Weingut Fidesser
 

“Siblings Rudi and Sophie Fidesser come from 700 years of winemaking in Platt, a tiny village in the Weinviertel, just a stone’s throw from the Czechia border, surrounded by hundreds of hectares of farmland. Weinviertel is Austria’s biggest growing region and over half of the Grüner Veltliner grown in Austria is planted here. It’s bordered by the more famous regions of Lower Austria (Wachau, Kamptal, Kremstal) in the south, Czechia and Slovakia to the north and east respectively, and the Waldviertel (cooling forests) to the west.
 
“Rudi and Sophie’s parents grew up in farming and winemaking and were the first to become certified organic in 1993. They have a modest 18 hectares planted to vines and another 90 for grains and open farmland, and after many years of working their land organically, they converted fully to biodynamics in 2014. While they don’t raise any cattle on their farm, they do trade grains with a neighbor in exchange for cow manure for the vines. They also sell grains to winemaking friends who happen to brew beer, trying to keep a little bit of their good work within their wine community” -Delicious Wines, Importer

Fidesser ‘Platter’ Gruner Veltliner, Weinviertel DAC 2022 750ml $18 special, 12 bottles available
Fidesser Platter Zweigelt, Niederosterreich, Austria 2022 750ml $18 special, 12 bottles available
 
 
Germany
 

 
The first time I told my Aunt and Uncle, both longtime wine drinkers, about an Orange wine that I had recently enjoyed, they responded with equal parts curiosity and horror, “What kind of oranges do they use to make wine?”
 
While Orange wines represent an ancient form of winemaking (at least 5,000 years in Georgia, where they are known as “Amber wines”) they have lagged behind other styles in terms of recognition until recently.
 
With a mix of floral and fruit flavors, coupled with bristling acidity, this wine is a perfect introduction for people new to the style.
 
Muller Ruprecht Orange, Pfalz 2024 750ml $18 special, 24 bottles available
Importer Notes “The Orange in 2023 is Huxelrebe, Gewürztraminer and Chardonnay with 10 days contact with the skins, aged in large used wooden barrel. No Filtration or fining–it is intentially cloudy with yeast which gives a little texture to the very low alcohol wines (just 10.5%!).”
 

 
Emrich-Schonleber Monzinger Halenberg Riesling Grosses Gewachs, Nahe 2023 750ml $119 special, 6 bottles available
Stuart Piggott- JamesSuckling.com 98 Points “The gigantic smoky and crushed rock nose of this astonishing dry riesling is an announcement of intent and determination. Incredibly complex candied and fresh citrus fruit slowly emerges from within this masterpiece, but the whole composition never changes its fundamental shape or direction. Either you’re strong enough for this radical wine, or it’s stronger than you. Drink from release.”
 
Emrich-Schonleber Fruhtau Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2023 750ml $44.50 special, 12 bottles available
Stuart Piggott- JamesSuckling.com 94 Points “Complex and expressive, but also packed with a wide spectrum of citrus fruit and just a touch of papayas. This emphatically dry Nahe riesling is concentrated and focused, with terrific stony and dried herb complexity in the long, compact finish. Drink or hold.”
 
Emrich-Schonleber Halgans Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2023 750ml $49.95 special, 12 bottles available
Stuart Piggott- JamesSuckling.com  95 Points “Fabulous interplay of refined peachy fruit and racy acidity. Compact, concentrated and extremely minerally on the medium-bodied palate, the wine expanding as it shoots over your palate with the brightness of a lightning strike. Drink or hold.”
 
