The 2018 Brut Vintage is absolutely delicious, just as it was last year. Floral and citrus notes give the 2018 lovely aromatic lift to play off its mid-weight personality. This is a classy, polished Vintage Champagne marked by... Read More
The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 4% Petit Verdot, 2% Malbec and 1% Merlot and was matured for 18 months in 55% new French oak. It unfurls dramatically on the nose, red and black cherry preserves giving way to lilac,... Read More
The 2021 Barolo Riserva Cerretta Vigna Bricco is a heady, explosive wine. Dark cherry, incense, graphite, leather and scorched earth give the Cerretta its decidedly somber personality. Huge tannins wrap it all together. Readers... Read More
The 2021 Barolo Arborina is one of the most elegant wines readers will find from this site, a vineyard where the tannins tend to be a bit piercing in their linearity. Instead, the 2021 is a wine of total harmony. Orange peel,... Read More
The 2020 Valpolicella Superiore Ripasso Monti Garbi is wickedly spice and intense, opening with a whiff of crushed ashen stone and smokey black cherries. Its textures are silky and pure, with a savory mix of sour wild berries... Read More
The 2021 Barolo Cannubi is a pretty potent wine. Then again, Altare's Cannubi emerges from a purely south-facing section of the vineyard. Dark cherry/plum fruit, cloves, licorice, new leather and incense are dialed up. This... Read More
Crocker and Starr's 2021 A.V.A. Napa Valley Blend of Cabernet Franc is an assemblage of 54% Cabernet Franc, 35% Cabernet Sauvignon and 11% Malbec, all from St. Helena. Marked by scents of mocha, deep loamy notes, black cherries... Read More
The 2023 Pinot Noir Fox Creek Vineyard is a bold, potent wine. Macerated cherry, spice, orange peel, sage, cedar, new leather and earthy notes fill out the layers. This sturdy yet mid-weight Pinot has a ton of character, even... Read More
Here's a charming wine from Le Ragnaie. The 2021 Rosso di Montalcino is released one year later than its peers after spending two years in Slavonian botte and extra time in cement. That extra year translates into seamless... 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 2022 Quartet Red Wine blends 71% Cabernet Sauvignon from Coombsville with 16% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Syrah, all from Carneros. With only 19% new French oak, it's barely noticeable on the complex nose, which offers... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir Rosella's Vineyard is bright and effusive, with a gorgeous presence and tons of sheer class. Inky blue/purplish fruit, lavender, spice and mocha infuse the 2021 with notable depth. This fleshy, expressive... Read More
Ripe melon, brioche, acacia flowers, and chalky mineral notes all emerge from the 2021 Chardonnay Mount Carmel Vineyard, a quintessential Sta. Rita Hills Chardonnay that has a pure, layered, medium-bodied profile, high yet balanced... Read More
The 2019 Proprietary Red Mekerra is another gorgeous wine from Philippe and Cherie Melka. Deep, rich and explosive, the 2019 possesses tremendous depth and tons of character that comes to the fore with time in the glass. Cherry,... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Métisse Jumping Goat Vineyard emerges from a site on the other side of St. Helena, closer to Spottswoode and Madrona Ranch. It offers up generous red berry fruit intermingled with strong savory,... Read More
The 2019 Chester-Kidder is exotic and earthy in style, with ashen stones, graphite, black currants and hints of rosemary forming its bouquet. This is silky and sleek, with racy acidity propelling its mineral-tinged red and black... Read More
The 2020 Merlot Pedestal Vintage Select is brooding with a hauntingly dark, backward bouquet of dried blueberries, sage, cedary spice and gravel dust. It sweeps across the palate with grace, silken yet poised, with mineral-inflected... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Feather is lifted and perfumed with a cascade of red berries, dusty rose and lavender pastille. This is pure elegance, silken, polished and nearly creamy in feel, with fresh acidity and complicating... Read More
This blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (note that rarely is any Merlot utilized at the historic Napanook Estate in Yountville). The alcohol, by California standards, is a relatively modest... Read More
Saturated black-purple in colour. Another brooding, quiescent scent: still more forest and hillside, and floral notes, too, with rummaged earth behind. On the palate, it’s swiftly evident that this is a wine of singular... Read More
Complex and sophisticated with seamless layers of ripe and dried cherries, truffles, caramel, dried flowers, nutmeg, chocolate orange and cassis. It’s full-bodied, layered and polished, with firm tannins that are well integrated.... Read More
This wine represents a blend of fruit from various sites, and 15,000 bottles were created. Showing a classical profile, the E. Pira e Figli - Chiara Boschis 2021 Barolo Via Nuova delivers a firm sense of inner fiber and richness... Read More
With a slightly deeper jeweled ruby hue, the 2021 Barolo Mosconi is more contemplative, offering layered notes of cedar, cherry cordial, Asian spices, sweet herbs, and pressed flowers. It reveals broader polished depth on the... Read More
The very deep purple-black colored 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 1% Malbec and 1% Merlot. It opens with vibrant fresh blackberry, cassis and redcurrant jelly scents with wafts of... Read More
TASTING NOTES: The 2019 “Padrone” Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect example of finesse and power. It displays the sublime terroir of the estate vineyards with textural richness and elegance. Copious dark fruit, crème... Read More
A fascinating wine showing flower stems, orange peel and bark with some dried mushrooms. The structure and length are exceptional with a medium to full body and tight, focused tannins. Ends with a persistent, polished and refined... Read More
Even after an extra year in barrels, Salvestrin's 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon 3D Dr. Crane Vineyard doesn't come across as overly oaky, instead offering up scents of loamy earth, mocha, black cherries and allspice. It's... Read More
The 2013 Extra Brut Les Empreintes is a wine of extraordinary beauty. Vivid and precise, the 2013 is just so expressive today. The blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir works beautifully here. Like so many of the wines in this tasting,... Read More
The 2022 Flor, Jonata's blend of 85% Sauvignon Blanc and 15% Sémillon, is rich and expansive in the glass. Citrus peel, chamomile, dried flowers and spice reveal themselves with a bit of time in the glass. Saline notes... Read More
