France

Kosher

Winemaker Notes:
A well structured Bordeaux with berry fruit and a touch of graphite on the nose. It's lovely and soft, with fresh fruit and a touch of spice on the palate, as well as excellent clarity. Medium bodied, smooth and well-balanced with fine tannins and a herbaceous note on the finish.

99 points Vinous
The 2019 Lynch Bages is every bit as magnificent from bottle as it was from barrel, if not moreso. What a wine! Towering and vertical in its bearing, the 2019 is a total stunner. There is plenty of Lynch Bages charm, but what distinguishes the 2019 most is its spine of tannin and energy. Time in the glass brings out sweet red cherry, plum, blood orange and pomegranate and mint. The 2019 is a great, great, great Lynch Bages. It reminds me of the epic 1989, but with the youthful grip of this vintage. A towering Pauillac, the 2019 Lynch Bages will make a great addition to any cellar. (Antonio Galloni)

Organic

A pure and elegant expression of Pinot Noir, En Coteaux by Jeff Carrel is named “coteaux” or hillside after the location of the vineyards, nestled in the slopes of the French Pyrenees Mountains. En Coteaux is 100% Pinot Noir from Pays d’Oc, Vin de Pays IGP region in the southern coast of France. Grown in coastal climate, cooled by sea and ocean winds. The wine is naturally fermented with no sulfites added. 12.5% abv

Third place finisher in our 2025 Wine Of The Year blind taste-off!

Organic / Biodynamic

A truly transporting wine with beautiful dark, spicy fruits, classic garrigue aromas and flavors of wild Provencale herbs. Would be an amazing pairing with roasted lamb or anything on the grill. Provence in a glass!

60% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 10% old vine Carignan and Mourvedre. Sixty acres of terraced vineyards surrounding the property. Average vine age is 30 years old. East-west exposure on northern slopes on clay-limestone. Biodynamically farmed, all grapes hand-harvested. Traditional vinification methods are used with indigenous yeasts and fermented in stainless steel. Aged in large foudres.

Nestled in the hills just below the spectacular perched village of Bonnieux, this idyllic property is run by Jean-Pierre and Martine Margan. The building is from the 17th century and has been inhabited ever since. Springing from the hill is a very strong fountain which supplies abundant amounts of water in even the driest years and the rolling hills behind the property are covered with grape vines, truffle oak trees and 200 year old cherry trees. The Margans know that they have something very special going, and their approach to viticulture reflects this. The sixty acres of terraced vineyards surrounding the property are farmed organically and biodynamically and the average age of the vines is over thirty years old. In the last few years, Canorgue’s wine has become incredibly popular in Europe, and this was only intensified when the region around this estate was made famous in Peter Mayle’s book A Year In Provence. They are undoubtedly at the top of their appellation and the quality level of the wines produced here can often rival those produced in the prestigious vineyards of the southern Rhone valley.

Domaine Clos des Rocs Macon-Loche En Pres Foret is characterized by floral and lemony notes on the nose, the attack is fresh supported by a balanced structure enriched with wall fruit aromas.

Organic

Organic / Natural

Some very stony and flinty aromas with graphite. Red and dark plums, too. Smells fresh and very complex already. The palate has great density and a fine, compressed tannin texture, as well as a very focused finish. Spiced black cherries and blackberries, cassis and dark chocolate to close. Short carbonic maceration and juice is racked off during the carbonic process. A captivatingly powerful but focused Morgon.

"Glorious aromas of freshly picked raspberries, with tiny hints of cream and minerals. Full-bodied, with superfine tannins and a long, long finish of berries and cherries. Super second wine from Margaux. Best Pavillon Rouge I have ever tasted. Best after 2010. 20,525 cases made." 94pts WS

In fascinating contrast to “Vaillon”, Defaix’s “Côte de Lechet” is a master class in mineral precision. This remarkably steep site (a 45% gradient) with very poor soil produces a wine that Danny describes as embodying “the real, true mineral expression of Chablis.” Freshly blasted chalk dominates the nose, with notes of lemon, honey, and fresh herbs lurking underneath; still, this is a wine of minerality first and foremost. The family owns a 3.5-hectare parcel of 45-year-old vines in this distinctive cru, most of which are planted within a parcel known as the Clos des Moines.

