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Expert Review

Lettie Teague writes: Champagne Laurent Perrier La Cuvée Brut | The de Nonancourt family, which took over Champagne Laurent-Perrier in 1939, holds majority shares of this very large Champagne house. (The rest are publicly traded; Laurent-Perrier is listed on the Euronext stock exchange.) Interestingly enough, though one of Laurent Perrier’s greatest claims to fame is its lush, 100% Pinot Noir cuvée rosé, the non-vintage La Cuvée brut is produced from a high proportion of Chardonnay. The result is a round, relatively soft and approachable, medium-bodied Champagne with a fresh acidity. Not every Champagne is substantial enough to serve with food, but this one certainly proved to be so, pairing perfectly with a piece of grilled fish.  - Wall St. Journal December 16-17, 2023

Critic Notes

James Suckling writes:  A crafty, lively and delicious sauvignon blanc with aromas of tropical fruit, grass and mild spices on the nose. Medium-bodied with fresh acidity. Bright and vivid with a frank finish. Drink now. Screw cap.  - James Suckling 91

Winemaker Notes

Remarkably aromatic with pleasant flower and fruit fragrances. On the palate it reveals a freshness and vivacity that is pure and clean. Citrus, apple and gooseberry aromas with hints of passion fruit are found in this lively and bright wine. An incredible value. Here is an excellent aperitif that is also outstanding with fish, seafood and certain white meats. Enjoy Petit Bourgeois with a halibut steak in lemon butter, a kingfish carpaccio, some grilled white fish or goat cheese. Winemaker Description. 

Louis Latour Macon-Villages Chameroy reveals a pale yellow color. Its nose offers aromas of white flowers and honey. Its mouth is round and displays notes of fresh almond. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

El Esteco Don David Malbec Reserve is vibrant and bright. Pleasant color intensity, young. The nose is reminiscent of plum jam and raisins, with notes of chocolate and mild and balanced oak. Reminiscent of plum jam and raisins, with notes of chocolate and mild and balanced oak. 

Winemaker Description

Showcasing the traditional winemaking techniques that are the hallmarks of Cristom's house style - whole-cluster fermentations by native yeast, extended aging in French oak barrels, and no filtration - Cristom's flagship Pinot Noir offers tremendous complexity of flavor, approachability in its youth, and unparalleled value

Expert Reviews

94 Points James Suckling | A lively, precise and well-composed pinot with notes of sour cherries, red currants, crushed roses and mild spices on the nose, followed through to a medium body with bright acidity. It’s crisp and spot-on, with succulent wild berries at the center and verve throughout. (2022).  

Winemaker Description

This is a beautifully complex wine with elegant fruit and structure. Classic Pinot Noir aromas and flavors of dark fruit – black raspberry, marionberry, blueberry and ripe dark cherry – are joined by accents of black tea, clove, vanilla, toast, orange zest and forest floor. Supple tannins and bright acidity on the palate lead to a coating finish with lingering spiciness.

Expert Ratings

Winemaker Description

This vibrant Sauvignon Blanc offers an enticing medley of tropical and citrus aromas, including pineapple, lemon verbena, lime and guava. The palate is lush and lively, combining a silky texture and energetic acidity with fresh melon, citrus, and pineapple flavors framed by subtle minerality throughout a long, bright finish. 

Expert Review

James Suckling 91 Points | Lots of pear and apple puree with hints of flowers and citrus. Tropical fruit undertones. Medium to full body with melon and hints of pear. It is dense yet lively. Nicely framed. Sourced mostly from Napa and Sonoma with some Mendocino and Lake County. A blend of sauvignon blanc and semillon. Drink now. (2022). 

91 Points Robert Parker | Cantina Andriano (Kellerei Andrian) releases a varietally pure expression of a grape that ultimately gives more to the palate than it does to the bouquet. The 2022 Alto Adige Weissburgunder Pinot Bianco Finado is crisp and linear, with citrus, crushed stone, sweet spice and saffron. (2022). 

Cantina Andrian Alto Adige Finado Pinot Bianco is pale yellow with green reflections. A fruity bouquet of apples and pears. On the palate, soft and full with a long finish, elegant body, and balanced acidity. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

This tried-and-true Cabernet has been a dinner table staple for more than 40 years. A rich ruby hue fills the glass along with aromas of fresh vanilla, lush red fruit and herbaceous nuances. On the palate, bright cherry notes mingle with warm cocoa and sweet oak. The finish is unbelievably smooth with soft, gorgeous tannins. Winemaker Description.

