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Staff Favorites
| If you’re going to have Robert Parker or Stephen Tanzer over for dinner, selecting a wine they’ve rated highly will be a nice choice. However, when you’re buying wines for yourself, we’d love to see you find wines that match up your unique palate and pocketbook. We have a large staff of friendly and knowledgeable wine professionals that taste hundreds of wines each week. They can put you in touch with bottles that you are likely to love, often at a much lower cost than the highly-rated gems that often see a run-up in price and frequent availability issues. Like any great group of opinionated professionals, our staff has varied tastes themselves. Often our customers will find a particular staff member with a style that corresponds to their own. That concept works extremely well in our retail stores, and this section is our effort to bring you the same online. Don’t get us wrong, we love the highly rated wines from the press and will continue to offer them, but we think you’re missing out if you’re not augmenting those selections with picks from our excellent staff. Here are their favorites. (Click on a name to see their other selections - or to drop them a line.) Cheers! |
Reviews
2020 Celler Pardas "Hermós" Brut Nature Corpinnat (Cava)
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
I love honest sparkling wines that don’t try to be anything but themselves. While most others posture and preen, the 2020 Celler Pardas “Hermós” Brut Nature Corpinnat shows up to the dinner party in sexy black jeans, black boots, a tuxedo shirt, and a black leather jacket—looking like a million bucks. Soft, luxe, and creamy on the palate, it offers notes of quince, pear, lemon verbena, and amber honey—dry without being austere. It’s gorgeous and unusual in the most satisfying ways. ¡Viva la diferencia!
2021 Teusner "The Gentleman" Cabernet Sauvignon Barossa Valley South Australia
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
By: Rachael Ryan | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
Founded by former Torbreck winemaker Kym Teusner in 2001, Teusner Winery is winery to watch in the Barossa Valley. Kym was a student at the University of Adelaide studying business, but as he describes it, a chance encounter with a Barossa Valley Cabernet changed his trajectory and he quickly pivoted to study winemaking instead. Following his stint at Torbreck, he later worked with acclaimed Barossa winemaker Rolf Binder, so it’s accurate to say that Kym is an old vine Barossa expert in his own right now, crafting modern wines from ancient, dry-farmed vineyards. He believes in a light hand in the winery, including the use of manual pumpovers and well-seasoned French oak barrels to let the character of the ancient vines speak. The 2021 “The Gentleman” Cabernet Sauvignon is a great example of this approach. Inky and brooding at first approach, the wine has dense aromas of wild blackberry, plum and currant with a distinctive dried thyme streak running through the core of the wine. While the nose is quite powerful, the palate follows through with surprisingly refreshing acidity, and a lithe mouthfeel – the perfect balance between power and elegance. This wine is also immediately drinkable, offering up a lot of pleasure for an incredibly reasonable price. Try this one with a juicy steak or burger. It’s meaty, savory, concentrated, and really hard to stop at just one glass.
2021 Château Sainte-Eulalie "La Cantilene" Minervois La Liviniere
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
Minervois is a region on the rise. This humble yet dramatic corner of the Languedoc-Roussillon has several key elements working in its favor.
First, the Mediterranean climate provides ideal conditions for ripening Syrah and Grenache, delivering consistent phenolic maturity year after year. The growing seasons here strike that beautiful balance — ample sunshine tempered by cooling influences that preserve freshness.
The soils are another major asset, particularly in the hills of La Livinière, the cru appellation within Minervois. Limestone dominates the landscape, much of it fractured and rocky, ensuring excellent drainage and encouraging deep root systems that bring both structure and mineral tension to the wines.
Then there are the winds sweeping down from the Montagne Noire, providing vital airflow that keeps disease pressure low and makes organic and biodynamic farming not just possible, but prevalent. All of these terroir elements converge to produce some of the most compelling Syrah in the south of France.
Château Sainte-Eulalie crafts particularly striking examples, and their Syrah-dominant cuvée, La Cantilène, is a lush, full-bodied expression of the region. Saturated and generous, it layers deep blackberry fruit with roasted plum, toasted rosemary, and hints of smoked meat. While the fruit is expansive, savory undertones provide lift and complexity, keeping each glass compelling.
This is a terrific expression of Minervois — and a powerful reminder that some of France’s best values are still hiding in the hills somewhere off the beaten path.
