2024 Ronsard Sancerre La Pleiade Loire Valley France

2024 Ronsard Sancerre La Pleiade Loire Valley France

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Ronsard

Sancerre La Pléiade
Loire Valley, France 2024

2024 Ronsard Sancerre La Pleiade Loire Valley France

The La Pléiade Sancerre opens with the pristine radiance that only the Loire’s greatest vineyards can summon. A blend drawn from celebrated plots such as Chêne Marchand, Les Monts Damnés, Chasseignes, and Les Deserts, La Pléiade captures the valley’s dual nature: the cool, stony edges of its Kimmeridgian slopes and the gentle, sunlit contours of its clay-rich parcels.

What sets La Pléiade apart is the seamless way these sites come together in the glass. The limestone parcels drive a spine of mineral energy, while the clay slopes offer a rounder, more generous register, giving the wine both tension and veiled amplitude. It’s a Sauvignon Blanc that feels both effortless and profound, showcasing its terroir with striking precision.

Ronsard’s minimalist touch in the cellar allows this interplay of soils to shine without distraction. Stainless-steel fermentation keeps the profile clean and vivid, while gentle clarification protects the wine’s natural texture. La Pléiade speaks in its own voice, delivering a purity that honors both the vineyards and the heritage of Sancerre.

Ronsard
Sancerre La Pléiade
Loire Valley, France 2024

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“The Ronsard 2024 Sancerre ‘La Pleiade’ opens with fresh aromas of pink grapefruit, lemon zest, white pepper, and a saline, flinty minerality. On the palate, the wine is pure and refreshing, with playful citrus notes, elderflower and white blossoms, crisp tension, and a linear focus. The minerality is precise, recalling wet stone and chalk, while the texture is both delicate and refined. The wine’s balance is vibrant yet harmonious, with a clean, mouthwatering essence that layers notes of crisp, mineral-driven flavors into an absolutely compelling finish.”

95 Points

2023 Admire by Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

2023 Admire by Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtNapaPinot NoirSonoma CoastUSA

Admire

by Dan Kosta
Pinot Noir 2023
Sonoma Coast

2023 Admire by Dan Kosta Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast

When Dan Kosta turns his attention to Pinot Noir, it’s never casual. The 2023 Admire distills decades of insight into a focused wine with purpose, where coastal freshness meets California generosity. This is not a departure from the past, but a measured evolution, shaped by experience and guided by a balanced, measured approach.

With Admire, the intent drives what matters most. Launched in 2019, Dan’s new family of brands represents a deliberate return to the essentials of Pinot Noir, favoring balance, site expression, and natural energy. It is a label built on deep respect for the grape, informed by a lifetime spent understanding how precision, patience, and place converge in the glass.

Sourced from cool, ocean-influenced vineyards, the 2023 vintage is vibrant and lifted, driven by natural acidity and a sense of immediacy that defines the Sonoma Coast. Nine months of maturation in French oak (30% new) adds subtle structure and polish, lending depth without obscuring purity. Expressive from the first pour yet capable of evolving gracefully over three to five years, this Pinot Noir delivers pleasure now while rewarding those willing to wait.

Admire
by Dan Kosta
Pinot Noir 2023
Sonoma Coast

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“The Admire Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2023 is a brilliant expression of the region’s character. Its nose is a fragrant bouquet of red cherries, baking spices, daisy petals, and tangerine zest, while the palate delivers a lively dance of bright red plums, tart cherries, and a touch of cola. The wine’s classic Sonoma Coast minerality and fresh acidity create a beautifully balanced profile that lingers on the finish. While it shares the same 94-point rating I gave its riper 2022 counterpart, this vintage offers a distinct charm with its brighter, fresher fruit and enduring concentration.”

94 Points

2021 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

2021 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

with No Comment $30-$40Kevin VogtSonomaSonoma ValleyUSAZinfandel

Florence

Reserve Zinfandel
Rockpile 2021
Sonoma County

2021 Florence Reserve Zinfandel Rockpile Sonoma County

Few places challenge a vine like Rockpile. Perched on a ridge above Lake Sonoma, where the wind never rests and the soil fractures like ancient bone, the Florence Vineyard defines what it means for a vine to struggle and to triumph. From this unforgiving terrain emerges the 2021 Florence Vineyard Reserve Rockpile Zinfandel, a wine that channels its hardship into strength. The result is a Zinfandel that captures both the wildness of altitude and the refinement of mastery.

