2010 - Present Wine

Producer Description 

Purchased by the Comte Lafond, an ancestor of the current owner, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, Château du Nozet and its surrounding vineyards have a reputation for producing the finest Pouilly-Fumé.

The delicate and complex olfactory expression opens on aromas which remind of white flower, exotic fruits. There is a very beautiful complexity for a vintage where the end-of-season’s sun brought a lot to the aromas. Excellent complexity that translates into great and elegant richness. Nice attack, straight and bright, it takes place with elegance on fruity notes associated with a dense structure and a beautiful acidity which brings a great length in the end of the mouth. There are aromas of exotic fruits (litchi, mango).

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Spectator by Kristen Bieler writes 89 Points | Apple, pear and citrus cream are backed by a laser beam of acidity and crushed flint. Warm hay and heather notes add dimension, while the finish is crackling and linear. Drink now through 2026. 2,500 cases imported.

Memo Notes Summary 

De Ladoucette is unique in that it utilizes no oak in its vinification, aging the wine on its fine lees in glass-tiled tanks. This process maximizes the fresh, terroir-driven characteristics of the Sauvignon Blanc grape.

Color: Pale golden-green, bright and limpid.

The nose is delicate yet complex, exhibiting a beautiful array of white flowers (lilac, white blossoms), citrus fruits (grapefruit, lemon peel), and exotic fruit (lychee, mango). The quintessential flinty/mineral aroma, known as fumé (smoke), is usually present, especially as the wine opens.

The classic, mineral-driven profile of Pouilly-Fumé makes it one of the most versatile white wines for dining:

• Seafood: A perfect match for all shellfish, including oysters, scallops, and shrimp, as well as grilled white fish (sea bass, turbot).

  Cheese: The traditional pairing is goat cheese, especially Crottin de Chavignol or fresh Chèvre. Its acidity cuts through the cheese's creaminess beautifully.

  
  

  Poultry & Other: Light white meats, salads, and vegetable dishes like asparagus risotto or chicken with a cream/lemon sauce.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

James Suckling writes 97 Points | Fresh currants and raspberries pop out of the glass, together with oranges and cedar. Such purity of fruit in the nose. Full-bodied, yet so refined and vertical. It goes deep and long with tight, compressed tannins that are pure and exciting. Really tight and focused. Precise. Try after 2026.  - James Suckling 97

Georgina Hindle writes Decanter 96 Points | Stylish nose, feels polished and poised. A svelte style with satiny tannins and such depth of flavour - intense but nuanced with perfumed edges and red and black cherry flavours. You feel the sculpting of the fruit, there are layers of flavour and with good support round the edges and softly chewy tannins. Such a long finish too, really goes on and on. I love it, you get the power without doubt but it's very neatly packaged right now with a smoothness and clarity that's impressive.  Drinking 2025 - 2045.  - Decanter 96

Jane Anson of Decanter writes 96 Points | A concentrated but graceful feel to this Issan, showcasing why it is one of the powerhouses of Margaux without necessarily flexing its muscles the most obviously. Takes a few moments to unroll on the palate but as it does it expands both forward and outwards, beautifully filling the mid palate with creamy brambly fruits and firm but flexible tannins. This inches open, suggesting it has an extremely long life ahead of it, and is close to the 2016 in expression, although not quite with the depth of expression of that exemplary vintage. 50% new oak, 3.7pH. 45% of overall production went into the 1st wine. Harvest from 25th September to 11th October.  Drinking 2029 - 2045.  - Decanter 96

Jeb Dunnuck writes 95 Points | Pure cassis, graphite, violets, damp earth, and chocolate notes all emerge from the 2019 Château D'Issan, a richer, medium to full-bodied, powerful Margaux. It develops a gorgeous sense of minerality with time in the glass, has plenty of mid-palate oomph, integrated oak, and just terrific overall balance. It's a stunning success in the vintage in Margaux, which was one of the more challenging in the vintage. This will round into form with just 4-5 years of bottle age and cruise for two decades or more. Bravo.  Drinking 2026 - 2047. - Jeb Dunnuck 95

