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Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Description 

Expert Reviews 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 90 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico Pèppoli, the entry-level offering from Antinori, is a fine introduction to the year that shows just how compelling this vintage can be. Bright, floral and beautifully lifted, the 2022 is all class. The understated, refreshing style is so compelling.  Drinking 2024 - 2030. 

Michaela Morris of Decanter writes 90 Points | This is surely Antinori’s highest volume Chianti Classico with almost one million bottles produced - that’s over 2.5% of the region’s annual production. Gracious and familiar, Pèppoli is like a cheerful postcard from the Chianti hills. It charms with glossy cherry, cinnamon and chopped basil. Accents of leather and smoky toast are properly demure. On the palate, fruit is at the fore: plump plum and blackberry compote meld effortlessly with light, smooth tannins that give just the slightest dusty tug. Finishes juicy.  Drinking 2024 - 2027. 

Audrey Frick of Jeb Dunnuck writes 90 Points | The 2022 Chianti Classico Peppoli is a youthful ruby magenta, and is highly expressive with lively aromas of grenadine, tangerine, fresh flowers, and fresh oregano. This carries seamlessly to the palate keeping all the buoyant vibrancy and fruit through a well-balanced and polished finish. It has fine tannins, and a flourish of toasted smoke cedar spice, with notes of dusty earth and a bit of iron rich gamy feel. Clean and balanced this is an excellent value to drink 2025-2032. 

Monica Lerner of the Wine Advocate writes |  This wine is like that adoring pesky little sibling who always manages to offer levity and good cheer. The Marchesi Antinori 2022 Chianti Classico Pèppoli offers an evergreen taste profile that features Sangiovese under an almost Pinot Noir-like spotlight. The wine is bright and pretty with Rainier cherry, orange peel, violet and earth. If you really want to push those buttons, you could interpret Pèppoli as the equivalent of a Langhe Nebbiolo or a good Valpolicella. 

Critic Notes

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2021 Villa Antinori is a blend from various appellations within Tuscany. It offers good depth in a medium-bodied, approachable style meant for near-term drinking. In this context, it suffered from frost issues in the Merlot and the exceptional quality of the Sangiovese-based wines. Production was down nearly 50%.  - Vinous

Winemaker Description:

Villa Antinori 2021 is ruby red in color. The nose is intense, intriguing and presents fruity notes of black cherries and plum jam together with hints of boxwood, tobacco, and vanilla. The palate is mouth filling with supple, velvety tannins sustained by outstanding freshness and pleasant sapidity. —winemaker

94 Points James Suckling | Gorgeous floral character to the crushed stone and purple fruit. Lavender and sage, too. Full-bodied with chewy tannins and a savory yet crunchy finish. Dark mushroom and fresh earth. Super length and brightness for this wine.

92 Points Wine Enthusiast | Aromas of cassis, dark chocolate and leather set the stage for blackberry, cocoa powder, caramel, violet, orange zest and sage leaf flavors. Plush tannins coat the tongue and gums and drift off into a milk chocolate and cherry finish. This fresh wine from Toro is a nice example of a Tinta de Toro, the local name for Tempranillo, that does not break the bank.

91 Points Wine Spectator, Alison Napjus writes: Ripe and fruit-forward on the nose, though more restrained on the palate, this red offers flavors of blackberry paste, dried blueberry and cranberry fruit woven through dried sage, marjoram, warmed spices and cocoa powder, backed by rich notes of fresh earth and iron. There's a creamy nappe to the texture, while fine tannins firm up the supple finish.

90 Points Robert Parker | The 2020 Termes, the entry-level red, has 15.65% alcohol and a pH of 3.9 with 4.2 grams of acidity. The grapes from their younger vines, which have higher yields and keep more acidity, fermented with selected yeasts and 20 days of maceration and matured in 225- and 400-liter French oak barrels, 20% of them new, for 14 months with rackings every four months. It's creamy and spicy, round and soft, with fine-grained tannins and integrated oak (nearly 50% of the élevage was in 400-liter oak barrels), and it's rich but with the alcohol nicely integrated. This has a more commercial profile, more approachable than its siblings.

