$25 - $50 Wine

Expert Review - Vintage 2016

The Wine Advocate 93+ Points | The estate red 2016 Reserva comes from a late growing season and was produced with local varieties like Tempranillo, Garnacha, Graciano, and others from their 86 hectares of vineyards at 590 to 805 meters in altitude on limestone, sandstone and marl soils. The grapes were picked late with good ripeness and health and fermented with natural yeasts in stainless steel and open-top oak vats and then matured in oak containers of different sizes for 20 to 21 months. These are more classical wines, with a more evolved nose, with high ripeness and some balsamic and medicinal notes. It has a dusty palate with Nebbiolo-like tannins. 300,000 bottles and 8,200 magnums produced. It was bottled in May 2019.

Expert Review - Vintage 

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This wine is dense, complex, with aromas of black currant, black cherry, black plum, pink grapefruit, dried potpourri, cardamom on the nose. The palate is red plum, strawberry, pomegranate, mulled spice, mandarin orange, wafting into cracked black pepper, clove, bittersweet chocolate, and sweet cigar.

Winemaker Description 

Dark briary fruit of mulberry, white pepper, cigar box, ripe strawberry, grilled steak, spicey, cherry tobacco, sage, and plum lead to an extractive fleshy structure with firm tannin and a balanced long lingering finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate 96 Points | Grapes for the 2021 Angeli Zinfandel are picked in three passes. Proprietor Scot Bilbro notes that Zinfandel's naturally varying levels of ripeness can lead to raisiny flavors if all the grapes are picked at a higher brix. "If you bring Zinfandel in over 25 brix, that means the juice inside is at 25, but the skins have a lot more sugar, and the level will go up to 28 or more," he explains. "So, we pick at 23, 24 and just shy of 25. You can enable the wine to show off layers with those different picks." This strategy led to a gorgeous Angeli in 2021 that is incredibly expressive and perfumed. Blueberry, boysenberry and blackberry give way to wafts of graphite, gobs of violet and even touches of tangerine. The medium to full-bodied palate explodes with concentrated fruit and expansive layers of floral perfume and spice. It has a powdery frame, bursts of mouthwatering acidity and a very long, nuanced finish. 

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The dark purple 2021 Zinfandel Angeli is from the Angeli estate vineyards in the Alexander Valley and was raised for 15 months in neutral barrels. Concentrated and full-bodied, it reveals layered notes of dried apricot, espresso, blackberry compote, and licorice. The palate is brooding and savory, with a fleshy texture, an earthier profile, and notes of dark chocolate through the finish. A more potent and powerful style.

Winemaker Description 

Showing bright and clear scarlet while poured, the wine in the glass becomes edged with a deeper hue reminiscent of plum skin. With swirling layers of ripe cherry, blood peach, and marzipan this pure Zinfandel is immediately bright, inviting, and nuanced on the nose. Hints of violet, black tea, and spice ground the wine with a dark intensity. Velvety across the palate this exuberant wine finishes dry with a textured foremouth focus and a core of acidity cutting a cleansing path through the richness. This Zinfandel is a seductive, stately celebration of the Angeli vineyard which surrounds the winery.

Our Expert Review

Debra of 67Wine.com writes 91 Points | This cool climate chardonnay, energetic, lively, fresh and concentrated , comes from Melville's Santa Rita Hills Estate.  

Polished, refined, linear with ample depth, shows a harmonious balance of acidity and  flavors of ripe apple fruits, citrus and a spicy finish.

For 'old world' chardonnay drinkers, this 'new world' chardonnay may just appeal to you. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 94 Points | The 2023 Chardonnay Estate is exquisite. Floral and lifted, with striking precision, the Melville Chardonnay makes such a strong case for why Chardonnay is so ideally suited here. Lemon confit, jasmine and light tropical inflections are some of the notes that grace this sublimely elegant white. Bright acids pull it all together on the finish. I would give the 2023 six months to a year in bottle, as it is pretty tightly wound at this stage.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Ripe lemon and citrus fruits, some minty herbs, and chalky minerality all emerge from the 2023 Chardonnay Estate Sta. Rita Hills, a clean, vibrant, focused Chardonnay that has solid acidity, beautiful overall balance and texture, and a great finish. The estate comes all from the Melville Vineyard and was raised in neutral oak. 