James Lawther MW of Jancis Robinon writes 17.5 Points |  A touch restrained but pure, bright, juicy and intense. Palate silky and substantial with the backing of plentiful tannins. Perception of old-vine intensity. Builds to an impressively long finish. Similar to 2016 but more aromatic freshness.  70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.   Drinking 2027 - 2045.  Jancis Robinson 17.5

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 94 Points | The 2019 Château d'Issan has a glorious Margaux bouquet with pressed violets fusing with the black fruit and crushed stone scents. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine delineation, taut and fresh, a pinch of black pepper towards the structured and detailed finish that lingers in the mouth. Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.  - Drinking 2025 - 2045.  William Kelley of the Wine Advocate writes 94 Points | The 2019 D'Issan is showing well from bottle, offering up aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with violets, orange rind and raw cocoa. Medium to full-bodied, lively and nicely concentrated, with lively acids, powdery tannins and a seamless, elegant profile, it's a charming, perfumed wine that will offer a broad drinking window. The blend is dominated by an atypically high proportion (70%) of Cabernet Sauvignon. The heart of Issan is its walled "Clos" to the rear of the picturesque moated château, which is complemented by more recently acquired holdings situated on the same gravel terrace.  Drinking 2025 - 2055.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description 

Overall, Gerard Boulay's “terre blanche” vineyards produce some of the most distinctive and soil-inflected Sauvignon Blancs in the Loire, with a delineation and minerality often reminiscent of a top Chablis. Boulay is certainly among the top examples of the appellation, including Boulay's neighbors (Cotat Bros., Vatan).

These are gorgeous, highly complex wines that are a clear step above "regular" Sancerre, and can age easily for 10-20 years or more. In fact, we have had them all the way back to the 1959 which was magnificent! They confirm Boulay's place in the top ranks of Loire Valley vignerons."

Memo Pairing Notes 

This wine is a classic pairing for goat cheese, especially the local Crottin de Chavignol. Other excellent pairings include:

• Fresh oysters and grilled seafood.

• Arugula salad or roasted peppers.

• Lemon Chicken 

Winemaker Description

The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This is a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 94 Points | Attractive aromas of ripe cherries, dried strawberries, dried orange peel, spices and crushed stones, following through to a medium to full body with compact tannins that are firm and finely grained. Smooth and textured with vivid fruit underneath and a lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.(2020). 

Robert Parker 93 Points | In the bottle with the black label, the organic 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva offers ripe fruit with measured intensity that never feels heavy or overdone. Achieving this level of balance is not easy in a hot growing season such as this. This wine is characterized by an especially linear and direct personality that pushes it over the palate with good momentum. (2020).

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | A rich ruby color, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva is a selection from the best vineyards, aged for two years. The nose opens to ripe and polished aromas of toasted cedar, cherry lozenge, menthol, and spiced orange peel. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe tannins that fold into a more mineral texture, with mouthwatering stony earth and a rather long, clean finish.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A juicy yet firmly structured red highlighted by bright cherry and blackberry fruit. Reveals dense tannins that inform the finish, where accents of earth and mineral linger. Balanced in a youthful, exuberant way. Best from 2025 through 2039.

Expert Review

Eric Guido writes:  The 2023 Montepulciano d'Abruzzo Malandrino entices with its mineral-drenched bouquet of crushed rock and smoke giving way to herbal-tinged blackberry. It sweeps across the palate with silken textures and ripe red and hints of blue fruits as a wave of cool-toned acidity maintains lovely energy. Long and potent, this leaves a subtle coating of fine tannins and nuances of licorice as it tapers off. This is already appealing today, despite its notable structure.  Drinking 2026 to 2031.  - Vinous 92

Winemaker Description

Dark ruby colored with intense aromas of black cherry, blackberry, plum and violets with a lovely earthy complexity. Full bodied in the mouth with a rich texture, supple tannins and a long persistent finish. Perfect for lamb chops, steak and roasted veggies. Made from organically grown grapes.

