FOR THE COLLECTOR

The Kathryn Hermann Cuvée is an exotic wine featuring ripe guava and grapefruit aromas accented with dried mint, coconut water, and smoky reductive notes. The texture balances a supple, lively acidity with a plump, silky... Read More

The 2019 Château La Mission Haut-Brion is Merlot-dominated, checking in as 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc. It's a more opulent wine compared to Haut-Brion, and the Merlot is front and... Read More

A captivating example of why the Eola-Amity Hills may just be America's best Chardonnay appellation. From the famed Eola Springs site's Block H, with a mix of Dijon and California heritage clones. The Chardonnay protocols... Read More

Also from Yamhill-Carlton, the 2022 Pinot Noir Shea Vineyard pours a shade deeper ruby color and is smoky and spiced with ripe cherries, incense, nutmeg, and toasted pine. It saturates the palate with a medium-bodied frame, ripe... Read More

Once again there is plenty of floral influence to the even spicier aromas of exotic Asian style tea to the slightly riper red and dark berry fruit aromas. The supple and relatively rounded medium-bodied flavors possess better... Read More

A cooler and more floral-suffused nose displays hints of mineral reduction and pretty essence of red berry fruit aromas. The racy, intense and overtly stony middleweight flavors conclude in a youthfully austere and somewhat short... Read More

Once again there is a plethora of floral elements adding elegance to the nose of cool and restrained aromas that also include an exotic tea component. There is a bit more size, weight and volume to the more powerful, and more... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot and 7% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps from the glass with crème de cassis and plum preserves notions, plus... Read More

This is even more aromatically restrained than the Chambertin at present with its riper aromas of cassis, poached plum, exotic tea and a broad array of floral influences. The sleek, intense and beautifully delineated large-scaled... Read More

Grivault owns the largest portion of Meursault Perrieres – 2.54 hectares total. The Grivault wines are regular medal winners and frequently earn the coveted “Tasteviné” designation from the Chevaliers... Read More

Lots of burnt orange peel, nutmeg, hazelnut and ripe/dried strawberry aromas follow through to a medium to full body, with firm and linear tannins and a fresh and vivid finish. Energetic and fine.

A perfumed and fresh Barolo with orange peel, lavender, and white lilac character. Some nutmeg. Full-bodied with chewy tannins yet they are fine and polished. Plenty of reserved character at the finish. Highlights the excellence... Read More

2020 was exceptionally dry, with 75% less rain than usual in the period between May and September, which resulted in an earlier harvest to produce a 2020 Almaviva with 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Carmenere (from Peumo), 6% Cabernet... Read More

Pale gold yellow in color with light green sheen - brilliant, bright and clear - a young honest appearance. A rich majestic nose. Honey, vanilla, lemon, brioche etc., follow each other as if in a daydream, all orchestrated through... Read More

The 2020 Sancerre Generation XIX is seductive with its round, full body caressing the palate. It offers pure fruit that's redolent of pineapple as well as florals. At 14.5% alcohol and with 10 months on lees, there's plenty... Read More

The bottled 2021 L'Ermita has lower alcohol than usual, 13.9% (the lowest ever!) and a pH of 3.31 with 5.62 grams of acidity. It fermented with 55% full clusters with indigenous yeasts in oak vats, with punching down of the... Read More

Scented, delineated nose but has depth, too. It effuses wet-stone minerality that gives a thin overlay to the red and blue berries. Some spices, briar and hibiscus, too. Juicy and medium- to full-bodied on the palate, which is... Read More

The 2022 Finca Dofí was produced with 88% Garnacha, 9% Cariñena, 2% Picapoll and 1% white grapes from a 12.5-hectare slope planted 18 to 38 years ago. It fermented with part of full clusters in oak vats with indigenous... Read More

The just-bottled 2023 Quiñón de Valmira was hitting it on all cylinders the morning I tasted it. It was exuberant, aromatic, floral, extroverted and really singing, with incredible harmony for a wine that had been... Read More