91 VINOUS, Joaquin Hidalgo writes:  The 2020 Termes, aged 14 months in French oak (20% new, half 400 liters). A dark garnet red in hue. The nose features violets and cherry notes along with a cedar undertone layer. Rich and taut on the palate, the tannins are softened by the calibrated acidity, releasing the sun's energy into a lasting, flavorful finish. The 2020 is a mellow Toro.  Drinking 2025 to 2045.  - Vinous 91

Winemaker Notes

Termes is the vibrant expression of Toro, a symbol of its youthful spirit. It stands out from what Toro wines used to be, for its vigor, freshness and vivacity. Powerful yet balanced, vibrant yet complex, it is perfect to drink young. Winemaker Descriptiion. 

Our Professional Review

Dinner, November 2nd, 2024:  This is the second time we have had this wine this week, both times our notes were consistent. Tonight we went vegetarian and had wild rice, tofu, sautéed onions and mushrooms with a small touch of Bragg’s Liquid Amino, a kind of soy sauce alternative that we love.  

The Pitray’s medium-bodied, very clean,  fruit-forward blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc was just about perfect.  This wine is no doubt one of the absolute best (under $20) Bordeaux values out there.  

Two nights before we had the Pitray with our version of lightly breaded chicken paillard served with a mild hot and sweet vinegar pepper sauce for dipping, smashed potatoes, and broccoli.  Again, the medium-body and beautifully clean incisiveness of this chateau came through to both clean and refresh our palates.  The balance of juicy frui, and balanced acidity makes this a four star pick of the under $20 Bordeaux.  -  Dorothy and Bernie, Follow the Drinker®

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2018

Lisa Perrotti-Brown of the Wine Advocate writes 90-92 Points | Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Pitray features bright, expressive wild blueberries, black raspberries and warm plums scents with hints of spice cake and potpourri. Full-bodied, the palate is laden with juicy blue and black fruits, framed by plush tannins and just enough freshness, finishing with beautiful purity. 

James Suckling writes 90 Points |  A juicy, flavorful red that is delicious now, offering plum, chocolate and berry aromas and flavors. Medium body, firm tannins and a savory finish. Nice acidity, too. Drink or hold. 

Jane Anson of Decanter writes 91 Points | Well textured, velvety fruits sit on a firm and fresh palate. This is good quality, stretching out in the mouth with tannins that are fully supportive of the project, not getting in the way but cheerleading as the fruit takes its first steps. There is so much to enjoy in the smaller appellations this year.  Drinking 2021 - 2031.

Jeb Dunnuck writes |  Coming from the eastern edge of Saint-Emilion, in the Côtes Castillon region, the 2018 Château De Pitray offers lots of ripe black fruits, asphalt, and licorice notes to go with a medium-bodied, nicely textured style on the palate. This ripe, fleshy, attractive 2018 opens up nicely with air and has lots to like. Enjoy bottles over the coming 4-6 years or so.

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Dog Point Vineyard is the largest certified organic wine estate in New Zealand.  This  Sauvignon Blanc is bright and delicious, with fresh lively flavors in a refreshing, easy sipping style. In the glass, key lime, granny smith apple, kiwi and white peach flavors grace the palate playfully with perfectly balanced acidity offering lift and a pleasant zip to the finish. Crisp and very pleasant, perfect for seafood and salads.

Rebecca Gibb MW writes:  Initially the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc needs a few moments to get itself together – much like we all do after waking up from our slumber. It wears a rather reductive overcoat, but under that flintiness you find concentrated, pure fruit flavors. It’s light in body but dense in concentration thanks to low yields, displaying both focus and punch. It's almost silvery in color and restrained thanks to hand-picking, leading to pure grapefruit and passion fruit flavors alongside a hint of nectarine. The finish is long, precise and sinewy.  Drinking 2024 - 2028.  - Vinous 93

James Suckling writes:  Clean and crisp with grapefruit, green melon and lemon character. Hints of stones. Medium body. Lovely acidity and a delicious finish. Some phenolic tension here. From organically grown grapes. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 92

Jancis Robinson writes:  From the tricky, cloudy, cyclone-affected vintage 2023 when I was in New Zealand.  Sourced from eight of their own vineyards with the Wairau Valley.  Smoky, green-veg nose. Just a little less exuberantly fruity than some other vintages. The wine finishes a little more suddenly than I would have expected but it's a creditable effort in a challenging year.

