2010 - Present Wine

Winemaker Description

The 2022 Red Shoulder Ranch is a refreshing, vibrant Chardonnay characterized by its lush, glass-filling aromas of white flowers, lemon zest, and exotic fruit. On the palate it offers a graceful balance of energy and richness, with flavors of white melon, apricot, ripe pineapple, flint, honey, and Crème Brûlée. With its pure, Chablis-like acidity this vintage offers effortless structure and elegant balance with a long, delightful finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | All elegance and silk, this beautifully balanced wine offers a lively texture, with subtle lemon, toast and kiwi flavors on a full body. The mouthfeel is graceful and mouthwatering, backed by acidity that perfectly meets the generous fruit flavors. Making a wine of this caliber in thousands of cases is quite an accomplishment.

James Suckling 96 Points | A vibrant, agile and poised Chardonnay with aromas of pears, apples, sweet spices, jasmine and hints of stones. It’s medium- to full-bodied with precise definition on the palate. Fresh acidity and crunchy fruity at the center and a velvety touch to the edge, bringing volume and a voluptuous character throughout. Lively and long finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | I love the 2022 Chardonnay Red Shoulder Ranch. It's a richer, broad, yet still fresh and lively Chardonnay with ripe citrus and pineapple fruits, medium to full body, a layered mouthfeel, and terrific toast, brioche, honeysuckle, and lemon oil aromatics. It will keep for 4-6 years, if not longer, but I love it today.

Winemaker Description 

This is the Grand Vin Blanc, mainly made from Roussanne with Clairette and Marsanne. The Roussane was oak aged in French oak barrels. The wine is named after Albert, Jacques Capsouto’s younger brother. The wine is straw colored with a lemony, apricot character and a hint of a floral aroma. It is medium bodied and with good complexity, and a long broad flavored finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Paul Gregutt from the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | From Draper clone vines planted in 1965, this bright gold-hued wine brings myriad details to its apple, jicama, white peach and nut oil flavors. A whiff of smoke carries throughout, and its sheer complexity strains the vocabulary. Stay with it as more subtle layers unfold. Though seductive now, it should mature well through 2030. — Paul Gregutt 

James Suckling 92 Points | A layered and fresh white with cooked apples, honey and straw. Medium- to full- bodied, creamy and textured wine with fresh and pretty fruit. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | A richer reflective ruby hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard is a savory wine with notes of wet stones, graphite, pine, fresh black cherries, mixed berries, and tea leaf. It is very appealing on the palate early on. with refined tannins and a juicy feel. It’s very attractive now, and it’s not going to slow down any time soon. Drink 2024-2040.

James Suckling 95 Points | Aromas of fresh sour cherries and strawberries with hints of violets, crushed herbs and seashells. Crunchy and savory on the palate, with a medium body and wet stone and mineral character. Structured with refined yet firm tannins. Long finish.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points |  The 2022 Pinot Noir Freedom Hill Vineyard opens with tarry, meaty tones that give way to wild berry fruit, mushrooms, dried herbs and potpourri. The light-bodied palate is delicately styled with understated yet detailed flavors, silky tannins, juicy acidity and a long, spicy finish.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Briary raspberry and wild strawberry aromas burst from the glass, followed by traces of violets and grilled portobello mushrooms. The wine’s Bing cherry, lemon and white chocolate flavors fill the mouth. A combination of jangly acidity and rippling tannins suggests a long life for this wine.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Brooding and deeply structured, offering blueberry and cherry flavors laced with black tea and savory spice notes as this builds toward medium-grained tannins. 

Winemaker Description 

Freedom Hill Vineyard is located in the foothills of the Oregon Coast Range, toward the western edge of the Willamette Valley near the Eola-Amity AVA. The grapes from Freedom Hill make their way into the wine portfolios of some of the most esteemed, artistic wineries in the Willamette Valley.

Winemaker Description 

El Rall Artigas Alella Red, biodynamic wine, 50% Merlot, 20% Garnatxa Negra (Grenache Noir), 20% Syrah, and 10% Sumol from 4 vineyards planted on granitic sand. 

