2010 - Present Wine

93 Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar
92 Points — Wine Spectator
90–92 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Meursault Les Vignes Blanches is a beautifully concentrated, old-vine Chardonnay from a distinctive village-level climat situated below the celebrated Santenots vineyards. Combining the generous orchard-fruit character traditionally associated with Meursault with vibrant acidity, pale limestone minerality and finely integrated oak, this is a rich yet precise white Burgundy of remarkable depth and persistence.

The wine comes from a tiny 0.41-hectare parcel planted predominantly in 1948. Although Les Vignes Blanches is classified as Meursault Village, its old vines, individual terroir and limited production give it a personality that clearly distinguishes it from a blended village Meursault.

The Place

Meursault lies in the heart of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, immediately south of Volnay and north of Puligny-Montrachet. The village is internationally renowned for Chardonnay that combines richness, breadth and silky texture with fresh acidity and a distinctive mineral character.

Meursault has no Grand Cru vineyards, yet its finest Premier Cru and village-level climats produce some of Burgundy’s most complex and age-worthy white wines. The appellation’s varied marl, limestone, gravel and clay soils allow Chardonnay to express a wide range of styles, from supple and nutty to firm, citrus-driven and intensely mineral.

The Les Vignes Blanches Vineyard

Les Vignes Blanches is situated low on the Meursault slope, below Santenots and just south of the Meursault Premier Cru Santenots vineyards. It rests beneath a small rocky rise that contributes natural drainage and an unusually pronounced mineral character for this part of the slope.

The climat takes its name from the pale, gravelly limestone visible throughout the vineyard. Beneath and among this limestone is a meaningful clay component that retains water during warm, dry growing seasons. This combination gives the wine both richness and tension: clay contributes depth, texture and ripe orchard fruit, while the gravelly limestone provides freshness, salinity and mineral definition.

Many growers traditionally blend fruit from Les Vignes Blanches into a broader village-level Meursault. Domaine Clos de la Chapelle instead bottles the parcel separately to preserve its individual character and expression of place.

The Domaine’s Parcel

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle farms approximately 0.41 hectare—just over one acre—of Les Vignes Blanches. Most of the Chardonnay vines were planted in 1948, immediately following the Second World War, making them more than 75 years old at the time of the 2023 harvest.

These deeply rooted old vines naturally produce small quantities of concentrated fruit. Their extensive root systems penetrate multiple soil layers, helping the vines maintain balance during dry conditions and giving the finished wine notable depth, complexity and persistence.

The 2023 growing season demonstrated the value of the site’s water-retentive clay. According to Jasper Morris, the soils held sufficient moisture during the vintage, allowing the grapes to achieve generous ripeness while retaining adequate acidity.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay.

Chardonnay is Burgundy’s principal white grape and an exceptionally transparent interpreter of terroir. In Les Vignes Blanches, it combines the broad texture and ripe orchard-fruit profile associated with Meursault with citrus freshness, oyster-shell salinity and a finely structured mineral finish.

Viticulture

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s vineyards are certified organic and are cultivated according to biodynamic principles. The estate avoids chemical pesticides and fertilizers, regularly ploughs its soils and carefully controls yields to encourage healthy vines and concentrated fruit.

The grapes are harvested by hand and sorted before pressing. The domaine’s objective is to preserve the purity of the fruit while allowing the individual soil, vine age and vintage conditions of each small parcel to remain clearly expressed in the finished wine.

Winemaking and Aging

The Chardonnay is whole-cluster pressed, followed by approximately 24 hours of settling. Fermentation and maturation take place in a combination of French oak barrel sizes, helping the wine develop texture and complexity without allowing the oak to dominate its old-vine fruit or mineral character.

The domaine may use up to 30% new oak for its white wines, with barrels sourced from several respected cooperages. Bâtonnage may be performed once per week for as long as six weeks after fermentation, or until malolactic fermentation begins.

The 2023 Les Vignes Blanches was matured for approximately 14 months in barrel. The use of different barrel sizes helps preserve freshness while contributing restrained notes of vanilla, toast and brioche. The wine is bottled approximately 15 to 18 months after harvest.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 displays a full lemon-yellow color and an expressive, layered bouquet of ripe peach, pear, yellow apple and citrus. With air, aromas of citronella, white flowers, toasted brioche, hazelnut and delicate vanilla emerge alongside a subtle reductive, mineral tension.

The palate is supple, concentrated and beautifully layered. Rich orchard fruit and ripe peach are balanced by vibrant acidity and savory notes of oyster shell and pale limestone. The old vines provide impressive mid-palate depth, while the wine’s mineral structure keeps its generous fruit precise and focused.

Notes of vanilla and toasted brioche are finely integrated into the fruit rather than dominant. The wine builds steadily across the palate, concluding with a long, refined and complex finish marked by citrus, orchard fruit, saline minerals and gentle oak spice.

This is a generous yet disciplined expression of Meursault—reminiscent of the traditional, richly textured style of the village, but supported by enough acidity and mineral tension to remain vibrant and age gracefully.

Professional Ratings

93 Points — John Gilman, View From the Cellar | John Gilman awarded the 2023 Meursault Les Vignes Blanches 93 points, recognizing it as one of the leading white wines in Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s highly regarded 2023 collection.

92 Points — Wine Spectator: Citronella, peach, oyster shell, vanilla and toasted brioche flavors ride the supple texture in this harmonious white. Vibrant and succulent while building to the refined, complex aftertaste. Best from 2027 through 2040.

90–92 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy
Barrel Sample:  Old vines on clay soil below Santenots. A full lemon yellow, with a little reductive tension on the nose. Made in a mix of wood sizes. Nicely layered flesh and fruit on the palate, quite a rich orchard fruit, but balanced by adequate acidity These soils retained the water sufficiently in 2023. A good long finish, rather lovely and not far from old style Meursault. Barrel Sample: 90-92

The 2023 Vintage

The 2023 vintage produced generous, ripe fruit across the Côte de Beaune, but the finest sites maintained the acidity and mineral structure necessary for balance. At Les Vignes Blanches, the clay component retained valuable moisture during warm and dry periods, helping the old vines ripen steadily without losing freshness.

The result is a wine with generous fruit and textural richness, balanced by adequate acidity, limestone tension and a persistent mineral finish.

The Domaine

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is a small, historic Burgundy estate based in Bligny-lès-Beaune and closely associated with Volnay. The domaine takes its name from the historic Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole, a walled vineyard situated opposite the Gothic chapel of Notre Dame de Pitié.

The property was acquired in 2011 by Mark O’Connell and his Burgundian partners and renamed Domaine Clos de la Chapelle in honor of its flagship vineyard. The estate now owns and farms approximately five hectares divided among 16 individual terroirs in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Pernand-Vergelesses, Meursault and Corton.

The vineyards are certified organic and farmed according to biodynamic principles. Grapes are harvested by hand, yields are deliberately restricted and intervention in the cellar is kept to a minimum. Total production across the entire domaine averages only approximately 1,800 cases annually.

Food Pairing

Meursault Les Vignes Blanches is an excellent accompaniment to lobster, scallops, crab, halibut, turbot, sea bass and sole meunière. Its combination of richness and acidity also pairs beautifully with roast chicken, pork tenderloin, veal in cream sauce and poultry with mushrooms.

Additional pairings include lobster ravioli, mushroom risotto, creamy pasta, roasted cauliflower and mature cheeses such as Comté, Gruyère or Délice de Bourgogne.

Serving and Cellaring

The domaine recommends serving the wine at approximately 16°C, or 61°F. It may initially be poured slightly cooler and allowed to warm gradually in the glass, revealing additional orchard fruit, hazelnut, brioche and mineral complexity.

When enjoyed young, opening the bottle approximately 30 minutes before serving will help the wine’s subtle reductive character dissipate. Its old-vine concentration, acidity and mineral structure should support graceful development through 2040.

Producer: Domaine Clos de la Chapelle
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Village: Meursault
Appellation: Meursault AOC
Vineyard: Les Vignes Blanches
Classification: Village
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard Holding: Approximately 0.41 hectare
Vine Age: Predominantly planted in 1948
Location: Below Santenots on the lower Meursault slope
Soil: Gravelly pale limestone with water-retentive clay
Farming: Certified organic; biodynamic principles
Harvest: Hand harvested
Pressing: Whole-cluster pressed
Aging: Approximately 14 months in French oak
Alcohol: 13.5%
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Meursault Les Vignes Blanches 2023

95 Points — Wine Spectator
94 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle’s 2023 Corton-Charlemagne is a profound and exceptionally limited expression of one of Burgundy’s most celebrated white-wine vineyards. Produced entirely from Chardonnay, it combines the natural richness and power of the Corton hill with vibrant acidity, stony minerality and the remarkable precision for which the finest Corton-Charlemagne wines are known.

The Place

Corton-Charlemagne is a Grand Cru appellation situated at the northern end of Burgundy’s Côte de Beaune, where the rounded Hill of Corton rises above the villages of Aloxe-Corton, Pernand-Vergelesses and Ladoix-Serrigny. The appellation occupies the hill’s higher, cooler slopes at approximately 280 to 330 meters above sea level.

