90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wine & Sparkling Wine

Winemaker Description 

Attractive dark ruby-red and brilliant this classic Bordeaux is explosive, intense and complex at the same time. The palate entices due by its ampleness, richness, fullness as well as by the aromatic finish on the palate. Harmonious and long, the ideal accompaniment to a game such as leg of lamb with herbs or goat’s cheeses. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

Our Professional Review 

Debra of 67Wine.com writes | This fleshy medium bodied wine offers plentiful flavors of tropical fruit, baking spice, and zest, with an underlying subtle oak influence. Cambria Chardonnay Katherine's Vineyard is harmoniously balanced with ample acidity and a buttery, creamy mouth coating finish. 
- Debra, California Chardonnay Buyer 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

James Suckling 93 Points | Achieves excellent balance between a tangy feel and generous flavors. Quite toasty, flinty and nervy in aromas before a ripe, buttery palate delivers good richness and length. Minerals and sea salt on the nose, then bright pineapple, baked apple, butter and lemon zest on the palate.

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | Aromas of honey drizzled on ripe honeydew melon invite the nose into this comfortingly classic style of California Chardonnay. Toasted hazelnut and apple pie flavors on the palate are balanced by brisk lemon, cinnamon and star anise spices.

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Impressive for its intensity and harmony, with caramelized pineapple, ripe Bosc pear, papaya and apricot flavors at the core, accented by touches of wildflower honey, brown sugar and vanilla. Mouthwatering acidity keeps everything in focus.

Expert Reviews

Simon Field MW, Tim Hall, Anne Krebiehl MW of Decanter write 90 Points |  Meringue, hints of lavender with notes of molten candle wax on the nose. The palate brings out the fruitiness of fresh cut apple flesh, wild honey, and quince. Brisk and satisfying.

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.

Our Professional Review 

This old vines Pinot Blanc Auxerrois comes from steep slopes near the town of Colmar. It is elegant, yet complex and rich.  Delicate yellow plum and white berry fruit intermingles with stony minerality and a subtle hint of spice.   Rand Sieger - 67 Wine Buyer

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Vinous 91 Points | The 2023 Pinot Blanc Auxerrois Vieilles Vignes, from vines planted between 60 and 75 years ago, is a pure Auxerrois. The palate is unusually smooth and fluid, just flowing and bright. This moves with poise and grace, living off its smooth texture and surprising freshness. The 2023 is exceptionally serene. (Bone-dry)

Winemaker Notes

Our Professional Review 

Oscar Garcia Moncada of 67Wine.com | Typically, Saturday nights are a time to gather with family friends and avoid the chaos of crowded restaurants. As a seasoned New Yorker, I've found solace in hosting tapas-style dinner adventures at home. During a recent Saturday night, I selected the Elena Walch Pinot Grigio Alto Adige DOC to accompany a classic Chicken Waldorf Salad, elegantly served in delicate Bibb lettuce leaves. This salad recipe holds a special element of sentimentality, as I mastered the recipe during my culinary school days. 

The creamy texture and tangy acidity of the salad harmoniously blended with the refreshing green apple and pear flavors found in the Elena Walch Pinot Grigio. To my delight, there was also a subtle hint of stony minerality that added an unexpected layer of complexity to the pairing. 

The combination was an absolute success, as the simplicity of the salad beautifully complemented the well-structured aromas and flavors of the wine. It was an evening filled with delight and satisfaction, reminding me of the joy that can be found in the comfort of home.  

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 93 Points | A good, complex wine, the leesy character enhancing the citrus and stone fruit with subtle minerality and a whiff of flowers. Vibrant and silky, this is well balanced on the palate with medium body and refreshing acidity

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

Vinous 94 Points | The 2022 Côte de Baleau has an expressive nose with clean and precise blackberry, graphite, pressed violet and iris scents. The palate is medium-bodied with a little more flesh than the Poujeaux. It's crisp, focused and mineral-driven, with plenty of energy on the finish derived from the limestone part of the vineyard. This is superb.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc aged 25% new oak, the 2022 Château Cote De Baleau has a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a brilliant nose of smoky red and black fruits, spring flowers, graphite, and crushed stone. I love its overall purity, and it's medium to full-bodied and has a silky, elegant mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and a great finish.

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | This is stylish, with a core of mulled black cherry and black currant fruit that glides through, laced with chestnut, violet and alder hints, all backed by a tug of warm earth on the lengthy finish. Solid. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2027 through 2038. 4,500 cases made.