Winemaker Description 

Elegant, juicy and balanced, with a beautiful combination of cherries, strawberries and hints of spice. The grapes come from Ravines two estate vineyards on Seneca Lake, the 16 Falls Vineyard (east side) and White Springs Vineyard (west side). It is drinking beautifully now, but will age well over the coming 5 - 12 years.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Eric Guido of Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria entices with a dusty bouquet of citrus-laced blackberries, dried violets and sweet smoke. This is pure and lifted in style, communicating undeniable elegance with a silken wave of ripe wild berry fruit that swirls throughout. It finishes classically dry yet only gently tannic, leaving hints of black raspberry and spice to linger. The 2021 is simply stunning today and has the balance to evolve beautifully through medium-term cellaring.

These ancient, own-rooted País vines are 800 meters from the Bío Bío river in a dry river bed that used to hold the river. The soil is especially unique with an alluvial top-layer over black, sandy (basaltic) soils. This is “País Franco”—as in piè franco—meaning the vine is ungrafted like most of Henriquez’s vines, but the name also draws attention to how this cuvée is one of the most honest, pure and frank versions of the variety available.

Winemaker Description 

This is the Grand Vin Blanc, mainly made from Roussanne with Clairette and Marsanne. The Roussane was oak aged in French oak barrels. The wine is named after Albert, Jacques Capsouto’s younger brother. The wine is straw colored with a lemony, apricot character and a hint of a floral aroma. It is medium bodied and with good complexity, and a long broad flavored finish.

Winemaker Description 

Dried bramble, peppercorns, rose with a pure high-toned nose, floral red fruit and hints of spice that is supported by a strong mineral backbone. 

Envínate - "wine yourself" - emerged from a winemaking consultancy founded by four friends before evolving into its own project exploring the distinct parcels in the Atlantic regions of Ribeira Sacra and the Canary Islands. Their goal is to make honest wines that express unique terroir. To that effect, all grapes are hand-picked, foot-trodden, chemical-free, and are fermented exclusively with natural yeasts.

Albahra, translating to "small sea," alludes to the vineyard area located at the southeaster tip of Castilla-La Mancha. As a blend of 70% Garnacha Tintorera and 30% Morovia Agria, all grapes are hand-harvested and vinified separately.

The Garnacha Tintorera is foot-trodden in vat with 30-50% stems included and 6-10 days skin maceration, then fermented and aged in concrete for 8 months.

The Moravia Agria is completely destemmed and sees 7 days maceration before being pressed and aged in used French barriques for 8 months. The wine is then blended and bottled unfined, unfiltered and with very little SO2 addition.

Winemaker Description 

El Rall Artigas Alella Red, biodynamic wine, 50% Merlot, 20% Garnatxa Negra (Grenache Noir), 20% Syrah, and 10% Sumol from 4 vineyards planted on granitic sand. 

Oriol’s ancient vineyards of native vines are largely based on granite rock, known locally as Sauló, at between 100 and 350 metres elevation.  This results in wines often rich in minerality, conjuring aromas that will take you all the way to the Mediterranean. 

The grapes are destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tank with 3 days on the skins, then transferred to a mix of stainless steel tanks and used barrels to rest for approximately 18 months before blending and bottling with no sulphites. 

El Rall Artigas is natural, hot climate red wine which is bursting with flavour and although 100% pure, there is no real funkiness, just soft fruits and tension from the granite soils. 

Winemaker Description 

Limited Production - only 1,900 bottles produced.

Today we present the Vintage 2022 of Campeador Viura, the first white wine to be produced under the Campeador brand which, as you know, was created in 1916 to produce the first Rioja cavas. This is a limited edition in the style of the great historic white wines of Rioja. A wine that can be considered a wine for cellaring, so you can keep it in your private cellars for a few years or you can drink it immediately thanks to its harmony, intensity and subtlety.

