In May, The International Wine of the Month Club’s Premier Series is proud to offer four superlative wines from four countries on three continents. The first in this superlative series is the 2014 Fore Family Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot from the Meister Vineyard. With Fore Family’s Merlot, put aside any preconceived notions about Merlot being a light, less than stalwart companion to Cabernet. In Fore Family’s 2014 Meister Vineyard Merlot, a deep, nearly impenetrable color underscores the wine’s hearty structure and extroverted personality. Ripe firm tannins underpin layers of rich cassis fruit, hints of tobacco leaf, and cacao in the nose and flavor profile of this wine, calling to mind the finest Merlot based wines of Bordeaux’s legendary St. Emilion appellation. This is a wine destined to age well for up to a decade or more.

Our next Premier Series feature is the 2016 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano from the great Simone Santini, who always fashions pure, exemplary Vernaccia di San Gimignano from organic grapes. It appears that Santini’s 2016 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano is not only truly exceptional, it is the finest Le Calcinaie he has produced to date – no mean feat considering the previous vintage, the delicious 2015 Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano, made Wine Spectator’s Top 100 List. Nevertheless, in 2016, Santini has again raised the bar on Vernaccia, Tuscany’s emblematic white grape variety. Rare among Tuscan white wines for its flavor, freshness, and longevity, Vernaccia di San Gimignano owes its 800 year reign as the region’s most lauded white wine to the predominance of the relatively rare Vernaccia clones that thrive in the environs of San Gimignano. The 2016 Tenuta Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano, produced from 100% Vernaccia di San Gimignano from Simone Santini’s estate, cuts a fine figure in the glass; a glint of gold, a hint of the soft green of the magical Tuscan landscape, and a golden yellow glow reminiscent of the Tuscan sun give this wine real eye appeal. Better still, this wine is pure, aromatic, and seductive on the palate. The 2016 Le Calcinaie Vernaccia di San Gimignano offers up a refreshing draught of fruit, soft scents of almond blossom, subtle mineral tones, and twists of ripe citrus and raw almond that add length and vibrancy from the first sip until the last.

Next in this month’s exciting quartet is Ernesto Catena’s biodynamically produced 2014 Tikal Natural from organic grapes, a masterful blend of Malbec (60%) and Syrah (40%). Tikal’s 2014 Natural from a vineyard in Mendoza’s renowned Vista Flores region adds further evidence to Argentina’s ability to craft world-class red wines that do not require bank loans to enjoy. A more natural, plush, and thoroughly satisfying red wine will be hard to find as the 2014 Tikal Natural captures the essence of biodynamic farming. It offers a stunning pomegranate color, fresh cherry and wild raspberry aromas as well as a hedonistic array of fruit, spice, mocha and vanilla flavors to tantalize the palate. Bold-flavored, smooth and immensely satisfying, it may be difficult to drink other red wines after tasting the 2014 Tikal Natural.

Rounding out this month’s diverse offerings is the newly released 2016 Château Ducasse Graves Blanc, a traditional style white Bordeaux that underscores the success of white Graves in the superb 2016 Bordeaux vintage. This youthful white wine displays a brilliant crystalline color with a flash of green along with a delightful array of floral and fruit aromas to entice the nose. Dry, yet rich in flavor and texture, thanks to the preponderance of Semillon in the blend, the 2016 Château Ducasse Graves Blanc underscores the charm of Bordeaux’s most revered white wine. With Semillon the leading player and Sauvignon Blanc playing a strong supporting role, the 2016 Château Ducasse Graves Blanc captures the inherent beauty of white Graves: delicacy, minerality, and light, refreshing fruit flavors reminiscent of honeydew melon and pomelo. In true Graves fashion, the 2016 Château Ducasse Graves Blanc drinks well now but will continue to improve in bottle for several more years.