James Suckling 93 Points | Very elegant with blackberries, black olives, spice and a hint of cedar on both the nose and palate. It's medium-bodied with well-integrated tannins that provide both length and beauty. Hard not to drink now. A blend 90% merlot and 10% cabernet franc. Try after 2028.

Decanter 93 Points | RIpe blackcurrants and soft scents of vanilla and clove on the nose. Juicy and lively with lovely crushed stone, powdery mineral tannins that support the fruit and don't overwhelm. This has a vein of spice running all the way through that gives a nice counter to the fruit and high acidity. It feels well worked with purity and precision. Really easy to enjoy with subtle power and lots of life.

Memo Summary Notes

The Château Côte de Baleau 2022 is a standout Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Classé that has gained significant traction since its acquisition by the Cuvelier family (who also own the prestigious Clos Fourtet). The 2022 vintage is particularly lauded by critics as a "best value" of the year, offering high-level Bordeaux elegance without the typical triple-digit price tag.

Classic Right Bank pairings work best—think grilled lamb chops with rosemary, beef tenderloin, or earthy mushroom dishes.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous by Eric Guido writes 90 Points | The 2022 Etna Rosso wafts up with a perfumed blend of rosy florals and hints of juniper berry. This is vividly fruit-focused, with a wave of ripe wild berries and sweet spices that flow across a stream of brisk acidity. It leaves a staining of primary concentration and mildly grippy tannins to resonate as violet inner florals slowly fade. While more extroverted than expected, the 2022 is a total pleasure to taste and maintains fantastic balance. 

Winemaker Notes

Benanti Etna Rosso is pale ruby red in color. The bouquet is ethereal and intense, with spicy red fruit aromas. Well balanced and medium-bodied, with a mineral-rich complexity, pleasant acidity and a saline freshness on the long and lively finish.

A versatile wine that can be paired with red meats and cheeses but also with fish or white meats. Very suitable for by-the-glass consumption.

Expert Reviews

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 91 Points | The NV Brut Rosé (base 2020) is another wine that points to the progress Mathieu Roland-Billecart has made here in recent years. Pliant, creamy and super-expressive, this edition is striking. It has a good bit of textural richness and is fresher than the 2018 tasted alongside it. Of course, some of that may be as simple as time in bottle. Pomegranate and grapefruit are laced into the brisk, finely cut finish. This release is based on 2020, with 46% reserve wines back to 2014. Dosage is 4.7 grams per liter. Disgorged: second trimester 2023.  Drinking 2024 to 2030.

Tim Hewson of Decanter writes 92 Points | Based on the 2020 vintage, Billecart-Salmon's signature rosé appears to be on its finest form of recent years under cellar master Florent Nys, full of fragrant, crunchy redcurrant, red cherry and orange fruit with an alluring hibiscus-like floral lift and subtle green peppercorn spicing. The Meunier wraps the intensity of the vintage base in a little softness that keeps the focus on effortless ease (helped by the selection of delicate Chardonnays and young, fresh reserve wines), all adding up to a rosé of immediacy and charm, sweet-natured without sweetness and fragrant without overt fruitiness. 40% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Pinot Meunier.  Drinking 2024 to 2027.

Our Professional Review

This beautifully crafted Super Tuscan will impress everyone at the table with its succulent fruit, plush texture and savory complexity. Aromas of cherries, plums and blackberries on the nose with some lovely spice and floral notes. Full and robust in the mouth with ripe tannins and terrific balance, this delicious red will grace the table with flavor and food friendly panache. - Bart, 67 Wine Buyer

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 91 Points | Aromas of ripe dark berries, plum skin and blueberry jam with hints of blue flowers, dried oranges, spices and cedar. Juicy and tense on the palate, with firm tannins and impressive fruit concentration. Succulent and easy to drink. Drink now or hold.

Vinous Media 90 Points | The 2022 Le Sughere di Frassinello is bold, racy and super-expressive right out of the gate. Black cherry, spice, leather and a kiss of French oak open first. This aromatic, inviting coastal red has so much to offer in its engaging personality. 

Winemaker Description 

Deep ruby color, with a broad bouquet of red fruits. It has great substance in the mouth, with soft and round tannins and a long and enveloping finish.

It pairs well with full-flavored pasta and rice dishes, and game such as deer, wild boar, hare. Also recommended with birds such as wild duck.