2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 2/25/2026 | Send Email
New world fruit meets old world philosophy! This is California Cabernet, but picked on the less ripe side, with the overt tension of less alcohol and ripeness. The result is a restrained wine of elegance and purity. This is a less heavy wine than most California cab, providing a freshness and acidity to counter-balance the rich fruit. The tannins are polished and well integrated, resulting in a balanced, crunchy Cabernet you won't be able to put down.
2020 Domaine de Pallus "Les Pensees de Pallus" Chinon
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
Really lovely and very typical nose, a lot of what I expected from a Chinon. I enjoy not being disappointed. There's some dusky fruit on the nose, but you can tell from the very first whiff that it's playing second fiddle to the dense and deep core that is brambles and thorns and dried herbs, it just smells a little wild like stepping into a pristine forest. There's lots of loam, more dried green herbs, a little thyme and tarragon, cracked black pepper, green peppercorns. It's so savory and complex and fun, I just want to have this with some braised meat and I would be the happiest boy this side of the Rockies. but alas I do not currently have braised meat. The palate is great, still very savory with some toasted tobacco and very fruity light-roast coffee on the lingering finish, eventually turning into a little cedar before finishing with a little dusty cherry. Fantastic wine at a super reasonable price. No jokes.
2020 Domaine de Pallus "Le Clos de Pallus" Chinon
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
Cabernet Franc was one of my first loves in wine, I worked for a winery that bottled one and it was one of my favorite wines we made, it just had this twist that made it a little bit different, a little bit more interesting, and to this day I have a big ol' soft spot in my heart for the grape. This is just such a very French expression, in the best of ways. There's fruit there on the nose some blackberry, a little raspberry, something slightly crunchy as well, but then there's this kind of thorny green bramble of aroma running through the whole thing, with hints of bay, thyme, some dense and rich earth, and a little bit of fresh tobacco leaf in the very back. The more it opens, there's this kind of wilted rose petal around the edges, very subtle but pretty. The tannin is mid+ with a little bit of a grip, but it just wants some food. A little bit of black and red fruit on the front, but then it goes back into the more savory components, there's black tea and green peppercorn, a little bit more bay leaf, and then a lengthy finish that has just a touch of fruit around the very outside, but more spice and dried green herbs as it moves along. This is just so good, and with a meal it would be absolutely perfect.
2021 Château Sainte-Eulalie "La Cantilene" Minervois La Liviniere
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
When I first popped open this bottle, I did as usual and took a sniff right from the neck just to see if it was corked before I put it in my glass, and there was this strong blueberry yogurt thing going on that was super compelling, now that it's in the glass the yogurt part has blown off and it's this slightly creamy plummy blueberry nose with just a little bit of something floral in the back. The fruit on the palate is less creamy than the nose, but there's still something very pleasantly round about the overall fruit. Definitely more dusky and dark than the nose, with a bit of a toasted tobacco note in the mid-finish before it turns more spicy. The tannins aren't out of control, just barely mid+ and while it wants food, it doesn't outright demand it. This is a very pleasant little bottle of wine for the price and really approachable right from the open.
2021 La Jota Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 2/24/2026 | Send Email
The 2021 La Jota is an absolute masterclass in Howell Mountain Cabernet. Winemaker Chris Carpenter—of Lokoya and Cardinale fame—may well be the finest craftsman of powerful yet poised, mountain-grown Cabernet of his generation. His monumental wines over the past few decades stand as a testament to unwavering dedication and precision. Few producers capture the immense power and intensity of site with such consistency, while maintaining vibrancy, dynamism, and refinement.
From this historic estate, first planted in the late 1800s, the 2021 La Jota is a tour de force of Howell Mountain Cabernet. The nose is deeply expressive, redolent of crème de cassis, blackberry coulis, dried wildflowers, graphite, leather, charred oak spice, and crushed rock. There is beautiful tension between the richness of the fruit, the wild savory chaparral character of the mountain, and a firm mineral backbone.
Structurally, the wine is muscular and brooding, yet the tannins are remarkably refined and fine-grained for such a powerful expression. It’s a Cabernet of both authority and precision, with exceptional balance and a long, resonant finish.
An incredible wine with decades ahead of it. Enjoy now with an hour in the decanter, or cellar confidently for 20+ years.
Our limited-time Insider’s Advantage pricing offers a very rare opportunity to secure this iconic Howell Mountain Cabernet at nearly 40% below its typical retail price.
2020 Domaine de Pallus "Les Pensees de Pallus" Chinon
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 2/23/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 2/23/2026 | Send Email
Everything I love about Chinon is captured in this glass. A vibrant mix of spiced cherries, violets, and black olive is lifted by notes of wild thyme. The interplay between fruit and savory elements keeps the wine beautifully balanced and makes it incredibly versatile at the table.
