90 + Points | Critical Acclaim

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.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

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.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

The Wine Enthusiast by Jesica Vargas writes 90 Points | This Malbec reveals an earthy character, with a bouquet of delicate hints of herbs and black fruit. The palate unfolds leafy flavors, supported by soft tannins and enough freshness. Enjoy it with beef empanadas.

Winemaker Description

 Antigal UNO Malbec offers delicious plum, strawberry, and blackberry flavors with enticing hints of violets, vanilla, and milk chocolate. Brightened by carefully protected natural acidity, this violet-red wine has a silky texture and provides an agreeably persistent finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Antonio Galloni  of Vinous writes 100 Points |  2021 Solaia is another wine that captures all of the potential I sensed when I tasted it some months ago. More than anything else the 2021 is a fine example of the style Antinori favors these days an approach that favors finesse more than opulence. Dark plum mocha licorice chocolate spice lavender and menthol build effortlessly in the glass. Oak and tannin are impeccably balanced. The 2021 spent 18 months in wood three months in once-used barrels during the malolactic fermentation and then 15 months in 100% new barrels for the rest of its aging.

The Wine Spectator 98 Points | A deep, dense red, drenched with blackberry, pomegranate, plum and sweet spice flavors. Iron, tobacco and wild herb elements peek through as this plays out on the finish under a strong grip of tannins. Shows terrific balance and length now, yet this should only improve after a few more years in the bottle. Superb. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2047.

Decanter 97 Points | For me [2021 is] one of the best vintages ever,’ says Renzo Cotarella, Antinori's CEO and head winemaker, of the widely lauded vintage in Tuscany, explaining to me that it shares characteristics with 1997 and 2007, with a cool, frosty start slowing down vegetative growth and helping to extend the growing season, aided by milder temperatures later in the summer which enabled the grapes to build concentration while preserving freshness. Recent vintages of Solaia have benefitted from an increased use of Cabernet Franc, which stands at 9% in 2021. Due to be launched this autumn, Solaia 2021 is still a baby but its potential is immediately apparent. Inky and concentrated, with a dark chocolate barrique signature on the nose, it combines salinity with bountiful and sapid fruits, offering ripe black and red cherries, and dark hedgerow berries alongside herbal freshness, and finely textured tannins. Ferrous, meaty and earthy undertones emerge after some time in the glass, providing a counterpoint to the inherent sweetness of the fruit. Muscular yet wonderfully poised, this will only reveal all its complexities after significant ageing.

The Wine Advocate 97 Points | All said and done, the Marchesi Antinori 2021 Solaia is a monument to perfect winemaking. This coiffed supermodel does not show a single hair follicle out of place. However, it doesn't quite have the same sex appeal of the Tignanello. In my conversations with Estate Manager Renzo Cotarella during this tasting, it was expressed this way: "Tignanello is unexpected. Solaia is expected." Whereas Tignanello is a wine of vertical lift and energy, Solaia is a wine of lasting power. The wine offers generous depth and layering with soft tannins and some of the spicy pink peppercorn you get from the 9% Cabernet Franc (added to 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Sangiovese). The finish is extremely velvety and soft, but I notice that the flavors seem to become sweeter and riper the longer this wine stays in the glass. This newest release will hit the market in September. 

James Suckling 97 Points | This is a beautifully curated Solaia with blackcurrants and raspberries plus lavender and violet undertones. Graphite highlights it all. Just some new wood coming through. It’s full-bodied with fine velvety tannins that run the length of the wine, caressing the palate. Give this three or four years to come around.

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.

Winemaker Description

The 2019 vintage Solaia is deep ruby red in color. The nose offers complex notes of red fruit, apricots and red oranges with hints of rose petals. Distinct aromas of coffee beans, chocolate, licorice and white pepper complete the rich bouquet of this red wine. On the palate, the wine is enveloping and harmonious with excellent balance and structure. Vibrant tannins lead into an exceptionally long finish. 

Blend: 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Sangiovese, 10% Cabernet Franc

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 98 Points | Subtle and beautiful on the nose with currants, flowers and light sage aromas that follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Extremely polished and poised.

The Wine Spectator 97 Points | Dripping with black currant, blackberry, black cherry, iron and toasty oak flavors, this red is suave and polished. Features flashes of tobacco and wild herbs that add even more detail as this builds to a long, kaleidoscopic finish. Presents civilized tannins that are well-integrated and provide structure. Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Cabernet Franc.

