Piquenique (Tess Bryant & Niccolo Coturri) 2020 Cuvee Annie: Late Harvest (Cider from Annie Bryant)

Piquenique is a project from Nic Coturri and Tess Bryant, based in the San Juan Islands, in the northernmost tip of Washington state. The area has a long history of fruit cultivation, from berries to orchard fruits, and the potential to support grape growing for many decades, as the conditions in California and Oregon will likely be impossible for vines by the middle of this century. Nico and Tess have dozens of incredible bottlings that they produce, and we will share our favorites later this year! Cuvee Annie is made from 20 varieties of late season apples. Rather than try to explain the process, I will quote the notes from the Jose Pastor website: "Apples were processed at the cellar with a tiny apple chipper and pressed in a small manually operated basket press lined with local hay. The pressed juice was added by hand to glass demijohns and small stainless-steel tanks to ferment with native yeasts and without temperature control. When fermentation was nearly finished, the wine was racked once off the dense lees, and bottled by hand with a small amount of residual sugar to finish fermentation in the ancestral method." The result is a delicious ancestral Pet-Nat/cider, with fabulous mineral structure and dry extract, bursts of apple flavor but an all around very dry and structured finish. A perfect way to start the feast or cleanse your palate mid-way through!

Dangin, Bruno NV Crémant de Bourgogne Blanc de Noirs

What a difference 2 kilometers makes! Bruno Dangin's Crémant de Bourgogne is made from 100% Pinot Noir from organically farmed vines in Molesme, located just beneath the southern border of Champagne's Aube.The limestone rich soils are the same as those of their pricier neighbor to the north.  Boasting a fine bead and soft mousse and aromas of red fruits and autolyse, one would be hard pressed to spot the difference. The palate offers great depth, pure pinot fruit, and a suave, layered, persistent finish. This is a great value in bubbles and will grace the holiday table nicely. John McIlwain

Pinon, François & Julien 2018 Vouvray Brut Non-Dosé

François and Julien Pinon make some of the finest sparkling wines in the Loire Valley. The superb Brut Non-Dosé comes from 45 year-old Chenin Blanc vines on Turonien limestone with topsoils of clay with silex, from four parcels; Les Haut de Terne, Les Hauts de Mortiers, Chopet and Les Planches Favettes. The 2018 was hand-harvested in three passes in order to select the best grapes, with two additional selections - on a "table de tri" and again before the press. Thus the best and ripest grapes are selected, enabling this cuvée with no addition of sugar, as in a Champagne Brut Nature. Aged sur-lies for more than 3 years.  This beautiful wine shows elegant aromas of ripe white and yellow fruits, floral and earthy with almond and bitter lemon. The palate is creamy and dense, round and ripe but with firm underlying acidity, with almond, earth and mineral notes lingering in the long finish. Enjoy it now for its beautiful depth and balance, but peak drinking will be 2032 - 2050. A profound Chamapgne of Chenin! David Lillie

Clos du Joncuas 2021 Gigondas Rosé

This is a beautiful Gigondas Rosé from our organic friends at Clos du Joncuas. Pretty bright pink/orange color, aromas of raspberry, tart cherry, blood orange, peach skin and rose, a bit fresher and brighter than the last two vintages. Full, crisp palate with pretty red fruits and firm acidity. Long finish with tart cherry, peach, earth and citrusy acids. A bit lighter and better balanced than the 2019 and 2020, and very young -  it should open up nicely over the next two years. It's delicious now though, and very food-friendly – serve with grilled fish and white meats, salade nicoise, vegetarian dishes and Provençal foods. A great rosé to enjoy all year-round!

Vino di Anna 2020 Vino Rosso (Etna) Palmentino

A luminous, almost ethereal blend of indigenous Sicilian varieties from the volcanic slopes of Mount Etna.  Palmento is the term for the traditional wine cellars of the region, with stone troughs for crushing grapes by foot. Winemakers Anna Martens and Eric Narioo honor the old methods with a blend of organically farmed Nerello Mascalese, Nerello Cappuccio, and Alicante as well as the native white grapes of the island Minella, Catarratto, and Insolia. Everything is crushed by foot from old bush vines with no fining or filtration and minimal sulfur at bottling. The result is a rush of pure, vibrant fruit as soon as you pop the cork: raspberries, cranberries, hints of juicy meyer lemon tumble into a bracing snap of acidity. A whiff of tannin reminds you (just barely) that this is still a red wine. A perfect accompaniment for the Thanksgiving feast!

Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) 2021 Beaujolais l'Ancien V.V.

