90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wines & Spirits

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Jonathan Cristaldi writes:  This 100% Cabernet Sauvignon was aged in 30% new American oak for up to 16 months. A snapshot of California from vintners Joel and Sarah Gott, the grapes are sourced from select sites in the Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Lake County, Mendocino, Lodi, and Central Coast appellations. Sampled in mid-October 2024, the 2021 vintage is a youthful, easy-drinking Cabernet, perfect for weeknight consumption. Alluring blackberry, sandalwood, and ripe blackcurrant notes intermix with dried rose petals and mulling spices. Medium-bodied with intriguing cola spices, blackcurrant jam, a hint of white mocha, and a spine of zippy acidity, bracketed by fine tannins and a chalky mineral finish. It delivers a satisfyingly dry finish with just 1.7 g/L of residual sugar and a pH of 3.73. Joel Gott Wines was founded in 1996 by Joel and Sarah Gott. The '815' Cabernet is their flagship wine, named after their daughter’s birthday (15th August).  Drinking 2024 to 2030.  - Decanter 92

James Suckling writes:  Blackcurrants, black and green olives, rosemary and some crushed walnuts on the nose. Fresh and refined, with a medium to full body and fine-grained tannins. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

James Molesworth writes: Ripe, fresh and polished, this delivers unencumbered red and black cherry fruit notes laced with a tickle of tobacco, all backed by a just firm enough finish to keep this balanced and engaging. Drink now through 2025.  - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Description 

The 2021 Joel Gott Blend No. 815 Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of raspberries, blackberries, plum, and mocha with notes of cinnamon and cedar. The wine opens with red fruit flavors, followed by velvety tannins on the mid palate and notes of black pepper on the long, textured finish.

Winemaker Description

Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label is the signature champagne of the House. Dominated by Pinot Noir, it offers the perfect balance of structure and finesse. Golden-yellow in color, with a foaming necklace of tiny bubbles. It is pleasing to the nose; initially reminiscent of yellow and white fruits, then of vanilla and later brioche. Note the fine balance between the fruity aromas coming from the grape varieties and the toasty notes, the result of the three years of bottle aging. The first sip delivers all the freshness and strength so typical of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label with a symphony of fruit following (pear, lemon). It is a true member of the Brut family, well-structured, admirably vinous. 

Expert Reviews 

92 Points James Suckling | This has aromas of grapefruit, citrus peel, quince, toast and almonds. It’s medium-bodied with creamy, fine tannins. Silky texture. Nutty complexity at the end.

91 Points Decanter Magazine | Noticeable fruit intensity and fresh notes of red fruits, fresh blueberries and a small amount of quince. Interesting and quite demanding. Blend : 55% Pinot Noir, 15% Pinot Meunier, 30% Chardonnay

90 Points Wine Spectator | A crisp and lacy Champagne, with a hint of smoke underscoring flavors of poached apricot, pastry cream and pickled ginger. An overtone of Mandarin orange peel ties it all together.

Winemaker Description 

Tropical fruit, guava and peach notes. Oak barrel aging contributes notes of caramel and spice.

Winemaker Description 

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

Expert Reviews 

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

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

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

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

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

Winemaker Description

Made in the heart of the Prosecco DOCG zone, Nino Franco’s Rustico Prosecco Superiore is unquestionably the world’s finest value in a high-quality sparkling wine. Made from 100% Glera (traditionally called Prosecco), the non-vintage, light-bodied Rustico offers gorgeously elegant notes of pear, citrus and honeysuckle. The texture is creamy, soft and delicate with persistent effervescence.  

The word ‘Rustico’ dates back to an old winemaking tradition where Prosecco was made using a short second fermentation in the bottle and leaving the sediments in the wine. Although no longer the technique, the name ‘Rustico’ has remained as a reflection of quality and tradition.

Pair with charcuterie, risotto, vegetables, seafood and delicate pasta dishes.

"Rustico" opens with firm bubbles and crisp acidity. Light aromas of banana on the nose lead to fresh pear on the palate. It finishes clean and works well as an aperitif or matches with lighter hors-d'ouevres, salads, and light seafoods. Rustico is for everyday consumption and Primo encourages traditional Italian service in a wine glass (no flute) to get the most out of his wines.

Expert Reviews 

Eric Guido for Vinous writes 91 Points | The NV Prosecco Superiore Rustico wafts up with a remarkably fresh mix of sweet florals, melon and smoke. It washes across the palate with an elegant wave of ripe orchard fruits and sweet spices; a twang of sour citrus adds contrast. There's a slightly tropical feel to the finale, yet savory as well. The Rustico keeps the mouth watering, and hints of candied almonds slowly fade. Anyone looking to take their prosecco game to the next level without breaking the bank, look no further. 

