350 products
Domaine Chandon de Briailles Pernand Vergelesses Rouge 1er Cru Ile Des Vergelesses Organic Biodynamic 2021 750ml
Expert Review
92 Points Burghound | A slightly more deeply pitched nose is comprised by decidedly cool notes of plum, dark currant, forest floor and floral top notes, especially violet. Much like the Lavières, there is a positively gorgeous, even silky, texture to the lighter-bodied flavors thanks to the ultra-fine tannins shaping the overtly stony, dusty and youthfully austere finale. This is textbook Ile de Vergelesses.
Thierry Allemand Cornas Chaillot 2020 750ml
Expert Review
Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Chaillot comes from a mix of lieux-dits (it's mostly Chaillot) as well as some younger vines. It's an incredible wine in its own right and certainly doesn't give much in terms quality to its big brother. Awesome aromatics of crème de cassis, violets, crushed stone, and bouquet garni-like notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, concentrated mid-palate, and ultra-fine tannins. It's a touch more finesse-driven and elegant compared to the Reynard and should round into form with just 5-7 years of bottle age. This is legit awesome Cornas that will have 20-25 years of ultimate longevity. (2020).
Inglenook Rubicon Rutherford 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
Strikingly rich in color and extract, the 2018 Rubicon is unquestionably a precocious, hedonistic wine. The exotic, well-knit aromas and flavors include ripe cassis, allspice, star anise, vanilla and black licorice. Upon entry, this full-bodied wine envelops the palate with its luxurious concentration and supple, silky tannins, supported by vibrant freshness from the balanced acidity and perfectly-integrated French oak. Very long and expansive in the finish, the 2018 Rubicon will be memorable for decades to come.
Expert Reviews – Vintage 2018
James Suckling 97 Points | Subtle and complex red with blackberry, black truffle, sweet tobacco and mahogany. Highlights of lavender and violets. Full-bodied and very tight with finesse and tension. Very polished, fine tannins. Long finish. Delicious already, but best after 2022.
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2018 Rubicon is based on 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Classy notes of crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, freshly crushed stone, and cedar. Beautifully balanced with gorgeous tannins, integrated acidity, and outstanding length. Give this classic beauty 4–5 years in the cellar and enjoy over the following 15–20.
Wine Spectator 93 Points | Alluring aromatically, with restrained yet complex notes of mulberry, loganberry and anise. Refined structure drapes nicely on the finish with a mineral hint. Drink now through 2035.
Domaine de la Romanee Conti Echezeaux Grand Cru 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Considered the pinnacle of Burgundy, Domaine de la Romanee-Conti produces some of the world’s most revered wines from its tiny vineyards in Vosne-Romanee. Grands-Echezeaux, is a Grand Cru vineyard yielding sublime wines that are among the most highly-sought, seductive and rarest in the world.
The 2020 Grands Échézeaux is full-bodied, ample and fleshy with an abundance of powdery tannins and succulent acids. The luscious palate presents strawberry, cherry, leather, earth, mushroom, mint, a touch of spice, oak, and refreshing minerality.
Domaine Jacques Prieur Beaune Greves BLANC 1er Cru 2021 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2021
Burghound | A much more floral-inflected nose freely offers up its aromas of cool and ripe pear, apple and zest. There is good richness if not quite the same density to the more finely textured middleweight flavors that conclude in a crunchy bitter lemon-tinged finale. Lovely and understated.
Domaine Jacques Prieur Puligny Montrachet 1er Cru Les Combettes 2021 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2021
Burhound 92-94 Points | An elegant, pure and ultra-fresh nose offers up notes of lilac, rose petal, white peach, tea and citrus zest. There is a markedly more refined mouthfeel to the utterly delicious and highly seductive medium weight flavors that are more precise, all wrapped in a citrusy, impressively persistent and youthfully austere finale. This is very classy and I particularly like the underlying tension and balance that should also permit this beauty to age effortlessly over the next 12 to 15 years. In a word, excellent.
Chateau Haut-Bailly Pessac Leognan GCC 2020 750ml 98 pts Jeff Leve
Winemaker Description
This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 99- 100 Points | A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. (2020).
Robert Parker 96-98 Points | A legendary Haut-Bailly in the making, the 2020 sports a dense purple color to go with powerful notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, scorched earth, and graphite. Reminding me of the 2010, it takes plenty of air to show at its best yet is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, massive of ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. It’s one of the most structured, powerful Haut-Bailly I’ve ever tasted, yet it still has the classic elegance, nuance, and length of this terrific terroir. It will need 5-7 years (or more) of bottle age but will have 50 years of overall longevity. The 2020 is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. (2020).
Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 Points | Deep, rich and explosive, the 2020 Haut-Bailly is magnificent from the very first taste. Dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spice give the 2020 a level of unctuousness that is absolutely thrilling. Readers should be patient, as the 2020 is going to need time to come around. Yields are down 25% from 2019, and that richness comes through loud and clear. (2020).