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2023

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | For the first time, the 2023 Pinot Noir Willamette Valley from Résonance is made entirely from estate fruit. Matured for 17 months in 30% new French oak, it has pure scents of pomegranate, burnt orange peel, pepper, mossy bark and mushrooms. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled with layers of earth-laced fruit and seamless oak integration. It’s framed by velvety tannins and bright acidity and has a long, layered finish.

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | An elegantly structured red, with vibrant cherry and pomegranate flavors laced with black tea and forest floor tones that build tension toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2033. 

James Suckling 92 Points | The French-owned winery’s most widely available pinot noir is fragrant in rose petals, cedar and potpourri, then delicious black and blue fruit flavors on a medium body. Moderate tannins and a cool, balanced texture carry the flavors to a lingering finish.

Memo Summary Notes

The Resonance "Louis Jadot Estates" Pinot Noir 2023 is a landmark wine representing the first venture of the legendary Burgundian house, Maison Louis Jadot, outside of France. It is widely praised for bringing a "Burgundian soul" to Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Produced by the Résonance team, led by Guillaume Large and the legendary "retired" Jadot winemaker Jacques Lardière.

Pairs exquisitely with pan-seared duck breast with cherry sauce, roasted veal, mushroom risotto, or grilled salmon.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024 

The Wine Enthusiast by Jeff Porter writes 93 Points | A stunning wine from a vastly underrated region, this wine opens with vibrant orchard fruits and cascading spring blossoms, creating a seductive aromatic cloud that pulls you into the glass. The dynamic palate dazzles with tart fruit, almond skin, and peach stone complexity, while fresh herbs add layers of intrigue. This brilliant Gavi captures both immediate pleasure and serious aging potential. Drink Now - 2035.

Winemaker Description 

Color  is straw yellow, with slight greenish hints. Offers a particularly fine mineral feeling and notes of fruit and white flowers. Mouthfeel is lively, balanced, with a fresh acidity, which increases its persistance and favours its drinkability.

A slight almondish finish.

Perfect pairing - Excellent as aperitif, paired with hors d’oeuvres and fish ragú or vegetable first courses. It is the perfect match also for seafood.

The vineyard's soil at La Raia is calcareous and clayey, it's approximately 400 metres above sea level with a south-east and south-west exposure. The vineyards surround the cellar, with an average density of 4500 plants per hectare. In accordance with the farm’s core philosophy and in line with the biodynamic principles, the vines are farmed without the use of any chemicals.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 92 Points | Dark spices, blackberries, warm stones and hints of black vanilla, walnut and oyster sauce. Tannins are tight and chewy on the medium- to full-bodied palate and need some time to soften. Better in 2025 but already delicious.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2020 de Bel-Air has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and pretty notes of crushed raspberries and blackberries, kirsch and lavender, plus wafts of fallen leaves, wild mushrooms and damp soil. Medium-bodied, the palate is delicately styled with loads of savory characters intertwined with red and black berries layers, framed by soft tannins and just enough freshness, finishing on an earthy note.

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | Another terrific wine in the vintage, the 2020 Château Bel-Air Cuvée Jean & Gabriel checks in as equal parts Merlot and Cabernet Franc raised in one-third new French oak. Redcurrants, sandalwood, cherries, and leafy herbs all define the aromatics, and it's medium-bodied, with a seamless, balanced mouthfeel and outstanding length. It's well worth seeking out and has 8-10 years of prime drinking ahead of it.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir Sta. Rita Hills is a terrific base appellation release, with redcurrants, framboise, peppery herbs, and floral nuances on the nose. Medium-bodied, pure, supple, and well-structured on the palate, it has integrated acidity and ripe, polished tannins. Fermented with 40% whole cluster and aged in neutral wood, it’s beautifully done and worth a case purchase.

The Wine Advocate 92+ Points | Tasted just three weeks after its bottling, the 2023 Pinot Noir Estate is already showing beautifully. The nose presents powerful dark fruit and citrus peel aromas with spry energy, notes that are mirrored on the silky, refined palate. It finishes with a lovely balance between saturated fruits and a powdery, subtly drying structure. I look forward to checking back on this after a bit more time in bottle

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | Brisk and fresh, with pine and savory notes peeking out from a core of strawberry and raspberry coulis. The finish is light-bodied but sleek. Drink now through 2027. 6,066 cases made.

