2010 - Present Wine

Expert Review

92 Points The Wine Advocate | Many producers consider José Luis Mateo to be the finest grape grower in Galicia. He is relentless in his search for excellence and is often unhappy with the results even when you think the wines are amazing. In fact, his wines are amazing, without a doubt the finest of Monterrei, and they transcend the appellation and find themselves among the finest wines from Galicia and from Spain” 

Winemaker Description

Specially selected and carefully aged, this premier Chateau Ste. Michelle Indian Wells Vineyard Merlot captures the intense energy of arid vineyards resulting in velvety blackberry and vanilla flavors.

Winemaker Description

Covenant's latest vintage of Sauvignon Blanc comes from a region in Northern California where Sauvignon Blanc is considered the king of white wines. This single vineyard Sauvignon Blanc comes from a small parcel north of Napa in Lake County.

The wine is classic Lake County —redolent of grapefruit, passion fruit and herbs. It’s crisp, clean and refreshing on the palate and will pair beautifully with lighter-styled dishes ranging from seafood to poultry.

Bright acidity and a sleekly styled, mineral-like structure.

Expert Review

Kosher for Passover. 

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. From the raw, untamed beauty of the Western Cape, J. Folk wine fuses a modern South African soul with traditional winemaking methods expressed in the features of this wine. The result is a spirited selection resonating the people & places of its colorful origin. 

Hints of fresh yellow stone fruit and peach, complimented by a lingering citrus fruit.

Winemaker Description

Puy-Lacoste 2020 is an example once again of a vintage marked by a significant proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend - 76%, which demonstrates the tremendous potential of its terroir and completed by 24% Merlot. It's a very beautiful vintage, more classic in terms of structure than the 2018 and 2019. The bouquet releases aromas of ripe red fruit, violets and spices. This is complemented by an attractive fresh minerality. The attack is precise, clean and long, with its ripe and melted tannins. Overall, this is a wine of great balance, allying charm, elegance and freshness; it is aromatic, with an aftertaste of considerable purity.

Expert Reviews

97 Points James Suckling | This full-bodied red builds on the palate in a fantastic way with tight, compact tannins that grow and grow on the finish. Plenty of blackcurrant and graphite character and a flavorful finish. Same level as the excellent 2016. Barrel Sample: 96-97.

96 Points Wine Spectator | A nice, tightly coiled Pauillac, with a blitz of iron and savory notes wrapped around a core of cassis, damson plum and black cherry. Sleek and tightly focused, with the iron note leaving a mouthwatering echo. Plenty tight through the finish too, so patience is needed here. Best from 2028 through 2042.

95 Points Decanter | Enjoyable, powerful, concentrated, not the most generous of GPLs but they have captured the essence of Pauillac, and it's hard to resist. Sappy juicy finish, full of cassis, mint leaf and pencil lead along the way with a clear tightness to the tannic frame. Barrel Sample: 95.

95 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is a more fleshy, textured Pauillac that still plays in the concentrated, focused, structured style of the vintage. Ripe black cherries, currants, toasty oak, chocolate, and tobacco leaf notes give way to a medium to full-bodied, richly textured 2020 that has velvety tannins, good mid-palate depth, and a great finish. Do your best to hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 20-25 years or so. Barrel Sample: 92-95.

94 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate | The 2020 Grand-Puy-Lacoste is excellent, offering up aromas of cassis and plums mingled with pencil shavings, violets and loamy soil framed by a touch of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, pure and fleshy, with lively acids, powdery tannins and good depth at the core, its supple, charming style belies considerable aging potential.

92 Points James Suckling | Aromas of apples, pie crust and mango. Some elements of cream. Hints of pineapple. Full body. Fresh and lightly velvety. 100% Uco Valley fruit.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | Paul Hobbs, founding partner at this winery, selected vineyards from Luján de Cuyo and Uco Valley to make this lively and satisfying Chardonnay. Notes of grapefruit, Key lime and dill find balance in the fresh palate.

89 Points Vinous | The 2022 Chardonnay Felino from the Uco Valley is yellow with subtle golden flecks. The nose offers inviting stewed green apple and hazelnut aromas complemented by delicate oaky notes. Creamy and moderately warm with plenty of alcohol, it has a broad, plush texture leading into a lingering fruity finish.

Pale yellow in color. On the nose it presents aromas of pear, green apple and grapefruit. It's very well balanced with good palate and crisp acidity. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

Cerasuolo translates as ‘pale cherry red’, and these wines get their distinctive deep hue from a short maceration of 24 hours or less. The high level of anthocyanins in the skin of the Montepulciano grape imbues the must with both colour and tannin in a short timeframe. 

Expert Review

Decanter Magazine writes | Cerasuolo d’Abruzzo: Italy’s serious rosé. While we consume swathes of lightly coloured rosé every year, it would be a shame to overlook Cerasuolo d'Abruzzo, Italy's cherry-coloured alternative. 

Winemaker Description

Light gold. A smoky bouquet evokes ripe orchard fruits, buttered toast and chamomile. Rich on the palate, offering chewy citrus fruit flavors with a touch of anise. Concentrated but surprisingly light on its feet, this blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir finishes with excellent clarity and persistence.

Winemaker Description

Full-bodied, fruity, fine and well-balanced with aromas of red fruit – raspberries and black cherries – and notes of black pepper, leading to more complex scents of licorice and herbs de Provence. The tannins are ripe, the wine fills the mouth with warm, generous flavors yet with an underlying structure that bodes well for future potential. A fruit-forward and accessible wine. 

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  While no 2021 was presented, the 2020 Gigondas is stunningly good and is loaded with notions of red cherries, framboise, sappy flowers, and pepper. These all carry to a medium to full-bodied, flawlessly balanced Gigondas offering ripe, perfectly integrated tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. If I saw this on a wine shelf, I'd buy it. Drink bottles any time over the coming 15 years or so.  Drinking 2023 - 2038.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91-93

Josh Raynolds writes:  Brilliant ruby-red. An exotically perfumed bouquet evokes fresh red and blue fruits, potpourri and botanical herbs that are complemented by an exotic spice note building in the glass. Stains the palate with intense raspberry, cherry and lavender pastille flavors that steadily deepen with air. Delivers a suave blend of power and finesse and finishes impressively long and floral, with fine-grained tannins adding a discreet grip.  - Vinous 93-95

James Lawther MW writes:  Attractive red-berry aroma and flavour, the fruit smooth and plush on the palate, the tannins ripe and well integrated. Plenty of length on the finish. Just a slight glow of alcohol at the end.  Drinking 2025 -2032.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5+

Joe Czerwiński writes:  Tasted from foudre one, the 2022 Gigondas (keep in mind there is just one cuvée at this estate) is rich and ripe, with delicate floral notes accenting deep black raspberry and black cherry fruit. This concentrated, medium to full-bodied effort is zesty and long on the finish.  Drinking 2024 - 2038.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92-94

96 Points Wine Advocate: The 2019 Marienburg GG Fahrlay is perfectly ripe and concentrated on the densely aromatic nose that intertwines ripe, intense and flinty fruit with fascinating notes of crushed stones and herbs, yet everything is already marvelously interwoven and balanced as well as pure, precise and crystalline, with lemon zest notes. Full-bodied, intense and crystalline on the palate, this is a rich, concentrated, perfectly ripe and aromatic Fahrlay with a long, intense, elegant, crystalline and persistently salty finish. This would be rich and bolder if there were no old vines in blue slate. This is an impressive wine that was bottled just a few days before I tasted it in September 2020. (10/2020)

Jancis Robinson 17.5 Pts: Beautifully scented with citrus, crushed stones and a delicate floral note that reminds me of spring and that is also somehow a little bit spicy. This is theoretically trocken but there is clearly some residual sugar to balance the acidity and it is quite noticeable, giving a roundness in the mouth and ripeness of yellow plums. Firm, fresh and long, with depth that comes from the texture as much as the full fruit -

“The 2019 vintage is the best vintage I have ever tasted for German riesling in my four-decade career.” - Stuart Pigott, author and reviewer for James Suckling

Winery:

Winemaker Description

100% Pinot Noir 60% estate grown fruit from Olivet Ranch vineyard in the Russian River Valley and 40% from Failla’s other single vineyard sources.