These elevated vineyards are planted on steep slopes composed of limestone, marl and thin, stony soils. The combination of altitude, exposure and mineral-rich geology gives Corton-Charlemagne its distinctive balance of concentration, freshness and long-lived structure. Although the appellation covers approximately 60 hectares currently under production, individual domaine holdings are often extremely small.

The Vineyard

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle farms just 0.30 hectare—less than one acre—of Corton-Charlemagne. Its parcel is located on the Pernand-Vergelesses side of the hill, facing west, and is planted with approximately 45-year-old Chardonnay vines. The soils contain a high proportion of limestone and marl, contributing to the wine’s firm mineral backbone, chalky texture and naturally persistent finish.

Production is correspondingly tiny, making this one of the domaine’s rarest and most sought-after bottlings.

The Grape

100% Chardonnay. Corton-Charlemagne is reserved exclusively for white Grand Cru Burgundy produced from Chardonnay. In this remarkable terroir, the grape develops considerable body and concentration while retaining the acidity, mineral tension and definition necessary for extended bottle aging.

Winemaking

Following harvest and sorting, the grapes are whole-cluster pressed. After a short settling of the juice, fermentation takes place in barrel with native yeasts. The wine is then matured in barrel for approximately 12 to 18 months, depending upon the character of the vintage, followed by a light fining before bottling.

Jasper Morris noted that the 2023 was produced from five barrels, with the fruit pressed without prior crushing and one barrel reserved for a longer period of élevage.

Tasting Notes

The 2023 opens with expansive aromas of lemon, ripe apple, fresh citrus, crushed stone and discreetly toasted oak. With air, additional notes of white flowers, orchard fruit and subtle spice begin to emerge.

The palate is broad and expressive yet beautifully controlled, supported by vibrant acidity and a firm, steely mineral backbone. Ripe citrus and apple flavors are layered with chalk, stone and finely integrated oak. There is impressive depth through the middle of the palate, followed by a long, focused and seemingly endless finish marked by freshness, chalky texture and mouthwatering mineral persistence.

This is a powerful yet precise Corton-Charlemagne: already expressive, but structured to reward patient cellaring.

Professional Ratings

95 Points Wine Spectator This white is expansive and expressive, with lemon, apple tart, citronella, stone and toasty oak aromas and flavors. Delineated by vibrant acidity, with well-integrated oak and a chalky feel on the seemingly endless finish.

94 Points — Jasper Morris, MW, Inside Burgundy 5 barrels, without crushing before pressing, one will be kept back for a longer elevage. Quite a deep yellow. The bouquet is very different to Pierre Meurgey’s Corton-Charlemagne (more or less the same fruit but some was crushed), the Clos de la Chapelle version offering more precision but less character. This version has a steely backbone, some ripe citrus, a little flesh, medium tension, apples at the back. Just needs a little more tension for the 4th star. Barrel Sample: 92-94

The Domaine

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle is based in Volnay and takes its name from the historic Volnay Premier Cru Clos de la Chapelle monopole, acquired by Victor Boillot in 1865. After remaining with the Boillot family for nearly 150 years, the estate was acquired in 2010 by Burgundy enthusiast Mark O’Connell and his Burgundian partners.

Today, the domaine cultivates approximately five hectares divided among 16 vineyards, including prized Premier Cru and Grand Cru parcels in Volnay, Pommard, Beaune, Meursault and Corton. Annual production is extremely limited, totaling approximately 2,000 cases across the entire estate.

Food Pairing and Service

Serve at approximately 54–57°F. This structured, mineral-driven white Burgundy is an exceptional partner for lobster, scallops, halibut, sea bass, crab, roast poultry, veal in cream sauce, escargots and richly textured cheeses such as Comté or Délice de Bourgogne.

While the wine may be enjoyed young with decanting, Corton-Charlemagne is renowned for its ability to develop for decades. Additional bottle age will allow its citrus, stone and oak elements to integrate while revealing more complex notes of honey, toasted nuts, truffle and spice.

Region: Burgundy, France
Subregion: Côte de Beaune
Appellation: Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru
Village Area: Pernand-Vergelesses side of the Hill of Corton
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyard Holding: 0.30 hectare
Vine Age: Approximately 45 years
Soil: Limestone and marl
Wine Type: Dry white wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2023

Domaine Thillardon · Vibrations · Chénas, Beaujolais · 2024

Domaine Thillardon, founded in 2008 by Paul-Henri Thillardon in Chénas, in the north of Beaujolais , embodies the energy of a new generation of committed winegrowers, in love with their terroir and resolutely turned towards a living viticulture. Joined by his brother Charles, the duo now cultivates a dozen hectares biodynamically, on the most beautiful granite and clay-siliceous terroirs of Chénas and Moulin-à-Vent.

A holistic and regenerative approach to the vine.  Animals, agroforestry and biodiversity in action
Committed to a holistic approach to the vine, they have reintroduced animals into the estate's ecosystem—cows, pigs, horses, poultry—and practice agroforestry to enrich biodiversity and regenerate the soil.

Manual work and natural winemaking without additives.  The vines are worked by horse, the grapes are harvested by hand, then vatted in whole bunches by gravity, without any oenological input . The vinifications are gentle, without pumping over or punching down, followed by patient aging in concrete vats or old barrels, without filtration or sulfur added at bottling.

Vibrant, deep and emblematic Gamay vintages The result: wines of great purity, vibrant, with silky textures and nuanced expressions of Gamay.  Domaine Thillardon is today an essential reference for lovers of precise, sincere natural wines deeply rooted in their terroir.

Domaine Thillardon Vibrations is a lively, fresh Beaujolais blending Chénas terroirs. Bright red fruit and silky tannins give this Gamay an inviting, fluid character for relaxed meals and easygoing gatherings.

Producer & Origins

The four Thillardon siblings, three brothers and one sister, combine winemaking with a homesteading life, raising livestock and growing vegetables. Their work in Chénas highlights the diversity of this lesser-known corner of Beaujolais.

Tasting Notes

The existing Vibrations note emphasizes freshness, bright red fruit, and silky tannins. Its lightness and fluidity make it a wine to explore with a slight chill and a simple meal.

Editorial Note

Tom Wolf: The four Thillardon siblings—three brothers and one sister—are homesteaders. They raise livestock, grow their own vegetables, and make wine from the gnarled, untrained Gamay vines that grow behind their home. Vibrations, which is a blend of Chénas terroirs, is a lively and fresh Beaujolais, with bright red fruit and silky tannins. Vive la révolution!

Pairing Suggestions

Try with charcuterie, roast chicken, grilled vegetables, or a mushroom tart. Serve slightly chilled as a serving suggestion to explore its fresh fruit character.

Details

• Producer: Domaine Thillardon
• Cuvée: Vibrations
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Chénas
• Region: Beaujolais
• Country: France
• Grape: Gamay
• Bottle size: 750ml

Fresh red fruit and silky texture from a blend of Chénas terroirs.

94 Points — Vinous

The prestige bottling. The finest vintage. The most celebrated designation in grower Champagne. Henri Goutorbe's 2015 Cuvée Special Club is the house at its most refined and expressive — a Pinot Noir-driven vintage Champagne from Aÿ Grand Cru, produced under the Special Club designation reserved for top members of the Club Trésors de Champagne. Disgorged October 2024 after nearly a decade in the cellar, it captures both the personality of the generous 2015 vintage and the pedigree of one of Champagne's most celebrated villages.

The Special Club Designation

The Club Trésors de Champagne is an association of elite grower-producers committed to expressing individual terroir and village character. Members may only release a Special Club bottling in years they deem exceptional, and each wine must pass a blind tasting panel before it can carry the designation. The distinctive embossed bottle is a guarantee of quality, provenance and the producer's highest ambitions for that vintage.

The Place: Aÿ Grand Cru

Henri Goutorbe is based in Aÿ, one of Champagne's 17 Grand Cru villages and the historic heartland of Pinot Noir in the Vallée de la Marne. Aÿ's south-facing slopes, deep chalk soils and warm mesoclimate allow Pinot Noir to achieve exceptional ripeness and concentration, producing wines with body, ripe red and dark fruit, and a distinctly vinous character. The village's chalk-rich geology preserves freshness and mineral tension, preventing the wines from becoming heavy or overripe.

The Blend

The 2015 Special Club is composed of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, sourced from the estate's finest Grand Cru parcels in Aÿ. Pinot Noir provides the wine's structure, depth and ripe red-fruit character; Chardonnay contributes freshness, lift and the mineral precision that gives the wine its elegant, long-lived profile.

The 2015 Vintage

The warm, generous 2015 growing season produced concentrated, expressive fruit throughout Champagne. In Aÿ, Pinot Noir achieved excellent ripeness while retaining the acidity and structure necessary for extended aging. The vintage delivered the depth and personality required for a Special Club bottling — a wine designed to reward patience and develop complexity over many years in the cellar.