The Wine Advocate 96 Points | Inky dark in appearance, the 2020 Solaia is mostly Cabernet Sauvignon with smaller percentages of Cabernet Franc and Sangiovese. This vintage unfolds to exuberant richness and thick layers of blackberry and plum. The tannins are sweet and expertly crafted, adding both depth and fruit weight. The 2020 vintage is quite bold, and it plays its best cards in terms of texture and mouthfeel. It’s a bigger, more accessible wine compared to the last two vintages on the market. Spice, toasted coffee bean and more dark fruit color this full-bodied Tuscan red.

Expert Review

James Suckling by Andrii Stetsiuk 96 Points |  Joyful and juicy but also concentrated and very precise, this is a stunning cool-climate chardonnay. Brimming with sliced pear, white peach and white flower aromas. The delicate oak is already beautifully integrated on the mouth-filling yet only medium-bodied palate. Then comes a wave of toasted hazelnut flavor in the very long and super-silky finish. Drink from release.

Producer Description 

• 100% Chardonnay
• The Knoll, Lahoma Vineyard
• small sandstone hill
• Umbrella training system – results in more shading
• Cold soak overnight
• Fermented in 3 French oak large format puncheons
• Aged 10 months in the puncheons, stirred regularly
• 13% abv

As a Harvard educated Economist, Kelby made the unusual transition to wine in pursue of his passion. He also brought with him his deep love for music as a way to inspire his winemaking approach. For well over a decade, he patiently perfected his art while working at another winery. Finally in 2023, Kelby and his also-winemaker wife Julia, embarked on the adventure of their dreams and launched Apollo’s Praise. Despite the wait, the musical influence is as strong as it has ever been. Every bottle suggests an unusual pairing. Turn the bottle around to find a recommended song to listen to while enjoying a glass!

Kelby and Julia produce complex, yet approachable wines by carefully merging art and science. Every single one of them is the reflection of vintage variation, site specificity and unique varietal characteristics. Unsurprisingly, critics regard their highly-sought-after Lahoma Vineyard series as some of Finger Lakes’ best wines.

Apollo’s Praise philosophy in Kelby’s and Julia’s words: “The Best Wines are Art. They are an expression of culture and speak to where they come from, when they come from, and who they come from.”

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 Points |  A bright and racy pinot with lots of strawberries, raspberries, hibiscus, spices and dried lavender. Tense and agile with a medium body and a crunchy feel to its tannins. Fresh and minerally. Drink now or hold.

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Plush and elegantly structured, this red unfurls raspberry and cherry flavors accented with forest floor, black tea and savory spices as this builds tension toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Crisp, mouthwatering acidity is but one of many highlights here. Pretty dried rose-petal and dark raspberry aromas are flanked by a loamy soil note. The flavors are fruit-driven, with raspberry and lemon flavors uniting with tiny bits of sugar cookie and walnut behind a curtain of silky tannins. — Michael Alberty

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 Dundee Hills Pinot Noir touts all the hallmarks of our storied appellation. It begins with hints of ripe plum skin, ocean air, baking spices, and cocoa powder dustiness on the nose. The palate is just as expressive, with fresh, juicy red fruit backed by graceful tannins, a complex brininess, and a mouth-watering acidity. Finishing with spiced oak and a mouth-coating basalt minerality, this wine is great now and will be for years to come.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 95 Points | Some blue fruit with iron and lavender character. Very perfumed. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a bright finish. Linear and tight. Hibiscus at the end. A blend of declassified barrels from the single-vineyard wines. Drink or hold.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The ripe ruby-colored 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley saw the small addition of about 10% whole cluster. The nose opens to a just gorgeous perfume of red and blue fruit as well as fresh violets and cherry candies. Very tasty indeed, the palate is inviting and medium-bodied, and it has a supple, silky texture, with a long, fresh, pure finish. This inviting red is going to have a wide drinking window over the next 6-8 years.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2021 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley is a blend of fruit from Arista’s seven vineyard-designate wines. It has pretty aromas of blackberry, blueberry, plum, licorice and turned earth. The medium-bodied palate offers layered, spicy flavors structured by finely astringent tannins and bright acidity, and it has a long, fragrant finish. 

