Magnum of Château Margaux | 2018

When Ashlie, our resident hybrid sommelier/server/retail specialist, clocked in at 4pm, I decided to give her a special blind tasting from a bottle that was opened in the morning. Cloaked by an unassuming brown paper bag, I poured her a shy 1oz taste and watched her reaction. Right on cue: “Woooooow, this is so goooood. Expensive sh*t!” (Then she proceeded to nail both the region and the main grape.) For those who insist Bordeaux shouldn’t be touched in its youth, I offer, “Yes, it can.” With its silk coat of tannins, layering into vanilla bean, velvet berries, cocoa spice, and molten earth, Margaux 2018 was seamless, epic, complete. It literally gave Ashlie (and me). goosebumps. Sometimes great wine is just not worth the wait. ~Allegra Angelo