2010 - Present Wine

Producer Description 

Hillside vineyards are special. So is the wine that is crafted from them. French oak beautifully transforms intense mountain fruit into a wine with uncommon richness and a smooth and luxurious texture. Rich aromas of black currant, cherry, and cassis with hints of vanilla and cedar. 

Winemaker Description

Château Blaignan’s vineyard is planted of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc. The wine matures for 18 months in vats and in oak barrels. The wine is of an intense colour. The nose is fruity with pronounced notes of blackcurrant, black cherries and a hint of spice. Full bodied, Château Blaignan shows structure and velvet tannins on the palate, that make it a wine to drink young or to keep a few years in cellar (to be kept between 3 to 12 years). 

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 90 Points | Ripe cherries, stewed strawberries and berry jam on the nose with some chocolate. It’s medium-bodied with soft, sleek tannins. Fruity. Drink after 2022. (2018).

Winemaker Description

Vibrant and finesse-driven notes of framboise, rose petal, and wild flowers. Medium-bodied, supple, elegant and lively, with almost racy acidity, this graceful and finely built rosé is ideal for drinking over the coming summer months. 

Winemaker Notes

Bright and deep red color with purple tones. Aromas of black fruit reminiscent of fresh plum mixed with blueberries and a hint of flowers. On the palate the wine is balanced, medium-bodied with a good fresh acidity.

Critics notes

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2022 Malbec Felino is 55% from the Uco Valley and 45% from Lujan de Cuyo. Only 7% of the wine was aged for up to six months in barrels. The 2022 has a rich, purple hue. The nose features dark and red fruit, including blackberry, plum and floral and jammy notes. The palate is creamy and expansive, with a juicy, fresh character and plenty of flavors before the lasting, plush, fruity finish.  - Vinous 91

James Suckling writes:he bright berry and lead pencil aromas and flavors come through with an iron shaving undertone. Boysenberry. Juicy finish. Fantastic value for the quality. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Aaron Romano writes:  A rich and almost hedonistic style, this opens with roasted coffee notes and is brimming with ripe berry fruit, ending with fine tannins and herb details. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This offers real aromatic beauty, with incense, violets and red currant flavors melded with a layer of finely crushed graphite. Chalk-fine tannins guide the medium-length finish, adding nice chewiness. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032. 

Stuart Pigott of JamesSuckling.com writes 93 Points | This generous and well-structured 2021 Chateauneuf has excellent raspberry and strawberry aromas for the challenging vintage, plus notes of floral aromas. Surprisingly fine tannins, too. Still very youthful and in need of a bit of time in bottle to reach ideal harmony, but the freshness at the finish is already delightful. A cuvee 75% grenache, 10% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 5% cinsault that were co-fermented, then matured in foudre. Drinkable now, but best from 2024. 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points |  The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a solid effort in the vintage. A normal blend of mostly Grenache with 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a splash of Cinsault, it has a beautiful perfume of ripe cherries, fresh strawberries, sappy green flowers, and peppery garrigue. This carries to a medium-bodied, layered, elegant Châteauneuf with fine tannins, a beautiful overall sense of balance, and outstanding length. It shows the fresh, pretty, nuanced style of the vintage and is a beautiful wine to enjoy over the coming decade. It's in the same ballpark as the 2008.  Drinking 2023 to 2033.

Nicolas Greinacher of Vinous writes 91 Points | Checking in at 14.83% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a refined and predominately red-fruited beauty. Licorice and herbaceous components add more dimension. Framed by gentle tannins and more medium- than full-bodied, the 2021 ends with a bright finish.  Drinking 2025 to 2036.

Matt Walls of Decanter writes 93 Points | A smoky style that’s a touch herbal and meaty. Towards full-bodied, with good weight and texture. Quite a saline expression, ending on crisp raspberry acidity and quite strict tannins. Will always be a lean style, but should make interesting old bones.  Drinking 2025 to 2034.  -

Limpid, pale yellow colour, with light silver reflections. A beautiful intensity, nose is marked by a tasty mix of exotic fruit notes (mango, passion fruit) and citrus (grapefruit). After a frank attack, there is a nice intensity in the mouth. The balance is good between roundness and freshness. We find again notes of exotic fruits (mango, candied orange) and citrus fruits (lemon, grapefruit). The whole is very gourmet. Nice finish.

