$75 - $100 Wine

 Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

Winemaker Description

Brilliant appearance with a dark purple rim and concentrated depth of colour. The aroma is fine and subdued with only a hint of primary dark fruits and some spice. The true potential and style of this wine really comes together on the palate with wonderful integration of dark fruits with a grainy tannic structure, pairing volume with amazing balance and elegance and an impressive finish. In conclusion, the primary fruit on the palate is appealing at this stage, but it's the balanced tannic structure which indicates great ageing potential for the future. 

Winemaker Description

Traditional blend of the 3 Champagne grape varieties from several harvests.  Made up of approximately 60% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay for the white wine. A Pinot Meunier-based red wine is added.
 
The salmon-colored rose enhances the sparkling foam.  The generous bouquet evolves towards notes of raspberry and redcurrant. The mouth develops into a taste of fleshy cherry.

Expert Review - Vintage 2015

Mike DeSimone of the Wine Enthusiast writes 95 Points | Dark ruby in color, this wine has a nose of black cherry, cedar chest and violet candy. A pleasant floral note is a constant companion to blackberry, anisette, clove and dark-chocolate flavors that are enclosed in a shell of muscular tannins. A soft note of pomegranate permeates the grippy finish. Drink through 2035. 

Winemaker Description 

A 1er Cru RBD from Yolanda and Carolina García Viadero whose mission is to place the Tinto Fino varietal among the world’s best.  Bursts of blackberry and cassis, relaxed opulence and richness.

Winemaker Description

Forbes Magazine | Almost 54 years ago, Robert “Kool” Bell along with his younger brother and childhood friends, started a band. The iconic band Kool & The Gang is now one of the longest non-stop touring bands in industry. An avid lover of Champagne, Kool had always envisioned having his own brand out of Europe. For many years, he sought out Grand Cru Vineyards from owners that have been selling for generations and decided to work with Paul Berthelot, a Multi-Vintage Grand Cru Producer since 1884.

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description

The Extra Brut Solessence Nature unwinds in the glass with scents of white flowers, crisp green apple, spring blossom and almond paste. Medium to full-bodied, ample and precise, it's a bright, vibrant wine with chalky structure and a long, saline finish.

Winemaker Description

The soils are of marine origin from the Tertiary era, characterized by bluish marl (at a depth ranging from 1 to 3 meters), calcareous, compact structure. The stratification is dense and varied, rich in mineral salts and natural springs.

Barbaresco Rio Sordo receives careful grape selection in the vineyard – 100% Nebbiolo. The immediately noticeable characteristics are the considerable complexity and depth, accompanied by elegance and finesse.

Expert Review

Robert Parker Wine Advocate 94+ Monica Larner | A release of about 3,000 bottles, the 2018 Barbaresco Rio Sordo shows the finesse and delicate fruit that is so well expressed by this estate. The bouquet is redolent of rose hip and crushed flowers, and you get cassis, wild cherry and dried pomegranate as well. There is a giant layer of minty herb, and then the wine finally relaxes with polished tones of crushed stone and white licorice. Cascina delle Rose makes a fine bottle of Barbaresco. 

Our Professional Review 

Alain Burguet insisted on farming organically almost twenty years before Ecocert was created to certify organic farming. His sons, Jean-Luc and Eric have taken it a step further, converting all their vineyards to Biodynamic farming. The Cuvee Symphonie is made from a range of several vineyards 40 to 50 years old. Fermentation is with natural yeasts with no additives, no temperature control, no fining, no filtration and very little sulfur. Juicy raspberry aromas on the nose with bright fruit, sweet supple tannins and spice complexity on the long and lovely finish. Bart Hopkins

