2010 - Present Wine

Winemaker Description

Dry, cloudy, yeasty, and full of life, with a natural effervescence. Released just after bottling, it is the fresh wine of the harvest. It is fresh and fruity after bottling, but ages gracefully into more yeasty, toasty aromas. Made from a blend of Cayuga and Seval grapes from the Finger Lakes.

Expert Reviews 

98 Points Vinous | The 2020 Pape Clément is outrageously beautiful. Dark, virile and imposing, the 2020 is a rare vintage of Pape Clément that is vertical and statuesque in feel. Dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves infuse the palate with tremendous depth. In a word: magnificent. - Antonio Galloni

98 Points James Suckling | Lots of blackberry, iodine and crushed stone here. Some black pepper and graphite, too. Full body and medium, fine tannins that have a powdery texture and open in the mouth. So much going on. Iodine and iron undertones with some raw mushroom bring you back for more. Muscular. This is for the cellar. Drink after 2027.

97+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | I loved the 2020 Château Pape Clément, and this beauty is up there with the top wines in Pessac. Checking in as equal parts Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, aged 18 months in 90% barrels and 10% in foudre, it offers a deep purple hue to go with a powerful, concentrated profile displaying both red and black fruits, lots of spicy, chocolate, flowery incense nuances, full-bodied richness, and an almost salty, bloody character on the finish. This beauty shows the concentrated yet utterly classic, focused, elegant style of the vintage and has so much to love.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast | This ancient estate, an oasis in the suburbs of Bordeaux city, offers a wine that is packed with promising tannins. The important and rich black fruits reveal concentration, density and the potential of the development of a fine balance and structure as it matures.

95 Points Decanter | Tannic heft from the get-go, though this does have a lovely fresh, clean and precise core with a narrow, focused frame so the elements come across as quite tight and severe right now but well worked. It has class, no doubt, on the high-toned scale, potent and upfront but there's gorgeous detail and precision to the fruit, acidity and tannins. Slick and classy with lots of glamour that plays to the strengths of the vintage.

95 Points Wine Spectator | This is snazzed up with flashy toast, but there's ample mulberry, cassis and plum compote fruit to soak it up, while notes of licorice and sweet spice fill in the background. A late tug of warm earth keeps this grounded. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

94 Points Robert Parker | Aromas of rich cherries, cassis, burning embers, violets and dark chocolate introduce the 2020 Pape Clément, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine that's ripe, layered and generously extracted but also a touch deeper and more reserved than the flashy 2019. While it would be an exaggeration to say that this estate's red wines are making much of a shift in the direction of restraint, the style is certainly less aspirational than it was a decade ago.

Winemaker Description

Figeac: a name that shines brightly and echoes among lovers of fine Saint-Emilion wines all over the world. Two syllables which tell the story of one of the brightest stars in the wine firmament. As it slides into the glass, Figeac murmurs like the most outstanding voice of its appellation, with exactly the right tessitura if you know how to pitch it, and a touch of graphite to give it an edge; the energy infused with elegance becomes persistent, reflecting Figeac's desire to be enjoyed again and again. The true dimension of the wine appears with time, as notes of subtly spiced cedarwood offer the absolute quintessence of what a great wine is all about. 

Expert Reviews

100 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Figeac is the finest wine that has been bottled to date at this estate since its renaissance began a decade ago. Wafting from the glass with aromas of blackberries and raspberries mingled with cigar wrapper, pencil shavings, licorice and black truffles, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a suave, harmonious profile, vibrant acids, and beautifully refined structuring tannins. This sapid, complex wine represents the essence of this great terroir. Two years after extensive soil studies of the estate were carried out, and the first growing season to see cover crops used in the vineyards year-round, the 2020 benefited from more coherently demarcated parcels and more precise élevage, which taken together help to account for its edge over the excellent 2019. (2020). 

100 Points James Suckling | A mesmerizing nose here with flowers such as violets and red roses, then shows cherries and currants with some mineral and black truffles. Full-bodied yet so refined and harmonized with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Flavors of perfectly ripened fruit (al dente) with a hazelnut character that comes from the seeds. Incredibly transparent young red. Breathtaking. 37% merlot, 32% cabernet franc and 31% cabernet sauvignon. (2020). 

