2010 - Present Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Jeff Porter of the Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | Roasted cherries, warmed clove and star anise aromas waft from the glass as dried floral hints and wild thyme rise as the wine opens. Mouthfilling with loads of mixed wild berries fresh, dried and preserved all combined with oak spice finishing with subtle earth and superfine tannins. Drink now–2040. 

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 91 Points | A dense, compact red marked by plum, cherry, leather, forest floor and tar aromas and flavors. Well-balanced and lingers on the finish, where chalky tannins leave their impression. Best from 2027 through 2042. 

Winemaker Description

Pied à Terre is a phrase that translates to “foot to earth.” We feel that the farmer’s footprint is the best fertilizer and the most important sight in a vineyard. When the land is well-trodden, the vine will be well-tended, and the details not overlooked.

2018 was the first “normal” vintage in many years, with none of the climatic difficulties that complicated previous years of the past decade. Cooler temperatures and moderate weather led to a long growing season, allowing grapes to ripen smoothly. It was an epic vintage that produced wines with great structure and concentration without being overripe.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

Vinous 92 Points | This opens with earthy notes, dark fruit and dark olives, lifted by a subtle floral character. The palate is fresh and approachable with a clean, uncomplicated finish. The grapes for this wine come from various sites, predominantly Altamira.

James Suckling 92 Points | This opens with earthy notes, dark fruit and dark olives, lifted by a subtle floral character. The palate is fresh and approachable with a clean, uncomplicated finish. The grapes for this wine come from various sites, predominantly Altamira.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | This opens with earthy notes, dark fruit and dark olives, lifted by a subtle floral character. The palate is fresh and approachable with a clean, uncomplicated finish. The grapes for this wine come from various sites, predominantly Altamira.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | A charming style, showing details of citrus blossoms, guava and huckleberry, with traces of fresh herbs and cassis that linger in the background. Subtle minerality and fresh acidity nudge the core flavors onto the polished finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Bright red color with purple shades. Intense floral and fruity notes on the nose with the presence of violets, ripe black cherry and plum aromas. This wine reveals a toasty and spicy character of black pepper and chocolate. Its sweet and juicy mouthfeel delivers finesse, delicate tannins and an elegant finish of black fruits.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

95 Points Kerin O'Keeff of The Wine Advocate  | The 2019 Brunello from La Gerla shows polish and intensity, offering aromas and flavors of ripe black cherry, blackberry, underbrush, camphor and licorice. Firm, close-grained tannins and vibrant acidity provide support and energy. It’s still brooding and needs time to fully develop. Drink 2029–2039. 

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | A lovely mix of floral and herbaceous aromas lift from the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino, which displays a ruby color and offers notes of wild raspberry, herbes de Provence, wet stones, and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, it’s enticing on the palate, with crunchy fresh acidity, ripe tannins, and a long finish that closes with a quenching saline lift. This vintage offers such wonderful aromatics, and this wine is no exception, with a pure nature all throughout. Drink 2025-2035.

Winemaker Description

Sensationally intense, with notes of wild flowers, violet and red berry jam. Full bodied, rich, dry with a long finish and delicate hint of spice.

Expert Rating - Vintage 2021 

92 Points James Suckling | Bright and fruit-forward with ripe raspberries and cherries as well as sweet spices, chocolate and candied orange peel. Medium- to full-bodied with deep, succulent fruit and firm, tightly packed tannins. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

Drinking superbly, exuding garrigue and subtle sauvage notes. A natural companion to Mediterranean fare, this red can also be cellared for at least 20 years 75% Mourvèdre, 14% Grenache, 9% Cinsault, 2% Carignan, from 40 year old vines. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Expert Reviews 2022 Vintage

James Suckling writes:  A well-made, balanced and textured cabernet sauvignon showing notes of dark berries, sweet spices and some chocolate wafers. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Mellow, seductive and generous finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Wine Enthusiast - 91 Points: This wine is robust and rich, with dark berry, plum, tarragon and maple aromas on the nose. The flavors on the palate are supple, sun-kissed blackberry, cassis, orange slices and dried tobacco, creating a classic wine.

