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Winemaker Description

Our Sauvignon Blanc has brilliant clarity and offers subtle aromas of lemon, kiwi and herbaceous notes. This medium-bodied wine is filled with grapefruit and citrus flavors and ends with a crisp, refreshing finish.

The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters offer new ways of mixing your favored spirit by adding unadulterated flavors of green cucumber to your mixed drink – no matter which season is up. These fresh cucumber notes are accompanied by a light bitterness and herbal notes of rosemary, thyme and lingering floral notes of summer blossoms. With a golden amber color, these bitters are peppery, with earthy fruity curious aromas of marinated cucumbers, cracked pepper and fleur de sel and squash finish.

Light & inviting, The Bitter Truth Cucumber Bitters will lift your white spirits to new heights like sunshine in spring and will work fantastically in numerous classic and innovativ cocktails & long drinks. Try these bitters in your favorite Pimms`s Cup, Gin & Tonic or in a tasty Garden Cocktail. 

Fresh green cucumber with grassy notes of herbs de Provence. Light & inviting with aromas of freshly cut cucumber peel and balanced herbal bitter notes. Producer Description. 

Winemaker Description

Black crimson in color, this wine leaps from the glass with powerful aromatics of blueberries, fresh plum, licorice and nuances of chocolate biscuit. The seamless texture is laced with fresh berry fruit, coffee, vanilla cream and warm spice, giving us a full-bodied Shiraz with an endless depth of flavor and great length.

Expert Review

Robert Parker 92 Points | Once you taste a few of a producer's wines side by side, you really start to get a feel for stylistic preference between warm vintages and cool ones. I surprise myself by saying here that I prefer the warmer vintages at Mollydooker (this does not make it right) because the sunshine and ease with which ripening can occur in a warmer year really seems to suit the plush, high-octane style being proliferated here. So, this 2021 Blue Eyed Boy Shiraz is far more on the blue fruit spectrum than the 2020, which has a complex array of sweet/savory/spice characters. The detail here errs to blackberry, blood plum and resin—a spicy, full-bodied Shiraz. Not for the faint of heart.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 95 Points | Already bottled, the 2017 Quintessa displays a deep garnet-purple color. The nose needs a little coaxing before it reveals bold, expressive notes of crushed red and black plums, black currant jelly, wild blueberries and kirsch with nuances of camphor, cloves, cedar and lilacs plus a hint of oolong tea. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has beautifully expressed, elegant red and black fruit layers, with a sturdy, grainy frame and plenty of freshness, finishing long and earthy.

Decanter 93 Points | Power and concentration from the first nose, underbrush and spice box notes show traces of the drought of the 2017 summer, turning into liquorice, bitter black chocolate, sweet fig and tight-berried fruit as it opens. Flavourful and compact, with subtle hints of thyme and sage, lacks some freshness but this is a well structured enjoyable bottle. From a beautiful, one-block vineyard in Rutherford, with vines on terraces planted around a lake. 76% new oak. Blend completed with 1% Petit Verdot. Tasted twice.

James Suckling 95 Points | Crushed berries, incense and blackberries with black-olive undertones. Extremely perfumed. Medium to full body. Very intense for a 2017. Crafted and polished. Long and caressing. Elegant. Drink or hold. 

Winemaker Description

François de Nicolay succinctly described the 2020 growing season as "dry and hot with enough of both to create at least some degree of hydric stress. There wasn't much disease pressure though and the fruit was super-clean when we arrived at the harvest. We chose to begin picking on the 17th of August and continued through to the 26th and brought in yields that were only about 60% of normal though with better acidities than we obtained in either 2018 or 2019. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 90 points Opening in the glass with aromas of cherries, berries, loamy soil and peonies, the 2020 Pernand-Vergelesses 1er Cru Les Vergelesses is medium to full-bodied, with a velvety attack and a deep core of fruit, framed by lively acids and powdery tannins that assert themselves on the finish.  —  Outstanding.

Alan Meadows 90 Points | An earthier and not quite as spicy array is comprised by notes of red and dark berries with a similar plethora of pretty floral nuances. The mouthfeel of the medium weight flavors is again super-sleek thanks to the moderately fine-grained tannins supporting the firm, youthfully austere and sneaky long finale. At least some patience advised. 

