90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wine & Sparkling Wine

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This wine is now mature, showing richness while also preserving elegance. Earthy, herbal tones are laced through the wine’s juicy fruit texture. Enjoy now for best enjoyment.

Wine Spectator 90-93 Points | Still very primal, but enticing, with sappy raspberry, sweet spice, melted licorice and linzer torte notes that have yet to stretch out fully. There's racy acidity as well, so this should knit nicely.

Winemaker Description

The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a classic expression of Dalla Valle's unique terroir. The iron rich, core stone volcanic site comprised of Andesitic Basalt bring beautiful concentration and elegance to the wines each vintage. The 2020 is comprised of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, always 100% estate blend. Notes of perfumed violet and bergamot on the nose harmonize with aromas of allspice and cassis. On the first sip you will find rich notes of blackberry, cocoa powder and cedar box carried by the undercurrent of plush and elegant tannins. An elongated finish allows you to experience the full complexities of this wine, which will have a long life ahead. 

Expert Reviews

96 Points James Suckling | So much blackberry and lead-pencil shavings. Hints of tar, too. Full-to medium-bodied with extremely well-crafted tannins that run the length of the wine. Hints of oak at the end, but this will come together nicely with bottle age. Slightly chewy now. Some salted caramel. (2020). 

95 Points Robert Parker | Black cherries, dark loam and cassis appear on the nose of Dalla Valle's 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Estate, joined by hints of cedar and vanilla. It's medium to full-bodied, firm, tannic and sturdy but essentially ripe, with a softness to its structure that suggests early accessibility. The long, mocha-tinged finish lingers elegantly, a delicious capstone to a super wine.

94 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon is a solid step up, boasting a deep purple color as well as a brilliant bouquet of crème de cassis, graphite, liquid violets, and nicely integrated background oak. A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Cabernet Franc, it hits the palate with medium to full body, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's up with the top wines I've tasted in the vintage.

93 Points Wine Spectator | This has showy violet, boysenberry and sweet bay leaf notes that leap to the fore, with good juicy energy tucked inside the core. Offers nice flow on the finish, which picks up a loamy accent while the fruit keeps the upper hand. Drink now through 2035. (2020). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 99 Points | One of the palest and most perfumed Barolos from Vietti with a transparent, ruby-orange hue. This is a super nuanced, elegant, expressive and ethereal Monvigliero that grows on me, with enchanting notes of grilled grapefruit, thyme, frozen raspberries and mineral. A subtle splash of white pepper and mezcal-like smokiness. Really refined and transparent, with some citrus and mineral tensions that are closely knit with the fine, crumbled tannins. So much finesse and detail here, and its complexity will continue to unwind. Really composed, soulful and mind-blowing! An otherworldly, idiosyncratic Barolo that actually reminded me of the finest Gredo garnacha. A big wow that deserves attention. Vegan. Best with a Burgundy glass. Can drink now or from 2027.

Robert Parker 95 Points | A relatively new departure for Vietti, the 2020 Barolo Monvigliero is soft and delicate with pretty floral aromas, dried iris, powdered spice and a hint of tar or road pavement. The inaugural vintage was 2018. Made with 60% whole-cluster fruit during fermentation, the wine has a moment of tartness, punchy highlights, sweet grenadine and cranberry jelly. It ages in large oak casks for 24 months.

Winemaker Description

Intense ruby-red color. The nose is explosive, powerful and wide-ranging. Fruity notes of plum, citrusy hints of cedar, grapefruit and spices emerge. After a few minutes in the glass, notes of violet flower—typical of the Brunate terroir—emerge. On the palate, it is intense and full-bodied. The soft, rounded and velvety tannins are typical of the La Morra area. The finish reveals a hint of licorice root.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Robert Parker 95 Points | The Vietti 2020 Barolo Brunate has a dark and spicy side that is infused throughout the fruit. Dark cherry and blackcurrant are folded into ferrous earth grilled rosemary aniseed and a hint of fresh mint. Brunate tends to be quite austere and firm in terms of its aromas and this vintage shows those qualities well. In fact the character of the site comes through clearly. The wine has a precise angular personality and the fruit feels compact. Only 4988 bottles were made.