My favorite pairing? Herb-roasted chicken with potatoes tossed in the pan drippings. Absolute perfection.
2021 Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 2/23/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Woodhouse | Review Date: 2/23/2026 | Send Email
For more than half a century, Heitz Napa Valley Cabernet has stood as a benchmark for the region. Few names are as synonymous with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon; it unquestionably belongs among the valley’s handful of true icons and remains a standard-bearer for New World Cabernet as a whole.
What I’ve always admired about Heitz—both under its original ownership and now with Lawrence Wine Estates—is its unwavering commitment to its own vision. The wines have never chased fashion, nor bent to the fleeting preferences of critics. A steadfast dedication to estate farming, traditional winemaking, and a clearly defined house style has always set Heitz apart from the crowd. A visit to the old stone winery tucked into the hills east of St. Helena—still home to massive, antique (and very much in use) oak foudres—perfectly illustrates how deeply rooted in tradition these wines are.
Longtime winemaker Brittany Sherwood deserves tremendous credit for maintaining remarkable continuity through the 2018 change in ownership. Quality remains as high as ever, with the wines staying true to their historic style.
The 2021 vintage at Heitz is simply spectacular. A year that played directly into the hands of a producer with exceptional vineyard holdings and a philosophy centered on longevity. A small, deeply concentrated crop delivered power and structure in abundance. True to form, the wines underwent an extended élevage—more than two years in a combination of French oak barrels and large-format neutral foudre, followed by a minimum of another year in bottle before release. That patience in the winery's cellar means you don’t have to wait: the wine is already beautifully polished and primed for decades of graceful evolution in your cellar.
The 2021 Napa Valley Cabernet is a blend of estate and single-vineyard sources. As one of the largest landowners in the valley, with over 400 acres of organically farmed vineyards, Heitz has an extraordinary palette of sites from which to draw. The core of the wine comes from the famed Trailside Vineyard in Rutherford, with contributions from Howell Mountain, Oakville, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Oak Knoll.
In the glass, the wine is both classic and compelling. Aromas of lavender, briar patch, cedar, and tobacco lead into a dark, concentrated fruit profile of blackcurrant, mulberry coulis, and bittersweet baker’s chocolate, with subtle menthol notes lending lift and freshness to the black and blue fruits. Medium-plus in body with impressive concentration and flavor, it remains poised and never heavy—no overt oak sweetness, just pure, expressive Cabernet character.
If you were to look up “Classic Napa Cabernet” in the dictionary, this wine would be a fitting illustration. Proof, once again, that when something isn’t broken, there’s no need to fix it.
2020 Domaine de Pallus "Le Clos de Pallus" Chinon
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 2/23/2026 | Send Email
By: Keith Mabry | Review Date: 2/23/2026 | Send Email
I love the old-school vibe of this classic Chinon. Aromas of blackcurrant, olive tapenade, and roasted red pepper leap from the glass. As the wine opens, beautiful floral and herbal notes emerge — rosehip, freshly picked sage — adding lift and complexity. The palate shows lovely texture, with tannins that are just beginning to melt into the background.
This is my favorite OG Cabernet Franc on the shelf right now — savory, terroir driven, and perfectly suited to the table. It would shine alongside smoked duck, braised pork, or a classic tête de veau.
2021 Heitz Cellar Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 2/21/2026 | Send Email
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 2/21/2026 | Send Email
This Cabernet caught me by surprise. As someone who prefers old, round, and rich wines. I was impressed by how many of those qualities it already has at a relatively young age. The ripe black fruit and the leather notes stand out the most, but what really won me over was its balance - just the right amount of acidity, with soft tannins that aren't overwhelming. I would definitely have it again, and I can’t wait to see how it develops with a few more years on it.
2023 Castello Monaci "Pilùna" Primitivo Salento
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 2/21/2026 | Send Email
By: Noah Schwartz | Review Date: 2/21/2026 | Send Email
This wine reminded me why I love the Italians- they know how to enjoy a simple glass of wine just as much as a complex one. It’s packed with red fruit, black cherry, a touch of vanilla, and warm spice. The tannins are ripe and smooth, balanced by a pleasant tartness and just a hint of sweetness on the finish. Medium-bodied and nicely textured, it coats your mouth with juicy, jammy flavors. This is the kind of wine you can open any day, with no special reason needed- easy, fun, and deeply colored. At this price point, it’s definitely becoming a regular at my house.
