The 2022 Chateauneuf du Pape Vin de la Solitude reveals a charming, distinctive bouquet of rose, red berries, gooseberries, mint and spices. Medium to full-bodied, enveloping and round, it's perfectly textured and fleshy with... Read More
The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Vieilles Vignes is made from vines aged between 80 and 100 years. The 2021 Vieilles Vignes wafts from the glass with expressive aromas of redcurrant, red and black cherry, raspberry, strawberry,... Read More
The Padelletti 2019 Brunello di Montalcino shows hints of dried herb and ripe fruit over a nicely concentrated mouthfeel. This wine shows a classic fruit profile with bold cherry followed by underbrush, rose and earth all delivered... Read More
Jérôme inherited 5 acres of pinot meunier planted in the 1960s from his maternal grandmother in 1987 in the unknown village of Gueux in the Montagne de Reims. He tributes his grandmother for giving him “the... Read More
In comparison to the charming, pure 2008 Dom Pérignon Rosé, the 2009 Dom Pérignon Rosé possesses a ripe, dense bouquet with aromas of dark berries, licorice, dried white flowers, toast and pastry, enhanced... Read More
Composed of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 is deep garnet-purple in color, delivering fragrant underbrush, black truffles and tree bark scents over a core of warm... Read More
he 2019 Finca el Bosque is another single vineyard and comes from a site on a deep, gravelly escarpment overlooking the Ebro River. It offers more ripe blue fruits and cassis as well as sappy herbs, flowers, violets, graphite,... Read More
The 2018 Duhart-Milon is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot. With 14% alcohol, it has a deep garnet-purple color and a seductively ripe, opulent nose of plum preserves, blackberry pie and chocolate-covered cherries... Read More
Luminous golden yellow. Cool, pure aromas of white peach, honeyed mango, guava nectar, white flowers and saffron are complicated by elements of crushed stone and spicy lemony botrytis. Suave and intensely flavored, with mineral-spiced... Read More
A seamless, totally captivating wine, the 2015 Latour has no beginning and no end, it simply exists in its own little world of pure and total harmony. Nothing is out of place. Instead, the 2015 captivates both the intellectual... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Incubo is brilliant juice, offering a deep purple hue as well as a killer bouquet of crème de cassis, tobacco leaf, spring flowers, and damp earth/underbrush-like nuances. I love its complexity... Read More
One of my favorite 2022s from Pott, the 2022 Stacked is based on 60% Cabernet Franc and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon. It's a deeper-hued 2022 offering beautiful aromatics of black raspberries, iris flowers, spice, and some background... Read More
A step up, the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Her Majesty's Secret Service is 100% Stagecoach Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon raised in barrel. Lots of red and blue fruits, Christmas spice, dried flowers, and sandalwood all define the... Read More
The 2021 Richard Hermann Cuvée is wonderfully fresh and lively, with bright, lemony fruit and aromas of white flowers. This unnamed vineyard's cool site and volcanic soils in the Eola-Amity Hills have produced a wine... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Estate is every bit as compelling as it was last year when I tasted it from barrel. The 2021 deftly marries freshness, energy and mountain structure. White pear, jasmine, flowers, mint and a kiss of French... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Marine Layer Vineyard is dense and unctuous in the glass. Apricot, tangerine peel, mint and baked apple tart are all amplified. This heady, racy Chardonnay is seriously impressive. Tropical overtones and a... Read More
Crunchy blue fruits with nice acidity and finessed tannins that gently support the succulent cherry, blackcurrant and plum fruit. Toasted elements, clove and cinnamon and cedar and liquorice come into play fairly quickly but this... Read More
A deep and semi-opaque ruby/purple color, the 2021 Pinot Noir Ma Danseuse is ripe with black cherry, violets, and wet stone. This full-bodied Pinot Noir is balanced and broad on the palate, with ripe tannins, and it’s flush... Read More
If you want to know what St.-Estèphe smells like, this is it. Aromas of spices, black truffles, forest floor, dried strawberries and tar. It’s full-bodied yet pinpointed on the palate with fabulous density and richness.... Read More
Located in the heart of Saumur, Domaine Guiberteau’s 14.5 hectares of organically farmed vines are dedicated to the region’s signature varieties, Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc. All fruit is destemmed and fermented... Read More
Blackberries, graphite, black pepper and crushed berries on the nose. Full-bodied, very tight and focused with bolted-down tannins that give it fantastic potential for aging. A little cabernet sauvignon here, too. Try after 2023.... Read More
You really feel the difference in the quality and character of the tannins once you get to the top wines in Pomerol, and for me Clos du Clocher is increasingly one of the stars of the plateau. This is powerful, knitted down, with... Read More
This bursts with bramble, licorice snap, blackberry and mulberry aromas and flavors that are energetic and juicy through the finish, where a flash of iris kicks in. A graphite spine to keep this honest. For fans of the exuberant... Read More