It is a slightly disruptive Viura, but at heart it is a classic wine, like a vintage. It is always very floral and a little citric. The use of the skins was intended to provide a little bit of support, a little bit of nerve. You can see a halo of freshness that may indicate good ageing, but we will see if the wine itself achieves homogeneity”.

Campeador Viura 2022 comes from an old Viura vineyard. Harvested by hand, the grapes were destemmed, destemmed and fermented in stainless steel tanks. At this point, the winemaking process is bifurcated. One part is vatted and treated as clean must, while the other part is kept with its skins in the style of a traditional Rioja red wine.

Fermentation takes place in wooden vats and ageing in French oak vats. As you can see, we wanted to recover from the annals of Rioja winemaking a very old-fashioned way of making wine, starting the process with the skins and finishing it off with a moderate ageing in barrels.

On the nose it has more oxidative Viura sensations, as if it were from an older vintage.

It is the palate that reminds us that we are talking about a young wine because of its hints of citrus and stone fruit.

Winemaker Description 

Origin Alella, Catalunya.

Varieties 100% Pansa Blanca

From 7 vineyards around Alella, all planted on Saulò (granitic sand) aty 120-300m. The vines were planted between 1939 and 1998.

Vinification Method The grapes were harvested by hand and half were destemmed and crushed by foot, then left to macerate on the skins for 3-4 days; the other half were destemmed, left whole, and macerated on the skins for 9 days. The two parts were pressed and finished fermentation in stainless steel tanks and fiberglass, then rested for 11 months on
the lees in the same vessels. 

Bottled without fining, filtering, or added sulfur. Oriol Artigas, an Alella native and trained enologist, started his project of making non- interventionist wines in 2011. His over-arching philosophy is to “cultivate the vineyards in the most natural and least interventionist way possible, to allow the grapes to express in the most intense way the landscape from which they come.”

He works about 12 hectares in total, mostly of old vines. He allows vegetation to grow between the vines, prunes very little, and works the vineyards primarily along the lunar calendar. In the winery, fermentations are completely spontaneous, aging is primarily done in steel vats, and sulfur is never used at any point in his process. The vineyards of Alella are essentially the vineyards of Barcelona, located just north of the city along the coast of the Mediterranean. 

The primary soil type is a kind of white granite, locally called Sauló, and the main grape grown here is Pansa Blanca (the local clone of Xarel- lo) with a whole slew of other grape varieties inter-planted as well.

Winemaker Description 

This Silvaner is a true all-round talent. It is subtly fruity and finely aromatic. Its clear, elegant bouquet with aromas of hay, apple and melon is unobtrusive and slightly acidic. The terroir-emphasized note is typical of Hans Wirsching's Silvaner. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This bursts with a vibrant mix of citrus zest, green apple and sliced-pear flavors, but only after the leesy, brioche note airs out. It is supported by powerful acidity, which suggests that you should wait several years. Mineral-infused finish. Best after 2025.

Winemaker Description 

In the glass a straw yellow color with aromas of a very metal nose, pebbly with some flowers.  Taste dry, clean and delicately juicy, thoroughly cool, stony and earthy notes, fruit pome, green, slightly acidic herbs, salt is added to the end, body firm with very precise and direct, deep, thin stature one touch sweetness extract, good finish.

A good companion for pasta, pork, spicy food, poultry, cured meat, seafood.

Producer Description 

Junmai Ginjo (at least 40% of rice grain polished away). This vibrant showstopper is beautifully soft and feminine, brewed by one of Japan's only female brewery owners and tojis. Brewed in Hiroshima, the birthplace of Ginjo sake, which is known for remarkably soft water that requires expert skill to use in sake production. Once mastered, it enables a highly controlled, precise fermentation, resulting in vibrant fruit aromas. This Junmai Ginjo is bottled immediately without charcoal filtering.

A fruity nose of lime and melon with bold hints of fennel, white pepper and allspice. The flavors gravitate to ripe cantaloupe and anise while the minerality from the soft water is evident in the finish.

A natural match for sweet, succulent shellfish like lobster and scallops, but surprising pairings like bittersweet chocolate work, too.