The International Wine of the Month Club’s Collectors Series is proud to offer three exceptional wines again in May, beginning with the 2015 Losada Altos de Losada Bierzo Mencia. Thanks to ideal weather in 2015 and Amancio Fernández’s deft hand, the 2015 Losada Altos de Losada Bierzo Mencia ranks as another great success from this superb property. The 2015 Altos de Losada offers a deep purple robe and an alluring set of aromatics. Savory notes of blueberry, black cherry, purple plum, and Asian spices caress the nose and grace the palate. Bold but balanced, Amancio Fernández’s 2015 Mencia offers lush flavors, profound depth, and true elegance from the first sip until the last. The wine’s pure, concentrated fruit flavors seem to sink into the very marrow of this wine, while intriguing spice tones and a subtle minerality are carried gracefully by the wine’s fine grained tannins. Although deceptively drinkable now, the 2015 Losada Altos de Losada is capable of improving in bottle for a decade or more. The recipient of many well-deserved 90+ ratings from James Suckling, Wine Advocate, and Wine Enthusiast among others, the 2015 Losada Altos de Losada deserves a special place at table as well as in the cellar.

Our next May Collectors Series offering, the 2015 Morgan Highlands Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay, is a focused, elegant wine that combines the finest attributes of New and Old World winemaking, or as one panel member quipped, “Morgan has put the best of Burgundy and California all in the same glass.” The 2015 Highlands Chardonnay includes 67% fruit from the Double L Vineyard and the balance from outstanding neighboring estates in the Santa Lucia Highlands, including McIntyre and Tondre. It offers a heady aroma of ripe apple fruit, buttered brioche and lemon curd to caress the nose. And in the mouth, the wine’s ripe pure fruit flavors are enhanced by buttery caramel flavors, a touch of ginger, and a racy minerality that provides balance and focus.

Completing this month’s Collectors Series is the rare 2012 Pasanau Finca La Planeta from the serious, warm-hearted Albert Pasanau. Pasanau has fashioned an exceptional and complex Priorat in his 2012 Finca La Planeta, a wine that has earned 94 Points from Wine Enthusiast. Exhibiting a deep, nearly impenetrable color from predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2012 Pasanau Finca La Planeta appears at first glance to be more like young classified Bordeaux than typical Priorat. Adding to the intrigue is the wine’s bouquet, which is more than slightly reminiscent of Château Lafite, with deep, brooding black fruit flavors and hints of graphite. In true Pasanau fashion and not unlike great Bordeaux, the 2012 Finca La Planeta is bold and beautiful, yet a bit reticent upon first emerging from the bottle. Afford it time to breathe and the wine’s deep berry, spicy plum, graphite, thyme, and crushed black pepper flavors will come front and center, unfolding slowly, almost imperceptibly, to fill the mouth with seductive notes. Full-bodied, intense, and endowed with an iron core, Finca La Planeta is a combination of Bordeaux hauteur and Spanish warmth, a wine that will drink well now through 2025.

In March, The International Wine of the Month Club’s Premier Series is proud to offer members four special wines from iconic producers on three continents. The 2014 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel begins this month’s venture. Pedroncelli’s Mother Clone Zinfandel exemplifies the winery’s gracious, balanced style of Zinfandel. A Wine Spectator Recommended Wine and the recipient of multiple gold medals in California wine competitions, including 93 Points and a Gold Medal at the 2017 North of the Gate Wine Competition, the 2014 Mother Clone Zinfandel is a traditional blend of 90% Zinfandel and 10% Petite Sirah. Tangy blackberry and dried cherry fruit, anise, bramble, and hints of black pepper and chocolate permeate the nose and flavor of this zesty Zinfandel. Although it weighs in at 14.9% alcohol, one would never guess that from the wine’s balance, well-integrated tannins, and long, refreshing finish. The 2014 Pedroncelli Mother Clone Zinfandel is a true California Classic!

Our next feature this month, the 2016 Can Feixes Blanc Selecció, hails from Spain and the iconic Huguet brothers. Exceptional weather conditions in 2016 combined with the meticulous care the Huguet brothers afford their organic grapes has yielded a splendid 2016 Can Feixes Blanc Selecció. A recipient of 90 points from Wine Enthusiast and a Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Best Buy Wines for 2017, the 2016 Can Feixes Blanc Selecció comes across as pure, racy, and suave. A beautiful bouquet of apple, citrus blossoms, and melon, imbued with a gentle mineral underpinning, greets the nose. In the mouth, this rare Parellada-based wine seduces with subtlety and charm. Medium-bodied and devoid of oak, the organically grown 2016 Can Feixes Blanc Selecció preserves its natural fruit and mineral flavors to exude balance, elegance, and a true sense of place. Moreover, there are no hard edges to this wine, only a pleasant, refreshing finish.

