90 + Points | Critical Acclaim

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate Luis Gutierrez writes 97 Points | From the vines on the mid slope and has a very elegant, fragrant nose with notes of concentrated violet and a solid palate. The slate tannins give a talcum powder texture, and the wine opens up in the mid-palate, making it very expansive. In the long term, it seems like the slate gives a better palate and the granite is more nose.…This has the combination of the cooler year and the resilience of the slate soils, coming through as complex and elegant, powerful and concentrated but with an ethereal side to it too. Bravo!

Producer Description 

The Pizarra vineyards are found on red metamorphic slate soils, which are unique to the village of Cebreros, folded into the mostly granitic mountain range. This slate soil makes Cebreros unlike any other village within the Sierra de Gredos region. Pizarra soil is located above 950 meters, up to 1200 meters, mainly with an eastern orientation. 

The wines from here have a signature expression: they are always fresh, complex, direct, and profound. Pizarra is a limited production wine produced from over 60-year-old, bush-trained garnacha vines, yielding 15hl/ha from the vineyards of Arrebatacapas, La Redonda, La Curva, Fuente Fabian, and Presidente. The farming at Pegaso is organic, and the wines are made with low intervention and minimal sulfur at bottling.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Luis Gutierrez of the Wine Advocate 96 Points | The 2021 Pegaso Granito has a very clean nose and comes through as very approachable, with an elegant personality. They picked all grapes together (there were some unripe grapes) and fermented it all together. The wine has a medium-bodied palate, the granularity of the tannins is extremely small, and it has a very fine mineral sensation. It has incredible elegance and finesse, with lifted aromatics, high-pitched, acute, fine-boned and with the frontal tannins from the granite soils.

Producer Description 

Cebreros is both the name of the village and the appellation of origin in the southeast of the province of Ávila, within the greater Sierra de Gredos region, the mountainous area located on the continental divide of Spain. The region is unspoiled, wild, rustic, full of energy and light, and as authentic as it gets. It is a transitional zone where northern Spain gives way to southern Spain. The wines from the Sierra de Gredos mountains to the west of Madrid (aka Vinos de Madrid) have finally begun to claim their rightful place alongside other top wine regions focused on producing world-class garnacha. For many insiders, the region is now leading the conversation about this Mediterranean garnacha grape, now understood to be indigenous to Spain. 

Whole clusters are picked by hand in small boxes, with a strict selection made in the vineyard. The clusters are de-stemmed, crushed, and fermented spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks and large neutral French oak foudres. The wine is then aged for 18 months in new and used 600L French oak barrels sourced from different forests.

92 Vinous: The 2018 Brut Nature Blanc de Noirs L'Arbre is such a pleasure to taste. Creamy and ample in the glass, the 2018 offers a compelling mix of Meunier richness and brighter, more saline accents that serve as an attractive counterpoint. Spice, dried pear, chamomile, dried flowers and ginger build nicely with time in the glass, leading to a vibrant, bracing finish. Disgorged: December, 2021.

Winemaker Notes

Antonio Galloni, VINOUS 92 : The 2021 Brut Nature Blanc de Sable is soft, understated and creamy. This is an especially finessed style of Chardonnay with no hard edges. Intensely floral aromatics meld into a core of citrus fruit. All the elements are so nicely balanced. There's so much to like. All that is missing is a bit of depth in the mid-palate. No dosage. Disgorged: April 2024.

Vinous 94: The 2018 Brut Nature Blanc de Sable, 100% Chardonnay from Cheney, is the most impressive of the five Champagnes I tasted from Vincent Cuillier. The Blanc de Sable straddles the line between Champagne and Coteaux Champenois. It has a beautiful, striking duality that works so well here. A kiss of French oak adds complexity. Like all the Champagnes here, the Blanc de Sable was bottled with no dosage, but the lack of sugar is not at all evident.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The white 2020 Blanco is a little closed, young, clean and tender with subtle oak. They produced a little bit more in 2020, and the wine has less oak and less buttery sensations, a change that started with the 2017 vintage, which seems to have found its style harvesting earlier to retain freshness; it has 13.04% alcohol and a pH @ 3.23 and matured in larger oak containers, 500-liter oak barrels and some concrete for 12 months. It's floral and expressive, a blend of Viura with 20% Garnacha Blanca that they still consider work in progress but moving in the direction they want to go. 16,200 bottles and 100 magnums were filled in March 2022.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

James Suckling writes:  A delicious, creamy white with aromas of apricots, baked peaches, hazelnuts, white chocolate and nougat. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a ripe and creamy palate. Lovely buttery pastry and nougat character, with a fresh finish. Drink now  - James Suckling 93

Pedro Ballesteros MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW, Pierre Monsour write:  Round and warm on the nose, with fine notes of smoke. A mouth-filling wine that's fresh and expressive.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.  - Decanter 90

Winemaker Notes

Contino Blanco 2020 shows a very intense nose, marked by its aging in barrel. It is fresh and fruity wine, a true reflection of the identity of our vineyard. San Gregorio offers a Garnacha Blanca with great complexity and volume. The soils are clayey-calcareous, with medium stoniness, key for good drainage.

