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Since acquiring the property in 2009, Virginie Saverys has worked to convert all 162-plus hectares of vineyards to organic and biodynamic practices. In 2015 the Sangiovese was harvested relatively early, between 10-28 September. Hints of dried rose petals, violet, pepper and black tea add complexity to fragrant red cherry and strawberry. (MM)

A huge success in the vintage is the 2015 Château Suduiraut and this gem goes a long way towards showing how successful the sweet wines were in 2015. Offering a massive array of orange peel, honey, marmalade, flowers, and toasted nuts, this incredible wine hits the palate with a thunderous display of opulence, richness, and length, all while staying fresh, elegant, and seamless. It has a huge mid-palate and is reminiscent of the 2003, only with more freshness and delineation.

An awesome Saint Emilion, the 2015 Château Barde-Haut showed even better on this occasion than on release. A huge nose of sweet crème de cassis, jammy blackberries, violets, leather, and dried herbs gives way to a full-bodied wine that has a great mid-palate, ripe, silky tannins, not a hard edge to be found, and a great, great finish.

What an unbelievable deal. The Billecart family decided not to release this 2015 as cuvée Elisabeth Rosé (at more than double the price) because they don't think it will age for two full generations... To me, the only problem with this wine is that it is too delicious! I have found it to be the best 2015 vintage champagne that I have tasted period, with great complexity and depth hidden behind freshness and ease of drinking. I love the blood orange and black cherry depth from the ancient vine red that makes up 6.6% of the blend, and chalky, bright drive from the 52% of chardonnay. In the mouth, this wine has incredible texture from 100 months of ageing on the lees, and an airy ease that belies its depth. The finish is a wower, a real peacocks tail display, just as long as it is spectacular. Don't miss this one!

A longstanding K&L customer favorite, the 2015 Bodegas Casa Juan Señor de Lesmos Reserva Rioja is back in stock and tasting better than ever! Composed of the same blend as the Crianza Rioja (85% Tempranillo; 15% Mazuelo), this Reserva Rioja is a barrel selection by owner/winemaker Angel Escudero. He identifies barrels of the Crianza that he feels show more complexity and concentration and are able to withstand extended aging. These wines then spend a total of 27 months in barrel, before being racked to concrete tanks where they spend another year aging before being bottled and aged even further. Now with 10 years of age, the 2015 Reserva Rioja is shows a panoply of ripe, slightly desiccated red fruit (plum, strawberry) notes, backed up by wonderfully savory, earthy aromatics of mushroom, cedar, tobacco and subtle black licorice. This wine is so classically Rioja, herbaceous and woodsy on the palate, with a long and lingering finish. Considering this wine is almost a full decade old and still singing, this is an incredible value at under $20. Add in that the estate is family owned, and the vines are averaging forty-five years old, you’d be hard pressed to find many other comparable wines at this price point in Rioja.

An exceptional sense of detail and precision on the nose of this with fine, red-berry and sous-bois notes and blue fruit in behind. The palate delivers scintillatingly fine, fresh and very elegant tannins that carve a long, linear shape and leave fresh raspberries and cherries on point. Excellent pinot from this elevated, coastal site. Drink or hold.

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2015 Ridge Vineyards "Monte Bello" Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon (OWC - 100JS, 98JD, 98VN, 96DC, 95RP, 94CG, 94W&S, 94WE) in original wood. James Suckling: "The breathtaking nose of blackcurrants, forest berries, cedar and wet earth pulls you into this extremely concentrated but very elegant and precise masterpiece. The super-fine tannins are wrapped in perfectly ripe fruit right through the spectacular finish, with its notes of crushed stone and bitter chocolate. A cuvée of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. " (12/2022)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2015 Peter Michael "Cuvée Indigène" Knights Valley Chardonnay (99RP, 94VN). Wine Advocate: "The 2015 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene is profoundly scented of honeyed apricots, pear tart, marzipan and brioche with hints of butterscotch, praline and baker’s yeast. The fine, fresh, medium-bodied palate has beautiful elegance and depth, with a minerally core and a citrus lift on the very long, creamy finish. Stunning. (LPB)" (10/2017)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2015 Fontodi "Flaccianello della Pieve" Toscana (99VN, 98RP, 97JS, 96DC, 96WS). Vinous: "The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is a wine I loved on release. Today, after nearly ten years in bottle, the 2015 is still an infant. It shows all the natural concentration of the year, along with the slightly more potent, extracted style Fontodi was gradually evolving from at the time. The 2015 spent 18 months in French oak barrels and six months in cask, with some variation depending on the lots that were chosen for the final blend. As much as it pains me to say it, readers might still want to cellar this! (AG)" (07/2025)

