Sauvignon Blanc is one of the great white wine grapes of the world, and Happy Canyon, at the eastern end of the Santa Ynez Valley, is quickly becoming renowned as one of the very top terroirs for the grape in the U.S. Happy Canyon’s... Read More
An attractively layered and exuberantly fresh nose merges aromas of red and dark berries with those of earth, leather and a whiff of spice. There is excellent verve to the equally fresh large-scaled flavors that also possess solid... Read More
The 2018 Barolo Via Nuova is fresh and lifted, with a really fresh approach. Supple with red fruit, red roses, and fresh orange, on the palate it offers fine tannins, a graceful, clean finish with a chalky texture, and a Burgundian... Read More
The 2016 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Case Vecie seduces with a beguiling and lifted mix of crushed stone, dusty rose and bright cherry. This is dark and velvety, moody in feel yet seductive and pliant, simply harmonious,... Read More
The 2017 Amarone della Valpolicella Cavolo is seductive in the glass as a mentholated freshness gives way to medicinal cherries and blackberries complemented by balsamic spice. This is elegant, almost opulent in feel, with that... Read More
Beautiful reflections through the body of this wine, with fresh acidity, and an attractive sense of uplift through the palate, although the actual fruit is a little subdued right now, which as it opens shows damson and bilberry.... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Details is a terrific entry level wine from this team and has everything you'd want from a value-priced Cabernet Sauvignon. Black cherries, mulberries, gravelly earth, and leafy tobacco define the... Read More
Clear in color already. A lovely elegant nose, quite classy for appellation. Round, almondy fruit with a little bit more oak then usual for Bourgogne Blanc since it was 100% barrel- fermented due to the small crop rather than... Read More
Giuseppe Rinaldi's recent vintages have the potential to become cult wines. The 2015 is extremely pale and lively, focused on fresh citrusy notes of orange peel and cedar wood with a rhubarb candy core accompanied by star... Read More
The lieu-dit Les Grands Gouttes sits at the southern edge of Meursault on border with Puligny, just a few hundred meters below the Premier Cru vineyard Les Charmes. It generally has a lighter, racier profile.... Read More
The 2019 Chianti Classico is a deep, fleshy wine with a good deal of tannin that will need time to soften. The San Giusto Classico has a track record of aging very well. I have no doubt that will be the case here as well. Time... Read More
The nose has notes of black cherry, balsamic and a slight hint of mushroom. Scents of eucalyptus tea leaves and violets can be picked up as well. The palate is bone dry with medium acidity. The tannins are soft and well integrated... Read More
The 2020 Pinot Noir Estate comes from the estate vineyard in the Sta. Rita Hills and was brought up in 25% new French oak. It has a vivid ruby/plum hue to go with a classic bouquet of ripe raspberries, spicy herbs, scorched earth,... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is the first vintage of Chardonnay from Donnachadh. It was barrel fermented and matured for around 10 months. Its aromas combine bright herbal, green apple and pear tones with underlying savory... Read More
This is so perfumed – the red fruit and flowers just jump out of the glass. So aromatic. Full-bodied, yet the precise, fine tannins just melt into the glass and spread wide across the palate. A gorgeous wine. Drink or hold.... Read More
2018 was a healthy vintage following a warm, dry summer. This Gran Selezione is youthful but already drinking well, its sweet core of ripe red and black cherries framed by integrated tannins and smooth acidity. Licks of spice,... Read More
A candidate for perfection, the 2010 Chateauneuf du Pape Cuvee Imperiale Vignes Centenaire is clearly the greatest wine I have ever tasted from Raymond Usseglio, even eclipsing their remarkable 2007. Don’t be surprised if... Read More
Le Potazzine’s breezy, high-altitude site and stony well-draining soil helped offset 2018's rains and threat of mildew. Nevertheless, the estate produced about 15% less Brunello due to a strict selection. A bit timid,... Read More
Blackberry, mint and black pepper abound here. The palate has serious structure, with an emphasis on liquorice, restrained vanilla, cedar and earth. It's still pretty concentrated and voluptuous. Recorked at the château... Read More
Wonderful rose and currant aromas with hints of mint. It’s full-bodied yet very finely textured, with good fruit concentration and length. Continuing to improve in the bottle.
