Search results

Frontera Buttery Chardonnay — Central Valley, Chile

Frontera is the flagship value label of Concha y Toro — Chile's largest and most recognized wine producer — crafted to deliver consistent, approachable quality at an everyday price. The Buttery Chardonnay is exactly what it promises: a crowd-pleasing, fruit-forward white with the soft, rounded character that Chardonnay lovers seek. Sourced from Chile's sun-drenched Central Valley, where warm days and cool nights produce ripe, expressive fruit, this is a wine built for easy enjoyment without ceremony.

The wine pours a light yellow with golden highlights. The nose is expressive and inviting — ripe pineapple, citrus, and a generous note of vanilla that signals the wine's soft, buttery style. On the palate, it's smooth and well-balanced with attractive acidity and a long, approachable finish. Serve lightly chilled and enjoy on its own or with food — this is a wine that works for everyone at the table.

"An expressive wine with attractive aromas of pineapple, citrus, and vanilla — balanced with an attractive acidity and a long, memorable finish." — Frontera Winemaker

• Producer: Frontera (Concha y Toro), Central Valley, Chile
• Appellation: Central Valley, Chile
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Style: Buttery, fruit-forward, unoaked
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Pineapple, citrus, vanilla, smooth and balanced, long finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled chicken, light pasta with cream sauce, seafood, fresh cheeses, or enjoyed on its own

Chile's most approachable Chardonnay — buttery, fruit-forward, and priced for every night of the week.

Domaine Zafeirakis · Microcosmos Malagousia · PGI Tyrnavos · Thessaly · Greece · 2025

The Zafeirakis family has been practicing viticulture in Tyrnavos, in the heart of Thessaly in Central Greece, for more than a century. Christos Zafeirakis — the fourth generation — returned home after studies and stages in Italy to plant his first organic vineyard in 2005, driven by a philosophy of love, knowledge, and respect for tradition. Microcosmos is his single-vineyard Malagousia, grown on old vines in flinty soils at the domaine — a wine that captures the aromatic brilliance and mineral precision that makes Malagousia one of Greece’s most exciting indigenous white varieties.

The 2025 opens with beautiful aromas of stone fruit and citrus blossoms — fresh peach, apricot, and white flowers. On the palate, zippy bright acidity carries the fruit with elegance, balanced by a ripe, mineral character drawn from the flinty soils. Harmonious, fresh, and expressive from first sip to finish.

• Producer: Domaine Zafeirakis (Christos Zafeirakis), Tyrnavos, Thessaly, Greece
• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: PGI Tyrnavos, Thessaly, Greece
• Varietal: 100% Malagousia
• Vineyard: Old vines on flinty soils, estate-grown
• Farming: Certified Organic (since 2005)
• Style: Dry white — aromatic, mineral, fresh
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Peach, apricot, citrus blossoms, white flowers, zippy acidity, flinty mineral finish
• Pairings: Grilled fish with lemon and olive oil, pasta primavera, light appetizers, fresh cheeses, seafood mezze

PGI Tyrnavos — certified organic Malagousia from a fourth-generation Greek estate. Aromatic, mineral, and a compelling introduction to Greece’s finest indigenous white.

Gundlach Bundschu | Chardonnay | Sonoma Coast AVA | 2024 | Organically Grown

Wine Enthusiast: 90 Points — Soft and charming aromas of Meyer lemon, green pear, chalky minerality and spice mélange. The palate brings a pop of fresh acidity, with flavors of apple skin, nectarine, pineapple sage and citrus blossoms through the meandering finish. —Tom R. Capo

Gundlach Bundschu is one of California's oldest continuously family-owned wineries, founded in 1858 and farming the same Rhinefarm estate vineyard at the crossroads of Sonoma Valley and Carneros for six generations. Today the estate is Regenerative Organic Certified®, a commitment that goes beyond conventional organic farming to encompass soil health, ecosystem restoration and long-term land stewardship. The Sonoma Coast Chardonnay is sourced from cool-climate vineyards along the Pacific-influenced Sonoma Coast AVA, where marine fog and ocean breezes extend the growing season and preserve the natural acidity and freshness that define the appellation's best whites.

