2010 - Present Wine

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 90 Points | The organic Volpaia 2020 Balifico is an IGT blend of 65% Sangiovese and 35% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Cabernet Sauvignon is impossible to miss, as this wine is very driven by aromas of blackberry, bitter chocolate and garden herb that are linked to that varietal. This is a medium to full-bodied red blend that also delivers the dusty crushed stone aromas that I associate with Chianti Classico.

James Suckling 93 Points | Very pretty and floral aromas with orange blossom and currant character. Very attractive purity of fruit. It’s medium-bodied with polished and fine tannins and a fresh and clean finish. Tangy acidity. From organically grown grapes. Give it a year or two more but already gorgeous. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Loaded with black cherry, blackberry and floral aromas and flavors, this red is also firmly structured. Shows persistent fruit through the lingering aftertaste, where elements of earth and Tuscan scrub emerge. Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink now through 2033.

Expert Reviews

95 points Vinous Media "Vibrant red. Minerals and violet complement lively red cherry and raspberry aromas on the incisive nose. Then enticingly fresh and well-balanced, with captivating violet inner-mouth perfume to the steely red and black fruit flavors that linger impressively. The delicately peppery finish features polished if youthful tannins and noteworthy purity of fruit. Knockout 2015 Brunello, one of the top half dozen of the year."

95 points Wine Spectator "Offering cherry, plum, iron, earth and floral aromas and flavors, this is vibrant and beautifully balanced. Well-structured, with the harmony and concentration to develop." (Bruce Sanderson)

95 points James Suckling "This is a very decadent Brunello with dried stems, charcuterie, bay leaf, Thai basil and earth. Full-bodied and dense, the deeply interlocked layers of dark fruit nearly tripping over the ropey, chewy tannin structure."

93 points The Wine Advocate "The Caprili 2015 Brunello di Montalcino offers warm-vintage aromas of dark fruit and dried cherry followed by earthy tones of leather and moist potting soil. This is a classic rendition of Sangiovese that shows the opulence and richness of this sunny vintage, as well as the elegant restraint that you normally associate with the mighty Montalcino growing area. The palate reveals a spot of fruity sweetness, but you also get the savory and spicy elements that come with extended barrel aging. Overall, this is an easy and accessible expression of Brunello for near- and medium-term drinking." (Monica Larner)

Winemaker Description

Powerful mountain character. cascades from the glass with aromas of black currant, dried cherry, and raspberry jam. Scents of dark chocolate, coffee, dried rosemary, and hints of fig emerge over time. 

The palate is full-bodied and rich, with concentrated ripe cherry, cranberry, and blackberry flavors plus hints of mocha, leather, turned earth, baking spices, and rocky minerality. The tannins are firm yet opulent, driving the wine’s long, powerful fruit finish. 

"The wines are deep, rich, powerful and dramatic...pinnacles in the history of dry German Riesling. -- Stephan Reinhardt, The Wine Advocate

Light yellow-green in color. Nose of peach and lemon. Mouth-filling, taste of apricot and lemon, great acid level.

Winemaker Description

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Syrah. Deep red in colour which lingers in the glass. The ageing in oak is noticeable, well blended with fruity aromas which give it finesse and complexity.

Mouth-filling and complex, smooth and well balanced on the palate. This is a wine which shows slightly smoked red fruit. 

Winemkaker Description

The grapes are collected from vineyards on the slopes of the Verin Valley. It is a fragrant, light, very fruity and delicate wine, an outstanding example of the Galician Mencía variety.

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada 67Wine.com | Martinez Lacuesta Crianza 2018 exudes aromas of currants, blackcherry and raspberry with a nice undertone of baking spices. Medium body with well-integrated, smooth tannins. Savory and pleasant finish. One of my go-to Crianzas to drink year around.

Winemaker Description

A tasty and well-structured wine with a deep black-cherry color. The fruity taste has an elegant finish with perfectly integrated sensations of oak. Highly recommended to accompany white or red meats, game or mature cheeses. 

Winemaker Description

A blend of 70% Monastrell and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged 24 months French & American oak. The wine exhibits a glass-coating opaque purple color.

The nose is expressive with pain grille, underbrush, brier, minerality, blueberry and blackberry fruit. On the palate is a plush, opulent wine with great density, savory flavors, and a lengthy finish.

Winemaker Description

Cherry red color with garnet rims. On the nose it is elegant, clean and expressive, with a complexity typical of a wine made with an excellent quality grape and a very careful production process. In the mouth it is sweet, with good body and great balance, presenting a long and pleasant aftertaste.

The alma mater of the winery, a wine with imprint, plant, and lordship. A completely varietal red, mature, with a growing personality and a lot of elegance.

