Frank Cornelissen Munjebel Rosso 2021
Azienda Agricola Frank Cornelissen · Frank Cornelissen, Solicchiata, Mount Etna
Cornelissen's thesis: transport the vineyard to the glass without adding or removing anything. Munjebel Rosso is fermented with native yeast in inert vessels, unfined, unfiltered, minimal SO₂.
Nose
Wild red cherry, dried rose petal, and volcanic wet stone lead, followed by blood orange, tea leaf, and a whiff of the cellar.
Palate
Light-to-medium bodied with vibrant natural acidity. Fresh pomegranate and sour cherry drive the palate, chalky, almost salty minerality beneath.
Finish
Long, mineral, and savory. Volcanic ash, dried herb, and blood orange echo for minutes.
- Varietal
- Nerello Mascalese
- Blend
- Predominantly Nerello Mascalese with a small percentage of Nerello Cappuccio and other native Etna varieties
- Vineyards
- High-altitude vineyards on the north face of Mount Etna (600–1000 m elevation), volcanic black soils
Cocktail Suggestion
Serve lightly chilled (55°F) in a Burgundy glass.
Food Pairing
Herb-roasted lamb, pasta alla Norma, or Sicilian salumi and pecorino.
COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG 2020
COS
COS was fermenting in buried terracotta amphorae before it became fashionable, and this Cerasuolo di Vittoria shows why the method endures. It's Sicily's only DOCG red expressed in its purest form — no oak distraction, just Nero d'Avola and Frappato in transparent conversation.
Domaine Roulot Meursault 2021
Domaine Roulot
Jean-Marc Roulot's village Meursault is a masterclass in restraint. Where others in this appellation lean into oak and richness, Roulot pulls back, letting the limestone speak. The result is Meursault stripped to its essence — no veneer, just truth.
Belle Meade Bourbon Reserve
Belle Meade
Belle Meade Reserve is Nelson's Green Brier at its most confident — proof-forward bourbon that never bullies the palate. The mash bill's corn-rye balance is on full display, making this an ideal study in how high proof can amplify rather than obscure complexity.
Craigellachie 13 Year Old
Craigellachie
Craigellachie 13 is Speyside's contrarian — a malt that wears its worm-tub-condensed character like a badge of honor. It trades polished elegance for muscular honesty, rewarding drinkers who appreciate texture and funk over refinement.
COS Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico DOCG 2020
COS
COS was fermenting in buried terracotta amphorae before it became fashionable, and this Cerasuolo di Vittoria shows why the method endures. It's Sicily's only DOCG red expressed in its purest form — no oak distraction, just Nero d'Avola and Frappato in transparent conversation.
Domaine Tempier Bandol Rouge 2020
Domaine Tempier
Domaine Tempier is the benchmark for Mourvèdre-based Bandol, and the 2020 vintage delivers the classic tension between sun-drenched fruit and wild, herbal depth. This is a wine that insists on food — bring it roasted lamb and watch it come alive.
Produttori del Barbaresco Barbaresco DOCG 2020
Produttori del Barbaresco
This cooperative has been turning out benchmark Barbaresco since 1958, and their classico bottling remains one of Italian wine's great truths. It seems austere at first pour — give it thirty minutes or a carafe and it becomes a different wine entirely. Beneath the tannin lies genuine beauty.
Château Musar Rouge 2017
Château Musar
Serge Hochar's legendary estate has produced wine through civil war and political upheaval, and this 2017 vintage shows why the world took notice decades ago. The blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cinsault, and Carignan aged in French oak is released only when deemed ready. Copper's role here is quieter — in winemaking, trace copper contact during fermentation helps manage reduction — but the result is a wine of haunting complexity.