1969 - Older Wine

Celebrate with the official Champagne of the FIFA World Cup in this limited-edition Taittinger Brut Réserve bottle. Elegant, festive, and unmistakably Taittinger, this special release brings together the prestige of one of Champagne’s great houses with a bold collector’s label created for the world’s biggest sporting celebration.

Taittinger Brut Réserve is a beautifully balanced Champagne crafted from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Fresh and refined, it offers lively notes of citrus, white peach, brioche, and delicate floral accents, with fine bubbles and a clean, elegant finish. Perfect for gifting, celebrations, Mother’s Day, graduation parties, weddings, and any moment worth raising a glass.

• Producer: Taittinger
• Appellation: Champagne, France
• Style: Brut Non-Vintage
• Blend: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
• Special Feature: FIFA World Cup Official Champagne — Limited Edition bottle
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus, white peach, brioche, floral accents, fine bubbles
• Best For: Gifting, celebrations, collector’s piece, parties, weddings

Leclerc Briant Réserve Extra Brut — Épernay, Champagne, France NV

Leclerc Briant is one of Champagne's most celebrated and pioneering grower-producers — a historic house based in Épernay with roots going back to 1872, and today one of the region's most committed advocates for biodynamic viticulture. Under the stewardship of the Lignac family, Leclerc Briant farms its vineyards according to strict biodynamic principles — certified by Demeter — believing that the health of the soil is the foundation of great Champagne. The estate works with the lunar calendar, uses only natural preparations, and practices minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing the terroir of their Marne Valley and Côte des Blancs vineyards to express itself with clarity and precision. The Réserve Extra Brut is the house's signature non-vintage cuvée — a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay, based on the 2019 harvest, with reserve wines adding depth and complexity. Extra Brut in style, it is drier and more precise than a standard Brut, allowing the terroir and the fruit to speak without the softening effect of dosage.

The color is bright pale yellow with a fine, lively mousse. The nose is complex and inviting: wet asphalt, ripe white peach, fresh redcurrant, pear, verbena, lime, herbs, and a touch of menthol — the signature of biodynamic Champagne. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and approachable with a rounded mid-palate, chalky and pithy texture, and sleek acidity animating flavors of chopped raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon, and oyster shell. The finish is persistent, lightly spiced, and mouthwatering — clean, energetic, and long.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 — "Wet asphalt, ripe white peach, and fresh redcurrant. Rounded mid-palate, chalky and pithy texture with a lively yet fine mousse. Attractive and balanced with a clean finish."

Wine Spectator 92 — "Lithe and graceful, with sleek acidity animating flavors of chopped raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon and oyster shell. Fine and satiny in texture, offering a persistent, lightly spiced finish."

Wine Advocate 90 — "Lively, fresh bouquet of pear, verbena, lime tree, herbs and menthol. Vinous and energetic with an incisive mid-palate and a mouthwatering, fresh finish."

• Producer: Leclerc Briant, Épernay, Champagne, France (est. 1872)
• Style: Extra Brut NV
• Blend: 40% Pinot Noir / 40% Pinot Meunier / 20% Chardonnay
• Base Vintage: 2019
• Farming: Certified Biodynamic (Demeter)
• Dosage: Extra Brut (very low dosage)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, redcurrant, raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon, oyster shell, wet asphalt, chalky texture, persistent spiced finish
• Style: Precise, energetic, terroir-driven
• Best Paired With: Oysters, sushi, grilled fish, lobster, soft cheeses, charcuterie, caviar

Biodynamic Champagne from one of Épernay's most celebrated grower-producers — Leclerc Briant Réserve Extra Brut is precise, energetic, and triple 90+ point rated.

Producer Description 

Vermouth di Torino GI, features only Italian wines enriched with a botanical bouquet featuring Artemisia (wormwood) from Piedmont.

Colour Reddish brown with amber reflections

Nose Complex spiced, wood, and root notes open to smooth vanilla, dried fruit (especially, fig) and floral wormwood signature.

Taste On the palate, dried fig opens to spiced (cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon) and wood (roots & barks such as liquorice), rounded with vanilla and Alpine flowers. Mouth-warming, with long bittersweet finish, typical of Piedmont wormwood, and amber resin memories. 

Winemaker Description 

This Prosecco, boasts a flavor profile guaranteed to delight your palate. With notes of white peach and ripe apple, as well as dog roses and other florals, this white wine is perfectly balanced.

Memo Summary Notes

Fasol Menin "Leonte" Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG Extra Dry is the most classic and representative version from this artisanal winery in Valdobbiadene. It is a Prosecco that focuses entirely on the balance between the typical softness of the residual sugar (Extra Dry) and the mineral freshness of the Treviso hills.