Vinous 95-97 Points | (Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, Red) Rich in texture and colour, this has clear layers and complexity, a wine that you want to take your time with, slow down and enjoy. One that will take its time to age also. This has a precision and a clarity to the aromatics, and a gentle buzz of minerality that gives a physical reaction in the mouth. Less exuberant than the 2018 or 2019, making this a vintage that suits the style of Haut-Bailly. A slight austerity to the tannins on the finish gives a blueberry redcurrant edge. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend (now around eight years old), usually co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon (sometimes with Cabernet Franc). IPT similar to 2016, 2010, 2005, but with a softness that comes from extremely ripe tannins. Strong potential for upscoring when it bottle. (Drink between 2030-2050). (2020),
Chateau Troplong Mondot Saint-Emilion 2020 750ml
Wine Enthusiast | This firmly structured wine with its high percentage of Merlot is powerful and dense. The bold black fruits and perfumed density are impressive.
Jeb Dunnuck | A clear step up over the 2019, the 2020 Château Troplong Mondot is mostly Merlot yet includes 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, all of which was raised in 65% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. The level of purity and finesse here is remarkable, and it reveals a deep ruby/purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of cassis, ripe black cherries, graphite, gunpowder, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has building, perfectly ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. Certainly light years away from the riper, more opulent style of the 2000's, the wines today under consultant Thomas Duclos are much more about finesse and elegance. While I certainly miss the sexy, riper style of the past, there is no denying the incredible quality from this château today.
Robert Parker | The 2020 Troplong Mondot is composed of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 4th September and lasting for about three weeks. The pH is 3.53, the IPT (tannin index) is 75 and the alcohol is 14.5%. Opaque purple-black colored, it opens with a vivacious burst of black fruits—stewed plums, baked blackberries and boysenberries—giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of licorice, ground cloves, cinnamon stick and lilacs, with a touch of bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of plump, juicy black fruits and savory sparks, framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and opulent.
James Suckling | A soft and round red with plum and milk chocolate. Hazelnuts. Full-bodied and layered. Juicy. Hints of sea salt. Power is there. Turns firm and vivid. So attractive now. Savory. Needs three to four years to open.
Decanter | This sets out its stall as a wine from a specific plot of pure limestone soils straight away, and this is a second wine to savour. As with last year, this is a masterclass in the impact of this particular soil type, with a bright violet colour, juicy blueberry fruits and touches of redcurrant. It has a tingling finish with a whoosh of salinity that gives tension and balance. 30% aged in barrels, the rest stays in stainless steel. 3.53pH. Still 100% Merlot as last year, but that will probably change in 2021 when some Cabernet Franc should be added. Not sold as an En Primeur, the 2018 has just been released onto the market. September 4 was the first day of picking.
Chateau Canon Saint-Emilion 1er GCC 2022 750ml
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
Donnhoff Riesling Hermannshohle Grosses Gewachs 2022 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2022
James Suckling 98 Points | Power, complexity and brilliance make this a truly remarkable dry riesling, the touch of creaminess from long sur-lie maturation giving this exactly the soft touch it needs to balance the steely minerality that powers it at the imposing yet totally vibrant finish. From organically grown grapes with Fair'n Green certification. Drink or hold.
Paitin di Pasquaro Elia Barbaresco Riserva Sori' Paitin Vecchie Vigne 2006 750ml
Expert Rating
Vinous Stephen Tanzer writes 93 Points | (from 63-year-old vines in the center of the vineyard; aged in a combination of old barriques and new larger casks) Sweet aromas of redcurrant, cherry, smoke and mint, all lifted by high notes of orange peel, rose petal and minerals. Concentrated, vibrant and gripping, with a silky quality and noteworthy precision to the flavors of red fruits, spices and minerals. Harmonious acidity gives a juicy, sappy quality and real elegance to this densely packed Barbaresco. Here the tannins are considerably finer than those of the normale, and the long, juicy, gripping finish leaves behind a captivating floral perfume. A beauty.
This is from a massale selection, including a bit of the lighter, floral rose clone of nebbiolo while the rest of the vineyard features five different clones.
Piper Heidsieck Rare Millesime 2008 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2008
97 Points Wine Spectator: Like a stallion out of the gate, this shows an initial explosion of power, in the form of mouthwatering flavors and fine texture, before quickly settling into an elegant gait. The racy acidity is seamlessly knit, buoying the lacy mousse and flavors of cassis, toasted brioche and tangerine, with accents of candied ginger, hazelnut and fleur de sel lingering on the long, creamy finish. Drink now through 2035.
96 Points Wine Enthusiast: The new release of this producer's prestige cuvée comes in its usual beautifully sculpted bottle. The Champagne, from a great vintage in the region, is just approaching maturity still showing minerality from the high amount of Chardonnay in the blend. Nutty flavors are creeping in, keeping the great texture adding complexity. Drink this very fine wine now although it will also age further.
96 Points Decanter: Rare Champagne boasts an illustrious past, with its first vintage having been presented to Marie Antoinette in 1785. The wine is produced in very limited quantities and is restricted to exceptional years, with only 11 vintages being declared over the past four decades of production. 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir from selected grand cru vineyards. Simon Field MW: Gentle bead, lovely evolved notes of hazelnut, even a hint of praline, enrobed and ennobled by firm acidity and a persuasive finish. Alan Bednarski: Great, pure wine with still-fresh zesty flavours, delicate palate and sweet yeast notes, with a long flavourful finish of ripe melon. Tim Hall: A challenging, pressing start, wanting to overwhelm with shimmering and sharp attack, but shows intensity on the palate to match. Lovely lemon-apple notes and tempered texture.