The soils of the Cepa 21 vineyards are the result of the evolution of millions of years. In them grow our vines that define who we are, learning from the passage of time, a deep love for our land, the care with which we work the fields and the history that precedes us. The Strain is much more than a part of our name, it is the basis of all our machinery, what moves us to be better every day, the greatest asset of our wineries, the origin, and the end. 

100% Savagnin. The lieu-dit Savagnier is located in the commune of Lavigny, close to Balanoz. The vines are planted on gravel and marl soil. This cuvée is made in a non-oxidized style and aged on the lees for 10 months in stainless steel tanks.

Aromas of citrus and exotic fruits, lots of minerality on the palate. Drink within 5 years and enjoy as an aperitif or with light fare. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

The red wine "Trio" by Berthet-Bondet consists of the three common red grapes of the Jura, Trousseau, Poulsard and Pinot Noir. This elegant red wine smells of spices and pepper, a slight wild animal note, typical of the poulsard, can also be perceived. 

A completely independent wine, somewhat comparable in structure and fullness to neighboring Burgundy, but not aromatic. A characterful red for friends of the unusual.

In 1985, Chantal and Jean Berthet-Bondet took over a domaine that had not been producing wine for 50 years, and brought it back to life. In 2017, their daughter Hélène succeeded them, helped by her husband and two children. The vineyards spread on 15 hectares, 4.5ha of Savagnin in Château-Chalon and 10.5ha of Chardonnay, Savagnin, Trousseau, Poulsard and Pinot Noir in Côtes-du-Jura appellation. A new plot of Chardonnay was planted in 2022, using for the first time massal selection and young plants from the Bérillon nurseries. The vineyard is off to a magnificient start. Château-Chalon possesses the noblest terroir in the Jura region. A composition of limestone and red and gray marl confers both power and great finesse to these wines. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Winemaker Description

In the glass, bright strawberry and cranberry mix with hints of plum and citrus. Fresh fruit flavors are inviting and complex with a touch of spice and earthy notes on the finish. Silky tannins and balanced acids combine seamlessly to produce a luxurious mouthfeel. Aged on French Oak.

Enjoy with dishes such as grilled salmon or roasted pork loin.

Expert Reviews 

98+ Points Robert Parker | Coming to market this fall, the Bartolo Mascarello 2019 Barolo represents a classic vintage in between two challenging growing seasons. Both 2018 and 2020 were hotter than 2019, resulting in higher alcohol levels. With fruit harvested on October 8th and 9th, this expression from 2019 shows extra freshness and a more streamlined style compared to the texturally generous 2020 or the softer and more open-knit 2018. Extraction and structure came easily in 2019, and delicate pump-overs sufficed. Maria Teresa Mascarello opted against submerged cap fermentations in 2022, 2019, 2017 and 2013. It was performed in 2016, 2014 and 2010, however. The fruit represents a blend of Monrobiolo in Bussia (a site with a lease that ends in 2025), Rue and Cannubi in Barolo and Rocche dell’Annunziata in La Morra. San Lorenzo will return to the blend in 2020. 

98 Points Decanter | Maria Teresa Mascarello compared the 2019 of her Barolo (which will be released in September 2023) with the famed 1999 vintage. Fermented and aged in oak for 36 months, this blend of four MGAs – Cannubi, Rocche dell'Annunziata, Monrobiolo di Bussia and Ruè – will, from 2020, also incorporate grapes from San Lorenzo. Full of earthy tones, tar, smoky woodland and the elegance of leafy lightness, it shines for its depth and complexity, with the first hints of bergamot and potpourri. The palate is stylish, with firm, youthful, grainy yet sweet tannins allied to refreshing acidity of amazing delicacy; forward and zesty. An incredible structure wrapped up in a silk scarf.

97 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2019 Barolo saw a gentle fermentation without implementing a submerged cap and is a more forward and linear wine, with rhubarb, pomegranate, and orange peel. It retains a medium body with a more direct nature, with refined tannins and racy acidity that is citrus-driven with notes of ripe apricot and red raspberry. This is an outstanding wine to hold a few years and drink over the coming decades.

95 Points Wine Spectator | Round and elegant, offsetting cherry and raspberry flavors with balsamic notes of sandalwood, rosemary and thyme. Reveals earth and iron accents that complete the profile, while refined tannins hold court on the lingering finish.

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby red color. The bouquet is rich and complex with aromas of violets, red berries, such as raspberry and red currant, and a fresh hint of red orange. On the palate it is dry, fresh, full- bodied with smooth tannins. Very long and tasty finish, with a pleasant minerality and flavors of violets and berries.

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.