Blend: 80% Viura, 20% Garnacha Blanca

Expert Reviews

James Suckling 98 Points | Loads of wet earth and grape aromas with hints of stems. Old vine aromas of bark and moss. Full-bodied, sweet and structured with a big kick on the end. Very impressive. Exceptional layers of fruit and energy. A stronger and more muscular Warre.

Wine Spectator 97 Points | Lush and inviting in feel, with a beautifully creamy texture that lets plum sauce, blueberry reduction and raspberry pte de fruit flavors glide along effortlessly. Notes of violet, anise and black tea are beguiling in the background before melding seamlessly on the finish. This shimmers with fruit, balanced by depth and spine. Best from 2035 through 2055.

Wine Advocate 96 Points | Relatively accessible, this still shows some impressive firmness to go with its fine concentration. An elegant wine this may be, as Charles Symington called it, but it is still admirable for its structure, even if the whole package is a little understated. Its fruit and mid-palate are nicely supported by moderate tannins. It evolves well with air, easily showing vivid and fresh fruit. It is beautifully textured as well. This is a fine Warre's Port, holding its own next to Dow, better than the 2016 Warre and a force in its own right. It is one of the best in a while. It is relatively accessible but not ready.

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | A ripe, floral wine that has many layers of black fruits with a fresh touch of acidity. The wine is dense while also elegant and poised with tannins and fruit already in balance. That suggests the Port will age relatively quickly. Drink from 2025.

Winemaker Descripton 

Whispering Angel is today's worldwide reference for Provence Rosé. Made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino), its pale color is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. The rewarding taste profile is full and lush while being bone dry with a smooth finish.

Highly approachable and enjoyable with a broad range of cuisine, Whispering Angel is a premium Rosé that you can drink from mid-day to midnight. 

This rose wine is delicate, clean and minerally. Pale salmon in color. Fresh peach and strawberry on the nose with plenty of red berry fruits. Full bodied and dry, with pink grapefruit and hints of peach on the palate, lively acidity and a long finish.

A beautifully made wine.

Whispering Angel Rose is made by Sacha Lichine and his team at Chateau d'Esclans, in La Motte en Provence, south France. Made from grapes grown from some of the most choice land in the surrounding region of la Motte en Provence, consisting primarily of Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino) and Cinsault.

Tasting Notes: A beautifully pale pink, which is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. Palate : Fresh red berry fruit characteristics with floral notes. Ripe and fleshy feel on the palate. Finish : Great concentration. Smooth and round finish.

Expert Review (2024 vintage)

James Suckling 92 Points: A well-rounded, focused and delicious rosé showing dried raspberries, frozen strawberries and mild spices on the nose. Medium-bodied with bright acidity. Balanced and driven, with a lively center palate and a persistent, flavorful finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Year’s Best US Chardonnay - Wine & Spirits Magazine

James Suckling 94 Points | Grilled pineapple, apricot, hawthorn, burnt lime and flint on the nose. It’s medium-bodied with bright acidity and a sleek, creamy texture. Balanced, fresh and long. Beautiful expression. From biodynamically grown grapes. Drink now or hold. 

Winemaker Description 

The 2019 'Dundee Hills Chardonnay' is a regional blend showcasing the best of the Dundee Hills AVA. Refined aromas of nectarines, honeysuckle, and bee pollen ascend from the glass, coalescing with notes of citrus peel. Layers upon layers of richness extend across the palate and crescendo to a seamless, persistent finish with lingering notes of lemon drop candy. 

This wine has the energy and drive to drink young or over the next decade. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered showing our commitment to minimal intervention winemaking. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Joe Czerwinski writes:  Whitehall Lane's 2019 Merlot Napa Valley actually contains 87% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Slightly candied cherry notes mark the nose, framed by vanilla and touches of dried tobacco, while the medium to full-bodied palate is succulent and juicy, textured without being overly rich or tannic.  Drinking 2022 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90

James Suckling writes:  Vibrant, fruity nose of ripe plums, raspberries, mulberries, licorice and nutmeg. Some chocolate orange, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins. Plush, round and succulent. Drink or hold.  - Wine Spectator 91

Tim Fish writes:  Refined and structured, with expressive red currant, toasty mocha and tomato leaf tones that gather tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029.  - Wine Spectator 91

Winemaker Description 

This Merlot offers notes of raspberry croissant, red currants, cocoa powder, and layers of graphite. The palate showcases fine, firm tannins alongside chocolate cherry lollipop, red plums, dried goji berries, and toasted brioche. It is supple in texture and shows attractive depth on the finish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

Wine Enthusiast - 91 Points The life of the party, this lucid, bombastic Savvy B offers up heady lime, lemongrass and pink grapefruit aromas, with a whisper of dried herbs below. There's a gently slippery quality to the texture. In rushes the limey acidity to dial it up a notch—or ten.

