Started in Gianni Masciarelli’s grandfather’s basement, Villa Gemma is the wine that announced Abruzzo to the world, showcasing what the region and grapes of Abruzzo could produce. Villa Gemma Montepulciano Riserva is the only Italian wine with 14 consecutive Tre Bicchieri awards and, more importantly, was the wine that established Abruzzo as capable of making truly distinct, extraordinary wines. Villa Gemma Montepulciano Riserva is a powerfully – almost undeniably – intense wine of character and complexity, with deep fruit and earthy, spicy secondary characteristics that could only come from the Montepulciano grape in Abruzzo

A small revolution in the world of Champagne. In 1967, Bollinger releases R.D. 1952.  There is no comparable Champagne on the market at the time. This bold and brilliant Champagne takes the pillars of what makes Champagne Bollinger so unique, and pushes them to their ultimate level. It is, very simply, a masterpiece.

R.D. stands for “recently disgorged.” The majority of Champagne Houses have always kept a collection of old wines in order to share with their family, close friends and special guests. The custom was that these old wines were especially disgorged only a very short time before being tasted, so that those invited could share a perfect moment when the wine, disgorged just recently, would offer an extraordinary contrast of freshness and complexity from age.

Bollinger is the producer most associated with a single grape variety in Champagne, namely Pinot Noir. This more demanding grape to grow makes up a minimum of 60% of all of Bollinger’s Champagne, and for R.D. is truly the backbone that allows the Champagne to age. The harmony of Pinot Noir’s richness and elegance becomes ever more complex with the time this Champagne sees before release.  Then there is the other association that Bollinger is so well known for: winemaking in barrel. As virtually every Champagne producer in the latter half of the 20th century moved to fermenting in large lots in stainless steel tanks, Bollinger persisted to oversee fermentation barrel by barrel for all vintage Champagnes. Another peculiarity of Bollinger’s vintage Champagnes is the aging under cork rather than crown capsule, to allow oxygen to continue to slowly work its magic on the development of the wine. Why do other producers not do this? Because every single bottle must subsequently be riddled by hand and then hand-disgorged. Lastly, this wine is is typically aged 10-15 years before release, with an aging potential that if not quite immortal, will outlast all of us. 

Lastly, we have to say it – it’s no wonder R.D. is the Champagne of choice for James Bond.

Aged on the lees for four months, and fermented with indigenous yeast, this wine has a ton of character for such a great value, and boxes well above its weight class. Lionel also has 8 distinct plots of Sauvignon Blanc, and each is picked and fermented separately. A cold, slow fermentation preserves freshness and aromatic purity. The soils are mostly limestone and sand.

Finca Decero has become recognized not only for having one of the highest quality vineyards in all of Mendoza, but also for catapulting into an elite group of the most highly regarded producers in Argentina. The wines all come from the single Finca Decero vineyard, and the winery’s focus is entirely quality focused. This wine showcases the powerful but polished side of Argentine Malbec: remarkable fruit, structure and distinct floral notes.

Just as Masciarelli made a name for Abruzzo’s Montepulciano grape, they also elevated the quality and reputation of the Trebbiano grape. The particular Trebbiano in Abruzzo is a relative of the grape planted in many other areas of Italy, but in the climate and soils of Abruzzo when farmed for quality it produces a wine with fantastically expressive fruit and a gorgeous balance of round concentration and mineral freshness.

Finca Decero has become recognized not only for having one of the highest quality vineyards in all of Mendoza, but also for catapulting into an elite group of the most highly regarded producers in Argentina. And while their home of Agrelo is recognized for red varieties has been acknowledged for its high-quality Malbec, it has also become known as the source of some of the finest Cabernet Sauvignon emanating from Argentina. The Cabernet is defined by its cherry and spice aromatics and with an emphasis on red fruit flavors. The structure is elegant with highly integrated tannins. Aging in French oak gives the wine a decided elegance with finesse on the long finish.

Le Fornaci hails from Lugana, a trendy, growing appellation on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Tommasi has long owned an estate in the village of San Martino della Battaglia, where they produce elegant white wines made from the indigenous and largely unknown Turbiana grape. In the unique clay-rich soils and moderate climate of Lugana, the variety yields full-flavored wines with citrusy flavors and high acidity, capable of aging for more than a decade.

Tommasi’s traditional approach to Amarone favors elegance and balance, with deep fruit complemented by spicy, earthy flavors. The grapes come from the family’s choicest plots in the Valpolicella Classica region. Through its commitment to quality and tradition, Tommasi has established itself as one of the principal ambassadors of Amarone in the world.

Brut Majeur is the epitome of a non-vintage brut from a great, historic House and is the finest ambassador for the House’s freshness and elegance. It has the highest proportion of Chardonnay of all the traditional Champagne houses.