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description

This is a wine from southern Priorat, which marks with a lively, warm and fragrant vein the serious, deep and enigmatic character of old vineyards. Blackberry aromas with balsamic notes typical of the brushwood. The palate is remarkably mature and fresh at the same time. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 98 Points |  "Dark and complex wine, earthy and concentrated yet balanced. Vibrant aromas of cassis, violets, licorice, pencil shavings and graphite. Full-bodied, it displays a dynamic palate with dense, velvety tannins, fruit concentration and crisp, integrated acidity, which keeps it in balance. 45% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 20% cabernet franc, and 5% petit verdot. Gorgeous now, but even better in two or three years and beyond." 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | "This is concentrated with cherry, blackberry, plum, iron, sweet spice and tar flavors. Muscular tannins leave a firm grip on the finish, yet overall, this red feels balanced and crunchy. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2040." Bruce Sanderson

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 97 Points | Rich, powerful and gorgeous, drenched in fruity, savory, mushroomy flavors on a full body and super-smooth tannins. It is deep in black cherry, blackcurrant, cedar and pine character that expands on the palate and lingers in the finish. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | A touch more saturated red in color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Laurène is deeper and more layered in the glass, with notes of pine, sage, ripe cherries, fresh leather, and pressed floral perfume. It has a refined and plush texture, with ripe tannins and elegant notes of dark earth. Drink 2025-2040. 

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Precise and vibrant, with sleek flavors of cherry and raspberry highlighted by stony mineral and black tea accents as this gathers richness toward refined tannins Drink now through 2034. 

Winemaker Description 

The Drouhin Oregon Experience features our 100% Estate cuvées from two of Willamette Valley’s most exciting sub-appellations: the Dundee and Eola-Amity Hills. Privately hosted by one of our valued wine professionals, you will be guided through a seated explorative tasting of six wines, including our flagship wine, the Cuvée Laurène.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 96 Points | The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is quite expressive and spiced showing very nicely with ripe aromas of wild raspberries cherries fresh herbs and blood orange spice. The palate gains in intensity with good energy and a mineral drive. A very successful wine in this vintage it's going to have plenty of life over the next 15-20 years.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 94 Points | The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo comes from an area that is further removed from the Tanaro River and has southwestern exposures. It shows a typical profile for Nebbiolo with rich fruit a velvety mouthfeel and textural volume that is delivered with ample blackberry blackcurrant and spice. The character of this wine is generous and rich. There is plenty of meat on these bones.

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 94 Points | The 2020 Rio Sordo is very aromatic and exuberant featuring blood orange citrus peel cherry and rose hip flavors. Succulent and approachable with a light coating of tannins it's in the line of Pora and Pajé if a touch denser. This red bursts with cherry strawberry and rose aromas and flavors plus mineral white pepper and anise elements. Firm and lively showing accessibility and harmony. Enjoyable now but there's no rush.

Vinous Media - 94 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Rio Sordo is pretty closed today which is probably a very good sign for its aging prospects as this site tends to produce wines that are more open than this. Dark cherry plum leather incense and tobacco offer a decidedly somber expression of Rio Sordo. The 2020 clearly needs time.

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 96 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Paje pours a deeper red hue and is polished on the nose with aromas of black cherries candied berries polished leather sweet herbs and balsamic herbs. Usually this site has a brighter more floral character but here it has a bit more richness with an outstanding balance of savoriness velvety textured tannins and dark stony underpinnings seamlessly weaving together through the long finish. It's an exceptional wine in this vintage and should have a wide window for enjoyment over the coming 20 years.

Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media - 95 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè is a classic wine from this site. Deeply spiced and balsamic notes meld into a core of dark, sepia-toned Nebbiolo fruit. A Barbaresco of real presence and substance, the Pajè makes itself felt. It's one of my early dark horse favorites in this range from Produttori del Barbaresco. (Drink between 2025-2035).

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 94 Points | The 2020 Pajé is rich even sumptuous offering cherry raspberry blood orange and floral notes squarely more on the fruity side than savory. Fleshy firm and long underscored by dense tannins. Bruce Sanderson This is all about power and structure with cherry blackberry earth wild herb and tar flavors buoyed by a dense matrix of tannins. The fruit is there peeking through the maze briefly before the tannins take hold on the finish; never obtrusive they drive the lingering finish.

