2010 - Present Wine

Expert Review - Vintage Year 2022 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Followers of the fruit, this wine's for you. Aromas of lemon verbena, thyme and apple blossoms start things off. Then come the creamy fruit flavors of mango sorbet and lemon curd, with a touch of pineapple and vanilla crème brûlée. Fortunately, just enough acidity keeps the fruit from running amok.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is distinctly floral, with peach, lime blossom, citronella and mineral aromas and flavors. Sleek and elegant, offering intensity through the lingering aftertaste of lemon and orchard fruits. Shows terrific length and harmony. Best from 2026 through 2036. 30 cases imported.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The balsamic white 2022 Le Domaine is herbal and spicy, keeping the freshness but reflecting the weather conditions, dry and warm. It has 13.8% alcohol and comes through as a powerful white that should age nicely in bottle. It's an unusual blend of 86% Sauvignon Blanc and 14% Verdejo, a little à la Bordeaux. It was bottled in June 2023. It finished fermenting in barrel, where it matured with the lees for seven months.

Winemaker Description 

A clean and bright wine. Fragrant at first, with aromas of white flowers, elder and acacia. It also has refreshing notes of ginger, and citric hints of mandarin, grapefruit and lime. When poured, hints of stone fruit come through, such as apricot and nectarine, along with mature fruits like melon. Persistent, long, creamy and unctuous. It has a fresh and well-integrated acidity, almost crystalline, ensuring that this is a highly age-worthy wine.

Winemaker Description 

Ferrando’s white-label Carema is among the most elegant expressions of Nebbiolo in existence, combining ample density with a very Alpine sense of nimbleness. Never an overwhelmingly powerful wine, “Etichetta Bianca” derives its sense of structure more from its acid-fruit tension than its tannins, offering satisfyingly savory fruit buttressed by vigorous mountain acidity.

Fermented in stainless steel without temperature control and using only indigenous yeasts, it spends three full years in a combination of 20-hectoliter Slavonian oak botti and used 500-liter French barrels.

Winemaker Description 

Notes of plums, cherries, strawberries and fresh oranges, subtle hints of cassis, raspberries and blackberries. There is a mineral touch on the nose and a saline and toasted touch stands out on the palate, with a very fresh and balsamic finish. An original and explosive wine.

Rocky limestone clay soil of very low fertility. Altitude of the vineyards: 800m above sea level. Spontaneous fermentation, aged 6 months, 1/3 of the grapes fermented and aged respectively in clay amphorae, French oak barrels and stainless steel tanks.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Vinous 92 Points Eric Guido | More savory than sweet and wonderfully complex, the 2019 Brut Rosé North Coast bursts from the glass with toasty notes of fresh baguette and almonds, giving way to crushed apples and gingery spice. This rushes the palate with an elegant bead of silken bubbles. It is creamy yet energetic, and mineral-tinged orchard fruits add further tension. The 2019 leaves the senses wonderfully refreshed through the long, crunchy finale, as white strawberry and spice cookie notes fade. The Brut Rosé is a pleasure bomb, yet it’s wonderfully balanced throughout.  Drinking 2023 to 2027.    

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A delicate, graceful rosé, with refined strawberry, fresh ginger and yeast roll tones that glide on the supple finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now.  

Expert Review - Vintage 2017

James Suckling 100 Points | What a stunning nose of crushed berries, fresh flowers, sandalwood and light vineyard dust. Black olives, too. Very complex. Full-bodied with a beautiful, dense palate of blackberries, chocolate, walnuts and cigar box. Fantastic length and composure. The tannin just rolls over the palate. Very structured. The most classically structured wine ever from here. Goes on for minutes. Outrageous and so polished. A blend of 48% carmenere, 26% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot and 1% petit verdot. Try after 2025.

The Wine Spectator 95 Points | This features an intensely rich and fruity aroma, with concentrated flavors to match, dominated by cherry tart, raspberry and dark plum. Creamy midpalate, with a plush and spicy finish that offers hints of chocolate mint and plenty of minerality. Carmenère, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2027.

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The 2017 Clos Apalta is the 20th vintage of this wine that was produced with a blend of 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot from organic and biodynamic certified vineyards on granite soils. It fermented with indigenous yeasts for four to five weeks, with manual punch-down of the cap, mostly in 7,500-liter French oak vats and 18% in new French barrique. Malolactic was in new French oak barrels, and the élevage lasted for 27 months in 85% new barrels and 15% second use. This is always a powerful, big and ripe wine that is regularly 15% alcohol, reflecting a warm and ripe place. The 2017 is no exception, perhaps a riper and more powerful wine than the 2016. It's still very young and marked by the élevage, with abundant balsamic aromas and notes from the wood—spice and smoke with an ashy touch. It seems quite marked by the character of the Carmenere. The tannins are quite round and polished, and the flavors are pungent and powerful. It's a full-bodied wine to age in in bottle and enjoy in its 10th birthday with powerful food. 