This month’s next feature is the 2015 Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva, the recipient of Best of Show at the Wines of Chile Awards 2017. Today world class Syrah flows from many wine regions around the world, but few can match Casas del Bosque’s 2015 Gran Reserva Syrah from Casablanca Valley for quality and value. Imbued with a vivid purple color, deep, juicy blackberry and cassis flavors, and delightful hints of smoke, spice and violet, the 2015 Casas del Bosque Gran Reserva Syrah positively sings from the glass. Powerful, sappy, yet wonderfully smooth with ripe, well-integrated tannins, this award-winning Syrah provides superb drinking pleasure now but should continue to improve in bottle for several years to come. Enjoy!

Rounding out this month’s Premier Series selections is the award winning 2016 Casas del Bosque Reserva Sauvignon Blanc, the recipient of 90 points from both James Suckling and Descorchados. It is also a Wine Spectator Recommended Selection. Casas del Bosque’s 2016 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc continues Casas del Bosque’s “hot hand” with Sauvignon Blanc and adds further testimony to the superiority of Chile’s Casablanca Valley for growing cool climate grapes. The 2016 Casas del Bosque Casablanca Reserva Sauvignon Blanc offers the crispness of French Sancerre, the juicy citrus flavors of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, and beautiful fig and melon flavors along with an aromatic intensity that only Chile seems to impart to Sauvignon Blanc: a delightful mélange of citrus, melon, and herb that intensifies as the wine rests in the glass. Bright in color, captivating in aroma, and delicious in flavor, the exuberant 2016 Casas del Bosque Casablanca Reserva Sauvignon Blanc is even more alluring than the winery’s award winning 2015 Reserva Sauvignon Blanc.

The International Wine of the Month Club’s Collectors Series is proud to deliver three truly exceptional wines from three of the planet’s most renowned winemakers. The 2015 Ben Glaetzer Bishop Barossa Shiraz provides ample evidence of Ben Glaetzer’s acumen as a winemaker and Australia’s Barossa as the spiritual home of old vine Shiraz. Ben Glaetzer’s Bishop Barossa Shiraz displays an inviting royal purple robe, bold textured flavors, and wonderful purity – a full-bodied, take-no-prisoners style of wine. Awarded multiple 90+ point ratings, including 95 points from James Halliday and the Wine Companion, the 2015 Glaetzer Bishop offers a sensual bouquet of blackberry, mulberry, violets and spice as its invocation. The wine’s visual appeal is followed by enticing flavors of cassis, mulberry, plum, dark chocolate and clove. In the mouth, the 2015 Bishop offers not only beautiful fruit flavors, complex spice tones and well-integrated touches of oak; it carries this cornucopia of flavors on a bed of smooth textured tannins and a 15% alcohol level that is nearly imperceptible. Given the wine’s 15% alcohol level, one would expect the 2015 Bishop to be portly, but Ben Glaetzer’s 2015 Bishop is light on the palate in every way but flavor. Surprisingly easy to drink, this youthful Barossa Shiraz, which bears Ben’s mother’s name of Bishop, never loses its grace or charm. Moreover, its fine-grained tannins add structure and are seamlessly integrated into the wine’s fruit. Enjoy this expertly crafted Shiraz now through 2030.

Next up is the exceptional and rare 2015 Domaine des Baumard Savennières. The 2015 vintage in the Loire Valley may prove to be the finest in decades. In 2015 Florent Baumard has transformed the sensual, though sometimes mercurial, Chenin Blanc varietal into a bevy of truly outstanding wines. In the case of Baumard’s 2015 Savennières, we are looking at a refreshingly dry Chenin Blanc that offers the ideal tension between voluptuous fruit and bright acidity. Awarded 94 points by Wine Spectator and top billing as a Wine Spectator Smart Buy, Domaine des Baumard’s 2015 Savennières should not be missed. It opens with an alluring aroma of quince, poached pear, and verbena with an underpinning of racy minerality. In the mouth the wine displays a firm structure, an overlay of creamy fruit, touches of quinine, and a long, bright mineral driven finish born of Savennières’ limestone-rich soil. In its absolute infancy, this wine is already beautiful, but in true Baumard fashion the 2015 Savennières is built for the long haul and will easily improve for a decade or more.