Winemaker Description

Classic McLaren Vale Shiraz. Crimson-purple in color. Aromas of dark plum, boysenberries, subtle black pepper and a touch of licorice. On the palate is where the wine becomes fascinating. Rich and opulent black plums, blackberries and boysenberries are intertwined with savory spices, mocha and a plush coat of red cherries. Tannins are ripe and velvety. Acidity, alcohol and oak are finely tuned, and their balance enhances length on the finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Savory notes of sage and bay leaf are as forward on the nose as the plum and cherry notes. There’s a lick of vanillin oak showing, too. The abundance of tangy fruit continues its journey in the mouth, lingering on the finish amidst a powerful, well-placed frame of tannins. (2021).

90 Points James Suckling | Good shiraz, strongly regional, aromatic and attractive. While I query the dryness of the tannins here, there is ample pleasure to be found behind a veneer of violets, purple pastilles, blue fruit, iodine and licorice. A little reduction creates tension without ever becoming too hard. (2021). 

Our project Avenida 67 is back after a few years of hiatus.

This time, we’ve teamed up with one of the most iconic Argentine winegrowing families — the Benegas-Lynch family. Fifth-generation producers in Mendoza, Argentina, their legacy is deeply rooted in the cradle of Argentine winemaking.

Avenida 67 was the first label I ever created for 67 Wine, so it carries tremendous sentimental value. Working with Tiburcio Benegas, who currently leads operations at Bodegas Benegas, has been an absolute pleasure. Tiburcio is a man of many talents, and preserving his family’s legacy is among his greatest passions.

Avenida 67 Malbec is crafted from 100% estate-grown grapes sourced from the Benegas-Lynch vineyards in Mendoza.

Technical & Tasting Notes

Variety: 100% Estate-Grown Malbec from three Benegas-Lynch vineyards

Vinification: Grapes undergo cold maceration after crushing to enhance aroma, color depth, and fruit expression

Aging: Following alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged for six months in French oak barrels

Sight: Bright cherry-red color that leaps from the glass.

Aromas: An enticing bouquet of freshly picked red fruits—strawberries and raspberries—with hints of prunes and a subtle floral undertone. Well-integrated notes of vanilla and caramel add depth and complexity to the aromatic profile.

Palate: Medium to full-bodied with silky tannins and lively acidity. Fresh red and black fruits intertwine harmoniously, complemented by a delicate touch of baking spices on the finish.

Finish: Clean, lean, and persistent, showing great gastronomic versatility. This wine highlights refinement and vibrant fruit quality.

Pairings: Ideal with stews, grilled meats, and poultry. This Malbec offers remarkable value and character.

Oscar Garcia Moncada

Our Professional Review

Bart of 67Wine.com writes | A delicious blend of organically grown grapes: 60% Grenache grown on upper south-southwest facing pebble slopes, and 40% Syrah grown in clay. Deeply colored with an enticing bouquet of blackberries, cherries and intense mineral notes. Velvety yet ample and rich in the mouth with supple tannins and an energetic lift on the delightful finish. This is a wine at the peak of its perfection to drink now. A great complement to country cooking and comfort foods. Certified organic.

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

Anna Lee C. Lijjma of the Wine Enthusiast writes | Notes of incense and preserved black plums introduce this smoky, spicy blend of  Grenache and  Syrah. While full in body, it's a briskly composed wine highlighting tart blackberry flavors and a lingering earthen finish. Best now–2026. 

Rand Sieger, 67Wine Buyer: The 20 hectares of Château La Rame are set on a clay-limestone soil blessed with an exceptional substratum marked by a bed of fossilized oysters dating from the Tertiary era. The hillside vineyards overlook the Garonne River and face full south as they slope down towards the river. The vineyards are planted 75% to Semillon and 25% to Sauvignon Blanc with an average age of 50 year.

This is a fresh, bright bordeaux blanc with aromas of citrus and white stone fruits backed by subtle herbs and bracing minerality. Incredible complexity for an amazing price!

Producer Description 

The grapes for this cuvée (95% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon) come from a four hectare hillside parcel of clay and limestone soil with a full southern exposure that overlooks the Garonne River in Sainte-Croix-du-Mont. 