Emrich-Schonleber Neiderberg Riesling Kabinett, Nahe 2023 750ml $44.50 special, 12 bottles available
Stuart Piggott- JamesSuckling.com 95 Points “The aroma of this wine is like a beautifully ripe white peach, but its freshness is closer to that of an Amalfi lemon. Very crystalline and pure, with terrific mineral acidity that drives it over the medium-bodied palate at a very brisk clip. I love the zestiness and succulence at the bold and subtle finish. Drink or hold.“
 
Emrich-Schonleber Estate Riesling Trocken, Nahe 2023 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles available
Stuart Piggott- JamesSuckling.com 92 Points “Still very youthful with plenty of leesy character and a touch of flint, this is very mineral for an entry-level dry riesling. A wide spectrum of red-apple, white-peach and mandarin-orange aromas on the sleek, medium-bodied palate. With aeration some floral nuances develop. Long, focused, stony finish. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”
 

 
Very rare! Donnhoff extends the same level of excellence to their sparkling wines as their still Rieslings, making this an incomparable, stand-out. We get so little of this wonderful wine each year and it’s a steal for the price.
 Staff Pick  Donnhoff Riesling Sekt Brut, Nahe 2019 750ml $59 special, 6 bottles available
 

This is the only listing in the USA!

 
Donnhoff Norheimer Kirschheck Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2023 750ml $39 special, 24 bottles available
James Suckling 96 Points “Very juicy and very animating, this is a beautiful riesling Spätlese that’s light years removed from the cliches for this category. I love the delicacy of this very concentrated, yet light-footed wine that delights and fascinates as it dances its way over your palate and off into the distance. Drink or hold.”
 
Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Spatlese, Nahe 2023 1.5L $145 special, 3 magnums available
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 97 Points “The 2023 Riesling Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Spätlese, grown on shale, has equal notions of moss and lemon. More air makes this smell simply of wet stone. The palate carries gentle sweetness but is absolutely precise and slender. Citrus frames everything with the clearest precision. Everything is serene, zesty, tender, yet so very serious. The 2023 is glorious in its lightness and disarming in its elegance. (Sweet) (Drink between 2034-2070).”
 
Donnhoff Niederhauser Hermannshohle Riesling Auslese Goldkapsel, Nahe 2023 750ml $69 special, 6 half-bottles available
Anne Krebiehl MW-Vinous 96 Points “The 2023 Riesling Niederhäuser Hermannshöhle Auslese was selected at the same time as the Spätlese. Dönnhoff says that for him, Auslese is merely a more concentrated Spätlese. He notes that passerillage also plays a part here. Slight smoke and Reine Claude plum compote on the nose continue straight to the palate, edged with beautiful lemon brightness. The 2023 shows gorgeous depth, deep lemon and gentle sweetness. A touch of herbal tisane adds a minty edge, exquisitely light, precise and sweet. This wine is a paradigm of lightness and elegance. (Sweet).”
 
 
France
 

 
Thanks to its unique history (aka being handed back and forth from Germany to France no less than 4 times in under a hundred years) Alsace has always been trapped between two styles.
 
Since 2005 when she took over daily operations of her family’s winery, Agathe Bursin has brought a Burgundian level of finesse and precision to the 5.5 Hectare estate. Westhalten, in the south of Alsace is home to such Grand Cru vineyards as Zinnkoepflé, where “the terroir markers are peonies, verbena and menthols as well as liquorice. The wines have a natural vanilla-hint and present a slightly smoky, salty and progressively delectable side” according to Vinsalsace.com.
 
These are balanced vivacious wines with excellent lift and fantastic length. When exploring her wines, think of the fullness and richness of varietals like Riesling and Pinot Blanc paired with the elegance of Burgundy.
 
Agathe Bursin Pinot Blanc Parad’Aux, Alsace 2022 750ml $26 special, 12 bottles available
Anne Krebiel- Vinous “The 2022 Pinot Blanc Parad-Aux is half Pinot Blanc, half Auxerrois, from two parcels on calcareous marl, harvested on the same day, co-pressed and cofermented. The nose smells of damp earth and opens into gently ripe Reine Claude plum fruit on the palate. This is light, rounded, smooth, and dry.”
 
