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French - Loire Valley
2022 Chateau de Fosse-Séche, Reserve du Pigeonnier, Cabernet Franc, Vaudelnay, Saumur, 137DD
Gemstone color, layers of aroma, concentrated minerality and great balance, this wine left me speechless in the thrill of tasting something lost. Clos Rougarad is one of our favorite wines which we no longer are allocated. Adrien and Guillaume Pire have crafted something akin with Reserve du Pigeonnier but from flinted, gravel and clay rather unique from the limestone that the region is known for. The brothers are impassioned by their work, and make no concessions in farming the land with pristine, beyond organic methods.
$240
2021 Quinten Borse Le Sot de L’Ange Rouge, Cabernet Franc | Merlot | Pinot Noir Touraine Azay le Rideau, Loire, France, Bin 92AA
Expect a savory wine with woodsy aromas, concentrated red fruit and spicy but polite variety characteristics from the mostly cabernet blend. The ‘Le Sot’ Angel of Azay-Le Rideau biodynamically farms his ever expanding holdings with intention to let the farming do most of the winemaking leaving the intervention in the cellar focused on expressing the terroir of each wine.
$64
2023 La Grapperie Adonis Pineau d’Aunis, Coteaux-du-Loir, Bin 59 CC
Trained agronomist specialising in plant physiology, Renaud Guettier organically farms five hectares of mostly Chenin and Pineau d’Aunis, scattered amongst plots close to his village. This expression is powerfully correct for the variety: it is light, bright, compact and elegant, with soaring notes of wild strawberry and cracked pepper. Adonis is unfiltered, unfined and unsulfured.
$88
2024 Le Clos du Tue-Bœuf, VDF Rouge Pineau d'Aunis, Les Montils, Touraine, France, Bin 94R
A very lightly colored variety this Pineau d'Aunis exhibits bright red barely ripe strawberry aromas integrated and which highlights a nice balance of acid and tannin. A historic significance for wine making, records of the lieu-dit “le Tue-Boeuf” and the Puzelat family go as far back as the 1400’s. After the creation of the Cheverny AOC the Puzelat’s became one of the first examples of customers trusting the estate’s work methods over the appellation itself as many of the varieties and cuvée they produce buck the AOC’s rules.
$84
Domaine Nebout Rouge Seduction, Pinot Noir, Upper Loire, Bin 67DD
The Bourbonnais region overlaps with the upper Loire Valley in central France where the Nebouts have cultivated their vines using organic farming methods for 5 generations. Seduction is a medium bodied elegant pinot boasting ripe red fruit with delicate tannin showing off freshness.
$72
French - Beaujolais
Anne Sophie Dubois Le Labourons Gamay Fleurie Beaujolais FR Bin 133FF
$93
2023 Jean-Claude Lapalu, La Croix des Remeaux, Gamay, Brouilly, Bin 105 R
From 50+ year old vines in the La Croix des Remeaux vineyard Jean-Claude crafted a wine with ethereal aromas from white blossoms and cooled red cherries and berries. This single vineyard bottles gets the oak treatment in neutral barrels for 6-8 months which evokes a more serious structure and extended finish where tannin competes with acidity.
$108
2023 Jean-Claude Lapalu, Le Rang du Merle, Gamay, Beaujolais-Villages, Brouilly, Bin 134BB
From the oldest vines in the Le Rang du Merle plot Jean-Claude vinifies one of the most serious but pleasant cru wines we have ever tasted. The organically farmed fruit is picked sur-maturité, (when grapes start to shrivel and acid levels fall) then ferment for 3 weeks before spending 9 months in barrel. A medium pronounced nose of savory meaty notes with blown white pepper and even olive all lend to a balanced mouthfeel of acid and tannin while red fruits pop out.
$136
French - Burgundy
2019 Aurelien Verdet, Les Hauts Pruliers, Pinot Noir, Nuits-Saint-Geroges Bin, 3AA
The vibrancy of Aurélien Verdet’s wines reflects his personal passion and commitment to organic farming. As the third generation of his family to grow grapes in Burgundy, his approach reflects an inherited conscience from his father, Alain, who was a pioneer in organic viticulture and winemaking. This is taut showing red and blue fruit with nuances of dried leaves and crushed pepper. Delightful with food or just to savor and contemplate.