Winemaking and Aging

The grapes are harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Vinification follows traditional methods, with fermentation in temperature-controlled tanks and extended aging on the lees in bottle. The wine was disgorged in October 2024 — nearly a decade after the harvest — allowing it to develop the layered complexity, refined mousse and subtle oxidative depth that define a mature prestige Champagne.

Tasting Notes

The 2015 Special Club opens with layered aromas of kirsch, cinnamon, dried flowers, ginger, citrus confit and marzipan. With air, notes of ripe orchard fruit, baked apple, toasted brioche, roasted nuts and subtle pastry cream emerge, underscored by delicate mineral tension.

The palate is broad and vinous yet precise, with fine mousse, impressive concentration and a long, elegant finish marked by pear, lemon curd, spice and chalky tension. Vinous describes the finish as deceptively long and understated — a thing of beauty — and notes that the wine has been gently shaped by the passage of time in a way that reveals the essence of Aÿ in a ten-year-old Champagne.

Professional Ratings

94 Points — Vinous (December 2025): The 2015 Special Club is a very pretty, expressive wine that captures the essence of Aÿ in a ten-year-old Champagne. Kirsch, cinnamon, dried flowers, ginger, citrus confit and marzipan all caress the palate. Readers looking for a Champagne that has been gently shaped by the passage of time will find that here. The deceptively long, understated finish is a thing of beauty. This is one of the finest Champagnes I have tasted from Goutorbe in some time. Disgorged October 2024.

The Producer

Henri Goutorbe is a historic family grower-producer based in Aÿ Grand Cru. The estate has farmed its own vineyards for generations and produces a range of Champagnes that reflect the depth, richness and mineral character of Aÿ terroir. The Goutorbe style is built around ripe Pinot Noir, careful vineyard work and traditional winemaking — producing Champagnes that are expressive, structured and age-worthy.

Food Pairing

Rich enough to enjoy on its own, the Special Club pairs beautifully with lobster, scallops, roast chicken, truffle dishes, foie gras, creamy cheeses and elegant seafood preparations. Its depth and Pinot Noir structure also make it an excellent partner for duck, veal and mushroom-based dishes.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 50–54°F in a generous tulip-shaped Champagne glass or white-wine glass. Already showing beautifully, the 2015 has the structure and concentration to develop additional complexity through the early 2030s.

Producer: Henri Goutorbe
Cuvée: Cuvée Special Club
Vintage: 2015
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Aÿ Grand Cru
Classification: Grand Cru
Style: Vintage Brut Champagne
Blend: 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay
Disgorgement: October 2024
Harvest: Hand harvested
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pierre Paillard Champagne Extra-Brut Grand Cru Bouzy Les Terres Roses XIX | 750ml | Bouzy Grand Cru, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France

Pierre Paillard's Les Terres Roses XIX is a refined and vinous rosé Champagne produced entirely from the Grand Cru vineyards of Bouzy, one of the Montagne de Reims' most celebrated villages. Bouzy is particularly renowned for its powerful, deeply flavored Pinot Noir, while its chalk-rich soils bring freshness, structure and mineral definition to the finished wine.

The XIX release is based primarily on the 2019 harvest and is composed of approximately 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir. Five percent of the blend is Bouzy Rouge — a still red wine made from old-vine Pinot Noir — which contributes the cuvée's delicate color, red-fruit character and subtle tannic structure.

Fermentation takes place in oak, followed by approximately three years of aging on the lees before disgorgement. A low dosage of 2 grams per liter preserves the wine's dry, precise Extra-Brut character while allowing the richness of the Bouzy fruit to remain beautifully expressive.

Pale pink in color, Les Terres Roses XIX opens with pure aromas of raspberry, red currant, wild strawberry and cherry, joined by notes of grapefruit, mandarin, iris blossom and crushed chalk. The palate is generous yet finely structured, balancing ripe red fruit with vibrant citrus acidity, a creamy mousse and a subtle touch of toast from its oak fermentation and extended lees aging.

The finish is long, dry and mineral-driven, with lingering notes of red berries, citrus peel, almond and saline chalk. It is both elegant enough to serve as an aperitif and sufficiently structured for the table.

Food Pairing

An excellent pairing with smoked salmon, tuna tartare, lobster, grilled shrimp, roast poultry, duck, charcuterie, mushroom dishes and soft-ripened cheeses. Serve well chilled in a white-wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass.

Wine Details

• Producer: Champagne Pierre Paillard
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Village: Bouzy
• Area: Montagne de Reims
• Cuvée: Les Terres Roses XIX
• Base Harvest: Primarily 2019
• Wine Type: Rosé Champagne, Extra Brut
• Blend: Approximately 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir, including 5% Bouzy Rouge
• Farming: Certified organic
• Fermentation: Oak
• Lees Aging: Approximately 3 years
• Dosage: 2 grams per liter
• Classification: Grand Cru, Extra Brut
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Pinot Noir — California 2024

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi is California's most trusted everyday wine brand, and this Pinot Noir is a textbook expression of the approachable, fruit-forward style that has made it a household name. Sourced from vineyards across California and crafted to highlight the soft, silky character that defines the varietal, it delivers genuine Pinot Noir pleasure at under $8 — a benchmark for what everyday California red can be. Light-bodied, smooth, and endlessly versatile at the table, it is the kind of wine that earns a permanent spot in the rack.

The nose opens with inviting aromas of ripe strawberries, red cherries, and raspberries, with subtle notes of vanilla and light oak. On the palate, flavors of red berries, plum, and a hint of mocha unfold with soft, silky tannins and a smooth, clean finish. Fermented to preserve the delicate fruit character and fresh acidity that define this approachable California Pinot Noir style.

"Aromas of ripe strawberries, red cherries, and raspberries with subtle vanilla and oak. Soft, silky tannins with a smooth, fruit-forward finish." — Winemaker Notes 

• Producer: Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi, California
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: California
• Varietal: Pinot Noir
• Style: Light-bodied, soft, fruit-forward California Pinot Noir
• Vinification: Fermented to preserve delicate red fruit character and fresh acidity
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Strawberries, red cherries, raspberries, plum, vanilla, mocha, silky finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now
• Best Paired With: Grilled salmon, roast chicken, mushroom risotto, charcuterie, brie

An everyday California Pinot Noir that punches well above its price — Woodbridge is the reliable, crowd-pleasing red that belongs on every table.

Guy Charlemagne Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime — Le Mesnil-sur-Oger 2015

Guy Charlemagne's Mésnillésime is the estate's most serious statement — a single-vintage, single-village Blanc de Blancs drawn exclusively from old vines averaging 58 years of age, rooted in the chalk-rich Grand Cru soils of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The 2015 vintage delivered a warm, concentrated expression of Chardonnay, vinified partly in oak barrels without malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine's tension and mineral purity. After approximately six years of lees aging, it was disgorged with a dosage of just 3 g/L — firmly Extra Brut — allowing the terroir of Le Mesnil to speak without interference.

In the glass, pale gold with green highlights and a fine, persistent mousse. The bouquet opens with candied lemon, ripe apple, pear, acacia honey, and white flowers, deepening with air into brioche, toasted almond, flint, and a delicate iodine-like smokiness. The palate is rich yet precise — ripe orchard fruit and candied citrus layered with pastry, subtle oak, and chalky minerality, carried by bright acidity to a long, saline finish of citrus zest, flint, and vanilla. A gastronomic Champagne built for the table: oysters, caviar, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, or aged Comté.

Wine Enthusiast 95 • Vinous 90 — "Done in a light-bodied, ethereal style. Dried lemon peel, crushed flowers, chamomile and dried herbs show the gentle patina of age."

• Producer: Guy Charlemagne, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2015
• Appellation: Champagne Grand Cru
• Village: Le Mesnil-sur-Oger
• Cuvée: Vieilles Vignes Mésnillésime
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Vinification: Partially aged in oak; no malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: Approximately 3 g/L
• Lees Aging: Approximately six years
• Size: 750ml
• Serving Temperature: 48–54°F
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, lobster, roasted turbot, sole meunière, aged Comté
• Cellar Potential: Enjoy now or cellar for further development

A 95-point grower Champagne from one of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger's most dedicated estates — old vines, low dosage, and six years on lees make this one of the most compelling Blanc de Blancs available today.

R. Pouillon & Fils | Méthode Fabrice Pouillon — Chemin du Bois | Extra-Brut | Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne | 2018 | Organic & Biodynamic

R. Pouillon & Fils is one of Champagne's most exciting and principled grower-producers, based in the Premier Cru village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne. Fabrice Pouillon farms his vineyards according to organic and biodynamic principles, with close attention paid to soil health, vine balance, and full physiological ripeness at harvest.

Chemin du Bois is one of Fabrice Pouillon's most innovative and daring Champagnes — created to demonstrate how thoughtful farming, natural ripeness, and minimal intervention can reshape the traditional Champagne method. Produced entirely from Pinot Noir grown in the single Chemin du Bois vineyard in Mareuil-sur-Aÿ on clay-limestone soils, this cuvée is defined by Pouillon's proprietary Méthode Fabrice Pouillon — a radical departure from conventional Champagne production.