The 2018 Ingenuity is a blend of 36% Petite Sirah, 30% Syrah, 22% Mourvèdre and 12% Grenache, aged 19 months in 52% new French oak. Opaque in color, it explodes with gregarious blackberry and black cherry jam underpinned... Read More
Brooding and balsamic, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva Vigna Paganelli is a dark stallion of a wine with a bouquet to meditate to, wafting up exotic spices, flint, incense, dried roses, black cherries and hints of ashen... Read More
Immediately on the nose you get the rich structure of the fruit, rippling with texture and life. It has just the right amount of drama, offering a tight and well-focussed delivery. This is beautiful, showing great underlying freshness... Read More
Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a captivating... Read More
This property, which has benefitted enormously from tremendous investments from the Rothschild family that owns Lafite, has turned out a dense purple-colored wine in 2005. Offering broad, expansive, supple and silky tannin as... Read More
The 2016 Latour is a vintage that I have tasted a couple of times post-bottling. On one occasion, it warranted a perfect score, but that was then moot since this vintage had not been released. Now that it is due to hit the shelves... Read More
The 2006 Léoville Las Cases is muscular and uncompromising, unwinding to reveal aromas of dark berries, cassis, burning embers, espresso roast, exotic spices, loamy soil and toasty oak. Full-bodied, rich and extracted,... Read More
The 2005 Pichon Baron is in a gorgeous spot right now. Aromatically expressive and open, the 2005 is so expressive. Cedar, sweet pipe tobacco, mint, dried flowers, mocha and sweet red cherry fruit all meld together in a creamy,... Read More
This is a blend of two native Piedmont grapes, and fruit comes from Ginestra (Vigna Sopra in Ciabot Mentin). The Domenico Clerico 2022 Langhe Arte is Barbera and Nebbiolo, and in this vintage, each grape represents 50% of the... Read More
The younger wine here is the 2020 Viña Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva... Read More
The 2022 Rosso RS lifts from the glass with a vivid blend of crushed black cherries and blackberries complicated by cedar shavings and sage. This is energetic and racy in style, with depths of tart wild berry fruits energized... Read More
The 2021 Barbaresco Rio Sordo is the most finessed of the wines in this range. Everything here speaks to nuance. Gentle floral and spice overtones meld into a core of dark-toned Nebbiolo fruit. This gracious, decrepitly understated... Read More
The Domenico Clerico 2020 Barolo Ginestra Pajana (with 5,000 bottles made) shows great balance between dark fruit and integrated spice from increasingly hands-off oak aging. The results are impeccably smooth, and the fruit remains... Read More
The 2020 Barolo Aeroplan Servaj offers a bright and elegant fruit profile with tart fruit, blackcurrant, spice, cola, licorice and candied orange peel. It feels ironed out and smooth, folding softly over the palate initially yet... Read More
Beautiful transparency here with fresh flowers, green tobacco, pine needles, crushed stones and sandalwood. Dark fruits in the center. Full-bodied with a wonderful balance of fruit and fine tannins as well as mineral, fresh bark... Read More
he 2023 Albariño Lagar de Cervera was sourced from Rosal and Salnés. It offers enticing aromas of pear, green apple, rose, orange blossom and white peach. Smooth and expansive on the palate, the 2023 boasts fine... Read More
The Le Chiuse 2020 Brunello di Montalcino (made with organic fruit) is a wine that prizes transparency and tension with cassis, Rainier cherry and raspberry coulis. I really love the bold fruit intensity that shines in this wine.... Read More
Wickedly fresh, the 2021 Syrah En Cerise Vineyard opens with a dark mix of wilted violets, ashen stones, rubbed sage and musky currants. It's juicy and round with masses of black cherry fruits underscored by saline minerals... Read More
Here the nose is similar to that of the Bourgogne. The palate impression is rich, dense and powerful, and particularly so in the context of what is typical for the appellation, before concluding in a markedly dry and youthfully... Read More
Full of details of prunes, stony salinity, earthy notes and forest floor, tannins firm and slightly sticky on the gums, but with crisp acidity. It's almost austere on the finish, but dynamic and balanced nonetheless, leaving... Read More
A tasting of the different lieux-dits showed how the different soil types reacted to the drought. Granite-based parcels (Ermite Les Bessards) suffered blockages in ripening and finished at 13% alcohol; the clay-based terroirs... Read More
Dark aromas of graphite, potpourri, smoke, bergamot and dried cherries. Firm tannins on the palate, with a full body, a dusty texture, refreshing acidity and a powerful finish. Extracted, meaty, concentrated and balanced for the... 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 2022 Bianco Slatnik is wild with an exotic bouquet of incense and dried flowers, tangerine and hints of fresh mint. This opens with a pretty inner sweetness that gives way to tropical melon and citrus tones, all guided by... Read More
The 2019 Blanc de Noirs Les Barres continues to go from strength to strength and comes dangerously close to becoming the first Pinot Meunier ever awarded 100 points by The Wine Advocate. Long underappreciated, Pinot Meunier finds... Read More
In 2021, Janasse didn't bottle a Les Garrigues, so that fruit went into the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Villages Terre d'Argile. There's no doubt it improved the quality of this wine, a blend of approximately one-third each... Read More
Once again the nose is completely reduced and about all that can be said is that the underlying fruit appears to be quite ripe. On the palate there is good freshness and vivacity as the succulent and rounded middle weight plus... Read More
A crystalline white from the alpine slopes of Savoie, made entirely from the rare Gringet grape—found only in the tiny village of Ayze. “La Bergerie” delivers bright citrus, alpine herbs, white flowers, and a... Read More
A fleshy, textured chardonnay with aromas of apricots, honeysuckle, nutmeg, toast and persimmons. It’s medium- to full-bodied with bright acidity. Balanced, layered and very drinkable. Hints of flint at the end. Drink now.... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir Goldrock Estate is deep, rich and explosive. Dark red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange, menthol, spice and rose petals are all amplified in this dramatic Sonoma Coast Pinot. The complexity and intensity here... Read More
The 2021 Nebbiolo d'Alba Valmaggiore is a serious, serious wine that needs time in the cellar to be at its best. It shows the lighter style of Nebbiolo from Roero, but with all the elements dialed up. I especially admire its... Read More
