$25 - $50 Wine

Winemaker Description 

Rich palate of ripe peaches and apples, with toasted, buttery brioche and butterscotch.
Franciacorta is Italy's answer to Champagne, made using a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco, vinified using the traditional method.

Ca' del Bosco is one of the leading wineries in Franciacorta.

This wine spends 24 months on the lees, contributing brioche flavours and creating a fine, persistent mousse.

Wonderful for any celebration or as an aperitif.

Winemaker Description 

Blanca Cusiné: The traditional Xarel·lo variety is "connected" with two historical varieties of the quad-sparkling wines used in the world of the Khadonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine made by the traditional method of sparkling wine is aged with yeast for 80 months.

Blanca Cusiné: The traditional Xarel·lo variety is "connected" with two historical varieties of the quad-sparkling wines used in the world of the Khadonnay and Pinot Noir. Wine made by the traditional method of sparkling wine is aged with yeast for 80 months.

It refreshes, offering a delicate friendship of the tastes of yellow plums, toast, grated ginger and orange peel.

Winemaker Description 

Ugni blanc” gives finesse, elegance and a little acidity. Colombard gives persistence and a lovely fruity taste. This blend of these 2 varieties finds a perfect balance!

Perfect for Aperitif, this is a perfect match with cheese for exemple. Pineau should be served chilled, at 5°C!

Harvest: after maturity controls, grapes are picked-up by hand for the best selection of grapes.

Maceration: a maceration is realized during 36 hours for the best concentrations of all aromas and give the body to our Pineau des Charentes

Pressing: the 2 varieties are pressed separately in a specific pneumatic press
Mutage (fermentation stop): the grape juice (3/4) is blended with ¼ of eau-de-vie de Cognac (at least 70 % volume and age of maximum one year). Adding the eau-de-vie of Cognac with this high alcohol content makes fall down the departure in fermentation, so keeping the natural sugar of the grape
Ageing: this blend will be aged in French oak casks (roux and old) for much more than the minimum required by the appellation which is 5 years to get the mention “Vieux”.

Bottling: a bottling line for all round bottles at Famille Vallet estate.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This wine is so good and so pretty, it has to be one of the vintage's best bangs for the buck. Blueberries and beeswax join with crushed rose petals to create an enticing perfume. The wine's fresh mouthfeel go hand-in-hand with zippy acidity and tart raspberry and black-tea flavors. Three words—buy a case

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Sleek and fresh, with elegant, juicy flavors of cherry, cinnamon and toasty spices that zip along the snappy finish. Drink now through 2029. 4,160 cases made.

Winemaker Description 

A bountiful wine, the Vireton bursts with familiar fragrances and lasting flavor. Abundant spice dominates the nose with lush, ripe raspberries and dark chocolate. On the palate, there are generous notes of earth, caramel, and chocolate. The wine is equally giving on the tail end, delivering juicy red fruit backed by a light but balancing acidity. It all combines to offer a lengthy, memorable finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Clive Pursehouse writes:  Savoury, dark and brooding, this wine is a blend of vineyard sites with thin top soils over fractured basalt—a fascinating study in variety and terroir. The rocky soils lend the wine structure and ample texture alongside its dark fruited core—Aromatics of Damson plums and Mission figs accented by a touch of spearmint. The palate is rich with baking chocolate, ripe pluots, red apple skin and blood orange.  Drinking 2023 to 2030.  - Decanter 93

James Suckling writes:  Attractively savory nose of mushrooms, sea urchins, cherries, slate and green strawberries. It’s sleek, savory and mineral, with a medium body, fine-grained tannins and a more stony finish. Unfiltered. Drink now or hold.  - James Suckling 92

Tim Fish writes:  Gracefully structured, with a vibrant beam of cherry and raspberry flavors accented by stony minerality and dusky spices. Builds richness toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2030.   - Wine Spectator 93

Winemaker Description 

The Basalte Pinot Noir is our bedrock bottling from the Willamette Valley. It is sourced from vineyards that have fairly thin volcanic clay topsoil over fractured basalt. This type of very rocky soil lends itself to muscular, firmly structured wines, with persistent length. The Basalte captures this expressive character of the soil, with deep red fruit and a fine tannic structure that maintains elegant style.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

70% Grenache, 10% Syrah, 10% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre

