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Critic Notes

Neal Martin writes:  The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village is quite backward on the nose, blackberry and bilberry at the moment, a distinct marine element surface with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit tinged with orange rind and brown spices. Fine structure towards the finish although here, I would just like a little more finesse to develop.  - Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous

William Kelley writes:  The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village is a blend of En Sevrey and Clos Solon. Delivering aromas of smoky red berries, raw cocoa and forest floor, it's medium-bodied, supple and perfumed, with melting tannins and a charming middle-weight style.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Allen Meadows writes:  Here too there is enough reduction to suppress the underlying fruit. The palate impression though of the more substantial flavors is vibrant and well-detailed, particularly on the lengthier and better-balanced finale. This could use more depth but that should reasonably occur with time.  - Burghound

Villa Sandi Asolo Prosecco Superiore — DOCG NV

Villa Sandi is one of the Veneto’s most celebrated sparkling wine estates, and their Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG represents the pinnacle of the category. Asolo is Italy’s highest-quality tier of Prosecco — a hillside DOCG appellation with strict quality standards that sets it firmly apart from standard Prosecco DOC. Crafted from carefully selected Glera grapes grown on the prestigious Asolo hillsides, this is mineral-driven, elegant, and endlessly food-friendly sparkling wine. The Tasting Panel awarded it 91 points.

The nose is intense and inviting: honeydew, ripe pear, honeysuckle, and banana with a fine, persistent perlage. On the palate, it is glossy and fleshy — poached pear, preserved lemon, sliced almond, and a touch of smoke — finishing clean and bright with lemon sorbet, peach, and a slight herbaceous lift.

🇮🇹 The Tasting Panel 91 — “This one’s got vivacity to spare. Intense scents of honeydew and ripe pear mingle with honeysuckle and banana before descending on a glossy, fleshy palate that finishes clean and bright with lemon sorbet, peach, and a slight herbaceousness.”

• Producer: Villa Sandi, Asolo, Veneto, Italy
• Vintage: NV
• Appellation: Asolo Prosecco Superiore DOCG
• Grape: Glera
• Style: Extra Dry / Brut Sparkling (Charmat method)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Honeydew, ripe pear, honeysuckle, banana, poached pear, preserved lemon, almond, lemon sorbet, peach
• Best Paired With: Fresh oysters, grilled shrimp, light seafood pasta, fried appetizers, charcuterie, cream-sauced pastas, risotto

Mineral-driven, vivacious, and unmistakably Asolo — Villa Sandi’s Prosecco Superiore is Italy’s hillside sparkling at its most elegant.

About Champagne Paul Bara

Paul Bara Rosé Brut Grand Cru NV is a vibrant, expressive Rosé Champagne from one of Bouzy’s most storied grower estates — a family that has farmed this celebrated Grand Cru village since 1833. The estate tends approximately 11 hectares of clay-limestone and chalk-rich vineyards planted primarily to Pinot Noir, and its Champagnes are renowned for their combination of ripe fruit, fine structure, and a distinctive sense of place. Composed of 80% Pinot Noir (including 12% estate-produced Bouzy Rouge) and 20% Chardonnay, this Rosé is a benchmark expression of Bouzy’s vinous depth and red-fruit generosity.

Tasting Notes

Luminous salmon-pink in the glass with a fine, persistent mousse. The bouquet is expressive and inviting: raspberry, wild strawberry, and red cherry lead, accompanied by dried apricot, citrus peel, and delicate flowers, with subtle accents of almond, biscuit, and gentle spice emerging with air. On the palate, the wine is lively, generous, and beautifully balanced — juicy red fruit supported by refreshing acidity and a fine mineral backbone, with a smooth, creamy texture from approximately four years of lees aging. The finish is dry, focused, and persistent, with lingering red-fruit, citrus, and savory mineral notes.

Critical Acclaim

Decanter — 96 Points: “Enticing creamy raspberry and ground almond notes which propel over the pink grapefruit acidity and gorgeous glowing, silky mousse. Delicate with a crushed red fruit ending.”