Organic / Biodynamic

Notes of lime, herbs and spring flowers preface the 2024 Vouvray Le Haut-Lieu Sec, a medium- to full-bodied, lively and incisive dry white with a chiseled palate framed by a delicate bitterness and a long, ethereal finish. This is a classic at this address that could gain roundness with time in the bottle. Residual sugar: 7.5 grams per liter.

Organic

96 points Wine Spectator
Hello. Take textbook St.-Julien warmed fig, blueberry compote and blackberry reduction notes along with ample graphite, bramble and tobacco flavors, then dial it up a notch. This has terrific energy to offset the admirable depth and length, and hasn't even started a second phase yet. One of the stars of the vintage.—Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2015). Best from 2018 through 2033. 20,000 cases made.

95+ points Wine Advocate
I found this to be one of the more backward wines of the 2000 vintage and gave it a window of maturity of 2015-2040 when I reviewed it in 2003. In my two recent tastings of it, I changed that window to 2018-2050, which probably says more than the following tasting note could say. This is a behemoth – dense, highly extracted, very tannic, broodingly backward, with a dense purple color and very little evolution since it was bottled 8 years ago. Wonderfully sweet cedar and fruitcake notes are intermixed with hints of creme de cassis, licorice, and earthy forest floor. It is full-bodied and tannic, with everything in place, but like so many wines that come from Leoville Barton, it makes a mockery of many modern-day consumers wanting a wine for immediate gratification. Those who bought it should continue to exercise patience and be proud to own a wonderful classic with five decades of longevity ahead of it. Drink Window 2018 - 2050 (6/10)

94 points Vinous
Full medium ruby. Knockout superripe nose combines black cherry, licorice and exotic spices. Compellingly sweet, lush and complete, with harmonious acids giving the wine lovely vinosity and extending the flavors. Finishes with lush, dusty tannins and superb persistence. A great vintage for Leoville Barton. (ST 5/03)

Organic / Biodynamic / Natural

Organic

94 points James Suckling
Very well structured, yet restrained and elegant with a cool and delicate personality for the warm vintage, this is a really striking Fleurie. I love the interplay of sour cherry fruit with fine tannins on the concentrated, yet sleek and focused palate. Slowly expands in the glass as it aerates. Very long, seriously elegant finish. Drink or hold.

93 points Wine Advocate
A particular success, the 2020 Fleurie Clos de la Chapelle des Bois wafts from the glass with aromas of sweet berries, cherries, rose petals, orange oil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and fine-boned, it's elegant and seamless, with bright acids and a long, saline finish.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
A single-vineyard wine, this is well balanced. It is full of juicy black fruits, with acidity and a solid backdrop. The taut texture indicates aging potential. Drink from 2024.

Château de la Chaize is one of the oldest, most historic estates in Burgundy's Beaujolais region. Boasting over 250 acres of land, it is also one of the largest. This stunning property – designated an Historic Monument in 1972 – was designed by Mansard, with gardens by Lenotre, designers of the Palace of Versailles, just outside of Paris.

Aromas of cherry, strawberry and a hint of toffee are present on the nose. In the mouth, the wine has a delicate floral and berry palate which is nuanced by supple oak and vanilla characteristics.

After strict pruning and a mid-season green harvest to control yields, the grapes are hand-picked in small boxes with hand-sorting at the vineyard and the winery to ensure only the finest grapes. Prefermentation cold maceration is followed by alcoholic fermentation at 82°F, with malolactic fermentation in barrels for 21 to 28 days. Aged 50% in three year old French oak barrels and 50% in steel tanks for 10–12 months.

With 18 wonderfully diverse appellations across the region, 12 of which are Premier and Grand crus, Bertagna is among the top ranking Domaines in Burgundy. A desire for perfection and emphasis on quality, coupled with significant investments in technology and vineyard management, result in some of the region’s most compelling wines.