Conventional Champagne permits the addition of externally sourced sugar at three stages: chaptalization, the prise de mousse that creates the bubbles, and dosage after disgorgement. Chemin du Bois uses none of it. Instead, approximately 15% of the juice is reserved in stainless steel until spring. The remaining juice ferments spontaneously with ambient yeasts in neutral barrels. After approximately 12 months, the finished base wine is blended with the reserved grape juice, initiating a second natural fermentation entirely from the estate's own fruit. When dosage is used, it too is prepared from grape juice rather than refined sugar. The result is a Champagne of remarkable purity, individuality, and direct terroir connection.

Full-bodied and muscular, the 2018 combines the generosity and warmth of the vintage with Pouillon's characteristic precision. Ripe orchard fruit, citrus peel, red apple, and subtle red-fruit tones joined by warm brioche, spice, toasted grain, and chalky minerality. On the palate, broad and textural with a powerful, gastronomic attack, a layered mid-palate supported by vibrant acidity, a persistent mousse, and a long, enveloping finish. Despite its breadth and concentration, the wine remains energetic and beautifully controlled.

A profound, vinous Champagne intended as much for the table as for celebration. Pair with roast poultry, veal, pork, lobster, seared scallops, mushroom dishes, aged Comté, and other richly flavored cheeses.

• Producer: R. Pouillon & Fils
• Cuvée: Méthode Fabrice Pouillon — Chemin du Bois
• Style: Extra-Brut
• Appellation: Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Vallée de la Marne, Champagne, France
• Grape: Pinot Noir (100%)
• Vintage: 2018
• Farming: Organic & biodynamic principles
• Soils: Clay-limestone; single vineyard Chemin du Bois
• Fermentation: Ambient yeasts in neutral barrels; no externally sourced sugar at any stage
• Secondary Fermentation: Initiated by reserved estate grape juice (15% of harvest)
• Élevage: ~12 months in oak casks; full malolactic fermentation
• Dosage: Extra-Brut (estate grape juice only)
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2018

• Wine Advocate — 92 pts: Full-bodied and muscular — broad-shouldered and textural opening developing into a layered and flavorful mid-palate. Vibrant acidity provides energy and definition, while the long, enveloping finish captures the warmth and generosity of the 2018 vintage.

R. Pouillon & Fils | Les Terres Froides | Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut | Tauxières-Mutry, Montagne de Reims, Champagne | 2020 | Organic

R. Pouillon & Fils is one of Champagne's most exciting and principled grower-producers, based in the Premier Cru village of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ in the Vallée de la Marne. Fabrice Pouillon farms his vineyards with rigorous organic principles and biodynamic practices — emphasizing healthy soils, balanced vines, careful observation, and minimal intervention, allowing each vineyard's natural character to remain at the center of the finished Champagne.

Les Terres Froides — "the cold lands" — is a precise and mineral-driven Blanc de Blancs from a distinctive single vineyard in the village of Tauxières-Mutry, within the Montagne de Reims. Fabrice Pouillon farms approximately half a hectare in the lieu-dit Les Fourches, southwest of Tauxières-Mutry and close to Tours-sur-Marne. The vineyard's northern exposure and cool microclimate contribute to a long, gradual ripening season, preserving exceptional freshness, acidity, and aromatic precision. Tauxières-Mutry was historically awarded a 99% rating under the échelle des crus classification — just one point below Grand Cru status — and the soils in this parcel contain a higher proportion of chalk than those closer to the village, creating an exceptional environment for Chardonnay.

The wine is vinified in a combination of neutral barriques and traditional enameled tanks, undergoes malolactic fermentation, and is raised for approximately eight months before bottling — a restrained approach that preserves the freshness and saline character of the Chardonnay while adding subtle texture and complexity.

Lemon zest, crisp green apple, white peach, pear, and delicate white flowers on the nose, evolving into crushed chalk, oyster shell, fresh bread, and subtle spice. On the palate, taut, focused, and beautifully delineated — bright citrus and orchard fruit carried by vibrant acidity and a fine, persistent mousse. A pronounced chalky minerality gives the wine tension and exceptional length. The Extra-Brut dosage keeps the finish dry, refreshing, and laser-precise.

For Chablis drinkers. For those who would rather begin a meal with oysters and end it with nothing but a refill. This is Champagne at its absolute finest.

Pair with oysters, shellfish, caviar, sushi, grilled fish, scallops, goat cheese, fresh cheeses, and lightly prepared poultry.

• Producer: R. Pouillon & Fils
• Cuvée: Les Terres Froides Blanc de Blancs
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra-Brut
• Appellation: Tauxières-Mutry, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Grape: Chardonnay (100%)
• Vintage: 2020
• Farming: Organic with biodynamic principles
• Vineyard: Les Terres Froides (lieu-dit of Les Fourches); northern exposure; ~0.5 ha
• Soils: Chalk-rich clay-limestone; 99% échelle des crus
• Vinification: Neutral barriques & enameled tanks; malolactic fermentation
• Élevage: ~8 months before bottling
• Dosage: Extra-Brut
• Alcohol: 12% ABV
• Bottle Size: 750ml

J. Vignier Silexus Sezannensis Brut — Côte de Sézanne 2016 Base

The name says it all: Silexus Sezannensis is a Champagne defined entirely by its soil. Drawn from the Chatet parcel near Saudoy in the Côte de Sézanne — where four of the Vignier family’s twelve hectares are planted — this 100% Chardonnay cuvée grows on a complex mixture of silex and sand over deep Cretaceous chalk, with marl, clay, and silica adding further texture and character. The dark flint stones absorb warmth during the day and release it slowly around the vines at night, encouraging even ripening and full Chardonnay maturity. The underlying chalk preserves freshness, acidity, and a pronounced mineral drive. Vinified in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation and aged a minimum of 84 months en tirage, the 2016 base emerges with depth, integration, and a flinty character that is unmistakably its own. Certified sustainable by Socofret.

Expressive and mineral-driven on the nose: ripe citrus, yellow apple, white peach, and delicate flowers, with subtle brioche, almond, and crushed stone emerging with air. The palate is generous yet focused — fine bubbles, bright acidity, and a distinctive flinty, smoky character that carries through the long, dry finish. The Sézanne terroir gives the wine a broader, more expressive texture than the northern Côte des Blancs, while the silex soils keep it precise, taut, and deeply mineral.

“Silexus Sezannensis is a Champagne of place above all else — silex and chalk in Saudoy, rendered with 84 months of patience and a clarity of terroir that is rare at any price.”

• Producer: J. Vignier, Côte de Sézanne, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2016
• Appellation: Champagne
• Village: Saudoy, Côte de Sézanne
• Vineyard: Chatet (south-facing)
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Soil: Silex and sand over Cretaceous chalk, with marl, clay and silica
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation
• Lees Aging: Minimum 84 months en tirage
• Residual Sugar: 5.3 g/L | Acidity: 4.6 g/L | pH: 3.07 | Alcohol: 12.5%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Citrus, yellow apple, white peach, white flowers, brioche, almond, crushed stone, flinty smokiness, long dry finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, sushi, roasted white fish, poultry, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses

2016 base. 84 months en tirage. Single parcel in Saudoy. J. Vignier’s Silexus Sezannensis is Côte de Sézanne Blanc de Blancs at its most terroir-driven and compelling.

J. Vignier Les Abbesses Blanc de Blancs Brut — Côte de Sézanne 2015

Les Abbesses is J. Vignier’s single-vineyard expression of the Côte de Sézanne — a 100% Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs from one exceptional parcel in Vindey, a village whose name is believed to derive from the Latin vinum dei: “wine of God.” The vineyard is planted on a rare combination of silex and alluvial soils over deep Cretaceous chalk — the flint-rich surface absorbs warmth during the day, driving full Chardonnay maturity, while the underlying chalk preserves freshness, tension, and mineral precision. 2015 was the inaugural vintage of this cuvée. Vinified in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation and aged 60 months in bottle, it emerges with the depth and integration of a wine that has found its voice. Certified sustainable by Socofret.

Deep and self-possessed on the nose: white flowers, ripe orchard fruit, and fresh citrus, with subtle brioche and a focused mineral core emerging with air. The palate is elegant yet generous — fine bubbles, creamy texture, and a chalky freshness that carries through a long, dry, and graceful finish. The Sézanne terroir gives the wine a rounder, more expressive character than the northern Côte des Blancs, while the silex soils add a distinctive smoky, flinty edge that sets Les Abbesses apart.

“Les Abbesses is the inaugural expression of a remarkable terroir — silex and chalk in Vindey, the village of the ‘wine of God,’ rendered with precision and generosity in equal measure.”