Intense oyster-shell and candied-lemon aromas pull you into this very elegant champagne, which is so precise on the sleek and focused palate with a finish of crystalline purity and brightness. Still really youthful, thanks to... Read More
Disgorged with nine grams per liter dosage in 2021, the 2012 Brut Rose is a blend of 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay sourced from 11 villages. Nine percent red wine from Les Ryceys has been added. Offering up aromas of blueberry,... Read More
An astonishing bouquet presenting notes of petroleum and flint that mingle with scents of pastry and both dried apricot and apricot jam. Complexity and generosity stand out on the palate, with that exemplary creamy and mellow... Read More
The Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2020 Barolo Ludo shows classic Nebbiolo aromas of roses and tar that are fleshed out in this case by redcurrant and cranberry. The fruit is bright and lively, not overripe, as we see in many other wines... Read More
This is a wonderfully complex white that has layers of almonds, slate, lemons, lychees, cedar, nutmeg and apricots. Full-bodied yet fresh, with long and continuous flavor intensity, flinty and spicy, showing elegance and persistence.... Read More
This is at a different level, with blackcurrants, blueberries and Mediterranean herbs, such as rosemary and sage. Also tobacco and coffee bean. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a persistent finish. Sophisticated and thought-provoking.... Read More
The 2023 Syrah Sonoma Hillsides is one of the greatest wines I have tasted from Pax Mahle. The Hillsides is a blend of the best sites in the range, fermented in cement with whole clusters and also aged in cement. The long growing... Read More
They shortened the élevage of the white 2021 Pedra de Guix to 11 months, and they also stopped using the 1,800-liter foudre, where the wine partially aged in the past, and now it's matured in concrete vats (diamond-shaped... Read More
Bright jeweled ruby in color, the 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is flush with pure aromas of candied flowers, cherry lozenge, pine needles, and blood orange. Medium-framed, it's ripe and pure on the palate, with refreshing energy,... Read More
The Poderi Luigi Einaudi 2019 Barolo Bussia opens to a fragrant bouquet with wild rose and lilac. Those pretty high-toned aromas are followed by redcurrant and earthy licorice. Bussia is a very large MGA site, and there are dozens... Read More
While the 2022 Château Lynch Bages Blanc had been bottled just prior to my visit, it wasn't showing any worse for wear and has a terrific perfume of honeyed lime, white flowers, citrus, and chalky minerality. Based on... Read More
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Lava Black is a potent, explosive wine. Rocky soils yield a potent, intensely mineral-drenched Cabernet Sauvignon. Crushed rocks, graphite, chocolate, lavender, incense and crème de cassis all... 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
The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Black Label is 100% Cabernet Sauvignon, drawn from the Fortuna (66%) and Leopoldina (34%) vineyards. A best-barrel selection, it offers up classic Oakville scents of black cherries and loamy earth,... Read More
The wines at Chateau Montelena are often described as having classic “old-world” structure with ripe California fruit, and the Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon is emblematic of this style. These wines tend to have more... Read More
A blend of opposites among Bordeaux grape varieties, this melange of merlot and petit verdot gives the plummy generosity of the former and the firm texture and dark chocolate of the latter. It’s well-structured in tannins,... Read More
Intense aromas of black cherries, lavender and spice, such as nutmeg. Some sandalwood and bark, too. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and tannins for the vintage. Rather chewy, suggesting that additional bottle age is needed.... Read More
All Cabernet Sauvignon, with the sourcing skewed toward Oakville, the 2021 Double Blessings Cabernet Sauvignon Michael delivers slightly oaky overtones backed by ripe black cherries. There's more upfront fruit here, and the... 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... Read More
The 2023 Chenin Blanc was matured for six months mainly in stainless steel and 20% used French oak. It has bright aromas of white peach, kiwi, candle wax, floral perfume and flinty streaks. The light-bodied palate is pure and... Read More
The nose of the 2022 Flor de Pingus has a peachy note (peche de vigne!). It's perfumed, elegant, more fruit-driven, tender, delicate and ripe without excess (but possibly the ripest of the 2022s, perhaps the influence of the... Read More
The estate red 2016 Reserva comes from a late growing season and was produced with local varieties like Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano and others from their 86 hectares of vineyards at 590 to 805 meters in altitude on limestone,... Read More
A blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot, all aged in new French oak, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill appears destined to be another classic. Penetrating aromas of cassis and red berries are joined by hints... Read More
Again my favorite of the single vineyards from La Pelle, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Alluvium Vineyard features deep black cherries, moving toward cassis, with some distinct sage notes. Full-bodied, rich and concentrated, there's... Read More
The 2021 Pinot Noir (Santa Lucia Highlands) is bright, nervy and beautifully focused. Crushed rose petals, mint, sage, dried herbs and anise are finely delineated in this classy, mid-weight offering from Adam Lee. The 2021 could... Read More
The 2023 Pinot Noir Garys' Vineyard is expressive of the place out of the gates, with the site’s rockier terrain coming through in the more structured profile of the wine, with notes of dark stones, lavender, and black... Read More
An exceptionally pretty and overtly floral-suffused nose freely reveals its aromas of acacia blossom, lemon-lime, crushed anise and a hint of exotic tea character. There is noticeably better volume to the medium-bodied flavors... Read More
The Domenico Clerico 2020 Barolo Ginestra Ciabot Mentin shows really great balance in terms of the oak integration. For the first time, the estate has decided to use large oak casks (removing the barrique entirely), and the results... Read More
The 2019 Fenix is painfully young. Then again, it was just bottled a few weeks before this tasting. It is unusually tight for a Merlot-based red. That's probably a very good thing for the future. In this tasting, the 2019... Read More
