$25 - $50 Wine

Winemaker Description

This bright red bursts with flavor, violets, crisp cherry and ripe berried fruit. The wine has fine tannins that are a sleek frame for the expressive profile, with a long finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 92 Points | Racy red bramble berries with notes of hibiscus, pomegranates, cochineal and cherries. Some chewy tannins add more gravity to the otherwise medium-bodied palate. Juicy, firm and stony in the medium-long finish. Better in 2025.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

Tasting Panel 92 Points | Aged sur lie for nine months in (25% new) small French oak barrels, this classically styled Chardonnay shows a salty mineral character with melon, MacIntosh apple, marzipan, and lemon oil. Nice mouth feel, with body weight, and accented with crisp acidity. Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | A tantalizing, toasty top note draws you into this mouth-coating, richly flavorful and full-bodied wine. Spicy oak notes, light butter accents and poached pear flavors bring a lot of satisfaction on the sip.

James Suckling 91 Points | This shows note of ripe peaches and pineapple with hints of toffee, honeysuckle and lemon custard. Medium- to full-bodied, creamy and weighty yet with fresh, juicy acidity coming through. Mellow and textural on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Chardonnay grapes grown primarily in Schug's Estate and Ricci vineyards, with additional barrels from the Wildcat Mountain and Sangiacomo vineyards, underwent traditional European winemaking practices. Each lot was fermented separately and aged on the lees ("sur-lie") in small French oak barrels, introducing judicious new oak. The result is an elegant and powerful wine that is refreshing and mouth-watering on the finish. It has intense aromatics of citrus, white flowers, and peach. This wine offers layers of tropical and stone fruit and light minerality on the palate.

Well-balanced acidity gives it a crisp, clean finish, making it an excellent wine with food. Try it with cream soups, rich seafood, fowl, veal, and pasta dishes.

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.

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.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2019

Wine Spectator 93 points | A solid, slightly burly version, featuring streaks of tar and bay leaf mixed with dark plum and black currant preserve flavors. The finish is underscored by a warm paving stone note, which adds cut, drive and a hint of old school. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024. (2019). 

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points |  From a reliable estate, this wine is firm in feel. It also has open black fruits that pair alongside the generous tannins. It is good long-term aging. Barrel Sample: 93-95Wine Advocate 92 points Deep purple-black in color, the 2019 Meyney strides confidently out of the glass with classic notes of cassis, warm plums and baked blackberries plus hints of cedar chest, bay leaves, pencil lead and clove oil plus a waft of underbrush. The medium to full-bodied palate has a generous core of ripe black fruits with a slight touch of oak poking through and a firm backbone of ripe, grainy tannins, finishing with impressive length. (2019).

Decanter 93 points | One of the wines I use as a marker of how good the vintage is in St Estèphe, because it isn't classified but is in a brilliant location right next door to Montrose. And this is good, extremely concentrated, pure cassis and bilberry flavours, tons of tannins, clear austerity and fairly high acidity as I am getting in a lot of these 2019s. Not the same luscious character as 2018, but in many ways that makes it more typical of the appellation, and the alcohol seems less over the top than in 2018. Lots to enjoy here, not quite up to 2016 standard but not far. Tasted two weeks apart, and if anything its expression had deepened second time around.  Barrel Sample: 93Jeb Dunnuck 94 points This estate has been on a roll of late, and the 2019 Château Meyney is a terrific wine. Beautiful notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, dried flowers, and dried tobacco all emerge from the glass, and this beauty is medium to full-bodied, with a seamless texture, ultra-fine tannins, and a great finish. Count me impressed. Not a powerhouse, it should drink nicely right out of the gate yet also evolve for 20 years or more. Range: 92-94 Points. (2019).

James Suckling 92 Points |  Aromas of ripe berries, licorice and chocolate with a touch of mushroom and some dustiness. Silky, polished texture with medium body and firm tannins. Holds long and even, with a lingering sensation of crushed stones. Hold for a couple of years. Second wine of Meyney. Best after 2023.

