2010 - Present Wine

Winemaker Description

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of shiraz, and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. It is unusual amongst high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak. Released for the first time by Penfolds in the early 1950s (first commercial vintage 1957), it gained a new lease of life in the 1990s as its quality and distinctive style became better understood. Proudly, a wine style that hasn’t succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Juicy blueberry and huckleberry fruit flavors at the core are accented by black and red licorice details, with dense, grippy tannins and notes of black pepper and Earl Grey tea. Impressive for its concentration and focus, along with its muscular structure. Drink now through 2035. 284 cases imported.

Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 St Henri Shiraz is a terrific effort, perhaps rivaling the top-flight wines under this label in 1976 and 1986. Remarkably fine and silky in texture yet simultaneously dense and concentrated, it showcases the amazing fruit harvested in 2018. Boysenberry, mulberry and mocha shadings all swirl together effortlessly in a whorl of full-bodied elegance, finishing long and effortless. Mainly Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale, it includes smaller amounts of fruit from Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and the Adelaide Hills, all aged 12 months in large old wooden vats.

Decanter 93 Points | A shift in emphasis for St Henri, with its gaze fixed on depth and seriousness rather than its familiar comforting embrace. With no new oak, it’s always a fruit-driven statement, but this time the rich, red earthy tones are clouded over by a deep well of purple and blue fruit flavours. As a result, it appears to have a broader frame than before, finishing a bit short for a wine of this stature, but still with lots of pleasing savoury grip on the finish. Released at AU$135. Drinking Window 2022 - 2050.

James Suckling 99 Points | A great St. Henri and, although multi-regional, this is very much a wine that speaks of the Barossa Valley, with aromas of ripe blackberries and red plums that are so fresh, together with tobacco, young-leather, earth, chocolate, coal-smoke and tarry accents. Effortless depth on the palate with summer berries, framed in fine, alabaster-like tannins that are underscored with discreet power. So long and captivating. A blend of Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Port Lincoln, Robe, Padthaway, Clare Valley and Adelaide Hills. Drink over the next decade or more. Screw cap.Vinous 95 points Dark, bright-rimmed violet color. A wild, highly complex bouquet evokes spice-tinged black/blue fruits, pipe tobacco, savory herbs, potpourri and olive paste. Weighty and yet energetic in style, offering mineral-driven bitter cherry, cassis, chewing tobacco and exotic spice flavors that turn sweeter through the back half. Round, slowly building tannins give framework to a very long, smoky finish that echoes the cherry and tobacco notes.

Winemaker Description

Smoke, tar, and char on the nose along with stewed plums, blackberries, and figs. The palate is softer on the tongue than the nose might suggest. Berries and figs come through with a little black pepper and cinnamon. Woody tannins settle into the sides of the tongues and linger a little with a background of umami. Pair with game meats, bbq, honeyed hams, and dark chocolate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

Wine Spectator 95 points | This has a lovely core of creamy anise-infused plum, blackberry and boysenberry flavors that showcase themselves a bit more vividly than many Margaux peers in this vintage do, with substantial but velvety grip and lots of extra violet, graphite and black tea notes adding to the long flow of a finish. Really beautiful feel. Best from 2023 through 2038.Wine Enthusiast 97 points Dark tannins work with the sophisticated structure of this wine. The very fine tannins are an important element of the wine, giving shape to the ripe black fruits and acidity. This wine, rich and structured, is set for a long development. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection.

Wine Advocate 97 points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla drifts effortlessly from the glass with fragrant rose hip tea, candied violets and chocolate box scents over a core of fresh blackcurrants and black cherry compote plus wafts of tobacco and dusty soil. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers a great mid-palate of softly textured black and blue fruits with loads of floral nuances and a refreshing lift on the finish. The blend this year is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, harvested between September 20th and October 15th at an average yield of 45 hectoliters per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. The alcohol is 13.5%.Decanter 95 points There's an array of flavours and complex aromatics on offer here. It's powerful and brooding, with a lyrical acidity that helps to lift up the relatively foursquare tannins on the attack. After a few minutes in the glass it begins to ripple with menthol, liquorice root, grilled cedar and sweet spices. It needs time to settle, of course, but is extremely classic, and will go the distance and then some. Matured in 60% new oak.

