90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wine & Sparkling Wine

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2019

Vinous (Neal Martin) 97 Points: Beguiling bouquet with red berry fruit, truffle and light Provençal herb scents, beautifully defined. Medium-bodied with pliant tannins — exquisite in terms of balance, silky smooth, building gradually with a harmonious and quite effortless finish. Divine. A stellar showing.

Decanter (Georgina Hindle) 97 Points: Rich, full and heady nose. Ripe blackcurrant, red cherries, raspberries and strawberries with mint, black pepper and truffle. Excellent precision and density with a seductive dark chocolate edge. Powerful, muscular and confident, yet with suppleness — density and grace with a cooling finish of liquorice, mint and soft salinity. A great wine.

James Suckling 95 Points: Perfumed nose of mulberries, plums, chocolate orange and cloves. Medium-to-full bodied with firm, ripe tannins. Caressing, velvety and rich core of dark fruit. So supple and polished. 88.5% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4.5% Cabernet Franc. Drink after 2024.

Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 94 Points: Fleshy and dramatic, wafting from the glass with aromas of ripe berry fruit mingled with subtle hints of truffle and violets, new oak already entirely integrated. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, broad and textural with lively acids, powdery tannins and fine length on the finish.

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points: Elegant, solid Pomerol delivering spicy red and black cherry fruits, notes of cedary herbs and flowers, medium-bodied richness, silky yet building tannins, and a great finish. Will benefit from 3–5 years of bottle age and keep for 15–20 years.

Winemaker Description

Château Gazin is one of Pomerol’s most storied estates, neighboring the legendary Pétrus on the plateau’s finest clay soils. The 2019 is a benchmark expression — a blend of 88.5% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4.5% Cabernet Franc — that showcases the appellation’s signature combination of opulence and precision. Silky, seamless, and built for the long haul, it is a wine of remarkable harmony and effortless grace.

Pairing Suggestions

• Meat: Roasted lamb rack with truffle jus, beef tenderloin, or duck confit with cherry reduction.
• Classic Bordeaux: Venison with wild mushrooms, braised short ribs, or a classic French cassoulet.
• Cheese: Aged Comté, Ossau-Iraty, or a rich washed-rind cheese.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2023

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points: Classic granite notes of cassis and darker cherries, graphite, crushed stone, pepper, and violets all emerge from the 2023 Saint Joseph Offerus. Medium-bodied, focused, and beautifully balanced on the palate, with textbook Saint Joseph tannins, nicely integrated acidity, and a crisp, mineral-laced finish. Will evolve nicely over the coming 8–10 years.

Winemaker Description

Domaine Jean-Louis Chave Saint Joseph OFFERUS 2023 750ml

The Offerus is produced by Chave Sélection, the négociant arm of the legendary Chave family — one of the Northern Rhône’s most revered dynasties. While the Domaine’s own Saint-Joseph commands upwards of $130, the Offerus delivers a similar pedigree and granite-driven terroir character at a fraction of the price. Pure Syrah sourced from the granitic hillsides of Saint-Joseph, it is a benchmark insider value in the appellation and a testament to the Chave family’s uncompromising standards across every tier of their portfolio.

Pairing Suggestions

• Meat: Grilled lamb chops with herbes de Provence, roasted duck breast, or beef daube.
• Classic French: Hearty cassoulet, charcuterie board, or braised short ribs with olives.
• Cheese: Aged Comté, Saint-Nectaire, or a firm washed-rind cheese.

Bodega Colomé · Estate Torrontés · Valle Calchaquí · Salta · Argentina · 2025

Bodega Colomé is one of Argentina’s oldest and most celebrated wineries, farming at extreme elevations in the Calchaquí Valley of Salta — some of the highest vineyards in the world. At altitude, the intense sun, cool nights, and thin mountain air produce Torrontés of extraordinary aromatic precision and freshness: floral, citrus-driven, and refreshingly dry — a world away from the heavy, low-acid expressions that gave the grape an undeserved reputation. The 2025 Estate Torrontés earned 91 points from Vinous as a Best Buy, praised for its fresher, more mineral style. Screwcap.

The 2025 opens with herbal and floral notes of tuberose, rose, soft mint, and gentle lime, with grapefruit citrus and a spicy hint. On the palate, it is dry yet slightly indulgent — lively, fresh, and vibrant, balancing herbal, citrus, and floral characteristics with a long, elegant, mineral finish. A quintessential high-elevation Torrontés, built for the table.

“Opens with herbal and floral notes of tuberose, soft mint and gentle lime. Dry yet slightly indulgent, it offers lively freshness. A fresher style of Torrontés than is typical for the valley, balancing herbal, citrus and floral characteristics. Vibrant and delicious. A best buy.”
Producer: Bodega Colomé, Valle Calchaquí, Salta, Argentina

• Vintage: 2025
• Appellation: Valle Calchaquí, Salta, Argentina
• Varietal: 100% Torrontés
• Elevation: Among the highest vineyards in the world
• Style: Dry white — aromatic, floral, mineral
• Closure: Screwcap
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Tuberose, rose, soft mint, lime, grapefruit, spice, lively acidity, mineral finish
• Pairings: Ceviche, grilled shrimp, Thai curry, fresh goat cheese, aromatic Asian cuisine

Vinous:91 Best Buy · Valle Calchaquí — high-altitude Torrontés from one of Argentina’s oldest estates. Aromatic, dry, and built for the table.

Expert Reviews 

Audrey Frick writes: (Tasted November 7, 2022) The NV Champagne La Cuvée Brut Rosé is entirely Pinot Noir from 10 crus in the Montagne de Reims. It is forward in the glass with ripe currants, fresh herbs, and smoky perfume. This continues to the palate, with notes of ripe wild raspberry and tangerine, and it has a medium to full-bodied texture that is pure and lightly savory on the finish. Fantastically paired with beef tartar and other richer raw preparations, this is a wonderful and food-friendly expression. Drink 2022-2032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92

Winemaker Description

Spontaneous fermentation in concrete tanks on the skins with indigenous yeasts. Seven to ten days of skin contact. Aged in concrete vats for eight months, followed by three months in bottle before release. No additions, no fining, no filtration.

92 Points James Suckling

Tasting Notes

Golden-hued with aromas of ripe apricot, orange peel, chamomile, citrus fruit, and Mediterranean herbs. Saline minerality on the palate with a textured, slightly tannic structure, excellent depth of flavor, bright acidity, and a long, pleasant finish — the hallmark of great skin-contact wine.

Food Pairings

Grilled fish, sushi, mezze, roasted vegetables, aged pecorino, and spiced dishes. Equally stunning as an aperitivo. Serve slightly chilled (55–60°F).

• Producer: Azienda Agricola COS, Vittoria, Sicily
• Appellation: Terre Siciliane IGT, Sicily, Italy
• Grapes: Grecanico, Insolia
• Farming: Certified biodynamic, organic
• Vinification: Skin contact (7–10 days), concrete tanks, indigenous yeasts
• Aging: 8 months concrete + 3 months bottle
• Vintage: 2024
• Style: Orange wine / skin-contact white
• Format: 750ml

Cellier des Dauphins Côtes du Rhône Réserve 2023 750ml

Cellier des Dauphins is one of the Rhône Valley's most celebrated cooperative producers — a benchmark name for value-driven, terroir-expressive wines from the Côtes du Rhône appellation. The Réserve is their flagship red: a Grenache-led blend that delivers a modern, polished take on the traditional Rhône style — combining structure, freshness, and velvety tannins with the generous sun-ripened fruit character that makes this region so irresistible.

The 2023 vintage is exceptional — earning a remarkable 93 points from James Suckling, a score that places it among the finest Côtes du Rhônes on the market at any price. Full-bodied, elegantly structured, and built for the table, this is a wine that dramatically overdelivers at $14.99.

"If all Côtes-du-Rhônes were as good as this, then the appellation would have a much better reputation. This deftly combines a full body and ample velvety tannins with a generous red fruit character plus hot earth and spice nuances. Excellent balance in the long, surprisingly elegant finish. Drink or hold." — James Suckling, 93 pts. (Vintage 2023). 

