$25 - $50 Wine

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

Producer Description 

The last remaining example of appellation Vermouth di Torino to comply with all of the classical requirements, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino has been produced since 1891. Cocchi uses estate Moscato as the wine base, and vibrant, spicy botanicals such as cocoa, citrus, ginger, and rhubarb.

In contrast with other popular Italian vermouths, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino retains wines of Piedmont as the base and avoids a heavy sheen of vanilla or caramel that clashes with other cocktail ingredients. Delicious when poured on ice and a small lemon zest, but also an essential base for the creation of the most classic cocktails from Negroni to Manhattan. Cocchi has produced wine-based aperitifs and traditional Piemontese sparkling wines since 1891.

Giulio Cocchi was a young and creative pastry chef from Florence, where he worked in a popular bar located in Piazza del Duomo. In the late nineteenth century he moved to Asti, a small but lively town in northwest Italy, not far from Torino, and established himself as a distiller and winemaker.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Slightly richer and fleshier than village Chablis, more reminiscent of a premier cru, with an impressive balance of honeyed apple, stone and tropical fruits with underlying mineral notes that builds into a crescendo of harmonious complexity. Well-proportioned acidity holds everything together and the finish is remarkably long and seductive. Demeter certified Biodynamic.

Expert Review

Decanter Magazine 93 Points  "A very classy combination of the extra richness found in 2022, with zesty lime acidity and a distinctive, salty edge to finish. A great Chablis to drink as an accompaniment to food. Long, precise and very pure on the finish. Organic and from a different part of the Brocard operation in Préhy.

Winemaker Description

This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc offers an enticing medley of tropical and citrus aromas, including pineapple, lemon verbena, lime and guava. The palate is lush and lively, combining a silky texture and energetic acidity with fresh melon, citrus, and pineapple flavors framed by subtle minerality throughout a long, bright finish. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | This wine is vibrant, with aromas of Meyer lemon, green papaya and lemongrass on the nose. The flavors on the palate are white nectarine, orange sherbet and allspice, intertwined with pink grapefruit zest, mineral and a dry finish. Pair with Fritto Misto.

Our Professional Review 

Debra of 67Wine.com | Generous flavors of ripe stone fruits, lemon and red apple mingle with a vibrant acidity shining thru. A medium-bodied wine with structure and depth displaying purity as well as some complex notes nuttiness, integrated oak, white tea and a mouthwatering finish. Debra, California Chardonnay Wine Buyer

Expert Reviews 

Alder Yarrow of Jancis Robinson 17.5/20 Points |  Pale gold. Smells of slightly resinous lemon peel and lemon curd. Bright lemon-peel and lemon-curd flavours mix with pink grapefruit and toasted bread. Wonderfully saline notes linger with lemon peel in the finish. Crystalline and gorgeous. 

Anna Lee C. Iijima of Decanter 95 Points |  Tasted at the beginning of 2023, a reductive quality was still obscuring bright, penetrating green apple and kiwi flavours with a smoky, earthen veil. Still, it's a gorgeously sleek, richly textured wine with a pulsating core of acidity and salty mineral intensity. 

James Suckling 94 Points | Lovely texture and density, showing dried apple, fresh ginger and pastry dough. Layered, with phenolic tension. Drink or hold. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous 91 Points | The 2021 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is terrific. Citrus confit, white flowers, almond, chamomile and dried herbs all run through this super-expressive Chardonnay. There's a touch of phenolic intensity, along with a kiss of reduction, that add character. Almost all of this fruit is now estate. 

MaryAnn Worobiec of Wine Spectator 92 Points | Complex and seamless, there's plenty to admire in this white wine. Shows spiced, poached pear, dried apple, grilled lemon and fresh tangerine flavors that are juicy and generous, with details of sage, white pepper and toasted sesame seed on the finish. Drink now.

