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Château La Nerthe | Les Cassagnes Blanc | Côtes du Rhône | Rhône Valley, France | 2022

One of the Rhône Valley's most storied estates, Château La Nerthe has been producing wines of elegance and precision since 1590 — the only true château in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Les Cassagnes Blanc is their approachable Côtes du Rhône white, a blend of Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, and Marsanne grown within the Massif d'Uchaux territory. The 2022 delivers aromatic intensity and creamy texture, with cooked lemon, nectarine, peach, white pepper, and white flowers. A wine of volume, balance, and vivid finish — exceptional value from a legendary address.

Tasting Notes

Cooked lemons, fresh bay leaves, peaches, white pepper, and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with a harmonious, creamy palate. Concentrated nectarine flavors with a touch of oak spice and a vivid, aromatic finish.

Critical Acclaim - Vintage 2022

Decanter 92 Points
"There's a touch of oak to the nose and palate, giving a touch of spice and polish to the intense, concentrated nectarine flavours. Plenty of impact and concentration."

James Suckling 92 Points
"An aromatic nose of cooked lemons, fresh bay leaves, peaches, white pepper and white flowers. Medium body with a harmonious and creamy palate. It has volume and balance with an aromatic and vivid finish."

• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône, Rhône Valley
• Blend: Grenache Blanc, Viognier, Roussanne, Marsanne
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 750ml
• Producer: Château La Nerthe

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

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

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

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

Expert Review — Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck — 90 Points | Mostly Viognier (55%) but with other permitted white varieties, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Blanc has a medium-bodied, vibrant, pure style to go with lovely peach and tangerine-like aromas and flavors. Drink this outstanding, classy white over the coming 2-3 years. I never cease to be amazed at the quality of the Côtes du Rhône white from this team, especially given the quantities produced.

Winemaker Description

Yellow gold, clear and brilliant. Freshness on the nose marked by the distinctive aromas of Viognier — white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. On the palate it is fruity with plenty of richness and body. A well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance.

• Producer: E. Guigal
• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC, Southern Rhône, France
• Blend: 55% Viognier + other permitted white varieties
• Vintage: 2022
• Format: 375ml Half Bottle

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

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | Made up of 89% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 3% Syrah and 1% Cabernet Franc, the Salvestrin  Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley has a deep garnet-purple color and nose of cassis, earth, red and black cherries, sage and tobacco. The palate is medium to full-bodied and chewy with an herbal lift....Salvestrin can boast multiple generations farming its vineyards since 1932, so this is by no means a newcomer to the Napa Valley wine scene. These wines never seem to get old, and this will be one our grandchildren can enjoy circa 2050."

Terre de Vertus is one of Larmandier-Bernier's most celebrated single-terroir Champagnes — a vintage Blanc de Blancs drawn entirely from Chardonnay grown in the Premier Cru village of Vertus. The fruit comes from two plots within the Les Barillers lieu-dit, situated mid-slope with a southeast exposure, a site the estate has vinified separately since 1995. Farmed biodynamically and fermented spontaneously with indigenous yeasts in old oak casks and large wooden foudres, the wine rests on its lees through winter before undergoing secondary fermentation in bottle and more than five years of additional lees aging. The 2017 was disgorged in May 2023 with zero dosage — no sugar added — preserving the vineyard's exceptionally pure, dry and mineral expression.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

93 Wine Advocate: "The 2017 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs Terre de Vertus imparts a very mineral, almost crystalline character. A vineyard that rarely produces powerful wines, even in the context of 2017, it has retained its personality, though it's a little more generous and slightly less focused than the 2016 rendition. Unfurling from the glass with aromas of lemon peel, honeysuckle and oyster shell, it is medium-bodied, racy and saline-tinged."

93 Vinous: "Creamy, open-knit and quite seductive. Readers will find a generous, sensual Champagne with plenty of early appeal. Dried pear, crushed flowers, mint and chamomile build beautifully over time. This is a fine effort in a very challenging year."