$145
2020 Domaine Boris Champy, Elevation 421, Pinot Noir, Hautes-Côtes de Beaune, Bin 15CC
This is from the first biodynamically farmed vineyard in Bourgogne sitting 421 meters above sea level in the higher elevations of Cotes de Beaune. The aromas are concentrated expressing the darker red fruits and the body is a little taut and reserved showing some spicy notes and a sustained finish.
$103
2021 Maison En Belles Lies, Pinot Noir, Aloxe-Corton AOC, Cote de Beaune, Bin 116FF
Pierre stumbled upon one of Rudolf Steiner's books on biodynamic farming at a Parisian flea market, which became the catalyst for his journey into the world of vines. After working with natural wine pioneers such as Trapet, Lapierre, and Emmanuel Giboulot, He purchased his first in the Haute Côtes de Beaune. Since then, he has expanded his holdings and now rents and owns vineyards in Saint-Aubin, Santenay, Monthelie, and Corton, including a plot of Le Corton itself. Vinified with natural wild fermentation in whole bunches and aged in large barrels, it is bottled with no fining, filtration or added SO2. This light colored stunner dances around a fragrant core of red forest berries, bramble, humus and spiced pomegranate juice.
$120
2021 Domaine Georges Glantenay, Pinot Noir, Chambolle-Musigny, Bin 112O
Airy aromas of black cherry, forest, and a box of roses become serious on the palate with a high toned structure, clothy tannin and a long graceful dance for a finish. 1793 bottles produced
$145
2022 Domaine Georges Glantenay, Pinot Noir, Pommard, Bin 104Q
Lifted, this wine shows aromas of cocoa, spice, dried flowers, wisps of orange peel and warm rocks. Spice become more pronounced on the palate which is bodied and expertly balanced for a long finish that warms. 2967 bottle produced
$120
French - Jura | Savoie
2022 Domaine Benedicte & Stephane Tissot, El Barberon, Pinot Nor, Côtes du Jura, Bin 28CC
Whether it be Geverny or Nuits Saint George this wine is often pumped up to being compared with burgundy. I think a lot of that is to develop interest in a region that is now already world renowned and maybe a little unnecessary and redundant for such a unique Pinot. El Barberon from Lias clay and comes in with tart aromas from red cherry, cranberry, and cracked pepper. The palate has nice acidity and structure.
$122
French Rhône
2021 Saint Cosme, Syrah, Côte-Rôtie AOC, Bin 139 Q
While Château de Saint Cosme is the benchmark estate of Gigondas, Louis Barruol took over from his father in 1992, adding a négociant arm to the business in 1997. He simultaneously made a dramatic shift to quality, by converting to biodynamics in 2010. This wine is lighter across the board than much that comes from the esteemed vineyards of Côte-Rôtie. It leans on more minerality than ripeness, It’s layered, ethereal, exquisitely balanced and an absolute joy to drink.
$127
2024 Hervé Souhaut, Syrah, VdF, Bin 129GG
Just opposite the storied hills of Hermitage in Saint Joseph this mythic & masterful producer created Domaine Romaneaux-Destezet in 1993. Hervé works 5-hectares of old and ancient vines between 50 to 100 years old. He produces elegant ready to drink wines that exhibit the granitic slopes he works by hand. Lean and balanced with elegant tannin that holds onto blue and red fruited aromas with hints of baking spice and violets. Absolutely delightful.
$90
2023 Eric Texier Chat Fou, Grenache | White Varieties, Saint-Julien, Bin 126GG
Sourced from the granite terroirs of Saint-Julien, giving it a very fruity, easy style. Eric also adds about 20% of white grapes to lighten the blend. The wine's name translates to "Crazy Cat" and is named after one of the Texier's cats who was in fact quite crazy.
$64
2020 Domaine des Tours, Grenache | Counoise | Syrah | Cinsault | Merlot Vin de Pays de Vaucluse, Bin 97Q
The manager of Château Rayas Emmanuel Reynaud produces wines from other esteemed sites in the southern Rhone valley that are a steal compared to the price his Châteauneuf-du-Pape commands. This VdP Vaucluse complexity, texture and aging potential, combining notes of red fruit, spices and garrigue, made from organic vines using traditional methods.