Expert Rating

90 Points Wine Enthusiast | Charred blackberry, violet and white peppercorn aromas make for a familiar and pleasing nose on this bottling. The palate is ripe with berry flavors that are cut by pinches of herb and more elegant spices. (2021).

Winemaker Description

This hand harvested, 100% Malbec wine is from multiple vineyards in the Uco Valley. The wine predominantly shows notes of coffee, blueberry, and chocolate with secondary notes of licorice, black cherry, cinnamon, baking spices, and sage. The complexity of the wine extends into the palate by being big and bold without being flabby, with smooth tannins and light acidity. The wine finishes extremely strong with plum, cassis, doughnut cake, and fine silky tannins. A wine that out delivers it’s price by tenfold! 

Expert Rating

James Suckling 90 points | A soft, creamy malbec that’s rather reserved and fine with dark fruit and a citrus undertone. Medium finish. Drink now. 

Winemaker Description

A richly flavored red with autumnal aromas, plush red/black fruits and peppery spice. Few other Provençal reds can match the power and grace of this bottle (its form a traditional Normandy "Calvados" shape that only Gourgonnier uses).

Pair with grilled steak, lamb and richly flavored cheeses. 

Our Professional Review 

Debra of 67Wine.com | Generous flavors of ripe stone fruits, lemon and red apple mingle with a vibrant acidity shining thru. A medium-bodied wine with structure and depth displaying purity as well as some complex notes nuttiness, integrated oak, white tea and a mouthwatering finish. Debra, California Chardonnay Wine Buyer

Expert Reviews 

Alder Yarrow of Jancis Robinson 17.5/20 Points |  Pale gold. Smells of slightly resinous lemon peel and lemon curd. Bright lemon-peel and lemon-curd flavours mix with pink grapefruit and toasted bread. Wonderfully saline notes linger with lemon peel in the finish. Crystalline and gorgeous. 

Anna Lee C. Iijima of Decanter 95 Points |  Tasted at the beginning of 2023, a reductive quality was still obscuring bright, penetrating green apple and kiwi flavours with a smoky, earthen veil. Still, it's a gorgeously sleek, richly textured wine with a pulsating core of acidity and salty mineral intensity. 

James Suckling 94 Points | Lovely texture and density, showing dried apple, fresh ginger and pastry dough. Layered, with phenolic tension. Drink or hold. 

Antonio Galloni of Vinous 91 Points | The 2021 Chardonnay (Sta. Rita Hills) is terrific. Citrus confit, white flowers, almond, chamomile and dried herbs all run through this super-expressive Chardonnay. There's a touch of phenolic intensity, along with a kiss of reduction, that add character. Almost all of this fruit is now estate. 

MaryAnn Worobiec of Wine Spectator 92 Points | Complex and seamless, there's plenty to admire in this white wine. Shows spiced, poached pear, dried apple, grilled lemon and fresh tangerine flavors that are juicy and generous, with details of sage, white pepper and toasted sesame seed on the finish. Drink now.

The wine has aromas of Meyer lemon peel and pith with hints of raw ginger, honey, and green apple all under a cloak of crushed white rock. The texture offers a restrained fleshiness on the mid-palate with a focused and bright saline finish. Winemaker Description. 

Orvieto is Umbria’s and one of Italy’s most famous white wine and Argillae wishes to pay homage to its regional tradition creating a fresh dry wine, with intense aromas of flowers, citrus and tropical fruits. Broad to the nose and persistent on the palate, this wine surprises with its elegance, its perfect balance between flower and fruit scents and its extraordinary freshness. Winemaker Description. 

Expert Ratings 

Wine Enthusiast Points 93-95 Points | The combination of powerful tannins and equally generous black fruits is a fine harbinger for this wine's development. Big, bold and juicy with a dense structure, the wine is for longterm aging. (2020). 

Decanter 93 Points | Juicy, well balanced, plenty of personality, with enough juice through the mid palate to balance out the big tannins that are pretty inescapable in any wines of ambition in 2020. The finish closes in sharply, but this is an enjoyable wine from the Lorenzetti-owned Lilian Ladouys (and for me one of the clear leaders of the new Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel category). (2020). 