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: The 2008 Champagne Rare is luxurious with aromas of graham cracker, honeysuckle, quince, and orange zest. It is round and opulent, with a fine and pillowy mousse, and retains freshness throughout, with apricot and yellow flowers. It is impressive and long, and fully luxurious. Drinking well now, it is sure to hold its own for years to come. Drink 2022-2044.
93 Points Wine Advocate: The newly released 2008 Brut Cuvée Rare is very promising, unwinding in the glass with a youthfully reserved nose of citrus oil, crisp green apple, freshly baked bread, iodine and oyster shell, as well as some rather herbaceous characteristics that depress my score a little, even if I suspect that they will resolve with a bit more bottle age. Medium to full-bodied, incisive and tightly wound, if the 2006 vintage was gourmand and demonstrative, the 2008 is slower to show all its cards. Built around racy acids and complemented by a pillowy mousse, this rendition of Cuvée Rare will reward a few years more on cork.
Domaine Jean Grivot Echezeaux Grand Cru 2020 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020
Burghound 93 Points | (From Les Cruots which is also known as Vignes Blanches). Touches of bitter chocolate and kirsch are present on the spicy aromas of plum, violet and soft wood. The finer if not denser flavors possess a velvety texture while also coating the palate with dry extract on the dusty and chalky finish that is likewise youthfully austere. I very much like the depth and persistence and this beauty should also age gracefully for as long as most anyone would like.
Barrel Sample: 93-96 Decanter 97 Points | A very elegant expression of Echezeaux, with a velvety black plum and rose petal fruit. There is a lovely freshness and so much finesse that the tannin and structure might surprise you at the end. This has the substance to age for decades. Produced from a 0.84ha parcel in Cruots next to Comte Liger-Belair. The vines were planted in 1954 and the destemmed fruit was gently fermented.
Barrel Sample: 97Vinous 92 Points | The 2020 Echézeaux Grand Cru offers mulberry sous-bois and very subtle star anis aromas on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannins quite taut and fresh linear at the moment with touches of blood orange and Clementine towards the finish. Give this several years in bottle. (Drink between 2027-2055).
E. Guigal Cote-Rotie La Mouline 2012 750ml
Critical Acclaim
- Wine Advocate – 97 Points | “Upfront, incredibly perfumed nose of spring flowers, cured meats, roasted herbs, olives and sweet cassis fruit. Full-bodied, beautifully textured, mouth-filling and already impossible to resist — it expands on the palate and I guarantee this beauty will put a smile on your face anytime over the coming two decades.” Drinking 2016–2036.
- Wine Spectator – 96 Points | “Brooding, with layers of warm tobacco leaf, roasted alder and juniper, and sweet tapenade, backed by a dense core of macerated plum, black currant and raspberry fruit. The long, smoldering finish shows terrific latent grip.” Best from 2018–2030.
- James Suckling – 95 Points | “Super peppery, very concentrated and immaculately fragrant. Entrancing brown-spice aromas across red plums and darker black fruits. Layered, smooth and supple, pitching concentrated flavors against precise, dense and very powerful tannin. Exceptional wine.” Drink 2020–2030.
- Decanter – 95 Points | “Porcini mushroom and a touch of graphite on the finish. The acidity is well balanced, the tannins a little dry and leathery.” Drinking 2021–2033.
- Vinous – 94 Points | “Heady, intensely perfumed aromas of red fruit preserves, incense, smoky minerals and lavender. Stains the palate with sweet, seamless raspberry liquéur, spicecake and floral pastille flavors. Strikingly long and precise finish with resonating mineral and floral notes.” Drinking 2021–2030.
Tasting Notes
Red fruits, blackberry, and floral aromas of violet define the nose of La Mouline. On the palate, the wine is silky, velvety, and voluptuous with intense aromatics, seamless texture, and a finish of extraordinary length and precision. A wine of rare beauty and complexity.
About the Wine
La Mouline is one of Guigal’s legendary “La La” wines — among the most celebrated and collectible bottles in the entire Rhône Valley. Sourced from a single steep vineyard on the Côte Blonde in Côte-Rôtie, La Mouline is predominantly Syrah with a small percentage of Viognier co-fermented, lending its signature floral perfume and silky texture. The wine spends 42 months in new oak before bottling — a hallmark of Guigal’s uncompromising approach to quality.
Food Pairing
Outstanding with game birds, roasted lamb, truffle dishes, and aged hard cheeses. Also exceptional on its own as a contemplative collector’s wine.