Completing this month’s Collectors Series is the 2015 Bergström Cumberland Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. A blend from some of the finest barrels from each of the estate’s five vineyards, Bergström’s 2015 Cumberland Reserve Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is the epitome of the Bergström style and the quintessential Oregon Pinot Noir. In 2015 Bergström’s Cumberland Reserve rises to the top, providing additional evidence of Oregon’s acumen for fashioning world-class wine from the world’s most complex grape. Brooding, deep and dark in color, the 2015 Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir offers up savory notes of black cherry, woodland berries, and pleasing scents of exotic spices. Although recently released and still in the throes of its youth, the 2015 Cumberland Reserve already displays a wonderfully smooth texture and mouth-feel along with a deep down collection of complex flavors. Ripe berries, exotic spices and wood smoke all make their appearance on the palate in this balanced, textured Pinot Noir that slowly unfolds in the glass for hours. Weighing in at a respectable 13.6% alcohol, the 2015 Bergström Cumberland Reserve is neither thin nor flabby, which highlights Oregon’s special style of American Pinot Noir. Already delicious and nicely polished, Bergström’s 2015 Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir may be one of the finest Cumberland Reserves ever produced. Enjoy!

In February, The International Wine of the Month Club’s Premier Series offers four special wines. To begin this month’s wine adventure is the 2015 Château Ducasse Graves, the progeny of the exceptional and much heralded 2015 vintage in Bordeaux. The 2015 Château Ducasse Graves displays a deep purple robe and an enticing aroma of black fruits, cassis, unsmoked tobacco and supple earth tones that greet the nose and enliven the palate. In the mouth, this charming red Graves truly blossoms, revealing layers of satisfying flavors. Dry, yet rich on the palate, the 2015 Château Ducasse offers a wealth of flavors, blackberry and currant fruit, cedar, herbs and wood smoke to complement the wine’s ripe, firm tannins. The 2015 vintage in Bordeaux has endowed this wine with ample fruit and a healthy tannic structure along with exceptional texture, all of which bode well for both early consumption and long-term cellaring.

Our next Premier Series feature, the 2016 Cantina del Mandrolisai DOC Vermentino di Sardegna, is a wine blessed with a rich straw color, a beguiling floral bouquet of spring and summer flowers, and a gentle, sophisticated minerality. Cantina del Mandrolisai’s beautiful 2016 Vermentino engages the nose from the moment it is poured. The wine’s clean scented bouquet continues in the mouth, where pure ripe fruit flavors fill the mouth and the wine’s exceptional texture tantalizes the licentious palate, making subsequent sips nothing short of obligatory. To complement the wine’s sleek textured fruit, crisp acidity imbued with hints of citrus provides length and a long refreshing finish. The 2016 Cantina del Mandrolisai DOC Vermentino di Sardegna will certainly make members take note of the beautiful island of Sardinia and its charming Vermentino.

Next in this month’s quartet is the 2016 11 Piños Bobal Old Vines, a deep purple potion from Spain that welcomes the eye and delights the nose with seductive aromas of cherry, plum and spice. And in the mouth, the 2016 11 Piños Bobal Old Vines truly shows its hand, exhibiting bold, rich flavors. Cherry, plum, spice and hints of wood smoke grace the palate. This youthful Bobal offers plenty of concentration in a smooth, balanced frame made of soft tannins. Mouth-filling and persistent on the palate, the 11 Piños Bobal Old Vines marries the unique qualities of Bobal to the contemporary penchant for moderate oak ageing, making this wine very easy to drink.

