90 + Points | Critical Acclaim

Winemaker Description 

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

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

Expert Review

Expert Review

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Made from 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and the rest Meunier, the NV Champagne Origine Brut pours a straw hue and is based on the 2019 vintage with 30% reserve wines and partially raised in 228-liter barrels. It’s generous in its aromatics, with spicy notes of graham cracker, toasted almond, baked pear, and orange. Fluffy and rounded in its mousse, it fills the palate with ample juiciness through the mid-palate and has an attractive, clean finish. It’s a charming wine that casts a large net to drink over the next few years. 

Winemaker Description 

This cuvée represents the “origin” of the family story and blends grapes from their three historic villages. 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier. The Origine Brut is the brand's flagship wine. A blend of 70% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Noir, and 10% Pinot Meunier. This wine impressively dances the delicate balance between freshness and unctuous texture. Truly delightful in the glass, this Grower Champagne has never been sold outside of France before.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Zekun Shuai writes:  Profound and intense nose with some tapenade, black beans and cocoa powder that gives depth to the already deep blackberries. Hints of dark spices and cigar box, too. Plenty of palpable tannins evenly melt into full-bodied palate with juicy dark fruit. Brooding and long finish. Cabernet sauvignon, syrah, merlot and petit verdot. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 94

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The 2019 Selección Especial, cropped from a warm and dry year, is composed of 64% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet sauvignon, 14% Syrah, 6% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot and has 14.5% alcohol, coming through as riper than the 2020 I tasted next to it. It's also darker, round and powerful, with plenty of tannins, wide and concentrated. This is from a warm year, with lower yields, and it's a very powerful wine, balsamic with notes of aromatic herbs, a little more Mediterranean.  Drinking 2023 to 2028.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2019 Selección Especial is a blend of 69% Tempranillo, 13% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Syrah, 4% Merlot, 2% Graciano and 1% Petit Verdot from Abadía Retuerta in Castilla y León and was aged for 12 months in French and American oak barrels. Garnet-red with a purple sheen. Cedar complements plum, camphor and spice aromas on the nose. Dry and fairly fruity, the finely-grained tannins support a mild, polished mouthfeel. The 2019 is a cosmopolitan red.  Drinking 2023 to 2036.  - Vinous 92

Alison Napjus writes:  A rich range of ripe black and red currant, toast, ground coffee, licorice and vanilla notes are well-meshed with lively acidity and supple tannins in this red, which has a dusty feel. A balanced version, showing generosity and accessibility. Tempranillo, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Garnacha. Drink now through 2029.   - Wine Spectator 90

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

 Eric Guido writes:  The 2023 Kerner is delicately floral in the glass, with a whiff of sweet spice and candied lime forming its bouquet. This is built on energy with vibrant acidity and a combination of saline minerals and tart citrus, adding a zesty character throughout. The 2023 reverberates with tension through the long and cheek-puckering finale with hints of chamomile and lemon zest.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Vinous 91

James Suckling writes:  A fresh and creamy white with aromas of sliced pears, peaches and lemons. Medium-bodied, lightly pithy and refreshing. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Winemaker Description 

A particular specialty of the Valle Isarco. Greenish to bright yellow in color. Peaches, apricots, and tones of tangerines on the nose. Very lively, juicy, and sleek on the palate, with a mineral-rich finish. Winemaker Description. 

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

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

The 2019 Adaptation Cabernet Sauvignon is a gorgeous expression of Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from a superb vintage. Revealing blackberries, black currants, crème de cassis, with hints of espresso, cocoa powder, and fine gravely undertones, this seamless full-bodied wine carries remarkable freshness and purity, delivering up front appeal with long-term potential.

Expert Reviews

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Coming mostly from the Oso Vineyard in Pope Valley, but with fruit from sites throughout the Valley, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Petite Sirah that spent 18 months all in French oak. Red and black fruits, spicy herbs, chocolate, and hints of leather all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with a round, layered mouthfeel. (2019).

