90+ Points | Critical Acclaim | Wine & Sparkling Wine

Our Professional Review

Bart of 67Wine.com writes | Starmont was created by Napa Valley winery Merryvale Vineyards in 1989, with the purpose of crafting wines from grapes sourced from selected cool climate vineyards located in northern and central California.Their 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon shows off the fruits of their efforts with terrific fanfare. There is a lovely essence of black fruits on the nose with layers of earthy spice and herbal complexity. Full bodied and concentrated with generous flavors coating the palate showcasing velvety richness and elegant tannins that flow effortlessly into the long lasting finish. This is a Cabernet lover’s Cabernet! Serve it with hearty bean and vegetable dishes, strong cheeses and anything off the grill.

Expert Review - Vintage 2021 

Wine Enthusiast 92 Points | This opulent, concentrated wine offers red and black currant, blackberry and huckleberry woven together with green bell pepper, black licorice, tobacco leaf, blueberry compote and lemon zest. The midpalate brings the smouldering spice and fruit together seemlessly. Enjoy with fajitas, prime rib and any kind of burger.

James Suckling 90 Points | Ripe black fruit with notes of baking spices, pine cones, cedar and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy tannins. Succulent and fruit-forward yet a little fluid in the finish. Lots of spices and hints of sandalwood at the end.

Winemaker Description 

The goal for Starmont Cabernet Sauvignon is richness and balance, with just the right amount of restraint to achieve a fresh, elegant example of Cabernet Sauvignon from California’s North Coast winegrowing region. On the nose, blackberry and boysenberry leap out of the glass with graphite and cedar adding complexity, while hints of sage and juniper maintain a fresh element. A focused entry with a generous mid-palate leads into a structured finish that lingers pleasantly.

Expert Review

Decanter 91 Points | The oldest producer in Emilia, Cleto Chiarli is better known for producing high-quality Lambrusco Secco, but this Grasparossa Amabile is just as captivating. Round and creamy but not cloying, touches of pepper and cinnamon complicate cherry jam flavours. Excellent acidity keeps the residual sugar in balance, underpinning a savoury and slightly grippy finish.

Winemaker Description 

A semi-sweet wine of an intense red color. The wine has very fruity aromas and all the grape fragrances can be felt. Lively and fading bubbles are of a marked rose color. Its smoothness makes it surprisingly pleasant, though avoiding excesses. A captivating wine.

Paired well with traditional cuisine from Emilia, it is also a wonderful accompaniment to desserts.

Expert Review - Vintage 2023

James Suckling 93 Points | A fresh and crunchy white with light lemons, mangoes and bitter limes. It’s medium- to full-bodied with lots of fruit. The hot growing season comes through, but it remains fresh at the end.

The Wine Advocate Points | The Bruno Giacosa 2023 Roero Arneis will be a smaller release due to fruit that was damaged during a hailstorm the first week of July. Nonetheless, this wine remains salty, mineral-driven and bright with citrus and white peach. It is executed in stainless steel only. Perhaps this vintage is a little thinner in terms of mouthfeel, but it draws to a close with lingering acidity.

Winemaker Description 

Intense straw colored with greenish glints. The nose presents lemon, pineapple, peach and apricot notes with floral hints. On the palate, it is fresh, full-bodied, with mineral notes and a persistent finish.

Winemaker Description

An elegant golden straw yellow with amber highlights. Its aromas are radiant, revealing bright yellow-fleshed fruits (apple, pear, yellow peach), honey, floral nuances (lime blossom) and elegant blond notes (brioche and fresh nuts). The palate is seductive, richly flavorful and smooth combining generosity and subtlety, fullness and vigor, followed by a delicately fresh crispiness (fruit with seeds), to reveal the magical balance of Champagne. 

Expert Reviews 

93 Points The Somm Journal | When it comes to finesse, this classic—roughly equal parts Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with a slightly smaller amount of Chardonnay—doesn’t miss: It’s comme il faut from the unending bead onward. Joined by biscuit and almond aromas, ripe golden apple on the nose turns to green on the palate, where citrus—lime, grapefruit, mandarin orange—cycles through high-flying acidity even as luscious pear adds weight and chalk conveys elegance through the finish. 