Vinous 94 Points | The 2020 Barolo Brunate is a dark beguiling wine. Black cherry dried herbs leather game licorice and incense lend gorgeous sepia-toned nuance. Brooding and inward the 2020 clearly needs time. It is a super-classic Brunate that is hard to read in the early going but the weight substance and power are clearly there. Dense meaty and dark the 2020 shows Serralunga-like intensity. 

Expert Review

Vinous 94 Points | This perfumed beauty displays fireworks in a glass with its kaleidoscopic nose of super spicy, floral and cool red and dark berry nose. The middle weight flavors are less concentrated and powerful than those of the Grands Ech but markedly finer with a caressing and sophisticated mouthfeel that carries over to the rich finish that once again tightens up noticeably on the impeccably well-balanced and strikingly persistent finish. While at least some patience will also be required this classy effort should be approachable sooner than the Grands Ech. 

Winemaker Description

This Riesling is rich in taste with a fresh, fruity delicate flavor.

Serve slightly chilled.

Expert Reviews 

James Suckling 96 Points | Here is a great Mosel Kabinett that needs a bit more time to show what it is really made of. Still very young with a pronounced yeasty character that slowly recedes with aeration, but the white peach and honeysuckle aromas that emerge are stunning. Extremely vibrant and precise, the slatey acidity making this fabulously graceful. As pure as an Alpine stream running with glacier water.

Wine Spectator 92 Points | This elegant version starts off closed before opening to reveal flavors of jasmine, sweet green apple and Asian pear. Shows impressive purity and inner density, with accents of fresh-cut chive and wet slate. Bitter, pithy acidity moves through, making for the shimmering, razor-edge finish, which lingers. Drink now through 2040. 300 cases imported.

Expert Ratings

James Suckling 97 Points | This very concentrated and super-elegant riesling Auslese is still tightly-wound. However, it already has a very wide spectrum of subtle yellow fruit and wild flower aromas. Terrific structure behind the rich, but still medium-bodied palate. Incredibly long, slatey finish with staggering freshness that pulls you back for more of this Mosel masterpiece. Drinkable now, but best from 2025.

Decanter 95 Points | Tangs of cut stone and lime zest are peppered with gunpowder and smoke, but there's a powerful core of ripe lemon, lime and yellow cherry flavours too. While light on its feet, it's an unctuous, supple wine with a pert tangerine sweetness. Quite a bit more expressive in youth than the 2022 Wehlener Sonnenuhr Auslese, it's already hedonistic with a brief decant but certainly ageworthy as well. 

Wine Spectator 94 Points | Delivering power and concentration, this is densely packed in a compact frame. Opens up to reveal impressively fresh flavors of dried thyme and apricot. This white's acidity shows a crunchy texture, and a wet slate note brings a cooling feel to the finish. This is one for the cellar. Best from 2026 through 2046.

Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Riesling Graacher Himmelreich Auslese is rather shy. The palate tingles with tangerine, ripe, rounded, aromatic, and full of tangy, zesty, sweet, ripe citrus. Wonderfully expressive on the mid-palate and with a subtle finish, full of those vivid aromatics. (Sweet).

Expert Review - Vintage 2017 

93 Points Wine Spectator | A wine that suggests a sense of place, this is refined and just a hint rustic, which adds to the authenticity. Notes of cherry and pomegranate are laced with hints of white pepper and bay leaf. Drink now.

Winemaker Description

Located at 1000 to 1200 ft., the vineyard overlooks upper Chiles Canyon and remnant walls of the grist wills built by pioneer J.B. Chiles. Brooding dark purple plum raspberry flavors dotted with sage and black peppercorns.

