90 + Points | Critical Acclaim

Producer Notes

Founder Jim Bernau began experimenting with whole cluster fermentation by gently placing hand-picked clusters into a CO2-filled stainless fermenter. Fermentation begins inside each individual berry, releasing the most aromatic, fruit-driven Pinot Noir. Ruby red in the glass with aromas of dried dark cherries, cinnamon, and cranberry. Dry on the palate with fresh acidity, a light body, and integrated tannins. Cherry, leather, and tobacco add richness and depth. Best served slightly chilled (55–60°F). Drink now through 2028.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2023

• James Suckling 92 pts | Juicy, red-fruited, whole-cluster Pinot with lifted aromas of red cherries, dried herbs, spice, red apples, and pencil shavings. Bright and crunchy on the palate with a rounded mouthfeel and finely tuned tannins.
• Wine Enthusiast 91 pts | Blackberry and pain au chocolat aromas. Flavors of marionberries and caffe latte mix with a savory grilled mushroom note.
• Sunset International Wine Competition 91 pts, Gold | Strawberry; good oak integration; bright acid balance.
• Jeb Dunnuck 90 pts | Attractive aromas of spice, cedar, clove, baked cherries, and forest earth. Medium-bodied with nice balance, ripe tannins, and an elegant finish.

Food Pairings

• Sweet and tangy barbecue or pizza with red sauce
• Teriyaki short ribs or gourmet burgers
• Cedar-planked salmon or sushi
• Try serving slightly chilled on a warm summer evening

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | I was able to taste the just-bottled 2023 Manoella Branco. This was a very balanced vintage, the growing season was almost perfect, and yields were good. The wine was a little closed for such an expressive year of wines with purity and freshness. It has notes of white flowers and fruit and a balsamic touch with the balance and harmony from the old vines.

Winemaker Description 

Vibrant and fresh wine with intense citric, floral and mineral notes. On the palate shows pure flavors and nice balance.

Varietals - Gouveio, Viosinho, Rabigato and Códega do Larinho.

Established in 2001 by Sandra Tavares da Silva and Jorge Serôdio Borges, both winemakers and couple, that have been investing and acquiring old vineyards and properties at Pinhão Valley. “Our goal is to create wines that express all the characters of the traditional vineyards and varieties from Douro Valley. Balanced wines between concentration, complexity and elegance.

Wine & Soul is one of the most exciting and dynamic producers in Portugal today, consistently earning high praise from international critics for both their still and fortified wines.

The harvest was planned for the first week of September in perfect weather conditions.

All grapes previously selected and de-stemmed were pressed on a pneumatic press and fermented on stainless steel tanks at low temperatures during 4 weeks, after which was aged sur lies during 6 months.


Expert Reviews — Vintage 2022

Wine Advocate 95 Points | The nose of a dry Port — all violets, ripe plums and aromatic herbs, with plenty of spices, toast and smoke from 20 months in French oak (20% new). Needs time to integrate the oak and polish the tannins.

James Suckling 95 Points | Abundant dark fruit with blueberries, delicate violets and graphite. Fleshy and medium- to full-bodied, perfectly balanced by refreshing acidity through a clean, bright finish. Supple tannins. An old field blend of more than 40 varieties. Drink now or hold.

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Bursting with brambly boysenberry and blueberry, fragrant mountain herbs, graphite and woodsy spices. Fresh and focused with concentration and length in a medium-bodied frame. Chalky, integrated tannins with a salty, iron-laced tang. Classy. Drink now through 2035.

About Wine & Soul

Wine & Soul is the joint project of husband and wife Jorge Serôdio Borges and Sandra Tavares da Silva, both qualified oenologists. They bought an old port warehouse in the Vale de Mendiz in the heart of the Pinhão valley in 2003. The estate is 6 hectares with 2.5 ha under vine, averaging over 70 years old and planted with 30+ different varieties. The project is named after their dog Pintas, a Pointer.