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 93 Points | The Pajè vineyard faces the Tanaro River and is tucked at back of a narrow theater of vines. The site is often characterized by a floral note of rose and violet that comes thought nicely in the Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Pajè. With those sweet floral notes comes an open-knit mouthfeel and a more immediate drinking style with soft silky tannins. In fact this was the second of nine wines served in a flight that started with the lightest Riservas and ended with the most powerful wines.

Kerin O'Keeffe - 95 Points | The 2020 Pajè Riserva is a beautiful wine starting with its enticing scents of dog rose, violet, eucalyptus, new leather and white pepper. A bit firmer than Pora, the savory palate delivers juicy red cherry, strawberry compote, blood orange and wild herb before an almost salty finish. Fine-grained tannins provide. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Antonio Galloni - Vinous Media - 95 Points | The 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello is a massive, packed wine. Graphite, crushed rocks, dried herbs and cedar open first. Ovello tends to produce a more linear style of Barbaresco, and that is very much the case here as well. However, the 2020 also possesses notable depth and layers in the mid-palate. It's a gorgeous wine in the making. (Drink between 2025-2035)

Monica Larner - The Wine Advocate - 95 Points | The Ovello vineyard has some northern exposures and generally represents a cooler growing site. You can expect intense fruit flavors and more prominent tannins as a result. The Produttori del Barbaresco 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello fits the bill. Vine growth starts much later and usually lasts longer to produce dark intensity and bold aromas in the wines. In the cold years, the tannins can be aggressive, but in the hot years like 2020, they show better balance. This wine offers ferrous notes of iron and rusty nail followed by cherry-driven sweetness.

Bruce Sanderson - Wine Spectator - 95 Points | The 2020 Ovello boasts pure cherry and raspberry fruit plus accents of white pepper herbs and mineral. Deep rich and broad shouldered it builds to a long finish with fine grip and energy. Aromas and flavors of hay cherry raspberry and rose are the hallmarks of this elegant succulent red. A fine layer of tannins provides lift and the flavors are well-delineated through the mineral-infused finish. Shows terrific intensity and tension.

Audrey Frick - Jeb Dunnuck - 95 Points | The nose of the 2020 Barbaresco Riserva Ovello offers a more woodsy profile with aromas of pine leather black raspberries sweet floral perfume and licorice candies. The palate is compact and nervous with dark mineral accents refreshing ripe acidity and a long finish. It is going to benefit from another couple of years and show its best over the following 10 although I wouldn't be surprised to see it evolve for 15-20 years either."

Decanter Magazine - 94 Points | Ovello is by far Produttori del Barbaresco's most important cru. Eleven members cultivate 20 hectares on both sides of the ridge: southeast- and southwest-facing. Exposed to the cold air from the north with calcareous soil rich in clay it typically gives a robust potently structured expression. While true to its terroir the 2020 harnesses some of that power making for a harmonious though sturdy whole. Grilled herbs savory dark earth and dense and ripe dark cherry are all held together by well fastened chalky tannins. This is one for the cellar.

Kerin O'Keeffe - 95 Points | Red berry forest floor new leather and spice shape the fragrant nose on the fantastic 2020 Ovello Riserva. Showing the structure derived from the cru's predominately clayey soils it has a backbone of firm but refined tannins that accompany juicy Marasca cherry tangerine and spicy notes of star anise."

The 2019 is a Vintage Champagne of remarkable balance. Champagne Leclerc Briant Millésime 2019 is grafted with Pinot Noir in equal parts from both Grands Crus villages of Very and Mailly, and with Chardonnay from famous Mesnil-sur-Oger, giving a 100% Grand Cru provenance cuvée. 

96 Jeb Dunnuck &  95 James Suckling Points - The 2019 Champagne Millésime Extra Brut boasts a bright yellow/straw color and delivers intense, precise notes of fresh pear, bright crushed stones, delicate flinty reduction, Meyer lemon, and fresh lemongrass. 

SINGLE VINTAGE 2018 - From a warmer 2018 vintage - As described by the property: "A Champagne chiseled in its expression of greed, promoting a pleasure of all moments and revealing fruity aromas and freshness”. 

