90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wine & Sparkling Wine

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.

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | A silky, seductive and saline Côtes de Provence rosé with aromas of small berries, red currants and salt. It’s medium-bodied, succulent, fresh and playful, with a caressing texture and a vivid, saline finish. (2023). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Villa Antinori is a blend from various appellations within Tuscany. It offers good depth in a medium-bodied, approachable style meant for near-term drinking. In this context, it suffered from frost issues in the Merlot and the exceptional quality of the Sangiovese-based wines. Production was down nearly 50%.  Drinking 2024 to 2031.

Bruce Sanderson writes:  Cherry, pomegranate and plum aromas and flavors are the main themes in this dense red, punctuated with loam, spice, mineral and wild rosemary notes. Harmonious and solidly built, this picks up steam through the long, fruit- and savory-infused aftertaste. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Syrah.  - Wine Spectator 92

Winemaker Description:

Villa Antinori 2021 is ruby red in color. The nose is intense, intriguing and presents fruity notes of black cherries and plum jam together with hints of boxwood, tobacco, and vanilla. The palate is mouth filling with supple, velvety tannins sustained by outstanding freshness and pleasant sapidity. —winemaker

Our Professional Review 

Oscar Garcia Lead Wine Sommelier 67Wine.com  | One of Rioja's benchmark Crianzas. A well-rounded red that delivers a solid drinking experience. Late spring of 2017 I had the pleasure to be in Rioja and although a late frost damaged some of the buds, the quality in what survived is fairly consistent. 

Aromas of plum compote, cassis and notes of cinnamon and cloves. Medium-bodied with polished and pleasant tannins. Consistent and satisfying finish. Pair with beef-stews or any rice dishes such as Shrimp-fried rice.

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Our Professional Review 

One of the most classic and historic producers in all of Rioja. Medium-bodied with chew tannins with ripe red fruit flavors. Beautiful finish with a lively acidity.
- Oscar Garcia, Wine Buyer, 67wine

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2020

Characterized by a long growing cycle and perfect phenolic ripening. It produced wines with great aromatic intensity and fruit concentration, well-balanced between alcohol and acidity, and highly suitable for long aging.
grapes

100% Tempranillo from our own vineyards in Rodezno and Labastoda, with an average vine age of 40 years.

Manual harvesting in boxes, with cluster selection in the vineyards. The grapes are transported refrigerated to the winery to maintain their integrity. After rigorous quality control on optical sorting tables, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation occur naturally. Two years of aging in our own American oak barrels (new the first year and four-year-old barrels the second). We perform four traditional rackings by candlelight, from barrel to barrel. Bottled in June 2023.

Intense and brilliant garnet color with a vivid ruby rim. On the nose, it stands out for its high intensity, with notes of red fruits—raspberries, wild strawberries, and redcurrants— wrapped in a marked balsamic aroma of caramel, vanilla, toffee, and roasted coffee. On the palate, it is long, balanced, and fresh, with fine and silky tannins. A long finish, where the initial balsamic and fresh red fruit aromas characteristic of Viña Alberdi reappear.

Viña Alberdi is characterised by a notable food-pairing versatility. It is an ideal companion to appetisers, snacks and barbecues, perfect with rice, pastas and stews, and great with lightly-grilled meat and fish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

Luis Gutierrez writes:  The younger wine here is the 2020 Viña Alberdi, a versatile version of the Haro reds. It was produced with Tempranillo fermented in stainless steel and matured in American oak barrels for two years (it's sold as Reserva in international markets and Crianza in Spain). It has 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.6 and five grams of acidity. It has a classical nose of ripe fruit, American oak and spices, the subtle notes of forest floor, still young. The palate is velvety and very balanced with polished tannins. Approachable but should also age.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92

Zekun Shuai writes:  A classical, typical Rioja Alta red with elegant notes of vanilla, coconut, smoked spices and strawberries. Refined and suave, with fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Juicy and elegant. Really approachable now, but give it two more years to get more mushroom complexity.  - James Suckling 93