The vines have an average age of 25 years. After a manual harvest, the grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled vats and left on the fine lees for six months prior to bottling. 

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada 67Wine.com  | 67 Wine Somm Series Cava Gran Reserva 2018 Guarda superior is a blend of the three white grape varietals traditionally used in El Penedes for the production of Cava: Macabeo, Parellada and Xarel.lo. 

The three grape varieties are fermented separately and the wine undergoes Traditional method production and then aged 48 months sur lattes.

Winemaker Description

Varieties: 70% of Xarel.lo, 20% of Macabeu and 10% of Parellada

The three grape varieties are fermented separately and then the wine do the second fermentation in the bottle like the method Champenoise in the CAVA aging more than 48 months.

Recommended Serving Temperature: 6oC

Aspect: Pale straw yellow in color. Brilliant appearance with constant release of fine bubbles forming a crown on the surface of the glass.

Aroma: Has the special aroma from the second fermentation in the bottle and evolution in the cellar. Extremely fine and fresh. An aroma from the ageing process that gives it a personality of its own like croissants, almonds, white fruit, salinity and minerality.

Taste: Still conserves the varietal flavors mingled with those of the ageing process to achieve a perfect balance. It is fine on the palate with a certain rejuvenating acidity producing a pleasant and extremely harmonious combination.
A fairly long finish in the mouth. The bubbles are very small and delicate and It’s very elegant.

Food and wine pairing:
It’s perfect with tapas, with sea food, fish, cheeses, chicken, white meat and dry desserts.

Winemaker Description

In France’s Northern Rhone Valley, there are few names as revered as Graillot. It was in 1985 that the late, legendary Alain Graillot, who after working with the venerable Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac, came back to his home in Crozes-Hermitage to start his own domaine. With each passing year his devotion to the art of making hauntingly delicious Syrah from his organically farmed, stone-laden vineyards, was rewarded with an ever growing and highly dedicated following around the world. Alain’s sons Maxime and Antoine have been in charge since 2008, continuing the legacy set forth by their father. All the work is still completely the same as it ever was: hand-harvesting, organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, and aging the wines primarily in 1-to-3 year old barrels purchased from some of the top estates in Burgundy.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 94 Points |  "A textural, balanced and harmonious red with such patina already. The nose shows notes of dark cherries, fresh plums, forest floor and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Dense and velvety, with a kick of peppercorns. Juicy, vivid and fresh finish. Drink or hold."

Winemaker Description

The 2023 Brewer-Clifton Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir displays enticing aromas of pomegranate, white tea, and raspberry. Lively and energetic with flavors of dried fig, white truffle, and ripe cherry fruit. Savory in texture with notes of wild herbs and peppery spice on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Sourced from some of California's finest, sun-drenched vineyards, our Cabernet Sauvignon is rich and full-bodied with characteristics of ripe dark fruit such as blackberry and plum. It has hints of oak and vanilla with a velvety finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This beefy red relies on its dense texture, concentrated flavors of black cherry and blackberry fruit, and muscular tannins to get its message across. Wild herb, iron and earth notes add depth, while the finish is long and spicy.

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | The nose is savory and umami, with aromas of leather, graphite, underbrush, crushed rocks, bitter herbs and citrus swirling in the glass. Those earthy, bitter notes remain on the palate, but sweet cherries and wild strawberries pop overhead, while charged with powerful tannins and acid.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews 

Winemaker Description 

A full-bodied wine with hints of minty characters, cigar box and lots of dark fruits. Bold palate with chewy tannins. 

Winemaker Ntsiki Biyela grew up in Mahlabathini, a rural village in Kwazulu Natal, and matriculated from high school in 1996. Having spent a year as a domestic worker, she was awarded a scholarship to study winemaking in 1999. She graduated in 2003 with a BSc in Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) at Stellenbosch University and joined boutique winery Stellekaya Wines the following year.

Ntsiki’s ambition to create her own wines grew following a collaboration with Californian winemaker, Helen Kiplinger, as part of Mika Bulmash’s Wine for the World initiative. In addition, she has consulted in France, making wine under Winemakers Collection in Bordeaux.

