retail cost: $51 +

Henri Goutorbe Champagne Blend Cuvée Prestige

92
Henri Goutorbe
Fanciful Name: Cuvée Prestige
Varietal: Champagne Blend
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Champagne
Retail Price: $65.00

Tasting Notes: A grower cuvee Champagne from three vineyards in Ay. Fresh, brisk apple with creamy almond, the savory palate works with roasted white fish and mushrooms.
Henri Goutorbe Champagne Blend Cuvée Prestige

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Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Blend Cuvée Brut

95
Piper-Heidsieck
Fanciful Name: Cuvée Brut
Varietal: Champagne Blend
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Champagne
Retail Price: $70.00

Tasting Notes: Reflecting the house style, this blend of wines produced from multiple parcels providing a cross section of the region's terroir, the wine is brilliant pale gold in the glass, with a fine and persistent mousse. The extended bottle aging provides multiple layers of tree fruit and toasted nuts. In the mouth, it is supple and lively. A great example of an attractive house style, from one of the region's leading producers.
Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Blend Cuvée Brut

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San Felice Red Bordeaux Blend Vigorello 2019

95
San Felice
Fanciful Name: Vigorello
Varietal: Red Bordeaux Blend
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Toscana IGT
Retail Price: $57.99

Tasting Notes: From one of the pioneers of the Supertuscan movement, the usual, regional blend is augmented and elevated by the use of pugnitello, a native variety that contributes complexity and structure to the wine. Intensely dark ruby in the glass, the nose and palate both reflect the dark red fruit, with spice and a subtle floral character. Wonderfully flexible in terms of the wide range of dishes that the wine complements.
San Felice Red Bordeaux Blend Vigorello 2019

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Xavier Grenache Rouge  2020

95
Xavier
Fanciful Name: Rouge 
Varietal: Grenache
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Chateauneuf du Pape
Retail Price: $68.99

Tasting Notes: A lovely example of what one of the Rhône Valley's top appellations is capable of producing. A bright saturated purple in the glass, the nose and palate are highlighted by berry and cherry fruit, with hints of spice. The palate reflects the nose, with warmth and spice, in addition to the exquisite red fruit.
Xavier Grenache Rouge  2020

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Georges Cartier Champagne Blend Tradition Brut

96
Georges Cartier
Fanciful Name: Tradition Brut
Varietal: Champagne Blend
Country of Origin: France
Appellation: Champagne
Retail Price: $61.00

Tasting Notes: With a majority of the wine produced using pinot meunier, the fruit really shines in this outstanding example of high-quality Champagne. Brilliant pale gold, with a fine and delicate mousse, the nose and palate showcase the superb fruit, as well as the extended aging in bottle. Complexity and lovely fruit are the dominant aspects of this superb sparkler.
Georges Cartier Champagne Blend Tradition Brut

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Herdade do Rocim Red Blend Rocim Clay Aged Tinto

96
Herdade do Rocim
Fanciful Name: Rocim Clay Aged Tinto
Varietal: Red Blend
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Alentejo
Retail Price: $63.99

Tasting Notes: A very-modern wine, produced using ancient techniques. After crushing, the wine is aged for over a year in clay containers, which contributes to the wine's smooth texture, along with weight on the palate, allowing the red fruits prevalent on the nose to echo on the palate. Lovely now, worthy of some aging.
Herdade do Rocim Red Blend Rocim Clay Aged Tinto

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Donnafugata Nero d’Avola Mille e una notte 2019

97
Donnafugata
Fanciful Name: Mille e una notte
Varietal: Nero d'Avola
Vintage: 2019
Country of Origin: Italy
Appellation: Sicilia
Retail Price: $91.00

Tasting Notes: Intense ruby color in the glass, the nose is complex, with notes of black and red fruits, enhanced by hints of bright spice and vanilla tones. In the mouth, the extended finish is previewed by accessible dark fruit with excellent texture and volume. Absolutely stunning.
Donnafugata Nero d’Avola Mille e una notte 2019

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Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2016

97
Quinta do Crasto
Varietal: Touriga Nacional
Vintage: 2016
Country of Origin: Portugal
Appellation: Douro
Retail Price: $79.00

Tasting Notes: Exceptionally dense bright purple in the glass, the nose is dominated by dark berry fruit, with a subtle floral hint. Lush and weighty on the palate, with rich fruit and tannins, the finish lingers and lingers. Delicious now, it's also a great candidate for aging.
Quinta do Crasto Touriga Nacional 2016

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Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 2020

95
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars
Fanciful Name: Artemis
Varietal: Cabernet Sauvignon
Vintage: 2020
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Napa Valley
Retail Price: $85.00

Tasting Notes: A cuvee from five vineyards. Fresh and pure, with black cherry, cedar, cassis, ripe blackberry, coffee and tobacco. Long and supple, it is truly a classic Napa cab.
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 2020

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Penfolds Shiraz Blend Grange 2001

98
Penfolds
Fanciful Name: Grange
Varietal: Shiraz Blend
Vintage: 2001
Country of Origin: Australia
Retail Price: $800.00

Tasting Notes: After 45 minutes of decanting and a slight chill, the first sip of this 100% shiraz showed blueberry, blackberry and hints of spice. As it evolved chocolate, cocoa and cinnamon underpinned a complex, perfectly balanced wine supported by firm, lush tannins. While it seemed perfect, it probably has at least 10 more years to develop. What a treat!
Penfolds Shiraz Blend Grange 2001

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Alexander Valley Vineyards Red Bordeaux Blend Cyrus 2017

98
Alexander Valley Vineyards
Fanciful Name: Cyrus
Varietal: Red Bordeaux Blend
Vintage: 2017
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Alexander Valley
Retail Price: $74.99

Tasting Notes: This family-owned winery continues to pay tribute to the Sonoma valley with this best of the best Meritage blend . . . their 23rd release. Nine of the best lots were fermented and aged separately before entering a 24-month further-aging program in French oak. Deep extracted color, with black fruit notes, dark chocolate aromas and oak and vanilla notes. Balanced tannins highlight the Bordeaux style blending. This is THE wine for holiday dinners.
Alexander Valley Vineyards Red Bordeaux Blend Cyrus 2017

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Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée 2015

95
Gloria Ferrer
Fanciful Name: Royal Cuvée
Varietal: Champagne Blend
Vintage: 2015
Country of Origin: USA
Appellation: Carneros
Retail Price: $65.00

Tasting Notes: The Royal Cuvée with a blend of 2/3 pinot noir, and 1/3 chardonnay enjoys an extended time in bottle for its secondary fermentation, resulting in wonderful complexity and a delicate mousse. The nose and palate reveal lots of apple and citrus notes, as well as bight, clean fruit in the mouth. The finish is very long and quite expressive.
Gloria Ferrer Royal Cuvée 2015

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