The Tasting Panel Magazine - 91 Points: Perfumed with savory herbs and spices, this is a showcase of a classic California Cabernet Sauvignon. Fruit-forward yet pleasantly rustic, notes of rhubarb and cigar box linger with a hint of smoke.

Winemaker Notes (2022 Vintage)

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 92 Points | Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Pouring a medium ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma County is forward in the glass, with bright aromas of preserved cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, and red flowers. The palate has lovely energy within a medium-bodied frame, and it has a refreshing feel, with its spices and chalky texture coming through on the finish.

Winemaker Description

An exciting, yet friendly wine, bursting with aromas of fresh, muddled strawberry, bright cherry and pomegranate with hints of forest floor, toasted caramel and five-spice. The flavors combine to create a fruit-driven front palate and very subtle oak influence. The finish leaves you wanting more, with nice acid and flavors of strawberry sauce, pomegranate and spice to create great weight for an excellent food wine, as well as a charming drinking experience by itself.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Enthusiast by Matt Kettmann 90 Points | Lime blossom, lemon balm, grapefruit peel and red apple aromas make for a pleasantly complex nose on this bottling. There's a peppery kick to the tip of the sip, and then riper apple, melon and almond flavors emerge.

Winemaker Description

Lovely and bright—a quintessential rendition of Paso Robles Sauvignon Blanc. Tantalizing aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, gooseberry and quince reveal floral impressions of lemongrass and acacia, all balanced by notes of lychee and wet stone. The palate is classily structured and elegantly styled, displaying crisp, juicy fruit flavors that burst across the palate, including lemon chiffon, key lime pie and kiwi accented with green apple, white nectarine and pineapple. Decisively refreshing, this wine finishes clean with lingering notes of dragon fruit, passionfruit and citrus.

Quick Expert Summary - Vintage 2024

 🍇 Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Praised for its solid texture and fresh, flush aromas of mango, honey, and gardenia. Notes of coconut flake and tropical fruit get a light dusting of toasted oak.

Winemaker Description - 2024

The Discovery Chardonnay leads with a stunning nose of juicy pineapple, freshly sliced pears, lemon chiffon and warm toast. Spicy notes of nutmeg and ginger are highlighted with star jasmine and honeysuckle fragrances accompanied by hints of smoky oak and hazelnut.

Elegant and silky on the palate, this Chardonnay offers delectable peach, melon and green apple flavors accentuated by tropical notes of mango, guava, pineapple and kiwi. A clean, exceptionally balanced finish is rounded out with essences of sweet Crenshaw.

Winemaker Description 

Vibrant coral and rose quartz color with bright aromas of melon, citrus and dried herbs with ample orchard fruits and mineral salinity.  Always one of the finest rosés in California.  

This Rosé comes from two incredible sites: Luchsinger and St. Amant Vineyards. The rocky, volcanic site enjoys a warm growing season suitable to Touriga Nacional. Touriga is a late-ripening grape that needs some heat to mature and the Luchsinger site is a perfect match for this hearty variety.

This vineyard, farmed by the Spencer family since 1972, is composed of sandy granitic loam, and benefits from cool air descending the nearby Sierra Nevada Mountains which helps moderate ripening.

The grapes have a vibrant personality with fine tannins and bright acidity. The fruit from both of these vineyard sites is crushed lightly prior to pressing to release some color, then fermented with native yeasts and aged in stainless steel.

The Gran Reserva cavas are bottle-aged for at least 30 months, while the some “collection” cavas has an optimal ageing period of over 10 years. All the grapes are organically farmed, using the local varieties Mataró and Pansa Blanca, and all the bottles are retailed immediately after being disgorged. A passion for cava that has been rewarded with many international prizes.

Wine Tasting Notes:

Sight - Fine bubble and pale yellow with green hues.
Nose - White fruit aromas with delicate citrus and green almond notes.
Palate - On the palate, light and fresh : real expression of the white fruit aromas. Given its ageing over the lies, we can perceive notes of pastry, bubbles well integrated and a delicate aftertaste.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 90 Points | The 2023 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is soft, supple and delicious. A burst of blueberry, black cherry, spice, lavender, menthol and chocolate gives the 2023 tons of immediacy and sheer appeal. This is an especially fine edition of La Spinetta's entry-level Barbera. Best of all, this is a terrific value. 