Food pairing: It pairs beautifully with finger food, shellfish, legume soups (such as the typical Venetian pasta and bean soup in a lighter version), and fresh cheeses. It's also surprisingly good with not-too-spicy Asian cuisine (sushi and sashimi).

González Byass Noé Pedro Ximénez VORS — 30 Years, Jerez

Noé is one of the rarest and most extraordinary sherries in existence. Produced by González Byass — the historic house behind Tio Pepe — from sun-dried Pedro Ximénez grapes with a final average age of over 30 years, this VORS (“Very Old Rare Sherry”) is a wine of almost incomprehensible concentration and complexity.

With a sugar level of 400 grams per liter, Noé pours like liquid velvet: deep mahogany, viscous, and intensely aromatic. The nose layers buckwheat honey, Black Forest cake, dried fig, raisin, chocolate, cinnamon, and a haunting balsamic depth. On the palate, the sweetness is perfectly balanced by a bright, racy acidity that is utterly uncommon for wines of this richness — finishing long, fiery, and unforgettable.

James Suckling 95 • Wine Spectator 94 • Wine Enthusiast 94 • Wine Advocate 91

• Producer: González Byass, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
• Style: Pedro Ximénez VORS Sherry
• Average Age: 30+ Years
• Size: 375ml (Half Bottle)
• ABV: 15.5%
• Residual Sugar: 400 g/L
• Tasting Notes: Buckwheat honey, Black Forest cake, dried fig, raisin, dark chocolate, cinnamon, balsamic
• Best Served: Slightly chilled over vanilla ice cream, with aged cheeses, or as a contemplative digestif

A once-in-a-lifetime sherry experience in a half bottle — perfect for gifting or savoring over an evening. One of the greatest sweet wines in the world.

Perrier-Jouët Grand Brut — Épernay, Champagne NV

The Grand Brut is the signature non-vintage cuvée of Perrier-Jouët — one of Champagne's most storied houses, founded in 1811 in Épernay. Blended from Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay sourced across the Champagne appellation, this is a wine of effortless elegance and consistent house character. The Wine Spectator awarded it 92 points. Floral, precise, and beautifully balanced, it is one of the most versatile and food-friendly Champagnes at its price point.

The nose opens with oyster shell, smoke, and fleur de sel, leading into poached quince, tangerine sorbet, candied ginger, and brioche. On the palate, the mousse is plush and creamy, with a long, minerally finish that is well-cut and refreshing. James Suckling noted silky texture, apricot pie, lemon curd, and a gentle salinity that lingers beautifully through the close.

Wine Spectator 92 • James Suckling 91 — "A silky Champagne with aromas of apricot pie, shortcrust, croissants, lemon curd and seashells."

• Producer: Perrier-Jouët, Épernay, Champagne, France
• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: Pinot Noir, Meunier, Chardonnay
• Style: Brut, Non-Dosage
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Oyster shell, fleur de sel, brioche, poached quince, tangerine, candied ginger, lemon curd, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shrimp, fish carpaccio, roasted chicken with lemon and thyme, delicate pastries

A 92-point non-vintage Champagne at an honest price — Perrier-Jouët's Grand Brut is the benchmark for what elegant, food-friendly Champagne can be.

Winemaker Description 

Bottega Rose Gold is a 100% Pinot Noir Prosecco from Lombardy in Italy. The cool climate and hilly terrain makes the ideal place for sparkling wine production.

On the eye: A salmon pink color with a fine, persistent mousse.
On the nose: Peach and summer berries.
On the palate: Fresh and crisp with floral notes and flavors of strawberry and peach. Fresh and fragrant with sweet peach and summer berries on the nose. 

Excels as an aperitif or with fish and chicken dishes. Also great with fruit desserts.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | I was able to taste the just-bottled 2023 Manoella Branco. This was a very balanced vintage, the growing season was almost perfect, and yields were good. The wine was a little closed for such an expressive year of wines with purity and freshness. It has notes of white flowers and fruit and a balsamic touch with the balance and harmony from the old vines.

Winemaker Description 

Vibrant and fresh wine with intense citric, floral and mineral notes. On the palate shows pure flavors and nice balance.

Varietals - Gouveio, Viosinho, Rabigato and Códega do Larinho.

Established in 2001 by Sandra Tavares da Silva and Jorge Serôdio Borges, both winemakers and couple, that have been investing and acquiring old vineyards and properties at Pinhão Valley. “Our goal is to create wines that express all the characters of the traditional vineyards and varieties from Douro Valley. Balanced wines between concentration, complexity and elegance.

Wine & Soul is one of the most exciting and dynamic producers in Portugal today, consistently earning high praise from international critics for both their still and fortified wines.

The harvest was planned for the first week of September in perfect weather conditions.

All grapes previously selected and de-stemmed were pressed on a pneumatic press and fermented on stainless steel tanks at low temperatures during 4 weeks, after which was aged sur lies during 6 months.


