French Wine

Winemaker Description

A perfect combination of softness and concentration, matched by a masterful maturity, The 2015 Cristal Brut delivers intense and delicious aromas with a superb energy and a magical vibration.

This is a timeless champagne with a chalky temperament, sustained by its soils, freed from the sunny character of the vintage.The nose begins with hints of yellow fruit, toasted almonds and wheat from the Chardonnay, combined with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot Noir. 

Then comes the great surge of energy from the wine's structure, a vibratory intensity that transforms into a gentle caress, a silky texture interwoven with fine flavors of candied citrus and iodized spices.The vintage's chalky character thus bursts forth in a bracing, vertical effervescence, with an insistent, precise and finely honed freshness.

The finish is underpinned by subtle oaky, sappy and saline notes, which creates the ultimate sensation of delicacy and concentration.Cristal 2015 remains a wine of supreme balance and measure, resonating from the chalky nature of its soils rather than the sunny character of its vintage.

A perfect Cristal, intensely of the 2015 vintage, with enormous ageing potential.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 97 Points | The warm and dry vintage this has tremendous freshness and elegance. The complex nose of citrus blossom, mint, lemon and lime zest opens up slowly as this aerates in the glass. The wine’s ample structure is still quite firm, which is a vintage characteristic, the mousse very fine but also very lively for an eight-year-old champagne. Cristal fans will love this as it is, but a year or two more in the bottle will do a lot for the very long mineral finish of this youthful masterpiece. A cuvee of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, picked from all 45 Cristal vineyard plots. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023.

96 Points Wine Spectator | This mouthwatering Champagne has an ethereal quality, with a frame of chiseled acidity and focused precision to the pointillisme-like, vibrant mousse. Yet this shows depth and generous expression, with the finely spun notes of patisserie apple and blackberry fruit opening beautifully on the palate and through the minerally finish, with notes of grated ginger, blood orange granita, salted Marcona almond and anise.

96 Points Jeb Dunnuck | I had the opportunity to taste the 2015 Champagne Cristal twice, both at the house in Reims as well as at my home office. On both occasions, the wine offered a terrific balance of decadence and notable freshness for this vintage, which was highly expressive on opening. The release reveals layered custardy notes of lemon balm, incense, apricot, and hazelnut. Medium to full-bodied, the mousse is fluffy and rounded out beautifully through the palate. Round and approachable, it has a well-managed richness along with underlying savory sapidity and saline to keep this going over the coming three or more decades, with a chalky tannin structure to support it.

95 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | If the 2014 vintage was especially open and demonstrative, the 2015 Cristal is going to require more patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp stone fruits, white flowers, crushed mint and subtle hints of buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a deep, concentrated and rather introverted core of fruit framed by chalky extract and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse. This is a serious, vinous Champagne that has considerable substance to age and may well evolve along the lines of the lovely 1985.

95 Points Decanter | An open and inviting nose references cream, oatmeal and Amalfi lemon with the slightest edge of smoke. The palate immediately strikes with a mouthwatering lemon ripeness and a juicy, mouthfilling generosity reminiscent of yellow plum. It stays true to the trademark sleekness of Cristal and speaks of the concentration of 2015. Fine mousse accentuates the fullness and roundness of the wine while the long finish hints at chalky depth which, for now, is dominated by ripe stone fruit and more of that textured, rich notion of oatmeal. Definitely a Cristal to enjoy soon.

About La Grande Dame Jacquemus Artist Series

La Grande Dame 2018 Artist Series by Jacquemus is a stunning collaboration between two icons of French elegance — Veuve Clicquot and the celebrated fashion house Jacquemus. This limited-edition bottle features exclusive artwork by Jacquemus, making it as visually striking as it is exceptional in the glass. La Grande Dame has been Veuve Clicquot's prestige cuvée since its inauguration in 1972, crafted only in the finest vintages from eight Grands Crus of Champagne.

Tasting Notes

The 2018 vintage delivers a beautifully balanced expression of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Expect aromas of ripe stone fruit, brioche, and toasted hazelnuts, with a creamy, full-bodied palate of peach, citrus zest, and subtle minerality. Elegant and long-finishing with exceptional structure and aging potential.

Food Pairings

Perfect with lobster, scallops, foie gras, aged Comté, and fine charcuterie. An exceptional celebratory Champagne for milestone occasions.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2018
Region: Champagne, France
Appellation: Champagne AOC
Grape Varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Style: Brut Vintage Champagne
Edition: Artist Series — Jacquemus Limited Edition

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Jasper Morris 92-94 Points | Mid lemon. A little more stuffing than the very agreeable Chenevottes, digging deep into fresh yellow fruit, some citrus rind, good acidity, and a particularly appealing intense crisp white fruit finish. Old vines count! 