The 2024 is vinified to balance the variety's natural richness with the bright, mineral-driven character of the Sonoma Coast. The nose opens with crisp green apple, Meyer lemon and ripe pear, accented by chalky minerality, honey and a whisper of spice. The palate is lively and well structured, with flavors of nectarine, preserved lemon peel, pineapple sage and citrus blossom, carried by bright acidity and a subtle touch of oak through a clean, lingering finish.

Serve at 50–54°F. Pairs beautifully with chicken piccata, roasted squash, grilled fish, shellfish, light pasta with cream or herb sauces and fresh cheeses.

• Producer: Gundlach Bundschu
• Appellation: Sonoma Coast AVA, California
• Grape Variety: Chardonnay (100%)
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Organically grown; Regenerative Organic Certified®
• Estate: Rhinefarm, founded 1858
• Style: Dry white wine
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Founded in 1849 in Savigny-lès-Beaune, Doudet-Naudin is one of Burgundy's oldest and most respected Maisons. Acquired by the Doudet family in 1933, the house has grown steadily while holding fast to its founding values: respect for tradition and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Today, under the stewardship of Christophe Rochet, the Maison continues to honor that legacy while evolving with care.

The Naudin Père et Fils Bourgogne Aligôté 2023 is sourced from limestone-rich soils within the regional Bourgogne appellation — a terroir that lends the Aligôté grape a finer, more mineral character than many of its counterparts. Grapes are harvested mechanically, pressed with a pneumatic press, and vinified under controlled temperatures in stainless steel, then matured for nine months in cool cellars to preserve freshness and precision.

As Chablis prices climb beyond everyday reach, a well-made Aligôté like this one is a genuine find: bone dry, crisply chiseled, and built for the table.

Professional Review

Bart Hopkins, 67Wine: Bone dry and nicely chiseled with flavors of Granny Smith apple and tangy lemon, chalk-like minerality, and steely acidity on the palate-cleansing finish. A great aperitif and perfect for seafood salad and shellfish.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Granny Smith apple, tangy lemon, and subtle floral lift
• Palate: Bone dry, crisp, and mineral-driven with steely acidity
• Finish: Clean, chalk-like, and refreshing

Wine Details

• 100% Aligôté
• Bourgogne AOC, Burgundy, France
• Limestone soils, stainless steel vinification
• Vintage: 2023
• 750ml
• Perfect with: aperitif, seafood salad, shellfish, oysters

Expert Review

James Suckling by Andrii Stetsiuk 96 Points |  Joyful and juicy but also concentrated and very precise, this is a stunning cool-climate chardonnay. Brimming with sliced pear, white peach and white flower aromas. The delicate oak is already beautifully integrated on the mouth-filling yet only medium-bodied palate. Then comes a wave of toasted hazelnut flavor in the very long and super-silky finish. Drink from release.

Producer Description 

• 100% Chardonnay
• The Knoll, Lahoma Vineyard
• small sandstone hill
• Umbrella training system – results in more shading
• Cold soak overnight
• Fermented in 3 French oak large format puncheons
• Aged 10 months in the puncheons, stirred regularly
• 13% abv

As a Harvard educated Economist, Kelby made the unusual transition to wine in pursue of his passion. He also brought with him his deep love for music as a way to inspire his winemaking approach. For well over a decade, he patiently perfected his art while working at another winery. Finally in 2023, Kelby and his also-winemaker wife Julia, embarked on the adventure of their dreams and launched Apollo’s Praise. Despite the wait, the musical influence is as strong as it has ever been. Every bottle suggests an unusual pairing. Turn the bottle around to find a recommended song to listen to while enjoying a glass!