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  Lush and expressive, with plenty of concentration to the mix of mango, lemon curd and litsea oil flavors. Details of dried pineapple, candied ginger and crystalized orange zest add complexity and aromatics on the long finish. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator 94

Winemaker Notes

Bart Hopkins writes:  A classic mineral driven Sancerre with a lovely bouquet of freshly squeezed lime, lemon zest, gooseberry and peach blossom with a pleasant grassy note. Crisp and lively in the mouth, deliciously refreshing,  with excellent precision and energetic focus on the finish.  - 67Wine Buyer

Concours des Ligers - The bright pale yellow color opens on an expressive and attractive nose that associates the smells of citrus with those of exotic fruits (passion), with a hint of banana. The mouth with a lively attack offers a fleshy matter, "fat", a beautiful balance between freshness and roundness, as well as fruity aromas (lychee) that persist in a fine and gourmet finish. Beautiful Sancerre.  - Concours des Ligers Silver Medal 

Winemaker Notes

Domaine Olivier Foucher is a small, 10 hectare farm located along the slopes of the town of Morogues in the Menetou-Salon appellation of the Loire Valley. Olivier created the estate in 1992 and grows Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc, making wines that are incredibly complex and at the same time dangerously drinkable. Menetou-Salon is an appellation located directly west of Sancerre. While the wines of Sancerre are more well known (and consequently more expensive), the wines of Menetou provide as good quality at a better price. The terroir in this region is laden with the limestone-rich, calcareous soils from millions of years ago, leftover from when the region was under sea; it is quite similar to the terroir of Chablis Grand Crus. 

The Domaine Olivier Foucher Menetou-Salon is spectacularly fine and polished. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc is always beautifully represented here at the shop and the superior quality is consistent with each new vintage. Light lemon in color, the wine has a delicate floral scent, with a touch of lime zest and tangerine on the nose. The palate is full of white-fleshed fruits — particularly peach and pear — that blend with more exotic, softer notes of grapefruit and papaya.

Wave after wave of mouth-puckering acidity and a mineral-packed finish will keep you coming back for more! Perhaps the most impressive feature of the wine is its impeccable balance of flavor intensity, structural tension and length: everything is where it should be, making this Sauvignon Blanc almost too easy to drink. This is an exceptional seafood wine — think oysters, scallops, smoked trout, shellfish — but it is also perfect for a salad of fresh greens with apples, goat cheese and walnuts.

Winemaker Description

From the most beautiful locations in the Kremstal. Fragrance reminiscent of gooseberries and cassis leaves, also herbs; juicy, fresh fruit, pinch of herbs, straightforward, uncomplicated drinking fun.

The merest touch of flinty reduction dissipates as you take the first sniff. Underneath that there is a hint of freshness, but it is only on the palate that the intensity of the yeasty concentration becomes apparent. A juicy tone of Mirabelle also arises, making for a wonderful and compelling combination.

Expert Review

Peter Moser writes:  Light yellow green colour with silver reflections. Delicate floral notes with white orchard fruit nuances in the background, a hint of lime and tangerine zest. Juicy, elegant, fine fruitiness, finesse-rich acidity, salty finish, makes you want a second glass.  Falstaff Magazine 92

Critic Notes

Ned Goodwin MW writes:  Glazed quince, marzipan and fecund stone fruits careen along a mid-weighted palate, towed by typically saline acidity and a furl of smokiness. A warm year. And it shows. A blend of all plots that are not designated for the Foscarino. Volcanic soils only. Partly sourced fruit. All Garganega. Screw cap. Drink or hold.  - James Suckling 90

Eric Guido writes:  The 2022 Soave Classico Vin Soave entices with a whiff of crushed stone and chalk dust, giving way to crisp green apples. This blends ripe orchard fruits with stimulating mineral tones and fresh acidity. Silky and refined yet saline in character, this finishes remarkably fresh, with a lively tension that calls the taster back to the glass.  - Vinous 

Beautifully integrated tropical flavors such as pineapple, mango and papaya, with citrus notes that explode in your mouth. These flavors delicately intertwine with aromas of vanilla and honey to create depth and balance throughout. A hint of toasted oak and butter rounds out the long, lingering finish. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Notes 

The new release of our custom Côtes du Rhône is just in, and it’s a good one! This cuvée dates back to the ’80s, when Kermit found an inexpensive source of delicious everyday Côtes du Rhône, and it has been among our best-sellers every year since its inception. We make our blend from a large selection of different wines: a dozen or more tanks are often presented, and countless combinations are tested over the course of several grueling hours in the cellar. At the end, it often comes down to adjusting a half-percentage of this or a smidge of that. Every drop counts!