92 Points Wine Spectator | An elegant version, fine and creamy in texture and backed by lively, orange peel acidity. A streak of smoke-tinged minerality underscores flavors of almond madeleine, poached pear, anise and preserved lemon. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Drink now.

91 Points James Suckling | This is showing aromas of apricots, grapefruit, pears and short crust. Some walnuts, too. Medium-bodied, with soft bubbles and tasty nut and pie crust notes at the end. Blend of pinot noir, meunier and chardonnay. 24 months on the lees.

90 Points Wine Spectator | A hint of smoke wafts through flavors of black currant, lemon-infused pastry cream and crystallized honey in this fresh, well-meshed Champagne, with a touch of Mandarin orange peel and a fine mousse.

Winemaker Description

Grgich Hills Estate Fumé Blanc will tantalize your senses with notes of green pepper, snap pea, lime and star fruit. On the front palate, enjoy the fresh fruit flavors of lemon, lime, and green apple supported by an undertone of sea salt.

This wine's chiseled texture, linear acidity, and long finish make it the perfect pairing with filet of sole, pork loin and savory goat cheese.

Expert Review

91 Points James Suckling | Aromas of wet stone, sliced peach and fresh flowers. Medium- to full-bodied with citrus acidity and fresh stone fruit. A little phenolic tension here, too, with refreshing tannins at the finish. 

Expert Reviews 

Erin Brooks writes of the Wine Advocate 90 Points | The NV Mirabelle Brut features baked yellow apples, toasted brioche, beeswax and floral aromas on the nose. Medium-bodied and dry, it has vigorous mousse and a gentle roundness to its texture. It balances savory and toasty flavors with youthful fruit and has a long, crisp finish.  Drinking 2022 - 2027.  

Tim Fish of the Wine Spectator 91 Points |  Plush and generous, with refined pear and cherry flavors accented with yeast roll and hazelnut as this glides on the silky finish. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Drink now.   

Winemaker Description 

A sparkling wine with great body. Just a touch of biscuit notes on the body, almost a touch of a savory quality, solid acidity. Can be enjoyed with or without food. Traditional method. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

James Suckling writes:  The intense black-cherry nose of this exuberant blaufrankisch red makes a bold statement. On the medium-bodied, well-structured palate it has plenty of savory and mineral depth, the fine tannins building at the warm yet crisp finish. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 92 

Stephan Brook writes:  Walter Glatzer is one of the grand old men of Carnuntum and has been producing fine red wines for over three decades. This organic wine comes from the loess-rich site of Haidacker. The nose is juicy and stylish, with black-cherry aromas. Svelte and concentrated, i29.t's distinctly oaky, but has depth, power, and spiciness. Long.  Drinking 2022 - 2030  - Decanter 90

Winemaker Description 

Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia 2022 displays signature elegance and freshness, despite the vintage’s solar character. A deep red-purple hue and ripe black fruit, spices and lightly toasted wood aromas shine through in the wine. A generous and juicy prologue is ensued by rich, firm tannins, while the finish is aromatic, plush and persistent. The wine already offers a delightful drinking experience and will reach perfect maturity within ten years. 

Expert Reviews- Vintage 2022  

James Suckling 95 Points | The brightness and purity of fruit is so beautiful here, showing flowers and currants. Very aromatic. Lots of finesse and focus on the medium-bodied palate with super-fine tannins and a lovely finish. 

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The Ornellaia 2022 Bolgheri Rosso Le Serre Nuove dell'Ornellaia is a blend of 65% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Cabernet Franc that saw 15 months in barrique with one-third new oak. Following in the general Ornellaia philosophy, the team has been leaning off long maceration times for more delicate extraction. Blending for this wine usually occurs 12 months after fermentation. This vintage is structured and rich with sweet tannins and a supple texture. This hot vintage brings more fruit weight for sure, but the wine remains fresh and well balanced overall.

