$25 - $50 Wine

Winemaker Description 

Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc put New Zealand on the map with its captivating flavor. Their signature style is famous for its vibrant nose, mouthwatering palate and long finish. Stone fruit and citrus stand out, while minerality (think rain on river stones) provides balance

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 92 Points | Consistently delicious with sliced-apple, gooseberry and lime character. Some grass too. Medium body, creamy texture and a fresh finish. Fortieth vintage of this wine.

Our Professional Review 

One of the most classic and historic producers in all of Rioja. Medium-bodied with chew tannins with ripe red fruit flavors. Beautiful finish with a lively acidity.
- Oscar Garcia, Wine Buyer, 67wine

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2020

Characterized by a long growing cycle and perfect phenolic ripening. It produced wines with great aromatic intensity and fruit concentration, well-balanced between alcohol and acidity, and highly suitable for long aging.
grapes

100% Tempranillo from our own vineyards in Rodezno and Labastoda, with an average vine age of 40 years.

Manual harvesting in boxes, with cluster selection in the vineyards. The grapes are transported refrigerated to the winery to maintain their integrity. After rigorous quality control on optical sorting tables, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occur naturally. Two years of aging in our own American oak barrels (new the first year and four-year-old barrels the second). We perform four traditional rackings by candlelight, from barrel to barrel. Bottled in June 2023.

Intense and brilliant garnet color with a vivid ruby rim. On the nose, it stands out for its high intensity, with notes of red fruits—raspberries, wild strawberries, and redcurrants— wrapped in a marked balsamic aroma of caramel, vanilla, toffee, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it is long, balanced, and fresh, with fine and silky tannins. A long finish, where the initial balsamic and fresh red fruit aromas characteristic of Viña Alberdi reappear.

Viña Alberdi is characterised by a notable food-pairing versatility. It is an ideal companion to appetisers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pastas and stews, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The younger wine here is the 2020 Viña Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva in international markets and Crianza in Spain). It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and five grams of acidity. It has a classical nose of ripe fruit, American oak and spices, the subtle notes of forest floor, still young. The palate is velvety and very balanced with polished tannins. Approachable but should also age.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92

Zekun Shuai writes:  A classical, typical Rioja Alta red with elegant notes of vanilla, coconut, smoked spices and strawberries. Refined and suave, with fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Juicy and elegant. Really approachable now, but give it two more years to get more mushroom complexity.  - James Suckling 93

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Neal Martin writes:  The 2023 Chablis Sainte Claire has a delightful peachy bouquet that opens nicely in the glass. The palate is ripe and (again), a little honeyed on the entry–smooth in texture. Lightly spiced with a simple finish. Fine.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Vinous

Allen Meadows’ writes:  Moderate reduction overshadows the fruit so a quick aeration should be beneficial if you're going to open a bottle young. Otherwise the old vines are in evidence as there is both solid density and richness to the medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive mouthfeel, all wrapped in a lingering finale. While this could also be enjoyed young, it could use better depth so a few years of keeping should prove helpful. Worth checking out provided you intend to cellar it over the next 2 to 4 years.  - Allen Meadows’ Burghound 

Winemaker Description

Bright with a deep ruby core that lightens at the rim of the glass, with moderately thick, slow forming tears. Aromatic with ripe black cherry, red berries and blackcurrant fruit with spice notes of vanilla and cinnamon with fresh sage, subtle dried rose petal, and toasted oak. Nearly full-bodied with red plum, ripe bing cherry, and blackberry on entry with savory dried herbs, baking spice and toasted oak on the midpalate supported with balanced, fine tannins. The complex finish shows sustained ripe fruit and spice mixed with dried flower and camphor elements.

The 2020 Justin Cabernet Sauvignon is remarkably balanced and complex, with a fresh palate that not only invites another sip on its own, but also pairs well with a wide variety of dishes. Try this wine with grilled chicken or burgers at your next cookout or with a classic filet mignon at your favorite steakhouse.