François de Nicolay succinctly described the 2022 growing season as hot and dry but with no disease pressure to speak of, which always makes things easier to manage. However, fruit maturities spiked at the end and it was... Read More
Glass-staining ruby. Dark berry preserves, fruitcake, toasty oak, espresso and a hint of vanilla on the expansive nose. Stains the palate with ripe black and blue fruit, mocha, candied licorice and floral pastille flavors, while... Read More
The 2023 Vouvray Sec Le Mont is precise, upright and flinty. It's less immediately charming than the styles we've seen in recent warmer vintages, but it was only tasted three weeks after bottling—this is one to revisit.... Read More
Dark and brooding, the 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna La Casaccia slowly blossoms in the glass with a dramatic mix of steeped plums, cinnamon sticks, grilled herbs and sweet lavender. This is a model of purity, lifted and refined... Read More
The 2020 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is dreamy, with a darkly floral bouquet that blends dried rose and violet with hints of sour cherry, blackberry and Tuscan dust. This is silky-smooth and round in feel, with fresh... Read More
I remember tasting Costanti’s 2019 Rosso di Montalcino in 2021 and thinking how Brunello-esque it was: the sturdy structure was almost uncharacteristic, yet it certainly boded well for the Brunello. Simply gloriously sculpted,... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Brown Label (Coombsville) is a blend from Caldwell, Bennett and [Caprignan]. A bold, dramatic wine, the Coombsville Cabernet packs a ton of punch. Blackberry, cedar, tobacco, menthol and licorice all... Read More
From the estate vineyard on Diamond Mountain, the 2021 J. Davies Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid effort, kicking off with subtle herbal shadings. Those are followed up by ripe red and black cherries and hints of licorice and dark... Read More
Quinta de Muradella’s Muradella Tinto is crafted from a single vineyard planted between 1999 and 2000 using heirloom cuttings. This distinctive blend includes Mencía, Zamarrica, Bastardo, Caíño Redondo,... Read More
The 2021 Alanda Blanco is a village wine from Monterrei, a blend of Dona Blanca, Treixadura and Verdello that reflects the diversity of soils, altitudes and expositions. The varieties fermented together, being added to the vat... Read More
The 2023 Zarate is the flagship Albariño that shows the character of the year, with more moderate ripeness, 12.5% alcohol and a balanced and elegant profile. It's clean, floral... Read More
A more floral-suffused nose reflects notes of white pepper and a vague suggestion of the exotic while offering an array of classic Chablis elements. The rich, generous and beautifully textured medium weight flavors flash evident... Read More
The Castello di Monsanto 2019 Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Vigneto Il Poggio (with the San Donato in Poggio location listed on the front label) offers a twofold approach with plenty of fresh cherry fruit and blueberry on the... Read More
The 2020 d'Armailhac is excellent, bursting with aromas of blackberries, violets, burning embers and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy palate that's broad but precise, with powdery tannins... Read More
The Drouhin estate's flagship Pinot Noir is a barrel selection comprised of fruit from their Dundee Hills estate. Perfectly perfumed with classic Willamette Valley berries, forest floor and notes of singed rose petals and... Read More
The NV Brut Blanc de Blancs is a gorgeous wine in its peer group. Brisk, dry and pulsing with the energy that makes Chardonnay from Mesnil and Oger so distinctive, the NV Blanc de Blancs is a winner. This is an absolutely delicious... Read More
The 2018 Extra Brut Blanc de Noirs Les Longues Voyes 1er Cru, 100% Pinot Noir, is the most engaging of the three parcellaire wines today. Aromatic, deep and exquisitely layered, the Longues Voyes is super-expressive today. Crushed... Read More
The 2023 Albariño, which represents their take of the vintage, was produced with grapes from 165 hectares of the 14 hectares they own. It goes back to the alcoholic degree of 2021, 12.5%, compared with the 13.5% of 2022.... Read More
Black raspberry, dried flowers and white pepper form the 2020 Estate Blend's inviting bouquet. This is soft and soothing on the palate. Crisp red and black fruits cascade throughout, underpinned by saline mineral tones that... Read More
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
Viña Ardanza is a wine that embodies the long history of Rioja. The 2017 Gran Reserva Viña Ardanza is a blend of 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha sourced from Rioja Alta and Oriental. Aged for up to 36 months in... Read More
The 2019 Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Riserva Sotto Casa is dusty and floral. A whiff of crushed rocks gives way to dried roses, cedar shavings and musky red currants. This is a powerful and complex effort, youthfully dense and... Read More
The 2022 Chablis Les Fourneaux 1er Cru Ante MCMLXXX has a well-defined bouquet of apple peelings and crushed limestone. Seaspray comes through with aeration. The palate is well-balanced, with more bite and nerve than its peers,... Read More
The 2015 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill shows off the savory side of the vintage to great effect. Hints of dried pear, sage, mint, dried flowers, lemon oil and chamomile open gradually in this mid-weight, lithe edition... 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 Châteauneuf-du-Pape Cuvée Laurence is opulent and sensual, bursting with pungent aromas of raspberry jam, ripe blackberry and black cherry, garrigue, white pepper and crushed rocks. Essentially, this is the... Read More
The 2022 Santenay Clos des Mouches ler Cru contains around 10% to 15% whole bunches this year. It has a splendid nose, the favorite amongst Moreau's reds with vivid, energetic red berry fruit mixed with wild hedgerow and touches... Read More
The 2019 Nobile di Montepulciano Costa Grande is deep and intense yet youthfully coy, lifting up with an understated blend of black cherries, stone dust and Christmas spice. It impresses with its purity and energetic character.... 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
When people ask me what my favorite white burgundy in the shop is “bang for the buck”, this wine instantaneously comes to mind! It is young vine Chassagne Montrachet from one of the young-gun talents in the village... Read More
Stunning from the first tilt of the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino is impossible to ignore. This blends an array of dried flowers with autumnal spices, cedar-tinged cherries and clove hints in a way that I find wildly... Read More