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Bright and punchy, offering energetic pomegranate, cherry and loganberry fruit infused with sassafras and hibiscus notes, while fresh and slightly high-pitched acidity gives the finish a racy edge. Drink now through 2031.

Winemaker Description 

The core principle of the winemaking philosophy at Arista is to capture and express the true character and potential of each vineyard. They work with a very carefully chosen handful of grand-cru level Pinot Noir and Chardonnay vineyards, and are uncompromising in their efforts to maximize the full potential of the wines crafted from these special sites.

The 2021 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir blends several vineyards from across the storied Russian River appellation, which makes it a prime snapshot of our home region as a whole in each vintage. In 2021, conditions for Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley were exceptional, leading to deeply colored, intensely aromatic, wonderfully vibrant wines.

This ruby-hued wine shows classic Pinot Noir aromas of black plum, tart cherry, and cola. Across the palate, similar ripe fruit notes are abundant and buttressed by the tangy acidity. The firm tannins, which are a hallmark of the 2021 vintage, round out the long finish on this quintessential Sonoma Pinot Noir.

Winemaker Description

Sensationally intense, with notes of wild flowers, violet and red berry jam. Full bodied, rich, dry with a long finish and delicate hint of spice.

Expert Rating - Vintage 2021 

92 Points James Suckling | Bright and fruit-forward with ripe raspberries and cherries as well as sweet spices, chocolate and candied orange peel. Medium- to full-bodied with deep, succulent fruit and firm, tightly packed tannins. (2021). 

Expert Review

Vinous 93 points The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Fellom Ranch is the most reticent of the Arnot-Roberts Cabernets. Intensely savory and earthy, the 2018 offers quite a bit of intrigue, but it will require considerable cellaring. Cedar, spice, tobacco and dried herbs lend notable complexity to the dark fruit flavors. The natural concentration of small berries with little juice and high solids gives the wine its dense, brooding feel. (AG) 93+  

Warehouse stored item - please allow one to three business days to fulfill.

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | Juicy ripe fruits and a blend of baking spices are carried by this full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. The tannins are ample and palate coating with a moderate finish. — Elaine Chukan Brown 

Expert Review

Decanter 94 Points | Starts soft and gentle, then the sparkling, bright acidity spreads over the palate. Great purity, balance and roundness; very satisfying. A mix of 60-year-old and seven-year-old vines, vinified in oak. Drinking Window 2022 - 2030. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

93 Points Decanter | Quince and pear. Rich and ripe but not overly so, it's silky on the palate, fairly high in alcohol, enjoyably full and opulent, with a fresh core. Includes a new parcel this year of 70-year-old Marsanne, so is now around 90% Marsanne, 10% Roussanne. The rest is a mix of 60-year-old and seven-year-old vines. Vinified in oak.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins, 67 Wine Buyer, writes: A juicy, joyous organic blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot that’s bright, perky, full of life and begging for food. Aromas of spiced cherries on the nose with a medium body and an earthy note that adds complexity. A touch of earth and spice adds complexity, with balanced acidity and softly tamed tannins that leads to a cheerful, food friendly finish. This is a perfect pizza, pasta, weekday red that satisfies without breaking the bank!

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling writes 93 Points:   A tight, focused red with currant and cherry character and hints of chocolate and sandalwood. Medium to full body, creamy and refined tannins that are long and flavorful. Very well done. From organic grapes. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Description

A versatile, young red wine with a ruby red color and a bouquet characterized by inviting aromas of ripe cherries, blueberries and sweet spices. The taste is medium-bodied, fruity and smooth with a long lingering, dry finish, reminiscent of undergrowth, with an underlying hint of menthol. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Merlot.

Winemaker Description 

Grifi is born from two late-ripening grape varieties, one Italian, the other French. An incredible blend where the freshness of Sangiovese blends perfectly with the backbone of Cabernet Sauvignon. The Sangiovese is sourced from our vineyards in Montepulciano, which produce a spicy, elegant wine, and the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from our plots in Cortona and Montepulciano, lending tannins and structure to the wine. To facilitate the encounter of these two varieties, the grapes are harvested and fermented together.