L'Ancien comes from Jean Paul Brun's home village of Charnay in the southern Beaujolais. The vines range in age from 40 to 60 years old and are planted on slopes sporting the area's signature sandy clay-limestone soils, featuring the particular local "dorée" or "golden" limestone that is laden with iron. These older vines have always been farmed organically and harvested by hand and yield small, thick-skinned Gamay berries. As for all Terres Dorées reds, the vinification is traditional Burgundian rather than the normal carbonic maceration in Beaujolais. The palate shows lush, ripe berry fruits backed by citrusy acidity, quite refreshing. The finish is long and sappy with bright red fruits and tart acidity - stock-up on this crowd-pleasing Beaujolais!

Descombes, Georges 2020 Morgon

Georges Descombes has created another superb Morgon in 2020 - not as bright perhaps as the 2014 (pictured) but with a similar balance of alcohol (13%), freshness and very ripe sappy fruit. The wine shows a bright, vivid red/black color with earth, violet and citrus notes mingling with lovely raspberry and blackberry aromas. The palate is ripe, silky and well-structured with fresh, velvety raspberry, cherry and blackberry fruit, with earth and mineral notes bringing texture and length to the sappy, lingering finish. This is a beautiful Morgon to serve cool with farm chicken, grilled pork and lamb, cow cheeses and charcuterie over the next  4 - 5 years.  David Lillie

Gomez Nevado NV Abocado Roble Viejo

The ultimate Pumpkin Pie pairing! This is a delicious, unfortified, off-dry delicacy from the folks at Gomez Nevado, and we couldn't be more excited about the timing of its arrival. Harvest is in late October, from certified organic Aris grapes. Grapes are pressed into conrete and ferment with skins for 4-6 months, after which the wine is transferred to barrels with 25-30% Dorado, their Amontillado style wine (10-15 year old Dorado). Aging continues for 7 years, and the delicious liquid is bottled En Rama. Only 2000 bottles were made. Considered a wine, but much like an off-dry sherry, this is an auburn-hued delicacy, and a perfect way to finish the meal, especially for folks who shy away from fully sweet dessert wines.  -EL

High Wire Distilling Southern Amaro Liqueur 750

Historically, amari were made as a way to make full use of the harvest by macerating leftover herbs, botanicals, and fruits in distilled spirits. This of course means everything was grown locally, resulting in a myriad of different styles depending on where you were and what crops were planted. And while there are other American amari on the market today, it’s hard to think of one that truly capitalizes on its bountiful, regional raw ingredients. Most are based on traditional Italian – or even Scandinavian – recipes, which are delicious, but rely on herbs and botanicals that may or may not be native to where they are made. Enter High Wire’s Southern Amaro. Using a base of neutral corn spirit, they macerate Yaupon Holly (America’s only native caffeinated plant) and gentian root, along with wild mint, local Dancy tangerine, and Charleston Black Tea (the only colorant used), among other botanicals. It is then sweetened with neutral cane syrup which they make themselves from local sugarcane. It is wild and intriguing on the nose with brown sugar, sweet spice, and zesty citrus balanced by deeper aromas of black tea leaves, pine resin, smoke, and hints of brine and celery. The palate is quite lifted and herb-forward with a balanced sweetness, and it is here that the tangerine and mint really shine along with a touch of black cherry. Reach for this after a fantastic meal! Tim Gagnon

Grandes Vignes 2021 Vin de France Groslot 1.5L Mag

"Groslot" (which loosely translates to "jackpot") is a humorous play on the name of the grape here, which is known officially as Grolleau Noir. The Vaillant family has definitely hit the jackpot with this wine, one of a lineup of reds without any SO2 added. Grolleau is a grape with plenty of fruit, ample acidity level and medium tannic structure, though the style here is light-handed and fun, so there is barely any grip to this wine. Really vibrant and fresh on the palate with crushed berries and a silky finish. Drink with a light chill! Alcohol is 11% and the style is very friendly and dare I say "thirst-quenching"...perfect for a holiday feast!

Forthave Spirits 'Red' Aperitivo

The Forthave Red Aperitivo is a base of sugar cane distillate infused with 13 botanicals, and contains no artificial coloring.It has a beautiful deep ruby hue, and explodes on the nose with notes of orange, plums, chamomile, rose, grapefruit rind, cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron. The palate is viscous with a pleasant bitterness and balanced sweetness. Enjoy on the rocks with a dash of soda water, or in your favorite classic coktails. Makes a delicious Negroni. Oskar Kostecki

Fremont, Julien 2020 Cidre Pays D'Auge Brut par Nature

A very dry cider (too dry for the AOC — "just enough sugar to make the mousse") with complex ripe apple and floral aromas, creamy, earthy spiciness on the palate, refreshing and delicious! 5.5% Alc.

