2010 - Present Wine

Expert Review

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Jane Eanson 100 Points |  Another great vintage in Tuscany, following a run of exceptional years, and as you might exect from this estate, we are here right at the top of what the vintage has produced. Expect to find softly grilled and smoked.

The Wine Advocate 100 Points |  Here it is: A quintessential Sassicaia that represents the excellence of the vintage and also respects the unique taste profile of this distinguished Tuscan blend of Cabernets Sauvignon and Franc. The Tenuta San Guido... 

James Button of Decanter writes 99-100 Points | In 2021, ‘we had a nicely paced harvest... surely a very fortunate vintage for us, for Bolgheri,’ said Priscilla Incisa della Rocchetta at the launch in London of the 2021 vintage of Sassicaia. Welcome rain in mid-August came at just the right time to save the harvest, and production ended up being slightly higher than in 2020. Around eight to 10 separate vinifications were made, fermented in stainless steel with indigenous yeasts and spontaneous malo. The wines were racked to second- and third-use barriques in December 2021, then racked into a mixture of new and used barriques in March 2022. The last step was to make the final blend in stainless tanks, where the wine underwent micro-oxygenation before bottling and further maturation in bottle. Rich dark fruit and herb aromatics are pockmarked by blueberry and petrichor, leading into an intense and vertical palate that's super-fresh with a delightful breezy, saline character. Textured, integrated tannins emphasise the refinement of Sassicaia, showing just a touch of youthful dustiness. Tangy, bright black, blue and red berry fruits overlay underlying hints of dark chocolate and forest undergrowth in a remarkably precise fashion, with pomegranate and a stony minerality surfacing on the mid-palate. 2021 demonstrates lovely sapidity of fruit along with that characteristic freshness and lightness of step, finishing long and poised. Superb.

Kerin O`Keefe writes 99 Points | The gorgeous 2021 Sassicaia stuns with its class, extreme elegance, energy and depth. It’s remarkably fragrant, featuring enticing aromas of cassis, cedar blue flower, exotic spice and a whiff of sea breeze. The delicious palate is focused and loaded with finesse, delivering ripe raspberry, black currant, blood orange, star anise a hint of coffee bean accompanied by taut, fine-grained tannins. Bright acidity gives it racy tension and provides impeccable balance and serious aging potential. Drink 2029–2041.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Christina Pickard of The Wine Enthusiast: This is a bright, fruity Chardonnay with notes of peach, lemon and white florals. It's midweight with some textural weight, freshness and a long peachy finish.

Winemaker Description 

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 97 Points | This very concentrated and super-elegant riesling Auslese is still tightly-wound. However, it already has a very wide spectrum of subtle yellow fruit and wild flower aromas. Terrific structure behind the rich, but still medium-bodied palate. Incredibly long, slatey finish with staggering freshness that pulls you back for more of this Mosel masterpiece. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

Decanter 95 Points | Tangs of cut stone and lime zest are peppered with gunpowder and smoke, but there's a powerful core of ripe lemon, lime and yellow cherry flavours too. While light on its feet, it's an unctuous, supple wine with a pert tangerine sweetness. Quite a bit more expressive in youth than the 2022 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, it's already hedonistic with a brief decant but certainly ageworthy as well. 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Delivering power and concentration, this is densely packed in a compact frame. Opens up to reveal impressively fresh flavors of dried thyme and apricot. This white's acidity shows a crunchy texture, and a wet slate note brings a cooling feel to the finish. This is one for the cellar. Best from 2026 through 2046.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is rather shy. The palate tingles with tangerine, ripe, rounded, aromatic, and full of tangy, zesty, sweet, ripe citrus. Wonderfully expressive on the mid-palate and with a subtle finish, full of those vivid aromatics. (Sweet).

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 97 Points | This very concentrated and super-elegant riesling Auslese is still tightly-wound. However, it already has a very wide spectrum of subtle yellow fruit and wild flower aromas. Terrific structure behind the rich, but still medium-bodied palate. Incredibly long, slatey finish with staggering freshness that pulls you back for more of this Mosel masterpiece. Drinkable now, but best from 2025. (2022). 

Decanter 95 Points | Tangs of cut stone and lime zest are peppered with gunpowder and smoke, but there's a powerful core of ripe lemon, lime and yellow cherry flavours too. While light on its feet, it's an unctuous, supple wine with a pert tangerine sweetness. Quite a bit more expressive in youth than the 2022 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, it's already hedonistic with a brief decant but certainly ageworthy as well. (2022). 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Delivering power and concentration, this is densely packed in a compact frame. Opens up to reveal impressively fresh flavors of dried thyme and apricot. This white's acidity shows a crunchy texture, and a wet slate note brings a cooling feel to the finish. This is one for the cellar. Best from 2026 through 2046. (2022). 

