12
Days of Holiday Wine
Advent
Calendar 2025
Happy Holidays! It's that time of the year again where we get together our Wine Advent Calendar. Whether everything is a gift, some are for gifts, or all are treats for yourself, we hope you enjoy this year's selections. Friendly reminder we can ship almost everywhere in the USA!
Happy Holidays! It's that time of the year again where we get together our Wine Advent Calendar. Whether everything is a gift, some are for gifts, or all are treats for yourself, we hope you enjoy this year's selections. Friendly reminder we can ship almost everywhere in the USA!
Half Bottle Selections $295 (normally $350)
Champagne
and Whites
Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Les Parcelles (Champagne Grand Cru)
Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Terrassen Kamptal (Kamptal, Austria)
Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin (Chablis, Burgundy)
Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé (Bandol, Provence)
Pierre Paillard Champagne Grand Cru Extra Brut Les Parcelles (Champagne Grand Cru)
Weingut Willi Bründlmayer Grüner Veltliner Terrassen Kamptal (Kamptal, Austria)
Domaine Laroche Chablis Saint Martin (Chablis, Burgundy)
Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rosé (Bandol, Provence)
Reds
Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands (Santa Lucia Highlands, California)
Ridge Lytton Springs (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma)
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (Napa)
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais)
Château de Montmirail Gigondas Cuvée de Beauchamp (Gigondas, Rhône)
Paolo Scavino Barolo (Barolo, Piedmont)
Esprit de Saint-Pierre St. Julien (Bordeaux)
Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane Margaux (Bordeaux)
Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands (Santa Lucia Highlands, California)
Ridge Lytton Springs (Dry Creek Valley, Sonoma)
Stags' Leap Winery Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (Napa)
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais)
Château de Montmirail Gigondas Cuvée de Beauchamp (Gigondas, Rhône)
Paolo Scavino Barolo (Barolo, Piedmont)
Esprit de Saint-Pierre St. Julien (Bordeaux)
Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane Margaux (Bordeaux)
Full Bottle Selections $725 (normally $855)
Champagne
and Whites
Michel Gonet Grand Cru Mesnil sur Oger Blanc de Blancs (Champagne Grand Cru)
Cantina Terlan Pinot Bianco Terlano Riserva Vorberg (Alto Adige, Italy)
Paul Thomas Sancerre Chavignol (Sancerre, France)
Lingua Franca Chardonnay Bunker Hill (Eola - Amity Hills, Willamette Valley)
Michel Gonet Grand Cru Mesnil sur Oger Blanc de Blancs (Champagne Grand Cru)
Cantina Terlan Pinot Bianco Terlano Riserva Vorberg (Alto Adige, Italy)
Paul Thomas Sancerre Chavignol (Sancerre, France)
Lingua Franca Chardonnay Bunker Hill (Eola - Amity Hills, Willamette Valley)
Reds
Raen Winery Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert (Sonoma Coast)
O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (Napa Valley)
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais)
Maison Lou Dumont Chambolle-Musigny (Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy)
Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage (Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône)
Château Branaire-Ducru (St. Julien, Bordeaux)
La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino (Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany)
Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta (Barolo, Piedmont)
Raen Winery Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert (Sonoma Coast)
O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley (Napa Valley)
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly (Côte de Brouilly, Beaujolais)
Maison Lou Dumont Chambolle-Musigny (Chambolle-Musigny, Burgundy)
Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage (Crozes-Hermitage, Rhône)
Château Branaire-Ducru (St. Julien, Bordeaux)
La Fiorita Brunello di Montalcino (Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany)
Ettore Germano Barolo Cerretta (Barolo, Piedmont)
THE DETAILS:
The prices above are the cost of the wines only, reflecting a little deeper discount than our normal case discount.
For those in state, sales tax will need to be added. Out of state exempt from sales tax.
Shipping costs will vary depending on location. We aren't legally allowed to ship to some states directly, and use a third party shipping service to do so.
The prices above are the cost of the wines only, reflecting a little deeper discount than our normal case discount.
For those in state, sales tax will need to be added. Out of state exempt from sales tax.
Shipping costs will vary depending on location. We aren't legally allowed to ship to some states directly, and use a third party shipping service to do so.
Please keep in mind that an adult signature will be necessary for delivery to be completed. Sometimes shipping to an office or business can be the best option. We will start shipping orders out Wednesday November 19th.
We can take a credit card over the phone/email, or send a paypal invoice.
Selection and vintage may differ based on availability.
