Winemaker Notes This powerful wine with ripe aromas calls for similar dishes: sole fried in butter with almonds, Bresse chicken with truffle and foie gras, rosé fried veal kidneys with 'moutarde à l'ancienne' cream sauce, turbot or brill with a creamy butter/white wine sauce, monkfish ham with beurre blanc, lobster with vanilla butter About Winery Kistler Vineyards is a small winery in the Russian River Valley specializing in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Founded in 1978 on the notion that compelling wines of site can and should be made in California. Kistler has been working with their own heritage selection of Chardonnay since the mid-1980s and is known the world over as a single clone Chardonnay house. They plant one heritage selection of Chardonnay across fifteen vineyards, giving rise to eleven vineyard designate Chardonnays. Similarly, Kistler produces four Pinot Noirs; each of these wines is crafted from the two small-clustered, low-yielding clones that were imported from a Grand Cru vineyard in Burgundy, which they began propagating over 20 years ago. Geoff Labitzke, MW, is the National Director of Sales for Kistler Vineyards and will be our guide as we explore five distinct bottlings of Kistler’s highly sought-after wines.

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PRE-ORDER Winemaker Notes The wine opens with an enticing bouquet of peach, orange oil, white flowers, and hazelnuts, leading to a medium to full-bodied, satiny palate that is "seamless and layered" About Winery Founded in 1859 by Louis Henry Denis Jadot, Maison Louis Jadot is a premier Burgundy producer with roots dating back to 1794. The house focuses on expressing terroir, holding over 60 hectares of vines. Their Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "Les Baudes" is a structured, long-aging Pinot Noir sourced from vines near Morey-Saint-Denis. 

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Winemaker Notes The small clusters of the 2022 vintage allowed us to make Chardonnays with appealing intensity, balance, and nuance. Our Sonoma Coast Chardonnay showcases three of the top vineyards in the region – Sangiacomo, Durell, and Gap’s Crown – with the goal of creating a cuvée that illustrates the varietal’s exceptional character across the region. We picked and fermented each component of this blend separately and aged them all for 11 months in 30% new French oak barrels. The resulting blend offers compelling new world aromas with fresh acidity and focus, reminiscent of the old world. About Winery Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 by two tennis friends, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley, who shared a passion for great wine and tennis. They started with small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyard sources. Over the years, Sojourn Cellars has grown into a boutique winery producing highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their hands-off winemaking style allows the character of the vineyard sites to shine through in the wines.

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Winemaker Notes This native-yeast-fermented Chardonnay features bright, zesty lemon aromas complemented by charming white flower notes. On the palate, it offers fresh and mouthwatering flavors of ripe pear, apple, quince, and hints of baking spice and chalky minerality About Winery Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 by two tennis friends, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley, who shared a passion for great wine and tennis. They started with small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyard sources. Over the years, Sojourn Cellars has grown into a boutique winery producing highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their hands-off winemaking style allows the character of the vineyard sites to shine through in the wines.

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Winemaker Notes This native-yeast-fermented Chardonnay features bright, zesty lemon aromas complemented by charming white flower notes. On the palate, it offers fresh and mouthwatering flavors of ripe pear, apple, quince, and hints of baking spice and chalky minerality About Winery Sojourn Cellars was founded in 2001 by two tennis friends, Craig Haserot and Erich Bradley, who shared a passion for great wine and tennis. They started with small bottlings of Cabernet Sauvignon from exceptional vineyard sources. Over the years, Sojourn Cellars has grown into a boutique winery producing highly acclaimed Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Their hands-off winemaking style allows the character of the vineyard sites to shine through in the wines.

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PRE-ORDER Winemaker Notes The 2022 Thierry Laffay Chablis 1er Cru Vaillons is a refined white wine characterized by a steely, mineral-driven profile, featuring notes of citrus, green apple, and white-fleshed fruit. It typically displays a balanced, medium-bodied structure with crisp acidity and a lingering mineral finish, reflecting the limestone-rich Vaillons terroir.  About Winery Founded in 1978 in the heart of Chablis, France, Domaine Thierry Laffay is a 7-hectare family estate known for traditional, high-quality Chardonnay. Managed by Thierry Laffay since 1985, the estate focuses on lutte raisonnée (sustainable farming) and produces taut, mineral-driven wines, with daughters Mélanie and Maïlys taking over in 2024. 

