— Owen Bargreen, Feb 2022
802 products


Domaine Du Clos Naudin Philippe Foreau Vouvray Extra Brut 2019 Methode Traditionnelle 750ml
Domaine Du Clos Naudin Philippe Foreau Vouvray Extra Brut 2019 is an elegant, méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine from France’s Loire Valley. Crafted from 100% Chenin Blanc, it offers crisp acidity, fine bubbles, and complex aromas of green apple, citrus, and minerality. Dry and refreshing, it’s a perfect pairing with seafood, creamy cheeses, or as an apéritif. 🍾✨
Producer Description
From the warm (even by today’s standards) 2019 growing season comes this masterful Vouvray Extra-Brut, which spent four full years on its lees, and to which Philippe and Vincent applied a mere 1.33 grams-per-liter dosage—their lowest ever.
Philippe prefers a small dosage to none, as he states that it improves the wine’s capacity to age, and he and Vincent employ rigorous double-blind dosage trials to determine the final amount.
With its low-for-Vouvray acidity and its full malolactic fermentation (rare for Foreau), this wine benefits from its modest dosage, as it maintains taut acidity and clings mightily to the palate as its notes of truffle, candied lemon, and lanolin echo far into the distance.


Chateau Milon Cuvee Caprice Saint-Emilion 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
The Caprice has a ruby color with garnet. The nose is fruity (cherry and raspberry) and tasty with a nice expression of ripe Merlot. On the palate, the attack is fresh with fine and elegant tannins.A portion of the vines for Château Milon’s Cuvée Caprice are situated at the base of the Saint Christophe des Bardes slope and the rest lie on the gravel soils of Saint Sulpice. While the average vine age is 30 years, it is believed that vines were planted on the plateau in the Middle Ages.
Diverse array of soils dominated by sand, sandstone, clay, and gravel. Densely planted at 6600-9000 vines per hectare. The Bouyers farm sustainably and rigorously includes debudding, leaf-thinning and green harvesting.


Domaine Frederic Esmonin Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Beaune 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
This is a lush, expressive Pinot Noir from one of Burgundy's most esteemed producers. Dark cherry fruit and mellow floral notes about, while the palate is elegant and refined. Versatile enough for your favorite dishes, including roasted chicken, herb crusted pork roast, and vegetarian cuisine.


La Vieille Ferme ROSE Can 250ml
Winemaker Description
Pretty pale powder-pink color with shiny reflections. Fresh, fruity and delicious, the nose reveals seductive notes of strawberries, peaches and lychees. Lively and fresh, the palate shows a beautiful balance with gorgeous aromas of crunchy red fruit, combined with a fine bitterness on the finish which gives this wine a lot of flavor.
Enjoy with hors-d’oeuvres, cold buffets, tomato salads, grilled meat, and other summer lunches.



Herve Brisson Champagne D' Artisan Les Aulnes Assemblage de Parcelles Extra Brut 750ml
Winemaker Description
A blend of several years' production from plots of Chardonnay near the winery.
Gentle vinification, without fining or filtration, aged for over 10 months in oak barrels, with a very structured taste and a straw-yellow colour.
A single parcel of 44 ares, all Chardonnay, a single vintage, 50 cm chalk subsoil, this parcel is close to the Saint-Gond marshes. It was planted 40 years ago.
Vinified without fining or filtration, the wine is gently fermented in oak barrels in the wood.
Its proximity to the marshes and its soil type give it a very different profile, much fuller and warmer.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay.


Chateau Gantonnet Bordeaux Blanc 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
The bouquet opens with ripe citrus fruits and notes of exotic fruits and peaches, enhanced by a toasted buttery, creamy accent.
On the palate, it offers an exotic richness that confirms the nose's complexity. The texture is supple and generous, concluding with an elegant saline finish.


Ronan by Clinet Bordeaux Blanc 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Ronan by Clinet is an approachable wine that reflects the style and savoir-faire of a prestigious Pomerol winery. It is a fresh, fruit-forward and delicately spiced wine, ready to drink now or age for several years – the perfect choice for a spontaneous after-work treat or a dinner party with friends.
Winemaker Description
Decanter 88 Points | Very fresh and peachy aromas on the nose. Broad and oily, lively and delicious, rich finish. (Bronze). (2022).


