2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

with No Comment $40-$50BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtTuscany

La Rasina

Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2020

2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino Tuscany Italy

The 2020 La Rasina Brunello di Montalcino reflects precision under pressure. In a year that challenged even the most experienced growers, this wine emerged not through excess or generosity, but through balance achieved by careful decisions at every stage. Its poise reveals a producer deeply attuned to vineyard and vintage, crafting a Brunello that favors brilliance, elegance, and authenticity over overt power.

La Rasina’s vineyards, positioned on the northeastern slopes of Montalcino, played a critical role in navigating the season. Higher elevation, cooler nights, and steady air movement helped moderate the warmth of 2020, preserving freshness and structure. Farmed organically, these vines benefit from a philosophy that prioritizes observation and patience, allowing the vineyard’s natural balance to assert itself.

Aging for more than two years in traditional large oak casks, the wine settles into a rhythm defined by balance and clarity. The wood frames the fruit without dominating it, preserving the wine’s natural tension and energy. What emerges is a Brunello of regal confidence, layered and precise, offering immediate appeal alongside the promise of long-term reward.

La Rasina
Brunello di Montalcino
Tuscany, Italy, 2020
Retails at: $55

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“Some complexity here with smoky-woodland and licorice-root notes. Lead pencil is mixed with blood orange. The attack is tense and firm with crisp acidity and tight, chalky tannins. Yet, it’s ripe on the finish and quite warming. This will improve with age. Drink from 2025.”

93 Points

2020 Chester Kidder Red Blend Columbia Valley

2020 Chester Kidder Red Blend Columbia Valley

with No Comment $30-$40Columbia ValleyKevin VogtProprietary RedUSAWashington State

Chester Kidder

Red Blend 2020
Columbia Valley

2020 Chester Kidder Red Blend Columbia Valley

Drawn from three of Washington’s most distinguished vineyard sites, Summit View, Candy Mountain, and Dionysus, the 2020 Chester-Kidder Columbia Valley Red speaks with a confidence rooted firmly in place. It is a wine shaped by contrast and harmony, where structure, richness, and finesse align in a composition that feels both deliberate and deeply satisfying.

Chester-Kidder is a masterful blend, balancing Cabernet Sauvignon’s authority with the generous depth of Syrah and the refined lift of Petit Verdot. Each variety plays a distinct role, contributing structure, texture, and aromatic complexity without ever competing for attention. The harmony achieved speaks to vineyard selection and an instinctive understanding of how these elements come together.

Extended élevage brings the wine fully into focus. Thirty months in French oak add nuance rather than dominance, weaving notes of cocoa, espresso, and warm spice into a concentrated dark-fruit core. The integration is seamless, the texture polished, and the finish long and resonant. It is a wine that unfolds with patience and composure, revealing its depth gradually with poise.

Chester Kidder
Red Blend 2020
Columbia Valley
Retails at: $70

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“Very perfumed with aromas ranging from lavender, graphite and sandalwood to purple plum, blueberry and black pepper. Firm and compact on the palate, with a full body and dense, chewy tannins. Toasty but not opulent. Needs a couple of years to soften. 57% cabernet sauvignon, 33% syrah and 10% petit verdot. Try from 2026.”

93 Points

2020 Siro Pacenti Brunello di Montalcino Pelagrilli Tus cany Italy

with No Comment $60-$70BrunelloBrunelloItalyKevin VogtTuscany

Siro Pacenti

Brunello di Montalcino
Pelagrilli 2020
Tuscany, Italy

From the slopes of Montalcino, the Pelagrilli vineyard tells a story that few Brunellos can match. Rooted in the land Giancarlo Pacenti’s father purchased in 1970 and shaped over decades into a modern icon, the 2020 release channels this lineage with singular precision. It reflects the focus of a winemaker who has devoted his life to shaping Sangiovese into something unmistakably his own.