The 2006 Pichon Lalande, which blows away the 2005, represents a return to the velvety-textured, rich, sexy style most readers would associate with Pichon Lalande. This blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon and 36% Merlot no Petit Verdot... Read More
Always showing well, this bottle of 2005 Château Pontet Canet was just about pure perfection in a glass. Still youthful ruby/purple-hued, with a gorgeous core of pure cassis and darker currant fruits, it's full-bodied... Read More
Bright ruby-red. Superripe, soil-driven aromas of currant, plum, cherry pie, mocha and minerals; almost liqueur-like in its ripeness, in a 1947 way. Then huge, sweet and plush, with great volume and depth to its flavors of cassis,... Read More
Not as rich or concentrated as I was expecting, the 2020 Chateauneuf du Pape Vieilles Vignes still delivers ample layers of dark fruit, hints of cola, mint and spice elements. It's full-bodied, silky and long, but it looks... Read More
100% Chiavennasca (Nebbiolo)
50-100-year-old vines
400-550 meters
Southern exposure
116-day maceration in 50 -hectoliter untoasted oak casks
Rests 24 months in bottle before release
Approximately 2000 cases produced annually... Read More
The 2015 Brunello Riserva has tobacco, dried currant, and menthol on the nose and red plum, blood orange, and amaro on the palate, with acidity to match its gripping tannins. This structured wine needs time to show what its potential... Read More
Medium ruby, the 2019 Pinot Noir Estate offers impressive aromatic layering and detail, evolving as it spends time in the glass from cranberry and burnt orange peel to violet, tea leaves, pipe tobacco and aniseed. The medium-bodied... Read More
Bright ruby with effusive aromas of crushed red cherry, cola, rubbed sage, and Mediterranean tapenade show on the nose of this first ever Santa Rita Hills AVA bottling for Donnachadh. Fresh acidity buoys tart cherry and red raspberry... Read More
The second wine of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande is the 2015 Reserve De Comtesse De Lalande and it’s a beautiful wine in 2015 that surpasses most Château’s grand vin. A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon,... Read More
Beautiful red with floral and black-cherry aromas. So floral and perfumed for this hot and dry vintage. Full-bodied with ultra-fine tannins that are energetic and long. Structured and manicured. From organically grown grapes.... Read More
Composed of 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer To Kalon Vineyard has a deep garnet-purple color, requiring a little coaxing before it spills out of the glass with fantastically showy blackberry preserves,... Read More
Harvested between the end of September and beginning of October, Altesino’s Montosoli bottling was reduced by 50% due to a strict selection of grapes. The nose divulges appealing vanilla, cedar and truffle nuances which... Read More
Utterly gorgeous freshness and zip, with intensity of flavour. It has a little more Sémillon than usual, due to frost affect the Sauvignon Blanc, which seems to mean the aromatics of the Muscadelle are a little more prominent... Read More
Opening slowly in the glass, the 2018 Brunello di Montalcino lifts up with a spicy bouquet of cinnamon-spiced cherries and dusty rose. This is pure elegance on the palate, silky and pliant, gaining a lovely tension as mineral-laced... Read More
Redolent of dark, earthy forest, the inaugural vintage of Chiuso del Lupo brings together underbrush and ripe wild berries with menthol and floral accents. Sweet, plush fruit is countered by a salty tang, its tannins expansive... Read More
A certified-organic wine, the 2017 Brunello di Montalcino shows a graceful and delicate side with wild cherries, blue flowers and warm earthiness. The wine is silky and smooth on the palate, with hints of crushed mineral or limestone.... Read More
This wine shows a deep, rich purple robe in the glass with distinct aromas of wild berries, herbs and spices, bitter almond, cloves and star anise. Smooth on the palate and of fine structure. Bewitching to the finish.... Read More
The iconic Napa producer fermented this Sauvignon Blanc in French oak, small stainless steel barrels, clay amphora, and ceramic and concrete cuves. Intense sweet peach aromas leap forth, followed by tarragon, sea foam and lemon... Read More
This beautifully aromatic wine leaps out of the glass with concentrated notes of red currant, boysenberry, cassis, roasted coffee and dark chocolate, along with savory undertones and notions of sweet oak. On the palate it is rich... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Calesa Vineyard, matured in 35% new French oak, features intense lemon jelly and nectarine aromas on the nose with wafts of chalk and beeswax. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully satiny and concentrated,... Read More
Really starting to get into its stride under the new direction of Jacques Lurton. I have always enjoyed this wine and long found it to be the one of all the Andre Lurton wines to live up to the potential of the terroir. This is... Read More
Lastly, the 2020 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is another legendary wine from this château that has been on an incredible run over the past decade. A blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot that was brought up all... Read More