Bid on this bottle of 2015 Domaine Roulot Meursault "À Mon Plaisir - Clos du Haut Tesson" ((90-92BH), 92JG, 91VN). Burghound: "Ripe, fresh and cool aromas feature notes of hazelnut, pear and white peach along with plenty of floral and spice nuances. There is notably more volume if a bit less refinement to the rich and full-bodied flavors that coat the palate with sap while delivering outstanding depth and length on the sleek and balanced finish that really fans out. A most impressive villages. " (06/2017)

Proof that Lazio can do serious Merlot—and that some of the best values come from the regions nobody’s watching. Made by celebrated winemaker Riccardo Cotarella on his home turf outside Rome, this is grown in volcanic soils and given the kind of attention usually reserved for far flashier addresses. With a decade of bottle age behind it, the 2015 has landed right in its sweet spot. Ripe black cherry and plum lead on the nose, then slowly unfurl into cocoa, sweet pipe tobacco, dried herbs, and a savory note of forest floor that only comes with age. The palate is plush and velvety with mature, silky tannins and a mocha-tinged depth from the volcanic terroir, all kept balanced and lifted by a line of fresh acidity. The finish is long, savory, and gently spiced. Drinking beautifully now—give it a 30-minute decant and pour it with braised short ribs, mushroom risotto, or anything off the grill. A sophisticated, mature Merlot from an unexpected corner of Italy.

Enticing, fragrant aromas of toast, lemon zest and an earthy-smoky nuance lead to a palate of subtle Bosc-pear, mango, papaya, even pineapple flavors. Lifted by fresh acidity on the medium-bodied palate, the wine keeps unfolding in toasted walnuts, honey and a dash of bitter marmalade. It’s mouth-filling, alive with acidity and full of finesse. Drink or hold.

This is a 50/50 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from 60 year old vines, all from a remarkable vintage. So, what does all that add up to? A big, rich wine, full of ripe stone fruits, lemon curd, and of course toasty brioche. And then there's the bubbles on this thing...precise, sharp, and seemingly never-ending in the glass. This is a powerful wine that you can enjoy now, if you're in the mood for a big, rich glass (like me), or you can cellar this and see how beautifully it's going to develop over the next several years!

The 2015 Branaire Ducru is a gorgeous, totally sexy wine. Rose petal, lavender, mint, sweet red berry and gently spiced notes give the wine much of its gracious, lilting personality. Precise and nuanced to the core, the 2015 Branaire is all class. It's easy to overlook Brainaire in the context of Saint-Julien, where most of the other important wines are much more powerful. Branaire always speaks with a hushed, discreet voice. Readers who appreciate finesse will find much to admire here. The 2015 is a wine of pure and total sensual pleasure. In 2015, the blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. Don't miss it. Tasted two times. (AG)

Smith Woodhouse’s 2015 Late Bottled Vintage Port was matured in wood for four years. Bottled in 2019, without any fining or filtering, it was then aged in bottle for a further six years in the Smith Woodhouse lodge in Vila Nova de Gaia, prior to release. This prolonged ageing, first in wood and then in bottle is key to the development of the rich and spice-forward aromas and flavors that give this Port a style and complexity akin to that of Vintage Port. Most LBV Ports produced today are matured exclusively in wood, filtered before bottling and placed on the market without any bottle-ageing. Smith Woodhouse’s traditional method of maturation, combining both wood and bottle-ageing, distinguishes it from most other LBV Ports currently available.

The grand vin of the estate is the 2015 Cornas, and it's even more inky colored than the Renaissance, with a saturated purple/bluish color. It offers a truly profound bouquet of black cherries, melted asphalt, ground pepper, exotic flowers and graphite, as well as the classic iodine/bloodiness I always find in this cuvée. Full-bodied, beautifully concentrated, and seamless, with sweet tannin and a stacked mid-palate, it has an almost Hermitage-like liquid rock character, shocking elegance and purity, and a huge finish. This is Cornas at its finest – hats off to the Clape family! It's relatively accessible now, yet I suspect it will close down with a few years of bottle age.