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of raspberry, cranberry, black licorice, and exotic tea notes.  Flavors of red cherry, plum, and boysenberry, subtle hints of espresso and cocoa nib underpin notes of spice and toast. Firm yet integrated tannins and bright acidity drives a long finish.

#1 Top Value Wine Wine Spectator, February 2024

Expert Reviews

James Molesworth of the Wine Spectator writes 89 Points | A ripe, friendly, open style, with black tea and anise notes infusing a core of raspberry and cherry compote flavors. Shows a light sandalwood echo on the finish. Drink now through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 

Samantha Cole-Johnson of Jancis Robinson writes | Pale ruby with a purple hue. Fresh red and black cherry with a light spiciness. Sweet fruit on the palate. Viscous, with fine-grained tannins and high, fresh acidity. Fresh finish with light spice.  100% French oak, 22% new; 8–9 months in barrel.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.  

Winemaker Description 

The Chianti Classico has a vivid ruby color and a strong nose of fresh red fruit with hints of cherry. This is a well-structured wine with a fruity finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points | A delicious, well-rounded and velvety Chianti Classico with aromas of strawberries, raspberries and mild spices. Medium-bodied with finely grained tannins and texture. Juicy and velvety with elegance and a pure character. Fresh and delicious finish. July 2024

Vinous 91 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico is a lovely wine from Volpaia. Aromatic, light on its feet and gracious, the Chianti Classico here is a consistently fine example of Radda. Clean mineral notes shape this bright, taut offering. A burst of red fruit, chalk, white pepper and mint lingers on the finish.

Wine Spectator : Offering textbook Sangiovese flavors of cherry, bitter almond, iron and earth, with a hint of eucalyptus, this is dry, with a light burr of tannins and adequate acidity for balance. Fine length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037. 15,000 cases made, 13,500 cases imported.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling writes:  Some nice, floral character to the plum and berry aromas and flavors. Some leaves. Medium-bodied with medium, polished tannins and a medium finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2018 Greysac has a well-defined bouquet of wild strawberry and raspberry fruit laced with cigar box and smoky aromas. The finely balanced palate offers sappy red fruit laced with black pepper and tobacco. I admire the cohesion here, and there is fine weight on the finish. Definitely a cut above a lot of Cru Bourgeois Médocs, though it deserves 2–3 years in bottle.  Drinking 2023 - 2030.   - Vinous 

James Lawther MW writes:  Big and bold with plenty of dark fruit and chocolatey oak. Sweet and generous on the palate, the oak again evident but integrated and the fruit present. Perhaps more winemaking than terroir.  Drinking 2023 -2028.  - Jancis Robinson 15.5

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 92 Points | This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

92 Points Wine & Spirits | This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Winemaker Description 

This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes |  A classic mineral driven Sancerre with a lovely bouquet of freshly squeezed lime, lemon zest, gooseberry and peach blossom with a pleasant grassy note. Crisp and lively in the mouth, deliciously refreshing,  with excellent precision and energetic focus on the finish.  - 67Wine Buyer

Winemaker Description 

Concours des Ligers - The bright pale yellow color opens on an expressive and attractive nose that associates the smells of citrus with those of exotic fruits (passion), with a hint of banana. The mouth with a lively attack offers a fleshy matter, "fat", a beautiful balance between freshness and roundness, as well as fruity aromas (lychee) that persist in a fine and gourmet finish. Beautiful Sancerre.  - Concours des Ligers Silver Medal 

Domaine Olivier Foucher is a small, 10 hectare farm located along the slopes of the town of Morogues in the Menetou-Salon appellation of the Loire Valley. Olivier created the estate in 1992 and grows Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, making wines that are incredibly complex and at the same time dangerously drinkable. Menetou-Salon is an appellation located directly west of Sancerre. While the wines of Sancerre are more well known (and consequently more expensive), the wines of Menetou provide as good quality at a better price. The terroir in this region is laden with the limestone-rich, calcareous soils from millions of years ago, leftover from when the region was under sea; it is quite similar to the terroir of Chablis Grand Crus. 