The 2022 vintage of this wine is very Rhôney—it tastes exactly how Côtes du Rhône should taste. It’s as if the hot summer concentrated the herbal essences of the region’s wild vegetation—la garrigue—giving it a lovely savory note to contrast with its chewy, ripe, mouth-filling fruit. You might also find a stony impression suggestive of the Rhône’s famous riverbed stones, which cover the vineyards.There is enough tannin for it to shine with roasted lamb, should you opt for a regional pairing, but not too much that you can’t gulp it just for the sake of gulping. The finish is surprisingly long and full of perfume.

Our final blend this year features Syrah and Grenache, with a touch of Mourvèdre and other local grapes. We ask for it unfiltered, because we think the extra aroma and flavor is well worth a little bit of sediment.

Winemaker Description

The nose of the 2023 La Crema Sauvignon Blanc shows notes of nectarine, Lime, Melon, and subtle hints of wet stone and flint. On the palate, grapefruit and white peach are accompanied by tropical notes of mango and guava. Barrel fermentation brings volume and texture to the wine while crisp and vibrant acidity drives a juicy lingering finish.

Expert Review

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points | A brilliant silver/green-tinged hue, the 2023 Sauvignon Blanc Sonoma County comes from multiple sites in Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Dry Creek, and the Russian River Valley and is fermented both in barrel as well as in stainless steel. Aromatic with a fresh, tropical perfume of guava, melon, chive, and grapefruit, it offers an elegant and delicately rounded feel, with a kiss of candied citrus and its floral perfume lasting on the finish.

Critic Notes

Jane Anson writes:  Intense, smoky, plenty of black fruit, who doesn't love this 2nd wine of Château Montrose? It's a vintage that is often overlooked, particularly after the run of great years Bordeaux has had recently, but it's at a great moment to open right now, and delivers a ton of St Estèphe and Left Bank typicity, with crayon and graphite. Harvest September 22 to October 16.  - Jane Anson 94

Antonio Galloni writes:  A gorgeous second wine, the 2014 La Dame de Montrose is soft, open-knit and very pretty. Bright floral notes add lift and a measure of elegance to the dark-fleshed fruit. Medium in body, with good depth and fine overall balance, the 2014 is just about as good as it gets for a second wine. I won't be surprised if it is still delicious at age 20, although I think its best drinking will take place earlier than that.  Drinking 2018 - 2029  - Vinous 92+

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  As to the 2014s, these are beautiful wines and certainly a match for the 2015s. The 2014 La Dame de Montrose offers a deep purple color and classic Cabernet Sauvignon notes as well as a touch of violets, spring flowers and leafy herbs. This medium-bodied, elegant, spicy, complex 2014 has loads of charm yet should keep nicely for 15+ years.  Drinking 2018 - 2038  - Jeb Dunnuck 90

Steven Spurrier writes:  An even Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend: lots of spice, deep cassis fruit and incredible freshness. Will show soon and last well.  - Decanter 90

James Molesworth writes:  Offers a brisk, racy feel, with red currant, damson plum and Campari notes coursing through, carried by a bright iron spine through the savory-flecked finish. Very pure and firmly grounded in terroir. Best from 2018 through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.  - Wine Spectator 90

Neal Martin writes:  The 2014 La Dame de Montrose lagged a long way behind the superlative Grand Vin at primeur, but has since made up some ground. Now in bottle, it has a nicely poised bouquet with red cherries, bilberry and crushed violets. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, tightly wound and linear, a conservative La Dame de Montrose that I suspect will age better than I originally thought.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 

Test of Endurance: Bordeaux 2014 Ten Years On (Mar 2024)

Neal Martin writes:  The 2014 La Dame de Montrose is more precocious than Lafon-Rochet on the nose, with hints of dried cherries and black olive compote infusing the black fruit, touches of humidor and red brick. The palate is medium-bodied with dusky black fruit, fine tannins and a little austerity towards the finish, though at least it does exude Saint-Estèphe DNA. Give it a year in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.  - Vinous

Critic Notes

Tara Q Thomas writes:  Very mineral on the nose but very fruit driven on the palate – until the acidity washes over it like a wave, pulling back to leave behind a clean, fresh sense of salt and seashells. Crisp, spicy, mineral, dynamic. Love this.  - Jancis Robinson 17

James Suckling writes:  A juicy and flavorful Gavi that has notes of peaches, lemon rind and blanched almonds. It’s medium-bodied with a delicious balance of stone fruit and minerals. From biodynamically grown grapes with Demeter certification. Drink now. 

