I was able to taste a few lots destined for the 2021 Cornas Renaissance, and it appears to be a forward, charming wine with plenty of ripe fruit, medium body, and supple tannins. There's plenty of classic Clape character here,... Read More

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

A rich version, featuring peach, apple, lemon curd and baking spice flavors. Almost creamy in texture, with good cut and a lingering, mouthwatering finish of citrus and spices. Drink now through 2029. 75 cases imported.... Read More

Ripe and attractively layered notes of exotic tea, anise and hoisin add breadth to the suave, round and very seductively textured middle weight flavors that tighten up noticeably on the dusty, persistent and youthfully austere... Read More

This is aromatically similar to the Vosne villages with just a bit more wood influence. The super-sleek and sophisticated middle weight flavors are even more intensely mineral-driven while displaying excellent length on the youthfully... Read More

One of the world’s greatest expressions of Grenache year-in and year-out, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Vieilles Vignes is all varietal that was brought up in larger foudre. This cuvée comes from the Charbonnieres... Read More

The 2020 Carnasciale is gorgeous. A deeply pitched bouquet leads into a core of dark cherry/plum fruit, leather, spice, menthol, tobacco and espresso. Intensely aromatic and deep on the palate, with fabulous depth, the 2020 is... Read More

There is a touch of phenolic character to the aromas of mostly petrol, citrus and pear. The rich and concentrated middle weight flavors possess a bit more volume if less minerality on the solidly complex and lingering finish that,... Read More

The 2018 Il Caberlot is a stunning wine. It's not the most immediate nor explosive Caberlot, but it is such a tremendous example of this wine. The bouquet alone is mesmerizing. Crushed herbs, rose petal, mint, blood orange,... Read More

Fragrant nose of blueberries, violets, peppercorns, sage, five spice and lemon leaves. Medium-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Compact and firm. Lots of character, with perfumed tea-leaf notes at the end. Better from 2024.... Read More

Possibly immortal, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli evolves slowly in the glass, at first dark and dusty with dried violets, cedar and clove. Patience rewards the taster as complex hints of spiced oranges emerge,... Read More

After losing 80% of production to frost in 2017, Vincenzo Abbruzzese decided to forego making a Brunello in 2018, giving the vines time to restore their energy. Valdicava was rewarded in 2019 with both quality and quantity. Rather... Read More

Lots of lead pencil, blackberry, pine needle and some resin. Full-bodied, yet tight and focused, with tight, velvety tannins. Bitter chocolate and some toasted oak. Pepper, too.

The 2010 is a remarkable wine and is a testament to all the efforts of the Cathiard family and their team. Complex and dense, the bouquet reveals a gorgeous array of blackcurrants, graphite, smoke, spices, gum trees, tobacco and... Read More

One of the more notable successes in Pessac-Léognan is this 2018 thanks to its wonderful bouquet of red cherry, spring flowers, cedar and liquorice, graphite aromas and elegant earthy notes. With building tannins, a fresh,... Read More

This is tight and closed now but shows plenty of orange peel, berry, strawberry and floral character. Medium to full body. Tannins are integrated and velvety textured. Try after 2027.

Fresh and vivid with raspberry, lime and honeysuckle on the nose. Medium-bodied with tight and polished tannins that are completely integrated. Polished and fine. Needs time to open and show itself.

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

Dark chocolate, bramble tones, not overly floral or fruity with some cedar and cinnamon notes. Lovely high acidity straight away, forward, bright and energetic with lovely crunchy blue fruit on the palate but creamy textured tannins... Read More

This too is elegant and pure if slightly more deeply pitched with its aromas of both red and dark currant laced with freshly turned earth. Once again there is excellent verve and detail to the medium weight flavors that also possess... Read More

Raspberries and flowers and hints of citrus on the nose. Medium- to full-bodied with a tight and focused palate of fruit, with tight and firm tannins. Reserved and powerful. Great bottle. Try after 2029.

The flagship from this great estate is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Pritchard Hill, which checks in as a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Petit Verdot. It has an incredible nose of pure blue fruits as well as flowers, crushed... Read More

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

The 2021 Chambolle-Musigny Village, a blend of five plots, has a well-defined bouquet, red and black fruit intermixed with blood orange. The stems are neatly assimilate here. The palate is well balanced with crunchy spicy red... Read More

Winemaker Bernardino Sani describes Vigna del Suolo simply as the best fruit of the estate. It hails from the oldest plantings on a limestone-rich soil reaching an elevation of 320 metres. While it demonstrates greater density... Read More

This is notably ripe but not roasted with its combination of cassis and liqueur-like aromas of plum, black cherry and sauvage hints. There is better freshness on the palate of the delicious, dense and mouth coating middle weight... 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

Once again firm reduction buries the fruit and its nuances. There is excellent volume and mid-palate density to the quite full-bodied flavors that possess almost as refined a texture though the underlying muscle seems more obvious... Read More

It's clear how well this wine is constructed in 2016. Vibrant cassis and violet notes are joined by a powerful shot of freshness then an austere finish with touches of white pepper, showing poise and power. A touch of Carmenère... 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

Brooding and equally reticent aromas are comprised by notes of cool floral, especially violet, dark cherry, spice and enough earth character to mention that continues onto the delicious, succulent and quite suave medium-bodied... Read More

A vibrant, balanced and fresh red with raspberries, pomegranates, cherry stones and spice box on the nose. Sleek, tight tannins. Focused, with a very fine structure and wound-up energy.