Matt Walls writes:  Good dark colour in the glass and scents of warm blackberries. A Gigondas with good weight and smoothness on the palate. Fully ripe fruit is balanced by grippy tannins, moderate alcohol and good acidity. Destemmed, 50% aged in new oak barrels.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Decanter 92

James Suckling writes:  Plenty of fruit to this textural, focused and well-composed Gigondas. Aromas of dark cherries, baked plums, cassis and warm spices follow through to a medium body with fine, firm tannins. Velvety at the center with more intensity towards the edges and into the compact finish. Grenache, syrah, mourvedre and cinsault. Try after 2025.  - James Suckling 92 

Yohan Castaing writes:  Evoking aromas of spices, pepper, garrigue and dark wild berries, the 2022 Gigondas Tradition Les Grand Montmirail possesses a medium to full-bodied, enrobing and charming palate built around a juicy core of fruit and a delicately peony-inflicted finish. This blend of 70% Grenache Noir, 10% Cinsault, 10% Mourvèdre and 10% Syrah was destemmed and matured 60% in tanks and the rest in large barrels. It's a beautiful wine in the making.  Drinking 2026 to 2036.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91+

Nicolas Greinacher writes:  The 2022 Gigondas Tradition Le Grand Montmirail is made from certified organic Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre and Syrah. Distinctive hazelnut and strawberry scents emerge, followed by hints of ripe raspberry and dried herbs. This is a medium-bodied, moderately concentrated wine that shows meticulous balance.  Drinking 2024 to 2033.  - Vinous 90  

Kristen Bieler writes:  Exuberant notes of boysenberry and red cherry licorice offer an herbal lift in this juicy, plump version. Hibiscus and lavender accents add a pretty floral edge, with incense smoke on the finish. High-toned and glossy, this is grounded by ample graphite details and fine-grained tannins for an elegant structure. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2030.  - Wine Spectator 91

Tamlyn Curran writes:  When you walk into a florist shop during peony season, it has a particular smell: bruised, dark-pink-red, petals on the verge of tears, petals in metal buckets with rusty rims, petals on wet tarmac, dark leaves that smell like sap and blood. Like this wine. And a wine that tastes like it smells, but with raspberries. Tannins that feel like thick, dark-green leaves over the edge of metal buckets with rusty rims. A long spine; an elegant imprint.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Jancis Robinson 17

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 94 Points | Serious, well-driven and succulent, with forest berries, dried herbs, crushed stone and baking spices. Its medium-bodied with bright acidity. Intense and lively with plenty of verve and vitality. Sharp and focused with a long finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | A blend of the five estate vineyards and always 100% Pinot Noir, the bright ruby red 2022 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve is fresh with aromas of pure red cherries, wildflowers, pure spice, and forest herbs. Medium-bodied, refined, and elegant, with bright acidity, it offers a finessed feel throughout its fine tannins and has a lovely lift of salty earth on the finish. Drink 2024-2034.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Expressive and inviting, with multilayered raspberry, orange peel, rose petal and dusky spice flavors that finish with verve and sleek tannins.

Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 Pinot Noir Cumberland Reserve has pure aromas of pomegranate, blackberry, underbrush and orange bitters. Chalky tannins and focused acidity drive a core of dark, earthy flavors in the mouth, and it has a long, spicy finish. 

Winemaker Description 

Sourced from a 1981 vineyard 30km north of Clanwilliam, 20 months in first fill Austrian oak foudre.

These grapes are from a farm in the hills north west of Clanwilliam. Red sandy soils and struggling vines, battling for survival. But grapes, like most other living things, tend to be at their strongest when they are fighting for survival.

The 2017 vintage is for my money the best vintage I’ve encountered in my 23 years of making wine. Every year I would strive to make a balanced wine, but in 2017 there was a natural balance that came out of the vineyard. It sounds all very hocus pocus and don’t ask me to explain it, but that’s the way it was. Enjoy now or over the next 20 years.

Expert Review - Vintage 2018

Wine Spectator 91 Points | Distinctive and well-done, with a pronounced earthiness sharing the stage with notes of warm apple, quince and candied ginger in this late-release wine. Time has softened the acidity on a supple, savory palate, layering toasted brioche, brine and dried flower petal details. A hint of honey water graces the elegant, well-meshed finish. Drink now through 2028. 19,500 cases made, 3,000 cases imported.