Robert Parker 91 Points | An offering from Odette, Adaptation's 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon features a nice mix of red and black fruits—cherries and cassis—plus hints of vanilla and cedar. It's medium to full-bodied but easy to drink and not overly rich or textured, but it's nicely balanced, with a long, mouthwatering finish. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

All the grapes are hand-harvested, from severely-pruned, low-yielding vines. The red Crozes-Hermitage grapes are not destemmed, i.e. 100% whole-cluster. They are loaded into lined concrete vats, and temperatures are brought down to 18°C for a 2 to 5 day pre-fermentation maceration. Once vinifications (indigenous yeast) get going, temperatures rise to 30°C, and cuvaison lasts 15 to 21 days. Aged for one year - 80% of them in one to 3 year old oak barrels, the remaining 20% in vat. They are given a light filtration but no fining before bottling.

Expert Ratings 

James Suckling 94 Points |  A very pure and floral nose with cherries, violets and plums as well. Medium body with velvety tannins and bright acidity. Such a succulent core of redcurrants and violets with minerality and a transparent character to the focused finish. Drink or hold. (2021). 

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Shows appealing sanguine, meaty character, with a core of steeped plum and a firming spine of iron. Well-defined, with chalky tannins, dried herbs, lavender and toasted apple wood. Drink now through 2030. 2,500 cases made, 500 cases imported. (2021). 

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 95 Points | A fragrant nose of spiced cherries, ripe blackberries, dried herbs, baking spices and hints of earth follow through to a medium body with finely grained tannins. It has precision with a slight bitterness on the mid-palate. Layered and funnelled with a mineral edge. Long savory and spicy finish. Best after 2026.

Wine Advocate 93 Points | Sultry and smoldering, with incense and an attractive cherry and blackberry core. Powerful and densely packed on the smooth palate, with softening tannins still guiding the long, salty, iron-infused finish, which stands firm. Polished and well-crafted, with impressive texture. Drink now through 2032.

Winemaker Description

Mercurey was named after the Roman temple built here to honour the god Mercury. Boasting 650 ha (1,605 acres), 85 plots and 32 Premier Crus, Mercurey is the largest of the Côte Chalonnaise’s appellations.

Their vineyard of "Pierre Milley" is planted on the hillside where they benefit from southwest–western exposure. The soil is rich in clay and well drained due to its stony nature. The bedrock consists of compacted limestone with a few predominately marly limestone areas. 

Expert Review

90 Points Wine Spectator | A bright red, offering pure cherry, raspberry and violet flavors. Elegant and balanced, ending in a mouthwatering impression. (2020).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Alison Napjus writes:  Creamed black cherry and black raspberry fruit is structured by chewy tannins and fresh acidity in this balanced red. Shows a subtle underpinning of sanguine iron and earth accents, with appealing details of dark chocolate shavings, dried mint and anise that linger on the finish. Corvina, Corvinone, Rondinella and Sangiovese. Drink now through 2029.  - Wine Spectator 90

James Suckling writes:  A fruity wine with bright raspberries, pressed flowers, bay leaves, sweet spice and forest floor. The attack is firm, with velvety tannins, a medium to full body and crisp acidity. Chewy with a chocolaty aftertaste. A bit chalky in the finish. Drinkable now, but best from spring 2025.  - James Suckling 92 

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 93 Points | The 2015 Mingortiz is pure Tempranillo from an organically farmed vineyard in Briones that gives the wine its name. It was planted in 1964, a south-facing plot with limestone-rich soils at 515 meters altitude that give the wine length and elegance. The uncrushed grapes fermented in an oak vat after a six-day cold soak. Malolactic was in barrel, same as the élevage, which was in brand new French barriques and lasted 16 months. 

