Most connoisseurs drop into Anthony Bell's place in Yountville to taste his famous Clone 6 Cabernet Sauvignon. But before the '09 Clone 6 was poured, we sipped a Chardonnay that proved equally stunning. Anthony has a knack for playing with our minds at the tasting table. This time, he did so by taking us back in time. Back to the days of St. Clement, Stony Hill, and world-class Far Niente.

Most connoisseurs drop into Anthony Bell's place in Yountville to taste his famous Clone 6 Cabernet Sauvignon. But before the '09 Clone 6 was poured, we sipped a Chardonnay that proved equally stunning. Anthony has a knack for playing with our minds at the tasting table. This time, he did so by taking us back in time. Back to the days of St. Clement, Stony Hill, and world-class Far Niente.

Bell's brilliant 2012 Chardonnay is drawn from a manicured parcel owned by San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos. True to Far Niente and Stony Hill protocol, Anthony arrested malolactic fermentation, turning out a plush, weighty, muscular Chardonnay, braced by firm acidity.

Brilliant pale gold, with piercing aromas of ripe apple and pear, and a hint of tropical fruit, Bell's 2012 is rich, compact and creamy in texture, packed with apple/honey, laced with new wood vanilla. The finish is textbook Bell -- firm and persistent, arguing eloquently for a half dozen years of cellar slumber.

For those who've been hammering us for coastal Chardonnay bargains, put away your tool kits. $35 at the winery. $18.99/bottle on today's WineAccess exclusive. Just 1200 bottles to spread around -- sorry in advance.

Ten days ago, members gobbled up every bottle of the phenomenally structured, age-worthy 2010 Phelps Insignia. Parker's Wine Advocate had already published its rave 93-95pt rave review. On Friday, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar piled on.

Ten days ago, members gobbled up every bottle of the phenomenally structured, age-worthy 2010 Phelps Insignia. Parker's Wine Advocate had already published its rave 93-95pt rave review. On Friday, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar piled on.

The New York critic, who is known both for the precision of his reviews and the stinginess of his ratings, was in rare form. Tanzer explained that the 2010 Insignia, "Finishes with a serious brace of tongue-dusting tannins and outstandingly subtle, juicy persistence," before dropping a 94+pt score, just a point under Bond, Ovid, and a bevy of Colgins -- all of which are selling for 1.5-3x the price of the 2010 Insignia.

In light of the review, we pried another 120 bottles out of Phelps, all of which are now up for grabs while they last. $225/bottle on the September 1st release. Just $179.95 today -- shipping included on two, on this exclusive WineAccess pre-release offer.

At Saintsbury, Bill Knuttel spent a decade fashioning some of the most luscious Pinot Noirs on the coast, before moving north to the warm climes of Dry Creek. During the week, Knuttel would fashion full-throttle, old-vine Zinfandels. But every Saturday, he'd scour Russian River, looking for a special site that would rekindle his Pinot Noir fire.

At Saintsbury, Bill Knuttel spent a decade fashioning some of the most luscious Pinot Noirs on the coast, before moving north to the warm climes of Dry Creek. During the week, Knuttel would fashion full-throttle, old-vine Zinfandels. But every Saturday, he'd scour Russian River, looking for a special site that would rekindle his Pinot Noir fire.

For years, Knuttel refused to pull the trigger, but when he stumbled upon three acres of tight-fisted Clone 777 at a Russian River oasis called Foggy Ash, he couldn't hold back. In 2010, the coldest summer in recent Russian River history, Knuttel turned out a crushed red fruit Pinot Noir that would rise above even the lavish 2007 and 2009.

Glistening deep ruby to the edge, the 2010 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is infused with a pungent aromatic mix of crushed raspberry, black cherry and sweet herbs. The attack is sneaky rich, beginning slightly closed, before slowly unveiling the great red fruit concentration of this magical harvest. The finish, as always at Foggy Ash, is textbook Russian River -- long, high-toned and bracing.

Yields were down nearly 30% in 2010, trimming our WineAccess allocation to just 1200 bottles. $40 on release. An irresistible $19.99 this morning for one of the great Pinot Noir bargains of the magical 2010 vintage in Russian River.

Laurent Montalieu, the French enologist/proprietor at Solena Estate, has long been Oregon's most talented white wine maker. From a 2012 growing season that began with a cold spring, but finished with 110 CONSECUTIVE days without a drop of rain, Montalieu may well have fashioned the richest, most vibrantly mineral Pinot Gris of his 25-year career.

Laurent Montalieu, the French enologist/proprietor at Solena Estate, has long been Oregon's most talented white wine maker. From a 2012 growing season that began with a cold spring, but finished with 110 CONSECUTIVE days without a drop of rain, Montalieu may well have fashioned the richest, most vibrantly mineral Pinot Gris of his 25-year career.

The 2012 Solena Estate Pinot Gris is bright green-gold in color -- absolutely explosive on the nose, featuring ripe melon, white peach and orchard fruits, complicated by white flowers. Wonderfully juicy on the attack, with vibrant golden apple, exotic fruit concentration, it's the gentle kiss of an almost imperceptible sweetness that keeps the bracing, mineral finish in perfect balance.

For those of you who have clamored for under-$20 American whites for summer sipping -- don't let the price tag fool you. Yes, this is one of the most deliciously quaffable whites of the year. But it's also an unusually serious, almost intellectual release that argues as much for a few years in a cool cellar -- as it does for a summer evening by the pool with salmon, ahi, or swordfish sizzling on the grill, drizzled with cold pressed Olive Oil.

Just $16.99/bottle on cases -- and yes, if there was ever a MUST buy, American mineral white bargain, this is it. 112 cases are up for grabs.