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| 2023 Ridge Three Valleys (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Sonoma County, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Suffice it to say, Ridge is firing on all cylinders." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Is there a more consistently excellent estate in California than Ridge Vineyards? You'd be hard-pressed to make an argument otherwise. Decades of category-defining class and substance have resulted in untold numbers of awards and accolades, so it's no surprise to see them once again at the head of the class in this set of new arrivals. One of the most beloved wines in the Ridge stable, the Geyserville is a classic California old-vine field blend, based on ZInfandel that has come to set the standard for the style over decades of uninterrupted success. From Ridge's estate vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley that includes centenarian Zinfandel vines, the "pure, expressive" 2021 is the perfect counterpoint to the "take-no-prisoners" 2022, each wine boasted 95 points among a host great accolades. Of course, Ridge is also renowned for delivering serious bang for the buck throughout their extensive range, and two perennial favorites are the 2020 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and the 2023 Three Valleys. The former is a 95-point powerhouse that Antonio Galloni calls "superb ... deep and resonant." The sub-$25, double 93-point Three Valleys is a true QPR star, "generous and robust yet retaining a sense of polish." It's a no-brainer choice for an everyday red, because it delivers a level or two above that tier, yet it can be easily stacked by the case at a bargain price. Finally, the double 93-point 2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel is "brambly and dynamic" with a big personality defined by its "terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length." In other words, it's a quintessential California Zin that delivers the all the features that Ridge fans crave. With outstanding value offerings like these, as well as monumental collectibles, and everything in between, Ridge is still a California icon that deserves its place in the pantheon of great names. | ||
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| Russell's Reserve B-21 Private Selection Warehouse Tyrone-M Floor 4 Single Barrel Bourbon (750ml) | ||
| From Lawrenceburg, Kentucky | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Our latest B-21 single-barrel bourbon makes a big impression, and it’s now easily my favorite of our private selections." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer Our Russell's Reserve private barrel selections are always a major hit, and the latest hand-picked selection just might be the best yet. We selected this barrel on location at the Wild Turkey distillery, and once you try it, you'll know immediately why this one stood out among an array of truly compelling options. Wild Turkey's Tyrone warehouse complex is known for producing a decadent, unctuous style (as opposed to Camp Nelson's more rustic, earthy style), and this barrel from the 4th floor of the Tyrone M warehouse is a classic example. Thanks to the warmer location in the warehouse, our barrel has evolved beautifully already and drinks with the ease and poise of an older expression. As Andrew explains, it's "a large-scaled, confectionary profile that comes on in wave after wave of complexity and drive ... simultaneously full, luxurious, and amazingly well balanced, especially for an 8-year-old at 110 proof." Loads of highly detailed aromatics lead into an irresistibly pleasing palate with both weight and vigor, and almost no heat. Time in the glass unfolds layers of charm, so don't be surprised if your bottle goes quicker than you expected. This is one is the epitome of "I'll have another." "From first whiff to finish, it’s full of distinct personality in the way that every great single barrel expression is," notes Andrew. If you're looking for a surefire bet for holiday celebrating or gifting, this is just a spectacular overachiever that gives a solid run for the money to many bourbons in the triple-digit price range.
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| 2019 Caiarossa (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically. This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2023 Vincent Girardin Bourgogne Blanc Cuvee St Vincent (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Bourgogne, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Value and Burgundy, together in the same sentence? Yes, indeed. We've spent the past six months curating an exceptional roster of overperforming gems that deliver all the class and terroir expression that white Burgundy fans crave, while still coming in at surprisingly affordable pricing. Our direct-import portfolio is at the heart of this selection, starting with the 2023 Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, a compelling entry-level charmer that boasts great pedigree, as it hails from a 3-hectare parcel of high-density plantings bordering the official Puligny appellation. Refined and expressive, it's a superb introduction to a rising-star domaine in the Cote d'Or and a surefire winner for anyone who's looking for true white Burgundy terroir at a bargain price. The same can be said of the 2023 Cordier Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four. If you're an avid follower of the Mâcon and its growing reputation, you no doubt recognize the Clos du Four vineyard from Les Heritiérs du Comte Lafon. It's one of the most coveted sites in the appellation, so much so that Dominique Lafon sought an outright monoply of ownership and almost got it, but Christophe, who had been leasing his parcel from the previous owner for years, fought tooth and nail, ultimately securing his small plot at the top of the vineyard in sole defiance of the Lafon juggernaut. "The 2023 Clos du Four is a beautiful example of its vineyard, offering everything you'd want from the Lafon version at nearly half the price," writes B-21 Burgundy Buyer Andrew Kitz. In a similar vein, Vincent Girardin's 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Chardonnay is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with a small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its outsized character. Andrew explains, "We came across a number of great values on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." B-21 Burgundy fans are well familiar with Pascal Bonhomme's 2023 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes, making it an undisputed best-seller in the category over several vintages. Along with John Gilman's glowing 93-point review, our own Burgundy buyer Andrew Kitz also found the 2023 to be "a statement in grace and elegance ... [with] super-fine limestone