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Our Professional Review

Rand Sieger, 67Wine Buyer, writes: Only 7.5% alcohol. This is about as good as a Mosel Riesling under $20 can be. Rarely do you find a Spätlese of this quality for such a low price. Classic Mosel with bright white currant fruit, clover honey, and an energetic undercurrent of lime zest and slaty minerality. It really explodes on the palate with juicy, mouthwatering fruit and the perfect balance of sweetness and acidity.

Try this paired with breaded, deep-fried button mushrooms dipped in tartar sauce. The combination will make you smile.

Winemaker Description

The Rauen family in the Mosel has been growing grapes for many generations but began bottling their own wine only in 1983. When Harald Rauen took the reins from his father more than 30 years ago, the first thing he did with their vineyards in the slate-rich soils of Detzem and Thornich was to reduce yields to concentrate on quality over bulk. The result is a line of classically clean and elegant Rieslings. His Spätlese is light-bodied and zesty, just a touch sweet, with notes of apricot, lime, and flint.

• Producer: Familie Rauen
• Appellation: Mosel, Germany
• Grape: Riesling
• Style: Spätlese (off-dry)
• ABV: 7.5%
• Closure: Screwcap
• Vintage: 2023
• Format: 750ml

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

Locos por el Vino” is a new project from Bodegas Alto Moncayo, aiming to expand their range with high-quality, modern and casual wines produced from the winery’s youngest vineyards, guaranteeing the continuity of the Alto Moncayo project for future generations to come. 

Domaine Vincent Latour is one of Meursault's most storied estates, with roots stretching back to 1792. Formerly known as Domaine Latour-Labille, the domaine is today guided by Vincent Latour and his wife, Cécile, with an unwavering focus on Chardonnay that balances generous texture with freshness, tension, and a clear sense of place. Their approach is rooted in respect for the vineyard and minimal intervention in the cellar.

This Bourgogne Blanc is sourced from several parcels totaling approximately two hectares situated within the village of Meursault — a remarkable provenance for a wine carrying the broader Bourgogne appellation. The vines span a wide range of ages, with the oldest planted in 1957 and the youngest in 2019, contributing both depth and freshness to the blend.

After harvest, the grapes are crushed and the must is carefully settled before fermentation. The wine is then aged for approximately 10 to 12 months in a combination of foudres and barrels, with only around 10% new oak. Vincent Latour increasingly favors larger-format vessels, which allow the wine to develop texture and complexity while preserving the purity and precision of the fruit.

The 2024 vintage opens with inviting aromas of ripe orchard fruit, fresh citrus, and subtle white flowers, underpinned by a fine, stony minerality. On the palate, the wine is rounded and gently creamy yet remains energetic and precise — showing understated oak, lively acidity, and a clean, persistent finish that speaks clearly of its Meursault origins.

Grape: Chardonnay
Region: Burgundy, France
Appellation: Bourgogne Blanc
Vintage: 2024
Vineyard: Parcels within the village of Meursault
Vine Age: Plantings from 1957 to 2019
Élevage: 10–12 months in foudres and barrels; ~10% new oak
Bottle Size: 750ml

Pairing: Roast chicken, grilled or poached fish, scallops, lobster, creamy seafood dishes, mushroom risotto, soft cheeses, and classic French chèvre.

About R.H. Coutier

R.H. Coutier Tradition Brut (Base 2021) is a generous, characterful Champagne from one of Ambonnay's most respected grower-producers — a family estate with deep roots in this celebrated Grand Cru village of the Montagne de Reims. Composed of 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, sourced entirely from estate-grown fruit in Ambonnay, this is a classically styled Grand Cru Champagne with the depth and structure to accompany the table and the freshness to shine as an aperitif.

Tasting Notes

The nose opens with ripe orchard fruit, tangerine oil, honeycomb, mint, and freshly baked pastry — inviting and complex from the first pour. On the palate, the wine is medium to full-bodied with a soft, pillowy mousse and a fleshy core of fruit, balanced by tangy acidity. Notes of tart lemon, lime, sourdough, and rhubarb add layers of complexity, while Ambonnay’s limestone-rich soils provide freshness and definition through the long, chalky finish. Rich yet energetic — a Champagne of genuine character.