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

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

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

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

Winemaker Description 

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

Expert Review

90 Points Wine Enthusiast |  Fresh and vibrant, this classic Prosecco is exactly what we are all looking for: freshness, fun and fruitiness. Ample apple and lemon notes with a touch of white flower define the nose. These lead to a zippy palate that directly translates from the nose with loads of fresh apples and a touch of minerality.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Neal Martin writes:  The 2023 Chablis Sainte Claire has a delightful peachy bouquet that opens nicely in the glass. The palate is ripe and (again), a little honeyed on the entry–smooth in texture. Lightly spiced with a simple finish. Fine.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Vinous

Allen Meadows’ writes:  Moderate reduction overshadows the fruit so a quick aeration should be beneficial if you're going to open a bottle young. Otherwise the old vines are in evidence as there is both solid density and richness to the medium-bodied flavors that possess a seductive mouthfeel, all wrapped in a lingering finale. While this could also be enjoyed young, it could use better depth so a few years of keeping should prove helpful. Worth checking out provided you intend to cellar it over the next 2 to 4 years.  - Allen Meadows’ Burghound 

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.S

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | Fresh and fruity white that has notes of lemons, sliced pears.

Jeff Porter of the Wine Enthusiast 89 Points | This wine has a light, spritzy nose with bright lemon-lime notes and a subtle herbal touch. The flavors are fresh and zesty, leading to a tart, lively finish. It's a fun and tasty sipper, perfect for casual occasions or pairing with light, summery dishes like a fresh green salad or ceviche.   

James Button writes:  This Pinot Grigio, fermented using neutral yeast in stainless steel, offers up some soft melon and apple aromas, while the palate is fresh, stony and juicy, with a succulent peachy core.  - Decanter 90

Winemaker Description

Intense color, ruby reflections, shiny. Nose of black fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant, blueberry with toasted notes. Authenticity of the terroir through the tannic structure and fruitiness of the wine. The nature of the sandy-gravelly soil acts as a flavor enhancer and is found in the minerality of this wine.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

James Suckling 90 Points | Mulberries, dark plums, dried herbs, burdock and cigar box on the nose. Medium body with powdery tannins. Fruity, with fresh acidity and a flavorful, earthy finish. Drink or hold. 

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | From the slopes just west of Castillon, this is a ripe Merlot-dominated wine. A core of tannins and juicy acidity have combined into a savory wine that will be ready from 2023.

Winemaker Description 

Pèppoli 2022 is a bright ruby red color. The nose offers fresh impressions of red fruit, especially currants, strawberries, pomegranates, and hints of watermelon. Delicate floral aromas of dog rose, hibiscus and undertones of caramel complete the aromatic bouquet. Entry on the palate is mouth filling and savory, and is followed by fresh lively sensations with soft, supple tannins. Pèppoli 2022 closes with a full-flavored vibrant finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico Pèppoli, the entry-level offering from Antinori, is a fine introduction to the year that shows just how compelling this vintage can be. Bright, floral and beautifully lifted, the 2022 is all class. The understated, refreshing style is so compelling.  Drinking 2024 - 2030. 

Michaela Morris of Decanter writes 90 Points | This is surely Antinori’s highest volume Chianti Classico with almost one million bottles produced - that’s over 2.5% of the region’s annual production. Gracious and familiar, Pèppoli is like a cheerful postcard from the Chianti hills. It charms with glossy cherry, cinnamon and chopped basil. Accents of leather and smoky toast are properly demure. On the palate, fruit is at the fore: plump plum and blackberry compote meld effortlessly with light, smooth tannins that give just the slightest dusty tug. Finishes juicy.  Drinking 2024 - 2027. 

