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Existing In Its Own Realm
- Laberdolive Argmagnac: 1962-1986

Few spirits in the world offer such kaleidoscopic complexity and such stirring soulfulness. To find illuminating comparisons in the wine world, you'd have to reach for some combination of Gentaz-Dervieux, Pepe and DRC. Laberdolive is profound, singular and world-class.

"There is fine punch and lovely detail "
- 2016 Dujac Morey-St-Denis

Dujac never fails to astound me. One of the truly amazing things about the domaine is that Dujac respects no boundaries.

"I don't think I have tasted a more refined Monfortino than the 2008."
-2008 Giacomo Conterno Barolo Monfortino Riserva

One taste of Conterno's Monfortino makes a couple of things blatantly clear - it's one of the most profound wine experiences around, and it's a distance runner. The wine simply stops you dead in your tracks.

Wine of the Year #2:
Ian's Pick - 2013 Nervi Gattinara Molsino

There’s no doubt that 2018 marks a turning point for the northern Piedmont. The wines had been steadily assuming a place on the world stage, but Roberto Conterno’s purchase of the Nervi estate catapulted the region’s profile.

Wine of the Year #1:
Joe's Pick - 2016 Seabra Douro Xisto Cru Branco

It’s difficult to imagine tasting Luis Seabra’s 2016 Xisto Cru Branco and not undergoing a major reappraisal of all sorts of things. For starters, it’s hard to look at geography, of what fine wine is, and where it can be made the same way again.

The 2018 Holiday Catalog is Here!

The Unmistakable Magic of Alzinger:
2017 Alzinger Riesling Loibenberg Smaragd

No one does intensity and detail quite like Alzinger. This signature is always on bold display in the Loibenberg. Loibenberg produces one of the grandest and most formidable wines in all of Austria.

Single Barrel La Bota - Manzanilla Pasada "Bota NO" #83

Equipo Navazos' Manzanilla Pasadas are some of the most profound wines you'll ever encounter. A few weeks ago, we offered their Manzanilla Pasada Bota Punta #80. Today, we focus on the "Bota NO" #83.

2 Barrels Made - Loire Star:
2015 Roches Neuves Saumur Blanc Clos de l'Echelier

Lately, it's been impossible not to take notice of Roches Neuves. In recent vintages, they have simply been killing it. Today, I'm very happy to revisit their 2015 Clos de l'Echelier Blanc. When we first offered the 2015 in February 2017, it stood out as one of the vintage's best expressions of Chenin Blanc. If anything, the wine's success has come into clearer focus today.

Hitting the Bull's Eye:
2016 Domaine du Pélican Savagnin Ouillé

Domaine Pélican is placing a major emphasis on the Savagnin grape. Tasting the 2016, it's clear how much their bet on the grape is paying off.

Utterly Singular: 2017 F.X. Pichler Riesling "Unendlich"

F.X. Pichler's "Unendlich" is one of the most extraordinary bottles of Riesling out there. It's very hard to imagine a bottle of Riesling that combines intensity, clarity and tension in a similar way.

The Pinnacle - 0.36ha: 2016 Jouan Clos St-Denis

Jouan's range reaches its absolute peak with their Clos Saint- Denis. The Grand Cru Clos St. Denis is celebrated for its class, purity, feminine grace and, simultaneously, for its intensity. It’s a perfect match for Jouan.

2016 Gonon Saint-Joseph: Cult Northern Rhône

What the Gonon brothers have achieved on the steep granite slopes of Saint-Joseph is amazing. In Northern Rhône, Saint-Joseph was thought to be a distant fourth behind Hermitage, Côte-Rôtie and Cornas.

"This is quite simply terrific"
- 2016 Drouhin Clos de Vougeot Magnums

Drouhin's 2016s continue to blow me away. Across the board, they are crystal clear, featherweight and incredibly elegant. The wines absolutely sparkle and have an extraordinary lift and perfume.

"Thierry Pillot is a top flight talent" - 2016 Paul Pillot Bourgogne Blanc

"Thierry Pillot is a top flight talent. If you haven’t tried the wines, you should.” -Burghound When it comes to value in white Burgundy, Paul Pillot's Bourgogne Blanc is the first thing that we reach for.

Like No Other Revisited:
1997 Château d'Yquem Half-Bottles

There is nothing like Yquem. Simply put, it has no peers.

A Multi-Faceted Success:
2015 Bernard Moreau Chassagne-Montrachet

Domaine Bernard Moreau's white Burgundies are some of the purest and most complicated expressions of Chardonnay around. The wine works on a mind-boggling amount of registers. They are graceful and high-toned, luscious and rigorous, deep with a stern underlying architecture.

The Benchmark Muscadet: 2017 Pepiere Clos des Briords

Clos des Briords takes Muscadet close to its Platonic ideal of jagged saline minerality. There's a beautiful honesty to Briords that causes us to buy it by the case every vintage. You might find more powerful and richer Muscadets, but Briords is unrivaled when it comes to luminous transparency and cut.

Dazzling Classicism: 2014 d'Angerville Volnay 1er Cru Caillerets

In 2016, I made d'Angerville's 2014 Caillerets my wine of the year. Almost two years later, I'm really pleased with the decision. The wine is beautiful. That's why I couldn't resist this small parcel.

Holy Ground: 2017 F.X. Pichler Riesling Kellerberg Smaragd

Few wines on earth grab your attention like FX Pichler's. They possess a bold swagger and power, but that's only part of the story. Look beneath the surface and you'll find something very intricate. They are also wonderfully clear, precise and with their own unique flamboyant elegance.

Rubbing Shoulders With La Tache:
2014 De Montille Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts Magnums

Malconsorts is hallowed ground. It's one of the 1er Crus that has no trouble going head-to-head with Grand Crus. The proximity of Malconsorts to La Tâche is more than geographic. Malconsorts has this incredible brooding richness married to ethereal aromatics that is reminiscent of the great monopole.

"My answer is: Carema"
- 2014 Ferrando Carema Etichetta Bianca

Carema is alpine Nebbiolo of breathtaking grace. For decades, Ferrando's Carema has been the benchmark for the beauty and profundity that Nebbiolo achieves in the northern extremes.

Thriving On Grace: 2016 Jouan Chambolle-Musigny

Jouan produces some of the most delightfully pensive Burgundies that I know of. They thrive on subtlety and mysterious depth.

High-Water Vintage - 2016 Northern Rhône Value:
2016 Marsanne Saint-Joseph

Jean-Claude Marsanne's Saint-Joseph has become a fixture at Crush. They are old school in style and without flash.