Neal Martin writes:  The 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet Les Champs Gain 1er Cru has a touch more mineralité on the nose compared to the Les Chenevottes, touches of gypsum and oyster shell intermingling with light white linen scents. The palate is very well balanced and beautifully poised, with entrancing white peach and nectarine notes toward the irresistible finish. Yes, yes, yes!  Drinking 2025 to 2048.  - Vinous 93-95

William Kelley writes: Aromas of citrus zest, peach and pear, mingled with hints of white flowers, hazelnuts and fresh bread, preface the 2020 Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Champs Gain, a medium to full-bodied, satiny and nicely concentrated wine with a bright spine of acidity and a mouthwateringly chalky finish. This looks to be Colin's best Champs Gain since 2017.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91-93

Winemaker Description 

Founded in 1970 by Marc Colin and his wife Michele, Domaine Marc Colin now spans 15 hectares encompassing 26 appellations in St. Aubin, Chassagne, Puligny, and Santenay. Most of the land was inherited from past generations of Colin and Ponavoy; certain parcels have been in the family for more than 100 years. While the family does own prime territory in Chassagne, home base in St. Aubin features parcels of the very best vineyards, En Remilly and Chatenière, to name a few. These vineyards accrue prestige due to their sloped location; while much of St. Aubin resides on flat ground (rendering less interesting wines) the Colin properties are all situated on finely pitched hillsides. The resulting wines shimmer with savory minerality and luster.

Today Joseph, Caroline, and Damien, the children of Marc and Michele, own and run the domaine. The fourth sibling Pierre-Yves (who made the wine at Marc Colin for 10 years) established his own project in 2005. Sustainable and organic agriculture, older vines, and clay-limestone soils are just some of the components contributing to the quality of the final product. Winemaking style would best be called traditional, though Joseph (who makes the whites) and Damien (who makes the reds) are certainly not shy of innovation. Whites strive for optimum freshness; there is no heavy, ungainly wood here. The red wines are characterized by silky texture, ever-present fruit and a certain roundness with just a kiss of oak. Production consists of 70% white and 30% red with total production maxing out at 120,000 bottles.

Winemaker Description

Champagne Palmer & Co concentrates its vineyard holdings in the Montagne de Reims: in the grand cru villages of Mailly and Verzenay and the premier cru villages of Trépail and Villers-Marmery. While they also have holdings in the Marne Valley, the Côte de Sézanne and the Côte des Bar, their prestige cuvée Grands Terroirs, channels those north- and north-east-facing slopes with power and precision.

The 2015 vintage is blended from 50% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Meunier, sourced from Mailly and Verzenay as well as Trépail, Villers-Marmery, Ludes, Chigny-les-Roses and Rilly-la-Montagne. Palmer & Co refers to the vintage as “exceptional” because it combined high temperatures and little rainfall – spelling little disease pressure and even ripening. Sunny days and cool nights in August, they say, allowed for “perfect” ripening.

The nose, subtle and charming, opens with notes of orange blossom and acacia, mixed with notes of yellow fruits, then it evolves towards lovely and delicately spiced aromas of fried pineapple and tonka bean. The palate is characterized by freshness, with citrus fruits sublimating the notes of brioche and dried fruits. Its creamy texture stretches deliciously into a persistent finish. 

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine & Spirits | Markedly youthful in its smoky reduction, this wine sees its sulfur blow off quickly, leaving a flinty scent and an impression of clarity. It’s bright with pretty scents of black tea and herbs, firmed up by strong acidity.

92 Points James Suckling | A chalky and mineral Champagne with aromas of blanched almonds, chalk, seashells, biscuits, lemon pith and dried apples. Creamy mousse. Dry and bright, with a rounded finish. Drink now or hold.

Producer Notes — Vintage 2024

Domaine Guiberteau is one of the Loire Valley’s most celebrated estates, and Les Moulins is their entry-level rosé — a cuvée originally created for vineyards undergoing organic certification, now showcasing purchased grapes and young Domaine vines alongside the estate’s signature precision. Produced under the Chai de la Dive négociant project.

Made from Cabernet Franc, whole-cluster pressed and fermented with ambient yeasts in stainless steel, with malolactic conversion blocked to preserve freshness. The result is a bright, precise, and food-friendly rosé with real Loire character.

Terroir

Sourced from multiple sites across Berrie (clay-sand over Turonian limestone), Puy-Notre-Dame (silty-sandy-clay over Turonian limestone), and Montreuil-Bellay (clay-sand over Jurassic limestone) — each contributing distinct texture and minerality to the blend.

Vinification

Whole-cluster pressing → 24-hour settling → 3-week ambient yeast fermentation in stainless steel → malolactic blocked → 6 months on stainless → tangential flow filtration. Low SO2 intervention throughout.

• Producer: Domaine Guiberteau / Chai de la Dive
• Appellation: Saumur, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: Cabernet Franc
• Vine Age: 10–35 years
• Viticulture: Organic (uncertified)
• Vintage: 2024
• Format: 750ml
• Style: Dry, fresh, mineral rosé
• Pairings: Seafood, salads, charcuterie, light summer dishes

Discover Domaine de La Solitude Pessac-Léognan Blanc 2023, an exceptional white Bordeaux that showcases the finest expression of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. This wine has garnered outstanding critical acclaim, with multiple scores in the 90+ range from the world's most respected wine critics. Crafted from grapes grown on gravel soils with cooler clays, this estate wine represents the perfect balance of fruit, freshness, and elegance that defines great white Bordeaux.

Exceptional Critical Acclaim - 2023 Vintage

James Suckling - 94 Points
"More savory and creamy than fruity, showing gooseberries, guavas and sliced apples. Fresh and round with medium body and a textured, long finish. Good energy, with a saline twist at the end. Nice phenolics and density at the end. Drink now or hold."