Monica Larner for Robert Parker writes | Showing a light golden color, the NV Valdobiaddene Prosecco Superiore Rustico Brut is steely, dry and tonic with lots of tart lime, unripe peach and white flower. This perky bubbly makes good use of its Brut designation with tight, spicy beading and a very direct or immediate delivery. This is an ambitious and well-priced production…  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Ned Goodwine MW for James Suckling writes 91 Points |  A good style, gently turbid and highly textural. Alpine herb, almond meal and orchard fruit accents meander along a bead, more terse and direct than the norm, as if reaching for greener pastures somewhere higher up. The finish, dry and quinine bitter, evincing a touch of authority in the context of the style. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Alison Napjus writes:  Fresh and floral, this is softly sparkling and creamy, offering notes of peach skin, green melon, verbena and honeysuckle.   - Wine Spectator 

94 Points Wine Enthusiast | This lovely sparkler never disappoints. It's fragrant, with delicate scents of white spring flowers and white stone fruits while the dry, refreshing palate offers ripe pear, apple and white peach alongside a hint of fennel seed. An elegant perlage and fresh acidity provide the backdrop

Winemaker Description

The wine owes much of its complexity to its varied upbringing, unifying grapes from California's most notable winegrowing regions. Meiomi Pinot Noir brings you structure and depth seldom seen in a Pinot Noir wine, thanks to its unique and meticulous aging process. Aged for six months in French oak barrels, this California red wine's juicy strawberry flavor and notes of dark berries and toasted mocha add complexity and depth on the palate.

Winemaker Notes

This vintage is of a beautiful presence, both in its rather sustained red color, as in its aromatic expression of red fruits and undergrowth with nuances of caramel and spices. On the palate, we find very ripe fruit with a nice freshness, the palate is charming. Round and warm, it benefits from good wood support and ends with a long and suave finish. Balanced, Château Loirac has a marked personalit

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2016

James Suckling writes 90 Points | The blueberry and orange-peel aromas are all here. Medium body, fresh acidity and an attractive aftertaste. A little lean, but should soften by 2021. A blend of 60 per cent cabernet sauvignon and 40 per cent merlot.  - 

Neal Martin of Vinous writes |   The 2016 Loirac has a simple but pleasurable bouquet with wild strawberry and briary aromas. It just lacks a little complexity. The palate is medium-bodied with just a touch of greenness on the entry, classic and slightly leafy in style. Pleasant but probably early drinking only. Tasted at the Cru Bourgeois tasting in London.  Vinous

Julia Harding of Jancis Robinson writes 15.5/20 Points |  Deep crimson. Vanilla coating over the blackcurrant fruit. Dry-textured and slightly lacking in flesh but the tannins and freshness are good and this should be fine with a good dose of protein. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.  Drinking 2020 - 2025.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 92 Points | This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

92 Points Wine & Spirits | This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Winemaker Description 

This Chardonnay entices you with aromas of fresh peach, Asian pear, citrus, and honeycomb. The flavors are just as complex with delightful undertones of red pepper and Madagascar vanilla, followed by fresh lemon, green apple, wildflower honey, stone fruit, and a hint of lavender. The rich, dense texture is balanced by its juicy acidity, leading to great minerality and a long, satisfying finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Eric Guido writes:  The 2022 Grillo Timpa lifts from the glass with a minty freshness, blending sweet green melon with candied lime suggestions. It's soft and enveloping, with brisk acidity ushering in citrus-tinged orchard fruits and saline minerals that add a crunchy sensation. The 2022 finishes perfumed and wickedly fresh. The mouth is left watering as barely-ripe kiwi hints fade.  - Vinous 90

Monica Larner writes:  The organic Feudo Montoni 2021 Sicilia Grillo Timpa has a pretty bouquet that is woven tight with summer peach, pear and honey. This Grillo offers a slightly waxy or oily texture with subtle mineral tones and fresh acidity.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

Clive Pursehouse writes:  Timpa, meaning steep slope, and the vines are located on 60% slopes, with sandy soils mixed with stone grown organically near Agrigento in central Sicily. Aromas of almond skin, white flowers, and citrus peel lead to notes of savoury herb and stony minerality. The palate is classically Grillo—bright notes of grapefruit, wet slate, a dash of herbs and a zest acid-driven finish.  - Decanter 90

Alison Napjus writes:  A zesty white, with vibrant acidity buoying an exuberant range of tangerine, kiwi fruit, pink grapefruit granita and lime blossom notes. Sleek and well-knit, with spice and mineral accents on the finish. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 90