Product Details
- Appellation: Côte-Rôtie, Northern Rhône, France
- Varietal: Syrah with Viognier (co-fermented)
- Vintage: 2012
- Format: 750ml
- Drinking Window: Now–2036
- Producer: E. Guigal
Biondi Santi Brunello di Montalcino Tenuta Greppo Riserva 2015 750ml
Expert Reviews
98+ Points Robert Parker | The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is initially a reticent wine and one that does not immediately subscribe to the overstated abundance and exuberance of the vintage. Give it time. I wrote this review after several tastings over several days so I could ensure a more accurate account of the wine's elegant reveal. Contemplative and exceedingly nuanced in personality, with wild berry, underbrush, ferrous earth and candied orange peel, this has everything to look forward to in terms of its future evolution in the bottle. It displays a pretty ruby color that borders on garnet and polished copper. A silky, mid-weight palate is accented by beautifully managed and silky tannins (this aspect of the mouthfeel is extraordinary), bright freshness and long-lasting fruit momentum. The alcohol is a bit more powerful in this release (at 14.5%), but the effect is supple and smooth nonetheless. I tasted bottle number 256.
James Suckling 97 Points | Complex yet pure, subtle and refined nose that gently evolves, with mossy red cherries, dried roses, chalk, tar and dried orange peel. There is a lift of clove and eucalyptus that makes it so distinctive. A powerful, medium-to full-bodied Brunello, but seamless and bright, with a fine, transparent mid-palate and restrained, mineral austerity. Understated complexity that will need time to bloom. Hold until 2026.
Vinous 97 Points | The 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva pulls you close to the glass with a deep and seductive display of black raspberry preserves complemented by sweet sage, dried roses and pipe tobacco. With further coaxing, it gains in volume and lift, taking on hints of mint and camphor. This greets the palate with undeniable elegance, casting velvety waves of violet-tinged wild berries and sweet spices across a motivating core of juicy acidity, as a subtle coating of round tannins forms toward the close. While structured and incredibly long, energy remains high, as nuances of cherry pits offset by sour citrus and hints of cedar fade. It’s amazing to experience such energy and purity from a young Biondi Santi Riserva. As pretty as the Annata released last year was, I worried that the extended aging for the Riserva might rob the wine of some of its fruit; instead it is the complete opposite, as this contains the depth and complexity of the best wines of the vintage. I can’t wait to see how the 2015 matures over the next several decades. -- Eric Guido
Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | New leather, pressed rose and mature berry aromas slowly appear in the glass along with whiffs of underbrush and pipe tobacco. On the structured, elegant palate, firm but ultrarefined tannins provide the backbone for juicy Morello cherry, crushed raspberry, licorice and cake spice. While it promises decades of evolution, it's already rewarding and almost at the start of its long drinking window. Drink 2025–2045. Kerin O’Keefe
Wine Spectator 96 Points | Round and fruity, with an accent of white pepper against cherry, raspberry and floral flavors. Elegant and verging on racy, with a firm, well-integrated structure and excellent length on the minerally finish. Best from 2025 through 2048. — B.S.
Vietti Barolo CEREQUIO Organic 2019 750ml
Winemaker Description
Intense ruby red color. Generous nose with aromas of ripe red berry fruit with spicy overtones. Intense on the palate, quite rich though very elegant and well-balanced. The tannins are present, but very well integrated in the fruit structure of the wine. Long aftertaste with good freshness. A wine with extraordinary finesse and balance. Pair with red meats, roasts, and wild game.
Expert Reviews
Vinous 98 Points | The 2019 Barolo Cerequio is a worthy follow up to the stellar 2018. Aromatic and deeply pitched, the 2019 races across the palate with remarkable depth and intensity. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petal, mint and cinnamon all open in the glass, but it is the wine's silkiness and suppleness that impresses most. A kick of acids and tannins puts an exclamation point on the finish. This is a gorgeous Cerequio that takes all the finesse this site offers, and then turns up the volume. What a wine.
Robert Parker 97+ Points | Vietti was able to buy a 9,000-square meter piece of Cerequio from Michele Chiarlo, arguably the king of this celebrated cru. And because this is a new addition to the portfolio, the Vietti team is still learning the ropes. For example, there is a fresh minty tone that pops up from the bouquet of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio. "That minty note was a mystery to us," Luca Currado tells me. "But then we understood that its part of Cerequio." This wine shows a firm grip on the palate that does extend out to include some textural softness, but it ultimately remains quite structured. Among the grand cru sites of La Morra, Luca Currado tells me that "Cerequio is the brother and Brunate is the sister." His wife Elena Penna adds, "We've never had two sites so close to one another show such a great difference between them.
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | Coming from La Morra, a more fruit-forward tone can be found in the licorice spice and depth of the 2019 Barolo Cerequio, which offers slightly darker fruit, ripe berries, and peppercorn. This was the second vintage produced and is more approachable now for the vintage. It is a joyful wine though it still has ripe structure.
Gosset Champagne Antique Range Gift Pack 3 Bottles 750ml
Chateau Mouton Rothschild Pauillac 1937 1.50L MAGNUM
Please call or text us for current photograph of bottle - (212) 724-6767.