Oriol’s ancient vineyards of native vines are largely based on granite rock, known locally as Sauló, at between 100 and 350 metres elevation.  This results in wines often rich in minerality, conjuring aromas that will take you all the way to the Mediterranean. 

The grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tank with 3 days on the skins, then transferred to a mix of stainless steel tanks and used barrels to rest for approximately 18 months before blending and bottling with no sulphites. 

El Rall Artigas is natural, hot climate red wine which is bursting with flavour and although 100% pure, there is no real funkiness, just soft fruits and tension from the granite soils. 

Winemaker Description 

Limited Production - only 1,900 bottles produced.

Today we present the Vintage 2022 of Campeador Viura, the first white wine to be produced under the Campeador brand which, as you know, was created in 1916 to produce the first Rioja cavas. This is a limited edition in the style of the great historic white wines of Rioja. A wine that can be considered a wine for cellaring, so you can keep it in your private cellars for a few years or you can drink it immediately thanks to its harmony, intensity and subtlety.

It is a slightly disruptive Viura, but at heart it is a classic wine, like a vintage. It is always very floral and a little citric. The use of the skins was intended to provide a little bit of support, a little bit of nerve. You can see a halo of freshness that may indicate good ageing, but we will see if the wine itself achieves homogeneity”.

Campeador Viura 2022 comes from an old Viura vineyard. Harvested by hand, the grapes were destemmed, destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. At this point, the winemaking process is bifurcated. One part is vatted and treated as clean must, while the other part is kept with its skins in the style of a traditional Rioja red wine.

Fermentation takes place in wooden vats and ageing in French oak vats. As you can see, we wanted to recover from the annals of Rioja winemaking a very old-fashioned way of making wine, starting the process with the skins and finishing it off with a moderate ageing in barrels.

On the nose it has more oxidative Viura sensations, as if it were from an older vintage.

It is the palate that reminds us that we are talking about a young wine because of its hints of citrus and stone fruit.

Winemaker Description 

Breathtaking steep are the slate terraces of the Ahr, on which only a few vines can be found at all times. In this respect, the yields are also dwindling and the number of bottles is limited accordingly.

Juicy on the palate with delicate, round tannins and wonderfully balanced with beautiful fruit extract. Burgundy fans can really rejoice.

The name Meyer-Näkel stands for the finest Pinot Noir from the spectacular steep slate slopes of the Ahr - this has been no secret for decades. Today, sisters Maike and Dörte Näkel are the third generation to successfully continue what their father and grandfather - both legends and pioneers of dry German Pinot Noir - had already established.

Winemaker Description 

This Silvaner is a true all-round talent. It is subtly fruity and finely aromatic. Its clear, elegant bouquet with aromas of hay, apple and melon is unobtrusive and slightly acidic. The terroir-emphasized note is typical of Hans Wirsching's Silvaner. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Enthusiast by Jesica Vargas writes 90 Points | This Malbec reveals an earthy character, with a bouquet of delicate hints of herbs and black fruit. The palate unfolds leafy flavors, supported by soft tannins and enough freshness. Enjoy it with beef empanadas.

Winemaker Description

 Antigal UNO Malbec offers delicious plum, strawberry, and blackberry flavors with enticing hints of violets, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Brightened by carefully protected natural acidity, this violet-red wine has a silky texture and provides an agreeably persistent finish.

Winemaker Description 

Lightly touched by wood aging, this ripe wine is both crisp and rich. Its briskness brings in a mineral edge while the ripeness produces the rich apple and apricot fruits. 

The palate is very well balanced, skillfully blending vivacity and roundness. Meyer lemon, golden apple, peach, toasted oak and fresh cream. Medium in body, with medium-plus intensity and nice viscosity on the palate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Benujamin Lewin, MW of Decanter writes 95 Points | Great sense of fruit purity on the nose, showing a mélange of black fruits. This shows brilliance on the palate, it’s very flavourful, with almost savoury undertones lingering on a very long finish. A sensation of gunflint shows retronasally. This is a rare combination: the height of elegance combined with depth. Drinking Window: 2032-2052.