This wine will be enjoyed as an aperitif, but also with a seafood platter, an avocado with shrimp, or grilled fish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Mevushal. Elegant and full bodied with rich notes of black stone fruit, boysenberry, nutmeg and a kiss of oak bring distinction to Baron Herzog Cabernet Sauvignon.

Enjoy this wine at room temperature with grilled steak, lamb chops or pasta with red sauce.

This wine is Kosher for Passover

Winemaker Description

Pale gold in color, Le Finage Chablis is fairly discreet on the nose at first, revealing notes of sweet spices (vanilla). After opening, more fruity aromas appear (pear juice) with slight vegetal and lemon hints. The palate is fresh with well-balanced acidity. The whole is simple and rich with great energy.

Drink as an aperitif or with a platter of fine charcuterie.

Expert Review - Prior Vintage - 2020 

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Delicately fragrant with lemon verbena and pithy lemons, accompanied by hints of baby’s breath and fresh almonds. The palate reveals additional layers of broken seashell, lemongrass and white stone. An enjoyable wine with impressive length. (2020).

Winemaker Description

Bright and aromatic with notes of pomegranate, orange zest, bright cherries, and dried herbs. This wine perfectly emphasizes the essence of the Willamette Valley.

Winemaker Description

Cusumano Nero d'Avola is a deep ruby red, with violet reflections. Fresh aromas of red and black berries. Fruit-forward with firm tannins and plummy spice flavors on the palate. Winemaker Description. 

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Golden apples, green apples, vanilla and cinnamon flavors pour out of this ripe and indulgent wine. It has all the warm, buttery nuances and rich texture that make California Chardonnay so appealing. (2021).

Lush, pure, and polished, this enticing Chardonnay offers aromas of lemon, lime, white peach, sweet tangerine, and caramel. The bright citrus layers are echoed on the full-bodied palate, where they mingle with juicy flavors of stone fruit and French oak-inspired hints of crème brûlée and spice. 

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.

Expert Reviews

Dorothy & Bernie of 67Wine.com | We visited the Mendel winery on one of our first visits to Mendoza about 18 years ago.  The winery was introduced to us by our friend Paulo Costa, who was then President of Novartis Pharmaceuticals.  Mendel Winery was started by a well known Buenos Aires pharmaceutical family with Roberto de la Mota, known as one of Argentina’s greatest wine makers. The Mendels began the winery with the intent of making great wines that were more refined than what was found in Mendoza.  We fell in love with their Cabernet which was powerful, yet not overwhelming.  We still find it one of the best, most accessible and harmonious Cabernets made in Mendoza.   Dorothy & Bernie “Follow the Drinker”

James Suckling 94 Points | Notes of ripe blackcurrants, blackberries, vanilla, walnuts and dark chocolate. Medium-to full-bodied with robust, polished tannins and bright acidity. Dense and creamy texture, together with bright, delicious fruit, ending with a spicy edge and notes of crushed stones. Try now, but better after 2023. 

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Always an appealing Cabernet Sauvignon, this deep plum-colored vintage showcases a gorgeous Bordeaux-varietal blend, with sandy, fine-grained tannins, and a plush, velvety-rich mouthfeel. Built to age and develop further complexity over time, the wine is ripe and juicy in its youth with aromas and flavors of vibrant boysenberry, strawberry preserves, and cassis alongside earthier notes of crushed stone, iron, bay laurel, and cedar. Baking spice elements from the well-integrated oak work well with the more traditional Knights Valley tones of wild lavender and bittersweet chocolate. Poised and lively with a structured, juicy, mouthwatering acidity and a finish that’s elegant, long, savory, and pleasing.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Winemaker Description 

The old vines of Domaine Grand Romane are located on the highest part of the family vineyard, 400 m above sea level. Facing northwest, these hillsides dominated by upper Cretaceous sandstone limestone and sandy marl, offer power and concentration. 

On the nose there are aromas of black fruit (blackcurrant and black cherry) and red fruits (raspberry and redcurrant) stewed with a hint of vanilla which meet savory notes of thyme, laurel and black olives on the palate. Powerful tannins fill the mouth with notes of spicy licorice and pepper for a long and satisfying finish. An astonishing balance of complexity, power and elegance. 

Winemaker Description

Vibrant red leading slightly towards amber. Light fresh texture with notes of vanilla and dried berry aromas. Rich, very dry, smooth, developed. Firm tannins and good balance. Blend: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, 10% Graciano and Manzuelo.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2011 

Expert Rating

92 Points James Suckling | A nicely structured, nicely balanced wine, this is tangy and firm, offering black cherries, cinnamon and dark plums braced by red cherry freshness. Very fresh, focused and vibrant. (2022).