Vinous 95 points The 2019 Meyney has a divine bouquet, so pure and winsome with floral red berry scents, beautifully integrated new oak and superb precision. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fleshy to the point where you can almost overlook the backbone of this Saint-Estèphe. It could have been blowsy, yet it retains superb balance and feels luxuriant and long on the finish. This is a stellar showing easily eclipsing its performances either in barrel or just after bottling. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.  —  Neal Martin. (2019).

Winemaker Description

Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 is an intense ruby red color. The nose delivers notes of red fruit, in particular black cherries, light hints of flowers and sweet impressions of powdered sugar. The bouquet is completed by hints of cinnamon and dill that impart pleasantly spicy nuances. The vertical palate is taut, pleasantly mouthfilling with supple tannins and closes with a lengthy, sapid, and full finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Monica Larner writes:  This is one of the big surprises of this tasting and ultimately represents one of the best buys in the entire extended Marchesi Antinori portfolio. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori shares the DNA of Tignanello. It is Sangiovese kissed with small parts of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Of course, the wine is more accessible and open compared to Tignanello, and spiritually, this wine is a Chianti Classico. By that I mean that the elegant minerality of these soils and th e sunny flavors of its environs are the determining characteristics. You get wildflower, iris, tart fruit and plum. The wine's enhanced mineral character, with dusty white rock, is what adds lasting complexity and depth.  Drinking 2024 to 2033.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94+

Bruce Sanderson writes:  This ripe style is fresh and harmonious, delivering plum, cherry and boysenberry fruit, with accents of earth, iron and eucalyptus. Supple in texture, with a beautifully integrated structure and long, complex aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2043.   - Wine Spectator 95

James Button writes:  Among this estate's 130 hectares of vines in San Casciano Val di Pesa are the Tignanello and Solaia vineyards. This Riserva is fermented in stainless steel, undergoing a spontaneous malolactic fermentation and ageing in French and Hungarian oak barriques for 12 months before bottling. An old vintage, 2010, impressed us all in 2023 by topping the leaderboard at our ‘Ageing Chianti Classico’ panel tasting, and this 2021 equally has plenty of potential. It oozes with menthol, fresh hedgerow berries and some baked currants. There's plenty of fruit intensity, backed by well integrated wood structure, and it keeps quite a vertical profile in the mouth which helps to belie its density. Powdery tannins coat the cheeks, balanced by fresh acidity, while the inherent juiciness of the fruit waits to be unlocked with time.  Drinking 2025 to 2036.  - Decanter 93

Walter Speller writes:  Impenetrable dark ruby. Deep, concentrated marasca cherry and cherry liqueur with a minty, oaky note and a hint of cinnamon. A concentrated cherry-fruit palate layered with minty oak notes and lots of sandy tannins building up on the tangy finish. Will disappoint no one.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Jancis Robinson 16.5

Our Professional Review

Debra of 67Wine.com | A thrill seeking wine from the volcanic region in Souther Italy, Mt. Etna, Benanti showcases this 100% Carricante at it's best.  Complexity on the nose with aromas and flavors of grapefruit, saline, fresh acidity with lots of minerality. A pure varietal expression,  this wine is full of life, vibrant, energetic and a lingering finish. 
Pair with ricotta cheese drizzled with orange and/or lemon rind, grilled swordfish, tuna, cheeses, and lemon pasta dishes.

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.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

James Suckling writes 91+ Points | Very classic character to this with toasted oak, hints of consomme, meat and dried lemon. Medium body with crisp, firm tannins. Drink or hold. 

Alison Napjus of Decanter writes 91 Points | A balanced, medium-bodied red, with hints of cedar and cigar box accenting plum and soft cherry fruit. Gains supple definition from fine-grained tannins, and delivers depth and focus without excessive weight or power. Elegant. Tempranillo, Graciano and Mazuelo. Drink now through 2028.  

Winemaker Description 

Alain Chavy produces restrained, structured, and long-lived white Burgundies from 17 acres of vineyards in Puligny-Montrachet, with small holdings in the neighboring villages of Chassagne and Meursault. Alain established Domaine Alain Chavy in 2003 with vineyards inherited from his father and includes some of Puligny's top premier crus. 

