Open Cellar is ready for a mid-month refresh, so here’s a little sneak peek of some crowd favorites, some up-and-coming greats, and one legendary wine from an all-time-great vintage—each ready to be discovered one ounce (or two) at a time. Consider this your invitation to stop by to explore the greats or discover a new favorite before the lineup changes.

2023 Domaine Samuel Billaud Chablis 1er Cru "Montmains" $79.95/btl | $4.25/oz 90-93BH 92WA 91-92JM 90-92VN The 2023s from Samuel Billaud are nothing short of stunning. Don’t just take my word for it—Burgundy Buyer Alex Pross calls them some of the finest in recent memory. Since striking out on his own in 2009 after years crafting wines at Billaud-Simon, Samuel Billaud has firmly earned his place among the greats of Chablis, mastering the art of balancing Chardonnay’s generous power with the region’s hallmark freshness and precision. This Montmains is a brilliant example of his skill—layered, vibrant, and impossible to forget. Come taste for yourself and see why this is one of Chablis’ brightest stars.

2023 Thibaud Boudignon Anjou Blanc $54.99/btl | $3.25/oz It would be hard to overstate how much I love Chenin Blanc. Textured like great Chardonnay with the freshness of Sauvignon Blanc and intense minerality of Chablis, Chenin wraps so many qualities of world class white wine into one neat little package. Few capture that trifecta as brilliantly as Thibaud Boudignon. His story bucks the old-guard narrative: no centuries-old family domaine, no inherited vines. Born in Bordeaux, he cut his teeth in both Bordeaux and Burgundy before planting roots in the Loire in 2009, determined to craft wines with “fresh vitality and an almost brutal minerality.” This Anjou Blanc delivers exactly that—precision, energy, and depth in every sip. Come try it and see why Boudignon has become one of the Loire’s most talked-about names.

2022 Valli "Gibbston" Pinot Noir Central Otago $49.99/btl | $2.25/oz 97SK 96RC 95BC 94JS 94WA Founded by Central Otago Pinot pioneer Grant Taylor and now crafted by award-winning winemaker Jen Parr, Valli was the first to showcase single-vineyard bottlings from each of the region’s sub-districts. The Gibbston vineyard, Central Otago’s coolest and highest, yields Pinot Noir with lifted aromatics, vivid fruit, and remarkable finesse. The wine brims with wild herbs, cherry, and a streak of minerality, all wrapped in a silky, spice-laced finish. Come taste this benchmark Pinot and see why Gibbston remains one of New Zealand’s most captivating terroirs.

2022 Kosta Browne Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $89.99/btl | $5/oz 94JD 94JS Few names in California Pinot Noir command the respect—and the fervent following—of Kosta Browne. Since its founding in 1997, the winery has become a fixture on collectors’ shortlists, known for limited-production releases that sell out long before they hit retail shelves. Their Sonoma Coast bottlings in particular have achieved near-mythic status, earning accolades like Wine Spectator’s Wine of the Year and cementing their place among the New World’s most coveted Pinots. The 2022 continues that tradition, offering a polished, alluring expression of the coast’s finest sites. Come taste a wine most people only read about, and see why Kosta Browne remains a crown jewel of California Pinot.

2019 K&L Discovery Series Bordeaux, Pauillac $29.99/btl | $1.75/oz After nearly a year of tasting through Bordeaux, we’re thrilled to debut the first release in our new K&L Discovery Series—wines chosen to be pitch-perfect examples of their region and vintage. This Pauillac comes from the outstanding 2019 harvest and a classified growth estate, offering the structure, depth, and pedigree that define the appellation. While the château’s identity remains under wraps to preserve the remarkable value, every sip speaks unmistakably of Pauillac’s power and class. We couldn’t be more excited to have you taste this debut offering.

2021 Caiarossa "Caiarossa" Toscana $59.99/btl | $3.75/oz 96JS 95DC 95JA 95WS Caiarossa is a standout in the world of Super Tuscans, a category born when a handful of Tuscan winemakers broke from tradition, blending international grapes like Cabernet, Merlot, and Syrah with native varieties to create bold, world-class reds. Founded in 1998 and now under the same ownership as Bordeaux’s Château Giscours, Caiarossa crafts its flagship wine from seven different grapes, led by Syrah, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot, each vinified separately before being masterfully blended. The 2021 captures the essence of the style: rich, polished, and effortlessly complex.

2014 Scarecrow "M. Étain" Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $249.99/btl | $13/oz 94WA From one of Napa’s most storied estates, “M. Etain” is the rare second label of the cult Scarecrow Cabernet—crafted with the same meticulous care and old-vine fruit from the historic J.J. Cohn vineyard. The 2014 vintage offers a captivating balance of power and polish: blackcurrant, plum, and warm baking spices glide over layers of cocoa, cedar, and a subtle tobacco note. Silky tannins and a long, graceful finish make it a wine that’s as compelling in the glass today as it will be years from now. Come taste a piece of Napa Cabernet royalty and see why Scarecrow remains one of the valley’s most coveted names.

2009 Latour, Pauillac $1249.99/btl | $72/oz 100IWR 100JA 100JD 100JS 100RP 100TWI 99DC 99VN 99WE 99WS There are great wines, and then there is Latour. As one of Bordeaux’s five First Growths, a title awarded in the historic 1855 Classification, Château Latour sits at the very pinnacle of the wine world, renowned for producing Cabernets of unmatched power, longevity, and grace. The 2009 vintage is already hailed as one of the Médoc’s modern legends, marrying richness and opulence with the precision that has defined Latour for centuries. Now entering its prime, it offers a rare glimpse into what makes First Growth Bordeaux the global benchmark for fine wine. Yes, it’s expensive to taste, but opportunities like this come along once in a lifetime.

Last chance wines: