Benchmarks of Piedmont
 
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GD Vajra & Baudana
 

G.D. Vajra is responsible for some of the finest Barolos we offer and also excels with their more entry-level options. The lineup as a whole is simply the best in Piedmont today. At all price points, they craft benchmark wines against which all others are judged.
 
As we climb the ladder, there are small-production wines from rare grapes (Freisa) and the cellar-defender Langhe Nebbiolos and village-level Barolos. At the top end, we find single-vineyard Barolos including the Ravera, which goes for triple digits from others addresses. The Bricco delle Viole is the highest vineyard in Barolo, named for the violets that blossom across its southern exposure.

 

Superlative Burgundy
 
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Faiveley
 

The superlative wines of Faiveley, while always known for their quality, were not always known for immediate approachability. Concentrated, stern, and cellar-worthy were more apt descriptors. It could be why the wines are more likely to find a home in their native country: the French people and their restaurants have more patience and inclination for cellaring.
 
It took the new generation to ease the winery into approachability. The wines became softer while still offering the potential to age with grace.
 
This modern incarnation of Faiveley began in 2007 when Francois Faiveley retired and his children, Erwan and Eve Faiveley, became the seventh generation to manage the Domaine.

 

New Label, Same Old-School Quality
 
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JC Somers
 

Jay Somers and Ronda Newell-Somers have been making waves in the Willamette Valley wine scene for almost 30 years. Best known for their previous winery, J. Christopher, which they founded in 1996 and have since parted ways from. Those longing for the glory days of J. Christopher are in luck: Jay and Ronda’s new project, JC Somers, brings you that impeccable quality and ridiculous value that you’ve come to expect.
 
How do we know? Aside from tasting through these, we know the pedigree. They’re still working with the vines that made them famous, including some of the finest vineyards in the Dundee Hills: Abbey Ridge, Bella Vida, and La Colina, as well as Croft, their longtime source for delectable Sauvignon Blanc.

 

Take a Walk on the Dry Side
 
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Muller-Catoir
 

From grand and aristocratic Riesling, to wild and exciting Scheurebe, to arguably the best Pinot Blanc (Weissburgunder) we sell, Müller-Catoir’s wines are top-class in every criterion except cost.
 
Focusing on dry wines long before it was fashionable in Germany, Müller-Catoir owns some of the greatest vineyards in the Pfalz. This family estate, founded in 1744, knows their lands well and has a special touch with them.
 
Closer to Alsace than Berlin, the Pfalz region is nestled between the Haardt Mountains and the Rhine River in a veritable oasis of forests and hills. The growing conditions make for some of the most interesting and diverse expressions of German wine, with Riesling being the crown jewel.

 

Two Traditionally-Styled Barbaresco Estates
 
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Paitin & Ca’ del Baio Barbaresco
 

Looking for value in Piedmont? You’re in luck. With our three-day sale on long-time customer favorites, you’re sure to find the perfect bottle for your evening. These are wineries that fly under-the-radar elsewhere and we’ve got some of the best prices on these right now.
 
When looking for value in the Piemonte, Paitin is clearly at the head of the class because of the ratio of quality to price—at least for now. Like every other great value region, one day the world will wake up and notice how wonderful these wines are. (We’ve certainly beaten that drum for years, now.)