$25 - $50 Wine

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | There are times when we look to wine for a sense of challenge, its compatibility with a particular food and perhaps a particular mood. Although, sometimes we’re not always in a challenging state of mind, but rather in a mood that calls for something comforting and just plain delicious. May I present just such a wine, the 2022 Speri Valpolicella Ripasso, made from organically grown grapes. In the glass, the aroma brings forth a beautiful dark fruit bouquet with notes of chocolatey cappuccino and licorice vying for your attention. In the mouth, the wine glides effortlessly on the palate with velvety richness and smooth supple tannins, finishing long and elegantly.  Perfectly balanced without a trace of heaviness, this is a wine that provides pure hedonistic drinking pleasure without challenging us to decide if it's the right wine or not. A  great choice for meat or hearty pasta dishes.

Tasting Notes:  A deep intense ruby red color, with hints of red fruit, spices and cocoa on the nose. Warming and smooth on the palate, nicely balanced by rounded tannins.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling - 93 Points "A full-bodied red, yet it’s tight and polished with intense, chewy tannins, but ever so long and deep. Impressive black truffle, ash and mineral undertones. Flavorful finish. Solid and thought-provoking. From organically grown grapes."

Winemaker Description 

100% Gewurztraminer from estate fruit averaging 35 years-old. Certified Organic and Biodynamic. White wine. Alsace, France. The 2022 vintage expresses a powerful and complex bouquet of exotic fruits, flowers, and spices. The enveloping palate strikes a delicate balance between power and finesse.

Domaine Albert Mann is heralded the world over as being in the top-tier of Alsace producers. Using organic methods guided by biodynamic practices, the Domaine cultivates precisely controlled yields to obtain grapes of elevated maturity and complexity, resulting in wines that produce their own unique style. Never heavy, clumsy or out of balance, each carefully-crafted vintage presents a beautiful delineation of flavors and precise textures. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Boysenberry and juicy plum notes reveal hints of earth, violet and loamy earth in this focused, elegant red, while smoked meat, mocha and graphite move in on the medium-bodied frame. Tangy acidity and fine tannins firm up the finish. Drink now through 2030. 3,300 cases made, 200 cases imported.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | A completely different beast than the 2021 the 2022 Saint Joseph Offerus comes from a sunny hot vintage and brings another level of fruit and texture. Black raspberries violets ground pepper and scorched earth define the aromatics and this beauty is medium-bodied with a ripe textured mouthfeel ripe tannins and nicely integrated acidity. This juicy fruit-loaded yet still classic incredibly satisfying Saint-Joseph will drink brilliantly over the coming decade. As with the 2021 it needs a fair bit of air to show at its best although don't make the mistake of thinking every Northern Rhône Syrah needs 20+ years in the cellar.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 91 Points | The 2019 Gigondas is terrific, with a more medium-bodied, elegant style as well as lots of red and black fruits, spice, incense, and garrigue. It's a Southern Rhône charmer yet has balance, fine tannins, and certainly a sense of class.

Joe Czerwiński of the Wine Advocate writes 91-93 Points | Marked by scents of Provence herbs, cherries and blueberries, the 2019 Gigondas is another successful example of this Southern Rhône appellation. Full-bodied and concentrated, it's rich and velvety in feel, with a long finish.  Drinking 2023 - 2030.

James Suckling writes 91 Points | Aromas of black licorice, charred rosemary, coriander and plums. Full-bodied with silky tannins. Generous fruit on the palate with steady balance and intensity.  Drink or hold.

James Molesworth writes Wine Spectator 91 Points | Understated style, with light incense and worn cedar notes running along the edges of the slightly dried currant, raspberry and red cherry fruit flavors. The cedary edge lingers longest in the end. Grenache, Syrah and Mourvèdre. Best from 2023 through 2030.  

Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 93 Points | Full ruby color. The deeply perfumed nose showcases cherry, dark berries, licorice, savory herbs and olive notes. Concentrated, spice-laced cassis, cherry-cola and candied lavender flavors smoothly blend depth and vivacity. Polished tannins come in slowly on a very long, penetrating finish that strongly repeats the cherry and floral notes.  Drinking 2025 to 2032. 