Winemaker Description 

This Pinot-Gris shows some ripe fruits such as ripe pears and yellow peaches with a touch of smokiness, it is very pure and focused which makes it an ideal wine for the gastronomy. Impeccable, solar 2018 vintage with ripe and focused acidity - a dry Pinot Gris. A top seller in Alsace, ideal for all cuisines of the world.

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Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points: From a large, 113-acre estate, this wine is dense, structured and full of dark coffee and spice flavors allied to rich tannins. Blackberry fruits shine through this texture promising aging. Drink from 2026.
Cellar Selection

James Suckling 92 Points: Sweet currant and berry aromas with some very flowers follow through to a medium body, with firm and creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. I like the walnut and chocolate undertones. 59% merlot, 37% cabernet sauvignon, 3% petit verdot and 1% cabernet franc. Better after 2023.

Decanter 91 Points: Lovely, expressive nose of sweet ripe fruits. The tannins are a bit too present at the moment, they take over and have a drying effect due to quite high acidity. There is definitely a core of ripe dark fruits with herb and liquorice edges but this needs more time to integrate

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points: This château continues to bring the goods, and their 2019 Château Lilian Ladouys offers a medium-bodied, supple, elegant, and certainly delicious style as well as complex notes of redcurrants, darker mulberries, cedary spice, and dried herbs. It shows the elegant, more mid-weight side to the vintage, yet the balance is spot on, it has ripe tannins, and it’s going to keep for 15+ years. Best After 2022

Decanter Magazine 91 Points: Lovely, expressive nose of sweet ripe fruits. The tannins are a bit too present at the moment, they take over and have a drying effect due to quite high acidity. There is definitely a core of ripe dark fruits with herb and liquorice edges but this needs more time to integrate.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points: Offering up aromas of sweet berries, cherries, licorice and spices, the 2019 Lilian Ladouys is medium to full-bodied, ample and charming, with a giving, easygoing profile and a clean, precise finish. It's a competent effort that shows none of the appellation's stereo typically hard edges. Best After 2021

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 92 Points | Well-balanced, dense and textural with aromas of dark berries, chocolate and sliced raw beef. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a powdery texture on the palate, with a robust frame shaping the palate and the spicy, cocoa-powder finish. Excellent length.

Decanter 91 Points | This Cabernet Sauvignon is made from a selection of grapes sourced throughout Napa Valley, with a significant portion coming from the Oak Knoll District, where Black Stallion is based. It's a classically fashioned wine with black cherry, plums, graphite, wild herbs and sandalwood notes. Full-bodied with a rich tapestry of robust tannins framing crunchy cherry and blackberry fruit, sweet oak spices, and fragrant wild herbs on the finish hinting at sage and spearmint. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 vintage continues our signature profile of a slightly softer, and approachable Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. This rich and refined wine does not require years of further aging to achieve ideal balance and enjoy upon release. The full-bodied structure is a hallmark. The wine opens with stunning aromas of blackberry, black currant, and toasty notes of cedar; the palate is concentrated with bold, velvety flavors of black cherry and a hint of spice. 

Our Professional Review

Bart of 67Wine.com writes | Pale golden colored with a fresh and lively bouquet of lime blossoms and tropical fruits highlighted by a note of  toasty oak. Creamy and complex in the mouth with a delicious exotic richness and beautiful balance. Food friendly and drinking perfectly now!

Winemaker Description 

Pale lemon in colour. On the nose aromas of lime and tropical fruits are married with a well integrated toastiness from the oak. Deliciously mouthwatering on the palate with a creamy texture from the lees ageing. As you would expect from this producer, the wine has a Côte d’Or sensibility and exceptional balance.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 91 Points | Fragrant nose of violets, cherries, wild strawberries and some nutmeg. Hints of hazelnuts, too. Lovely creamy tannins, with a medium body and silky finish.

Winemaker Description 

The character of Pinot Noir in the Pernand-Vergelesses Rouge is marked by red fruit notes and a fairly supple tannic structure. Ideal with meats with relatively strong flavors such as roasted veal, leg of lamb, game birds and grilled pork.