Tasting Notes

Precise, expressive and intensely mineral. The nose opens with lemon peel, dried pear and delicate floral notes, followed by honeysuckle, mint, chamomile and a distinctive oyster-shell salinity. The palate is creamy and generous yet beautifully energized — fine acidity and a taut mineral backbone carry through to a finish that is dry, racy, saline and exceptionally pure. Oak fermentation lends supple texture; zero dosage ensures nothing stands between you and the terroir of Vertus.

Food Pairing

An exceptional partner for oysters and shellfish, sashimi, sushi, scallops, grilled or roasted white fish, lobster, roast poultry and aged cheeses. Its saline character and zero dosage make it especially compelling alongside seafood and dishes built around fresh herbs or citrus.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub-Region: Côte des Blancs
Village: Vertus
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Blanc de Blancs / Brut Nature / Non Dosé
Dosage: 0 g/L — Zero Dosage
Vintage: 2017
Vineyard: Les Barillers lieu-dit
Farming: Biodynamic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts in old oak casks and large wooden foudres
Aging: 5+ years on the lees in bottle
Disgorgement: May 2023
ABV: 12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

Indaba Chenin Blanc — Western Cape, South Africa 2024

Indaba — the Zulu and Xhosa word for a gathering or meeting of minds — was founded on the belief that great South African wine should be accessible to everyone. Sourced from the Western Cape, where Chenin Blanc has thrived for centuries as the country's most widely planted white variety, this bottling captures everything that makes the grape so beloved in its adopted homeland: freshness, generosity, and effortless drinkability.

The 2024 pours a bright, pale gold. The nose is inviting and fruit-forward — honeyed pear, golden delicious apple, and luscious tropical fruit with a lift of citrus blossom. On the palate, it's full and richly textured yet finishes clean and crisp, with a dash of citrus and a subtle mineral thread that keeps it lively and refreshing from first sip to last.

"South Africa's signature white — vibrantly infused with honeyed pear, golden apple, and tropical fruit with a clean, crisp finish." — Indaba Winemaker

• Producer: Indaba Wines, Western Cape, South Africa
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Western Cape WO
• Varietal: Chenin Blanc
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Honeyed pear, golden apple, tropical fruit, citrus, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled fish, Thai cuisine, summer salads, soft cheeses, and light pasta dishes

An outstanding everyday Chenin Blanc from South Africa's most expressive white wine region — fresh, generous, and priced to enjoy any night of the week.

Winemaker Description

Gilgal wines are premium, quality-aged varietal wines from Golan Heights Winery in Israel — fruit-forward and expressive, produced with the same care and attention to quality as the flagship Yarden label. The coin on the label references recent archaeological excavations that tell an exciting and heroic story of the region’s ancient heritage.

Flavors of blackberry, plum, and raspberry, along with notes of black tea and cocoa, with hints of fresh herbs and French oak.

Kosher for Passover.

About Golan Heights Winery

Founded in 1983, Golan Heights Winery is widely credited with transforming the Israeli wine industry. Situated at elevations of 400–1,200 meters above sea level, the Golan Heights benefits from cool nights, volcanic basalt soils, and a long growing season — ideal conditions for producing structured, age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon. The winery produces wines under the Yarden, Hermon, and Gilgal labels, all under strict kosher supervision.

Food Pairings

Roast lamb, braised brisket, grilled ribeye, herb-roasted chicken, and aged hard cheeses. An excellent choice for Passover Seder and holiday celebrations.

Product Details

• Producer: Golan Heights Winery
• Region: Golan Heights, Israel
• Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Certification: Kosher for Passover
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Full-bodied, fruit-forward Israeli Cabernet
• Format: 750ml

Longitude is Larmandier-Bernier's chalk-driven, Premier Cru Blanc de Blancs — a wine of remarkable precision and mineral energy that captures the essence of the Côte des Blancs. Made entirely from Chardonnay grown along the celebrated north-to-south line of villages near the 4th meridian — Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant and Chouilly — the wine takes its name from this near-straight longitudinal axis of vineyards. Where the estate's Latitude is broad and generous, Longitude is linear, taut and intensely mineral.