98 Points Vinous | The 2020 Figeac was picked from September 4 to October 1 and underwent vinification free of SO2. Deep purple in color, it is initially backward and sultry on the nose, necessitating 60 minutes before it really opens. It then reveals intense scents of cranberry, raspberry and touches of cassis intermingling with white pepper. Given that the Cabernets comprise 63% of the blend, this has a typical Left Bank personality but with Right Bank precocity. The palate conveys a sense of vibrancy and vigor on the entry, a dash of black pepper and allspice mingling with the mélange of red and black fruit. The tannins are satin-like in texture, and there’s dark berry fruit and hints of pencil lead and black truffle shavings toward the Pomerol-like finish. This is a magnificent Figeac from head winemaker Frédéric Faye and his team. This sample really came into its own 2–3 hours after opening. (2020). 

98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | The Grand Vin 2020 Chateau Figeac checks in as 37% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc, and 31% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 18 months in new barrels. They also utilize plenty of press wine, and the 2020 has 8% in the blend. Straight-up awesome aromatics of creme de cassis, ripe black cherries, iron, spring flowers, and an almost bloody, salty character emerge from the glass, and it's full-bodied, with a seamless mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, plenty of mid-palate depth, and absolutely perfectly integrated oak. It's still tight and reserved, which is certainly the vintage, so do your best to hide these in the cellar. It should hit the early stages of its prime drinking window in 8-10 years and will have 30+ of overall longevity. It will unquestionably flirt with perfection at maturity. (2020).

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | Newly promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé A, the very highest rung of Saint-Emilion’s hierarchy, this estate is at peak performance. This new release, rich in Cabernet Sauvignon, has an impressive structure as well as modulated, velvet tannins. It is a serious, concentrated wine, still just starting out. (2020).

96 Points Decanter | This delivers concentration and intensity, a ton of black fruits, definitely Cabernet dominant in terms of fruit, and its slightly serious character, with a whoosh of juice on the finish. An extremely elegant and controlled wine, with savoury bilberry and loganberry, then peony and tobacco leaf as it opens. Tannins are finely layered but there are a lot of them. Not an exuberant Figeac, but this is rarely a wine that rushes out to seduce, it takes its time and has ageing potential in spades. The gravel soils in the drought of the summer meant the grapes slowed their ripening process, although only the youngest vines suffered blockages, and that combined with the high Cabernet content of Figeac means lower alcohols than the past few years, giving a classic balance and a feeling of effortless success. 75% of the production went into the first wine. Harvest September 4 to October 1, a full five weeks. Their final yield here was around 37hl/ha, (higher than in 2019 at Figeac, which was 34hl/ha). As with on the Left Bank, the Cabernet Sauvignons were the lowest yield (30hl/ha), with tiny berries so had to be careful with the extraction. First vintage in the new cellars.

96 Points Wine Spectator | A broad-shouldered wine that captures the vintage's heat well in a core of cassis and blackberry fruit flavors, which are dotted with lively savory, tobacco leaf and warm earth accents. Reveals a tarry, grippy edge as well as polish as this pulls deeply from its terroir, leaving an echo of warm paving stone at the very end. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2030 through 2040.

Winemaker Description

This has incredible power and drive with blackberry, black olive and graphite. It’s full-bodied, yet dynamic and agile, with so much polished and muscular tannin. Yet, it remains in harmony and balance. So much character. The head of the chateau calls it diabolical beauty. 25% less production than the 2019. 52% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 99- 100 Points | A blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, the 2020 Haut-Bailly was harvested from the 9th to 25th of September. It has an alcohol of 14.3%. Deep purple-black in color, it prances out of the glass with naturally beautiful notions of fresh black cherries, violets, mulberries and boysenberries, giving way to hints of redcurrant jelly, star anise, tilled soil and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is delicately crafted with velvety/grainy tannins and fantastic freshness framing the perfumed red and black berry layers, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note. (2020). 

Robert Parker 96-98 Points | A legendary Haut-Bailly in the making, the 2020 sports a dense purple color to go with powerful notes of blackcurrants, black cherries, scorched earth, and graphite. Reminding me of the 2010, it takes plenty of air to show at its best yet is full-bodied, has a seamless texture, massive of ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. It’s one of the most structured, powerful Haut-Bailly I’ve ever tasted, yet it still has the classic elegance, nuance, and length of this terrific terroir. It will need 5-7 years (or more) of bottle age but will have 50 years of overall longevity. The 2020 is 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 3% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. (2020). 

