23 cards
Dupont-Fahn
Bourgogne Blanc "Chaumes des Perrieres"
Style:Traditional. Full
Grapes:Chardonnay
Region:Burgundy, France
The vines for this wine are located next a plot of Perrieres owned by Coche-Dury (that wine, if you can find it, routinely goes for about $4,000 a bottle these days.) The 2023 shows the perfect combination of brightness, energy and heft. Ripe orchard fruit and a hint of seashell minerality are held together by electric acidity and a lightly creamy lemon curd texture.
$59
Paolo Conterno
Barbera d'Alba
Style:Traditional
Grapes:Barbera
Region:Piedmont
Paolo Conterno's Barbera d'Alba is more powerful version of his Barbera from Asti. While most Barbera from Alba is planted in inferior spots where it does not usually achieve the subtlety and intensity the grape is capable of, his is from the hill in Monforte where some of the greatest Barolos are made. Try this next to the Barbera d'Asti and learn what a superior terroir can do to the grape.
$29
Giacomo Conterno
Barolo Francia
Style:Traditional, Full
Grapes:Nebbiolo
Region:Piedmont
While Monfortino is considered to be the single greatest wine produced in Italy, Francia comes from the same vineyard and made in the same way except for the fermentation temperature and the length of aging. The 2021 Francia is a classic Conterno with fearsome tannins and body structure that will age for decades, and represents the best of the traditional style of Barolo.
$350
Andrias Gvino
Rkatseteli Khaketi
Style:Traditional, Medium
Grapes:Rkatseteli
Region:Khaketi, Georgia
We are fans of Andrias Gvino wines, as they make natural wines of uncommon clarity and precision. This made from Rkatseteli is full of orange and mango aromas, while just the right amount of tannins and acidity supply the foundation and frame to the shape of aromas. Gvino is Ph.D and his science training brings level of rigor not known in the natural wine world.
$29
Pierre-Marie Chermette
Beaujolais Griottes
Style:Traditional. Light
Grapes:Gamay
Region:Beaujolais, France
We have no problem claiming that Chermette family makes the best basic Beaujolais out there. Pure, concentrated and just so eminently drinkable, there are very few wines under 25 that are as enjoyable as this one.
$20
Albert Boxler
Chasselas
Style:Traditional. Light
Grapes:Chasselas
Region:Alsace
Chasselas is native to Switzerland and the most popular variety there, also known as Fendant. In Alsace it comprises last than 2 percent of the total production and is mostly used to make Edelzwicker. Boxler treats this just as seriously as his more exalted offerings and the result is a classic Boxler, restrained and refined with superb balance.
$40
Catherine & Pierre Breton
Avis de Vin Fort
Style:Traditional, Light
Grapes:Cabernet Franc
Region:Loire Valley
From Kermit Lynch, "Catherine and Pierre describe this light, spring red as “cabernet franc like a sea breeze.” There’s lots of fresh fruit with little tannins. The wine’s name is a reference to the maritime warning “Avis de Vent Fort” (meaning strong winds are in the forecast), is a play on words to evoke the idea that if the weather is bad, one should sail back to shore and have a glass of wine instead"
$30
Talley Vineyards
Chardonnay SLO Coast
Style:Modern, Full
Grapes:Chardonnay
Region:California
Talley might just be the most improved winery in California in last 10 years. Things began to roll when Eric Johnson became the lead winemaker in 2010, and he has made continual improvements since and by 2024 when he was promoted to be the director of winemaking and viticulture, the winery has become a world-class.
His simple mantra, "Achieve more by doing less".
$24
A Tribute to Grace
Grenache Highlands Vineyard
Style:Modern, Medium Body
Grapes:Grenache
Region:California
If anyone doubts the power of terroir, this is a bottle to change their mind. Coming from the highest elevation planting of grenache in California, this exudes most extraordinary perfume of Provencal herbs, pine resin and anise, while showing absolutely no hint of over-ripeness. A rare treat from California where wines are often too loud and shallow. "A tribute to grace" indeed.