James Suckling — 93 Points: “Attractive fruit with sliced-strawberry and apple aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with fresh apples and citrus as well as touches of heather and bread dough. Tangy at the end.”

Winemaking

Only the first pressing of the grapes is used. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks; malolactic fermentation is avoided to preserve freshness and natural acidity. The estate-produced Bouzy Rouge contributes the Rosé’s attractive color, richness, and red-fruit complexity. Aged approximately four years on lees before release — well beyond the NV minimum — developing greater texture and depth while retaining vibrant fruit. Sustainable farming, lutte raisonnée. Average vine age: approximately 35 years.

Food Pairings

Exceptional as an aperitif. Pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, tuna tartare, sushi, grilled shrimp, lobster, duck breast, roast poultry, pork tenderloin, charcuterie, creamy cheeses, and red-berry desserts. Versatile enough to accompany an entire meal.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2014 

Vinous 98 Points | Bollinger’s 2014 La Grande Année is a great way to start the evening as guests mill around Wheeler Farms. It is early evening in Napa, but there is still plenty of action in the winery, where various lots are being pressed under the watchful eye of winemaker Nigel Kinsman. There are some moments where I would very much like to be a civilian, a regular person enjoying the night, but I am more concerned with our guests having a great night, so I quickly go back to check on our wines. The Bollinger 2014 is everything I expected; bright, focused and full of all the energy this late-ripening vintage conferred to the best wines. 

Producer Description 

La Grande Année: The Great Year. This Champagne is the embodiment of everything that makes Bollinger the producer that stands apart in Champagne. La Grande Année symbolizes the word “hand-crafted” so strongly that an overused word suddenly becomes the appropriate definition. 

La Grande Année is only produced in the most outstanding of vintages, where ripeness and acidity reach a perfect balance and aging potential is excellent.

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

Floral aromas of red roses and pansies alongside fruity notes of cherries, plums, and woodland berries such as blackberries, currants and raspberries. Well balanced, tangy and fresh on the palate. Intense with a good body despite its young lightness.

BOM DIA BRAZILIAN BUBBLES SPARKLING BRUT NV | CANS 250ML

🇧🇷 Brazil — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir

From vineyards hidden deep in the jungle, this sparkling Brut marries Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes grown in Brazil's beautiful southern wine region, where altitude, cool nights, and volcanic soils produce wines of genuine finesse.

Fresh, delicate, and classically structured. Pale straw in color with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose opens with green apple, white peach, and a whisper of brioche. On the palate it is crisp and dry, with bright citrus acidity and a clean, refreshing finish.

A celebration of Brazil's emerging wine culture — proof that great sparkling wine doesn't need a bottle.

Grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Region: Southern Brazil
Format: 250ml Can
Style: Brut, NV

Gato Negro Balance Red Wine Blend — Chile

Gato Negro is one of Chile’s most recognized wine brands, known for delivering honest, flavorful wines at everyday prices. With Balance, they’ve done something genuinely useful: crafted a red wine blend that delivers the full flavor of their classic style at just 5.5% alcohol and 62 calories per glass. No compromise on taste — just a lighter, more flexible wine for any occasion. Whether you’re pacing yourself at dinner, cutting back without cutting out, or simply looking for a wine that fits your lifestyle, Balance is the answer.

The wine is approachable and fruit-forward, with the soft red fruit character and easy-drinking profile that has made Gato Negro a household name. Light on alcohol, generous on flavor — a guilt-free glass that doesn’t taste like one.

• Producer: Gato Negro, Chile
• Appellation: Chile
• Varietal: Red Wine Blend
• Alcohol: 5.5%
• Calories: ~62 per glass
• Closure: Screw Cap
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Soft red fruit, approachable, fruit-forward, light-bodied
• Best Paired With: Weeknight dinners, light pasta, pizza, charcuterie, casual entertaining

Full flavor, half the guilt — Gato Negro Balance is the everyday low-alcohol red that actually delivers.

