoyment, celebrations or gifting and now offered at the best pricing on the market. | ||
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| 2021 Chateau Pontet-Canet (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Pauillac, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Alfred Tesseron and his team, led by estate manager Jean-Michel Comme, have completely transformed both the vineyards and identity of Château Pontet-Canet by embracing organic and biodynamic practices. Recognizing the extraordinary terroir of Pontet Canet – the heart lies in a plateau outcropping of Garonne Gunz gravel which overlays limestone bedrock, these poor soils allow drainage that's optimal for Cabernet. The center of this plateau is planted to Cabernet Franc which is surrounded by Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot is planted on the gravelly clay soils that meet the perimeter of the gravel plateau. Tesseron's campaign for biodynamic agriculture began in 2004 and tasting results confirmed this to be the estate's future; the Medoc's first Classified Growth dedicated to biodynamics. Pontet Canet received its organic certification in 2010 and Demeter in 2014 – the world's largest certification organization for biodynamic agriculture used in 50 countries. Three Breton draft horses were added to the estate's stable replacing tractors in 2008, now at total of seven horses tend the vineyards. With great terroir and extraordinary dedication to excellence, Tesseron has elevated Pontet Canet beyond its historic performance; now among the top estates in Bordeaux. | ||
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| 2021 Barone Ricasoli Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Gaiole CeniPrimo (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Chianti Classico, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More There's arguably no name more important to the history of Chianti Classico wine than Ricasoli. After all, it was one Bettino Ricasoli, an accomplished Italian statesman and baron, who first devised what would become the Chianti "recipe" in the mid-1800s. That is to say, he was the first to turn the region's focus to Sangiovese, where it has remained ever since. Now his descendant Francesco Ricasoli runs the family's iconic Castello di Brolio property from which the Chianti category was born, and he has done as much as anyone in guiding the Chianti Classico DOCG into its next era, one where quality and style are rigorously maintained through new rules for production and labeling. The most important of these new steps has been the establishment of the Gran Selezione classification and its attendant regional designations or UGAs. Ricasoli's estate vineyards provide some of the best qualitative expressions of the Gaiole UGA while exemplifying the visionary genius behind the new classification system. The 2021s take full advantage of this generational benchmark vintage, with a trio of critically acclaimed standouts. The 97-point Gaiole Colledila landed on last year's Wine Spectator Top 100 list. This cru is classic clay-limestone terroir for Sangiovese, resulting in a wine that "shows superb balance and grace, with the best yet to come." The Gaiole Ceniprimo, from sand and silt soils, takes on a fleshier fruit profile from its micro-climate, but the structured tannins suggest cellaring will be immensely beneficial. Finally, the WA97 Gaiole Roncicone "offers energy and a great sense of focus." More linear, refined, and reticent than its stablemates, this wine represents the new era of collectible Chianti Classico at its finest. As prices for Italy's most renowned collectible wines continue to rise, we expect the Gran Seleziones to take a big step forward in this space, thanks to their skyrocketing quality and relatively affordable prices, with iconic estates like Ricasoli leading the way. | ||
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