Agathe Bursin Riesling Bollenberg, Alsace 2023 750ml $28 special, 12 bottles available
(not reviewed yet, 2022 vintage review provided for reference)
Anne Krebiel- Vinous “The 2022 Riesling Bollenberg is from parcels that face east on Jurassic oolitic limestone. Crushed lemon balm and spruce needles rise from the glass before chalk and apple appear. The palate is light-footed, bright, almost skipping along with freshness, highlighted with the scent of balm and spruce. The finish is clean-cut, chalky and bright with just a touch of yogurt. (Bone-Dry)”
 
Agathe Bursin Riesling Zinnkoepfle, Alsace Grand Cru 2023 750ml $49 special, 12 bottles available
(not reviewed yet, 2022 vintage review provided for reference)
Anne Krebiel- Vinous “The 2022 Riesling Zinnkoepe Grand Cru opens with a tender scent that unites petrichor and iron oxide. The palate is light, dancing on tip-toe along lemon juice and zest, bathing everything with exquisite limestone coolness in this hot year. There is ripe Mirabelle fruit at the core but enclosed in total freshness for now. Wait for it to appear. What a cool, poised wine, so translucent, fresh and stony. This sings with coolness and freshness. (BoneDry)”
 

 
Pascal Doquet ‘Arpege’ Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru Brut, Champagne NV 750ml $66 special, 5 bottles available
Kristaps Karklins-Wine Advocate 91 Points “Disgorged in December 2023 without dosage, Doquet’s NV Blanc de Blancs Arpège untites the flesh and texture of the clayey sites in Vertus with the mineral profile of Le Mont-Aimé and Villeneuve. With two-thirds of reserve wines dating back to 2012 and the remaining 33% from the 2019 vintage, it soars from the glass with scents of jasmine, grapefruit, nectarine and plums. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied with a compact and taut profile, elegant mousse, incisive acidity and a long, penetrating finish. Vinified in used oak barrels (one-third) and enameled steel. It’s the most chiseled of the three non-vintage blends.”
Importer’s Notes “The Chardonnay for Arpège comes from Vertus, Villeneuve and Mont Aimé—the grapes that are not in the Coeur de Terroir series. There is substantial reserve wine in the blend, preserved in enamel tanks to maintain freshness. Aromas of spice, black tea and pear dominate the flinty-silex soils from the Mont Aimé and lend smokiness and depth to the structure.”
 
 
Italy
 
Il Marroneto Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, Tuscany 2019 750ml $119 special, 11 bottles available
Monica Larner-Wine Advocate 97 Points “Alessandro Mori’s wines are easy to spot in a blind tasting thanks to the soaring intensity and vibrant Sangiovese aromas they display. They are truly one of a kind. A wine that sees a relatively short and hot fermentation, the Il Marroneto 2019 Brunello di Montalcino respects local winemaking tradition and remains true in spirit. The steep verticality of the bouquet evokes almost-carbonic or lifted aromas of bright cherry, strawberry shortcake, lilac and heritage rose. You get straight to the heart of Sangiovese. The tannins are extremely fine and powdery and the freshness of the fruit is beautifully intact. This wine really pops in 2019. Drink: 2025-2048.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “The bright ruby 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is another stunning 2019 on the nose, with bright, intense aromatics of rosewater, redcurrants, wild Mediterranean herbs, macchia, incense, anise, potpourri – it’s so distinctive yet always moving in the glass. Medium-bodied, with beautiful purity, it has ripe, fine tannins, is long on the palate for days, and has a weightless feel. This impeccable wine is phenomenal now, but it’s only going to improve over the coming 15-20 years. Drink: 2024-2044.”
 

 

 
Arnaud Lambert ‘Breze’ Saumur Rouge Clos Mazurique, Loire 2022 750ml $21.90 special, 24 bottles available
Importer Note “There are few wines in the world that carry this level of class, sophistication and low price. Straight out of the gates this Cabernet Franc overflows with perfumes of red and dark cherry, persian mulberry, persimmon, mandarin orange, strongly-scented red and white flowers, gravel, wet forest and minerals. Yes, this little guy is extremely complex!”
 
Lambert Chateau De Breze Cremant Rose, Loire  NV 750ml $21.90 special, 26 bottles available
Winery Note “100% Cabernet Franc.”
Becky Wasserman Note “Vine Age: Planted in 1981. Terroir: Lower part of the Clos du Midi, silty sand soil on 1 meter of soft Turonian limestone bedrock. Viticulture: Organic (certified). Vinification: Indigenous yeast fermentation, traditional Champagne method. Aged for 24 months.”

