2024 La Villaudiere Sancerre Rose Loir Valley

2024 La Villaudiere Sancerre Rose Loir Valley

with No Comment $30 and underFranceKevin VogtLoire ValleyRosé

La Villaudiere

Sancerre Rosé
Loire Valley 2024

2024 La Villaudiere Sancerre Rose Loir Valley

Domaine Jean-Marie Reverdy’s La Villaudière 2024 Sancerre Rosé glows with the vivid, luminous essence of Loire Valley Pinot Noir, its refined allure reflecting the heartbeat of the Reverdy family. Across four generations, their deep commitment and respect for the land shine through in every bottle. This devotion has yielded a rosé of striking clarity and poise, a wine that gently speaks of its origins, unveiling the soul of its place and the care of those who nurture it.

While Sancerre is widely cherished for its exceptional Sauvignon Blanc, Domaine Jean-Marie Reverdy presents a rarer treasure from its Pinot Noir vineyards. Tucked into the Caillotes soils—strewn with stones and basked in sunlight—the vines thrive in exquisite balance. This distinctive union of terroir and grape lends the 2024 vintage its graceful depth, offering a rosé that flows with precision and resonates with subtle complexity.

Every careful step in shaping this rosé reflects a harmony between nature’s gifts and the craft of winemaking. Fermented in stainless steel to capture its vibrant freshness, the 2024 Rosé resonates with purity and precision—a wine that not only delights the senses but lingers in memory well beyond the final sip.

La Villaudiere
Sancerre Rosé
Loire Valley 2024

Your Price: $29.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The La Villaudière 2024 Rosé of Pinot Noir opens with inviting aromas of wet stones, white cherries, wild strawberries, and raspberries complemented with subtle hints of lemongrass and ginger. On the palate, the wine strikes a perfect balance between refreshing crispness and smooth elegance, showcasing its naturally bright acidity and a pure, clean profile. Flinty minerality adds depth, while a delicate nuance of passion fruit brings a touch of exotic vibrancy and ends with a light, satisfying finish.”

95 Points

 

2020 VIK Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Millahue Valley Chile

2020 VIK Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Millahue Valley Chile

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonChileKevin Vogt

VIK

Omega 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon
Millahue Valley, Chile

2020 VIK Omega Cabernet Sauvignon Millahue Valley Chile

Chile has long been a land of untamed beauty, where nature’s extremes converge to shape wines of breathtaking precision. At the forefront of this movement is VIK, a winery that has rewritten the script for South American excellence. 

With a relentless pursuit of perfection, VIK has captured global attention, earning a flawless 100-point score on its flagship release. Within this legacy of greatness lies the 2020 Omega—a hidden treasure in its own right. A blend led by 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, elegantly intertwined with Carménère and a touch of Syrah, Omega is a wine that offers an opulent yet finely chiseled expression of its extraordinary terroir.

The 2020 Omega is a masterclass in balance, having spent 18 months in French oak barrels to refine its complexity. It is a wine that offers immediacy in its plush textures yet rewards patience with the promise of deepening complexity.

Omega embodies the relentless ambition of VIK—a winery that continues to push the limits of what Chilean wine can be.

VIK
Omega 2020
Cabernet Sauvignon
Millahue Valley, Chile
Retails at: $35

Your Price: $29.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“This wonderfully balanced, approachable, French oak-aged red way overdelivers.”

92 Points

2023 Langtry Sauvignon Blanc Lillie Vineyard Guenoc Valley

2023 Langtry Sauvignon Blanc Lillie Vineyard Guenoc Valley

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtSauvignon BlancUSA

Langtry

Sauvignon Blanc
Lillie Vineyard 2023
Guenoc Valley

2023 Langtry Sauvignon Blanc Lillie Vineyard Guenoc Valley

Langtry’s 2023 Lillie’s Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc emerges as a luminous reflection of Guenoc Valley, captivating with its pristine clarity, vibrant energy, and harmonious balance—all offered at a remarkable value. This historic estate, rooted in the vision of British actress Lillie Langtry, began in 1888 when she, enchanted by the wild allure of California’s wine country, claimed the sprawling 4,200-acre property. Her bold embrace of viticulture set the stage for a legacy that continues to define the region’s winemaking character.

The Guenoc Valley terroir is as compelling as its past. An alluvial fan of Arroyo Seco and Conejo Loam soils ensures superb drainage, while the region’s dramatic day-to-night temperature swings lend the grapes uncommon depth and vitality.

Meticulously crafted to retain its vivid freshness, this Sauvignon Blanc spends four months in stainless steel, locking in its bright, fruit-driven essence, followed by four months in neutral barrels to weave in delicate layers of texture and nuance. The result is a wine of radiant finesse—each sip honors Lillie Langtry’s vision, blending a glimpse of history with contemporary brilliance.

