$10 - $25 Wine

Expert Notes

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2019 Brut Nature Reserva is composed of 50% Xarel·lo, 25% Macabeo and 25% Parellada. Aged for four months on the lees, this bright yellow Cava offers enticing aromas of lime and lemon, complemented by toasted bread and brioche notes. Dry and ethereal, it features a fine, mousse-like texture on the palate, with a refreshing core and a lasting bakery finish. This wine beautifully balances the flavors of the wine with the influence of the lees.

James Suckling writes:  I like the savory notes here with gentle earthy and saline hints to the stone fruit. It’s medium-bodied, creamy and soft. Relatively dry. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Producer Description 

Avinyó Cava is a premier, hand-made, artisanal sparkling wine house which stands in stark contrast to the status quo of the industrial Cava machine. Located in the Catalan countryside in the remote village of Avinyonet del Penedès, the Esteve family traces their history to 1597 in the same farmhouse, Can Fontanals.

Their spirit of innovation and respect for traditions, driven by an undercurrent of constant self-improvement and a relentless drive for quality, are the defining characteristics that set Avinyó Cava apart.

Avinyó Brut Nature is a refined expression of terruño-driven Cava from a vineyard selection of organically-grown, old-vine 70% xarel-lo,  25% macabeo, and 5% parellada from their Can Fontanals masía at 250m to 275m.

Vinification – After a night-time grape harvest to avoid oxidation and for optimal temperature, the grapes are pressed very gently in a pneumatic press. The base wine is fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel between 14°C and 16°C. After cold stabilization, the wine begins its secondary fermentation in bottle with the addition of yeasts and sugar in late January. It is then aged a minimum of 24 months on the lees before being disgorged on demand. No dosage.

Winemaker Description 

100% Jacquère. The Abymes appellation sits lower and the slope than the Apremont and is on generally flatter land. Stainless steel fermentation and aging.

A firm, mineral spine and racy acidity support this wines core of lemon, verbena, peach and pear notes. This is the perfect match for fondue, raclette or a good old fashioned charcuterie plate.

Winemaker Description 

Meaning ‘offspring’ in Maori, MOMO sprung from Seresin Estate in Marlborough.  Now grown up with its own identity and personality, MOMO is youthful, urbane and well travelled, with an easy charm.  Seriously stylish, MOMO loves good food and great conversation.  Above all, MOMO is about enjoyment – the simple pleasure of good wine.MOMO selects organically grown grapes from a small number of growers and uses minimal winemaking intervention to present wines with honest varietal character and quality. All wines are Vegan friendly as well.

A refined, yet wholly classic style of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Gently aromatic with tropical fruits including passion fruit and dried herbs complementing citrus notes. The palate is focused, vibrant and balanced, finishing with a persistent, mouthwatering acidity. 100% organically grown Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

4/5 Stars Points 

From Seresin, the 2023 vintage (4 stars) of this organically certified wine is highly attractive. Light lemon/green, it is mouthfilling, with fresh, well-ripened flavours of peaches and pineapples, crisp and generous. Drinking well in its youth, it is a vigorous, finely poised, dry wine (0.8 grams/ litre of residual sugar), offering good drinking.

– Michael Cooper, Michael Cooper’s Buyer’s Guide NZ

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93 Points | This has a toasty character with hints of cardamom, cloves and crushed walnuts with ripe red fruit, plum skins and red flowers in the background. It’s full-bodied with firm, chalky tannins and steady acidity to give it freshness. A little bit of toasted oak at the end. Lengthy and spiced with a crunchy finish. Better after 2025.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points |  The medium red 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale is inviting with aromas of poppy red cherry, dusty earth, roses, and orange peel. Medium-bodied and juicy all the way through, this is an easygoing quaffer with a kiss of sweet tannins that are fine-grained all the way through the finish. It keeps good freshness for this hot vintage and has some warmth on the finish. It’s a versatile wine for pizza night or drinking on its own over the next few years. 

Winemaker Description 

Intense ruby red. Aroma: This complex wine is characterized by cherry and violet notes with delicate hints of tobacco, white pepper, and a touch of flint. Tasting profile: Riserva Ducale Chianti Classico Riserva is well balanced on the palate, with velvety tannins, firm acidity, and a lingering finish of rosemary. Its structure will allow it to age for two to five years, if not longer.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

93 Points James Suckling | A well-crafted, aromatic and textural red.  It shows notes of dark berries, game, wild herbs, grilled meat and baking spices with some cloves.  Medium-bodied with fin tannings.  Layered and highly textural.  Spicy and well composed.

