$25 - $50 Wine

Winemaker Description

Hugonis with its powerful and austere style is the most prized product of Tenuta Rapitalà, the legacy wine. The seal of Hugonis Bernardi – a knight in armor with two leopards – which appears on the label, is the coat-of-arms of the family of Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and his son, Laurent.

100% estate-grown fruit is sourced from Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon plots situated between 1,000 and 1,300 feet above sea level on rich, clay soils. Guyot-trained vines have limited yields of 28 quintals per acre.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2013 

92 Points Wine Advocate | The top shelf wine released by Tenuta Rapital is the 2013 Hugonis. The wine represents a bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola from the southwest corner of Sicily. This wine is teaming with rich fruit flavors and backing spice. Cola, balsam herb and licorice add to the overall complexity. Hugonis closes with a sweet cherry note and offers thick textural richness. (2013).

90 Points Wine Spectator | Rich notes of black currant, bay leaf and anise are set in an elegant, medium- to full-bodied frame that is well-knit, with supple tannins. Creamy, showing hints of smoke and spicy mineral on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola. Drink now through 2023. (2013). 

This Napa Valley Merlot is sourced from a combination of high elevation mountain sites as well as wonderful benchland vineyards around the valley. Freemark Abbey blends in a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon for structure and balance. The wine opens with aromas of ripe plum, blueberry, milk chocolate and cedar. The palate is met with flavors of wild raspberry, bramble fruits, allspice, cinnamon, dry herbs, and oak spice.

The textures are supple yet vibrant with well-integrated tannins that drink beautifully now on its own or paired with a wide range of dishes.

Winemaker Description

Kishor Winery was established in 2010. It is in the Kibutz Kishorit, a home for adults with special needs. In this community, the members are active contributors, enjoying important work and activities. The winery, Kishor, is an integral part of the community, employing five permanent workers from the Kibutz year-round and hiring more for the intense harvest season. 

Medium-bodied, round, and balanced with a full mouth and rich, crisp acidity. Flavors of grapefruit, lemon, lime, floral, herbal, and mineral, with a touch of oak come across the palate. It has an exceptionally smooth finish. Nice with roasted fish.

Winemaker Description 

Curious, adventurous and outgoing, Sagittarius enjoy meeting new people, telling stories, and connecting deeply with those around them. Playful and brave, this Fire sign enjoys trying new things and bringing light and humor to the mundane. Cabernet Franc is bold and refreshing with an aroma of eucalyptus that matches a Sagittarius’ honest and inquisitive personality. This wine is smoky and earthy with accents of cherry, raspberry and black pepper. Like the long finish of the Cabernet Franc, Sagittarians leave a lasting impact. As a mutable sign, they love to travel and see new sights, like this grape, which grows across the globe.

Winemaker Description

The wine, crafted from Grenache, Cinsault, and Vermentino, is aged in concrete and stainless steel tanks to preserve its freshness and purity.

Tasting Notes: This rosé exudes a brilliant sunset pink hue. On the nose, it presents an enticing aromatic bouquet of fresh red berries such as wild strawberries, raspberries, and red currants, with a hint of citrus elements like lime peel in the background. On the palate, there are abundant strawberries and raspberries accompanied by refreshingly dry acidity. The finish is dry and very clean, leaving no aftertaste except for a thirst that entices one to keep sipping.

Winemaker Description 

A bright antique gold wine. The bouquet is complex and inviting with notes of baked apple, quince jelly, biscuit crumb, spice and orange zest. To taste, there’s great intensity and lovely refreshing acid balance, with touches of stone fruit, peach and orange zest enhanced by a hint of sweet spice and a sapid, saline finish that lingers. A definite step-up in complexity and structure thanks to tiny yields and old vines.

Pair with meat or soup as starters, main dishes with truffles, grilled fish and poultry.