Bid on this 3 liter of 2015 Figeac, St-Émilion (3L) (100JA, 100JD, 99JS, 98WE, 97TWI, 97VN, 96DC, 96WS). Jeb Dunnuck: "A hold onto your hat wine, the 2015 Château Figeac is pure perfection and one of the wines of this terrific vintage. A blend of 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, its deep purple color is followed by a huge nose of crème de cassis, black raspberries, smoked earth, and graphite. This is followed by a full-bodied, opulent and incredibly concentrated Saint-Emilion that has everything in the right places, no hard edges, thrilling purity of fruit, and a great, great finish. This is one of those rare gems that carries huge intensity and richness, yet still glides across the palate with no sense of weight or heaviness. Winemaker Frédéric Faye thinks the 2016 is even better but that certainly isn’t stopping me from giving this crazy good wine a triple digit score. Everyone owes it to themselves to try and taste this wine at least once!" (11/2017)

Bid on this bottle of 2015 Le Ragnaie "Casanovina Montosoli" Brunello di Montalcino (97VN, 97WS, 95JS, 95RP, 93W&S). Vinous: "Dark and brooding today, the 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Casanovina Montosoli lifts from the glass with an alluring display of mineral-infused black cherry, complemented by hints of mint leaf, then given further depths, as dark soil tones and a hint of animal musk develops in the glass. The 2015 races across the palate with velvety textures, yet it is somehow lifted, as notes of strawberry and cedar give way to savory herbs and minerals with pretty inner florals. The finish is long, revealing a web of complex tannins upon the senses, as hints of wild berry fruit lingers with just enough residual acids to keep the expression fresh. The 2015 is just a baby today. It shows so much tension and density, with layers of unseen depth that could one day result in this being one of the best wines of the vintage. (EG)" (03/2020)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2015 Sea Smoke "Southing" Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir (93IWR, 92WE, 90WS). Int'l Wine Review: "The 2015 'Southing' Pinot Noir is an outstanding effort sourced from Sea Smokes' south facing Estate Vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills. This Pinot Noir is absolutely delectable, however it needs some time in the glass before it begins to fully express itself. Once awakened, the nose evokes a fantastic range of aromatics from blood orange to smoky tones to red cherry preserves, which all come together beautifully. The palate reveals a wonderful velvety texture and a soft mouthfeel, backed by mouth-watering acidity along with a lovely underlying saline mineral steak. Delightful flavors of black cherry cola, mulberry, black tea and Asian spices continue to merge together and leave a gorgeous lasting impression on the finish. (OB)" (11/2018)

Bid on this bottle of 2015 Peter Michael "Les Pavots" Knights Valley Bordeaux Blend (98JD, 97JS, 95DC, 95RP, 94VN, 94WS). Jeb Dunnuck: "It offers a huge nose of blackcurrants, blackberry, scorched earth, graphite, and cedarwood. Deep, rich, supple, and sexy, with a seamless, incredibly elegant texture, it builds with time in the glass and is a monumental Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Sonoma. 98+ " (06/2018)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2015 Promontory Napa Valley Bordeaux Blend (99JS, 99VN, 98JD, 98RP, 97DC, 96JA, 96WS). Vinous: "The 2015 Promontory is just as magnificent as it has always been. Tasted next to current releases, the 2015 shows the riper style of the year, and also a bit more oak influence from the new casks the estate was moving to during this era. Dark-hued fruit, graphite, leather, dried herbs, lavender and a touch of oak open with a bit of coaxing. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the quality of the tannins, by far the biggest challenge the Harlan family faced in the early days of making wines from this rugged hillside site. If I think back to the 2008, the first vintage here, and wines I tasted prior to release, the progress made at Promontory in under a decade is nothing short of remarkable. (AG)" (11/2025)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2015 Antinori "Tignanello" Toscana (98JS, 98VN, 96RP, 96WS, 95KO, 94W&S). Vinous: "Antinori’s team did a fabulous job with the 2015 Solaia. Bold and supremely exotic to its core, the 2015 (magnum) possesses stunning richness from start to finish. Ripe red berry fruit, blood orange, mint and sweet spice all build as the 2015 shows off its considerable allure. The 2015 is a very young wine, but it is stunningly beautiful tonight. (AG)" (09/2020)

This is in a new bottle, like the stout ones used for the rosé and blanc de blancs. This is very structured with a density and richness with hints of strawberry to the apple character. Bubbles turn fine textured at the end. Delicious flavors of biscuits and dried apple in the finish. Special character to this because of the very ripe vintage. Disgorged in November 2021. This is half chardonnay and half pinot noir. This can age well due to the phenolics. Drink or hold.