Packs will include the tasting notes with the shipment.
Please submit orders by clicking below
2025 Renegade Wines 12 Days of Holiday Wine
Once we have shipping calculated and a total cost, we will confirm pricing with you and then send it on it's merry way.
Cheers!
The Team at Renegade
|
12
Days of Holiday Wines 2025 – Half Bottles
Paillard/Pierre Extra Brut Champagne Les Parcelles XIX Bouzy NV
Made from 80% Pinot and 20% Chardonnay, with the base 2019 and the rest reserve wine from the past couple of years, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Bouzy Les Parcelles is expressive and fruit-forward on opening, with notes of cherry blossom, fresh peach, and honeycomb. With zero grams per liter dosage, there’s no lacking for ripeness and freshness. Long on the palate and quite inviting, it’s going to be wonderful drinking over the coming years. Great aperitif, with raw bar, or delicious fried things.
Laroche, Chablis Saint Martin 2023
Named for the patron saint of Chablis, “Saint Martin” is Domaine Laroche’s flagship village cuvée, blended from a selection of sustainably farmed sites across the appellation. Laroche has been part of Chablis since the 1850s, and their deep roots in the region show in the quality and consistency of this bottling year after year. Bright citrus, green apple, and flinty minerality, all wrapped in brisk acidity and a clean, sea-breeze finish. There’s no oak—just stainless steel fermentation and careful lees aging to add texture without weight. It’s a style that honors Chablis’ hallmark clarity and precision, with enough flesh to make it highly versatile at the table. Perfect with raw oysters, grilled sole, goat cheese, or a simple roast chicken. Serve chilled, and let it open up in the glass to reveal its quiet depth.
Brundlmayer Gruner Veltliner Kamptal 'Terrassen' 2024
Willi Brundlmayer farms 75 hectares of traditional Austrian varieties around Langenlois, where diverse micro-terroirs, Danube River influences, and wooded hillsides dominate the land. Large diurnal temperature swings help keep acid high, and many of his vines are over 50 years old. This classic expression of Kamptal Gruner shows fruit-forward flavors of green apple, crunchy pear, and white pepper driven acidity. Perfect for sipping on the patio beneath the sun!
Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rose 2024
Oh, Bandol Rosé, how we love thee. Pale salmon-flesh color, this bottle is classic Mourvèdre-dominant, Bandol rosé. Balanced tones of fruit and a bright acidity are highlighted by flavors of strawberry, blood orange, vibrant raspberry. Great plenitude of flavors including passion fruit, and a beautiful minerally freshness which comes from the limestone soil. Pairs great with seafood, especially a hearty seafood stew on a cold night. Open a bottle and feel whisked away to the French Riviera.
Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 2022
This estate is managed by the Pisoni Family, and the price to quality ratio is nearly unmatched. Year in, year out, these wines over-deliver. Coming mostly from the Pisoni Vineyard, with the balance Garys and Soberanes, the Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir offers terrific depth and concentration, with loads of black cherry, black raspberry, spring flower and forest floor aromas and flavors. Brought up in 50% new barrels, it’s a serious appellation blend that has real depth and length, and overdelivers in spades.
Ridge Lytton Springs Red Blend 2023
RIDGE's history begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He planted vineyards and constructed a winery of redwood and native limestone in time to produce the first vintage of Monte Bello in 1892. The historic building now serves as the RIDGE production facility.
The 2023 Lytton Springs hails from a little further north, and is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise.
Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Built in 1886, John and Janet Trefethen began restoring what is today the Trefethen winery in 1973. A national historic landmark and the only wooden gravity-flow winery in the Napa Valley, Trefethen is also one of Napa's largest estate wineries, with its 600 acres of vineyards surrounding the winery. The Trefethen family exhibits a multitude of different varietals, Cabernet being their flagship.
A medium-bodied cabernet sauvignon with dark berries, currants, bark, thyme and some stones. Fine tannins with a refined texture. Layered and well-crafted with a flavorful juicy finish.
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly 2023
At Château Thivin, the oldest wine-growing estate in Mont-Brouilly, there reigns a special atmosphere — that of a château on a human scale where the6 generations of the Geoffray family have been producing quality wines in the greatest respect for the terroirs. One of the region’s great examples of Gamay’s more structured, noble, and earthy side is Château Thivin’s Côte de Brouilly. Originating along the steep slopes of Mont Brouilly in an incredibly unique soil of Pierre bleue—a strikingly blue volcanic stone—this flinty red vividly evokes the mountain’s special terroir. Notes of brambly fruit, pomegranate, and spice dance atop a minerally foundation, making for a wine that exudes both the convivial charm of Gamay and the crunchy intensity of the Côte de Brouilly. Thivin is not only the Côte’s benchmark domaine but also one of the great estates in the entire region.