Long before Rockpile was recognized as an appellation, Jack Florence Jr. saw its promise. He carved his vineyard into the rocky hillsides with the conviction that hardship breeds distinction. Decades later, his 2021 Florence Vineyard Reserve Zinfandel affirms that vision: a wine of intensity and grace, rooted in heritage cuttings from the storied St. Peter’s Church clone and elevated by the restless energy of the mountain.

Only 235 cases were produced, each bottle an unfiltered glimpse into one of Sonoma’s most demanding landscapes. The 2021 vintage speaks in layers of blackberry, cracked pepper, and wild herbs framed by minerality and tension. It’s a wine that feels alive, pulsing with the elevation that shaped it, the craftsmanship that guided it, and the patience that allowed it to find its voice.

Florence
Reserve Zinfandel
Rockpile 2021
Sonoma County
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“Lush, almost creamy in texture, this complex, high powered and deeply fruity wine boasts distinctive black pepper and singed sage flavors atop its deep black cherries and blackberries. Moderate to full tannins give it a good backbone for pairing with big proteins. Best from 2025–2035.”

94 Points

2021 Grand Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2021 Grand Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonCalistogaKevin VogtNapaRutherfordUSA

Grand Napa

Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021

2021 Grand Napa Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Grand Napa’s 2021 Reserve Cabernet is a reminder that power, when guided by grace, leaves the most profound impression. The wine embodies the quiet confidence of a classic vintage, defined by clarity, energy, and poise. Its core of Cabernet Sauvignon delivers precision and depth, while Cabernet Franc contributes lifted florals, and Merlot softens the edges with its signature plushness, resulting in a wine that feels sculpted rather than forced.

 

Drawn from premier sites across Rutherford, Calistoga, and the broader Napa Valley, the 2021 Reserve captures the essence of each terroir in a single, harmonized voice. Under Stéphane Vivier’s steady hand, these elements are woven together with restraint and precision, creating a wine that reflects both the diversity of Napa and the unity of a master’s touch.

Aged twenty-two months in fine French oak, the 2021 Reserve reveals both pedigree and purpose. The texture is silken yet structured, the finish long and deliberate. Vivier’s craftsmanship ensures it will age with poise, deepening in nuance and complexity over time. For collectors seeking the intersection of authenticity, longevity, and value, few Cabernets express Napa’s modern elegance as confidently as this one.

Grand Napa
Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2021
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“Winemaker Stéphane Vivier matures this Cabernet in 50% new French oak for 22 months. Fragrant dusty earth minerals, cranberry fruit laced with cinnamon spices, and hints of dried rosemary and sage. Medium-bodied with gentle tannins that glide to a spicy finish with blood orange acidity and hints of clove and cassis.”

92 Points

2022 Corazon Del Sol Cabernet Franc Revanna Vineyard Argentina

2022 Corazon Del Sol Cabernet Franc Revanna Vineyard Uco Valley Argentina

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Corazón del Sol

Cabernet Franc
Revana Vineyard 2022
Uco Valley, Argentina

2022 Corazon Del Sol Cabernet Franc Revanna Vineyard Argentina

High in Argentina’s Uco Valley, Corazón del Sol stands as the South American heartbeat of Revana Family Vineyards. Founded by Dr. Madaiah Revana, whose pursuit of terroir-driven excellence spans Napa, Oregon, and now Mendoza, this estate exists for one purpose: to show what Cabernet Franc can achieve when grown at extreme altitude, farmed organically, and guided by a precise hand in the cellar.

The 2022 ‘Revana Vineyard’ Cabernet Franc hails from a wind-swept block in Los Chacayes, capturing the rare balance of purity and power that defines this revered subregion. At 3,800 feet above sea level, the vines anchor into stony, alluvial soils laced with quartz and volcanic fragments, their deep roots and lean environment translating into fruit of remarkable intensity, lift, and mineral clarity.

Under the careful direction of winemaker Cristian Moor, the wine matured for 15 months in French oak, with only a subtle touch of new wood to refine texture without obscuring character. The result is a Cabernet Franc that speaks with quiet confidence and precision: an Argentine expression of altitude and authenticity, shaped by Revana’s global vision for excellence.

Corazón del Sol
Cabernet Franc
Revana Vineyard 2022
Uco Valley, Argentina
Retails at: $35

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“The 2022 Cabernet Franc fermented in stainless steel and matured in French barrique for 14 months. It leads with a distinctly fresh, alpine nose of fresh herbs and balsamic aromas surrounding a stony core. The palate is elegantly ripe and refined, concluding with a savory, drying finish that balances succulent fruits and savory undertones. This is a lovely example of Uco Valley Cabernet Franc to enjoy over the next handful of years.”