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | Finca Allende wines are back in the U.S., and 2015 is a fine vintage to debut this single-vineyard Tempranillo. Its ripe aromas suggest berry and prune, with floral highlights. Lemony acidity bolsters its warm, toasty blackberry and plum flavors. Agile in build, it shifts gears like a fine-tuned transmission. 

Winemaker Description

Bright purple-red color. Complex, typical bouquet of small berries red fruits, leather and spices (vanilla, pepper, clove), with hints of ripe blackberry. Full mouth, rounded tannins, balanced acidity and well integrated wood tones. Long aftertaste with intense quince aroma.

Expert Reviews

Decanter 95 Points | Gorgeous aromatics of pot pourri, wild strawberry and red cherry. Vibrant and bright with well-managed tannins, plenty of juicy and crunchy fruit and refreshing acidity. (2019).

Wine & Spirits 92 Points | This has more to it than its super-friendly face initially lets on. Give it some air and flavors emerge from under that bright cherry-red fruit—some of xinomavro’s telltale tomato-leaf and lamb-fat notes, carried on a fine burr of tannins. Inviting and complex. (2019).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Eric Guido writes:  Remarkably fresh, the 2022 Etna Bianco wafts up with an herbal-tinged bouquet that blends wet stone and hints of smoke with crushed almonds and pear. This washes across the palate with a mineral-laden wave of ripe orchard fruits, offset by a touch of sour lime. It finishes crisply refreshing and long, with a bump of mouthwatering acidity that calls the taster back to the glass.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  - Vinous 92

James Suckling writes:  Notes of ripe apples and pears with spices, chamomile and a stony minerality to it. Medium-bodied, sleek and polished with juicy acidity and delicious fruit. Layered and characterful. Drink now or hold.  - James Suckling 93

Alison Napjus writes:  Lip-smacking acidity is counterbalanced nicely by the creamy texture of this lively white, with aromatic accents of dried mint and grapefruit peel to the flavors of apricot, chopped almond and poached pear. Salty finish. Drink now through 2029.  - Wine Spectator 90

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.

Winemaker Description

Its bouquet is intense, pure, pleasant and refined, reminiscent of sweet violet, tobacco, chocolate and pleasant hints of wild berries and vanilla. Its flavor fully confirms the above in a well-balanced, full-bodied wine with good tannins and a solid structure. 

Expert Reviews-Vintage 2019

Decanter 95 Points | Altesino counts approximately 50 hectares throughout Montalcino’s northern and southern stretches. A compilation of diverse sites, the estate Brunello is among the denomination’s best values. If the Montosoli bottling is more solemn in tone, this 2019 is joyful and bright. Heady red currant and cherry mingle with plum and anise. The sumptuously fruited, plush palate is mouth filling yet agile. Sandy textured tannins envelop and caress while citrusy acidity lifts the whole. Already accessible, it has sufficient depth, concentration and backbone for a solid decade of enjoyment. (2019). 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality). (2019). 

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. (2019). 

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is packed with ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, with floral, mineral, juniper and wild herb accents adding depth and complexity. There's plenty of energy and structure as well, providing excellent balance, with a long aftertaste. (2019).

James Suckling 94 Points | A dark ruby color in the glass, the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino opens with a beguiling blend of dusty earth, crushed rocks, savory herbs and dried roses. This is racy and sleek, with vividly ripe wild berry fruits elevated by orange and sage, all guided by vibrant acidity. Grippy tannins take control through the finish, yet the mouth is left watering for more as a bitter licorice tinge and dark chocolate adds a crunchy sensation. (2019). 

Winemaker Description

Ruby-red with a garnet rim, this wine's bouquet displays ample aromas of violet, wild berries, tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla. On the palate, Altesino Brunello is rich, full-bodied, and velvety.

Critics Notes

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is packed with ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, with floral, mineral, juniper and wild herb accents adding depth and complexity. There's plenty of energy and structure as well, providing excellent balance, with a long aftertaste. (2019). 