Winemaker Description 

Olivier Leflaive Bourgogne Blanc Les Sétilles (family garden) has become one of the most popular items in the entire Frederick Wildman portfolio. Year in/ year out this wine represents impeccable quality and unsurpassed value in the French wine category. This wine exceeds expectations of even the most discriminating of palates.

Les Sétilles is sourced from vineyards within the communes of Puligny Montrachet and Meursault, with each village representing roughly half of the final blend. Grapes are sourced from multiple plots within each village in an effort to maximize complexity of the final wine.

Vintage consistency is the goal with this wine so the blending of lots and aging technique will vary according. Roughly 60% of the wine is aged in Allier oak, only 10% of which is new. The remaining 40% of the wine is aged in stainless steel to preserve clean varietal character.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Rich and supple, offering creamy flavors of hazelnut, Christmas pudding and ripe cherry, with cocoa powder notes. Lush and spicy on the long, ripe finish. Drink now. 1,800 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

Sandeman Porto Tawny 10 Years Old is a vibrant premium aged wine, where the balance of ripe fruit and oak aged intensity, highlight Sandeman´s quality.

The intense red tawny colour with shades of brick, typical of this style of aged yet youthful wine, anticipates the elegant and complex aroma, combining ripe fruit, jam and nuts, with hints of vanilla and raisins. In the mouth, Sandeman Porto Tawny 10 Years Old is a most flavoursome wine, full-bodied and appealing, with a persistent finish.

Winemaker Description 

Made from 100% Macabeu, this rare dessert wine spent 21 years in barrel before being bottled. The slow oxidation in barrel gives this wine its characteristic amber color, as well as complex notes of fig, date, toasted hazelnut, and caramel. Best served at room temperature, try this on its own after dinner, or alongside cheese, pastry, or chocolate cake. Once opened, the wine can be enjoyed for several months. 

Jean-Hubert Verdaguer and his wife, Brigitte, helm Domaine de Rancy in the Roussillon, one of only a handful of quality wineries still producing exceptional Rivesaltes in the old Ambré style.

This unique type of fortified wine is a Vin Doux Naturel, in which a pure spirit is added during fermentation to stop conversion of sugar into alcohol. These are complex and incredibly versatile dessert wines, typically 16% to 20% alcohol with 85-100 grams of residual sugar, and acidity varying between 6% and 8%.

The grapes – 100% Macabeau – come from organically-farmed vineyards. It is the addition of neutral grape spirits that prevents them from obtaining organic certification on their Vin Doux Naturels.

They are hand-picked late in the season, pressed, fermented, and fortified in tank. Only the best wine is chosen for barrel-aging, and it remains in barrel for up to 60 years. The wines are bottled as needed, unfined and unfiltered, and the wine is best served at room temperature to fully appreciate the intense, complex aromas that develop in the glass.

Producer Description 

Our ancestors were convinced that inside us lived a worm that sucked our blood, that was why it was advisable to have a drink of fasting spirit. Currently we know that this is not true, but we must never tell you not to a good drink, so on this occasion we bring you the unmistakable Primo 700 ml snack. Don't think about it anymore and be surprised by its extraordinary flavor. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Jim Gordon of the Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | Tasty, fresh-sliced apples and pears are dressed in floral tones that give this smooth, rounded wine a generous, fruity expression. A medium to full body and rich texture make it melt in the mouth. 

Winemaker Description 

This wine is vibrant and very aromatic with scents of lightly baked apple, pie crust, melon, nectarine, clove, oak spice, and toasted sourdough bread with butter. On the palate you will find rich flavors of peach, oak spice, and baked apple. It is elegantly structured with citrus-laced acidity and lengthy, toasty oak finish.

Winemaker Description

An elegant golden straw yellow with amber highlights. Its aromas are radiant, revealing bright yellow-fleshed fruits (apple, pear, yellow peach), honey, floral nuances (lime blossom) and elegant blond notes (brioche and fresh nuts). The palate is seductive, richly flavorful and smooth combining generosity and subtlety, fullness and vigor, followed by a delicately fresh crispiness (fruit with seeds), to reveal the magical balance of Champagne. 

