4th of July Independence Day Sale | sale end July 6

Winemaker Description 

Complex, lemon/apple fruit, savory, smoky, salty; Light to medium bodied, supple texture, racy acidity, saline finish. 

Producer Description 

Winemaker Description

Traditional and family project from Rioja Alta that delivers a great book Rioja reserve. Made with a majority Tempranillo that is accompanied with a small percentage of Garnacha and Mazuelo from the Viña Olagosa estate located in San Asensio and the Zaco Estate in Haro.

A red wine with fine aromas of vanilla, tobacco and leather, typical of its long aging. 

Expert Review

Oscar Gacia Moncada 67Wine.com | Ruby color with copper rim; on the nose intense and complex: vanilla, cedar, and tobacco. Medium-bodied with polished aged tannins and espresso and more Tobacco notes. Very elegant finish. 

Keep in mind that this Gran Reserva has been aged from 28 to 30 months bordelaise barriques and further aging of 36 months in bottle before its release to the market. 
For sure one of my top Gran Reservas to drink now!

Expert Reviews

Lettie Teague writes:  Champagne Pommery Brut Royal  - Although I’m generally not big on glossy Champagne boxes, the groovy Pommery package with its paisley design was pretty eye-catching; happily, the wine inside was good too. A lithesome, compulsively drinkable dry sparkler with notes of citrus and pear and a long minerally finish, the non-vintage wine is a blend of three main Champagne grapes—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier—in equal amounts.  Corporate-owned Pommery Champagne claims to have introduced the first successful dry “Brut” style Champagne to the world in 1874—it’s certainly a style they do well. A terrific aperitif.  - Wall St. Journal, Dec. 16-17, 2023.

93 Points Decanter | Civilised apple, lemon and dried fruit nose. There's a nice lift in the mouth with citric balance and real poise. Full of character.

92 Points James Suckling | Peach, lemon, grapefruit, biscuit and some honey on the nose. Creamy and round with a juicy, peachy and lightly off-dry palate. Sleek bubbles. One third each of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier. Base vintage 2018. 9-10g/L dosage.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | An equal blend of the three major Champagne grape varieties, this cuvée is a reference in the region. It has a fine balance and is rich but with good touches of minerality as well as crisp white fruits. The finish with its bite of citrus is attractively refreshing. Drink the bottling now.

Producer Description 

Grants Triple Wood Blended Scotch Whisky aged in three distinct woods for a smoother taste. Virgin Oak cask provides spicy robustness, American Oak lends subtle vanilla smoothness and Bourbon refill offers brown sugar sweetness, resulting in a smoother, richer, mellower taste.

Best enjoyed on the rocks or in cocktail that amplifies and enhances the flavor of the unique Grants Whisky. William Grant, the founding father of one of the worlds most loved Scotch brands opened his first distillery in 1887. Five generations of Grants have stood together through thick and thin to hold the title of Scotlands oldest continuously family-run, blended whisky makers.

Grants Triple Wood Whisky stays true to William Grants original, closely guarded recipe. It just goes to show that when the right people stand together, great things happen. The five generations of the Grants family have supported the tradition of responsible drinking and we want you to continue enjoying Grants Whisky in the same way. Grant's Whisky is patiently crafted for you to enjoy responsibly. Producer Notes.

Winemaker Description

Depaula Monastrell 2022 has intense aromas of red and black fruits, with herbal and mineral notes. 

The palate is full of fruit, with a juicy Mediterranean edge. A wine that mixes its elegance and pleasant flavors to create a very nice and easy to drink red wine. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

Refreshing and clean, with nice flavors of apple, lemon, and mineral. Great before a meal or with lighter fare, like cheese or fish.

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of ripe green and golden apple, accented by fresh white peach and light oak notes. Across the palate, this golden wine is silken in texture with flavors of apple, citrus and pear balanced by refreshing acidity. The long finish is clean, with underlying hints of minerality, vanilla and lemon.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain offers a slightly darker, earthier profile that carries beautiful black and blue fruits, charcoal, bouquet garni, and some obvious minerality as well as a whiff of espresso. It's rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and beautifully done. Drink it over the coming two decades. Based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% each of Merlot and Malbec, and the rest a mix of varieties, it spent 21 months in 80% new French oak.

