269 products
Jordan Cabernet Sauvignon Alexander Valley 2019 750ml
Expert Ratings
Tasting Panel 96 Points: Since its founding in 1972, Jordan Vineyard & Winery has produced just one red wine in every single vintage: a Cabernet Sauvignon. Thanks to meticulous craftsmanship, the 2019 embodies the standard set for this world-class red. Its sleek mouth- feel is dotted with white-peppered black raspberry, balsamic, and Italian herbs as well as illustrious, glossy tannins.
Wine Enthusiast 93 points: Excellent concentration and a classic flavor profile of black cherries, black olives and toasted oak give good reasons to buy and enjoy this Sonoma County icon. Firmly structured with fine-grained tannis and equally generous in black fruits, the wine is well-balanced and trim in body.
Winemaker Notes:
The 2019 vintage hits all the right notes. The palate is inviting and well-balanced, exuding flavors of blueberries, cassis and blackberry, making this a vintage that will age for years to come. A fitting release to commemorate Maggie’s first vintage as head winemaker. Intense aromas of ripe black cherry, graphite and blackberry interlace with a lovely violet floral note. The palate is inviting and well-balanced, exuding flavors of blueberries, cassis and boysenberry that are all beautifully interwoven with silky tannins from the French oak barrels. The dark fruit flavors and delicate acidity evolve beautifully in the glass and linger on the palate.
The dark fruit flavors, silky palate and beautiful structure make it a decadent
wine for food pairing. This wine’s elegance, acidity and spice notes complement
grilled or roasted dishes, such as coq au vin, lamb ragu or roasted salmon with
miso. The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon’s earthiness even complements vegetarian
dishes, such as roasted vegetables, mushroom risotto and ratatouille.
Taittinger Champagne La Francaise Brut NV 750ml
Our Professional Review
Oscar Garcia Moncada 67Wine.com | Taittinger La Francaise Brut NV has been a staple for generations in the Champagne world. Their legacy is one of a kind. This particular bottling opens up with a nose driven by notes of nectarines, hazelnut and some yeasty nuances. Light-bodied with a refreshing mouth-feel and nice consistent bubbles. Very fresh and enticing finish. The perfect NV Champagne to serve as an Aperitif.
Oscar Garcia Moncada
Expert Reviews
Lettie Teague writes: Taittinger Champagne Brut La Française | The family-owned Taittinger Champagne house is synonymous with Chardonnay, from its acclaimed all-Chardonnay prestige cuvée, Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, to this non-vintage bottling, which is 40% Chardonnay (the remainder, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier). Also notable: Unlike many large Champagne houses that buy most of their grapes from growers and own only a small amount of vineyards themselves, the Taittingers hold over 700 acres. This wine was produced from “at least” 35 different Champagne villages, according to a company fact sheet and spends almost four years on the lees. It is a dry, decidedly crisp, rather subtle and even delicate Champagne with notes of citrus and brioche. While I love the Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, at $200-$250 a bottle, it’s not one I can afford to drink very often. I’ll happily “settle” for drinking the Brut La Française for less than half the price. - Wall Street Journal December 16-17, 2023.
95 Points Tasting Panel | Bright and lively, this is one of my favorite non vintage Bruts. Crisp and balanced, with smooth, exuberant, Chardonnay-driven style; racy, elegant, and totally charming; long and memorable.
92 Points James Suckling | A dry, fresh and delicious Taittinger with aromas and flavors of apples, fresh lemons and minerals. Full-bodied. Precise. White pepper and salt at the end. 40% chardonnay and 35% pinot noir, the rest pinot meunier. Three to four years on the lees. Drink now.
Laurent Perrier Champagne La Cuvee Brut NV 750ml
Expert Review
Lettie Teague writes: Champagne Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Brut | The de Nonancourt family, which took over Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 1939, holds majority shares of this very large Champagne house. (The rest are publicly traded; Laurent-Perrier is listed on the Euronext stock exchange.) Interestingly enough, though one of Laurent Perrier’s greatest claims to fame is its lush, 100% Pinot Noir cuvée rosé, the non-vintage La Cuvée brut is produced from a high proportion of Chardonnay. The result is a round, relatively soft and approachable, medium-bodied Champagne with a fresh acidity. Not every Champagne is substantial enough to serve with food, but this one certainly proved to be so, pairing perfectly with a piece of grilled fish. - Wall St. Journal December 16-17, 2023
Tenuta Tignanello Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2021 750ml
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
Wine Spectator 95 points - 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.
The Wine Advocate 94+ points - 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 the 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.
Belle Glos Pinot Noir BALADE Single Survey Arroyo Seco Monterey County 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
The word "Balade" is French for wandering. This is a fitting term for our annual exploration of single-vineyard pinot noir blocks on the west coast. Each vintage, we will bottle only the most compelling and nuanced expression of pinot noir from a single selected vineyard and release it as a limited bottling.
Dark Purple-violet tones with enticing aromas of blackberry and boysenberry notes. Sophisticated on the palate with flavors of black cherry, wild blackberry and jammy plum. Balanced and structured, this wine has beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish.
Expert Review - Vintage 2022
Matt Kettmann of the Wine Enthusiast writes 92 Points | Dried cherry, baked plum and a full spice rack of aromas show on the nose of this bottling. Tense, slightly sappy tannins frame the sip, where black plum, stewed cherry and bay leaf flavors lead into a wood smoke-kissed finish.
Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 244 Brut NV 750ml
Winemaker Description
Lovely golden yellow, very champagne-like, hue. Dense and steady flow of extremely fine bubbles. Deep, broad bouquet of ripe fruit (wild peaches, William pears) combined with citrus (lemons, blood oranges). The iodized and smoky notes, associated with the autolysis and the ageing in wood, add aromatic freshness. Then come notes of chalk and a hint of reduction, suggesting that the wine will be concentrated and powerful. The entry to the palate is delicious showing a rich and robust texture. There is a very juicy and concentrated sensation as if you were biting into a ripe fruit. The substance is caressingly soft, coating the palate but is then immediately lightened by the delicate bubbles. The length is created by a lovely backbone of chalky freshness. The wine is both delectably rich, with a slightly roasted character, and super fresh thanks to a salivating finish. The smoky notes then take over to underpin a very flavorsome finish.
Collection 244 marks the return of the texture of the Meunier from the Marne and the Montagne, which adds a lovely richness to the well-structured and saline Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes.
Expert Reviews
William Kelley writes: Based on the 2019 vintage, Roederer's NV Brut Collection 244 is the finest release of the house's reimagined non-vintage Brut to date. Offering up aromas of pear, peach and nectarine mingled with notions of white flowers, beeswax, freshly baked bread and buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and fleshy, with a pretty pinpoint mousse, racy acids and a long, chalky finish. The quality of the base vintage really shines through. Drinking 2023 to 2032. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93+
Alison Napjus writes: An elegant Champagne, with bright acidity buoying a well-integrated range of ripe pear and white cherry, almond skin, fleur de sel and apple blossom notes. Fine and seamless, with a lingering, spiced finish. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator 93
Tom Hewson writes: The powerful, ripe side of 2019 is on shown here, with white peach and mandarin flavours held in place by the toasty, savoury citrus oil snap of the perpetual reserve. Still feels youthful and fragrant with juicy pear, blossom and almond notes. Will show even better with another six months. 41% Chardonnay, 33% Pinot Noir and 26% Meunier. 54% from the 2019 base vintage, with 36% perpetual reserve and 10% reserve wines in oak. Drinking 2023 to 2028. - Decanter 93
Stuart Pigott writes: The first impression is as invigorating as a sea breeze. I love the interplay of mirabelle, grapefruit and lychee fruit with minty freshness and waxiness from lees contact. And all this is welded to a beautifully proportioned palate with plenty of structure, the acidity bright and the mousse animating. Very salty finish that pulls you back for more. A cuvee of 41% chardonnay, 33% pinot noir and 26% pinot meunier. Of these, 15% fermented in oak and 85% in stainless steel. The final blend contained 36% reserve perpetual and 10% reserve wines of the 2012 - 2018 vintage from oak. The dosage is 7 g/l. Drink or hold. - James Suckling 94
Audrey Frick writes: A pale silver/straw hue, the NV Champagne Collection 244 has 2019 as its base, with 42% Chardonnay, 26% Meunier, and the rest Pinot Noir. Expressive on opening, it’s fresh with a beautiful floral perfume and reveals pure notes of red berries, cherry, fresh peach, and a lovely fresh bit of primary fruit. It has a fine and refined mousse, and the palate is supple and inviting. Medium-bodied and elegant, with a ripe core, it has a delicate salinity to balance its freshness and has an attractive, lightly tannic feel while retaining a refined and precise profile. Approachable and fantastic now, it will be exciting to see how this develops over time. It continues to be an exceptional value. Drink 2024-2036. They have dialed the dosage back by a gram from the previous edition to 7 grams per liter of dosage. - Jeb Dunnuck 93
Richard Hemming MW writes: Light nose but the palate fights back with plenty of mature, dried fruit, yeastiness and a very savoury umami style with dosage on the trendily low side. If anything, I'd prefer a gram or two more sugar, but that more austere style is very much on trend. Based on the 2019 vintage. Drinking 2024 to 2027. - Jancis Robinson 16.5
Le Vieux Donjon Chateauneuf du Pape 2021 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021
Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This offers real aromatic beauty, with incense, violets and red currant flavors melded with a layer of finely crushed graphite. Chalk-fine tannins guide the medium-length finish, adding nice chewiness. Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Cinsault. Drink now through 2032.
Stuart Pigott of JamesSuckling.com writes 93 Points | This generous and well-structured 2021 Chateauneuf has excellent raspberry and strawberry aromas for the challenging vintage, plus notes of floral aromas. Surprisingly fine tannins, too. Still very youthful and in need of a bit of time in bottle to reach ideal harmony, but the freshness at the finish is already delightful. A cuvee 75% grenache, 10% syrah, 10% mourvedre and 5% cinsault that were co-fermented, then matured in foudre. Drinkable now, but best from 2024.
Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points | The 2021 Châteauneuf Du Pape is a solid effort in the vintage. A normal blend of mostly Grenache with 10% each of Syrah and Mourvèdre, with a splash of Cinsault, it has a beautiful perfume of ripe cherries, fresh strawberries, sappy green flowers, and peppery garrigue. This carries to a medium-bodied, layered, elegant Châteauneuf with fine tannins, a beautiful overall sense of balance, and outstanding length. It shows the fresh, pretty, nuanced style of the vintage and is a beautiful wine to enjoy over the coming decade. It's in the same ballpark as the 2008. Drinking 2023 to 2033.