The 2021-based release is composed of approximately 60% wine from the cool, energetic 2021 vintage together with 40% from the estate's perpetual reserve, established in 2004. Grapes are gently pressed before undergoing spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation with indigenous yeasts, then fermented and matured in wood on their natural lees without fining or filtration. After blending and tirage, the Champagne undergoes extended bottle maturation before disgorgement in April 2024 with a dosage of just 2 g/L — firmly Extra Brut.

Expert Reviews

93 Decanter: "There's an extra dash of mineral energy and zesty length in this cuvée. Subtly creamy and peppery, yet fulsome in white peach, pear and lemon oil, it gains a savoury, umami depth from 40% addition of perpetual reserve. Always a model non-vintage blanc de blancs."

92 Jeb Dunnuck: "More focus and a compact, linear drive from more chalky soils, with notes of lemon candy, Anjou pear, and a very pretty floral perfume. Medium-bodied, it has a refreshing and fine mousse, with pleasing lift and a clean finish."

92 Wine Advocate: "A considerable increase in intensity and tension compared to Latitude. Medium-bodied, taut and incisive in personality. Offers aromas of white flowers, citrus fruit and oyster shell. Tangy acidity, informed by the long and cool growing season, with mineral-laden undertones, leads to a chalky, long-lasting finish."

92 Wine Spectator: "Hints of lime blossom and pink grapefruit sorbet are a citrusy thread through this sleek, finely knit Champagne. It's racy and lightly spiced, with flavors of yellow plum and chalky mineral set on the delicate mousse."

Tasting Notes

Bright, focused and intensely mineral, the 2021-based Longitude opens with white flowers, fresh citrus, green apple and subtle oyster-shell notes. The palate is taut and energetic — tangy acidity framed by chalk, crushed stone, citrus peel and a delicate saline character. Elegant rather than broad, it finishes long, dry and exceptionally precise. This is classic Côte des Blancs Chardonnay: pure, linear and refreshing, with enough depth from the perpetual reserve to add complexity without sacrificing the wine's crystalline personality.

Food Pairing

An outstanding aperitif and a natural partner for oysters, shellfish, sashimi, sushi, grilled white fish, scallops, fresh goat cheese and delicate poultry dishes.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Sub-Region: Côte des Blancs
Villages: Vertus, Oger, Avize, Cramant, Chouilly
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Blanc de Blancs / Extra Brut
Dosage: 2 g/L — Extra Brut
Base Vintage: 2021
Blend: ~60% 2021 base wine, 40% perpetual reserve (est. 2004)
Farming: Biodynamic / organic
Fermentation: Indigenous yeasts; spontaneous alcoholic and malolactic fermentation; aged in wood on lees
Disgorgement: April 2024
ABV: 12%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Larmandier-Bernier

Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon That Defines the Silver Oak Legacy

Silver Oak has been one of Napa Valley's most iconic Cabernet producers since 1972, celebrated for a house style that balances power with elegance and approachability. The 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon — a blend of 76.61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.13% Merlot, 2.56% Cabernet Franc, 2.32% Petit Verdot, and 0.38% Malbec, aged in American oak seasoned 24 months and toasted 90 minutes — is a benchmark expression of the estate: structured yet silky, complex yet immediately rewarding, with the depth to cellar through 2047.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

• Decanter — 96 pts: "Beautifully compact with complex aromas of Bing cherry, black raspberry, tobacco, currant leaf, and cedarwood laced with dried sage. Focused and linear on the medium to full-bodied palate with expressive dark berry character and exotic oak spices. Fine-grained structured tannins, a crisp, lively, energetic finish. One to cellar. Drink 2024–2038."
• James Suckling — 95 pts: "So elegant, supple and silky, this vintage is a dream to drink now, but should also have plenty of life ahead of it. Aromas of blueberries and dark chocolate meld with lux black fruit, mint and cocoa on the palate. Drink or hold through at least 2030."