The Alain Chavy Bourgogne Chardonnay 2022 features a bouquet of green apple, citrus, and subtle floral notes, with hints of toasted almonds and minerality. On the palate, it is crisp and well-balanced, offering flavors of lemon, pear, and a touch of honey, complemented by a firm acidity and a taut, fresh character. The finish is clean and refreshing, with lingering citrus and mineral notes.

This Chardonnay pairs beautifully with seafood dishes, roasted chicken, creamy pastas, and soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert.

Winemaker Description

A great example of unique style of the maison. The Sancerre is a perfectly balanced wine, elegant, perfumed, with great depth and flavor definition. A dry, mineral palate is the perfect frame for delicate aromas of white fruit, orchard flowers and a subtle smokiness. Unique, precise, chic, timeless and divinely good. Ideal as an aperitif and a delicious accompaniment to oysters, sashimi or white fish. 

Our Professional Review 

Debra 67Wine.com | Montenidoli is a mountain above the appellation of San Gimignano.  A noble and elegant expression of Vernaccia San Gimignano from this historic estate. This wine is certified organic, aged in stainless steel and macerates on the skins for about 7 days. It has nice complexity , light-medium bodied, energetic, vibrant with a nice texture.  Fresh, pure, with flavors of stone fruits ,  orange zest and blanched almonds and a nice lingering finish.  Pair with seafood, pasta and vegetables or  simply with cheeses. Debra, Italy white wine Buyer

Winemaker Description 

The estate of Isabelle and Denis Pommier was founded in 1990 when the Pommiers, a young couple at the time, decided to take over two hectares of their family’s land to produce their own wines.  Since the beginning, there has always been a strong respect for the land and the unique terroirs of the region, and sustainable farming techniques – lutte raisonnée - were used. Over the years,  emboldened by the qualitative gains resulting from working more naturally in the vineyards, the Pommiers transitioned to organic viticulture. The red lady bug on their bright yellow labels signifies this commitment. 

The 2023 Chablis is a round, attractive, rich and fleshy wine and a wonderful expression of cool climate Chardonnay.

Winemaker Description

Benanti Etna Rosso is pale ruby red in color. The bouquet is ethereal and intense, with spicy red fruit aromas. Well balanced and medium-bodied, with a mineral-rich complexity, pleasant acidity and a saline freshness on the long and lively finish.

A versatile wine that can be paired with red meats and cheeses but also with fish or white meats. Very suitable for by-the-glass consumption.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 92 Points |   A burst of savory reduction slowly blows off the 2022 Chardonnay La Combe Verte to reveal a deeply seductive blend of wildflowers and sage, giving way to nectarines and candied ginger. This is surprisingly weighty in feel, communicating a level of prominence balanced by a core of juicy acidity. Flinty minerality adds depth to its core of ripe pears and green melon. The 2022 leaves a pretty inner sweetness while cleaning up remarkably well with traces of candied lime that linger. The La Combe Verte punches well above its price.  Drinking 2024 - 2027.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling 93 Points | Very clean and bright white with sliced apples, ripe pears and crushed stone undertones. Medium-bodied, crunchy, flavorful, crisp and bright.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Bright yellow/green-hued, the 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is bottled under screwcap and is lifted and fresh with lime, white flowers, green apples, and lemon zest. It’s fantastic on the palate, with ripe acidity, a silky, stony texture, elegant ripeness, and a cleansing finish.  A great value, it’s lovely now, but don’t feel hurried with this one.