Montmirial Gigondas
The Chateau de Montmirail is the largest vineyard owner in the Gigondas appellation, so they were able to put a blend together from their oldest vines that is truly remarkable. Rich and dark in color, this wine shows remarkable finesse for the vintage. This crowd-pleaser has a nose of ripe blackberries and earth tones followed by a wine with good length, balance and a rich mouthfeel.
Paolo Scavino Barolo DOCG 2020
The Paolo Scavino 2020 Barolo (with Enrico Scavinos signature on the front of the bottle) has a handful of savory herbs, barbecue rub, ripe plum, sweet cherry and dried currant. A beautiful Barolo here with a touch of dried spices and hints of aniseed. Melted, chalky tannins on the palate with medium to full body and a long, mineral-driven finish. It ends with balanced freshness.
Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane Margaux 2017
The 2017 Château Brane-Cantenac "Le Baron de Brane" is a second wine from the Margaux appellation that is medium-bodied and elegant. It has a silky texture, fine tannins, and a long, persistent finish, making it drinkable now but with aging potential. A very refined nose with redcurrants, red flowers and a complex mix of light, fresh earth and tobacco leaf. The palate delivers a bright, fresh impression with fine, lively tannins casting a very vibrant and succulent, red-fruit finish. A blend of 53% merlot, 41% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc and 1% carmenere. Second wine of Chateau Brane-Cantenac. Drink or hold.
Esprit de Saint-Pierre St. Julien 2016
Long been a fan of Saint-Pierre—serious St-Julien at a rewarding price point. At its best, the château operates at a level that challenges the big names of the Left Bank, as it did in the great vintages of the past decade, especially 2016. That was the year Jane Anson wrote that “Saint-Pierre is right up there with the best examples you can find” in what she called “the most effortlessly brilliant vintage in St-Julien.” 2016’s have a soft spot for us, so no surprise, their Esprit de Saint-Pierre shows the remarkable depth of the Grand Vin and the balance of the 2016, delivering outstanding value for its category. The wine opens with red fruit and floral aromatics, leading to a palate that moves between bright and deep red fruit—cassis, cherry—and subtle earthiness. Great texture and acidity carry fine tannins to an impressive finish. It shows just a touch of evolution, suggesting the very start of a long drinking window. Now approaching its second decade, this gem is drinking beautifully and should continue effortlessly for another ten years.
12 Days of Holiday Wine 2025 – Full bottle
Michel Gonet Grand Cru Mesnil sur Oger Blanc de Blancs 2015
Gonet is a very old name in Champagne. The family moved to Champagne from the Beaujolais in the 15th century and worked in the vineyards before establishing a Champagne house in the early 1800s. Each subsequent generation helped lay a foundation for a successful Domaine with the most recent patriarch, Michel Gonet, enlarging the cellars and refocusing their winemaking in the 1970s. From the classic Grand Cru village of Mesnil-sur-Oger, known for its razor-sharp acidity, comes this elegant vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Delicate aromas of citrus and green apple are given weight by a lightly creamy, biscuit texture. Acidity is nervy and cutting, still very fresh over eight years after the vintage. A long, persistent, subtly spicy finish completes this keenly priced wine. Round notes of lemon curd, yeasty brioche, and poached pears. This is bright and lean with a lingering texture on the palate. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged on the lees for over 7 years before disgorgement. Bottled without dosage as Brut Nature. Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne from Grand Cru vineyards? Yes please!
Cantina Terlan Pinot Bianco Terlano Riserva Vorberg
From quite possibly the best White Winery in all of Italy, this Pinot Bianco is stunning. The south-facing slopes of Monzoccolo in the Terlano DOC area are the location of steep and sunny vineyards at altitudes between 450 and 650 meters above sea level, where this very exciting Pinot Bianco flourishes. This rich and highly complex wine is impressive for its minerality and considerable capacity for development and thus underscores the full potential of this grape variety. Think whole grilled Branzino, in white wine butter and herb sauce. Some roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach on the side. YUM.
