{"title":"Terroir Club Selections","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"e15","title":"Bodegas Roda Reserva","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf Rioja is a story told in layers — stone and sun, wind and wood, heritage and revision — then RODA has long been one of its more eloquent narrators. Their wines don’t shout; they gently unfurl.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe 2021 vintage comes from a season that felt almost restorative to Rioja Alta — a return to temperance, balance, and the gentle rhythms that once defined the region before modern extremes began redrawing them. Spring brought timely rains; summer moved with measured warmth; nights cooled enough to lend freshness and nerve to Tempranillo’s dark, slow-growing fruit. This balance is evident in the glass.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom the first swirl, the 2021 Reserva seems to reveal a play in chiaroscuro — intense contrasts of shadow and light that has become something of a RODA signature. There are aromas of black cherry and wild plum, dried rose petals pressed in the pages of an old book, plentiful cedar shavings, and the mineral hush of river stones drying in the sun. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOn the palate, Tempranillo is supple but structured, cool-fruited yet deep in tone — while a small proportion of Graciano adds the tangy herbal lift that keeps the wine vibrant. French oak lends grain and dimension. The tannins are finely woven and gently textured. What lingers is not weight but resonance — a savory, lightly spiced echo that feels carried on an evening breeze down the Ebro corridor.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat I find so compelling about RODA Reserva 2021 is its scrumptious immediacy. There is an ease to its balance, a clarity to its fruit, a kind of poised generosity that makes it delightful now—no doubt. But you could also give it time — five, 10, even 15 years — and the wine will reveal new strata of earth, spice, and deep-toned fruit.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePerhaps this is the paradox RODA has mastered: wines that honor tradition without calcifying into it, that embrace modern precision without losing the warm human touch. The 2021 Reserva feels distinctly Rioja Alta, but also distinctly RODA — shaped by place, yes, but equally by the hands that prune the vines, the taste that selects the barrels, and the quiet philosophy that lets elegant wine speak for itself.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePairing Suggestions — A Table Inspired by Rioja:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThink of dishes that echo the wine’s interplay of savor and brightness: wood-fired lamb chops with rosemary and sea salt; roasted piquillo peppers stuffed with minced mushrooms; grilled tuna with olive oil and garlic; a plate of aged Manchego or Ossau-Iraty whose nutty firmness meets the wine’s focused fruit. Even a simple tortilla Española, golden and tender, will feel elevated beside the Reserva’s graceful depth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45380671504617,"sku":"401403","price":62.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_b25646a6-efa9-413e-aff8-0a5800b3c138.png?v=1631718421"},{"product_id":"jonata-todos","title":"Jonata \"Todos\" Ballard Canyon Proprietary Red Blend 2019","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI truly love Santa Barbara and its many wines, and the winery Jonata and its winemaker, Matt Dees, is one of the best. A charming man who knows both the technical side of wine and its romantic side, Matt makes beautiful wines full of pleasure and intellectual interest. This pick, “Everyone,” is a reflection of all the red grapes grown at the winery in an effort to display the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eterroir \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eof this unique agricultural region.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRecently I have started throwing ribs on the grill whenever I am grilling something else - i.e., it's like a  bonus round of meat for the meal. And ribs and this wine go amazingly together, especially if you give them a bit of  soy sauce flair. But better still, is in the grill, under the slow-roasting ribs, I put cut heads of radicchio with a “tray” of tin foil holding them away from the coals. The radicchio slowly caramelizes with the rib juices turning into something quite amazing, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewhich also is great with this wine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Then, just to add complexity, I wrap red beets in foil, place on the grill, and roast them until tender. The sweet beets get chopped into the radicchio, the ribs make a sauce for the “salad,” and it all is so easy, it's a super-duper bonus to the meal (or free prep for tomorrow’s meal!).\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Winemaker Matt Dees is considered one of the best winemakers anywhere, and this blend [Todos] is ample reason to believe the hype. Intense, focused and dry but rich aromas of dark fruit, roasted wood, crushed rocks and wild herb enliven the nose, while the palate is weighty yet expertly tense. Flavors of dried red fruit, peppery spice and milk chocolate float into the finish. 97 points.\" \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—Wine Enthusiast\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47215621734633,"sku":"4345","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_16965088-17ba-4f46-b732-20472388ce0c.png?v=1632501015"},{"product_id":"land-of-saints-gsm-2019","title":"Land of Saints GSM","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42004691452137,"sku":"A15020","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_52dbb260-fe98-40be-a589-e4da725250fa.png?v=1632857089"},{"product_id":"altocedro-gran-reserve-malbec-2017","title":"Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec","description":"\u003ch3 data-end=\"433\" data-start=\"366\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"433\" data-start=\"369\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ch3 data-end=\"433\" data-start=\"366\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-end=\"433\" data-start=\"369\"\u003eAltocedro Gran Reserve Malbec — The Soul of Modern Argentina\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"622\" data-start=\"435\"\u003eMore concentrated than Cabernet, more velvety than Merlot, and with more rustic animal intensity than Brian Johnson and Angus Young combined, Malbec was once Europe’s most popular wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"971\" data-start=\"624\"\u003eThat was back when the Russian court couldn’t get enough, the British were hiring mercenaries to smuggle it past Dutch-controlled Bordeaux, and its wall of tannic ferocity earned it the title \u003cem data-end=\"845\" data-start=\"816\"\u003e“the Black Wine of Cahors.”\u003c\/em\u003e But those days are long gone. Wars, railways, phylloxera, and politics nearly erased it—until it was reborn in the New World.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1213\" data-start=\"973\"\u003eAnd not just anywhere. Malbec found its resurrection in the thin air of Mendoza, Argentina—4,000 feet above sea level—where Jesuit missionaries once planted vines in soil so poor it forced the grape to struggle, concentrate, and thrive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1323\" data-start=\"1215\"\u003eToday, one man stands at the peak of that legacy: \u003cstrong data-end=\"1280\" data-start=\"1265\"\u003eKarim Mussi\u003c\/strong\u003e, the mind and soul behind \u003cstrong data-end=\"1320\" data-start=\"1307\"\u003eAltocedro\u003c\/strong\u003e. Karim doesn’t make wine so much as \u003cem data-end=\"1369\" data-start=\"1360\"\u003ecompose\u003c\/em\u003e it. Born in La Consulta, at the foot of the Andes, he has spent his life exploring the high desert terroirs of the Uco Valley—the stony soils, the diurnal shifts, the mountain light that burns clean and pure. To him, winemaking is both archaeology and art: a way of uncovering what nature has whispered into the soil over centuries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1938\" data-start=\"1706\"\u003eHis \u003cstrong data-end=\"1743\" data-start=\"1710\"\u003eAltocedro Gran Reserve Malbec\u003c\/strong\u003e is the culmination of that vision. It’s a Malbec that transcends the varietal and becomes a statement—a benchmark of what Argentine wine can be when guided by intellect, humility, and passion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2302\" data-start=\"1940\"\u003eFrom the first swirl, it’s clear this is no ordinary Malbec. The aromas are layered and deep—\u003cem data-end=\"2109\" data-start=\"2033\"\u003efreshly baked brioche, blackberry liqueur, violets and sweet pipe tobacco.\u003c\/em\u003e On the palate, it unfolds like a great symphony: plush waves of blue and black fruit underpinned by mineral tension and spice. The finish hums with precision—savory, graphite-like, and long.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2624\" data-start=\"2304\"\u003eWhile most Malbecs stop at fruit, Karim’s keeps going—toward complexity, grace and terroir. It’s muscular, yes, but also aristocratic; it wears its power with quiet confidence. This is Malbec elevated to its highest register—a wine that could stand beside Brunello, Napa Cabernet, or Bordeaux in both depth and dignity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2889\" data-start=\"2626\"\u003eKarim once said he aims to make wines that “reflect the sense of place, not the hand of man.” And in tasting Altocedro Gran Reserve, you taste the place—the breath of the Andes, the sunlight on limestone, the patience of old vines pushing their roots ever deeper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"3091\" data-start=\"2891\"\u003eSo tonight, as the cold creeps in and the evening calls for something soulful, pour a glass of Altocedro Gran Reserve Malbec.Because sometimes a wine doesn’t just fill your glass—it fills the room. \u003cstrong data-end=\"3126\" data-start=\"3093\"\u003eAltocedro Gran Reserve Malbec\u003c\/strong\u003e — Argentina, perfected.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44160921600233,"sku":"5460","price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_ba442728-5647-4217-9837-d90c62bcec6e.png?v=1632928268"},{"product_id":"ameztoi-txakoli-2020","title":"Ameztoi Getariako Txakolina Blanco","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-107822c0-7fff-393e-f0be-8c14a7be39f0\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn northern Spain’s sun-kissed Basque region, in Getaria, on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, this wine makes perfect sense.  It’s zesty, superbly fresh, minerally, salty,  with a banjo-like twang of acidity, the alcohol level of a Mosel Riesling, the sexiness of a little red Corvette and the baroqueness of a Gaudi cathedral.  I am told the Basques drink half of the region’s production during the month of August alone. Yes, this wine’s name is tongue-twistingly hard to pronounce.  