minerality, fantastic balance and textural precision, medium weight, and excellent definition." Turning to one of our most rewarding domaine-direct relationships for several years now, the 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru is "a superb quality-to-price performer, not just for white Burg fans but for anyone who loves well-crafted Chardonnay." From a significant holding of 60-year-old vines in Montagny's most famous cru, the 2023 shows its clay-calcaire soils and old-vine pedigree in a rounded, utterly charming style that truly offers something for everyone. No hard edges, graceful balance, and upfront personality all make for another fine entry in the track record of this long-time B-21 favorite. Finally, with 95 points from James Suckling's Burgundy critic, Stuart Pigott, the 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Véran En Creches is endowed with "excellent concentration [and] so much chalky energy and citric freshness." This vineyard on the border of Davayé and Vergisson is just downslope from the famed Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru La Roche, and its ideal combination of shallow clay topsoils and limestone sub-stratum makes for the kind of excellent Chardonnay pedigree from which all great white Burgundy comes. As you can see, we've done our digging, and whether you're looking for an easy pick to enjoy today, or something you can stock up on and come back to over and over again for a few years, there's a surefire winner or three in this list for you. | ||
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| 2022 Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Stag's Leap Wine Cellars, the historic property that helped put Napa Valley Cabernet on the world wine map, is still going strong, now under the full ownership of the Antinori group, who have made significant strides at paring back quantity in the pursuit of elevated quality up and down the range. "No matter the vintage, this winery consistently delivers." - Decanter Year after year, the flagship Artemis Cabernet is a category best seller, recognized by Napa Cab fans everywhere as a consistent choice for classic character and expression. The 2022 Artemis is an ideal introduction to the vintage at Stag's Leap, as well as a perfect choice for anyone looking for an accessible Napa Cab that still offers that extra level of class and distinction. The 94-point 2022 is a "dark-fruited, well-balanced and savory wine" showcasing "precise, superfine tannins" that lend it easy approachability and broad appeal. We just secured our parcel at a remarkable price that puts it under $50 and well below any other price on the market. | ||
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| 2015 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2016 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Montagny, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Value and Burgundy, together in the same sentence? Yes, indeed. We've spent the past six months curating an exceptional roster of overperforming gems that deliver all the class and terroir expression that white Burgundy fans crave, while still coming in at surprisingly affordable pricing. Our direct-import portfolio is at the heart of this selection, starting with the 2023 Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, a compelling entry-level charmer that boasts great pedigree, as it hails from a 3-hectare parcel of high-density plantings bordering the official Puligny appellation. Refined and expressive, it's a superb introduction to a rising-star domaine in the Cote d'Or and a surefire winner for anyone who's looking for true white Burgundy terroir at a bargain price. The same can be said of the 2023 Cordier Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four. If you're an avid follower of the Mâcon and its growing reputation, you no doubt recognize the Clos du Four vineyard from Les Heritiérs du Comte Lafon. It's one of the most coveted sites in the appellation, so much so that Dominique Lafon sought an outright monoply of ownership and almost got it, but Christophe, who had been leasing his parcel from the previous owner for years, fought tooth and nail, ultimately securing his small plot at the top of the vineyard in sole defiance of the Lafon juggernaut. "The 2023 Clos du Four is a beautiful example of its vineyard, offering everything you'd want from the Lafon version at nearly half the price," writes B-21 Burgundy Buyer Andrew Kitz. In a similar vein, Vincent Girardin's 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Chardonnay is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with a small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its outsized character. Andrew explains, "We came across a number of great values on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." B-21 Burgundy fans are well familiar with Pascal Bonhomme's 2023 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes, making it an undisputed best-seller in the category over several vintages. Along with John Gilman's glowing 93-point review, our own Burgundy buyer Andrew Kitz also found the 2023 to be "a statement in grace and elegance ... [with] super-fine limestone minerality, fantastic balance and textural precision, medium weight, and excellent definition." Turning to one of our most rewarding domaine-direct relationships for several years now, the 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru is "a superb quality-to-price performer, not just for white Burg fans but for anyone who loves well-crafted Chardonnay." From a significant holding of 60-year-old vines in Montagny's most famous cru, the 2023 shows its clay-calcaire soils and old-vine pedigree in a rounded, utterly charming style that truly offers something for everyone. No hard edges, graceful balance, and upfront personality all make for another fine entry in the track record of this long-time B-21 favorite. Finally, with 95 points from James Suckling's Burgundy critic, Stuart Pigott, the 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Véran En Creches is endowed with "excellent concentration [and] so much chalky energy and citric freshness." This vineyard on the border of Davayé and Vergisson is just downslope from the famed Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru La Roche, and its ideal combination of shallow clay topsoils and limestone sub-stratum makes for the kind of excellent Chardonnay pedigree from which all great white Burgundy comes. As you can see, we've done our digging, and whether you're looking for an easy pick to enjoy today, or something you can stock up on and come back to over and over again for a few years, there's a surefire winner or three in this list for you. | ||