In my mind, this is the wine that best represents the Casanova di Neri house style. With 30 months of aging in tonneaux, it shows enormous richness and texture, and the stellar fruit quality appears with more primary elegance... 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
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
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London. The 2006 Château Pontet-Canet has an extremely pure, vivacious, perfumed bouquet with crushed violets infusing the blueberry and blackberry fruit. But it... 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
The 2019 Laurea is a blend of 91% Cabernet Sauvignon and 9% Cabernet Franc. The nose is wonderfully perfumed, offering scents of red roses, Ceylon tea and licorice over a core of warm cassis, blueberry compote and kirsch 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
The citrus really comes to life here as mandarin, Meyer lemon and finally lemon verbena. While green apple, which is typically quite pronounced in Montelena wines, is somewhat overshadowed by the opulence of other flavors, I would... Read More
The 2021 Puligny-Montrachet Let Folatières 1er Cru has a crisp and tensile bouquet, quite steely at first, opening with hints of orchard fruit, chamomile and crushed stone. The palate is well balanced with a peachy opening,... Read More
A deeper straw color, the 2021 Chardonnay Ritchie Vineyard is ripe with delicate incense, ripe white peach, and orange blossom. Medium to full-bodied, it’s long on the palate, with great balance. It’s slightly more... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Rochioli Vineyard is bright and focused, but also understated in feel. Sweet floral and citrus notes give the 2021 lovely aromatic presence to match the wine's understated, mid-weight personality. Bright... 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
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
Benoît Riffault is pleased with his 2022s, and with reason, as it numbers among his finest vintages to date. His harvest dates were more or less the same as in 2020, which is to say, relatively speaking, a little earlier,... 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
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
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
The 2018 Chinon Clos de la Dioterie is richly fruited, reflecting the warmth of the vintage, and soft and mouth-filling despite not being heavy. There is baked fruit here, suggesting a combination of black currant, red cherry,... 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
The 2022 Etna Rosso Moganazzi is dusty, floral and lifted, with an air of confectionery spices and chalk dust that gives way to dried black cherries. This is round and supple, with a lavender-laced blend of red and blue fruits... 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 Opus One is another riveting wine from this estate. Pure cassis, graphite, chocolate, and nicely integrated oak, as well as an undeniable sense of minerality, all emerge from the glass, and it hits the palate with medium... 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
This wine hails from a single vineyard planted in the early 1940s below the Clos des Carmes, where sandy-clay soils over a soft limestone bedrock impart distinctive character. Aged for 11–12 months in used barrels and filtered,... Read More
The 2020 Candea Tino blends Mencía, Tempranillo, Garnacha Tintorera and Mouratón from the small DO Monterrei, with 30% fermented with wholeclusters. Presenting a garnet hue in the glass, it displays pink peppercorn... 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
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
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
Composed of 77% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, with an alcohol of 14.5% and a pH of 3.57, the deep purple-black colored 2020 Fleur Cardinale bursts from the glass with powerful notes of crushed blackberries,... 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
One step up from the Whispering Angel, the Rock Angel Rosé is for serious rosé lovers. • It is a powerhouse wine that will rival any rosé producer today from Provence.
The medium red 2021 Pinot Noir Koosah Vineyard is outstanding and really in a great place, with notes of pristine ripe cherries, raspberries, preserved roses, and all the layers of the previous wines. It’s seamless on the... Read More
Revealing a medium straw hue with youthful green highlights, the 2021 Chardonnay The Estate offers gorgeous, fresh, floral aromas of lemon curd, pastry cream, cheese rind, sweet baking spices, and ripe pear. With fresh acidity,... 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 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
The 2019 Barolo Bric del Fiasc is the hallmark wine of the estate, and it shows. Taking on more concentration, it is pure and generous with kirsch, star anise, nutmeg, and menthol and moves impressively to the palate with ease... Read More
The 2021 Terra D'Eclano is remarkably expressive, with a vivid blend of wild strawberries, violets, lavender and hints of wet stone. It sweeps across the palate, wildly fresh and lifted with crisp wild berry fruits and perfumed... 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
Lots of mint with sage and fresh rosemary to the currant and orange character on the nose, as well as some ripe raspberries. The palate is very refined with creamy and crunchy tannins that run the length of the wine. It shows... Read More
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
The Minet Estate has been passed down over generations beginning with Pierre Minet in 1627 to the current head of the estate, Lucia, the first woman to lead operations. The Minet Pouilly-Fumé showcases this history in every... Read More
A charming, elegant and velvety wine that emphasizes wild berries and woodsy, savory accents on a medium frame of snappy tannins and nervy acidity. Lots of tangy red fruit, from cranberries to sour cherries, and accents of bay... Read More
Masses of dusty flowers, exotic spice, tangerine and dried blood orange waft up from the 2018 O……(Oslavje). This entices the palate with a zesty mix of vibrant acidity and wild citrus fruits as a tropical floral... Read More
Enticingly fresh and nicely fruity nose with racy dark strawberries, cherries, slate, white pepper and spiced blueberries. Juicy, ripe and vibrant with fine, mealy tannins on the medium-bodied palate. Very harmonious and expressive.... 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
One step up from the Whispering Angel, the Rock Angel Rosé is for serious rosé lovers. • It is a powerhouse wine that will rival any rosé producer today from Provence.