Nicolas Greinacher of Vinous writes 91 Points | Checking in at 14.83% alcohol, the 2021 Châteauneuf-du-Pape is a refined and predominately red-fruited beauty. Licorice and herbaceous components add more dimension. Framed by gentle tannins and more medium- than full-bodied, the 2021 ends with a bright finish. Drinking 2025 to 2036.
Matt Walls of Decanter writes 93 Points | A smoky style that’s a touch herbal and meaty. Towards full-bodied, with good weight and texture. Quite a saline expression, ending on crisp raspberry acidity and quite strict tannins. Will always be a lean style, but should make interesting old bones. Drinking 2025 to 2034. -
Philipponnat Champagne Royale Reserve Brut 750ml
Expert Reviews
Wine Advocate 92 Points | The latest rendition of the NV Brut Rosé Royale Réserve is based on the 2019 vintage and was disgorged in March 2023 with nine grams per liter. Revealing a fresh, fruity bouquet with aromas of strawberries, rose petals, menthol and pastry, it’s medium to full-bodied, vinous and generous with a gourmand mid-palate and a long, saline finish.
James Suckling 92 Points | Walnuts, apricot stones, honey, sourdough and orange fruit here. Creamy and balanced, with a medium body and fine bubbles. Excellent persistency. 67% pinot noir, 31% chardonnay and 2% meunier. 2019 base with 34% reserve wines. Disgorged January 2023.
Decanter 93 Points | Few producers do Pinot Noir-dominated NV as well as Philipponnat, the latest edition showcasing ripe apricot, orange citrus and pale raspberry fruit backed by precise lemon peel energy and subtle resonance from a 34% oak-aged perpetual reserve. Hugely expressive, yet without an inch of fat, this is another irresistible NV: 67% Pinot Noir, 31% Chardonnay, 2% Meunier, largely from the Grande Vallée de la Marne and Vertus, based on 2019.
Wine Spectator 93 Points | A poised Champagne that shows impeccable balance, integrating a delicate frame of acidity with flavors of black cherry, crushed almond, pickled ginger and candied lemon peel. Reveals a chalky note that lingers on the satiny finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Disgorged January 2023. Drink now through 2028.
Audrey Frick writes: The current release of the NV Champagne Royale Reserve Brut is 69% Pinot Noir, 28% Chardonnay, and the rest Meunier, mostly from the 2018 harvest and 26% reserve wine. It has a pale straw color and is fresh with white flowers, ripe peach, and rounded brioche. The palate is approachable and refreshing, with pithy citrus of lemon and orange, red fruits, and bread dough. Its ripe but fresh style casts a large net. Drink 2022-2030. Disgorged May 2022. - Jeb Dunnuck 90
Flowers Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
This fine-spun Pinot Noir opens with fresh aromas of coastal evergreens and wildflowers. Hints of early-season cherries follow, macerated in warm spices (anise, cardamom, allspice) and layered over earthy sandalwood. Ripe yet tangy dark berries, wearing a little dust from the patch, star on a lightly textured palate, giving way to savory herbs, delicately tannic red tea, and a pop of salty sea beans. A fascinating play of light fruit and dark spice is finished with a bright squeeze of orange peel.
Expert Ratings
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Ripe ruby/red in color, the 2022 Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast is ripe and spicy, with aromas of cherries, cinnamon, beet root, and incense. Medium-bodied, it has a weightless feel, a chalky, fine-grained texture, and a spicy finish with notes of gravelly earth. (2022).
James Suckling 93 Points | A fresh yet structured pinot with dried strawberry, orange peel and light caramel with dried stems. Medium body, flavorful, firm and bright at the end. Savory. (2022).
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Aromas of sweet berries, cherry liqueur and cola dominate the nose of this Pinot, while the palate is loaded with cedar cigar box, coffee and maraschino cherry. The combination of freshness and grip feels very alluring, but it might need a few years to round into form. (2022).
Decanter 92 Points | Delicious, fresh, and savoury, this juicy Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast has violet and smoky flint aromatics buoyed by fresh red berries and a kiss of fresh mint. The palate is reflective, with flinty minerality coming to the fore. Pine sap, notes of fresh evergreen and lovely red fruits, clove and white peppery spice to finish. (2022).
Pommery Champagne Rose Brut Royal 750ml
Winemaker Description
A festive salmon pink,with a subtle tinge of rust. Fruity and fleshy, elegantly robust with a perfect balance of freshness. Although delightful by day, soft lighting is the most flattering to it colors, making it the champagne of romantic evenings, par excellence.