Bordelet NV Sparkling Pear Cider Poiré Granit

Eric’s oldest heirloom pear trees (over 300 years old!) have vast roots that tap the soil’s granite deposits for a maximum blast of Norman minerality. As in his other ciders, fermentation continues in the bottle like the world’s finest sparkling wines, but this particular cuvée shows an incredibly refined bead, vinosity, and elegance that we've rarely taste from apples or pears.There's an impressive amount of dry, stony extract makes this bottle just as sophisticated a drink as most Champagnes. 'Granit'is very highly recommended as an example of cider’s potential, and is an annual favorite with holiday feasts. 

Bordelet NV Sparkling Pear Cider Poiré Authentique

Eric Bordelet was a super star in the wine and restaurant world before shifting his attention to orchard fruits and returning to his home town in southern Normandy’s Domfrontais region. Here pears replace apples as the primary ingredient in both Cidre and Calvados because the pear tree’s deep root system tunnel easily into the region’s dry soils. This is a perfect starter on Thanksgiving, and great with the pies at the end - and with the very low alcohol, maybe a glass for the kids as well. Serve with cheese plates, charcuterie, seared scallops, delicate salads, roasted root vegetables. Did we mention it's great with pies and desserts too?

Calsac, Étienne NV 19b Champagne 1er Cru Blanc de Blancs L'Échappée Belle

The 2019 base l’Échappée Belle reminds us of the beautiful purity and vibrancy of Étienne Calsac’s Champagnes. Though the domaine is located in Avize this wine speaks more to its origins in Grauves (considered Côtes des Blancs, though more aligned in character to Coteaux Sud d’Epernay according to our friend writer Peter Liem) with a just a nod towards the south-facing village of Bisseuil on the lower slope on La Montagne de Reims.

Barth, Laurent NV (2019) Alsace Extra Brut Petillant Naturel

Perfect as a pre-dinner treat on Thanksgiving, even Aunt Hildegard will love it! Mostly Pinot Auxerrois with some Pinot Noir in the mix, this is a methode ancestrale "Pet Nat" from Laurent Barth... a wine we never knew existed since most of it is sold in Europe and Laurent keeps a fair amount at home to share with friends. The wine spends 18 months sur latte (sur lie) before disgorging. A fascinating and singular wine, with a beautiful creamy texture and subtle aromas of red berries, citrus and minerals that continue on the elegant, refreshing palate. This is one of the most delicious Pet Nats of France - rarely available, don't delay!

Kögl 2020 Styria Pet Nat 'Under Pressure'

A lively Pet Nat from the southernmost reaches of Styria next to the Slovenian border; Tamara Kogl's "Under Pressure" is made from Weissburgunder and illustrates, like her Morillon, how Burgundian her terroir is. From very steep slopes full of sandy limestone, her wines are biodynamic and burst with bright acidity, pure fruit flavors and minerality in spades. Perhaps the best characteristic is that they are never heavy handed and are always light footed, like an aerial acrobat flipping through the air from one trapeze to the next. An excellent aperitif for holiday meals and get togethers! Giselle Hamburg

Pépière 2019 Muscadet Sèvre et Maine Gorges

We're ecstatic to have another vintage of this superb new Muscadet from Pépière. The product of an exchange of juice with Fred Lailler at Domaine Bregeon from a tiny parcel of old vines on Gabbro bedrock with clay rich in quartz. The wine undergoes a slow fermentation and is then aged 36 months on the lees. (Marc Ollivier considers this a favorite of Pepiere's bottlings, along with the Château-Thébaud.) The 2019 Gorges is a complex, dense and beautifully structured wine, with  a bit more brightness and acidity than than the superb 2015.  The Gabbro terroir brings unique aromas showing almond, smoke and petrol notes in addition to stone, pear, quince and mushroom. The palate is dense and intensely mineral with ripe pear and quince, earth, almond, anise and citrus notes, with stone, lemon peel and white fruits lingering in the very long finish. If drinking young please give the wine a lengthy decant to release the unique character of this wine - best to wait at least 5 - 6 years before opening, then enjoy until 2042 and beyond.  David Lillie

Domaine de l'Enclos 2020 Chablis

The Bouchard brothers have been on a roll since launching L'Enclos in 2016. The 2020 Chablis is from vines between 15 and 45 years old. It's  is a terrific village wine, beautifully racy, all lemon and fennel and very stony.

Lafouge 2020 Auxey-Duresses Les Hautés Blanc

The Lafouge Auxey-Duresses "Les Hautés" is from a north-facing parcel fairly high on the slope next to Meursault "Les Vireuils."