Tasted out of bottle, the 2021 Grenache is 80% Grenache, 15% Syrah, and 5% Mourvèdre that saw 60% stems and 21 months in 50% new demi-muids and the balance in used barrels. It has a slightly purer and more precise perfume... Read More

Awesome notes of buttered citrus, toasted spice, brioche, toasted almonds, and white flowers all emerge from 2022 White Cuvee, a rich, full-bodied white based on 35% Chardonnay, 28% Roussanne, 21% Marsanne, and the rest Viognier.... Read More

Blended with 10% Petit Verdot for complexity, our Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon showcases exceptional sites across the Valley, including fruit from Stags Leap and Diamond Mountain, in addition to other heritage vineyard sources.... Read More

This is really well crafted, with ultra-fine tannins that spread across the palate. It’s medium-bodied with a balance of currant, dark chocolate and hazelnut character. It’s so long and persistent, with gorgeous sophistication... Read More

Subtle and beautiful on the nose with currants, flowers and light sage aromas that follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Extremely polished and poised. Classy.

There’s extraordinary energy in this wine. It displays a dark nose of black cherries, bramble fruit, violets, forest, licorice, bark, carob and leather. Density and tension dominate the full-bodied palate, with firm, velvety... Read More

A wine that needs a few years of bottle age, the 2018 Red Wine H Block Hudson Vineyards checks in as 56% Cabernet Franc and 44% Merlot and offers a relatively reserved yet potential-laced bouquet of red and black fruits, chocolate,... Read More

Light gold. Musky orchard and pit fruit aromas are brightened by hints of lemon zest and ginger. Ripe pear and honey flavors show a touch of heat and pick up a toasty quality with aeration. Finishes soft, warm and slightly loose,... Read More

Graphite dominates the nose, with restrained wild blackberry, meat, balsamic and aromatic herb notes. The attack is smooth, with a full body, youthful fruit character and muscular yet super-refined tannins allied to refreshing... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Clajeux Vineyard is a powerful, dense Chalk Hill wine. Dark fruit, dried herbs, white pepper and blood orange lend quite a bit of complexity. The 2019 has terrific freshness and energy to play off a... Read More

The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Clajeux Vineyard is so appealing. Medium in body and perfumed, the 2022 is aromatically expressive and nicely layered. Blue/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, mocha and gravel all build in the glass.... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch is the most broodingly tannic wine in this range. Readers will have to be patient, as the 2019 is incredibly tightly wound today. Time in the glass brings out all of that Santa Cruz Mountains... Read More

The 2021 Fellom Ranch is a rich, demonstrative wine. Sage, lavender, bay leaf, black cherry and dried herbs abound. Firm, substantial tannins will need time to settle down. Tiny juice yields and thick skins produced an especially... Read More

The aromas to this are so complete and complex with smoked meat, dark berries, walnuts, spice and black tea. Full body, very deep and dark fruit with intense dark chocolate on the finish. Pure. Electric tannins and always polished.... Read More

The 2019 Au Sommet Cabernet Sauvignon is magnificent. A classic mountain wine, the 2019 offers up an exciting mix of dark fruit, gravel, graphite, savory herbs, chocolate and menthol. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing, but there... Read More

Stone fruits, peach blossoms, and delicate floral notes emerge from Clape's 2023 Saint-Péray. Medium-bodied and fresh on the palate, it has a supple, seamless texture with integrated acidity and outstanding length.... Read More

A tasting of the constituent lieux-dits indicates that this will be a fresh, well-balanced style of Cornas. The acidity is high this year, and the tannins are classically Cornas in their granitic grain and intensity. A highly... Read More

No Renaissance was produced in this vintage. Reminding me of the 2017, the 2022 Cornas reveals gorgeous red and black fruits, violets, bouquet garni, and gamey, iron-like nuances. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has fine... Read More

The 2023 Chassagne-Montrachet Village comes from eight different parcels around the appellation, kept separate during the élevage. It has an attractive bouquet with yellow plum and praline scents and a light brioche aroma... Read More

JIM BARBOUR

was raised on his family’s ranch in Rutherford where he learned the life of farming, a passion for land, and the understanding that hard work breeds success.