James Suckling 94 Points | This has a very attractive, fresh array of ripe dark-berry and cherry aromas with notes of purple olives, stones and iodine. There are such fine tannins here with a very fluid, concentrated build of pure, fresh dark berries. Impressive. Drink or hold.

Tasting Panel 94 Points | Exceptionally generous and rich, with velvety texture and concentration. Elegant and layered with fine balance and savory style; complex, sophisticated, and long.

Expert Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | Bart as many of you know by now has the great ability to find delicious well made wines from time producers.  Selvagrossa a winery in the Marche region of Italy, owned by brothers Alberto and Alessandro Taddei farm just a handful of hectares (think of a hectare as a football field squared) of vineyard in and around the town of Pesaro, a few kilometers from Adriatic.  Muschen is their entry level wine and is absolutely a joyous red made of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc.  

The 2022 “Muschèn” is a blend of those three grape varieties and it is fermented and aged in stainless steel to keep maximum freshness and fruit flavors.  Muschèn is the quintessential everyday Italian red, with that classic red fruit on the nose from the Sangiovese, a plushness in the mid-palate from the Merlot, and complex herbs and mineral notes from the Cabernet Franc.  Bart thinks you will love his discovery.

Winemaker Description

Muschen translates to ‘firefly’ in the local dialect and is the nickname of winemaker Alberto Taddei, who farms 4 hectares along the Adriatic coast with his brother Alessandro. A blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, all of which are fermented separately in stainless steel then blended. This wine shows tones of brambly berries and plums with fresh mint accents and brooding tobacco and spice elements on the finish.

Brothers Alberto and Alessandro Taddei farm just a handful of hectares of vineyard in and around the town of Pesaro, and this Adriatic-influenced region produces wines of incredible personality. Pesaro is an overlooked treasure of a village in the northern Marche, hugging the Adriatic coast. As you travel by car south and west of the village, you find yourself winding down hillside roads with lush green pastures, farms, and an occasional factory or two. 

Libero Taddei, the grandfather of the current generation, Alberto and Alessandro, diversified his livelihood by planting vines on the hillsides. Sangiovese was a natural selection, but grapes such as Merlot and Cabernet Franc were also found to be well suited to the vineyards. Today at Selvagrossa, there are almost four hectares of vineyards that surround Mamma Anselma’s house and the winery, and another half hectare they work with in a coastal vineyard north of Pesaro. The farming has been certified organic since 2017, but Selvagrossa has practiced sustainable farming for many years. The winery at Selvagrossa is very simple, not a lot of bells and whistles, but it makes delicious and complex wines.

The 2022 “Muschèn” is a blend of 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot, and 20% Cabernet Franc. No oak is used; it is fermented and aged only in stainless steel. “Muschèn” is the quintessential everyday Italian red, with that classic red fruit on the nose from the Sangiovese, a plushness in the midpalate from the Merlot, and some complex herbs and mineral notes from the Cabernet Franc. 

Winemaker Notes

Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) GSM is from the Uco Valley about 2 hours drive from Mendoza into the higher mountains.  GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre or Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell whether you use French or Spanish names for the grapes.   The blend produces a wine that is leaner and "Rhone like”  very different from the Malbecs produced in Argentina.

70% Grenache Noir, 15% Syrah, 15% Monastrell co-fermented. A cool, semi-carbonic maceration lasts 8 days. Fermentation in a 3,000-litre raw-concrete egg-shaped fermenter with no skin contact. Ambient yeasts only. 50% of the wine is aged here on its lees, the other 50% is aged in third-use French oak for 6 months. 8 months in bottle before release. 

Critic Notes

Oscar Garcia 67Wine.com | Ver Sacrum (Sacred Spring) GSM is from the Uco Valley about 2 hours drive from Mendoza into the higher mountains.  GSM is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre or Garnacha, Syrah and Monastrell whether you use French or Spanish names for the grapes.   The blend produces a wine that is leaner and "Rhone like”  very different from the Malbecs produced in Argentina.