Jeb Dunnuck 98 points | I continue to love the 2016 Rauzan-Ségla, a thrillingly complete, flawlessly balanced, and borderline perfect Margaux that should be snatched up by readers. Notes of cassis, graphite, tobacco leaf, and earth all give way to a full-bodied effort that has building tannins, no hard edges, and a level of purity and elegance that’s just about off the charts. Given its purity and balance, it’s accessible today, but it will be best with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for 3-4 decades.

James Suckling 98 points | The aromas of blackcurrants, sweet tobacco and sandalwood are tantalizing. Then it turns to subtle, dried fruit. Full-bodied with dense and powerful tannins, yet ending with finesse and vertical nature. Very deep. Power with finesse. Try after 2025. 

Winemaker Description

This is a wine from southern Priorat, which marks with a lively, warm and fragrant vein the serious, deep and enigmatic character of old vineyards. Blackberry aromas with balsamic notes typical of the brushwood. The palate is remarkably mature and fresh at the same time. 

Winemaker Notes:

Campo di Camagi is one of the three labels of 100% Cabernet Franc produced by Andrea Franchetti from 2014, who wanted to devote the utmost attention to this historic grape of Bordeaux, enhancing its characteristics in relation to three different terroir of the estate. It is produced exclusively with grapes from a single plot of 1.5 hectares composed of a thin layer of quartz and limestone. The 27 year old vines struggle to grow in this space, the stems do not grow, the roots have filled it.

Expert Reviews 

Monica Larner writes:   Made with Cabernet Franc, the Tenuta di Trinoro 2020 Campo di Camagi shows a level of sharpness and precision that you don't get as clearly in the other wines in this series of single-vineyard releases. There is more oak spice with redwood and cedar, along with crushed granite and pencil shaving. The wine is linear and delivers big intensity to the palate, and it has the structure and acidity to accompany a long drinking window.  Drinking 2024 2045  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95+

James Suckling writes:  So perfumed with violets and lavender with some currants. Medium- to full-bodied with polish and finesse. Racy and fine. Finesse with drive. Very elegant and straightforward with a racy texture. Very long and lightly edgy. 92% cabernet franc and 8% merlot. Drink after 2027 but already beautiful.  - James Suckling 96

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A spicy red, featuring a beam of black currant and blackberry fruit shaded by violet, black pepper, iron and mint. Lithe and ends with a line of resonant tannins on the tobacco-tinged finish. Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 166 cases made, 65 cases imported.  Wine Spectator 94

Jancis Robinson writes:  Racy, lively and a little fragile and delicate. Tense.  Drinking 2024 - 2034  - Jancis Robinson 17.5

Winemaker Description

These vines are two kilometers inland from the Bío Bío river. The granitic soil has its origins in the volcanic activity that defined the costal range called Cordillera de Nahuelbuta, which translates to "Cougar’s Land," or Tierra de Pumas in Spanish. The wine itself is appropriately named due with its complex, fruity and meaty character. 

Expert Review

92 Points Robert Parker | The other new País is the 2019 Tierra de Pumas that comes from three hectares of old vines, the 77th vineyard registered in the zone, so one of the oldest remaining vineyards in Bio-Bio and possibly all of Chile, certainly over 200 years old. The soils are a mixture of granite and quartz with some clay, and the lower parts are more sedimentary, what it's locally called Serie Santa Juana because the vineyard is quite large. This is certainly different from the rest—if it's because of the soil or not is another story, but the vinification and élevage is very similar for all. There is a note that reminds me of blood orange peel and talcum powder, intensely aromatic, almost as if it went through semi-carbonic fermentation (which it did not). When tasted next to the other four País bottlings, this is the one that stands out because it has a different character. 10,000 bottles produced.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016 

Wine Spectator 97 Points | Beautifully rendered, with a lush and seamless flow of cassis, steeped cherry, warmed raspberry and gently mulled blackberry fruit flavors gliding through. Light lilac, savory, mesquite and mineral accents underline the finish, adding additional texture and length. Deep and long, with sublime definition and gorgeous fruit. Best from 2024 through 2040.

Wine Enthusiast 99 Points | With a rare 94% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this wine is packed both with black-currant flavors and impressive tannins and acidity. It moves Château Margaux into a new dimension with its dense, dry core of tannins that will power the wine into a seriously long-term future. Best after 2025. Cellar Selection.