Winemaker Description 

Intense aromas of blackberry and morello cherries. This wine is truly captivating, yet it remains fresh and extremely versatile.

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia of 67Wine.com writes | At the end of my tour of Spain in September of 2022, I had the pleasure to spend time with Mireia Tetas of Bodegas Pinord in Vilafranca del Penedes, Catalonia, Spain. I was overjoyed with anticipation to visit the facilities of their brand new eco-friendly Winery. As Mireia explained to me, "it is one of the most energy efficient wineries in all of Europe". The entire Winery is equipped with state-of-art solar panels that fuel their need of electricity throughout the multi-level winery. Mireia also gave me a bit of a history lesson by explaining the word Pinord translates from Catalan to English as : "PINES OF THE NORTH". The winery name is a homage to the abundance of pine trees in the region. Pine Trees are a crucial part of the flora in Vilafranca del Penedes.

Bodegas Pinord, also, has the distinction of being one of the first wineries in Spain to receive Demeter Biodynamic certification. Pinord is very proactive in preserving indigenous species of Fauna and Flora, an initiative that has been part of their DNA as wine producers for over 100 years in El Penedes.

Mas Blanc Red Bat Priorat  2021 is a new project that Bodegas Pinord has developed in their Priorat winery of MAS BLANC. Pinord and The World Nature Foundation are working together to help protect the Bat population of the area. Bats are an integral part in maitaining balance in the vineyard's ecosystem. Part of the proceeds of the purchase of Red Bat go directly to The World Nature Foundation.

Mas Blanc Red Bat 2021 is predominantly Garnatxa Negre (local clone of Grenache Noir) with small percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Visually the wine shows radiant hues of deep ruby. Aromas and flavors of dark berries, black cherry and warm spices. Medium-bodied with good grip and well-integrated tannins. The finish brings together nuances of espresso, figs and black olives.

Pair this beautiful Red Priorat with thinly sliced Roast beef dressed in a creamy red wine sauce. I had the pleasure to be served this great pairing at a local restaurant in Vilafranca del Penedes.

Winemaker Description

Intense aroma of fresh red fruits, with nuances of blackberry and slight hints of minerals and spices.

Taste: Notable taste of fruits, in good balance with the body of wine. Large concen- tration of soft tannins that give it a pleasant palate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93 Points | This is very classic with firm, racy tannins and dark, juicy fruit. Lots of chocolate and currants. Very balanced. 90% merlot and 10% cabernet sauvignon.

Decanter 90 Points | Rich and heady fruit aromas on the nose, expressive and full. Nicely bright red and black fruits on the palate, clear and clear - a touch of smoke, tobacco, white pepper and cedar spice suggests the wood needs to soften a little bit but the fruit is really well presented, crisp and with bite. Lovely licks of stone and salty minerality put you in the Médoc and this has an easy style to it with a long, fresh finish. Cool, classic and darkly charming.

Winemaker Description

To celebrate the 2020 vintage, Goulée by Cos d’Estournel is renamed G d’Estournel. This wine displays a unique profile: the balance and aromatics of a fresh vintage are accompanied by an acidity and a quality of tannins usually observed in warmer vintages. Goulée by Cos d’Estournel 2020, carried by the richness of the Merlot, is essentially delectable, and marked by notes reminiscent of salty sea breezes and a black pepper touch that lend it a great energy. 

Winemaker Description 

La Fête Wine Company Founder & CEO Donae Burston was first introduced to the wonders of Cotes de Provence rose while celebrating his 30th birthday at the world famous Nikki Beach Club in Saint Tropez. Burston and his friends were surrounded by people from mourned the world drinking what he thought was white Zinfandel, but was in fact rose from the surrounding Provence region. From that very first taste, the seeds for La Fête du Rosé were planted.

Farming Methods: Organic

Produced in the heart of St. Tropez, this delicate wine has a beautiful, bright golden color with silvery reflections. Expressive nose of ripe yellow fruits and hints of apple. The palate is full bodied, developing into a tangy finish and revealing notes of pear and fresh pineapple. 