Winemaker Notes

Expressive and lively on the nose with black cherry and huckleberry aromas laced with dry floral notes. Integrated oak adds a light note of sweet nutmeg. Ruby in color, with a fruit-forward entry, silky tannins that build across the mid-palate, and a long, balanced finish. Structured while still approachable — true to the signature Silver Oak style. Will continue to improve through 2047 with proper cellaring.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Blend: 76.61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18.13% Merlot, 2.56% Cabernet Franc, 2.32% Petit Verdot, 0.38% Malbec
• Appellation: Napa Valley, California
• Producer: Silver Oak Cellars
• Vintage: 2019
• Oak: American oak, 24-month seasoning, 90-minute toast
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A natural match for Napa-style entertaining — exceptional with prime ribeye, lamb rack, braised short ribs, aged cheddar, and mushroom-crusted filet mignon.

Winemaker's Notes

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

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

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

The Place

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

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

The Les Vignes Blanches Vineyard

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

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

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

The Domaine’s Parcel

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

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

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

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay.

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

Viticulture

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

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

Winemaking and Aging

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

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

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

Tasting Notes

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

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

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

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

Professional Ratings

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

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

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

The 2023 Vintage

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

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

The Domaine

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

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

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

Food Pairing

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

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

Serving and Cellaring

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

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

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

Domaine Clos de la Chapelle Meursault Les Vignes Blanches 2023

Feudo Montoni · Sicilia DOC · Grillo della Timpa · 2024

The Sireci family has farmed Feudo Montoni since 1469, cultivating a deep connection to the highlands of central Sicily. Their Timpa cru sits on a dramatic 70% slope, where vineyard work and harvest are carried out by hand. Organic farming, altitude, and cool nights help preserve the acidity and aromatic precision of this distinctive Grillo.

Pale straw with green edges, the 2024 opens with green melon, kiwi, lemon, lime, herbs, gingery spice, mint, and a delicate mineral lift. The palate is juicy and layered, balancing ripe stone fruit and a lightly sweet inner texture with tart orchard fruit, citrus, zesty acidity, and a long, savory finish.

Expert Reviews — 2024 Vintage

Wine Enthusiast: 93 points
“Apricots and white peaches define the nose, while undertones of melon, honey, and raw almonds add nuance. Ripe stone fruits and juicy melons tumble over the palate, while more of that slightly bitter, savory, nutty element provides an anchor on a finish of buoyant acid and citrus.”

Vinous: 91 points
“The 2024 Grillo Timpa is wildly fresh, with an invigorating bouquet that mixes green melon and kiwi with gingery spice and mint. Juicy in style, it impresses further with a pleasant inner sweetness contrasted by tart orchard fruit and a nuance of lime. The 2024 finishes full of zesty tension that calls the taster back to the glass for more.”

Wine Spectator: 90 points
“Sleek and refreshing, with a lightly chalky feel to the mix of green melon, tangerine, lime peel and Thai basil flavors through the snappy, spiced finish.”

• Producer: Feudo Montoni, Sireci family
• Varietal: 100% Grillo
• Appellation: Sicilia DOC
• Region: Sicily, Italy
• Vintage: 2024
• Cru: della Timpa, a 70% slope with hand-harvested vines
• Farming: Organic
• Tasting notes: Apricot, white peach, green melon, kiwi, lemon, lime, mint, gingery spice, honey, almond, and mineral tension
• Pair with: Calamari, grilled white fish, pasta con le sarde, arancini, fresh goat cheese, herb-roasted chicken, or pizza bianca
• Size: 750ml

A steep-slope Sicilian Grillo with 93-point pedigree, vivid citrus, savory nuttiness, and remarkable freshness.

Winemaker's Notes

Vibrancy of fruit is the focal point of Unshackled Cabernet Sauvignon. The nose opens with inviting aromas of ripe plum and blackberry with a subtle hint of olive. On the palate, flavors of black stone fruit, clove, and dried herbs unfold against a solid tannin structure — delivering a flavor-forward Cabernet Sauvignon with beautifully balanced acidity and a lingering, satisfying finish.

• Appellation: California
• Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
• Vintage: 2023
• Format: 750ml
• Tannins: Solid structure, well-balanced
• Style: Flavor-forward, fruit-driven

MAGNUM SIZE: Agrapart · L’Avizoise Grand Cru · Champagne 2019

Grand Cru pedigree. Remarkable depth. Magnificent in magnum.