Yes, the label looks like it was designed in Greece.  And yes, you will probably be one of the few people in Milwaukee (or the Midwest) to be drinking it this summer! Just say Txakolina (CHOCK-a-LEE-na) and enjoy one of the refreshingest wines the world has to offer.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44839702135017,"sku":"","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_95448828-fb53-4d65-a81a-116a47c416ea.png?v=1634143361"},{"product_id":"gonnet-chignin-2019","title":"Charles Gonnet Chignin","description":"","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44802562261225,"sku":"517C","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_e71cdbb2-c23a-4b38-90d2-496924626090.png?v=1634418551"},{"product_id":"abbazia-praepositus-2018","title":"Abbazia di Novacella Praepositus Kerner","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003ehere are parts of Europe where open windows, long walks and clean mountain air are everyday priorities, not merely wellness trends. The Alps are full of these high valleys, where spring is felt first in the lungs, then in the legs and only later at the table. That is the world that shaped Kerner at Abbazia di Novacella, and you can taste it in the glass.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eKerner Praepositus shows that alpine edge from the first pour. Aromatically, it offers alpine flowers—lilac, primrose, a hint of wild peony—alongside white apricot, underripe strawberry and the tart snap of rhubarb. The cool tone feels rooted in elevation, not just winemaking choices. On the palate, that impression tightens into clear structure: crisp acidity, a fine stony undercurrent and a gentle tension that keeps everything moving. It is invigorating without turning severe, expressive without feeling loud.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1068\" data-end=\"1584\"\u003eKerner itself is often misunderstood. Created in Germany as a crossing of Riesling and Schiava Grossa, it is sometimes treated as an academic curiosity. In the high vineyards of Alto Adige, particularly around Novacella, it shows a different side. Here it links mountain light to real drinkability. The Praepositus bottling, drawn from the abbey’s highest, coolest sites, emphasizes that role. Ripeness is kept in check, brightness stays at the center and the overall impression is of spring arriving late and clean.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1586\" data-end=\"2190\"\u003eThat restraint mirrors the place. Kloster Neustift—Abbazia di Novacella—has anchored this alpine valley for nearly 900 years as a working monastery in the full sense. Pilgrims once passed through on their way south to Rome; today, vineyards ring the abbey walls and are farmed with the same steady purpose. Wine has been made here since 1142 as part of daily life and support for the surrounding community, not as ornament. It's one of the rare historic estates in Europe that still operates on its original terms: spiritually grounded, agriculturally self-supporting, tied closely to its region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2192\" data-end=\"2729\"\u003eThe continuity comes through in the glass. Nothing feels forced or hurried. Kerner Praepositus is the kind of wine that fits naturally after a long spring walk, when the air is still cool but the sun has (at last!) begun to linger.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2192\" data-end=\"2729\"\u003eAt the table, it shines with simple, seasonal food—green asparagus with lemon butter, raw or lightly seared white fish with citrus, pea soup that still tastes of the garden or chicken sauteed and finished with spring vegetables. The pairings feel straightforward and intuitive, as they often do with good mountain wines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46699936809193,"sku":"841005","price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_a09b167c-793c-42de-992b-fe7134727acd.png?v=1634586693"},{"product_id":"tyler-chardonnay-2019","title":"Tyler Santa Barbara County Chardonnay 2024","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOk, for those of you who read the tag line, there is probably nothing more for Waterford to add to this write up other than – “yeah, we agree.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTo us, Justin Tyler is making some of the most dynamic Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs coming out of Santa Barbara. This is a Chardonnay of structure, clarity, intensity and subtlety. It is not an in-your face oaky Chard, but it’s not driven ultra-lean and steely. If Americans would allow their Chards to be compared to Burgundy (and vice versa), here is one that hits the flavor notes of Burgundy – plenty of dry extract, a long, mineral finish, a touch of baby-fat fruit up front on the palate, with focus and precision. At this price, it’s as good as anything I’ve ever had from Burgundy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTo my understanding, Justin began making wine almost 20 years ago in his home town of Santa Barbara. But for my palate, things really took a substantial turn in 2015 to 2019. In 2015 he and his wife were able to purchase a vineyard, and that has revolutionized all the wines. Their 2020 vintage was absolutely exceptional and instantly sold out. We are excited to offer the 2021 allocation!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe points and thus the calculated QPR don’t lie. I believe that this winery is on the road to super-stardom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis things just been rocking my world lately. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"The 2021 Chardonnay overdelivers for its appellation-wide status. It has pretty scents of quince, poached pear, spring honey, chalk and roasted almonds. The medium-bodied palate is satiny, savory and expansive with dynamic flavor layers and a very long finish.\" - Erin Brooks, \u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWine Advocate\u003c\/em\u003e (95 points).\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45499299365097,"sku":"123401","price":28.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_42b556c3-4a14-414b-a9f5-f81427775d2a.png?v=1634668300"},{"product_id":"escaravailles-le-ventabren-cairanne","title":"Domaine des Escaravailles \"Le Ventabren\" Cairanne","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI’ve seen this before with wineries, particularly European ones. Something changes, and suddenly the wines take an enormous leap forward in terms of quality. While I haven’t worked with this winery very long, I consider them head and shoulders above the typical Cotes du Rhone, jumping out of their category and into the realm of outstanding, world-class wine.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo what  has changed? I can’t be positive, but I am pretty sure —the winery rolled generations. In France, with wineries, almost always one of the kids is expected to stay home and eventually manage the family business of making wine. In past times, I used to see examples of this becoming more of a burden, leading to family unhappiness; the youngest daughter forced to remain home under a domineering father, running hoses and pumps around the winery for years with no end in sight to her manual labor. More frequently, in current times, I see sons and daughters going away from the family business, into college, and only eventually, after exploring the world, coming back and joining the family business; resulting in an extremely happy day for the family and for new ideas blossoming in \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ethe winery. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen I met Madeline Ferran, the young, young scion of Domaine des Escaravailles, it was clear to me that this was a woman with direction and talent, and that she was running the show, and that this show is on the course to superstardom. She’s also young enough that my tour guides for the visit recommended that my older son of 18 years try and hit on her, hopefully scoring the ultimate  French wine connection. He demurred. But no matter - Madeline’s wines are simply sensational!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44895376212201,"sku":"540403","price":23.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]},{"product_id":"altocedro-la-consulta-select-2018","title":"Altocedro La Consulta Select Proprietary Red 2022","description":"\u003ch3 data-end=\"275\" data-start=\"208\"\u003eAltocedro La Consulta Red Blend: The Voice of a New Argentina\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"488\" data-start=\"277\"\u003eThe \u003cem data-end=\"307\" data-start=\"281\"\u003eOxford Companion to Wine\u003c\/em\u003e notes that “Argentina, the most important wine producing country in South America, [is also] one of the most dynamic wine producers in the world.” And we here at Waterford agree.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"882\" data-start=\"490\"\u003eBecause somewhere along the rocky beds of the Tunuyán River, in the southern reaches of the Uco Valley, that dynamism hums like quiet electricity through the vineyards of La Consulta. Here, where desert air brushes the foothills of the Andes, winemaker \u003cstrong data-end=\"758\" data-start=\"743\"\u003eKarim Mussi\u003c\/strong\u003e tends to Altocedro—a project that feels both modern and timeless, deeply Argentine yet unmistakably global in its vision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1343\" data-start=\"884\"\u003eAltocedro’s \u003cem data-end=\"919\" data-start=\"896\"\u003eLa Consulta Red Blend\u003c\/em\u003e is, at heart, a story of balance. Malbec, the grape that put Argentina on the world’s wine map, takes the leading role, but it shares the stage with Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, and Tempranillo. Together they create something more textured and complete than any one grape could achieve alone. The result is a wine that feels both familiar and revelatory—an elegant handshake between New World fruit and Old World restraint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"1666\" data-start=\"1345\"\u003eIt opens with aromas of dark plum and violets, drifting into notes of graphite, cocoa, and warm spice. The palate is supple yet firm, its richness carried by a thread of mountain freshness that keeps everything lifted and alive. You taste not just fruit, but altitude and air—the living geography of La Consulta itself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2013\" data-start=\"1668\"\u003eAnd in that taste, perhaps, lies the broader story of modern Argentina. A country once defined by a single grape has become a landscape of experimentation and renewal. Concrete fermenters stand beside oak barrels; native yeasts share space with classic varieties. It’s a place where tradition and innovation no longer compete, but collaborate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2170\" data-start=\"2015\"\u003eAltocedro captures that evolution beautifully. It’s a wine that honors where Argentina has been, while quietly, confidently pointing to where it’s going.