"The 2020 Auxey-Duresses Blanc “les Hautés” from Monsieur Lafouge is another beautifully racy and minerally example of the vintage. The bouquet jumps from the glass in a blaze of green apple, fresh lime, dried flowers, beeswax, limestone minerality and a whisper of vanillin oak. On the palate the wine is precise, full-bodied and snappy, with a lovely core, excellent soil inflection and grip, bouncy acids and a very long, focused and very promising finish. Again, just a bit of patience will be handsome dividends with this excellent young wine."  John Gilman "View from the Cellar"

Roche Bleue 2020 Coteaux du Loir L'Orée de la Berterie (11/14)

This is a beautiful Chenin Blanc from Sébastien Cornille at Domaine de la Roche Bleue, from 30-year-old vines on slopes (80%) and terraces (20%) in the lieu-dit "Le Haut Perray" in Chahaignes, Coteaux du Loir. Thin red clay soils over limestone and deeper clay soils with silex giving yields of about 30 ha/hl. The grapes are harvested late to counterbalance the vibrant acidity normal in this terroir. The 2020 L'Orée de la Berterie shows lovely ripe aromas  - honeyed pear, peach and kiwi with almond,  floral and mineral notes, elegant and pure. Dried pear, citrus peel, almond, stone and herbal notes on the round and ripe palate with terrific density and a long, quite firm citrus and mineral finish. This is an outstanding young Chenin that will open up over the next five to ten years, and it's a superb value as well. Serve with ceviche of fluke, fish in sauce, roast chicken and mild cheeses.  DL

Ambrositsch, Jutta 2020 Wien Ein Liter

Jutta Ambrositsch is our favorite new biodynamic grower in Vienna. This wine's a bit of a quirky one: it's a full liter and her hommage to the workhorse Grüner Veltliner liters that get us through the summer months but it's so much more interesting. She created it's first iteration in 2011,  Due to the small size of the 2010 harvest she didn't have enough gemischter satz to bottle on its own. Her solution was to hold it back in tank for a year and blend with the 2011, along with some additional parcels of Riesling and Grüner Veltliner from around the city. The result is terrific, with aromas of flowers, anise and loads of dark-toned minerals. Vividly intense and citrus-leaning on the palate, this will have you re-thinking the whole concept of Austrian liters. Just a tiny drop came into the US, so grab it while you can. -jfr  Juicy and round with flavors of nectarine and melon, yet bright and lively. GH

Weiser-Künstler 2021 Mosel Riesling Feinherb

This delicious feinherb comes from both old and younger vines mostly from Wolfer Sonnenlay and surrounding parcels. A touch spritzig upon opening, the freshness is delicate on the nose, being both fruity and floral. In 2021, it plays with the idea of residual sugar, giving a slight burst of fruit on the attack, and then finishes with stones and wonderfully intense acid! The finish is focused and clean. A fantastic introduction to the 2021 vintage. 

Dirler-Cadé 2013 Alsace Grand Cru Riesling Kessler

Dirler-Cade have been making wines in Alsace for five generations, working biodynamically since 1998. Their wines are always pure and focused but this 2013 Riesling from the Kessler Grand Cru is in an exceptional place right now, showing some slight petrol and honeyed fruit on the nose with firm acidity and a long finish. It's still fresh and lively but with layers of complexity that evolve as it's open. A versatile pairing partner, it should continue to age beautifully but why wait!  - Jeff DiLorenzo

Hermann J. Wiemer 2020 Finger Lakes Riesling Dry

Hermann J. Wiemer saw the great potential of the Finger Lakes to create high-quality cool-climate Riesling as they do in his native Mosel, Germany. The winery was founded in the 1979, one of the first in the region, and continues to be a benchmark for excellent Finger Lakes Riesling. Despite the incredibly challenging weather conditions which can lead to disease-pressure, they are committed to sustainable farming by not using herbicides or insecticides, and reducing their need for fungicides by managing the canopies to increase airflow. The dry Riesling is an excellent example of the great potential of this region for cool-climate varieties.

Casa Balaguer 2021 Alicante Tragolargo (Moscatel/Malvasia)

Organically (with some biodynamic practices) farmed grapes grapes from 2 plots over sandy saline soils. 70% Moscatel de Alexandria (Salinas de la Mata Natural Park in Torrevieja) and 30% Malvasia (Puerto de la Harina Estate). Manually harvested in July/August, table selection, indigenous yeast fermentation in stainless steel with 30-days skin contact. Aged on the lees for several months after harvest in the same tanks, before being bottled unfined, unfiltered, and zero SO2.