$120
Domaine de Saje, Grange | Syrah, Côtes du Rhône, Bin 65FF
By Jerome Mathieu, his estate produces this wine from roughly 2 hectares of vines, often utilizing, or inspired by, the techniques used for their more premium Châteauneuf-du-Pape. Known for its value and elegance, notes offers notes of fresh red and black fruits, woody herbs, and sage, and body finishing with soft, approachable tannins.
$68
French - Bordeaux
2021 Chateau le Puy 'Emilien', Merlot | Cabernet Sauvignon | Cabernet Franc | Malbec | Carménère, Gironde, Bin 124R
I forgot about Bordeaux for many years in an attempt to avoid chemicals and headaches from chapitalisation and new oak. Leave it to Neil Rosenthal to introduce a winemaker that bucks the status quo of modern farming and still delivers classic wines. Chateau le Puy is a bit of an anomaly as Jean-Pierre Amoreau and his son, Pascal oversee the biodynamic farming and winemaking techniques forgotten by most in the region. The estate sits at the second highest point on the plateau and is a mix of highly acidic clay, silex and limestone. The “elevage” of wines is done according to the lunar rhythm and the red cuvées are raised in barrel for 24 months, neither fined nor filtered before bottling.
$105
French Reds - South
2017 Henri Milan 'Les Jardins,' Merlot, Provence, Bin 63R
Born out of the foothills of the Alpilles Mountains, Milan's Merlot is A: intoxicatingly aromatic B: a triumph for the grape when it's not grown on clay C: a revelation!
$120
German
2022 Stine ‘Cuvée X’, Pinot Noir | Cabernet Sauvignon, Mosel, Germany, Bin 61CC
From 3 plots in Uli’s St. Aldergund holdings, the wizard of ‘the Magic Mosel’ has finally sent us this delightful cuvée. He has been making it since the vines produced ripe enough fruit, over 30 years ago. It is a lighter bodied wine destined for warmer weather that is zippy and refreshing with aromas of hearty red fruits like plum and currant.
$72
2023 Baumberger “Glow Glow”, Spätburgunder, Mandel, Nahe, Germany, Bin 25AA
Pauline & Carl Baumberger are sixth generation growers that have taken the natural wine world of Europe by storm with infectious smiles and wines that are clear, vibrant and über drinkable. As of 2023 they have decided alongside their parents to convert the entire estate production to 0/0 natural wine under the Glow Glow name. Pauline happens to be married to Jonas Brand so the ideas here are similar: impeccable farming, native yeast fermentation and a focus on wines that are invigorating with natural acidity and slender forms that are nearly chuggable. This is a beautifully pale, delicate Pinot that is far more complex than at first glance.
$83
2020 Shelter Winery, ‘N114’, Pinot Noir, Baden, Bin 127EE
In a micro-climate cooled by the Black Forest, Hans-Bert Espe and Silke Wolf farm a couple of hectares with little regard for big yields. Thoughtfulness in the vineyard takes precedence at Shelter where it is ok to make only a little bit of great wine. The N114 and namesake of the winery comes from a Canadian air base bunker where the couple first made wine. It is made from the smallest bunches of the oldest vines in their Nordweil vineyard planted with dijon clones in 1971. The wine is delicate and shadowy and may take some time to unwind but even Hans-Bert will admit it is the best wine they have made.
$135
2016 Leipold’s Obervolkacher Spätburgunder, Trocken, Franken, Bin, 55P
A great exposition from limestone rich soils, this is a village level pinot noir from german clones exhibiting light but stony architecture perfectly balanced with layers of aroma, electricity and a lingering pleasant finish. Peter has been farming his family’s small estate, which is known for Silvaner, and has crafted our favorite red wines from the region and possibly Germany.
$87
2021 Leipold’s Obervolkacher Spätburgunder R, Trocken, Franken, Bin 115Q
Peter's reserve red from limestone rich soils, this, also from german clones, is more concentrated, perfectly balanced with layers of aroma, rich and structured palate and longer finish. This is a perfect followup bottle to the 2016 village Spätburgunder.
