Products

Producer Notes

Chappellet Winery has farmed Pritchard Hill on the eastern slopes of Napa Valley since 1967, producing some of California’s most celebrated mountain-grown Cabernet Sauvignon. The Mountain Cuvée is their benchmark Bordeaux-style blend — a wine that beautifully expresses the power and elegance of Napa’s mountain terroir. The 2023 leaps out of the glass with concentrated notes of red currant, boysenberry, cassis, roasted coffee, and dark chocolate, along with savory undertones and sweet oak. Rich and mouthcoating on the palate with seamless texture, supple tannins, and luxurious layers of dark berry fruit, barrel spice, and fresh herbs.

Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc.

Food Pairings

• Prime ribeye or grilled lamb chops
• Braised short ribs or slow-roasted duck
• Aged cheddar or Gruyère
• Mushroom risotto or truffle pasta

Chappellet Vineyard · 'Signature' Cabernet Sauvignon · Napa Valley · 2022

Since its first vintage in 1968, Chappellet has set the standard for mountain-grown Napa Cabernet — wines of rare depth, longevity, and elegance from Pritchard Hill, one of the valley’s most celebrated and demanding terroirs. The ‘Signature’ is the estate’s benchmark bottling: a Bordeaux-style blend anchored by 82% Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot (9%), Malbec (7%), and Merlot (2%), each variety contributing its own dimension to a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. JD:93 · WA:92. At $99.99, this is Pritchard Hill Cabernet at a price that makes it one of Napa’s most compelling values at this level of pedigree — “a killer wine and great value,” as Jeb Dunnuck put it.

The 2022 opens with tons of cassis and darker, almost blue fruits, interwoven with sappy spring flowers, crushed stone, and lead pencil nuances. On the palate: balanced and medium to full-bodied, with beautiful tannins, bold mocha, black cherry, and a nicely concentrated mid-palate that avoids the overripeness that plagued lesser wines in this warm vintage. The finish is long and pronounced, with a lingering mocha note and supple structure. Drink now through 2035+.

“A killer wine and great value… balanced and medium to full-bodied, with beautiful tannins.” — Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Points. Vintage 2022. 

“Well-priced for the quality… full-bodied and packed with flavor, nicely concentrated and framed by supple tannins.” — Wine Advocate, 92 Points. Vintage 2022. 

• Producer: Chappellet Vineyard (est. 1968)
• Vintage: 2022
• Appellation: Napa Valley, California
• Sub-Region: Pritchard Hill
• Blend: 82% Cabernet Sauvignon · 9% Petit Verdot · 7% Malbec · 2% Merlot
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Cassis, blue fruit, spring flowers, crushed stone, lead pencil, mocha, black cherry, supple tannins, long finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2035+
• Food Pairings: Prime ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb rack, aged cheddar, wild mushroom dishes

JD:93 · WA:92 — Pritchard Hill mountain Cabernet, setting the Napa standard since 1968.

Expert Review

The Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | With touches of almond sweetness and a faint citrusy note on the smooth finish, this vodka made from corn and rye will please those seeking a pure, neutral canvas, with just enough nuance to keep things interesting.

Producer Description 

The art of making vodka is preserving the mouth-feel of what's being distilled. Charbay vodka is distilled one time, from Midwest grain. There is no need for charcoal filtration, so we don't do it. Using fantastic northern California water completes the process of giving you a very smooth, well rounded and clean, vodka experience.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Clos de la Dioterie is a sophisticated, seductively perfumed style—brooding yet aromatic. Its concentrated flavors are pure; it remains light and elegant, with a delectable, chalky, veil-like texture residing on your tongue as the finish draws out with precision, sinew and line. This is a fine, texturally intriguing wine.

Winemaker Description 

Charles Woodson’s Intercept Wines has released a one-time, Limited-Edition Hall of Fame Cabernet Sauvignon to commemorate Charles Woodson’s enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In 2019, Woodson launched the Intercept Wines brand and the team prepared to have the 2018 vintage ready for 2021 should he become a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

“When we found out Charles was eligible to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, we were eager to make a commemorative wine to celebrate the occasion,” said Intercept winemaker Amanda Gorter. “We wanted to create something special that truly embodied the sentiment of greatness from grape to glass.”

The 2018 Limited Edition Hall of Fame Cabernet Sauvignon from four premier districts in California’s Paso Robles AVA: Adelaida, Estrella, El Pomar, and Willow Creek. It is a full-bodied winewith bold tannins and exquisite structure, and can be enjoyed today or laid down to age.

The limited production resulted in 6,500 bottles, an homage to his 65 career interceptions. His career accolades are etched onto the bottle, and a note from Woodson lines the inside of the soft-touch matte black gift box.

Woodson explained, “Intercept has created this Hall of Fame Edition Cabernet Sauvignon – very fitting for this special time in my life! I’m sharing this moment with you because when I go in, we all go in!”

Winemaker’s tasting notes:  2022 Intercept Chardonnay is medium bodied with notes of ripe peaches, shortbread, and spiced apples. Rich from barrel fermentation and sur-lie aging, the wine has bright acidity with a lingering toasty oak finish. 