Memo Pairing Suggestions

Serving & Pairing

• Food Pairings: Its high acidity and savory notes make it versatile. It pairs well with mushroom risotto, grilled pork chops, or even a tuna poke bowl.

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

James Suckling 92 Points | A very generous, luscious and focused chardonnay with a good core of fruit and spices, bright acidity and a textural, rounded mouthfeel. Well made, poised and stylish.

Winemaker Notes

Expert Review - Vintage 2020

James Suckling 91 Points | Notes of spiced cherries, spices, and dried citrus peel, with fine tannins and a fine finish.

Winemaker Description

Dark ruby in color, its bouquet of leather, earth, herbs, black cherries, licorice and plums is confirmed on the medium to full-bodied palate - round, spicy, elegant, attractively fruity and extremely versatile.

Memo Summary Notes

That is a well-known and consistently excellent value Tuscan red! The Monte Antico Rosso Toscana IGT 2020 is an approachable blend that captures the spirit of the region.

This is a versatile red wine designed for the table. It pairs beautifully with classic Tuscan fare:

• Pasta: Hearty sauces like Ragù (meat sauce) or mushroom pasta.

• Pizza: Especially those with meat or robust toppings.

• Meats: Grilled sausages, pork chops, or simple steaks.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 95 Points | A youthful wine full of fruit, showing intense fresh roses, black cherries and plums. The generous nose is supported by a lush, supple palate with medium body. Velvety tannins with a chalkier finish and refreshing length. 

The Wine Spectator 92 Points | Full of savory, umami flavors, this red evokes earth, leather, sweet spice, cherry, plum and Szechuan peppercorn notes. Firm and dry, with broad tannins and a lingering kernel of cherry. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Best from 2027 through 2040. 

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2022 

Marchese Antinori Chianti Classico Riserva 2022 is intensely ruby red in color. Impressive on the nose with intense notes of black cherries, delicate floral hints of violets and rose petals that lead over to notes of vanilla and cocoa powder. Entry on the palate is mouth filling and lively then unfolds with great balance revealing supple vibrant tannins that accompany and sustain a long, sapid and persistent finish.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020

James Sucking 94 Points: A discrete and savory nose of blackcurrants, tobacco leaves, coffee beans and dried herbs. The palate is full-bodied with silky tannins, bright acidity and notes of dark cherries, olives and beets. A blend of 83% cabernet sauvignon, 10% merlot, 6% petit verdot and 1% malbec. A well-balanced wine that will age gracefully. Drink or hold.

Wine Enthusiast 92 points: The expressive nose of this wine gives aromas of black currant, plum and tobacco, with just a whisper of capsicum. The palate displays vibrant cranberry, black cherry, cigar and black pepper flavors in a medium-bodied frame.

Winemaker Notes:

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

The Wine Advocate 92+ Points | The young and juicy varietal 2024 Garnacha was produced with grapes from different villages—Corella, Cintruénigo, Fitero and Lerga, that last one included since 2020—from a cooler place that adds lower pH, more freshness and complexity to the blend. It was a low-yielding year but with more rain. They did a soft extraction in stainless steel using 10% full clusters and indigenous yeasts, achieving a wine with moderate alcohol (13.38%), good freshness (pH 3.39) and 5.4 grams of acidity. It's very primary and fruit-driven with tons of aromatic herbs, juicy, clean and easy to drink, very pleasant, with an extra spark of freshness. 

VInous 90 Points | The 2024 Garnacha Tinta Viña Zorzal is a blend from multiple villages in Navarra. The intensely fruity, expressive nose presents notes of sour cherry, raspberry and rose alongside sanguine undertones. The texture has grip, with fine, reactive tannins and a lingering reductive note that highlights the fruit. Juicy and savory—this is Garnacha made in a distinctly Navarra style. 

Winemaker Description

100% Garnacha from different plots in the Fitero village. Spontaneous fermentation in tank.

Memo Summary Notes

The Viña Zorzal Garnacha 2024 from Navarra, Spain, is widely celebrated as one of the best "bang-for-your-buck" red wines in the world. Produced by the Sanz brothers, it focuses on old-vine Garnacha (Grenache) and minimal intervention to showcase a pure, crunchy, and vibrant fruit profile.

Pairing: Its high acidity and low tannin make it perfect for tapas (chorizo, olives, manchego), wood-fired pizza, or even grilled salmon.