La Revue du Vin de France writes 94 Points | As for Le Bourg, it remains faithful to the generously toasted and hedonistic expression of its barrel ageing. A concentrated material, a sensation of sweetness and power accompany the salient tannic framework that the years will soften. 

Winemaker Description 

Clos Rougeard was created in 1664 on the land of Chacé, a village not far from Saumur. Eight generations have succeeded one another at the head of the estate, the most recent being the Foucault brothers. From the 1980s onwards, Charly and Nady adopted a singular philosophy to enhance the terroirs of Saumur and Saumur-Champigny: leave the wine in peace so it can expresses its own identity. No synthetic products are added to the vines, gentle vinifications are thought out like infusions and minimalist approach is claimed. In 2017, the Bouygues family bought the estate and has continued the work begun by their emblematic predecessors with a deep respect for the DNA of the winery and its identity. Today the estate has found its balance thanks to a passionate team who strives to preserve the excellence and uniqueness of the wines whose depth, finesse and precision are unparalleled.

Located in the heart of the village of Chacé, Le Bourg is composed of very old vines and lies on a predominantly limestone terroir on shallow clay loam, typical of the Saumur-Champigny appellation. This wine reveals riper, fleshier fruit and a dense, full-bodied texture. Le Bourg is from vines averaging 80 years old, planted on a thin layer of clay over a deep bed of tuffeau, also in Chacé. The combination of vine age and richer soil makes this the most powerfully structured wine in Clos Rougeard’s array.

Expert Review - Vintage 2010

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 98 Points  | Dinner starts with a fresh, briny oyster and a glass of 2010 Dom Ruinart. It’s a beautiful pairing. I have always loved the 2010 for the way it straddles the worlds of Champagne and still wine. It is absolutely glorious on this night. In fact, I could have had it for the entire meal. A deep, luscious morel broth and Brittany scallops are other highlights among the amuse-bouches. (Drink between 2023-2050).

Winemaker Description 

Indulge in the pure expression of Chardonnay with Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010. A vintage Champagne capturing the elegance and finesse of Chardonnay, with notes of citrus blossom, green apple, and a refined minerality. A perfect aperitif or accompaniment to delicate seafood dishes.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Balanced on a high level, this intense and concentrated wine is memorable now and sure to improve with further age. Focused black currant and black cherry flavors race across the palate, driven by nervy acidity and muscular tannins. The wine is great to pair with roast duck or pheasant. Best from 2027.

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of strawberries and raspberries with dried blood orange, savory herbs and dry earth. Creamy and textured with a medium body and chalky tannins. Flavorful finish.

Winemaker Description 

A tangy fresh cherry nose opens to cocoa, cola, and notes of nutmeg. The juicy lip smacking entry shows lovely cherry and wild strawberry flavors with gorgeous rose petal and baking spices in the background. Smooth tannin and vibrant acidity make this a perfect wine for food pairings.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Alison Napjus of the Wine Spectator writes 97 Points |  Like a racing spinnaker, this is tightly trimmed yet voluminous in character. Toasty notes of roasted almond and vanilla wafer are deftly integrated with sun-dried black cherry, baked peach, blood orange sorbet and candied ginger flavors, all well-defined by racy acidity and a subtle streak of salinity. This is long and fragrant, with pain d'épices, graphite and tea rose notes playing on the finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged February 2024. Drink now through 2040.

William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 96 Points | Bollinger's 2015 Brut La Grande Année Rosé was disgorged in May last year with seven grams per liter dosage. Offering up deep aromas of orchard fruits, blood orange, mandarin rind and peach mingled with nuances of coffee, praline and fino sherry, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and layered, with a broad attack that segues into a vinous palate framed by high levels of structuring dry extract that makes its presence felt on the sapid, nutty and penetrating finish. Given the skin maturity and inherent structure of the year, the Bollinger team elected to include only 4.5% of still red wine in the blend, a comparatively low percentage.

Winemaker Description 

Clear pale yellow colour. Delicate nose combining fresh grapes with elegant mineral tones. Equally dynamic on the palate, with a clear emphasis on freshness and aromatic clarity. The slightly saline finish.