2023 Schiopetto Friulano Collio
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
This is the signature wine of the estate and the region. If you want to understand Friuli, you start here. It is classic Tocai Friulano—textured and slightly oily on the palate, with that unmistakable bitter almond finish that acts as a palate cleanser. It smells of wildflowers, pear skin, and wet stone. It is the ultimate prosciutto wine.
2023 Schiopetto Sauvignon Blanc Collio
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
Schiopetto’s Sauvignon is not like New Zealand or Sancerre. It is distinctly Friulian. It has the varietal "green" notes—tomato leaf, sage, and mint—but it also has a weight and density that you only find in the Collio. It is creamy, savory, and long, with a piercing mineral backbone.
2023 Schiopetto Pinot Grigio Collio
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
Please, erase everything you know about "supermarket Pinot Grigio." This is the real deal. In the hands of Schiopetto, Pinot Grigio becomes a serious wine. It has structure and grip. It offers notes of golden delicious apple, hay, and acacia honey. It is rich enough to handle white meats and complex pasta dishes.
2022 Schiopetto M Collio Friulano
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
This is not just a wine; it is a benchmark for Friulano. The 'M' stands for Mario, and it is created from the estate's oldest vines, planted in 1954. These 70-year-old roots dig deep into the marl, producing a wine of shocking complexity and depth.
Interestingly, there is a touch of Riesling in the blend here. This secret weapon lifts the aromatics and adds a vibrating nerve of acidity to the rich Friulano fruit. And crucially, there is no wood here. This is pure, unadulterated terroir. It is incredibly aromatic, bursting with notes of crushed sea shell, brine, white roses, and honey blossom. On the palate, it is racy and refined, with savory layers of dried mushrooms, schist, and ash. It has a medium body but an intensity that feels weightless. Suckling calls it "very aromatic... with a racy and refined texture that gives so much length and beauty." This is a white wine that will age effortlessly, but it is already singing right now. If you only buy one white wine from Friuli this year, make it this one.
2023 Berta Valgañón "Selección Maturana Tinta" Rioja
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
What a charming wine! On the nose you get blackberry and currant backed by a lightly herbal note. On the palate, the black fruit notes give way to a leathery and dark chocolate finish. There is a subtle gaminess that is so well integrated that the wine feels rustic, yet polished. If you're looking for more modern expressions of Rioja or you're looking to learn more about lesser known grapes from Spain, this is a great place to start.
Damien Hugot Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Vanessa Serrano | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
I'm always excited to see the Damein Hugot back on our shelves! The extra brut is my favorite in the line up, it's expressive, pretty, and sits at a great price point. The nose is inviting, with aromas of orchard fruit, lemon, and honey. On the palate you get notes of yellow apple and a lovely creamy texture balanced by punchy acidity. This is a great crowd pleaser, pick up a bottle or two for your next party!
Price:
$49.99
1997 Auchroisk 26 Year Old "Old Malt Cask 25th Anniversary" Single Bourbon Barrel Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
In the hands of an independent bottler, Auchroisk really gets a chance to step out of the shadows of the big blends. While it’s naturally a delicate and polite spirit, the 100-proof treatment from Old Malt Cask gives it some much-needed backbone, highlighting a hidden spiciness and a creamy mouthfeel that usually gets lost. It’s the kind of whisky that doesn't try to overpower you with peat or heavy sherry; instead, it offers a balanced, crisp experience that showcases the pure, honeyed essence of Speyside malt. This one starts with a bright fresh orchard on the nose, surprising for its age, but emblematic of the stunning distillate and its ability to mature ever so patiently. Apples and pears, ensconced in orange blossom honey, encase the palate as it takes you on a journey through the Scottish countryside. Floral and elegant with a touch of winter spice, this is a beautiful release and one to savor and enjoy while it lasts.
Price:
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1994 Tomatin 28 Year Old "Old Malt Cask" Single Hogshead Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
This is exactly what you want from a Tomatin single cask, and more. The refill hogshead allows the foundation to shine, giving just the right amount of barrel maturation without over oaking it and hiding the stunning nuance. Rich maltiness shines on the nose, along with buttery, honey graham cracker crust and lemon zest, coconut cream, and hint of fresh cut grass. The palate shines with sea-salted crème brûlée , a touch of raspberry jam, heather, and hay, which lasts forever, finally landing with creamy, apple buttery finish. This is another stunning OMC release of a distillery not commonly available and a beautiful taste of 1990s distillation.