The Domaine Olivier Foucher Menetou-Salon is spectacularly fine and polished. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is always beautifully represented here at the shop and the superior quality is consistent with each new vintage. Light lemon in color, the wine has a delicate floral scent, with a touch of lime zest and tangerine on the nose. The palate is full of white-fleshed fruits — particularly peach and pear — that blend with more exotic, softer notes of grapefruit and papaya.

Wave after wave of mouth-puckering acidity and a mineral-packed finish will keep you coming back for more! Perhaps the most impressive feature of the wine is its impeccable balance of flavor intensity, structural tension and length: everything is where it should be, making this Sauvignon Blanc almost too easy to drink. This is an exceptional seafood wine — think oysters, scallops, smoked trout, shellfish — but it is also perfect for a salad of fresh greens with apples, goat cheese and walnuts.

Winemaker Description 

This rosé has lovely balance between the fresh fruit, fine tannins, good minerality and graceful acidity. It is the visual and taste portrait of the Hampton's high summer. Serve chilled, solo or as a complement to almost any food.

Radiant with a polished light copper hue, this rosé delivers sophistication with every sip. Immerse yourself in the bouquet of ripe, elegant fruits, complemented by floral notes reminiscent of rose petals and delicate strawberries. The mouthfeel is an explosion of fruity goodness, balanced by creamy yeast and underscored by playful acidity and classic minerality. Revel in the dry and savory character, and let the refreshing, satisfying, fruit-driven finish transport you. Versatile and food-friendly, this rosé is your ideal companion for a perfect summer soirée!

Serve chilled, solo or as a complement to almost any food. At cocktail parties, it will shine alongside hors d’oeuvres such as smoked salmon, lobster, shrimp, carpaccio and soft cheeses. It can also complement main-course fish and pork dishes, and at Thanksgiving, it is perfect with turkey.

Long Island, New York. Produced and bottled in Sagaponack, New York. 

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2022

Antonio Galloni writes:  "Superb. Rich and deep yet also quite translucent, the 2022 is an archetype of Castelnuovo Berardenga. Black cherry, leather, spice, tobacco, menthol and dried herbs inform this potent, super-classic Chianti Classico. This is beautifully done, especially for the year."  - Vinous 91

Wine Enthusiast writes:  "Aromas of black cherry, pomegranate, fresh figs and top soil create a nose that's tangy, but with depth. Blackberries headline the palate, while undertones of dark chocolate and more earth provide balance. Tannins are firm yet flexible, and acid is vibrant."  - Wine Enthusiast 91

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews

Michaela Morris writes:  First overall in the sparkling category. Louis Roederer's outpost in California's cool Anderson Valley is a stylistic chip off the old block. The blend includes a considerable portion of reserve wine that's been oak-aged, making for a rich, weighty mouthful of creamy bubbles. Malolactic fermentation is suppressed in order to preserve acidity but a healthy dosage of 12g/l adds to its girth. What this sparkler lacks in zip, it makes up in texture and concentration. Lots of baked apple and toasted cashews here.  - Decanter 92

Eric Asimov writes:  Roederer Estate, the Mendocino County outpost of the excellent Champagne house Louis Roederer, has long been not only one of California’s biggest sparkling wine producers, but one of the best. This is, not surprisingly, made with Champagne grapes, pinot noir and chardonnay, but grown in Anderson Valley terroir. It doesn’t taste like Champagne. It’s more herbal, less mineral, but it’s got a good Champagne’s freshness and elegance. - Eric Asimov’s New York Times Article Dec. 21, 2023

Winemaker Notes 

"Maraschino cherry, pomegranate, smoked meat, earth and rosemary flavors highlight this sleek red, which is defined by vivid acidity and solid tannins, with a dry, sinewy finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037. 3,000 cases made, 1,250 cases imported."

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 92 Points | A dense, velvety and delicious Chianti Classico showing aromas of Morello cherries, wild berries and dried flowers on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Plenty of texture, with a core of berries funneling through. Flavorful finish. Drink or hold.