Winemaker Description

Château Sainte Roseline, Lampe de Méduse, with its unique shape, is the iconic and historic cuvée of the estate. Since 1950, it has been the heart of the production of this famous Cru Classé vineyard.

Famous as a historic site but also for its premium Rosés, Château Sainte Roseline is a Provence icon.

Its pale color is slightly salmony. The complex and intense nose reveals fine notes of peaches and mangos. The beautiful liveliness and persistence of the aromatic notes at the end of the palate make this a very crunchy wine. A minty finish sublimates its beautiful freshness.

Expert Reviews

Billy Norris of Vinous writes | The 2023 Rosé Lampe de Meduse is dark and alluring on the nose, displaying watermelon, red berry fruit and orange peel aromas. Rounded and honeyed on the palate, there's just enough acidity to propel this past the finish line. Rosemary and thyme hints hang around after the close, kicking this wine more into the savory spectrum than I expected. This is interesting and characterful.  Drinking 2024 - 2025.

Jancis Robinson writes 16 Points | Drier and more substantial than their Prestige 2023 bottling. Lots of fruit with a (just) sufficiently dry finish. Some intrigue. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wine Advocate 91 Points | Lazzarito stands out as one of the strongest wines in this portfolio of new releases from Vietti. With fruit from Serralunga d'Alba the 2020 Barolo Lazzarito comes in at a very high threshold in terms of complexity offering dark cherry crème de cassis violet macaron dried herb and lavender. The wine's perfumes remind me of the south of France in summer. It shows elegant tannins streamlined intensity and good acidity. Production is 10626 bottles. (2020). 

Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Barolo Lazzarito is a blend of fruit picked before and after the early October rains. It marries power and finesse to a notable degree. Dark red fruit menthol licorice crushed rocks and dried herbs open nicely in the glass. This is a bit light for a Serralunga Barolo although the tannic structure is there. This is missing a bit of personality. (2020). 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

94 Points James Suckling | Very enticing nose with a wide spectrum of citrus aromas, plus a fresh yellow peach note developing with some aeration, then fresh mint. Very elegant with a wonderful minty coolness that makes this light-bodied off-dry Riesling feel as if it is floating like a cloud. Moderate acidity for this category, but the wine is still extremely vibrant. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2022 Karthäuserhofberg Riesling Kabinett opens with a deep, intense and complex, floral bouquet of weathered slate, ripe citrus and stone fruit aromas intermingled with saline notes. Round, refined and sweet but also mineral, with the lovely stimulating slate expression of the unique Karthäuserhofberg, this is a generous, almost rich but refined and filigreed Kabinett with lingering and salivating salinity and grip.

Vinous 90 Points | The 2022 Riesling Karthäuserhofberg Kabinett has subtle peach and lemon on the nose. The lithe palate is dreamy, bright with lemon, gently sweet, and very tender. A subtle vein of lemon zestiness leaves this to finish in a refreshing, off-dry fashion at roughly 30g/L of residual sweetness. (Off-dry)

Winemaker Description 

The spicy spontaneous nose still dominates, but then the first fruity notes (juicy peach, grapefruit, white currant) and the slate literally pushes itself out of the glass. Very juicy and densely woven on the palate, a lot of melting, sweetness well integrated and countered by the invigorating acidity. A cabinet that will continue to reveal new facets over the next two decades.

Winemaker Description

Los Vascos wines blend Lafite tradition with the unique terroir of Chile to create elegant wines that bring exceptional to the everyday. The vision of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) to expand their estates took them to South America in 1988, becoming the first French viticultural investment in modern Chile. Since then, a comprehensive modernization and investment program has been undertaken, oriented towards the production of fine wine using and adapting the viticultural experiences of Bordeaux and other areas where Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) is present. Los Vascos is located in Valley de Caneten (Colchagua), a closed valley in the central zone of Chile, approximately 25 miles from the sea. 

