PRE-ORDER Winemaker Notes Krug 2006 presents a pale golden robe with fine, persistent bubbles, immediately revealing aromas of quince, candied citrus, and subtle dried fruits alongside delicate hints of brioche and toasted nuts. On the palate, it is both structured and refined, with a precise balance of Pinot Noir (53%), Meunier (25%), and Chardonnay (22%) that delivers layers of lemon zest, caramel apple, and chalky minerality. The cool vintage character shines through in its fresh acidity and remarkable tension, giving the wine a timeless elegance. The finish is long, complex, and vibrant, confirming its reputation as one of Krug’s most harmonious and age-worthy vintages. About Winery Krug Champagne is one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world, known for its commitment to quality and tradition. Krug was founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, a visionary who believed in creating the best Champagne every year, regardless of climate variations. He established the house in Reims, the heart of the Champagne region. Joseph Krug’s philosophy was to focus on the individuality of each plot and its wine, creating a library of reserve wines from different years to ensure consistency and excellence. Krug is credited with pioneering the concept of non-vintage Champagne, blending wines from multiple years to achieve a consistent and complex flavor profile.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The 2007 Blankiet Estate Rive Droite Merlot is a powerful, opulent, and complex wine from Napa Valley featuring dark fruit flavors like plum, blackberry tart, and black currant, complemented by notes of coffee bean, cocoa, kirsch, and savory undertones such as dried herbs and tobacco. It boasts a plush, full-bodied texture with a firm but grainy structure and excellent freshness and length, offering a harmonious blend of fruit and savory elements that is approachable now but will continue to evolve in the bottle for many years.  About Winery Paradise Hills is farmed organically and is Napa Green Certified. Greek and Roman farmers knew that better wines are made from vines that are planted on hillside vineyards in depleted soil. This type of farming is best to control the grapevine’s relentless propensity in growing canes and leaves instead of fruit. Farming these sites require an enormous amount of labor, but the reward is a crop full of intensely flavored berries. Pruning is done during the winter, while the plant is dormant. There are two basic systems of pruning: Cane pruning or Spur pruning. We use the later as it is better suited for the French hybrids varieties we are growing. The most fruitful buds are situated near the base of the canes, so all wood is cut back to short spurs with two buds and the rest of the wood is removed. Pruning is done during the winter, while the plant is dormant. There are two basic systems of pruning: Cane pruning or Spur pruning. We use the later as it is better suited for the French hybrids varieties we are growing. The most fruitful buds are situated near the base of the canes, so all wood is cut back to short spurs with two buds and the rest of the wood is removed. To further enhance wine concentration and complexity, the number of clusters a vine is allowed to ripen is restricted.  During the growing season buds, flowers, leaves and clusters are carefully thinned out, allowing each vine to produce a metered amount of fruit in accordance to its age, terroir and specific weather conditions of the year. Water needs are regularly monitored during high heat by checking the moisture level in leaves to prevent the shutdown of photosynthesis.  By mid-summer, the diminishing hours of sunlight signals to the vines that the end of the season is near and to spend all their energy in ripening the clusters of berries.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Rigorous selection is employed at every stage of this wine's development. Many components, though singularly attractive and possessing lavish attributes, are not utilized in the final blends for Bond. This provides us the opportunity to create a second wine. This blend, offered under the Matriarch label, will always be evocative of its pedigree and distinct in its hillside character. About Winery Sourced from select hillside estates, the Cabernet Sauvignon wines of BOND vividly demonstrate the range of Napa Valley's finest terroirs. From the more than eighty vineyards we have worked with over the past quarter century, we have slowly and vigilantly selected five sites. BOND became our covenant and shared commitment to produce only the best expression of the land. By way of this valuable experience, we had the opportunity to identify select properties that we felt had the potential to define the ‘Grand Crus’ of Napa Valley. These small hillside Cabernet vineyards, ranging in size from 7 to 11 acres, became the basis for the wines of BOND.

Read more less

PRE-ORDER Winemaker Notes The 2007 Bruno Clavelier Bourgogne Aligoté Vieilles Vignes is a crisp, mineral-driven white Burgundy with citrus and exotic fruit notes when young, evolving into richer yellow fruit and floral tones with age. It comes from 85+ year-old vines of Aligoté Doré, giving the wine unusual depth and power for the appellation. About Winery Domaine Bruno Clavelier is a prestigious 6.5-hectare estate in Vosne-Romanée, Burgundy, founded in 1988 (bottling under his own name from 1992) by Bruno Clavelier, a former rugby player turned winemaker. The domaine is renowned for its old vines (1920s-1940s), strictly biodynamic practices (certified 2005), and minimal-intervention winemaking aimed at capturing the pure, terroir-driven expression of its diverse Pinot Noir sites, including Corton Le Rognet and Vosne-Romanée. 