• Producer: Cellier des Dauphins, Côtes du Rhône, Southern Rhône, France
• Appellation: Côtes du Rhône AOC
• Blend: Grenache, Syrah
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Full-bodied, velvety, modern Southern Rhône red
• Tasting Notes: Black cherry, blackcurrant, sun-ripened black fruit, hot earth, spice, velvety tannins, long elegant finish
• Best Paired With: Grilled lamb, beef daube, duck confit, ratatouille, or aged Comté
• James Suckling: 93

One of the great Côtes du Rhône overachievers — Cellier des Dauphins Réserve 2023 is the bottle that makes you wonder why you ever spent more.

High on the hills above the Val di Chiana, the hilltop town of Montepulciano has been shaping Sangiovese — here called Prugnolo Gentile — into something distinctly aristocratic for centuries. Cantine Dei is among its finest custodians. Founded when Alibrando Dei acquired the legendary Bossona vineyard in 1964, the estate reached its full expression under his granddaughter Caterina, who returned to Montepulciano in the early 1990s with a singular conviction: that these wines exist to reveal their land, not obscure it. The first Dei Vino Nobile was released from the exceptional 1985 harvest. Four decades on, the intention hasn't changed.

The 2021 is a luminous ruby with garnet tones, and it opens with an intense bouquet of ripe cherries, plums, violets, and iron-tinged earth. On the palate it walks the line between fruity and savory with real grace — full-bodied yet poised, with velvety tannins, fine acidity, and notes of almond, camphor, and tobacco that build through a long, lively finish. Paolo Caciorgna's winemaking is as restrained as ever: the fruit speaks, and the structure rewards patience. Drink now through 2035.

93 points — Wine Spectator | “Supple and complex, walking a fine line between fruity and savory, youthful and mature. Cherry, plum, almond, iron, earth and tobacco… fades gracefully on the long, lively aftertaste. Drink now through 2035.” (Vintage 2021). 

92 points — James Suckling | “Aromas of forest floor, black cherries, camphor and dried flowers. Forthright structure with crisp acidity, chalky tannins and a tight finish that’s chewy and polished. Drink or hold.” (Vintage 2021).

• Producer: Cantine Dei
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
• Varietal: Prugnolo Gentile (Sangiovese), Canaiolo
• Farming: Sustainable
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Ripe cherry, plum, violet, almond, iron, earth, tobacco, vanilla
• Cellar: Drink now through 2035
• Food Pairings: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar ragù, aged Pecorino, braised lamb

Ranked #34 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 of 2023 — one of Tuscany’s most compelling values at this level.

Ponzi Vineyards is one of Oregon's founding wine estates, established in 1970 in the Dundee Hills by Dick and Nancy Ponzi — pioneers who helped define Willamette Valley Pinot Noir before the world was paying attention. Tavola, meaning "table" in Italian, is the estate's approachable, everyday expression of Pinot Noir: a wine built for sharing, for food, and for the kind of effortless pleasure that makes a bottle disappear too quickly. The 2023 is sourced from a blend of estate vineyards (65%) and select purchased fruit, matured for eight months in 25% new French oak to preserve freshness while adding subtle structure and spice.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

92 Wine Advocate: "The 2023 Pinot Noir Tavola has inviting scents of black cherries, blackberries, holiday spices, earth and bitters. The medium-bodied palate is brimming with spicy berry flavors. It's framed by soft, velvety tannins, and fresh acidity highlights floral perfume on the long finish."

92 James Suckling: "A valley-wide blend of grapes that gives a vibrant, fresh and bright sense of red fruit, balanced by raspberries, black cherries and a rich texture on the palate. Light tannins, fresh acidity and a clean, balanced expression."

91 Wine Spectator: "A spry red, with vibrant cherry and guava flavors that take on accents of cinnamon and forest floor as this persists toward refined tannins. Drink now through 2033."

Tasting Notes

Spiced blueberries, plum and cranberry leap from the glass, followed by denser notes of dry forest floor, sagebrush and leather. The mouth holds fresh acidity with flavors of ponderosa pine, citrus and raspberry — bright, lively and in lovely tension. Soft, velvety tannins and a floral perfume carry through the long, clean finish. An easy-drinking Pinot Noir with genuine Dundee Hills character at an exceptional price.

Food Pairing

Versatile at the table — excellent with salmon, roast chicken, duck, mushroom risotto, charcuterie, soft cheeses and lighter pasta dishes.

Specifications

Grape Variety: Pinot Noir
Country: United States
Region: Oregon
Sub-Region: Willamette Valley — Dundee Hills
Vintage: 2023
Blend: 65% estate fruit, 35% purchased fruit
Oak: 25% new French oak, 8 months
Style: Red Wine
ABV: ~13.5%
Bottle Size: 750ml
Producer: Ponzi Vineyards

Château Bernadotte | Haut-Médoc Cru Bourgeois | Bordeaux, France | 2018

Château Bernadotte is a classic Cru Bourgeois estate situated on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, with vineyards bordering the prestigious Pauillac appellation — lending the wine a touch of that famous Pauillac character: tobacco, cedar, and graphite. Named after the royal family of Sweden, the estate has a storied history and is now producing wines fully worthy of its pedigree.

The 2018 vintage is widely regarded as one of the greatest in Bordeaux history — a year of exceptional ripeness, concentration, and natural balance. Château Bernadotte's 2018 is a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, delivering focused dark fruit, firm structure, and excellent aging potential at a remarkable price point for the appellation.

Deep ruby in the glass. The nose offers blackcurrant, black olive, dried herbs, smoked meat, and charred wood, with inky, jammy dark fruit and notes of mocha and sweet spice. On the palate, medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins, focused and flavorful with a lightly chewy finish. Rich, balanced, and built to age — drinking beautifully from 2024 onward.

Pair with classic steak frites, roast leg of lamb with rosemary, hearty beef stew, wild mushroom risotto, aged Comté, or Parmigiano-Reggiano.

• Producer: Château Bernadotte
• Appellation: Haut-Médoc AOC, Cru Bourgeois
• Region: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France
• Blend: 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot
• Vintage: 2018
• Drink: Now through 2030+
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2018

• James Suckling — 91 pts: Blackcurrants, black olives and dried herbs with smoked-meat and charred-wood character. Medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Focused and flavorful.
• Vinous — 90 pts: A flamboyant, unctuous Haut-Médoc. Inky, jammy dark fruit, mocha and sweet spice — racy, expressive, and delivers the goods.
• Wine Enthusiast — 90 pts: Rich and balanced, offering black fruits dominated by Merlot and bold tannins. A powerful wine that will take time. Drink from 2024.

Castello di Bossi | Chianti Classico Gran Selezione | Organic | 2020

Gran Selezione is the apex of the Chianti Classico pyramid — a single-vineyard or best-barrel selection aged a minimum of 30 months before release. Castello di Bossi's 2020 version is a textbook example of why this category matters. Sourced from the estate's southern Gaiole in Chianti holdings and certified organic, it spent 24 months in large 40–50HL casks — a deliberate choice that preserves Sangiovese's aromatic lift while building structure without over-oaking. The 2020 vintage delivered warm, even ripening across Tuscany, and Bossi channeled that richness into a wine of explosive intensity and remarkable finesse. Deep ruby with garnet lights, it opens with black cherry, plum, cedar, sweet spice, dark chocolate, and a whisper of saddle leather. The palate is fleshy and dense, yet balanced, with a very pronounced, lingering finish. Drink now with confidence, or cellar through 2034.

• Appellation: Chianti Classico Gran Selezione DOCG, Tuscany, Italy
• Varietal: Sangiovese
• Vintage: 2020
• Format: 750ml
• Aging: 24 months in 40–50HL large casks
• Certification: Certified Organic
• Drink Window: Now – 2034

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2020

Vinous — Antonio Galloni | 92 Points: Gorgeous. Floral, lifted and quite expressive, the 2020 has a lot to offer. It marries the richness of this southern district with lovely aromatic presence and a good bit of brightness. A complete, deeply satisfying wine to drink now and over the next decade or so. Drink 2024–2034.

Pairing Suggestions

• Classic Tuscan: Bistecca alla Fiorentina, wild boar ragù, or pappardelle with meat sauce.
• Meat: Roasted lamb rack, braised short ribs, or aged beef tagliata.
• Cheese: Aged Pecorino Toscano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, or a firm sheep’s milk cheese.