More moderate though still easily detectible wood is present on the nose of iodine, mineral reduction, white flowers and a hint of oyster shell. The markedly finer middleweight flavors exude evident minerality that adds a sense... Read More
Like the Lavières, there is a touch of post-bottling reduction but there is excellent freshness and underlying tension on the palate of the rich and wonderfully textured bigger-bodied and tautly muscular flavors that culminate... Read More
This Pinot Noir is from a unique plot in the Chehalem Mountains appellation in the Valley's north end. The dry-farmed, biodynamic site is one of the oldest plantings of Pinot Noir in the Willamette, having been planted by... 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 2022 Misturado was still unbottled in stainless steel and waiting to be bottled in November when I tasted it, so it was a pretty representative sample of what the bottled wine is going to be, as the wine has no added sulfur.... 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
The entrancing 2019 Munjebel Rosso FM (Feudo di Mezzo Sottana) blossoms in the glass, with a dusty mix of sweet minty herbs and bright cherry complemented by a hint of cinnamon sugar. Its textures are like pure silk slowly draped... Read More
Coming from depressingly low yields of just 26 hectoliters per hectare (the lowest since 1991), the 2020 Chateau Lagrange checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak.... 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
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
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
Incorporating 10% Petit Verdot and 2% Merlot from a mix of sites in the Columbia Valley, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Père De Famille reveals a healthy ruby/purple hue to go with beautiful cassis fruits interwoven with notions... Read More
Black cherries, asphalt, hedgerow, dark spices and dried Mediterranean herbs. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate with dusty, effusive tannins and a vertical finish. Pristine and stripped-down. Drink or hold.
Aromas of ripe dark fruit, walnuts, currant bush and bark. Medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins and bright acidity. Polished and silky with mellow fruit character and a fresh, floral touch to it. Firm finish with notes of... Read More
A deep golden robe. Delicate vivacious and long-lasting bubbles are the result of more than 36 months of ageing in chalk cellars. With 40% of reserve wines (the maximum possible amount), the blend offers a complex, voluptuous... Read More
The last vintage under Jean Gautreau, and it's a great one to remember him by. Serious, with shoulders and muscles, reflecting the excellent gravel and clay soils at this spot of the Médoc in St Seurin de Cadoune. This... Read More
A hugely characterful, complex Meunier with aromas of cooked lime, greengage and white pepper spice, lifted up with details of nut skin and blossom. Frankly dry, but beguilingly well balanced, the oaky richness finds a rare and... Read More
A ripe but notably fresher nose speaks of dark cherry, raspberry, anise, violet and a hint of exotic tea. The much finer medium-bodied flavors are also more minerality driven while offers excellent length on the balanced finale.... Read More
Harvested classically around 20 October, Roberto Conterno's Cerretta is a sleek example of a powerful wine with grace. Dried roses and dried cherries are highlighted, with fresh strawberry and watermelon, completed by sweet... Read More
There’s a ripe herb/herbal edge in the 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Tournahu Vineyard, which comes from a vineyard on the valley floor located on an old riverbed. Lots of black fruits, salted meats, and cured black olives define... Read More
Very aromatic with hibiscus, crab apple, orange blossom, and ripe strawberry on the nose. Full-bodied, very layered and powerful, yet it remains very fine textured with an intense finish. Slightly more structured than before.... Read More
An integrated and well-crafted Barolo with flowers and lemon peel to the cherry and strawberry aromas. Medium-bodied with chewy tannins and a linear drive throughout. Tight and muscular.
Intense aromas of red currants, sweet tobacco, lead pencil, and terra-cotta. Medium to full body with polished tannins that are very well-integrated into the wine. It is racy and long with lovely mocha and subtle fruit at the... Read More
The 2021 Chardonnay Mae Estate opens with hints of chalk that give way to white peach, red apple, almonds and floral perfume on the nose. The palate has a textural breadth that emphasizes its deep core of savory fruit, and a foil... Read More
More iron, ground pepper, charred meats, and tapenade notes emerge from the 2018 Syrah Block B, a rich, powerful, yet focused and elegant Syrah that does everything right. Offering plenty of chalky minerality, ripe, building tannins,... Read More
One of the very finest wines produced in this less heralded vintage is Egly's 2014 Brut Grand Cru Millésime, a strikingly vinous and enveloping Champagne that wafts from the glass with aromas of pear, mirabelle plum,... Read More
The 2018 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico is understated, with a smoldering mix of dried black cherries and steeped plums complicated by shavings of dark chocolate and hints of clove. This is seductively round and soothing,... Read More
The 2021 Game Trail Cabernet Sauvignon is crunchy, refreshing and easy to drink. It's scented of fresh blackcurrants and cherries, plus nuances of garrigue and charcuterie. The full-bodied palate is light on its feet with... Read More
The 2021 Armé Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with 10% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. It has pretty tones of blueberries and black cherries with nuances of lavender, thyme and underbrush. The palate is medium-bodied, chalky... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is mostly Martini clone from the core of the estate. A heady, ample wine, the 2019 is endowed with striking opulence. Blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice and mocha shows tremendous... Read More
A semi-opaque red, the 2021 Pinot Noir Estate offers lots of ripe mixed berry and blue fruits as well as notes of candied flowers, loads of graphite and dark stone, and well-balanced spice. Full-bodied on the palate, with ripe,... Read More
The first impression upon release in September 2023 is of surprisingly open, welcoming fragrance for young Salon; orange cream, floral honey and lemon peel, backed up with delicate browned pastry, milky oyster and nut oil complexity... Read More
The 2021 D2 is mostly Merlot but includes 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and splash of Cabernet Franc. Named after the well-known route in the Médoc, it has a terrific bouquet of currants, lead pencil shavings, spice, and a touch... Read More
The 2021 Bourgogne Hautes Côtes de Nuits Les Dames Huguette is initially quite bashful on the nose, dark berry fruit intermingling with brown spices and orange blossom, gently unfolding with aeration. The palate is well... 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.