A magnum of vintage Blanc de Blancs from Avize in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs, L’Avizoise is Agrapart’s expression of the upper hillside, where the estate’s existing producer profile describes more clay over the chalk. This is the powerful side of Avize, framed by the chalky character that defines the village.

The Agrapart family has bottled Champagne under its own name since the domaine’s founding in 1894. Pascal Agrapart helped establish its reputation for site-driven wines; Ambroise joined him in the 2018 vintage. For this 2019 Extra Brut, the 1.5-liter format makes a striking bottle to open around a generous table.

From the existing producer profile

“At the top of the hill where there is more clay, he produces his most powerful wine, ‘L’Avizoise’.”

Powerful, expressive, and beautifully textured, Pascal Agrapart’s Avizoise 2019 showcases the generous side of Grand Cru Chardonnay. Presented in an impressive 1.5-liter magnum—the equivalent of two standard bottles—this vintage Blanc de Blancs brings depth and elegance to a celebratory table or a carefully chosen Champagne collection.

The 2019 combines ripe orchard fruit and citrus with floral nuances, freshly baked bread, and a chalky mineral character. Its concentrated, richly textured palate is enlivened by fine bubbles and vibrant freshness, delivering a Champagne with both presence and finesse.

The Vineyard: Grand Cru Avize

Avizoise comes from the Robarts and Gros Yeux parcels in Avize, a Grand Cru village in Champagne’s Côte des Blancs. These sites share a deep layer of clay-rich topsoil over chalk, a geological profile that contributes to the cuvée’s distinctive density and richness. Made entirely from Chardonnay, Avizoise expresses this terroir in a style that is generous, elegant, and particularly well suited to the dining table.

About Pascal Agrapart

Based in Avize, Pascal Agrapart is a grower-producer working exclusively with estate-grown grapes. Pascal and his son Ambroise tend approximately 12 hectares of vineyards, predominantly planted to Chardonnay in Grand Cru villages of the Côte des Blancs.

The domaine places living soils at the center of its vineyard philosophy. Ploughing and compost made from local ingredients help sustain the health of the vineyards, while careful harvesting and pressing preserve the character of the fruit. The Champagnes are bottled at the estate without fining or filtration and are riddled by hand.

Serving & Food Pairings

Serve in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass or a white wine glass to allow the aromas and texture to unfold. Suggested pairings include butter-poached lobster, seared scallops, roast chicken, turbot with a creamy sauce, or aged Comté. The magnum format makes an especially striking centerpiece for a dinner or celebration.

Wine Details

• Producer: Pascal Agrapart
• Cuvée: Avizoise
• Vintage: 2019
• Region: Champagne, France
• Origin: Avize, Côte des Blancs
• Classification: Grand Cru
• Grape: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
• Bottle Size: Magnum — 1.5 Liter

Ratings & Reviews

Vinous 97

97The 2019 Brut Nature Blanc de Blancs L’Avizoise Grand Cru is dialed up to the maximum. Ample and broad on the palate, the Avizoise is seriously impressive right out of the gate. So expressive today, the 2019 will only improve over time. Even in the early going, it soars with tremendous textural resonance and body. The natural gravitas of these sites (Champboutons and Bionnes) in Avize comes through loud and clear. The Avizoise is the most dense and potent of these Champagnes from Agrapart. It is bottled with no dosage but does have 3 grams of natural residual sugar. Disgorged: June 2025; multiple disgorgements throughout the year. - By Antonio Galloni on November 2025.

97 James Suckling

Reviewed October 2025

An austere nose of lime zest, chalk and lemon leaves. It needs time in the glass to become gentler, with lemon curd and apple flavors, pinprick bubbles, a medium body and very good concentration that’s typical of the vintage. A restrained wine with zesty, integrated acidity and a super tight-knit texture. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate 95 Points 

Review Date: 03/2026

Disgorged in October 2025 without dosage, the 2019 Blanc de Blancs Avizoise leaps from the glass with a flamboyant bouquet of orange confit, ripe peach and rose apple, mingled with freshly baked bread. On the palate, it is full-bodied and immensely concentrated, open-knit and muscular, with a rich, textural core of fruit and succulent yet vibrant acidity, enlivened by a pinpoint mousse and concluding with a flavorful finish tinged with orange. Avizoise is often the richest and most demonstrative wine in the portfolio, but this year it goes well beyond that descriptor. A residual sugar of around four grams per liter lends a more generous, giving style, and the wine will age on its concentration rather than its acidity. As ever, it derives from clay-rich soils in the commune of Avize and is typically where Agrapart begins the harvest; yields were reduced by some 30% due to frost this year. (KK)

An Avize-focused Champagne for a gathering worth opening a magnum.