Expert Reviews — Vintage 2020

James Suckling 95 Points: Lead pencil and blackcurrant aromas are very impressive. Full-bodied and tannic, but very velvety with fine texture. Lots of pretty fruit. Typical for the appellation. Second wine of Domaine de Chevalier. Try after 2028.

Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points: More restrained aromatically, yet has outstanding purity in its red and black fruits as well as notes of dried herbs, tobacco, chocolate, and damp earth. Medium-bodied, elegant, balanced, and certainly delicious — a second wine that will benefit from just a year or two of bottle age and shine for a decade.

Vinous 91 Points: Very perfumed, floral bouquet with pressed iris and peony infusing the blackberry and blueberry fruit. Controlled and classic in style. Medium-bodied with concentrated black fruit laced with white pepper and Provençal herbs. Powerful with a generous finish — a superb Deuxième Vin that should give 12–15 years of drinking pleasure.

Wine Advocate 90 Points: Fleshy and demonstrative, bursting with aromas of sweet berries, plums and petals. Medium to full-bodied, rich and layered, with polished tannins and an expansive finish. Will drink well young.

Winemaker Description

Domaine de Chevalier is renowned for its ability to produce great wines even in unfashionable vintages, thanks to its unique Pessac-Léognan terroir and a draconian selection process in both vineyard and cellar — at times requiring five successive passes through the vines to pick only the ripest possible grapes. L’Esprit de Chevalier, created in 1986 from young vines and vats not destined for the grand vin, is a charming second wine that shares many of the same qualities as Domaine de Chevalier’s flagship — complex, well-balanced, and elegant — with the added advantage of being approachable earlier.

Pairing Suggestions

• Meat: Roasted lamb rack with herbs, beef tenderloin, or duck confit.
• Classic Bordeaux: Lamb chops with truffle jus, venison, or a classic French cassoulet.
• Cheese: Aged Comté, Ossau-Iraty, or a firm sheep’s milk cheese.

In 1968, Miljenko “Mike” Grgich went to work for Robert Mondavi as chief enologist, crafting the inaugural release of “Fumé Blanc” — an elegant, dry, oak-aged style of Sauvignon Blanc that Mondavi named after the French word for smoke. A decade later, Mike's 1973 Chardonnay famously won the Judgment of Paris, putting California wine on the world map. He went on to found Grgich Hills Estate in 1977, where he continued to champion the Fumé Blanc style as a tribute to his mentor and friend. Today, the estate farms all five of its Napa Valley vineyards organically and biodynamically.

The Grgich Hills Fumé Blanc Sauvignon Blanc 2023 375ml Half Bottle opens with striking aromas of fresh lime, lemon verbena, gooseberry, and honeysuckle. On the palate, bright citrus, tangy star fruit, and a hint of green mango are framed by deft oak and a chiseled, linear acidity that carries through to a long, mineral finish of lasting slate. Certified organic and biodynamic — a wine of precision, integrity, and genuine pleasure in a perfect half-bottle format.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Fresh lime, lemon verbena, gooseberry, and honeysuckle
• Palate: Bright citrus, star fruit, green mango, and lemongrass with deft oak
• Finish: Long, chiseled, and mineral with lasting slate and juicy citrus

Wine Details

• 100% Sauvignon Blanc — Fumé Blanc style
• Certified Organic & Biodynamic — five estate vineyards
• Napa Valley, California
• Vintage: 2023 | 375ml Half Bottle
• Pairs with: filet of sole, pork loin, seafood, light pasta

de Ladoucette Pouilly-Fumé — Loire Valley, France 2024

Baron Patrick de Ladoucette is the defining name in Pouilly-Fumé — the man who, more than anyone, elevated this Loire Valley appellation to international prominence. His estate, Château du Nozet, has been in the family since the 18th century and remains the benchmark producer for the appellation’s mineral, smoke-kissed style of Sauvignon Blanc. De Ladoucette’s philosophy is uncompromising: no oak, ever. The wine is vinified and aged entirely on its fine lees in glass-tiled stainless steel tanks, preserving every nuance of the flint-rich Kimmeridgian soils and the Sauvignon Blanc grape in its purest expression. The result is Pouilly-Fumé as it should be — precise, mineral, and unmistakably of its place.

The color is pale golden-green, bright and luminous. The nose is delicate yet complex: white flowers (lilac, white blossom), citrus peel (grapefruit, lemon), and exotic fruit (lychee, mango), with the quintessential fumé — that haunting flinty, smoky mineral note that gives the appellation its name. On the palate, the wine is elegant and mineral-driven, with crushed shell, grilled lemon, green Anjou pear, and a beautiful acidity that drives a long, clean, saline finish. Orange blossom, white peach, and dried hay emerge as it opens — a wine that rewards patience in the glass.

“Chilled citrus and white-peach aromas mingle with orange blossom and lilac on the nose. The palate is pleasantly mineral driven, with flavors of crushed shell, grilled lemon, and green Anjou pear. A whiff of dried hay on the finish brings everything together.” — Wine Enthusiast, 92 pts. (Vintage 2024).

• Producer: de Ladoucette, Château du Nozet, Pouilly-sur-Loire, Loire Valley
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Pouilly-Fumé AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Vinification: No oak — aged on fine lees in glass-tiled stainless steel tanks
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White flower, lychee, grapefruit, crushed shell, grilled lemon, green pear, dried hay, saline mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Oysters, scallops, grilled sea bass, Crottin de Chavignol, fresh chèvre, asparagus, roast chicken with lemon

The definitive Pouilly-Fumé — de Ladoucette delivers Sauvignon Blanc’s most mineral, precise, and terroir-driven expression from the Loire’s most storied flint-soil estate.

Domaine Delobel Touraine Sauvignon Blanc “Angle Droit” — Loire Valley 2024

Domaine Delobel is one of the Loire Valley’s most exciting organic estates, founded in 2013 by Benjamin Delobel in Ouchamps, on the celebrated Oisly vineyard. Working with 10 hectares of certified-organic Sauvignon Blanc — planted from mass selections to preserve old-vine complexity — Benjamin crafts wines that are, as the name “Angle Droit” (Right Angle) suggests, straight, pure, and technically precise. For fans of Sauvignon Blanc who find New Zealand styles too loud and Sancerre too expensive, this wine hits the perfect middle ground. Manual harvests at dawn, slow pneumatic pressing, stainless steel fermentation, and aging on lees deliver a wine of exceptional freshness and mineral clarity.

The nose is lively and inviting: dried hay, field grass, sliced green apple, and crabapple aromas converge in a satisfying, savory frame. On the palate, the wine washes across wet river stone with tart acidity accented by white blossom — mineral-driven, focused, and refreshingly precise. The finish is clean and lingering.

Wine Enthusiast 90 — Reggie Solomon: “This lively wine refreshes the senses. The mineral-driven palate washes across wet river stone with tart acidity accented by white blossom.”

• Producer: Domaine Delobel, Ouchamps, Touraine, Loire Valley, France
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Touraine AOC
• Varietal: 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Farming: Certified Organic since 2013
• Vinification: Manual harvest, pneumatic press, stainless steel, aged on lees
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Dried hay, green apple, crabapple, white blossom, wet river stone, mineral finish
• Best Paired With: Goat cheese (Selles-sur-Cher, Crottin de Chavignol), oysters, fish ceviche, grilled sea bass, fresh asparagus

Pure, precise, and organically farmed — Domaine Delobel’s “Angle Droit” is the benchmark for honest, terroir-driven Touraine Sauvignon Blanc.

Klein Constantia Sauvignon Blanc — Constantia, South Africa 2024

Klein Constantia is one of South Africa's most historic and celebrated estates, situated in the Constantia Valley on the slopes of the Cape Peninsula — a site with a winemaking legacy stretching back to the 17th century and home to the legendary Vin de Constance. Their Sauvignon Blanc is a wine of genuine craft and ambition: sourced from 42 individual vineyard blocks across the estate, each fermented separately to allow the terroir of each parcel to express itself before careful blending. Grapes are harvested at 4am to preserve freshness, and the winemaking is a meticulous balance of wild and inoculated fermentation — 80% wild (some ferments taking up to two months to complete), 20% with Non-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae for complexity and natural microbial protection. Ten percent is aged in neutral 500L oak barrels, and the wine spends six months on gross lees before blending and bottling.