The dark style of Alfio Cavallotto is, if possible, enhanced here by the natural style of the vintage. This is a cask sample, still in oak and not bottled yet. It has an intense smoky woodland nose, with a lot of mineral earthiness... Read More

Alfio Cavallotto is one of the most traditional producers in Langhe. His winemaking is not only classic but old-fashioned: indigenous yeast, oak fermentation, almost no temperature control, and long maceration with submerged cap.... Read More

Next up is the 2020 Grattamacco, which really takes things up a notch. A deep, ruby red, it offers decadent and harmoniously layered armoas of pristine oak spice, fresh leather, mossy earth, tobacco and kirsch. Full-bodied and... Read More

Beautiful aromas of plums and violets with some flint. Full-bodied. Layered and softly chewy. Meat, berry and hints of cedar and nutmeg. Flavorful finish. Solid and very together with a softness at the back of the palate.... 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

A red with plum, spice, chocolate and cherry, as well as orange peel. Full-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a juicy, flavorful finish. Really fine with a refined finish. Super balance and beauty here. Drink or hold.... Read More

This has sophisticated aromas of fresh and dried blackberries, lavender, cloves and porcini mushrooms. It’s full-bodied with such richness to the fruit and a deep center palate. Firm, ultra fine tannins with dried-flower... Read More

Attractive blueberries, brambles and cherries with spiced orange peel and lilac blossom, as well as some smoky dark spices and cocoa. Full, concentrated and very tense, with tightly packed but very polished and fine tannins. Shows... Read More

A tasting of the various constituent lieux-dits revealed that the Bachesson parcel had a peppery side and its characteristic rose scent, and an unmistakably granitic texture. The Chalaix lieu-dit was precise, fine, with no huge... 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

Full and generous on the palate, no lack of fruit or depth here. Powerful and plentiful fine tannins and a great, rising sense of energy and freshness. Impressive, with real finesse and precision - no excess weight, but great... Read More

Powerful and sleek, this shows a glistening beam of yellow apple wrapped in stylish oak, with tremendous underlying concentration. Modern and very well-executed, with a saline streak, this hums with mineral energy and impressive... Read More

A much more powerful wine based on 60% Grenache and 40% Mourvedre, the 2020 Châteauneuf Du Pape Deus-Ex Machina reminds me slightly of the 2011 with its spicy, perfumed, complex bouquet of red and black fruits, dried flowers,... Read More

A cool and equally restrained nose also derives mostly from the red side of the fruit spectrum, especially cherry and raspberry along with pretty floral hints. There is excellent volume and punch to the medium-bodied flavors that... Read More

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is a quintessential wine from this property. Firm and classically built, the 2019 exudes mountain energy. Dark cherry, plum, grilled herbs, bay leaf, incense, licorice and tobacco all race across the... 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

The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is laced with dark cherry, plum, mocha, dark spice and chocolate. In 2021, the Reserve is a bit softer and less opulent than it can be, and that adds to its overall immediacy. Once again, it... Read More

The terrific 2021 Proprietary Red Sugarloaf Mountain is a 60-40 blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot from this vineyard in southern Napa. Vaguely floral and leafy, loaded with purple raspberries and cherries, this is really complex,... 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

The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain) is another stellar wine from Robert Craig. Bright and incisive, with tons of energy, the Howell Mountain Cabernet delivers the goods, big time. A rush of inky red/purplish fruit, rose... Read More

An elegant, ethereal and transparent pinot with fresh raspberries, cranberries, red tea, licorice, cardamom and persimmons on the nose. All about the vibrant red fruit, with so much energy and life. Fine, seamless tannins. Unfined... Read More

Ripe and fresh aromas combine notes of red and dark raspberry, violet, the sauvage and a hint of newly turned earth. There is excellent richness and mid-palate density to the caressing yet powerful flavors that exude a subtle... Read More

Aromas of black olives, berries, herbs, red beans, sour cherries, and sage follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and plenty of structure. It’s flavorful and intense. Needs time to come together. Best after 2027.... Read More

Violets and lavender with dark fruit and hints of dark chocolate. Sophisticated nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannin structure that gives this finesse and beauty. It’s very long and goes on for minutes. Precision. 68% sangiovese... Read More

I remember how delicious this was at en primeur, and it remains a stately, elongated, perfectly poised Pauillac. It's austere, certainly, but is also full of rich fruit pared down by a slate texture, the sense of minerality... Read More

Massively extracted ripe fruit – lots of depth but little finesse evident so far but it will age well.