89 Points Wine Advocate | In a lighter year, the 2021 Cotes du Rhone Cuvee Maclura is a juicy, fresh, fun blend of 60% Grenache, 20% Syrah and 10% each Cinsault and Mourvèdre. Notes of struck match and black olive lend a savory cast to the black cherry fruit, so it's not a simple, one-note wonder but a medium to full-bodied wine of reasonable complexity.

Producer Description 

Born under an Osage orange tree, the Cuvée Maclura Côtes du Rhône calls for the greediness of the fruit revealing a blend of spices with delicate tannins. Designed with respect for the traditions of the south, this cuvée is like our grandmothers’ cuisine : generous and full of life.

Winemaker Description 

Domaine Jean-Paul Balland Sancerre 2023 presents a brilliant pale straw color with green highlights. On the nose, it exudes vibrant aromas of citrus fruits, green apple, and white flowers, interwoven with subtle mineral notes. The palate is lively and refreshing, featuring flavors of lemon zest, grapefruit, and ripe pear, complemented by a crisp acidity and a lingering, mineral-driven finish.

Expert Review

Decanter 89 Points | Pretty nose of pear drop, lemon and white blossom; apple and citrus on the palate. (Bronze) - DWWA 2024

Producer Description 

Straw yellow in color with a green shimmer. The nose has clean and fruity notes of apple, apricot, and pear. Fresh and fruity, Schulthauser Pinot Bianco seduces the palate with its creamy softness, liveliness, and marked acidity. 

Expert Reviews - 2022 Vintage

James Suckling 91 Points | A pretty flavorful pinot bianco here that shows a mineral twist to the dried herbs and white fruit. A tad phenolic on the palate with good intensity and fresh acidity.

Producer Description

This beautiful Rosé from Coste di Brenta is made from 100% Montepulciano grape in the Abruzzo region.

Producer Description 

Lindeman's Bin 85 Pinot Grigio features a lovely amalgam of floral and tropical nuances with nashi pear and apple characters, finishing with grapefruit acidity that creates a clean and lengthy finish."

Producer Description 

A restrained Barolo with garnet color, offering notes of dried cherries, dried orange peel and hints of cocoa and bark. Medium-bodied, compact and dense with velvety tannins. Shows rich fruit at the end. Delicate and supple. Already drinkable, but better after 2027.

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | A restrained Barolo with garnet color, offering notes of dried cherries, dried orange peel and hints of cocoa and bark. Medium-bodied, compact and dense with velvety tannins. Shows rich fruit at the end. Delicate and supple. Already drinkable, but better after 2027. (v.2020).

Our Professional Review 

Rand Sieger of 67Wine.com |  A beautiful, mineral driven Gruner with aromas of spiced pear and apple peelings, light white floral notes, and a dusting of citrus zest. The palate is full and complex with bright acidity and a long spiced finish.

Winemaker Notes

Beautiful minerality shining through it, alongside touches of honeymelon and stone fruit. 

Very experienced natural wine drinkers may experience a small note of sulphur on the finish, but it does not distract from the uniqueness of this special wine.

Growing up in Agrigento on Sicily’s southern coast, Filippo Mangione had winemaking in his blood. For generations his family tended vines and made wine in their palmento until his grandfather passed away in the sixties. The vineyards and building were sold off; leaving his family without an estate.

After university, he dove headfirst into the world of wine: working as a waiter, sommelier, journalist, and sales/export in both the US and the UK. The more he worked selling other peoples’ wines, the more he felt the pull to revive his family’s legacy and re-establish an estate of his own. In 2011, after months of visiting and walking the slopes of Etna, Filippo happened to meet the old owner of a nearly abandoned vineyard in Calderara Sottana planted in the early 1900s behind a grove of chesnut trees. Too old to work the vineyards any longer, he was thrilled that Filippo wanted to continue his work, telling him “Take it. Don’t let this vineyard die.” Filippo spent his life savings to buy that vineyard and Ayunta was born.

