2010 - Present Wine

Expert Review

John Gilman 96 Points | This is my first taste of Domaine des Closiers top bottling, les Trezellières, which is made from a parcel of old vines and given fully two years aging in barrel, with somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the casks new. The 2019 les Trezellières is beautifully deep and refined aromatically, delivering scents of black cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a very complex base of soil, a touch of Cheval Blanc-like menthol, a gentle dollop of tree bark, cedar and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, elegant and rock solid at the core, with great focus and complex, superb soil undertow, fine-grained tannins and a very long, pure and classy finish.

The small percentage of new oak gives this wine more refinement than the les Coudraies bottling, but because it is no more than twenty percent new oak, the wood influence is far more subtle out of the blocks than in Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg bottling, which is the closest comparison I can think of for this brilliant young Saumur Champigny. Give this beautiful wine plenty of time in the cellar to properly resolve its tannins and completely blossom! (2019). 

Winemaker Description 

The Cortado La Barajuela 2017 comes as the Palma Cortada y la Raya, from Viña el Corregidor, from the Sub-pago de Carrascal Alto, in the Pago de Carrascal. The harvest was carried out in the middle of September in the later passes, selecting the fully ripe bunches.

Winemaker Description

Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely impeccable. Best of all, it won't require years in the cellar to be enjoyable. In fact, it is quite expressive today. Juicy dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and cinnamon are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass. 

Expert Review 

Vinous 96+ Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is silky and elegant, with lovely aromatic presence and impeccable balance. Sweet tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and mint all give this mid-weight Cabernet lovely complexity and nuance. The 2018 has shut down since I tasted it last year, but that is not surprising given the style here. Today, bright acids give the 2018 energy, tension and a good deal of precision. Those qualities should help the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon age well over the coming decades.  Drinking 2028 - 2058.

Winemaker Description

Valduero Dos Cotas Reserva is a barrel-aged, single-variety Tinto Fino (Tempranillo) red wine made by Bodegas Valduero in the D.O. Ribera de Duero.

Set up in the small Burgos town of Gumiel del Mercado by Gregorio García álvarez in 1984, the Valduero family winery was one of the first to be founded in Ribera de Duero. Currently, alongside their two daughters Yolanda and Carolina, they cultivate 200 hectares of Tempranillo variety vineyards to make Crianza, Reserva and Gran Reserva wines in their winery, built at the foot of a mountain. An authentic cave over 30 metres deep that houses more than 4,000 oak barrels and a million bottles ready to send out all over the world.

Valduero Dos Cotas Reserva comes from old strains over 50 years old planted at an altitude of 830 metres in clay-calcareous soils. They use traditional agriculture and a bush training system to naturally limit production to an average of 3,500 kg / ha. When the grapes reach optimum ripeness, they are manually harvested into 14 kg boxes.

In the winery, Valduero Dos Cotas Reserva ferments for 8 days in stainless steel tanks between 23ºC and 28ºC with pump-overs and 10 days of maceration. It then ages for 30 months in oak barrels of 3 different origins and finally stabilises in the bottle for 18 months before going to market.

Valduero Dos Cotas Reserva is a fine and elegant barrel-aged red wine that is a classic Ribera de Duero with well-balanced fruit and wood.

Winemaker Description 

This premium French wine from Chateau Greysac originates from the Medoc region of Bordeaux. It has a characteristic deep purple coloring and medium legs. The aroma is complex and a mix of blueberries, plum, and raspberries blend with a fresh earthiness that dances in the nose.

The wine has a medium body and slightly acidic in structure with strong tannins, with notes of blackberries and licorice. The finish is clean and slightly tannic, with an aftertaste of black fruits and a more earthy flavors that linger on the tongue. The wine is exceptionally well made and well balanced and the ideal of what a good Medoc should be.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Joe Czerwinski writes:  Whitehall Lane's 2019 Merlot Napa Valley actually contains 87% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Slightly candied cherry notes mark the nose, framed by vanilla and touches of dried tobacco, while the medium to full-bodied palate is succulent and juicy, textured without being overly rich or tannic.  Drinking 2022 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

James Suckling writes:  Vibrant, fruity nose of ripe plums, raspberries, mulberries, licorice and nutmeg. Some chocolate orange, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins. Plush, round and succulent. Drink or hold.  - Wine Spectator 91

Tim Fish writes:  Refined and structured, with expressive red currant, toasty mocha and tomato leaf tones that gather tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029.  - Wine Spectator 91

Winemaker Description 

This Merlot offers notes of raspberry croissant, red currants, cocoa powder, and layers of graphite. The palate showcases fine, firm tannins alongside chocolate cherry lollipop, red plums, dried goji berries, and toasted brioche. It is supple in texture and shows attractive depth on the finish. Winemaker Description. 