Having become a reference in the appellation, Claude-Michel Pichon has enjoyed a solid career in the world of wine. After starting out as a cellar master and buyer for a trading house, he succeeded his father Raymond in 2009 at the head of Château La Chevillardière and its 88 hectares of vines.

He developed the operation by purchasing plots abandoned due to a lack of successors, while planting new areas. "Our whites are characterized by fresh mineral notes and a real typicity, like those of Château de La Chevillardière which benefit from a terroir of granite and micaschist," he considers.

It is important to make Muscadet known. And if we do not yet produce communal vintages, it is undeniable that this recognition constitutes real added value for the general public who are not necessarily familiar with our products."

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Lisa Perrotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate writes 92-94+ Points | Opaque purple-black colored, the 2019 Larrivet Haut-Brion charges out of the gate with wonderfully fragrant scents of black raspberries, Morello cherries and wild blueberries with suggestions of blackcurrant pastilles, candied violets, chocolate mint and forest floor. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with red and black fruit layers, framed by firm, exquisitely ripe, velvety tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Just stunning!.

Winemaker Description 

The 2019 vintage was marked by a dry, mild winter. April showers were followed by cool, rainy May and June. The year was also notable for its exceptionally hot summer, with irregular rainfall. A dry, warm September helped to balance out the slow veraison. Harvesting took place from September 19 to October 12. 

The 2019 vintage is a blend of three grape varieties, composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 15% Cabernet Franc. This vintage is notable for its brilliant garnet color. The typical nose of this wine is the expression of the Cabernet Sauvignon of our terroir, powerful and deep, releasing notes of black fruit stewed with spices and zan sticks. On the palate, the wine is opulent, sustained by an explosion of black fruits such as blackcurrant and morello cherry. The powerful tannic structure accompanies the gourmand sensation throughout the entire length. 2019 is one of the great Bordeaux vintages of 2018, 2019 and 2020. 

Winemaker Description 

An intriguing bouquet of strawberry, neroli and almond greet the nose. The opening is subtle but quickly crescendos to a full mid palate, pushing towards a long and satisfying finish.

Structured and well rounded, flavors of ripe pomegranate and olive cumulate with juniper and sage, building in both nuance and intensity as the wine opens

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Jasper Morris MW of Inside Burgundy writes 91-94 Points |  90% whole bunch vinification. Mid purple, with a nose which shows the whole bunch a lot by giving some crushed strawberry on top of the darker fruit of Nuits-St-Georges. The latter appears further back on the palate but the tannins remain refined. Good length. Drink from 2028-2034.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes 90-93 Points | Here the unreadable nose is marked by firm reduction. More interesting are the beautifully textured, rich and vibrant medium-bodied flavors that possess an abundance of sappy dry extract on the lingering finish that isn't quite as complex but is very well-balanced. (Drink starting 2031).

Uncover the vibrant character of Burgundy through this expressive Pinot Noir from Domaine Lignier-Michelot. The 2021 Bourgogne Rouge delivers a captivating blend of red berries, floral notes, and a hint of spice, all wrapped in a silky texture with a long, lingering finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Neal Martin of Vinous writes | The 2021 Bourgogne Rouge, contains 50% whole bunches, doesn't need much aeration to reveal quite juicy blackcurrant and bilberry scents; somehow, it's quite steely. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannins, nicely structured and rather bold for a Bourgogne Rouge, with a sweet cassis finish. Modern in style perhaps, but certainly well crafted. (Drink between 2024-2028).

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes | An even fresher, and much more floral-infused, nose blends both black berry fruit and violet with a spicy top note. Here too there is a beguiling texture to the vibrant and solidly concentrated medium weight flavors that possess excellent depth and persistence for a wine at this level. Warmly recommended. (Drink starting 2024).

Jasper Morris MW of Inside Burgundy writes |  50% whole bunch vinification. Quite a dark centre to the colour. Despite the relatively early picking date, this clearly has ripe fruit on the darker side. Some tannins at the back but not vegetal, and with adequate acidity. Drink from 2024-2026.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | From one of my favorite estates in Pomerol, the 2018 Château Le Gay knocks it out of the park and has that classic Pomerol mix of sexy opulence paired with an incredible sense of finesse. Offering an already complex bouquet of crème de cassis, black cherries, white truffle, camphor, tobacco, and acacia flowers, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a seamless, expansive texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a blockbuster of a finish. I'd be thrilled with bottles in the cellar. It's going to put a smile on any wine lover's face over the coming 20-25 years.