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2021 

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | The 2021 Côtes Du Rhône Blanc sports a light gold hue as well as bright peach, honeyed flowers, and chalky mineral-like nuances. With a tight, focused, almost reductive style, it's beautifully done and a gorgeous white.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 93-94 Points | This is very balanced and round with lovely softness. Plenty of fruity. Medium body. Lots of salinity and savoriness. Long and delicious. Friendly already. 44% merlot, 33% cabernet sauvignon, 22% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

The Wine Advocate 88-90 Points | With a medium to deep garnet-purple color, it offers up eager-to-please notes of fresh Bing cherries, redcurrants and black raspberries, plus hints of dried Provence herbs, dusty soil, wild mushrooms and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has a good concentration of red and black fruits with a chewy texture and just enough freshness, finishing earthy.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Reserved in style, this moves steadily and methodically along, with a textbook core of cassis and bitter cherry notes laced with light anise, wet stone and iron. Shows good mouthwatering cut on the finish. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.

Domaine Du Clos Naudin Philippe Foreau Vouvray Extra Brut 2019 is an elegant, méthode traditionnelle sparkling wine from France’s Loire Valley. Crafted from 100% Chenin Blanc, it offers crisp acidity, fine bubbles, and complex aromas of green apple, citrus, and minerality. Dry and refreshing, it’s a perfect pairing with seafood, creamy cheeses, or as an apéritif. 🍾✨

Producer Description 

From the warm (even by today’s standards) 2019 growing season comes this masterful Vouvray Extra-Brut, which spent four full years on its lees, and to which Philippe and Vincent applied a mere 1.33 grams-per-liter dosage—their lowest ever.

Philippe prefers a small dosage to none, as he states that it improves the wine’s capacity to age, and he and Vincent employ rigorous double-blind dosage trials to determine the final amount.

With its low-for-Vouvray acidity and its full malolactic fermentation (rare for Foreau), this wine benefits from its modest dosage, as it maintains taut acidity and clings mightily to the palate as its notes of truffle, candied lemon, and lanolin echo far into the distance.

Producer Description 

The unique traits of Wiemer’s Magdalena Vineyard are featured in this lush Riesling. A beneficial air exchange with Seneca Lake moderates the temperatures, creating a warmer and more protective site in the colder months and a cooling effect throughout the summer. The airflow keeps the vineyard dry, and deep soil provides room for spreading root growth. The lime silt loam soil that the site is celebrated for is crucial to the development of flavor intensity in the grapes. Magdalena wines are striking and powerful, and develop very well over time– whether in the glass or in the cellar.

Critic Notes 

The Wine Enthusiast by Christina Pickard writes 95 Points | Still a spring chicken, this top Riesling—if drunk now—needs a few good swirls in the glass before releasing delicate orange citrus, jasmine and honeysuckle aromas from the clutch of more reductive ones. There's richness and intensity on the dry, slippery palate, cut with citrusy acidity and a chalk dust minerality to the ultralong finish. This is a wine of complexity and class that should cellar until 2032 or longer.

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Margaux de Brane is bright, floral and perfumed, all of which make it a fine choice for drinking now and over the next handful of years. The vibrancy of the fruit in this Merlot-driven red is especially alluring. In 2019 the Brane is an absolute delight.  Drinking 2022 to 2029.  - Vinous 90

James Suckling writes:  Perfumed nose of plums, raspberries, roses, chocolate, praline and sweet spices. It’s medium-bodied with silky tannins. Floral and fresh with pretty spice notes. Drink after 2023.  - James Suckling 90

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The second wine of Brane-Cantenac, the 2019 Baron De Brane is more Merlot-dominated and has a fleshy, medium-bodied, supple style as well as rock-solid aromatics of black cherries, cedar pencil, and chocolaty herbs. It's already drinking nicely yet should keep for a decade.  Drinking 2022 to 2032.  - Jeb Dunnuck

Tasting notes

Very expressive nose, bursting with strawberry and cherry aromas, with floral and vanilla hints. Sweet and subtle attack on the palate, very round-bodied, with a velvety texture and a long aromatic finish. Charming wine with a lot of freshness and lovely soft tannins.