Winemaker Description

An exciting, yet friendly wine, bursting with aromas of fresh, muddled strawberry, bright cherry and pomegranate with hints of forest floor, toasted caramel and five-spice. The flavors combine to create a fruit-driven front palate and very subtle oak influence. The finish leaves you wanting more, with nice acid and flavors of strawberry sauce, pomegranate and spice to create great weight for an excellent food wine, as well as a charming drinking experience by itself. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Showing vivacity, concentration and brightness, the Estate wines are crafted from both our glacial stones and windblown clay terroirs. Combining the best nuances of Marlborough and our Sancerre heritage, this organic Sauvignon Blanc is our flagship wine from the Clos Henri estate in Blenheim. 

Clos Henri Estate Sauvignon Blanc (formerly known as Petit Clos Sauvignon Blanc) offers notes of peach and nectarine are paired with elderflower and soft gunflint minerality. Textural, with zingy acidity and a flinty, mineral nuance this wine is both fresh and concentrated.

Enjoy on its own as an aperitif or with fresh shellfish as well as with ceviche, Thai green curry, tomato and goat’s cheese tart. 

Expert Review

Cam Douglas 94 Points | Elegant, sophisticated, ripe, varietal and inviting bouquet. Aromas and flavours of citrus fruits and white stone fruit, some pear, apple and pith. The herbaceous character expected of SB is a quieter more refined layer in this example. The minerality is a core component of both the aromas and flavour package. Light-weight, crisp, dry and refreshing with a long finish. Balanced, well made and youthful. This wine will reward from today and through 2029+ if cellared properly. (2023). 

Straw yellow color with green tints. An intense and persistent nose with scents of flowers and plants, rosemary, thyme and sage. On the palate, clear predominance of vegetal notes, warm and full of good thickness and balanced with a long persistence. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Features a tempting nose with hints of violet, ripe cherry and warm baking spices. The palate is supple in texture with luxurious layers of brambly red fruits, cocoa, and dusty tannins. This classic Napa Valley Merlot finishes long and vibrant with lingering notes of graphite. 

Expert Ratings

Wine Spectator 90 Points: Leads with a light cedar edge, followed quickly by relatively open-knit red currant and damson plum fruit flavors. Shows a light savory edge on the finish. (2019). 

Wine Advocate 90 Points: The winery's largest bottling, approximately 38,000 cases, is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. Primarily from the Hardester Ranch in Pope Valley, with other major contributions from St. Helena, Soda Canyon and Glass Mountain, it's a medium to full-bodied effort, with bold flavors of cherries, cassis and cedar. It's easy, but not soft, nicely firm, with a long, silky-textured finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points The appellation 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is another winner. Ripe red and black fruits, dried flowers, and spice all define the bouquet, and it’s upf-ront, soft, balanced, and just delicious. Drink bottles over the coming decade. 

Expert Reviews

Vinous 92 Points Eric Guido | More savory than sweet and wonderfully complex, the 2019 Brut Rosé North Coast bursts from the glass with toasty notes of fresh baguette and almonds, giving way to crushed apples and gingery spice. This rushes the palate with an elegant bead of silken bubbles. It is creamy yet energetic, and mineral-tinged orchard fruits add further tension. The 2019 leaves the senses wonderfully refreshed through the long, crunchy finale, as white strawberry and spice cookie notes fade. The Brut Rosé is a pleasure bomb, yet it’s wonderfully balanced throughout.  Drinking 2023 to 2027.   

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A delicate, graceful rosé, with refined strawberry, fresh ginger and yeast roll tones that glide on the supple finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now.  

Pale straw with a hint of green and gold. Complex and elegant Sauvignon Blanc bouquet, with citrus blossom and wild flowers, surrounded by crushed ripe herbs and pineapple. Dense fruit core of juicy melon and peach complemented by hints of ripe herbs and florals. Beautifully rounded with layer upon layer of texture, this wine has a long, complex finish with plenty of minerality, citrus, ripe stone fruit and an umami quality.

A good match for oysters, seafood, spaghetti alle vongole and chicken. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The special care they take to bring out the very best in this variety shows in their results. They use a specific mix of clones – two-thirds Shenandoah (Clone 1) and one-third Sauvignon Musqué – that results in a wine brimming with floral and tropical fruit aromatics with a citrusy, juicy core. Barrel fermentation and twice weekly lees stirring help us create the characteristic creamy texture and rich body that you’ve come to know and share with your friends and family. 

