742 products
Solena Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir Oregon 2022
Expert Review - Vintage 2022
Jeb Dunnuck 95 Points | From marine sedimentary soils in Yamhill-Carlton, the 2022 Pinot Noir Domaine Danielle Laurent is a rich jeweled red hue and has a deeper, aromatically layered nose with notes of dark wet stones, cherry liqueur, crushed pine needles, and candied flowers. Medium-bodied, it has wonderful grippy structure, with defined tannins, refreshing acidity, and a lovely note of tea leaf on the finish. It’s a fantastic offering that should have a good deal of longevity over the coming 15 years.
Wine Enthusiast 94 Points | This is the flagship wine in a strong 2022 vintage for Soléna Estate. First, the wine’s aromatic combination of boysenberries, black tea and bits of roast beef induces hunger pangs. The wine’s flavors then sate that hunger with ripe raspberry and tangy nectarine flavors, joined by a wisp of cedar. Bracing acidity makes the wine feel light and lively in the mouth.
Vinous 92 Points | A mix of woodland berries, shavings of cedar, cloves and dried roses introduces the 2022 Pinot Noir Domaine Danielle Laurent. Silky in texture yet lifted in feel, this flows across the palate with ease, taking on a peppery herbal tinge toward the close. A cascade of inner violet and lavender tones lingers as the 2022 finishes with medium length and gentle tannins.
James Suckling 92 Points | Lots of spice, nutshell, cocoa, dried cherry and hibiscus notes. Tense and dry on the palate with a medium body and chalky tannins. Earthy finish. Drink now or hold.
Winemaker Description
Solena Estate Domaine Danielle Laurent Pinot Noir is a powerhouse Pinot Noir. From the winery's ‘wedding vineyard’ that started it all, this is a beautifully textured wine that matches with a range of foods and enlivens any evening. It has a very expressive nose of bright red fruits, clay dust, and mulling spice. In the glass, this wine has a light body but palate full of cranberry, green tea, and crushed slate. Drink now or cellar until 2038.
Nieto Senetiner Don Nicanor Malbec Mendoza 2022
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022
James Suckling 92 Points | A very fresh and lively malbec that shows subtle spices, herbs, fresh blueberries and cherries. Pristine, fresh and vibrant on the palate with fresh, soft tannins and a solid, fruit-expressive finish. 70% valle de uco and 30% agrelo. Already appealing, with lots of fruit.
The Wine Advocate 90 Points | The 2022 Don Nicanor Malbec is a tremendous value, opening with a balanced bouquet of dark fruit, crushed stones and a touch of woody complexity. The palate is similarly svelte and creamy, concluding with a solid, grippy finish driven by an even-keeled minerality.
Winemaker Description
The wine is an intense violet color. The nose has aromas of red fruits and blackberries. There are floral notes such as violets, and spices. The oak is well-integrated and contributes soft notes of bitter chocolate. The palate is fresh and elegant, with velvety tannins and a long-lasting finish.
Baron de Brane 2nd Label of Chateau Brane Cantenac Margaux 2019 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2019
James Suckling 91 Points | This has aromas of raspberries, blackberries, currants, rosehips and hazelnuts. It’s medium-bodied with fine, silky tannins. Elegant and fresh. Pretty finish. Drink from 2024.
Winemaker Description
Baron de Brane is the second wine of Château Brane-Cantenac, a second growth château owned by Henri Lurton and one of the oldest and largest properties in Margaux. The blend is made up of about 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the grapes coming from developing vineyards, some on gravel beds 12 metres deep.
L'Ecole No. 41 Syrah Columbia Valley 2022 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020
JamesSuckling.com, Andrii Stetsiuk 92 Points | Attractive nose of grilled herbs, blackberries, olives, chicory root and peppercorns. Savory and gently chewy with medium to full body, grainy tannins and an inky finish. Drink now.
JebDunnuck.com, Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | Coming from a mix of sites, the 2020 Syrah Columbia Valley is an up- front, fruit-loaded, charming Syrah revealing tons of darker berry fruits, some peppery, meaty notes, medium to full body, plenty of creamy background oak, and a great finish. It’s a good value and will put a smile
on your face any time over the coming 5-7 years.
Vinous, Eric Guido 90 Points | The 2020 Syrah opens with a delicate blend of fresh sage and plum sauce forming its bouquet. This is softly textured and lifted in feel, with crisp red and black fruits complemented by sweet spice. It finishes
youthfully grippy yet lively, leaving hints of citrus and a bitter balsamic
twang.
Winemaker Description
Washington State’s winegrowing region is ideally suited to maximize the full expression of Syrah. Spicy, rich, and complex, with soft tannins and bright acidity, our Columbia Valley Syrah is the perfect food pairing wine.
Tasting Notes
This full-bodied Syrah shows robust and pronounced aromas of blackberry, black currant, violets, black peppercorn, Herbes de Provence, and licorice. Spiced dark fruit flavors reveal themselves on the palate finishing with a mouth-filling, savory richness.
Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020
James Suckling 94 Points | This has a pretty nose with dark spices, nut shell and cedar notes with a dark fruit backbone, following through to a medium body with firm and finely polished tannins that go on and on. Refined and nicely balanced with velvety texture. Lingering and chalky finish. Try after 2026.
Vinous 93 Points | The 2020 Sociando Mallet has retained its impressive aromatics from its showing in barrel with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit, pressed violet and light cedar aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm backbone, a little powdery in texture, fine backbone with ample freshness and tension towards its graphite-infused finish. Bravo!
The Wine Advocate 92 Points | The 2020 Sociando-Mallet is very attractive, exhibiting aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pencil shavings, loamy soil, tobacco leaf and licorice. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with lively acids and powdery tannins, it's a strong effort from a site that always does well in warm vintages. The 2020 is a blend of 53% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Cabernet Franc.
Decanter 92 Points | Wonderfully fragrant on the nose, just stopping short of being potent. Glorious perfumed scents and rich, ripe black fruits. Clean and clear, this has a lively energy to it and a little bit of liquorice which gives a savoury, dark and sticky edge to the fruit. Clarity, classicism and precision on show. Sculpted, muscular, grippy and chewy. Excellent potential with a slate and coffee-toned finish.
Chateau Marquis De Terme Margaux 2019 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019
James suckling 91 Points | This is a solid margaux with blackberries blackcurrants and undertones of fresh tobacco wet earth. it full layered beautiful energy structure. tight at the end as should be. try after decanter great depth starting to really achieve class generous dashes chocolate coffee mocha. combines tannic hold freshness an excellent wine black fruits bilberry blackberry finished off fine tannins smoked oak. brilliant marquis de terme.
Jeb Dunnuck 91 Points | The 2019 Château Marquis De Terme showed better now than from a bottle tasted earlier this year. Giving up plenty of darker, almost black fruits as well as tobacco, gravelly earth, and spice, it's medium to full-bodied, has a round, fleshy, sexy mouthfeel, quality tannins, and a great finish. (2019).
Wine Spectator 91 Points | Features cherry and black currant puree notes with some inner freshness, while black tea, alder and violet hints form a pretty backdrop. Nice steady finish, too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now. (2019).
Robert Parker 90+ Points | Aromas of rich black fruits, cherry preserve and pencil shavings introduce the 2019 Marquis de Terme, a medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy wine with a broad attack that segues into an ample mid-palate framed by ripe but youthfully assertive tannins. This is a muscular, rather chunky Margaux that will reward a bit of bottle age and which, with time, may make my score seem conservative. This is an evolving estate, as fully 25% of its vineyards have been replanted since 2009. Cabernet on rich soils between Labégorce and Château Margaux represents the core of the blend. Best After 2025. (2019).
Altesino Brunello Di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli 2019 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019
The Wine Advocate 97 Points | From a beautiful site that must be seen to be believed, the Altesino 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli is redolent with dark fruit, blackcurrant and crushed slate. The mineral element of Montosoli and its schistic galestro-rich soils comes through beautifully in this vintage to add a linear sense of immediacy and verticality to the bouquet. The mouthfeel is especially elegant, and the wine's acidity is delivered expertly to showcase freshness but more importantly to highlight the quality of the fruit. The effect is very tonic and bright, and you get hints of baked brioche or oven-baked Italian focaccia bread, thanks to careful aging in Slavonian oak. This is a 12,000-bottle release.
Vinous 97 Points | An enticing blend of steeped plums, blood orange, sage and sweet smoke makes the 2019 Brunello di Montalcino Vigna Montosoli a total pleasure on the nose. Elegant and soothing, it flows across the palate with a silken wave of ripe red fruits and spices as saline minerals slowly saturate under an air of violet inner florals.
Decanter 95 Points | Elisabetta Gnudi took over the Altesino estate in 1992 and has continued with the Montosoli bottling, which has been produced since 1975. The 2019, harvested at the very end of September, is introverted to start with but the nose eventually hints at porcini with liquorice root and bark. Sleek cherry and raspberry provide the backdrop on the palate, yet that appealing earthy tone pervades. Racy with smooth, vertical tannins clinging in all the right places, it displays cleverly balanced structure and stuffing.
Winemaker Description
One of the most sought after wines from Montalcino, Montosoli is consistently a blockbuster red. Its intense ruby red color tends towards elegant garnet with age. On the nose, it shows a complex personality with a delicious blend of black cherry, raspberry, violet, licorice, vanilla and black pepper. Extremely enticing, opulent and elegant on the palate, with a warm, long-lasting finish, Montosoli is a wine for special occasions
Pair this wine with beef bourguignon and stroganoff, lamb shank, and roasted rabbit.
Alpha Estate Xinomavro Hedgehog Vineyard 2022 750ml
Winemaker Description
Bright purple-red color. Complex, typical bouquet of small berries red fruits, leather and spices (vanilla, pepper, clove), with hints of ripe blackberry. Full mouth, rounded tannins, balanced acidity and well integrated wood tones. Long aftertaste with intense quince aroma.
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022
James Suckling 92 Points | Dried roses, cranberries, licorice and lemon rind on the nose, followed by a medium-bodied, elegant and vibrant palate. Very sleek tannins. Vegan. Drink now or hold.