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico Peppoli is a youthful ruby magenta, and is highly expressive with lively aromas of grenadine, tangerine, fresh flowers, and fresh oregano. This carries seamlessly to the palate keeping all the buoyant vibrancy and fruit through a well-balanced and polished finish. It has fine tannins, and a flourish of toasted smoke cedar spice, with notes of dusty earth and a bit of iron rich gamy feel. Clean and balanced this is an excellent value to drink 2025-2032. 

Monica Lerner of the Wine Advocate writes |  This wine is like that adoring pesky little sibling who always manages to offer levity and good cheer. The Marchesi Antinori 2022 Chianti Classico Pèppoli offers an evergreen taste profile that features Sangiovese under an almost Pinot Noir-like spotlight. The wine is bright and pretty with Rainier cherry, orange peel, violet and earth. If you really want to push those buttons, you could interpret Pèppoli as the equivalent of a Langhe Nebbiolo or a good Valpolicella. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points | Based on equal parts Syrah and Grenache brought up in used oak, the 2022 Côtes du Rhône Mon Coeur is a little gem of a wine offering loads of sweet kirsch and darker berry fruits as well as some peppery Provençal herb and spice-driven aromas and flavors. It's medium to full-bodied, has wonderful purity, and a great finish. It's perfect for drinking over the coming 4-6 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.

Kristen Bieler of the Wine Spectator writes 90 Points | Lush and generous, with a lot of intensity and a floral lift to the notes of raspberry coulis and crushed cherry, this turns firm and structured on the palate, with grippy tannins and iron minerality driving the long finish. A hedonist's red, with a lot of warmth, weight and power. Syrah and Grenache. Drink now through 2028. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Tasting Panel 92 Points | Salty minerality leads the way in this lean, clean white. Lemon blossom and delicate, lacy notes of sugared green apple, marzipan, and pineapple are delectable.

James Suckling 90 Points | A crisp and easy-drinking white with pleasant citrus and mineral aromas and flavors, a medium body and a tight, flavorful finish. Super-clean and tidy.

Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This wine’s nose is a total showoff, wafting out of the glass like it’s on a mission to impress. It’s a graceful blend of orchard fruits with a flirty citrus blossom wink. The palate plays it safe, solid but not quite ready to party. Green apple skin and a salty kick on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Pale yellow in color with brilliant greenish reflections, enticing aromas of acacia flowers, citrus, tangerine, and hints of apricots and almonds. KRIS Pinot Grigio is lean and refreshing on the palate with hints of blossom and honey. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Audrey Frick writes:  A deep purple/magenta color, the 2023 Barbera D'Alba offers loads of fresh lavender, fresh blackberries, red plum, and delicate, fresh herbs, and spice. (I love the nose on this vintage.) On the palate, the wine has a fantastically refreshing feel and a clean finish, with a lot of charm and versality. Drink 2024-2030.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92

Winemaker Notes

G.D. Vajra Barbera d'Alba comes from a wonderful range of estate vineyards. It is fermented for an average of 20 days and ages no less than twelve months, in respect of the rhythm of nature. This is a fine blend, a charming wine, rich yet forward.

Our Barbera d’Alba is a joyous wine, graced by the complexity that arises from blending different terroirs. The long and gentle maceration is followed by a delicate aging so as to express the varietal fragrance and perfumes. The 2023 Barbera exhibits a brilliant purple hue. On the nose, this wine is a celebration of freshness, bursting with aromas of red berry juice, roses, and fresh plums, each wave adding to its vibrant energy. The palate is both crisp and juicy, offering a delightful drinking experience. It layers flavors of sweet red and black cherries, spices, and fresh dark berries, culminating in a melange of aromatics that defines the 2023 vintage.

Winemaker Description

This wine opens with enticing aromas of Meyer lemon, grapefruit, guava, and mango. The palate offers lush layers of lemon cream, peach, and papaya, elevated by notes of crisp lime zest. The cool, stainless steel tank fermentation delivers a beautiful freshness to the wine, while the subtle oak character from neutral French oak barrels adds body, complexity and depth.