The blending of two such different personalities as Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon come together to give this wine its unique character. Dark ruby red in color with purple hues. The nose opens with hints of blueberries, blackberries and incense, moving on to graphite and vanilla nuances. In the mouth it is dense, broad and complex with hints of plum and blueberry. It then evolves into a balsamic and spicy explosion supported by good acidity. The lively tannin on the whole palate accompanies the savory and persistent finish.

Certified organic and Biodynamic.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling 94 Points | A linear and tight red with very fine, firm and polished tannins. They nicely frame the wine and give a savory and almost salty undertone. Currants and cherries with some orange peel notes. Just a hint of tomato leaves. Medium chewy. 65% cabernet sauvignon and 35% sangiovese. From biodynamically grown grapes.

Vinous 93 Points | The 2021 Grifi is understated and coy, slowly evolving with rose petal, dusty dried strawberry and sweet smoke aromas. This is silken in feel with a peppery tinge and polished red berry fruit notes that swirl beneath an air of violet inner florals. A liquid botanical concentration lingers as the 2021 finishes with crunchy tannins and staining of primary concentration. It tapers off with incredible length yet is also balanced. Lose this youthful beauty in the cellar.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 95 Points | A wine of austere elegance on the nose due to a tight mix of red cherries and sweet violets soaked in orange zest. The juicy palate is medium- to full-bodied with ripe and velvety tannins and lifted, precise acidity. The savory and mostly floral aftertaste is full of tension. Great sample. Drink or hold.

Vinous Media 92+ Points | The 2021 Nobile opens with a minty freshness, with a bouquet of sweet herbs and stone dust giving way to a bright cherry note and autumnal spice nuances. This is sleek and youthfully slender yet packed with tart wild berry fruit tones and a spike of citrus that ride a silken textural wave. Hints of sweet lavender amass toward the close. The 2021 tapers off with potent length and structure, leaving the palate with a pleasantly bitter sensation that calls the taster back to the glass. Give the 2021 a few years to mellow out—it will be worth the wait.
Rating: 92+

Winemaker Description 

This wine is made with Sangiovese grapes highlighting the balanced and harmonious traits of its habitat. The wine shows a sleek medium body, seamless tannins and a distinctive tasting profile. Great to drink now,  but with an impressive ageing potential.

In the glass, the 2021 Vino Nobile displays a vibrant color with purplish-red highlights. On the nose, aromas of small red berries, pomegranate, and the unmistakable scent of violet typical of fine Sangiovese. In the background, a hint of vanilla and tomato leaf. On the palate, it is well balanced, with a vein of acidity that lends length and liveliness. Flavorful and crisp, with sweet notes of ripe cherry and plum jam. The dynamic body is supported by precise, elegant tannins. The enjoyable drinkability is accompanied by a long, lingering finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Eric Guido of Vinous 92 Points | The 2021 Cerasuolo di Vittoria entices with a dusty bouquet of citrus-laced blackberries, dried violets and sweet smoke. This is pure and lifted in style, communicating undeniable elegance with a silken wave of ripe wild berry fruit that swirls throughout. It finishes classically dry yet only gently tannic, leaving hints of black raspberry and spice to linger. The 2021 is simply stunning today and has the balance to evolve beautifully through medium-term cellaring.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points | This shows aromas of red and dark berries, chocolate, dried flowers and spices, following through to a medium body with crunchy, powdery tannins and juicy acidity. Tense and flavorful with good concentration

Winemaker Description 

The color is bright ruby, the nose unveils layers of iris, violet, tobacco, black pepper and marasca cherry. The taste is well balanced, tightly knit with supple tannins, mineral notes, a mouth cleansing fresh acidity. Warm and persistent.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 95 Points | A beautiful red with cedar, mushroom and cherry character, as well as hints of sandalwood. It’s medium-bodied and very polished with loveliness and finesse that comes through clearly. A wine to drink young, but will age very nicely.

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A refined and generous Brunello, exhibiting plum, cherry, strawberry and even floral flavors. This strives for elegance, achieving it with harmony and a line of fine-grained tannins on the lingering finish. There's ample fruit midpalate that resonates on the mineral finish.