Jeb Dunnuck - 93 Points (91-93)
"The 2023 Domaine De La Solitude (Pessac-Léognan) Blanc will certainly be outstanding. Based on 65% Sauvignon Blanc and 35% Semillon, it has bright, minty herbs, citrus, and honeyed pineapple-like aromas and flavors as well as a medium-bodied, round, plush, beautifully textured style on the palate."

The Wine Independent - 92 Points (90-92)
"The 2023 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc races out of the glass with expressive scents of fresh grapefruit, crunchy peaches, and Bosc pears leading to hints of beeswax and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate is silky, with great intensity of orchard fruit flavors and a racy backbone, finishing with great length."

Decanter - 91 Points
"Earlier harvest to preserve acidity from this estate with gravel soils but thankfully cooler clays as well, resulting in an easy-going wine not without some warmth, but marked by ripe pear, peach, orange zest and lemon, more fruit forward than complex – and a pleasure to drink."

Wine Advocate - 90 Points (88-90)
"The Domaine de la Solitude 2023 Blanc exudes aromas of confit citron, lemon, verbena and white fruits. Medium-bodied, supple and juicy, it's perfectly balanced with a long, delicate and perfumed finish."

Vinous Media - 90 Points
"The 2023 Domaine de la Solitude Blanc has a cohesive and focused bouquet with green apple, kiwi fruit and light, pithy pear aromas that are neatly knitted together by the oak. The palate is a more textural white with a keen line of acidity, vibrant and fresh with a dab of ginger toward the finish."

Grape Blend

Composition: 65% Sauvignon Blanc, 35% Sémillon
This classic Pessac-Léognan white blend combines Sauvignon Blanc's vibrant aromatics and acidity with Sémillon's richness and texture.

Tasting Profile

Aroma: Expressive scents of fresh grapefruit, crunchy peaches, Bosc pears, gooseberries, guavas, sliced apples, bright minty herbs, citrus, honeyed pineapple, confit citron, lemon, verbena, white fruits, green apple, kiwi fruit, pithy pear, ripe pear, peach, orange zest, hints of beeswax and sea spray
Palate: Medium-bodied, fresh and round. Savory and creamy. Silky with great intensity of orchard fruit flavors. Round, plush, beautifully textured style. Supple and juicy, perfectly balanced. More textural white with keen line of acidity, vibrant and fresh. Good energy with nice phenolics and density
Finish: Textured, long finish with a saline twist at the end. Great length. Long, delicate and perfumed finish. Dab of ginger toward the finish

Pessac-Léognan Terroir

From an estate with gravel soils and cooler clays, this wine benefits from the unique terroir of Pessac-Léognan. Earlier harvest preserves acidity, resulting in an easy-going wine marked by freshness and balance. The combination of gravel and clay soils provides both drainage and moisture retention, creating ideal conditions for producing exceptional white Bordeaux.

Winemaking Excellence

The grapes are carefully selected and the wine is neatly knitted together by oak aging, which adds texture and complexity without overwhelming the fruit. The winemaking approach preserves the natural acidity and vibrant character of the grapes while developing the wine's textural qualities and depth.

Aging Potential

Drink Window: Drink now or hold
This wine offers both immediate pleasure and aging potential. It's a pleasure to drink now with its fruit-forward character, yet has the structure and balance to develop further complexity with cellaring.

Food Pairing Suggestions

This versatile white Bordeaux pairs beautifully with:

• Seafood and shellfish
• Grilled fish
• Poultry and white meats
• Creamy cheeses
• Salads with citrus vinaigrette
• Asian cuisine
• Light pasta dishes
• Oysters and raw bar

Outstanding White Bordeaux

The 2023 Domaine de La Solitude Blanc will certainly be outstanding, representing exceptional value in white Pessac-Léognan. With its cohesive and focused bouquet, racy backbone, and perfectly balanced palate, this wine showcases why Pessac-Léognan is one of Bordeaux's premier appellations for white wine. The combination of critical acclaim, classic blend, and distinctive terroir makes this a must-have for white Bordeaux enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Domaine de La Solitude Pessac-Leognan Blanc 2023 750ml

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Decanter 92 Points | Pretty forceful, direct acidity here. Classic Chablis style. Will age. Comes from two plots situated on the left bank of the Serein, with one positioned below Montée de Tonnerre. They are fermented and kept separate before blending. Mostly hand-harvested.

Jasper Morris 91 Points | Pretty forceful, direct acidity here. Classic Chablis style. Will age. Comes from two plots situated on the left bank of the Serein, with one positioned below Montée de Tonnerre. They are fermented and kept separate before blending. Mostly hand-harvested.

Memo Notes

The 2022 growing season was warm, which gave this wine more volume and richness than the leaner 2021, but Billaud's signature precision remains intact.

• Aroma: Classic "Kimmeridgian" mineral notes of crushed chalk and seashell, followed by yellow plum, white flowers, and a hint of beeswax.

• Palate: Vibrant and electric. Expect a core of lemon zest, green apple, and white peach. The texture is slightly creamy from the lees aging but is driven by a distinct saline (salty) streak.
• 
  

  Finish: Long, dry, and exceptionally clean, with a lingering flinty finish.

  Memo Pairing Notes

• The Gold Standard: Fresh oysters on the half shell or chilled crab claws. 

  • Main Courses: Grilled sea bass with lemon and herbs, or a creamy mushroom risotto.

  • Cheese: Goat cheese (Chèvre) or a light, nutty Comté.