Kelby and Julia produce complex, yet approachable wines by carefully merging art and science. Every single one of them is the reflection of vintage variation, site specificity and unique varietal characteristics. Unsurprisingly, critics regard their highly-sought-after Lahoma Vineyard series as some of Finger Lakes’ best wines.

Apollo’s Praise philosophy in Kelby’s and Julia’s words: “The Best Wines are Art. They are an expression of culture and speak to where they come from, when they come from, and who they come from.”

Confidences de Prieuré-Lichine — Margaux, Bordeaux 2019

Confidences is the second wine of Château Prieuré-Lichine, a Quatrième Grand Cru Classé estate in Margaux with a storied history stretching back to the 17th century. Produced from the estate's younger vines, Confidences is harvested, vinified, and aged with the same meticulous care as the Grand Cru — the difference is in the vine age, not the philosophy. The 2019 vintage is widely regarded as one of Bordeaux's finest in a generation: a warm, dry year that delivered exceptional ripeness, concentration, and structure across the appellation.

The wine pours a deep ruby. The nose is fresh and open-knit — pomegranate, damson plum, cedar, and savory hints that speak directly to Margaux's signature elegance. On the palate, it's a Merlot-dominant blend that favors roundness and a silky, velvety touch, with a fine-grained finish that is both charming and structured. Modern in its fruitiness, classic in its restraint. Drink now through 2026.

"Fresh and open-knit, with pomegranate and damson plum notes carried by cedar and savory hints. Fine-grained finish." — Wine Spectator, 88 Points

• Producer: Château Prieuré-Lichine, Margaux, Bordeaux, France
• Classification: Second Wine of a 4ème Grand Cru Classé
• Vintage: 2019
• Appellation: Margaux AOC
• Blend: Merlot-dominant; Cabernet Sauvignon
• Production: 13,000 cases made
• Size: 750ml
• Accolades: Wine Spectator 88
• Drink: Now through 2026
• Tasting Notes: Pomegranate, damson plum, cedar, savory notes, silky tannins, fine-grained finish
• Best Paired With: Roast lamb, duck confit, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses, classic Bordelaise cuisine

Grand Cru craftsmanship at second wine pricing — Margaux elegance from one of the appellation's most historic estates, in a legendary vintage.

Winemaker Description 

A fresh, floral bouquet with notes of acacia flowers, this dry white wine is well-balanced with lively white fruit flavors. Harvested from Italy’s premier regions for the cultivation of Pinot Grigio, the grapes are vinified in stainless steel and released soon after the vintage to preserve the integrity of the fruit and maintain the naturally fresh character of the variety. Alverdi Pinot Grigio is an excellent aperitif.

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

Crisp and refreshing with notes of freshly squeezed lemon and green apple with a hint of sea breeze that reflects its coastal origins. Its fresh and lively on the palate, with a brightness from the acidity that makes it easy to enjoy on its own or to pair with grilled seafood, light pasta dishes, or small appetizers.

Antinori Santa Cristina Toscana Rosso — Tuscany 2023 750ml

Santa Cristina is the everyday Tuscan red from Marchesi Antinori — one of Italy’s oldest and most storied wine dynasties, with over 600 years of winemaking history in Florence. Blended from Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, it is crafted to deliver the warmth, generosity, and food-friendliness of Tuscany in an approachable, everyday format. The 2023 vintage is vibrant and expressive — a wine that overdelivers at its price and earns its place on any Italian table.

Ruby red with violet hues. The nose is fruity and inviting: fresh cherry, blueberry, and currant meet delicate hints of vanilla and cocoa. On the palate, it is enveloping and supple — medium-bodied with flavors of red cherry, mint, blueberry, and black pepper, a light oak touch, and a smooth, fruit-forward finish that lingers pleasantly.