From the heart of Alsace, one of France's most celebrated wine regions, the Domaine Justin Boxler Sylvaner 2021 is a pristine, terroir-driven white that captures the quiet elegance and mineral precision that defines great Alsatian winemaking. Understated yet deeply satisfying, this is a bottle that rewards those who seek authenticity over spectacle.

The Boxler Estate

Domaine Justin Boxler is a benchmark producer in Alsace, farming some of the region's most expressive terroirs with a commitment to minimal intervention and varietal integrity. Their Sylvaner is a testament to what this often-overlooked grape can achieve in the right hands — fresh, focused, and genuinely compelling.

Tasting Profile

Pale yellow with a bright, clear appearance. The nose offers delicate anise, fresh citrus, and subtle herbal notes. On the palate it's powerful and mineral-driven with lively acidity, a clean texture, and a fresh, lingering finish. Classic Alsatian Sylvaner at its finest.

Vintage

2021

Grape

Sylvaner

Region

Alsace, France

Format

750ml

Why Sylvaner?

Sylvaner is one of Alsace's most food-friendly grapes — less aromatic than Riesling or Gewurztraminer, but prized for its refreshing acidity, mineral backbone, and remarkable versatility at the table. It's the kind of wine that makes every meal better.

Perfect Pairings

Serve well-chilled (46–50°F) with shellfish, whitefish, sauerkraut, choucroute garnie, fresh goat cheese, or light vegetable dishes. An effortless companion to Alsatian cuisine and beyond.

Expert Review - Vintage 2010

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 98 Points  | Dinner starts with a fresh, briny oyster and a glass of 2010 Dom Ruinart. It’s a beautiful pairing. I have always loved the 2010 for the way it straddles the worlds of Champagne and still wine. It is absolutely glorious on this night. In fact, I could have had it for the entire meal. A deep, luscious morel broth and Brittany scallops are other highlights among the amuse-bouches. (Drink between 2023-2050).

Winemaker Description 

Indulge in the pure expression of Chardonnay with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010. A vintage Champagne capturing the elegance and finesse of Chardonnay, with notes of citrus blossom, green apple, and a refined minerality. A perfect aperitif or accompaniment to delicate seafood dishes.

High on the terraced slopes above the River Anoia, where marine soils hold the memory of an ancient sea, Raventós i Blanc has been quietly redefining what sparkling wine can be. The De La Finca is their most personal expression — drawn exclusively from vineyards first classified by Pepe Raventós’s grandfather, on plots of singular character that demand lower yields and reward patience above all else.

The 2022 is a blend of 60% Xarel·lo, 30% Macabeu, and 10% Parellada, whole-cluster pressed and fermented in concrete to preserve freshness and build for longevity. After reférmenting in bottle, it ages no fewer than 30 months on the lees, sealed with cork — a commitment to complexity that few producers in Catalonia match. Bone dry, unadjusted, and released as a Brut Nature. Certified organic and biodynamic.

The result is a sparkling wine of extraordinary precision: a bright, almost luminous yellow-gold with tiny, tightly integrated bubbles. The nose is expressive and layered — yeasts, Mediterranean herbs, white almond, chalk, and a subtle mineral salinity drawn from the fossil-rich limestone beneath the vines. On the palate it is vibrant and clean, with ample mousse, real weight and volume, and a long, phenolic finish that speaks of place and time in equal measure.