Price:
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1996 Fettercairn 26 Year "Old Malt Cask 25th Annivesary" Single Hogshead Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/20/2026 | Send Email
When you find a Fettercairn under an independent label like Old Malt Cask, it’s usually a standout because that signature tropical fruitiness handles the higher proof beautifully. The cooling ring process gives the spirit a distinct weight and sweetness that feels substantial on the palate without being heavy or smoky. It’s a sophisticated Highland pour that manages to be both refreshing and complex, offering a different kind of fruit-forward profile than what you typically find in the region. The nose on this 26 Year Old brings a touch of dunnage must behind the buttery pie crust, baked pear, lemon oil, butterscotch, and cigar box cedar. The palate is rich and oily, but fresh, with grilled pineapple, toasted coconut, honeyed pastries, and a bit of cinnamon dust, which settles over time into light toffee cream and dry, sweet sandalwood.
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Damien Hugot Extra Brut Blanc de Blancs Grand Cru
By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Craig Morris | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
Damien Hugot always impresses me with the acidity and precision of his wines, and this is no exception. Comprised of fruit from Grand Cru sites in Cramant and Chouilly, this wine has that trademark Hugot acidity, but also with lots of citrus and limoncello notes. And although it's an Extra Brut, it is rich and creamy so as not to be austere. It's a balanced, delicious bottle of Champagne at a great price!
Price:
$49.99
2018 Fallet-Dart Extra Brut Champagne
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
The nose bursts with perfectly ripe red apple while underlying toastiness and
minerality lends elegance. On the palate, the apple steps slightly back, allowing the
minerality, fine bubbles, and vibrant acidity to shine. The ripeness of the apple
character negates any need for a higher dosage. This checks every box I want from a vintage Champagne, and at fifty dollars, it can’t be beat.
Price:
$49.99
Dérot-Delugny "Retour en Avant" Brut
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
This wine truly surprised me. I was worried that Pinot Gris’ high aromatics would overpower the nuance and elegance that defines Champagne, but with one sniff these worries were put to rest. The nose is toasty and chalky, as champagne should be, but still expresses the aromatic profile of Pinot Gris. There is a ton of red apple, pear, and honey on the nose. The palate confirms the nose and is beautifully complemented by a firm streak of acidity. If you like the generous fruit of Prosecco and are interested in trying something more refined, I would give this a try!
Price:
$49.99
Knob Creek 10 Year Old "Cask Strength Single Barrel Select - Warehouse J Floor 5 Rick 20" K&L Exclusive Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml)
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
We got ourselves yet another fantastic Knob Creek cask strength bourbon, and this one crosses over the decade line. Combining the classic Knob Creek flavors with another level of spicy nuttiness, this is a great one for the collection. The nose brings forward some charred peanut brittle, bold cinnamon and cardamom, sawdust and steel, and a touch of caramelized banana. The palate is big and robust, as the baking spices come forward even more, sharing space with the dense oaky char. Clove, licorice, and leather remain on the palate, and a touch of water settles the 125.1 proof liquid down a touch to pop out a little more of the roasted vanilla and stone fruit sweetness underneath.
Price:
$64.99
2016 Lagrange, St-Julien
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
By: Ryan Moses | Review Date: 2/19/2026 | Send Email
Lagrange is one of the great hidden gems of the unforgettable 2016 vintage. Whether it’s the unanimous acclaim, the dueling 97-point scores, its 30+ year aging potential, prime Left Bank terroir, or the Goldilocks nature of the vintage, this is the complete package. Add perfect provenance, and it stands out as one of the best buys on the tenth anniversary of the 2016 growing season.
The key to this vintage—and what Lagrange captures so well—is its concentration of fruit paired with true elegance: a seamless balance of acidity, fruit, and tannin, offering structure while remaining approachable. Cabernet Sauvignon leads the blend (70%), showcasing classic aromatics of cassis and cigar wrapper, with deep red fruit unfolding across the palate. Time in bottle has elevated the wine to another level, yet there is still a long road ahead for 2016 Lagrange. For a quintessential, ageworthy, classic St-Julien, this is a brilliant buy with few peers.
2019 Oddero "Bussia Mondoca" Barolo Riserva
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
While the 2021s are about electric energy, the 2019 Riserva is about classic, structural power. Sourced from the upper part of the Mondoca vineyard in Monforte d’Alba, this is not a "fruit bomb." At this stage, the fruit has receded to reveal the soul of the soil: tar, licorice root, dried herbs, and scorched earth. It is incredibly savory. On the palate, it is full and enveloping, with the significant tannic mass typical of Monforte. If you love Barolo with "grip" and earthy depth, this is the benchmark. What a wine, drink now, in a year or in 20. This will deliver at each stage.