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| 2023 Pascal Bonhomme Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Macon, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Value and Burgundy, together in the same sentence? Yes, indeed. We've spent the past six months curating an exceptional roster of overperforming gems that deliver all the class and terroir expression that white Burgundy fans crave, while still coming in at surprisingly affordable pricing. Our direct-import portfolio is at the heart of this selection, starting with the 2023 Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, a compelling entry-level charmer that boasts great pedigree, as it hails from a 3-hectare parcel of high-density plantings bordering the official Puligny appellation. Refined and expressive, it's a superb introduction to a rising-star domaine in the Cote d'Or and a surefire winner for anyone who's looking for true white Burgundy terroir at a bargain price. The same can be said of the 2023 Cordier Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four. If you're an avid follower of the Mâcon and its growing reputation, you no doubt recognize the Clos du Four vineyard from Les Heritiérs du Comte Lafon. It's one of the most coveted sites in the appellation, so much so that Dominique Lafon sought an outright monoply of ownership and almost got it, but Christophe, who had been leasing his parcel from the previous owner for years, fought tooth and nail, ultimately securing his small plot at the top of the vineyard in sole defiance of the Lafon juggernaut. "The 2023 Clos du Four is a beautiful example of its vineyard, offering everything you'd want from the Lafon version at nearly half the price," writes B-21 Burgundy Buyer Andrew Kitz. In a similar vein, Vincent Girardin's 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Chardonnay is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with a small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its outsized character. Andrew explains, "We came across a number of great values on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." B-21 Burgundy fans are well familiar with Pascal Bonhomme's 2023 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes, making it an undisputed best-seller in the category over several vintages. Along with John Gilman's glowing 93-point review, our own Burgundy buyer Andrew Kitz also found the 2023 to be "a statement in grace and elegance ... [with] super-fine limestone minerality, fantastic balance and textural precision, medium weight, and excellent definition." Turning to one of our most rewarding domaine-direct relationships for several years now, the 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru is "a superb quality-to-price performer, not just for white Burg fans but for anyone who loves well-crafted Chardonnay." From a significant holding of 60-year-old vines in Montagny's most famous cru, the 2023 shows its clay-calcaire soils and old-vine pedigree in a rounded, utterly charming style that truly offers something for everyone. No hard edges, graceful balance, and upfront personality all make for another fine entry in the track record of this long-time B-21 favorite. Finally, with 95 points from James Suckling's Burgundy critic, Stuart Pigott, the 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Véran En Creches is endowed with "excellent concentration [and] so much chalky energy and citric freshness." This vineyard on the border of Davayé and Vergisson is just downslope from the famed Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru La Roche, and its ideal combination of shallow clay topsoils and limestone sub-stratum makes for the kind of excellent Chardonnay pedigree from which all great white Burgundy comes. As you can see, we've done our digging, and whether you're looking for an easy pick to enjoy today, or something you can stock up on and come back to over and over again for a few years, there's a surefire winner or three in this list for you. | ||
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| 2010 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2021 Ridge Geyserville (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Sonoma, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Suffice it to say, Ridge is firing on all cylinders." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Is there a more consistently excellent estate in California than Ridge Vineyards? You'd be hard-pressed to make an argument otherwise. Decades of category-defining class and substance have resulted in untold numbers of awards and accolades, so it's no surprise to see them once again at the head of the class in this set of new arrivals. One of the most beloved wines in the Ridge stable, the Geyserville is a classic California old-vine field blend, based on ZInfandel that has come to set the standard for the style over decades of uninterrupted success. From Ridge's estate vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley that includes centenarian Zinfandel vines, the "pure, expressive" 2021 is the perfect counterpoint to the "take-no-prisoners" 2022, each wine boasted 95 points among a host great accolades. Of course, Ridge is also renowned for delivering serious bang for the buck throughout their extensive range, and two perennial favorites are the 2020 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and the 2023 Three Valleys. The former is a 95-point powerhouse that Antonio Galloni calls "superb ... deep and resonant." The sub-$25, double 93-point Three Valleys is a true QPR star, "generous and robust yet retaining a sense of polish." It's a no-brainer choice for an everyday red, because it delivers a level or two above that tier, yet it can be easily stacked by the case at a bargain price. Finally, the double 93-point 2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel is "brambly and dynamic" with a big personality defined by its "terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length." In other words, it's a quintessential California Zin that delivers the all the features that Ridge fans crave. With outstanding value offerings like these, as well as monumental collectibles, and everything in between, Ridge is still a California icon that deserves its place in the pantheon of great names. | ||
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| Bruno Paillard Extra Brut Premiere Cuvee (750ml) | ||