Aromas of exotic spice, violet and chestnut are amplified by a touch of volatile acidity. Those dark purple floral notes carry through to the palate, which brags lovely weight with balanced proportions and mouthwatering, citrussy... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard, which can be bold and hedonistic in warmer vintages, is more reminiscent of Chablis. It has transparent aromas of lemon curd, chalk and crème fraîche. The light-bodied palate... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard is stunning! It features dynamic, detailed aromas of Meyer lemon, chalk and candle smoke offset by deeper tones of brioche and panna cotta. The medium-bodied palate pairs pure, generous flavors... Read More
The 2019 Claret is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Syrah, 9% Malbec, 8% Petit Verdot, 6% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. It’s scented of Luxardo cherries and blueberries with detailed nuances of violet, tobacco leaves,... 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
Smokey minerals come together with wet stone, flowery undergrowth and crisp green apple as the 2020Verdicchio Classico Superiore dei Castelli di Jesi evolves in the glass. This enters the palate with a pure display of mineral-laced... Read More
Red berries, plums and flowers with hints of orange peel. Full-bodied with rich fruit, light jam, creamy tannins and brightness at the end. Lightly salty. Vivid. 70% merlot, 25% cabernet franc and 5% cabernet sauvignon. Better... Read More
The 2020 Rauzan-Ségla is showing brilliantly in bottle. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and minty blackberries mingled with violets and licorice, it's medium to... Read More
At Château Thivin, the oldest wine-growing estate in Mont-Brouilly, there reigns a special atmosphere — that of a château on a human scale where the6 generations of the Geoffray family have been producing quality... Read More
The top wine from this outstanding producer of Sancerre, this is sourced from older vines in ideal sloping sites surrounding the village of Chavignol. Rich, but mineral-hewn, with hints of tarragon and other green herbs, lemon-lime... Read More
Heady and expressive on the nose, seductive tones of ripe fruit and perfumed flowers. Gorgeous intensity on the palate, rich, round and ripe - gently chewy - but cool and refreshing too. This has a dynamic undercurrent with tannins... Read More
Close your eyes and forget the label to get a grand cru white Burgundy experience that’s totally contemporary. Very deep flint and oyster shell nose that gains a wonderful fresh pineapple character as it aerates. And that... Read More
The 2022 Gratallops is a village wine, vi de vila in the Catalan language, which is the official category from the Priorat appellation. The wine shows the ancestral mix of local varieties, which this year is 80% Garnacha, 19%... Read More
One of the standouts in the vintage is the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape, a ripe, round, medium to full-bodied 2021 offering a beautiful array of black cherry and darker berry fruits, ample Provençal spice, and dried flower... Read More
The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Terrazze San Leolino is another highlight in this range from Fontodi. It's a huge step up from the 2020. Red cherry, iron, spice, leather, licorice, crushed rocks and herbs make a strong... Read More
Dark ruby-red hues gleam from the glass of this 2022 Merlot. The nose delivers a fragrant bouquet of red cherry, raspberry, and black plum, further accentuated by beautiful floral notes of rose petals and fresh lilac. These same... Read More
The 2018 Crossfire Cabernet Sauvignon Beckstoffer Missouri Hopper Vineyard features notes of dark chocolate, cedar, cassis, plum and spice cake. It's all Cabernet Sauvignon from this Oakville site, matured in 80% new French... Read More
The 2021 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigna del Sorbo is an absolute stunner. Deep, layered and explosive, the 2021 captures all of the magic of this year in spades. Black cherry, lavender, mocha, spice and licorice all soar... Read More
The 2021 Flaccianello della Pieve is another exceptional wine from Fontodi this year. Ripe, silky tannins wrap around a core of dark fruit as the 2021 makes its presence felt from the first taste. Sumptuous, racy and dense, this... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon The Stick is rich, heady and explosive. It offers up an exciting mélange of inky dark fruit, chocolate, lavender, spice and licorice, all in an attention-grabbing full-throttle style that is... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Spring Mountain District) is unusually deep and quite potent, yet it also retains a measure of silkiness that is palpable. Dark red/purplish fruit, blood orange, mocha, espresso and dried flowers all... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Mt. Veeder) is superb. It captures tons of Veeder character in its savory/mineral intensity and dark fruit. Purplish fruit, blood orange, pomegranate, dried herbs, mint and wild flowers all build as... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain) is another fabulous wine in this range. Inky dark fruit, lavender, wild flowers, jasmine, spice, crème de cassis and pencil shavings are all beautifully delineated. This deep,... Read More
