2019 Brunello di Montalcino is “…the vintage we’ve all been waiting for,” so “Buckle your seatbelts,” and strap on your helmets because the newest vintage from Montalcino is “…an embarrassment of riches for collectors and fans of the appellation” (Eric Guido, Vinous Media). The hotly anticipated Brunellos have “…definitely lived up to [their] lofty reputation as an excellent vintage across Montalcino” (Kerin O’Keefe). It showcases the extraordinary qualities of Sangiovese, Tuscany’s most famous and beloved grape variety, and its ability to exploit the region’s phenomenal terroir. This “…magical year…” (Giacomo Neri of Casanova di Neri) of “radiance and appeal” (Eric Guido) will likely set a new benchmark for Brunello wines for years to come.
According to Italian wine expert, Kerin O’Keefe, she has “…never tasted so many drop-dead-gorgeous young Brunellos from a single vintage.” She confesses that many of the best wines stopped her in her tracks, generating that “…magical moment
There are few things that scream “summer!” more than preparing a fresh seafood dinner for your friends and family. Our 
Several years ago, when I was still living in Sag Harbor, New York, a colleague invited me to an early dinner so we could try a bottle he recently picked up. He kept telling me, “it’s like nothing else man! You’re going to love it!” At this point, I had been in the wine business for several years, and I had heard this proclamation many, many times usually followed by some level of disappointment.
Working in wine, I’m lucky to have access to wines from all over the world. So what has caught my palate recently? Cool climate Syrah. While Syrah has been more associated with the jammy style of Australian Shiraz or California’s high-temp Paso Robles, this grape has so much more to offer. “Floral”, “iron-veined”, “spiced berry”, “feminine elegance”, “perfect acidity”—all are often applied to Syrah grown in choice locations, cooled by wind, fog, or altitude. It’s easy to see why I’ve been seeking out these wines for my cellar and my table more and more! I’m happy to highlight today a bottle that I have especially enjoyed lately—the 
Summer is filled with endless celebrations, including one of the most important occasions – weddings. A lot of thought goes into selecting just the right gift for the newly weds, and we’re here to tell you that the gift of Champagne is a perfect one. 
Rosé pairs well with a side of sunshine, and with summer quickly approaching, we’d like to share our top recommendations that we love and our customers love. All selections featured here come from Provence, the world leader when it comes to Rosé. They can be enjoyed at the beach, on a picnic or sipping poolside. Not only are these selections delicious and drinking well now, they are all priced under $22!
“In the Esclans Valley angels whisper. If you drink this wine, you might hear them. If by chance you visit us, you might see them.”—Sacha Alexis Lichine
There is no doubt that Chateauneuf-du-Pape is a unique wine region—from its famous rounded “galet” stones which blanket the vineyards to the sometimes extravagant lengths that appellation rules go to in protecting the land (a 1954 law banning UFO flyovers is still in effect). It’s only fitting then that we should be tasting a unique wine! While some 95% of Chateuneuf-du-Pape wines are reds, there exists a small minority of whites produced—including today’s 
For many Americans, no wine better encapsulates Italy than Chianti. Having come into vogue packaged in a straw basket known, foretellingly perhaps, as a “fiasco”, this wine had the ideal combination of food-friendly taste and low-price that made it a pasta night classic. Chianti was destined, however, to become a victim of its own success. Feeling the pressures of a burgeoning market, producers took to increasing harvest yields and adding in higher percentages of unremarkable grapes leading to thoroughly lackluster wines. For a while, Chianti seemed to be destined to the bottom shelf.
Producer Stephane Riffault (son of the titular Claude) and the Sancerre region have one thing in common—a close connection to Burgundy. For Sancerre, the relationship to Burgundy is physical. A mere hour and a half by car from Chablis, it shares some of the climatic and geological traits of this other region famed for its crisp whites. For Riffault, it’s emotional. Riffault spent time both working and studying with Burgundy producer, Leflaive. His brother, Etienne, has also found success making wine in Puligny-Montrachet and the two often share winemaking critiques and the fruit of their labor with each other. This has led to a style of Sancerre all his own, characterized by Stephane in an interview as a mix of the Burgundy and Berry zones or “Bourguichon”, which have “the unctuousness of chardonnay while keeping the freshness of sauvignon blanc.”
In European winemaking, family feuds are nothing unusual. Angelo Monaldeschi, nearly 700 years ago, made his home in the Castello della Salla hoping to rule the city of Orvieto. He faced competition, however, from his three brothers, each of whom raised their own fighting force to conquer the town. As told by Marchesi Antinori’s website, “the largest was called the Cervara (the Stag), […] another the Cane (the Dog), a third the Aquila (the Eagle), and, the clan of Angelo, the most warlike of the entire family, the Vipera (the Viper).” The Vipera and the Cervara clans would continue to fight for nearly a century until a truce was brokered. With peace restored, the ancient stronghold of the Monaldeschis would pass through many hands, ending with the Antinori family in 1940. Taking inspiration from this story, Antinori chose the name for the estate’s top wine and today’s star—the