About Cerveza Seca

Bold and subtle with a robust autumnal warmth, Cerveza Seca demonstrates how the use of beer in the curing process can produce a flavor so enchantingly unique that it eludes classification. A pioneer, a rogue, an adventurer — and a distinctive addition to any table.

Cerveza Seca showcases a movement — American craft beer — in a way that is seldom seen in salami. It is crowd-pleasing, yet marches to the beat of its own drum. Among the classics, here lies a salami that is not afraid to be different, to be itself.

Slow Cured With

• Fermented Belgian Style Quad Ale
• Animal Welfare Certified Heritage Breed pork
• Solar Evaporated Sea Salt

About Charlito’s Cocina

Charlito’s Cocina is a New York-based artisan salumi producer founded by Charles Wekselbaum, dedicated to slow-cured, transparently sourced charcuterie made without shortcuts. Every product is crafted with minimal, clearly labeled ingredients — no “natural flavors,” no “spices,” no mystery. Charlito’s is widely regarded as one of America’s most innovative and principled salumi makers, bringing Old World curing traditions together with New World ingredients and creativity.

Product Details

• Gluten-free
• Keto-friendly
• Refrigeration recommended, not required
• Shelf life: 4–6 months
• Contains natural, beneficial white mold on the surface
• No “natural flavors”
• No “spices”
• Transparent ingredients
• Minimal packaging
• Slow cured

Black Truffle Dry-Cured Salumi | New York, USA
Pre-Sliced · Pasture-Raised Heritage Pork · Dry-Cured up to 2 Months

Charlito’s Cocina is a New York-based artisan charcuterie producer with a singular philosophy: the finest ingredients, handled with care, need nothing else. Founded by Charles Wekselbaum, the brand has built a devoted following for its small-batch, dry-cured salumi made from pasture-raised, heritage breed pork — no heat treatment, no smoking, no shortcuts.

Trufa Seca is their most luxurious expression: heritage pork seasoned with black truffles and mineral-rich sea salt, then dry-cured for up to two months. The result is a striking demonstration of how minimal ingredients can produce a world unto itself of complexity — earthy, aromatic, deeply savory, with the unmistakable perfume of black truffle woven through every slice. Pre-sliced and ready to serve, it is the kind of charcuterie that stops conversation at the table.

“A deliciously sensual incarnation of cured goodness that will surely arouse your senses… a striking example of how minimal ingredients can produce a world unto itself of complexity. Enjoy with leisure!”
— Charlito’s Cocina

Ingredients: Pasture-raised heritage pork, black truffles, sea salt
Curing: Dry-cured up to 2 months · Not heat treated or smoked
Pairs with: Aged Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino, fig jam, Castelvetrano olives, artisan crackers, or a glass of Barolo or aged Burgundy.

Producer Description 

• Flavor: Intense, herbal, and pungent. Notes of peppermint, sage, pine, and citrus zest with a warming, spicy finish.

• Iconic Cocktails: * The Last Word: Equal parts Green Chartreuse, Gin, Maraschino Liqueur, and Lime Juice.

Green Chartreuse is the only liqueur in the world with a completely natural green colour It is powerful and unique. Only two Chartreuse monks know the identity of the 130 plants, how to blend them and how to distill them into this world famous liqueur. They are also the only ones who know which plants they have to macerate to produce the natural green and yellow colours. And they alone supervise the slow ageing in oak casks.

How to drink it: To bring out all its flavour, it should be consumed very cold, even on the rocks. Traditionally considered an after dinner drink, Chartreuse is more and more being enjoyed as a long drink. 

Chartreuse · Végétal Elixir · France · 100ml

Chartreuse Végétal Elixir carries a centuries-old botanical tradition in a compact 100ml bottle. Its recipe brings together 130 plants, linking this French elixir to the history of the Carthusian monks and the Grande Chartreuse.

History & Recipe

In 1605, the Duke of Estrées entrusted the Carthusians with a manuscript containing a mysterious recipe composed of 130 plants. Over the following century and a half, the monks developed that formula, with Brother Jérôme Maubec playing a key role in the final preparation established in 1764.

The existing producer history recounts how Brother Charles brought the elixir to local markets, traveling down from the monastery by donkey. According to that history, the recipe has remained unchanged since 1764.

Botanical Character

The defining feature is its blend of 130 plants. This listing focuses on the elixir’s botanical composition and monastic heritage; individual tasting notes and alcohol strength are not specified in the supplied product information.

Details

• Brand: Chartreuse
• Product: Végétal Elixir
• Country: France
• Botanical composition: 130 plants
• Recipe established: 1764
• Bottle size: 100ml

A small-format expression of Chartreuse’s long botanical heritage.

Chartreuse Jaune (Yellow) — Liqueur, 43% ABV

Made by the Carthusian monks of the Grande Chartreuse monastery in the French Alps since 1838, Chartreuse Yellow is one of the world’s most extraordinary and irreplaceable liqueurs. Like its iconic Green sibling, it is produced by macerating over 130 different herbs, plants, roots, and botanicals — a secret recipe known only to two monks at any given time.

Where Green Chartreuse is bold and assertive, Yellow is the softer, more honeyed expression — prized for its floral complexity, gentle sweetness, and remarkable depth. The nose opens with wildflower honey, cardamom, anise, and citrus zest, with coriander and herbal notes weaving through. On the palate, it is lush, warming, and beautifully balanced — “gloriously lush,” as Wine Enthusiast put it, awarding it 90–95 points.

