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PRE-ORDER About Winery Domaine Coche-Dury, based in Meursault, Burgundy, is one of the most revered producers of white Burgundy. The estate was founded in the 1920s by Léon Coche, who purchased vineyard plots and initially sold grapes to négociants while bottling a small amount himself. In 1964, his son Georges Coche took over his share of the vineyards, expanding holdings and strengthening the domaine. Georges’s son Jean-François Coche assumed control in 1973, and with his wife (whose surname, Dury, was added to the domaine’s name), he transformed Coche-Dury into a cult estate. Known for meticulous vineyard work, low yields, and precise winemaking, Jean-François elevated the domaine’s reputation to global acclaim, especially for its Chardonnay from Meursault, Corton-Charlemagne, and other Côte de Beaune sites. In 1999, the domaine suffered a notable setback when a helicopter crash damaged part of its Corton-Charlemagne vines, but it continued to thrive. Today, Jean-François’s son Raphaël Coche has joined the estate, ensuring continuity of its legendary style and status as one of Burgundy’s most sought-after producers.

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Tasting Notes This is a non-vintage Vega Sicilia and a tribute to tradition.Unico Reserva Especial is a true homage to the history of Spanish wine, perfectly combining the characteristics of different Unico vintages. Only the best Unico vintages are used to produce this iconic and remarkably complex wine. It is a blend of time, virtues, experiences, and emotions that shape the most profound nature of a proprietary, unique style: the Vega Sicilia style. About Winery Vega Sicilia is one of Spain’s most iconic and prestigious wineries, with a rich history dating back to 1864. Here's a brief overview: Founded by Don Eloy Lecanda y Chaves, a Spanish winemaker trained in Bordeaux, who brought with him French grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. He planted these alongside the native Tempranillo (then called Tinto del País) in the Ribera del Duero region. The winery gained fame in the 20th century for producing some of Spain’s most celebrated wines, especially its flagship wine, Único, known for its complexity and extraordinary aging potential. In 1982, the Álvarez family acquired Vega Sicilia, marking a new era of modernization and expansion. Under Pablo Álvarez’s leadership, the winery has maintained its legendary status while also expanding into other regions like Toro (with Pintia) and Rioja. Despite its name, Vega Sicilia has no connection to the island of Sicily. “Vega” refers to fertile river plains, and “Sicilia” is believed to reference Saint Cecilia, the patron saint of music.  

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2021 | JS 96 The 2019 Joseph Drouhin Clos des Mouches Rouge 1er Cru is a concentrated yet graceful Pinot Noir. It offers a bouquet of Morello cherry, raspberry, blackberry, peonies, and orange rind, complemented by subtle spicy oak. The palate is voluptuous and balanced with silky, well-integrated tannins and a long finish. 2022 | JS 96 Intense and fresh with primary notes of Morello cherry, raspberry, blackberry, and cassis, alongside hints of licorice, spice, and subtle white pepper from 25% whole-cluster usage. Fleshy, medium-to-full-bodied texture offering a firm core, succulent acids, and fine, powdery, well-integrated tannins. About Winery Maison Joseph Drouhin was founded in 1880 in Beaune, Burgundy, by Joseph Drouhin, and has since grown into one of the region’s most respected wine producers. Over the generations, the family expanded its holdings to include vineyards across Burgundy—such as Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune, and Côte Chalonnaise—and later established Domaine Drouhin Oregon in the Willamette Valley. Today, the estate remains family-run by Joseph’s great-grandchildren, who continue the tradition of producing elegant wines with a focus on terroir and sustainable practices, including organic certification for their Burgundy vineyards since 2009

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Winemaker Notes The 2019 Valserrano Reserva red wine has an intense and elegant aroma with hints of ripe red fruit, mineral notes, and toasted oak. On the palate, it is potent and appetizing, offering flavors of red fruits and toasted notes with a balanced oak influence. Made primarily from Tempranillo and Graciano grapes from the Rioja Alavesa region, the wine is characterized by its good structure and intense color, reflecting the "Excellent" 2019 vintage in Rioja.  About Winery Valserrano, also known as Viñedos y Bodegas de la Marquesa, is a family-owned winery with a long history in Rioja Alavesa. Founded in 1880, it has been continuously managed by the same family for five generations. The winery's roots trace back to Francisco Javier Solano y Eulate, Marqués de la Solana, who, inspired by French winemaking techniques, began producing Médoc-style wines in the late 19th century. Today, Juan Pablo de Simón, his great-grandson, leads the winery, and his children are actively involved in the business. 