Winemaker Desscription 

The production area for this wine is the whole of Burgundy. The Louis Jadot Bourgogne Pinot Noir comes from a balanced blend of Côte d'Or, Saône et Loire (Mercurey, Buxy) and Irancy. Grapes originating from Côte de Nuits, Saône et Loire and Irancy will bring deep tannins while grapes coming from Côte de Beaune will bring more fruitiness.

The 2022 Bourgogne is harmonious, with forward, plump fruit and a silky texture balanced by gentle tannins and elegant structure. The very typical Pinot aromas and flavors of red cherries and wild strawberries are complemented by a delicious, lingering finish.

Serve with grilled red tuna fish, grilled salmon, beef teriyaki , rabbit terrines, moussaka, fondue,  bourguignonne, tartar steak, roasted veal, duck breast salad, roasted guinea fowl, and hard cheese.

Winemaker Notes

Deep purple colour with intense aromas of red and black fruits, crushed violets and a touch of mocha. The palate has generous ripe fruits and a plush, velvety texture supported by vibrant acidity, with fruits and spices that linger on the finish. Extreme refinement.

Critic Notes

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2019 Le Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou is also Merlot-dominated and includes 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. It offers classic Saint-Julien elegance and purity in its darker currant and cherry fruits as well as notes of tobacco, violets, and lead pencil. With medium-bodied richness on the palate, it has wonderful tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It needs air to show at its best and is just a charming, elegant, layered 2019 to enjoy over any time over the coming decade.  Drinking 2022 to 3032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91

Georgina Hindle writes:  Lovely, fresh, delicate and fruity nose; smells quite rich and ripe. Good push of plush fruit, bright cherry straight away then darkens to something more serious and sensual. Tannins are overpowering, just so abundant, covering the tongue and cheeks but they're soft - you need that structure to give it life. Feels sculpted if a little excessive right now, but good freshness and drive, and round on the mid-palate with no angles. Some spice at the end. From the western part of the appellation, a parcel of about 25ha purchased in the 1970s. 10ha in the process of being replanted - so 15ha in production. This is the third wine and receives declassified fruit from the higher wines, although produced with the same philosophy.  Drinking 2023 to 2031  - Decanter 90

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is plush, creamy and open-knit, all of which give it considerable immediacy, not to mention tons of charm. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha and licorice lend nuance in this racy, Merlot-based blend. The Petit Ducru is a new wine meant to be the third selection from the château.  Drinking 2025 to 2029.  - Vinous 92

Oscar Garcia 67Wine Buyer : This lengendary Bodega produces some of the most classic and sought after Riojas. The entry level Reserva is my go-to wine to enjoy with any of my weekend favorite meals.Lovely nose of dark fruit, cedar, and herbs. Medium-bodied with firm tannins and a structured finish.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2020

The Wine Advocate 94+ Points | The 2020 Rioja Reserva, their flagship wine, comes from the 300 hectares of estate vineyards. Here, Tempranillo is the backbone, making up 82% of the blend in the low-yielding vintage of 2019, complemented with 8% Graciano, 7% Mazuelo and 3% Garnacha. It has controlled ripeness at 14% alcohol, with a pH of 3.65 and 5.1 grams of acidity. I loved the aromatics here—floral and elegant, more in the style of the 2018 than the 2019. it's lighter, more elegant, fine-boned and has a silky texture and very fine tannins. Both 2019 and 2020 are very good, but 2020 is more my style. 980,000 bottles produced. It was bottled after 21 months in American oak barrels.

James Suckling 94 Points | Harmonious, textbook Rioja that shows cedar, spiced strawberries, vanilla and plums. Really polished on the palate, with fresh acidity and a linear, lengthy finish. Very subtle extraction makes this a really balanced, harmonious Rioja that’s appealing now. But the balance will help it age well for the next few years.

Winemaker Notes

A palpable example of the elegance, consistency and regularity that characterize Marqués de Murrieta winery. This wine shows the incredible personality of the Ygay Estate and summarizes perfectly what happens during a whole vegetative cycle.