• Producer: Marchesi Antinori, Florence, Tuscany, Italy
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Toscana IGT
• Blend: Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah
• Style: Medium-Bodied Red
• ABV: 13%
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Cherry, blueberry, currant, mint, black pepper, vanilla, cocoa, smooth finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now
• Best Paired With: Roasted meats, cured meats, hard cheeses, Caesar salad, pizza, pasta al pomodoro

Six centuries of Tuscan winemaking in every bottle — Santa Cristina is Antinori’s gift to the everyday table.

Thirty years of winemaking in the Galilee — and this is the wine that tells that story. Created to celebrate three decades of the Dalton family's journey, this extraordinary red blend incorporates wine from every vintage stretching back to 1995, weaving together the memory of each harvest into a single, deeply expressive bottle.

Rooted in the rugged terroir of the Upper Galilee, the blend draws on Cabernet Sauvignon from Elkosh, Merlot from Tel Fares, and Shiraz from Elkosh — three sites that have defined Dalton's identity over the years. Aged 24 months in new French oak barrels, then rested a full year before release, this is a wine built with patience and intention.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep ruby with garnet hues
• Nose: Concentrated red fruit, dark berries, tobacco, and subtle vanilla
• Palate: Soft and supple with layered complexity and well-integrated oak
• Finish: Long, warm, and celebratory

Blend & Aging

• Cabernet Sauvignon (Elkosh), Merlot (Tel Fares), Shiraz (Elkosh)
  
• 24 months in new French oak + 12 months bottle aging pre-release

Kosher Certification

Kosher Le'Mehadrin and Kosher for Passover.

Serving Suggestions

• Serve at 17–19°C
• Pairs beautifully with lamb, beef tenderloin, aged hard cheeses, and charcuterie
• Decant 30–45 minutes before serving

750ml. Limited release. Galilee, Israel.

Memo Summary Description 

The Placido "Primavera Selection" Pinot Grigio 2024 is a textbook example of a clean, refreshing, and high-value Italian white wine. Produced by the renowned Banfi family (owners of the Placido label), this wine is specifically crafted to be "primavera" (springtime) in a bottle—vibrant, floral, and incredibly easy to drink.

While the brand is famous for its Tuscan roots, this Pinot Grigio is typically sourced from the Delle Venezie DOC (Veneto), the world's premier region for crisp, mineral-driven Pinot Grigio.

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.

A California Chardonnay benchmark in a generous magnum format — J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay 2023 comes from the cool-climate Arroyo Seco appellation in Monterey County, where the Ventana winds off Monterey Bay slow ripening and preserve natural acidity. The result is a full-bodied, richly textured Chardonnay that balances ripe fruit generosity with freshness and finesse.

The nose offers pear, white peach, floral notes, and a hint of baking spice. On the palate it’s round and buttery with flavors of baked apple, toast, brown butter, and honey — ripe and generous, with a soft, lingering finish. A crowd-pleasing style that over-delivers at its price point, especially in the 1.5L magnum format ideal for entertaining.

Expert Review — Vintage 2023

James Suckling — 91 Points | This full-bodied, round and buttery chardonnay has notes of baked apples, toast and brown butter. Ripe, soft and generous.

• Producer: J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, San Jose, California
• Appellation: Arroyo Seco, Monterey County, California
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Full-Bodied Chardonnay
• Format: 1.5L Magnum
• Pair With: Triple crème cheese, seafood risotto, mussels in white wine sauce, chicken piccata

Tasting Notes

An expression of crisp freshness, the Teperberg Inspire Art Series Dabouki is produced from old vines rooted for over 70 years. Expect a clean, vibrant palate with delicate citrus and stone fruit notes, lively acidity, and a pure, refreshing finish — a rare and captivating showcase of an indigenous Israeli grape.

About the Wine

The Dabouki grape — historically used for Arak or table grapes — is being rediscovered by top Israeli winemakers for its unique desert-friendly profile. This wine is a collaboration between Teperberg Winery, Israel's oldest family-owned winery, and internationally renowned street artist Dede, whose iconic graffiti adorns cities from Tel Aviv to major capitals worldwide.

