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Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages — Mâconnais, Burgundy 2024

Louis Jadot is one of Burgundy’s most celebrated négociants — a house with over 160 years of history and an unrivalled reputation for honest, terroir-driven wines at every price point. The Mâcon-Villages is their benchmark expression of unoaked Burgundy Chardonnay: sourced from chalk and limestone soils across the Mâconnais, fermented in stainless steel with no oak contact, and crafted to deliver the pure, bright, food-friendly character that has made this appellation a perennial favorite. Wine Spectator awarded it 88 points. At under $17, it is one of the most compelling values in all of white Burgundy.

Floral and inviting on the nose: apple blossom, citrus zest, and white peach. On the palate, it is crisp and refreshing — bright green apple and lemon, underpinned by a nuanced mineral thread from the limestone soils, with a clean, lively finish and excellent balance. The quintessential unoaked Burgundy Chardonnay — effortlessly drinkable and endlessly food-friendly.

Wine Spectator 88 — Unoaked Burgundy Chardonnay of bright purity and limestone minerality.

• Producer: Louis Jadot, Beaune, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Mâcon-Villages AOC
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Soils: Chalk and limestone, Mâconnais
• Vinification: Stainless steel fermentation, no oak
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Apple blossom, citrus zest, white peach, green apple, lemon, limestone minerality
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, roast chicken, light pasta, goat cheese, summer salads

A 160-year Burgundy house at its most approachable — Louis Jadot Mâcon-Villages is the benchmark for what unoaked Chardonnay can be.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2019

Vinous (Neal Martin) 97 Points: Beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents, beautifully defined. Medium-bodied with pliant tannins — exquisite in terms of balance, silky smooth, building gradually with a harmonious and quite effortless finish. Divine. A stellar showing.

Decanter (Georgina Hindle) 97 Points: Rich, full and heady nose. Ripe blackcurrant, red cherries, raspberries and strawberries with mint, black pepper and truffle. Excellent precision and density with a seductive dark chocolate edge. Powerful, muscular and confident, yet with suppleness — density and grace with a cooling finish of liquorice, mint and soft salinity. A great wine.

James Suckling 95 Points: Perfumed nose of mulberries, plums, chocolate orange and cloves. Medium-to-full bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Caressing, velvety and rich core of dark fruit. So supple and polished. 88.5% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5% Cabernet Franc. Drink after 2024.

Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 94 Points: Fleshy and dramatic, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe berry fruit mingled with subtle hints of truffle and violets, new oak already entirely integrated. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, broad and textural with lively acids, powdery tannins and fine length on the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: Elegant, solid Pomerol delivering spicy red and black cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and flowers, medium-bodied richness, silky yet building tannins, and a great finish. Will benefit from 3–5 years of bottle age and keep for 15–20 years.

Winemaker Description

Château Gazin is one of Pomerol’s most storied estates, neighboring the legendary Pétrus on the plateau’s finest clay soils. The 2019 is a benchmark expression — a blend of 88.5% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4.5% Cabernet Franc — that showcases the appellation’s signature combination of opulence and precision. Silky, seamless, and built for the long haul, it is a wine of remarkable harmony and effortless grace.

Pairing Suggestions

• Meat: Roasted lamb rack with truffle jus, beef tenderloin, or duck confit with cherry reduction.
• Classic Bordeaux: Venison with wild mushrooms, braised short ribs, or a classic French cassoulet.
• Cheese: Aged Comté, Ossau-Iraty, or a rich washed-rind cheese.

One of Italy's most iconic wines and a cornerstone of the Super Tuscan movement, Ornellaia Bolgheri Superiore 2022 is a masterpiece of Cabernet Sauvignon-led blending from the Bolgheri coast of Tuscany. Crafted by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia under the direction of proprietor Lamberto Frescobaldi, the 2022 vintage has earned near-universal 96–97 point acclaim, celebrated for its Mediterranean elegance, concentrated fruit, and beautifully integrated structure. A wine of genuine collector status.

