| Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Reserve (750ml) | ||
| Sparkling from Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "An enticing version ... This is long, creamy and harmonious, integrating the expressive profile with vibrant acidity and a fine, satin-like texture." - Alison Napjus, Wine Spectator Every so often, we have to turn back to the all-time favorites, the guaranteed-to-please mainstays that have established themselves as best buys many times over, and in Champagne, that means Charles Heidsieck. This renowned, benchmark grande marque has done as much as any of Champagne's iconic houses to establish the category on the world stage and make Champagne the global phenomenon that it is. After all, it was the house's namesake, Charles Heidsieck himself, who took Champagne to new heights of popularity in the United States, so much so that he came to be known far and wide by the moniker Champagne Charlie. Today, the house remains a reference-point brand for consistent excellence from the top of the range to the entry-level, as you'll clearly see in this latest release of the flagship Brut Réserve. Equal parts Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with 20% Pinot Meunier rounding out the cépage, this rendition is "generous and inviting, with loads of classic charm" as noted by Jeb Dunnuck's Champagne critic Audrey Frick in her 92-point review. Several other notable critics concur – the Brut Réserve is a quintessential expression that delivers what all Champagne aficionados are looking for. | ||
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| 2023 Frank Family Vineyard Chardonnay (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Carneros, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Frank Family Vineyards has earned a loyal following for their consistently outstanding wines priced well below their fellow Napa competitors, and these Napa Valley selections are no exception, a spectrum of ready-to-enjoy wines from outstanding California vintages, ranging from their opulent Carneros Chardonnay to a top-scoring Napa Cab described as "superb" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, all delivering exceptional value. Working from 380 acres of estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford, and Capell Valley, long-time winemaker and GM Todd Graff employs the same barrel aging across the entire Napa line-up, utilizing a mix of one-third new French oak barrels with one-third once-used barrels and one-third twice-used barrels. Sourced from cooler climate vineyards in Carneros, the luscious 2023 Frank Family Vineyard Chardonnay balances rich, fragrant fruit and a creamy texture from lees stirring with bright acidity, while the aromatic 2022 Frank Family Pinot Noir reveals fresh, juicy fruit hinting of earthy spice with vibrant acidity on a satiny finish. The 2021 Frank Family Vineyard Zinfandel offers ripe, dark bramble fruit layered with pepper and spice from estate vineyards in Capell Valley and Rutherford, while the smooth and satisfying, 2022 Frank Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon contains well-integrated tannins that promise a decade of longevity. A range of deliciously appealing Napa Valley wines that over-deliver, these Frank Family Vineyards selections reflect Frank Family's trademark consistency and quality, guaranteed to please at a price that won't break the bank. | ||
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| 2022 Bedrock Zinfandel Old Vine (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Described as "an absolute delight" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, the alluring 93 pt. 2022 Bedrock Zinfandel Old Vine reveals fresh, aromatic brambly red fruit layered with juicy acidity and integrated, firm tannins, sourced from some of California's most iconic old vine vineyards and a top value bargain-priced for Zinfandel lovers to enjoy often. Established in 2007 by the son of Ravenswood founding winemaker Joel Peterson, Bedrock Wine Company's Morgan Twain-Peterson and long-time business partner Chris Cottrell craft their wines from a who's who list of the region's most historic vineyards, sourcing the old vine Zinfandel from centuries' old sites throughout Sonoma and Contra Costa counties including the Peterson's own Bedrock Vineyard. Described by Antonio Galloni as "among the most pedigreed vineyard sites anywhere in the world," Bedrock was the first California vineyard to be replanted in 1888 following the devastation of phylloxera, boasting a Zinfandel-dominated field mix planted in volcanic rocks and cobbly loam soil and farmed organically by the Petersons without irrigation. Blending 85% Zinfandel with 7% Carignan, 4% Cinsault and small amounts of other varieties averaging 80 years of age and fermenting with native yeasts, Morgan aged the lush 2022 Bedrock Zinfandel Old Vine in a combination of French oak and Austrian oak puncheons and foudres with about 10% new, yielding a fresh and delicately spiced Zinfandel with layered fine tannins that's ready to enjoy and will continue to mature gracefully over the next few years. Crafted by "one of the most talented winemakers of his generation" according to Vinous critic Antonio Galloni, the impressive 93 pt. 2022 Bedrock Zinfandel Old Vine is blended from many of the iconic sites that go into Bedrock's single vineyard Zins at a fraction of their price, delivering a transparent expression of rich, old vine Zinfandel at an unbeatable value price. | ||