• Producer: J. Vignier, Côte de Sézanne, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2015 (inaugural release)
• Appellation: Champagne
• Village: Vindey, Côte de Sézanne
• Vineyard: Les Abbesses (single-vineyard)
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Brut
• Soil: Silex and alluvium over deep Cretaceous chalk
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by Socofret
• Vinification: Stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation
• Bottle Aging: 60 months
• Residual Sugar: 4.5 g/L | Acidity: 4.4 g/L | pH: 3.08 | Alcohol: 12.3%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White flowers, orchard fruit, citrus, brioche, silex smokiness, chalky minerality, long dry finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, caviar, scallops, lobster, roasted white fish, creamy poultry, mushroom risotto, soft-ripened cheeses

2015 vintage. 60 months in bottle. A single parcel in Vindey — silex over chalk. J. Vignier’s Les Abbesses is Côte de Sézanne Blanc de Blancs at its most distinctive and compelling.

Pascal Doquet Champs Libres Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut — Côte des Blancs 2018 Base

Pascal Doquet is one of the leading certified organic growers of the Côte des Blancs, and Champs Libres — "Free Fields" — is his most wide-ranging Blanc de Blancs, drawing 100% Chardonnay from six distinct vineyard sources: Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Villeneuve, Mont Aimé, Bassuet, and Bassu. Where his Arpège focuses on Premier Cru terroir, Champs Libres casts a broader net, assembling a cuvée of genuine complexity and breadth. The 2018 base was fermented in tank with full malolactic fermentation to soften the vintage's naturally high acidity while preserving freshness and mineral definition. Finished at approximately 2–3 g/L dosage, the Extra Brut style keeps the wine focused, dry, and expressive. Rated 92 points by James Suckling and 90 by The Wine Advocate.

The nose is vivid and refined: warm apple, baked pear, and citrus open to white flowers, orange peel, pastry spice, and a subtle touch of nougat. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and finely textured — delicate bubbles, lively acidity, and a distinctly chalky, saline mineral character. Fresh green apple, citrus, and lightly savory pastry lead into a clean, energetic, and persistent finish. James Suckling calls it "laser-focused… with lively energy and a delicious finish."

James Suckling 92 • Wine Advocate 90 — "A vivid, crisp and laser-focused Blanc de Blancs with aromas of warm apples, baked pears and pastry spices… lively energy and a delicious finish." — James Suckling

• Producer: Pascal Doquet, Côte des Blancs, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2018
• Appellation: Champagne
• Vineyard Sources: Vertus, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Villeneuve, Mont Aimé, Bassuet & Bassu
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs, Extra Brut
• Dosage: ~2–3 g/L
• Fermentation: Tank; full malolactic fermentation
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Alcohol: 12.5%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Warm apple, baked pear, citrus, white flowers, orange peel, pastry spice, nougat, chalky minerality, saline finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shellfish, sushi, grilled fish, roast chicken, soft-ripened cheeses, aged goat cheese

92 points from James Suckling. Six vineyard sources. Certified organic. Pascal Doquet's Champs Libres is Côte des Blancs Blanc de Blancs at its most expressive and accessible.

Yann Alexandre Grande Réserve 1er Cru Brut — Champagne 2015 Base

Yann Alexandre's Grande Réserve is a benchmark Premier Cru grower Champagne assembled from four carefully selected vineyard parcels in the villages of Coulommes-la-Montagne, Villedommange, and Vrigny. Compared with his Brut Noir, the vineyard imprint here is more distinctly calcareous — giving the wine pronounced chalky minerality, structure, and freshness. The blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, and 10% Pinot Meunier is fermented 80% in stainless steel and 20% in neutral oak, then aged seven years en tirage in the Alexandre family's cool cellar. The result is a deeply gastronomic Champagne of rare precision and sense of place.

Wet clay and stone on the nose combine with buttery shortcrust pastry and a delicate edge of honey. The concentrated palate shows beautiful evolution — honeycomb, chewy beeswax, and a rich, structured body lifted by brisk, fine bubbles. The finish is long and saline, emphasizing the wine's chalky mineral drive and impeccable balance between maturity and freshness.

"Deeply gastronomic and impressively sustained — a Premier Cru Champagne of rare precision and sense of place."

• Producer: Yann & Séverine Alexandre, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Base Vintage: 2015
• Appellation: Champagne Premier Cru
• Vineyard Sources: Four parcels in Coulommes-la-Montagne, Villedommange & Vrigny
• Blend: 45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier
• Reserve Wine: 40%
• Vinification: 80% stainless steel, 20% neutral oak; malolactic fermentation
• Lees Aging: Seven years en tirage
• Acidity: 4.67 g/L | pH: 3.02 | Alcohol: 12%
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by OCACIA
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Wet clay, stone, shortcrust pastry, honey, honeycomb, beeswax, chalky minerality, saline finish
• Best Paired With: Roast chicken, turkey, veal, lobster, scallops, grilled fish, creamy mushroom dishes, aged cheeses

Seven years on the lees, four Premier Cru parcels, and a 2015 base of exceptional depth — Yann Alexandre's Grande Réserve is grower Champagne at its most compelling.

J. Vignier Aux Origines Blanc de Blancs Brut Champagne (2017 Base)

“Aux Origines” — where it all began — is a deeply personal Champagne that honors the roots of the Vignier family’s winemaking history. Produced entirely from Chardonnay grown in Les Simarts, the first vineyards planted by Nathalie Vignier’s grandparents, Marie-Louise and Paul, in the village of Barbonne-Fayel during the 1960s, this is a wine of place, memory, and exceptional craft. The Côte de Sézanne’s clay and sandy soils over chalk yield generous, expressive Chardonnay with both ripe fruit character and the chalky minerality that defines great Champagne. Fermented in stainless steel with full malolactic fermentation, rested seven months on fine lees, then aged a minimum of 36 months in bottle before disgorgement — the result is a Blanc de Blancs of remarkable depth, texture, and elegance.

• Producer: J. Vignier
• Cuvée: Aux Origines
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Region: Côte de Sézanne, Champagne, France
• Vineyard: Les Simarts, Barbonne-Fayel
• Base Vintage: 2017
• Size: 750ml
• Farming: Certified Sustainable (Socofret)
• Vinification: Stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation; 7 months on fine lees; 36+ months bottle aging
• Alcohol: 12.5%

Pairs beautifully with oysters, caviar, shellfish, sushi, delicate white fish, soft cheeses, or light poultry. Serve well chilled.

Pride Mountain Vineyards sits at 2,100 feet elevation on the Napa-Sonoma border, straddling the county line in a way that is as unique as the wines it produces. Above the fog layer, bathed in sunshine from morning to evening, with warm mornings and cool afternoons, the vineyard's growing conditions are unlike anywhere else in California — producing wines of extraordinary intensity, varietal character, and natural acidity that age gracefully for decades.

The Pride Mountain Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 2022 750ml is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc, sourced 64% from the Sonoma side of the property and 36% from Napa. Aged 18 months in 50% new and 50% neutral French oak, it opens with aromas of blackberry, crème de cassis, sage, tobacco leaf, and cedar, with delicate hints of violet emerging as it opens. The palate is full-bodied yet nuanced, with fine tannins, integrated acidity, and a beautiful tension between fruit, floral, and savory herbal notes. Built to age gracefully over the next 20 years.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

• James Suckling — 95 Points: "Classic aromas of blackcurrants, dark cherries, cedar and graphite. Full-bodied with fine tannins and integrated acidity. Well balanced and refined, with a drying finish."
• Wine Advocate — 92 Points: "Plush and velvety with scents of dried herbs, black olives and black cherries. Mountain tannins nicely managed — present but ripe and soft, lingering pleasantly on the finish."
• Vinous — 91 Points: "Aromatic, savory and light on its feet. Crushed rose petal, sage, mint and blood orange lend notable lift and brightness. A distinctly red-fruited Cabernet."
• Jeb Dunnuck — 90 Points: "Darker currants, leafy herbs, underbrush, and a kiss of menthol. Medium-bodied with a nicely balanced, charming mouthfeel."

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Blackberry, crème de cassis, sage, tobacco leaf, cedar, and violet
• Palate: Full-bodied with Damson plum, licorice, boysenberry, and fine tannins
• Finish: Long, refined, and drying with excellent structure

Wine Details

• 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc
• Napa-Sonoma border — 2,100ft elevation
• Aged 18 months in 50% new French oak
• Vintage: 2022 | Age 20+ years | 750ml

Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano Barolo DOCG — Piedmont, Italy 2022

Michele Chiarlo has been vinifying the essence of Piedmont since 1956 — one of the region’s most visionary and historically significant producers. Founder Michele Chiarlo was among the first in Italy to introduce malolactic fermentation, and long before DOC laws were adopted, he was already aging his wines in oak and bottle for extended periods. Today the estate farms the finest crus of Barolo, Barbaresco, Nizza, and Gavi, using indigenous grapes — Nebbiolo, Barbera, Cortese, Moscato — to express the full depth of Piedmontese terroir. Tortoniano takes its name from the Tortonian-era soils in which the vines are planted — ancient marine sediments laid down 9 million years ago, rich in magnesium and manganese, that give the wine its distinctive mineral character and longevity. Grape clusters are thinned and harvested up to 15 days later than usual for maximum concentration, then aged two years in large oak casks and one year in bottle before release. 

