Diatom Bar-M Chardonnay, Santa Barbara, 2019
93 points from Jeb Dunnuck: A good value, the 2019 Chardonnay Bar-M gives up a juicy, vibrant nose of tart pineapple, citrus, and honeyed flowers. These carry to a rich, medium to full-bodied Chardonnay with a killer texture, nicely integrated acidity, and a great finish. Pairing wonderfully fresh, complex aromatics with plenty of oomph and richness on the palate, this beautiful Chardonnay is ideal for drinking over the coming 4-5 years (although it will keep even longer).
$24.99 in our CHARDONNAY section
L’Aventure Optimus, Paso Robles, 2018
93 points from Jeb Dunnuck: A normal blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petite Sirah, and 10% Syrah, the 2018 Optimus reveals a deep purple color as well as beautiful notes of crème de cassis, black licorice, tobacco, chocolate, and a rocky, earthy minerality. It’s rich and medium to full-bodied, with beautiful purity and silky tannins. This is a terrific introduction into the wines of l’Aventure and will drink well for over a decade.
$59.99 in our RED BLENDS section — only 3 bottles!
Cà Dei Frati “I Frati,” Lugana, 2018
90 points from Wine Enthusiast: Aromas of exotic fruit, white spring flower, citrus and a whiff of tomato vine lift out of the glass. Vibrant and linear, the savory palate doles out juicy grapefruit, spiced apricot and a hint of pineapple alongsidecrisp acidity. –Kerin O’Keefe
$21.99 in our ITALY section
Valdicava Rosso di Montalcino, 2019
Not yet reviewed.
Montalcino is home to the opulent sangiovese grape. Valdicava is located in the Montosoli area which is famous in Montelcino for creating wines with great balance of body and aromas. The utmost attention is given towards maintaining the individual characteristics of the wine in order to exalt the spirit of the place, the ‘genius loci’ of our estate. At Valdicava‘s latitude of 43 degrees, the warmth of the nearby Tirrean Sea, the protective barrier of the “Monte Amiata,” the coolness of the wooded areas, the breeze and the moderate rainfall all coincide to facilitate the growth of these grapes to fragrant, full maturity.
$49.99 in our ITALY section
Valdicava Brunello di Montalcino, 2016
98 points from James Suckling: Attractive aromas of balsamic, tea, dark berry, walnut and coffee bean. Full-bodied, yet tight and very intense with ripe tannins that are fine and reserved. Racy and polished. Beautiful length to this wine. Needs at least two to three years to come. Try after 2024.
95 points from Wine Spectator: Fleeting aromas of cherry, cedar, sanguine and leather give way to a beam of ripe cherry, berry and earth flavors in this elegant red. Firm and resonant, with a matrix of dusty tannins on the long finish. Best from 2024 through 2045.
$159.99 in THE CELLAR
Terras Gauda “O Rosal,” Rías Baixas
92 points from WINE AND SPIRITS: With close to 400 acres of vines in O Rosal, Terras Gauda focuses this blend on a selection of albariño (70 percent) blended with loureiro and caiño blanco. The dry and relatively cool summer of 2019 produced a zesty wine with flavors of sweet pear and brisk grapefruit. It smells like salt air and tastes like crab roe, with the kind of funky richness that will enliven a range of creatures from the sea.
$29.99 in our SPAIN section
Flaco Tempranillo, Vinos de Madrid, 2019
90 points from VINOUS: Bright violet. Pungent cherry pit, cassis and licorice scents are sharpened by a peppery nuance. Chewy and focused on the palate, offering bitter cherry and dark berry flavors and a touch of espresso. Dusty tannins frame a long, nervy finish that echoes the cherry note. This is a pretty serious wine for its price category.
$10.99 in our SPAIN section
Hugl Zweigelt, Niederösterreich, 2018
“BEST BUY” from WINE ENTHUSIAST: The nose is shy at first but, with some air, reveals juicy cherry notes. The palate is easy but juicy, fresh and packed with ripe vivid cherry. It’s almost like fruit juice for adults, but with a lovely balance and dry finish. — Anne KREBIEHL, Master of Wine
$18.99 for 1 L in our GERMANY section
Cathedral Cellar “Triptych,” Western Cape, 2017
48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Shiraz, 12% Tempranillo, 7% Petit Verdot, 4% Petite Sirah, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot, 1% Malbec
After two days of cold maceration, which enhances colour and fruit flavours, the juice was inoculated with a combination of specially selected yeast strains. Alcoholic fermentation lasted approximately seven days. During this time, each tank was subjected to a careful and meticulous pump-over schedule. Only after numerous tastings by the winemaking team to ensure the achievement of perfect balance and structure, was the wine pressed off the skins. The wine was racked to barrel where it underwent malolactic fermentation. It was then racked from the lees and returned to barrel for further maturation. After 18 months in barrel, only the best wine was selected to make up this vintage Cathedral Cellar Triptych. The wine was matured in French oak barrels for 18 months. A 35% portion was aged in new wood, and the rest in second and third-fill barrels.
This layered and sophisticated red blend exudes aromas of blueberries, crushed herbs, and tobacco leaf with hints of dark chocolate and cedary oak. The palate reveals velvety tannins and a savoury palate with a well-rounded, persistent finish.
$29.99 in our SOUTH AFRICA section
Domaine Reuilly Pinot Gris, Reuilly, 2019
Best known for its flinty whites made from Sauvignon Blanc, the small Reuilly appellation is also home to another specialty. About one in every five bottles of Reuilly is pink: a pale, delicately colored dry rosé of Pinot Gris. These vins gris are created by directly pressing the berries after harvest, resulting in a short period of skin contact that imbues the slightest salmon hue to these delightfully light, crisp wines. Denis Jamain is a proud ambassador of the appellation whose Domaine de Reuilly is certified both organic and biodynamic—for Denis, essential philosophies to sustainably crafting clean, fresh, terroir-driven wines. His Pinot Gris grows on light soils of sand and gravel, ideal for putting forth the grape’s subtle aromas of fresh fruit. With suggestions of white peach, grapefruit, and flowers, low alcohol, and palate-cleansing acidity, it is perfect for an apéritif at sunset, but it also pairs brilliantly with ceviche, goat cheese, and many Vietnamese dishes. —Anthony Lynch pf Kermit Lynch Wine Merchants
$21.99 in our FRANCE and PINOT GRIGIO sections
Château Thivin, Côte de Brouilly, 2019
93 points from ROBERT PARKER’S WINE ADVOCATE: Bottled a mere week before I tasted it, Thivin’s 2019 Côte de Brouilly unwinds in the glass with inviting aromas of plums, red berries, warm spices and peonies. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and enveloping, it’s bright and precise, with fine depth at the core and real energy, concluding with a long, gently tannic finish. A touch finer-boned and more dynamic than the gourmand, demonstrative 2018, this is showing very well.
$34.99 in our FRANCE section