95 Points James Suckling | Lots of sliced lemon, apple, ginger and honey blossom. Meyer lemon, too. Medium to full body, creamy texture. Wild and vivid flavors with so much going on here. Tangy and vivid. Terrific quality for the vintage. Excellent acid. 100% barrel fermented, 60% stainless and 40% oak.

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | A flinty, herbaceous aroma leads to nicely layered flavors of citrus, ginger and limestone in this complex, subtle and fascinating wine. Nervy acidity braces the ample herb and fruit flavors for an especially energized mouthfeel.

93 Points Decanter | The iconic Napa producer fermented this Sauvignon Blanc in French oak, small stainless steel barrels, clay amphora, and ceramic and concrete cuves. Intense sweet peach aromas leap forth, followed by tarragon, sea foam and lemon zest notes. The palate is fresh with pronounced citrus flavors, followed by ripe apricot and briny minerality.

93 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Bright and racy, with lots of citrus, subtle grapefruit, and some chalky minerality, the 2022 Sauvignon Blanc is medium-bodied, has a balanced lively mouthfeel, and a clean finish.

Pretty and pure with aromas of citrus, white peach, and juicy pear, this beautiful Sauvignon Blanc is layered and complex. Apple clafoutis and floral aromatics invite you in. Rich and textural, this wine perfectly balances viscosity and acidity. Sea spray and salted lemon with some grapefruit pith carries through its long finish. Delicious and refreshing! Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Wine Spectator 90 Points | This has nice, subtle energy, with rippling rooibos tea, blood orange and red currant notes that meld steadily through a savory finish. 

Bart Hopkins | The beautiful Anderson Valley of Mendocino County is home to some of California’s best Pinot Noir. I look at it as a stylistic bridge between Russian River-Sonoma Coast and the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The fruit leans more to the darker spectrum with earthy complexity and a spicy character. The 2020 Husch Estate Pinot Noir is an exceptional example of what makes Anderson Valley special. Aromas of cherry and strawberry mingle with shades of violet, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Well balanced and harmonious with smooth tannins and lifted acidity that brings focus to the fruit on the long flavorful finish.
Winemaker Description

Winemaker's Description

Lush and powerful, the 2020 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir showcases this valley’s great fruit. The wine presents vivid aromas of amarena cherry, marionberry, lilac, and baking spices. Subtle notes of rhubarb, currant, rosemary, and earth add depth and complexity. Lively and youthful, the wine delivers excellent balance, purity of fruit, and sustained richness with a velvety texture, and it is sure to develop beautifully in the cellar.

This dinner table classic pairs exceptionally with coq au vin, mushroom ravioli, roasted pecans and walnuts, grilled vegetables, or creamy cheeses. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Tonya Pitts of The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This wine is deep, rich, with aromas of boysenberry, Bing cherry, violets, and notes of toasty oak on the nose. The flavors on the palate are strawberry-cherry coulis, Blood orange peel, dark chocolate shavings, interwoven with clove, and a dry finish.

Winemaker Description 

This wine opens with inviting aromas of strawberry, cherry and clove. Hues of red roses and ruby jewel tones fill the glass.  On the palate, this is a soft, fruit-forward wine with plush tannins and flavors of ripe plum and black cherry. Just a touch of new French oak lends texture and helps frame the bright red fruit that radiates from this wine.

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Bernardot is dark and austere with wonderful nuances of ripe red fruit. Tannins are very silky and delicate in this 2019, showing a lot of finesse, typical from the Barbaresco area. It’s an elegant and very expressive Barbaresco. One of the favorite vineyards of winemaker Alessandro Ceretto.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate Monica Larner 95 Points writes | The organic Ceretto 2019 Barbaresco Bernadot shows a broader character and a more open-knit personality compared to the Asili. There is a lot of dark fruit, spice, truffle and earth to frame the medium-build of this elegant wine.  (2019).

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A bright red, delivering a core of cherry and raspberry fruit supported by earth, mineral and wild herbs. Intense, complex and dense, this is solidly built and persists with an aftertaste of dark fruit, mineral and spice. Best from 2025. (2019).

Winemaker Description 

A superb and age-worthy Barolo by Giacomo Conterno, from the Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. 100% Nebbiolo. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak casks. Red fruits, roses, tar, licorice and spices notes. Powerful and complex. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

Expert Reviews 97 Points Wine Advocate | Of the three Barolo samples I tasted from barrel (including Arione and Cerretta, which are also from Serralunga d'Alba), the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia was the furthest behind and the hardest to pin down at this stage in its infancy. I have opened my range of scores accordingly to compensate for the magical unknowns that are likely to occur as the wine moves toward greater harmony and integration before its commercial release. The wine is linear and pointedly focused, lacking the width and volume it will gain when given more time to flesh out and relax. The aromas are also quite primary and simple at this point, with dark cherry and even a hint of ripe strawberry ceding gradually to grilled herb, blue flower and baked brick. This vintage of Barolo Francia will require patience. (2018).