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is rather shy. The palate tingles with tangerine, ripe, rounded, aromatic, and full of tangy, zesty, sweet, ripe citrus. Wonderfully expressive on the mid-palate and with a subtle finish, full of those vivid aromatics. (Sweet).(2022). 

Winemaker Description

This Riesling is rich in taste with a fresh, fruity delicate flavor.

Serve slightly chilled.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 96 Points | Here is a great Mosel Kabinett that needs a bit more time to show what it is really made of. Still very young with a pronounced yeasty character that slowly recedes with aeration, but the white peach and honeysuckle aromas that emerge are stunning. Extremely vibrant and precise, the slatey acidity making this fabulously graceful. As pure as an Alpine stream running with glacier water.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | This elegant version starts off closed before opening to reveal flavors of jasmine, sweet green apple and Asian pear. Shows impressive purity and inner density, with accents of fresh-cut chive and wet slate. Bitter, pithy acidity moves through, making for the shimmering, razor-edge finish, which lingers. Drink now through 2040. 300 cases imported.

Winemaker Description

J.J. Prum Graacher Himmelreich Riesling Spatlese is a very pale yellow with pristine expression of fruit. Immediately showing great balance of sweetness and acidity, a bit creamier than the Kabinett, lovely stone fruit, very elegant with that kick from the well known Graacher acidity. Good length with a bright and mouthwatering finish.

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 96 Points Striking nose of garden herbs with just a hint wet earth underlining the delicate white tree fruit aromas. Stunning concentration and energy on the super-straight medium-bodied palate. Very long, almost perfectly balanced finish that is surprising for this category at this early stage in the wine’s development. Great slate expression. Drink or hold. (2022). 

Decanter 96 Points | This powerfully concentrated yet fresh-fruited sip is a touch more inviting young than the more nervous Wehlener Sonnenuhr this vintage. Flavours of white grapefruit and green apples are intensely ripe but pure and pristine, etched by strikes of lime and salt. A delightfully fruity, off-dry wine with a kiss of tangerine sweetness on the finish. Ready now but will improve further. (2022). 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | A plush, alluring style, with apricot, guava and creamed pear flavors backed by a layer of finely crushed mineral notes. The texture is creamy and chalky, offering a stream of fruit punctuated by dried herb accents and a dusting of fleur de sel. Radiant, pure and long, with energy in reserve. Drink now through 2040. 250 cases imported. (2022). 

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 95 Points | All the ripeness of this very warm vintage, married to wonderful freshness that gives this the light-footedness of a great dancer. Mostly white fruit, but just a hint of fresh pineapple. Long, silky finish. Drink or hold. (2018). 

Robert Parker 93+ Points | The 2018 Graacher Himmelreich Spätlese is discreet yet deep and complex on the elegant and spicy nose that exhibits very fine stone fruit aromas. Round, lush and piquant on the palate, this is a crystalline, piquant, persistently salty and stimulating Himmelreich with fine tannins on the finish that add grip and a very light, food-friendly astringency that moderates away the sweetness. Still young, this is a Spätlese to serve with food in 10-15 years. Tasted at the domain in September 2020.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This has all of the elements of a great spätlese, with pronounced acidity supporting the ripe peach, yellow apple, mango and spruce flavors, while hints of vanilla and piecrust add to the complexity. Still a bit intense, but this should develop beautifully with age, allowing the minerality to become more prominent. Best from 2022 through 2038. (2018).

Winemaker Description 

Cidrerie du Vulcain's Poire (Perry) Comment is a perry made from late-season perry pear varieties (end of October-December) such as Plant de Blanc, Fausset and Cloche, Gaubert, Courcou, and Rouge Vigné.

Pear cider from Domfrontais, Normandy made from late season varieties. 2 years aging in bottle and then disgorged. A little residual sugar.

The pure perry juice is fermented on its own wild yeasts and coarsely filtered on white clay. Ancestral method without disgorging: partial fermentation in stainless steel and resin vats, then aging in bottle. No added sulfites.

Winemaker Description

In clay-chalk soil, the vine is grown biodynamically in order for the terroir to fully express itself. The nose is particularly complex and fruity. Whilst the absence of sulphur during vinification is evident, it remains precise. On the palate, fruits and spices are the notes that dominate. Its supple mouthfeel is supported by unctuous tannins. A wine that pairs well with either white or red meat.