Wine Advocate 99 points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Château Margaux (blended of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot) sashays out of the glass with glamorous red currants, candied violets, kirsch and crushed blackcurrants scents followed by notions of tilled black soil, forest floor, cast iron pan and cigar box with subtle wafts of lavender and oolong tea. Medium-bodied, mineral laced accents hover over the palate with an ethereal sensation of weightlessness, yet it is super intense with layers of red and black flavors supported by a firm texture of silt-fine tannins, finishing wonderfully fragrant and incredibly long.

Decanter 98 Points | This is a serious Margaux, hugely Cabernet dominant on both nose and palate as you would expect with 94% of the blend. It has an extremely fine, elongated tannic structure, just barely there and so classy, focussing on the gentle elasticity. There are more blue than black fruits here, wonderfully spun out and softened with crushed tobacco. It has the expansive aromatic structure of Margaux, the floral and mineral aspects clear, as is the tension that lifts the palate up and out. It's reminiscent of the 2005, though with less evident tannins. It's not as hefty as the 2010 or as staggering as the 2015, but is still a joyful expression of the estate. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The grand vin 2016 Château Margaux is a beauty and tastes like the essence of Margaux. Thrilling notes of blueberries, cassis, crushed violets, flowery incense, and spice notes all give way to a full-bodied 2016 that strikes an incredible balance between richness and elegance. A blend of 94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot brought up in new barrels, it’s more focused and elegant than the 2015, yet I suspect it’s just as concentrated, and readers are going have a blast comparing these two magical vintages over the coming 4-5 decades.

James Suckling 99 Points | It’s very friendly and warm on the nose showing flowers and red fruit. But then on the palate, it lets you know how serious it is. Full-bodied, yet reserved, extremely tight and well-formed with super polished tannins that go on for minutes. A solid and typical Margaux with all the personality and beauty in strength. Try after 2027.

Winemaker Description 

ZERO SUGAR. LOW CARB. ALL WINE

The Simple Grape uses high quality, sustainably grown California grapes to craft wines without added sugars or artificial ingredients. The Simple Grape aims to be radically transparent. All the information you need is on the front label, so you can feel good enjoying a glass while knowing exactly what is in the bottle.

Per 5oz glass: Sugar - 0 .05g | Carbs - 2.5g | Calories - 118 | Alcohol - 13.5%

Delicate notes of floral, green apple and stone fruit (apricot, pear) evolve into fresh, clean finish with beautiful concentration and balanced acidity.

Ideal for afternoon sipping, this wine is a great match for salads, crudité platters, sushi, oysters or chilled shellfish. It also is sturdy enough to work with roasted chicken and pan seared fish.

Pinot Grigio yields fresh, crisp, supple wines with genuine charm. The long, cool California growing season is ideally suited for the development of delicate aromas and fresh acidity. Pinot Grigio yields fresh, crisp, supple wines with genuine charm.

The long, cool California growing season is ideally suited for the development of delicate aromas and fresh acidity. 

Winemaker Description

Deep dark purple in color. Leather on the nose. Black plums with tannins and a little heat on the palate. It's medium-bodied with a cleaner finish than you expect it to be. Let it open up a little for the most enjoyment. Pair with grilled meats.

Winemaker Description

Israel. Alma is a dark full-bodied lively wine showing generous aromas of cherries, plums and sweet dark fruits with a buttery palate offering essences of vanilla, cloves and green tea.

The grapes for this wine were picked and fermented in separate batches. 

The wine was pressed out just before completing fermentation and Malolactic fermentation was encouraged, once completed the wine was racked into French oak barrels for 12 months, after which each parcel was individually tasted, the final blend was made and allowed to age for a further six months in small French barriques.

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | We think of this as Israeli Chateauneuf-du-Pape, tasted blind it will fool you! Mike DeSimone writes:  Blackberry, cassis and toasted nut aromas emanate from the glass. There is a nice bright note of pomegranate underlying Mission fig, eucalyptus, dark chocolate, orange zest and caramel flavors. Luxurious tannins and well-balanced acidity stroll hand in hand into a lengthy finish.

Our Professional Review

Rand Sieger Buyer, 67Wine | This lovely Pinot Noir comes from a 6th generation family winery in the Thermen Region, just a short drive south from Vienna.

Cistercian Monks planted Pinot Noir vines here as early as the 12th century. Aging is done only in old oak barrels to preserve  the purity and freshness of the fruit. Aromas and flavors of bright red fruits are accented by a light peppery spice on the finish. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | I like the smoky, dried-cherry, blackberry and strawberry character and just a hint of dark chocolate. It’s full-bodied, round and flavorful. Drinkable now, but better in 2021. 

