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Sunday, May 24 marks the 50th anniversary of the great upheaval in the wine world known as The Judgement of Paris. The day British wine merchant Steven Spurrier brought top American cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay producers to Paris to challenge what were widely believed to be the undisputed champions of quality, Classified Bordeaux and elite white Burgundy, in a blind tasting. The results shocked the wine world. Napa wines had scored first place victories in both the red and white categories. Fifty years on the Napa name rings out in fine wine circles and French producers have spared no expense to up their game. Binny’s was already on board in 1976 as the Midwest largest and most dedicated seller of fine Napa Valley wines at the lowest prices in Illinois. As we continue this legacy, let’s all raise a glass and toast the amazing achievements and worldclass quality of California wines.
Quantities are limited. Availability varies by location.
1st Place Red
Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars SLV Cabernet Sauvignon 1973
Warren Winiarski’s 1973 SLV Cabernet Sauvignon is now legend. The wine that took down some of the best Bordeaux had to offer and made Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars a Napa Valley icon. Now wholly owned by Tuscany's Antinori family, Stag’s Leap WC continues to turn out quality benchmarks across their line and SLV remains a paragon of SLD power and elegance. Exactly fifty vintages later and the 2023 is more than worthy of representing SLVs storied lineage. A Napa gem.
1st Place White
Chateau Montelena Chardonnay 1973
The Barret family rocked the Cote de Beaune when they bested some of Burgundy’s finest whites, including lauded Premier and Grand Crus, with their crisp, intense and age worthy 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay. They never looked back and now, with their 2023 release, a remarkable 50-year continuum of quality remains firmly intact. Montelena Chardonnays have a proven track record of aging like the champions they are. Excellent on release, we recommend buying big and enjoying this wine for many, many years to come. An American treasure!
2nd Place Red: Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1970
2nd Place White: Roulot Meursault Charmes 1er Cru 1973
While the U.S. took home the blue ribbons, France had a strong showing taking both second place slots. The mighty Mouton, just elevated to 1st Growth status (1970 was made while still a 2nd Growth), came up just short in the voting. The rare and wonderful 1973 Roulot Meursault Charmes, also put up impressive numbers but fell short in the end. We have multiple vintages of Mouton available and a surprising array of wines from Roulot, but alas no Charmes.
3rd Place Red: Chateau Haut-Brion 1970
3rd Place White: Chalone Vineyard Chardonnay 1974
It’s not often that the words Haut-Brion and third place intersect, but that is what happened in 1976. Don’t shed any tears; they’ve racked up more than a few 100-point accolades since. We have several perfect scoring vintages on hand. The great Monterey chard and pinot producer Chalone Vineyards provided the only U.S. white from outside of Napa. Unfortunately, it is not currently available.
4th Place Red: Chateau Montrose 1970
4th Place White: Spring Mountain Vineyard Chardonnay 1973
Another exceptional Bordeaux, the magical Chateau Montrose, reeled in fourth place for red. We have more 100-point wines from this Saint Estephe 2nd Growth than you can shake a barrel stave at, including a fresh shipment straight from Bordeaux of the mind bending 2009 in three sizes. Spring Mountain Chardonnay is not available.
5th Place Red: Ridge Vineyards Monte Bello 1971
5th Place White: Joseph Drouhin Beaune Clos des Mouches 1973
Ridge Vineyards brought the only Cali red from outside of Napa. The singular terroir that is the Santa Cruz mountaintop vineyard known as Monte Bello doesn’t suffer from its far-flung location at all. In fact, it has only cemented its reputation as an American great since. We have several stellar vintages available. Clos des Mouches is the vineyard Drouhin hangs their hat on. Having just tasted the latest release, we can confidently say, hats off to Drouhin for another fantastic vintage.
Shop All Clos des Mouches Blanc →
6th Place Red: Chateau Leoville Las Cases 1971
6th Place White: Freemark Abbey Winery Chardonnay 1972
Saint Julien 2nd Growth Leoville Las Cases makes absolutely classic claret for the ages. We have vintages going as far back as 2001. Freemark Abbey continues to deliver lovely cool climate chard from southern Napa. The just released 2024 is particularly tasty.
Shop All Freemark Abbey Chardonnay →
7th Place Red: Mayacamas Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon 1971
7th Place White: Ramonet-Prudhon Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru 1973
Maycamus has changed hands but stays steadfastly dedicated to intense, long-lived Napa cab. A bit less austere in their youth than back in the 1970s, they still easily make old bones. Although we have none of the small production of Ramonet-Prudhon wines, we do have many examples of the magnificent Grand Cru Batard-Montrachet on hand. All are made in tiny quantities. Check ‘em out.
8th Place Red: Clos Du Val Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 1972
8th Place White: Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet Les Pucelles 1er Cru 1972
French owned Clos du Val had French sensibilities to match, so their old-world approach to Napa fruit was a natural for this tasting. The wines are still as classically built and refined as their Bordeaux counterparts. Not to mention their truly retro pricing. Great buys! Domaine Leflaive is a pillar of Puligny quality. We have a number of excellent options on hand but no Pucelles at the moment.
Shop All Clos du Val Cabernet →
9th Place Red: Heitz Wine Cellars Martha's Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 1970
9th Place White: Veedercrest Vineyards Chardonnay 1972
Even teetotalers know the name Martha’s Vineyard and the wine's famed distinctive minty, eucalyptus edge. An iconic site and an iconic wine with a true sense of place. Veedercrest is not available.
10th Place Red: Freemark Abbey Winery Cabernet Sauvignon 1969
10th Place White: David Bruce Winery Chardonnay 1973
Another entry from Freemark Abbey, obviously a Spurrier favorite. Still going strong and still keeping their pricing in the realm of reason. A great buy in Napa cab to this day. David Bruce is not currently available.