| Sparkling from Reims, Champagne, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "This airy, nuanced Champagne from Bruno Paillard is a delight." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous From a prominent Champagne family with deep roots in the region, Bruno Paillard is a benchmark name for elegant, finessed wines of unimpeachable quality and class. Seeing as the house owns vineyards all over the prime grand cru real estate of Champagne, including Le Mesnil, Oger, Bouzy, and Verzenay, it's no surprise that even the entry-level Premiere Cuvee is a flat-out gem in its price point. We recently revisited this 94-point, perennial best-seller ourselves and were immediately reminded of why it's such a successful hit among Champagne aficionados. A blend of all three Champagne varietals with a good portion of the wine coming from a perpetual reserve dating to 1985, the Premiere Cuvee boasts outstanding vinous complexity and intensity while remaining true to the pinpoint precision and effortless grace that mark all of Paillard's wines. "One of my favorite entry level wines," notes Jeb Dunnuck's Champagne critic Audrey Frick, "this consistently over-delivers." We couldn't agree more, which is why we took a big position that invites you to stock up in multiples at a must-see, razor-sharp price. | ||
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| 2023 Domaine Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Bourgogne, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Value and Burgundy, together in the same sentence? Yes, indeed. We've spent the past six months curating an exceptional roster of overperforming gems that deliver all the class and terroir expression that white Burgundy fans crave, while still coming in at surprisingly affordable pricing. Our direct-import portfolio is at the heart of this selection, starting with the 2023 Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, a compelling entry-level charmer that boasts great pedigree, as it hails from a 3-hectare parcel of high-density plantings bordering the official Puligny appellation. Refined and expressive, it's a superb introduction to a rising-star domaine in the Cote d'Or and a surefire winner for anyone who's looking for true white Burgundy terroir at a bargain price. The same can be said of the 2023 Cordier Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four. If you're an avid follower of the Mâcon and its growing reputation, you no doubt recognize the Clos du Four vineyard from Les Heritiérs du Comte Lafon. It's one of the most coveted sites in the appellation, so much so that Dominique Lafon sought an outright monoply of ownership and almost got it, but Christophe, who had been leasing his parcel from the previous owner for years, fought tooth and nail, ultimately securing his small plot at the top of the vineyard in sole defiance of the Lafon juggernaut. "The 2023 Clos du Four is a beautiful example of its vineyard, offering everything you'd want from the Lafon version at nearly half the price," writes B-21 Burgundy Buyer Andrew Kitz. In a similar vein, Vincent Girardin's 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Chardonnay is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with a small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its outsized character. Andrew explains, "We came across a number of great values on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." B-21 Burgundy fans are well familiar with Pascal Bonhomme's 2023 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes, making it an undisputed best-seller in the category over several vintages. Along with John Gilman's glowing 93-point review, our own Burgundy buyer Andrew Kitz also found the 2023 to be "a statement in grace and elegance ... [with] super-fine limestone minerality, fantastic balance and textural precision, medium weight, and excellent definition." Turning to one of our most rewarding domaine-direct relationships for several years now, the 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru is "a superb quality-to-price performer, not just for white Burg fans but for anyone who loves well-crafted Chardonnay." From a significant holding of 60-year-old vines in Montagny's most famous cru, the 2023 shows its clay-calcaire soils and old-vine pedigree in a rounded, utterly charming style that truly offers something for everyone. No hard edges, graceful balance, and upfront personality all make for another fine entry in the track record of this long-time B-21 favorite. Finally, with 95 points from James Suckling's Burgundy critic, Stuart Pigott, the 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Véran En Creches is endowed with "excellent concentration [and] so much chalky energy and citric freshness." This vineyard on the border of Davayé and Vergisson is just downslope from the famed Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru La Roche, and its ideal combination of shallow clay topsoils and limestone sub-stratum makes for the kind of excellent Chardonnay pedigree from which all great white Burgundy comes. As you can see, we've done our digging, and whether you're looking for an easy pick to enjoy today, or something you can stock up on and come back to over and over again for a few years, there's a surefire winner or three in this list for you. | ||
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| 2019 Chateau Rol Valentin (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More As no-brainer opportunities go, this one is right up there with the best of them. We were recently offered a parcel of a rising-star, Right Bank hidden gem at such an amazing deal that we're bringing it to our private clients at the best price anywhere in the world. Rol Valentin in St-Emilion has a long history, but it didn't quite capture the attention of Bordeaux critics and fans until late 1990s under previous owner Eric Prissette. Now under the ownership of Nicolas and Alexandra Robin since 2009, the estate has hit its stride with consistent results that get better each year. With two plots of vines, one on the limestone plateau and one in the sandy clay soils near the village of St-Emilion itself, the property can make the best of both terroirs to achieve exceptional balance and finesse in the finished wines. The 2019 showcases "a gorgeous, pure bouquet ... intense but not overpowering." Likewise, the palate is "beautifully balanced" according to Jeb Dunnuck, making for a readily approachable profile that also has the goods to cruise in the cellar. It's a sharp buy for savvy collectors yet it's also an easily accessible choice for Bordeaux novices looking for top-class quality without breaking the bank. | ||
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| 2020 Ridge Lytton Estate Petite Sirah (750ml) | ||