Langtry
Sauvignon Blanc
Lillie Vineyard 2023
Guenoc Valley
Retails at: $30

Your Price: $26

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“This wine is fresh, zesty, with aromas of green guava, kiwi, citrus blossom, and notes of white florals on the nose. The flavors on the palate are kaffir lime, white grapefruit, white nectarine, sedimentary rock, interwoven with good acidity, and a long juicy finish. pair with tinned fish, marinated green olive, red bell pepper, herbed olive oil.”

94 Points

2022 Thistle & Thorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

2022 Thistle & Thorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Thistle & Thorn

Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022

2022 Thistle & Thorn Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley

Exceptional wines often emerge from careful intent, yet occasionally, they owe their existence to the whims of chance. The tale of Thistle & Thorn unfolds as a fortunate twist of fate—a wine that almost slipped through the cracks. When a coveted batch of Napa Valley grapes found itself without a home, winemaker Blair Guthrie faced a pivotal decision: let the fruit wither on the vine or embrace the opportunity to shape something remarkable. Guided by intuition, he chose to act.

Blair Guthrie’s path is as captivating as the bottles he produces. Hailing from Christchurch, New Zealand, he pursued the study of enology and viticulture with a steady resolve that would eventually lead him across continents. His formative years under the tutelage of Paul Hobbs refined a winemaking approach centered on the purity of fruit, harmonic balance, and a vivid sense of origin.

Drawn from the organically tended Juliana Vineyard, this wine embodies Napa Valley’s finest qualities. It unfolds with rich, dark fruit, finely woven tannins, and a poised intricacy that elevates its allure—an inviting portrait of Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, born not by chance but from the vision of a winemaker who recognized possibility amid uncertainty.

Thistle & Thorn
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa Valley 2022
Retails at: $50

Your Price: $25

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Thistle & Thorn 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon begins with aromas of green peppercorns, sweet rose, black currants, blackberries, black tea leaves, and dark chocolate. On the palate, the wine has penetrative flavors of black fruits, balsamic reduction, and baking spices with a warm, inviting character and a pleasant finish. This wine has an excellent concentration of fruit and spice notes, adding layered complexity and extra enjoyment.”

92 Points

2022 Le Clos du Caillou Cotes-du-Rhone Cuvee Unique

2022 Le Clos du Caillou Cotes-du-Rhone Cuvee Unique

with No Comment $30 and underChateauneuf-Du-PapeFranceKevin VogtRhone ValleyRhone Valley

Le Clos du Caillou

Côtes-du-Rhône
Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes
Rhône Valley, France 2022

2022 Le Clos du Caillou Cotes-du-Rhone Cuvee Unique

Le Clos de Caillou, celebrated for its flawless 100-point Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, reveals that true distinction need not carry an extravagant price. The 2022 Côtes-du-Rhône Vieilles Vignes (Old Vines) ‘Cuvée Unique’ emerged as the highlight of our recent tasting, a vivid demonstration of this estate’s remarkable skill in crafting wines that surpass all anticipation.

Its tale is as compelling as its character. In 1936, surveyors seeking to include Le Clos de Caillou in the Châteauneuf-du-Pape AOC faced armed opposition, leaving an enigmatic void on the map that persists to this day. Only in the 1950s did vines take root, allowing this singular terroir nestled within the heart of Châteauneuf-du-Pape to flourish under the Côtes-du-Rhône banner.

The 2022 ‘Cuvée Unique’ weaves together 70% Grenache with Syrah, Carignan, and Counoise, drawn from vineyards echoing the iconic Châteauneuf-du-Pape landscape. This wine unfolds with grace, its focused intensity reflecting the meticulous artistry behind it.

If one Rhône wine deserves your attention this year, let it be this striking and memorable Cuvée Unique.

Le Clos du Caillou
Côtes-du-Rhône
Cuvée Unique Vieilles Vignes
Rhône Valley, France 2022

Your Price: $29.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Le Clos du Caillou Côtes du Rhône Vieilles Vignes Cuvée Unique 2022 unfurls with an inviting and nuanced bouquet, where crushed cranberries and ripe red cherries intertwine seamlessly with hints of lavender. A subtle iron note lends complexity, while delicate pie spices round out the aromas. This wine is a vibrant tapestry of mixed juicy red and black berries on the palate, their brightness amplified by a liquid mineral component that elevates each sip. Concentrated yet lively, the flavors penetrate with precision, revealing a black tea character that lingers. It’s a wine of remarkable energy—mouth-wateringly delicious, with a vitality that dances across the tongue, leaving a vivid and refined impression.”