Monica Larner Robert Parker 95 Points | The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality). (2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. (2019).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling 97 points - This has a complex nose of cranberries, dried pineapple, soy, bark, cardamom, mocha, iodine and wet leather. Full-bodied, with firm and very fine tannins. It really builds in intensity, expanding into a broad array of fresh and dried fruit and espresso bean, before converging again on a long and driven finish. Fantastic already.

Jeb Dunnuck 96 points - Attractive smoky perfume lifts from the 2018 Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli, with sunny red plum, anise, lavender, and cedar. It is full-bodied, with a refined tannin structure, and a bit more wood influence that will integrate nicely in time. Offering notes of black cherry, licorice, crushed stones, and warming spice, it displays a broader nature compared to the rest of the range, which is to be expected from this iconic site with a somewhat warmer, south-facing exposition.

The Wine Advocate 94+ points - The word "Vigna" has been added to the official name of this wine to underline work in the appellation meant to focus on single-vineyard designates. The Altesino 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli comes from a unique growing site with some of the best exposures from hillside vineyards. This wine shows a slightly dark hue with added concentration and depth. I am delighted by the bouquet that reveals dark cherry, blue flower, crushed stone and grilled herb. There is sweet toast and spice at the back. This is one of the more complete and age-worthy wines from the 2018 vintage.end quote.

Wine Spectator 94 points - A dense, tannic red, with plum, cherry, menthol, iron and spice flavors driven by lively acidity. A bit more burly than many 2018s, yet this remains vibrant, superlong and complex.

Vinous Media - 94 points - The 2018 Brunello di Montalcino Montosoli is dark and brooding with a lavender-tinged mix of crushed rocks, dusty cherry, curry leaf and hints of balsamic spice. It's delicate with a balanced inner sweetness and smooth contours, showing vividly ripe wild blackberry, and even hints of blueberry fruit. It leaves a staining of primary concentration, like liquid violets, yet finishes only lightly structured and wonderfully perfumed. The magic of Montosoli shines through, but don't expect the 2018 to make old bones. Production was down by 20% due to a more-severe selection of grapes in 2018.

Winemaker Description

This vintage of our Malbec Clásico is fully representative of Altos Las Hormigas style, as the joyful and fresh expression of Mendoza Malbec. Displaying a bright ruby red color, this wine has a fruity nose of plums and raspberries complemented with herbal notes. 

The first palate shows supple tannins with a balanced acidity that is the secret of its freshness. Notes of crisp red fruits fill the mouth, with a soft texture and a long finish. This is a pleasant wine, ideal to pair with various dishes, from red meats to pasta or grilled vegetables. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2021 Malbec Clásico Made with Organic Grapes is 75% from Luján de Cuyo and 25% from the Uco Valley. A mild purple color. The bold aromas feature plum and notes of spice, herbs and mint. On the palate, it has good grip and acidity with a degree of structure and moderate fat. A juicy, flavorful wine.  Drinking 2022 - 2028.  - Vinous 90

James Suckling writes:  This shows notes of cherries and red plums with hints of sweet spices and stone. Medium-bodied and textural with a mineral backbone and vivid red fruit. Dusty tannins and a polished finish. An easy and smooth malbec that shows freshness and poise. Drink now.  - James Suckling 91

Madeleine Stenwreth MW writes | Remarkably juicy and alluring. Subtle and sophisticated, boasting ripe dark fruits, spices, and dark chocolate. Pure, precise, with excellent concentration, fine tannins, and refreshing energy.  - Decanter 91

Winemaker Description

Enticing aromas of blackberry and fresh thyme mingle with hints of rose petal, cardamom, and sumac. Juicy forest fruits and black cherry on the palate are complemented by spice and floral notes, with a slate-like minerality, fresh acidity, and well balanced tannins.