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| 2022 Frank Family Vineyard Pinot Noir (750ml) | ||
| Pinot Noir from Carneros, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Frank Family Vineyards has earned a loyal following for their consistently outstanding wines priced well below their fellow Napa competitors, and these Napa Valley selections are no exception, a spectrum of ready-to-enjoy wines from outstanding California vintages, ranging from their opulent Carneros Chardonnay to a top-scoring Napa Cab described as "superb" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, all delivering exceptional value. Working from 380 acres of estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford, and Capell Valley, long-time winemaker and GM Todd Graff employs the same barrel aging across the entire Napa line-up, utilizing a mix of one-third new French oak barrels with one-third once-used barrels and one-third twice-used barrels. Sourced from cooler climate vineyards in Carneros, the luscious 2023 Frank Family Vineyard Chardonnay balances rich, fragrant fruit and a creamy texture from lees stirring with bright acidity, while the aromatic 2022 Frank Family Pinot Noir reveals fresh, juicy fruit hinting of earthy spice with vibrant acidity on a satiny finish. The 2021 Frank Family Vineyard Zinfandel offers ripe, dark bramble fruit layered with pepper and spice from estate vineyards in Capell Valley and Rutherford, while the smooth and satisfying, 2022 Frank Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon contains well-integrated tannins that promise a decade of longevity. A range of deliciously appealing Napa Valley wines that over-deliver, these Frank Family Vineyards selections reflect Frank Family's trademark consistency and quality, guaranteed to please at a price that won't break the bank. | ||
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| 2022 Frank Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Frank Family Vineyards has earned a loyal following for their consistently outstanding wines priced well below their fellow Napa competitors, and these Napa Valley selections are no exception, a spectrum of ready-to-enjoy wines from outstanding California vintages, ranging from their opulent Carneros Chardonnay to a top-scoring Napa Cab described as "superb" by Antonio Galloni of Vinous, all delivering exceptional value. Working from 380 acres of estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford, and Capell Valley, long-time winemaker and GM Todd Graff employs the same barrel aging across the entire Napa line-up, utilizing a mix of one-third new French oak barrels with one-third once-used barrels and one-third twice-used barrels. Sourced from cooler climate vineyards in Carneros, the luscious 2023 Frank Family Vineyard Chardonnay balances rich, fragrant fruit and a creamy texture from lees stirring with bright acidity, while the aromatic 2022 Frank Family Pinot Noir reveals fresh, juicy fruit hinting of earthy spice with vibrant acidity on a satiny finish. The 2021 Frank Family Vineyard Zinfandel offers ripe, dark bramble fruit layered with pepper and spice from estate vineyards in Capell Valley and Rutherford, while the smooth and satisfying, 2022 Frank Family Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon contains well-integrated tannins that promise a decade of longevity. A range of deliciously appealing Napa Valley wines that over-deliver, these Frank Family Vineyards selections reflect Frank Family's trademark consistency and quality, guaranteed to please at a price that won't break the bank. | ||
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| 2012 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2019 Marcelo Pelleriti Selection Blend of Terroir (750ml) | ||