Amanda Barnes writes:  Pale cherry in colour, Ver Sacrum takes a delicate approach to their GSM blend which sings with notes of wild strawberries, tarragon and cherry blossom. There’s a slight tartness to the palate, with crisp acidity and barely-there powdery tannins. Delightfully easy-drinking, chillable light red.  Drinking 2024 to 2026.  - Jancis Robinson 16+

Producer Description 

With the flood of new gins and tonic waters in recent years, modern tastebuds can be quite challenged when it comes to skillfully pair a specific gin with tonic water that complements its flavor profile. 

With the combination of Sicilian lemon, Seville oranges, grapefruit, and lime, The Bitter Truth Tonic Bitters are made to provide an authentic Gin & Tonic experience making the flavors merge perfectly by adding delicate exotic nuances for a multi-sensory affair.

The Bitter Truth Tonic Bitters provide layers of citrus fruits, juniper berries, orris root, and hints of Japanese green tea, and these bitters are not exclusive to the mix of Gin & Tonic, but they also shine bright in cocktails and long drinks. Producer Description. 

Winemaker Description

Introduced in 1881, Comoz Vermouth Blanc expressed Claudius Comoz’s selection of wines, plants and fruits, many of which come from the hills above Chambéry. Comoz came to fame as the essential vermouth in the El Presidente cocktail in Cuba. 

Comoz is less sweet than other vermouth blanc, with notes of stone fruits, alpine flowers and a deep, resonant undercurrent of wormwood. This deeper profile marries with whiskey better than any other pale vermouth.

Winemaker Description

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Jeff Porter of the Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | Roasted cherries, warmed clove and star anise aromas waft from the glass as dried floral hints and wild thyme rise as the wine opens. Mouthfilling with loads of mixed wild berries fresh, dried and preserved all combined with oak spice finishing with subtle earth and superfine tannins. Drink now–2040. 

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 91 Points | A dense, compact red marked by plum, cherry, leather, forest floor and tar aromas and flavors. Well-balanced and lingers on the finish, where chalky tannins leave their impression. Best from 2027 through 2042. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

91 Points James Suckling | A tangy and fresh Gavi full of sliced apples, lemon zest and stones. Medium-bodied and textured on the palate with fresh, vibrant acidity and a pure, pithy finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description 

Bright yellow color, delicate bouquet of dried pineapple and peach. Full and rich in flavor, yet mineral and refreshing. Fine aromatic flavor to the end. 

Winemaker Description

Chocolate profile with cherries and plum hints.  The wine is large to medium bodied but yet soft at the back end.  

A grand cru with great concentration and keeping freshness. Matter and elegance. 

Winemaker Description

Expert Ratings

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Marked by ripe cherries and hints of complex garrigue notes on the nose, it's full-bodied but also really elegant, with fine-grained, silky tannins, ample concentration and a long, surprisingly crisp finish. Barrel Sample: 93-95. 

Decanter 96 Points | Full, generous and broad. Acids are bright and vibrant, and there's a fine but dense weft of tannins through the wine. Great energy and salinity this year, this is particularly fine and balanced, with plenty of concentration and a long finish. All from La Crau and fermented in tronconic wood barrels. Élevage in foudre. Oldest Grenache bunches aren't destemmed.

James Suckling 96 Points | Such a deep and meaty nose with a slew of wild-herb, savory and subtle balsamic notes. Then comes the expansive and very concentrated palate, which reveals so many spicy nuances as it rolls over the palate, the stunning fine tannins pushing the finish out even further. A grenache-based blend from 60-year-old vines. Barrel Sample: 96-97

Winemaker Description

Lapostolle Grand Selection Sauvignon Blanc is a pale yellow with green edges. Very clean and expressive nose of white fruit and citrics. Fresh and unctuous palate with long finish.

The ideal companions for fish like sea bass and sea food in general.

Expert Rating - Vintage 2023 

92 Points James Suckling | A floral sauvignon blanc here that also shows restraint. Limes, white blossoms and a touch of nectarines. Bone-dry and textured on the palate with bright acidity. Good weight in the middle. Nothing showy here. Pithy and gastronomic. 