The wine has aromas of Meyer lemon peel and pith with hints of raw ginger, honey, and green apple all under a cloak of crushed white rock. The texture offers a restrained fleshiness on the mid-palate with a focused and bright saline finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Notes

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

As their house cuvee, Lemelson's Thea's Selection is a blend from their five organic, estate vineyards that span three different Willamette Valley AVAs. As such, it is a wonderful representation of the vintage across all their sites. The nose is inviting and earthy with black cherry, black currant and plum fruit that is nuanced by subtle notes of black tea, chocolate, mushroom, and lavender. This wine is rich and supple with silky tannins and a juicy core which transitions into a long finish that leaves the taste of brambly fruit on the palate. 

Expert Reviews

93 Points James Suckling | Dried herbs, spices, orange peel, wild strawberries and hints of pomegranates. Medium-bodied, vivid and silky on the palate, with delicious and refreshing fruit character. Lots of cherries and dried orange peel flavors. (2021). 

92 Points Wine Spectator | Brisk and generous, with snappy cherry and pomegranate flavors highlighted by oolong tea and savory spices. Concludes with fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2031. (2021). 

92 Points Vinous | A smoky blend of wild herbs, ground ginger and crushed raspberries smolders up from the 2021 Pinot Noir Thea's Selection. It's softly textured with cooling minerality and pure red berry fruits underscored by saline minerals. Zesty acidity adds a liveliness through the finish as the 2021 tapers off long and spicy yet only lightly tannic. (2021). 

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | A pronounced saline note similar to the lining of a freshly shucked oyster mixes with notes of blackberries and marshmallows toasted over a smoky campfire. Bracing acidity and velvety tannins frame flavors like raspberry, smoked almonds and candied rose petals. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

The wine is vinified in stainless steel and then aged for about 5-6 months in neutral oak barrels to give the wine some texture. It is ruby red in color – so bright and clean you can read through it! It has red and black berries, cherries, blackcurrant, licorice and spice notes on the nose. On the palate it is smooth, with a nice length of red cherries and black fruits on the finish. The tannins are silky and well balanced resulting in a harmonious and easy drinking wine.

Enjoy with poached eggs in red wine sauce – the famous “Oeufs Meurette”, cured meats, salmon entrees, ratatouille and creamy cheeses such as French Camembert.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Review

91 Points James Suckling | Pale apricot color with aromas of pomegranates, grapefruit, rosemary, lavender and peaches. Fresh and delicate, yet fragrant and flavorful, with a medium body and bright acidity. Lovely fresh pink fruit.

Winemaker Description 

New York Times

Schramsberg was one of California’s modern pioneers of sparkling wine, with 1965 as its first vintage. A lot has changed in California’s sparkling wine world since then, with many small producers now making excellent wines. But Schramsberg is still going strong. This blanc de blancs, made entirely from chardonnay, is creamy, toasty, crisp and fresh. - Eric Asimov’s New York Times Article Dec. 21, 2023

Winemaker Description

The 2021 Blanc de Blancs has lifted aromas of fresh Granny Smith apple, lemon-lime and fresh baked bread, intermingled with hints of baked pineapple and toasted almonds. Its vibrant flavors of Meyer lemon and tart apple bring drive to the mid-palate, leading to a clean, palate-cleansing finish.

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | It is the 33rd bottling of these bubbles. I hope you pick up a bottle to enjoy. This wine is bright, with aromas of Golden Delicious apple, orange blossom, acacia honey and mineral on the nose. Flavors on the palate are baked Bosc pear, mandarin orange, fresh walnut, toasted brioche and kaffir lime. The wine offers a subtle, creamy mousse, with a long, lifted and dry finish.

Winemaker Description 

Classic Provençal rosé with delightful tree-fruit and citrus notes (peach, nectarine, grapefruit) and a crisp finish. Structured and complex, with citrus and red fruit on the palate.

Winemaker Description

Les Deux Albions is one of the outstanding wines of Louis Barruol’s collection and highlights the exceptional value that can still be found in the Côtes-du-Rhône category. The wine combines depth, structure, and finesse with aromas and flavors of roasted game, mesquite, and olive, crushed plum, and black currants.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 92 points "Textured, layered and focused. It expresses notes of dark berries, roasted meat, warm spices, bay leaves and some dried thyme. Medium-bodied with fine, firm tannins. Plenty of energy, focus and structure. More compact toward the finish."