Tenuta dell'Ornellaia

Founded in 1981 by Lodovico Antinori on the Bolgheri coast of Tuscany, Ornellaia is one of Italy's most celebrated estates — a pioneer of the Super Tuscan movement and a benchmark for Bordeaux-style blending in Italy. Drawing from multiple parcels including Bellaria, Pero, Fosso, Vigna Vecchia, and Stallina, the estate produces some 80 individual wines before final blending, ensuring extraordinary complexity and precision. The 2022 Ornellaia is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Petit Verdot — with Petit Verdot playing an elevated role, adding structure, length, and dark-leaning complexity to this exceptional vintage.

Critical Acclaim — 2022 Vintage

97 Points — Wine Advocate: "The 2022 vintage will be remembered for its full-bodied appeal, concentrated fruit and generous oak renderings. The wine's abundant fruit weight cedes to elegantly integrated tannins. This vintage will appeal to die-hard Ornellaia enthusiasts."

97 Points — James Suckling: "Stunning elegance on the nose, with vibrant dried eucalyptus leaves, flowers, restrained brambleberries and hints of black cherries, milk chocolate, cloves and graphite. Savory and well packed, with integrated, brilliant freshness and a ripe, fruity finish. Try from 2026."

96 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: "A fantastic nose of blackberries, polished cedar, lavender, sweet herbs, and dark cocoa. Full-bodied with a rich structure, warming concentration but a very balanced feel. The tannins are ripe and frame the underlying mineral notes very nicely."

96 Points — Vinous: "A terrific wine for the year. Dark red-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice and spice all take shape in a mid-weight, pliant Ornellaia that is quite alluring. The 2022 Ornellaia is clearly among the most successful wines of the vintage."

95 Points — Decanter: "Bold, dark fruited and spicy, swirling with peppery and herbal nuances and some lovely fresh acidity which carries through to a bright finish. A more compact and dense style compared to the previous year."

Tasting Profile

Deep, bright purple-red. The nose is complex and inviting — blackberry, dark cherry, dried eucalyptus, lavender, cedar, dark cocoa, and sweet spice. On the palate it's full-bodied with rich, concentrated fruit, warming depth, and ripe tannins of exceptional quality. Savory minerality and brilliant freshness carry through to a long, elegant finish with notes of blond tobacco and graphite. Mediterranean in spirit, Bordeaux in structure.

Details

2022 | 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 10% Petit Verdot | Bolgheri Superiore, Tuscany, Italy | DOC Bolgheri Superiore | 750ml | 18 months in oak (up to 70% new)

Cellaring & Serving

Best from 2026 through 2040+. Decant 1–2 hours. Serve at 61–64°F with Florentine steak, lamb, wild boar ragù, aged Pecorino, or truffle-based dishes. A wine that rewards patience and rewards the table equally.

Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough, New Zealand 2025

Oyster Bay is the wine that put Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc on the world map — the original expression that won Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World and introduced a generation of wine lovers to the electric, aromatic style that only New Zealand's most famous wine region can produce. Sourced from Marlborough's sun-drenched Wairau and Awatere Valleys, where warm days and cool nights create an extended growing season, the grapes develop intense varietal character while maintaining the crisp, natural acidity that is Oyster Bay's signature. Uniquely Marlborough. Undeniably Oyster Bay.

The nose is stunningly aromatic: tropical fruits — passionfruit, guava, and white peach — leap from the glass alongside bright citrus notes of grapefruit and lime zest. On the palate, it is brilliantly clear and refreshingly zesty, with extraordinary aromatic intensity, a lively, mouthwatering acidity, and a clean, lingering finish. Elegant, crisp, and always refreshing — this is Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at its most iconic.

"The wine that started it all — Best Sauvignon Blanc in the World. Stunningly aromatic, brilliantly clear, and refreshingly zesty." — Oyster Bay Winemaker

• Producer: Oyster Bay Wines, Marlborough, New Zealand
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Marlborough, New Zealand
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Closure: Screwcap
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Passionfruit, guava, white peach, grapefruit, lime zest, zesty finish
• Style: Light-bodied, vibrant acidity, intensely aromatic
• Drink: Now through 2027
• Best Paired With: Fresh seafood, sushi, ceviche, goat cheese salad, Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, light appetizers

The wine that started it all — Oyster Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc is the benchmark New Zealand white, and the 2025 vintage is as brilliant as ever.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