Finally, she sits on the board of directors for the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, which provides technical training and personal development for young South Africans in the Cape Winelands, preparing them for work in the wine industry. The programme offers them the unique opportunity to emulate her own considerable success.

Ntsiki grew up in Mahlabathini, a rural village in Kwazulu Natal, and matriculated from high school in 1996. Having spent a year as a domestic worker, she was awarded a scholarship to study winemaking in 1999. She graduated in 2003 with a BSc in Agriculture (Viticulture and Oenology) at Stellenbosch University and joined boutique winery Stellekaya Wines the following year.

Ntsiki’s ambition to create her own wines grew following a collaboration with Californian winemaker, Helen Kiplinger, as part of Mika Bulmash’s Wine for the World initiative. In addition, she has consulted in France, making wine under Winemakers Collection in Bordeaux.

Finally, she sits on the board of directors for the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, which provides technical training and personal development for young South Africans in the Cape Winelands, preparing them for work in the wine industry. The programme offers them the unique opportunity to emulate her own considerable success.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

93 Points Wine Spectator: This stunning wine leaps out of the glass, with concentrated flavors of white peach, quince and pineapple, plus floral accents of orange blossoms and lemon curd. Finishes with mouthwatering acidity, a note of crunchy sea salt minerality and a whiff of lemon verbena. (2023).

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck: Made by Greg Brewer and already bottled, the 2023 Chardonnay comes from the Mission Mills Vineyard just outside of Los Alamos. Its vivid medium gold hue is followed by a vibrant nose of salted citrus, tangerine, exotic flowers, and subtle spice. Medium-bodied, pure, rounded, and beautifully balanced, it has plenty of power and density, integrated acidity, and a great finish. This impeccably made Chardonnay should be snatched up by readers, as it competes with wines at two to three times the price.

93 Decanter Magazine: One of the region's perennial top-value Chardonnays that retains the truest sense of place. With the aroma of salty sea air and dried white flowers, winemaker Greg Brewer calls the wine ‘big and neutral, blurring the lines of expectation.’ Spicy lime flavours combined with cardamom, tingly acidity, and a dash of white pepper finish it off.

93 Points James Suckling: An unoaked chardonnay that's full-bodied but balanced and amazingly rich in ripe fruit. Flavors of lemons, green apples, pineapple. mangoes, minerals and chalk. Harvested late in the year, fermented in steel tanks, then bottled and sold early while it's fresh and racy in texture.

Winemaker Description 

The Diatom Santa Barbara Chardonnay offers aromas of lemon, citrus blossom and wet sand with flavors of saline and white peach on the palate. A precise, balanced wine. 

Winemaker Description 

A luscious blend crafted each year to take advantage of the grapes that performed best in the vintage.

The nose opens with a mix of ripe blackberries, blueberries and dark cherries, intertwined with notes of mocha, vanilla and cracked peppercorn. The palate bursts with juicy concentrated fruit flavors, lush dark plum and a hint of boysenberry leading the way.

This wine features a plush, velvety entry, followed by a full-bodied mouthfeel that reveals fine tannins and balanced acidity.

Winemaker Notes

The Canals Canals family elaborated this rosé cava with the red grape varieties Pinot noir 85% and Garnatxa 15%, following the Traditional Method, secondary fermentation of wines in the bottle and aged on lees for over 24 months on lees in our cellars.

• Appearance: presents a deep red-coloured cava with fine and persistent bubbles.
• Aroma: fresh, floral, ripened red fruits with slightly nutty nose.
• Palate: perfectly balanced, full-bodied, pleasant with long and clean finish.
• Gastronomy: recommended for aperitif or combined with pasta, rice, blue fish, well-seasoned white meat and red meat stews.
• Tips: served cold, between 6ºC to 8ºC, in tulip glass type, transparent, tall, thin and without decoration.