Louis Roederer Philippe Starck BRUT NATURE Champagne 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
Yellow hue with shimmering highlights and an even flow of lively bubbles. The bouquet is pure, elegant, vertical, rich and concentrated. Nuances of ripe fruit combined with exceptional finesse: fine, delicate citrus peel (lemon, orange) and vanilla (Madagascar bourbon vanilla) along with warmer notes of baked apple and Tarte Tatin that gradually give way to aromas of nougat. The palate offers a marked and singular contrast: it is very expressionist thanks to the broad, juicy, almost sensual texture of the Cumières clay soils in a sunny year, yet distinctly minimalist due to a fresh, pure, mineral and mouthwatering backbone associated with its zero dosage. Ripe citrus fruit combines with warm stone notes further accentuating the mouthwatering, umami sensation. The finish is light, energetic and ethereal.
Blend: 46% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier
Expert Review
Audrey Frick writes: The 2015 Champagne Starck Brut Nature is forward with vinous and spicy aromas of saline and red currant, orange blossom, and smoke. It is expansive on the palate while maintaining a core of fresh acidity, with peach, dried flowers, and wet stone. This complex and unique expression is full of energy and has great gastronomic appeal. Drinking 2022 to 2040. Jeb Dunnuck 95
William Kelley writes: The most compelling rendition of this bottling that Roederer has produced to date, the 2015 Brut Nature exhibits inviting aromas of golden orchard fruit, clear honey, dried white flowers and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, layered and vinous, with a fleshy, concentrated core of fruit, chalky structure and a long, precise finish, it's a Pinot Noir-dominant blend from Cumières that's slightly lower in pressure, making for a more delicate mousse. Drinking 2022 to 2035. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94
Alison Napjus writes: A fresh, mineral-driven Champagne, this swathes a firm frame of acidity in a raw silklike texture and finely meshed flavors of crunchy pear, mandarin orange peel, salted almond, dried raspberry and pickled ginger. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Best from 2023 through 2033. - Wine Spectator 93


Domaine Jean et Sebastien Dauvissat Chablis 1er Cru Sechets 2020 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2020
Allan Meadows of Burghound writes 90-93 Points | The hallmark citrus influences of a fine Séchet are on display along with notes of white flower, iodine and ocean breeze. Here too there is fine density to the palate coating flavors that are at once caressing but punchy, all wrapped in a clean, very dry and lemony finish that is presently somewhat youthfully austere. - Burghound 91-93 ♥️ Outstanding