Winemaker Description

Produced from vines planted well south of the cluster of northern-Thermenregion villages that comprise the majority of their holdings, Stadlmann’s Pinot Noir (called “Blauburgunder” locally) is simultaneously fresh and substantial, offering the textural harmoniousness of their white wines, as well as a lifted and elegant spice character that puts one in the mind of excellent red Burgundy. (After all, it was the Cistercian monks who brought Pinot Noir from Burgundy to the Thermenregion in the late 1100s.) Like the estate’s white wines, this is fermented and aged entirely in large, well-worn oak casks and bottled without fining and with only a gentle filtration.

Expert Review 

James Suckling 90 Points | This is the prototypical fino sherry with all the salty and yeasty character you expect. Also dried-apple, pear and lemon-zest character. Generous, but very dry and salty on the palate with a refreshing touch of austerity. Where are the olives? Drink now, if possible from a freshly opened bottle.

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow with golden glints. Slightly cloudy as it contains flor in suspension, reflecting it’s having been bottled ‘En Rama’. Complex aromas of almonds, lemon and floral notes combined with sea spray and minerals. 

The palate is concentrated and sightly creamy with a salty tang and impressive depth of flavour boasting toasted almonds, apple skins and bready undertones. The finish is rounded and alluring, clearly harking back to its origins in the albariza soil yet also reflecting the Significance of its biological ageing. This wine is the purest definition of the vines and the winery. 

Our Notes

Oscar, 67 Wine Buyer, writes:  In 2015, I was one of only three invitees from the United States selected to participate in the prestigious Gonzalez Byass Tio Pepe Sherry Master program. This incredible experience allowed me to earn certification as a Sherry Master through their renowned education program. To this day, it remains one of the highlights of my professional wine career.

I was captivated by the vineyards, the historic Sherry bodegas, and the wealth of knowledge I gained under the guidance of the legendary Antonio Flores, Master Blender at Bodegas Gonzalez Byass.

Fast forward to 2025, and I am thrilled to invite all wine aficionados to explore our newly revamped Sherry selection at the shop. We have curated an extensive collection of over 100 selections ranging from delightfully crisp, saline-driven Finos and Manzanillas to complex and rare Amontillados, Olorosos, and Palo Cortados. Stay tuned for updates on upcoming Sherry tastings and other exciting events celebrating the magic of El Marco de Jerez.

Today, I'm especially delighted to feature one of my favorite Finos, typically available only in the spring: Ti­o Pepe Fino en Rama Saca 2023. Bottled in the spring of 2023, this en rama Fino undergoes minimal filtration and remains unfined, preserving its raw, expressive character. Hand-selected by Antonio Flores, this release showcases a vintage label from the Gonzalez Byass archives, making it a collector's item.

The wine itself is bursting with aromas and flavors of green olives, citrus, saline notes, and delicate yeasty nuances. Bone dry and intensely flavorful, it pairs beautifully with cured meats, cheeses, and grilled skewers of shrimp and calamari.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is richly layered, with cassis, crushed plum and blackberry puree flavors moving through slowly but steadily, while warm earth, ganache and black licorice notes follow along. Picks up a tarry edge on the finish as the fruit takes an encore. For fans of the muscular, fruit-driven style. Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. (2018). 

Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2018 Insignia is a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Petit Verdot, 3% Malbec and 2% Cabernet Franc. The vineyard sources this year include: 30% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District),18% Yountville (Oak Knoll District), 13% Banca Dorada (Rutherford), 18% Suscol (South Napa Valley), 14% Home Ranch (St. Helena), 12% Las Rocas (Stags Leap District), 7% Barboza (Stags Leap District). It was aged for 24 months in 100% new French oak barrels. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes storming out of the glass with powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, stewed black plums and boysenberries, plus hints of cedar chest, graphite, menthol and wet slate with a fragrant waft of clove oil. The medium to full-bodied palate already demonstrates remarkable balance at this youthful stage, featuring a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the tightly wound, crunchy black fruits, finishing long and spicy. (2018).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Very much in the style of the vintage with its pure, concentrated, yet also elegant and focused style, the 2018 Insignia offers up a vivid purple hue to go with lots of red and blue fruits, menthol, tobacco, graphite, and distinct minerality. With an almost Bordeaux-like style, medium to full-bodied richness, present tannins, and a great finish, it's a beautiful, classic Cabernet Sauvignon blend from this team that's going to benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades or more. (2018). 