Audrey Frick writes:  Bright yellow/green-hued, the 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is bottled under screwcap and is lifted and fresh with lime, white flowers, green apples, and lemon zest. It’s fantastic on the palate, with ripe acidity, a silky, stony texture, elegant ripeness, and a cleansing finish. A great value, it’s lovely now, but don’t feel hurried with this one. Drink 2024-2029.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  An expressive version, offering a dynamic and juicy mix of peach, citrus and apple flavors, with notes of ginger, makrut lime leaf and lemon balm. Expands further on the finish, with notes of saline and lemon thyme.  - Wine Spectator 91

Erin Brooks writes:  The recently bottled 2023 Chardonnay is fresh and ester-y on the nose with scents of pears, honey and baker’s yeast. The palate is rounded and fresh with beeswax-laced fruit and a long, flavorful finish. It’s easy to drink… - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 89

Winemaker Description 

Crystalline pale straw with a faint chlorophyllic tint, the 2023 Sonoma Coast Chardonnay opens with lifted aromas of freshly picked green apple, and is fragrantly perfumed with Meyer lemon zest, gardenia, honeysuckle, and orange blossom. On the palate, notes of Honeycrisp apple lead a well-focused palate punctuated by a burst of fresh guava. Mineral-driven, vibrant acidity accented with a flaky sea salt-like crunchiness is interlaced with a delicate creamy yet firmly structured texture. The finish is pure and clean with good tension and energy through the lingering, expressively juicy finish. 

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Bright yellow/green-hued, the 2023 Chardonnay Sonoma Coast is bottled under screwcap and is lifted and fresh with lime, white flowers, green apples, and lemon zest. It’s fantastic on the palate, with ripe acidity, a silky, stony texture, elegant ripeness, and a cleansing finish. 
A great value, it’s lovely now, but don’t feel hurried with this one.

ert Review - Vintage 2023

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Clive Pursehouse writes:  Rich depth from this Central Coast Chardonnay made by California icons Calera. The aromatics show rich nutmeg, lemon cream, and cardamom spice, giving way to a palate that balances richness and depth with an elegant fruit profile. Grilled pineapple, honeyed apricot, and spiced pear are met with salinity-driven sea spray mineral notes.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  - Decanter 90

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  Starting with the 2022 Chardonnay Central Coast, this comes from a mix of sites and spent 10 months in 10% new oak. Its vivid gold hue is followed by a solid nose of stone and apple-like fruits, as well as some background spicy, brioche-like nuances. This medium-bodied, concentrated, textured Chardonnay is clean, balanced, and impeccably made.  - Jeb Dunnuck 90

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Generous pineapple, guava and lemony citrus notes are juicy and bright in this version, with plenty of intensity. Accents of lemon blossoms and candied orange peel linger, with a hint of white tea. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 

Billy Norris writes:  The 2022 Chardonnay Central Coast comes from a blend of Edna Valley, San Benito and Monterey sites. It’s a rich, forward white with lots of richness but also a bracing structure. Toasted hazelnut, apricot, lemon zest, petrol and slate build in the glass, pressing onward through the voluptuous, mouth-coating finish. It trails away quickly with a kiss of heat, but this is a solidly enjoyable appellation-level offering in a tough year.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Vinous 90

Winery Notes

In 1975, legendary vintner and pioneer Josh Jensen founded Calera (Spanish for “lime kiln”) high in the Gavilan Mountains of California’s majestic Central Coast. In the four decades since, Calera has helped establish the Central Coast as one of the New World’s most exciting wine regions, while earning acclaim as one of California’s iconic wineries. Sourced from some of the appellation’s finest vineyards, the Calera Central Coast Chardonnay has become a benchmark for the region, balancing lush richness with beautiful minerality and bright citrus flavors.

Wine Description

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 - Vintage 2020 

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 

Winemaker Description 

Highly aromatic with flavors of grapefruit, peach, honeysuckle, lemon curd with minerality and a note of nutmeg in the background. It is round mid-palate but is zippy and bright with fresh acidity. It finishes with notes of elderberry and brioche while the creamy mouthfeel lingers.

Enjoy with perfectly seasoned roast chicken, pasta alfredo, seared scallops or baked brie en croute.

Winemaker Description 

The 2023 DAOU Cabernet Sauvignon is a powerful, complex and layered wine with heady aromas of black plum, Zante currant, frankincense and sage. Trailing scents of blackberry, cardamom and espresso bean reveal accents of vanilla, saddle leather and cinnamon toast. On the palate, fine-grained tannins provide structure and support for rich flavors of black cherry, raspberry and mulberry, while secondary layers offer black olive, sandalwood and dark chocolate. A velvety texture finishes with lingering impressions of chocolate-covered cherry, dried herbs and toasty oak.