About the Sake

Don’t let the Futsushu (everyday sake) classification fool you — Kirinzan Classic takes the concept of daily sake to new heights. While most breweries focus on showcasing premium ginjo styles, Kirinzan takes immense pride in this entry-level expression, crafting it with the same care and precision as their finest bottles.

Made from Gohyaku Mangoku and Koshi Ibuki sake rice polished to 65% — beyond the requirements for even the premium Honjozo grade — all rice is sourced directly from small farmers in the local agricultural cooperative, none farther than five miles from the brewery. Brewed with soft Niigata mountain water in the house style: dry, clean, light-bodied, and beautifully balanced.

Tasting Notes

Dry and clean with notes of hazelnut and toasted rice, a gentle minerality, and a crisp, refreshing finish. Light-bodied and food-friendly — never competing with a dish, only enhancing it.

Serving

Versatile and approachable — excellent served chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed (nurukan).

Food Pairing

The ultimate food sake — pairs beautifully with sushi, sashimi, grilled fish, tempura, yakitori, ramen, and izakaya-style dishes.

Product Details

• Producer: Kirinzan Brewery
• Style: Futsushu (Everyday Sake)
• Rice: Gohyaku Mangoku & Koshi Ibuki
• Polishing Ratio: 65%
• Sake Meter Value: +6 (Dry)
• Acidity: 1.3
• ABV: 15–16%
• Region: Niigata Prefecture, Japan
• Format: 720ml

Tasting Notes

Kedem Malaga is a sweet, fortified Kosher wine with rich and luscious flavors of raisins, dates, almonds, honey, and dark fruits. Full-bodied and deeply satisfying, it's a timeless expression of classic Kosher winemaking — warming, indulgent, and perfect for the holidays.

About the Wine

Malaga-style wine has deep roots in Jewish tradition, long served at Shabbat and holiday tables. Kedem — one of America's most iconic Kosher wine producers with over a century of heritage — crafts this fortified wine to deliver consistent richness and sweetness that generations of families have come to love.

Serve

Enjoy slightly chilled or at room temperature as a dessert wine or aperitif. Pairs beautifully with dried fruits, nuts, dark chocolate, and honey cake. A natural for Passover Seder and holiday celebrations.

Product Details

• Style: Sweet Fortified Wine (Malaga)
• Format: 750ml
• Certification: Kosher
• Producer: Kedem Winery
• Country: United States

Our Professional Reviews

Rand Sieger, 67 Wine Buyer: This 100% Chardonnay comes from vineyards in the village of Mâcon-Chardonnay, one of the villages allowed to append its name to the Mâcon appellation. An outstanding fresh white with aromas of quince and white stone fruits and a delicate touch of oak. Great pairing with soft-ripened cheeses or white fish.

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer: The 2023 Mâcon-Chardonnay is the inaugural vintage of this wine from renowned Puligny-Montrachet winemaker Alain Chavy and his son Corentin. The grapes are sourced from various growers and vinified at the family cellar in Puligny under their care and guidance. Clean and refreshing with lovely Chardonnay white fruit character and floral complexity. Medium-bodied with a nice lift of acidity on the long finish.

About the Wine

The Chavy-Martin Mâcon-Chardonnay 2023 is a standout value from Burgundy, crafted by the father-son team behind some of Puligny-Montrachet’s finest whites. This inaugural release brings premier cru-level winemaking expertise to an accessible Mâcon appellation bottling.

Tasting & Pairings

Quince, white stone fruits, floral notes, and a delicate touch of oak. Clean, refreshing, and medium-bodied with bright acidity and a long finish. Serve well chilled.

• Roasted chicken or grilled white fish — the wine’s freshness and weight are a natural match.
• Soft-ripened or creamy goat cheese — complements the stone fruit and floral character.
• Pasta with garlic-butter sauce — enough body to stand up to a light cream preparation.

Delight in the elegance of A Margaine 1er Cru Le Brut NV, a refined Champagne that perfectly balances freshness and finesse. Bursting with vibrant notes of citrus, green apple, and delicate brioche, its fine bubbles and crisp acidity make every sip celebratory. Ideal as an aperitif or paired with seafood and light dishes, this NV Champagne embodies the artistry of the Premier Cru vineyards and the house’s dedication to excellence.

Famiglia Carafoli L’Onesta Lambrusco di Sorbara — Emilia-Romagna NV

Famiglia Carafoli is a third-generation family estate based in Modena, the heartland of authentic Lambrusco. Under the stewardship of Carlo, Paolo, and Mario Carafoli, the domaine has remained committed to the traditional, dry style of Lambrusco di Sorbara — a far cry from the sweet, mass-market versions that defined the category for decades. L’Onesta (“The Honest One”) blends Sorbara, Salamino, Marani, and Grasparossa grapes into a bright, dry sparkling red of genuine character and refreshing precision. At this price, it is one of the most exciting values in Italian sparkling wine.