Decanter 94 Points | Powerful in its concentration and focus, a deep plum colour with the same distinctive sumac and cardamon spice notes as Le Petit Clos, but here with a more serious grip, excellent balance in terms of its liquorice-laced blueberry fruits and a mouthwatering lift through the finish. 85% new oak that fits extremely well in the frame of the wine. 20th anniversary vintage. Now its own specific appellation within the Colchagua Valley. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Certified biodynamic, with a number of ungrafted vines. Drinking Window 2023 - 2038.

Winemaker Description 

Deep garnet in appearance, the wine reflects the intensecolor of Carmenère grapes and typical aromas of ripe fruits. An abundance of aromas, including redcurrant, raspberry andwild strawberries, reflects the stunning complexity of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère. The initial wave of berry fruits, underpinned by soft, silky tannins, is pursued by contrasting touches of black olive, blackcurrant and licorice. Incredibly long and taut on the finish, revealing exquisite, delicate tannins, and expressing the great elegance of the Apalta terroirs.

Blend: 48% Carmenere, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot

About the Estate One of the oldest vineyards of Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère in Chile, if not in the world, is the origin of this story. Enclaved in the Colchagua Valley, near the town of Santa Cruz, the Apalta Valley was the place selected by a visionnary near the 1915's who, using a unique french massal selection, planted this amazing vineyard. In 1994, Alexandra Marnier Lapostolle and her husband Cyril de Bournet acquired this property. True to the demands of the family, their ambition was to produce an exceptional wine and to pave the way for the qualitative development of the country's fine wines.

Clos Apalta is born in 1997 as the iconic wine of the Domaines Bournet-Lapostolle in Chile under the idea to magnify the exceptional terroir of Apalta with French expertise. Shaping the vineyard foot by foot, building a state-of-the-art gravity fed winery, the family succeeded in making Clos Apalta one of the most iconic wines in South America.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Danielle Callegari of the WIne Enthusiast writes 88 Points | Hot chili peppers burst off the nose of this Nero d'Avola, lifted by wood smoke, macerated blackberries and bitter chocolate. Spiciness carries over to the palate, with notes of black pepper and tomato-pepper jam, but also more berries and some tobacco leaf. Tannins are firm but polished.  

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

The Wine Enthusiast by Roger Voss 93 Points |  French historical monument, this chateau is owned by the Cruse family, one of the leading Bordeaux dynasties. This wine is richly textured with dense black fruits and considerable potential. Power and concentration will allow it to age well. Drink from 2026.

Memo Notes Summary 

• Pairing: Its robust structure and elegant tannins make it an ideal partner for savory dishes:

  • Red Meats: Grilled steak (especially an Entrecôte), roast beef, or lamb.

  • Game: Duck confit or roasted game birds.

  • Cheeses: Hard, aged French cheeses.

The Château du Taillan 2019 is an excellent choice for a well-structured, classic Cru Bourgeois that represents exceptional value from a superb Bordeaux vintage.

Winemaker's Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Winemaker Description 

A sweet sparkling wine with light ruby red nuances with a lively and persistent perlage. Both at the nose and in the mouth, all the aromatic peculiarities of the vine are best expressed; intense aromas of Bulgarian rose and berries accompanied by a sweet aftertaste balanced by a good acidity.

A perfect dessert wine paired with fresh strawberries, fruit salads, fruit pies and small pastries.

Winemaker Descrption 

This vineyard of Sauvignon is located in the nearby village of Buttrio, which has a warmer microclimate. The grapes are whole cluster pressed and fermented entirely in used barrels and 650 liter wooden vats. There is no malolactic or battonage.

Soothing textures, ripe orchard fruits and saline-tinged acidity that adds an energetic feel. Zesty notes of lemon and lime mingle throughout the finale.

Winemaker Description 

Barbera, along with Nebbiolo and Dolcetto, is widely planted throughout Piemonte. Many Barolo and Barbaresco producers will also make a Barbera mainly because the aging requirement is far shorter allowing them to see a profit from the harvest earlier. In the commune of Nizza, the Barbera grape steps into the spotlight and takes center stage. This is where Barbera reaches its heights of glory.

The Frasca family has 22 hectares of vineyard in Nizza, with vines averaging 30 years of age. Their 2020 Barbera Nizza DOCG opens with an inviting bouquet of dark cherries, blackberries, and plums, intertwined with notes of violet, tobacco, and a hint of vanilla. On the palate, it is full-bodied and rich, showcasing intense flavors of ripe black fruits, licorice, and a touch of dark chocolate, balanced by firm tannins and vibrant acidity. The finish is long and complex, with lingering hints of fruit, spice, and subtle oak nuances.

Winemaker Description

Nestled in the heart of Occitanie, this blend of Malbec and Cabernet Franc is grown on 21 hectares of clay and limestone soil. The 25-year-old vines are nurtured using biodynamic methods, with meticulous hand harvesting. Winemaking follows traditional methods with whole cluster processing, a 7-day maceration, and spontaneous fermentation in cement and neutral oak, aging for 6 months.