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Maraschino cherry, pomegranate, smoked meat, earth and rosemary flavors highlight this sleek red, which is defined by vivid acidity and solid tannins, with a dry, sinewy finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2037.  - Wine Spectator 91

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 91 Points | The 2021 Chianti Classico is an elegant, gracious wine. Crushed flowers, bright red-toned fruit, tobacco, cinnamon and dried flowers all take shape in a decidedly delicate, understated wine from Rampolla. A model of elegance and finesse, the 2021 is showing beautifully today. There is perhaps just a touch of VA in the bouquet, but it is not especially evident. The blend is 80% Sangiovese, 16% Merlot and a dollop of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sangiovese was aged in cask, while the French varieties were raised in smaller French barrels.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2021

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Tasted on two seperate occasions, the 2021 Chateau Cote de Baleau reveals a dense ruby hue to go with beautiful aromatics of ripe black cherries, roasted herbs, leather, and smoked tobacco. It's a rich, medium-bodied nicely concentrated, elegant Saint Emilion with a supple, layered mouthfeel, ample tannins, and outstanding length. It's a gorgeous 2021 that readers will love. Drink bottles over 

The Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Owned by the Cuvelier family, owners of Premier Grand Cru Classé Clos Fourtet, this estate of 44 acres has produced an elegant wine. A fine line of fresh acidity cuts through perfumed black fruits and still firm tannins.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2021 Côte de Baleau is a delight. Plump, juicy and forward, the 2021 is a fine choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so. Charming. - Antonio Galloni

Winemaker Description 

On the nose, beautiful aromas of tropical fruit, melon and perfumed lemon mingle with hints of slate, wet chalk and intriguing floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom. The lush tropical fruit is echoed on the velvety palate, with flavors of pineapple and guava giving way to layers of stone fruit, Key lime pie, Asian pear and yellow apple, all of which flow to a long, luxurious finish.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins writes:  One of our favorite recommendations for the past three years, Gerard Boulay Sancerre Rose is made of 100% Pinot Noir and is certain to make your mouth water!  The wine is balanced between juicyness and acidity, with obvious red berry notes.  Boulay’s Sibylle Rose is made from mature 35 to 40+ year old vines, in the village of Chavignol, where many believe the best Sancerre is made.  - 67Wine Buyer

Winemaker Notes

Unlike many Sancerre Roses, Gerard harvests his Pinot specifically to make rose by direct press, then into tank. It is not a selection of young vines as he has no young Pinot vines. What makes the rosé one year could make red another, and vice versa, depending on what the vintage gives. 

Varietals: Pinot Noir. Organic: Practicing. Vineyard: From 35-40 year old Pinot Noir vines on the steep hillsides in front of the Boulay home in Chavignol. Orientation: Multiple parcels, varied exposure. Soil: Steep clay hillside. Viticulture: Gerard works the soil manually and lets nature make the wine. Vinification: Tank fermented. Boulay adds no yeast and minimal amounts of SO2. Aging: Tank aged. Production: 200 cases annually.

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2023 Rosé Sibylle is redolent with crushed berry fruit, rosewater, spice, mint and orange peel. Sensual and layered in the glass, the 2023 possesses lovely textural resonance to play off its effusive aromatics. It’s a gorgeous wine from Gerard Boulay.  Drinking 2024 - 2026.  - Vinous 90

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 93 Points |  An opaque purple blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, the 2022 Il Bruciato is luxurious with notes of blackberry liqueur and some blue fruit coming through along with notes of violets, olive, and black licorice. Full-bodied, with a weightless and seamless feel, it has no harsh edges and offers ripe tannins with a supple texture, fresh acidity, and clean ripeness through a rather long finish. This gorgeous wine checks a lot of boxes and is drinking beautifully now. It offers a lot of finesse as well as a wide drinking window. Drink 2024-2040.  - 

Monica Larner the Wine Advocate write 91 Points |   The popular Marchesi Antinori 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Guado al Tasso Il Bruciato is a blend of Merlot, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc that offers generous black fruit, prune, black plum, spice and light toast. The wine tapers down to mid-weight texture on the palate, and this little pause in intensity happily serves to elevate its food-friendly appeal. This hot vintage reveals ripe fruit characteristics with soft tannins and an accessible style…  Drinking 2024 to 2027.