Cambria PINOT NOIR Julia's Vineyard 2023 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2023
James Suckling 93 Points | Hibiscus and herbal aromas mark this detailed pinot noir, following through to a palate of definition, length and mineral bones that frame cranberries, pomegranate, red cherries and their pits. Rose hips rise through the finish, a zip of orange zest on top.
Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | All destemmed and aged seven months in 18% new French oak barrels, the 2023 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard offers framboise, Bing cherries, sappy underbrush, and floral notes that develop nicely with air. It's medium-bodied, balanced, has good depth of fruit, and a complex, satisfying style that would best many a great Village-level red Burgundy.
The Wine Enthusiast 90 Points | Rustic aromas of tart cranberry, oregano and thyme show on the nose of this bottling. The palate is also a touch rugged and earthy, pairing red fruit with sage-like spices and dusty soil tones.
Vinous 90 Points | The 2023 Pinot Noir Julia's Vineyard is another fabulous entry-level wine, if you can even call it that. Bright, rich and forward, the oak is front and center, but it frames and braces the wine nicely. Spice tones and dark red cherry fruit form the core. There's real character and Santa Maria Valley identity here.
Memo Summary Notes
The 2023 Cambria Pinot Noir "Julia's Vineyard" is a quintessential expression of the Santa Maria Valley in Santa Barbara County. This vineyard is home to some of the oldest Pinot Noir vines in the region (dating back to the 1970s), which contributes to the wine's depth and signature "Santa Maria spice."
The 2023 vintage is highly regarded for its balance of bright fruit and earthy complexity, making it a "standard-bearer" for high-quality, value-driven California Pinot Noir.
This wine’s acidity and savory spice notes make it incredibly versatile:
-
Poultry & Fish: Roast chicken with herbs, grilled salmon, or duck confit.
Savory Mains: Mushroom pizza (the earthiness of the mushrooms complements the wine), or a mild cheese platter with Gruyère. Savory Mains: Mushroom pizza (the earthiness of the mushrooms complements the wine), or a mild cheese platter with Gruyère.
Stag's Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis 2022 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2022
Decanter Magazine 94 Points: A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1.5% Cabernet Franc, and 0.5% Petit Verdot, aged for 15 months in 55% new French oak and 45% older French oak barrels. No matter the vintage, this winery consistently delivers. Artemis offers classic blackberry fruit, sagebrush, and loamy earth, with tobacco influences. Medium- to full-bodied on the palate, with precise, superfine tannins and layers of cherry, blackberry, graphite, and perfumed violets building toward a finish full of energy, drive, and tension. Ideal for enjoying on its own before a meal and throughout dinner. The tannins in this vintage are notably gentle and approachable, making it an excellent candidate for early drinking.
James Suckling 92 Points: A cool, slightly restrained expression gives an elegant spin to this dark-fruited, well-balanced and savory wine. Black cherries and blueberries, cocoa and graphite, tobacco leaves and iron flavors. Full-bodied but not heavy.
The Wine Advocate 90 Points: Approximately three-fourths of the 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Artemis comes from Atlas Peak, where the Antinoris have a substantial vineyard. It's reasonably floral and fresh on the nose, with hints of violets alongside cherries and redcurrants. Full-bodied and round, it may lack a bit of richness and depth compared to the 2021, but it's a supple, easy-drinking effort that won't disappoint unless you're expecting single-vineyard quality.
Winemaker Description
Artemis, named after the Greek goddess of the hunt, is a wine that truly reflects its name. It’s the culmination of our hunt for the finest grapes from Napa Valley, which, when combined with estate-grown fruit, combine to create a Cabernet Sauvignon that expresses the regional character of Napa Valley with the signature style of Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars. This approach results in a wine of lush fruit flavors balanced by extraordinary structure and elegance.
The nose reveals rich aromas of dark fruits, tobacco, ripe figs, raspberries, and cherry compote, with a subtle hint of oak. On the palate, a silky mouthfeel leads into a long, savory finish, showcasing milk chocolate, dark cherry, and boysenberry notes.
Enjoy this Cabernet Sauvignon with grilled tri-tip, braised short ribs, pasta with wild mushrooms and prosciutto.
Luce Della Vite Luce Toscana 2020 750ml
Winemaker Description
Lucente is the result of a careful selection of the estate’s vineyards that are particularly suited for the production of a fruity and very pleasant wine. Like Luce, it is made from Sangiovese and Merlot, which prevails in the blend.
Lucente 2020 shows a brilliant ruby red color. The nose is rich in black fruits such as blueberries and blackberries, accompanied by a light balsamic and pan brioché note. The palate is soft supported by a nice freshness, with enveloping tannins and a long fruity aftertaste.
Expert Review
James Suckling 97 Points | Very pretty orange peel with currants and blue berries. Flowers, too. Medium to full body with firm and velvety tannins that are polished and impressive. Fresh fruit at the end. Serious structure and brightness. Drink after 2026. (2020).