About L’Arbre

L’Arbre is Vincent Cuillier’s most personal wine — a single-parcel Champagne from Les Voyets, the family’s most historic vineyard in the Marne village of Pouillon. The name “L’Arbre” (The Tree) is a direct nod to Cuillier’s extensive work planting trees and cultivating biodiversity across the estate through natural viticulture and vitiforestry.

Made exclusively as a zero-dosage vintage Champagne from 100% Pinot Meunier, this is a wine of remarkable depth and precision — a testament to Cuillier’s deft hand in both the vines and the cellar.

Tasting Notes

Plump, forward berry fruit — red cherry, wild strawberry, and a hint of brioche — kept in elegant check by crisp acidity and fine, complex mineral-driven lines. The zero dosage reveals the wine’s true character: pure, taut, and long on the finish. A Blanc de Noirs of genuine cellar-worthiness.

In the Cellar

Indigenous yeast fermentation in small stainless steel tanks, followed by a full year of tank aging. This vintage cuvée spends the requisite 36 months sur lattes before being hand-disgorged with zero dosage. No fining, no filtration.

Food Pairings

• Oysters, sea urchin, and raw shellfish
• Charcuterie, aged ham, and mushroom dishes
• Soft-ripened cheeses (Brie, Camembert)
• Roasted chicken or guinea fowl

About Vincent Cuillier

Vincent Cuillier is a grower-producer based in Pouillon in the Marne Valley, farming his family’s historic parcels with a deep commitment to natural viticulture and vitiforestry — an approach that integrates trees and biodiversity into the vineyard ecosystem. His wines are made with minimal intervention: indigenous fermentations, no fining or filtration, and zero dosage across the range. L’Arbre represents the pinnacle of his work.

Product Details

• Producer: Vincent Cuillier
• Cuvée: L’Arbre Blanc de Noirs
• Style: Brut Nature (Zero Dosage)
• Varietal: 100% Pinot Meunier
• Vintage: 2022 (Disgorged)
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Village: Pouillon, Marne, France
• Parcel: Les Voyets
• Farming: Natural viticulture / Vitiforestry
• Vinification: Indigenous yeast, stainless steel, 36 months sur lattes, hand-disgorged
• Dosage: Zero (Brut Nature)
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Closure: Cork & Cage

Winemaker Description 

Beautiful ruby red color with an intense nose of fresh grapes and subtle black fruits aromas.

This is a complex wine that offers firm tannins and rich fruit. It has weight, density and a strong sense of ripeness. With balance and depth, it’s a wine with good aging potential.
Will pair nicely with all kind of meats (pork shank, roasted poultry), and perfumed cheeses (like crottins de Chavignolor other goat cheeses).

On the palate, the wine reveals a good structure and the evolution expresses some freshness that gives to the wine a very dynamic character and a contemporary style. Great with grilled meats and hard cheeses! 

• Practicing organic
• 90% Pinot Noir (15% vin rouge), 10% Chardonnay
• 50% 2022, 50% 2021-2020
• From Rilly-la-Montagne 1er Cru and Villers-Allerands 1er Cru
• Clay and limestone
• 35+ year old vines
• No malo
• Fermented and aged in large foudre
• Aged 30+ months on the lees
• Dosage: 8g/L

• The Wine Advocate by William Kelley writes 92 Points |

  Generous and expressive, the latest rendition of Vilmart's NV Brut Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis is showing very well, bursting with aromas of red berries, plums, blood orange and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a sapid core of fruit, a pillowy mousse and a lively, delicately phenolic finish, it's already drinking well. This is based on the 2017 vintage, with reserve wines from the 2016 and 2015 vintages, and it was disgorged with nine grams per liter dosage.

• The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Fine and harmonious, this is lightly chalky and refined in texture, showing pinpoint integration of its well-spiced range of pureed raspberry, blood orange granita, lime peel, biscuit and mineral notes and its spine of chiseled acidity. Concentrated yet ethereal. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Drink now through 2030.
• Allen Meadows Burghound 91 Points | Medium ruby color. The moderately fruity nose is composed of raspberry, cherry, strawberry and lovely yeast, apple and citrus peel whiffs. The delicious and super-yeasty flavors possess fine depth on the clean and relatively dry finish, indeed this is notably drier than what is typical for the genre. Lovely and this is a wine that could be enjoyed now or held for a few years first.
• Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | The NV Cuvée Rubis is vibrant pink, with aromas of wildflowers, wild raspberry, and juicy fruit. The palate is juicy and round, with blood orange, and perfect for relatively near-term drinking over the next 6-8 years.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

The colour is a beautiful pale gold with green highlights. The nose is floral and elegant, with hints of ibiscus and pleasant apricot. The palate is rich and smooth, with aromas of creamy caramel and a magnificent mineral and saline finish.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

A lovely golden colour. Intense aromas of lychee, blackcurrant and exotic fruit. Luscious and tangy on the palate, with aromas of yellow-fleshed fruit such as pineapple and a refreshing touch of minerality.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Domaine Pierre Gelin is the leading wine producer in the small village of Fixin (pronounced “Fees-an”). The family domaine was founded in 1925 by Pierre Gelin and is today in the hands of Pierre’s grandson, Pierre-Emmanuel. Pierre-Emmanuel farms organically and works to minimize the impact on the environment in both vineyard and cellar.

