Rare Finds

The story of the legendary Montevertine estate in Radda-in-Chianti begins in 1967, when Sergio Manetti purchased the property and planted two hectares of vines with the modest intention of making wine to share with his family and friends. It turns out he had a knack for the craft, and word swiftly spread in the area about the quality of wine Montevertine was creating from their excellently situated high-altitude vineyards.

The wines have been classified as “Rosso di Toscana” since 1981 due to their strong belief that Trebbiano should not be included in their wines—even though, ironically, they have always been, among the purest expressions of Chianti Classico.

Their vineyards are worked without chemicals; grapes are hand-harvested; fermentations are spontaneous; no stainless steel exists at the estate—only cement and old wood; sulfur is applied conservatively, and only at racking; and neither fining nor filtration are employed.

Paolo Bea captures the pastoral beauty of Umbria in his iconoclastic wines. 

With over 500 years of experience farming in Montefalco, the Bea family has deep generationally driven insight into the region. A commitment to organic agriculture (fused with certain biodynamic practices) set Paolo apart from his contemporaries in the 70s and 80s. Today his son Giampiero holds the reins and his wines are wildly regarded as some of the most exciting and challenging wines to come out of italy. The power and depth of this Sagrantino are monolithic in proportions. Delicious, brooding, dark and ageworthy. 

One of the most sought after producers in the Loire. The wines of Domaine Guiberteau are for those really in the know. The legendary Becky Wasserman has this to say about Guiberteau: Romain Guiberteau owns some of the best land in Brézé, and makes dry chenins of punk rock violence, yet of Bach-like logic and profoundness.

This wine from Brézé is one of the peaks of Chenin Blanc. It’s incredibly dry with ripping texture and acid. It’s like watching a linebacker dance ballet.

The Doyard family traces their winemaking roots in Champagne back to 1677 but have been officially making wine under the Doyard label since 1927, and over the years, Yannick Doyard and his son Guillaume have become a beacon for precise, vinous, mineral-etched Champagne in the Côtes des Blancs. The domaine employs organic farming in the vines, with most of the vineyards worked by horse. This wine comes from a Vertus 1er cru and offers aromas of crisp stone fruits, pear, buttered toast, musky peach, and smoke. It’s precise and dry, having been disgorged this year with two grams per liter dosage after 48 months on the lees. It’s medium to full-bodied, pillowy, and precise, with a nicely concentrated core of fruit, racy acids, and a long, chalky finish.

The wines from Luciano Sandrone are a bridge between traditional and modern styles in Barolo. While he didn’t come from a family of winemakers, he had a keen interest in the art and began his apprenticeships at the age of 15. Since his first vintage in the late 70s he has made wines that are highly sought after and lauded by critics, especially Italian specialist Antonio Galloni from Vinous Media. This bottling comes from the south side of Cannubi, has all the things you want from a well made Barolo. It has cherry, tobacco, and tar as well as dried roses that sit over sweet earth. Well integrated, chewy tannins accentuate the oak and spice on the palate.

The story of the legendary Montevertine estate in Radda-in-Chianti begins in 1967, when Sergio Manetti purchased the property and planted two hectares of vines with the modest intention of making wine to share with his family and friends. It turns out he had a knack for the craft, and word swiftly spread in the area about the quality of wine Montevertine was creating from their excellently situated high-altitude vineyards.

The wines have been classified as “Rosso di Toscana” since 1981 due to their strong belief that Trebbiano should not be included in their wines—even though, ironically, they have always been, among the purest expressions of what Chianti can be.

Their vineyards are worked without chemicals; grapes are hand-harvested; fermentations are spontaneous; no stainless steel exists at the estate—only cement and old wood; sulfur is applied conservatively, and only at racking; and neither fining nor filtration are employed.

Not only the estate’s highest achievement, but one of Italy’s great wines. Since 1990 Le Pergole Torte, which translates loosely to “the crooked pergolas,” has comprised the estate’s best parcels and is first and foremost a staggeringly complex expression of pure Sangiovese grown in Radda’s high-altitude alberese sandstone soils.

Unfailingly profound, the 2020 is among the greatest versions in recent memory. In bottle, the 2020 Le Pergole Torte is both sumptuous and poised, simultaneously mouthcoating and racy, with gorgeously refined tannins and crunchy, spice-tinged fruit that feels like the Platonic ideal of Sangiovese.

Simply one of the finest and most sought after Brunellos on the market.

Is d’Yquem the greatest wine on Earth? Will and David certainly think so. Chateau d’Yquem is one of those rare producers where almost no one will challenge you for asserting that they are the best at what they they do—and what they do is make incredible wine that can live for a century and beyond. Buy to enjoy now or store for your great grand children. If you do want to enjoy it make sure you have some blue cheese or foie gras on hand to pair.

This is a wine that will reward patience. Like most Amarone’s the Dal Forno is brooding, brimming with dark cherries and violets that play off the spice, earth, and coffee notes that add complexity. This balance between the rich acidity, the savory umami, and the fresh fruit leave this looking like a linebacker dancing a ballet. It’s graceful.

The story of the legendary Montevertine estate in Radda-in-Chianti begins in 1967, when Sergio Manetti purchased the property and planted two hectares of vines with the modest intention of making wine to share with his family and friends. It turns out he had a knack for the craft, and word swiftly spread in the area about the quality of wine Montevertine was creating from their excellently situated high-altitude vineyards.

The wines have been classified as “Rosso di Toscana” since 1981 due to their strong belief that Trebbiano should not be included in their wines—even though, ironically, they have always been, among the purest expressions of what Chianti can be.

Their vineyards are worked without chemicals; grapes are hand-harvested; fermentations are spontaneous; no stainless steel exists at the estate—only cement and old wood; sulfur is applied conservatively, and only at racking; and neither fining nor filtration are employed.

Not only the estate’s highest achievement, but one of Italy’s great wines. Since 1990 Le Pergole Torte, which translates loosely to “the crooked pergolas,” has comprised the estate’s best parcels and is first and foremost a staggeringly complex expression of pure Sangiovese grown in Radda’s high-altitude alberese sandstone soils.

Unfailingly profound, the 2020 is among the greatest versions in recent memory. In bottle, the 2020 Le Pergole Torte is both sumptuous and poised, simultaneously mouthcoating and racy, with gorgeously refined tannins and crunchy, spice-tinged fruit that feels like the Platonic ideal of Sangiovese.

Simply one of the finest and most sought after Brunellos on the market.

Haut Brion has been revered for centuries as one of the world’s greatest wines. Favored by kings, presidents (Thomas Jefferson was a noted fan), and the upper echelons of the wine industry, it hasn’t lost a step. This is a complex, deeply layered wine that will continue to get better for the next few decades (if not longer).