France
De Ferrand 2019 Saint-Emilion
$99.99Château de Ferrand has recently risen in quality, now offering an elegant, vibrant Saint-Émilion that marries ripe fruit with polished structure. The aroma profile highlights ripe black cherries and plums along with floral notes (violet, peony) and indulgent hints of espresso, cocoa, and licorice. There’s an appealing mix of sweet spice and fresh fruit on the nose.
The palate is medium-bodied, forward, and supple, showcasing juicy red and black fruit (cherry, raspberry, plum) that is sweet and energetic in character. What stands out is the silky, lush texture – thanks to very refined tannins, the wine feels velvety and round in the mouth. Hints of chocolate and espresso weave through the fruit, and a subtle streak of minerality and saline freshness (from the limestone terroir) adds lift. The finish is bright and lively, with lingering red berry and mocha notes.
Chateau de Ferrand manages to be rich and polished yet also fresh and spirited, a balance that makes it enjoyable young (for its fruit and softness) while also capable of medium-term aging. In short, it’s a gorgeous, refined St-Émilion that emphasizes elegance, balance, and a beautiful purity of fruit – an estate to watch, now delivering wines of silky charm and subtle complexity.
Pierrousselle 2022 Bordeaux Mg
$99.99Château Pierrousselle is a Bordeaux rouge that delivers approachable fruit and subtle complexity. It typically reveals a bright ruby color and an intense, fruity bouquet dominated by red berries (redcurrant, cherry) and black fruits, with underlying notes of vanilla and sweet baking spices from oak maturation.
On the palate, it is medium-bodied and smooth. Ripe raspberry and plum flavors are supported by soft tannins, making for a round, easy-going texture. There’s a touch of smoky oak and cocoa adding depth, and sometimes a hint of dried herbs or earth. The wine is well-balanced: the fruit is generous but there is enough structure (and a nip of acidity) to keep it lively. The finish is mellow and fruit-forward, with those berry and vanilla notes persisting.
Overall, Château Pierrousselle offers a charming, perfumed Bordeaux experience – not overly heavy, but with a nice mix of fruitiness, a bit of spice, and a gentle tannic backbone, making it a versatile partner for food or enjoyable on its own.
Durfort Vivens 2019 Margaux
$99.99Château Durfort-Vivens is a refined Margaux known for its elegant, terroir-driven style. Compared to some peers, Durfort-Vivens emphasizes freshness and finesse over sheer power. It often displays a fragrant bouquet of red and black berries (currant, cherry) intertwined with floral notes (lilac, violet) and a streak of minerality from its gravelly soils. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and harmonious – expect fresh, lively fruit flavors, an earthy touch of tobacco and pencil lead, and fine-boned tannins.
There is a “fresh elegant Margaux” character here: the wine has vibrancy and “life” to it, without the heavy opulence of some Margaux estates. As it develops, subtle oak integrates to give hints of vanilla and spice, but the core remains bright fruit and floral elegance.
Durfort-Vivens shows that graceful balance, with ample depth and a long, pure finish – a Margaux for those who appreciate poise and classical elegance over brute force.
Serge Mathieu Brut Rose
$99.9990% Pinot Noir, 10% Chardonnay
Full-bodied and fresh. Clear-cut and savoury aromas of strawberries and pomegranates. Dark berries nad toast on the palate. Firm mousse and tiny bubbles, it’s rich on the palate with a light and delightful red fruit taste.
Fleury Blanc De Noirs Brut
$99.99100% Pinot Noir.
A real deal Champagne, it is both fruity and delicate, and decidedly elegant with a neverending finish.
Classic, smooth, and very rich in style, it is mouthwateringly dry with a wonderful black cherry fruit quality.
Clement Lavallee 2022 Chablis Les Ardill
$98.99The 2022 Les Ardillers comes Chardonnay planted to clay-limestone soils from 45-year-old vines in the 1.6Ha namesake lieu-dit. It’s aged for 12 months in 1- to 5-year-old barrels for half the crop, the other in stainless steel on the lees. This shows assiduous use of the lees, lending weight and texture to the vibrant finish; a more classically taut and mineral expression of Chablis.
Clos Cibonne 2022/23 Cuvee Caroline Rose
$96.99A distinctive, age-worthy rosé with complex aromatics of dried flowers, ripe peach, and red berry layered with spice, honey, and a pronounced saline lift. The palate is textured and medium- to full-bodied for rosé, showing savoury depth, subtle oak influence, and a beautifully balanced core of orchard fruit, citrus, and mineral nuance. Long and quietly powerful on the finish, with a faint vanilla note and coastal freshness that underscores its serious, gastronomic style.
Vaudon Vs Cognac
$93.9990 Points Wine Enthusiast: “The aroma mingles oak with hints of baked apple and almond. The lively palate opens with allspice and dried apricot, plus a mild floral exhale. The finish is warmed with plenty of brisk baking spice.”