Expert Review

Vinous 92 Points by Antonio Galloni  | The Failla Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is a fabulous wine at this level. Sweet spices, rose petal, mint and succulent cherry/plum notes all lift from the glass. Supple and beautifully layered throughout, the Sonoma Coast hits all the right notes. A final burst of fruit rushes across the palate on the refreshing, inviting wine. There is so much to like.

Wine Enthusiast 89 Points | The typical light-red color of this wine goes with its light texture. Red-cherry fruits and acidity give the wine its freshness and smoothness. Drink now.

You can further understand the Burgundy-Jura connection with the story of Jean Rijckaert. When he created his domaine in 1998, Rijckaert, a Belgian, bought four hectares of vineyards in Burgundy’s Mâcon region and five hectares in Arbois in Jura, envisioning its potential. While Burgundy now makes up the lion’s share of his portfolio, there are eight Jura wines, including this charming Arbois Poulsard. Spicy cherry, strawberry, and blueberry flavors are punctuated by a good deal of earth. Fine tannins make it effortless to drink. 

Winemaker Description

The 2017 Barbaresco Pora Riserva is a medium body wine with intense mineral and spicy aromas, balanced ripe tannins and elegant finish.

Try with pasta dishes, risotto or white and red meat. 

Expert Reviews

Jancis Robinson 17/20 Points |  Barbaresco. Mid developing ruby with orange tinges. Deep leafy cherry with hints of orange and black tea leaves. Supple and fresh acidity with succulent cherry fruit and lots of soft chewy tannins. Very long and juicy with plenty of stuffing, but with an elegant palate weight and ready now.  Drinking 2022 -2030. 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Pora is rich, creamy and layered, with a bit more generosity than is typically the case. Sweet red cherry, red plum, spice and rose petal are amplified in a radiant, open-knit Barbaresco that will start drinking well in a few years' time.  Drinking 2025 - 2037.  - Vinous 93

Robert Parker 94 Points | The 2017 Barbaresco Riserva Pora (with 13,333 bottles released) is usually the first wine I taste each year when I review this set of Riservas from Produttori del Barbaresco. That's because it usually appears as the most delicate, and the intensity of each successive bottle increases after this one. But these schematics are a bit more difficult to align in a hot and dry vintage such as this that produced richer and more succulent fruit across the board. The Pora is redolent of red and purple fruit with a little more blackberry and plum compared to previous editions. The tannic strength of the wine is also more elaborate. Pora works very well in 2017.  Drinking 2025 - 2048.  

Winemaker Description

Medium to medium-dark ruby-red. Very cool, stately aromas of red cherry, cola, and fresh tobacco leaf. On the palate, medium-full bodied. Flavors of red fruits and blood orange take front and center stage, persisting through the long, smooth finish. Not a wine of bombast but instead, one of elegance, purity, and quiet confidence. Wonderful now, this can be enjoyed through at least 2028.

Expert Ratings

94 Points Wine Spectator | Few Zinfandels show this much nuance and detail, yet there's an elegant power to this red, with cherry and raspberry flavors that mingle with orange peel and fresh sage. Ends with refined tannins.

93 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is ripe with fresh berries, raspberry preserve, and baking spice. Its gushy fruit up front gives way to a note of raspberry seed and refreshing lift on the finish. Drink 2023-2032.

Winemaker Description 

Expressive Cabernet with juicy fruit notes, fine tannins and a muscular mid-palate. Layered flavors of plums, dark cherry and vanilla. Expect a long and balanced finish.

Winemaker Description

In 1987, we made our first vintage of a wine styled after the famous First Growth producers of Bordeaux, created with the same uncompromising care as the Grands Vins of those venerable chateaux. Full-bodied with ripe black fruit and complex baking spice, this wine is amazingly ready to drink right out of the gate, and you can try a bottle or two now—but make sure to save a few to enjoy this wine as it continues to evolve after some time in the cellar.