Read more less

Winemaker Notes A great wine in the making, the 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate (just under 10,000 cases produced) possesses a fragrant bouquet of sweet black currants, crushed rocks, earth and background oak. Full-bodied and dense, with Montelena's typical power, tannin and reserved nature, this is a big, rich, formidably endowed red that requires 4-5 years of cellaring. That in itself is atypical of this exuberant, flamboyant vintage. Given this cuvee’s past history, this 2007 should age for 30+ years. About Winery Château Montelena, founded in 1882 by San Francisco entrepreneur Alfred L. Tubbs in Calistoga, Napa Valley, became world-famous after its Chardonnay won the 1976 “Judgment of Paris” tasting, where California wines triumphed over top French competitors. Originally built as a grand stone château with vineyards planted on rugged land, the estate went through periods of decline before being revitalized in the 1970s under Jim Barrett and winemaker Miljenko “Mike” Grgich. That historic victory put Napa Valley on the global wine map, and today Château Montelena continues to produce acclaimed Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon while preserving its legacy as a pioneer of California’s rise in fine wine.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The 2007 Dom Ruinart Rosé reveals a complex and mature profile, opening with aromas of ripe raspberries, grapefruit pith, and oyster shell, layered with savory notes of olives, iron, and sourdough. On the palate, it is rich yet balanced, with sleek bubbles carrying flavors of salted caramel, dried apples, and mineral depth. As it evolves in the glass, nuances of toffee and buttered toast emerge, adding warmth and roundness to its vibrant fruit core. The finish is long and refined, marked by a harmonious interplay of fruit, spice, and saline minerality, showcasing both elegance and intensity. About Winery Founded in 1729, Ruinart is the first established champagne house in the world, born from the ambition of Dom Ruinart’s true enlightened mind. His vision made him perceive before anyone else the potential of sparkling wines from the Champagne region. Each of Ruinart’s cuvées bears the distinctive signature of Chardonnay, the House’s emblematic grape variety. Elegance, refinement, purity, light and distinctive taste make Ruinart a timeless and modern icon.

Read more less

PRE-ORDER About Winery Maison Champy, founded in 1720 in Beaune, is recognized as the oldest wine company in Burgundy, with a legacy spanning over three centuries. Originally established as a négociant house, it grew during the French Revolution by acquiring vineyards and became a pioneer in wine trading and barrel making. In the 19th century, Maison Champy collaborated with Louis Pasteur, who conducted groundbreaking studies on wine fermentation and preservation with the help of Claude Champy, marking a milestone in modern oenology. The estate also worked with Gustave Eiffel, who designed its winery buildings, further cementing its historical significance. Today, Maison Champy owns about 21 hectares of vineyards, primarily in the Côte de Beaune, and continues to produce acclaimed red and white wines, including prestigious Grand Cru and Premier Cru bottlings, while honoring its heritage as Burgundy’s oldest winemaker.