95 Points Whisky Advocate | Part of the permanent Ardbeg range since 2008, Corryvreckan is created from a blend of standard Ardbeg and Ardbeg aged in virgin French Limousin oak casks. Smoky bacon and seaweed, plus dark berries, prickly spices, walnuts, lemon, and sweet peat on the nose. Sweet and savory on the palate, with more lively spice, woodsmoke, phenols, and licorice. The finish is lengthy, with peat, sea salt, pepper, and black coffee. Editors’ Choice.

Ardbeg Corryvreckan takes its name from the famous whirlpool that lies to the north of Islay, where only the bravest souls dare to venture. This non-chill filtered spirit has swirling aromas and torrents of deep, peaty, peppery taste lurk beneath the surface of this beautifully balanced dram. Like the whirlpool itself, Corryvreckan is not for the faint-hearted! Awarded The World’s Best Single Malt in 2010 by the World Whiskies Awards. 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal Winner, 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal Winner. Producer Description. 

Don Q Gold is a favorite of those searching for a classic rum taste. With a similar production process to Cristalbut more flavor to punch up a traditional rum cocktailits aged, smooth, and easy-to-drink. Our carbon filtration process removes impurities but leaves all the delicious rummy flavors. Give Gold a try when youre being creative behind the bar.

Destileria Serralles is one of America’s oldest family-owned businesses with a rum making tradition that spans 6 generations and over 152 years. Destileria Serralles is based in Ponce, Puerto Rico where it produces its flagship product, the award-winning Don Q rum, the #1 selling rum on the island. Destileria Serralles has been commended for its environmentally friendly production initiatives.

Winemaker Description

100% Aglianico del Vulture Cantine del Notaio is a Demeter certified Biodynamic estate located in the rugged volcanic hills of Mount Vulture in Basilicata.

Atto is the sort of wine you don't expect from the Aglianico del Vulture denomination. Fruit of the hard work and efforts of Cantine del Notaio in this exceptional denomination, and under the direction of Professor Luigi Moio, Atto represents the quintessence of mountain wine. A fine, clean-cut and most enjoyable red, characterised by a remarkable freshness and resolute minerality.

In its production, after rigorous and selective harvesting by hand, a short maceration follows that ensures all the Aglianico's tannin and freshness are retained in the wine. The ageing process takes place in the spectacular underground cellar, excavated into the volcanic ground. After a minimum of 12 months in used French oak barrels, Atto is released onto the market as a young and well-formed wine, that's also rich, complete and, despite its youth, possessing a finely tempered profile of the rough Aglianico.

Appearing a lovely, intense ruby colour, that denotes both its youth and its potential, Atto reveals on the nose a rich array of aromas, ranging from cherries to violets, pencil lead to spicy notes. The pleasant acidity and the smoothness of its tannins afford it an amazing persistence with hints of fresh fruit and meadow flowers.

91 Points Robert Parker | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley includes 9% Merlot from a vineyard in Oak Knoll and spent 16 months in 28% new French oak, with a bit of Hungarian as well. It offers up textbook notes of cherries and redcurrants, plus a hint of vanilla, all in an easy-drinking, medium to full-bodied format. The tannins are silky, and the acids are tart in this moderately concentrated effort that should provide enjoyable drinking over the next 10 years or so. Best After 2023.

90 Points Wine Spectator | Solidly built, showing an array of singed vanilla and cocoa along the edges, with a core of steeped plum and blackberry compote flavors. The slightly chewy finish is scored by tar and savory accents, giving this a bit of an old-school bent in the end. Best from 2023.

Pure and powerful, this wine opens with fresh blueberries, blackberry pie and cassis. The endless dark fruit is complemented by a range of baking spices: vanilla at first, but also clove and cinnamon. The first sip instantly reveals the character of this Cabernet: dense and chewy with bright red fruit, incredible tension and pure, fine grain tannins. Not only is everything in its place; but the layers of flavor, the depth of the fruit and the sublime texture are constantly rearranging. Each glass will be a unique experience. In contrast to the dynamic palate, the finish is focused and stout. Abundant cocoa, espresso bean and black pepper dovetail into dark, black fruit while tart raspberry and strawberry jam linger. Winemaker Description.