Frey Vineyards Mendocino Chardonnay Organic 2023 — Mendocino County, California

Frey Vineyards is a true American original. Founded in 1980 in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, Frey became the first certified organic winery in the United States — and has remained one of the country’s most committed producers of organic and biodynamic wine ever since. Their wines are made with no added sulfites (NSA), no synthetic pesticides, and no chemical additives, offering a pure, unmanipulated expression of the grape and the land.

This Mendocino Chardonnay is fermented in stainless steel with minimal oak exposure, preserving the grape’s natural freshness and fruit character. The result is bright and approachable: hints of apple, pear, and a touch of caramel on the nose and palate, with clean acidity and a light, refreshing finish. No sulfites added — ideal for those with sulfite sensitivities or anyone seeking a cleaner, more natural wine experience.

America’s first certified organic winery. No sulfites added. Pure Mendocino Chardonnay.

• Producer: Frey Vineyards, Redwood Valley, Mendocino County, California (est. 1980)
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Mendocino County
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Farming: Certified Organic, Biodynamic
• Sulfites: No Sulfites Added (NSA)
• Vegan: Yes
• Format: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Apple, pear, caramel, light acidity, clean refreshing finish
• Best Paired With: Pumpkin risotto, honey-glazed carrots, scalloped potatoes, grilled fish, light pasta, fresh goat cheese

Organic, honest, and genuinely delicious — Frey Chardonnay is the benchmark for clean California white wine.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013

Jeb Dunnuck 98 Points | Originally a part of the legendary Piper-Heidsieck Champagne house, Rare is moving their Champagne Millésime to a new brand and want it to stand alone. (Think Delamotte and Salon.) The 13th vintage for this cuvée, the 2013 Champagne Millésime is a blend is 70% Chardonnay with the rest Pinot Noir, with the majority of the blend coming from the Montagne de Reims Grand Cru and Premier Cru. A bright yellow hue, its aromatics are exquisite and well-balanced, with fresh notes of key lime, candied apple, fresh croissant dough, fresh pineapple, and honeysuckle. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with a rounded and supple texture and a pillowy mousse. It’s long on the palate and has a silky personality as well as a long, pristine finish. It has fantastic balance of decadence and freshness, and I could drink this all day. It’s going to have a long drinking window. 

James Suckling 96 Points | Such a pleasingly elegant and multifaceted Champagne with salty, creamy and toasty elements all wound together. Plenty of apricot pastries, pears, brown butter, fennel and salted almonds, with some iodine. It’s silky on the palate, with soft and supple bubbles, while remaining fresh and on edge. 70% chardonnay and 30% pinot noir, from 11 cru villages mostly in Montagne de Reims with Cotes de Blancs. Disgorged December 2022. 9 g/L dosage. 

Vinous 95 Points | The 2013 Brut Millésime, a blend of 70% Chardonnay and 30% Pinot Noir from the Montagne de Reims, spent eight years on lees. A gorgeous whiff of reductive smokiness precedes a sea breeze and hints of toasted nuts. The palate is a picture of tautness, filigree foam, finesse and svelte poise. This wine is wonderfully pure and bracing, with hints of caramelized hazelnuts and almonds teasingly in the background, gaining definition from an oystershell saltiness. The longer you pay attention, the more happens in this wonderfully nuanced and sophisticated wine.

Decanter 95 Points | Initially cool and breezy on the nose, like sea spray and freshly sliced lemons. As it warms, it shows fresh pineapple, coconut, Sorrento lemons and a tiny touch of toast on the finish. This really is very youthful, taut and tingling, with very fine acidity. Lots of intrigue to come as it ages. 2013 was sunny in the early part of the season, but was also very cool. Harvest did not take place until October, the only time in the last 30 years that harvest has taken place in October. The grapes matured very slowly. 

Memo Summary Notes

The Piper-Heidsieck Rare Millésime 2013 is the 13th vintage of this prestigious prestige cuvée since its debut in 1976. This specific vintage is celebrated for its "tropical minerality"—a signature of the house—blended with the precision and crystalline acidity of the cooler 2013 harvest.