The nose is fragrant and inviting: violets, fresh red berries, and delicate floral notes. On the palate, it is light-bodied with lively, fine bubbles, refreshing acidity, and a crisp, dry finish that is clean and moreish. This is Lambrusco as it was always meant to be — honest, food-friendly, and impossible to put down.

67 Wine — “L’Onesta is the real deal: dry, bright, and violet-scented, with the kind of refreshing acidity that makes every bite of prosciutto taste better.”

• Producer: Famiglia Carafoli, Modena, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Appellation: Lambrusco di Sorbara DOC
• Blend: Sorbara, Salamino, Marani, Grasparossa
• Style: Dry (Secco)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Violets, fresh red berries, floral notes, fine bubbles, crisp dry finish
• Best Paired With: Prosciutto di Parma, Parmigiano-Reggiano, tagliatelle al ragù, charcuterie, pizza

Honest, dry, and irresistibly food-friendly — Famiglia Carafoli’s L’Onesta is the Lambrusco that converts skeptics.

Winemaker Description 

Bubbly and lively La Marca Prosecco Rosé was crafted in the heart of Italy. This playful pop of pink offers a new way to enjoy Prosecco: with the bright, crisp fruit and floral essence of our traditional Prosecco combined with the delicate elegance of Pinot Noir.

La Marca Prosecco Rosé boasts classic notes of fresh-picked citrus, honeysuckle, peach and pear, blended beautifully with hints of ripe red cherry, raspberry and wild strawberry. Zesty, refreshing, and effervescent, La Marca Prosecco Rosé is perfect for any soirée or spontaneous celebration.

Pair it with salmon and avocado salad, creamy burrata and crusty bread, or juicy fruits like watermelon and cherries for a stylishly simple treat.

La Marca Prosecco Rosé isn’t just for summer—it shines year-round. In cooler months, its bright notes pair beautifully with apple and goat cheese salad, warm baked brie, butternut squash soup, or hearty roasted vegetables, making it a versatile choice for any occasion.

VINOUS 93 Points

The NV Extra Brut Rosé ADN de Meunier is a classic-layered and supple with rose petals, mint, dried cherry, mint, spice and orange peel. Assembled with the inclusion of 10% still red Meunier, the Rosé is exquisitely nuanced and super expressive, offering great depth and tons of personality.

Expert Reviews

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The NV 10 Year Old Tawny was bottled in 2013 with a bar top cork. It comes in at 106.7 grams per liter of residual sugar. Some Ports emphasize flavor, others emphasize structure. This starts out with perfect focus, elegant but increasingly intense on the tight finish. Early on, it was all about the structure, with a haze of velvet. The flavors were a bit muted initially, but it unfolded into an elegant and graceful whole with a flavorful finish. Its bright, clean feel always remains as it fleshes out and puts on weight. 

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | Refined, with bright flavors of dried berry, plum compote and cherry tart that are long and lush. Very creamy on the finish, which features chocolate mousse.

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | In the full Fonseca style, this aged tawny shows both rich fruit and a more serious wood-aged character. Good acidity follows the sweet initial taste, broadening into ripe flavors of nut, plum jelly, and a final crisp acidity.

Winemaker Description 

Paltrinieri | Solco | Lambrusco dell'Emilia | Emilia-Romagna, Italy | 2024 | 750ml

Paltrinieri is one of the benchmark producers of serious Lambrusco — the kind that has nothing to do with the sweet, mass-market versions that defined the grape's reputation for decades. Based in Sorbara, in the heart of Emilia-Romagna, the estate farms its vines with care and bottles wines that are dry, vivid, and deeply tied to the region's food culture.

The Solco is their entry point and one of the most satisfying bottles at its price. Deep purple-ruby in the glass, it opens with sweet cream, raspberry, and spice before revealing tantalizing acidity and tart wild berry fruit. The finish is long and intense, closing with violet and lavender florals. This is Lambrusco as it should be: wickedly fresh, perfumed, and built for the table.

Serve it chilled (10–12°C) — it works as an aperitif, alongside a charcuterie spread, or as the ideal foil to the rich, fatty classics of Emilian cuisine: tortellini in brodo, mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, tigelle.

91 Points — Vinous (Eric Guido): "Wickedly fresh and perfumed with tantalizing acidity and tart wild berry fruit notes. Long and intense, closes with violet and lavender inner florals."