Winemaker Description

Sea Sun Pinot Noir has aromas of cherry, light toasted wood, dry earth, clove and a hint of s'mores. The flavors echo the cherry on the nose, with raspberry on the finish. Bright and fruit-driven, with lush cherries and a strikingly soft texture. 

Winemaker Descrption

J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dark and dense in color to the rim of the glass. Layered aromas of black cherry, currant and blueberry are accented by an authentic barrel-aged bouquet of dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and roasted coffee.

The palate peaks with high-toned red berry fruit, and follows with bright acidity and a full structure that is both dense and soft at once. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

91 Points James Suckling | Only ripe, blueberry and blackberry flavors with nice freshness and some healthy, supple tannins within the sleek frame, make this an immediately appealing red Bordeaux that’s very food-friendly. Drink or hold. (2016).

Wine Enthusiast  91 Points | This is a confident wine from a team that makes two of the top Pessac-Léognan wines. It comes partly from the Haut-Brion vineyard, giving classic tannins and juicy black fruits. Good acidity completes this balanced wine. *Editor's Choice* (2016).

Winemaker Description 

A deep color and a soft bouquet of liquorice and blackcurrant. The wine has violet and slightly toasty nuances on the palate. The texture is velvety and the flavour altogether powerful and elegant. There is a wonderful refined balance between high-quality tannin, concentration, tension, and freshness. A lovely vintage for Clarendelle! Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Dry Creek is one of the most prominent AVAs within Sonoma. This wine is lush and full-bodied with aromas of baking spices and black cherry. Flavors of dried herbs, coffee, and red fruit complement the rich tannins. 

Winemaker Description 

Dessert wine made from particularly sweet and aromatic grapes. Notes of peach, citrus and honey.

Winemaker Description 

An innovative and exciting orange wine produced by Kolfok, a winery dedicated to pushing the boundaries of winemaking. This unique orange wine showcases the distinctive character of the grapes and the winery's commitment to experimentation and creativity.

A blend of Gruner Veltliner, Welschriesling, and Chardonnay. A pale, aromatic skin contact wine. Bone dry, smooth and mineral, with notes of apple, grapefruit, yeast, melon, and white flowers.

Stefan Wellanschitz, the winemaker at Kolfolk, likes the physical qualities of skin-fermented wines, or "orange" wines on the palate, but he wanted a way to make one that was also elegant, not just tannic and out-there. Enter intracellular fermentation: intact, uncrushed grapes rested in a large fermentation vessel where native yeasts slowly started the fermentation process inside of the berries, leading to a gentler extraction from the skins.

After some weeks, the grapes were pressed off to finish fermentation in 1100 and 1500L (i.e. really big) used oak barrels. A unique winemaking approach that results in a tropical-but-elegant white wine, full of structure, pale in color, with notes like a fistful of flowers. 

Winemaker Description

A deep blend of red and purple colors and abundant aromas introduces us perfectly to this beautiful Cabernet. Rich and complex in flavour, notes of cherry and blackberry transition to mixed herbs, bramble and mocha, complemented by a delicious dimension of sweet fruit. Soft smooth on the palate, the 2021 Maitre D’ balances flavor and structure perfectly. 

Winemaker Description

This vibrant and lifted Merlot exudes rich plum flavours with undertones of both red and dark fruit and a soft touch of oak. As the wine develops in the glass, layers of chocolate, nutmeg and cinnamon spice come to the fore. The soft mouth-feel and tannin integration allow for all the beautiful flavours of this wine to shine through.

Fabulous organic Albariño from one of Rias Baixas's most dynamic producers. A wine that celebrates racy acidity, with mouthwatering notes of zesty, ripe citrus fruits layered with crunchy green apple. Thanks to some lees ageing, it also has a fleshy texture that brings fantastic balance.

A deliciously mineral 'No Sulphites' Chardonnay, lightly oaked and with bags of character and personality

It makes a perfect aperitif, and for food pairing it's made to go with stuff fresh from the sea - a generous basket of fruits de merbeing just the thing.

