Passenger Napa Cabernet
$95.99
Exclusive to KWM - and 90 points from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate. The review for the 2012 vintage: "TThis blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest equal parts Merlot and Petit Verdot is made by Realm’s fabulous winemaker, Benoit Touquette. The opaque ruby/purple-colored 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon, sourced mainly from Oakville vineyards, exhibits notes of baking spices, toast, blackcurrants and blackberries. Medium to full-bodied, round and juicy, it is best drunk over the next decade or more."
Mondavi Napa Cabernet
$66.99
Zuccardi Q Malbec
$27.99
Hauts de Granget St Emilion
$61.99
Leonetti Cabernet
$213.99
Leonetti was founded by Gary and Nancy Figgins, in 1977 as Walla Walla’s first commercial winery. What is far less understood is that the presence of this family in Walla Walla spans over a century-long into the deep silt loam of this valley. Gary was incredibly fortunate to know his grandparents, Francesco and Rosa Leonetti, and grew up making weekend trips the short distance down the old dirt road to the Leonetti farm they established in 1906. This is the same site where, with a few cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon and Riesling, Gary would come to plant his first commercial vineyard in 1974 and unknowingly establish an entire industry for our valley. Building off the inspiration he gleaned from his grandfather’s bubbling fermentations on the farm’s dirt floor basement, the only logical thing to do to honour his family’s roots would be to name the winery Leonetti Cellar. Through these experiences, Gary and his son acquired a certain perspective and reverence for our family heritage that guides them to this day. The wine has become the benchmark for Washington Cabernet, capable of aging for 20 years or more.
Lapierre Morgon Magnum
$119.99
One of the most exciting producers in Beaujolais, Domaine Marcel Lapierre is now led by Marcel's son Mathieu. This organic, biodynamic Gamay is made with minimal intervention; the family was making excellent "natural wines" long before the term became trendy amongst wine aficionados. Pair this medium-to-light-bodied red with roast chicken or roast turkey. The magnum format will serve lots of friends at your next dinner party.
Chermette Beaujolais
$27.99
This Beaujolais pays homage to Jean-Etienne's uncle Louis, who passed away far too soon, and to the entire Vissoux family, who have cultivated these lands and vines with courage and perseverance since the 17th century. Made from 70-year-old vines rooted in dark granite, known as plagiogranite, this Beaujolais charms with its vibrant freshness and fruity expression. Its perfect balance of suppleness, acidity, and silky tannins makes it a delicious wine, ideal for any occasion.
Bouchard Beaune Du Chateau 1er Cru Red
$79.99
Basilio Izquierdo B de Basilio Tinto
$87.99
The B de Basilio Red displays a brilliant, purple-hued ruby color. This suave, fruit encased red is brightly fragrant. Rich scents of black cherry and strawberry immediately greet you on the nose, followed by hints of clay and loam. The attack is supple, silky and juicy with additional notes of blackberry and raspberry. Fine, creamy oak tones emerge, adding roundness to the supple mouthfeel. Seamlessly integrated acidity and very fine ripe tannins provide structure. The long finish is capped by soft hints of spice and chewy strawberry.
Basilio Izquierdo is a truly iconic Rioja winemaker, responsible for dozens of true classics that bring Rioja aficionados to tears, such as the great 'Imperial' and 'Viña Real' Gran Reservas of the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, and the mythic Contino ’82 Reserva. In 2006, after more than 32 years as head winemaker at CVNE, he started his own personally inspired winery, Bodegas Basilio Izquierdo in a garage style cooperative winery space in the town of Laguardia within the Rioja Alavesa sub-zone of Rioja. His goal: to explore some of the lost art of Rioja winemaking in conjunction with his knowledge of the latest techniques and materials. In that first year his white wine production consisted of one new French oak barrel. Since then he has expanded to an annual production of about 5000 bottles of barrel aged red and 700 bottles of barrel fermented white.
Basilio's understanding of many of the lost traditions of Rioja form the basis for his methods and philosophy. He uses only grapes from old vine vineyards planted with massally selected vines pre-dating modern clones, which contributes to their character and complexity. Masal selection involves using a vineyard's existing plant material when replanting, thus maintaining the genetic heritage of the vineyard. Honouring earlier traditions, he employs more Garnacha in the Red and Garnacha Blanca in the White, which lend a juicy, fruity suppleness to the Red and rich tropical notes to the White, respectively. However, underneath their fruit laden exteriors these wines offer beautiful and harmonious structure that makes them worthy of long aging.