Paul Thomas Sancerre Chavignol 2024
Just east of Sancerre is the village of Chavignol, home of Domaine Paul Thomas. It is a small estate on the slopes of the Les Mont Damnés, from which they produce beautiful wines from the deepest, purest outcropping of Kimmeridgean limestone in Chavignol. Domaine Paul Thomas is run by Raphael Thomas, son of Paul. Raphael originally intended to pursue a career in physics, but after he passed away at the end of the harvest in 2000, he made the decision to carry out his father’s legacy. The top wine from this outstanding producer of Sancerre, this is sourced from older vines in ideal sloping sites surrounding the village of Chavignol. Rich, but mineral-hewn, with hints of tarragon and other green herbs, lemon-lime and rounder, riper fruit. Pure, clean and beautiful.
Lingua Franca Chardonnay Bunker Hill 2022
From proprietors Larry Stone (America’s 8th Master Sommelier and first American to win the prestigious Best International Sommelier in French Wines competition in Paris) along with co-conspirators Dominique Lafon and David Honig. We had the absolute privilege of enjoying a meal with him and tasting through the wines of Lingua Franca. His career spans 30 years as a restaurateur and sommelier at the Four Seasons, Charlie Trotter’s, and Rubicon Restaurant among others, and culminates at Lingua Franca. That is where his dream of cultivating an exceptional Oregon vineyard and making honest wines has been realized. The 2022 Bunker hill hails from one of the windiest, coolest sites on the property, and is often harvested after all of the Pinot Noir has been. This is pale yellow-green color with a predominantly mineral aroma of flint, river stone, green apples, and green olives, fresh herbs, lemon zest and yellow flowers emerge. On the palate it is precise and taut, with wet stone and saline notes, crisp green apples and thyme. The finish is persistent and firm, with a mouthwatering mineral quality. This is a vintage with finely chiseled features at Bunker Hill. Our Bunker Hill Estate Vineyard in the South Salem Hills and is the oldest source of fruit for any of our wines, having been planted in 1995 to CH76. It is among the earliest of the Dijon-clone plantings in Oregon, situated on the remnant of a pioneer farm.
Raen Winery Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert 2023
Some of the most consistently brilliant wines being made in California are crafted by the team at Raen. The Mondavi family members Carlo and Dante Mondavi produce this stunning pure Pinot Noir from Sonoma's rugged coast in one of the most breathtaking sites located only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean where it receives foggy mornings and marine breezes and rocky marine soils to produce grapes with remarkable tension. The cuvée bears the name of their grandfather as a tribute to him while establishing itself as the standard for California Pinot Noir produced in cool climates.
“An amazingly complex, dynamic wine that demands your attention from the first sniff to the lingering finish. Aromas of redwood forest, rosemary, purple flowers and black cherries, then black tea, pomegranate, dark cherry, dried raspberry and wild mushroom flavors. Fine-grained moderate tannins and crunchy acidity give it such a firm backbone.”
James Suckling #1 USA Wine of 2025
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly 2023
Paillard/Pierre Extra Brut Champagne Les Parcelles XIX Bouzy NV
Made from 80% Pinot and 20% Chardonnay, with the base 2019 and the rest reserve wine from the past couple of years, the NV Champagne Grand Cru Bouzy Les Parcelles is expressive and fruit-forward on opening, with notes of cherry blossom, fresh peach, and honeycomb. With zero grams per liter dosage, there’s no lacking for ripeness and freshness. Long on the palate and quite inviting, it’s going to be wonderful drinking over the coming years. Great aperitif, with raw bar, or delicious fried things.
Laroche, Chablis Saint Martin 2023
Named for the patron saint of Chablis, “Saint Martin” is Domaine Laroche’s flagship village cuvée, blended from a selection of sustainably farmed sites across the appellation. Laroche has been part of Chablis since the 1850s, and their deep roots in the region show in the quality and consistency of this bottling year after year. Bright citrus, green apple, and flinty minerality, all wrapped in brisk acidity and a clean, sea-breeze finish. There’s no oak—just stainless steel fermentation and careful lees aging to add texture without weight. It’s a style that honors Chablis’ hallmark clarity and precision, with enough flesh to make it highly versatile at the table. Perfect with raw oysters, grilled sole, goat cheese, or a simple roast chicken. Serve chilled, and let it open up in the glass to reveal its quiet depth.