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PRE-ORDER Winemaker Notes The 2022 Thierry Laffay Chablis Grand Cru Vaudésir is a dense, opulent, and highly refined white wine, reflecting a warm vintage with notes of citrus, white fruit, and stony, saline minerals. Sourced from 0.25 hectares of 1978 plantings, this Grand Cru offers more sophistication and finesse than the Bougros, with significant aging potential.  About Winery Founded in 1978 in the heart of Chablis, France, Domaine Thierry Laffay is a 7-hectare family estate known for traditional, high-quality Chardonnay. Managed by Thierry Laffay since 1985, the estate focuses on lutte raisonnée (sustainable farming) and produces taut, mineral-driven wines, with daughters Mélanie and Maïlys taking over in 2024. 

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Winemaker Notes The official winemaker notes for the 2022 Vasse Felix Cabernet Sauvignon (historically known as the Premier Cabernet) detail a bright, deep garnet wine shaped by a cool spring and a warm, dry summer. It features vibrant complexity, a fresh entry, a fleshy core with buoyant acidity, and an impeccable fine tannin structure. About Winery Vasse Felix is the oldest wine estate in the Margaret River region of Western Australia, founded in 1967 by cardiologist Dr. Thomas Brendan Cullity. Cullity planted the first 8 acres of vines to prove the area's potential for fine winemaking, naming the estate after French sailor Timothée Vasse. David and Anne Gregg bought it in 1984, and the Holmes à Court family took over in 1987.

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Winemaker Notes Tasting a bit riper than the 2021 due to the heat during the 2022 harvest, but still an elegant, well-balanced wine. This wine is golden in color, aromatic in lemon-butter, vanilla bean and golden apples, with vivid acidity. Medium-bodied. About Winery Winemaker Stephané grew up in Meloisey, Burgundy in the Hautes-Côtes de Beaune. He learned from a 70-year-old winegrower in Pommard. He obtained advanced degrees in viticulture and enology from Université de Bourgogne in Dijon, and subsequently worked in Switzerland, Sonoma and New Zealand. He was attracted to American vineyards where winemakers were not bound by tradition or AOC restrictions. The winery was designed and developed to accommodate every aspect of de Villaine's winemaking philosophy of minimal intervention. Aubert de Villaine, former Co-Director of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, married Larry Hyde’s cousin, Pamela, bringing the two families together. To Stéphane, the best winemaker is one that largely keeps his hands to himself, allowing the alchemy of nature to do what it does best. He thinks of himself as a lazy winemaker, in the best sense that the wine is made in the vineyard and the winemakers best skill is staying out of the way of the fruit’s expression in the cellar. Today, Vivier is one of the United States’ most noted practitioners of the art of Pinot Noir.

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Winemaker Notes The nose is accented by Meyer lemon, yellow apple, and pear notes. Undertones of mint and greengage offer a layer of complexity while a hint of Meyer lemon pith contributes spiciness. The palate is round and unctuous owing to the well-developed tannin structure and moderate acid profile. Flavours of Meyer lemon and lemon curd envelope the palate. The older vines are blended with newer plantings of Calera and Wente clones, which brings terrific balance and is wonderfully nuanced and elegant. About Winery Like most good stories, the history of Williams Selyem owes much to serendipity. If a grower with an abundance of fruit hadn’t given Burt Williams a few tonnes of free grapes in the 1970s, Burt might never have discovered his love and flair for winemaking. And if Burt and his partner Ed Selyem had been able to afford the French Burgundies they both favoured, they might never have tried making their own pinot noir. The two friends didn’t set out to produce wines for anyone but themselves. And they surely never imagined that their humble experiment in home winemaking would spawn a cult-status winery of international acclaim. Together, Burt and Ed set a new standard for American-made pinot noir, and elevated Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley to among the best wine growing regions in the world. Now considered Russian River Valley royalty, Williams Selyem are responsible for some of the most sought-after handcrafted expressions of pinot noir across both the New World and Old.