James Suckling 99 Points | Blackberry and black chocolate with mint, conifer and clove. Sweet tobacco, violets and flowers, too. Some graphite. Cool and complex. Full-bodied with ultra fine, dusty tannins and a wonderful, extremely long finish. Savory and refined. A classic-styled 2018. This needs time, but is so approachable and gorgeous. One of the best Insignias ever. Alive and changing all the time. 40% Stags Leap AVA. 87% cabernet sauvignon, 8% petit verdot, 3% malbec and 2% cabernet franc. Leave this for five or six years, but so wonderful now. (2018). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 98 Points |  "Dark and complex wine, earthy and concentrated yet balanced. Vibrant aromas of cassis, violets, licorice, pencil shavings and graphite. Full-bodied, it displays a dynamic palate with dense, velvety tannins, fruit concentration and crisp, integrated acidity, which keeps it in balance. 45% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc, and 5% petit verdot. Gorgeous now, but even better in two or three years and beyond." 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | "This is concentrated with cherry, blackberry, plum, iron, sweet spice and tar flavors. Muscular tannins leave a firm grip on the finish, yet overall, this red feels balanced and crunchy. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2040." Bruce Sanderson

Winemaker Description

This new bottling is from a vineyard site on old, deep volcanic soils and an elevation of 2900’. Tightly spaced, head trained vines planted on an old apple orchard just east of Placerville. Whole cluster fermented and aged in a combination of puncheons and tanks. Bottled unfined and unfiltered with a mere 20ppm of sulfites.

The aromatic character of this wine shows what are, for me, classic El Dorado County Mourvèdre plum & citrus peel aromas. There’s a note of freshly tilled soil in there as well, common from these volcanic soils. Plum skin flavors, savory, thyme, mushroom and a bright acidity.  Everything wraps up in a long finish with fine tannins. Suitable for a wide variety of meals.

Winemaker Description

This fresh, fruity, semi-sweet wine displays aromas and flavors of ripe, juicy berries with dark chocolate undertones.

The perfect balance between sweetness and acidity makes for a refreshing approachability. It is a versatile food wine, best served slightly chilled. 

Winemaker Description

Our popular, estate-grown Saracina Chardonnay is a beam of pure sunshine in the glass. Made in an ultra-refreshing, unoaked style (that’ll have you and your friends reaching for a second pour), it offers up a complex nose of Asian pear and fresh nectarine. On the palate, you’re in for lively citrus zest/orchard-fruit character with a seam of mouthwatering minerality running through the long, elegant finish.

You’ll love how versatile it is with food—pair it with everything from fresh, white-fleshed fish to chicken. 

Winemaker Description 

While this is a fruit-forward Moroccan red, it is made in an OldWorld style with moderate extraction, excellent balance, and complex aromatics: plenty of ripe purple black fruits and dark confiture, with hints of sandalwood. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling - 94 Points: "A bold interpretation of Amarone. Refined aromas of licorice, dried cherries, camphor and menthol reverberate across a compact, dense mid-palate. At this early stage, the tannins feel largely oak-derived. But there is nothing blunt about them and there is ample mineral infusion and freshness. Bottle age will serve this rich Amarone well, placating the primary fruit while transforming the wine into something far more complex. Very good. Drink or hold."

Producer's Notes: The result of the Allegrini family’s expertise, a true classic of the appellation, this red wine embraces tradition, territory and the know-how of country ways. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Oseleta are left to air dry at least until December and are checked daily to ensure perfectly healthy grapes. Lengthy refining and ageing finally yields a red wine that has become emblematic of Italian oenology, alongside Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino. It has imposing structure and depth, as much in its aromas of mature fruit and spices, as on the palate, where the alcohol is sustained by the right degree of acidity and refined tannins.

Blend: 45% Corvina, 45% Corvinone, 5% Rondinella, 5% Oseleta

Clos Saron’s Home Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rare and soulful expression of California Pinot Noir, grown biodynamically in the rugged foothills of North Yuba in the Sierra Foothills of California. Farmed from low-yielding vines rooted in volcanic soils, this wine reflects a hands-off philosophy that prioritizes purity, balance, and a true sense of place. The 2012 vintage shows beautiful maturity, offering layered aromatics, refined structure, and an elegant interplay of fruit, earth, and spice—an outstanding example of age-worthy, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from the USA.