Brut Majeur is a blend of Chardonnay (55%), Pinot Noir (30%) and Pinot Meunier (15%). A blend of 70 crus, micro-vinification in 120 small stainless steel vats. 43% of reserve wines. Low dosage of 6 g/l.

Amarone Riserva “Ca ‘Florian” is made with selected grapes from one of the oldest vineyards owned by the Tommasi family, with vines averaging 30 years. This “Cru” or “Climat,“ as one would say in Burgundy, is characterized by its “simplicity and elegance,” with notes of cherry and typical black cherries of the valley of Marano, but also the sweet spices and greater structure and elegance common to the Valley of Negrar, which give it the ability to age for the long term.

La Social is a new and eminently approachable release from Telmo Rodriguez, made with grapes from trusted suppliers who follow Telmo’s vine growing philosophy, as well as a small portion of estate grapes. Their aim with La Social is to produce a completely pure and authentic expression of Rioja – a delicious, unpretentious, everyday wine to enjoy in a social setting. The result is an extremely fresh and lively wine, with juicy plum fruit and traces of dark chocolate and violet.

This Valpolicella comes from the historical Tommasi family vineyard of the same name. Perfectly situated on one of the region’s most famous hills, Monte Masua, it produces what may be the best grapes for the production of Valpolicella Classico Superiore. Careful cultivation of the vineyard, a rigorous selection of grapes and meticulous vinification all contribute to the production of this fresh, elegant Valpolicella.

A blend of 60% Corviña, 25% Rondinella and 15% Molinara, it sees 15 months of aging in large Slavonian oak casks of 65 hl. The aromas recall dried spices, leather and cherry and the flavors are intense, with spicy, sweet cherry flavors. Beautifully balanced and very expressive, Rafael pairs wonderfully with a platter of cured meats and cheeses.

La Social is a new and eminently approachable release from Telmo Rodriguez, made with grapes from trusted suppliers who follow Telmo’s vine growing philosophy, as well as a small portion of estate grapes. Their aim with La Social is to produce a completely pure and authentic expression of Rioja – a delicious, unpretentious, everyday wine to enjoy in a social setting. The result is an extremely fresh and lively wine, with juicy plum fruit and traces of dark chocolate and violet.

This single-vineyard Vermentino exhibits all of the characteristics for which Tuscan Vermentino is renowned, in particular its mineral notes, a result of the volcanic soil on which the vineyards lie. This bright, crisp wine has both wonderful freshness as well as the balanced quality typical of the varietal.

This single-vineyard Vermentino exhibits all of the characteristics for which Tuscan Vermentino is renowned, in particular its mineral notes, a result of the volcanic soil on which the vineyards lie. This bright, crisp wine has both wonderful freshness as well as the balanced quality typical of the varietal.

This single-vineyard Vermentino exhibits all of the characteristics for which Tuscan Vermentino is renowned, in particular its mineral notes, a result of the volcanic soil on which the vineyards lie. This bright, crisp wine has both wonderful freshness as well as the balanced quality typical of the varietal.

Dehesa Gago is 100% Tinto de Toro (the local clone of Tempranillo). The intensity of this old vine fruit comes through even in this wine, vinified without oak, a pure expression. 

The Telmo Rodriguez wines in Toro are named after a Spanish breed of bull that is both elegant and powerful. That epitomizes the challenge in the region, to work in areas that are cooler, and with vines that are trained and adapted to the heat, so that a freshness plays with the fruit concentratin.

The 19th century lower-case “g” typeface that appears on all the Toro wines is transformed, and modernized, by a bull horn.

Affectionately known as “OVR,” Marietta’s Old Vine Red is a proprietary red wine made to replicate the field blends of the old vineyards in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. A groundbreaking combination of varietals and multiple vintages first produced in 1982, this wine has blazed the path for red blends for decades. With an historic underground following, it is one of the longest lasting and best known red blends produced today. Predominantly comprised of fresh, young Zinfandel, OVR gets its backbone from Petite Sirah with about three years of age in neutral barrel, and its savory component from Syrah with about two years of age in neutral barrel. Occasionally, other varieties like Barbera, Carignan, or Grenache will be blended in to complement the other elements. The goal is always to create an enjoyable table wine made with integrity that combines pure fruit, a supple mouth feel and a rich, solid structure.

Moonracer is from Realm’s estate vineyard on Wappo Hill in the Stags Leap District AVA. Winemaker Benoit Touquette has worked with the vineyard for years, and the site, with its multiple blocks, elevations, facings, and diverse soils, has character in spades. It is said this elevated site was important to the Wappo Native Americans as it provided the tribe with a central lookout from which to identify intruders. Jack London, who wrote about the curious inter-tribal races that took place during full moons, noted that the Wappos often won. Thus Moonracer, an oblique reference to the earliest inhabitants of the place Realm calls home. The wine is composed each year of the site’s finest lots, creating a Cabernet Sauvignon that is strong and powerful yet also elegant, with refined tannins and plenty of depth.