2023 Domaine De La Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone Valley France

2023 Domaine De La Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone Valley France

with No Comment $50-$60Chateauneuf-Du-PapeFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

Domaine De La Solitude

Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhone Valley, France 2023

2023 Domaine De La Solitude Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rhone Valley France

The 2023 vintage from Domaine de la Solitude delivers a Châteauneuf-du-Pape that balances its muscular frame with breathtaking nuance. Anchored in deep tradition but lifted by a modern sense of elegance, it’s a wine that leaves a lasting impression: vivid, authentic, and unmistakably alive.

The estate carries a rich legacy that stretches back to the 15th century, through the venerable Barberini-Martin family. The label itself bears witness to this ancestry with three bishops’ hats symbolizing the family’s connection to Pope Urban VIII and his cardinal nephews, a lineage that echoes through every sip.

Their 2023 vintage, built on the classic triumvirate of Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre, includes trace amounts of all other permitted Rhône varietals, organically farmed and co-fermented, bringing this storied region to life. The wine is opulent without excess, layered yet precise, feeling both rooted and refined. It’s an articulation of place, and a vivid reminder of what makes this corner of the Rhône Valley so enduringly magnetic.

Domaine De La Solitude
Châteauneuf-du-Pape
Rhone Valley, France 2023

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“Very rich and spicy, with impressive concentration and stacks of fine, soft tannins on the full-bodied palate. There’s licorice and meaty intensity in the crescendo finish. A cuvee of 60% grenache, 20% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 5% each counoise and cinsault. From biodynamically grown grapes. A small crop due to hail damage in May. Matured mostly in concrete tanks with a small number of oak casks. Drink or hold.”

95 Points

2019 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

2019 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtTuscany

La Rasina

Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2019

2019 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

From one of Brunello’s most celebrated vintages emerges La Rasina, a captivating synthesis of meticulous craftsmanship, organic stewardship, and authentic expression of terroir. With a stellar 95-point score, and from a vintage recognized by Wine Spectator for its remarkable blend of elegance and intensity, La Rasina stands as a luminous example, delivering exceptional quality and compelling value.

Set upon the northeastern slopes of Montalcino, La Rasina’s vineyards have been carefully tended by the Mantengoli family through three generations. Committed to organic farming and minimal intervention, their efforts allow the vineyard’s unique character and vivid fruit purity to resonate profoundly in every sip.

La Rasina’s Brunello spends over two years in large oak, carefully harnessing the elegance of tradition to deliver a wine that’s vibrantly alive. Its remarkable architecture promises decades of evolution, yet its lush complexity and elegant depth invite you to experience it right away.

La Rasina
Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2019

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“A firm, velvety-textured wine and not overbearing, offering red cherries and hints of cedar and mushrooms. Chewy and structured. Excellent structure and a savory finish. Cool, structured red. From organically grown grapes. Best in three to four years and beyond. Try in 2026.”

95 Points

2023 Ernest Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

2023 Ernest Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40ChardonnayKevin VogtSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Ernest

Chardonnay 2023
Sonoma Coast

2023 Ernest Chardonnay Sonoma Coast

The 2023 Ernest Sonoma Coast Chardonnay pulses with coastal energy: brilliantly chiseled, refreshingly pure, and seamlessly composed, it stands shoulder to shoulder with the region’s most esteemed bottlings. Garnering a sensational 95-point rating, this Chardonnay effortlessly captures the elegance, minerality, and nuanced restraint synonymous with the region’s most coveted wines.

Ernest Vineyards, founded in 2012 by Erin Brooks, draws inspiration from Sonoma County’s rugged hillsides and rolling fog, giving a perfect setting for exceptional Chardonnay. With the arrival of winemaker Joseph Ryan in 2018, Ernest adopted a meticulous, minimal-intervention approach, celebrating the land’s unique voice and allowing its purest expression to illuminate every bottle.

Artfully crafted from the prized Old Wente clone, this Chardonnay boasts an alluring silkiness interwoven with crisp citrus notes. The 2023 vintage, fermented naturally with native yeasts and aged for ten months on lees in 25% new French oak, strikes a harmonious balance: beautifully textured yet vibrantly fresh. It is a wine that speaks eloquently of place, seamlessly blending depth, finesse, and unforgettable charm.