At the core of the wine’s character are vines that have matured over decades, their roots threaded deep into Montalcino’s varied soils. These older plantings lend natural concentration and a purity of fruit that only time and thoughtful farming can produce. Pacenti captures their voice with uncommon finesse, crafting a wine that feels both grounded and vibrant.

As the wine settles on the palate, it becomes clear why Pelagrilli remains a cornerstone of the Pacenti legacy. The interplay of red fruit, savory spice, and cool mineral depth leaves a lasting imprint that resonates long after the final sip. This is Sangiovese articulated with precision and heart, shaped by a vineyard that speaks with uncommon vividness and a winemaker who has spent a lifetime learning how to listen.

Siro Pacenti
Brunello di Montalcino
Pelagrilli 2020
Tuscany, Italy
Retails at: $80

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“A round and juicy red with berry, cherry, mushroom and wet-earth character on both the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with integrated tannins that are soft and luscious. Long, flavorful finish. Drinkable now, but better in two or three years.”

96 Points

2020 Bibbiano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy

2020 Bibbiano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy

with No Comment $40-$50ChiantiChiantiItalyKevin VogtTuscany

Bibbiano

Gran Selezione
Chianti Classico
Vigna del Capannino
Tuscany, Italy 2020

2020 Bibbiano Gran Selezione Chianti Classico Tuscany Italy

From a mere seven hectares of the storied 19th-century estate of Bibbiano rises the 2020 Vigna del Capannino: an extraordinary expression of Tuscany’s soul. Perched atop a compact, clay-rich plateau, this vineyard captures the drama of one of Italy’s most revered terroirs. The naturally dense soils lend the wine profound structure and a chiseled mineral backbone, while the west-facing exposure coaxes the depth and intensity that define this vintage.

The power of Vigna del Capannino begins with its singular focus: 100% Sangiovese Grosso. This clone, selected and refined over decades, produces fruit that embodies both the energy of the vintage and the elegance of its lineage. In 2020, the grapes achieved perfect balance, allowing the wine to capture a full spectrum of flavor.

After harvest, the wine underwent a patient élevage of 24 months, divided between neutral cement and fine French and Slavonian oak, followed by a half-year of bottle rest. This unhurried maturation refined the wine’s natural intensity into harmony. The result is a Chianti Classico of rare depth, with tannins that are taut yet silken, framing a finish that lingers with quiet authority.

Bibbiano
Gran Selezione
Chianti Classico
Vigna del Capannino
Tuscany, Italy 2020

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“Ripe strawberries, raspberries, red licorice, moist bark and wet stones on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied, tense and juicy with crunchy tannins and chalky texture. Vivid acidity keeps the wine nervy. Racy finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.”

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

2020 Marques De Murrieta Reserva Rioja Spain

2020 Marques De Murrieta Reserva Rioja Spain

with No Comment $30 and underKevin VogtRiojaSpainTempranillo

Marqués De Murrieta

Reserva Rioja
Rioja, Spain 2020

2020 Marques De Murrieta Reserva Rioja Spain

Marqués de Murrieta 2020 Finca Ygay Rioja Reserva is a wine of exceptional quality, setting a benchmark rarely matched in its category. From a historic winery founded by Luciano de Murrieta in 1852, this remarkable Rioja Reserva embodies the visionary spirit that transformed Rioja into one of the world’s most celebrated wine regions. Rich in tradition yet embracing modern refinement, the wine captures the timeless essence of its origin.

Luciano Murrieta’s pioneering journey, inspired by his studies in Bordeaux, gave rise to a style of Rioja that gained global acclaim for its power, complexity, and elegance. The Rioja Reserva is crafted predominantly from Tempranillo grapes grown in the distinguished vineyards of Rioja Alta, an area where history meets innovation to produce fruit of remarkable purity and depth.

With its graceful aging and clarity of expression, this Reserva speaks fluently in the language of Rioja: balanced, timeless, and resonant with place. At its price, few wines offer such pedigree, making it a compelling invitation to experience the soul of Rioja.