A great entry into the distinct house style of Heymann Lowenstein - offering a textural and plusher experience than your average mosel producer. The Shieferterrassen (slate terraces) see's a small amount of contact with the skins broadening the mouthfeel and adding deeper flavours of citrus and stone fruit with flinty smokiness riding the taut acid spine. Full of personality with immediacy, tension and interest on display. Mitch Milicich, FWC

“A delicate, acutely elegant and mineral wine with an extraordinarily expressive body for this category. A model for the region’s winegrowers!” La Revue du Vin de France

Winemaker Description 

Deep yellow in color, with golden hues. On the nose it evokes aromas of hazelnut, orange peel, and butter. Rich and round on the palate with well balanced acidity and a long finish.

Producer Description 

Paso Robles is the home to many dreamers and self-starters, those who have a spirit and the drive to create their own destiny. Paso Robles entices those individuals to be their best, create the best from the land and all that it produces. This wine is a tribute to those who believe in Paso Robles and all of its greatness, just like our winemakers. 

Our fourth release of AUSTIN Cabernet Sauvignon remains focused on our goal to produce a wine true to ‘Paso Robles’. On the nose savory aromas intertwine with rich dark fruit nuances. On the palate, flavors evolve into layers of juicy blackberry, spicy nutmeg, toasted coffee and fresh vanilla bean. This medium to full bodied wine is finished with refined tannins and a distinguishable zing of acid to balance.

Memo Summary Notes

The Austin Cabernet Sauvignon "Barrel No. 23" is a premium, multi-vintage (non-vintage) release from the Austin Hope family in Paso Robles.

By blending across multiple vintages, the winemakers achieve a consistent, ultra-smooth profile that is ready to drink the moment you pull the cork.

Food Pairings

• Hearty Meals: Classic ribeye steak, BBQ brisket, or a rich beef stew.

• Casual Favorites: It is surprisingly versatile with wood-fired pepperoni pizza or a gourmet blue cheese burger.

• Small Bites: Aged gouda, smoked nuts, or even dark chocolate truffles.

Famiglia Castellani · Toscana · 2020

For more than 150 years, the Castellani family has been crafting classic Tuscan wines that capture the character of the region. This 2020 Sangiovese is a polished, perfumed crowd-pleaser, delivering an impressive balance of ripe fruit, freshness, and value.

Bright red and dark berries lead into hints of hibiscus, sweet spice, cedar, and a fresh mineral edge. Medium-bodied and succulent, with crunchy yet supple tannins, it has the lively acidity to make it a natural match for the table.

James Suckling: 91 points
“Ripe red and dark berries and hints of hibiscus, sweet spices and cedar on the nose. Medium-bodied, succulent and fruity, with crunchy, rather supple tannins. Good concentration and length. Fresh and minerally.”. (Vintage 2020). 

• Producer: Famiglia Castellani
• Varietal: Sangiovese
• Appellation: Toscana
• Region: Tuscany, Italy
• Vintage: 2020
• Tasting notes: Red and dark berries, hibiscus, sweet spice, cedar, and fresh minerality
• Pair with: Pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, eggplant Parmigiana, chicken, or grilled pork with rosemary
• Size: 750ml

A fresh, polished Tuscan red with 91-point pedigree and serious pizza-night appeal.

California Merlot from Duckhorn's Celebrated Everyday Label

Decoy is the acclaimed everyday label from Duckhorn Vineyards, one of Napa Valley's most respected producers. The 2023 Decoy Merlot — sourced from California's premier coastal appellations — delivers the lush, polished style that has made Decoy one of America's most beloved Merlots: rich dark fruit, silky tannins, and the kind of effortless drinkability that works equally well at a weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

Winemaker Notes

Beautifully lush and expressive, this alluring Merlot draws you in with aromas of black currant, black cherry, boysenberry, and sweet baking spices. On the palate, it is plush and polished, with silky tannins carrying the luxurious dark berry, creamy mocha, and bittersweet chocolate flavors to a long, supple finish.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Merlot
• Appellation: North Coast, California
• Producer: Decoy by Duckhorn Vineyards
• Vintage: 2023
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Wonderfully versatile — exceptional with grilled ahi tuna, prime rib, roasted lamb chops, mushroom risotto, and aged cheeses.