• Appellation: Lambrusco dell'Emilia IGT, Emilia-Romagna
• Grape: Lambrusco
• Style: Dry, sparkling red
• Serve: Chilled, 10–12°C
• Pairs with: Mortadella, Parmigiano-Reggiano, tortellini, charcuterie, pizza, tomato-based pasta

95 Jeb Dunnuck: From one site, the 2015 Finca Iscorta De Pecina Gran Reserva has more density, more alcohol, more color, and more black fruit on the palate and should age outstandingly. Finca Iscorta is the winery’s oldest vineyard, which it treats as a grand cru, only making the wine in worthy years. The next won’t be until 2019. Strong and powerful in tannin and full-bodied weight, it could go another 20-30 years, so intensely concentrated, spiced, and textured, from both a powerful year and a powerful site. It spent four years in used American oak.

94  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: A more modern Gran Reserva from a single vineyard, the 2015 Finca Iscorta de Peciña Gran Reserva was produced with the grapes from a 50-year-old vineyard, fermented with indigenous yeasts in stainless steel with a moderate extraction and short-ish maceration. It matured in used American oak barrels for four years and was racked every six months. It's a little darker, the color and the fruit profile, and it's intensely balsamic, with notes of camphor and abundant spicy notes. It's solid and seamless and fills your mouth; it's powerful with 15% alcohol and 6.2 grams of acidity, ripe but balanced.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Stunning and sleek, with intensity and precision to the citrus, pear and white peach flavors. Offers notes of orange blossom and jasmine, with notes of fresh-cut Fuji apple and buttery shortbread on the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2034. 300 cases imported.

James Suckling 93 Points | A sleek, mid-weighted & very contemporary chardonnay, embellishing a pungent mineral chassis with roasted cashew, nougat and curdy creaminess. Vanilla-cedar oak, an integrated framework. Apricot pith, white peach and nectarine, too. The acidity, palpably natural of feel and really juicy, towing impressive length. One of the better recent iterations of this rightly popular cuvee. 

The Australian Wine Companion 93 Points | A sleek, mid-weighted & highly contemporary chardonnay, embellishing a pungent mineral chassis with roasted cashew, nougat and curdy creaminess. Vanilla-cedar oak, an integrated framework. Apricot pith, white peach and nectarine, too. The acidity, palpably natural of feel and really juicy, towing impressive length. Among the better recent iterations of this rightly popular cuvée.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 M3 Chardonnay is nutty and spiced on the nose, with green apple, crushed cashews, citrus rind and brine. The wine is, true to form, polished, sleek and flavorsome. This is a bit of a cherished wine in Australia; it is reliable and classy, and this vintage is no exception. 13% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.

Memo Pairing Suggestions 

Food Pairings: Pairs beautifully with roasted chicken with thyme, grilled scallops in lemon butter, or creamy pasta primavera.

Winemaker Description

The Cava Brut by Elvi is a highly drinkable sparkling wine made from grapes grown in Spain's fertile wine regions. The coloring is very light, and nearly translucent with a straw coloring and some greenness. The bubbles are nice and prominent, both pleasurable to the eye and mouth.

The aroma is complex, with many different notes. A touch of fruit, a touch of yeast, and a touch of almond swirl around in the nose. The texture feels nice in the mouth with lighter acids that fall away at the end and a shorter aftertaste. Very enjoyable and easy to drink.

Producer Description 

The Caposaldo Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie  is a standout in the "value-party" category. Unlike many mass-produced magnums, Caposaldo maintains a surprisingly high quality by sourcing fruit from hand-harvested vineyards in the Veneto and Friuli regions of Northern Italy.

The most elegant expression in the Martini & Rossi portfolio — Bianco Vermouth has been captivating aperitivo culture since its creation in Pessione, Italy in 1910. Originally known as "Bianchissimo" (meaning ‘whitest’), it remains the most cosmopolitan of Italian vermouths: pale, aromatic, and unmistakably refined.

Crafted from a base of selected white wines infused with a proprietary blend of aromatic herbs and flowers, Bianco strikes a distinctive balance between sweet and dry. The nose is delicate and floral, with vanilla and citrus at the fore. On the palate it’s smooth and rounded, with an intense yet gentle sweetness that makes it as approachable on its own as it is versatile in cocktails.

Producer Description

Martini Bianco is made from white wines graced with extracts of aromatic herbs and flowers, giving it a unique and delicate character. Beneath its crisp innocence lies a wealth of flavor — vanilla and citrus seducing the palate with an intense yet sweet, rounded smoothness.