The secretive world of Cognac remains one of the most poorly understood spirits categories, especially considering its broad popularity. Perhaps that lack of transparency is hurting the category, but nothing about Cognac is straightforward or simple. When I first visited the region, I was a young and ardent supporter of additive-free spirits, searching far and wide for excellent, unadulterated expressions to bring home to our customers. We found some very special lots here and there, but it was also clear that a great deal of additive-free Cognac needed those additives, or “blending materials,” as they preferred to call them, to feel complete. I was astounded by the doublespeak and subterfuge surrounding the subject, even among the most reputable houses, both large and small. When we raised the question at the wonderful Ragnaud-Sabourin estate, in the heart of Grande Champagne, the curtain was finally pulled back. Madame Ragnaud was remarkably open about the process, explaining that the wonderful Ragnaud products we knew were built in part around the extraordinary boisé the family had cultivated over many decades. Their oldest and most prized eaux-de-vie, once they had fallen below proof, were segregated and cared for with great reverence, then incorporated in increasingly generous proportions throughout the range. After tasting her exquisite example of the right way to use additives in Cognac, along with literally hundreds of undrinkable young additive-free Cognacs, not to mention plenty of fully dosed young Cognacs that were equally bad, our hardline view began to soften. At the same time, our appreciation grew for those rare producers capable of creating a beautifully balanced spirit without relying on the traditional tools of the trade. It was at that moment that the extraordinary brandies of the Dudognon estate rose in my mind above nearly all others. Their ability to produce such impeccable Cognac without additives suddenly seemed even more remarkable. The Dudognons’ admission that their refusal to use additives was not some dogmatic battle cry, but simply the result of never having learned those techniques, only reinforced the point. Their Cognac was not built around ideology. It was built around exceptional farming, distillation, aging, and instinct. The point of this story is to highlight just how difficult it is to create superlative young Cognac without high-quality boisé serving as the backbone of the blending process. Finding the balance between freshness, oak, fruit, spice, and all the other flavors we expect after only five or seven years in a spirit capable of aging for a century is almost unbelievable. So when we first encountered this special product, I was not remotely shocked to learn that it was intended to sell for more than $100. This batch was purpose-built to achieve a nearly impossible goal. Its quality far exceeds even my wildest expectations, and while I am not necessarily surprised that the producer could not sell through it at the original price, that does not mean it was not worth every penny they were asking. So here we are with an outrageously delicious Cognac, created around a commitment to avoid additives while still delivering a genuinely grandiose experience. Is it simply a younger, more affordable version of Dudognon? Let’s find out. The color is a surprisingly robust deep copper, around 1.0. Many, if not all, of the young additive-free Cognacs we have sold over the years have been closer to white wine or pale straw. Here, the aromas begin to emerge the moment the bottle is opened, and once poured, there is no need to wait for the magic to begin. The layered aromatic profile starts with expressive tropical fruit wrapped in baking spice, slathered in coconut cream, and dusted with cocoa powder. It is far less primary than expected, offering secondary and tertiary notes normally reserved for much older expressions from Grande Champagne. This may be the secret of Fins Bois on full display. When handled perfectly, the faster development associated with this supposedly lesser region can mimic the complexity of far older and more expensive Cognacs from Fine Champagne. With air, the oak and fruit integrate and expand, adding taut, exotic wood tones to the dried-fruit character. The palate opens with an absolutely perfect note of dark chocolate, followed by vibrant, juicy fruit that broadens beautifully through the mid-palate. The 90 proof is carried effortlessly, and a bold line of spice ties the exceptionally long finish together. Were we determined to nitpick, the only missing element might be the profound weight and density of truly old Grande Champagne. But I can point to only one producer capable of achieving that character without additives, and Dudognon needs more than 20 years and two or three times the price to get there. At this price, for as long as it lasts, this exceptional brandy surpasses everything else in the category for sheer value. It is affordable enough to throw around in a summer cocktail, yet deep and complex enough to pour contemplatively for several hours in front of the fire. There is simply no reason to buy another Cognac under $50 right now. The headlines may insist that no one is drinking Cognac, but I would argue that no one should be drinking anything but this. It is a tremendous deal by any measure. Load up while you can. I bought everything I could get my hands on, but opportunities like this have a habit of disappearing far faster than anyone expects.