• Appellation: Conca del Riu Anoia, Catalonia, Spain
• Blend: 60% Xarel·lo, 30% Macabeu, 10% Parellada
• Farming: Certified Organic & Biodynamic
• Method: Traditional Method, 30+ months on lees
• Style: Brut Nature (bone dry, unadjusted)
• Production: 55,000 bottles

Expert Reviews:

93 Wine Advocate — “Vibrant, clean and precise palate, super tasty… a generous wine from a generous year.”

92 James Suckling — “Almost bone-dry on the palate, with an ample mousse and very good weight and volume.”

Food Pairings: Oysters, grilled langoustine, aged Manchego, or simply as an aperitif on its own terms.

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

Its color is a golden-yellow-green. It exhales fine scents of flowers and white-fleshed fruits. Its characteristic is a well-balanced structure, beginning with a round and fruity taste of peach and apricot and ending on a fresh and persistent note of citrus fruits. Its best aromatic expression is immediately reached in the first year and it continues for two-to-three years.

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck
92 Points — James Suckling

Pure Chardonnay. Ninety months on the lees. Two grams of dosage. Champagne Geoffroy's 2017 Volupté Millésime is a refined and deeply expressive Blanc de Blancs from two chalk-rich lieux-dits in Cumières Premier Cru — Tourne Midi and Les Chênes — parcels prized for the mineral precision and white-fruit character they bring to Chardonnay. Fermented in equal parts oak and enamel-lined steel, aged without malolactic fermentation and disgorged in November 2024, it is a silky, chiseled Champagne with a long, chalky and beautifully defined finish.

The Place

Cumières is a historic Premier Cru village in Champagne's Vallée de la Marne, situated west of Hautvillers and overlooking the Marne River. Although the village is more commonly associated with Pinot Noir and Meunier, its chalk-rich lieux-dits of Tourne Midi and Les Chênes are especially well suited to Chardonnay, producing wines with mineral precision, white-fruit clarity and the freshness to support extended lees aging.

The Grape: 100% Chardonnay

Chardonnay is Champagne's most mineral-expressive variety and the sole grape in Volupté. In the chalk-influenced soils of Tourne Midi and Les Chênes, it develops white peach, ripe lemon and green apple character alongside a pronounced chalky minerality and the hazelnut complexity that emerges with extended lees contact.

Winemaking

The grapes are harvested by hand at optimum ripeness and carefully sorted. Vinification is conducted in an equal combination of oak barrels and enamel-lined stainless-steel tanks — oak contributing texture and breadth, steel preserving freshness and aromatic precision. Malolactic fermentation is avoided, retaining the vintage's natural acidity and mineral tension.

After assemblage, the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in bottle and spends approximately 90 months aging on its lees — gaining exceptional texture, aromatic complexity and finely integrated bubbles. It is disgorged in November 2024 with a dosage of just 2 g/L, keeping the finish dry, focused and distinctly mineral.

Tasting Notes

The 2017 Volupté displays a bright straw-gold color with an elegant, persistent stream of fine bubbles. The bouquet opens with white peach, ripe lemon, green apple and smoky wet stone, joined by raw hazelnut, subtle mocha and a delicate reductive tension that lifts and focuses the nose.

The palate is medium-bodied and silky, with a creamy mousse, polished texture and bright, persistent acidity. Candied citrus, white fruit and toasted nuts lead into a long, chalky and beautifully defined finish. Spicy and overt, with lanolin and exquisite green apple and lemon interplay, the wine shows chewy acidity and polished phenolics that give it both energy and elegance.

Professional Ratings

93+ Points — Jeb Dunnuck: Bright straw/yellow color with notes of mocha, ripe lemon balm, smoky wet stones, white peach and raw hazelnut. A slight reduction, but not pronounced. Medium-bodied with a silky texture and clean, bright acidity. Disgorged November 2024 with 2 g/L dosage. Drink 2025–2040.

92 Points — James Suckling: An overt and spicy wine full of toasty aromas with an exquisite mix of green apples and lemons. A bit of lanolin. Medium-sized bubbles with long chewy acidity and polished phenolics. Drink now.

The Producer

The Geoffroy family has cultivated vineyards in Cumières since the 17th century. Today, Jean-Baptiste Geoffroy produces distinctive grower Champagnes emphasizing individual vineyard expression, ripe fruit, indigenous-yeast fermentation, long maturation and restrained dosage. The estate farms approximately 14 hectares, with most vineyards in Cumières and additional parcels in neighboring Vallée de la Marne villages.