95 Points Wine Spectator | Delivers depth and power, with menthol and wild herbs shading cherry and plum flavors. The balance tips toward the tannins in the end, yet this doesn't feel overly astringent, just more structured than many '18s. Picks up a mineral element as this lingers on the finish. Be patient. (2018).

95+ Points Vinous | The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of balsamic overtones build into the deep, imposing finish. Roberto Conterno decided to forego his Barolo Monfortino in 2018, opting instead to blend all the casks into his Francia bottling. When that happens, Francia often surprises down the road. That could very well turn out to be the case here. (2018).

Monica Larner writes:  The Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia has opened beautifully since I last tasted this wine at the winery two years ago. It was closed back then (no surprise since I tasted it as an unfinished sample), but with the distance of time, the wine has blossomed to show blackcurrant, cassis, aniseed, blue flower and pencil shaving. The Francia is known for its magical combination of power and nuance, both delivered with seamless intensity. This vintage offers a savory component with hints of toasted spice or spent ember. The tannins are fine and polished.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Winemaker Description 

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).

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 vineyards are in Pouilly-Fumé Contrôlée, which includes Pouilly-sur-Loire, Saint-Andelain and Tracy-sur-Loire at the eastern end of the Loire Valley (including the vineyard of the Château du Nozet estate).

Both clay and limestone influence the delicate characteristics in Ladoucette Baron de L Pouilly-Fumé. This Grande Cuvée of Pouilly Fumé is produced exclusively in the best years and from the first pressing of the estate’s grapes. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | Gently iodine-inflected and lively, the 2024 Chateauneuf du Pape Blanc from Clos du Mont Olivet reveals aromas of white fruits, flowers and confit citrus. Medium- to full-bodied, satiny and layered, it is elegantly framed, with a concentrated mid-palate enlivened by delicate acidity—remarkable for a wine from this appellation. Primarily composed of Clairette and Roussanne, this is a stunning effort.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Based on 40% Clairette, 30% Roussanne, 14% Bourboulenc, and smaller amounts of other permitted white varieties, the 2024 Châteauneuf Du Pape Blanc was partially vinified and aged seven months in 20% new French oak, with the balance in stainless steel and clay jars. It offers very classy and classic aromas of pure stone fruits, white flowers, crushed stone, and some sappy, minty garrigue nuances. Medium-bodied and balanced, it shows integrated acidity and outstanding length on the finish.

Crafted from a 20-hour maceration of Pinot Noir grapes, each parcel is vinified separately in stainless steel and epoxy-lined tanks. The wine is bottled according to the lunar calendar and undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, preserving the unique characteristics of each terroir.

This meticulous approach highlights the natural expression of the Meunier grape, resulting in a fresh, vibrant rosé with nuanced red fruit, subtle spice, and floral notes. The wine balances elegance with intensity, offering a complex, layered palate and a delicate, persistent mousse.

Perfect for festive occasions, it pairs beautifully with seafood, charcuterie, or light poultry dishes, making it a standout choice for holiday celebrations or special gatherings.

Grape: 100% Pinot Noir (Saignée method)
Country: France – Champagne

Has a pale yellow colour with pale green hues. Its rich nose reveals aromas of honey, acacia and almond. 

Backed by fine acidity, this wine leaves a slightly saline finish that will leave your taste buds salivating.

Pairing Notes:  Aperitif, charcuterie, shellfish and fish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

The Wine Spectator 91 Points | A crowd-pleaser, with boysenberry and acai berry fruit flavors streaming through, while a silky but persistent structure carries this through the chocolate-framed finish. Caressing in feel, with a subtle savory echo at the very end. Drink now through 2033. 141,348 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

A blend of 70% Pinot Noir from 1974 plantings and 30% Gamay from vines dating back to 1953. The vineyard sits just outside Volnay, and it shows—there’s a refined, earthy edge that echoes the structure and elegance of that more famous neighbor.

On the nose, the wine leads with bright red cherry and plum, joined by subtle notes of underbrush, leather, and a touch of spice. The fruit is vivid but not glossy—on the palate, juicy red berries give way to hints of forest floor and dried herbs. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Lush and intense, with mouthwatering notes of Key lime, tangerine and lemon cream. Hints of matcha, freshly grated ginger and white pepper add complexity and aromatics through the intense finish, where the flavors gain torque, power and freshness. 

Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select our Top 100 based on quality, value, availability and excitement.