“Gloriously lush.” — Wine Enthusiast, 90–95 Points

• Producer: Chartreuse Diffusion / Carthusian Monks, Voiron, France
• Style: Herbal Liqueur
• Botanicals: 130+ herbs, plants, roots & botanicals
• Size: 750ml
• ABV: 43% (86 Proof)
• Tasting Notes: Wildflower honey, cardamom, anise, citrus, coriander, herbal complexity
• Best Enjoyed: Neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails — Naked & Famous, Last Word, or a simple Yellow Chartreuse Sour

A once-in-a-lifetime liqueur made by monks, unchanged for nearly two centuries — there is nothing else quite like it.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 98+ Points | So many beautiful primary fruit aromas. Al dente. Peaches. Very floral. Aromatic. Full-bodied and extremely fine tannins with length and beauty that show incredible depth. Superb brightness and reality. Exciting. Cabernet franc freshness and dynamics come through now, even though the blend is 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc.

The Wine Advocate 96+ Points | This estate's shift in the direction of gentler extraction and more reductive, less overtly oaky élevage continues, and this extreme vintage only underlines that. Fermented at cool temperatures (20 to 23 degrees Celsius), and with an increasing proportion of the wine's Cabernet Franc component matured in large wooden foudres, the 2022 Angélus wafts from the glass with deep aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of iris, licorice and pencil lead. Full-bodied, deep and seamless, with a layered core of cool, vibrant fruit, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish, it's a brilliant young wine in the making. The 2022 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 95 Points | The 2022 Angélus was cropped at 40hL/ha. It is aged partly in foudres (around half the Cabernet Franc, to be exact) and the remainder in new barrels, the Grand Vin with 14.45% alcohol and 3.65 pH. This takes a few minutes to unfold in the glass. Blackberry, iris petals and crushed stone notes are focused and delineated. There's opulence locked into these aromatics, but that is contained. The palate is medium-bodied with a mineral opening. Graphite and fresh tobacco thread through the layered black fruit, perhaps spicier than recent vintages. A gentle grip on the finish has some wood tannins to resolve, which should be addressed during its élevage. This will need several years in bottle, probably a decade; then I envisage this Saint-Émilion soaring.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Brilliant light yellow color with greenish reflections, Beau-Rivage Blanc strikes the nose as fresh and fruity, with bright lemongrass aromas vibrant notes of citrus. Light-bodied and refreshing on the palate, Beau-Rivage is pleasantly fruity with balanced acidity and good minerality.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Shining ruby at its core with violet reflections, Beau-Rivage rouge shows fragrant blackberry, raspberry and boysenberry with a fruity Bordeaux typicity on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with firm structure and well-integrated tannins.

Winemaker Description

#5 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
#99 Jeb Dunnuck Top 100 of 2025
#8 Vinous Top 100 of 2025

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

100 Points Vinous | The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot is a total stunner. What a wine! The 2022 was magnificent en primeur, and it is all that from bottle. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Crushed rose petal, mint, blood orange, new leather and cedar meld into a core of pliant red-toned fruit. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's precision and finesse. I have never tasted a Beau-Séjour Bécot like this.

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2022 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is flat-out sensational, as well as the finest wine I’ve tasted from this château. Powerful aromatics of red, blue, and black fruits as well as crushed stone and violets define the aromatics, and it’s full-bodied, incredibly concentrated, has integrated acidity, and ultra-fine tannins. Based on 76% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, this heavenly Saint-Emilion will benefit from just 3-5 years of bottle age and have 30 years or more of overall longevity. Back up the truck.

The Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot has turned out brilliantly in bottle. Wafting from the glass with a complex bouquet of sweet wild berries mingled with rose petals, orange zest, violets, gentian and espresso roast, it's full-bodied, supple and suave, with a deep core of cool, layered fruit, beautifully vibrant flavors and polished structuring tannins, concluding with a saline finish. As I wrote when I tasted it from barrel, this is a Saint-Émilion of breathtaking perfume and harmony that will be worth a special effort to seek out.

The Wine Spectator 96 Points | This is very fresh, expressive and focused, with violet, iris and rosehip notes darting to the fore, while flavors of sleek raspberry and red currant preserves race along behind. Almost flattering, but there’s a subtle chalky tension piercing the finish, which sails through. A dreamy wine. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

Decanter 96 Points |  Floral notes on the nose. Tangy and sharp, lively and bright straight away, sweet and sour, so energetic and lively with a mineral grip from the fine, firm, grippy tannins. Lovely precision and almost delicate presentation of fruit. You really feel the mineral, salty, tangy aspect of the fruit, nothing feels overworked, all in balance, really quite thrilling and electric. Great purity and focus. Scintillating yet still with a lovely volume and roundness accented by tobacco, clove, liquorice and cinnamon touches. Really well worked and fresh - this feels very modern with such control to the fruit, tannins, acidity giving overall depth and complexity. Elegant but confident, taking the best density from clay density and freshness from limestone. A very singular charm with this wine.

Memo Summary Notes 

The Château Beau-Séjour Bécot 2022 is being hailed by many critics as the "best wine ever produced" by this historic Saint-Émilion estate. This vintage marks a significant milestone, recently ranking as #5 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 Wines of 2025.