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A refined and generous Brunello, exhibiting plum, cherry, strawberry and even floral flavors. This strives for elegance, achieving it with harmony and a line of fine-grained tannins on the lingering finish. There's ample fruit midpalate that resonates on the mineral finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | A rich red hue, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino is a touch shy on opening before revealing aromas of cherry pie, a hint of blue fruit coming through with violets, and anise. Medium to full-bodied, it has a pop of angular texture, chalky tannins, and a clean, lovely, tapered finish. This exceptional wine from Banfi offers a lot of purity and finesse.

Winemaker Description 

A rich and elegant Brunello, both in structure and in olfactory expression. Brilliant ruby red with garnet-colored reflections, on the nose the aroma is sweet and fruity, the hints of fresh red fruit stand out, which combine perfectly with the more complex notes of licorice and pipe tobacco. The structure is powerful, and the palate is pleasantly enveloped by a consistent tannic texture, well balanced by a pleasant acidity. Extremely persistent with excellent aging potential.

It pairs particularly well with rich and tasty dishes. Perfect as a meditation wine.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 92 Points | Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Pouring a medium ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma County is forward in the glass, with bright aromas of preserved cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, and red flowers. The palate has lovely energy within a medium-bodied frame, and it has a refreshing feel, with its spices and chalky texture coming through on the finish.

Winemaker Description

An exciting, yet friendly wine, bursting with aromas of fresh, muddled strawberry, bright cherry and pomegranate with hints of forest floor, toasted caramel and five-spice. The flavors combine to create a fruit-driven front palate and very subtle oak influence. The finish leaves you wanting more, with nice acid and flavors of strawberry sauce, pomegranate and spice to create great weight for an excellent food wine, as well as a charming drinking experience by itself.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

James Suckling 91 Points | This has aromas of raspberries, blackberries, currants, rosehips and hazelnuts. It’s medium-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Elegant and fresh. Pretty finish. Drink from 2024.

Winemaker Description 

Baron de Brane is the second wine of Château Brane-Cantenac, a second growth château owned by Henri Lurton and one of the oldest and largest properties in Margaux. The blend is made up of about 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the grapes coming from developing vineyards, some on gravel beds 12 metres deep.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | Lush and intense, with mouthwatering notes of Key lime, tangerine and lemon cream. Hints of matcha, freshly grated ginger and white pepper add complexity and aromatics through the intense finish, where the flavors gain torque, power and freshness. 

Each year, Wine Spectator editors survey the wines reviewed over the previous 12 months and select our Top 100 based on quality, value, availability and excitement.

This annual list honors successful wineries, regions and vintages around the world.

20 of 2025 - Top 100 Wines. The Wine Spectator

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2024 Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc leads with a gentle mix of cassis and vanilla pod, juniper, green apple and fresh linen, jasmine tea and petrichor. In the mouth, the acidity is bright, making for a crunchy, intensely flavorsome wine that has admirable restraint and finesse.

Winemaker Desription

Every Barons de Rothschild Champagne has exceptional characteristics that make each unique and great. The  Barons de Rothschild Brut is aerial Champagne that is rich and complex. The blend uses three to four-year old Chardonnays and Pinots Noirs from the best land in Champagne.

This subtle blend produces a wine with fabulously fine bubbles, elegant golden colour and fine, delicate nuances of white fruit. Low dosage and at least six months’ time after disgorging gives this Champagne beautifully balanced structure on the palate that is highly appreciated when served as the aperitif or throughout the meal.

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 90 Points | A well-cut Champagne, with a fine bead, this offers a mouthwatering range of nectarine, salted almond, honeysuckle and biscuit flavors. Elegant, featuring a lightly spiced finish.

James Suckling 92 Points | Lots of bread-dough and dried-apple character with lemon undertones. Roasted-nut and bread-dough undertones. Fine bubbles. Medium to full body. Flavorful finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description