Critical Acclaim

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate — 91 Points: “Exhibiting notions of waxy orchard fruit, honeycomb, mint, tangerine oil and fresh pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, bright and pillowy, with tangy acids and a fleshy core of fruit. Full of flavor and character, this is a fine effort.”

Wine & Spirits — 91 Points: “The Coutier family blends 20 percent Chardonnay into the Pinot Noir for this cuvée, all of it estate grown in the Grand Cru village of Ambonnay. The wine balances tart lemon and lime scents with notes of sourdough starter and rhubarb. Almost cakey in its richness, this has the limestone acidity to cut through rich foods, whether seared foie gras or braised short ribs.”

Food Pairings

Serve with roast poultry, seared foie gras, braised short ribs, mushroom dishes, rich seafood, aged cheeses, and buttery pastry-based appetizers. Equally compelling as a standalone aperitif.

Marcel Lapierre Raisins Gaulois VdP de Gaul Organic 2025

Marcel Lapierre is one of the founding fathers of the natural wine movement in Beaujolais, and Raisins Gaulois is his most joyful, approachable expression. Sourced from 60-year-old Gamay vines on granitic soils, the 2025 is vinified without sulfur using semi-carbonic maceration — the result is a wine that is pure, vibrant, and made to be drunk with abandon. Think red cherries, clementine zest, and a whisper of earth, with silky tannins and a refreshing finish. Serve slightly chilled.

• Producer: Marcel Lapierre
• Grape: 100% Gamay
• Region: VdP de Gaul, Beaujolais, France
• Vintage: 2025
• Size: 750ml
• Farming: Certified Organic, No Added Sulfur
• Vinification: Semi-carbonic maceration, 4–6 days; 2 months in cuve before release
• Alcohol: 12.5%

Pairs beautifully with roasted cod, coq au vin, prawn dumplings with sweet chilli sauce, or your next backyard barbecue.

Luxardo · Amaro Abano · Italy · 60 Proof · 750ml

First introduced in 1952, Luxardo Amaro Abano takes its name from the historic spa town of Abano in the Veneto region. Its label depicts the spa around 1600, giving this Italian amaro a visual connection to the place that inspired it.

Wild herbs are infused with cardamom, cinnamon and bitter orange peel to create a medium-bitter profile. The supplied Wine Enthusiast review describes a rich, palate-coating liqueur with espresso, bitter chocolate, dark gingerbread, toffee and dried fig, balanced by bitter orange and cardamom spice.

Producer Description

Luxardo: Luxardo Amaro Abano originated in 1952. Amaro means “bitter,” and Abano is an old Roman spa in the Veneto region that has been active for the last 500 years. The label depicts the spa around the year 1600. The herbs in this amaro grow wild and are infused along with cardamom, cinnamon and bitter orange peel. Luxardo Amaro Abano is a medium bitter, extremely popular in Italy, and especially in the Veneto region, drunk straight after a meal with or without ice to help digestion.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points: Take a cue from the deep, dark-brown hue and viscous texture: This is a palate-coating liqueur with deep, dark flavors of espresso, bitter chocolate, dark gingerbread, toffee and dried fig, cut with a mild bitter-orange note and cardamom spice. Best Buy.

Serving Suggestions

Serve a small pour neat or over ice after dinner. For a pairing idea, try it alongside dark chocolate or a coffee-based dessert to echo the flavors noted in the review.

Product Details

• Producer: Luxardo
• Origin: Italy
• Style: Amaro, herbal bitter liqueur
• Botanicals noted by the producer: Wild herbs, cardamom, cinnamon and bitter orange peel
• Proof: 60
• Alcohol: 30% ABV
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Review: Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points, Best Buy

A richly flavored Italian amaro for an unhurried after-dinner pour.

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

Icardi Langhe Nebbiolo Surisjvan Organic 2024 750ml

A wine of honesty, character, and integrity from one of Piedmont's most committed organic estates. The Icardi family has been growing grapes since 1914, farming in full harmony with nature — no herbicides, no pesticides, no nitrogen fertilizers. Just certified organic viticulture and a deep respect for the land.

Tasting Notes

100% Nebbiolo. Perfumed and elegant with inviting aromas of rose petals, violets, red berries, and spice. Medium-bodied and juicy with succulent cherry fruit, savory richness, and earthy complexity, framed by sturdy yet fine-grained tannins and beautifully integrated oak.