Winemaker Description

Hinia takes its name from the fossilized shells found in the soil from a time when the whole region was under the sea. This is a typical, classic, Rioja blend — fresh and smooth with well-balanced acidity and tannins. It has an intense cherry red colour with notes of ripe black fruit, an elegant range of balsamic notes with tobacco leaves, caramel, vanilla and chocolate. Aged for 36 months in American oak, alcoholic and malolactic fermentation took place naturally. A homage to the refined classic wines from Haro.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2012 

96 Points Decanter | Classic and delicious showing tertiary notes of cigar box, incense, old leather, cigar box and tomato leaf. The palate is silky with well-handled oak, a vibrant rail of fresh acidity and mellow, integrated tannins. Complex wine and very representative of classic Rioja.  Gold, Olivia Mason, Decanter World Wine Awards. (2012). 

Tim Atkin 92 Points |  Hinia is a new Reserva brand from the under-rated Martínez Lacuesta operation that’s still impressively fresh and lively for a 2012 red. Partnering Tempranillo with 10% Graciano and 5% Mazuelo, it’s a nice cross over between a modern and traditional style, with balsamic American oak sweetness, bright acidity and good focus and minerality. 2023-29. Tim Atkin’s Rioja Report 2023. (2012). 

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.

Winemaker Description

Broad, ripe black fruit and spice aromas, with notes of pepper, toasty vanilla and Mediterranean scrub. On the palate, the wine has a robust, concentrated character, a firm structure, and small black fruit and licorice notes on the aftertaste.

“Piluna” translates into “pot of clay” or an ancient container used to store water or wine.

Terroir: This 100% Primitivo is grown from vineyards surrounding the ancient Castello Monaci estate. Soils are a blend of dry clay, volcanic gravel and limestone. Vines are forced deep in search of water, leading to low yields and rich, fragrant wines.

Vinification: Harvest is done by hand prior to dawn to preserve sugar levels and avoid the hot sunlight. The grapes are vinified in small stainless steel tanks prior to 6 months of aging in 75% stainless steel and 25% 2nd and 3rd use French oak. 300,000 bottles produced. 

Expert Rating - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | Sour cherries, sultanas, dried oranges and sweet spices on the nose, followed by a medium- to full-bodied, jammy and lightly sweet-sour palate. Ripe tannins. 

Winemaker Description

The 2023 California growing season began with plentiful winter rains that revitalized the soils after several years of drought. Cool spring temperatures led to later ripening trends, running anywhere from two weeks to a month behind average. The October heat was a gift, pushing the grapes to optimum ripeness and phenological maturity.

The longer growing season produced red wines with depth, plentiful texture and rich color, and white wines with delicate aromatics, breadth, and vibrant acidity, making 2023 an impressive harvest of outstanding quality.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023 

Wine Enthusiast 93 Points | This wine is fresh, with aromas of citrus, white nectarine, yellow apple and orange-blossom water on the nose. The flavors on the palate are tangerine and Golden Delicious apple, sliding into white peach, white grapefruit zest and white pepper, with a mouthwatering, dry finish.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | Black cherry and plum fruit signals this rich, round red. Boysenberry, eucalyptus and lavender notes chime in as this remains focused on the long finish. Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2027. 

Winemaker Description 

The charm of Mongrana does not take long to reveal. Well-defined aromas of ripe fruit, morello cherry, blackberry and blueberry jump out of the glass, anticipating a complex bouquet of kirsch, ivy, and pine needles, enriched by a touch of licorice. On the palate, it offers a juicy, fresh sip with soft tannins. The long finale is savory, with a mineral note that persists in the mouth.

Like the untamed nature of Maremma, Mongrana is vibrant and intense, a charming red wine to drink on its own, or pair easily with a variety of flavors.

Blend: 50% Sangiovese, 25% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon

Our Professional Review 

Debra of 67Wine.com | This still Vinho Verde white has ripe tropical fruits on the nose and on the palate. It shows great freshness, with generous depth,  mouth coating texture, lively acidity, minerality saline and an energetic finish.  Pair with shellfish, white fish, poultry, salads and cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

Decanter 97 Points | Our Portuguese panel has been alive to the vibe from Moncão et Melgaço in Vinho Verde for some years now (with a Best in Show in our 2021 competition), so it was gratifying to see this benchmark example cruise its way back into this year’s selection. ‘Green’ is often an insult in winemaking terms, but in Portugal’s granite-soiled Vinho Verde (‘green wine’) region, it’s a prerequisite. The joy of Alvarinho, of course, is that it adds an extra aromatic note of floral charm here (apricots are more typical in Galicia), so your journey into the wine is as much journey into flower garden as it is forest glade. The palate is impressive: there’s nothing slender or shivering about it, nor does it rely on sweet tweaks. Instead it’s svelte and textured, with density to match the wine’s natural drive and freshness. Its 12.5% is low enough to make it a white to drink, not to sip … with or without food: this wine would make both a quenching aperitif and a perfect summer-salad white.