This is a truly remarkable vintage of our iconic flagship wine. The bouquet is intense with fragrant notes of wild sage, blackcurrant, cedar, and fresh mint. The palate is expansive and full-bodied with a sumptuous mouthfeel, showcasing layers of ripe blackberry, redcurrant, and red rose petal alongside earthier tones of graphite, licorice root, gravely stone, and dark chocolate. Subtle baking spices from the French oak barrel aging provide sandalwood, clove, and Ceylon cinnamon notes, while the signature “Rutherford Dust” tannins are silky, polished, and fine-grained, finishing long with a cocoa powder texture. Slightly reserved upon release but incredibly drinkable, elegant, and pleasing, the tannins provide approachability with beautiful harmony and balance. There is significant presence, depth, and concentration in this Private Reserve, foreshadowing cellar-worthy potential that will continue to evolve, unfold, and develop across the next few decades.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Jeb Dunnuck 98+ Points | “The flagship 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges De Latour Private Reserve is in the same ballpark as the 2019 and is an incredibly elegant yet concentrated 2021 that does everything right. Purple-hued, with ample cassis, wild sage, graphite, and darker chocolate-like aromatics, it picks up a Graves-like gravelly earth character with air and is full-bodied, has ripe, polished tannins, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. As with many of the top 2021s, it’s a touch reserved and closed and needs 4-5 years of bottle age, but will drink well for 30 years.”

James Suckling 98 Points | “Intense aromas of iodine, blackcurrants, cedar, sandalwood and mint follow through to a medium to full body with silky tannins that spread across the palate and expand in a balanced and harmonized way. Hints of chocolate and fruit at the end. Some tar. Drinkable but better in a few years. Try in 2027 and beyond.”

Wine Spectator 95 Points | “This is packed with dark, winey flavors of black currant and blackberry paste underscored with alder, sweet tobacco, warm paving stone and black licorice notes, while a violet accent fills the background. The polished finish makes this accessible now, but there’s plenty of life ahead. Drink now through 2042.” James Molesworth  - Wine Spectator’s #2 Wine of the Year 2024

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Erin Brooks of The Wine Advocate 95 Points | I tasted the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley about a month after it was bottled, but it doesn't seem to matter—it bursts from the glass with generous pomegranate, cranberry and raspberry preserves aromas and accents of orange peel, aniseed and tea leaves. The palate is stunning: it strikes a balance between highly concentrated, nuanced fruit and an uplifted, silky structure, and it has a particularly elegant finish. 

James Suckling 94 Points | Wild and vibrant nose of rosemary, cherry stones, small strawberries, violets and seaweed. So fresh, with a medium body and powdery tannins. I like the persistent fine, chalky texture. Unfined and unfiltered. Drink or hold.

Wine Spectator 94 Points |  Sleek, graceful and elegantly proportioned, with expressive violet, raspberry, guava and black tea flavors that jump out of the glass and gather richness toward polished tannins. Drink now through 2032.

Decanter 93 Points | Sourced from 13 vineyards throughout the Valley, though predominantly Star Morring and Doration vineyards. Aromas of violets and crushed stone hint at edginess. The palate offers sappy blackberries and bright, fresh fruits backed by spearmint. There is an excellent lingering juiciness and a finish that goes on for minutes.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Deep ruby with a purple tinge, the 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is generous and attractive, with a pure and spicy perfume of pressed flowers, wild raspberry preserve, and brambly herbs. Approachable and drinking well out of the gate, this medium to full-bodied red is ripe with juicy fruit, good structure, ripe tannins, and pithy texture, as well as a touch of warming spice on a long finish. It’s a solid appellation wine that casts a very large net for appeal. Drink 2024-2030. - Audrey Frick

Vinous 91 Points |  The 2021 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley is lifted and pure with a cool-toned bouquet of dusty florals, lavender and spice-dusted blackberries. Soft and round, it casts violet inner florals and wild berries across the palate, taking on a saline tinge and hints of licorice toward the close. The 2021 finishes remarkably fresh and with a pleasantly chewy sensation, leaving slowly fading inner rose tones. -- Eric Guido

Winemaker Description 

The word "Balade" is French for wandering.  This is a fitting term for our annual exploration of single-vineyard pinot noir blocks on the west coast.  Each vintage, we will bottle only the most compelling and nuanced expression of pinot noir from a single selected vineyard and release it as a limited bottling.

Dark Purple-violet tones with enticing aromas of blackberry and boysenberry notes.  Sophisticated on the palate with flavors of black cherry, wild blackberry and jammy plum.  Balanced and structured, this wine has beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

Matt Kettmann of the Wine Enthusiast writes 92 Points | Dried cherry, baked plum and a full spice rack of aromas show on the nose of this bottling. Tense, slightly sappy tannins frame the sip, where black plum, stewed cherry and bay leaf flavors lead into a wood smoke-kissed finish.