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Winemaker Notes The 2023 Alpha Omega Chardonnay is straw yellow with hints of gold. Youthful aromas of golden delicious apple and stone fruit, accent notes of white flower, toasted cereal grains, French toast, honey and phyllo dough. An exciting core of melon, kumquat and lemon custard fruit mix with hints of hazelnut, nutmeg, maple candy and stony minerality. After whole cluster pressing, the Chardonnay Napa Valley 2021was barrel fermented in 100% French oak, 33% new barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation provides a richer and fuller aspect to the wine that was then aged in the same barrel composition for 19 months with periodic stirring of the lees. To soften the impact of oak and preserve freshness, the winemakers selected larger puncheons for 30% of the barrels. About Winery Established in 2006, Alpha Omega’s mission is to create artisanal wines drawing on Old World vineyard handcrafted practices and emphasis on unique terroir driven characteristics that reveal a sense of place combined with New World technology and science. The winery, located on the Rutherford Bench in the heart of Napa Valley, exudes the utmost experience of hospitality in an authentic place reflective of the Napa Valley farming community. Presenting world-class wines in a convivial setting remains just as paramount to vintners Robin and Michelle Baggett today as when they opened the winery’s doors on July 1, 2006. Alpha Omega boasts a picturesque setting, highlighted by views of its landmark water fountains and reflecting pond, stunning vineyards and the statuesque Mayacamas Mountains. The breathtaking scenery makes for the perfect backdrop to enjoy the handcrafted wines made with grapes from prized, historic vineyards by Alpha Omega’s talented winemaking team. A warm staff of well-trained wine educators, the postcard-worthy setting and the modern farm-style architecture of the winery on Napa Valley’s famous Highway 29, paired with beautiful wines was the intentional vision the Baggetts conceived when they toured the valley in 2005 searching for a property to purchase to open their first winery together. To create an estate comparable to the finest in the valley, the Baggetts took on the project in the same fashion that helped them achieve success in other fields — Robin as an attorney, grape grower and vintner in San Luis Obispo and Michelle as an international hotel interior designer later becoming a hospitality marketing and communication professional and branding whiz. Creating the brand name Alpha Omega in 2005 predestined their ambition to craft the ultimate winery experience from beginning to end. Today, Alpha Omega is honored that its estate is considered one of the top wineries in the region. When it came to building its brand, Alpha Omega spared no expense. There were no limits for the starry-eyed vintners who aimed to bring their vision to fruition. Several months into negotiations for the property, Sir Peter Newton of Newton Vineyards suggested to the Baggetts that they talk to his winemaker and assistant winemaker about joining their new winery project. This team together had excelled at making award-winning wines for Newton Vineyards in Napa Valley and left to do the same for Alpha Omega. The Baggetts’ relationships in the valley afforded them the opportunity to procure the best grapes from prized vineyards throughout the top AVAs of Napa Valley — most notably Thomas Vineyard in Rutherford, Beckstoffer To Kalon in Oakville, Beckstoffer Georges III in Rutherford, Beckstoffer Dr. Crane and Beckstoffer Las Piedras in St. Helena, Stagecoach in Atlas Peak, Drew Vineyard in Mount Veeder and Sunshine Valley in the Oak Knoll District.