$93
Italian
2021 Angelo Negro, 'Prachiosso', Nebbiolo, Roero, Piemonte, Bin 136EE
The prized ‘Prachiosso’ vineyard was cultivated with vines as far back as 1200. It is a south facing plot on calcareous sandy soil created as the Adriatic Sea receded and left us what is now the Po river. The namesake from Latin ‘Pratum chiusum’, translates to ‘a closed meadow’ describing the exposure and orientation of the hillside. Year after year this is one of our favorite wines, quintessential DOCG Nebbiolo but at a value and ready to go moments after pulling the cork. If you love it make sure you take one home to stash somewhere to forget about as long as you can.
$76
2023 Crivelli Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG, Piemonte, Bin 72GG
2023 Crivelli Ruchè di Castagnole Monferrato DOCG, Piemonte, Bin 72GG
$82
2022 Crivelli Grignolino d'Asti DOC, Piemonte, 2EE
Delicate winemaking and painstaking farming renders a balanced, fresh, juicy take on the grape when so many others are astringent and difficult. Grignolino has more seeds per grape than any other varietal, which is primarily where the tannins come from. The bouquet is ample and refined, with aromas of violet and gladiolus.
$80
2023 Castello Di Verduno, ‘Basadone,’ Pelaverga Piccolo, Verduno, Bin 135EE
Previously most known for this local indigenous grape variety, Verduno is the town and namesake of this old estate. Gabriella Bulottio single handedly saved this ancient variety from extinction. Basdone or little kisses is gemstone ruby color with orange highlights. It exhibits subtle but elegant aromas that flit from crushed leaves to dry red cherries and floral notes. It is deliciously fine bodied with a sustained, quintessential Piedmontese finish.
$84
2022 Castello Di Verduno, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco DOCG, Bin 132R
Sourced from three vineyards Rabaja, Rabaja-bas and Faset with soils composed of clay, sand, and limestone. Organically grown fruit is hand-harvested around the first or second week of October. Fermentation is carried out in stainless steel for about twenty days with periodic punching down of the cap before a 3 month rest. The wine is racked off into gigantic slovenian casks called botti grandi where it rests again for 18 months. Then racked again and aged 14 months in bottle before release. This is the way. It exhibits dark fruited aromas that undulate between dried bouquet in a clay pot, leaf pile and orange blossoms amongst many other things hidden treats unlocked with time in the glass.
$97
2020 Castello Di Verduno, Nebbiolo, Barolo DOCG Bin 38BB
From a historic property who is lucky to own top crus both in Verduno and Barbaresco, Verduno from the mother’s side of the family and Barbaresco from the father’s side of the family. This classic Barolo is solely from the Boscatto vineyard in the commune of Verduno where the soil is a mix of chalk and clay, known locally as "Marne di Sant'Agata". This wine, like all of the estate’s, undulates, changing from this aroma to that. The body is precise and long as it should be. All of this lineage of winemaking and terroir make for a classic wine and a great value.
$101
2020 Roccheviberti, Bricco Boschis, Nebbiolo, Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, Piemonte, Bin 100EE
I am a sucker for maps and when a winemaker whips one out to show you their holdings. Giovanni, one of the 3 people who make Roccheviberti, is proud to show off his small but unique estate in the middle of Barolo. Bricco Boschis is one of 2 sites the winery produces. It is a southwest exposed amphitheater of undulating vines that is exhibiting driving white pepper, violet, red cherry and dried rose petals mixed with bitter chocolate cinnamon and licorice. The palette is full bodied as any Barolo but more elegant and forgiving than the usual suspects.
$120
2019 Roccheviberti, Rocche Di Castiglione, Nebbiolo, Castiglione Falletto, Barolo, Piemonte, Bin 131BB
At the base of Castiglione Falletto is this ridge vineyard that basically falls off on the south east slope into a steep ravine. Wine from this site is discrete and mineral driven. With some patience, aromas of fruit and spice waft around but are so nuanced and metamorphic they are easily missed. Structure takes precedence here and could use some delicious food to round out its edges.
$130
Orsi San Vito, Posca Rosso, Emilia-Romagna, Bin 86AA
This is a multi vintage wine where a cuvee of Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Negretto, Sangiovese assembled in a perpetual tank topped up with younger wines as their ferments finish. It’s a very pleasant and balanced wine with serious vino da tavola vibes.
