$25 - $50 Wine

2018 was a year marked by a spell of frost in April, reminiscent of the frost experienced in 2017 and followed in quick succession by an episode of hail on the 26th of May. The year was also marked by heavy downpours in Spring (113mm in the month of March alone!) and by a particularly hot and dry summer. Despite the attack of mildew at the beginning of the summer in certain parcels of red vines, the sunny period from July through to the beginning of October (with record temperatures in July and September) trully saved the vintage and guaranteed a good ripening of the grapes. The harvest began on the 28th of August with the whites and finished on the 13th of September.

The 2018 Lacroix-Martillac White is pale yellow. The nose is complex and fruity, with notes of citrus, peach and verbena. In the mouth, the wine is soft, round and fleshy. The finish is both fresh and delightfully flavoured. Winemaker Description. 

Intense lime and green apple aromas on the nose followed by some funky (and pleasant) notes of passion fruit / durian / boiled green beans / asparagus. Pronounced lime-y acidity with an underlying salinity. Long finish.

Laser-focused and mineral-loaded with ripe layers of sun-kissed citrus fruits, mango peel, and crunchy yellow/green apple on a bed of crushed white rock and honeysuckle. It’s unabashedly delicious yet complex and bone-dry; a quintessential snapshot of a storied terroir.

Want an authentic, elite bottling of Kremstal? This is it! Enjoy now and over the next 3-5 years. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

This extra fine cream sherry comes exclusively from select vineyards in the “Zona de Jerez Superior,” the world’s finest area for production of sherry.

Winemaker Description 

Named for the rare gemstone, Topaz Impérial shows a pinkish-peach hue. Pronounced aromas of white flowers and mandarin intermingle with hints of cantaloupe and nectarine. Flavors of hibiscus meld with ripe strawberry and white cherry, while a creamy mousse leads to a concentrated palate. Delicate and persistent, its fine bubbles compose a harmonious ballet. Producer Description. 

Bright golden amber in colour, the nose is intense recalling dried apricots and toast from the wine’s tender years under flor. Aged 12 years and 100% Palomino, the palate is structured, bright and energetic with layers of flavours including walnuts and salted caramel, without sweetness.

The finish is long and complex with tobacco at the end. To serve slightly chilled with charcuterie, cheese or with a game. Winemaker Description. 

Produced from 100% Lecinaro - a rare red grape autochthonous to the Lazio - the Gizziello Pet Nat is a thoughtful, soulful, and mouthwatering capture brought to us by the Tronconi family. The wine in the bottle is bone dry, stony, and lifted; think about it as a half-and-half of pellegrino and grower champagne accompanied by whispers of wild raspberry and tea. Its texture is delicate, moussy, and crushable. Approximately 175 cases produced. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

A beautiful violet color atypical of Nebbiolo but reflective of the 2021 vintage where fullness and richness are even present to the eye. The wine has bold notes of blackberry, cherry, blood orange, and bergamot with a touch of flintiness. Medium-structured with lots of juiciness and harmony on the palate all lead to well-balanced acidity and tannin structure with a long finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Following a traditional recipe from their families' histories, Elena and Luca crafted the Elena Vermouth di Torino from Nebbiolo and a slow infusion of 30 different herbs and botanicals from the Piedmont region.  Excellent on its own as a vini da meditazione, Elena Vermouth is also a perfect ingredient for a variety of cocktails. 

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby core with vivid ruby rim. The nose is very fine and multi-layered, with rich strawberry jam aromas, herbal notes, and fresh scents of cedarwood. There is also a discrete dimension, a luxurious redolence of leather and mocha coffee. In contrast, and in keeping with the Taylor house style, the palate has an attractive edge of austerity with taut tannins providing a firm grip to the long finish which delivers a surge of rich berry fruit flavor. A beautifully refined wine, poised and complete, displaying a complexity comparable with that of a mature classic vintage port. A beautiful expression of the 2018 vintage with its accent on elegance and finesse.

Excellent with fully flavored cheeses, especially blue cheeses. It is also delicious with desserts made with chocolate or berry fruits. Winemaker Description.

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine Spectator | Shows a nice core of dark currant and fig fruit that’s been steeped with anise, alder and bittersweet cocoa. Give this a little time in a decanter or cellar for another couple of winters. Possesses the stuffing to cover slow sipping over a weekend.

A straw yellow color. The bouquet is very subtle and elegant, with hints of pear, apple and plum fruit, of vanilla and with a floral note (acacia and jasmine). Dry, full bodied with very well-balanced acidity and refined minerality; it reflects perfumes with grace and elegance; remarkable character and unique personality. Winemaker Description. 