James Suckling 97 Points | Aromas of plums, violets and mushrooms with earthy notes. Fleshy and succulent texture to the full body with round, firm tannins and a salivating, savory finish. Very persistent. Opulent and reserved at the same time. Contrastive wine. Drink after 2025.

Wine Advocate 95 Points | Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Le Gay has a beautifully perfumed nose of lavender essence, chocolate-covered cherries and preserved plums, leading to a fragrant undercurrent of kirsch, licorice and fertile loam. The concentrated, full-bodied palate (15% alcohol) delivers bold, black fruit flavors with compelling red berry sparks and a plush texture, finishing long with just enough freshness.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2018 Le Gay is unusually reticent today. Lavender, rose petal, mint, blood orange and crushed red berry fruit emerge over time. Deceptive in its mid-weight structure, the 2018 packs serious punch. It is one of more sensual wines of the vintage in Pomerol, but readers will have to be patient, as the 2018 is in no mood to show its cards just yet.

Wine Spectator 93-96 Points | Plum, boysenberry and açaí berry flavors give this a slightly exotic character, with a polished texture and lingering anise notes. Shows latent grip on the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

JamesSuckling.com by Stuart Pigott writes 94 Points | With its aromas of nutty, old-fashioned apple varieties and ripe quince, this striking dry riesling is an unspectacular beauty. It’s medium-bodied with a wonderful harmony of silky acidity, a hauntingly subtle minerality and a very long, stony finish that somehow manages to be very gentle. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold. 

Winemaker Description 

The nose here is just a shade riper, with tart citrus flirting with barely ripe apricot, heading toward the peach register though highlighted by lemon curd and lemon zest, pretty citrus elements to brighten it up, even the riper twang of a lime. This has more density, for sure, more richness, though it has plenty of definition. Thinking of these wines in the context of the Rheingau is just crazy; my teeth are aching. The whole collection has acids – I should get the numbers here, if Eva hasn’t already sent them [note to reader: I never got any numbers on the acids b/c I'm just too buried in work right now]. There is a limey quality to this, sticky but fresh, gripping, that I really like. These are very damn good. 

Hans-Josef Becker’s grandfather (J.B.) founded this winery in 1893, and it is home to some truly astounding wines. The Spätlese Trocken is somehow both very serious and firmly structured, yet remains bright and affable. The old vines show incredible concentration - this wine is just a baby and could be cellared for decades. On the other hand, the 2022 vintage displays plenty of juicy, expressive fruit with crushing acidity and a bold mouthfeel. These wines have achieved cult-status for good reason.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Lisa Perotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate 95-97 Points | Displaying a very deep purple-black color, the 2019 Calon-Ségur strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of warm cassis, blackberry preserves, pencil shavings and clove oil plus nuances of lilacs, cinnamon stick, chocolate box and menthol. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with tightly wound, muscular black fruits and loads of bright floral accents, framed by firm, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and graceful.

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | As to the Grand Vin, the 2019 Château Calon Ségur checks in as 73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, brought up in new barrels. This full-bodied, spicy, complex, decadent beauty has building, polished tannins, terrific overall balance, and incredible aromatics of spiced red and black currants, lead pencil, cedary herbs, smoked tobacco, and flowery incense. Complex, ripe, and even sexy, it will need just 4-6 years to hit the early stages of its drink window and is going to cruise for 30 years if properly stored. It's another brilliant wine from this estate.

Winemaker Description 

Our 2017 Chardonnay is stunning. The color is a beautiful light yellow, verging on gold. In the glass, the wine presents a full and complex aroma with distinct hints of honeysuckle, caramel, pear, pineapple, and vanilla. The mouthfeel is generous, bright and smooth, displaying balanced acidity and just a hint of oak. A long finish encourages another taste.