Ernest
Chardonnay 2023
Sonoma Coast
Retails at: $38

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“A super lean, racy, mineral-driven wine, so fresh and linear and full of energy. Crisp green apples and lemon pith. Light-bodied and refreshing. At just 12% alcohol it’s easy to sip and enjoy multiple glasses. Fermented in oak barrels with native yeast and native malolactic for a slightly smoother texture. Drink now.”

95 Points

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

with No Comment $40-$50Kevin VogtRussian River ValleySonomaUSAZinfandel

Gamba

MCM Estate Zinfandel
Russian River Valley 2023

2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel Russian River Valley

Born from one of California’s oldest dry-farmed vineyards, the 2023 Gamba MCM Estate Zinfandel delivers a striking tribute to a century of continuous heritage. Rooted in a delicate balance of soil and climate, Gamba’s Estate Vineyard stands as a benchmark for sustainable viticulture, producing intensely concentrated Zinfandel from impossibly small yields.

With the 2023 MCM Zinfandel, Gamba masterfully celebrates a vineyard that has become a cherished symbol of Russian River Valley viticulture. Known for producing grapes brimming with lively, succulent fruit, this historic site imparts layers of complexity accentuated through indigenous yeast fermentation.

Aged gracefully in American and French oak, the 2023 vintage exemplifies Gamba’s signature style: richly textured yet impeccably balanced. Carefully crafted, it reveals astonishing depth, intricate detail, and a lingering finish that echoes its remarkable lineage, offering an homage to one of Sonoma’s oldest vineyards.

Gamba
MCM Estate Zinfandel
Russian River Valley 2023
Retails at: $69

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“The Gamba 2023 MCM Russian River Valley Old Vine Zinfandel opens with vibrant notes of juicy cherries, cranberries, and wild blackberries with underlying notes of Christmas spices and toast. On the palate, the wine has a silky smooth approach with flavors of bramble fruit, dark cherry, and boysenberry compote, complemented with savory undertones of tobacco leaf and dried herbs. The wine has supple tannins and finishes with a finely textured, velvety mouthfeel.”

94 Points

2022 Faint-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

2022 Faint-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper, Oakville

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaOakvilleUSA

Fait-Main

Cabernet Sauvignon
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper
Oakville 2022

2022 Faint-Main Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper

From the gifted hands of Benoit Touquette, a protégé of legends Michel Rolland and Andy Erickson, comes a wine that doesn’t merely reflect Oakville—it redefines it. At Fait-Main, Touquette applies the same precision that led to 28 perfect 100-point wines at Realm Cellars. The 2022 Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon embodies everything he’s learned, resulting in a wine of riveting definition.

Located on Oakville’s Western Benchland, neighboring To Kalon, Beckstoffer’s Missouri Hopper site is shaped by the marine breezes of San Pablo Bay, offering a rare combination of richness and restraint. The silty-clay loam soils challenge the vines, driving them deep and yielding fruit with density, polish, and an unmistakable sense of place.

The 2022 vintage exemplifies this balance, being plush and concentrated yet lifted by sculpted tannins and effortless structure. Jeb Dunnuck describes it as “ready to go,” yet its poise and depth suggest it will evolve beautifully over the next decade or more. This is Oakville through the lens of a master, a Cabernet Sauvignon that captures its remarkable origins.

Fait-Main
Cabernet Sauvignon
Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper
Oakville 2022

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“Crème de cassis, smoked tobacco, chocolate, incense, and flowery incense are just some of the aromatics in the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard, a concentrated 2022 that has terrific purity, ripe, polished tannins, a lively spice of acidity, and a great finish. This valley floor site can be hit or miss (it’s a large vineyard), but when it’s on, it can rival the best. As with most 2022s, this is upfront, ripe, front-end-loaded, and ready to go. Enjoy bottles over the coming decade or so.”

95 Points

2021 Grail Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch West Sonoma Coast

2021 Grail Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch West Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $90-$100Kevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma CoastUSA

Grail

Pinot Noir 2021
Campbell Ranch
West Sonoma Coast

2021 Grail Pinot Noir Campbell Ranch West Sonoma Coast

Grail 2021 ‘Campbell Ranch’ Pinot Noir is Dan Kosta’s defining achievement, embodying decades of dedication to mastering Pinot Noir. Reverently described as his “Grand Cru,” this wine reflects the precision, depth, and artistry that first brought Kosta Browne international acclaim. With this exceptional release, Dan reignites his innovative spirit, showcasing the vast potential of New World Pinot Noir.