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46179803660521,"sku":"5088","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_095279b3-0b60-47f3-af46-870885f270ba.png?v=1652131622"},{"product_id":"petalos-palacios-bierzo-2019","title":"Petalos Palacios Bierzo","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"159\" data-end=\"213\"\u003e\u003cstrong data-start=\"159\" data-end=\"213\"\u003eDescendientes de J. Palacios Bierzo “Pétalos” 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"215\" data-end=\"742\"\u003eMencía (Men-thee-ah) has always struck me as one of those grapes that rewards patience and curiosity. It doesn’t strut or swagger like so many of its Iberian cousins—it leans in, whispering its story slowly, with a kind of restrained grace that reveals more the longer you listen. In Bierzo, a remote and rugged corner of northwestern Spain, the land itself feels like part of that story: misted mountains, terraced slopes of slate and quartz, vines clawing into poor soils that yield wines of haunting perfume and quiet depth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"744\" data-end=\"1126\"\u003eIt was Alvaro Palacios—already a legend in Priorat—who, alongside his nephew Ricardo, saw what Bierzo could be. Together they didn’t so much invent something new as resurrect something ancient. Their Pétalos bottling was meant to be a love letter to the region, a gathering of old-vine plots blended into one eloquent expression. It was never meant to impress—it was meant to speak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1128\" data-end=\"1765\"\u003eAnd it spoke to me early. One of my fondest memories of the old Brady Street store, way back in the day, is of my mother and a dear client—now a good friend and, in a twist of fate, my corporation’s attorney—sharing a bottle of the very first vintage of this wine ever made. That was twenty years ago now. We opened it without ceremony, no decanter, no expectations. And yet, I remember how it filled the room with violets, with wild berries, with something I can only describe as the scent of rain on stone. It was then I realized what Mencía could be—how it could dance between delicacy and power, fruit and earth, heart and intellect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1767\" data-end=\"2199\"\u003eThe 2021 Pétalos carries that same duality. Aromas of black raspberry, plum skin, and dried rose petals lift from the glass. The palate hums with energy—silken fruit framed by fine tannins and a cool mineral edge that keeps everything vivid and alive. Beneath the surface, there’s that whisper of earth and herbs, a savory undertone that reminds you this is mountain wine, born from terraces that look out over the mists of Galicia.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2201\" data-end=\"2577\"\u003eIf Rioja is Spain’s velvet jacket and Ribera del Duero its tailored suit, then Bierzo—especially in the hands of Palacios—is its poet’s coat: weathered, soulful, quietly confident. Pétalos remains one of the great expressions of honesty in modern wine. It is generous without being showy, complex without pretense, and for all its pedigree, remains remarkably humble in price.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2579\" data-end=\"2723\"\u003eTwo decades after that first bottle, it still has the power to stop me mid-sentence. And that, I think, is the mark of something truly timeless.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42599776911593,"sku":"112D","price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2237.png?v=1762201043"},{"product_id":"herdade-do-rocim-mariana-2019","title":"Herdade do Rocim \"Mariana\" 2023","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe’ve heard from so many of you about vacationing in Portugal and enjoying its red wines that we wanted to be a part of the fun too! So a couple of seminars ago and a whole lot of wine later—plus a bit more research on top of that—I came to this producer. In other words, I spent a good amount of energy finding this beauty. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI can’t resist adding history into wine tasting notes, so here goes. Under the Franco years, the only wineries that were allowed to exist were ones that A) were loyal to the Franco government; and B) glorified Portugal via exported products. One result of this is you get little family plots of vineyards, where the wine was essentially homemade and kept at home, because they weren’t allowed to commercialize production. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo my understanding, the Rocim estate started this way, and it was eventually purchased by a Portuguese agricultural machinery magnate whose daughter eventually inherited it as a winemaker. A few years later, along comes a viticulturist who does the proper thing - by marrying the owner's daughter, he creates a partnership in winemaking and life. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI love this wine for its rich and warm, spicy fruits, which inspires imaginations of the gorgeous views of Portugal’s countryside. S\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eome\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e old-school Portuguese reds were full and sometimes even jammy on the palate, but this one has beautiful lifted aromatics, a sense of delicacy in its richness, and poise and balance on the finish. If you drink it slowly, it will unwind and draw you into an bewitchingly complex experience. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42599729758441,"sku":"P68350","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2012.png?v=1756497398"},{"product_id":"faustino-10-gran-reserva","title":"Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja 2014","description":"\u003cp\u003eFaustino I isn’t just a Rioja, it’s one of the world’s most recognizable silhouettes: the frosted bottle, the austere portrait label, the long, patient aging behind every vintage. With the 2014 Gran Reserva, that reputation holds. This is Rioja in its most traditional, time-honored expression.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTempranillo forms the core, with small additions of Graciano and Mazuelo, sourced from pedigree vineyards in Oyón and Laguardia. From there, the wine is built the old way, matured for years in barrel and bottle until tertiary character overtakes youthful edges. The result arrives fully formed, complex, elegant and ready to show layers with the quiet grandeur only Gran Reserva can offer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 2014 vintage is part of what makes this bottle especially compelling. It was a slow, even growing season, a year of poise and equilibrium rather than sheer force. Acidity held firm and fruit ripened gradually, giving the wine its balance and structure. In the glass, expect cherry and dried raspberry followed by cigar box, sandalwood, cured orange peel, cedar spice and the savory patina that only long aging brings. The tannins have softened into suede and the finish spreads wide and lingering, carrying red fruit, tobacco leaf and subtle resinous herbs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Rioja built for contemplative drinking, but it shines at the table too. Lamb shoulder, grilled mushrooms, Manchego and jamón are natural partners, and a simple roast chicken feels right at home alongside it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFaustino I has long shown its ability to age, but the 2014 sits in a sweet spot where maturity and vitality strike a firm balance. You’re not buying potential, you’re buying readiness, polish and a classic style that is increasingly rare. Wine Enthusiast underscored that point with a 95-point score, highlighting the wine’s refined structure, aromatic complexity and the graceful blend of fruit and tertiary character that defines great Rioja.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Winebow","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42874854637801,"sku":"30317434","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2390.png?v=1767824535"},{"product_id":"planet-oregon-rose-bubbles","title":"Planet Oregon Sparkling Rosé 2025","description":"\u003cp\u003eWe Americans don’t drink enough Champagne, even though every time you open Champagne, it creates a party and there is never any wine left over. So why not start every picnic party with a bottle of bubbles? Now this isn’t Champagne, but it is one of my favorite domestic sparklers. I think Tony Soter (the owner of Planet Oregon) is a master winemaker, and this one truly shows his skill—delivering a nose of berries and red flowers that moves to rich cherry fruit on the palate with a fresh, lingering finish. While the Planet Oregon name may sound a bit silly, 1% of its sales goes back to supporting environmental organizations in Oregon—something Tony is very serious about. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42635353161961,"sku":"A76910","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_78b8e465-9156-4a7a-8cdf-063a8a556d62.png?v=1649190547"},{"product_id":"g-d-vajra-clare-j-c-langhe-nebbiolo","title":"G.D. Vajra Clare J.C. Langhe Nebbiolo","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43416878907625,"sku":"I19720","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"domaine-huet-vouvray-sec","title":"Domaine Huet Vouvray Sec Le Mont 2024","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"203\"\u003eDomaine Huet’s \u003cstrong data-start=\"15\" data-end=\"38\"\u003eVouvray Sec Le Mont\u003c\/strong\u003e is one of those wines that quietly recalibrates expectations — not through volume or flash, but through clarity, tension and an almost architectural sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"205\" data-end=\"714\"\u003eLe Mont is Huet’s most severe hillside, a steep south-facing slope of shallow clay over fractured limestone that drains quickly and demands precision from Chenin Blanc. It is also the site that most transparently expresses Huet’s long-standing commitment to biodynamics, a philosophy they embraced decades before it became shorthand for virtue. Here, farming is not aesthetic or ideological; it is practical, born of the belief that Chenin reveals more when the vineyard is allowed to speak in full sentences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"716\" data-end=\"1153\"\u003eIn the glass, Le Mont Sec opens restrained and focused. The fruit leans toward orchard rather than citrus — firm pear, quince skin and green apple — wrapped in chalk dust, crushed stone and a faintly saline edge that feels lifted directly from the limestone below. As the wine opens, subtle floral notes emerge alongside hints of almond and beeswax, not sweet, but textural, lending breadth to what is otherwise a wine of line and drive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1155\" data-end=\"1491\"\u003eWhat distinguishes Le Mont from many dry Vouvrays is its structure. Acidity is present, but it is not sharp or declarative; instead it’s integrated into a broader mineral framework that gives the wine its longevity and calm authority. This is Chenin built for the table and for time, a wine that feels resolved without feeling finished.