Stephan Brook writes:The 2020 growing season saw alternating spells of rainfall and heat, but fortunately there was no struggle with disease and the harvest was early and healthy. The nose is dense and powerful, exhibiting lush black fruits and chocolate, and it became more perfumed with aeration. The attack is zesty and vigorous, spicy and assertive, but there's no excessive extraction and the tannins are polished. Despite a hint of tar and liquorice, the black fruits dominate. Well balanced, with both grip and texture, and a very long finish, this will age well. Drinking 2025 to 2040. - Decanter 95
Michaela Morris writes: Aromas of garden herbs and tobacco are subtle for the time being. Dark fleshy cherry suffuses the palate, and its creamy texture and vanilla finale are countered by tangy acidity. It's already approachable overall, although the tannins could do with a bit more time to integrate. Lamberto Frescobaldi describes the 2020 vintage as straightforward and balanced without significant heat spikes. And indeed, Luce captures the suave, almost carefree character of the vintage. Drinking 2026 - 2037. - Decanter 94
Monica Larner writes: A blend of equal parts of Sangiovese and Merlot (in a heavy glass bottle), the Tenuta Luce 2020 Luce della Vite is sweet, chewy and oak-driven with a very toasted quality that includes cinnamon, fennel seed, roasted eggplant and dried pomegranate. There is a sweet note as well with exotic rose apple. The wine offers lots of volume and fruit fiber in this hot vintage and it makes a big impact on the palate. Likewise, the tannins hit hard. This is an in-your-face wine with a release of 100,000 bottles. Drinking 2024 to 2035. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92
Domaine de Villaine Bourgogne Rouge Biodynamic 2021 750ml
Expert Ratings
Pian dell'Orino Rosso di Montalcino Organic 2019 750ml
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2019
Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | The 2019 Rosso Di Montalcino is ripe but energetic, with pure red cherry, rose petal, orange peel, and white pepper. It is medium-bodied, with elegant ripe raspberry with a graceful feel. Seamless, with fine tannins, it is supple and soft in its texture and raises the bar in a big way for the category. 6,700 bottles were produced.
Vinous 93 Points | An unbelievably pretty blend of dusty rose, cherry and sage wafts up from the 2019 Rosso di Montalcino. It’s strikingly beautiful and graceful within, silky yet cool-toned, mixing saline-tinged minerals with ripe red fruits and floral nuances that resonate throughout. The 2019 finishes structured yet potent and long, leaving lingering dried cherry and licorice notes. Cellaring will be required, but with that said, this is a Rosso of astonishing depth and complexity.
Winemaker Description
The Pian dell Orino estate is adjacent to the Biondi Santi property. This area has a long history of being particularly suited for growing grapes for high quality wines. Husband and wife team Caroline and Jan's love for Tuscany and passion for viticulture binds them particularly to this land, their vines and the resulting wines.
The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area.
The wines are produced from four different vineyards that have a total area of 6 hectares. From the beginning they studied the soil and the structure of each vineyard in order to fully understand its characteristics. Fossils, petrified shells and chalk sediment all testify to the earth’s evolutions and recount marine flooding and periods of drought in the area.
Spottswoode LYNDENHURST Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2020
Wine Enthusiast 95 Points - Editors' Choice | This classic-style, elegant wine is well structured for further aging and so expressive of the Napa Cabernet tradition. Aromas of blackberries, black olives and bay leaves lead to black cherries, dark chocolate and tobacco flavors that are deep and persistent without being heavy. Drink from 2028–2038.
James Suckling 95 Points | Aromas of blackcurrant, hazelnut and chocolate, with hints of mint and sage that follow through to a medium to full body, with wonderful soft and fine tannins that give a velvety texture and persistent finish. So balanced and refined. Subtle. Didn’t include wine from vineyards in Atlas Peak this year. An excellent 2020. Drinkable, but will improve so well in the cellar.
Decanter 94 Points | The 2020 Lyndenhurst Produced by Spottswoodee. NV CS 13.6% // Civic Ruby colour with loads of savoury cedar spices, cinnamon and tobacco brown baking spices and red-toned fruits. Supple on entry with plump red berry fruit, tangy blood orange acidity under a bed of tobacco leaves, fragrant wild herbs, milk chocolate shavings and a kiss of anise. There is telltale crushed stone minerality, and the wine finishes long and lean with plenty of energy and drive. The tannins are burly with good grip. And the wine is generally light on its feet.
Wine Spectator 91 Points | Solidly built for the vintage, with a core of blackberry and black currant preserves that flex brambly energy and grip, along with licorice root, chaparral and apple wood notes filling in on the finish. Drink now through 2030. 2,205 cases made.
Winemaker Notes
Carlisle Russian River Valley Zinfandel Papera Ranch 2020 750 ml
Winemaker Description
Medium to medium-dark ruby-red. Very cool, stately aromas of red cherry, cola, and fresh tobacco leaf. On the palate, medium-full bodied. Flavors of red fruits and blood orange take front and center stage, persisting through the long, smooth finish. Not a wine of bombast but instead, one of elegance, purity, and quiet confidence. Wonderful now, this can be enjoyed through at least 2028.