Jeb Dunnuck 96-98 Points | Deep, rich and explosive, the 2020 Haut-Bailly is magnificent from the very first taste. Dark fruit, chocolate, licorice and spice give the 2020 a level of unctuousness that is absolutely thrilling. Readers should be patient, as the 2020 is going to need time to come around. Yields are down 25% from 2019, and that richness comes through loud and clear. (2020). 

Vinous 95-97 Points | (Château Haut-Bailly, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, Red) Rich in texture and colour, this has clear layers and complexity, a wine that you want to take your time with, slow down and enjoy. One that will take its time to age also. This has a precision and a clarity to the aromatics, and a gentle buzz of minerality that gives a physical reaction in the mouth. Less exuberant than the 2018 or 2019, making this a vintage that suits the style of Haut-Bailly. A slight austerity to the tannins on the finish gives a blueberry redcurrant edge. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend (now around eight years old), usually co-fermented with the Cabernet Sauvignon (sometimes with Cabernet Franc). IPT similar to 2016, 2010, 2005, but with a softness that comes from extremely ripe tannins. Strong potential for upscoring when it bottle. (Drink between 2030-2050). (2020),

Winemaker Description

We create the conditions for making Late Harvest Zinfandel by allowing the grapes to hang on the vine approximately 3--4 weeks after they normally would be picked for a dry wine. These grapes were picked on October 30th on a beautiful Fall day, and the grapes arrived at the winery at 40° Brix of sugar. We crushed the grapes into a small 1,500-gallon tank and as is our tradition at Dashe Cellars, we fermented the grapes naturally, using the native yeasts that naturally live on the skins of the grapes. We let the grapes macerate to gain color and flavor, and then allowed the tank to warm.

The fermentation took off quickly, and then naturally halted when the alcohol had reached about 15.5% and the sugar level was about 9%. We always allow the wine to achieve its balance of sweetness and alcohol naturally, by letting the fermentation finish on its own.

The wine was aged in older French oak barrels so as to not overpower the intensity of the fruit. We bottled the wine as soon as possible to maintain its fresh fruit flavors and conserve its sweet concentration and purity. The wine is unfined and received minimal handling to the bottle.

Expert Reviews

98 Points Wine Enthusiast | This firmly structured wine with its high percentage of Merlot is powerful and dense. The bold black fruits and perfumed density are impressive.

97+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | A clear step up over the 2019, the 2020 Château Troplong Mondot is mostly Merlot yet includes 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, all of which was raised in 65% new French oak, with the balance in once-used barrels. The level of purity and finesse here is remarkable, and it reveals a deep ruby/purple hue as well as incredible aromatics of cassis, ripe black cherries, graphite, gunpowder, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has building, perfectly ripe tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. Certainly light years away from the riper, more opulent style of the 2000's, the wines today under consultant Thomas Duclos are much more about finesse and elegance. While I certainly miss the sexy, riper style of the past, there is no denying the incredible quality from this château today. 

97 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Troplong Mondot is composed of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc, harvested from 4th September and lasting for about three weeks. The pH is 3.53, the IPT (tannin index) is 75 and the alcohol is 14.5%. Opaque purple-black colored, it opens with a vivacious burst of black fruits—stewed plums, baked blackberries and boysenberries—giving way to a fragrant undercurrent of licorice, ground cloves, cinnamon stick and lilacs, with a touch of bouquet garni. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of plump, juicy black fruits and savory sparks, framed by fantastically ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and opulent. 

97 Points James Suckling | A soft and round red with plum and milk chocolate. Hazelnuts. Full-bodied and layered. Juicy. Hints of sea salt. Power is there. Turns firm and vivid. So attractive now. Savory. Needs three to four years to open.

93 Points Decanter | This sets out its stall as a wine from a specific plot of pure limestone soils straight away, and this is a second wine to savour. As with last year, this is a masterclass in the impact of this particular soil type, with a bright violet colour, juicy blueberry fruits and touches of redcurrant. It has a tingling finish with a whoosh of salinity that gives tension and balance. 30% aged in barrels, the rest stays in stainless steel. 3.53pH. Still 100% Merlot as last year, but that will probably change in 2021 when some Cabernet Franc should be added. Not sold as an En Primeur, the 2018 has just been released onto the market. September 4 was the first day of picking.