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1493\" data-end=\"1841\"\u003eAt dinner, Le Mont Sec excels with restraint-forward cooking. Think seared scallops with browned butter and herbs, roast chicken with lemon and fennel, or a winter plate of celery root purée and sautéed mushrooms. Its tension also makes it a quietly excellent partner for Alpine-style cheeses, where salt and nuttiness echo the wine’s mineral core.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1843\" data-end=\"2051\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThis is Vouvray without ornament — precise, grounded and deeply rooted in its slope. A wine that rewards patience, attention and a second glass poured slowly, preferably with food and good light at the table.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43930995065065,"sku":"","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/D7B8A06E-4ED6-490F-9976-880B297489EC.png?v=1767123196"},{"product_id":"2020-domaine-des-closiers-les-coudraies","title":"2022 Domaine des Closiers Les Coudraies","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAhh… do you remember the glory, the beauty, the deliciousness of Clos Rougeard?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eProbably not. And here is why:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eClos Rougeard is and was a property in Samur Champigny, France making Cabernet Franc. When I first started selling their wines, they were between $19 and $29 dollars a bottle. When I stopped selling it (only because I couldn’t get it), their Cabernet Francs were around $300 a bottle. Case in point – I had some on the shelf at the Brady Street store once, and a customer asked me “am I allowed to buy this?” But of course…\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLike many things in wine, the deepest regret is not buying and drinking more before the wine was “hot”. Clos Rougeard is, and was, amazing. It exists in that miniscule field of wine producers that when you taste them, they make every other producer taste like they aren’t even playing the same game, i.e., they’re so good that they just might send you on a lifetime side-quest to find and drink more, and as much as you can. That was (and is) Clos Rougeard – Loire Valley Cabernet Franc like no other and like nothing else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eBut you can’t have any, and as I mentioned before, it’s gone up in price to the point of being not-very-accessible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGiven all this, you can imagine my surprise when this bottle of wine crossed my desk – Domaine des Closiers Les Coudraies Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWhat is the connection?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNot the headline – “the second coming of Clos Rougeard”. But not only that, you’re getting a power trio of Loire producers -  Nady Foucault, winemaker and owner of Clos Rougeard, Michel Chevré of Clos de l’Ecotard, and Thierry Germain of his eponymous estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNow I realize that digging into famed, cult, Loire winemakers is a bit like digging into the underground Minneapolis music scene circa 1978. But hey, none other than PRINCE was born and raised by that scene. And if you can’t dig Prince, you probably shouldn’t be diggin’ Loire Cabernet Franc. 💜\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLong story short, this wine is stupidly good, and stupidly good now, and will continue to be for many years in your cellar. It’s a Loire-game-changing experience; it’s gonna pick you up and move you right on over to a better place. We got a super-limited allocation (because boo-hoo, Madison took most of it [thank goodness we have a Madison store on the way!]). So try and secure yours right away, and without hesitation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44267318542569,"sku":"","price":54.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/ClosiersLabel.jpg?v=1674054994"},{"product_id":"goutorbe-special-club-2012","title":"Goutorbe Special Club 2012","description":"\u003cdiv\u003eThere’s a depth to this wine that only arrives after a decade of quiet patience in bottle. The 2012 vintage in Champagne had the bones for greatness from the start, but here, now, it feels less like promise and more like full maturity. This is Champagne with real bottle age, perfect for enjoyment now.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eThe first aromas feel warmly familiar: baked apple skin, lemon oil and toasted brioche, followed by something deeper and more Aÿ-specific, with Pinot Noir bringing roasted hazelnut, chalk dust and a faint savory note of warm bread. TThere’s a subtle oxidative edge in the best sense: not tired, but gently burnished, with a warm, nutty depth.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the palate, the mousse is fine and integrated, acting less as sparkle and more as texture. Orchard fruit has shifted from fresh to golden, pear compote, apple tarte tatin, layered with almond paste, honeycomb and a saline, chalky minerality that pulls everything taut again. The acidity is still there, but no longer sharp, more structural than pointed, carrying the wine into a long, savory finish marked by crushed limestone and a faint echo of citrus peel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is Champagne entering its most compelling chapter, where youthful brightness gives way to nuance and real bottle-age complexity: golden fruit, brioche and hazelnut depth, fine mousse and a long, chalky finish. It’s ready now, but it has the structure to hold and gain more toasted, nutty character over the next several years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46165270954217,"sku":"F62410","price":149.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/Stockbottlewhitelabel_a2be36eb-3326-43fc-aa92-0630cee5e731.png?v=1766949779"},{"product_id":"laherte-freres-extra-brut-ultradition","title":"Laherte Freres Brut Ultradition","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn the Côteaux Sud d’Épernay, the Laherte family farms just over ten hectares of scattered parcels—limestone, clay, sand, and that flickering chalk seam that makes Champagne Champagne. Most growers spend their careers trying to translate a single site; the LaHertes have spent seven generations weaving a patchwork. Their work is brisk, biodynamic, and human-scaled. Horses still appear in certain parcels; biodiversity isn’t brochure language but daily practice. And the wines show it—vibrant, tensile, a little wild around the edges in the best possible way.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBrut Ultradition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is their entry point, though “entry” feels misleading; it’s more like the handshake that tells you everything you need to know about a person. Built from roughly half Pinot Meunier, with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay completing the trio, the wine carries the clarity and precision of Meunier grown on cooler south-facing slopes. It opens with orchard perfume—pear skin, white cherry, quince—and a chalk dust whisper reminiscent of flint. On the palate, the wine moves with that signature Laherte directness: firm acidity, tense mineral lines, a gentle brush of spice, and a finishing note of something herbal and green—like bruised lemon leaves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe base wines see fermentation in a mix of vessels—classic Champagne foudres, older barrels, stainless steel—and a patient élevage before bottling. The dosage sits low, allowing the wine’s natural sweetness of fruit to stay buoyant without tipping into plushness. Every decision nudges the wine toward transparency: Champagne not as luxury object but as pure agricultural delight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHow to drink it:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis is the bottle you open at the beginning of an evening when you want the conversation to bloom. It’s stunning with raw things—oysters lifted by mignonette, scallops shaved into cold ribbons, a simple plate of radishes with salted butter. But it also adores texture: gougères, fried smelts, tempura vegetables, Comté or young Alpine cheeses whose nuttiness plays in counterpoint to the wine’s taut minerality.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUltimately, Brut Ultradition is Champagne that tastes like a place where someone is tending vines with care—where the work is quiet, thoughtful, and across generations. It invites you in, not to impress you, but to simply explore its crystalline depths.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47081554739433,"sku":"531907NV","price":64.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-8704.png?v=1713466381"},{"product_id":"bruna-grimaldi-arneis","title":"Bruna Grimaldi Arneis 2024","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBright and quietly textured, this opens with pear, yellow apple, and white peach, layered with almond blossom, fennel frond, and a gentle mineral note. The palate is fresh but not thin, with crisp orchard fruit carried by lively acidity and a subtle leesy roundness that gives the wine shape. A faint bitter-almond edge and citrus peel emerge on the finish, keeping it clean, dry, and food-friendly. A well-balanced Roero Arneis that favors clarity and nuance over overt perfume or weight.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTerroir Club June 2025: Bouquets in the Glasses\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhy this set of wines? Because, hopefully, our idyllic Wisconsin summer is finally here and it's time to enjoy chilled, summery whites and rosés. Maybe I was inspired by planting so many flowers in the garden with my fiancée, but the theme of this set of wines turned out, to my palate, to be a story of gorgeous flowery aromas unfurling in the glass!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis northern Italian stunner kicks off June’s liquid floristry. I’ve always loved Arneis, but this wine was an absolute shock of goodness—stunning aromas leaping out of the glass, while being super lush and multidimensional on the palate. The wine is absolutely brimming with flowering  peaches, golden apples, jasmine notes of honeycomb and just touches of nutmeg spice. The palate is rounded and super smooth, just great on its own but recipes from the region also come to mind - saffron and zucchini Tajarin, butternut squash ravioli with sage garnish; chicken or light game in a butter citrus sauce. Or, if you're sitting on a picnic blanket, just share some Robiola, La Tur, or Tomino - all Piemontese cheeses. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47884887032041,"sku":null,"price":22.