• Producer: Martini & Rossi, Pessione, Turin, Italy (est. 1863)
• Style: Bianco (White) Vermouth
• Character: Semi-sweet, floral, vanilla & citrus
• Format: 750ml
• Serve: Over ice with tonic and a slice of lemon, or in a Bianco Spritz or White Negroni
• Tip: Refrigerate after opening and consume within 4–6 weeks

• Practicing organic
• 90% Pinot Noir (15% vin rouge), 10% Chardonnay
• 50% 2022, 50% 2021-2020
• From Rilly-la-Montagne 1er Cru and Villers-Allerands 1er Cru
• Clay and limestone
• 35+ year old vines
• No malo
• Fermented and aged in large foudre
• Aged 30+ months on the lees
• Dosage: 8g/L

• The Wine Advocate by William Kelley writes 92 Points |

  Generous and expressive, the latest rendition of Vilmart's NV Brut Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis is showing very well, bursting with aromas of red berries, plums, blood orange and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a sapid core of fruit, a pillowy mousse and a lively, delicately phenolic finish, it's already drinking well. This is based on the 2017 vintage, with reserve wines from the 2016 and 2015 vintages, and it was disgorged with nine grams per liter dosage.

• The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Fine and harmonious, this is lightly chalky and refined in texture, showing pinpoint integration of its well-spiced range of pureed raspberry, blood orange granita, lime peel, biscuit and mineral notes and its spine of chiseled acidity. Concentrated yet ethereal. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Drink now through 2030.
• Allen Meadows Burghound 91 Points | Medium ruby color. The moderately fruity nose is composed of raspberry, cherry, strawberry and lovely yeast, apple and citrus peel whiffs. The delicious and super-yeasty flavors possess fine depth on the clean and relatively dry finish, indeed this is notably drier than what is typical for the genre. Lovely and this is a wine that could be enjoyed now or held for a few years first.
• Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | The NV Cuvée Rubis is vibrant pink, with aromas of wildflowers, wild raspberry, and juicy fruit. The palate is juicy and round, with blood orange, and perfect for relatively near-term drinking over the next 6-8 years.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points: This sparkling wine delivers a full experience at 9% alcohol. A creamy mousse reveals aromas of strawberry and peach on the nose. The mousse also engages the palate, with lime peel and rounded strawberry flavors working well with the creamy texture.

Winemaker Description 

Everything is better with bubbles! Sunny Bubbly delights with flavors of fresh strawberry and watermelon wrapped in a package of lovely, fine bubbles and a crisp, refreshing finish. We are all born to sparkle. Zero sugar, low alcohol, low calorie and positively delicious!

"Scott and Jenny Schultz of Jolie-Laide make highly distinctive wines from grapes that are not among California’s usual suspects. The Trousseau Gris grapes for this bottle were farmed organically and stomped by foot. The wine is lively and aromatic and will go with a wide range of savory and sweetish things." — Eric Asimov, The New York Times

About the Wine

Planted in the late 1970s, these rare, near-extinct vines with massive, gnarly trunks produce unique and fascinating fruit. Since Jolie-Laide’s first Fanucchi Wood Road Trousseau Gris bottling in 2010, the wines have shown a strong structural foundation with vintage-driven character.

In 2024, Mother Nature yielded half the fruit of 2023 — making this Trousseau Gris as rare as the old vines that produced it. To preserve natural acidity, the grapes were harvested early and foot-stomped for a three-day whole-cluster cold soak. This gentle maceration adds subtle phenolic texture, lifted aromatics, and a gorgeous rose-gold hue. The juice was then moved to a combination of neutral puncheon and stainless steel for a slow, cold native yeast fermentation, followed by a 6-month élevage in neutral puncheons and barrique to preserve freshness.

Tasting Notes

Fresh and elegant — summer melon, nectarine, white tea, and pine. 12.5% ABV.

About the Label

The 2024 labels feature the work of Sandra Fontenas, a French visual artist and photographer based in La Rochelle, France.

Food Pairings

Oysters, grilled fish, sushi, charcuterie, soft cheeses, roasted vegetables, and light poultry. Equally stunning as an aperitif. Serve well chilled.

• Producer: Jolie-Laide (Scott & Jenny Schultz)
• Vineyard: Fanucchi Wood Road, Russian River Valley, Sonoma County
• Appellation: Sonoma County, California
• Grape: Trousseau Gris
• Farming: Organic, old vines (planted late 1970s)
• Vinification: Foot-stomped, whole-cluster cold soak, native yeast
• Aging: 6 months, neutral puncheon + stainless steel
• ABV: 12.5%
• Vintage: 2024
• Format: 750ml

Winemaker Evan Martin has called Koosah “the greatest Chardonnay vineyard in the Willamette Valley” — and the scores agree. Sourced from the Koosah Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills, this is Oregon grand cru Chardonnay in every sense: remarkable texture and tension between fruit, minerality, and acidity, with a finish that lingers with persistent freshness and a note of salinity. Martin himself describes it as Oregon’s answer to Puligny-Montrachet — built to drink now or cellar for 15+ years.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

“Dazzles with spiced apples, damp earth, a hint of saline, green melon, and subtle notes of white tea. Beautiful structure with a touch of tannins, perfect acidity and balanced sweetness, leading to a long, fruit-forward and saline-infused finish. An outstanding bottle poised for an even brighter future. Editor’s Choice.” — 97 pts, International Wine Cellar