$60
A Tribute to Gra
Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands
Style:Modern, Medium Body
Grapes:Grenache
Region:California
If anyone doubts the power of terroir, this is a bottle to change their mind. Coming from the highest elevation planting of grenache in California, this exudes most extraordinary perfume of wine.
$60
A Tribute to Grac
Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands
Style:Modern, Medium Body
Grapes:Grenache
Region:California
If anyone doubts the power of terroir, this is a bottle to change their mind. Coming from the highest elevation planting of grenache in California, this exudes most extraordinary perfume of wine.
$60
A Tribute to Gr
Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands
Style:Modern, Medium Body
Grapes:Grenache
Region:California
If anyone doubts the power of terroir, this is a bottle to change their mind. Coming from the highest elevation planting of grenache in California, this exudes most extraordinary perfume of wine.
$60
A Tribute to
Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands
Style:Modern, Medium Body
Grapes:Grenache
Region:California
If anyone doubts the power of terroir, this is a bottle to change their mind. Coming from the highest elevation planting of grenache in California, this exudes most extraordinary perfume of wine.
$60
Tribute to Grace
Grenache Santa Barbara Highlands
Style:Modern. Medium
Grapes:Grenache
Region:California
If anyone doubts the power of terroir, this is a bottle to change their mind. Coming from the highest elevation planting of grenache in California, this exudes most extraordinary perfume of wine.
$60
Zidarich
Teran Rosso
Style:Traditional, Full
Grapes:Teran
Region:Friuli-Venezia Giulia
Anyone who is a fan of Piedmont wines must try this. This has the airy aroma of Nebbiolo, the bright acidity of Barbera and the rich body of Dolcetto. If Piedmontese ever try to produce somthing akin to Supertuscan and call it Superpiedmont, it would taste like this. But do stay away if you are afraid of acid.
$50
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Land of Saints
Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County
Style:Modern, Light
Grapes:Pinot Noir
Region:California
This achieved a near perfect balance in 2023, a blend from Arroyo Grande, Santa Maria Valley and St. Rita Hills. It is notoriously difficult to find the right balance when making wine from multiple sites but Angela Osborne worked her magic and the result is astounding, especially considering its price.
$30
Eric Kent
Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2022
Style:Modern, Light
Grapes:Pinot Noir
Region:California
Eric Kent always manages to make wines of immediate appeal, but underneath that surface beauty lie seriousness and quiet intensity that are rare in California wines. This 2022 has pure and polished fruit, on top of delicate spices from restrained use of oak. We wish they could make more of this but only a few hundred cases are produced yearly and only precious few make it to the East Coast.
$35
Collecapretta
"Terra dei Preti" Trebbiano Spoletino 2024
Style:Medium
Grapes:Trebbiano Spoletino
Region:Umbria
$55
Pie de Palo
Malbec 2023
Style:Full
Grapes:Malbec
Region:Mendoza
From the winemakers at Bodega Finca Abril comes this super accessible Malbec. It's made in stainless steel tanks instead of oak, so the fruit flavors are bright and fresh. Notes of cherry, raspberry, and other red fruit.
$11
Robert Foley
Napa Cabernet Sauvignon
Style:Full Bodied
Grapes:Cabernet Sauvignon
Region:Napa
Robert Foley, along with Dunn and Cade, makes the most intense and powerful cabs in Howell mountain, therefore in the entire Napa valley. This is a blend from the mountain vineyards and the valley floor in Calistoga, which creates a perfect balance of aroma and body. Caymus can’t hold a candle to this dark beast of cabernet.
$100
Kirinzan Brewery
Kirinzan Classic
Style:
Dryness:
Region:Japan
Made in the house style, it is dry, clean, light bodied, well balanced. Notes of hazelnut and toasted rice that makes it excellent both chilled or gently warmed.
$20
Fongoli
"La Palmetta" Grechetto 2023
Style:Medium
Grapes:Grechetto
Region:Umbria
From certified-biodynamic vines, planted in 1987 on the estate's typical heavy clay soils with limestone and trained in the local traditional "palmetta" style. Only the free-run juice is fermented spontaneously in open vats without temperature control or sulfur. There is minimal maceration in steel tanks. The wine is bottled without any sulfur or filtration.
$28