Fumé Blanc pairs well with simple seafood and poultry dishes, and also holds up nicely with veal and pork. This wine has lively flavors that go well with spicy and ethnic cuisines such as Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Korean, Mexican and Southwestern dishes.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling 92 Points | A bright and crisp white with sliced lemon, lime and hints of grass on the nose and palate. Flowers too. Medium-bodied, fresh and vivid. Hints of green papaya. Firm phenolics frame it. Drink now. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Danielle Callegar of the Wine Enthusiast writes 90 Points | An earthy, savory nose is defined by aromas of damp soil, fresh coffee, dark chocolate, blackberries and pepper. On the palate, flavors of black cherry and mocha bring out the sweetness of the blackberries for a lush feel, but taut, textured tannins provide contrast. 

Winemaker Description

Nero d’Avola gives this wine a red passion color, hints of ripe fruit and an intense and harmonious taste. Immediate and direct but not trivial, it differs in the altitude at which its grapes are grown, which allows for a fresher wine, with delicate tannins and easy to drink style.

Winemaker Description

90 Points James Suckling | Creamy oak spices and chocolate to the elegant berries and plums. Medium-bodied on the palate with a fluid core of red fruit followed by soft tannins and a juicy, medium-length finish with a hint of cream. (2020). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2011

Wine Advocate 91 points | The dark ruby/purple color is accompanied by loads of cassis and cherry jam notes intermixed with hints of licorice, incense, roasted herbs and underbrush. Full, fleshy and already irresistible, this 2011 should drink well for a decade. One of the finest Simards made in many years, this estate has gotten serious now that proprietor Alain Vauthier is overseeing the winemaking. From a well-placed vineyard planted in decomposed limestone below Pavie, this sleeper of the vintage is a St.-Emilion fruit bomb. Robert M. Parker, Jr.

89-91 Points James Suckling | A wine with plum, berry and cherry character. Medium body with integrated tannins and a fresh finish. Better after 2015.

Vinous | Bright ruby-red. Sappy, pure aromas of plum syrup, black cherry, graphite and botanical herbs, lifted by a strong floral topnote. Dense, sweet and suave, with intensely flavored, slightly candied red fruit and floral elements. Finishes with rich, spreading tannins and vibrant red berry flavors. When I observed that this is denser and more refined than the very good Simard, I saw Pauline Vauthier's eyes light up: "It's so true: but there's nothing one can do," she said. "The high-density plantings at Haut-Simard [10,000 vines per hectare vs. Simard's 6,000] make all the difference." I would add that in a year like 2011, Haut-Simard's soil, which features more clay and less sand, also place it at an advantage.

Winemaker Description

This wine is rich and round, opening with aromas of Meyer lemon, apricot, vanilla, graham cracker, and buttered popcorn. The palate shows incredible depth with a full mouthfeel and layers of flavor. Ripe peach, pineapple, and caramel lead to hazelnut and baking spice notes on the finish.

This versatile Chardonnay pairs perfectly with seafood, poultry, white meats and dishes with cream sauces. Try preparations that include citrus, butter, cream, cheese, bacon, nutmeg, thyme, basil or toasted nuts.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling writes:  Mineral and sliced cooked apples with lemon zest and hints of vanilla. Medium-bodied with some phenolics and tension and a fruity finish. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 91

Audrey Frick writes:  The bright yellow 2022 Chardonnay Sonoma County is forward and ripe in the glass with aromas of ripe melon, tangerine, and sweet oak spices. Full-bodied, generous, and persistent on the palate, it has a rounded feel and a fresh lift on the finish. It’s a charming and ripe style to drink over the next year or two. Bottled under screwcap.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Generous and round, this shows notes of butterscotch, peach preserves and apple pastry on a ripe, creamy frame, with nutmeg and clove details on the finish. Drink now.   - Wine Spectator

Expert Ratings -Vintage 2019 

James Suckling writes:  Blueberry, blackcurrant, and black cherry in the nose with some sweet tobacco and moss. Full-bodied with chewy tannins that are polished and savory. Fruity yet reserved finish. Give this two or three years to open. Try after 2023.  - James Suckling 93