| Petite Sirah from Sonoma, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Suffice it to say, Ridge is firing on all cylinders." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Is there a more consistently excellent estate in California than Ridge Vineyards? You'd be hard-pressed to make an argument otherwise. Decades of category-defining class and substance have resulted in untold numbers of awards and accolades, so it's no surprise to see them once again at the head of the class in this set of new arrivals. One of the most beloved wines in the Ridge stable, the Geyserville is a classic California old-vine field blend, based on ZInfandel that has come to set the standard for the style over decades of uninterrupted success. From Ridge's estate vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley that includes centenarian Zinfandel vines, the "pure, expressive" 2021 is the perfect counterpoint to the "take-no-prisoners" 2022, each wine boasted 95 points among a host great accolades. Of course, Ridge is also renowned for delivering serious bang for the buck throughout their extensive range, and two perennial favorites are the 2020 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and the 2023 Three Valleys. The former is a 95-point powerhouse that Antonio Galloni calls "superb ... deep and resonant." The sub-$25, double 93-point Three Valleys is a true QPR star, "generous and robust yet retaining a sense of polish." It's a no-brainer choice for an everyday red, because it delivers a level or two above that tier, yet it can be easily stacked by the case at a bargain price. Finally, the double 93-point 2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel is "brambly and dynamic" with a big personality defined by its "terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length." In other words, it's a quintessential California Zin that delivers the all the features that Ridge fans crave. With outstanding value offerings like these, as well as monumental collectibles, and everything in between, Ridge is still a California icon that deserves its place in the pantheon of great names. | ||
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| 2023 Hourglass HG III (750ml) | ||
| Merlot from Napa, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "It's medium to full-bodied, round, supple, and balanced, with some classic Napa richness and depth ..." - Jeb Dunnuck We'll say it time and time again – finding any Napa red with a rock-solid score and premium pedigree under $40 is a search for a needle and a haystack, but with the 94-point 2023 HGIII blend from cult phenom Hourglass, we've got the needle in hand. If you've ever looked at a map of Napa Valley, you'll see immediately where Hourglass got its name. The estate sits at the narrowest pinch where the hillsides are only a mile apart, the crux of the "hourglass" as its become known over the decades. Complementing this prized parcel, the Blueline vineyard in Calistoga was added to the estate in 2005 and planted to all five Bordeaux varietals. It's this site of ancient river gravel that forms the base of the proprietary 2023 HGIII blend, a "charming, sexy beauty" based on Merlot, crafted by winemaker Tony Biagi to be an immediately accessible, captivating expression that Napa fans can indulge in without hesitation. The incredible 2023 growing season puts its stamp on the finished wine in an outstanding balance of plush fruit and structural vivacity, "expressive and detailed" to the utmost with varietal purity to spare. While the flagship Hourglass wines have become cult-caliber trophies over the years (with the price tags to match), the HGIII blend is a stunning and exceedingly rare value in today's Napa landscape that will thrill anyone's palate and budget. | ||
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| 2020 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2017 Lopez de Heredia Vina Cubillo Tinto Crianza (750ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Rioja, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More The López de Heredia new releases are always some of the anticipated of the year, and kicking off this round, we have the standard bearer for Crianza Rioja, from a stellar vintage to boot. "The super bargain of the [Lopez] portfolio..." - Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate Following on the success of the previous vintage, the 2017 Cubillo is yet again a rock-solid performer in its category. The vineyard itself is a true gem, capable of producing at the Gran Reserva level, but winemaker Mercedes López de Heredia insists on making the Crianza because it's just that important to their entire range. The 2017 vintage was not without its challenges, but in the end it produced a "Smooth, juicy and slightly chalky" expression that "retains the fine-boned elegance of the Cubillo style." In other words, it's a prime example of LdH's traditional Rioja pedigree, and our razor-sharp price offers you the opportunity to stock up big, so you can enjoy this best-in-class overachiever time and time again for years to come. | ||
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| 2022 Ridge Geyserville (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Sonoma, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Suffice it to say, Ridge is firing on all cylinders." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Is there a more consistently excellent estate in California than Ridge Vineyards? You'd be hard-pressed to make an argument otherwise. Decades of category-defining class and substance have resulted in untold numbers of awards and accolades, so it's no surprise to see them once again at the head of the class in this set of new arrivals. One of the most beloved wines in the Ridge stable, the Geyserville is a classic California old-vine field blend, based on ZInfandel that has come to set the standard for the style over decades of uninterrupted success. From Ridge's estate vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley that includes centenarian Zinfandel vines, the "pure, expressive" 2021 is the perfect counterpoint to the "take-no-prisoners" 2022, each wine boasted 95 points among a host great accolades. Of course, Ridge is also renowned for delivering serious bang for the buck throughout their extensive range, and two perennial favorites are the 2020 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and the 2023 Three Valleys. The former is a 95-point powerhouse that Antonio Galloni calls "superb ... deep and resonant." The sub-$25, double 93-point Three Valleys is a true QPR star, "generous and robust yet retaining a sense of polish." It's a no-brainer choice for an everyday red, because it delivers a level or two above that tier, yet it can be easily stacked by the case at a bargain price. Finally, the double 93-point 2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel is "brambly and dynamic" with a big personality defined by its "terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length." In other words, it's a quintessential California Zin that delivers the all the features that Ridge fans crave. With outstanding value offerings like these, as well as monumental collectibles, and everything in between, Ridge is still a California icon that deserves its place in the pantheon of great names. | ||
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| 2024 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Haut Lieu Sec (750ml) | ||
| Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Loire, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Huet remains a pillar of Vouvray and a touchstone for Chenin Blanc worldwide, a domaine where viticulture, philosophy and place converge in bottles of extraordinary clarity and longevity." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate The above quote from Yohan Castaing sums up almost everything you need to know about the magnificent wines of Domaine Huet. Sure, we could also mention that they have been a biodynamic pioneer since 1993, or that their wines age as well as almost any wines in the world, red or white. But at the end of the day, it's the singular character and class of the juice in the bottle that sets them apart from their contemporaries. The newly released, single-vineyard Sec bottlings from 2024 show why the domaine is a force to be reckoned with, not only in Vouvray, but anywhere in the Loire. Even in an exceedingly difficult vintage, this trio adds more glowing acclaim to add to the domaine's already full resumé, proving that Huet is still at the pinnacle. Our parcel comes in at razor-sharp pricing that puts the already spectacular cellar appeal of these gems in even brighter light, so avid Loire enthusiasts or any collector of world-class, reference-point wines can take their collections up a notch or two. The iconic Clos du Bourg site produced "a lacy, seductive version, with impressive range," according to Wine Spectator, while John Gilman of View From the Cellar notes the 94-point Le Haut Lieu as "bright, focused and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent soil transparency and grip, a fine spine of acidity and lovely precision." Rounding out the 2024s, the WA93 Le Mont rounds out the 2024s is "both dense and lively ... a crystalline expression of Vouvray." | ||
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| 2023 Christophe Cordier Macon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Macon, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Value and Burgundy, together in the same sentence? Yes, indeed. We've spent the past six months curating an exceptional roster of overperforming gems that deliver all the class and terroir expression that white Burgundy fans crave, while still coming in at surprisingly affordable pricing. Our direct-import portfolio is at the heart of this selection, starting with the 2023 Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, a compelling entry-level charmer that boasts great pedigree, as it hails from a 3-hectare parcel of high-density plantings bordering the official Puligny appellation. Refined and expressive, it's a superb introduction to a rising-star domaine in the Cote d'Or and a surefire winner for anyone who's looking for true white Burgundy terroir at a bargain price. The same can be said of the 2023 Cordier Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four. If you're an avid follower of the Mâcon and its growing reputation, you no doubt recognize the Clos du Four vineyard from Les Heritiérs du Comte Lafon. It's one of the most coveted sites in the appellation, so much so that Dominique Lafon sought an outright monoply of ownership and almost got it, but Christophe, who had been leasing his parcel from the previous owner for years, fought tooth and nail, ultimately securing his small plot at the top of the vineyard in sole defiance of the Lafon juggernaut. "The 2023 Clos du Four is a beautiful example of its vineyard, offering everything you'd want from the Lafon version at nearly half the price," writes B-21 Burgundy Buyer Andrew Kitz. In a similar vein, Vincent Girardin's 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Chardonnay is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with a small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its outsized character. Andrew explains, "We came across a number of great values on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." B-21 Burgundy fans are well familiar with Pascal Bonhomme's 2023 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes, making it an undisputed best-seller in the category over several vintages. Along with John Gilman's glowing 93-point review, our own Burgundy buyer Andrew Kitz also found the 2023 to be "a statement in grace and elegance ... [with] super-fine limestone minerality, fantastic balance and textural precision, medium weight, and excellent definition." Turning to one of our most rewarding domaine-direct relationships for several years now, the 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru is "a superb quality-to-price performer, not just for white Burg fans but for anyone who loves well-crafted Chardonnay." From a significant holding of 60-year-old vines in Montagny's most famous cru, the 2023 shows its clay-calcaire soils and old-vine pedigree in a rounded, utterly charming style that truly offers something for everyone. No hard edges, graceful balance, and upfront personality all make for another fine entry in the track record of this long-time B-21 favorite. Finally, with 95 points from James Suckling's Burgundy critic, Stuart Pigott, the 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Véran En Creches is endowed with "excellent concentration [and] so much chalky energy and citric freshness." This vineyard on the border of Davayé and Vergisson is just downslope from the famed Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru La Roche, and its ideal combination of shallow clay topsoils and limestone sub-stratum makes for the kind of excellent Chardonnay pedigree from which all great white Burgundy comes. As you can see, we've done our digging, and whether you're looking for an easy pick to enjoy today, or something you can stock up on and come back to over and over again for a few years, there's a surefire winner or three in this list for you. | ||
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| 2021 La Horra Corimbo (500ml) | ||
| Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Castilla y Leon, Spain | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "A structured, flavorful Ribera from a warm, powerful yet balanced vintage." - Joaquin Hidalgo, Vinous Bodegas Roda's skyrocketing trajectory to Rioja cult status is now well-known, and while the Roda wines command a hefty price tag, you can still find all that hallmark, cult-caliber excellence in their Ribera project, Bodegas La Horra. The estate's Corimbo red, bottled in 500ml format, is made of 100% Tinta del Pais, from their younger parcels between 25 and 30 years of age. These dry-farmed bush vines produce uncommon concentration and depth, and the 2021 vintage did the rest. The style at La Horra is founded on three basic tenets: modest wood use, balanced ripeness, and gentle extractions. In other words, the estate eschews the prevailing Ribera trends of power, weight, and high-octane ripeness. Even though it's from a warm vintage, the 2021 Corimbo displays "pure fruit expression ... light chalky grip and a lightly tannic finish, filling the mouth with flavor." In the tradition of the best Spanish reds in this price tier, the 2021 Corimbo is an easy case-buy contender that would cost twice as much if it were from France or California, given the inherent quality and pedigree. | ||