Its is made with tempranillo, mazuelo, Graciano y garnacha. Each variety adds its personality to obtain a balanced wine after the barrel ageing.

Pairing: Lightly smoked hake kokotxa, Pil pil sauce, olive, and soy; galician green chickpeas, organic egg yolk, and white truffle; line-caught baby squid, roasted squid jus, and "redondilla" olive oil.

TASTING NOTE

SCORES
MARQUÉS DE MURRIETA
2020

• GUÍA PROENSA (SPA): 97 POINTS.

• ROBERT PARKER (USA): 94+ POINTS.

• TIM ATKIN (UK): 94 POINTS.

• JAMES SUCKLING (USA): 94 POINTS.

Our Professional Review

A blend of 40% Pinot Gris, 35% Muscat, 25% Riesling.  This is one of my favorite Alsace whites because of its amazingly fragrant nose of flowers, that I think the Muscat and Pinot Gris brings to this wine.  It is like smelling great perfume and when it enters your mouth you taste all the complex flavors the three grape varieties bring to the wine with the acidity of the Riesling making it both lush and crisp at the same time.  There is a certain creaminess and lushness that this particular wine envelopes your mouth with that makes me just love it.  Bernie, Follow the Drinker®

Winemaker Description - Importer Notes 

"The Edelzwicker, is a rare blend (one of two produced by Boxler) and often features fruit from his grand cru parcels. Jean Boxler says, “To find the right balance for the Edelzwicker Réserve, I cannot hesitate to steal from my more prestigious cuvées.”  Think of this bottling as his musical supergroup. Its purpose is to showcase what an Alsatian white tastes like when some of the region’s best grapes—which usually shine on their own—come together and harmonize. The result is a floral, luscious, and medium-bodied masterpiece, with notes of orchard fruit and tangerine. Incredibly versatile at table, it would be a match made in heaven with Chris Lee’s soufflé or a baked fish with grilled vegetables, but it would also complement a variety of Chinese, Indian, or Thai dishes that have a little spice." - Kermit Lynch

Winemaker Description 

Bright cherry and raspberry aromas complement notes of cinnamon and delicate violet, while the palate strikes a balance between juicy plum and boysenberry and complex, earthy cola and leather, finishing with chalky tannins and hints of crème brulée.

Vintage 2023 required experience and patience that was rewarded with essential hang-time and ripening. The growing season started cool, then May sunshine brought an average bloom in mid-June followed by a glorious summer. We enjoyed many classic 80-degree Willamette Valley days, with nighttime highs staying down in the 50s even in August, typically the warmest month here in Oregon. The only exception to these consistent diurnal swings was a single big heat spike in mid-August. We anticipated picking in early September. However, some fortuitous rain events allowed us to push back harvest and we were thankful for the additional hang time.

Harvest came early, but not too early. We brought in beautiful fruit and we were pleased to still be picking Pinot noir into early October. When you have fast accumulation of fruit sugars, cool weather can be a welcome respite with even small amounts of rain helping the grapevines regulate and slow ripening. One of the reasons why Oregon Pinot Noir is so prized is for its freshness of fruit, and you can only get that vibrancy when it’s under 50 degrees during picking.

2023 brought amazing fruit quality, but our production was down, especially on cool climate white wines like Pinot Gris. Being an estate grown winery, we must follow Mother Nature’s lead as we cannot buy fruit to increase production. Smaller yields do mean a smaller crop and less wine, but we embrace vintage variation. Another great benefit of being estate grown is that it’s our decision exactly when to pick. Rather than rushing to bring fruit into the cellar, in 2023 were able to play the odds and wait out the rain on blocks that needed additional hang time to get the flavor development we needed.
Vineyard

Our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is made with 100% estate grown fruit from all six of our vineyard sites: The Winery Estate, Mount Richmond, Five Mountain, Clay Court, Goodrich and Windhill. These sites are comprised of both Pommard and Dijon plant material, with multiple clones represented.