Chateau Valandraud Saint-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé 2020 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020
Jeb Dunnuck writes: One of the wines of the vintage is Jean-Luc Thunevin's 2020 Château Valandraud, which comes from the cooler, eastern side of Saint-Emilion. Exhibiting a dense purple hue as well as an incredible perfume of crème de cassis, ripe black cherries, violets, new leather, and an almost Hermitage-like burning embers character, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, ripe, seamless tannins, remarkable purity of fruit, and a finish that won't quit. A blend of 85% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's clearly in the same league as the 2019, if not slightly more concentrated. Give bottles 5-7 years in the cellar, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20-25 years or so. Drinking 2028 to 2053. - Jeb Dunnuck 99
William Kelley writes: If the 2019 vintage at this address was something of a guilty pleasure, the 2020 Valandraud is simply guilty as charged. Exhibiting aromas of jammy black fruits mingled with toasted coconut, spices and caricatural slatherings of new oak, it's full-bodied, rich and chewy, with generously extracted tannins that clamp down on the finish. All that oak and extract impedes access to the wine's generous fruit, rendering it less demonstrative and gourmand than its 2019 counterpart, and that's a pity, as recent vintages of Valandraud have been among the more successful of the few remaining hold-out "garagiste" wines of the Right Bank. Drinking 2025 to 2043. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92
Jane Anson writes: Juicy, perfectly judged, delicious brambled fruits, this is exuberant without being overdone, just oozing with pleasure, inviting you to come on board. Expect waves of liqourice, powerful damson brambled jam, lime blossom, orange peel marmalade and saffron. This needs a good five more years in bottle before approaching, but you want this in your cellar. Founders Arnaud-Thunevin now in a 50% ownership with the Lefevre family from Sansonnet, 100% new oak, 49hl/ha yield. Drinking 2027 to 2048. - Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux
James Suckling writes: 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. - James Suckling 99
Antonio Galloni writes: The 2020 Valandraud is a stunner. Rich, deep and explosive, the 2020 possesses dazzling intensity from start to finish. Silky tannins wrap around a core of plush dark red/black fruit, licorice, spice, mocha and new leather. Even with all of its intensity, the 2020 is bright and wonderfully focused. Sweet floral and blood orange accents liven up the explosive finish. Magnificent. Drinking 2028 to 2060. - Vinous 98
Georgina Hindle writes: Juicy and alive, a brightness to this even though the fruits are dark in profile - blackcurrant, black cherry, herbal-tinged blueberries - heady and seductive. Layers of acidity, mint, freshness and toast combine to give quite a full and complex palate with everything at the fore yet staying the right side of being too much. Strong and characterful but totally charming. I love the St-Emilion glamour and muscle, softly flexing with a salty minerality and unmistakable signature. Drinking 2027 to 2046. - Decanter 93
Jane Anson writes: This is excellent, broad-shouldered with ample depth to the brambled fruits, liquorice, cigar box spice, with a gorgeously saline finish. Chalky, grippy tannins keep tugging you back into the body of the wine. The tannic grip is helped by a linen rather than silk texture that stops things being overly smooth and instead adds depth and interest to the powerfully knitted body, as do white flowers on the aromatics as it opens. Good stuff. 100% new oak for 24 months. A yield of 49hl/ha. Thunevin has sold a 50% stake in Valandraud to the Lefevre family at Sansonnet (also the new owners of Villemaurine, so a busy year for them). Drinking 2029 to 2046. - Decanter 96
Julia Harding MW writes: Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Dark and oaky – lots of 70% dark chocolate. Pretty oaky, covering all else. The tannins are big and dense but there’s enough fresh fruit to fill it out for the long term. Drinking 2030 to 2045. - Jancis Robinson 17++
James Molesworth writes: Tilts to the showy side, with a flourish of black currant and fig preserves, warmed black tea, melted black licorice and a hint of alder smoke as well, all framed by a warm loam- and espresso crema-accented finish. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2027 through 2040. - Wine Spectator 93
Winemaker Notes
Freshness and opulence, fruit and structure. A perfect balance.
Blend: 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Cabernet Sauvignon


Domaine Vocoret et Fils Chablis 1er Cru Vaillon 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Liberal ripe Meyer lemon, citrus blossoms and spice aromas are accented by notes of seaside minerality. Flavors are layered with citrus, orchard fruit and clean oyster-shell minerality. A generous wine with great energy and vibrancy and will reward with additional cellaring. Aging: The premiers crus wines are fermented in a combination of stainless steel and oak puncheons for seven months.
Expert Notes
Bruce Sanderson writes: This white shows intensity, offering plenty of succulent peach and floral aromas and flavors. Clean, lemony acidity keeps the palate refreshed, with a chalky feel in the end. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator 90


Chateau Des Jacques Clos de Loyse, Louis Jadot Beaujolais BLANC 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Fresh and fruity, pair with seafood or charcuterie, great as an aperitif.


Chateau Marquis De Terme Margaux 2019 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019
James suckling 91 Points | This is a solid margaux with blackberries blackcurrants and undertones of fresh tobacco wet earth. it full layered beautiful energy structure. tight at the end as should be. try after decanter great depth starting to really achieve class generous dashes chocolate coffee mocha. combines tannic hold freshness an excellent wine black fruits bilberry blackberry finished off fine tannins smoked oak. brilliant marquis de terme.
Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The 2019 Château Marquis De Terme showed better now than from a bottle tasted earlier this year. Giving up plenty of darker, almost black fruits as well as tobacco, gravelly earth, and spice, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, fleshy, sexy mouthfeel, quality tannins, and a great finish. (2019).
Wine Spectator 91 Points | Features cherry and black currant puree notes with some inner freshness, while black tea, alder and violet hints form a pretty backdrop. Nice steady finish, too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now. (2019).
Robert Parker 90+ Points | Aromas of rich black fruits, cherry preserve and pencil shavings introduce the 2019 Marquis de Terme, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine with a broad attack that segues into an ample mid-palate framed by ripe but youthfully assertive tannins. This is a muscular, rather chunky Margaux that will reward a bit of bottle age and which, with time, may make my score seem conservative. This is an evolving estate, as fully 25% of its vineyards have been replanted since 2009. Cabernet on rich soils between Labégorce and Château Margaux represents the core of the blend. Best After 2025. (2019).