Past vintages have been featured in The New York Times. Eric Asimov once wrote:

"Domaine du Bel Air, run by a father-and-son team, makes fine, age-worthy wines from organic cabernet franc. Jour de Soif is their entry-level bottle, made from younger vines, which are nonetheless still 20 years old. Yet this is no mere vin de soif. You can sense the structure of the other cuv??es in the fine tannins that give shape to this otherwise fresh and juicy wine. Not shy at 14.3 percent alcohol, it, too, would be great for grilled meats."

The 2023 Bourgueil Jour de Soif reveals a fruity, delicate bouquet of spices, dark wild berries, green bell pepper and pepper. Medium-bodied, gourmand and juicy, it has a delicate, tannic frame with powdery tannins and a long, mouthwatering finish. It is produced from vines that are planted in gravelly soils (60%) and in clay soils (40%). - Wine Advocate

Organic / Natural

Predominently grown on gravely clay-limestone on marl soils, these 30 year old vines are undergo selective harvesting at the end of August and beginning of September. Whole-clusters are macerated for four weeks in stainless steel followed by spontaneous fermentation that lasts four weeks with temperature control. Aged for five months before release.

The estate has its roots beginning in 1919 when Xavier Richard purchased the adjacent properties from his neighbors, but it wasn't until his son Jean Richard took over did they begin concentrating on wine. In fact, by 1947 the domaine cultivated a local reputation in the area for its wines and by 1976, Pierre Richard continued the family tradition extending the property to Mantry where a former hill of vines has been reclaimed. Situated in the heart of the Jura, between Seille River and Lons le Saunier, the soils are perfect for white wine making and the vineyard plots have names that reflect on their past uses: "Les Charmes", "La Croix du Gyps" ... etc. But the domaine is small, encompassing only 9 hectares between the communes of Le Vernois, Voiteur and Mantry. After studying viticulture and oenology at Beaune, taking jobs in vineyards of St. Emilion and Cotes de Provence, Vincent returned to take over the family domaine in 2009 and follows in a long tradition of organic practices in the making of his wines.

99 points Vinous
The 2022 La Gaffeliere is fantastic, but it has also closed down considerably post-bottling. Supremely elegant and perfumed, the 2022 is an absolutely stunning wine. Blood orange, pomegranate, spice, white pepper, dried herbs and all sorts of floral overtones soar from the glass. The Franc is so impressive here. I don't expect this magical Saint-Emilion to be ready any time soon. Today, it is a wine of dazzling complexity and purity for the cellar.

97 points James Suckling
This shows crushed stones, chalk, salt and blueberries. Violets. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s firm and crunchy with lovely and precise tannins that are long and focused. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. 10% whole-bunch fermentation.

97 points Wine Advocate
The 2022 La Gaffelière, one of the finest wines I’ve encountered at this address, is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Crafted primarily from the prime hillside vineyards beneath Ausone, this wine exudes violet, dark berries, licorice, cherries and smoke, with subtly integrated oak influences. It's medium to full-bodied, deep and powerful, with a multidimensional, fleshy core of fruit and youthful yet powdery tannins framed by a tense, energetic mid-palate, typical of the limestone soils. Concluding with a long, saline and complex finish that marries tension and charming to pleasing effect, it was matured for 19 months in 50% new barrels. Drinking Window: 2030-2042

Organic

In 1974, Jean Mourat founded Vignobles Mourat when he purchased Chateau Marie de Fou in Mareuil. Jean's son, Jeremie, took over J. Mourat in 2000, and has been working diligently to raise the profile of his region, the Fiefs Vendeens. Fiefs Vendeens is the westernmost region of the Loire Valley, only 20 km from the Atlantic Ocean and an hour south of Nantes. Because of its proximity to the ocean, the Atlantic is the dominant climactic influence, providing for cold, wet winters, cool and cloudy spring, and warm, humid, sunny summers. J. Mourat's vineyards are located on hillsides overlooking the Lay Valley grown on volcanic and schist soils. Since taking over in 2000, Jeremie has converted to organic farming and working naturally in the cellar while championing the traditions of this ancient winemaking region.