| Malbec from Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "One of the most dynamic winemakers in Argentina" James Suckling Crafted by B-21 favorite Marcelo Pelleriti, the first Argentinian-born winemaker to garner a perfect Parker score for a Bordeaux wine, the alluring 96 pt. 2019 Marcelo Pelleriti Selection Blend of Terroir reveals fresh, fragrant dark fruit balanced by creamy refined tannins on a smooth, long-lasting finish, a masterful blend of old vine Malbec from Mendoza's Uco Valley from a rock star winemaker built to enjoy over the next decade at an unfathomable value price. Renowned as the incredible talent behind transforming the Grand Vin of two Pomerol estates including producing the 100 pt. 2010 La Violette, Marcelo Pelleriti established his personal label Mendoza winery on his family's 110-year-old farm in La Consulta in the Uco Valley in 2007, a region described as encapsulating "the spirit of winemaking precision and creativity" in Argentina by Vinous' Joaquin Hidalgo and called "Argentina's Napa Valley" by critic Tim Atkin. Sourced from a diverse range of vineyards throughout Uco Valley with a variety of alluvial, mineral-rich soils, Marcelo crafted the elegantly balanced 2019 Marcelo Pelleriti Selection Blend of Terroir from 85% old vine Malbec and 15% Cabernet Franc grown at high altitudes in the Andes foothills, many of the pre-phylloxera, gnarled Malbec vines planted over 100 years ago at 1,000 meters above sea level. After co-fermenting the hand harvested grapes with indigenous yeasts, Marcelo aged the impressive 2019 Blend of Terroir for 16-22 months in French oak barrels with 18 months longer in bottle, yielding a "well-crafted and keenly priced" blend according to Neal Martin of Vinous revealing dense luscious fruit with velvety tannins and layers of complexity promising longevity. From "a creative hotspot producing some of Argentina's best and most modern wines" according to Vinous' Joaquin Hidalgo, the exceptional 96 pt. 2019 Marcelo Pelleriti Selection Blend of Terroir reflects Marcelo Pelleriti's passion and expertise as a leading producer of terroir-expressive wines in the Uco Valley, offering his loyal following and collectors of Argentina's best red wines an exciting opportunity to enjoy a thrilling, age worthy Malbec from a remarkable winemaker at an equally remarkable price. | ||
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| 2022 Felsina Chianti Classico Berardenga (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Chianti, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "The 2022 Chianti Classico Berardenga is superb. Rich and deep yet also quite translucent, the 2022 is an archetype of Castelnuovo Berardenga." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous The iconic Fèlsina estate has been setting the bar for decades in the Castelnuovo Berardenga sub-zone of the Chianti Classico DOCG, not only for sheer quality and class but for stupendous value as well. Case in point is this overachieving Chianti Classico standout that James Suckling calls "a well-balanced, seductive and lively red." Its classic southern Chianti Sangiovese in its effusive fruit character that oscillates between bright reds and crunchy darks, all with vivid, fresh, Mediterranean herbal undertones providing lift and layers. The varying elevations and soil types of the vineyard sources ensures that the wine maintains its hallmark personality across vintages, so this "potent, super-classic Chianti Classico" is always one of the smartest, most consistently reliable buys in its price tier. | ||
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| 2021 Petrolo Galatrona (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Val d'Arno di Sopra, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This is just a tremendous wine by any measure." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Widely considered one of the world's finest collectible Merlots, Petrolo's Galatrona hit astounding heights in 2021. The Galatrona vineyard in the southeast Chianti hills is ideally suited to Merlot, with southeast exposure and loamy clay soils rich in marl, shale, and sandstone that retain plenty of moisture in the hot Tuscan summers. This superb terroir allows for a beautifully expressive wine seemingly regardless of vintage conditions, and what's more it routinely stands along side iconic bottlings like Masseto and Messorio at a mere fraction of their prices. The 2021 has garnered huge press from across the critical spectrum, with a pair of 98-point scores and a pair of 97-point scores for good measure. Antonio Galloni describes "a feeling of vertical, explosive energy that catapults the 2021 into the stratosphere," while Wine Spectator calls it "seamless and luxuriously saturated ... more about finesse and elegance than power, with a vibrant profile and superlong finish." Galatrona's track record is iron-clad, one of the finest in the region and certainly in the top echelon of Italian Bordeaux-varietal wines, and the 2021 is all teed up to become another legend in the making for this iconic Tuscan superstar, at a razor-sharp price that's nearly unbeatable in the market. | ||
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| 2021 Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano (750ml) | ||