Winemaker Description

From the ever-creative and driven Julien Sunier comes this "anytime red", as he fondly refers to it. Wild Soul, like most of Sunier's fruit, is farmed and harvested at high altitude (400m), resulting in freshness, aromatic vibrancy, a lythe presence on the palate, and endless pleasure. 

Winemaker Description

Aromas of ripe black fruit, leather and vanilla are complemented with cassis flavors and hints of spices, with a long velvety finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Decanter 92 Points | Seductive aromatics, good balance running through the palate, this is enjoyable. Petit Verdot for the first time in the blend, from the Pontac-Lynch vines. This has some lovely depth and width through the palate, one of the better second wines. With the addition of new plots and new grapes, they did many more blending sessions than usual, to be sure especially, whether to add the 1% Malbec to the first wine (most of this info needs to be switched into the Issan entry). Young vines mainly in this wine, Merlot oriented. This year they added 7ha of vines (as of March, from Pontac Lynch, including a 1948 plot of Petit Verdot and a 1958 Cabernet Franc, plus 1% of Malbec that has gone into the blend of the 1st wine).

James Suckling 92 Points | Dried oranges and plums with bark, mushroom and forest floor aromas that follow through to medium to full body with a dense finish and excellent energy. Spices such as nutmeg and sandalwood. Some chocolate, too. 57% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot.

Expert Review

Scott and Jenny Schultz of Jolie-Laide make highly distinctive wines from grapes that are not among California’s usual suspects. The trousseau gris grapes for this bottle were farmed organically and stomped by foot. The wine is lively and aromatic and will go with a wide range of savory and sweetish things.- Eric Asimov “20 Wines for the Thanksgiving Table”, New York Times, Nov 2025

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review

For years, wine writers reflexively recommended zinfandel, the American wine, to go with Thanksgiving, the American holiday. That never made sense to me as, in my 25 years writing about wine, the dominant style of zin has been too alcoholic and overwhelming for the Thanksgiving table. But the pendulum is swinging. Monte Rio’s 2022, far more manageable than many at 13 percent alcohol, is a reminder of the spicy, savory fruit that made zinfandel so attractive. - Eric Asimov “20 Wines for the Thanksgiving Table”, New York Times, Nov 2025

94 Points Wine Enthusiast: This wine is opulent, with aromas of blackberry jam, blueberry pie, cinnamon, orange peel, toasted vanilla cream and violets on the nose. Flavors on the palate are boysenberry coulis, huckleberry, orange cream, maple and clove, with a dry, supple and silky finish.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | Spiced apples and pears with hints of citrus peel and raw almonds on the nose. Tense and juicy with medium to full body and a compact, lightly phenolic texture. Vivid and lingering. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description 

'Shale and Stone' on the label is reflective of the deep minerality of the vineyard's ancient fractured shale soils and the freshness of the varietal. With long sur lie aging in concrete, it is taut but generous, and full yet bright on the palate.

Winemaker Description 

Xavier Flouret Fynbos Chenin Blanc is a vibrant white wine from Stellenbosch, South Africa. Crafted from 100% Chenin Blanc, it offers aromas of ripe pineapple, guava, and mango, with a crisp, clean palate featuring subtle acidity and tropical fruit flavors.

Its refreshing finish makes it an excellent pairing for shellfish, spicy dishes, or mild cheeses.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Chablis achieves its highly distinctive mineral character due to its cool northerly climate and its highly calcareous soil. The Domaine Louis Moreau Petit Chablis is fresh and aromatic, with notes of apple and citrus on the nose. Bright acidity and a roundness on the palate.

Winemaker Description 

Fresh, crispy, citrus undertones. Slightly acidic, great quaffing wine.

Winemaker Description 

Rich and ripe dark cherry fruit, along with attractive spicy, smoky notes. Fleshy and full, with surprising depth and length. This wine is intended to be consumed in its youth and is a terrific complement to roasted meats, pastas and pizza – the ultimate trattoria wine.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc is mineral and fresh, with almost spritzy acidity on the palate. This is all about green fruit and soft leaf herbs, gentle persuasions of white pineapple and mint and a salty Margherita character that is really quite attractive.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

Complices de Loire La Grande Parcelle Chenin Blanc from Montlouis-sur-Loire, France. This is an elegant white wine made from the Chenin Blanc grape, typical of this Loire region. This wine offers a wonderful balance between freshness and complexity, with aromas of citrus fruits, peach and white flowers, as well as a mineral undertone that reflects the calcareous soils.