James Button of Decanter writes 91 Points |  This blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah offers fresh aromas of dark berries and menthol, combined with ripe, opulent red and black fruits with floral overtones in the mouth. Sweet touches of vanilla and liquorice are followed by Mediterranean herbs and spice on a cool finish. Just lacking a bit of mid-palate punch.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  - Decanter 91

Winemaker Description

This wine is rich, ripe, and focused with flavors of sweet black currant and juicy blackberry intermingled with hints of shaved chocolate and tobacco. Delicious flavors framed by toasty oak and silky tannins, meld together throughout the wine’s lingering finish.

Expert Reviews  - Vintage 2022

James Suckling writes |  A fruit-driven, creamy and mellow cabernet sauvignon with cassis, baked cherries and blossoms. It’s medium- to full-bodied with creamy tannins and texture. Deliciously fruity finish. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Wine Enthusiast | Approachable and mouthwatering, this generous wine delivers flavors of black fruits layered with musk and oak spices. Supple tannins are carried by bright acidity into a long finish. Elaine Chukan Brown 89 Points

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling: 91 Points | Lots of sour red cherries, raspberries, and fennel with camphor and a touch of dried meats. Medium-bodied with refreshing acidity and fine tannins. Juicy and balanced. From organically grown grapes. Drink now.

Winemaker Description 

Intense ruby red color but with excellent transparency. The nose reveals a classic bouquet of cherries and prunes that open to more sophisticated notes of slate. Complex on the palate, a touch of tartness is accompanied by balanced tannins. Vibrant, succulent body. Exciting finish with a richness of flavor and returning hints of ripe fruit.

Winemaker Description

Mineral driven, elegant and refreshing. Inviting floral aromas with bright, clean citrus flavors on the palate. 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | A bright, energetic Sancerre that drinks beautifully. Excellent aromatic purity and precision with a lovely melange of cries and white orchard fruits that mingle with perfectly balanced mineral notes and refreshing acidity. Well rounded and long on the finish. Perfect with all types of seafood, salads and vegetarian fare.

Expert Review

Rebecca Gibb MW of Vinous writes | The 2023 Sancerre is filled with elderflower, lime and green aromas. It is a medium-bodied style that's tender and supple from three types of chalky soil in the appellation. The clay-chalk portion of the soil brings volume and body, while the chalkiest soils provide some gentle tension. A spritz hint brings much-needed tension in this gentle acidity year. This is a step up from most 2023s in this high-yielding year.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  

Winemaker Description 

Citrus aromas dominate on the nose and discrete floral aromas along with the characteristic mineral Assyrtiko undertones.

Winemaker Description 

Alix crafts this delicious and refined Sancerre Blanc in a gentle, flowery, mineral style. It is generous, yet perfectly balanced with a dry refreshing mineral finish, and it’s a terrific value. Serve with goat’s milk cheese, oysters, shellfish and white fishes, or as a the perfect aperitif.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | A very pretty expression of Willamette Valley Pinot Noir, this delicious 2022 shows plenty of aromatic complexity with layered fruit with a lovely earthy character. In the mouth, the flavors unfold to reveal raspberries, spiced plums and baking spices supported by elegant tannins that linger delightfully on the long finish. Drinking perfectly right now, this is a perfect accompaniment to salmon, poultry and vegetarian cuisine. - Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points |  With a youthful transparent red hue, the 2022 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is perfumed out of the gate with notes of fresh red cherries, sweet herbs, wet stone, and a hint of purple flowers shining through. Approachable and medium-bodied, it has a delicate, savory, juicy feel, with fine tannins and a light, earthy note of beetroot on the finish. This is a very charming wine to drink over the next few years.

Winemaker Description

With its broad array of origins and clones, this 100% Pinot Noir displays aromas of cocoa, pomegranate and raspberry on the nose and the palate as well as a light touch of nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice. True to Adelsheim's house style, it is elegantly textured with seamlessly integrated, silky, polished tannins.