Expert Reviews 

Winemaker Description

Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG “Zac” is 100% Sangiovese from the Gugliaie vineyard (2.5 ha). It is dedicated to Anna Corsini, the sister of Prince Tommaso and it represents the new challenges of the winery.

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | A blend of organically farmed Sangiovese and 15% Merlot, this has aromas of forest floor, blue flower, sandalwood and crushed mint. Full-bodied and elegantly structured, the savory palate features dried Marasca cherry, blood orange, star anise and black tea set against taut, fine-grained tannins. Drink through 2028. (2018). 

Winemaker Description

Each year, Caymus sets aside the best barrels of their Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley to produce Special Selection. Distinguished by extremely fine, velvety tannins and enjoyable upon release or with aging. A wine of structure with intense concentration of supple flavors and dark fruits.

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | This deep and concentrated wine is as smooth as silk, scented with black currants, spearmint and a touch of toast, then soothes the palate with velvety tannins and lush, ripe fruit flavors. While easy to sip, it has a subtle, restrained tannin structure.

92 Points James Suckling | Aromas of blackberries and currants with spicy herbs, pine wood and crushed rocks. Medium- to full-bodied, sleek and polished with soft tannins and silky texture. Juicy, blue-fruited finish. Drink now.

The color is intense and beautiful, almost black with purple, reddish hues. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, piecrust, spice, and mint mingle and leap from the glass. The palate is full and concentrated with similar aromas but also featuring black currant and sweet red cherry with the mild presence of oak, seamlessly integrated. Signature finely structured tannins and balanced acidity give way to a long finish which continues to build after that last sip.

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Description.

91 Points Decanter | This is open overall in terms of its tannic structure, and there are lovely plum and blackberry fruits, with a slate texture through the finish. Enjoyable, with St Estèphe character. 40% new oak. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038

91 Points James Suckling | Blackcurrants, brambleberries, walnut husks, dried leaves and dark spices on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with firm, tight-grained tannins. Fresh and structured. Crushed stone comes through in the aftertaste. Better from 2024.

Château Laffitte Carcasset benefits from the mild climate typical of the great terroirs on the left river bank of the estuary.

The average age of the vineyard is 30 years old, composed of 60% of Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% of Merlot and 5% of Cabernet Franc.

Faithful to Saint-Estèphe’s style, Château Laffitte Carcasset produces complex and fruity red wines with a beautiful tannic structure giving a very good aging potential. Winemaker Description. 

Critic Notes

Neal Martin writes:  The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village is quite backward on the nose, blackberry and bilberry at the moment, a distinct marine element surface with time. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit tinged with orange rind and brown spices. Fine structure towards the finish although here, I would just like a little more finesse to develop.  - Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous

William Kelley writes:  The 2021 Morey-Saint-Denis Village is a blend of En Sevrey and Clos Solon. Delivering aromas of smoky red berries, raw cocoa and forest floor, it's medium-bodied, supple and perfumed, with melting tannins and a charming middle-weight style.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Allen Meadows writes:  Here too there is enough reduction to suppress the underlying fruit. The palate impression though of the more substantial flavors is vibrant and well-detailed, particularly on the lengthier and better-balanced finale. This could use more depth but that should reasonably occur with time.  - Burghound

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 88-90 Points | Derived from holdings in La Buissière, Les Herbues, Les Chardanes and Les Gammaires, the 2021 Chambolle-Musigny is another pretty middle-weight, offering up aromas of red berries, peonies and spices, followed by a medium-bodied, ample and enveloping palate.

Winemaker Description

Produced from 100% Tinto Fino from vines age 30 years, aged 12 months in French Oak with minimal filtration. The result is a wine with a beautiful ruby colour with deep and intense aromas of red and black fruit with hints of liquorice and spice. The palate elegant and fresh with predominant fruit structure balanced by soft tannins and a lovely expressive finish.

It has the tannic richness of Ribera del Duero Tinto Fino, and smoky power from its oak, but the wine carries itself with some delicacy, its crisp fruit bringing fresh air.