Wine Spectator 91 points "This seductive red offers a lot to like, with ripe red fruit and toasted aniseed notes showing an invigorating layer of white and black pepper through the harmonious, medium- to full-bodied frame. Hints of black tea and iron shavings add energy. Syrah, Grenache, Carignan, Mourvèdre and Clairette."

95 Points Wine Enthusiast | This native-yeast-fermented Chardonnay is a swirl of golden sunshine in the glass, with aromas of tangy tangerine, orange blossom and sweet cinnamon on the nose. Bright and balanced, the palate has lovely precision and freshness. (2022). 

94 Points James Suckling | This is really tangy and vivid with sliced lemons and green apples with stone and white peaches. Some flowers and botanicals. Medium body. Firm and fine phenolics and a fresh finish. (2022). 

93 Points Decanter | Soaring lemon cream aromatics accented by notes of seaspray, lemongrass and beeswax mark this coastal Chardonnay from Flowers on the Sonoma Coast. The palate is fresh and linear. Oyster shell salinity, bee pollen and grilled lemon make for a savoury balance with delicate crushed chalk minerality. (2022). 

Amidst the cold and rugged conditions, Flowers Chardonnay enlightens with a stunningly pure and vibrant character. At Flowers, the believe in crafting distinctive and complex wines that truly reflect a sense of place. With this bottle, they are pleased to share the layers of bright citrus-fruit and coastal minerality that are expressive of the Sonoma Coast. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The delicious Tavel Rosé Tete de Cuvée is the first wine ever made by historic Rhone Valley winery Chateau de Manissy. It's a biodynamic barrel-aged dry Fench rosé made from Grenache, Clairette and Cinsault grapes. Rich and complex with aromas of ripe quince, dried orange, hints of almond and exotic spice.

A gorgeous Tavel and one of those rosé wines that is built for short-term aging.  The palate is silky yet full with luxurious red currant, cherry and mineral notes that cascade over the palate. A wine to serve with just about anything. Grilled tuna steaks, white meats, barbecue, ceviche. It's all good.

Expert Review

Joe Czerwiński writes:  Aged in oak foudres of 25 hectoliters, the 2022 Tavel Tete de Cuvee is in some ways the most traditional of the Tavels on offer at this impeccably run estate, eschewing stainless steel and leaving out Syrah in favor of Grenache, Cinsault and Clairette. A light ruby in hue, it does show hints of pencil shavings on the nose, alongside more classic notes of red currants, tangerines and a touch of garrigue. It's full-bodied yet not overly expansive, with the wood seemingly helping to provide structure and length.  Drinking 2023 - 2025.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92+

This wine captures the typical Chablis character with steely minerality, focused citrus expression and firm acidity.

Serve as an aperitif or with oysters, seafood, snails, charcuterie, goat cheese, Gruyere cheese. Winemaker Description.

90 Points Decanter | Domaine Yvon Vocoret is a small family estate dating back to 1713. The label states 'Qualite, Noblesse, Respect du Terroir'. A generous Chablis in 2021 with fleshy notes of apple and pear fruit with a touch of peach adding more weight and ripeness. This is all kept fresh by a fine line of acidity. Clean, modern and juicy on the palate, this will appeal to both Chablis lovers and those who like a slightly richer style of Chardonnay. (2021).

Winemaker Description 

A vibrant bouquet of ripe Meyer lemon and orange blossom entices the palate from the start. Each sip is a symphony of opulence and freshness, where juicy citrus, Honeycrisp apple and grapefruit mingle seamlessly with subtle nuances of French oak, all upheld by a lively acidity. Enjoy now or cellar through 2032.

With its brightness and lively citrus elements, the 2022 Jordan Chardonnay makes a wonderful aperitif and is also a versatile food pairing wine. Unlike many fuller-bodied chardonnays, Jordan Chardonnay creates a nice contrast of flavors with seafood such as salmon or oysters. It also has the structure and balance to pair beautifully with spicy Thai dishes and even heavier dishes like creamy chicken pasta or Dungeness crab.