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Winemaker Notes This wine has a beautiful white gold hue with delicate pale green glimmers. The seductive and classic Chablis nose offers notes of vine peach, banana, citrus fruits, and brioche. The palate is well-balanced, rich, fresh, and elegant, with a smooth, rich structure that lingers on the finish. Ripe fruits combine harmoniously with mineral notes to create a soft mouthfeel.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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Winemaker Notes The 2023 Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis 1er Cru Fourchaume presents an elegant, fruit-forward profile with a richer, more generous texture balanced by trademark salinity and precision. Sourced from the estate's south-facing Vaupulans parcel and vinified under winemaker Olivier Bailly, it highlights the distinct typicity of Chablis.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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Winemaker Notes Clear, bright hue with light green tinges. This Premier Cru reveals a remarkably rich aromatic profile with ripe citrus fruits and white flowers. The palate is rich and round with exceptional length.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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Winemaker Notes The 2023 Billaud Simon Chablis 1ER Cru Montee De Tonnerre is a complex, elegant wine featuring lemon peel, green apple, and salty oyster-shell minerality. It is made from a blend of old vines fermented and aged entirely in stainless steel tanks.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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Winemaker Notes There is excellent density, especially for the vintage, to the middle weight flavors that are rich and caressing while maintaining good verve that carries over to the clean, dry and youthfully austere finale. This could use more depth but the fine potential is evident. Lovely.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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Winemaker Notes The 2023 Billaud-Simon Chablis Bougros Grand Cru features rich, demonstrative aromas of candied fruits, apple pie spice, and intense minerals, balanced by a powerful, unctuous palate with hints of gingerbread and a long, saline finish.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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Winemaker Notes The Domaine Billaud-Simon Chablis Grand Cru Les Preuses 2023 is an elegant, cool, and mineral-driven white wine featuring aromas of ripe citrus, white orchard fruit, and flinty sea-shell elements.   About Winery Domaine Billaud-Simon, founded in 1815 in Chablis, is a historic estate whose vineyards lie on the banks of the Serein River, rooted in the region’s famed Kimmeridgian limestone soils rich with fossilized shells. Over generations, the Billaud and Simon families expanded holdings to include prestigious Grand Cru sites such as Les Clos, Vaudésir, Les Preuses, and Les Blanchots, as well as celebrated Premier Crus like Montée de Tonnerre and Vaillons. Known for its pure, mineral-driven Chardonnay, the winery emphasizes stainless steel vinification to preserve terroir clarity, with minimal oak influence. Since 2014, under the stewardship of the Faiveley family, Billaud-Simon continues to honor its legacy while refining quality, producing wines that embody the elegance, precision, and timeless character of Chablis.

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PRE-ORDER About Winery The Boigelot family’s winemaking tradition in Burgundy dates back to 1918, when Jacques Boigelot’s grandfather settled in the village of Monthélie. Jacques later ran a small estate producing handcrafted wines, and in 1990 his son Eric founded Domaine Eric Boigelot, incorporating the family’s 6 hectares. Eric trained at the renowned Coche-Dury estate before expanding the domaine to nearly 25 acres across Monthélie, Meursault, Volnay, and Pommard. In 1998, the winery relocated to Meursault, and today Eric works alongside his son Charles, the fourth generation, who also trained at Coche-Dury and Paul Pillot. Known for precise, terroir-driven Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the domaine continues to champion the Côte de Beaune’s understated elegance while preserving its deep family heritage.

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Winemaker Notes The 2023 Cakebread Chardonnay (Napa Valley, California, USA) opens with inviting aromas of ripe green and golden apple, white peach, and subtle oak spice. On the palate, it delivers rich flavors of apple, pear, melon, and citrus, supported by a creamy texture and vibrant acidity. Hints of minerality, vanilla, and lemon linger through the clean, refreshing finish. Elegant yet full-bodied, this Chardonnay shows superb balance and depth, with the potential to develop even greater complexity over several years of aging.     About Winery  Cakebread Cellars was founded in 1973 by Jack and Dolores Cakebread in Rutherford, Napa Valley, California. Their journey began when Jack, originally a photographer, visited Napa to shoot images for a wine book and ended up purchasing a small ranch. From those modest beginnings, the family built a winery that quickly gained recognition for its Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc, later expanding into Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and other varietals. Over the decades, Cakebread Cellars has grown into one of Napa Valley’s most respected family-owned wineries, known for its commitment to quality, sustainability, and hospitality, with wines now distributed internationally.

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