The 2024 pours light and bright. The nose is perfumed and atypically complex for Sauvignon Blanc — grapefruit, lime, kiwi, yellow plum, and hints of mango, with a citrus blossom and umami thread. On the palate, it's moreish and textured with a crisp entry, quince, light walnut, flinty mineral elements, and a fresh salinity that gives it real energy. The finish is long, vibrant, and expressive — fanning out beautifully with aeration. Real texture for the variety.

"Atypical for a Sauvignon Blanc — real texture to this Savvy, which is unusual for the variety, fanning out nicely on the finish." — Neal Martin, Vinous, 91 Points

• Producer: Klein Constantia, Constantia Valley, South Africa
• Vintage: 2024
• Appellation: Constantia WO
• Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
• Vineyard: 42 blocks, harvested at 4am
• Fermentation: 80% wild (up to 2 months), 20% Non-Saccharomyces Cerevisiae; 10% neutral 500L oak
• Aging: 6 months on gross lees
• Size: 750ml
• Accolades: Vinous 91 (Neal Martin)
• Tasting Notes: Grapefruit, lime, kiwi, yellow plum, mango, citrus blossom, umami, flinty minerality, fresh salinity
• Best Paired With: Oysters, grilled fish, sushi, goat cheese, asparagus, light herb-driven dishes

A 91-point Constantia Sauvignon Blanc of remarkable craft — 42 blocks, 4am harvest, wild fermentation, and six months on lees from one of South Africa's most historic estates.

François & Julien Pinon | Vouvray Blanc Sec — Buvez du Bon Pinon | Loire Valley, France | 2023

François and Julien Pinon are a father-and-son team working exclusively with Chenin Blanc on their 15-hectare estate in the Vallée de Cousse, in the heart of Vouvray. Certified organic by Ecocert since 2003, their work in the vineyard is in complete harmony with nature — a philosophy that translates directly into wines of exceptional purity, energy, and terroir expression.

Vouvray is one of the Loire Valley's most celebrated appellations, producing Chenin Blanc of extraordinary range and longevity. The region's tufa limestone soils and continental climate — tempered by the moderating influence of the Loire River — give Vouvray Chenin Blanc its signature combination of vibrant acidity, mineral precision, and generous aromatic complexity. Chenin Blanc is a grape that flies under the radar, which is baffling given its charming character and remarkable versatility.

The 2023 Buvez du Bon Pinon sports a gorgeous bouquet reminiscent of a walk through an orchard in spring blossom. Aromas of white stone fruits, peach, pear, wildflower honey, and quince emerge from the glass with lively fanfare. On the palate, energetic and effortless with refreshing lift, steely mineral intensity, and beautifully balanced vibrant acidity. The finish is long, tangy, chalky, and utterly delicious. Drink now through 2030.

A wine that adds cheerful accompaniment to roast chicken, grilled seafood, fresh salads, vegetable dishes, goat cheese, and herb-driven cuisine.

• Producer: François & Julien Pinon
• Cuvée: Buvez du Bon Pinon
• Appellation: Vouvray AOC, Loire Valley, France
• Grape: Chenin Blanc
• Style: Dry (Sec)
• Vintage: 2023
• Farming: Certified Organic (Ecocert since 2003)
• Drink: Now through 2030
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2023

• Wine Spectator — 90 pts: A steely, mineral-intense style that starts out austere and then fills in with crunchy apple, pear and dried herbs. Chalky feel to the finish, which is racy and pure. Drink now through 2030.

67Wine Buyer's Note

Bart Hopkins, 67Wine — "Energetic and effortless in the mouth with refreshing lift and well-balanced vibrant acidity, with a long and tangy, delicious finish."

Echo de Lynch-Bages — 2nd Label of Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac 2023

Château Lynch-Bages is one of Pauillac's most beloved estates — a Fifth Growth in classification but a Second Growth in reputation, consistently producing wines of extraordinary depth and character. Echo de Lynch-Bages is the official second label of the estate, drawing from younger vines and select parcels to produce a wine that carries the unmistakable Lynch-Bages DNA: graphite, ripe black fruit, smoked earth, and that signature broad-shouldered Pauillac structure. The 2023 is a blend of 55% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged 14 months in new and once-used French oak — a ripe yet classic vintage that earned five critic scores of 89–93 points.

The wine pours a deep ruby. The nose is classically Pauillac: lead pencil, graphite, ripe black fruits, cassis, dark berries, cedar, and a compelling smoked earth character. On the palate, it's medium-bodied and beautifully balanced — juicy and fine-grained, with ripe, supple tannins, outstanding length, and a firm, fruit-forward finish. Approachable today but built to age gracefully through 2045.

"Classic Pauillac notes of lead pencil, graphite, and ripe black fruits as well as an almost Graves-like smoked earth character. Medium-bodied and balanced, with ripe, supple tannins and outstanding length." — Jeb Dunnuck, 93 Points

• Producer: Château Lynch-Bages, Pauillac, Bordeaux, France
• Classification: Official 2nd Label of Château Lynch-Bages (5ème Grand Cru Classé)
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Pauillac AOC
• Blend: 55% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Cabernet Franc
• Aging: 14 months in new and once-used French oak
• Size: 750ml
• Accolades: JS 93 | JD 93 | WA 91 | Vinous 90 | WS 89
• Drink: Now–2045 (best from 2026–2027)
• Tasting Notes: Graphite, lead pencil, cassis, dark berries, smoked earth, cedar, supple tannins
• Best Paired With: Roast lamb, duck confit, grilled ribeye, aged hard cheeses, classic Bordelaise cuisine

Five 89–93 point scores and a drink window through 2045 — Lynch-Bages pedigree at second label pricing, in one of Bordeaux's most compelling recent vintages.

Famiglia Castellani · Toscana · 2020

For more than 150 years, the Castellani family has been crafting classic Tuscan wines that capture the character of the region. This 2020 Sangiovese is a polished, perfumed crowd-pleaser, delivering an impressive balance of ripe fruit, freshness, and value.

Bright red and dark berries lead into hints of hibiscus, sweet spice, cedar, and a fresh mineral edge. Medium-bodied and succulent, with crunchy yet supple tannins, it has the lively acidity to make it a natural match for the table.

James Suckling: 91 points
“Ripe red and dark berries and hints of hibiscus, sweet spices and cedar on the nose. Medium-bodied, succulent and fruity, with crunchy, rather supple tannins. Good concentration and length. Fresh and minerally.”. (Vintage 2020). 

• Producer: Famiglia Castellani
• Varietal: Sangiovese
• Appellation: Toscana
• Region: Tuscany, Italy
• Vintage: 2020
• Tasting notes: Red and dark berries, hibiscus, sweet spice, cedar, and fresh minerality
• Pair with: Pizza, spaghetti Bolognese, lasagna, eggplant Parmigiana, chicken, or grilled pork with rosemary
• Size: 750ml

A fresh, polished Tuscan red with 91-point pedigree and serious pizza-night appeal.

Loveblock | Sauvignon Blanc | Marlborough, New Zealand | 2024 | Organic

Loveblock is a certified organic winery founded by Kim and Erica Crawford — yes, that Erica Crawford, co-founder of the iconic Kim Crawford wine brand — on their estate in Marlborough, New Zealand. After selling Kim Crawford Wines, Erica returned to her passion for sustainable, organic viticulture and launched Loveblock as a vehicle for producing wines of genuine terroir expression and environmental integrity. The estate is certified organic, and every decision in the vineyard and winery is guided by a commitment to the land and to producing wines of exceptional quality and character.

Marlborough is New Zealand's most celebrated wine region and the spiritual home of Sauvignon Blanc — a place where the combination of intense sunshine, cool nights, and free-draining stony soils produces wines of extraordinary aromatic intensity, vibrant acidity, and distinctive saline minerality. Loveblock's Sauvignon Blanc draws on fruit from across the region to produce a wine of complexity and elegance that goes well beyond the category norm.

The 2024 is pale straw with a hint of green and gold. The nose is complex and elegant — citrus blossom, wild flowers, crushed ripe herbs, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit zest, and sliced peach. On the palate, medium- to full-bodied and chiseled, with a dense fruit core of juicy melon and peach, vibrant fleshy fruit, toasted herbs, green tea, ginger, lime zest, and a saline, umami-tinged finish. Beautifully rounded with layer upon layer of texture and a long, complex, mineral finish.