2021 Oddero Barolo
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Orazio Campoli | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
I often say that to understand a vintage, you don't look at the single vineyards first; you look at the Classico. And in 2021, Oddero’s blending philosophy is a masterclass in tension.
This isn’t just "leftover" fruit. It is a strategic blend of La Morra (for perfume) and Castiglione Falletto/Monforte (for spine), and in 2021, the result is electric. The nose is high-toned and precise—wild rose, sour cherry, and a distinct ferrous minerality. On the palate, this is where the 2021 vintage really speaks: it is vertical, "crunchy," and vibrates with energy. It refuses to be heavy.. If you want to understand the "nervous" character of this vintage without waiting 20 years, start here.
2020 Celler Pardas "Hermós" Brut Nature Corpinnat (Cava)
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Precise and mineral driven, this Brut Nature opens with aromas of green apple, citrus peel, and subtle brioche from extended aging. The palate is bright and sharply defined, with fine mousse, vibrant acidity, and excellent tension throughout. Zero dosage highlights the wine's purity, allowing crisp orchard fruit and mineral notes of carry the finish. A focused terroir-driven Corpinnat emphasizing structure, precision, and long lees complexity.
2015 Bodegas Ontañon Reserva Rioja
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Showing clear maturity, this Reserva opens with aromas of dried red fruit, leather, and pronounced oak influence. The palate is structured and savory, with notes of dried cherry, spice, and integrated tannins supported by firm oak presence. The texture is smooth and developed, with secondary complexity emerging alongside lingering oak and earthy undertones. A classic aged Rioja emphasizing structure, oak character, and traditional Reserva depth.
2019 Señorio de Sarría "Viñedo Uno" Garnacha Crianza Navarra
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
A more structured, oak-influenced Garnacha showing aromas of black cherry, plum, and baking spice. the palate is fuller-bodied, with dark fruit, integrated oak, and firm polished tannins. Savory undertones and subtle spice carry through the long, balanced finish. A great example of Garnacha with added depth, structure, and savory complexity from oak aging.
2024 Viña Zorzal Garnacha Navarra
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Matthew Landau Hassan | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Bright and expressive, this Garnacha opens with aromas of ripe black cherry, raspberry, and subtle mineral notes. The palate is juicy and fruit forward, with dark red fruits, soft tannins and excellent balance. A mineral undertone adds structure, while the finish remains smooth and focused. A fantastic value and an excellent introduction to the purity and drinkability Navarra Garnacha.
Billecart-Salmon "Le Rosé" Champagne
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Billecart's "Le Rose" is not only one of the best-selling and highly rated rose champagnes in the world, but its release in 1970 was an announcement that rose champagne was now a thing - a luxurious, premium sparkling category that had never existed in Champagne's long and storied history. Made in the "assemblage method" -- adding still red wine to the blend -- Le Rose is 43% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir, and 24% Meunier. The dosage was dropped from 9g/l to 5.1g/l, resulting in a much drier and more refined style of champagne. This is the reason for the name change from Brut Rose to Le Rose. The current release is Extra Brut. Next year, it may be brut again. Billecart will make that decision once each harvest is complete. Wines were fermented in stainless steel tanks and went through partial malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness. When Billecart-Salmon decided to make a rose champagne, they approached it with the idea that if tasted blind, you wouldn't know it was a rose because its elegance and finesse would match that of regular champagne. It's a historical fact that their approach worked like gangbusters, and Billecart's Le Rose has become THE iconic offering from this old Grand Marque. Just one of those champagnes that always lives up to its hype.
2023 Berta Valgañón "Selección Maturana Tinta" Rioja
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
My goth past has come back to haunt me. This is winsome nostalgia in a glass. The 2023 Berta Valgañón “Selección Maturana Tinta” Rioja is dark, inky, and hypnotic, with intriguing notes of cassis, smoldering clove cigarette, glossy black lipstick, Choward’s violet candies, incense, and leather, all wrapped in a plush, velvety mouthfeel. It’s lights-out lovely and highly recommended. Made from Maturana Tinta with a splash of Garnacha by a one-woman winery with an annual output of a mere 1,500 cases. Pay attention as Berta Valgañón is one to watch!