The small wine producing Jura region of eastern France sits between Burgundy and the Swiss border and lately it's been enjoying a well deserved period of prominence with Chardonnay proving to be one of its most successful grape varieties. Indeed, while quite modestly priced this wine bears favourable comparison with many more highly priced Burgundies. They use fruit from 50 year old vines which is fermented and aged in new oak foudres without filtering, racking, or the addition of sulphites. Essentially it's just left to mature in its own time with nature doing the rest. The outcome is wonderfully fresh, precise and tidy and is a great example of a wine where the fruit, minerality and subtle oak all sit in a satisfying harmony.

Winemaker Description 

Our ‘108’ Chardonnay comes from the own rooted and old vines at Wirtz Vineyard. Chardonnay styles are as divisive as politics these days.  The Oregon wine machine is back promoting the advantages of Oregon Chardonnay once again.

This is good news.  After many starts and stops with this grape over the years, Oregon Chardonnay is positioned to be a grape that gains national respect. 

Winemaker Description 

There is a very nice balance between freshness and liveliness combined with richness and precision. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

93 Points Wine Enthusiast | This deep and concentrated wine is as smooth as silk, scented with black currants, spearmint and a touch of toast, then soothes the palate with velvety tannins and lush, ripe fruit flavors. While easy to sip, it has a subtle, restrained tannin structure.

92 Points James Suckling | Aromas of blackberries and currants with spicy herbs, pine wood and crushed rocks. Medium- to full-bodied, sleek and polished with soft tannins and silky texture. Juicy, blue-fruited finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description 

The color is intense and beautiful, almost black with purple, reddish hues. Aromas of black cherry, cassis, piecrust, spice, and mint mingle and leap from the glass. The palate is full and concentrated with similar aromas but also featuring black currant and sweet red cherry with the mild presence of oak, seamlessly integrated. Signature finely structured tannins and balanced acidity give way to a long finish which continues to build after that last sip.

Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Winemaker Description.

Winemaker Description

Produced from 100% Tinto Fino from vines age 30 years, aged 12 months in French Oak with minimal filtration. The result is a wine with a beautiful ruby colour with deep and intense aromas of red and black fruit with hints of liquorice and spice. The palate elegant and fresh with predominant fruit structure balanced by soft tannins and a lovely expressive finish.

It has the tannic richness of Ribera del Duero Tinto Fino, and smoky power from its oak, but the wine carries itself with some delicacy, its crisp fruit bringing fresh air.

Dominio Romano was established in 2005 when the Pares Balta family decided to to initiate a project in Ribera del Duero. Selecting the finest old and wild Tinto Fino vines in the best terroirs of the region, and farming with the utmost respect for the environment and tradition, the family produces wines that transmit the character of the autochthonous grape.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | Beautifully precise and quite gourmand, the 2022 Gigondas from Domaine des Pasquiers offers up aromas of dark cherries, garrigue, mulberries and spices mingled with elegant reduction notes. Medium to full-bodied, bright and seamless, enrobing and well-structured, it has good depth at the core, velvety tannins and a long, quite serious finish. This blend of equal parts Grenache Noir and Syrah, matured for nine months in concrete tanks, showcases what Gigondas can achieve when the grapes are ripe and the vinification is meticulous.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | Black cherries, peppery herbs, graphite, and some earthy, mineral, subtly meaty notes all emerge from the 2022 Gigondas, a medium-bodied, nicely balanced, structured 2022 that will need a few years of bottle age. The 2022 is equal parts Grenache and Syrah that was destemmed and brought up all in tank.