After graduating from the University of California-Davis,... Read More

Coming to market this fall, the Bartolo Mascarello 2019 Barolo represents a classic vintage in between two challenging growing seasons. Both 2018 and 2020 were hotter than 2019, resulting in higher alcohol levels. With fruit harvested... Read More

After almost thirty years of experience vinifying the well-known Etna Rosso Rovittello, in 2015 Benanti decided to aim for new heights by focusing exclusively on the small, pre-phylloxera portion of the vineyard and extending... Read More

Crushed rocks, rose petals and dried strawberries form a dusty and darkly alluring bouquet as the 2017 Etna Rosso Riserva Serra della Contessa Particella No. 587 grumbles up from the glass. It's silky-smooth and elegant in... Read More

Once again there is a plethora of floral elements serving as a pretty back drop to the aromas of just sliced citrus, star anise, jasmine tea and white peach. There is superb definition to the notably more mineral-driven medium-bodied... Read More

An elegant and decidedly floral-suffused nose reflects additional notes of spicy green apple and lemon zest nuances. There is excellent density to the delicious and unusually powerful medium weight flavors that deliver first-rate... Read More

Very deep and rich, showing sweet-smelling nuttiness and yellow plums. Essence-like palate that’s deeply concentrated, smooth and richly textured. Super vinous with a mellow bead. A selection of reserve wine, just 4-5 demi-muids... Read More

Bergström Wines, a first-generation American family business, is one of the most unique and lauded domaines in the Willamette Valley. Dr. John Bergström’s Swedish heritage and the love he developed for the Pacific... Read More

The 2023 Pinot Noir Bergström Vineyard displays a deep, jeweled ruby/magenta hue and has a more introspective profile. Notes of leather, sanguine, iron-rich earth, and cherry liqueur unfold from the glass. While it carries... Read More

The Bergström family are of Swedish heritage and lived in Portland from the 1970s-1990s. In 1999, Josh Bergström returned to Oregon after a postgraduate program in viticulture and enology in Burgundy and founded the... Read More

The Bergström family are of Swedish heritage and lived in Portland from the 1970s-1990s. In 1999, Josh Bergström returned to Oregon after a postgraduate program in viticulture and enology in Burgundy and founded the... Read More

Displays potent, mineral-accented dark berry preserve, olive paste and incense aromas that are complemented by floral oil, pipe tobacco and exotic spice flourishes. Chewy, densely packed and sharply focused on the palate, offering... Read More

Dressed for a party, the Bibi Graetz 2019 Colore celebrates the estate's 20th anniversary with a special commemorative (2000-2019) bottle. This vintage of Colore is 100% Sangiovese (the small part of Colorino in the blend... Read More

The 2023 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru has a vivacious bouquet that's more complex than the Montmains. It's delineated and focused with wonderful mineralité, scents of lime flower, citrus peel and orange... Read More

I had the opportunity to taste the 2012 Cuvee Nicolas right before its release date of April 1st, with Managing Director Alexandre Bader. This special cuvee was initially created in 1964 as a tribute to the house's founder.... Read More

2007 presents a rather different version of Le Clos St-Hilaire from the previous two releases (2006 and 2005). The hallmarks of the wine are very much there, with plenty of signs of maturity in the apricot kernel, chestnut honey... Read More

The Biondi-Santi 2018 Brunello di Montalcino brings us to a new chapter in the estate's history. This is the first vintage made entirely by the new team (under CEO Giampiero Bertolini and Technical Director Federico Radi)... Read More

Bottled in late-March 2024, Biondi Santi’s latest Brunello is built solidly on classic lines. Captivatingly austere, it hints at pomegranate and tea leaf to begin, with balsamic rosemary and sage blossom taking hold as it... Read More