Relatively closed right now, as are all the St-Juliens, this takes time to open in the glass but does so to reveal lots of northern Médoc character in the liquorice and brambly fruit puree, with touches of caramel and sweet... Read More

Background hints of wood are present on the brooding and much more sauvage-inflected aromas of plum and dark currant. The supple and delicious medium weight flavors possess better volume as well as mid-palate density, all wrapped... Read More

This is aromatically similar to the Chalumeaux but with more floral elements. The sublime mouthfeel of the middleweight flavors is even finer if not quite as mineral-driven while delivering outstanding depth and persistence on... Read More

A deft application of wood sets off the even more floral-suffused aromas of pear, apple, anise, exotic tea and a hint of orange peel. There is both excellent richness and vibrancy to the highly seductive and sophisticated medium... Read More

A balanced, measured, incredibly tight delivery of the triumvirate of tannins, fruit and acidity. The architecture hits the level of the 2010, fairly unusual in a year where the tannins have such a deft brush stroke in the main.... Read More

This is muscular yet so well defined and toned. Full-bodied with deep and dense fruit on the palate, yet powerful and rich at the same time. So much sandalwood and blackberry character. Chewy and rich at the finish. This is a... Read More

One of the darkest in colour, with an inky ruby that stains the glass. Even on the nose you feel the texture of this wine. Clear damson and chocolate shavings, cocoa beans and liquorice. This is young and extremely good-quality... Read More

This is stunning. Troplong never has trouble conjuring up wonderfully rich fruit, but here it is plump and dense without being pumped up. The tannins are chewy rather than chalky, but the elegance of the vintage is unmistakable,... Read More

Voluptuous honeyed nose, with peach compote aromas and spicy oak. Has a fine attack, leaner and more precise than the nose suggests. It's minty and almost peppery, with dried apricot flavours, a wine of tremendous drive and... Read More

The purity of Botrytis in this wine is so impressive with dried fruits such apple and mango. And then spicy character. Full body and very sweet but it is incredibly fresh and lively. Such class and elegance. Perfectly manicured... Read More

This is aromatically similar to the Petit Chablis with just a bit more Chablis typicity. There is also better underlying tension and detail that suffuses the medium-bodied flavors that possess slightly more refinement, all wrapped... Read More

There is enough wood to merit pointing out on the smoky aromas of spice, petrol and acacia blossom. Once again there is a lovely texture to the vibrant, rich and nicely detailed medium-bodied flavors that also conclude in a lemony... Read More

Here too subtle wood influence can be found on the exceptionally floral-suffused nose of essence of pear, spice and a variety of citrus elements. There is both good size and richness to the solidly concentrated middleweight flavors... Read More

Here the almost unbelievably complex nose is more restrained than that of the Bâtard with its pure aromas of lilac, rose petal, lavender, spiced pear, exotic tea and lemon confit. There is excellent richness and outstanding... Read More

Ripe but nicely cool and restrained aromas of red currant, plum and earth are trimmed in wood and menthol nuances. There is both good vibrancy and focused power to the attractively textured medium-bodied flavors where the moderate... Read More

An absolutely brilliant wine, the 2021 Ontogeny is an appellation blend put together by Bevan, and it's a year-in, year-out incredible value. Competing with wines 2-3 times its price (if not more), it reveals a deep purple... 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

A deft application of wood frames the beautifully elegant nose of essence of pear, green apple, acacia blossom, lemon rind and a plethora of classic Chablis scents. The dense and unusually powerful large-scaled flavors don't... Read More

No-one else matches the Dal Forno wines for their sheer power and intensity, and even Romano himself seems reluctant to estimate how long his Amarone might last. His 2017 Amarone is a typical time capsule, showing no age whatsoever... 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.

The 2021 vintage of Gap’s Crown Vineyard Pinot Noir comprises four carefully selected clones and underwent fermentation in a combination of stainless steel, concrete, and wood vessels. This wine possesses a magical quality—its... Read More

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

Absolutely brilliant and my favorite of the lineup, the 2010 Chapelle St. Theodoric Châteauneuf-du-Pape le Grand Pin comes from a single plot of old Grenache vines located next to the Rayas lieu-dit. From sandy soils and... Read More

At 420 metres in Montalcino’s northeast, the Fuligni estate expands over 100 hectares, 14 of which are vineyards. Location provided some reprieve from the heat in 2017 and harvesting for Brunello began in mid-September.... Read More

The tightness and tension of this is impressive considering the youngest wine from this is 2015 (hot and dry year), with some wines going back to 2000. Ginger and orange zest. Some creme brulee. It's medium-bodied with apple,... Read More

Very intense blackberry and blueberry character with sliced-mushroom and tree-bark undertones. Porcini mushrooms really set the tone here. It’s full-bodied with powerful tannins that come through the fantastic fruit. Lots... Read More

The 2020 Caves Des Lions comes from vines around the winemaker's house and is a mix of Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc brought up in new oak. Its inky hue is followed by a great nose of chocolatey dark fruits, espresso,... Read More