Dede began painting his signature band-aids as a response to PTSD from military service. The heart-shaped band-aid on the capsule symbolizes healing and hope — making this bottle as meaningful as it is beautiful, and a standout gift or conversation piece for any holiday table.

Food Pairing

Pairs beautifully with grilled fish, roasted vegetables, light pasta, and cheese boards. Versatile and food-friendly for any occasion.

Product Details

• Appellation: Israel
• Varietal: Dabouki
• Vine Age: 70+ years
• Vintage: 2023
• Format: 750ml
• Certification: Kosher
• Producer: Teperberg Winery

Bassermann-Jordan Riesling Trocken — Pfalz, Germany 2024

Bassermann-Jordan is one of Germany's most historic and prestigious wine estates — a founding member of the VDP, Germany's elite organization of top quality wine producers, and a name synonymous with the finest dry Riesling from the Pfalz. The estate's roots in Deidesheim stretch back to 1718, when Pierre Jordan purchased the family's first vineyards in the Pfalz. Johann-Peter Jordan built the winery in Deidesheim 65 years later, and around the turn of the century, Andreas Jordan elevated quality winemaking in the region by becoming one of the first growers to plant single varieties by vineyard and vinify each vineyard separately — a revolutionary approach that set the standard for precision winemaking in Germany. A marriage between the Bassermann and Jordan families added the Bassermann name in 1883, cementing the estate's place at the pinnacle of Pfalz winemaking. Today, the estate farms organically, bringing the same commitment to quality and terroir expression to every bottle.

The Riesling Trocken is the estate's classic dry Pfalz expression — a wine that shows the style of the house and the typicality of the different soils around the winery. Fine fruit, elegant acidity, and gripping minerality define the palate — dry, focused, and unmistakably Pfalz. Clean and precise on the finish, with the kind of mineral backbone that makes great German Riesling so compelling at the table.

"A dry Palatinate Riesling with fine fruit, elegant acidity and gripping minerality — it shows the style of the house and the typicality of the different soils around the winery." — Bassermann-Jordan, Winemaker

• Producer: Bassermann-Jordan, Deidesheim, Pfalz, Germany
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Pfalz, Germany
• Classification: VDP member estate
• Varietal: 100% Riesling
• Style: Trocken (Dry)
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Closure: Screwcap
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Fine fruit, elegant acidity, gripping minerality, dry and focused, clean mineral finish
• Drink: Now through 2030
• Best Paired With: Grilled fish, sushi, oysters, roast pork, Asian cuisine, soft cheeses, aperitivo

VDP Pfalz Riesling from one of Germany's oldest estates — Bassermann-Jordan Trocken 2024 is dry, mineral, and organically farmed.

The As Abeleiras “Viño branco de parcela” (Albariño) is released a year after the entry-level Albariño and comes from a single parcela planted in 1993 by a very young Pedro and his father. It sits at 100 meters altitude, also on granite soil. While the 2019 version was raised in steel, this year spent time in old French oak barrels. 

While the other two Albariños have a broad band of expressions and roundness due to the diversity of the many vineyard parcels in each wine, this single vineyard’s uniqueness offers a more vertical than horizontal experience. While the other two would be great for a bigger party of people because they jump into the mosh pit and start knocking people out on the first swing, As Abeleiras is initially more snug and better suited for a two-person tango. 

While the others are wonderful in their way, this is the thinker, the wine to observe and admire for its singularity, focused austerity, and tight, chalky and grippy texture. It’s a minerally beam of light. The others are mineral bombs.

Winemaker Description 

Certainly! The Herederos De Argueso Jerez-Xeres-Sherry Amontillado is a dry and nutty white wine from Andalucia, Spain. It has sharp peanutty aromas and a tawny color with hints of orange. On the palate, it offers sour citrus fruit flavors, burnt nuts, and cocoa, finishing dry and chalky. You can find it in a 375ml half bottle for around $25. It’s a delightful choice for those who appreciate intense, tangy flavors. 🍷🥜🍊

Argeso Amontillado is an exquisite fortified wine of subtlety and grace. On the nose, it unfurls a spectrum of delicate scents reminiscent of hazelnuts and aromatic herbs, with a distinctive hint of dark tobacco.