Read more less

PRE-ORDER About Winery Domaine Ninot, based in Rully in Burgundy’s Côte Chalonnaise, traces its roots back to 1313, making it one of the oldest family wine estates in the region. The Ninot family were originally coopers and winegrowers, and over centuries became central figures in the development of the Rully appellation. In the 20th century, Pierre-Marie Ninot rebuilt the estate after inheriting just 5 hectares, gradually expanding through purchases and tenant farming. Today, the domaine is run by siblings Erell and Flavien Ninot, who took over in the early 2000s. Erell, recognized as a “Jeune Talent” in Burgundy in 2008, brought new energy and began bottling wines under the estate’s own label, while Flavien manages viticulture. Together, they farm around 29 acres of vineyards in Rully and Mercurey, producing organic wines that emphasize terroir, tradition, and a modern sensibility.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Château Le Gay comes from iron enriched clay soils. Intense floral scents with dark berries, chocolate, oak, and vanilla abound. Full bodied and intensely concentrated with layers of sexy flavors, this decadent wine fills your palate with ripe plums and black fruit. About Winery Originally called Domaine du Gay, Château Le Gay takes its name from the lieu-dit Le Gay, part of which was sold to the Greloud family that eventually became Château Lafleur. Coincidentally, Château Le Gay was inherited by the Robin sisters in 1946, who also happened to own Château Lafleur. Over the next few decades, under the ownership of the Robin sisters, Château Le Gay was managed by Jean-Pierre Moueix, who also purchased portions of the vineyard to add to the acreage of Château La Fleur-Pétrus. After the passing of the Robin sisters, Château Le Gay was acquired by Catherine Péré Vergé in 2002, who quickly increased the acreage and brought Michel Rolland on board as a consultant.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The 2006 winegrowing year was marked by striking contrasts in climate, starting with a particularly cold spring, followed by a prolonged period of hot, dry weather that lasted until the end of August. When the harvest began on 7 September, in brilliant sunshine, the vines were impeccably healthy, revealing the exceptional generosity and balance of the grapes. This vintage aromatic wine promises a remarkable aromatic richness, capturing the unique essence of the year. About Winery Dom Pierre Pérignon, a French Benedictine monk, set out his vision to "create the best wine in the world" when he became Cellar Master at the sacred Abbey of Hautvillers in 1668. Dom Pérignon dedicated over 40 years to this mission, employing a visionary spirit and daring approach to the wine making process. Over that time, he became known as the "father of champagne" for laying down the fundamental rules for the traditional Champagne production method (La Methode Champenoise or Traditionelle). A favored wine of the Sun King Louis XIV, Dom Pérignon himself compared his wine to "drinking stars". Dom Pérignon: an absolute commitment to VintageDom Pérignon's commitment to vintage is absolute. Each Dom Pérignon is a true act of creation, made from only the best grapes. The champagne's intensity is based in precision, so inviting, so mysterious. Each Vintage has three Plénitudes, and embodies the total faith in the creation that is constantly renewed by Chef de Cave Vincent Chaperon. Coupled with a bold sense of playfulness, Dom Pérignon inspires the greatest creators in the world.Made only from the best grapes grown in one single year, each Dom Perignon's Vintage represents a harmonic balance between the nature of the year and the signature of Dom Pérignon. After no fewer than 8 years of elaboration, each vintage emerges complete, seamless and tactile. Dom Pérignon Champagne is made through an assemblage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, created by using only the best grapes harvested from the 17 Grands Crus in Champagne and the Premier Cru of Hautvillers.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes Dom Pérignon Vintage 2006 Plénitude 2 reveals a soft, warm and reassuring sweet bouquet, rich in subtle nuances. The palate of Dom Pérignon 2006 is full bodied, both restrained and tender, developing into a thick texture that gradually becomes firmer. About Winery Dom Pierre Pérignon, a French Benedictine monk, set out his vision to "create the best wine in the world" when he became Cellar Master at the sacred Abbey of Hautvillers in 1668. Dom Pérignon dedicated over 40 years to this mission, employing a visionary spirit and daring approach to the wine making process. Over that time, he became known as the "father of champagne" for laying down the fundamental rules for the traditional Champagne production method (La Methode Champenoise or Traditionelle). A favored wine of the Sun King Louis XIV, Dom Pérignon himself compared his wine to "drinking stars". Dom Pérignon: an absolute commitment to VintageDom Pérignon's commitment to vintage is absolute. Each Dom Pérignon is a true act of creation, made from only the best grapes. The champagne's intensity is based in precision, so inviting, so mysterious. Each Vintage has three Plénitudes, and embodies the total faith in the creation that is constantly renewed by Chef de Cave Vincent Chaperon. Coupled with a bold sense of playfulness, Dom Pérignon inspires the greatest creators in the world.Made only from the best grapes grown in one single year, each Dom Perignon's Vintage represents a harmonic balance between the nature of the year and the signature of Dom Pérignon. After no fewer than 8 years of elaboration, each vintage emerges complete, seamless and tactile. Dom Pérignon Champagne is made through an assemblage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, created by using only the best grapes harvested from the 17 Grands Crus in Champagne and the Premier Cru of Hautvillers.

Read more less

Winemaker Notes The 2008 Dom Pérignon Rosé Magnum bursts with raspberries, wild strawberries, and red currants, layered with delicate floral notes of iris and violet, and subtle herbal hints of angelica and camphor. On the palate, it is full-bodied yet silky, unfolding with caressing texture before revealing bold structure and mineral-driven freshness. The balance of ripe fruit, floral elegance, and chalky tension makes this vintage both expressive and age-worthy, with a long, refined finish that highlights the cooler, late-ripening conditions of 2008. About Winery Dom Pierre Pérignon, a French Benedictine monk, set out his vision to "create the best wine in the world" when he became Cellar Master at the sacred Abbey of Hautvillers in 1668. Dom Pérignon dedicated over 40 years to this mission, employing a visionary spirit and daring approach to the wine making process. Over that time, he became known as the "father of champagne" for laying down the fundamental rules for the traditional Champagne production method (La Methode Champenoise or Traditionelle). A favored wine of the Sun King Louis XIV, Dom Pérignon himself compared his wine to "drinking stars". Dom Pérignon: an absolute commitment to VintageDom Pérignon's commitment to vintage is absolute. Each Dom Pérignon is a true act of creation, made from only the best grapes. The champagne's intensity is based in precision, so inviting, so mysterious. Each Vintage has three Plénitudes, and embodies the total faith in the creation that is constantly renewed by Chef de Cave Vincent Chaperon. Coupled with a bold sense of playfulness, Dom Pérignon inspires the greatest creators in the world. Made only from the best grapes grown in one single year, each Dom Perignon's Vintage represents a harmonic balance between the nature of the year and the signature of Dom Pérignon. After no fewer than 8 years of elaboration, each vintage emerges complete, seamless and tactile. Dom Pérignon Champagne is made through an assemblage of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, created by using only the best grapes harvested from the 17 Grands Crus in Champagne and the Premier Cru of Hautvillers.

Read more less