Winemaker Description

Deep garnet red with aromas of black currant, cherry pie filling, cedar, and milk chocolate. A rich and opulent wine offering flavors of dark fruit such as ripe plum, sweet black cherry, and boysenberry with hints of sage and thyme. This wine is bold and well-balanced with supple, refined tannins, and a long satisfying finish.

Winemaker Description

Blaufränkisch, also known as Lemberger, is a beautiful varietal full of fruit and spice! 

There's a reason this vineyards been winning awards. On the nose I get cassis with some rubber and a definite minerality. Some herbal notes are hiding in the background. The palate brings forth licorice and black raspberry with those currants. There's a slight jammy quality with great acid and some beautifully lingering tannins. It's deliciously drinkable for a cold winter night but light enough in body to sip all year round. Pair with barbecue ribs or a wiener schnitzel. Winemaker Description.

Lindeman's Bold Cabernet Sauvignon Bin 45 2025 750ml

Lindeman's Bin 45 is one of Australia's most iconic and trusted Cabernet Sauvignons — a bottle that has earned its place on tables around the world through consistent quality and exceptional value. Sourced from South Eastern Australia's sun-drenched vineyards, Bin 45 delivers the bold, fruit-forward character that made Australian Cabernet famous.

Tasting Notes

Deep ruby in color with inviting aromas of blackcurrant, dark cherry, and a hint of mint. The palate is medium-to-full bodied with rich cassis and dark berry fruit, notes of chocolate and cedar, and soft, approachable tannins. The finish is smooth, warm, and satisfying — a crowd-pleaser in every sense.

Food Pairings

A natural match for grilled ribeye, lamb burgers, slow-roasted beef brisket, smoky BBQ ribs, or pulled pork. Also excellent with sharp cheddar or aged Gouda.

Producer

• Producer: Lindeman's, South Eastern Australia
• Appellation: South Eastern Australia GI
• Grape: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vintage: 2025
• Style: Medium-to-full bodied, fruit-driven Australian red

Marqués de Vizhoja · Galicia · 2024

Marqués de Vizhoja is the signature white wine of the Peláez family, a personal expression known as the wine of the Hoja de Parra. Fresh, fine, and distinctly fruity, it brings the bright, easygoing character of Galicia to the glass in a dry, balanced style.

Its yellow-beige color carries greenish highlights, while the nose is fresh and penetrating with delicate fruit. On the palate, apple and pear meet soft citrus notes, creating a clean, balanced white that works beautifully throughout the year.

“It offers a balanced flavour that calls to mind apples and pears, with soft citric notes.”
— Producer notes

• Producer: Peláez Family
• Varietal: Albariño
• Region: Galicia, Spain
• Vintage: 2024
• Style: Dry, vegan white wine
• Appearance: Yellow-beige with greenish notes
• Tasting notes: Fresh fruit, apple, pear, soft citrus, and a clean balanced finish
• Pair with: Seafood, grilled fish, salads, tapas, soft cheeses, or roast chicken
• Size: 750ml

A fresh, dry Galician white with crisp fruit, soft citrus, and all-season versatility.

Podere Grattamacco's Bolgheri Superiore is one of the coast's most compelling expressions — a Cabernet Sauvignon-led blend with Merlot and Sangiovese, grown on the mineral-rich soils of the Bolgheri DOC. Deeply aromatic and structured, it opens with ripe red fruits, balsamic and Mediterranean herb notes, and a distinctive mineral thread that carries through to a long, persistent finish. Built for the cellar, yet captivating now.

Pairs beautifully with game, wild boar, roasted and braised red meats, and medium-aged cheeses.

LA CREMA CHARDONNAY MONTEREY 2024 | 750ML

🇺🇸 United States — Chardonnay | Monterey, California

A consistently reliable, cool-climate Chardonnay from one of California’s most focused white wine producers. The nose opens with grilled pineapple, citrus blossom, tangerine, and papaya. On the palate, white peach, key lime, and honeydew melon are complemented by a touch of barrel spice and a river stone minerality. Energetic and well-balanced, with a clean, refreshing finish.