To create Brut Rosé Royal, Pommery selects some thirty crus. In this delicate composition, Chardonnay grapes are predominant, making up over one-third of the blend. A handful of Pinot Noir grapes are made into red wine before being blended with the Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier varieties. The Brut Rose Royal is then aged in the Pommery cellars for an average of three years.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling writes: A strikingly pale rosé Champagne with a color reminiscent of the coolest still Provence rosé wines. Overflowing with strawberry and raspberry aromas, very juicy and bright on the medium-bodied palate, the finish as charming as it is clean, thanks to the lively mousse. A very similar blend to the white Brut Royal, but with a dash of red wine added for color and extra body. Drink now. - James Suckling 92
Michael Edwards, Simon field MW, Xavier Rousset MS write: There is some honest and measured precision to this wine, with fresh and mineral peach, pear and nectarine tones. It has potential through its robust framework; it is showing well now but will get even better. - Decanter 90
Poderi e Cantine Oddero Barolo 2020 750ml
Critic Notes
Walter Speller writes: Just mid ruby. Pretty sour-cherry and damson nose. Elegant, suave, ripe red-fruit palate with beautifully handled polished tannins. Very long and with the tannins clinging to the fruit. Drinking 2024 to 2030. - Jancis Robinson 17++
Monica Larner writes: Coming in hot off some truly excellent past releases, the Oddero 2020 Barolo has a pretty mineral content with pencil shaving, crushed stone and wet soil that meets forest berry and underbrush. The wine hits on all cylinders, and there is good aromatic balance. It delivers a punch of bright fruit and crushed rose that gives way to pulverized stone. For a base Barolo, this is one of your best buying options. Fruit is blended from Bricco Chiesa and Capalot in La Morra and Fiasco in Castiglione Falletto. Drinking 2026 to 2039. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94
Antonio Galloni writes: The 2020 Barolo is a pretty powerful wine in this peer group. Accordingly, it is going to need a few years to come into its own. Macerated cherry, licorice, lavender, cedar and sweet pipe tobacco emerge gradually, but only with great reluctance. Hints of rose petal, mint and cinnamon linger. Drinking 2024 to 2032. - Vinous 91
James Suckling writes: Well-rounded, juicy and fruit-forward with notes of sliced strawberries, raspberries, spiced cherries and herbs. Medium to full body with fine, firm tannins. Juicy on the palate with more strawberry character coming through. Lively and in control with a generous and charming finish. Try after 2026. - James Suckling 93
La Dame de Montrose Saint Estephe 2nd Wine of Chateau Montrose 2014 750ml
Critic Notes
Jane Anson writes: Intense, smoky, plenty of black fruit, who doesn't love this 2nd wine of Château Montrose? It's a vintage that is often overlooked, particularly after the run of great years Bordeaux has had recently, but it's at a great moment to open right now, and delivers a ton of St Estèphe and Left Bank typicity, with crayon and graphite. Harvest September 22 to October 16. - Jane Anson 94
Antonio Galloni writes: A gorgeous second wine, the 2014 La Dame de Montrose is soft, open-knit and very pretty. Bright floral notes add lift and a measure of elegance to the dark-fleshed fruit. Medium in body, with good depth and fine overall balance, the 2014 is just about as good as it gets for a second wine. I won't be surprised if it is still delicious at age 20, although I think its best drinking will take place earlier than that. Drinking 2018 - 2029 - Vinous 92+
Jeb Dunnuck writes: As to the 2014s, these are beautiful wines and certainly a match for the 2015s. The 2014 La Dame de Montrose offers a deep purple color and classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes as well as a touch of violets, spring flowers and leafy herbs. This medium-bodied, elegant, spicy, complex 2014 has loads of charm yet should keep nicely for 15+ years. Drinking 2018 - 2038 - Jeb Dunnuck 90
Steven Spurrier writes: An even Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend: lots of spice, deep cassis fruit and incredible freshness. Will show soon and last well. - Decanter 90
James Molesworth writes: Offers a brisk, racy feel, with red currant, damson plum and Campari notes coursing through, carried by a bright iron spine through the savory-flecked finish. Very pure and firmly grounded in terroir. Best from 2018 through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. - Wine Spectator 90
Neal Martin writes: The 2014 La Dame de Montrose lagged a long way behind the superlative Grand Vin at primeur, but has since made up some ground. Now in bottle, it has a nicely poised bouquet with red cherries, bilberry and crushed violets. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, tightly wound and linear, a conservative La Dame de Montrose that I suspect will age better than I originally thought. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
Test of Endurance: Bordeaux 2014 Ten Years On (Mar 2024)
Neal Martin writes: The 2014 La Dame de Montrose is more precocious than Lafon-Rochet on the nose, with hints of dried cherries and black olive compote infusing the black fruit, touches of humidor and red brick. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky black fruit, fine tannins and a little austerity towards the finish, though at least it does exude Saint-Estèphe DNA. Give it a year in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting. - Vinous
Fontodi Chianti Classico Organic 2020 750ml
James Suckling | Subtle aromas of sliced strawberries and cherries with some orange peel follow through to a medium body with succulent tannins and a bright and tangy finish. Lovely energy in this one. So good now. From organically grown grapes.
Wine Spectator | Rich and velvety, laced with black cherry, blackberry, violet and mineral flavors. This is driven by vibrant acidity and backed by well-mannered tannins. Shows excellent balance and length.
Decanter | This flagship Chianti Classico from the renowned Fontodi estate has grown over the years to its current annual production of 170,000 bottles, however it has not lost its identity, deeply rooted in a sun-drenched stretch of Panzano’s Conca d’Oro. The 2020 version has all the ripe dark fruit and assertive tannins that come so neatly into balance. Grilled meat, baked earth and thyme flirt with black plum. The youthful juiciness has the energy to carry this over the next eight or so years. It finishes with its signature bitter liquorice twist.
Robert Parker | A certified organic wine, the Fontodi 2020 Chianti Classico shows dark fruit and blackberry with earthy sensations of crushed stone that reflect the schistous soils found in this area of the appellation. Unlike the Filetta di Lamole (with fruit from Lamole) that is very floral in personality, this expression from Panzano has more structure, girth and general fruit weight
Hundred Suns Pinot Noir Eola Amity Hills 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
This Pinot Noir consists of 20% Koosah Vineyard and 80% Big Cheese Vineyard, planted on rocky, volcanic soils and cooled by Pacific Ocean breezes.