Food Pairings

• Braised meats, osso buco, and slow-cooked lamb
• Aged cheeses and charcuterie boards
• Mushroom risotto and truffle dishes
• Roasted pork and game birds

Wine Details

• Varietal: Nebbiolo
• Region: Langhe, Piedmont, Italy
• Vintage: 2024
• Size: 750ml
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Producer: Icardi

Primus · Carménère · Apalta, Colchagua 2022

Primus finds its home in Chile’s Apalta Valley, where the producer describes a respectful approach to the vineyard rooted in regenerative organic and biodynamic principles. This 2022 Carménère brings the region’s red-fruit and herbal character to a bottle made for the table.

The winemaker describes red fruit, cedar and boldo herbs, with cherry, pepper and rosemary on a fresh, fruity palate. Silky, velvety tannins and good volume make it a natural companion for beef empanadas, curried lamb or a slow-cooked stew.

Expert reviews · 2022 vintage

James Suckling · 91 points

Sweet spices, preserved cherries and hints of white pepper and grilled herbs. Fresh, medium-bodied palate with slightly chewy tannins. From organically grown grapes with Ecocert certification. Vegan. Sustainable. Better in two more years.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate · 91 points

The 2022 Primus Carmenere represents the Neyen de Apalta style well, offering woody, herbal and slightly resinous aromas against a bed of ripe yet succulent red fruit aromas. The palate is plush and layered while remaining contained and classy, concluding with a refined, elegant finish.

Wine Spectator · 89 points

Redolent with wild berry and cherry notes, this red weaves in sage, mace and mineral accents that linger nicely around fine tannins and peppery accents. Drink now through 2030. 4,300 cases made, 1,000 cases imported.

Wine details

• Producer: Primus
• Vintage: 2022
• Grape: Carménère
• Origin: Apalta, Colchagua Valley, Chile
• Farming: Organically grown grapes, per the existing James Suckling review
• Style: Red wine
• Size: 750ml
• Pair with: beef empanadas, curried lamb or stews

An Apalta red with ripe fruit, savory herbs and a silky finish.

Winemaker Description 

An elegant, fruit forward wine with intense aromas of fresh red fruit. The mouth feel shows a full palate with soft round tannins and a long persistent finish. Certified Sustainability & Vegan.  

Memo Summary Notes

The 2021 Mythic Mountain Malbec is a fruit-forward, approachable red from the Luján de Cuyo region of Mendoza, Argentina.

This wine’s soft tannins and juicy profile make it versatile. It pairs excellently with:

• Grilled Meats: Classic Argentine asado or lamb chops with rosemary.

• Casual Fare: Pepperoni pizza or burgers.

• Cheeses: Aged Gouda or Mimolette.

  
  

   

Antinori · Pèppoli Chianti Classico 2024 · Tuscany, Italy

Antinori Pèppoli 2024 is a Sangiovese-led Chianti Classico with vibrant cherry fruit, floral aromas and a long, savory finish. Its juicy palate and soft tannins make it an inviting choice for a table of tomato-sauced pasta, grilled meats and Italian cheeses.

Expert Reviews · Vintage 2024

Wine Enthusiast · 92 Points: The nose brings aromas of vanilla bean, freshly brewed coffee, Bing cherry, and wild strawberry. Raspberries join more strawberries and cherries on the palate, but earthy undertones and chalky tannins ground things and create a substantial mouthfeel.

James Suckling · 91 Points: A spicy wine with aromas of licorice, dried flowers, bright red cherries, violets, and blood oranges. Light-bodied, soft and extracted, with crisp acidity and a chalky finish.

Winemaker Description

Antinori: Pèppoli 2024 is a bright ruby red. The nose is vibrant and expressive, offering fresh notes of cherries, raspberry jelly, and pomegranate juice with floral sensations of violets and geraniums. The palate is lively and dynamic: an energetic entry leads to a juicy, flavorful mid-palate followed by a long, savory finish characterized by soft, sweet tannins.

About Antinori & Pèppoli

The Antinori family has been committed to the art of winemaking for over six centuries, since 1385 when Giovanni di Piero Antinori became a member of the Florentine Winemakers’ Guild. The Pèppoli estate, located 5 kilometers northeast of the Tenuta Tignanello estate, spans 100 hectares in the heart of Chianti Classico DOCG. Its vineyards produce a Sangiovese-led blend celebrated for its full fruit expression, characteristic floral aromas, and faithful representation of the Chianti Classico territory.

