The exhaustive coverage of Argentina in the December 2011 issue of The Wine Advcocate, contains reviews of wines from virtually every significant estate from Salta to Tupungata. The Wine Advocate supplemented that report with an estate honor roll...

The exhaustive coverage of Argentina in the December 2011 issue of The Wine Advcocate, contains reviews of wines from virtually every significant estate from Salta to Tupungata. The Wine Advocate supplemented that report with an estate honor roll. Just eight of the hundreds covered would capture 5-star ratings. Achaval-Ferrer was there. As was Catena Zapata. But smack in the middle of all the more widely distributed brands was what most believe to be Mendoza's greatest boutique winery -- Annabelle Sielecki's Mendel.

The 2009 "Unus" is far and away the greatest Mendoza bottle we've offered since we began this little adventure. Glistening deep purple in color, powerfully infused with crushed blackberries and wild raspberries, with a hint of top-pedigree Pauillac graphite. Profound and juicy on the attack, packed with blackberries and cassis, the inimitable Roberto de la Mota married magical physiological concentration with rare Medoc restraint, accounting for a bottle that Parker suggests won't be hitting its peak until sometime in 2024!

Read on to hear about our lunch with the charmingly self-effacing Sielecki, and our subsequent trip to Mendel where we walked what many believe to be the top Malbec planting in the world. The plants are 83 years old, set at 4,000 feet with the snowcapped Andes looming in the backdrop. We can only say we hope we look that good when we're octogenarians.

This time, we lucked out, with a little help from a Sao Paolo hiccup. Just 1600 cases produced, ticketed for 22 countries. We came away with 600 bottles, and count ourselves among the lucky in having done so. $50/bottle around the world -- but not today on WineAccess on this special -- if abbreviated -- Sunday missive.

We discovered viticulturalist Mario Bazan's (Opus One, To-Kalon, Stag's Leap) 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon two years ago at the Martini House in St. Helena. Already a bottle that had achieved cult status in the Napa underground, winemaker Victoria Coleman's (Stag's Leap) jawdropping Cabernet off of just 1.5 acres in the foothills of Atlas Peak, married ethereal concentration, silken texture, and the sleekest tannins in the valley.

We discovered viticulturalist Mario Bazan's (Opus One, To-Kalon, Stag's Leap) 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon two years ago at the Martini House in St. Helena. Already a bottle that had achieved cult status in the Napa underground, winemaker Victoria Coleman's (Stag's Leap) jawdropping Cabernet off of just 1.5 acres in the foothills of Atlas Peak, married ethereal concentration, silken texture, and the sleekest tannins in the valley.

We called Bazan the next day, told him who we were and what we wanted. But the guy who came to Napa almost four decades ago with little more than the shirt on his back, politely declined. So began a 22-month courtship that concludes today with two vintages of Bazan's magnificent estate-grown Cabernet Sauvignon, of which less than 300 cases are made each year.

Both the 2005 and extravagant 2007 Cabernets are purple-black in color, packed with explosive aromas of crushed blackberry, sweet herbs and new wood cedar. Not so much jam-like as fabulously juicy, the 2005 is close to full stride, sporting a gorgeous cassis core, silken texture and superb, supple tannin persistence.

The 2007 is, of course, the bigger wine, more voluminous, riper and still more silken. The core is of blackberry/cassis, lush, opulent, cloaked in velour. No shortage of muscle here -- like most of the great wines from Wine Spectator's 99pt vintage, this one is built for the long haul.

Just 420 bottles of each vintage are up for grabs today, available in equally proportioned 4-packs. This could be the most underpriced bottle in the valley. Today, even more so. Shipping included.

Almost two years ago, during lunch at Le Chat in Cosne-sur-Loire, Dominique Roger ordered a neighbor's luscious bottle of 2009 Sancerre. Seeing that we approved, he recounted the story of the tragic passing of his friend, Dominique Crochet. He went on to tell us how Dominique's wife, Janine, and her son, Teddy, were faced with the impossible task of filling some of the largest winegrowing boots in Bue-en-Sancerre.

Almost two years ago, during lunch at Le Chat in Cosne-sur-Loire, Dominique Roger ordered a neighbor's luscious bottle of 2009 Sancerre. Seeing that we approved, he recounted the story of the tragic passing of his friend, Dominique Crochet. He went on to tell us how Dominique's wife, Janine, and her son, Teddy, were faced with the impossible task of filling some of the largest winegrowing boots in Bue-en-Sancerre.

Then Roger posed the question he would have never asked on his own behalf. Could WineAccess help?

Upon our return, we told the Bean Counters the story, and of our new three year commitment to Janine Crochet. We explained how and why we'd agreed to offer these dazzling Crochet Sancerres for a price that wouldn't do anything to keep the lights on at HQ. Then we learned something we'd never even imagined. Even Bean Counters have hearts.

Now, from the precious harvest of 2011, Teddy Crochet has just released a Sancerre that is the finest of our three vintage trifecta, one that surely has his Dad smiling.

Pale gold in color, with gorgeous aromas of ripe apple and pear, laced with stony minerality. Rich and round on the attack, filled with Golden Delicious juiciness, still bracketed by scintillating acidity. The last two vintages of Crochet Sancerre have garnered an average rating of 4.00 stars out of five, with a whopping 75 5-star accolades. This 2011 is a distinct step up.

300 cases are on the water. Regular price of $30. Today, just $17.99/bottle on cases. A steal? Yes … but no. It's simply the right thing to do. Just ask the Bean Counters.

Robert Parker's October report on the 2010 harvest in the southern Rhone was a shot heard round the world. In what many believe to be the finest vintage in three decades, Parker concurred, calling the harvest 'great', adding that this eclipses even the terrifically hyped 2007 in many cellars.

Robert Parker's October report on the 2010 harvest in the southern Rhone was a shot heard round the world. In what many believe to be the finest vintage in three decades, Parker concurred, calling the harvest 'great', adding that this eclipses even the terrifically hyped 2007 in many cellars.

Philippe Cambie, the super-enologist who Parker calls "The Michel Rolland of the southern Rhone" had a field day. As Cambie always pushes maturity to the limit, this astounding harvest that combined '07-like voluptuousness with the rare, bracing backbone of 2001, was a near perfect recipe. Of the eleven Chateauneufs Parker would cite for 100-point potential, four would come from Cambie. But perhaps even more riveting are a handful of signature Cambie bargains, none greater than this luscious 2010 Lirac Moulin des Chenes from Chateau de Vaudieu proprietor Laurent Brechet.

Deep purple to the edge, with trademark Cambie's dark raspberry and sweet herbes-de-Provence aromatics. Rich and dense on the attack, packed with ultra-ripe wild berry compote, polished but chewy, still marvelously bracketed by the firm backbone and bracing low pH of this monumental harvest.

Something else of note. When we first tasted this wine before bottling, Brechet's release price was slotted at $25/bottle. Since then, the euro has slipped 15% and Laurent has sharpened his pencil for WineAccess. Is there a richer, juicier, more vibrant red on the market at $15.50/bottle on cases? If you think so, give us a holler. We'll be right over. Shipping included on 6.