Expert Review
Wine Spectator 91 Points | Surprisingly tannic for such an old wine, but a lovely drink allthe same, with smoky aromas and concentrated blackberry flavors. Will the tannins soften? Try around 1995.--Mouton-Rothschild vertical. –PM
Chateau Montelena ESTATE Cabernet Sauvignon 2018 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018
Vinous 96 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is impressive. Elegant and poised, the 2018 is a wine of reserve at this stage. Dark red/purplish berry fruit, mint, sage, spice, mocha and dried flowers open first, followed by a kick of vibrant acids that lends notable energy throughout. All this young Cabernet needs is time in the bottle to fully come together. I won't be surprised if it turns out to be a touch more compelling than the 2019 tasted alongside it. Truth be told, both vintages are captivating, but for very different reasons. Superb.
The Wine Advocate 95 Points | Currently being offered to mailing list members as part of a three-vintage pack (2008, 2013, 2018 for $700), the 2008 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate is a killer wine that should continue to drink well for another 15 years or so. It offers up evolved notes of cigar box but remains fresh, with intense redcurrant and cassis still in evidence on the nose. Medium to full-bodied, it's silky, aristocratic in bearing and long on the finish.
Decanter 93 Points | Considerably more depth than the Napa Valley release, although a bit shy on the nose at first. After oxygen exposure, aromas of grilled plums, lilies and roasted peppers frame a black-fruited core. The texture is fantastic, showing off a sweet, rich but classic frame that is both coating and refreshing. Finished with a beautifully earthy, iron-like quality.
Winemaker Description
Fresh and lively, the wine opens exclusively with raspberry, mint and plum sauce. The baking spices soon follow, leaning clove initially but with plenty of cedar and vanilla. Still subtle, the ripe fruit elements, mostly cassis and fig at this stage, lurk beneath the surface along with beautiful hints of graphite and toasted sage, awaiting additional time in glass. Still very tightly wound, it’s the texture and mouthfeel that drive the palate initially.
The tannins in particular are somewhat coarse but not so angular to overshadow the abundant dark fruit. The dynamic tension on the mid-palate serves to focus and magnify the layers of black cherry, cocoa powder, and black pepper, before turning slightly earthy and dusty.
The structure is pronounced, but still harmonious and well defined. It’s in the transition to the finish that the acidity materializes in almost candy-like fashion, a beautiful contrast to the supple tannins. Here the wine’s density shines elegantly, well balanced between smoky, espresso bean and delicate, dried blackberry. It’s the latter that defines the finish at this moment, persistent in length and depth.
Bergstrom BERGSTROM VINEYARD Pinot Noir Biodynamic 2023 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2023
Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard displays a deep, jeweled ruby/magenta hue and has a more introspective profile. Notes of leather, sanguine, iron-rich earth, and cherry liqueur unfold from the glass. While it carries depth and power, it maintains the weightless feel that runs through the estate lineup. With ripe tannins, supple texture, and refreshing acidity, this is a wine worth cellaring. However, it’s already a pleasure to taste, and I imagine it will have a wide window for enjoyment over the next couple of decades.
The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard has ringing aromas of red cherry, cranberry, violet, rooibos tea and spicy, ferrous undertones. The medium-bodied palate has a silky texture and fragrant, nuanced flavors. It’s balanced by mouthwatering acidity and has a very long, detailed finish
James Suckling 95 Points | Savory and spiced, with a lot of earthy complexity, it offers wild berries, dried orange peel and subtle hints of cherries, chocolate and iodine on the nose. The palate is broad and encompassing, very textured and seamless, with a medium body and well-integrated tannins. Long, deep and complex.
Winemaker Description
Bergström Wines is one of the most unique and lauded domaines in the Willamette Valley. Dr. John Bergström’s Swedish heritage and the love he developed for the Pacific Northwest are the roots of this estate. In 1999, John and his son, Josh, established Bergström Wines. Today, Josh and Caroline, his wife and business partner, are celebrating 24 years as biodynamic growers of estate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards on the finest appellations within Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
Their farming program consists of five monopole, biodynamic estate vineyards spanning 70 acres across three of the Willamette Valley’s finest and most exclusive AVA’s. Each vine is farmed without the use of harsh fertilizers, insecticides, herbicides or systemic fungicides. Instead, Josh and his farming team focus on homemade compost, homeopathic herbal and mineral teas, and regenerative agricultural practices that coax maximum expression from the unique terroir.
Memo Summary Notes
The 2023 Bergström Vineyard Pinot Noir is a powerful yet weightless estate bottling that exemplifies why the Dundee Hills is the most famous sub-appellation in Oregon. This site is the family’s original estate, a south-facing, bowl-shaped amphitheater of red Jory (volcanic) soils.
The 2023 vintage is being hailed as "opulent and complete," delivering incredible intensity without sacrificing the signature Bergström elegance.
Charles Woodson INTERCEPT 2018 Limited Edition, Hall of Fame Cabernet Sauvignon
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!”
Tenuta di Trinoro CAMPO DI CAMAGI Toscana IGT 2020 750ml
Winemaker Notes:
Campo di Camagi is one of the three labels of 100% Cabernet Franc produced by Andrea Franchetti from 2014, who wanted to devote the utmost attention to this historic grape of Bordeaux, enhancing its characteristics in relation to three different terroir of the estate. It is produced exclusively with grapes from a single plot of 1.5 hectares composed of a thin layer of quartz and limestone. The 27 year old vines struggle to grow in this space, the stems do not grow, the roots have filled it.