Expert Reviews

95 Points Wine Spectator | A stunning white, this leaps out of the glass with aromatic mango, orange blossom and salted ripe melon flavors. Gains complexity from grilled peach, lemon oil, savory litsea oil and toasted herb elements, with a fleshy, creamy texture and fresh acidity. (2022).

94 Points Tasting Panel | Barrel fermented and aged sur lie for five months in (18% new) French oak, this wine glistens with Meyer lemon and honeydew. Pineapple, gardenia, and sweet basil line the palate, lending zing to a finish of salty minerality. (2022).

92 Points James Suckling | A layered and creamy white with melon, apple puree and hints of kiwi. Medium body, creamy, and lovely al dente finish. Just a hint of sweetness. (2022). 

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  A juicy red showing red plums, tobacco, oranges and some tar on the nose. Touch of sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied, soft and ripe, with lively acidity to balance. Nerello cappucio and nerello mascalese. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Our Notes

"One of my favorite great value reds! Velvety textured with delicious flavors of blackberry, plum and strawberry with savory spice and aromatic herbs. Medium to full bodied with supple tannins that provide lift and structure.  Great for pizza, pasta and any midweek excursion."
Bart Hopkins

Winery Notes

Intense, dark ruby red. On the nose, notes of black fruit, strawberries, flowers and herbs. Dry and full-bodied on the palate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 92 Points | The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is laced with black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and spice. Ample and expansive in feel, the 2021 is wonderfully generous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Fruit sources are from some of the most coveted sites in the appellation.  Drinking 2024 to 2031. 

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 92 Points | This wine sees its fruit sourced from multiple villages: San Casciano, Gaiole, Castellina and Greve. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is not married to a specific subzone of the appellation because it seeks to embrace a house style rather than a vineyard identity. Aged in tonneaux with some barrique, the wine is rich and lasting but not large. In fact, it remains elegant on the palate with fine tannins and good fruit tension with cherry and blue flowers.  Drinking 2024 - 2030.

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This is packed tightly with cherry, pomegranate, plum, earth and Mediterranean scrub flavors. Lively and fresh midpalate, while the dense, chewy tannins flex their muscles on the finish. Give this time. Best from 2026 through 2043. 

James Button of Decanter writes 91 Points | A historic label first produced in the 1923 vintage, today's Riserva aims to combine the past with the present. Vinified in stainless steel and aged in large oak barrels and some barriques, this has a plush, ripe aroma of dark hedgerow berries and menthol. A bed of supple, ripe tannins and coffee-marked wood support the breadth and depth of this wine's offering: spicy and fleshy dark fruits with a gentle wash of freshening acidity and some breezy menthol on the finish. 500,000 bottles produced.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.

Winemaker Description

A dominant fruitiness (blackcurrant, cherry), blackberries with a small spicy note. A supple and round on the palate with melted tannins and a beautiful length with a lot of finesse.

Perfect with red meats, either grilled or roasted, cold cuts, vegetable salads, meat or poultry tarts, simmered beef and vegetables (pot-au-feu). Veal, cold tabbouleh, or hard cheeses like Gouda.

Critic Notes

Jane Anson writes:  Intense, smoky, plenty of black fruit, who doesn't love this 2nd wine of Château Montrose? It's a vintage that is often overlooked, particularly after the run of great years Bordeaux has had recently, but it's at a great moment to open right now, and delivers a ton of St Estèphe and Left Bank typicity, with crayon and graphite. Harvest September 22 to October 16.  - Jane Anson 94

Antonio Galloni writes:  A gorgeous second wine, the 2014 La Dame de Montrose is soft, open-knit and very pretty. Bright floral notes add lift and a measure of elegance to the dark-fleshed fruit. Medium in body, with good depth and fine overall balance, the 2014 is just about as good as it gets for a second wine. I won't be surprised if it is still delicious at age 20, although I think its best drinking will take place earlier than that.  Drinking 2018 - 2029  - Vinous 92+

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  As to the 2014s, these are beautiful wines and certainly a match for the 2015s. The 2014 La Dame de Montrose offers a deep purple color and classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes as well as a touch of violets, spring flowers and leafy herbs. This medium-bodied, elegant, spicy, complex 2014 has loads of charm yet should keep nicely for 15+ years.  Drinking 2018 - 2038  - Jeb Dunnuck 90