• GOLD MEDAL – SPARKLING WINE RESERVA ROSÉ – VINARI AWARDS BARCELONA ROSÉ INTERNATIONAL BUBBLES AWARDS 2025
• 90 POINTS – GOURMETS GUIDE 2025 
• GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2024
• 90 POINTS – JAMES SUCKLING
• 90 POINTS – GOURMETS GUIDE 2024 
• SILVER MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2022
• GOLD MEDAL – CATAVINUM WORLD WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION 2022
• 92 POINTS – GOURMETS GUIDE 2021 – BEST CAVAS
• 90 POINTS – JAMES SUCKLING
• 91 POINTS – GOURMETS GUIDE 2019 – BEST CAVAS UNDER 20 €

Winemaker Description 

Liberal ripe Meyer lemon, citrus blossoms and spice aromas are accented by notes of seaside minerality. Flavors are layered with citrus, orchard fruit and clean oyster-shell minerality. A generous wine with great energy and vibrancy and will reward with additional cellaring. Aging: The premiers crus wines are fermented in a combination of stainless steel and oak puncheons for seven months.

Expert Notes

Bruce Sanderson writes:  This white shows intensity, offering plenty of succulent peach and floral aromas and flavors. Clean, lemony acidity keeps the palate refreshed, with a chalky feel in the end. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Decanter Michaela Morris, 91 Points | Produced since 1979, Castellare’s annata sees its usual dollop of Canaiolo Nero as well as a brief passage in small French oak barrels. It is slightly confected to begin, then comes into focus with pure, fresh dark raspberry. Intense floral nuances of violet and rose join in, carrying over on the palate. It is concentrated in flavour with a light dusting of chalky tannins, while intrinsic juiciness keeps it agile. Admirable depth and length for the category. -Michaela Morris,

Winemaker Description

An authentic expression of Chianti Classico. Only native grapes, to maintain the most typical formula of the most famous of Italian wines, respecting tradition and the territory, enhancing the beautiful ruby red of Sangioveto. A wine which with its typical characteristics strives to achieve maximum elegance.

Bright ruby red, the color of Sangiovese.  The nose is fragrant and fresh with pleasant hints of red fruit, licorice, black currant and a hint of vanilla. Expresses a pleasant sweetness on the palate, it is round, soft and fruity. Acidity and persistence characterize a very elegant aftertaste.

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow color with hints of green. You get on the nose a touch of oak, lots of finesse and minerality with white flowers, lemon and apple scents. On the mouth, the wine is fresh, round and fruity with aromas of melon, kiwi, peaches and apricot and a nice minerality. Overall, the wine is nicely balanced and fresh with a great length. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

The Tasting Panel 94 Points by Meridith May | A bright, clear perfume of baby’s Breath and pink grapefruit. Sweet basil punctuates flavors of star fruit, honeyed peach, and lime zest. One of the more jubilant Sauv Blancs we tasted in the past 12 months, and surely over-delivers for the price.

The Wine Enthusiast by Christina Pickard writes 89 Points | This is a rich, heady wine that combines all the punchy passionfruit, citrus, white peach and green garden veg aromas and flavors we’ve come to know and love from this famous style. The texture plays nicely with mouth-watering acidity, finishing on a dried herbal note

The Wine Spectator by MaryAnn Worobiec writes 89 Points | Vibrant, aromatic and generous, with notes of pear, ginger, lime sherbet and passion fruit. Orange blossom, Honeycrisp apple, lime zest and celery salt details linger.In appearance, it's a pale lime to straw color. Notes of kaffir lime, passionfruit pulp and lemon zest dominate the nose. The palate features concentrated citrus and tropical fruits with a salivating acidity.

Enjoy with ceviche, fresh oysters and poached chicken salad. 

Winemaker Notes

The 2023 Far Niente Chardonnay enchants with a bouquet of citrus, white floral, and hints of honeydew melon and nectarine. Its silky texture and bright, refreshing palate dance with flavors of lemon/lime zest and lemon verbena, culminating in a long, juicy finish that leaves the palate yearning for more.

Expert Rating

Benoit Chauveau Pouilly-Fume is an exuberant expression of Loire Valley Sauvignon Blanc that is pure pleasure in the glass! A lively bouquet of citrus fruits and lemony blossoms develop into refreshing flavors of tangerine, mango and lime leaf with an elegant crispness and delightfully long finish. Drink it as an aperitif or with sushi, light seafood and poultry dishes as well as spicy stir fry. 