Because we draw from vineyards representing all three of the major Willamette Valley soil types, we are able to pick and choose for different flavor components to make the best possible blend each year for our Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Some people call this making wine “spice rack” style, we usually just call it delicious. Our goal is the perfect version of what we believe a Willamette Valley Pinot should be: a wine with freshness of fruit, well-integrated alcohol, and great concentration of flavor.

Winemaker Description

Rich and beautifully focused from top to bottom. Deep, and vibrant red fruits and baking spices aromas inform the palate which is supple, serious, and wonderfully fresh. Although charming now, it will continue to improve over several years.

Expert Review

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills leads with composed red cherry, rhubarb and spice box aromas. The palate is pure, fresh and well-balanced, leading to a straightforward, understated finish that beautifully summarizes the two stellar vineyard sites it hails from.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Fresh mulberry and cherry fruit brings nice lift, with light iris and rose petal notes darting through on the racy finish. Drink now through 2026. 8,700 cases made.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | The Cote Chalonais is undoubtedly one of the last remaining sources of good value red Burgundy. The father-and-son team of Laurent and Romain represent the fifth and sixth generations to make wine at Domaine Pillot, located in the village of Mercurey.

Their terrific 2023 Bourgogne Rouge has a bright ruby red color with aromas of succulent red berry fruit. Suave and elegant in the mouth, with notes of savory spice and earthy complexity emerging in the mouth with delicacy and finesse. This is a Bourgogne that pays great compliment to food pairings. Serve it with poultry, wild game, mushroom soufflé and beef Bourguignon.

Winemaker Description

Boastful ripe aromas of Mirabelle plums, raspberry, and nuances of sweet anise and toffee on the nose. This Cabernet Sauvignon is full-bodied with blended flavors of blackberry jam, chocolate, and ripe Bing cherries. Aged in French oak, vanilla and toasted hazelnut notes complement the velvety tannins, bringing a rich, voluptuous mid-palate that extends out into a silky finish.

Expert Rating

James Suckling 94 Points | Expressive and lush nose of creamy berries, dark cherries, vanilla, cassis and sweet oak spices. Full body with fine, creamy tannins. Rich and full of generous creamy berries and an equally demonstrative and dense finish with excellent length. (2020). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Neal Martin of Vinous writes | The 2021 Bourgogne Rouge has a pretty red cherry and cranberry scented nose, a little rustic in style. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, quite spicy and peppery in the second half with a clean, sous-bois-tinged finish .  Drinking 2023 - 2028.  

Allen Meadows of Burghound writes | A very pinot-like nose speaks mostly of red cherry and raspberry along with background hints of spice and newly turned earth. The supple and relatively forward middleweight flavors possess a bit more volume while displaying reasonably good persistence on the bitter pit fruit-inflected finish that is just a bit more structured. Even so, this too should drink well shortly after release.  Drink 2024+.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Allan Meadows writes:  There is good Chablis typicity present in the form of iodine, seashore and petrol along with citrus zest top notes. The delicious, vibrant and precise middle weight flavors flash good minerality on the clean, dry and saline-inflected finish. This is very good for its level and worth considering.  - Allen Meadows’ Burghound 🖤 Outstanding Top Value!

Neal Martin writes:  The 2023 Chablis Village was assembled for my visit by Didier Picq from 10 vats. It has an attractive if light bouquet with apple blossom and fresh pear aromas. The palate is well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, a little creaminess towards the finish. This will drink well for 4-6 years.  - Vinous 

Julia Harding MW writes:  Pure, tense, restrained citrus but more marked by crushed stones than fruit. Pure, light-bodied, with a chalky finish. Relatively Great Value.  - Jancis Robinson 16

Winemaker Description 

Quintessential Chablis full of flinty seashell essence. Steely, focused and mineral-laden. Extremely age-worthy.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points | Bright and vivid pinot with notes of cherries, raspberries, dried hibiscus and potpourri. Medium-bodied, juicy and fresh, with fine tannins and delicious red fruit character. Chalk and minerals in the finish.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Broad-shouldered in structure, with lilting raspberry and cherry flavors that take on black tea and dusky spice notes as this builds tension toward medium-grained tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | A bright red cherry fruit note is nice but mix in the scent of bone marrow spread on toast points and you have yourself an aromatic party. Nice acidity helps to create a lively mouthfeel to accompany perky orange zest and pie cherry flavors. There is even a touch of bacon hovering on the perimeter. Hungry yet?