Decanter Magazine 93 Points | Merlot-dominant Serre Nuove is deeper, earthier and spicier in aroma compared to Le Volte. It has cool, balsamic herb edges with a concentration of chocolatey dark berries at the core; a finessed style that impresses. The tannins are fine and slightly grainy and grippy, and the acidity rings out. A wine of sapidity and freshness, this is a delightful option for drinking in the near- to mid-term,

The Wine Spectator 93 Points | A smooth red, this evokes cedar, plum, black currant, blackberry, vanilla and resin aromas and flavors. Broad and dense, with accents of leather, earth and tobacco on the long finish.

Vinous Media 93 Points | The 2022 Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia is everything a second wine should be. Open-knit and racy, the 2022 caresses the palate with succulent red fruit. Floral and spice notes with a kick of blood orange open the wine nicely on the mid-palate and into the finish. Soft, silky tannins wrap it all together. This stylish red from Ornellaia is ready to go.

Winemaker Description

The Chianti Classico Riserva La Selvanella has a clear, dark, ruby color and full, complex bouquet with strong notes of red fruits, irises, and hints of vanilla. The flavor is full, generous, warm and savory with an elegant aftertaste of woodland undergrowth and toasted almonds.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

James Suckling 93 Points: A fragrant red with a timid nose of blue fruit, dried herbs and some crushed stones and raspberries. Tightly wound and medium- to full-bodied with tender red fruit. Very compact, with an elegant rigidity that is very appealing. Pure Sangiovese from a single vineyard in Radda in Chianti, which is one of the highest villages in Chianti Classico. This is already drinkable, but I would love to revisit it in a couple of years.

The Wine Spectator 89 Points | Balsamic aromas and flavors of tomato leaf and eucalyptus frame the cherry and berry fruit in this dense, solidly built red. Though perhaps just closed now, overall this falls a little short on the earthy finish. Best from 2026 through 2038. 7,500 cases made, 325 cases imported. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Vinous 90 Points | A blend of fruit from all the sites Rick Rainey works with, the 2022 Dry Riesling Classique is impressively mineral for such an inexpensive wine. Stone, slate and salt—all rendered in the round, forward house style—lend great complexity to the base layer of tropical melon fruit.

Winemaker Description 

The Classique acts as an annual celebration of their work. It commemorates the efforts and dedication of their growers who take each vintage in stride by receiving each day with vulnerability and leaning into the gifts of Mother Nature. Their Classique is an imprint of their diverse and geologically rich region. For them, it represents the potential of Bone Dry Riesling on southeast Seneca Lake.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

James Suckling 91 Points | Blackcurrants, black olives and dried herbs with some smoked-meat and charred-wood character. It’s medium-bodied with firm, fine-grained tannins. Focused and flavorful. Lightly chewy. Better from 2024.

Vinous 90 Points | The 2018 Bernadotte is a flamboyant, unctuous Haut-Medoc that is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Inky, jammy dark fruit, mocha and sweet spice envelope the palate in a racy, expressive everyday red that delivers the goods. The 2018 is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021

James Suckling 96 Points | This is very powerful and structured, with aromas of black truffles, graphite and hints of dried thyme and cedar. Medium- to full-bodied and chewy yet polished. Hints of terra cotta and dark fruit. The finish goes on and on. 

The Wine Advocate 94 Points | The Pio Cesare 2021 Barolo draws fruit from various sites, and like the Barbaresco, you get an excellent portrait of the vintage with balanced acidity, firm tannins and bright primary fruit. There is energy and vitality in this pretty Barolo with dried cherry, iris and subtle dustings of iron ore or rust.

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Displaying a deeper red color with more pigment, the 2021 Barolo Pio is more layered, savory, and noble in its feel all around and opens to notes of fresh cherries, licorice, lifted clove spice, and forest herbs. It shows a good deal of intensity on the palate, with firm, structured tannins, and while it’s medium-bodied, it feels more expansive and has mineral drive. It demands a bit of cellaring but will drink well over the next 15-20 years.

Winemaker Description 

A traditional vintage delivering fresh fruits and beautiful aromas, with great structure and complexity, intense color and a balanced acidity, already approachable with its gentle tannins—all the classic components of the great vintages of Barolo. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2024

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

Winemaker Description 

Whispering Angel is a blend of Grenache, Rolle, Cinsault, Syrah, and Mourvedre grapes. Strikingly pale pink in color, the aromas are fresh and fruity. On the palate, it is bone dry through the finish. The name really suits the delicate nature of this wine.