 

The Rhône to Perfection
 
Southern Rhône Edition

 
Saint Cosme Gigondas Hominis Fides Rouge 2020 750ml $128 special, 7 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97-100 Points “At the moment, the 2020 Gigondas Hominis Fides looks to be the standout of the three single vineyards, although all three are beautiful wines in the making. It certainly offers the most power and concentration, with lots of ground pepper, Provençal garrigue, violets, and loamy soils notes, as well as a darker cassis and berry-driven core of fruit. It builds beautifully on the palate, with ample structure, incredible balance, and a great, great finish.”
 
Pegau Chateauneuf De Pape Cuvee Reservee 2021 750ml $79 special, 10 bottles available
Stuart Pigott-James Suckling 95 Points “This has so much power and meaty depth for the 2021 vintage, also stacks of healthy tannins that give it great intensity at the very long and complete finish. It’s packed with licorice, tar and stony character that makes it hard to pull yourself away from its compelling hold. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.”
 
Raymond Usseglio Chateauneuf Du Pape Imperiale 2020 750ml $69 special, 10 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 96-98 Points “Tasted from the concrete tank, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale is reassuringly on form, with intricate herbal nuances overlaid on ripe purple raspberries and black cherries. Full-bodied, silky and plush, with soft tannins cushioning the lengthy finish, this should be a real beauty to enjoy over the course of two decades.”
 
Grand Veneur Chateauneuf Vieilles Vignes 2017 750ml $75 special, 12 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97+ Points “The 2017 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is a bigger, richer, more opulent wine. Beautiful notes of blackcurrants, scorched earth, graphite, and crushed violets, all flow to a full-bodied, Châteauneuf Du Pape that has a voluptuous, sexy texture, brilliant depth of fruit, fine tannins, and a purity of fruit that’s hard to find in this vintage. It’s a thrill a minute, and while it’s approachable today, it will keep for 15-20 years.”
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 97 Points “Another fine showing, from a wine that has seemingly yet to go through a closed phase, the 2017 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes—45% each Grenache and Mourvèdre, plus 10% Syrah—exudes scents of chocolate, mocha and dark fruit. Full-bodied, concentrated and velvety in the mouth, it’s nonetheless deceptively easy to drink, finishing long and mouthwatering.”
 
Chateau Beaucastel Chateauneuf Du Pape 2021 750ml $95 special, 17 bottles available
Decanter 96 Points “A deep, quite herbal expression, with liquorice and crushed blueberries to the cassis fruit. Full-bodied, powerfully fruited, dense and deep. Really mouthcoating, intense fruit. The tannins are ripe, fine and plentiful, all saturated in blackberry juice on a long finish. Certainly one of the more successful Châteauneufs this year. Will age well. A Mourvèdre-led expression of Beaucastel – it contains more than usual, at least 35% and probably more. Grenache and Cinsault fermented in cement, Syrah and Mourvèdre fermented in foudre.”

 
Italy
 

 

“The land is our origin, the beginning of everything. It is the most important thing we have.” -Michele Reverdito.
 
Established in 2000 by brother and sister team Michele and Sabina Reverdito, La Morra’s Reverdito Winery is a founding member of the Piedmont Green Experience project. As one of over 70 members of the project, they are dedicated to organic, eco-friendly practices in their cru holdings in La Morra, Serralunga, and Monforte, as well as well as the commune of Verduno. Their respect for the land shows in every bottle they produce and has put them on the map as one of Piedmont’s fastest rising stars.
 
Estelle Imports notes that “With Dante Scaglione (former winemaker for Bruno Giacosa) now leading the Reverdito team, Reverdito Barolo has gained elegance. In future vintages, we’ll be seeing price increases as the demand for the wine expands.”
  
 HOT DEAL  Michele Reverdito Barolo 2019 750ml $36 special, 12 bottles available
Winery Notes “Garnet red with orange highlights, bouquet of woodland and aromatic herbs, slightly spicy. Full and balanced on the palate, with fine complex tannins.”

 
 
France
 

 
Jean-Marc represents the fourth generation of the Pillot family to cultivate vineyards in Chassagne-Montrachet.  Joining his father, Jean, in the mid-eighties, he learned the craft of winemaking and assumed leadership of the family domaine in 1991, alongside his wife, Nadine, and sister, Beatrice.
 