“Bright yellow/silver color. Notes of smoky earth, white peach, lemon oil, and white floral tone. Lovely richness without weight, exceptionally focused length. Drink 2025–2037.” — 96 pts, Jeb Dunnuck

“The floral quality of its aromas balances the somewhat rich mouthfeel. Vibrant energy and nice overall structure — balanced acidity — featuring notes of stone fruits, crispy apples, lemon peel, and herbs. This wine nails both phenolic structure and rich texture.” — 95 pts, Decanter

Winery Notes: Lemon oil, green & gold apple, moss, white flower & minerals. Medium weight while possessing weightlessness. Our ‘Puligny’ — Oregon grand cru Chardonnay to enjoy now or cellar 15+ years.

Food Pairings: Roasted halibut, lobster, scallops, truffle risotto, aged Gruyère, and soft-ripened cheeses.

Varietal: Chardonnay
Producer: Martin Woods
Vineyard: Koosah Vineyard
Appellation: Eola-Amity Hills, Willamette Valley, Oregon
Vintage: 2022
Cellar: Drink now or cellar 15+ years
Bottle Size: 750ml

Cupcake Lighthearted Low Alcohol Pinot Noir 750ml

Discover Cupcake Lighthearted Low Alcohol Pinot Noir, a refreshing choice crafted to support an active lifestyle without compromising on flavor. Winemaker Jessica Tomei was inspired to create Cupcake Vineyards' Lighthearted collection after struggling to find delicious tasting wines that fit her active lifestyle. This elegant Pinot Noir is light and juicy with notes of wild strawberry and plum, offering only 80 calories, 8% ABV, and less than one gram of sugar per serving, while maintaining the classic Pinot Noir profile you love.

Crafted for an Active Lifestyle

These wines are crafted with grapes grown in sunny California vineyards, perfectly structured to create well-balanced and medium-bodied wines. The grapes are harvested early in the growing season to minimize brix levels, which allow for a lower sugar, lower alcohol product after blending. The quality of these grapes makes for wines that deliver exceptional taste while supporting health-conscious choices, designed for a lighthearted sipping experience that's ideal for any occasion.

Tasting Profile

Light and juicy with vibrant notes of wild strawberry and plum. This Pinot Noir presents an inviting bouquet of cherries, strawberries, and a hint of vanilla, which is characteristic of the varietal. Upon tasting, you'll discover a vibrant acidity that enhances the fruitiness, making it incredibly refreshing. The light body ensures that it can be enjoyed chilled, perfect for warm weather sipping. Each sip is a celebration of bright flavors, showing that you don't have to compromise on taste to enjoy a low alcohol option.

Only 80 Calories Per Serving

Nutritional Benefits:

• Only 80 calories per serving
• 8% ABV (lower than traditional Pinot Noir)
• Less than 1 gram of sugar per serving
• Classic Pinot Noir profile maintained

Food Pairing Suggestions

This versatile low alcohol Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with:

• Grilled salmon and seafood
• Roasted vegetables
• Light cheese platters
• Poultry and chicken dishes
• Mushroom-based dishes
• Perfect for casual gatherings
• Ideal chilled for warm weather

Winemaker Jessica Tomei's Vision

Cupcake Vineyards believes in creating wines that are not only delightful to the palate but also accessible for all drinkers. The Lighthearted line is innovatively produced to reduce alcohol content without compromising on flavor or quality. Each bottle embodies a commitment to sustainability and quality, reflecting the vineyard's dedication to responsible wine production. Enjoy each drop with the knowledge that you're making a mindful choice.

Why Choose Low Alcohol Wines?

Low alcohol wines like the Cupcake Lighthearted Pinot Noir are gaining popularity for several good reasons. They allow you to enjoy the rich experience of wine tasting while keeping your alcohol intake in check, particularly beneficial for those who are health-conscious or looking to moderate their alcohol consumption. With its lower ethanol content, you can savor the intricate flavors without the heaviness that often accompanies higher alcohol wines. Embrace the trend of lighter wines, and discover the joys of a glass that pairs perfectly with both meals and casual gatherings, striking the right balance between flavor and lightness.

SIP offers different wines to suit different occasions or foods Easily transportable wines in cans… Take them wherever you want in Freedom.
“Good wine stays good in a can…”

Sip Different selects wines that are fresh, aromatic and ready to drink, in partnership with winemakers committed to the environment.

These nectars in cans come from environmentally-friendly organic vineyards in regions with an oceanic climate.

A striking single-vineyard expression from the sandy, mineral-rich soils of Mt. Etna’s northwestern flank. Made primarily from old-vine Nerello Mascalese, it offers fine tannins, bright red fruit, and a savory, stony core. This is one of Eduardo’s most refined and site-specific wines—elegant, earthy, and deeply expressive of Etna’s unique terroir.