Medium garnet in color, this wine smells of cranberry, raspberry, and redwood bark. In the mouth, bright acidity brings a zippy juiciness to flavors of raspberry, cranberry, and mulberry. Crushed stone and redwood bark mix with the darker earth flavors that linger in the finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling: 94 Points, The fresh and floral nature of this wine is more than evident, with black cherry and orange undertones. The palate is medium-bodied and refined, with silky tannins and mineral highlights. Tangy and crisp at the end.

Wine Spectator: 91 Points Cherry, raspberry, leather, earth and tobacco flavors converge in this broad, savory red. Tightens up, with the sinewy tannins leaving their mark on the finish. The fruit returns, so give this a little time. Sangiovese and Merlot.

Vinous: 91 Points The 2022 Chianti Classico Ama opens with a burst of dark red cherry/plum fruit. Vibrant and generous, with bright acids, the Ama is an absolute delight. Its forward personality and impeccable balance make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. 

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 97 Points | Rich, powerful and gorgeous, drenched in fruity, savory, mushroomy flavors on a full body and super-smooth tannins. It is deep in black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and pine character that expands on the palate and lingers in the finish. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | A touch more saturated red in color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is deeper and more layered in the glass, with notes of pine, sage, ripe cherries, fresh leather, and pressed floral perfume. It has a refined and plush texture, with ripe tannins and elegant notes of dark earth. Drink 2025-2040. 

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Precise and vibrant, with sleek flavors of cherry and raspberry highlighted by stony mineral and black tea accents as this gathers richness toward refined tannins Drink now through 2034. 

Winemaker Description 

The Drouhin Oregon Experience features our 100% Estate cuvées from two of Willamette Valley’s most exciting sub-appellations: the Dundee and Eola-Amity Hills. Privately hosted by one of our valued wine professionals, you will be guided through a seated explorative tasting of six wines, including our flagship wine, the Cuvée Laurène.

Clos Saron’s Home Vineyard Pinot Noir is a rare and soulful expression of California Pinot Noir, grown biodynamically in the rugged foothills of North Yuba in the Sierra Foothills of California. Farmed from low-yielding vines rooted in volcanic soils, this wine reflects a hands-off philosophy that prioritizes purity, balance, and a true sense of place. The 2012 vintage shows beautiful maturity, offering layered aromatics, refined structure, and an elegant interplay of fruit, earth, and spice—an outstanding example of age-worthy, terroir-driven Pinot Noir from the USA.

The grapes for the "Home Vineyard" Pinot Noir come from a 2.5-acre, own-rooted vineyard adjacent to the winery in the Oregon House Valley of Yuba County. The vineyard is at 1,600 feet elevation and has clay loam soil over volcanic ash, decomposed granite, and quartz. 

Nose: Deeply earthy and "forest-like." Expect aromas of decaying pine needles, damp earth, and mushrooms, mixed with slightly stewed black cherry and a hint of woodsmoke.

Palate: Highly concentrated and structured. It retains a granitic minerality and "sappy" texture. You’ll find notes of dried plum, blood orange, and a touch of wild herbs (fennel/tomato leaf).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 96 Points | The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is quite expressive and spiced showing very nicely with ripe aromas of wild raspberries cherries fresh herbs and blood orange spice. The palate gains in intensity with good energy and a mineral drive. A very successful wine in this vintage it's going to have plenty of life over the next 15-20 years.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 94 Points | The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes from an area that is further removed from the Tanaro River and has southwestern exposures. It shows a typical profile for Nebbiolo with rich fruit a velvety mouthfeel and textural volume that is delivered with ample blackberry blackcurrant and spice. The character of this wine is generous and rich. There is plenty of meat on these bones.

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 94 Points | The 2020 Rio Sordo is very aromatic and exuberant featuring blood orange citrus peel cherry and rose hip flavors. Succulent and approachable with a light coating of tannins it's in the line of Pora and Pajé if a touch denser. This red bursts with cherry strawberry and rose aromas and flavors plus mineral white pepper and anise elements. Firm and lively showing accessibility and harmony. Enjoyable now but there's no rush.