Steven Spurrier writes:  An even Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend: lots of spice, deep cassis fruit and incredible freshness. Will show soon and last well.  - Decanter 90

James Molesworth writes:  Offers a brisk, racy feel, with red currant, damson plum and Campari notes coursing through, carried by a bright iron spine through the savory-flecked finish. Very pure and firmly grounded in terroir. Best from 2018 through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.  - Wine Spectator 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2014 La Dame de Montrose lagged a long way behind the superlative Grand Vin at primeur, but has since made up some ground. Now in bottle, it has a nicely poised bouquet with red cherries, bilberry and crushed violets. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, tightly wound and linear, a conservative La Dame de Montrose that I suspect will age better than I originally thought.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Test of Endurance: Bordeaux 2014 Ten Years On (Mar 2024)

Neal Martin writes:  The 2014 La Dame de Montrose is more precocious than Lafon-Rochet on the nose, with hints of dried cherries and black olive compote infusing the black fruit, touches of humidor and red brick. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky black fruit, fine tannins and a little austerity towards the finish, though at least it does exude Saint-Estèphe DNA. Give it a year in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.  - Vinous

James Suckling writes:  Fruity nose of passion fruit, sweet basil and guava. Crisp and simple with a tropical finish. Slight off-dry feel. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling

Expert Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | A terrific value in ready-to-drink, flavorful fruit forward Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. On the nose, terrific aromas of earthy dark fruits and juicy cherry with underlying spiced blackberry and plum notes. In the mouth the flavors take on a savory character with subtle oak and spice that carries into the finish. Well balanced and supple textured with smooth velvety tannins.

Winemaker Description

Showcases very fresh, clean, savory style of Oregon Pinot. Scents of ripe cherry, plum, strawberry, raspberry and mushroom. On the palate the wine has a classic profile of earth, cherry, and plum with a hint of smoke and sundried tomato.

Winemaker Description

Fruity with hints of mint, spices and raspberry. Round, elegant tannins add to a long, refined finish. Robust, intense, powerful in youth; complex, elegant with ageing. Pair with stews, game dishes, roasted red meats and mature cheeses.

Expert Rating

James Suckling 92 Points | This is a fresh and fruit-forward nebbiolo with notes of raspberries and cherries, orange peel and chocolate. Some dried flowers, too. Medium- to full-bodied, firm and racy with ripe but taut, compact tannins that run the whole length of the wine. Well-crafted. Long and even. Vegan. Drink or hold.  -  James Suckling 92

Winemaker Description

Serra is the name the winery's family since long time has assigned to the fresher and more delicate slope of the Serraboella. More evolved soils, richer, less dry, in a more closed and fresh valley, gives origin to rigorous wine, full but never opulent and balanced in their freshness. For some years now, in the Serra they do not have only Neive grapes but also a small portion comes from the Rivoli region of Alba.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A powerful yet fresh red graced by smoky blackberry, plum, graphite and black pepper flavors. Harmonious and lingers with a combination of juiciness and chalkiness. (2020).

90 Points Wine Advocate | The 2022 Moscofilero (in the Skouras transliteration) comes in with 3.5 grams of residual sugar, 6.4 of total acidity and 12.1% alcohol. This is sourced from 31-year-old vines at 650 meters in altitude. As I like to say, this "regular" Moschofilero (Skouras has an alternative spelling) is the kinder and gentler version as compared to Skouras's Salto in this report. This rounds off the acidity that the Salto shows and balances it with a little sugar, resulting in a wine that is less tart but not even a little sweet. Like its Salto sibling, though, this is beautifully structured, showing some tension on the lingering finish. The fruit is more expressive than on the Salto, but its not completely developed. The Salto may have some more upside potential, but this seems to be the better-balanced wine this year. It should also age pretty decently, perhaps for the rest of the decade. Be conservative there, though. For the moment, giving it a couple of months more in the bottle wouldn't hurt. 

Fermented in stainless steel vats. Short skin contact, no malolactic fermentation and short aging over fine lees. Flowery, crisp acidity, intense on aromas and flavors in the nose and mouth. White flowers, soft and fresh, honeysuckle, violets, rose petals, crisp acidity. Winemaker Description. 

The nose is fresh with aromas of honeysuckle and citrus fruit. This medium bodied California Chardonnay is food-friendly with bright acidity and creaminess on the palate. Ripe pear, lemon curd, and vanilla flavors lead to a clean and lively finish. Winemaker Description.