The 2021 Napanook is one heck of a Napanook, offering complex notes of currants, cassis, graphite, leafy tobacco, lead pencil, and chocolate. Incredible on the palate, it s full-bodied and round, with supple, vibrant, incredible... Read More
The 2021 Le Bourg is sited in one of the area's most-coveted vineyards, Brézé, offering a salty, tightly wound style. There are lemon, almond and apple flavors on this light-bodied yet firmly poised white with... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard is phenomenal. Dark and pliant, with tremendous vertical intensity, the Wendling is outrageously beautiful. Succulent dark fruit, lavender, rose petal, spice, new leather, blood orange and... Read More
Along with the Clos de la Poussie, owned by Ladoucette, Le Chêne Marchand is the most famous vineyard site in the village of Bué. The soil here is les caillottes – pure limestone with little soil and very stony.... Read More
Enticingly fragrant, this smells of summer florals and Maine blueberries. Sweet cherries lace onto the palate, mixing with earthy undertones. The structure is an elegant lattice of succulent acids and sculpted tannins. Nacha González... Read More
Dark red/magenta in color, the 2016 Barolo Riserva is remarkable, offering loads of kirsch, polished leather, balsamic, dark chocolate, and crushed violets. The list goes on and on as it opens and begins to show more mineral aromas... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Oliver Ranch was matured for 22 months in 80% new French oak. It takes some patience on the nose as it unfurls its aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, cast iron, lilac, fennel and gingerbread spices.... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Del Rio Vineyard was matured for 22 months in 100% new French oak. It has pure, layered scents of cassis, blueberries, milk chocolate, lilac, aniseed and conifer. The medium-bodied palate boasts a deep... Read More
Mon Chevalier comes from an estate-owned vineyard in the Knights Valley, mainly planted to clone 4. The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Mon Chevalier is composed of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon and 6% Cabernet Franc. It has a very deep purple-black... Read More
A barrel selection and blend that Morlet feels represents his best, the 2020 Chardonnay Coup de Coeur is indeed a prodigious effort. Scents of toasted hazelnuts and white peaches dominate the nose, while the medium to full-bodied... Read More
From a vineyard in the Fort Ross-Seaview area—on the second ridge inland from the ocean, at about 1300-1400 feet above sea level, the 2020 Chardonnay Ma Douce was barrel fermented using indigenous yeasts in about 25% new... Read More
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Passionnement is a barrel selection blend of all three of Morlet's estate vineyards: Coeur de Vallée in Oakville, Morlet Estate in St. Helena and Mon Chevalier in Knights Valley. Made from... Read More
Offering up aromas of sweet mulberries and blackberries mingled with hints of licorice, violets and red fruit compote, the 2020 de Fieuzal is medium to full-bodied, rich and gourmand, its broad attack segueing into a supple, layered... 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
A deft application of wood frames the more elegant nose of white-fleshed fruit, citrus, acacia and crushed anise hints. The rich, generous and vibrant middleweight flavors are supported by bright citrus-tinged acidity on the sneaky... Read More
A jeweled ruby color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Hellenthal Old Shop Block has a crystalline feel, with fantastic purity in its note of fresh cherries, rocky earth, saline, and a hint of savory umami. Long on the palate, it is saturated... Read More
A medium ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Trout Gulch also comes from the Santa Cruz Mountains, where this vineyard sees more southern and coastal influence and is situated only 3.5 miles from the ocean. Compared to the Mindego Ridge,... Read More
Although this appears as the 'house' non-vintage, in character it is more akin to a vintage wine that needs some time on cork. Tasted young, the saturated fruit – apricot, spiced apples, grilled lemons – is... Read More
Expressive, crunchy dark fruit, such as black cherry and blue plum, as well as violets and peppery undertones. Medium-bodied, creamy palate with a wonderful backbone of acidity. Subtly toasty finish. Complex, yet well rounded... Read More
Another perfect wine from this team is the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon True Vineyard, a 100% Cabernet Sauvignon from a site on Howell Mountain. Revealing a deep purple hue as well as incredible purity in its cassis, violets, graphite,... Read More
A deep ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir The Estate is ripe and layered with an attractive perfume of cardamom, pure wild raspberry, and fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it expands with good length and concentration, its pure fruit is seamless... Read More
Mathias Parent, who with his sister Caroline, directs this 16 ha domaine and makes the wine for the three family labels of Anne-Françoise Gros reviewed herein, plus those of François Parent, and his own eponymous... Read More
Lime skin and pear skin. Pear blossom. Honey blossom. Sliced cooked pear and apple. Full-bodied, polished and very fine. You can feel the solids in this. Very cool.