Winemaking

Harvested in the second week of September in perfect conditions. All grapes were hand-selected, destemmed, and foot-trodden in traditional stone lagares throughout the full 10-day fermentation. Aging and malolactic fermentation in French oak barrels for 20 months.

Varietals: Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Amarela, Tinta Barroca, Rufete

Tasting & Pairings

Violets, ripe plums, boysenberry, blueberry, graphite, dark chocolate, mountain herbs, and woodsy spice. Medium- to full-bodied with chalky tannins, bright acidity, and a salty, iron-laced finish. Decant generously or cellar through 2035.

• Braised beef cheeks or short ribs — the wine’s structure and dark fruit depth are built for slow-cooked meats.
• Grilled lamb chops with rosemary — the herbal and spice notes mirror the wine beautifully.
• Aged Manchego or Serra da Estrela cheese — Iberian cheeses that complement the Douro’s earthy complexity.

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir That Delivers Oregon Elegance at an Everyday Price

Wine By Joe is the approachable label from Joe Dobbes, one of Oregon’s most experienced and celebrated winemakers. Sourced from Willamette Valley vineyards, the 2022 Pinot Noir is a textbook expression of what makes Oregon Pinot so compelling: fragrant, silky, and fruit-driven, with the lively acidity and balanced structure that make it equally at home at a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. A Wine Enthusiast 90-point Best Buy.

Expert Reviews

• Wine Enthusiast — 90 pts (Best Buy): "This is the kind of wine you want to find when you’re looking for the perfect porch or picnic pour. Lively acidity, a crisp mouthfeel, and all the fruit you can handle. Aromas and flavors of blackberries, lemon sorbet and a touch of cedar are framed by velvety tannins. Great value here."

Winemaker Notes

Fragrant and floral aromas of hibiscus and dried rose petal combined with bright cherry, dried cranberry, and a hint of black licorice. A medium-bodied entry leads to a silky mid-palate of dried Bing cherry, black tea, light sandalwood, and cedar. Well-balanced with youthful yet integrated tannins and moderate acidity that lingers into a medium-long finish.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Producer: Wine By Joe / Joe Dobbes
• Vintage: 2022
• Closure: Screwcap
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Highly versatile — exceptional with roasted salmon, grilled chicken, mushroom dishes, pizza, burgers, and casual weeknight meals.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

The Wine Enthusiast by Christina Pickard writes 92 Points | 2020 was a stellar vintage across New York State, despite the challenges of picking in a pandemic year. This charmingly demonstrates Long Island's prowess with Merlot. A fragrant fruit salad perfume of summer berries with subtle purple flower, vanilla and baking spice tucked beneath. It's supple, structured and harmonious, with firm, sappy tannins and a crunch of acidity.  

Winemaker Description

The Grapes of Roth is Winemaker Roman Roth's private label, and a true testament to his classic, yet adventerous, wine-making style. Wonderful dark cherry fruit with well integrated oak, classic graphite and great minerality is complimented by a very savory and elegant finish.

Dark red brick in color. Elegant aromas of cassis and fine toasted sandalwood fill the glass. The mouth-feel is rich and concentrated, yet balanced with wonderful fruit of plumbs, prunes and amazing minerality. The finish has layers of ripe tannins and nicely toasted oak with fine classic earthiness, leather and iodine notes. The fruit and alcohol provide great length and make this a very special Merlot that possesses great aging potential and is the perfect partner with food.

This is a wine to be aged. It has a huge maturation curve ahead and will gain many more nuances and facets. Serve just at room temperature. Pair this Merlot with dishes you might think of for big, bold wines: steak, cassoulet, duck and decadent dark chocolate desserts. 

Memo Summary Notes

The 2020 Wölffer Estate "The Grapes of Roth" Merlot is widely considered a benchmark for Long Island winemaking. It is the personal label of Wölffer’s longtime winemaker, Roman Roth, who uses it to showcase a more robust, "Right Bank" Bordeaux style that proves Merlot can be both powerful and sophisticated.

The 2020 vintage was particularly stellar for New York, recently earning the #100 spot on the Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wines of 2025.