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2022 Clos Des Lunes Lune D'Argent Blanc is a pure, balanced, medium to full-bodied white with clean citrus and floral aromatics, a good spine of acidity, and a clean, lengthy finish. It's a classy Bordeaux Blanc based largely on Sémillon.  - Jeb Dunnuck 90-92

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2022 Lune d’Argent shows notable richness, very much in the style of the year. Orchard fruit, white flowers, mint and tangerine. Pear, mint and chamomile open effortlessly. In 2022, Lune d’Argent offers quite a bit of presence, making it a terrific choice for the dinner table. Readers should expect a rich, layered Sauvignon Blanc. Pretty floral notes liven up the finish.  Drinking 2025 to 2027.  - Vinous 90-92

Zekun Shuai writes:  Fine reduction with flint and matchstick characters that protect the creamed citrus. Pretty full-bodied and broad at the start with a lightly phenolic middle and a flavorful, saline finish. 70% semillon and 30% sauvignon. Try from 2025.  - James Suckling 92

Georgina Hindle writes:  Cool and crisp, clean and nicely weighted on the palate with some creamy and chalky lemon, pear and apricot. An easy-drinking style with nuance and freshness. Lacks a touch of weight and zing, but there’s appealing bitter lemon rind with apricot and peach flavours. Feels clean.  Drinking 2025 to 2030.  - Decanter 90

James Molesworth writes:  This fresh version offers mirabelle plum, quinine and honeysuckle notes that stay bright and nicely defined through the energetic, salted butter–tinged finish. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2026.  - Wine Spectator 90 Smart Buys 

Yohan Castaing writes:  With aromas of pear, peach and menthol, the 2022 Lune d'Argent exhibits a lively, refreshing bouquet followed by a juicy, round and fleshy palate, concluding with a bright, lemony finish. It's a blend of 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Winemaker Description 

Lune d’Argent is the heart of Clos des Lunes’ production. They firmly believe in the future of this legendary terroir and its truly original style. With a touch of French oak, the Sémillon is dense and rich, the Sauvignon Blanc refined and precise. This cuvée of dry white wine promises to convey all the magic of Sauternes. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 93 Points | I like the savory iodine and bark notes here overlaid with black berry fruit, nutmeg and bay leaves. It’s juicy and supple with a medium to full body, silky tannins and soft, salty finish. Drink now or hold. Screw cap.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Dark cherries, dried mint and tobacco peep through the cracks of this polished, rather reticent wine from Australia’s west. It’s tightly wound with textured tannins and a nice lift of acidity. Flavor gets a little lost in all the power, but it should evolve nicely over the next several years. (Best Buy)

Winemaker Description

Acrobat wines are sourced from a spectrum of Oregon vineyards, spanning the three classic Western AVA’s – Willamette Valley, Umpqua Valley and Rogue Valley. Grower relationships are what make Acrobat wines so deliciously consistent each vintage. We are honored to work with such marquee vineyard sites. Each vineyard and AVA have distinct characteristics and provide their own flavor. This diverse geographical selection was done by design, giving Acrobat wines a balanced flavor profile of the state of Oregon.

Acrobat Pinot Noir delivers notes of dark cherry, raspberry, rich plum and cinnamon on the nose. Bright acidity and elegant tannins shine on the palate, leading to a juicy but delicate finish. Enjoy a glass with a classic woodfired pizza.

Expert Review - 2022 Vintage 

Eric Guido of Vinous writes 91 Points |   The 2022 Pinot Noir opens with a mentholated freshness, mixing wild berries and hints of sage. This is juicy and round, with vividly ripe red and blue fruits swirling throughout. The 2022 leaves youthful tension with the mouth watering for more as hints of licorice fade.

James Suckling writes 90 Points |   A very good, medium-bodied wine with ample leafy, spicy, mulled cherry flavors, this wine is an affordable, everyday choice with a smoky, dusky undertone. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description 

On the nose, beautiful aromas of tropical fruit, melon and perfumed lemon mingle with hints of slate, wet chalk and intriguing floral notes of jasmine and orange blossom. The lush tropical fruit is echoed on the velvety palate, with flavors of pineapple and guava giving way to layers of stone fruit, Key lime pie, Asian pear and yellow apple, all of which flow to a long, luxurious finish.

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

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.

Winemaker Description

Rich flavors of dark plum and black cherry with a hint of spice and ripe tannins with flavors of blackberry, blueberry, and dried cranberry. This vibrant, fruit forward wine is laced with flavors of toasted oak and hints of warm brown spice, and finishes with velvety tannins. Elegant and food friendly, this wine is sure to please.