Dan Kosta, a visionary co-founder of the legendary Kosta Browne Winery, transformed American Pinot Noir. Entrusting the gifted Shane Finley, who honed his craft under Dan’s mentorship, this collaboration marks a thrilling new expression of excellence in winemaking, rooted in meticulous craftsmanship and creative synergy.

Crafted from Sonoma Coast’s celebrated Campbell Ranch vineyard, this inaugural vintage is a blend of the elegant 777 and refined 115 Pinot Noir clones. After 15 months in French oak, the wine offers an enchanting, silky texture with savory spices harmonizing beautifully with pristine, ripe fruit. The Grail 2021 promises an unforgettable adventure of contemplation and indulgent pleasure.

Grail
Pinot Noir 2021
Campbell Ranch
West Sonoma Coast

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“Dan Kosta’s Convene wines are aged in 30% new oak, while his elevated DK label is closer to 50% for 15 months and encompasses specific blocks or barrel selections from single vineyards. Campbell Ranch vineyard in the Russian River Valley is the winery’s largest holding, with clones 777 and 115. There’s more power and intensity to these single vineyard wines. A wonderful minty freshness mingles with crushed river stones, white pepper, and intriguing umami notes. Medium to full-bodied with very present, substantial tannins that have beam-like qualities, a bit sappy and balanced by mocha notes. The entire wine has a broad feeling on the palate and builds with spicy richness. It’s layered with dense black cherry, pomegranate, spiced plums, and blood orange fruits, which have real staying power. The long finish is marked by warming brown sugar spices, toffee, and espresso beans. Plenty of heft balanced by great tension. 503 cases made.”

97 Points

2013 Chateau Lassegue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux France

2013 Chateau Lassegue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux France

with No Comment $50-$60BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin VogtSaint Emilion

Château Lassègue

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Bordeaux, France 2013

2013 Chateau Lassegue Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux France

Château Lassègue’s 2013 Saint-Émilion Grand Cru is a luminous example of how meticulous craftsmanship and patient cellaring can sculpt a wine into a timeless masterpiece. More than a decade after harvest, it remains stunningly vibrant, precise, and impeccably polished—capturing the soul of Saint-Émilion with grace, poise, and authenticity.

Behind this remarkable achievement stands the legendary winemaker Pierre Seillan, whose mastery has earned multiple 100-point scores at Vérité. Pierre’s visionary approach is reflected in the wine’s exceptional quality, earning admiration from connoisseurs worldwide.

Sourced from vines over fifty years old, the 2013 Château Lassègue is a beautifully composed blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc that captures the soul of classic Right Bank Bordeaux. It reveals seductive layers of crushed red berries, laced with subtle spice and a lingering thread of mineral tension that speaks to the limestone-rich soils of Saint-Émilion. Poised and finely textured, this vintage is an eloquent chapter in Lassègue’s rising legacy, and a wine no serious collector should overlook.

Château Lassègue
Saint-Émilion Grand Cru
Bordeaux, France 2013

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2024 Sonoma-Cutrer Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

2024 Sonoma-Cutrer Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSauvignon BlancSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

Sonoma-Cutrer

Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma County 2024

2024 Sonoma-Cutrer Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County

Sonoma-Cutrer’s 2024 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc weaves a compelling narrative of tradition intertwined with daring innovation, gracefully bridging the Old World’s meticulous sensibilities and California’s audacious spirit. For over four decades, Sonoma-Cutrer has skillfully interpreted the myriad microclimates of Sonoma Valley, transforming its diverse terroirs into bottles that capture moments and create memories.

Central to Sonoma-Cutrer’s philosophy is an unwavering commitment to sustainability and a deep respect for the natural rhythms that sustain their vineyards. Each grape cluster is hand-selected at the peak of ripeness, then swiftly chilled to 50°F, preserving its vibrant freshness and crisp acidity.

The 2024 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc emerges as a vivid tapestry woven from estate-grown grapes and carefully curated parcels from trusted growers. Aged exclusively in stainless steel tanks to highlight its pristine freshness, the wine offers an exhilarating symphony of bright orchard fruit and vibrant minerality. At just $25, this wine is ready to elevate your next summer gathering. 