The family owns 32 acres in total including parcels in five of the Fixin premier crus and the monopole Clos Napoléon.

In 1961 Pierre also purchased vineyards in Gevrey-Chambertin, including the monopole Clos de Meixvelle, Clos Prieur 1er cru, and the Grand Cru Clos de Bèze.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

On the palate it is silky, supple and delicate; well-balanced and elegant with a fine long finish of ripe blackberry and blackcurrents.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

The wine is dry, round and supple, with a beautiful refreshing acidity. It gives off notes of ripe fruits, peaches and pink grapefruit… On the palate, it gives immediate pleasure and has lovely weight.
 

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Fruity and silky, Château Léoube's bottle of rosé wine is considered one of the best in the region. This dry rosé wine from Provence can be enjoyed as an aperitif or with a meal, with a wide range of surprising and delicious combinations. This elegant, full-bodied Provence rosé, with its strong maritime influence, is a wine for all seasons and all occasions.

Winemaker Description 

This cuvée is the classic white wine of Montbourgeau. It is usually bottled after 24 to 30 months of élevage in barrel. 

The very special nature of the appellation of L’Etoile produces white wines of exceptional finesse and complexity.

The fermentation occurs in stainless steel but, after malolactic, the wine is racked into small barrel and demi-muids for two years. At that point, the entire production is assembled and left for several months in cuve before being bottled. 

Alfred Gratien Champagne Classic Brut — Champagne, France NV

Alfred Gratien is one of Champagne's most principled and independent houses — still fermenting in small oak casks, still hand-riddling, still refusing shortcuts. Their Classic Brut is the house's calling card: a blend of 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, and 25% Pinot Meunier, based on the 2015 harvest, crafted for depth, texture, and longevity. Both James Suckling and Wine Spectator awarded it 93 points. At $59.99, it is one of the most compelling values in serious Champagne.

The nose is moderately intense and complex: sweet pastry, biscuit, dried apple, orchard fruit, citrus, white flowers, and fresh butter. On the palate, the texture is silky and layered — ripe yellow peach, raspberry, chopped hazelnut, pickled ginger, and preserved lemon, all framed by chiseled acidity and a satiny mousse. A chalky minerality runs through the wine from start to finish. The finish is crisp, long (6–8 seconds), and beautifully balanced — with a pleasing sugar component that never tips into sweetness.

James Suckling 93 — "Fantastic NV Champagne with a fine, creamy texture of small barrels and a deep, layered palate... Tangy. Layered and powerful, yet fresh."

Wine Spectator 93 — "Finely meshed and mouthwatering, with a satiny mousse and creamy finish."

• Producer: Alfred Gratien, Épernay, Champagne, France
• Appellation: Champagne AOC
• Blend: 50% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier
• Base Vintage: 2015
• Style: Brut, Non-Vintage
• Vinification: Small oak cask fermentation, hand-riddled
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Brioche, dried apple, orchard fruit, peach, raspberry, hazelnut, chalky mineral finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or hold
• Best Paired With: Oysters, roast chicken, aged Comté, smoked salmon, mushroom risotto

A dual 93-point Champagne from one of the region's most uncompromising houses — Alfred Gratien Classic Brut is the benchmark for what independent Champagne can be.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points | Readers looking for one of the hidden gems in the vintage should jump on the 2023 Château Brane-Cantenac, an incredibly impressive Margaux that does everything right. Cassis, graphite, violets, lead pencil, and leafy tobacco notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with classy, integrated oak, flawless balance, and fine tannins. I love its overall purity, as well as its balance, and it should need just 4-5 years of bottle age to show its potential.

Decanter 96 Points | Very aromatic, gorgeous florality on the nose, so inviting and welcoming. Really open and generous - roses, violets, peonies, red cherries and strawberries. Supple and juicy, instantly quite pretty and fun, a lively bright aspect to the red fruits - cranberry, crisp green apple, raspberry and strawberry then the fine tannins come into play and give the structure and the focus to the finish. It’s a little less plush than Brane is normally - usually more gentle, fleshy and smooth - this is a little two-toned with influence from the new oak in the tightness but there’s great potential here. Feels a bit more like a St-Julien expression - calm, relaxed, smooth, intentional, juicy and lifted. Less charming right now, more tense and precise.

James Suckling 95 Points | This shows very pretty fruit and ultra-fine tannins that have an almost al-dente sense to them. It has a medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. The tannin quality is exceptional.

Jane Anson 96 | A great aromatic hit on the opening beats, giving way to silky tannins, spiced plum, rhubarb and slate, cassis and bilberry fruit, all showing depth and intensity. Such an accomplished wine, once again showing how it's done.

Winemaker Description 

Baron de Brane is the second wine of Château Brane-Cantenac, a second growth château owned by Henri Lurton and one of the oldest and largest properties in Margaux. The blend is made up of about 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the grapes coming from developing vineyards, some on gravel beds 12 metres deep.

Winemaker Description 

100% Jacquère. The Abymes appellation sits lower and the slope than the Apremont and is on generally flatter land. Stainless steel fermentation and aging.