Winemaker Description 

Purple Hands Lone Oak Ranch is a classic example of an elegant and balanced Willamette Valley Pinot Noir. Featuring notes of rhubarb, watermelon, cassis, cocoa, cinnamon, clove, pomegranate, raspberry, cherry, wild flower, sage, and bramble. Very food friendly and will pair with a wide variety of dishes. 

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | A bright, lively, perfectly delightful Sancerre that provides refreshing sipping pleasure! A nice balance of citrus and orchard fruit aromas mingle playfully with notes of elderflower, quince and apple blossoms. Crisp and well rounded, this is a perfect go to for seafood, light poultry, salads and vegetarian dishes.

Winemaker Description 

Bright, lively, pleasantly aromatic, has zippy acidity but low astringency. It is a wonderful food wine that is as versatile as it is easy to drink.

100% Sauvignon Blanc. “La Garenne” was named for the original 2.5-hectare plot from which it came. Today, the name remains while the fruit may come from across the fifth-generation Girards’ 14 hectares of vines, which are spread over slopes in five communes including Verdigny and Saint Satur and which include three distinct terroirs: gravel soils (caillottes), flint (silex) and heavy clay (grosses terres).

The Girards farm sustainably and harvest the steepest slopes by hand and the flatter sites by machine. Parcels are vinified separately–fermented with native yeasts in steel tank–then aged in tank and blended (the US only sees “La Garenne”).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

James Suckling 93 Points | Blackcurrant, sandalwood and rose-petal aromas follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins and a fresh, pretty finish. Second wine. Better after 2024.

Winemaker Description

Excellent aromatics and freshness. Comes from vines with an average age of 30 years, whose deeply flavored fruit gives its ripe apple and lemon flavors terrific intensity. A pop of bright acidity leads to a racy, minerally finish.

From three parcels – Des Couverts (village of Chablis), Prehy (near Courgis), and Lignorelles. Fermented and aged in stainless steel.

Winemaker Description

A fruity and flowery nose with notes of red berries, rose and sea breeze. Bright, crisp and refreshing on the palate with notes of raspberry and minerals and a crisp, clean finish. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Allen Meadows writes;  Ripe though not aggressive sauvignon blanc aromas include plenty of citrus, lemongrass and only a suggestion of the classic cat pee character. Once again the middleweight flavors possess an appealing mouthfeel that is in keeping with the clean, dry and lingering finale where a few years of keeping should help to add depth.  Drinking from 2025.  - Burghound 🖤 Outstanding

Neal Martin writes:  The 2022 Saint-Bris Exogyra Virgula is rather entrancing on the nose: Golden Delicious, elderflower, grassy meadow and lanolin scents. The palate is well defined with a potent menthol component. A touch of aniseed makes the finish very distinctive. Very fine. With further aeration the nose reminds me of Japanese shiso leaf.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Vinous 90

Winemaker Description

Domaine Goisot's place in the wine world is beautifully summed up by Burghound's Allen Meadows: "No one but no one delivers more quality for the price than Goisot. The quality is flat out amazing, particularly given the modest appellations with which he works".

Guilhem and and father Jean-Hugues Goisot, like all top vignerons in France, recognize that great wine comes from great viticulture, and they work tirelessly in the vines to ensure that their parcels are as well care for as possible. Their viticulture is certified biodynamic, with great pains taken to produce as natural an environment for the vines, and a particular goal of stimulating the natural defenses of the vines against disease and depredation.

Here’s the meaning behind the bottle’s name: “Exogyra” is an extinct genus of fossil marine oysters dating back to the Jurassic era, deposited deep into the earth under the vines; “Virgula” means comma, referring to the curved shape of the oyster shells. The wine also happens to go remarkably well with oysters.

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. 

