An earthy and spicy red with leaves and mushrooms. Medium to full body, firm and silky tannins and a flavorful finish. Lively acidity.

Note: from 7 different lieux-dits. A distinctly earthier and much more sauvage-suffused nose is comprised by notes of plum and various wild red berries. There is impressive density and volume to the medium-bodied flavors that... Read More

The 2020 Rosso di Montalcino is remarkably pretty and refined in the glass with the most vivid notes of bright strawberry, lavender and dusty sage imaginable. There’s a burst of sour citrus up front that balances the opulence... Read More

Soft and charming, with beautiful notes of violets, black cherries, cassis, and spice, the 2023 Vin Des Pays Le Vin Des Amis is a medium-bodied, supple effort offering juicy fruit and classic Clape character. Drink bottles over... Read More

Sourced from a large three-hectare vineyard in the plateau between Courgis and Beines, Moreau-Naudet’s 2023 Petit Chablis exhibits notes of peach, orange zest and honeysuckle. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and... Read More

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

The 2023 Dolcetto d'Alba is a super-classic wine from Altare. Punchy red cherry/plum fruit, new leather, licorice and dark spice are front and center. This juicy, flavorful Dolcetto delivers the goods, big time.

Estate Chardonnay is the best expression of the Kumeu region’s unique microclimate and it’s impact on the vineyards, creating a distinct, elegant and focused style of Chardonnay.

The Kumeu River Chardonnay is drawn... Read More

A fresh and crunchy red-fruited wine with a mineral backbone, a light body and zippy acidity. Cranberry sauce, pink peppercorns, herbs, flowers and pine on the nose. The palate is super fresh, with flavors of tart red fruit, tangerine... Read More

The 2023 Sancerre is filled with elderflower, lime and green aromas. It is a medium-bodied style that's tender and supple from three types of chalky soil in the appellation. The clay-chalk portion of the soil brings volume... Read More

The 2023 Le Paradis is pure, round and finely textured, making it easy to like and appreciate. This is a step above your average Sancerre. Despite is light body, the 2023 has plenty of density with delicate flavors of ripe lemon... Read More

From the rolling hills of Santa Barbara County comes the inaugural release of Blanc de Mer — a fresh expression born from some of the region’s most storied vineyards: McGinley, China Blue, Happy Canyon, and Jurassic... Read More

The 2017 Gattinara Riserva is a powerful, incisive wine. Dried cherry fruit, leather, spice, menthol, tobacco and licorice open with a bit of coaxing, but the 2017 remains quite stern. It is the sort of wine that needs years in... Read More

A focused, medium-bodied white that has aromas and flavors of lemon rind, almond and white pear. Nicely compact and lightly chalky.

This has black plums, mocha and cloves on the nose. It’s medium- to full-bodied and dark-fruited with chalky tannins and a hint of bitter cocoa at the end. Drink now or in 2026.

An exuberantly expressive nose combines notes of mostly red berries with plenty of earth character that is also reflected by the succulent, delicious and appealingly textured flavors that conclude in a slightly bitter pit fruit-inflected... Read More

The NV Brut Rosé (47% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, 9% still Rosé of Pinot Noir, all from Chouilly) offers lovely vinous intensity in a mid-weight, nervy style that makes it versatile at the dinner... Read More

The 2023 Bourgogne Les Rouge Champs is a little more floral on the nose than the regular Bourgogne Rouge. It has more red fruit notes and a touch more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine, lace-like tannins. Clean... Read More

There’s a real sense of structure to this, with dried melon and apples as well as phenolics to back it up. It’s medium- to full-bodied with lovely fruit and a flavorful finish. Some white peaches, too. Drink or hold.... Read More

Tasting note: Liqueur-like aromas of spicy red berries display a top note of violet. The super-sleek, delicious and vibrant middle weight flavors exude an appealing minerality on the balanced, dusty and youthfully austere finale.... Read More