Jane Anson writes:  A Cru Bourgeois Superieur as of the 2018 vintage, giving a good display of understated Médoc charm with its 2019 vintage. Blackberry and black cherry fruits, firm tannins, well measured with an elegant frame. Violet edges to the colour also suggesting bright acidities, a little austere overall at this stage but great potential to develop over the next few years in bottle.  - Decanter 90

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | An aromatic white Cotes-du-Rhone with lots of floral aromas, including pink roses. Ripe and medium- to full-bodied. Long, creamy finish with a touch of fine tannins balancing this neatly. A cuvee based on viognier with small amounts of grenache blanc and roussanne. Drink from release.

Winemaker Description 

Yellow gold, clear and brilliant. Freshness on the nose marked by the distinctive aromas of Viognier; white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. On the palate it is fruity with plenty of richness and body. A well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance.

Critic Notes

Stuart Pigott writes:  A prototypical Cotes-du-Rhone with plenty of red fruit, candied orange and spicy aromas. Generous fruit on the medium- to full-bodied palate plus a good quantity of supple tannins. Long, moderately dry finish. A cuvee of 80% grenache and 20% syrah. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Kristen Bieler of Wine Spectator writes:  A tasty red, with floral and cassis notes up front underscored by graphite shavings, toasted mesquite, fresh pepper and a lick of vanilla. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now.

Expert Ratings

Georgina Hindle of Decanter 90 Points writes | Blue fruits and cola cubes on the nose. Linear and direct, this is powerful but restrained, with a core of dark, juicy fruits and a mineral undertow giving freshness and a velvety-smooth texture to the tannins. Needs more time to expand and be fully expressive, but this is nice and one I want another glass of. Can be enjoyed today with some time in carafe or hold on for a few more years. Drinking 2022 - 2029.

James Suckling 90 Points | Aromas of blackberries, sweet tobacco and some crushed stones follow through to a medium body with a pretty core of fruit and well-integrated tannins. Give it a year or two to soften. Drink after 2024.

Jeb Dunnuck writes | Black cherries, candied violets, spicy oak, and floral notes all emerge from the 2019 Château La Vaisinerie, a medium-bodied, soft, supple, nicely textured, and impeccably balanced Puisseguin. It's already drinking nicely and should have a solid 8-10 years of prime drinking.   - Jeb Dunncuk

Neal Martin writes | The 2019 La Vaisinerie has thankfully dispensed with the New World ambitions that I found on the nose before, now displaying more refinement and focus. The palate is medium-bodied and pure, with supple tannins, fine acidity and a sensual finish. I am happy to raise my score.  - Vinous

90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc

Winemaker Description 

In appearance, it’s a pale yellow, straw color. On the nose there are ripe Sauvignon Blanc aromatics with notes of white stone fruit, passion fruit pulp and kaffir lime. The palate is lively with deep concentration and a salinic acidity.

This wine will pair well with aperitifs, seafood and poultry. Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | One of the most impressive Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand is this single-vineyard planting. Unlike the vast majority of Kiwi Sauvignon Blancs, which hail from the Marlborough region at the northern tip of the South Island, Te Muna is located in Martinborough, at the southern tip of the North Island. The region’s cool climate and intense winds have been optimal for producing muscular Pinot Noirs, yet it turns out these conditions are ideal for Sauvignon Blanc as well, with the grapes’ thick, wind-blown skins adding intensity to the wines. Te Muna is divided into two dramatic terraces, with Pinot Noir growing in the decomposing soils of the upper terrace. But the greywacke stones and limestone on the lower terrace make a better match for Sauvignon Blanc. Since Craggy Range was founded by Terry and Mary Peabody in 1998, the quality of its distinctive wines has only become more impressive. A 1,000-year family trust shows how committed they are to the business. 72,000 cases imported.—MaryAnn Worobiec