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PRE-ORDER About Winery Domaine Coche-Dury, based in Meursault, Burgundy, is one of the most revered producers of white Burgundy. The estate was founded in the 1920s by Léon Coche, who purchased vineyard plots and initially sold grapes to négociants while bottling a small amount himself. In 1964, his son Georges Coche took over his share of the vineyards, expanding holdings and strengthening the domaine. Georges’s son Jean-François Coche assumed control in 1973, and with his wife (whose surname, Dury, was added to the domaine’s name), he transformed Coche-Dury into a cult estate. Known for meticulous vineyard work, low yields, and precise winemaking, Jean-François elevated the domaine’s reputation to global acclaim, especially for its Chardonnay from Meursault, Corton-Charlemagne, and other Côte de Beaune sites. In 1999, the domaine suffered a notable setback when a helicopter crash damaged part of its Corton-Charlemagne vines, but it continued to thrive. Today, Jean-François’s son Raphaël Coche has joined the estate, ensuring continuity of its legendary style and status as one of Burgundy’s most sought-after producers.

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Winemaker Notes The Pol Roger Pure Extra Brut NV is a zero-dosage champagne featuring equal parts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier, showcasing aromas of clove flowers and bread crumbs with a straight, chalky, and bone-dry palate. About Winery Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 in Épernay, France, by a 17-year-old Pol Roger, who began by selling wine and soon focused on producing drier, brut styles favored in Britain. The independent, family-run house survived major historical crises and became famously known as the favorite champagne of Winston Churchill.

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2016 | WA 98 The 2016 Bolgheri Superiore Ornellaia is a wine of extreme complexity and precision. It offers monumental depth with profound layers of black fruit, coffee, licorice and baking chocolate. I tasted this 2016 vintage beside the less-impactful 2015 vintage (which was reviewed last year). These two editions are very different when compared side to side, and this 2016 release is clearly superior in terms of the quality, clarity and intensity of its offerings. This Ornellaia delivers glossy shine and a polished texture that segues to important richness, concentration and textural fiber. It wraps thickly over the palate, imparting waves of sweet dark fruit and dark spice that linger for many long minutes.  2019 | JS 97 The aromas of blackcurrants, fresh basil and thyme, as well as cedar and sandalwood are so attractive. It’s full-bodied and very linear with tight tannins that draw you down the length of this young wine. Wet-earth and cool-stone undertones. It’s solid and so structured. A classic Ornellaia for the cellar.   About Winery In 1981, Marchese Lodovico Antinori breathed new life into Tenuta dell' Ornellaia, an estate whose potential had been ignored for decades. With the help of Andre Tchelistcheff, the famous agronomist, Antinori planted the first French vines in Bolgheri, which lies in the heart of Tuscany's coastal region, Maremma. The estate yields some of the finest Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc in Tuscany. In 2002, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi and Robert Mondavi became owners of Tenuta dell'Ornellaia, which is now owned exclusively by Marchesi de' Frescobaldi. Ornellaia has established itself among the iconic wine estates in Italy (and beyond). The estate is dedicated to producing charming and opulent wines, full of Mediterranean character and finesse, reflecting the estate’s unique terroir in Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast. The combination of Bolgheri’s unique soils and growing conditions, and what can only be characterized as a total obsession with excellence, result in the world-class wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc that so many wine lovers across the world have come to cherish. Ornellaia employs a full time team of 80 people whose passion and motivation make Ornellaia what it is today. No shortcuts in the part of the production are allowed and the details literally come down to a grape by grape basis. Wines are intently crafted to capture the character of each vintage, in all its complexity and facets. In fact, the character and intricacies of each individual vintage are so important to the estate that since vintage 2006, Winemaker and Estate Director Axel Heinz has identified a single word that captures the character of each vintage, and that word is interpreted by a contemporary artist who produces special labels and a site-specific work of art that remains part of the estate’s permanent collection. In addition to its place among Italy’s iconic wines, Ornellaia is also an ambassador for the Bolgheri region, leading it to be recognized as one of Italy’s greatest winegrowing regions. It is their belief, and it is hard to argue, that Bogheri’s mild maritime climate and diversity of soils create wines as distinct, complex and pleasurable as any in the world.  

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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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