About the winery
Chateau Brane-Cantenac was for many years the home of Lucien Lurton - it is now owned and run by his son Henri. Its vineyards are located west of the village of Cantenac in the Margaux appellation. Brane-Cantenac's vineyards are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (40%), Cabernet Franc (4.5%), and Carmenere 0,5%, and lie on fine, gravelly soils. Vinification includes up to 18 months of wood ageing, a third to a half in new 'barriques'.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67wine.com | With ten years of age, this robust and savory Aglianico Riserva is at its prime in drinking. Dark in color and deeply fruited with aromas of spiced plums, dried cherries, black pepper and roasted vanilla. A good touch of spicy oak frames the flavors and supple tannins add a lovely grip to the long finish. Perfect for hearty meat dishes, strong cheeses and savory vegetarian recipes.
Bart Hopkins

Winemaker Description 

Aromatic and elegant expression of an otherwise deep and dark flavored grape. Delicious aromas of flowers, red berries and black cherries, shadowed by notes of orange peel, spices and earth. Supple on the palate with silky tannins and a refreshingly mineral finish.

It has a bright ruby ​​color with the grip of the fine tannins and an herbal touch that provides freshness.

Winemaker Description

An appealing golden colour, with an amber rim. Elegant and complex, it shows aromas of spice, with prevailing notes of dried fruit and elegant hints of wood and honey. Smooth and round on the palate, it shows complexity amidst intense flavours of dried fruit. An excellent finish. 

Expert Review

Decanter 95 Points | Kopke is the oldest of all the Port wine houses having been established in 1638. They produce outstanding tawnies (and aged whites) at all levels, up to and including a new 50 Year Old Tawny. Pale orange -amber in colour, this is gently toasted on the nose with lovely fresh citrus and dried fruit and smooth, savoury complexity on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Enjoy the perfect pairing of tradition and quality with 1848 Winery's 2nd Generation Chardonnay Kosher 2020.

This Kosher wine from Israel boasts a rich, authentic taste, making it the perfect choice for any occasion. Discover the true essence of Kosher winemaking in every sip.

Winemaker Description

Dark scarlet red in color, with aromas of blackberry, cherry and boysenberry highlighted with layers of cocoa. A rich and opulent wine offering flavors of marionberry accented by hints of dried fig and choclate covered blueberry this wine is velvety with supple, refined tannins and a silky, lush finish.

Winemaker Description

The name Monte Bernardi appears in records dating back to the eleventh century. The Monte Bernardi estate now extends to over 70 hectares of land including 22 hectares of organically farmed vineyards. Monte Bernardi has the highest percentage of old vines of any commercially producing estate in Chianti Classico, including six hectares over 55 years old, and one extraordinary hectare planted in 1933, all thriving under the care of the vineyard team.

Retromarcia means “to back up” or “to reverse,” and this wine is Monte Bernardi’s traditionally made beacon of Sangiovese’s natural elegance and expressiveness. It’s a medium-bodied wine that blends fruit freshness with bright acidity and structure. Fresh and fruity, medium bodied, well balanced, with a nice structure, juicy acidity and a long finish.

Monte Bernardi Retromarcia Chianti Classico is a deep, ruby red with hints of purple. Intense notes of mountain herbs, aromas of cranberry, wild cherry and red plums, anise, spice, and orange peel. Fresh and fruity, medium-bodied, well balanced, with a nice structure, juicy acidity and a long finish.

Winemaker Description

This wine is made in accordance with Georgia’s ancient winemaking traditions. Organic farming and fermented in a set of Qvevri’s (aka Kvevri’s) designed for fermentation and another set of Qvevri’s designed for aging. Bottled with minimal to no sulfur and no filtering or fining. Result is clean, concentrated and balanced. 6 months on skins. Dry, deep amber, nose of honey, fruit, nuts. Bold depth and slight minerality.

Winemaker Description

Ripe cranberry and cassis on the nose. Focused dark bramble fruit on the palate, layered with cocoa and clove. Vibrant acidity balances beautifully with opulent fruit and carries through to a long and elegant finish.

Blend: 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020

96 Points Decanter | Enormously complex and full of personality. Lots of juiciness and briaryness, with notes of espresso, soy sauce and gaminess. Very rich, impressive and structured, 2020 was Ridge’s 55th consecutive vintage of Geyserville, a wine that many Ridge collectors consider the winery’s best Zinfandel blend. Its pedigree is uncontested. Made from old vines, some of which are more than 125 years old and 60% of which are 50 years old or older, leading of course to tiny yields. A historic field blend of approximately 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (the old name used in California for Mourvedre). The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards, all of which are defined by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried and deposited gravel and river stones to the site.