- Bart, 67 Wine Buyer

Winemaker Notes |  A delightful medium-to-full bodied Chardonnay with excellent varietal flavors of melon and peach. The palate is soft and smooth with spice hints across the long, balanced finish.

90 Points, Gold Medal Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge, 2025

Gold Medal San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2025

Gold Medal Pacific Rim Int'l Wine Competition, 2025

Tasting Notes

The 2023 vintage presented ideal growing conditions for our Chardonnay, resulting in an exceptional expression of this varietal. A long, mild growing season allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness while maintaining vibrant acidity. This was a great year for ZD’s 55th harvest producing world class wines!

Organically certified grapes from three core appellations (Napa and Sonoma Carneros, and Monterey) were hand harvested at night and 100% barrel fermented in our custom-designed cellar room at a cool 48°F. This long, cool fermentation ensures optimal lees contact for richness and depth, and helps to prevent malolactic fermentation, thus preserving the bright natural acidity from our coastal vineyard sites. The wine rested for 10 months in 100% American Oak barrels which contributes to a heightened complexity.

This Chardonnay displays a pale-yellow hue hinting at a delight for your senses. Aromas bursting of ripe Asian pear, green apple, honeydew melon, and pink grapefruit mingled with nectarine notes. The palate follows through with a distinct richness of lemon curd and balanced flavors of guava with white peach. The acidity in this wine is mouthwatering. In ZD’s signature California Chardonnay style, the wine is vibrant, complex, and finishes with flavors reminiscent of crème brûlée and vanillin notes, resulting in a long-lasting mouthfeel.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Perfumed aromas of wild blackberries, violets and and tobacco leaves. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins and acidity, giving notes of blackcurrants, cedar and dried herbs. Needs time for the tannins to soften. Drinkable now, but best from 2028.

Wine Advocate 90 Points | Truchard's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is the best I can recall from this reliable Carneros producer. Black cherries and cassis are joined by hints of vanilla and violets on the nose, while the medium-bodied palate is streamlined and smooth—a linear style with ample concentration and length, focused and fresh, with some slightly herbal notes on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Luscious aromas of raspberry, plum and cassis fill your senses with a touch of cedar and vanilla. Layers of ripe cherries, red currants and berry jam provide a rich mouth feel. Ripe tannins focus the palate and provide a lengthy finish of spice and deep red fruit. 

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points | A light-bodied, fruity and elegant white with peach and honey aromas, then rich in nectarine flavors on the palate. While the wine is effusively floral and fruity, the finish is clean, dry and minerally. Drink now.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | A vibrant, golden hue, this smells of summer in America's Northeast: lemon sorbet, freshly washed sheets hung to dry on a clothes line, a windowsill of herbs, freshly turned earth. It's dry with lovely flavor concentration, tex­tural weight and crisp acidity freshening it all up. It's somehow curvy but linear at the same time— and a total bargain for the quality. Editor's Choice. —C.P.

Winemaker Description 

#36 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025

A combination of grapes harvested from Ravines' Limestone Springs and Sixteen Falls vineyards, this Riesling features bright crips flavors of asian pear, white peach, and soft blossom. A delicate current of flint elevates this beautiful and succulent, dry Riesling that shows terrific balance and tension from the integrated acidity.

Winemaker Description 

The word "Balade" is French for wandering.  This is a fitting term for our annual exploration of single-vineyard pinot noir blocks on the west coast.  Each vintage, we will bottle only the most compelling and nuanced expression of pinot noir from a single selected vineyard and release it as a limited bottling.

Dark Purple-violet tones with enticing aromas of blackberry and boysenberry notes.  Sophisticated on the palate with flavors of black cherry, wild blackberry and jammy plum.  Balanced and structured, this wine has beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Matt Kettmann of the Wine Enthusiast writes 92 Points | Dried cherry, baked plum and a full spice rack of aromas show on the nose of this bottling. Tense, slightly sappy tannins frame the sip, where black plum, stewed cherry and bay leaf flavors lead into a wood smoke-kissed finish.  