Anapea Villlage Qarvani produces Natural Wines exclusively using Georgian traditional methods.  The winery uses 2 sets of Qvevris for both fermentation (6 months on skins) and aging. All farming is organic and biodynamic and the winery is a member, and strict adherent, of the Georgia Natural Wine Association.

Mouth is soft and rich with well expressed aromas of white cherry jam, ripe tropical fruits backed by lively acidity and long finish. Velvety bouquet, velvety fruit tones. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

This ‘Sea and Mountains’ wine (Catalan) is a combination of equal parts Syrah and Grenache (45% each) with a touch of Grenache added for good measure. Juice is semi-carbonically vinified in cement, which keeps the wine fresh, light on its feet, and easy to drink. 

Notes of red fruit, wet rocks, and garrigue dominate the wine’s seriously satisfying palate. For a delicious taste of the Roussillon, look no further than this bottle. 

Winemaker Description

Winemaker, Eli Ben-Zaken, crafts this wine by allocating a portion of premium grape varietals - Merlot, Malbec, and Cabernet Franc - destined for the winery's flagship wine, Domaine du Castel Grand Vin. The grapes are picked early to ensure that the resulting wine has enough acidity to offer the crisp and tart nature of a rose that is expected.

Then, the grapes are pressed and the juice is left in contact with the grape skins for just enough time to achieve the wine's impressive salmon hue. This has enchanting floral and berry aromas leading into a wonderful soiree of tart citrus and red fruit flavors on the palate and capped by a pleasing mineral finish. This rose is best in its youth.

A blend of 60% Merlot, 22% Malbec and 18% Cabernet Franc from high-density vineyards planted at 700 metres altitude, west of Jerusalem.  

The Domaine de la Grand'Cour is located in the Beaujolais region and has vineyards in the Fleurie (9 hectares) and Brouilly (1.6 hectares) appellations. The Domaine was purchased in 1969 by Jean Dutraive, it is one of the oldest properties in Fleurie. Jean Dutraive was joined by his son Jean-Louis in 1977 and was permanently succeeded in 1989. The vineyard has always been managed in organic farming and has been certified since 2009. The Dutraive family also has a commercial activity; They source their grapes from organic winegrowing friends and develop other wines.

Les Perelles is a small production wine from the Dutraive family, made from fruit purchased from Paul-Henri Thillardon in Chénas, who kindly sold them a good portion of the grapes after storms devastated their Fleurie plots.

Silky tannins, intense and complex aromas with an invigorating vibration. The tannins’ maturity is balanced by the terroir’s mineral liveliness. A juicy and flavorful fruit makes it delicious from its early years, but its expression will grow in complexity over 10 years.

94 Points Guide RVF des Meilleurs Vins de France 2023 | The wine is relaxed, fresh, easy to drink without lacking in personality, on the contrary expressing all the scents of the Mediterranean scrubland.

Winemaker Description 

100% Palomino and aged for 5 years in bota, this is an invigorating white wine with a subtle, floral, mineral nose. Great intensity with sea breeze salinity running through an impressive structure, there is tension on the palate. 

The yeasty, baked bread flavours are in balance with apricots and golden apples. In the mouth the texture is silky and round, with an extremely long and clean finish. A unique style of Manzanilla to be served chilled with food or as an aperitif. 

Winemaker Description

Ruby red color with light copper highlights. Nose dominated by aromas of small berries (raspberry, redcurrant) very intense with some toasted notes. Tender, fruity and finely spicy on the palate. Fine and silky tannins, exceptional structure. Long and fruity finish. 

Expert Review 

91 Points James Suckling | Forest berries, smoke, dried herbs and baking spices on the nose. Medium body with sleek tannins. Silky texture with volume on the mid-palate. It’s fruity and well-balanced with a succulent finish. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification.

Winemaker Description

Ruby red color. Medium-high intensity with the presence of tears, clean and bright. Frank and complex on the nose. With hints of red fruit from the fresh vineyards of Rioja Alta. Balsamic and spicy aromas, all in perfect balance with the aromas of leather, tobacco leaf and tea after bottle ageing. Long on the palate, with fresh acidity, creamy and pleasant tannins. In short, a balanced wine, in harmony and ready to enjoy.

Perfect pairing with international food (curry, “ceviche” and spiced dishes) or traditional food, such as red and bush meats, also with cured cheeses.