Winemaker Description

Marchand-Tawse own and farm parcels in approximately twenty appellations, ranging from Bourgogne to Grand Cru, providing approximately 30% of their fruit supply. All fruit is hand-picked from biodynamically farmed vineyards, and different wines incorporate varying amounts of whole clusters into their final product. Wines are aged in both stainless-steel tanks and barrels. Combining expertise, passion and longstanding relationships with local growers, Marchand-Tawse create exceptional wines that showcase the unique terroir of Burgundy. 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | A full bodied, darkly colored Grenache with intense richness and depth of flavor. Aromas of savory red fruits on the nose, with lovely intensity in the mouth, smooth tannins and a delicious long-lasting finish. Powerful, precise and concentrated with no over ripeness. A great wine for hearty dishes and perfect for barbecues.

Winemaker Description

Dark, intense deep purple-crimson in the glass. On the nose: striking notes of rhubarb, raspberry jam and redcurrant. The palate is soft and rich, showing a more full-body style of Grenache. A flow of red cherries, rhubarb and red plums are laced with a fine layer of cedar, introducing more dark-flavored characters like plums and hints of dark chocolate. Texture is firm and finely balanced.

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | An inviting nose of baked cherry, blueberry, moss and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Juicy and fresh red and black fruit with savory undertones. Herb and earthy notes ground the palate. A bit of tension here, which I like. Drink or hold.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | This seamless, polished but also firm and well-structured wine achieves power with grace. Wonderful black fig, black olive and plump blackberry flavors ride a full body backed by good, well-integrated tannins. This classic from Ridge’s Sonoma County property consists of 79% Zinfandel plus 11% Petite Sirah and 10% Carignan. 

James Suckling 95 Points | This has lots of horizontal tannins that provide fine muscle and form. It's medium- to full-bodied with freshness and brightness. Red berries, crushed cloves and other spices. Grapey, for a better word. Sophisticated. Chewy, Needs time to soften. Zinfandel with petite sirah and carignan. Drinkable now, but better with two or three years of bottle age.

Decanter 95 Points | Committed to both sustainable and organic farming practices, Ridge’s pre-industrial approach lends its sensibility to field blends made from old, time-honored vines. Leading the Sonoma County blend is Zinfandel, California’s quintessential heritage grape, along with Petite Sirah, Carignan and Alicante Bouschet. Hand-harvest, co-fermented, then thoughtfully aged in American oak, the ruby hues with purple reflections follow with a bramble of wild berries, violet, sarsaparilla, fennel, and mint on the nose. An energised mouthfeel of blackberries, cherry cola, dried herbs, and cocoa-covered coffee beans, drive this lush and juicy field blend to a long, lifted finish. 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Lytton Springs is a very pretty wine. Bright floral and spice accents open first. Silky and medium in body, with plenty of persistence and fine balance, the 2020 is pretty impressive, especially for the year. Zinfandel character really drives the feel in 2020. A burst of red/purplish fruit, rose petal, cinnamon and dried herbs lingers on the open-knit, intensely perfumed finish.

Winemaker Description

Rich blackberry and plum on the nose with notes of aniseed. Full-bodied with dark bramble fruit and well-coated tannins on the palate. The long finish reveals layers of black licorice and dried sage. 

Winemaker Description

Deep ruby red in color with garnet reflections. On the nose, aromas of red fruit, blackberry, plum and licorice with hints of vanilla and leather. Full-bodied palate, with intense flavors of cherry, raspberry and spice culminating in a long and smooth finish.

Outstanding with red meat, game, and hard cheeses. 

Expert Review

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | This classic Gattinara opens with aromas of dried sour cherries, rosebud, sweet and savory spices and a hint of dried herbs. Well-balanced between savory and fruity elements, the wine’s mouthwatering acidity and fine tannins build the framework for the wine to be enjoyable today and into the future. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

High Haven captures the essence of California's highest and coolest growing region, and the humble, nostalgic —slightly eccentric — charm of Anderson Valley. This rustic enclave, in the shadow of the giant redwoods, produces world-class Pinot that is deeply aromatic, balancing concentrated fruit with beautiful acidity.