Brundlmayer Gruner Veltliner Kamptal 'Terrassen' 2024
Willi Brundlmayer farms 75 hectares of traditional Austrian varieties around Langenlois, where diverse micro-terroirs, Danube River influences, and wooded hillsides dominate the land. Large diurnal temperature swings help keep acid high, and many of his vines are over 50 years old. This classic expression of Kamptal Gruner shows fruit-forward flavors of green apple, crunchy pear, and white pepper driven acidity. Perfect for sipping on the patio beneath the sun!
Domaine de Terrebrune Bandol Rose 2024
Oh, Bandol Rosé, how we love thee. Pale salmon-flesh color, this bottle is classic Mourvèdre-dominant, Bandol rosé. Balanced tones of fruit and a bright acidity are highlighted by flavors of strawberry, blood orange, vibrant raspberry. Great plenitude of flavors including passion fruit, and a beautiful minerally freshness which comes from the limestone soil. Pairs great with seafood, especially a hearty seafood stew on a cold night. Open a bottle and feel whisked away to the French Riviera.
Lucia by Pisoni Pinot Noir Santa Lucia Highlands 2022
This estate is managed by the Pisoni Family, and the price to quality ratio is nearly unmatched. Year in, year out, these wines over-deliver. Coming mostly from the Pisoni Vineyard, with the balance Garys and Soberanes, the Lucia Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir offers terrific depth and concentration, with loads of black cherry, black raspberry, spring flower and forest floor aromas and flavors. Brought up in 50% new barrels, it’s a serious appellation blend that has real depth and length, and overdelivers in spades.
Ridge Lytton Springs Red Blend 2023
RIDGE's history begins in 1885, when Osea Perrone, a doctor and prominent member of San Francisco's Italian community, bought 180 acres near the top of Monte Bello Ridge in the Santa Cruz Mountains. He planted vineyards and constructed a winery of redwood and native limestone in time to produce the first vintage of Monte Bello in 1892. The historic building now serves as the RIDGE production facility.
The 2023 Lytton Springs hails from a little further north, and is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise.
Trefethen Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Built in 1886, John and Janet Trefethen began restoring what is today the Trefethen winery in 1973. A national historic landmark and the only wooden gravity-flow winery in the Napa Valley, Trefethen is also one of Napa's largest estate wineries, with its 600 acres of vineyards surrounding the winery. The Trefethen family exhibits a multitude of different varietals, Cabernet being their flagship.
A medium-bodied cabernet sauvignon with dark berries, currants, bark, thyme and some stones. Fine tannins with a refined texture. Layered and well-crafted with a flavorful juicy finish.
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly 2023
At Château Thivin, the oldest wine-growing estate in Mont-Brouilly, there reigns a special atmosphere — that of a château on a human scale where the6 generations of the Geoffray family have been producing quality wines in the greatest respect for the terroirs. One of the region’s great examples of Gamay’s more structured, noble, and earthy side is Château Thivin’s Côte de Brouilly. Originating along the steep slopes of Mont Brouilly in an incredibly unique soil of Pierre bleue—a strikingly blue volcanic stone—this flinty red vividly evokes the mountain’s special terroir. Notes of brambly fruit, pomegranate, and spice dance atop a minerally foundation, making for a wine that exudes both the convivial charm of Gamay and the crunchy intensity of the Côte de Brouilly. Thivin is not only the Côte’s benchmark domaine but also one of the great estates in the entire region.
Montmirial Gigondas
The Chateau de Montmirail is the largest vineyard owner in the Gigondas appellation, so they were able to put a blend together from their oldest vines that is truly remarkable. Rich and dark in color, this wine shows remarkable finesse for the vintage. This crowd-pleaser has a nose of ripe blackberries and earth tones followed by a wine with good length, balance and a rich mouthfeel.
Paolo Scavino Barolo DOCG 2020
The Paolo Scavino 2020 Barolo (with Enrico Scavinos signature on the front of the bottle) has a handful of savory herbs, barbecue rub, ripe plum, sweet cherry and dried currant. A beautiful Barolo here with a touch of dried spices and hints of aniseed. Melted, chalky tannins on the palate with medium to full body and a long, mineral-driven finish. It ends with balanced freshness.
Château Brane-Cantenac Le Baron de Brane Margaux 2017
The 2017 Château Brane-Cantenac "Le Baron de Brane" is a second wine from the Margaux appellation that is medium-bodied and elegant. It has a silky texture, fine tannins, and a long, persistent finish, making it drinkable now but with aging potential. A very refined nose with redcurrants, red flowers and a complex mix of light, fresh earth and tobacco leaf. The palate delivers a bright, fresh impression with fine, lively tannins casting a very vibrant and succulent, red-fruit finish. A blend of 53% merlot, 41% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc and 1% carmenere. Second wine of Chateau Brane-Cantenac. Drink or hold.