CVNE Brut Cava Penedès
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
CVNE Brut Cava Penedès is composed of 40% Xarel-lo, 30% Macabeo, and 30% Parellada, aged 9–12 months on its lees before disgorgement and finished with a 9 g/L dosage. It’s a sound choice for midweek bubbles, a quality base for sparkling cocktails, or as a festive aperitif for gatherings. In classic Brut style, it offers notes of poached pear, light honey, and flint, carried through by an easy-breezy touch of lemon squeezy finish.
Price:
$11.99
2022 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
The 2022 Napa Valley vintage was "legit tough" because of a terroir-turning heat wave that divided the wines into those made with grapes picked before the heat wave and those that were picked during and after. Before, resulted in bright, fresh, and crunchy reds that are easy on the palate, but lack some of the complexity that more time on the vine may have developed. After, are big, plush, wines pressed from grapes bursting with sugar. The 2002 Matthiasson Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon falls into the first category, and the result is a beautifully complex, classic, old-school, Napa Cab coming in at a delectable 13% ABV. Layered with dusty black fruit, bell pepper, eucalyptus, baking spices, herbs, and subtle notes of vanilla, clove, and cedar. Ready to drink and will evolve for years to come!
Rhys "Perpetual Reserve" California Sparkling Wine
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Philip Roufail | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
The question I have when I see a domestic sparkling wine for $60, is, "What champagne can I get for $60 and is this as good?" The answer is almost always, "Plenty and 'no'." There are a few exceptions, and this Rhys Perpetual Reserve is one of them. The first thing to know about Rhys is that they have 9 estate vineyards in the Santa Cruz Mountains and Anderson Valley. The grapes (i.e. clones and rootstocks) Rhy's uses in their sparkling wine is planted specifically for that purpose, so they're coming from plots that will maximize acidity levels. The perpetual reserve is a solera style blend from 2016-2023, comprised of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir sourced from Bearhollow in Anderson Valley and Mt. Pajaro in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The seven-vintages-old-perpetual-blend is 30% of the cuvee, 70% is the harvest year, and it is then aged for 3 years on the lees with a dosage of 5.g/L after disgorgement. The result is a complex creamy sparkling wine with lemon custard, orchard fruit, zippy acidity, brioche, and zesty mineral laden finish. Add some chalk and it could be champagne!
2023 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Bairrada
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
The 2023 Luis Pato Vinhas Velhas Bairrada hails from 100% estate-grown Baga planted on clay and limestone soils. Fermented in stainless steel and aged 18 months in neutral oak, it offers baskets of ripe blackberry, briny olive, dried violets, and zesty blood orange, with a subtle touch of vanilla riding waves of muscular tannins. Decant if opening young, and serve alongside roasted meats and vegetables or a charcuterie board of aged cheeses and cured meats.
2024 Filipa Pato "Post Quercus" Baga Bairrada
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Kerry Kennell | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Composed of amphora-aged Baga from 80+-year-old vines, the 2024 Filipa Pato “Post Quercus” Baga Bairrada is feral and earthy in a way that quickens the pulse. Notes of dark plum, clean saddle leather, dried herbs, and sun-baked soil evoke a wine shaped more by land than by human hand. Powerful yet composed, it carries a deep sense of place, finishing with hints of black raspberry and leather. Its vibrant acidity makes it an easy partner at the dinner table. For prime deliciousness, pair with hard or smoky cheeses, BBQ, or grilled meat.
Willett Family Estate 4 Year Old Small Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Josh Gelfand | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Few whiskeys elicit more longing than the Willett 'Purple Tops'. This legendary Family Reserve line started about 20 years ago using highly sought-after sourced barrels, including some famous pre-fire Heaven Hill stocks that enthusiasts have hunted for decades. Since Willett began distilling their own spirit in 2012, the Family Reserve line has continued to showcase some of their finest liquid, all nonchillfiltered and bottled at cask strength. The only problem for most fans has been the limited supply and overwhelming cost, with many bottles fetching hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
Thankfully, they have introduced a younger, more accessibly priced offering for the masses and connoisseurs alike. This is definitive Willett. Even at only four years old, the nose brings a warm, oaky mustiness characteristic of their older 7 to 14-year-old expressions. You are greeted by maple, banana skin, dried apricot, and brown sugar, along with a touch of tanned leather and a breath of effervescent cream soda.
On the palate, cinnamon and cocoa enter to complement the woody maple and torched Madagascar vanilla bean. The 123.6 proof is surprising because it drinks a little softer than the numbers suggest, though it remains bold and robust. The finish lands with a bit of apple pie crust and forest floor. A splash of water is welcome here, as it softens the heat and further opens up an oily maple sweetness that stays constant throughout the pour. This is a wonderful, affordable way to experience the Willett legend, and I am glad to see it become a permanent fixture in their lineup.