Expert Review

92 Points James Suckling | A nicely structured, nicely balanced wine, this is tangy and firm, offering black cherries, cinnamon and dark plums braced by red cherry freshness. Very fresh, focused and vibrant. (2022).

Winemaker Description

The 2020 Guado al Tasso is an intense ruby red in color. The nose offers notes of small dark fruit with sweet spice and toasted oak. On the palate, pure flavors and refined tannins lead to a persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed immediately, but also has great aging potential. 

Expert Reviews

96 Points Robert Parker | The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast | The nose is rich with notes of blackberries, black cherry and soil, while a white pepper undertone provides pop. On the supple, warm palate, berries continue leading the way, before a salty, chocolaty finish with another kick of pepper. Stoic tannins are balanced by lively, persistent acidity.

95 Points James Suckling | Aromas of black olives, berries, herbs, red beans, sour cherries, and sage follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and plenty of structure. It’s flavorful and intense. Needs time to come together. Best after 2027.

95 Points Wine Spectator | Packed with exuberant blackberry, black currant and blueberry fruit, this red shows the expressive character of the vintage. Just when you think it's too flamboyant, the solid structure reins it in. Shows excellent balance and length, with a touch of lavender and wild herbs on the lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Winemaker Description

Maranges is in the heart of red wine country, at the bottom of the Beaune. This has dark fruit, spice, and a solid slate minerality that is distinct to Maranges. Delicious, well-balanced, rugged, and yet inviting.

Black berries and fruits aromas dominate with elegant spicy and woody notes. A dense, rich and well-structured wine in the mouth, carried by the black fruits flavours again and quite present tanins that will soften with time. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Wine made with only grapes, well-kept vineyards, and healthy land.” 

This is the mantra of Castellano winegrower Alfredo Maestro, a bright light amongst an abyss of industrially farmed, over-ripe, over-oaked, and over-manipulated wine-scape that is the Ribera del Duero these days.   

Alfredo Maesto is a city man, who has become a farmer as a choice and not because of circumstances. He is guided by passion and love, which we find in each of his bottles. His production is mainly of reds (Tempranillo and Garnacha) which can be drank both young and aged; then there’s the LoveAmor, the albillo (white grapes) pure which surprises even the most demanding of tasters. Alfredo Maestro manages some vineyards near Madrid, but mainly in Castilla y Leon, in Penafel in the Ribera near Valladolid (the Spanish Bolgheri), land which has always celebrated the most famous Spanish reds. To process natural wines in this piece of land is like finding yourself on the frontline in the Caporetto battle and yet, Alfredo Maestro, teacher both in name and facts, acting as a righteous Charon he takes on the task of ferrying heretic sommeliers from vanilla wines with shavings icing towards the right way of pure, real wine. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

From two tiny parcels in St. Joseph, this is a slightly fresher, more early-drinking wine than the remarkable Crozes-Hermitage that constitutes the majority of Alain's production.

Winemaker Description

A rich bright red to crimson color, this wine has an intense nose with lifted vanilla aromatics balanced with red currants, violets, and mulberry fruits. It is a wine that is firm and full on the palate with a subtle sweetness giving a rich mouth feel. The vanilla aromatics carry through on the palate and compliment subtle flavors of red currants, dark cherries, and chocolate. The palate is filled with dark berry fruit and the soft tannins provide a lingering finish.

Winemaker Description 

This saca de Junio comes from a Fino solera that has aged in a bodega in El Puerto de Santa Maria. It has spent the entirety of its time aging beneath a veil of flor. Typically used for blending purposes, this remarkable solera has never previously been bottled on its own. 

Nicolas Palazzi was raised surrounded by his family’s vineyards in Bordeaux and introduced to spirits, Cognac and Cognac cellars through a dear friend of Nicolas’ grandfather. This gentleman will be referred to as “Mr. X”.

Established somewhere in the Cognac region of France, Mr. X’s family started distilling at over a century ago. Recognizing in Nicolas a fledgling passion for Cognac, this mysterious man shared his knowledge and connections within the small and commonly impenetrable world of artisan Cognac. This gave rise to PM Spirits, as Nicolas began sourcing, collecting, aging and blending these rare casks and subsequently releasing limited series bottling in the USA.

PM Spirit’s passion for artisan spirits has slowly broadened its focus over the years to include within its portfolio other small-scale hand-crafted distillates such as Sicilian Grappas, French Eau-de-vies & Liqueurs, Rum, Tequilas, Mezcals.

Winemaker Description

Fantastically hedonistic, offering great velvety richness on the palate and exotic notes of black cherry, cocoa, and ash. The Riserva is a selection from the estate's best fruit.