| Sangiovese from Montepulciano, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More It's rare that such a renowned and reference-point estate like Avignonesi keeps pushing new boundaries instead of just resting on their laurels, but that's exactly what this iconic property has been up to for several vintages. And as Eric Guido of Vinous puts it, "The results are pretty stunning." After all, these fan-favorite, best-selling Tuscan reds have been a staple of B-21's Italian portfolio for years, and the 2021 Vino Nobile di Montalcino is poised to break records. "Avignonesi’s flagship bottling remains a fantastic value for first-class Vino Nobile..." - Eric Guido, Vinous The estate's pioneering approach of crafting this wine out of 100% Prugnolo Gentile (the local Sangiovese strain) has made it a singular expression that has helped define the entire Vino Nobile category. The exceptional 2021 vintage has resulted in "a wine of austere elegance on the nose" and a palate that's "medium- to full-bodied with ripe and velvety tannins and lifted, precise acidity." All of it adds up to another stupendous overachiever at our remarkable private client price, which we've come to expect from Avignonesi at this point. It's all the more impressive considering you can stock up big and stash some away in the cellar – as Eric Guido notes, "it will be worth the wait." | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Saint-Pierre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Producing its outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Bordeaux Blend from a small 17-hectare vineyard not far from Beychevelle and Ducru-Beaucaillou, the centuries' old Chateau Saint-Pierre was revitalized in the 1980s by the energetic Henri Martin, known as a driving force behind innovations at Chateau Latour and as the founder of Chateau Gloria. Planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot and Cab Franc on the gravelly Beychevelle plateau, the vines at Saint Pierre average 50 years of age, tended by a team of 45 vineyard workers under the direction of Remy Di Constanzio, former technical director of Cos D'Estournel. Now owned by Henri's daughter Françoise and her husband Jean-Louis Triaud. | ||
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| 2023 Produttori del Barbaresco Nebbiolo delle Langhe (750ml) | ||
| Nebbiolo from Langhe, Piedmont, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "While not as dense as some vintages, it is a vibrant and boisterous mid-weight mouthful." - Decanter What La Chablisiènne is to Burgundy, Produttori del Barbaresco is to Piedmont (and Italy overall) –the undisputed standard bearer for excellence in a wine co-operative. This legendary producer has been setting the tone for Barbaresco for decades, turning out vintage after vintage of reference-point, collectible expressions from their incredible stable of prized crus. Of course, we're eagerly awaiting the release of the inimitable, single-vineyard Riservas from the monumental 2021 vintage, but we're also getting a glimpse of another special vintage on the horizon in the 2023 Langhe Nebbiolo, a superb "Baby Barbaresco" if ever there was one. Sourced exclusively from Barbaresco-designated sites, this is a lovely representation of a solid vintage for the region, offering fans of the old-school Barbarescos something to dive into while they wait for the collectible gems to come of age. Kerin O'Keefe calls it "a fantastic wine" for its lifted, perfumed aromatics and tense, lively palate structure, and we can confirm – this is crowd-pleasing Nebbiolo at its best, with an added element of top-notch pedigree to take it up a level or two. | ||
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| 2022 Domaine du Cayron Gigondas (750ml) | ||
| From Gigondas, Rhône, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "...a medium to full-bodied, gamey, exotic, balanced Gigondas that's just about overflowing with character." - Jeb Dunnuck A favorite producer of B-21 Rhône fans and collectors offering incredible quality at an unbeatable value, Domaine du Cayron has hits the mark once again with their 2022 Gigondas. Fifth-generation sisters Roseline, Cendrine, and Delphine source their family’s single cuvée from old vines planted at some of the appellation’s highest altitudes, the domain's name Cayron referring to the crest of the Dentelles. Spanning nearly 17 hectares on 20 different parcels, the domaine’s vineyards are planted with mostly Grenache and smaller amounts of Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre on a mix of clay, marl and limestones soils. Employing traditional methods that are “old school all the way” according to Jeb Dunnuck, the Faraud sisters have produced "a killer effort offering beautiful darker fruits supported by some meaty, garrigue, and iron-like nuances" in their 2022 Gigondas. Along with Dunnuck, Vinous' Nicolas Greinacher declares "it’s an outstanding Gigondas worth seeking out" that will captivate fans of bold Southern Rhône reds on the first sip, while providing consistent pleasure for the next decade. | ||
