Popular Wines

As magical and enigmatic as the world of wine can be, it’s not always easy to find your way around. Every day, inexperienced wine enthusiasts try to explore new blends and end up with a shopping list that their budget simply cannot support. Every high-quality wine is a unique, important experience, one that opens a person’s taste palate to a whole new world of flavor and pleasure. Something primal awakens within, urging you to find new and more compelling aromas and textures. But with so much to choose from, where do you begin?
When it comes to wine, popular blends are relatively common for a reason. They serve as an excellent entry point into the world of fine wine, and studying them lets you understand more obscure, complicated wines out there. A collection has to start somewhere, and these blends are often easier to get and help you develop your taste. Imagine bonding with your friends and family over a brand you’re all familiar with and able to appreciate to its fullest. Good wine offers something new, yet vaguely familiar with each glass, as your mouth picks up on subtleties in the liquid that tempt you further and inspire thought and introspection, uncorking new conversation topics and improving the mood no matter the situation.
If you’re looking for safe picks, you want to set your sights on quality brands from Italy, France, and Spain. A glass of sultry Sangiovese or Trebbiano Toscano can liven up a family meal and impress even the stuffiest guests while being a perfect partner to any traditional Italian dish you can think of. One taste of a Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay is enough to let France stand out as a breeding ground of divine, elegant elixirs that can fit the taste of any enthusiast. Meanwhile, Spain offers powerful blends such as Garnacha, Bobal, or Tempranillo, helping you create memorable moments out of even the most ordinary evening. And this is only scratching the surface.
Our goal is to introduce you to popular, tested brands the same way we would introduce you to a potential soulmate. With the right mood and some good timing, you can develop a healthy, pleasurable relationship with wine that lasts a lifetime.
When it comes to wine, popular blends are relatively common for a reason. They serve as an excellent entry point into the world of fine wine, and studying them lets you understand more obscure, complicated wines out there. A collection has to start somewhere, and these blends are often easier to get and help you develop your taste. Imagine bonding with your friends and family over a brand you’re all familiar with and able to appreciate to its fullest. Good wine offers something new, yet vaguely familiar with each glass, as your mouth picks up on subtleties in the liquid that tempt you further and inspire thought and introspection, uncorking new conversation topics and improving the mood no matter the situation.
If you’re looking for safe picks, you want to set your sights on quality brands from Italy, France, and Spain. A glass of sultry Sangiovese or Trebbiano Toscano can liven up a family meal and impress even the stuffiest guests while being a perfect partner to any traditional Italian dish you can think of. One taste of a Cabernet Sauvignon or Chardonnay is enough to let France stand out as a breeding ground of divine, elegant elixirs that can fit the taste of any enthusiast. Meanwhile, Spain offers powerful blends such as Garnacha, Bobal, or Tempranillo, helping you create memorable moments out of even the most ordinary evening. And this is only scratching the surface.
Our goal is to introduce you to popular, tested brands the same way we would introduce you to a potential soulmate. With the right mood and some good timing, you can develop a healthy, pleasurable relationship with wine that lasts a lifetime.
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2006 Cantenac Brown90-92RPSubdued on opening, but with 30 minutes in a carafe it spills out rich pencil lead and liquorice notes, with blackberry fruits and smoky vanilla spice. Classic Margaux 2006, with f..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $105.00
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2006 Chapoutier Hermitage Le Pavillon97RPShowing more minerality than the le Meal, yet more plushness and sexiness than the l’Ermite, the 2006 Ermitage le Pavillon is a tour de force that gives up sensational notes of c..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $585.00
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2006 d'YquemLovely flavors of apricot, dried tangerine, pineapple and papaya rush along, supported by hazelnut, frangipane and coconut notes. Despite the depth, this is very, very pure, with f..." Learn MoreAs low as $305.00
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2006 Domaine Rossignol Trapet Chambertin Grand Cru93-94JG(Rossignol-Trapet Chambertin Grand Cru Red) This is backward, primary and almost shut down with its ultra cool and serious nose of mostly dark berry fruit aromas that also offer up..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $519.00
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2006 Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne Romanee 1er Cru Aux Malconsorts94VM(Domaine Sylvain Cathiard Vosne-Romanée Les Malconsorts 1er Cru Red) A gorgeously layered and deep nose of spicy, and once again notably cool black pinot fruit seems to offer up a..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,399.00
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2006 Dujac Clos Saint Denis95RP-NMThe 2006 Clos St Denis from Domaine Dujac, tasted blind, is developing into one of the best wines in the Côte de Nuits apropos this inconsistent vintage. It comes at you with..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,039.00
