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For centuries, the finest Sangiovese has been produced from within Chianti Classico, the historic heart of the Chianti region in the hills of Tuscany. Tenuta di Arceno lies among these hills and is home to this special wine. A modern Tuscan estate with a rich history, the winery is situated in the commune of Castelnuovo Berardenga on one of the regions’ most historic estates, comprised of 2,500 acres, only 220 of which are planted to vines.

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Smith Woodhouse is a specialist producer of premium quality Ports. The uniformity of this quality is underpinned by Smith Woodhouse’s own Madalena vineyard from where the wines are largely sourced. This small Quinta (vineyard property) has the highest “A” quality rating and is located in the Rio Torto district, acknowledged as one of the finest Port growing areas. Over the coming years, the recently acquired Quinta do Vale Coelho, further upriver in the Douro Superior, producing full and elegant wines, will gradually form an important component of Smith Woodhouse’s Ports.

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This wine, in our view, has always been a bit of a sleeper (meaning overlooked) in the context of vintage Port. Especially now, with 20 years of bottle age, it is stunning and delicious in its developed complexity. It still has cellar life ahead, too, if that is your inclination.

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A Monthly Wine Club Selection
100% Tempranillo. 18 months in French oak barrels followed by 3 months in 22hL Allier French oak foudres. The 2015 Altanza Reserva is a gorgeous expression of Tempranillo. Beautifully textured with layers of supple fruit, this wine is drinking beautifully right now and illustrates all the things we love about an optimally developed Rioja. An impressive effort, to say the least—a Rioja in its prime!

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A blend of Xarel-lo, Macabeo & Parellada, but unlike any Cava we have tasted. The base wines were aged in a combination of stainless steel and chestnut barrels for 6 months. After the second fermentation the wines rested on the lees in cork-finished bottles for 6 years. Periodic agitation contributes to the yeast autolysis and complexity. The result is a remarkably elegant and graceful Cava, bone dry but by no means austere, and with a creamy mid-palate, light toast and a hint of fennel on the long finish. Mestres is a family firm now being run by the 30th generation.

Calera's Pinots are consistently among the finest produced in California. At elevations as high as 2500 ft, Ryan is the highest among Calera's organically farmed blocks at the northern end of the Gavilan range. It is named for Jim Ryan, long-time vineyard manager.

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Quite a few parcels comprise Les Matheny’s Chardonnay. Emeric vinifies each one separately, deciding on the final blend only after each individual wine develops its personality with time in barrel. Tasting Notes: Produced from vines averaging 45 years of age, the wine soars from the glass, a storm of ripe green apples, freshly blasted quarry, and musky honey. The palate is both firm and expansive, with a generous pinch of telltale Jurassic salt lengthening the complex, penetrating flavors of greengage and candied lemon. Emeric’s “partial sous-voile” approach shows in the wine’s gently oxidative edge—one that bows to the veil without making a virtue of it. For such a bold and assertive wine to remain so straightforwardly delicious is a difficult balancing act.

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A Red Cellar Trio Wine Club Selection
One of three estates owned and operated by Esporão, Quinta dos Murças traces its history back to 1714. The estate is nestled on the right bank of the Douro River, between the towns of Regua and Pinhao, and stretches 3.2 km along the riverfront. Quinta dos Murças possesses 155 hectares, of which 48 are under vine and planted to indigenous grape varieties. Characterized by eight distinct terroirs, the estate is also distinguished by the remarkable vertical topography of its slopes. In fact, Quinta dos Murças pioneered the practice of vertical vineyards in the Douro Valley; and as of 2021, the entire estate has been certified organic, a reflection of Esporão’s commitment to organic and sustainable agriculture.

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A very rich and deeply flavored Northern Rhone red. The Syrah was co-fermented with 3% Viognier, an approach which adds aromatic lift to the nose and softens the tannins a bit. Cellar-worthy for 10-20 years with the promise of greater complexity in time. Christophe Billon farms 10 hectares of vines in Côte Rotie, Condrieu and VdP Colline Rhodanniennes. The average vine age in the Côte Roties is 30 years, but the oldest block was planted by his grandfather in 1942.

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A Monthly Wine Club Selection
F. Thienpont is the personal project of François Thienpont, the Bordeaux luminary whose family owns legendary Right Bank estates Vieux Château Certan and Le Pin, as well as Château Puygeraud. Established in 2000 to highlight the best qualities of the vintage, the F. Thienpont wines are fruit driven and demonstrative of the elegance expected of the appellation; primarily Merlot-based wines grown on the Monbadon plateau east of Saint-Émilion, in vineyards that have been cultivated for over 10 years using completely organic methods. For this project, François brought on legendary oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt, who works for many Bordeaux wineries (including Beausejour Du›au-Lagarrosse, Pavie-Macquin, La Mondotte and Clos Fourtet) as consulting oenologist.

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A Quarterly Red Cellar Trio Wine Club Selection
Ruby robe. Rich layered aromas of dried red fruits laced with savory herbs. The palate is ripe and engaging with intense flavors of Damson plum, black cherry and fig, with a subtle dusting of cocoa and spice. Expansive, with a graceful, long arching finish and perfectly polished tannins. A wonderful example of Amarone done right!