Marqués De Murrieta
Reserva Rioja
Rioja, Spain 2020

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“Subtle rusticity paired with assertive elegance, in a wine that marries subtle minerality with chalky tannins and poised, crunchy fruit. It’s vibrant throughout, with acid verve holding the rich, robust black fruit at the core. Long finish, with a spicy lining.”

95 Points

2020 The Mascot Proprietary Red Napa Valley

2020 The Mascot Proprietary Red Napa Valley

with No Comment $100 and overKevin VogtNapaProprietary RedUSA

The Mascot

Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2020

2020 The Mascot Proprietary Red Napa Valley

Will Harlan’s The Mascot shares the hallmarks of Napa Valley’s most elite wines, blending meticulous farming, expert winemaking, and prestigious vineyard pedigree. This wine serves as an accessible introduction to Napa Valley’s most upper-echelon Cabernet Sauvignons, showcasing the same commitment to quality that defines the region’s premier producers.

Sourced from the younger vines of BOND, Harlan Estate, and Promontory, The Mascot offers a vivid and unique expression of its exceptional lineage. With each swirl, it reveals a glimpse of the unique terroir and the evolving character of these iconic estates, delivering a wine that reflects the vintage and its storied origins with elegance and clarity, piquing your curiosity with each sip.

While the exact blend may vary, The Mascot is typically composed of 85-95% Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by touches of Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Crafted in an intensely captivating and beautifully balanced style, it delivers a lush, harmonious experience. As one of the few select retailers with access to this extraordinary wine, we are thrilled to offer you the opportunity to experience it firsthand!

The Mascot
Proprietary Red
Napa Valley 2020

Your Price: $185

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“This is a stunning wine that is sure to impress. It has a complex and elegant nose, with aromas of ripe blackberries, pipe tobacco, baker’s chocolate, and sweet violets. The palate is equally impressive, with flavors of brambly black currants, black tea, and firm, dusty green tannins. The wine has a compact and elegant structure, with intense fruit and a long, lingering finish. It is still quite young, but it will evolve beautifully over the next decade or more.”

95 Points

2020 Department 66 'D66' Grenache Cotes Catalanes France

2020 Department 66 ‘D66’ Grenache Cotes Catalanes France

with No Comment $30 and underFranceGrenacheKevin VogtRhone Valley

Department 66

‘D66’ Grenache 2020
Côtes Catalanes, France

2020 Department 66 'D66' Grenache Cotes Catalanes France

Dave Phinney’s 2020 Department 66 “D66” Grenache embodies bold creativity, revealing richness, old-vine sophistication, and profound depth. Crafted by visionary winemaker David Phinney, known for audacious, crowd-pleasing wines, D66 is a compelling endeavor rooted in the sun-drenched landscapes of France’s Roussillon region, where French elegance converges with Spanish intensity.

Sourced from the distinguished Côtes Catalanes IGP, the grapes flourish under the Mediterranean’s dynamic climate, where warm days are tempered by cool nights. This pronounced diurnal shift imparts remarkable concentration and lively acidity to the fruit.

The 2020 vintage artfully blends the bold, fruit-driven character of Californian winemaking with the refined finesse of French terroir. Each sip weaves a captivating story, harmonizing robust richness with graceful nuance, delivering an unforgettable experience that bridges two worlds. Treat yourself to a Grenache that defies borders and conventions, poised to enchant your senses.

Department 66
‘D66’ Grenache 2020
Côtes Catalanes, France
Retails at: $40

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“The Orin Swift 2020 Department 66 Grenache open with a rich, complex nose of wild strawberries, blackberries, plums, baking spices, earth, and a hint of wet stony minerality. On the palate, the wine has flavors of ripe black cherries, black currants, fudge brownies, and baking spices. The wine has a solid structure with firm tannins, indicating a suitability for further aging, but also a friendly approachability making it drinkable now.”

94 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

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

92 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

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“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