Pair with oysters, seafood, spaghetti alle vongole, grilled fish, goat cheese, and chicken.

• Producer: Loveblock (Erica Crawford)
• Appellation: Marlborough, South Island, New Zealand
• Grape: Sauvignon Blanc (100%)
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Closure: Screwcap
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2024

• James Suckling — 93 pts: Lemon, grapefruit zest and sliced peach aromas. Medium- to full-bodied and chiseled, with vibrant, fleshy fruit and a saline touch in the finish.
• Wine Spectator — 91 pts: Intense and juicy — toasted herbs, green tea and crunchy sea salt mingling with ginger, lime zest and fleshy notes of ripe melon that linger on the long finish.

Gosset · Grande Réserve Brut NV · Champagne AOC · France

Gosset is the oldest wine house in Champagne — established in Aÿ in 1584, when Pierre Gosset, alderman and winegrower, founded the house that bears his name. Nearly five centuries of Champagne-making later, Gosset remains one of the region’s most distinctive producers: a house defined by richness, Pinot Noir texture, extended cellaring, and an unwavering commitment to the Grande Réserve style. The NV Grande Réserve is the house’s signature Champagne — a blend of 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, and 10% Meunier from premier villages including Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, aged a minimum of four years in the cellar before disgorgement, then rested a further six months to assimilate the dosage (8 g/L). Rated 94 points by Decanter and 93 by Wine Spectator.

Luminous golden hue with a fine, persistent mousse. The nose opens with fresh lemon meringue pie, yellow apple, Mirabelle plum, and white peach, deepening with warmth into honeyed, toasted notes. On the palate, a spine of chiseled acidity structures a vivid, creamy texture — Asian pear, baked pineapple, lemon curd, toasted brioche, and roasted almond, with a minerally underpinning of smoke, brine, and wet stone. Elegant, long, and absolutely fresh from first bubble to finish.

Expert Reviews

“Elegance, length and absolute freshness are inherent and quietly convincing. Beautifully subtle autolysis on the palate, deepening into notes of creamy apple crumble, Golden Delicious and Mirabelle plum.”
— Decanter · 94 Points

“A spine of chiseled acidity structures this vivid, creamy Champagne, which has a minerally underpinning of smoke and brine and flavors of Asian pear, baked pineapple, lemon curd, toasted brioche and roasted almond.”
— Wine Spectator · 93 Points

“Pure and inviting aromas of white peach, fresh flowers, and wet stone. A fresh pillowy mousse and a delicate saline finish — a wonderful calling card for the freshness of the house style.”
— Jeb Dunnuck · 92 Points

“Lemon tart, spiced apples, almonds and pastries. Fresh, lively and very precise, with fine bubbles and a light, chalky undertone.”
— James Suckling · 92 Points

• Producer: Gosset, Aÿ, Champagne, France (est. 1584 — oldest wine house in Champagne)
• Style: Brut NV Champagne
• Blend: 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Meunier
• Base Vintage: 2018 | Cellaring: 4+ years minimum
• Dosage: 8 g/L
• Villages: Aÿ, Bouzy, Ambonnay, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Villers-Marmery
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon meringue, Mirabelle plum, Asian pear, brioche, roasted almond, smoke, brine, chiseled acidity
• Pairings: Grilled fish, lobster, oysters, scallops, soft cheeses, aperitif

D:94 · WS:93 · JD:92 · JS:92 · Champagne AOC — the oldest wine house in Champagne, since 1584. Rich, creamy, and built for the long haul.

Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir from Eleven Family-Owned Vineyards

Patz & Hall draws from eleven small, independent family-owned vineyard sites across the Sonoma Coast, unified into a wine of saline freshness, lively red fruit, and structural elegance. The 2021 vintage delivered cool, even growing conditions that preserved natural acidity and exceptional purity.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

• Decanter — 96 pts: "Delightful, extra juicy red and black fruits give graciously and generously with a mouth-filling texture and soft, silky tannins. The coolness of the Sonoma Coast takes the salty sea air and places it squarely on the grapes to give this wine a lovely saline finish. The great structural envelope will protect this wine for the future. It will last and last."
• Wine Spectator — 93 pts: "Fresh and lively, raspberry and mulberry coulis with a mouthwatering savory edge. Textbook vintage and AVA profile. Drink now through 2031."
• Wine Advocate — 90 pts: "Aromas of red and black cherries, mint, forest floor and allspice. Generous, spicy fruit with grainy tannins and juicy acidity."

Winemaker Notes

Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2021 750ml

Complex aromas of Morello cherry and wild strawberry, with cinnamon, clove, anise, and coriander alongside forest floor and pink flowers. Full palate with good purity, refined tannins, and fresh acidity.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Sonoma Coast, California
• Vineyard Sources: 11 independent family-owned sites
• Producer: Patz & Hall
• Vintage: 2021
• Drinking Window: Now–2031
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Exceptional with roasted duck, salmon, mushroom risotto, lamb loin, and soft-ripened cheeses.

Super-Tuscan Quality at a Remarkably Fair Price

Tenuta Sette Ponti is one of Tuscany’s most respected estates, located in the Valdarno di Sopra between Florence and Arezzo. Crognolo is their flagship Super-Tuscan blend — 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot — crafted from a historic Sangiovese clone unique to the property. Certified organic, it delivers serious Tuscan character with vibrant energy, firm structure, and exceptional aging potential.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022 

• James Suckling — 94 pts: Fresh strawberries and cherries with orange peel and flowers. Cedar, black olive and violet undertones. Medium-bodied with firm, racy tannins that give energy and focus. Tangy and fresh with slightly bitter citrus on the finish. Drink or hold.
• Wine Advocate (Monica Larner) — 92 pts: A core of blackened fruit with plum and cooked blackberry, plus varietal Sangiovese hints of pressed rose and sweet potting soil. Medium texture with fruity freshness. A selection from a historic clone of Sangiovese found on the estate. 150,000 bottles produced.
• Vinous (Antonio Galloni) — 92 pts: Dark, vibrant and persistent. Dark-fleshed fruit, chocolate, licorice, cloves, menthol. Admirable energy with grippy tannins on the finish.
• Wine Spectator — 91 pts: Black cherry, blackberry, lavender and spice. Dense, tight and compact with plenty of fruit and well-integrated structure. Fine length. Best 2026–2038.

Winemaker Notes

Tenuta Sette Ponti Crognolo Toscana Organic 2022 750ml

Strawberry, cherry, black olive, cedar, and violet on the nose, with chocolate, licorice, and menthol emerging on the palate. Medium-bodied with firm, racy tannins and vibrant Sangiovese acidity. Decant for 30 minutes or cellar through 2038. Certified Organic.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: 90% Sangiovese, 10% Merlot
• Appellation: Valdarno di Sopra, Toscana IGT, Italy
• Producer: Tenuta Sette Ponti
• Vintage: 2022
• Farming: Certified Organic
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A natural at the Tuscan table — exceptional with bistecca alla Fiorentina, grilled lamb chops, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, aged Pecorino Toscano, and Parmigiano-Reggiano.

Altos de Torona | Albaríno | O Rosal, Rías Baixas DO | Galicia, Spain | 2024

Altos de Torona is one of Rías Baixas's most distinctive estates, farming the largest single vineyard in the entire region — 94 hectares of Albaríno vines in the O Rosal subzone, the southernmost and most maritime corner of Galicia. The estate practices sustainable viticulture within a rich biodiversity of over 160 species of flora and fauna, a commitment to the land that translates directly into wines of exceptional purity and terroir expression.

Rías Baixas is Spain's premier white wine appellation, situated on the Atlantic coast of Galicia in northwestern Spain. The O Rosal subzone is particularly prized for its proximity to the sea — the Atlantic influence brings cooling breezes, morning mists, and a natural salinity that gives Albaríno from this area its signature mineral freshness and oceanic character. Albaríno is one of the world's great aromatic white grapes, producing wines of vibrant acidity, generous fruit, and a distinctive saline minerality that makes them among the finest seafood wines on earth.