A firm, mineral spine and racy acidity support this wines core of lemon, verbena, peach and pear notes. This is the perfect match for fondue, raclette or a good old fashioned charcuterie plate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

96 Points James Suckling: A very balanced, refined Duhart with ever so fine tannins and currant, tobacco and cedar aromas and flavors. Medium to fine tannins. It’s extremely long and polished. Direct. You already want to drink this.
Barrel Sample:95-96

94 Points  Robert Parker's Wine Advocate: The 2019 Duhart-Milon is showing beautifully, mingling aromas of cassis and wild berries with notions of violets, cedar wood, orange rind, licorice and spice box in a perfumed bouquet. Medium to full-bodied, supple and seamless, it's charming and refined, with a deep core of fruit, powdery tannins and succulent acids. This château is going from strength to strength. Best after 2025.

94 Points Decanter: This one might sneak up on you, confirming the rise of this wine in recent years. Clear depth of fruit, and above all clear Pauillac character. This feels strict and confident, with beautiful balance and restraint. Duhart is one of the later-ripening and cooler Pauillac terroirs which is why in the past it could be overly austere when young, but it is benefitting from recent hot summers in terms of its fruit ripeness. Pencil lead is prominent here, along with cassis and bilberry. Very precise, very elegant, with a creaminess to the fruit through the mid palate, and overall this is an excellent Duhart.
Barrel Sample:94

94 Wine Spectator: Racy and mineral-driven, with a chalky thread that runs from start to finish, adding a perfumed elegance to a core of steeped black currant and blackberry fruit flavors. This has a lushness to the fruit, with dark tobacco, steeped black tea and singed alder notes, but there's plenty of range, detail and textural nuance as well. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2024

Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot

Anne Pichon “Sauvage” Grenache Noir Vieilles Vignes — Vaucluse, Southern Rhône 2023

At the foot of Mont Ventoux, where the limestone soils are stony and the summer sun is relentless, Anne Pichon farms old-vine Grenache Noir the way it was always meant to be farmed — organically, patiently, and with deep respect for the vine. The “Sauvage” Vieilles Vignes is their flagship red: a late-harvested cuvée from old vines that delivers the kind of concentration and hedonistic power that makes Grenache lovers stop and pay attention. Ecocert Certified Organic. At $18.99, it is one of the great overachievers of the Southern Rhône.

The 2023 vintage is dense, ripe, and immediately seductive. The nose opens with black cherry, blackberry, and blackcurrant — dark fruit piled high — followed by layers of cocoa, sweet chocolate, and licorice that add complexity and depth. On the palate it is full-bodied and concentrated, with plush texture, ripe tannins, and a long, warming finish. This is a Grenache Bomb in the best possible sense: powerful, generous, and built for the table.

Anne Pichon — "Harvested late at an optimal ripeness, this cuvée is very concentrated and powerful with notes of black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cocoa, sweet chocolate and licorice."

• Producer: Anne Pichon, Vaucluse, Southern Rhône, France
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Vaucluse IGP
• Sub-Region: Mont Ventoux, Southern Rhône
• Varietal: 100% Grenache Noir (Vieilles Vignes)
• Farming: Ecocert Certified Organic
• Style: Full-bodied, concentrated & hedonistic
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Black cherry, blackberry, blackcurrant, cocoa, sweet chocolate, licorice, plush tannins
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 5+ years
• Best Paired With: Lamb chops with harissa, grilled steak, smoked brisket, wild mushroom risotto, aged hard cheese

A certified organic Grenache Bomb from the shadow of Mont Ventoux — old vines, late harvest, and pure Southern Rhône power at an honest price.

Expert Reviews 

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | The fine and creamy bead of this elegant rosé carries an attractive mix of white cherry, peach, blood orange granita and biscuit flavors, enlivened by a firm frame of mouthwatering acidity.

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points | The NV Champagne Grand Brut Rosé pours a medium salmon hue and is equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir (8% of which is red wine). It is juicy with ripe raspberry, crushed flowers, and sweet citrus. The palate is ripe with apricot, sweet tangerine, and a soft texture. It is ready to drink now or over the next 6-8 years.

Winemaker Description 

This Grand Rosé has a high percentage of Chardonnay, which creates freshness and precision, complemented by Pinot Noir with delivers very fine and crunchy fruit. With 4 years minimum ageing in the cellars, this Rosé balances between freshness and fruit without masking the wine’s character and purity. The nose reveals aromas of citrus and strawberries with subtle notes of red berries and spice. The palate is well-built with a constant balance between the tension of the acidity and the smoothness of the fruit, while the finish shows a nice roundness and lovely minerality.

Winemaker Description 

This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 94 Points | This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo!

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2020 Sociando-Mallet is very attractive, exhibiting aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with lively acids and powdery tannins, it's a strong effort from a site that always does well in warm vintages. The 2020 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Decanter 92 Points | Wonderfully fragrant on the nose, just stopping short of being potent. Glorious perfumed scents and rich, ripe black fruits. Clean and clear, this has a lively energy to it and a little bit of liquorice which gives a savoury, dark and sticky edge to the fruit. Clarity, classicism and precision on show. Sculpted, muscular, grippy and chewy. Excellent potential with a slate and coffee-toned finish.