Winemaker Description

Cooper & Thief’s bourbon barrel-aged Red Blend offers notes of warm toasty vanilla, with dark fruit and a gentle hint of classic bourbon spice. Blackberry and jammy dark currants lead to a rich finish, with the elegance of a fine-sipping bourbon.

Cooper and Thief Bourbon Barrel Aged Red Wine Blend is aged in bourbon whiskey barrels for three months, giving it a velvety mouthfeel with subtle heat. Merlot, syrah, zinfandel, petite sirah and cabernet sauvignon collide in one bourbon barrel to create this dark and jammy wine, which features true bourbon flavor. Crafted by Cellarmaster Jeff Kasavan, each taste of this California red wine gives way to aromatic hints of fruit and toasty vanilla.

This dark red wine garners its unique taste thanks to varietals found all across California's prime winegrowing regions. Bring this red blend along on your next picnic and enjoy it on its own, or stack this rich, bold taste up against lamb or poultry. The bourbon barrel aging gives this wine soft tannins that deliver a full-bodied and lingering finish in each sip. For a devilishly good taste, keep this red wine blend stored at room temperature, and chill it before serving. Born from mischief, Cooper and Thief Wine celebrates doing things differently. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Classic Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir. It is a deeply colored, fruit forward Pinot with a nose of spiced cranberry, strawberry and hibiscus. The abundance of fruit continues on the palate showing plum, dark cherry, and cranberry with nuances of anise, tea and clove. It is a powerful Pinot at a great price point.

Easily matched with barbecued ribs, oak grilled chops, a juicy burger or spicy Asian cuisine. Enjoy with salmon, spicy Indian dishes, or even oak grilled burgers.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Tasting Panel 93 Points | Whole cluster-pressed and fermented in French oak, this impeccably balanced wine delivers indulgent notes of lemon bar, honeyed pear, lychee, and gardenia with reined-in richness.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2022 Chardonnay Sta. Rita Hills is a solid snapshot of Sanford's modern winemaking pure, precise and balanced. The nose is driven by pretty, straightforward orchard fruit and breakfast cereal aromas, leading to a balanced, clean palate and a refreshing finish with accents of creamy richness.

Winemaker Description 

Winemaker Description

The Chianti Classico Riserva has a ruby red hue with a trace of garnet. The nose is elegant, displaying hints of spice and fruit. This is a well-structured wine with smooth tannins and a long finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 94 Points | Attractive aromas of ripe cherries, dried strawberries, dried orange peel, spices and crushed stones, following through to a medium to full body with compact tannins that are firm and finely grained. Smooth and textured with vivid fruit underneath and a lingering finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.(2020). 

Robert Parker 93 Points | In the bottle with the black label, the organic 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva offers ripe fruit with measured intensity that never feels heavy or overdone. Achieving this level of balance is not easy in a hot growing season such as this. This wine is characterized by an especially linear and direct personality that pushes it over the palate with good momentum. (2020).

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | A rich ruby color, the 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva is a selection from the best vineyards, aged for two years. The nose opens to ripe and polished aromas of toasted cedar, cherry lozenge, menthol, and spiced orange peel. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe tannins that fold into a more mineral texture, with mouthwatering stony earth and a rather long, clean finish.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A juicy yet firmly structured red highlighted by bright cherry and blackberry fruit. Reveals dense tannins that inform the finish, where accents of earth and mineral linger. Balanced in a youthful, exuberant way. Best from 2025 through 2039.

Winemaker Description 

Argyle Pinot Noir 2023 is a rich and complex wine that showcases the unique terroir of the Willamette Valley. With its range of flavors from juicy red cherry to blackberry, it evolves with exotic spices like star anise, peppercorn, and black tea. The wine is carefully fermented in small vessels to extract pillowy and refined tannins, while preserving its striking acidity, making it a youthful and age-worthy Pinot Noir.

This Pinot Noir is perfect for those who appreciate the depth and complexity of a well-crafted wine. The Argyle Pinot Noir 2023 is a perfect pairing for a variety of dishes, from grilled salmon to roasted duck or even mushroom risotto.