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| 2018 Chateau Saint-Pierre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Producing its outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Bordeaux Blend from a small 17-hectare vineyard not far from Beychevelle and Ducru-Beaucaillou, the centuries' old Chateau Saint-Pierre was revitalized in the 1980s by the energetic Henri Martin, known as a driving force behind innovations at Chateau Latour and as the founder of Chateau Gloria. Planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot and Cab Franc on the gravelly Beychevelle plateau, the vines at Saint Pierre average 50 years of age, tended by a team of 45 vineyard workers under the direction of Remy Di Constanzio, former technical director of Cos D'Estournel. Now owned by Henri's daughter Françoise and her husband Jean-Louis Triaud. | ||
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| 2013 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2010 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2020 Chateau Saint-Pierre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Producing its outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Bordeaux Blend from a small 17-hectare vineyard not far from Beychevelle and Ducru-Beaucaillou, the centuries' old Chateau Saint-Pierre was revitalized in the 1980s by the energetic Henri Martin, known as a driving force behind innovations at Chateau Latour and as the founder of Chateau Gloria. Planted mostly to Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller parcels of Merlot and Cab Franc on the gravelly Beychevelle plateau, the vines at Saint Pierre average 50 years of age, tended by a team of 45 vineyard workers under the direction of Remy Di Constanzio, former technical director of Cos D'Estournel. Now owned by Henri's daughter Françoise and her husband Jean-Louis Triaud. | ||
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| Bernheim Barrel Proof Batch A225 Wheat Whiskey (750ml) | ||
| From Bardstown, Kentucky | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A truly exceptional brand under the Heaven Hill banner, Bernheim still maintains a somewhat low profile compared to its HH stablemats like Craig, Rittenhouse, Larceny, and the like. The innovative, highly acclaimed wheated mashbill has built the whiskey's reputation into something of a cult favorite, and that's just for the flagship Straight Wheat release. Once they started releasing Barrel Proof batches twice a year, demand hit new highs, and it's always a struggle to keep a particular batch in stock for long. The latest run, Batch A225, is sure to continue to the trend with its newly published, stellar 95-point score from Whisky Advocate, but fortunately we played our cards right and stocked up while we could. This is pure unadulterated wheated goodness, with all the gentle decadence we've come to know and love from the Bernheim profile. Even at full barrel proof, the aromas and flavors are so expressive and delineated that you'll be hard-pressed to keep your hands off it. As the distillery dials in on the style, these highly limited expressions seem to get better and better with each successive release, so it's no surprise that A225 is arguably the best yet and serious score for keen-eyed whiskey aficionados. | ||
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| 2008 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2022 Le Pupille Saffredi (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Maremma, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Fattoria Le Pupille's flagship Saffredi has always been a top-echelon Tuscan collectible, with multiple 100-point vintages in its track record and a consistent reputation for delivering one of the finest expressions of the coastal Tuscan terroir available. Proprietor Elisabetta Geppetti has fashioned the estate and this benchmark wine into a standard bearer for Maremma, and now that her son, Ettore, has taken the reins, the future looks brighter than ever, as is plainly clear in the newly released, highly acclaimed 2022 Saffredi. "To my mind, the 2022 stands apart from almost every other past vintage of Saffredi. This is a new direction for the wine that we can all happily embrace." - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate The 2022 growing season offered the winemaking team plenty of opportunity to take a different course with Saffredi, and they chose wisely. The 2022 "deftly plays upon the elegance and fruity brightness of the growing season, while also harnessing its freshness and its slightly more streamlined appeal," as noted by Monica Larner in her 98-point review. Decanter also tags it with 98 points, declaring, "The 2022 Saffredi is the result of the estate's hard work and it has paid dividends ... It's a stunner. Wow!" There isn't much more we can add to that, but to say that this is a can't-miss opportunity for savvy collectors to stack the cellar high and deep with a long-haul performer at the best price in the country. | ||