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1665.png?v=1748891635"},{"product_id":"bloodroot-heringer-chenin-blanc","title":"BloodRoot \"Heringer\" Chenin Blanc","description":"","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48018624708841,"sku":"A02940","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-0357.png?v=1735328361"},{"product_id":"loren-crossing-napa-valley-cabernet","title":"Loren Crossing Napa Valley Cabernet","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery so often, a new winery comes along that feels less like an arrival and more like a continuation — another pair of hands stepping into the long American tradition of coaxing meaning from land. Loren Crossing is one of those places. Their 2023 Cabernet doesn’t trumpet novelty; it reads more like the first careful wheel of a cheesemaker discovering the rhythm of a new dairy — patient, attentive, willing to let the raw material speak before shaping it into form.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2023 was a generous year in Napa, long and even, the kind of season that allows growers to make decisions with the same deliberateness as an affineur turning wheels in a quiet cellar. The wine reflects that steadiness. It opens with the clean, dark edges of blackcurrant and graphite — the raw ingredients — then folds into notes of blackberry skin, roasted plum, and a cedar tone that feels hand-planed rather than lacquered. There’s a youthful firmness to the tannins, not unlike the springy resistance of a cheese still early in its aging life: not yet softened, but already hinting at the depth time will reveal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhat’s most striking is the sense of place emerging through restraint. Loren Crossing resists the modern impulse to inflate; instead, they build flavor the way great cheesemakers build complexity — through balance, precision, and trust in the inherent character of the region. You taste Napa not as spectacle but as structure: warm days, cool nights, volcanic soils under tension with riverbed gravel. The wine carries that history the way a bandaged cheddar carries the imprint of its cloth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDrink it now for its clarity and youthful edge, or let it rest five to eight years, allowing those tannins to loosen and the fruit to settle into a darker, more resonant register. Pair it with foods that echo its grounded confidence: dry-aged ribeye, braised lamb shank, or, fittingly, a piece of well-aged Alpine-style cheese — something with caramelized onion warmth and enough backbone to stand beside a Cabernet that’s finding its voice with admirable honesty.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48304713138409,"sku":"125501","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1413.png?v=1744997630"},{"product_id":"folk-machine-aligote-vecino-vineyard","title":"Folk Machine Aligote Vecino Vineyard 2023","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo fun facts about this wine. First, I don’t like Aligote. Well, it's not that I don’t like Aligote, it's just that often where Aligote grows, Chardonnay grows just as well. And I love Chardonnay so much that I just can’t see the point of Aligote. That, and nobody—including French people—pronounces Aligote the same way. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJust as I love Chardonnay, I love Kenny Likitprakong, the owner and winemaker at Folk Machine. The unfortunate thing is, my enjoyment of these two things has never come together. In my humble opinion, Kenny doesn’t make Chardonnay that I find pleasurable to drink. But  lo and behold, betwixt and between, I find Kenny’s Aligote to be magnificent—so magnificent, that it scratches my (enormous) white Burgundy itch.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis wine is fresh and expressive, showing citrus blossom, green apple, Meyer lemon zest, and a touch of under ripe peach. There are secondary notes of wet stone, crushed herbs (like lemon balm), and a faint hint of almond. Lively and zippy on entry with crisp acidity. Flavors mirror the nose—lime, Granny Smith apple, and white peach—with a saline edge and chalky minerality. Light- to medium-bodied, it has a clean, linear profile. A touch of creaminess rounds out the long mineral finish. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48309095858409,"sku":"A11620","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2014.png?v=1756497574"},{"product_id":"evesham-wood-le-puits-sec-blanc","title":"Evesham Wood Le Puits Sec Blanc 2024","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-size: 0.875rem;\"\u003eWinemaker notes:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"Vintage 2019 offers some great news: We have examples of 2019 Pinot Noir’s from all our stellar vineyards and they are impressive. A beautiful balance was achieved leaning towards cooler vintage drinking wines with bright acidity, focus and elegance, but with some core ripe fruit mixed in. It’s no secret I prefer wines from cooler growing seasons, but the one downside to those wines is that they often need a few months to a year for the mid-palate to plump up and gain some wait. Not the 2019’s. Beautiful elegance combines with an instantly gratifying mid-palate. I think these may be very long-term aging wines as well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\"What a gorgeous wine. The nose jumps out of the glass with concentrated aromas of plum, violet and berries. That lift and concentration carries through as the mixed berries become even more concentrated while beautifully balanced bright acidity leads to moderate tannins on the finish. This is why I came to Le Puits Sec in 2007 and never left. Certified organically grown.\"\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48393184608489,"sku":"112004","price":21.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1785.png?v=1751490786"},{"product_id":"lioco-indica-rose","title":"Lioco Rosé of Carignan","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhy this set of wines? Because, hopefully, our idyllic Wisconsin summer is finally here and it's time to enjoy chilled, summery whites and rosés. Maybe I was inspired by planting so many flowers in the garden with my fiancée, but the theme of this set of wines turned out, to my palate, to be a story of gorgeous flowery aromas unfurling in the glass!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is the best rendition of Lioco Rosé I have had in many years. Quite frankly, I was charmed by this 2024 Mendocino beauty when first tasting it. Aromas of white guava, chrysanthemum and pennyroyal roll off the nose, which leads to rosewater, white raspberry and peach on the palate. Infinitely chuggable! Pair it with anything from the grill—it's light-bodied but so delicious it will work. Fish, vegetarian foods, southern French and Moroccan are all a match. And, if you're following Ottolenghi, this wine truly sings with his cuisine!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"2024","offer_id":51136018940137,"sku":null,"price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2025","offer_id":51136018972905,"sku":null,"price":27.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1668.png?v=1748891756"},{"product_id":"durnberg-falko-field-blend","title":"Durnberg \"Falko\" White Field Blend 2023","description":"\u003cp\u003eTerroir Club June 2025: Bouquets in the Glasses\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhy this set of wines? Because, hopefully, our idyllic Wisconsin summer is finally here and it's time to enjoy chilled, summery whites and rosés. Maybe I was inspired by planting so many flowers in the garden with my fiancée, but the theme of this set of wines turned out, to my palate, to be a story of gorgeous flowery aromas unfurling in the glass!\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI simply love the smell of Muskateller—all green apples, honey blossom, heliotrope, gooseberry and minerals. I think Austrians do Muskateller best because they harvest it fairly early, leaving it not overperfumed, but racy and dry. This one is a field blend, which touches my heart as well—these old-vine vineyards let us taste the hard work of generations who came before. It’s perfect as a crisp cocktail in the sun, but also great with all kinds of fresh green vegetables (seriously, just aim green and you’ll find a great pairing). If you want to go further afield, Muskateller also pairs mightily with spicy foods including Indian, Thai and other Southeast Asian cuisines.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48452128309481,"sku":null,"price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1670.png?v=1748891900"},{"product_id":"mount-langi-ghiran-billi-billi-shiraz","title":"Mount Langi Ghiran Billi Billi Shiraz","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eOkay, I know we all stopped drinking Australian wine many years ago. But gosh darn it, the Australians keep right on making it. While it may not be as popular here as it once was, Australia still has an enormous variety of high-quality wines, and I think that this one, Billi Billi Shiraz, just might reignite your interest. High-toned fruit, black pepper spice and a beautifully seamless midpalate might make you think this Shiraz came from the Northern Rhone. Not huge and alcoholic like Aussie Shiraz of yore, this is pretty, flowery and easy-drinking. I think this is a beautiful wine with its lovely, lifted fruit character in the midpalate, and I hope you do too!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48485321015529,"sku":"380201","price":12.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1968.png?v=1755115655"},{"product_id":"longridge-the-raincatcher-red-blend","title":"Longridge \"The Raincatcher\" Red Blend","description":"","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48521427550441,"sku":"6147","price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1788.png?v=1751490920"},{"product_id":"massican-ca-pinot-grigio","title":"Massican CA Pinot Grigio","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinemaker Dan Petroski founded Massican in 2009 as Napa's “only white-wine winery.” Petroski makes Mediterranean wines, which refers to not only their style (high-acid, floral, salty) but their ambition: to grace tables. In 2017 he was named “Winemaker of the Year” by \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSan Francisco Chronicle \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand has gone on to become a darling of the Napa Valley wine industry—a winemaker who is playing by his own rules, making truly exceptional wine. I was frankly shocked when one of our suppliers wandered in with a sample bottle: For years, these wines have sold at the winery only and were not available anywhere else. But I knew exactly what this wine was, and knew I had to get it for Terroir Club members. I love the Massican wines when they are fresh, young, and crunchy – that would be the calendar year after the vintage on bottle. If you are drinking them in the springtime and summer, you’ll find them vibrant and joyous on the palate. And if you start drinking them in the fall, they become great cold-weather white wines as they build more weight and texture on the palate and pair well with heartier dishes.