Garnet with brilliant luminous hues. The nose is inviting and complex: rose petals, juniper berries, and fine spices — the unmistakable signature of great Nebbiolo. On the palate, it is elegant with ample structure and silky tannins, and a long, refined finish that speaks clearly of its ancient soils. A Barolo of real depth and class.

• Producer: Michele Chiarlo, Calamandrana, Piedmont, Italy (est. 1956)
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Barolo DOCG
• Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo — Tortonian-era soils (9 million years old), rich in magnesium & manganese
• Aging: 2 years in large oak casks + 1 year in bottle before release
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Rose petals, juniper berries, fine spices, elegant structure, silky tannins, long refined finish
• Best Paired With: Mushroom pasta, roasted fowl, braised beef, matured cheeses, truffle dishes

A 9-million-year-old terroir in a glass — Michele Chiarlo Tortoniano is the benchmark for what classic Barolo can be.

Michele Chiarlo Reyna Barbaresco DOCG — Piedmont, Italy 2023

Barbaresco is known as the queen of Italian wine — and Reyna (“queen” in Piedmontese dialect) is Michele Chiarlo’s tribute to that regal character. Sourced from steep hillside vineyards in Barbaresco and Neive, facing southeast and southwest, the vines are planted in bluish-grey calcareous clay marl rich in microelements — the same ancient soils that define the finest expressions of Nebbiolo in the Langhe. Grapes are hand-harvested 10–15 days later than normal for maximum ripeness and concentration, then fermented at controlled temperatures, put through malolactic fermentation, and aged 18 months in large casks of French Allier and Slavonian oak before bottle aging. James Suckling awarded it 92 points. 

Garnet red with brilliant hues. The nose is fine and expressive: small red fruits, rose petals, tea leaves, prunes, black cherries, licorice, and smashed flowers with a deep rhubarb undertone. On the palate, it is medium-bodied with firm, dusty yet polished tannins, brilliant acidity, and a long, tight, aristocratic finish full of flavor. Drink now or hold.

James Suckling 92 (Aldo Fiordelli) — “A ripe, fruity style, showing prunes, black cherries, licorice and bark, plus vibrant smashed flowers and a deep rhubarb undertone. Medium-bodied, offering firm, dusty yet polished tannins, with brilliant acidity and a tight, tense finish.” (Vintage 2023). 

• Producer: Michele Chiarlo, Calamandrana, Piedmont, Italy (est. 1956)
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Barbaresco DOCG
• Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo — Barbaresco & Neive, bluish-grey calcareous clay marl
• Aging: 18 months in large French Allier & Slavonian oak casks + bottle aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Red fruits, rose petals, tea leaves, prunes, black cherry, licorice, smashed flowers, polished tannins
• Best Paired With: Risotto, braised veal shank, lamb with herbs, truffle dishes, aged Parmigiano

The queen of Italian wine from one of Piedmont’s founding estates — Michele Chiarlo Reyna is the benchmark for what classic Barbaresco can be.

MONTES ALPHA MALBEC VALLE DE COLCHAGUA 2023 | 750ML

🇨🇱 Chile — Malbec | Valle de Colchagua

Deep ruby red with an intense violet hue. The nose focuses around pronounced aromas of ripe sour cherries, violets, and wildflowers, while a touch of crème de cassis, jam, and anise round out the aromatic profile. The generous palate has tremendous volume, and perfectly round tannins lend structure to a long, lingering finish.

“We always seek to go further — this time, we wanted to go higher, to go beyond wisdom. It is challenging, and you need two wings to fly.”

A creative flight of two generations: our founder Aurelio Montes and his son of the same name, Aurelio Montes, embark on this creative journey that brings a unique Carménère to life.

— Aurelio Montes

Grape: Malbec
Region: Valle de Colchagua, Chile
Vintage: 2023
Format: 750ml

MONTES ALPHA CHARDONNAY ACONCAGUA COSTA 2023 | 750ML

🇨🇱 Chile — Chardonnay | Aconcagua Costa

Brilliant, light golden-yellow in color. The perfumed nose offers notes of cherimoya, ripe pineapple, pear, and banana, with a mineral undercurrent that speaks to the terroir. On the palate, crisp acidity complements a voluptuous structure and body, with flavors of grilled pineapple, spice-poached pear, and toasted hazelnut. The finish is long, elegant, and vibrant, with a lingering note of lemon peel.

Grown in the Aconcagua Costa region, where proximity to the Pacific Ocean and pronounced sea breezes allow Chardonnay to ripen slowly and completely. Soils range from sandy to clay-loam, lending enormous complexity and cold-climate typicity. Aged 35% in French oak barrels for 12 months.

Pairs well with: White meat, fish, and pasta.

92 Points — Wine Spectator
“Bright verbena and citrus blossom notes lead in this moderately rich style, with grilled pineapple and spice-poached pear flavors that are sleek in feel and linger, adding toasted hazelnut and lemon peel on the vibrant finish.” (Vintage 2023). 
— Aaron Romano

90 Points — Wine Enthusiast
“Hints of salt emerge on the nose of this medium-bodied Chardonnay. The creamy palate shows notes of citrus, spices, and herbs. Moderate freshness brings balance and drives the flavors through a lasting finish.” — Jesica Vargas. (Vintage 2023). 

Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Aconcagua Costa, Chile
Vintage: 2023
Format: 750ml
Scores: 92 pts Wine Spectator | 90 pts Wine Enthusiast

Domaine Michel Niellon · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru · Clos de la Maltroie · Burgundy · 2023

Domaine Michel Niellon is one of Chassagne-Montrachet’s most celebrated small estates — a benchmark producer whose premier cru holdings represent some of the finest terroir in the Côte de Beaune. Clos de la Maltroie is one of the appellation’s most distinguished premier cru climats: a walled enclosure with deep limestone soils that consistently produces Chardonnay of impressive weight, precision, and aging potential. Niellon’s approach is classically Burgundian — minimal intervention, terroir-driven, and built for the cellar. The 2023 vintage in Burgundy delivered wines of exceptional freshness and aromatic intensity, and the Clos de la Maltroie is no exception.

Golden lemon in the glass, the wine opens with aromas of tropical fruit, peach, pear, petrol, and hawthorn flowers. On the palate, succulent and concentrated — juicy peach, fresh pear, exotic fruits, and bright citrus lead to a lemon zest finish of real length and precision. Medium to full-bodied, lively, and tightly wound around bright acids and chalky extract. Ready soon but with the capacity to age gracefully for a decade or more.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Allen Meadows 90 Points | A more floral-suffused nose offers up vaguely exotic aromas of white peach, lychee and passion fruit along with just sliced citrus hints. I very much like the sense of underlying tension and caressing mouthfeel the barely middle weight flavors display before culminating in a balanced, long and agreeably dry finale. This too could use better depth but the development potential seems clear.

Expert Reviews — Prior Vintages

“Pale lemon color. The character shows more on the palate, white fruit with a little sucrosity. Ready soon but with capacity to age.”
— Wine Spectator · 92 Points

“Aromas of pear, beeswax, toasted nuts, white flowers and youthful reduction. A medium to full-bodied, lively and tightly wound young wine built around bright acids and chalky extract.”
— Wine Advocate · 91 Points

• Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
• Climat: Clos de la Maltroie
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Dry white — concentrated, mineral, chalky
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Tropical fruit, peach, pear, petrol, hawthorn, exotic fruit, lemon zest, chalky finish
• Pairings: Lobster, turbot, Dover sole, scallops, roast chicken with cream sauce, aged Comté
• Cellar: Drink now through 2035+

Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru — Clos de la Maltroie from one of Burgundy’s most meticulous small estates. Concentrated, chalky, and built to age.

Domaine Louis Jadot Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées — Burgundy 2022

Les Fuées is one of Chambolle-Musigny's 24 Premier Cru vineyards, distinguished by chalky soil over hard bedrock and an eastern exposure that imparts a signature mineral precision. Jadot's 2022 is a textbook expression of the site — feminine, elegant, and layered, with fine tannins and a core of red and dark fruit framed by spice, violet, and exotic tea. Fermented in vats for up to four weeks and aged 18–20 months in oak, this is a wine built for the cellar: 15–20 years of development potential. James Suckling awarded it 96 points, calling it “outstanding.”

The nose is fragrant and cool: flowers, ripe plums, blood orange, cinnamon, exotic tea, and peonies. On the palate, medium to full body with velvety, saturated tannins and a succulent core of red and dark currant. The concentration is effortlessly offset by spicy acidity, fanning out on a long, mineral-driven finish of remarkable purity and tension. In a word, classy.