Tasting note: Moderate reduction pushes everything but a wisp of spice to the background. Here too there is good concentration to the sappy and caressing medium-bodied flavors that possess solid punch on the youthfully austere... Read More

Tasting note: Notably ripe aromas include those of poached plum and discreet violet nuances that are laced with hints of the sauvage and earth. There is more volume, if less minerality, to the velvety and caressing flavors that... Read More

Tasting note: Slightly more prominent wood sets off slightly riper aromas of white orchard fruit, floral wisps and a similar hint of lemon zest. There is even better volume to the less refined medium weight flavors that also terminate... Read More

Tasting note: A very aligoté like nose of super-fresh green apple, spice and citrus elements leads to delicious and vibrant, if not especially dense, flavors that conclude in a dry, lingering and highly refreshing finish.... Read More

TASTING to the eye Deep gold in colour with amber glints. Delicate froth, lively and lingering. with the nose The first nose reveals vine blossom, linden and fresh, lightly toasted bread. After breathing, aromas of summer berries,... Read More

Mostly Grenache, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône is terrific, with a lively, ripe, weightless style as well as beautiful strawberry and framboise fruit, medium body, soft, supple tannins, and outstanding length.

Aromas of ripe orchard fruits, lemon oil, peanuts, pear and clove introduce the 2023 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc from Château la Nerthe. it is a medium to full-bodied, enrobing and layered white wine that's vibrant and... Read More

The 2022 Meursault Désirée is another lovely rendition of this cuvée, offering up aromas of peach, pear, orange oil, white flowers and buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and fleshy, it's pure... Read More

Tasting note: This is aromatically similar to the Aux Vigneux with a touch of poached plum character lurking in the background. There is fine richness and volume to the round and rather seductive medium-bodied flavors that culminate... Read More

Fabio and Claire Gazeau-Montrasi direct this 6 ha domaine perched high above the village of Fuissé. Fabio Gazeau told me that 2022 definitely easier to manage than either 2020 or 2021 though this isn't to say that there... Read More

Premier Cru Les Vaillons joins together several named plots of the Chablis region; some of our vineyards are located in the named plot Les Vaillons, and others in Les Lys. In this 1er cru, young and old vines are blended. The... Read More

Practicing organic
100% Cabernet Franc
45+ year old vines
Sand and gravel terroir
Low yields of 25 hl/ha
De-stemmed
Ambient yeast fermentation
Unfined and unfiltered
Fermented and aged in cement... Read More

Note: from a .37 ha parcel; 100% stainless. Ripe yet attractively fresh aromas are comprised by notes of citrus confit, apple, spice and iodine. There is a really lovely texture to the refined and lightly stony middleweight flavors... Read More

A very citrusy dry riesling that has plenty of youthful charm. Stacks of crisp apple fruit on the light but well-structured palate. Good length and nice garden-herb freshness at the bright finish. From organically grown grapes... Read More

Tasting note: Perfumed and very pretty aromas of red and dark cherry, violet and crushed anise lead to beautifully textured and attractively vibrant middleweight flavors that also exude a subtle minerality on the youthfully austere... Read More

Tasting note: Smoky aromas of acacia blossom, just sliced apple and a whiff of grated zest are complemented by more voluminous and richer medium weight flavors that possess a succulent mid-palate that contrasts mildly with the... Read More

The 2023 Sancerre is a pure, clean, clear Sauvignon Blanc with pear, honeysuckle and honeydew melon-like flavors. Balanced and focused, it offers a good thread of tension on the medium-length finish

The 2023 Chablis Village has a crisp, stony bouquet that feels a little neutral in style. The palate is well balanced with a keen line of acidity and citric notes of mandarin and grapefruit. This has fine weight on the finish,... Read More

Tasting note: Slightly more elegant aromas of fresh and ripe black pinot fruit, earth and a whiff of violet complement more voluminous and somewhat finer flavors that terminate in a less rustic, youthfully austere and serious... Read More

Bailly noted that this had been bottled 3 days before I tasted it and not surprisingly, there was a background hint of sulfur on the more obviously Chablis-like nose of Granny Smith apples, lemon rind and tidal pool nuances. There... Read More

This steel-fermented wine offers good acidity and refreshing qualities without an excess of buttery, toasty elements from oak barrels. It was aged on the lees for a nuanced, toasty, minerally effect and is generous in tangy apple,... 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

Distinctive, with a drizzle of wildflower honey to the peach cobbler, baked apple and ripe apricot flavors, backed by fresh, vibrant acidity that keeps all the flavors in focus. Drink now.