CERTIFIED ORGANIC and VEGAN

94+ Jeb Dunnuck It pours a rich, youthful yellow hue and is forward in its expressive notes of toasted oak spice that are very assertive and joined by notes of toasted croissant, orange marmalade, white pepper, and ripe red berries. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 94 Points: Blackcurrants, spiced cedar and dark spices with bark undertones. Full-bodied with very fine, velvety tannins. Textured and compact with a firm, lingering finish. Tight at the end. Needs time to open.

Wine Enthusiast 94 Points: This powerful, densely packed wine bursts with aromas of late-picked blackberries, blueberries and cassis that give way to bold black fruit and dark-chocolate flavors accented by cloves, black pepper and cedar. The tannins are full and firm, needing several years to mellow for best enjoyment.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points: There should be around 30,000 cases of the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon. Tasted as a final blend, taken from tank, it reveals plenty of cherries, plus a backdrop of darker, riper fruit flavors, like cassis and blueberry. There's the requisite cedar and vanilla, from aging in oak, but it's balanced. In the mouth, the wine is medium to full-bodied, silky-velvety smooth and easy to drink, plush without being creamy or overdone, with a long, mint-accented finish.

Wine Spectator 93 Points: A freshly plowed humus note pokes out first, with further coaxing in the glass revealing dense black currant, fig and blackberry paste flavors. On the back end, bittersweet cocoa and espresso crema notes give this a dark, slightly rugged persona, but should smooth out with some brief cellaring. For fans of the toasty style. Best from 2025 through 2040.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points: Coming mostly from the estate (70 acres), the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley is based on 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Merlot. Bottled in March of this year, it has a deep ruby/purple hue to go with a pure, ripe, seamless, medium to full-bodied profile as well as ample cassis and darker raspberry-like fruits, classic tobacco, and spicy, chocolaty oak. 

Practicing Organic • 100% Chardonnay (Mt. Eden Selection) • Sanford & Benedict Vineyard (Sta. Rita Hills AVA) • Sourced from the original 1971 own-rooted vines • Elder Chert and shale over clay soils • Whole cluster pressed to tank • Native yeast fermentation • Racked into barrels and puncheons (15% new oak) • No battonage and full malolactic fermentation • Aged 10 months sur lies before going back to tank for an additional 3 months • 222 cases produced   • 13.1% abv  

WINE ADVOCATE:96 The 2023 Chardonnay Sanford & Benedict Vineyard opens with aromas of golden apple, white chocolate, fennel and citrus rind, delivered with the omnipresent combination of class and restraint that defines the site. The palate is dense, supple and concentrated, before springing into a driving, prescient finish grounded by a waxy richness and a phenolic grip. While the La Rinconada bottling offers a touch more intensity and invigorating energy in this vintage, this is one of the most definitive renderings of the vineyard, and it should evolve fantastically in bottle.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The young, creamy and juicy 2019 Petra is pure Garnacha that fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts and matured in well-seasoned, neutral oak barrels for 15 months, including malolactic. There is a lactic touch and some notes of cereals here that interferes a bit with the purity of Garnacha. It's medium-bodied and has moderate ripeness at 13.5% alcohol, revealing good freshness and acidity and a pH of 3.6.

The Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Deep garnet in color, this single-varietal Garnacha has a nose of black cherry, caramel and nutmeg. Bright fruit and soft baking spice flavors wrapped in silky tannins enliven the palate and drift into a cranberry and orange-zest finish.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2019 Petra de Valpiedra is 100% Garnacha sourced from a single vineyard next to the Ebro River, in the Cenicero area of Rioja Alta. Aged for 1nine months in American and French oak barrels, it displays a garnet hue and presents aromas reminiscent of liqueur, with hints of herbs and ash overlaying a fruit layer. On the palate, it is dry and edgy, with tannins that are fairly searing, leaving a lingering impression of balsamic notes.