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Fresh and precise, with lime, mango and passion fruit notes that are accented by crunchy sea salt, litsea oil, dried chamomile and fresh lemon zest on a mouthwatering, fleshy frame.  - :  Family-owned winery Craggy Range has an excellent reputation, and its entry-level Sauvignon Blanc shows a lovely purity and balance. The Martinborough region, at the southern tip of New Zealand's North Island, is a minor player size wise compared to the juggernaut that is Marlborough, but its wines are often more restrained in style. This elegant expression shows a lovely purity of gooseberry, blackcurrant leaf and lime fruit, with added weight from partial, short ageing in French oak.  - Decanter 90

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  The 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Te Muna Road probably won't be one for the history books. Modest in concentration and a little fleeting after what was a difficult season, it’s nonetheless attractive, clean and restrained. The 2023 is a less fragrant expression, with modest intensity of apple and pineapple, peach and citrus. Enjoy its dry, acid-driven tension in youth.  - Vinous

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous 90 Points | Vivid red. Spice-accented red fruit and floral scents. Weighty yet quite lively for the vintage, offering bitter cherry and red currant flavors that deepen slowly as the wine opens up. Finishes with solid grip, subtle tannins and spicy cut, leaving a suggestion of cherry pit behind.

Winemaker Description 

Established in 1982, Montinore Estate is one of the largest producers of certified estate wines made from Biodynamic grapes in the country. With their 200-acre Demeter Certified Biodynamic and Stellar Certified Organic vineyard located in north Willamette Valley in Oregon.

Winemaker Description

The Pommery Brut Royal shows a pale yellow color with light green accents. On the nose, it is vivacious and cheerful, fresh, easy, fine, delicate, and open. It has notes of citrus and white flowers combined with small berry notes. Elegant and vibrant in the mouth, it opens with initial notes of berries. 

The wine is round, ample, and delicate, with a nice finish. Clear end notes without any dryness. This wine is harmonious and never grows tiresome to the palate.

Enjoy it at any time of day or night.

Expert Reviews

Lettie Teague writes:  Champagne Pommery Brut Royal  - Although I’m generally not big on glossy Champagne boxes, the groovy Pommery package with its paisley design was pretty eye-catching; happily, the wine inside was good too. A lithesome, compulsively drinkable dry sparkler with notes of citrus and pear and a long minerally finish, the non-vintage wine is a blend of three main Champagne grapes—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier—in equal amounts.  Corporate-owned Pommery Champagne claims to have introduced the first successful dry “Brut” style Champagne to the world in 1874—it’s certainly a style they do well. A terrific aperitif.  - Wall St. Journal, Dec. 16-17, 2023

Winemaker Description

Deep color. Very expressive and complex nose with red fruits aromas. The mouth is rich with fines tannins and well-structured with cherry, plum and chocolate aromas. The finish is lightly spicy. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Jeb Dunnuck writes 88-90 Points | The 2022 Côtes Du Rhône Reserve checks in as 80% Grenache and 20% Syrah that's mostly from the limestone soils in Lirac. Blackberries, ripe cherries, peppery herbs, and floral notes all show, and it's medium-bodied, has a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, fine tannins, and a great finish. Readers looking for an impeccably made, high-quality Côtes Du Rhône to drink over the coming 5-6 years or more should grab some.  - Jeb Dunnuck 

Joe Czerwiński of the Wine Advocate writes | The tank-aged 2022 Cotes du Rhone Reserve Mont Redon is mostly from the Gard, with other components from Valreas and Tulette. Blended just before my summer visit last year, it's 75% Grenache and 25% Syrah, with energetic aromas of black olives, black berries and black cherries. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, it's round, soft and easy to drink. Enjoy it over the next few years. 