$76
2021 Cantina Cenci Piantata Sangiovese Rosso Umbria, Italy, Bin 23R
100% Sangiovese Grosso from a single vineyard. “Piantata” is the name of the parcel of Sangiovese, where in ancient times the Olivetan friars cultivated the vine married to the mulberry tree, the so-called “piantata”. The grapes are de-stemmed and then go through spontaneous fermentation in 10 hl oak barrels for fermentations.
$82
2020 Occhipinti Grotte Alte, Frappato | Nero d'Avola, Cerasuolo Di Vittoria Classico DOCG, Sicily, Bin 110DD
Arianna's only DOCG wine, in this case Vittoria's most famous, Cerasuolo di Vittoria, a blend of the best native varietals, Nero d'Avola and Frappato. "Grotte Alte" is named for the limestone ridges on which the Occhipinti estate lies, straddling and combining both Mediterranean and mountain influences, with red and sandy clay soils over limestone at about 280 meters. Coming from a selection of older vines, a longer maceration and barrel aging, the Grotte Alte is essentially the "grown-up", appellation-designated version of the "baby" SP68 red IGT wine.
$116
2023 Occhipinti 20th Anniversary, Frappato, Ventesima Vendemmia, Sicily, Bin 114P
The 20th vintage of Arianna’s quintessential red has come in bounding with those famous ripe cherry aromas and quaff-ability. Sourced from fruit in Ventesima and Vendemmia this vintage is varietally perfect, definitely deserving of its 20th Anniversary ribbon.
$93
Spanish
2020 Angelita del Challao, Tempranillo | Garnacha | Mazuelo | Viura | + rare heirloom varieties, Labastida, Rioja Alavesa, Bin 108 Q
The variety make up is interesting as it is a reflection of the variety make up of the plot. This is the ancient tradition and remnant in Rioja, each plot rooted with red varieties in the middle surrounded by a small percentage white varieties as perimeter. Everything is vinified plot by plot in concrete with indigenous yeasts. 40% foot trodden whole clusters layered on top of uncrushed grapes, fermentation, then aged in 225 - 2000 Liter foudres for 10 months. The plots are blended together and rest for an additional 10 months in concrete, thus 20 months all together.
$93
2021 Challao, Garnacha, Labastida, Rioja Alavesa, Bin 98O
We sat down with Manuel “Manu” Michelini this spring and were delighted by his energy as much as we were by his wines. At 28 years old he has already participated in 30 vintages, (in both hemispheres as he was born in Mendoza), and his inspiration is compelling like a breath of fresh air from northern Spain. This single variety wine is from one plot planted in the 1960s called Las Ginebras, situated on top of silty powdery calcareous sands and is the highest elevation Grenache found in the region.
$114
Casa Aurora 'Poula', Various White Varieties | Garnacha Tintorera, Bierzo DO, Bin 120O
Casa Aurora is named lovingly, after the legacy set forth by winemaker Germán Blanco’s great-grandmother, Aurora Garcia. Besides planting vineyards, making wine at the home of the village priest, Aurora became the first female in the region to work at the local coal mine. Germán is committed to rehabilitating the vineyards his great-grandmother planted and bottling each as an individual expression of their location. We are pleased to offer the following selections: 2018 ‘Poula’ Single vineyard blend of red and white grapes that include Mencia, Garnacha, Trousseau, Godello, Palomino
$92
North American
2024 Poetson, Co-Ferment, Pinot Noir | Pinot Gris, Old Shore Vineyard, Lake MIchigan Shore AVA, Bin 30.O
This delightfully light red really hits home not just because it’s from just across the pond but I was honored to help McNealy, (Gaelic for poet’s son), do the monotonous job of bottling this wine. In fact, many stalwarts from Chicago hospitality assisted in all aspects of this first release of Alex’s and we are so excited to share! I find aromas of cherry, cranberry, white pepper with hints of sassafras and cream. The palette is akin to the ‘ramato’ wine, how pinot gris-gio were traditionally vinified. It’s light but bodied and the harmonious minerality, acid and tannin has refreshing intrigue.