Pouring a bright silver/yellow color, the 2015 Champagne Salon Brut is a bit shy on the nose at first but offers richness on the palate, with peppery spice and crystalline, satiny earth, white peach, quince, and a stone-fruit fleshiness to the texture, characteristic of a sunny vintage. Harvested in the first days of September, it’s medium-bodied and has a broader texture throughout the palate, maintaining the delicacy and finesse of the house. It has a muscular profile but remains tailored, with some phenolic touches and a fresh richness in texture and structure. It has a pinpoint mousse and a touch of frothiness on the finish, ending with a structured and dry finish. When revisited in the glass, it becomes more smoky, and it gains in intensity as it opens. While it currently shows restraint, it should only improve with several years in the bottle. (AF)

Almost paradoxically, the 2015 vintage at six years of age was less open than either the 2019 or the 2017 vintages. The somewhat restrained fruit is ripe but not tropical; it is closer to quince and ripe apricot. The creamy, buttery aromas are present but not dominant. The texture is supple and rich but not heavy. The wine does not have the freshness of the 2019, nor the lighter, more elegant nature of the 2017 vintage. It is the one that is the furthest from citrus and closest to honey, yet it refrains from over-ripeness—mysteriously impressive wine. (CC)

The vintage wine from Launois comes from older vines in the mid-slope portions of their estate in Mesnil and Cramant grand cru. Only massal-selected Chardonnay vines are used in this blend. This is a special cuvée for the birth of Bernard Launois' grandson, Maxime. Champagne is structured for the long haul, but has lots of appeal already. Made from all estate, grand cru Chardonnay, this is the most precise and vibrant of the Launois Champagnes that we carry. It has lots of minerality, a fantastic citrus flavor, and a finish that won't quit. Perfect for cracked crab, oysters or any other shellfish. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer)

Bid on this magnum of 2015 Scarecrow Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (1.5L) (99RP, 98JD, 98VN, 96WS). Wine Advocate: "Produced from 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon leaps from the glass with gorgeous floral notes of red roses and lilacs over a core of black and red cherries, crushed black currants and baking spices plus hints of iron ore and dusty earth. The voluptuous, rounded, soft and sexy fruit slinks across the palate with incredible seamlessness and expression. Make no mistake, it is full-bodied and decadently powerful, but with a myriad of aromatic nuances, finishing long, layered and boldly perfumed. (LPB)" (10/2017)

Bid on this 4-bottle lot of 2015 Castellare di Castellina "I Sodi di San Niccolò" Toscana (98VN, 96IWR, 96JS, 95RP). Vinous: "The 2015 I Sodi di San Niccolò is just stratospheric. That's pretty much all there is to it. Plush, deep and explosive, the 2015 possesses magnificent depth. The 15% Malvasia Nera gives tannic backbone and energy to balance the wine's natural richness. Sweet red cherry, cedar, smoke, tobacco and licorice build in a racy, flamboyant Sodi that hits all the right notes. In a word: stunning! (AG)" (08/2019)

Bid on this 2-bottle lot of 2015 Fontodi "Flaccianello della Pieve" Toscana (99VN, 98RP, 97JS, 96DC, 96WS). Vinous: "The 2015 Flaccianello della Pieve is a wine I loved on release. Today, after nearly ten years in bottle, the 2015 is still an infant. It shows all the natural concentration of the year, along with the slightly more potent, extracted style Fontodi was gradually evolving from at the time. The 2015 spent 18 months in French oak barrels and six months in cask, with some variation depending on the lots that were chosen for the final blend. As much as it pains me to say it, readers might still want to cellar this! (AG)" (07/2025)