- James Suckling 92

Our Notes

One of the most classic and historic producers in all of Rioja. Medium-bodied with chew tannins with ripe red fruit flavors. Beautiful finish with a lively acidity.
- Oscar Garcia, Wine Buyer, 67wine

Critics Notes

Jancis Robinson writes:  Maturing blackish ruby with a pale rim. Classic, traditional rioja nose with notes of vanilla (American oak) and supremely ripe fruit – the sweetness and tobacco leaves of Tempranillo. The label looks a tad unserious but the wine belies this. It should be set for many years' further evolution because the tannins are still evident now. There's real lift and refreshment to this wine.  Drinking 2024 - 2034.  Jancis Robinson 17+

Winemaker Notes

Deep purple colour with intense aromas of red and black fruits, crushed violets and a touch of mocha. The palate has generous ripe fruits and a plush, velvety texture supported by vibrant acidity, with fruits and spices that linger on the finish. Extreme refinement.

Critic Notes

Jeb Dunnuck writes:  The 2019 Le Petit Ducru De Ducru-Beaucaillou is also Merlot-dominated and includes 36% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. It offers classic Saint-Julien elegance and purity in its darker currant and cherry fruits as well as notes of tobacco, violets, and lead pencil. With medium-bodied richness on the palate, it has wonderful tannins, a balanced, layered mouthfeel, and outstanding length. It needs air to show at its best and is just a charming, elegant, layered 2019 to enjoy over any time over the coming decade.  Drinking 2022 to 3032.  - Jeb Dunnuck 91

Georgina Hindle writes:  Lovely, fresh, delicate and fruity nose; smells quite rich and ripe. Good push of plush fruit, bright cherry straight away then darkens to something more serious and sensual. Tannins are overpowering, just so abundant, covering the tongue and cheeks but they're soft - you need that structure to give it life. Feels sculpted if a little excessive right now, but good freshness and drive, and round on the mid-palate with no angles. Some spice at the end. From the western part of the appellation, a parcel of about 25ha purchased in the 1970s. 10ha in the process of being replanted - so 15ha in production. This is the third wine and receives declassified fruit from the higher wines, although produced with the same philosophy.  Drinking 2023 to 2031  - Decanter 90

Antonio Galloni writes:  The 2019 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is plush, creamy and open-knit, all of which give it considerable immediacy, not to mention tons of charm. Succulent dark cherry, plum, mocha and licorice lend nuance in this racy, Merlot-based blend. The Petit Ducru is a new wine meant to be the third selection from the château.  Drinking 2025 to 2029.  - Vinous 92

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | A bright, energetic Sancerre that drinks beautifully. Excellent aromatic purity and precision with a lovely melange of cries and white orchard fruits that mingle with perfectly balanced mineral notes and refreshing acidity. Well rounded and long on the finish. Perfect with all types of seafood, salads and vegetarian fare.

Expert Review

Rebecca Gibb MW of Vinous writes | The 2023 Sancerre is filled with elderflower, lime and green aromas. It is a medium-bodied style that's tender and supple from three types of chalky soil in the appellation. The clay-chalk portion of the soil brings volume and body, while the chalkiest soils provide some gentle tension. A spritz hint brings much-needed tension in this gentle acidity year. This is a step up from most 2023s in this high-yielding year.  Drinking 2024 to 2028.  

Winemaker Notes

Intense black-cherry color with good depth of color and hardly any signs of evolution. Very expressive aromas on the nose with notes of licorice, cinnamon and black pepper, with just a subtle hint of the long cask-ageing, thanks to its great complexity and ripe, concentrated fruit. Fresh and easy to drink on the palate, good backbone and lovely, polished tannins. The long, persistent finish leaves gentle balsamic reminders of the finest quality.

This wine goes well with ham, mild cheeses, casseroles which are not highly spiced, bean and pulse dishes, poultry, red meat, grills and roasts.