Warehouse stored item - please allow two to five business days to fulfill.

White Horse wines embody the strong heritage and high quality of Wölffer Estate. Cabernet Franc, under the care of our outstanding vineyard crew, brings forth one of the most exciting and interesting red wines Long Island can produce. This wine has an elegant aroma, fruit-forward flavor and great intensity. This wine will age beautifully and is a perfect companion to food. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Australian Wine Companion 91 Points | Yalumba continues to grace us with a range of wines made from viognier, from entry-level to aspirational, that convey a deep understanding of both the variety and site. Pale straw with green flashes and aromas of lemon, grapefruit and apricot along with hints of lemon sorbet, wildflowers, a liminal whiff of white pepper and stone. Flecks of dried herbs join in on the palate, which is stony and savoury, lingering nicely as it fades away. A great introduction to the variety. 

James Suckling 91 Points | A fresh, juicy and precise viognier with aroma of peaches, apricots and fresh flowers. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Vivid and playful, with a refreshing finish.

Producer Description 

With 175 years of unbroken independence, Yalumba continues to make wine at its founder's home estate under the direction of the same family today. Samuel's Collection honors Yalumba's founder Samuel Smith, his spirit of independence and conviction to invest in the land and make great wine.

Pure aromas reminiscent of fresh apricots, lifted ginger, saffron and fresh white flowers. The palate is long, rich, and luscious, with intense and expressive stone fruit flavors finishing with an alluring freshness. This wine will continue to grow and develop in the bottle, firstly showing enhanced apricots and spice, then honey flavors and toast complexity.

Enjoy with a Moroccan tagine and couscous, or baba ghanoush.

Winemaker Description

Exclusively crafted under the meticulous care of the Herzog family and Herzog Wine Cellars’ head winemaker, David Galzignato, the Yesod wine series features three ultra-premium single-vineyard wines. Each wine is sourced from some of the most acclaimed vineyards in Napa Valley, California, and are a testament to the family’s rich history and the ambitious vision for Herzog Wine Cellars.

Expert Reviews

Robert Parker 95 Points | Brilliant aromas of black cherries and cassis jump from the glass, as the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak Edcora Vineyard bursts with fruit. All Cabernet Sauvignon, from a site that neighbors Stagecoach Vineyard, this is a medium to full-bodied, densely concentrated example of mountain fruit, yet it's one that is not harsh or tough, with well-ripened tannins and a plush, lingering finish. Bravo. 

Jeb Dunnuck 94+ Points | All varietal, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Peak Edcora Vineyard is another deep purple-hued wine in the lineup with tons to love. Pure cassis, graphite, leafy herbs, and damp earth-like nuances all shine here, and it's medium to full-bodied, with beautiful mid-palate depth, ripe, integrated, yet ample tannins, and a great finish. It offers pleasure today, yet I see no reason this shouldn't evolve for 15+ years if well stored. It's another gorgeous Cabernet Sauvignon in the vintage. 

The Wine Independent 97+ Points | Deep garnet-purple in color, the single-varietal 2021 Peak Edcora Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon charges out of the gate with bold notions of creme de cassis, blackberry pie, and boysenberry preserves followed by nuances of dark chocolate, camphor, and black olives. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit and savory layers, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering minty note. 

Zardetto Z Brut Prosecco — Veneto DOC NV

Zardetto is one of the Veneto’s most respected Prosecco producers, crafting wines of consistent freshness, vibrancy, and approachability from the heart of the appellation. The Z Brut is the house’s signature expression — a fun, lively, and impeccably clean Prosecco that earned 90 points from both James Suckling and Wine Enthusiast. Dry, light-bubbled, and endlessly versatile, it is the Prosecco that belongs at every table, every aperitivo hour, and every celebration — at a price that makes it an everyday pleasure.

The nose is fresh and inviting: lemon, apple, citrus blossom, and lime. On the palate, it pops with light perlage and vibrant citrus flavors — plenty of fruit and intensity, medium body, and a clean, crisp finish that refreshes and invites another glass. The definition of easy, elegant drinking.