Producer Description 

Quinta Ruban 14 year has spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks, before being transferred into specially selected ruby port pipes from the Quintas or wine estates of Portugal.

Expert Review

Whisky Advocate 92 Points | This Quinta Ruban succeeds the 12 year old version, adding two additional years of finishing in port casks, while maintaining the same bargain price. The result is a symphony of understated opulence. Marzipan, fresh apple and pear, milk chocolate, red berries, candied ginger, and praline on the nose build slowly, leading into a fruity, spiced palate. Flavors of soft gingerbread, molasses cake, cherry pie, spiced plums, almond nougat, and dark chocolate intermingle with faint strains of pipe tobacco. It sings on the finish, with a parting crescendo of hazelnut, spice, cigar wrapper, and lengthy oak.

Winemaker Description

On the palate, it reveals a fresh attack followed by an ample, structured, long-lasting finish. The wine unfurls in successive stages and ends with top-quality tannins produced by whole cluster fermentation. It features aromas and flavors of smoked ham, violet, graphite, graphite, and licorice.

Expert Review

Winemaker Description

This, Klinker Brick's flagship zinfandel, is made from vineyard blocks up to 120 years old. Delta Breezes and the associated fog allow us to retain above average acidity for the region, providing notes of dark cherry and spices. Barrel fermentation brings additional structure to thin skin varietal. The extremely low yields of century old vineyards bring notes of rhubarb and cranberry, with a hint of black pepper. The result is a balanced and complex Zinfandel perfect for both Summer barbecues and Fall fire pits.

Winemaker Description 

The wine has a dark, ruby ​​red color. Its aromas offer a savory impression of candied fruit. The taste is harmonious, concentrated with a strong tannin content that allows good storage. When it comes to grape varieties, there is a clear predominance of Merlot grapes, which are complemented by Cabernet Franc and a little Cabernet Sauvignon.

A wine to accompany game and red meat with sauce.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Year’s Best US Chardonnay - Wine & Spirits Magazine

James Suckling 94 Points | Grilled pineapple, apricot, hawthorn, burnt lime and flint on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a sleek, creamy texture. Balanced, fresh and long. Beautiful expression. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2019 'Dundee Hills Chardonnay' is a regional blend showcasing the best of the Dundee Hills AVA. Refined aromas of nectarines, honeysuckle, and bee pollen ascend from the glass, coalescing with notes of citrus peel. Layers upon layers of richness extend across the palate and crescendo to a seamless, persistent finish with lingering notes of lemon drop candy. 

This wine has the energy and drive to drink young or over the next decade. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered showing our commitment to minimal intervention winemaking. Winemaker Description. 

Producer Description 

The storied Domaine de Montille traces its history in Burgundy back to the 1730s. Hubert de Montille took the helm in 1947 with a drive and passion that eventually earned the family a place in the upper echelon of Burgundy estates.

Following in his father’s footsteps, Etienne de Montille grew the family holdings to 35 hectares and in 1995, took the bold step of transitioning the vineyards to organic and biodynamic farming.

One of the rare Burgundy estates that excels in reds and whites in both the Côte de Beaune and the Côte de Nuits, along with many more sectors of the region with its sister petit negociant project, Maison de Montille (formerly known as DEux Montilles). 

The winemaking at de Montille has evolved over the years, and the resulting wines are less austere in their youth than in the Hubert era. Today’s wines are fresh and elegant with terroir-transparency and a structure that is built to last.

Expert Review

San Francisco Chronicle | Brendel likes to say that they have a secret ingredient: dirt. Their range of wines are made from some of the best sites in Napa’s most renowned regions, including the eastern side of Rutherford (the main component here), the highest elevations of Howell Mountain, two diverse sites in St. Helena, and a steep plot in Oak Knoll. Each vineyard is chosen for its quality and unique aptitude, with soil types ranging from volcanic to clay to bring out the best in each grape in their array of wines. It’s, as they put it, good dirt.