Sonoma-Cutrer
Sauvignon Blanc
Sonoma County 2024

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“The Sonoma-Cutrer 2024 Sonoma County Sauvignon Blanc opens with a d a vibrant medley of freshly sliced apples, white peach, pear, nectarine, and a subtle chalky minerality. On the palate, the vibrant medley of fresh stone and tropical fruits brings a juicy, orchard-fresh quality, and sweet baking spices complemented by wet stones creating a refined texture, adding a touch of warmth and nuance. The wine is impeccably balanced—fresh, crisp, and clean—with a lifted acidity highlighting its elegance and graceful finish that lingers with notes of purity and finesse.”

93 Points

2022 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

2022 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

with No Comment $50-$60Kevin VogtPinot NoirRussian River ValleySonomaUSA

Kanzler

Pinot Noir 2022
Russian River Valley

2022 Kanzler Pinot Noir Russian River Valley

With the 2022 vintage, Kanzler presents a Pinot Noir that unfolds like a dialogue between vineyard and winemaker—intimate, expressive, and unmistakably Russian River Valley. Each sip tells a story of meticulous craftsmanship, echoing Kanzler’s uncompromising dedication to producing Pinot Noir that surpasses anticipation, embodying vibrant fruit and layered character.

Kanzler Vineyard’s fruit is cherished, forming the backbone of some of California’s most celebrated Pinot Noirs for over two decades. When renowned producers like Kosta Browne, Lynmar, and Rivers-Marie consistently return vintage after vintage, it underscores the confidence inspired by extraordinary terroir and meticulous farming practices.

Winemaker Alex Kanzler skillfully blends estate-grown grapes with carefully selected fruit from four neighboring vineyards, each chosen for its unique contribution to the wine’s refined complexity. His intuitive approach to winemaking is gentle, precise, and thoughtful, resulting in a Pinot Noir of striking elegance and lasting presence. A wine that genuinely captures the heart and soul of the Russian River Valley.

Kanzler
Pinot Noir 2022
Russian River Valley
Retails at: $69

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“Aromas of toasty barrel spice and cherry lollipop waft from the nose of this medium bodied wine. The palate is saturated with flavors of raspberry candy, menthol, caramel and black tea. Pair this with miso glazed salmon. Best from 2026-2035.”

91 Points

2021 O'Saughnessy Cabenret Sauvignon Howell Mountain

2021 O’Saughnessy Cabenret Sauvignon Howell Mountain

with No Comment $100 and overCabernet SauvignonHowell MountainKevin VogtNapaUSA

O’Shaughnessy

Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2021

2021 O'Saughnessy Cabenret Sauvignon Howell Mountain

O’Shaughnessy’s 2021 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon is a captivating tribute to one of Napa Valley’s most revered terroirs, elegantly embodying the region’s signature intensity, striking depth, and complexity. Perched at elevations surpassing 1,500 feet, the vineyard blocks thrive amidst volcanic soils and cooler mountain temperatures, culminating in a Cabernet of extraordinary longevity and compelling presence.

Founded by visionary Betty O’Shaughnessy Woolls, the estate has steadily forged a reputation built upon the seamless union of power and finesse. The 2021 vintage exemplifies her original vision, representing the pinnacle of her pursuit to craft wines of unparalleled elegance and expressive clarity.

Under the expert guidance of acclaimed winemaker Sean Capiaux, formerly of Peter Michael Winery, the 2021 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon reflects its high-altitude heritage. With impressive high-90s ratings, this wine is a distinguished addition to any cellar, promising years of graceful evolution, making now the perfect time to procure a wine that beautifully captures the essence of Howell Mountain.

O’Shaughnessy
Cabernet Sauvignon
Howell Mountain 2021

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“Darker currants, scorched earth, iron, violets, dark chocolate, and smoked tobacco all emerge from the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain. Based on 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, along with small amounts of Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, Carmenere, and St. Macaire, it’s full-bodied and rich, with an iron-laced, meaty character and powerful structure. Aged two years in French oak followed by a year in bottle, this killer effort will need 4-5 years of patience and keep for two decades.”

97 Points