Moderate yields and small berries made for intense flavors of blue fruits & sassafras, accompanied by rich, round textures. Winemaking was kept to a bare minimum: fermented with native yeast and 35% whole cluster, aged on the lees for 11 months then gently racked to tank and bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Expert Ratings
Martin Woods Pinot Noir McMinnville Hyland Vineyard 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
Silken red fruit, pronounced spice, medium frame, supple, elegant and poised, fantastic length, classic cool-climate oregon Pinot noir from a historic terroir.
About Martin Woods
Our winery is secluded in the wooded foothills of oregon's coast range, within the mcminnville ava. We farm and partner with exceptional, late-ripening vineyards in the willamette valley to produce Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay, Cabernet Franc, Riesling, Gruner Veltliner and Rosé. We strive to make wine in the vineyard, to produce distinctive wines with an authentic sense-of-place. To this end we raise much of our wine in oregon oak barrels (Quercus garryana) locally harvested, air-dried and coopered. Our wines are sought after for their graceful balance, textural depth, expressive aromas and long-aging potential —Evan Martin
Expert Ratings
Josh Raynolds writes: Bright violet. Spice-accented scents of raspberry, cherry and pungent flowers are energized by a smoky mineral quality. Vibrant red fruit, floral pastille and exotic spice flavors show sharp focus, and a hint of earthiness emerges with aeration. Finishes juicy, gently sweet and very long, displaying resonating spiciness, well-knit tannins and lingering florality. 35% whole clusters. Drinking 2022 -2029. - Vinous 93
Erin Brooks writes: Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Hyland Vineyard opens slowly to powdered sugar, crushed strawberries and raspberries, loads of floral aromas and nuances of earth and blood orange. The palate is light to medium-bodied, bright, gently chalky and juicy with perfumed flavors and a spicy finish. 175 cases were made. Drinking 2020 -2025. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 91
Lopez de Heredia Vina Tondonia Rioja Reserva Organic 2011 750ml
Winemaker Description
Vibrant red leading slightly towards amber. Light fresh texture with notes of vanilla and dried berry aromas. Rich, very dry, smooth, developed. Firm tannins and good balance. Blend: 75% Tempranillo, 15% Garnacho, 10% Graciano and Manzuelo.
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2011
Piper Heidsieck Champagne Cuvee Brut 750ml
92 Points Wine Spectator: A vivacious Champagne, this shows flavors of black cherry, toast point, white peach puree and salted almond set on a finely detailed mousse. Creamy and mouthwatering on the spiced finish. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Drink now.
92 Points Decanter: Racy nose of real finesse appeals instantly. A well-hewn palate with bright florals and red fruit notes with delicate flavours of honey. Blend : 20% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Meunier, 50% Pinot Noir
90 Points Wine Enthusiast | The Champagne is balanced between a soft Brut character and crisper lemon flavors. That balance gives a fine wine, open and easy, but with a fine bite of acidity at the end.
90 Points Wine & Spirits | Clean Champagne, green-gold in color with the flavor of peaches just coming into ripeness, this wine’s cool mineral savor brings to mind grapes sautéed in butter, as in sole Véronique, with which this wine would partner well.
90 Points James Suckling | This has attractive aromas of croissants, sourdough, dried lemons, apricots, figs and walnuts. Soft and balanced on the palate, with a medium body, creamy mousse and a dry, rounded finish. Drink now.
Hall Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2019 750ml
Winemaker Description
Features a tempting nose with hints of violet, ripe cherry and warm baking spices. The palate is supple in texture with luxurious layers of brambly red fruits, cocoa, and dusty tannins. This classic Napa Valley Merlot finishes long and vibrant with lingering notes of graphite.
Expert Ratings
Wine Spectator 90 Points: Leads with a light cedar edge, followed quickly by relatively open-knit red currant and damson plum fruit flavors. Shows a light savory edge on the finish. (2019).
Wine Advocate 90 Points: The winery's largest bottling, approximately 38,000 cases, is the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley. Primarily from the Hardester Ranch in Pope Valley, with other major contributions from St. Helena, Soda Canyon and Glass Mountain, it's a medium to full-bodied effort, with bold flavors of cherries, cassis and cedar. It's easy, but not soft, nicely firm, with a long, silky-textured finish.
Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points The appellation 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is another winner. Ripe red and black fruits, dried flowers, and spice all define the bouquet, and it’s upf-ront, soft, balanced, and just delicious. Drink bottles over the coming decade.
San Giusto a Rentennano Chianti Classico 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
It is a Chianti with a traditional style, energetic and elegant, expressing beautiful complexity and cleanliness in the nose. It is aged for at least 10 months in oak barrels and barriques plus 6 months in the bottle and expresses aromas of ripe red fruit and spicy notes, for an agile, fresh and soft sip.