The 2024 Altos de Torona is straw yellow with greenish hues. The nose is fresh and aromatic — reineta apple, citrus, apricot, and toasted notes from aging on lees. On the palate, voluminous and unctuous with restrained acidity, a saline mineral thread, and a subtle, lingering finish. Silver Medal — International Wine Challenge 2025.

A world-class seafood wine. Pair with grilled scallops, steamed cockles, hake, oysters, sushi, light pasta with seafood, and semi-soft or fresh goat cheeses. Serve well chilled at 45–50°F.

• Producer: Altos de Torona
• Appellation: Rías Baixas DO, O Rosal subzone, Galicia, Spain
• Grape: Albaríno
• Vintage: 2024
• Farming: Sustainable; 94-hectare single vineyard
• Vinification: Aged on lees for added texture and complexity
• Bottle Size: 750ml

Critical Acclaim — Vintage 2024

• Decanter — 93 pts
• James Suckling — 91 pts
• International Wine Challenge 2025 — Silver Medal

Leclerc Briant Réserve Extra Brut — Épernay, Champagne, France NV

Leclerc Briant is one of Champagne's most celebrated and pioneering grower-producers — a historic house based in Épernay with roots going back to 1872, and today one of the region's most committed advocates for biodynamic viticulture. Under the stewardship of the Lignac family, Leclerc Briant farms its vineyards according to strict biodynamic principles — certified by Demeter — believing that the health of the soil is the foundation of great Champagne. The estate works with the lunar calendar, uses only natural preparations, and practices minimal intervention in the cellar, allowing the terroir of their Marne Valley and Côte des Blancs vineyards to express itself with clarity and precision. The Réserve Extra Brut is the house's signature non-vintage cuvée — a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, and 20% Chardonnay, based on the 2019 harvest, with reserve wines adding depth and complexity. Extra Brut in style, it is drier and more precise than a standard Brut, allowing the terroir and the fruit to speak without the softening effect of dosage.

The color is bright pale yellow with a fine, lively mousse. The nose is complex and inviting: wet asphalt, ripe white peach, fresh redcurrant, pear, verbena, lime, herbs, and a touch of menthol — the signature of biodynamic Champagne. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and approachable with a rounded mid-palate, chalky and pithy texture, and sleek acidity animating flavors of chopped raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon, and oyster shell. The finish is persistent, lightly spiced, and mouthwatering — clean, energetic, and long.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 — "Wet asphalt, ripe white peach, and fresh redcurrant. Rounded mid-palate, chalky and pithy texture with a lively yet fine mousse. Attractive and balanced with a clean finish."

Wine Spectator 92 — "Lithe and graceful, with sleek acidity animating flavors of chopped raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon and oyster shell. Fine and satiny in texture, offering a persistent, lightly spiced finish."

Wine Advocate 90 — "Lively, fresh bouquet of pear, verbena, lime tree, herbs and menthol. Vinous and energetic with an incisive mid-palate and a mouthwatering, fresh finish."

• Producer: Leclerc Briant, Épernay, Champagne, France (est. 1872)
• Style: Extra Brut NV
• Blend: 40% Pinot Noir / 40% Pinot Meunier / 20% Chardonnay
• Base Vintage: 2019
• Farming: Certified Biodynamic (Demeter)
• Dosage: Extra Brut (very low dosage)
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: White peach, redcurrant, raspberry, nectarine, preserved lemon, oyster shell, wet asphalt, chalky texture, persistent spiced finish
• Style: Precise, energetic, terroir-driven
• Best Paired With: Oysters, sushi, grilled fish, lobster, soft cheeses, charcuterie, caviar

Biodynamic Champagne from one of Épernay's most celebrated grower-producers — Leclerc Briant Réserve Extra Brut is precise, energetic, and triple 90+ point rated.

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir That Sets the Benchmark for the Appellation

Bergström Wines has been one of Oregon's most celebrated estates since its founding in 1999, farming biodynamically across five estate vineyards in the Willamette Valley. The Cumberland Reserve Pinot Noir — a blend from Bergström's estate vineyards plus select purchased fruit, matured for 10 months — is the estate's definitive appellation-level expression: aromatic, silky, and layered, with the cool-climate precision and effortless balance that have made Bergström a reference point for Oregon Pinot Noir.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

• Jeb Dunnuck — 94 pts: "Opens with aromas of raspberry liqueur, mocha, floral perfume, and savory notes of fresh sage. Medium-bodied, it offers ripe, detailed tannins, balanced acidity, and a long finish. While this vintage hints at opulence, the wine remains beautifully balanced and refreshing. A stunning introduction to the vintage and a benchmark for the region."
• James Suckling — 94 pts: "Bright and seductive, this pinot offers fresh cherries, crushed wild berries, violets, wet rocks and subtle spices on the nose. Racy and mouthwatering, with spicy and minerally tension, a medium body, a dusty texture to its tannins and a lingering and racy finish."
• Wine Advocate — 93 pts: "Alluring aromas of strawberry, raspberry, forest floor and earthy undertones. The medium-bodied palate is bursting with bright, spicy fruit, framed by soft, chalky tannins and mouthwatering acidity with a long, bright finish. Matured for 10 months from Bergström's five estate vineyards plus some purchased fruit."
• Vinous — 93 pts: "Incredibly fresh, with a bouquet of dusty dried flowers, lavender pastille, nuances of cedary spice and wild blueberries. Ripe wild berry fruits and crisp mineral tones glide across the palate over a layer of pure silk. The finish is long and tense, yet remains remarkably fresh as violet tones resonate over a bed of silken tannins. The Cumberland Reserve represents amazing value."

Winemaker Notes

Bright red in color, aromatically driven by cherry, strawberry, and Herbes de Provence with light green spice. Fruit-forward and balanced with acidity and structure on the palate. Cardamom and nutmeg spice on the finish. A wet spring and warm harvest created delicate flavors and a powerful lasting finish.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Pinot Noir
• Appellation: Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Producer: Bergström Wines
• Vintage: 2023
• Farming: Biodynamic
• Vinification: Blend of five estate vineyards plus select purchased fruit; matured 10 months
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

Exceptional with Pacific Northwest cuisine — roasted salmon, duck breast, mushroom risotto, lamb chops, truffle dishes, and aged Pinot-friendly cheeses.

About This Wine

Beringer's Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has long been one of California's benchmark expressions of the variety — a wine that bridges Napa's richness with Sonoma's elegance. Sourced from the volcanic soils of Knights Valley, just east of the Mayacamas Mountains, the 2022 vintage delivers everything this appellation is known for: depth, structure, and a sense of place.

The 2022 growing season brought warmth and richness, yielding bold layers of blackcurrant, plum, and boysenberry, accented by dark chocolate, sage, and hints of tobacco and cedar. Extended maceration extracted maximum color and flavor, while 14 months in French oak (30% new) added spice and texture without overwhelming the fruit. Fine-grained tannins and bright acidity give this wine both immediate appeal and genuine aging potential.

Tasting Notes

• Color: Deep plum with ruby highlights
• Nose: Blackcurrant, boysenberry, cassis, dark chocolate, sage, cedar, wild lavender
• Palate: Medium-to-full body, plush sandy tannins, vibrant acidity, baking spice, crushed stone
• Finish: Long, elegant, savory — structured and mouthwatering

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 93 | Perfumed aromas of red currants, lavender, fresh thyme and graphite. Medium-bodied with plush tannins and balanced acidity, giving flavors of raspberry coulis, red licorice and baking spices. Very soft and delicate, with a nicely constructed backbone. Drink or hold.

Food Pairings

Grilled ribeye, braised short ribs, lamb chops, aged cheddar, and mushroom risotto. A natural at the dinner table, equally at home with a casual weeknight meal or a celebratory feast.

Product Details

Bottle Size: 750ml
Vintage: 2022
Region: Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California
Appellation: Knights Valley AVA
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Petit Verdot
Oak Aging: 14 months, French oak (30% new)
Style: Full-bodied Red Wine

Taylor Fladgate 10 Year Tawny Port — Douro Valley, Portugal

Taylor Fladgate is widely regarded as the benchmark producer of aged Tawny Port, and their 10 Year Old Tawny is the wine that has made that reputation. Founded in 1692 and one of the last independent Port houses, Taylor’s sources fruit from their own quinta vineyards in the Douro Valley, aging the wine in small oak casks over a decade to develop the characteristic amber-tawny color, nutty complexity, and mellow richness that defines this style at its finest. Robert Parker called Taylor’s Tawnys the best of their type — more aromatic, fruitier, riper, and better balanced than the competition. The 10 Year Old is his personal favorite.