The valley provides a perfect microclimate for high quality viticulture, with Northern exposure to lands uncontaminated by airborne or water-borne pollutants. Daily on-shore winds provide temperature changes between 68-77°F, for optimum maturation of the grapes. With 1,581 acres on the over 5,000 acre estate, it is one of the largest vineyards in the central Colchagua valley, at the foot of Mount Cañeten.

Ripe plum and cherry-scented nose that also features notes of licorice, saffron, cinnamon, and nutmeg that enhance the complexity of aromas. Notes of graphite, clove, dark chocolate and cedar take the experience to a whole new level; A smooth and supple wine with sweet and friendly tannins. Producer Description. 

Critic Review

94 Points James Suckling | Complex and deep nose with plenty of nuance. A fine twist of balsamic with some graphite, cigar box and walnut to the background of cassis and sweet berries. Juicy and medium- to full-bodied on the palate with fine tannins. 92% cabernet sauvignon and 8% syrah.

Winemaker Description

This single-vineyard Bordeaux blend presents intense aromas of both black and red currants, classic peonies, and earth with subtle hints of graphite and mint. Flavors of mocha, nutmeg, and thyme are featured prominently on the elegantly structured frame. The palate is adorned with baking spices, wild berries, and fine-grained tannins that carry through to a robust and perfectly balanced finish. 

Expert Reviews

94 Points James Suckling | Blackberry, black pepper, mulberry and leather on the nose. Full-bodied with fine tannins. On the palate, it’s fresher and more red-fruited than the nose let on. Balanced acidity and good depth. A little toasted and well spiced. This will age nicely. 60% cabernet sauvignon, 25% merlot, 10% malbec and 5% cabernet franc. Sustainable. Best after 2024. (2019).

93 Points Vinous | Dusty and floral in the glass, the 2019 Apogee Pepper Bridge Vineyard shows masses of black berry fruits, earth, sawdust and tobacco. This is cool-toned and silky in feel, yet quickly gains in tension, as tactile wild berry and minerals saturate the palate. The 2019 finishes structured yet with a mentholated freshness to balance, as hints of mocha and exotic spice slowly fade. This is a vintage for the cellar. The Apogee is a compelling blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 5% Cabernet Franc that’s refined for 22 months in 40% French oak. Rating: 93+

92 Points Wine Spectator | Broad-shouldered yet refined, with currant, stony mineral and licorice flavors that take on structure and tension toward medium-grained tannins. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2030. 1,030 cases made. (2019). 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022 

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

Expert Reviews

Vinous Media 94-95 Points | Saturated magenta. Expansive aromas of black and blue fruits, licorice, olive and black pepper show fine clarity and building florality. Smoky and energetic in the mouth, offering juicy blackberry, cherry and baking spice flavors that slowly deepen through the back half. Becomes sweeter on the long, focused finish, which features grippy tannins and lingering floral and exotic spice notes.

One of Italy's most celebrated and collectible wines, Masseto 2020 is a monument to Merlot — a single-vineyard icon from the Bolgheri coast of Tuscany that stands alongside the greatest wines in the world. Produced by Tenuta dell'Ornellaia from the legendary Masseto vineyard on the Maremma hillside, the 2020 vintage has earned near-perfect scores across every major critic, cementing its place as one of the finest Massetos ever made.

The Masseto Estate

The Masseto vineyard sits on a unique outcrop of blue-grey Pliocene clay soils in Bolgheri, Tuscany — a terroir of extraordinary character that produces Merlot of unparalleled depth and complexity. Since its first vintage in 1986, Masseto has become one of Italy's most sought-after wines, now operating as an independent estate. The 2020 vintage marks a new chapter with winemaker Gaia Cinnirella and the introduction of a small percentage of Cabernet Franc, adding a new dimension of aromatic complexity to this iconic wine.

Critical Acclaim — 2020 Vintage

100 Points — Decanter: "Nuanced and complex, still packing a punch in terms of power, but this feels sophisticated, suave, purposeful and controlled. A truly delicious wine with so much purity and sense of place."