Points Wine Spectator | Few Zinfandels show this much nuance and detail, yet there's an elegant power to this red, with cherry and raspberry flavors that mingle with orange peel and fresh sage. Ends with refined tannins.
Jeb Dunnuck | The 2020 Zinfandel Papera Ranch is ripe with fresh berries, raspberry preserve, and baking spice. Its gushy fruit up front gives way to a note of raspberry seed and refreshing lift on the finish. Drink 2023-2032.
Speri Amarone della Valpolicella Classico Vigneto Monte Sant'Urbano Organic 2019 750ml
A deep garnet red in color, it has an ethereal bouquet of dried fruit. On the palate, it is full-bodied, warm, mouth-filling and dry. A substantial wine of rare elegance that lends itself well to ageing.
Excellent with richly flavored main courses based on red meat, such as braised meats and game, and perfect with mature cheeses. It can also be enjoyed on its own at the end of a fine dinner.
Undisputedly symbolic of the Speri company, the Amarone Sant’Urbano is a superb example of a fine, classic wine. It is an extraordinary wine with great complexity and a vigorous structure, which has always been top for its elegance and quality.
Expert Review - Vintage 2019
Ridge Vineyards LYTTON SPRINGS Zinfandel Red Blend 2023 750ml
Winemaker Description
Woman Winemaker
#3 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2025
#71 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of the USA 2025
Nose of raspberry, pepper, licorice and a hint of vanilla. Black cherry and plum on the palate with supple tannins, minerality and present acidity. Long, layered finish with notes of garrigue and black tea.
Blend: 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2023
98 Jeb Dunnuck: Blending 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro from an estate vineyard in Dry Creek Valley purchased in 1972, the 2023 Zinfandel Lytton Springs exhibits initial chewiness that leads to fine tannins, with a good heft and underlying acidity. Well-woven oak supports a moderately ripe, medium-bodied frame of structured elegance, aged in 100% air-dried American oak. Enjoy now through 2033.
96 Decanter Magazine: A much cooler growing season delayed the start of harvest by about a month, resulting in a wine with greater restraint than the previous vintage. The 2023 is a more elegant take on this wine, with less fruit intensity, but still unmistakably Ridge. Fresh aromas of herbs from a bouquet garni mix with earthy tones and subtle sweet notes from baking spices. The fruit profile oscillates between ripe red and black berries, with a touch of plums and ripe cherries. Tannins are firm yet polished, and there's a soft creaminess to the palate. A wine that is balanced and quite enjoyable now, with many years to evolve in the bottle.
95 Wine Spectator: Deeply structured and full of tension, this polished red displays a distinctive personality, offering bold blackberry flavors accented with savory anise, black pepper and dark Asian spices. Ends with big but refined tannins. Zinfandel, Petite Sirah, Carignane, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro. Drink now through 2035.
95 James Suckling: A lovely release with lots of freshness from a cooler vintage. Bright and perfumed aromas of red cherries, raspberry coulis, confit plums, licorice and spice. The palate is full-bodied with finely tuned tannins and vibrant, crunchy acidity. Made from 76% zinfandel, 14% petite sirah, 7% carignan, 2% alicante bouschet and 1% mataro.
95 Vinous: The 2023 Lytton Springs is powerfully aromatic and expressive from the jump. It explodes from the glass with dark blue fruit, lavender and blood orange peel, framed by mocha-like richness and a wave of exotic spice. The texture is pure silk, wrapping the palate with seamless contours and lifted freshness courtesy of the cool growing season. A blend of 76% Zinfandel, 14% Petite Sirah, 7% Carignane, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro, the 2023 shows remarkable persistence and poise. If you know Lytton, you know these wines can age for decades—this one is clearly built for the long haul.
Bodegas Valduero Una Cepa Ribera del Duero 2019 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2019
Decanter 90 Points | Blue fruit, tobacco and cocoa nose. The palate is juicy and savoury with rounded tannins and well-integrated alcohol. Long, lively finish. Rather classic.
Thomas Matthews of The Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This red is lively and expressive. Black cherry and currant flavors are fresh and juicy, backed by cocoa, spice and licorice notes. Well-integrated tannins and fresh acidity give this a balanced structure. Drink now through 2030.
Winemaker Description
Valduero Una Cepa is a red wine aged for 18 months in barrels and another 12 months in the bottle. This single-varietal wine made with Tempranillo from Ribera del Duero wine ideal for pairing with the finest roasts and meat stews.
Ridge Vineyards Geyserville Zinfandel Red Blend 2022 375ml HALF BOTTLE
Winemaker Description
Ripe cranberry and cassis on the nose. Focused dark bramble fruit on the palate, layered with cocoa and clove. Vibrant acidity balances beautifully with opulent fruit and carries through to a long and elegant finish.
Blend: 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, 1% Mataro
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2020
96 Points Decanter | Enormously complex and full of personality. Lots of juiciness and briaryness, with notes of espresso, soy sauce and gaminess. Very rich, impressive and structured, 2020 was Ridge’s 55th consecutive vintage of Geyserville, a wine that many Ridge collectors consider the winery’s best Zinfandel blend. Its pedigree is uncontested. Made from old vines, some of which are more than 125 years old and 60% of which are 50 years old or older, leading of course to tiny yields. A historic field blend of approximately 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet and 1% Mataro (the old name used in California for Mourvedre). The grapes are grown in three adjoining vineyards, all of which are defined by an ancient washout of the Russian River that carried and deposited gravel and river stones to the site.