Eric Guido said of the 2022 vintage - 94+ Points - The 2022 Nerello Mascalese Arenaria takes its time in the glass. It is darkly floral and spiced with a smoldering blend of blackberries and grilled herbs offset by a tinge of tangerine. This impresses further with its combination of tart wild berries and zesty citrus tones elevated by juicy acidity over a stream of silken textures. Complex yet wildly energetic, the 2022 leaves the palate reeling as licorice comes together with black raspberry and cocoa over a bed of fine-grained tannins. The Arenaria is painfully young today yet full of potential, displaying incredible depth and refinement. In a word, spellbinding."

Winemaker Description 

Charmat method sparkling wine.

This is a refined Brut with a delicate mineral nature and a flowery, welcoming bouquet which charms the senses.

Each sip conjures fresh sensations and light thoughts.

Soft pressing in pneumatic press, sedimentation of must and fermentation at controlled temperature with inoculation of selected yeasts. Aflnation in steel barrels for at least 4 months.

Charmat method for 30 days in autoclave. 

Importer Description 

This Pinot Blanc is a masterful display of subtlety and refinement. Honeysuckle, peaches, and stone don’t shout at, but whisper seductively to your nose and palate." - Kermit Lynch.

Coming from vines located mainly at the bottom of hillsides and on granite soil, this Pinot Blanc borders on insolence in its elegance and deliciousness. It is very far from the classic style that is often found in Alsatian Pinot Blancs, which is quite simple. Here, Jean Boxler has done a real job in the vineyards as well as in the winemaking where we feel a much finer and more mineral side.

On the palate, the attack is precise, there is, as with his Sylvaner, a beautiful maturity that brings a real delicacy. The wine has a sensual texture, very silky, no aggressiveness emerges.

This is really not just a simple Pinot Blanc, it is extraordinarily long, precise and delicious.

Producer Description 

Aged in steel tanks at cold temperatures to maintain fruit aromas. A sweet wine Cherry with a pleasant mouth feel and a smooth aftertaste.

Producer Description 

Varieties : 100% Palomino Fino. Vinification Method : This wine is sourced from a solera at bodegas Del Rio of Luis del Rio in Sanlúcar. Nick selected barrels on the warmer side of the bodega, giving the wine a fresher, more playful character.

Buelan Compañia de Sacas is a bottling project of barrel-selected sherries created by Nick Africano, musician and founder of En Rama Sherry Co.

Nick works with the wines of Ramiro Ibañez of Cota 45 and Willy Perez of Bodegas Luis Perez through his work with Spanish wine in New York City and with his experience working with José Pastor Selections. He was thrilled when he learned of Ramiro and Willy’s joint project, M. Ant. De La Riva, imported by José Pastor. After meeting Ramiro and Willy a few times in Spain, Nick immediately connected with their ethos, and knew he wanted to work with them in some capacity beyond selling their wine in NYC.

They are true modern masters, and will one day be legends of the category. For Nick, it felt like a dream come true to work with them for his first release: an idea Nick had to bottle a sherry to be co-released alongside a new song of the same name.

Buelan aims to bottle sherries that capture a depth of meaning and place, of metaphor and artistry, and, most importantly, they aim to capture the stories of the people who make the wines. Each bottling expresses a particular theme, be that a song, an idea, or just a certain style of sherry Nick wants to highlight. 

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 98 Points | Made from old vines and blended from casks of Port averaging 40 years of maturity, this is a rare treat with which to finish an evening. The color is tawny brown, with a light orange-amber rim and mahogany center. Fully developed aromas of cinnamon, cedar, nutmeg, vanilla, dried apricots and hazelnuts lead to layered, rich, sweet and creamy flavors and a long, long finish.

Decanter 97 Points | Terrific stature and visceral intensity. Tightly wound acidity, a touch of volatile acidity and Cognac-like spirit drive to the kaleidoscopic palate, unleashing a never-ending panoply of flavors: black cardamom, spicy fruit chutney, salty praline, mocha, dried mango, marmalade and walnut. Ultra-long, well-focused and resonating.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The NV 40 Year Tawny is a blockbuster Tawny! Coming all from the estate vineyard and aged 40 years or more in 640-liter oak barrels, it has a touch of ranico-like character as well as beautiful caramelized fruits, toasted spice, cigar, and walnut/nuttiness. Ripe, heady, full-bodied and beautifully complex, it’s going to be perfect for sipping at the end of a meal over the coming couple of decades.

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is exotic, with a wide range of baked peach, dried cherry and fig, singed cinnamon, warmed praline, hazelnut and green tea notes all swirling around together. The long finish is rich and  thoroughly comforting.