The nose is elegant and complex: sweet berries, walnut, toffee, caramel, and dried cherry, with red tea and a whisper of singed vanilla. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied with a silky, mellow texture — chocolate, toffee, and dried fruit layered with subtle oak and just enough spirit backbone to keep everything honest. The finish is long, warm, and deeply satisfying. It is bottled for immediate drinking and needs no decanting.

“It is my opinion that Taylor’s tawny ports are the best of their type — more aromatic personalities, greater fruit and ripeness, and a wonderful sweetness and length. The Ten Year Old Tawny is a personal favorite, as well as the best bargain among these ports.” — Robert Parker, 93 pts

“Beautiful sweet berries with walnut, toffee and caramel undertones on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with medium sweetness and a chocolate and toffee aftertaste. A richer style of 10-year-old and delicious. Drink now.” — James Suckling, 93 pts

“This has a nice racy edge to the mix of slightly dried red cherry and raspberry fruit, backed by red tea and singed vanilla. Shows good tension from start to finish.” — Wine Spectator, 91 pts

“A very complete aged tawny with all the right nuts and fruit characters. The style is ripe, full and sweet, a mellow wine that only hints at the spirit behind it.” — Wine Enthusiast, 90 pts

• Producer: Taylor Fladgate, Douro Valley, Portugal (est. 1692)
• Style: 10 Year Old Tawny Port
• Appellation: Douro DOC — Porto, Portugal
• Aging: 10 years in small oak casks
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Sweet berries, walnut, toffee, caramel, dried cherry, chocolate, red tea, singed vanilla
• Best Paired With: Dark chocolate, almond tart, crème brûlée, coffee desserts, Stilton, walnuts, or on its own after dinner

The world’s benchmark 10 Year Tawny — Taylor Fladgate delivers over 330 years of Port mastery in a wine that Robert Parker calls the best bargain in aged Tawny.

Banshee Pinot Noir Sonoma County 2023 750ml

Banshee is one of Sonoma County's most exciting Pinot Noir producers — a winery built on the belief that the best wines from Sonoma are yet to be made, and determined to produce some of them. Sourcing from a carefully curated network of cool-climate vineyards across the Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Anderson Valley, Banshee pursues Pinot that achieves power without weight — transparent, site-driven, and alive with the flavors of the coast: forest floor, pine, tea, spice, and minerals alongside the fruit.

The 2023 Sonoma County Pinot Noir is generous, layered, and immediately appealing — an excellent food wine that is equally charming on its own. Bright, medium-bodied, and bursting with red and dark fruit, it delivers real complexity for the price and confirms why Banshee has earned such a devoted following.

"Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold." — James Suckling, 92 pts

• Producer: Banshee Wines, Alexander Valley, Sonoma County, California
• Appellation: Sonoma County AVA
• Grape: 100% Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2023
• Style: Medium-bodied, elegant, cool-climate California Pinot Noir
• Tasting Notes: Strawberry, cherry, pomegranate, dark cherry, blackberry, violets, forest floor, five-spice, toasted caramel, graphite, bright acidity
• Best Paired With: Roast duck, salmon, mushroom dishes, grilled lamb chops, or brie

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

James Suckling — 92 Points
Layers of dark cherries, spices, blackberry bush and violets. The palate is medium-bodied with firmly framed tannins and bright acidity, showing dried herbs, graphite and plums. Generous and bold.

Jeb Dunnuck — 90 Points
Pouring a medium ruby color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Sonoma County is forward in the glass, with bright aromas of preserved cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, and red flowers. The palate has lovely energy within a medium-bodied frame, and it has a refreshing feel, with its spices and chalky texture coming through on the finish.

Wine Spectator — 90 Points
A pretty red, with a steady beam of raspberry and cherry coulis flecked with red tea and savory. The streamlined finish shows a late tug of red licorice.

Site-driven Sonoma Pinot Noir that over-delivers at every price — Banshee is the kind of bottle you open on a Tuesday and finish before dinner is over.

Mumm Napa Brut Rosé — California NV

Mumm Napa’s Brut Rosé is one of California’s most vibrant and food-friendly sparkling wines — a Pinot Noir-dominant expression that brings the energy and freshness of méthode champenoise winemaking to a beautiful pink-salmon package. Blending 80% Pinot Noir with 20% Chardonnay, the wine is partially fermented in the press to develop its signature soft, fruity directness, while the Chardonnay component adds power and structure. The result earned 91 points from Wine Enthusiast and is one of the most versatile food wines in the sparkling category.

The nose is ripe and inviting: black cherry, wild strawberry, peach, and fresh red fruit. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and succulent — peach, wild strawberry, and plum flavors are framed by lively acidity and fine bubbles, with a clean, refreshing finish. Robust enough to stand up to bold cuisine, yet elegant enough for the apéritif hour.

Wine Enthusiast 91 — “A hearty 80% Pinot Noir dominates in this sparkler. With a pink-salmon hue, it offers peach and wild strawberry aromas followed by similar, medium-bodied flavors, with the addition of succulent plum.”

• Producer: Mumm Napa, Napa Valley, California, USA
• Vintage: Non-Vintage
• Appellation: California
• Blend: 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay
• Method: Méthode Champenoise
• Style: Brut Rosé
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Black cherry, wild strawberry, peach, plum, fine bubbles, clean refreshing finish
• Best Paired With: Thai cuisine, grilled salmon, charcuterie, soft cheeses, pasta with tomato, Italian dishes

Pink, precise, and endlessly food-friendly — Mumm Napa’s Brut Rosé is California sparkling at its most vibrant.

In the heart of the Penedès, the Canals family has been crafting Cava with the quiet focus of a house that has nothing to prove. The Reserva Numerada is their flagship expression: a blend of Xarel·lo, Macabeu, and Parellada — the three indigenous varieties that define the appellation — fermented in bottle via traditional method and aged on the lees for a full 24 months. The result is a Cava of genuine complexity, one that bears its accolades without surprise. This is also an organic transition wine, farmed with care in the vineyard before the glass.

The 2021 pours a bright, luminous straw with fine, persistent bubbles. The nose is delicate and layered: citrus fruit — lemon, tangerine, orange peel — opens to orchard notes of green apple and ripe pear, with a whisper of brioche and subtle minerality from the extended lees aging. On the palate it is crisp and dry, with white peach, lime, and a pleasant bready character that adds texture without weight. The finish is refreshing, vibrant, and long. An exceptional value in serious sparkling wine.

93 points — Mi Vino Guide · Best Cava in the Guide
90 points — James Suckling
Gold Medal — International Wine Awards 2022 & 2021
Gold Medal — Catavinum World Wines & Spirits Competition 2022 & 2021

• Producer: Ramon Canals, Penedès, Catalonia, Spain
• Vintage: 2021
• Appellation: Cava DO, Catalonia
• Blend: Xarel·lo, Macabeu, Parellada
• Method: Mètode Tradicional (Traditional Method), 24 months on lees
• Farming: Organic Transition | Vegan
• Size: 750ml
• Tasting Notes: Lemon, tangerine, orange peel, green apple, ripe pear, white peach, lime, brioche, mineral
• Food Pairings: Oysters, seafood tapas, jamón ibérico, soft cheeses, paella, aperitivo

Multiple Gold Medals, 93 points, and a price that belongs in a different category — Ramon Canals Reserva Numerada is the Cava the list was made for.

Bogle Vineyards has been farming the Sacramento Delta since 1968, and Phantom is their flagship red — a bold, layered blend built from the estate's oldest and most expressive blocks. The 2021 is anchored by Petit Sirah and Zinfandel, aged over 24 months in 1- and 2-year-old American oak.

The result is a wine that punches well above its price: rich, structured, and unmistakably Californian.

The nose pulses with ripe Bing cherry, black currant, layered incense spice, molasses, and vanilla cream. On the palate, it is fresh and zesty — red berries, citrus, and dark chocolate mousse give way to spicy pepper, juniper, black plum, and blueberry. Pipe tobacco and clove settle around the long, lingering finish, framed by dry, mouth-watering tannins. A 92-point red blend at a rock-bottom price.