99 Points — Wine Enthusiast: "A hedge maze of aromas greets the nose, from blackberries and black cherries to crushed stones and crumpled petals. Tannins are tightly stitched together across the palate like a tapestry. A wine that speaks volumes without shouting."

99 Points — James Suckling: "Full-bodied with superb concentration and fine, velvety tannins that run the length of the wine. It's big but agile and gorgeous. Merlot. What a wine! Best after 2030."

99 Points — Jeb Dunnuck: "Incredibly expressive, with a sweet perfume of candied plum, boysenberry, crushed flowers, mocha, sweet earth, and fresh sage. Great finesse and polish that features opulence without having weight."

98 Points — Vinous: "Superb. Bright and vibrant, exceptionally polished and sophisticated. In 2020, Masseto is more finesse than power."

97 Points — Wine Spectator: "Complex, with a luscious texture. Offers a lively, well-integrated structure with a long aftertaste of fruit and spices. Best from 2025 through 2043."

96 Points — Wine Advocate: "A vintage of enormous richness and density. This wine is always hard to analyze in its youth. It needs many more years to soften and flesh out. Give it time."

Tasting Profile

Intense and full on the nose — ripe black fruit, crushed flowers, mocha, graphite, and soft spicing. On the palate it's rich and muscular yet tight and coiled, with velvety tannins of extraordinary finesse, vibrant acidity, and a long, sustained finish of dark fruit, leather, and mineral earth. A caged animal with its full potential yet to be unveiled.

Details

2020 | Merlot, Cabernet Franc | Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy | Toscana IGT | 750ml

Ageing

24 months in 100% new barriques, 12 months in bottle

Cellaring & Serving

Best from 2028–2043. Decant for a minimum of 2–3 hours if opening now. Serve at 61–64°F in a large Bordeaux glass. A wine built for the cellar — patience will be richly rewarded.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021

Vinous 90 Points | The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Cordillera de Los Andes hails from Puente Alto in the Maipo Valley. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels and foudres, this garnet wine presents a nuanced nose reflective of the cold year, with notes of currant, balsamic and lemon verbena. A hint of tomato leaf adds further complexity atop a subtle layer of oak. Dry and mild on the palate, the vividly structured palate delivers a taut mouthfeel in contrast to the expressive flavors.

Winemaker Description 

Intense, dark ruby red color. An exquisite aroma displaying classic notes of forest fruit, blackberries, and hints of leather. Wonderfully elegant on the palate, with soft tannins and a lingering finish of fruit and spices that concludes on a toasted bread note. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

Burghound | Note: from 3 different parcels measuring 1.36 ha, two at the bottom in Baudes Basses and another at the top in Montiotes Hautes Moderate reduction dominates the fruit though there is a lovely sense of underlying tension and freshness to the succulent, palate coating and powerful medium weight flavors that also conclude in a chalky, sappy and lingering finale. This is also going to need at least some patience as it's presently quite tightly wound.

Winemaker Description

Tollot-Beaut’s Les Vercots 1er Cru is rustic and robust with aromas and flavors of red cherries, spice, and earth with substantial weight and ripe tannins. It is aged for 18 months in 50% new Burgundian pièce.

Red Burgundy might be the world’s most flexible food wine. The wine’s high acidity, medium body, medium alcohol, and minimal tannins make it very food-friendly. Red Burgundy, with its earthy and sometimes gamey character, is a classic partner to roasted game birds, grilled duck breast, and dishes that feature mushrooms, black truffles, or are rich in umami. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

92 Points Jasper Morris | 11 barrels for one hectare equates to about 25 hl/ha. Because Vercots has a heavy soil they put some extra fine pinot clones in this vineyard, which has paid off in the quality of the fruit. Slightly paler in colour but with some finesse. A savoury sandalwood touch to the oak this time, but the vineyard tannins are not fierce. Made with an agreeably light touch. Drink from 2025-2030.