Food Pairing

An excellent match for roasted or grilled white fish, langoustines, lobster, scallops, goat cheese, aged Parmesan and seared foie gras. Equally compelling as a sophisticated aperitif.

Serving and Cellaring

Serve at approximately 48–52°F in a white-wine or tulip-shaped Champagne glass. Delicious now for its freshness and complexity, but structured to develop further through approximately 2040.

Producer: Champagne Geoffroy
Cuvée: Volupté Millésime
Vintage: 2017
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Subregion: Vallée de la Marne
Village: Cumières Premier Cru
Classification: Premier Cru
Style: Vintage Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut
Grape: 100% Chardonnay
Vineyards: Tourne Midi and Les Chênes
Farming: Practicing organic and sustainable
Harvest: Hand harvested and sorted
Vinification: 50% oak barrels, 50% enamel-lined stainless steel
Malolactic Fermentation: None
Lees Aging: Approximately 90 months
Disgorgement: November 2024
Dosage: 2 g/L (Extra Brut)
Wine Type: Dry sparkling wine
Bottle Size: 750ml

67Wine Somm Series Cava 67 Guarda Brut — Penèdes, Catalonia | NV

The 67Wine Somm Series is our team’s curated selection of wines that over-deliver at every price point — and this Cava is a perfect example of what that means. Sourced from the Penèdes region of Catalonia and made using the Méthode Traditionnelle with the three traditional Cava grapes — Xarel·lo, Macabeo, and Parellada — the 67 Guarda Brut is aged a full year in the cellar after disgorgement, developing a complexity and finesse that punches well above its price. “Guarda” designates extended aging, and at under $14, this is one of the most compelling values in all of Spanish sparkling wine. The kind of bottle you open on a Tuesday and feel like you’re celebrating.

Pale gold with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is fresh and enticing: white peach, brioche, white cranberry, and fresh citrus. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, crisp, and clean, with a delicate lively mousse and a refreshingly dry, elegant finish of real finesse.

Oscar Garcia Moncada, Wine Buyer, 67Wine — “A Cava of genuine character and finesse at an outstanding price. Fresh and enticing on the nose with aromas of white peach, brioche, and white cranberry. Medium-bodied with fine, persistent bubbles. The finish is refreshingly dry and clean.”

• Producer: 67Wine Somm Series, Penèdes, Catalonia, Spain
• Curated by: Oscar Garcia Moncada, Wine Buyer, 67Wine
• Appellation: D.O. Cava — Guarda (extended aging)
• Blend: Xarel·lo, Macabeo, Parellada
• Method: Méthode Traditionnelle — 1 year aged post-disgorgement
• Style: Brut NV
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, brioche, white cranberry, citrus, fine persistent bubbles, dry elegant finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, shrimp cocktail, fried calamari, sushi, jamón ibérico, soft cheeses, patatas bravas

A 67Wine house Cava of genuine finesse at an honest price — the Somm Series Guarda Brut is the benchmark for what everyday Spanish sparkling can be.

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

A fresh and pure unwooded Chenin Blanc, made to express the delicious purity of the grape. A lovely wine to enjoy on its own or even better with a slightly spicy dish.

Winemaker Description 

Frontera Chardonay is a full-bodied white wine with a smooth, creamy texture. It has a bright golden hue and a nose of ripe apples, pears, and tropical fruits. On the palate, it has a rich, buttery flavor with notes of citrus, honey, and vanilla. 

The finish is long and lingering, with a hint of oak. This Chardonay is perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a casual dinner with friends or a special occasion. It pairs well with seafood, poultry, and creamy cheeses. Its smooth texture and balanced flavor make it a great choice for sipping on its own. 

Tasting Notes: Frontera Chardonay has a bright golden hue and a nose of ripe apples, pears, and tropical fruits. On the palate, it has a rich, buttery flavor with notes of citrus, honey, and vanilla. The finish is long and lingering, with a hint of oak.

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