Winemaker Description

Ruby-red with a garnet rim, this wine's bouquet displays ample aromas of violet, wild berries, tobacco, chocolate, and vanilla. On the palate, Altesino Brunello is rich, full-bodied, and velvety.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019

Wine Spectator 95 Points | This is packed with ripe cherry, plum and raspberry fruit, with floral, mineral, juniper and wild herb accents adding depth and complexity. There's plenty of energy and structure as well, providing excellent balance, with a long aftertaste. (2019). 

Monica Larner Robert Parker 95 Points | The Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino boasts a rich and savory side that this wine wears very well. There is a beautiful level of dark fruit that folds into the wine's velvety texture. Blackberry and plum envelop the palate, adding elegant full-bodied volume and fine tannins along the way. The wine is aged in traditional Slavonian casks, and production reaches 110,000 bottles annually (which is very ambitious considering this level of quality). (2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | Pouring a rich ruby color, the 2019 Brunello Di Montalcino offers an attractive nose of cherry candies, sweet herbs, polished leather, and orange oils. It moves seamlessly to the palate with equally harmonious structure and a great, long finish. Medium to full-bodied, it lasts for ages. This is one of those wines that’s going to have a very wide drinking window and is exceptional already. Drink 2026-2046. (2019).

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

Vinous 92 Points | The 2024 Torrontés Estate was crafted from grapes sourced across the Calchaqui Valley. Yellow in hue, it reveals enticing aromas of lime and jasmine, complemented by subtle tropical and herbal notes. Dry, taut and refreshing, the wine flows with a pristine fruit core.E

James Suckling 91 Points | Elderflowers, lemons and peach blossom on the nose of this tangy white. It’s sharp yet lightly oily on the palate, with a medium body. Fresh and mineral at the end.

The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2024 Estate Torrontés is a quintessential, high-elevation expression of the variety, opening with citrus blossom and dried white flower aromas followed by a chiseled, precise palate and a chalky, high-toned finish.

The Wine Spectator 90 Points | Vibrant and fresh, this shows a bright lemon peel note up front, with subtle geranium and white pepper details underneath enmeshed with the pineapple and peach core. Finishes clean and refreshing.

Producer Description 

Bodega Colome Torrontés offers the floral notes of roses, the citrus aroma of grapefruit and a spicy hint. In the mouth it is fresh, round and well-bodied with a long, elegant finish.

Winemaker Description

This is a delicious Pinot Noir, with fleshy black plum, layers of cherry and sweet berries that play on the palate and dance with hints of violet and savory notes. Drink now or cellar for up to 10 years. Grown with love, made with care.

Expert Rating

Wine Spectator 93 Points | Presents pretty clove, nutmeg and cardamom details that are a lovely complement to the sleek maraschino cherry, raspberry and cranberry flavors at the core. A touch of malty Assam tea lingers on the finish, adding a firm note. Drink now through 2035. (2021).

Winemaker Description

An exceptionally fine old tawny blend, aged for 10 years in oak casks. Elegant and smooth, combining delicate wood notes and rich mellow fruit, it is bottled for immediate drinking. A superb dessert wine, particularly with dishes made with chocolate, coffee or almonds, Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny may also be served at the end of the meal in the same way as Vintage Port.

Expert Ratings

93 Points Robert Parker | It is my opinion that Taylor's tawny ports are the best of their type. When tasted against other tawnys, they all exhibit 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.

93 Points James Suckling | 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.

91 Points Wine Spectator | 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. Drink now. 500 cases imported.

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | This ivery complete aged tawny has all the right nuts and fruit characters that show a Port that still looks back to its fruity origins. The style is ripe, full and sweet, a mellow wine that only hints at the spirit behind it.

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 94 Points |  Fresh strawberries and cherries with some orange peel and flowers. Cedar, black olive and violet undertones. Medium-bodied with firm and racy tannins that give energy and focus. Tangy and fresh with slightly bitter citrus on the palate at the end. 90% sangiovese and 10% merlot. Drink or hold.