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

Decanter 94 Points | This wine is fermented in cask and given a 15-month maturation without racking. The result is marvelously creamy and rich, yet there is an expressive lemony fruit, a pleasant floral note, and despite the weight, there is plenty of acidity. A fabulous starting point for the range. Enjoy now, but a few years of age will only reveal more nuance. A serious Bourgogne Blanc. Produced from parcels surrounding the domaine, including the lieu-dit Les Magny; the total surface area is 1.5ha.

Expert Review

93 Points Wine Advocate | The 2020 Meursault Village has turned out beautifully in bottle, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp Anjou pear, lemon zest, freshly baked bread, blanched almonds, pastry cream and apple blossom. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and layered, its textural attack segues into a fleshy, precise mid-palate that's animated by racy acids, concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's another terrific rendition of this benchmark cuvée.

Expert Review

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Cornas Reynard will most likely merit a perfect rating in a decade, and it's a legendary Cornas in the making. Saturated purple-hued, with incredible aromatics of cassis, liquid violets, new leather, and bloody, iron, meaty nuances, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, building tannins, and flawless overall balance. It has an inward, massive, backward style (it reminds me slightly of the 2010) and tastes like the blood of Cornas. It will need 7-8 years (a decade will be better) to hit the early stages of its prime drinking wine and will absolutely blow you away over the following two decades. (2020). 

Winemaker Description

Winemaker Description

High Haven captures the essence of California's highest and coolest growing region, and the humble, nostalgic —slightly eccentric — charm of Anderson Valley. This rustic enclave, in the shadow of the giant redwoods, produces world-class Pinot that is deeply aromatic, balancing concentrated fruit with beautiful acidity.

Expert Reviews

91 Points Wine Enthusiast |Find bright aromas and flavors of cranberry, raspberry and strawberry along with earthy notes of river-rock minerality, roses, violets, hints of fennel and tarragon and just a touch of wood. Elevated fruit concentration yields pleasantly plush tannic texture along with an energetic acidity that points to a long, lingering finish.

91 Points Wine & Spirits | Clean, fresh, bright and tangy, this pinot is touched by notes of orange and vanilla, lasting on a cherry-leaf scent. It’s fruit-forward with tannins that melt into the background, leaving the cool feel of Anderson Valley pinot.

91 Wine Spectator | Alluring, with a nice swath of mulled raspberry and blood orange inlaid with pine forest and savory hints. Caressing finish.

Expert Review

Vinous 93 Points | The 2021 Chablis Montée de Tonnerre 1er Cru, of which half comprises fruit from the Chapelots climat, has a delightful oyster shell-infused bouquet that blossoms in the glass – citrus peel intermixed with orange zest. The palate is very well-balanced, with a little more weight and concentration than the Butteaux. It is taut and linear, with a lick of salinity on the finish. Excellent. 

Expert Reviews

94 Points Vinous | The 2020 Nebbiolo d'Alba Arione is bright, focused and tightly wound. There is a feeling of classic austerity (in a good way) that really drive the balance here. Bright red toned fruit, blood orange, chalk, mint, dried herbs and white pepper all race across the palate. This is Barolo in all but name. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner sweetness and perfume. What a knock out. The Nebbiolo d'Alba is made from a small piece of Arione that lists just outside the Barolo production zone. Drink 2027-2040. (2020). 

93 Points James Suckling  | Juicy and sweet fruit with some flowers and peaches to plums and cherries. Medium body. Bright and flavorful. Yet refined. Drink now. (2020). 

Audrey Frick writes:  The first vintage of the Nebbiolo D'Alba Arione was produced in 2019 and comes from a single vineyard of Anione outside the delimited region. Another barrel sample, the 2020 is fresh with wild strawberry and a gentle, red-fruited tone. Vibrant through the palate, with wild red berries, pomegranate, orange peel, and red flowers, this elegant and approachable wine delivers fine tannins, a long mineral/stony texture, and a tinge of iron-rich minerals on the finish.  - Jeb Dunnuck 93

Jeb Dunnuck 91-93 Points | The first vintage of the 2020 Nebbiolo D'Alba one was produced in 2019 and comes from a single vineyard of Anione outside the delimited region. Another barrel sample, the 2020 is fresh with wild strawberry and a gentle, red-fruited tone. Vibrant through the palate, with wild red berries, pomegranate, orange peel, and red flowers, this elegant and approachable wine delivers fine tannins, a long mineral/stony texture, and a tinge of iron-rich minerals on the finish. (2020). 