James Suckling 90 — “Plenty of fruit and intensity with sliced lemon and apple character. Medium body. Fresh finish. Light bubble. Dry.”

Wine Enthusiast 90 — “Fresh lemon, lime and citrus blossom frame the nose of this fun and lively wine. The palate pops with the light perlage and vibrant citrus flavors. Clean and crisp on the finish.”

• Producer: Zardetto, Veneto, Italy
• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Appellation: Prosecco Veneto DOC
• Varietal: Glera
• Style: Brut, dry
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon, apple, lime, citrus blossom, light perlage, vibrant acidity, clean crisp finish
• Serve: Well-chilled as an apéritif or in a Spritz
• Best Paired With: Oysters, light appetizers, charcuterie, soft cheeses, sushi; perfect in a Aperol Spritz or Bellini

Ninety points from two critics, priced for every occasion — Zardetto Z Brut is the Prosecco that makes every moment feel like aperitivo hour.

Zardetto | Prosecco DOC, Conegliano, Veneto, Italy | Brut | 187ml Split

Made from Glera grapes sourced from hillside vineyards northeast of Conegliano — the heartland of Prosecco DOC — Zardetto's Z Prosecco is bright, lively, and immediately appealing. A brief maceration preserves the Glera grape's natural citrus and tropical aromatics, while the second fermentation in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks locks in freshness and fine perlage. The 187ml split format is the perfect single-serve pour: for brunch, celebrations, or wherever a full bottle is one too many.

Grape: Glera
Method: Charmat (tank method)
Style: Brut
Drink: Now

Tasting Notes

• Sliced lemon, green apple, lime, and citrus blossom on the nose
• Light, lively perlage with vibrant citrus on the palate
• Medium body | Fresh, clean finish | Dry

Critical Acclaim

• 90 pts — James Suckling: "Plenty of fruit and intensity with sliced lemon and apple character. Fresh finish. Light bubble. Dry."
• 90 pts — Wine Enthusiast: "Fresh lemon, lime and citrus blossom... the palate pops with light perlage and vibrant citrus flavors. Clean and crisp on the finish."

Pairings: Aperitivo, oysters, light seafood, prosciutto, fresh fruit

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

The Wine Enthusiast by Elaine Chukan Brown writes 92 Points | Generous and energetic, this Cabernet Sauvignon joins flavors of baked cherries and cranberries with a sprinkle of spice, vanilla and mocha cream, and almost-tobacco spices. Fine, persistent tannins carry through a long finish. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2022 growing season began with a mild spring that warmed into a temperate summer. The certified-organic grapes for this 2022 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon matured smoothly and steadily, with a heat spike in early September that helped ripen the fruit to an ideal brix.

95 Points, Double Gold Medal
San Francisco Int'l Wine Competition, 2025
94 Points, Platinum Medal
Monterey Wine Competition, 2025
Gold Medal Pacific Rim Int'l Wine Competition, 2025

Following ZD’s signature style of producing big, ripe, fruit-forward wines, we sourced the grapes from small, organically certified vineyards, each with its own unique “terroir.” Each vineyard lot was fermented separately in small open-top fermenters and punched down three times a day, ensuring a gentle but effective extraction of color and tannins.

The individual lots were then aged in small American Oak cooperage for a year until final blending. The wine was returned to barrel and aged for an additional year before bottling.

This wine has a beautiful, deep ruby color with nuanced aromas blending cassis, anise, cola, black cherry pie, and subtle hints of baking spices complemented with cedar and vanilla. On the palate, red and dark fruits are forward and bright with fine, well-integrated tannins that gives it an unctuous mouthfeel. Lingering hints of blackberry, cocoa and toasty vanilla round out the long, lush finish. The balance of this wine leads to it drinking wonderfully now and it will continue to develop more complexity with age.