Shop All Freemark Abbey Cabernet →
Tenuta Sant Antonio Scaia Rosato 2025
The first Italian rosato from the brand new 2025 vintage just arrived and it's a lovely example from the Veneto made from the local rondinella grape that goes into Valpolicella. It’s fresh as a daisy and, in fact, delicately floral. The nose and palate are also delightfully apricotty, raspberry-ish and orange zesty. Every sip allures.
Tenuta Cocci Grifoni Pecorino Tara 2024
The pecorino grape was nearly extinct when Guido Cocci Grifoni took cuttings from an abandoned vineyard in the 1980s and started a new chapter for the variety and his family winery. We’re glad he did, otherwise we wouldn’t know the pleasures of this floral, fruity, and very focused acid driven white. We like it so much, we put it on our list of Top 30 Wines Under $30 for Spring 2026. It’s softened a bit by the addition of 15% trebbiano making this lightly herbal, slightly tropical wine a great choice for salads, cold pastas and fish. What a value!
Sierra Cantabria Rose 2025
It’s pretty rare to see reviews for new vintage rose this early in the year, but Sierra Cantabria is already raking in the accolades. In classic Rioja style it’s made by co-fermenting the white viura grape with Rioja’s old reliables, garnacha and tempranillo. The result is an exceptionally fresh and pale style with flowers, tart cherry and zippy lime underpinned by subtly textural tannins, making this an excellent option for a wide array of foods.
Les Costieres de Pomerols Picpoul de Pinet H.B. 2023
France’s Mediterranean Coast gives us what some call “the lip stinger” for its mouthwatering tangy style. What doesn’t sting, when it comes to picpoul, is shelling out for this incredible value white that’s perfect for pouring with branzino, raw oysters, baked clams and moules frites. Fresh, minerally, citrusy and bracing, like a cool breeze on a warm spring day, with hints of crunchy orchard fruits. This is exactly what you need for a little shellfish shucking party on the patio.
Belle de Provence Rose Coteaux Varois en Provence 2025
Our outstanding Binny’s Vineyard Direct Provencal rose is back with the 2025 vintage. Once again, it can’t be beat for twelve bucks as it serves up the delicate pink color and the strawberry, peach, melon and citrus aromas and flavors the style is so famous for. Another winning vintage for spring and summer sipping. Now when does that pool open again?
Anselmi San Vincenzo 2024
From Italy’s Veneto, this is a blend comprised of 70% of garganega (the local grape responsible for all those lovely Soaves), 15% chardonnay and 15% sauvignon blanc. We love this little value; it’s a killer buy, delivering quality well beyond its price point. Grassy sauv blanc aromas ride above peachy stone fruit, apple, pear and pineapple making this so easy to enjoy on its own, but it has plenty of fresh cut for the table. Easy going and super fun. Buy this wine!
Charles Gonnet Rose Vin de Savoie 2025
High elevation old vine gamay noir is certainly well-suited to rose production and Gonnet nails it here with a distinctive, fruity, yet minerally style we love. There are fresh cut flowers, ebullient berries, juicy stone fruits and notions of Alpine meadows aromatic with herbs. Dry with real verve.
Hugel Gentil 2023
The gentil style is a modern take on a classic Alsace field blend. It requires at least 50% of the so-called “noble varieties”. The result is a beautifully harmonious blend showing the purity and drive of riesling, the weight of pinot gris, and the floral lift and spice of gewurztraminer and muscat. Everything integrates seamlessly into a complex rose petal scented wine that shows flashes of limey citrus, tropical, stone and orchard fruit on a fruity but dry palate. A dreamy and refreshing wine to sip in the sun and a remarkably flexible wine for the table.
Stolpman Love You Bunches Rose 2025
Pristine bunches of early picked grenache go into the fermenter, gently. No incantations are whispered, nevertheless the fruity magic that results from 100% whole cluster carbonic maceration ensues. Wildly aromatic floral and fruity esters flow from the glass, and the palate is a riot of wild berries, cherries, nectarines and mangos all kept in focus by zesty citrus. Joyful and gluggable.
Chateau de la Ragotiere Muscadet Vieilles Vignes 2023
Muscadet is the quintessential oyster wine due to its linear acidity and saline minerality. Ragotiere makes this affordable gem with old vine melon de Bourgogne, and it really sings showing nice underlying orchard fruit to its firm, acid driven style. There’s a nice herbaceous edge and enough body from lees stirring to match the plumpest oysters and easily hold its own next to a spritz of lemon or vinegary mignonette. Add this to your list of great BYOB sushi wines. Feel free to pair with all manner of crudos and ceviches too.
Marisco The Ned Pinot Gris 2024
Made in what is known as the ramato (copper) style by allowing a brief period of skin contact that adds a little color and a lot of complexity. The finished wine is beautifully aromatic, looks like a very pale rose and drinks like an uncommonly characterful pinot grigio. The palate is fresh, citrusy and brimming with peachy stone fruit, ripe melon and a hint of the tropical. Really lovely and a steal for the delicate but flavorful wine you get. A nice aperitif, perfect for light appetizers and veg forward dishes
Anne Amie Cuvee Rose of Pinot Noir 2025
Anne Amie gives Willamette pinot noir the rose treatment and comes up with a tasty treat. The 2025 vintage produced concentrated, ripe fruit flavors alongside a lifted acid profile making it perfect for crafting focused, aromatic pink wine. Willamette hallmarks of rose petal, strawberry, earth and blood orange are joined by peachy fruit and a subtle hint of fine herbs. Throw any seafood you can think of at it; this has the depth of fruit and the zippy acidity to handle it all. Very nicely done.