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| 2022 Ridge Paso Robles Zinfandel (750ml) | ||
| Zinfandel from Paso Robles, California | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Suffice it to say, Ridge is firing on all cylinders." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Is there a more consistently excellent estate in California than Ridge Vineyards? You'd be hard-pressed to make an argument otherwise. Decades of category-defining class and substance have resulted in untold numbers of awards and accolades, so it's no surprise to see them once again at the head of the class in this set of new arrivals. One of the most beloved wines in the Ridge stable, the Geyserville is a classic California old-vine field blend, based on ZInfandel that has come to set the standard for the style over decades of uninterrupted success. From Ridge's estate vineyard in the Dry Creek Valley that includes centenarian Zinfandel vines, the "pure, expressive" 2021 is the perfect counterpoint to the "take-no-prisoners" 2022, each wine boasted 95 points among a host great accolades. Of course, Ridge is also renowned for delivering serious bang for the buck throughout their extensive range, and two perennial favorites are the 2020 Lytton Estate Petite Sirah and the 2023 Three Valleys. The former is a 95-point powerhouse that Antonio Galloni calls "superb ... deep and resonant." The sub-$25, double 93-point Three Valleys is a true QPR star, "generous and robust yet retaining a sense of polish." It's a no-brainer choice for an everyday red, because it delivers a level or two above that tier, yet it can be easily stacked by the case at a bargain price. Finally, the double 93-point 2022 Paso Robles Zinfandel is "brambly and dynamic" with a big personality defined by its "terrific core of sweet fruit, supple tannins and outstanding length." In other words, it's a quintessential California Zin that delivers the all the features that Ridge fans crave. With outstanding value offerings like these, as well as monumental collectibles, and everything in between, Ridge is still a California icon that deserves its place in the pantheon of great names. | ||
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| 2020 Caiarossa (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically. This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere. | ||
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| 2021 Caiarossa (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Franc from Tuscany, Italy | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Located a few miles north of coastal Bolgheri in the Cecina River Valley, the Caiarossa estate boasts a hilly terrain covered with the brilliant red or "rossa" gravelly soil for which it is named, enjoying a steady rise in quality since its purchase in 2004 by Dutch businessman Eric Albada Jelgersma, also owner of Château du Tertre and Château Giscours in Margaux. Divided into distinct parcels and located at around 600 meters of altitude, Caiarossa's 31 hectares of vines are spread across three sites on the wooded 70 hectare estate, planted with eight different red varietals including Bordeaux grapes Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, Rhone's Syrah, Grenache (Alicante), and Mourvedre, and Tuscany's native Sangiovese, all farmed biodynamically. This set of acclaimed recent vintages shows why the estate is a true Tuscan insider's favorite, led by the stunning 96-point 2019, an artful, elegant Super Tuscan blend balancing fresh, layered dark fruit and refined, smooth tannins with powerful structure, showing "impressive depth and textural richness" according to Wine Advocate's Monica Larner. Antonio Galloni of Vinous calls the 2020 "the best wine I have tasted off this property in some time, perhaps ever" on his way to tagging it with an impressive 95 points. Finally, the epic 2021 Tuscany vintage is on full display with Caiarossa's flagship rendition. Larner remarks, "These results are balanced and bright in this gorgeous vintage, and I especially like the wine's freshness that seems to shine from its core" in her 95-point review, one among a bevy of glowing press across the board from every prominent voice in the critical sphere. | ||
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| 2017 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Veran En Creches (750ml) | ||
| Chardonnay from Macon, Burgundy, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Value and Burgundy, together in the same sentence? Yes, indeed. We've spent the past six months curating an exceptional roster of overperforming gems that deliver all the class and terroir expression that white Burgundy fans crave, while still coming in at surprisingly affordable pricing. Our direct-import portfolio is at the heart of this selection, starting with the 2023 Chavy-Chouet Bourgogne Blanc Les Femelottes, a compelling entry-level charmer that boasts great pedigree, as it hails from a 3-hectare parcel of high-density plantings bordering the official Puligny appellation. Refined and expressive, it's a superb introduction to a rising-star domaine in the Cote d'Or and a surefire winner for anyone who's looking for true white Burgundy terroir at a bargain price. The same can be said of the 2023 Cordier Mâcon-Milly-Lamartine Clos du Four. If you're an avid follower of the Mâcon and its growing reputation, you no doubt recognize the Clos du Four vineyard from Les Heritiérs du Comte Lafon. It's one of the most coveted sites in the appellation, so much so that Dominique Lafon sought an outright monoply of ownership and almost got it, but Christophe, who had been leasing his parcel from the previous owner for years, fought tooth and nail, ultimately securing his small plot at the top of the vineyard in sole defiance of the Lafon juggernaut. "The 2023 Clos du Four is a beautiful example of its vineyard, offering everything you'd want from the Lafon version at nearly half the price," writes B-21 Burgundy Buyer Andrew Kitz. In a similar vein, Vincent Girardin's 2023 Cuvée St-Vincent Bourgogne Chardonnay is, in fact, made mostly from declassified Meursault vines, with a small balance of Puligny and Chassagne fruit rounding out the composition, so there's no question where the wine derives its outsized character. Andrew explains, "We came across a number of great values on our last trip to Burgundy, but nothing held a candle to this one when it came to Chardonnays in this price tier." B-21 Burgundy