Bright yellow with a green tinge, the 2022 Chardonnay Russian River Valley was raised with 30% new French oak, as were the majority of these wines from Hobbs. In the glass it opens to elegant and ripe aromas of fresh salted pineapple,... Read More

Tasting note: A ripe and beautifully layered nose combines notes of plum and dark berries with those of earth and pretty floral nuances. The old vines are in evidence as there is notably better density to the succulent and plush... 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

There is just enough post bottling reduction to mask the nuances of the green apple and citrus-infused aromas. These sleek, delicious and nicely vibrant middleweight flavors exude a subtle minerality on the refreshingly clean... Read More

The 2022 Mâcon La Roche Vineuse Vieilles Vignes is 100% barrel fermented for 12 months and spends 4-5 months in tank. This is clearly a level up from the regular cuvée with more terroir expression and intensity. The... Read More

The NV Reserve Ruby Porto is a blend of typical Douro grapes and wines of different ages, aged for three to four years in neutral wood. It comes in at 97 grams per liter of residual sugar. This is a lovely Ruby Reserve, showing... Read More

The 2023 Camins del Priorat is the regional blend from eight villages and 90 different vineyards, produced with 45% Garnacha, 17% Cariñena, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 9% Syrah and 6% white grapes, Garnacha Blanca... Read More

Tasting note: There is a whiff of spice sitting atop the ripe aromas of black raspberry coulis, violet and earth. The caressing middleweight plus flavors manage to be at once succulent yet powerful before culminating in an equally... Read More

A steely minerality meets with light marzipan and apple juice aromas on the nose of this bottling. The palate gets tighter, showing apple skin and flesh flavors.

The 2022 Pinot Noir Widdoes Vineyard is a rich, heady wine. Super-ripe dark cherry, Kirsch, white flowers and hard candy are front and center. The exuberance of the year is very much evident. High-toned aromatics from the Martini... Read More

Very pretty liqueur-like aromas include those of various red berries and soft spice and earth elements. The delicious middleweight flavors possess a succulent mouthfeel while exhibiting solid depth and persistence on the lightly... Read More

(disgorged in March of this year): Strong, fresh mousse. Fresh, inviting white peach, lime and apple aromas are complicated by toasty lees and a hint of salinity. Frothy and fresh, delivering lovely lift to the apple and peach... Read More

(disgorged Jan. 2017): Pale silver-pink. Lively, fruit-driven scents of strawberry, raspberry and flowers; I might have picked this blind as Pinot from the nose. Conveys a touch of sweetness but lovely acidity frames the wine's... Read More

Jean-Guillaume Bret, who with his brother Jean-Philippe manages this 12 ha domaine, and which buys in another 8 to 10 ha of organically farmed must and/or fruit which they sell under the Bret Brothers label (see herein), enthusiastically... Read More

The bright straw-colored 2022 Chardonnay Estate is a lightly musky wine with rather weedy notes leading on opening and carrying over to the palate, with more subtle hints of melon and citrus rind in the background. It’s... 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

Here the wood influence is subtle on the cooler aromas of white flowers, various citrus elements and just enough Chablis typicity to be persuasive. There is both good volume and richness allied to a lovely sense of refinement... Read More

Red fruits, spring flowers, cherries, and hints of leather emerge from the 2022 Pinot Noir Dynamite with a Laser Beam, which saw 100% whole cluster fermentation. Medium-bodied and balanced on the palate, it shows fine tannins... Read More