Situated on the iconic limestone plateau of Saint-Martin de Mazerat, the estate has shifted its style under owner Juliette Bécot toward greater precision, floral aromatics, and mineral tension, moving away from the more opulent, oak-heavy profiles of the past.

Chateau Bel Air Gloria Haut-Medoc Cru Bourgeois 2018 · Bordeaux, France

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2018

Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points (Roger Voss) — Made by the same team as Château Gloria, the wine has richness and a core of tannins that give the wine shape. It comes from Cussac just north of Saint-Estèphe. It is a powerful and dense wine, worth aging further. Drink from 2024.

James Suckling, 90 Points — Lots of ripe-fruit character here with blueberries and walnuts. Medium to full body, round tannins and a fruity finish.

Producer

“Faced with the profusion of vintages named Château Bel Air (several spellings) and to avoid any confusion for our many customers, it was decided some ten years ago to call the vintage ‘Château Bel Air Gloria’, thus becoming more easily identifiable. The label has also been redesigned in a spirit of modernity, while retaining its authenticity.” — Caroline Triaud. Although a lesser-known appellation, this vineyard benefits from the same care and attention as the Saint-Julien family estates.

In 1980, the Martin family acquired Château Bel Air in Cussac Fort-Médoc. They were attracted by the cru’s potential, its proximity to the vineyards they already owned, and their confidence in the future of the Haut-Médoc appellation. The vineyard soon joined the Syndicat des Crus Bourgeois and has been awarded Cru Bourgeois status without interruption for over 25 years.

Vinification

Traditional method in stainless steel vats with thermoregulation, aged in barrels for 12 months with 25% renewed each year. Annual production is approximately 150,000 bottles.

Details

• Producer: Chateau Bel Air Gloria
• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Haut-Médoc, Cru Bourgeois
• Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
• Vintage: 2018
• Size: 750ml

Château Bel Orme Tronquoy-de-Lalande is one of the Haut-Médoc's most storied family estates, with origins dating to the late 18th century. The property was designed in 1750 by Victor Louis — the celebrated architect of the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux — and acquired its full name when the Tronquoy-de-Lalande family elevated the vineyard to prominence in the 19th century. In 1936, Lucienne Quié famously chose this charming manor overlooking the Gironde estuary over Château Pichon Baron, and the estate has remained in the Quié family ever since. Today, the third generation — Anne-Françoise, Jean-Philippe, and Paul-Henri — stewards the property with the same passion and commitment to quality, and since 2012 the estate has been united in destiny with Château Rauzan-Gassies. The Château holds the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, awarded in spring 2024 in recognition of its commitment to ecologically sound agriculture.

The estate's 30-hectare vineyard sits on the finest hillsides of the village of Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, within a Natura 2000 biodiversity site on the banks of the Gironde. The vineyard is planted with 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed according to virtuous, sustainable agriculture with parcel-specific soil management. Clay soils lend the Merlot roundness and vivid, savoury fruit, while drier, draining soils allow the Cabernet Sauvignon to reach optimal maturity with ripe, velvety tannins — the authentic signature of Haut-Médoc.

Each parcel is vinified individually with meticulous attention to terroir expression. The wine is crafted to reflect the natural character of the vintage and the estate's distinctive clay-gravel soils, with careful extraction to build structure without sacrificing freshness or elegance.

The 2020 opens with aromas of blackberries, graphite, and black currant, precise and focused. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with compressed, chewy tannins that are fine and structured, showing excellent concentration and length. A serious, cellar-worthy Haut-Médoc from an outstanding vintage that rewards patience.

"A chewy and tight wine with blackberries, graphite and currant aromas and flavors. Medium body. Compressed and solid with chewy tannins that are focused and fine. Give it two or three years to open. Drink after 2025."
— James Suckling, 92 Points. (Vintage 2020). 

Grape: Merlot 65%, Cabernet Sauvignon 35%
Region: Bordeaux, France
Appellation: Haut-Médoc
Vintage: 2020
Vineyard: Saint-Seurin-de-Cadourne, 30 hectares
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast lamb, duck confit, braised short ribs, game, aged hard cheeses, and classic Bordelaise preparations.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | From a small 20-acre estate in the southern part of the prestigious Pauillac appellation, Bellegrave has produced a richly structured wine. Black-currant and toast aromas from the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend give the wine richness and dense, concentrated black fruits.

James Suckling 94 Points | A nice smoky layer to the fresh blackcurrants, cedar and graphite. This shows the Pauillac structure and demureness with an appealing touch of dark, ashy fruit and a lead-pencil note. Full-bodied, the palate is packed with dusty, fine-grained tannins. Excellent length and verticality here. It will become even more resolved and long.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is a dark and sleek offering, with gently mulled black currant and blackberry fruit dusted with a cocoa note and gilded with violet and dried anise accents. A light kiss of singed cedar underscores the fresh finish.

Memo Summary Notes

The 2022 Chateau Bellegrave Pauillac is a standout vintage from this boutique 20-acre estate, which sits in a prestigious neighborhood between legendary neighbors like Chateau Latour and Lynch-Bages.