Critics Notes

James Suckling 92 Points | Classic Rioja here with a refined and savory nose showing fine spices, new leather, iron, plums and orange peel. Elegant and very nuanced on the medium-bodied palate that shows fine tannins and juicy berry fruit. Long, reserved and bright in finish. Drink or hold.  

Critic Notes

Alison Napjus writes:  Light-bodied and chewy, this easy-drinking red features an earthy overtone, with notes of dried black cherry, tobacco and vanilla. Tempranillo and Garnacha. Drink now.   - Wine Spectator 

James Suckling writes:  Some vanilla spices and mocha to the plums and vibrant red cherry characters. Juicy and medium-bodied with crisp berry fruit. Elegant and easy to drink, even if it is a bit tart in the middle. Drink now.  - James Suckling

Winery

The personalities of Tempranillo and Garnacha come together in Montecillo Crianza to create a lively, fresh, and expressive wine. A Crianza that was aged for 18 months in American oak barrels and six months in the bottle, giving it the finesse and elegance of an authentic Rioja wine. The result of more than 150 years of experience and know-how. A versatile and infallible partner to red meat and Iberian pork roasts or stews and mature cheeses.

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Hailed as the star red variety in Spain’s most celebrated wine region, Tempranillo from Rioja, or simply labeled, “Rioja,” produces elegant wines with complex notes of red and black fruit, crushed rock, leather, toast and tobacco, whose best examples are fully capable of decades of improvement in the cellar.

Rioja wines are typically a blend of fruit from its three sub-regions: Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Oriental, although specific sub-region (zonas), village (municipios) and vineyard (viñedo singular) wines can now be labeled. Rioja Alta and Alavesa, at the highest elevations, are considered to be the source of the brightest, most elegant fruit, while grapes from the warmer and drier, Rioja Oriental, produce wines with deep color, great body and richness.

Critic Notes

Stuart Pigott writes:  A prototypical Cotes-du-Rhone with plenty of red fruit, candied orange and spicy aromas. Generous fruit on the medium- to full-bodied palate plus a good quantity of supple tannins. Long, moderately dry finish. A cuvee of 80% grenache and 20% syrah. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

Kristen Bieler of Wine Spectator writes:  A tasty red, with floral and cassis notes up front underscored by graphite shavings, toasted mesquite, fresh pepper and a lick of vanilla. Grenache and Syrah. Drink now.

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins of 67Wine.com | Made from organically grown grapes and vegan friendly, this dark, juicy, easy drinking Nero d’Avola is uncomplicated, packed with flavor, and irresistibly delicious. Plump and round in the mouth with blackberry, plum and raspberry fruit at its core with silky tannins and a velvety rich texture. An affordable indulgence for any meal, this is an ideal partner to pasta in tomato sauce and hearty pizza.

Winemaker Description

Deep purple red color. The nose reveals intense fruity notes of blackberry and blueberry compote, together with smoky and spicy notes. On the palate it is extraordinarily round and complete, with a natural and effortless balance of tannin and acidity, structure and length.

Purato’s environmental commitment extends into the winery. Purato uses eco-friendly packaging, made from recycled paper, pure vegetable ink on the labels and 85% recycled glass for the bottle.

Expert Ratings

Jeb Dunnuck 90 Points |  The medium red 2020 Chianti Classico Riserva Ducale is inviting with aromas of poppy red cherry, dusty earth, roses, and orange peel. Medium-bodied and juicy all the way through, this is an easygoing quaffer with a kiss of sweet tannins that are fine-grained all the way through the finish. It keeps good freshness for this hot vintage and has some warmth on the finish. It’s a versatile wine for pizza night or drinking on its own over the next few years. 

James Suckling 93 Points |   This has a toasty character with hints of cardamom, cloves and crushed walnuts with ripe red fruit, plum skins and red flowers in the background. It’s full-bodied with firm, chalky tannins and steady acidity to give it freshness. A little bit of toasted oak at the end. Lengthy and spiced with a crunchy finish. Better after 2025. 