Bright yellow/green-hued, the 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is bottled under screwcap and is lifted and fresh with lime, white flowers, green apples, and lemon zest. It’s fantastic on the palate, with ripe acidity, a silky,... Read More

A very aligoté nose of green apple, citrus and spice introduces racy, delicious and softly stony middle weight flavors that terminate in a dry, clean and refreshing finish that offers better depth and persistence than is... Read More

The 2022 Chablis Village Ante MCMLXXX aged for ten months on the fine lees with 15% aged in 500L oak. The chalky bouquet needs more brightness and delineation, though a pleasant pressed flower scent emerges. The palate is well-balanced... Read More

The 2021 Saint Joseph La Sybarite does well in the vintage, with an incredibly spicy, peppery profile as well as quality darker raspberry-like fruit, medium body, a nicely balanced, elegant mouthfeel, and fine tannins. It's... Read More

A dynamic wine, Benanti Etna Rosso is crafted from a select blend of grapes harvested from vineyards located on the northern, south-eastern, and south-western slopes of Mount Etna. These diverse vineyard sites benefit from the... Read More

Ripe and dense, with no hardness or astringency, the 2003 Gigondas possesses a fleshy mid-palate, a chewy texture, low acidity, and a long, plush, rich finish. This precocious effort is evolving at a fast pace, so consumption... Read More

Aromas of green apple, golden orchard fruit, fresh pastry, marzipan and warm bread introduce the latest rendition of Taittinger's NV Brut La Française, a cuvée that contains some 30% reserve wines and sees three years sur... Read More

The latest release of Taittinger's NV Brut Prestige Rosé is showing very well, revealing inviting aromas of red berries, plums, orange zest, crisp orchard fruit and freshly baked bread. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy... Read More

The 2022 Greco di Tufo Cutizzi opens with an array of sweet white flowers, chamomile and crushed apples. It balances ripe orchard fruits and green melon with saline-mineral tones and tantalizing acidity. The 2022 finishes with... 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

A selection of Carricante grapes from vineyards located on the eastern and southern slopes of Mount Etna, particularly suitable given the high altitude and abundant luminosity. This wine demonstrates a singular nerve as a product... Read More

Appassimento elements are strong here, for the ripasso is done over the skins of recioto with maceration for up to 60 days, depending on the raw material. Thereafter, the components are separated. Spontaneous yeast. Menthol, mocha,... Read More

We are excited release out forth vintage of Aligoté! Sometimes referred to as the 3rd grape of Burgundy, this often overlooked varietal has found a home in sandy soils. This wine has all the classic Aligoté flair... Read More

Aromas of red cherries, moist earth and dried flowers leading to a refreshing palate of red and dark fruit. A medium-bodied wine with smooth tannins and nice balance that has a crunchy, satisfying finish.

Pungent aromas of moderate reduction and wood toast render the nose tough to evaluate today. More interesting are the caressing yet intensely mineral-driven middle weight flavors that are blessed with an abundance of dry extract... Read More

Juicy and upfront, this has nice energy and life with good acidity and clear texture. Nicely framed with a toasty touch balanced by a hint of sweetness to the blackcurrant and blackberry fruit with some floral accents. Oak and... Read More

Wild fermentation, a little bit of barrel-aging on lees and a 10% addition of Sémillon in the blend make the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc far from your stereotypical Marlborough style. This wine plays on its clarity, texture and... Read More

The 2022 Pinot Grigio Ramat displays a platinum pinkish hue, with a bouquet of dried flowers, young peach and raw almond. This opens with a reverberation of zesty tension, mixing salty mineral tones with brisk acidity and crisp... Read More

Offers a relatively open-knit feel, with notes of singed orange peel, date and toasted sesame mixed together, backed by a dried-walnut thread on the finish.