Expert Ratings
Monica Larner writes: The certified organic San Giusto a Rentennano 2020 Chianti Classico is a clever blend of 90% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo from a unique growing site in Gaiole in Chianti. This vintage absolutely stands out thanks to its ample and generous fruit profile, driven by a warm and sunny vintage. This sees steel, cement and oak. The wine travels over the palate with an elegant and velvety texture. Drinking 2022 - 2030 - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93
Walter Speller writes: Lustrous mid ruby. An elegant, fragrant raspberry nose, gorgeous supple and juicy cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate, and with gripping, nutty tannins. Very long and succulent and fragrant. Drinking 2022 - 2028 - Jancis Robinson 17++ 95% Sangiovese, 5% Canaiolo. Certified organic.
Antonio Galloni writes: The 2020 Chianti Classico is super-impressive. It's the sort of wine that needs time to come together, though, so readers should be in no rush. The purity of the fruit is really quite compelling. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, incense and licorice build nicely in a mid-weight Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes. Drinking 2023 - 2032 - Vinous 91
Bruce Sanderson writes: A dense red, with solid tannins and lively acidity supporting expressive cherry, raspberry, iron and earth flavors. Balanced, long and will benefit from food or another year or two of bottle age. Sangiovese and Canaiolo. Drink now through 2028. - Wine Spectator 90
Felsina Fontalloro Toscana Organic 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Made with a special selection of Sangiovese, the 2020 Fontalloro is generous and rich, and the wine sports medium-dark color and concentration. The winemaking team has succeeded in bringing out an especially elegant side to this vintage. The wine offers pronounced notes of cherry and wild plum with delicate spice at the back. Like the other wines in this portfolio, there is a pretty mineral note that makes for a consistent through-line in all these new releases.
Expert Ratings
Robert Parker 96 Points | Made with a special selection of Sangiovese, the 2020 Fontalloro is generous and rich, and the wine sports medium-dark color and concentration. The winemaking team has succeeded in bringing out an especially elegant side to this vintage. The wine offers pronounced notes of cherry and wild plum with delicate spice at the back. Like the other wines in this portfolio, there is a pretty mineral note that makes for a consistent through-line in all these new releases. (2020).
Wine Spectator 95 Points | A vibrant red, with fleeting aromas of lavender and wild rosemary mingling with cherry, orange peel, earth, mineral and tobacco flavors. On the elegant side, despite its youthful power, with excellent harmony, refined tannins and a long, complex aftertaste. Sangiovese. Best from 2026 through 2045. 3,800 cases made, 1,200 cases imported. (2020).
James Suckling 95 Points | Very refined and complex nose with a hint of pine cones, botanicals and dark mushrooms to the zesty oranges, mineral, fine musk and plums. Juicy, dry but textured on the palate with stacks of dusty tannins growing on the savory, full-bodied palate. Long and quite mineral in the finish. Better from 2025. (2020).
Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 Fontalloro is a sensual, enveloping wine. Dark red-toned fruit, sweet spice, tobacco, cedar and mint are all beautifully delineated. Fontalloro is a pure Sangiovese from vineyards that straddle the Chianti Classico and Colli Senesi appellations. The duality is very much on display here.
Honig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
Honig Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon offers bright blackberry, red plum, and raspberry fruit with notes of cranberry, black tea, spice, and coriander seed. Luscious and balanced, with toasty oak and a long finish.
Expert Rating - Vintage 2021
James Suckling 93 Points | Attractive dark-fruited character here offering ripe blackcurrants, dark cherries and dark spices with bark and walnut undertones. Full-bodied, polished and chalky with tight-grained tannins and succulent dark berries underneath. Long and mineral finish. (2021).
Robert Parker 91 Points | There are 15,000 cases of Honig's affordably priced 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. While it may not make you see stars, it's a solid value play (for Napa Valley), matching mixed cherries with mocha and cedar shadings and some loamy notes. It's medium to full-bodied, nicely weighted and textured, with a silky finish. (2021).
Chateau Prieure Lichine Margaux 2019 750ml 95 pts James Suckling
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019
Wine Enthusiast 96 Points | Barrel Sample. This wine is poised between great ripeness and a mineral, textured character, while also showing a robust tannic structure. Its richness is tempered by the freshness of the vintage. There is plenty of long-term aging potential in this wine that continues the great improvements at the estate. (2019).
James Suckling 95 Points | Wonderful aromas of dried orange, blackcurrant and crushed stone follow through to a full body with beautifully polished tannins that are composed and fine. Lots of subtle and complex character on the finish. Extremely well done here. Drink after 2025. (2019)
Vinous 95 Points | The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is impeccable. Creamy, layered and resonant in the glass, the 2019 hits all the right notes. Sweet red cherry/plum, lavender, rose petal, spice, mint and blood orange all build effortlessly. Over the last handful of years Prieuré-Lichine has been the single most under the radar wine in Margaux. The 2019 is another fine edition. Class, polish and sensuality make Prieuré-Lichine absolutely irresistible. (2019).
Decanter 93 Points | Minerality on the nose, wet stone, graphite and liquorice. This is tasty, with a creaminess to the fruit that some of the others don't have. It feels round with fine but grippy tannins that see the wine through. It's clearly powerful and concentrated but wrapped up well delivering freshness and intensity. Cool blue fruit flavours and menthol notes dominate. Will be absolutely delicious in time. (2019).
Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Readers looking for a complex, nuanced Margaux should check out the 2019 Château Prieuré-Lichine. Giving up a beautiful floral bouquet that includes red and blue fruits, sappy herbs, and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate depth and sweet tannins, and a great finish. This complex, layered Margaux needs just 2-4 years of bottle age and should see its 20th birthday in fine form. (2019).
Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2019 Prieuré-Lichine is supple and generous, bursting with aromas of blackberries, currants, licorice, spices and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, it's round and enveloping, with ripe acids and a rich, seamless profile. This is showing well out of the gates. This heavily morcellated estate (amounting to some 125 different parcels) is clearly benefitting from a more rigorous selection and better attention to detail regarding harvest dates. (2019).
Wine Spectator 92 Points | Presents lush plum and blackberry preserve flavors that gush through, flanked by a twinge of singed sandalwood to give it form. The finish is dotted by dark licorice, ganache and earth accents. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 18,000 cases made. (2019).
Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
The Austin Hope Cabernet displays a beautiful ruby hue. Enticing aromas of fresh black cherry, burnt sugar and a slight smokiness fill your glass. On the palate, flavors evolve with vanilla foam, ripe dark fruit, roasted coffee & nuances of spice. This full-bodied wine is rounded out with smooth supple tannins that are brightened with a touch of acidity to balance this crowd pleasing Cabernet Sauvignon.
Deep ruby in color, the 2020 Austin Hope Cabernet Sauvignon expresses aromas of fresh black currants and cherries accompanied by subtle smoky notes and dried spices. On the palate, this lavish powerful wine is layered with juicy blackberry, ripe cherry, vanilla bean and brown butter. It’s full-bodied and rich, balanced by a touch of bright acidity and firm polished tannins.
Altesino Brunello di Montalcino 2017 750ml
Winemaker Description
This Brunello Riserva offers a solid, full body and excellent aging potential. Its ample and complex bouquet is reminiscent of violets, wild berries, cedar, leather, tobacco and spices. On the palate, it is austere and seductive with a perfect blend of fruit, acidity and mouth coating tannins. This is the perfect bottle for Brunello lovers.
Pair with steak au poivre, rack of lamb or beef carpaccio.
Expert Ratings
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | There is a more forward personality to the 2017 Brunello Di Montalcino Riserva, which pours a slightly darker hue. Aromas of black cherry, scorched earth, and violets emerge from the glass. Medium to full-bodied, it delivers more ripe concentration, with black raspberry, tea leaf, cedar, and rosemary. It is elegant yet expressive of the warm vintage, with fine, ripe tannins and ripe fresh fruit through the mid-palate and a great balance between roundness and elegance.
James Suckling 95 Points | Complex and fragrant nose of neroli, currants, sour cherries, sandalwood, cassis and wild herbs. Roasted walnuts, too. Full-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins and vibrant acidity. Full of energy and power.
Robert Parker 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.
Decanter 93 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva (with 13,000 bottles made) shows dark fruit, dried cherry and baked plum. The wine is slightly subdued aromatically speaking compared to the new Brunello annata release, and I chalk that up to the very hot and dry conditions of the relentless 2017 summer. Cinnamon, cumin and crushed clove appear in a second wave and underline this Riserva's more elaborate aging regime. The finish is layered and rich with full-bodied Sangiovese intensity.
Wine Spectator 93 Points | This red starts out round, turning more precise and taut as it builds to the finish. Shows cherry, wild herb, soy and loam flavors that ply the supple texture, before the tannins exert their influence and the finish tightens up (a good sign for the future). (2017).
Vinous 90 Points | The 2017 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva is a dark beauty, slowly unfurling with dried cherries, exotic sweet spice, fresh tobacco and hints of mint. It’s rich and dense in feel, yet lifted by cooling acidity, as ripe black fruits easily wash across the palate, leaving bitter-tea-like tannins that collect toward the close. The finish is tannic and drying, yet not severe, leaving nuances of plum and lavender to linger. The vintage has left its mark on the 2017 Riserva, yet cellaring will help relieve its youthful structure.
The Prisoner Red Blend 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Charles Heidsieck Champagne Brut Reserve NV 750ml
Our Professional Review
Oscar Garcia Moncada 67wine.com | Charles Heidsieck Reserve Brut set itself apart from many other NV Brut Grande Marques in many ways: It is composed of equal proportions of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. 40% of the blend is Reserve wine and Cru selection is optimum. Mr. Ceryl Brun, Charles Heidsieck's chef de cave is a master at the craft of blending.
Aromas of Apple compote combined with whiffs of yeasty salinity and fresh citrus fruit: Meyer Lemon and orange Peel. Medium-bodied with velvety mouth coating effect, tiny bubbles that show signs of a well-matured NV Blend. Elegant finish with great gastronomic qualities.
Expert Reviews
James Suckling 94 Points | Very impressive for a "regular" non-vintage Brut, not only in terms of aromatic complexity - candied citrus, dried peach and fresh mirabelle plus a hint of bread dough - also in terms of texture, the creamy, rich and crisp sides of the wine neatly interlocking. Long, structured finish. A cuvee that's half 2018 and half reserve wines, some of which are a couple of years old, but many of them are five- to 10-years-old, with several over 10-years-old.
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This nonvintage Champagne shows the hallmark of the producer. With its 50% reserve wines to bring out maturity, the wine is full of fruit, touched by toast.
Wine Advocate 92+ Points | The Charles Heidsieck NV Brut Réserve is elaborated with 150 different wines from most of 60 crus. This is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier with 50% of reserve wines. Disgorged in 2022 with a dosage of nine grams per liter, it has a delicate bouquet with aromas of orchard fruit, apricot, warm biscuits, praline, pastry and lemon hints. Medium to full-bodied, creamy and fleshy, the palate is charming with lively acids and a chalky finish. It’s approachable now but also evolving with grace.