Dominio Romano was established in 2005 when the Pares Balta family decided to to initiate a project in Ribera del Duero. Selecting the finest old and wild Tinto Fino vines in the best terroirs of the region, and farming with the utmost respect for the environment and tradition, the family produces wines that transmit the character of the autochthonous grape.

Winemaker Description

Guillaume d'Angerville's interest in the Jura wine region was awakened by a Parisian sommelier who served him a Chardonnay from this area "blind" a few years ago. Angerville was convinced that he had a Burgundy in his glass, and the surprise was great when the wine was unveiled.

This experience sparked the idea of ​​running a second winery next to his famous domaine in Volnay. Together with his long-time oenologist François Duvivier, with the advice of a geologist, he searched and investigated very specifically and found a 10-hectare winery in Montigny-les-Arsures in the Arbois appellation and presented the first wines with the 2012 vintage, which immediately caused great interest in the international wine scene.

The Domaine du Pélican, named after the heraldic animal of Arbois, produces only three wines, a mineral Chardonnay, a characterful, non-oxidative (“ouillé”) Savagnin and a regionally typical red wine cuvée made from approx. 2/3 Pinot Noir as well as parts of Trousseau and Pulsard.

Winemaker Description

Red Burgundy Elegance: Experience the finesse and complexity of Pinot Noir with this Chassagne-Montrachet Premier Cru from Château de la Maltroye. This 2021 Clos du Château Rouge bottling offers a harmonious blend of red fruit, spice, and earthy notes, with a silky texture and a lingering finish.

Expert Review

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 91 Points | This is aromatically more restrained if a bit more elegant with a mix of red cherry, plum and pretty floral wisps. There is again excellent volume and a highly seductive texture to the powerful yet refined flavors that deliver very fine length on the dusty, firm and ageworthy finish. (Drink starting 2029). (2021). 

Starts out with sweet, slightly stewed red plum and cherry fruit on the nose and on entry, then opens up to baking spice, medicinal herbs, and crushed flowers.  Medium bodied, and very satisfying on the palate with finely etched but assertive tannins.   

Rand Sieger, 67 Wine Buyer

Winemaker Description

The old vines of Clos Napoléon yield pure, well-balanced wine with high-toned notes of cherry, earth, and wood spice, combined with depth and length on the palate. This is one of the richer, more structured wines of the Fixin appellation.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Perfumed and pure, this red exudes black cherry, blackberry, violet and spice aromas and flavors. Silky and fresh, delivering harmony and a long, mouthwatering finish. The aftertaste echoes the ripe, dark fruit and spice elements. (2019).

Wine & Spirits 90 Points | When this 4.5-acre monopole became part of the domaine in 1950, it was not being farmed. Pierre Gelin planted the vines, which are now elders cultivated under organics by his grandson, Pierre-Emmanuel. They grew an intense and powerful Fixin in 2019, the wine’s ripeness highlighted in black-cherry roundness. Bright and fragrant, this has settled into its smoky tannins, bringing gamey meat and iron notes in the end. For the cellar. (2019).

Winemaker Description

Combining power and elegance and an unctuous and tannin-rich texture, Chateau Lascombes is a complex wine. In its youth, it always has an amazingly deep color. On the palate, finesse and a rich texture combine with very stylish fine-grained tannins.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2010 Château Lascombes is flat-out gorgeous and might be the finest vintage from this château I've tasted. Based on 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot that was raised in 90% new French oak, it has a dense purple/plum hue as well as a blockbuster-like style in its darker currants, cassis, smoky tobacco, incense, and graphite aromas and flavors. (2010).

Decanter 94 Points | Lascombes in 2010 has exuberance and precision and confidence, and a sense of fun. At the 10 year mark the power of the tannins is clear and evident. It's a big, concentrated, exuberant wine but it has delicacy and construction and persistency. (2010). 

James Suckling 94 Points | What a wonderful nose of ripe strawberries and hints of vanilla. Full body with soft and velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is luscious and sexy. (2010).

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Wood-driven tannins dominate at this stage, creating a wine that is structured and dense. The tannins are layered with the weight of the black currant and plum fruits. Lascombes is still finding its style, but is definitely on the upward slope. (2010).