Jean-Marc Pillot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2022 750ml $499 special, only 1 bottle available
Burghound “Once again the wood treatment is discreet on the cooler nose of Granny Smith apples, citrus rind, petrol and crushed fennel nuances. The rich, round and almost chewy larger-bodied flavors exude evident minerality on the bitter lemon-tinged finale that displays excellent length where the wood flashed by the nose resurfaces.”
 
Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne Montrachet 2022 750ml $79 special, 6 bottles available
Burghound “Here too there is plenty of petrol character suffusing the ripe and equally fresh aromas of rosemary oil, essence of pear and lemon rind. The generously proportioned and nicely vibrant medium weight flavors also conclude in a clean, dry and mildly rustic finale that is equally firm so some patience is in order.”

Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne Morgeot Fairendes 2022 750ml $119 special, 3 bottles available
Burghound 91-94 Points “Here too there is a mentholated character present on the markedly more floral-suffused nose of mostly white orchard fruit scents, all of which is trimmed in enough wood influence to point out. The very generously proportioned big-bodied flavors are blessed with plenty of sappy dry extract that imparts a seductive texture to the impressively powerful, serious, long and built-to-age finale. This won’t wow you with its finesse but if full-bodied whites appeal to you, this would make for a quality choice.”
 
Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne Les Macherelles 1er 2022 750ml $119 special, 4 bottles available
Burghound 90-93 Points “Firm reduction dominates the underlying fruit today. On the palate there is more volume but noticeably less minerality suffusing the clean, dry and moderately austere finale that possesses better depth. This balanced effort has the potential to repay up to a decade of keeping and is worth considering. (Drink starting 2030).”
 
Jean-Marc Pillot Chassagne Mes Vieilles Vignes 2020 750ml $41.90 special, 6 bottles available
Burghound “Exuberantly fresh aromas include those of various red berries, pepper and earth. The rich, generously proportioned and delicious medium weight flavors possess a supple palate impression before terminating in a firm and moderately rustic finale. At least some patience suggested.”
 
Jean-Marc Pillot Puligny Montrachet Les Noyers 2022 750ml $94.50 special, 4 bottles available
Burghound “Prominent petrol character is present on the ripe and fresh aromas of mostly citrus confit and white peach. The succulent, round and delicious middle weight flavors possess a lovely sense of underlying tension on the clean, dry, youthfully austere and ever-so-slightly rustic finale. This is firm enough to suggest that it’s going to need at least 6 to 10 years of keeping before it’s fully ready for prime-time drinking.”
 
Jean-Marc Pillot Rouge Les Grandes Terres 2021 750ml $39 special, 6 bottles available
Importer’s Note “Jean-Marc owns a parcel Pinot Noir in the village of Remigny, just south of Chassagne-Montrachet, and produces an exemplary Bourgogne Rouge from his 65-year-old vines there. Given a proper 12-month élévage in used barrels, this Bourgogne is succulent and exuberant, with wild berry fruit, energetic tannins and an overall impression of vibrant silkiness.”

 
 

 

Bugey Cerdon is one of the world’s most delightful wines. Bubbly, toasty, and sweet (like a fresh berry, not in a sugary or cloying way), this low ABV sparkler is like a leisurely springtime walk in your best pair of comfy shoes. Produced in the ancestral method, this is softer than Champagne: less nervy, more supple. It’s the strawberry to Champagne’s Lemonaide.
 
Renardat Fache Cerdon Du Bugey 2023 750ml $27 special, 11 bottles available
Kerry Winslow- Grapelive 92 Points “Made by a small family winery that is now on to their 18th generation, the Renardat-Fâche’s Cerdon Rosé from the Bugey region between Lyon and Geneva, in the Jura’s remote hillsides is a wonderfully expressive disgorged Pet-Nat that is absolutely delicious with a zesty palate garden strawberries, red peach, blood orange and sour red cherries, along with a hint of yeasty brioche, red apple, mineral notes, delicate florals and wild herbs. Fresh and vibrant, with a little kiss of sweetness, this Méthode Ancestrale bubbly is a fun all organic quaffable wine of easy and tasty seriousness, but without pretense, great for any occasion. The Renadat-Fâche winery is based in the small village of Mérignat and they farm a mix of grapes on a clay and limestone terroir, which brings out the complexity of fruit in the wine. The bright ruby Cerdon Bugey Rosé Sparkling Wine is blessed with low alcohol, just about 8%, and it is made from a combination of Gamay Noir and Poulsard, following those ancient traditional techniques.”