Chappellet Grower Collection Calesa Vineyard Chardonnay 2021 750ml
Palmer & Co Champagne Rose Solera NV Brut 750ml
Winemaker Description
Exceptionally fruity! Palmer & Co has created a rosé combining exceptional fruitiness and delicate notes of spice. At the heart of the blend lies a unique Solera of Pinot Noir, a perpetual reserve of several decades reflecting the House’s celebrated expertise. The intense nose is dominated by the energising aroma of wild strawberries with tantalising light notes of red and black currants in the background, overlaying very delicate notes of vanilla and cinnamon spice. Fresh and full-bodied on the palate, it is drawn out in finely tannic, succulent bubbles in the same register of fruity elegance.
Expert Reviews
Valentin Leflaive Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut CV/18/30 NV 750ml
Our Professional Review
Oscar Garcia Moncada | 67 Wine: The Leflaive family name boasts a long and distinguished winemaking tradition in Burgundy, making it perfectly fitting for them to extend this tradition north to Champagne. In February, I had the pleasure of tasting through the Valentin Leflaive Champagne lineup and was thoroughly impressed by each cuvée. Among my top favorites is the Valentin Leflaive Champagne Blanc de Blancs Extra Brut CV/18/30 NV 750ml, crafted from 100% Chardonnay grapes sourced from the grand cru village of Cramant and the premier cru village of Vertus in the Côte des Blancs. The base vintage is 2018, with a dosage of 3g/L, as indicated by the designation CV/18/30.
Winemaker Description
An elegant, fresh Blanc de Blancs from Valentin Leflaive that offers notes of yellow apples, candied lemons, freshly-baked bread and a clean salinity that lingers in the finish.
Renieri Brunello di Montalcino 2016 750ml
Winemaker Description
The 2016 Renieri Brunello di Montalcino opens with earthy aromas of bark, sand, truffles, graphite, rust, terracotta and sandalwood. Fruitier orange zest and lemon. Ripe, incense and with dense forest of aromas. Rich to the center palate, the fruit is vivacious and elegant. Robust and generous tannins. The finish is long, the after effects of the acidity unworldly.
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2016
Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Floral aromas of violet and rose mingle with new leather and menthol on this fragrant red. Racy and linear, the palate features dried cherry, licorice and blood orange set against firm, fine-grained tannins. (2016).
Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate 94 Points | The Renieri 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a plush, fruit-forward and accessible wine that captures the purity and elegance of the vintage. The best take-away, however, is the fresh, ready and bright state of this wine that makes it almost ready to enjoy straight out of the gate. This Brunello from a nine-hectare plot with limestone clay soils offers bold cherry and blackberry with delicate spice, smoke and blue flower. The wine is marked by balanced acidity, and there is some tannic tightness that should further relax by the time this wine hits the market at the start of 2021.
James Suckling 96 Points | This is a very tight, refined Brunello that shows so much beautiful fruit and polish with dark-berry, cedar, walnut and cherry character. It’s full-bodied with layers of fine tannins and a fresh, pretty finish. Needs much more time to open. (2016).
Eric Guido of Vinous 90 Points | The 2016 Brunello di Montalcino is a sweetly spiced and fruit-forward expression of the vintage, yet it manages to color within the lines of refinement. Mulled apples and strawberries with a balsamic tinge give way to mentholated herbal tones. It’s soft with a wonderful mix of inner sweetness, pure red berry fruits and minerals, yet it lacks momentum toward the close. Rounded tannins linger along with hints of plum, tobacco and dark inner florals. With the exception of a lull on the mid-palate, the 2016 Renieri is really quite pleasurable, yet it’s better to enjoy this sooner rather than later.
Felton Road Pinot Noir Bannockburn Central Otago NZ Biodynamic 2021 750ml
Winemaker Description
A classic Felton Road nose of dark blossoms: rose and violet with a compote of dark fruits. The mid-palate is just screaming Felton Road. Black cherries and cream on the nose introduced cherry crumble on the palate with baked spices. Very harmonious for a wine so young, but a brooding undertow reveals the intrinsic power of the wine. Four Bannockburn vineyards seamlessly integrating to provide many layers and textures.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021
James Suckling 93 Points | Very attractive hibiscus with sliced strawberries and orange peel aromas that follow through to a medium body with very fine tannins and a fresh and clean wine. Tangy and succulent fruit. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink or hold. Screw cap. (2021).
Jancis Robinson 16.5/20 Points | Earthy and interesting on the nose. Already open and sweet but with good structure. Great for current drinking, with real interest and freshness. At the moment I prefer this to Block 3. (2021).
Vinous 91 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir Bannockburn offers fine tension and sinew. I rather like it for being understated and having a corset of acidity and tannic tension around it. Sour red cherry, damson, wild herbs, a twist of nutmeg and it's all rather pleasing. Long, scented and excellent value with praiseworthy tannin quality. (2021).
Decanter 92 Points | A hint of smokiness and toast appears first, still with the echo of slight reduction. The fine web of tannins on the palate holds oak as well as surprisingly dark fruit. Very juicy, fruity and bold, this is Felton Road's estate Pinot Noir, with just 25% new oak. Drinking 2022 - 2032 (2021).