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The extremely young classical 2024 Alvarinho felt very reductive after the very recent bottling, and it remained difficult to read even after a couple of hours in the glass. This was the first wine produced by the family back in 1982, a varietal with floral aromas and good ripeness and freshness, noted by 12.5% alcohol and a pH of 3.17 coupled with 6.4 grams of acidity. Here, they don't do skin contact or malolactic, as they're trying to keep the purity and freshness, and they ferment it with neutral yeasts and keep it unoaked with lees for at least two months. All their wines have the dry granite finish, even the entry-level ones. 385,000 bottles produced. It was bottled in January 2025. In my experience, this wine is much better with a little time in bottle. I'd wait at least until next year to pull the cork. 

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This estate, whose winery faces Spain across the Minho river, is devoted to Alvarinho. This is an intense wine, rich with white and citrus fruits and a fine, creamy character. It is likely to age further, drink from 2025. Suitable for vegans. 

Winemaker Description 

The Morning Fog Chardonnay stands as the cornerstone of the Wente Chardonnay portfolio, and the 2024 vintage proudly upholds this legacy. Subtle oak nuances of sweet cream and vanilla integrate effortlessly with the bright character of crisp Gala apple, underpinned by hints of fresh-cut pear and lemon curd. On the palate, the wine offers the hallmark weight and depth of classic Chardonnay, balanced by a refined acidity that brings a modest richness while preserving it svibrant, fruit-driven freshness. 

Memo Summary Notes

The 2024 Wente Vineyards "Morning Fog" Chardonnay is a freshly released vintage from the estate that pioneered Chardonnay in California. Named for the coastal fog that rolls through the Livermore Valley, this wine is known for balancing "New World" fruitiness with a crisp, food-friendly acidity.

Because it has moderate acidity and subtle oak, it is more versatile than heavier Chardonnays:

• Seafood: Pan-seared scallops with lemon butter or roast chicken.

• Vegetarian: Pasta with cream-based sauces, roasted squash, or mushroom risotto.

• Casual: It is a classic "crowd-pleaser" for sipping on its own due to its smooth texture.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

The Wine Advocate by Monica Larner writes 95+ Points | This wine gives us our first taste of the epic 2021 vintage from a producer as prolific as Produttori del Barbaresco. Bottled in April 2024, this vintage shows the immense power and complexity that likens it to 2016, another year for collectors. The 2021 Barbaresco offers medium-rich density that is transmitted both to the wine's appearance and its mouthfeel. There is black fruit, spice and a touch of nutmeg. However, the wine maintains its youthful tension and energy throughout. The tannins are chalky, fine and void of any bitterness. This is a classical expression of Nebbiolo that gives us good reason to be excited for the upcoming 2021 Barbaresco Riservas. 

Winemaker Descripption

Classic Barbaresco color with scents of spices, pepper and black cherries. Powerful, firm, elegant and ethereal.

Pair with fresh pasta, meat dishes, particularly lamb and feathered game and mild cheeses.

Expert Rating

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This cru bourgeois estate has produced a generously rich wine. Dense tannins and balanced acidity come from a texture that offers dusty tannins and ripe blackberry fruits. Drink from 2021

Winemaker Description

Deep red berry aromas underscored by black pepper, crushed herbs, and licorice. Lean and elegant on the palate with lovely red currant flavors. Very fine tannins, but pleasingly chewy and some spice on the finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | This whites vibrant, aromatic mix of lemon blossoms, ripe peach, kumquat and lime sherbet shows focus and intensity on a sleek and smooth body. Touches of candied ginger and green tea linger on the fresh finish. Drink now. 10,000 cases imported.