 

 

In the sun baked hills of the Northern Rhône, Syrah is king. Earthy, tarry, and packed with baked cherry and roasted meat flavors, the wines from this region are structured, decadent, and ageable. Perfect wines to bring out of the cellar for large feasts and special celebrations.
 
Chapoutier Ermitage L’Ermite Rouge 2013 750ml $249 special, 8 bottles available
Wine Spectator 97 Points “Sleek, with mouthwatering flavors of red currant, raspberry and cherry preserves forming the core, while a dusting of cocoa, a snap of red licorice and a long, lingering iron spine complete the picture. Very pure and focused. The minerality wins out in the end. Best from 2019 through 2032. 29 cases imported. — JM”
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 96+ Points “More backwards, tight and structured than either the Méal or the Pavillon, the 2013 Ermitage l’Ermite was similarly completely destemmed and raised in a scant 30% new French oak. Inky purple/blue colored, it reluctantly yields incredibly mineral-laced notes of charcoal, liquid rock, cassis, black currants and graphite. While it’s less approachable than either of the two other Hermitages, it has fabulous density and depth, ripe tannin and incredible persistence on the finish. Hide these in the cellar for a decade, and enjoy over the following three to four decades.”
 
Domaine Clape Cornas 2016 750ml $189 special, 6 bottles available
James Suckling 98-99 Points “Many layers of aromas, complex and spicy with a fragrant array of dark brambly berries, dark plums, dark chocolate. Spices and peppers, as well as graphite-like stony notes. There’s a silky core to the palate with extreme power, all delivered so precisely that appear light and elegant. Sweet spiced-fruit flavors run long and bright, exploding in a spectacular spicy finish. Spends two winters in the cellar to deliver finesse in terms of tannins. Barrel sample.”
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “The 2016 Cornas is cut from the same cloth yet has slightly more density as well as structure. Crazy notes of incense, beef blood, plums, ground pepper, and blueberries all emerge from this perfumed, massively concentrated Cornas that has building tannins, a tight, chiseled mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. Hide bottles for 5-7 years and it will keep for 2+ decades.”
 
Courbis Cornas Les Eygats 2016 750ml $69 special, 10 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points “The 2016 Cornas Les Eygats is the gem in 2016 and has a fresh, focused, backward style that carries notes of crème de cassis, spring flowers, pepper, and crushed rocks. With full-bodied richness, good acidity, and impeccable balance, it’s a brilliant wine, but it’s going to need 2-3 years of bottle age to show its full potential.”
 
Delas Cote Rotie La Landonne 2019 1.5L $549 special, 2 magnums available
Decanter 97 Points “Immediately this has the darkness and aromatic austerity of La Landonne. Very full-bodied, expansive on the palate with mouthcoating flavour and tannin but not heavy. This is seriously tannic, but it’s not tough. Great character, great power and perfect balance. Alcohol is just a little raised, but this is a blockbuster. Around 3,000 bottles made. Fermented in open-top concrete tanks for 20 days, then matured in new and one-year-old barrels for 14 months. Drinking Window 2026 – 2035.”
 
Delas Hermitage Les Bessards 2019 750ml $219 special, 36+ bottles available
Delas Hermitage Les Bessards 2019 1.5L $449 special, 4 magnums available
Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points “My favorite release from this estate is consistently their Les Bessards Hermitage, and their 2019 is no exception. Coming from the western part and pure broken granite soils on the west side of this magical hill, it sports a dense purple hue to go with a brilliant perfume of cassis, graphite, scorched earth, burning embers, spring flowers, and peppery herbs. Incredibly complex, layered, and nuanced, with classic Hermitage characteristics, it still stays firmly planted in the ripe, sunny, sexy vintage. Full-bodied, concentrated, and structured on the palate, it has a wealth of tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. This is pure Hermitage magic that needs to be forgotten for 4-5 years and will evolve for 20-30 years in cold cellars. Hats off to the team at Delas for another incredible wine.”
 
Eric & Joel Durand Cornas Confidence 2019 750ml $59 special, 15 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Lastly, the 2019 Cornas Confidence is all Syrah that was 70% destemmed and spent 18 months in 30% new barrels. A classic wine from this estate, it brings tons of richness and depth in a pure, clean, quasi-modern style while still being pure Cornas to the core. Dark fruits, ground pepper, game, violets, and spice all give way to a full-bodied, wonderfully textured, balanced 2019 with the texture and balance to offer pleasure today yet also evolve for two decades.”
 
Domaine de Fondreche Divergente 2016 750ml $59 special, 38 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points “Reminding me of one of the Sélections Parcellaires Hermitage from Michel Chapoutier, the 2016 Ventoux Divergente is 90% Syrah and 10% Mourvèdre that was mostly destemmed and brought up in foudre. Crème de cassis, black raspberries, peppered meats, graphite, and liquid rock notes all flow to a fat, unctuous, sexy Syrah that has beautiful acidity, fine tannin, and a huge finish. It’s a true “Wow” wine that needs to be tasted to be believed. Put this in a blind lineup of top Hermitage and shock all your friends.”
 
Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2017 750ml $189 special, 19 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98 Points “The 2017 Hermitage La Chapelle comes from the firm’s vineyards on the western half of the Hermitage slope, primarily Le Méal, but with substantial contributions from Les Rocoules and Les Bessards. Classic notes of cassis, black olives, mocha and roasted meat are joined by hints of baking spices in a wine that’s full-bodied, deep, dense and rich, with a velvety texture and a lingering finish. It’s lower in alcohol than the 2018, less voluptuous and maybe just a step behind that monumental wine, but it’s still a serious collectible with three decades of evolution ahead of it.”
 
Jaboulet Hermitage La Chapelle 2019 750ml $199 special, 35 bottles available
Joe Czerwinski-Wine Advocate 98-100 Points “Might this be the next vintage of La Chapelle to crack triple digits? Knockout aromas of crushed stone, violets, blueberries, and cassis mark the nose of the 2019 Hermitage La Chapelle, while the full-bodied palate is undeniably more intense and powerful than the more elegant 2018. Rich and velvety, it coats the mouth with dark fruit and creamy-textured espresso, yet retains remarkable length and licorice-derived peppery freshness on the finish. Wow!”
 
Domaine Lionnet Cornas Terre Brulee 2019 750ml $69 special, 13 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck  96 Points “The 2019 Cornas Terre Brûlée showed brilliantly, with an exotic style in its darker fruits as well as notes of camphor, balsam wood, plums, and ground pepper. It has tons of minerality on the palate and is full-bodied, concentrated, and powerful, with enough tannins to warrant a solid 5-7 years of bottle age. It’s a beautiful, classic, impeccably made Cornas that will have two decades of longevity.”
 
Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie Cote Blonde 2016 750ml $249 special, only 1 left!
Jeb Dunnuck-Wine Advocate 98 Points “The 2016 Cote Rotie La Cote Blonde (from the lieu-dit of the same name—not a blend of sites) is a terrific effort. It blends the structure of la Viallière with the elegance of la Landonne, making it a truly complete and compelling bottle. Some mocha, black olive and meaty notes lend it a savory cast, while the palate is creamy and concentrated, firm but silky. It’s medium to full-bodied, with a fine, licorice-tinged finish that lingers a good long time. It should drink well for 20+ years.”
 
Rene Rostaing Cote Rotie La Landonne 2022 750ml $184.50 special, 4 bottles available
Jeb Dunnuck 95-97 Points “The 2022 Côte Rôtie La Landonne ratchets everything up a notch, offing a darker, meaty style in its smoked black fruits, raw steak, ground pepper, and graphite notes. It’s medium to full-bodied and has ripe, polished tannins and terrific overall balance.”