95 Points Points Wine & Spirits |  The founding partners at Ridge purchased the MonteBello Winery from Leo and Evelyn Trentadue, who also farmed some of the oldest surviving vines in Sonoma County at their ranch on the Alexander Valley floor near Geyserville. The Old Patch, planted in the 1880s, has provided the base of the blend for Ridge’s single-vineyard wine since 1966. In 2020, it was harvested just as the first fires brokeout generations of vines at the Trentadue’s ranch provided 28 different lots, with John Olney selecting 20 for this wine. He finds that carignan, which makes up 20 percent of the mixed planting (along with small amounts of petite sirah, alicante bouschet and mataro), provides the acidity to refresh the zinfandel, which accounts for 69 percent of the vines. The early harvest produced a ripe, rich Geyserville with racy energy. The dark blueberry flavors are layered with red cherry, their seemingly weightless concentration sustained in a sleek, clean and graceful impression that lasts. A great 2020

Tasting Panel 95 Points | An opulent, charming blend of 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, and 1% Mataro. Ultra-smooth and seamless, with rich flavors of plum and blackberry. Stunning and long, it’s a triumph of winemaking skill.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Deeply structured and briary, with a mix of red and black fruit accented by licorice, dill and savory underbrush flavors. Finishes with medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignan, Petite Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro.

Winemaker Description

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

Expert Reviews 

92 Points James Suckling | Attractive nose of grilled herbs, blackberries, olives, chicory root and peppercorns. Savory and gently chewy with medium to full body, grainy tannins and an inky finish. (2020).

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

90 Points Robert Parker | Displaying herbal notes of sage and a soft, meaty essence, the 2020 Columbia Valley Syrah presents a nose filled with notes of spiced plum and dusty cherries. Medium to full-bodied, the palate offers a fresh, spicy sensation with a kiss of oak over the peppery finish. 

90 Points Decanter | A blend of Syrah from four different Washington vineyards throughout the larger Columbia Valley AVA. Aromatics of rich dark fruits mingle with notes of pepper and clove. The palate is intensely ripe, with kirsch, black cherry and black plums. There are notes of white and black pepper spice and savoury anise notes to finish. (2020) 

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

Our Professional Review

David of 67Wine.com |  If you are looking for a natural style wine this is fabulous. You may say to yourself this is so different in the tradition of a wine from old world France in the bard yard style. Its power immediately comes at you. If you prefer modern style California Zinfandel, then this wine is not for you. If you are an explorer, with a skydiver personality, I highly recommend this wine.

Expert Rating

92 Points Wine & Spirits | Organically farmed fruit from the Russian River Valley, neutral oak aging and the talents of Eric Sussman and his team at RadioCoteau combine to make this a pretty great zin for the price. It’s bursting with fresh wildblueberry flavor, rustic and harmonious in its barnyard-scented tannins. This is ready to decant for grilled vegetables or meats. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

The 2020 County Line Zinfandel is characterized by powerful fruit and spice aromas balanced by refreshing acidity and herbal complexity. It speaks to both the robust essence of the grape and the nuances of its Sonoma Coast terroir. The wine is vibrant, with scents of nutmeg-spiced blackberry pie and sun-warmed strawberry, elevated by floral earl grey tea. These rich, fruity notes are followed by earthy briar and flint on the palate, with a lively, savory finish. Lingering flavors of cacao nib and rugged leather make for a sophisticated compliment to the voluptuous fruit in the nose. Immediately approachable, this Zinfandel also has depth and layers to entice thoughtful sipping. An ideal pizza pairing, savor a bottle alongside a hearty salsiccia, or a white pizza with roasted zucchini flowers. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

Deep red ruby with dark tones. Aromas of sweet spices, roasted red pepper, clove and black chocolate. On the palate it is balanced and juicy with sweet tannins and long finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A medium-bodied red, with a graphite and cigar box underpinning to the generous core of plum and cassis, which lengthens around fresh acidity, adding notes of dried sage and anise on the long finish around precise tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Syrah. Drink now through 2036.

James Suckling 93 Points | This almost-Bordeaux-style blend includes 72% cabernet sauvignon, 21% cabernet franc, 5% malbec and 2% syrah. It offers deep, dark black cherries, blueberries, umami and subtle savory notes on a mouth-filling, moderately tannic texture. Great structure comes with a lively through-line of acidity. It’s hearty and sophisticated at the same time.