Esprit de Saint-Pierre St. Julien 2016
Long been a fan of Saint-Pierre—serious St-Julien at a rewarding price point. At its best, the château operates at a level that challenges the big names of the Left Bank, as it did in the great vintages of the past decade, especially 2016. That was the year Jane Anson wrote that “Saint-Pierre is right up there with the best examples you can find” in what she called “the most effortlessly brilliant vintage in St-Julien.” 2016’s have a soft spot for us, so no surprise, their Esprit de Saint-Pierre shows the remarkable depth of the Grand Vin and the balance of the 2016, delivering outstanding value for its category. The wine opens with red fruit and floral aromatics, leading to a palate that moves between bright and deep red fruit—cassis, cherry—and subtle earthiness. Great texture and acidity carry fine tannins to an impressive finish. It shows just a touch of evolution, suggesting the very start of a long drinking window. Now approaching its second decade, this gem is drinking beautifully and should continue effortlessly for another ten years.
12 Days of Holiday Wine 2025 – Full bottle
Michel Gonet Grand Cru Mesnil sur Oger Blanc de Blancs 2015
Gonet is a very old name in Champagne. The family moved to Champagne from the Beaujolais in the 15th century and worked in the vineyards before establishing a Champagne house in the early 1800s. Each subsequent generation helped lay a foundation for a successful Domaine with the most recent patriarch, Michel Gonet, enlarging the cellars and refocusing their winemaking in the 1970s. From the classic Grand Cru village of Mesnil-sur-Oger, known for its razor-sharp acidity, comes this elegant vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne. Delicate aromas of citrus and green apple are given weight by a lightly creamy, biscuit texture. Acidity is nervy and cutting, still very fresh over eight years after the vintage. A long, persistent, subtly spicy finish completes this keenly priced wine. Round notes of lemon curd, yeasty brioche, and poached pears. This is bright and lean with a lingering texture on the palate. Fermented in stainless steel. Aged on the lees for over 7 years before disgorgement. Bottled without dosage as Brut Nature. Vintage Blanc de Blancs Champagne from Grand Cru vineyards? Yes please!
Cantina Terlan Pinot Bianco Terlano Riserva Vorberg
From quite possibly the best White Winery in all of Italy, this Pinot Bianco is stunning. The south-facing slopes of Monzoccolo in the Terlano DOC area are the location of steep and sunny vineyards at altitudes between 450 and 650 meters above sea level, where this very exciting Pinot Bianco flourishes. This rich and highly complex wine is impressive for its minerality and considerable capacity for development and thus underscores the full potential of this grape variety. Think whole grilled Branzino, in white wine butter and herb sauce. Some roasted potatoes and sauteed spinach on the side. YUM.
Paul Thomas Sancerre Chavignol 2024
Just east of Sancerre is the village of Chavignol, home of Domaine Paul Thomas. It is a small estate on the slopes of the Les Mont Damnés, from which they produce beautiful wines from the deepest, purest outcropping of Kimmeridgean limestone in Chavignol. Domaine Paul Thomas is run by Raphael Thomas, son of Paul. Raphael originally intended to pursue a career in physics, but after he passed away at the end of the harvest in 2000, he made the decision to carry out his father’s legacy. The top wine from this outstanding producer of Sancerre, this is sourced from older vines in ideal sloping sites surrounding the village of Chavignol. Rich, but mineral-hewn, with hints of tarragon and other green herbs, lemon-lime and rounder, riper fruit. Pure, clean and beautiful.
Lingua Franca Chardonnay Bunker Hill 2022
From proprietors Larry Stone (America’s 8th Master Sommelier and first American to win the prestigious Best International Sommelier in French Wines competition in Paris) along with co-conspirators Dominique Lafon and David Honig. We had the absolute privilege of enjoying a meal with him and tasting through the wines of Lingua Franca. His career spans 30 years as a restaurateur and sommelier at the Four Seasons, Charlie Trotter’s, and Rubicon Restaurant among others, and culminates at Lingua Franca. That is where his dream of cultivating an exceptional Oregon vineyard and making honest wines has been realized. The 2022 Bunker hill hails from one of the windiest, coolest sites on the property, and is often harvested after all of the Pinot Noir has been. This is pale yellow-green color with a predominantly mineral aroma of flint, river stone, green apples, and green olives, fresh herbs, lemon zest and yellow flowers emerge. On the palate it is precise and taut, with wet stone and saline notes, crisp green apples and thyme. The finish is persistent and firm, with a mouthwatering mineral quality. This is a vintage with finely chiseled features at Bunker Hill. Our Bunker Hill Estate Vineyard in the South Salem Hills and is the oldest source of fruit for any of our wines, having been planted in 1995 to CH76. It is among the earliest of the Dijon-clone plantings in Oregon, situated on the remnant of a pioneer farm.