Expert Reviews 

93 Points The Somm Journal | When it comes to finesse, this classic—roughly equal parts Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with a slightly smaller amount of Chardonnay—doesn’t miss: It’s comme il faut from the unending bead onward. Joined by biscuit and almond aromas, ripe golden apple on the nose turns to green on the palate, where citrus—lime, grapefruit, mandarin orange—cycles through high-flying acidity even as luscious pear adds weight and chalk conveys elegance through the finish. 

92 Points Wine Spectator | An elegant version, fine and creamy in texture and backed by lively, orange peel acidity. A streak of smoke-tinged minerality underscores flavors of almond madeleine, poached pear, anise and preserved lemon. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Drink now.

91 Points James Suckling | This is showing aromas of apricots, grapefruit, pears and short crust. Some walnuts, too. Medium-bodied, with soft bubbles and tasty nut and pie crust notes at the end. Blend of pinot noir, meunier and chardonnay. 24 months on the lees.

90 Points Wine Spectator | A hint of smoke wafts through flavors of black currant, lemon-infused pastry cream and crystallized honey in this fresh, well-meshed Champagne, with a touch of Mandarin orange peel and a fine mousse.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Balanced on a high level, this intense and concentrated wine is memorable now and sure to improve with further age. Focused black currant and black cherry flavors race across the palate, driven by nervy acidity and muscular tannins. The wine is great to pair with roast duck or pheasant. Best from 2027.

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of strawberries and raspberries with dried blood orange, savory herbs and dry earth. Creamy and textured with a medium body and chalky tannins. Flavorful finish.

Winemaker Description 

A tangy fresh cherry nose opens to cocoa, cola, and notes of nutmeg. The juicy lip smacking entry shows lovely cherry and wild strawberry flavors with gorgeous rose petal and baking spices in the background. Smooth tannin and vibrant acidity make this a perfect wine for food pairings.

Winemaker Description 

Vin Santo is a historic Tuscan sweet wine served on holidays, important occasions and shared at convivial gatherings. The grapes are left to dry for months, as tradition dictates, then gently pressed.

Fermentation and aging take place over a period of at least 2 years in small oak casks resulting in a dessert wine with natural residual sugars. Pairs perfectly with desserts and all varieties of blue cheese.

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia Moncada 67Wine.com | Felipe Tosso, winemaker at Ventisquero crafts wines that are true to the Leyda Valley terroir and varietal, in this case, Pinot Noir. The 2017 Grey Glacier Pinot Noir opens up with a nose of ripe blackberries, subtle tones of black olives and cassis. Medium-light body with structured tannins.  Acidity keeps the wine very alive leading up to a touch of earthiness in the finish.

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby red with violet hues. The nose initially reveals aromas of black and red berries, such as murtillas, cranberries, black plums and raspberries. 

The palate has balanced acidity and flavors of juicy black fruit, along with smooth, well-rounded tannins sustained by the notes of soft French oak. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | A medium-bodied, polished, elegant, satisfying Crozes revealing terrific purity in its red and blue-tinged fruits as well as sappy herb, floral, and peppery nuances. This is classic, lively, old school, yet elegant Syrah all the way.

Producer Description 

Indulge in the captivating Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage Classique Rouge, a treasure from the mythical Hermitage hillside. Lovingly crafted from 40-year-old vines grown in the loess soil of Beaume and Peleat, this elegant wine boasts a deep purple color with a striking purple hue. Its expressive nose reveals luscious black fruit aromas, such as blackcurrant and cassis, with a subtle hint of mint. The rich and generous palate delivers intense black fruit flavors complemented by velvety tannins and a refreshing finish. With gentle vinification and meticulous aging in demi-muids and vats, this wine promises an enchanting experience for both casual drinkers and connoisseurs alike.

The Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage Classique Rouge features a bright color, exuding a purple hue with violet tinges. The discreet nose requires aeration to fully unveil the complex aromas of blackberry jam, liquorice sticks, and a hint of roasting and spice. On the palate, the wine is full and generous, revealing rich ripe fruit flavors and a touch of smokiness. The tannins are dense, intense, and refined, providing an imposing structure and a lingering finish that leaves a lasting impression.