Critic Review

92 Points James Suckling | Black berry fruit, oreo biscuits, olives, peppercorns and smoked meat on the nose. It’s medium-bodied, with juicy and savory layers accompanied by integrated tannins. Fresh and very drinkable. Vegan.

Named “Occidental” which means “of the West,” this sake definitely holds true to its name. The folks at Brooklyn Kura have created this truly unique American craft sake by utilizing dry hops, which gives this drink its pale pink hue. The bouquet is emboldened with a yeasty, IPA-like hint that boosts the delightful floral aroma. This sake's velvety smooth citrus and fruit flavor is perfectly balanced to make you say, “Ahhhh.” Producer Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Contrabandista has a nutty aroma with toffee-caramel tones and a rich finish. Serve slightly chilled as an aperitif or pair with creamy cheeses and pates. 

That Fire is a 100% Pinot Gris sourced from 25 years old vines from an 11 hectare parcel 200 meters above sea level. The soil is Granite and marl-limestone.

There is zero Sulfur, no Sulfites, no SO2 - the wine is sulfur-free, Hand harvested

A fruity, crisp, dry wine made from Rhône varietals: Grenache Blanc, Bourboulenc, Roussanne and Ugni Blanc. To enhance complexity and roundness, 10% of the Grenache Blanc is fermented in small, new, Limousin oak barrels. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

From grain to glass we obsess over every detail of handcrafting  Supergay vodka. Supergay is made from 100% organic corn, from local producers. Supergay is handcrafted in small batches and filtered through activated coconut charcoal to  create a distinctively smooth  and clean vodka that mixes perfectly in cocktails, and is  equally delicious on the rocks.  Born from the belief that craft spirits should have more fun, Supergay Spirits was  established in 2019.

The Faìve Spumante Rosé Brut from the Nino Franco winery is obtained from a skilful blend of 80% Merlot grapes and 20% Cabernet Franc grapes. The vineyards are located in the heart of Valdobbiadene, a typical prosecco area, where the soil structure rich in nutrients and the very mild climate favor optimal development of the vines and the production of quality grapes.

This winery has been producing quality wines and sparkling wines for several years, combining two important concepts such as excellence and typicality of the products. To produce Faìve Spumante Rosé Brut, a specific production cycle is followed. After a brief contact between the skins and the must, the fermentation takes place in steel tanks before carrying out the second fermentation with the Classic Method.

The refinement takes place directly in the bottle. In this way an elegant and refined sparkling wine is obtained, with a persistent foam, balanced and ideal to be consumed during an aperitif. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

James Suckling | This is a very approachable grenache blend that shows rich yet tangy raspberries, redcurrants, leather, red licorice and tar. Full-bodied and fleshy on the palate, which is punctuated by some really good acidity and firmness to the tannins. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

David & Nadia Topography Pinotage shows aromas of red fruits with flavors of fragrant cherry, black pepper, and notes of wood. Hints of raspberry and lead to lingering finish. 

Sinewy and graceful, minerally with plenty of ravishing botrytis. It is a habit-forming aperitif that marries better with cheeses than most reds. The French are known to admire it with Sunday’s roast chicken. With dessert? Yes. As dessert? Yes. Winemaker Description. 

92+ Points Eric Guido |  The spicy 2019 Trebbiano d’Abruzzo Fosso Cancelli wafts up with pungent florality complemented by savory herbal tones and then contrasted by an enriching note of baked apple. This is racy and cool-toned with vibrant acidity and saline mineral tones that keep the tension high as citrus-tinged orchard fruits cascade across the palate. The 2019 cleans up beautifully, leaving a salty flourish and nuances of sour lemon that tug at the cheeks. Well done, and the best part is that the Fosso Cancelli should only get better with a short stay in the cellar.

92 Points James Suckling  | A tight and polished trebbiano with sliced apple-zest, cream, pear and peach character. It’s medium-to full-bodied, layered and phenolic with a fresh finish.

The Cretan variety Dafní was saved from extinction by the Lyrarakis family, when it was planted in the "Psarades" vineyard at 480m. altitude in the early '90s. Its name derives from the laurel (bay leaf) plant, “Dáfni” in Greek, due to its aromatic resemblance.

A wine with a distinctive herbal character, refreshing mouthfeel and intense aftertaste, in a citrus fruit background.

Bright Yellow fruit nose like really freshly picked golden delicious apples as well as some hints of guava.  Spiced palate with medium acidity. Pepper and baking spices on the finish.  Like a lighter, crisper version of a Napa Valley sauvignon blanc.  

This would pair very nicely with ceviche with plenty of cilantro and jalapeño. Winemaker Description.