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| 2006 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2009 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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| 2023 Jacques Saumaize Pouilly-Fuisse Haut de la Roche Vieilles Vignes (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Maconnais, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "A wine of unmistakable terroir character and class." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Burgundy Buyer Pouilly-Fuissé's star is on an undeniable upward trajectory in recent years, starting with the promotion of several of its top sites to 1er Cru status in 2020, a move that many saw as a harbinger of rising prices along with rising reputation. In some instances, that's been the case, but by and large we're still seeing some of the smartest buys in Burgundy emerge from the appellation's best sites, which is also drawing attention to its best producers, many of whom remained relatively unknown beyond the usual insider's circles until now. One of those domaines in Jacques Saumaize, whom we've become big fans of in recent years as their vineyard stable and winemaking are on par with the best in the appellation. Case in point is this marvelous old-vine gem from a vineyard that just screams terroir. While it's not officially a 1er Cru (yet) Le Haut de la Roche is a spectacular piece of real estate right at the base of the Roche de Vergisson, one of the twin towering rock formations that dominate Pouilly-Fuissé's topography. The soils up here are as bare as bare gets, so the 50-year-old vines are forced to plumb deep into the limestone mother rock, and the result is a stunning expression of place. "Pure, shimmering minerality" is the calling card on the nose, while View From the Cellar's John Gilman describes a palate that's "crisp, complex and full-bodied, with a beautiful core of fruit, superb mineral undertow, zesty acids and a very elegant, vibrant, poised and seamlessly balanced finish." If you're a seasoned fan of white Burgundy, everything mentioned above should have your attention, as the 2023 Le Haut de la Roche from Saumaize is a quintessential example of what we love about these wines, all for a price that makes it easy for anyone to get on board. | ||
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| 2022 Le Pupille Saffredi (1.5L) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Maremma, Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Fattoria Le Pupille's flagship Saffredi has always been a top-echelon Tuscan collectible, with multiple 100-point vintages in its track record and a consistent reputation for delivering one of the finest expressions of the coastal Tuscan terroir available. Proprietor Elisabetta Geppetti has fashioned the estate and this benchmark wine into a standard bearer for Maremma, and now that her son, Ettore, has taken the reins, the future looks brighter than ever, as is plainly clear in the newly released, highly acclaimed 2022 Saffredi. "To my mind, the 2022 stands apart from almost every other past vintage of Saffredi. This is a new direction for the wine that we can all happily embrace." - Monica Larner, Wine Advocate The 2022 growing season offered the winemaking team plenty of opportunity to take a different course with Saffredi, and they chose wisely. The 2022 "deftly plays upon the elegance and fruity brightness of the growing season, while also harnessing its freshness and its slightly more streamlined appeal," as noted by Monica Larner in her 98-point review. Decanter also tags it with 98 points, declaring, "The 2022 Saffredi is the result of the estate's hard work and it has paid dividends ... It's a stunner. Wow!" There isn't much more we can add to that, but to say that this is a can't-miss opportunity for savvy collectors to stack the cellar high and deep with a long-haul performer at the best price in the country. | ||
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| 2022 Fingers Crossed Life & Death Red (750ml) | ||
| Grenache from California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Initially produced under the Faethm label, the Fingers Crossed wines from Nicolas Krankl (son of Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl) are now under their own banner, and they're making an immediate splash in the cult collectible scene, which is soon to become a bigger splash with the latest set of stratospheric scores from Jeb Dunnuck. "These are consistently world-class wines that show remarkable balance between richness and elegance." - Jeb Dunnuck Sourcing from some of Santa Barbara's best sites including Bien Nacido and Stolpman, as well as some old parcels of Sine Qua Non, Nicolas is blazing a real trail for himself. Indeed, as Jeb Dunnuck makes clear, "It's important to realize that these are not Sine Qua Non copycats. They have their own style, which leans slightly more Old World, with notable stem influence and elegance, while still delivering serious California fruit." But they do share the Sine Qua Non penchant for top-shelf accolades, as Dunnuck's recent 100-point score for the 2022 Life and Death Syrah indicates. This "singular, as well as absolutely perfect, wine" is poised to become an instant coveted classic, while "the marriage of richness, purity, and finesse" in the 99-point Grenache-based Red Wine "is something to behold." Best of all, each wine has the old-school foundation to be a cellar all-star, so you can (and should) count on holding onto a few bottles for a while. The only caveat is that our stock at this incredible, must-see pricing is highly limited, so you'll want to pull the trigger while you can. | ||