Producer Description 

The wine is a crimson-hued garnet red. Elegant and refined, the nose exudes floral aromas, going on with airing to develop notes of blackcurrant and licorice root. The full and smooth attack reveals an alluring and complex array of flavors in which ripe fruit is magnificently set off by notes of toasted cereals and violet. The mid-palate is underpinned by high-quality close-knit and creamy tannins, leading into a saline and slightly minty finish which lingers on hints of chocolates.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 96 Points | Aromas of crushed stone, blackcurrants and blackberries. Full-bodied with extremely well-crafted tannins that are chewy and layered, yet polished and fantastic. Love the finish. 72% cabernet sauvignon, 25% petit verdot, 22% merlot and 4% cabernet franc. (v.2019).

Wine Enthusiast 94-96 Points | Dense and rich, with a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon, this is another great vintage from the estate. Its black fruits ooze concentration alongside firm tannins that promise a potential for long aging. The aftertaste has opulent black currant richness. (v.2019). 

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2019 Clerc Milon is a real success. At more than 70%, this blend contains one of the highest proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon in the property's recent history, and the result is a wine of real nobility. Offering up aromas of violets, wild berries, licorice, loamy soil and cigar wrapper, it's full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, with notable depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. From clay-limestone soils rather than the sandy gravels that characterize d'Armailhac, this is by some margin the more structured and serious of Mouton-Rothschild's two Pauillac stablemates.(v.2019).

Decanter 95 Points | The wine has the highest levels of Cabernet Sauvignon since the 1980s, and even on the nose you can feel its impact in terms of the depth of tight black fruit. Extremely good quality with fine tannins that build, build, build over the palate, and grip on, forcing you to slow down and pay attention. Beautiful spice with menthol, slate, pencil lead, blackberry and blackcurrant. An exciting wine with real energy and forward motion, helped to withstand the summer heat by its position by the river, and the fact that the average age of the vines at Clerc Milon is almost 50 years. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Jean Emmanuel Danjoy's last outing doing the full vintage at Clerc Milon before he heads over to Mouton as technical director. (v.2019).

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Presents a very fresh core of cassis, red cherry and damson plum fruit flavors that meld nicely with a racy iron streak, while light savory and floral details run along the edges. A very pure and bright version that should age well. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenère. (v.2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Another beautiful effort from this team, the 2019 Château Clerc Milon is 72% Cabernet Sauvignon and the balance Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, from vines just across the street from Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Mouton Rothschild. Brought up in a mix of new and used barrels, it has a healthy ruby/plum color to go with a great nose of ripe red and black fruits supported by some classic Pauillac lead pencil, tobacco, and spice box notes. I love its overall balance, it's medium-bodied, has silky tannins, and the fresher, elegant style of the vintage. I wouldn't call it mid-weight, but I compared this to the 2014 on release, and I still think that comparison holds, although there's a touch more length and intensity in the 2019. This will drink well today with a decant (I followed this bottle for two days) and will shine for a good two decades.(v.2019).

Winemaker Description 

The Bourgogne Blanc from Domaine Leflaive has the particularity to only come from vineyards located in the town of Puligny, making it easily one of the best Bourgogne Blanc you could get your hands on. This is the perfect first step into the Domaine Leflaive’s unique offerings. All vineyards are farmed biodynamically. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Allen Meadows of Burhound | A very pretty nose freely reveals its aromas of apple, pear and lemon rind. The succulent, delicious and appealingly vibrant middleweight flavors possess a relatively refined texture while displaying fine depth and length for a wine of this level. The 20% addition of young vines from upper-level vineyards clearly helps and overall, this is excellent.

La Vieille Ferme · Rosé · Cinsault, Grenache & Syrah · Rhône Valley · 250ml Can

La Vieille Ferme — "The Old Farm" — is the beloved everyday label of the Perrin family, the legendary producers behind Château Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape. With generations of Rhône Valley expertise behind every bottle (and now every can), La Vieille Ferme delivers the kind of honest, food-friendly French rosé that the south of France has been perfecting for centuries. The blend of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah is a classic Rhône combination — each variety contributing its own character to a wine that is greater than the sum of its parts. At $4.99 for a 250ml can, this is the Perrin family's gift to picnics, patios, and spontaneous summer afternoons everywhere.

Pretty pale powder-pink with shiny reflections. The nose is fresh, fruity, and immediately seductive — strawberries, white peach, and lychee with a floral lift. On the palate: lively and fresh with beautiful balance, flavors of crunchy red fruit and a fine, pleasant bitterness on the finish that gives the wine real character and length. Serve well-chilled. Drink now.

• Producer: La Vieille Ferme (Perrin Family · Château Beaucastel)
• Appellation: Rhône Valley, France
• Blend: Cinsault, Grenache & Syrah
• Style: Dry rosé
• Format: 250ml Single Can
• Tasting Notes: Strawberry, white peach, lychee, floral lift, crunchy red fruit, fine bitter finish
• Food Pairings: Hors d’oeuvres, tomato salads, grilled chicken, cold buffets, summer lunches

Perrin family expertise, Rhône Valley sunshine — the perfect French rosé, now in a can.