Two Shepherds 2021 Sonoma Valley Pinot Gris Ramato - Clarbec Vi

The Two Shepherds wines are new to me over the last year (though not to Chambers Street Wines) and I've been very taken with them. This Ramato of Pinot Gris is especially beguiling, all watermelon and rhubard with vivid floral accents. There is ample acidity keeping the wine fresh, even with the substantial tannic structure and mineral component. This is great and will set off your cranberry sauce in extraordinary fashion. Sam Ehrlich

Lambert, Patrick 2021 Chinon Rosé

This delightful Chinon Rosé comes from Patrick Lambert's 6 hectares of organic vines in Cravant, around the corner from his friend and mentor, Bernard Baudry. Hand harvested from 25-year-old Cabernet Franc vines on gravel and sandy clay soils over limestone. The 2021 shows lovely aromas of wild strawberry and raspberry, citrus and rose; the palate is silky and ripe with raspberry, cherry, citrus and stone flavors with nice density and texture,  with juicy acids, berry flavors and saline minerals in the finish. This is drinking beautifully now and will open up nicely through the summer and into 2023. This is a fabulous value and highly recommended. David Lillie

Ca N'estruc BI 2021 Catalunya 'Garnatxes'

Ca N'Estruc BI is a project from Anna Martí Pitart, whose family has been making wine in Catalunya for several generations. She uses the term 'BI' to show that the wine is 'living,' (vie in French is Bi in Catalan?). There is no SO2 added here, but the acidity is fresh and zippy and the wine is completely clean and ethereal. A co-ferment of Grenache Blanc and Grenache Noir. Fermentation is in stainless steel, and the wine is aged for 5 months before being bottled without fining, filtration, or sulfur addition. When we poured this at my wine bar (Skin Contact) it was my favorite by the glass wine not necessarily for how it smelled or tasted, but for how good it feels to drink. A very pure, bright and natural expression, that will be perfect for a big meal, with acidity to cleanse the palate and a clean finish.  -Eben

Preisinger, Claus 2021 Burgenland Puszta Libre!

Unusually slender for a red wine bottle, the Puszta Libre! bottle shape takes its inspiration from vintage soda bottles, a cheeky nod to how chuggable this wine is; and if that's not enough we are also instructed by the label to "drink cold"! A fruity blend of 60% Zweigelt/20% St. Laurent /20% Pinot Noir, aged for six months, half in steel tanks andhalf in large neutral barrels.  Smooth and light bodied, it's a perfect alternative to Beaujolais for Thanksgiving fare.  -Giselle Hamburg

Straka 2020 Burgenland Blaufrankisch 'Greenschist'

A delightful Blaufrankisch from Sud Burgenland near the border with Hungary. The 2020 vintage manages a fine balancing act between savory and plummy notes but will also be able to age gracefully due to the higher acid and the mineral notes imparted by the green schist soil type. An ideal red that can pair with a wide variety of foods!  -Giselle Hamburg

Gustavo Riffo 2020 Lomas de Llahuen Pipeno (Chile)

A delicious liter of Pais from the Itata Valley in Chile. Vines here are an average of 200 years old and the terroir is on a bedrock of granite. Grapes are destemmed and see about 2 weeks of maceration before the wine ages in stainless steel for about a year before bottling. Pais is known for lively aromatics, some spice notes, fresh acidity, and all of these elements are in play here. It's a perfect light/medium bodied red for a feast. Serve with a light chill with all your end of the year feasts!

Guímaro 2021 Ribeira Sacra Tinto

Pedro Rodriguez is one of our favorite winemakers in Northwest Spain, and the wines from Guímaro are consistently interesting and exciting. This is the most approachable and affordable red wine from the estate, made with hand harvested grapes from precariously steep vineyards of mainly Mencía within the Ribeira Sacra appellation. Fermented and aged without exposure to oak, this wine is red fruited and almost juicy, balanced by bright, clean acidity and a deep mineral core. This is an appealing expression of Mencía, approachable and friendly to food. -Ben Fletcher

Forgues, Valerie 2020 Vin de France Icone (Pineau d'Aunis)

(Arrives 10/26) 70% Pineau d’Aunis/20% Cabernet Franc/10% Gamay. 2020 is the very first vintage of "Icône". Averaging 30 years old, the vines are planted on clay-limestone soils in the heart of the Cher valley of the Touraine region in the Loire. They are certified-organic and tended and harvested by hand. The bunches were destemmed and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts and without sulfur in stainless steel and fiberglass tanks; the Pineau and Cabernet Franc were co-fermented, with the small bit of Gamay added after vinification to lighten up the blend. The wine was aged in vat and bottled without filtration and with minimal sulfur. The Icône shows a fairly dark red/black color with very pretty and surprisingly deep aromas of peppery, earthy berry fruits - typical of Pineau d'Aunis but with an extra layer of ripeness from the Cab Franc. On the palate there are firm juicy acids and velvety, chalky fruits as well, a nice melange of spicy cherry and berry fruits that is sapid and refreshing, with the juicy acidity lingering in the finish. Serve cool with just about anything...enjoy!