fans are well familiar with Pascal Bonhomme's 2023 Vire-Clesse Vieilles Vignes, making it an undisputed best-seller in the category over several vintages. Along with John Gilman's glowing 93-point review, our own Burgundy buyer Andrew Kitz also found the 2023 to be "a statement in grace and elegance ... [with] super-fine limestone minerality, fantastic balance and textural precision, medium weight, and excellent definition." Turning to one of our most rewarding domaine-direct relationships for several years now, the 2023 Domaine Feuillat-Juillot Montagny Les Coeres 1er Cru is "a superb quality-to-price performer, not just for white Burg fans but for anyone who loves well-crafted Chardonnay." From a significant holding of 60-year-old vines in Montagny's most famous cru, the 2023 shows its clay-calcaire soils and old-vine pedigree in a rounded, utterly charming style that truly offers something for everyone. No hard edges, graceful balance, and upfront personality all make for another fine entry in the track record of this long-time B-21 favorite. Finally, with 95 points from James Suckling's Burgundy critic, Stuart Pigott, the 2022 Famille Paquet Saint-Véran En Creches is endowed with "excellent concentration [and] so much chalky energy and citric freshness." This vineyard on the border of Davayé and Vergisson is just downslope from the famed Pouilly-Fuissé 1er Cru La Roche, and its ideal combination of shallow clay topsoils and limestone sub-stratum makes for the kind of excellent Chardonnay pedigree from which all great white Burgundy comes. As you can see, we've done our digging, and whether you're looking for an easy pick to enjoy today, or something you can stock up on and come back to over and over again for a few years, there's a surefire winner or three in this list for you. | ||
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| 2010 Chateau Leoville Poyferre (750ml) | ||
| Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More Sourced from over 80 hectares of estate vineyards in some of St. Julien's best terroir, these exceptional vintages from Chateau Leoville-Poyferre boast Cabernet's Sauvignon's expressive dark fruit with elegant textured minerality and smooth, silky tannins, all luxurious, balanced Left Bank Bordeaux blends earning 94 plus point ratings and delivered ex-Chateau in perfect provenance at impressive value pricing. While dating back to 1638, Chateau Leoville-Poyferre's modern renaissance began in 1979, when Didier Cuvelier became the first member of his family to take charge of the estate after studying winemaking under the legendary Emile Peynaud. Implementing an extensive renovation of the vineyards with massive replanting and nearly doubling the estate's holdings, Didier hired renowned consultant Michel Rolland to manage the harvest and refine the final blend, shifting the estate's emphasis to Cabernet Sauvignon and crafting the Grand Vin in a richer, more opulent style by harvesting later to ensure even ripening. Revisiting it at a retrospective tasting in 2021, James Suckling describes the full-bodied 100 pt. 2009 Leoville-Poyferre as "A red that gives wonderful pleasure now but will continue to do so for decades ahead." Vinous critic Antonio Galloni calls the 95 pt. 2014 Leoville-Poyferre "Gorgeous" and "Super impressive" while Jeb Dunnuck describes the 97 pt. 2015 Leoville-Poyferre as an "unctuous, ripe, pedal-to-the-metal beauty." Dunnuck calls the 98 pt. 2016 Leoville-Poyferre a "brilliantly concentrated, full-bodied, opulent beast of a wine," while the Wine Advocate's Lisa Perrotti-Brown describes it as "simply alive in the mouth, culminating in an epically long finish that will leave your mouth practically tingling. WOW!" James Suckling calls the "serious" 95 pt. 2017 Leoville-Poyferre "one of the best of the appellation" while the Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss named both the 2017 and 2018 Cellar Selections built for the long haul. Finally, the "legendary" 100 pt. 2018 Leoville-Poyferre is a "a total thrill that tops my scale" according to critic Jeb Dunnuck while Antonio Galloni declares the perfect 2018 "dazzles from start to finish," earning it the #7 spot on the Wine Spectator Top 100 Wines of 2021. All poised to reward Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, these perfectly cellared, top releases from Second Growth Chateau Leoville-Poyferre delivers powerfully concentrated fruit of exceptional depth and length with rich, ripe tannins, now offered at specially negotiated pricing, some ready to enjoy and all set to evolve in the cellar. After a recent retrospective tasting over the last two decades, Vinous critic Neal Martin summed it up: "Leoville-Poyferre has really taken flight" often "challenging the First Growths" and now offered in perfect condition at a fraction of the price. | ||
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| 2024 Domaine Huet Vouvray Le Mont Sec (750ml) | ||
| Chenin Blanc from Vouvray, Loire, France | ||
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B-21 Top Recommendation
Read More "Domaine Huet remains a pillar of Vouvray and a touchstone for Chenin Blanc worldwide, a domaine where viticulture, philosophy and place converge in bottles of extraordinary clarity and longevity." - Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate The above quote from Yohan Castaing sums up almost everything you need to know about the magnificent wines of Domaine Huet. Sure, we could also mention that they have been a biodynamic pioneer since 1993, or that their wines age as well as almost any wines in the world, red or white. But at the end of the day, it's the singular character and class of the juice in the bottle that sets them apart from their contemporaries. The newly released, single-vineyard Sec bottlings from 2024 show why the domaine is a force to be reckoned with, not only in Vouvray, but anywhere in the Loire. Even in an exceedingly difficult vintage, this trio adds more glowing acclaim to add to the domaine's already full resumé, proving that Huet is still at the pinnacle. Our parcel comes in at razor-sharp pricing that puts the already spectacular cellar appeal of these gems in even brighter light, so avid Loire enthusiasts or any collector of world-class, reference-point wines can take their collections up a notch or two. The iconic Clos du Bourg site produced "a lacy, seductive version, with impressive range," according to Wine Spectator, while John Gilman of View From the Cellar notes the 94-point Le Haut Lieu as "bright, focused and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, excellent soil transparency and grip, a fine spine of acidity and lovely precision." Rounding out the 2024s, the WA93 Le Mont rounds out the 2024s is "both dense and lively ... a crystalline expression of Vouvray." | ||
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