From the fruit to the brandy, they use exclusively the finest and tastiest substances. A long maturation in glazed earthenware jugs at the constant cool temperature of deep vaulted cellars then gives the brandies their exquisite taste and inimitable fruity bouquet.

Kammer fruit brandies are best served slightly chilled and neat in an armagnac glass or champagne flute. Producer Description.

Expert Review

Blue Plum Brandy, known as Slivovitz in much of Eastern Europe, in France as Quetsch and in Germany as Zwetschgenwasser, is pot distilled from a pure fermented mash of Italian Blue plums grown in the Pacific Northwest.

Clear Creek makes it much as it has been made in Europe for centuries and believe the result is smoother, more aromatic, and more sophisticated than any European Blue Plum Brandy. It makes a great sorbet. Producer Description.

Winemaker Desciption

Pinot noir grapes from our home ranch, Redwood Valley Vineyards, were hand harvested in late September of 2020. The bunches were carefully destemmed into a stainless steel tank for fermentation. The mixture of skins, seeds and juice were cold soaked for 24-48 hours to begin flavor extraction.

After a CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers) approved yeast was added, the must was mixed two times per day to continue extracting color and tannin. These pump-overs are critical to enhancing the aroma and fla- vor from the pinot noir grape. Once fermentation is complete, the must was delicately pressed and aged on French oak for 9 months.

Medium ruby in color, this wine is brimming with captivating aromas of Queen Anne cherries, fresh cranberry and notes of cola. On the palate, flavors of ripe red fruit preserves, vanilla and a hint of oak. With firm acidity and unassuming tannins, this wine delivers a soft, luscious finish. Incredibly versatile in the pairing department, or as a sipper all by itself.

Expert Review

Vinous 97 Points Josh Raynolds writes |  Glass-staining ruby. Exotically perfumed black and blue fruit, incense and candied licorice scents, along with mineral, olive and exotic spice overtones. Seamless and expansive on the palate, offering deeply concentrated yet lively blackberry, boysenberry, cherry-cola, salty olive and floral pastille flavors that show outstanding energy and mineral lift. Slow-building tannins grow on a strikingly long, focused finish that strongly echoes the licorice and mineral notes.

Winemaker Description

The initials RWT stand for ‘Red Winemaking Trial’, the name given to the project internally when developmental work began in 1995. Naturally, now no longer a ‘trial’, RWT Shiraz was launched in May 2000 with the 1997 vintage. The alphanumeric Bin designation 798 was bestowed upon the wine from the 2016 vintage. Its style is opulent and fleshy, contrasting with Grange, which is more muscular and assertive. RWT is made from fruit primarily selected for its aromatic qualities and plush texture. The result is a wine that helps to redefine Barossa shiraz at the highest quality level. RWT wines area built for the long haul, with the precision, concentration and balance to age for many years.

Expert Review

Wine Advocate 98 Points | Sourced only from the Barossa Valley RWT is aged exclusively in French oak giving it two major points of difference from the rest of the Penfolds range. Always a sexy voluptuous wine (and admittedly a personal favorite) the 2018 RWT Shiraz ratchets that up to new heights in a great Barossa vintage boasting layers of berry-like fruit refined vanilla shadings and baking-spice notes plus more exotic elements like star anise and cocoa powder. It's full-bodied and plush without being unstructured in any way with a lingering complex finish and the concentration to age two decades or more.

James Suckling 96 Points | This has a very attractively fresh showy feel to the nose with aromas of ripe red cherries blackberries goji berries and redcurrants as well as red plums and some wild-herb and licorice notes on offer too. Very expressive and fragrant. The palate has a super intense and powerful delivery of ripe red-cherry and plum flavors and immaculately fresh French oak (64% new) that really clasps and holds the finish long. The tannins are so ripe and well positioned. Drink over two decades.

Winemaker Description

7 Deadly Zins Old Vine Zinfandel is full-bodied and seductive. Heaps of jammy berry fruit are followed by aromas of leather, oak and spice notes. On the palate the wine is round and layered showing flavors of dark fruits, currants and toffee through a lingering spice-touched finish. 