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDan Petroski via Massican recently published a cookbook, which can be found at \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.massican.com\/categories\/massican-cookbook\/\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehttps:\/\/www.massican.com\/categories\/massican-cookbook\/\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. To borrow just a few food ideas for this charming white wine, I suggest Dan’s fennel \u0026amp; citrus salad, sausage \u0026amp; rice stuffed peppers, and olive oil poached swordfish. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Johnson\/Phillips","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48615564083433,"sku":"1295408","price":34.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-1965.png?v=1755115542"},{"product_id":"domaine-des-closiers-les-closiers-2022","title":"Domaine des Closiers Les Closiers 2022","description":"\u003cp\u003eAhh… do you remember the glory, the beauty, the deliciousness of Clos Rougeard?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eProbably not. And here is why:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClos Rougeard is and was a property in Samur Champigny, France making Cabernet Franc. When I first started selling their wines, they were between $19 and $29 dollars a bottle. When I stopped selling it (only because I couldn’t get it), their Cabernet Francs were around $300 a bottle. Case in point – I had some on the shelf at the Brady Street store once, and a customer asked me “am I allowed to buy this?” But of course…\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike many things in wine, the deepest regret is not buying and drinking more before the wine was “hot”. Clos Rougeard is, and was, amazing. It exists in that miniscule field of wine producers that when you taste them, they make every other producer taste like they aren’t even playing the same game, i.e., they’re so good that they just might send you on a lifetime side-quest to find and drink more, and as much as you can. That was (and is) Clos Rougeard – Loire Valley Cabernet Franc like no other and like nothing else.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut you can’t have any, and as I mentioned before, it’s gone up in price to the point of being not-very-accessible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGiven all this, you can imagine my surprise when this bottle of wine crossed my desk – Domaine des Closiers Les Coudraies Saumur Champigny Cabernet Franc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat is the connection?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNot the headline – “the second coming of Clos Rougeard”. But not only that, you’re getting a power trio of Loire producers -  Nady Foucault, winemaker and owner of Clos Rougeard, Michel Chevré of Clos de l’Ecotard, and Thierry Germain of his eponymous estate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow I realize that digging into famed, cult, Loire winemakers is a bit like digging into the underground Minneapolis music scene circa 1978. But hey, none other than PRINCE was born and raised by that scene. And if you can’t dig Prince, you probably shouldn’t be diggin’ Loire Cabernet Franc. 💜\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLong story short, this wine is stupidly good, and stupidly good now, and will continue to be for many years in your cellar. It’s a Loire-game-changing experience; it’s gonna pick you up and move you right on over to a better place. We got a super-limited allocation (because boo-hoo, Madison took most of it [thank goodness we have a Madison store on the way!]). So try and secure yours right away, and without hesitation.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48967536148713,"sku":null,"price":39.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2009.png?v=1756497149"},{"product_id":"jipi-casa-sauvignon-blanc","title":"Casa Jipi Sauvignon Blanc 2023","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMexico’s hottest winemaker!—Bet you haven’t read that before. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs the winery says, “ Casa Jipi (pronounced Hippie) is a pochismo that shows how diversity and mixticity enrichens our countries. We all have \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eun poquito\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e de Jipi in ourselves, both sides of the border.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNow we at Waterford have to admit - while we love all things Mexico, we are just at the nascent dawn of our understanding of ascending Mexican wine culture. But it is apparently ascending, and our Mexican friends tell us that this is not only one of the hottest properties in Mexico, but it’s also made by Mexico’s reigning hotshot winemaker (Lulu Martinez Ojeda). Terroir Club is about exploring new wines and wine regions, and when you can get the best of the best, we want to take that shot! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eOne of the reasons I enjoy Sauvignon Blanc is because where you plant it changes its flavor (a true terroir grape). So it is fascinating to think of the nearest U.S. region for high quality SB, Happy Canyon in Santa Barbara, and compare this wine's flavor profile.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe initial taste is of wet stone and sea brine and—being from Baja—that makes sense. Wafting along with that are hints of citrus notes, lime and grapefruit zest, layered in with guava and passion fruit. There are very subtle undertones of Mexican herbs - epazote, hoja santa, thyme and papalo. There is seamless intrigue felt throughout this wine. And what to pair with it? Mexican food, of course! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Left Bank","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49030090850537,"sku":"M39000","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2006.png?v=1756496612"},{"product_id":"ad-ripa-happy-canyon-cabernet","title":"Ad Ripa Happy Canyon Cabernet 2022","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"368\" data-end=\"923\"\u003eThis wine belongs to a conclusion that has been forming slowly around Justin Tyler’s work, one reached not through any single bottle but through repetition, consistency and time. Long renowned for his command of Burgundy’s varieties—Pinot Noir and Chardonnay rendered with clarity, restraint and an unforced sense of place—Justin has more recently turned his attention to Bordeaux grapes. The shift feels neither abrupt nor strategic. Instead, it reads as a natural extension of a winemaker who has always worked outward from site, proportion and patience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"925\" data-end=\"1565\"\u003eCabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot now show the same quiet attentiveness that defines his Burgundian wines. These are not wines chasing declarations or big stylistic gestures. They are shaped by Santa Barbara’s warmer corridors, coastal evenings and wind-shaped hillsides, with the conditions on the ground setting the terms. As the vintages have accumulated, the picture has clarified. For many critics, and for those who have followed the arc closely, Justin Tyler now stands as one of Santa Barbara County’s most complete and thoughtful winemakers, fluent across grape families without losing his sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1567\" data-end=\"2043\"\u003e2022 Ad Ripa Cabernet Sauvignon “RSW,” Happy Canyon of Santa Barbara fits squarely within that understanding. It settles into the glass with calm, not urgency. Cabernet here is driven by Happy Canyon as tension more than raw power—warm days tempered by Pacific influence, elevation and exposure carving clarity into the fruit. Ad Ripa, Latin for “by the riverbank,” nods to the Santa Ynez River’s role in moderating the site and to a philosophy that favors balance over force.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2045\" data-end=\"2524\"\u003eRSW comes from a defined hillside parcel where drainage, slope and airflow matter as much as variety. The 2022 vintage—measured, even and refreshingly sane—sets the tone early. Aromatically, the wine opens on blackcurrant and crushed blackberry, then moves into more savory territory: bay leaf, graphite, dried sage and the resinous edge of canyon chaparral warmed by afternoon sun. Oak is present but well integrated, showing as cedar, cocoa powder and structure, not sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2526\" data-end=\"2938\"\u003eOn the palate, the wine has line and direction. Medium plus in body, it emphasizes shape, not sheer size, delivering dark fruit with cool definition. Cassis and black cherry give way to pencil lead, bitter chocolate and a faint saline note that feels distinctly of place. Tannins are fine grained and steady, providing framework without weight, while acidity keeps the wine alert and composed through the finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2940\" data-end=\"3221\"\u003eWhat ultimately defines the wine is its equilibrium in the glass. Ripeness, structure and freshness show together, none overwhelming the others. The result is a Cabernet that feels considered, not constructed, and that gains dimension with air while working naturally at the table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"3223\" data-end=\"3550\"\u003eRSW highlights something Happy Canyon does particularly well when approached with restraint: Cabernet with clarity instead of volume. In Justin Tyler’s hands, it becomes another chapter in a body of work that feels increasingly complete—proof that real attentiveness can move across varieties without losing its sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49111518675177,"sku":"121201","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2827.png?v=1769538469"},{"product_id":"mcv-paso-robles-petite-sirah","title":"MCV Paso Robles Petite Sirah 2022","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTwo amazing moments with Petite Sirah; but first, a reflection on Petite Sirah:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePetite Sirah is a California winemaker’s sweetheart of a red wine grape. Meaning this is the grape that almost all of them love growing and working with. Why? Because Petite has a very small berry (hence the name) and because of this, when made into wine, it has a high skin-to-juice ratio. The ratio in turn means that Petite can handle California’s sunshine - no matter how ripe it gets, the tannins and acidity balance the resulting alcohol. For Cali winemakers, this is a darling of a grape.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNow the two amazing moments. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst, one of the best wine pairings that you will ever have is Beef Tartare and Petite Sirah. It can be the simplest of all Beef Tartares, and it will still blow you away! Gussie it up with all kinds of accoutrements, and you’ll be living large. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSecond, Waterford was once invited to host the Connoisseurs Room of a large fundraiser wine tasting. At that tasting we were able to source a collection of Petite Sirahs from California dating back to 1965! The vintners and many of the other presenters in the tasting were blown away. So blown away, in fact, that they kept tasting that table all night long. Petite being a relatively high-alcohol varietal, you can imagine what happened. Waterford managed to bamboozle most of the presenters, resulting in one heck of a party. Fun times, although we were never invited back! \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb id=\"docs-internal-guid-ef3a14b6-7fff-3056-7f25-30af9faaf7c6\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49124246126825,"sku":"123509","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2097.png?v=1759176541"},{"product_id":"mallea-vineyards-grenache-blanc","title":"Mallea Vineyards Grenache Blanc","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo us at Waterford, Justin Willett of Tyler winery is a rock star. He’s making suave, incredibly tasty and stylish Chardonnay that we love to pound! And now he’s teamed up to create a new wine: Mallea. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMallea is a collaboration between viticulturist Erik Mallea (director of viticulture at Sanford \u0026amp; Benedict and a co-founder of Willett-Mallea Farming) and winemaker Justin Willett (of Tyler Winery and Lieu-Dit Winery). After working together in various capacities for over a decade, Erik and Justin have started this exciting new project to highlight Santa Barbara County’s potential with Rhône varieties. They are farming four small vineyard sites clustered around Los Olivos in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara. Their initial release features three wines: a Grenache Blanc, Grenache Rosé, and a GSM blend, made by Justin Willett at his winery in Lompoc, CA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis Grenache Blanc presents a bright nose with floral notes like honeysuckle, followed by flavors of green apple, pear, citrus, and hints of herbs and minerality. Its palate is characterized by a rich, full-bodied texture balanced by crisp, refreshing acidity, and a clean, mineral or subtly tannic finish.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAs a side note, this project’s labels reference Erik Mallea’s Basque heritage, depicting 19th- and 20th-century aspen tree carvings by Basque shepherds in the American West. Erik’s father, Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe, is a respected scholar of this cultural tradition.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49124251893993,"sku":"121101","price":18.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}]},{"product_id":"torre-zambra-villamagna-montepulciano-dabruzzo","title":"Torre Zambra Villamagna Montepulciano D'Abruzzo 2021","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"333\" data-end=\"725\"\u003eThere are wines that speak, and then there are wines that \u003cem data-start=\"391\" data-end=\"431\"\u003ewhisper the language of earth and wind\u003c\/em\u003e. The 2021 Torre Zambra Villamagna Montepulciano d’Abruzzo belongs unmistakably to the second category—its voice emerging from a landscape where the roar of the Adriatic meets the silent immensity of the Apennines, and where centuries of history have folded into the very soil beneath the vine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1385\"\u003eThe story of Torre Zambra begins long before cork meets lips. The estate is rooted in a family tradition that stretches back to the early 20th century, and the De Cerchio family’s devotion to Villamagna’s hills is almost tactile in its persistence. The original vineyard ground—first cultivated in 1910—was weathered by war, rebuilt with tenacity, and ultimately formalized into one of Abruzzo’s most revered addresses for Montepulciano. The Villamagna district itself, its Latin name meaning “great estate,” was recognized as a DOC only in 2011—and remains one of the world’s smallest officially delimited wine regions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1385\"\u003ePour a glass of the 2021 Villamagna and notice how its colour holds a deep garnet intensity—rich yet youthful. On the nose, there’s an immediate liveliness: sour cherry and wild strawberry brush against more savory notes of oven-dried tomato, coffee grind, and mixed herbs. There’s a mineral undercurrent, almost crushed stone, that lifts the fruit and anchors it firmly in place.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1385\"\u003eThis Montepulciano is not a broad-shouldered blockbuster; it is a wine of balance and place, where each element—soil, sea, mountain, and human intent—converges in a measured conversation. It pairs beautifully with the rustic pleasures of its homeland: braised lamb ragu, grilled pork with rosemary, or a wheel of pecorino that has seen summers and winters on the hillside. In each bite and sip, you feel the pull of Villamagna’s terroir.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMidwinter calls for depth, warmth and structure at the table. This Villamagna Montepulciano suits a January menu built around slow heat, savory richness and restrained intensity rather than overt luxury.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBegin with charred radicchio dressed in olive oil and balsamic, finished with toasted walnuts. The wine’s acidity and subtle bitterness echo the dish while keeping the palate lifted.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor the main course, ember-roasted lamb shoulder with rosemary, garlic and anchovy or a slow-braised pork cheek in tomato and espresso offers natural alignment with the wine’s dark cherry fruit, herbal tones and savory undertow. The tannins settle comfortably into protein without dominating the plate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA vegetarian centerpiece works just as well: mushroom and lentil stew with black pepper and thyme or handmade pasta with saffron, lamb broth and pecorino reflect the wine’s earthy and saline elements while preserving balance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClose with aged pecorino or Canestrato served simply, allowing the wine’s structure and freshness to carry through the final course.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"727\" data-end=\"1385\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Misa","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49376624967913,"sku":"08033355599693","price":29.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2397.png?v=1767825106"},{"product_id":"jm-seleque-solessence-rose-nv","title":"JM Seleque Solessence Rose NV","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"302\"\u003eThis bottle marks a small but meaningful milestone. JM Sélèque’s Solessence Rosé has reached Wisconsin for the first time, offering a Champagne that feels both celebratory and grounded — a wine rooted in Pierry, guided by Jean-Marc Sélèque’s sensitive hand and built for the table as much as the toast.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"304\" data-end=\"670\"\u003eSolessence Rosé feels less like a Champagne made to announce itself and more like one meant to be discovered in motion, with food and conversation doing some of the work. It is grounded not in spectacle but in place, shaped by the chalky slopes of Pierry where Sélèque farms his family’s vineyards with a focus on texture, balance and quiet detail rather than flash.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"672\" data-end=\"1067\"\u003eThe wine is built on Pinot Meunier, with Chardonnay lending lift and Pinot Noir contributing color and savory depth. A measured touch of red wine provides the rosé hue, handled with restraint so the wine remains unmistakably vinous. Fermentation in a mix of stainless steel and older oak adds breadth without overt wood, while extended time on the lees brings a supple, gently creamy mid-palate.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1069\" data-end=\"1451\"\u003eIn the glass, wild strawberry and blood orange lead, followed by rose petal, white pepper and a faint savory note that reads more like crushed stone than sweetness. There is a subtle umami quality — lightly saline and appetizing — that keeps the wine moving across the palate. The mousse is fine and persistent, the acidity precise but never sharp, carrying the finish long and dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1453\" data-end=\"1722\"\u003eThis is Champagne made for the meal rather than the moment: roast salmon with herbs, duck rillettes, mushroom tarts or a simple plate of charcuterie and good bread. It rewards attention without demanding it, unfolding slowly as the bottle empties and the table relaxes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1724\" data-end=\"1997\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eSolessence Rosé captures what Jean-Marc Sélèque does best — translating vineyard character into wines that feel alive, textured and deeply connected to where they come from. It is rosé Champagne with substance and soul, meant to be poured generously and remembered quietly.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Odin Wine Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49384789999849,"sku":null,"price":79.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/JMS2018_SOLESSENCE_ROSE-400x1462-1.jpg?v=1766772016"},{"product_id":"pierre-paillard-les-parcelles-xxi","title":"Pierre Paillard Les Parcelles XXI","description":"\u003cp\u003ePierre Paillard’s Les Parcelles XXI is Grand Cru Champagne rooted in Bouzy, one of the Montagne de Reims’ benchmark villages for Pinot Noir. Bouzy’s south-facing slopes and chalk-rich soils consistently yield wines with deeper red-fruit character and a more vinous shape, while still finishing with the kind of clean, chalky tension that keeps everything in balance. The Paillard family has farmed here for generations, and their choices show a patient philosophy: organic viticulture, old vines, fermentations in barrel and time on lees measured in years rather than months. Les Parcelles is their most faithful snapshot of Bouzy as a whole, a blend of parcels and reserve wines that favors red-fruit depth, chalky cut and savory, vinous structure over showy fruit or overt richness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, the Paillard family's philosophy reads immediately. Pinot Noir brings quiet muscle and savory depth, while Chardonnay lifts the frame with citrus and chalk. The palate moves with precision rather than force, with lemon peel, red apple skin, toasted almond and crushed limestone, all carried on a fine, persistent bead. Extra Brut dosage keeps the lines clean and dry, letting saline minerality and subtle autolytic notes linger in the background.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso exciting: This bottle is the first time Pierre Paillard is being offered in Wisconsin! For Champagne lovers, that matters. Paillard has long been a name you’d hear in the right conversations, a grower-producer with serious follow-through, but not always easy to find. Now it’s here for Terroir Club members, and it delivers exactly what you'd want from a Bouzy-driven cuvée\u003cspan style=\"font-size: xx-small;\"\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003estructure, clarity and that chalky finish that keeps pulling you back for one more sip.