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97 Points! There is a new superb pure Giró from old vines, from the upper two terraces of the Abargues property, first produced in the perfect Mediterranean vintage of 2020. The 2020 Fierroca takes the name from two words, "fierro"( which means iron) and "roca" (which means rock"), the components of the soils here. The grapes have less color but lots of grip, and the wine is floral, elegant, terribly balanced, tasty and ripe without excess, with a velvety texture and long, pure fresh and fine flavors. This is amazing! It matured in two 500-liter French oak barrels for 10 months. 1,300 bottles were filled in August 2021. - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

97 Points! Showing firm structure and a bold fruit profile, the Ceretto 2021 Barolo Prapò reveals a dark core with crushed stone, iron oxide and candied cherry. Prapò never holds back in terms of intensity. This site has a unique ripening cycle that means harvest comes 10 days later, giving the fruit more time to develop complexity. This wine is just terrific. - Monica Larner, robertparker.com

Ciliegiolo (which means “cherry-like”) is used primarily as a blending grape in Chianti Classico for its aromatic character. In the volcanic hills of the Maremma in south-west Tuscany, it comes to the fore as a major independent varietal in the hands of Carla and Edoardo Ventimiglia. At their Sassotondo winery, they have been using biodynamic farming techniques since 2007 to develop the full potential of this unique varietal.

96 Points! The 2021 Mazis-Chambertin Grand Cru is less brooding than is often the case, no doubt thanks to the vintage. Wafting from the glass with notes of sweet red berries, wild plums, rose petals, cinnamon and potpourri, it's full-bodied, rich and layered, with a beautifully seamless, suave profile that means it's far from forbidding, even right out of the gates. Patience, however, will of course be rewarded. - William Kelley, robertparker.com

100 Points! This dry riesling has a hypnotic beauty that leaves no doubt how this wine redefines what peachy means in the context of this grape variety. As it aerates, a wealth of wild berry and flower nuances develop and expand. Given the mind-bending concentration of this wine, it is staggeringly fresh and absolutely precise. Then comes the finish, which is like a prima ballerina dancing on pointe off into the distance. Drink from release. - JamesSuckling.com

Brewed with a traditional sake brewing method, Den features a fruity aroma and distinct rich flavors. This sake has the true characteristics of a Junmai Daiginjo. Its crisp and clean umami stands out clearly and lingers as a distinctly mouthwatering aftertaste. It is an excellent choice to pair with tuna and salmon sushi/sashimi. It also goes well with meat and meat dishes prepared in both Japanese and western style. Den means "tradition," referring to the traditional way this sake is brewed. The name Den also can mean "to convey" thoughts and feelings.

Tasting Note:
Katsuyama Junmai Daiginjo "Den" presents a luxurious ginjo aroma reminiscent of melon, leading into beautifully defined acidity and exquisite umami flavors. The crisp and clean umami stands out clearly and lingers as a distinctly mouthwatering aftertaste. This sake masterfully balances robust masculinity with elegant femininity, achieving a high level of perfection in every aspect.

Region: Miyagi Prefecture

Quality Grade: Junmai Daiginjo

Seimaibuai: 35%

Nihonshu-Do: +1

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 16%

Who needs Sancerre when you have Quincy? This is a blend of several plots of Sauvignon on alluvial sand and gravel atop clay-limestone subsoil wiht an average vine age of 45 years. Harvested slightly overripe to seek ripe fruit and richness on the palette. Pneumatic pressing, undergoes a cold pre-fermentation maceration in temperature-controlled inox , as means to search for a balance between freshness and fruitiness according to the vintage. The wines are then racked onto their fine lees and aged for a few more months. Aging 6 months. 

From the importer: 'Mai sentito’ means ‘unheard of,’ and this sparkling Verdicchio, bottled before the second fermentation is finished, is certainly the first of its type I’ve had. It’s not some random hipster experiment, though, it’s an intentional, thoughtful, delicious bottle of wine. The Verdicchio variety supplies the green apple and herbal notes you’d expect, along with lovely fresh acidity; the maceration of the yeast in the wine as the fermentation finishes adds texture and background notes. Excellent aperitif, would pair perfectly with all manner of antipasti. Nice job, Riccardo.

97 Points! The sensuous curves of Art Nouveau design and joyful flourishes of rococo both give an idea of what Mosel riesling elegance means, but in a masterpiece like this it takes on a totally distinctive feeling unlike anything else on Planet Wine. The white peach fruit, white flower aromas and slatey minerality all tingle on your palate, then flicker on and on in a totally fascinating manner in the nearly endless finish. The touch of sweetness is already beautifully integrated, although the wine just began a decades-long life. Drink or hold. - JamesSuckling.com

Made from the top quality sake rice in the US, this is a sake of nuance, depth and character, beautifully expressive and layered with an alluring texture. The pinnacle of the Brooklyn Kura lineup! Dry and light with a hint of honeysuckle, it pairs well with lighter dishes such as scallop crudo, crab cake and tuna tartare. This is a Nama Chozo Sake which means it has undergone only one intial pasteurization and not the 'traditional' second allowing for a more robust flavourful sake experience.

