Dry January? Don’t make us laugh. Around here, we start the year by looking forward to what we’re sure will be another fantastic year in wine. With one team member getting married, two turning 40 (!), and some beloved Bordeaux reaching 20 years of age, there are big things on the horizon in 2025. Read more below about what we’re looking forward to!
From Our CEO, Joe
“I’m excited to drink Bordeaux from the fantastic 2005, 2009, and 2010 vintages. The ‘05s are turning 20 years in 2025, and the others are heading into a beautiful drinking window.”
Joe’s Favorite Wines from 2024:
Maurice Grumier Réserve Perpétuelle Extra-Brut Champagne
2018 Domaine William Fevre Montmains Chablis Premier Cru
2018 Olga Raffault Chinon Les Picasses
2018 Black Kite Cellars Pinot Noir Kite’s Rest Anderson Valley
From Our VP of Wine, Laura Koffer
“I am excited for some birth-year wines in 2025. I have a couple bottles of 1985 that are READY! I also have a healthy amount of 2010-2015 Napa Cabernet in my cellar that are destined to be opened this year.”
Laura’s Favorite Wines from 2024:
2021 Pilcrow Cabernet Sauvignon Granite Lake Vineyard Howell Mountain Napa Valley – Perfect power and finesse in a bottle. There is a quiet elegance to Pilcrow and an undeniable intensity to Howell Mountain, so the combination of producer and site here are a 1+1=100 combination.
2023 Massican Winery Annia White Wine Napa Valley – Dan Petroski’s Massican wines continue to wow me. It was thrilling to do a Massican retrospective tasting this summer—every bottling from nearly every vintage. The 2023 Annia is fantastic now, but knowing where it is headed is even more exciting.
2022 Louis Latour Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru – Once a year, I am lucky enough to taste a lineup of dozens of Louis Latour wines. It is impossible to pick a favorite—they are all made with such precision and respect for the sites—but their Corton-Charlemagne continues to be a standard bearer for Grand Cru white Burgundy for a reason. Sipping it while watching the Olympics opening ceremony will be a memory I cherish forever.
From Our VP of Wine, Eduardo Dingler
“As far as 2025 predictions…2019 Riserva Brunello is singing and starting to show its splendor, in particular Castello Romitorio, one of my favorite estates in Montalcino. The prime location of the high elevation vines gives power and elegance to its wines. Also, while it’s starting to open up, keep in mind these wines have a 20-year lifespan, minimum.
The other 2025 revelation and something I’m deeply passionate about is aged sake. As it matures gracefully, sake gives complexity and delicious notes. I personally love the Hito Toki from Imayo Tsukasa.”
Eduardo’s Favorite Wines from 2024:
Maurice Grumier “Blanc de Venteuil” Blanc de Blancs Champagne
Famille Mousse Fils Les Vignes de Mon Village Blanc de Noirs Extra Brut Champagne
IWA 5 Assemblage 4 Junmai Daiginjo Toyama – “which continues to overdeliver with charm and complexity.”
From Wine Access Unfiltered Host, Amanda McCrossin
“I’m getting married in 2025, so I have been stocking up on Champagne for the big day. Right now I’ve got a nice collection of classics like Dom Pérignon and Krug going, but I’ve been holding out on cracking the 2008 Bollinger RD and the 2013 Rare Champagne until the big day. The RD is one of those Champagnes that I don’t get to drink all the time, so I’m really looking forward to enjoying that with my family, friends, and my fiancé. Outside of the dress (and the guy, of course), having great Champagne at my wedding was one of the most important things to me!”
Amanda’s Favorite Wines from 2024:
2009 Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Louis Blanc de Blancs – I’ve always loved Billecart as a producer. Their rosé is one of the benchmarks, but some of their vintage cuvées are really slept on. I brought the 2009 Cuvée Louis to a dinner with some family friends and it blew everyone away. I immediately ordered more bottles and look forward to seeing how they progress over the next few years.
2022 Vinos Finos ‘Sabroso’ – In 2024, this wine impressed literally everyone I put it in front of. An unusual blend of historical California grapes and the lesser-known Cabernet Pfeffer, it’s a bottling that both super wine geeks and novices can get behind and drink with abandon. I think I probably drank a case over the course of the year.
Domaine Langlois-Chateau Brut Rose Cremant de Loire – I never expected Crémant to have the viral moment it did on social media this year, and I think this wine had a lot to do with it. I’ve long been a fan of this project from Champagne house Bollinger, and I’d welcome anyone to find me a better bottle of bubbles for under $30 right now. It’s one I’ll be going back to a lot in 2025.
