Best Buys $10 And Under

"This Dalwhinnie is one of the best-selling Classic Malts of Scotland. The aroma of this single Highland malt shows hints of heather and peat smoke. The mild, fruity-sweet taste leads on to an excellent long finish." (Whisky.com) - Elegant and Floral -

Embraced for its distinctive apple flavor and softness, this versatile spirit adds panache to fine cuisine and creative cocktails. A perfect complement for poultry or pork recipes, the spirit also enhances apple and pear desserts, Enjoy alone or with ginger ale or tonic on the rocks, this fine spirit is sure to add a delicious new twist to your classic cocktail.

One of the best known sherry bombs, the Aberlour A'bunadh. From Gaelic, a'bunadh means "(of) the origin", or "the original", and is meant to honor an earlier style of whisky making at the Speyside distillery Aberlour. Bottled at cask strength, slowly matured in rare Oloroso sherry butts, this malt is full of rich, smooth, complex flavors. 60.7%abv - Rich Fruit and Spice -
"Brave the cask-strength heat and be rewarded by a malt that's welcoming and complex. Sherry and cherry dominate at first, but a cereal-granola-honey quality and a licorice note flirt from behind the curtain. The essential candy element returns on the finish." Wine Spectator

Organic / Natural

Grapes: Gruner Veltliner, Welschriesling, Muller-Thurgau

"It's a wine made in a very classical way, with no maceration, just gentle press and then some time in tanks. The idea here is to have wine that you can drink with literally everyone, be they natural wine fans or haters." -Nestarec

ELABORATION OF THE CELEBRATION VINTAGE
Grapes exclusively coming from the property and from a single year.
Home-made and single distillation, grape variety by grape variety.
The only Armagnac House coopering its own casks, from Gascony oak, to ensure the finest maturing process.
Complete traceability of the eaux-de-vie.
The blend differs from a year to another.
A unique range selection of rare vintages that are aged 15 to 50 years old.

CAN

Ardbeg Ten Years Old is widely regarded as a classic of the peaty, smoky style. Yet the complexity of the 10yr insures that the peat does not overwhelm, but rather gives way to the natural sweetness of the malt to produce a whisky of perfect balance. Named World Whisky of the Year in 2008. 46% abv - Peat and Fruit -


"Straw-gold color. On the nose, sweet toffee, citrus notes, seaweed, and spice complement a powerful peat smoke infusion. In body, it is thick and oily. On the palate, a somewhat sweet maltiness up front is run over by a powerful peat smoke locomotive. Again, the whisky is enriched with citrus and pear notes, spice, and seaweed. The finish is powerful, long, and warming. The smoke lingers for minutes, if not hours." 93 pts Whisky Advocate

Highlands, Scotland- 21 years of aging has added dignity to Aberfeldy's distinctive heather honey softness. The taste lingers like a fine liqueur with its long, dry finish enhanced by notes of mature Seville oranges, spices, vanilla and sandalwood. Sip and savor this exclusive whisky.

The 2022 Chassagne-Montrachet Village is matured in 20% new oak. It has a generous bouquet with orchard fruit touches of almond and patisserie. It will require a couple of years to absorb the oak. The palate is well-balanced with a fine bead of acidity countering the richness though it needs to muster a little more complexity on the finish. - Vinous

98 pts Wine Advocate
The 2018 La Conseillante is composed of 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc, with a 3.65 pH and 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a lot of swirling and coaxing to lure out the youthfully shy, incredible perfume of black raspberries, boysenberries, ripe plums and cinnamon toast, leading to notions of lilacs, clove oil and forest floor, plus a waft of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is a jaw-dropping exercise in finesse, slowly unfurling in the mouth to reveal layer upon layer of bright, crunchy red and black fruits, supported by a rock-solid frame of firm, fine-grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and with an impressive mineral and exotic spice firework display. It's an incredible expression of Pomerol that cannot fail to inspire a resounding 'WOW' from whoever is fortunate to drink it. Tempting to broach now (albeit with a lot of air), try to keep your hands off it for a good 5 years and then drink it over the next 30 years or more. (LPB)