This versatile wine pairs beautifully with a variety of dishes. Enjoy it with a succulent roasted magret de canard (duck breast) served on a bed of creamy polenta, or savor it alongside a grilled Mezenc ribeye steak accompanied by a delicate truffle-infused purée. For a truly indulgent experience, pair this exquisite wine with creamy Brillat Savarin or Chaource cheese, allowing the flavors to meld and create a symphony of taste.

The Yann Chave Crozes Hermitage Classique Rouge is a wine that can be enjoyed now or cellared for 10 to 15 years, developing even more complexity and depth over time. Decant if drinking immediately and witness the evolution of this extraordinary wine.

Producer Description 

Assembly of two thirds of white grape freshly pressed and very mature (Ugny Blanc) with a third of one year Cognac, the whole aged in oak cask during five years.
It is only at the end of this period that we obtain Pineau of the Charente carefully married.

The subtlety lies in fresh notes of fruit, a delicate sugar and a well melted alcohol.
TO DRINK SHILLED WITHOUT ICE CUBES IN APÉRITIF OR AS DESERT WINE.

Characteristic: fresh and fruity with a dash of “rancio".

Producer Description

Traditional 100% organic apéritif made with grape juice and eau-de-vie de cognac from our estate. Fresh and fruity.

Expert Notes

Stuart Pigott writes:  Nose of wild berries, smoke and earth. A rich and mellow, full-bodied example of this appellation, the healthy, moderately dry tannins wrapped in velvet. Long finish that's much brighter than the first impression suggests. A cuvee of 80% grenache and 20% syrah from two parcels close to the border with Gigondas. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Alistair Cooper MW writes:  Plenty of pure fruit on the nose – light red fruits, as well as a slight garrigue note. A compact palate, with peppery spice and fine, firm, bright tannins – moderate weight. Bright, sleek and attractive red fruit on the layered finish. Bright, engaging and relatively light.  Drinking 2025 to 2032.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Winemaker Description 

The Vacqueyras Les Aubes has substantial fruit and earthy notes mixed with notes of pepper and licorice. A great match for roasted vegetables, and gouda cheese - 

The estate was created in 1874 and since then, six generations of the Gras family have succeeded one another, each making their own contribution to its development. Benjamin has worked hand in hand with his father, Yves, since 2017. After obtaining a degree in oenology at the University of Burgundy in Dijon, his experience was enriched by periods spent in prestigious wine estates such as Domaine de Romanée-Conti and Bodega Vega-Sicilia. He maintains organic farming , converted the entire estate to biodynamic methods in 2016, and is redesigning the wine range to emphasize local terroirs. Just like his father, he favors as little intervention as possible in winemaking and respect for what nature offers.

Vacqueyras Les Aubes is a blend of Grenache (80%) and Syrah (20%) coming from plots located exclusively in places called Les Aubes and La Ponche in Vacqueyras, over 1.5 hectares. The harvest is manual with sorting in the vineyard, followed by a second on a sorting table and partial destemming. Fermentation lasts 20 to 30 days in stainless steel vats under controlled temperatures with two long daily pumping overs. Malolactic fermentation occurs in vats. The wine is aged for 18 months in 36-hectoliter Stockinger oak barrels and 8-hectoliter terracotta jars .

Winemaker Description 

100% Pineau d’Aunis. Rouge Gorge (“red throat” is named in honor of the robins which inhabit the vineyards. The Pineau d’Aunis vines are scattered amongst many Bellivière parcels and range in age from 25 to 45 years old.

The soils are generally flinty clay over tuffeau (soft limestone); the vines are kept to a maximum yield of 25 hl/ha. The Nicolas family farms biodynamically and harvests by hand. The grapes are destemmed, crushed and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in old barrels.

Macerations lasts up to a month, with occasional punchdowns and with each parcel vinified separately. The wines are aged in used barrel for 12 to 18 months, before blending and bottling without fining or filtering.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 95 Points | Wild herbs and tangy white-pepper notes on top of the fresh-toned red and black cherries, plums and hints of citrus zest, sweet red berries and minerals. Polished, dusty tannins spread evenly across the medium-bodied palate, with juicy, vivid plums and berries. Nothing showy here, but it’s beautifully balanced and understated, showing real fruit vibrancy and harmony. Drinkable now, but will hold well, too. 