Winemaker Description

In France’s Northern Rhone Valley, there are few names as revered as Graillot. It was in 1985 that the late, legendary Alain Graillot, who after working with the venerable Jacques Seysses at Domaine Dujac, came back to his home in Crozes-Hermitage to start his own domaine. With each passing year his devotion to the art of making hauntingly delicious Syrah from his organically farmed, stone-laden vineyards, was rewarded with an ever growing and highly dedicated following around the world. Alain’s sons Maxime and Antoine have been in charge since 2008, continuing the legacy set forth by their father. All the work is still completely the same as it ever was: hand-harvesting, organic farming, whole-cluster fermentation, and aging the wines primarily in 1-to-3 year old barrels purchased from some of the top estates in Burgundy.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 94 Points |  "A textural, balanced and harmonious red with such patina already. The nose shows notes of dark cherries, fresh plums, forest floor and warm spices. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Dense and velvety, with a kick of peppercorns. Juicy, vivid and fresh finish. Drink or hold."

Winemaker Description

Giusto Occhipinti of COS is a benchmark producer in the Vittoria appellation of Sicily, and certainly one of the most important, influential, producers in all of Sicily if not Italy as a whole. The winery was founded in 1980 by three friends, Giambattista Cilia, Giusto Occhipinti, and Cirino Strano. The initials of their last names form the winery’s name.

For Giusto, “the vineyard is like our life’s savings in the bank, so we must protect it.” Protecting it means that they work organically and biodynamically to support the health of the soil. They have never used any synthetic or chemical additives in the vineyard since the outset in 1980. Officially, the winery was an early practitioner of Biodynamic viticulture starting in 2000 and was certified organic as of 2007. The climate of Vittoria is also generally warm and dry making it well-adapted to organic & biodynamic viticulture. Giusto and his vineyard team also prepare many of the Biodynamic treatments in-house, though a few are purchased elsewhere from small, reputable sources for these important products.

Throughout the entire range, there is a focus on elegance and purity, especially the joyous, floral Frappato – Sicily’s answer to Cru Beaujolais.

The bright red fruit flavors of cherry and strawberry are vibrant and aromatic with low tannins and fresh acidity.

Producer Description 

Very deep red in color turning almost purplish. The nose reveals a rich perfume of plum, black cherry and also spices as ginger and vanilla.

On the palate it is full bodied and velvety and well balanced. Enjoy with grilled meats, baked pasta or pasta with hearty sauces, and ripe cheeses. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Falstaff 92 Points | Dark ruby with brightening on the rim. Spicy and fruity nose, with aromas of dark cherry, dark chocolate, and eucalyptus. The palate has concentrated fruit, noticeable, slightly drying tannins, weighty.

Decanter 88 Points | Dark berries and chocolate, prunes and earthy spice notes, big tannic structure with lovely acidity. (Bronze) - DWWA 2024

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling 92 Points | A fresh and pure Rias Baixas that has notes of lemons, grapefruit and peaches on the nose. It's medium-bodied and saline with a refreshing finish. Vegan. Drink now.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A lithe, mouthwatering white, with peach skin and nectarine, pickled ginger and jasmine notes. Well-balanced and fresh, with a tang of salinity driving the finish. Drink now. 12,500 cases made, 3,500 cases imported.

Producer Description 

Purchased by the Comte Lafond, an ancestor of the current owner, Baron Patrick de Ladoucette, Château du Nozet and its surrounding vineyards have a reputation for producing the finest Pouilly-Fumé.

The delicate and complex olfactory expression opens on aromas which remind of white flower, exotic fruits. There is a very beautiful complexity for a vintage where the end-of-season’s sun brought a lot to the aromas. Excellent complexity that translates into great and elegant richness. Nice attack, straight and bright, it takes place with elegance on fruity notes associated with a dense structure and a beautiful acidity which brings a great length in the end of the mouth. There are aromas of exotic fruits (litchi, mango).