$68
2024 Poetson, Pinot Noir, Leelanau Peninsula AVA, Michigan, Bin 130AA
We agree with Alex... This is the best wine he has made yet. Limited to 6 bottles
$85
2022 Tzum Sean Nos Spring Ephemeral, Canary Islands Varieties Columbia Valley, Washington, Bin 18FF
Nate Ready is a world class sommelier and lives in awe of nuance from exceptional classics but his take on winemaking amplifies wild aroma from wild terroir and this Spring Ephemeral is no exception. The pale ruby orange juice is bursting with aromatic alpine spirits balanced with tea like tannin. Includes equal parts pink and white varieties, Pink Negramoll, Listan Negro, Malvasia Fina, Mission, Palomino and Babosa Negro. Transcendent
$106
2021 Jess Miller Pinot Noir, Sunnyridge Vineyard, McMinnville AVA, Oregon, Bin 103 Q
From tending the vines at Clos Roche Blanche with Julien Pineau to translating a pruning guide loaned from Alice and Olivier de Moor when they realized her zeal in the vineyards, Jess Miller is a bad ass. She is a true vigneron spending days in the vineyards tending 12ish acres from which she receives grapes to make this elegant autumnal and textured Pinot. It’s something of a revelation, the kind that has made Oregon Pinot so famous.
$98
2021 Emme Wines 'Tiny Fancy' Cabernet Franc | Merlot , Redwood Valley, California, Bin 35 BB
We were already impressed by her wines when Rosalind Reynolds visited for 3rd Coast Soif but we wanted to meet her face to face to get a glimpse of what she has going on in Sebastopol. Rosalind works closely with Pax Mahul at his facility he lends to Martha Stoumen, Patrick Cappiello and Carlo Mondavi. She is the master of logistics there, which is like spinning plates during harvests when she orchestrates receiving fruit for 5 different winemakers coming from scores of vineyards. I got the impression that her hard work for Pax gives her a special insight for what works best and access to some of the choice fruit. Her wines come from mostly dry farmed vineyards, fermented with natives yeasts, foot trodden, and vinified without filtration. Emme’s namesake is a nod to her grandmother. Each wine is treated as a unique creation even if she repeats the same elevagé from one vintage to another. From Pine mountain vineyard this fruit was handpicked by Rosalind and her partner Alex for whom the wine is named.
$100
1999 Clos Saron ‘Once Upon a Time’, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sierra Nevada Foothills, Yuba, California, Bin S
An absolutely perfect expression of California Cabernet from Slope 16, a 1 acre section of the Renaissance Vineyard, known at the time to produce their finest, most nuanced, ethereal expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. This is the last vintage produced from this stellar site and fortunately we have 10 bottles to share with you. Upon arrival we cracked one open and the wine is ready for you now.
$160
2021 Cruse Wine Co. Charles Heintz Vineyard Syrah, Sonoma Coast Bin 54FF
On the ridge 500ft above Occidental sits one of the most truly coastal vineyards in California. Heintz has a strong maritime influence, great diversity in soil types and coastal fog moving directly through the vineyard during the growing season. Michael Cruse would buy this place if you gave him a winning lotto ticket and the Syrah he made from there definitely makes him deserving of such a windfall. Nobody could call him a phony. Cooling earth, black fruit preserves and pepper shaker greet you in the most polite ways. The body is balanced across the board until a bright acidity takes over the finish.
$90
2021 Dunn Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley AVA, California, Bin 56FF
Half from the Napa Valley floor and half from their esteemed Howell Mountain Estate. The 21’ vintage was quick to ripen from a hot June producing a smaller crop. The resulting wines are abundant with both freshness and structure with cooling but rich, borderline exotic perfumes. Everything is aged 32 months in a cave that Randy Dunn carved into the side of the mountain right below the vineyards.
$158
2021 Dunn Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Howell Mountain, Napa Valley, California, Bin 27BB
Cooling red and blue fruited aromas were expertly coaxed out of this precocious vintage. Howell Mountain is an ancient volcano with red loamy soils that produce unique ethereal wines when the vineyards are well kept. Mike Dunn and his top sales person, bojangles, his enthusiastic pit hound the same color as the soil, lead the tour around the estate vineyards. Mike has transformed the farming at Dunn since taking over the farming. He is on his 25th vintage tending the soils and stopped using roundup in 2011 when he realized how toxic it was for his family living on the property.