95 Points Points Wine & Spirits | The founding partners at Ridge purchased the MonteBello Winery from Leo and Evelyn Trentadue, who also farmed some of the oldest surviving vines in Sonoma County at their ranch on the Alexander Valley floor near Geyserville. The Old Patch, planted in the 1880s, has provided the base of the blend for Ridge’s single-vineyard wine since 1966. In 2020, it was harvested just as the first fires brokeout generations of vines at the Trentadue’s ranch provided 28 different lots, with John Olney selecting 20 for this wine. He finds that carignan, which makes up 20 percent of the mixed planting (along with small amounts of petite sirah, alicante bouschet and mataro), provides the acidity to refresh the zinfandel, which accounts for 69 percent of the vines. The early harvest produced a ripe, rich Geyserville with racy energy. The dark blueberry flavors are layered with red cherry, their seemingly weightless concentration sustained in a sleek, clean and graceful impression that lasts. A great 2020
Tasting Panel 95 Points | An opulent, charming blend of 69% Zinfandel, 20% Carignane, 8% Petite Sirah, 2% Alicante Bouschet, and 1% Mataro. Ultra-smooth and seamless, with rich flavors of plum and blackberry. Stunning and long, it’s a triumph of winemaking skill.
Wine Spectator 92 Points | Deeply structured and briary, with a mix of red and black fruit accented by licorice, dill and savory underbrush flavors. Finishes with medium-grained tannins. Zinfandel, Carignan, Petite Syrah, Alicante Bouschet and Mataro.
Willamette Valley Vineyards Whole Cluster Pinot Noir 2023 750ml
92 Points - James Suckling | This is a juicy, red-fruited, whole-cluster pinot with lifted aromas of red cherries, dried herbs, spice, red apples and pencil shavings. The palate is bright and crunchy, with a rounded mouthfeel and finely tuned tannins. Such a lovely, fruit-driven wine with a savory undertone. Drink or hold."
91 Points, Gold - Sunset International Wine Competition | Strawberry; good oak integration; bright acid balance"
91 points - Wine Enthusiast | Whole Cluster, I think I love you. Your blackberry and pain au chocolat aromas are like the continental breakfast of my dreams. The culinary theme continues on the palate as flavors of marionberries and caffe latte mix with a savory grilled mushroom note. Pair the Whole Cluster with a Sunday brunch.
90 points - Jeb Dunnuck | Pouring a medium red color, the 2023 Pinot Noir Whole Cluster offers attractive aromas of spice and notes of cedar, clove, baked cherries, and forest earth. Medium-bodied, it has nice balance on the palate, with ripe tannins, balanced acidity, and an elegant finish. It should drink well over the next 4-5 years.
Winemaker Description
Years ago, Founder Jim Bernau began experimenting with Pinot Noir by gently dropping hand-picked whole clusters in a chilled stainless fermenter, pushing all the oxygen out with CO2 and sealing the vessel tight. What happened next was magical — the berries started to swell and turn pink. When they burst, they released the most aromatic, fermenting Pinot Noir.
The stylistic vision of this wine captures pure Pinot Noir fruit with beautiful depth and structure through whole cluster fermentation and carbonic maceration. The wine is balanced, refreshing and versatile for countless food pairings.
On the Nose: Ruby red in the glass with aromas of dried dark cherries, cinnamon and cranberry.
On the Palate: The palate is dry with fresh acidity, a light body and integrated tannins. Cherry, leather and tobacco add rich fruit notes, creating a juicy and layered flavor to the Pinot Noir. Drink now as a young wine or age in the bottle.
Food pairing: Our most versatile Pinot Noir for food pairings, this wine lends itself well to sweet and tangy barbecue, pizza with red sauce, teriyaki short ribs, gourmet burgers and cedar-planked salmon. Try serving slightly chilled on a warm summer evening.
Peak Drinkability: 2024 - 2028
Memo Summary Notes
This is a unique, "un-oaked" expression of Pinot Noir. It is famous for its bright, "explosive" fruit profile, achieved through a specific winemaking technique called carbonic maceration.
Whole Cluster Fermentation: Instead of crushing the grapes, hand-picked whole clusters are placed into a CO2-filled stainless steel tank. Fermentation begins inside each individual berry, which creates the wine's characteristic "cherry candy" and floral aromatics.
This wine is best served slightly chilled (around 13–15°C or 55–60°F) to enhance its fruit-forward energy.
Its high versatility makes it a favorite for sweet and tangy BBQ, sushi, spicy Indian curry, or cedar-planked salmon. It’s also one of the few reds that pairs perfectly with a gourmet burger or a Margherita pizza.