The vineyards of Ayunta, now several parcels spread throughout the top terroirs (namely the contrada of Calderara Sottana) around Randazzo on northern Etna, total 2.8 ha. The vineyards are populated mainly by very old vines. Every vine is different which is why Filippo does all his farming either by hand or small machine. He doesn’t use any chemicals in his vineyards, preferring to allow the natural vitality of
the soil shine through in the wines.

Winemaker Description

The bouquet opens with ripe citrus fruits and notes of exotic fruits and peaches, enhanced by a toasted buttery, creamy accent.

On the palate, it offers an exotic richness that confirms the nose's complexity. The texture is supple and generous, concluding with an elegant saline finish.

Winemaker Description

Our 2021 Intercept Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of ripe blackberries, red currants, and dried herbs. The wine is full-bodied with flavors of baking spice and plush ripe fruit with a long, fine grained tannin finish. Pair with anything off the BBQ, steaks, braised short ribs, and lamp chops.  

Winemaker Note

Dry & Alsaction in style our 2019 Gewürztraminer features notes of lavender, lilac, lychee fruit and a cayenne pepper finish. Perfect for pairing with pork, spicy foods or tuna!

Producer Description 

A modern style emphasizing the softer Pinot Noir-like characteristics of Pinotage. The wine is ruby-garnet red with a hint of purple. This Pinotage shows pleasing aromas of mocha and roasted coffee beans, followed by juicy flavors of red berries, nutmeg and vanilla spice on the palate.

The sweet fruit flavors of this medium-bodied Pinotage make it an ideal match for spicy food, pizza, smoked pork and flavorful venison dishes.

Blend: 91% Pinotage, 7% Grenache, 2% Cinsault

Winemaker Description

Crisp, vibrant and delicate in flavor, this Sauvignon Blanc brims with the cool freshness of citrus and herbs that pair particularly well with light seafood and vegetable dishes.

Expert Rating

89 Points Wine Spectator | Fresh and lively, with steely acidity that highlights pretty flavors of kiwifruit, lemon and nectarine, ending with a snappy finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Alois Lageder Terra Alpina Pinot Bianco is brilliant straw yellow in color; fruity aromas of apples and peaches; medium- bodied with vibrant acidity and a fresh mouth-watering finish.

Great as an aperitif or with starters, salads, and all kind of seafood and pasta dishes.

Winemaker Description 

Straw yellow color. The nose is intense and delicate with notes of orange blossom, apricot, and peach. On the palate, it is soft, fresh, with a tasty finish and a fruity aftertaste.

Winemaker Description

Featuring well-balanced fruit, lush with flavors of caramel, ripe red fruits and chocolate.

Diamond Collection wines are made from grapes grown across California and are carefully combined to create wines perfect for all occasions – including those special just because ones.

Diamond Collection Merlot derives its complexity and lush concentration by blending fruit from diverse appellations in California. 

Critic Notes

Michael Alberty writes:  Every year I marvel at how such a marvelous Riesling can be $20. The Poet's Leap opens with an aromatic ode to lychee fruit, honeysuckle, almond butter and a wisp of petrol. Lemony acidity curls itself around flavors like green honeydew melon, rose water and the sweetness of a slice of peach pie. The 2023 is as good as any in recent memory. Mercy.  - Wine Enthusiast 93

Winery Notes

The 2022 Poet’s Leap Riesling is a fresh and vibrant wine with fragrant jasmine and citrus peel aromatics combined with flavors of white peach, kumquat and ripe stone fruits. The wine’s racy natural acidity, and a pleasant streak of minerality, provide a balanced mouthfeel and long, clean finish. Winemaker Description. 

Critic Notes

Zekun Shuai writes:  A bright and juicy Rioja Crianza with some refined oak that adds a discreet creaminess to the vibrant red fruit. Plums, cherries and a hint of tobacco. Medium-bodied, with a juicy palate and a long, creamy finish, featuring bright red berries, cherries and vanilla at the end. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2019 Crianza Altos Ibéricos is a Tempranillo from Rioja Alta and Alavesa, aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. With a garnet hue, it features blackberry and herb aromas, with subtle cherry notes. Dry and plush on the palate, it leaves a balanced and lingering impression with an expressive final whiff.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Vinous 90

Winemaker Notes

The wine has a dark cherry red color that is very opaque. It has intense and fragrant aromas, with exquisite fruit notes of raspberry jam and spicy hints of green peppercorn. There is also a pleasant note that reminds of toasted bread. On the palate, the wine is warm and has velvety, juicy tannins that are well balanced by the oak aging. 