95 Points Wine Enthusiast | If you love ripe blackberries, you will fall head over heels for the way this wine smells. The berries are joined by aromas of cherry blossoms, wet stones and a touch of seared steak. There’s balance here, with silky tannins and snappy acidity backing flavors like blackcap raspberries, orange zest and cedarwood.

94 Points Vinous Media | The 2021 Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard shows the dark nature of the variety, mixing depths of crushed blackberry with hints of pine, rosemary and dusty earth. This is a model of elegance on the palate, velvety in texture yet lifted in feel, with silken wild berry fruits and minty herb tones neatly balanced by cool-toned acidity. Notes of blood orange emerge toward the close as the Momtazi finishes tannic and crunchy in feel, leaving the mouth watering for more.

91 Points Jeb Dunnuck |The 2021 Pinot Noir Momtazi Vineyard comes from a site located in the McMinnville AVA and biodynamically farmed and owned by Maysara. It pours a touch brighter but similar shade of red to the Temperance Hill and offers more lifted notes of dried cranberries, brighter spice, orange peel, and cocoa nib. It’s medium-bodied, with a more floating and linear feel, an approachable texture, fine tannins, and a pleasing fruity and floral feel, with a light spice lasting through the finish. It’s an elegant wine to drink now or over the coming 7-8 years. It saw 16 months in 20% new French oak barrels, and 1071 cases were produced.

Winemaker's Notes

Momtazi Vineyard is located in the McMinnville AVA, 7 miles west of McMinnville, Oregon. The grapes for this wine come from four blocks at the top of the vineyard on steep, exposed and windblown hillsides. The vineyard is certified biodynamic by Demeter.

Momtazi is our most textural, umami, wine. Lovely aromas of spice, smoky earth, and dried black fruit. Quite elegant on the mid palate with the finish blossoming to more floral notes with hints of cocoa powder. Will pair beautifully with winter stews and roasted vegetables. Great with cassoulet and mushroom dishes.

Winemaker Description

Created as a tribute to Louise Pommery, Cuvée Louise is an absolutely pure wine which quintessentially conveys the wine-making expertise of the Pommery champagne house. 

The wine has a yellow, slightly golden color with an exceptional brightness and limpidity. The effervescence is fine and delicate.

This 2005 is marked by floral notes in all their complexity. Owing to the long aging, notes of linden, hawthorn and vineyard peach. With its high purity, the bouquet is delicately blended with buttery notes. After aeration, the Pinot Noir expresses itself and the wine gains aromas of roasted hazelnuts and mild tobacco.

This wine is like a caress, its texture is velvety and creamy. The attack is frank, without asperity and imbalance. With incredible harmony and minerality, the heart of the tasting is intensive and structured. The finale, with the gentleness of honey and lemon, comes to punctuate this wine and provides the vintage with signature delicate flavor, noble bitterness and structure.

Expert Reviews

97 Points James Suckling | Grilled bread with flowers, pears and apples. Lots of perfumes. Lavender and some herbs and nutmeg. The palate is tight and solid with fine phenolics and a long, intense finish. Pure and extremely linear and lively. Sophisticated and thought-provoking.

92 Points Wine Spectator | A fresh and lacy Champagne, with a pleasing, creamy range of golden apple, blanched almond and lemon pound cake underscored by a streak of minerally saline and brine.