Expert Reviews

Eric Guido of Vinous writes 94 Points | The 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico TB is surprisingly lifted and airy on the nose, with licorice-tinged cherries and rosy florals. This impresses with a push and pull of savory and sweet, as well as a bitter twang of cocoa and spice that further accentuates the ripe berry and plumy fruits within. The contrasts are quite appealing, as a mix of saline-minerals and juicy acids help to add both depth and freshness further accentuated by a hint of sour citrus. Fine tannins linger and also balance the expression through the long and balsamic finale. The 2012 is just a baby today, so give it at least a few more years to come into focus.  Drinking 2024 - 2034.

James Suckling 94 Points | This is a structured and solid Amarone, with dried fruits, sultanas, figs and iron. It’s full-bodied, yet compacted and tannic with a long and persistent finish. One for the cellar, but already impressive to drink.  James Suckling 94

Alison Napjus of Wine Spectator writes 93 Points |  Both juicy and mouthwatering, this rich red shows a lot of personality, offering layered flavors of blackberry pie and raspberry ganache, hints of espresso and sweet smoke, plus fragrant juniper, eucalyptus, lavender and leather accents. Features firm, well-meshed tannins, with creamy edges that meld into the silky flavor range. Drink now through 2035. 

Monica Larner of Robert Parker writes | The Bussola 2012 Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Riserva TB (in a heavy glass bottle) is a determined wine with lots of extra power and brawn. The wine shows sweet, air-dried fruit with baked plum and cherry confit. The alcohol content clocks in at 17%, which is way too much on any scale. Despite the high alcohol reading, the wine is still tastes sweet.  Drinking 2022 - 2035.

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. Israel. The wine is produced under strict controlled conditions from top-quality grapes of the winery, from vineyards in the Upper Galilee and Kiryat Anavim. The final blend combines vigorous wines made in new oak casks after aging an additional six months, with wines which aged in stainless steel vessels.

This combination creates a unique complexity- typical high- quality fruit which emerges from an intense, full body which is then perfected in a bottle.

Expert Review

Allan Meadows  of Burghound writes 91 Points | Bright red and dark berry fruit aromas are nuanced by notes of spice, earth and plenty of floral nuances, especially violet. The rich, concentrated and palate coating medium weight flavors possess plenty of sappy dry extract that buffers the firm tannins supporting the elegant yet powerful finish. At least some patience is strongly recommended. I would note that this example showed markedly better than one from last year, in fact so much so that I have no explanation.  

Winemaker Description

Sustainable. 100% Grüner Veltliner. Nice and balanced nose with fresh tones of white fruits, white peaches, white pepper, snap peas, and some citrus tones. On the palate, medium- to full-bodied with crisp, refreshing acidity and flavors of white fruits, white peaches, minerals and white pepper.

95 Points James Suckling | Chopped apples, fresh herbs and pears here, with some creamy peach too. Lovely fruit-forward, silky nature, medium- to full-bodied, with youthful energy and beautiful balance.

95-96 Points Robert Parker | Tasted as a sample, the 2021 Ried Stein 1ÖTW Engabrunn Grüner Veltliner offers a deep, fresh and flinty/stony bouquet of ripe fruits and smoky bacon. Full-bodied, rich and dense on the palate, this is an opulent but elegant, fresh, savory and salty Veltliner with spectacular grip and tension. A fascinating wine.

Stein is actually a vineyard that Bernhard farms that’s in the Kamptal, specifically the village of Engabrunn. Bernhard’s village of Feuresbrunn is right on the border of Kamptal and the Wagram and Bernhard has roots in these Engelbrunn vineyards going back to his Great Grandfather who started farming these sites in 1889. Stein means stone and as the name would suggest, this vineyard is loess with a lot of gneiss. It might remind you more of the wines from Renner than the heavy loess wines from Rosenberg, which recall the Lamm more than any other site. Long maceration here in the press prior to natural fermentation in steel. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Appearance: Intense bigarreau cherry color, clean and vivid from the high level and variation with evolution.

Aromatic intensity and complexity, where mainly black fruits appear which develop high roasts and tobaccos, with underlying balsamic notes.
taste    

In the mouth, it is fleshy and round, well structured, balanced, tannic, and with a persistent aftertaste. A very special wine with a singular character.

Pairing recommendation: Ideal for vegetables, juicy meats (roasts, lamb, game, etc) and cured cheeses.

Expert Reviews

92 Pts James Suckling: “concentrated, mature-berry character, generous tannins and a discreet hint of sweetness that make this an appealing wine with along, fresh finish.”

96 Pts Decanter Magazine: A nose of mature fruit and fruitcake, with balsamic hints, the palate is concentrated and complex with layers of lovely sweet black cherry fruit and velvety tannin.