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of baked raspberries and strawberries with spicy and earthy touches. Medium- to full-bodied with powdery tannins and a soft texture. Firm finish. Drink or hold.

Memo Summary Notes

The Finca Valpiedra Rioja Garnacha Petra de Valpiedra 2019 is a highly praised, single-varietal Garnacha (Grenache) from the Rioja Alta sub-region. It is part of a premium, limited-edition line from the respected Finca Valpiedra winery.

The 2019 vintage is noted for combining the power of Garnacha with great freshness and elegance, making it an excellent example of modern, high-quality Rioja.

The wine's silky texture and savory complexity make it versatile:

• Meat: Grilled lamb, roast duck, or white meats such as turkey and pheasant.

• Spanish Classics: Aged Manchego cheese.

• Other: Fish stews (like tuna marmitako), rice dishes, and mushroom risotto.

The Finca Valpiedra Rioja Garnacha Petra de Valpiedra 2019 is an outstanding example of premium, single-vineyard Garnacha from Rioja, praised for its elegance, freshness, and complexity.

Expert Reviews - Base 2019

James Suckling 93 Points | A vibrant, textural and precise blanc de blancs with aromas of dried pears, pastry spices and some warm herbs. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. It’s full of verve and focus, with a mineral core mingling with spices and dried pears. A textured and lingering finish.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | Disgorged in December 2023 without dosage, Doquet’s NV Blanc de Blancs Arpège untites the flesh and texture of the clayey sites in Vertus with the mineral profile of Le Mont-Aimé and Villeneuve. With two-thirds of reserve wines dating back to 2012 and the remaining 33% from the 2019 vintage, it soars from the glass with scents of jasmine, grapefruit, nectarine and plums. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with a compact and taut profile, elegant mousse, incisive acidity and a long, penetrating finish. Vinified in used oak barrels (one-third) and enameled steel. It’s the most chiseled of the three non-vintage blends.

Memo Summary Notes

Doquet was an early adopter of organic farming (certified since 2010) long before it was trendy. His wines are intellectually satisfying but delicious—marked by sharp acidity, chalky textures, and very low dosage (sugar).

• Style: Crystalline, tension-filled, saline, and complex.

• Best For: Enthusiasts of "terroir" wines and acid-forward styles like Pierre Péters or Larmandier-Bernier.

Winemaker Description

This unique Israeli wine represent the best of the best of the specific vintage. Made from Jezreel's top rated barrels of Syrah and Carignan. 

Aromas of dark fruit, such as blackberry and black cherry, complemented by hints of leather, tobacco, and spice. On the palate, it is rich and full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a long, smooth finish. 

Aged for 22 months in oak barrels.

Pair with grilled meats, hearty stews, or aged cheeses.

Memo Summary Notes

The Jezreel Valley Winery is a boutique winery located in the Jezreel Valley region of Israel, specifically in Kibbutz Hanaton.

The Jezreel Valley itself has one of the longest traditions of winemaking in the region.

Biblical Connection: The Jezreel Valley is famous in the Bible, most notably as the location of Naboth's Vineyard (1 Kings 21), a story that highlights the area's ancient importance for viticulture.

Archaeological Evidence: Archaeologists have uncovered a large, rock-cut ancient winery complex at the foot of Tel Jezreel, which dates back to the 9th century BCE, around the time of King Ahab and Naboth. This shows the land has been producing wine for thousands of years.

Winemaker Description

The wine is medium bodied and moderate in tannin, with some beautiful suppleness to the mid-palate that reflects the moderate summer, accompanied by a touch of extra richness from the hot autumn weather. 100% Certified organic and dry farmed.

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | Aromas of crushed herbs, sliced plums, blackcurrants and violets. Full-bodied with powdery tannins. Bright acidity pairs nicely with the fresh red fruit on the palate. Could use another year to come together. Best after 2023. (2020).