Tasting Notes

Bright ruby red, with cherries, raspberry jelly, pomegranate and floral notes of violets and geraniums. A lively entry opens into a juicy mid-palate, with soft, sweet tannins supporting the long, savory finish.

Food Pairings

A natural companion for pasta with tomato-based sauces, grilled meats, roasted lamb, and aged Italian cheeses such as Parmigiano-Reggiano or Pecorino.

Wine Details

• Producer: Antinori
• Estate: Pèppoli
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Chianti Classico DOCG
• Region: Tuscany, Italy
• Blend: Sangiovese-led
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Reviews: Wine Enthusiast 92 points; James Suckling 91 points

Vibrant Tuscan fruit and a savory finish, ready for your next Italian supper.

Vinous 90 Points: The 2023 Chardonnay Central Coast opens with a honeyed bouquet of wild flowers, ginger shavings and freshly sliced nectarines. This sweeps across the palate with ease, clean and bright, with vivid green apple fruit. It leaves the senses pleasantly refreshed as nuances of chamomile fade.

Crafted in a bright, fruit-driven style that showcases the best of California Chardonnay, Justin Winery Chardonnay Sonoma County 2023 offers remarkable balance, freshness, and approachability. Sourced from select vineyard sites, this expressive white wine opens with inviting aromas of ripe pear, golden apple, honeydew melon, and citrus blossom, complemented by subtle notes of vanilla, baking spice, and toasted brioche.

On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied and beautifully textured, delivering layers of juicy orchard fruit, lemon curd, and stone fruit flavors supported by lively acidity and a gentle touch of oak. The finish is clean, refreshing, and persistent, making it an exceptionally versatile Chardonnay for both casual enjoyment and food pairing.

Elegant yet accessible, this Sonoma County Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with roasted chicken, grilled seafood, creamy pasta dishes, crab cakes, lobster, and mild cheeses.

Tasting Notes

• Aromas: Pear, golden apple, citrus blossom, melon, vanilla
• Palate: Apple, peach, lemon curd, baking spice, subtle oak
• Body: Medium-bodied
• Style: Fresh, balanced, fruit-forward Chardonnay
• Finish: Clean, bright, and lingering

A polished and crowd-pleasing California Chardonnay that delivers exceptional value and everyday drinkability.

Winemaker Description 

The Beringer Founders' Estate Merlot is approachable and delicious. Hints of plum and brown spice on the nose compliment the boysenberry, blackberry and blueberry finish on the palate. It's well-balanced, soft tannins make this wine a perfect accompaniment to a variety of foods, such as grilled meats or hearty vegetable dishes. 

Yellow Tail | Shiraz | South Eastern Australia | NV | 750ml

Yellow Tail is one of Australia's most recognized and beloved wine brands, produced by the Casella family in Yenda, New South Wales. Since its launch in 2001, [yellow tail] has become a global phenomenon — a wine that introduced millions of drinkers to the approachable, fruit-forward style of Australian Shiraz. Often referred to as the classic Australian red, it is crafted to be consistent, reliable, and endlessly enjoyable at an unbeatable everyday price.

Rich and smooth with concentrated red cherry and plum, complemented by notes of vanilla, mocha, and spice. Juicy red berries and a soft, approachable finish. Everything a great everyday Shiraz should be.

Pair with steak, burgers, BBQ ribs, grilled sausages, and hearty pasta dishes.

• Producer: Casella Family Brands
• Appellation: South Eastern Australia
• Grape: Shiraz
• Style: Medium-bodied, fruit-forward Australian Shiraz
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Joseph Faiveley Bourgogne Blanc — Burgundy 2024

Faiveley's Bourgogne Blanc is the entry point into one of Burgundy's most storied estates — and it punches well above its appellation. Founded in 1825 and based in Nuits-Saint-Georges, Faiveley is among the largest vineyard owners in the Côte d'Or, with holdings spanning the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune. That estate access is the secret: fruit from their own vineyards is blended with carefully selected grapes from trusted growers, producing a wine of genuine village-level character at an appellation price. The 2024 vintage delivers everything you want from a Burgundian Chardonnay — freshness, generosity, and a length that defies its price.