"The aromatics of ripe Bing cherry and black currant pulsate throughout the glass, and the notes of layered incense spice, molasses and vanilla cream create another dimensional element. The mouthfeel is fresh and zesty with red berries, citrus, dark chocolate mousse and dry, mouth-watering tannins on the finish." — Tonya Pitts, Wine Enthusiast, 92 Points (Vintage 2021)

Winemaker Notes

Full-bodied and jammy, Phantom's origins of Petit Sirah and Zinfandel emerge from the glass. Spicy pepper and juniper tantalize your senses, while black plums and blueberries emerge on the palate. After aging for over 24 months in 1 & 2 year old American oak, pipe tobacco and clove settle around the finish, long and lingering.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 92 Points | A full-flavored, medium-bodied red that offers good, bracing acidity and moderate tannins that lift fresh, delicious raspberry and dark cherry flavors. Hints of earthiness and flint on the nose, then vivid, dark-fruit flavors and a mouthwatering texture. Drink now or hold.

Producer Description

This wine expresses forest floor fruit. Blackberry, blueberry, and raspberry round out the velvet balanced structure and in her finesse. Cooper Mountain is a pioneering winery in Oregon's Willamette Valley, established on the outskirts of Portland in the late 1970's.

In 1978 Dr. Robert Gross and his wife Corrine planted Pinot Noir and Chardonnay on the slopes of Cooper Mountain, west of Portland. In 1987, the family converted an old horse barn on the property to start their own label, becoming early adopters to organic and Biodynamic farming practices in Oregon winemaking by the early 1990's.

"Our role as stewards of our 200 acres is a vital part of our process. Cooper Mountain has always been a trailblazer in sustainable growing, receiving organic certification from Oregon Tilth in 1995. Our commitment to these practices is an important part of our identity and that's why 100% of our wines are organically grown. We believe in Biodynamic farming practices. We've been farming that way since the early 90's and received our certification from Demeter in 1999. Every bottle of wine we make today is made from Biodynamic grapes."

Ruggeri Argeo | Prosecco Treviso Brut Rosé Millesimato | 2023 | 750ml | Valdobbiadene, Italy

Rated 93 Points – Wine Enthusiast

For five generations, the name Ruggeri has been synonymous with the finest Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG. Founded by Eliseo Bisol and his son Luigi — among the first modern winemakers in the region — Ruggeri stands today among the top wineries of Valdobbiadene, pioneering quality and vision since the 1950s. Now part of the Rotkäppchen-Mumm Group, Ruggeri continues to be recognized worldwide for its commitment to excellence.

• Winery: Ruggeri
• Origin: Valdobbiadene, Treviso, Italy
• Bottle Size: 750ml
• Style: Brut Rosé Millesimato (Vintage)
• Varietal: Glera with Pinot Noir
• Vintage: 2023
• Appellation: Prosecco DOC Treviso

Tasting Notes

• Appearance: Soft pink hue reminiscent of peach flowers with abundant foam and lively, fine perlage
• Nose: Glera aromatics enriched with red currants, raspberries, white flowers, and a balsamic note of fresh rosemary
• Palate: Succulent cherry, wild strawberry, pomegranate, and full-bodied structure from Pinot Noir
• Finish: Long, elegant, crisp, and harmonious — perfectly matching the aromas

Critical Acclaim

• 🏆 Wine Enthusiast – 93 Points: "With its soft pink hue and inviting berry-scented bouquet, this Prosecco rosé is a charmer. The palate is awash with succulent cherry, wild strawberry and a subtle hint of pomegranate. The finish is crisp and refreshing, making it an ideal aperitivo or a surprising addition to tacos or burgers."

Serving Suggestions: Ideal as an aperitivo; pairs beautifully with tacos, burgers, light appetizers, and fresh fruit desserts.

San Marzano is one of Puglia’s most celebrated cooperative wineries, drawing from over 1,200 grower families across the sun-drenched heel of Italy’s boot. This Negroamaro — Puglia’s great indigenous red grape — is a textbook expression of the variety: deeply colored, richly aromatic, full-bodied, and built for the table. At $14.99, it’s one of the finest values in Italian red wine.

Expert Review
“Deep purple-red color with black-violet reflections; intense and persistent aroma, with hints of blackcurrant and wild berries, spicy, with notes of thyme. Full-bodied, velvety and harmonious wine, with a long and savory finish.” — 94 pts, Luca Maroni

Food Pairings: Grilled lamb, braised short ribs, pasta al ragù, aged pecorino, charcuterie, and hearty stews.

Varietal: Negroamaro
Producer: San Marzano
Region: Puglia (Salento), Italy
Vintage: 2023
Bottle Size: 750ml

Jumilla's Benchmark Monastrell — Old Vines, Organic, Exceptional Value

The Juan Gil Silver Label (Etiqueta Plata) is the flagship wine of the Gil family and one of the most celebrated value reds in the world — consistently delivering the concentration and complexity of a wine twice its price. Sourced from 40+ year old vines planted in high-altitude, limestone-rich soils in Jumilla, southeastern Spain, and farmed organically and veganic, the 2023 vintage is a benchmark expression of what Monastrell can achieve in this sun-drenched appellation.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023 

• Vinous — 91 pts: "Bitter orange, herbs, mint and white pepper. Dry, with a slightly plush, concentrated texture and a satisfying finish."

Winemaker Notes

Juan Gil 12 Meses Silver Label Monastrell Jumilla 2023 Organic 750ml

The 2023 vintage is particularly noted for its precision — optical sorting technology ensures only the cleanest, most expressive organic grapes make it into the vat. Aged 12 months (12 meses) for added depth and structure, with the estate's signature dark fruit intensity balanced by fresh acidity and mineral lift.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: 100% Monastrell
• Farming: Certified Organic & Vegan
• Vine Age: 40+ years
• Soils: High-altitude limestone
• Appellation: Jumilla DO, Murcia, Spain
• Aging: 12 months (12 Meses)
• Producer: Bodegas Juan Gil
• Vintage: 2023
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A natural match for lamb chops, grilled chorizo, beef stew, roasted peppers, and aged Manchego. Also excellent with hearty vegetarian dishes.

Rioja Gran Reserva That Rivals Wines Twice the Price

Marques de Vargas is one of Rioja’s most respected estates, distinguished by its commitment to varietal correctness and minimal intervention. Only indigenous yeasts from the vineyard are used for fermentation — a philosophy that prioritizes terroir expression over the homogenizing effects of commercial yeast. Rather than chasing the heavily extracted, over-oaked style common in the appellation, Marques de Vargas produces a Gran Reserva of remarkable freshness, elegance, and longevity.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

• Wine Enthusiast — 94 pts: Deep ruby in color with aromas of black cherry, caramel and thyme. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry, licorice, dark chocolate and orange zest wrapped in feathery tannins and a soft sheath of acidity. A nice floral note on the bright finish.
• Wine Advocate — 91 pts: Surprisingly clean and fresh — peppery and spicy with toasty notes. 70% Tempranillo, 17% Garnacha, 13% Mazuelo, matured in 225- and 500-liter French oak barrels for 23 months.
• James Suckling — 91 pts: Delicate creaminess and sweet spices to the blackberries and dark plums. Medium to full body with lots of dusty tannins. Subtle finish with creamy, spiced cherries. Drink or hold.

Winemaker Notes

Marques de Vargas Rioja Gran Reserva 2017 750ml

A blend of 70% Tempranillo, 17% Garnacha, and 13% Mazuelo, aged 23 months in French oak. The 2017 is peppery, spiced, and layered — with black cherry, dark chocolate, and orange zest on the nose, and a long, floral finish. Built for the cellar, but approachable now.

Vineyard & Provenance

• Grape: Tempranillo, Garnacha, Mazuelo
• Appellation: Rioja, Spain
• Producer: Marques de Vargas
• Vintage: 2017
• Classification: Gran Reserva
• Size: 750ml

Food Pairings

A natural at the table — exceptional with roasted lamb, Iberian pork, cochinillo asado, rabo de toro, Jamón Ibérico, aged Manchego, and Idiazábal.