Smooth, seductive and finely textured, this is both sleek and strict, with a savoury, crushed stone saline tang alongside tobacco, tar, ripe black cherries and soft floral scents; the Cabernet really makes its mark. Sexy and rich,... Read More
The inky hued 2020 Château Pichon-Longueville Baron checks in as a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot that spent 18 months in 70% new barrels. It's a dense, rich, powerful 2020 offering loads of pure cassis... Read More
The fruit for The Plow 2021 comes from the three upper blocks with a special massal selection of PN777 on Gelderman-Jory soils, with a layer of large gravels that impart extra energy to the vines and create more complex flavors.... Read More
The 2020 Chardonnay UV - El Diablo Vineyard is extraordinarily impressive, particularly given the multitude of challenges this vintage. It was matured for 12 months in 33% new French oak and finished with six months in stainless... Read More
The 2020 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard comes from vines planted in the 1970s. It was matured for 12 months in 35% new French oak and finished with six months in stainless steel. This shows the impressive concentration and generosity... Read More
The 2020 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was matured for 12 months in 20% new French oak barrels and finished with six months in stainless steel. Like many of the 2020s from Arista, it is inviting and ready to drink, with white... Read More
This part of the Grand Chemarin vines results in the finest, most elegant expression in our range of Sancerre wines. Citrus flavours and aromas – mandarin in particular – are characteristic of this terroir. Lovely... Read More
The standout wine of the tasting (as expected). Opulent, concentrated with intense cassis notes on both the nose and palate, with a deep-purple hue in the glass (although not quite as deep as the 1995). Mint, cool, menthol on... Read More
La Moussière is the estate’s flagship cuvee, its richness, energy and precision defining the Alphonse Mellot style. This 100% Sauvignon white wine has a floral and fruity nose combining white flowers with citrus fruits,... Read More
This too is intensely floral in character with nuances of rose petal, violet and lavender to the subtle spicy red berry fruit scents. There is both excellent precision and verve to the beautifully textured medium weight flavors... Read More
Extremely perfumed with strawberries, flowers, cherries and hints of ash and tar. Medium to full-bodied with tightness and raciness to the tannins. Polished, too. Very, very persistent.
This Sancerre rouge is silky textured, fresh and with fine yet firm tannins, and a remarkable finesse and delicacy. It is well structured with moderate alcohol and is lovely to drink today. The grapes have been perfectly selected... Read More
Rich and concentrated with violet reflections and a wall of tannins. Well structured, it sets its feet deep in the ground and will need time to soften and develop. Good quality with depth. The tannins are far more present than... Read More
Made from old plots of Chardonnay, this Mâconnais cru is a rich wine. Brioche aromas are expressed on the nose. On the palate, the opulence of ripe fruit is enhanced by notes of lime blossom and jasmine. It is certainly... Read More
Aromas of spicy red cherries on a loamy underlay, together with savory twists of forest floor and walnut shell. Some orange rind, too. Full-bodied with very fine, firm and silky tannins and lots of long, focused fruit and spice... Read More
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 2016 Château Poesia is more open and showy compared to the Barde Haut, offering fabulous limestone-like character in its kirsch and currant fruits and notes of dried herbs,... Read More
A youthful, energetic wine with notes of ripe black plums and a bit of liquorice and spice. The texture is silky and soft, lacking the density of the other wines in the cellar, yet there is finesse to spare. 2020 was the first... Read More
2013 was a cooler vintage, serene with little rain. Temperatures in the valley during the summer in the valley averaged 26°C instead of the usual 36°C (79°F instead of the usual 97°F). When they arrived in the... Read More
Amazing aromatics, balsamic, caramelised red fruits, sweet almost marzipan/frangipane with lovely peonie floral elements alongside smoke and coffee. Pure and clean but given depth by a leathery savouriness and slightly grippy,... Read More
Inky purple hues with dark plum, black cherry, cedar, cola and sweet toasted oak on the nose. A full-bodied entry with black berry, cocoa powder, brown spices and peppermint on the palate. Layered textures and focused tannins... Read More
The 2019 Barolo Brunate is a powerhouse. Black cherry, plum, spice, lavender, mocha, gravel and scorched earth all build as this virile, potent Barolo struts its stuff. The Brunate, is another super-impressive wine in this range.... Read More
A cooler, more restrained and more elegant nose reflects notes of Granny Smith apples, lemon-lime, iodine and tidal pool wisps. The medium-weight flavors aren't quite as concentrated, but they are markedly finer with more... Read More
Quiet complexity that needs time in the glass. While it is brooding and deep, there is also a perfumed, floral and herbal aspect that makes it so attractive and unforgettable, even at such an embryonic stage. Freshly crushed blueberries,... Read More