Gerard Bertrand Castellum Sauvignon Blanc 2022 750ml
Our Professional Review
David of 67Wine.com | A wonderful substitute to a California or a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. This wine exhibits substantial body. In fact, the opposite of a typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Great balance. Perfect for light chicken and salad.
Winemaker Description
Fresh and crisp Sauvignon with plenty of fresh lemons, herbs and flowers. Light to medium body with zesty acidity. Straightforward and refreshing with a succulent, lemony finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink now.


Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Blue Label Reserve 375ML HALF BOTTLE
It is composed of Chardonnay for elegance and delicacy, Pinot Noir for roundness and structure and Pinot Meunier for fruitiness. Pale gold in color, abundance of delicate bubbles. Floral aromas of fruit with subtle predominance of white fruits: pear, apple, almonds and hazelnuts. Fresh opening, smooth, pleasant and balanced.
This wine is an ideal accompaniment for Breton lobster and cream sauce, sole morel mushrooms, chicken brochettes with citronella. Winemaker Description.
Expert Reviews
Tasting Panel | Light golden color and aromas of fresh pear. A charming wine with moderate but firm bubbles and expressive pear and apricot notes. Crisp, tangy, and lively; balanced, juicy, and long.
PointsJames Suckling | Baked peaches, tart tatin, apricot pie and honey. Lemons, too. Medium-bodied with a creamy mousse and vibrant acidity. Pretty pastry notes to close. Drink now.
PointsWine Spectator | This fresh, harmonious Champagne is fine and creamy on the palate, offering an appealing range of patisserie apple and pear fruit, pink grapefruit pith, orchard blossom and oyster shell notes. Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay.
Points


Leclerc Briant Brut Reserve Champagne Biodynamic Organic NV 750ml
Expert Reviews
Yohan Castaing writes: A blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, the NV Réserve Brut from Champagne Leclerc Briant is showing well today, evoking a lively, fresh bouquet of pear, verbena, lime tree, herbs and menthol. Moderately weighted and tense, it's vinous and energetic with an incisive mid-palate and a mouthwatering, fresh finish. Based on the 2020 vintage with only 5% vins de réserve, it was disgorged in October 2023 with 4.5 grams per liter dosage. Drinking 2024 to 2030. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90
Alison Napjus writes: A lithe and graceful Champagne, with sleek acidity animating flavors of chopped raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon and oyster shell. Fine and satiny in texture, offering a persistent, lightly spiced finish. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2029. - Wine Spectator 92
Audrey Frick writes: Pouring a bright pale yellow hue, the NV Champagne Reserve Brut is from 2019, with 40% each Pinot Noir and Meunier and 20% Chardonnay. It opens to reveal notes of wet asphalt, ripe white peach, and fresh redcurrant. Medium-bodied and approachable, it has a rounded mid-palate, a chalky and pithy texture with a lively yet fine mousse, and a light note of brûléed grapefruit rind on the finish. It’s an attractive and balanced wine with a clean finish. Drink 2023 to 2030. Disgorged March of 2023. 4.5 grams per liter dosage. - Jeb Dunnuck 92
Jancis Robinson writes: Really quite mature nose with a suggestion of wild flowers (the biodynamic effect?). No shortage of acidity! The palate seems more youthful than the nose. 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, from organic and biodynamic vineyards. Apparently this is actually Extra Brut, though labelled Brut. Drinking 2023 to 2026. - Jancis Robinson 16.5+
— Owen Bargreen, Feb 2022


Domaine Marc Colin Chassagne Montrachet Margot 2021 750ml
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.


Joseph Drouhin Chablis Vaudon 2022 750ml
A dry and fruity wine, easy to drink. Its color is pale gold with greenish hues. Very fresh aromas reminiscent of citrus (lemon or grapefruit); small pleasant touches of fern or coriander are found as well. On the palate, dry and fruity, with mineral notes. Pleasant and long aftertaste. Winemaker Description.


Domaine des Cassagnoles Cotes de Gascogne Cuvee Gros Manseng Reserve Selection 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
100% Gros Manseng. The wine is of medium body with notes of spiced citrus, brioche and salty minerality.




Domaine Leflaive Puligny Montrachet Biodynamic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
92 Points Wine Spectator | Pure and silky in texture, revealing lemon, apple, mineral and oak spice flavors. Seamless and balanced, with lively acidity guiding the lingering aftertaste of citrus, orchard fruit and spices. Drink now through 2030. 2,715 cases made, 543 cases imported.