This annual list honors successful wineries, regions and vintages around the world.

20 of 2025 - Top 100 Wines. The Wine Spectator

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2024 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc leads with a gentle mix of cassis and vanilla pod, juniper, green apple and fresh linen, jasmine tea and petrichor. In the mouth, the acidity is bright, making for a crunchy, intensely flavorsome wine that has admirable restraint and finesse.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Decanter 94 Points | Ripe, round, and juicy with rich orchard fruit flavours, balanced saline-earthy notes and a slightly oaky character. 

Winemaker Description 

The wine has been crafted from grapes cultivated at La Planta estate, owned by Arzuaga Navarro’s family in Quintanilla de Onésimo, the heart of Ribera del Duero. The soil is clay-calcareous and the subsoil is pure limestone at one meter under the surface. The vineyard altitude is 911 meters above sea level. These specific conditions provide distinct features of the wine.

The wine boasts a deep violet red color. Clean and bright with a range of red fruits (raspberry and cherry) that dominate with a high aromatic intensity, joined by balsamic, cacao, coffee, and roasted tones. Fresh, elegant, easy, and balanced in the mouth with a lightly sweet, toasted, and pleasant aftertaste.

Winemaker Description 

Flavours of passionfruit, grapefruit, gooseberry and guava.

Winemaker Description 

History: George Elworthy trained as a winemaker at Lincoln University, and worked several vintages in Marlborough and overseas. When Jules Taylor started her own wine label in 2008, trained winemaker and hubby George Elworthy became general manager (or “general dogsbody”). Not wanting to let wife Jules have all the fun, George launched his own label in 2011. With his tongue firmly in his cheek, he called it “The Better Half” Style: Delicious, fruit-driven wines that are meant to be enjoyed right now. Not left to gather dust in your wine rack.

Winemaking: Wines are fermented using minimal intervention and modern winemaking techniques.

Vineyards: Grapes are sourced from a selection of grower and estate vineyards in sunny Marlborough, all of which are 100% certified by the Sustainable Winegrowers NZ Scheme.

2024 Vintage:

The 2024 Marlborough season was warm, dry and windy. Vine growth began late, and it quickly became obvious that the harvest would be much smaller than previous years.

With fewer berries on the vine, the warm temperatures through summer caused one
of the shortest ripening periods on record. Cool evenings helped retain acidity during ripening and balanced the concentrated, ripe fruit flavors.

Grapes were harvested from various Marlborough sites throughout March 2024, with a high proportion coming from the slower ripening, more aromatic Awatere subregion. The wine was fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures and bottled under screwcap for maximum freshness.

Food Match:

Enjoy al fresco with fresh shellfish with a squeeze of lime, or any kind of salad. For
something more substantial, pair it with Thai- or Vietnamese-flavored dishes.

Winemaker’s Notes:

Color: Pale yellow.

Nose: Punchy citrus aromas of lime and grapefruit leap from the glass, along with notes of guava and fresh cut grass.

Palate: Dry, juicy and intensely flavored on the palate, with bright citrus notes and a pop of guava. The finish is long, carried by vibrant, refreshing acidity and a dash of salinity.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024 

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points - Best Buy |  Appealing aromas of lime, white peach and kiwi fruit lead to a palate that’s shows lovely, delicate fruit woven neatly with bright acidity and padded by a softly pithy texture. It steersclear of the green, underripe pungency common to this style and is the better (half) for it.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Vinous 92 | The 2023 Chablis La Boissonneuse has another generous and well-defined bouquet with Clementine and peach skin, just a hint of candy floss and spice. Quite mercurial in the glass. The palate is taut and fresh with a fine bead of acidity. Sapid in the mouth with plenty of extract and umami sensation on the finish. This should be on your shopping list. Rated 90-92

Allen Meadows Burghound 90 Points |  In contrast to the Les Plantes, here the expressive nose is quite fresh with its notes of just sliced citrus, green apple and enough typicity to be convincing. There is excellent vibrancy to the sleek and well-defined flavors that display good length on the youthfully austere and highly refreshing finish. This isn't however especially complex so a few years of keeping are recommended. Rated: 87-90

Winemaker Description 

Beautiful ruby red color with an intense nose of fresh grapes and subtle black fruits aromas.

This is a complex wine that offers firm tannins and rich fruit. It has weight, density and a strong sense of ripeness. With balance and depth, it’s a wine with good aging potential.
Will pair nicely with all kind of meats (pork shank, roasted poultry), and perfumed cheeses (like crottins de Chavignolor other goat cheeses).

On the palate, the wine reveals a good structure and the evolution expresses some freshness that gives to the wine a very dynamic character and a contemporary style. Great with grilled meats and hard cheeses!