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 92 Points | This flashy red shows appeal with a glossy texture that encases the blackberry reduction, steeped black cherry, mocha and licorice flavors, with accents of black olive, dried rose petal and smoke. A distinctive style. Drink now through 2027. 250 cases imported. 

Winemaker Notes

This bright red bursts with flavor, violets, crisp cherry and ripe berried fruit. The wine has fine tannins that are a sleek frame for the expressive profile, with a long finish.

Critic Notes

92 Points Wine Spectator |This elegant red shows lovely balance and accessibility, offering fine-grained tannins enmeshed with flavors of ripe black raspberry, plum, crushed pine and milled pepper, plus a lively touch of mandarin orange peel. Lingering and lightly chewy on the finish. Garnacha, Samso, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Drink now through 2032. (2022).

Josh Raynolds writes:  Shimmering violet. Vibrant blackberry, cherry and floral aromas are complemented by hints of licorice and succulent herbs. Concentrated bitter cherry and dark berry preserve flavors stretch out and turn livelier with air. Gently gripping tannins give shape and focus to a long, spicy finish that shows very good clarity and repeating florality.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.  - Vinous 92

Alison Napjus writes:  This elegant red shows lovely balance and accessibility, offering fine-grained tannins enmeshed with flavors of ripe black raspberry, plum, crushed pine and milled pepper, plus a lively touch of mandarin orange peel. Lingering and lightly chewy on the finish. Garnacha, Samsó, Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Drink now through 2032.- Wine Spectator 92

Zekun Shuai writes:  Hints of stewed herbs to the nicely baked cherries, strawberries and some hibiscus and dark spices. Fruity, medium-bodied on the palate with fine-grained tannins and a fresh, medium-long finish. Drink now.- James Suckling 91

Expert Review 

James Suckling 95 Points | For a gruner veltliner this has dangerous freshness and – less astonishingly – enormous depth of fresh-herb aromas. Very long and refined finish that feels almost weightless. Delightfully refined finish that makes you want you to stay here for a long time. Drink or hold. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | Aromas of currants, sweet tobacco and oyster shell follow through to a medium to full body with firm, creamy tannins and a steely finish. Drink after 2021.

Winemaker Description

Intense purple in color. Deep floral aromas, especially violets, and red fruits such as raspberries and strawberries. On the palate, the tannins are present but well integrated and the structure of the wine leads into a long, delicious finish. 

Expert Review

93 Points James Suckling | Aromas of ripe plums, blueberry jam, licorice, leather and wet earth. Full bodied, firm and structured with chewy tannins, yet with a soft, creamy texture and a savory feel. Lots of ripe blue-fruit and violet notes. Flavorful finish. (2020).

Winemaker Description

Vivid notes of black raspberry, fresh pomegranate juice, with wild blueberry, sassafras, subtle licorice, toasted oak an earthy backbone, and grippy tannins. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

90 Points James Suckling | A light and fresh pinot that has real pinot character, with sliced strawberry and citrus notes. Light-bodied, clean and an attractive.

Critic Notes

James Suckling 93 Points |  Perfumed aromas of dried roses, red berry fruit and licorice pull you in. Darker mocha notes, too. Medium-bodied yet deep, with dark minerals and spices accompanying the fresh berry fruit. Fine and tight tannins. From biodynamically grown grapes with Respekt certification. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Notes

The Blaufränkisch grapes come from vineyards characterised by limestone and slate in and around Jois am Leithagebirge. The grapes were harvested from mid to late September. After manual harvesting and sorting, the Blaufränkisch was fermented spontaneously in wooden fermentation racks and, after slow pressing in a basket press, aged in used Tonneaux.

On the palate, the wine appears juicy with lots of fresh cherry and pomegranate juice, with plums and lightly roasted herbs. At the same time, this is a Blaufränkisch with a mineral fresh and cool side, a lively acidity and a remarkable inner tension. Here, too, you find the slightly earthy and tart with a fine tannin. This is intense, transparent, clear and fresh wine that quickly builds up drinkability. 

