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Perennial Over-Achiever:
2018 Drouhin Beaune 1er Cru Clos des Mouches Rouge Magnums

Many times, I've witnessed Mouches go toe-to-toe with Grand Crus.

It probably doesn't come as a surprise that Mouches is a wine that I have a profound affection for.

"Positively brilliant"
2007 Taittinger Comtes de Champagne

Magic in Meursault:
2018 Ballot-Millot Meursault

The 2018 cemented Ballot-Millot's status as a top Burgundy talent.

Red Burgundy 1996-2018:
Barthod, D'Angerville, Lafarge, Mugneret-Gibourg, Mugnier & More

Back Up The Truck - Piedmont Edition:
2016 Giordano Barbaresco Cavanna

The 2016 Piedmont wines are incredibly impressive. Since last fall, I've been tasting them extensively. 

"Very focused and fresh".
2018 Roumier Morey-St-Denis 1er Cru Clos de la Bussière

John Gilman captures Bussière well when he writes, it's "deep complex and very long-lived... and is very deserving of a place in any conscientiously-stocked Burgundy collection."

Beaune Magic - Lowest Price:
2017 De Montille Beaune 1er Cru Les Grèves

At The Height Of His Powers:
2017 Lafon Meursault Clos de la Baronne

The 2017 Clos de la Baronne is stunning. It combines intensity with a precision and verve that's thrilling. The 2017 has a lovely silken texture that's expertly woven into a high-toned profile and a punchy minerality.

2016 Cédric Bouchard:
La Haute Lemblé, Les Ursules & La Bolorée

Boundary Breaker: 2018 Dujac Morey-St-Denis

One of the truly amazing things about Dujac is that the wines respect no boundaries.

2017 Raveneau Chablis 1er Cru Butteaux

Unparalleled Piedmont Value:
2015 Roagna Langhe Rosso

When it comes to value in Piedmont, it's Roagna's Langhe Rosso that we reach for.

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow Revisited:
2017 Pierre Boisson Bourgogne Blanc

With that said, the 2017 is special. It has jaw-dropping purity, harmony, and concentration. Few white Burgundies deliver so much for the price point.

Foillard's 2017 Morgon Côte du Py

No one renders it with equal clarity, complexity, or textural beauty. Foillard's Côte du Py captures the wild cherry, mineral, and floral-tinged quality of the vineyard in an unparalleled way.

Alzinger Rarity:
2019 Alzinger Höhereck Smaragd

Alzinger's wines flirt with flawless balance and a serene, whispering complexity. They hit a level of fine-ness that's unrivaled in Austria.

"Lovely and built-to-age" - Revisited:
2017 Germain Meursault 1er Cru Charmes

Bea Grand Cru:
2012 Bea Montefalco Sagrantino Secco Vigneto Cerrete

To say that Cerrete is Bea's Grand Cru is simplistic, for sure, but not inaccurate.

The Crown Jewel of the Northern Rhône - Magnum Edition:
2017 Chave Hermitage Magnums

Historic Vintage - 0.3ha:
2005 Lafarge Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets

Lafarge's wines have an understated grace that borders on magical.

No place is this more apparent than the Caillerets bottling. 

Extreme Purity Revisited:
2018 Colin-Morey St. Aubin 1er Cru En Remilly Nicholas et Mathis

It wouldn't be out of line to say that Pierre-Yves Colin's work in St. Aubin has been crucial in establishing the domaine's cult status.

"Zen-like sense of harmony. In short, this is a knockout."
2018 Drouhin Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses

The 1er Cru is priced higher than many Grand Crus and Burgundy fanatics chase down the wines from here with a singular fervor.

"Super-impressive"
2016 Conterno Barolo Arione

Piedmont Go-To:
2019 Castello di Verduno Pelaverga Basadone

The explanation is easy: it delivers an incredible amount of interest and sheer drinkability for an affordable price. This is a somewhat crude comparison, but Pelaverga is Piedmont's answer to Cru Beaujolais.

"Another stellar effort"
2017 Boncie Rosso di Toscana Le Trame

Le Trame is a seriously complicated wine and evolves for hours in the glass, seeming to reveal another evocative wrinkle of complexity with each smell and taste. It's hard not to be taken by the harmony and sheer thrust and elegance of the wine.