Gato Negro | Chardonnay | Valle Central, Chile | 1.5L Magnum

Gato Negro is one of Chile's most beloved everyday wine brands, produced by Viña San Pedro — a winery with roots dating back to 1865 and one of the most established names in South American wine. The iconic Black Cat label has built a global following for delivering consistent, fruit-forward wines at exceptional value.

Valle Central is Chile's heartland wine region, stretching between the Andes and the Coastal Range. The warm, sunny climate and fertile soils are ideal for growing Chardonnay that is ripe, generous, and approachable — with the natural freshness that Chilean whites are known for.

Gato Negro Chardonnay is fruit-forward and approachable, with tropical aromas of ripe peach, banana, and pineapple, with a touch of light oak. On the palate, perfectly balanced acidity leads to a smooth, pleasant finish. No heavy oak, no fuss — just an easy-drinking, crowd-pleasing white that works in any setting.

Now available in a generous 1.5L Magnum — perfect for entertaining, parties, and casual gatherings. Pair with grilled chicken, light pasta, seafood, soft cheeses, and fresh salads. Serve well chilled.

• Producer: Gato Negro / Viña San Pedro
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Region: Valle Central, Chile
• Style: Fruit-forward, tropical, easy-drinking
• Closure: Screwcap
• Format: 1.5L Magnum

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

Domaine du Salvard has been a working domaine since 1898, through five hardworking generations of the Delaille family. Today, all forty-two hectares of vineyards are farmed by the capable brother team of Emmanuel and Thierry Delaille, with help from their father Gilbert. To our delight, they have carried on the traditions established by their ancestors, producing a true, classic Cheverny that is both simple and elegant.

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

Brilliant lemon-green in color, playful aromas of green apples and pears are underscored by notes of white peaches and apricots. On the palate, tangy acidity unfolds into a long, harmonious finish.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2024

James Suckling 89 Points: Bright, citrusy nose with hints of sour cherries and dried flowers. Vivid and fruity, with medium body and juicy acidity, finishing bright and zesty. Pleasant and attractive. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Sustainable.

Winemaker Description

"Rina Russa" means "red sand" in Sicilian dialect — a name that speaks to the ancient terroir from which this wine is born. The Frappato grapes come from estate-grown ancient clones, yielding a beautiful light cherry color with a fresh and vibrant bouquet reminiscent of wild strawberries. The palate is silky and smooth with a real freshness running through it and a surprisingly long finish.

Certifications: Organic  |  Vegan  |  Sustainable

Pairing Suggestions

• Seafood: Grilled branzino, swordfish alla Siciliana, or seafood pasta.
• Meat: Charcuterie, roasted rabbit, or light pork dishes.
• Cheese: Fresh Pecorino Siciliano or mild ricotta salata.

Winemaker Description 

Distinguished by its ruby red color and a fresh bouquet of red berry fruits and sweet spices. Round on the palate, with a lively acidity, the wine is well balanced and persistent.

As is the case with the Nero d’Avola variety, Frappato also demonstrates Sicily’s full winemaking potential, able to produce a powerful, persistent and very elegant wine that inspires the taster from its very first olfactory notes, which characterise it in an unmistakable manner. Label drawn by Carolina Marengo.

Frappato is ideal with fresh cheeses, cold cuts and full-flavored fish dishes.

Distinguished by its ruby red color and a fresh bouquet of red berry fruits and sweet spices. Round on the palate, with a lively acidity, the wine is well balanced and persistent.

As is the case with the Nero d’Avola variety, Frappato also demonstrates Sicily’s full winemaking potential, able to produce a powerful, persistent and very elegant wine that inspires the taster from its very first olfactory notes, which characterise it in an unmistakable manner. Label drawn by Carolina Marengo.

Frappato is ideal with fresh cheeses, cold cuts and full-flavored fish dishes.