Critic Notes

Eric Guido writes:  The 2022 Pinot Grigio opens with a sweetly scented bouquet of white flowers, stone dust and ripe peach. This is round and supple with saline minerals that add traction. It finishes with medium length and is crisply refreshing.  - Vinous

Alison Napjus writes:  Tangy orange peel acidity enlivens the ripe green apple and persimmon fruit flavors in this creamy, light-bodied white, with a salted almond note, plus hints of chive blossoms and verbena. Drink now.   - Wine Spectator

Winemaker Notes

Expert Reviews - Vintage 2021 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous writes 92 Points | The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is laced with black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice and spice. Ample and expansive in feel, the 2021 is wonderfully generous, not to mention incredibly delicious. Fruit sources are from some of the most coveted sites in the appellation.  Drinking 2024 to 2031. 

Monica Larner of the Wine Advocate writes 92 Points | This wine sees its fruit sourced from multiple villages: San Casciano, Gaiole, Castellina and Greve. The 2021 Chianti Classico Riserva Villa Antinori is not married to a specific subzone of the appellation because it seeks to embrace a house style rather than a vineyard identity. Aged in tonneaux with some barrique, the wine is rich and lasting but not large. In fact, it remains elegant on the palate with fine tannins and good fruit tension with cherry and blue flowers.  Drinking 2024 - 2030.

Bruce Sanderson of the Wine Spectator writes 92 Points | This is packed tightly with cherry, pomegranate, plum, earth and Mediterranean scrub flavors. Lively and fresh midpalate, while the dense, chewy tannins flex their muscles on the finish. Give this time. Best from 2026 through 2043. 

James Button of Decanter writes 91 Points | A historic label first produced in the 1923 vintage, today's Riserva aims to combine the past with the present. Vinified in stainless steel and aged in large oak barrels and some barriques, this has a plush, ripe aroma of dark hedgerow berries and menthol. A bed of supple, ripe tannins and coffee-marked wood support the breadth and depth of this wine's offering: spicy and fleshy dark fruits with a gentle wash of freshening acidity and some breezy menthol on the finish. 500,000 bottles produced.  Drinking 2024 to 2032.

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  Lots of passion fruit, guava and grapefruit on the nose. Bright, tropical and balanced, with medium body and a juicy, fruity finish. Sustainable. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 90

Tamlyn Currin writes:  For a wine that is presumably made in vast quantities and in the most technical way possibly, this is surprisingly good. Full of bodacious tropical fruit. Mangoes and oranges with a little bit of grapefruit and sweet fennel. The balance of fruit and acidity is great, and it certainly tastes and feels more full-bodied than 12.5%. It's generous, friendly and appealing. I really can't fault it!   - Jancis Robinson 16

MaryAnn Worobiec writes:  A vibrant version, showing a mix of pineapple, mango and passion fruit flavors that is direct and mouthwatering, with touches of ginger and green tea on the finish. Drink now.  - Wine Spectator

Erin Larkin writes:  The 2023 Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc is a behemoth in the export market, and it delivers a pretty archetypal “Marlborough Sauvy” experience—crunchy, herbal, green, tropical and juicy. All good things in this context. 12.5% alcohol, sealed under screw cap.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

 Roger Jones, Freddy Bulmer, Cat Lomax write:  Delicate mineral notes with a mixture of passionfruit and meadow grass aromas. Citrus fruit, butterscotch, stone fruit, white peaches and nectarine.  - Decanter

Winemaker Notes

Winemaker Descripton 

Whispering Angel is today's worldwide reference for Provence Rosé. Made from Grenache, Cinsault and Rolle (Vermentino), its pale color is pleasing to the eye and draws one in. The rewarding taste profile is full and lush while being bone dry with a smooth finish.

Highly approachable and enjoyable with a broad range of cuisine, Whispering Angel is a premium Rosé that you can drink from mid-day to midnight. 

This rose wine is delicate, clean and minerally. Pale salmon in color. Fresh peach and strawberry on the nose with plenty of red berry fruits. Full bodied and dry, with pink grapefruit and hints of peach on the palate, lively acidity and a long finish.

A beautifully made wine.

Whispering Angel Rose is made by Sacha Lichine and his team at Chateau d'Esclans, in La Motte en Provence, south France. Made from grapes grown from some of the most choice land in the surrounding region of la Motte en Provence, consisting primarily of Grenache, Rolle (Vermentino) and Cinsault.

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | A silky, seductive and saline Côtes de Provence rosé with aromas of small berries, red currants and salt. It’s medium-bodied, succulent, fresh and playful, with a caressing texture and a vivid, saline finish. (2023).