ZD Wines Chardonnay — California 2023

ZD Wines has been crafting benchmark California Chardonnay for over 55 years, and the 2023 vintage — the estate’s 55th harvest — is a landmark expression of everything the house does best. Sourced from certified-organic grapes across three premier coastal appellations — Napa Carneros, Sonoma Carneros, and Monterey — the fruit is hand-harvested at night to preserve freshness, then 100% barrel-fermented in ZD’s custom-designed cellar at a cool 48°F. This long, cool fermentation maximizes lees contact for richness and depth while deliberately avoiding malolactic fermentation to preserve the wine’s signature bright coastal acidity. Ten months in 100% American oak adds complexity and the house’s hallmark crème brûlée finish. The 2023 earned 90 points and three Gold Medals in 2025 — Los Angeles Invitational, San Francisco Chronicle, and Pacific Rim International.

The color is pale yellow with a luminous hue. The nose bursts with ripe Asian pear, green apple, honeydew melon, pink grapefruit, and nectarine. On the palate, it is vibrant and richly textured — lemon curd, guava, and white peach are framed by mouthwatering acidity and a long, complex finish of crème brûlée and vanillin. Sunshine in a glass.

90 Points • Gold Medal — Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge 2025
Gold Medal — San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition 2025
Gold Medal — Pacific Rim International Wine Competition 2025

• Producer: ZD Wines, Napa Valley, California, USA
• Vintage: 2023 (55th Harvest)
• Appellation: California
• Sources: Napa Carneros, Sonoma Carneros, Monterey — certified organic
• Varietal: Chardonnay
• Harvest: Hand-harvested at night
• Vinification: 100% barrel-fermented at 48°F, no malolactic fermentation, 10 months in 100% American oak
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Asian pear, green apple, honeydew, pink grapefruit, lemon curd, guava, white peach, crème brûlée, vanillin, long finish
• Best Paired With: Lobster, grilled halibut, crab cakes, roast chicken, creamy pasta, soft-ripened cheeses

Fifty-five harvests, three gold medals, and zero malolactic fermentation — ZD’s California Chardonnay is the benchmark that keeps raising the bar.

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

James Suckling 90 Points | Aromas of raspberries, game, licorice and smoke. Full-bodied with dense, silky tannins and crisp acidity. Savory, ripe fruit with a slightly cooked finish, otherwise enjoyable and easy to drink.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

Decanter 94 Points | Refined and elegant with dark cherry, raspberry and purple florals overlaid by wild herb and balsamic hints. Sapid, stony and bright with gentle power, fine structure and a quietly unfolding complexity.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | From loess parcels, the 2021 Pinot Noir TS is from the Tschuppen. The purple-ruby colored wine opens with clear, fresh, well-defined cherry aromas with tart floral notes. Silky, fresh and elegant on the palate, this is a saline, tight and mineral, beautifully refreshing and tart-finishing Pinot Noir with tight but fine tannins and serious mineral acidity. From a remarkable terroir, this is a thirst-quenching Pinot of remarkable character, bone dry but irresistible. 12% stated alcohol. Tasted at the domaine in February 2024.

Importer Memo Notes 

Site: Tschuppen is a site at the top of the hill, loess over loam soils, vines are 12-20 years old.
Fermentation: Spontaneous  in stainless steel
Maceration: 6 Weeks on skins
Whole Cluster: 70% destemmed
Elevage: 2 years in large fuder, bottled without filtration

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

The Wine Advocate 97 Points | The 2020 Aluvional Gualtallary is more floral and expressive, a little more exuberant than the 2019 I tasted next to it. In 2020, they harvested some 10 days earlier than in 2019 (they started in February!), and the wines finished with similar alcohol levels (14%) and even with a slightly lower pH and higher acidity in 2020, so with very good freshness. They fermented with some 30% to 50% of stems in the vinification (they use grapes from three different vineyards that are vinified separately, all in the Monasterio part of Gualtallary) and matured the wine in concrete. This is very young, and the palate reveals the inner notes of thyme and rockrose, the violets and the small berries. The texture is akin to liquid chalk, a mineral and austere wine, with very fine tannins and a long, dry finish.