Jeb Dunnuck 92 Points | Seemingly always terrific, the 2020 Chateau Lilian Ladouys shows the class of the vintage and has a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, yet silky, perfectly balanced style with tons to love. Darker fruits, damp earth, truffle, and beautiful spice-driven aromatics define this beauty, and while it's already accessible, I'm sure will evolve gracefully for 10-15 years. Best After 2023.

James Suckling 92 Points  | This is a young 2020 that is back ended with a serious finish of solid and polished tannins and plenty of juicy fruit. Medium body. Racy structured. Excellent length at the end. Try after 2025. (2020). 

Robert Parker 91+ Points | The 2020 Lilian Ladouys offers up aromas of cassis, licorice and a deft touch of creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, rather rich and broad palate framed by powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish. It's a touch more structured than the demonstrative 2019 and will require a little patience. Best after 2027. Rating: 91+

Winemaker Description

Sauvignon Blanc was the first white grape variety Cakebread planted in 1972 adjacent to the winery, and it's still thriving there today. Zesty citrus aromas and flavors and balanced acidity make this classic Sauvignon Blanc perfect for a multitude of dishes. 

Producer Description 

At its heart is wine blended with rich Italian herbs: Artemisia, Summer Savory and Dittany balanced with exotic bitter-sweet woods. Its complex and alluring taste has made MARTINI Rosso the key ingredient for several iconic cocktails such as the Negroni or Manhattan. 

Expert Review

Wine Enthusiast 95 Points | Cola hue. Sensuous nose features ginger, prunes, sap and bark aromas. In the mouth, its supple, sweet, winey and almost Sherry-like at entry, then at midpalate citrus and grape flavors appear. Finishes luscious and semisweet.

At its heart is wine blended with rich Italian herbs: Artemisia, Summer Savory and Dittany balanced with exotic bitter-sweet woods. Its complex and alluring taste has made MARTINI Rosso the key ingredient for several iconic cocktails such as the Negroni or Manhattan. Producer Descriptio.

Oscar Garcia Lead Wine Sommelier 67Wine.com | Lasalde Elkartea Txakoli opens up with a enticing nose of sea-breeze minerality, Granny smith apple and lime peel. On the palate the salty and tingly flavors of citrus fruit, orchard fruit intermix for a delightful mouthfeel. The bright acidity keeps the wine fresh and exciting. Lovely salty finish makes this wine perfect to pair with any type of sea-food crudos.

A fresh, lively Txakolina from the Basque Country! It has the signature touch of spritz with lots of bright citrus on the nose, with a mineral taste with just a hint of salinity. Winemaker Description. 

Winemaker Description

The delicious Tavel Rosé Tete de Cuvée is the first wine ever made by historic Rhone Valley winery Chateau de Manissy. It's a biodynamic barrel-aged dry Fench rosé made from Grenache, Clairette and Cinsault grapes. Rich and complex with aromas of ripe quince, dried orange, hints of almond and exotic spice.

A gorgeous Tavel and one of those rosé wines that is built for short-term aging.  The palate is silky yet full with luxurious red currant, cherry and mineral notes that cascade over the palate. A wine to serve with just about anything. Grilled tuna steaks, white meats, barbecue, ceviche. It's all good.

Expert Review

Joe Czerwiński writes:  Aged in oak foudres of 25 hectoliters, the 2022 Tavel Tete de Cuvee is in some ways the most traditional of the Tavels on offer at this impeccably run estate, eschewing stainless steel and leaving out Syrah in favor of Grenache, Cinsault and Clairette. A light ruby in hue, it does show hints of pencil shavings on the nose, alongside more classic notes of red currants, tangerines and a touch of garrigue. It's full-bodied yet not overly expansive, with the wood seemingly helping to provide structure and length.  Drinking 2023 - 2025.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate 92+

Winemaker Notes

The 2022 Mâcon-Lugny Les Genièvres has a bright pale yellow color with green hues. Its nose reveals aromas of honeysuckle and linden. Its mouth, ample and very round, unveils notes of almond and chlorophyll. Nice fresh finish. Winemaker Description. 

Critic Notes

Stuart Pigott writes:  A prototypical unoaked white Macon that’s simultaneously fresh and creamy on the medium-bodied palate, with plenty of crisp pear and touches of acacia blossoms and fresh pineapple. Very clean and animating finish that pulls you back for more. Drink now.  - James Suckling 90

90 Points James Suckling | A fruity, mellow and refreshing wine with notes of red currants, cranberries and apricots. Medium-bodied with a supple character throughout. Fruity and playful. (2023).