Upon tasting, its lightness astonishes, yet it retains a marked dryness and a complexity that unfolds gently. This Amontillado exemplifies the artful dance between simplicity and intricacy, presenting a sophisticated and approachable taste experience. 

Biokult Grüner Veltliner Biodynamic 2024

Biokult is a collective of passionate organic and biodynamic winegrowers in Austria, united by a shared philosophy: that the vitality of the vineyard is the foundation of great wine. Working in Niederösterreich, the growers focus on biodiversity in flora and fauna, maintaining microorganisms in the soil, using natural fertilizers, and avoiding synthetic interventions — creating what they call a “winegarden” rather than a monotonous monoculture. The result is wines that are bursting with life, honest, and deeply expressive of their origins.

The Grüner Veltliner is biodynamic, vegan, and sealed with a screw cap for freshness — a modern, characterful expression of Austria’s signature white grape that delivers serious quality at a remarkable price. Bracing, mineral, and food-friendly, it’s the kind of wine that makes you reach for a second glass.

Aromatics of crunchy apple, green pear, tarragon, and catnip. On the palate, bracing acidity and lime zest give way to white pepper, tarragon, and scallion, with a chalky, mineral, saline finish that lingers. Classic Grüner character — precise, fresh, and alive.

Food Pairings

Asian fare, sashimi, sushi, spiced Thai dishes, grilled shrimp, crustaceans, oysters on the half shell, white meats, egg dishes, and light cheeses. One of the most food-friendly whites you’ll find at this price.

Varietal: Grüner Veltliner
Appellation: Niederösterreich, Austria
Vintage: 2024
Farming: Biodynamic | Vegan
Closure: Screw cap
Format: 750ml

Yann Alexandre Champagne Sous-les-Roses Blanc de Noirs — Montagne de Reims 2017

From a single parcel in the village of Courmas, this grower Champagne is one of the most compelling Blanc de Noirs we carry. Yann Alexandre farms the Sous-les-Roses vineyard on shallow calcareous-clay soils ideally suited to Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, and the 2017 vintage — a late year followed by a great summer — produced beautifully mature, structured fruit. The blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Pinot Meunier is fermented in stainless steel and oak barrel, then aged approximately five years en tirage under natural cork, building remarkable complexity, depth, and a refined mousse.

The result is a dry, focused, and gastronomic Champagne. Ripe stone fruit, brioche, and mineral tension lead to a full-flavored yet precise palate with fine texture and a long, vinous finish. At just 4 g/L dosage, this is Champagne for the table — equally at home with roast poultry, duck, veal, mushroom dishes, aged cheeses, and charcuterie.

• Producer: Yann Alexandre, Courmas, Montagne de Reims, Champagne, France
• Vintage: 2017
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Vineyard: Sous-les-Roses, Courmas — shallow calcareous-clay soils
• Blend: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier
• Vinification: Stainless steel and oak barrel; partial malolactic fermentation
• Élevage: ~6 months in stainless steel and oak barrel
• Lees Aging: ~5 years en tirage under natural cork
• Dosage: 4.0 g/L
• Residual Sugar: 4.0 g/L
• Acidity: 5.55 g/L
• Alcohol: 12%
• Farming: Certified Sustainable by OCACIA
• Size: 750ml
• Best Paired With: Roast poultry, duck, veal, mushroom dishes, charcuterie, aged cheeses, grilled fish

A rare single-vineyard Blanc de Noirs from a meticulous grower — Yann Alexandre's Sous-les-Roses is the kind of Champagne that rewards both the table and the cellar.