The domain might still carry the name of his parents, but Stéphane Tissot (and his wife Bénédicte) took over the family business over 20 years ago. In 1995, Stéphane began to reduce the amount of fertiliser so as to pave the way for organic viticulture. Around this time he also stopped using chemical herbicides altogether. In 1999, the then 28 hectares (now 46 hectares) became entirely organic and, after a few years, the whole domain became biodynamic in 2004 (Demeter certification). Stéphane's hard work has transformed the quality of the grapes. With such good quality fruit, vinifications are relatively easy and require very little intervention. Natural yeasts are used in fermentation and a very small amount of sulphites are added, nothing else. The end result is an excellent expression of terroir with intense aromas. Stéphane's quest to convey his many different terroirs has led him to produce nearly 50 different cuvées from many different grape varieties using various vinification methods. For example, for the Savagnin, a variety typical of the Jura, the property produces wines with and without oxidation (i.e. topping up of the barrels) and vin jaune. This domain is at its zenith and is one of the Jura's (and iDealwine's) best kept secrets.

Winemaker Description

Clean and bright aromas with notes of Empire apple and Asian pear. Flavors of mandarin orange, pear, honeydew melon and cantaloupe are enhanced with a pleasant acidity that lingers on the finish.

Winemaker Description

My first harvest job was picking grapes and running trucks full of grape bins to wineries throughout Oregon.  It was a crash course in "the wine life".  Alberto was the first guy to show me how to identify grapes on the vine, the first guy to show me how to pick grapes (I did, ok), the first guy to show me how to strap down bins, and how to not ride the brakes. This wine is named after him.

An aromatic co-fermentation of Tempranillo, Syrah, Grenache, and Alvarinho, all from the northern edge of the Willamette Valley.  This wine was native fermented in old French oak. It is unfiltered and unfined (vegan).  

Winemaker Description

Chateau Ste. Michelle Columbia Valley Sauvignon Blanc is a stunningly crafted white wine, sourced from vineyards throughout the Columbia Valley, including their Horse Heaven Estate Vineyard. Crisp, vibrant and delicate in flavor, this Sauvignon Blanc white wine brims with the cool freshness of citrus and herbs that pair particularly well with light seafood and vegetable dishes. 

Winemaker Description

Complex, yet racy and savory, with fresh currants and currant leaves, as well as red chili pepper, cocoa powder, dark olives and a hint of cigar. This is a full-bodied red with tight, fine-grained tannins and elegant blackberries on the palate. Complete and long with some sweet spices at the end. 84% cabernet sauvignon, 12% cabernet franc and 4% petit verdot. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description

A Bordeaux-style blend, this wine offers aromas of black cherry, plum, and cedar. The palate is full-bodied, with layers of dark fruit, tobacco, and dark chocolate. Supple tannins and well-integrated oak contribute to a long, smooth finish. Pair it with grilled steak, lamb chops, or hearty stews for a memorable dining experience. 

Winemaker Description

The Lenore Syrah is aromatic with rich, sweet berry notes of blueberry, boysenberry, red currant and plum. The mouthwatering acidity is nicely balanced with firm tannins and layers of bright bramble fruit. As this wine coats the palate, underlying hints of vanilla bean, peppercorn and sweet tobacco shine through. A robust finish includes chocolate and raspberry.

Enjoy the Lenore Syrah with barbecued ribs, a hearty lamb stew or your favorite burger. 

Winemaker Descrirption

This pure and fresh Malbec from Tupungato in Argentina’s Uco Valley offers shimmering red and black fruit — cherries, strawberries, and plums — backed by sweet herbs and a delicate spice. Made from organic fruit by winemakers and childhood friends Norberto Páez and Sebastián Bisole, using 30% whole custer fermentation and indigenous yeasts, it’s a great partner for everything from carne asada to barbecue, including potato salad!

Winemaker Description

Aromas of plum, raspberry and cherry are layered with earthy tones of mushroom, sage and pine. Soft on the palate, flavors of black cherry and red plum with notes of dark chocolate lead to a bright finish.

Try this wine with fatty dishes. Red meats and flavor-forward ingredients like cooked tomatoes will deliciously complement this wine’s brightness and fine-grained tannins. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Château Sainte Roseline, Lampe de Méduse, with its unique shape, is the iconic and historic cuvée of the estate. Since 1950, it has been the heart of the production of this famous Cru Classé vineyard.

Famous as a historic site but also for its premium Rosés, Château Sainte Roseline is a Provence icon.

Its pale color is slightly salmony. The complex and intense nose reveals fine notes of peaches and mangos. The beautiful liveliness and persistence of the aromatic notes at the end of the palate make this a very crunchy wine. A minty finish sublimates its beautiful freshness.

Expert Reviews

Billy Norris of Vinous writes | The 2023 Rosé Lampe de Meduse is dark and alluring on the nose, displaying watermelon, red berry fruit and orange peel aromas. Rounded and honeyed on the palate, there's just enough acidity to propel this past the finish line. Rosemary and thyme hints hang around after the close, kicking this wine more into the savory spectrum than I expected. This is interesting and characterful.  Drinking 2024 - 2025.