Chateau Lagrange Saint-Julian 2020 750ml 95 pts Jeff Leve
Jeb Dunnuck | Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Chateau Lagrange checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. It's a gorgeous, complete Saint-Julien offering remarkable purity in its cassis, violets, chocolate, and leafy tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, with terrific balance, a pure, focused mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and beautifully integrated oak, it's going to benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise over the following 2+ decades in cold cellar. Best After 2027. (2020).
Wine Enthusiast | This wine, with its red plum and spice flavors has an initial smoothness that is belied by the wine's dry, firm core. Its dark tannins are there to ensure a fine future. Barrel Sample | 92-94. (2020). Points
James Suckling : Points Attractive nose of blackberries, blackcurrants, walnuts, ink and kaffir leaves. It’s medium- to full-bodied, firm and structured, with chewy and tight tannins. Dark and intense, with a long and persistent finish. Turns to graphite and cedar. Needs time to open and soften. (2020).
Decanter | A perky, bright and enjoyable Lagrange, showing some angularity and austerity to the tannins but at the same time it is bright with clarity of direction, firm and concentrated fruits and juicy on the finish. A little subdued, but this is a quality Lagrange with extremely carefully placed fine tannins and fruit - it shows the essence of St-Julien balance, and one that will not need the full 10 years to come around. 50% less volume than usual. (2020).
Wine Spectator | Very sleek, with a racy iron edge driving through in lockstep with cassis and cherry coulis flavors. Reveals a subtle black tea accent on the finish, with the minerality eventually holding center stage. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2036. (2020).
Robert Parker | The 2020 Lagrange (Pomerol) wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, loamy soil and new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, velvety and fleshy palate with a gourmand core of fruit framed by powder tannins that assert themselves on the finish. Best after 2025. (2020).
Points

Chateau Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien 2019 750ml
Winemaker Notes
Rich, intense color. An expressive nose, a sophisticated combination of pure black and red fruits. The palate is wonderfully smooth with powerful intensity, maintaining its fineness and elegance. A beautiful acidity, propelling the wine on a long finish.
Expert Ratings
96 Points Jeb Dunnuck: Beautiful blue fruits, tobacco, damp earth, and floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château Branaire-Ducru. It's medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced, has silky tannins, and shows the quality of the vintage perfectly. A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades or more. It reminds me of the 2009. Barrel Sample | 94-96
96 Points Wine Enthusiast : This is a richly perfumed wine that has bold tannins and dense black fruits. There is a fine line of juicy acidity cutting through all the richness to lend freshness against all the concentration. This is for long-term aging. Barrel Sample | 94-96.
95 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate, William Kelley writes: The 2019 Branaire-Ducru unwinds in the glass with aromas of raspberries, blackcurrants, sweet soil tones and hints of cigar wrapper, rose petals and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's youthfully tightly wound, with terrific concentration, tangy acids, powdery tannins and a long, saline finish. While this is a little reserved out of the gates, its energy and classical proportions will richly reward bottle age. Drinking 2029 to 2065.
95 Points James Suckling: Very clear fruit character of blackcurrants, orange peel and spices. Some walnut, too. It’s full-bodied with integrated, polished tannins and shows finesse and focus. Love the focused fruit at the end of this. Strength with finesse. Give it four to five years of bottle age. Try after 2024.
94 Points Wine Spectator Leads with vivid violet and cassis, while dark plum, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes follow quickly. Racy, structured and well-built, with graphite and apple wood driving through the finish. Very pure and aromatic, featuring a nice sanguine echo that lingers at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025.
94 Points Decanter, Andy Howard MW writes: Lifted floral notes are combined with dark currant fruit flavour and fine tannins on the palate. A very elegant Branaire-Ducru and relatively restrained in the context of 2019. Will appeal to those who prefer the more subtle style of Bordeaux, with more nuance than up-front power and weight. The fruit is clean and pure, and there is a lovely freshness on the finish. Good mid-term drinking. Drinking 2025 to 2040.



Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 242 1.50L MAGNUM
Winemaker Description
The Collection 242 blend is dominated by Chardonnay which was of exceptional quality in the 2017 vintage. The perfectly ripe Chardonnay grapes lend the wine its aromas of ripe, sweet fruit complemented by subtle oaky notes. The palate is rich and ripe with a luxurious texture that coats the palate, the signature of an outstanding Chardonnay. The Pinot noir and Meunier grapes from the Vallée de la Marne complete the wine’s broad, luscious, smooth and juicy character. The finish is energetic and fresh.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 94 Points | Aromas of cooked apple, bread dough and lemon tart follow through to a full body with round, delicious fruit and a rich, flavorful finish. Yet, it remains tight and fine with lovely, compressed bubbles. New energy and freshness. Medium-to full-bodied with layers of fruit and vivid intensity. 42% chardonnay, 36% pinot noir and 22% pinot meunier. 8 grams dosage. Four years on the less. A new-format non-vintage that designates the year of the 242nd harvest, 2017, plus reserve wine of 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016. Drink or hold.
The Somm Journal 94 Points | For all its freshness and finesse, Roederer’s new multivintage release (see page 64 for the technical details) also exhibits notable warmth and generosity. On the nose, ginger joins baked apple and frangipane tart; the mouth, meanwhile, fills all the way up with sunbathed orchard fruits, plus hints of lime zest and oak spice. The finish, like the perlage, goes on and on.
Wine Advocate 93+ Points | Roederer's Brut Premier was created in the 1980s to prove to consumers that we could deliver consistent quality with a blend that compensated for less than perfectly ripe vintages," explains Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. "We were blending in pursuit of maturity, of ripeness. The concept behind the Brut Collection is the opposite: we're looking for freshness—and we are embracing singularity, something we're emphasizing by enumerating each year's blend." This project has been in the making since 2012, when Lecaillon set aside 21,000 liters of wine to constitute a perpetual reserve aged in large tanks without malolactic fermentation. Sourcing has evolved too: less must is coming from cooperatives, and only vineyards cultivated without the use of herbicides inform the blend. A dedicated team oversees all this, visiting every grower three times per year. And vinification is parcel by parcel to deliver a maximum of blending components.
Decanter 92 Points | Softly shimmering straw gold, green tints, with a delicate filigree dancing at will around the glass. The nose is gently authoritative; spring flowers garlanding stone fruit, a hint of hawthorn maybe, then lemongrass. The palate has encyclopaedic depth, the intricacies of the Perpetual Reserve weaving their early magic; almond, sloe, gingerbread and apples; the finish has a pleasing twist of bitterness, courtesy of the small percentage of oak-aged reserve wine. Maybe the dosage (8g/L) can come down even further, such is the engaging and subtle complexity harnessed elsewhere?



Bailly Lapierre Reserve Brut Cremant de Bourgogne 375ml HALF BOTTLE
OH! The caves of Bailly Lapiere, one of the major producers of Cremant in Burgundy.
The spectacular caves have supplied the stone for some of the greatest architectural works in Europe including the Pantheon, Notre Dame de Paris, Chartres Cathedral and more. The underground extraction probably began at the end of the medieval period and finally ceased around the beginning of the 20th century. The caves and their history are astonishing.
Bailly, a village in the Auxerrois region of Burgundy, is the birthplace of the Crémant de Bourgogne AOC. Bailly Lapierre has been in operation since 1972 in an underground quarry; the cellars are 50 metres underground, quarried deep in the heart of the famed Tonnerre stone, an enchanted, magical setting in which to watch over Crémants as they age. 430 grape growers provide the grapes for their Crémant (pinot noir, chardonnay, gamay, and aligoté). The wine goes through full malolactic fermentation and ages for 12 months in-bottle prior to release, giving it a wonderful roundness. It is clean, pure, and refreshing. Organically grown.


Domaine Raspail-Ay Gigondas 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Full-bodied, fruity, fine and well-balanced with aromas of red fruit – raspberries and black cherries – and notes of black pepper, leading to more complex scents of licorice and herbs de Provence. The tannins are ripe, the wine fills the mouth with warm, generous flavors yet with an underlying structure that bodes well for future potential. A fruit-forward and accessible wine.
Expert Reviews
Jeb Dunnuck writes: While no 2021 was presented, the 2020 Gigondas is stunningly good and is loaded with notions of red cherries, framboise, sappy flowers, and pepper. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Gigondas offering ripe, perfectly integrated tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. If I saw this on a wine shelf, I'd buy it. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15 years or so. Drinking 2023 - 2038. - Jeb Dunnuck 91-93
Josh Raynolds writes: Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip. - Vinous 93-95
James Lawther MW writes: Attractive red-berry aroma and flavour, the fruit smooth and plush on the palate, the tannins ripe and well integrated. Plenty of length on the finish. Just a slight glow of alcohol at the end. Drinking 2025 -2032. - Jancis Robinson 16.5+
Joe Czerwiński writes: Tasted from foudre one, the 2022 Gigondas (keep in mind there is just one cuvée at this estate) is rich and ripe, with delicate floral notes accenting deep black raspberry and black cherry fruit. This concentrated, medium to full-bodied effort is zesty and long on the finish. Drinking 2024 - 2038. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92-94