Pair with 

Best served with roasted lamb, a thick ribeye with rosemary, or a mushroom-heavy risotto.

Château Blaignan — Médoc Cru Bourgeois 2019

With a grape-growing tradition stretching back to the 14th century, Château Blaignan is one of the Médoc’s most storied estates. The 2019 vintage — widely regarded as one of Bordeaux’s finest in a generation — showcases everything this historic property does best: ripe, structured fruit, velvet tannins, and a beautifully balanced finish that rewards both immediate drinking and patient cellaring.

The nose is intensely fruity with pronounced blackcurrant, black cherry, and a hint of spice. On the palate, dark cherry and plum compote lead the way, with tobacco, savory notes, and a pretty iron hint on the focused, fine-grained finish. Full-bodied with structure and elegance in equal measure.

Wine Enthusiast 90 • Wine Spectator 89 — “Drink now through 2029.”

• Producer: Château Blaignan, Médoc, Bordeaux
• Vintage: 2019
• Classification: Cru Bourgeois, Médoc
• Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc
• Aging: 18 months in vats and oak barrels
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Blackcurrant, black cherry, plum compote, tobacco, spice, iron finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now through 2029 (3–12 years from harvest)
• Best Paired With: Roast lamb, duck, beef bourguignon, aged hard cheeses

Seven centuries of terroir knowledge in every bottle — Château Blaignan is a Médoc classic at a Cru Bourgeois price.

Château Branaire-Ducru · Saint-Julien · 2020 · 750ml

Château Branaire-Ducru 2020 combines cassis, plum and floral aromas with a concentrated core of fruit and fine, youthful tannins. The 2020 reviews emphasize depth, balance and a long finish, offering a structured Saint-Julien with both freshness and aging potential.

Producer & Terroir

The estate's history begins in 1680, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre purchased part of Beychevelle. His descendants, the Du Luc family, built the château in 1824; it later passed to Gustave Ducru and remained in the family until 1919. Branaire-Ducru was classified a fourth growth in 1855. Patrick Maroteaux acquired it in 1988 and invested in the vineyards, cellar and château; François-Xavier Maroteaux took over in 2017.

Located between Margaux and Pauillac, the estate covers 60 hectares across about fifteen micro-terroirs in southern Saint-Julien. Gravel, pebbles and Quaternary alluvial soils favor Cabernet Sauvignon, while Merlot grows on clay. The estate reports an average vine age of 35 years and vineyard plantings of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. These are vineyard proportions, not the 2020 blend.

The estate reports HVE level 3 certification since 2017 and participation in the Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System, based on ISO 14001, with certification since 2020. Later developments include the Cultivons Demain CSR label, level 2, in 2023 and a new gravity-fed vat room with 65 suspended vats in 2024; that vat room postdates this wine.

Expert Reviews · Vintage 2020

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate · 94 Points The 2020 Branaire-Ducru will require more patience than the supple, sensual 2019, but it is another strong effort for this overperforming estate. Wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis, plums, pencil shavings, petals, burning embers and discreet hints of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of vibrant fruit and fine but youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the gently chewy finish.

Jeb Dunnuck · 93+ Points Showing beautifully, the deeper purple/ruby-hued 2020 Château Branaire-Ducru offers a deep, masculine bouquet of blackcurrants, plums, smoked tobacco, and iron. This carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, nicely balanced Saint-Julien with plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, integrated tannins, and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.

James Suckling · 96 Points · Vintage Not Specified Plenty of blackberry, blueberry, lead pencil and violet aromas here that follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. So integrated and polished.Changes a lot in the glass. Thoughtful young red.

Decanter · 95 Points · Vintage Not Specified An intensely perfumed nose with soft cocoa powder aromas. The texture is alluring, juicy and ripe but lifted, quite dense but also linear, a push-pull of direct fruit and chalky, plump tannins. Rich but not as supple as 2018, a bit more angular. Black cherries, plums and currants on the palate with both a nice sweetness and salinity. Not so easy to taste and understand today, it's thought provoking with lots going on. Great potential for a long life and one to watch!!

Wine Enthusiast · 95 Points · Vintage Not Specified Rich, juicy and with dense tannins, this wine is full of generous blackberry fruit flavor. The tannins and impressive structure are what show promise for the future. Expect this wine to age well. Barrel Sample: 93-95

Wine Spectator · 94 Points · Vintage Not Specified This has a lovely floral lead followed quickly by a very pure and precise beam of cassis and bitter plum fruit. Shows ample structure but this is fine-grained and almost silky in feel, while subtle dark tea, savory and iron notes peek through on the lengthy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2038.

Winemaker Notes · 

Rich, intense color. An expressive nose, a sophisticated combination of pure black and red fruits. The palate is wonderfully smooth with powerful intensity, maintaining its fineness and elegance. A beautiful acidity, propelling the wine on a long finish.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Pair with roast lamb, grilled beef, braised short ribs or savory mushroom dishes. Rich, deeply flavored food complements the wine's concentrated fruit and tannic structure.