A wine of gravitas, the 2013 Barolo Riserva Bussia Vigna Rocche also has more body and depth than the Munie Riserva in this tasting. Readers will find a decidedly rich, strapping Barolo. Dark fruit, leather, spice, tobacco and... Read More
Just 3.9 acres of Chardonnay are planted at Hirsch, and from this we produce one white wine per year. Originally planted by David Hirsch for Williams Selyem, we now keep all the Chardonnay grapes for the estate. 2021 was a cool... Read More
Pure, classic California notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, chalky minerality, graphite, and spring flowers emerge from the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon, a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Merlot that's sourced from... Read More
Wines from Meursault are typified by aromas and flavors of ripe melon, hazelnut, and lemon custard, and tend to be broader and more textural than wines from neighboring villages. Aging in 15-20% percent small French oak barrels... Read More
This single site Brut Nature sparkling wine, with less than 3 g/L residual sugar, was bottled unfiltered. It is a wine that transparently speaks of a special place and a specific vintage, an expression inspired by my favorite... Read More
Since 2002, Roots winemaker/owner Chris Berg has been crafting terroir-driven wines, expressive of the soil, climate, geography-using native fermentation in the winery and sustainable methods in the vineyard. The result? Wines... Read More
Stellum Black Rye is an evolution of the Stellum Rye flavor profile. Think of it as Stellum Rye in high-def. We used a meticulous blending approach to layer older reserve barrels into the original Stellum Rye blend. The result... Read More
Imagine if in Alsace, deep beneath the earth, there were a Riesling aquifer... Arthur Ostertag has tapped into that aquifer via the lieu-dit Pflanzer. Pflanzer means “the planter” in Alsatian and this parcel was originally... Read More
Ostertag’s “Mountain of the Monks” parcel has absolutely everything going for it: nine centuries of uninterrupted grape cultivation, an insane swirl of lava and sandstone in the ground, perfect southern exposition,... Read More
Just when I think the Ostertags can’t set the bar any higher for what is possible with dry Pinot Gris, they raise it yet again! The elegance and class of this grandiose cuvée this year are thrilling to behold. Fronholz... Read More
cépage 100% Pinot Noir
village/vyd Aÿ Grand Cru; Cheuzelles, Longchamp,
Pierre Robert, Pruche, Chauffour
malo Yes
élevage Stainless Steel
sur latte 36+ Months... Read More
From a 7.8 hectare vineyard plot in Valle del Alberche, in the village of Méntrida. The vineyard is home to 40-year-old bush-vine Garnacha planted on granite soils; it’s full of holm oak and chestnut trees and sits... Read More
The 2020 Branco Quinta do Ribeirinho is a Sercialinho aged for six months in third-use chestnut barrels. It comes in at 12.2% alcohol and was fermented with free-run juice. Sercialinho is a cross of Alvarinho and Madeira's... Read More
This accelerates on the palate with incredibly ripe tannins and finesse. Full body, roasted fruit, leather and grilled meat. Dried flowers, too. It shows superb tannin backbone and polish. Tight and youthful. Just starting to... Read More
A beautifully pale rosé from the north slopes of the Montagne de Reims, this is fruity while also having a crisp texture. It's a raspberry, red currant flavored wine that is shot through with grapefruit acidity. Perfumed... Read More
The 2020 Chardonnay One-Sixteen is sunny with notes of beeswax, orange zest, and baked apple. It has rich concentration and texture, with a spine of acidity. Notes of Meyer lemon, and almond, and warming baking spice fill out... Read More
The Merlots were so good this year that most have gone into the first wine, giving this a higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon than usual and making it a serious Dame de Montrose, with clear ageing potential. Elegant and balanced,... Read More
The 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Coach Insignia takes things up a notch and offers lots of currants, crème de cassis, tobacco, chocolate and earthy notes in a full-bodied, rounded, pure, and elegant package. It's impeccably... Read More
A selection of the top terroirs on the property and a blend of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Malbec, and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2016 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve was brought up all in new oak. Deep purple-colored, with a rocking bouquet... Read More
Oh, I love this! This is Pauillac distilled, flirting on the edge of ripeness with brambly cassis and dark chocolate. This is just the right mix of open and closed for me, layered and confident but not overdone. It has feathery,... Read More
Essentially a co-fermentation of Canaiolo Nero with Sangiovese, owner and winemaker Luca Martini di Cigala adds about 3% whole clusters to the cap as soon as fermentation starts in order to maintain freshness. The 2018 demonstrates... Read More
Performing even better from bottle than it did from barrel, this appears to be the finest Lynch Bages since the 2000, 1990 and 1989. According to the chateau, the 2009 has the highest level of polyphenols ever measured as well... Read More
All sizes are 750mL unless otherwise noted.
Vintages and ratings subject to change at any time.
All pricing and availability subject to change.
Artwork does not necessarily represent items for sale.