Elegant and food friendly, this wine is sure to please. Enjoy it with grilled portobello mushroom burgers, grilled steak with blue cheese butter, braised short ribs, pizza with sausage and mushrooms, and aged cheeses.

Expert Rating

Silver Medal - 2023 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition

Expert Rating

James Suckling 90 Points |  Blackberry fruit, oyster shells, sage and roasted herbs on the nose. It’s savory with a medium to full body and tight tannins. Nice freshness. Drink now or in the next few years.  (2021). 

Jeb Dunnuck 89 Points |  Coming from multiple sites throughout the Central Coast, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon sports a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a juicy, medium-bodied, nicely balanced style in its ripe cherry and plum fruit as well as notes of ripe herbs and chocolate. It's a terrific value that brings plenty of classic Cabernet style. (2021). 

Erin Brooks writes:  The 2022 Fundamental Cabernet Sauvignon is scented of red and black cherries and nuances of allspice, milk chocolate, tobacco and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is approachable and easygoing, with an alluring combination of concentrated, spicy fruit and savory tones. It finishes with satisfying freshness.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review - Vintage 2019 

Georgina Hindle writes:  Wonderfully aromatic and expressive on the nose - the aromas really just jump out the glass. So inviting. Juicy, red fruits - strawberries, raspberries and red cherries - quite bright and a nice change from the dark fruits. This is lively and fun, light with hints of spice underneath the fruit giving some structure and backbone. Hard not to like for its fruit-forwardness and easy drinking style. Though does have a spicy undertone which comes through on the finish?!   - Decanter 90 Points 

Winemaker Description

The 2020 J. Lohr Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon is dense and dark at the core. Ripe fruit aromas of black cherry and currant are accented by notes of toasted pastry, hazelnut, and vanilla from our extensive barrel aging program. Big, juicy red-fruit flavors infuse the palate while softly textured tannins lead to a long, gratifying finish.

Expert Ratings

92 Points Tasting Panel | Thanks to their certified sustainable properties in five of Paso Robles' 11 sub-AVAs, the folks at J. Lohr are able to produce a super high-quality Cab at this price point. With 9% Petite Sirah plus some Cab Franc and Petit Verdot, it has a deep purple hue that enhances the immediate rush of blueberry in a stream of silky tannins. Spiced black tea takes heather, fennel, hazelnut, and vanilla bean on a long ride toward the finish.

91 Points Wine Enthusiast |  For about a million cases, this is a reliable stud of a wine. Deep, dark blackberry and light wood aromas on the nose lead into berry jam, wood spice and caramel flavors, with amplified tannins promising at least a few years of freshness.  Editors' Choice

Winemaker Description

A very different year from 2022! After the spring frosts, the sun was long in coming, and the end of spring was marked by a lot of rain and humidity.
No drought to deplore this year, but excess humidity throughout the year, and until the harvest.

Diseases (mildew and powdery mildew) set in very early in the vines, the result of a cool and humid summer.

The 2023 harvests were marked by a lot of loss of grapes, due to rot (acetic pitting), linked to excess humidity.

For wines, the 2023 vintage is fresher than the previous year, with less alcohol concentration.

The aroma is rather floral and very fresh, with a nice balance. For reds, the tannins are more supple and the aromas are finer and more delicate.

If no wine region on earth can rival the stylistic diversity on display in France’s Loire Valley, the appellation of Anjou offers the perfect microcosm of the region as a whole. Long a staple of the bistros of Paris, the area is home a to a mind-bogglingly vast array of expressions— from white to red, bone-dry lusciously sweet, still to sparkling— derived from a handful of different grapes, from Cabernet Franc and Gamay to Sauvignon Blanc and Charodnnay. But one grape variety could be called the most distinctive of all: Chenin Blanc.

Sourced from vineyards that fall exactly along the border of the two sub-regions of Anjou, this gorgeously subtle white from fourth-generation winemaker Pascal Biotteau comes from the village of Saint-Jean-de-Mauvrets, situated on the old Roman road from Angers to Poitiers. 

Winemaker Description

A serious, concentrated and expressive wine, Vavasour Sauvignon Blanc flaunts a powerful bouquet of fresh herbs, tropical fruits and bright citrus.

Ripe stone fruit flavors and a distinct minerality hold up well to rich, spicy foods. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

Decanter 95 Points | Lovely purity of fruit with a core of plush, ripe fruits, citrus, apple and some light tropical fruit with savoury Oceanside nuances. Mineral and crunchy.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A mouthwatering mix of lime, ruby grapefruit and fresh lemongrass flavors mark this version, with hints of thyme and sea salt popping on the long finish.