Details

• Producer: Château Branaire-Ducru
• Vintage: 2020
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Saint-Julien
• Classification: Fourth Grand Cru Classé, 1855
• Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
• Type: Red Bordeaux blend
• Estate Environmental Attributes: HVE level 3 since 2017; ISO 14001-based environmental certification since 2020

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 97 points From an estate that is delivering its greatest run of vintages since the superb Post War series that preceded the frosts of 1956, the 2022 Canon is a magical wine that will be worth every effort to track down. Wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, wild plums and cherries mingled with hints of bay leaf, spices and violets, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with huge levels of concentration, vibrant acids and beautifully refined tannins. Concluding with a long, saline finish, this pure, perfumed and ineffably complete Canon is built for the ages, even if its structural polish is such that it will be approachable at a surprisingly early age. 99 Points Wine Advocate, April 28, 2023

Founded in 1806 by Scottish wine merchant John Lewis Brown of Colstun, Château Cantenac Brown is one of Margaux's most storied estates — a 3ème Grand Cru Classé of 1855, instantly recognizable by its spectacular Tudor-style château. Acquired in 2019 by the Le Lous family, the estate is undergoing a new chapter of modernization, including the construction of a pioneering raw earth cellar designed to deepen the expression of terroir in every bottle.

The Château Cantenac Brown Margaux 2021 750ml is a blend of 73% Cabernet Sauvignon and 27% Merlot, with the Cabernet harvested late — between October 4th and 12th — to achieve full phenolic ripeness. Aged in 60% new French oak, it is medium to full-bodied, layered, and seamless, with a perfumed bouquet of black cherry, raspberry, cassis, tobacco, and rose petal. The palate is vibrant and exquisitely structured, with chalky tannins, lively acidity, and a long, elegant finish marked by crushed stone and a touch of bitter dark chocolate. A wine of great character, definition, and classicism.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

• Decanter — 93 Points: "Perfumed black cherries and raspberries on the nose. Waves of juicy, bright red summer berries with creamy, chalky edges. Great character, energy and classicism with slate and crushed stone. Extremely attractive finish."
• Jane Anson — 93 Points: "Excellent quality, well put together, finessed and powerful with black cherry fruits and raspberry purée, with tiny pulses of lemongrass acidity."
• Wine Advocate — 92–94 Points: "Cassis, wild berries, loamy soil and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, layered and seamless, with good concentration, lively acids and a nicely defined finish."
• Vinous — 92–94 Points: "Sweet red-fleshed fruit, tobacco, incense and rose petal. Vibrant and exquisitely layered. Quite promising."

Wine Details

• 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot
• Margaux AOC, 3ème Grand Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France
• Aged in 60% new French oak
• Vintage: 2021
• 750ml

Chateau Carbonnieux White Pessac-Leognan Grand Cru Classé 2023

Explore the elegance of Chateau Carbonnieux, one of the distinguished names in the Pessac-Leognan region, known for producing exceptional white wines. The 2023 vintage showcases the estate's commitment to quality, offering a finely balanced wine that reflects the terroir beautifully. With a rich history dating back to the 13th century, Chateau Carbonnieux has established itself as a Grand Cru Classé, known for its meticulous vineyard practices and sustainable viticulture. Each bottle is a testament to the tradition and innovation that has shaped the estate over centuries.

Expert Recognition - 2023 Vintage

"The grapefruit and honey aromas of this wine are echoed in its crisp and rounded textures. It is ripe with apple and spice flavors, the wood aging subtly in the background. Drink from 2027."

Wine Spectator - 95 Points
"This crackles with tarragon, fleur de sel, oyster shell and lemon pith notes that ripple throughout, while a steady core of yuzu and mirabelle plum moves through. Live-wire acidity keeps everything focused and mouthwatering. Lovely. Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon. Drink now through 2033."

James Suckling - 94 Points
"Sliced lemon, crushed stone, ginger and oyster shell aromas follow through to a medium body with crisp acidity and a crunchy finish. A very typical top white from Pessac. Drink now."

Wine Advocate - 90-92 Points
"A blend of 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Sémillon, the 2023 Carbonnieux Blanc exhibits elegant aromas of pear, white peach, spring flowers and herbs, followed by a medium-bodied, satiny and long texture enhanced by bright acids and a lively mid-palate. It concludes with a long, delicate, mouthwateringly mordant finish, making it a classic white wine from this estate."

Jeb Dunnuck - 90-92 Points
"The 2023 Château Carbonnieux Blanc is light gold-hued and offer terrific aromatics of ripe citrus, minty herbs, and a kiss of grapefruit. These carry to a medium-bodied white with a round, supple texture, nicely integrated acidity, and outstanding length."

Grape Blend

Composition: 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon
This classic Bordeaux white blend showcases the best of both varietals, combining Sauvignon Blanc's vibrant acidity and aromatic intensity with Sémillon's richness and texture.

Tasting Profile

The 2023 Chateau Carbonnieux white wine offers an exquisite blend of vibrancy and depth. Light gold-hued with terrific aromatics including grapefruit and honey, sliced lemon, crushed stone, ginger, oyster shell, tarragon, fleur de sel, lemon pith, yuzu, mirabelle plum, pear, white peach, spring flowers, herbs, ripe citrus, and minty herbs. The palate is equally expressive, featuring crisp and rounded textures, ripe with apple and spice flavors, live-wire acidity that keeps everything focused and mouthwatering, medium body with a satiny and long texture, round and supple with nicely integrated acidity. The finish is crunchy, long, delicate, and mouthwateringly mordant with outstanding length. Wood aging is subtle in the background, allowing the fruit and terroir to shine.