Jancis Robinson writes 16 Points | Drier and more substantial than their Prestige 2023 bottling. Lots of fruit with a (just) sufficiently dry finish. Some intrigue. 

Expert Review

Yohan Castaing of the Wine Advociate writes 90 Points | A blend of 41% Grenache, 31% Cinsault, 12% Mourvèdre, 8% Tibouren, 5% Syrah and 3% Carignan, the 2022 Cotes de Provence Rose Lampe de Meduse possesses a fresh, fruit-driven bouquet with aromas of citrus, lemon oil, red berries, wild strawberry and menthol. Crunchy, juicy and perfectly balanced with a medium-bodied palate, it’s long and penetrating with lively acids, an iodine-salty finish and a clean and mouthwatering texture.  Drinking 2023 - 2025. (2022).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Advocate 91 Points | Lazzarito stands out as one of the strongest wines in this portfolio of new releases from Vietti. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba the 2020 Barolo Lazzarito comes in at a very high threshold in terms of complexity offering dark cherry crème de cassis violet macaron dried herb and lavender. The wine's perfumes remind me of the south of France in summer. It shows elegant tannins streamlined intensity and good acidity. Production is 10626 bottles. (2020). 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Barolo Lazzarito is a blend of fruit picked before and after the early October rains. It marries power and finesse to a notable degree. Dark red fruit menthol licorice crushed rocks and dried herbs open nicely in the glass. This is a bit light for a Serralunga Barolo although the tannic structure is there. This is missing a bit of personality. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby-red color. The nose is explosive, powerful and wide-ranging. Fruity notes of plum, citrusy hints of cedar, grapefruit and spices emerge. After a few minutes in the glass, notes of violet flower—typical of the Brunate terroir—emerge. On the palate, it is intense and full-bodied. The soft, rounded and velvety tannins are typical of the La Morra area. The finish reveals a hint of licorice root.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Brunate has a dark and spicy side that is infused throughout the fruit. Dark cherry and blackcurrant are folded into ferrous earth grilled rosemary aniseed and a hint of fresh mint. Brunate tends to be quite austere and firm in terms of its aromas and this vintage shows those qualities well. In fact the character of the site comes through clearly. The wine has a precise angular personality and the fruit feels compact. Only 4988 bottles were made.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 Barolo Brunate is a dark beguiling wine. Black cherry dried herbs leather game licorice and incense lend gorgeous sepia-toned nuance. Brooding and inward the 2020 clearly needs time. It is a super-classic Brunate that is hard to read in the early going but the weight substance and power are clearly there. Dense meaty and dark the 2020 shows Serralunga-like intensity. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 99 Points | One of the palest and most perfumed Barolos from Vietti with a transparent, ruby-orange hue. This is a super nuanced, elegant, expressive and ethereal Monvigliero that grows on me, with enchanting notes of grilled grapefruit, thyme, frozen raspberries and mineral. A subtle splash of white pepper and mezcal-like smokiness. Really refined and transparent, with some citrus and mineral tensions that are closely knit with the fine, crumbled tannins. So much finesse and detail here, and its complexity will continue to unwind. Really composed, soulful and mind-blowing! An otherworldly, idiosyncratic Barolo that actually reminded me of the finest Gredo garnacha. A big wow that deserves attention. Vegan. Best with a Burgundy glass. Can drink now or from 2027.

Robert Parker 95 Points | A relatively new departure for Vietti, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is soft and delicate with pretty floral aromas, dried iris, powdered spice and a hint of tar or road pavement. The inaugural vintage was 2018. Made with 60% whole-cluster fruit during fermentation, the wine has a moment of tartness, punchy highlights, sweet grenadine and cranberry jelly. It ages in large oak casks for 24 months.

Winemaker Description

Dark ruby in the glass, this wine has a nose of black cherry, cranberry and aniseed. It is very soft on impact, with flavors of raspberry, cassis, milk chocolate and licorice. Satiny tannins hold off on the palate at first, make their presence known and then slip away in time for a bright finish. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 94 Points | A prototypical riesling Kabinett for the Ruwer tributary of the Mosel with the sleek, almost dry and racy personality we associate with this special terroir. The effusive aromas of yellow apple, white peach, rhubarb and garden herbs are married to a firm core of wet stone minerality on the light-bodied yet compact palate. 

Winemaker Description 

The spicy spontaneous nose still dominates, but then the first fruity notes (juicy peach, grapefruit, white currant) and the slate literally pushes itself out of the glass. Very juicy and densely woven on the palate, a lot of melting, sweetness well integrated and countered by the invigorating acidity. A cabinet that will continue to reveal new facets over the next two decades. Winemaker Description.