Expert Reviews

91 Points Wine Enthusiast |Find bright aromas and flavors of cranberry, raspberry and strawberry along with earthy notes of river-rock minerality, roses, violets, hints of fennel and tarragon and just a touch of wood. Elevated fruit concentration yields pleasantly plush tannic texture along with an energetic acidity that points to a long, lingering finish.

91 Points Wine & Spirits | Clean, fresh, bright and tangy, this pinot is touched by notes of orange and vanilla, lasting on a cherry-leaf scent. It’s fruit-forward with tannins that melt into the background, leaving the cool feel of Anderson Valley pinot.

91 Wine Spectator | Alluring, with a nice swath of mulled raspberry and blood orange inlaid with pine forest and savory hints. Caressing finish.

Winemaker Description

Bright, ruby-red color. The nose is very expressive with notes of wild strawberry, cherry and Mediterranean herbs.

On the palate, the wine is beautifully supple. Tannins are silky and the tasty finish reveals notes of black pepper, red fruits and a hint of eucalyptus.

Winemaker Description

100% Sangiovese from hillside vineyards located at between 270-320 meters. The average age of the vines is 15 years old. La Gerla Rosso spends six monhts in tank, then one year in Slavonian oak (large casks of 50hl) and another six months in bottle before being released.

This wine is obtained from declassified Brunello, which nonetheless follows the strict production regulations, shows characteristics of freshness and typical aromas of quality young wines, fruity and vinous notes blend with more complex autumn leaves and violet.

Pairs well with pasta, grilled pork and red meat. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck | Youthful ruby-hued, the 2022 Rosso Di Montalcino shows ripe aromas of crushed berries, a hint of blue fruit, pine, and candied flowers. Mid-weight, it's light on the palate, with dusty tannins and a modest finish. It's an attractive and simple Rosso for drinking over the next 2-3 years.

Winemaker Description

Dark ruby red in the glass, with rich notes of chocolate, black currant, ripe blackberry, and marionberry with hints of toasted oak and dark cherry on the nose. The palate is rich and complex with flavors of ripe dark fruits, chocolate cherry, plum, toffee, and blackberry pie. This wine has a lingering fruit-forward finish with firm acidity and smooth velvety tannins. A classic yet complex Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Expert Reviews

94 Points Tasting Panel | Structured like a skyscraper, this bold red stands tall with concentrated notes of espresso, dark chocolate, and blackberry. Its plush palate feel lingers through the lengthy finish.

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley) from Joseph Wagner's (Caymus) Quilt is a boisterous, flamboyant wine to drink now and over the next handful of years. Super-ripe dark fruit, sweet spice, leather and vanillin are front and center. The Quilt Cabernet makes no excuses for being what it is—a tasty, opulent, crowd-pleasing wine.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.  - Vinous 90

James Molesworth writes:  Ripe, rich and soft, with a slow-moving set of boysenberry and plum sauce notes that melds with licorice snap and fruitcake details through the finish. Drink now through 2026.  - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description

Using their now well-established technique of cold-soaking the Petite Sirah portion of the co-ferment and then infusing it into the fermenting Zinfandel ten days later, Frog's Leap locks in the freshness of the fruit and accentuate the elegance of the resulting wine.

A dash of Carignane adds additional acidity and structure, preserved nicely by their practice of aging Zinfandel largely in small concrete tanks. The resulting wine is beautiful: deeply flavored, balanced, and fresh—a great summer drinker to be sure, especially with a quick chill. But don’t be afraid to put a few bottles away in the cellar; like all Frog's Leap Zins, this wine has decades of life ahead of it.

Winemaker Description

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Syrah. Deep red in colour which lingers in the glass. The ageing in oak is noticeable, well blended with fruity aromas which give it finesse and complexity.

Mouth-filling and complex, smooth and well balanced on the palate. This is a wine which shows slightly smoked red fruit.