Raen Winery Pinot Noir Royal St. Robert 2023
Some of the most consistently brilliant wines being made in California are crafted by the team at Raen. The Mondavi family members Carlo and Dante Mondavi produce this stunning pure Pinot Noir from Sonoma's rugged coast in one of the most breathtaking sites located only a few miles from the Pacific Ocean where it receives foggy mornings and marine breezes and rocky marine soils to produce grapes with remarkable tension. The cuvée bears the name of their grandfather as a tribute to him while establishing itself as the standard for California Pinot Noir produced in cool climates.
“An amazingly complex, dynamic wine that demands your attention from the first sniff to the lingering finish. Aromas of redwood forest, rosemary, purple flowers and black cherries, then black tea, pomegranate, dark cherry, dried raspberry and wild mushroom flavors. Fine-grained moderate tannins and crunchy acidity give it such a firm backbone.”
James Suckling #1 USA Wine of 2025
Château Thivin Côte de Brouilly 2023
At Château Thivin, the oldest wine-growing estate in Mont-Brouilly, there reigns a special atmosphere — that of a château on a human scale where the6 generations of the Geoffray family have been producing quality wines in the greatest respect for the terroirs. One of the region’s great examples of Gamay’s more structured, noble, and earthy side is Château Thivin’s Côte de Brouilly. Originating along the steep slopes of Mont Brouilly in an incredibly unique soil of Pierre bleue—a strikingly blue volcanic stone—this flinty red vividly evokes the mountain’s special terroir. Notes of brambly fruit, pomegranate, and spice dance atop a minerally foundation, making for a wine that exudes both the convivial charm of Gamay and the crunchy intensity of the Côte de Brouilly. Thivin is not only the Côte’s benchmark domaine but also one of the great estates in the entire region.
Driven by a passion for Burgundy and the dream of making wine, Japanese Sommelier Koji Nakada left his native Tokyo in 1996 and moved to Beaune to study oenology at the prestigious CFPPA. The first thing he had to do was learn French. He enrolled in language class at Dijon where his teacher was the lovely Jae Hwa Park, an expatriated Korean. During Koji’s studies in Beaune, the two dated and then married. They formed Maison Lou Dumont, their artisanal micro-negociant domaine in Gevrey-Chambertin, in 2000.
Koji’s goal is to produce pure, honest, regionally correct Burgundy of minimal manipulation from organically farmed grapes. Koji and Jae Hwa believe that a respectful and balanced approach to the environment and viticultural practices elicits the highest quality juice. The three Japanese characters on their label stand for sky, earth, and man, with all three together representing the concept of terroir.
The name Lou Dumont, is a combination of their goddaughter’s name Lou (who Koji says is charming and with much character, as are their wines), and from the French for “mountains,” a nod to the hilly terrains where both Koji and Jae Hwa grew up. In 2012 Koji and Jae Hwa purchased their first parcels of land in Burgundy: no small feat for a non-native Burgundian. The classic Chambolle-Musigny wine is powerful, yet refined and perfumed. Along with Vosne-Romanée and Gevrey-Chambertin, the village is considered to produce some of the finest Pinot Noir wines on earth. The perfume which characterizes the wines has earned Chambolle a reputation as the 'Volnay' of the Côte de Nuits.
Alain Graillot Crozes-Hermitage 2023
In France’s Northern Rhone Valley, there are few names as revered as Graillot. It was in 1985 that the late, legendary Alain Graillot, who after working with the venerable Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac, came back to his home in Crozes-Hermitage to start his own domaine. With each passing year his devotion to the art of making hauntingly delicious Syrah from his organically farmed, stone-laden vineyards, was rewarded with an ever growing and highly dedicated following around the world. Alain’s sons Maxime and Antoine have been in charge since 2008, continuing the legacy set forth by their father. All the work is still completely the same as it ever was: hand-harvesting, organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, and aging the wines primarily in 1-to-3 year old barrels purchased from some of the top estates in Burgundy. In great years, the domaine also makes tiny quantities of a barrel selection knows as “La Guiraude,” a rare and remarkably complex wine of particular distinction. The domaine’s status as one of the top addresses in all of France is without question and the entire lineup are must-haves for any serious Northern Rhone fan.