The 2020 Isosceles is bright in the glass with a dark purple/black core and a lighter ruby purple rim. Attractively aromatic and complex with ripe black and red cherry, black currant, new book leather, cedar, tobacco, vanilla bean, licorice, and oak. Full-bodied on the palate with ripe complex cherry, cassis, and a subtle red berry fruit on entry, with vanilla and licorice baking spice leading into the midpalate, which shows complex savory notes of cedar, tobacco leaf, and leather. The very long, complex, and continually changing finish is a progression of sustained ripe cherry fruit accented by baking spice and oak notes, with smooth chewy tannins and balanced acidity, adding depth and freshness. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Roasted black plum aromas meet with tobacco leaf on the nose of this blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc. The palate shows a lot of primary fruit flavors, from black plum to blackberry, with Christmas spices proving quite prominent. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

The color is bright, deep morello cherry-red. The nose reveals aromas of blackberries, raspberries and ripe strawberries with just a touch of tobacco and spices such as clove and cinnamon. It is a medium-bodied wine with elegant structure, balanced acidity and very ripe, elegant tannins. The finish is moderately-long, dominated by red fruits and followed by sweet vanilla and black pepper. 

Expert Review

89 Points Wine Enthusiast | Clove, thyme and dried fennel aromas complement fruity black-cherry notes on the nose of this Agiorgitiko from Skouras, a 1986 winery in the Nemea region of Greece’s Peloponnese. The light-bodied palate has ripe red and black fruits plus faint cinnamon flavors, indicative of the winemaking process: This wine is fermented in stainless steel and aged in old French barriques for a year. It then sits six more months in the bottle before release. The results are easy drinking and enjoyable, with balanced fruit and acid followed by velvety tannins on the long finish.

Expert Ratings 

97 Points James Suckling | Bright aromas of black currants and lavender with intense pencil shavings and green tobacco leaves followed by roasted coffee beans and cedar. A full-bodied wine that is broad on the mid-palate with firm yet fine-grained tannins and bright acidity. Great depth and length here. Wonderful tension and density as well as harmony.

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | Oozing blueberry richness and chocolaty spices, this full-bodied but relatively soft and plush wine eases onto the palate, soothing the senses and revealing dried cherries, blueberry syrup and cocoa powder on its mouthfilling texture. Deep within are oak char, graphite and espresso flavors that need time to meld with the intense fruits.

From the outset, this is one powerful, deeply expressive Cabernet with heady black currant, plum, and cedar aromas leading into a big, juicy entry. Layered currant and black cherry flavors are accented by elegant clove notes. Bold, coating tannins support and frame the entire wine, and hints of wet slate add dimension to a dark, brooding finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Coming from a classic, Bolgheri vintage, Promis shows a bright, ruby-red color. The nose has hints of spice such as cinnamon and star anise along with pronounced red fruits like strawberry and black cherry. 

The tannins are juicy and persistent all culminating in a salinity that is a classic hallmark of good vintages in Bolgheri. 

Coming from a classic, Bolgheri vintage, Promis shows a bright, ruby-red color. The nose has hints of spice such as cinnamon and star anise along with pronounced red fruits like strawberry and black cherry. The tannins are juicy and persistent all culminating in a salinity that is a classic hallmark of good vintages in Bolgheri. 

Winemaker Description

Medium-bodied wine with aromas of juicy, red cherries, wildflowers, a hint of menthol, and spice. Well-balanced with fine-grained tannins. Food Pairings: Pairs well with grilled or braised meats. 

VertdeVin 93 Points | The nose is elegant and offers a small richness, gourmandize as well as a certain / fine power. There are notes of ripe blackberry, blueberry and small notes of cassis associated with a touch of cherry tail, ripe / fresh red berries as well as hints of pepper, lilac, spices and a very discreet almost tonka bean / incense hint. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, slightly tight and offers juiciness, a small freshness, suavity, gourmandize, a beautiful pulpy / juicy fruit, generosity, roundness, a small fat as well as a fine straightness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy / fleshy cherry, pulpy / fleshy raspberry and small notes of purple plum associated with touches of cornflowers, blue berries as well as hints of cherry stone, licorice stick, zan and a subtle hint of sweet spices. Tannins are very discreetly firm. Presence of a subtle toasted hint on the finish / persistence. Good length. 

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description

A hearty, rustic red from France’s southwest, this Cahors has everything a savvy wine drinker wants: it is ready for immediate consumption, has excellent structure to age, and comes in at a value price.