Tenuta Favot, Aldo Conterno's winery, is one of the most splendid estates in the Langhe. The Colonnello vineyard is a 45- to 50-year-old Nebbiolo in Bussia Soprana. The wine is fermented in stainless steel then aged for 28... Read More
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
One of the triumphs of the very good 2022 vintage, this is one of my favorite Bedrock Heritage wines we have made to date. Alas, due to a rough late frost, we also have less of it than normal. Starting in 2022 we adjusted some... Read More
Certified organic, head-trained, dry-farmed field blend of vines planted at Turley's winery in the heart of Napa Valley. Fragrant and savory, with notes of garrigue, dark chocolate, salted plum, meat marinade, and Provencal... Read More
We love Josephine for her unique personality, her southern temperament and her northern, dry humor. She always knows how to cheer us up. She is bright and playful yet warm and caring at the same time.
Nervy, nicely funky, precise and mineral nose with a “protective” flintiness and an alluring peppery edge to the wild berries and pomegranate. Fine, dissolved tannins with a mealy, dusty texture, tapping into a super... Read More
In contrast, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is more round and supple, with loads of pure Napa magic in its notes of crème de cassis, toasted spice, smoked tobacco, and cedar pencil. Full-bodied, opulent, and loaded with fruit,... Read More
Coming all from the estate vineyard in Yountville, the 2019 Roberta's Reserve is all Merlot that was brought up in 70% new French oak, with a scant 225 cases produced. It's another totally thrilling vintage for this cuvée... Read More
The 2018 Taurasi Vigna Quintodecimo is a deep purple in the glass. It wafts up with a sweetly enticing blend of medicinal black cherries, cloves and dusty roses. It washes across the palate, more lifted and finessed than expected,... Read More
Aromas and flavors of amarena cherries and plums with some vanilla from the oak. Medium- to full-bodied, this Taurasi riserva is almost fleet of foot, though not lacking either tannin structure or fruit weight. A lovely example... Read More
Complex aromas of rock melon and peach together with floral and lightly honeyed notes, following through to a medium-bodied palate with very good concentration and focus. There’s a lightly phenolic element adding structure... Read More
The 2018 Montefalco Rosso Riserva Pipparello wows the senses with a burst of medicinal cherries, dusty sage and exotic spice. This is lifted and full of energy with a sweet and sour twang of citrus and sour berries excited by... Read More
Showing aromas of cherry, cranberry, wild blueberry, and red plum with hints of pink peppercorn and bergamot, the medley is bright and cheerful. The beautifully textured palate shows loads of juicy red and black cherry, blood... Read More
The Gold Dragonfly Kimoto from Izumibashi in Kanagawa prefecture is a sake crafted from estate-grown Raku-fumai rice that is milled down to 35%. Aromas of Lychee, violets, parsley, and pineapple lead into a palate... Read More
This has a very fresh and polished character with sliced pears, white nectarines, crushed stones and citrus leaf. Lots of floral undertones, too. Medium- to full-bodied. Sleek textural mouthfeel and steady acidity gives freshness... 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 2016 Brunello Di Montalcino pours a rich ruby hue yet remains transparent, with savory, layered aromas of red cherry, saddle leather, cedar, damp forest floor, and wild herbs. It is medium to full-bodied, with a ripe yet structured... 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
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
I had the opportunity to taste the 2015 Champagne Cristal twice, both at the house in Reims as well as at my home office. On both occasions, the wine offered a terrific balance of decadence and notable freshness for this vintage,... 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
Concentration and intensity to the cassis and bilberry fruits. Well expressed, carefully extracted and there is good balance with a crushed mint freshness on the finish. Really starts to show subtle floral edging with time in... Read More
Round with a soft medicinal, herbal element and toasted spice framing the lemon, lime, elderflower, pear and peach fruit with a core of salty, wet stones. Bitter, sweet and acidic - all the elements melding together harmoniously... 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 bright yellow straw-hued 2021 Chardonnay Casteel is elegant and floral, with a more refined perfume of lemongrass, delicate baking spice, green apple, and fennel. Silky and refined, a note of citrus oils coats the palate with... Read More
Les Romains is a cuvee typified by a combination of flint and limestone; its name refers to the remains of a Roman road crossing the plot. This 100% Sauvignon white wine has a nose opening to delicate notes of white flowers, walnut... Read More
La Demoiselle, a cuvee from a deep flinty clay terroir on the peak of Sancerre, in the heart of the appellation. This 100% Sauvignon white wine, with its saline flavours on a background of pink grapefruit, is a combination of... Read More
Deep cherry damson red in colour, clear depth. Touches of kicking spice right from the start, I like the surprise of the battle between richness and bitterness. It feels like a heavy blanket of fruit which is burrowing down but... 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
The 2020 Château Trotte Vieille has closed down since I tasted it as a barrel sample in 2021 and needs lots of air, but this is an incredibly gorgeous wine. Its dense purple hue is followed by powerful, inward bouquet of... Read More
This graceful Champagne offers hints of smoke and toasted brioche that transition to patisserie apple and blackberry fruit, candied ginger and mandarin orange peel notes. Seamlessly knit and mouthwatering, with a minerally underpinning... Read More
The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Project 18 offers classic Napa Valley cassis and darker, almost blue fruits to go with full-bodied aromas and flavors of graphite, tobacco, leaf, and crushed stone. It’s deep, rich, and concentrated,... Read More
Pinot Noir takes a slight edge over Chardonnay in the NV Champagne Cuvée Laetitia Brut (60% of the blend), and it has a softer approach aromatically, with a bit more refined sophistication. Here things come into focus with... Read More
This has so much tannic power, with density, layers and structure along with layers of blackberry, liquorice, baked earth, cigar box and the signature exotic spices of Mouton. A big, textured and complex wine that is taking it... Read More
The 2019 Red Blend Grus is a blend of 75% Syrah, 13% Petite Sirah, 7% Garnacha, 2% Malbec, 2% Cariñena and 1% Petit Verdot from Alcohuaz, Elqui, aged in concrete and foudres. Intense purplish-red in hue. The nose offers... Read More
Inky purple in colour, with peony and iris aromatics, then a whoosh of freshness that makes your mouth water before you are even halfway through. This is extremely impressive, well balanced, with fine tannins and real discretion... Read More
Tasted from barrel, the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Cerretta is shaping up to be a beauty. What stands out most at this very young stage is the quality and the elegant tightness of the tannins. Cerretta fruit from Serralunga... Read More
Located northwest above Weissenkirchen. The vineyard is planted with the oldest of all my vines (over 60 years). They produce small grapes with small berries and a naturally low yield. Instead of the peppery spiciness typical... Read More
The deeper plum-hued 2019 Hexe is a more diverse blend composed of 49% Grenache, 18% Petite Sirah, 16% Mataro, 9% Graciano, and 8% Syrah. The élevage here is 32 months in 55% new French oak 300-liter barrels. Pure gold... Read More
Everyone has an Untold Story buried inside and waiting to be lived.