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

VertdeVin 93 Points | The nose is elegant and offers a small richness, gourmandize as well as a certain / fine power. There are notes of ripe blackberry, blueberry and small notes of cassis associated with a touch of cherry tail, ripe / fresh red berries as well as hints of pepper, lilac, spices and a very discreet almost tonka bean / incense hint. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, slightly tight and offers juiciness, a small freshness, suavity, gourmandize, a beautiful pulpy / juicy fruit, generosity, roundness, a small fat as well as a fine straightness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy / fleshy cherry, pulpy / fleshy raspberry and small notes of purple plum associated with touches of cornflowers, blue berries as well as hints of cherry stone, licorice stick, zan and a subtle hint of sweet spices. Tannins are very discreetly firm. Presence of a subtle toasted hint on the finish / persistence. Good length. 

Expert Review

91 Points Robert Parker | Disgorged in April 2021, Drappier's new NV Brut Carte d'Or delivers attractive aromas of golden orchard fruit, stone fruit, honeycomb and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, it's charming and elegantly vinous, with a flavorful core of fruit, lively acids and a chalky finish.

91 Points James Suckling | This has aromas of pear tart, pie crust, praline and apricot. Bright, with a creamy mousse and attractive biscuity and nutty layers. Dry feel at the end. 80% pinot noir, 15% chardonnay and 5% pinot meunier. Dosage 5,5 g/L. Unfiltered. Drink now.

91 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The NV Champagne Carte d’Or Brut is 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier, and the remainder Chardonnay, with 6.5 grams per liter dosage. There is 80% base wine from the 2019 vintage and the remainder reserve wine. This is their historical style, with the nose offering up aromas of ripe apricot, yellow flowers, and cherry liqueur. The palate is round and a bit more structured, with more stone fruit and kirsch. Best after 2022.

90 Points Wine Spectator | A bright Champagne in an aperitif style, with a pleasing range of ripe currant and raspberry, lime blossoms and orange peel set on a zesty bead. Creamy finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Description 

The Carte d'Or cuvée is the very expression of the Drappier style. With its very high proportion of Pinot Noir, one is almost tasting a Blanc de Noirs. Champagne with a fine aromatic richness, it opens with aromas of stoned fruits such as white vineyard peach. A spicy hint announces a powerful complex palate. A vinous Champagne of lovely complexity with a characteristic note of quince jelly.

Ideal as an apertif. At the table, it goes with white meats, rolled fish fillets, Chaource cheese.

Blend: 75% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay, 10% Meunier

Winemaker Description 

Aromas of citrus fruit and hints of minerality on the nose. The wine has excellent depth of flavor and is well balanced with good acidity and a pleasant finish. 

Spontaneous fermentation in concrete tanks on the skins with indigenous yeast. Seven to ten days of sking contact. Aged in concrete vats for eight months followed by three months in the bottle before release.

Producer Description 

Vermouth di Torino GI, features only Italian wines enriched with a botanical bouquet featuring Artemisia (wormwood) from Piedmont.

Colour Reddish brown with amber reflections

Nose Complex spiced, wood, and root notes open to smooth vanilla, dried fruit (especially, fig) and floral wormwood signature.

Taste On the palate, dried fig opens to spiced (cloves, nutmeg, pepper, cinnamon) and wood (roots & barks such as liquorice), rounded with vanilla and Alpine flowers. Mouth-warming, with long bittersweet finish, typical of Piedmont wormwood, and amber resin memories. 

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2015

Eric Guido writes: Brown spice, crushed fall leaves cherry sauce and a lifting hint of fresh mint form a darkly alluring bouquet as the 2015 Montefalco Sagrantino Memoira opens in the glass. This washes across the palate with a velvety wave of ripe red and black fruits, underscored by saline minerals and a burst of spiced citrus. Long and potent, the 2015 leaves a web of fine tannins that are surprisingly sweet and round, nicely framing the notes of sour wild berries and dark chocolate that linger. - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes: The candied strawberries and caramelized orange peel draw you in on the nose; then you notice hints of ash and red licorice. The full-bodied palate has quite a serious tannin backbone, and vibrant red fruit lies beneath waiting to be drawn out tightly by a fine acid edge. The finish is quite fruit-forward. Drink now. - James Suckling 92