Price:
$69.99
2022 Schiopetto M Collio Friulano
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Beautiful aromas and flavors of plump apricots, white nectarine, lemon curd, quality macadamia nuts, chamomile tea, white mushrooms, and a touch of tarragon. There's a lot happening here. Vibrant, yet lush, with a very long finish. Take your time with this. The wine keeps evolving and every sip equally delicious. One of the most complex Friulano I've tasted so far.
2023 Domaine Parent Bourgogne Côte d'Or Rouge "Sélection Pomone"
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Always a favorite producer for me! This newly released 2023 has deep red cherry fruit with an upper palate of cedar and subtle herbs. It is relatively mouth-coating and deep with a finish of black cherries and black raspberries. It is composed of all Pommard fruit! This is a supremely delicious wine.
Price:
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2023 Domaine Gerard Mugneret Vosne Romanee "Cuvee Quatrain"
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
This one is a very rare four star pick for me. Most likely the best red Burgundy that I have had in the last six months. Beautifully floral nose with violets and rose petals. The fruit on the nose is cherry dominant, and this carries over onto the palate with violet pastille and Asian spices. My initial note on it is "Sooo wonderful!". That is definitely what it is. Worth every penny!
2023 Domaine Jean-Marc Pillot Bourgogne Rouge "Les Grandes Terres"
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Scott Beckerley | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
This is a very pretty, black raspberry laden Bourgogne with just the right amount of earth and spice. A light and balanced touch of these. The is also a very nice minerality and firm acidity on the finish. It's just plain lovely and very, very drinkable!
Price:
$44.99
2021 Donvitantonio Montepulciano d'Abruzzo
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Fascinating aromas of savory dried herbs. Sage, parsley, and a touch of tarragon.
Explosive flavors blackberries, peppercorn, dark coffee beans, a hint of black olives and persimmon. Delicious on its own, will elevate any poultry dish. Cheers!
2023 Manincor "Il Conte" Vigneti delle Dolomiti
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Carlo Delgado | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
Lagrein, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. I had not tasted this blend before, but now I am very intrigued. Aromas of kirsch, pomegranate, and hibiscus. On the palate, refreshing flavors of plums, ripe figs, black cherries, and dark chocolate. A light bodied, chillable red, that is equally delightful as it is complex. One of my personal favorites from the Italian section at the moment.
2019 Fallet-Dart "Pur Meunier" Champagne
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
By: Graham Collis | Review Date: 2/18/2026 | Send Email
If you were to look up Meunier in a dictionary, this should be the definition. It checks every box that I look for in Champagne-- bright crunchy fruit, sweet creaminess, savory yeastiness, and a salty chalky minerality. The palate has weight and flesh, and finishes with a jolt of electric acidity that literally makes my mouth water. This bottle rejects the notion that Meunier is just a blending grape. Buy it while you can!
Price:
$69.99
2023 Bodegas Frontonio "Microcosmico" Macabeo Aragon
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email
This might have been my standout wine from the staff tasting that we did today. I immediately fell in love with the nose, it's so pretty with orchard fruit cushioned with white flowers. I could just sit here and smell this all day, I'm just super enchanted. While it's mostly peaches, there's some apricot, a little fresh red apple, and a little bit of mixed citrus zest and then just everything surrounded by pretty white flowers more honeysuckle than jasmine. The palate is really juicy and fresh, apricot, crisp red apple, lemon candy, and a little bit of orange zest just bring so much to the party with this lingering fresh finish that just goes and goes. I really really dig this, for the price it's such an easy choice. This is fabulous, you're fabulous, let's just go for it.
2021 Celler Pardas "Pur" Xarel-lo Penedès
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email
By: Aaron Hughes | Review Date: 2/17/2026 | Send Email
This is a very interesting wine, it's the still wine from a producer that does Corpinnat (fancy Cava) and it really has the nose of a sparkling wine, there's a touch of lees, a kind of tree-fruit and citrus component, which I think actually makes it a little bit more compelling to me, there's this kind of mystery and intrigue when expectations are subverted. The palate too has a similar kind of thing going on where you almost expect there to be bubbles just by the palate alone, but it's deliciously still with very similar fruit to the nose and a lingering zest on the finish. I enjoyed this a lot more than I expected to, and it's a very fun bottle to try.