Winemaker Description

The wine has a lovely shimmer with a pretty golden color with green reflections. The rich and complex nose is characterized by pleasant and subtle floral and mineral aromas. It has a wonderful structure in the mouth with minerality, and charming chardonnay-typical aromas. It is a harmonious wine that is not only fine and elegant, but also has an excellent aromatic persistence.

Best paired with cold with oysters, shellfish, fish, and/or goats cheese. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

James Sucking 91 Points | This has excellent freshness with notes of sea shells, sliced apples, wet stones and a touch of jasmine. Crisp and brisk, medium-bodied, with a subtle peppery spritz at the end.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points | Very snappy and crisp on first sip, this gains depth and complexity in toasted almonds and butter as it opens. Alive with crisp apples, lemon zest and a mineral tang that gives a very lively texture and great balance. Medium-bodied. Blended from 60 sites in the region, it was partially barrel fermented.

Winemaker Description 

An equally fresh if less spicy nose freely offers up its aromas of apple, pear, white flower and a touch of orange peel. The mouthfeel of the medium weight flavors is also quite lovely while the lingering, balanced and equally dry finale is sufficiently tightly wound to repay a few years of keeping. This too is very good for its level." Burghound

The aromas of white flowers, peach, grilled almond and lemon peel dominate on a mineral-tinged background. The attack is full and warm on the palate with a lively and long lasting finish.

Vinous 90 Points |  The 2022 Chardonnay Highland is a classy, elegant wine. Ripe pear, apricot, yellow flowers, chamomile, spice and tangerine peel open nicely. The 2022 balances fruit intensity with brightness quite well. Soft contours wrap it all up in style.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast | Very clean and round aromas of melon, white peach and orange blossom draw the nose into this bottling. The texture is chalky and the palate is quite savory with salt tones that decorate the baked nectarine and apple flavors

Winemaker Description

This is a beautifully complex wine with elegant fruit and structure. Classic Pinot Noir aromas and flavors of dark fruit – black raspberry, marionberry, blueberry and ripe dark cherry – are joined by accents of black tea, clove, vanilla, toast, orange zest and forest floor. Supple tannins and bright acidity on the palate lead to a coating finish with lingering spiciness.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2022 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Georgina Hindle of Decanter writes 93 Points | A nuanced nose, lots going on, sweet spice, perfume and bramble fruits. Chewy, this is round and plump - opulent but then so precise on the palate with real tension. Cooling blue fruits and liquorice, it's the cool freshness that really gives this life. Yes, the tannins are abundant and mouth coating but they're soft and fine and this has great execution. You can feel the intensity but it's carried very well. A blend of 50% Merlot and 50% Cabernet Franc.  Drinking 2023 - 2035. (2019). 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points | The 2019 Bel-Air Jean & Gabriel is impeccable. Soft, creamy and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2019 is especially fine for Lussac, where the wines are rarely this polished. Black cherry, chocolate, licorice and dark spice build over time. There is a bit of grip on the finish, but also more than enough fruit to make it all work. (2019). 

Jane Anson writes:  Firm berry fruits, clear austerity on the tannins, set against highly charged smoked oak notes. An enjoyable wine from Lussac, well made and carefully handled.  Drinking 2022 - 2032  - Decanter

Winemaker Description 

This medium-bodied wine is harmonious, with forward, plump fruit and a silky texture balanced by gentle tannins and elegant structure. The very typical Pinot aromas and flavors of red cherries and wild strawberries are complemented by a delicious, lingering finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous 88 Points | The 2022 Barbera d'Asti Ca' di Pian is a bold, juicy Barbera to drink now and over the next handful of years. Blackberry, chocolate, lavender, licorice and dried herbs are front and center. The 2022 is just a bit green, but it's hard to argue with quality at this price point

Winemaker Description 

Cà di Pian is a Barbera with an unmistakable character. There are intense aromas of blackberry and morello cherries. This wine is truly captivating, yet it remains fresh and extremely versatile. 

Winemaker Description 

Bethel Heights' Pinot Noir Estate is always the best place to start when evaluating their growing season and winemaking intent in any given vintage. It incorporates nearly all sections of their three estate vineyards in various amounts, and as such provides an honest evaluation of the year.