Bid on this magnum of 2015 Clos du Mont-Olivet "Cuvée du Papet" Châteauneuf-du-Pape (1.5L) (96JS, (93-96VN), 95DC, 94RP, 94WS, 93JD). Vinous: "Deep, vivid ruby. Bright and energetic on the nose, displaying intense red fruit liqueur, Asian spice and candied lavender qualities and a smoky mineral overtone. Juicy and precise, offering sweet raspberry and cherry flavors that show excellent depth and seamless texture. Closes sappy, floral and extremely long, with subtle tannins lending shape. There's 15.5% alcohol here but I didn't notice it. (JR)" (03/2017)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2015 Canon, St-Emilion (100JS, 99CK, 98JA, 98JD, 98VN, 97DC, 97WE, 97WS). James Suckling: "Seductive. The nose draws you in deep: It’s like staring into a well of pristine dark cherries, dark plums, blackberries and mulberries. All the oak is perfectly subsumed. The palate’s flawless with immense depth and power and it’s so balanced as to appear to float. Immaculate fresh dark-berry and plum flavors. Silky and deep, ribbon-like finish. Perfect." (02/2018)

Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2015 Peter Michael "La Carrière" Knights Valley Chardonnay (95JS, 95RP, 93VN, 91WS). Wine Advocate: "The 2015 Chardonnay la Carriere opens with a seriously intense nose of ripe peaches, lemon curd and grapefruit peel with hints of nutmeg, acacia honey, orange blossoms and buttered toast. Medium-bodied, very fine, fresh and elegant, it has a lively backbone lifting the citrus and savory flavors, finishing long and minerally. (LPB)" (10/2017)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2015 Bryant Family Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (99JS, (97-99RP), 95VN). Wine Advocate: "Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon is closed and largely unyielding at this very youthful stage. With coaxing, it offers up black cherries, crushed blackberries and mulberries notes with hints of pencil lead, damp soil, truffles, licorice and dark chocolate plus a waft of cigar boxes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is as tight as anything, displaying a rock-solid backbone of taut, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing with earth and mineral layers. (LPB)" (10/2017)

Bid on this 3-bottle lot of 2015 Cliff Lede "Poetry" Stags Leap District Cabernet Sauvignon (100JD, 98RP, 95VN, 93WS). Jeb Dunnuck: "A blend of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Cabernet Franc, 4% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Poetry spent 21 months in French oak prior to bottling. It too is inky purple/blue colored and offers heavenly notes of graphite, liquid rocks, crushed violets, blueberries, charcoal and cassis. Fabulously concentrated, opulent, layered, and ripe, with serious amounts of tannin that come out with time in the glass, this monumental beauty should only be purchased by patient consumers as it's going to need 7-8 years or more of cellaring." (12/2017)

Bid on this 3 liter of 2015 Mouton Rothschild, Pauillac (3L) (99JS, 98DC, 98JA, 98JD, 98RP, 98WE, 97TWI, 97VN, 96WS). James Suckling: "Decadent and rich aromas of black cherries and plums with wet earth and sandalwood. Turns to dried mushrooms. Full-bodied, tight and closed with big, polished tannins, yet this is very closed and shy right now. Despite this, underneath it shows such depth and beauty. Tangy acidity. This is a combination of 2005 and 2009. Try it in 2024." (02/2018)

Bid on this magnum of 2015 San Guido "Sassicaia" Bolgheri (1.5L) (98JS, 97DC, 97RP, 97W&S, 97WE, 97WS, 95VN). James Suckling: "Love the aromas to this young red with blackcurrants, sage, cinnamon and five-spice character. Changes all the time. Full-bodied, dense and powerful with a ripe and rich tannin backbone that gives form and beauty to the ripe and beautiful fruit. Tight and very long. A classic Sassicaia." (01/2018)

Bid on this 3 liter of 2015 Margaux, Margaux (3L) (100DC, 100JD, 100JS, 100WE, 99VN, 99WS, 98TWI). Wine Enthusiast: "Predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine shows a wonderful black-currant purity on the palate, along with intense, vibrant acidity. The background is all tannin, which speaks to its aging potential. This wine is the last vintage produced by Paul Pontallier, who was general manager from 1990 until his death in 2016. It's a memorable wine and one for aging. *Cellar Selection* (RV)" (04/2018)