Expert Reviews
Monica Larner writes: Made with Cabernet Franc, the Tenuta di Trinoro 2020 Campo di Camagi shows a level of sharpness and precision that you don't get as clearly in the other wines in this series of single-vineyard releases. There is more oak spice with redwood and cedar, along with crushed granite and pencil shaving. The wine is linear and delivers big intensity to the palate, and it has the structure and acidity to accompany a long drinking window. Drinking 2024 2045 - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+
James Suckling writes: So perfumed with violets and lavender with some currants. Medium- to full-bodied with polish and finesse. Racy and fine. Finesse with drive. Very elegant and straightforward with a racy texture. Very long and lightly edgy. 92% cabernet franc and 8% merlot. Drink after 2027 but already beautiful. - James Suckling 96
Bruce Sanderson writes: A spicy red, featuring a beam of black currant and blackberry fruit shaded by violet, black pepper, iron and mint. Lithe and ends with a line of resonant tannins on the tobacco-tinged finish. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 166 cases made, 65 cases imported. Wine Spectator 94
Jancis Robinson writes: Racy, lively and a little fragile and delicate. Tense. Drinking 2024 - 2034 - Jancis Robinson 17.5
Tenuta di Trinoro Campo DI TENAGLIA Toscana IGT 2020 750ml
Campo di Tenaglia (100% Cabernet Franc) is a 0.8-hectare vineyard grown on 8 feet of crumbled limestone. The vines grow facing the sunset at 500 meters of altitude.
This rainy year cabernet franc is showing a brilliant and intrepid sort of ripeness. It’s the result of the heat in September coming early, then the rains and the long bursts of sunlight. Winemaker Description.
Antonio Galloni writes: The 2020 Campo di Tenaglia is a heady, explosive wine. Soaring Cabernet Franc aromatics make a strong first impression. Deep and layered, with tons of intensity, the 2020 opens beautifully with time in the glass. Beams of tannin lend energy through to the focused finish. This is such a promising wine. Drinking 2025 to 2040. - Vinous 96
Monica Larner writes: The Tenuta di Trinoro 2020 Campo di Tenaglia (made with 100% Cabernet Franc) opens to an inky and impenetrable appearance and full-bodied texture. The bouquet is absolutely packed tight with dark fruit, spice, cured tobacco and mineral hints of granite or iron ore. The wine feels very young, and it has the textural fiber and firmness to withstand a long aging trajectory. Production is limited to 1,400 bottles. Drinking 2024 to 2045. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93
Points Vinous | The 2020 Campo di Tenaglia is a heady, explosive wine. Soaring Cabernet Franc aromatics make a strong first impression. Deep and layered, with tons of intensity, the 2020 opens beautifully with time in the glass. Beams of tannin lend energy through to the focused finish. This is such a promising wine.
Bruce Sanderson writes: Juicy, this red exudes black cherry, black currant, cassis and wild herb aromas and flavors. This has a light chewiness to the texture, with dusty tannins flexing their muscles on the long aftertaste. Shows superb balance and length, despite needing time to come together. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2040. 118 cases made, 39 cases imported. - Wine Spectator 94
Points Wine Enthusiast | This fun and energetic wine leaps out of the glass with fresh cranberry, red currant and tons of fresh flower aromas. Grignolino is one of the historic grapes of Piedmont and one you should seek out. This example has copious amounts of bright fruit flavors, a light refreshing palate and a zippy tart finish. Add a chill to this wine and you will be super ecstatic.
Joseph Phelps Insignia Napa 2018 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018
Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018).
Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018).
James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018).
Cakebread Cellars "Dancing Bear Ranch" Howell Mountain 2017 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017
The top Cabernet is the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch, which comes all from the Howell Mountain AVA. It's another inky colored beauty boasting a terrific perfume of black and blue fruits, ground herbs, spice box, graphite, and forest floor. With brilliant minerality on the palate as well as full-bodied richness and an expansive, opulent texture, it has sweet tannins and is approachable today, yet will benefit from short-term cellaring and cruise for 25-30 years. It's one of the few 2017s to come close to its 2016 counterpart. Bravo! Drinking 2024 to 2054. Jeb Dunnuck 97
Bottled only three weeks ago, the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear Ranch is composed of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and 1% Merlot, having spent 22 months in 60% new French oak. Very deep garnet-purple in color, it reveals beautiful notions of kirsch, red and black currant preserves, raspberry pie and warm plums with hints of red roses, stewed tea, underbrush and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied, the palate has wonderful red fruit and floral intensity intermingled with black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing very long and mineral laced. Very different from the epic 2016 Dancing Bear, but very exciting! Drinking 2020 to 2038. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+
The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Dancing Bear ranch is a gorgeous Howell Mountain red. Succulent black cherry, plum, licorice, spice, new leather, rose petal and blood orange all run through this deep, resonant, unctuous Cabernet Sauvignon from Cakebread. This is a very pretty wine. Drinking 2022 to 2032. - Vinous 93
Orin Swift Bundle - 20% Off
Orin Swift · The Buncle · Three-Bottle Collection · 20% Savings
Three of Orin Swift’s most celebrated wines, bundled together at 20% off. Dave Phinney’s Napa-based project has become one of California’s most distinctive cult wine brands — each label a work of art, each wine a bold, uncompromising expression of California terroir. This collection brings together the Bordeaux-driven Papillon, the Rhône-inspired Palermo, and the brooding, inky Eight Years in the Desert: three wines, three styles, one unmistakable vision.