Expert Rating

89 Points Wine Enthusiast | A Zin classic that never goes out of style. Rich, jammy black fruits are backed by the elevated (15%) alcohol and plushy tannic structure and complemented by oaky vanilla and nutmeg. (2019).

Winemaker Description

Opaque, a dark core with a lighter deep red concession on rim. An eruption of fruits. At once lively and expressive, conceding Grange personality yet still not revealing all .... Dark coffee grind, malt and tapenade merge with black earths, almost verging on peat. Mandated V.A and formic notes propel a slurry of dark-skinned berried fruits, flirting with dark liquorice and soy. Oak completely hidden, long since absorbed. Now, back to the glass for a second sniff! Initially the ‘enlivened’ dark fruits of a Christmas pudding or boiled fruitcake mix demand attention. But there’s much more to complement these fruits – impressions of ironstone, graphite, iodine, black ink, and a black pudding viscosity. Formidable, meshed tannins – texturally honeycombed, without the honey! Oak has entwined itself invisible. Yes, every barrel still new, and completion of fermentation off skins in barrel still Grange modus operandi. Integrated, measured ... and clearly more than one sip required to gain an authentic ‘first-impression’. Certainly a wine of its vintage. A Grange of 2015. 

Expert Reviews

100 Point James Suckling | Much anticipated vintage for Grange and it is a powerhouse of concentration and complexity. Aromas of orange and lemon peel to start, then graphite, blackberries, plum paste, black cherries, boundless sweet oak spice, fresh cedar, tar, mahogany, roasted coffee and chocolate - the list goes on. Such complexity. Classic Grange, offering such deep, dark intensity. The palate has immense richness and depth with a super succulent and very long, fleshy, deeply weighted array of dense, velvet-wrapped tannins that run so long. The fruit flavors sit in the blackberry, blood-plum and blueberry zone with succulent, long and assertive structure, carrying through in an utterly seamless mode. The finish is tightly wrenched, in spectacularly powerful style, locking this wine in for a very long haul. Best from 2030.

98 Points Jeb Dunnuck | The flagship 2015 Grange is a monster of wine and one of those rare wines that blends power and elegance perfectly. Revealing a saturated purple color, it’s seemingly more forward and seductive than past great vintages, which I suspect is due to the incredible purity of fruit as well as the wine’s flawless balance than any change in winemaking or stylistic shifts. I also think the acidity is healthy, and the 2015 tips the scales at 14.5% alcohol, which is certainly in the sweet spot, if not tame, for beautifully ripe Syrah these days. A blend of 98% Shiraz and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon that spent 20 months in new American oak hogsheads, it offers an extraordinary perfume of sweet crème de cassis, lead pencil shavings, camphor, Asian spices, licorice, and wildflowers. This is followed by a full-bodied, powerful yet incredibly seamless and elegant Shiraz that has no hard edges, a big, dense mid-palate, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Coming close to rivaling the 1986, which has always been a benchmark vintage of Grange for me, the 2015 offers a more polished, elegant, approachable style. Vintage comparisons aside, this is a legendary example of Grange in the making. The savvy wine lovers out there will give this 7-8 years of bottle age (I’ll probably be out of bottles by then) and enjoy over the following 2-3 decades.

98+ Points Robert Parker | The nose of the 2015 Grange features the wine's characteristic lifted aromas, joined by pronounced American oak influence and bold blackberry fruit, plus hints of red meat, raspberries, asphalt and vanilla. It's dense and concentrated on the palate, full-bodied yet balanced and firm, with a rich, velvety texture and long, plush finish. Don't expect great complexity at this stage—it's much too young to show much more than the primary fruit and oak elements—but this is a Grange that should easily go three or four decades.

97 Points Wine Spectator | Distinctive and powerful, yet still elegant, showing restraint despite the dense and generous flavors. Precise notes of dark chocolate, maraschino cherry, mahogany and toasted coconut complement the core of wild blackberry and blueberry fruit. The tannins are smooth and polished, delivering some tug on the finish, which persists as subtle hints of dried lavender and white pepper linger. Drink now through 2040.

97 Points Wine Enthusiast | This vintage of the famed wine is perhaps its most approachable to date. The nose is open and expressive, with waves of aromas ranging from licorice, currant and plum to baking spice, furniture polish, freshly picked olive, mushroom and vanilla. The mouthfeel is satiny in texture, awash with fruit and spices of all shapes and sizes, all wound by fine tannins. Drink through 2040.