The Biondi-Santi 2015 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is initially a reticent wine and one that does not immediately subscribe to the overstated abundance and exuberance of the vintage. Give it time. I wrote this review after several tastings over several days so I could ensure a more accurate account of the wine's elegant reveal. Contemplative and exceedingly nuanced in personality, with wild berry, underbrush, ferrous earth and candied orange peel, this has everything to look forward to in terms of its future evolution in the bottle. It displays a pretty ruby color that borders on garnet and polished copper. A silky, mid-weight palate is accented by beautifully managed and silky tannins (this aspect of the mouthfeel is extraordinary), bright freshness and long-lasting fruit momentum. The alcohol is a bit more powerful in this release (at 14.5%), but the effect is supple and smooth nonetheless. 98+ (ML)

There’s a spicy overlay to the tangy white pepper, savory spices, dried plums, dried grapefruit and licorice notes. Pretty complex and well balanced, with linear savory fruit and a lengthy finish. Very firm and fine-boned tannins. (ZS)

(Barrel sample.) This wine has a fine, dense texture that is impressive with its smooth velvet character. The tannins are dark, solid and show a dry side to balance the beautiful juicy fruit. Although this is a second wine, it does have the structure of a wine more senior than that. (RV)

The 2015 Chablis 1er Cru les Butteaux escaped any damage by hail and is, in Isabelle’s opinion, the most classical and Chablis-like, whereas other wines express the growing season. It has a pretty, perfumed, perhaps exotic bouquet compared to the other cuvées this year and is very expressive, with apricot blossom emerging with time. The palate is very well balanced with a precise line of acidity and, again, is very expressive with a shimmering, quite captivating finish that exudes both mineralité and fruit intensity. This has turned into an outstanding Butteaux that punches above my prediction from barrel.(NM)

An overt style of baked apples and stone fruit with vibrant lemons and chalk, as well as subtle brioche character. Medium-bodied, generous and large, showing fine mousse and crisp acidity. Tight yet focused with a toasty finish. Drink now. (AF)

This is a rarity! A Chablis with 10 plus years under its belt! Of the two offering from this vintage and this producer, the "Vaillons" is of a richer style. Nicely rounded yellow apple fruit with an ample texture and mouthfeel. Of course, there is also a lovely citrus, which in this case is more lemon than lime and of a creamy style. Underneath it all is a classic Chablis minerality and wet stone character. A top quality Chablis with just the right amount of age!

50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. The 2015 Vintage Brut follows the earlier releases of 1999, 2004 and 2012. 10% vinified and aged in large oak casks. Winemaker Didier Mariotti. TA 4.8 g/l, pH 2.91, RS 6 g/l. Vegan.

This is still 100% Merlot, while waiting for the Cabernet Franc vines to mature (it's massal selection from Beauregard). Despite the pure Merlot, this is tight, almost austere, with clear ageing potential. It has carefully extracted black fruits and firm tannins, yet there's a softness through the mid-palate and an opening out on the finish which develops into plump red fruits. (JA)

The Chéreau Carré family domaine spans a series of estates and vineyards planted across some of Muscadet's best sub-zones, with family roots in the area stretching back to the 11th century. It was Bernard Chéreau Sr.'s purchase of Château de Chasseloir in 1953 that marked the true beginning of the winery, and he proved to be a genuine pioneer - he was the first producer in the region to age Muscadet wines on their lees, a practice that was later codified into appellation rules in 1977. Through the 1960s, additional domaines and parcels were folded into the family's holdings as the operation grew. Today, Bernard Jr. and his daughter Louise - the second and third generations respectively - run the estate together and have been instrumental in shaping the more ambitious, terroir-driven styles now emerging from Muscadet. From vines over 80 years of age, planted on orthogneiss, all hand-harvested and then aged for 30 months on the lees after fermentation. This is compelling white wine that will continue to develop with several more years of age.

The 2015 Pavillon Rouge is supremely inviting. Silky and medium in body, with wonderfully fragrant aromatics, the 2015 is a wine of total seduction. Bright red plum, mint, spice, cedar and white pepper are laced together in a racy wine endowed with terrific palate intensity and persistence. The 2015 is already quite open and delicious. I imagine it will continue to drink beautifully for the next 15-20 years or more. (AG)