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 Brendel Cooper’s Reed Cabernet Sauvignon is a fresh and vibrant take on Napa Valley’s famed grape varietal. Harvested under moonlight, the fruit is crushed at cool temperatures and then thoughtfully monitored throughout fermentation. After a 7-10 day fermentation, the wine is gently pressed to oak casks where it is allowed to mature for 9 months prior to bottling. Fruit is sourced from prized vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, giving the wine its mouthwatering structure, and elevage in upright oak casks preserves the bright red and black fruit characteristics.
– Brittany Sherwood, Director of Winemaking

Expert Review - Vintager 2020

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 87 Points | The 2020 Howell Mountain Cuvée is a powerful, tannic wine. Bruising tannins are hard to get past. I am not especially optimistic about the future for this wine. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Malbec.

Winemaker Description

Our mission at RCW is to be stewards of our tremendous vineyards while welcoming each successive generation to our wines and our culture ... without requiring a ridiculous price of entry. To that end, we are thrilled to present another vintage of this affordable and amazing introduction to the wines of The Craig, for those not familiar with what we do ... as well as a reward to our current customers.

Predominately Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, and Malbec, our 2020 edition was produced from our very best estate fruit that was declassified due to the fires and the reputation of the vintage rather than the quality of the fruit that came in early.

This wine is profoundly dark and deep and presents the thrilling, racy nature of Howell Mountain minerality and sense of place. I cannot tell you what a great buy this all-estate Howell Mountain Bordeaux blend represents. Open it now and give it some air, or stash in the cellar for the brown bag victory in ten years. 2020 is a tiny but wonderful vintage in certain pockets of the Napa Valley.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling 97 points - This has a complex nose of cranberries, dried pineapple, soy, bark, cardamom, mocha, iodine and wet leather. Full-bodied, with firm and very fine tannins. It really builds in intensity, expanding into a broad array of fresh and dried fruit and espresso bean, before converging again on a long and driven finish. Fantastic already.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 points - Attractive smoky perfume lifts from the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli, with sunny red plum, anise, lavender, and cedar. It is full-bodied, with a refined tannin structure, and a bit more wood influence that will integrate nicely in time. Offering notes of black cherry, licorice, crushed stones, and warming spice, it displays a broader nature compared to the rest of the range, which is to be expected from this iconic site with a somewhat warmer, south-facing exposition.

The Wine Advocate 94+ points - The word "Vigna" has been added to the official name of this wine to underline work in the appellation meant to focus on single-vineyard designates. The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli comes from a unique growing site with some of the best exposures from hillside vineyards. This wine shows a slightly dark hue with added concentration and depth. I am delighted by the bouquet that reveals dark cherry, blue flower, crushed stone and grilled herb. There is sweet toast and spice at the back. This is one of the more complete and age-worthy wines from the 2018 vintage.end quote.

Wine Spectator 94 points - A dense, tannic red, with plum, cherry, menthol, iron and spice flavors driven by lively acidity. A bit more burly than many 2018s, yet this remains vibrant, superlong and complex.

Vinous Media - 94 points - The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is dark and brooding with a lavender-tinged mix of crushed rocks, dusty cherry, curry leaf and hints of balsamic spice. It's delicate with a balanced inner sweetness and smooth contours, showing vividly ripe wild blackberry, and even hints of blueberry fruit. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, like liquid violets, yet finishes only lightly structured and wonderfully perfumed. The magic of Montosoli shines through, but don't expect the 2018 to make old bones. Production was down by 20% due to a more-severe selection of grapes in 2018.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Neil Martin of The Wine Advocate writes 91-93+ Points |  The 2020 Chassagne Montrachet les Champs Gains has a touch more mineralite 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!

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! 

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.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2020 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Chaumes unwinds in the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, cassis and rose petals, framed by a discreet patina of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and vibrant, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a saline finish, it is very promising. (2020). 

Barrel Sample: (91-93)+Burghound 90 Points |  Very Vosne-like aromas blend nose of clove and anise with those of black cherry, violet and cassis. The plush and lavishly rich medium weight flavors possess fine punch before culminating in a relatively robust, indeed even slightly chewy finale. This is certainly attractive in its fashion but it's not typical for Chaumes. (2020).