The 2009 L d’Or delivers a richer, slightly broader expression of this iconic single-vineyard Muscadet while retaining its hallmark finesse and mineral precision. The warmer vintage brings notes of ripe pear, lemon curd, and white peach alongside the classic aromas of crushed granite, oyster shell, and fresh herbs. On the palate, it’s generous yet impeccably balanced, with supple texture lifted by bright acidity and a long, saline, stony finish. A beautifully mature Muscadet that combines depth, freshness, and terroir transparency—released directly from the domaine’s cellar and drinking at a gorgeous point today.

A bold and structured red with hints of ripe cherries and Mediterranean herbs. Organic elegance at a remarkable value.

A vibrant and elegant red from Puglia, Italy, this organic wine showcases the region’s signature Nero di Troia grape. On the nose, it offers aromas of dark cherry, plum, and subtle hints of Mediterranean herbs. The palate is structured yet approachable, with soft tannins, balanced acidity, and flavors of ripe red fruit, cocoa, and a touch of minerality. Perfect with roasted meats, hearty pasta dishes, or aged cheeses, this wine embodies the rich terroir of southern Italy while remaining fresh and expressive.

This juicy and aromatic Pinot Noir is loaded with flavors of red fruit, meaty cherries, tree bark, and sweet baking spice.

Winemaker Notes

#13 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025

Blend: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot

Expert Reviews

96 James Suckling: The aromas of blackcurrants and dried flowers with fresh herbs like basil and rosemary are extremely attractive. Medium- to full-bodied, this has firm and velvety tannins with a tension and focus that I have not seen for a while. Long and chewy finish.

96 Wine Spectator: This delivers an energetic tumble of blackberry, boysenberry and black currant paste flavors injected with bramble and apple wood and supported by a licorice snap accent. The strapping finish is laced with violet and iris notes, while a cast iron edge lends bass. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2045.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

Vinous 97 Points by Antonio Galloni | The 2020 Cantenac Brown is a knock-out. A Margaux of towering intensity, the 2020 is dense and vertical at the same time. It’s a combination that works so well. Dark cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice and cloves all saturate the palate. There's real depth and concentration here from the summer heat and small size of the berries, but at the same time the 2020 has more freshness and energy than some recent years. There have been quite a few changes here in recent years, starting with a new parcel on the Margaux plateau that entered the blend in 2019 and move towards lower toast levels in the barrels. Cantenac Brown remains a potent, opulent Margaux, but 2020 has a measure of classicism as well. Superb. 

Jeb Dunnuck 96 Points | The 2020 Château Cantenac Brown showed beautifully and is a serious, concentrated, powerful Margaux that's going to need bottle age. Ripe blackcurrants, toasty oak, ripe tobacco, and dried flower notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, beautiful tannins, and a great finish. It shows the more focused, slightly understated style of the vintage, yet everything is in the right place, it has terrific purity, and it’s just a brilliant Margaux. I followed this bottle for multiple days, and it never put a foot wrong. It will hit its prime drinking window in 7-8 years and evolve for two decades.

The Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | From its magnificent chateau, this estate is powering ahead. The wine is full of dark chocolate flavors and concentrated tannins. A richly structured wine, there is good potential. Drink from 2029.

James Suckling 95 Points | Plenty of blackberry, spice, iron and crushed lead pencil aromas follow through to a full body with chewy, velvety tannins and a rather cool side to it. Crushed stone and slate undertones. 

The Wine Advocate 94+ Points  A fine follow-up to the excellent 2019, the 2020 Cantenac Brown incorporates newly acquired holdings of Cabernet Sauvignon from the plateau of Margaux. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, cassis, burning embers and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with good depth at the core, supple tannins and terrific purity of fruit. Concluding with a long, penetrating finish, it underlines the fact that this is the appellation's fastest-improving estate.

The Wine Spectator 94 Points | Ripe, rounded and suave in feel, with alluring waves of cassis and dark cherry reduction laced with sandalwood, black tea and violet notes. Broad, velvety and perfumed through the finish, with a subtle sanguine hint echoing late. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.