The J. Mourat Blanc Collection is a blend of 50% Chenin Blanc and 50% Chardonnay from 20 year old vines. The grapes are gently pressed, cold settled and the wine is fermented and aged all in stainless steel tanks. Light gold in color, the Blanc Collection displays aromas of green orchard fruits, lanolin and white flowers. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has a sharp, broad acidity that delivers incredible freshness

93 pts Vinous Media
A totally sexy, voluptuous wine, the 2015 Fonbadet is terrific. A rush of dark cherry jam, wild flowers, mint, espresso and licorice gives the 2015 its decidedly exotic, voluptuous personality. Silky tannins and plush fruit add to the wine's sumptuousness. There is a presence to the 2015 that is hard to describe but that has been present each of the three times I have tasted it so far. Simply put, Fonbadet is gorgeous in 2015.

Organic / Biodynamic

95 points Wine Spectator
This voluptuous, full-bodied, off-dry white shows a lot of power, offering round pear, mango and honeycomb flavors that take a salty turn on the palate, with notes of brine, crushed flint and bitter almond skin, backed by a subtle hint of brioche on the finish. Opening up in the glass, this gorgeous wine offers loads of immediate charm, but should have a long life ahead in the cellar as well. Drink now through 2035.

This is their oldest vineyard.

Light-bodied, bright, pale yellow with depth and a gold hue, even colour throughout. The nose is appealing and pure, with aromas of honeysuckle, tropical fruit and stonefruit.

This Bordeaux blanc is definitely past its prime but wine drinkers with an interest and enthusiasm for whites with age may find it enjoyable. The wine has turned golden in color and has a mild nose of burnt caramel. The palate coats and is textural with nuttiness and more caramel. It finishes like a dry sherry. It might be good with aged Gouda. With this forewarning we will only sell the bottle on a no return basis.

Clear and brilliant appearance with a silver luster and green reflections. A range of delicate and generous fruits. A creamy texture and a beautiful balance between refreshing sweet fruit flavors and acidity. To be enjoyed in it's youth.

100 points Jeb Dunnuck
The wine of the vintage in Saint-Julien, if not all of the Medoc, the 2019 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, aged in 100% new French oak, that hit a natural alcohol of 14.2% with a monster IPT (number of tannins) of 88. It's certainly one of the most concentrated Saint-Juliens, revealing a dense purple hue to go with a stacked bouquet of creme de cassis, freshly sharpened pencils, damp clay, tobacco, and hints of spring flowers. Concentrated, full-bodied, and powerful, it has incredible tannins, flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. While most estates today are playing it safe and producing more ethereal, elegant wines that drink well right out of the gate, thankfully, this estate continues to make concentrated, powerful, age-worthy wines, and this heavenly beauty is as good as it gets! It will need a decade of bottle age to hit the early stages of maturity and will evolve for 50 years or more. Bravo to Bruno Borie! (4/2022)

98 points Vinous
The 2019 Ducru Beaucaillou, which was matured in 100% new oak for 12 months, has a glorious bouquet of cigar humidor, cedar, black fruit and a touch of black truffle, very complex and quite compelling. The palate is still very Pauillac-inspired in style, and finely proportioned, with chiseled tannins. Displaying superb clarity and salinity on the finish, this feels very persistent and utterly charming. It will repay a decade in bottle and then last several more. I believe this will outperform the 2018 in the long run. Neal Martin (2/2022)

96+ points Wine Advocate
Powerful and muscular, the 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou offers up aromas of cassis, raspberries and cherries mingled with notions of violets and iris, framed by a generous application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's rich but lively, with a deep core of fruit and an ample endowment of ripe, powdery tannins. Fuller maturity and a more rigorous selection over the last two decades have brought what proprietor Bruno Borie characterizes as additional "punch" to this wine, in the form of unprecedented levels of anthocyanins and tannins, but all that substance and structure will require some patience before we'll see if Ducru is still Saint-Julien's most elegant wine. (4/2022)