El Viejo Almacen Huaso de Sauzal Chilena Pais 2016, 0.75L
Pais from Cauquenes, Valle del Maule

“The star here is the País, which he calls 2016 Huaso de Sauzal Chilena, from grapes picked later than usual, as there was rain during March and April. All of the wines here ferment in traditional raulí wood casks. The vines are extremely old—they don't know how old—ungrafted and head-pruned in the Secano Interior traditional zone of Chile, where viticulture was without irrigation. It ferments with indigenous yeasts, without temperature control or any intervention, and the wine matures in well-seasoned, neutral oak barrels for 12 months before bottling. It's an aromatic and delicious País, with great perfume and character, mixing flowers and herbs, some spices and an earthy nuance with a volatile touch. The variety has some rustic tannins that need some food. This is possibly the best Chilena from Cancino so far. This is always among my favorite País from Chile. 11,000 bottles produced. Like the rest of the 2016s, it was bottled in February 2017. I met with Renán Cancino, the man behind El Viejo Almacén de Sauzal, in Madrid to taste the 2016s, as he was on a trip to Europe. He works nine hectares of old vines in Sauzal and Truquilemu in Maule that are planted with Cariñena, Garnacha and País. He produces some 22,000 bottles per vintage. 2016 was a rainy year, with moderate yields, good concentration, lower alcohol and very good acidity—wines with nice balance. Great wines with the peasant character of the place. The País, which he calls Chilena, is among the best in the country.” 93+ Luis Gutiérrez, Wine Advocate

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Domaine Laporte Sancerre Le Grand Rochoy 2020, 0.75L
Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre, Loire

"From silex soils, the 2020 Sancerre Le Grand Rochoy is produced from the oldest vines of this prestigious slope. The nose is intense and complex in its earthy-mineral expression that is perfectly interwoven with discreet but deep, refined and elegant fruit aromas. Pure, fresh and refined on the palate, this is a dense, round and complex, persistently aromatic, saline and savory Sancerre with fine (gin-like) bitters on the finish. The wine was vinified in stainless steel and barrels for one year and aged in the dark-tinted bottles for another six months before the release. This is a really excellent, mouthwatering 2020 that is less rich and powerful than Les Garennes but significantly more complex than the 2021 Rochoy. 13% stated alcohol. Natural cork. Tasted in May 2022." 93+ Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate

Available: 7

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Joh. Jos. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese 2020, 0.75L
Riesling from Graach, Mosel

"The 2020er Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Auslese offers a beautifully pure and ripe nose of smoke, grapefruit, lime, vineyard peach, minty herbs, and bacon-driven aromatics from residual from its spontaneous fermentation. The wine coats the palate with gorgeously ripe and juicy notes of fruits and leaves a superbly pure, smooth, and almost soft and suave feel in the hugely long finish. The aftertaste is still loaded with sweetness in need of integration, which will need quite some time to integrate. There is upside potential as the wine gains finesse with age."  ​93+ Points, Mosel Fine Wines

Available: 1

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Alegre Valgañón Rioja Tinto 2020, 0.75L
Tempranillo / Grenache from Rioja, La Rioja

"The house red 2020 Tinto showed superbly. It's a blend of Tempranillo from the Obarenes Mountains (Sajazarra and Fonzaleche) with 20% Garnacha from Cárdenas on clay and some 5% white that has 14.2% alcohol but feels perfectly balanced and integrated. It has a serious, harmonious nose with complexity and depth but also youth. It has a soft and juicy texture with focused and clean flavors, finishing with an almost salty twist. Super tasty and easy to drink! Great value too. It matured in a mixture of 1,000- and 3,000-liter oak foudres and 225- and 500-liter barrels. 22,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in February 2022." 93+ Points, Luis Guiterrez, Wine Advocate

Available: 12

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Capiaux Old Vine Russian River Pinot Noir 2018, 0.75L
Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley, California

"Sean Capiaux's 2018 Pinot Noir Old Vine is a blend from Widdoes and Starscape, both planted with Martini clone, which tends to give an especially aromatic, exotic Pinot. Blood orange, mint, spice, star anise and kirsch all lift from the glass. Like all of these Pinots, the Old Vine is a bit clenched today, and yet its potential is evident. This is such a pretty and distinctive wine with a ton of underlying energy that just needs a bit of time to be at its most express." ​93​​​+ Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Available: 15

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