Matchbook Wine Company | Chardonnay Estate Bottled | Dunnigan Hills | 2023

Dunnigan Hills is one of California's best-kept secrets — a warm, inland appellation in Yolo County where Matchbook has farmed estate vineyards for decades. The combination of hot days, cool nights, and well-drained soils produces Chardonnay with a distinctive personality: tropical fruit richness balanced by genuine freshness. This estate-bottled 2023 is a signature expression of that terroir, blended with a small addition of Verdejo that lifts the wine with a bright thread of minerality. In the cellar, 60% malolactic fermentation adds a creamy, supple texture and a whisper of butterscotch, while careful oak aging layers in vanilla without overwhelming the fruit. The result is a plump, satisfying Chardonnay with a crisp, lingering finish — classic California golden straw in the glass, and a mouthful of pineapple, mango, and melon on the palate.

• Appellation: Dunnigan Hills, Yolo County, California
• Varietal: Chardonnay with a touch of Verdejo
• Vintage: 2023
• Format: 750ml
• MLF: 60% malolactic fermentation
• Style: Tropical, creamy, fruit-forward with a crisp finish

Critical Acclaim

Wine Enthusiast — Tonya Pitts | 89 Points: Lush, with aromas of white peach, nectarine, Golden Delicious apple, pineapple, creamy vanilla, and clove, and supple mineral notes on the finish.

Tasting Notes

Pineapple, mango, melon, white peach, and nectarine on the nose. Creamy mid-palate with butterscotch and vanilla from oak aging, brightened by a lift of minerality from the Verdejo. Plump mouthfeel with a crisp, fresh fruit finish.

Pairing Suggestions

• Poultry: Roast chicken with herb butter, turkey, or creamy pasta dishes.
• Seafood: Grilled lobster, shrimp scampi, or pan-seared halibut.
• Cheese: Brie, Gruyère, or a mild aged cheddar.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2023 Morey-Saint-Denis Les Ruchots 1er Cry offers the most transparency on the nose among Arlaud's Morey Premier Crus, with intense, well-defined blackberry and raspberry fruit and fine mineralite. The medium-bodied palate features pliant tannins and commendable depth, though it may not reach the complexity of the Aux Chesaux or Blanchards on the finish. Give this two or three years in the bottle.

"A fine even purple. The bouquet is beautifully, florally, perfumed. This seems to be one of the riper wines but still has the quintessential cool balance of an Arlaud wine. Heady roses, with a ripe raspberry underlay. The acidity is sufficiently present and the tannins refined A long, supple finish. Drink from 2031-2038. Tasted Dec 2024."

Jasper Morris 92-95 Points

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

The Gelin family invested in a larger, more efficient winery, which was upgraded and ready for the 2011 harvest. “The new winery allows us more flexibility during harvest, as well as the technology to increase wine quality,” says Pierre-Emmanuel. The wines of Domaine Pierre Gelin have always been de-stemmed with a long cuvaison of 8-10 days and a judicious use of oak. Only indigenous yeasts are used for fermentation which takes place in stainless-steel and oak tanks. Malolactic fermentation occurs in barrel and the wines are aged for 20-24 months in varying percentages of new oak: up to 80% new oak for the Grand Cru, and 25% new for the premier crus. They use older barrels for village wines.

Expert Review 

Vinous 99 Points | The 2020 Romanée-Conti Grand Cru was picked on 26 and 28 August at 28.7hL/ha. As usual, I leave it for 5-10 minutes to open in the glass, predisposed not to show everything upon first pour. It reveals lovely dark berry fruit, sous-bois, clove and haunting sea spray notes (picture yourself walking along the pebble beach at Whistable and the tang of shucked oyster shell in the salty air). The palate is medium-bodied with very fine and pliant tannins. Harmonious to a tee with a perfect silver bead of acidity, long and languorous, this fans out with ineffable ease on the finish. Stunning. 500 cases produced. Tasted at Corney & Barrow’s annual in bottle tasting in London.

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

Created in 2001 by Monica Leyva with her brother, Rubén Leyva, Pajarote explores and shares the Mexican tradition of ponche essentially, punch but here expressed using flavors specific to Mexican heritage in the form of hand-crafted liqueurs. Tamarind, Chocolate, Guava, and Ginger lead the charge, with more flavors in the export pipeline (including a delightful Mexican take on the traditional Italian red bitter aperitif).