Wine Advocate 94+ Points | When tasted next to the 2020, the 2019 Lanzaga comes through as a little more closed and austere, with a little less alcohol (14% vs 14.5%) and with rounder tannins. It comes from 15 to 20 hectares of their own organically farmed vineyards. It fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in 225-liter barrels and 1,500- and 2,500-liter oak foudres for 14 months. 24,527 bottles produced. It was bottled in June 2021. 

Tim Atkin 92 Points | The"basic" Lanzaga red - if such a thing can be said of a wine that retails at €25 - comes from bush vine plantings of mostly Tempranillo with some Graciano and Garnacha in Lanciego. Aged in large wooden foudres, it's all about fruit and focus rather than wood. Youthful, taut and tangy with lots of perfume, stony minerality and good ageing potential.

Winemaker Description 

Mellow tannins, along with a touch of bright acidity, guide this delicious little bistro-style red to a tasty, enduring finish. Enjoy an assortment of roasted or grilled vegetables, grilled chicken thighs marinated in Moroccan spices or pork chops slathered in homemade barbecue sauce.

L’Ile Quatre Sous comes from a single vineyard in Parnay with a high proportion of sandy soil which yields a softer “bistrot style” red wine to be enjoyed right away. The name means "Four Penny Island", and refers to an actual sandy bank located in the middle of the Loire River near Parnay (though no vines are actually planted there).

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Luis Gutierrez of the Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2022 release is aromatic, extroverted, open and immediate, floral, perfumed and expressive, with a juicy and round palate. It's fleshy and round and very approachable.

Winemaker Description

Discover Envínate's 'Lousas Viña de Aldea' Mencia Ribeira Sacra, the "village wine" of Gallego. Made from native vines grown on steep slopes of slate between 400-600 meters elevation, this cuvee is composed of 90-95% Mencía with other co-planted varietals. Savor the unique flavors of this ancient vineyard. Pair with grilled spicy sausage and sweet peppers.

Winemaker Description 

This 100% Garnacha wine boasts a big, bold, and funky flavor with a touch of freshness. Its dense, fruity palate is complemented by a prolonged finish and ample acidity, preventing it from feeling too heavy.

The producer purposefully maintains some of the CO2 for a spritzy texture, giving it a slightly effervescent quality. For the full expression, allow it to aerate. The vineyards of Alfredo Maestro Tejero are nestled within the Ribera del Duero. These natural wines are produced without the addition of sulphur in either the vineyard or winery. All grapes are carefully hand-harvested.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

JamesSuckling.com, Andrii Stetsiuk  92 Points | Attractive nose of grilled herbs, blackberries, olives, chicory root and peppercorns. Savory and gently chewy with medium to full body, grainy tannins and an inky finish. Drink now.

JebDunnuck.com, Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points |  Coming from a mix of sites, the 2020 Syrah Columbia Valley is an up- front, fruit-loaded, charming Syrah revealing tons of darker berry fruits, some peppery, meaty notes, medium to full body, plenty of creamy background oak, and a great finish. It’s a good value and will put a smile
on your face any time over the coming 5-7 years.

Vinous, Eric Guido 90 Points | The 2020 Syrah opens with a delicate blend of fresh sage and plum sauce forming its bouquet. This is softly textured and lifted in feel, with crisp red and black fruits complemented by sweet spice. It finishes
youthfully grippy yet lively, leaving hints of citrus and a bitter balsamic
twang.

Winemaker Description 

Washington State’s winegrowing region is ideally suited to maximize the full expression of Syrah. Spicy, rich, and complex, with soft tannins and bright acidity, our Columbia Valley Syrah is the perfect food pairing wine.
Tasting Notes

This full-bodied Syrah shows robust and pronounced aromas of blackberry, black currant, violets, black peppercorn, Herbes de Provence, and licorice. Spiced dark fruit flavors reveal themselves on the palate finishing with a mouth-filling, savory richness.

Winemaker Description 

Cassis and raspberries aromas. On the palate, first sweetness and freshness and then round and soft tannins.

FOOD PAIRING  Great with pork products, white meat, fish, and cheese.