91 Points

2023 Jean-Christophe Perraud Saint Veran Burgundy France

2023 Jean-Christophe Perraud Saint Veran Burgundy France

with No Comment $30-$40BurgandyChablisChardonnayFranceKevin Vogt

Jean-Christophe Perraud

Saint Véran 2023
Burgundy, France

2023 Jean-Christophe Perraud Saint Veran Burgundy France

Some wines describe their origins, and others sing them. Jean-Christophe Perraud’s 2023 Saint-Véran belongs to the latter, translating the chalk and clay of southern Burgundy into a symphony of purity, tension, and grace. It’s a wine that channels generations of vineyard knowledge into a Chardonnay of remarkable clarity and poise, bringing an undiluted expression of terroir and nuance that Burgundy lovers crave. 

Perraud’s secret lies beneath the vines. Their Saint-Véran draws its character from parcels rooted in the classic clay-limestone soils around the village of Prissé. Here, minerality isn’t an afterthought, but the backbone of the wine, shaping its crisp acidity, fine-boned structure, and the tension that carries through its lingering finish.

Every detail of this wine shows how deeply Perraud respects nature’s rhythm. Ideal conditions in the 2023 growing season helped the grapes develop full aromatic expression while preserving their freshness. The result is a Chardonnay with striking purity. It’s the kind of wine that deepens one’s appreciation for Mâconnais, offering a pure, unfiltered taste of the region in its most captivating form.

Jean-Christophe Perraud
Saint Véran 2023
Burgundy, France

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“The Jean-Christophe Perraud 2023 Saint-Véran Grand Vin de Bourgogne has exquisitely balanced aromas of jasmine, apricots, golden apples, marjoram, a wet stone minerality, and pie crust fresh out of the oven. On the palate, the wine displays flavors of peaches, tangerines, sweet spices, honeycomb, and pastry dough. The flavors show a wide range of complexity and depth that seamlessly glide into a long, sophisticated finish.”

95 Points

2018 Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

2018 Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

with No Comment $30-$40Cabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaSt. HelenaUSA

Leto

Exceptional Selection
Cabernet Sauvignon
Saint Helena 2018

2018 Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon St. Helena

Some of Napa’s most extraordinary wines are born far from the spotlight. The 2018 Leto Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon comes from a small, unassuming vineyard on Pratt Avenue in St. Helena, where half-century-old vines yield fruit of remarkable depth. This is not a wine made for acclaim, but for integrity: a deeply personal statement from a veteran winemaker who understands that restraint, time, and patience reveal more than ambition ever could.

From these weathered vines comes fruit that speaks in fine detail rather than volume. The 2018 vintage captures St. Helena’s subtle contrasts of warm valley-floor ripeness layered over cool evening structure. Twenty-one months in French oak added definition, not disguise. It’s a Cabernet that feels sculpted by nature, not built by human hands.

After years of quiet rest, the 2018 Exceptional Selection feels perfectly composed, its elements aligned. The fruit hums with energy, the tannins have softened into velvet, and the finish stretches on with calm assurance. It’s a rare opportunity to experience a wine not just at its peak but in its prime.

Leto
Exceptional Selection
Cabernet Sauvignon
Saint Helena 2018
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“The Leto 2018 Exceptional Selection Cabernet Sauvignon shines with opulence and elegance, beginning with aromas of blooming lavender, blackberries, plums, dark chocolate, cloves, cedar, and sage. On the palate, the wine has concentrated flavors with depth and length, ranging from fresh black fruits, flourless dark chocolate cake, savory notes, allspice, and graphite. The finish is long and seamless, and the wine is stunning at the present moment and shows indications of a wine capable of extended aging in the cellar.” 

97 Points

NV Derafica Grotta Del Gelo Etna Rosso DOC Sicily Italy

NV Derafica Grotta Del Gelo Etna Rosso DOC Sicily Italy

with No Comment $30-$40ItalyKevin VogtRosso

Serafica

Grotta Del Gelo
Etna Rosso DOC
Sicily, Italy NV

NV Derafica Grotta Del Gelo Etna Rosso DOC Sicily Italy

High on the southern slopes of Mount Etna, where molten rock meets chilled alpine air, Serafica’s Grotta del Gelo Etna Rosso captures the elegance born from hardship. The vines root deep into fractured basalt, their struggle translating into purity and precision. It’s a red that feels both elemental and precise, channeling the power of Sicily’s most extreme terroir into a wine of haunting elegance.

Grotta del Gelo distills Etna’s raw, shifting energy into harmony. Although bottled non-vintage, this wine hails from the 2021 vintage and is drawn from vines perched nearly 900 meters above sea level. Days drenched in Sicilian sun ripened the fruit to vivid concentration, while cool nights sculpted vibrant mountain purity and freshness. 