A hypnotizing pale pink color with notes of citrus, wild berries, and white peach. Refreshingly crisp and dry with a mineral finish. Winemaker Description. 

Our Professional Review

Rand Sieger 67 Wine Buyer | This organic Cabernet Franc rosé from the center of the Loire Valley is made from hand harvested fruit half of which is whole cluster direct pressed, and half seigneé (bleeding off). It is dense and aromatic with fresh acidity and a light pearliness.

Winemaker Description

100% Cabernet Franc. Raffault uses 50% certified-organic estate fruit (from sandy, gravelly, flat parcels along the Vienne) and sources the other 50% from a neighboring grower in conversion to organic farming. All of the wine is made from hand-harvested fruit in the Raffault cellar.

Half of the fruit is pressed directly as whole clusters and the other half is saigné. The fermentation takes place spontaneously with native yeasts in stainless steel tanks. The wine does not go through malolactic fermentation and is aged in tank as well. It is bottled with a light, non-sterile filtration in the spring following the vintage. 

Winemaker Description

The flavors display nice strawberry and wild cherry fruit, with a touch of richness on the mid palate. It is balanced with dry, crisp acidity and complimented with a creamy texture and long finish.

Expert Reviews

David Schildknecht writes:  While Albrecht's Pinot Blanc Cremant d'Alsace (a genre Lucien Albrecht was prominent in legally codifying) is delicious, it is a bit simple to count as a top value at $24, whereas their non-vintage Cremant d'Alsace Brut Rose - a pure Pinot Noir - is more intriguing and distinctive. Along with strawberry and red raspberry fruit suggestions that are enhanced by the wine's discreet hint of sweetness, there are saline, meaty, and herbal notes to add interest to both the nose and a lush palate, and the hints of salinity and bitterness in the finish make for an invigorating complement to the wine's prominent fruit. This comes in a light-sensitive clear bottle, and I could identify no lot number, so make sure that whoever sells you a bottle will take responsibility for freshness and proper storage.  - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Jame Suckling writes:  Fresh and fruity sparkling wine with a full body, creamy texture and a fruity finish. Slightly off-dry. Drink now.  - James Suckling

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.

This wine captures the typical Chablis character with steely minerality, focused citrus expression and firm acidity.

Serve as an aperitif or with oysters, seafood, snails, charcuterie, goat cheese, Gruyere cheese. Winemaker Description.

90 Points Decanter | Domaine Yvon Vocoret is a small family estate dating back to 1713. The label states 'Qualite, Noblesse, Respect du Terroir'. A generous Chablis in 2021 with fleshy notes of apple and pear fruit with a touch of peach adding more weight and ripeness. This is all kept fresh by a fine line of acidity. Clean, modern and juicy on the palate, this will appeal to both Chablis lovers and those who like a slightly richer style of Chardonnay. (2021).

Winemaker Description

A perfect pairing for food with balanced acidity and flavors of cranberry, currant, and vanilla.

Diamond Collection Cabernet Sauvignon’s complexity is crafted by blending fruit from contrasting soil compositions and climates. The beauty of this wine is that it offers a great deal of dimension while still maintaining supple tannins for immediate drinkability.

The word "Balade" is French for wandering.  This is a fitting term for our annual exploration of single-vineyard pinot noir blocks on the west coast.  Each vintage, we will bottle only the most compelling and nuanced expression of pinot noir from a single selected vineyard and release it as a limited bottling.

Dark Purple-violet tones with enticing aromas of blackberry and boysenberry notes.  Sophisticated on the palate with flavors of black cherry, wild blackberry and jammy plum.  Balanced and structured, this wine has beautiful acidity that lingers through to a long, mouthwatering finish.

90 Points James Suckling | Lovely pear, citrus and floral nose. Zesty freshness and plenty of fruit on the medium-bodied palate with just enough acidity to keep it rolling nicely over the palate. No great length, but excellent balance. Drink now. (2020).

This biodynamic wine is bright, pale yellow in the glass offering aromas of minerals, flowers and fresh stone fruits.

Excellent structure and balance creating a certain elegance of fruit, acidity, freshness and a lingering finish. Winery notes