Matt Walls of Decanter writes |   Good depth of colour, really quite dark in the glass. Savoury mulberry, blackberry aromas, good sense of freshness. A very classic expression of Côtes du Rhône with good concentration and structure – no hurry to drink this. The tannins are just a little gruff perhaps, but you wouldn't notice with some hearty food. The word Réserve on the label means the wine is made from bought grapes (possibly supplemented by estate fruit). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

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

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

Winemaker Description 

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

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | 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

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.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 91 Points | This has quite an aromatic complexity, with spicy, floral and nutty notes. Charming and medium-bodied with a very satisfying balance of juiciness and citrusy freshness that lights up the long finish. A cuvee of 30% gewurztraminer, 23.5% pinot gris, 18.7% riesling, 18% sylvaner, 6% pinot blanc and 3.8% muscat.

Winemaker Description 

A kaleidoscope of grapiness, produced exclusively from hand harvested grapes in predominantly clay and limestone vineyards, from a dozen of the most favored localities in and around Riquewihr. Gentil Hugel allies the suave, spicy flavor of Gewurztraminer, the body of Pinot Gris, the finesse of Riesling, the grapiness of Muscat and the refreshing character of both Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description 

A harmonious Champagne in an aperitif style that appeals for its fine balance, lightly mouthwatering acidity and pretty flavors of ripe apple and raspberry fruit, pickled ginger, toast and lemon zest. Drink now.

Expert Reviews 

Lettie Teague of the Wall Street Journal writes | Nicolas Feuillatte Réserve Exclusive Brut,  Produced in very large quantities (over 10 million bottles yearly), this non-vintage bottling is produced by a sizable group of Champagne growers, too. Founded by Nicolas Feuillatte in 1976, the company now sources grapes from a staggering 6,000 growers—one out of every three growers in Champagne, according to the company’s press materials. The wine is an equal-parts blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier (40% each), with 20% Chardonnay blended in. It’s fresh and clean and easy to drink—a real crowd-pleaser—with a crisp acidity and pleasant citric note. According to a 2023 Nielsen report, in France it is the most popular Champagne brand of all. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018 

James Suckling writes:  Some nice, floral character to the plum and berry aromas and flavors. Some leaves. Medium-bodied with medium, polished tannins and a medium finish. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2018 Greysac has a well-defined bouquet of wild strawberry and raspberry fruit laced with cigar box and smoky aromas. The finely balanced palate offers sappy red fruit laced with black pepper and tobacco. I admire the cohesion here, and there is fine weight on the finish. Definitely a cut above a lot of Cru Bourgeois Médocs, though it deserves 2–3 years in bottle.  Drinking 2023 - 2030.   - Vinous 

James Lawther MW writes:  Big and bold with plenty of dark fruit and chocolatey oak. Sweet and generous on the palate, the oak again evident but integrated and the fruit present. Perhaps more winemaking than terroir.  Drinking 2023 -2028.  - Jancis Robinson 15.5

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 93 Points | Very aromatic, with raspberry, orange peel and floral aromas. Nice transparency. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a crisp, crunchy finish.

Danielle Callegari of the Wine Enthusiast writes 93 Points | The nose is fresh and balanced, with aromas of bing cherries, wild strawberries, fresh coffee and number 2 pencil. The palate stays balanced, with more cherries, strawberries and coffee, as well as denser notes of soil and dark chocolate, plus a compelling interplay between chalky tannins and electric acid. Always a great deal.

Wine Spectator 92 Points |  A fresh, expressive red, this also exhibits tension, lending energy to its black currant, cherry, licorice and cedar flavors. Graphite and salty accents add detail on the long, tightly wound finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2033. 15,000 cases imported. - 

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | Brimming with red fruit aromas, with notes of spices and dried herbs including laurel. Rich and fleshy, but with healthy tannins and an excellent freshness that drives the very harmonious finish. This producer’s biggest wine is a blend of wines from the left and right banks of the Rhone. Roughly 50-50 grenache and syrah. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

An intense wine with blackcurrant and raspberry notes complemented by notes of white pepper. Powerful and fruity on the palate with lovely roasted notes, and silky, delicate tannins.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

Eric Guido writes:  The 2022