98 pts Vinous
The 2018 La Conseillante is a regal and utterly exquisite Pomerol from the very first taste. Technical Director Marielle Cazaux and her team turned out a jewel of a wine. Silky tannins and lifted, precise aromatics make a strong first impression. Inky dark fruit, pain grill??, lavender, spice, menthol and a kiss of new French oak all flesh out over time. More than anything else, what comes through is the new emphasis at La Conseillante on freshness and verve. The 2018 is a Pomerol of tremendous precision. It is, in a word: dynamite! (AG)

97+ pts Jeb Dunnuck
A beautiful expression of this terroir, which always seems to yield a more elegant, complex style of wine, the 2018 Ch??teau La Conseillante is based on 83% Merlot and 17% Cabernet Franc that saw 70% new French oak. A brilliant perfume of blueberries, currants, spring flowers, violets, and graphite gives way to a medium to full-bodied Pomerol with flawless balance, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. It closes down rather quickly with time in the glass (I followed the bottle for multiple days), and it isn't for the instant gratification crowd, but it's unquestionably a gorgeous Pomerol. Give bottles a solid 8-10 years of bottle age, and it's going to evolve for 25-30 years in cold cellars.

100 pts James Suckling
This is really muscular and really powerful. It is amazing. Full-bodied, yet tight and super structured with incredible power and super toned tannins. It goes on for minutes. The greatest Barbaresco ever from here? I love the strength with fruit finesse. I don?????t remember tasting a young Asili like this. Give this a lot of time to come together. One for the cellar. Try after 2026.

97+ points Wine Advocate
Packaged in its distinctive red label, the 2016 Barbaresco Riserva Asili is a rich and profound wine with incredible depth and dimension. Bruna Giacosa skipped over the 2015 vintage because she felt that the fruit was not poised for long aging. From the 2014 vintage, we jump to this 2016 expression, a wine that Bruna says reminds her of the epic 2001 and 2004 vintages. She also loves the 2017 vintage, which I look forward to tasting next year. This wine is incredibly precise and sharp; however, the volume and generous fruit weight promises a long aging future. The aromas veer toward red berry, cherry and cassis, and the darker black fruit tones that you might expect are less prominent in the Asili. The wine majestically captures the elegance and the power of this iconic vintage.

Winery Notes:
"Dare you uncork the art of seduction? Dare you succumb to the temptation of a cab so luxurious, rich, and seductive it would make even Casanova blush? Welcome to the world of Menage a Trois Decadence. Here, inhibitions disappear as we indulge your passions and arouse your senses with kisses of exotic dark chocolate and the flavors and aromas of goose-bump-giving black cherry and blackberry. Then, they all mingle with lavish vanilla spice on your palate before climaxing into a smooth, exquisite finish - leaving you forever wanting more. So, we ask again, dare you desire Decadence?"

Tasting Notes:
Dark fruits, hints of dried herbs and mocha on the nose. The dense palate see's sour red fruits balance out the sweet with a chocolate tannin finish. A fine choice for discerning gent.

Organic

"This Pinot Noir has aromas of strawberry, raspberry and cola accented with hints of oak spice and vanilla. In the mouth, this wine is rich with nice soft tannins and flavors of berries, vanilla and spice that fade into a lovely long finish." Winemaker notes

Sourced from Mendocino County appellation, this cool coastal region has a longer growing season, thus creating a bright, fruit forward Pinot Noir. After harvest, the fruit was gently de-stemmed and moved to small open-top fermenters for a three-day cold soak. It was then inoculated with select yeast strains for fermentation. The cap was punched down 2-3 times daily to reach the desired color and level of phenols. After a gentle pressing in a basket press, the wine was settled and transferred to French oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in French oak for nine months and then fined with organic egg whites prior to bottling.