$210
2021 Maître de Chai, Cabernet Sauvignon, Gala Mountain Vineyard, Napa Valley, Bin 117DD
The gala mountain vineyard is a biodynamically farmed, six-acre site at 1000 ft above the Napa Valley on the slopes of Mt. George. The northwest facing vineyard is cooled from contact breeze and well drained, deep rooted producing small clusters which lend to the structure of the wine. The grapes were destemmed and fermented with native yeasts in small open top fermenters and aged for sixteen months in 32 neutral barrels. (May-TRUH de Shay) is a project from hospitality veterans Marty Winters and Alex Pitts As Maître de Chai, (May-TRUH de Shay), “masters of the cellar,” Alex and Marty acknowledge the supremacy of the vineyard and their own somewhat limited role. Great wine is made from great vineyards and great grapes.
$95
2021 Brea, Pinot Noir, Eden Rift Vineyard, Central Coast, California, Bin 101Q
This was a mainstay on our BTG list for almost a year and we thought it would be nice to keep a few bottles around. Eden Rift Vineyard is located in the Hollister Hills and sits on the San Andreas fault line about 20 miles west of Monterey. The soil is mineral rich and farmed without the use of pesticides, herbicides or synthetic fertilizers. The fruit is destemmed, fermented from native yeasts and aged in neutral oak for 8 months. The wine is lush but balanced with aromas of dark ripe fruit and forest floor. A small project with Chris Brockway at the helm with only 900 cases produced.
$56
2020 Ridge, Montebello Vineyard, Cabernet Sauvignon | Merlot | Petit Verdot | Cabernet Franc, Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, California, Bin GG
If you know about Ridge you probably have heard about the Montebello Vineyard and how it is synonymous with the Judgment of Paris and subsequent competition 30 years later. Ridge Montebello came in 5th beating all the other french reds in 1976 and was first place in 2006. One thing that is often overlooked about this juggernaut bottle is it is actually a ‘natural wine’ in that it is made from hand harvested, organically grown fruit let to ferment from yeasts native to the vineyard and winery. Oak is more prominent than terroir here as the wine is structured for a decade or two of aging. 2020 started out mild, prompting an early bloom which was followed by heavy spring rains that ultimately inhibited the harvest size. Then steady summer fog allowed for a slow ripening. The winemaker assures us this vintage is a classic.
$305
2023 The Austin Wine Company Cerasuolo, Sangiovese | Graciano, One Elm Vineyard, Texas High Planes, AVA, Bin 25 EE
50% Graciano from One Elm Vineyards in the Panhandle of Texas benefits from Dry, hot days, cool nights while the 50% Sangiovese benefits from the limestone calcareous soils covering the Limestone Terraced vineyard in the Texas High Plains AVA South West of Austin. The AWC has crafted a crushable light red with aromas of cherry that is very balanced and refreshing on the palate and patio.
$88
Southern Hemisphere
2021 Mac Forbes 'Hugh' Cabernets, Yarra Valley, Australia, Bin 113P
Mac called this his ‘lunchtime Claret’ which is apparent from the light extraction he takes. It's a sophisticated, terroir-driven blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Franc with tiny amounts of Merlot and Petit Verdot. It captures the freshness of the Yarra Valley and the long, cool 2021 vintage, offering aromatic complexity and structure without heaviness.
$112
2021 Babylonstoren, Shiraz, Simonsberg-Paarl, South Africa, Bin 118AA
This is a deep ruby colored wine full with aromas from dark fruits, cassis, graphite and spice. The palette is lush and velvety where black current, black cherry and prune make appearances for a lingering finish.
$54
2022 Family Sergio Perez Pipeño, Pias, Coronel de Maule, Chile, 30R
Produced by Sergio Perez, a farmer in his 80’s with over 70 harvests under his belt! He tends to organic, dry-farmed bush vines of País that are 200 to 300 years old. They are planted on iron-rich heavy clay soils with granite and quartz in the Coronel del Maule sub-zone of the Maule region. 1 Liter
$72
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