Robert Parker's 92 Points | Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Lascombes gives up notes of dried herbs, tilled soil and black olives over a blackcurrant cordial and plums preserves core plus a touch of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers chewy tannins and bold freshness to support the savory flavors, finishing with an herbal lift. (2010).

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Dark and nicely toasty, with ample espresso and ganache up front, followed by steeped fig, blackberry and black currant fruit that rumbles through the finish. Features ample tarry grip, but eschews minerality and finesse for a direct and toast-driven approach. (2010). 

Winemaker Description

Winemaker Description

The Pian dell Orino estate is adjacent to the Biondi Santi property. This area has a long history of being particularly suited for growing grapes for high quality wines. Husband and wife team Caroline and Jan's love for Tuscany and passion for viticulture binds them particularly to this land, their vines and the resulting wines. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area. 

Expert Reviews 

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 97 Points | The 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigneti Del Versante is a rich ruby color with a tinge of light purple and perfectly clear. It offers ripe aromas of purple flowers, with sweet umami of porcini, fresh leather, pure, ripe cherry, and wet stone. It is full-bodied without being heavy and has wonderful balance without feeling over-ripe. A gorgeous wine with a lot of depth, including a note of blackberry, it is expansive and mouth-filling, with ripe structure, fresh acidity, and a lot to show off. Maturity 2026-2042. (2017). 

Eric Guido of Vinous writes 94 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Vigneti del Versante boasts a smoky mix of grilled sage and red currants that gives way to mint and tangerine notes fighting hard to be seen. This is surprisingly lifted and vibrant for the vintage, with tart red berries that cascade across the palate, accelerated by brisk acids and a salty flourish toward the close. It leaves a saturation of tannins, creating a youthfully dry wine with lingering hard red candies. The 2017 will need a little time to soften, but it has the balance to excel. There will be no Bassolino di Sopra in 2017 because all the fruit was used to bolster the Vigneti del Versante.  Maturity 2025 - 2032. (2017). 

Winemaker Description

Ruby red in color. Bouquet with notes of blackberry, raspberry and fruit jam with a mineral nuance. In the mouth the flavor is decisive, fresh and persistent.

Expert Review

95 Points Vinous  | The 2021 Barbera d'Alba Vigna Francia is fabulous. Rich and expansive, with tremendous presence, the 2021 is positively stellar. Super-ripe dark cherry, lavender, spice and pomegranate all gain volume and intensity with time in the glass. The 2020 is one of the finest recent editions of the Francia Barbera I can remember tasting. Today, it's explosive, heady personality is impossible to resist. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

Unapologetically cool climate Shiraz! A succulent wine with beautiful perfume, bright raspberry and boysenberry notes, and elegant tannins. Where 2019 was more opulent, this 2020 is sleek and tailored.

Shaw + Smith was established in 1989 by the current owners, cousins Martin Shaw and Michael Hill Smith. Michael had just completed his Master of Wine in the UK, and Martin was running a “flying winemaker” business in Europe when they decided – somewhat on a whim – to make wine together. While a family business, Shaw + Smith is more about a partnership of two cousins with a unified vision and complimentary skills, now joined by a small team of bright talented wine people who are dedicated to taking the business forward. Shaw + Smith aims to make exciting, refined wines exclusively from the Adelaide Hills that rank amongst Australia’s best.

They specialize in varieties suited to the cooler climate region, namely Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz. Shaw + Smith owns two vineyards in the Adelaide Hills, at Balhannah and Lenswood, with a total of 136 acres (55 hectares) under vine. The Balhannah vineyard, which surrounds the winery, was planted in 2000 with Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Shiraz. The soil is free-draining sandy loam over red clay, with underlying quartzite and shale. The average altitude is 1,375 feet (420 meters). The Lenswood vineyard was planted in 1999 primarily with Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc. The soil is brown loam over clay, as well as thinner topsoil areas on the ridges with broken shale and stone. The property is undulating with some very steep areas that provide east and west facing orientation and aspect. The property stands at 1,640 feet (500 meters) at its highest.
Growing outstanding grapes, working with the best growers, and using minimal intervention to make exciting wines with a strong sense of place is the core philosophy of Shaw + Smith. 