Last but certainly not least in this month’s Premier Series is the mouthwatering 2016 Ottosoldi Gavi, a wine that embodies the essence of the Cortese varietal – supreme elegance and impeccable balance. From the wine’s pale yellow sun-splashed robe to its long, snappy finish, the 2016 Ottosoldi Gavi offers delightful drinking. Fragrant with floral scents and the aromas of pear and citrus, this Ottosoldi Gavi is sure to elicit a smile and delight the senses. Lacking extremes in weather during the 2016 growing season, the 2016 Ottosoldi Gavi maintains a healthy tension between fruit and fresh acidity, an attribute that preserves Gavi’s hauntingly delicate ethereal quality. Add subtle minerality and a long, racy finish and it becomes obvious why Ottosoldi’s Gavi has consistently been lauded by critics and consumers alike.

The International Wine of the Month Club’s Collectors Series is proud to offer three truly exceptional, highly allocated wines in February. Our first February feature is the outstanding 2010 Valenciso Rioja Reserva from the most impeccably run property in Rioja. The otherworldly 2010 Valenciso Rioja Reserva continues this bodega’s hot hand by turning in another terrific performance. Tim Atkins, Master of Wine, and Decanter magazine awarded the 2010 Valenciso Rioja Reserva 96 points. The 2010 Valenciso Reserva is adorned with a deep purple robe, explosive aromatics, finely polished fruit, and captivating spice tones. And as we have found with each and every vintage from this superbly run estate, the 2010 Valenciso Reserva embodies much of the confidence, personality, and charm of winemaker Luis Valentin. Produced from 100% Tempranillo, Valenciso’s 2010 Rioja Reserva offers savory scents of red and black fruits, ripe woodland berries, sandalwood, cinnamon, and deft touches of vanilla from oak barrel ageing. In the mouth, the wine unfolds slowly and persistently in true Rioja Alta fashion to reveal a wellspring of fruit, spice, and warm wood flavors. Moreover, layers of complex flavors continue to tantalize the palate and linger long after the wine slips down the throat. The 2010 Valenciso Reserva strikes the ideal balance between fruit and structure, characteristics that have consistently earned Valenciso international acclaim.

Our next February Collectors Series is an exceedingly impressive barrel fermented Chardonnay from a pioneering Walla Walla producer, the 2014 Woodward Canyon Washington State Chardonnay, a wine that positively sings from the glass. The show begins with the wine’s attractive hue and continues with tantalizing aromas of freshly picked apples and pears, brioche, and hazelnut. The bouquet on this wine alone sealed the deal for us. However, wait until this vibrant, complex Chardonnay has a chance to work its magic in the mouth. Superbly integrated vanilla tones complement the wine’s juicy fruit and vibrant acidity to enliven the palate. Burgundian in style, Woodward Canyon’s 2014 Washington State Chardonnay offers a delightful set of complex flavors in the form of orchard and stone fruit flavors, lightly buttered toast, and subtle hints of spice before exiting with a long racy flourish. The recipient of numerous 90+ ratings, including Editor’s Choice and 91 points from Wine Enthusiast as well as 91 points from Wine Advocate, the 2014 Woodward Canyon Chardonnay is indeed special and quite enjoyable now, but one need not be in a hurry as this rock solid Chardonnay has plenty of years of life ahead of it.

The 2013 Round Pond Estate Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon rounds out this month’s superb Collectors Series offerings. The recipient of 94 points from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, this wine truly reflects Round Pond’s highly prized terroir, the region’s signature Rutherford dust, and the inherent benevolence of the 2013 vintage in Napa Valley – certainly one of the finest vintages for Cabernet Sauvignon on record. Round Pond’s 2013 Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon (77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot and 4% Malbec) embodies the best of all worlds, both old and new as it melds the finest Napa Valley fruit to Bordeaux elegance and complexity. Hand-crafted entirely from the top 5% of Round Pond’s Rutherford estate, it exhibits a complex set of aromatics, layers of gorgeous fruit, polished tannins and exceptional minerality thanks to Rutherford’s magical dust. Rich cassis, plum and floral scents grace the nose and palate. In the mouth, one senses the wine’s richness and experiences the complex layers of fruit, exotic spices and minerals that make Round Pond’s Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon so appealing. This wine has been described as “intense, smooth, medium-bodied, rich, and supple.” Although seemly contradictory, Round Pond’s 2013 Rutherford Estate Cabernet Sauvignon is all of these and more. Enjoy!