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1988 Durney Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Private Reserve, Estate Grown, Carmel Valley AVA, Monterey County.A brilliant bottle that has aged much better than expected from a less than perfect vintage, this…

2018 Halcon Vineyards, Mourvèdre, Halcon Estate Vineyard, Yorkville Highlands, Mendocino County.Paul Gordon, vigneron here at Halcon until he sold his vineyard after bottling his 2019s, told me, a huge fan…

1968 Marchesi di Barolo, Barolo DOCG, Piemonte, Italy.In the later part of the year I just love tasting old vines and reflecting on their journeys, so it was especially thrilling…

2023 Domaine Philippe Tessier, Cheverny Blanc, Loire Valley, France.I usually go for Philippe Tessier’s Cour-Cheverny made from the local Romorantin grape and the Cheverny Rouge, that is a u que…

2023 Thibaud Boudignon, Savennières “Clos de Frémine” Loire Valley, France.Racy bright, pale gold, mineral driven and electric in the glass, Thibaud Boudignon’s brilliant and rare Clos de Frémine Savennières really…

2025 Domaine Dupeuble Père et Fils, Beaujolais Nouveau, France.The latest Depeuble Nouveau is bright ruby and silky in the glass with fresh strawberry, tart plum, cherry and spiced raspberry fruits,…

2018 Kuntz-Bas, Pinot Blanc, Trois Châteaux Vieilles Vignes, Vin d’Alsace, France.Intriguingly this Old Vine Pinot Blanc is actually 100% Auxerrois, not true Pinot Blanc and sometimes maligned, but here it…

2015 Joseph Dorbon, Arbois “Cuvée des Moyne”, Jura, France.The bright golden hued 2015 Cuvée des Moyne Arbois Blanc is a 100% old school Jura style white, mainly Chardonnay, with a…

1970 Château Clerc Milon, Grand Cru Classe, Pauillac, Red Bordeaux, France.Château Clerc Milon, a Pauillac Classified Fifth Growth and owned by the Rothschild’s of Mouton fame, can and often is…

2023 Ridge Vineyards, Cabernet Sauvignon, Santa Cruz Mountains.The beautiful, dark fruited and youthfully firm Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Sauvignon from Ridge Vineyards is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15%…