James Suckling 96 • Vinous 94 • Wine Advocate 94 • Burghound 92

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2022

James Suckling — 96 Points
"This big and at first subtle wine opens with fragrant flowers, ripe plums and cinnamon, fills the palate with richness on a full body, but then tightens up on the finish to show it has the structure to age well. Outstanding wine to drink now."

Vinous Media — 94 Points
"The 2022 Chambolle-Musigny Les Fuées 1er Cru, which Frédéric Barnier said suffered less during the growing season, is a conspicuous step up in complexity from the Les Baudes: much more mineralé and precision, far more terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins, the concentration effortlessly offset by the spice of acidity. It's quite spicy as it fans out on the finish. Excellent."

The Wine Advocate — 94 Points
"The 2022 Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées (Domaine Louis Jadot) is excellent, mingling aromas of sweet red berries with notions of blood orange, spices and peonies. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's deep and layered, with a succulent core of fruit and attractive purity and tension."

Burghound (Allen Meadows) — 92 Points
"This is aromatically quite cool and fresh as well as appealingly elegant on the mix of red and dark currant, exotic tea and violet-scented nose. The sleek, intense and succulent medium weight flavors aren't particularly concentrated yet the sap still manages to coat the palate on the lingering and balanced bitter pit fruit-inflected finale that is almost aggressively mineral-driven. This is a lovely and well-balanced Fuées with fine development potential, which is just as well as it does need to develop better depth. In a word, classy."

• Producer: Domaine Louis Jadot, Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru, Côte de Nuits, Burgundy
• Vineyard: Les Fuées — chalky soil over hard bedrock, eastern exposure
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vinification: Vat fermentation up to 4 weeks, 18–20 months oak aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Flowers, plum, blood orange, cinnamon, tea, peonies, red currant, mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 15–20 years
• Best Paired With: Duck breast, lamb chops, mushroom risotto, aged Comté, venison

A 96-point Premier Cru Burgundy from one of the Côte de Nuits’ most trusted addresses — Les Fuées at its most expressive.

Plush Upper Galilee Merlot with ripe dark fruit, spice and silky texture.

Dalton Estate Merlot 2023 is a rich, approachable expression of Merlot from Israel’s Upper Galilee, one of the country’s most important premium wine-growing regions. Generous and polished, the wine combines ripe fruit with gentle oak influence, delivering the supple texture and inviting character that make Merlot such an appealing and versatile red.

Deep purple in color, the wine opens with expressive aromas of ripe plum, black cherry and dark berries, complemented by notes of clove, fruit preserves and subtle vanilla. The palate is smooth and fruit-driven, with juicy cherry and plum flavors framed by soft tannins and gentle spice. Aging in seasoned oak adds complexity without overwhelming the freshness of the fruit, leading to a balanced, lingering finish.

The Merlot grapes are sourced from vineyards in the Upper Galilee and selectively harvested at optimal ripeness. Following fermentation, the wine is transferred to second- and third-use barrels for aging for up to a year. The restrained use of oak allows the varietal character and Galilee fruit to remain at the forefront.

Tasting Notes:
Plum • Black Cherry • Dark Berries • Clove • Vanilla • Baking Spice

Food Pairing:
A wonderfully versatile red for the table. Pair with beef brisket, roast chicken, grilled meats, lamb, casseroles, lasagna, mushroom dishes, burgers or aged cheeses. Its plush fruit and soft tannins also make it enjoyable on its own.

An excellent choice for the Rosh Hashanah table and other holiday gatherings.

Region: Upper Galilee, Israel
Grape: Merlot
Vintage: 2023
Style: Dry Red Wine
Alcohol: 14.5%
Kosher: Yes
Mevushal: No
Kosher for Passover: Yes
Vegan: Yes

Trediberri Barolo del Comune di La Morra — Piedmont 2022

Trediberri is one of La Morra’s most exciting young estates — a small, precision-focused domaine that has quickly earned a reputation for wines of exceptional purity and finesse. Their Barolo del Comune di La Morra is a single-commune bottling sourced primarily from the high-altitude Berri vineyard, with approximately 18% from the legendary Rocche dell’Annunziata cru. Aged 21 months in large Slavonian oak casks, the wine is built for transparency: no new oak, no extraction, no shortcuts — just the pure voice of La Morra Nebbiolo. The 2022 vintage, shaped by heat and drought, delivered lower yields and concentrated fruit; in the hands of Trediberri, the result is a wine of remarkable balance, freshness, and early approachability, with a drinking window stretching to 2036 and beyond.

The color is a classic translucent garnet. The nose is lifted and perfumed: cranberry, redcurrant, fresh cherry, rose petals, pepper, and brushwood, with hints of dried herbs and earth that take some coaxing — and reward patience. On the palate, it is tightly knit and slender but beautifully endowed: juicy red berries, cardamom, and floral tones framed by lively acidity and al dente tannins. There is a beautiful sense of tension and precision — no heaviness, just clarity and energy. The finish is long, mineral-driven, and classically Barolo.

Decanter 93 — “A quiet charmer. Precision and purity as its strengths — lively acidity meets al dente tannins. Do not take this for a pushover.” — Michaela Morris, Decanter. (Vintage 2022).

• Producer: Trediberri, La Morra, Piedmont, Italy
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Barolo DOCG — Comune di La Morra
• Varietal: 100% Nebbiolo
• Vineyards: Berri (~82%) & Rocche dell’Annunziata (~18%), La Morra
• Aging: 21 months in large Slavonian oak casks
• Style: Elegant, lifted, terroir-driven Barolo
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Cranberry, redcurrant, fresh cherry, rose petals, pepper, brushwood, cardamom, mineral finish
• Drink Window: 2026–2036
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, roast lamb, game, truffle dishes, aged Parmigiano, wild boar ragù

La Morra Nebbiolo at its most precise — Trediberri is the quiet benchmark of the commune.

La Jota Vineyard Co. Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain — Napa Valley 2021

La Jota Vineyard Co. was founded in 1898 on Howell Mountain — one of Napa Valley’s most storied and demanding appellations. The estate sits above the fog line at elevation, on rocky, shallow volcanic soils that force vines to struggle and concentrate. Today owned by Jess Jackson and Barbara Banke, La Jota farms 28 acres across three distinct estate vineyards — Hill, Meadow, and Winery Block — each with its own personality, all united by the iron-rich, volcanic character of Howell Mountain. The 2021 vintage was defined by drought: yields were down 30–35%, concentrating the fruit to extraordinary levels. The blend is a classic Howell Mountain assemblage — 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, and 2.5% Petit Verdot — and it is among the finest La Jota has ever produced.

The color is a saturated, inky ruby-black. The nose is powerful and complex: dark currants, scorched earth, graphite, pine cone, bark, and savory garrigue, with layers of ironstone minerality that are the unmistakable signature of Howell Mountain. On the palate, it is full-bodied, dense, and concentrated — broad-shouldered tannins that are chocolaty and robust, yet framed by a balance of freshness that is almost hard to imagine at this level of fruit density. The finish is long, layered, and inward. This needs 4–6 years in the cellar but will age for decades.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck — 98 Points
“Another incredibly concentrated, focused, insanely impressive wine in the lineup is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain, which offers a powerful nose of darker currants, scorched earth, graphite, and savory herb aromas and flavors. This full-bodied, dense, concentrated, powerful, inward beauty needs 4-6 years in the cellar but will age forever.”

Decanter — 97 Points
“In 2021, with yields down 30-35%, the La Jota was very precise and focused, with saturated layers of extremely dark fruit nuanced by very expressive ironstone minerality and fresh garrigue. Full-bodied with robust, broad-shouldered tannins that are chocolaty. More of that iron minerality is layered throughout, and for all the fruit density here, there is a balance of freshness that is almost hard to imagine. So, don’t imagine it; snap these up and see for yourself.”

James Suckling — 97 Points
“So much black currant, dark fruit, pine cone, bark and pine needle aromas that show a depth and intensity with round, polished and creamy tannins. Medium to full body, with a complex and gorgeously flavored finish. A blend of 82% cabernet sauvignon, 6.5% cabernet franc, 5% malbec, 4% merlot and 2.5% petit verdot. Give this three to four more years to come around.”

• Producer: La Jota Vineyard Co., Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Howell Mountain, Napa Valley
• Composition: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6.5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Malbec, 4% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot
• Vineyards: Hill, Meadow & Winery Block — volcanic soils, above the fog line
• Yields: Down 30–35% due to drought
• Style: Powerful, concentrated, iron-driven Howell Mountain Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark currant, scorched earth, graphite, pine cone, garrigue, ironstone minerality, chocolaty tannins
• Drink Window: 2027–2045+
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb rack, wild boar, aged Parmigiano, truffle dishes

Howell Mountain Cabernet at its most elemental — La Jota 2021 is iron, earth, and power in perfect balance.

Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon Knights Valley — Sonoma County 2022

Anakota is the Knights Valley project of Pierre Seillan — the visionary vigneron behind Vérité — and it stands apart from every other Sonoma Cabernet. The estate vineyards climb the southwest-facing volcanic slopes of Mount St. Helena at 700–950 feet of elevation, surrounded by cold mountain streams and forests of native fir and oak. The soils are volcanic and mineral-rich, and the message of the land is conveyed in every bottle. The 2022 blend draws from three estate parcels: Helena Montana (53%), Coyote Hills (34%), and Stonestreet Estate (13%), composed of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. This is Sonoma Cabernet at its most rugged, pure, and terroir-driven.

The color is a brilliant ruby-violet with a vivid rim. The nose is immediately captivating: crunchy boysenberry, juicy black plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, and roasted espresso bean, layered with herbes de Provence and subtle baking spice. On the palate, the wine is rich and velvety — full-bodied with fine-grained tannins that are soothing and precise, electric acidity, and wet stone minerality driving a layered, complex, and lingering finish. Drink now or hold for a decade.

“So pure, fruity and appealing — ripe, welcoming flavors and fine-grained texture that’s soothing on the palate. Black cherries, blackberries, dried blueberries and dark chocolate. Rich in velvety tannins, leading to a lingering finish.” — 94 Points. Jim Gordon, Executive Editor, JamesSuckling.com. (Vintage 2022). 

• Producer: Anakota (Pierre Seillan), Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Knights Valley, Sonoma County
• Composition: 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot
• Vineyards: Helena Montana 53%, Coyote Hills 34%, Stonestreet Estate 13%
• Elevation: 700–950 ft, southwest-facing volcanic slopes of Mt. St. Helena
• Style: Rich, precise, terroir-driven Knights Valley Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Boysenberry, black plum, black cherry, dark chocolate, espresso, herbes de Provence, wet stone minerality
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 10+ years
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb chops, wild mushroom risotto, aged cheddar

Knights Valley Cabernet from one of California’s great vignerons — Anakota is the volcanic soul of Sonoma in a bottle.

About This Wine

Lewis Cellars has built its reputation on wines of explosive intensity and impeccable polish — and the 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is no exception. Sourced from prime Napa Valley fruit and aged 19 months in 100% French oak (65% new), this is a wine that balances power with precision, youthful exuberance with genuine aging potential.

The 2022 vintage in Napa was defined by warm days, cool nights, and a late-season heatwave in September that concentrated flavors beautifully. The result is a wine brimming with black cherry, brambly oak spice, cocoa, and cardamom — plush and fleshy on the palate, with soft, supple tannins and a finish that lingers. Approachable now, built to evolve through 2035.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby with violet highlights
• Nose: Black cherry, bramble, cassis, cocoa, cardamom, flowery incense, cedary spice
• Palate: Medium-to-full body, plush and fleshy, concentrated dark fruit, roasted coffee, baking spice
• Finish: Long, polished, soft supple tannins — rich yet refined

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 93 | A rock-solid success in this challenging vintage. Plums, subtle cassis, flowery incense, and spicy, cedary nuances define the aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, round, lush, and textured with terrific overall balance. Drink 2025–2035.

James Suckling 91 | Plush and intense with deep-set, ripe dark berries, baking spices, roasted coffee beans and walnuts. Concentrated and dense on the full-bodied palate with spiced, cedary tightness to the tannins. Rich yet polished. Better from 2027.

Food Pairings

Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, roasted lamb, aged hard cheeses, and dark chocolate. A Napa Cab built for the table — and equally at home on its own.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2022
Region: Napa Valley, California
Appellation: Napa Valley AVA
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon
Oak Aging: 19 months, 100% French oak (65% new)
Style: Full-bodied Red Wine

Cline Rock Carved Cabernet Sauvignon — Alexander Valley 2023

In prehistoric times, a rampaging Russian River carved the Alexander Valley — leaving behind sedimentary rock that defines the vineyard soils to this day, while the towering surrounding hills trap summer heat like an oven. It is this dramatic geological history that gives Rock Carved its name and its character. The wine is sourced from the Rio Lago Vineyard, owned and managed by the Horowitz family since 1990 — a site at the western foothills of the Mayacamas Mountain range that experiences one of the wettest microclimates within the Alexander Valley AVA. Planted in diverse clay-loam and silty-loam soils, the vineyard is cooled each evening by marine air moving in along the Russian River from the Pacific Ocean. The combination of daytime heat to ripen the grapes and cool evening air to preserve freshness and acidity is the key to producing ultra-premium quality Cabernet Sauvignon here.

Grapes are hand-harvested at night, sorted, and gently destemmed. Fermentation is carried out by native yeasts, warming to temperatures peaking at 100°F, with the wine left on skins for 24 days. After gentle pressing, the wine undergoes malolactic fermentation in barrel and ages for 14 months in 50% new French oak. The result is full-bodied, multilayered, and genuinely complex: blackberry, black plum, and black currant, with cedar, leather, and mocha, balanced acidity, smooth rich tannins, and a long, powerful finish. James Suckling awarded it 91 points; Wine Enthusiast 90 points.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling — 91 Points
“A robust, muscular, full-flavored and full-bodied wine that loads a ton of blackberry, black-cherry and cocoa flavors onto a frame of sturdy tannins. Cloves, cedar and toast add complexity to the core of dark fruit.”

Wine Enthusiast — 90 Points
“This dark and intense Cabernet shows aromas of roasted plum compote, licorice, shattered granite, and cinnamon on the nose. The palate possesses a wealth of rich tannin, with flavors of blackberry pie, pithy orange, violets, and grilled bread along the finale.”

• Producer: Cline Cellars, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Alexander Valley, Sonoma County
• Vineyard: Rio Lago Vineyard (Horowitz Family)
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Aging: 14 months in 50% new French oak
• Size: 750ml
• Style: Robust, muscular, full-bodied Alexander Valley Cabernet
• Tasting Notes: Blackberry, black plum, black currant, cedar, leather, mocha, cocoa, cloves, sturdy tannins
• Drink Window: Now–2032
• Best Paired With: Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb, BBQ brisket, aged hard cheeses

Carved by geology, defined by terroir — Cline Rock Carved 2023 is Alexander Valley Cabernet at its most powerful.

San Felice — Rosso Toscana IGT 2023

San Felice is one of Chianti Classico's most storied estates — a historic borgo in Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southern reaches of the zone, with vineyards that have been producing wine for centuries. The estate is also home to one of Italy's most important ampelographic collections, preserving rare and ancient Tuscan grape varieties. The Rosso Toscana is their everyday expression: a wine built for the table, not the cellar, blending Sangiovese with complementary indigenous varieties to deliver the kind of honest, food-friendly red that Tuscany does better than anywhere.

The 2023 shows a young, rich ruby in the glass. The nose is refreshing and inviting — raspberry, cherry, and lavender — with a harmonious, easy-drinking palate that is fruit-forward without being simple. This is the bottle you open on a Tuesday, pour freely, and finish without regret. Serve it slightly cool alongside pasta, light meats, fish soups, or a simple charcuterie spread.

• Producer: San Felice, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Rosso Toscana IGT
• Varietal: Sangiovese-based blend
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Raspberry, cherry, lavender, fresh and harmonious
• Serve: Slightly cool, 14–16°C
• Best Paired With: Pasta, light meats, fish soups, charcuterie, pizza

Honest Tuscan red at an honest price — San Felice's Rosso is the everyday bottle that over-delivers every time.

Castello di Bossi — Corbaia Toscana IGT 2022

Castello di Bossi is one of the benchmark estates of Castelnuovo Berardenga, in the southern reaches of Chianti Classico, with a history stretching back to the 13th century. Corbaia — named for the vineyard of Cabernet Sauvignon planted on the estate some 42 years ago — is their flagship Super-Tuscan: a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, fermented in stainless steel and matured in Allier oak barriques. The result is a wine of superb finesse and elegance, where the structure of Cabernet and the soul of Sangiovese find a natural equilibrium.

The 2022 is heady and explosive. Intense ruby-red with garnet highlights, it opens with a rush of dark fruit, new leather, blood orange, spice, and pipe tobacco — backed by jammy black currants, cherries, cassis, mocha, and vanilla. On the palate it is full-bodied yet supple, layered with rich texture and well-integrated tannins, with no hard edges and terrific balance. Pure and total sensuality, as Vinous put it — and they awarded it 95 points.

Vinous 95 — "The 2022 Corbaia is heady and explosive in the glass. A rush of dark fruit, new leather, blood orange, spice and pipe tobacco soars out of the glass. Rich yet not at all heavy, Corbaia delivers the goods. Readers will find a wine of pure and total sensuality with no hard edges and terrific balance."

• Producer: Castello di Bossi, Castelnuovo Berardenga, Tuscany, Italy
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Toscana IGT (Super-Tuscan)
• Blend: Sangiovese & Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation, Allier oak barrique aging
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dark fruit, blood orange, leather, tobacco, cassis, mocha, vanilla, integrated tannins
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar through 2035
• Best Paired With: Grilled lamb chops, ribeye steak, meats alla Diavola, Béarnaise sauces, aged Pecorino

A 95-point Super-Tuscan at $64 — Corbaia 2022 is Castello di Bossi at its most compelling.