Expert Review

James Suckling 93 Points | A restrained nose that is very citrus-driven, displaying notes of honeydew melon, preserved lemons, lime zest and lemon balm. The palate is tight and fresh with a medium-bodied texture, showing notes of grapefruit, orange blossoms, flint and lanolin. A balanced and fresh wine from a hot vintage. (2022).

Winemaker Description

The Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has a brilliant ruby red color, with garnet tinges as it ages. It has an intense bouquet with aromas of ripe cherries, plums and violets. It represents the perfect combination of structure and elegance: its full body and velvety tannins are balanced by its fine acidity. The wine is decidedly persistent and harmonious.

Expert Reviews

93 Points Wine Spectator | A smooth red, with cherry, plum and spice flavors shaded by savory underbrush and wild herb accents. Shows iron and tobacco details on then long finish, with fine balance and grip overall. Prugnolo Gentile and Canaiolo. Best from 2024 through 2040. (2019) 

93 Points James Suckling | Extremely perfumed and fresh with an elegant and attractive nose. Medium-bodied with ultra-fine, delicate tannins and a delicious finish. So delicious. (2019). 

Expert Reviews 

Amy Wislocki of Decanter writes | South Africa's first female black winemaker (her first vintage was 2014), Ntsiki Biyela named her Aslina label after her grandmother. Biyela grew up in KwaZulu-Natal and spent a year as a domestic worker before being offered a scholarship to study winemaking in 1999. She has worked harvests in Bordeaux and Tuscany, and her winemaking philosophy draws on this experience. This accomplished Cabernet contains 15% Petit Verdot, and underwent fermentation in stainless steel before ageing in used oak barrels for 14 months. It's a charming, harmonious wine, with fresh, fragrant black fruits, well-integrated oak and a hint of menthol. Super enjoyable now but will also develop over the next five or so years.  —  Amy Wislocki

Jancis Robinson 16.5 Points | Made by South Africa’s first female Black winemaker, Ntsiki Biyela, who started her Aslina label, named after her inspirational grandmother, with the 2014 vintage. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, harvested March 2020. Fermentation in stainless-steel tank and aged 14 months in used oak barrels. RS 3.5 g/l, TA 3.81 g/l, pH 3.6.

Julia Harding MW | Deep crimson. Pure, intense, minty, very slightly leafy, and blackcurrant. Benchmark South African Cabernet. Polished but true Cabernet tannins, deep but not heavy. Highly drinkable and finishes clean and fresh.

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 Description 

A red that leaves its mark. Our Cepa 21 wine represents the maximum expression of the area's terroir. This wine combines the modernity and innovation of the winery itself but without forgetting the roots and legacy of a three-generation family that is a guarantee of quality in all its wines.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Mike DeSimone of the Wine Enthusiast writes 93 Points | This deep ruby-colored wine has a nose of raspberry jam, cocoa butter, and herbs de Provence. It is bright at first sip, with raspberry, red currant, toffee, milk chocolate, and aniseed flavors. Vivid acidity and luxurious tannins stroll hand in hand to a satisfying finish. — Mike DeSimone 

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).

Expert Reviews

Lettie Teague writes:  This terrifically bright and tangy but also rather generously proportioned wine was sourced from several organically farmed sites. 

 -Wall Street Journal

Neal Martin of Vinous writes 90 Points |  Plenty of appealing, ripe, sun-kissed fruit on the palate but with the acidity to keep in balance. Quite different from 2021 in style, will have wide appeal but perhaps less for Chablis purists.  Drinking 2024 to 2032

Andy Howard MW of Decanter writes | Plenty of appealing, ripe, sun-kissed fruit on the palate but with the acidity to keep in balance. Quite different from 2021 in style, will have wide appeal but perhaps less for Chablis purists.

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes | This is also aromatically ripe and fresh with more citrus influence to the white orchard fruit, ocean breeze and quinine-scented nose. The plump, round and delicious medium weight flavors possess a finer mouthfeel while exhibiting slightly better depth and persistence on the nicely dry if not exactly crisp finale. This too should drink well young. 

Winemaker Description

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

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). 

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. 

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 Notes

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.  

Winemaker Descripption

Classic Barbaresco color with scents of spices, pepper and black cherries. Powerful, firm, elegant and ethereal.