The spirits are made using cane distillate drawn from a traditional producer in Jalisco as a base and sweetened with piloncillo (coarse cane sugar), just as Monica’s grandmother sweetened her ponches when Monica was growing up. Following an altruistic model similar to sister-brand Mezonte, the brand also works closely with the communities from which its inspiration is drawn, sourcing ingredients carefully through ethical and sustainable suppliers.

Winemaker Description

Chambertin is the wine of Kings. Masculine, powerful and well built. Vigorous and firm, well-structured and very dense. With great persistence in the mouth and aromas of chocolate, licorice and red berries.

Expert Reviews 

Jasper Morris 100 Points | An imperial robe as we have come to expect. The bouquet is very backward, no problem there either, all about the fruit, the new wood is irrelevant. Starts slowly then builds immaculately, still too early really to see the detail. As always it is about grace style intensity and length rather than overt muscle, all the finesse one can want. Long and lovely

Robert Parker 97 Points Wine Advocate | Rousseau's 2020 Chambertin Grand Cru is brilliant, unwinding in the glass with aromas of wild berries, orange rind, plums, exotic spices, Egyptian musk, woodsmoke and rose petals. Full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's deep and tightly wound, with striking intensity and energy. Still very primary, even after a year's élevage, it will require patience, but it's a magical Chambertin in the making.

Discover My White Villa: Viura/Verdejo Rioja 2024

Winemaker Description

Rioja Blanco is a bright golden yellow, intense bouquet of white flowers and grape.
Clean limes and crisp apple palate. Balanced elegant finish.

Food Match: Delicious as an aperitif, with fish or for everyday drinking.

Varietals - Viura, Verdejo 

Experience the Essence of Rioja

My White Villa presents the Viura and Verdejo blend, a true representation of Rioja's rich heritage. This vibrant white wine captures the essence of the region, combining freshness with subtle complexity. The Viura grapes offer floral notes and crisp acidity, while the Verdejo provides a rounder mouthfeel and fruity undertones. Together, they create a delightful balance that makes this wine versatile for both casual meals and special occasions. Enjoy a glass and experience why this wine is a favorite among enthusiasts.

Perfect Pairings for Any Meal

Because My White Villa is crafted with a blend of Viura and Verdejo, it pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Try it with seafood, grilled vegetables, or light pasta dishes to enhance the meal's flavors. The wine's acidity allows it to cut through richer foods, making it a fantastic choice for creamy sauces or cheese platters. Therefore, whether you are hosting a dinner party or enjoying a quiet evening at home, this wine is a perfect companion for elevating your culinary experience.

Why Choose My White Villa?

Choosing My White Villa means embracing a high-quality wine that reflects both tradition and modernity. The 2024 vintage is particularly noteworthy, as the careful selection of grapes ensures a brilliant balance of taste and aroma. It is not just about the product itself but the story it tells—a journey from the vineyard to your table. Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or a beginner, this Rioja offers an approachable and enjoyable experience that you'll want to repeat time and again.

Expert Reviews

~ Rosé made using the saignée method
~ Zero dosage
~ Natural
~ Very low sulphur content
~ Aromas of red fruits, mandarin orange and white pepper
~ Pinot Noir

Vinification of the Brut Nature Rosé cuvée

~ Rosé made using the saignée method with maceration in vats lasting 3 days
~ Only the juices from first pressing are used
~ Minimal use of sulphur
~ No filtering
~ Use of gravity to avoid oxidation
~ Then total and natural malolactic fermentation
~ Zero dosage
~ 100% of the wines are made in vats to preserve freshness
~ After bottling the cuvée is aged for 2 to 3 years sur lattes (on laths)

GRAPE VARIETY: 100% Pinot Noir

FOOD PAIRINGS: Ideal as an aperitif. Goes perfectly with salmon carpaccio or scallops, sushi, grilled meats. Serve at: 45°F.

TASTING NOTES: On the nose, very evocative of strawberry and raspberry with a floral note of rose petals. The palate recalls red fruits and is augmented by hints of citrus fruit, mandarin orange and a small, very refined touch of white pepper.