Winemaker Description

Pale Lemon in color, Whitehaven captures intense notes of grapefruit, passionfruit, lemongrass and white peach in this bold, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. Superbly structured and elegantly balanced, with fresh-snipped greens and citrus characteristics that blend effortlessly with notes of tropical fruit. Each glass boasts the long, clean finish of classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. With its bright character and crisp finish, Whitehaven Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully with a wide range of dishes. A chilled glass of Whitehaven is particularly refreshing alongside fresh seafood, spicy Asian dishes, grilled chicken or summer salads.

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

The Wine Advocate 95 Points | The more backward 2022 Pintas has the nose of a dry Port, all violets, ripe plums and aromatic herbs, with plenty of spices, toast and smoke from the élevage in French oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 20 months. It needs time to integrate the oak and polish the tannins. 

James Suckling 95 Points | Abundant dark fruit with touches of blueberries, delicate violets and graphite on the nose. On the palate it is fleshy and medium- to full-bodied, perfectly balanced by a refreshing spark of acidity that carries through to a clean, bright finish. Supple tannins. This is an old field blend of more than 40 varieties. Versatile and delicately structured. Drink now or hold.

The Wine Spectator 94 Points | Bursting with brambly boysenberry and blueberry fruit flavors and fragrant notes of mountain herbs, graphite and woodsy spices, this fresh, focused red shows concentration and length in an appealing, medium-bodied frame. There's a chalky feel to the integrated tannins, providing fine structure through the finish, which echoes fruit and spice elements, with a salty, iron-laced tang. Classy. Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz and Rufete. Drink now through 2035.

Winemaker Description 

Full-bodied and deep, Pintas shows spicy and floral aromas and flavors of blackberry and dark chocolate. Ripe, round, and balanced with notable acidity, it has fine tannins and a long, persistent finish.

The harvest was planned for the second week of September in perfect weather conditions. All grapes previously selected and de-stemmed were foot trodden in stone lagares during all the fermentation process (10 days). The aging and malolactic fermentation was developed in french oak barrels during 20 months.

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

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. 

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. 

Winemaker Description

Pale and delicate pink with violet hues, obtained from short contact with Pinot Noir skins. Lively, elegant and persistent perlage. Fruity nose of golden apple, white peach and small berries, intermingled with floral notes of spring flowers. Exuberant, lively and fragrant on the palate. Refreshing acidity well balanced with fruitiness to create full, enveloping and almost creamy sensations. A modern trendy aperitif for discerning palates and a versatile companion to a variety of foods.

Zardetto Prosecco DOC Rosé is the ideal companion of every joyful cheers with friends. At the same time, it is perfect with avocado and shrimp’s salad, cream cheese tarts and raw shellfish. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews

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

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

90 Points, Gold Medal Los Angeles Invitational Wine Challenge, 2025

Gold Medal San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, 2025

Gold Medal Pacific Rim Int'l Wine Competition, 2025

Tasting Notes

The 2023 vintage presented ideal growing conditions for our Chardonnay, resulting in an exceptional expression of this varietal. A long, mild growing season allowed the grapes to reach optimal ripeness while maintaining vibrant acidity. This was a great year for ZD’s 55th harvest producing world class wines!

Organically certified grapes from three core appellations (Napa and Sonoma Carneros, and Monterey) were hand harvested at night and 100% barrel fermented in our custom-designed cellar room at a cool 48°F. This long, cool fermentation ensures optimal lees contact for richness and depth, and helps to prevent malolactic fermentation, thus preserving the bright natural acidity from our coastal vineyard sites. The wine rested for 10 months in 100% American Oak barrels which contributes to a heightened complexity.

This Chardonnay displays a pale-yellow hue hinting at a delight for your senses. Aromas bursting of ripe Asian pear, green apple, honeydew melon, and pink grapefruit mingled with nectarine notes. The palate follows through with a distinct richness of lemon curd and balanced flavors of guava with white peach. The acidity in this wine is mouthwatering. In ZD’s signature California Chardonnay style, the wine is vibrant, complex, and finishes with flavors reminiscent of crème brûlée and vanillin notes, resulting in a long-lasting mouthfeel.

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

Winemaker Notes

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.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 93 Points | Brooding and inky. Lots of warm stone, mussel shells and iodine to the deep, fresh purple fruit and violets. Broad and nicely chewy and fresh on the palate with a full body and a long, pristine and tightly wound finish. Grapes from Paraje Altamira and Los Chacayes. Better in two more years.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2023 Q Malbec aptly summarizes the profile readers can expect throughout the Zuccardi portfolio: poise, balance and precision, regardless of price point. It leads with a vibrant, dark-fruited nose showcasing remarkable purity, followed by a sumptuous, enveloping palate. It concludes with a saturated, concentrated finish that remains lifted and focused.

The Wine Advocate 89 Points | An inviting red, with a wave of dried violet and wild herb notes melding with the chocolate-laced raspberry core, adding a loam element and mineral-tinged acidity on the finish around fine tannins. Drink now. 20,000 cases made, 17,000 cases imported.