This wine’s core of Nerello Mascalese brings precision and lift, while Nerello Cappuccio adds depth and spice, their partnership weaving a tapestry of red currant, tobacco leaf, and crushed herbs. Its tannins are polished but resolute, as though shaped by wind and stone. It’s a wine that feels composed, orchestrated by nature and refined by hand.

Serafica
Grotta Del Gelo
Etna Rosso DOC
Sicily, Italy NV

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“The Serafica Grotta del Gelo Etna Rosso is composed predominantly of fruit from the 2021 vintage, and paints a picture of its volcanic origin with aromas of graphite and pencil lead, juicy red and black cherries, pomegranate, dried herbs, savory spices, and sunbaked clay. On the palate, the wine is bright with juicy, red fruits, truffles, cracked pepper, and a mineral-driven tension balanced by smooth, velvety tannins. The wine’s concentration and complexity unwind as the wine opens up and reveals more and more with a friendly approachability.”

94 Points

2024 Livon Sauvignon Blanc Valbuins Vineyard Collio Italy

2024 Livon Sauvignon Blanc Valbuins Vineyard Collio Italy

with No Comment $30-$40ItalyKevin VogtSauvignon Blanc

Livon

Sauvignon Blanc
Valbuins Vineyard
Collio, Italy 2024

2024 Livon Sauvignon Blanc Valbuins Vineyard Collio Italy

Silken and electric, Livon’s 2024 Valbuins Sauvignon Blanc arrives on the palate like a whispered dare, its salty, persistent finish lingers like the caress of coastal spray, anchoring the wine firmly in Collio’s elite corner. From the first breath, it speaks of intention and place: this is a liquid declaration of what top-tier Friulian whites can become when soil, site, and soul align.

Perched among the sunlit slopes of Ruttars in Dolegna del Collio, the Valbuins vineyard draws its character from marl and sandstone soils that define Collio’s finest whites. These layered strata breathe life into the vines, forcing roots deep through mineral veins and ancient seabed. The result is a Sauvignon that feels etched in stone: vibrant, saline, and charged with that unmistakable Collio tension.

In the cellar, Livon’s mastery reveals itself through measured touch. Fermentation unfolds mostly in stainless steel to preserve aromatic clarity, with a quiet portion aged in French oak tonneaux to lend weight and subtle spice. The interplay is seamless with cool precision meeting textural grace. It’s Collio Sauvignon Blanc at its most alive: focused and impossible to forget.

Livon
Sauvignon Blanc
Valbuins Vineyard
Collio, Italy 2024

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“The Livon 2024 Collio Sauvignon Blanc begins with fresh notes of elderflower, lemon blossoms, gooseberries, lime zest, green guava, and a chalky minerality. On the palate, the wine reflects the alpine freshness of its terroir with zesty acidity and vibrant flavors of grapefruit, white peach, passionfruit, lemon cheesecake, and a subtle saline, flinty edge. The wine is balanced by opulence and restraint, creating a graceful mid-palate and a long, crisp, mouthwatering finish.”

94 Points

2020 2nd Pes Saint-Estephe Bordeaux France

2020 2nd Pes Saint-Estephe Bordeaux France

with No Comment $30-$40BordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

2nd Pez

Saint-Estèphe
Bordeaux, France 2020

2020 2nd Pes Saint-Estephe Bordeaux France

Saint-Estèphe’s oldest domaine tells its story with quiet confidence. Born in the 15th century and refined under the Pontac family, the lineage behind Haut-Brion, Château de Pez has learned to prize detail over spectacle. Now under the steady hand of Champagne Louis Roederer, that discipline shows in the glass as precision, clean lines, and an ease that comes only from patient, thoughtful work.

2nd Pez channels the vitality of the estate’s younger vines, farmed with High Environmental Value certification and a pocket of parcels tended biodynamically. You feel that care in the wine’s lift and purity. Twelve months in a balanced regimen of oak barrels and stainless steel lets the wine speak for itself. Nothing is masked, everything is tuned. 

Coming from Bordeaux’s outstanding 2020 vintage, Cabernet Sauvignon leads with quiet power as Merlot fills the mid-palate with supple texture. Together they deliver a second wine that performs like a first. It is unmistakably Saint-Estèphe for its structure and mineral nerve, yet immediately inviting for its clarity and poise.

2nd Pez
Saint-Estèphe
Bordeaux, France 2020

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“This wine is dense, juicy with bold black fruits and ripe tannins. The concentration does not mask the forward nature of the bright black currant fruits. Drink from 2025.”

93 Points