La Crema — whose original name, La Crema Viñera, means “best of the vine” — has focused exclusively on cool-climate appellations since 1979. From its home in the Russian River Valley to Monterey and the Willamette Valley, the winery is committed to producing naturally balanced, site-expressive wines through thorough vineyard selection and boutique winemaking techniques.

90 Points — Wine Enthusiast
“Clean aromas of lemon zest, lime pith and sliced apple show on the nose… The palate is energetic with familiar flavors of Meyer lemon and nectarine.”
— Matt Kettmann. (Vintage 2024). 

Pairs well with: Grilled chicken, seafood, creamy pasta, and soft cheeses.

Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Monterey, California, United States
Vintage: 2024
Format: 750ml
Score: 90 pts Wine Enthusiast

Santa Barbara's Finest Syrah — Beckmen's Purisima Mountain Vineyard

Beckmen Vineyards has been one of Santa Barbara County's most celebrated estates since 1996, farming organically and biodynamically on the legendary Purisima Mountain Vineyard in Ballard Canyon. Their Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah is the flagship expression of this extraordinary site — a wine that captures the unique combination of intense California sunshine, cool Pacific breezes, and volcanic soils that make Ballard Canyon one of America's most exciting Syrah appellations. The 2020 vintage, despite the heat, retained beautiful acidity that balances the bold, rich flavors with classic texture and structure.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

• Jeb Dunnuck — 92 pts: "Blueberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and some flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward, plush, sexy little gem of a Syrah that will offer loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years or more. Completely destemmed and brought up in 35% new French oak."

Winemaker Notes

Beckmen Vineyards Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard 2020 750ml

Classic Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah aromas and flavors of black fruits, chocolate, game, pepper, and smoke are ripe and intense in the 2020 vintage. Very ripe, fine tannins frame the bold flavors and rounded texture. Through all the heat of the vintage, the fruit retained beautiful acidity which balances the bold and rich flavors — creating an awesome vintage with classic texture and structure.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Syrah
• Appellation: Ballard Canyon, Santa Barbara County
• Producer: Beckmen Vineyards
• Vintage: 2020
• Farming: Certified Organic & Biodynamic
• Aging: 35% new French oak
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Built for bold flavors — exceptional with grilled lamb chops, smoked brisket, wild boar, duck confit, aged cheddar, and hearty mushroom dishes.

The wine itself is Billecart-Salmon’s classic Brut Réserve, presented in the distinctive red-and-black limited-edition label. Billecart-Salmon and (RED) first collaborated nearly a decade ago and have renewed the partnership with a limited release, with a portion of each bottle sold supporting critical healthcare programs in communities most affected by AIDS.

Crafted from the three classic Champagne varieties — Meunier, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir — Brut Réserve is sourced from outstanding sites throughout Champagne. The blend incorporates a significant proportion of reserve wines, giving the cuvée impressive consistency, complexity and depth while retaining the graceful, refined character for which Billecart-Salmon is known.

In the glass, it shows a brilliant straw-gold color and an exceptionally fine stream of persistent bubbles. The bouquet is clean and precise, opening with white stone fruits, fresh orchard fruit and delicate floral notes, followed by subtle hints of biscuit and toast.

The palate is beautifully balanced and silky, with flavors of crisp apple, pear and citrus complemented by gentle roasted and biscuity notes. Fine mousse and vibrant acidity give the wine wonderful energy, while a mineral backbone carries through to a long, fresh and elegant finish.

This is a wonderfully versatile Champagne: sophisticated enough for celebrations, yet balanced and food-friendly enough to enjoy throughout a meal. Serve well chilled as an aperitif or pair with oysters, shellfish, sushi, smoked salmon, light poultry dishes and soft cheeses.

Tasting Notes

Color: Bright straw gold with fine, persistent bubbles
Aromas: White fruits, orchard fruit, flowers and delicate biscuit
Palate: Crisp apple, pear, citrus and subtle toasted notes
Style: Fresh, refined, harmonious and beautifully balanced
Finish: Long, mineral and elegant

Food Pairings

Oysters · Caviar · Sushi · Smoked salmon · Shellfish · Roasted poultry · Soft cheeses

Limited Edition

The distinctive (RED) label is more than special packaging: it represents Billecart-Salmon’s partnership with (RED). The current collaboration contributes $5 from every (BILLECART-SALMON)RED bottle sold to support programs fighting AIDS and expanding access to essential healthcare.