95 Points

2020 Chateau Claud-Bellevue Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux

2020 Chateau Claud-Bellevue Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux

with No Comment $30 and underBordeauxBordeauxFranceKevin Vogt

Château Claud-Bellevue

Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France 2020

2020 Chateau Claud-Bellevue Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux

The Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux from Château Claud-Bellevue won over our panel with its striking freshness, layered depth, and precise character—qualities that reflect the rising distinction of this appellation. Situated just east of Saint-Émilion, Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux benefits from a comparable terroir of limestone and clay, lending its wines a poised structure, vibrant energy, and a refined mineral thread. These attributes deliver exceptional quality at a value that outshines its more renowned neighbor.

Château Claud-Bellevue carries a rich history dating back to 1663, shaped by generations of local visionaries who understood the promise of its land. The estate’s 10-hectare vineyard crowns a limestone plateau, where soils of weathered clay and fractured stone weave finesse and complexity into every vintage. This unique foundation yields a wine that balances vivid fruit, crisp vitality, and subtle, earthy undertones with grace.

Maison Kavaklidere has elevated this legacy further, blending tradition with a forward-thinking pursuit of excellence. Committed to sustainability, the estate adheres to rigorous regenerative practices, earning the prestigious HVE3 environmental certification. With a series of well-earned accolades, the 2020 Château Claud-Bellevue unites heritage, place, and skillful craft in a wine that invites appreciation with every glass.

Château Claud-Bellevue
Castillon Cotes de Bordeaux
Bordeaux, France 2020

Your Price: $29.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“Deep and searching, brimming with youthful exuberance. Earthy cherry blossom and black tea aromatics meet plum preserve and cherry fruit as spiced oak tannins prevail.”

95 Points

2022 Claudio Family Cellars Merlot Mt. Veeder

2022 Claudio Family Cellars Merlot Mt. Veeder

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtMerlotMt VeederNapaUSA

Claudio Family Cellars

Merlot 2022
Mt. Veeder

2022 Claudio Family Cellars Merlot Mt. Veeder

Claudio Family Cellars’ 2022 Merlot captures the vivid essence of mountain viticulture, blending intensity and grace into a wine of striking harmony. Grown on the rugged slopes of Mount Veeder, it reveals Merlot’s potential for depth and distinction when shaped by such untamed terroir. Winemaker Chris Jones has deftly crafted a wine that echoes the mountain’s raw energy while delivering a refined vibrancy that distinguishes it from the ordinary.

Jones’ journey to this creation is as compelling as the wine itself. Beginning as a home winemaker in Minnesota, his curiosity and drive carried him to Napa and Sonoma. There, he refined his craft through an internship at Sojourn Cellars before founding Claudio Family Cellars. His 2022 Mount Veeder Merlot reflects this arc—bold yet poised, it channels the mountain’s strength with clarity and elegance.

Mount Veeder, a scarce source of Napa’s output at under two percent, yields wines of rare concentration from its steep inclines and ancient, mineral-rich soils. The 2022 Merlot embodies this duality—rich yet precise, with layers of black cherry, violet, and wild sage unfolding alongside dark fruit and earthy nuance, culminating in a smooth, lingering finish. It’s a vivid example of Merlot’s ability to flourish in the high, wild reaches of the mountains.

Claudio Family Cellars
Merlot 2022
Mt. Veeder
Retails at: $40

Your Price: $29.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The Claudio Family Cellars 2022 Merlot from Mt Veeder opens with fresh aromas of lavender, subtle herbal notes, cherry, raspberry, cloves, white pepper, and a graphite minerality. On the palate, the wine has a plush texture balanced with mountain fruit characteristics and flavors of red plum, vanilla, baking spices, and mocha. Mt Veeder is one of Napa Valley’s cooler growing environments, giving this wine elegance but with an excellent structure from this mountainside location.”

94 Points

NV Lortum Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #9 Row 48 Napa Valley

NV Lortum Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #9 Row 48 Napa Valley

with No Comment $30 and underCabernet SauvignonKevin VogtNapaUSA

Lortum Riché

Cabernet Sauvignon
Cask #9 | Row 48
Napa Valley NV

NV Lortum Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Cask #9 Row 48 Napa Valley

Lortum Riché Vineyards, a family-owned winery now in its second generation, is dedicated to crafting wines of exceptional concentration and authentic luxury. Their modern winemaking facility, combined with strong relationships with Napa Valley’s most respected growers, ensures unwavering quality.

The name “Lortum” combines “lor” and “tum,” forming a “ripe exclamation of surprise,” and combined with “Riché” signifies a “rich, ripe exclamation of surprise,” reflecting the essence of the quality of fruit found in each bottle. 