Lequin-Colin 2020 Bourgogne Rouge

Honest Burgundy at this price is an increasingly rare bird these days. From two vineyards in Santenay with EcoCert certification, this lovely Bourgone Rouge shows juicy raspberry and black cherry fruit, baking spices and a touch of cola. With air, it gains tension and elegance and the Burgundy minerality becomes more apparent. This is very satisfying and will likely improve, but why wait?   -Sam Ehrlich

Rateau 2018 Beaune 1er Cru Les Bressandes

Jean-Claude Rateau has a large parcel in the 1er Cru Les Bressandes on a steep slope facing east with pebbly clay/limestone soils, conducted in biodynamic farming since 1979. The soil is warm and well-drained giving ripe, structured wines. There is a 21-day cuvaison with manual cap-punching followed by 18 months in old barrels. Tasted in January of 2020 in the cellar, the 2018 Bressandes showed a deep black/red color and intense aromas of blackberry  and ripe black cherry, dense and pure. The palate was elegant and deep with black fruits, bitter chocolate, earth and mineral notes, very, very long and with great finishing acidity. Really a vibrant and beautiful Bressandes which should be fun to drink in it's youthful exuberance, or hold and enjoy until 2040. David Lillie

Terres Dorées (Jean-Paul Brun) 2020 Côte de Brouilly

Jean-Paul Brun of Domaine des Terres Dorées has 2 parcels of 50 year-old vines on a steep section of Mont Brouilly with a south-east exposition at about 1,000 ft of altitude. The thin soil is almost entirely stones of granite with a high iron content. (A more interesting terroir than the thicker, damper soils of Brouilly.) This is a gorgeous wine! Lovely, ripe blackberry and raspberry/strawberry fruit aromas with a touch of  violets and earth. The palate is ripe  but balanced  with black and red fruit liqueur and fresh citrusy acids that linger in the finish. A beautiful Beaujolais for current drinking and over the next few years. Highly recommended! "Contains very little sulfite," says the label "store in a cool place and consume rapidly after uncorking" We haven't noticed any problem keeping this wine, but consuming rapidly after uncorking will be easy... DL

Descombes, Georges 2020 Regnie

The 2020 Regnié from Geroges Descombes is a finely balanced wine, even in a warmer vintage, Ripe and generous fruit is offset with lively acidity and a vivid intensity on the palate that keeps this wine lifted and fresh. On the nose there are high-toned aromas of red and black currant, strawberry, raspberry, black cherry, rose, violets, and licorice. The palate has soft and finely integrated tannins and shows notes of strawberry and raspberry liqueur, blackberry, pomegranate, orange peel, baking spice and a granitic minerality, especially on the complex and satisfying finish. This is a very versatile wine, and I wouldn't hesitate to pair with a wide range of foods, from roast chicken and turkey to burgers or even a pork chop. I A joyful wine for all occasions.

Descombes, Georges 2020 Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes

 Haven’t checked in on a lot of the 2020 Beaujolais Crus. George’s Descombes is a longtime favorite, and what a treat to taste the Chiroubles Vieilles Vignes. The 2020 displays a darker ruby robe than the 2019. The nose is a bit circumspect on opening. More black raspberry and tangled bramble on the nose than strawberry and spice. Dust, dried rose and violet petals accent the deep fruit. The midweight palate is sculpted and driving and offers intense flavors of hedge fruits, cherry pit, and mineral salts on a long and punchy finish. This marries stony intensity with succulent fruit framed by taut structure. Tasty for sure,  buoyed by a nibble of saucisson, better still with leftover potato gratin and duck confit and sautéed chard. This is delicious, but rather than being “crushable,” it rewards patience and contemplation. Decant now or cellar for a couple of years to allow the elements to knit. John McIlwain

Fiefs de Lagrange 2016 Saint-Julien

"Chateau Lagrange has more than a hundred individual plots with 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot and 5% Petit-Verdot. Our vines are on average 40 years old, the oldest dating back to 1952. We encourage biodiversity around the vine plots, developing the auxiliary flora and fauna by planting hedges, introducing sheep to graze the fields, re-introducing bee hives and bird boxes. Mowing is delayed to avoid interrupting the plants’ cycle and wild flowers are sown …and, of course, no chemical herbicides are used on the domain. Since 2008, we have been farming 10 hectares according to the principles of biodynamic agriculture and also 20 hectares organically. The superb 2016 shows a dark and purple color, it has a very intense bouquet, with pure black cherry, crème de cassis and crushed violets. The palate has crisp acidity, quite tensile in the mouth and lively. One of the best success of Les Fiefs de Lagrange ever : a vibrant wine, beautifully balanced."