Grand Cru Classé Heritage

With a rich history dating back to the 13th century, Chateau Carbonnieux has established itself as a Grand Cru Classé in the prestigious Pessac-Leognan appellation. The estate is known for its meticulous vineyard practices and sustainable viticulture, producing wines that beautifully reflect the unique terroir of Bordeaux. Each bottle is a testament to centuries of tradition and innovation.

Aging Potential

Drink Window: Now through 2033 (Wine Spectator), from 2027 (Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection)

This vintage offers both immediate enjoyment and excellent aging potential, allowing collectors to cellar it for further development.

Food Pairing Suggestions

Pairing Chateau Carbonnieux with the right dishes can enhance your overall dining experience. Its refreshing acidity and vibrant fruit character make it an excellent choice for:

• Grilled fish and shellfish
• Oysters and seafood platters
• Salads featuring citrus or vinaigrettes
• Creamy cheeses like Brie or Camembert
• Gourmet picnics
• Summer barbecues
• Light cheese platters

Perfect for Wine Enthusiasts

This vintage is ideal for those who appreciate complexity and refinement in their wine, making it a sought-after selection for wine enthusiasts and collectors wanting to taste the essence of Bordeaux. Enjoy it chilled to fully appreciate its bright flavors and elegant character. The versatility of this Grand Cru Classé is sure to impress your guests at any occasion.

Chateau Carbonnieux Pessac Leognan Rouge 2023 · Bordeaux, France

The 2023 Château Carbonnieux Pessac-Léognan Rouge is a balanced, elegant Grand Cru Classé de Graves featuring a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Known for its deep ruby color, this red wine offers aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry, cherry) with velvety, silky tannins and notes of toasted oak.

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2023

James Suckling, 94 Points — Tobacco, black currants, graphite and cigar box. The palate is medium-bodied, with restrained, delineated fruit and precise, focused tannins. Tight and elegant. Needs time. Better in 2028.

Jeb Dunnuck, 94 Points — A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot aged 12 months in 30% new French oak, the 2023 Château Carbonnieux is a rocking little gem of a wine that's well worth your time. Cassis, graphite, spicy wood, and smoke all shine on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a ripe, round, layered mouthfeel, beautiful and building tannins, and a great finish. It's a nicely concentrated, classic, layered Pessac that has serious depth and length. It's going to cruise for two decades in cold cellars. Drink 2026-2046.

Wine Advocate, 93 Points — The 2023 Carbonnieux has turned out very well, revealing aromas of cassis, mulberries, flowers and spices, lifted by a discreet note of fresh licorice. Medium- to full-bodied, ample and sapid, it is enveloping, with good depth at the core framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed finish. Combining a gourmand profile with a classical sense of balance and structure, it represents very good value.

Producer

With its eight centuries of history, Château Carbonnieux stands as a major reference of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Its vineyard of around one hundred hectares, owned by the Perrin family for four generations, is entirely located around the château, at the top of a remarkable gravel rise. The vines, cultivated with respect for the environment and according to sustainable practices, are dedicated to the production of dry white and red wines. This family vineyard is classified as a Grand Cru Classé de Graves for both its white and red wines. The château is open to visitors throughout the year.

Details

• Producer: Chateau Carbonnieux
• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Pessac-Léognan, Grand Cru Classé de Graves
• Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
• Vintage: 2023
• Size: 750ml

Château Carteau · Saint-Émilion Grand Cru · 2019

The Bertrand family has cared for Château Carteau's Saint-Émilion vineyard for five generations. Dating to 1850, the estate now covers 16 hectares on clay-limestone hillside soils south of Saint-Émilion, at the foot of Tertre Daugay. Its 35-year-old vines are grown using sustainable methods and harvested by hand.

Chocolate, cherry and plum lead into concentrated red and black fruit. Full to medium in body, this Grand Cru balances a powerful, long finish with a soft close and freshness.

Winemaker description

Chocolate profile with cherries and plum hints. The wine is large to medium bodied but yet soft at the back end. A grand cru with great concentration and keeping freshness. Matter and elegance.

Complex and concentrated notes of red and black fruits with a long, powerful finish.

Château Carteau · Winemaker Jacques Bertrand

At a glance

• Producer: Château Carteau
• Vintage: 2019
• Appellation: Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France
• Blend: 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Terroir: Clay-limestone soil; 6,500 vines per hectare
• Winemaking: Vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel and concrete vats; aged in oak barrels for 12–15 months
• Alcohol: 14.5%
• Size: 750ml

Bring it to the table with a hearty dinner, or keep a bottle on hand for a slower evening.

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

Decanter — 90 Points | Plum, lilac and vanilla, with a touch of toasted cinnamon alongside the bright red fruits. Powerful, even masculine, with chewy but refined tannins and plenty of life ahead.

Tasting Notes

The 2016 Château Castéra is currently at a beautiful stage, showing a compelling blend of ripe fruit and secondary, aged characteristics.

• Aromas: A complex bouquet of ripe blackberries, plums, blackcurrant, and violets, evolving into notes of cedar, tobacco, leather, and baking spices (vanilla, cinnamon).
• Palate: Medium to full-bodied with a structure supported by fine, polished yet present tannins. The fruit is dense and savory, balanced by good acidity and a touch of earthiness typical of Bordeaux.