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Neal Martin writes: The 2019 has a beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents that are beautifully defined. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. This is exquisite in terms of balance, silky smooth, building gradually with a harmonious and quite effortless finish. Divine - this is a stellar showing. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting. - Vinous 97

Georgina Hindle writes: A rich, full and heady nose. On the palate there's ripe blackcurrant, red cherries, raspberries and strawberries but also some mint, black pepper and truffle. Excellent precision and density with a seductive dark chocolate edge. Feels well handled with a sense of classicism. A powerful, muscular and confident wine, but with suppleness - this has density but also grace with a cooling finish comprising liquorice, mint and soft salinity. A great wine. Drinking - Decanter 97

James Suckling writes: A perfumed nose of mulberries, plums, chocolate orange and cloves. Hints of toffee, too. Medium-to full-bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Caressing, velvety and rich core of dark fruit. So supple and polished. 88.5% merlot, 7% cabernet sauvignon and 4.5% cabernet franc. Drink after 2024. - James Suckling 95

William Kelley writes: The 2019 Gazin is a fleshy, dramatic wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of ripe berry fruit mingled with subtle hints of truffle and violets, its new oak already entirely integrated. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it's broad and textural, with lively acids, powdery tannins and fine length on the finish. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94

Jeb Dunnuck writes: While the 2019 Château Gazin isn't going to match the 2018, it's an elegant, solid Pomerol delivering spicy red and black cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and flowers, medium-bodied richness, silky yet building tannins, and a great finish. This elegant, nicely structured, balanced beauty will benefit from 3-5 years of bottle age and keep for 15-20 years. - Jeb Dunnuck 94

Warehouse stored item - please allow three to five business days to fulfill.

Full-bodied, even robust, with a capacity to age but with such supple smoothness that it can be eminently drinkable even when young.

Winemaker Description

The Little Sheep, Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough shows aromas of ripe peach and citrus notes with flavors of lemon, lime and a hint of green apple. Well-balanced acidity and a lingering hint of nectarine frames the finish.

This flexible wine will pair with a wide variety of salads, avocados, crab cakes, goat cheese, mango, green vegetables and basil, to name just a few.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer: For centuries, Sicily has been a crossroad of cultures, languages, and religions. With a multitude of cultural exchange, many things came from distant places, grape varieties included. The Syrah grape had its origins in Persia and Mesopotamia and migrated across Europe finding its way to Sicily. The hot sunny climate is a perfect home for this intrepid grape variety and is conducive to natural organic farming.

Tenuta Rapitala Nadir Syrah is rich and well endowed with layers of black fruits and earthy spice. Full bodied and robustly structured with savory complexity and a chewy texture. Abundant and robust in the mouth, with supple tannins providing good grip on the finish, this is a perfect wine for foods of substance, such as pizza, pasta, grilled or roasted meats and hearty vegetable dishes.

Winery Description 

Intense ruby-red color with damask-violet tints. Generous bouquet with touches of ripe fruit and the typical spices of this grape variety, with attractive hints of vanilla. The flavor is full and delicate, with soft and elegant tannins. A balanced marriage between the depth of this product and the uniqueness of this exceptional terroir.

Winemaker Description 

Our family winery has hand-crafted fine wines for four generations. We harvest grapes at their peak of ripeness from our 1,850 acres and prime California vineyards creating wines to be enjoyed every day – whatever the occasion. Our Chardonnay is a delightfully crisp wine with aromas of lemon and citrus.

• Flavors of apple and pear mingle with a hint of oak in this medium-bodied wine that is smooth and refreshing

Producer Description 

This bright, lively wine showcases an abundance of berry flavors and aromas. Red raspberry, wild blackberry, and a touch of cranberry are balanced with spicy notes of anise and cinnamon. This medium-bodied Zinfandel lingers for a long, smooth finish.

Pair with barbecue, blue cheese and cheeseburgers.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Jammy and generous but not blowsy, this Zin is loaded with blackberry and cherry flavors that are accented with hints of pepper and licorice.