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

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.

Winemaker Description 

To create this Cabernet Sauvignon, Oberon sourced grapes from throughout Napa's finest winegrowing regions, including Oakville, Oak Knoll, Yountville, Suscol Ridge, Chiles Valley, Pope Valley and Capell Valley.

By layering fruit from Napa's sparse volcanic soils and the deeper alluvial soils of the valley floor, Oberon accomplished their goal of marrying many different expressions into one outstanding Cabernet Sauvignon that boasts a beautifully seamless mouthfeel and rich, complex texture and flavors.

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.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Kristin Bieler of the Wine Spectator 91 Points |  Shows good concentration for the 2021 vintage, with red plum and licorice on a foundation of graphite. A thread of singed herbs weaves through the pleasantly just-chewy palate. Savory, smoky and long, with toasty cedar adding warmth to the savory, smoky, long finish, which brings a firming feel. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now through 2035.

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. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Winemaker Description 

Deep and dark with lifted seductive aromas of red fruits and spice, powerful ripe red and black fruits wrapped in a structured but lush, elegant frame. Tremendous length and complexity.

Winemaker Description 

Pale gold in color with delicately toasty aromas alongside fruit and complexity. This wine is creamy and beautifully balanced with a dry, harmonious finish.

Expert Reviews 

93 Points Decanter | Richly biscuity on the nose, with steamed rice, fresh pear and citrus blossom complexity. Creamy mousse dissolves into red apple peel, lemon and stone fruits, with a depth of honeyed biscuits. The Reserve NV from Pol Roger is a blend of base wines from at least three vintages. With 6 months of post-disgorgement ageing, the wine is ready to enjoy now.

James Suckling 92 Points | Fresh Amalfi lemons, pear skins, apples, rhubarb and hints of anise on the nose. Excellent depth and flavor concentration here, with a medium body and creamy bubbles. Fruit and spice deliciously integrated.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 92 Points | The current release of Pol Roger's NV Brut Réserve is quite dramatic, bursting with aromas of mandarin oil, honeycomb, elderflower, fresh bread and musky peach. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it's generous and textural, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and a pillowy mousse.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | The nonvintage Champagne from this producer always has richness from the Pinot Noir in the blend. This bottling also has a touch of toast, showing some bottle aging. Put the two elements together and this satisfyingly ripe wine is ready to drink.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | Equal parts Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier make up the NV Champagne Reserve Brut, with 8 grams per liter dosage. The nose is bright and fresh with green apple and lively lemon lime citrus as well as fresh pastry. The palate is dry though generous, with fruit upfront of ripe red berries and grapefruit. Well-suited as an aperitif, it is ready to drink now or over the next 10 years.

Winemaker Description 

The 2023 Pouilly-Fuissé has a brilliant pale yellow color. Its floral nose evokes scents of acacia and honeysuckle. Round and ample on the palate, it reveals aromas of yellow fruits.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67 Wine.com writes | A lovely alternative to Sancerre, hands down delicious with refreshing purity and harmonious balance. The aroma is enticingly perfumed with scents of white peach, honeydew melon and lemon verbena. Lively and energetic in the mouth, with freshness and purity in every sip.  Nice mineral finish. Perfect with salads, light poultry and grilled fish.

Winemaker Description

Located in Pouilly-sur-Loire, in the heart of the France’s Loire Valley, the Domaine Gilles Chollet uses modern wine-making techniques to bring out the best of the Pouilly Fumé terroir. The 30 acres estate is comprised of clay-limestone and sandy soils and benefits from a south-western exposure. The vines are cultivated in accordance with sustainable agricultural methods known as “Lutte Raisonnée”. 

Gilles Chollet worked in the vineyards for over ten years before taking over the Domaine from his father to develop it with his wife. 

Little by little, Gilles has invested in high-performance equipment that allows him to better control the fermentation and to extract a maximum of aromas.

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.

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. 

Expert Review