Winemaker Description

Don Miguel Vineyard. Named after the late patriarch of the Torres family, this organic vineyard is located in the Green Valley- the coolest, foggiest region of the Russian River, only ten miles from the Pacific. Displays vibrant, luscious fruit reminiscent of blackberries and dark cherries.

This is a wine of precision, finesse and balance, rich and opulent on the palate, with supple tannins. It will continue to develop and gain complexity with age, at least for another 10 years. 

Winemaker Description

Hugonis with its powerful and austere style is the most prized product of Tenuta Rapitalà, the legacy wine. The seal of Hugonis Bernardi – a knight in armor with two leopards – which appears on the label, is the coat-of-arms of the family of Hugues Bernard de la Gatinais and his son, Laurent.

100% estate-grown fruit is sourced from Nero d’Avola and Cabernet Sauvignon plots situated between 1,000 and 1,300 feet above sea level on rich, clay soils. Guyot-trained vines have limited yields of 28 quintals per acre.

Expert Reviews

92 Points Wine Advocate | The top shelf wine released by Tenuta Rapital is the 2013 Hugonis. The wine represents a bold blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola from the southwest corner of Sicily. This wine is teaming with rich fruit flavors and backing spice. Cola, balsam herb and licorice add to the overall complexity. Hugonis closes with a sweet cherry note and offers thick textural richness. (2013).

90 Points Wine Spectator | Rich notes of black currant, bay leaf and anise are set in an elegant, medium- to full-bodied frame that is well-knit, with supple tannins. Creamy, showing hints of smoke and spicy mineral on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Nero d'Avola. Drink now through 2023. (2013). 

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Bernardot is dark and austere with wonderful nuances of ripe red fruit. Tannins are very silky and delicate in this 2019, showing a lot of finesse, typical from the Barbaresco area. It’s an elegant and very expressive Barbaresco. One of the favorite vineyards of winemaker Alessandro Ceretto.

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate Monica Larner 95 Points writes | The organic Ceretto 2019 Barbaresco Bernadot shows a broader character and a more open-knit personality compared to the Asili. There is a lot of dark fruit, spice, truffle and earth to frame the medium-build of this elegant wine.  (2019).

Wine Spectator 94 Points | A bright red, delivering a core of cherry and raspberry fruit supported by earth, mineral and wild herbs. Intense, complex and dense, this is solidly built and persists with an aftertaste of dark fruit, mineral and spice. Best from 2025. (2019).

Winemaker Description

The 2019 Georges de Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is truly exemplary of this iconic wine, with a nuanced, exuberant nose that shows dark, ripe, berry fruit aromas of black raspberry, red currant, and black cherry, alongside delicate chaparral herb notes of wild lavender, rose, fresh mint, sage, and thyme. Exotic spiced notes from the well-integrated new French oak barrel aging adds caramel, cedar, and clove, all accompanying the plush fruit seamlessly, showcasing the depth, elegance, and balance of this world-renowned Cabernet. Full-bodied with tremendous concentration and power, the broad palate is multilayered with enticing flavors of dark black cherry, red currant, cocoa nib, amaretto, espresso, and graphite. Signature "Rutherford Dust" tannins add a fine cocoa-powder texture, with a long lift and persistent finish, while secondary notes of earth, espresso and pencil shavings add to the complexity and nuance. The mouthwatering palate is supple and fresh, with balanced acidity, demonstrating the classically elegant, luscious, and alluring character this wine is known for. Incredibly drinkable upon release in its youth and highly cellarable for many years to come.

Expert Reviews

Wine Enthusiast 97 Points | Another stunning vintage of this classic wine, blended with 9% Petit Verdot, this wine is dark and brooding in black cherry, cassis and currant, with a rich nose of baking spice. Lengthy and generous in tannin, it shows a backbone of ageworthy structure and complexity, with a lasting thread of dark chocolate. Enjoy best from 2029–2039. (2019).