Winemaker Kevin Morrisey, renowned for his work at Ehlers Estate, brings his expertise to Lortum Riché. He strives to create wines of energy, focus, and complexity, achieved through meticulous viticulture and gentle fruit handling.

The Lortum Riché ‘Row 48 – Cask 9’ is a masterfully blended non-vintage wine that captures the spirit of Napa Valley. It offers enticing aromas and a satiny, vibrant, medium/full body. The finish is warm, layered, and remarkably long, with beautifully balanced fruit.

Lortum Riché
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cask #9 | Row 48
Napa Valley NV
Retails at: $85

Your Price: $25

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“Kevin Morrisey, formerly of Ehlers Estate, crafted this multi-vintage blend of 2019, 2021, and 2022 fruit. It offers an easy-drinking profile with red and black fruit character, complemented by sweet cedar spices. Medium-bodied, it features notes of dark chocolate and fine-grained tannins, leading to a tremendously satisfying finish.”

92 Points

2021 La Follette Los Primeros Pinot Noir Sonoma County

2021 La Follette Los Primeros Pinot Noir Sonoma County

with No Comment $30 and underAnderson ValleyKevin VogtPinot NoirSonomaSonoma ValleyUSA

La Follette

Los Primeros Pinot Noir
Sonoma County 2021

2021 La Follette Los Primeros Pinot Noir Sonoma County

La Follette’s Los Primeros Pinot Noir is a masterful expression of Greg La Follette’s decades of winemaking expertise and dedication to crafting wines of purity and place. Greg, a visionary winemaker and former biochemist mentored by the legendary André Tchelistcheff, has long been celebrated for his ability to unlock the soul of a vineyard, transforming its unique character into wines of exceptional depth and elegance. 

La Follette’s philosophy is rooted in the belief that every vineyard holds a distinct identity, and he collaborates exclusively with growers who share his passion for authenticity. This meticulous approach ensures that each vintage is a testament to the unique terroir of Sonoma County. The 2021 Los Primeros Pinot Noir, sourced from declassified barrels of premier single-vineyard lots, reflects this ethos—a wine that marries accessibility with complexity.

The 2021 vintage underwent fermentation in stainless steel to preserve its vibrant aromatics. The wine was aged for ten months in French oak barriques, where subtle spice notes were delicately woven into its structure, enhancing the wine’s bright red fruit profile and silky texture. The result is a beautifully balanced Pinot Noir with a finish that lingers like a well-told story—elevating Los Primeros from a value-driven offering to a celebration of Sonoma’s rich winemaking heritage.

La Follette
Los Primeros Pinot Noir
Sonoma County 2021

Your Price: $29.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“Savory, tea-like aromas and flavors dominate this charming, lighter-style wine as fresh acidity and light tannins give a slight, mouth-watering grip on the palate. Perfect for a roast chicken, sauteed mushrooms or sauteed salmon.”

92 Points

2022 Aniello 006 Malbec Patagonia Argentina

2022 Aniello 006 Malbec Patagonia Argentina

with No Comment $30 and underArgentinaKevin VogtMalbec

Aniello

‘006’ Malbec 2022
Patagonia, Argentina

2022 Aniello 006 Malbec Patagonia Argentina

Bodega Aniello’s 006 Malbec is a vibrant expression of Patagonia’s unique terroir, a captivating interplay of perfectly ripened fruit, silky textures, and intriguing savory notes. This stunning Malbec, a remarkable value at $20, showcases the rising brilliance of Río Negro, where elegance and wild beauty converge in every sip.

The winery’s story is as rich as its wines. Founded in 1927 by an Italian family with a centuries-old winemaking heritage, Bodega Aniello embodies a harmonious blend of Old World craftsmanship and the untamed potential of Patagonia. Nestled amidst pristine, alluvial soils of sand, silt, and gravel in the celebrated Río Negro region, the estate is perfectly positioned to capture the magic of this emerging wine region.

Grown in the winery’s Manique vineyards in the Upper Río Negro Valley, where Malbec thrives in the cool climate, the 2022 006 Malbec is crafted with meticulous care. Fermented in small concrete tanks and aged for 12 months in oak barrels, the wine achieves a harmonious balance of vibrant freshness and subtle complexity. Enjoy its delightful approachability now, or savor the promise of added depth with careful cellaring.

Aniello
‘006’ Malbec 2022
Patagonia, Argentina

Your Price: $19.99

Click Here to Join Our (Free) Insider’s Club & Unlock Special Offers

Click to Order

 

“The 2022 Malbec 006, from Mainqué, Patagonia, underwent aging in 30% American oak. Purple in color, it boasts aromas of plum and herb-tinged cherry. Rich and taut, with reactive tannins, the 2022 delivers a lasting, ripe-fruited finish-the embodiment of a sun-kissed Malbec.”

90 Points