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2006 Gaja Barbaresco Costa Russi95WEPurchased by the Gaja family in 1967, the Costa Russi vineyard produces elegant expressions of Nebbiolo with beautifully saturated, sun-drenched flavors. Indeed, this vintage shows..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $479.00
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2006 Gloria89-91RPAs I wrote last year, this sensational sleeper of the vintage is not far off the pace of Gloria’s brilliant 2005. Sweet cedary, cigar box, roasted herb, and black currant fruit a..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $80.00
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2006 GuiraudSweet, rich orange marmalade flavors, maybe not as imposingly powerful as Guiraud can be, but still with a great inner tension between sweetness and dry botrytis, precede a delicio..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $60.00
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2006 Haut Brion96RPTasted at Bordeaux Index’s annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Haut-Brion has a more ostentatious bouquet than the comparatively reserved La Mission: quite..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $615.00
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2006 Krug97RPAs I reported when it was released, Krug’s 2006 Brut is clearly one of the vintage’s highlights. Offering up aromas of dried fruits, pear, freshly baked bread, carameli..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $449.00
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2006 L'eglise Clinet96-98RPOne of the greatest wines of the vintage is, not surprisingly, from proprietor Denis Durantou. A remarkable effort in every sense, the 2006 l’Eglise Clinet is not far off the qua..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $245.00
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2006 La CouspaudeA strong sleeper of the vintage, this sexy, hedonistic, modern-styled St.-Emilion has the tell-tale toasty new oak component, which is prominent, but the combination of sweetness, ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $65.00
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2006 La Mission Haut Brion95RPNMColour still tight and inky at 10 years old. Smooth, silky, very expressive; this is so powerful it almost lulls you into a false sense of security with the tannin integration on t..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $339.00
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2006 Lafite Rothschild97RPOne of the fabulous surprises, although I had suggested last year that it could jump in quality, of my tastings, the 2006 Lafite Rothschild is a great, great wine made from a blend..." Learn MoreAs low as $975.00
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2006 Langoa Barton90-92RPTasted at Bordeaux Index’s annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Langoa Barton has a lifted nose of small dark cherries, blackberry, incense and marmalade - ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $84.95
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2006 Latour97DECDense and rich Latour with layered and velvety tannins and gorgeous fruit. At the same time, there’s lots of wood. Coffee flavor, too. Full-bodied, layered and structured. Needs ..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $1,500.00
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2006 Latour A Pomerol89-91RP(Château Latour à Pomerol) The 2006 Château Latour à Pomerol is a beautiful example of this underrated vintage and it is just beginning to drink with some serious generosity at..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $155.00
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2006 Le Moulin90-92RPA tight and solid red with blackberries, blueberries and chocolate. Medium-bodied, firm and silky.James Suckling | 91-92 JSAlways an exotic, even flamboyant offering, Le Moulin&rsq..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $65.00
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2006 Leoville Las Cases95RPSince 1959 the estate has kept 50% of production back for a second release when the wine is ready to drink, and this vintage has not yet seen its mature release (they are currently..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $280.00
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2006 Louis Roederer Cristal97DEC(Louis Roederer, Cristal, Champagne, France, White) Fantastic from the start. A colossal power of beautiful rumbling Pinot maturity. It’s like chewing on the ripest grapes from A..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $359.00
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2006 Lynch Bages94RPThis classic, powerful, firm Lynch Bages may be as concentrated (if not more so) than the 2005. It possesses a dense purple-tinged color, tell-tale cassis notes interwoven with hin..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $180.00
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2006 Montrose95DECBeautiful, rich and incredibly softly textured, this is still very young. Also supremely measured and stately, with buttery tannins. The palate is just starting to show truffles an..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $699.00
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2006 Mouton Rothschild97WEA sensational effort, the 2006 Mouton Rothschild exhibits an opaque purple color as well as a classic Mouton perfume of creme de cassis, flowers, blueberries, and only a hint of oa..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $825.00
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2006 Pavie Macquin92-95RPThe 2006 Pavie-Macquin is a powerful, burly wine, especially in its feel. Game, smoke, leather, dark spice, chocolate and licorice add to a feeling of virile intensity. Disease pre..." Learn MoreFormats Available:As low as $125.00