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"auto\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStart it well-chilled, then let it warm a few degrees in the glass as you go. The texture opens and the savory notes deepen, giving the wine even more dimension. At the table, Les Parcelles XXI shines with oysters, shrimp and crudo, roast chicken, mushroom dishes and nutty cheeses like Comté. It’s Champagne that rewards attention but never demands it, equally compelling with food or on its own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49934445969641,"sku":"542501","price":84.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2329.png?v=1767044964"},{"product_id":"xavier-gerard-saint-joseph-lacombe-st-pierre-2023","title":"Xavier Gerard Saint Joseph Lacombe - St. Pierre 2023","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-10 [--thread-content-margin:--spacing(4)] @w-sm\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(6)] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-margin:--spacing(16)] px-(--thread-content-margin)\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg\/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group\/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex max-w-full flex-col grow\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-message-author-role=\"assistant\" data-message-id=\"1a0a89ab-1d73-4b70-b8ba-df8aa6cec76a\" dir=\"auto\" class=\"min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal [.text-message+\u0026amp;]:mt-1\" data-message-model-slug=\"gpt-5-2\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden first:pt-[1px]\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"markdown prose dark:prose-invert w-full break-words light markdown-new-styling\"\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"608\"\u003eOn the northern reaches of Saint-Joseph, just south of Chavanay, the Rhône narrows and steepens, folding into granite slopes that feel more Alpine than Mediterranean. This is Lacombe, in the commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Bœuf — a quieter corner of the appellation where Syrah grows on sandy granite soils that fracture easily underfoot, shedding heat by day and preserving tension by night. It’s here that Xavier Gérard planted and reclaimed a parcel in 2020, and in 2023 released its first clear articulation: \u003cem data-start=\"508\" data-end=\"528\"\u003eLacombe-St. Pierre\u003c\/em\u003e, a debut that reads less like a statement and more like a careful introduction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"610\" data-end=\"1276\"\u003eGérard’s work has always leaned toward restraint and fidelity to site, and this wine follows that philosophy closely. Fermented with native yeasts and raised gently in older barrels, the élevage stays deliberately in the background. What comes forward instead is the shape of the land itself — Syrah rendered in dark, savory lines rather than glossy curves. The nose opens on blackcurrant and blackberry skin, shaded by cracked pepper, dried thyme and a faint bitterness that recalls amaro herbs. Beneath the fruit, there’s a cool mineral register — crushed granite, graphite dust — the kind of scent that feels lifted from the vineyard floor rather than the cellar.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1278\" data-end=\"1738\"\u003eOn the palate, the wine holds its ground with quiet authority. The fruit stays dark and compact — black plum, mulberry, a hint of olive — framed by firm, slightly rugged tannins that speak to both youth and place. Acidity keeps the wine upright, lending length and clarity, while savory notes of smoked meat, iron and dried herbs gather toward the finish. It’s a Saint-Joseph that favors structure over seduction, inviting time rather than demanding attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1740\" data-end=\"2249\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eAs a first release, \u003cem data-start=\"1760\" data-end=\"1780\"\u003eLacombe-St. Pierre\u003c\/em\u003e feels promising precisely because it doesn’t overreach. This is Syrah still finding its voice in a new vineyard, shaped by granite, wind and patience. Serve it with lamb grilled over wood, lentils stewed with herbs or mushrooms roasted until their edges crisp, and let the wine settle into the table. With a few years in bottle, its contours will soften, but even now, it offers a clear sense of where it comes from — a hillside, a soil and a grower listening closely.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Vino Veritas","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":49963742134505,"sku":null,"price":59.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2343.png?v=1767128259"},{"product_id":"the-paring-syrah-2020","title":"The Paring Syrah 2020","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"470\"\u003eThe Paring has always come across as more conversation than proclamation — a thoughtful back-and-forth between place, variety and intent. The name itself encourages a double take. Pairing is what it does so easily at the table, working with food rather than against it. Paring is more literal: fruit drawn from parcels carved away from the valley floor, rising into hillside exposures where restraint replaces excess and nuance has room to develop.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"450\" data-end=\"933\"\u003eThat dual meaning is a useful way into the 2020 Syrah. This is a wine shaped less by volume than by contour — by slope, airflow and the quiet discipline that comes from farming above the fertile comfort of the valley floor. Fruit ripens slowly here, gaining depth without heaviness and yielding a Syrah that feels composed rather than showy. Dark berries and blackberry skin anchor the profile, but they come across cool toned and measured, framed by freshness rather than sweetness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"935\" data-end=\"1314\"\u003eAs the wine opens, Syrah’s savory side starts to show. Cracked black pepper and violet lift the aromatics, followed by notes of olive tapenade, iron and graphite that point directly to soil and site. A faint thread of smoked meat and bay leaf runs through the midpalate, not as a dominant flourish but as a reminder of the variety’s natural tilt toward the herbal and the savory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1316\" data-end=\"1673\"\u003eStructure is where the hillside origin is most obvious. Fine grained, chalky tannins give the palate shape without weight, while a steady line of acidity keeps everything taut and focused. Nothing feels padded or exaggerated. The wine moves in a straight, confident line, finishing long and peppery, with mineral tension lingering after the fruit eases off.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1675\" data-end=\"2050\"\u003eWithin The Paring’s broader approach — thoughtful sourcing, balance over excess, vineyards allowed to set the tone rather than heavy cellar work — the 2020 Syrah feels especially dialed in, even in its youth. It is still knitting together and gaining detail with air, but the style is already clear: California Syrah in a slightly lower register, more measured than muscular.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2416\"\u003eAt the table, the name comes full circle. This is a wine that \u003cem\u003epairs\u003c\/em\u003e easily and flexibly: grilled lamb with herbs, charred vegetables, anything brushed with smoke or olive oil fits naturally alongside it. It is a bottle meant to be shared and revisited over the course of an evening, a Syrah that shows how well both meanings of “Paring” can live in a single glass\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"AVA","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50074414448873,"sku":"4187","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/files\/IMG-2842.png?v=1769540313"},{"product_id":"stolpman-love-you-bunches-red-2023","title":"Stolpman Love You Bunches Red 2023","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"426\"\u003eThis frisky wine leans into brightness and lift: carbonic fermented, wildly juicy and unapologetically fun. Think crunchy red cherry, strawberry skin, pomegranate and rose petal with a flick of white pepper, all carried on Stolpman’s familiar freshness and limestone snap. It is light on its feet but not hollow, joyful without being silly and dangerously easy to drink — the kind of bottle that is gone before you realize it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"428\" data-end=\"502\"\u003eBut Love You Bunches has always been about more than what is in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"504\" data-end=\"1005\"\u003eLong before “values-driven wine” became a phrase, the Stolpman family made a straightforward commitment: long term contracts and shared success with the vineyard workers who farm their Ballard Canyon estate. This wine exists because of that philosophy — fruit grown by people whose livelihoods are tied to the land year after year, not just season by season. That continuity shows in the balance and ease of the wine: nothing forced, nothing overworked, just clean, juicy fruit handled with restraint.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1007\" data-end=\"1035\"\u003eAnd then there is the label.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1037\" data-end=\"1385\"\u003eYes, it is charming. Yes, it is instantly recognizable. But the detail that matters most is simple: you can write your loved one’s name directly on it. Suddenly it is not just a bottle; it is a note, a gesture, a Valentine’s gift that feels personal and meant to be opened together. Flowers fade. Chocolate disappears. This marks a specific moment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1387\" data-end=\"1684\"\u003eServe it with a chill. Put it next to roast chicken, pizza, pasta with red sauce, burgers, leftovers or absolutely nothing at all. Drink it because it is Tuesday, or because it is Valentine’s Day, or because you want a wine that treats joy as part of taking wine seriously, not the opposite of it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1686\" data-end=\"1717\"\u003eBright. Juicy. Human. Generous.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1719\" data-end=\"1744\"\u003eLove you bunches, indeed!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50074456260841,"sku":"126302","price":24.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0579\/2805\/7022\/products\/image_883b9fb3-b48d-4e7a-8631-3fd41c04aa6d.png?v=1631563270"},{"product_id":"bodegas-roda-rioja-reserva-roda-1","title":"Bodegas Roda Rioja Reserva \"Roda 1\"","description":"","brand":"Select Sellars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50942991270121,"sku":null,"price":99.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}]}],"url":"https:\/\/waterfordwine.com\/collections\/terroir-club-selections.oembed?page=4","provider":"Waterford Wine and Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}