O'Shaughnessy Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2021
O'Shaughnessy's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley bottling is blended from vineyards in Oakville and on Howell Mountain and Mount Veeder. Nails the varietal-regional character, easily combining ripe black cherries and cassis with streaks of vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, with a long, mouthwatering finish and softly dusty tannins. Easy to enjoy now and over the next decade, it's the sort of reasonably priced, high-quality effort true wine lovers should be rushing out to find. Powerful but polished and full-bodied.
Branaire Ducru Bordeaux 2014
Chateau Branaire-Ducru's 120 acres is located in the St. Julien region of France and has such famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose and Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou. The name, given by the former owner Monsieur Ducru, means "beautiful pebbles". One of the main features of the vineyard is its richness in pebbles, which contribute to the greatness of so many wines of Bordeaux. In 1942 the Borie family purchased and completely revamped the vineyard, and it began receiving top ratings amongst the Fourth Growths. Successive generations of the Borie family oversee all winemaking operations.
The 2014 Branaire-Ducru is medium to deep garnet in color. Fragrant scents of kirsch, candied violets, and fallen leaves drift gently from the glass, with hints of Sichuan pepper and black olives in the background. The medium-bodied palate is all class, with great tension and fine-grained tannins framing the elegant perfumed fruit, finishing minerally.
Casanova di Neri Brunello 2020
Casanova di Neri farm was founded in 1971 by Giovanni Neri following the purchase of an estate in the Montalcino area. Since the founder's passing in 1991, his son Giacomo has headed the company, managing the vineyards and the cellar himself, now assisted by his sons Giovanni and Gianlorenzo, an example of continuity in the family tradition. Since the beginning, Casanova di Neri’s philosophy has been based on zonation and pursuing the best terroirs to research and enjoy the best vineyards of the Montalcino area in order to produce unique and distinctive wines, with great character. Casanova di Neri’s legendary Cerretalto vineyard – the source of their $400 flagship Brunello di Montalcino – didn’t produce a dedicated bottling in 2020. Instead, many of those precious grapes from the reddish mineral-rich soils were redirected into this white label Brunello. Surely that played a paramount role in this becoming the highest decorated entry-level Brunello di Montalcino of the entire 2020 vintage, a 96, 95, 95, 94, 94, 94-point masterpiece that critics unanimously call spicier and more powerful than any in recent memory. This is a gorgeous, age-worthy Brunello from one of Montalcino’s most consistently highly decorated producers, offering savvy collectors the chance to lock into something exceptional for an absolute steal compared to its flagship sibling. This vintage offers captivating aromas of ripe red cherry, plum, and hints of dried herbs and leather. The palate is structured yet elegant, with firm tannins, vibrant acidity, and concentrated flavors of dark fruit, earthy notes, and a long, nuanced finish. Pair with roasted meats, game, or aged Pecorino Toscano for a classic Tuscan pairing. A testament to Montalcino's greatness.
Virna Barolo Sarmassa 2018
The village of Barolo lies in the center of the Langhe, the most prestigious wine-growing area in Piedmont. Lodovico Borgogno’s family lives and works here in Barolo, on their “Borgognot” estate. The family has owned vineyards in Barolo since 1720, and have always attached particular importance to the work carried out in the vineyards and the selection of only the best grapes. The passion for these hills has also infected Lodovico’s daughter, Virna. After completing her studies in enology at the winemaking school in Alba in 1988, she joined her father Lodovico in the running of the family farm, and three years later she became the first woman in Italy to graduate with a first class honors degree in winemaking techniques from Turin University.
The Virna 2018 Barolo Sarmassa sources its fruit from a fully south-facing site planted to 50-year-old vines. The wine offers a two-fold delivery of both power and grace. The fruit is finely nuanced with forest berry and wild plum, but there are chalky mineral sensations with plenty of blue flower and fragrant tea leaf. The tannins give firm support.
Beautiful nose of wild strawberries and raspberries, dried flowers and mushrooms, tree bark and some flirty, cinnamon-like spice. Medium-to full-bodied with very fine, firm tannins that are coated in bright fruit and minerals. The complex fruit character is still there at the end. So Nebbiolo and so good.