Domaine Guy Amiot Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru Les Macherelles 2019 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2019
88-91 Points Burghound | There is a smoky character to the white orchard fruit and more floral-inflected aromas that exhibit a touch of matchstick. The rich, lightly stony and reasonably well-detailed medium-bodied flavors terminate in a saline, balanced, dry and lingering finale. Like the Maltroie, this isn't especially dense and needs to develop more depth, but it is certainly pretty.


Chateau Lafon-Rochet Saint-Estephe 2018 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018
94 Points Vinous, Antonio Galloni | The 2018 Lafon-Rochet is such a classy wine. Power and finesse meld together in this Saint-Estèphe that is gorgeous, right from the very first taste. Black cherry, herbs, leather, licorice and dried flowers all build in the glass. In 2018, Lafon-Rochet is richer and bolder than it usually is, and yet all the elements are so nicely balanced. I would give it a few years in the cellar to allow some of the baby fat to melt away.
94 Points James Suckling | Blackberry and blueberry on the nose, as well as dark-chocolate, mineral and earthy undertones. It’s full-bodied with firm tannins. Fleshy and savory texture with layers. Flavorful finish and beautiful length. Lovely ripe fruit in the center palate. Try after 2025.
94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The upper Médoc did brilliantly in 2018, and that's certainly apparent when tasting the 2018 Château Lafon-Rochet. Sporting a deep purple hue as well as a gorgeous bouquet of ripe black and blue fruits, lead pencil, forest floor, chocolate, and leafy herbs, this beauty hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a round, mouth-filling texture, ripe, velvety tannins, and a great finish. It doesn't quite have the precision of the top wines in the appellation, but it's loaded with charm and character, and I'd certainly be thrilled to drink a bottle. This rich, textured, flavorful Saint-Estèphe will benefit from 4-6 years in the cellar and keep for two decades.
92 Points Wine Spectator | Seductive, with a gush of dark plum and blackberry preserve notes leading off, while light bay, dark tobacco and charcoal notes peek through. Has a racy edge through the finish, even with the warm fruit keeping the upper hand. Nicely done. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032.
91 Points Wine Advocate | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Lafon-Rochet delivers impactful scents of baked blackberries, warm cassis and black cherry compote, with suggestions of chargrill, tar and tobacco leaf, plus a waft of wild mushrooms. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and earthy accents, supported by firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with great length, if a little chewy.
95 Points Wine Enthusiast: This wine comes from an estate that is performing with distinction. It is rich, the tannins cushioned by ripe blackberry fruits and good acidity. Showing both structure and fruitiness, the wine will develop well, everything in balance. Drink from 2026. Editors' Choice


Segla Margaux 2nd Label of Chateau Rauzan Segla 2015 750ml
Winemaker Description
Deep ruby in appearance, Segla delivers aromas of blueberry and vanilla on the nose. On the palate it is medium bodied with silky tannins.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2015
Neal Martin of Wine Spectator writes 90-92 Points | The 2015 Segla is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and a "seasoning" of 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, representing just over half the total crop, matured in 25% new wood. It has a fragrant, very precise bouquet with mineral-rich, very pure blackberry, blueberry and cold flint-like aromas. There is wonderful tension here for a deuxième vin. The palate is medium-bodied with a juicy opening, just a tingle of spice on the tip of the tongue. There is very fine tension here, moderate weight but great persistence and sense of energy on the finish. On a budget? Thinking of a second wine? Look no further. Drinking 2019 - 2033. (2015).
James Suckling 92-93 Points | A solid red with a dense palate of ripe fruit, chewy tannins and a savory finish. This shows structure and reserve. Excellent second wine from Rauzan. (2015).
James Molesworth of Wine Spectator writes: This has a mouthwatering singed alder note through the middle, with hints of juniper and dried bay leaf adding range to the core of mulled plum and fig fruit. A toasty style, broad in feel but accessible. Drink now through 2027. (2015).