Decanter 94 Points | Juicy, succulent and supple, this has lovely bright energy and impact straight away. Tannins are on the chalky mineral side, mouthcoating, but with a salty tang so they don't appear too ripe, heavy or rustic, but give width and structure. Feels quite powerful, with an underlying concentration and a tight clove and cedar tang to the tannins. Energetic, definitely more bright and pulsing right now. Purity of fruit is there, as is the acidity.

Pre-Arrival - Expected date for delivery and/or pick up early December 2025

Expert Reviews

Isabel Ferrando’s reputation for outstanding wines has grown every vintage since her first release in 2003. As a woman owned business and winemaker, Isabel has built a tremendous reputation producing highly acclaimed wines. 

"Proprietress Isabel Ferrando has taken her Saint Prefert estate to France’s highest level, and she’s unquestionably making some of the most profound wines on earth today, including both reds and whites.”   —Wine Critic - Jeb Dunnuck

"Hard work. Subtle tweaks. Responsible farming. An uncompromising dedication to quality. Isabel Ferrando keeps doing things the right way, and her wines are dramatic proof.” —James Molesworth, Wine Spectator.

"one thing that remains constant is the incredible quality that continues to emerge from this talented winemaker.” Jeb Dunuck. 

While the 2023 has not yet been scored, to get an idea of its pedigree, the 2022 vintage made *Wine Spectator’s Top 10 out of 100 Wines with a stellar 94 points.

• Practicing organic
• 90% Pinot Noir (15% vin rouge), 10% Chardonnay
• 50% 2022, 50% 2021-2020
• From Rilly-la-Montagne 1er Cru and Villers-Allerands 1er Cru
• Clay and limestone
• 35+ year old vines
• No malo
• Fermented and aged in large foudre
• Aged 30+ months on the lees
• Dosage: 8g/L

• The Wine Advocate by William Kelley writes 92 Points |

  Generous and expressive, the latest rendition of Vilmart's NV Brut Premier Cru Cuvée Rubis is showing very well, bursting with aromas of red berries, plums, blood orange and dried flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and enveloping, with a sapid core of fruit, a pillowy mousse and a lively, delicately phenolic finish, it's already drinking well. This is based on the 2017 vintage, with reserve wines from the 2016 and 2015 vintages, and it was disgorged with nine grams per liter dosage.

• The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Fine and harmonious, this is lightly chalky and refined in texture, showing pinpoint integration of its well-spiced range of pureed raspberry, blood orange granita, lime peel, biscuit and mineral notes and its spine of chiseled acidity. Concentrated yet ethereal. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Disgorged July 2024. Drink now through 2030.
• Allen Meadows Burghound 91 Points | Medium ruby color. The moderately fruity nose is composed of raspberry, cherry, strawberry and lovely yeast, apple and citrus peel whiffs. The delicious and super-yeasty flavors possess fine depth on the clean and relatively dry finish, indeed this is notably drier than what is typical for the genre. Lovely and this is a wine that could be enjoyed now or held for a few years first.
• Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | The NV Cuvée Rubis is vibrant pink, with aromas of wildflowers, wild raspberry, and juicy fruit. The palate is juicy and round, with blood orange, and perfect for relatively near-term drinking over the next 6-8 years.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | Medium golden yellow hue, the NV Champagne La Vallée Suspendue Extra Brut is expressive on the nose and leaps from the glass with rounded aromas of lemon curd, merengue, pastry dough, marzipan, and red berries. It has more intensity on the palate, becoming more savory and salty, with a brothy feel, a fluffy mousse, and a chalky, textured finish. This is a solid wine with a lot of character to enjoy over the coming 10 years.

Vinous 93 Points | The NV (2016) Extra Brut La Vallée Suspendue is a blend of 80% Meunier, 15% Pinot Noir and 5% Chardonnay, based on 2016 with 50% reserve wines from a perpetual reserve that goes back to 1999. Those elements combine in a rich, resonant Champagne that is incredibly distinctive. Dried pear, spice, tangerine oil and exotic yellow flowers all build in the glass, but it is the wine's overall balance I admire most. Dosage is 4 grams per liter. Disgorged: June 2023.