What’s in the Bundle
Papillon 2022 — Orin Swift’s flagship Napa Bordeaux blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot & Petit Verdot), sourced primarily from the legendary Stagecoach Vineyard. Opaque crimson, brooding and structured, with cassis, blackberry, cedar, and a long, silky finish. WA 91.
Palermo 2022 — A Cabernet Sauvignon-led Napa red with Rhône influence, aged in French oak. Rich and plush, with dark cherry, mocha, vanilla, and a velvety, approachable texture that makes it the most immediately seductive wine in the Orin Swift lineup.
Eight Years in the Desert 2024 — A Zinfandel-dominant blend from California’s most expressive old-vine sites. Named for the years Dave Phinney spent building his vision before launching Orin Swift, it delivers ripe blackberry, blueberry, spice, and a lush, generous finish with characteristic Zinfandel warmth.
- Producer: Orin Swift Cellars (Dave Phinney), Napa Valley, California
- Includes: Papillon 2022 · Palermo 2022 · Eight Years in the Desert 2022
- Format: 3 × 750ml
- Savings: 20% off individual bottle prices
- Style: Bold California reds — Bordeaux blend, Cabernet, Zinfandel blend
Three of California’s most iconic cult labels — one collection, 20% off. The definitive Orin Swift experience.
Veuve Clicquot Ice Jacket + "Les Clans" Whispering Angel Bundle— Free Gift Wrapping Upon Request!
The Prestige Provence Bundle · Veuve Clicquot ICE JACKET + Les Clans Whispering Angel · 2 Bottles · 10% Off
Two icons of French elegance, together in one gift-ready bundle. Veuve Clicquot’s Yellow Label Brut — one of the world’s most celebrated Champagnes, wrapped in the limited-edition ICE JACKET that keeps it perfectly chilled for up to 60 minutes — paired with Les Clans by Château d’Esclans, the prestige expression from the estate that made Provence rosé a global phenomenon. This is the bundle for the host who wants to arrive with something extraordinary, the gift for the person who has everything, or the celebration that deserves more than the ordinary. 10% off individual bottle prices. Free gift wrapping available upon request — just leave a note at checkout.
- Bottle 1: Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label Brut NV · Ice Jacket Edition · 750ml — $69.99
- Bottle 2: Château d’Esclans “Les Clans” Whispering Angel Rosé 2024 · 750ml — $64.99
- Bundle Price: $121.48 (10% off $134.98 combined retail)
- Gift Wrapping: Available free upon request · Leave a note at checkout
- Origin: Champagne & Provence, France
- Style: NV Brut Champagne + Prestige Provençal Rosé
- Perfect for: Gifting · Celebrations · Anniversaries · Hostess gifts · Summer entertaining
About Veuve Clicquot ICE JACKET: The iconic Yellow Label Brut — 93pts Tasting Panel, 92pts James Suckling — wrapped in a Central Saint Martins-designed sleeve made from 100% recycled plastic fibres. Keeps the bottle chilled for up to 60 minutes. Reusable and customizable.
About Les Clans: The prestige expression from Château d’Esclans, sourced from old-vine Grenache and Rolle on Kimmeridgian limestone soils in the heart of Côtes de Provence. Partially barrel-fermented for richness and texture. A rosé that drinks like a fine white Burgundy.
Champagne meets Provence — the most elegant two-bottle gift in the shop.
Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne-Montrachet 2023 750ml
Domaine Michel Niellon | Chassagne-Montrachet | Burgundy, France | 2023
One of Chassagne-Montrachet's most trusted names, Michel Niellon has long produced village-level whites of uncommon precision and depth. The 2023 vintage brings a ripe yet fresh expression of the appellation — orchard fruit, white flowers, and hazelnut on the nose, followed by yellow apple, lemon curd, and flint on the palate. The texture is rounded and polished, balanced by underlying freshness and chalky lift. A wine of aromatic depth and quiet authority.
Tasting Notes
Pear and apple compote, citrus confit, rosemary oil. Punchy and delicious flavors with a clean, dry, and refreshing finish. A few years of cellaring will reward patience.
Critical Acclaim
Burghound 88 Points — Allen Meadows
"A ripe but agreeably fresh and layered nose reflects notes of pear and apple compote, citrus confit and a suggestion of rosemary oil. The punchy and delicious, if not especially dense, flavors also conclude in a clean, dry and refreshing finale. This could use better depth so a few years of cellaring should prove to be beneficial."
- Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet, Côte de Beaune, Burgundy
- Grape: Chardonnay
- Vintage: 2023
- Format: 750ml
- Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon
Domaine Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er cru Clos de la Maltroie 2023 750ml
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 Michel Niellon Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Chaumees Clos de la Truffiere 2023 750ml
Domaine Michel Niellon · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru · Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière · Burgundy · 2023
Domaine Michel Niellon is one of Chassagne-Montrachet’s most revered addresses — a small, meticulous family estate that has farmed its premier cru parcels for generations with an unwavering commitment to terroir expression over winemaking intervention. Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière is among the domaine’s most prized holdings: a monopole planted with ancient vines, some more than a century old, set very high on the slope where the combination of altitude, old vine concentration, and Chassagne’s signature limestone soils produces Chardonnay of extraordinary tension and longevity. The 2023 earned 96 points from Charles Curtis MW at Decanter — a wine built for the cellar and the ages.
The 2023 opens with pronounced ripe fruit aromas of lemon peel, nectarine, and gooseberry, edged with saline minerality. The texture is impressively fresh for the vintage — lilting and silky — with marvellous concentration and great tension on the palate. A wine of rare substance and precision, it will benefit from a decade in the cellar and has the structure to drink beautifully for several decades after that.
“Pronounced ripe fruit aromas of lemon peel, nectarine and gooseberry, with an edge of saline minerality. The texture is impressively fresh for the vintage, with a lilting, silky texture, marvellous concentration and great tension on the palate. The grapes are from ancient vines, some more than a century old, planted very high on the slope. This will benefit from a decade in the cellar, but it has the substance to drink for several decades after that.”
— Charles Curtis MW, Decanter · 96 Points
- Producer: Domaine Michel Niellon, Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France
- Vintage: 2023
- Appellation: Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru
- Climat: Les Chaumées – Clos de la Truffière (monopole)
- Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
- Vines: Ancient vines, some 100+ years old; high on the slope
- Style: Dry white — mineral, concentrated, exceptional tension
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Lemon peel, nectarine, gooseberry, saline minerality, silky texture, great concentration and tension
- Cellar: Drink 2033–2050+
- Pairings: Lobster, turbot, Dover sole, scallops, white truffle dishes, aged Comté
Decanter 96 · Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru — century-old vines, monopole climat, and a decade or more of cellaring ahead. One of Burgundy’s most compelling 2023s.
Domaine Louis Jadot Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Fuées 2022 750ml
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.
Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Veeder Napa Valley 2021 750ml
Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Veeder — Napa Valley 2021
Mt. Brave is the Mountain Veeder project of Chris Carpenter — the winemaker behind Lokoya and Cardinale, and one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated mountain viticulturists. The estate vineyards sit high above the fog line on the undulating ridgelines of Mt. Veeder, where some sites date back to just before the Civil War. The soils are volcanic and iron-rich, the yields are brutally low, and the fruit that survives is among the most concentrated and complex in all of Napa. Carpenter’s philosophy is one of restraint and terroir transparency — allowing Mt. Veeder to reveal itself in each vintage rather than imposing a winemaker’s hand. The 2021 blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot — 3,830 cases produced. James Suckling called it the best Mt. Brave ever made.
The color is a deep, saturated ruby. The nose is breathtaking: violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, bay leaf, and cedary oak, with gorgeous mid-palate depth and nuances of tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni. On the palate, it is full-bodied and silky — very fine tannins that caress the palate with velvety precision, mouthwatering ripeness, and a long, focused, and deeply complex finish. There is upfront accessibility today, but this wine deserves 3–4 years in the cellar and will reward patience for two decades. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021
James Suckling — 99 Points
“A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. A total of 3,830 cases produced. Give it three to four years to soften.”Jeb Dunnuck — 97 Points
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a classic Mountain Cabernet with full-bodied richness and ample, although velvety, tannins as well as pure cassis and currant-like fruits, gorgeous mid-palate depth and opulence on the palate, and beautiful complexity in its tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni-like nuances. It’s another remarkable wine from Carpenter that has some upfront accessibility today yet deserves 3-4 years in the cellar. It will have two decades of overall longevity, and as top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon goes, it’s a terrific value.”Wine Advocate — 95 Points
“Cassis and blueberries are joined on the nose by hints of dried sage, bay leaf and cedary oak. Full-bodied and silky, with drying tannins and mouthwatering ripeness on the long finish. Give it a couple of years in the cellar and drink it over the next couple of decades.”Wine Spectator — 94 Points
“This is deep and winey, with cassis, plum paste and linzer torte notes leading the way. Structured but succulent, offering singed apple wood, bay and cast iron accents that support the fruit through the long and focused finish. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school. Best from 2025 through 2040.”
- Producer: Mt. Brave (Chris Carpenter), Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley, California
- Vintage: 2021
- Appellation: Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley
- Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
- Production: 3,830 cases
- Style: Powerful, silky, terroir-driven Mountain Veeder Cabernet
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, tobacco, graphite, bouquet garni, cedary oak
- Drink Window: 2025–2040
- Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb rack, wild mushroom dishes, aged hard cheeses
Mountain Veeder Cabernet at its absolute pinnacle — Mt. Brave 2021 is Chris Carpenter’s finest hour.