Jean Claude Lapalu Brouilly La Croix des Rameaux 2023 750ml
Winemaker Descrption
The Croix des Rameaux originates from select Brouilly plots, home to venerable vines ranging between 60 and 90 years old. The wine benefits from a semi-carbonic maceration lasting three weeks and subsequently matures in neutral barrels for 6-8 months. A minimal addition of sulfur – a mere 10mg during bottling – ensures the wine retains its vibrant freshness and vitality.



Domaine de Villaine Rully Blanc 1er Cru Rabource Biodynamic 2020 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2020
Allan Meadows of Burghound writes 92 Points | Once again moderately generous wood can be found on the slightly riper aromas of petrol, white peach and citrus confit. There is both excellent volume and verve to the bigger-bodied flavors that possess evident power on the clean, very dry and impressively persistent finish that also exhibits just enough warmth to mention. Good stuff.


Domaine de Villaine Bourgogne Rouge Biodynamic 2021 750ml
Expert Ratings


Phillippe Le Hardi Mercurey Blanc Kosher 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Lightly touched by wood aging, this ripe wine is both crisp and rich. Its briskness brings in a mineral edge while the ripeness produces the rich apple and apricot fruits. This full wine is ready to drink. Matured on fine lees with regular stirring, this wine amazing body and smooth richness that is so important to its balance.
This Chardonnay Vieilles Vignes (old vines) possesses the cardinal qualities of Burgundy’s best white wines. The grapes selected for this wine come from vines on the Cote d’Or that are more than 20 years old. The predominant white flower and citrus nose leads to notes of honey and dried fruit. The palate is very well balanced, skillfully blending vivacity and roundness.


Krug Champagne Grande Cuvee Brut 172ND Edition Gift Box 750ml
Expert Reviews - 172nd Edition
Wine Enthusiast 98 Points | This is the most recent bottling of this iconic Champagne. There is a touch of toast as well as enticing apple and citrus aromas. On the palate, this wine is rich, intense, poised between maturity and ripe white fruits.
Decanter 97 Points | The 172ème édition, based around the 2016 vintage, is a delicate, floral and saline Grande Cuvée at this early stage in its life. The palate it taut, tightly wound, gradually unfurling into toasted fruit bread, rye bread and roasted nuts, wrapped around an intricate and taut lemon core. It's exceptionally long, spicy, rounded and spherical in shape. Notes of sweet unsalted butter round out the finish, which has such length, elegance and balance. 58% of the wine is from the 2016 vintage, which saw a lot of rain in the spring and close to flowering, with 42% from reserve wines. The blend is made up of 146 separately vinified wines from 11 different years, and the oldest wine in the blend is from the 1998 vintage.
James Suckling 97 Points | Beautiful notes of dried citrus fruit, lemon curd and dried apples with hints of spices, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I like the polished and caressing texture and steady, refreshing acidity. It’s fresh and even austere, with notes of ground spices. So vertical and firm. Structured and long. Drink or hold.
Wine Spectator 96 Points | This classy Champagne waltzes across the palate with fluid poise and grace. The mousse's pointillismlike beads and a vivid frame of acidity buoy the detailed range of aromas and flavors, including chopped cherry, dried apricot, tangerine peel and plum cake notes, plus fragrant hints of grated ginger, lime blossoms, ground coffee and grilled nuts. A tang of salinity drives the racy, lingering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. Disgorged winter 2022 to 2023 (Krug ID 123003). Drink now through 2040.
The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The new Krug release, the NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition, based on the 2016 vintage and comprising 11 vintages in total (the oldest is 1998), is outstanding. It reveals a complex, slightly spicy bouquet of white fruits, beeswax, marzipan, hazelnuts, dried herbs, ripe orchard fruits and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated on the palate, it has a subtly spicy entry, an enrobing and layered texture and a fleshy core of fruit framed around a perfectly balanced, fresh and mineral finish. Crafted primarily from Pinot Noir (44%) and complemented with 30% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, it was disgorged in the first quarter of 2023 with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter. Keep it for 5-10 years.
Winemaker Description
A light golden color and fine, vivacious bubbles, holding a promise of pleasure. Aromas of flowers in bloom, ripe, dried and citrus fruits, as well as marzipan and gingerbread. Flavors of hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds, brioche and honey.
Blend: 38% Chardonnay, 11% Pinot Meunier, 51% Pinot Noir