The Wine Advocate 93 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc was hand delivered to me in Fremantle by winemaker Richelle Tyney from Greywacke, all the way from Marlborough, New Zealand—roughly 5,200 kilometers between us. The wine leads with passion fruit and white pineapple, green apple, beeswax and brine. The wine is salty, fine and sedate—the characters are all in balance with each other. I love this wine from this small producer. It is intense and concentrated, shaped by savory phenolics and loaded with crunchy New Zealand acidity. This speaks of the place in a clear, unfettered voice, and it's brilliant for that. 13.5% alcohol.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2024 Sauvignon Blanc is open and richly fruited with mid-palate richness. It offers tropical flavors and elderflower notes with flecks of green pepper and jalapeño. Despite the ripeness of fruit, there's still plenty of acidity and an assured grip on the finish.

Winemaker Description 

Deliciously aromatic with scents of honeydew melon and orange blossom, delicately infused with herb garden botanicals. A bright, seasonal expression, with juicy lemon and steely cassis flavours and a generously textured palate garnished with a flourish of pastis and wildflowers. A wine with impressive structure and depth, this is Marlborough sauvignon blanc with the volume turned down a notch.

Harvested largely by machine during cool (often cold) night-time conditions, the fruit was picked earlier than normal at high sugar levels over a 3-week period, commencing 16 March. Transported directly to our winery in the Omaka Valley, fruit was lightly pressed to yield a modest volume of high-quality juice. The juice was cold-settled and racked prior to fermentation, which was primarily carried out in stainless steel tanks with cultured yeast. All individual vineyard batches were left on lees until late June, when the blend was assembled.

Expert Review

Tasting Panel 92 Points | Bright pink color with juicy strawberry nose; dense and fresh with good balance and style. 100% Pinot Noir at 12% ABV.

Winemaker Description

This nearly garnet-red rosé, like all of Gruet's non-vintage sparkling wines, is aged 24 months en tirage. It has a lovely, bright floral bouquet with hints of strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. On the palate, it is rich and fruity in a dry, brut style. The flavor of berries continues on the palate, revealing more strawberry, raspberry, cherry. 

Winemaker Description

Aromas of yellow delicious apple, lemon curd, white peach, and vanilla bean rise alongside notes of jasmine and crème brulee. On the palate, layers of fresh citrus, poached pear, and melon unfold, accented by hints of vanilla biscotti.

The finish is long and refined, carrying both creamy and mineral textures in perfect harmony. Consecutive winters with abundant rainfall refreshed soil profiles and supported vigorous vine growth across Carneros. The region’s hallmark warm days and cool nights throughout spring and summer provided optimal conditions for steady ripening and acid retention. Consistently warm temperatures into August and September enhanced flavor concentration and aromatic development in Chardonnay clusters.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir is seamless and supple in vanilla, dark cherry, and a twist of earthy forest, sourced from several vineyards in San Benito, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Barbara. Long lasting, fresh, and approachable, it has full-bodied weight and breadth supported by supple tannins and spiced oak.

Winemaker Description 

This beautifully lush and supple Pinot Noir draws you in with inviting aromas of raspberry, dark cherry, dried sage and sweet tobacco leaf. On the palate, soft, supple tannins frame alluring layers of wild strawberry and Bing cherry, with hints of cracked black pepper and spice emerging on a long, satisfying finish.

Winemaker Description 

The color is straw yellow that contains brilliant green reflections. The perfume is intense and persistent with sensations of delicate white flowers and fruit. The taste offers freshness and balance, with a clean finish.

Ideal as an aperitif, it can also accompany various types of appetizers, plates of simple fish and vegetables as well as fresh cheeses.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 90 Points | A fresh and pretty falanghina showing lemon, lime blossom and a touch of nutmeg on the nose. It’s medium-bodied and lightly creamy in texture.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

 91 Points James Suckling | 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.

Winemaker Description 

 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.

Winemaker Description

This is a beautifully complex wine with elegant fruit and structure. Classic Pinot Noir aromas and flavors of dark fruit – black raspberry, marionberry, blueberry and ripe dark cherry – are joined by accents of black tea, clove, vanilla, toast, orange zest and forest floor. Supple tannins and bright acidity on the palate lead to a coating finish with lingering spiciness.

Expert Ratings - Vintage 2023

Memo Summary Notes

The King Estate Pinot Noir 2023 is a benchmark Oregon wine, known for its consistency and "classic" Willamette Valley profile. King Estate is one of the largest organic vineyards in the world, and this flagship bottling reflects that clean, biodynamic approach