Wine Advocate 94 Points | While the quality of the 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Private Reserve Georges de Latour is indeed excellent, what may be even more impressive is that there are more than 12,000 cases of the stuff. Marked by scents of cherries, dusty earth, dried herbs and hints of cedar, it's full-bodied, silky and complex, with a lingering finish. It doesn't require much cellaring, but it should drink well for close to two decades. Nicely done. (2019).

Decanter 97 Points | Fragranced and richly fruited on the nose, vivid and vibrant. Smooth yet with crunchy fruit, this makes an immediate impression. Exuberant, racy and fruit forward with a sense of detail and character. I like the soft floral touches, the sweet blackcurrants and red berry elements, the chalky, minty fresh edges as well as some wild thyme and bay leaf herbal notes and a soft dusting of coffee and cocoa powder. Lots of tension still but also richness and concentration. The powdery yet also fleshy texture is so captivating and together with a mouthwatering capacity gives this wine such star power. Elegant and refined with supreme freshness and a real sense of vibrancy. That said, it's more serious than the stunning 2018, less immediately approachable - it feels cooler but with more precision. One to wait for. Amazing styling going on by winemaker Trevor Durling. This has to be one of the best value Napa Valley wines going. Ageing 20 months in French oak (95% new). More Petit Verdot in the blend than usual at 9%.  Drinking 2025 - 2050. (2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 99 Points | Lastly, the Grand Vin 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges De Latour Private Reserve is just about pure perfection, and the fact that there are roughly 12,000 cases is incredible. Classis darker fruits (cassis, currants) as well as chocolate, leafy tobacco, and loamy earth all define the bouquet, and this full-bodied, concentrated, powerful, yet also elegant 2019 has the balance and structure to evolve for decades. It should be relatively easy to find this in the market, and you won't be disappointed.  Drinking 2023 - 2043. (2019).

James Suckling 100 points Wow! | The aromas to this are really exceptional, with a tangerine edge to the blackcurrants, graphite, lead pencil, flowers and wet earth. It changes all the time. So expressive and refined. Full-bodied with great intensity and depth of fruit. The ultra-fine tannins display millions of layers. The texture on the palate is superb and lasts for minutes. This is the new 1974 George de Latour, which was a legend. Real Napa Valley red here. Drinkable now, to understand it, but truly great in five to six years and onwards. Benchmark. (2019). 

Vinous 97 Points | The 2019 Cabernet Sauvignon Georges de Latour is an infant, but it is shaping up to be a real gem. The 2019 includes 9% Petit Verdot, the highest ever, an approach that works here in giving the wine tremendous aromatic presence and overall depth. A whole range of savory and earthy notes lends complexity to this powerhouse Georges de Latour. The 2019 is impressive, that much is evident. (2019).

Our Professional Review

Bart Hopkins 67Wine.com | A full bodied, darkly colored Grenache with intense richness and depth of flavor. Aromas of savory red fruits on the nose, with lovely intensity in the mouth, smooth tannins and a delicious long-lasting finish. Powerful, precise and concentrated with no over ripeness. A great wine for hearty dishes and perfect for barbecues.

Winemaker Description

Dark, intense deep purple-crimson in the glass. On the nose: striking notes of rhubarb, raspberry jam and redcurrant. The palate is soft and rich, showing a more full-body style of Grenache. A flow of red cherries, rhubarb and red plums are laced with a fine layer of cedar, introducing more dark-flavored characters like plums and hints of dark chocolate. Texture is firm and finely balanced.

Expert Review

James Suckling 92 Points | An inviting nose of baked cherry, blueberry, moss and bark. Medium- to full-bodied with velvety tannins. Juicy and fresh red and black fruit with savory undertones. Herb and earthy notes ground the palate. A bit of tension here, which I like. Drink or hold.

PAMA is made with all-natural pomegranate juice, premium vodka and a touch of imported tequila. Bottled at 34 proof, PAMA is highly mixable in a range of cocktails such as PAMA and Champagne, PAMA Cosmo and the PAMA Mojito. PAMA’s versatility gives you endless PAMAbilites.

No fruit compares to the pomegranate. The deep crimson color; the dense pulpy flesh; the rich red juice; even the time of year when it ripens – all of these singular characteristics, along with the tales of mystery and romance woven around it, make the pomegranate rare and unequalled."Producer Description.