Winemaker Description 

It is not known for certain how long Gelber Muskateller has been in the Rust vineyards. We do know that this grape variety used to be called Weirer. This name comes from Weihrauch (frankincense) because the nutmeg scent is so prevalent. Winemaker Description. 

Green apple, papaya, pineapple, white flowers, peppermint and flint dominate this rich, extracted and exotic delight from Heidi Schröck.

Our Professional Review

David of 67Wine.com | A wonderful substitute to a California or a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc.  This wine exhibits substantial body. In fact, the opposite of a typical New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Great balance. Perfect for light chicken and salad. 

Winemaker Description

Fresh and crisp Sauvignon with plenty of fresh lemons, herbs and flowers. Light to medium body with zesty acidity. Straightforward and refreshing with a succulent, lemony finish. From organically grown grapes. Vegan. Drink now.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Aromas of orange blossoms lead to warm, rich, golden apple, vanilla and cream fla- vors on a luxurious texture. This wine is practically sweet from very ripe grapes and the pastry-shop array of oak spices. (2022).

90 Points James Suckling | Chopped apples, pears, peaches and wet stones on the nose. Crisp and focused with a medium to full body. Clean and mineral chardonnay. (2022). 

Winemaker Description 

A crisp freshness is the main component the winery looks for, but they enjoy the bright minerality as well, and the naturally low alcohol level (13.6 percent) makes the wine even more enjoyable. There is no contact with oak barrels during the production, so the charming fruit component is allowed to take center stage. 

Winemaker Description

It is composed of Chardonnay for elegance and delicacy, Pinot Noir for roundness and structure and Pinot Meunier for fruitiness. Pale gold in color, abundance of delicate bubbles. Floral aromas of fruit with subtle predominance of white fruits: pear, apple, almonds and hazelnuts. Fresh opening, smooth, pleasant and balanced.

This wine is an ideal accompaniment for Breton lobster and cream sauce, sole morel mushrooms, chicken brochettes with citronella. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

92 Points Tasting Panel | Light golden color and aromas of fresh pear. A charming wine with moderate but firm bubbles and expressive pear and apricot notes. Crisp, tangy, and lively; balanced, juicy, and long.

91 Points James Suckling | Baked peaches, tart tatin, apricot pie and honey. Lemons, too. Medium-bodied with a creamy mousse and vibrant acidity. Pretty pastry notes to close. Drink now.

91 Points Wine Spectator | This fresh, harmonious Champagne is fine and creamy on the palate, offering an appealing range of patisserie apple and pear fruit, pink grapefruit pith, orchard blossom and oyster shell notes. Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay.

92 points James Suckling | This shows earthy character, with notes of cherries, plums, tobacco leaf, leather, cloves and cardamom. Medium-bodied, polished and creamy with a lively fruit component, hints of wet earth, sweet spices and a lingering finish. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description

Each parcel of fruit was fermented separately at a cool temperature, settled over night, and racked clean. Approximately 8% of the must was barrel fermented in French oak. Given the cool season, specific yeasts were selected to accentuate the melon and passionfruit characteristics of Sauvignon Blanc. 

Expert Review

90 Points  James Suckling | Perfumed aromas of tarragon, passion fruit, mango and grated nutmeg. Medium-bodied with bright acidity and a saline mineral character. Soft finish. Drink now. Screw cap. 

Winemaker Description

Classic Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah aromas and flavors of black fruits, chocolate, game, pepper, and smoke are ripe and intense in the 2020 vintage. Very ripe, fine tannins frame the bold flavors and rounded texture. Somehow through all the heat, our fruit retained beautiful acidity which balances out the bold and rich flavors creating an awesome vintage of Purisima Mountain Vineyard Syrah with classic texture and structure.

Expert Rating 

92 Points Jeb Dunnuck | Blueberries, mulberries, peppery herbs, and some flower notes all emerge from the 2020 Syrah Purisima Mountain Vineyard, a medium to full-bodied, fruit-forward, plush, sexy little gem of a Syrah that will offer loads of pleasure over the coming 4-6 years or more. This was completely destemmed and brought up in 35% new French oak. (2020).