Winemaker Description 

A powerful and well built wine, a deep ruby colour with violet tints. Complex nose of vanilla, fruits and griotte-cherries.

The attack is rich and firm; the mouth expresses long lasting nuances of vanilla and pepper. This is a smooth and rich wine with a very good length. 

Arinto brings bright acidity and aging potential, Azal is citric and fresh and Loureiro is aromatic and delicate.

Clean, lively flavors of lime, ripe pink and yellow grapefruit. Slight effervescence. Winemaker Description. 

94 Points Decanter | Really starting to get into its stride under the new direction of Jacques Lurton. I have always enjoyed this wine and long found it to be the one of all the Andre Lurton wines to live up to the potential of the terroir. This is full of flesh, lemongrass, lime, slate minerality, the most beautifully judged rich white peaches and powerful dried herbs. Rice and powerful, good stuff. (2020).

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Bright pink grapefruit, honeyed citrus, and a touch of chalky minerality all emerge from the 2020 Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc, another vibrant, clean, medium-bodied 2020 white that brings both richness and freshness. I like it today but see no reason why it shouldn't evolve for over a decade.

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | Subtly wood aged, this ripe wine is tight with some spice as well as lemon and tropical fruits. The wine has weight and a beautiful texture. Drink from 2025. (Editors’ Choice)

93 Points James Suckling | Attractive and complex nose of fennel, grapefruit pith, green papaya, cloves, green apples and lime curd. Beautifully textured and phenolic, with a medium to full body and bright acidity. Layered. Excellent focus. Drink or hold.

92 Points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Couhins-Lurton Blanc has turned out very well, offering up aromas of pink grapefruit, white flowers, Sauvignon botanicals, pastry cream and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incise, with a satiny attack that segues into a bright, electric palate, it's more vibrant and electric than the ampler, fleshier 2019. It was bottled under Diam 30. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Les Dijonnais comes from the oldest vines on the property, planted in 1995 with all Dijon clones. Bottled in late January of this year, the wine sports a vibrant ruby hue and shows off notes of wild raspberries, mixed berries, a hint of fresh violets, clove spice, forest herbs, and brambly earth. It’s chiseled in its structure, with coiled tannins and a good deal of youthful tension, and also offers mineral persistence, with wonderful salinity and dark undertones of earth. It demands another few years in cool cellars to soften and expand as it evolves and will drink well over the long haul. Drink 2026-2040. 590 cases were produced.

Winemaker Description 

Planted in 1995, the Dijon block is now in its prime, delivering the complexity and elegance one expects from carefully tended twenty-six-year-old vines. The 2021 “DJ,” as it is known in-house, shows characteristic black raspberry and rose hip notes. Consistent with previous vintages, it displays Asian five spice, briar and even hints of blood orange coupled with a refreshing acidity and persistent finish. It is a superior vintage, one of the best of the decade. While the 2021 Les Dijonnais Pinot Noir is delicious right now, it will reward patience after a few years in a cool cellar.  Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

A deep violet color, the wine presents aromas of red fruits and Mediterranean herbs. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied with black fruit flavors and soft, saline notes along with elegant traces of capers, rosemary, and black pepper. The finish is long and silky.

Pair with grilled steak, lamb and spicy pasta dishes.

Expert Review 

James Suckling 91 Points | Aromas of dark cherries, blackberries and baking spices. Medium body with fine tannins and bright acidity. Fresh and crunchy at the center with red fruits on the palate and a lively, powdery finish.

Intensely aromatic, this wine shows typical ripe Riesling characteristics, including honey, apricot, and white flowers. Tangerine, jasmine, and coriander seed appear in the nose, as the palate turns to tropical flavors evocative of guava and pineapple. Mild sweetness is balanced by a bright core of tangy citrus for a mouth-watering, sweet and sour finish. 

Winery notes:  Our rich and luxurious Riesling shines with sun-kissed apricot, jasmine, and sweet honey notes. The fragrant flowers and tangerine zest bring you in, but the lush guava and pineapple flavors keep you there – all the way through the tangy, fruity finish.

Pair with scallops, your favorite cheeseboard, Szechuan seafood, or jerk chicken. If you’re goin' spicy and creamy, this wine’s goin' with you.