Winemaker Description

The soil at Le Claux is a yellowish limestone marl and produces the most “Burgundian” wine at Saint Cosme. “It’s extremely refined and fresh with lots of bouquet. Its propensity to mature is excellent,” says Barruol. The wine features aromas and flavors of wild strawberries, violet, peat, Chinese Five Spice, and camphor.

Grenache is the pale-colored, red-fruited, and potpourri-scented red grape variety of the southern Rhône and can be paired with both rustic and sophisticated dishes. Full-bodied Grenache-based wines are ideal with stews, braises, and grilled meats, while lighter versions can work well with dark fish and tomato-based dishes such as ratatouille. 

Expert Reviews

Wine Spectator 97 Points | This is packed together, with taut iron cables providing a platform for mouthwatering bitter plum, cassis and blackberry reduction flavors. Sage, bay tobacco and warm earth notes play equally important roles, adding superior range and depth. Everything pulls together through the finish, though the end point takes some time to reach. Best from 2025 through 2040. (2019).

Jeb Dunnuck 97 Points | The 2019 Gigondas Les Claux is one of the powerful yet elegant wines and offers a great bouquet of red and black fruits, graphite, crushed stone, and spice. It’s full-bodied and tannic and needs time, but the balance is spot on, the tannins are perfectly ripe and polished, and it has a gorgeous finish. Give it 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 15+ TASTING DATE 1/25/2022. (2019).

Expert Reviews

Wine Advocate 92 Points | Notes of cherries, cassis, peonies and rich spices preface the 2020 Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Aux Murgers, a medium to full-bodied, velvety and concentrated wine that's lively and penetrating. Like its 2019 predecessor, it's especially seamless and charming. (2020).

Burghound 90 Points | A distinctly earthy and notably ripe nose blends notes of red and dark currant with those of earth, humus and a whiff of the sauvage. The rich, dense and powerful larger-scaled flavors are supported by mouth coating tannins on the chewy, long and moderately rustic finale. This bold and robust effort is very good, but I would recommend it only for the patient. (2020).

Winemaker Description

A superb and age-worthy Barolo by Giacomo Conterno, from the Francia vineyard in Serralunga d’Alba. 100% Nebbiolo. Fermented with native yeasts and aged in large oak casks. Red fruits, roses, tar, licorice and spices notes. Powerful and complex.

Expert Reviews

97 Points Wine Advocate | Of the three Barolo samples I tasted from barrel (including Arione and Cerretta, which are also from Serralunga d'Alba), the Giacomo Conterno 2018 Barolo Francia was the furthest behind and the hardest to pin down at this stage in its infancy. I have opened my range of scores accordingly to compensate for the magical unknowns that are likely to occur as the wine moves toward greater harmony and integration before its commercial release. The wine is linear and pointedly focused, lacking the width and volume it will gain when given more time to flesh out and relax. The aromas are also quite primary and simple at this point, with dark cherry and even a hint of ripe strawberry ceding gradually to grilled herb, blue flower and baked brick. This vintage of Barolo Francia will require patience. (2018).

95 Points Wine Spectator | Delivers depth and power, with menthol and wild herbs shading cherry and plum flavors. The balance tips toward the tannins in the end, yet this doesn't feel overly astringent, just more structured than many '18s. Picks up a mineral element as this lingers on the finish. Be patient. (2018).

95+ Points Vinous | The 2018 Barolo Francia is powerful, deep and also a touch austere. It shows the edginess of all the 2018s, but also has a feeling of textural creaminess that adds tons of character. Spice, menthol, leather and a whole range of balsamic overtones build into the deep, imposing finish. Roberto Conterno decided to forego his Barolo Monfortino in 2018, opting instead to blend all the casks into his Francia bottling. When that happens, Francia often surprises down the road. That could very well turn out to be the case here. (2018).

Expert Review

Wine Spectator 90 Points | Dense, with blackberry and plum flavors shaded by iron, earth and spice. Shows broad shoulders and dusty tannins, but plenty of fruit too.Vinous 91 points The 2020 Pommard Les Vignots has a lively, minty bouquet that is well defined, quite floral with iris flowers emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, quite structured with a vibrant saline finish that lingers. This must be the "dark horse" of Monnot's range. (2020).