Please note: This is the classic Billecart-Salmon Réserve cuvée in a special limited-edition (RED) presentation; it is not a red or rosé Champagne. 

Roederer Estate · Brut NV · Anderson Valley · California

Roederer Estate is the California outpost of Louis Roederer — the legendary Champagne house behind Cristal — and it has long been not only one of California’s biggest sparkling wine producers, but one of its very best. Planted in the cool, fog-influenced Anderson Valley of Mendocino County, the estate grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in terroir that produces wines of genuine freshness and elegance. The Brut NV is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, aged two years on the lees, with a significant portion of oak-aged reserve wine adding richness and complexity. Dosage: 7.5 g/L. Rated 94 points by Decanter, 93 by Wine Spectator, and named #2 Wine Spectator Top Ten Value of 2024.

The Estate Brut opens with aromas of baked apple, pie crust, toasted cashews, almonds, and biscuit with flinty touches. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied — rounded and creamy with bright lemony character, seashell minerality, and a long, mineral-driven finish. More herbal and textural than Champagne, with a good Champagne’s freshness and elegance. As the New York Times put it: “It doesn’t taste like Champagne. It’s more herbal, less mineral, but it’s got a good Champagne’s freshness and elegance.”

Expert Reviews

“First overall in the sparkling category. Louis Roederer’s outpost in California’s cool Anderson Valley is a stylistic chip off the old block. Rich, weighty mouthful of creamy bubbles. Lots of baked apple and toasted cashews here.”
— Michaela Morris, Decanter · 94 Points

“Aromas of pie crust with hints of nuts and cooked apple. Some butter cookie. Medium to full body with notes of seashell, cooked apple and lemon rind. A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Two years on the lees.”
— James Suckling · 93 Points

“Scented of sour lemon, almonds and biscuits with flinty touches. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and creamy with bright, lemony character and a long, mineral-driven finish.”
— Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate · 92 Points

• Producer: Roederer Estate (Louis Roederer), Anderson Valley, California
• Style: Brut NV Sparkling
• Appellation: Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California
• Blend: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
• Base Vintage: 2019 | Lees Aging: 2 years
• Dosage: 7.5 g/L
• Accolades: #2 Wine Spectator Top Ten Value of 2024
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Baked apple, pie crust, toasted cashews, almonds, lemon, seashell minerality, creamy mousse
• Pairings: Oysters, sushi, fried chicken, soft cheeses, charcuterie, seafood pasta, aperitivo

D:94 · JS:93 · WA:92 · #2 WS Top Ten Value 2024 — Anderson Valley sparkling from the house of Cristal. Creamy, mineral, and built to over-deliver.

Banshee Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2023 750ml

Banshee is one of Sonoma County's most exciting Pinot Noir producers — a winery built on the belief that the best wines from Sonoma are yet to be made, and determined to produce some of them. Sourcing from a carefully curated network of cool-climate vineyards across the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Anderson Valley, Banshee pursues Pinot that achieves power without weight — transparent, site-driven, and alive with the flavors of the coast: forest floor, pine, tea, spice, and minerals alongside the fruit.

The 2023 Sonoma County Pinot Noir is generous, layered, and immediately appealing — an excellent food wine that is equally charming on its own. Bright, medium-bodied, and bursting with red and dark fruit, it delivers real complexity for the price and confirms why Banshee has earned such a devoted following.

"Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold." — James Suckling, 92 pts

• Producer: Banshee Wines, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Appellation: Sonoma County AVA
• Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Medium-bodied, elegant, cool-climate California Pinot Noir
• Tasting Notes: Strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, dark cherry, blackberry, violets, forest floor, five-spice, toasted caramel, graphite, bright acidity
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, salmon, mushroom dishes, grilled lamb chops, or brie

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling — 92 Points
Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold.