"Firm, fresh and complex, with an array of glazed apricot, ginger, maple and cream flavors. Features notes of truffle and mineral on the crisp finish. Drink now. 200 cases imported." Wine Spectator

"The effusively fruity, light bodied Pink offers terrific floral notes, persistent effervescence and a clean, delicate finish. There is perfect body and weight in this crystal clean and pure sparkling wine. It’s an ideal aperitif to enjoy any day of the year. It’s simply amazing!" - Riondo

"This has a pale salmon color and aromas like those of Pinot Noir, including the walk-in-the-forest smell. Crisp cherry flavors lead to an intriguing mushroom note on the finish. Nearly dry, the texture is plush and soothing, while the finish is soft and lingering." 90pts WE #55 Best Buy

Rich and intense, with complex pear, ginger and spicy apple scents. Turns rich and fruity on the palate. - WS88

Winemaker Notes:
Deep garnet red color. An expressive nose shows red fresh fruits like plums and cherries, accompanied by soft, delicious vanilla and tobacco notes. On the palate it is fresh, with ripe, soft tannins leading a pleasant, slightly sweet finish.

A delightful sparkling wine built exclusively from Chardonnay (younger vines of 20 years of age) harvested from parcels in the village of Serrières on the border with Pierreclos. The vineyards are west facing and are planted to sandy soils. Only 6,000 bottles are produced annually. Depending on vintage conditions, the malolactic fermentation is sometimes blocked in order to maintain the proper high level of acidity. The dosage is minimal so as to produce a bone-dry, brightly effervescent cuvée.

#19 On The Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines Of 2024!

95 points Wine Spectator
Strawberry, raspberry and cherry aromas and flavors are beautifully displayed in this charming version, with loam, tobacco and herbs adding detail while the aftertaste goes on and on. Shows balance and formidable length. Best from 2026 through 2042.

A fresh, dry, mineral-driven wine produced exclusively from the Erbaluce grape. As are all the grapes in the Ferrando lineup, the Erbaluce is hand-harvested. Harvest usually occurs in late September. This cuvée is fermented and aged in stainless steel. The vineyards are situated in and around the village of Caluso in the heart of the Canavese district known for its many lakes and the hillside vineyards which overlook them.

70% Carricante and 30% Catarratto

12% abv

93 points Wine Advocate
Packaged with its distinctive black label, the Mastroberardino 2018 Taurasi Radici offers impressive complexity with a long succession of aromas that includes dried blackberry, cherry liqueur, tarry smoke, campfire ash, sweet baking spice and cinnamon. The bouquet is also heavy on bramble, rosemary sprig and forest floor. It is all smoothed out by soft tobacco. This wine shows robust fruit weight and equally balanced oak spice. The tannins are well managed and Radici is long in persistency.

Cabernet Sauvignon (67%), Merlot (27%), Cabernet Franc (4%), Petit Verdot (2%).

The second wine of Château Peyrabon. Notes of both black and red fruits.

A bright acidity and spicy notes on the finish

92 points Tim Atkin
It's light and we don't know why after such a dry summer," says Bertrand Sourdais of his Tinto Fino from 771 different parcels in San Esteban de Gormaz. Juicy, floral, refined and well balanced, it combines subtle wood spices, bramble, plum and blueberry flavours and sculpted tannins. 2024-29

100% Unfiltered Viognier. Skin fermented to complete dryness. 95% of 2023 vintage aged in concrete eggs & neutral oak barrels. 5% of 2022 vintage with 14 months of lees aging in neutral French barrels. A bouquet of tangerine, peach and honeysuckle greets the nose. The palate is crisp, full and dry with flavors of green mango, dried apricot and wet stone. The finish is fresh and lively with balanced undernotes of beeswax and baby pineapple. Enjoy chilled.

Perfect conditions from the start of the growing season to its finish. Winter will be remembered as the 10th wettest season on record in Napa with consistent rain that got us out of the extreme drought and with surprisingly no floods. Spring was poetic leading to a mild summer with no heatwaves whatsoever. Harvest was a month behind compared to the past few years. The slow ripening helped the grapes reach a potential that we?€?ll be talking about likely for decades to come.

Oak Knoll District of Napa Valley: a micro-climate moderated by San Pablo Bay and the Pacific Ocean, both keeping the vineyard cooler than other valley?€?s vineyards. Clay soil with a high-water table, and warm Californian sun allow our viognier grapes to gradually develop, producing an aromatic, complex and elegant gem.