Pairings: Roast lamb, duck confit, aged cheeses, or a classic Bordelaise steak.

Product Details

• Vintage: 2016
• Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot
• Appellation: Médoc, Bordeaux
• Classification: Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel
• Region: Bordeaux, France
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Producer: Château Castéra

Winemaker Description

The weather in 1953 was very favourable to vine growth and the crop was both plentiful and of excellent quality.

The growing season began with a warm, wet April, followed by a very warm, but dry month of May.  June and July were cool and rainy, whereas August and September were dry and slightly warmer than average.

Flowering went very well in May because it did not rain very much. Even though June and July were cool, which slowed down the growth cycle somewhat, the harvest was able to begin on the 21st of September. The grapes were excellent because August and September we very dry and hot.  Yields were high, but 1953 Cheval Blanc shows that quantity and quality are not incompatible.
Degree of alcohol: 12°.

This is a great vintage for Cheval Blanc. The wine is very well-balanced and still elicits enormous praise.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Vinous 90 Points | The 2020 Citran is fortunately showing less reduction on the nose than it did from barrel, revealing blackberry and briary scents, touches of graphite and pressed iris flower. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Moderate depth, filling out nicely towards the finish. This is a fresh and tensile Citran that should age well over the next 15-20 years.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Red and black fruits, spice, saddle leather, and tobacco leaf notes all emerge from the 2020 Château Citran, a rock-solid, medium-bodied, balanced Haut-Médoc. It has the pure, focused, nicely structured style of the vintage and is going to evolve for 15 years or more.

James Suckling 89+ Points | A firm, racy wine with crushed-berry, walnut and spice character. Medium body and firm finish. A little austere now.

Memo Summary Notes

Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc

The 2020 Château Citran is a "rock-solid" representative of the Haut-Médoc, benefiting significantly from what many critics consider a legendary Bordeaux vintage. Historically one of the oldest estates in the Médoc, Citran is known for delivering classic, structured Left Bank profiles without the "Grand Cru" price tag.

Château Citran is currently owned by the Merlaut family (who also own the famed Chasse-Spleen). Their expertise in the Haut-Médoc shows through in the 2020—it offers the "saddle leather" and "cedar wood" complexity usually reserved for much more expensive bottles from nearby Margaux.

Pairing: This is a classic "meat and potatoes" wine. It pairs exceptionally well with grilled steak, lamb chops, or a hearty mushroom stew.

Producer Description 

The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. Elegant and refined, the nose exudes floral aromas, going on with airing to develop notes of blackcurrant and licorice root. The full and smooth attack reveals an alluring and complex array of flavors in which ripe fruit is magnificently set off by notes of toasted cereals and violet. The mid-palate is underpinned by high-quality close-knit and creamy tannins, leading into a saline and slightly minty finish which lingers on hints of chocolates.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 96 Points | Aromas of crushed stone, blackcurrants and blackberries. Full-bodied with extremely well-crafted tannins that are chewy and layered, yet polished and fantastic. Love the finish. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 25% petit verdot, 22% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. (v.2019).

Wine Enthusiast 94-96 Points | Dense and rich, with a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, this is another great vintage from the estate. Its black fruits ooze concentration alongside firm tannins that promise a potential for long aging. The aftertaste has opulent black currant richness. (v.2019). 

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2019 Clerc Milon is a real success. At more than 70%, this blend contains one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the property's recent history, and the result is a wine of real nobility. Offering up aromas of violets, wild berries, licorice, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with notable depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. From clay-limestone soils rather than the sandy gravels that characterize d'Armailhac, this is by some margin the more structured and serious of Mouton-Rothschild's two Pauillac stablemates.(v.2019).

Decanter 95 Points | The wine has the highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1980s, and even on the nose you can feel its impact in terms of the depth of tight black fruit. Extremely good quality with fine tannins that build, build, build over the palate, and grip on, forcing you to slow down and pay attention. Beautiful spice with menthol, slate, pencil lead, blackberry and blackcurrant. An exciting wine with real energy and forward motion, helped to withstand the summer heat by its position by the river, and the fact that the average age of the vines at Clerc Milon is almost 50 years. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Jean Emmanuel Danjoy's last outing doing the full vintage at Clerc Milon before he heads over to Mouton as technical director. (v.2019).

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Presents a very fresh core of cassis, red cherry and damson plum fruit flavors that meld nicely with a racy iron streak, while light savory and floral details run along the edges. A very pure and bright version that should age well. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. (v.2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Another beautiful effort from this team, the 2019 Château Clerc Milon is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, from vines just across the street from Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Mouton Rothschild. Brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, it has a healthy ruby/plum color to go with a great nose of ripe red and black fruits supported by some classic Pauillac lead pencil, tobacco, and spice box notes. I love its overall balance, it's medium-bodied, has silky tannins, and the fresher, elegant style of the vintage. I wouldn't call it mid-weight, but I compared this to the 2014 on release, and I still think that comparison holds, although there's a touch more length and intensity in the 2019. This will drink well today with a decant (I followed this bottle for two days) and will shine for a good two decades.(v.2019).