Jeb Dunnuck — 90 Points
Pouring a medium ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma County is forward in the glass, with bright aromas of preserved cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, and red flowers. The palate has lovely energy within a medium-bodied frame, and it has a refreshing feel, with its spices and chalky texture coming through on the finish.

Wine Spectator — 90 Points
A pretty red, with a steady beam of raspberry and cherry coulis flecked with red tea and savory. The streamlined finish shows a late tug of red licorice.

Site-driven Sonoma Pinot Noir that over-delivers at every price — Banshee is the kind of bottle you open on a Tuesday and finish before dinner is over.

Woodbridge by Robert Mondavi Red Blend 1.5L Magnum is a generously proportioned, crowd-pleasing California red that delivers everyday pleasure at a remarkable value. Crafted from a harmonious blend of Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, and Syrah — sourced from sun-drenched California vineyards — this Magnum format is ideal for the table, the cellar, and every occasion in between.

The nose opens with warm, inviting aromas of jammy blackberry, vanilla bean, and baking spices — toasty and approachable from the first pour. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and richly textured, with ripe dark fruit at its core, a gentle sweetness from French and American oak aging, and a long, flavorful finish that lingers with warmth and ease.

Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to preserve vibrant fruitiness, then aged in oak barrels to add depth and complexity, this is a wine that rewards both the casual drinker and the curious enthusiast. Serve slightly cool — around 60°F — after 30 to 60 minutes in the refrigerator for the best expression.

Pairs beautifully with savory burgers, rotisserie chicken, potato skins, and hearty pasta dishes. A generous pour for generous moments.

Matua Sauvignon Blanc — Marlborough 2024

Matua pioneered Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc back in 1974, and fifty years on, the region's most iconic grape variety still finds one of its most honest expressions here. The 2024 vintage is everything Marlborough promises — vivid aromatics, electric acidity, and a palate that is both refreshing and precise. Ken's Wine Guide awarded it 89.5 points, calling it crisp, zesty, and mouthwatering. With classic structure and a dry, lingering finish, this is the bottle you reach for when the occasion calls for something bright, honest, and undeniably delicious.

The nose opens with white grapefruit and guava, layered with hints of white peach and limestone. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with bright, mouthwatering acidity — crisp, round, and zesty. Flavors of white grapefruit and lime are accented by tonic water, yellow bell pepper, and a touch of chalky minerality. The finish is dry and lingering, with classic Marlborough length and precision.

Ken's Wine Guide 89.5 (Vintage 2024) • Wine Enthusiast 93 (Prior Vintage 2023) — "Dried herbs and lemongrass, with passionfruit sorbet, open this lovely, balanced Sauvignon. It's textural, long and persistent, with a salted pink grapefruit finish." — Christina Pickard

• Producer: Matua, Marlborough, New Zealand
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Marlborough
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Style: White Wine — Dry, Crisp & Aromatic
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White grapefruit, guava, white peach, limestone, lime, tonic water, yellow bell pepper, chalky minerality
• Best Paired With: Fresh oysters, grilled fish, sushi, poke bowls, goat cheese, green salads, herb-driven dishes

At an honest price — Matua's benchmark bottling is the quintessential expression of New Zealand's most celebrated white wine region.

Winemaker Description

This wine is generous and complex with aromas of cherry cola, cassis and chocolate. Some savory notes and hints of citrus zest and mint. This wine is intensely aromatic and develops in the glass as layers are revealed. This full-bodied wine is powerful yet exhibits grace and finesse. A rich and dense mid-palate evolves into a muscular and graceful finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Tasting Panel 100 Points | Awe-inspiring, with dramatically structured tannins, this wine possesses an opulence matched by its seductive texture of soft suede as well as its grip. Blueberry and pomegranate are intense and showy on the finish.

Vinous 95+ Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tomahawk Vineyard emerges from the youngest block on the vineyard, planted nearly twenty years ago. Readers will find a pure, voluptuous wine that is immediately engaging. Succulent dark cherry, plum, espresso, licorice, incense and new leather fill out the layers effortlessly. I imagine the Tomahawk will require only modest cellaring.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Tomahawk Vineyard is slightly brighter and more perfumed than the Ganymede, offering a brilliant array of crème de cassis and black raspberries as well as spicy oak, graphite, and spring flower notes. It has classic Stags Leap vibrancy and complexity, is medium to full-bodied, and has plenty of polished tannins as well as a great finish. It deserves 4-6 years in the cellar, and I suspect this will be very long-lived. It's a gorgeous wine that shows the style of the vintage to a T.