The wine has a lively acidity and a soft, refined structure, which provides a refreshing and well-balanced taste. It is an ideal accompaniment to fish dishes, shellfish or goat cheese. La Grande Parcelle is a beautiful representation of the terroir of Montlouis-sur-Loire, with a subtle but present depth.

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Vinous 90 Points |  This is juicy in style and remarkably pure, with a subtle tinge of minerality and vividly ripe cherry-berry fruit notes that flow across a stream of fresh acidity. It tapers off crisp and only gently tannic yet poised with medium length. This is fantastic for the difficult 2023 vintage and not your typical Poliziano Rosso, with just 50% of production and 100% Sangiovese.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

James Suckling 95 Points | A fine-tuned, elegant Barolo with aromas of dried cherries, dried roses, licorice and mint. Full-bodied, it shows smoothness, density, weight and soft tannins despite the structure, with refreshing acidity and a long, vibrant finish full of savory flavors. Drinkable now, but best from 2026.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to three business days to fulfill.

James Suckling 92 Points | A juicy, vibrant and fruity blend of malbec, bonarda and petit verdot. Aromas of red cherries, berries and touches of citrus and potpourri. Fresh and brambly, with a medium body and small-grained fruit tannins.

Winemaker Description 

In an effort to produce a wine that pays honorable tribute to the esteemed AVA, we source our grapes from premium sites throughout the region. This blend includes several of the vineyards that have shown as standouts within the vast and rugged Sonoma Coast.

Bright and layered, the 2024 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with aromas of citrus blossom, green apple, and Asian pear. On the palate, a lively core of lemon curd, crisp pineapple, and citrus zest is framed by subtle oak tones of vanilla and baking spice. The texture is both fresh and rounded, with vibrant acidity and a mineral lift that carries through to a long, clean finish.

xpert Reviews - Vintage 2017

James Suckling 95 Points | A more vibrant and fruitier expression of Ardanza this year with strawberries, mussels, warm spices and berries. Round and silky on the palate with lovely spices and a long, nicely saline finish. A nice touch of creaminess works really well here and further extends the finish. 80% tempranillo and 20% garnacha. Drink or hold.

Wine Advocate 94 Points | 2017 was not an easy harvest, but it produced some beautiful and classical wines, like the 2017 Viña Ardanza Reserva, which shows a little more advancement and polish and is ready to drink. It was produced with 80% Tempranillo and 20% Garnacha from their vineyard La Pedriza in Tudelilla. It fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and matured in American oak barrels, 36 months for the Tempranillo and 30 for the Garnacha (that was harvested 15 days later), with six rackings. It's ripe and aromatic, tertiary, with 14.5% alcohol and mellow acidity, a medium-bodied palate and sleek tannins. It has a pungent note of clove and pepper, some licorice and ink and the cherries in liqueur from the Garnacha. An updated classical Ardanza.

Vinous 93 Points | 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 American oak, it presents a ripe profile with aromas of black fruit, earth and balsamic, complemented by cedar and vanilla. On the palate, it is dry and rich, with a juicy texture and fine, polished tannins that culminate in a bold and lingering finish. This is a vibrant red wine with harmonious balance

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Baked cherry, raspberry ganache and warm fig flavors are ripe and expressive, with a pleasing counterpoint and added detail from rich notes of loamy earth and leather, plus accents of bay leaf, vanilla and red licorice. There's a supple generosity on the palate, trimmed nicely by fine-grained tannins and a tang of orange peel acidity. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now through 2032.

Winemaker Description 

Intense cherry red color, marking the garnet on the edge of the glass. Of great aromatic power, first of fruity character (cherry, currant, red plum) giving way then to balsamic and spicy notes (pepper, licorice, clove, vanilla, toasted caramel and nutmeg). Fresh and balanced in the mouth, with fine and silky tannins. Ample aftertaste that combines red fruits and spices with a fresh and long character.

Pair with roast lamb, red meats, barbecues, large game, spicy fish casseroles, smoked and aged cheeses.