Wines
- Brandini Langhe Arneis Le Margherite 2021$24.98Availability:In Stock
“Our Arneis wants to show the freshness and crispiness of this variety,” Giovanna says. “It has unique herbaceous aromatics (sage, thyme, rosemary) with white flowers (orange blossoms) and is pure, fresh, and vertical with good acidity and a long finish.”
Giovanna explained that Arneis went through some troubled times a few decades ago and got a bad rap. When bubbles in white wine became interesting, many growers in the Langhe planted Arneis in unfavorable locations: bottom of hills, north faces—essentially where other grapes wouldn’t ripen either. Whatever made it past the frost season had to contend with mildew feasting on the vine’s chlorophyll and then tainting the tight, fat-berried Arneis clusters. The grapes were picked when green or yellow, perfect for zippy, minerally white wine, no? Not with Arneis. It reaches its highest level when golden, otherwise it remains neutral, boring and austere.
These days, respect has returned to this grape and it’s time for it to reach its potential. Changes in approach, like keeping the vines above 250m to stave off frost, and better expositions with fewer facing directly north but rather more toward southerly exposures, or due east or west, or slightly tilted toward the north, like Brandini’s parcel in Canale facing northeast that’s fully exposed to the sun at an altitude of 350m. Here, the wind contact with the grapes, the early morning sun and good canopy management keeps mildew at bay while the Bagnascos wait patiently for the grapes to go golden—a difficult discipline for a family driven by high acid wines.
Learn MoreHURRY, ONLY 7 LEFT! - Brokenwood Semillon Hunter Valley 2022JS93WA90$17.98Availability:In Stock
93 Points! A textbook semillon from Hunter Valley as always, with sliced lemons, green apples and lemon curd character with minerals and waxy undertones. It’s full and layered with a bright acidity and vivid finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap. - JamesSuckling.com
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- Chateau d'Yquem 2016WS94DEC97JD99JS99WA98$428.98Availability:In Stock
99 Points! The 2016 Chateau D’Yquem is pure magic and dessert wines don’t get much better. Offering a pale gold color as well as a blockbuster bouquet of honeyed tangerines, tart apricots, liquid rocks, white flowers, and honeysuckle, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, an opulent texture, vibrant acidity, and again, an incredible sense of minerality, despite having no shortage of sweetness or richness. The 2016 is a classic blend of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon that hit 14.2% alcohol with 135 grams of residual sugar. It’s already complex and approachable yet will keep for 3-4 decades. - Jeb Dunnuck
99 Points! A very classic Yquem. Breathtakingly wide spectrum of floral honey, exotic fruit (passion fruit, mango and pineapple), caramel and marzipan aromas. But none of this is a jot too much. In fact, the wine is extremely precise and finely nuanced. Wonderful freshness and textural complexity, in spite of the considerable concentration and extravagance. Very suave and sensual finish that goes on and on. - James Suckling
98 Points! Containing 135 grams per liter of residual sugar, the pale lemon-gold colored 2016 d'Yquem leaps from the glass with honeyed apricots, pineapple, green mango, crushed rocks, candied ginger, coriander seed and citrus peel with hints of orange blossom. The palate is very tightly wound, vibrant and refreshing with layer upon layer of minerals and spices, finishing with epic poise and persistence. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Learn More - Coutet Sauternes (Barsac) 2021 Pre-ArrivalJS95-96WA93VM93-95$44.98Availability:In Stock
95-96 Points! Fantastic energy and length to this young Sauternes, with dried-apple, apple-pie, spice and cinnamon character . Medium body, medium sweetness and a vibrant finish. - James Suckling
93-95 Points! The 2021 Coutet needs time to cohere in the glass, eventually offering scents of dried honey, pressed flowers and quince. It just needs a little more pizzazz. The palate is well balanced with fine acidity and good weight and tension, showing the energy that is slightly lacking on the nose at the moment. Maybe it could benefit from more unctuousness on the finish, but this remains an enjoyable Barsac that will gain complexity with bottle age. - Neal Martin, Vinous Media
Learn MoreHURRY, ONLY 12 LEFT! - La Mission Haut Brion Blanc Pessac Leognan 2015JD95JS98WA94+VM95$659.98Availability:In Stock95 Points! The 2015 La Mission Haut Brion Blanc is a Sémillon dominated white (there’s roughly 33% Sauvignon Blanc) from this team and it’s a ripe, opulent effort that gives up smokin’ good notes of orange blossom, citrus oil, and white peach. Rich, unctuous, and loaded with character, this full-bodied beauty fills the mouth with fruit, yet has bright minerality and acidity keeping it fresh and lively. It’s going to keep for two decades. - Jeb Dunnuck, jebdunnuck.comLearn MoreHURRY, ONLY 9 LEFT!
- La Mission Haut Brion Blanc Pessac Leognan 2014WS95WE97JD96JS99$674.98Availability:In Stock99 Points! So much lemon, pineapple and green-papaya aromas here. Stones and salt block, too. Full-bodied, dense and layered with a creamy and layered mouthfeel. Powerful and agile at the same time. Exceptional. Rivals the 100-point 2011 La Mission. Drink if you can find it! February 13, 2017 - James SucklingLearn More