Decanter Magazine 94 Points | From a small group of vines at the southern edge of the Stags Leap District estate property called Tomahawk Vineyard. A very pretty and elegant wine with fantastic blackberry fruit nuanced by white pepper, sage, and iron-volcanic minerality. Medium to full-bodied with juicy mixed berry fruits, very fine tannins that have a granularity, which builds with intensity before getting wiped clean away by rather scintillating acidity that has a crisp, citrusy quality. Long, lean, and focused, with hints of bay laurel on the finish. A really lovely effort.

James Suckling 94 Points | Notes of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries, pinewood, grilled herbs and spices. Full-bodied, dense and structured with very fine, velvety tannins.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Juicy, solid and focused in feel, with a core of black currant and blackberry preserves backed by licorice and singed apple wood notes, plus a hint of sweet tobacco through the finish. Drink now through 2040. 1,289 cases made.

Yellow Tail is produced by Casella Family Brands, headquartered in Yenda, New South Wales — one of Australia's most recognized wine producers and a benchmark for consistent, fruit-driven value wines.

Nearly a third of the grapes used for Yellow Tail are estate-grown across approximately 540 acres of Casella family vineyards in the Riverina region, with additional fruit sourced from carefully selected parcels across the broader South Eastern Australia appellation. The result is a wine of reliable character and freshness, vintage after vintage.

The Sauvignon Blanc is produced using modern viticultural techniques combined with traditional winemaking principles, prioritizing bright acidity and clean varietal expression. No oak influence — just pure, fruit-forward Sauvignon Blanc crafted for immediate enjoyment. This 1.5-liter magnum format is equivalent to two standard bottles, making it an ideal choice for entertaining, gatherings, or simply having more of a good thing on hand.

The wine is vinified to preserve the natural freshness and aromatic vibrancy of the Sauvignon Blanc grape, with careful temperature-controlled fermentation ensuring the tropical and citrus character remains vivid and expressive through to the glass.

The Sauvignon Blanc opens with an inviting nose of ripe passionfruit, grapefruit, and gooseberry, with lighter notes of lemongrass and fresh citrus. On the palate, the wine is crisp and vibrant, with zingy tropical fruit, fresh apple and pear, and a subtle herbal hint of bell pepper adding complexity. Bright acidity runs through to a clean, refreshing finish with lingering citrus and tropical fruit. Serve well chilled at 45–50°F.

Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Region: South Eastern Australia
Producer: Casella Family Brands, Riverina, NSW
ABV: 12%
Format: 1.5L Magnum (equivalent to 2 standard bottles)

Pairing: Grilled shrimp, fresh goat cheese salads, light fish tacos, Thai green papaya salad, and seared scallops with citrus beurre blanc.

Xavier Flouret is one of France’s most respected wine importers and negociants, with deep roots in the Loire Valley and a reputation for sourcing wines that express the purest character of their appellations. The “French Blonde” is his signature Sancerre — a name that captures the wine’s personality perfectly: bright, elegant, effortlessly charming, and unmistakably French.

Crafted from 100% Sauvignon Blanc grown in the heart of the Sancerre appellation, this is a textbook Loire white — mineral-driven, precise, and refreshing. Inviting aromas of white flowers, fresh herbs, and citrus zest lift from the glass. On the palate, bright citrus flavors and crisp acidity are anchored by a refined mineral backbone, leading to a clean, elegant finish with lingering floral and fruity nuances. The kind of Sancerre you reach for again and again.

• Producer: Xavier Flouret, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Sancerre AOC
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White flowers, fresh herbs, citrus zest, crisp acidity, mineral backbone, clean finish
• Best Paired With: Fresh goat cheese, oysters, grilled fish, seafood, spring vegetables, light aperitif

Mineral, elegant, and effortlessly drinkable — French Blonde is Sancerre at its most inviting.

Xavier Flouret Sancerre Blanc “French Blonde” — Loire Valley 2024