The 2020 Rosso di Montalcino is simply stunning, lifting from the glass with vivid raspberry and cherry notes complemented by sweet rose, clove and cedar. This model of purity is silky and refined, with a dusty feel to its ripe... Read More

The 2021 Rosso Di Montalcino was bottled in 2023 and is going to be released in May or June of 2025. Taking on a bit more pigment in this vintage and pouring a ruby/red color, it opens to aromas of darker berries, ripe black cherries,... Read More

Wild blackberries, pine cones, bark, chili chocolate, cracked pepper, cloves, iodine and crushed stones on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, creamy tannins. Lovely coolness and minerality to the dark fruit. Powerful, too. Try in... Read More

If it’s good enough for James Bond, it’s good enough for you. Bollinger Champagne has made a number of cameos in James Bond films over the year. This non-vintage Special Cuvée is an example of a classic Champagne... Read More

There's real drive and focus to this harmonious Champagne, with racy acidity enmeshed in the finely detailed, satinlike mousse and enlivening a lovely range of ripe cherry and cassis fruit and Marcona almond flavors, plus... Read More

Bollinger's 2015 Brut Grand Année is an intriguing wine in that is clearly reflects the decision to pick on the later side in order to avoid vegetal notes derived from the mismatch of alcoholic and phenolic ripeness.... Read More

Enticing, fragrant aromas of toast, lemon zest and an earthy-smoky nuance lead to a palate of subtle Bosc-pear, mango, papaya, even pineapple flavors. Lifted by fresh acidity on the medium-bodied palate, the wine keeps unfolding... Read More

Bright in colour with gold reflections, the aromatics are immediately captivating, with marzipan, acacia, apricot and patisserie all vying for attention. It’s impossibly youthful yet reassuringly mature, a bread basket of... Read More

The 2019 Vecina is pure perfection, with a full-bodied, rich, concentrated, yet ultra-pure style that literally stopped me in my tracks. Cassis, currants, graphite, iron, violets, and spicy oak are just some of the nuances here,... Read More

Pretty red fruits such as cherries in this wine with chewy tannins and fresh acidity. Toasted oak too. Needs time to come together. Dense and complete for this estate. Better than 2009. Better after 2016.

The 2021 Brilliant Mistake Cabernet Sauvignon is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from vineyards in Rutherford and Oakville. Longer hang times, thinner canopies and a slight increase in new French oak delivers a rich, full-bodied... Read More

The final wine is a medium deep amber color with a green rim. It has a very pretty aroma with hints of vanilla. Syrupy sweet with flavors of molasses, very attractive fruit, and good acidity. Very long finish.

Rich and full-bodied, this is a serious high-end gruner veltliner with a wealth of candied-citrus aromas plus a touch of bergamot. Compact and concentrated with a great interplay of tannins and restrained ripeness. Long, very... Read More

The 2021 Grüner Veltliner Ried Spiegel Vincent is from a relatively flat, south-facing site on loess, very well ventilated, from almost 65-year-old vines. It was made in 300-liter barrels and stayed on gross lees until the... Read More

Ultra-pure aromas of cool essence of red pinot fruit are trimmed in plenty of floral elements along with hints of exotic tea. The vibrant and utterly delicious flavors aren't as dense or powerful yet they are much, much finer... Read More

Fresh and transparent, with aromas of violets, red currants, wild strawberries and licorice. Full-bodied, this Barbaresco shows refinement, with firm, muscular yet tamed tannins, tight-knit acidity and a dense, elegant finish.... Read More

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain comes almost all from the estate on Howell Mountain and is 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot, and the rest Merlot. It has classic Howell Mountain style in its ripe blue... Read More

TedderSomm 98+: This beauty pours with a dark purple robe at its core with a garnet rim and moderare rim variation. This Right Bank blend of Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and a small amount of Petit Verdot is a Spring Mountain... Read More

Generous aromas of preserved lemons, flint, grapefruit and brioche. The palate is full-bodied with a creamy, medium-bodied mouthfeel and bright acidity, giving flavors of yellow apples, sliced pears and baking spices. Well balanced,... Read More