The color is a brilliant pale greenish-yellow. The nose is expressive and charming: white flowers, ripe pear, lemon zest, and a whisper of minerality. On the palate, the attack is bold and generous — round and full-bodied with a creamy mid-palate, subtle oak integration, and a finish of exceptional length and persistence for a Bourgogne Blanc. This is the benchmark for what entry-level white Burgundy can be.

"A genuine value wine — exceptional length and persistence for a Bourgogne Blanc." 

• Producer: Domaine Faiveley, Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Bourgogne Blanc AOC
• Varietal: 100% Chardonnay
• Style: Crisp, generous, expressive entry-level white Burgundy
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White flowers, pear, lemon zest, minerality, creamy mid-palate, long finish
• Cellar Potential: Drink now or cellar 3–5 years
• Best Paired With: Grilled fish, roasted chicken, veal, soft cheeses, mushroom dishes, light pasta with cream sauce

A genuine value from one of Burgundy's great historic maisons — Faiveley's Bourgogne Blanc is the everyday Chardonnay with real Burgundian soul.

Expert Review

Vinous 97 Points: The 2019 Barolo Lazzarito continues a trend seen in recent years in which the focus has been more about finesse than raw power. Intense red fruit, iron, dried herbs, chalk, dried rose petal and white pepper all run through this deep, virile Barolo. The power and intensity of Serralunga really come alive on the heady, explosive finish. Bright saline notes linger on the deep, resonant finish. A Barolo of raw, unbridled power, the Lazzarito demands patience.

Expert Review

Vinous 97 Points Josh Raynolds writes |  Glass-staining ruby. Exotically perfumed black and blue fruit, incense and candied licorice scents, along with mineral, olive and exotic spice overtones. Seamless and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry, boysenberry, cherry-cola, salty olive and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding energy and mineral lift. Slow-building tannins grow on a strikingly long, focused finish that strongly echoes the licorice and mineral notes.

Tesselaarsdal · Chardonnay · 2022

Tesselaarsdal Chardonnay 2022 is a cool-climate South African white with a silky texture, crisp acidity, and an elegant, lingering finish. White pear and lemon toast bring depth to its medium-bodied palate, balancing rounded richness with refreshing lift.

Producer & Heritage

Tesselaarsdal was founded in 2015 by long-standing Hamilton Russell Vineyards employee Berene Sauls. It is named after the historic Overberg farming hamlet of Tesselaarsdal—not far from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge wine appellation—where Berene was born, a descendant of the freed slaves who were bequeathed the land of the Tesselaarsdal valley by former Dutch East India Company soldier Johannes Tesselaar’s widow in 1832.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling, 91 Points: Sliced pears, apples, wet stones and pastries on the nose. Medium-bodied, bright and clean, with savory, flinty elements underlining the fresh fruit.

Wine Enthusiast, 91 Points: This lively white hails from high-altitude vineyards in the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge, a cool-climate region. It exhibits inviting green and citrus aromas and has an oily texture and energized acidity backing flavors of white peach and linden tea. Bright notes of lime run through the palate.

Wine Spectator, 91 Points: Crisp and appealing, with a lightly chalky texture carrying well-meshed flavors of ripe Gala apple, slivered almond, pickled ginger and stony mineral. Clean-cut finish, with a waft of white blossoms.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 90+ Points: Clean, zesty and citrus-driven, the nose of the 2022 Chardonnay is fresh with hints of oak and plenty of lemon skin and yellow apple. Medium-bodied and with 13% alcohol, the palate is fresh, food-friendly and expressive before ending with a zesty, mineral-driven finish. This little beauty was made with a mix of amphora and oak to bring out and balance dusty minerality with soft, oaky essences. Rating: 90+

Producer Notes · Historical Estate Background

The following producer account is preserved from the supplied listing. Its vineyard plans describe the estate’s aspirations at the time of writing, rather than a verified current planting or harvest status.

The Present
Fifteen years after starting my career in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley, Anthony Hamilton Russell offered me the wonderful opportunity to join the rest of the Hemel-en-Aarde area as a producer. Today, with the expert assistance of Hamilton Russell Vineyards wine maker, Emul Ross and the Hamilton Russell Vineyards team, I wholly own Tesselaarsdal Wines.

Grape purchases are secured with Babylon Vineyards, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge (unirrigated vineyards)—until Tesselaarsdal’s vineyards is secured and ready for harvest. I will focus production on Pinot Noir as our climate and soil type is best suited for this cultivar.