Monica Larner of The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The organic Tenuta Sette Ponti 2022 Crognolo is a blend of 90% Sangiovese and 10% Merlot. The wine has a core of blackened fruit with plum and cooked blackberry, but it also shows varietal hints of Sangiovese, with pressed rose and sweet potting soil. It finishes with medium texture, some fruity freshness and more black fruit flavors. This wine (with 150,000 bottles made) represents a selection of fruit from a historic clone of Sangiovese found here. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous 92 Points | The 2022 Crognolo is a fine entry-level offering from Sette Ponti. Dark, vibrant and persistent, the 2022 races across the palate with dark-fleshed fruit, chocolate, licorice, cloves, menthol and licorice. I especially admire its energy. Grippy tannins support the finish nicely. 

The Wine Spectator 91 Points |  Black cherry, blackberry, lavender and spice aromas and flavors signal this dense red, which is tight and compact, yet has plenty of fruit and a well-integrated structure. Fine length. Sangiovese and Merlot. Best from 2026 through 2038.

Professional Reviews - Vintage 2022 

The Wine Advocate - 92 Points: An impressive value for an Oakville AVA Cabernet, Groth's 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon is a bit reticent and slow out of the chute, but aeration brings out nice aromas of black cherries and subtle cedar notes. A blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, it's medium- to full-bodied but streamlined and silky, showing impressive length and elegance for the vintage. The new-oak component comes in at 45%, imparting just enough structure to ensure a decade's worth of drinkability.

James Suckling - 92 Points: This young wine is impressively concentrated, tannic and tight at this stage of its development, but it carries the proper amount of dark fruit, dark chocolate and heady oak spices to gain complexity with age.

Winemaker Description - Vintage 2022 

The 2022 Oakville Cabernet Sauvignon is an elegant wine that presents a deep, purple-ruby hue. It offers an elegant bouquet on the nose, with layers, of toffee, blueberry pie, and raspberry compote, complemented by delicate vanilla bean, macerated cranberry, and shortcrust pastry. Herbal notes of bay leaf and tarragon add complexity, enhancing the wine’s refined character. 

On the palate, vibrant flavors of cherry reduction sauce, tart red plum, wild cherry, and fresh strawberry come to the forefront, while hints of dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and fresh pomegranate juice bring depth and intrigue.

The wine finishes with fine, grippy tannins, offering structure and a lively, energetic experience.

— Director of Winegrowing Ted Henry

Expert Review - Vintage 2019

The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | This widely available Oregon Pinot avoids the sort of winemaking tricks that take away detail and specificity. It is broadly flavorful with brambly blackberry and black cherry fruit, along with a streak of licorice.

Winemaker Notes - 2019

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Bruce Sanderson of The Wine Spectator writes 95 Points | There's bright cherry and strawberry fruit in this elegant red, along with rose, mineral and wild herb notes, plus a hint of black pepper. Harmonious and vibrant, this is fluid while cruising to the long, detailed aftertaste.

James Suckling 93 Points | A crisp and fruity Brunello for this hot vintage, with vivid acidity and fine tannins. Medium-bodied, integrated and focused. Yet, it needs another two or three years to come together.

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 92 Points | The 2020 Brunello Di Montalcino is a transparent bright red color and is ripe with aromas of strawberry preserve, candied flowers, sweet herbs, and mossy earth. Medium-framed, it's vibrant on the palate, with a linear feel, fine tannins, and bright acidity, leading with notes of orange citrus through a rather long finish and a touch of warmth. It retains good purity and energy and is very well balanced.

Winemaker Description 

Camigliano is one of the most historic estates in Montalcino. Acquired in 1957 by entrepreneur Walter Ghezzi, Camigliano was converted over time to the production of high quality wines, in particular of Brunello di Montalcino. The 1,300 acre estate is planted with over 220 acres of vineyards, 200 of which are Sangiovese vineyards.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022

James Suckling 96 Points | One of the best ever with super currants, mint, mineral and iodine. Crushed stones. Medium- to full-bodied, it has wonderful caressing tannins that run the length of the wine. A real Potensac, cabernet-driven, that goes on for minutes. 43% cabernet sauvignon, 36.5% merlot, 19.5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.