This unfiltered and unfined wine features red and blue fruit flavors, a velvety texture, and an earthy nose, making it lush, inviting, and perfect for any soire. Minimal SO2 (15 mg/L) is added to maintain its pure character.

Winemaker Description 

La Fita - Els Arpiots is a white wine that embodies the essence of its origins –Penedes.

A blend of Macabeu and Xarel.lo, traditional grape varieties of Penedès, creates a fresh and light wine.

It bursts with aromatic intensity, evoking the Mediterranean with scents of white fruit and flowers. Its palate is gentle and straightforward.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | A hearty, robust red, the 2022 Re Manfredi Aglianico del Vulture is powerful and satisfying, perfect for full flavored meals. Dark in color with an intense bouquet of blackberries, black cherries, cassis, leather, spice and a touch of vanilla oak. Well structured and lively in the mouth with good tannins and fresh acidity. An ideal accompaniment to pasta, meat and wild game.

Winemaker Description 

In terms of quality and price, this is arguably the best 'Bordeaux blend' in our portfolio, made by a winemaker who is passionate about the wines of his French cousins but still proudly Argentine. 50% Malbec, 20% Cab Franc, 20% Cab Sauv, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot.

A nose of black fruits, spices, white pepper, clove, cardamon, eucalyptus, thyme and rosemary - complex in other words, with a fantastic finish.

Federico Benegas Lynch was raised at ‘El Trapiche’, a winery established in 1883 by his great, great grandfather, Don Tiburcio Benegas, one of the original pioneers of Argentine wine. The winery was finally sold in the 1970s and in 1998, following a successful business career in Buenos Aires, Federico returned to Mendoza to re-kindle his lifelong passion and professional destiny, wine. He bought Finca La Libertad, an historic 40-hectare vineyard with ‘soils’ of stone on the old Upper Mendoza riverbank in Cruz de Piedra, and the old winery that belonged to his mother’s family which he quickly set about refurbishing. His idea was based on the traditional French Châteaux system, where proprietorship of vineyard and winery are inextricably linked.

Winemaker Description 

Xabi Soeanes is in love with his Galician countryside, and he’s even more taken in by its nearly forgotten past. His greatest desire, his dream, is to share this cultural treasure with the world, through the lens of his varietally blended wines—the
historical winegrowing practice of this area.

Fazenda Prádio (named after a local tree known as a false maple, or sycamore) is located within the Chantada subzone, one of the coldest of Ribeira Sacra, heavily influenced by the Atlantic.

His 3.5ha of vines, a collection of Mencía, Caíño Longo, Merenzao, Brancellao, Godello, and other indigenous varieties, are perched on wide terraces between 180-300m that overlook the Miño River gorge and are carved out of a steep hill split with granite and schist. Xabi practiced organic and biodynamic farming for years but after a series of seasons that almost put him out of business, he keeps the door open to move freely when needed.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | This is loaded with cracked pepper flavors, plus lively cherry and grilled herb notes that finish with polished tannins. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 96 Points | Grapes for the 2021 Angeli Zinfandel are picked in three passes. Proprietor Scot Bilbro notes that Zinfandel's naturally varying levels of ripeness can lead to raisiny flavors if all the grapes are picked at a higher brix. "If you bring Zinfandel in over 25 brix, that means the juice inside is at 25, but the skins have a lot more sugar, and the level will go up to 28 or more," he explains. "So, we pick at 23, 24 and just shy of 25. You can enable the wine to show off layers with those different picks." This strategy led to a gorgeous Angeli in 2021 that is incredibly expressive and perfumed. Blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry give way to wafts of graphite, gobs of violet and even touches of tangerine. The medium to full-bodied palate explodes with concentrated fruit and expansive layers of floral perfume and spice. It has a powdery frame, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a very long, nuanced finish. 

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The dark purple 2021 Zinfandel Angeli is from the Angeli estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley and was raised for 15 months in neutral barrels. Concentrated and full-bodied, it reveals layered notes of dried apricot, espresso, blackberry compote, and licorice. The palate is brooding and savory, with a fleshy texture, an earthier profile, and notes of dark chocolate through the finish. A more potent and powerful style.

Winemaker Description 

Showing bright and clear scarlet while poured, the wine in the glass becomes edged with a deeper hue reminiscent of plum skin. With swirling layers of ripe cherry, blood peach, and marzipan this pure Zinfandel is immediately bright, inviting, and nuanced on the nose. Hints of violet, black tea, and spice ground the wine with a dark intensity. Velvety across the palate this exuberant wine finishes dry with a textured foremouth focus and a core of acidity cutting a cleansing path through the richness. This Zinfandel is a seductive, stately celebration of the Angeli vineyard which surrounds the winery.