The Future
The Tesselaarsdal Wines dream is to create wines from its own vineyards in Tesselaarsdal, Overberg. In 2019 we acquired 16 hectares which will be planted with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Tasting Notes

Subtle white pear and lemon toast notes meet a silky, medium-bodied palate. Rounded richness is balanced by crisp acidity, with an elegant finish that lingers. For wine lovers seeking freshness alongside texture, this 2022 Chardonnay offers an appealing balance of both.

Serving & Pairing Suggestions

Serve chilled with grilled fish, roast chicken, or creamy mushroom pasta, or share a bottle over an unhurried dinner.

Wine Details

• Producer: Tesselaarsdal
• Founder: Berene Sauls
• Grape: Chardonnay
• Vintage: 2022
• Region: Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
• Country: South Africa
• Bottle size: 750ml
• Style: Cool-climate, medium-bodied white

Réserve du Naufraget | Vouvray AOC | Loire Valley, France | 2024

From Maison Pierre Chainier, a family-owned négociant based in Amboise on the banks of the Loire, this Vouvray is a textbook expression of Chenin Blanc from one of France's most storied appellations. Grown on the chalky Tuffeau soils upstream from Tours, the grapes are handpicked in October — some with a touch of noble rot (botrytis) that concentrates natural sugars and adds aromatic complexity. A slow, month-long fermentation yields a beautifully off-dry style: a sweet, generous entry that resolves into a clean, refreshing finish.

Rich and aromatic on the nose with orange peel, honeysuckle, ripe quince, and a whisper of beeswax. The palate is round and textured, with flavors of honey, poached pear, and candied citrus carried by bright Chenin acidity. The finish lingers with a gentle honeyed note. One of the most food-versatile whites available at this price.

• Producer: Maison Pierre Chainier
• Appellation: Vouvray AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Grape: 100% Chenin Blanc
• Style: Off-Dry
• Vintage: 2024
• Closure: Screwcap
• Serve: 46–50°F
• Pairings: Thai green curry, Szechuan dishes, spicy tuna rolls, pork with apple sauce, honey-glazed ham, fruit tarts, almond pastries
• Size: 750ml

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

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | This is a large production of 85,000 bottles that sources its fruit from various plots planted in 2004 and 2007 at 600 meters in elevation on terraces made with volcanic rocks. The Tenuta Tascante 2022 Etna Rosso Ghiaia Nera offers focused fruit aromas of redcurrant and cranberry. The wine shows a dark ruby color and medium texture. Its informal personality would match a plate of home-cooked pasta or a wood-oven pizza.

Conundrum Red · California · 2023

From the Wagner family of wines, Conundrum Red takes a flexible approach to blending California's dark red varieties, including Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon. The family's blending tradition grew from Charlie Wagner Sr.'s habit of mixing wines at the dinner table to find the right match for a meal. Charlie Wagner now leads Conundrum, carrying that exploratory spirit into the red blend.

The existing producer notes describe lavish fruit, baking chocolate and smooth tannins. A slight chill can bring the fruit forward, making this an easy bottle to open for a relaxed dinner or a cookout.

Winemaker description

A medley of fresh fruits including plum and a hint of nectarine; semi-sweet baking chocolate, damp earth and a backdrop of toasted oak aromas. Flavors of chocolate cake with coconut shavings, crème de cassis, stone fruit, nutmeg and clove, smooth tannins. Dry yet rich, with lavish fruit and a smooth texture. Be daring and drink slightly chilled to reveal an unexpectedly refreshing red wine.

Winemaker description

At the table

Pair with Asian or Indian cuisine; Mexican tacos and fajitas; smoked meats or anything that fits on a grill.

At a glance

• Producer: Conundrum, Wagner family of wines
• Vintage: 2023
• Region: California, United States
• Style: Red blend featuring Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Size: 750ml

A California red blend that is equally at home beside the grill or poured slightly chilled.

Mt. Brave Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Veeder — Napa Valley 2021

Mt. Brave is the Mountain Veeder project of Chris Carpenter — the winemaker behind Lokoya and Cardinale, and one of Napa Valley’s most celebrated mountain viticulturists. The estate vineyards sit high above the fog line on the undulating ridgelines of Mt. Veeder, where some sites date back to just before the Civil War. The soils are volcanic and iron-rich, the yields are brutally low, and the fruit that survives is among the most concentrated and complex in all of Napa. Carpenter’s philosophy is one of restraint and terroir transparency — allowing Mt. Veeder to reveal itself in each vintage rather than imposing a winemaker’s hand. The 2021 blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, and 1% Petit Verdot — 3,830 cases produced. James Suckling called it the best Mt. Brave ever made.