Decanter 93 Points | Fragranced, black bramble fruit, so scented and aromatic. Crystalline pure fruit, blackcurrants, cherries and plums, with grippy, but super fine and fresh tannins and balanced acidity. You get the structure - wide, firm, so refined in terms of tannic impression, they're at the fore but so discerning and integrated, really supportive and help to focus the wine from start to finish. Precise and sleek, agile yet concentrated with a lovely cool and juicy core alongside graphite and pencil lead touches. Powerful but polished and ageable. A great buy. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points | The 2022 Château Potensac is darker and more concentrated, featuring currants, spring flowers, and graphite. Medium to full-bodied, with layered depth, balanced structure, and beautiful tannins, it’s a serious, structured Potensac.

The Wine Advocate 91+ Points | One of the sleepers of the vintage is the 2022 Potensac, a dense, concentrated wine redolent of crème de cassis, cigar wrapper and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, layered and youthfully structured. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2022

Danielle Callegari of the Wine Enthusiast writes 91 Points | Aromas of vanilla, black cherry, fresh coffee and raspberry coulis create an indulgently sweet nose. The palate brings more cherries and raspberries, but also tangier fruit notes of dried cranberry and blood orange. Despite all the serious, dense fruit, there is a marvelous freshness to this wine, making it delightfully approachable.

James Button writes:  Most of Sette Cieli's estate is located just outside the Bolgheri DOC zone, but it does own some vines inside. This blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc is aged in barriques for eight months. It's a ripe, taut and grainy red with blackcurrant up front and touches of earth, chocolate and menthol in the background.  Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Decanter 92

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2022 Yantra is a tasty, easygoing red to drink now and over the next few years. Crushed flowers, spice and mocha meld into a core of dense red cherry/plum fruit in this mid-weight offering.  - Drinking 2024 to 2029.  - Vinous 90

Winemaker Description

Yantra (yawn-tra) is Sanskrit for “instrument” or “machine.” A Yantra is a mandala — a map, chart or geometric pattern which is often used to reference geometrical drawings used in the Indian mystical tradition.

Hillside vineyards surrounded by the lush woods of Monteverdi Marittimo between Bolgheri and Castagneto Carducci overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Our Professional Review 

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com writes | A lovely expression of Syrah, savory and darkly fruited with a sensuous mouthfeel and luscious textures. The fruit is rich and focused with velvety tannins and a mineral rich, long delicious finish. 

Expert Review - Vintage 2020 

John Gilman 91 Points | The 2020 Saint-Julien en Saint-Alban from Éric Texier is a fine bottle of young syrah. The bouquet is deep, precise and beautifully black fruity in personality, wafting from the glass in a mix of cassis, pepper, expresso, grilled venison, a nice touch of black olive, granite soil tones and plenty of upper register smokiness. On the palate the wine is full-bodied, ripe and very well balanced, with a fine core of fruit, lovely soil inflection and grip, fine-grained tannins and a long, complex and seamlessly balanced finish. This is still a puppy and quite primary in personality today, but also quite easy to drink. It is not a crime to be opening bottles today, but more complexity will certainly emerge with just a modicum of patience."

Producer Description 

The delicate La Marca Prosecco has a pale, golden straw color and sparkles with lively effervescence. Opening with aromas of fresh-picked citrus and honeysuckle blossoms, the crisp, clean palate brings fruity flavors of green apple, juicy peach and ripe lemon, framed by hints of minerality. 

The finish is light and refreshing with a tantalizing hint of sweetness.
Always serve La Marca Prosecco chilled between 46-50°F. 

A versatile Italian Sparkling wine, La Marca Prosecco can be served in sparkling flutes or white wine glasses. A full bottle serves approximately 5-7 glasses. After pouring the first round, seal the opened bottle with a bottle stopper to keep remaining wine fresh and effervescent and keep the wine chilled to 46-50°F. An opened bottle should last about 3-4 hours with the bottle closure.

La Marca Prosecco has the charm to stand alone as an aperitif, but it also has the body and the acidity to pair well with a range of foods, from seafood and mild cheeses to rich pasta dishes and decadent desserts. 