Region: New York, USA

Quality Grade: Junmai Ginjo

Seimaibuai: 60%

Nihonshu-Do: N/A

Rice: Yamada Nishiki

Alcohol: 16%

Field blend of Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Syrah and Tinto Cão

The wine was vinified in specially designed conical stainless steel temperature controlled vats, within a temperature range of 77°F to 83°F degrees. Part of the lot is aged in neutral French oak barrels

Christian Seely purchased Romaneira in 2004 with plans to put the winery shoulder to shoulder with the Douro’s top names in terms of reputation and quality. Seely and winemaker Antonio Agrellos understand what such ambition means – They are the dynamic duo behind the much celebrated rebirth of another great property, Quinta do Noval (which sits literally next door), which they’ve operated for the past twenty years.

The Small Batch is 1792’s flagship offering. It is a high rye bourbon, which means that the composition of the grain is a high percentage of rye in relation to the corn that leads the bill. The mash bill itself is 75% corn, 15% rye and 10% malted barley -- using rye as the second most sizeable grain makes for a bolder, spicier bourbon. But even with a high rye component and such bold spice, the 1792 retains a masterful elegance.

The kimoto method relies on ambient organisms to build up the acidity of the starter (shubo) to a point that the yeast, to be used in fermentation, can flourish. While traditionally made by teams of workers working in tandem to grinding rice with poles, Kura has made their annual kimoto production a community event, as visitors to the brewery grind the rice themselves using sanitized rubber boots! Notes of oat, and brown spices. Peppery, velvety, medium body with a dry finish.
Pairs well with lighter dishes such as beet salad, caprese, and goat cheese. This is a Nama Chozo Sake which means it has undergone only one intial pasteurization and not the 'traditional' second allowing for a more robust flavourful sake experience.

Region: New York, USA

Quality Grade: Junmai 

Seimaibuai: Various

Nihonshu-Do: 0.0

Rice: Calrose

Alcohol: 17.4%

94 Points! The 2021 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is one of the vintage's successes, wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and raspberries mingled with notions of violets, rose petals, pencil shavings and cigar wrapper. Medium to full-bodied, with a deep, layered core of pure fruit framed by ripe acids and sweet tannins, its suave, charming profile means that it will offer a broad drinking window. A slightly lower percentage of new oak, with lighter toasts, is reflected in better barrel integration out of the gates. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

95 Points! A refined, classic Pauillac with cassis, pencil shavings, ash and cherries. Juicy and really fine on the palate with silky tannins unwound into a layered, long finish. A refined, elegant interpretation that does not fall short on intensity. Real finesse here. Already delicious, but can hold, too. - JamesSuckling.com Learn More

92 Points! The aromatics of the 2023 Evodia give justice to the name, which in old Greek means "fragrance," and it has high-lifted aromatics, floral, elegant and ethereal. In 2023, they used 15% full clusters for the fermentation, and the élevage was in concrete, with 20% in used 225-liter barrels and 10% in oak vats, and lasted five months. It has a bright ruby color and an extroverted nose. This is ripe, hedonistic and outspoken, showy and juicy, with very good ripeness and 14.8% alcohol, but it comes through as balanced with a pH of 3.68 and 6.1 grams of acidity. You just want to keep smelling it as it unfurls in the glass. The quality is clearly beyond its price point; it's an amazing value for money. One to buy by the truckload!  - Luis Gutierrez, robertparker.com

From the importer: What strikes many as an unusual blend is fairly common in Penedes – aromatic whites made from a mix of “northern” and indigenous varieties. In the case of Gessami, it is a blend of the native Muscat (both Frontignan 35%, and de Alexandria 15%, which are grown by Gramona) and the non-native but heat-tolerant Gewürztraminer 15%, and Sauvignon Blanc 35%. Over a third of the cuvée is Sauvignon Blanc, which provides a fresh herbal lift and vibrant acidity. To ensure a balanced wine, the grapes are picked just as they reach ripeness to ensure plenty of acidity to balance the 6g/L of residual sugar that is retained. Depending on the vintage, either one or both Muscat varieties are used in addition to a small proportion of Gewürztraminer to boost the aromatics. Such a floral and alluring wine is fittingly named Gessami, which in English means Jasmine.

92 Points! The NV Brut Réserve is the foundational wine at Bérêche, and the latest release is based on the 2022 vintage, incorporating a 40% perpetual reserve component, uniting the freshness of the northern slopes and the maturity of the hot, dry vintage. Fruit for this wine comes from vineyard sites across the Montagne de Reims and the Vallée de Marne, and the Champagne was disgorged in October 2024 with six grams per liter dosage. Bursting from the glass with aromas of nectarine, orange zest and brioche, it's medium- to full-bodied and ample, with considerable density, underpinned by racy acidity and concluding with a chalky finish. The Brut Réserve has seen the most refinements in recent years as it no longer incorporates tailles and now features Chardonnay from Trépail; technically, this means that the pH is lower and the acidity is higher. It’s one of the most reliable entry-level NV bottlings on the market. - Kristaps Karklins, robertparker.com

Samsara, meaning ‘rebirth’, is a full-bodied and fragrant blend of malts matured in ex Bourbon and ex Californian red wine casks.

Tasting: Vanilla, citrus, rich

Nose: Vanilla Cream, floral with fresh cut apples

Palate: Thick vanilla fudge, sweet floral grass

Finish: Rich, mouth coating, leading to refreshing citrus

TASTING NOTES: Aromas of green melon rind and kaffir lime leaves. Creamy, luxurious mid palate with a spearmint-driven herbal finish.

Region: Yamaguchi

Quality Grade: Tokubetsu Junmai

Seimaibuai: 60%

Nihonshu-Do: +6.0

Rice: Yamada Nishiki & Hattan Nishiki

Alcohol: 15.5%