Stylistically, a slow evolution of the wines over time has occurred. Sauvignon Blanc winemaking has changed little, although the quality of fruit has improved significantly as the plantings have gone higher and cooler. Chardonnay continues to refine and evolve due to access to better vineyards, earlier picking to protect valuable acidity, whole bunch pressing, a preference for wild yeasts, less malolactic, and less battonage. Pinot Noir has improved as the vines have aged, and as they move to more whole-bunch and whole-berry in fermentations. The refinements for Shiraz are ongoing: better vineyards and a move to whole-bunch and whole-berry, along with less reliance on new oak.

Winemaker Description

Fragrant aromas of fresh red fruits, herbs and an elegant vegetal character. Crisp acidity balances the richness of the body. The aftertaste is complex and long. 

Winemaker Description

Bright ruby-garnet. On the nose, bright fresh cherry, pomegranate, candied violet, rose petal and flint. On the palate, elegant and fresh, with floral and spice notes wrapped around a core of fresh cherry fruit. Finishes long, with mouthwatering acidity and a consistent beam of minerality through the finish.

The fresh red fruit and delicate aromatics of the Quinta de Saes Tinto pair very well with roast poultry and game. Mushrooms and other umami-laden dishes are also fine pairs. 

Critic Notes

93 Points Wine & Spirits | Alvaro Castro replanted his vines at Saes around the turn of the century, an east-facing vineyard in the foothills of the Serra da Estrella, where he and his daughter Maria grow touriga nacional, alfrocheiro, jaen and tinta pinheira for this blend. Fermented without added yeasts and aged in older oak barrels, this is among the most straightforward wines they make, and it showed beautifully in 2018: An elegant red with lovely richness, its melodramatic funk in control, its fruit in blossom—"red plum, violets and rose petals," as panelist Bruno Almeida described it.

Winemaker Description

The history of Domaine Arlaud started durng World War II, when Joseph Arlaud (originally from the Ardèche) met and fell in love with Renée Amiot, who came from a historic Burgundian family. Part of the couple’s wedding gifts were parcels of land in the Côtes de Nuits, centered around the top crus of Morey St. Denis and Gevrey-Chambertin.

And so Domaine Arlaud was born. Joseph’s son, Hervé Arlaud, took over the estate in 1982 and expanded the domaine with more purchases of prime vineyards, mostly in their home village of Morey St. Denis. Today, the star of the show is Hevré’s son Cyprien, who in the last ten years, has come into his own as one of the most exciting growers in all of France.

Winemaker Description

A deep garnet red in color, it has an ethereal bouquet of dried fruit. On the palate, it is full-bodied, warm, mouth-filling and dry. A substantial wine of rare elegance that lends itself well to ageing.

Excellent with richly flavored main courses based on red meat, such as braised meats and game, and perfect with mature cheeses. It can also be enjoyed on its own at the end of a fine dinner. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Rating

94 Points James Suckling | Dark cherries, blackberries, mussels, licorice, figs and some finely ground black chocolate, following through to a medium-to full-bodied palate with elegant berries and a bittersweet black-chocolate note. A refined, textbook Amarone that shows great poise and modern drinkability.

Winemaker Description

Marchand-Tawse own and farm parcels in approximately twenty appellations, ranging from Bourgogne to Grand Cru, providing approximately 30% of their fruit supply. All fruit is hand-picked from biodynamically farmed vineyards, and different wines incorporate varying amounts of whole clusters into their final product. Wines are aged in both stainless-steel tanks and barrels. Combining expertise, passion and longstanding relationships with local growers, Marchand-Tawse create exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of Burgundy. 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | A full bodied, darkly colored Grenache with intense richness and depth of flavor. Aromas of savory red fruits on the nose, with lovely intensity in the mouth, smooth tannins and a delicious long-lasting finish. Powerful, precise and concentrated with no over ripeness. A great wine for hearty dishes and perfect for barbecues.

Winemaker Description

Dark, intense deep purple-crimson in the glass. On the nose: striking notes of rhubarb, raspberry jam and redcurrant. The palate is soft and rich, showing a more full-body style of Grenache. A flow of red cherries, rhubarb and red plums are laced with a fine layer of cedar, introducing more dark-flavored characters like plums and hints of dark chocolate. Texture is firm and finely balanced.

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | An inviting nose of baked cherry, blueberry, moss and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Juicy and fresh red and black fruit with savory undertones. Herb and earthy notes ground the palate. A bit of tension here, which I like. Drink or hold.