Winemaker Description

Bright red in color, this wine represents the vintage well. Aromatically driven by cherry, strawberry, and Herbes de Provence with light green spice. On the palate, this wine is fruit-forward and balanced with acidity and structure. Cardamom and nutmeg spice on the finish. This wine, though youthful, shows great structure; a wet spring and warm harvest created delicate flavors and a powerful lasting finish.

Expert Review

Winemaker Description

Speaks of Silence is a blend of three grape varieties, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo. Made for 6 months in French oak barrels with 40% new wood, with organic viticulture. A D. O. Extremadura wine, with the best flavors of its land thanks to its quality of production. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 90 Points | Cherries, vanilla and violets. Fine tannins with fresh acidity and a crunchy, succulent profile on the palate and onto the clean, silky finish. Syrah, cabernet sauvignon and tempranillo. Vegan. Drink now. 

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019 

Jonathan Cristaldi writes:  The 2019 Silver Oak Napa Valley Cabernet shows a deep, ruby colour. It is a beautifully compact wine that delivers complex and nuanced aromas of Bing cherry and black raspberry with tobacco, currant leaf, and cedarwood laced with dried sage. Focused and linear on the medium to full-bodied palate, showing expressive dark berry character and exotic oak spices with a firm backbone of fine-grained structured tannins. Cool raspberry, cherry, and blackberry fruit are perfectly represented, and the lengthy finish is crisp, lively, and energetic. No doubt, this is one to cellar. Exhaustive oak seasoning experiments led by winemaker Nate Weis resulted in the discovery that the American oak they age Silver Oak in when seasoned for 24 months and toasted for 90 minutes, marks the point at which the oak imparts more vanillin character and delivers better tannin integration. By contrast, the 2018 vintage was aged in American oak, seasoned for 16 months and toasted for 60 minutes. Weis explains that their experiments showed that underseasoned American oak imparts a dill character, while overseasoning results in coconutty notes, but finding a sweet spot delivers that vanillian quality winemakers look for in French oak. Taste the 2018 and 2019s side by side if you can, and note the subtle differences and shift to a more savoury profile in the 2019 vintage, with a very precise integration of oak tannin. It will be exciting to follow their progression in the cellar and see how subsequent vintages shape up in healthy and challenging harvest years.  Drinking 2024 to 2038.  - Decanter 96

James Suckling writes:  So elegant, supple and silky, this vintage is a dream to drink now, but should also have plenty of life ahead of it. Aromas of blueberries and dark chocolate meld with luxe black fruit, mint and cocoa on the palate. A blend of 77% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and dashes of cabernet franc and petit verdot. Drink or hold through at least 2030.  - James Suckling 95

Winemaker Description 

Our Professional Review

Oscar Garcia 67Wine.com | Only indigenous yeast from the vineyard is used for fermentation.  It is important to take note that Marques de Vargas is aiming to preserve the varietal correctness over the long extended ageing that is typical for the Gran Reservas of the region.

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2017

The Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | This deep-ruby-colored wine offers aromas of black cherry, caramel and thyme. Flavors of blackberry, raspberry, licorice, dark chocolate and orange zest are wrapped up in feathery tannins and a soft sheath of acidity. There is a nice floral note on the bright finish. 

The Wine Advocate 91 Points | The 2017 Reserva is surprisingly clean and fresh for such a year; perhaps it is the beginning of a change, as the 2018 also showed a similar profile, different from the wines from previous vintages. It's peppery and spicy, with some toasty notes. It's 70% Tempranillo, 17% Garnacha and 13% Mazuelo that matured in 225- and 500-liter (5%) French oak barrels for 23 months.

James Suckling 91 Points | Delicate creaminess and sweet spices to the blackberries and dark plums. Medium to full body filled with lots of dusty tannins. Subtle finish with some creamy, spiced cherries. Drink or hold.

Expert Review

James Suckling 90 Points | A delicious blend of grenache topped with some carignan and syrah. It delivers aromas of redcurrants, blueberries, strawberries and mild spices. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Simple but silky with a fruity, succulent finish. Very drinkable now.

Our Professional Notes

Ramon Canals Reserva Numerada Cava is crafted using a blend of the three traditional grape varieties of the Penedès region: Xarel·lo, Macabeu, and Parellada. Following the initial alcoholic fermentation, the wine undergoes 24 months of aging on its lees before disgorgement. This extended aging process, combined with the secondary fermentation in the bottle, allows the wine to develop a complex array of aromas and flavors unique to sparkling wines that have aged for several years in the bottle.