92 Points Wine & Spirits | A ghost of chardonnays past, this tastes like white grapefruit without the acidity, as if a grapefruit could age past its acidity and still remain fresh. From three estate parcels— chardonnay from Avize and Cramant, pinot noir from Aÿ—this is an elegant Champagne at a peak moment of maturity, flinty and airy with a deep leesy savor.

Expert Review

Winemaker Description

Expert Reviews

Winemaker Description

2019 embodies classic Hillside Select richness, vibrancy, and balance. The aromas push out of the glass, offering black cherry, cedar, cassis, and juicy red summer berries with lifted floral tones. Even at this youthful age, the complexity of the vintage is striking, merging dark fruit with tobacco, espresso, black olive, red plum, and black tea. The expansive mid-palate is complemented by ripe integrated tannins that add depth and structure, culminating in a long, profound finish.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

98+ Points Jeb Dunnuck | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another magical vintage for this cuvée. All Cabernet Sauvignon from hillside vineyards on the eastern side of Stags Leap, it offers a vivid purple hue as well as extraordinary notes of cassis, black raspberries, violets, camphor, and spring flowers, with perfectly integrated background oak. Full-bodied but not massive, it’s flawlessly balanced on the palate and has ultra-fine tannins, a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, and a great, great finish. It’s another 30- to 40-year wine from this incredible team that readers will absolutely love. (2019).

98+ Points Robert Parker | Sourced from specific blocks of estate-grown fruit, the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is another highly successful vintage. All Cabernet Sauvignon aged 32 months in 100% new French oak, it boasts intense aromas of pencil shavings, dark loam, cassis and plum on the nose, while the palate is full-bodied, super-ripe, rich, dense and concentrated—a truly impressive California vin de garde. Tannic but ripe, it finishes long and firm on the finish, adding a hint of mocha. To be released in September 2023, it's a strong showing and hopefully an indication that quality will remain high under the new ownership. (2019).

98 Points James Suckling | A beautiful nose of pitted cherries, redcurrants, fresh herbs and violets. Full-bodied with fine, structured tannins. More gravelly, mineral and dark than the nose lets on. Savory almost. Terrific depth and concentration that keeps the palate flavorful through the generous finish. Chocolate, sage, rosemary, bark and moss. Layered. Superb wine. Needs time to come together. Best after 2024 and onward. (2019).

98 Points Vinous | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Hillside Select is one of the most elegant wines I have tasted at Shafer. Effusive aromatics and silky tannins are immediately captivating. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, mint, spice, lavender and licorice are all finely knit. We will see, but the 2019 may very well represent a new direction for Hillside Select, one of Napa Valley's most iconic Cabernets. (2019).

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | This broad, rich and mouthfilling wine is Shafer’s most elite and collectible. Aged for 32 months in all-new French oak barrels, it boasts extra-ripe blackberries and blueberries, accents of mint, cedar and graphite, and a big structure of polished tannins. (2019).

94 Points Wine Spectator| A ripe, exuberant style, with generous plum cake, blackberry compote and açaí berry notes mixed with melted black licorice and a nicely polished, singed mesquite–accented finish. Hard to resist now (if you like the power style), but also has the energy to take some cellaring. (2019).

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

93 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Angelita del Challao comes from a blend of different vineyards in the three valleys from Labastida, looking for a village wine; it was produced with 85% Tempranillo and the rest Garnacha, Mazuelo, Viura, Garnacha Blanca and other rare varieties from their own vineyards and purchased grapes. It fermented in concrete with indigenous yeasts, 40% full clusters that are foot trodden and the rest uncrushed grapes and matured in 225- and 500-liter barrels and 2,000-liter foudres—10 months with each plot separate—and then it was blended and let to settle in concrete for another 10 months. They look for a more approachable wine than Challao, with more floral aromas in a very elegant and harmonious way. The palate is medium-bodied with medium ripeness, 13.5% alcohol and very good freshness and acidity, balanced and harmonious, very tasty and with elegant, refined tannins. Really very good. 17,282 bottles and some larger magnums were filled in May 2022. (2020).