Winemaker Description 

New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc is almost always what people have in mind when this classic grape gets lauded or derided. For the LWLs of the world (Ladies Who Lunch), this is the beverage of choice. Those who love it, LOVE it and the haters hate it for the same reasons. Anthony ‘Ant’ Moore’s Sauvignon Blanc is like an olive branch to both sides. Originally an Aussie, he moved to Marlborough on the South Island in the early 2000s and was hooked. He uses a French approach (old oak barrels and extended lees aging) to balance that searing acidity typical of NZ Sauvignon Blanc and curb some of the typical ‘greenness’. The result is a veritable fruit basket of tropical proportions. Kiwi, pineapple, spearmint, and crunchy apple. Pair with any sunny moment or crunchy salad.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 92 Points | Vibrant, juicy and wonderfully intense, showing off fleshy notes of passion fruit, mango and citrus, with mouthwatering acidity and a touch of saline and lemongrass on the finish. Drink now.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 96 Points | A full-bodied cabernet sauvignon that’s fruity on the nose with notes of crushed raspberries, berries and herbs. Some bark and stones. The palate is fresh with velvety tannins and a generous, savory finish. One for the cellar. Try after 2023.

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Townsend Vineyard has a similar herbal/classic Cabernet nose of red and black currants, green tobacco, bouquet garni, sandalwood, and spring flowers. Also beautiful on the palate, it’s full-bodied and has a concentrated, layered mid-palate, building tannins, and just an all-around classic, age-worthy style. Give bottles 2-4 years in a cold cellar and enjoy over the following 20 years or more. The blend is 92% Cabernet Sauvignon and 8% Cabernet Franc.

Winemaker Description

The 2020 Guado al Tasso is an intense ruby red in color. The nose offers notes of small dark fruit with sweet spice and toasted oak. On the palate, pure flavors and refined tannins lead to a persistent finish. This wine can be enjoyed immediately, but also has great aging potential. 

Expert Reviews

96 Points Robert Parker | The Marchesi Antinori 2020 Bolgheri Superiore Guado al Tasso sees Cabernet Franc at over 30% of the blend in this vintage, with the rest going to Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% to 20% to Merlot. Matarocchio was not produced this year, and this wine benefits from the extra Cabernet Franc as a result. The 2019 and 2021 vintages of Guado al Tasso are quite concentrated and rich, whereas 2020 is leaner in texture, along the lines of the edition we saw made in 2010. There was rain in September. Managing Director Renzo Cotarella says he would not describe 2020 as a hot vintage because the rain did pose challenges at the end of the growing season. In Bolgheri on the Tuscan coast, budbreak is earlier than in other appellations, and the growing season is longer as a result. This is a benefit to the international varieties used here. The wine shows nice richness and intensity. The Cabernet Franc definitely comes through and adds the characteristic vertical lift and linearity that the grape is known for. You get black fruit, spice, white pepper and no signs of bitter stems or bramble. Sweet, almost milky tannins are interlocked with fresh acidity to give this wine good cellaring potential. The new oak was dialed back a bit in this vintage.

96 Points Wine Enthusiast | The nose is rich with notes of blackberries, black cherry and soil, while a white pepper undertone provides pop. On the supple, warm palate, berries continue leading the way, before a salty, chocolaty finish with another kick of pepper. Stoic tannins are balanced by lively, persistent acidity.

95 Points James Suckling | Aromas of black olives, berries, herbs, red beans, sour cherries, and sage follow through to a full body, with chewy tannins and plenty of structure. It’s flavorful and intense. Needs time to come together. Best after 2027.

95 Points Wine Spectator | Packed with exuberant blackberry, black currant and blueberry fruit, this red shows the expressive character of the vintage. Just when you think it's too flamboyant, the solid structure reins it in. Shows excellent balance and length, with a touch of lavender and wild herbs on the lingering finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2040.