A earthy and attractive nose of forest berries, wild currants, dried leaves, cedar and baking spices. Medium body with firm tannins. Powdery texture at the end. A little hollow now should fill in with a few years of bottle age.... Read More
Altesino counts approximately 50 hectares throughout Montalcino’s northern and southern stretches. A compilation of diverse sites, the estate Brunello is among the denomination’s best values. If the Montosoli bottling... Read More
This white is harmonious and creamy in texture, featuring floral, peach, apple tart and lemon cake flavors, all buoyed by vibrant acidity. The oak treatment is subtle, with flashes of baking spices, and this ends with fine length.... Read More
A slightly riper nose is composed of apple, pear compote, white peach, just sliced lemon and a plethora of floral elements. There is fine volume and borderline painful intensity to the beautifully textured and caressing yet seriously... Read More
This is aromatically similar to the Champ Gain and not revealing much. Otherwise, there is a finer texture, if less minerality, to the dense medium-bodied flavors that also brim with sappy dry extract on the serious, powerful... Read More
Drinking Better with Tedder 94: Classic Chablis in every way. It smells and tastes of the sea... sea spray, oyster shells, oyster water, crushed rocks, fleur de sel and iodine are matched with ripe lemon, lemon zest and a rich,... Read More
Moving to the current releases, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is clearly on another level. Cassis, violets, spring flowers, and graphite, as well as a beautiful sense of minerality, all emerge on the nose, and it hits the palate... Read More
A well-crafted, balanced and lively red with aromas of red berries, dried herbs, stones and baking spices. It's medium- to full-bodied with fine tannins. Vivid and quite intense at the entry with a kick of spices bringing... Read More
The 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc La Crau is made from Roussanne, Grenache Blanc, Clairette and Bourboulenc. It presents lively aromas of grapefruit, spring flowers, white peach and a pinch of mango. This mediumbodied wine... Read More
A broad-ranging nose is comprised by notes of crushed anise, acacia, wet stone, Granny Smith apple and a deft touch of wood. The succulent, delicious and beautifully textured medium-bodied flavors are wonderfully refined before... Read More
There is ample citrus influence suffusing the nose that could be from nowhere else but Chablis with its array of seashore, algae and oyster shell scents. The caressing but notably denser and more powerful larger-bodied flavors... Read More
This ripe effort displays an abundance of classic Chablis aromas of mineral reduction, citrus peel, oyster shell and acacia blossom as well as just the vaguest hint of the exotic. There is terrific punch and a taut muscularity... Read More
This has aromas of fresh black truffles, sour cherries, plums and smoked paprika. Full-bodied with weighty, ripe fruit and creamy tannins. Try from 2024.
The 2023 Las Brisas Vineyard Vermentino boasts a lively yellow color with subtle green highlights. Fragrant notes of citrus blossom and lemongrass mingle with flavors of feijoa, grapefruit peel, and a hint of sea salt on the palate.... Read More
Emblematic of the exceptional quality offered at Chianti Classico’s annata level, Fontodi’s 2021 over-delivers yet again, exuding the wild, tousled, arid Tuscan countryside on a backdrop of dark, layered fruit. Hints... Read More
Very much set in the candied-fruit zone with raspberry cheesecake, rhubarb crumble and strawberry coulis. Hints of wild herbs and resin. Full-bodied and rather dominated by the alcohol, but the tannins are quite fine and elegant.... Read More
2016: The 2016 Estate Pinot Noir is from a classic vintage, showing rich blackberry, star anise, strawberry, and rhubarb aromas, evolving into earthy notes of forest floor and leather. It has dense flavors of raspberry, blood... 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
Saturated violet color. Smoky, mineral-accented black and blue fruit scents are complicated by olive paste, licorice and floral nuances that build in the glass. Juicy and energetic in the mouth, offering vibrant blackberry, boysenberry,... Read More
The 2019 Pinot Noir Coteaux Nobles comes from the Nobles Ranch Vineyard in the Fort Ross-Seaview region and is another perfumed, complex wine from Morlet. Offering Côte de Nuits-like dark cherry and strawberry fruits as... Read More
A fine and linear red with dark berries, bark, mushrooms and hints of dried spice. Firm and racy tannins and a flavorful finish. Dried orange peel. Needs four or five years to soften. Best after 2026.