Vinous Media - 94 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is pretty closed today which is probably a very good sign for its aging prospects as this site tends to produce wines that are more open than this. Dark cherry plum leather incense and tobacco offer a decidedly somber expression of Rio Sordo. The 2020 clearly needs time.

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 96 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Paje pours a deeper red hue and is polished on the nose with aromas of black cherries candied berries polished leather sweet herbs and balsamic herbs. Usually this site has a brighter more floral character but here it has a bit more richness with an outstanding balance of savoriness velvety textured tannins and dark stony underpinnings seamlessly weaving together through the long finish. It's an exceptional wine in this vintage and should have a wide window for enjoyment over the coming 20 years.

Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media - 95 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is a classic wine from this site. Deeply spiced and balsamic notes meld into a core of dark, sepia-toned Nebbiolo fruit. A Barbaresco of real presence and substance, the Pajè makes itself felt. It's one of my early dark horse favorites in this range from Produttori del Barbaresco. (Drink between 2025-2035).

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 94 Points | The 2020 Pajé is rich even sumptuous offering cherry raspberry blood orange and floral notes squarely more on the fruity side than savory. Fleshy firm and long underscored by dense tannins. Bruce Sanderson This is all about power and structure with cherry blackberry earth wild herb and tar flavors buoyed by a dense matrix of tannins. The fruit is there peeking through the maze briefly before the tannins take hold on the finish; never obtrusive they drive the lingering finish.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 93 Points | The Pajè vineyard faces the Tanaro River and is tucked at back of a narrow theater of vines. The site is often characterized by a floral note of rose and violet that comes thought nicely in the Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè. With those sweet floral notes comes an open-knit mouthfeel and a more immediate drinking style with soft silky tannins. In fact this was the second of nine wines served in a flight that started with the lightest Riservas and ended with the most powerful wines.

Kerin O'Keeffe - 95 Points | The 2020 Pajè Riserva is a beautiful wine starting with its enticing scents of dog rose, violet, eucalyptus, new leather and white pepper. A bit firmer than Pora, the savory palate delivers juicy red cherry, strawberry compote, blood orange and wild herb before an almost salty finish. Fine-grained tannins provide. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media - 95 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a massive, packed wine. Graphite, crushed rocks, dried herbs and cedar open first. Ovello tends to produce a more linear style of Barbaresco, and that is very much the case here as well. However, the 2020 also possesses notable depth and layers in the mid-palate. It's a gorgeous wine in the making. (Drink between 2025-2035)

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 95 Points | The Ovello vineyard has some northern exposures and generally represents a cooler growing site. You can expect intense fruit flavors and more prominent tannins as a result. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello fits the bill. Vine growth starts much later and usually lasts longer to produce dark intensity and bold aromas in the wines. In the cold years, the tannins can be aggressive, but in the hot years like 2020, they show better balance. This wine offers ferrous notes of iron and rusty nail followed by cherry-driven sweetness.

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 95 Points | The 2020 Ovello boasts pure cherry and raspberry fruit plus accents of white pepper herbs and mineral. Deep rich and broad shouldered it builds to a long finish with fine grip and energy. Aromas and flavors of hay cherry raspberry and rose are the hallmarks of this elegant succulent red. A fine layer of tannins provides lift and the flavors are well-delineated through the mineral-infused finish. Shows terrific intensity and tension.

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 95 Points | The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello offers a more woodsy profile with aromas of pine leather black raspberries sweet floral perfume and licorice candies. The palate is compact and nervous with dark mineral accents refreshing ripe acidity and a long finish. It is going to benefit from another couple of years and show its best over the following 10 although I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 15-20 years either."

Decanter Magazine - 94 Points | Ovello is by far Produttori del Barbaresco's most important cru. Eleven members cultivate 20 hectares on both sides of the ridge: southeast- and southwest-facing. Exposed to the cold air from the north with calcareous soil rich in clay it typically gives a robust potently structured expression. While true to its terroir the 2020 harnesses some of that power making for a harmonious though sturdy whole. Grilled herbs savory dark earth and dense and ripe dark cherry are all held together by well fastened chalky tannins. This is one for the cellar.

Kerin O'Keeffe - 95 Points | Red berry forest floor new leather and spice shape the fragrant nose on the fantastic 2020 Ovello Riserva. Showing the structure derived from the cru's predominately clayey soils it has a backbone of firm but refined tannins that accompany juicy Marasca cherry tangerine and spicy notes of star anise."