The 2022 Estate Pinot Noir reflects the multifaceted nature of the vintage: the abundance of fruit, the acidity from a relatively cool growing season, and the effusive fruit from harvesting in the warmest October on record. Blending the Estate is often their most difficult task because it is their largest bottling each vintage, and thus spans nearly 214 barrels. They approach this wine like they do their others, with the singular goal to make the best, most transparent wine they can.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Decanter Magazine 94 Points |A delightful wine that punches so far above its price point. Black tea aromatics are married to freshly churned topsoil, dried lavender and sun-baked blackberries. The palate is distinguished in this well-priced wine. Chinese five spice, black tea and white pepper make room for ripe black bramble fruits and red plum skin. This wine is distinguished and complex, so refreshing to see such deference paid to a wine priced under $40.

Vinous Media 93 Points |More savory than sweet, the 2022 Pinot Noir Estate wafts up from the glass with a blend of shaved cedar, rose, ground cloves and dried black cherries. This is lifted and refined with juicy acidity and crisp red fruits, taking on a crunchy, tart cranberry concentration toward the close. Well-formed tannins frame the finish as violet inner florals resonate throughout. This is not only a spectacular entry point to the Bethel Heights style, it's also a fantastic value.

James Suckling 93 Points | Bright cherries, raspberries, orange peel and rose hips on the nose. Some walnuts. Racy and vibrant on the palate with a medium body and vivid, electrifying acidity. Refreshing, minty undertones at the end. (2022).

Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Estate is bursting with strawberry, raspberry and orange peel aromas, and with time it reveals touches of cinnamon, bitters and wildflowers. The light-bodied palate is finely astringent and refreshing with complex, bitters-laced flavors and a long, spicy finish.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Taut and vibrant, with a steely core of acidity and tannins that drives the flavors of raspberry, cranberry and dusky spices toward the firm finish. (2022).

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | What an impressive Pinot Noir value. The wine has a ripe black-cherry aroma to go along with a wisp of loamy soil. The fruit flavors are a mix of dark raspberry, tart and tangy cranberry and orange zest. The wine feels rich and full on the palate, with sturdy tannins. (2022). 

Winemaker Description

Hinia takes its name from the fossilized shells found in the soil from a time when the whole region was under the sea. This is a typical, classic, Rioja blend — fresh and smooth with well-balanced acidity and tannins. It has an intense cherry red colour with notes of ripe black fruit, an elegant range of balsamic notes with tobacco leaves, caramel, vanilla and chocolate. Aged for 36 months in American oak, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation took place naturally. A homage to the refined classic wines from Haro.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2012 

96 Points Decanter | Classic and delicious showing tertiary notes of cigar box, incense, old leather, cigar box and tomato leaf. The palate is silky with well-handled oak, a vibrant rail of fresh acidity and mellow, integrated tannins. Complex wine and very representative of classic Rioja.  Gold, Olivia Mason, Decanter World Wine Awards. (2012). 

Tim Atkin 92 Points |  Hinia is a new Reserva brand from the under-rated Martínez Lacuesta operation that’s still impressively fresh and lively for a 2012 red. Partnering Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, it’s a nice cross over between a modern and traditional style, with balsamic American oak sweetness, bright acidity and good focus and minerality. 2023-29. Tim Atkin’s Rioja Report 2023. (2012). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Wine Spectator 93 Points | This distinctive white features a lively, mouthwatering and energetic mix of pomelo, yuzu and lemon sherbet flavors, with hints of sweetgrass, apple blossoms and lime zest. There's also an appealing grip on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Delicate aromas of white flower and coastal minerality frame a beautiful nose on this Chardonnay. Hints of Kaffir lime leaf, fresh herbs, and elements of citrus amplify the bright savory character. The firs sip offers a flourish of fresh fruit, which knits into artful integration with focused acidity and lovely chalky textures. As the wine opens in the glass, faint notes of almond skin balance gentle citrus and pear, lingering on a minerals rich finish.