I like the perfumed aromas here with lots of fresh roses to the cherry and strawberry character. Medium-bodied with tight and fine tannins that spread across the palate and deliver brightness and focus. Citrusy aftertaste. Give... Read More
Lucien Crochet in Sancerre produces wines of impeccable focus, mouthwatering minerality, and outstanding concentration from their sizable holdings in Bué, in the heart of the appellation. Crochet’s complex and age-worthy... Read More
Lucien Le Moine is a small, independent négociant business founded by Mounir and Rotem Saouma in 1999. They specialize in sourcing top-tier wines from Burgundy, Beaujolais, and Chablis, which they then age in their vaulted... Read More
The 2020 Gattinara is elegant and lifted. Crushed red berry fruit, cinnamon and orange peel grace this ethereal, nuanced Gattinara. Bright saline notes and sweet red-toned fruit build into the long, persistent finish. Understated... Read More
The 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon Wedding Vineyard is a selection of the best four blocks within Fisher ' s Estate vineyard on the Sonoma side of Spring Mountain. Sumptuous and gloriously ripe, with superb concentration, the 2015... Read More
The 2021 Condrieu Invitare shows the fresher style of the vintage while still bringing plenty of classic Viognier texture and richness. Flowers, apricots, and orange-tinged aromas and flavors all emerge from the glass, and it's... Read More
Deep ruby opaque colored, the 2009 Dominus is a killer bottle of wine made from 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot. Loaded with notions of black currants, black cherries, graphite, lead pencil... Read More
The 2020 Château Beauséjour (Duffau-Lagarrosse), made mostly by the team of Nicolas Thienpont (the final blend was put together by Joséphine Duffau-Lagarrosse), is another tour de force from this incredible... Read More
A perfumed and exuberantly spicy nose offers up a blend of both red and dark cherry along with floral nuances. The wonderfully sleek, refined and punchy medium weight flavors possess a gorgeous texture thanks to the very fine-grained... Read More
Not quite as generous as Léoville Barton, replaced with classicism and subdued tannins, as we see the impact of a slightly cooler terroir. Juicy finish, black fruits, plenty of life and lift through the palate. Enjoyable,... Read More
This delivers concentration and intensity, a ton of black fruits, definitely Cabernet dominant in terms of fruit, and its slightly serious character, with a whoosh of juice on the finish. An extremely elegant and controlled wine,... Read More
The 2021 Gigondas Hominis Fides brings a touch more ripeness in its strawberry and darker berry fruits as well as spicy, earthy, graphite-like aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, supple, and downright pretty, with ultra-fine tannins,... Read More
The iron and oyster shell character in the nose comes through with aromas of strawberry. Lavender and other flowers. Full-bodied with very firm tannins and an intensity. Closed off at the end. Shows verve.
Pale straw with green highlights, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is savory and floral with aromatics of fresh herbs, grapefruit rind, beeswax, and soft floral notes as well as delicate oak spice. Medium-bodied, it has an elegant, supple... Read More
Julien’s Reserve Cabernet is crafted from multiple hillside vineyards spanning Napa Valley from north to south. Powerful and supple, this focused wine offers immense enjoyment in its youth, but also has the structure and... Read More
Fruity nose with sliced pears, lemon drops and white flowers, evolving to some mineral restraint on the palate. It’s medium-bodied, with surprisingly soft, fine bubbles. Relatively dry. Sustainable. Drink now.
Montalcino's Alessandro Mori makes of some of my favorite wines. He proudly follows a very traditional winemaking philosophy that is only a few steps removed from the olden days when wine presses were powered by donkeys. He... Read More
The 2021 Bordeaux Red Blend is the first iteration to include a significant amount of fruit from Farrow Ranch, Aperture's latest vineyard acquisition. It's a blend of 44% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10%... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from Aperture's estate vineyard in Healdsburg and their newest vineyard acquisition, Farrow Ranch in Alexander Valley, plus some of the original single vineyards in the Aperture program like... Read More
A blend of the estate’s four historic vineyards – Bellavista, Casuccia, San Lorenzo and Montebuoni – from plantings that are at least 25 years old, this bottling is, for now, Castello di Ama’s flagship... Read More
An overtly floral-suffused nose speaks of red cherry, raspberry and a hint of herbal tea. The supple, caressing and succulent medium-bodied flavors possess a lovely sense of underlying tension on the lightly stony, focused and... Read More
Seductive and expressive, with a firming layer of bitter almond, citrus pith and mineral notes buoying a ripe mix of melon, yellow plum and peach flavors. Big in stature, with remarkable density and saltiness, this hums through... Read More
This is very intense with spices and berries, as well as some tile, incense and some sandalwood. Very fresh and vivid for 2017. Wonderful length and precision. Energetic and electric. Needs time to come together. Great. Try after... Read More