Domaine Lignier Michelot Clos de la Roche Grand Cru 2017 750ml
Expert Review
Vinous 95 Points | The 2017 Clos-de-la-Roche Grand Cru has an expressive bouquet that is a dead ringer for a Dujac, conveying plenty of energy and earthy black fruit laced with undergrowth and sea cave scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and quite a firm backbone. Fresh from the start to the refreshing, elegant, saline finish that gets the saliva flowing. Excellent."
Cakebread Cellars BENCHLAND SELECT Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 750ml
Expert Ratings - Vintage 2018
Wine Advocate 93 Points | Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Benchland Select gives up intense cassis, stewed plums and cedar chest notes with hints of licorice and wild sage. Medium to full-bodied in the mouth, the palate has a taut, grainy texture supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing long and mineral tinged.
James Suckling 92 Points | Ripe blueberries, blackcurrants, blackberries, spearmint, cocoa and walnut on the nose. Full-bodied with firm, fine tannins. Supple, flavorful finish. Drink or hold.
E. Guigal Cote-Rotie La Mouline 2013 750ml
Expert Reviews- Vintage 2013
Josh Raynolds of Vinous writes 96 Points | (made with 50 percent whole clusters) Bright purple. A complex, intensely perfumed bouquet of fresh black and blue fruit, candied licorice and Asian spice scents develops a sexy floral note as the wine opens up. Vibrant and appealingly sweet on the palate, offering intense, smoke-tinged black currant, boysenberry, floral pastille and spicecake flavors energized by a refreshing snap of juicy acidity. Blends richness and vivacity with a deft hand and finishes extremely long and gently tannic, leaving a sappy blue fruit note behind. Drinking 2023 - 2032.
James Suckling writes 97 Points | The most brooding nose of the trio of La La's with dark coal smoky aromas and dark stones, graphite and cocoa powder. Fruits are in the very dark plum and blackberry spectrum but flavors are held in a more savory mode with assertive, powerful clean-cut tannins that hold endless length. Truly a masterpiece. Best from 2022 and for two decades or more.
Joe Czerwinski of The Wine Advocate writes 94 Points | The 2013 Cote Rotie La Mouline shows none of the vintage’s sometimes dry tannins. It offers crisp black fruit—plums and blackberries—underscored by hints of pencil shavings, espresso and grilled meat. Suave and long, it should drink well for a couple of decades. Drinking 2020 - 2035.
James Molesworth of the Wine Spectator writes 96 Points | Very ripe, with layers of fig, boysenberry and plum compote forming the core, inlaid liberally with licorice snap, roasted apple wood and Turkish coffee notes. Shows lots of heft, but everything pulls together on the finish, exhibiting drive and definition. Best from 2020 through 2040. 65 cases imported.
Jeb Dunnuck writes 94+ Points | One of the more restrained and fresh vintages of this cuvée out there, the 2013 Côte Rôtie La Mouline still has a classic Mouline floral, gamey, and spicy bouquet to go with medium to full-bodied richness and depth on the palate. With good concentration, notable complexity, sweet tannin, and plenty of length, it needs 3-4 years of bottle age and will keep for 15+. Drinking 2022 - 2037.
Richard Hemming MW of Jancis Robinson writes 18/20 Points | Hickory smoke, violets, tobacco, black-cherry fruit, pepper and a touch of stemmy herbal character. Super-fine tannins, and quite light body with a finish that isn't as expansive as the palate. Still young, so the length may well develop. Drinking 2019 - 2033
Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac 2010 750ml
Winemaker Description
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. Average age of the vines is 44 years. Replanting of these vines takes place in lots. 222 acres producing 22,000-30,000 cases.
Expert Reviews
Wine Spectator 97 Points | Rather tight, with an alluring whiff of cocoa that lures you in before disappearing into the core of steeped plum, roasted fig and blackberry coulis notes. Sandalwood, black tea and loam elements fill in on the long and expansive finish. This seems to be lying in wait for what could be a very long time in the cellar before unfurling fully. Best from 2018 through 2045. 15,833 cases made.
Wine Enthusiast 100 points | Almost black in color, this stunning wine is gorgeous, rich and dense. It s grand and powerful, with a strong sense of its own importance. The beautiful tannins and the fragrant black currant fruits are palpable. It s a great wine, with huge potential.
Wine Advocate 98 Points | The 2010 Lafite Rothschild, a blend of 87% Cabernet Sauvignon and 13% Merlot (a 3% difference from the barrel sample shown two years ago), achieved relatively high alcohol of 13.32%, according to administrator Charles Chevalier. The wine is very impressive, not as fleshy, flamboyant and massive as the 2009, but nevertheless, a big, rich, full-throttle Lafite-Rothschild meant to age a half century or more. Deep purple, with notes of white chocolate, mocha, cedar and charcoal as well as hints of vanillin and creme de cassis, the wine is full-bodied yet has that ethereal lightness that makes it a Lafite. Rich, with good acidity, precision and freshness, this is a slightly zestier version of the 2009 as well as more restrained and structured than that particular vintage. It will need at least 10-12 years of cellaring and keep for 50+ years.