Pair with fresh pasta, meat dishes, particularly lamb and feathered game and mild cheeses.

Expert Reviews 

Monica Lerner writes:  The 2020 Barbaresco boasts an ample set of aromas with wild cherry, blue flower, sweet spice and crushed limestone. As always, the wine paints an exciting and authentic portrait of Nebbiolo, albeit with a little more richness and texture in this vintage. This is especially true in terms of the palate, where the wine offers mid-weight intensity with melting tannins. This ambitious release of 300,000 bottles is slated to hit the market in fall 2023.  Drinking 2025 to 2045.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 95

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Barbaresco is a lovely, harmonious wine that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Forward fruit and soft curves are perhaps a bit uncharacteristic for young Barbaresco but that also make the wine very enjoyable. Juicy red cherry/plum fruit, rose petal, spice, cedar, mint and tobacco all meld together in the glass. Classicists will probably prefer other vintages, but it's hard not to like the 2020 for its charming, effusive personality. At the same time, aeration brings out greater aromatic presence and a good deal of structure, too.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous 92

Aldo Fiordelli writes:  Still vinous, with youthful strawberry notes, rosebud, violet, liquorice and a whiff of cinnamon. Savoury and floral on the palate which is dominated by firm, crisp, long acidity and velvety ripe tannins of an amazing quality; perhaps just a bit stern on the aftertaste. Amazing Barbaresco. Here we have the cooperative of Barbaresco and one known as producing some of the best-priced quality wines in all of Langhe. This will not be released before October 2023.  Drinking 2023 to 2040.  - Decanter 94

Audrey Frick writes:  Ripe red in color, the 2020 Barbaresco boasts a nice balance of purity and ripeness, with lifted spice notes of dried cherries, peppercorn, pine, and anise. An impressive Barbaresco, it’s medium-bodied and offer sanguine richness and yet has a weightless feel. It’s propelled forward through the palate, with bright orange peel notes, vibrant acidity, fine tannins, and a long finish. It has more richness in this vintage as well as having a lot of finesse and elegance to offer. It’s an exceptional entry Barbaresco.  Drinking 2026 to 2040.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Jancis Robinson writes:  Rich, sweet nose. Very slightly animal and soft tannins. Juicy!  Drinking 2023 to 2031.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5 

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | Chalk Hill is one of California’s up and coming places for top notch Cabernet Sauvignon, and the 2021 Balverne Be Forever Wild is flavorful proof. The wine sports a terrific bouquet, with  aromas of blackberry, purple plums, crème de cassis, licorice and violets that swirl from the glass with notes of cedar, tobacco, mint and cloves. Richly textured in the mouth with luxurious velvety tannins that give shape and structure to the fruit and carry long into the finish. Solidly built and immensely delicious. A great wine for hearty meals or simply for casual sipping with good cheese plates.

- Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer

 DECANTER MAGAZINE 91 Points | Jonathan Cristaldi writes:  Bursting with a lovely, classic Cabernet nose of blackberry fruit, tobacco spices, graphite and sweet cedar as more of the same emerge on the medium-bodied palate and capsicum notes capped off by slivers of dark chocolate. It’s a lovely easy-drinking Cabernet with the kind of grip you’d expect from fruit grown in the Chalk Hill AVA. Founded in 1992 by Bob and Renée Stein, Notre Vue Estate produces Notre Vue and Balverne wines from its estate vineyards. The winemaker is Alex Holman.  

Winemaker Description

This bright, zesty Sauvignon Blanc delivers great aromatic complexity by opening with aromas of fresh lime, lemon verbena and gooseberry. On the palate are flavors of lime, tangy star fruit and a hint of green mango. The long chiseled finish exhibits a wonderful slate minerality followed by juicy fresh citrus notes.

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Vibrant and generous aromatics lead to a flavorful palate and lingering finish. This wine offers a tantalizing combination of flinty aromas, pithy citrus flavors and an energizing, palate-refreshing presence. (2021). 

James Suckling 91 Points | Aromas of wet stone, sliced peach and fresh flowers. Medium- to full-bodied with citrus acidity and fresh stone fruit. A little phenolic tension here, too, with refreshing tannins at the finish.