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| 2022 Fingers Crossed Life & Death Syrah (750ml) | ||
| Syrah from California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Initially produced under the Faethm label, the Fingers Crossed wines from Nicolas Krankl (son of Sine Qua Non's Manfred Krankl) are now under their own banner, and they're making an immediate splash in the cult collectible scene, which is soon to become a bigger splash with the latest set of stratospheric scores from Jeb Dunnuck. "These are consistently world-class wines that show remarkable balance between richness and elegance." - Jeb Dunnuck Sourcing from some of Santa Barbara's best sites including Bien Nacido and Stolpman, as well as some old parcels of Sine Qua Non, Nicolas is blazing a real trail for himself. Indeed, as Jeb Dunnuck makes clear, "It's important to realize that these are not Sine Qua Non copycats. They have their own style, which leans slightly more Old World, with notable stem influence and elegance, while still delivering serious California fruit." But they do share the Sine Qua Non penchant for top-shelf accolades, as Dunnuck's recent 100-point score for the 2022 Life and Death Syrah indicates. This "singular, as well as absolutely perfect, wine" is poised to become an instant coveted classic, while "the marriage of richness, purity, and finesse" in the 99-point Grenache-based Red Wine "is something to behold." Best of all, each wine has the old-school foundation to be a cellar all-star, so you can (and should) count on holding onto a few bottles for a while. The only caveat is that our stock at this incredible, must-see pricing is highly limited, so you'll want to pull the trigger while you can. | ||
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| 2007 Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Reserva (1.5L) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More A Rioja lover's dream assortment, these traditionally styled selections from Lopez de Heredia come from one of the region's most esteemed Bodegas with over a century of expertise as grower-producers, their legendary, long-lived Riojas released only after lengthy aging in their famously moldy and cobweb-laced cellars, perfect for mixing a case or two at a price that "seems like a steal" according to Wine and Spirits. As the last remaining family-run Bodegas in Rioja, winemaking at Lopez de Heredia has remained remarkably unchanged since its inception in 1877, crafting its wines in the Vina Tondonia winery in Haro with only estate-grown fruit, fermenting with natural yeasts and aging for extended periods in wood before bottling without filtration and further aging in the bottle. Summing up the long-lived aging potential of each of these Lopez de Heredia selections, critic Neal Martin declares "a bottle of Lopez de Heredia is an individual and each time you meet, you may see a different side to its personality," reflecting the pure authenticity, remarkable ageability and striking complexity of these top vintages and promising pleasurable drinking ahead for Rioja fans and Spanish wine collectors who act quickly to secure their picks from this value packed offer. | ||
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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 "Lochlea’s Fallow Edition is in its final release, and boy, is it going out with a bang." - Whisky Advocate One of the more exciting yet under-the-radar rising stars in the Scotch scene, Lochlea should (and probably will) be on every single malt fanatic's list of must-try discoveries in short order. The Lochlea property itself, once belonging to the immortal Scottish poet Robert Burns, was historically a cattle farm, and that's what owners Neil and Jen McGeoch had in mind when they purchased it in 2006. However, it was soon apparent that cows wouldn't cut it financially, and they turned to the property's other historical cash crop. Now, 50 acres of malting barley are the backbone of this grain-to-glass operation, with the old cattle-farming structures and facilities converted into a modern, functioning distillery in 2016. Long-time Laphroaig master distiller John Campbell set the standards with the first batches. That uncompromising quality is now seen across the board in the entire range, but it's their seasonal releases that truly capture the spirit of Lochlea as a working farm distillery, each release named for the agricultural cycle corresponding to the season. The 94-point Fallow Edition (Third Crop) 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. "A dram you’ll want to keep drinking," notes Whisky Advocate, "while you can!" | ||
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