The concept was born from our personal journey and that many “Untold Stories” are often shared around the dinner table over a meal and a bottle of... Read More
A discreet if easily perceptible dollop of wood frames the fresh and bright aromas of essence of red currant, mineral reduction and anise. There is again a beguiling texture to the medium weight flavors that also brim with minerality... 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
A more elegant and ultra-cool nose reveals its combination of floral, citrus zest, iodine and that briny sea water character the best examples of Chablis all seem to possess, all of which is trimmed in moderate but not invasive... Read More
Lots of up-front black cherry, currants, leafy herbs, and violet/flower notes, as well as a hints of marine-like salinity and iron, emerge from the 2019 Merlot Hudson Vineyards, another medium to full-bodied, pure, beautifully... Read More
Rich, powerful and intense, this is still inky in colour at 10 years, barely out of the starting gate. It's a wonderful wine, full of pleasure, still fresh and young, with cinnamon and saffron spice, eucalyptus, menthol-edging,... Read More
I loved this en primeur, and it absolutely lives up to billing now that it is in bottle. It has put on a little weight through the mid palate, closed down further as you would expect at this point, but retains all the depth and... Read More
A village wine, made from eight areas within Corullón, from local producers and their own vineyards there. The soil is a construct of chalk, clay, and pre-Cambrian slate. Lightly smoky aromas overlay the brambles and garrigue.... Read More
All fermentations occur in Burgundian barrels. The majority are old, but in exceptional vintages 10 to 25% of new oak barrels enter the rotation. Alcoholic fermentation takes as long as it needs (sometimes up to six months) and... Read More
The 2009 Pagodes De Cos is a blockbuster that I wish I had more of in the cellar. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest mostly Merlot (there’s a small amount of Petit Verdot) brought up in roughly 50% new French... Read More
Deep, rich black fruits on the nose followed by a powerful punch of spice alongside a ferocious tannic structure that will benefit from the extra polishing of bottle ageing. Combines tannic heft with cassis, bitter chocolate shavings,... Read More
The finest vintage of Cheval des Andes to date. Sensual notes of ripe red berry fruits interplay with wild herbs, graphite and a hint of violet. A fine texture with great length expressing the concentration of fruit from Las Compuertas... Read More
A little closed on the nose, and also on the attack. There is a wall of tannin here but backed up by voluptuously ripe fruits that major on damson and fig, overlaid with cinnamon and saffron spices. Lilting acidity through the... Read More
Extremely good quality, a wonderfully accomplished, impressive Margaux where you feel so happy to be tasting it. It delivers accomplished impressive classified Bordeaux character. Black fruits, liquorice, smoke and pulsating tannins.... Read More
Well-balanced, fleshed out by redcurrant, raspberry and black cherry fruits. There is tannic build-up, gently layering but adding up to quite the wall at this stage, suggesting a long life ahead, and beautifully judged cigar smoke... Read More
A gorgeous wine; mouthwatering, clear black fruits but with feathery touches of dried sage and chargrilled oak. The embers are still burning and the whole thing is just gearing up to its drinking window. Still fairly closed, this... Read More
The 2016 Percarlo captures all of the beauty it has always shown in the cellar. Pliant, silky and exceptionally polished, the 2016 simply has it all. Freshly cut flowers, rose petal, mint, spice and blood orange add striking aromatic... Read More
This is a deep and rich wine with balance and intensity. Dark fruit with iron and rust undertones. Full-bodied, chewy and tannic with a flavorful finish. Opulent yet subtle. Drink now or hold.
Brimming with pear, white peach and citrus fruit this enchanting Blanc de Blancs is so bright and succulent and is very hard to resist. I love the very long, silky and clean finish which has beautiful balance. Really fine mousse.... Read More
Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2015 Lafite-Rothschild is endowed with serious volume and textural resonance. Super-ripe plum, smoke and spice notes emerge in the glass, but only with great reluctance. Although the aromatics... Read More
Well-polished blackcurrant, cassis and bilberry, everything pretty silky and firm. Not fully showing its generosity at this point but no question that it is going to get there soon. Clear charcoal, graphite and woodsmoke as it... Read More
The NV Champagne Brut Rose is an attractive pale salmon hue, with a fresh perfume of wild strawberry, ripe peach, white and red flowers, a hint of tropical fruit, and grapefruit. The palate is rounded, with fruit up front and... 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.