Renardat-Fache 2020 Bugey Cerdon Méthode Ancestrale

This charming, low-alcohol sparkler hails from the tiny appellation of Bugey (across from the Mont du Chat in Savoie). At 8% ABV this delicately sweet and exquisitely balanced pét-nat is the breakfast of champions, a companion while you prepare a feast, or the perfect solution to tricky dessert parings. A blend of Gamay and Poulsard, the wine pours a pleasing shade of magenta in the glass and offers up vivid aromas of purple wild flowers, raspberry patch, and mouth-watering grapefruit zest. The palate is light and fresh with flavors of sweet strawberries, raspberries, and crunchy blueberries on the attack then finishes with thirst-quenching mineral acidity. A purely enjoyable bottle at a great value. Serve chilled alongside fruit tarts, dark chocolate, or with tangy cheeses. -Amanda Bowman

Gomez Nevado NV Sierra Morena Palido Seco En Rama 375ml

Quinta do Infantado 2011 Porto Colheita Tawny

Old-vine field blend of over twenty varieties, made in the best vintages rather than from a blend of vintages. The Infantado Colheita is always a superb wine, a bit more distinctive and rich than the regular 10-year.  It comes from exclusively Class A parcels (Vale de Moinhos and Castelos) totaling 3.5 hectares on poor schist soils. The fruit is hand-harvested, partly destemmed and fermented exclusively in lagar; fermentation is stopped with seventy-seven-degree wine brandy. The wine was aged for ten years in a combination of very old tonel or balseiro (tall wooden tanks from 3,000-60,000 liters with thick staves that slow down oxidation) and the classic Port pipa (550-liter horizontal casks with thinner staves that promote oxidation). The 2011 is a gorgeous wine with a lovely fairly dark tawny color . The aromas are pure and elegant with dried red currant and raisin, rose petal, blood orange peel, clove. The palate is silky and supple with very pure focused flavors of dried fruits, earth, citrus and brown spice that continue in the very long finish which is sustained by firm acidity. This is a simply outstanding Colheita that will pair with fruit deserts and full-flavored cheeses and is a delight to sip by itself. This happily avoids the excess sweetness and brandy notes of Colheitas from the more commercial houses. Highly recommended and a bargain at the price!  David Lillie

Dandelion Vineyards Legacy of Australia Pedro Ximenez

This is a truly special Pedro Ximenez wine, bottled by Elena Brooks for Dandelion Vineyards, but originating from her neighbor, Carl Lidner, who has the oldest and largest stock of fortified wines in all of Australia. The grapes come from 80-120 year old goblet style vineyards on red clay and limestone soils in Barossa. The solera for this PX was started 35 years ago! This is a delicious dessert wine, with very balanced acidity and freshness considering the 230g/l of residual sugar. Delicious nectar, and truly remarkable for the price!

Forthave Spirits Amaro Marseille 750ml

The Forthave Marseille Amaro is truly unique affair. Based on a medieval recipe of four thieves who, as the story goes, traded their secret concoction for clemency. It is at once soft and assertive. Eucalyptus, mint, cinnamon, dried lemon peel, dried tea leaves, and honey dominate the nose, while the palate further reveals star anise, lemon extract, a touch of vanilla, and cloves. Marseille uses raw honey as a sweetener, and similar to something like Amaro dell'Erborista by Varnelli, it gives it a wonderful, soft and lush texture. Perfect as an after dinner digestif. Oskar Kostecki

Raventós I Blanc 2018 Conca del Riu Anoia de Nit Reserva Rosé 1.5 L

Pepe Raventós stepped outside of the Cava appellation in 2012 to create the Conca del Riu Anoia designation. The de Nit rosé was the first Conca wine and continues to sate and impress us with its lively expression of calcareous soils, rich with marine fossils. This is an incredibly versatile sparkler that has crisp, pretty stone fruit and light raspberry fruit with a gorgeous minerality.