Winemaker Description

Intense purple robe. Rich and fruity nose of ripe Merlot; chocolate and toasty oak flavors. Fresh red fruits with fresh strawberry notes, light spices, harmonious tannins, with exceptional freshness. It has all the characteristics of ageing potential and concentration. 

Expert Review

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | This estate claims a lineage dating back to the fourth century. The latest manifestation is rich, full and powerful. Dark in color and in bold tannins, it's rich with black-plum fruits and perfumed acidity. Drink this fine wine from 2026.

Winemaker Description

One of California's original pinks!  Wild strawberry, peach, guava and rhubarb and a very discreet scent of white pepper with Cinsault furnishing the elegant candied cherry top note that chromatically sits atop its vitaceous conjugate. Mourvèdre, at its near homeopathic level, contributes a useful background earthy note.

Winemaker Description

Honeysuckle and stone fruit aromas and flavors flow into a perfectly round mid-palate, followed by bright citrus reminiscent of lime and ruby grapefruit. A layered and delicious Sauvignon Blanc in the classic Honig style, easily enjoyed on its own or with lighter seasonal fare. 

Winemaker Description

Uncork a bottle of real Organic Pinot. Pacific Redwood doesn't stop halfway when it comes to bringing you organic wine. It's not just grown organically, but processed organically. Bright smooth with flavors of berry and spice and a crisp floral finish- all from organically-grown grapes with no added sulfites or other synthetic preservatives. Sustainability is a way of life for this family winery, and they invite you to join them. Pacific Redwood Pinot is acceptable for vegans. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | The beauty of Pinot Noir is the multifaceted hues, colors and tastes. This natural wine offers up cranberry, mulberry, spice-studded orange, dried herbs, flowers and fresh caramel cooking on the stove. A long, engaging finish invites you to take another sip. Fatty tuna would work well with this one.

Winemaker Description 

Vigneti del Sole Pinot Grigio is a white wine gem from the Veneto region of northeast Italy. We have not found a better Pinot Grigio for the money than Vigneti del Sole! This wine is a pale yellow-green in color. It is a lighter-style Pinot Grigio with plenty of fruit and acidity for a well-balanced wine. 

This popular Italian white has crisp acidity and a nose of lemons, green apples and almonds. With no oak, the wine shows the best of the Pinot Grigio varietal flavors.

The wine is well balanced with a fresh, clean finish. Enjoy Vigneti del Sole Pinot Grigio with filet of sole, crab salad, grilled chicken, pasta and mild cheeses.

Winemaker Description 

Gerard Bertrand Cotes des Roses Chardonnay is an elegant and refined white wine. It showcases aromas of citrus, ripe pineapple, and a hint of toasted almond. 

The palate reveals flavors of tropical fruit, lemon zest, and a balanced acidity, with a creamy texture and a long, satisfying finish. This Chardonnay is a perfect match for grilled fish, roasted chicken, or creamy risotto. 

Winemaker Description 

Kurosawa Brewery has been making sake with traditional methods in the mountains of Nagano Prefecture since 1858. Creamy textured sake, with fruity notes of pineapple and lychee. 

Nigori or "cloudy" sake leaves in some of the rice solids to give sake sweetness and texture. Delicious on its own, but pairs well with spicy Chinese or Thai dishes. Serve chilled. 

Winemaker Description 

Golden yellow in colour, often with copper tones. It has an intense and immediate bouquet with pronounced hints of acacia flowers, broom and apple. In the mouth it is elegantly fruity and becomes full bodies, well-structured and has a remarkably long finish.

Salvatore owns and operates a small farm in the Pachino region in the southeast corner of Sicily. There he grows a variety of crops including cereals for pasta flour, olives, fruits and of course grapes. Spontaneous fermentation with native yeast, unfined, minimal sulfites at bottling. The vines are planted in free standing bushes, and hand harvested with respect to the lunar calendar.

Winemaker Description

Made with Jaen (Mencia)-led blend, which also features some Touriga Nacional and Alfrocheiro, aged without oak. With typical Dao freshness, this is a herb-fruited, honest reflection of this great appellation. 

Straw yellow with green reflections. Delicate with moderate fruit and blossom. Dry, fresh and elegant. Winemaker Description.