Winemaker Description

The Canals Canals family elaborated this cava with the traditional grape varieties from Penedès region Xarel.lo, Macabeu and Parellada, following the Traditional Method, secondary fermentation of wines in the bottle and aged on lees for over 24 months in our cellars. Ramon Canals is an “Organic transition wine”.

Medium dry, acidic, yellow plum notes, ripe pear notes, green apple notes, hint of almond.  Nice fizzy bubbles, citrus, lime, pineapple, and brioche.

GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2022

GOLD MEDAL – CATAVINUM WORLD WINES & SPIRITS COMPETITION 2022

GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2021

GOLD MEDAL – CATAVINUM WORLD WINES & SPIRITS COMPETITION 2021 

90 POINTS – JAMES SUCKLING 

93 POINTS – MI VINO GUIDE – BEST CAVA IN THE GUIDE

GOLD MEDAL – GILBERT & GAILLARD INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE 2018 

GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2018 

GOLD MEDAL – 96 POINTS – 50 GREAT CAVAS 2018 

GOLD MEDAL – INTERNATIONAL WINE AWARDS 2017

BRONZE MEDAL – PREMIS VINARI 2017 

SILVER MEDAL – CATAVINUM WORLD AWARDS 2017

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2024

Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux) 91 Points | Crisp citrus, white pear, a ton of peach juice, slate, cloves, this is unfussy, easy drinking, and great value. Pierre Lurton home estate.

James Suckling 91 Points | Light, crispy stone fruit with gooseberries and guava. Dry, this has light to medium body and good acidity. Medium finish.

Vinous (Antonio Galloni/Neal Martin) 90 Points | Just bottled, the 2024 Marjosse is pretty hard to beat for its quality and price. Brisk, dry and inviting... White flowers, citrus peel, mint and almond linger."

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020 

Wallter Speller writes:  Lustrous mid ruby. An elegant, fragrant raspberry nose, gorgeous supple and juicy cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate, and with gripping, nutty tannins. Very long and succulent and fragrant.  Drinking 2022 to 2028.  - Jancis Robinson 17++

Audrey Frick writes:  The dark ruby 2020 Chianti Classico is ripe with aromas of black raspberry coulis, red flowers, sweet tobacco, and pine. Elegant and medium-bodied, it fills the palate with supple texture, fine tannins, and an even, well-balanced finish. This is a highly approachable wine that I would be fighting to pour by the glass if I were still running a wine program. Pure, classic, and balanced, it’s a gulpable wine will drink great now or over the coming 6-8 years.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 92+

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2020 Chianti Classico is super-impressive. It's the sort of wine that needs time to come together, though, so readers should be in no rush. The purity of the fruit is really quite compelling. Dark cherry, plum, cedar, incense and licorice build nicely in a mid-weight Chianti Classico that hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2023 to 2032.  - Vinous 91

Monica Larner writes:  The certified organic San Giusto a Rentennano 2020 Chianti Classico is a clever blend of 90% Sangiovese and 5% Canaiolo from a unique growing site in Gaiole in Chianti. This vintage absolutely stands out thanks to its ample and generous fruit profile, driven by a warm and sunny vintage. This sees steel, cement and oak. The wine travels over the palate with an elegant and velvety texture. This is an entry-level production of 51,872 bottles (and some magnums), and it hits all the right notes.  Drinking 2022 to 2030.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 93

Bruce Sanderson writes:  A dense red, with solid tannins and lively acidity supporting expressive cherry, raspberry, iron and earth flavors. Balanced, long and will benefit from food or another year or two of bottle age. Sangiovese and Canaiolo. Drink now through 2028.  - Wine Spectator 90

Winemaker Description

It is a Chianti with a traditional style, energetic and elegant, expressing beautiful complexity and cleanliness in the nose. It is aged for at least 10 months in oak barrels and barriques plus 6 months in the bottle and expresses aromas of ripe red fruit and spicy notes, for an agile, fresh and soft sip.