Sulauze 2021 Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence Pomponette Rosé MAG

** 1.5L Magnum Bottle **  Domaine de Sulauze was purchased by an ambitious wife and husband team who converted all of the farming first to organic and then to biodynamics, and endeavor to use as little sulfur as possible while maintaining clean, classic wines. The name of the Domaine comes from the flaky limestone soil, aka Lauze, of their vineyards which give the vines excellent drainage. This year's rosé is approximately 60% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Vermentino, 15% Cinsault, and 5% Mourvèdre. Upon opening this wine is lean and racy with notes of crunchy green strawberry, watermelon, and ranier cherries, really showing the Vermentino, and after coming up in temperature develops riper notes of orange oil, juicy strawberry, peach and a bit of salty minerality, with a nice kick of firm acidity in the finish, making it a great acccompaniment to light summer meals. A lively, refreshing rosé from the Coteaux d'Aix-en-Provence and a perennial favorite!

Delmée, Philippe 2020 Vin de France Ch'nins on Boit 1.5 L

1.5L Magnum // This is the one Chenin Blanc that Philippe was able to produce from the 2020 vintage. Vinified in small barrels, and then aged in a large old barrel, this is a broad, 'leesy' expression. Very Anjou, with ripeness and mineral-driven sharpness and structure from the Schist soils. This firm mineral backbone gives structure and lingers long into the finish. On the palate, it has nice medium weight and density. A gift that keeps on giving!    -EL

Courault, Benoît 2021 Vin de France Les Tabeneaux 1.5L

50/50 Cabernet Franc and Grolleau in 2021, this vintage of Beni's Tabeneaux is lithe, fresh and ethereal. What a lovely vintage for this wine! It's a straightforward and cheerful red from Benoit Courault, exhibiting some of the vibrant bright red fruit one might associate with a partial carbonic maceration wine, but with nice weight, ripeness, and subtle tannin. Enjoy with a slight chill.  EL

Envinate 2021 Almansa Albahra 1.5L

Albahra is Envinate's Mediterranean wine, from vines of Garnacha Tintorera and Moravia-Agria, planted in clay-limestone soils near Albacete in Castilla-La Mancha. There are two parcels of Garnacha and one parcel of Moravia-Agria. Each parcel is vinified separately, always with some whole clusters used. After about 8 months the wines are blended together and bottled without fining or filtering and with only a small amount of SO2 added. The 2021 is bright and spicy, with notes of cherries, red fruit and a hint of bitterness in the finish, suggesting that a year in bottle should put this wine in an ideal spot

Sandri, Elio (Cascina Disa) 2019 Barbera d'Alba 1.5 L

A beautiful black cherry in color. The nose is generous, with exceptional plummy fruit and a charge of dark minerals leading to a waft of tannic black tea and dried roses. The palate is savory, with cherry fruit, salinity and a crunchy earthiness. Structure is high acid with an engaging chew. Another great wine from Elio Sandri! David HatzopoulosOffered today at a special low price!Magnums usually cost more than double the price of a standard .750ml bottle; the glass bottle for a mag is considerably more expensive, and the bottling lines you will find at many small producers don't have the expensive equipment required to bottle (or label) mags, so the work is done by hand. Today's offer ignores the economics in favor of bringing you this festive format - and most delicious and festive wine - at a great price. Take another 10% off for any 12 bottles (1 mag = 2 bottles)!

Envinate 2021 Tenerife Vidueno de Santiago del Teide 1.5L

Vindueno is from a "single parcel of 90-year-old vines on volcanic soils in the Valle de Arriba at 1000-1200m above sea level. The vines are trained en vaso, and no chemicals are used in the vineyard" (Jose Pastor website). In 2021, the wine is about half/half Listan Prieto (aka Pais aka Mision aka Criolla) and Listan Blanco. The grapes are co-fermented in an open top vat with 12 days of maceration, and aging for 8 months in used French barrels. As with all "Chingao" wines from Envinate, this is bottled without any fining, filtration or sulfur additions. I've always loved how graceful this wine is, but this vintage is possibly the most pretty, floral, bright and Burgundian of any in memory. A lovely, delicate wine, with notes of dried herbs and red fruit, and a long mineral finish.  -EL

Lamé Delisle Boucard 2005 Bourgueil Prestige 1.5 L

(Magnum) We enjoyed tasting older vintages of Lamé Delisle Boucard 25 years ago at the Salon des Vins de Loire, sometimes a bit funky but always interesting and quite complex on the palate in the style of Olga Raffault. Here's a review of the 2005 done in 2016  "...it has a great and very convincing presence of fruit on the palate, which remains bright, with a firm structure. And it feels quite elegant too. I get some dried black fruits here, as well as notes of black truffle, all quite savoury, with a dusting of tobacco leaf. A very good style overall. It feels like it might be starting to fade a little bit, although having tasted older vintages that may be a little pessimistic. While evolved, it certainly still has a very firm and upright frame, and perhaps this is enough to carry it forward another decade or two. Or three. Or four." 2016 the wine doctor