Winemaker Description

The textbook definition of Malbec in a very good vintage. Bright violet in color, this wine is fresh and floral, featuring blackberry, plums and violets on the nose and palate. The wine is soft and round with a noticeable minerality, silky tannins mark a lengthy finish. Low yields, careful vineyard management and low intervention winemaking are the hallmark of this wine. 

Expert Rating

92 Points James Suckling | Racy strawberries, morello cherries and haw fruit. Some cinnamon and cloves, too. Medium-to full-bodied with some white pepper and green olives. Solid, fine-grained tannins.

Winemaker Description

Pomegranate, cranberry and plum waft as the wine opens up. Those same pomegranate and damson plum characters continue on the palate and are enhanced by a slightly herbaceous edge. The Shiraz component gives width and generosity to the finer savoury Grenache tannins.

Expert Reviews

90 Points James Suckling | This regional hero of value and consistency has plenty of ripe red-berry and plum aromas with some deeper, darker berries, too. The palate is mid-weight and has a gently grainy texture. So drinkable.

Expert Reviews 

Expert Review

90-95 points: Wine Enthusiast | Off-dry malted barley and light toffee smells greet the olfactory sense along with flowery fragrances of heather, rose petal and pine. Entry features sweet grain and candied apricot tastes; the midpalate is mellow, malty, fruity (white raisins, apricots) and sophisticated. Ends on a buttery note. Remains the Speyside benchmark.

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews

Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW, Andy Howard MW, Susan Hulme MW of Decanter write 91 Points | This is a fantastically complex Prosecco: tart Granny Smith apples and ripe and creamy Meyer lemons move into tropical fruits like lychee and pineapple. The palate is rich but dry, with just a tease of toastiness that draws favourable comparisons with Champagne. 

Monica Larner of The Wine Advocate writes | The Sommariva NV Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore Brut is a simple and stripped-down Italian sparkler with a cheerful playlist of grapefruit, honeydew melon, white rose aromas and salty minerality. The fine beading and fresh acidity of this wine promises to refresh your palate just in time for your next appetizer dish. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Winemaker Description

Classic McLaren Vale Shiraz. Crimson-purple in color. Aromas of dark plum, boysenberries, subtle black pepper and a touch of licorice. On the palate is where the wine becomes fascinating. Rich and opulent black plums, blackberries and boysenberries are intertwined with savory spices, mocha and a plush coat of red cherries. Tannins are ripe and velvety. Acidity, alcohol and oak are finely tuned, and their balance enhances length on the finish.

Expert Reviews

91 Points Wine Enthusiast | Savory notes of sage and bay leaf are as forward on the nose as the plum and cherry notes. There’s a lick of vanillin oak showing, too. The abundance of tangy fruit continues its journey in the mouth, lingering on the finish amidst a powerful, well-placed frame of tannins. (2021).

90 Points James Suckling | Good shiraz, strongly regional, aromatic and attractive. While I query the dryness of the tannins here, there is ample pleasure to be found behind a veneer of violets, purple pastilles, blue fruit, iodine and licorice. A little reduction creates tension without ever becoming too hard. (2021). 

Winemaker Description

This hand harvested, 100% Malbec wine is from multiple vineyards in the Uco Valley. The wine predominantly shows notes of coffee, blueberry, and chocolate with secondary notes of licorice, black cherry, cinnamon, baking spices, and sage. The complexity of the wine extends into the palate by being big and bold without being flabby, with smooth tannins and light acidity. The wine finishes extremely strong with plum, cassis, doughnut cake, and fine silky tannins. A wine that out delivers it’s price by tenfold! 

Expert Rating

James Suckling 90 points | A soft, creamy malbec that’s rather reserved and fine with dark fruit and a citrus undertone. Medium finish. Drink now. 

Expert Ratings 

94 Points 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.

93 Points 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.

92 Points 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.

91 Points 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

Expert Reviews

Vinous 92 Points Eric Guido | More savory than sweet and wonderfully complex, the 2019 Brut Rosé North Coast bursts from the glass with toasty notes of fresh baguette and almonds, giving way to crushed apples and gingery spice. This rushes the palate with an elegant bead of silken bubbles. It is creamy yet energetic, and mineral-tinged orchard fruits add further tension. The 2019 leaves the senses wonderfully refreshed through the long, crunchy finale, as white strawberry and spice cookie notes fade. The Brut Rosé is a pleasure bomb, yet it’s wonderfully balanced throughout.  Drinking 2023 to 2027.   

Wine Spectator 92 Points | A delicate, graceful rosé, with refined strawberry, fresh ginger and yeast roll tones that glide on the supple finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now.