The color is a deep, saturated ruby. The nose is breathtaking: violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, bay leaf, and cedary oak, with gorgeous mid-palate depth and nuances of tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni. On the palate, it is full-bodied and silky — very fine tannins that caress the palate with velvety precision, mouthwatering ripeness, and a long, focused, and deeply complex finish. There is upfront accessibility today, but this wine deserves 3–4 years in the cellar and will reward patience for two decades. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling — 99 Points
“A fabulous wine of focus and polish with very fine tannins that caress your palate and give great length to the finish. Medium to full body. The aromas of violets and currants are so beautiful. Dreamy. Best ever? A blend of 92% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc, 2% merlot, 1% malbec and 1% petit verdot. A total of 3,830 cases produced. Give it three to four years to soften.”

Jeb Dunnuck — 97 Points
“The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Mount Veeder is a classic Mountain Cabernet with full-bodied richness and ample, although velvety, tannins as well as pure cassis and currant-like fruits, gorgeous mid-palate depth and opulence on the palate, and beautiful complexity in its tobacco, graphite, and bouquet garni-like nuances. It’s another remarkable wine from Carpenter that has some upfront accessibility today yet deserves 3-4 years in the cellar. It will have two decades of overall longevity, and as top Napa Cabernet Sauvignon goes, it’s a terrific value.”

Wine Advocate — 95 Points
“Cassis and blueberries are joined on the nose by hints of dried sage, bay leaf and cedary oak. Full-bodied and silky, with drying tannins and mouthwatering ripeness on the long finish. Give it a couple of years in the cellar and drink it over the next couple of decades.”

Wine Spectator — 94 Points
“This is deep and winey, with cassis, plum paste and linzer torte notes leading the way. Structured but succulent, offering singed apple wood, bay and cast iron accents that support the fruit through the long and focused finish. Very Veeder, with a touch of old school. Best from 2025 through 2040.”

• Producer: Mt. Brave (Chris Carpenter), Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Mountain Veeder, Napa Valley
• Composition: 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec, 1% Petit Verdot
• Production: 3,830 cases
• Style: Powerful, silky, terroir-driven Mountain Veeder Cabernet
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Violets, black currant, cassis, blueberry, dried sage, tobacco, graphite, bouquet garni, cedary oak
• Drink Window: 2025–2040
• Best Paired With: Braised short ribs, grilled ribeye, lamb rack, wild mushroom dishes, aged hard cheeses

Mountain Veeder Cabernet at its absolute pinnacle — Mt. Brave 2021 is Chris Carpenter’s finest hour.

The benchmark rosé Champagne. The one every other measures itself against.

Billecart-Salmon Le Rosé has been setting the standard since 1830 — born in the prestigious cellars of Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, crafted with a precision and elegance that is simply unmatched. This is not just Champagne. This is a moment.

In the Glass
A luminous salmon-pink with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose opens with fresh strawberry, wild raspberry, and a whisper of citrus blossom, lifted by a subtle warmth of brioche. On the palate — pliant, creamy, and strikingly expressive. Pomegranate and grapefruit weave into a brisk, finely cut finish. There is a vinous depth here, a sense that behind the Champagne, there is a real wine — effortlessly fresh, impossibly delicate.

The Blend
40% Chardonnay · 30% Pinot Noir · 30% Pinot Meunier (~7% still red wine)
NV base: 2020 · 46% reserve wines dating to 2014 · Dosage: 4.7 g/L

"At any time, it's like a ray of sunlight that transcends the beauty of the moment."
— Pierre Hermé, Legendary Pastry Chef

Expert Reviews

🍷 Antonio Galloni, Vinous — 91 pts | Pliant, creamy and super-expressive. Pomegranate and grapefruit laced into the brisk, finely cut finish. Drinking 2024–2030.

🍷 Tim Hewson, Decanter — 92 pts | Fragrant, crunchy redcurrant, red cherry and orange fruit with an alluring hibiscus-like floral lift. A rosé of immediacy and charm. Drinking 2024–2027.

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