A new wine named after a parcel just beside Laurent's estate, the 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Damon is mostly Grenache that's brought up all in tank. It has a gorgeous perfume of bright red and blue fruits as well... Read More

Bright and youthful with dark cherry and background spice. Intense and rich with good tannin structure and a juicy finish.

“Ahh, the first wine released from a new vintage is always exciting and this year’s Rose is a sheer delight. It’s like smelling a glass that someone thoughtfully pre-filled with tangerine zest and white peach... Read More

Blackberries, ripe cherries, Provençal garrigue, sandalwood, and savory flower notes all define the aromatics of the 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape La Bernardine, a pretty, balanced, elegant Châteauneuf du Pape with... Read More

A more floral if less spicy combination is comprised mostly by white orchard fruit and orange peel scents. There is again excellent punch and delineation to the delicious medium weight flavors that conclude in a mildly rustic... Read More

This is also aromatically quite floral with cool and wonderfully pure aromas of red currant, cherry and a beguiling array of spice elements. Once again there is a lovely texture to the precise and vibrant middleweight flavors... Read More

The 2021 Chardonnay One Sixteen, matured for 14 months in 34% new French oak, takes some time to shake off its youthful crème brûlée and allspice tones to reveal apricot, beeswax and honeysuckle aromas. The... Read More

The 2020 Fleurie La Joie du Palais comes from a steeper vineyard and is destemmed by hand (30% whole bunch). It has an incense scented bouquet, hints of lavender and violet petals. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip,... Read More

Aromas of green apple, golden orchard fruit, fresh pastry, marzipan and warm bread introduce the latest rendition of Taittinger's NV Brut La Française, a cuvée that contains some 30% reserve wines and sees three years sur... Read More

Aromas of green apple, golden orchard fruit, fresh pastry, marzipan and warm bread introduce the latest rendition of Taittinger's NV Brut La Française, a cuvée that contains some 30% reserve wines and sees three years sur... Read More

A smoky nose features notes of petrol, mineral reduction and super-fresh green apple scents. The rich and solidly concentrated medium-bodied flavors also flash a pungent minerality that adds a sense of lift to the youthfully austere... Read More

The 2017 vintage is significant for this estate as it is the year founder Nello Baricci passed away at the age of 96. His grandsons, Federico and Francesco Buffi are now at the helm. Baricci’s Brunello needs a few swirls... Read More

The 2021 La Folie is a young, buoyant wine with a lovely juicy nature. It's one of the better early releases from 2021 with good concentration and plenty to get hold of within its light body. That's probably because it... Read More

This has fresh and approachable red-plum, redcurrant and cassis aromas and flavors. Medium body with fine, smooth tannins. Drink now. Screw cap.

The 2022 Zinfandel Old Vine is an absolute delight. Fresh, floral and fruity, the Old Vine is a terrific wine to drink now and over the next handful of years, while the fruit remains vibrant. Dollops of Carignan, Petite Sirah,... Read More

The entire structure is tight and bedded down right now, with bristling chewy tannins and concentrated cassis fruits alongside black pepper spice and tar notes from the oak. Needs time, as was already clear during en primeur,... Read More

The 2022 Moscato d'Asti Sourgal is quite distinctive in this vintage. There's plenty of creaminess and texture, but also bright Sauvignon Blanc-like hints of sage, mint and dried herbs woven into a core of green apple... Read More

An unusual gruner veltliner, due to a hint of butterscotch character, but green pepper, parsley and dill are the dominant aromas. Bright, lemony acidity keeps the medium-bodied palate fresh. Some creaminess at the finish. From... Read More

An exuberantly fresh nose offers up aromas of various dark berries, violet and a whiff of spice. The lilting yet intense middle weight flavors possess a highly refined mouthfeel as well as evident minerality on the balanced and... Read More

The 2020 Chardonnay is a terrific wine for the year. Aromatic and light on its feet, with impeccable balance, the 2020 impresses with its harmony more than anything else. Citrus confit, hazelnut, dried flowers and chamomile are... 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