Domaine des Closiers Saumur Champigny Les Trezellieres 2019 750ml
Expert Review
John Gilman 96 Points | This is my first taste of Domaine des Closiers top bottling, les Trezellières, which is made from a parcel of old vines and given fully two years aging in barrel, with somewhere between ten and twenty percent of the casks new. The 2019 les Trezellières is beautifully deep and refined aromatically, delivering scents of black cherries, cassis, Cuban cigar wrapper, a very complex base of soil, a touch of Cheval Blanc-like menthol, a gentle dollop of tree bark, cedar and a topnote of cigar smoke. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, elegant and rock solid at the core, with great focus and complex, superb soil undertow, fine-grained tannins and a very long, pure and classy finish.
The small percentage of new oak gives this wine more refinement than the les Coudraies bottling, but because it is no more than twenty percent new oak, the wood influence is far more subtle out of the blocks than in Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg bottling, which is the closest comparison I can think of for this brilliant young Saumur Champigny. Give this beautiful wine plenty of time in the cellar to properly resolve its tannins and completely blossom! (2019).
Forman Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley 2018 750ml
Winemaker Description
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petite Verdot, 3% Merlot
The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is absolutely impeccable. Best of all, it won't require years in the cellar to be enjoyable. In fact, it is quite expressive today. Juicy dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice, leather and cinnamon are some of the many notes that flesh out in the glass.
Expert Review
Vinous 96+ Points | The 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon is silky and elegant, with lovely aromatic presence and impeccable balance. Sweet tobacco, cedar, dried flowers and mint all give this mid-weight Cabernet lovely complexity and nuance. The 2018 has shut down since I tasted it last year, but that is not surprising given the style here. Today, bright acids give the 2018 energy, tension and a good deal of precision. Those qualities should help the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon age well over the coming decades. Drinking 2028 - 2058.
Whitehall Lane Merlot Napa Valley 2019 750ml
Expert Reviews - Vintage 2019
Joe Czerwinski writes: Whitehall Lane's 2019 Merlot Napa Valley actually contains 87% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Malbec and 2% Petit Verdot. Slightly candied cherry notes mark the nose, framed by vanilla and touches of dried tobacco, while the medium to full-bodied palate is succulent and juicy, textured without being overly rich or tannic. Drinking 2022 to 2030. - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 90
James Suckling writes: Vibrant, fruity nose of ripe plums, raspberries, mulberries, licorice and nutmeg. Some chocolate orange, too. It’s medium-to full-bodied with creamy tannins. Plush, round and succulent. Drink or hold. - Wine Spectator 91
Tim Fish writes: Refined and structured, with expressive red currant, toasty mocha and tomato leaf tones that gather tension and polish toward fine-grained tannins. Drink now through 2029. - Wine Spectator 91
Winemaker Description
This Merlot offers notes of raspberry croissant, red currants, cocoa powder, and layers of graphite. The palate showcases fine, firm tannins alongside chocolate cherry lollipop, red plums, dried goji berries, and toasted brioche. It is supple in texture and shows attractive depth on the finish. Winemaker Description.
Husch Vineyards Pinot Noir Anderson Valley 2020 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2020
Wine Spectator 90 Points | This has nice, subtle energy, with rippling rooibos tea, blood orange and red currant notes that meld steadily through a savory finish.
Bart Hopkins | The beautiful Anderson Valley of Mendocino County is home to some of California’s best Pinot Noir. I look at it as a stylistic bridge between Russian River-Sonoma Coast and the Willamette Valley of Oregon. The fruit leans more to the darker spectrum with earthy complexity and a spicy character. The 2020 Husch Estate Pinot Noir is an exceptional example of what makes Anderson Valley special. Aromas of cherry and strawberry mingle with shades of violet, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Well balanced and harmonious with smooth tannins and lifted acidity that brings focus to the fruit on the long flavorful finish.
Winemaker Description
Winemaker's Description
Lush and powerful, the 2020 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir showcases this valley’s great fruit. The wine presents vivid aromas of amarena cherry, marionberry, lilac, and baking spices. Subtle notes of rhubarb, currant, rosemary, and earth add depth and complexity. Lively and youthful, the wine delivers excellent balance, purity of fruit, and sustained richness with a velvety texture, and it is sure to develop beautifully in the cellar.
This dinner table classic pairs exceptionally with coq au vin, mushroom ravioli, roasted pecans and walnuts, grilled vegetables, or creamy cheeses.
Girasole Pinot Noir Mendocino Organic 2023 750ml
Expert Review - Vintage 2023
Tonya Pitts of The Wine Enthusiast 91 Points | This wine is deep, rich, with aromas of boysenberry, Bing cherry, violets, and notes of toasty oak on the nose. The flavors on the palate are strawberry-cherry coulis, Blood orange peel, dark chocolate shavings, interwoven with clove, and a dry finish.
Winemaker Description
This wine opens with inviting aromas of strawberry, cherry and clove. Hues of red roses and ruby jewel tones fill the glass. On the palate, this is a soft, fruit-forward wine with plush tannins and flavors of ripe plum and black cherry. Just a touch of new French oak lends texture and helps frame the bright red fruit that radiates from this wine.