One of the Wines of the 2020 Vintage — Saint-Émilion at Its Most Magnificent

Château Valandraud is the legendary “garagiste” estate of Jean-Luc Thunevin, one of Saint-Émilion’s most celebrated and iconoclastic producers. Elevated to Premier Grand Cru Classé status, Valandraud is produced from the cooler, eastern side of Saint-Émilion and is renowned for its extraordinary concentration, perfume, and longevity. The 2020 — a blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 24 months in 100% new oak — has been called one of the wines of the vintage, earning back-to-back 99-point scores from Jeb Dunnuck and James Suckling and 98 points from Vinous.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

• Jeb Dunnuck — 99 pts: "One of the wines of the vintage. Incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character. Full-bodied richness, ripe seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won’t quit. Give bottles 5–7 years in the cellar. Drink 2028–2053."
• James Suckling — 99 pts: "Very opulent and expressive aromas of black fruit and pine needles. So floral. Full-bodied with plush, velvety tannins and lots of fruit and texture. It goes on for minutes. Rich at the finish, but remains fresh and vivid. Superb. One of the great Valandrauds. Drink after 2027."
• Vinous — 98 pts: "A stunner. Rich, deep and explosive with dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Bright and wonderfully focused with sweet floral and blood orange accents on the explosive finish. Magnificent. Drink 2028–2060."
• Decanter — 96 pts (Jane Anson): "Broad-shouldered with ample depth — brambled fruits, liquorice, cigar box spice and a gorgeously saline finish. Chalky, grippy tannins with white flowers on the aromatics. 100% new oak for 24 months. Drink 2029–2046."
• Decanter — 93 pts (Georgina Hindle): "Juicy and alive with blackcurrant, black cherry and herbal-tinged blueberries. Layers of acidity, mint, freshness and toast. Full and complex with salty minerality and unmistakable signature. Drink 2027–2046."
• Wine Spectator — 93 pts: "Black currant and fig preserves, warmed black tea, melted black licorice and a hint of alder smoke, framed by a loam- and espresso crema-accented finish. Best from 2027 through 2040."
• Wine Advocate — 92 pts: "Aromas of jammy black fruits mingled with toasted coconut, spices and new oak. Full-bodied, rich and chewy with generously extracted tannins. Drink 2025–2043."
• Jancis Robinson — 17++ pts: "Deep crimson. Dark and oaky — lots of 70% dark chocolate. Big, dense tannins with enough fresh fruit to fill it out for the long term. Drink 2030–2045."

Winemaker Notes

Freshness and opulence, fruit and structure. A perfect balance.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Blend: 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon
• Appellation: Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé AOC, Bordeaux, France
• Producer: Château Valandraud / Jean-Luc Thunevin
• Vintage: 2020
• Aging: 24 months, 100% new oak
• Yield: 49 hl/ha
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A wine of this stature deserves the finest table — exceptional with roasted lamb, beef tenderloin en croute, duck confit, aged Comté, and black truffle dishes. Also magnificent on its own as a meditation wine.

Memo Summary Notes 

The Domaine Leflaive Mâcon-Verzé "Les Chênes" 2023 is a prestigious biodynamic white Burgundy that serves as an entry point into the world of the most famous Chardonnay producer on earth. While Leflaive’s Grand Crus from Puligny-Montrachet fetch thousands, their Mâcon-Verzé wines are crafted with the same biodynamic rigor and technical precision by the same winemaking team.

The "Les Chênes" (The Oaks) is a specific vineyard within the Mâcon-Verzé appellation known for its older vines (some planted in 1935) and south-facing exposure, which produces a wine with more structure and "toasty" complexity than their standard Mâcon-Verzé.

    •    Food Pairing: Its mineral precision and creamy finish make it perfect for butter-poached lobster, grilled scallops, or a rich vegetable tart.

    •    Cheese: Pairs exceptionally well with Chèvre (goat cheese) or a younger Comté.

Winemaker Description 

Clay-limestone terroir with little depth before reaching the bedrock. Gentle to very steep slopes. Surface area: 3.43 ha located in the heart of the Verzé valley, "Les Chênes" comprises two south-west-facing parcels.

The vines are cultivated biodynamically.

Harvesting is entirely manual, and pressing is carried out in Verzé. After decanting, the musts are transported daily to Puligny- Montrachet for fermentation and ageing, under the watchful eye of Domaine Leflaive's technical team. Vinification takes place in vats, and ageing lasts from 15 to 16 months.
Pressing: Long, gentle pneumatic pressing, 24-hour decanting followed by settling.
Fermentation: 55% in stainless steel tanks, 42% in cement tanks and 3% in new oak barrels.

Ageing: After 10 months' ageing on lees in fermentation containers, the wine is racked into stainless steel tanks and aged on fine lees for 6 months. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

89-92 points Jasper Morris |  Fresh pale lemon. The bouquet has a little more refinement than the St-Aubin, offering apple, fennel and citrus notes. Clean, lean and pure on the nose, extremely refreshing. While there is little reduction on the nose, the finish has a lively mineral limestone feeling. Drink from 2025-2028. 

88-90 points Burghound | Bright and fresh aromas of resin, petrol and lemon zest introduce slightly bigger and richer though less mineral-driven flavors that are at once generous but reasonably precise on the lingering and agreeably dry finale. This relatively forward effort could use better depth so I would suggest holding it for a few years first. 

88-90 points Wine Advocate | The 2021 Chassagne-Montrachet Cuvée Margot reveals aromas of peach, freshly baked bread, oatmeal and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample palate with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and a slightly lactic finish. 

Winemaker Description 

100% Gros Manseng.  The wine is of medium body with notes of spiced citrus, brioche and salty minerality.

Known for its great value, Gascogny, in the hands of a really good wine-maker like Gilles Baumann with the help of his daughter Laure Baumann since 2010, can also make excellent wines in their own right, disregarding the bargain price.