Kendall-Jackson | Santa Barbara County, California | Chardonnay | 2023

Santa Barbara County's unique east-west mountain orientation channels cold Pacific breezes deep into the estate vineyards of the Santa Maria and Los Alamos Valleys — a geological quirk that produces grapes of exceptional intensity and natural acidity. Aged in partly new French oak, the Grand Reserve Chardonnay delivers a creamy, layered texture grounded by bright minerality from the region's calcareous soils. This is KJ at its most refined: lush, structured, and built for the table.

Clones: Dijon and Rued
Oak: Partly new French oak
Drink: Now–2028

Tasting Notes

• Lush tropical fruit, citrus, and floral notes on the nose
• Vanilla, spice, and calciferous minerality on the palate
• Creamy mouthfeel | Bright acidity | Long, rich finish

Pairings: Crab cakes, scallops, roast chicken, soft cheeses, creamy pasta

Winemaker Description 

Straka's Mash skin-fermented white is a blend of Straka's specialty, Welschriesling, with a bit of Pinot Blanc and Chardonnay. It spends 20 days on the skins followed by 10 months in large, neutral oak. The result is a wine that is both aromatic and tertiary, lending intriguing savory notes making it a perfect accompaniment to food.

Straka, which means Magpie, is a small family estate located in the Eisenberg district of Burgenland, Austria. It has been run by Tom Straka since 2008. Tom farms organically and practices minimal intervention in the cellar. Located on the last foothill of the Alps, in Rechnitz, his primary focus is Welschriesling, the main indigenous grape of the area. His best vineyard site is Pratner (he farms all but 4 rows of it) which is very densely planted old vines dating from 1932.

Since taking over the family winery, Tom has slowly expanded their vineyard holdings from 3-7 hectares and converted to organic farming. The estate was established by his family in the 18th century when they moved to the area from Bohemia. In the 1950s they were the first family in the area to start a Heuriger or Buschenschank (wine tavern) so that people could come and eat while sampling their wines. It proved a very successful model for them and today, their Buschenschank remains a staple of the area while most others have closed. It remains a great way for many people to try their wines.

Tom is huge advocate of Welschriesling which he says can pair with anything if grown properly. Welschriesling is an old indigenous grape perfectly suited to the geography of this rare geological area. Rechnitz sits 360 m above sea level on the slopes of the Geschriebenstein, the highest mountain in the Burgenland. The vineyards climb as high as 500m and are known for their unique geological soils -- a combination of crystalline schist and magmatic deposits that can only be found in 3 other places in the world. It is a very windy and dry area which cools off considerably at night. This results in very few pests, no need for herbicide or any other treatments and crisp clear mineral-driven wines. The parentage of Welschriesling is not known (it is not related to Rhine Riesling) and is thought to be a most closely related to Elbling, originating in Northern Italy and Croatia along the Danube and typically shows good acidity and fruit with notes of lemon, salt and green apple.

For one and a half decades Thomas Straka has been working with organic waste and cattle manure, but very little compost. "I apply some phosphor from time to time as fertilizer, and also a little chalk, because without it the vines would suffer malnutrition. But all in all I don't have to interfere much in the vineyards." Green cover like vetch between the rows contribute nitrogen to the soil. He lets them grow rather high. "Because we do little work with tractors and most by hand, our soils are nearly uncompressed and rich in humus. And as our soils are meagre and constantly wind-blown, we have almost no problems with fungal diseases." The biggest threat in Rechnitz is and always has been drought. "Today the only things I do in the cellar are a clarification with bentonite and addition of neutral yeasts if necessary."

Winemaker Description 

A bright antique gold wine. The bouquet is complex and inviting with notes of baked apple, quince jelly, biscuit crumb, spice and orange zest. To taste, there’s great intensity and lovely refreshing acid balance, with touches of stone fruit, peach and orange zest enhanced by a hint of sweet spice and a sapid, saline finish that lingers. A definite step-up in complexity and structure thanks to tiny yields and old vines.

Pair with meat or soup as starters, main dishes with truffles, grilled fish and poultry.